The Forgotten Zodiac

((He's going now. The dark magic won't let him wait. Dark magic attracts dark magic.))

Once everyone was asleep and Cynyr and Forin were the only ones awake, the panther slowly turned his head and noticed Forin's gaze. Then he smiled. "You should rest, boy." he said, then flicked his tail at the summoned creature. A dark bullet shot out and slammed into Forin's forehead, knocking the creature of Tartarus unconscious in an instant. Once Cynyr was sure that no one was awake to watch him, he turned and started walking.

In the direction of Storaph Palace.

((Lulz.))

Again, Nate was one of the first ones to wake up from their naps. Seeing Forin unconcious (and a lack of Cynyr's presence), though, he frowned unhappily. "Forin," He nudged the creature with his foot. "Forin! Wake up!"

Forin opened his eyes, looking furious. "What happened?" He groaned, sitting up and wiping his face with his sleeve. It was getting to be evening again already.

"I told you to wake us up at noon. Why are you sleeping?"

"I...I dunno." He frowned, not remembering what had happened. "I don't sleep, I was knocked out by something..."

"Looked like you were sleeping to me."

"Believe it or not, there's a big difference in the two, for us from Tartarus," Forin grumbled, climbing to his feet. "Can we still make it to the palace in good time?"

"It's another hour's ride out. We should get there as the sun is setting." Nate answered, starting to wake up the others.

"That's not good..."

"How so?"

"Gurushi is a monster of darkness. Night is when things are the darkest, even with these clouds. The darkness gives him strength, makes him practically immortal, and it probably would heal any wounds we manage to give him, too..."

"Cynyr?"

Welk had woken easily and had glanced around for the panther he called his brother. When he couldn't see him, he started to grow frantic. "Cynyr?!" he called, glancing around as far as he could see in all directions. The already wide hole in his heart from Werr's absence started to grow bigger. "Cynyr!" he shouted, listening intently for anything in reply.

There was nothing.

"Where did he go?!" he shouted at Forin and Nate, desperately hoping that either of them could tell him where the panther was. Fire licked along Welk's tail as he flicked it, sending sparks into the air, where they popped and disappeared. "I need him!" he said, digging his claws into the ground.

Seria, woken by his shouts, quickly sat up, wondering what was wrong. When she listened to Welk, her eyes widened and she looked around, searching for Cynyr. When she didn't see him, she became fearful.

"I don't know," Nate sighed. "Forin would have seen that, but he fell asleep..."

"I did not!" Forin snapped at him, thinking hard. "Cynyr...told me to get some rest, and...he must have knocked me out somehow. Ugh, when I get my hands on him, so help me..."

"We don't have time to worry about this!" Nate growled. "Welk, he couldn't have gotten far. He knows where we're going, too. Right now, we need to get to Werr. We can find Cynyr after that, okay?"

"You don't understand!" Welk shouted at Nate ferociously. He hiccupped softly, then said "I already don't have Werr. Now I have to lose Cynyr too? I need them both..." He took human form and wiped his eyes, freeing them from the tears that threatened to fall, then said "Fine. Let's go. I...need Werr." He sniffled, running a clawed hand through his hair, then said "I need him so much..."

Seria took human form and hugged him, gently stroking her fingers through his fluffy blonde hair, then backed up and said "Let's go, everyone. Come on."

Luen, already awake by this time, got up and yawned, then moved to find his horse.

They moved off again, and quickly. As Nate had said, it took about an hour, and by the time the castle came into view, the sun was setting. Forin looked annoyed that he had been ignored, but also rather distressed as they neared Gurushi. He said nothing though. But he knew that they were expected, at this point.

"Right...how are we going to get in?" Airlia said, a little intimidated by the dark stone and the evil that seemed to be seeping from the walls themselves.

"I should think it obvious." Jag said, ruffling his chest feathers. He was in gryphon form, with Lily on his back and Spy clinging to his head. The gryphon had taken a liking to Spy and was keeping the chimera close, especially here, at the palace. "I know almost everything there is to know about this place." he said. "There's a back door the servants use to throw things out. We can go in there. There's only two guards, after all. Should be easy enough to take out."

