The Forgotten Zodiac

Welk frowned, his arms wrapped tightly around himself in frustration, then he blinked and gasped "Isslia!" He turned to his little girlfriend, his crimson eyes glinting, and said "Isslia, next to Lexi, you're the most pure-hearted person I've ever met! You have to read from the book, you have to! Okay? Do it for me, do it for the innocent people being hurt by all of this!" He took her hands in his, pulling her close and holding her near his warm chest, wrapping his arms around her and looking down into her bright eyes.

Yet still the huge Titan fought on, screaming his rage as he thrashed, firing electricity from what seemed like every inch of his body. He managed to break free from the holds on him and soar upwards, heading off as fast as he could go for the distant clouds.

"He's getting away!" Welk cried, then kissed Isslia's forehead and gently slid her into Werr's arms, saying "I'll be back!" He plunged off of Naybrin, spreading his wings and arching towards the golems. As he headed towards them, he was already formulating an idea in his head. He gestured wildly at the stone creations, finally conveying his idea, and one of the golems held out its hand. Welk sat down in it at once, and the golem powered back. Welk readied himself and the golem threw him as hard as it could. He put on as much speed as he had in him, igniting his body on fire, turning himself into a flaming bullet.

He ripped through the airsacs along Neathor's stomach, tearing them open, and the great beast howled and began to fall slowly, unable to stay in the air.

Finally, after several more long, heartwrenching seconds, Carlyle resurfaced with a limp Welk, who was unconscious. He threw up a mouthful of water as Werr hovered over him. The half-cat slowly pushed himself upright, gasping for air, and looked around bewilderedly. "Wh-what happened?" he panted, letting Werr pull him close and squeeze him tightly.

"You were nearly an idiot!" Cynyr raged, pacing angrily behind them.

Werr hugged Welk as tight as he possibly could. "You...it worked. Neathor fell, and the Goddess made spikes to kill him. He sank deep under the water, and you...you sank with him. Skies above, Carlyle, if you weren't around..."

"I try." Carlyle shrugged, covering his gills with his scarf so he could breathe normally again.

"What on earth are you, anyway?"

"Manfish. Lerloch."

"I thought Bulliete enslaved your kind..." Werr frowned.

"They can't enslave me if they don't know what I am. They were starting to suspect things, though...so I suppose it's good that I left them when I did." He scratched the back of his neck, then smiled a bit. "Good thing the Goddess made this island, but the tide's coming in quick. It won't be here for long. We should go."

"Right..." Werr pulled Welk upright, in time to see Remor tackle Carlyle to the ground.

"You disgusting, ugly, stupid fish!" Remor screamed, grinding the flailing fish's face into the sand. "If Welk had died...it would have been easy to kill the other two!" He paused for a moment, then whipped his hand out; Carlyle gagged and thrashed, but it was no good. He was dragged into the air, held up by a line of shadows that led to a hook lodged to the inside of his gills. Hooked like a common carp. Remor stepped back, panting and grinning. The worst part was the shadow barrier that stood between them and the others; Naybrin couldn't hope to land, much less help.

"Do you remember...not so long ago, when I reformed the damage that Seria had healed? Let's do it again!" He laughed, and with a flash of darkness, pain returned. For Werr, chunks of his skin and muscle vanished, mimicing the wounds he had recieved under Malice's captivity a year and a half ago. He screamed and fell back, his left arm breaking as it had back then. The sand stung the open wounds, and he bled profusely, screaming and trying desperately to cover his injuries.

"Werr!" multipule voices screamed, but within moments, pandemonium had struck. The wounds they all had received in the past sprang up, but some were worse than others. Cynyr...Cynyr was a mess. It looked like Remor had dug hard to find injuries that really hurt him.

And he had found the worst.

Blood had appeared all over the panther's body, soaking through his clothes, and his friends saw in horror that his scars had reopened. Blood gushed from his nose and the area around it, where the skin, usually hard and twisted, was now soft and raw, freshly hacked and burned. Cynyr had slumped on the ground, his hands held in front of him as blood poured from his empty eye socket, his remaining orb wide and terrified.

