The Forgotten Zodiac

Gurushi nodded eagerly. "I'll do what I can," He squeaked, squirming towards Diana once he was released. He used his dark magic to push himself forward. Forin moved to object, but a whimper from Diana as Forin stepped forward caused the Tartaran to step back again. She looked up as Cern reached her, trembling as he placed a hand on her head. She fell unconscious immediately.

"This...might take some time. It's like trying to rewrite a shredded paper..." Cern murmured.

"Just shut up and...get it...done." Gurushi coughed, somehow managing to roll over so she could start ignoring them again and perhaps go back to sleep.

Zephyr shifted away, settling down in his largest size with his wings spread to keep the heavy sun off of them. He sighed heavily through his nose, a thick burst of air that sent plumes of sand flying, then spotted movement and jerked his head around.

He came muzzle-to-face with a kirin.

Kirins were half deer people, like wolflings were half wolves and rabbitzens were half rabbits. Kirins were the deer lerloch.

This one was a soft dark-gray color, with large black spots and soft green eyes. It was a male, with velvety-yet-sharp antlers. The antlers weren't very big, indicating that the kirin was fairly young. He blinked at Zephyr, obviously a bit afraid of him, but rather bold. He didn't flee from Zephyr, instead choosing to turn his attention downwards. He spotted Forin and Diana and jumped down, flicking his short white deer tail. He walked close, his long, thin legs moving delicately and his black hooves clicking against the stones under him.

He walked right over to Forin and sniffed him, flicking his ears. He then licked the side of Forin's face, wiggling his tail.

Forin pulled his attention away from Diana and Cern, looking at the deer. "What the...what are you doing here?" He looked at the thing in bewilderment, really only seeing a deer. "I didn't think deer lived in the desert...or anywhere near it, for that matter." He wasn't paying much attention to it, or he would have noticed the fact that the deer was brave enough to pass a dragon and lick a Tartaran. Normal deer weren't really like that; so it was fairly obvious that this was not a normal deer. Which left two options; a deer from the Sacred Forest, which wasn't likely, or a Lerloch. Although really, Kirins were almost as rare as Rabbitzen.

((Yeah, I've been thinking a bit and I've decided to throw in rarities.

Humans are more numerous than any Lerloch kind. Half cats are (obviously) the most plentiful of the Lerlochs. Wolflings and Gryphons are right behind, in that order. In the middle would be Avons (Small bird people), Quiazes (Any Lerloch without a natural animal form), and a few other things I can't think of names for. And then at the bottom of the list would be Kirins and Rabbitzen.

Dragonians do not classify as a Lerloch because...well, they aren't natural, for one, and they can't actually turn into a dragon. Lerlochs were made at the same time humans were, the first Dragonian came much later. And I still think we should emphasize how much they're hated by normal dragons.

I think I should do a little 'lore' exert. And maybe a 'history of the world' one. xD))

((That is amazing. It all fits in nicely and makes sense. Good job~!

You should do that. It would be awesome.))

The kirin looked a bit hurt, snorting softly through his nose. The creature pushed at Forin's shoulder, then took the edge of his shirt into his mouth and gave a quick tug. It was most definitely a halve, but it wasn't talking or taking human form.

Zephyr turned his head around and studied the kirin for a momen, then said "Little one, why don't you speak to us? Are you capable of this art?"

The deer shook his head, looking a bit despondent.

"Have you a human form to take?" the emerald dragon asked.

The kirin nodded.

"Will you take it?" was the question.

The kirin looked around, not seeming to know how to answer that.

Zephyr sighed, then said "It appears that you, little one, have a bit of a problem in your hands."

The kirin sighed quietly, then looked over at Diana. His eyes lit up with a sort of recognition and he walked over, gently licking the side of her face to comfort her, even though she was unconscious. He then glanced up at the sky, taking note of the high sun. He seemed to quiver, then trotted back over to Forin and nuzzled him.

Forin put a hand on the deer's muzzle, realizing that the thing was a Lerloch as Zephyr spoke. "What do you want? I don't know you..." He pushed it away, frowning unhappily. He had seen the recognition in the deer's eyes, though. "Where do you know Diana from?" He demanded, folding his arms across his chest.

