The Forgotten Zodiac

Tyler turned away from the television and sat watching Werr as if he were the most interesting thing in the world. "Do you like straws, Werr? I like straw, especially swirly ones." The boy leaned forward to examine Werr's straw, then shook his head in disgust and disappointment. "Werr, your straw is boring. I'm sorry."

Werr opened an eye a crack, then smiled a bit. "It's fine. I don't really care what shape it's in, so long as it gets the job done. But...if you can go find a swirly straw for me, I'd sure appreciate it."

"Shh," Quinn silenced them. The TV had come back on.

"As we can see, there seems to be a fight going on," The newscaster was commenting on the display of power that was going about. An entire area of forest was wrecked, not far from town. The video was being shown from a copter flying over the area in particular. There were two figures standing among the rubble, one standing back and using shadow magic, the other furiously attacking.

Without warning, the camera jerked and shuddered, making the scene impossible to see for a moment. It swiveled around, revealing that the helicopter itself had been peirced through in such a way that it had very little chance of moving again. There was another sudden jerk, and none other than Sylas came crashing into the helicopter.

"Holy...crap..." Quinn watched in horror. Blood was visible on the Iyoui, but he gritted his teeth and twisted his arm; it shifted into a silver blade, and he threw himself from the helicopter again.

"Wh-what was that?" The newscaster on air yelped with alarm. He cleared his throat as the video cut off. "To our knowledge, no one was harmed from those events shown. The authorities are doing what they can, but it seems as though most of the explosions heard on the outskirts of town were caused by the explosions of police cars. We advise that everyone in town lock all doors and stay inside, in case this fight gets out of hand, and--" Quinn muted the channel again, setting the remote down.

"He's...probably fighting Lotus," She said quietly. "I...I didn't see Timothy, though..." She was a bit pale, and trembling.

"Go get Michael. I'll stay here with Tyler," Werr spoke, as though he had a choice in the matter. "Maybe Kyle will help, too..."

((Where's Timothy?))

"I'll stay here an take care of Werr!" Tyler ran into the kitchen again and came back with a drawer full of plastic silverware, assorted straws, and other miscellaneous kitchen utensils. He climbed up on the couch next to Werr, being careful not  to jostle the man. He leaned forward and started sorting through the straws, looking for one that would be twisty enough to delight Werr.

Michael was asleep on the floor in the office Kyle had been using earlier. The door was wide open, and it was right next to where the other teen was sleeping. Quinn would find him easily, and they were both fairly light sleepers.

((I had not actually thought of that. Hiding somewhere, probs.))

"Right, good idea. Take extra good care of him," Quinn said over her shoulder as she moved over to the office in question. She knelt and gently shook Kyle, then moved over to Michael and shook him (a little more roughly) as well. "Wake up, both of you, we have a situation," She said, hoping they'd be obedient and get up.

((Sylas would probably drop him off before trying to kill Lotus. Sylas is nice like that.))

Kyle woke up quickly, sitting up and looking at Quinn. Michael was less willing to get up, but he knew Quinn wouldn't try to get him up unless it was important in some way. Within five minutes, they were both awake and in the hallway. "What's the problem, Quinn?" Michael inquired. "You made it sound so urgent. Is Werr dead?"

((Probably.))

"No, Werr is fine. Tyler is going to stay here and watch over him. But...there was a newsflash, and there was Sylas fighting another Iyoui...I couldn't see Timothy, but Sylas needs our help," Quinn grimaced. "It's probably Lotus..."

"What about the other one?" Michael inquired. He was perfectly willing to go, not that he thought it would do much good; but it wouldn't do to leave Tyler and Werr unprotected if that Iyouis came back. "One of us needs to stay here with them. I don't care who."

Kyle nodded, looking from Quinn to Michael carefully to see who it would be who was staying. The logic made perfect sense; it was just a matter of who was willing to stay behind.

Michael nodded and looked around. "Where's Sylas then? We'll go find; Timothy will be nearby." He sat down on the stairway, next to Kyle, and began pulling his shoes on. "Go check the news for him again, or ask Werr. He pays attention."

Quinn nodded, trotting back to the living room. "Werr, what area are they fighting in?"

