The Forgotten Zodiac

((Also, I had another idea for ol' Kage. What if, because Kage is dead now, they take his nice black wings and tail for Nate? The Divine healers can transplant those parts to Nate, easily.))

The panther winced and slowly opened his eyes, blinking blurrily as the wolf woke him. He slowly sat his injured body up against the pillows and stroked Ophile's head, rubbing the wolf's ears. He listened as he spoke, sitting quietly, then turned to face the woman. "What do you intend on doing to my friend?" he asked, giving a weak flick of his broken tail. It was more of a flop, but the point remined. He reached out and rested his hand on Werr's shoulder, holding tight to him. "I...just want him to remember," he said softly, glancing over to the corner of the room he had been avoiding for hours.

Welk was curled up there with a blanket around his shoulders, currently passed-out from exhaustion. He had gone in intervals of crying and raging and just plan craziness, where he sat there and muttered things to himself over and over, as if planning something or trying to plan something.

((Sounds good to me. Nate won't be too happy about it for various reasons, but yeah. :T))

"Right," The woman nodded gently. "My name is Tally." She took Werr's hand in hers, closing her eyes. Werr just sat there, watching her curiously.

"What are you doing?" He asked suddenly, trying to pull away.

"Hold still, Werr, you can't pull away," Tally said sharply, holding onto him.

"But that hurts! Stop!" Werr jurked his hands away, whimpering.

Tally frowned at him. "Child, if you are not to hold still, then your memories will slip beyond my reach! You are lucky I released them before you pulled away, or they would be gone."

"Cynyr, she's hurting me!" Werr wailed.

Cynyr quickly reached forward and wrapped his unbroken arm around Werr, pulling him down against his side. "Shh, just lay still," he said, pressing his cheek against the teenager's head. "Yes, what she's doing is going to hurt for a little while, but I promise the pain will go away. And when you're done, we'll do something really fun, okay? Really, really fun." He nuzzled the boy, holding him gently with his single working arm. "Hold out your hand and sit still," he said, his voice tenderly low. "You have to let her work and sit still while doing it, or else she might hurt you worse. Don't worry; I'm right here. Just let her work." He stroked his hand down the side of the boy's head, holding him tight.

Werr nodded a little, holding his hands out again. She took them in her wrinkled hands, closing his eyes as he tried desperately to shut out the pain. It hit him again and it took all he could to not squirm or fidget.

Just when he was sure nothing was happening, everything started changing. He started remembering things; one after another. Werr finally yelped and tried to pull away, burying his face in Cynyr's uninjured shoulder. "No more, no more!" He sniffed. "Father...that's not him, but...dead?" He seemed bewildered, as well as a little hurt. He was confused. She held on tightly to his hands, desperate not to allow the link between them to be broken.

Werr finally shrieked and tore his hands away, wrapping his arms around his chest. "Stop!" He wailed, shaking his head desperately.

"Hold on!" Cynyr said to Tally, curling Werr close to himself. "Let him process what you just gave him. Give him a few minutes."

Welk had woken up and was slowly creeping his way over, watching intently through crimson eyes that were redder than normal from crying. He peered at them intently, almost glaring at them, until he was right next to the edge of the bed. He watched them from over the edge of the bed, digging his sharp claws into the edge of the blankets.

Cynyr eyed him, then went back to comforting Werr. "Shhh, it's okay," he murmured. He looked up at Tally again and said "Just give him a moment to sort through everything, then he'll go again. I'm sorry, but that's just how it has to be for him. He's...unique, in regards to pain tolerance." He nuzzled Werr, holding him tight. "It's okay," he murmured. "It's okay."

((Unique? xD More like he's a pathetic wimp who somehow lived through pain that was intended to kill him again and again, yet didn't build up any tolerance whatsoever.

Also, I realize now that I may or may not have named an old lady after your sister. Sorry.))

Tally dropped her hands, frowning. "I warned him, though. I can do nothing more to help. What he has now is what he's going to have from me. How much do you remember, Werr?"

