The Forgotten Zodiac

Luen slipped out of the room, taking kirin form and limping along on his three legs. He stumbled once, but Forin's hand on him was steady, and he easily rose again with his friend's help. Seria led Ophile along with the rest of the cacklegoat meat in her jaws, moving along in cat form. She was fluid and graceful with every movement, and it was easy to see why Cynyr had married her. She was beautiful, not to mention kind and gentle and loving.

Luen was staring off into space again.

Forin looked up at his friend in concern, but he watched as Ophile followed Seria, eager to have more of the jerky. It was a bit concerning; he had never seen Ophile in any case where he had to be led along like a stupid mutt. And the biting...Ophile had never bitten anyone he hadn't meant to. Forin was altogether worried for the wolf; even if he got his powers back, would he return to the Ophile they all knew and cared for?

Seria slowed, glancing around, then turned to Luen and said, around the jerky in her mouth, "Can you pick up on the magical tones of Ophile's powers?"

He jerked out of his thoughts, shaking his head quickly as he refocused on the half-cat. "Huh? What? Oh, yes, I can," he said, blinking a few times at her. He closed his eyes, concentrating, then turned his muzzle in a certain direction and said "That way." He started walking, going...actually fairly slowly. He stumbled again, and to their shock, he seemed to get mad at himself. "Stupid leg..." he said softly, glaring at his stump. "I hate this..." He lurched up, swaying a bit before continuing, again slowly. As if he was trying very, very hard not to ever fall down again.

Forin sighed and moved forward, putting his hand under Luen's stump to help support him. "Like I said, I can find a way to make you a fake leg. Getting it to shift with you wouldn't be too hard, I'd find a way to enchant it or something...there's gotta be some way. I just have to do some research, and..." He trailed off, his eyes wandering to the path they were taking. They had split off the main road, cutting through a short alley to a path that led to a set of caves in the distance.

"You've got to be kidding me. Lu..." Forin sighed with a growl. "He's hiding in the Turnabout. I've only read stories about it...the joined Amnairus and Tartarus have hundreds of hidden places that are filled to the brim with enchantments and other things. The Turnabout is a collection of caves; you walk in through one, and walk out of another. It's completely random, and if you aren't careful, you could land yourself under the Eye of Ka'ael, or an assortment of other caverns. We...don't need another encounter with the Soul Eater..."

Luen nodded to his friend, grateful for the help, then stared at the massive caves. "Oh boy..." he mumbled under his breath. "This will be...difficult. I can still sense Ophile's powers, but it's faint. You'll all have to stick close, now."

Seria took human form, again giving Ophile half of the meat before slipping the last piece back into her pocket. She slid closer to him, twinning her fingers into his fur so she wouldn't get lost. She reached up and put her hand on Luen's whithers, feeling him shiver.

"It's okay. If we all stick together, we should be fine." Forin shrugged, walking towards the closest cave. He didn't step in yet, of course. "Is everyone ready?" He asked, looking back at the others. "That's good, Seria, don't let go of Ophile, at least. Ophile would probably be better at dealing with the Soul Eater that I would be..."

"Never met him." Ophile shrugged. At least he was more inclined to straighten up and walk on his own when Seria was hanging onto him.

"Exactly." Forin sighed heavily, looking back at the cave, then up at Luen. "Are you okay?"

((Gotta go to the HSGQE (High School Graduation Qualifying Exam). I'll be back 'round noonish, probably, but there is also the problem of my homework being inaccessable, and this is the second day in a row that I'm skipping school...

Eh, I'll start worrying when my grades drop. xD))

((Myew. .u.))

Luen nodded, saying "Yes, I'll be okay." He tilted his head back, staring up at the cave, then said "Let's go." He started moving, very slowly, making sure Forin stayed right next to him and that Seria's hand was still holding tight to his short fur. He was glad his broken antler was regrowing; it gave him a bit more security in knowing that he could defend himself, with his sharp tines and his ice powers. He turned his head and gave a small pull on a lock of Forin's hair, making sure the Tartaran (and himself) both knew the other was there.

Then he turned his head forward, closing his eyes in order to hone in on Ophile's missing magic. He walked slowly, feeling his way along.

Forin still had his hand under Luen, so it was easy to tell that they were all there. So long as Forin stayed with Luen, Luen felt Seria's hand, and Seria kept ahold of Ophile's fur, they would be okay. Before long, the darkness of the cave engulfed them. And without warning, the magic that Luen was honing in on switched directions in an instant. Forin continued to lead them forward, though, coming to the entrance of one of the other tunnels. "Right. See what I meant? Getting out is no problem. Getting in...not so much. At least it's not like some freakish labrynth that locks you in," He sighed. "We should turn around and just keep walking."

Luen nodded, and they made a careful turnabout and wandered back inside. Seria dug her claws partially into Luen's hide, making him jump slightly, but it wasn't enough to hurt him. She was nervous, he could tell, and Ophile felt it too. She had a death-grip on his fur, not about to let go. Luen closed his eyes again, following the magic in Ophile's powers.

Again, the magic switched directions, now somewhere to their left. But the tunnel continued on until another exit was reached. Five times, they turned and walked in what was apparently circles. About the sixth time they walked into what seemed like the same cave, Forin was getting more angry than he was anything else. His short temper definitely wasn't helping. "Of all the places he could have hidden, it had to be the stupid Turnabout...stupid Lu, once I find him, I'll use his hide for new boots!" He spat in rage, half-stomping through the tunnel. "Come out here, you coward!" Forin shouted into the tunnel, only fuming all the more when they were out in the open again. "Darn it, of all the low-down, dirty, rotten tricks you could pull...blasted snake..."

