The Forgotten Zodiac

Werr wrapped his arms around Welk, though he didn't put down the staff. He wanted deeply to tell Welk that it was okay, that he was still here and that he was himself again, but he didn't have a voice to say his thoughts with. But...the staff did.

"What? Hey, hey, I'm not a carrier pigeon! Wha...fine." The staff grumbled. "Welk, Werr wants to tell you that he can think straight again. And that he's very, very unhappy about your friend being dead and stuff." Werr frowned. That hadn't sounded like he had intended it to, but the staff was just being a jerk. Werr thought back; he couldn't remember it speaking to him before...but now that he could think about it, he had heard lots of things that he thought were just in his imagination. It could have been plenty of times. He couldn't really remember.

Welk sobbed quietly, burying his head against Werr's neck. "I w-want him b-back..." he cried softly, quivering. "Why...why did he...he's..." he stammered, seemingly not able to form a correct sentence. "He t-took care of me ever s-since I c-can remember. He's my f-family! And n-now...h-he's..." He broke off, unable to speak anymore.

Seria woke next, blinking at the brightness of the sky. She slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes, then blinked in shock. She glanced around for a moment, making sure everyone else was still with them, then focused on the source of the crying she was hearing. Tears formed in her own eyes when she remembered what had happened. "Welk." she said, moving over and touching his shoulder. "Welk...I'm so sorry. Please, don't cry so much. You never cried a lot, even when you were a baby..."

Welk's eyes widened.

Seria continued. "I'm sure Cynyr wouldn't want you to cry." she said, trying to convince herself not to cry as well. "He-" "H-how did you k-know what I was like as a b-baby?" Welk asked, turning to stare at her.

Seria blinked sharply in shock, then backpedaled. "Um, w-well, ah...C-Cynyr told me." she said, but Welk cut her off. "You're lying!" he said, his sadness quickly turning to anger. "You've been hiding something from me this whole time, from all of us!" His eyes widened more. "You knew." he said softly, his voice full of shock. "You knew what was under Cynyr's mask and you never told. You knew what I was like as a baby. What else don't I know about you?! Who are you?!" he shouted.

Seria didn't answer.

"Well?!" Welk shouted. "Do I have to wait until someone else I love dies before I can know?!"

Werr fought back feelings of distrust and fear at the sight of Seria. His hallucinations still lingered in his mind, haunting him. He shook it off, frowning still at Seria. "All this shouting, you'll hurt Werr's ears," The staff huffed at them. "So stop whining at each other and deal with the problem, you babies!"

"Werr," Nate grumbled, rubbing his eyes. "Make your stupid staff shut up. It's annoying."

"I will not shut up! You shut up!" The staff replied, before Werr hit it against the ground. "OW! Okay, okay, sheesh..."

Seria sighed deeply, then said "Welk, I can't tell you. I'm sorry, but I can't. I can never tell you or anyone else the things I know. Yes, Cynyr's gone, but that still doesn't give me the right to reveal any of the things he kept a secret. I'm sorry." Her gaze hardened a bit. "But I won't reveal anything."

Welk snarled at her, then turned away, content to hate her. He closed his eyes and lightly nuzzled Werr, then said "Why don't you talk, Werr? You haven't said anything since you were all squeaky...earlier...with Cynyr..." He sighed, sinking quickly into depression.

Seria carefully shifted forward curiously, cautiously extending a hand towards Werr's throat, then stopped. "May I?" she asked softly, withdrawing her hand and curling her fingers slightly.

Werr looked at her cautiously, afraid she might try to strangle him. He relaxed, reminding himself of all the times Seria had helped him before. Werr closed his eyes for a moment, forcing himself to think that if Seria had wanted to hurt him, she would have done it plenty of times before. Werr swallowed, then nodded, lifting his chin slightly so that Seria could inspect his throat.

Seria's gentle fingers carefully moved forward, sliding delicately over his throat. She closed her eyes, just feeling, ever so carefully, with her fingers. She never pressed and he never felt the touch of her claws. Only her fingers, smooth and soft like a normal human's. She carefully touched her fingers to various places on his throat and he occasionally felt a tiny bit of pressure, but nothing more. She put her fingers on either side of his throat, just under his chin, then slowly moved them down, feeling every inch of skin under his fingers. "I see." she finally said, removing her hands and sitting back.

