The Forgotten Zodiac

Werr didn't care about the blood. He wrapped his arms around Cynyr. "I'm sorry..." He said quietly. "I know you don't like the bad memories, but...you're not Cynyr without them. And I need Cynyr. I'm selfish, maybe...but...I need you." He sobbed, hugging Cynyr tightly. "Please...I won't let go if you don't come back. I'll stay in here forever if I must..."

Cynyr sniffled softly, his little form shaking. He wanted to close his ears against Werr's words, but he made himself listen to them, to understand what he was saying. He put one hand against Werr's chest, feeling the vibrations from the boy talking. He looked up and studied the boy as he spoke, then sighed quietly and allowed himself to believe Werr's words.

Within a matter of moments, Cynyr was back to his normal size and laying limply in Werr's arms, tears still dripping down his cheeks.

Werr didn't really notice the change, hugging Cynyr as tightly as possible. There was another giggle from the ring on his finger, and Werr fell unconscious again.

When he woke up yet again, Ophile and Nate were standing over him, looking down at him with concern. "You okay, Werr?" Nate questioned, noticing that he was awake again.

"Yeah, I..." Werr started.

"I'll get Seria to double-check, it's okay," Ophile said, moving outside. "Seria?" He said quietly, noticing her tears. "Are you...okay?" He questioned, poking forward nervously. A frown hit his face as he sensed someone else around. "Seria, come inside...we need you to check Werr."

Seria looked up at him from her spot on the ground, then nodded and stood up, walking tiredly inside. When she saw Cynyr, unconscious but breathing in Werr's arms, more tears started going down her face. She fell forward and wrapped her arms around him, shoving her nose right up against his collar and breathing in his scent. She was reassured by this and pulled back, wiping her eyes.

Tasia bent down next to her and touched her shoulder, smiling softly.

Seria sighed and dipped her head at the girl, then moved her hands forward to sense Werr for injuries. She immediately frowned and pressed her hands a little harder against Werr's chest, saying "That's...weird. I can't feel anything. At all. It's not Werr, though." Her voice took on the hint of fear. "It's me."

Ophile suddenly staggered inside, closing his eyes tightly and hugging his chest. He collapsed on the ground, coughing and whimpering slightly. "Th-there's something out there..." He crawled closer, shaking terribly. "D-draining me of life force...i-it hurts..."

"What?" Werr stood, drawing the blade from his staff. Nate drew his own blade, looking towards the entrance as Kiraki stepped into it, holding tightly onto the black sword that crackled with evil magic.

"I shall drain you of all life, wolf. Your magic is mine, healer, and I will eat the soul of the dragon who carried you here," She said quietly. "Not my will, but the will of lord Malice be done tonight."

Vaira snarled and spread her wings, baring her sharp teeth. "Stay back, life-stealer," she growled, making sure she was first and foremost in front of everyone else. "Away with your accursed magic! Anyone who works in the presence of Lord Malice is not welcome among us!" She tried to grow bigger from her middle form, but found that she couldn't. "W-what?" she stammered. "You...you took my powers? How dare you?!" She lunged for the girl, intending on tearing her in half.

Kiraki screamed and put the sword up in front of her, watching as it cut straight through Vaira's scales. "No," She backed up, deathly afraid. "I don't wish to kill you with this. It's more peaceful if I merely absorb you...please don't make things difficult...please..." She whimpered, keeping the sword up in front of her. "Look, see? It's calm if you don't fight it..." She pointed towards Ophile, who was slowly looking more and more...well, dead.

"Why?" Werr demanded, starting to feel tired and weak, as well. Was she going to kill all of them? "Why would you do this...? Just because Malice asked you to?"

"He didn't ask...he told. Malice is the only one who...seems to care. Even slightly. He gave me a home when no one else would, s-so...I obey and hope he doesn't take my soul." Kiraki murmured, shuffling her feet out of fear.

"Malice doesn't care about you," Vaira growled, backing up and clutching her wounded chest between her claws. "He only wants your powers, and when those are of no use to him anymore, your soul will be devoured. I remember Alpha-Naybrin telling stories of Malice. Naybrin was there when the other deities sealed Malice the first time." She shook her head, then snapped at Kiraki's sword. "Malice is a demonic monster that only sees things that better himself. He's never cared for another person in all of time. He's never fallen in love with a mortal or deity alike, nor has he cared for one in the slightest. Don't you see? He's simply using you! The moment you entered into his dwelling, you were lost forever! And now he has you ending innocent lives!"

Tasia, behind the dragoness, suddenly fell to the ground, barely able to stay conscious anymore.

Kiraki whimpered at Vaira's words. She felt a small amount of anger at her words, however. "A-and what else am I supposed to do?! No one can fall in love with me! I'm cursed and cast away from the rest of society, no one ever found any use for my powers before now! I lived off of stealing and lying before Malice found me. He gave me clothes, food, more than I ever had before. So I can't...I can't..." She collapsed to her knees, starting to cry into her hands. "I'm so s-sorry..."

