The Forgotten Zodiac

Boko screamed, pushing himself out of the tree. By the time he got himself untangled, Naybrin had already gotten Zephyr. He let out a wail and then pushed himself into the sky, trying desperately to get away. It was a bit futile; he was hurt and would probably crash again before long...not to mention that the dragons were huge and uninjured, and could easily catch up to him.

Naybrin carefully took Zephyr into his jaws, being a careful as possible. He knew who he was picking up; he knew as well having been watching him the whole time. One faint whiff of the emerald-haired human's scent had comfirmed it. He turned to the other dragons and gave a tilt of his head, which was the only signal they needed. They leapt up after Boko, easily catching up to him and snagging him in their claws. "Don't struggle," a purple female said. "It will go easier with you."

Boko wailed, scratching uselessly at their claws and trying uselessly to wiggle free. Finally, he went limp again, sobbing. "Don't k-kill me...please, d-don't eat me!" He whimpered, very confused and awfully hurt. "I-I'm sorry...I could no protect papa, now I'm gonna die..." He whined, weeping still.

"We're not here to eat you," another dragon, an orange male said. "Naybrin has other plans for you and your...father." He carted the little drakeling over to Naybrin, who had rose up into the air to meet them. Zephyr was hanging limply from his claws. To all apperances, he looked dead. "Let us go," he said, and the dragons all flew off into the sky, heading for their home. "After we drop these two off at the Sacred Plains, then we pay a visit to our...friends." He spat the word angrily, hissing through his teeth.

"What? What you do with me and daddy?" Boko questoned, terrified. What were they going to be used for? Bait? Perhaps they were planning to capture Vaira and just kill all three of them at once...but why? Boko had no idea. He still didn't know why they had to leave the Sacred plains, or why they had been attacked. He just remembered that they had been attacked...and now daddy looked dead and he was captured by the dragons that had attacked them in the first place.

Naybrin said nothing for a long moment, then finally spoke. "For no fault of your own, little one. I'm sorry this had to become of you and poor Zephyr, but I need the two of you in order to acomplish what I wish." His rage over finding his son dead had only just begun to subside. If it had been merely days before, both Zephyr and Boko would've been dead then and there. But as time started to pass, like Cynyr said, Naybrin's great rage was slowly dwindling. Time was what he needed, but he still obviously sought revenge on Werr.

"What...what do you want from us?" Boko continued to ask questions. He didn't really think about Werr or what Naybrin could be doing; he just knew that he was in danger, and so was his father. And he was scared, and he wanted mommy, and now that he thought about it, he was a little hungry, too. He wondered if Naybrin would feed them at all, or if they would be caged and starved to death. No, Boko decided. He really needed food, and if Naybrin needed him for something, then he would be fed.

I want food, Boko thought, his mind pretty much otherwise blank. He had already forgotten his earlier question. But as the Sacred Plains came into view, he remembered. "What you want from me and daddy?" Boko shouted at Naybrin, still limp and in pain.

"As much as I regret having to do this to you," Naybrin said softly. "you both are hostages. I'm sorry. You will be well taken care-of." When Boko looked up at him, his great green eyes were filled with endless tears and sorrow. His aching pain over Grey's death was obviously going hard on him. His scales were covered in a dusty sheen, very much unlike a dragon, who usually kept their scales pristine and perfect. He looked gaunt despite his immense, huge size. As the largest dragon in all exsistance, combined with being the leader, he should've been taking better care of himself. But he wasn't, and it showed.

When they landed, Boko was released and Zephyr was set down on the ground, his breathing shallow. Two large dragons guarded the way back out, making sure they didn't try to escape, but nobody was overly threatening.

Boko curled up around Zephyr again. He laid still for a very long time. Then he bent his head up and licked Zephyr's wound, careful not to move the knife. Poor little Boko looked up at Naybrin with unhappiness. "Please wake up daddy," He sniffeled. "It's no fair..." He whimpered, setting his muzzle on Zephyr's chest. "First Boko is hurt and hurt and hurt some more, then Daddy is hurt...humans are terrible, terrible things! Daddy, you have to wake up...please? Please wakey-wakey? For little Boko?" He whined.

Naybrin sighed heavily, then walked to a spot in the shade, saying "There's nothing we can do for him. Without Grey..." A pained tone entered his voice. "...we have no way of making the potions from our scales. Our saliva has healing properties, I admit, but with that knife in the way, we can't do much."

The smaller purple female walked over and started to carefully bathe Zephyr's wound in her saliva, working carefully around the knife. She was hesitant to come near him, but at a look from Naybrin, she continued her work.

"Make Grey come back!" Boko wailed. "Is no fair! Daddy has to wake up, he has to! Is no fair...no fair..." He whimpered as another dragon stepped forward, starting to put saliva on the little Drakeling's wounds as well. Boko started thinking, and when the dragon moved away and Boko felt relief from the pain of his shallow wounds, he darted forward and landed on Naybrin's muzzle. He was puny compared to the dragon leader, but little Boko had guts.