"Right. Such an entrance would not be so unprotected " Nate said, thinking. "Seria, do you think you could hit them with a sleeping spell?" He asked, turning his horse around and trotting away a bit. He turned one way, leading the others in a circle around the castle, giving it a wide berth.

"Yes." Seria said. "I have one spell that's long distance. It will keep them asleep for about five minutes. Plenty long enough for us to sneak in."

Jag led them around to the back of the palace, easily locating the said door. There were two guards, like he had said, both wearing black armor and holding sickeningly jagged black spears.

Welk spun in several quick circles, growling. "Come on, come on!" he hissed, scraping his claws across the ground.

Seria took human form and looked at him, saying "Shush, Welk." She then concentrated on the two guards, murmuring ancient words quietly and holding her hands towards the men. Slowly, the two guards began to yawn and shift around, until they dropped their spears and slowly slid to the ground, solidly asleep. "There." the healer said. "Let's go."

Welk darted past her and raced down the slope towards the door.

Nate slid off of his horse and ran after Welk, drawing his sword regardless of the fact that the guards were asleep. There could be more inside, after all. "He'll probably be in the dungeons," Nate said quickly once they were all inside. "This way."

"I don't like this place..." Airlia frowned, looking around nervously. Lily looked pale, unhappy to be back here. Forin had started digging his nails into his palms, gritting his teeth and glaring at the old paintings of previous kings that lined the walls in this hallway, as though they were all watching them.

Welk took human form and followed, completely silent, which was uncharacteristic of him. A scraping sound suddenly filled the air as Welk dragged the claws of his left hand across the stone walls, sending sparks flying into the air. He ripped his hand forward with a grinding sound, examining his claws once he was finished. He growled darkly, clenching his hand into a fist. "When I get my hands on Nelu and that stupid raptor..." he snarled, his ears tilted back against his head.

"Calm down, Welk. One thing at a time," Nate said, continuing forward cautiously. He stopped short as none other than Gurushi stepped around the corner. He turned and looked at them, not at all surprised to see them.

"You come for Werr?" His voice, as dark and disembodied as usual, was laced with a hint of amusement. "You come far too late. I would be surprised if he hasn't starved to death already. He doesn't seem to like eating much, anymore..."

Welk's eyes widened instantly. For several seconds, he didn't do anything at all. He just stared, wide-eyed, at Gurushi. Then he reacted.

He roared and flung his arms to the sides, bathing his entire body in fire. "How dare you?!" he screamed, letting his rage completely overtake him. His fire magic poured from his body, lighting up the entire room.

Jag quickly grabbed the edge of Airlia's dress in his beak, pulling her away from Welk before his flames could reach her. Lily was still sitting on his back, along with Spy, so he didn't have to worry about them.

Seria gasped and retreated from Welk, watching him fearfully. His connection with Werr was so powerful, so deeply twinned, that you could pretty much guarantee that he would do anything to hurt you if you harmed Werr in anyway.

So for him to hear what Gurushi had said and brought his already boiling anger to an explosion.

Gurushi took a step back, but his clothing covered most of his skin from the harsh light. "You want him? Then by all means...let me show you to him!" He snapped once. The floor underneath the group suddenly dropped out from underneath them, sending them all plummeting into a large cell in the dungeons. Not even those with wings were able to catch themselves in time to fly back up to the already closed trapdoor.

Regardless, they couldn't have been dropped into a better spot. In the cell directly across from them was, unmistakeably, Werr. He was lying on his back, his eyes closed. The arm that was visible to the group looked red and swollen, clearly broken. There were bandages on the same shoulder, which looked dirty, and Seria would be able to tell from where she was that there was a wound on his leg that was seriously infected. But that wasn't everything. There was writing on the cell walls and floor, practically covering every inch of it. Food trays were piled in the corner, the food on it cold and rotting.

And oddly enough, the dungeons weren't as dark as it seemed like it should be. Werr was holding some sort of staff made of white wood, the top of which was giving off enough light to see easily by.

