The Forgotten Zodiac

"You'll be okay. Just keep working at it, you'll get there eventually." Marion wrapped her arms around his long neck, feeling his blood pump through his veins and the air move through his throat. She pressed her face into his scales, a smile on her face again. "I know you will. I have confidence in you, my dear Dmitry." She transformed and looped herself around his neck once or twice, like a necklace. "Just keep working at it."

He hummed softly, closing his eyes as his wings stilled. He gently licked the top of her head once, then glanced upwards, at the sky. A strange urge filled him at once; the urge to fly. In an instant, almost without him fully knowing it, he snapped his wings open and gave a brief crouch, then lunged upwards, launching himself skywards. He flapped his wings on instinct, soaring up towards the sun.

It was graceful, fluid, and elegant. Perfection.

Until he realized what he was doing.

He faltered at once, releasing a roar as he fell back down, landing heavily on his legs and letting out another roar. He threw his head back, keeping Marion from hitting the ground.

"Well, it was a decent attempt," Marion said with a small laugh. She was a little winded, but otherwise unharmed. "You should probably take a break, though. Like I said, don't stress yourself too much..."

The sound of metal on metal distracted her. She looked towards Forin and Luna, who were training together; they were almost dancing, their swords clashing together so fluidly and easily. One would try a half-step one way and an off-beat swing, but the other caught up easily and blocked the attack. It was hypnotizing, the way they circled one another as though they each considered the other to be prey. While at the same time, they were taking care not to damage each other more than a scratch or a nick here or there.

Dmitry watched them for a moment, then said "Their skill is impressive, to say the least. Too bad I'm not up to it, or I would join in. My father taught me a few things." He sighed, then realized that Naybrin was staring at him, oddly and closely. Just staring and blinking slowly, as if he had seen Dmitry somewhere before.

"Can I help you?" the wyvern said, trying not to glare too much.

Naybrin blinked sharply, then said "Oh...pardon me. You...look like someone that...meant a lot to me."

"We need to move out soon," Werr suddenly called to those outside.

"What?" Forin parryed another blow from Luna, then stepped away. "I thought we were going to look for Luen first. We have to look for Luen."

"I know, Forin. We're going to find a cure, first." Werr said, nodding with a small smile. "One thing at a time. It'll be easier if we get the cure, then track him down."

"The more time we waste, the further away from us he could get, and it'll be impossible to find him!" Forin snarled.

"You're forgetting someone. Someone who can find anyone, even our dear were-friend." Werr rolled his eyes. Spy scrambled up onto his shirt and shoulders, waving at Forin.

"O-oh...Spy! Spy, you can track him?!"

"NO, MY NOSE IS BROKEN." Spy yelled back, obviously sarcastic. Forin, in the meantime, was grinning, glad to finally have some good news. Spy could find Luen...definitely.

Luna smiled as well, then said "At least we have some hope now. We'll get the cure and come back for him, and save our dear kirin." She smiled softly, then wrapped her arms around Forin and hugged him tightly.

Naybrin turned away from Dmitry and bent his head to Werr, saying "We should go soon, then. We've stayed here long enough."

"We should," Werr nodded, eying Dmitry curiously. He could sense Naybrin's emotions (and he felt them, as well), but he couldn't read his dear friends thoughts. He couldn't tell why his friend was feeling what he was feeling. "We'll get the carriage ready to go," Werr said with a small smile. "But, uh...Naybrin, the horses kind of...ran off. Do you think you could carry it?" He questioned, scratching the back of his neck. "We can buy more horses near Herrace or something, so it's less suspicious...

"I have not a problem with carrying that tiny trinket," the First King said, smiling. He kept stealing glances at Dmitry, and he finally bent his mouth to Werr's ear and whispered to him. "Does he...remind you of someone?" he asked. "Like...my son. Grey. Look at his scales. The colors."

It was true. Dmitry's scales were like a faint, more subtle version of Grey's, whose had been much bolder due to his young age.

"You don't...suppose..." Naybrin said hesitantly, his eyes holding a distinct level of sorrow.

"It's not Grey," Werr shook his head, looking down. He leaned against his friend's muzzle. "Maybe...there's a small chance they were related. I think he said something about the Wyverns being a very rare and endangered race...let's just...ask him about it later, yeah?" He wiped his eyes, warding off his own tears. "Just keep calm, Naybrin. Yeah? No need t-to get all teared up now. I know you miss him, but...there's nothing we can do."

Naybrin crooned a soft, sad note, then pushed his feelings away and said "I am not going to burden you with these accursed feelings, Werr." He exhaled a warm, lovely breath over the boy, making him shiver from the heat, then said "I fear your girlfriend has entered another odd spell."

It was true. Lexi was sitting motionless against the cave wall, her mouth open slightly and her eyes glazed over. She clearly wasn't 'there' at the moment.

"Oh, darn it..." Werr sighed, standing up. "I'm so worried about her, she keeps doing that..." He walked over to her and plopped down next to her, shaking his head sadly. "Lexi," He said softly, taking her shoulder and shaking gently. "Lexi! Wake up, Lexi, please..." He kissed her on the cheek, putting his forehead against her temple. "Please...?"

