The Forgotten Zodiac

Tyler scooted close to Israel, pulling his feet up and resting them on Kyle's back. "Shouldn't we make sure he doesn't fall off? You promised you wouldn't let him die..."

Charlotte grabbed Kyle's collar, holding onto Israel's arm. "You never told me why the king would like you..."

"I'm still trying to think of a reason," Israel said. "IT's more of, I hope he likes me," he said.

Charlotte bit her lip. "Does that mean he'll probably kill us? Because I don't think I like that plan. I don't want to be killed. Being killed is not ladylike, and Mommy says I have to be ladylike. She'll already me mad 'cause I put my hands in Kyle's mouth were his germs are." She paused. "Do you think flying on dragons is ladylike?"

"I don't think being ladylike matters at all. /My/ mommy was never scared of germs, and she did just fine. Also, if some stupid king doesn't like Israel, he must have a brain the size of a chicken egg's egg. And those are tiny."

((AWWWWW TYLER!))

Israel shook his head. "King Tibarn has lightened up a lot since Prince Reyson came to live in his Kingdom," he said. "Reyson is a Heron," he added, looking to Tyler. "LIke Kai and Isabella are. I don't think Reyson would stand to see children killed."

((Tyler doesn't like Charlotte. At all. She's young and adorable, and is holding Israel's arm. That makes her competion, therfore, he hates her.))

"So basically there's one nice prince, and then a stupid king, and the prince is going to tell the king what to do? I thought that worked the other way... You're confusing, Israel. If it worked that way, how come you didn't just tell your uncle not to be so mean?" Tyler stared back up at Israel, adorably confused.

Charlotte shook her head. "Sometimes princes can convince kings to not be mean, but they can't force them to do anything. Just like Empress Sanaki can't boss the Coucil around, which is probably good because Daddy says she's not nearly as smart as she thinks."

"And I'm not a Heron. Herons get people's attention. I don't," Israel said. "So, since Reyson is there, I don't think we have too much to worry about. Kai is his cousin," he said.

"Oh..." Tyler paused. "But that's still confusing. How come Kai couldn't tell your uncle what to do? That doesn't make any sense, Israel. Also, Sanaki is too as smart as she thinks. She's /smarter/ than she thinks and don't be so mean or I'll push you off." He glared Charlotte and grabbed Israel's hand possesively.

Charlotte bit her lip. "That'd be good, but who's Kai?"

Israel pointed to the Heron flying alongside them. "That's Kai," he answered Charlotte. He then looked to Tyler, scowling slighlty. "You shouldn't make threats. And my uncle is a Raven. Tibarn's a hawk," he said, as if that explained everything.

Tyler sighed and hung his head, but glared at Charlotte. "She's being mean! I don't have to like her if I don't want to. Also, Israel, just because your uncle is one thing and the other king is somthing else, doesn't mean they aren't both kings. It doesn't matter what they are."

Charlotte nodded. "He's the one who was gunna keep you from killing my big brother. I'm glad he didn't have to. That would've caused a fight, and Mommy says causing fights isn't ladylike /either/. Sometimes I think Mommy doesn't think /anything/ is ladylike."

Israel rubbed his head. "Alright, alright, how about we play the quiet game, now?" he suggested.

"But you didn't explain. I can't be quiet until you explain why it matters that your uncle is a Raven and the other king is a Hawk. It doesn't work like that."

Charlotte shook her head. "That only works on stupid people. I'll be quiet if you ask me to, but I'm not pretending it's some stupid game."

Israel growled something under his breath. "It's because our breed determines things about our natures," he said. "My uncle's a raven. He's self centered, selfish, and suspicious of others. Tibarn's a hawk. He's powerful, mild-mannered, and feircely loyal to people he has come to trust. And that's it."

"Israel, that's not true at all. It can't be true, because you are nice, nice, and nice. Not any of those other things, which is why you're adopted and not really related to your uncle."

Charlotte nodded. "That makes sense. I'm still not playing your stupid game, unless you ask me to be quiet."

Israel let out a harsh laugh. "My mother wasn't a Raven. That's why I'm the way I am," he said. He looked to Charlotte. "IT's fine. Be noisy if you want to be noisy. Just know I'm not in the mood for it right now."

Tyler shook his head. "Your uncle was adopted. It's obvious, Israel. You're just being too silly to understand. You are too nice to be related to him at all."

Charlotte shrugged, not actually in the mood for talking. "I don't. I just don't want to play a stupid game."

"Alright, fine, you're right, Tyler. Now would you both be quiet?" Israel requested, obviously annoyed now.

Tyler sighed, but didn't say anything, which was a good sign, and Charlotte nodded and reached into the saddlebags to find a book.

Kai flew over closer to Isabella. "We're close, now. See the island over there? That's it," he said in the Heron tongue.

Isabella nodded, speeding up slightly. "How much longer? At our current speed." She asked, in the same tongue as Kai had used. They would probably be landing as soon as they reached the land, as Isabella clearly hadn't flown in a while, and as such couldn't maintain the speed and distance Kai could.

Kai looked up again, judging the distance. "I'm not entirely sure. An hour, at most," he said. "Probably sooner than that."