The Forgotten Zodiac

"Very well," The guard nodded.

Not too long after, Toro found himself being led to the gardens. The guard left after that, leaving him completely alone. Or so he thought. He walked along the path to the small fountain, feeling a bit nervous. He hadn't been told anything; just brought here and left. They probably wouldn't let him leave, either...he whimpered a bit inwardly and looked around. There was no one here. He was terribly confused and alone, which he hated. His ears twitched as he sat down, on the verge of tears.

"Why do you risk weeping, little rabbit?" a gentle voice asked, followed by a hand touching his shoulder. Galai stood next to him, her wings fanned lightly around herself. She carefully sat down next to him, looking at him with a kind expression on her face. Upon being this close to her, Toro could see that she was nearly see-through. Her soft blonde hair fell in waves down her back, three of her wings coming around to rest over the rabbitzen's body. The feathery wings of the Amnairian queen herself.

Toro jumped, freezing on the spot. He looked up at Galai in shock, his heart practically stopping for a moment. When he finally calmed down enough, he stammered, "I-I'm sorry," Rather quickly. "For before. Wit-with Obelisk. I..." He looked down, watching his eyes fill to the brim with tears. "T-to...answer your question, I'm crying because I realized that I was...used." He looked up at the wings over his head, a great sadness crossing his face. "The best distraction is one oblivious to the fact that they are a distraction. I think that makes sense, anyways...I...the people at the Silver Tornado were..." He swallowed as though trying to be rid of a bad taste in his mouth. "Mostly nice. They taught me everything I know, with my sleight of hand tricks, and--ow," He muttered, brushing his tear away from his eye. It fell to the ground as a gleaming white pearl.

((Okay, so I've put something together about Amnarius/Tartarus; perhaps the light is somehow linked to the lunar charts? Like, a new moon would be their 'night'. And the full moon is when the worlds are so at peace that Galai and Titus can afford to meet at the place between worlds (it would also be a day of full sunlight for Tartarus, which means all the people are holed up inside (which would explain why Tartarus is ever at peace)).

I dunno, I was just thinking about it after the first incident with Cern, and never said anything before now 'cuz I forgot. xD))

Galai listened to everything he said with a gentleness that showed why she was the queen. She dipped her hand and picked up the pearl between her fingers, holding it up where the rabbitzen could see it. "I imagine you know how pearls are naturally made, correct?" she asked. "They start off only as a tiny little piece of sand, nothing more than a speck. The sand lodges in the mouth of an oyster, who, unable to dislodge it, begins forming a coating over it. As years pass, maybe even a few hundred in some cases, a shimmering gem appears. It takes a long time to form a pearl from a piece of sand." She slid the pearl into his hand, folding his fingers over it. It was glowing slightly now from contact with her. "Everyone has the potential to be a pearl, Toro," she said. "After all...don't we all start off as that little piece of sand?"

((I like it. :3 Any option for Titus and Galai to meet up is good for me. Plus, that would also give each's powers a day to rest and replenish.))

Toro closed his hand around the pearl, closing his eyes. He decided to explain himself in full; there wasn't any reason not to. "My...mom and dad were...poor, to say the least. Just another typical sob story. They lived in a worn down old shack when they had me; they could have died from cold every winter. When I was a baby, I was blessed by a strange old woman who said that I would bring them great riches. That 'blessing' is more of a curse...it started happening when I was about five. My tears turn to pearls and my blood turns to solid rubies in mere seconds. Y-you might think that my parents turned nasty when they figured that out; but they didn't, really. They always said 'sorry' so much when they had to make me cry or bleed. But soon we weren't in a shack anymore. We lived in a beautiful mansion.

"But people started getting suspicious. Normally reclusive and rare Rabbitzen, going from rags to riches in a matter of months. I guess someone started nosing around in the right place, and my...'gifts' were found out. So...we had to move. But we were attacked before we even made it out of the city. My mother died that day. My father was hit by a poisoned arrow. He died a few minutes after we arrived in the town. He entrusted me to my mother's sister.

"She's the one who took me to the Silver Tornado. I loved every second of the lessons; they taught me tricks and other things that involved sleight-of-hand like that. Illusions, too. But when I went home...my a-aunt...was greedy. Not like my parents. You can guess what happened," He rubbed his arm, which bore marks of cutting that looked much like he had done it himself out of depression. "Beating and cutting an-and...you get it." He looked down again. "That was...seven years ago. A-a few months ago, the Silver Tornado told me that I had to look older so I could start performing. S-so they changed my face, and to make me taller..." He lifted his pant leg.

