Sacrifice - Part 1

There was a curious serenity to the woods at this time of dawn, when the sun slowly crept over the horizon, sluggish as though the orb of light itself still seemed to be waking up. The trees and plants and bushes were still and quiet, shimmering with faded tones of colour underneath the gloss of morning dew, and animals gently began to stir to the sounds of chirping birds.

Elker was careful to plant his paws on heavy stones and solid roots as the fox crept through the forest. As one of the two hunters for his village, it was important he didn't scare his prey away. The morning was the best time for hunting, and a good catch would feed his clan for several days. They relied on him, and he was determined not to let them down.

These days, you had to stay useful.

Peering around a tree, the fox's squinting eyes caught a sleeping stag. He quickly raised his hand to alert his companion who instantly froze on the spot.

Right there, Elker signaled with pointed fingers.

Millard nodded from behind a separate tree, glancing at their prey. With his eyes fixed on Elker, he crouched and notched an arrow, waiting for the command. Elker closed his fingers into a fist, and the pair began a silent mental countdown as they pulled their arrows back, just like they had many times before.

Five... four... three... two... one.

Two arrows flew through the air in well-practiced synchronicity, one piercing the stag's heart, the other its neck. The animal let out a pained, gurgled groan and rolled onto its side, kicking at the ground to try to escape but unable to find the footing.

Within seconds, Elker put an end to its suffering with his dagger.

Millard hauled their catch back towards their village on the cart. Of the pair, he'd always been stronger, though Elker had the keener eye. And though the pair were cheerier after their success, Elker still glanced around the forest on alert.

_They _had never come during the daylight, but there was nothing to suggest that couldn't change.

"Mergett still won't pay me any attention", Millard laughed lightly as the pair crowned the final hill approaching their village. "No matter what I bring back. I sometimes wonder if there's anything I could catch to impress the woman".

"A unicorn, maybe", Elker said dryly, smiling.

His companion chuckled. "I'm sure even then she'd still resent me for killing such a beautiful crea--"

Millard froze, his eyes opening wide. A trickle of fear sparkled through Elker's arms, spurring him to raise his bow in preparation for danger, but as he followed his friend's eyes, his limbs dropped sadly. "Surely not..." he said slowly.

The pair approached the grand tree trunk near the wooden pike walls of their village and collectively frowned. Into the bark, in blood, had been scratched an X, under which was a crude drawing that seemed to resemble a penis.

"Not again", Millard said with a heavy solemn sigh. "Wasn't it only two weeks ago?"

"Not even", Elker said slowly. "I can't believe it".

The pair slowly met each other's eyes.* * *There was a heaviness to the air as the dozen fox leaders sat in a circle, and it wasn't just from the smoke of the fire in the middle. The Chieftain was the only one standing, and though there was a fixed frown across his face, he led the discussion like it was no different to any other matter concerning their village. "The Ostwyl's boy?" he said, shrugging and throwing up an uncertain hand.

"Edwyl has shown an aptitude for the forge", Engus said, the dark fox representing the smiths. "I never need to explain something more than once. I see a lot of promise there".

"And the Ostwyls are highly fertile", Misten added, the female fox representing the builders. "Edwyl could be a useful breeder when he comes of age, if this strange streak of males continues".

The other leaders nodded their heads, as did Elker, representing the hunter-gatherers.

The Chieftain threw both hands up in frustration. "Then our list runs short", he said. "Of course every boy shows potential. But that doesn't change the fact we have to make a decision by nightfall".

The foxes shuffled on their logs with unease, and Elker sighed and hanged his head. This had been an exceedingly long meeting compared to those before it, even given the weight of their decision. Every name raised had been shot down with a convincing reason.

When he raised his head once more, he found two pairs of eyes staring at him -- Engus of the smiths, and Tully of the cooks. A cold prickle of fear oozed through his spine. While Tully had the shame to glance away, Engus' eyes remained on the hunter.

Elker swallowed. "Is there something you want to say, Engus?"

The circle's eyes fell upon the smith, but the dark fox didn't flinch under the attention. There was a moment of silence before he finally opened his mouth and said, "Remby".

