The Forgotten Zodiac

Naybrin watched him for a moment, then looked around and spotted something. "Come with me," he said, scooping the two into his hand. He walked through the streets until he came to an open field near the edge of a forest, where a lone tree sat. It wasn't the tallest tree, but it obviously would grow much, much bigger. Naybrin set the two down here, then spoke something to Werr that shocked him.

"I want you to push that tree down. When it has fallen over, you will have been successful and my faith in you will not have been tarnished. Take as long as you need."

Then he turned and walked over to a shady spot under some bigger trees, curling up and preparing to take a nap.

"How is he going to push over a whole TREE?!" Cynyr snapped at the huge dragon, growling when he was ignored.

Werr stared up at the tree, swallowing hard. He held Welk out to Cynyr, a pain unlike any other in his eyes. He understood what Naybrin was saying. If he couldn't push over the tree, then Naybrin would find him to be just as worthless as he thought of himself. But...how on earth was he supposed to push over a tree? Even if it was to prove Naybrin - and himself - wrong, it just seemed so far-fetched for him, a mere human without a trace of mage powers or anything...all he had was his sword-staff and a mind with a slightly higher IQ than others. As if that did much anymore, with everything going on, Werr barely had a thought of his own these days. Such a bright mind, tarnished by trauma and misery.

Cynyr held Welk gently, cradling the teddy close to his body like he was protecting a small child. He bit his lip and backed up, sitting down nearby and murmuring comforting things to Welk. He wanted to try and bring his little brother out of the crushing depression he had sunk into, though he kept a close eye on Werr. He didn't know what Naybrin had in mind, but from the way the light blue dragon was dozing off nearby, he clearly expected to be here for a while.

Werr walked forward, starting to push. He pushed and pushed with every ounce of strength he had in him. It wasn't much and that was obvious; within an hour, his hands were rubbed raw and he was sweating noticeably. One had to admire his determination, though; for all of his pushing, the tree hadn't budged an inch. He hadn't even been able to shake the tree, but he kept going. He finally stopped when he slipped; his palm caught part of the bark, slicing his hand open. Unhappy and broken spirited, Werr sunk to his knees and rested his forehead against the tree. He would have started crying, but something caught his eye; a trail of little black ants, marching up and down their anthill. They were obviously from Tartarus; Werr had never seen ants in Amnairus before. He shook it off, thinking nothing of it.

The ants scurried to and fro, collecting things and bringing them back to their little anthill. They inadvertantly caught Werr's eye again as one little ant encountered a valuable ant treasure; a single cube of suger that some young Amnairian had dropped. To the ant, it was fairly far from the hill. Werr was able to watch as the tiny insect struggled and ran in circles around the delicious cube, obviously unable to do anything to it. It had barely been at the cube for more than ten seconds before it turned and raced away to the anthill, disappearing inside. It looked like that was it and that the cube would just sit there forever, but then the ant reappeared, this time followed by a small army of other ants. The first led the others over to the cube and they set to work immediately. They hefted the cube up, working together in a little group, then carted it off to the hill to share with the others. Even as they neared the hill, more and more ants caught the scent of their friends and ran out to help, until the cube was practically flying over the ground.

Within two minutes of finding the object, the tiny bugs had moved it. And it was like to them like telling Diana to lift Zephyr. But they had done it.

Werr stood after watching for a few more minutes. He rubbed his bloody hand, looking over at Naybrin. The great dragon was fast asleep, of course. Werr looked over at Cynyr, saying nothing. He just nodded once and started back towards Amnairus and Tartarus, deciding on something. He started into a run, ignoring how much he was already aching. He needed help, and not just for his hand.

Cynyr looked up, startled, then picked up Welk in his mouth and took panther form, running after the boy. He just followed wordlessly, as he had been doing since he and Werr's incident. He hadn't spoke much, though he had stuck closer than ever. He took Werr's orders without question and tried his hardest to make everything easier for the boy. Part of what had let Werr be able to actually ride commonly on the panther's back now.

Werr slid to a stop outside the guest house, panting heavily as he forced himself to continue up the stairs, pushing the door open to Nate and Tasia's room. They were chatting, Nate telling Tasia about the recent events, though they were quickly silenced when Werr barged in, his hand bloody. "What's going on now?" Nate asked, standing quickly.

"N-Nate, I need your help with something," Werr huffed. "Don't ask questions, just...come on," He turned, knocking on the door to Luen's room. "Luen! I know you don't like me right now, but I need your help..."

There was a shuffling behind the door, then Luen opened it and peeked out at him. His eyes were distant once again and he was starting to look a tad gaunt. But he gave a brief nod and went back inside, taking deer form and letting Diana onto his back. He came back out, ready to follow Werr wherever he went.