"Pain..." Werr spluttered, shaking. "K-Kolo...he m-might come a-after us..." He closed his eyes tightly, then opened them again, looking around. His eyes fell on Welk; he let out a small whimper and held his hand out to the half-lion. "We-Welk," He sniffed, relief shining through the pain in his eyes. "You're okay..."

That was it, then. For whatever reason, Tally claimed to be unable to help any further. At least Werr remembered Welk now, though his memory didn't seem to go past the incident so very long ago involving Kolo and electrocution.

Whump!

Werr was slammed into by an over-excitedable teenage boy.

The force of it knocked both off of the bed, but Welk didn't seem to care. He had twisted neatly in mid-air so that he landed on the floor instead of Werr, but he was hugging the boy so hard that the pain wasn't notaceable to him. The hugging was so tight it was nearly painful, but it was a warm, loving hug nonetheless.

Cynyr sighed, then said "Thank you anyways. I'm...sure we can get him the rest of the way on our own. ...Is there anything else you can say or do?"

Tally watched for a moment, shaking her head. "I am not certain...perhaps I could look into his future to see where the fates will take him, though. I would do that immediately, but..."

Werr wrapped his arms around Welk, whimpering again. "W-Welk, that hurts..." He murmured, squirming in an attempt to relieve the pressure from around his chest. It did indeed hurt; and Werr was feverish, to boot. He seemed happy though, hugging Welk in return.

Welk nuzzled him, holding on desperately. He curled his tail around into Werr's lap, resting his stumped tip there.

Cynyr watched them, blinking softly, then said "So all he remembers is up to the point with Kolo. He doesn't know about my scars, or Welk's mage powers, or...Seria and Forin and Diana and Luen and all of them." He sighed, rubbing his face where the metal mask didn't cover. "Give him a moment to settle down, then you can have a look," he muttered, leaning forward to lean on his elbows. His spine throbbed suddenly and he winced, but he knew it was just from being slammed around by Grey. He rubbed his shoulder, his fingers brushing the spot between his shoulder blades where the word 'Worthless' was scarred into his skin. He bit back a growl and laid back on the covers, feeling a bit like that word said. Worthless.

Werr finally just laid still, comforted by his friend's presence. When Welk finally let him go and helped him back up onto the bed, Tally moved forward again. "This will not hurt at all," She said quietly, drawing a fist-sized glass orb from her sleeve. It was filled with a shimmering silver liquid; a bit different from the smoky liquid most fortune tellers had, but she wasn't a fake. "Here, place your finger on this. Just a finger will do; I don't wish to get too far into your fate."

Werr nodded a little, then did as he was told. There was silence between them for a long moment before Tally spoke again, her eyes closed. "I see...a great and powerful being, massive in size. Serpentine, but...not a dragon. With different wings, one white and one black. The creature...both dark and light at the same time. I see a shining bridge, a forest in bloom, and...a worsening illness. That is all I see."

"That's it?" Werr frowned, confused. There had to be more...he hardly understood what was going on in the first place. He moved his hand onto the orb. "Well, what if I--"

Tally let out a cry and recoiled, apparently fearful. Werr blinked at her, stammering. "S-sorry..."

"I saw...a fire ready to engulf the world...a power none could fathom, swallowing the universe whole..." She stammered, shaking her head. "You...your fate will determine that of the entire world's, Werr Rowe! You and your friends...will either destroy or save the world itself!"

Cynyr blinked, watching as Welk curled fearfully behind Werr. He slowly managed to stand up, finding the pain harsh. He carefully swung his legs out over the side of the bed and pushed himself up, ignoring the gasp from Welk. His legs hurt, and they hurt badly. But...he had felt worse. He used his free hand to grab the rail of the bed, holding on tight and holding upself up as best as he could. "Thank you for your help," he said to Tally. "But I'd like to ask you to leave now. We need to rest, some more than others." He glanced sideways at Werr, then drew himself up with the obvious pride of the person he was combined with his knightly status. He watched Tally, not taking his eye from her.

Welk peeked out from behind Werr's shoulder, wrapping his arms and legs around the boy from behind, since both were sitting on the bed. He pressed his face between the boy's shoulder blades, holding on like some odd little koala.

