The Forgotten Zodiac

"Except I can't...I can't even do that..." Boko sniffled, shaking his head. "Fighting...I can't fight. The Drakelings are older and bigger and faster, I'd be torn apart...and that would make mommy and daddy upset. I can't do that...I love my parents, I-I don't want them to be sad over my foolishness..."

Shiya thought for a moment, then said "Let's find other ways to help, then. We'll gather food for the others, and we can help the medical dragons find herbs, and...what if we set traps?" She bumped under his chin, saying "If we set traps for the drakelings, that would help, right? Like if they stepped on something and it made rocks hit them."

Boko thought about it. The only Drakeling to ever survive a cave in was Du'uru. Drop a big enough rock on anything, that thing would die. Drakelings were no exception...

"Okay." Boko said after a long moment. "Let's go do those things. We can try, at least..." He sniffed and scraped his tears off with the sides of his claws, shaking his head to dry out the last of it.

She licked his muzzle again, then nudged a fish towards him and said "Not before you eat, though. I won't see you starve yourself, Boko. ...I like you." She licked his muzzle again, then picked up a fish and held it gently in her jaws, putting it next to his mouth. "Please eat first," she said softly, holding the fish by its tail and talking quietly around it. "It's not a lot, I know, because I was in a hurry, but... It's enough, right?"

Boko looked at the fish, sniffing it curiously. He couldn't hide the growl of his stomach anymore. He hadn't eaten in almost three days now. He was starving. So Boko did indeed take the large fish, digging into it slowly. Picking at it, really, but he did eventually eat it all. When he was done, he stood and shook himself off, letting out a small sigh. "Okay. I'm ready now."

She licked his muzzle gently, then said "Let's go." The two raced off into the night, setting to work as quickly and quietly as they could. Because they were young, they couldn't do as much as they might've wanted. They were too small to lift the utterly gigantic rocks, the ones they wanted to use, but by gathering ones they could manage in amounts of up to a hundred, they made do. Boko's digging had a good use, as he was able to hollow out a large space underground while Shiya filled it with sharp wooden spikes she had carved with her teeth and claws. When a drakeling set foot on the unstable ground, they would fall in. "We'll have to warn Zephyr about all of this," Shiya said at some point. "I would hate for a dragon to fall in, like your mother or mine."

"Right..." Boko nodded. "You wait here, I'll go get my parents and tell them." He took off, and flew swiftly towards the caves where he knew his parents were waiting in. "Mama, papa?" He called, poking his head in. "Shiya and I made something, I want you to come see." He flicked his tail around, knowing they probably wouldn't be happy about seeing him out and about.

Zephyr and Vaira had been talking quietly together, curled closely around each other, and they both lifted their heads at Boko's voice. "Boko?" Zephyr said, blinking and letting Vaira uncurl herself from him. "What are you doing here? You should be with the other younglings." He stood, frowning disapprovingly, but not in a way that suggested that he was furious. He bent his head and nuzzled his son, saying tiredly "What is it, Boko?"

"What are you away from the Hallowed Hills for?" Vaira snapped, licking him hurredly and quickly.

"Shush, Vaira," Zephyr said. "He has something to show us." He nuzzled his son's head softly, then said "Show us."

((You are the sun around my earth,

making me feel twice what I'm worth.

keeping my world bright and alive.

You are the wind beneath my wings,

and all those wonderful things,

that make me who I am.))

((Awwww~You makeh me feel so much better with that.))

Boko's eyes fell, and his ears drooped. "Shiya and I wanted to help..." He didn't say anything further, instead scampering back to where the female youngling was waiting, leading his parents there. "We made a trap. The ground is weak here, don't step on it." He warned quickly. He ducked into the small tunnel he had made, returning with one of the spikes. "See? And up here," He flew up the hill a bit, to where they had gathered the rocks, ready to be released. "It'll bury them, too. We wanted to help fight off the bad Drakelings, and--" He suddenly stopped, his eyes flicking to a shape behind Zephyr.

