The Forgotten Zodiac

Obelisk reacted immediately, throwing up a curtain of pure black. It was completely harmless, but it was big enough to obscure him and his wife from view at first. Obelisk slid off and helped Fawn off, leading her easily away from where the crowding would take place. The curtain vanished once he was clear.

"PAPA!" Boko wailed, curling himself around Zephyr's horns. "Papa, I was so worried, I thought you maybe would have died, a-and..." He sniffed, licking his father's wounds. "You're all hurt and stuff..."

Zephyr slowly sagged where he was, as Vaira curled under him and helped him stand. "Come on, Zephyr, let's get you inside," she said, helping her mate walk forward. He winced with each step, managing to look over his shoulder at where Obelisk and Fawn were. He wouldn't forget to take them home as soon as he was well again. For now, he paused and pulled Boko from his horns, holding his son close to his chest. "I told you I would come home," he said softly, rubbing Boko's back with his muzzle.

Boko purred and made sounds akin to a small cat's. Vuker, in the meantime, led Obelisk and Fawn inside; the ancient being knew that it would be a short time before Zephyr could go anywhere. And he still had to deal with Du'uru. So many problems in such a short time...but Obelisk knew full well that they would be treated well enough. And if they weren't...Zephyr wouldn't hear the end of it. Their needs weren't serious, though. The food they would take out of the pile would be miniscule compared to what others ate, and the warmth and shelter they needed were provided by the dragons and their cave. Getting the meat cooked would be easy, at that.

Fawn, ever the quiet one, was slowly getting used to the giant dragons and Drakelings that dwarfed her and her husband in size. But she had full confidence that Obelisk would care for her. She had since they day he had proposed. She seemed...ill, though. She kept coughing, especially now that they were out of danger. She didn't have much color in her face, and Obelisk seemed upset every time she looked up at him, as though she needed something.

But aside from her apparent health issues, things would go smoothly here. Obelisk didn't hesitate to follow Vuker, but he turned with Zephyr and Vaira and followed them into their caves. "Pardon the intrusion. I just need to know...what you'll have me do with Du'uru."

Zephyr hesitated, then said "If you could perhaps get me in to him, I would be ever grateful. I...have to know why. Why he's done these terrible things. Why he started a needless war. I need to understand before anything happens. Before...he dies." He shook his head, saying "Give me a bit of time. For the safety of both of our familes, Du'uru must be stopped." He licked Boko gently, then made it to one of the caves and walked in.

As the night continued, all of the dragons and drakelings retreated inside the warm caves, where they lit up crackling fires.

Zephyr weakly opened an eye to watch her and his son, then closed his eyes once again. This was when a small shape moved forward to Boko. Shiya, the little red-and-gold female that was his friend. "Boko," she called quietly, not wanting to disturb Zephyr and Vaira. "Is everything okay? I heard my mom talking...she sounded worried for all of the drakelings and dragons..."

Boko lifted his head, smiling up at her. "Hi, Shiya. Everything is fine now...daddy saved the Drakelings, and soon, mister man will go and stop Du'uru." He purred, looking up at her happily. Fawn looked up at Shiya, blinking and tilting her head a bit.

"She wants to pet you," Obelisk said quietly. "You don't have to let her, but I would advise doing so. She has a gentle touch, and she's only trying to grow accustomed to your kind..."

Shiya blinked at once, her ears slowly tilting down and her tail tucking against her body. She hadn't had the kind of exposure to humans that Boko and his family had received. She was a wild dragon, through and through, and while the same could've been said for all of them, Zephyr's family included, the thought of a human touching her scared her. But she held very, very still, allowing the woman to pet her gently.

"Good. See? No harm meant." Obelisk smiled a bit, satisfied. Fawn sensed Shiya's initial fear, and she soon backed away, returning to Boko. The little Drakeling adored being petted, and he had warmed up to Fawn rather quickly. She sat down next to him after a glance towards Obelisk. He nuzzled her gently, and she pet him happily.

"I like you! You're nice," Boko squeaked at her. "But you don't talk much. Are you okay?"

She looked saddened at that, and touched her throat. Obelisk spoke for her. "She can't speak. Her voice isn't there, little Drakeling. I speak on her behalf when she wishes it, and I know when she needs something..."

Shiya slowly crept over to Boko, curling up against him. It was clear that he was liked by the shy little girl, from the way she tucked her head against his neck.

Zephyr watched them silently, then smiled slightly and closed his eyes, sighing and shifting closer to Vaira, who was busy showering his bloody flanks with caresses of her tongue. The fire in the room crackled in a comforting way, sending shadows dancing over the walls.

Boko adored the attention. He nuzzled Shiya, then Fawn in turn. She smiled at him, then suddenly started coughing. Her fit sounded painful, and there was blood on her hand when she pulled it away. She whimpered and crawled to a waiting Obelisk, who pulled her into his grip. "I only have one syringe, Fawn, we have to save it for an emergency..." He murmured, kissing her forehead and wiping the blood off of her face and hand.

