The Forgotten Zodiac

Welk tumbled a short distance away, struggling back to his feet, his hind leg held off of the ground, blood dripping freely from the wound. "You always have a choice," he spat, leaping for Zex again, teeth bared and claws outstretched.

A dark bullet tore past, nicking Welk's thick red mane and causing several long strands to fall to the floor. Welk turned, searching for the source, and saw Cynyr come to a halt nearby in panther form, his paws hitting the floor silently.

"Cynyr!" Welk cried happily. "Help us throw this guy in jail."

The panther didn't move, his head turned just so, in a way so that they couldn't see his single eye.

"No...I don't have a choice. If I don't obey Veros, he'll hurt Luna..." He shivered at the thought. The threats had already been made. There was no room for error anymore. "So I'm sorry, but...I'm taking the girls." He started towards Luna and Isslia again, fully ignoring Werr, who had started to cough uncontrollably to the point of spitting up blood.

Isslia, scared as she was, ran for it. But not in the other direction; she ran towards the only other person, aside from Welk, that she trusted to protect her. She slid to a stop next to Cynyr, watching the undead in terror.

Cynyr watched her, shifting forms as she neared. He allowed her close, feeling her take cover behind him and put her arms around his waist. He turned his head slowly, his yellow eye gleaming and flashing darkly as he looked at her. When he spoke, his voice was scratchier than normal, and he spoke quietly to Isslia, in a tone only she could hear.

"Do you trust me?"

Isslia nodded, pressing her face against his back. "I trust you. You're Welk's brother, after all...I trust you." She whispered.

Zex grabbed Lexi by the wrist before she could run. He pulled her closer, then wrapped his one arm around her neck to keep her still. He could easily suffocate her here and now, he knew. But that wasn't the plan.

Werr spluttered and coughed, struggling to move towards his fiance and her captor. "Le-let...let...go...o-of her..." He rasped, gasping for breath between choking cough after choking cough.

"Werr!" Welk called in concern, his gaze flicking between his best friend and Lexi. He knew Isslia was safe with Cynyr, so now he crouched over Werr, eyes fixed on Lexi.

The girl was completely still against her captor, eyes wide and tears pouring down her cheeks. Her eyes begged them to help, not her, but Werr.

Welk was nearly beside himself with worry, and he quickly looked to his oldest brother for help. "Cynyr, do something!" he cried.

The black panther didn't move for a long moment, then glanced at Zex, who met his gaze before bracing himself. The wind mage lifted his hand and hit Zex with something that instantly teleported him and Lexi away, vanishing completely from sight. The panther then took Isslia's hands tightly in his own, looking to Welk with a sharpened gaze.

If you want them back, you know where to go. Lord Veros is waiting.

And they vanished.

Werr stared after them, his jaw slightly open. But then he had to cough again, spitting up only more blood. "We-welk...d-did you just...see...what I saw...?" He questioned, panting slightly as he struggled to breathe. "Cy-Cynyr...just..."

"Sweet mother of Galai, what on earth?!" Nate had been on his way to the kitchens when he spotted the bleeding mess that was Welk and Werr. He hurried over and knelt next to Werr, rubbing his back to help him cough. "What's going on here?"

Welk was a frantic, raging mess, trotting between Werr and the place Cynyr had disappeared at, almost as if hoping they had merely turned invisible, or had only vanished for a second, to return a moment later. But neither of these things happened and Welk quickly grew more and more frantic, his claws clicking rapidly against the ground as he paced, his injured wing dragging the ground pitifully behind him.

"Welk," Nate stood in the half-cat's way, only to get walked around. "Welk, stop it, your wing is only getting more hurt, and that's hurting Werr!" He insisted, watching the blood spread on Welk's shirt. He spotted the leg wound, which was bleeding more than the shoulder. "Welk, you've got to calm down. That knife is still in your leg, if you aren't careful, it could slice open an artery, and then you'll both be dead! Welk, listen to me!" He pulled on the half-cat's tail, fully expecting him to turn and snap at him. But if it got him to stop walking around, it was a good thing.

Welk flinched and growled, but listened to the dragonian. To some, it might've been surprising, but Nate was a good friend to them all, and Welk had always respected and looked up to the dragon lerloch. So he shifted forms and sat meekly by Werr, tears dripping angrily down his cheeks. Even as Nate watched, the tears burned and smoked and released cloud after cloud of steam; Welk was furious, burning inside with rage even as the tears escaped his eyes.

"Right. That's better," Nate sighed. "I'll go get a healer. You two sit tight." Nate nodded, setting down his bag and taking off as fast as he could down the hall.

Werr leaned against Welk, panting heavily. He felt very cold, but couldn't open his mouth to tell Welk for fear of starting another coughing fit. He wrapped his arms around his friend and buried his face in his mane, feeling the warmth seep into him. But he still felt...cold. After a few moments, he realized what it was.

Fear. But not fear for himself. Fear that made his blood like ice. Fear that Lexi might never return to him. Fear that she would die in Veros' clutches. Fear that he wouldn't make it to her in time. And he realized that Forin must feel the same; how selfish was he, to delay their departure for Gossain for so long...