Elker stared at the smith with wide eyes full of shock and disbelief, and he jumped to his feet, spitting through his gritted teeth. "You dare suggest my son?"

"Elker, please", the Chieftain pleaded, pushing his hands downwards to encourage the hunter to sit, but Elker wasn't having it.

"After everything my family has been through?" the hunter shouted, clenching his fists. "Hell, it's hardly a family anymore. He's all I have left!"

The smith shook his head, unshaken by Remby's outburst. "We all feel sympathy for your situation, Elker", he said in a steady voice. "But many of us have made sacrifices, and you have to admit, Remby--"

"Remby is getting better!" the hunter cried, his voice wavering as it was overwhelmed with tones of fear and pain. "He was walking around yesterday, and he's... he's a smart boy! He can read better than many of us! He has a clever mind, and he's learning about the fungi and herbs in the forest, and if he could just--".

"Our very survival is on the line", Tully the cook added with a heavy sigh, finally finding the courage to add to the debate. "We have need for strong young men if our clan has any hope at all. Not sick, feeble boys who need constant care", he said, bluntly.

A murmur of agreement moved through the circle. Standing there with his mouth hanging open in disbelief, Elker waited for someone, anyone, to support him and his son.

There was stony silence.

The decision had been made.

As overwhelming dread crushed his soul, the weight of it pushed him back down to his seat, gripping his legs shakily, tears trickling down his muzzle.

"You don't have to be a part of it, Elker", the chieftain said quietly. "We can simply--"

"I'm going to go spend time with my son", the hunter choked back. Then he stomped out of the tent.

* * *

"Mezzy came over this morning", Remby said with a smile, pushing himself backwards to sit a bit higher up in his bed. "He told me all about a waterfall he found in the forest, and said that he'd show me where it was as soon as I get better".

Elker forced a smile and rubbed his son's slightly sweaty hand paw. "He's a good friend".

"Yeah! He--" the young fox suddenly broke into a hard chesty cough. Elker leant forward to rub his son's back until it subsided, and then offered him a drink of water from a skin. After drinking, Remby fell back against his bed with a groan. "He... He is". There was a tinge of sadness to his sweet young face. It seemed like he had been going to say more, but didn't want to risk coughing again.

As Elker looked at his pained son, his eyes drifted to one of the pillows the boy was resting his head on. Terrible screams echoed faintly in his ears, the kind that had haunted his nightmares for many months, and as he thought about his son making those horrifying sounds, he thought about picking up one of the pillows and pushing it down over his son's face now. He could end it for him now. Quickly and easily. And he wouldn't have to--

There was a knock on the door, and Millard stepped inside with a sadly hanging head. "It's time, Elker", he said. "The sun's setting".

"Time for what?" Remby asked innocently.

Elker swallowed hard. Then he leant forward and kissed his son on the temple, fighting hard to push back his welling tears and sobs. "I love you so much Remby. I always will".

"D...Dad?" the cub asked with wide-eyed concern.

"I love you", Elker breathed, falling back onto his seat and planting his head in his palms as sobs forced their way through his body.

Remby begged and pleaded with his father to tell him what was happening with increasing desperation as Millard carried him out of the house. His young strained voice gave way to painful body-heaving coughs, but still, he screamed in fear at his father to help him.

There was nothing Elker could do to mask the sound of his son's terrified howls as he was carried out to the grand tree trunk just past the wall. The night breeze carried the haunting wails of the terrified child all through the village as he was tied to the trunk and left there.

Elker crawled weakly onto his son's bed and pulled the sheets up around his face to soak his flooding tears, whimpering hopelessly in pain at the thought of his son out there, alone, cold, and afraid, wondering what was happening, and why his father wasn't coming to help him.

Eventually, a quiet befell the village, and all Elker could hear from inside his house was the night wind and the gentle creaking of his wooden walls.

And then, suddenly, he heard a piercing, panicked childlike scream that chilled his soul. He clutched his heart in pain and whimpered, "I'm so sorry".

They had come.