Tasia watcher nervously from her and Nate's door, wondering what was happening. She looked over at Nate, shrugging helplessly, then decided to rest while he was gone. He and Namanai were the only two that knew she was pregnant, after all, and she didn't want to risk anything. She hadn't told anyone else yet, not that she was concerned. She suspected that Zephyr and Vaira already knew, but she wasn't certain.

Cynyr was waiting outside, and when Werr came back out, the panther stood up and offered his back. "You're riding," was all he said.

"Right," Werr didn't protest. "We need one more person, though...find Vaira," He said. He said, hanging on tight with his uninjured hand as they charged onwards. Vaira was in the courtyard, of course, with Zephyr. Werr didn't even bother with greeting them. "Vaira! I need Boko's help," He said. Boko, the little Drakeling, poked his head up out of Vaira's pouch at the mention of his name. "It's of utmost importance."

Vaira frowned, exchanging a look with Zephyr, then bent her head down and gently nudged Boko out of her pouch, saying "Come now, little one, go and help Dark-Eyes. I'm sure he has a good reason for needing your help." She licked down his back, the way he liked, then said "Come back when you're finished, sweetie." She fixed Werr with a look that clearly told him to watch himself, lest something happen to Boko and the king feel the dragoness' teeth.

"Let's go," Werr nodded once or twice. "Back to the tree, Cynyr." He patted his friend on the back, giving his thanks to Vaira and Zephyr as they turned. Boko scurried after them, eager to help when mommy wanted him to. He still looked like he needed rest, but didn't complain.

When they arrived at the tree, Nate frowned. "This is what you need help with?"

"Yes," Werr nodded once. "I won't force you..."

"I'll help, of course I will." Nate shook his head. "What must be done?"

"You'll come in soon. Boko," Werr slid off of Cynyr's back and stood at the base of the tree. "I need you to dig. Drakelings live underground, don't they? They have to be good at digging, right?"

"Right! Boko is very good at digging, look at my shovels!" He yipped happily, clicking his claws together. "Where should I dig?"

"Right at the base of this tree. Just on this side, though. Don't worry too much about the roots, they're probably too bitter for you to want to bite through them. Nate, when the roots are revealed, I need you to burn them. When it's loose enough, I should be able to push it over. Luen, that's where you come in...I need you to make sure that it doesn't fall on anyone, okay?"

((He's being mean. xD Giving Luen a crappy job like that. >:T))

((Poor Luen. .n.))

Luen frowned at this, but he gave a slow nod and moved over to where he could properly watch the tree. He felt a tad stupid, but he pushed it away in favor of creating one snowflake at a time for Diana, to make her happy.

Cynyr instantly knew what Werr was doing and smiled slightly, noting that Naybrin had woke from his nap and was watching silently. The dragon wasn't smiling or anything that showed pleasure. Simply watching quietly, his paws folded neatly. Cynyr didn't let it bother him, though. He took human form and fished a roll of bandage out of his pocket, taking Werr's bleeding hand and starting to deftly wrap it all up.

((Werr's just being a passive aggressive jerk. :T))

Werr quietly thanked Cynyr, watching as Boko started digging. He didn't notice that Naybrin was awake, too focused on finishing his task given to him by Naybrin. Within minutes, Boko had dug out more than half of the tree, uncovering the thick roots. "Okay! That is all I can do for now."

"Right, my turn." Nate nodded, letting out a spray of fire at the the uncovered roots. That only took a mere moments before there was snapping and cracking from the roots. He stopped quickly, watching as Boko scrambled underneath to extinguish the flames with his saliva and dig out some extra dirt to make it easier. Werr approached the trunk of the tree, and Boko scrambled out from underneath it, watching eagerly. Werr started pushing; with no roots to hold it down on the side Werr was pushing from, the tree started tilting within a few moments of his pushing. One more good shove, and the tree creaked, falling to the ground with a satisfying thump.

Werr watched it settle on the ground, then looked over at Nate. "Thanks..." He said with a smile. "I couldn't have done that without you."

"I know. But why on earth would you want to push over a tree?" Nate frowned slightly, but Werr didn't get a chance to answer before Boko tackled him.

"You pushed it over! You pushed, and pushed, and Dark-Eyes pushed that tree riiiight over!"

Naybrin finally smiled, his ancient face breaking out into a kind, gentle look. He pushed himself up and they heard the popping and creaking of old dragon bones, followed by a grunt as the dragon righted himself. He took a single step and brought himself over to the group, looking down at them from his great height. "Congratulations, Dark-Eyes," he said quietly. "Now tell me; what am I congratulating you on? Why did I set you to that seemingly impossible task?"

