Sacrifice

Lyston & village by  OuendanCyrus
Sini by  Sini



“What a day.” the coyote stretched as he walked out the door into the late-afternoon breeze, the sky a pleasant orange colour, the village looking the same as always, but Lyston did not stop to take in the scenery he was so used to, he just wanted to have a relaxing break after a hard day at work, so he made his way to his usual favourite place of relaxation; the local tavern.

The familiar creak of old wood could be heard as the tavern door was pushed open and Lyston stepped inside the warm enclosure, rubbing his paws together as the barman, a gruff-looking bear, greeted him, “Alright there Lyston? Usual?”

“Please.” the coyote replied with a nod, taking a seat in front of the counter and placing his face in his arms, sighing as he did so, he was so exhausted that he didn’t even notice the other patrons all getting up and leaving the establishment simultaneously.

“You look tired old friend, not getting enough sleep?” the bear placed a tankard in front of the coyote, who promptly lifted his head, revealing his exhausted and drained expression.
“Just a rough day and, well… it might be just me, but I think everyone’s been avoiding me today for some reason.”

Had Lyston been paying attention, he would have seen the bartender avert his eyes and awkwardly fidget with his cleaning cloth, but he instead chose to pick up his tankard and drink from it, draining a third of the liquid in a single massive gulp.

“You know how it is, we’re getting to that time again.” the bear replied.

“Oh.” the coyote said, “Yeah, I guess you’re right... people are really on edge, huh.”

“Hmf.”

Lyston went to drink from his tankard once more but paused when a sudden feeling of dizziness and fatigue came over him, as if his energy were being rapidly drained,
“Wh- what…?” he muttered as he tried to keep his balance, he tried to place his paw on his head but even that was taking a huge amount of effort… the coyote then began to feel incredibly drowsy and was struggling to even keep his eyes open, something was wrong… this wasn’t just any ordinary exhaustion, his eyes fell on the tankard before him, it couldn’t be… but he could think no more, he slumped forward and immediately passed out.

“Please forgive me…” the bear muttered as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

*

When Lyston opened his eyes he saw the night sky, a clear pleasant colour of dark, dark blue, almost black but partly illuminated by the moon. He was lying face up on some sort of flat surface and for a few seconds the coyote was confused, but then he remembered what happened at the tavern and it quickly became clear of what had transpired.

“No, no… s-so soon…?” he whimpered as he looked to his arms and saw that of course, he had been tied down securely by the wrists to the “altar” that he was on, same deal with his ankles, he was completely immobilized save for his head and neck. Lyston heard the sound of someone approaching and saw an old, slightly hunched-over tiger slowly make his way up to the bound canine, leaning on his walking stick and looking as tired as ever.

“M-mayor…” Lyston said, “Y-you all… chose me…?”

The tiger stopped before him and sighed in exhaustion, when he spoke he didn’t even make eye contact with the young canine,

“It’s unfortunate but the votes came in and… we must follow the rules… please forgive us, young Lyston.”

“I… I’m not ready…” Lyston said, though he did not struggle or fight, knowing it was futile.

“I know, son, I know… but… it’s for the sake of the village, please do not blame us. We will never forget your sacrifice.”

Lyston turned, almost in anger, he had heard those same exact words being said every time this happened, it was only now that he wondered whether the mayor meant them or not. There were quite a few people gathered around, but his eyes laid upon one individual in particular.

“Um…” the bear said, looking rather flustered and at a loss for words, “I-…”

“It’s okay Heig.” said Lyston; he did not know whether to feel angry or bad for his friend nor did he know whether he felt betrayed, his emotions were in such a state of confusion at now,
“You did what you had to, right?”

The bear fell silent before turning and slowly left the scene, the other villagers followed suit until all that remained was the mayor who sighed once again.

“May God have mercy on your soul.”

The tiger hobbled away, clutching his hip as he did so, words had little meaning or sense now, the time had come. At either side of the altar were torches lit with bright orange flame as a signal, once every four months the dragon would fly to the village at midnight to claim its next sacrifice, apparently the dragon had made its appearance around eight years ago and demanded three sacrifices a year in exchange for the safety of the village, the mayor had no choice but to comply and ever since then nothing else bad had happened to the villagers.

