The Forgotten Zodiac

"Better! My back is a little achey, but momma says that'll go away soon." Boko purred, rubbing up against Tygan. "Sorry if I hurt you, Flanis. I was just trying to have some fun, you know." He curled his coils up around Tygan's ankles. "I love my uncles~" He rubbed the side of his head against the avon's leg, still purring away.

Tygan smiled happily, saying "We love you too, Boko. I'm glad you're feeling better. Where's little Shiya? You two are normally closer than two peas in a pod." The hawk looked up as Flanis marched away, climbing into the crook of a tree away from the others and curling up, closing his eyes with a huff and going back to sleep.

"She's tryin' tah take care of her daddy," Boko sighed, trying to imitate Flanis' funny accent. He grinned again before long, his usual happy nature not giving out on him yet. "She's fine. Lots better. I'm helping her be strong! And Leonen has left us alone, since the ceremony. I think he feels bad about hurting her, but he hasn't apologized yet. Oh well, I'm sure it's fine." He shrugged, going back to purring and rubbing up against Tygan. "What story were you telling?"

"Just the one about the crocodile and the fish," he replied, stroking Boko's head again with a smile. "You've heard it before." He looked up as Vaira stood, stretching and arching her back like a cat before rising up and turning to Zephyr. "Have you been in contact with Naybrin yet?" she asked, blinking.

"Not today," he answered. "But judging by his last report, things aren't going so well in Alastor..."

"We should visit them!" Boko said happily. "I wanna play with Diana some more. Can we go play with Diana? She's really pretty, and cute, and I like it when she laughs." He purred, bobbing his head a couple times. He had been told before that Diana had been taken by a bad man, but he either refused to remember it, or he didn't really understand...

"I don't know if Werr would appreciate a visit right now," Vuker tutted. "Probably not..."

"Who cares? He needs to have some sense knocked into his wittle brain!"

Zephyr tilted his head at his son and said gently "It's...not so simple as that, Boko. Werr lost someone very close to him. Closer than you, or I, or even Naybrin could ever be. It's hard to overcome a loss like that..." He bent his head and nuzzled his son gently, saying "He needs time and compassion. That's all anyone can give him, really..."

Boko frowned, tilting his head to the side. "Well then...let's knock some compassion into his wittle brain!" He bobbed his head again, up and down.

"Calm down there," Vuker chuckled, nudging Boko a bit. "Maybe you should visit, though, Zephyr. It sounds like Naybrin could use your support more than anything."

The king thought it over, then said "You're probably right. He said he's been sensing odd changes in the air. Perhaps it's best if I go to him." He stood up, shaking off his green scales, then said "Boko, will you be good for Mithor and your mother while I'm gone? You and Shiya both, mind you."

"Whaaaa? I wanted to come with!" Boko protested, pouting. "Fine. I'll be good." He stuck his tongue out. "But I'm coming with you next time, so I can play with Diana!"

"Peace, little one," Vuker chuckled. "Zephyr, perhaps I could come with you? I haven't met Naybrin before...it would be an honor to be allowed such."

Zephyr thought it over, then nodded and said "Alright. I suppose I could do with the company. First, I need to speak with Mithor. Wait until my return." He ambled off, searching for the second-oldest dragon alive.

Vaira bent her head and licked along Boko's back, saying "I need my strong little man to stay here and protect me. I don't like being all alone." She purred, making Boko's insides feel as though they were dancing.

"Well, alright then." Boko rubbed up against his mother. "Shiya probably needs me, too. So I'll stay here for now." He looked over at Vuker. "You'll like Naybrin! He's super nice."

"So I've heard! I look forward to meeting him," The older drakeling smiled, nodding. "Did you know that he was the first creature to ever exist?"

"Yeah, I know! Which surprises me, 'cuz he's super nice and doesn't rub his power and strength and age in everyone's face. I know I would!"

Vaira brought her face down and nipped playfully at Boko's coils, saying "That's why you're not the king, you lillefvar." A word on the same level as calling him a 'silly goose'. She nudged him with her nose, tumping him over, and proceeded to tickle all over his belly-scales with her snout, smiling the entire while.

Boko's little squeal made even Vuker laugh, but Boko's panicked giggles quickly turned into a wail of pain. Vaira stopped at once, and Boko rolled back onto his front. He twisted his head around and sniffed his back, licking his spine scales for a moment. "I'm okay," He said, looking up at Vaira. "It just hurt for a moment."

Vaira had pulled back sharply, now staring sadly and concernedly at her only child. She gave a soft croon and gently nuzzled him, closing her eyes upsettedly. She looked up as Zephyr approached, saying "I've told Mithor where I'm going. Come on, Vuker. We need to be fast on wing." He bent his head to allow the drakeling onto his back, then kissed Vaira and Boko goodbye and turned, flaring his great green wings open and rising off into the sky.

"Bye, daddy! Stay safe!" Boko waved, smiling as he watched him go.

"Look, a dragon," Forin pointed off into the distance, where a dark shape in the distance, silohetted by the setting sun, was quickly fading into the distance. "I don't think Zephyr can help us with Diana, though...remember what all Obelisk told us, when we stopped by the castle last month?" He looked at Luen, scratching the back of his neck. "We...we'd better get started, but...I don't know how we're going to get rid of those Striders without Diana noticing."

They had stopped on the border of Storaph and Alastor. They had located an abandoned farm; the barn was intact and warm enough to keep out the chilly autumn winds, so they had stopped there. Cynyr and Seria were in the smaller house not far off. Forin had figured they'd need their privacy...

