The Forgotten Zodiac

The death of an innocent, infant child, will not be tolerated. Not by me." Cyprus shook his head. "I'm going."

"I'm not." Obelisk sighed. "My powers are diminished as it is. You lot go on ahead. Don't worry about Werr; I think I can hold his soul from death, if he should start to die while you're away. Just hurry, yes? From what I see, you don't have much time left..."

Althos whimpered a bit as Cyprus helped him stand. "Come along, then. Let's go save your mother."

Naybrin stood as well, moving towards the door and out. He shifted to dragon form outside, where he wasn't in risk of knocking something over. The sight of the tall, majestic, light-blue ice dragon was a wonderous sight, but Naybrin couldn't care less about the stares of the people around him. His only care was for helping this young boy.

Althos gaped at the sight of the dragon, but Cyprus pulled him forward, out the door. Without warning, an arrow landed in the boy's chest.

Or rather, it would have. It stopped short, floating in mid air. Cyprus pulled Althos out of the way and let the arrow continue on its path, which was now harmlessly aimed at the floor. These Blood Hawks had angered the wrong person. Cyprus wasn't even slightly human, and he didn't understand the extent of his own powers. All he knew was that he was mad, and he was going to put an end to this. Killing a helpless infant was a crime pushishable by something worse than death. In fact, they'd be begging for death by the time Cyprus was done with them.

Naybrin jerked his head back, also angry beyond belief. He snarled, pulling his lips back to reveal his insanely sharp white teeth, then said "Get on. We need to move quickly." Galai stepped forward at once, carefully climbing up to seat herself lightly on the great dragon's back. She helped Cyprus lift Althos on, binding them all in safely with light ropes before Naybrin took off.

Cyprus was content to stand on Naybrin's head, hardly swayed by the rushing takeoff and the blustering winds that came with the flight. "We're not going to take care of the one that fired the arrows?" Althos blinked.

"No. You can't destroy a nest of bees by attacking the workers." Cyprus tutted. "We go to their outpost here, wherever they may be..." He sent out a wave of tracking magic, attempting to find the home where Althos lived. Where the innocent had recently died. "There," He pointed to a small farm on the outskirts of town. "There's the house. Take care in your approach, Naybrin."

The dragon nodded, beginning his decent. He swept in slowly-lowering circles, taking great pains to make sure their decent was safe. He finally landed in the fields next to the house, coming to a graceful halt after hopping a few steps, his wings flared to catch the air, which aided in his stop.

He lowered himself onto his belly, resting his head on the ground so the others could dismount.

Cyprus slid off the dragon, marching towards the house with a serious intent. Those who didn't know him may have described it as...well, bloodthirst.

He stopped at the door, though. There was blood all over the doorstop, and a bloody bag. Althos started crying, burying his face in Galai's dress. Cyprus lifted the bag and held it gingerly, closing his eyes. "I'm so sorry this happened to you...this was not meant to be. Go with grace to the Goddess now..." He whispered, then dropped the bag. It was empty now, with nothing but silver dust inside now. Cyprus sat down, looking depressed all of the sudden.

"A noble thing, thee does, for the woebegone little one."

They jumped in shock at the disembodied voice, glancing up to see the skeletal titain Death reclining in a chair, his twisted wings laying over the back. "'Lo, Cyprus," he greeted, inclinging his head ever so slightly at the demigod. "'Lo, thine majesties Naybrin and Galai. Pray, might one such as myself as what ye search yonder for?"

"Father," Cyprus regarded the Titan - not in fear as before, but with respect and dignity. As he was both life and death now, Death was his father just as much as Life was. "We're trying to save this boy's mother," Cyprus indicated Althos. "He's been done an injustice, and since it is because of us, we find reason to help him...we're sheltering a man who is wanted dead by a group of hitmen. He is only alive because of us, and this boy's mother is threatened because he remains alive. So...we're trying to help. Do you have any idea where they may be?"

Death was quiet for a long moment, then he muttered what appeared to be a sort of riddled incantation.

"Where the Western Winds blow,

to the tidal sea ye go,

where the skies doth bash,

where the sea and rock clash,

one next to three,

ten steps past the wind-swept tree."

He was silent after he had finished speaking, giving a soft sigh that rang with the rattle of his ancient bones. "This is where thee must take thyselves," he whispered, his gleaming red eyes very mellow and forlorn.

Cyprus stood and bowed low to his father. "Thank you...thank you very much."

"What is he saying? They had mommy here..." Althos pushed past Cyprus, running into the house. He looked around desperately, calling for his mother. He spent several long minutes doing so, then slowly returned and moved back to Galai. He hugged her again, finding her to be the more viable canidate for such a thing. His shoulders shook with sobs as he came to the realization that his mother was not here, and she was possibly dead.

Death watched him for a moment, then murmured "I have not yet gathered a soul from thine mother, child. Stop thy sniffling." He lifted his thin, bony hands and rubbed his skull through his hood, twitching his wings lightly.

"Can't you help us anymore than a riddle?" Naybrin asked.

"I should daresay no," Death answered. "I have mine own businesses to see to, thank ye. I-"

There was a sudden bright blast of light in the room, causing Death to screech and duck behind the chair.

Life stepped into the room, tossing her long white hair over her shoulder. "Thee are a pretentious windbag, Death!" she said, stomping a foot indignantly on the ground, which caused a lot of her bangles and bells to jingle. She was dressed in the exotic outfit of a dancer, laced with sparkling golds and whites. She was bare-footed and breathless, occasionally giggling as though remembering something funny. "There's been 1,256 babies conceived today," she said, grinning. "Loads were born today, too."

