The Forgotten Zodiac

"I think Seria should explain it," Werr shook his head. "I only got a brief summary. Apparently, the girl is a summoner...I still have questions for them, too."

"A summoner?" Airlia gasped. "That's...excellent! I was afraid none of them had survived...they're really, really good. They can summon things to fight for them, to heal themselves and their allies, and they can summon creatures that can take you places really quickly. They're amazing," She said, beaming. "I know that if my powers were used to help them, they'd be able to summon a lot of creatures at once."

"The boy, Forin, took me from the inn in the middle of the night at knife point." Seria said simply. "He took me to heal the girl, Diana. I suppose, now that I think of it, he meant no real harm. He just wanted his companion to be safe." She shrugged, then went back to her meal.

Luen's food arrived and he took it and sat down at the table. He munched quietly through one piece, then stared at what was left despondently. "I...I left something upstairs." he finally said, standing up. "I should go and get it." He fled up the stairs, passing Welk, who was on his way down. The half-cat turned his head and watched Luen go past, then shrugged and pranced down the stairs happily. "S'up, fellas?" he said, then winced when Seria glared at him. "Er, and ladies." he added, and Seria smiled.

"I'm pretty sure the ceiling is up," Werr commented. "That's where it's supposed to be, anyways."

Forin was sitting cross-legged in the hallway. Diana was dressing, it was only proper for him to give her some space. Forin watched silently as Luen came up the stairs, feeling the wolfling's power eminations. He was quite the powerful mage...and ice oriented, too. Forin delved into what he could sense, searching for the boy's limits. Seria's limits had been mildly disappointing, but Forin was surprised to find that he couldn't sense anything of the sort. He probably could if he got closer, but...

Luen didn't notice Forin. He walked, almost with a slight limp, down to the room he shared with Nate and paused at the door. He rested his hand on the knob and leaned against the door, his back to Forin. He sighed softly, his white ears tilted to the sides and his tail hanging limply. "What am I doing?" he murmured. "I didn't leave anything in here. How do I tell them? They'll never trust me again..." He put a hand over his face, then quietly murmured "Maybe I should leave. If I leave...and Nelu finds me...she'll kill me. Is that better? I don't know..." He sighed again, then lifted a hand and let a small, delicate plume of snowflakes spew from his fingers. He kept it going easily, barely even trying, watching as the snowflakes vanished once they got a short distance away from his hand.

Forin's probing was distracted by Luen's voice. He didn't move, choosing to watch and listen in silence. Unfortunately, Diana opened the door a moment later, stepping out. She was now dressed in a simple blue tunic and brown pants with small boots that fit snugly around her feet. "This is the only thing I have left, my dress was completely torn through..." She sighed quietly.

"Shall I make another?" Forin asked, Luen all but forgotten.

"Not right now, we're going to be traveling and stuff." Diana shrugged before realizing that Luen was nearby. She ducked behind Forin again as he stood.

When he heard their voices, Luen flinched and whipped around, staring at them with wide green eyes. "Oh no..." he thought. "How much did they hear? This is bad..." He quickly scurried past them, keeping his head low, and disappeared down the stairs. Once he got back down, he saw that Welk had eaten a couple pieces of his breakfast, but the wolfling didn't mind at all. In fact, he felt a bit relieved. He really had only needed the once piece, after all.

Welk had been talking when Luen had reentered the picture. "-can't wait for this festival thing!" he said around a mouthful of bacon. "Though I think me and Nate should go out and get two more mask. We'll need 'em for the new people, if they're gonna stay with us."

"I thought of that already," Nate said, smiling a bit as he turned in his chair. He put his now empty mug down and stood. "But the mask stands were only just being set up. So I came back here. Welk, maybe you could come with me this time. There's something interesting I want to see. Er...I want you to see. Yes, that." He smiled away.

Werr blinked at him before Forin came down the stairs. "Good morning," He said flatly, his eyes falling on Airlia. He examined her silently for a moment before Diana slipped out from behind him, going for the fruit hungrily.

