Cult of the lamb ask!
Lamb finds reader battling away against some baddies and is badly hurt. Once they help defeat the attackers reader reveals that they were defending three sheep babies from being executed and wants to join lamb and become a follower along with their babies
I haven't picked up this fic in a while BUT with Woolhaven now out I got ideas for it 👀
Note: This contains very minimal Woolhaven spoilers. Nothing plot related
..............
"Arff! Who are you and why do you trespass upon our mountain?!"
"I'm just a humble merchant, sir. O-Only passing through. I mean no trouble-"
"I smell..fresh meat in that basket of yours. You see, my poor wolves have been starving for days. So how about this....hand it over, and I will leave you alone."
"..what? No! This delivery isn't for you."
"How selfish...who are you to deprive my precious pets a meal?!! When you tread Marchosias' domain, you pay the toll his Free Pack demands!! So how about I take the basket AND your head?!"
"Not a chance in the world-"
An arrow flew through the air, barely grazing the top of your head as you ducked down. You pulled out a small dagger, not knowing if it'd do much good against the enemy, but you'll be damned if you didn't try to protect what you were carrying with your life.
You had to.
For their sake.
For Yngya's sake.
The large wicker basket weighed heavily on your back, forcing you to carefully shrug it off and leave it in the snow, standing firmly in front of it as the trio of wolves before you snarled. One was an actual cultist, wielding a bow, and the other two were simple animals on all fours, armed with claws and teeth.
For months you've been dodging the traps and creatures of the Old Faith's lands, evading the eyes and ears of the Bishops' acolytes below Ewefall. They have all been subjugated by the Lamb, as the story goes, but their presence in their respective domains remained stronger than ever, too dangerous to traverse even now.
You figured passing through this snowy mountain was a safer bet...
Until you noticed signs of cult activity here, alongside desecrated altars of Yngya and totems of wolves coming to life, plus the Rot spreading in some areas.
But it was a miracle you haven't run into anybody until now.
Unfortunately, you were forced to realize that this wasn't Yngya's sacred home of the lambs anymore. Instead it belonged to someone else--an extremely brutish leader of wolves who claimed her territory as his.
Who was this "Marchosias"? And how was he able to take over?
Regardless, you could only focus on one thing right now: protecting them, and the hope they gave to the future of lambkind.
But these wolves were smart and tough, their tamer ordering them to dig through the ground and flank you on both sides. They were sure you'd be too distracted by their onslaught to keep your eyes on the basket, leaving its contents vulnerable-
But as one of their pets burst up from the snow, it was struck by something and suddenly yelped in pain.
They looked to see it flipped onto its back, looking awfully sick and green...as if accursed with a poison.
Then it stopped moving, its legs hanging in the air.
"Grrr..what is wrong with you?!!" They snarled. "You're no turtle! You're about as useless as--GAHHK!!"
The blade of a sword pierced through their tunic, and as they began choking on blood, they looked down to see its pointed metal tip on their chest. Straight through their heart.
"....n-no....I......failed....Mar-"
The weapon was yanked out swiftly, and they collapsed into the snow, their body turning cold within seconds.
Your eyes widened in shock, although you were too distracted by the second charging wolf to get a good look at your savior.
But without its tamer to command it, the feral beast was a mere pushover as you tackled it to the ground and jabbed your dagger into its heart.
"Shh...your suffering ends here, poor creature." You hushed, placing a hand on its head as its thrashing gradually ceased, until it finally died with a drawled-out whimper. "May the ether provide you with a full belly under a warm sun..."
After pulling your weapon out, you rushed back to your basket, kneeling down to check if the inside was still okay.
Thank the heavens that it was.
You sighed with relief.
"That was...impressive. You must be carrying some precious cargo."
Blinking, you looked over and gasped in amazement, seeing none other than the Lamb: The last of their kind, liberator of the Old Faith, the usurper of the One Who Waits...in the flesh. They saved your life.
You've heard tall tales of their deeds across the lands, and how they've recently awoken Winter. It's no wonder the storms seemed more aggressive recently; you thought it to be a bad season passing through.
However, only now you realized you silly you must've looked: with your mouth agape and your tongue being tied in front of the person you've been searching for. So you cleared your throat and held your hands up to them, grateful.