"And I hope thee were not peeking on the conceivers again?" Death growled from behind his chair.

Her cheeks turned red in an instant, and she snapped "What doest thou mean?! I would never!"

"Thoust art a word I have heard humans use. I believe it is...a 'pervert'."

She giggled at once, then turned to Cyprus and said his name loudly, glad to see him.

((I'm just going to say that Titans technically have no gender. So Cyprus is going to call Life 'father' still. xDD

Alsoalso, I like how you're playing Life. DO IT MOAR. 8D))

"Father!" Cyprus beamed. "Hello, hello," He bowed again, smiling away.

"That's a lady," Althos blinked.

"Well...Titans can appear how they want. They're technically my parents either way, and I prefer to call them my fathers, as...well, the Goddess is most definitely more feminine. She never changes the way she looks. The Goddess made me from herself and Life, and I've taken on the role as the one she made from herself and Death..."

"What...?" The boy looked utterly befuddled.

"Uh...nevermind." Cyprus sighed. "What are you here for, Life? No one's birthing or conceiving here..."

((Weird. I always thought of it like Death suppling the male parts needed, the Goddess using a part of herself and crafting it together, then the demigod being born through Life.

Thaaaaaaanks~))

"Oh, are you suuuuuuure~?" she trilled, moving her hand out and walking her fingers along Cyprus' shoulder. "We could always change that..."

"Thou art the sickest of beings," Death growled, his gleaming red eyes just visible over the edge of the chair.

"Silence!" Life shouted shrilly, turning away from Cyprus and glaring at Death, stomping her bangled foot in anger. "I am of life! I cannot help it!"

"Hmm, so mine thoughts are all correct..." Death smirked, then ducked as Life lunged for him.

((No. It's individual. The Demigod of Order was born from Order and the Goddess, just as Snider was born from Chaos and the Goddess. Just as...well, you get it. xD))

Cyprus flushed bright red, and straightened his robe. "I'm not to perform such acts, you know that." He shook his head. "Much less with you. Regardless, we should be going now. We have someone to find, and not very much time left to find them in. Otherwise...Death will find himself busy again..." He murmured, climbing up onto Naybrin's back and helping Althos up again. The boy looked exhausted, and very confused.

((Ah, okay.

If they're genderless, Cyrpus can't really call them 'father', though.))

Naybrin gently nudged them up, helping however he could, then looked up as Life began teasing her long white angel wings. "You could join us," he said. "Perhaps you could help."

"I dunno," Life said, casting a look at her brother titan. "My mind doth wander. Perhaps there are things Death and I could do...alone?"

"Sick, sicker, sickened," the mournful titan clucked. "I pray I do not lose mine lunch."

"Thee are no fun!" Life shouted, then said "I will help. Unlike you, brother, I do not have to be everywhere at once."

Death huffed and said "I have servents to do mine bidding when I wish to rest. I suppose I can maketh time to come on this...'quest'. Be not surprised if I leave you in mid-journey."

"I assure you, I won't be," she snapped.

((He prefers to call them that because the Goddess is more definitely female. And a female/female pair would not logically be able to create him. Even if the Goddess can do whatever the heck she wants. So...he turns to calling them his 'fathers' because he's innocent like that. xD))

And it was so. Naybrin lifted into the air, taking with him Cyprus, Galai, and Althos. Death and Life followed, the bickering pair engaging in a ceaseless argument that drove Cyprus even further into anger and annoyance. Surprisingly.

"Here we are..." Nate pulled the carriage to a stop. It was nearing midnight, but Cyprus' temple was always open. There were even a few inside, praying over their ill children or things of the sort. But they weren't interested in the inside; they were interested in the outside. The garden, of course. Nate took one look at the lot inside, then said, "We should put Werr back in the coffin. We can hide it in some bushes or something. Whatever we do, we need to move quickly..."

((Aww. xD))

Welk had taken to sitting cross-legged next to the open coffin, one hand draped inside, laying against Werr's neck, as if guarding him, and Welk now looked shocked at the idea of leaving him. "No," he said hoarsely, as he hadn't really spoken in the last few hours. He had been upset at first over Werr's 'death', then he had just been quiet, except for his brief moment of confidance when he had made-out with Isslia. Now, however, it was clear that this long period away from Werr was hurting him. He hadn't spoken for hours, and they knew for a fact that he hadn't eaten or drank much.

((LEAVE THE CORPSE IN THE COFFIN, WELK, WE DON GOTS A JOB TO DO.

It's not like anyone would bury the body while they're away. 9w9))

"Yes, Welk," Nate insisted. "Don't you want to put an end to this war? To this madness? We need all the help we can get. You're coming, and Isslia is too. Ophile won't stay, he has to help keep her safe. Cynyr can't stay, we need him in case we're stopped by guards. I can only do so much. Lexi definitely can't stay. We may need her healing ability. Come on, Welk, we've gotta go."

((Seriously. Don't. That's just mean, at this point. p3p ))

Welk hissed so violently and in such a feral way that Nate backed up in shock. Cynyr stared at his brother, startled, then growled and stood up. Lexi tried to grab his cape, sensing danger, but he twisted out of her way. He grabbed Welk by the back of his neck and snarled "If you want to do the right thing, you'll put the lid on that coffin and get the heck out of this carriage. I am still your oldest brother, and you are still going to listen to me. I don't give a crap that you're twenty. I'm twenty-two. Therefore, I get the 'being-older' rights. So shut your trap and get moving. Am I understood?"

Welk glared up at his brother, but he didn't say anything. He threw Cynyr's hand off and turned to the coffin, slowly and hesitantly settling the lid over it.