"Shush, I can't concentrate," Cern waved his hand at them.

The kirin looked hurt at being pushed away, a sad look entering his dark green eyes. He tried again, coming forward and chuffing softly at the Tartaran. He flicked his ears at him, making a soft bleating sound in his throat. He nuzzled him again, sliding his muzzle along the Tartaran's jaw. He bleated again, soft and gentle, flicking his tail.

Jag frowned, then said "He seems to like you, Forin. You and Diana." He looked greatly confused. "Have you ever met a kirin before? One with these colors?"

"N-no, I've never met any Kirin before..." Forin shook his head, though he didn't push the Lerloch away again. He was confused as well, but he wasn't completely heartless. He wouldn't attack something that didn't intend to harm him. Besides, Forin was distracted by watching Cern work.

It was only a short while longer before Diana opened her eyes again. She screamed at once, only seeing Cern at first. She pushed herself away from him, looking around desperately. She spotted Forin and threw herself into his protective arms, which he wrapped around her at once and hugged her tightly.

"There you go. She remembers nothing of me aside from the fact that I kidnapped her and chewed up her arm. She doesn't remember ever being afraid of Forin." Cern stood - well, more like supported himself on his spider-like dark magic legs - and looked up at Zephyr. "That's even more than you asked for." He said nothing more, awaiting his fate. He honestly wouldn't mind dying, but he had grown onto Gurushi over the years. She was greatly weakened and in need of someone to help. Most Tartarans had that inner sense of protectiveness, mostly when it came to summoners.

The kirin bleated plantively as Diana cried, quickly nuzzling the side of her face, seemingly to try and comfort her. He acted like he knew her and Forin, but they obviously hadn't seen him before now.

Zephyr stared down at Cern for a moment, his great, deep gaze seeming to look through the Tartaran. "Very well," he said, reaching his claws up to his neck. He placed his fingers over two of the grand, emerald scales and ripped them loose, ignoring the cascading blood. He lowered the scales down to Cern, a thrum humming deep in his throat. "Use them honestly and their power will be all the greater," he said. "But I warn you; you are not allowed to remain here. For the betterment of you and your mistress, along with my own friends, you and her will have to leave this part of the land. There are other countries out there, perhaps beyond the oceans, where you can be safe." He sighed out through his nose, blinking his crimson eyes.

"Feh, as if we'll be able to escape..." Cern closed his eyes halfway, shaking his head. Then his smirk came back on again. "More than likely, we'll see each other again soon. Not my choice, but hey! Might as well have fun, right?" One of his dark magic legs wrapped around Gurushi. Then they were both gone, Cern taking them out and away.

Diana sniffed, putting a hand on the Kirin's muzzle as she wept. Her uninjured hand; the other was bloody and refused to move very much due to the bite wounds up her arm.

Zephyr watched Cern go, then shook his head and said "Come, let's take Diana back to Seria, so the healer can do as her title says and heal." He glanced over at Jag, who shrugged, then laid down on his belly so they could mount him.

The kirin bleated fearfully, though it wasn't at Zephyr. He trotted over and pawed at Zephyr's claws, peering up at the dragon with doeful green eyes.

Zephyr blinked, then said "Do you...wish to come with us?"

The kirin nodded quickly.

"Well...I see no harm in that," the dragon said, then blinked. "Wait. How can you understand me? Have you comsumed dragon blood as well?"

The kirin looked confused.

Zephyr sighed, then said "Well, no matter."

The kirin walked back over to Forin and Diana and nuzzled them both in turn, blowing a sweet, warm little breath out at each of them.

Forin shook his head, moving to push the creature away again before Diana wrapped her good arm around its neck in a hug, a small smile creeping onto her lips. "You're so sweet..." She said softly.

Forin just looked away, letting out a small sigh. Well...Diana liked it. And in concordance with his nature, that meant he liked it as well. However strange it was to like a half-deer that didn't talk. Forin directed his attention to eventually pulling Diana away and getting her up onto Zephyr's back so they could leave.

Forin realized then that he had no idea how to tell poor Diana that Luen was dead...

