The Forgotten Zodiac

Sam shook his head, having listened intently to everything Werr had said to him. "I'm just hoping I do a good job," he said, smiling at Werr. "I'm only twenty-three. I hope desperately that I don't screw anything up, and...I think I'll be okay." He smiled again, blinking his maroon eyes at Werr, and suddenly, with his bright blonde hair and reddish-toned eyes, he looked like Welk. But he wasn't Welk, of course; his hair wasn't that soft sun-blonde fuzz and his eyes weren't anywhere near the bright, ruby-red, crimson orbs that Welk had. He didn't have fluffy ears or a stubbed tail, or the ability to wield fire.

Sam blinked, spotting the throne, then he moved forward and sat down on it, sighing heavily.

Werr laughed a bit. "I'm only 18." He smiled, watching Sam. "Don't worry too much about messing up. The advisors will help you, but always think about what they're telling you to do. Don't trust Mart too much, he'll attempt to manipulate you. I don't suggest you replace him, though; he seems wise regardless of his manipulative intents. For that matter, if you have more questions after things have calmed down, you can just send me a letter. Perhaps we could arrange annual councils to meet with each other and discuss goings-ons."

Sam nodded, smiling up at Werr. "Yes, thank you. That sounds good," he said. He leaned back against the throne, sighing again, then said "No matter what the advisors tell me, I have to remain true to my own thoughts. I was born here in Storaph, I lived here all my live. I know how the city works. I can run it well." He smiled at Werr again, running a hand over his blonde hair. "I know it will be hard, but I think I can do it," he said, biting his lip slightly.

"That's the spirit. I was afraid when I was first named king. Terrified. I couldn't  stand the thought of being king. Mainly because I was kidnapped and tortured a split second after my coronation, but...that's another story. Oh, story..." Werr blinked, remembering something. He reached into his bag, withdrawing a thick, leather-bound book. The story he had written. The story of their trials and adventures two years back. "Would you keep this here? I'm afraid my own castle is a bit...wrecked. Can I entrust this to you for the time being? It's the only copy, and it's very, very important to me...so please, keep it safe. Feel free to read it, too. Even though we haven't quite filled in the ending, it's still quite the intricate story. Complete truth, too, no matter how ridiculous it seems."

"Oh! Of course," Sam said, taking the book carefully and running a hand over the book's cover. "This is incredible," he said, opening it and scanning through a paragraph. He smiled, turning the page and reading through a rare paragraph that Werr had gotten Cynyr to write. Moments after reading Cynyr's history, Sam grew sickened by the panther's sheer abuse and turned the page, finding a bit more comfort in one of Welk's goofy drawings and a calmer entry from Werr. "So all of this is true..." he said, turning another page and trying his best to read Welk's scrawling handwriting. "Wow..."

"Yes. And after all this, we may just have to write another book, you see." He smiled a bit, then sat down in a wooden rocking chair the servants had brought for him. The largest chair aside from the throne. "Hmm...how does pork roast sound for dinner?" He looked over at Sam, smiling still. "Just tell the servants what you want for dinner now, while they have time to prepare it. I'm going to go check on my dragon friend," He stood and straightened his tunic, moving towards the doors.

"Oh, alright," Sam said, closing the book and putting it aside. "I'll get right on that." He smiled and watched Werr go, then sighed, mulling over all the things he would have to learn how to do.

As he neared the outside, Werr suddenly felt a small pang of annoyance. He heard Naybrin saying "What in the blue blazes is touching me?" As Werr stepped out, he saw Naybrin turning circles, trying to find the thing perched in his blind spot on his back, stroking his scales.

"Mighty nice lookin' scales ya got here," Keir said, stroking the diamond-hard, sparkling scales. "Be worth a fortune, ya know?"

"Get off," Naybrin said, trying hard to see the thief. "I do not appreciate you sitting on me when I don't know you."

((Can Keir understand dragonzez?))

"Hey! Those scales aren't for sale, Keir!" Werr called up to the thief, frowning. "And I'd doubt he'd be inclined to give you any, either. Naybrin, I think the world would thank you if you rolled over and crushed him while you still have a chance." He snorted, shaking his head. He definitely felt annoyed, that was for sure. Not really angry yet, but just as annoyed as Naybrin. It seemed that most of the time, Naybrin's emotions would be overriding his; the great dragon was much more powerful, after all.

