The Forgotten Zodiac

"I'm s-so scared...what if the others are all dead? How will we get out of here?" She sobbed weakly, but as the pixie continued to sing, it began to calm poor Diana down. She blinked up at it, then reached up and wiped her eyes with her fingers. After it finished singing, she gave a watery smile. "Th-thank you..."

The pixie smiled, closing her brilliantly glowing eyes for a moment, then chirped a few words that were lost to the girls' ears and floated off towards her friends.

Ronan came over to stand behind the girls, lowering his head to gently touched Diana's shoulder. Lexi stroked his muzzle, watching as he closed his eyes, then looked up as several of the pixies carted over a large, hollowed-out stone. They set it down near Diana, then the small one that had sang started dancing around in the center of it. She twisted sharply, her long hair flying out around her, then suddenly flew straight up as fire leapt to life under her tiny, slender feet.

It's warmth immediately seeped into the girls.

Diana squeaked, then slowly held her hands out to the magical flames, a smile inching onto her face. "Thank you, thank you," She said quickly, relief washing over her as the light did. She wondered if the pixies would mind if they tried to catch some fish. But about that time, a few of the pixies carried over what looked like...well, meat. Fresh, too. Diana didn't question where they had gotten it. She was just extremely grateful that they would so happily provide for their needs.

The pixies giggled and squealed their little notes, clapping their hands and beginning a lively, spirited dance. Lexi smiled, then stuck the meat on a stick and helped Diana cook it, then gave it to the little girl. Lexi's only concern was for Diana, so she didn't eat any of it. She didn't let Diana know this, however. When the girl offered her a bit, Lexi smiled and pretended to eat. She knew Diana's young body needed the protein more than herself.

Diana watched Lexi carefully, but ate most of the meat herself. She made sure that Lexi ate about a fourth of it. But soon enough, it was apparent that Diana was more tired than hungry, now. She leaned towards Lexi, eventually settling against her and falling asleep. "Thank you..." She murmured one more time before drifting off.

The pixies all chirped back to her, then began returning to their little stone homes, one by one. The one that had sang to Diana watched her for a moment before darting in to kiss her cheek softly, doing the same to Lexi. Then she flew over to the fire and made it rise even higher, filling the cave with a gently warmth before going to her own little stone, where she faded inside.

Lexi watched, then snuffled down with Diana and slowly fell asleep.

*

Cynyr cursed, trying to ignore the screams of dying animals and humans as he dodged another burst of fire.

He had returned to the old campsite to find it engulfed in fire. Already sensing that his friends and family weren't there any longer, he had turned to run and had found his way blocked by more fire. Unable to locate the wheel tracks to follow the carriage, the panther had been left with no choice but to merely try and stay alive. He wasn't mad at the others for leaving without him; no, he was glad they had left. If they would've stayed, they would've died. Simple as that.

Marion tended dutifully to Dmitry, and now to Nate, as well. Both of them were feverish, though Nate's was subsiding. So Marion was continuously wetting cold rags to put on their foreheads, in order to break them faster. Nate eventually began groaning; but of course, the Naga had no comfort to give the Dragonian. He groaned and cried out softly for someone named 'Tasia Ariana', but he rolled over and settled down again before long.

Marion sighed heavily, curling up on top of Dmitry (in snake form) again. It was comfortable and warm there, though she would have much preferred it if he was cold.

Dmitry immediately rested a hand on her snout, breathing heavily. His breathing sounded rough and hoarse, and though he enjoyed having Marion so close, he wouldn't tell her that her weight was hurting him ever so slightly. Only not so long ago had he been able to walk and have her curled around him. He had been able to lay in bed and have her curl up, just like this, and instead of feeling uncomfortable, he had felt safe, warm and happy. But he didn't say a word. He merely held Marion tighter, pressing her head gently under his neck.

Marion pushed close to him, closing her eyes. "You're awake...that's good. I'm sorry, Dmitry...I shouldn't have left you. I could have protected you..." She murmured, nuzzling up close to him. "I love you...I-I can say that now, right? I love you." She twisted her body around, getting the weight off of Dmitry and transforming back into a human. She leaned forward and suddenly kissed him. Right on the lips, with one hand stroking his hair back and the other sliding around to hold his hand. When she pulled away, she was a little red in the face. "I, uh...sorry..." She spluttered, then rested her head on his chest.

His eyes shot open at that, startled. He blinked, staring at her as she pulled back, then closed his eyes and kissed the top of her head gently. "I'm not sorry," he said softly. "I'm glad...that you can say and do these things now." He held her hand tightly, wrapping his thin, fragile fingers around hers. "I love you, Marion," he whispered to her. "I always have, actually. Only now am I truly aware of it. From the moment I laid eyes on you at that accursed slave auction, I knew there was just...something about you. Something I needed." He bent his head and put his lips to her forehead, ever so lightly.

