Sun Mote Copse poinsetta

Eshamun was gone, but that did not mean that Honey was free of the consequences for her actions. It was made clear that one of her brood would need to be released for the sake of pleasing her adopted god (though her beliefs were still shaky, if that), and she'd already taken the liberty of choosing which one it would be. As Honey lifted her head and looked at the two pups suckling at her side, she sighed and nosed at the boy, plump and healthy. A call was released for @Asherah to come and aide her in such a grim time; the red woman would act as Death himself in taking the child from his mother's bosom. 

She gave one last solemn look to her baby boy before moving him from her teat to the cold, barren entry of the den.

The sudden wave of cold hitting the creamy pups side as the larger body of her selfish brother was lifted away was unsettling. She whined slightly before realizing the absense of whatever that was allowed her to choose whatever teat she wanted! She was finally free of the inconsiderate pup that would always push her around. The young Carnation snuggled closer to her mother in attempt to replace the once heat her brother gave off and burrowed into her fur best she could.

Sorry about the wait!

Asherah was not looking forward to removing Honey's child from her arms. When the call came, she went quickly to the den, her face and mood solemn. She reached the den and noted the child that lay just inside. Her heart gave a painful thud. She moved closer, sticking her head in slowly. She regarded the woman sadly for a moment, blocking the cold from the offered child. She noted the body of another at Honey's side and was relieved she need not take her only child.

"Lovely children for a lovely mother, sister." She whispered softly. "Your son will know no pain. Molech will take him into the light, just as quickly as my Bachir went. There is no suffering in the world beyond. This child is blessed, free of the suffering of this world. He gives your daughter a great gift. Did you name him?" She would say a prayer over the child before and after, and she felt his name should be included if he had one.

No, Honey blurted. She wanted Asherah to take him away where his scent would no longer linger and his whimpers would no longer be heard. She didn't want to talk about him or what she was doing to her son, so she kept her silence and simply averted her eyes. Carnation was safe by her side, and that's what mattered; the sacrifice was more or less made to pay dues to Eshamun. Otherwise, Honey believed that all she was doing was murdering her child, and she didn't want to have to live with that thought longer than necesary.

Carnation held no idea in her barely devolped brain what death was, and especially not murder, or sacrifice and so on. She didn't even know she had a brother, for all she felt of his disappearance was the lack of a larger blob to provide little warmth, and take all her milk. She couldn't create an opinion of his absense, and likely never will. She would never grow to know him, which would create no pity for his death, but more for her mother.

Honey did not seem to take solace in Asherah's words, but the red woman understood. She was saddened that the woman did not name her child, though, saddened for the boy. Asherah understood that not all in the Malkaria had taken to Molech and the ways as she had, but still, this was Honey's child, sacrifice or not. Her eyes flickered unsure from the boy to the woman, not liking this part for them. She had smothered Bachir in affection and sent him to Molech's arms with her sweet whispers in his ears.

Belief in Molech or not, sacrificing this child would allow the other to live. Eshamun would have killed them both if Honey had refused, Asherah believed this in her soul. She was less sure she could have ripped the children from their mother's side herself, but found that the idea was just. Molech was a harsh god, and it was not religion that made leaders kill pups that were not allowed.

"As you wish, sweet mother." Asherah said finally, after allowing Honey more time to bid her son farewell. She lifted the small boy and turned and strode away from the den. She moved to the water with the small bundle in her mouth, but paused beside it before entering. She lay the boy down and then bent herself, to whisper prayers in his ears, soft encouragements. Carnation too would eventually grow within the Malkaria knowing that a sibling of hers had died. None of these children would forget the price that had been paid for their lives, the luck and misfortune both they had for not being the one to join Molech right away. Asherah would make sure they were thankful to the souls gone before them. It was only right.

With this promised to the unnamed child, she picked him up again and strode into the water. She held him beneath the flow with determination and she found herself not teary eyed. She too had paid this price, her child had died as well. It was slightly frightening to know what Eshamun had felt of her Bachir, though, the tiny struggles turned to stillness. Yet she reminded herself that in that stillness lay Molech's embrace. She lifted the lifeless body from the water and made her way towards the shrine, so that he may lay rightfully with the others. She dug the grave herself, cleaned him of the water, and buried him with more prayer.

She did not return Honey's den, knowing the woman wouldn't want to know all was said and done. Perhaps later she would show her which grave was his, if the woman liked.