The kirin smiled and nuzzled her, humming gently. Zephyr held still as they all mounted him, then carefully scooped up the delicate kirin into his claws and took off. Zephyr looked down at the kirin and said "Can't you say anything? Anything at all?"

Slowly, the creature formed a single word and managed to get it out. "Kyrik."

"Kyrik?" the dragon said, pumping his wings. "What's that? Could it be your name?"

The kirin thought, then hesitantly nodded.

"So your name is Kyrik," Zephyr said. "Why are you drawn to Forin and Diana?"

The deer was quiet, his gray and black fur billowing ever so slightly in the wind, then said "I...don't know." His voice was so soft that Zephyr couldn't really understand or hear the tones of it, just faintly catch the words.

The dragon shook his head, then concentrated on flying.

Forin was silent as they flew on, focusing on keeping Diana calm and safe within his grasp.

Nate searched. He finished searching the capital city shortly before midnight, and was now walking in the direction the townsfolk had insisted they saw Tasia fly away in. Over a hill, across a plains, over a ravine with a river flowing beneath it...in fact, he was there now, at the bottom of said ravine. He had picked his way down the narrow path, and was now washing up as much as he could. He had thought to grab a couple bottles of wine before leaving town, so he wasn't all that thirsty, but he felt...filthy. He camped there for the night, deciding not to go any further.

He was just waking up now, at the peak of noon. His back throbbed painfully as he stumbled to his feet, starting the tricky climb up the ravine's side. He made it easily and started walking near the edge of the ravine, scanning his surroundings every few moments like a hawk, searching for prey.

Like a Dragonian, searching for his lost girlfriend.

Tasia, as it turned out, wasn't too far off.

She was currently slumped in the bar of the town not far from Nate, sobbing into her hands. She had gotten a drink, but had barely took a single sip. She was still heartbroken and upset, feeling like her world had been torn away from her. There wasn't very many people here, but there were a few. Not enough to care about one sad little dragonian girl, of course. She curled her wings around her body and sobbed, hard and long, then flinched when a voice entered her ears.

"Tasia? Tasia, is that you?"

She froze, then whipped around in horror.

A male dragonian stood there, his black wings folded against his back and his long black tail swishing back and forth. He had piercing blue eyes and short black hair, his skin lightly tanned.

Tasia fell out of her chair, her entire body shaking. "Y...you..." she whimpered, keeping her legs tight against herself. "Stay away from me!"

He blinked, then said "Tasia, I'm so sorry."

"You hurt me, so long ago," she sobbed. "Don't you dare come near me, Kage!"

Kage looked hurt. "Tasia...I never thought I'd see you here," he said. "I'm so sorry. I've always regretted hurting you so long ago. I know that's something I can never give you back. I wanted to try and start over."

"No!" she shouted.

"Hear me out!" Kage answered.

Tasia was silent.

"I've changed..." the black dragonian said. "I've changed completely. I'm not the same person that left you so long ago. Please...won't you at least give me a chance? To just talk?"

Tasia was quiet for a long moment, her mind working. She kept thinking of Nate, over and over, and how he had treated her. He didn't love her. Didn't he? He had basically told her that. She eyed Kage, wondering. Was he lying? She remembered that night, so long ago, when he had kiddnapped her and hurt her. She shivered badly, then looked up at him.

He bent down to be at eye-level with her. "Just one chance," he said, his voice pleading. "I've waited for this. Please...

"Just one chance?"

Tasia thought for a moment longer, then remembered Nate again and made her decision. She slowly nodded, murmuring "One chance. That's all, Kage."

He sighed in relieve, then said "Of course." He held his hand out to her, watching as she took it and allowed him to help her up. "One chance is all I'll need. Come, let's walk." He led her along gently, watching as she turned her gaze forward.

She didn't see the small, dark smile that crossed the dragonian's features as he led his prey out of the bar.

Nate finally wandered into town a few long minutes later. He had been debating what to do here; he assumed that Tasia would eventually get thirsty, of course. It just seemed somewhat logical to start his search at the bar. So he went there, ordering some whiskey to be polite.

