The Forgotten Zodiac

Werr looked at her hands, then up at her tear-filled eyes. "I...I, uh..." He swallowed hard, then looked down again. He suddenly gripped her hand a little tighter, pulling her along. Past his room, and down into a wine cellar (that had been mostly empty for a long time). "I've been doing a lot of research," The dim lighting seemed to make it easier for him to speak, obviously enough. "I...I think I'm getting close. I..." He kept his head down as he lit one, two of the lamps around the large room.

On the floor was an intricate pattern, grooves dug into the ground in runic circles that Lexi had never seen before. "I just need...a powerful enough sacrifice. That's the problem...even if I fo-found someone powerful enough, I can't just kill them..." He leaned against the wall and slid down, throwing a carving tool aside. "I'm not...not strong enough..."

Lexi stared, completely stunned, for a long time. When she finally lifted her head, tears were pouring down her cheeks. "Werr...you've changed," she whispered, shaking her head once without breaking their gaze. "He...he wouldn't have wanted this. I didn't know him as well as you, but...but...but I knew enough to understand that he would never want you to kill someone for him..."

She spoke about Welk, of course. Werr's best friend and brother, the energetic fire-mage half-cat that had given up his life to save them all not too long ago.

She took a step back, a treacherous part of her mind briefly wondering if he would sacrifice her if he had to. He had just become so dark and twisted. "I know you miss him..." she said quietly. "But...this isn't what he would've wanted..."

"I wasn't..." Werr started, but looked down again. He had drawn this mess out before discovering that a sacrifice was required. He hadn't actually been planning on giving up another life for Welk. The half-cat would never forgive him if he knew, if it worked at all...

Anger flashed through him. "You wanted me to talk to you. This was what I've been wanting to talk about. I didn't want to sacrifice anyone, I'm not strong enough...I can't be. I can't take an innocent life, not like that...I can't do it. But you...you go and assume the worst! Just...just forget it. Forget you ever saw this. I'm having the floor redone tomorrow, anyway." He turned and marched up the stairs.

Nate came down, next, only a few moments later. "...Lexi?" He said softly, waiting by the door. "He...showed you this too, then? He showed me this morning..."

Lexi didn't say anything. She just stood there with her back to Nate, and the dragonian was suddenly and acutely aware that she was shouldering a lot of responsibility and pain that a girl her age normally wouldn't have to bear. Her arms were wrapped around her slender frame - too slender - and her nails dug into her arms. Nate could hear, with his delicate senses, the tiny hitches in her breathing that suggested someone on the verge of sobbing.

((And this is why Obelisk does most of the actual work. xD))

Nate slowly walked forward, carefully moving his arms out and tucking Lexi's slim frame against his large, muscled one. His wings flared out, blocking the floor from her view. "It's okay...it's okay, Lexi. It's okay to cry." He murmured in the softest of voices. He wasn't trying to invade on her space, and would let go the instant she put up any kind of protest. He was only trying to comfort her, much in the same way he offered comfort to Seria or Luna, not so far in the past. "If it helps at all, he said he would never be able to actually do it. But then, just him thinking about it is a disturbance, I know..."

((Yeah, but Obelisk's love isn't going crazy and snapping at them left and right when they just want to help. Her last support beside Obelisk is caving in under her. Plus, as the heir and would-be queen, she's the figurehead for it all. If something went wrong now, she would be blamed most for it.))

She leaned against him, not completely crying yet, but close to it. Finally, she spoke, and it was in an upset tone with which she did. "I can't...f-forgive him," she muttered weakly, sniffing. "A part of me...just...j-just hates him for doing this to us..." At first, Nate thought she was talking about Werr, but then it became clear.

"Wh-why...did he have to die like that? D-didn't he know w-we needed him to stay strong? I c-can't...I can't hate Welk...but I wish he hadn't died, b-because Werr d-died too!" She sobbed now, pressing her face into Nate's shoulder.

