Spots and Blood

by CricketFerguson, Lucatea

Summary:

A COTL AU, Spots and Blood follows the vessels of a red and purple crown from differing worlds.
How goat learns to adjust to a new normal, and decide if it's better.
how lamb learns she's no longer alone.

Notes:

updates saturdays

Chapter 1: Barbatos

Another shot of spikes shot across the ground, and the Lamb couldn’t dodge it in time, two spikes sticking up through the dirt and through her thigh and calf. She shouted, swinging her sword to break them off to keep them in her leg and limp away from the destruction before Barbatos made another attack. He jumped at her and she rolled to the side, lodging her sword between his gnashing teeth to keep him from biting her.

Then he tossed his head back, and her sword went flying, the miniboss turning back to her to attack again without relent. She tried to scramble away, barely dodging another attack as she saw her sword morph back into the red crown and turn to zip towards her.  

Barbatos was already turning for another attack, and the lamb could tell that the crown wouldn’t be able to reach her before he did. 

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a glint. The heels of her hands were gripping the edge of a small pond, and something in there looked sturdy, sharp . 

A makeshift weapon would do before her crown could get there. It had to. 

She shoved her hand into the water, grabbing tightly onto the hilt of whatever it was and pulled. 

A startled, bleating body left the water, flailing till it hit the ground before it froze. 

The lamb froze too, she hadn’t heard anyone make that kind of sound in over a decade. It wasn’t possible . 

They locked eyes, red staring into dull blue. 

And they were alive?  

Lamb's breath caught for a moment in a gasp, then there was sound behind her and her stomach dropped. Shock at the strangers appearance turned to cold fear. She’d forgotten where she was, and she didn’t have time to turn around before- 

The sickly sound of a spike stabbing through flesh filled the goats ears. He watched the lamb's eyes dim, and their body drop before him before he got the chance to move, a bundle of white wool with a few black spots. His mind wondered why he was back, why he was here . 

He felt the ground shake, Barbatos launching up from the ground as the goat lept away to safety. His body moved on familiar instinct, firing every curse he knew before he threw his crown axe into the worm's side. It screeched, shooting out another line of spikes and spitting a ball of acid at him. 

The goat made a quick roll to dry ground, recalling his weapon in a way to make it drag across the heretic's flesh. He moved relentlessly, taking a few new wounds to already marred skin, attacking until Barbatos was nothing but a dead husk. The body seemed to hiss, parts of it already starting to dissolve as the rest of the area went quiet. 

The goats axe dropped like dead weight from his hands, his knees buckling soon to follow. His mouth felt dry, his throat going raw with sharp breaths. He was past this, this was over. 

But the two corpses around him were still there, and very real. This wasn’t another hallucination. 

He curled in on himself, squeezing his horns as he pressed his head against the wet dirt. He couldn’t do all this again, he barely managed to survive it all once . He couldn’t lose everyone again. 

Then he heard a gasp. 

The goats head snapped up, a blade flicking to his palm before he even formed a thought. 

He saw the red eyed sheep from before moving, trying to get a breath in, pushing against the spike still through their chest. 

The goat shifted back, staring in nothing but horror . “H-h- how? ” 

They let out a whine, pushing themself most of the way up the spike before they ran out of reach and sat there trembling. 

The goat fought his own frozen feet. He swallowed, letting his crown return to his head as he forced himself to shuffle forward. He offered the lamb a hand, trying his best not to tremble.

They looked up at him, surprised and sweaty, but… somehow, alive? They reached out, taking his hand and letting him help them the rest of the way off the spike, just to drop onto their back in a clearer spot, still gasping for breath. 

The goat shuffled back a step watching with furrowed brows. 

The lamb put a hand up, waving at him, “d-don’t go anywhere. I… I got questions.” 

“… Okay.” He mumbled, dropping into a crouch to study her. “I do too.”

“I’ll uh…” they blinked up past him for a second. “I’ll be right back.” 

“ What? ” He frowned. “You can’t move. Not with that… injury.” He pointed to the hole in her torso. 

“Not up, down.” they mumbled, then their head slumped to the side. 

“ What? ” He hissed. 

They fell still and silent again. 

The goat waited for a few seconds, then a few seconds longer. Realistically they had to be dead, he knew it. No mortal could come back from impalement, not even him. Yet, for whatever reason he didn’t move. She looked too clean to be an amalgom like him. Maybe her scars were also internal? 

He was too lost in thought to see the shifting flesh in front of him closing up until the Lamb gasped awake again, hand flying out to grab his arm. 

He screamed, instinctively locking up. 

They gasped for a moment, sitting up with a death grip on his arm. They seemed to take a moment to catch their breath, then loosened their grip on him, patting his arm placatingly. “Shhh.” 

“ How are you not dead?! ” He demanded. 

She flinched a little, squinting at the two spikes still in one leg. “I was… twice. Did you not notice?” 

“How are you back ?” He specified with a hiss. 

She shrugged. “I don’t know the specifics. I die, i talk to the one who waits, she sends me back, boom. Im back.” she looked at him, then glanced up at the crown on his head. “I haven’t seen a goat in… over a decade at least.”

He fumbled with words for a moment, too much information crashing together at once. “Th-the one who waits?” He whispered. “You work under them? ” Had Shamura managed to make someone new?

The lamb tilted their head. “Yeah… to kill the bishops and free her from hell? Why, you wanna help?” 

He blinked at her. “Who…” he paused, looking up at the crown nestled on her head in her wool. It’s eye was crimson, not the lilac he’d come to expect. “Who is the one who waits?”

“Uh…” they blinked, tilting their head. “Yeah, i'm not really equipped to answer that. Clarify?” 

“Name.” He replied. “What’s their name.”

“The one who waits.” they shrugged. 

He bit down a growl, squeezing his palms. “What about the bishops?”

“Well, we’re currently in Darkwood.” she pulled one of the spikes out of her leg. “So you at least know or follow Leshy… or maybe you are spying for Shamura? And then there's Kallamar and Heket.” 

The goat hissed, his fur and crown bristling at the mention of the purple bishop. They blinked at him, tilting her head. “Am I wrong then? Are you a slave just trying to get past?” 

“I am nothing of the sort.” He growled. “I am their downfall.”

She put her hands up. “hold the intensity there, I hate them just as much as you do.” she finished wrapping her leg in some spare cloth and got up, trying to balance on just one. “Tell you what, come with me and I’ll give you a nice bed and a warm meal for the night, okay? I have a feeling we need to talk more but it can wait till tomorrow.” 

He watched her carefully, standing quietly after her to offer an arm. “Can you even walk right now?”

“It’ll heal fast.” she tried to wave him off, limping over to a tree then pausing. She pulled down her crown, a black one, and turned it into a crutch. 

He hesitated only a moment, soon running after her. If anything, just to be sure she even made it wherever she was going. “Sure, whatever. Just don’t fall.”

“I’ll be fine .” she assured him. She hobbled into a nearby clearing, where she drew up a circle on the ground and pulled him with her onto it. The ritual was familiar, and popped them both out right into the entrance to the Lambs own cult. “I will warn you though, I will kill you if you try to touch my cultists.” 

“Naturally.” He shrugged. “Do I need permissions? Like, do you have a warding rune up or am I safe to just walk?”

“Oh, is that what that is?” She mumbled. “Rataou made those, uh…” she sketched something in the dirt under him, then hobbled past the boundary line, drawing the same thing. “Stay still.” 

She pressed her hand to the symbol, stepped back, and Goat popped up right in front of her. She gave him a small smile. 

“I'm so glad that worked and didn't just rip you apart.” She said. 

“ I’m sorry?” He balked, staring at the maniac before him. 

She blinked at him. “I'm still not perfect at it. Taken off an arm or leg myself before.” She laughed lightly, “don't worry, I was more careful with yours, but it's still a possibility!” 

“Do you do that to you cultists?” He tilted his head. 

“Ha!” She shook her head. “No, but I didn't think another crown user would want to be indoctrinated so soon. You're a special case”

The goat nodded. “Fair enough. Thanks… i suppose.”

“Yeah!” She turned and crutched into the cult as a few animals came to greet her. From what he could see, she only had seven followers wandering about. 

“How many bishops have you faced?” He asked, following behind her by a few paces. 

She paused, patting a doe on the shoulder as she glanced back at him. “Uh… None yet? Leshy is up first.” 

“ First?” He stopped dead. “You haven’t faced anyone yet?”

“I've got two… or now three mini bosses.” She pointed to the two green monstrosities she'd let into her cult. 

“Oh.” He blinked, covering his mouth. Oh she was just a baby. She was patting the head of a blue bunny happily, and chatting with her other followers as they fussed and wanted to fix her leg. 

“Can I ask,” he started softly. “Why are you here?”

“I…” she squinted at him, “I live here.”

“No, no, like… why are you here. Fighting this fight” he pointed at her crown. 

She stared at him for a moment, then turned to her followers, quietly sending them off to do tasks. She turned back to him and hobbled over, but walked past him. “Come.” 

He followed behind her simply, trotting bouncilly. 

She led him to the temple, letting him follow her inside and up behind the altar. She sat down there with a huff, pulling out some supplies from behind the stand to bandage her leg properly. 

“Would you like help?” He offered. She looked up at him and gave him a smile. 

“If you know how, sure.” 

He nodded, bounding over to her. He knelt at her leg holding a hand out for the bandages. 

She handed them over, then peeled off the makeshift ones from before. “I am the vessel for the Red crown.” 

“I assumed as much.” He nodded. “Were you made to be such?”

“What?” She tilted her head in confusion, putting the dirty cloth aside, pulling out a cup of water to try to clean what she could off her thigh. “I was just a normal person before.” 

He paused, his ear flitting as he processed her words. “You were?”

She nodded. “I… the lambs were part of a prophecy… so the bishops tried to eradicate them all.” 

“Oh…” he murmured. “I’m sorry.”

She shrugged. “I happened to be the last one, they thought they were preventing the prophecy but… but they just sent me right to the one who waits.” She lifted her hand to pull back some of the wool around her throat, revealing a jagged scar going right through it.

He grimaced in sympathy, ducking his head down. “A miscalculation on their part.” He hummed. 

She nodded. “I agreed to start a cult for the one who waits in exchange for getting rid of the bishops.”

He looked back up to meet her eyes. “You’re hesitant?”

“They slaughtered my entire race.” Her expression darkened. “My friends, my family, all cause they were scared.” She let out a light huff, “so I'll be something worth that fear.” 

He blinked, nodding after a moment before he returned to caring for her injury. “My apologies.”

“You're fine.” She gave him another small smile, the dark aura she'd given off before dissapeared in the blink of an eye. “You didn't know.” 

He gave her a small grin back.

“What about you?” She asked. “How did you come about the crown?” 

“It is a long story… that I am not entirely sure how to tell.” He admitted, tying off the bandages and patting her hoof. “The bishops I know of are very different to what I have heard of yours.”

She hummed. “Am I wrong in guessing your crown was from Shamura?” 

“You are not.” He hummed back. “Although not by their choice.”

“Oh?” She tilted her head. “I'm intrigued.”

He took a deep breath in, “I have reason to believe… I’m not from this world. My Shamura is the one who waits, they were banished for trying to amass an army.”

The Lamb hummed, “mine was banished for trying to kill the other bishops… i think? Either way, there was a fight when they banished her, and each of the bishops were injured.” 

“As were mine.” The goat nodded. “Each had a part of them ruined for what they took away.”

She nodded along. “Same here.” 

“Ears, eyes, throat and mind?” He asked. 

She nodded. “Kallamars ears, Leshy’s eyes, Hekets throat, and Shamura’s mind.” 

The goats head popped up. “They should have taken their mind! That would have been so much more effective than their hands. ” He hissed. “Ugh.”

She snickered. “Oh? Was your order different too?”

He nodded. “I was given a deal to take them out for good.” He squeezed his own hands, keeping his brain on track. “But they never held up their end of the deal, and tried to take me out in turn. It was Shamura, Kallamar, Naren, Heket and Leshy.”

“Who’s Naren?” she asked. 

“Big ol dog.” The goat shrugged. “He was the kindest out of them all.”

She shook her head. “We only have 4 bishops.”

The goat tilted his head. “What about your One Who Waits?”

“Shes not a dog… shes a three-eyed cat.”

“Maybe they’re all different?” He offered. “What species are your bishops?”

“Leshy is a bagworm, Heket is a frog, Kallamar is a squid and Shamura is a black widow spider.” 

“ My leshy was a centipede, Heket was a toad, Kallamar was an octopus and Shamura was a tarantula.” He listed. 

“Huh.” the lamb nodded. “Makes sense then. Everything is slightly off kilter.” 

“So it seems.” He agreed. 

They sat there for a second in relative silence before she quietly asked, “do you want to go back to your world?”

He waited to think, eventually shaking his head. “There is nothing left for me there.”

She looked up at him, her previously guarded red eyes now big brown and wet. 

He felt himself stiffen. “Are you okay?”

She looked down, nodding. 

“Do… do you need anything?” He tried. 

She shook her head. “You helped me out in killing Barbaros… I suppose that means I should be asking you that. I owe you.” 

“Don’t worry about it.” He assured. “It’s not a big deal.”

“It quite literally managed to kill me.” She deadpanned. 

“You came back.” He blurted.

“You didn’t know I would.” she giggled. 

“Eeeeeh.” He shrugged. “A fight is a fight.”

She snorted. “Right, and I have yet to find anyone that won't scream and run from one. I owe you.”

“You owe me nothing.” He smiled. “You taking me in for the night is enough.”

“Ill find something.” she nodded assuredly. “You done with that?” 

“Yes, sorry.” He scooted back with his hands up. 

“Thanks.” she adjusted the bandages a little more comfortably before getting up, testing her weight. “Seems it’s already starting to heal.” 

“That’s good.” He smiled, hopping up after her. 

He followed her around the cult helping with various tasks as night fell and her cultists headed to bed. She went over to the farm and started picking berries. 

“So.” The goat hummed as he tossed some into a small basket. “I just realized I never asked your name.”

“Everyone just calls me the lamb.” she mumbled. “Hard to get me mixed up when there are no others around.” 

“That’s fair.” He hummed. “It’s why Shamura called me goat.”

“Does that mean you prefer a different one? Or maybe choose a different one, a new start.” 

“I have one.” He replied quickly. “Savan. My brothers gave it to me.”

She gave him a small smile. “Inez.” 

“It’s a nice name.” He smiled back. “It fits you.”

She nodded. “brothers?”

“Two of them. Syren and Veda.”

She smiled a little. “I had two older siblings, twins. Harlem and Nirva.” 

“Veda was the littlest,” He murmured softly, “Syren the oldest. But they were the smartest out of all of us.”

“Goats like you?” 

“No.” Savan shook his head. “A Lamb and a Ram.”

“Oh…” she paused. “Were there any others, or just you three?” 

“Just us, although there were plans for more… but they never came to fruition.” He shrugged. 

“May I ask what happened?” 

“Shamura’s capture.” He answered simply. 

She just blinked at him, a little confused. 

“Its hard to explain.” He shrugged. 

“Alright.” she went back to her berry picking task, offering out a handful. “Eat something.” 

He blinked, taking the handful with a soft smile. “You don’t have to waste any on me. The crown keeps me going.”

“You look starved.” she said. “Just because you won’t die without, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have any.”

“Thanks.” He chuckled, downing them all fast while barely chewing. 

She watched him for a moment, then went back to her task. 

“Can I ask about your siblings?” He asked, shifting to plant seeds for the replaceable plants. 

She was quiet for a moment, then hummed, “they were… captured, protecting me. They hid me in a hollowed out tree trunk and distracted the oncoming cultists. I… that was the last I saw them alive .” 

“Were they nice?” He looked up at her to watch her face. 

She smiled sadly. “Yeah. Harlem had a bit of a temper and Nirva was pretty street smart. Between the two of them they got us out of every situation we came across up to that point.”

“Got any fun stories?”

She looked down at the ground, shaking her head. 

“Did you guys have a town you lived in, or was it just you?” He probed gently. 

She got up with her basket. “Just us. I dont remember our parents.”

He snatched his own to trail after her. “Fair enough.”

They fell into silence again before the Lamb turned to look at him with a strained smile. “You should head to bed. I had them make you up a bedroll with some space away from the cultists so you can have some privacy.” 

“I can do more work if there’s more to do.” He frowned. “I don’t need sleep.”

“What did we just talk about?” she asked. 

“If that’s the case than you should sleep too.” He huffed crossing his arms. 

“ I am practically a walking corpse.” she said. “And i have shit to do.”

“So am I, and I can help. ”

“Shamura isn’t the god of death.” 

“Still managed to fool it.” He muttered. “Death’s… weird. ”

“Painful sometimes.” she chuckled. “Now shoo, off to bed. I gotta cook breakfast.”

He pouted, shuffling back reluctantly. “Is there really nothing else I could do?”

She looked around, then back at him. “There's not even 10 people living here, I think you’re good.”

He grumbled to himself, scuffing the dirt with his hoof. 

“Oh dont pout.” she chuckled. “rest.”

He scrunched up his snout, sticking out his tongue as he turned to leave. 

She snorted, but went ahead to the fire pit anyways. 

Savan stamped his way to his own bedroll, plopping down to sit with his arms crossed. He stared at the leafy blanket, soft and hand sewn, a few threads messy but sturdy. 

He ran his hands across it, his thoughts bouncing around his skull like a fly to glass. He never did like to sleep, far too dull. It was always a last resort if he had nothing else to do, only more of a common occurrence recently. 

He hated it. 

He sat for maybe a few minutes before he pulled his bedroll to the closest tree. He leaned his back up against it, the blanket across his lap as he let his eyes shut.

Chapter 2: Leshy

Notes:

This wasn’t late. Totally. We’d never forget -Luca

The lamb skipped over to the sleeping goat, having just let out the cultists from her sermon and holding a bowl of soup. She crouched in front of him, poking his shoulder. He had slept through most of the night and the morning. “Hey… Sevan?”
The goat cracked open an eye, groaning slightly as he forced his eyes to open. “Mm?”
“Hey!” she smiled, offering out the bowl. “Lunch?”
He furrowed his brows, taking the bowl slowly. “How long was I out?”
“Its almost afternoon.” she sat down in front of him. “You must have really needed that nap.”
“I don’t usually sleep.” He shrugged. “It’s just a way for me to pass time if there’s nothing to do.”
She shrugged. “Well anyway, are you staying?”
“Staying… here?” He jumped slightly, sitting a bit taller.
She nodded, growing a little more nervous. “You said there wasnt any reason to go back, so if you wanted…”
“You sure?” He mumbled, picking at his bowl with his nails. “There’s a reason I don’t want to go back… I don’t exactly have good luck.”
“Well i can’t say I have much better.” she tilted her head. “There will always be a place for you here.”
Savan swallowed roughly, looking down into the food in his lap. “Thank you. I’d love to stay.”
She let out a relieved breath. “Great.”
He rapped his nails against his bowl, smiling softly.
They sat there a moment in awkward quiet before the Lamb cleared her throat. “Im happy you’re here. I have to go get things ready. Food bowls go in the bucket by the well.”
“Noted.” He chuckled. “Anything I can do to help out?”
She shook her head. “Im going out to fight Leshy, just… make sure the cultists don't die, I guess? Ill probably be gone for a few days.”
He squinted at her. “Sure you don’t want some help? Leshy isn’t easy.”
“I doubt you want to face him again.”
“I already faced his lackie didn’t I?” He deadpanned. “Im sure I could handle the buggy bastard again.”
“I pulled you out of a pond mid-fight then promptly died. I dont count that as willingly facing him.”
“Semantics.” He huffed. “The short of it is, I don’t mind if it helps.” He gave her a smile, albeit not fully meeting her eyes. “Besides, it's better than just sitting around here.”
She huffed. “If you want to come you can, I don't mind if you can take care of yourself.”
“I’ve already surpassed my own bishops,” he smirked with a confident air. “It’ll be a piece of cake.”
“Right.” she raised a brow. “Well don't take my kills then.” She stood up.
“Stay up long enough to take them.” He teased.
She scoffed, jokingly offended. “Rude! You surprised me is all.”
“You were down before I popped up.” He rolled his eyes playfully, brushing past her arm to put his bowl away. She peeked past his shoulder to see how much he’d eaten.
His bowl was mostly untouched, she couldn’t remember seeing him take a bite.
“Hey.” she bumped his shoulder. “Is my cooking that bad?”
He blinked at her wide-eyed, looking down at the bowl. “No. I’m just not hungry.”
“Oh…” she frowned, “okay, sorry.”
“Nono dont be!” He hurriedly tried to reassure her. “It’s nothing to do with you, I swear.”
She nodded. “I know, sometimes you’re just not hungry, thats fine.” she pointed at him. “But if you’re coming with me you need your energy.”
He frowned, ducking his head as he begrudgingly took a bite.
The lamb watched him, tilting her head. “Good.”
He let out a puff of breath, muttering, “it’s good.”
She smiled. “Really?”
He nodded, taking in another bite. “It’s really good.”
She clapped her hands. “Good! Im going to go finish setting things up, you eat your fill.”
“Alright.” He huffed. “Meet at the gate?”
“Yeah!” she turned and walked off to leave him with his food, peeking back to check in on him a few minutes later.
He waved her off every time, taking slow begrudging bites until it was entirely gone.
She was proud of herself for getting him to eat, gathering the last of the supplies she’d need and giving her cultists what they needed for while she was out.
She saw him return an emptied bowl, waiting for her at the front of the camp.
She went over to him, grinning. “Satisfied?”
“As I’ll ever be.” He shrugged. “You ready to go?”
She nodded. “Ready to go bag a worm?”
“Hell yea.” He grinned devilishly.
They left the cult grounds, running into darkwood for the final round. The first area with bad guys looked too easy, and the Lamb cut through most of the cultists, glancing back to see how the goat was faring.
He looked rather confused, struggling to cut down one. He did manage it, but it took him far too long and another was rushing up behind him, one of those stupid bats. The lamb pulled out her dagger, throwing it as hard as she could to slice the bat in half.
Savan spun around, finally managing to take out the first. “What is happening?!”
“I don’t know! how did you manage to take out Barbatos?!” she ran over, yanking her dagger out of the bat's corpse.
“I was nothing! A few swings and a curse and boom!” He cried with frustration.
She stepped up to him, taking his hands and looking at them, “is it no longer working? Does wielding the crown feel any different?”
“It feels weird.” He admitted softly. “Weaker, almost suffocating, like something is outright dampening it and holding it back.”
“You said you took the crown from shamura after defeating her?”
“I had it before killing them.” He explained. “It became mine upon her death.”
“Was she able to use her power fully while you had it?”
He shook his head. “It was split, but their shackles dampened their connection to it.”
“Then…” she looked at the crown, “do you think there may be a problem with two of them coexisting in one world?”
He squeezed her hands, grinding his teeth. “Maybe? I hope not.” He whispered.
“Theres no telling.” she sighed. “Try to do what you can and stay close?”
He nodded. “Sorry. I thought I’d be more help.”
“We couldn’t have known.” she said, and they rushed onwards to the next area. “Come on, we can hurry.”
He nodded, running after her with a tight grip on his crown-sword.
They rushed through the levels, saving the sacrifices they came across and collecting whatever resources they could fit.
Then they came across Leshys door as it unlocked and slowly rumbled open.
Lamb glanced over at goat, “you doing okay?”
Savan gritted his teeth, nodding his head. He hadn’t felt this weak in… a long while. “I’m adjusting.”
“Good.” She tilted her head. “Say, do you think these bishops are even more different than yours? Who was your bishop of chaos?”
“Also Leshy.” He mumbled. “But he was their eldest, he had more control.”
“He's the youngest here.” She said then paused. “Oh the other bishops are going to be pissed we killed their little brother…”
“Oh absolutely.” The goat softly chuckled. “But he is the best to go for first. The weakest.”
She hummed as they headed in the doorway.
He trotted ahead a few steps, readying the few curses he had at the ready, simple scrolls and protective tarots gifted to him from the lamb. “So, do we have a plan? I don’t mind taking the brunt of attacks if you want to keep yourself safe at a distance.”
The lamb didn't answer, and inside the room he heard a shift, a light coming from the bandaged eye of a giant green bagworm.
Savan jolted, jumping back a few paces with a startled bleat. He wasn’t supposed to be here yet!
The bishop tilted his head, sharp teeth turning up into a smile as he leaned over, a hand outstretched behind Goat. “You're a curious little thing. Didn't realize we missed a goat.” The cultists in a circle around him seemed to sneer and brandish their weapons like they were ready to add the goat to their list of sacrifices.
Savan squeezed his weapon tight enough to hurt his hands, stamping his hoof against the dirt. “I just got here.” He muttered.
Leshy hummed, laughing a little. “Worry not, no need to continue wiping out the Caprine… you're pretty cute though.”
Savans shoulders hiked up to his ears, as he stiffened uncomfortably. “Huh?”
Leshy scooped him up, holding him more at his height, careful of keeping his sharp claws away from the goat. “stay here with me for a little while? I'd love to hear your story.”
Savan’s sword returned back to his head. He sat stiffly in the gods hand, squeezing his own nails against his palm. His voice didn’t want to cooperate, only managing to squeak. “What?”
“You heard me.” Leshy’s finger brushed against Sevans ear, “you still have your ears.”
Savan bristled, making a quiet, startled little bubbly sound. Leshy giggled at it, rubbing goats cheek with a Cheshire grin.
The goat felt his skin crawling. His face felt warm as his fur puffed up. However, even against his will, he did lean into the soft motions from the bishop with a soft rumble.
Leshy hummed, continuing the motion, but he slowed after a second, “what is…”
“Put him down!” Goat heard a loud bleat before he was abruptly dropped from the bishop's hands.
Savan yelped as he dropped, flailing too land on his feet, albeit less than gracefully.
The god screeched, and the cultists around all started scrambling, trying to bring out their weapons and stabbed themselves to lend their life force to their leader.
Savan scrambled, his sword flicking out in a sharp motion. “Lamb?!”
She dropped gracefully down next to him as Leshy screeche mid-transformation. “Are you hurt?!”
“No, no I’m good.” He assured. “He didn’t do anything.”
“Way to give me a heart attack, I stopped for some wood and you got snatched!” She let out a breath, gripping her sword, “just, come on, let's get this over with. Kicking his crown off didn't do shit.”
“How did you hit his head?!” He hissed. “How’d you even make it?”
“trees.” She pointed at the canopy.
“Oh… yeah that makes sense.” He murmured.
She zipped off towards the rampaging bagworm without another word, dodging most of his attacks.
Savan darted outward, slashing at the lackeys to keep them off of Inez’s back. She took care of Leshy, even when he grew angrier and more erratic, lashing out and spitting acid everywhere, much like Barbaros, but trickier, harsher.
Inez knocked him down, digging her sword through his skull. He screeched, squirming for a second until the fight left him and he slumped to the ground.
Savan bit his tongue, letting his sword go
Then Inez ran around the body for a moment, looking at it, before she stabbed at the corpses chest and climbed inside.
Savan cried. “Lamb?! What the fuck?!”
She dug around inside for a moment before a ichor soaked paw popped out, holding up a gross mess of flesh.
Savan felt sick. The bowl he forced down sat like stumbling stones in his gut. He squeezed his own torso, backing away by a few steps.
Inez head popped out of the body, taking a big breath of air in as she climbed out. “Eugh, this is going to be hard to wash out.” she shook herself out, not a hint of white or her black spots anywhere on her, just the weird sticky sap-like bronze blood.
Savan’s eyes dropped to the floor. Oh he was going to be sick.
“Maybe there's a river nearby I can wash off in.” Inez said. “But in that case you should head back to the cult. You don't wanna be around when I wash my wool.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” He forced himself to mumble.
She nodded, lifting the heart up as her eyes lit up fully red and her crown glowed, locking onto the organ for a moment, then seemingly sucking it inside. More streaks of red flowed over her cheeks and arms, bursting out in a faint wing shape behind her before letting her eyes fade back to her normal brown. “There we go, ew.” She shook herself out, trying to wipe off some of the ichor with a cringe. “Ugh, why'd she have to specify that part?”
“You have to do that?” He groaned.
“Yep.” Inez took off her cloak, trying to squeeze it out. “God of death wants her vengeance through torturing her oppressors in purgatory for all of eternity… or something like that. If she holds their hearts they can't move on.”
“Ugh.” He shuddered, squeezing himself. He tried to distract himself, pushing down the oddly small somber feeling at the edge of his head.
“You sure you're unhurt?” Inez asked, softer than before. “Leshy had you in his hands.”
“He didn’t hurt me.” He reiterated. “He was… weirdly curious.”
Inez paused, her hands stopping where they were squeezing her wool by her ears out, and she glanced over at the corpse with an unreadable expression. The area fell to a tense silence for a few seconds until she sighed, walking over to the fallen bishop. She kneeled in front of his head, reaching out with a quiet mumble and a glowing hand.
The body lit up, shining bronze for a moment until it disintegrated into sparkles.
Savan jumped, blinking in surprise. “What was that?”
“A blessing.” She mumbled. “She gave me permission to use it on one of them, to take it easier on them in their punishments.” She looked back to him, a sad look in her eyes, “it's the least I can do if he didn't harm my friend when he could have.”
He paused, knitting his brows together. “I… I see.”
She stood up, going back to trying to wipe herself off as much as she could. “On the next one, if you don't want to get queasy, you should go ahead to the transportation circle and let me do the thing.”
“Yea. Okay.” He nodded slowly. “Give me the heads up and I’ll meet you at the cult.”
She nodded. “Will do… should I try to find a water source here or go somewhere closer to the cult?”
“Either work. I can make a portal back before we split up.” He offered.
“The circle is in the next area.” She pointed, walking over to the side and through the brush. Beside the circle was already a decently sized creek. “Oh.”
“Lucky us.” Savan chuckled.
“Yeah!” Lamb grinned, leaning over the edge and dunking her cloak in first, scrubbing it down. “Do you need to clean off any before I get in?”
“I’m good.” He shrugged. “Why did you wanna wait for it though?”
“Lambs arent supposed to bathe with others… or at all really, but messy job, y'know?”
He shrugged. “Not really. Syren had to bathe separately but I never did get to ask why.”
“Lanolin, an oil we make on our skin to protect our wool, becomes toxic when exposed to water.” She said. “Basically wet lambs emit toxic fumes. Not lethal but still uncomfortable.”
“Ohhhhh.” Savan blinked. “Oh that makes so much sense.”
She laughed, laying out her cloak on the grass. “Plus our wool is really thick and can take so long to dry sometimes that it has the chance of molding.”
“That’s rough.” He murmured. “Mine takes a while to dry but I don’t think that counts.”
She chuckled, stepping into the water. “Fur is a little different.”
“Fair enough.” He giggled with her.
She took a little while to wash her wool, sinking under her water with lots of bubbles until they stopped, then standing up and ringing out literal buckets that her wool held. “You ever given a cat some catnip?” She asked randomly.
“Not catnip but I have hung around a few.” He hummed. “Why?”
“The only animal lanolin doesn't effect negatively is cats, its closer to catnip for them.”
“Wow, really?” He smiled. “How’d you figure that out?”
“The one who waits and her sons told me.”
“Her sons?” He tilted his head.
“Aym and Baal?” She paused. “Oh, might not be in your world.”
“Nono they’re the same, I think.” He nodded slowly with a shrug. “I liked them.”
She nodded. “They're with her here too, they stand guard by her side while she's chained.”
“They’re her kids?” He asked softly.
She nodded, stepping out to squeeze out her wool. “Adopted, I think. As far as Baal told me, they were the only sacrifice the one who waits has gotten since her captivity, sent as a gift to keep her company as just baby kittens… she raised them there in the afterlife as her own.”
“They were Narens' disciples in my world.” He mumbled softly.
“I mean, they still are here.” She looked over at him. “But when they're not being all serious, she's their mom. I only know cause Baal is an oversharer.” She chuckled.
“Inez.” Savan looked up to meet her eyes. “They held a position like Barbados and Vealfar.”
“Barbaros was definetly Leshys kid.” She said plainly. “Did you not notice how most of his attacks were the same, just on a smaller scale?”
He covered his mouth, hissing through his teeth. “Noooooooo.”
She furrowed her brows, looking at him in concern and confusion. “What's wrong?”
“I killed his kid. Both their kids!”
She blinked, frowning, and letting her arms drop to fidget with, thinking for a moment. Then she quietly asked, “what'd they take from you?”
“Huh?” He blinked to look up at her.
“You know my reasons for this.” She said. “Though I wouldn't touch aym and Baal, Barbatos and the other disciples were fair commupance for my parents, Leshys heart for my brothers, and the other bishops for my species. What did they take from you?”
“They… I didn’t have anything to take.” He mumbled.
“Then you had nothing left to lose.” She looked down. “Perhaps you were only protecting yourself.”
He hesitated, holding his own arms to squeeze. “They didn’t need me once Shamura was gone. I was a danger. They tried to take me out.”
“You didn't know.” She added. “And you didn't want to or deserve to die.”
He curled in on himself slightly, whining softly.
“It's not your fault.” She said plainly.
Savan choked on a breath, pressing the heel of his hand into his eyes.
“I know that look.” She whispered. “You've lost so much more than just your brothers. You did the best you could in a horrible situation, but none of it was your fault, Sevan.”
A sob clawed out of his throat, hiccups shaking his chest. “S-s-sorry.”
“You're okay.” She promised. “I'd hug you but… lanolin.”
He laughed, breathless and sudden before he sniffled. “We’ll s-say you owe me one.”
“I'm holding you to that.” She swore.
“Good.” He laughed softly.
“Let's head home so I can sunbathe to dry and clean up some dumbasses poop.” She stood up, waving at him to follow.
“I can take care of the crap.” He snickered, wiping his eyes clean. “I don’t mind cleaning. It keeps me busy.”
“no take backsies!” she giggled. “But once you're done you're resting with me for a bit!”
“Fiiiiine fine.” He huffed, rolling his eyes playfully as he started to feel more himself. She grinned at him, activating the teleportation portal and popping through with a final little “come on then!”
He gave her a few seconds before he leapt in after her.
He found her already skipping off to one of the empty areas to lay down, the followers seeming confused about the wide girth she gave them.
He snickered softly as he began making the nearly daily rounds for poop around the cult grounds. He cleaned and plucked weeds long until the sun began to dip down.
When he finished he saw Lamb running past with a net.
“Inez?” He chuckled softly, trotting over with a soft chuckle.
She called out, “aha!” She held up a skull with spider legs. “Scare spider!”
Savan slowed, blinking at the familiar item. “Oh the gods.”
She giggled, turning to run over to the farm with it. “Maybe this will keep them from stealing my crops.”
“Wait, wait wait!” He cried, chasing after her. “You’re supposed to bury it!”
“Hm?” She looked over at him confused.
“He’s not a scare-spider.” He ran over, trying to snatch it from her hand. “You gotta bury that in a grave plot.”
She let him take it, still confused. “Oh… kay, go ahead.”
Savan darted for the gravesyard, cradling the skull to his chest before he dropped it into an open grave. He covered it softly, patting it solidly together. He sat back on his haunches, watching and waiting.
He knew it wouldn’t be the same, he never would be, but Savan still held onto a tiny glimmer of hope.
Inez crouched behind him. “What's that for?”
“It’s a little guy.” Savan looked back at her to reply. “He’s a little kid.”
“A…kid?” Inez blinked. “Like, a child?! I have no idea how to handle a child, Savan.”
“He’s easy.” He responded.
When the dirt shifted Savan jumped, he brushed the silt and dust away from a tiny fuzzed hand that wrapped around his fingers.
Inez gasped from behind him, leaning closer to inspect what was happening.
Savan dug through the rest of the dirt, pulling up a toddler sized spider child. He hugged them close to his chest, letting them wiggle around before closing all his little arms around Savans own.
Inez watched quietly, blinking at the affection she hadn't seen Sevan show before. “Is he yours then?”
“Huh?” The goat looked up at her to tilt his head.
“You know what to do and the way you hold him… he's yours.”
“I guess?” He shrugged, picking himself up as he bounced webber in his arms. “He’s more like a little brother… or was, I suppose.” He shook his head, holding the small spider in a way it more presented him. “This is Webber.”
“Well he's not the same one you knew.” She reminded him quietly. “He doesn't have to be.”
Savan shrugged, resting his chin on the little boy’s head as Webber nestled into the thicker fur on his neck. “I dunno. He’s just Webber.” He mumbled. “Doesn’t really matter what he is.”
She gave him a wry smile, then stood up. “Alright then, would you and your Webber like to go to bed?”
Savana frowned, pouting as he ran his thumb against the back of the kids head. “He probably should sleep…”
“I did promise you a non-toxic hug too.” She added.
“That you did.” He chuckled. “And I’m holding you to that.”
“Come on then.” She held out a hand.
Savan took it with his own free one, squeezing hers softly. She squeezed back, leading him back to the tree he'd set his bedroll up against.
Savan plopped himself down, letting Webber get comfortable in his lap as he pulled Inez down beside him.
She blinked, furrowing her brows. “What are you doing?”
“Getting that hug.” He grinned, tugging her into his own arms.
“Couldn't do it standing up?”
“Nope.” He chirped, squeezing her tighter. “And now you're stuck!”
She gasped, “what? You fiend?!”
Savan cackled, pressing his horns against her shoulder. Webber even looked up at the noises, reaching up to grab at her arm curiously.
She reached out to rub the baby's cheek gently, chuckling. “Just for a bit then.”
“Yesssss.” Savan chuckled as Webber giggled. The babies tiny spider legs all wiggled with his laughter.
Inez relaxed a bit, sitting with them and running her fingers through the goats fur, humming a vaguely familiar tune.
He relaxed against her with a soft sigh, his eyes slipping easily shut. They stayed like that until he was closer to sleep than consciousness.
At some point Inez escaped, slipping back away to her work.
He woke up to morning with just webber and himself.

Chapter 3: Famine

Summary:

Hekets Famine brings up bad memories for the lamb, lucky for her, the Goat and a new friend are there to help her through it.

Notes:

guess who that cat is?
hey, guess who it is?
guess. guess.
hint: it's Sydney (FINALLY)
also yes, Sydney is 100% a country girl type, so you may read her accent as such.

They were cutting through their second route in anura, trying to beat back half starved cultists to get back to the cult before Hekets famine got too bad. Inez was panicking slightly, she had already been struggling to keep up with the food demands on the cult grounds, adding a doctrine just so her followers would be content eating grass for a bit. Heket came and messed with the balance she'd managed to find. 

Inez blasted one of the stupid frogs leaping at her into dust, snatching the only pieces left, slightly to charred bones she could use to give her followers a feast ritual. 

Savan was glued to her side, taking the brunt of hits that she wouldn’t be able to dodge. He had been doing his best to stay positive and keep her on the brightside. It wasn’t working the best. 

They ran into the next room, finding them with a poor animal tied down ready to do another sacrifice. Inez felt her chest clench, stumbling a little to her knees, holding the wool poking out of her collarbone from her cloak. She couldn't very well leave them to kill the poor thing, but her cult was already starving . Could she even fit another at that moment? Anyone she saved from Anura was already starving by default, this one would be no exception. 

She wasn't prepared for any of this. Leshy hadn't attacked her people like this. She didn't know what to do.

She heard weapons clashing, feet running past her just outside her field of view. Voices cried, cultists and Savans all melding together into sounds she couldn’t discern. Was he fighting them on his own? 

She tried to look up to see what was happening, but the corners of her vision were fuzzing out. Right, she needed to breathe. She felt like she couldn't move either, stuck on the ground in some pathetic pile. She was supposed to be better than this by now. 

She felt a soft touch on her hand, blinking at the ground to see a pale blue paw. 

“Hey darlin’” a voice spoke, gentle and full, but shaky. “Take a deep breath.” 

She couldn't, clenching her wool tighter with her other hand, and clenching her eyes closed as she shook her head. 

“Ya gotta.” The voice emphasized, “come on, just let a little more air in.” Inez heard her taking a big breath in, then letting it out as if to guide her. 

She knew that! She knew, she just- Inez tried to swallow, a thick lump in her throat fighting her every step. Then she tried to follow her sounds of breathing, focusing on the soft soothing motion of the strangers thumb rubbing over the back of her hand. 

Slowly, fresh Air started slipping through into her lungs, a little bit at first, then more until she could get a full breath in. She squeezed the helpers paw with her own, trying to thank them before she could manage to make words again. 

“There ya go.” She said sweetly, another paw reaching out to massage Inez’ other wrist, get in her to loosen her grip on her wool so she didn't rip any of it out. “Good job.”

Inez nodded slightly, letting go of her wool to hold onto the stranger's other hand, finally opening her eyes to look down at both of her paws. 

“ Lamb! ” She heard Savan shout. Looking up he was running over, the bodies adorning the ground already melting away. “Are you okay?!”

She nodded, looking up at him, clearing her throat. “I'm fine.”

“You sure?” He knelt next to her, kicking up a small cloud of dust as he slid. “I’m sorry, I just ran in.”

“You're fine.” She assured him, “everything is fine.”

“Clearly not, doll.” The woman sitting with her joined the conversation, letting one of her hands go to brush her paw across Inez cheek. “You nearly just passed out.” she was a blue long haired cat. 

“Do you need to head back?” Savan asked softly, resting a hand on her shoulder. “I can handle the rest of this journey if you do.”

“No.” She jumped a little at the contact from both, scrunching her nose slightly. “This is my responsibility, and if we stop now, who's to keep Heket from sending another curse?” 

“I can keep going.” He assured. “You don’t gotta handle this on your own, remember?”

“And you lost most of your power, remember?” She hissed a little. “I can handle myself just fine, let's just get this over with-” she tried to get up, but the cat took her hands again, pulling her down and into her arms in a hug.

“You should take a break first.” She asserted. 

“I’ll scout around to be sure we got everything.” Savan grinned. “Listen to… what is your name?”

The cat blinked up at him for a moment, then shook her head. 

“Then listen to the cat.” He shrugged. “Until we can get you a proper name.”

Inez squinted at him, but found she didn't have the energy to protest. “hurry?” 

“I’ll be quick.” He promised, patting her shoulder before he hopped to his feet. He pointed at the cat holding the lamb with a grin. “Keep her there!”

“I will!” She called back, giving Inez a gentle squeeze. 

Inez squinted at the cat. “Let me go.”

“No!” 

The lamb grumbled, trying to push her away, but she was tired, and needed to save her energy for later. 

After a moment Inez relented, slumping against the cats chest as the furred captor started up a low rumble. It was… nice. Inez relaxed some against her. She could wait for a moment while Sevan did a quick check. 

The cat didn't seem to mind her either, nor did she mind boundaries, as she curled more around the lamb, poking her snout into Inez’ shoulder with louder purrs. 

“Comfy?” Savan’s voice asked from behind them both. 

“Help.” Inez mumbled and the cat squeezed her slightly tighter. 

Savan giggled, shaking his head. “I think you’re trapped here hon.”

“ Noooo .” 

“Get comfy lamb.” Savan teased. “I’m not prying her off.”

“Traitor.” she mumbled. 

“Dork.” He smiled brightly. 

“Seriously, please detatch her.” Lamb huffed. “We have shit to do and I'm pretty sure she's high now. I need to send her to the cult.” 

“ Fine, fine. ” Savan huffed, tapping the cats back. “Hey, hon? Think you can let go?”

The cat shook her head, burying her face more into the lambs neck. Inez squeaked in surprise, stiffening. 

Savan was barely containing his giggles, squeezing the cat's shoulders. “We gotta take you home, hon.”

She made that weird growling “mrrrr” sound at him. 

“Yea yea, the lamb is comfy I know.” He chuckled. “But she’s gotta get us food.”

The cats ears perked up at that, and she poked her head out to squint at him suspiciously. like most everyone they picked up in Anura she looked like she needed the food. 

“I'm sure the rest of the cult would be happy to meet you.” He tried. 

Her ears folded back and she scowled. Inez reached up to pat her head. “It's not one of the bishop's cults, it's barely even a cult as is, just a safe place.”

“The lamb keeps it running.”

“Technically most of the people there follow and worship me, not a god.” Inez added. “No sacrifices.” 

“And no cannibalism?” The cat whispered. 

Inez’ chest clenched and she nodded, “at worst we eat grass sometimes. Heket cursed us a few days ago to be low on food but that's why we're out here right now, to get more food.” 

“And we’re going to find it.” Savan promised. “No eating people. Ever.”

Inez nodded, giving him a grateful smile as the cat hesitantly pulled back from the lamb. 

“You smell nice though.” She mumbled. 

The lamb pressed her lips together, praying she didn't look as red as she felt.

“You’ll get all the time in the world with her when we came back. With food.” Savan assured her. “Promise.”

Inez shot him a look, pushing the rest of the way back from the cat and then pressing her palms together. “Sorry, we really have to hurry with this, I'll be back on the grounds soon.” 

The cat blinked at her confused, then the ground lit up under her and she shouted as she was sucked inside. 

“That was fun.” Savan commented, standing up to grin at her. 

“You left a cat to get addicted to my lanolin.” She huffed, standing up, “did you even find anything?” 

“Nothing of note.” He hummed. “We picked the place clean.”

“Right.” She stood up, dusting herself off. “Well, let's go on ahead then.” 

“Right.” He still wore his sneaky little shitty grin as he took the lead before her. 

“What's with the face?” She asked, squinting at him. 

“That was really funny to watch.” He snickered. 

She narrowed her eyes at him more, crossing her arms. 

“What, it was.” He shrugged. “She was obsessed with you.”

“It's a cat thing.” She huffed. 

“Really?”

“ Yes .” She pinched her snout, “I told you the lanolin thing already.”

“Catnip isn’t harmful or addictive.” He shrugged. “I thought it’d be the same.”

“lanolin is still kind of a drug to them.” She said. 

“You could’ve pulled her off.” He pointed out. “You had more access to her hands than me.”

“I also was recovering from nearly hyperventilating.” She raised her brows. 

Savan jumped, stumbling a touch over his words. “Yea, well- it looked like you were enjoying it. I didn’t want to mess that up.”

She grumbled under her breath, walking ahead of him. “It's whatever, we have a job to do, come on.”

He ran to catch her, following in silence for just a little while. “ Sorry. ” He murmured. 

“It's fine.” She slumped a little, “I probably needed to stay down for a second anyway.”

“You did, that’s why I didn’t immediately peel her off.” He nodded. “She looked like she was helping.”

Inez shrugged. “I can't exactly die, you know.”

“Doesn’t mean I want to see you go.” He mumbled. “And it can’t feel great.”

“I'm getting used to it.” 

He hummed flatly, frowning to himself. 

“You'll get used to it too.” She added. 

“I don’t think I want to.” 

“Well you didn't get a patron god of death so like hell I'm letting you get killed.” She said plainly. 

“You just gotta know the way back.” He shrugged. “But still, try not to. Please?”

She just shrugged. “I don't actively seek it out.”

He squinted at her suspiciously, although not for long. 

“I don't like dying.” She clarified. “But it's less consequential for me than it is you.” 

“Yea fair.” He sighed with a shrug. 

They jumped into the next area, Inez drawing her dagger out and shooting off ahead. 

 Savan flipped out his axe, darting after her, gathering whatever supplies he could while not lagging behind. 

Notes:

inez: lesbian panic
Sevan: ha! get rekt
also this lamb is gonna eat her words real soon

Chapter 4: Heket

Chapter by CricketFerguson

Summary:

the second bishop presents a small... challenge for our duo

Notes:

shorter chapter this week, but I promise the build up will be worth it >:D ~Sinner

The bishop of famine was quite the battle, far harder than Leshy, and Sevan hadn't been able to build up enough power yet to be able to hold his own as easily. 

Inez looked over at him, blood oozing from a broken horn, bumps and lumps from broken bones or cuts he couldn’t heal fast enough before he gained more. 

He wasn't going to make it through this battle if she didn't do something. And if she died he'd be left unprotected… 

Inez swallowed a lump in her throat, shooting a row of tentacles at the frog to knock her back and bolted over towards her friend, “goat!”

He looked up at her after firing off his own curse, the flaming sprites leaving his hand, singing his fur. 

She reached a hand out towards him, loading her home spell and shoving it against his chest. She heard him shout, startled and confused, his eyes staring into her with fear and betrayal. 

Then she felt something thick and sticky wrap around her waist and yank her back and up into the air. 

Savan could only watch her flying towards the bishop's open maw, before he blinked and could see nothing but the grass of the cult grounds. 

He scrambled to get up, ignoring the screaming of his body to whip his head around. She was still in there!

The cultists noticed his return and seemed to cheer, running up to circle around him. 

He froze up, trying to step away. “H-hey. Wait- I’m not staying for long!”

“Veevee!” Weber's shout seemed to call from above the crowd. Savan’s eyes found him in moments, held up on Sydney's shoulders, the Maine Coon they'd saved from Anura who'd been more than happy to take care of the child when Sevan was out. 

Savan felt like he was choking. He bit his own lip, trying to catch Sydney’s eye and shake his head. She didn't pay attention to that, instead shoving a few cultists aside to reach out and touch his shoulder. 

“You're hurt.” She said plainly, then tugged him to follow her.  

“I’m fine. ” He tried to refute, his voice cracking at the rushed motion. Webber reached out to hold onto his untouched horn. Savan couldn’t bring himself to pull away. She pulled him into the med tent, plopping him down on the cot there. She pulled Webber off her shoulders and set him in Sevans lap, turning around to prepare some of their camellia broth. 

“Sydney I need to get back out there.” Webber climbed into his lap before he could get up, trapping him effectively. He nestled into the goats fleece, holding it in his tiny fists. “Webby please.”

“You're letting me fix ya first.” She said, “It won't take long.”

“I don’t know if you can do much.” Savan muttered. “I usually have to let the crown do its thing.”

“Set your arm and stitch you up so you don't heal wonky.” she said plainly. 

“You don’t have to waste supplies on me.” 

“I'm not going to let you turn a rescue mission into a suicide mission either.”

“That’s a bit dramatic.” Savan deadpanned. 

“Is it?” She turned around, shifting Webber to the side without a broken arm and giving the child a cloth. 

He grinned, essentially slapping the goat with it as he sloppily tried to wipe away the staining red. 

“ Ack- Webber, careful!” The little boy slowed down at the goats complaint, not any gentler though. 

Sydney worked on his arm, shoving another cloth in his mouth, “bite.”

He huffed, squeezing it between his teeth with a scowl. She took a moment, then snapped his bone back into place. He winced, squeezed shut his eyes as he felt it all shift. She also carefully patched up the rest of him, adding a healing salve to some deeper scratches and burns and stitching up his head. 

Then she handed him the warmed up broth she'd had simmering over a small fire. 

He spat out the rag, holding the bowl away from a curious Webber. “Not for you bud.”

Sydney sat next to him, holding a string above Webber's head and wiggling it to distract him. “So, what happened?” 

“Heket happened.” Savan muttered, taking a quick swig. “I got cocky, took a hit too many and Lamb shoved me back here.”

She nodded. “Sounds right. But I wager something else happened that's freaking you out?”

“She hasn’t come back, and last I saw… wasn’t great. ” He looked down. 

Sydney hesitated, then asked, “what did you see?”

He set his bowl aside, stroking Webber’s head. “Heket had her.”