She was limp against him for a bit, then she suddenly blinked and made a questioning sound. "Nn...? Werr?" she said, letting him pull her close, into his lap. She curled against his chest, nuzzling under his chin. "What happened?" she said, her big brown eyes roundening at the edges as she grew sad. "You're upset..."

"Of course I'm upset!" He said at once, hugging her tightly. "You keep...leaving. Drifting off into goddess knows where, letting your mind wander, or something...what's wrong with you? Please, Lexi, you can tell me...are you visiting the past? Getting trapped in thoughts of the future? You c-can't keep doing this, Lexi, it's scaring me..."

"I...I don't know!" she exclaimed, pressing close to him as if he could protect her from whatever outside force was causing these strange mind trips. "It's l-like...s-something comes over me...and I just float. I can't see anything, I can barely hear other than ghostly whispering...but I can still feel touch." She turned her arms in against her chest, pressing close to him and curling up like a small child in his lap.

Werr started going through a list of natural things that could cause that. The most he could come up with was a mini-stroke in a particular area of her brain, but for it to be happening constantly like this...and at such odd times! "It'll be okay...you just...have to try and fight it off, Luna. N-next time you feel it coming, tell me. I'll try to keep it away, okay?" He kissed her on the forehead, gently rubbing her back. "But for now...we need to go. We're going to Herrace to try and find a cure for Luen..."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What?" Carlyle, who had been sitting nearby, looked up at once. This was the first he had heard of this news. "You lot are crazy, why would you--"

"Not crazy. Herrace...I have the feeling that we'll find what we need there." Forin said with a sigh. "I was...dying. One of the higher-ranking members of their millitary wanted me dead on the spot, but another...actually treated me with respect. And something tells me he's not the only one who would. He apologized for getting Alastor wrapped up in their war. He wasn't happy that I was dying. If we're lucky, his mentality will be the majority in Herrace, but I suppose we'll see. So, Carlyle, you have a choice. Shed your military clothing and follow us, or go back to the field of war. You have a few minutes to choose."

Carlyle looked down. "I...could be executed for treason..."

"As could the rest of us."

"I need time to think..."

"And you have it." Forin snorted. "Go sit in a corner or something. I would advise you talk to Nate, he's a bit of a military man himself. He can give you some advice--at the same time, he could potentially try to eat you, as he hasn't entirely come to his senses again yet. It's your choice, I suppose, whether or not you talk to him...I should stop giving you choices. I could short out your brain or something." He chortled. Carlyle frowned, but didn't say anything else, choosing to look down instead.

Lexi glanced over at Carlyle, then said "You should go home. I don't want to see you be killed because you were accidentally drawn into this terrible conflict... Just go home." Her round, sad eyes begged him, as she did care for anyone they came across. She didn't want an innocent to die if they couldn't help it.

"I..." Carlyle looked away, unable to manage looking at her for very long. "I can't go home. There's...none of it left. My mother died of illness only a few months before my younger brother and I were enlisted. My brother...he died last week. And the day before we were moved out here, I got the letter saying that the house I was born and raised in had been sold, in order to pay off debts that my father had accumulated before his death. The only thing I have left in Bulliete is a woman I loved, who married another man. I...was fully expecting to die on the battlefield. I don't even care anymore." He unstrapped and removed his light armor, pulling off his colored war tunic (he had a plain tunic underneath) and tossing aside the bit of metal that had his name engraved onto it. "I guess I'll just go with you guys. No point in returning to a place I have no ties to."

Lexi bit her lip, but said nothing, simply curled into Werr and closing her eyes.

Cynyr shook his head, saying "Welcome to your doom, then. I give him two days."

"Cynyr!" Welk and Seria said at the same time, making the panther duck his head and go quiet. "Sorry for my opinion," he said, rolling his single eye. "I'll keep quiet from now on. Sheesh."

Welk flicked his tail a few times, then nuzzled into Werr.

"Glad to see someone around here is optimistic," Carlyle snorted sarcastically. "Look on the bright side a bit, yeah? If I'm found out when we go to Herrace, I'll be tortured for information, then publically beheaded. If I'm lucky. I'll be far out of your hair then, won't I?"

"That's not exactly the bright side," Werr frowned.

"Well, not for me. The bright side for me is if I'm not caught...maybe I've found some new friends. New reasons to live, right?" Carlyle smiled a bit.

"That's the spirit!" Cyprus giggled, having finished saying his goodbyes to Ronan.

The stag moved over and bent his head, nuzzling Lexi gently before turning to Diana. Almost before either girl could react, his voice pushed into their minds.

"I have asked Cyprus to allow his magic to link our spirits. This is how you can hear me. You are both brave, daring young two-legs, and you have my trust. I wish you best of luck in your lives...for mine was never as happy as yours seem to be, faught with danger as they are. Live long, happy lives, and above all else, cherish your loved ones. If we are lucky, we will never meet again. For I wish you to return to your homes, not come to visit me. But I will hold your memories in my heart, where none can remove them.

Fare thee well, young does."

Then he nuzzled Diana's cheek and turned, stepping out of the cave...and out of their life.