It was Vuker, the messenger from before. He looked wounded, by claw and tooth. He had been sleeping in a bush before, but the arrival of Zephyr had woken him up. He straightened himself up to his full height and uttered a single, pain-filled sentence.

"Please kill me."

((That's the whole point, of course. -nuzzles softly-))

Vaira ducked in front of the two little ones, snarling at Vuker, but Zephyr's voice stopped her. "You," he said, recognizing him. "What happened to you?" He bent his head in concern, bumping the small drakeling lightly. He passed his tongue once over the drakeling's body, healing his wounds, then said "I was certain none of my dragons had attacked yet..."

Vuker fell over at the lick, and he didn't try to get back up again. His wounds were deep, a single dose of Dragon saliva wasn't enough. "I...it's practically a war amongst ourselves, at this point." He moaned. "I tried...you were kind to me, you still are. I don't believe that what happened to the Lexicon was any fault of your own...nor should Boko be forced to live a life he doesn't want to live. We've survived for years now without the Lexicon, nothing has changed. I told the Drakelings this. Many of them believed me, but there are still plenty who agree with Du'uru. The great Sand King was furious. He followed the trail of words to me...I was branded as a traitor. M-my own mother...she tried to protect me, but my father was stronger than her by too much. S-she's gone now...a-and Kalle attacked me..." He cried weakly. "Then those who agreed with me started fighting, a-and I barely made it here alive...but if you have it in you, p-please kill me...I don't want to live anymore!" He wailed, grabbing at Zephyr's claws and forcing them over his head.

"Vuker..." Boko whimpered. The Drakeling always remembered Vuker as a strong-spirited Drakeling. To see him crying and begging for death was...it seemed so impossible. But the Drakelings was telling the truth, every word of it. Boko could hear it in his voice.

Zephyr's claws were unmoved. He tilted his head at Vaira, who moved her head forward and doused Vuker in her own saliva, further soothing his wounds, then she shifted forward and curled herself around him, saying "Shh, shh...don't cry, Vuker, don't cry..." She licked him ever so gently, then looked up as Zephyr turned to Shiya, saying "You'd best get back to your mother, youngling."

She darted away, calling a timid "Bye, Boko," over her shoulder.

Zephyr turned back to Vuker, saying "Life is never over until it is over, you know. Why don't you come back to the Sacred Plains with us? I can't stand seeing an innocent drakeling suffer, and I refuse to kill you. Share our home. You don't even have to fight for us. Just...stay there."

"But...I..." Vuker hesitated. "I...am already branded as a traitor to my king," He said slowly, talking himself into it. "I may be hated by your kind, b-but...Boko is here...so I'll have someone to talk to, and I don't doubt that I'll be fed and bathed..." He lifted his chin to let Vaira lick his throat, where a bad bite mark was. His own father really had tried to kill him. "Okay. I'll stay with you. At least...at least until the fighting is over."

"Lick me too, mommy," Boko crooned, a bit jealous of the attention Vuker was getting. The other Drakeling laughed a bit.

"That's right...these are your parents, aren't they, Boko? You're lucky...they're so loving and kind..." He smiled a bit, going limp from exhaustion.

"Yes," Boko nodded eagerly. "I love them, too. A lot." He purred, climbing up onto Vaira and nuzzling Vuker with his nose. "I'm glad you're not evil or mean like Du'uru is. And I'm glad to hear that not all those Drakelings are bad like that. I hope the good ones win."

"Me too." Vuker said quietly before passing out.

Vaira transferred her tongue to her son, caressing his silvery scales ever so softly. "My angel..." she said, then she gave him a dragon kiss and tucked him down into her pouch. He barely fit anymore, but neither cared. Other dragon mothers would've already nudged their children out of the pouch, but Vaira thought differently in the care of her little one. She had let Boko stay in her pouch far longer than a normal dragon baby, simply because she believed it strengthened their bond and made each feel more secure. She gently picked up Vuker in her mouth, which was warm and reminiscent of a pouch, then she and Zephyr lifted off, heading back home. Upon returning, Zephyr told Mithor of what had happened.

