The Forgotten Zodiac

"Why'd you give him a scale?" Sylas questioned, curious. He climbed up onto Naybrin's back, getting himself comfortable. He watched and grinned as Cyprus moved his hand, holding the scale close. He mumured softly, 'mother', under his breath as he rolled over. Sylas chortled a bit. "His mother is the Goddess, isn't it? He's almost cute. Not at all the big, tough Demigod I read about..."

"I gave him one of my soon-to-come-loose scales, with scarcely any magic to it. One that would've fallen off naturally. It's to let him know I left, so that when he wakes, he will not freak out and assume otherwise." Naybrin spoke quietly, so as not to disturb the demigod, then closed one eye as Leo launched himself up and hung from one of the dragon's horns, finally pulling his large form up onto Naybrin's head. Dark paced agitatedly below them before trying to scramble up the enormous (to him) dragon's side. He dug his fingernails into a chink in Naybrin's scales, but was too weak to pull himself up further than that. "Eeeeeeeeee!" he squealed as he slowly slid back down, finally helped up by Naybrin, who pushed him with his snout.

Sylas pulled Dark up and sat the boy in front of himself, supporting him easily and holding him still. "Don't squirm, you might fall off," He winked at the artificial being, grabbing onto Naybrin's back-spike and holding on as they took off. "Right, then. Mind explaining why my son is in Herrace now?"

And so, the question-and-answer began.

Home at last. Obelisk looked over the city of Vernine, smiling a bit. "Thank you very much for the ride, Zephyr." Indeed, his home was actually in Herrace. Despite his job, he made his residence here; he mostly spent his time at the castle in Bulliete, but using his powers, he was capable of getting from one place to another rather quickly. Crossing an ocean, however, would have been extremely difficult, even for him.

He had been questioned several times by his neighbors, though. They were superstitious folks, and there was indeed rumors going around about his job. Why he was away all the time, where he got his money, so on. Obelisk didn't care; they were all extremely far from the truth. All they knew about him, really, was his name. Here, he was Remor Horace, a humble man of unknown origins. And he liked it that way.

Zephyr purred softly from where he was flying through the clouds, passing a pleasing rumble through his body. "No trouble, I assure you," he said soothingly. "After what you helped us with. And remember that I promised you a second scale. I would sooner eat my tail than forget something like that." He began a leisurely decent, finally plummeting quickly and landing near the city. "Shall I accompany you to your home to chat a while longer before I leave?" he asked, then seemed to blink. "Oh, no, never mind," he said, giving his head a shake. "I wouldn't want to burden."

"No, by all means, come along. Although, it would serve you well to change to a smaller size, perhaps." Obelisk slid off, taking Fawn into his arms again. "You could see what's become of those you and your friends have cast away, perhaps." He said lightly, no scorn or disgust in his voice, in spite of his words. It was all just causual chatter. "Well, come or not, it's your choice, I suppose. Although I should mention that Fawn is an amazing cook, and can probably cook up something the likes of which you've never even smelled before." He turned and started walking up the hill to the city, calm and...happy.

Zephyr watched them with a twinkle in his eye, then shifted to a smaller size and hustled after them, landing delicately on Obelisk's shoulder and tucking down against his neck, where he wouldn't be spotted easily. As they walked into the town, Zephyr became aware of a flitting, shadowy shape following them from roof-top to roof-top. Obelisk seemed unfazed by it, and Zephyr knew he could sense it, so the dragon said nothing.

((It's Malice, following his parents and excited for them to be home. :3))

((Haha, how cute~))

The city was clearly segregated, the outer ring in the valley filled with farmland and those who depended on the city for help surviving. There were few here; more lived in the middle ring, which obviously housed working folks and their shops and houses. The inner ring was the richer ones, this area populated even less. The houses were fantastic, settled around the large castle in the center. Obelisk led them to a large house with a grand entrance squared off with a large iron gate. Just inside the gate sat what appeared to be a scarecrow. A tattered scarecrow, standing over what looked like a small vegetable patch.

"Good afternoon, Cern. How are things?" Obelisk touched the gate, waiting for a click; there were only two keys; one with Fawn, one with his son. He and Cern could open it using the shadows. And the key itself was complicated; not something someone could have copied in under an hour. More like three days. Plenty of time for them to track the culprit down.

"Well enough." Cern replied, his eyes glowing again as he opened his eyes. "All is quiet and...normal."

"Good. Where might Malice be?"

"Behind you."

