The Forgotten Zodiac

((Eh, website was being iffy on my end. Must've been my side only again.

And yeah, I think so. .3.))

((meow.))

The play finished, the cage rose off of Israel and he reverted, going over to the other three and taking a quick bow as the audience applauded.

((BLARGH.))

A few more bows, and the curtain dropped. Ela ushered Israel and Verdi backstage, beaming brightly. "You guys are amazing." She hugged them in turn. She was actually quite nice, although she was stern at times. It was part of being a mother, Verdi supposed. "I'm so glad to have you two...absolutely the best, by far." She said over and over again, beaming. "You've won me over. I'll buy you a cot to share. No more old bedding for you two." They had been out of the cage for about a month now; Ela hated seeing them in it, anyways. But they had slept on the floor for awhile.

"Mommy, can we have cake tonight?" Lilac asked, grinning.

"Yes! Cake for all of us." Ela beamed at her daughter.

Israel smiled, laughing slightly. "Glad to hear it," he said, scooping Verdi up into his arms and let the little Moot perch on his shoulder. "Are you, Spy?" he asked, grinning.

((HANNAH PICKS ISRAEL'S STAGE NAME TO BE NIGHTSHADE.))

((Spy? Yoooouuuuuuu. xDD

Haha, done and done.))

"Yes! But I still only really need a pillow." 'Spy' giggled, smiling. "Thank you lots, Ela. You're really nice. I thought you'd be like...a slave driver or something."

"Who, mommy?" Lilac laughed. "You're silly."

"Well, I did, at least." Verdi purred.

Israel smiled, a bit shyly. "I must confess that I felt the same," he admitted. "But, it goes without saying, I'm gladly suprised." He reached up and patted Verdi's head. "You think you can play a little flute music later?" he asked. "I like it when you do that."

"Yes!" Verdi beamed. After their first performance, Ela had asked them what they both wanted for small payment; the Moot and the Siren had both requested that she get a flute for Verdi so he could play. The playing calmed them both down after stressful nights.

Israel grinned at the Moot's affirmative reply. "Maybe I'll sing some, too. Tonight went really well, in my opinion. I only forgot one line!" he said.

((I can't wait 'til we get to Bermuda. I has plaaaaans.))

"Heehee, you still covered it up pretty well." Verdi giggled. "Party time, right, Ela?"

"Yes! Party time." Ela giggled, nodding happily.

((You can switch to him now, if you want.))

((Hehe, it's tempting, but I think I want L'arc to be there. Thus, we have a conundrum.))

((I think we need to have a rescue mission.))

((Shall we go to Manaketes or Aries's group?))

((Manaketes, probably. If L'arc is involved in Bermuda's trials.))

((Gabe'll have to wake them up, then, with some kind of black magic. XD))

Gabe's eyes darted over the little book he was holding in his hands, trying to make sense of the runes. Jerod, who knew some of them, had been trying to help the little warlock boy learn to read them as well, so he could use the spells.

Over the winter, the boy had had a growth spurt, and was now over a foot and a quarter taller than when Aries had last seen him. He didn't know exactly when his birthday was, but knew that he recalled seeing eight winters, so he was probably nine, now. He looked up as he nearly walked into someone, and smiled. "Oh, hi, Jerod. I'm reading the little book."

((Heh...Sylas will wake up too. >:3))

"I see that!" Jerod chortled. "And what have you learned today, little warlock?" He questioned, peering down at Gabe with a happy glimmer in his eyes. He loved teaching. The death of Heather had...well, it had been drastic for him. He was too old to have another official student. So teaching Gabe and mentoring him like this was almost...therapudic.

((NOOO!

hehe.))

Gabe smiled up at him. "I'd like to learn more fire spells, but I suppose... trying those in the forest might be a bad idea. So then I thought I might try to learn some healing spells, so Bermuda doesn't have to work as hard all the time. Yeah?" he asked.

((Pfffft, yes.))

"That sounds like a wonderful idea. I think Reetah broke her finger punching statues again - it's an anger management issue of hers - I suppose you could try and help her..." Jerod suggested, smiling a bit. "Or perhaps you can try to wake up L'arc?"

Gabe laughed. "Punching statues doesn't sound like a good idea at all," he said. He tilted his head, listening to Jerod, and nodded. "Waking people up sounds easier than fixing broken bones, even if it is just a finger. I'll try it!" he said, grabbing at Jerod's hand.

"Alright," Jerod smiled, holding his hand and leading Gabe to the infirmary, where L'arc and Sylas had been sleeping since they arrived. "Waking up spells may not seem like healing spells, but sometimes, you have to wake someone up. On the battlefield, perhaps. So if you know how to wake people up, it would be beneficial to Bermuda..."

Gabe nodded. "Maybe I can learn to put them to sleep, too!" he said. He thumbed through the book of spells he was holding, looking for the Spell of Awakening. He paused on one page, tilting his head. "No, wait, not it," he said, offering a sheepish smile to Jerod before continuing to turn the pages.

Jerod stopped in front of the infirmary, watching Gabe. "Page 57," He said after a moment, smiling. "You just passed it."

Reetah nearly ran into them as she was leaving the infirmary, a bandage around her hand. "Oh. Hello, boys." She said quietly, looking away.

"Break your hand again? I heard it from Kayle." Jerod chortled.

"Oh, hush. I broke my favorite sword." Reetah flushed, shaking her head and storming away.

"Verolen can fix it when he gets back!" Gabe called helpfully in Reetah's general direction as she hurried off. He turned to page 57 and studied the runes, getting stuck halfway down the page. "What's that one?" he asked, pointing it out.