The day passed quite fast for Shanti. The night came and the sky started turning darker.

It's the time for them to give their decision. They needed to get the answer today. Why? didn't Shanti say that they got three days at most? why it must be today?

The answer lay at the last howl sacrifice ritual process. They needed to prepare it for almost two days to complete the ritual.

-was wes-

-whaaa-

They gathered at the shrine with so many uncertain feelings in their minds. After making sure all of the villager was there, the elder came foward.

"there's no time left, so I'll make this quick"

He took a small stone and put it on a wooden table. There are two tables at the right and left side of him.

"if you vote for the last howl sacrifice ritual, put on here" He pointed to the table at the left side

"and you put on the right side for the other choice"

He moved back and took several steps before finally he stopped.

"let our beast god ROGNIR hear his children's choice"

He raised his staff as a signal to let the voting begin.

They came foward to vote for their fate. Even though it was hard, they needed to give their voice.

With their worries, their uncertain feelings, fear, sadness, they took the steps to determine their own fate.

-fuuh-

"do you want to change your decision by any chance?"

"stop it Shanti, you know it won't happen"

"who's know? maybe our beast god only want to test our faith?" She hoped for that

"....."

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"then why are you looking like that?"

"I'm worrying about their votes.... what if everyone decide to leave this village? abandon everything?"

"....i prefer that result, honestly"

"Shanti..."

"whatever the result, both of us must accept that Mugha. Right?" She looked at him

"of course. I'll always go with our people decision. No matter what happens"

Shanti nodded and prayed for the best result for her people, for her only big brother.

One by one, all of the villager came foward and put their vote on the wooden table. Something unexpected could be seen at the moment.

".....i can't believe it" Mugha showed his suprised expression

"....i know this most likely will happen... but.."

Shanti wouldn't be worried if the villager's choice was obvious. And that reality was happening in front of her right now, she needed to prepare for the worst.

"....so our people still have their pride as children of ROGNIR" The elder mumbled

The vote result was really close. When everyone thought that the last howl sacrifice ritual won't have any chance to be choosed, the fact was showing the opposite.

The total of stones on both of the tables was at the same amount now. It only needed one vote left to decide their fate.

Tha man who yelled this morning at the plaza came foward. He would make the last vote.

He approached the tables and stopped in front of it. He grabbed the small stone and turned his sight to his son who lined up with the other fighters.

"Dhonpa!" He called his son

"yes father"

"you sure you don't want to live and leave this village with us?"

"I want to live!!! but i don't want to leave this village!! i don't want to disgrace our beast god and our ancestors!!"

"talking about ancestors and our beast god.... look at you, my little son could say something like that..."

He stopped a moment before he continued his words.

"your mother cried when she knew your decision...but she also the one who said that we needed to support it"

Dhonpa couldn't hide his sad expression. He, as the only child from his parents, decided to sacrifice himself... yet he needed to do this.

"she said .. this is the first time that you decided something for yourself. Since child, you always listened to us.... that's why..."

He brought the small stone to the table on the left side.

"like our old proverb says...if you see two rabbits, focus on the first rabbit that you saw"

(it means that the first decision that you make is the right one for you)

-trek-

"Dhonpa.... I'm proud of you"

He put the small stone on the table and that finished the voting. Everyone showed different expression on their face when saw that.

"thank you father.. that really means something for me"

His father went back to the other villagers and the elder announced the result.

"our beast god ROGNIR!! your mighty and proud children have decided their own fate!!! WE WILL HEAR OUR APOSTLE'S CALL!! WE WILL SUMMON OUR FURR'DHAD!!"

Some of them cried and the rest just didn't show any expression at all. They still couldn't believe what just happened right now.

The elder turned around and talked to Shanti.

"Shanti, start the preparation for the last howl sacrifice ritual"

Shanti couldn't do anything except nodded with her sad expression.

-----( Chapter 129 "A little wolf 27" )-----