Welk was reduced to his near-death state, from the time he and Werr had gone through their trial together. The half-cat gasped in pain, panting and holding his sides in pain, withering on the ground. But an anger unlike any other had come over him, and he screamed with such...animalistic rage.

Then Welk moved. It was slow and agonized, but he dragged himself over to Werr and draped himself over the boy, snarling.

"If you...touch him a-again...I'll be the end of you."

He growled and flicked his limp tail, wincing as blood dripped down from the corner of his mouth. He snarled again, slowly standing and clutching tender ribs with one hand, the sounds coming from his mouth resembling a full-grown male lion's.

Werr moved his one unbroken hand up, taking Welk's hand in his. He closed his eyes and neared the verge of passing out, but he opened them again when he felt Welk being ripped away. Remor held Welk an arm's length away, grinning maliciously as he raised a foot, then stamped down on Werr's windpipe.

The collapse was immediate, and irreversable without a healer's touch. Werr clutched at his throat, his lips tinted blue as he went limp, the lack of oxygen slowly killing him. He had several more minutes before he was officially dead, but if he didn't get air soon, he could potentially suffer brain damage.

Remor smiled, still holding Welk away, then turned and knocked Cynyr onto his back, threatening to do the same. "What are you going to do, kitten?" He sneered, then stamped down. "Poor wittle kitty cat. Your friends are as good as dead. Just give up already."

Welk screamed and thrashed wildly, kicking out at Remor, all to no avail. He fanned his wings open and tore free, flying in a weak, pitiful circle overhead. He couldn't go far, and he didn't have the strength to, even if he could. He hovered above, tears streaming down his cheeks, then came to a decision. A decision he didn't want, but still made willingly. For the good of his friends and family, he had to do it.

He had to stop Remor at all costs.

He concentrated, closing his eyes and hovering in midair. He held his arms limply at his sides, slowly taking on an expression of peace and calm. He flapped once, then twice as flames surrounded him. Flames that burned brighter than any he had ever cast in his life. They were pure and power leaked off of them.

Then, on the next flap of his wings, he dove forward.

Thoughts entered his mind. Lexi and Seria. Both so caring, so passionate in their own ways, so kind.

Cynyr. Oh Cynyr. His perfect older brother. He didn't have to be handsome or a gentleman to be brilliant in Welk's eyes. He was strong and powerful, and Welk wanted to be like him. He was able to protect people, and though slow to love, was probably even more loyal than Welk himself. Though he doubted that.

Isslia. Dear, dear little Isslia. Oh, he loved her so much. He had wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. His dear golden flower. He could only hope she could manage without him.

Werr.

Werr, who he was so closely bonded to. Werr, who was his brother in all but blood. Werr, who had cared for him and stood by him, through all of their hardships, who had supported him and laughed with him, held him when he cried or was sick, who had fought by his side.

They were his family, and he loved them all.

That's why he intended to die so his friends could live.

He dove, time seeming to slow.

He would miss his friends so much.

Nate, even Forin, Luen, Luna and Diana. All of them.

They deserved to live, and if he had to die to do so, then so be it.

He was burning. He could feel himself burning for the first time in a long, long time. Remor was fighting back, struggling to stop the attack, but it was far too late. Welk thrust his right arm forward, his fingers straining, pushing forward despite the horrific burns that were tearing along his skin, ripping his body to shreds.

Still his flames pushed him onwards, fueled by his desire to protect his friends, to sacrifice himself for them.

Closer still he came, until at last, his claws tore down and wrapped around the Eternal Crystal.

And he ripped it free.

((Also, dun take Seria until she's healed them, ish.))

((Obviously.

See, Remor won't die because of Dark Matter. Cern survived much worse simply because he had a little; Remor is extremely powerful and stuff.

Also, it would do good to give the rest of the crystal back to Obelisk, unless you had other plans for it.))