((YEAH, I KNOW -patrick excited voice-

o3o Nuthin's gonna happen, though. Nothing serious. For some reason, I thought it'd be funny if he fell off a balcony and into a bush. No broken bones, and it would be from the second floor. xD))

"Oh, Lexi..." Nate sighed into her hair. "I miss him too...but Werr didn't die. He's most certainly not dead. He's just...hiding. Hiding from the cold reality that he doesn't have the strength to face. Not only is Welk gone, but Cynyr is as good as gone, too; we've gotten letters from Forin and Luen, but nothing from Cynyr. And he said himself...when he finds Seria, he's not coming back." He stroked her hair lightly, closing his eyes. "Werr lost both of his brothers in a single day. It's...it's hard to cope with that. For all his knowledge, he didn't and doesn't know how to press on. His appearance in the meeting today," For he had been silently present; of course, he was the head guard. That hadn't changed. "He was trying. Isn't that a sign that he hasn't left us completely?" He smiled a bit, looking down at her. "Go on...cry it out. It's okay."

((That's not funny, that's le sad stuff! D8 ))

Lexi hesitated for a moment longer, then broke down and cried hard, wrapping her arms around Nate's neck.

*

Jagat padded along the hallways of Alastor, Spy perched on his shoulders with Cinnoa behind him, holding onto clumps of his father's blue fur. The little red gryphon was growing fast, much like Nate's daughter, Ariana. Lerloches all grew quickly in infancy and slowed during their maturing years.

((I forgot to mention that the letter that Werr gave Lexi wasn't actually from Forin, it was from Werr! xD))

Lily was making lunch in the kitchen, meaning she wasn't present at the moment. "I like walks," Spy sniffed Cinnoa's hair. "Ew, baby needs a bath," He giggled. "Gotta give her one tonight, yepyep." A door opened to their left. "Hi, Carlyle!"

"Hello there, little Spy." Carlyle greeted with a smile. He wasn't trying to hide anymore; his patchy scales were quite visible, and he had his feet bare most of the time. He was a Manfish through and through, and he was quite happy that he didn't need to hide anymore. "How's Cinnoa?"

"Stinky!"

((Whut.))

Jagat rolled his eyes, flicking Spy with his long black tail, then said "All fine. How are things going with you and Zelana?"

For the two had become quite close since the return to Alastor. So close, in fact, that when Carlyle had asked her out on a date, she hadn't refused more than once. Which was a huge step in improving her attitude. Especially now that, after several more dates, they were together.

Jag smiled, twitching one of the stumps on his shoulder where his wings used to be, then said "I'm sure you two get along fine enough?"

"Quite fine. I, uh...I actually wanted to ask you something. Are you okay with me...you know, dating her? You're the only family she has, I thought it would be couth to ask you..." He wasn't the best at talking, clearly, but Carlyle knew what he wanted. He just wasn't sure how Jagat would react. "Family is everything, you know. If I can't get along with her family, then there's no point in going after her..."

"I'm okay with it. I like you, Carlyle. But I suppose my opinion doesn't really matter." Spy giggled. Cinnoa cooed, causing the Chimera to turn and nuzzle the baby boy.

"Well, I'm not as close to her now as I was when we were little," Jag said, bending his head around to lift Cinnoa from his back and place his son on the ground by his scaled forelegs. "We were separated for a long time, after all. We grew apart. So it's up to her what she wants. I think you're a good match, really."

"Well...I suppose that's fine, then. Thanks." Carlyle nodded, not entirely certain what he was expecting. He turned to leave, and ran right into Werr. The king fell back, landing on his rear with a heavy 'oomph'. "Oh. Sorry, Werr." Carlyle blinked.

"Tch...whatever." He grumbled, wiping his eyes. He dragged himself to his feet, brushing himself off with a heavy sigh.

Jag tilted his feathery head at the young king, flicking his long tail once. "Don't have to be so angry," he said calmly, twitching his wing-stumps lightly. "You still have Lexi and Naybrin, after all. And I can't imagine how this attitude is affecting the First King." He flicked his ears, turning as a voice quietly entered the conversation.

"I have ears, you know."