Lyston gulped as he turned his attention back towards the sky, his ears were perked as he wondered whether or not he would be able to hear the dragon before seeing it. How would the dragon feed on him…? Was it going to do it right there at the altar? Or was it going to grab him and carry him off to its lair? The altar was designed in such a way that the wood would break apart easily under a dragon’s claws and that the binds would come off afterwards right away, but by that point it would be too late for escape…

As these thoughts rushed through the coyote’s mind, his pupils dilated and his heartbeat quickened as he saw that shape appear in the sky, combined with the sound of flapping wings, a huge draconic silhouette in the sky… growing larger and larger as it headed right towards him.
“Oh, God…” Lyston muttered under his breath, visions of being brutally ripped apart by hundreds of sharp teeth flooded his brain.

From the sky the dragon descended, the beats of his wings kicking up dust as his talons set afoot upon the earth. He stepped toward the sacrifice with a subtle grin creeping up the side of his lips, instinctually swiping his tongue across them. As his head leaned in his jaws parted ways; an exhale of musky hot breath escaped, prickling the ‘yote’s furs. The cries, he paid no mind to; the prey’s bindings were quickly stripped by teeth; the prey was loaded into the cargo deck a.k.a. the dragon’s maw. Then the dragon reared his head up to the sky, grunted, and took off soaring, soaring out of sight bringing his great black shadow with him, toward that mountain behind the far forest where his cavern resided.

It was well hidden, the cave entrance: Surrounded by clusters of thick olden trees and foliage, none but those who were told of its location could find it with ease. Occasionally feeling the sacrifice kick, squirm, bite?, Sini (this was the name of our dragon) simply smiled. His strut down the dark hallway was not hindered. The whites of his eyes became the only visible thing, a while. Then Sini, he took a deep inhale, the crevices between his chest scales crackling, then puffed a flurry of flame about the cavern, lightening its candles. It made so illumination took a radius around the center of the cave. Now this coyote could capture a good glimpse of the dragon in his horrible form: large jagged fangs--backwards ones--dripped from either side of his lips; a hide of black and scales of purple glimmering sinisterly in the backdrop; that eye--the right eye on the side the coyote’s head dangled from--it flickered into him. Directly into his gaze. Then Sini chuckled amusedly--thrilled, but as if this had happened to many multiple times before--and said to him, “Thanks for waiting so patient on the altar for me. I can see it now. You were just dying to meet me, weren’t cha?”

The dragon was much larger and fiercer-looking than Lyston had expected, not helped by the fact that it was bearing down on him with most of its features hidden as its massive form blocked out the moon. The beast destroyed his bindings rather effortlessly and the coyote could not stop himself from whimpering as he was brought into the maw. He's going to eat me right here and now, Lyston thought as his heart raced but then he felt himself being lifted into the air instead of being swallowed. The dragon was taking him back to its lair...

When Lyston was outside of the dragon's mouth once more, he found himself in an unfamiliar cave, the dragon grinning at him rather evily. THIS was the beast that ate everyone...? The coyote didn't want to show any signs of weakness but even he could not prevent himself from trembling as he addressed the dragon,
"N-nothing I'm going to say... will change your mind... will it?" he asked.

It was like asking him if he was going to breathe or not. What would? The dragon’s toothy grin was exposed as he chuckled plainly. In the center of the cave he took a lie down then plucked the prey from between his jaws--between a finger and thumb--then sat the sticky moist creature on the floor in front of him. His gaze seared into the coyote. What fun he could have with this one, he wondered, the type to play with food and enjoy the experience before all was said and done, and all’s left was the residual fur taste on his tongue.

With a sigh, “Do you really think you could change my mind? I think you see yourself with too much importance,” said the dragon. “Too much confidence in your word. Hehe! Silly.”

Lyston shook his head, "N-no, that's not what I meant. It's just... this is all just so sudden... I didn't think it would happen to me so soon. It's... this is almost too much." the coyote managed to chuckle as he said that, he felt a little brave but at the same time he was afraid of his awaiting fate... "Of course I'm scared as hell right now." the coyote continued, "I'm so scared..." he said more to himself than to the dragon, "... It's for the village..." he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Don’t you think your village will be thankful for what you’ve done?” asked the dragon. “Surely they’ll remember your . . . generosity,” he added hesitantly, not knowing how village societies worked emotionally, having never been part of one. He giggled, running a finger down the coyote’s spine with a tenderness, his nostrils smoking as he’d rumble and imagine.

