The Forgotten Zodiac

"Shut up, Vorpal." Forin snorted. Spy was running ahead of them, happy as ever. "Spy knows what he's doing. He smelled Luen from miles and miles away, and we're getting close. I can tell...look at him. He's all hyper and super excited. We're getting close."

"Very, veryveryvery close!" Spy squealed as he hopped down yet another ledge. The mountains were wishy-washy, at best; there were steep inclines, then sudden cliffs, and ravines to boot. Most annoying.

Vorpal sighed in what could've passed for a hiss, then said "Suit yourself, but I wouldn't pin all our hopes on a ball of fluff that can scarcely remember his own name." He exhaled again, and would've crossed his arms if he had them. "All this trouble for one kirin," he mutter, a slight tremble crossing his length. "And not a very miraculous one, at that." Wisely, the others chose to ignore him, especially when they came up on a startling sight.

Luen's precious mechanical arm, leaned ever so softly and gently against a tree.

"I found part of him," Spy said, sniffing the arm cautiously. Forin kneeled and scooped it up, holding it close without thinking.

"Find the rest of him," He practically ordered. Spy stared at him for a long moment, then looked at the sword.

"Mister Vorpal, I don't need to remember my name. I don't know or care what happened to me in the past. Because what happens here, in the present...with Werr, and Welk, and Cynyr, Jag, Lily, Cinnoa, Forin, Diana, Luen, and you...that's what matters the most to me. Everyone has been through so much either way; I don't think who I once was matters. Because it doesn't matter to anyone else." He said quietly, then turned and darted off again, following the trail of Luen's scent once more.

Vorpal fumed quietly for a moment, but said nothing at all. He remained silent as they kept walking, finally nearing a towering moutain's base.

That's where they found the partially concealed cave.

Vorpal stiffened (if that was possible), and swallowed, saying "I...I feel it. He's in there. But...oh dear... It doesn't look too good, from what I can tell. The feel of his spirit...it's deteriorated."

"Hmm." Forin didn't seem all that interested in what Vorpal had to say. He pushed his way into the cave, warning Diana to linger back with Spy for a little bit. She did so, although it was clear that she didn't like it, nor did she want to. She watched from the entrance as Forin pushed his way into the cave.

"Luen...?" He called softly. "Are you in here?" He questioned, though he knew it was so.

There was nothing but silence for a long moment, then something shifted in the darkness of the cave, growling softly. Forin leapt backwards just in time to avoid a large set of claws striking out at him, inches from cleaving him in half.

Luen was bigger than he last remembered, almost the size of a large bear. The werewolf-kirin roared, but it was weak and effortless, as if he didn't really care that much. He snorted, not recognizing Forin at all in the dark (though that might not have mattered much), then flopped down lifelessly at the back of the cave, a moan escaping his torn mouth.

"Luen," Forin said, almost as calmly as he would have when greeting his friend upon his return from the market. He kneeled next to his friend, putting his weight on the were-kirin's wrist so that he couldn't move his one hand. The Tartaran buried his face in his friend's shaggy fur, almost wanting to cry, but keeping it in. "I'm...I'm so sorry, Luen. I can't fix it...I can't do anything. I feel so weak and pathetic...I need you back. I need you...and Diana needs you. You're Diana's happiness, remember? I can't make her smile and laugh like I want her to. I can't...I've never, ever been able to..." He wrapped his arms around Luen's jaws, keeping him from biting and putting his face into the were-kirin's view at the same time. "I want you back...desperately. It's not fair...Werr should have been bitten. I should have been bitten. Not you. You've done nothing to deserve this, a-and..." He trailed off as his voice cracked with emotion. He rested his forehead against Luen's, closing his eyes.

Luen struggled at first, bristling and growling, but as Forin spoke and touched him, he slowly stopped his fighting. His blank eyes stared at Forin for a moment, and there was hardly a trace of a consciousness within them. Just an animal. But as Forin spoke so sadly and touched him so gently, he slowly relaxed and closed his eyes, exhaling heavily. He let out a very soft moan that could've passed for a whimper, feeling Forin run his fingers through his white fur. Thick and ungroomed as it was, his fur was still soft and warm to the touch. Comforting.