"Amnairus!" He shouted at Naybrin. "There is pretty ladies in Amnairus who heal people and make them better. Seria is one, too! Let me go to Amnairus, I get pretty lady and bring her here. More hostages, but daddy is saved! I have to save daddy, and if you won't let me go, I will cry and cry and cry until you do!"

Naybrin's eyes widened, then he growled darkly. "Amnairus..." he said, shaking Boko off quickly. "They're on Amnairus. I knew it!" He looked down at Boko for a moment, then said "I'm sorry, little one, but your father must wait for as long as he can." He lifted his head and called "Prepare to leave! We head for Amnairus at dawn."

Another dragon stepped forward, saying "Boko." It was Mithor, Naybrin's general. "If you'll come this way, I'll get you some food."

"Wha--no! I'm going to get healer woman, I'm going to fix Daddy and make him wake up!" Boko screamed, smashing pathetically into Naybrin's leg in an 'attack'. His claws raked against the scales there; if it were Zephyr, Boko might have ripped through one or two and maybe have drawn blood. But this was Naybrin; the most he did was dent a single scale before he fell back, one of his large claws broken at the tip and bleeding slightly. He rubbed his face on the ground in frustration and pain, then took off again, attempting to escape. "I'M GOING NOW!" He screamed again, determined to save his father.

Naybrin swiped his huge paw at Boko, but it was a halfhearted effort. He watched him sadly, then flared a wing when Mithor moved to stop the little drakeling. "Let him go," Naybrin said softly, laying his huge bulk down near Zephyr. "We still have this one." He stared down at Zephyr for a long moment, then bent his great head forward and carefully sniffed him. "Oh, Zephyr," he murmured. "I pity you." He lifted his head and watched Boko fly off, then said "Perhaps this is for the better. Mithor."

The brown dragon lifted his head with a quick "Sir."

"Once Boko is out of range, seal the entire Sacred Plains so no one can get back in unless without my permission," the first dragon said.

"Yes, sir," Mithor said, nodding and turning to do as his lord asked.

Boko flew onwards, crying as he did so. He payed little attention to the ground below him; he loved flight normally, but he was distracted for now. He made it to the gate without any other issues, and no sight of other humans. He smashed into the gate, clawing it open. He flew onwards, ignoring the Divine and Sylas. Finally, he reached Amnarius. His flying style caused him to crash into every building he passed, until he reached the castle at long last. He looked through every window he found, only to determine that Seria wasn't there. He then threw himself away and smashed into the roof of the guest house. He pushed himself through the door, searching out Seria by scent; he found her in Cynyr and Werr's room, as usual.

Normally, he would nuzzle up to Seria and ask her sweetly to come with, but he was desperate and hurt, both physically and emotionally. He wasn't in a cuddling mood. The small, damaged Drakeling slammed into the wall next to Seria, wrapping his tail tightly around her. "You will come with me," He snarled at her, starting to pull.

"Ahh! Boko? Stop!" Seria cried, grabbing onto his tail and trying to make him let go. "Boko, stop! You're hurting me!" she shouted, wincing.

Cynyr, who was somewhat more awake by this time, weakly pushed himself up and growled "Boko, let her go or you'll be dealing with me. What's wrong with you?"

Vaira, who was outside, caught a whiff of her baby's scent and flew up to him, calling "Boko? Boko, it's you!" She landed just outside the door and snaked her head in, starting to rapidly lick Boko's body and head. "Oh, my baby, my little one," she said quickly, humming in her throat.

Boko closed his eyes, keeping his tail tight around Seria as he was licked repeatedly. "I sorry mommy...Naybrin is coming, but I have to save Daddy!" He wound himself even tighter around Seria, making sure he wouldn't be dropping the healer anytime soon. Then he flew out through the open window, hefting Seria with him. He was scared, hurt and afraid, but also determined. He had to save Zephyr...

Seria screamed and held on tightly, watching as Cynyr stumbled out of the bed and forced himself over to the window, calling her name but too badly weakened to do anything to help her. Vaira roared and backed out of the room, calling "Boko! No!" She fled after him, calling his name repeatedly. She lunged up into the air after him, growling "I won't lose you again."

"Boko have to save Daddy!" Boko wailed, picking up speed as he flew out of Amnairus. "Seria is the only one who can save him now, so Seria comes with me. I can't let daddy die!" He dodged around Vaira's attempts to catch him, not caring if she followed. "Mommy, Naybrin called me and daddy hostages! I don't understand, but Naybrin not fixing daddy, so Boko has to. Please, mommy, stay and help pretty Galai lady, Naybrin going to attack or something!"

Vaira slowed to a halt in midair, watching her son as he flew off. Every instinct in her was telling her to follow after him, to grab him, shove him into her pouch and drag him right back to Amnairus. But she didn't. She processed his words and thought them over, then sighed deeply and turned back to Amnairus. If an attack was going to happen, then she had to warn the others and help them prepare for it. With a very heavy heart, she flew back to Amnairus, trying not to think of her son and his red-furred companion.