The Forgotten Zodiac

Spy was halfway in her bag. He had been looking for something of Lexi's - a suggestion from Werr - as he couldn't remember what the girl smelled like. It would have been good to track her down, but now the poor Chimera was swept up when Seria grabbed her bag without looking. The Chimera squeaked, but it was no good. Might as well sit tight and not let anything break.

It wasn't long before Zelana located the tree again. They didn't see Forin at first, but the Gryphon used her sharp eyes to finally spot the Tartaran, curled up between the roots of the tree, Vorpal tight in his grip.

At first glance, he looked like he might've been dead. His arm was looking about the same as before, and he was sleeping, so it didn't look like he was breathing, at first.

"I knew it!" Zelana shrieked, letting Seria scramble off of her back. "I knew he was just going to keel over! What an idiot!" She cawed loudly, scraping her claws over the ground, but perked up when Seria said "No, he's alive! Stop shouting." She bent down next to the Tartaran and stroked his hair back gently, then flinched as Vorpal woke up and spotted her.

"You!" he shouted, already in rage mode. "You! Forin, wake up! The healer female is here for you! Wake!"

"Vorpal, I'm tired..." Forin moaned gently. His infection had since returned, but his arm looked cleaner than before. He had washed it and rebandaged it, now that his other arm had returned from what he had thought to be death. The Tartaran stirred and looked up at Seria, then smiled. "Oh...hey." He uttered blearily.

Then, in a sort of a late reaction, he sat up a little more as quickly as he could, pushing his injured arm towards Seria. "It's killing...me, please, work qu-quickly," He pleaded desperately, pulling the makeshift bandage off. Spy chose now to slip out of Seria's bag, poking around.

"Forin?" Spy blinked, backing away from a spot of ash. "What...what happened? There's blood, and...a body," He raised his hackles, hissing a bit at the stench of death. "This was here when you got here, right?" Forin didn't answer.

"Spy?" Seria questioned, but didn't argue with him over being in her bag. He was here anyways, and it wasn't like Zelana could make an entire trip back to the cave just to drop him off. Seria got right to work on Forin's arm, tending to him as quickly and gently as she could. "What happened here, Forin?" she asked softly, her red-furred ears turning down against her head.

Forin looked down. "I don't know," He said honestly. "There were...soldiers. I was dying, and they had spotted me. Vorpal started screaming, which made most of them stay back, but one of them came forward and examined me. He...apologized for getting Alastor wrapped up in the war. Apologized for what we both thought was my inevitable death. He asked if I had any last wishes or words, and I was going to say something, but another man stepped forward and questioned the motives of the first...he wanted me dead right then and there. I was angry...and that sort of...set something off." He sighed, then shook his head. "You never saw Luna, I don't think...but at one point, her entire body fell apart, and was replaced with this crystal-like, white blue substance that glowed brilliantly. That same thing happened to me, only it was black and red...I don't really know what else to say. I killed the man threatening me, and everyone else who stepped forward to try and fight me. My arm felt better, and cutting them apart was easy...I left one alive. General Shun, I think he was called...the one who treated me with respect. He fled pretty quickly, and I let him run. Would've let the others run, but they thought themselves brave...

"After that, I got tired again. The power left. I just...let it slip out of my grasp. The infection started coming back, faster than before...I was worried you wouldn't make it in time, Zelana, but...you did well. Thank you."

Seria shivered, then carefully stroked his hair back, saying "It's okay, Forin. So long as you're still with us. You are still with us, aren't you?"

"Of course he is!" Vorpal shouted. "Do not take him lightly! He is still on your side, and luckily for you, so am I!" He would've turned away in a huff, but since he was a sword, that was unlikely to happen. So he settled for growling and fuming at the healer. He was clearly not in the best of moods.

"Yes...I'm still with you." Forin nodded hesitantly, pulling his arm away and examining the work she had done. "You were always the best at this sort of thing," He smiled a bit, then sighed. "Sorry about Vorpal. He sort of...merged...with my arm. I have no idea what happened, but I might have hurt him a bit..." He looked down, thinking hard about the power and strength that he had temporarily possessed. Next time...he wouldn't let go so easily.

((Which is the main danger about it. xD Absolute power corrupts absolutely.))

((:U But he'll be okay in the end, right? YES. I answer for you! YES.))

"A bit?!" Vorpal shouted, and it was clear he would be enraged for a few hours more. "You bloody knocked me unconscious! 'A bit', honestly! I've never been unconscious before, but now it's my OWN master that-" He rambled on unceasingly, like a recording on loop.

Seria cringed at his angry loudness, then said "Come on, Forin. Let's get you back to the others." She cringed worse at the mention of them, then said "...Luna needs you. Badly. And Luen...well, I imagine you'll sense that." She shrugged, then took his hand and helped him stand up, saying "Let's go."

((Duh. xDDD))

Forin looked saddened at his weapon's anger towards him. He hadn't meant to do anything. It wasn't his fault. There hadn't really been anything he could do. "Right...let's get back, then." He sighed heavily, testing and flexing his arm before looking towards Zelana. "You...can't carry all of us, can you?"

Zelana looked indignant at once, hissing and saying "Are you insulting me? I could carry you all, if I were at top strength, but I am not right now! Your healer will have to run in cat form, but I imagine she can manage!" She huffed and turned away, ruffling her feathers.

Vorpal breathed hard for a moment, then suddenly said "Master Forin, when we get to a safe area, please plunge me into the ground and leave me there for an hour!" Before Forin could ask what he meant, he answered. "I...cannot contain rage well, and I absolutely hate being mad at you. Therefore, no matter what I say, you must punish me. I do not like being in the ground, at all, so you must punish me this way! No matter what I say to you." He trembled lightly with fear and anger, as if he couldn't control himself well right now. Which he couldn't.

