AEQUOREUS // cult of the lamb.

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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐈 : 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐒.

(Añryn – pronounced; an-ay-rin)

Water rippled across the lake, ferns and water plants poking just above the water. The Lamb put out their hoof and winged slightly as it touched the water. It was cold. The Lamb shook out their hoof before standing up.

A gun shot up above their head, and the Lamb dove straight into the water. She fought against every reflex to jump out of the water, just to escape. The bullets wouldn't reach her down here.
She resurfaced every few minutes to gain air. Bullets still shot in the air. She didn't know who, or what was after her, but she wouldn't stick around to find out.

The gunshots continued to fire, and Añryn was starting to feel a headache form. Alright fine, they're asking for this.

Añryn soared out of the water, dagger in hand. What she didn't expect though, is to find herself face to face with Heket, the god of famine standing right in the middle of the water. Añryn gulped and twiddled the dagger in her hand awkwardly. "Pesky Lamb."

Heket cooed, waving the golden gun around one of her fingers. She sipped a bit of wine from the too, golden flask which was delicately placed within her other hand. "It's pretty honey, your eagerness to escape. How utterly futile," Heket added. Añryn slid the dagger back into her holster, and let out a laugh. "It's pretty cute how you're so desperate to kill me. How funny that a god is scared of a tiny little lamb like me~" Añryn said, tempting fate.

Heket's laugh sounded like a fox screaming. Heket slid across the water, appearing behind The Lamb within mere seconds. Like a flash, Heket's hands were around Añryn's neck within seconds. Añryn could feel Heket's rings, bracelets and charms rubbing against her neck. As fluffy as her fleece was, it still hurt a lot.

"You're so cute lamb. So pathetic and small."

Suddenly, a bright idea struck. Silently, Añryn pulled out her dagger, and twiddled her it to face Heket's thigh. Just as Heket was about to open her mouth again, she plunged the knife into Heket's leg. Heket let out a pained screech, and she then tightened her grip around Añryn's neck. "Stupid, damned lamb! Wretch, vile, vile wretch!"

Looking back at it now. It had been a rather stupid idea to stab Heket when she was so vulnerable. She pulled out the knife and sank it into the other leg. This was enough for Heket to release her grip.

Retrieving their air, Añryn started running. She pulled out her doctrine from the clip it was on. Making sure she was making time, she summoned a portal into her cult, and lunged through it with a huge heave.

Añryn came rolling down the stone stairs as the portal let her through the dimensions. Her head bashed on a couple of loose twigs. With a final bash, she ended up on the floor, rubbing her forehead in pain. Her followers came running to her, her healer, Jaxie looked at her in shock.

"Are you o-okay my liege?" he put his hand around the back of his head and felt for blood. A small amount was rubbed onto his fingers. "You're bleeding. Good Lord. Mono! Help me bring her to her bedroom!" Jaxie called out. Mono, a white skulled wendigo came to Jaxie's assistance. 

Mono was a strong, muscular even, and stood at a towering eight foot tall. Mono scooped Añryn up with his arms and took her to her cabin.  He placed her down on her bed and commanded her to sit and rest. She opened her mouth to protest, but Mono shushed her before Añryn could even talk.

"Ryn, you've got to let yourself have a break. This is not healthy."
Añryn shook her head, "I am your leader. It is my-"
"No. No it isn't. It has never been your goddamn job to sacrifice yourself for us. And if for one moment you think that... I'd kill you myself."
"I think you're it's far to late for that."