The Forgotten Zodiac

Werr picked his face up from the blankets, giving Nate an uncharacteristic glare. "I'm sorry for throwing things at you."

"Apology accepted," Nate nodded once. "Welk wants you to know that he...well, no. I want you to know that Welk needs to see you. As soon as possible." He scratched the back of his neck, then dropped his hand. "I would also like an explanation as to what happened to make you...like this. It's not easy to make you upset, and you seem...very upset."

Cynyr didn't look over at Nate, but he did the explaining. "They were attacked and Welk had a weird mark put on his shoulder. It enables some man named Malice to control him at will, from any distance. Hence the jail cell and chains. For both of them's safety, we separated them, but...now I'm wondering if that was the right thing to do. Not to mention that Werr got attacked by a werewolf little more than a few hours ago." He continued his gentle stroking of Werr's hair, then said "We'll go see Welk in a bit, don't worry. We will."

"I see," Nate sighed heavily. "Perhaps that wouldn't have happened if we were all together, but..."

"It's fine. Go to your wedding, but I don't want to go unless Cynyr is going." Werr moaned, dropping his face back into the blankets.

"I understand." Nate dipped his head. "I'm off again. I'll tell the tailor to make you both suits, just in case you want to come after all." He flew off again, leaving the two of them in peace again.

Werr started crying again, feeling so desperately alone.

Cynyr nuzzled the top of Werr's head, then scooped him up into his arms and slid off of the bed, carrying the boy against his chest. "I'm going to the wedding and so are you," he said, a no-nonsense tone to his voice. "There's no use in laying around, doing nothing. First order of business; Welk." He took Werr all the way to the jail, pausing near the guards at the doors. "I respectfully ask that you allow us into the fire mage half-cat's cell," he said, keeping his gaze even as he stared at the guards. "It's very important and we won't be too long."

The guards looked at each other, then one smiled ever so slightly and said "Of course. We understand." She stepped aside and waved her hand a bit, disolving the barriers around Welk's cell.

Werr wrenched the door open as soon as he could, stepping close to the curled-up ball that was Welk. He said his friend's name, ever so quietly, then crouched down next to the half-lion. "Welk," He said, putting a hand on Welk's arm. "I'm here..."

((Smallpost, but I brainfarteded.))

Welk flinched and stared up at him, but he didn't push him away like he had last time. He quivered sadly, then pushed forward and wrapped his arms around the boy, hugging tightly. He wanted to cry, but he was too exhausted to make noise. He pressed as close as he could, pulling Werr down into a sitting position right next to him. He curled both of his legs around one of Werr's, keeping his arms tight around the boy's torso. "Werrrrrr..." he moaned softly, agonized.

Werr started crying, unable to hold his tears back. He hugged Welk tightly, not even trying to stop. "It'll be okay. I...I have good news, Welk," Werr sniffed, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. "I...I think I found something that might help. It's a bit scattered, but the books in the library say stuff about ancient artifacts that can reverse spells, injuries, all of it...m-maybe if we found those..."

Welk carefully moved his hand up towards Werr's face, but he hesitated. The fear of being controlled had been implanted in him because of this, but he pushed past it. He slowly brushed some of the tears away, his hand just as warm as ever. He wiped away the tears, his weary crimson eyes growing a bit brighter upon hearing the boy's words. "I..." he murmured. "I hope..." He trailed off, resting his head against Werr's shoulder. He wanted to cry, and on the inside he was bawling, but he was too physically exhausted to cry outloud. He trailed the claws of his right hand over Werr's shoulders, his eyes taking on a blank look as he simply cemented the feel of the boy in his mind. Werr felt him inhale deeply, filling his lungs with the unique scent that only Werr had.

Incase he never got to do it again.

Werr nodded. "I hope so too. But I also know that we're going to find these artifacts no matter what." He held onto Welk as tightly as he dared without hurting his friend. "Just...hold on, okay? I can find it, just hold on. Whatever happens, you can't give in. You just...just can't." He sobbed weakly, eyes shut tight and tears dripping from his face.

Welk closed his eyes, letting Werr hold him. "I...I will..." he said softly, flicking his ragged tail once. He hugged Werr tightly, leaning close against him, as if trying to keep him there for as long as he could.

Cynyr watched from the doorway, his foreboding presence dulled only by the fact that they knew him intimately. As dark as he looked, they knew that inside, he was actually quite kind.

Welk nuzzled Werr's chin and neck, whimpering ever so softly. The Mark on his bare shoulder loomed, reminding them of what could happen at any moment.

Finally, Werr pulled away and stood. "I have to go..." He said quietly. "I need to read more about the artifacts, and maybe...maybe Obelisk will know something. I don't like him, but he seems to be willing to help. And he's old, so maybe he..." Werr shook his head with a heavy sigh. "Yeah. I'll figure something out."

Welk sniffled softly, his claws tightening in Werr's shirt for a moment before the boy pulled away. He looked so sad and small there, with the chains around his neck and wrists, but now that he had gotten to spend a few precious minutes with the boy, he felt better. His tears only welled up worse when Cynyr came forward and bent down in front of him, wrapping his arms around his younger sibling in a tight hug. "You'll be okay," he murmured, his rough voice concealing a slight quiver. "We'll come back soon. I...love you."

Welk held on tight to him, his eyes watering horribly bad, then let go as the panther pulled back and ruffled the lion's blonde hair. "We love you and we're going to get you out of here," Cynyr said, reaching up and taking off his metal mask. He bent and slid it onto Welk's face, watching as his brother put both hands over it, holding on tight. He then turned and put his hand on Werr's shoulder, saying "Come on."

