The Forgotten Zodiac

((It'll come to you.))

L'arc watched, trying to figure out what Verolen was doing, before remembering. "Oh, your dog, right?" he asked. Then, he shrugged. "The squirrels pass things along well enough. Let's just go," he said, walking alongside the demon back to the town.

((I think it was one of your characters, too. So I was going to talk to you about it and work it out so it made sense.))

"Yeah. My dog." Verolen nodded, then shrugged. "Yep, he'll be fine. I just hope he's with Arachne, helping take care of her. That's all." The rest of the trip passed in relative silence, until they ascended the ladder up to Treefort.

"You've returned." The elder greeted them. "Welcome back. All's well, I presume?"

((Assegai? Maybe?))

"Better than well. They humans say that you can move anyone who wants to go to their camp," L'arc said, pulling himself up onto the main floor.

((Maybe. CURSE MY FOUL MEMORY))

"That's excellent news." The youngest smiled. "I'll let the mothers and children know, but...what few men we had wanted to stay and witness the crowning. There have to be witnesses, of course."

"Yes. Our word alone is not as powerful." The elder shook his head. "What is few words to many, after all?"

L'arc shrugged, then, deciding that that might not be appropriate, nodded instead. "It's their choise to make. It isn't like I can stop them from doing me a favor, after all," he said, turning to make sure Verolen had made it inside behind him. "I can't promise protection, but... if they know the risk... I suppose I'll just have to let them. As you say, there have to be witnesses."

"They know the risks as well as we do. And I've decided to let the youngest council member go with the women and children. He'll do well to keep them calm and together." The elder nodded. "But I must stay here and be the one to crown you, after all..."

L'arc smiled and nodded again. "Yes. And I'd like to thank you again," he said, inclining his head slightly. "For your hospitality and everything. I know it's been a bit... thrilling," he said, for lack of a more appropriate or fitting word.

"Quite. Oh, Rush was looking for you, L'arc. He said he finished the potion. Stated that you'd understand." The elder smiled.

"That's good news. Thanks," Verolen smiled happily. "We'll go talk to him now. The ceremony is tomorrow morning, right?"

"We planned for that, yes."

"See you then. For now, we need some rest." Verolen nodded. "C'mon, L'arc, let's go."

L'arc nodded at the council and murmured a "by your leave" before exiting after Verolen. He waited for a moment after they left before asking, "So... you think Bermuda's still asleep?" The forest prince was hoping Verolen would offer him more information on what Bermuda was planning, if even accidentally, but L'arc knew that wasn't likely.

Didn't hurt to try, though.

"Probably. He's got a big day tomorrow, after all." Verolen snorted. "It's probably best to just leave him alone." Verolen shrugged as they made their way down to the clearing where the hollow stump was.

Rush was waiting for them outside, a blue vial in his hands. "There you are. I've finished the serum," He pushed it into L'arc's hands. "He has to drink all of it to work. It's tasteless and colorless, so you could tell him it's water if you want. Just...make sure to keep an eye on him, whenever you administer it."

"Which I do after..." L'arc began, waiting for Rush to finish the sentence, just to make sure he was clear on what needed to be done.

"I dunno. After the coronation. After we try the spell. I don't really care." Rush shrugged. "Just don't beg me for painkillers or something when he starts screaming. It'll be annoying enough as-is."

"Chill, Rush. Yeesh. C'mon, L'arc, we can check on Bermuda before we turn in," Verolen frowned.

L'arc looked a bit confused at Rush's demeanor, but said nothing as he was pulled away by Verolen. "Uh... yeah. Right. Bermuda. We'll see you later, Rush. Get some sleep, okay?" he called back to the chimera, before heading up to their rooms.

"Yeah, yeah. Needy little--" The rest of his sentence was lost to distance and mutterings. Rush flew up, likely to sleep in a cloud or something.

Verolen led the way to the room Bermuda and Sylas were in. Sylas was awake still, though obviously tired. He was fletching arrows with Kendra, showing her the right way to do things. "You can't bend the feathers, or it'll lose accuracy. The feathers help it fly, and if you want it to fly curved, you can bend them yourself on the bow. But it's tricky; if you don't know what you're doing, it won't hit anything. Curved aiming is difficult."

"But, of course, you can do such a thing," Kendra was saying, smiling at him as he instructed her. She had a small stack of mended arrows beside her, and it was obvious that she was a good student. Looking up, she rose to her feet as Verolen entered the room.

"Welcome back, my prince. Fare you well?" she asked.

"Yes, Kendra. Most of the town will be moving out tonight. Evacuations are going well." Verolen nodded with a smile. "I see you and Sylas have made fast friends."

Sylas flushed at once, nodding a bit. "She's...very good at, eh...fletching."

"Curving your shots now, too?"

"Yeah. I've been practicing. It's not hard." Sylas shrugged.

"Right." Verolen smiled. "Well, it's best to go to bed for now. We've got a big day tomorrow!"

"Right," Kendra said, sitting down the arrow she had been working on. "I'll see all of you in the morning, then," she added, leaving the room to go join the one she shared with Aries, Eve, Manny, Verdi, and Gabe.

"Bye," Sylas waved as she left, smiling a little.

"You like her, huh?" Verolen grinned.

"Yeah," Sylas rubbed the back of his neck. "She's...eh...I dunno."

"I definitely approve of your tastes," The demon prince chuckled. "Say, what about you, L'arc? Sooner or later you're gonna have to marry someone. Especially after this war. You'll need a queen to rule by your side. Any thoughts on who?"

"What?" L'arc gave Verolen an appalled look, then shook his head. "I haven't met anyone yet. I suppose I will eventually, but... not yet."

Verolen grinned. "Y'know, that druid girl that landed on Sylas when we first got here was eying you..."

"Oh, leave him alone. He can't rightly go around courting everyone," Sylas snorted. "He'll find someone. Good night, Verolen."

"Heh. Nighty night." The demon prince grinned, pulling himself up into his bunk, smiling.