The Forgotten Zodiac

((Boko was just being a baby, you know. xD Werr isn't actually dead.))

"Yaaaay~!" Boko squealed with delight, clunking over to the salt rock and taking it gently from Galai. "Thank yew, pretty lady!" He licked her hand and then ran off, heading away from the infirmary and back to Zephyr and Vaira.

Werr slept on, Toro watched quietly, and Ophile took to hiding under a bed in order to spare himself from Galai's light. He wasn't as haughty as Forin; he didn't dare ask that she dim her lights for him.

((I know that. Cynyr's just, as he said, a jerk. Most of the time.))

Cynyr took panther form and sit down in front of Werr's bed again, his head tilted back to look up Galai. He didn't hide his glare, but Galai was unfazed by the angry look. "Peace, panther," she said, moving a hand out and placing it under his chin in order to tilt his head up at her. He blinked in shock, not expecting the move, so unused to it was he. She smiled at him and stroked his head, then gently let go and took a step back. Off to the side, the bed Ophile was hiding under suddenly became near-pitch-black, coating the wolf in shadows as Galai in took all of the light around him. She smiled in his direction, then said "I'm here to see Toro." She turned from them all and walked over to the rabbitzen's bedside, where she placed a hand on his head. Her eyes filled with sadness, as clear as the scarred patch on her face. She rubbed his cheek gently with her thumb, sighing quietly.

((xD))

Ophile blinked, but remained under the bed. Might as well stay comfortable.

Toro directed his gaze up at Galai with distress in his own eyes; he was confused as to why Galai would come and see him, but he was desperate to make the pain stop. It was too taxing for him to try and talk, but even if he did, he wouldn't have much to say. He didn't know what to say. Toro settled for starting to cry, a pearl or two rolling off his face and bed, bouncing on the floor before rolling away somewhere.

Galai sighed, sorrow etched into her features. She bent forward and hugged the rabbitzen, her radiant light temporarily dulling his pain. "Oh, Toro..." she murmured, gently kissing the side of his head. "Darling rabbitzen..." She nuzzled him gently, showering him with her immense love. Heaven only knew how much of it she had.

((Shortish post, only because I wanted to know if I could have Galai heal Toro. I have no other ideas for how to help him, and she can only heal each person one time with her powers, so.))

((Yesh, joo can do that. I only really did this to him to introduce the prospect of wounds that cannot be healed by Divine Healers. Which may or may not come into play later. :T

Oh, and fix his feet, while you're at it. Maybe his face, too. If you remember, that was changed to make him look older.))

Toro slipped his hand into hers, whimpering with the movement. He stopped crying as Galai hugged him, not sure what to do. Not sure what he could do at all. He heaved in a breath or two, trying to talk; it came out as throaty croaking. But what he was trying to say desperately, Galai could tell from the thoughts in his mind. 'I accept, I want that job you offered me, I'll take it! Why did I ever refuse...and now I can't even entertain people, probably never again...I'm so stupid...' A fresh flow of pearls started sliding down his face, the faintest sobbing sounds escaping from Toro's trembling lips.

Galai held him close, murmuring soft, comforting things to him. She enfolded him into her arms and wings, wrapping him in a delicate cocoon of light. "Hush your cries, dear little rabbitzen," the queen of light murmured to him. "Don't fear, for I am the most Divine of all the healers, though these powers cannot be used more than once on the same person or on myself. Now rest, and allow me to work." She bent her head and kissed his forehead, then let her powers flow. The radiant light filled every inch of Toro's body, blanketed him in thick covers of peace. All of his pain drained away, leaving him feeling refreshed and better than ever. When the light faded and all went back to normal, all of his wounds were gone, along with a few more things.

His feet had returned. His original ones, along with the fact that his face had been restored to its previous look. The scar on his cheek was gone, along with all traces of the operation that had been done to change how he looked.

Galai pulled back and smiled.

Toro gasped and sat up suddenly, pushing himself back into Galai's arms. When he realized what all had happened, he was quick to wiggle his toes and move his feet around a bit. He felt his face, realizing the scar was gone, but also that his nose felt more normal, as it had always felt somehow broken before. The scars under his hairline were gone, too...and now, he looked more like his age. 15 years old; no more did he look as older than Werr, and he felt wonderful.

He tested his voice, cleared his throat, then smiled up at Galai. Tears threatened to fall again; but this time more out of joy. "Y-your majesty...you fixed me. I'm whole again...a-and I want that job! I'll take it, I want to stay here with you, I don't want to go home, I-I..." He choked on his words, wiping his eyes. "It...it's the only thing I can do in return for all this...and even then, I'm still in your debt..."

"A lot of us are," Ophile chortled from his spot under the bed. "I dread the day her majesty decides to ever call in those debts. We'd all have to pay up in one way or another. Some of us more than others."

Galai smiled and said "Good! I'm glad you decided to stay. It makes me happy." She hugged him close, having taken a good liking to him, then laughed when Ophile spoke. "My dear Tartaran," she said. "I assure you that I have no need for petty depts. I do what I do simply because I want to and can." She waved her hand dismissively, then said "If I want something from you, I'll have the decency to ask for it, not bring up some long-ago favor." She tilted her head slightly and smiled, then turned to Toro and said "You will be Amnairus' personal entertainer."