Sydney hummed, looking down. “Well she can't die… so she'll be okay. Finish your soup.”

“Heket could keep her. For capture.” He growled. 

“Which is why you're going back in there, I know.” Sydney growled back. “But if you ended up so rough with Lamb's help, you'll need to be at the best you can to face her alone.”

“I don’t have time to waste.” He hissed, taking a bigger gulp just so Sydney couldn’t complain. “There are things worse than death.”

“I know.” She whispered. “I want you to succeed.” she rubbed Webber's head. “Give it a few more minutes to heal what it can at least.”

He frowned, watching the ground. “Alright.”

“Hug your child.” 

Savan gave her a look but still wrapped his arms around Webber. The little kid smiled, hugging onto his arm in return with a happy coo. Then he handed the kid back off to Sydney, who promised snacks to distract the spider and gave him a good luck smile. 

Savan waved goodbye, sprinting out of the camp, past the other cultists and straight back into Anura at full speed. 

Chapter 5: Swallowed

Summary:

Goat goes to get the Lamb back from Heket. Where he finds her isn't ideal.

Savan stood face to face with Hekets temple once again, he made the long trek, sword in hand with a lot more protections in place. 

Inside was silent. 

He crept forward slowly, squeezing the hilt of his weapon into his own palm. As he approached the battlefield he scanned the ground hoping desperately to see a hint of wool, the red of her cloak, the dead frog, anything.

Instead he saw the off orange frog sitting in the back, still fully sized in her god form, muttering to herself, like she was annoyed. 

Then he heard a shriek.

Savan jumped, bolting forward. Where was the lamb?!

“Shut up!” Heket shouted. “Stay dead!” 

She jumped, landing like a splat flat on her stomach and the scream cut off. 

“Hey!” Savan shouted, his voice cracking in his own desperation. “Fly breath! Over here!”

She turned to lock burning eyes onto his, snarling “returned to… let me finish you… off?!”

“Returned to get the lamb, wart face.” He roared back. 

“I'll… send you right… to it!”

Savan didn’t give her a moment to try. He fired off a giant blob of explosive ichor as he dove to the side. 

She let out a raspy scream, trying to catch him with her tongue. 

He rolled out of the way from side to side, slicing it in two when it got too close. Heket screamed, her trembling body echoing the sound with another pain filled familiar sound.

Savan took a firmer stance, snarling as he watched for the bishop’s next move. 

She shook herself out, seething. She jumped again, heading right to land on top of him, her full belly out and exposed like the bulging flesh could crush him. 

He raised his sword, swinging it down her flesh as he ducked, blood bile and acid all splattering out and coating him in the process. The air was filled with the smell of rotten meat, a sharp sting from the juices of her gut and burning hair. Savan had to will himself not to puke with the mess. Heket jumped out of the way with another shout, trailing a mess of different fluids and falling organs. 

He ended up behind a lump of half-digested food and singed wool and flesh. The stomach acid was so vile it literally bubbled, letting off smoke and steam.

Savan was left shaking, his feet rooted to the floor. He needed to move but everything weighed him down. The smells made him dizzy, the blood stung his skin. His enemy was weak but the state of her body made his head spin. He should at least make it to Inez. 

Inez, who he still prayed was awake. 

The lump in front of him jerked, a hand shooting out to scramble for purchase.

Savan felt he could let in a breath, one shackle off his feet. “Lamb!”

She let out a strangled bleat, trying to pull herself out of the burning mess.

Savan’s body jumped forward in a disjointed, rough motion. He made a strangled run toward his friend, almost crashing into the ground as he dropped to his knees. She was steaming, some burns trying to heal while the acid clung to her skin, making new horrible smells. The majority of it clung to the left side of her body.

He pulled her into his own arms, the acid stinging his already persistent burns. “Inez-”

Her less marred arm wrapped around him, clinging for dear life as she pressed her head against his chest with shaky, squeaking sobs. 

“I’ve got you.” He whispered, pulling her closer to squeeze, wrapping his own cloak around her back. “You’re safe.”

She trembled against him, clinging to him and crying for a moment. His cloak managed to wipe off some of the burning fluid, which seemed to help. 

He pressed his own forehead to the top of hers, ignoring the sting as he wiped away the gunk on her face. “I’m sorry I wasn’t faster.”

She let him hold her for a moment, letting her cheek slump on his shoulder as she tried to calm down, still sizzling in some missed spots and tense from the pain. 

Then she paused, and out of the corner of his eye he saw her eye light up red and her arm shot out, a blast ringing out behind him. The attack seemed to send another burst of healing through her body.

Savan flinched, squeezing her as his head snapped up. He saw Heket splitting right in half, the attack charring both sides so nothing else fell out. 

Inez paused in surprise, still breathing a little too rapidly.

He took in a deep breath, carefully and gently brushing his fingers to a clear spot on Inez’s cheek. “Lamb. Look at me.”

She flinched, but looked over at him, reaching up to grip his hand tightly. Her left eye was shut, trying to keep whatever was left out of it, and some of the more severe burns ran across her cheek on that side and over her ear. 

“Can I wipe the rest of that off?” He asked softly.

She pressed her lips together, squeezing her eyes shut with a quick nod. She managed to squeak out a ragged, “please.”

“Okay.” He hummed in a low tone, grabbing his fleece to wipe away at her fur and skin as delicately as he physically could. “We can wash up before we head home, and I’ll stay as far away as you need.”

She shook her head slightly, trying to get bigger breaths in. “the… med tent.”

“We should get this gunk off you first.”

“can’t-” she hissed, shaking her head more. “I… I can't… my wool.” 

“I can help if you’d let me.” He offered. “I don’t mind being down for a few days with you if it means you’ll be okay, Puff.”

“No.” She slumped a little. “Please?” 

He frowned, sagging a little bit but continued to the best he could with his cloak. “Okay.”

She let him work with what he could, glancing back at Hekets body after a moment. Then she mumbled, “I need the heart.”

“You should rest.” He murmured, rubbing her unmarred shoulder. “I… I’ll take it.”

“I can-” she blinked, shaking her head, “you don't like that.”

“I’ll be fine.” He assured. “I can suck it up.”

She huffed, leaning forward to bump him with her horns. He shook his head. “Let me bear the brunt of this one.” He huffed. “Just rest.”

She grumbled, but after a pause, leaned into him.

He rubbed her good arm softly, taking slow breaths in. “I got you. Always.”

She was quiet for a moment, then mumbled a quiet, “thank you.”

“Of course.” He hummed back easily. “I owe you everything.”

“I double owe you now.” She mumbled, looking like she was getting drowsy. 

“Nah.” He chuckled softly. “You owe me nothing.” He hummed softly, following a tune he’d heard from her trying to lull her to sleep. 

Something wet dropped onto his arm, the first liquid that didn't sting his skin. He brushed it aside with his fingers, finding fresh red on his skin. 

Fear shot through his blood. He patted at her shoulder, mumbling “Nez, Nezzy, Puff hey, don’t fall asleep. Please.”

She grumbled at him, squinting, “make up your mind.” 

“I don’t know which one you’re gonna listen to.” He huffed, holding her by her cheeks, not squishing, barely touching. “But don’t sleep. Sleep’s bad right now.”

She huffed, but complied, blinking slowly at the ground. 

“Good job.” He tried to smile. “Think you can sit up on your own?”

She slowly let him go, pushing both palms into the ground to keep herself shakily up. 

“I’ll be quick.”

Savan hopped to his feet, shoving any and every thought to the side before he nearly jumped into Hekets remains, searching for the heart. He didn’t have to climb far across her carcass before he could snag it and run back. Inez was still sitting up, but her head was hanging down. She was probably exhausted. 

“Hey, Inez?” He called softly, settling back at her side. “I got the heart.”

She leaned her good shoulder against him with a hum, reaching for it with a shaking hand. “Gotta… get it in the crown.”

He cupped his hands under hers, helping her raise her own arms up to bring it to the red crown. It did the same thing as before, giving her another boost in healing that finally got her to relax some. 

“That help any?” He asked, holding the brunt of her weight. 

She nodded, “most of it is going numb…”

“That’s not good.” He huffed. “Can I carry you home?”

She nodded, wrapping her arm around him again. He wrapped her legs around his waist, hoisting her up to carry to the portal circle just outside the arena. “We’ll go home, go see Syd, get you all fixed up so you can sleep then get all clean. I’ll feed the cult and make you something nice.”

“m’kay.” She tilted her head against his shoulder. 

“You call me for anything, okay?” 

“Mhm.” She agreed.

He stepped up to the teleportation circle, dropping down simply with the both of them together. 

He wrapped her in his cloak, ducking around to avoid any wandering cultist as he ducked into the medtent. Sydney was waiting there, Webber asleep in a carrier on her back. 

Savan settled Inez on a cot, sitting beside her without reaching for his coat back. Sydney glanced back at the noise, her ears folding down when she spotted the pair. She got up and shuffled over, reaching out to brush a hand through the lambs wool on her head. 

“What happened?” She whispered, and Inez opened one eye to stare at her tiredly. 

“Heket…” he swallowed, squeezing her good arm. 

Sydney huffed, reaching out to cover lambs ears. “I need to know to help her… were the burns from fire… ice?”

“Stomach acid.” Savan murmured low enough for her to still hear. 

“Acid burns.” She nodded. “Good to know.”

He nodded. “I wiped away as much as I could.”

“Good.” She prepared a bowl of water and a rag. “Any other injuries?”

“Her head's bleeding, I couldn't tell how bad it was.” He admitted. 

“Okay.” She nodded, dabbing away at some of the burns gently, running the cool water over them. She tilted her head, peering curiously at the injuries. 

Inez tensed, hissing and gripping the edge of the bed. Sydney rumbled softly, trying to get her to relax, but it wasn't working. Savan tried the same, massaging her wool wherever it was unmarred. She grabbed his hand, squeezing it at Sydney worked, silent and focused. 

Savan squeezed back, looking up to see the odd look in the cat's eyes. “Syd?”

“Hm?” she hummed in response. 

“What’s wrong?”

She was quiet for a moment, then huffed. “These burns are layered.” 

“… meaning?” Savan tilted his head. 

“Meaning its layers of scar tissue, parts of it managed to heal then got newly burned, and healed again, layering it up into a thick mess.” she huffed. “There’s bound to be extensive damage, pain won’t feel right or the same, or some at all, and the healing process will take a while, but there will be permanent scarring.” 

“Oh.” He mumbled as a heavy weight settled. He should have been faster.

“It’s fixable.” Sydney assured. “But even with your healing factors, it’ll be a little longer and difficult.”

Savan nodded silently, hugging Inez as much as he could without getting in the way. 

They sat there in silence for a little while, Inez trying to stay as still as she could as Sydney carefully cleaned and wrapped her face and head first. Then she mumbled a quiet question, “my spots?” 

“You still have most of them.” Savan murmured although he could barely manage to speak. 

She brushed her free hand slowly over the bandage. Sydney frowned, taking that hand and bringing it down to start cleaning. “Everything will be okay, darlin.”

“We’ll make sure of it.” He promised, tapping his snout to her forehead. 

She huffed, leaning into him as Sydney got back to quietly working. It took a while to get everything clean. Halfway through, Sydney told the Lamb she could sleep if she wanted to. Inez didn’t lay down, instead opting to lean against the goat and doze for a bit so Sydney still had access to what she needed to. 

Savan tried to stay as still as he could to not jostle her. Conflicted feelings clashed and tangled in his brain that he had to ignore. 

He wouldn’t lose this moment. 

Once Sydney finished, she got up, wrapping a blanket around both the lamb and goats shoulders. “I’ll heat up some broth.” 

“Thanks.” Savan gave her a soft smile, checking on Inez to make sure she was asleep and comfortable. She was still out like a light, her non-bandaged ear flapping every few seconds. 

It put a soft smile on his lips. He adjusted her slowly, resting his chin on her head and moving her more against his chest. He latched onto every sign of life like a treasure. 

She was alive, at least.

Chapter 6: A new, temporary rhythm.

Summary:

Healing is never easy, why would it be any different for a vessel?

They’d fallen into a little rhythm, a schedule of sorts. Sydney helped Goat take care of the cult while Lamb was recovering, suggesting she stay inside away from weather and wind to keep her wounds more clean. They upgraded bedrolls to tents, Goat making treks through Darkwood and Anura to keep up supplies. Inez refused a tent of her own, so Sydney was having her stay in hers. 

Her bandages had to be changed daily, and Sydney made a soothing salve out of some healing herbs for the pain and to hopefully reduce whatever scarring she could. If they were too busy with the cult, they’d let Webber keep the lamb company, otherwise Sydney was almost always at the Lambs side, talking to her, keeping her up to date with all the latest news in the cult. These two followers decided to be romantic partners, those other two broke up, and this trio couldn’t be left alone together or they'd fight each other.

If it wasn’t Sydney it was the goat getting in much needed downtime. Savan would sit with her, let her rest on him or be however far away as she pleased. He’d tell her about crusades, or sermons. A funny thing Webber did that day. An odd flower he saw in darkwood, absolutely anything that came to his mind. 

She hadn’t spoken much since Heket. 

“Puff,” he decided to probe one day, reaching for her hand. “Are you doing okay?”

She blinked, looking at his hand, then gave a small nod. 

“Can you tell me what’s on your mind?” He asked. 

She was quiet for a moment, then shrugged slightly. 

“Please?” He quietly pleaded. “I miss your voice.”

She didn’t respond for what seemed like too long, then simply shook her head, “I’m fine.”

“Clearly not.” He sighed, reaching up a hand to cup her good cheek. “I’m worried for you.”

She leaned into his hand. “Just… ready for this to be over with.” 

“Yeah?” He tilted his head, rubbing a thumb along her cheek. “You miss bein busy?”

She nodded a little. 

“I’m sure everyone will be excited for your return.” He smiled. “I think they’re getting tired of my sermons.”

“I can preach.” she mumbled. “It's inside.”

“Check with Syd to be sure,” he hummed. “But otherwise I got no complaints.”

She hummed back, closing her uncovered eye tiredly. She’d slept plenty, he knew that, but she remained nearly constantly in an exhausted state. 

“Is that all that’s bugging you?” He slowly asked. “I know the famine was stressing you out.”

She stared down at the ground for a second, reaching up to squeeze his arm. 

“Talk to me.” He begged. “I want to help.”

“Famine was one of their worst tactics.” she said slowly. 

He nodded, gently pulling her to lean on him. “Yeah?”

“It got at least half… of the other sheep.” she lowered her voice to near a whisper, “it got my father and aunt…” 

“Oh, nez.” He gave her a delicate squeeze. “I’m so sorry.”

“Death happened all the time.” she said, her tone trying to convey something, almost like that loss wasn’t what truly scared her. “It was nothing new… survival was.”

“We have food.” He started to list. “We have water. We’ve stockpiled, and Heket is dead. Survival will not be a war, no one will starve.”

“No… but it was retribution.” she looked at her hand, her bandages going all the way down to her wrist. “An eye for an eye.”

“What do you mean?” He asked with concern. 

“She ate me.” she whispered. 

Savan went stiff, he felt his blood run cold. 

“We didn’t have anything else.” her voice was barely audible. “We had to survive somehow… surely this is some kind of punishment. I’m supposed to be stronger than that now, how couldn’t it be?” 

He squeezed her tighter, hiding his face in her wool. “It’s not your fault.” He muttered. “It was never your fault.”

She let out a shaky breath, turning her head to look away from him. 

“You survived, that’s not something to punish.” He assured. 

“Maybe I shouldn’t have survived.” she said. “I couldn’t get out of… there on my own, maybe the prophecy was supposed to be for someone else.” 

“Don’t say that.” Savan pleaded in a desperate hiss. “I couldn’t imagine being here with anyone but you.” He clutched her wool as if trying to keep her here. “You saved me lamb, does that make me any worse?”

“What?” she squinted at him, confused. 

“I was nowhere before coming here,” he explained, his words slowly building until he was babbling. “My family, my friends, my cult, my people, gone. All gone. I had nothing, but you gave me something to hold onto again. If you weren’t here I’d still be wandering an empty island.”

She stared at him for a moment, then gave his arm another small squeeze. “I’m glad you’re here.” 

“And I am glad you are too.” He squeezed her back.

She leaned into him with a sigh. “Is it bandage time?” 

“Probably.” He hummed. “Are you ready?”

She nodded, “as much as I usually am.”

“Alright,” he peeled himself free from her, holding out his hands. “Where are we starting today?”

She let him have her bandaged arm, her usual preference to start with, and she turned her head to look away. 

He unwrapped it carefully, taking his time without taking forever. She didn’t like watching, letting him reapply the salves and medicines Sydney had prepared and rewrap it without complaint. He saw the extent of what was just burnt and what was scarred, where they covered her few splotches of black skin on her shoulder, just leaving the few spots that stretched past the damage. The side of her face wasn’t much better, but her eye on that side seemed mostly undamaged. It wouldn’t open all the way anymore, but that was only subtle, noticeable only if he compared it to the other eye. 

“You’re healing fairly well.” He hummed, brushing his hand over the last bandage he reapplied. 

“Good.” she pulled her cloak up over her shoulders. “Then I can go back to taking care of my cult soon?” 

“I think so.” He tried to smile for her. “Real soon.”

“Good.” she nodded. 

“In the meantime is there anything you want?”

She shook her head. “I’m okay.” 

“Alright.” He offered her his hand. “I’ve got some time to stick around, just let me know.”

She gave his hand a squeeze, then let go, turning to look at the mesh in the tent they were using as a window so she wouldn’t feel so claustrophobic. 

“You can ask me something if you want.” He offered. “I know I’ve been pressing you.”

“You haven’t.” she said. 

“Still.” He shrugged. “Seems only fair.”

“It’s not.” she responded quietly. 

“Why not?” He tilted his head innocently. 

She went quiet again. 

“I’m giving you the pass here,” he offered. “No strings attached.”

She simply shook her head. “You’ve done plenty.” 

Savan paused, murmuring a quiet “okay.”

Silence fell between them, then Inez mumbled, “you don’t have to stay in here.”

“I want to.” He replied. “Unless you want me to go. I’ll give you your space.”

She didn’t respond.

“Do you want me out of your wool?” He asked. 

She huffed, glancing over at him tiredly. “I’m done talking for now.” 

“Ah, okay.” He nodded. “I’m here if you need me.”

She hummed, then went back to staring out the mesh at the cult grounds. 

Savan watched her, then looked at the grass poking through the lip between the walls and the floor, biting his lips shut. Inez didn’t need him blabbering more. 

Chapter 7: Spots

Summary:

Recovery takes time...

“You ready?” Sydney asked, and Inez clenched her hands tightly in her lap. 

“Yeah.” she mumbled, letting the cat scoot closer and begin unwrapping her bandages. It was the last time, supposedly. Her injuries were healed as much as they could be. 

Savan took her other side, offering support and as much comfort as he could. Sydney, for once, started at Inez’ head, where she couldn’t see the damage and freak out before she was done. 

Savan watched the bandages peel away, offering her a hand to hold. She took it, looking down at his hand as Sydney took her other arm. She began unwrapping that next, humming softly an old, soothing tune.

He ran his thumb over her knuckles, softly brushing against her skin. 

She tried to take steady breaths as Sydney worked, not moving her eyes away from the motion of her friend's hand. When the cat eventually finished and sat back to clean up, Inez remained rooted there, unable to get herself to look. 

“Nez, you okay?” Savan asked, giving her hand a squeeze.

She nodded stiffly. “Just… taking a moment.”

“Take all the time you need.” He hummed. “We’re here for you.”

“How bad is it?” she asked. 

“How do you mean?” He tilted his head. 

She looked up at him reaching a hand up to touch the marred skin on her face. “Does it look bad?” 

“No, I wouldn’t say so.” He shrugged with a smile. “Just different.”

“How do you mean?”

“I can’t say you look the same.” He admitted, pulling his hand up to cup her unscarred cheek, almost covering it while leaving her scarred one on full display. “But you’re beautiful.”

She felt her chest clench and leaned into his hand, biting her lip. He rubbed her cheek with a soft smile. 

“You still have most of your spots too.” He added softly. “You’re still you.”

She let out a breath, nodding slightly with him. 

He leaned his head forward to gently tap to hers. “No matter what, you’re perfect.”

She closed her eyes, relaxing in the moment before responding with a quietly whispered “okay.” 

She felt Savan chuckle softly, just an affectionate little sound as he nuzzled against her, pulling back quickly after. “Let us know when you’re ready to look. It doesn’t have to be right away.”

She nodded, taking another few minutes before she glanced down at her hand. 

The burned skin started a bit above her wrist, one of the less worse spots of the bunch. It trailed up her arm, and her eyes slowly followed it up to her shoulder. There, her black spots were mostly burned away, leaving. Few splotches peeking out. Her throat clenched into a knot she couldn't swallow, staring at the difference with her eyes stinging. 

Savan squeezed her good shoulder supportively, but silent. She clenched her eyes shut, trying her hardest not to cry. Her arms wrapped tightly around her stomach. She wouldn't cry, she couldn't. 

She was supposed to be stronger than this. 

She was moved gently, arms slowly wrapping around to hold her. “You’re allowed to cry, you know.” Savan murmured. 

She shook her head, sucking in a breath and squeaking out “I'm okay, I'm fine.” 

“You don’t have to be.” He replied. 

“Yes… I do.” She mumbled. “I've had a month to sulk.” 

“This isn’t sulking.” He huffed. “It’s grieving. You’re allowed to grieve what was.”

“It's just spots.” She muttered, rubbing the heel of her palm against her eye. 

“It’s change. Change is rough.”

“It's just spots.” She mumbled again, quieter. She was trying to logic it out in her own head, the markings weren't significant. They just were. 

He rubbed her back, squishing a cheek against hers. “I know.”

She put both hands over her face, slowly losing her fight to stay composed. “I don't… understand.”

“Emotions don’t make sense, hon.” He replied. “Sometimes it just hurts.”

“I don't like it.” She hissed under her breath. 

“No one does.”

She grumbled, leaning into him. 

“I know hon.” He nuzzled her cheek. “But you got us to pick you up whenever you fall.”

“Yep.” Sydney agreed. “We're right here whenever you need us.” 

Lamb sniffled, trying to curl up to hide, but she felt Sydney shift the weight on the cot to sit on the other side. One of the cat's paws settled on her shoulder, the other on her cheek by her hair. “It's all going to be okay darlin… but it's also okay that it's not yet.” She brushed away a tear. “You don't have to be strong right now.” 

Inez resisted only a few seconds longer before she tilted her head into Sydney's hand with a quiet, “okay.” 

“Ask us for anything.” Savan pleaded. “Please.”

She nodded slowly before asking “don’t go?” 

“Of course.” He replied easily. 

She leaned more against him, Sydney moving in to press against her other side like she was in the middle of a sandwich. It was nice, it helped. 

Inez bit her lip a moment, then admitted, “when you’re here, I'm not the only one anymore.” 

“You never will be again.” Savan promised wholeheartedly. “Unless you need time to yourself of course.” He added. 

She nodded slower, closing her eyes. “Maybe… maybe I miss the spots cause… cause my family had them too.” 

“They’re always gonna be with you, lamb.” He hummed softly. “They’ll never leave you, in life or in death a part always stays.”

She sniffled, nodding. 

He squeezed her tighter just for a moment. “You carry them with you every day.”

She pressed more into him. His hugs felt like theirs sometimes, when she closed her eyes. 

 

Chapter 8: Dissent

Summary:

Doubt is running rampant with the lambs new appearance, and Goat picks up the pieces.

The cult had been… different with Lambs scars. They looked at her with a little less admiration, doubting her strength and resilience just because of some marks. 

Lamb took it as well as she could, which wasn't very much. Webber woke Savan up, dragging him out of his tent to find two cultists in the pillory for dissent. 

He frowned, following the young spider dragging him by his fingers. He searched the crowd of cultists at the center of the cult for the lamb. 

There were cultists in groups, but no lamb. Most of them were doing their tasks, but one group was sitting in a circle, discontent on their faces and skeptic commentary flowing out their mouths. 

Savan hoisted Webber up and into his arms, stomping toward them with a prominent scowl. “Something the matter?”

 They all jumped, most of them having the common sense to shut up and avert eye contact. One particularly stoic deer huffed. “None of your business, backup.”

Savan felt his face twitch. He glanced at the kid in his arms, silently debating whether he’d need to sensor his next words. “Come again?” He scowled. 

“Just because you've been in charge the past month while the lamb was ‘healing’” he made air quotes, rolling his eyes, “doesn't mean you still get to boss us around. You're just backup, and as much of a coward as anyone else.”

Webber hissed sharply, taking the goat’s attention. Savan blinked at the kid kneeling down to set Webber on the ground and patting his head. “Hey, Webby. How about you go find Sydney.”

The little spider pouted, sticking out his bottom lip. 

“I know buddy, but please?”

Webber huffed, hissing one last time at the deer before he scampered off. 

The goat brushed off his knees, watching the kid go until he was far out of sight. 

Savan snatched the deer by the antler, snarling in the cultists face. “ Do you want to try that again? ”

The cultists shouted, trying to bat at Goat, not very effectively though. When that didn't work he started screaming at Goat, “ fuck you! He's attacking me unprovoked, help!”

The goat quickly opened a portal beneath him, sending him just outside the grounds before too many eyes turned. He rolled his shoulders, standing up straighter with a blank expression. No one important should notice, and if so then maybe he could reach out to Sozo. 

The deer glanced around at the forest, then up at Savan, startled and starting to show regret at his actions. “W-wait!” 

“What should I take first?” Savan hummed flatly. “The branches of your ego-boosting antlers, or the teeth from your big mouth?”

“I'm just trying to look out for us!” He shouted, trying to reason. “If the lamb can't protect herself how is she supposed to protect us?!”

