The Forgotten Zodiac

((Me in the hot tub: "I am a jellyfish, swimming with the tide~ Swim away, swim away, 'cuz you can't run and hide! I'll grab you up and sting you dead, then turn you into soup; inside my head you'll lay your head and then you will be goop! >:3"

I think we're going to the pool tomorrow. And that is my theme song.

Also, the Artifact is not actually in Werr's bag. Remor stole it. Not that anyone knows that, 'cuz he replaced it with a normal ring. Sneaky little punk, but he knew what he was doing~ He'll wind up stealing all of the artifacts and replacing them with decoys. Just to make sure they're safe, 'cuz he dun trust Werr and them much at allll. How could he? He doesn't really know them. xD))

Werr backed up a step, holding his bag close. Such a fool he was! He should have left the Artifact with Cynyr, but no. It was tucked into his bag. "Asmodius..." Werr looked towards the bloody mess that was Storaph's king. He wasn't even sure if he was still alive. When Werr realized how close Danbo was getting, Werr started backing up. He turned on heel and bolted for the door, but was stopped in his tracks by two other guards grabbing him by the arms.

"Your friends can't help you now, fool!" One of them snarled before letting out a scream when flames engulfed him.

"Back!" Werr snapped, holding his staff up and widening the circle of flames around him, forcing the guards back. He was quickly surrounded, though. The barrier would only hold up for so long, and then they would be upon him in instants. "Alastor will never give in," Werr snarled. "I've already sent out messages to the advisors saying that Ina is not to be trusted. They won't fall for your tricks! Alastor is the greatest kingdom I could ever rule. It's suffered darkness and fire already, what more could you bring upon them that they would not be ready for? I know I'm not the king they want. I know I can't be. I don't talk or walk or dress like a king, not if I can avoid it. But it's about time for me to start acting like a king!"

He drew his sword, not entirely certain what had come over him. But his land was being threatened. That was something that stirred an anger unlike any other deep inside him. He was prepared to kill and be killed to save his kingdom from the tyranny and war that these people would no doubt bring about. Werr watched the flames start to die down, swallowing hard. He admitted it to himself; he was scared. Terrified. He would probably get hurt here, maybe even die. But he wouldn't go down without a fight.

((:3 Yesh.))

Suddenly, an explosion of fire swept out, encircling Werr completely in a solid dome of flames. Welk yelped in pain, but continued outputting the magic into Werr's staff. He had a lot of magic, and it flooded out in a powerful wave of fire, wrapping around the boy in a warm wave. The guards and Danbo backed up with cries of pain from the heat, shielding their eyes from the flames. "Duck, duck!" Welk cried out, and Werr did just in time to avoid an arrow flying out at him. A bolt of fire shot out from Welk's powers, stabbing the shooter through the chest.

"Stop," a voice suddenly said, and Danbo and the other guards slowly backed away. The figure that walked forward was clad in a long black cloak, where Werr couldn't see his face.

"You stop! Stay away from me!" Werr snapped, spotting an opening in the guards. He broke for it, desperate; the flames followed, of course. Werr was only stopped short at a sword swinging at him. The intense heat melted the sword and caused the attacker to reel backwards, but that just made it worse; the molten steel hit Werr in the arm, burning holes into his flesh and lodging itself around his bone. Werr screamed in sheer agony, stumbling backwards. Werr fought back tears, going back to staying on the defensive. "Let me go," He demanded, his voice shaking almost as badly as he was. Having melted steel hardening inside one's arm was definitely not something to laugh about. Blood poured from his wounds, sizzling into nothingness as it dripped off his fingers. Seria had her work cut out for her, if Werr survived this mess at all.

Welk was crying again, in far too much pain from exerting his powers after having lain quiet for so long. He gasped, his breath hitching painfully, then said "W-Werr...h-he...it's him..."

"Oh, who could your annoying little friend mean?" the figure said in a familiar voice, then calmly knocked the hood back from his head.

Caldir, Asmodius' heir.

