The Forgotten Zodiac

Vuker had darted off during this, and returned with bright red berries in his claws. He looked up at Viara and Zephyr. "If you'd allow, I'd like to feed Boko these," He held them up. "Kia berries. Harmless to fully grown beings, but causes unconsciousness and numbness in younglings. I don't like seeing him in so much pain...he'd be better off asleep."

"Shh...yah..." Boko twisted to turn his head around, trying to find his mate-to-be. He immediately yowled in agony, going limp again.

Zephyr looked over at Vaira, who was in too much of a frenzie to hear anything Vuker was saying. "Alright," the second king said, shrugging his shoulders tensely. "Go ahead." He watched closely, hating every second that his son was in pain.

Shiya darted forward, sensing Boko's distress clearly. She curled herself around his head, licking him softly.

Boko stuck his tongue out at just the right time, pressing it to hers before opening his mouth to accept the berries. He choked three of them down before his eyes rolled back in his head and his scaly lids shut tight. He relaxed more visibly, and breathed a little easier. Just a little.

"What a mess..." Sylas tutted, picking up the ruined fake wings. "Hm...this is pretty solid leather..."

"What do you mean?" Vuker questioned.

"I mean the edges are flawless. This is a very finely crafted false wing, if I do say so myself. But for it to be torn up at the slightest sign of stress...that means there was a tear in the leather before he took off. It must have ripped during his climb, and was practically shredded upon trying to catch himself at such high speeds."

"Yes...? I watched Flanis and Tygan build it. Flanis is an excellect crafter, if I do say so myself...I don't think he would have torn it."

"I don't think so either," Sylas shrugged. "I think it was tampered with. Someone tried to kill Boko." He suggested lightly, and immediately remembered what a temper dragons had. He shifted behind Vuker, knowing the smaller Drakeling wouldn't be quite so threatening, and pulled Leo beside him, just in case they needed to make a quick getaway.

He was right to hide. Vaira flew into a rage at once, screaming to the sky. "Who DARES mess with my baby?!" she screamed, thrashing her tail violently against the ground, snarling and flicking her ears back. "I'll tear them to pieces, I'll rip them limb from limb, I'll end their miserable excuse for a life, I'll-"

She went on and on, and even Zephyr was unable to stop her. He let her rant, turning as Leo spat "Let's blow this place, Sylas. Come on, I'm tired of being here."

"Yeah...it's getting dangerous," Sylas climbed onto Leo's back. "We'll see you around, Zephyr. Maybe we'll visit sometime, but Leo and I are headed back to Kaislun," He waved before patting Leo between the shoulderblades, indicating that the panther should go. "Don't worry 'bout us, we'll make it there just fine."

Vuker sighed heavily, glancing sideways at Shiya. He knew full well who had done this. It was very much obvious, but...should he say anything? No, it was definitely the right thing to do...but did Shiya want to speak up first?

Zephyr tilted his head, watching as the two went to pick up Dark, then turned when Shiya crooned a soft, slow, sad note. She was practically sitting in the saliva water with Boko now, curled around his head, stroking his muzzle with her tongue. She whimpered and lifted a saliva-soaked paw, gently stroking it over his cheeks. "Boko..." she whispered softly. "My Boko..."

((Feel better! >:C I can't talk to you if you're DEAD. D: Also, I have Spring Break this weeeek~))

Boko was still and silent, definitely unconscious. Vuker sighed. He couldn't just let this sit by...he flew up and leaned in close to Zephyr's ears, not wanting Vaira to hear and go into a rage. When his message was delivered, he flew back down and decided to spread the news around of Boko's injury. Lutrez certainly wouldn't be very happy...

((He just told Zephyr whatever you want. Just the name, the name and a few examples of past problems, or the whole story. o3o))

((I'm feeling more of a neutral ground today.

Leonen, I thought?))

Zephyr sighed heavily, resting his head on his large claws. He closed his eyes, exhaling heavily, then said "My first priority is my son. Once he's well, I'll confront them." He turned his gaze down to his son, sighing, then looked up at Vaira. She had a faraway look on her face as she stared at the new little couple, sighing occasionally.