The goat threw his crown. It shifted to a hammer that dropped on the deer’s chest. It wasn’t big , Savan knew not to kill the guy, it’d just break a rib or two. He screamed, flailing and flopping around like a fish. “He's trying to kill me, help, HELP! ” 

“Why do you think I’d take you within shouting distance of our home?” Savan asked, tilting his head as he dropped to crouch next to the deer. “I’m not an idiot.”

“You're scared of the truth, coward! Deceiver!” The deer hissed. 

“If I can ask, what do you think we even do on those crusades?” Savan asked, keeping his tone cold and disinterested as he pulled his hammer back. 

The deer sat up with a scowl. “Doesn't matter. You're not even a follower, you don't get affected by the bishop's curses or have to do any work. You give the lamb nothing .”

“Except just companionship and assistance keeping you all safe from the bishop’s petty games.” Savan shrugged, dropping the weighted weapon on a leg this time. 

The deer screamed, squirming to try to kick the hammer off. “ Monster! ”

“Yea, yea, think of something new kid.” He huffed, standing up to stretch. “I’ve heard it all before, and you frankly deserve this.”

“And you deserve worse!” 

“For what?” Savan tilted his head. “Setting a dissenter straight the only way I can? We have no room in the pillory, and killing you would just be sad. Real waste y’know?”

“Go ahead, kill me.” The deer hissed, falling mostly still save for his heaving chest. That had to hurt. “See what your little lamb thinks.” 

“Oh she’d hate it.” Savan shrugged. “It’s the only reason you’re still alive. We feed you, we clothe you, we go actively out of our way to protect you and kill those that would wish you a sacrifice and yet you’re still ungrateful.” He shook his head. “I should leave you to Helob.”

The deer growled, “you're no better than the bishops. Just another false prophet.” 

Savan froze, his nails digging into his own palm with a sharp jolt. He felt the hatred, the malice, the distrust all lapping at his face like flames to cloth. 

“ You have no idea what you claim. ” The goat replied carefully, his voice low. His tone was dark. 

The deer only chuckled dryly, “oh that really got to you, huh?”

The hammer swapped, a blade piercing the shoulder of the deer as the goat placed a hoof on his shattered chest. “ I should cut out your tongue for the bile you spew.”

The deer just shouted, stopping his vicious words to struggle against the goat. He added pressure to his chest, watching him writhe until the fire in his mind finally died out. 

The goat got up robotically, mirroring the spell he’d made to take the deer here and dropping him in Sydney’s tent instead of the fields. Sydney looked up from her desk, blinking at him. “Uhhh… what happened here?”

“Dissenter.” The goat replied. “The pillory were full.”

She hummed, motioning to the cot. “Throw him down… and do you think you can check on lamb?” 

Savan cleared his throat, the numbness holding his emotions down slowly flaking away as he tossed the deer down. “Of course. What's going wrong?”

“The chaos.” She motioned her hand in the air, scooting over to the deer to start working on him. “It's been a rough morning. She asked if she could use my tent for a bit.”

“Yeesh.” He hissed. “Yeah, I’ll head right over.”

“Thanks.” Sydney gave him a smile. 

“Any time.” He tried to smile back as he left. He hurried to Sydney’s tent, trying to avoid prying eyes. He hoped he wasn’t running. 

Most of the cultists had dispersed, back to their tasks like nothing had happened. He slipped into the tent easily, finding the lamb curled up in a ball of black-spotted white fluff in the corner.

“Inez?” Savan called softly. 

 She jumped a little, but curled up tighter, her face buried in her knees. 

He shuffled over, kneeling beside her. “Puff, what’s wrong?”

She shook her head almost immediately, her voice squeaky, “ jus’ need a sec .”

“Anything I can do?” He asked. 

She shook her head again, sniffling. Savan slid down to sit, leaning back on his hands. 

After a few minutes of silence, she shifted, resting her chin on her knees instead of, her red eyes looking down at the ground, “what'd I do wrong?” 

“Nothing, hon.” He murmured. “You’ve done nothing wrong.”

She glanced at him, doubt in her expression. “Then why is all of this happening? I thought I did everything right.” 

“People are fickle.” He mumbled, reaching out to rest a hand on her shoulder. “Opinions can switch on a dime, especially after a rough struggle. All you can do is build their trust back up.”

“How the fuck did I lose it over some stupid scars?!” She hissed. 

“It’s not the scars.” He murmured. “It’s a lot of things. I know how it feels-“

“No, you don't." She muttered, it was almost inaudible. “You don't have burn scars over half your body that everyone can see, a visible mark of your failures for people to mistrust you over.” 

Savan’s body felt as if it went cold. He pulled his hand back, squeezing one palm with his other hand, just trying to keep his head in the current moment. He didn’t want to move, he didn’t want to admit it was all real. 

She looked up at him, letting out a breath, then looked away again, “sorry.” she pulled her shoulders up and buried her face again, “that wasn't fair of me.” 

The goat couldn’t force a sound. He sat there for a few seconds just pressing his thumb against his palm before he made his joints creak. He slowly took off his bell, holding it so it wouldn’t ring, unclipping his cloak just after. He set both beside him, sorting through his wool to find familiar, faded, jagged pink lines in his flesh. 

Inez lifted her head, looking over, “what are you…” 

“It… it didn’t cause the same kind of distrust.” He forced himself to say, his voice unsteady and broken. “But I do know what it means to carry scars you never asked for.”

The lamb stared at him, at his chest, blinking for a moment, before she covered her hand with her mouth and looked away again, a short squeaky noise coming from her. 

The goat pulled away his trembling hands. His skin crawled from her gaze, and he nearly jumped for his fleece to hide under again. 

“ I'm sorry.” Inez squeaked out. “ I'm so sorry.” 

“You didn’t know.” He shrugged, squeezing his cloak tight around himself. “And I don’t blame you.”

“I still shouldn't have said that,” she put a hand over his, tilting her head to let her cheek rest on her knees, flowing with more new tears. 

He blinked in a bit of surprise, patting her hand with his free one. “… thank you.”

She huffed, rubbing her eyes. “Alright, I should get up.” 

“Only if you’re ready.” He hummed, reaching out to wipe a tear. 

She hummed, leaning into his hand. “I'm sure I can twist the scars into something… miraculous in a sermon. It's not your job to keep dealing with my dissenters.”

“It’s the least I can do.” He mumbled in return. 

“I'll make another pillory if they keep this up?” She sighed. “Clint has always been a skeptic.”

“That’s probably best.” He nodded. 

She went quiet again, then finally asked, “what happened to you?” 

Savan stared at the ground, fidgeting with his cloak as the words attempted to clog his throat. “… I was made.”

“Made?” She tilted her head. 

He couldn’t bring himself to meet her eyes. He didn’t want to see the look on her face change. “I’m not… really a person?” He shrugged, moving to hold his arm, to cover himself, to protect himself. “I’m not- I wasn’t born. None of us were. We… We were made to be Shamura’s soldiers. To make their army. They used the pieces of their followers to make us our bodies.” He was mumbling, he wasn’t even sure if his words could be understood but he couldn’t make himself speak up. “We’re living corpses. ” 

She hummed, “so am I.” 

“You’re your own corpse.” He responded. “You have your own soul.”

“That doesn't make you any less of your own person.” She huffed. “You still have your own thoughts and feelings and actions. You're just as real as me.”

Finally, Savan risked looking up. She wasn't looking at him with any kind of disgust or anger or anything. She was just watching him, the only emotion coming off her was empathy. 

“It doesn't matter how you came to this world or your own body.” She said slowly, “only what you do with it.”

The goat's lips wobbled. His eyes burned as he slowly leaned into her. “All we were were experiments to them. They’d open up Syren and I so much.”

She wrapped her arms around him, giving him a firm squeeze. “I'm sorry that happened, Savan. And I promise if I can help it, I'll never let it happen again.” 

He found himself clutching onto her, holding him steady when he wanted to just break apart. “ Thank you. ” 

“Of course.” She held him there. “And thank you.” 

He nuzzled into her shoulder, squeezing her tight. “ Sorry. I didn’t mean to make it about me.”

“We can take turns.” She chuckled, scratching his back.

He laughed a bit wetly back, scrubbing at his eyes. “Thanks.”

“Anytime.” She grinned tiredly at him. “Wanna just sit here with me for a bit?” 

“Yes please.” He smiled back. “You are making the day less terrible.”

“I thought it was my bad day?” She smirked.

“Who said we both can’t have bad days?” He chuckled. “Clint was a real jerk!”

She snickered, covering her mouth with her hand.

He giggled with her bumping his head to hers. She huffed, shaking her head. “Don't do that if you're not ready to fight.”

“What?” He blinked, sitting up. “What makes you say that?”

She furrowed her brows. “You… Do you know anything about goat and sheep behaviors?”

“Uhhh…” he shrugged. “Not really? I didn’t know those were a thing. ” 

“Headbutting is a form of aggression.” She said plainly. “As well as dominance or a challenge for dominance.” 

“ What?! ” He squeaked. “To us it was affection! Like cuddling and trying to be close!”

She hummed. “The cuddling and all is the same, but head butting isn't, usually.”

“But it’s for when your arms are full, or you want little touch.” He frowned. 

She tried to cover a snort, “sorry man, it's different here.”

“ Noooooooo. ” He whined. “ That’s terrible!”

“You can do it if you want.” She giggled, “but don't be mad when my first reaction is to drop kick you.”

“ Mean. ” He huffed, crossing his arms to pout.  

She chuckled, looking down and leaning into him. “Y'know, we’re more alike than you think.” 

“What do you mean?” He leaned back to ask. 

“You were made for a purpose, so was I.” 

Savan blinked up at her. “You were?”

She nodded. “With the… the lamb hunt, most flocks stopped reproducing for a while. My flock wasn't exempt from that.” She huffed, “but part of our fight was survival, we would have done anything for just the few to survive, to keep the bishops from wiping everyone out… we wore red and orange, colors unassociated with any of our pursuers.” She looked over at him. “Me and the couple other young lambs were made when they realized reproduction was a protest too. I hatched when my siblings were already 15.”

Savan nodded along until his brain hit a snag. “Wait, sorry. Hatched? ”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “But it was still dangerous to have babies on the run, my mother died from the stress of having me, and the few babies of a flock that large was likely what did them in eventually.” 

“That’s not-“ he shook his head. “Nevermind. I am sorry for you, and for your mother.”

She nodded. “I suppose I was made for an idea… for hope. All the babies were named in hope they'd survive.” 

Savan squeezed her arm, resting his chin on it. “For as much as it’s worth, I know you didn’t technically survive but I am very happy you’re still here.”

“Why Savan?” She asked. 

“Shamura gave us none, so we kids named ourselves. Technically Syren named us, they knew the meanings because they were taught first.” He hummed. “It was the most we could do to feel like people.”

“It suits you.” She said, “Savior.” 

He smiled softly. “Syren was a bit sappy. And overconfident.”

“He wasn't wrong though.” 

“Debatable.” He mumbled.

“You saved me.”

He stopped himself from another head bonk, instead just trying to shuffle closer. “And you saved me.” He hummed simply. 

She gave him a tight squeeze. “You're such a sap.” 

 “I’m just stating facts!” He laughed. 

“Sappy facts!” 

“You started it!” 

“I did no such thing!” 

“Yes you did!” He laughed. “It was sappy with timing .”

“Don't remember, didn't happen!” She shook her head. “No one will believe you.”

“You evil evil lamb.” He huffed with an ear to ear grin. 

She grinned back, her tail thumping on the ground behind her. 

The goats smile strained a touch. “Are you okay? I didn’t get something lost in translation again, did I?”

She blinked, tilting her head at him curiously. “What do you mean?” 

“The thumpin.” He pointed at her tail. “Are you upset?”

“No?” She set her hand on her tail to hold it down. “Tail wagging is usually a sign of happiness… among other things.” She went a little red from embarrassment. 

“Oh!” He brightened. “I just thought I was weird.”

She laughed. “No, of course not, everyone expresses things a little differently. I'm sure you learned your body language somewhere just like everyone else.”

“Shamura did have a right hand who was a cat. Something spotted.” He shrugged. “We learned most everything from her.”

“Really?” Lamb sat back, eager to listen. “What was she like?”

“She was nice.” His smile turned soft. “She wasn’t the most friendly but we knew she cared. She’d let us nap with her and snuggle into her soft fur. She was the one who took care of us most of the time.”

“She sounds so sweet.” Inez hummed. 

“She was.” He replied. “She called us her cubs.”

“Like a mother?”

He nodded slowly. “I think? At least that’s what I like to believe. She was the closest we had.”

“That's good.” 

“Yea.” He hummed softly. “I miss her.”

“Maybe there's a version of her here.”

He shrugged. “Have you met anyone named Forneus?”

She lit up. “Yes!”

The goat sat up a bit straighter. “You do?!”

“Yeah!” She nodded. “She's this biiiig black cat that shows up with her little travelling shop sometimes when I'm out in the bishops lands.”

“Think…” Savan squeezed his hands, his little tail wagging weakly. “Think we could try and see her? I know she’s not the same. B-but i want to see her again.”

“Of course.” Lamb agreed. “She always has some good stuff.”

He chuckled fondly. “Thank you.”

She nodded.

Chapter 9: Ratau

Chapter by Lucatea

They were wandering through the woods, Savan following the lamb to meet someone and pick up some things. The path looked familiar, but Savan could say that about everything in this world that even barely mimicked his own. 

“Where are we going again?” He asked. 

“The cabin.” Inez said, jumping and hopping off a few rocks. 

“Cabin?” He squinted, trying to think. Did he know anyone in a cabin? Did anyone have something similar?

They came into an area, passing by a small shrine that Lamb collected devotion from, and a little garden. 

Then she ran over and rapped on the door of a cabin built on the side of a hill. Savan jumped to run after her. “Hey, hold on!”

The door opened to find a disheveled old rat. He had a staff and a paper crown on his head, as well as a scar over one eye. 

Savan stumbled to slow, finding his own eyes locked to the rodent. Wracking his brain for why he looked so familiar?

“My child!” the rat grinned, reaching out and cupping both sides of the lamb's face. “How I have missed you!” 

“Sorry it’s been so long, Ratau.” she grinned back. “I missed you too.”

“Chinchau!” Savan blurted, pointing at the rat. “That’s how I know you!”

The rat looked over at the goat, startled, and his ears folded back. “Pardon?” 

Lamb also glanced at Goat, clearing her throat. “Uh… Ratau, this is the Goat.” 

“Ah.” Savan straightened himself, clearing his throat. “Sorry, hi. It's nice to meet you.”

“I have not seen a goat in a long time.” Ratau muttered, letting go of Inez to shuffle over to the goat, taking his hands. “Where do you come from?”

“It’s quite a long story.” Savan chuckled. 

“I pulled him out of a puddle from another dimension.” Inez said plainly. 

“I… what?” Ratau looked over at her. 

“That’s… yea that’s basically it.” Savan shrugged. “She was fighting barbatos and tagged me in.”

“You did not inform me of that detail!” Ratau said to her, squeezing Goat's hands firmly. “Were you drowned???” 

Lamb snickered. “You get touchy, I figured I'd wait a bit before introducing you.” 

“I wasn’t drowned.” Savan patted his hand with a soft snicker. “More like… mopping?”

The rat looked at him confused, then reached up and cupped both cheeks, looking him over. 

Savan remained still, pressing his lips together. “Uhh…”

“Yep.” Lamb hummed. “Touchy.” 

“Very much so.” Savan chuckled. 

“I am just looking out for you!” Ratau defended

“Yeah yeah, old man.” Lamb plopped a hand on his head. “You gotta let him breathe eventually.” 

“You act as if I am smothering him!” Ratau huffed. 

“You just might.” she teased. 

Savan very gently took ratau’s hands, pulling them away. “I promise you, I am alright, but thank you.”

“I have to be sure!” The rat claimed, taking the goat's hand and pulling him inside the cabin. “Come, I have some stew on, you look emaciated.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that?” Savan huffed dramatically. “I am fine.”

“I have tea too!” The rat continued like he didn't hear the goat. 

“Sorry Sev, no escaping him.” Inez chuckled. “You two get acquainted, I'm going to go to the meadow real quick.”

Ratau gave her a glance, his expression more serious and solemn. “Come inside first, Inez, we'll get you an offering.”

Her shoulders slumped a little. “Alright.”

“You’re trapped too.” Savan smirked with the most shit eating grin as  he followed Ratau. 

“I know the rules, that's why I didn't resist.” She stuck her tongue out. 

Ratau sat goat down in a chair by the knucklebones game. “Do you play?”

“I was taught how, but I haven't played in a while.” He hummed. 

“Well stay for a game or two, the first ones with no stakes. We'll get you warmed back up.” He plopped a cup of tea in front of the goat, steaming with a delicious jasmine aroma. “As for you…” he turned to the lamb, shuffling over and pulling out a small bouquet of flowers. “I found these, I think they'll suit your needs.” 

“Hyacinth.” Lamb smiled genuinely. “They're perfect, thank you.” 

“How do you both know one another?” Savan asked, helping set up the game on the table. 

“He was The One Who Waits previous vessel.” The lamb said. She was arranging the flowers a little prettier. 

“When I was supposed to die, I offered to help train the next vessel in exchange for a little more time.” Ratau said. “And seeing as our Lamb is doing so well so far I'll be able to retire soon.” 

“Retire?” Savan raised a brow. 

“Yep,” the rat nodded. “Just stay in my home and play knucklebones with my friends. I'm growing too old for this.”

Savan laughed softly, nodding his head. “Right. It sounds like a nice life.”

“It will be.” He set a bowl of soup in front of the goat. “Eat.”

Savan took a small bite to try and placate him. “Alright, you can have the first roll then.”

“I won't go easy on you, lad… What was your name?” Ratau rolled, setting up his first die.

“Savan.” The goat hummed, taking his turn.

“That is quite a nice name.” The rat complimented. 

“Thank you.” Savan grinned. “Ratau is lovely as well.”

He chuckled. “Sure it is. Inez, child, are you going without a goodbye?”

The lamb froze at the door glancing at the pair. “I didn't want to interrupt, and I'll be back.”

“Watch out for heretics.” The rat called out. 

“I always do.” She nodded then waved as she slipped out. 

“She’s always on her own schedule.” Savan mused, taking away some of Ratau’s dice with his next move. 

“She always visits the meadow when she pops by.” Ratau mused. “Almost as much of a tradition to her as my tea.”

“Do you happen to know why?” Savan tilted his head. 

Ratau was quiet for a second, then huffed. “Her siblings are buried there.” 

“Oh.” Savan went quiet. “I see.”

“I implore you not to follow her or seek it out.” Ratau said. “The site is from before her time as a vessel, arduous to get to without her as a guide, and sacred to her.”

“Of course.” Savan nodded again. “I understand.”

“Good.” Ratau nodded, taking out a whole row of Savans dice. “Haha, got you.” 

“You sly rat!” Savan laughed, failing to take any more on his own turn. 

Ratau won that round, chuckling to himself. “Warmed up yet?”

“Oh I’ll be much better, this next one.” Savan boasted. 

“Want to bet on that?” The rat grinned with a raised brow. 

“You really want to take the only coin I have?” Savan teased. 

“Yes.” Ratau nodded. “What, you don't want to donate to my retirement fund?” 

“I think I’m good.” Savan huffed, shaking his head.

“Fair enough, I only dragged you into a game to let the lamb escape.” Ratau shrugged. 

“That’s fair.” The goat hummed simply. 

“So, Savan, tell me more about yourself.” Ratau sat back in his chair, sipping his tea. 

“What do you wanna know?” Savan smirked. 

“What are your intentions with the lamb?” Ratau squinted. 

Savan nearly choked on his own breath, needing a second to lean over and cough. “S-sorry, pardon?”

“You heard me.”

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.” Savan clarified, praying it wasn’t what he assumed. 

The rat squinted at him. ‘just in general.”

Savan hummed, slowly shrugging. “Nothing? Nothing bad at least.”

“I mean I would hope.” 

“She’s my friend?” Savan replied. “She gave me a home, I don’t know.”

Ratau squinted at him for a little longer, then sipped his tea again. 

“I’m not… interested in her if that’s what you’re asking.” He muttered, shuddering a little bit. 

“Well she's never brought me anyone to meet before.” Ratau mumbled. 

“I think she has her eyes set on someone else.” Savan mumbled. “But regardless, we are not like that. She is just my friend.”

“Someone else?” Ratau asked. 

“She’s really fond of a specific cultist, but I will not say more than that. I’m not making assumptions nor putting words in her mouth.” He put his hands up. 

“What's he like?” The rat asked like he was ready for gossip. 

“Well for one, she’s a cat.” Savan hummed. “She’s our cult's medic, a real sweetheart from Anura.”

Ratau blinked at him, then snapped his fingers, “damn, I owe Flinky 5 gold.”

“You bet on her relationships?”

“I bet on her tastes!” Ratau corrected, “it's different!” 

Savan snickered, shaking his head. “Well regardless, I doubt I’d ever remotely catch her eye. Besides, I don't want to.”

“Can't say I blame her.” Ratau chuckled. 

“Don’t fancy men?” Savan asked. 

“Don't fancy anything really, but I find women a little more appealing.” Ratau shrugged. “What about you? Anyone caught your eye?” 

“Ehhhhhh.” He shrugged, making a so-so motion. “Not really? But I also haven’t been looking, y’know?”

The rat hummed. “Well let me know if anything happens, okay? I don't want the only wedding I've ever been to to be a bug and giant snail cart.”

Savan laughed softly, trying to cover his mouth. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“good. A retired rat can dream before he dies!” Ratau huffed. 

“I do hope that does not happen for a long time.” That goat hummed. 

“You won't get rid of me that easily!” He chuckled. “Luckily my dealings with the god of death have granted me longer than most.”

“I’m very happy that is so.” Savan smiled. “I look forward to knowing you more.”

“You are much more literate than the Lamb.” Ratau complimented him.

“Hm?” Savan tilted his head.

“You speak better.” Ratau clarified. “You were educated, yes?” 

“Oh, yes.” Savan nodded. “I was taught by Shamura… a Shamura… my sibling was actually, they taught me.”

“I see.” Ratau nodded. “You know, you should-” 

The door opened, lamb returning and glancing between them as Ratau paused. 

Savan turned to smile at her and wave. “Hey Nez.”

“Hi.” She tilted her head. “You two have fun?” 

“Oh yeah.” The goat huffed. “I’m getting my ass beat.”

“Why didn't you tell me you were into women?!” the rat cried out, and Inez’ ears flicked. 

“Um… what?” She asked. “I'm too busy to worry about that kind of thing.” 

Savan put his head in his hand. “I mentioned Sydney, I didn’t say that.” He laughed. 

“What about Sydney?” Lamb grew more confused. 

“I want to live to see a wedding!” Ratau lifted up and shook his staff. 

Savan laughed aloud, squeezing his own sides. 

“And that's our cue to leave, old man.” Inez crossed her arms. 

“I'm not senile yet, making me wait is elder abuse!” 

“Yeah yeah.” Inez patted his back. 

“Come to any cultist wedding, I’m sure those will happen first.” Savan offered, getting up to shuffle towards the lamb. 

“We can do those?!” Inez asked. 

“I mean, why couldn’t we?” Savan asked. “It's not in the book but edit the marriage ceremony in there and it’s the same.”

“Oh.” She tapped her chin. “Good to know.”

“Will you be back to your normal visits?” Ratau asked. 

“Yeah,” the lamb nodded. “Sorry for the gap.”

“As long as all is well with you I do not mind.” He reached up to pat her cheek. “Travel home safely.” 

“Will do.” She nodded. 

“I’ll watch her back.” Savan smiled, nudging her playfully. 

She bumped him back. “Oh yeah, together we can crush anything that tries to get in our way.”

“You have already come so far.” Ratau smiled. “Two bishops down is no small feat.” 

Lambs became slightly stiff, but she nodded. “We're going into anchordeep next week.” 

“I wish you all the best luck.” Ratau waved. 

“Thanks Ratau.” Lamb waved back. “I'll see you later.”

“Bye Ratau!” Savan waved. “I had fun playing knucklebones.”

“I as well. Come by with the lamb whenever you please!” The rat called back. 

“I’ll do my best to drag her over!” Savan assured. 

“I can bring myself, thank you very much.” Inez protested, closing the door behind them and starting the trek back through the woods. 

“He’s nice.” The goat hummed, trotting after her. 

“Yeah.” Inez smiled softly. “He's pretty great.”

“Real easy to talk to.” He hummed. “Mostly.”

“What’d he do?” She sighed. 

“For whatever reason he was convinced I was attracted to you and demanded to know my intentions.” He cringed. “Nothing against you, but… no.”

She chuckled, “yeah? Well you're no snack platter to me either.”

He rolled his eyes with an affectionate huff. “Yeah fair.”

“Good.” She nodded, and they went back to a more comfortable conversation the rest of the way home. 

Chapter 10: Pestilence

Summary:

Kallamars Plague has begun, and Inez and Savan have their hands full trying to deal with it.

“Ugh.” Sydney bonked her head on her desk as Lamb paused for a moment going over to rub her back. “I'm good, just give me a second before the next one, okay?” 

“Got it.” Lamb nodded. “We're getting there. We'll go get more camellias tonight.” 

The goat poked in his head, looking over at them both. “I'm guessing it's break time?”

Sydney shook her head, sitting back up. “I'm fine, send the next one in.” 

Lamb furrowed her brows, glancing over at Savan worriedly. “Five minutes won't hurt anyone…” 

“It might, goat?” Sydney motioned with her hand.

“Next in line is Noti.” He reported. “Bed rest has helped but he still isn’t doing the best.”