"What?" Welk snapped, still angry at her.

"He has a seal placed over his vocal cords." she said. "It's a more crude type of seal, but it's still a fairly good one."

Welk's jaw dropped. "So...can he ever talk again?" he asked, concerned.

Seria looked down for a moment, then said "I can remove it. It's tricky, but I did it once before and it worked out perfectly. I know the right spells and I have all of my energy. I can take it off."

She and Welk both looked up at Werr.

Werr looked from Seria to Welk, wondering what they were looking at him for. He then nodded vigorously. "Yes, Werr would like that very much," The staff said. "Now you've made him all excited. He hasn't spoken much at all since you let him get captured, Welk." Werr smashed the staff into the ground again, looking furious. "Okay, okay, okay! Jeez..."

Welk had immediately sunk his head into his hands at that, covering his eyes and tilting his ears far back against his head, sobbing very quietly.

Seria glared at the staff, then moved close again and gently put her hands back on Werr's throat, this time keeping them there. She closed her eyes and started murmuring spell words. Werr felt warmth grow in his throat, centered around his vocal cords. Strand by strand, piece by piece, Seria carefully peeled the seal away from Werr's vocal cords, making 100% certain that each part was removed before moving onto the next. Finally, Werr felt a slight pulse move through his throat, then Seria said "Open your mouth, Werr." When he did so, Seria carefully held two fingers in front of his mouth, then literally pulled the seal out, as if it were attached to a string.

What she pulled out was a black circle-shaped mark that occasionally sparked angrily. She murmured a sharp word and the seal disintegrated instantly, dying. She put her hands back on Werr's throat, feeling for any leftover parts she might've missed, then nodded and said "There. It's gone."

Werr nodded shakily, and spoke. "Welk," He said, tears coming to his eyes at the sound of his own voice, overjoyed to be talking again. He wrapped his arms around Welk again. He hugged him tightly, starting to cry. "I thought you were dead...I was so scared..." He felt weak again as he cried. He hadn't eaten in days, and it was obviously getting to him. His stomach rumbled emptily, as if in response to his thoughts.

"Hungry, hungry, Werr," The staff giggled.

"No way." Welk said softly, burying his head against Werr's neck again and hugging him tightly. "Nobody can kill me. Not some dumb raptor. Nothing. Not as long as you need me." A deeply pained look suddenly came over his face. "I...I'll be right back...I'm sorry..." he squeaked, pulling away from Werr and running off.

Seria watched him go, then sighed and said "Here, Werr." She dug through her bag and handed him some food, saying "Eat this. You need it."

Welk wailed in the distance, his anguish over losing Cynyr so deep and raw that it had forced him to release it.

Werr looked sadly after Welk, but his need for food overcame his desire to go and comfort his friend. He ate all of the rations quickly, finding that he was still hungry. Nate sighed. If they still had the horses, he would be able to get the food that Thelma gave them...

"Er...I think we left Nightlash at that castle," He realized. "He went missing after the trapdoor, I have no idea what happened to him..."

"I'm not going back there," Werr shook his head.

"I'm not taking anyone back there! I'm too tired." His staff chimed in. "Anyways, maybe you should check on your other friends. They should have woken up by now. Er, also, that creature of Tartarus might be dead. I dunno if he was your friend or not, but my magic has that kind of affect on anything pertaining to dark magic. Shadow magic, even moreso, obviously."

Luen, having been awake for a little while now, slowly got up and moved over to Forin in wolf form, gently laying down next to him and starting to lick him. "Forin?" he called in concern. "Forin, are you okay? Forin!" He moved one paw over the summoned creature's side, resting his scarred paw lightly there. He licked Forin's face softly, his ears tilted back.

Forin opened his eyes slowly. Then he screamed.

It was nonhuman, the way his screams resonated over the group, shooting into the air. Diana started wailing as well, afraid for her summons, afraid that he might be dying or something. "Well, he's not dead." The staff chirped. "I probably messed up his magic, though. That's no fun at all, is it, you monster?"