((So long as you aren't dead. -hugglesclose-

Yesyes, Leonen. :3))

Boko slept on, undisturbed.

---

The capital city of Herrace, (insertnameIdon'trememberhere), was bathed in the light of sunrise.

"Where is he?" Obelisk was questioning. Cyprus hadn't shown up again yet. Naybrin had long since returned with the story of Althos and his mother, but Cyprus hadn't come back yet. It had been an entire day so far. It was worrying, to say the least, but there was a sort of peace settling outside that couldn't be disturbed.

The Blood Hawks were still lurking about, probably. But it was becoming increasingly obvious that the tension was disappearing. Their base had been ransacked, after all. If they weren't calling it quits and fleeing for their life, they were hunkering down and trying to hide. Werr peered out the window, frowning slightly. "We should leave soon..." He murmured, then leaned in a little closer to the glass.

"Back up, Werr," Obelisk warned.

"No, look at this. It's Cyprus," Werr pointed. Indeed, the Demigod was outside. Cyprus...did not look well. He seemed okay, for the most part. Not wounded much at all, just a couple scrapes. But he looked on the verge of collapsing as he neared the iron-wrought gates to Obelisk's estate. His cloak was askew, covering his right arm and his side.

Or at least, where it used to be. His arm was entirely gone, his side burned and clawed, like some sort of fire demon had reached down and tore his right arm off entirely. The bone of his shoulder was slightly visible through the weeping wound he had half-healed. Cyprus rested his head against the bars and sank to his knees, rattling the gate a bit in desperation.

Naybrin craned his head back, peering down through the window, then he turned and rushed outside, taking Cyprus by the hem of his shirt and carefully lifting him. Cyprus, what's become of you? he asked through minds softly, passing his tongue delicately over the demigod. Will you recover, my friend?

Once inside, the First King lowered the demigod onto the couch, trying to be tender. He could sense Welk hovering nearby, looking anxious. He didn't like seeing the blood.

Cyprus sighed and relaxed, closing his eyes. "There were...a lot of them." He moaned softly. "None can take a life without...punishment of some form...not even Demigods. So many lives...shattered. But Demigods aren't punished in the same way...I think the Goddess is mad at me, perhaps. Either that or...the deaths did not agree with my own magic." He shifted uncomfortably. "I'll get my arm back eventually..." He sighed a bit.

Naybrin gave a soft hum, passing his tongue again over the demigod before sighing.

Welk watched them, then turned to Werr and pressed his muzzle into the boy's chest, purring nervously. He placed his paws up into Werr's arms, kneading gently at his muscles. "I want to go home," he finally said, licking Werr's hand softly. "When can we leave? Our job is done here, and I want to take Isslia home...I want to take all of us home. I want to let Cynyr and Seria start their family over. I just want...to be normal again."

Werr slowly nodded. "Yeah...I wanna go home too. No doubt Zephyr is already home, and Sylas and Leo probably returned to Kaislun..." He sighed and stood, stretching for a moment before looking over at Obelisk.

It was definitely...different, looking at him. An old enemy, and a new ally. He had gone from a terrible evil to a disgruntled asset, and now to a good friend. Obelisk had sheltered them and took care of them when they needed it, and...well, Werr wasn't about to let that go unnoticed.

"I have to thank you, Obelisk...you've been a great help to us. To all of us." Werr nodded his thanks.

"Don't mention it. Really, don't. When you write your third book about all these adventures...leave the name 'Obelisk' out of it. Use something more anonymous. 'Stranger' will do just fine." He shrugged. 

"Got it." Werr smirked a bit, then sighed. "You know, if you wanted to live in Alastor...anywhere in Alastor, really..."

"I'll have to think carefully about that one," The once monstrous-looking man shrugged. "You lot are a magnet for trouble...I don't want to endanger my family. No offen--" He suddenly convulsed, hugging his chest. "A-ah..." He very nearly whimpered, but quickly relaxed. "What the...heck was that...?" He stared at his hands for a moment, then shook himself off, clearing his throat. "As I was saying, no offense. I'm just hesitant to get to close to you lot."