Werr hesitated, then nodded, swallowing hard. "We'll get you out," He repeated, mostly reassuring himself. He let Cynyr pull him out of the cell, however much he hated to leave again. But they made a beeline for the library. Werr inundated himself in the books again, but eventually, he closed them again. He sighed heavily, looking around. "Ophile..." He said quietly. "I know you're there."

"Of course you do," Ophile appeared in front of him a moment later. "Titus never released me from my task of keeping an eye on you...if you must know, I did not assist you against Wulf because I was resting in the infirmary after being healed. I was out for awhile there, but here I am once more."

"That's...great," Werr shook his head. "I...need you to fetch Obelisk. I don't want Cynyr to leave, and I still have too much research to do to leave, so--"

"Consider it done," Ophile dipped his head, disappearing again in a wisp of shadow. Cynyr would be able to spot the shifting of the carpet as Ophile moved away; he couldn't teleport, after all. That was a skill reserved for the more powerful creatures. Instead, he made himself invisible. Handy, indeed. It explained why no one had seen him in the infirmary, that was for sure.

Obelisk knocked on the door not too long later. He looked just as glum as ever, even moreso after his visit with the healers. He was fuming, unhappy with the way everyone looked at him, unhappy that he was hated. He was neither good nor bad; but he was still human on the inside, was he not? A 'ground-treader' as some might call him? In such a case...were not Werr and his 'dear friends' entitled to the same hatred he was receiving?

Obelisk, boiling on the inside, opened the door without a word. He finally spoke, calm as ever. His emotions didn't leak in the slightest. It was easy when one lacked eyes to give things away. "You called?" He asked smoothly.

Cynyr watched as Obelisk entered the room. His gaze remained tactfully blank, though inside, he tensed completely. He still, after all of this, didn't trust Obelisk at all. Even a tiny bit. Even if Obelisk saved him from certain death (which he had, from Grey), he still wouldn't trust him. And he didn't, nor did he want to. In his opinion, Obelisk was only bidding his time. So Cynyr kept his power at the ready, incase he had to suddenly jump up or block something. He didn't think Obelisk would do anything, but this was Cynyr; he trusted practically no one.

"I...just wanted to ask you some questions." Werr swallowed hard. He didn't trust Obelisk much either; just from the sheer amount of pain that he had been forced to endure once upon a time. "Um...it's about some artifacts. I'm not too sure what they're called...the books aren't very specific, but..."

"Artifacts that can return Welk to his natural self," Obelisk sighed through his broken nose.

"Yes."

"Then you seek the Artifacts of the Fair Ones. The very artifacts I seek...to defeat Malice."

Cynyr watched calmly, keeping his gaze blank as usual. He flicked his tail, listening as the two spoke. He knew what they were talking about; he had donated all of the information he had found in the books he had read to Werr. "If there's anything we can do to stop this...'Malice' guy, then we need to do it," he said. "If he's controling Welk...OUR Welk...then I swear I'll kill him."

"If the artifacts choose to allow you to use them, then it shall be. They have a mind of their own." Obelisk tutted. "If you wish...I was going to leave tomorrow for the temple that houses the Artifacts."

"Tomorrow? Uh..." Werr scratched the back of his neck. "We were...going to Nate's wedding, though..."

"Ah, yes. The Dragonian being wed to the female Dragonian. A pairing that only happens once in a blue moon, so to speak." Obelisk snorted again. "I thought it would be best if I were to leave during that time."

"But...why?" Werr questioned.

"Have you not noticed the unnatural unease over this place? It is my doing. If you do not wish to leave tomorrow, I suppose...I can merely retreat to the place between worlds during the ceremonies. Perhaps have a chat with miss Resu, who seems to be failing at her job."

"Er...right. The day after the wedding," Werr said thoughtfully. "Cynyr, is that doable?"

The panther flicked back his ears and settled into unnvering silence, though really his sharp mind was working quickly, thinking through several different things all together. "Yes," he finally said. "But we would be leaving Welk behind. They obviously won't let him out of the cell and we have to leave to go find the things with which to fix him with. If we stick around and do nothing, he dies. If we go, he potentially goes crazy...but we give him that chance to live." He held up his hands, shrugging. "It's a no-brainer for me," he said. "I'm going. But I'm not leaving him here alone. We should probably have someone stick around with him. Airlia, maybe. He likes her."

"Yeah...Airlia is nice." Werr nodded carefully. "I don't think we should leave Seria behind, but Nate and Tasia should enjoy their honeymoon. I wouldn't dare ask either of them." He sighed, looking out the window of the Library. "Right, then. After the wedding, we'll go..." He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, already starting to drift off to sleep.

"Werr will 'potentially go crazy' by the time we arrive at the shrine," Obelisk warned quietly. "That, I predict. Take caution; his mind is easy to break at this time. If he is separated from you at any time...he will drop into a state of - maybe temporary - insanity. In the strictest definition."

Cynyr immediately took a step closer to Werr, his ears flicked back angrily. "Then I won't leave him," he snarled softly. "I dedicated my service towards being around him; that didn't happen to change in the last few seconds. I'm a knight, odd title as that is for me, and I intent on doing my job." His eye narrowed slightly. "No matter what," he warned, flicking his tail once. He curled his tail around Werr's arm, then said "I need to talk to Seria, but I'm not leaving Werr to go and get her. We'll give her a visit in a few minutes."