When Obelisk turned, it was to the sight of a very sullen-faced young boy standing in the center of the road, his dark-rimmed eyes fixed on his father and mother. Anyone else would've thought he was angry, with the look on his face, but a moment later, large tears began dripping down his cheeks. He had shaggy black hair that matched his coal-black eyes, and there was nothing that could hide the two large horns protruding from either side of his head. They commonly masked them with a hat, claiming that the horns were part of it when really they were sticking out of holes in the sides. Children liked to make things like that anyways, and their ruse had worked thus far. The child, hardly appearing any older than at least seven, was dressed in a long-sleeved, baggy black shirt that usually hid his hands, along with deep blue, nearly black, jeans.

He ran forward and threw his arms around his father, starting to cry. He was very adorable, though he didn't mean to be. He didn't say anything, just simply cried and clung to his father and mother, having clearly missed them.

"Oh, dear..." Obelisk murmured, pulling his son close. "It's okay, Malice. We're home. I'm sorry to have vanished, I couldn't avoid it..." Fawn fell upon her son with kisses and hugs, practically dragging him inside while Cern held open the gate. "Poor child. He'll be alright, though; Cern knew to watch over him while I was away. Thank you, friend," Obelisk smiled at the scarecrow, who bowed stiffly and returned to his post.

"So," Obelisk walked onto his estate, smiling. "What do you think thus far, Zephyr? Malice is well taken care of, as is Cern. I have nothing to hide here. Welcome to the Horace estate."

Zephyr nodded, saying "It's very nice. Quite lovely, for a human dwelling." Indeed, he couldn't sense anything off about the place. Obelisk really did seem to have turned over a new leaf, for himself and for the others he had taken in.

Malice was very light in Fawn's arms. Yet another part of his legendary (and still quite forgotten) past. He was like a little shadow in his mother's arms, with his arms around her neck and his face resting contentedly on her shoulder. He peered over at Zephyr, then finally spoke in a quiet, raspy sort of voice.

"Daddy, there's a dragon on your shoulder... What's he here for?"

There were shadows lurking in every corner, but that was for security's sake. They were Cern's, and all of them were still and silent. "He's visiting for dinner, and perhaps a bit longer. His name is Zephyr, and he happens to be the king of Dragons. I'm aware that you've heard some things I've said about kings before, but this one is quite different. He, unlike daddy's boss and our king here, he is kind and generous. He cares for all people, regardless of race, and he worked hard to help daddy get back home. He even made your mother well." Obelisk answered smoothly. "Fawn, are you making soup this evening?" Obelisk questioned. Fawn shook her head, then set Malice down on a chair. She patted his head, then practically skipped off to the kitchen.

Obelisk sat down in another seat, pulling off his boots and leaning back to relax. But even then, Zephyr could feel his powers start to spread over the house; and some a bit further. He was examining the castle back in Bulliete; he still had a job there, obviously. He decided to leave a note there, taking sick leave.

"I hope you'll be able to make yourself comfortable here, Zephyr. I do believe Werr and his posse are on their way to the capital, if I'm not mistaken...perhaps you would stay here a little longer and meet with them?"

Zephyr took a more normal size, one where he could slide into a cool couch nearby and stretch out, with his tail hanging off one of the sides. "Thank you. Perhaps I'll take you up on that, now that the war between the dragons and the drakelings is over," he said, still feeling a bit drained from it all. "Vaira can manage well enough alone, she has Mithor to help her, after all."

Malice sunk down into his chair and was quiet for a moment, watching Zephyr closely, then he slid out of his chair and crossed to Obelisk's, attempting to get up into the chair with him. While nobody would say that he was 'needy', he most certainly loved attention and being cuddled and held close. But only from his parents. And he was very sensitive.

Obelisk sat his son in his lap, smiling curtly. "Well then, that's settled. I do hope that things work well for you and your people, Zephyr. Yemara's meddling couldn't have been easy on the Drakelings. Let us ask the Goddess for peace over them during this difficult time." He paused for a moment, then said, "I suppose I should apologize...something I haven't done in...well, ever, for you and the others...my past endeavors have been less than tasteful. I can make no excuse for myself, really. But...where I am now...I'm happy. Comfortable. Grateful. I have a wife, a son, friends, a job...where I once wished for nothing more than death, I now have something to live for. I can smile with genuine joy and pleasure, and I suppose I do owe you and the others something for that. If you hadn't been there to assist me, I believe I would not be in the same place I'm in today."

Zephyr smiled calmly, then said "Let the past stay where it is, Obelisk. You and your family have traveled hard roads. It's time to let those roads fade into the background." He reclined easily on the couch, saying "Naybrin would love it in here. He's always had a strange interest in humans, you remember. Fascinating little creatures, he called them. I could hardly agree more." He yawned, then stared off into the fire that was crackling peacefully in the hearth.

Malice nuzzled into his father, sliding into the space between his side, arm and the chair itself. He fit comfortably there, so small he was, and he stuck his thumb into his mouth as he peered out through his coal-black eyes at Zephyr.

