Hours in the past,
But not many...
> You took your family out hunting with you; Red, Gamzee, and Wiz, had been excited to help you even yesternight, and they were just as excited this past night. > They met you by the gate to the grounds, and you left the familiar palace behind as a group. > Wiz had the materials for the pyre in their Rolodex or whatever they called it, Gamzee was wobbly, and Red was limping a bit. It was cold, the weak grass crunchy beneath your boots, but you were all determined.
> You hunted for hours before you found the perfect prey; it scared you with its sudden appearance! > A ram, as tall as you on all four hooves, with six gnarling horns, huge jutting teeth, and four yellow eyes. It’s huge and frightening and you all four charged it. > It screamed, and tried to bolt, but you and Wiz were on that. > It went down rather easily, all things considered, and you and Red carried it back to where you were building the pyre. > Snow was swept away, and Gamzee sheared the beast rather expertly. You praised him, and he cited his time in care of such similar animals, proud and purring and ears erect.
> All four of you built the pyre, and you hefted the ram upon it. You thanked nature and the Messiahs for guiding this beast to you for this purpose, and then split its belly. > Olive poured onto the sticks, and Gamzee was given the honor or lightiing the pyre while you prayed over it.
> No sooner was it lit that the atmosphere grew heavy upon you, and you raised your voice in praise as the pyre all but exploded upward.
> They appeared, huge and beautiful and glowing with color, the arrangements and garb of your priesthood, their faces masks of their kind; Tragedy and Comedy both were before you.
> Comedy took blood from the pyre and painted a smile onto Gamzee’s face, and you fell to your knees as she came to you and kissed you, just briefly, just lightly, so chaste and pure, and tears welled in your eyes and spilled down your cheeks, leaving your paint untouched.
> You breathed the smoke of the meatless bones, the flesh consumed and the bones blackened for a long time before you dared to speak again, the names of your gods on your lips and in your heart.
> They accepted you.