((When you're a good thief like Keir, stealing things, including a small vial of dragon's blood, is easy. xD))

"Woah now!" Keir said, hopping off of the dragon immediately. "Sorry, friends. Didn't think ya'll be the type to kill a bloke over a bit of investigating." He crossed his arms as Naybrin turned to face him, staring flatly at him. "I find you both very annoying and strangely amuzing," he said, then snorted, surprised to see Keir barely so much as flinch at the sharp breath. The First King turned his head back towards Werr, putting his nose to the boy's forehead and snuffling as he sniffed the boy all over. He purred, his annoyance fading to a content feeling.

Keir watched this with a raised eyebrow, looking interested.

Werr smiled and scratched Naybrin's scales, happy to be back with the large dragon. He walked around Naybrin's head a moment later and looked around. Then he looked directly at Keir. "Did you happen to pick up a staff of some kind lying around here? I dropped mine, you see, and I don't see it now. I don't mean to accuse, but you are one for taking items of importance and rarity, are you not?" He asked all this simply, not angry or irritated anymore. Just curious.

Keir blinked, then said "I dunno what you're talkin' 'bout."

Naybrin fixed him with a sharp glare.

Keir rolled his eyes with a heavy sigh, then put a hand into the pocket inside his cloak...and pulled Werr's staff from it. Even Naybrin had to blink at that. The staff was long; there was no way it could fit into that little pocket. But here was Keir, pulling it out and tossing it to Werr with a disgruntled air. "Ya shouldn't leave pretty little trinkets like that layin' around, kid," he said, pulling a cigar and a match from his same pocket and putting the cigar to his mouth. He lit it and threw the burned match away, puffing on his cigar.

"I didn't think it looked that...special..." Werr said, realizing halfway through his sentence that the staff was different now. It was longer and seemed less delicate, hummed softly with his touch, and had slightly glowing rubies on the entire thing. "This...Naybrin, did you change this or something?" He asked, looking up at the great dragon. "This is different from before. It's definitely still the same, but...different."

"Not I, Werr," the dragon said, tilting his head. "But don't trouble yourself with it. It is a token of our bond we share, nothing more. I can still see the fine craftsmanship of your friend's work, not to worry." He extended the tip of his tongue and licked the back of Werr's head once, then said "Consider it as an upgrade."

"Okay. Thanks, Naybrin." Werr smiled, knowing better than to question his friend. "Alright, I have to go check on Cynyr. I'll come back when I can, okay?" He patted the dragon's head, then turned to move back into the castle. He paused, however. "Oh, Keir...try not to take anything important." He said before leaving, hurrying off to the infirmary, hoping that Cynyr was awake by now.

"Upon my honor, your Kingliness," the thief said, and Werr was left with the feeling that he didn't have much honor in the first place.

Cynyr was awake by this time, stretched out on an infirmary bed and using one hand to throw a small ball against the far wall. It came sailing back at him and he continued to catch it and throw it repeatedly, ignoring the healer that was scuttling around trying to tell him to rest and not make noise. He looked utterly bored, with his other hand up behind his head. His cloak was hanging nearby, along with his shirt, both mended neatly. He had thick bandages wrapped around his chest, his mask still resting on his face as he continued to throw the ball.

"Hey," Werr said, stepping into the room. "Are you doing okay so far?" He asked, sitting down next to Cynyr. He set the teddy bear Welk was in next to Cynyr, smiling slightly. "You seem better, at least. I'm going to suggest that Sam find himself a healer. I have no qualms about doctors and whatnot, but...you have to admit, healers are useful. Speaking of, Seria should be heading back by now..."

"I wish this dope was a better healer," the panther said, casting the healer a dark look. "She just started learning healing. She was a regular doctor before." He sighed, knowing she was too far away to hear him, then said "I hope Seria comes back soon. I miss her." He threw the ball again, a little bit too hard, and it raced back and hit him in the eye. He yelped and rubbed his single eye, blinking in pain, then said "Anyways...are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Thanks for saving Sam...we'd be in yet another tight spot if he hadn't. I'm sure he'll come and give his thanks in a bit. Have you seen my father passing by? He carried you here, but I haven't seen him since..." He said thoughtfully, then sighed and shook his head. "No, nevermind. I don't really want to talk to him anyways. I still don't have an answer for him..."

"Okay then, because I don't know where he went," the panther said, giving Welk a light ruffle that made him squeak. He curled his claws under the teddy's chin, scratching affectionately as Welk made tiny squeaking, moaning sounds, mewling like a kitten. Cynyr smiled slightly, then said "My father's been in here once." He soured at that, snorting and clenching his teeth.

"I see," Werr nodded, rubbing his hand over the teddy bear's head. "Hey, Welk. Are you doing any better?" He asked quietly, then looked up at Cynyr. "What did...what did Leo want? Did he just talk, or...?" He questioned, not really sure why he wanted to know. But he didn't want Cynyr to be upset or sad, for any reason.