Quirltober 2021 Collection

Difèrne remembered the first time her father headed to town  with a herd of “sacrificial lambs”, in his words. She had cried and cried for him not to hurt them, saying that she would take good care of them and that they would become profitable wool producers like all of the other lambs. All of her siblings had laughed at her. 

Her father had taken her aside and gently explained that the lambs weren’t actually sacrificed or even hurt at all during the process. He assured her that Aberfa wouldn’t stand for such cruelty. Instead, the lambs served more as a symbol of devotion and sincerity when presenting the deity with a request. They were donating these lambs to some very unfortunate quirlicorns who needed their help. Seeing as they had plenty of sheep, her father had decided that they could spare a few lambs this season (and all the seasons after that, her parents decided).  

Difèrne asked what would happen to the lambs once the “sacrifice” was performed. “Will they give them back?”

Her father chuckled. “They can keep them as a sign of Aberfa’s blessing,” he answered benevolently. The filly didn’t know if she liked the idea of sheep being living symbols when they could simply live in a carefree manner on a grassy plateau. 

The next spring, her father showed her how to recognize which lambs made the best offerings. It wasn’t so much a question of coat, but of behavior. The most friendly and weak lambs were often sent away to Aberfa. Difèrne inferred that, again, it must have something to do with the symbol. It made her sad, because she often grew very attached to those lambs. Nevertheless, the prospect of helping others and pleasing Aberfa were enough motivation for the filly (which would soon become a mare), to carry on the tradition of handpicking lambs to be given away every spring.