From about halfway up his shin to the rest of his foot area, there was metal and wood. "They cut off my feet and put these here. I...was actually okay with it. I did three shows every week in different towns; and then they told me that Wulf was going to take me somewhere else to perform. W-Wulf...he was always so protective and kind...he convinced me to sneak in using the girl Diana, and getting her to carry me into Amnarius. I don't know how he got in, but it doesn't really matter. I remembered him telling me stories about how Obelisk had hurt all three of the worlds, a-and after hearing his stories about Tartarus, I thought here might be the same...

"All I knew was that I was supposed to entertain the people of Amnarius...I know it's not an excuse for what I did, but I really am sorry. And now Wulf is dead, and--" He paused to brush another pearl away from his right eye. "And I don't know how to get back to the Silver Tornado, and I don't know why Wulf is dead, and I just know that he used me as a distraction to get somewhere. But he was mugged or something...I don't know anymore..."

Galai listened to his every word, putting one arm around his shoulders. "I won't tell you how Wulf died, as I fear that information may get you into trouble," she said. "But I would like to offer you a place here in Amnairus. We have no need of pearls and rubies here, you see." She moved her hand out and gently brushed her delicate fingers over the scars on his arms. When she pulled back, they were gone. "I won't force you to stay, of course," she said. "But you see..." She smiled gently. "I've been thinking about finding myself a good preformer to act in my throne room. But I've had the most disasterous of luck finding a good one." Her smile was mothering and peaceful. "I would love to have you fill that position, but only if you want to."

((By the way, he's only twelve. xDD))

Toro looked down at his now scarless arms, rubbing the clean, healthy skin as though he thought it might just be makeup. He looked up at her, surprised by her offer, and looked down again. "But...the Silver Tornado...when Wulf and I don't come back, they'll come looking..." He scooted a little closer to Galai without thinking, suddenly afraid. "My a-aunt...she wants that guy, too. The king, Werr...and if we're both in the same p-place, th-then she..." He hugged his own chest, his ears drooping again as he thought about what could possibly happen.

((Aww.))

"I won't make you accept my offer," she said. "I just wanted to put it out there. I'll let you go wherever you want, of course. I won't force you to do anything." She wrapped her arms around him and held him close, though it seemed like she would just break and fade away at any moment if someone touched her. This didn't happen, of course, and she ran her hands gently over Toro's soft rabbit ears. "I doubt your aunt could stand against the power of Amnairus combined, much less Tartarus. Or the Divine, for that matter. In fact, I do believe you would enjoy talking with the Divine. It grows lonely from time to time, you see. Our child it may be, but Titus and I can only meet each other and it once in a while. It has become fairly sour towards everyone because of its emmense loneliness, I should think."

((They discovered his gift when he was five, spent three months 'going from rags to riches', then a month later had to move and died and gave him to his aunt (who works for the Silver Tornado and is also ridiculously important). Seven years ago. Five plus seven is twelve. xD))

Toro sniffed, curling into Galai's hug. "I...I'm..." He slowly wrapped his arms around her, starting to weep miserably. "I'm scared! I wa-want to stay here, b-but I'm afraid...a-and what will your people think of me? I hu-hurt someone in front of them...I...I don't have an excuse," He said, slipping away from Galai. "I-I should just go back to...to the jail..." He stood and walked away, his head hanging and pearls dropping onto the grass as he walked.

Galai stood as well, but she didn't follow. "My people are forgiving, child," she said softly. "It is rare indeed to find an Amnairian that doesn't possess kindness and forgiveness within their hearts." She watched him go, then sighed and decided to make a round of her garden, needing a moment more of peace.

When he reached the jail, Momeki was still standing guard, only now speaking to Welk. "I...I'm sorry you got in trouble," she said, putting her hands on the bars of his cage. "I got scolded too, but...I don't care. I wanted to let you out. I knew you meant it when you said you'd be back."

Welk sighed, then nodded and said "I hate lying. It isn't right. But...well, whatever."

Momeki frowned, then said "They said you were evil. That you were a darkness. But I don't believe that."

He sighed again, then said "Well...you wouldn't be the first to believe in me."

The little Amnairian looked down sadly, then looked up when she heard Toro approach. "Um...hello," she said, looking shy. "What are you doing here?"

Toro held his hands out, looking down. "I've done bad things, and...and I'm turning myself in. Please put me in jail again," He said quietly, shifting around uncomfortably on his fake feet. He was still crying, the pearls rolling off his face and clinking against the floor. He glanced up at Welk, but he didn't know who it was, so he said nothing and held his arms out still, waiting for shackles to be placed around his wrists.