"Well, I think we got step one done for us. She looked scared when Remor spoke..." Forin shook his head. "We might as well talk to her and get to know what all Remor changed." He sighed, shaking his head. Luna was out hunting for dinner; hopefully she'd be back soon. Forin didn't want to wait any longer, though. He wanted his pure, innocent, sweet Diana back.

Luen swallowed hard, his long ears flicking back against his head as he glanced over at the barn, where Diana was lurking around with her 'pack'. The kirin shivered at the mere thought of her alone inside with those monsters. He was currently sitting on the ground, his emerald eyes watching Forin as the Tartaran paced around in front of him. He didn't know what to do either, but figured they might as well try to speak with her...

"Well, we're helping nothing by standing around here. Come on, Luen, you were a major part of her life, too. You've gotta help me talk to her." Forin helped Luen stand. He had bandaged his friend's wound, but until Seria recovered enough to heal again, Luen would have to live with the pain. Hopefully there wouldn't be an infection. Thankfully, all Forin had sustained were scratches; Seria had been forced to attack him. Forin, as he had already said, hadn't retaliated, and didn't blame her. He wasn't too badly hurt, at any rate.

But his heart hurt something feirce when he walked into the barn. Diana was curled up on the barn floor, the fire Forin had set up inside casting an eerie glow over the terrible scene. She had taken off her stockings and gloves, the tight shoes currently burning in the fire. She had always hated wearing this stupid outfit. She didn't like it, but Remor had thought she looked 'cute' in it.

She was obviously hurt, but the Soulless Strider was currently biting her not-broken arm. Not hard enough to break anything, but certainly hard enough to draw blood. Of course...Striders lived off of human flesh and blood. Diana was still mostly human, and their apparent leader. She had to feed them somehow. From the looks of her legs and arms, this definitely wasn't the first time. No wonder she had been so weakened in that fight.

Forin cleared his throat, which alerted the girl to his presence. She looked up, and sighed. "That's enough...I'm getting dizzy," She murmured, patting the Soulless Strider's head. It moved back, and started wrapping the bite mark in her stocking as a makeshift bandage. "What do you want?" She looked up at them, and Forin struggled not to look away. Those black eyes were...disturbing. Not Diana's.

"Er...I was just wondering if I could help you with that broken arm. It's not good to leave those things unset..." Forin muttered.

Diana stared at them for a moment longer, then said, "That's not all you came in here for. I...I don't want you to. Don't touch me," She shifted back, pressing up against the bulk of the Soulless Strider. The simple reaction filled Forin with a pang of sadness. She was terrified...

"I don't want to hurt you, Diana...I want to save you."

"Y-you...you're with that man...the one that killed Remor..." Diana murmured, staring at him.

Forin frowned. "Who was Remor?" He questioned. Obviously, he knew who Remor was, but...

"My step-dad. H-he adopted me when I was little...after my parents were killed...h-he saved me and took me in, and you all ki-killed him..."

"Did you like him? At all?"

Diana whimpered at that. "He gave me food and water...sometimes...h-he gave me clothes and shelter. N-not the nicest kind, b-but, he...he never had very much money. He...gave me...pets."

"People to turn into Striders?" Forin pried, his voice sounding weaker and more desperate by the second. Remor had changed everything. Everything.

Diana trembled, and slowly nodded. "I-innocent...people...he made me turn them..." She shivered, and the Soulless Strider cradled her against its white, rubbery flesh. Diana jerked her head up quickly, staring at Forin and Luen. "Wha...what are your names? Tell me now," She demanded, fear dancing in her every movement.

"He's Forin, and I'm Luen," the kirin said, pushing past the Tartaran and ignoring the dark hiss of the Striders. "Diana, you have to remember us, please! I was like a big brother to you, and you were my little sister! I-I miss you so much, can't you see that? I need you back! Look, remember this?" He lifted his hand and gave it a swirl, causing snowflakes to fill the room. "You would laugh and play with these, all the time. It's how we first knew each other, remember?" His voice broke and he clutched his living wrist with his mechanical hand, saying pitifully, "I...I need you, Diana..."

Diana's face turned white as a sheet. "Re-Remor said...that two men would come for me...n-named Forin and Luen, and th-they would take me away from him and do terrible, terrible things..."

"No...no, Diana, no. We want to help you, not hurt you! Remor is the one who took you from us! He...he changed you. We want you back. Look," He took one of the larger snowflakes in his hand, offering it to Diana. "Do you...do you remember your diary? The torn up one?"

"Yes...?" Diana said, hesitantly holding out her hand. Forin dropped the snowflake into it, taking a step back when the Soulless Strider snarled at him. Diana inspected the little piece of frozen ice, as if waiting for it to melt, but Luen held it frozen.

"Remor tore it up. It...it held all kinds of happy memories. Of you, with us. Your family." Forin offered.

Diana stared at him, then looked up at the Strider. "Is he telling the truth?" She questioned. It slowly nodded. "But I...that...that doesn't make sense...I don't know them..."

"Diana...you never told us your name."

"Diana Hartlet."

Forin shook his head, smiling slightly. "Before, I mean. We've known your name for years now. Even if you don't remember us, we...we can make it so that you do. Do you want to remember?"

The little girl looked up at them again, then down at the little flake in her hands. "I...maybe...I-I don't know...Remor told me I should attack this Forin and Luen that would come for me, b-but...some part of me detests the idea of doing so..."

Luen bit his lip, wanting so desperately to run over and scoop her up, and he even risked another step towards her, only to be warned off by a hiss from the Striders. "You...you were happy," he said quietly, tears leaking down his cheeks. "You were loving and tender, and you couldn't stand being away from us. Not for a day, not for an hour. We all needed each other then, and we still need each other now. I..." He extended his mechanical arm with a soft whirring sound. "...I miss you..." he murmured, staring at her.