The Zodiac Cycle

2.20 After...

Rebecca walked with Elizabeth to the edge of the woods, Alex wandering slowly behind, not wanting to go in. Elizabeth howled loudly and within a couple minutes several wendigos creeped out of the shadows of the forest.

"Elizabeth, you're not allowed here." one of them growled.

"If you would allow amnesty for a moment, I wish to speak with the chief." Rebecca bowed respectfully.

One of the other ones huffed, before disappearing back into the woods. They returned with the chief who raised his eyebrows at Elizabeh and Rebecca. "What is it you wanted to discuss, zodiac?" He addressed Rebecca only.

"Sir, there seemed to be a misconception. Our-" she hesitated, biting back tears. She had already cried enough. "Our friend was not a fairy and she did not have the capability of cursing you. Your kindness was given out of lies."

The Chief looked at Elizabeth, observing her as she avoided his gaze, her head down.

"We have come here to beg for forgiveness and ask that you accept Elizabeth back into your tribe." Rebecca bowed again.

The Chief stared at Rebecca for a moment. "Thank you for your honesty. Come rest at the village tonight and I will discuss this with the elders. We can discuss our decision in the morning."

Rebecca nodded and looked back at Alex, who had been quietly listening, motioning them to follow the Chief into the woods.

~~~

Mark looked out over the rubble of the castle, as workers dug through it to rescue people who had gotten trapped underneath. He worriedly nibbled his nails. Where had Stormy gone? Was he stuck in the castle when it fell? Maybe Mark could find him before he reset. After a reset, a pheonix was a new person, with a new life.

Mark couldnt lose Stormy, that much he knew.

~~~

Brianna looked around the apartment. the pictures covering the walls were too much for her to handle. She took the frames off the shelves and nails and put them into a box, taping it up carefully. She didnt know if she'd ever open it again, but she couldnt keep the pictures out right now.

She couldnt be distracted.

There were three days until the police got involved with her eviction and she didnt want to get arrested for trespassing.

She worked all day packing up all the stuff in the apartment into boxes and piled the boxes in the bedroom beside the front door.

She left the complex, walking with a purpose for he first time since she had gotten back to the Cooperative. She caught a ride to her destination and was dropped off by the front gate.

She tugged at her short sleeves, regretting not bringing something to cover the sign on her shoulder. It was also a bit chilly out, and that didn't make things much better.

She stood in front of the gate for a while, attempting to think this through.

But she didnt have any other choice. She had no job, had no house, and worst of all, she had no support. Iris was gone, and she had been all that had kept Brianna going for the longest time.

Brianna stepped past the gate and up to the front door, taking a moment to compose herself before knocking on the door.

A redheaded woman opened the door, looking Brianna up and down before narrowing her eyes. "Brianna, have you come to grovel?"

Brianna took a breath, she hadn't seen this woman in so long, she had forgotten how piercing her gaze was.

"Hello Mother."

~~~

Keith stepped into the room, looking at me with concern. "Did everyone else already leave?"

I shook my head. "Carson went to the bathroom."

"Ah." He sat down on a recliner across from me, watching me carefully. "Are you okay?"

I blinked a few times, hoping I wouldnt cry again. My whole body hurt from connecting to Narashima. I had a fever for a week afterwards and still didnt feel quite right. I hadn't yet mentioned that I could still hear his voice in the back of my head.

I shook my head slightly, looking up at keith. "I will be, eventually."

He grinned a bit. "Good."

Carson came back into the room and stepped over to me. He set his hand on my forehead. "still good?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm good, just tired."

Carson tilted his head a bit, softly smiling at me.

~~~

"Nolan?" Ash opened the bathroom door, peeking in. "You've been in the shower for a while, are you okay?"

Nolan had the cool water spraying directly on his face as he sat in the tub with his knees pulled to his chest.

"Did we-" nolan looked over to Ash, visibly upset, "did we break the team?"

"Oh, honey, no." Ash knelt beside the tub rubbing Nolans back. "You didn't break the team."

Nolan knew by the wording what Ash meant. Ash blamed himself, not Nolan. Nolan looked into Ash's dark red eyes sympathetically before the larger boy stood up, taking off his shirt.

"Make room, I'm getting in and holding you till you feel better." Nolan scooted forward allowing Ash to scoot in behind him. Ash wrapped his arms around Nolands torso, holding him close.

Nolan was able to relax a bit, leaning back on Ash's chest.

(Omg, I finished part two. What do you all think? Part three is going to be a lot to take in after all this.)