Luen pushed slightly into Forin, closing his eyes tighter and attempting a half-growled, hesitant, weak word.

Forin recognized his own name instantly.

"There, see? You're still in there somewhere..." Forin slowly let go of Luen's muzzle, aware that his friend could potentially tear out his throat. He hugged the were-kirin regardless, petting Luen just the way he liked it. Soft, gentle, caring and loving. "I spoke with Allie. She thinks highly of you, and is sad that this happened to you. She's not as sad as I am, of course..."

He looked down, then said quietly, "Luen...why don't you bite me, too? And Diana. That way, we can be together again. That's all I want, really...just one bite will do it, won't it?" He put his arm up against Luen's mouth, desperate and miserable.

A growl immediately worked into the were-kirin's throat. His lips parted, slowly revealing more and more of the dangerously sharp teeth within his mouth. They were so close to Forin's skin, much more close than any sane person would ever let them get. His sharp fangs trembled slightly, hovering over his arm as if debating what to do, but before he could do anything, Vorpal quite literally plunged in.

He burned himself free of his holds on Forin's back and fell to the ground with such a loud clatter than all of Luen's feeble concentration on his shatter mind was broken. He reared back and lunged upwards with a roar, whirling on the thing that had made so much noise. He moved to snap Vorpal in two, but the sword burned him when he tried to touch it. Infuriated, Luen howled and turned to attack Forin, but Vorpal managed to flip himself around and land in front of Forin. Immediately, two black cords darted from the wrapping around Vorpal's hilt, grabbing Forin's hand and forcing him to take the sword, where he couldn't let go, as the cords were holding him too tightly. A glowing red shield generated at once, and Luen could only try to smash himself into it over and over.

"Outside, now!" barked the blade at its master. "This INSTANT, Forin! I'm not hearing a single argument until you are outside of this cave and it is temporarily blocked so the were-beast cannot get out." When Forin didn't move, the sword shouted as loud as he could, "NOW, FORIN."

Forin snarled in frustration at his weapon, but he backed out of the cave and slashed at the rocks above the entrance, sending a cascade of rocks down on the opening, blocking it tightly. "What's the big idea, you stupid sword?!" He questioned furiously, but at the same time, he wasn't all too angry. It had been a foolish notion, turning himself and Diana into werewolves...on the other hand, some part of him really did want that. He wanted to be with Luen, and since he couldn't turn Luen back into a plain Kirin again...

"Call me whatever you want, but I just saved your life, for now!" Vorpal shot back. "How in the world would turning yourself and Diana into werewolves, leaving behind a poor, stranded Luna, all to her lonesome, be the right thing to do?! Selfish! Selfish, selfish, selfish! There has to be something else we can do! You saw how quiet the beas- I mean, Luen, was being while you stroked him and talked to him. He's still there, as you said. What would ruining yourself and Diana help?" He snorted, glowing slightly with bright red and revealing that he was very angry, then said "Perhaps...we just need to try a few things. I heard about a plant once. What was it? Wolf's Bane, or something like that. A silvery-white flower that grows in the mountains. Rare due to it's odd growing conditions. It likes hollowed out ground, preferrably under a clump of fallen trees or deep inside a dark cave."

((And remember, to all known cases, Wolf's Bane is highly, highly deadly to werewolves, so.))

"It won't be easy getting it into him, of course," Vorpal said. "And I would suggest only a mere bit of it. See, what kills most werewolves is that werewolf hunters take the plant and create a liquid from it, which they soak their arrows or swords in. Lots and lots of it. We would only use a small amount of the base plant itself. We'll have to get his mouth open without getting anyone hurt, though... And shove some down his throat..." Vorpal broke off into mutterings which sounded like calculations.

"Of course. I'll think of something." Forin shrugged. If only he still had his old powers...he could at least take away Luen's consciousness. It would be harder now, though...

"Is this it?" Diana darted up to him, holding a blue flower with a silver stem.

"No, the bud is silver. And they'll likely be in dark areas." Forin suggested.

"Silver flowers?" Diana blinked. It was obvious that the fever was getting to her. Her lips were chapped and her eyes were borderline bloodshot, but she was still determined to help.