"Not often I see three dragonians wander into here," The man behind the counter chortled.

"Did you see a purple-colored one?" Nate asked at once.

"More of a magenta color, if you ask me..." The barkeeper shrugged. "But yeah, she left with another Dragonian. They were making a bit of a fuss, but they left not long ago. Poor girl looked flustered, I suppose...didn't even take her drink." He gestured towards the still-full glass on the counter next to Nate.

He took one look at it and turned, running full-speed out the door. "TASIA!" He shouted, turning this way and that, trying to catch sight of his lost love and the creep that had taken her. Putting two and two together hadn't been hard.

They two other dragonians, meanwhile, where walking through the town. "I deeply repent my behavior towards you so long ago," Kage was explaining. "I shouldn't have done that to you, and I'm so, so sorry. I've regretted it everyday, ever since I left you. There's one thing I've regretted more than anything else..."

"What?" Tasia asked, tilting her head back at him. The delicate curve of her pretty neck showed, her lightly tanned skin seeming to glow in the dusky light. It was a beautiful day here, and they were walking past a grove of trees and patches of flowers.

Kage smiled at her, then suddenly grabbed her arm and forced her back, dipping her far over. "Oh...leaving you alive," he said, his voice taking on a low tone. Before she could scream, he forced her into the thick grove of trees nearby, shoving her around. He pushed her back into a clearing between the trees, deep inside the grove. He smiled once he had her cornered, saying "You cost me a LOT of things, Tasia Yillumina. My dignity, my honor, and my life."

"W-what do you think you cost me?!" she shouted, tucking her arms over her chest protectively. "You tried to kill me after you...you..."

"After I used you?" he said, chuckling. "After I scorned you and hurt you? Of course I tried to kill you. And if your little dragoness friend hadn't come in and stopped me, I would've ended you and gone on."

"Why...why would you do that?" she asked quietly, heartbroken all over again.

"Why? Simply because I could," he gloated. "Because I wanted to. In fact..." He licked his lips slowly, moving towards her. "...I want you again. And this time, nobody's here to help you."

She whipped around and tried desperately to fly up, but the trees prevented her escape. Kage grabbed her by her leg and dragged her down, forcing her to the ground. He ripped her shirt off, but she snapped her arms and wings around and covered herself from him, her eyes wide and fearful. He 'tsk'ed and reached for her wings, ready to hurt her yet again.

Nate would have missed the two of them completely as he bolted past, if not for Tasia's shout. He heard her voice and slid to a stop, turning just in time to see Kage tear the shirt off of Tasia. Once again, putting two and two together was easier than catching a rabbit in a trap. Nate's hand immediately moved towards his sword; only to realize that he had left behind his weapons.

He didn't hesitate to charge forward and perform a full body tackle, though. He tumbled with the other Dragonian for a moment, but let go and jumped away before Kage could retaliate. "Tasia, didn't I once say that I would always protect you?" Nate shook his head once, glancing her way before looking back at Kage. He took his cloak off and dropped it at her feet, keeping his eyes on the black Dragonian. "Cover yourself and find somewhere to hide. I'll find you again, I swear it."

Tasia snatched up the cloak and wrapped it around herself, turning without hesitating and racing off. She dodged through the trees, fleeing for her life.

Kage hissed, slowly climbing to his feet and cracking a joint in his arm. "You..." he growled. "Who are you? How dare you interrupt my fun and cause me to lose my prey!" He snarled, his slitted blue eyes narrowed, then said "No matter. She'll be mine again by the end of the day, after I kill you. What are you suppose to be anyways? A wingless dragonian? Ha!" He flicked his tail from side-to-side, grinning.

"Wingless I may be, but I will not allow you to harm Tasia again, you sick son of a lizard!" Nate spat, taking on a fighting stance. "If you must know, my name is Nate Furhblast. The one who is going to take you down today!"

Kage curled his lips back into a feral smile, grinning away. "Come at me, then," he said, letting a burst of dark flames shoot out of his mouth. He curled his tail at his side, grinning. "I'll love hearing you scream as I tear you limb-from-limb!" he said, then gave a brief crouch before lunging at Nate.