Remor fell back with an anguished cry. He fell limp, not seeing Welk crash into the ground and fall limp as well. The shadow wall dissolved almost immediately, and Naybrin was free to crash into the waters nearby, allowing the others off.

There was an unusual sort of silence that had fallen upon the group. It had started with a muttered sentence from Forin only seconds after Welk had crashed. That single muttered sentence that tore into their hearts and minds like raging winds and knives.

"He's as good as dead..."

Welk was gasping for air, his chest heaving as he fought for each breath, his body burned horribly. Even as Seria raced over with tears gushing down her face to touch Werr's neck, the boy was crawling towards his friend. He scooped Welk into his arms and held him close, acutely aware, even as he touched him, that there was no hope. There was just a strange feel about him, a feel that made Werr want to cry and scream at the same time.

The still-glowing crystal fell from Welk's limp, twisted, ravaged fingers.

Even as Welk fought for air, Werr could remember a nightmare he had had a long time ago. Where Welk had been laying in a coffin, his body burned and scarred.

This was that nightmare made real. It had been a vision.

Welk choaked a weak sound which Werr knew was his name, and tears fell down Welk's cheeks.

Werr struggled to hold Welk with his broken arms, but he managed. Werr tried to speak, but the silencing rune was locked firmly in place. Werr sobbed, wanting desperately to say something. By the time Seria managed to get the Rune off, it'd be too late...

Werr pressed his face against Welk's burnt and bleeding chest, screaming out voiceless words that would never be heard. "Don't leave me," His traitorous voice failed to say. "Don't leave me, Welk! You can't leave me...you're my brother, my little brother, you can't go!"

"Goodbye, Welk." Forin said quietly, standing nearby. "You did good. Go on to sleep...fighting it will only make Werr upset at your suffering." It wasn't obvious at first, but there were definitely tears on Forin's face. It didn't show in his voice. Diana sat nearby, sobbing into Luna's arms.

Luen was being comforted by Nate, who was hugging the shaking kirin close. Even Vorpal gave a low bow, staying that way for several long seconds before straightening and standing silently.

Cynyr walked over and flopped down on his knees, staring at the nearly-lifeless form on his youngest sibling. Tears fell freely; he didn't try to hide them or make them stop. He actually sobbed loudly, not risking touching Welk. He was practically beside himself with anguish, without the understanding of how to let it out properly. He wailed and held his head in his claws, and Seria could only wrap her arms around him and cry with him.

Welk convulsed a few times, then slowly fell still. A thin smile graced his bloody lips, and Werr felt a tiny voice flicker through his mind.

Watch over Isslia for me, okay? It really was true love at first sight, you know. And take care of Cynyr. He's a pain most of the time, but...he really cares for us. Just...take care of them, okay?

I...I'm going to miss you, Werr...I don't want to go, but...I can't stop the pull now...

I love you all so much.

I...I'm sorry...I couldn't be stronger...

Werr...it's cold...and dark. I don't want to be alone...

Werr sobbed silently, unable to do anything else. Werr tried desperately to say something, anything at all. He managed to nod weakly in response to his request. Isslia would be well taken care of. Werr made a slight choking sound, then managed to rasp, "Love...you..." Before the silence took its hold on his throat again. He laid down next to Welk, ignoring the stinging sand against his wounds. He held Welk tightly, closing his eyes and weeping out his misery.

By the time Isslia woke up, it was too late. She didn't say much, guessing what had happened. She walked over and transformed into her dog form, curling up under Welk's bloody hand. She didn't move after that, staring at Welk's thumb with a sort of uncaring look. But it was all too obvious that she was hurting a lot. She just...couldn't bring herself to cry.

Welk's hand twitched as he felt her fur, then he slowly managed to clutch at her, trying to pull her closer. She understood and came close as he convayed through twitches and small flexes of his dying muscles what he wanted.

She transformed to human form and their lips met one last time. It was the sweetest, most tender kiss she had ever felt, and it made her body crave more, as she knew she would never feel it again. He would never be able to kiss her again, or hold her and hug her, or marry her and go further than a simple kiss.