"Good and gracious Lamb, I am forever in your debt." You bowed your head. "You would be correct. For so long, I've been looking for you...because this delivery I have is indeed precious. It's something I know only you could better protect."
"Really?" They tilted their head, curious. "Let me guess...a new weapon? A relic I have yet to discover? Those rabid wolves must've desperately wanted whatever is in there." They pointed to the basket.
"Allow me to show you." You reached over to remove the lid. "All I ask...is that you keep your voice down. I wouldn't want to wake them up."
".....wait, wake up who-?"
"Baa..?"
"Baaah..."
"Bah!"
".....huh..?" Their ears perked up suddenly, straining to listen.
At first they wondered if they were being deceived...
'No, they couldn't be....is it....?'
Smiling, you beckoned them closer, and they finally got to see what you've been concealing this whole time. And why you've fought like hell to guard it.
There were three baby lambs.
Not lost spirits tethered to the mountain. Not the dead crying out to Yngya for her protection..
Three living baby lambs, all wrapped in their own silk blankets. They stirred from their rest as the sunlight basked upon their tender faces. One reached up to the sky with eyes full of wonder, another yawned and tried to block out the light with their nubby little fingers, and the third began bleating and whining from hunger.
Lamb was astonished, at a complete loss for words by what they were seeing.
How was this possible?
Every mortal lamb had been slain....
"When the Bishops descended upon this my village..." You began. "..I promised their mother I'd take them far away from it and give them a future. See to it that their plan failed and lambkind continued on."
"......."
"Then I heard of your resurrection and I made it my mission to find you, but...the lands down there weren't safe for us. So we remained up here, praying to Yngya for safe passage...but.....anyways, I'm glad to have found you here."
You paused to observe Lamb's reaction, and it ached your heart to spot the tears forming in their eyes as they fell to their knees in front of the basket.
Without uttering a word, they reached a gentle hand down...watching as one of the babies cooed and grasped their fingers, a little smile on their face, oblivious to the horror and bloodshed around them.
"Look at you all....so precious, so healthy...and...alive. You three have a future...." They choked, struggling to keep their voice steady as they tried coming to terms with what this all meant. "Wow.."
Your smile was somber, knowing that the time had come--when you needed to part with them. They were like your own children, in a way, but you knew who'd take care of them best. Who could give them food and a warm place to sleep amid the winter storms.
"Their future is with you, dear Lamb. I've heard your cult was ever-growing in numbers. This may be a lot to ask, but I wish to entrust them into your care. They're yours to teach, to raise...to tell them of the sacrifices you've made."
After a few moments, they managed to compose themselves and stood up, sniffling quietly. "I shall do all of that. Thank you....?"
"[Y/n]."
"[Y/n]." They nodded their head in respect, their crown changing shape as a red portal appeared beneath the basket. With a simple hand motion, it had vanished into the magic ring, along with the three babies, whose bleats of surprise quickly faded as it closed.
Your eyes widened in panic for a brief moment.
"Fear not. They have been transported directly to the cult grounds. I've used the same method on eggs and new followers alike. They are completely safe." Wrapping their cloak around themselves, Lamb turned on their heel. "Besides, it'll be easier on your back as we make our way down this mountain."
"Wait....we?" You blinked. "You mean...?"
"I will give you sanctuary within my cult and allow you to see them again. I have no doubts that you'd be loyal to me and our cause. Unless you prefer to dance with the wolves again?" Their gaze flickered to the nearby corpses, now almost completely buried in the snow.
"Oh! No, no, no!" You frantically shook your head, flustered yet pleased by their offer. "I'll gladly follow you to the ends of the earth! Thank you so much."
"No, I should be thanking you. You've risked your life to preserve what's left of my kind. Although this might come as a..erm....small shock to my followers at our next sermon." They coughed awkwardly, tapping their hooved fingers together. "I've preached to them about being the last living lamb in the world, so I'll have to figure out how to...retract that statement.."
"You could always call it a miracle..or a blessing that you found three children." You suggested. "You can take the credit for-"
"Nonsense. They deserve to know your name." Their tone was firm, their gaze sharp.
Ultimately, you sighed in defeat, before smiling at the thought of getting to see the lambs you rescued growing up strong, healthy, and faithful, not having to fear the Bishops who sought their demise.
"....I guess I'd be a fool to argue with that. Wherever you go, I'll follow you."
