A Different Path

Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I do not own Cult of the Lamb. I am simply a fan of the game. I was inspired by Jbrine061. Please check out her story. She is amazing. Now onto the story.
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Vulcana. A Sphynx Cat who gained her Crown not as a youth as the Bishops have, no. She was a middle aged woman when the Scarlet Crown found her. She uses that power as she likes, manipulating others into following her. She used her sweet tongue, weaving riddles into metaphors to lure in a following. That was how her power grew and grew for years... until Shamura and their lackeys showed up at her doorstep. At one point, Shamura thought of her as a potential ally they could have, but after speaking with her and visiting her Cult, they saw things differently. Dissenting followers were sadistically punished in a variety of ways. There was a hierarchy among followers, considering their positions, but Vulcana's Cult style was like of first, second, and third-class citizens. The lower the class, the worse you were treated. It was that which made Shamura change their mind. Vulcana had no intention of working together with Shamura or any of their brethren, not if it meant that they would be in charge. She prefers giving up her Crown than submitting to them. In fact, that's what she supposedly did.

Vulcana had stood in front of Shamura and their brothers, Kallamar and Narinder. Heket remained behind with Leshy. She took off her Crown and destroyed it in front of them. It was then that she gave up her position as a goddess and was completely powerless. No one sensed any power coming from her anymore. It had been enough to trick the gods of the Old Faith to leave her alone. That was what she wanted. Vulcana waited a week before revealing herself to her seculded followers. It had all been an illusion she learned to cast from the old scriptures acquired from a crusade. Vulcana had played her cards right and waited to be left alone. It worked for so long, but all things would come to an end at some point. Her followers either died, ran away, or left from lack of faith. It didn't deter Vulcana, it only fueled her desire to regain her lost strength. With the Fox's help, she believed that she would do just that. Vulcana was very familiar with the legends of a Phoenix and what they did, but a Phoenix that gained a mortal form and had power to do so? It was something she wanted.

Using a memory spell, a sketch of Rose was made from the Fox's memory. While Vulcana knew about the legendary Phoenix, she didn't expect one to choose such an unusual and strange form. Must be the species that lived where the Phoenix made its home. The Fox pointed out the amulet where he sensed the power coming off of Rose. It certainly gave her a boost! He felt it personally... With such power, Vulcana could rise above who she was before, higher than the Bishops... she just needed the source of the Phoenix's flame... Vulcana did try to research what that crimson colored rock. Unfortunately for her, there was literally nothing about it in the scrolls, books, ancient tablets she found. She could only conclude that any information about the stone was in the Phoenix's homeland. Maybe she'll pry out that information from the Phoenix before finishing her off. Since she's a firebird, she probably wouldn't even come back if she's killed! They died and came back from the ashes every five hundred years. And this one didn't even look like she was a century old! Ha! It'll be easy to pummel her to the ground!

Soon...

Soon, she will have it all...

... Or so she thinks.

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Rose was in Noonveil. She hadn't been to the lands of the Old Faith in several days. Rose was missing Narinder, and worried about him too. After receiving that letter explaining the danger she was in, Rose wondered if enough time had passed to go back yet. To distract herself and pass the time, Rose focused on her family and Clan affairs for the time being. Each established Clan would gather a couple of times a month or so to report any news. If one Clan needed help, the others would offer. There was Phoenix Clan, Dragon Clan, Galaxia Clan, Goldensand Clan, the Sorcerer Clans, the Wolf Pack, and several more. There weren't any fairy Clans that attended officially, just groups of them that attended on occasion. The leaders of each group would speak one at a time. After everyone was finished, the Clans and packs would go home. The Clans actually just met a bit ago and everything was well. Brightstar's Clan didn't attend the gatherings, they were a bit more secretive, allying with the cat Clans. It was to help keep their secret and to stay away from people. Anyone would be ticked off at them for all the deforestation they cause!