However quiet Naybrin spoke, it still rung clear in Werr's ears. "You...wanted me to see that I needed help. That my task...only seems impossible because I'm not taking my friends' strength into account. And if I do things right...we can do it. Together." Werr nodded solemnly, smiling a little. "I guess...I have to gather the rest of them, then. I'll need every bit of strength I can get."

Naybrin's eyes seemed to sparkle just a bit more than normal. For a moment, they seemed to hold that young, energetic light that they had held before Grey's death. The light vanished a moment later, but his smile didn't. "Then you are not a lost cause for my faith. Upon this success, I can only offer you the power and might of the dragon clan by your side." He lowered his head and touched his chin to the ground, closing his eyes as well. His wings fluttered out to the sides, spreading wide with their sheer length, like a massive blue ocean. A gesture of submission. One Naybrin had never preformed once in his life until now. One that would cause a sheer and utter uproar amongst the dragons if they saw the display.

Werr rested his hand on Naybrin's muzzle, closing his eyes for a moment. "Thank you, Naybrin. For everything. For your teachings, your help, and everything you've done for me. I will call on your clan's might someday soon. Be ready for me, okay? I don't know how I'll ever repay you...but thank you anyways. Thank you so much." He hugged Naybrin's muzzle again, then took his staff in hand and walked back to Cynyr.

"Come on then. We have a few people to gather. Seria, Ophile, Zephyr and Vaira, and perhaps a few others...Luna, for one. There's no time to lose," He climbed onto Cynyr's back again. "We have a world to save. Again." He smiled a bit.

Naybrin smiled, watching as Cynyr trotted off immedaitely, then the great dragon sighed and sank back down to the ground. Oh how his bones seemed to ache these days. They hadn't ached like this before. Always he had seemed to defy his age. As the oldest of his kind, it seemed like he should've passed on by now. But he hadn't. He had thrived and lived and laughed. He had loved passionately and angered passionately. And now he just felt old. He glanced up at the sky, voicing his great thoughts outloud, as nobody was around anymore.

"I tire of this life. Perhaps...my time is over. Could it be that I have lived so long that life no longer holds luster? What am I to do when I have done all there is to do..." He lowered his head down onto his paws, sighing deeply, then glanced up when Mithor landed nearby. "Naybrin," the general greeted. "Are you well?"

Naybrin didn't answer for a while, then he said "That is a yes and a no, my friend. I need no drink and I need no food. I do not have want for sleep."

Mithor tilted his head slightly to the side, blinking softly, then said "Would you desire some companionship, then? Perhaps we might share tongues in the dragon art of close friends grooming each other's scales. You haven't had that done in a long time, my old friend."

Naybrin thought for a moment, then murmured "...I'd like that. I would enjoy talking with you, General."

Mithor smiled kindly, then lowered his bulk down next to Naybrin's skinny form and started gently grooming the ancient dragon's scales, closing his eyes as Naybrin gave a small sigh of relief.

*

Cynyr trotted along, moving wherever Werr wanted to go. He tried to hide it, but he was eager to see Seria. He hadn't been around her lately...

Werr smiled at his friend's eagerness. He pressed onwards, but was stopped short by the sight of something. Obelisk. No one had seen the bandaged man for awhile, now that Werr thought of it. And now here he was, sitting on a roof, lounging as though it were his throne. "It's not very fun, being left alone in a collapsing world. I should have a word with Galai about checking for life forms the next time she plans on destroying the Place Between Worlds."

Werr couldn't help but ask. "How did you get out?"

Obelisk shrugged boredly. "Magic. How else? Does magic not explain the majority of phenomenal occurrences anymore? And what about you, Werr; what have you been doing as of late?"

"Pushing over trees." He said, as though it were the simplest of things.

"That's one of the easier adversaries you've faced, then. Trees can't fight back much, can they now? No, they can't." He suddenly disappeared, and reappeared right in front of Werr, his bandaged face a hair from Werr's nose. "I know where you're going and what you're doing, boy. If you think you were going to get away without taking me, you are sorely mistaken. You can't even try to leave me behind. You--"

"The last two times we were attacked, you sat idly by and watched in amusement, Obelisk." Werr said, anger starting to seep into his tone. "I don't care who or what you think you are, but I do not wish for you to come if you'll be nothing more than deadweight. I know you can fight, Obelisk. I've seen it first hand. Why won't you fight now?"

Obelisk seemed to freeze up somewhat, a hiss creeping past his lips. "I am greater than you could ever imagine, boy. If I do not wish to fight for you, I will not fight for you." He grabbed Werr by the collar, dragging him off of Cynyr's back. "Understand?"