"Sweet!" Welk said, shoving another piece of bacon in his mouth. He had Luen were opposites in this regard. Welk could eat a lot (and not really care what he was eating) while Luen had to be more selective and delicate, for reasons unknown. "What do you want me to see, Natey?" the half-cat asked. "A surprise? Is it interesting? What is it? Can I bring Werr? I like Werr. He's my best friend. If I can't bring Werr, then is it something I can show him later?" The questions poured out of Welk's mouth in rapid fire, barely pausing for a breath.

Seria smiled at Welk's enthusiasm, then saw Diana and felt her smile widen. "Here." she said gently, holding out a soft green pear. "These are really nice." When she wanted to be, Seria was one of the nicest people you would ever meet.

"Something I think you'll like," Nate shrugged. "It is interesting, I've said that already. It's a surprise, I suppose. Yes, Werr can come along if he wants to."

"Alright, I guess I'll go," Werr shrugged.

Diana pulled her hand back as Seria raised her, as though she had been expecting to be hit. She cautiously took the pear and backed up into Forin. He gently took the pear from her, raised it to his nose to smell it before handing it back to her. "It's safe," He said, pulling a chair around (and brushing his hand over the seat) for Diana to sit in.

"Thank you," Diana said sweetly, sitting down and biting into the pear happily.

"Yes!" Welk said, flicking his tail around behind him. "I'll be outside!" He raced out in cat form, already excited.

Seria smiled at Diana, then watched Welk go out. She shook her head, not understanding how someone his age could have that much energy. Maybe it came from being half cat. But Cynyr was half cat and he had never acted like that. It was puzzling, but she shook it off. Welk was who he was and Seria would never change anything about him.

"A-alright, let me grab something to eat!" Werr yelped, grabbing an apple and two slices of bacon. He hurried after Welk, Nate following behind with a smile.

Diana watched the others quietly, particularly Luen. After several long minutes of silence, she blurted out, "Can you make more snowflakes?" She immediately turned bright red afterwards, realizing that it was a stupid request.

Luen blinked at her, then let a small smile flicker across his face. "Sure." he said, sitting down in a chair nearby. He raised his hand with the palm facing up, then let snowflakes plume up into the air from his fingertips. A few frosty snowflakes floated through the air and over to Diana, floating around near her. They were some of the only ones that didn't melt when they got a short distance away from Luen's hand, and it was obvious that he was controlling them. He spun them around in quick, light little circles, still also keeping the endless plumes going from his fingers.

Diana beamed and giggled, her embarrassment disappearing. She clapped happily. "Look, Forin, it's like they're dancing!"

"I see that, mistress." Forin smiled gently, looking happier the more Diana giggled away. Airlia watched, knowing that it was the same for most summoned creatures; their master's happiness was their own happiness.

Nate led Welk and Werr to the mask stand that the half-cat woman ran. "I think you'll rather like this, Welk. I'm interested as to what your reaction will be, Werr..." He trailed off, looking thoughtful as they approached the stand.

The half-cat lady had just finished setting up her shop and was laying out some of her masks. She heard their footsteps and looked up with a smile, saying "Welcome. I'm Briana, and-...well if it isn't you again!" Her smile widened when she recognized Nate. "It's nice to see you again, sir. What could be the occasion?" She hadn't noticed Welk yet, nor him her because he was standing a bit more behind the others, gaping at some of the other brightly-colored stands they had passed.

"We picked up a couple new travelers, and they need masks for the festival today." Nate explained with a smile. "I also brought someone I thought you might like to see. Welk?" He turned, and noticed Werr's stunned expression as he looked at Briana. He chortled and reached over, tapping Welk on the shoulder. "Welk, you have to look."

"What?" Welk said, turning around instantly. Crimson eyes met crimson eyes as Welk and Briana saw each other for the first time. They both froze, staring with a mix of confusion and shock. Neither of them said anything for a several long seconds. Welk swallowed, his tail tucked down between his legs and his ears back. "She...she looks like me." he murmured softly. Briana stared at him oddly for a while more, then finally spoke. "Who...who is this?" she asked, barely taking her eyes away to glance rapidly at Nate and Werr, then instantly going back to Welk.

"U-uh...this is Welk," Werr said, sounding very confused.

"Well, judging from the similarities between you," Nate was speaking of appearances, but scents as well. "I'd say you were related." He spoke somewhat flatly, watching all of them curiously. How would they react? Werr was still in shock, apparently.

