The Forgotten Zodiac

"That's probably a good idea." Verolen nodded. "I'll let you talk to him. He...doesn't seem to like me too much."

"Yeah, well," was all Israel offered before spreading his wings and lifting off to locate the Moot.

Verdi was snoozing on the roof of the town hall, actually. Not far off at all. The sun was bright and warmed his fur as he slept, but he was already half-awake due to hearing his name. "Hello, Israel," He greeted sleepily once he was found. "What's going on now?"

"We're heading off to some human settlement for something," Israel said, touching down on the roof beside Verdi. "Do you want to come?"

"You're looking for the weapon, Serris. I know what you're doing. I've been listening." Verdi grumbled. "I don't want to go with those people. I hate them."

"Oh, you certainly don't mean that!" Israel said, looking upset. "I mean, hate is such a strong emotion. I can say I strongly dislike what they did, but... you don't really mean that, do you, Verdi?" he asked.

Verdi rolled over, flicking his tail boredly. "No. I hate them. They took us from Ela and they won't even listen to us when we try to tell them it was wrong. They don't care about us. Well...they care about you, at least. But you haven't tried to explain much, have you? Verolen at least would listen to you. But no, you put Ela aside just like everyone else." He flopped onto his other side, his back turned to Israel. "I...I dislike you. I don't hate you, because you understand, but...you're not doing anything to change it. Didn't you care about what would happen to Ela?" He sniffed, and it was clear he was trying to stem the flow of tears. He'd been sitting on this for far too long.

"Of course I care, Verdi!" Israel said. "But there's nothing I can do. I've been bound as a servant to Verolen's family for as long as I can remember. And no just by word or loyalty," Israel said. "If I am /able/ to stay with Verolen, I /have/ to stay with Verolen, until the contract my mother made with his father is nulled. I can't... I can't do anything," he said.

"Then why don't you say something? I get it. You have to stay with Verolen, and I don't care about that. But why can't I at least go back and do...anything I can to help Ela? The answer is because no one listens to me." Verdi turned around and looked up at Israel pleadingly. "They listen to you, Israel. Would you please help me talk to them?" He asked, pouting sadly.

Israel paused a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I can do that," he said, perching himself beside the Moot.

Verdi crawled up into Israel's lap, hugging him with his short little arms as much as he could. "Then I don't dislike you anymore. I'm sorry for saying I did." He said, though he still sounded so very upset. "Can we do it now? Before we go further from Oceanica?"

"Yes, of course," Israel said, nodding as he stood with the little Moot in his arms. He jumped off the roof, using his wings to glide down, then headed off in the direction the others were gathering.

Verolen looked up as Israel glided safely down to them. "There he is. Good, good. We've almost got everyone, then. We're just waiting for Aries to get back with her bags. Everything alright, Israel?"

"Yes," Israel answered immediately, before suddenly remembering what else he had to say. "I I mean, er... I mean no, there's something we need to talk about, Verolen," he said.

Verolen blinked at him, then finished checking his bag before standing up and facing Israel, his attention wholly on the boy. "Alright then. I'm listening." He nodded once, indicating that Israel should explain.

((-doesn't want to explain all of that sooooo...-))

With a nod, Israel reiterated everything Verdi had told him, keeping a close hold on the Moot as he spoke as a sort of means for comforting his nerves. He stammered a few times while speaking, mostly because he still wasn't used to talking to Verolen in so direct a manner, but managed to explain himself, and Verdi's wants, well.

Verolen frowned. "Hold on...you want to go back to Oceanica? For this Ela woman? She kept you captive for a whole season. And now you're telling me you want to go back?"

"You don't need me! I can't fight, I can't even lift a sword!" Verdi objected. "I'm just another mouth for you to hunt for. It would be easier for you to just get rid of me anyway!" He said tearily.

"Verdi, we're not 'getting rid' of you."

"Then let me do what I want, instead!"

Verolen's brow furrowed at the Moot. "And how would you get there? We're going in the complete opposite direction as Oceanica!"

"I can take him, or I'm sure Bermuda can contact someone, right?" Israel asked, looking between the nereid and Verolen and Verdi.

"I can go with Bershee." Verdi snapped. "She can take me to Rasalhogue, at least. From there, I can...try to make contact with Ela so she can pick me up. If I have to, I can swim."

"Fine." Verolen sighed.

Verdi blinked. "...Fine?"

"Yes. Fine. You have a plan to get there. If you really want to go, there's not really much to do but let you go. I can't really stop you."

Israel seemed to be relieved as Verolen gave his consent, and smiled at Verdi. "See, not so hard," he said.