Welk wrapped his arms around Werr, his crimson eyes fixed on a single point on the ground, his gaze distant and fogged-over with fear and anxiety. One hand ran gently up and down Werr's back, almost to comfort himself more than his friend. But the touch was warm and alive and showed Werr that he wasn't alone; he had someone who was willing to fight, and fight hard, for him.

"Lord Veros," Zex sank to his knees in front of Ink. "Cynyr is locking up the prisoners now..." He rasped, closing his eyes.

"You've done well, then." Veros knelt and rested his hands on Zex's shoulders. The wounds began to seal, and the pain faded. Zex watched in mingled relief and terror as his arm began to regrow from the stump.

"I thought...you couldn't..." Zex stammered.

"I've grown in power. Substantially. The time is almost nigh...are you prepared for my glorious return, Zex?"

"...yes," He said quietly. He had no choice. No choice at all...

Cynyr appeared after a moment, silent as a dark breeze, but not as soft and comforting. He stood behind them, watching through his single eye, and if his friends would've seen him, they would've been shocked by his appearance.

Small dark red horns had jutted from either side of his head, parting his hair just so. The strange visions of demonic features on his brother had been no exaggeration of Werr's sight; they were real.

"Ah, Cynyr. The prisoners are locked safely in seperate cells, I presume. Very good, very good indeed. You won't be going back to them; I think we have all the incentive they need to come by now." Veros smiled curtly, and Zex scrambled out of the way as Veros approached Cynyr. "It's not often I get the chance to have a fully living servant. Naturally, my boon remains; you will not die in battle, poison has no effect on you, and even if your heart were to stop cold, you will remain alive. In the strictest of terms."

Zex hung his head, watching his fingertips grow over the muscle and sinew. For some reason, he felt like crying; but he kept it contained. He'd cry somewhere private, where he wouldn't be the victim of mocking or abuse from the newest servant. He had learned his lesson.

((I just realized that I miss Naybrin a lot. He was so awesome.))

Cynyr said nothing, as was his personality, but he did look sideways at Zex with a bored air about him, revealing another fact; his yellow eye was turning red. Currently it was a brilliant orange color, but the change was made far too obvious. Something was most definitely wrong.

The panther suddenly stiffened and gave a light growl, saying mentally Master, I'll take my leave. It seems Kage is down with the prisoners, and while he's done nothing but taunt them as of yet, I can sense his desire growing. He gave a light incline of his head, turning elegantly on heel and disappearing.

((Awww. -hugs-))

"Oh yes, please detain that idiot." Veros snorted, shaking his head. "I have almost little to no use for that fool...perhaps I should do away with him until I need him again. He and Lance...ah yes, Zex. You've done well. Earned yourself a bit of...alone time. Just...don't let anyone see you crying. It's awfully unbecoming."

"Yes sir." Zex said quietly, turning and hurrying away, shutting the door behind him. Time found him later near the lake behind the castle, somewhat grateful that he hadn't lost the ability to cry while he had been dead.

Cynyr, meanwhile, had reappeared just outside of the jail, where he was able to listen in to what Kage was saying to Lexi and Isslia.

"-pretty little things like you don't need to be in here all...alone. Maybe you could use some company, eh? I can always take turns keeping both of you...warm. Heh heh heh...how about you first, little lady?"

Cynyr heard Lexi's door open and a sharp screech from Kage.

"You little-" The undead dragonian cursed. "How dare you?! Where'd you get that knife, eh? Thought you'd pull one over on me? I'll teach you, you nasty little-"

I'd prefer you to keep your mouth shut and to stay out of this room, Kage. Cynyr walked in now, quickly pulling Kage away from Lexi and resealing her door. Out, he ordered, and Kage wisely fled.

Isslia was curled up in the far corner of her cell, a trembling ball of tears and terror. She looked up sharply as Cynyr arrived, but said nothing and went right back to sobbing into her arms. Her leg was quite the sight; the same shackle that had been put on Luna had been placed on both her and Lexi. It kept her from transforming, so she couldn't wiggle out between the bars. Unfortunately, she had endured a panic attack a few minutes before Kage's arrival, and she had clawed and scratched at the shackle, which only led to her leg becoming scraped and slightly bloody.

She ignored it. She knew this cell. She was back in Gossain. If she wasn't saved for torture or some other awful thing, she'd be beheaded for her earlier crimes. The worst part was that Cynyr had brought her here. She had trusted him, something she seldom did with anyone; well, that trust was far out the window now...

The panther slowly leaned against the wall, one leg bent up and back in order to support his weight. His orange eye flicked from Lexi, who was panting and clutching her knife still, to Isslia, curled up and crying. His voice, when it pushed into Isslia's mind, was surprisingly soft and rather timid.

...You said you trusted me.

It took on a faintly pleading tone.

Do you still...trust me? I asked before I did anything, and you said you trusted me. If I wanted to hurt you, I wouldn't have made Kage leave, or I would've done it before bringing you here...

"I did. I don't know anymore." Isslia said, very softly. "I told you, just like I told everyone else...I-I'm a criminal here. They'll have me executed!" She buried her face in her arms again. "And Sooth isn't here to save me this time...how could I trust you? Y-you...took me away from Welk, an-and I'm gonna die here, and I'll never see him again..."