The Forgotten Zodiac

Nate's hand instinctively moved for his sword, but he relaxed the second he recognized the half-cat. Werr stared at Cynyr for a very long moment. He looked...conflicted. Maybe even a little...scared? Nate looked between the king and the knight for a long moment before clearing his throat. That seemed to snap Werr out of his startled daze.

He didn't sound very happy when he spoke, though. "I thought you were dead. Forin sent letters, but you...you just...left. You never wrote, you never visited...and now you finally have the guts to come back here?" Werr looked down, shuffling one foot. "I...I'm falling apart, Cynyr..."

Twice, the half-cat seemed like he wanted to say something, but he ended up making not a sound. Finally, he lifted a hand and swept it through the air, conjuring letters that hovered above his head, changing as he made new ones.

I...I'm sorry. I just...I felt like a letter was too shallow, too...uncaring. Plus, where I was and what I was doing...there wasn't time to send anything. I was angry and...and...hurting, when I left. I couldn't...you know me. I don't know how to let the hurt out. It burned and writhed inside me like fire. I...I didn't want to hurt you by accident, but I guess that happened anyways. I'm...so...s-sorry...Werr. I guess...I didn't want you to see what I've become.

Hesitantly, he extended a quivering, heavily-scarred hand to the boy, his tail utterly still behind him.

The king didn't even notice until Nate nudged him and indicated that he should read. Werr stared at the words for a long moment, then sighed. "You might as well leave again, then. Because I don't want you to see what all I've done...but...we're still brothers. And if you're willing to put up with my mess, I'll...I'll put up with yours." He took Cynyr's hand, his own fingers stiff as a rock. "We...we're kind of hopeless without him, aren't we?"

Only a lot, the floating words shifted to say, then Werr was jerked forward as Cynyr pulled on his hand, bringing him into his arms. The panther wrapped his arms tightly around Werr, pressing his face against the young man's shoulder.

...I missed you.

Werr couldn't see the floating letters, but somehow, he got the message all the same.

Werr didn't say anything for a long time again. Even when he spoke, his voice was dull, quiet, and carefully worded. It reminded Cynyr of before they had become friends. "Welcome home, Cynyr." He said before pulling away. "And...Seria?" He questioned, but it was answered for him as Forin, Luen, Luna and Seria made their way up the steps to meet them.

"Werr! There you are. I told you we'd make it back in one piece." Forin got up the stairs first, even though he was holding Diana on his back still. "And here we are."

"Indeed. I ensured your toyshop wasn't sold off while you were gone, but it'd probably be best if you took shelter in the castle until things settle down. The festival will be going on for awhile." Werr said.

Luen gave a light toss of his head, shifting forms after yet another passerby goggled at him. Kirin were rare to start with, and white ones were rarer. He gave a careful nod to the half-cat standing rigidly beside the king, then looked down as Seria walked past, moving over to Nate and purring happily as she nudged under his hand, standing up on her hind legs in order to lick his cheek.

Cynyr put his hand on Werr's shoulder, just a calm, soft way of letting him know that after all of this time...he was finally there.

"Luen! Good to see you. I'm glad you're home." Nate said as he hugged Seria. He looked down at her, beaming. "It's good to see you too, Seria." He scratched her behind the ears and stroked her caringly. "Come on, let's all go inside. The chefs prepared a feast for dinner; it's the moon festival, after all."

"Sounds wonderful. Diana," Forin shook the girl gently, jumping up and down lightly to wake her up. "Diana, wake up. We're home."

"Mmm...huh?" Diana opened her eyes, staring at everyone. "Oh...home..." She stared at the castle, then looked around at the people around her. She hid behind Forin's shoulder, still riding on his back.

They all headed inside, with Cynyr hounding Werr's footsteps, continuing to say nothing. He occasionally stroked Seria's head, who purred up at him, still padding along in cat form. Luen trotted along to stand near Nate, rubbing his muzzle against the dragonian's shoulder and telling him all about recovering Diana. He also had a question for the head guard.

"Where's Allie? Have you seen her lately? I need to go see her."

"Ah, I have, actually. She'll be at dinner. She's been hard at work...the waterfall behind the castle is purified again, and the garden gives off a peculiar scent that helps keep the air around it clean." Nate nodded. "She should be at dinner." He stroked Luen's neck, smiling widely. "I'm glad you were able to get Diana back. But for Remor to go down so easily...I'm just not so sure." He frowned, thinking hard on the subject. He didn't notice that they had reached the dining hall until he ran into a chair. "Oops."

"Have a seat," Werr raised a brow at him, plopping down in his own chair at the head of the table.

Allie was indeed there, in her sturdy wheelchair. She looked up sharply as the returning party stepped in. "Luen! Come here this instant!" She practically ordered, and when he did, she wrapped her arms around his furry neck and kissed his cheek. "Don't leave for so long again, okay? I worried..."

Luen smiled, his long ears flicking back against his head. He shifted forms, pulling a chair right up next to hers and taking her hands, kissing her fingers. He looked up as Cynyr sat down, completely unused to seeing the lanky black form. Seria glanced up and down the table, looking apprehensive, then said "I think I'll eat in the kitchen, actually," and slipped away before anyone could question her.

Nate frowned after her, but said nothing. He dug into his meal quickly, wanting to visit his wife, but Seria's adversion to eating with them was...well, he was slightly worried. Had something happened to where she couldn't eat solid foods anymore? That wouldn't be good...

Nate found himself thinking about it throughout the entire meal, even when he had to explain to Forin what all had been going on. He left out various parts, namely concerning Werr and Lexanna.

"Speaking of Obelisk," Forin questioned. "Where is he?"

