The Forgotten Zodiac

"Of course...the acidity and the heat would melt down the scale, and the magical properties would quickly balance it out..." He murmured, thinking. "I need a relatively small sliver." He murmured, getting a measure of water from the nearby pool. He opened a bottle of liquid and smelled it hesitantly before putting a dash into the cylander.

Zephyr nodded, then bent his head and very lightly ran one of his sharp teeth over the surface of the lava rock. It resulted in a scraping sound, like nails on a chalkboard, but within mere moments, a sizeable chunk of cooling lava chipped off, falling neatly by Obelisk's feet. Zephyr took a smaller size and picked it up, setting it down on a metal stand on the table.

Obelisk took the smaller chunk up with his powers, putting it into the water. It hissed and spat viciously, but Obelisk waited until the potion was a dark grey, the lava rock completely dissolved. Then he let the scale fall into the solution, though he was hesitant to do so. If he messed this up, Zephyr would have to give him another scale. And perhaps another, and another...no, Obelisk didn't want that in the slightest.

So he got to work. The mixture changed to the right color, but it didn't have nearly the proper effects, nor did it smell right. Obelisk worked with container after container of the powders, trying not to add too much of anything. He started with tiny amounts and slowly worked his way up; it took a very long time, but he wasn't disappointed when he was done.

Obelisk gingerly held the finished product of his labors. "Is this right?" He asked Zephyr, not wanting to harm his wife. Not at all.

Zephyr bent his head and sniffed the potion for a moment, then said "It looks the same, and it smells the same, except the scent is very faint. I believe you have created a lesser version of a true dragonscale potion. It will heal her, but her problems will return eventually. Though this is much better than whatever was in that syringe for her. Perhaps we can get Naybrin to tell us once I take you both home." He touched his nose lightly to the bottle, then said "Yes, this will work for now."

Obelisk put his hand between the great dragon's nostrils, closing his eyes for a moment. "Thank you," He murmured. "Even if her symptoms return, this means a great deal to us." He didn't wait for a 'you're welcome' before turning away, drawing Fawn close. She drank it eagerly, and Obelisk didn't allow a single drop of it to be lost. When it was gone, color swiftly returned to her cheeks and she coughed a single time more, the forming second blockage falling right out of her mouth. Even the little scrape she had gotten on her nose from falling was whisked away in a heartbeat. She slid off of the shadow chair and practically tackled Obelisk, humming a very happy note. Obelisk kissed her again and again and again, on the neck, the cheek, the forehead, and finally, the lips.

When he finally pulled back, she settled her head on his chest and just held him. And he held her, just the same. "Thank you, Zephyr," He murmured again, his eyes closed. "We can wait awhile longer before we leave. So you can rest, of course..."

The dragon gave a soft hum, then said "I can supply another scale to her as well, so you may perhaps find someone that knows the true recipe for the potion. That would cure her sickness completely. With the current dosage, it will return, but in a very long, long, long time. With a true potion, however, you can garuntee that she will be cured." He curled up and exhaled, truly and utterly drained from the past few days. His bright red eyes watched them closely for a moment, then closed as he slipped into silence.

Obelisk sighed, leading Fawn to a warm corner of the cave and leaning against the wall as she dozed off. Soon...soon, they would be back home.

Home. Isslia peered unhappily at the town they had found, peeking out the window of the shoddy inn. She knew this place; it was a little farming town just inside the proposed border of Herrace. No one had said a word to them as they had entered, and all was mostly quiet. They had been resting for a long while, and now Werr was proposing that they head out to the capitol as soon as possible. Isslia didn't like it. Some part of her wanted to stay here, just for a little while longer. Another part of her wanted to leave immediately. This town...this was the town that they had been forced to move out of. Isslia didn't remember much more than the name, and the fact that she was very young when she had been forced to leave. She wasn't happy, and it showed in her eyes, if not from the stiff way she held her tail completely rigid.

A quiet 'ahem' from behind her caught her attention, and with a soft meow, Welk swept up, his fluffy ears perked at her. "Are you okay?" he asked, drawn to her feelings like a moth to a flame. "You look upset." He gave a small huff and a bit of fire fluttered out of his mouth, dancing for a moment before winking out like a distant light.

"I...I'm okay." Isslia murmured, looking down. "It's just...I dunno." She sighed, shaking her head and relaxing her tail and letting it wag once or twice. She smiled slightly, then looked up sharply as someone stepped into the inn.

An armored woman, with a stern look on her face. A Peacekeeper, one of the large task force that monitored the daily happenings. They were essentially city guards, but they also took care of civil arguments as well as criminals. They were known for being just and kind; the king took care to ensure that no one was treated unjustly.

Welk stared at the woman for a long moment, then took Isslia's hand and said "Here, come sit with me. There's a nice fire going, so it's warm." He flicked his shortened tail, flopping down next to the warm, rousing flames in the fireplace. He gently patted the seat next to him, saying "I won't mind if you don't want to. You know. I just thought it would be nice."

Isslia immediately plopped down next to him, tucking herself close to Welk. She was scared...that was very obvious.

The Peacekeeper wasn't here for a drink or a room. "You may have tried to stay on the down low, but do you really think a group of people with Bulliete collars would go unnoticed? What are you lot doing here, exactly?" She frowned, crossing her arms. "I wish to speak with the leader of your group."

"You're not going to speak with him alone." Forin said immediately.

"I don't care."

There was a bit of unease in the air. Werr looked over at Welk, wondering if they were still going to be trading places...

Welk wrapped his arms protectively around Isslia, meeting Werr's eyes dead-on with his crimson ones, then straightened and looked to the Peacekeeper. "I am him," he said. "Welk Kaelen. We just got here, we didn't have time to inform anyone of our arrival. I'm sorry for any inconvience or trouble we might've caused, but...it's complicated. I can speak to anyone we need to. We just needed to rest first. I'm sorry."