"Related...?" Briana echoed softly, staring at Welk. Her blonde ears were stuck up straight over her head. "But I..." She trailed off, suddenly thinking hard over something. "No...it can't be..." she said, moving around her stand and walked over so she could face Welk. "I...actually...I had a child once, a long time ago." she said, bending down so she was face-to-face with Welk.

Welk had started to shake slightly, the tremors slowly growing stronger as Briana spoke.

"It was a little boy." Briana continued. "I...loved him. Very much. But...my family disapproved of my having him, as his father was...not reputable. Before I even had a chance to name my baby, my family...forced me to be rid of him. I left my family after that. I couldn't bear the thought of living with those that had separated me from my only baby. I searched desperately for my son, but...I never found him again. You..." She paused, staring hard at Welk. "...you bear such a strong resemblance to him. May I...?" She slowly reached a quivering hand towards Welk's face, hesitating.

Welk gave a barely visible nod, then held still as Briana carefully touched him, trailing light fingers across his cheek. "My son...he had a tiny white patch of fur behind one ear." she said, reaching up to Welk's fluffy ears. "It was extremely small...but...still..." She gently bent Welk's ear forward, revealing a tiny patch of fluffy white fur neatly hidden behind all of the blonde fur. Tears formed in Briana's eyes, both her and Welk quivering. Seconds later, Briana had flung her arms around Welk and pulled him close, sobbing. Welk's ears were flat back in sadness as he put his arms around her as well, pressing close. "You are my son...!" Briana said, pulling back and staring at him again. "My baby!"

Nate was smiling a little bit, watching their joyous and confused reactions. Werr watched them in silence, unsure of what to do. Was this woman really Welk's mother? Werr turned away, not sure what else to do. He was happy for Welk, of course he was, this was wonderful for the half-cat and an incredible happening. But something was nagging him now. He had promised not to leave Welk, but what was he supposed to do if Welk wanted to stay with his mother? He couldn't blame the half-cat if such a situation arose, but...

Werr looked up, realizing that Nate was watching him in silence, looking...amused. Werr suddenly felt angry; Nate had set this up, hadn't he? Always eager to learn more, the stupid Draconian or whatever he was...Werr suddenly lashed out, but his foot just landed in Nate's hand. Werr jerked his foot away and took off down the road, needing to be alone to think.

Welk didn't even notice his friend's departure. He was eagerly hugging his new-found mother, answering her questions that she continued to ask.

"How old are you?" Briana asked.

"Fifteen." Welk answered.

"Fifteen? Oh, I've missed so much... What was your name? Welk?"

"Yep. That's me."

"What a darling name! I love it. What happened to you all these years?"

"Well, I guess after we got separated, I got found by another half-cat. A panther. His name is Cynyr."

"Bless his soul. Is he around? I would love to thank him."

"No. Not anymore."

"Oh dear. Did something happen to him?"

"Sort of, but I'll find him again someday."

"I would love to meet him. Oh, my baby... I can't believe that you're alive!"

"Me either! Er, not about me being alive. I mean about you being alive."

"You're so sweet! Who are these other people you're with?"

"My friends. I've been helping my best friend, Werr, find out what happened to his parents."

"Are his parents...?"

"Dead. Yes."

"That's terrible! I'm...glad that you're helping him. That means you have a good heart. Oh, you're so wonderful!"

"I like to think so." A flick of his tail.

Briana smiled at him, then let go when he pulled back. "What are you going to do now?" she asked.

"Well, I was traveling with my friends." Welk said. "To help Werr, you know."

"I know." Briana said. "But I was hoping...well, now that I've found you...I want you back. I want you to stay with me."

Welk looked taken aback. "Really?" he asked. "But I...um, well, I like you. I really like you, obviously. I mean, you're my mother. But...I can't just leave my friends. They...they need me."

"But I'm your mother." Briana persisted. "Won't you at least think it over? Please."

"I...guess I can." Welk said, backing up a bit.

"Can I have your answer by the end of the festival today?" his mother asked, almost desperately.

"S-sure." Welk said, tilting his ears back slightly. "I can make a choice by then. Yeah."

"Good." Briana said, looking overjoyed and scared at the same time.