The Forgotten Zodiac

"Well, sucks for you all, as I'm not a healer like your pretty little red cat," the gryphon said. "I don't have any sort of powers, at least not like that. True, I have some minor weapon-generation skills, like Jag, but nothing near the extend he possesses." She tilted her head at Forin, then asked "Hey, where that sleepy white goat that always follows you around? Did he get killed or something?"

Forin twitched, and Carlyle could tell that if Diana wasn't on his back, he may have swung a punch at Zelana right then and there. "He's a deer. Not a goat. And he stayed with Werr and the others. Thought it would be safer. He was absolutely right..." He sighed, looking down.

"We all make mistakes." Carlyle said softly.

"Shut up and walk."

"Don't tell him what to do," Zelana snapped, frowning at Forin. "I wouldn't tell your little girlfriend what to do. Probably get my head bitten off if I did..."

She didn't see the expression that crossed Forin's face. She couldn't really be blamed, though; she didn't know what had happened to Luna. And apparently, she didn't know what had happened to Vorpal, either.

"Where's the little silver thingy that usually kept close to you, Forin?" she asked, glancing around innocently for him. "He called me something mean last time I saw him, and I've finally thought up a good reply."

Forin didn't reply, walking straight on as thought nothing had been asked of him. "Hey," Carlyle walked a little closer, frowning. "Zelana's talking to you. You can't just ignore--" He cut himself short as Forin turned and quietly punched him in the gut. Carlyle sank to his knees, his arms wrapped around his stomach as he gasped for air. Forin stood over him, growling.

"I've lost a lot of things over the past few days. I won't deny that. I'm mad and bitter and very, very irritable right now. So when I tell you to shut up and walk, you shut up and walk. Because when you talk, you move slower. And if you move too slowly, like you have been, the infection will spread through Diana's leg and to her heart. And I'll lose her, too. So you'll excuse me if I seem to be in a hurry, but your girlfriend said herself; she's no healer. There's no one around to help Diana. We have to go to them. And so far, all you've done is slow me down." He spat before turning on heel and starting off again, a bit more quicker this time to make up for the time lost talking.

"Vorpal was taken awhile ago," Vuker said quietly, helping Carlyle up. "And...Luna is dead. I don't think he'll be able to take losing anyone else. You missed the fighting, so you didn't see, but...he's scary when he's this mad..."

Zelana stared after Forin's retreating figure in shock, blinking. "I...I didn't know," she said, regaining a bit of her defiance as she helped Carlyle back up. She snorted, flicked her small crest of blonde feathers lightly as she touched Carlyle's shoulder, asking softly if he was okay before glancing at Forin again.

And now, she was able to see it. The slow, sad, measured steps he was forcing himself to take. He was hurt, and hurt deeply.

"I can't imagine what he'll turn into if he loses someone else." Vuker said quietly, shaking his head. "So we've got to get to the others, and quickly. If I were a dragon again, I'd be able to carry at least him and Diana...but I can't change back whenever, I'm stuck like this until we find Zephyr again." He sighed.

"It is pointless to wonder and wish on what could be." Cern rattled, continuing on the trail that Forin was leaving behind.

Zelana sighed, saying "If I were stronger, I could carry you all out of here. But...I'm not." Feeling slightly worthless, she took Carlyle's hand again and rested her head on his shoulder.

Why tears prickled her eyes suddenly, even she didn't know.

*

It was very, very, very dark here. That's what she decided.

Wherever she was, she didn't like it. It was rather creepy. Everything was just an endless blackness that never seemed to lighten or show any sign of morning arriving. She was sick of being here, sick and tired of floating in this endless expanse.

But there was nothing she could do. And at the same time, she felt resigned. There was a reason for this, she knew. There was a divine purpose in keeping her trapped here, lost, alone, naked, friendless. There had to be a reason. She could feel it in her heart.

After all, Forin would never have let her fall this far unless there was a reason, right?

*

"It's nothing, dear. I'm just suddenly struck with a great weariness..." Obelisk said softly, reassuring his wife. They were riding on horseback to where the army camp was reported to be. They were nearly there, but the noon sun beat mercilessly down on them. They'd been riding since the morning. "I'm not mistaken in thinking we've almost arrived, correct?"

"I see it!" Welk called from where he was bounding alongside Werr's horse, Isslia sitting quietly on his back. They had decided it was better for Werr to ride a horse rather than be on his best friend's back, as Welk would wear down faster than the animal would. Not that Werr's weight was a problem for the half-cat, but if the need for a fight came up, they had to be ready.