Werr looked at Cynyr in shock. "D-don't hurt yourself more," He shook his head. Tally shook her own, moving ever so slowly to the door. When she was gone, Ophile shook himself and nosed Cynyr comfortingly.

"The woman spoke of the divine...it certainly is possible for it to repair Werr's mind, but I believe getting there may be an issue..." Ophile tutted.

"Don't we have a carriage somewhere? I'm so confused...how did we go from Kolo to here?" Werr looked around in bewilderment, shaking his head. His mind was really focusing on his parents, however; he realized that he had forgotten things and only recently remembered, but he was terribly confused as to why the council would do such a thing to him. Sylas Rowe...Werr frowned, closing his eyes.

Welk hugged Werr even tighter, his legs folded around the boy's waist and his arms wrapped around his chest. He didn't really want to talk, content with clinging to the human he had accepted and loved as part of his family.

Cynyr watched them closely, then sighed and stroked Ophile's head. His casted legs couldn't hold him anymore and he was quickly forced to sit back down, panting from the effort. He ran his uninjured hand over his face, sighing again, then said "Well...I can't go, sad as I am to say it. I can't stand up, much less walk. Ophile, can you go find Seria? I want to know her position. If she can come here, that would be the best. She could help Werr and me both. If not, then we'll find some way to take Werr to her, then they'll go to Amnairus."

"I can find her, but I believe it would be easier to just go straight to the divine, and then Amnarius. I doubt Galai would allow you to remain with broken bones for long; she has always had a kind heart for any and all creatures that pass through her world," Ophile nodded. "As Werr mentioned, there are carriages that can easily take you from here to the Sacred Garden. I can lead you through the tunnels, even..."

Cynyr listened quietly, then sighed and said "Fine, fine. Here." He reached out to the drawer nearby and grabbed a piece of paper and pen, jotting down a quick note. "Take this to the stablemaster," he said, holding out the paper. "It's basically an order from me for him to prepare us what we need." His writting was deliacte, smooth, and very simple, even though he had written with his left hand instead of his broken right. He was good at working with either hand.

"I will do so with haste," Ophile dipped his head. "And I do not intend to sound insistent or haughty, my friend. I only wish the best upon you and your friends; I am one of few Tartarans who do, but here I am." He then took the letter, wagging his tail once or twice before turning to the door and heading out.

Cynyr nodded once at the wolf, understanding, then turned back to Werr and Welk. He decided, as foolish as it sounded, to go for a walk and leave the two alone. Werr still up to stuff, after all, and he didn't want to scare the boy with his appearance. He took panther form and limped heavily out of the room on his three broken legs, walking with heavy, slow steps. He pushed open the door and closed it behind him, confidant that Welk could handle Werr now. He walked off, his steps slow and painful.

Welk clutched Werr tighter, still clinging to the boy. "You lost your memory," Welk said. "As crazy as it sounds. A weird lady helped you remember some things, but you still don't remember a lot." He nuzzled between the boy's shoulder blades, breathing in his familiar scent.

((Werr still up to stuff?))

"Oh...that...actually makes a lot of sense," Werr nodded, blinking in confusion still. "I remember you, though...I-I'm sorry for ever forgetting you. I saw what it did to you. I think...we're a lot better friends than what I remember, if you had that reaction. I'm sorry..." He patted Welk's hand comfortingly.

Welk just sighed and said "We're the best of friends. Nobody else could ever dream of being as close as we are! We're like...super best friends." He flicked his stumped little tail, then said "Besides, we're gonna take you and get all of your other memories fixed. Then you'll remember everything." He flipped a lock of his blonde hair out of his face, then said "I...think it's best if I don't tell you what you've missed. You...won't like all of it." He sighed and rested his head on Werr's shoulder, keeping his tight hold on the boy.

"Super best friends," Werr nodded a little bit, thinking. "Alright...I understand. Oh, Obelisk, how long have you been in here?" Werr looked up at the elongated human.

"You don't remember me?" Obelisk questioned. He was sitting on one of the far beds, just having sat up again.

"I remember you. You're the guy who lifted me to the ceiling and brought me cookies." Werr smiled.

"...I see." Said the one without eyes.