Chapter 12
♇ ♐️ 0° 32' 🏠 3
The afternoon has passed, and dusk has befallen unto Drokeo Bay.
The air smells like pink roses and flower petals.
No noise can be heard from anyone's home. It's all silence.
Tick-tock.
Maine's clock still ticks.
7 wolves howl.
"Awoooooo!" They howled.
#
Emily and Rita sit atop The Mountain of Dreams.
They're conversing about themselves.
Emily is drinking a cup of hot tea in a white cup. Rita is drinking hot chocolate.
They toast each other. Take a drink.
Rita puts her cup down.
Examines her nails.
"You know I never thought I'd be here about to fight some zodiacs," Rita said.
Emily takes another sip, then throws her cup. She watches it disappear from her sight as it descends to the ground.
"Yeah, me too, but here we are," Emily stated.
She takes a breath. Pauses, then looks Rita in her eyes.
"Rita… what's special to you?" asked Emily tenderly.
Rita gasps. Looks puzzled.
"What's special to me? Well, what's special to me is my life. I don't care about sentimental things like humans do," Rita said.
Emily nods in agreement and puts her head down.
Looks back up.
"Yeah, I kinda feel the same, but I miss my eagle family already. I wonder where they are," Emily said.
"Bald Eagles are everywhere in Drokeo Bay. What do you mean?" asked Rita.
"I mean, this war stuff is cool and all, but it's brutal on the body. I've been in wars since I was 2 years old," said Emily.
"Haha, no wonder you're so sentimental. You're tired of doing this, and I am too. After this mission, I'm taking a 6-month hiatus," said Rita as she leaned backwards and kicked her feet back on her chair.
The wind blows, ruffling their feathers and sending a chill down their spines.
They shiver.
"Extra cold today," Emily said as her teeth chattered.
"Sure nuff it is. I'm going to hunt one of these zodiacs," Rita stated.
"Don't go without me, and you're not going to choose the one I want."
"Let's pick. List! Manifest!" shouted Rita.
A closed scroll shows. Sparkly, deep amber, brown, and green. It's shining so brightly that Emily and Rita both are shielding their eyes from its majesty.
The shining finally dulls.
It unravels horizontally, flapping in the wind.
Both of them can finally look at the scroll.
The inside of the scroll is brown, edges on the top and bottom torn and gnawed at.
The top portion is the fire and air signs. Samuel (Gemini), Nicki (Libra), Syimphany (Aquarius), Jasiah (Aries), Makyla (Leo), and K.C. (Sagittarius).
Earth and water below. Adonis (Taurus), Serenity (Virgo), Isaiah (Capricorn), Daiyu (Cancer), Katrina (Scorpio), Rosco (Pisces).
All of their pictures are against their symbols of their zodiac signs. Some on fire, some moving like noodles, others have dust coming off from their pictures.
Each signifying their element of association with their zodiac signs.
"Neat. And if I remember correctly, when we pick that person's picture disappears," Rita said.
"Exactly. That'll let the others know to who's left. Who you got?" asked Emily.
Emily looks intently at all of the pictures. Her attention on the air signs.
"I like the theme of Air vs. Air to see who's stronger. However, then it boils down to who piques my eye," Emily said as she lightly clawed the bottom corner of her mouth.
"Hahaha! Yes! I know who I want… I want… HER," she stated emphatically.
Pointing her finger at Daiyu.
"Huh? You want to fight her? Why?" asked Rita.
"I want to see her true power. Her true resolve when her back hits the wall. After I wear her out and kill her, I will feed on her flesh and blood. It shall make me full. The fat from her organs will delight and please muah…" She said excitedly, lowly, with a bloodthirsty tone slithering from her tongue.
Daiyu's picture is blown off into the wind.
"Ok, now it's my turn. Hmmm," Rita hums.
Her eyes focus on Katrina. Points to her picture.
"Scorpio girl, huh," Emily said.
"I like her. The kill will be great. I've heard the rumors of Scorpios being intense. A fight for the death gets my blood boiling," Rita said proudly.