Marion wrapped her arms around him, pushing her cheek into his chest. "I...didn't like you, at first. You know that. I thought that you couldn't be trusted. I had heard too many horror stories about what some girls in the trade system are used for...I was afraid, and for the longest time, I wouldn't open up to you because I was scared. You...you thought I was just stubborn," She laughed a bit. "I had no reason to be so afraid...and eventually, I did open up to you. Just a little, to see what you would do...just think, if I hadn't done that, we both could be dead," She sighed, then leaned up and kissed him again. "I regret nothing. Not even running away from my parents. I don't care what they think, I'm glad I have you...I want nothing else."

He chuckled, then said "I remember that. You were quite the ornery little snake. But I liked that, too. It showed you had a spark. You didn't give in like most other slaves would've." He exhaled when she kissed him, still not quite used to the feeling, but knowing that he loved it and wanted to feel it again and again. "I would be nothing without you," he said softly. "I would've died in that castle mere hours ago if not for you. ...I owe you my life." He brushed her hair back with his claws, then looked up as someone cleared their throat.

Seria fidgeted a bit, then said "You look like your legs could use some assistance, Prince Dmitry."

Dmitry remembered his broken legs and nodded at once, saying "That would be appreciated."

Marion ignored Seria, but instead proceeded to kiss Dmitry repeatedly. On the lips, then the cheek, then the forehead, then back to the lips. She couldn't kiss him enough, now that she was able to kiss him. Eventually, though, she had to move so Seria could work. She took the rag from Dmitry's forehead and took it to wet it again. Soon...as soon as the fires passed, Marion would take Dmitry outside. Let him breathe some fresh air, feel the sun on his face...

He smiled, then winced and tensed as Seria touched his legs. She very gently bent his leg, trying to gage how bad the break was, and stopped nearly as soon as she moved his limb. "Stop, stop!" he cried, arching his back and digging his claws into the ground.

She stopped instantly, saying "Oh dear. The bone is shattered. What did this to you? The force behind it had to have been delivered skillfully to get this kind of damage without taking off your leg."

Shaking slightly from the pain, Dmitry said quietly "The emperor turned on me. What else do you think? He ordered Lennon to do this to me."

The prince closed his eyes, sighing and finding himself able to relax under Marion's carressing fingers. Seria worked quietly, and the wyvern felt no more pain as her healing powers flowed. Not even when she moved his legs around slightly. Once she was finished, he was able to move them without pain, finding them completely healed. "Thank you," he said softly. "I'm so glad to be rid of the pain." He sighed, then glanced over to where Welk was laying with Werr, quietly licking his best friend's hair as the boy leaned against him. "You're not really the king, are you?" Dmitry asked, and Welk glared over at him.

"What do you think?" he asked, returning his attention to Werr.

Werr blinked, then smiled a bit. "We didn't mean any harm by it. I felt it was safer this way..." He said with a small sigh. "What gave it away?"

"Your pompous air and the way you talk before anyone else." Marion snorted, not really liking those of 'king' status at the moment. She transformed again and wrapped herself tightly around Dmitry again.

"Be a bit kinder, won't you?" Allie snorted. "You're stuck between Herrace and Bulliete. One of which will cage you for the remainder of your short life, and the other of which will most likely torture you for information. Alastor is your only way out, at this point..."

Marion couldn't answer that with more than a hiss.

Dmitry sighed, then said "Alastor...that'll be nice, won't it, Marion? I don't care about not being a true prince anymore, or even living in a castle of sorts. I just need you to be complete." He stroked Marion's head gently, kissing her nose softly.

Welk watched them, then said "Somehow I knew we wouldn't be able to keep up that farce for long. Werr." He grinned and nuzzled against his best friend, sighing a moment later and looking upset. He was still worried about Cynyr. Was their oldest brother okay? Surely he was; Welk trusted in his ability. To keep his mind from fretting, he resumed licking Werr gently, running his tongue over the boy's hand.

Werr was content with the licking, and a smile slowly spread over his face. "You two could live peacefully anywhere in Alastor. The port towns are quite lovely all year round, and there are a few colonies of forest folk. They live in treehouses. I always thought that was interesting. If you two are used to heat, the Hadaarak Desert will be quite inviting to you both. It's wide open, you could settle down anywhere there."

"Don't try to talk us into something we've already chosen," Marion snapped grumpily. "We'll pick a place, and you'll provide the things we need to make a home there. Your majesty."

Werr's smile hid a hint of a smirk. "But of course." He looked away, towards Ophile; the wolf was sitting near one of the wolves in the pack. He could understand them. He was a wolf himself, after all. Regardless of that fact, they hadn't spoken much. Ophile had just directed a wandering pup back to its mother, and was now watching them quietly.

Malu'urim glared at him, his lips pulled back ever so slightly in a warning snarl. "You are not a natural wolf," he said, approaching Ophile and looking coldly down at him. He was bigger than the large black wolf, and that was saying something. "What business do you have among human kind?"

"Malu, be nice," his mate, Shatena, chided softly, licking the pup Ophile had nosed back to her. "They have been through much."

Malu'urim bent his head and licked her muzzle, but he never moved his eyes from Ophile.