Ecclesiastes 7:1
Meet Tox Pups!
None of his sisters seemed to say anything back to the Empress, so he was glad he hadn't been the first to break the silence. That might have been embarrassing. His shoulders were beginning to feel stiff from the carefully held pose on his plush fur, but he wouldn't dare complain to his mother right now. He looked around, but no one else came forward to speak to them. Not to worry, because mother was quick to step in to resume the ceremony. "Finally, it is time to anoint each of the new Abraxas. They are the newest to enter into Abraxas' embrace, coming to the mortal plane to be his eyes and fangs. May he protect their mortal flesh as long as our hearts beat in one with his." she announced with the clear, bell like tone that he still wasn't sure he'd ever be able to match. Even now, he never could yell at quite the same volume as his sisters when they chased each other around the shrine proper giggling and squealing. Then, before he knew it, mother was standing before him again, her warm tongue smoothing over the fur of his forehead. "Pontifex," she said to him, soft but still audible to anyone paying attention. It felt like something was flailing about within the confines of his ribs, straining to be free. He was real now, a named thing with a chance to serve Abraxas just like his mother. The sickly sweet aroma of the cool oil as it dripped onto his fur nearly overwhelmed him, and certainly made his mouth water. The boy swallowed lightly, trying to avoid making himself look a fool by drooling openly during his first meeting with the pack. Two toned gaze trailed after his mother's dark form as she moved along to each of his sisters, and performed the same small ritual upon each of them. Even though they all had the same treatment, he felt special nonetheless to have had that small moment with his mother, feeling like she was truly paying attention to only him for just a few scant moments. Then, just as suddenly as the ceremony had begun, it was over. Their mother spoke one more time, and there was pride in her voice. A small smile on her dark lips. Pontifex felt as though he had done well, and made her happy. Had he made Abraxas happy too? "The New Age Abraxas. Feel free to go play in the snow and meet the other pack members for a while before we head in for afternoon prayer. I'll be here watching." she said. Before there was any time for him to react, the purple sister- Modesty, he reminded himself, was off like a shot. Moving up close to each of the wolves gathered, familiarizing herself with them. She was so friendly, so self assured. Hesitantly, he drew one leg forth, dark limb extending until his paw touched the snow. What should he do? Baleful gaze drifted over the crowd assembled, and he felt so terribly small again. Without consciously choosing to, he drifted closer to his mother. A sea of faces, many of them bearing the mottled patterns that he'd learned to associate with his family, and some that looked very strange indeed. He bumped up against one of Toxicity's forelegs, and his attention moved up to her warm features. Perhaps he could just settle down here, and watch his sisters from afar. Something about being close to all of those strangers stirred up the flailing thing in his chest again, but not in the same way as when his mother had said his name and anointed him. It was a staccato beating of limbs against the confines of his chest, and he didn't like it. Lowering his haunches to the ground, he sought to keep himself close enough to feel the warmth of Toxicity's body. "Do you know everyone that's here, mother?" he whispered, looking up at her. "speech" |