“Wait.” Lamb told him, plapping a hand onto Sydney's forehead. After a second, she cursed under her breath. “Goat, would you mind separating out the sick? Take them to the temple with the old bedrolls to rest but no one unafflicted is allowed inside.”

“Understood.” Savan nodded, and she could hear him talking outside with Noti, his voice slowly disappearing as he walked the poor poet to the temple. 

Lamb, in the meantime, picked Sydney up, plopping her in the corner and giving her the next bowl of camellia broth. “Drink.” 

“But-” 

“It better be down your throat before I get back.” Lamb hissed. 

Sydney huffed but complied. Content, lamb ran out of the med tent, going to any of the still wandering followers she could find and checking them over for symptoms. They seemed to understand enough to get in a line for her to check. 

Savan marched in and out of her sight, taking any sick he ran into to the temple and grabbing all the bedrolls he could carry. 

They met back up at the med tent where Lamb was cooking up more broth, tapping her hoof anxiously. They were low on the healing flowers they needed, and the farm wouldn't be grown soon enough. 

“Do we need another Darkwood run?” Savan asked, looking over her shoulder. 

“Probably…” she huffed. “We had enough before it started spreading. Apparently it's contagious .”

“Kallamar is tricky like that.” He muttered, crossing his arms. “How's Syd?”

She turned to squint at the cat who was slowly sipping on her broth, sitting back. “compliant for now.”

“Do you trust leaving her alone?” He asked softly. 

Lamb paused, staring at the wall for a moment with her lips pressed tight. “I can get someone to…” no, the healthy were spread thin enough already, was it selfish to pull one for her own worries? 

“You can stay.” Savan offered. “It’s just darkwood, I should be able to handle it fine. I already got its witness eye.”

Inez was skeptical, staring at the broth in indecision. “I…” she sighed. “That's probably better. I can at least attend to the more severe cases before they get too bad to help.”

“I promise to be fast.” Savan patted her shoulder, squeezing it softly. 

She nodded. “Thank you.”

“Any time, lamb.” He hummed. “It's the least I can do.”

She gave him a tired smile. “Stay safe?” 

“Of course.” He gave her a small smile in return. He offered her his open arms before he could leave. She got up, shuffling over to hug him tightly.

He squeezed her back just as tight. “I won’t be long.” He promised, softer this time.

“ Okay .” 

He patted her back before pulling away. “Don’t overdo anything while I'm gone, okay Lamb?”

“I make no such promises.” She chuckled. 

“I will tell Sydney to watch you.” He squinted at her.

“Considering she's already running a fever I doubt she'll be much help.” Lamb smirked. 

“Oh please, she would be dead before she let you get away with it.” He huffed. “So play nice and don’t make her come after you.” 

“Yeah, sure thing.” Lamb patted his shoulder. “Hurry back before it gets dark.”

He nodded, giving her a wave before he trotted out of the entrance of the cult. 

Chapter 11: Kallamar

Chapter by Lucatea

The goat ran through the familiar forest, packing his belt pouch with as many blooms, petals, and seeds it could carry. He cut through every enemy until he reached one of the many openings in the thicket of trees, oddly empty for once. 

Savan sat on an overturned log, taking a moment to catch his breath. 

The air seemed to start buzzing, and the area darkened, almost like a bubble around it. A familiar aura seemed to envelop him.

Savan hissed, scrambling back to his feet in an attempt to dart out of there. Leshy was dead, he didn’t want to know who would be sneaking into his abandoned domain, nor why. 

His feet left the ground, gravity betraying him as he lifted weightlessly in the air. 

Savan bit back a startled squeak, trying to form a weapon. His arm was slammed into his own side by a dark tentacle that lashed out of the puddle. It squeezed him like a child’s toy, taking away his air, threatening to crush his bones. 

“You miserable little pest!” The coward gods vice hissed at him. “Were my two warnings not enough?!” 

Savan hissed, glaring at the squid. “I’m not even in your territory! All I am doing is fixing what you created!”

“And you really think I'd let you? Desecrating my brother's land again just to try to avoid the inevitable?” 

“Gods you are dramatic.” Savan growled. “We aren’t going to just roll over and die. You’re lucky we’re even giving you time to prepare for your own demise!”

“You should have just left me in peace, now you will pay for your impotence.” The tendril squeezed Savan tighter. “One final warning, one more plague.”

Savan clenched his jaw. He told himself they could fix this, they were already doing so much better with an appointed medic and lamb helping. They could do this. 

They’d be okay. He’d have to apologize later to whoever Kallamar pulled though. The goat dearly hoped it wasn’t Sydney or Webber again. The poor kid had been through enough. 

No one was summoned, and the black like smog of pestilence circled around Savan instead. 

“What?” The goat hissed, writhing in an attempt to get away. “What is this?!”

“You're too bothersome,” Kallamar huffed plainly, “if the lamb really wants to challenge us, she can do it on her own.” 

“Put me down!” Savan screeched, reeling back. “Let me go! Coward!”

The black smog seemed to seep into Savans fur, stinging his skin slightly, sending tingles up his spine. He held his breath, but the cloud forced itself down his throat. 

His windpipe burned and he choked on the thick air, hacking and coughing as his eyes watered. He felt the weakness seep into his bones, the fog muddling the thoughts in his head. 

When he was dropped the pain echoed in his own body, aching profusely as he curled in on himself. 

Then the area went back to normal, the smog and squid disappearing without a trace of being there. 

The goat cursed under his breath, pushing himself up onto less than stable limbs. Gods, he hated being sick. He hated sickness. 

He dug through his pouch, grabbing a few Camelia petals to chew as he made sure to hobble out of the clearing. He told himself he’d replace the ones he used and then go back. He had enough for the cult, he just needed the stone circle to portal back easy. 

Most of the enemies left in dark wood were relatively easy, and a portal home was waiting for him before the boss door. 

Savan physically flopped onto the stone dias catching a breath before falling back into the spell that would take him back home. 

He appeared back home to a fairly more well controlled cult. They were doing their tasks and staying away from the temple without complaints, any of those suspecting they had symptoms would hole up in a particular cabin for Lamb to come check on them once the sickness has time to become apparent so they wouldn't waste any time. 

“Lamb!” Savan hustled his way to Inez the second he saw her, handing over the pouch full of flowers the first chance he had. “Here! I filled it as much as I could manage. It has seeds and blooms and petals.”

She ran over to him, smiling widely, gratefully. “Oh thank goodness, we were just about to run out.” She gave him a swift but tight hug. “I'm glad you're alright.”

He squeezed her back, his arms tingling as he hugged her back, hiding his face in her soft wool with a non-committal hum. 

“Go take a rest?” She patted his back. “Make sure Webby didn't catch any of the second wave, I've got this running for a bit.” She pulled away and ran off before he could respond with his loot in her arms. 

Savan watched her go with a soft sigh. He shuffled back to his cabin, hesitant to peek into Webber’s room. He was certain someone healthy was watching him, but he didn’t want to risk giving anyone whatever the stupid Squid decided to give him. 

He peeked into the room, seeing the little spider awake and playing with the racoon watching him. Savan smiled and just slipped past, dropping onto his bed to rest. His eyes were closed before he even knew it. 

Chapter 12: Secrets

Summary:

someone's keeping secrets

Lamb was making her rounds to check all the cabins and make sure everyone was attended for, and popped into the goats house. She found Webber was already down in bed, the raccoon that had been playing as a stand-in nanny while Sydney was down had left to eat, she'd seen him moments prior. She slipped on ahead to the goats room, hoping he'd gotten enough rest after his literally life saving trek. 

She cracked the door open to peek in on him. 

He was curled on his side, blankets bunched into a ball in front of him that he was squeezing. She saw an eye slowly crack open, the goat rubbing his face with a groan. 

The lamb pressed her lips together trying to sneak the door closed again to leave him be. 

She heard the goat shuffling, muttering to himself. She tried to tip toe down the hallway to get out of the house without bothering him.

“ Nez? ” The Goats tired voice called out from his room with confusion in his tone. 

She froze, she'd been caught. She ended up shuffling back over and peeking through the door again, “yeah?” 

“What are you doing here?” Savan tilted his head. “Is everything okay?”

“Yep!” She nodded. “Just checking on everyone and making sure no one is hiding anywhere. You feeling rested?” 

“Eh.” He shrugged, rubbing his eyes as he muttered, “Could’ve slept better.”

“On the bright side, you slept.” She chuckled. “All on your own too.”

“Yea still not a fan.” He muttered, pushing himself off of the bed. “Got anything that needs doing?”

“So far everything is… reasonably under control.” She said, “Got more broth going I'm just trying to make sure the rest of everything is still running smoothly. If you want to help around the cult you can but most everything else is pretty good right now.”

“Nice.” He hummed, nodding simply. “Sydney doing okay?”

She looked away, “she will be.”

He hummed again, a much shorter sound. “Go ahead and take care of her, lamb.”

“She's fine for now.” Lamb crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. “I'll be trying to give her broth again in a bit but she's resting right now.” 

“I see.” Savan mimicked her, leaning back against the wall. “Are you needing something to pass the time then?”

She nodded. 

He leaned his head back, his horns knocking against the wood. “I think I’ve got some dice for knuckle bones… somewhere .”

She hummed, stepping in and sitting down on his bed. 

He turned his head to watch her, pushing himself off of the wall with a huff of a breath. “I’ll go look. Want any tea, or water, or whatever I have in my cupboard?”

She shook her head, “I've been keeping hydrated.”

“Have you been eating?!” He yelled through the wall. 

She huffed, “yeah, some.” 

“ Good. ” He huffed, coming back with an old beaten up knuckle bones set. They propped it up on a pillow between them and started playing, Lamb going quiet to watch the game. 

“Can I ask,” Savan murmured, throwing his roll. “What’s wrong with Sydney?”

She thought for a moment, taking her turn, then huffed. “Growing up in anura… I think it caused some digestive issues or something. You remember what she looked like when we first saved her.”

“I do.” He nodded solemnly. “Is she not eating or is it just not easy for her?”

“Well she's already sensitive to floral remedies, add the nausea to that and she hasn't been able to keep any of the broth down. If she can't drink it she's not getting better very fast and the more sick she is… the less she can keep down.” Lamb sighed. 

“I see.” He nodded. “I hope she gets better soon. I’m sure she will but… y’know.”

She hummed, “bedrest is helping but she's stubborn.”

“At this point, who isn’t in the cult?” He laughed weakly. His eyes were unfocused, staring at the bed and not paying attention to their game. 

“Yeah…” Lamb paused, setting her hands on the bed. “Think we should take a raincheck on this game?”

“Hm?” He blinked, glancing at her hands then her head. “Why’s that?”

“Just not really feeling it,” She shrugged. “Bit of a bad vibe in the cult right now.”

“That’s fair.” He shrugged, putting the dice away as he marked what dice were where and who had what score. 

“You doing okay?” She asked. “You've been tense since we started in Anchordeep.”

He shrugged again, avoiding her eyes. “I really don’t like plague. Bad memories.” He muttered. 

“I see.” She hummed, reaching out to put a hand over his. “Just let me know if you want or need anything. I think I've got the sickness at a manageable level for now.” 

He stared at her for a moment, reaching up to pat her hand and nod. “Thanks… think you could keep an eye on Webber? He’s young and gets sick easily… and I was around all the sick and then went to Darkwood, so I’m not the cleanest.” He mumbled softly. “I don’t want to give him whatever I’ve got on me.”

She nodded. “I'll see about a longer term nanny.” 

Savan opened his mouth, looking like he had something more to say. After a moment he just smiled softly, murmuring, “thank you, Inez.”

“Of course.” she got up, wrapping an arm around him and nuzzled his head. “Just stay out of trouble, yeah?” 

“I will.” He smiled, leaning back into her. “Tell me if you need anything.”

“Of course.” She promised. “Same goes for you.” 

“I will if I can catch you.” He chuckled, patting her arm.

“I'll stop breaking into your house.” She chuckled awkwardly. 

“Who said I cared about that?” He tilted his head. “Who would I be if I denied entry to our dearest leader?”

She snorted, “someone that doesn't need me to shovel their poop or drag them to bed.” 

Savan laughed. “Oh the joys of self-sufficiency.”

“Privacy.” She made jazz hands. 

“What a privilege.” He shook his head, laughing with her. 