"The Battle of Death, haha!" Emily chuckled.
They laugh together, seemingly mocking Katrina and Daiyu.
"Scorpio, Cancer time. It's time to eat!!" Emily and Rita shrieked.
"Crow instinct: Flight!" Rita shouted into the sky.
Two wings sprout from Rita's back. Some of the iridescent feathers from them get caught in the wind, slowly descending to the ground.
"Rahhhh!" Rita shouts.
She takes flight.
Flap. Flap.
It heats up.
The snow melts off the mountain top. As it's melting, the water runs to the edge and drips off.
"See you," said Rita.
Rita opens her mouth.
Gags.
Bleah. Bleah!
Heavy coughing. Air is escaping her throat, and she can barely breathe.
Wheezing.
Some spit and yellow yolk are oozing out of her mouth.
Bleah!!
Out comes a medium-sized crow covered in yellow yolk.
It dries quickly.
Flaps its wings.
Emily's eyes get big.
"His feathers look so good! They're gorgeous!" Emily exclaimed.
"Haha! Of course they are! He's my own. Now, if you don't mind me, I got Scorpio on my mind," Rita declared.
CAW. CAW.
Peddles his legs like he's on a bicycle.
An iridescent aura covers its body.
Launches like a rocket.
Whoosh!
"Wheeeee-wheeeee!!!" Rita whistled sharply.
Irritates Emily's ear, making it ring; however, she ignores it, being proud of her friend.
Rita follows, gliding in the air.
The scroll ravels back up.
Gravitates to Emily's left hand.
She catches it. Puts it in her pocket.
Looks outward, looking down at the air and water sector of Drokeo Bay.
Emily is hit with a breeze that smells like mist, pine trees, and strawberries.
Her face relaxes. Takes in the delicious scents to her nose.
"Smells almost like home…" she says.
Notices a crowd of people at the Fire Sector.
"Huh. Interesting. Who's lurking down there…" she whispered.
Down there is 4 people.
Emily focuses harder. Her pupils start reflecting what she's seeing.
Each turning crystal and shifting into small rectangular mirrors.
Showing their exact movements.
"Eagle Style: Birds Eye View!"
Eyes turn yellow as if she has jaundice. Pupils turn into black circles.
Both of them expand, then shaping into small black circles.
Now it's crystal clear who's down there.
Daiyu, Jasiah, Makyla, and K.C. are drinking some type of reddish-looking juice.
"They are drinking this early in the day??" said a baffled Emily.
Her eyes focus on the cups. She sees one of them pouring fruit punch from a glass pitcher.
"Oooooooh, I was about to say, hehe," she chuckles.
As Emily is watching like the little birdie she is, she takes notice of Daiyu breaking free and leaving the group alone.
Emily sneers and cackles.
"Just how I like em… alone, vulnerable, and gullible. Eagle Instinct: Eagle Mode!"
Slowly, the mutant orphan woman morphs into a Bald Eagle. Her body shrinks considerably.
Legs get skinner until they are like an eagle's. Toes become claws.
Arms grow white, brown feathers in big batches starting from the shoulders, working all the way down to her hands.
More grow and appear until her arms look like a pair of wings.
She's ready.
"This fool won't know who hit her wretched head," hissed Emily.
Emily sprouts her wings and takes flight.
"Wooh!" she whoops.
The wind ruffles and shakes her feathers. She feels heat rise in her nostrils.
"Eagle Style: Thermoregulation!" Emily howls.
Emily feels her body temperature rise slightly.
"Mhmmm. Very nice… this cold air up here would make many shiver, but with this technique I can maintain my body temperature for maximum effectiveness… just as how I see fit! Heee-hee-hee-heeee!"
Sounding like a cross between Peter Griffin and The King of Pop.
Looks below at Daiyu.
The wind continues to ruffle her feathers.
A burnt smell makes way into her nostrils, causing her to wince briefly.
"The emotional Cancer, The Mother of Intuition. I want your heart and your beauty. I want to feel something again."
Starts to descend slowly but surely.
