With fair confidence, Strix understood what her next action was, the fates themselves written out within the stones, while Athos himself confirming her reading with his reading of the stars. This was going to be done, properly and with careful application, Strix wanting to make sure that with this, her transition to an Aspect Witch of the Moon would be fulfilled. Although this task was never given to her, she decided that within her own clan rebuild, she would set this as her final tribute. Strix had been no stranger to what normal people would consider strange and ritualistic sacrifices, but then again, any practice would seem strange to outsiders who dont know or understand reasoning behind it. Some people saw eating the flesh of another as strange, then other see eating the flesh of any creature strange. Those that worship invisible Gods, that believe nature is God, and those that choose to believe that life has no purpose. Humans were fascinating creatures and the more Strix strode along the path of a Moon Aspect, the less human she became as she detached herself from the world. Creating a cauldron from the earth, she manipulated it and filled it with water, lightning a fire underneath. Taking a few ingredients from her bag, Strix took a breath and calmed herself before she began the ritual.
Standing over the bubbling cauldron of water, Strix flashed back to when her mother taught her the first time they performed a sacrifice together. The stood over the cauldron, Strix barely tall enough to see over while her mother sang the song to remember the ingredients.
Three tails of cat, picked under her gaze,
Seven drops of ink, taken from the Kraken,
Stir, Stir, Stir.
Dragonwort plucked, from her first phase,
Frog Venom for when your cackling,
Sleepy kitty, purr purr.
Full of body, for the living,
Last drop of blood, freely giving,
From black to red, for her her.
The words echoed around her head as she placed the ingredients into the cauldron singing the chant, more for her own recipe than anything. Strix had come to learn that chants were mainly for handing a list from one person to the next, instead of having written down potions that could be lost or stolen. Given from one generation to the next via word of mouth has a more personal touch, and a better security at least. As she got to the last step, Strix took a small knife out and looked into the cauldron, placing her hand over it. It a swift prick, she poked her index finger as a single drop of blood fell from the tip of her finger, landing perfectly into the middle of the potion, instantly causing it to stop bubbling and remain completely still. This potion, like many of them were based from water, but now had completely gone red, with Strix' blood running through the potion. Taking her wand out, she caused the potion to fly around, forming a perfect circle around Athos, reaching back to where she was.
Step one was complete.
While Athos had been waiting here for all the years, Strix had learned many skills and rituals from her books and from her parents that were to do with witchcraft and her clans moon powers. The ritual she was about to perform was the honourable sacrifice of a creature, which would hopefully bring some peace to Athos while also bringing joy to the Moon Goddess for another being to reach her in the sky. Although she had performed it every 3 months prior to this occasion, it was daunting to be performing it on a creature so large and so imposing. Should his anatomy be similar to a humans, or humanoid, a swift cut through the upper neck would sever the stem of his brain with a instant death. This would be painless, at least to her experience, which would then allow her to complete the next step without the beast in agony. She was not a cruel person, even if she could be cold, Strix only wanted knowledge and would stop at nothing to get it. This would further her progress, and she would fulfil what comes of it.
Taking a scroll from her bag, she summoned from it a katana, and walked over to the beast. With one more breath, she swallowed and spoke softly, a small prayer for Athos.
Go now and be at peace, for the great Goddess in the sky welcomes you with open arms. Become part of the night, to be a shining light to those lost and guide them home. In the name of the Goddess I honour her with this sacrifice so that you may be at rest forever in her care. The Goddess' love is eternal. I send you to her now, Athos.
Her strike was swift and true, one hand holding the blade and the other to the back of his neck, using leverage to push it deep. Thick as his skin was, the katana cut through skin and muscle till it found the stem and sliced it off. She felt his heaving body stiffen for the briefest moment as her blade entered, only to relax and have every muscle in the body loosen with his final breath exhaled. His skin was very warm, a veritable heater that was on its last legs, but she had finally done it, giving him peace forever. A small tear came to her eye as she quickly wiped it away, the beauty of the sacrifice and ritual getting to her to be performed on a creature like this. Surely the Goddess would be pleased with it. There was no sadness nor any sorrow in her heart, for she had learned that everything has its destiny and the time comes when all roads lead home to the Goddess.
Not wanting to waste a moment, Strix withdrew the katana and positioned herself at the side of the beast, then using it to prop the body of Athos onto its side, exposing his chest and belly. Matted fur and scarred skin exposed, it was a tapestry of history and every scar probably had a story behind it. Silent from the last prayer, Strix readied herself for the next step. Plunging the katana into the chest of Athos, she drove it deep once more as blood began dribbling out as she cut down his chest, down to his navel to form a large laceration like an autopsy. Blood and organs began seeming out, steam from the sheer heat of his body began rising out of the wound. Throwing the katana to the side, Strix dropped down to her knees, and cupped the blood gushing out into her hands, raising her head skywards with her hands held high. Tipping her hand she let the dribble down her arms onto her face as it rolled down her neck under her clothes.
Bless me and give me your light! She who controls the tides, who gives us rest and watches us while we sleep! Protect me from those that would deny you, from those that shun you, and give me strength to follow you. Blessings be to her, Diana.
Strix said the prayer as always, a confidence in her voice louder than normal as the great beast before her would fill many cups of blood, his spirit heavy and powerful for the Goddess to have. Strix would smile and close her eyes as she would tilt her head back feeling the blood drip down her body, the heat from the blood and organs around her knees and feet warming the ground around her while the steam from his body would fill the air in the vicinity.
After a moment of taking it all in, she had done it, she had sacrificed the beast and lets its blood run as a gift to the Goddess of the Moon in the name of Strix.