 

~~~ 

 

Savan, in simplest terms, felt like shit. His brain was screaming at him, every muscle throbbed, pulsing pain with every beat of his own heart. He couldn’t breathe , his chest stayed taught, his breaths nothing but wheezing hisses of air between his teeth. 

Savan tried to push himself out of bed, he needed help, he needed to grab the lamb. He promised he’d ask. 

The second he sat upright his stomach threatened to spew. His legs gave out beneath him, his voice too hoarse to cry out. He laid prone on the floor, his eyes burning as tears soaked into the floor. Why… Why was he here? 

He didn’t mean for it to get this bad. He thought it would pass, as sickness always had. He thought he’d get over it. He was supposed to be better than this, stronger than this. The crown was supposed to protect him!

Was this retribution? Was he finally paying for those he couldn’t save? 

Was that it?

…

Savan didn’t want to die.  

He begged, pleaded, hoarsely whispering to whatever merciful spirit possibly could be listening for something. A chance, a burst of energy, enough strength to call for help. He needed anything. He wasn’t ready to go. 

He didn’t want death to claim him yet. He couldn’t face his mistakes before he fixed them. 

The goats legs were numb, the sights before him fuzzing out. 

“Lamb- Lamb! H-help…”

“Please…”

“…please…”

“… I’m… s-sorry…”

 

Chapter 13: Is everyone okay?

Chapter by Lucatea

The lamb woke up to being softly shook. “Lamb.”

She blinked, furrowing her brows. When had she fallen asleep? Everything had been so chaotic… “what?”

“Hey, hon.” Sydney’s soft voice purred. “How’re you feeling?”

Lamb sat up, stretching. “Fine, what about you?”

“Much better.” Sydney grinned. “Thank you for looking after me.”

Lamb paused, looking at her. “Really?” 

“Yes?” Sydney raised a brow. “What, do you not believe me?”

Lamb stood up, reaching out and feeling Sydney's forehead. “Your fever broke.” Then she cupped both of the cats cheeks. “You were the last one sick, are you sure it's all gone?” 

“Positive.” The cat replied, squeezing the Lamb’s hand with a smile. 

Lamb laughed, jumping forward to hug her tightly. “You're okay! Oh thank goodness!!!” Sydney squeezed her tightly, laughing lightly. 

“Yeah, I'm okay.” Sydney hummed, nuzzling the lamb's cheek. “Everyone is okay.” 

Lamb laughed with her, pressing her forehead to Sydney's. “I'm glad.” 

They sat there for a second, letting the tension from the last few weeks ease out of them. Then Lamb pulled back, grinning. “We should go tell the Goat, I'm sure he'll be excited! He said plagues were bad reminders for him.” 

Sydney nodded along, letting lamb go just to follow her off the bed when she got up. 

They walked over to Savans cabin, knocking on the door. 

It was quiet for a while, prompting the lamb to almost think he just wasn’t home. 

That was, until little Webber’s voice cut through the door. “Wh-who’s there?”

“Webber?” Lamb leaned forward to press an ear to the door. “It's Lamb and Sydney.” 

“Can you guys come in?” He asked. His voice was far, he definitely wasn’t beside the door, and it sounded shaky. “Something’s wrong.”

Lamb glanced at Sydney, the excited vibe from before slowly slipping away. She opened the door, slipping inside to look around. “Where are you, Webs?” 

“In Veevee’s room!” He shouted. 

Lamb turned and went down the hall, coming into the goats room to find the child. 

Webber looked up at her with big eyes and a trembling lip. He was sitting in front of Savan on the floor, clutching his fur in one hand, his arm in the other. “I can’t wake him up.” He whimpered. “I found him sleeping, and I know he doesn’t like to sleep alone, s-so I laid down with him but now he won’t wake up.”

Lamb rushed over, crouching beside both of them with a hand reaching out to rub Webber's back. “You're okay Webs, everything's gonna be okay.” Sydney approached from behind, offering her arms for the child. 

He glanced back at the goat, scampering up into the cat's arm quickly. “Why is he so sleepy?” He squeaked. 

Sydney gave him a nice hug as Lamb checked him over, reaching up to feel for any kind of warmth or pulse. Did he get the sickness? 

His skin was cool, far too cold to be considered at all normal. His body was stiff and his heart…

Nothing. 

Lamb felt her breath catch, sitting there for a moment as her mind raced. How had he… what happened? She glanced back at Sydney, her expression probably converting enough as the cat’s ears folded down and she squeezed Webber a little tighter. 

“We need to go to the temple.” Lamb declared.

“Is Veevee okay?” Webber asked softly. 

“He will be.” Sydney promised, picking him up and putting him on her hip. “The Lamb will make sure of it, okay?” 

He squeezed her shirt, watching the lamb pick up the goat with the farthest of his eyes. “Okay.”

Lamb swept past them, walking purposefully to the temple. Sydney followed her, but the lamb turned at the door to the building. “I need you to make sure no one comes in, Syd.” 

The cat looked confused, “but for resurrection…” 

“Not this time.” Lamb insisted. “Some privacy, please.” 

Sydney still looked confused but complied nonetheless, and Lamb went to close the door.

“Did we do something wrong?” Webber whined. “Am I in trouble?”

Lamb paused, looking at him and shook her head, “no, Webby, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just going to help Veevee alone real quick, okay?” 

“Oki.” The small spider mumbled, turning to hide in Sydney’s shirt. She rubbed his back soothingly, rumbling softly. 

Lamb frowned, giving the cat one more look before she closed the temple door. She ran over to the center of the room, laying Savan in the center of the ritual circle. 

“Either you’re an idiot or I am.” she mumbled, “but there’s no way I’ll keep living without finding out.” 

She started gathering bones and whatever else she needed from the storage to prepare. 

“And you better wait long enough for me to get you back.” 

Chapter 14: Dead

Summary:

you finally get to meet Nari (and her two wards!)

When Savan opened his eyes, he felt lighter. His mind was clearer, all the aches were gone. He would’ve called it a miracle if not for the endless white void he seemed to wake up in. 

The goat got to his feet, brushing himself off to look through the thick fog around him. All he could do was wander, and hope to find something. 

Far ahead, past vague cream colored columns and a few patches of lightened stone, he saw a figure draped in black red and white. 

He would’ve thought it was the lamb if not for the wrong proportion of colors. He cupped his hands to shout, “Hello?”

The figure shifted, almost like it was trying to look at him through the clouds. Then something at its sides shifted as well, disappearing. 

Savan got a chill up his spine. He trotted over slowly, being as careful as he could be. 

“What is this?” something poked him in his side. 

He jumped, snatching the air for his crown and a blade. “Who’s there?!”

A face poked out of the clouds, almost like they were bushes. A black cat with fluffy fur and two red eyes past a thin black veil. He also had a camellia flower poking off of one ear. 

“A hairy sheep?” another voice added, an identical cat popping up on his other side, with a scar over one black eye, rougher fur, and a skull on his ear. 

Savan let his sword drop a touch, tilting his head. “I’m a goat?”

They both made “ahhh” noises, and the flowered one leaned a little closer, towering over him in what was not a normal size for a cat, especially a young one. 

“We haven't seen many of those, sorry for the bother.” 

“Brother,” the one with the skull huffed. “Come, we were asked to bring him to Master.” 

“Master?” Savan asked, a bad feeling creeping over his shoulder. 

The one with a flower stepped out, wearing a white robe, while the other had a black one. They also had staffs, the first with a sun like symbol on the top, and the second with a moon. The flower one offered a hand out. “Worry not, you are in no danger here.” 

Savan took it cautiously, nodding slowly. “I see… Can I ask your names?”

“I’m baal.” the one holding his hand said, squeezing his hand slightly. “And the grumpy kit is my brother Aym.” 

Savam sucked in a soft breath. He didn’t know why, he should have learned by now, but a part of him had still expected spots. “Oh… I’ve heard about you.”

They both gave him odd looks, then glanced at each other. 

“The lamb told me about you.” He clarified. “She’s fond of you both.”

Baal lit up with a grin, and Aym seemed to scrunch up his face. 

Savan chuckled to himself softly. “Can I assume that your Master is The One Who Waits?”

Baal nodded. “She’s right up ahead.” 

“And you’re sure she won’t try to kill me… or whatever happens here. I don’t actually know where I am.” He muttered looking around. 

“You’re dead.” Aym said. 

Savan felt himself flinch, biting his tongue still. He should have expected this, but it still hurt. 

They led him right up onto a little stone circle platform, then backed up. He held his hands together in front of him, looking up at the figure before him. 

The massive black cat stared down at him with three red eyes. She was in a white robe with what looked to be blood staining a stripe down the middle of it, and a matching black veil to the pair of kittens. She was held by thick chains and her hands peeled back to darkened bone. 

A familiar sight, just with a captured cat, not an arachnid. 

Savan took in a breath and bowed. Figured he should show respect for the first god that didn’t try to kill him upon sight. 

She let out a rumbly, raspy hum. “You are not on my list.” 

“List?” Savan tilted his head. 

“Every mortal being set to die is on my list, something I know but cannot truly enunciate.” she replied. “You are not on it. Just what are you?” 

“I am the goat.” Savan answered with a shrug. “Companion to the lamb.”

She tilted her head. “Yes, I have seen you through the crown. What is your intent here?” 

“Only to live…” He replied, trailing off softly. “which apparently I have failed at.”

She hummed again. “Very well then, you may pass.” she motioned her arm past herself, where a small area seemed to light up.

“Pass too… where exactly?” He asked, tilting his head before he moved. 

“The after.” 

Savan swallowed. Nothing awaited him there. Not his family, not his friends, his cult, not even his own enemies. He had no reason to go… even if it was an end to everything. 

“What about the lamb?” He asked. 

“The lamb is not of your concern.” the cat said. “She is capable of taking care of herself.” 

“I’m well aware.” He hummed. “But… Could I at least wait? To say goodbye? I owe her an explanation.”

“This is the way of death.” she said. “It would not be fair to the countless that you get a chance when they did not.” 

“I know,” he murmured. “But they have a chance at resurrection. Or, some do.”

“You do not.” 

Savan bit his lip, nodding slowly. He was hoping she’d tell him differently. Apparently all his hope was wrong. “I don’t belong here, I have no place.”

“Those allowed resurrection must be indoctrinated.” she motioned a hand the other way. “They have a special place in my domain for their faith, right on the border should my vessel see them fit to return to life… but you are not a part of that. Go along now.” 

“Does it not matter if I am a vessel as well?” He asked in a desperate grab for any chance he had. “Not for you, clearly, but… does this crown earn me nothing?” Nothing besides more agony and toil?

She glanced at the crown, her expression darkening. “No.” 

“Please.” He pleaded. “At least let me wait? I will go without a fight from then on.”

She sighed, looking away. “Everyone begs. Everyone gets the same answer.” 

“Will you not even give this grace, if only for your own vessel?"

“Not for one wearing a deceiver's crown.” she said quietly. “Go now.” 

“This crown is not for your sibling.” He squeezed his own arms with a frown. “I have no qualms with you.”

“Then stop stalling and carry on without this incessant torment.” 

“Can The lamb reach me there?”

“That will not matter.” 

“It does to me.” He whispered. 

She didn't respond, and from her side, Baal glanced over at him. Savan stared down, waiting for as long as he could get away with. Baal waved a hand, trying to shoo him along silently. 

Savan looked back, failing to find any other excuses to stall. He shuffled forward, met face to face with the cat’s “after”. It was like a big translucent wall, rippling with other, more ready spirits slipping through it. 

Savan stuck his hand out, testing it like one would water. Except his skin automatically smacked against it like solid ground. “Uh…” he looked up at her, knocking his knuckle against the wall. “I can’t go through.”

She looked over at him, her brow furrowing. “odd.”

“I’m not… sure what to do here.” He mumbled. 

The big cat turned, reaching out to scoop him up in her hand. He squeaked, stiffening and trying not to fall. “Woah!”

Her bone-like fingers bent inwards, keeping him from tumbling off, and she held him up in front of her. “You’re not from this world.” 

“No.” He shook his head. “I am not. The lamb pulled me here from my own.”

“Curious.” she tilted her head. “I suppose we need to figure out what to do with you then.” 

“I have no one awaiting me.” He mumbled. “The lamb and her cult are the only family I could even try to claim.”

The god thought for a moment, then reached a finger out towards him. “You must have quite the story to tell.” 

He hesitantly reached out to grab her finger with a small nod. “It is a long one.”

“I have all the time in the world.” she sat down, then set him on the ground again, letting her finger help him keep his balance. She stretched, then laid out on her stomach, like she was putting herself at eye level. Aym and Baal immediately jumped at the opportunity, sitting and leaning against either of her shoulders. 

Savan chuckled softly, having his crown rest behind him, out of sight, but not where they wouldn’t see anything happening. “Where to begin?” He softly mused aloud. 

“What about your other world?!” Baal called out to ask. “What was it like? Who did you know?” 

“I did meet you all, but differently.” Savan hummed, giving the kit a soft smile. “For starters, you were all different species. You two,” he pointed to Ayme and Baal, “were a different kind of cat. Something spotted, I never knew you well enough to figure out specifics.” He hummed, turning to Narinder next. 

“You were a dog, your siblings a frog, octopus, centipede and tarantula.” He listed off all of the bishops, counting off on his fingers. “That's why I can only assume I am a goat, not a lamb.”

“A dog?” the cat cringed. 

“He was the kindest of any of the bishops.” Savan shrugged, “chalk it up to his nature or just personality.”

She hummed, reaching a hand out to keep Baal from falling on his face as he tried to lean in to listen. 

“But the biggest difference of them all,” he hummed, pointing at Narinder specifically. “You were not the banished one of your siblings.”

The cat’s ears perked up, and she looked at him in surprise. “Excuse me?” 

“That was Shamura.” He explained. His crown popped up over his shoulder, just so he could point at its purple eye. “It is why I have their crown.”

“I see…” she looked between the two younger cats, but didn’t comment any further.

“I was propositioned by the bishops to end them, and therefore their suffering.” He hummed simply. “And I, young, angry, and wishing for vengeance, agreed. Only to be betrayed by the bishops themselves.” He growled with a scowl. 

She watched him for a moment, then asked, “a world with no bishops?” 

“Without me there any longer? Yes.” He nodded. “I can only assume nature moves naturally there now, without command.”

“A godless world of chaos, and you the harbinger.” 

“I bet Leshy would be happy.” He jokingly muttered, laughing weakly. 

She furrowed her brows, squinting at him.

He shrugged it off quickly. “Nothing else is that starkly different. Minor inconsistencies.”

“Sounds like a dream,” Aym finally spoke up. “Why come and stay here?”

“My cult… turned on me.” He muttered. “When all other crowns were gone and new generations forgot their rule, they questioned why they followed me.” He looked away. “In trying to destroy me all they did was destroy themselves.”

The biggest cat listened thoughtfully, then nodded. “I can see how that would present a problem.”

“I can’t blame them though.” He shrugged, feeling the need to defend them. He failed them, not the other way around.  “It wasn’t entirely their fault...”

Chapter 15: Failure

Summary:

Sorry for missing the chapter last week, so heres an extra to catch you guys up :3

Savan wasn’t a cultist. 

The realization settled into Inez’ stomach like curdled milk, and her hands would have been shaking were they not pressed to the floor, trying and failing to initiate the ritual to bring him back. Still he laid there… dead. 

She hadn’t ever faced this before. The cultists were all able to be resurrected, was it because they were indoctrinated? She wasn’t even sure if she could indoctrinate Savan, but she definitely couldn’t do anything with a corpse. 

She felt her chest clench, and reached up to grab her shirt. Webber needed him back, she needed him back. 

She didn’t want to be alone again. 

What else could she do? How did she usually fix herself? 

She spoke to Narinder. 

It wasn’t ideal, but maybe it was a chance worth taking. Besides, her patron owed her for the shit she pulled with Heket. 

Inez stood up, cleaning up all the ritual supplies, and moving Savan's body to the altar. Make it look nice at least, while she tried something stupid. 

Then she popped her head out of the temple, finding Sydney sitting down with Webber, playing to distract him. “Hey.” the cat looked over, trying to strain a smile. 

The little Spider’s head popped up over Sydney’s shoulder. “Lamby!” He cried, trying to run over. “Did you do it? Is Veevee okay?”

“It's a work in progress webs,” she said, putting a hand on his head. “I need Sydney's help for a moment, would you mind going to find your nanny?” 

“Do I have to?” He frowned, fidgeting with his fingers a lot like the goat would when he was uncomfortable. Lamb stared at the small motion for a moment, biting her lip nervously. 

“Yeah, sweetie.” Sydney gave him a big hug. “We’ll come get you when everything is settled, okay?”

“Okay.” He pouted, squeezing her back before he ran off. 

Lamb and Sydney stood up, and the cat followed her back into the temple, where the ritual had been dismantled, and the body laid still. 

“It didn’t work?” Sydney asked. 

“No.” Inez said softly, unclipping her cloak and bell. “But there's a small chance i can do this another way.” 

“What other way?” Sydney squinted at her. 

Inez turned her crown into a dagger, and held it out to the cat. “I need you to stab me.” 

“What?!” Sydney hissed, her hair fluffing with her tone. 

The lamb calmly flipped the dagger around, so the handle was facing Sydney and the blade was pointed towards her chest. “Right in the heart, fast, easy, and painless. It won’t work if I do it. I’d just heal right up.” 

“I’m not-“ Sydney’s voice dropped to a harsh whisper. “stabbing you!”

“I’ll come back.” Inez argued, furrowing her brows, “i need to-” 

“I am not going to commit murder, revival or not!” Sydney snapped, stepping back. “That’s heresy."

“Not if I ask you to do it.” Lamb insisted. “Look, I just need to go talk to Narinder, see if she can give me Savan back.” 

“Narinder?” The cat tilted her head. 

“Ah-” Inez blinked. “I mean… the one who waits. She’s the god of death, that's what brings me back every time.” 

Sydney stared at her a moment. Trying to judge her somehow. “And you trust her, to bring the goat back?”

“Trust is not the word I’d suggest.” Inez mumbled. “But it's the only other thing I can think of, and if she can’t, she might be able to tell me a way that I can.”

“… and you promise you’ll be okay?” She asked, with pleading eyes. “Well… you’re going to be dead but, you’ll come back?”

“I always do.” Inez gave her a smile. “Even if my patron is mad, she needs me alive. I’ll be back.”

Sydney took the dagger hesitantly, clutching it tightly to her chest. “Okay.”

Inez spread her arms out. “You of all people know exactly what you’re doing.” 

“Doesn’t make it any less terrifying.” She muttered. “Or bloody.”

Inez chuckled. “That’s why I took off my cloak.” 

“Yea well I can’t take off my fur.” Sydney huffed. She held the dagger out, aiming above her heart carefully. She looked up at Inez one last time. “You’re really sure?”

“Yep.” Inez put a hand on her wrist, hoping to help her not freak out.

Sydney nodded, taking in a breath. She raised her hands as far as she could without losing aim. There was a second, and then she brought it back down swiftly. 

Inez closed her eyes before it connected, and when she opened them, everything was white. Quick and painless, great. 

She sat up, looking around, and spotting the imprisoned cat not too far. She hopped up, running over. 

Savan’s voice carried over the distance, growing louder as she grew closer. “In their defense, I was distant.” His voice was soft, saddened yet lacking discomfort. “Kallamar had wiped out my cult before, and if I could lose them that easily I never wanted to lose them again.”

Inez slowed down a little, ducking into the clouds. He was okay then, that was good, and it seemed Narinder didn’t mind him. 

“Sometimes those connections are a blessing, other times, a curse.” the big cat rumbled in response. 

“No other words are truer.” He replied. “Loss is such a nasty thing.”

“Yet it is natural.” she responded back. “Every life touched makes us who we are. Being content in that in death shows a life well lived.” 

“I have grown familiar with death.” He murmured. “But it is still sad when lives are cut far too short.”

“Death doesn’t discriminate.” she said. 

“Maybe that’s why I can’t blame it, no matter how angry I am at it.” He muttered.

She hummed. “Perhaps you should speak of some of this to the lamb.” 

Savan paused, his head tilting up to look at her. “But you wouldn’t send me back.”

“I did, but worry not, she is already here.” Narinder said, her third eye looking up and locking onto where Inez was peeking at them. 

The goat jumped, quickly moving to stand on his feet. “Lamb?!”

Inez got up, running over and jumping to hug him. He squeezed her as tightly as he could, something bubbling out of him, both laughter and soft sniffles. “Lamb! I’m sorry, I meant to grab you. I tried but I was too stubborn, I was stupid I-”

“Savan.” she mumbled. “Shut up.” 

He snapped his snout shut with a sad little squeak. 

She squeezed him tighter, squinting up at Narinder, who peered back at her with a neutral expression. “I'm taking him back.” 

The cat let out a little breath, perhaps of amusement. “You very well may try.” 

Savan looked back to scowl at her. 

She stared back, "I have a job to do, little harbinger.” 

“Yea yea.” He muttered. 

Inez took his hand, turning and leading him away. “Bye.” 

He stumbled for a moment, picking up his pace to trot quickly behind her, squeezing her hand. 

“Always a pleasure to chat.” the cat mumbled, as Baal waved from his spot beside her. 

Savan glanced back, waving to Baal for a short moment. 

Then they were on the circle, and Inez stuck her hand out, hovering off the ground a bit, Goat beginning to float with her. 

“Whaaaat is this?” He clung to her tightly, staring at their feet. 

“Don’t let go.” she squeezed his hand tightly, and Narinder huffed, waving her hand. 

Then Inez jolted awake, eyes opening to Sydney sitting worriedly over her. 

“Lamb!” Sydney grabbed her face, squishing her cheeks and chin. “Are you okay? How do you feel?”

“Fine, fine!” Lamb patted her hands, scrambling to get up, her chest thrummed in pain as it was still part way through healing, but she grit her teeth, covering the wound with a hand, and stumbled over to the altar. “Savan?!”

The goat blinked confusedly, rubbing his head as it rested in his palm. “Did it work?”

Lamb lit up in a huge smile as relief crashed into her. She’d likely owe Narinder for this one, but she didn’t care. She nearly tackled him in another hug. “It worked!” 

He laughed, squeezing her as tightly as his body allowed. “Oh thank you!” He breathed, squishing his cheek against hers. “Thank you so so much.”

She pulled back, squishing his cheeks. “Do you feel okay? What happened? Sorry I interrupted earlier.” She turned to look at the cat that was getting up. “Sydney, will you look him over?” 

“I feel better now.” He assured, reaching up to squeeze her arms. “I promise. I just… made a really bad call.”

“What did you do?” she tilted her head, Sydney coming over to steady her with a hand on her back. 

“Darlin, you’re still bleeding.” the cat said. 

“It’ll finish healing in a second.” Lamb brushed it off.  

“I thought I was stronger than I was.” He mumbled. “That run I made to Darkwood, I ran into Kallamar.” 

“You did?” she furrowed her brows. “What was he doing in Darkwood? What did he do?”

“He was mad we were curing his plague.” Savan mumbled the next part. “So he targeted me.” He wouldn’t meet her eyes any more but he wasn’t pulling away. “He said he wanted you to face him alone.”

She hummed. “He must have hit you with a stronger sickness.”

“I didn’t realize it until too late.” He muttered. “I thought I’d get over it. I thought the crown would protect me… I thought I was stronger.”

She stared at him a moment, then nodded. “Well, we’ve fixed it now. Just… tell me next time okay?” 

“Okay.” He sighed, leaning a bit forward. “I’m sorry. I didn't want to worry you more.”

She pulled him into another hug. “Yeah and how did that work out?” 

He laughed weakly, snuggling as close as he could be. “Thank you for getting me back.”

“I always will.” she gave him a firm squeeze. “Don't be an idiot next time.” 

“I hear you, loud and clear.” He chuckled. 

“Good.” she pulled back. “Now let's go find your kid. He was the one that found you first.”

“Webber saw me like that?” He frowned, his expression crumpled into something more heartbroken. 

Sydney nodded, “we mediated, but he’s worried about you.”

“Oh my poor boy.” He breathed. “Yea. Let’s go, the sooner I can see him the better.”

Lamb nodded, helping him get up as Sydney asked him a few questions to make sure he was cured of the plague. Then they both led him out of the temple and to his nanny’s house, knocking on the door.

Webber answered, poking his head just barely around the door. He gasped, all his little eyes widening as he scampered forward. “Veevee!”

Savan leaned down, snatching Webber up into a close hug and spin. “Hey Webby.” He purred, nuzzling the spider's head as the child giggled, clinging to Savan's neck. “I’m sorry I scared you buddy.”

Inez smiled at the reunion, leaning back into Sydney with a heavy sigh. 

“Do you want to go home?” Savan asked. 

Webber nodded, clinging to the goat with all of his arms, reaching out one arm to grab at Inez and Sydney. Inez reached a hand out to let him hold it. “Told you we’d fix it, webs.” 

The young kid chittered, squeezing her hand. She could feel the nervousness, and a gentle pleading coming from him. Savan gave her a soft look, something grateful. 

“Do you want us to come stay the night?” Inez asked. 

Webber nodded, whimpering “please?”

Inez glanced at the goat for approval.

He shrugged softly. “You both are always welcome.”

“Alright. Sleepover time.” Sydney poked Webbers cheek. He giggled, reaching back to snag her hand too with a brighter grin. 

“Whatever helps, Webs.” Savan hummed simply, nuzzling the top of Webber’s head. 

“Then lets go get some snacks.” Sydney said. 

“I’ll check over everything and meet you guys there.” Inez suggested.

“Sounds good to me.” Savan hummed. “I probably need to clean anyway.”

“I’ll help.” Sydney suggested. 

They parted ways with one final quick hug, Inez promising Webber that she’d be over soon. He tried to cling as much as he was able, watching her from over Savan’s shoulder as they walked away. 

Chapter 16: Mama Cat

Summary:

Savan gets a chance to see an old, comforting, familiar face again

Savan stuck close to the lamb all throughout Anchordeep, checking behind every corner and around every nook. She stayed as close to him as she could, hovering a little. 

He didn’t even try to get his own space. He let her hover as much as she needed. He’d take a moment to brush against her shoulder every once and a while. 

Things eventually calmed down, and enemies thinned out as they came to a quiet clearing. 

Inez paused in the entrance, then lit up, running ahead. “Forneus!” 

Savan’s brain stuttered. He blinked, hustling forward as his eyes automatically searched for a familiar, fluffy spotted cat. Instead he found a big black cat sat in front of them, giving the lamb a big smile. “Hello dear!” 

“How are you?!” Lamb bleated happily. 

“Well enough.” the cat patted her head. “Tell me, what is your journey’s goal today?” 

“Supplies for now.” Lamb said. “I have some help.” she motioned behind her at the goat. 

Savan waved, unintentionally stiff, his nerves getting the better of him.

Forneus smiled at him. “Hello there, come, come closer.” 

Savan shuffled forward, ducking his head as he hurried closer to her side. He had a constant, repeated reminder in his head that this Forneus was new. He had yet to know her. 

She purred softly, reaching out a paw to him. “Come, choose a gift, I have plenty to give.” 

He nodded, humming a fast “thank you” as he looked over what she offered. She had the usual layout, some new patterns for followers, some extra food seeds, tarot cards, and a follower gift, a little black wooden figure. 

Savan picked up the gift, pulling back some of the already peeling wrapping. It was a delicate carving of two baby cats, the wood stained black with some chipping and worn red paint as accents.

“Forneus… did you mean to put these out?” Savan asked softly, holding the carved pair up. 

She looked over, and her face softened to a deep sadness. She reached out to take the piece, shaking her head. “No, that was an accident. Apologies.” 

“I figured.” He hummed softly, holding them out. “It is lovely work though. You must’ve put a lot of care into them.”

“Yes.” she pulled out a different gift to replace it. “They are very dear to me.”

“Who are the carvings, if I may ask?” He spoke softly, tilting his head despite his own hunches. 

“My kittens.” she said quietly, “my loves that left this world too early, sacrificed for a god i know not the name of.” 

Savan bit his cheek and nodded. “I’m sorry for your loss. If… if I could give them back to you I would… what were their names?” 

Lamb bumped his arm, and Forneus didn’t answer, straining a smile. “Why don't you pick out a different treat, dear?”

“Of course, I’m sorry.” He bowed his head to look over the items again, taking the Tarot and dropping a few coins in return, far too valuable to just take alone. 

Lamb gave Forneous a grateful goodbye, then took the goat's hand, pulling him into the next area. “Sorry.” 

He gave Forneus a quick wave as he followed the lamb, keeping his eyes to the ground. 

Lamb gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “She’s not too much of an open person.” 

“Yeah,” he hummed softly. “I just… I had a thought.”

“What is it?” 

“Do you think her kids could be Narinders attendants? Aym and Baal?” He asked. “They were also cheetahs in my world, but Naren was a dog.”

She looked over at him, nodding. “I’m certain they are. I mean think about it, she said sacrificed for a god she didn’t know the name of. The bishops erased Narinders name, and the two were just kittens when they passed on.”

Savan squeezed her hand a touch harder, thinking back to his own past. Just when had his own Forneus disappeared? Was it after Heket? Before Naren. After… oh. 

“Savan?” 

“I had to kill Ayme and Baal.” He mumbled softly. “They were like Barbados and Baalzebub, guardians.”

She frowned, “yeah, you told me that.”

“My Forneus disappeared-” He hesitated. “… she left, right after.”

lamb looked at him, and looked so sad for him. “Oh honey, im so sorry.”

He pressed his lips into a fine line. He didn’t want to cry, he didn’t deserve that. He brought all of this on himself. “I chased her away.” He squeaked. 

“No.” Lamb scooted closer, cupping both of his cheeks, “Seavan, no, you didn’t.” 

“I killed her kids.” He whispered. “She left right after, how did I not?”

“You protected yourself.” she said. “And she probably protected you. She left instead of staying and feeling bitter, instead of taking any of her pain out on you.”

Savan reached up to squeeze her arms. “I miss her so much.” He murmured. 

“I know.” she pulled him into a hug.

He squeezed her as tightly as he could, hiding his face. She rubbed his back, sitting there with him for a moment. 

He stayed there for a long while, until he no longer felt like he’d break into sobs with his next word. The goat pulled back, clearing his throat softly as he put on a small smile. “We should probably head forward. That squid won’t kick his own ass.”

“Do you want to do the honors?” Inez asked softly. 

He looked up to meet her eyes, furrowing his brows. “You’d do that?”

“I heard some of what you were talking about with Narinder.” She admitted. “For yourself, and Webber, and all else you've lost to his power, you deserve to be allowed end him.”

