The Forgotten Zodiac

((She took it off to save Arachne.))

"I was protecting those who couldn't protect themselves. I'm only upset that Verdi was taken. Glad that none of yours were," Aries replied with a tone to match his. "Wait, you said...they took Verolen, Israel and Verdi? You've got to be kidding me!"

((I thought she put it back.))

"And the PRINCE!" Thuban emphasized, as if he could care less about the others. He shook his fist angrily in the air, not exactly at Aries. "They got the Prince!"

Eltanin strode in, giving Thuban an elbow in the side.  "Stop antagonising her," he murmured, then louder. "Lady Aries, we will do all we can to bring your friends back. IN the meantime, it would appear that we can expect more of these raids. I would advise for you and your friends to leave immediately. I can arrange for a ship..."

"Verolen is a prince too!" Aries snapped at him. After Eltanin spoke, she fumed for a moment, then looked back at Byrne and Arachne. Hally poked her head out from behind the two of them, then scurried over to Eltanin. "Eltie, I was scared! But the bunny-lady protected us." She said happily, then hurried out to find her mother.

"Right. We'll go," Aries nodded.

"But--" Arachne started, but Aries gave her no chance to speak.

"The forest is at risk during the winter. I am one of few who don't hibernate. We must return to the forest so I can perform my duties as a protector." She snapped, but quickly relaxed. "It's alright. These men will do all that they can to get your brother and our friends back. In the meantime, Byrne and I will take good care of you. Alright?"

"Oh...okay..." Arachne sighed.

"Right then. We'll take you up on the boat offer."

Eltanin smiled as Hally ran out of the hut, then turned with a more serious expression to Aries. "All right. Gather your things, I'll get you a boat captain post haste," he said, exiting quickly.

Byrne looked to Aries. "I don't have any things," he said. "Unless you can get a lance from someone, then I can help you later, when I can actually, you know... stand up by myself."

((... -wonders how Quay is EVER going to get home- ))

((xD))

"I don't have anything, either. Gabe is safe at the Manakete Palace, I know that much." Aries sighed, then looked to Thuban, who hadn't left yet. "I only request that you find me one of those Calling Stones before you leave, please. I do believe Verdi left his at the Manakete Palace, and I could use one to call my son."

"My basket is still out there..." Arachne frowned. "Brand new, too. Hally gave it to me. That's the only thing that I have that's here."

"We'll grab it before getting on the boat, I promise."

Thuban nodded to Aries, saying nothing to her. He looked to Byrne. "I'll see about a weapon for you," he murmured, then turned on his heel and left.

"Well. he's pleasent," Byrne commented.

"He's a man on duty. It's quite alright," Aries shook her head. "I'm glad none of the women and children were taken, though..." She sighed, helping Arachne to her feet. "Byrne...I'm going to need your help. Once we settle down for camp, I'll have to teach you a thing or two about hunting and fishing...and maybe a couple things about self-defense. But you'll be helping me protect Arachne, alright? At this point...we can just watch the seas and protect each other."

((Aw, how nice.))

Byrne nodded to Aries, moving shakily to his feet. It was at this point that Eve appeared in the hut (as she did at the most convinent of times) and helped Byrne steady himself. "Am I invited?" she asked, smiling slightly. "I'll help you all, too."

"Eve?" Aries blinked at her. "Yes, of course you may come along. You're a good fighter, the forest could use someone like you during the long winter." She smiled happily, starting towards the door. "To the boats, then."

Eve supported Byrne as he walked, following Aries down to the docks. The group soon spotted Eltanin, who was conversing with a shorter man in low tones. As they came over, though, Eltanin smiled and waved them over.

"This is Raye," he introduced the other man. "He'll take you back to the Forest Kingdom. He's a little on the brusque side, but he's got one of the fastest ships around."

"A pleasure to meet you, Raye." Aries bowed slightly. "It's important that we return to the forest as soon as possible. If you can get us there quickly, I'll be in your debt."

Raye nodded. "I can get you there," he said, turning to board the boat. "Let's not tarry, then. You are all ready to go? Then come, I want to be back before the ice from the north sets in," he said, motioning for them to follow.

"Not quite," Aries paused. "We need to fetch Arachne's basket, a weapon for Byrne, and a Sending Stone that I asked Thuban to fetch."

"Oh yeah!" Arachne looked up at her. "You have better memory than I do..."

Raye crossed his arms and frowned. He said nothing, but his stance gave off an evident "not happy" vibe.

Thuban came running up the docks, a sending stone and a lance in his hand. "This what you wanted?" he asked, holding the objects out.

Aries just frowned at Raye, motioning for Eve to take Byrne onto the ship. "That's most of it, thank you." She said, turning to Thuban and taking the items. "Thank you so much."

"Here!" Hally darted up, shoving the basket into Arachne's hands. "You forgot this. Have a good trip!" She said hurriedly before running back to her mother.

"Thank you!" Arachne called after her, then nodded up at Aries.

"Alright. Now we're ready." Aries said pointedly to Raye, helping Arachne towards the gangplank.

Raye nodded once, then moved to the front of the ship. "Weigh anchor! We're setting sail!" he shouted to his crew, who began to scuttle about at his command.

Eve found the door belowdecks quickly, and helped Byrne inside. "Come on, Aries! We don't want to be in the way!" she called.

"Yes, yes," Aries sighed, following Eve down the stairs and helping Arachne along. "Come along," She said quietly, though Arachne had no choice but to follow.

Eve had helped Byrne sit down with some amount of grace, propping him into a sitting position against two sacks of what appeared to be cornmeal. She then turned to help Aries with Arachne.

"So, when we get to the forest, what do we do?" Eve asked.

"Head to an unoccupied place that needs protection," Aries said. "I imagine that the Tree of Life has already been covered, as well as a few others...you see, the trees can't protect themselves while they're asleep. Last year's winter went well, but...something tells me that one of the major trees will be in danger. We'll head straight for the Tree of Seasons; most people don't know it, but that's the one tree that wakes up all the others when Spring comes around. If that tree falls during the winter...they'll never wake up again. I just have this bad feeling..." Aries scratched the back of her neck with another heavy sigh, then lifted the Sending Stone she had been given. "Gabe, at the Manakete Palace. Are you there?" She said to it, not sure if it was working or not. "Is anyone there? Hello?"

"Mama?"

Gabe's voice came out of the small stone, high-pitched and excited. "Mommy, is that you?" he called, rather loudly. Byrne winced and covered his ears.