Zephyr blinked softly at them, then said "In the morning, we'll head to Du'uru. Then I'll take you home right after." He dozed off then, needing rest quite badly.

Shiya cuddled closer into Boko, fearing the smell of Fawn's blood. Her red and gold scales contrasted nicely with Boko's silver ones, and she put her muzzle right under his chin and sighed, feeling comforted with him so close. It was clear that she liked him a lot.

Boko purred and snuggled close to her, pretty much oblivious to her feelings, but knowing that he liked her a lot himself. Obelisk stood and comforted Fawn, saying he would go get some food off of the pile for the both of them. He left, but when he returned, he looked a little more...annoyed. Troubled wasn't quite the expression he had. Fawn made tiny questioning sounds, but he shook his head and set the meat to cook. Fawn ate and soon fell asleep, tucked into Obelisk's warm embrace.

It was only when she was fast asleep that Obelisk spoke. "Zephyr," He said quietly. "Yemara's ghost is here. She spoke to me..." He looked up at the dragon. "Please tell me you realized she's near..."

Zephyr woke from his sleep, blinking a few times before focusing on Obelisk. "Yes..." he said softly. "And it worries me. I know Cyprus is around, and you can't have one alone for very long..." He sighed, watching Boko and Shiya cuddle, then said "I sense things in motion. Things...I wish were not happening." He scraped his claws lightly, then moved his tail around and gently touched under Obelisk's chin. "Please, Obelisk...promise me that once I take you home, you'll keep them safe. A family is everything to us fathers. If we let them down, we let ourselves, and our futures, fade."

"I would be a fool and a slanderer to Remor's family name if I were to simply allow harm unto my family. Right now I have a...friend...watching Malice. My son...he's a good boy. He tries too hard sometimes, but...he tries." Obelisk sighed unhappily. "Cyprus...I returned him to the land of the living for Fawn's sake. He healed her illness at a simple touch a few months ago, but he was captured by the Drakelings, as I said. And now she's sick again, and Yemara...she'll emerge soon. That's what she said. She told me she was coming soon. Skies above, that laugh...it puts mine to shame," He snorted a bit, then turned his back to Zephyr, curling slightly around Fawn. "Goodnight for now, I suppose." He said, though it was no secret that Obelisk didn't sleep.

Zephyr sighed, then lowered his head and fell quietly asleep.

In the morning, he was still sleeping when Vaira woke up, yawning and showing off sharp teeth. She glanced down to where Boko and Shiya were sleeping, where Boko had an arm and several coils draped over Shiya flanks. She didn't look scared, like she sometimes did while she was sleeping. She looked happy.

Vaira smiled, then turned to Zephyr and began gently grooming his flanks.

Fawn and Obelisk were outside; she was leaning against him heavily as she had yet another coughing fit. She was quickly degrading, and Obelisk didn't know how long she'd be able to last. She needed Cyprus again, but now they were a full day's trip away from the Demigod. Obelisk had thought long and hard about it; bringing a few extra syringes with Fawn's medicine...well, even with his powers, strong as they were, it would take too long. He didn't want to risk making shadow copies of the medicine, there were too many things that could go wrong. So for now, he comforted his ill wife and did nothing but hold her close, very upset as she cried into his shirt.

One of the Drakelings was up early; he had apparently taken charge of the group for the time being. He was having those who could help with hunting; they were used to scarce food, but they weren't about to intrude upon this fine home and not help out. Those who were injured were recieving treatment, and of course, those who had their young here with them were given a cave to all rest and comfort their young.

One female sat in the back and never said a word. When she was asked about, the answers were the same, and all sad. "Her only daughter went missing, along with her mate. They haven't been seen since. Du'uru told her something, I remember. I think he told that her family was dead. All I know is that ever since, her voice has just vanished. She doesn't eat unless we make her, and she never moves unless we push her."

"That's very sad..." Salana was the one doing the questioning. Lutrez was tucked safely in her pouch, though he was getting too big for it. She didn't seem to care; he had been through a lot in the past few days, and she didn't want him being scared for any reason.

"Yes, well," Jerod, the Drakeling who had taken charge, sighed. "There isn't much we can do, especially not now. Thank you for your concern, though."

"Mama, maybe I could talk to her," Lutrez said softly, slipping out of her pouch. She looked down at him, very wary of all the Drakelings, but she slowly nodded. "Alright," She said softly. "Just...don't bug her if she seems annoyed at you, okay?"

"Okay, mama." He purred, slipping through the crowds. He flew up to her head, where he knew she could see him. "Hello there." He said with a happy smile. "Good morning. Are you hungry? We have fish. Fish are de-e-licious~!"

She blinked once, very slowly, and tilted her head scarcely an inch in order to see him. Her eyes were dull; lifeless. She watched him for a moment, then returned her gaze to the ground, sighing heavily. She was clearly depressed, and there was a bit of the drakeling form of stone-crawl on her flanks. She could still move, but she was very upset. Her name, when Lutrez asked another drakeling for it, was Flora.