Vaira wanted to snarl, but no sound came out. She sighed heavily, then said "I feel for you, child. But I must protect my friends and family. ...I'm sorry." She leapt for the girl again, mouth wide in order to bare her sharp teeth.

Tasia whimpered softly from behind them, trying to feel for Nate despite being about to pass out. "N-N...Nate..." she whispered, shaking, as blood started to slowly leak from the corner of her mouth.

Nate crouched next to Tasia, pulling her into his arms. He tried to say something to her, but she seemed to be having trouble hearing him. He decided to just hold her, straining to retain his own consciousness.

Kiraki didn't raise the blade again, but she scooted away in a panic. Vaira's teeth snagged her bag, however; it split in an instant, the few contents spilling out at the dragoness' feet. A change of clothing, a flask filled with water, and Sir Two-Foot. "Wait!" Kiraki stammered before Vaira could lunge at her again. She reined in her powers. She didn't willingly return the life force and the magic she stole, but it wouldn't get any worse. She inched forward, snatching up the bear. She stood and scrambled over to Werr, pushing the stuffed animal into his arms. "This...holds my happiness. All of it. Please...take care of it." She said quietly to the stunned human king, then stood and walked back to Vaira.

"N-now...you may kill me. I-I only ask that you make it quick..." She clenched her fists and squeezed her eyes tight, trembling terribly.

((You can kill her, or keep her alive. I'll leave the choice to you. :T))

Vaira stared at the girl for a long moment, then said "I won't kill you. To take your life would be to sink to Malice's level. Instead, I know of a better fate for you." She looked back at the others and said "We must take her with us, if only for a short while. I think Tartarus would fit her well. Just as Toro lives in Amnairus now, Kiraki will live on Tartarus if Titus so lets her. The balance of the two worlds would be even again." She pushed the girl with her snout, making sure she dropped the blade, then said "Tartarus will be your new home."

The teddy bear in Werr's arms felt warm and familiar, but he couldn't place what it was he was feeling.

"Tartarus...?" Kiraki blinked at her, still shaking. "I...yes, I accept." She nodded shakily, releasing the life force and magic her powers had stolen. The second she did that, however, the mark on her upper arm burned like fire. She screamed and collapsed, holding onto her limb and letting out a dismayed wail of agony. Finally, she fell unconscious, though a few whimpers here and there escaped her lips. When Nate peeled her fingers back to examine her arm, however, there was no mark. The sword vanished, as well. Perhaps Malice had taken mercy on her, or perhaps there was another reason why she wasn't dead...

Vaira nodded, then looked back at the others as they slowly regained their senses. She stared at the teddy bear in Werr's arms for a moment, then laid down to wait for the others to recover enough to travel again.

Once Seria had recovered her powers, she moved over to Tasia and did her best to help the sweet girl recover. Tasia was shivering with cold, her body no-longer having the gland that produced fire in her body. She pressed close to Nate and trembled, then suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth and staggered up. She stumbled away from her mate and fell to her knees not far away, throwing up miserably. Once she was done, she curled up and cried into her hands, to weak to move.

Nate returned to her side quickly, keeping her well within his grasp. He settled her forehead against his neck, where she liked to put it, and murmured calming things to her under his breath.

Ophile seemed very much dead for several minutes before breath finally returned to him. He then gasped and coughed and wheezed, rolling onto all fours again. "Th-tha-that was...unpleasant," He rasped, collapsing and lying still for a long while.

"Never," Nate said quietly, holding her tightly. "I never will." He picked her up and moved towards the back of the cave, on the other side of the cafe from Cynyr. "I love you, my dear. And I will never willingly allow harm to befall you." He stroked her hair back, kissing her forehead and then pressing his cheek to the same spot.

"Ugh..." Werr groaned, waking up again. He looked down at the bear, blinking at it in confusion and disbelief. "Where did I...oh, nevermind," He sighed, keeping Cynyr in his arms as well. He didn't dare drop the bear, as if he might be destroying something of utter importance if he did.

Cynyr looked pained as he slept in unconsciousness, but he seemed to calm down after a few minutes.

The bear in Werr's hands did nothing and said nothing, just continued to feel abnormally warm. Werr had no idea that he was holding the soul of one of his best friends in his hands. He had no idea that Welk was perfectly capable of talking, even in this pitiful little form. They didn't know because Welk wasn't speaking at all. He had sunk into a dark, dreamless sleep, one that if he wasn't careful, he would never wake from.

"So..." Ophile finally muttered, sitting up at long last. "We're not going to kill her?" He questioned curiously. "Good grief...what on earth are we planning to do with her?"

"Take her to Tartarus," Nate answered. "She'll fit in there. Vaira was right."

"Oh. Well, wonderful." Ophile shook his head. "We should go, then..."

Tasia leaned against Nate, still shaking slightly. She lurched and put her hand over her mouth, releasing a strangled, weak moan as she fought to not throw up again. She felt warm to the touch and was obviously getting sick. She pressed closer to Nate, seemingly not convinced that he was really there. "Nate..." she murmured, her voice worried and faint.

Seria moved over to her in concern and touched a hand to her head, saying "She's getting a fever. I can help keep it down, but not for long. I heal wounds, not sicknesses."