"Shocked, maybe?" he sneered, pulling the clock back to show the Artifact sword hanging at his waist. He flicked his red ears, smiling away. "It was too easy, really. Asmodius was meant to be overthrown. He was too kind as a ruler. Granting special privallges to the poorest farms so they didn't have to give part of their crops to the capital. Very weak, that was. So I ruined those farms. Animals killed, people slain. It's easy enough." He chuckled, then said "As Storaph's new king, I will rule with an iron fist. As it should be."

"Kindness...is not a weakness," Werr snarled at Caldir. Of course he was shocked at first, but not entirely. He had his suspicions about Caldir from the beginning. "Stay back," He said again, switching his grip on his blade to hold it in his left hand, holding it up in a defensive stance. His entire left arm was going numb. It refused to move at all, from the shoulder down. Oddly enough, it had stopped hurting, too. This was likely due to the adrenaline from the danger he was in right now. Werr remained where he was, though he swallowed hard when he noted the flames were dying down again.

That was it, then. He had failed both attempts to escape, and now he had to fight or die. The guards were forming a circle around him, just waiting for him to be rendered vulnerable again.

((Leo and Sylas will come charging in a few posts from now, mayhaps?))

((I was going to have Keir saunter his way in like a boss. xD But I think they might be better. Yes, they're better.))

Welk put out a smaller burst of fire, then just wrapped the flames around Werr completely, like armor. He was putting his last effort into shielding his friend, though Werr could feel the pain practically dripping from the small teddy bear. It was sheer agony for the poor half-cat.

"I assure you that it is," Caldir said, moving past Werr towards the throne. He kicked Asmodius aside, ignoring the moan from the downed king, then seated himself on the throne with the air of someone who had just been handed the world on a silver platter. "If Asmodius had forced those families to give the usual amount of supply and food, his stores would've been that much stronger and bigger. Imagine if every farm wasn't required to give to the capital! We'd be out of stock within a forthnight." He snorted, flicking his long tail. "With me in charge, this entire land with be reformed into the first empire. With me at its head." He stood up, waving for the guards to back up and guard the exits. "Unless you are prepared to fight for your country," he said, drawing the Artifact.

((Actually, across the desert is an empire. Who happen to want the desert itself, but that's a different story. xD The first United Kingdoms, perhaps?))

Werr tucked his limp arm close, almost whimpering with the pain that came from just a simple touch. "If those farms had been required to give up their food, the families in those small towns would have starved last winter!  If every farm gave up to the capital, you have no idea what negative repercussions would follow. Don't think I don't know what goes on here as well as my own kingdom, Caldir. And don't you dare think I would let you take either one of them while I still have breath in my body!" He snapped, stepping forward and holding his sword at the ready.

Some part of him knew, though. He was using the wrong hand, he was already badly injured, and even if he managed to take down Caldir and regain the Artifact, then...he would still have to deal with the guards. If Caldir had any prowress with that weapon, then Werr was as good as dead. All it would take was a single scratch.

Caldir stalked forward, weapon drawn. He grinned from ear to ear, clearly knowing he had the advantage. He swing without hesitating, bringing his weapon smashing down against Werr's. Fire ruptered out of Werr's sword, courtesy of the magic Welk had embued into it, but Caldir dodged easily. He slammed his weapon down again, then whipped it around and hit Werr in the side with it. Normally, that would've been a fatal blow, what with the sword's cut-kill powers, but Welk's fire armor had provided protection from the attack, resulting in a large bruise instead of an actual cut. But with a gasp and a loud shriek, Welk was knocked unconscious from the pain that followed for him. Werr's armor faded soon after.

((Next post, Leo jumps in an' bees awesome.))

Werr yelped and backed up, watching as his flame armor dissapated. Werr gasped and swung his sword up in time to catch Caldir's, straining as they locked hilts. "Alastor...is not yours for the taking," He growled, but his words were useless as he was pushed backwards. He fell to the floor, his sword clattering away from him. He lay there for a few precious instants, then started scooting backwards, determined to get as far away from Caldir as possible. Not that it mattered.