"I found something!" Spy jumped up onto Diana's shoulder, dropping a white fern into Forin's hand.

"This isn't it, either. But..." He frowned thoughtfully at the plants, then put them in his pocket. Diana looked at him quizically, but he shook his head. "Try again. Silver flower, in a dark hole or something." He went back to looking, though he was certain not to let Diana wander too far.

It seemed to take ages. Forin found himself wishing that Boko were here; he'd be able to burrow down and find tunnels or air pockets where the plant may be. Forin had found one dark, deep hole, but he had only been bitten by ants upon reaching in. Not long after, Diana collapsed, her body weak due to the lack of fluids.

Thankfully, Spy managed to return with a small bouquet of the flowers. Silver buds, green stems, and wide, spiked leaves. Forin put them in his pocket (the one the other plants weren't in), then set Diana down near the entrance of the cave to rest. He started digging out the entrance again, hoping Luen wouldn't try to attack on first sight.

The were-kirin inside was pacing agitatedly, and the second there was a gleam of light from a rock Forin moved, he attacked it ferociously, snarling and snapping and digging his claws into the rocks to try and crush them underfoot. The rocks were nearly impossible to get out of from the inside, however, so he was reduced to pacing and snarling again, lurking in the darkness inside the cave, his blank emerald eyes gleaming.

Vorpal suddenly shouted "I've got it!" and the were-kirin was riled up even more.

"Master Forin, there might be a way we can get him to hold still long enough to get that plant into his mouth," he said. "But I'm warning you ahead of time. The second he smells that plant coming, we're going to be in for it. The plant in your pocket is the one thing that drives their senses balistic. It's like...a mouse to an elephant sort of thing. The sight of it is enough to drive them even more insane."

"That's why I put it in my pocket, Vorpal." Forin rolled his eyes. "Now, getting that stuff down his throat...that'll be the challenge." He showed his face in the hole, looking saddened. "Luen...Luen, you're still there, right? Please...remember me? Forin. I have to help you...I have to help you get sane again...s-so you can say goodbye to Diana. A-and so you can take care of Luna while I'm gone..."

Luen's only answer was a snarl and another attempt to grab something, anything, through the hole.

"What do you mean, while you're gone?" Vorpal said, his tone angry. "If you mean that curse thingy on Diana, then I'm surprised you would give up so easily. You're not going anywhere, because if you do, then I-" He cut off, then slowly said "Well...let's get back on topic. If you can manage to calm him down again, like you did earlier, perhaps you can muzzle him. Borrow the cords wrapped around my hilt, they're the strongest thing we have. Hmm...I wonder if you could shape me into something else. It's a possibility. I got mistress Luna to find me some books and read them aloud to me one day, and I found out that I'm not the only report of a 'bound' weapon. We Bound weapons are embodiments of dreams or wishes, tied with a bit of consciousness, and given artifical life. And apparently, I can have more than one form. It all depends on my master, really. If you concentrate, I bet you could shape me into a...steel glove, perhaps? To protect yourself from handling that monster's jaws."

"I was going to use you to hollow out a log to use as 'armor', but perhaps...Forin frowned, pulling the cords off of Vorpal's hilt and sticking them in his pocket, letting them hang out a bit. He then concentrated hard, his eyes shut tight as he did so. When he opened his eyes, Vorpal was no longer a sword; he was a thick brace that went up a little past his elbow. His hand was still free, which he wanted. "Right..." He looked up sharply as he felt claws grab at his unprotected arm. He let himself be dragged closer, putting his hand on Luen's nose before he could be bitten. "Smell me! Remember me, Luen!"

Vorpal whimpered, the process of changing forms very painful, but he was completely silent as Luen struck out again, overcome with the urge to bite something. He sank his teeth into a rock, splintering it under the sheer pressure he applied, then grew still. His rapid panting forced him to inhale Forin's scent, and he slowly stopped scratching at the rocks, several shards of the one he had cracked falling from his mouth. He sniffed quietly, then stared up at Forin's face for a long moment. Finally, he turned and disappeared into the darkness of the cave, hiding in the very back of it, so only his eyes showed, glowing dimly, in the dark.