Savan’s smile was wobbly, touched and fragile. “Thank you.”

“Of course.” She patted his back. “Anything for you.”

“You’re the kindest person I’ve ever met.” He chuckled. 

“Well hopefully I won't be the last.” She hummed. 

“I hope the same.” He softly hummed back. “Thank you, Inez. For everything.”

She grinned, taking and squeezing his hands. “You sap.” 

“Let me live.” Savan playfully complained, rolling his eyes with a smile. 

She pulled him into another hug. “You're living.” 

He paused, snuggling into her with a squeeze. “Thanks to you.”

“yeah.” She tilted her head, giving him a soft smile. “I appreciate you too.”

The goat stayed as still as he could be, breathing in slow and deep. Just soaking in the moment. This kind of peace felt rare, this kind of comfort somehow rarer. He wanted to make it last as long as he could. She gave him a moment, patiently waiting for his next move. 

He pulled away with a big breath in, squeezing her hand. “Alright. Lets go.” 

“Ready to make some calamari?” She grinned. 

“Absolutely.” He smirked in response. 

“Good.” She pulled him along behind her, turning her crown into a sword. 

He grinned widely, pulling out his own axe. 

Notes:

chaotic beans <3

Chapter 17: Pent Up

Summary:

Inez and Savan face Kallamar, Savan takes the lead... It doesn't go well

When they got to the temple to fight Kallamar, the squid was outraged. 

“How are you pests still alive?!” he screeched. 

“Spite and pettiness.” Savan replied with a snarky grin. “What’s your excuse?”

He hissed, his tentacles wiggling outwards like some really weird dominance show. 

Lamb huffed, pulling goat a step back as the usual happened, the cultists around him sacrificing themselves. “Let's attack as he tries to start monologuing.”

“Smart.” Savan chuckled. “Keep an eye out for projectiles, if I remember correctly he was quite fond of them.”

“Got it.” She readied her sword. When Kallamar transformation ended, he was holding countless weapons, and started on a whole new tirade of threats. Lamb made a motion to go before shooting forward with a shout. 

The goat darted the other way, wrapping around his back to strike at a lesser defended area. Lamb dug her sword into his hip area, ducking under a pained flailing spear swipe. Then she twisted and swiped the blade, slicing off one of his tentacles. 

Goat singed skin with as many curses as he could fire, digging his axe blade into bone. He’d dodge back and retreat, having his crown dart back to him just to repeat it all again. 

Together, the two disarmed him swiftly and ruthlessly, then scattered when the squid sent out a vicious flurry of projectiles in some futile attempt at victory and regeneration. 

Savan shot the lamb a look, and she gave him a nod, digging her sword into his final tentacle and the ground to pin him down. 

Savan felt his face shift, his grin grew twisted, his teeth a little sharp. The goat sprinted forward, leaping up with all the force he had, clutching Kallamars' robe to scale. He jumped up, lodging his axe into the bishop’s skin for a steady hold to bounce from next. 

Leap after leap, jump after jump, stab after stab Savan clambered up to the squid’s shoulder. He ran his blade across Kallamar’s neck, black blood flooding out in a downpour. 

Kallamar started squirming more, suddenly freed from the lambs hold on him now that Savan had a good placement. 

The Goat dug his nails into Kallamar’s skin, holding himself steady to use his free hand to swing. He took the squids eyes, he slashed away the rest of his ears. He attacked from every angle he could, the sadistic enjoyment quickly and rapidly fading. There was no calm catharsis, every swing brought a new burn, every splatter a new pain. 

The Goat swung for every face he remembered. He slashed for every name he lost. He hacked away for every soul he couldn’t retrieve. He screamed for every loss he had to endure. For every family destroyed, every child left to rot, every friend he’d ever had. 

He didn’t remember stopping, he couldn’t see past the black sludge that coated his sore arms as the dirt dug into his knees. He couldn’t get his breathing right, couldn’t hear much either. Kallamar had stopped moving, The Goat couldn’t even make sense of his face anymore. 

What was he doing? What had he done? This wasn’t even the right fish, why did he…

Everything was quiet. Wasn’t he supposed to do something now?

“Savan?” He heard a whisper. 

His ear flitted toward the sound. He told himself to move, letting his shawl fall back over his shoulders, hiding away the blood on his arms as he stood to face her. 

She was waiting a bit back from the mess, one hand gripping the clasp of her cloak, on her collarbone. “He's done… he's been done since…” her grip tightened by her scarred throat. 

He swallowed, nodding curtly. He wasn’t sure what to say, he didn’t have an explanation. He just… lost himself.

The goat stepped to the side. Out of her way. She needed the heart, didn’t she?

“Are you okay?” She asked, her voice still barely above a whisper. 

He wasn’t sure how to answer, so he just shrugged. Barely. 

She nodded, shuffling over to the body carefully to start to dig through it. She grabbed the gods heart quickly and let the crown take it before running over, wiping her arms off, since she hadn't climbed fully inside this time. 

He waited for her by the exit, slowly picking away the gunk stuck to his fur. He needed a wash at the cult fountain. She followed him swiftly, and activated the teleportation rune with a mumble, “the cultists are gonna swarm us.”

Right, people. The cult was still populated. “… right.” He breathed. Maybe he could just walk home? Walks were nice.

Inez took his hand, squeezing it gently as the circle lit up. “I'll handle them.”

Savan jumped, squeezing her back after a moment. “Thanks.”

When they went back the cult swarmed near immediately. The Lamb kept their attention well enough for Savan to slip away.

He moved on autopilot steadily to the cult fountain, scrubbing clean his clothes and fur without much thought. The motions were easy and repetitive, a simple task he could manage until his fingers were sore. 

He didn’t even dry himself, he shuffled into his own cabin plopping down at the farthest corner of his own room. Without anything more to keep them at bay he could hear his own thoughts. The water slowly dripped down his snout. It pooled below him, keeping him cold and heavy. 

The goat curled in on himself, squeezing his arms as the thoughts plagued him. 

He thought he’d changed. He thought he was passed being the monster they made him out to be. 

His arms hurt, his nails were digging past his fur. He should move…

He didn’t. 

Then there was a light tapping at the door, Inez standing there drying off her clean arms with a rag. 

He blinked his eyes free from their frozen spot, glancing up at her with light confusion. Why was she here?

She shuffled in, plopping down next to him, and leaned her shoulder against his. 

He watched her, feeling his browns knit together. “I’m wet.” He mumbled. 

“That's what they said.” She mumbled. 

He… wasn’t sure how to respond to that. A part of him would’ve laughed be it different circumstances. “What are you doing?”

“Resting after a long mission.” She leaned her head over to rest against his shoulder. 

“Why here?” Why with him?

“Sydney is dealing with some cultists that partied too hard and got sick,” she mumbled, “and I didn't think… I didn't want to be alone.”

He let himself lean to the side, bumping his head to hers. 

They sat in silence for a while, and Inez started humming that same lullaby she always liked. 

Savan felt himself relax, the tension leaving his shoulders as his eye slipped closed. They stung, he wanted to cry. He wouldn’t, but he wanted to. Inez lullaby ended at some point while he was thinking too hard, and she just sat there with him.

He peeled an arm free, reaching out to lightly take her hand. He moved slowly, fearing he was overstepping somehow. He only squeezed her hand when she didn’t pull away. 

She squeezed his back, staring at the ground with some mask of a neutral expression on her face. The only indication of anything was some streaks on her cheeks. 

He sat up, reaching his free hand out carefully. “Inez? What’s wrong?” He asked, running his thumb along her cheek to try and wipe the streaks away. 

She put her hand over his wrist. “You first.” 

He frowned, unable to pull back effectively stuck in her hands. “I don’t- it’s not important.” He muttered, turning away. 

“If I shared that sentiment I wouldn't be asking.” She said, “You're important to me. I'm not going to sit around and let my complicated feelings make you think you're some kind of monster for also having complicated feelings.” 

Savan shrunk in on himself hoping he hadn’t flinched. “It’s not you.” He muttered. 

“Is it you then?” 

He chewed his lip, nodding eventually. “I let you take charge in fights for a reason.” He said softly, almost whispering. “…I don’t like who I become.”

The lambs ear flicked, and she gave his hand a small squeeze. “Your anger needs to go somewhere.” 

“I manage it in other ways.”

“Suppression is not management.” 

“It’s better than the alternative.” He huffed softly. “And the smaller enemies work fine enough.”

“What if we sparred?” 

He squeezed her hands, feeling his stomach turn. “Are you sure?” He whispered softly. “What if I hurt you, or go too far?”

“Have we not discussed this before?” She narrowed her eyes. “Patron god of death?” 

“That’s not what I meant.” He huffed, shaking his head. 

“I'll be fine.” She reiterated. 

“Mentally?” He looked up with a frown. “What if I hurt you that way, how could you not hate me then?”

“You couldn't.” she said plainly. 

“How do you know that?”

“cause I know you.” She shrugged. “I know you wouldn't, and I could never hate you, not for anything.”  

Savan couldn’t bite back the tears that time. He leaned his head forward to bump into hers, his breaths shuddery and fragile. She held him there a moment, just letting him breathe. 

“Why do you stand me?” He squeaked, clutching any part of her he could hold. 

“Cause… you're the only one who gets it.”

He hiccuped, fighting any and every tear that leaked down his face. 

“And because it's nice to be wanted instead of needed. I've got you… and as far as I know, you've got me too.” Inez added, another tear or two managing to come out of her eyes and add to the mix. “It's you and me versus hell itself.” 

Savan jolted forward to pull her into a tight hug. He squeezed with all he had, ignoring the cold squish of his own clothes as he pressed his face against her neck. He couldn’t stop crying. 

She squeezed him back tightly, not adding anything else, just holding him. He sobbed against her, crying until his chest hurt and his eyes ran dry. 

His throat was sore, his voice scratchy and raw but he still held her with the same fierceness he’d tugged her close with. 

“You're not a monster.” She said one more time. 

He gave her a soft squeeze in response, nestling himself in a more comfortable spot without letting go. She didn't make any complaints. 

“You’ll always have me.” He murmured. “As long as you need me, I won’t go.”

“Good.” She said, nodding firmly, “cause you're stuck with me.” 

He chuckled softly. “I wouldn’t ask for anyone else.”

She smiled softly at that. “Well, you didn't get much choice in that.” 

“Eh, I got lucky.” He shrugged with his own soft grin. He stayed there for a few more moments before he wondered, “what was it that was bothering you?”

Her ears flicked again, and she averted her gaze. “It seems silly now.”

“So?” He tilted his head. 

She was quiet for a moment, beginning to fidget after the silence held too long. Finally she mumbled, “I don't ever go for anyone's throat.”

“Memories?” He asked. 

“Something like that.” She huffed. 

“I’m sorry.” He murmured. 

“It's fine.”

“Still.” 

She hummed, rubbing her cheek. He gave her another soft squeeze. 

“Want to stay right here for a while, let everyone else enjoy the celebration without bumming them?” she asked quietly.

“Yes please.” He softly whispered. “That’d be nice.”

She nodded, shifting to get comfortable against him. He rested his own head on her shoulders, taking in a deep breath. “Thanks.”

“Of course.” She squeezed him. 

“… should I change?” He chuckled. “Im still all wet.”

She shrugged. “Probably, don't wanna get sick.” 

“Yea, not again.” He muttered. Savan sat back and stretched before he stood. “I’ll be fast.”

“Okay.” Inez wiped off any water sticking to the surface of her wool, then moved to sit up on the bed. 

Savan snagged some spare cultist robes, peeling off his cloak and shirt. He threw the robes on loosely, stepping out of the room to take off his pants and leave all of his clothes to lay out and dry. He flopped back down on the bed, shuffling over to Inez’s side. She pulled him into a hug, letting out a big breath.

“Anyone ever tell you you’re really nice to hug?” He chuckled softly, leaning in. 

“It's the cushioning.” She laughed. 

“You’re like a walking pillow.” He snickered with her. 

She snorted, “yeah I use my shear to make pillows and blankets here.” 

“I should start doing that.” He murmured. “I heard back at home people used to make clothes out of goats wool.”

“I can help.” She said, “we can learn how to shear each other.”

He grinned. “Yea. That sounds nice.”

Inez hummed, her ears folding back in a content, neutral position. Her tail also thumped against the mattress. 

Savan snuggled into her side, humming contentedly. He let his eyes slip closed. 

 

Chapter 18: Sparring

Summary:

Things are ramping up again, but what is it that could be plotting?

“Try again.” Inez readied her sword once more. “You left two openings.”

Savan grit his teeth, raising his own as he readied his stance. “Right.”

They jumped towards each other again. Inez was faster, nimble and quick. She could land a lot more hits at once, but her accuracy wasn't the best. Savan was more of a heavy hitter; he wasn't used to dodging more hits than he took. 

They countered each other well, Savan helping Inez with her accuracy and Inez helping him with his defense. This time when they clashed and separated after a brief exchange of blows, Inez gave him a grin, “better.”

 “Good.” Savan huffed. “That was harder than I thought.”

“You're getting the hang of it.” She promised. 

“And your aim is improving.” He hummed back. 

She chuckled, “you're a lot harder to hit accurately than most people I fight.” 

“Good.” He smirked. “I take pride in being tricky.”

She rolled her eyes, smirking. “Well, it's working.”

“Im glad.” He chuckled. “Anything to help you improve.”

“Leaders!” A voice called from behind them. It was a small red panda, more of a pink hue despite the name. “Leaders! Lamb! Goat!”

Inez paused, straightening up and turning to the cultist. “What is it?” 

“The last missionary never returned.” They called, slowing to a halt beside them both. “It’s been too long.”

Inez crossed her arms thoughtfully, “I see… thank you for informing me.” 

“Yep!” They gave her a thumbs up. “Sure thing!”

She gave them a nice smile, patting their head in a quick blessing. “Go along now, I'll handle it.” 

“Oki!” They practically skipped away, grinning widely to themself. 

“Any ideas?” The goat asked softly. 

“This is the third missionary in a row to not come back.” She mumbled. “That's not a coincidence, it can't be. I was worried so I sent this one on the lowest risk task I could.”

“They’re probably getting intercepted.” He murmured. “Question is by who.”

Lamb glanced over at him, “there's only one really important person left alive who would.” 

“You think Shamura would risk leaving their domain?” He raised a brow. 

“Not sure.” Inez huffed. “Maybe they're not, but they can send people if they need, and taking out or even capturing our cultists may be a strategic move.”

“That…” he sighed. “That does sound like them. Damnit.”

“We can stop sending out missionaries for a moment.” She said. “And try to see if they have any of our missing cultists in silk cradle when we go through it. If they're captured it's likely either to lure us or to try to get information.” 

“Or to turn them against us.” Savan muttered. 

Inez hummed. 

“We should find them quickly.”

She nodded. “They won't get anything out of my cultists.” 

Savan watched her carefully. “How can you be sure?”

“I put spells on my cultists.” she said plainly. “Like the wards, they can't speak of the cult or its secrets outside the grounds.”

He blinked at her. “That… is incredibly smart… but also so unexpected?” He shrugged. 

She shrugged back. “I do what I need to.”

“Fair.” He shrugged. 

She thought for a moment, furrowing her brows, “do you think we should train them?” 

“Train them how?” He tilted his head. 

“Self defense.”

“You want the cultists to fight?”

“I want them to be capable of protecting themselves if they have to.” She said. 

He nodded slowly with her, mulling it over in his own head. “That’s… fair. Just self defense?”

“Are you worried about anything more?” 

“No! No, just wanted to be sure.” He stammered. 

“You sure?” She tilted her head. 

“Yea.” He nodded. “I’m good. Self-defense is a good idea.”

“Would you like to help train them?” She asked. “I'm not great at teaching, but you are.” 

“I… sure.” He hummed. “I can do that.”

“Thanks.” She smiled. 

“Of course.” He gave her a smile in turn.

She turned back to him, drawing out her sword again, “want to keep going?” 

“Another round wouldn’t hurt.” Savan rolled his shoulders as he chuckled. “Give me your best.”

She smirked, and shot towards him. He did his b

est to side step and dodge, continuing their dance.

Chapter 19: Ferrets

Chapter by Lucatea

Lamb paused for a moment on their first silk cradle run. She saw some light ahead, flickering. 

“Oh… no.” she mumbled.

“What’s wrong?” Savan jogged up to her side. 

“Village.” She mumbled, shuffling forward through the trees and cobwebs.

He hurried forward, almost running. “Want me to scout for any survivors?”

“They're usually left in the middle,” she said, walking up towards the center of the still-burning village. “Always just one…”

Savan slowed, his eyes roving the demolition around them. “Why?” He hissed. “To be some… message?”

“To spread fear.” She said, “to have someone make sure that others submit.” 

She spotted the figure huddled in the middle, and blinked. “Jaiden?” 

“The tiger?” The goat blinked. “The one that got kidnapped off the mission, why’s he here?”

“i don't know.” She ran towards the cat, crouching to untie him. “Jaiden?” 

The tiger looked up at her, wide eyed and terrified. “Leader?” 

“Yeah.” She pulled him to shaky feet. “Are you hurt? What happened?”

He shook in her hold, shaking his head furiously. “They… there were children! Dozens of them!” 

Lamb saw the Goat freeze out of tge corner ofcher eye. It was hard to see if it was the color draining from his face or simply just the shadows from the flames around them. 

“Sev?” She whispered, looking back at him as she pulled. A blanket around the tigers shoulders. 

He stiffened, clenching his hands at his sides as he briefly met her eyes. Something gnawed at his gut, it ate away at him until he just darted off. 

The bishops were never thorough, they never cared about mortals enough to be. There was always someone left behind in the smallest of camps. 

The rest of the village was mostly collapsed, flames lapping at whatever was left, the heat singing his fur and cloak. Savan pushed through it all, sucking air in through the smoke as he dug through the coolest of the debris. His hands burned and ached but he bit it down. He had to be sure. 

He heard something past the shifting of breaking wood, like a squeaking noise. 

The Goat zeroed in on the sound, shifting course to dig for it. “Hello?”

He heard something, someone. A gasp, and shuffling as a little blur of gray disappeared out of sight. 

“Wait!” He cried doing his best to climb in further without getting stuck. “Wait, it's not safe!” 

Whatever it was hissed at him, slipping into a tight space, a little basement untouched yet by flames. 

“Wait, please!” Savan shouted. He had to carefully shift fallen wood and smoldering beams to even have a chance to follow. “I won't hurt you, but the cabin’s still burning, you can’t stay here!”

When he opened the hatch, he was being stared at by a pair of reflective eyes, wide and terrified. 

“H-hey.” Savan tried to smile at them. He leaned over, keeping one arm up to hold open the hatch,. “Are you two okay? Are you hurt?”

They hissed again, scooting further back, “leave us alone!!!”

A kid. That was a kids voice. “Hey, as soon as you’re out of here, I’ll leave you be, but I cannot let you stay in a collapsing house.”

“No!” The kid screeched at him. “You won't take us too!” 

“I’m not trying to take you.” Savan huffed, gritting his teeth from the heat beginning to sting. “I’m trying to get you out of here!”

The kid just hissed at him again, moving to shuffled back further into the cellar. 

Savan heard creaking, popping wood beginning to splinter. “Theres not time for this.” He muttered, reaching to snag the kid however he could and pull them up. “Hate me later, just go!”

They started screaming bloody murder, just absolutely howling and thrashing in his hold, “no lemme go! We won't go!” 

“We?!” Savan paused, just for a half second. 

The kid bit him. Savan yelped, pulling the kid up the rest of the way to toss him out of the danger. “Don’t be stupid.” He turned back to the cellar, trying to squint to see whoever else could have been hiding. 

“You'll never get her!” The kid screeched at him, jumping up to try to run at Savan like he was going to attack him.

“Hey!” Savan sent out his crown, hoisting the kid up by the scruff of his own neck. “You’re going to hurt yourself, stop!”

“Never!” The kid hissed at him. 

Savan rolled his eyes, debating letting the beam go to drop down or blindly reaching around the cellar, and he had to choose fast. His grip was slipping. 

Flames blazed and Savan got a whiff of burning fur. He had to let the beam drop and roll to the side just so he wouldn’t become added tinder. He scrambled back onto his feet, darting around for another way in, or through the wreckage. 

The ferret he was holding got louder, if that was somehow possible, angry wiggling becoming more frantic, desperate, and his pleas fizzling out to squeaks and screeches. 

Then there was another sound, a chitter that showed another fuzzy grey squeezing out of the cellar door to bolt towards the other kid. This kid was even smaller, younger than the first. 

“Kid careful!” Savan let the first kid drop to the grass, shifting his crown to snatch the smaller. He carefully moved her, pulling her out and away from the burning rubble, only also letting her go when she was over safe ground. He let out a relieved breath when her feet touched the grass. 

The bigger kid slammed into his side. 

Caught off guard the goat fell to the ground, muscle memory kicked in before all else as he rolled to his feet, his hand twitching for a weapon that never came to him. He reminded himself these were kids. Hurt, terrified, confused kids, not an enemy. 

“Don't touch her!” The boy screamed at him, hitting against his chest with tiny firsts. 

“I put her down already.” Savan huffed, taking a step back. “You both are fine. I told you I wasn’t here to hurt you.”

The ferret hissed at him, then scampered over to the smaller one, pulling her close to his chest with a glare. 

Savan bit down the urge to roll his eyes. He took in a breath, squatting down to their level. “Do you kids have anywhere you can go? And family or friends that may have avoided this… mess?”

“Of course we do!” The older of the pair hissed. “We're fine, go away!” 

The goat raised a brow with a tilted head. “Is there any way I could walk you there?” He asked in a softer tone. “I don’t want you two running into the guys that started this if they come back.”

The ferret huffed, “what, so you can take us too?” 

“I’m not taking you.” Savan replied quickly. “I do not work for Shamura.”

The boy squinted at him suspiciously, pulling the girl more out of Savan's sight. There was a light tapping nearby, and then the lamb popped out from behind some rubble. “Goat? Did you find something?” 

“These two were in one of the houses.” He replied glancing to her. “I’m trying to figure out if they’ve got anybody to go to but I don’t think they like me.”

The boy turned to look at the lamb, his eyes going wide in shock. “You… you're them.” 

Savan turned back, tilting his head. “Hm?”

“I'm who?” Lamb asked, stepping up next to Savan. 

“Them.” The boy said again. “The last lamb, the liberator.”

“Huh.” She hummed. “I didn't know I had a reputation.”

“Neither did I.” Savan shrugged. “Wait did I have one too and just never knew?” He mumbled under his breath. 

“Maybe?” Inez shrugged. 

“Regardless.” Savan shook his head. “Would you rather follow her? We can take you to wherever you are able to go.”

The ferrets stayed where they were, silent for a moment, before the boy mumbled. “Our aunts house.”

Without any further explanation, he released the littler child, keeping hold of her hand, and pulled her with him to run down the road. 

Savan hopped to his feet, trotting after them. 

They stopped in front of a different house, the fire having already long turned it to dimming embers, nothing left but the foundation, piles of ash, and the smell of burnt fur. 

Savan carefully came to stand behind them. He kept his voice soft and stayed close without encroaching on their space. “Who were you looking for?”

“Our aunt.” The boy said, staring at the rubble. His face only betrayed a slight bit of concern. The girl at his side scooted closer, clinging to his shirt as he squeaked, her face crumbling to fear and sorrow. 

Savan knelt down beside the two, holding out an offered hand. “I can take a look, see if anyone’s okay. Would you wait with the Lamb while I do that?”

“No need.” The boy said, hugging the girl. “She's gone.” The younger buried her face in his shirt at that, crying openly.

Savan bit his cheek, letting his hand fall. “I am sorry.”

The boy rubbed her back, looking over at Savan. “They say the lamb takes people to safety... to a hidden paradise.”

“She has… a comune, protected and hidden away from the bishops.” Savan hummed. “You’re more than welcome, if you’d want to come.”

“Yeah.” Lamb said from behind him. “It's not perfect, but it's hidden and safe.” 

The boy stared at them, before giving a small little nod. “Okay.”

Lamb tapped on Goats shoulder, lowering her voice. “They're too young to indoctrinate, I can't send them through to the circle.”

“Want me to walk them back?” He whispered back.

“Might be easier if you can hold them and I teleport you back.”

“That is if they let me.” He muttered. “The oldest doesn’t like me.”

“He's just protective.” She said. “Youre good with kids. Maybe you can ease him a little. Give him a choice in either option.”

Savan hummed as he glanced back at the pair. “I’ll try.”

She patted his shoulder. “I can finish this run, yeah? Get them home and fed, maybe comfortable either in the nursery or one of the spare cabins or rooms.” 

“Sounds good.” He gave her a thumbs up. “Hey kids, can I ask what your names are?”

“Children don't get names.” The boy said. “To…” he looked down, “to protect them from being taken by evil…”

“I see.” Savan murmured. “Would you like names?”

He glanced back up at the goat, apprehensive, but sighed, “I suppose… the protection didn't work very well.” 

“Well you wont have to worry about that anymore.” Savan smiled. “We can take you back to the lambs flock, but it’s up to you if we’re walking or not.”

“How else would we go?” He squinted. 

 “Teleportation.” Savan smiled. “But since you two don’t have permissions in the flock just yet, you’d have to hold on tight to me. Which is why you have a choice.”

“We can walk.” He said without hesitation, gripping the girls hand. She pulled back enough to look up at Savan with her biggest, wettest eyes ever. 

“Hi hon.” Savan gave her a warm smile, waving to her. “We’re gonna take care of you both, promise.”

She sniffled, rubbing her cheeks, and the older kid turned to her, reaching out to help her. 

“Maybe we can brainstorm names on our way there.” Savan hummed, offering a hand to them as he stood. “I mean, we gotta call you something, right?”

The boy let out a huff, seeming begrudging as he took Savans hand. 

“Alright.” Savan squeezed the kid's hand gently. “I just want to be sure, but we’re walking, right? We are a few days out.”

“Yeah.” The kid nodded. “You're not touching my sister.”

“Alright.” He shrugged with a chuckle as he started the trek back. “Be ready for achy feet.”

The boy just huffed at him, and stayed quiet for the first few hours without complaints. His sister started whining after a while, and the boy let go of Savan's hand, helping her climb up onto his back before he looked at Savan determinedly, and stubbornly. 

“Why do you look at me like I’m trying to ruin your life?” Savan asked, letting his shawl cover him as he pulled ahead to lead. 

“Cause you might be.” The boy muttered. 

“I don’t hurt kids.” Savan insisted firmly. “They’re off limits.”

“What?” The confusion in his voice was clear, “what does that even mean?” 

“Kids are innocent in most things, and have entire futures ahead of them.” Savan shrugged. “That’s not for me to touch. I help where I can, and try not to hurt.”

“Uh…” the ferret blinked at him. “Okay?” 

Savan glanced at him, shifting away from the unintentionally serious tone. “I mostly just go after the bad guys.”

The kid seemed to think about that for a second before he said, “okay.” 

The silence stretched for a moment, before the goat hummed, “Y’know there are other kids at camp. Not many just yet, but there’s one close to your age, maybe a little older. His name’s Webber.”

“I'm ten.” The boy said. 

“Web’s is a couple years older then, not by much though.” Savan shrugged. “I feel like you’d get along.”

He hummed, turning to check on his sister, who'd fallen asleep on his back. 

“How old is she?” Savan gestured to the younger girl. 

“Five.” 

“When do kids usually get their names?”

“When they're twelve.” He kicked a pinecone down the path. 

“Would you two want to wait until then?” Savan asked gently. 

“I dunno.” He half-shrugged, trying not to wake her. 

“It’s your choice.” Savan hummed. “Just let me know, buddy.”

“Why are you tying so hard?” 

Savan tried not to laugh, raising a brow. “Pardon?”

“Why do you want me to like you so bad?” 

“Because…” Savan shrugged. “I want you to be able to feel safe. You deserve to have people that care for you.”

The kid blinked at him, staring like he was trying to read Savan. He was quiet for a long, awkward pause, before he hummed, reaching out to grab the corner of Savan's shirt and continue their trek. 

The goat smiled, his tail waggling behind him. He didn’t draw attention to it, but he did slow to let the kids keep pace easier. 

They camped out when the sun set, and Savan awoke to both of them curled up against his back. He smiled softly, doing his best to sit up without waking them. 

Chapter 20: Names

Summary:

Savan names his two new ferret children

Surprisingly, the first one to wake up was the girl, looking around groggily, then yawning with a little squeak. 

“Hi, sweetheart.” Savan leaned down with a soft smile. “You sleep okay?”

She blinked sleepily at him, then shuffled out from her brothers curled up cuddles to shuffle over to him, reaching up both hands towards him. 

Savan wrapped his arms around her carefully, pulling her into his lap. “Hi.”

She squeaked again, snuggling against his chest with some odd quiet clicking sound. Savan smiled, slow to rub her back. “You’re so sweet.”

She chirped back at that, reaching a hand up to grab his cloak fabric. She just stayed pressed against him until her brother eventually shifted. 

Savan turned to look at his as he gently ran his fingers through the young girl’s fur. “Hey bud, you awake?”

The boy grumbled, sitting up and stretching out. His back was still facing Savan, and there was a moment of him sitting up tiredly before he stiffened, looking around. 

“Your sisters right here.” Savan hummed, pointing to the kid in his lap as he pulled his hands away. “She wanted attention.”

The boy looked over at him, wide eyes as he glanced between them, then a stare right on the edge of a glare locked onto Savan. He didn't say anything though. 

“Kiddo,” Savan looked down at the girl clinging to his fleece. “Your brother’s awake. Wanna go see him?”

She squeezed his cloak a little tighter, looking up at him with her tail thumping against his thigh. 

The boys ears twitched, listening to the sounds she was making, then he relaxed more to a nervous gaze. “I said not to touch her.”

“I didn’t want to tell her no.” Savan admitted. “I’m sorry.”

The boy huffed at him, his ears folding back. “Whatever.” 

Savan let his hands down, hovering just above the girls fur without touching. “Sweetheart, are you gonna let go?”

She shook her head with a little grin. 

“You are just a little goofball aren’t you?” Savan chuckled, shaking his head. “Am I going to have to carry you?”

She nodded, pointing to her brother who was trying to discreetly rub his shoulders. 

“I can take over.” He hummed softly, adjusting the little girl so he could stand with her in his arms. “Do you need anything kid?”