Welk slowly sat up, the flames on his body dissipating as he looked around and rubbed his head, growling ferociously. When he focused on Werr, however, his entire demeanor changed. "Werr!" he shouted, quickly standing up and moving to run to his best friend. Something stopped him, however. He didn't know what it was, but for some reason, he sensed something wasn't right. "Werr?" he called, much softer, his tail flicking around urgently behind him. He moved a little closer, his ears flicked up and ready to catch even the slightest sound from his closest friend.

Werr slowly opened his eyes. Nate sighed with relief; he wasn't dead, then. Something still didn't seem right...they were too far away from the writing to read it, but why would Werr write all that? If it was him, anyways. Werr flicked his gaze at the others, but his eyes looked distant and glazed over. He didn't look at them long before closing his eyes again, not seeming to care.

Welk immediately slammed his hands against the bars of their cell and melted them, creating a wide opening in a matter of seconds. He rushed forward and melted Werr's bars as well, than ran over, falling to his knees and scooping the poor boy up into his arms. "Werr! Werr, what happened to you?" he said, pressing his cheek against the boy's head and closing his eyes. Welk lifted his head a few moments later and looked up. "Seria!" he called, frantic.

Seria was at his side in moments, already starting to run her hands over Werr's body to find his injuries. She carefully took his broken arm into her hands, casting a soothing glow over his limb. The redness and pain disappeared as she repaired the break and used her energy to restore it to its natural good health. Then she moved to his leg, already casting a spell to draw out the infection. She was an excellent healer, obviously, and had his leg healed up in only about a minute. She moved up to his shoulder, fixing that wound as well, then gently brushed her fingers lightly through the boy's black hair. "Werr." she called softly. "Can you hear us? Can you say anything?"

Welk clutched the boy tighter, as if afraid that Seria might try and take Werr from him.

Werr held still only because he was weak. He hadn't been eating, obviously, which meant that he had no energy. When his wounds were healed, though, he looked wearily bewildered. He somehow managed to pull himself out of Welk's grip, crawling on his hands and knees to one corner and curling up there, closing his eyes again. He carried the staff along with him, clinging to it as though he would die without it.

"What's wrong with him? Can we get him out?" Nate asked quickly, peering up the hall cautiously, suspecting that they would have been found out already.

Welk looked like he were going to start crying. "Werr, please." he begged, following the boy again. "What happened to you? Why won't you say anything?" His tears fell freely. He didn't understand what was going on.

"Here." Seria said. "Let me do something. Since he won't say anything, I'll look through his memories and see what happened myself." She moved her hand out and placed it on Werr's head, but right when she started the spell, Welk's hand shot out and landed over hers, getting his mind twinned with Seria's spell as well.

And the memories poured forth.

Werr endured these memories, but now, there was a difference. A heat was settled against him, holding him tightly. A comforting hand caressed down his hair, his cheek, neck, shoulder and arm, until it reached his hand, which it clutched and held it tightly. The hand holding Werr's was warm and real, loving and loyal. It was not like the touch of the evil illusions that had plagued him.

Welk was there, tears sliding down his cheeks, his internal fire powers warming them both as he held his best friend. "It's okay." he said, holding Werr closely. "I'm here. I'm here, Werr! The real me! You know I would never hurt you. You know that. I'm here now. And I'll never…never… let you go."

Then he started to sing.

It wasn't very good. He had never had training and he had never sang before unless it was just a goofy song. Now, however, he tried his hardest to sing something that he had heard a long time ago, something that had been in his memories ever since, unknown to him, Briana had been forced to abandon him as a baby.

"Voices are singing a song in the breeze,

someone is praying you come back to me.

Voices from above,

I hear them now!

A being filled with love,

I wonder how!

Don't give up hope 'cuz I’m here by your side,

I will hold you for as long as you need.

Look up at the sky,

it's so blue!

Up there we will fly,

I just need you!

Please come back to me,

because without you I am lost."

He made a few squeaks and some slight mistakes, but his young voice and the strength he had made up for it. Once he finished, he just held Werr tightly, pressing his forehead against the other boy's. "Werr…" he said, letting out a choked sob. "I need you. I need you! Cynyr's gone! I don't have anyone left…! Anyone…but you…"