"Stop it!" Werr snapped, shouting over Forin's screams. "Don't say that! Forin is not a monster, you're the monster!"

The staff fell silent after that.

Luen jerked backwards when Forin screamed, then quickly moved forward, saying "Forin! Forin, stop! It's okay!" He planted soft licks along the summoned creature's arms and face, trying to bring him out of his agony. Finally, he took human form and cradled the creature of Tartarus in his arms, just holding him, his ears flicked back. "It's okay." he soothed. "It's okay."

"I don't know what to do." Seria said, glancing from Forin to the staff in Werr's hand and back.

The staff said nothing still, apparently unhappy from being called a monster. Forin jerked and shrieked more, and eventually he stopped and just laid there, shivering. "He'll be okay," The staff said, sounding sullen. "If it didn't kill him already, he'll recover. I'm...sorry for calling him a monster. I didn't know he was your friend."

"Don't do it again," Werr said pointedly, looking around. Normally there would be townsfolk poking around by now, looking to see what had happened. There was no one, though. Werr frowned, wondering what had happened. Maybe they were all scared?

Luen continued to hold him, murmuring soft things to him.

Welk came by back this time, looking utterly depressed. He tripped over a good-sized rock sticking up out of the ground and fell, not even making the slightest effort to catch himself. He landed roughly, gasping at the pain, then just laid there, covering his head with his arms.

When Seria moved over to try and comfort him, he pushed her away. She sighed deeply, then said "I'm sorry, Welk."

"I d-don't care t-that you're s-sorry." he stammered. "I just w-want my b-brother back."

Seria sighed again, then slowly said "...Would you like to see a memory I have of him? I...think you'll like it."

Welk slowly lifted his head and looked at her, then nodded, wiping his eyes and sitting up. He moved over to Werr first, however, unwilling to stray far from the boy. He wrapped his arms around Werr, hugging him tightly and pressing his forehead against the boy's shoulder. "Can Werr see it too?" he asked softly.

Seria looked hesitant, then nodded and said "If he wants to."

"I don't mind," Werr nodded. "I might not understand it as well, but if Welk wants me to see it, I guess..."

"Before you do that, I'm sorry for saying that bad thing to you, Welk," The staff said, sounding genuinely apologetic. "I was crabby because Werr made me transport all of you at once, but that's no excuse. I shouldn't have said that."

Welk looked at the staff for a moment, then carefully reached out, holding his hand a few inches away from it but not touching it. "It's okay." he said, making a motion as if to stroke it. "It doesn't matter." He withdrew his hand and closed his eyes, waiting for the memory Seria had for him.

And she gave it.

The memory unfolded. They could see Cynyr sitting under a tree, reading a book. He looked like he had when Werr had first met him. Healthy and alive. There was a difference in this Cynyr, however.

He was twelve years old.

"Cynyr! Hey, Cynyr!" a familiar voice called, and Cynyr turned his head. They heard him groan. "Oh great." he muttered, his voice a few years younger. "Her." He sighed, then called "What is it now, Seria?"

Seria trotted out from behind a tree and giggled, trotting over to him. She sat down next to him and curled right up near him, saying "Nothing. I just wanted to spend some time with you." She smiled and he rolled his eyes, yet he still looked so...happy. "How's Welk?" Seria asked, and Cynyr's eyes widened. "Crap, I forgot about him!" he said, shoving his book into Seria's hands and standing up.

"You forgot about him?!" Seria said, shocked. "Cynyr, how could you do that?!"

"Sorry!" he snapped. "I was reading!"

Seria flicked her tail a few times, then said "Go get him, then. He's going to be mad at you."

"You don't think I know that?" Cynyr said sarcastically, then turned.

Seria reached out and grabbed his hand, stopping him and making him turn back to her. "Tell him hi for me, okay?" she asked, smiling softly, then gently leaned up and kissed him, not caring that his mask got in the way.

He closed his eyes for a moment, just enjoying the moment, then broke away and took his panther form, racing off.

Seria watched him go with a smile on her face, then turned back to go home.

