Thread: The Offering

Dezir Ambea was just coming in from a hunt when her father met her at the village gates. She was surprised that her father was meeting her at the gate, which was something that rarely ever happened. Papa, is something wrong? She asked as she threw the deer that she had just caught in the snow at her feet, some of the blood from the deer dripped onto the surrounding snow tainting the once white surface with it's crimson blood. Dezir's father looked at her with solemn eyes. It was getting very close to the time of the offering, and while the great wolf usually only called for the best livestock, or perhaps a rather promiscuous woman or two, this time he called for a mate and he was rather specific as well. I wanted to make sure that you made it back safely. I need to talk to you when we return home. Hemin hoisted the deer that his daughter had caught over his shoulder and led his daughter back to the house. He took the deer back to the hut where he handled most of the skinning and gutting process before following Dezir into the house. Dezir was surprised to see Father Tymons, the village priest, and the person that handled most things involving the village's werewolf, sitting at the table with her mother. What's going on? Why is Father Tymons her Papa? She asked as she looked to her father for answers. Instead Father Tymons was the one to speak up. Dezir you know how every month we give a tribute or an offering to the wolf that has protected our village over the past millenia? Dezir nodded her response to the Father's question. Well for this month's tribute we were given instructions to bring him a mate, and with these instructions he left this. He said as he placed a beautifully drawn picture on the table. Dezir would have marveled at it for hours on its beauty and detail if it weren't for the fact that the picture was of her. Dezir took a few steps back as she looked at Father Tymons. Are you telling me that I have to become the mate of the werewolf? She asked with a raised eyebrow. Essentially dear, that is exactly what I'm saying. Father Tymons replied with a sigh. He could certainly understand Dezir's fear. It was a well known fact that only another werewolf could be a werewolf's mate, and if the wolf wanted her then that meant it had every intention of turning her. And what if I don't want to become his mate. What if I want to live my life like a normal person? Dezir asked, knowing already that she would most likely do it anyways if only to keep her family and village safe. No one really knows, Dezir. We've never denied him before. Father Tymons said as he realized the look of submission in Dezir's eyes. Fine, then. Even with as much as I'd rather not I'll do it, but I demand that my family be protected from this day forward, no harm nor wrong shall befall them by the hands of any that live in this village, am I understood? She said merely receiving a nod from Father Tymons. He couldn't blame the girl for wanting to ensure her family's safety, He instructed her to gather a few of her things, a few outfits and perhaps some things she might like to keep with her, before meeting him at the church to await the full moon that would come in two days time. Dezir listened, though rather upset about the whole ordeal, and grabbed what she would need immediately before going to the church to await the day she would meet her new 'husband' and spend the rest of her life as some creature's play mate, doing as he wished, and probably living like the animal she would become. She had no idea just how wrong her idea was.