"Yes..." Lyston replied, "I'm sure they would be... after all... my life in exchange for their safety... a guaranteed few months of peace..." the coyote looked down, away from the dragon's eyes and sighed, "The words the mayor spoke... it's always the same... it wasn't until tonight that I wondered if he really meant them... do you know what he said? He said that it was for the sake of the village and that I shouldn't blame them... that they will never forget my sacrifice... that's easy for them to say, I bet. He and the others get to live, but I... I don't have that privilege anymore... why did it have to be me...? Why now?"

This reluctance astonished the dragon: “You’re not honored to be in my presence?” He shook his head, seemingly in an attempt to comprehend the thing. Instead he settled on a simple second sigh, resting his right paw on the back of the coyote. His eyes drifted into his. “I couldn’t say the same. But I am pleased to have you here. I’m sure you’ll be as satisfying as the last ones of your village were--if not more.”

Sini’s head inched closer till his snout was inches away from the prey’s. The aura of warmth he held rushed over that coyote, completely obliterating the impression of the night’s cold atmosphere.

"It's not that." Lyston whispered, "I'm just... scared. I don't know what to expect." the coyote looked up submissively, even inching himself closer to the dragon's maw somewhat obediently, "Mister dragon, sir... please... be gentle with me... I'm ready now." even as he said that, a single tear trickled down from the coyote's eye as he closed them, prepared for the predator to take him inside that maw of his.

“Aw.” Sini’s tongue flickered across the face of the coyote. “Even your tears are tasty.”

It was an attempt to lighten the spirit. Without further hesitation the dragon’s jaws crackled open. The tongue unfurled from its cavern and caught itself round the furs of its prey, raveling, tasting. His heart rhythm raced. His fingers, they’d fiddle anxiously over the pebbles of the floor. With ears perked, the dragon shut his eyes. Let the tongue return to him with prey in hand. And slowly but surely those jaws did shut: A space between them did bring a faint cave lighting in--for a while of tongue-toying-with-prey, tossing, rolling against cheeks, it did. Then they shut. Sini’s meal was remarkably fun. The little one fussing he enjoyed. But now, moments away . . .

That maw came down upon him and never stopped, it wrapped around him, the tongue curling around his fur and pulling him upwards, such power, it was something Lyston could not even begin to comprehend.
“Urf…” the coyote struggled a little during the process, though he had accepted his fate, he was a little reluctant to go, but whether he wanted it or not the dragon would continue to devour him, swallow him whole.

Sini then let go. His tongue was finished teasing; the taste was enjoyed thoroughly, like chewing gum suckled dry; leaning his head back, one single gulp took down his prey. The flesh of his throat burbled. That prey did squirm some. That prey did kick. All in all it was a relaxing, muscle-easing process that got Sini to sighing. He stood up to really flex, straighten himself, as he ran a paw down that descending bulge, mumbling to himself contentedly. Then his belly groaned. It filled. It felt right! Those gurgles got to pestering the coyote and fluids to swooshing, just softly. Pat pat. He clapped his gut and a soft belch came up. “Aah.”

The little canine put little to no resistance to the slow sending of him to his demise, the darkness replaced his entire vision and he was pulled further into the dragon’s maw and eventually into the throat, the fleshy walls surrounded him and before long Lyston lost all sense of time and direction, not knowing where he was specifically or how long it took, he simply curled up, feeling the saliva and slime on his fur and listening to the sounds of the predator’s interior as he thought to himself, “This isn’t so bad…” closing his eyes (not that it mattered) and hoping to peacefully pass out…

“Yes . . . close your eyes. Go to sleep,” the dragon said.

That’s what he planned on doing himself. He made one last intense yawn involving the stretching-of-arms--with a deep enough inhale to tingle the blanket in the back of the room--then doubled over, into sleep, without it. The stomach was well and satisfied. It’d be a night of good dreams. A night of comfort. . . . Soon his state of slumber brought about images, of him traumatizing a village, of stalking the coyote down a dungeon hallway, of snatching that coyote right up and snapping him down, in his jaws. Yes. The dragon chuckled amusedly in sleep. Then sleep brought about more images: Images of that coyote whimpering, and kicking, and, tears perhaps?--which might have very well had some truth in the night. If only just a little, he did frown. Poor little guy . . .