"Vorpal..." Forin sighed, and thought for a moment. He could deny the sword, but...no matter. There was nothing for it, really. "Alright. I'll do it. Only because you need it." He looked towards Seria. There was something he needed to ask. "You mentioned the others...how many 'others'? Is...is Diana with you all?"

She hesitated, then shook her head, saying "No, not with us. We're hoping she and Lexi managed to find each other. But don't worry; Naybrin went out looking for them. I'm hoping that if anyone can find someone out here, it's him." She moved forward and hugged Forin gently, then said "Come on, let's go." She shifted to cat form and shook herself, seeming disheartened.

Zelana nudged under Forin's legs and the two lerloches took off, one in the air and the other on the ground. It didn't take quite as long as they might've thought to get back to their little cave encampment, where Luna was awake and in another hysterical fit. She was the only one in the carriage right now, and whenever the door opened, she wailed and moved away from it.

Forin was quick to remember Vorpal's request. He unsheathed it, then thrust the blade into a soft spot on the ground, not at all surprised when it was buried up to the hilt. "One hour, friend. Scream as you need to into the earth," He murmured, his fingers sliding off the leather-wrapped handle. He moved away, making a beeline for the carriage. He didn't open it right away, listening to her whimper and moaning.

He sighed, unable to hold his silence anymore. "Luna? Luna, it's me. Forin. Are you...okay?"

There was silence for a long moment, then Luna squealed and tore at the carriage door, wrenching it open and lunging for her Tartaran lover. She got her arms around his neck and sent them both tumbling to the ground, where she sobbed and clung near-desperately to him, crying histerically into his chest. "Help me!" she wailed, and he heard the fear in her voice. "Forin, help me! Help me, I need you, help me, help me...!"

Forin sat up, wrapping his arms around Luna tightly. "Shh, shh, my dearest Amnairian..." He murmured soothingly, casting a glance at everyone else. "What's wrong, Luna? What happened?"

"She's scared of everyone." Carlyle started. "Even the wolf, who has informed me that he felt close to her. He was upset and ranting, and--"

"I didn't ask you, human!" Forin snarled viciously, warning him away. He picked up Luna and carried her back to the carriage, slamming the door shut once they were both inside. "It's okay...you're okay. I'll protect you from everything." He murmured, holding her close and tight.

Luna cried on his shoulder for a long time, finally feeling somewhat safe. Finally, she was able to speak, though her voice trembled and shook weakly. "V-voices...nightmares...h-haunting me... Even n-now...they're out th-there..." She gasped, pressing her face into his shoulder, then said "It gets w-worse around L-Luen...it's r-resonating from him, but it all s-started when N-Nate b-bit me! Look!" She put her hands on either side of his face and concentrated.

Instantly, Forin saw what she saw.

It was dark. The carriage was creaky and old, looking like someone had tried to tear it apart. Wind howled past outside, and when Forin looked out the window, he saw dark shapes moving about.

Werewolves. Hundreds of them.

Large, hulking beasts, with foam-spittle dripping from slavering jaws and evil, piercing eyes. Ophile (clearly not seeing any of these apparations) walked past outside, and Forin had to blink. Through Luna's eyes, he looked like a werewolf too. They all did.

Forin looked down at himself. He was a werewolf...but Luna had somehow pushed past that image and fear. She remembered his voice and trusted that he wasn't a monster. Forin pulled her hands away from his head, forcing the horrible sight away. He pulled her into his lap again, putting a hand over her eyes. "None of it is real, Luna...you must see that. Is it an illusion? Is something wrong with your mind? I'm so worried..." He pressed his cheek to her forehead, closing his own eyes. "Nate...bit you, though? Why would Nate bite you? That doesn't make any sense..."

She shuddered, wrapping her arms around him in order to lean against his chest, panting for breath. "H-He did," she gasped. "B-But he was sick...h-he couldn't help it..." Tears formed in her eyes and she started crying again, shaking. "It won't stop!" she wailed. "And every t-time Luen comes n-near me-"

"Forin?" The unsuspecting kirin knocked in the door, wanting to see his best friend. "Forin! Is it really you? Are you okay?" The worry in his voice was sweet and showed that he cared, but to Luna's ears, it was a harsh growl. She only heard Forin's voice because she was tied to him; they shared a unique bond.

Upon hearing Luen's voice, Luna squealed and clung desperately to Forin.

Forin gently pried Luna off, kissing her on the forehead. "It's okay. Stay here, I'll be right back," He murmured, making her sit. He put her hands over her eyes, so she wouldn't see anything as he opened the door and stepped out of the carriage. "I'll be back really soon." He said, then shut the door behind him. He pulled Luen away, sighing unhappily. "Luen, she...she's seeing things. Werewolves. Monsters. I don't even know if she can hear your voice...just stay away from the carriage for now, okay?" He made his friend agree before moving forward and giving him a hug. "I missed you...do you have any idea where Diana is? I...I can't leave Luna. Not now. I..." He sighed, shaking his head.

Luen looked sad and unhappy at Forin's words, but he nodded and said "Okay. I'll stay away." He hugged Forin tightly, closing his eyes as he rested his chin on his friend's shoulder, then said "No. I haven't seen Diana since we were all separated. But...for some reason...I know she's alive and well. It's so strange, but...I can smell her blood." He blushed, then said "I can smell her heartbeat. She's alive, and quite well." He pulled back and pushed his hair out of the way. Forin had to blink at that. Was Luen's white hair always so long and shaggy? No, it wasn't. But the kirin didn't seem to notice. "I want to go look for her," he said softly. "And I know you do. But you're right, you can't leave Luna."