The Peacekeeper frowned. "I don't care about your name. I care about where you came from. We're no strangers to refugees here, and you don't have to pay money for an inn. There's a house at the north end of the road that will gladly provide you with a home. So long as you stay out of trouble, we have no issues with having you here. Aside, of course, from the collars." She tilted her head to the side a bit. "Most people are too afraid to bring slaves past the border. Slavery is a crime here, you can't hold people against their will."

"Oh, I was afraid we had actually done something wrong," Forin snorted.

"Your 'masters' have," She eyed him with pity, while he glared at her in return. She looked back at Welk. "Release them immediately, or I'll have you arrested. Any of you wanting distance or protection from this man can come with me."

Complete silence, aside from Diana, who was trying her very hardest not to giggle. Which wasn't working too well.

Welk was also smiling, then he said "Of course. Sorry about the hassle." He walked over to Werr and subtly picked his pocket, though the boy was aware of the movement. Werr had the key to unlock the collars, after all, but the woman was none the wiser. Welk then proceeded to unlock all of the collars, trying his darned hardest not to make an exaggerated show of it. Werr could tell; the half-cat's tail was twitching and flicking like mad.

Once everyone was free, he turned to Isslia, finally hesitating. His crimson eyes looked directly into hers, and she saw a brief moment of fear. Once he unlocked her collar, show or not, she would be free.

She could run away from them.

He blinked out of his momentary state, however, and unlocked her collar, saying "There, see? I'm a very reasonable man-cat." He blew a small burst of flames out of his mouth and winked at her.

"Well..." She sighed, eying the others. Particularly Nate, who was avoiding looking at her and seeming depressed in general. "The Peacekeeper's office is just across the road. You know where to come if you wish for safety."

"We're all friends here, woman." Forin tutted. "None of us are going anywhere."

Isslia seemed frozen in place, her ears down and her tail between her legs. She was obviously scared. The Peacekeeper walked towards her, kneeling a few feet away. She immediately flinched and backed up as much as she could, but the fire only singed her tail when she did that. "There's no need to be scared," The woman said quietly. "I want to help."

"You didn't help when you forced my family to leave here! I-I know you, Minerva...you forced my family to leave, and eventually I was taken away! I-I was us-used and beaten until the only thing I was good for was a toy for peverted old men at bars and street alleys, and I hated every second of it!"

Minerva blinked in alarm, immediately standing. "You...you're one of those families, then...I'm sorry...but that doesn't...that doesn't repair the damage we caused. The Peacekeepers acted with haste, and you and your families paid the price for it..." She watched sadly as Isslia started sobbing, curling up where she sat next to the fireplace.

Welk moved at once, always acting on emotion and instinct. He curled around Isslia, trying to soothe her. "Shh, shh, don't cry," he said. "I promised I would never let anyone ever hurt you again. I promised. I promised." He nestled her against himself, then again moved on emotion. He gently kissed her forehead, tilting his ears back, then looked up at Minerva and said "I think you've done enough here." He pulled Isslia close, settling her tiny frame in his lap.

"I see...I'll leave, then," Minerva moved towards the door at once, but hesitated. "If...you ever want to get away from this boy--"

"I trust him! I'm not going anywhere with you, ever!" She barked furiously, glaring after the woman as she turned again and left entirely, quietly shutting the inn door behind her. Isslia turned back to Welk, clinging to his tunic and trying to stop crying. What had she just said? She trusted Welk? Well...she wasn't entirely sure about that yet, but...she wasn't about to just run away. Not in a place like Herrace.

"Well," Forin sighed. "Were we still going to leave, or should we rest a little more?"

"We'll leave in the morning," Welk said quietly, stroking Isslia's hair back with a gentle, warm hand. His claws, with their sharp, lethal tips, hardly even caught a single strand in her hair, he was so utterly tender. He stroked her back softly, then said "Are you hungry, Isslia? We can see if the kitchen has something you might like. Or you could go to bed, if you feel like it. Whatever you want to do, I'll let you. A-and I'll get you anything you want, too." So eager to please was the fire mage half-cat.

And as Werr knew quite well, so utterly loyal. Even now, Werr knew, if he called for Welk, he would come.

"I...I'm not hungry, but..." Isslia blinked up at him, wiping her eyes. "I...I could use some chocolate cake..." She had been looking at it earlier; the innkeeper was selling a freshly baked one for a few copper coins. Diana and Spy had been eying it hungrily, too, the scent definitely attracting. The innkeeper was no fool; he had set it out where it could be seen from any spot in the lounge room, and its delicious scent had spread around the room in a matter of minutes. Werr had even spied Forin looking at it, as well.

Werr grinned a bit and stood, immediately purchasing the cake. Diana let out a short cheer, and the innkeeper gladly provided a knife so they could cut it. Werr didn't move to give Isslia any, though, knowing that Welk would prefer to do that.

He was right, of course, when it came to judging what Welk wanted to do. The half-cat gently slid away from Isslia and walked over, getting her a delicate little piece, as he sensed she wouldn't want too much right now. Just enough to comfort her. He brought the plate to her and once again curled around her, not even taking a piece for himself. He was so kind and loving.

Cynyr, watching everything through his single eye, smiled ever so slightly and tilted his head back. Seria was asleep in one of the chairs, exhausted, so the panther stood and shifted forms, shaking out his thick black fur. He walked past Werr and moved to jump up onto a couch.

And immediately fell to the ground.

He scrambled back up at once, his eye darting viciously around to see if anyone had seen that. He wasn't about to tell how his joints had suddenly locked up on him...