The Forgotten Zodiac

"Do you really think logic will speak to them when they are angered by their champion being slain by what they know as a parasite?" Titus snorted. "Leave me to deal with them. You should get yourselves and Forin there, whether or not he's 'well'. Just go. Forin will live; I built him to be resilient." He turned and continued walking away.

"W-well..." Airlia murmured. "Maybe we should..."

Zephyr mulled over the words, then set Airlia down and said "Very well. Go and prepare the others to leave, little one. You are welcome to join us, since we are going where your mother, Galai, is as well." He sighed, turning to face the destruction his moment of anger had brought on, then set about repairing it, since he was the second most powerful dragon alive.

Back in Forin's room, Luna was sitting quietly with Forin's head in her lap, running her fingers through his hair. She kissed the mark on his forehead, stroking her fingers up and down his neck and the side of his face.

Luen was still shivering away, trying his best not to show the extent of his sickness. He had slept for a little while, but hadn't been able to keep it up. The sickness hurt too much to rest through. It was one of the weirdest sicknesses Luen had ever felt in his life, but he ignored it as best as he could. He rested his head in Allie's lap, one of Forin's arms draped over his back.

Luna watched her go, then gently kissed the side of Forin's face, just above his eye. "I'll gather your things, Luen and Allie. It's not like you brought too many things with you when you came here," she said, smiling softly at them before moving away.

Luen watched her go, then groaned softly in a pained tone and slid a bit further onto his side, stretching out with his back against Forin and Allie against his belly. He pressed his nose into her hands, letting out a very soft, very rough whimper.

Luen moved his head over and nuzzled Forin's cheek gently, murmuring "We're both fine, Forin. You have your arm all fixed up and I'm perfectly fine. We're alive and well." He was so glad that his shivering had stopped for a little bit; he knew it would return, but right now, he was okay, other than still feeling excruciatingly hot. He licked Forin's cheek softly, nuzzling into him.

Luen nuzzled his best friend's cheek, murmuring "I don't care how you did it. All I care about is that you won." He exhaled against his cheek, then said "Yeah...I'm not looking forward to it..." He closed his eyes, then an image of Nate, his other dearest friend, came into his head. He squealed softly with sorrow, tears dripping down his cheeks.

((We need to have more Luen-&-Nate scenes. I feel like their bond hasn't gotten enough attention.))

Forin smiled and curled around Luen, sighing heavily. "I know...I'm so sorry, Luen...a-at least Diana is still okay..." He sat with his deer friend, waiting for Zephyr to come.

"There it is," Werr pointed off into the distance. The castle was...huge. Towering above them like a leviathan of stone and shadow. "Alright. Let's...let's get this over with..." He murmured, standing up and clenching his fists. "For Isslia. And Sylas, and Leo..." Tears welled up in his eyes when he remembered the lifeless corpse of his father; he wanted to run back and cry over the body, but he knew it was probably gone by now. Just a soul...a dead soul. Remor couldn't keep it from returning to the Goddess.

So for now, he had to go. They all had to go, and strike when they still could.

Welk now stuck to Werr like they were glued. He was in complete and utter anguish, but at his friend's words, he knew he had to keep going. He sniffed softly and pressed his head to Werr's shoulder, hugging his friend tightly.

Cynyr, walking just behind him, sighed and gently stroked his youngest sibling's hair, wishing he could comfort him but knowing he couldn't do it well.

Welk just followed meekly along, heartbroken. There were times when he would just press his face to Werr's shoulder and cry very quietly, but it passed quick enough. He took Werr's hand, still sniffling occasionally, but looked more or less determined to find Lexi and get out of here.

Until the ground beneath Cynyr suddenly opened up.

The others screamed and tried to grab him. He yelped in shock, trying desperately to dig his claws into the ground and prevent himself from being pulled into the pure black pit. Nate and Werr lunged, catching his arms, but at that moment, large, dripping black hands rose up from the pit and wrapped all around him, yanking him down into the pit.

Gone. Still alive, but gone.

Werr swore, stomping on the ground furiously. Then he turned and ran the remaining stretch to the castle, dragging Welk with him. "REMOR!" He screeched, heaving the great doors open. "REMOR! Show your face, you disgusting COWARD!" He screamed at the empty walls, the broken stained glass windows, the ratty rugs...

