Although the memories were distant and smudged by time, the shadowcat could never recall her father speaking anything but highly of his priestess friend, and it seemed that the regard was reciprocated based on the reaction she witnessed. The emotion strung beneath the surface of the striking mask seemed authentic and born from a place of love, inspiring relief to roll down the dark cats shoulders; it had been okay to mention her fathers name, Arachnae would keep it safe.

A smile warmed her muzzle at the lionesses recollection, and she felt within herself a sudden kinship with her – a nostalgic connection to her distant family that she had somehow craved, despite the abundance of love and warmth that filled her life in the meantime. I am honored to meet you, Arachnae, friend of my father. Her eyes were bright and searching as they considered the lioness, before their eyes drifted back to the snake that coiled around the lioness. And you, Rawkshi. It seemed important to be on good terms with the snake as well.

At the question and mention of rituals, the leopardess was summoned back into the present, and she nodded curtly with a solemnity falling across her cherubic features. Yes, I do. And that is why I am here as well. Let us start with yours first, what do you need? Her voice was all business, a cutting undertone that implied the importance of this to her; when it came to avenging and protecting her loved ones, she would not be squeamish.

@Arachnae

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And it'sx my whole heart, xxweighed and m e a s u r e d xxxxxxxxxxx i n s i d e And it's an old scar, trying to bleach it out

The little shadow's face brightened, finally the last of her fear between them melting away when the witch confirmed she was an old family friend. It was amazing, mystical and beyond fate that they would encounter each other here, beneath a beautiful moon wide awake and eager to listen to their prayers. The divines had been looking down on them both this night, and already she felt blessed to meet this promising young leopardess. Arachnae could tell already the smaller girl showed much promise as a cleric, she seemed like the devoted type. I too am honored to meet you, @Sparrow, progeny of my oldest friend. She'd grin, the formal greeting in return seemed appropriate. Rawkshi, though, simply stared blankly into the abyss, with just a blelelele of his tongue flicking in response. Sometimes Arachnae wondered if any thoughts happened within his head, truly.

Young Sparrow confirmed she too sought out a sacrifice, the peachy lioness happy to know she wouldn't be particularly squeamish to this particular ritual. A small predator, the ones that do not speak, like a jackal or fox. She would say, they are unable to process the weight of sin, unknowing of what different actions could cause destruction. In a way, their ignorance is purity. Arach explained, Their blood must still be warm on the altar, so I have a mixture of herbs prepared on a porcupine quill, I will inject the creature with it when I catch it so it falls into a deep slumber. It keeps them from feeling too much stress and fear before the end, as well. She would say. She created the method herself, the old ways of bringing a living sacrifice to an altar while aware made her feel more unwell about the necessities of her actions. What do you seek? I'm happy to help catch anything you need. The priestess smiled.

who's a heretic now?

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Their meeting was certainly divined by the spirits, of this the witch felt certain, and while she received little reaction from the snake, Arachnae seemed as keen and amiable a companion as she could hope. Ears twitched excitedly as the peach cleric explained what was necessary for her ritual, and how she had the event set up. Her tactics were new to Sparrow – who had hoped simply to fell a large beast, sacrifice it, and pray over its spilled blood that evil might befall her enemies. She had even thought absently of harvesting its bones for future use, once the carcass allowed her to. It seemed ineffective now, and primitive, and the pupil was eager to learn a better way.

And here I had thought to simply fell a zebra or some prey-beast like that, but… She paused thoughtfully, eyeing the lioness curiously. What is the purpose of your ritual? The question was lightly spoken, as though born from an innocent place, but the shadowcat felt reluctant to immediately share that she was hoping to cast a curse over a lion whose name she did not even know. Friend of the family as she may be, Sparrow still did not know how she might feel about having one of her own species be subject to the dark arts.

@Arachnae

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And it'sx my whole heart, xxweighed and m e a s u r e d xxxxxxxxxxx i n s i d e And it's an old scar, trying to bleach it out

+5 Preach your beliefs to someone - (2/2)

She progeny of her old friend was a kind and curious young soul, one who seemed bright and willing to learn, wanting to grasp at each little tangle of information available. Arachnae found her quite a charming young lady, a promising cleric for the future. The peachy lioness was more than willing to share what she knew, to give the knowledge she had gathered over the years to anyone who wanted to learn.

And so when @Sparrow became more curious about her use of small predators and what the ritual was for, the larger woman put a paw on her chin thoughtfully. Well, blood is used for many of my rituals, but for ones that take a whole life force like the one I am doing tonight usually something more significant. Like an act of ill will to those who deserve it, or asking for powerful blessings. It is also.... Satiation. She said, an ear flicking slightly as she placed a paw back onto the earth. My god is one that is in a deep slumber, and needs to remain that way. His desire to awaken can be slightly quelled with frequent sacrifice. Her face fell sad for a moment, her chest aching a bit at all the tiny lives she had ended at the basin of an altar. But, they are not my only god..... What is the purpose of your ritual, little Sparrow? She asked, her expression brightening as she shifted the subject. She didn't want to horrify the young lass with talk of a god who wanted to end the world.

who's a heretic now?

code by loki - art by Aurora

Rounded ears twitch forward at the woman’s explanation, faceted eyes drawn intently to her expression as she explained the details of her purpose for the ritual. It aligned uncommonly well for Sparrow’s own intention here; further proof that the spirits brought them together, and the reason for their union was blessed by them. Even the idea of satiation for a slumbering god was not enough to turn the small cat away – although it did spike a wary interest in the woman, who raised a brow but said nothing for the moment until she was bid to do so.