"Dayiu-Cze-Feng-Li…"
Daiyu's name echoed in her mind. It seems like Emily wants more than just to confront and fight Daiyu. I think she wants more.
Could it be just her heart she wants? What else does she see in Daiyu? The mutant orphans recruited by Maine are quickly approaching a threshold.
To fight and kill or spare. However, unfortunately for our zodiac heroes, these mutant orphans are laced with power and special abilities. Even with the zodiacs, their power and them being the host, the outcome is up in the air.
As time passes by in Drokeo Bay for the upcoming destruction, if they do not hold their ground, they will be conquered. I almost feel bad for the zodiacs, but nothing in this life comes easy. You either roll over and accept your circumstances, or you fight and change them.
The biggest enemies of the zodiacs is not always external threats but themselves in the process.
Battling their shadow side, which exhibits their worst traits and insecurites.
Like a painting in an art museum, they will be front and center with nowhere to hide but to be exposed.
The true battle for Drokeo Bay starts now.
#
Jasiah is reclining in his chair, drinking orange juice while Makyla and K.C. eat hot chips on a ham and cheese sandwich.
Makyla has crumbs all over both corners of her mouth.
K.C. is cheesing, smiling with no cares in the world.
They seem to be enjoying relaxing in the fire sector sun. It fuels their vitality. Especially Makyla. As the Sun rules Leo and its life force.
"Makyla!" shouted K.C.
"Yes, K.C." as Makyla responds with a tired groan and timber in her voice.
"We need to come up with a plan. Daiyu left and is alone, and we need to keep it safe here."
"She's fine, K.C. Let the woman do her. Let the fire burn. Don't wither it with concern over trivial matters," Jasaiah stated eloquently.
Makyla rolls her eyes.
"Ughhh, you boys can be so lame sometimes. She can take care of herself. But Maine…"
Voice trails off.
"Makyla, go with Daiyu and keep her company. K.C. and I will stay here and guard the fire sector," Jasaiah said.
Makyla looks at Jasiah as if he is some bizarre creature.
"With Maine who solo'd Daiyu, Serenity, AND Katrina? I think not. I'm staying right here. If one of you dies or zodiac forbid both of you die, I will never be able to live with myself. You may be an Aries and be the best warrior, but we are like pups with our powers. Serenity's brother has all the experience," Makyla fired back.
"Fine. Here's the plan then, partners. Let's do teams. Jasiah, you should team up with Taurus whose host is Adonis. A lot of fire power and strength between you both. Makyla and I will hold it down in the Fire Sector. At the same time, we all can't be together because we are easy targets. The duality will help in battle, in my opinion. Any interjections?" asked K.C.
The wondering Sagittarius has made his plan loud and clear. Will the others obey and follow the centaur's lead?
Makyla and Jasiah look at each other, nod yes in unison, and shake hands. Maintaining eye contact throughout the whole ordeal.
Dusk is approaching as the sun sets in beautiful tones of orange and yellow because the Fire Sector gets the best parts of the sun.
"Deal," Makyla said with doubt in her vocal cords.
"I'm down like the abyss. Let's get it, y'all."
"Now we just need a ride," said K.C.
"We can all get a ride there, but ride of choice is the question that burns in my mind," Makyla stated.
K.C. brings his open hands together and presses them together tightly.
"Centaur Style: Centaur Buggy!"
To his right, a ball of sand the size of a human's forms. Rises a couple feet in the air as sand drops from it like an hourglass.
The inside starts to wiggle and move. As this happens, lumps form diagonally. They puff out, flap, deflate, then inflate. The texture of it like a burnt skin wound with loose skin.
Mutate into sand arrows. The tips of them on fire. Each arrow sticking out.
In the middle of the sand ball, a light ember. It traces the outline of two bows. Each facing the direction of the diagonal sand arrows.
The fire grows in the middle. The bows cock back as if they are primed to hit their aimed target.
Heatwaves radiate from the sand ball. The three feel the heat hit their faces as if they opened a hot oven.
"Wooooh, that thing is giving off some serious heat," chimed K.C.