Ophile made a snuffling sound, resigning to say nothing else and let Toro and Galai enjoy their moment. Ophile had observed that Toro was now emotionally attached to Galai like a son would be to their long-lost mother. Which was actually quite nice; the boy didn't seem too emotionally scarred by his aunt, which was probably thanks to his parents' kindness in spite of the riches he could bring with just a cut and a few tears. Yes indeed, there were so many horrible turns Toro's direction could have taken, but things were looking up for the boy again. After all...he was here.

Toro nodded quickly, eagerly. "I'll learn everything I can, more tricks and more illusions, I'll always have something new up my sleeve!" He grinned at his own joke, pressing close to Galai.

Galai smiled and hugged him close, then bent and picked up one of the pearls that the rabbitzen had cried. She held it for a moment, murmuring things, then unfolded her hands and showed Toro what she had done.

The pearl was bigger now, the mark of Amnairus shinning in gold on its front, attached to a long thread of necklace chain.

"Here," she said. "To replace the one currently around your neck." The silver tornado-shaped mark around his neck glinted, though not nearly as bright as the Amnairus necklace.

Toro smiled and took off the Silver Tornado emblem. He was quick to put on the one Galai gave him, but his eyes looked sadly at the Silver Tornado symbol. "I heard the others talking. The Silver Tornado...they stole some Artifacts, or something. I dunno what's going on, but...I-I think I can help Werr find the place, if he wants..."

Cynyr glanced up sharply from his spot near Werr's bed, saying "Yes, we need your help for that. Anything that can help us find those Artifacts." An image of Welk, back when the half-cat had been really young, flashed through the panther's head. He clenched his eyes shut tightly, then lifted his head and said "We need those Artifacts." He looked up as one of the Divine healers came in, sent to set Werr with an I.V. in order to give his body vital nutrients. Once she was finished, Cynyr flattened his ears and sent her scurrying with a soft hiss.

"What...what happened to him?" Toro asked, blinking at Werr. "Did he just...fall asleep?"

"No. Nate hit him with a sedative that made him sleep. He'll be out for a little while yet, to catch up on some much needed sleep." Ophile said, still not moving from his spot.

"Oh...well, I heard him before Nate made him...sleep." Toro shook his head slightly. "He was starting to sound kind of scary..."

Cynyr was quiet, simply giving a tight nod in agreement. "Something's definitely up with him," he said. "But...whatever. He's still my king and I'm still his knight. And I'll be his protector...until the very end." He flicked his ears lightly, snorting, then found himself wondering if Jag was okay...

*

The blue-jay colored gryphon sailed low over Alastor, trying to avoid the attention of the raiding dragons.

He had flown non-stop after he had left Amnairus, his only thought to return to Lily and make sure she was okay. He soon neared the town they had settled down in, glancing around rapidly. Everything seemed okay, except for it looking like a ghost town. With dragons so near, nobody dared set foot outside of their homes. Jag galloped down the streets, catching the attention of several window-lookers, then made it to he and Lily's home and threw it open. "Lily!" he said, glancing around.

The door had been weakly barricaded with a chair or two, which Jag had knocked aside easily. Lily was there; sitting in a chair, leaned against the kitchen table, her head in her arms. She didn't move when Jag called out for her. She was exhausted; it seemed as though she hadn't slept in days.

((In that position, it would be easy to think she was injured or dead. -hinthint-))

((- ♪ legend of Zelda music plays ♫ - You've recieved a HINT! ~♪))

"Lily!" Jag called, feeling a cold wave of terror pass through his body. He ran forward, his long blue tail flicking urgently behind him as he jumped over the couch and headed into the kitchen. He hesitated near Lily, wondering if she was hurt or... He shuddered hard, not wanting to think of what he would do if she was dead. He scooped her up into his arms, brushing her ginger hair back so he could see her face properly. "Lily?" he called softly, pressing one hand to the side of her face.

Lily groaned and opened her eyes. She wasn't hurt, nor was she dead; just tired. "Jag...?" She said, blinking a few times, as though she thought she was seeing things. "Jag...you're home!" She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. "J-Jag, why are the dragons attacking? I heard a rumor that the castle burned, a-and Werr is nowhere to be found...what's going on?"

Jagat sighed, then said "That...is a long story." He held her close for a few minutes, rocking her back and forth, then said "Don't worry about it yet. Let me take care of you, then I'll explain everything." He picked her up and took her into the living room, where he set her down on the couch and fetched a blanket to drape over her body. He kissed her gently, then went over and started up a fire in the fireplace. He walked over and set down on the edge of the couch, simply holding Lily's hand and planting a kiss gently on her forehead to comfort her. "Are you okay?" he murmured quietly, his crest flattened back against his head.

Lily nodded a bit, rubbing her swelledstomach. "I haven't been able to sleep with you gone...I-I feel like I've been going insane..." She put a hand on Jag's cheek, then stroked his crest gently. "Please, Jag, are you okay? Y-you didn't get hurt, did you? I've been worried sick, p-please don't leave me again..."

He shook his head, saying "I'm fine, now that I'm here with you. Don't worry, I don't intend on leaving again. Not without you, at least." He nuzzled the top of her head, then said "I'll tell you why the dragons are attacking, now. This is everything I've figured out..." He went on to explain everything that had happened to him since he had left, from beginning to end. When he finished, it was nighttime and his stomach was rumbling, so he got up to get himself and Lily some food.