Momeki frowned at him, then looked up sadly at his face. "But...Galai said we didn't have to lock you up. I-I don't want to," she said, biting one of her nails. She was a pretty little Amnairian, with long black hair and golden wings. Her true form was a snow leopard, like Luna's. "Must you be locked up?" she asked, pouting softly. "I don't like it." She looked down at the pearls he was leaving behind and tilted her head, then bent down and gathered them all up, staring at the neat little pile in her hands. "Did you make these?" she asked, her voice wondering. "It's so...beautiful."

Toro choked back more tears, blinking a few tinier pearls from his eyes. Normally people grabbed up the pearls and rubies up without a word. He was used to them being taken, he thought nothing of their beauty. Only his parents had ever thanked him or commented on how pretty the things he made were. "I-I...yes," He said, dropping one arm and bringing the other hand to scratch the back of his neck. "You...can keep them, b-but...aren't people who hurt others supposed to be locked up? A-and...I can't be close to king Werr w-when they come to fi-find me, or..." He trailed off, holding out his arms again. "Please..."

"Oh, no. I won't keep them," Momeki said, depositing the little pile onto a shelf nearby and arranging it into a perfect stack, using her magic to keep them together. "I don't need things like that. They're pretty, I know, and a lot of the other Amnairians here love those and sometimes buy them from people, but I don't need them. I only need the memory of holding them in my hands to be happy. Just knowing I held something that pretty." She smiled gently, shyly, at the rabbitzen, then said "You can go back into your cell, but...I won't lock you up. It makes me sad..." She looked over at Welk, whom she had loosened the chains of. They were still attached, of course, but now they didn't hurt him as badly.

Toro shuffled his feet unhappily, slipping into his cell without another word. "Okay. Good enough," He said quietly, sitting down and curling his knees up to his chest, feeling guilty and ashamed of himself. Eventually, he started crying again, which resulted in a circle of pearls forming around him after just a few minutes.

((Welk should question why he mentioned Werr. o3o))

Momeki stood nearby sadly, hating hearing him cry, then carefully walked into his cell and, after hesitating, sat down next to him and hugged him. She was a younger Amnairian, obviously, only looking about ten or so years of age. Amnairians did start out as babies, after all, but they grew excruciatingly slowly. She herself was almost two-hundred-and-seventy years old, merely looking around ten.

Welk was watching suspiciously from his cell. He didn't seem willing to talk, but he finally asked a question; "...How do you know Werr? Why did you say his name?"

"Werr..." Toro sniffled, letting Momeki hug him. "S-see, the Silver Tornado will want me b-back. No...my aunt will want me back. But she's infulencial, people do what she says, even though she isn't Queen Libira, the leader. I...I know Werr because my aunt wants him, too. Something about keeping him safe from whatever's going to happen. I don't know too much, b-but...I saw a picture once, of her and her husband, and a boy. I..." He wiped his eyes, watching several tiny pearls (they grew smaller as he stopped crying) bounce off the floor to join the piles of the others. "I'm pretty sure he was my aunt's son or something. That might be why she wants him back or something...I don't know, just..." He set his forehead on the Amnarian's shoulder, shifting around to hug her in return. "I dunno..."

Welk's jaw dropped open, his entire body growing rigid and still. "So...you..." he said quietly, quickly puzzling over what had just been said. "You are..." He went silent for a moment, then suddenly lunged up and yanked against his chains, saying "She can't have him back! He lives with me and Cynyr now! She doesn't get to just take him back! No!" He struggled hard against his chains, feeling tears seep down his cheeks. If Werr was taken away, if he was forced to live somewhere else...

Welk would die without him.

So he pulled on his chains until he could pull no more, then threw fire everywhere until his powers were exhausted. And then he sat in the corner and wept quietly.

Welk didn't realize what kind of mother Werr's was. Toro realized it well enough. He looked over and watched Welk in shock, hiding within Momeki's tight embrace until Welk was done throwing flames about. "I...don't think Werr will want to go to her. Ever. I would show you why, but Galai healed the scars on my arms..." He bit his lip, watching Welk cry. "His panther friend is tough, too. And scary...b-but...that's wh-why I'm in here, so the person she sends to get me doesn't get him, too...s-so, please don't cry...want to see a magic trick?" He offered, pulling a fresh pack of cards from his pocket. "I know a lot..."

Welk sniffled, lifted his head and watching the rabbitzen for a moment before his curiousity got the better of him. "Okay..." he murmured, watching intently. "I...I want to see some. Just..." He flicked one of the pearls that had rolled into his cell. "Stop crying, okay? These are pretty enough, but if people see you crying pearls, they may get the wrong ideas, ya know?"