The Forgotten Zodiac

"It's an evergreen. A large pine, with full branches and bucketfuls of pinecones every year. Beautiful old tree," Aries smiled a bit. "I've been told that he's not one for words, but he's the oldest tree left in the forest. Jemina was older, but...we all know what happened to her. Or do you?" She looked over at Eve. "Do you know who Jemina was? It's a bit of a sad tale, but it'll be something to pass the time as we walk..."

"...I wouldn't mind something to pass the time," Eve answered after a moment. She hadn't done much talking since she's joined the group, and realized that she was still practically a stranger in their eyes. She wanted to know more about these people she had come to think of as her friends, and this seemed a good way to start.

"Oh, Jemina was a wise old tree. There were rumors that she was the first tree ever made here in this grand forest of ours. She was the Tree of Gifts; Foresters would bring their young to see if Jemina thought of them as worthy of a gift. If they were, she would give them an attribute or blessing that they use later on in life. If not, she gave them candy or toys and let them go on their way. She was wonderful," Aries smiled a bit. "Then there was Sylas. Little human whelp. I remember coming back home to find the elders arguing what to do over a baby human boy. Human kids were abandoned sometimes amongst the trees, in the bushes. Normally they were left alone to die, but Sylas...the little tyke had been singled out by Jemina. She wanted him as her own, and she got him. She fed him from her branches, taught him to speak the language of trees and of grass and flowers...and when he was old enough, she gave him the gift of true aim. He could throw a rock if he wanted to and never miss. I remember testing him when we first met..." She sighed wistfully, then got back to the story. "We went about our travels and came close to where Jemina stood. I remember...Sylas seemed so excited. He ran ahead - only to watch in horror as she was being cut down by humans. That was the last time we saw him before last winter. I guess he was so overcome by shock that he just sort of wandered off, and got captured by Dysonius. And now he sleeps in the Manakete Palace until we can get Bermuda again."

Eve listened intently to the story, her brow creasing slightly. It was so sad... and this was only one tale. What other horrors had the small group witnessed, before she came to join them? "...I hope he comes out all right," she murmured sympathetically, not really knowing what else that would be appropriate to say.

Byrne listened as well, looking slightly astounded. He, of course, was not with the group at that time either. When his father's name was mentioned, his jaw clenched slightly, and he shook his head a bit, making a soft, wince-like sound. "I hope so, too."

"Yes...we all hope so." Aries nodded, then sighed. "We've reached the edge of another camp. You'll have to wait again."

"That's alright, then. I can tell Eve about a few more things." Arachne smiled and leaned against a tree, letting go of Aries.

"Right. Thanks." Aries smiled and ran off again, eager to get the supplies they desperately needed.

"So," Arachne looked over at Eve. "Do you know much about Rush?"

"He's some sort of dragon, isn't he?" Eve said. She had been there when the Phantom had tried to force a transformation in the Chimera, and remembered when the black scales that now engulfed one of his arms had appeared.

"Yes. He used to be Manakete. Now there's a bit of that left, along with...well, every other kind of race there is. My father took him as a baby and changed him. To make matters worse, he carries the burden of the Library. Which is a vast collection of magic and knowledge of all kinds. For a while there, it was actually trying to kill him. I could tell. But something saved him and he's fine for now. Those scales on his arm aren't staying away, though, which was what made him so grumpy. They itch and hurt, I can tell." Arachne nodded. "Speaking of...wasn't he at Oceanica? I thought he was swimming with Bermuda. What happened to him?" She frowned, a little confused.

((Forgot about him. .3.))

((Poor fella.))

"I... yes, he was there," Eve said, nodding a bit. "But... I didn't see him come back..." she said, looking concerned.

((Shorrrt))

((I'll think of something.))

"Maybe he fell asleep on the beach or something." Arachne bit her lip unhappily. "If the Sirens took him, it's bad news, though...they could potentially sell him to our enemies, or the highest bidder. And with the Library in use...it means trouble. No, they'll definitely sell him..."

"I'm really getting tired of this human trafficking business." Aries returned with a large bag of dried foods, as well as two animal skin blankets, and a couple other things. "Here," She handed out two furry tunics; one for Arachne, one for Byrne. "They didn't have anything larger. We'll just have to hope the last camp has two more larger ones." She said to Eve, sighing a bit. "Come on then, it's time to go again."

"If it comes down to it, I can go without a tunic," Eve said as Aries returned. "I was raised in the North, it's pretty cold up there, and I doubt the forest winters would compare even to the summers I experiences there," she said, helping Arachne to her feet. "Help Byrne, would you?" she asked, indicating the human, who was currently stuck while trying to pull the tunic on over his clothes.

"Right. So long as you're okay with it..." Aries said quietly, then nodded. "If you'll be okay without a tunic, I think we can manage to get more supplies along the lines of food." She moved forward and helped Byrne pull the tunic on, being as gentle as possible. The tunic for Arachne was a bit too big for her, but it would suffice.

"Alright. Were we going to do more story telling, or shall we do that on the road?" Aries said, smiling a bit.

"Let's keep moving. We can walk and talk," Eve said. "Whose turn is it for a story? Shall I tell one? Or Byrne maybe?" she asked.

"You can tell one if you want." Aries shrugged, smiling a bit. "Remembering the past is a good thing. It gives us a chance to recollect our thoughts and otherwise clear our minds. Speak if you wish, I suppose."

Eve nodded. "Well, I was telling Verolen some about myself earlier, so I suppose I'll have to reapeat myself a bit," she said. "I come from up north, where the environment is harsh. It would seem that living up there has given us abilities of some sort - there are a few of us that are clairvoyants, some that can read minds... I myself can see spirits and control dark matter," she said, then paused to let them take this in.

"I see..." Aries said thoughtfully.

"So that's why Manny calls you mommy," Arachne smiled. "I knew there was something odd about so much Dark Matter being able to possess an item like that. And able to talk, too! You're good at the control, I think."

"I thought Manny just...came to. He said he heard a voice telling him he could talk, and so he did. And then he found himself in that doll, and...called himself Manny. That doesn't make much sense to me..."

"Oh, no, I can't control Manny," Eve said. "What I did there was something different than just controlling Dark Matter. I animated Manny," she said, nodding. "It takes quite a bit of my energy, but it is possible to give Dark Matter life-like properties. I cannot control him now, even if I wanted to... that is, unless very specific events were to happen. Make sense?" she asked.

"What specific events might those be?" Aries questioned, still a little puzzled. "I guess it does explain Manny's attachment to you. Does he know who you are? Also, if you wanted to call him with the Sending Stone, you're more than welcome to. We left him at the palace too, remember?"

"Well, first, I'd have to bring him back to the place where I created him," she said. "Which is nearly impossible in itself. Then it's have to be a new moon, under the same conditions which I made him. Then, I would have to... in simple terms, take his soul. Which I don't believe I could ever do," she said, quietly. "Then I could control the Dark Matter that he is made of."

"Well, his figurative soul. It's just the easiest methaphor I have to describe what I would have to do to him," she said.

"And..." Eve gave a small smile, "I was simply lonely."