"We understand, Obelisk. The offer is open. Anytime you want to come along, go right ahead. Are you...okay, though?" Werr frowned.

"I'm fine. Remor's just throwing a fit again."

"Well," Cyprus interrupted them. "I guess...this would be goodbye, then?" Cyprus smiled a bit at Werr. "I can't follow you to Alastor. That's...well, that's Snider's realm. I don't have as much power there, and...he scares me..."

Naybrin crooned a low note and rose from his spot on a pile of pillows, moving over to brush his ancient muzzle against Cyprus' cheek. "If you ever need us," he murmured. "You know we’ll be there to help you. You need only call out."

Welk also stood, but he was looking at Obelisk. He trotted over and placed his chin right on his knee, purring happily. Though he was good at holding grudges, he was more inclined to forgive. Obelisk's forgiveness had just taken longer than normal to receive.

"You know, I think I'll actually miss you. Maybe. A little," he said, a sly grin parting his furry lips. His tail flicked crazily behind him, generating a bit of fire from the movement.

Obelisk rubbed Welk behind the ears, smiling a bit. "Thank you for that, I suppose. May our paths cross again, but under...nicer conditions." He shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe I'll visit someday. Oh, by the by, here," He reached into his pocket, pulling out what looked like a tiny silver dagger on a necklace. It wasn't sharp or anything of the sort, it was more of a pendant. "This could very well save your life one day. Keep it close, yes?" He put it around Welk's neck, then leaned back again. "Fawn is making you all lunch for the road. Or, in your case, skies." He chortled.

((The knife is a skeleton key of sorts. Just so you know. It'll break locks, but it's only got one use. 936))

((Coooooooool.

I've missed you a lot lately. ;3; We don't seem to have as much time together anymore... It make me sad.))

Welk blinked at the necklace, watching it bump against the blue stone that was already there, something for himself and Werr. Those were given to them by Cici, the light fairy that had died for them. Welk purred and nuzzled Obelisk's knee again, then bounced back to Werr and cuddled close, looking happier than he had in a while.

((It's fine~ The time that we do have, it's bonding time. >:3))

Werr smiled and scratched Welk behind the ears, but he removed his hand when Isslia moved to do the same. She blinked at him. "Teach me how you do it," She tilted her head to the side. He smiled and happily showed her.

Nate, in the meantime, was awfully distracted. He kept glancing out the window, frowning unhappily. He seemed worried about something or other, but he feigned contentment whenever he noticed someone looking at him.

((Yaaaaay~!))

There were some, however, that knew him well enough to tell he was upset.

"Nate?"

Luen was standing nearby, holding a cup of icy water in his hand. He looked tired, but had recovered well from the strain of Vorpal's soul intruding on his own. He set his cup aside and gingerly (for he was still sore) sat down next to Nate, who was still one of his closest friends.

"What's the matter?" he asked, moving his cold hand out and placing it on Nate's knee. His deep, emerald green eyes held a sense of maturity and pain that only a few people could truly understand.

((^w^))

Nate jerked a bit and blinked at Luen, then smiled and sighed through his nose. "I'm worried," He admitted. "I've been away from my wife and child for years, it seems, even though it was only a couple weeks..." He ran his fingers through his hair. "And...I dunno. Something feels off. I mean, I know it was hard, going through all that, but...I get the feeling that we aren't done yet. Something bad is about to happen, Luen, and..." He shook his head. "I shouldn't be paranoid, I know, but...it's hard not to be."

The kirin was quiet for a moment, then he stood up and shifted forms. He tugged gently at Nate's sleeve, making him stand up for a moment. The white deer then curled up on the window seat and tugged Nate back down, letting the dragonian lean on him and run a hand through his soft, thick white fur.

"...I feel it too," he finally said, pressing his nose against Nate's neck. "Something bad is going to happen, but...there's nothing we can do about it. I'm sure Tasia and Ariana are fine, Nate. We'll see them again soon."