The Forgotten Zodiac

Isslia pulled away from him, holding his face in her hands. She ran her thumbs over his eyebrows, touched his nose, his chin, stared into his eyes, and finally, pulled him into a kiss. When she pulled away again, she simply rested her head on his shoulder and cried some more. "It really is you...it really is you," She whispered, holding onto him so tightly that she was afraid she might hurt him.

"Of course it's me," he said, closing his eyes slightly as she ran her fingers over his face. "You're mine now, and I won't ever let you go. I told you that." He kissed her forehead softly, cradling her against his warm body, rocking her gently back and forth. "I love you, Isslia," he said softly, tilting her head up to face him. "I love you."

"I missed you," She said quietly, pressing her cheek against his, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. "So much happened since...since you went away. I met some friends, and...and some not-so-friendly people. And I went to Gossain, but then they tried to execute me! Oh," She hugged him as tightly as possible. "I'm so glad you're back..."

He stroked her hair, running his hands over her entire body, and she didn't shiver or flinch as his hands gently stroked over her back and thighs, moving gently against her sides and up against her neck. No, his touch seemed to fill some burning need in her heart, one she had thought would never be filled again. His fingers came up under her chin, tilting her head back to look up at him. Love burned in his deep, crimson eyes, along with the passion and drive to protect her, to savor each moment with her, to treat her like a goddess.

Isslia's tears finally stopped flowing, and she simply watched Welk with a trembling gaze as a fresh wave of crying threatened to start.

"Perhaps we should just leave them be," Werr said thoughtfully, smiling a bit.

"Oh? We don't want to see what all happened to miss Isslia?" Ophile blinked. "It would save her explaining if I were to simply show it..."

"I dunno if Welk is interested in that right now."

Indeed, Welk seemed more interested in simply sitting with his dear beloved. "They told me I...I...died," he said softly, swallowing. "And I'm here now, but...but I had something I had been meaning to give to you." He looked down at the long golden robes he was still wearing, saying "I don't have it anymore...but..."

He swallowed, then said, in little more than a whisper, "I...I had a ring..."

Isslia stared at him for a few minutes, then kissed his forehead. "You don't need a ring. You can get me one later, I don't even care. I don't, I really don't care about silly things like that. All I want is to be yours, to have and to hold, 'till death parts us again."

Werr grinned, but decided not to say anything. He didn't want to ruin the moment, after all.

Welk gave a soft chuckle, then swept her up and kissed her so softly, holding her so gently. Finally, he said, again in a hushed whisper, "Was I...gone for long? It...it happened so fast that I can't really remember it. Just...nothingness. It felt like I was asleep and couldn't wake up for the longest time..."

"Only four months. It feels like just a week or so," She rested her head on his shoulder, smiling. "I don't want to think about being alone for that long. So many awful things happened...s-some good things, though. I think." She murmured, closing her eyes. "I don't want to talk about it..."

"You could show it instead," Ophile blinked. "I wouldn't take any memories. Only show the ones that you focus on. Show what you want to be shown, and nothing more."

"You...you can do that?" Isslia blinked at him. "Maybe...but...somewhere more private, please. Werr and Cynyr are okay, but...I'd rather no one else saw."

"I understand. Whenever you're ready." Ophile dipped his head. "I'll even keep my eyes shut if you so desire."

"That's okay..." Isslia smiled. "You're a good friend. Even if you do intimidate me a little."

"We don't have to do it right now," Welk assured her, stroking her hair back. He was quiet for a minute longer, then his personality quite literally seemed to explode forth. He helped Isslia stand up and promptly leapt into cat form, bounding all over the hall and shouting "We're getting MARRIED! We're getting m-...wait, I'm getting married. I'm getting married? Me? I AM!" He stumbled, still a tad unsteady, but managed to plough forward and slam into Werr, flipping the two over in the usual manner that landed Werr nestled against Welk's furry blonde belly. "Werr! Holy crap, it's like I just got you back! I was stuck in this dim, half-conscious state, and I wanted to be happy that you were with me again, but I couldn't, I HAD NO HAPPINESS."

((Why does it constantly not let me post and say "You've timed out."))

((It does that. I don't know why, but I can't fix it for some reason. You just have to refresh the page, click 'continue' or 'yes', and then it'll go through easily. :3))

Werr blinked, then hugged his dear friend. "When you were dead, I...I had no happiness, either. I did some untasteful things...and...I considered killing myself." He murmured, closing his eyes.

"Sorrow does more to people than anyone can imagine." Isslia said quietly, glancing at Cynyr. "But it doesn't matter, right? You didn't hurt anyone...did you?"

"I hurt myself. And Luna..." Werr sighed. "But it doesn't matter. You're back, Welk. You're back, and you're not leaving me again, you stupid half-cat," He buried his face in Welk's fur. "You should go see what Isslia has to offer, though...it's fine. I don't need to see it, but she wants to show you."

((Hmph.))

Welk purred and nuzzled Werr gently, saying "I won't go anywhere anytime soon." He licked Werr's cheek softly, then said "I'll be back as soon as we're done, okay?" He turned and bounced back towards Isslia, pausing near Cynyr to suddenly rub up against his sibling's side and under his chin. The panther blinked in shock, but gave a purr nonetheless.

Isslia smiled a bit and walked with Ophile to a side room.

Inside, Ophile directed her to shut the door and sit down. Which, she did. "And...you're sure you won't be taking any of my other memories?"

"I can only display those you want me to." Ophile nodded. "Now, focus as hard as you can on the beginning. Where it all started. You left us and went out into the world on your own. Show us those first steps, and the story will unfold before you." He smiled brightly as she closed her eyes and thought. When she was ready, she placed her hand on Ophile's head, and the memories burst into life, the memories becoming images that Ophile displayed, an illusion that showed the truth.

((Insert scene you sent me here.))

Welk was silent, once the memories had passed. He turned his head and set his burning crimson eyes on Isslia, watching as she fidgeted uncomfortably. She had just revealed tender, extremely sensitive memories to him, and it left him filled with a raging, fiery anger. Not at her, no; at the people who had ever hurt her.

Wordlessly, he stood, his tufted-tail flicking, and held his arms out to her. Flames danced, uncontrollably, down his arms and around his neck, but she had no fear; those flames would never harm her.

Welk picked up the book, staring down at it. He took his gaze from the book and looked at Isslia again, then he moved. In a fluid, graceful maneuver, he threw the book in the air and brought his other hand around, two clawed fingers pointed, fire dancing along his arm.

The book came back down as his hand came up, and a second later, ashes rained down and swept away into nothingness. The terrible journal was no more.

Welk turned back to Isslia, only caring in his eyes, and held her tight, pressing his mouth to the top of her head and whispering "I love you."

Luen was panting softly, but he still spared Forin a smile as they leveled out. He remained in deer form so as to keep carrying Diana, looking up as Sam emerged from the carriage. He had regained a bit of color during the ride, and as he stepped out, he blinked at the sunlight overhead. Corban followed at his heels in cheetah form, also blinking. He looked over at Luen and bared his teeth briefly in a snarl-like look in order to scare the deer, which worked. Luen jumped, startling and blinking, but said nothing as Corban turned away.

Sam glanced around in awe, mouth open. Corban let his gaze rove once, then returned to his new hobby; scaring Luen. The kirin took care to purposefully walk several feet away from the cheetah so as to partially avoid him. The other half of the avoiding was by walking close to Forin, who Corban seemed to ignore.