Once again, it seems our purposes align. I have no god I wish to sacrifice to, but there is a beast whom I want the grief he has caused to reciprocate back onto him. He hurt someone I love, and this seems the best path to vengeance, and protection. She explains, saying more than she had intended, but the bubbling ire that resumed in her veins kept her stoic in her delivery and she would meet the peach priestess’s gaze with a steely one of her own. He is one of your kind. She says after a pause, her expression unwavering, as though she braced against advice that would surely attempt to sway her to a wiser course.

@Arachnae | I am SO SO sorry for the wait!!!

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It seems they had much in common, the larger witch and the leopardess. Arachnae felt a deep sense of connection between their purposes, something between them seeming intertwined. Oddly enough, it seemed, she too was here seemed a creature for a curse. She would nod in agreement, listening as she was told a lion had hurt someone important to the young shadow. Truly there must be divine intervention here. I too seek to cast a curse of weakness upon someone who has hurt the daughter of good friends of mine. I hope the curse to do me well when I go to deliver divine retribution with my own claws. She would state slightly bluntly, though not in any ill way towards @Sparrow.

She wondered, though, if this forest dweller had ever met the lion she spoke of. She noticed now how much she smelled of the rainforest, of the humid lush green trees. With a curious tilt of her head, the witch would probe just a bit. Do you know anything of the Lightstone, er, Secondstone band leader, Nazonal? You share a scent with them, to an extent.

// No worries bb!! I know you just got back into the swing of posting <3

who's a heretic now?

code by loki - art by Aurora

For a good moment, the leopardess was keen to continue and follow in the wake of this priestess to learn her habits; but then something shifted between them. Her ears twitched as she listened to the tale that was spun, a sympathetic anger rousing in her chest for Arachnae’s plight, but then the conversation moved closer to what Sparrow cherished, who, and the cat eyed the woman warily. I am familiar with them. She replied slowly—was Nazonal to be the target of Arachnae’s curse? Her tail twitched and tension surged through her as she contemplated what she would have to do if that were the case. Sparrow did not think she could fight this woman, nor did she think her skills as a cleric could outmatch hers. But she had fire and tenacity, if nothing else. Why do you ask of them? She dared the question, and fell silent.

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Arachnae would notice as the conversation shifted to the topic of the jungle lioness, a concerned slowness would take effect in the leopardess, and too late the witch realize her wording likely had made it sound like Nazonal was the target of her rage. They are the daughter of two good friends of mine, Gawain and Elijah. In their absence I have made I promise to myself to do what I can to help her continue her fathers efforts. A man.... Named Apollinaire harmed her without any good reason. Brought unbalanced chaos to the jungle. It is men like him who are causing great discord in the balance of this world. She would state. I am going to ensure that balance is brought to the situation, and he receive proper.... Alignment for his misdeeds. She would state. The gods may be patient.... Be she was not. She would instill wrath herself if need be. Nazonal is a very good soul, a hero just like her parents were. They didn't deserve what happened.... That is why I am angry. Arachnae explained.

@Sparrow

who's a heretic now?

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She was on edge; prepared to align this priestess with that of her enemies, even perhaps to initiate a spar here—for all the good that would do her. Her neck prickled with anxiety and no little despair; Arachnae was her parents friend, and that connection carried enough meaning for Sparrow to be wretched to lose it. Her thick tail twitched behind her, sunset gaze hardened and sharp. But what the priestess said next was a balm to the next degree, her voice a potent healing salve that transformed the small cat’s anxiety into a righteous and enjoyable adrenaline.

A wicked smile cut across her mouth as she lifted her chin, her cherubic expression wrinkled with a malicious mischief. I know the beast you speak of; I was there in the jungle when he released this chaos, and Nazonal protected us. She stated, her voice made cold by the hatred she felt in her chest for the stranger - Apollinaire - and the grief that still haunted her, for Nazonal’s condition afterward. She stared up at the priestess, so suddenly pleased that she was on her side, that their intentions were matched perfectly, that the leopardess felt a surge of power within her.

You're right. Nazonal is a good soul, the very best; they didn't deserve what happened. So let us curse him. Not only with weakness, but with every other plague known to your kind. Fleas to injury to impotency. That is how balance can be restored. That bastard doesn’t deserve an easy life. She hissed, her eyes narrowing as she stared up at the woman. Whatever it takes. Let’s start with getting your sacrifice. She nodded then, and turned her chin to consider their shadowy surroundings, seeking a clue as to where they might find one of the small predators Arachnae had mentioned initially.

@Arachnae

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A pleasant surprise, a change in posture and in expression would take place with the smaller felines, her concerned stiffness changing into the look of someone who knew exactly what she was talking about- and supported the motion fully. Arachnae was even more shocked to hear the leopardess has been present when Nazonal had valiantly fought off the Dieudonne, receiving a gruesome injury they shouldn't have ever had to experience.

@Sparrow would agree even moreso on the idea of making him feel every bit of pain they could, to bring balance back to the situation, to bring about justice. The witch nodded solemnly, though her hardened gaze held mischief, excited to have someone present to assist in the well deserved revenge. I am glad we are of similar mind, Sparrow. It seems our fates are very closely aligned, this night, and I see it as a blessing to have met you. She smiled before turning her attention out to the rolling field of grass, nose carefully scenting the air.

who's a heretic now?

code by loki - art by Aurora