The foxling strode over and loomed above Werr, grinning widely. "It will be mine, once I've killed you," he said. "It will be easy to take control of your city once I've swayed the other guards here. But, I'm not one to make idle promises, so I'll kill you first." He pulled the sword back, snarling "Good bye, king of Alastor!"

And the blade came down...

...To meet another blade just above Werr's body.

Caldir jerked in shock, glancing up at the figure standing over Werr. Dark and foreboding, cloaked in black, Leo whipped his sword around with deadly accurasy, with Caldir barely able to counter. When the first blow of their swords had fell together, it had been little less than an explosion of sheer force. Leo's might easily overpowered Caldir's, but the foxling had the Artifact on his side. The following fighting was so quick and fastpaced that Werr could barely keep track. Leo was legendary with a weapon; clearly, Cynyr had gotten his prowess from his father.

Clash, clash, turn, clash, block, strike. The movements happened so quickly that not even the guards knew what to expect.

"Are you quite alright, lad?" Sylas helped Werr to his feet. "Goodness! Look at your arm! On second thought, don't. This looks pretty bad...it's alright, you'll be okay. Seria can fix it, I'm sure."

"F-father? What are you...doing here?" Werr blinked at him.

"Saving your life." Sylas smiled, blocking a sword strike from a guard behind him. He caught the blade on his bracer, which was lined with thick metal like a sheild. He kicked the guard back, wrapping his arms around his son. "I'm glad you're okay, for the most part. Not dead."

"Right..." Werr blinked, turning his attention back to the fight while Sylas watched his back.

Leo twisted into a tight circle, kicking out at Caldir and catching him in the stomach. The foxling yelped and stumbled backwards, then swung out as hard as he could at Leodhaius. The panther threw one hand forward, firing a blast of wind at the fox and flinging him backwards. Caldir snarled and lunged forward, both of them locking hilts. The pushed hard against each other, straining to keep their footing. "Give up," Caldir spat, snarling at the panther. "You can't win."

"I already have," Leo answered, his voice firm, then he shoved Caldir backwards powerfully and whipped his weapon around in two neat circles.

Both of Caldir's arms fell to the ground, cut cleanly through. The foxling screamed and fell to his knees, gasping in pain as Leo grabbed the Artifact out of midair and pressed the tip against the foxling's neck. "You lose," he said, flicking his long black tail.

Werr swallowed hard. He was unsure of who was who; his vision was blurring at this point. The voice, though, it was definitely Leo's. Thank goodness...Werr attempted to sheath his blade, but found that it was uncomfortable and difficult to sheath his sword with the wrong hand. Sylas wound up helping him.

"You don't look so good, kiddo. You're losing too much blood. Here, hold your arm up," Sylas attempted to move Werr's hand, but the king screeched with pain and pulled away, staggering and falling again immediately. He crawled on his knees and uninjured hand to where Asmodius lay.

"Your majesty," Werr said, testing for a pulse. "King Asmodius, don't...don't give up yet," He breathed, frowning a bit.

The king shifted slightly, weakly opening his eyes and managing to find Werr's face. He winced, holding his bleeding side, then slowly spoke. "Werr...I'm sorry. I d-didn't warn you in t-time. I thought you w-would mock me...that y-you would only s-suspect me e-even worse. I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." Tears dripped down the sides of his face as he closed his eyes, his hands shaking. "Will you...make s-sure..." he whispered. "...Storaph finds a g-good king? For I...c-could not...protect..." His voice was growing fainter. Caldir burst out laughing in a pained tone. "Malice's will!" he said suddenly, crazed in an instant. "Death follows the Artifacts! There, in the shadows!"

Slowly, the titan Death stepped out of the shadows, his skeletal face blank and the soul pendant around his neck glowing.

"Death?" Werr blinked in surprise. 'Death' looked like the grim reaper from fairy tale books. To think it was actually a person...well, Werr wasn't all that shocked, to be honest. He was shocked, however, by his dad.

