The Forgotten Zodiac

"So I should just... lay here?" Byrne asked, staring at his arm with an expression of near-fear. "What if it tries to kill me?" he questioned, his voice shaky.

"Don't be afraid of it, Byrne. Yes, it may try to kill you. In which case, we'll do everything we can to help you." Manny shook his head. "But it's already determined that you're something it wants to be merged with. You just have to...greet it with open arms. Everything will be fine, Byrne. Just relax."

"Yeah, what he said." Sylas nodded. "Don't worry. I won't leave your side until you're ready to move."

Byrne looked relieved at Manny and Sylas's words, and visibly relaxed. "Th... thanks," he said.

At this point, Kendra moved forward. "If you would like, I can explain the easiest path to a state of meditation. It is a common practice, in the place from whence I come - we use it to rest the spirit and mind, as well as to relax the body," she said, moving over by Sylas as she spoke. "If you permit?" she asked.

"Ah... y-yeah, that's be a big help," Byrne said, blinking up at the newcomer.

Sylas smiled a bit, doing a little better at hiding the pink flush that came to his cheeks as Kendra moved closer. "Byrne, this is Kendra. Manny and Eve brought her here, I guess. She's nice and prett-pretty, uh, pretty smart! Uhm...yeah. She'll help you."

"Are you okay, Sylas? Your heartrate is speeding up," Manny observed, frowning slightly. Sylas gave him a harsh glare. Manny just blinked at him.

Kendra only offered Sylas a smile. "Mayhaps you would like to try meditation as well?" she asked, sitting down on the edge of Byrne's bed.

((I don't really feel like explaining how meditation works so let's skip to someone else like Reetah or something and pretend I did.))

((Oh, okay.))

Reetah slowly opened her eyes, quickly realizing that she had fallen asleep. The sun filtering in from the window told her that she had slept for a few hours, at least. She sat up straight and looked at Ullar, who hadn't moved. He was awake now, though. Staring up at his mother with pain filled eyes and a look that desperately pleaded for comfort. Reetah leaned over and rested her head against his chest, letting out a heavy sigh. She took his hand in hers and held it, warming his stiff, cold fingers against her cheek.

"Is everything all right in here?"

Eve entered the room carefully, looking at the mother and her son with worry in her gaze. "How is he?" she asked.

Reetah didn't answer for a long moment. She sat up, looking down and still holding Ullar's hand. "Broken. Three of his limbs were snapped and several of his ribs were nearly shattered. I've done my best to treat the internal bleeding, but...they also broke his jaw. He won't be able to speak for awhile, or..." She let go of Ullar's hand to rub the scars on hers. "Bite. I'll have to draw blood to feed him." She sighed, leaning back in her chair.

Eve frowned, coming into the room and looking at Ullar herself. "Should I fetch a healer? Bermuda may not be able to do much, but Gabe is here now, as well, and with their combined abilities..." she suggested.

Reetah snorted. "No. If they were to attempt magical interference on him, it would backfire. He's...not natural, as I'm sure you're aware...he's just...it's not possible. Thank you for the offer, though..."

Ullar set his dull gaze on Eve, his gaze speaking his mind where his mouth could not. He wanted to scream in agony. Cry and throw a fit over the pain he was feeling. But all he could manage was a soft whimper as Reetah brushed his hair to the side of his face.

"...poor child," Eve said, reaching over and brushing the boy's forehead with her fingers. "I feel so bad for him."

"You should. He has a miserable sinner for a mother who treats him like an animal..." Reetah murmured, closing her eyes. She was still dreadfully tired...

"Listen, why don't you take a break? I can watch him for a while," Eve said.

Reetah sighed. "I imagine the others will need me to do something for them by now. If only Jerod weren't so old, he'd probably do it, but...I imagine he's tired from his return home. How did the burial go? I'm sorry I wasn't there to see it..."

"There wasn't a burial. Aries and Gabe are both alive," Eve said.

Reetah blinked at Eve, then frowned. "What? But...they didn't..." She looked at Ullar, then back up at Eve in alarm. "They didn't do anything stupid, did they? If they're not dead, I'll kill them myself, so help me..."

"I'm not sure of all the details," Eve said. "But they're both alive and safe. They arrived not too long ago."

Reetah relaxed. "Okay...good. Good, that's...that's good." She pinched the bridge of her nose, standing. "Alright. I'll go see if they need anything from me..."

"They need your help with Rush, I believe," Eve said. "At least, that's what I heard."

"Well," Reetah sighed. "That's something. Thanks for...watching him." She offered weakly before turning and opening the door again, walking the short distance between rooms and opening the door to their room.

"Reetah!" Manny smiled. "You're awake."

"I am indeed," She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Did you lot need something from me again?"