The dragon king smiled kindly at him, then said "He's most certainly benifited most from this, it seems. He's flourished with you and Fawn."

"Indeed." Obelisk smiled, allowing his son to curl up next to him. "Fawn adores him. When I found her, she was working a flower shop...the only job she could find, but it was slowly killing her. She has terrible allergies to pollen. Her illnesses have taken much from her...not just her voice, but her ability to bear children. And she can never put too much stress on her joints, they grow weak far too quickly. But her wisdom and cunning nature attracted me. What surprises me the most is the fact that she remains in love with me, even with the knowledge of my past. I told her everything before we married, I made sure that nothing was hidden from her. But she didn't care. She knew I would protect her, she knew I loved her, and she knew...well, she knows everything. Even what little Malice had done before. And before you ask, yes. We've told him before. But my son has practically been given another life...just as I have. The past has passed, there's no question about that. I'm glad you see it that way."

Malice nestled closer to his father, then said "I'm not a bad guy..."

"Of course not," Zephyr said, smiling and tilting his head. "You are not what you used to be. You have a brand-new life ahead of you."

Malice stared at him through his dour, sullen, black-rimmed eyes, then finally gave a shy smile and ducked his head, pressing his face into Obelisk's clothes. He decided he liked Zephyr at that moment, though not near enough to actually touch or be touched by him. That was something completely different.

"I'm glad you found a new life, Obelisk," Zephyr said kindly. "And apparently, a new life for yourself, Fawn and Malice. And even poor Cern, who we both know is meant to not be here." He didn't pry on that, however, merely hinted that he knew something. "But I'm glad that I was able to heal your wife," he said. "Which reminds me...I owe you another scale. Malice, come over here."

The boy froze, then slowly slid out of the chair at his father's gentle push. He crossed the short space it took to bring him to Zephyr, who then delicately ripped one of his scales off, careful not to let the blood get on anything at all. He covered the spot with his tail, determined not to bleed on anything, then held the scale out to Malice, saying "Take that over to your daddy, alright?"

Malice gave a short nod, then fled back to his father and curled into his side again, shivering.

Obelisk closed his fist around the scale. When he opened his hand again, it was gone; taken off to the realm of Darkness, where it could never be lost or stolen. "Thank you. You don't know what this small token means to me." With a wave of his hand, a shadow wormed between Zephyr's tail and his new wound, sopping up the blood and applying pressure to stop the bleeding altogether.

"Cern...that in itself is a story. He came to me before I even met Fawn. Of course, I helped him; he was so helpless without me...I made it quite clear that he can leave at any time, but he insists upon calling me 'master' and doing whatever I ask no matter what. He was still a Tartaran until recently...about a month ago, I woke up to him...in that body. Screeching in agony. He couldn't remember anything. He stuck around regardless, but his condition troubles me...I have no idea how he obtained that body. Tartarans are not supposed to be capable of body exchange. It breaks them. More than he was broken before..."

Zephyr tilted his head, giving a soft smile. "You have done a good thing, taking him in, then," he said. "I just hope it doesn't backfire on you in anyway... I assure you that I only wish good upon you and your family. I would hate for anything to befall you." He watched Malice tuck further down against Obelisk's side, starting to close his eyes and fall asleep. He shook his head, then decided to return to a lighter (in a way) topic. "Too bad Grey isn't around anymore," he said. "They say the wyverns were the only ones that knew the art of scale-potion making."

Obelisk seemed to think for a moment. "There is another Wyvern I'm aware of...an heir to Bulliete's throne. Malice is one, himself. Izan gave me that 'gift' a few months ago. I have no intentions of allowing my son to even go near that cursed place. But the other Wyvern goes by the name of Dmitry...he has hidden his species for a long time, but I know what he is. Perhaps...he would know. We would be fortunate if he did. Even more fortunate is the fact that he travels with Werr's crowd to this day; he escaped with the help of a young girl named Allie Waest."

((Haha, he hasn't been watching them AT ALL. -obvious sarcasm- xDD))

((XD))

"Dmitry?" Zephyr said, mulling this new information over. "Dmitry...why is this name familiar to me? Dmitry, Dmitry...no, I don't remember him. Perhaps if I see him, something will turn up. Yes, I'll gladly wait here, if you would allow me to." He shook his head, then said "You are aware of the tale of Mirage, yes? How she was secretly working for Herrace this entire time, lothes her brother, and is slightly insane from the loss of her mother, father, and unborn brother? If she is truly Dmitry's sibling, as I've heard from communications with Naybrin, then that would mean she is a wyvern as well... I think our chances are better trying Dmitry's knowledge, however."