"This is a serious turn of events," the general said, rubbing his muzzle wearily. "Perhaps more drakelings can be swayed to come here instead of fight us. Vuker doesn't have to fight, so long as he helps like a normal youngster his age would."

"I agree," Zephyr said. "If we could only turn the drakelings...let them see that Du'uru's decision is wrong..." He sighed, then said "Make sure everyone knows that Vuker is under my protection. If they lay a single claw on him..."

"Yes, my lord," Mithor said, then stroked his muzzle down Zephyr's back in passing.

Boko purred, rubbing up against Vaira, ignoring the tightness of her pouch. It was still comfortable, and he was still able to fall asleep peacefully. With both he and Vuker unconscious, it was easy to get them back into the Hallowed Grounds and tucked safely close together while Vaira and Zephyr went to make plans. This changed everything; if they had Drakelings on their side, it would ease the weight of battle, and perhaps they could convince all the Drakelings to side against Du'uru. Perhaps...

But on the other side of the ocean, war was still being waged.

"Wake up! Wake up, please, please wake up!" Cyprus' voice was lost to the buzz of his magic. He could only make those buzzing noises, as well as a few 'mememe's. At least, that was all Cynyr heard. The Demigod was tied to a tree, although Cynyr was just lying on the ground. But the stamping of horses feet were fast approaching...

Cynyr slowly stirred, wincing with each movement. He blinked his eyes open, but he didn't seem to see anything for several long moments. Finally, his eyes came into focus and he pushed himself up, wincing with each move. He glanced around, and when he saw their surroundings, panic struck. "No...no!" he said sharply, knowing better than to just scream and shout. He whirled at Cyprus' 'mememe's, recognising him in a matter of moments. "You!" he said, rounding on the demigod and slicing through his bonds with his claws. He shifted to human form, saying angrily "Where's my wife and brothers? Where are they?!"

Cyprus fell to the ground, shaking his head. He didn't know. How was he supposed to know that? He only knew that the horses were getting closer and closer...

Suddenly something dropped out of the tree. It looked like a huge bird of some kind, rivaling the size of a vulture. It eyed Cyprus and Cynyr warily, then suddenly squawked loudly. Again and again. There was a call from the direction of the horses, and the bird took off before Cyprus could grab it. The Demigod scrambled around to hide behind Cynyr, terrified.

Cynyr snarled at him, shifting away, then said "Come on, let's out of sight, at least!" He pushed Cyprus, tugging and pulling at him until he got up, then he proceeded to shove him unceremoniously into the forest, saying "Move it!" He trotted behind him, glancing around warily. He was accoustomed to forest settings, and even to being hunted.

He wasn't accoustomed to other people.

Cyprus murmured his 'mememe's and his whimpers, but he hurried along deeper into the forest. He loved trees, but he had no time to stop and speak with them. He had to run...

Diana honestly had no idea where she was. She knew what was around; plains and rolling hills. She saw that much. But she hadn't been dropped near anyone else. So she was walking. Following the dirt path, trying not to tread in horse dung, and trying not to cry. She was alone, it was hot, she was thirsty, and she had a massive headache...

((Forgot who we paired with who. xD))

((Forin with Welk, Werr with Luen, Cynyr with Cyprus, Seria with Spy, Ophile with Naybrin, Luna with Nate, Lexi and Diana, and Zelana would have to go with someone to make a third in a party. Can't remember any other characters that are here right now.))

She finally came up on someone. It was Lexi, curled up on the ground just off of the path, crying softly into her hands. She was convinced she had been left out here in the open to die, and though she figured she could survive for a few days, it would only be a matter of time before she perished. All alone...