Luen frowned, his large emerald eyes round and sad in his narrow face. He put his muzzle close to Forin's face, resting his soft nose against his friend's cheek and exhaling a frigid breath. It was soothing and cooling, and he gently murmured "We'll find him. It's okay, Forin. Alright? Can you calm down?" His voice was timid and quiet, his round eyes watching his friend's every move.

Forin sighed through his nose, frowning still as he turned. "Yes. I'll be fine." He shook his head and turned back to the cave, helping Luen turn as well. "I'd be better a lot faster if we at least made it to one of the caverns. I don't even care about Lu, I just want to know that we're making progress, at this point..." He walked forward again, leading the group into the tunnels once more. But again, the magic switched places. This time, it seemed...a lot further away. They came to a wall, a wall of rubble. Forin frowned and kicked out the small rocks at the bottom, watching as the entire pile fell forward. He stepped into the cave, took one look around, then froze as he realized where they had come to.

"You wanted to make progress," Zee's voice echoed around them. "Here you are. Welcome back, Dulce. You as well, Faolin."

Luen swallowed under his breath, instantly feeling horrifically nervous. He felt Seria's claws sink into his skin, and he knew she was beyond scared. She had two lives to worry about, after all. It was no wonder that she was frightened.

"Hello," he said meekly, blinking around himself. "We're just trying to find the naga, Lu. He stole something that doesn't belong to him and we're trying to get it back. I'm sure you're probably aware that it's Ophile's powers." He kept his ears tilted back, clearly scared.

"Oh, I'm aware. Don't worry." Zee said, stepping out of the corner. Forin stumbled back and fell on his rear; he didn't remember seeing him before, after all. Zee was...frightening. "What did I tell you last time, Faolin? Something about taking your soul if I see you again...I think. Remind me," He waved his hand, starting to pace thoughtfully. "I think it was so. And yours too, Dulce...tasty, indeed." His eyes flashed dangerously as he licked his lips. "But...perhaps not. You've really strayed from the beaten path, though."

"It's not our fault," Luen said. "These caves force twists and turns we don't mean to make. I'm sorry for intruding, I really am. We didn't mean to enter your home without premission." He lowered his head, keeping his ears flicked back. "I'm very sorry. If you would only allow us, we would turn back around and leave you alone. If not...I don't know what else to do. But if you have to take souls, please, only take mine. I won't allow you to harm my friends. Please."

"Perhaps I could let it slide...this time." Zee looked at them, his eyes narrow. "Yes, I do believe I'll take your soul in return," He looked at Luen, licking his lips hungrily, stepping forward.

"Wh-what? No!" Forin stood suddenly, moving between Zee and his friends. The Soul Eater shoved Forin aside, throwing him into the rock wall and reaching for Luen.

"Hold on now. Zee," A voice stopped the Soul Eater in his tracks. Obelisk's. "Allow me to give myself up instead."

"Really?" Zee looked up at the ancient being curiously. "A soul as old as yours...tantalizing. Consider it done. You lot, shoo." He waved his hand at the others, his bandages picking Forin up and shoving him back towards the tunnel. "I blocked that tunnel up for a reason. Now I have to block it up again. Don't push the blockade down again, or I will take your soul, Faolin." He stared up at Obelisk, grinning.

Luen stared at Obelisk, then turned quickly and ushered the others out of the room. He nudged them along, making sure they were all still with him before pausing to glanced backwards one. He wondered what Obelisk would do. Was he really going to give his soul up like that? Was it even possible? But Luen couldn't think of that. With a shiver, he kept the others moving.

It wasn't possible. Obelisk knew that to be true. He had basically just kept Zee away from them; the Soul Eater wouldn't be able to take his soul. It just wasn't possible. And Obelisk, having a human soul, couldn't be taken after death at all.

This was reinforced by the scream of rage that echoed up the tunnel as Forin and the others fled. Zee would be angry for awhile, no doubt. Obelisk, on the other hand, was free to just leave again. Essentially, he had just saved their lives. Luen's life, at least. Obelisk, of all people...Forin couldn't wrap his head around it, but he looked up as they walked into a cavern. Right, then...they were definitely making progress. This one seemed to be empty, though...

((Remember, Ophile had the power to turn invisible.

And Lu has that now. o3o))

((Shooooooooooooooooot. xD))

Luen glanced around the room in confusion, staring at all of the nooks and crannies. "How odd..." he murmured, glancing behind himself to make sure that Seria and Ophile were still there.

"Luen? What's wrong?" Seria asked, scratching her hand gently along his bony spine. In the back of her mind, she made a mental note to remind Forin that Luen needed to gain weight.

"Well..." the kirin said slowly. "...it's just...the magic tone is coming from this room. I don't-" He froze suddenly, his eyes going wide, then reared onto his hide legs without warning and threw an ice shield out, a fearful bugle tearing from his lips. A split second later, something heavy and invisible seemed to slam into it from the other side, nearly shattering it.

((I assumed he would've tried to attack at once.))

((Good guess.))

Lu materialized on the other side of the glass-like ice, hissing dangerously. "Do I need to put you in the infirmary permanantly, you stupid deer?" He spat, punching through the ice and shattering it in instants. "Jeez, Ophile, I wouldn't have taken your powers if I had known how useless they are," He sneered, his tail whipping around and throwing Forin to the side, knocking Luen off balance. He lunged for Ophile, his claws raking against Seria's shoulder dangerously close to her neck as he passed. Ophile yelped and barked in pain as Lu's teeth sank into his neck.