Naybrin hadn't aged much at all, but he walked slowly and carefully, as if his gait was unsteady. He was in human form, absently scratching the white-blue stubble on his chin and cheeks. His light-blue hair fell neatly over his eyes, his eyebrown turned down into a thoughtful frown. His outfit was a more oriental style, teal in color, that seemed to wrap loosely around his lean form.

His wizened green eyes fell on the ground, making them all have the faint feeling of staring into space.

"It's fine." Werr grumbled. "It's obvious to me that I'm doing nothing but harm at this point. But that'll be over soon. I'm going to go meditate," He pushed past Carlyle, headed back to his room. "Don't bother me."

"What does that mean? It'll be over soon? He's not planning on...?" Spy frowned.

"No, he wouldn't. That would ultimately kill Naybrin, too, unless he were to use poison of some kind. Does he keep poison in his room?" Carlyle frowned.

"Someone should tell Nate and Lexi..." Spy bit his furry little lip, looking scared. "I'll go. You stay here, little Cinnoa," He patted the baby gently on the back, then darted off.

Naybrin watched Werr go, sighing quietly. He was silent for a long moment, then he turned and said "Continue on your usual paths, please. I assure you, everything will be alright in the end. Good day." He walked off, with his same measure steps, down the hall, following after Werr.

Jag watched him go, then shook his head, saying "Well, see you, Carlyle. I hope Zelana makes you happy." He picked up his son by the scruff of his neck and carried him off down the hall, his claws clicking against the floor.

Carlyle slowly nodded, turning and heading to the kitchen to see what he could do to help prepare for lunch.

By the time Naybrin caught up to him, Werr was already in his room. He was sitting crosslegged on his bed, his eyes shut and his hands on his knees. He still carried an obvious air of upsetness, but he said nothing as Naybrin walked in.

The room itself was trashed. Lexi didn't sleep in the same room as he, so there wasn't anyone else in here but him. Once, Welk had slept at the foot of his bed, but now...well, Werr was alone in his room. And over the past four months, ever since Welk's death, it had seen little to no cleaning, and a lot of Werr's angry side. There was an overturned armor statue, the tapestry on the bed was torn, and the window was actually broken in one pane, where Werr had thrown a book out of it. There were clothes strewn about, and dishes piled high to one side, where he had put the used plates and bowls after many meals in bed.

Werr still said nothing as Naybrin took in the scene, apparently meditating, as he said he would do.

Naybrin glanced once around the room, then trained his eyes on Werr, saying nothing. He slid into dragon form, padding forward to climb up on the bed. He settled down there, curling up and remaining still and silent.

"...I'm still here, you know."

His voice was wizened with age and wisdom, plus a pain that was not his own. Being bonded so deeply with Werr hurt at times, but he would never trade the bond if he couldn't help it.

There was nothing for a long time. No response, only silence. Finally, Werr opened his eyes slightly, nodding once. "I know...I'm sorry to say it, but there was a time in which I wanted to drive a knife through my own neck. If not for you...I just might have done it. But...those days are over. They have to be. I can no longer allow myself to act in such a reckless manner...this ridiculous depression and angst of mine will be no more. I cast it off." Werr shook his head, running his fingers through his hair. He slowly stood again, and brushed himself off again, straightening his robes.

Naybrin could still feel it, though. Werr's pain, his agony and toil, internally destroying him. He had finally snapped under it all; he was bottling it all up, forcing every last one of his emotions down, allowing his mind to reign over his heart. He had done it once before; during the time in which he lived with Heather Grehi, and both Welk and Cynyr were nothing but strangers. He had lived in a world devoid of feeling, and it had worked for him then...he had been working on the containment for weeks now, in reality.

"I need to go apologize to Lexi and my advisors." He said softly, walking back to the door.

Naybrin was quiet for a moment, then he slowly said "Don't shut them out completely, Dark-Eyes. You'll push them away and truly be alone. And...you don't want to be alone, no matter what you might think." He rose up and stepped past Werr, and when he did, he gently rubbed against him, brushing the entire length of his long dragon body against Werr's side, from muzzle to tail-tip. He didn't leave, then. He merely took on his quarter-sized form and curled up against Werr's neck, pressing his nose into the boy's skin.