It didn't take Lyston long to fall asleep himself, unaware that nothing harmful was being inflicted upon his person, the little coyote merely stayed within that stomach, sleeping away the night peacefully, knowing nothing more beyond that…

That first flicker of sun crept in by morning. Sini’s scales sparkled a tint of gold. One massive eye peeked itself open, to light. Becoming gradually aware of his cave surroundings he became aware of that coyote, still in his gut. One grumble. One paw clutched the scales of his chest. The chest sporadically jerked. It was a bulge, a bulge being elevated up from his belly, rippling the belly and neck scales as it ascended. It was . . . retch! It was the coyote, suddenly now upon the cavern floor, enshrouded in sticky slobber smelling of dragon’s breath. Sini scrunched his face. Pulled a clump of coyote fur from his tongue. Wiggled it off his fingers. The coyote hadn’t wakened, he saw! Then Sini smirked and leaned in close and prodded the critter with his snout, rolling the critter belly-up. He did this till he was sure the coyote’d wake, then said, “Hey you. Sleeping beauty. Wake up.”

Lyston heard the familiar, low growl of a voice near him and it confused him, shouldn't he be dead? Was it possible to still hear the voices of the living in the afterlife? But something wasn't right... he could still feel, think and listen, does that mean...
The coyote opened his eyes slowly confused, he was greeted with the dragon's gigantic face, poking at him with that snout.
"Wha-..." Lyston began, "What... happened?" he asked, there was no way this was the afterlife, nor was it a dream or a vision; he was somehow, to his amazement, very much alive.

“What happened,” said the dragon, “is I had the most exhausting experience of the day. Lost my lunch and haven’t even had breakfast yet.” He added with a smirk, “The least you could do is show you’re thankful.” The dragon gave the coyote a rub on the head ruffling his furs and ears. And then he said: “Y’know, I think I’ll have you around. You’re nice to have around.”

His black scaly body rose . . . then coiled itself around the coyote entirely. Warmth and solidness in those scales, and a great rumble that exhausted out his nostrils. . . . This dragon was true. He took a swipe at the coyote’s face with his tongue, nipped at his nose, but never did swallow again. He’d be having him around.

The canine had no idea how to react to all this, the dragon was being... playful? Not to mention that he was no help in explaining the situation.
"Does this mean..." said Lyston, "... that nobody died? You left them all alive?" he asked, being the one to always look out for others first, it was natural for him to behave like this. Everyone he knew that had seemingly died... could it be that they're not dead at all, because the dragon had spared them? Like he did to Lyston?

Cranking his head sideways, “What do you mean by that?” Sini said. “Sure they’re all alive. They serve me energy. I let them go. That’s the way its always been.”

Lyston stared back at the dragon, momentarily at a loss for words.
“You know, you could have mentioned that to me soon.” the canine sighed, but there was no use getting upset about it now, what’s done is done and he’s just glad to be alive still, “Although that begs the question, why haven’t any of them returned…? Do you know?” he asked.

Not that Sini put too much thought into his other preys’ emotions. “I can’t see any of them wanting to return”--to the village, that dragon meant--“especially after you guys put them on a platter for me. Hehe! And--I mean--your village is a distance from here. If the others never came back, they got lost, or started a new life, or, or . . . well, why are asking me?”

Annoyance crept up the dragon’s face. Of course, it can be forgiven, thought the dragon. The little critters are always asking silly questions, after all. Some sympathy: Sini patted the coyote on the head, and said, “Don’t worry about them. Don’t worry about you. You’re safe here. You can spend the day, or you can head your own way now. I won’t keep ya. Alright?”

"Right." Lyston nodded, that made sense, they didn't want to return to live where they were betrayed, plus if they showed up alive and well then the village might not have taken the dragon's demands seriously and that would cause all kinds of trouble for everyone, "They're alive elsewhere, started new lives." the coyote told himself. He looked up at the dragon and sighed again, "I think... I'll stay for a while, I've had enough surprises for one day." and with that he yawned and laid down again, closing his eyes once more, his mind free of trouble and unrest, knowing that he no longer needs to fear for his life.

With that, the dragon rested his head over the back of the critter. He clapped his eyes shut then yawned too, a monstrous set of jaws opened then shut. Having the coyote at peace meant he was at peace too. Forget breakfast. He’d fall back asleep and sleep in this morning, and keep his wings wrapped around Lyston. Meals come at any hour, concluded Sini. The ones that keep me company are much more scarce. No, this dragon had no treasure but clung to the coyote like so. Today was one of those mornings. He slept.

Slept with Lyston.