Werr yelped as the rug under his feet was suddenly pulled out from underneath him, causing a loss in footing. He would have hit his head on the heavy wooden doors if Welk hadn't caught him. "That's what you're reduced to? Petty tricks and pranks!"

"It's fun to watch you get angry. Angrier and angrier," Remor's voice giggled. "I wonder how much it'll take before you snap...come along, to the dining room. Lexi's been crying for hours. Maybe seeing you will get her to stop."

Welk moved along after Werr, solely supported by his best friend, now. Fear was coursing through his body, the fear that Cynyr would be next to die. Seria was crying behind him, leaning against Nate, who supported her willingly and gently. If Cynyr died... Welk shook his head ferociously, clinging desperaetly to Werr. They had to stop Remor. They had to stop him while they still had a chance. He had taken their fathers, and he had taken Isslia...his love...the sad little girl that Welk had wanted to care for, to live with, to marry someday...

Suddenly and rightfully angry, he held Werr's hand tightly, tears pouring down his cheeks.

"Let's go..." Werr murmured, marching forward again. He was scared and holding fearfully onto Welk's hand, but he kept moving onwards.

"Yes, come along..." Remor chortled. A door flew open as they were going to pass it, revealing the dining room. The long table, with several chairs at one end; one seated Remor, the other, Lexanna. "Here we are. Sit, sit! You must keep your strength up, after all..." He patted the chair next to him, and indicated the one next to Lexanna. "There's your seat, Werr. Come on."

Werr stood there, debating whether he should actually just sit, or...

"Sit, or I'll take your Dragonian friend and drown his spirit in the waters of death." Remor snorted. Werr walked forward at once.

Welk shifted forms, lashing his tail back and forth so hard that Werr was surprised it didn't tear or something. He snarled, but a single touch on his head from Werr was enough to silence him. They just had to wait.

Werr had the vague feeling that he was the only thing controling a whirlwind of fire and hatred, right now. Heat was radiating from Welk in thick, stifling waves.

Once Werr sat down, Welk slowly sat on the floor next to his chair, his ears plastered back against his head, a low hiss resting on his lips.

Remor smiled. "Such an upset looking crew...why so gloomy?"

"You...you know why," Werr gritted his teeth.

"Aww. Was it because I killed your dear Isslia? And your fathers?" Remor tutted.

"And you took Cynyr..." Werr had a hard time not trembling in rage.

"Ahh, yes...he'll have loads of fun." Remor chortled, continuing to eat his dinner. Without warning, an arrow made of pure darkness shot out of nowhere, impailing Nate through the neck. He gasped and spluttered, blood gushing from his throat and neck. Not even Seria could do anything, at this point. He collapsed, hugging her leg as the lack of blood to his brain killed him in mere seconds.

"That wasn't me," Remor said at once, standing in alarm. Another arrow shot out, this one striking Lexi in the chest. He yelped and wailed, ripping the arrow out and immediately applying pressure on the wound. Werr wouldn't stand for that. He let out a roar of rage, hitting Remor dead-on in the face with his fist. Remor stumbled back, stunned for a moment.

"Obelisk!" He shouted at a wall. "What are you doing?!"

"It's the only way to get them out..." Obelisk's voice, broken and staticy, replied.

"Killing them...killing them?! Ha! You're a traitor and evil at the core. I knew I could count on you. Go on then, destroy the rest of them." Remor laughed and laughed, but then remembered Lexi. "But hey, don't hurt her," He moved foward as another arrow shot out, this time at the back of her head.

Seria screamed and fell to her knees, her fingers extended towards Nate but seemingly unable to bring herself to touch him, shaking from head to toe. She wailed and curled up on the ground, screaming and holding her head in her hands.

Welk exploded upwards in an instant, snapping and biting at Remor in dragon form. When Werr had punched the crazed man, that had been the signal for no-holds-barred. He bellowed his rage, as mad as...well, fire.

Welk threw Remor aside with his heavy claws, roaring angrily, but when Werr ran over and tugged at his tail, he slowly turned away and obeyed. He gathered up the remaining members of their group; Werr, Seria and Naybrin. The ancient dragon was clutching a small wound in his side, but other than that, he was unhurt.

Welk leapt high, busting through the ceiling and arching off towards the lowlands, tears streaming from his eyes.