Cynyr, meanwhile, ran to a school not far away, where a very angry little blonde cat was waiting for him. He was nine years old, with bright crimson eyes that could just as easily glare as they could melt your heart out.

"You're late." he said, his little voice angry as all get out.

"I know." Cynyr said, panting. "At least I got here, right?"

Welk was unconvinced.

"Fine. Be that way." the panther said, taking human form. "I guess I'll just leave you here." He started to walk off and the look on Welk's face changed completely. "No, don't leave me here!" he cried, running forward as fast as his little legs would take him. He grabbed onto Cynyr and held fast, his eyes wide.

"I guess I won't." Cynyr said, though they could tell he had been joking with the younger half-cat.

"Can I get up?" Welk asked, his eyes pleading up at his brother.

Cynyr looked uncomfortable. "Aren't you getting too old for that?" he asked.

Welk shook his head.

Cynyr groaned, then looked down at Welk and smiled softly. "Okay then. Come on."

Welk grinned, then waited patiently as Cynyr bent down. Once Cynyr was low enough, the younger cat scrambled forward, settling himself firmly against Cynyr's back. Then Cynyr stood up, tucking Welk's legs around his waist as Welk put his arms around his brother's neck. "Go!" Welk ordered, smiling happily, and Cynyr started walking. Welk reached up and grabbed onto one of Cynyr's black ears, holding on tightly.

"W-Welk, what did I say about the ears!" he said, and Welk let go. "Sowwie." he said softly, sniffling. "Don't give me that fake crying act." Cynyr said, curling his tail up around Welk's leg. "It didn't work the last ten times and it won't work now."

Welk pouted, then relaxed and just leaned against Cynyr, enjoying his company. He sighed, then murmured "I love you, Cynyr."

Cynyr kept his gaze securely forward, but a warmth settled in his heart nonetheless. "I...I love...you...too, Welk." he said, though his was much weaker than Welk's had been. Like had hadn't really known how to say it. "Just know that I'll always protect you, okay?" he asked, but he got no answer. "Welk?" he asked, turning his head slightly to look back at the little half-cat he was piggybacking.

Welk was asleep, one hand clutching Cynyr's tail and the other still wrapped around his neck.

Cynyr smiled, then looked forward again.

And the memory ended.

There was silence for a long moment. Werr wrapped his arms around Welk again, ignoring his rumbling stomach, fully expecting Welk to cry. After much hesitation, he set the staff down as well, though he kept his foot hooked around it. "Hey, hey, don't let anyone step on me!" The staff squeaked in protest.

"Shush. If I wanted you broken, I would have done already." Werr frowned at it.

"Well, still..."

Welk did cry, tears pouring down his face. He pressed into Werr, sobbing. The memory had been hard for him, especially seeing Cynyr so young and...happy. That was how he had been before he had been infected with dark magic. That was Cynyr. That was the person that Welk had loved and had trusted. That was the person that had started to warm up to Werr.

That was the person who had been murdered by dark magic.

Welk sobbed quietly, his ragged tail flicking around once in a while. Seria put her hand on his shoulder but he didn't seem to notice. Finally, when he started to stop crying, a soothing voice entered his mind.

"Why do you weep, Little One?"

Welk gasped softly as he felt another consciousness brush against his, then answered with his own thoughts. "My brother is dead." he answered.

"Death is not easy to overcome." the voice, which sounded female, answered. "But this death is false."

"False?" Welk thought, freezing.

"The being once known as Cynyr can be reclaimed." the voice said. "All you need is his body."

"What?!" Welk though frantically. "I can get him back?!"

"Wholly and completely." the voice answered. "But first, his body must be recovered and the dark magic inside it must be destroyed. Once his body is cleared of the dark magic, his mind can reclaim it. The dark magic, you see, could not kill him all the way. It simply beat his will down until he could no longer fight against it, then pushed his mind far back, creating a new mind for itself to use. If you destroy the mind the dark magic is using, Cynyr's will return."

Welk felt joy flood through him, then gasped. "Wait! How am I going to do that?!" he called mentally. "Who even are you?"

"All will be revealed in time, Little One. For now, I must leave you." And the voice faded away.

Welk gasped and opened his eyes, saying "Cynyr's not dead!"