"North of town. Within running distance of here. It's a forested area called the Chimbley National Park. Half of it is destroyed by now..." Werr replied.

"Did you catch that?" Quinn looked back at Kyle and Michael. "Chimbley National Park."

"Chimbley National Park," Michael repeated. He spun on his heel and left the house shortly followed by Kyle. Within five minutes, they had reached the forest and could see the wake of destruction left by Sylas and Lotus. They could see the Iyouis in the difference, but there was no real sign of Timothy.

"I'll destroy you! Then I'll destroy your little friends!" Lotus laughed. Without warning, Sylas slammed into the ground next to them, sliding a solid ten feet before sliding to a sudden halt.

Sylas laid there for a few heartbreaking moments, then slowly dragged himself up. "O-ow..." He coughed a bit.

Michael looking over at Sylas, heat beginning to radiate around his hands. "Sylas, nice to see you after the way you abandoned everyone. Where's Timothy?" He moved away from Sylas to stay out of range of the Iyouis' attacks, considering what he'd heard.

"O-out of the way," Sylas shook his head. "He's out of the way. I hid him under the table in a restaurant nearby...told him to stay until I came back." He struggled back to his feet, and it was clear that he was hurting. He had burns and cuts and bruises, and it looked like his arm was broken. But still, he spread his wings and launched himself at Lotus again, determined to end this fight.

Kyle looked over at Michael, then turned to head out of the forest. "I'll get the child and take him back to the house. You stay here." He broke into a light jog and moved out of the forest, knowing there were only a few restauants nearby.

((Is Lotus in the air, or can Michael attack him?))

((On land. Lotus can't shift his body as willingly as Sylas can. The wings give Sylas a definite speed boost, though.))

Sylas snarled and extented razor sharp claws towards Lotus, but with a whip-like string of black magic, Lotus knocked him aside. Sylas hit a broken tree this time, which happened to be engulfed in a black flame.

"I'll burn you down to ash and cast you into a silver pot!" Lotus screeched with laughter, grinning.

Michael held out a hand and ripped the heat away from the tree so quickly ice actually formed beneath Sylas. Rather than absorb it, he redirected it to Lotus, having the effect of shooting the black flames toward him. The trees it passed caught fire as well; they would have a decent inferno on their hands quite quickly if this kept up.

Lotus waved his hand and a shield of darkness came up between him and the fire. It exploded around him, setting the area ablaze, but he ignored it. He was an Iyoui, after all; things like heat and smoke didn't hurt him. "Is that all you've got?! It'll take a lot more than that to take the Whisper down, Sylas...you know that." He laughed.

"Wha...he's here?!" Sylas stopped short, staring in horror.

"Not around here, but he's here in this world. Apparently he was dumped in Asia...took him awhile to find the rest of us."

"Tch...yo-you're lying," Sylas snarled.

"No." Lotus laughed. "I never lie."

((How's Sylas getting fixed?
Who's the Whisper? Iyouis daddy?))

Michael began walking toward Lotus, not close enough to get in range, but close enough that attacking him would be less work. He started focusing on the remaining trees around Lotus, heating their insides rapidly while cooling the outsides so that they shattered and sent splinters outward. It really didn't matter to him who the Whisper was or whether he was alive. That information had yet to effect his life, and both Iyouis were already certifiably crazy.

((He'll hit his head and almost be dead and then come back okay.

Yep, pretty much. He's working with the leader of the whole institute thing. I thought it'd be fun to throw in a pairing there. He's also the guy that tore up Werr's insides.))

Lotus again shielded himself from the attacks, but he turned his glare on Michael. "You're being quite annoying...perhaps I should deal with you before him," One second there, gone the next. With breakneck speeds, he got behind Michael and threw the heat-gifted forward with a solid kick. Sylas shook off his frozen-ness and charged again, but this time, Lotus pinned him in a matter of seconds. "Just give it up, Sylas! You'll never be as strong as your older brothers, or the Whisper! Never, ever, ever!"

Sylas transformed into a Lion then, but Lotus had a retaliation. He pulled out a gun. It only took one shot, really. Right through the eye. Sylas fell limp. Lotus then turned the gun on Michael, his grin rather...maniacal.