The boy shook his head, rumbling a little. He didn't seem to like the idea, but wasn't arguing with his sisters decision. “You said you can teleport?”

“With enough focus and a bit of time.” Savan nodded. “Or a stone circle.”

“Then we can do that.” The boy huffed. 

 “Alright.” Savan shrugged, patting the girl’s back. “It might be safest if we sit so I can focus.”

The boy hummed in response, and the girl looked over at him with a grin, reaching a hand out to try to have him join them. 

“He needs to focus.” The boy mumbled, motioning for her to come join him instead. She shook her head, clinging tighter to Savan's shirt. 

“Sweetpea, do you want to just sit in my lap, while I focus?” Savan asked softly as he knelt close to the grass. 

She nodded quickly, her tail slapping against his leg harder.

“Okay.” He chuckled, petting her head as he crossed his legs. He patted the spot beside him for her brother, smiling warmly. 

He just got a squint and rumble from the brother. 

“Please?” Savan asked. “I will need your hand.”

The boy was reluctant, but shuffled over to sit next to him, setting his arm in Savan's hand.

Savan held it gently, taking his sisters as he bowed his head. His eyes closed as he took in a breath. His mind went clear as he tried to envision home. 

Little hands clapped onto his cheek. 

Savan paused, cracking open an eye with a small grin. “Hi?”

The girl was trying to mimic his focus face, puffing out her cheeks.

Savan snickered, letting his head lean down to briefly bump against hers. “Goofy.”

She giggled, pulling back. Her brother poked her shoulder. “You gotta let him focus.”

 “Yup, listen to your brother.” Savan hummed. “Shouldn’t be too long.”

“Ah!” She squeaked, plapping a hand on her brothers face. He didn't even flinch. 

“Yeah, I know. We can cuddle later, let him work first.” 

Savan watched fondly for a short moment before he returned to the task at hand. Things slowly faded, the sounds, the chill of the air, the dew of the grass. He felt more of home, and heard distant voices of the cult. His limbs tingled, the tips of his fingers buzzed as the world around them shifted. 

The two kids pressed against him stilled and quieter, even the girl's quiet noises. 

Savan let go when he was positive they had shifted completely. He slowly pulled his hands back, sitting back to look up at a familiar tree line. No screw ups or mistakes, he did it fine. 

The two ferrets were holding each other, the boy apparently having snatched his sister at some point as they looked round with wide eyes. The girl seemed fascinated, the boy more apprehensive.

“We’re here now.” Savan hummed, stretching out his back before he shifted closer to them. “Are you both okay? Anything hurting or feeling weird?”

The boy squeezed his sister, quickly standing up with a light hiss. 

Savan held up his hands with a frown, sitting back to give them space. “What’s wrong?”

He just got a frown as the kid quieted, watching him cautiously. His sister wiggled in his hold, and he put her down, holding her hand. She tried pulling him over and reaching for Savan's hand. 

Savan held his hand open to her, but only waited for her to come to him, not wanting to test her brother. Again, her brother let her do what she wanted, glaring at the ground still holding her other hand as she squeezed Savan's.

He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb as he got up onto his own feet. “You look like you’re feeling fine.” He chuckled. 

She nodded, grinning at him. 

“Good.” He smiled back at her. “Follow me, I’ll bring you into camp.”

She gave his hand another squeeze in response and her brother flicked his ears. 

“I’ll introduce you two to some of the cultists we pass by, Sydney will check you both over for any bumps, scratches or ouchies you might have.” He hummed, booping the younger on the snout and her head softly. “And while she does that I’ll grab you guys a meal.”

She giggled, sticking her tongue out at him. Her brother just nodded. 

He stuck his own tongue back at her for a short laugh. 

He did straighten up to lead them both through the cult, underneath the flower archway at the entrance. The girl gasped, letting go of both of their hands to run up to the arch, looking around at it with sparkles in her eyes.

Savan chuckled. “Do you like the flowers?”

“She loves flowers.” Her brother said as the girl nodded excitedly, running in a little circle under the arch with happy squeaks.

Savan nodded, trotting over to follow. “They're very pretty. I have my favorites, but I can't find them here.” He shrugged. “Do you have any favorites?”

She looked around at the flowers on the arch, then pointed at it and shook her head. 

“Her favorite isn't here.” Her brother mumbled, staying close enough to watch his sister carefully. 

“I’ll have to go looking for it.” Savan hummed. He looked up at the elder child curiously. “Do you know what her favorite is?”

“I don't know the name of it.” He admitted. “We only saw it once, I don't remember what it looked like but she'll know it if she sees it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Savan hummed, holding his hands out for her. “C’mon hon, lets keep going.”

She ran over, practically jumping at him. He scooped her up easily, walking slower for her brother to follow close as he carried her to the med tent. Sydney was already inside for the day, cooking up a pot of broth in the corner. The girl in his arms spotted her and started wiggling with a vocal exclamation.

“Hi Sydney.” Savan laughed, doing his best not to let her fall. “I got two kids for ya.”

Sydney looked over, laughing a little. “A wiggle worm, huh?” She glanced at the boy, who rumbled, shuffling over to hide behind Savan, squinting at her. 

“The wiggliest.” Savan snickered, nuzzling the little girl quickly before he handed her to Sydney. “I just need you to check them over for any injuries, we found them in a burning cabin. 

Sydney carefully took he girl, who immediately started rubbing her hands against Sydney's neck fluff with happy little giggles. Before he could pull away, Sydney snatched one of his hands, looking over the burns he hadn't noticed. 

“Oh… right, fire doesn’t mix with flesh.” He muttered. 

Sydney glared at him. 

“Do the kids have any burns?” He craned his neck to look back at the boy. “I couldn’t see anything but I could’ve missed it. The wood was still blazing pretty bad…”

The boy was looking at his hand, his usually hard expression softened to concern. 

“Kid.” Savan gently called for his attention. “Were you hurt anywhere? Can Sydney check you over?”

He blinked then nodded, shuffling over to sit on the cot. Then he reached out to grab Savan's arm, trying to pull him to sit too. “You need to too.”

“Yeah.” Sydney smirked. 

“I’m okay, buddy.” Savan assured, although he did still sit. “I can’t even feel that.”

“That's not a good thing.” Sydney said, letting the girl climb over her like a jungle gym, playing with her ears from where she clung to her back. 

“Yeah!” The boy agreed, though Savan doubted he knew that. 

Savan chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Fine. I’ll stay, but check the kids first.”

“Alright.” She sighed, turning to the boy. “Anything hurting?”

He shook his head, and sat, still holding Savan's arm as she checked him over, talking him through everything she was doing. Somehow her usually pleasant bedside manner didn't have the kids' iron grip on the goat loosen any. 

Savan let him cling as much as he needed, he was scared if he moved the kid would dart away like a scared little animal. Savan did however, silently offer his cloak to hide in when Sydney finished her evaluation. He had a few burnt ends of his fur, but was otherwise unharmed. Sydney told goat he should trim off those ends after a bath. 

Then she managed to catch the gremlin on her back, scoping her into a playful cradle as the girl squealed. She gave her a more playful checkup, keeping her distracted as she looked over what she needed to. The boy at his side still didn't let his arm go. 

When Sydney declared the same thing for the girl as her brother, she let the girl go to climb back onto her back. 

Sydney finally turned to Savan, holding her paws out expectantly. 

Savan huffed, offering his unoccupied arm out. 

She cleaned his hand, using some of her special salve on his burns before wrapping them up. 

“This feels like a bit much, Syd. Shouldn’t you save this stuff?” He frowned as he watched her wrap his hand. 

“Nope.” she said plainly. “It's not hard to make more, you're getting the same treatment as anyone else.” 

He hummed flatly, offering the hand to the little boy, to replace the arm he clung to. He easily switched, scooting around the cot to sit on Savan's other side. Sydney was quick to repeat her treatment on his other hand. 

Once she was done, she swiftly checked over the rest of him just to be sure before patting his knee. “Alright, you're good.” 

The boy finally let go of his arm. 

“Thanks Sydney.” He hummed. “Think you’d want to join us for food?”

“I just finished breakfast.” She said. “But thanks.” 

The girl on her back let out a noise of protest, wrapping her arms around Sydney's neck to hang on tight. 

Savan chuckled, holding out his arms. “C’mon sweet girl. Sydney’s got work to do and you need food.”

“She likes cats.” Her brother said as she shook her head, refusing to let go. 

“I promise, you can visit her again later.” Savan chuckled. 

Her brother got up, going over to the cat and reaching out for his sister. “C'mon, food time.” 

She pouted, but listened to him, letting him help her down off Sydney's back just to cling to his instead. “Good job, let's go.” He turned and walked out of the small building. 

Sydney chuckled, glancing over at the goat. “Two more, eh?”

“Well I wasn’t going to just leave them.” He scoffed playfully. 

“I know.” She put her hands up. “Just saying what I see. Careful with them though.” 

“I will, I will.” Savan assured. 

“that girl is more precious to her brother than any gem you'll find.” Sydney said. “And he'll do anything for her.”

Savan nodded with a soft sort of hum. “I’ll look after them.” He hummed. 

“Good.” She nodded. “Now hurry before they get lost tying to find the kitchen.”

“On it.” He gave her a wave as he trotted out of the med tent. “Take care Syd!”

“Always.” She waved back. “Come back tomorrow so I can change those wrappings.”

“Just try and find me!” He laughed, running out before he could see her response. 

He spotted the ferrets outside, looking around for where to go. Savan hustled over, motioning for them to follow him. 

He guided them to the kitchen, serving up two small veggi bowls for them both by the time they got there. They sat down but waited to start eating, staring at him.

Savan tilted his head. “You both know you’re allowed to eat right? You don’t need my go ahead.”

“We're waiting for you to join us.” The boy said as if it was obvious. 

“Ah.” Savan blinked, dropping down to sit beside them. At that they started eating. 

He huffed a laugh, sitting in silence for just a few moments. “I know we talked about it briefly, but would you two like names of your own?”

The boy shrugged. 

“I do have ideas, they’re at least nicer than boy and girl.” Savan shrugged. “But it is your choice.”

“I don't really care either way.” The boy mumbled. The girl wasn't even paying attention, staring up at a bird flirting around. 

Savan hummed, tapping the ground in front of the younger. “Hey, hon, how would you feel about the name Jewel?”

She looked at him, her tail wagging and a smile on her face. He smiled back at her fondly. “That sound good, precious girl?”

She smiled back, wider with a happy little squeak. 

“Yea, that’s a keeper.” He chuckled, opening his arms for her if she wanted. 

She scooted over, keeping her bowl in her lap to plop down into his, going back to eating. 

“What about you bud, I have an idea.” He hummed. Loosely hugging Jewel before he let her return to her food. “Kenner sounded nice in my head.”

The boy tilted his head. “Where'd you get Kenner from?” 

Savan shrugged. “The name means protector… and you’re the protector of a precious Jewel.” He petted the young girl's head, ruffling her fur. 

The boy blinked at him, cheeks and ears tinting pink as he looked down at his food. “That's… acceptable, I guess.” He wasn't fully hiding the small smile on his face. 

Savan’s tail wagged slowly as he nodded. “I’m glad.” He motioned to both of their bowls. “Let me know when you finish, I’ll introduce you both to Webber and show you where you both can stay.”

Kenner nodded, going back to eating. “Okay.”

Savan smiled, leaning back to watch the same bird that had distracted Jewel earlier. 

Chapter 21: Shamura

Summary:

The shamura fight goes better than the last two... It's what happens after that's unexpected

“Are you going to be okay?” Inez asked quietly. 

Savan shrugged, taking in a shallow breath. “They’re different, right? It shouldn’t be too bad”

She was quiet a moment. Then she sighed. “They stopped me when you were taking the ferrets home.”

He was quiet as he nodded. “What happened?”

“They spoke of narinder.” She said. “How they removed her from any mention, cut off her sacrifices and praise.” She looked to the side. “Then they… they thought she might be lonely. Shamura was the one that took Aym and Baal.”

Savan squeezed his palms, his nails digging into his skin. “… somehow I’m not surprised. It’s all familiar just… off. As always.”

Inez hummed. “I don't know whether to be upset at the disregard for the children… when in their addled mind they were trying to help their younger sibling.”

“They pulled something similar in mine I think.” Savan murmured softly. “But their reasoning was to keep Forneus around, not to give companionship.”

lamb stiffened, giving his had a squeeze. “Yikes, right minded Shamura seems…”

“Sadistic?” Savan offered, squeezing her hand back. “They embodied the worst parts of war.”

Inez hummed. “Theyre more reclusive here I guess.”

“From what I have seen, they are a lot calmer.” He hummed softly. 

“Maybe slower too.” She gave him a smile. “Let me know what you can handle, okay?” 

“I promise.” He smiled back softly, leaning to hug her side. She gave him a squeeze back.

“I’m ready when you are, and… I’ll try to hang back.”

She nodded, pulling back to squeeze both his hands. “We got this.”

He nodded more confidently, smiling with it. “We do.”

She pulled all the way back, turning her crown to a sword, then rushed ahead through the door to the temple. 

Savan darted after her with his signature axe in tow. They burst into the temple, entering the middle area. Shamura didn't seem to feel the need to say much, just angry nonsense as their cultists shoved daggers to their hearts. 

Savan could see all of their devotion enter Shamura, the moment the first soul-like ball hit Savan felt a crashing wave hit his body. He felt dizzy, his head swaying as energy seemed to be sapped from his muscles. His crown shuddered, failing to hold its shape as a knee gave out and Savan dropped to the ground. Inez jolted a little, looking over. 

Savan’s chest ached, he felt empty even through his bones. He gripped the grass in his fists as he let out a wheeze. “Ah, ow.”

“What?” Inez put a hand on his shoulder, shifting to stand between him and the enemies. “What's going on?!”

“I don’t know.” He wheezed, gripping onto her arm. “They did something.” He hissed. 

Inez looked back as Shamuras transformation was ending, then back at Savan. “Your crown.”

“My crown?” He tilted his head as he tried to push himself up off her arm. 

“they sapped your crown when you got here, remember?!” 

“Right… right.” He hissed harshly. “I thought they couldn’t take more.”

“You shouldn't be here .” Inez hissed, turning and throwing up her sword that spread out a blast of venom like a bubble shield around them. 

“I’ll be fine.” Savan huffed, despite how he ducked behind her. “I just need to adjust.”

“How long?” She asked, swinging the sword to dissolve some spiders with their own venom. 

“Give me a few minutes.” He patted her shoulder as he stumbled back a few steps. “If I get worse just send me home.”

She sent out a curse of tentacles in all 4 directions, turning to him with a firm expression. “You get two minutes!” 

“That’s not a lot of time.” He grumbled, forcing his crown into a blade, all he could muster was a small dagger. 

“Suck it up!” She swept out a wave of minions around him to give him a clear spot before rushing off, keeping them even further back for him while throwing what she could at Shamura. 

Savan took out smaller enemies at the edge if the space until the ache in his bones wasn’t at the forefront of his thoughts. He’d throw his blade at Shamura and recall it back, chipping away at them to help. 

Shamura weakened, stumbled. The lamb blasted them again, and they screeched, charging at her in a last ditch effort before she could get her sword back up. 

Savan dashed to stand in their way, launching his dagger with a few rapid fire curses to back it. The dagger at its speed went right through the spider, lodging into the temple wall behind it, pulsing with a still, slowly beating heart. 

Savan’s eyes were locked to it. No matter how he tried he couldn’t pull away from the dying organ. He was frozen, unable to tell if he was even breathing. He watched Shamura die in front of his eyes for the second time. 

Inez bleated, jumping up. “Oh! Clean!” She ran over to him. “Sev! Are you okay?” 

He blinked himself out of his stupor, nodding slightly. “Yea. I’ll be good.”

“Everything balance back out?” She put her hands on his shoulders. 

“Not yet?” He shrugged. “Maybe its gradual.”

She shrugged. “Just sit down and I'll finish things up, okay?” 

“Okay.” He patted her arm. “Thanks Nez.”

She gave him a grin, then turned to run over to the temple wall. Shw tried to climb up it but failed, and turned to look at him. “Will you call back your knife?”

“Ah, right.” His blade shot back, returning to its crown state atop his head. “That better?”

The heart dropped right into her raised hands, and she nodded. “Perfect.” She turned to start walking back to him, raising the heart to the crown so it could do its thing. 

Savan was smiling until he caught motion from the corner of his eye. Shamura’s crown raised into the air, it shifted and bubbled as if it wanted to change. Savan watched it closely, tensing for the worst. 

Before he could run, before he could move, before he even got to his feet, the crown shot. Savan blinked, and felt it as it pierced the eye of his own. 

He gasped, his body filled with sensation. His nerves tingled alight, his breath scraped his throat, familiar power boiled in his chest, burning him from the inside out. 

He opened his mouth to scream,

but the world was black before he heard anything. 

Chapter 22: A god

Chapter by Lucatea

Savan slowly came to, and the first thing he felt was an incessant poking against his cheek. He opened his bleary eyes to see one of his two ferrets at his side. 

He opened his arms for them with a soft hum, thinking Jewel would want to climb in. 

He heard a squeak, then a few dozen pounds more than the youngest child pushed into him in a tight squeeze. 

Savan let out a breathless “oof” rubbing the back and nuzzling the head of who had to be Kenner. “Hey buddy.”

The ferret mumbled something squeaky and unintelligible into his neck, shaking his head. The faces of Jewel and Webber also popped into Savans field of vision, Jewel immediately scrambling to get up into the hug with her brother. Savan opened his arms up for all of them, Webber clinging with all his arms. “Hi guys.”

Kenner pulled back to glare at Savan with wet eyes. “What happened?! What did you do?!” 

“I didn’t do anything.” Savan huffed fondly, scooting to sit himself up. “Last I remember was Shamura falling.” He spoke a bit oddly, like his mouth was too full. He couldn’t place why. 

“Yeah, cause you passed out.” Sitting nearby out of sight, he heard Inez. “You got a whole bunch of power all at once and overloaded.”

“Ah.” Savan nodded. “That makes sense. Did anything happen when I was out?”

“You glowed a lot.” The lamb chuckled. 

“Must’ve been adjusting.” He hummed, reaching ip to rub his eyes. “Everything’s still blurry, did it screw with my eyes?”

Kenner reached out, brushing fingers over his cheek without warning. Savan jolted, startled by how oddly close his hand appeared. 

“You've got…” Kenner tilted his head, staring at the goat, “something else on your face.” A thumb came up to hover over Savan's cheekbone, and at the same time he could see it right above him. 

Savan threw up a hand to stop Kenner before he could touch it. “What… does it look like?” 

Kenner pulled back, scrunching his shoulders up in a semi-shug. “Eyes?” 

Savan blinked. “Oh noooo.” He pulled his own hands down his face as he groaned. “I know exactly what those are.” He muttered. “I just got used to them being gone!”

“What are they?” Inez’ face popped up behind the kids shoulders. 

“Kenner’s right, they’re more eyes.” He grumbled. 

Webber pushed himself up to take in a soft gasp. “Like mine?!”

Savan paused, smiling softly. That was a much better way to think of it. “Yea bud, kinda like yours.”

The little spider grinned widely, patting his first pair of hands against Savan’s arm. The lamb still seemed confused and curious. 

“I haven't gotten anything yet with the bishops defeated.” She noted. 

“It was after all of them.” Savan explained. “My Shamura included.”

She turned to blink at him. “Huh…”

He nodded, pausing for a moment. “I wonder if…” he pulled of one of his cheeks, stretching his mouth open revealing a hidden mandible that stretched out. “Huh, they‘re back too.”

Kenner cringed. “What?” 

“Those are like mine too!” Webber squeaked excitedly, standing up to bounce. 

Savan smiled at him, shrugging to Kenner. “I can only assume it is because Shamura held the crown originally. Means more spidery features.”

“Makes sense.” The lamb said. “What's this all mean then?”

“Probably means I’ve returned to godhood.” Savan shrugged. “Maybe.”

“you were a god?” Inez gaped. Kenner seemed to grow more confused and concerned, still sitting back like he was done with the hugging and any touching. 

Savan nodded, rubbing Jewels back as Webber settled just to watch him. “Did I never tell you that?” He tilted his head. “Whenever I’d beat a bishop my crown would always absorb theirs.”

“Freaky.” Inez laughed a little. “But cool I suppose.”

Savan nodded. “It can be helpful… keyword can. I used to use the crowns to shift and hide it all until I got too tired to.”

She hummed. “I get abilities from the hearts.”

“That’s what that was for!” He cried. “Oh that makes a lot more sense.”

She furrowed her brows. “Did you think I was just collecting trophies or something? How did you think I figured out how to teleport home?”

He shrugged. “You once said it was for Narinder so I didn’t question it. I also thought you just figured out new spells out of spite. Seemed your brand.”

She snorted, covering her mouth. 

“Don't laugh!” He scoffed in lighthearted offense. 

“Sorry.” She giggled. “You're not wrong but that's a little funny to hear aloud.”

“Yea yea.” He shook his head, looking back down at Jewel in his lap still. He brushed a hand softly through her hair, closing his newer eyes just to make it all less fuzzy. 

She was napping on him. He smiled, tapping his snout to her head. He couldn’t get up with her there. He supposed he’d have to stay a little longer. 

Kenner glanced at Jewel, then Savan, and climbed off the bed. “Glad you're okay.” 

“Me too bud.” Savan gave the young Ferret a smile. 

Kenner gave him a wave in response. 

“Love you too.” Savan called out teasingly. 

Kenner went red, turning and shuffling out of the room. Savan snickered, watching as Webber slotted himself back at his side. He nuzzled both kids heads getting comfy. “I think I’m stuck.”

“Good.” Inez grinned, turning to follow Kenner. “Rest and have fun.”

“I will.” He assured. “Come visit after a bit if I’m still here.”

“You got it. I'll bring dinner for the whole house.” She laughed. 

“Thank you!” He gave her a wave and a grin as she left. 

Chapter 23: What's Next?

Summary:

The preparation for returning to Narinder... savan and Inez are finally finding some kind of peace.

“What's your plan?” 

Savan glanced at her, watching her for a moment and shrugged. “No clue. I haven’t had a plan thus far either though. Why do you ask?”

She leaned forward, propping her elbow on her knee to give him a smile. “Really? What about that racoon nanny of yours? You been hanging out with him more?” 

“Well, he’s a good friend.” Savan defended. “And I have to repay him somehow, I owe the guy.” He leaned over to squint at her. “What about you and Sydney?”

She turned her head, turning and picking at the grass with a softer smile, “I think I'll ask her to marry me.”

“Really?” He tilted his head with a grin. “I thought you would just be pining forever.”

“I'm pretty sure mutual pining is called dating.” She chuckled. “And we've been doing that for almost three decades.”

“And you never told me!” Savan cried out in offense. “How dare.”

“Don't act like you didn't know.” She bumped his shoulder with her own. 

“Hey, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have wanted some confirmation.” He scoffed playfully, bumping her right back. 

“We live together.” She said in a deadpan tone, “and I don't know if you remember amongst the chaos, but she always claims to ‘take care’ of me every spring?”

Savan took a moment as the gears in his head turned. “Don’t say it, I don’t want to hear it out loud.”

“I have sexual intercourse.” 

“You ass.” He hissed, bapping her arm. 

“I mean, she seems to like it.” She shrugged.

“You sure its not the lanolin?” He raised a brow. 

“Please, she's grown a tolerance by now, she's pissy about it too.” Lamb shook her head. 

Savan laughed, “ha! Didn’t take her for a stoner.”

Lamb cackled, shaking her head, “oh please say that to her face. I need to see her reaction.”

“Gimme something and I’ll do it.” He shrugged. “I’m not blowing up my social life for free.”

“Anything, name your price.” She challenged. 

He tapped his chin, thinking about it. There wasn’t really anything he wanted, they could have anything they needed from simple runs. “Hmmm… take me with you.” He hummed. “When you have to talk to Narinder. I wanna see the drama.”

She looked at him, her face falling to a kind of blank seriousness, staring at him. 

He bit his cheek, squeezing his arm as he wondered if he should’ve shut his mouth. 

Then she let out a light huff, a small easy smile back on her face. “You're stubborn, you know that?” 

“You love me though.” He returned her grin, resting his head on her shoulder. 

She bumped her head to his. “I do… if you really really want to come, I probably can't stop you.” 

“I just want to be able to follow you to the end.” He hummed. “It's how I started here and it's how I plan to go.”

She hummed, “so you do have a plan…” she tilted her head. “Where will you go then, when I'm gone?”

He shrugged, reaching out to grab her arm to hold onto. “No clue. I’ll… I’ll figure it out when I get there.”

She hummed, putting her hand over his to squeeze. “Worry wort. That won't be for a long time.” She turned to stare back at the cult. They were dancing around a bonfire, playing drums and drinking. The sun was setting over the surrounding woods, letting the fireflies start popping up around the grass. 

There was a moment, then she pulled away from him and stood up, offering her hand. “Come.”

“What are we doing?” He asked as he took her offered palm. 

The surroundings around them twisted and contorted. Dropping them off in a totally different wooded area before Savan could fully stand up. 

He spun to look around, glancing back at her. “What finally getting rid of me?”

“Never.” She squeezed his hand, pulling him with her as they walked, Savan spotting a familiar mound of a hut. 

“Ratau?” He tilted his head, trotting right behind her. 

She hummed, but instead of stopping at the hut, they walked past it. 

“Where are we going?” He asked. 

She didn't answer, holding his hand firm but gentle as she led him deep into the woods, with several twists and turns into a brush so thick they had to crouch to get through a small opening. 

He watched her curiously, following her lead and mirroring her movements. 

A few minutes later they came across a willow tree, brushing the leaves aside to reveal a small meadow. 

Savan stayed quiet, squeezing her hand gently. She turned to look back at him with a squeeze in response and a small smile before letting go. She walked in ahead, stopping in the middle of the area and sitting down on her knees. 

He stayed at the edge, hands clasped together for a long while until his own curiosity won out. He looked at the space around them, shuffling forward one step at a time before he simply knelt at her side. 

She was sitting in front of two stones sitting nestled deep in the ground, just the top sticking out with scratchy drawings. There was a wilting bouquet of flowers placed between them, and the grass around them had been trimmed back a dozen times over, digging causing them to be dipped some in the earth from decades of upkeep. 

Savan ran his hand through the blades, feeling them tickle his palm as they sprung back into shape. 

Inez reached out, hand brushing over the stems of the bouquet. The flowers shrivelled at the touch, then spring back into full bloom, color and life returning to them. “You're immortal.” 

“To an extent.” Savan replied. 

“Will you bring me here?” She asked, her voice nearly a whisper. 

Savan took a moment, just to force himself to speak. His mind didn’t want to accept another world without her. All he managed was a small, struggling whisper. “Of course.”

She smiled, looking at the graves. “I won't use any necklaces… I don't want to keep them waiting any longer than is natural… but I want to marry Sydney too. I was… scared, I suppose. I chalked it up to following my duty, but I saw her morality as so fragile, it's terrifying to allow myself to accept that again.” 

He nodded, reaching out slowly to take her hand. 

She looked at him, still smiling, but for the first time he could see everything past that. How tired she looked, the pain she carried and the burden and despair and hope and contentment. She squeezed his hand in a vice, like her fear of something she's never fully faced was being pressed into every muscle. 

He tugged her closer, pulling her into a hug so he could squeeze her carefully. “I’ll take care of both of you, but please, at least promise me a couple more years?”

“I'll give you a many as I can.” She squeezed him back. “and we can finally take a much needed retirement.”

He chuckled, refusing to admit the sound was a little wet. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“You better be.” She laughed in return. “And I want you officiating.”

Savan snickered, shaking his head fondly. “Sure thing.”

She pulled back, sitting back on her arms and looking up. Through the clearing in the trees they could see the stars. The sun had finished setting on their trip, so they only had the light of the moon and fireflies around them. “We can wait a little while longer. I'm sure Narinder won't mind.”

“She’s already been waiting for eternity, what’s a couple more days?” He shrugged, leaning back to lay down. 

She plopped back next to him, quiet for a long while. “There's one other thing I'd like to do once I give the crown back.”

“Oh yeah?”

“I want to learn how to read and write.” She said, “to have something to do… and to leave something behind of the lambs.”

“Wait, you don’t know how?” He sat up a touch. “I thought you did!”

“wasn't really in my ‘survive or suffer’ curriculum.” She said, “Anything I needed to read in the cult or on crusades Narinder would read to me through the crown. But now I won't have that.” She sat up, looking at the gravestones. “Maybe I can finally put their names on these.” 

He watched her for a moment. “I could teach you.”

She looked at him, her face lighting up. “Yeah?!” 

“Yea!” He smiled. “We can start whenever you want, just let me know.”

She grinned. “I will. Thank you, Savan… for everything.”

“Of course.” He hummed. “Anything for you.”

“Sap!” 

“Hey, you got sappy first!”

“Don't remember it, didn't happen.” She giggled. 

“You little shit.” He hissed, batting at her. 

She laughed, batting back at him playfully. 

He wrestled her into another hug, pulling her into a squeeze that he eventually just held onto. 

She laughed and let him hold her and rested against him once her voice died out. He brought his head down to nuzzle her head. Breathing in he caught her scent, and as he caught a glimpse of the graves he tried to commit it to memory. He took in her weight, where her wool pressed against his shoulder, the feel of some of her breaths against his neck, the buzzing of the fireflies around them and the gentle thrum of her heartbeat against his. 

He told himself never to forget this moment, and made himself promise never to let her be forgotten. In all the fuzzy distant hard to place faces, hers would stay clear as her heart was pure. 

Notes:

And that's part 1 of this AU, there will be another book out for it soon :)

We aren’t done with these dorks just yet.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Luca and Sin's Spots and Blood AU