#maenads

Adored this idea!

A phantom sight. Paled night skin broke apart the ancient tree monotony. Awkwardly fluid, the staggering hysteric mimicked a quadruped, and the cackling laugh pierced the thin air. The moonlight echoed the cries. Dirt was flung, bright fingers dug into the soft earth. Feet leaping.

Further ahead, another actor ran for a sense of safety, rustled and prickled with heightened adrenaline. Every cackle from behind pushed the figure faster, deeper into the still woods.

A third faded (fated) silhouette, much like the first. Ghost-face appeared from the denser tree line with a sharp wailing laugh. A fourth, opposite the third, forced the second down a straight path. No options as they sprawled around the trees, a new face dotting along - the pack thickened. Six hurled themselves down the length of the tree line, an open field laid quietly sober behind them. Another six within the trees leaped and screamed, laughing, laughing. They were followed by the first now silent, eyes focused.

There was a river. The bleat of the meal was a horn. Heart beating.

Stop.

A splash, a cry distorted as the prey gave faith to the water. So did they. Four splashes, no voices, just thundering waves. Grabbing, kicking limbs, dragging heads underwater, coughing, gagging, splurting. Another sound of the horn cut short. The prey was held below the surface, thrashing always ceases after a few minutes of drowning.

Red lips curled, crafting tones into howls. They joined the first and sang to the moon a tune of gratitude.

Hands pulled at the meat and they screamed with delight as the fleshed ripped off bones, and the red bright on their nude skin. Teeth tore into the warmth, laughs happy and fat with the pleasures of night. They feasted and dined on the sacrifice.

Japanese Bacchae:

Helios and the two Maenads were the only sentient people in Elysion after the Dead Moon Circus struck, but there were other priests and priestesses present.