Werr put his hand over his eyes to see better. They couldn't see the tents yet, but in the distance was the blue flag that waved high. "Yes, we're almost there. Hopefully Ophile let them know we were coming. Otherwise, it looks like a small unit of unmarked horsemen are approaching." Werr sighed, not surprised when a few horsemen came to intercept them only moments after he spoke.

They were, of course, able to recognize their king, and the lot of them were escorted to the camp post-haste.

Welk suddenly flared his long golden wings open as Isslia dug her fingers into thick clumps of his blonde fur, holding on tight as the lion leapt skyward. He chose to glide lightly overhead, easily within hearing distance of a single cry or call from Werr. Ever the faithful knight, he always felt the desire to be within a protective distance of his best friend.

He tilted his head down at Werr and smiled reassuringly, and the boy felt a sense of ease and calm come over himself.

Werr reveled in it. Peace and calm was not something that came naturally to him, to be perfectly honest. It only lasted a few seconds, though; Ophile came trotting out to meet them before long.

"The scouts are giving reports of a camp only a mile and a half ahead. They've moved since yesterday. Welcome to the front lines."

"I thought this was to be the back," Werr frowned.

"The reinforcements from the north and east are taking longer than we expected. We don't have a choice but to remain here as the front." Ophile shook his furry head. "We have lookouts at every corner, but when they'll attack is still a tossup..."

Welk flew in gracefully, landing delicately nearby and shaking his thick red mane. He tilted his head as Isslia slid from his back, and he gently rubbed his chin against her knees, purring the entire while. Werr felt the cat's love - which was one of his most powerful, heartfelt emotions - before Welk turned them on him by standing up against the boy's horse, putting his forepaws on Werr's leg as he purred loudly.

Werr scratched his friend behind the ear, but this was no time for pleasantries or relaxation. Werr slid off his horse and walked the rest of the way into the camp, Ophile at once side and Welk at his other. "Do we have the Nighthawks?" Werr asked, frowning.

"Only a few." Ophile shook his head.

"Get them prepped. Have we made any move to indicate we're prepared to defend against the intruders?"

"No. We've only just set up camp."

"Alright. I want a note written and sent on a carrier pigeon as soon as possible. Get me Micia and the other generals." Werr got right to work. Isslia watched for a few minutes, tucked between Welk's front paws, but most of Werr's words were nothing more than gibberish to her. She didn't know war could be so...complicated.

Welk lowered his head and began to gently lick the top of her head over and over, brushing over her soft silver fur and fluffy puppy ears with his rough tongue. He groomed gently down his fiancé's back before pausing and simply laying quietly with her. He was, however, obviously ever-alert. Even when loving on Isslia, his guard was up, ready to defend his friends at the slightest sign of something wrong.

"So...what are we to do, in the meantime?" Obelisk questioned, an eyebrow raised.

"Obelisk, actually...I need you to help watch. Spread your shadows out and search the hills and valleys. Leave no stone unturned. Find an attack force, scouts, I don't even care what you find. But I need you to find something." Werr asked quietly.

"Very well then. Fawn, why don't you go see what you can help with as far as food goes?" He offered, watching her hurry away happily.

"The rest of you...you don't have to, but if you can find a way to be helpful, do it." Werr looked at the others grimly.

"I am helpful!" Welk chimed, laying a paw over Isslia's back lightly. "I'm moral support." He grinned, then said "Nah, I'm the king's protection. Much better than moral support, eh?" He rested his chin on Isslia's back, smiling when she wagged her tail lightly.

Luen, who was standing silently nearby, lifted his head slightly and sighed. "If you need me for something, just tell me and I'll do it," he said, tapping a hoof lightly on the ground.

"Luen. I actually do need you for something." Werr nodded. "I need an ice wall around the perimeter, with a door at the north and south ends. If we could have spikes on the outside of it to discourage breaking it, that would be good. With Obelisk busy searching, you're really the only one that can do it effectively. And..." He stepped a little closer, patting the deer's shoulder. "I know you're upset about Forin leaving. And Luna being...unavailable. If you need to talk, I'm willing to listen. Even though Forin's gone, and...Nate is too, it doesn't mean you're alone."

Luen was still and silent for a few seconds, then calmly shrugged Werr's hand off, saying "Yeah. I should get to work," as he stepped past the boy, towards the door. As he passed, Werr felt a cold wave go down his spine; something was up with the kirin, something that was deeper than the lack of his companions at his side.

Welk, as Luen passed him and exited the tent, curled Isslia just a little bit closer.

Isslia licked Welk's cheek in return, but soon wiggled out of his grip and transformed. "I don't want to just sit around. I'm going to see if Fawn needs any help cooking, okay?" She smiled, holding Welk's head in her lap and stroking his ears for a long moment before getting up and skipping off.

((Sorry it's so short. .w. I'm sleepy.))