"You again?!" Sylas snarled, throwing his cloak around Werr and standing over his son protectively. "Who have you come for now? You won't get your hands on my son. You can't! He's not dying, he's only hurt--"

"Father, stop!" Werr snapped at him, looking back down at Asmodius. "I will. I swear it. Your advisors won't choose alone, I'll...I'll do everything I can..."

Death walked over, standing near Werr forebodingly, but doing nothing to him. When Werr looked up at him, the Grim Reaper looked almost sad. His glowing red eyes were rounded and dull, and it occured suddenly to Werr that perhaps the scythe-wielding demon didn't quite enjoy his job. All tales told of him were that he was a monster of the shadows, lurking around and eating the souls of the people who died, carting them off to hell. But standing there beside Werr, he looked like little more than a thin little skeleton forced to do the dirty work of others.

Asmodius coughed, blood dripping from the sides of his mouth, then he spoke quietly and painfully. "Tell Nate...that h-he...was...my f-finest...guard...t-that I've...e-ever had. Let S-Storaph...finally...have a...g-good king. Please...t-that's all...I...ever...wanted..." His last breath escaped his lips.

The king of Storaph was dead.

Death sighed, then extended his skeletal hand and held it out, where a shinning orb formed. Asmodius' soul. The titan stared at the soul for a long moment, then let it go, watching as it floated away, heading upwards. "He will be peaceful in Heaven," the being said. "He will not taste mine amulet and it's horrors, for I do not beeth here on Malice's bidding. It was merely the great king's time. I sorrow for Storaph's loss. Even unto its darkest of hours, he was a fair and just ruler. Upon search of his memories, I find that he held you in high regard, young Alastorian king."

Werr looked down, dreadfuly ashamed of himself. Asmodius was dead now. Dead! And to think he had suspected Asmodius of turning against him! Werr leaned against his father, starting to drift into unconsciousness. Asmodius was dead. Storaph was without a king and without an heir, if Leo disposed of Caldir as he should. Werr couldn't help but imagine his own kingdom like that. He quickly realized that with all the blood he was losing, it would be a reality if he wasn't patched up. "Take me...t-to Seria, or there'll be another soul for him to collect..." Werr groaned, falling limp against his father."

"Yes. Of course. Leo..." Syls said, wrapping his arms around his son and pulling him up to where Sylas could carry the king.

Leo nodded, then touched the Artifact to Caldir's head. "Good bye," he said simply, then drew the smallest of scratches across the foxling's forehead.

A few moments later, Caldir slumped over, dead.

Leo turned, sheathing the Artifact into his original sword's sheath and moving to follow Sylas. They paused when a voice suddenly called out. "You've forgotten something, dastardly cowards!" Danbo cried out, lunging forward as Death backed into the shadows to watch. "Master Caldir had captured your Amnairian friend. For this insolence, she will die!"

Leo snarled and rounded on him, saying "Where is she?"

"I will never tell the likes of you!" the guard spat, glaring hard.

"Dear me. An Amnairan?" Sylas said, concern crossing his face. He looked down at his son, a little torn. Werr would die if he lost anymore blood, but the Amnairan...Galai would be so upset if one of her children were to die. "Leo! Can you get Werr to Seria before he loses too much blood?" He asked, setting the boy down and leaning him against a wall, sighing when he realized that the blood was everywhere. There was more of Werr's blood all over than there was of Asmodius'. Werr would need a couple transfusions if he were to survive.

But Sylas put that into the back of his mind. He slipped past Leo, knowing that his panther friend would keep Danbo at bay. He still had to worry about the other guards, but Sylas could manage to get past them well enough. He was on his way to the dungeons; he didn't know where Luna was being kept, but she had to be somewhere.

((He'd like Keir. xD))

Leo nodded and scooped Werr into his arms, spreading a huge pair of air wings and vanishing in a second.

Down in the dungeons, there was only one person there. Keir was stretched out in his cell, looking perfectly content. He acted like he was in a fancy hotel rather than a jail cell. He slowly opened one eye as Sylas walked in, peering over at him. "She's not down here," he said, tilting his head back to stare at the man. "Say...you look a bit familiar. Wassat black-haired kid that came in here before yours? Ya look a mighty bit like 'im."