Sacrifice

The cheering rose from the base of Temple Hive Tonatiuh to the upper tiers, for the Sacred Ritual. Priests in long cloaks of black with stains of blood chant to Tonatiuh, with each priest wearing a mask of Death and Rebirth. The feather-armor of the Eagle warriors shone in the sun. They guarded the beast that was about to die for Tonatiuh. The ululating chanting rose higher and higher, the Temple quaked cause of it. Ataxa Quex smiled. His heart thumped with the beat, the power of man showing their love for their God, the God who sits upon the Throne of Aether Fire, the God that fought for humanity, shedding His very being for that they may live in peace and prosperity. His radiance shines throughout humanity’s entire domain. This sacrifice to Him will add to His never ending will. The soul and ash will be gifts unto him. Ataxa watched his feathered-armored kin march the beast to the altar. Chains clink as they shake. The green beast, dazed and confused, looks around. With mouth half opened, the creature stirs and bellows. No one moves. No one fears. The black cloaked priests chanting rises. Ataxa sees the mask of Rebirth: a face contorted in pain. The face of Tonatiuh. The greenskin was painted, too.
Black and red paint covered its body. The red meaning a new life, while the black meant the evils it’s done. Ataxa knew that all over the planet, on different Temple Hives, sacrifices were being made. Each one different. Each one meaning something. Some would be flayed for Xipe-Totec, the son of Tonatiuh. The son that wore the Fist, his hands flayed and torn from ritual. For blood oaths. But here, upon the Temple Hive of Tonatiuh, the beast will have its heart cut out and body thrown into the Holy Fire. The beast was forced upon the altar. It struggled, the chains nearly at the point of breaking. Its head swinging, teeth chomping air. The Priests kept changing, and then moved around the beast. ‘We kill. We sacrifice for Tonatiuh. The fires will wipe away its sins, and feed the fire of Tonatiuh. The ash will spread upon the universe and grow until the heavens quack and Tonatiuh descends upon wings of fire.’ The Priest said, his hand holding the Blade of Sacrifice. The blackness soaked up the light from fire and the sun. The Priest turned and stabbed the creature in the chest, sliding the blade horizontally, and then reaching in. Sometime passed before the bloodied hand of the Priest was out. In it was the still beating heart. The Priest uttered the words of sacrifice. Then, the beast was gone. The altar went vertical and the ork slid into the Holy Fire.