But it was too late.

His exhaled against her lips and was gone.

Isslia laid against him, her head on his bloody chest. "I love you..." She whispered to him, though she knew he could no longer hear. His chest didn't move with the familiar breath, and he was silent.

It took a good long while to get Werr, Cynyr and Carlyle back to full health. Werr said nothing, even after the silence rune was removed. He just sat there, in utter silence. Naybrin could feel his anguish and pain. And...fear. Welk had been a light in his dark, lonely world. Lexi...Lexi was the only light he had left. Cynyr was still his friend, yes, but...the panther carried with himself his own darkness. And even Cynyr felt the crushing loss. Seria was his last remaining light.

Closer to Naybrin, Nate was sitting with the others. Ophile was curled up with Spy, while Nate held Lexi. Spy was very, very quiet, the tip of his tail trembling. "Natey..." The Chimera started, but Nate cut him off.

"Call me Froggy, little one."

"...I thought you hated that nickname." Ophile blinked.

"Someone has to do it." Nate replied dully.

Forin looked on, feeling his own pain. Welk had been such a kind and caring boy. He remembered when the half-cat would run down to his home to check out the new toys, and roll around with Diana in the grass. There would be no more of that, clearly. Forin let out a heavy sigh, then he moved away for a moment, then returned with his flask of fresh water. Without a word, he poured it on Cynyr's head, washing away some of the blood. When that was done, he pulled a clean rag from his bag and attempted to drape it over Welk's face; Isslia snarled and tore the rag away, clinging hopelessly to the limp frame of her boyfriend.

The journey home would be a long one.

Forin did his usual twitch as a different sort of blood-scent reached his nose. Diana. She was wailing now, holding her bleeding foot; she had cut it on a rock. Forin rubbed the back of his neck and sighed a bit. He didn't want to bother Seria with this, but if he tried to fix it himself, Diana would most likely get an infection. Forin looked for Lexi, and found that she was peacefully asleep in Nate's arms. Forin looked back at Seria, watching her in silence. She'd feel Diana's pain sooner or later. Forin sat down next to his mistress, helping her clean the blood while they waited.

Seria finally lifted her head, rather listlessly, and slowly dragged herself from Cynyr, who had sputtered weakly at the water Forin had poured on him before going silent again. Tears still dripped down his cheeks, and he continued to be completely quiet. Finally, he lifted his gaze, his hair sopping wet and falling in his eyes, and took panther form soundlessly. He pressed his face deep into Werr's lap, his body racked with shaking sobs. "I c-can't..." he stuttered weakly, his voice faint. "...c-can't...do it..." He inhaled sharply, then rasped "We...lost h-him..." and pressed his bloodied face harder into Werr's lap.

Werr said nothing. He didn't even move his hand to rub Cynyr behind the ears. He just sat there, staring uselessly at the sand and spilling more tears than a well spout could spill water. So busy were they, grieving and crying, that they failed to notice something very important.

"Thank you," Forin took a step back to give Seria room to heal his mistress. When the cut was gone, Diana hugged Seria tightly for a long moment. When she pulled away and moved to go back to Luna, however, she was stopped short in her tracks.

The scream of pure terror was like any other. Remor, still bleeding a bit, was holding Diana by the hair, and before anything could be done, he had Seria by the wrist. "Say bye-bye, girls!" He let out his wheezy laugh, grinning madly. A portal to the Realm of Darkness opened under them, and Remor dragged them down easily.

One second there, gone the next.

Forin let out a scream of his own, clawing at the closing portal, trying to wrestle his way into it. It was no use. It only spat him out and zipped itself shut, vanishing like Diana had. Forin pounded on the sand, but it wasn't long before he stopped, slowly stood, then staggered towards Luen and Luna. "He...stole her...from me..." Forin trembled, clenching his fists so hard that he drew blood from his palms.

((I've decided that it can just be a couple months from now, the next book. o3o At least four, though.))