"He said he'd go to find some medicine for his wife. Fawn...has Scarlet Fever. Do keep Diana away from the infirmary," Nate warned. "You know how dangerous it is."

"What's Scarlet Fever?" Diana questioned, staring at Nate through her timid, yet curious, gaze. He was vaguely familiar to her, but she didn't quite remember him.

"Ah...it's a nasty illness that causes extremely high fevers, a reddish complexion, and...other things." Nate said, deciding to leave out the part about the internal swelling of the throat, lungs, and (rarely) around the brainstem. "It's very dangerous for women; no one really quite knows why, but men hardly show any symptoms, but it reacts badly in women and young girls like yourself. So stay away from the infirmary, okay? I don't want you getting sick."

"Nor do I," Forin shook his head. "We'll steer clear. Thank you, Nate. Where are you going?" He asked when the Dragonian stood.

"I'm going to check on your wife, if that's okay with you, Cynyr. I need a word with her..." Nate hesitated, wanting permission so the scarred half-cat would be in no way upset with him.

The panther looked up from his chair, where he was sitting quietly, mostly watching Werr, and gave a light nod. He watched as Nate strode off to the kitchens, then turned his gaze back onto Werr.

Seria was curled up in cat form next to the large hearth fire the kitchen used to heat the rooms. A plate of food sat untouched at her side, her gaze filled with tears. Her paws were crossed, one over the other, and her chin rested on top, her tail curled around her hind leg. There was a faint air of carefulness in the way she was laying, as if she risked pain by laying a certain way.

"Seria," Nate said quietly as he stepped in. He sat down across from her, smiling a bit. "Hi. It's been awhile, hasn't it?" He looked towards the orange flames. He sucked in a breath, and gently blue out a small, white colored flame. The fire consomned the white flame, then slowly turned to a pinkish color. Nate smiled. "I've learned how to color flames. It was rather tricky at first, but I've got it down to a song by now." He didn't bring up anything important, deciding he would ease into his questions, to make it easier for poor Seria.

She flicked her tail once, staring into the colored flames. "It's...really pretty, Nate," she murmured, moving a paw up to brush tears from her eyes. She was quiet for a moment, her ears resting against her head as even more tears dripped down her cheeks, then she slowly shifted around to put her head in Nate's lap. Just from this slight contact, the dragonian could feel her shaking.

"Seria, my dear friend, what's so wrong that you tremble with the slightest touch?" Nate questioned, stroking down her spine very gently. He frowned slightly. "You...you haven't changed to human form since you got back. Did you..." He swallowed hard. "Did you lose your human form somehow...?"

"N-no, it's not that!" she cried, pressing closer against him and closing her bright blue eyes. "It's...I'm scared, Nate. I'm afraid of so many things, especially now! What do I do?! What will happen now that...I...I'm..."

Very, very slowly, her cat form melted away. She remained hunched over for a moment, as if debating about switching back, then slowly uncurled herself and sat up.

Instantly, Nate's eyes were drawn to her rounded, slightly-distended belly. It wasn't too big yet, but it was clear instantly what it was.

"I...I'm pregnant...again," Seria whispered, resting her hands over her belly, tears pouring from her eyes.

Nate immediately smiled, but had to force his mouth down again. He scooted over to sit next to her, closing his eyes. "Shh...I know you're scared, I know...I'm scared, too. I'm scared for you. But...I also know that you're safe now. I'm here, Cynyr's here, and your baby is safe under your care. And you're safe, under ours. You won't lose this one," He took her hand and held it tight. "I'll pray to the Goddess every hour of the day, if it would help you."

Seria sobbed into his arms for a moment, then finally composed herself and managed to stop. "I-it's not just that, Nate..." she whispered, gasping softly for breath. Her blue eyes bored into his with an intensity he might've found frightening if he were anyone else. "Nate..." She slowly moved her hands out and took his, placing them slowly over her belly. In the silence afterwards, Nate felt the smallest flutter of movement under her skin. Still, Seria waited, until Nate felt the flutter again...and an identical one on the other side at the same time.

"I'm carrying two," she whispered, staring into his green eyes, desperate for reassurance.

"Oh, Seria..." Nate hugged her as tight as he dared. He shook his head. "You say this as though it's a bad thing...it's really not. You're going to take good care of them, and you'll bring life to two wonderful lives, and there isn't a thing you can say that would make me think otherwise. Seria...you'll do fine. If you want," He smiled. "I'm sure your husband wouldn't mind having the birth in Kaislun. They'll take extra good care of you there..."

((Aww, now I'm thinking of the first invasion, when all the soldiers march in with Zex, and Nate is all like, "Don't be rough with her, please! She's with child!" All desperate-like. And Zex stares at them both, and says something cool, like, "We're not here to destroy life. Lock her in her room, put bars on the window and a guard at her door, but make sure she's comfortable, fed, watered...if your mate wishes, I can put him in the same room as you, miss Seria. He would be chained, but...present."

He'd be their captor, sure, but he's not evil. Not in the slightest. xD))

((Alrighty then. :3))

She nodded weakly, leaning against him and trying not to cry again. She rested one hand over her stomach, staring down at her skin. As her clothes had stretched with her slowly-growing stomach, Remor had given her new things to wear, though most had consisted of shirts that were always cut to reveal her stomach. Though he had kept her in cat form most of the time, occasionally he had made her sit in human form, just watching her. She was only about four months into the pregnancy, and though her belly wasn't too big yet, it was still extremely obvious when in human form.

She wondered how Cynyr would react. They hadn't been together more than twice...was that really all it had taken? She just found it so hard to look down at herself and realize, over and over, that she was pregnant.