It morphs into one arrow. Fires into the sand. 20 arrows appear in the air, launch into the sand in the image of a centaur. Half man. Half horse.
All of them melt like candle wax spilling onto the ground. Hardening fast. Changes colors.
The image comes to life and begins to wiggle.
The centaur stretches its arms and legs like it's just waking up out of bed. Gets in a headstand, does a backflip, and lands on his hooves.
He looks magnificent. Lower body of a stallion. Upper body of a man with abs, big pecs, and arms.
Horse ears, mocha skin, tattoo of a compass in black on the left pec. His pupils mimic a sunset. A burnt orange and only half of his pupil showing as the bottom part is cut off and only the upper portion is visible like a half circle.
Pupils burnt orange. Long flowing horse hair from his head. It blows in the wind to his left side.
Miniature red, orange arrows tucked in his ears. Arrows pointed behind his ears.
He takes a bow, placing his arm over his stomach. He speaks up.
"Centaur. At your service, K.C.," said Centaur respectfully.
"Wow. You look so…" Makyla couldn't even finish her words.
"So bizzarre but also majestic. I know. I am here to provide a service. It seems you have not encountered anything like myself, Ms. Pretty Leo," he stated.
Makyla blushes. Places hand over mouth, giggling.
"Well, I am the queen of the zodiac, hehe. If I say so myself. Seeing you makes me wish I had the power of the sag."
"Ok, ok, that's enough admiration, haha. K.C., I'm ready, big bro," stated Jasaiah.
Centaur smiles. Teeth pearly white. Horse teeth and gums.
"Hop on then! Let's go on a mini adventure to get you teamed up with Adonis. The host of Taurus. The raging bull."
Jasaiah lightly punches his open left palm with his fist, signifying he is ready.
"I'm ready for war. I want all the smoke. I'll take the first foray into battle," Jasaiah said excitedly.
The sun finally sets. Air cools down. Jasiah smells him from where he is.
"Bro, you smell like straight hay."
"Of course I do. I'm half horse. That's my bread and butter. You don't get nice legs and hair like this just by waking up!" Centaur chimed with joy and gut-busting, hearty laughter coming from the pit of his stomach.
Jasiah, Makyla, and K.C. all follow suit, laughing together.
"You know Makyla might want some of that hair. She might want it. Centaur with the good hair," K.C. said.
"Heyyy!" a playful, grinning Makyla said.
She lightly slaps him on the cheek. Jasiah gets on his back.
Neigh!!
Centurion throws his body back, flexes his muscles, and smiles.
"Woahhh, buddy, don't throw me off. Nah, I still gotta fight!"
Centaur gets back to position.
K.C. walks over to him and pets his hair on his head and the sides of his lower body.
Centurion closes his eyes in bliss and neighs softly.
"Ahhh, thank you, K.C. Now I must get going to what you summoned me here for. May I take the ram to his destination."
"Go for it, son. Thank you again. Keep my man safe, although I know he can fight for himself."
"Your wish is my command. Time to ride," Centaur states.
Centaur throws his body back one more time as the his clears turn to dusk.
Gallops off into the distance fast. Kicking up lots of sand in the process, making a sand cloud.
As he rides off in the distance with Jasiah, his hooves beat against the sand like drums.
Dumph. Dumph. Dumph.
Makyla turns her head around to K.C.
"K.C… will he really be ok?" she asked.
Her eyes sink low, as does her head.
"He will be. We are destined for this. To fight. That's why we got the powers from ours zodiacs. War is never pretty, but if war is chaos and destruction before the calm, then poverty, sickness, and mistreatment is it nothing but its close cousin. Both must be eradicated. Everyone should be able to speak their truth, story, and exist without the threat of extermination as if we are bugs. That is my truth, and that is how this Sagittarius thinks."
Makyla just stares at him, looking intensely into his eyes with an unwavering stare.
Looks forward and sees the distant figure of Jasiah riding centaur.
"Pride and arrogance comes before someone's downfall. The very thing that drives your essence and how you view yourself determines the way we live," Makyla said.
K.C. nods in agreement.
"Now the others must prepare," they stated in unison.