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Chapter Text

"Very well, when I am done with you, you will be the fastest there ever was." Aphoroul agreed to this wish.

"Wait." Brugaves interrupted. "I had a requirement for summoning the blood moon." Now burgaves struggled to say this. After all if Aphoroul didn't agree he could have been killed.

"And that would be?"

"I want to have Zale and Valere to come with me." He couldn't just abandone them. The two young solstice warriors where visibly taken aback. Zale taking a step infront if Valere, and Valere gripping her staff tighter.

Aphoroul tilted his head considering these terms. Due to his and reshans terms he could only touch the solstice warriors once, so he wouldn't get to have any fun. However on the other hand his most powerful dweller wouldn't be alive without the two.

"Very well." Aphoroul said this with a heavy sigh. Clearly reluctant to give up his fun, but he did promise to grant their wishes.

*Valere pov*

What was going on! Why would brugaves do this! If he wanted to betray the order he could but why try to drag me and Zale along!

Those where the thoughts running through Valeres head as she watched Aphoroul chuckle. She was helpless there was no way she or zale could take him like this and Re'shan wouldnt be any help.

*Re'shan pov*

She glares at the alchemist. Who just pretended he didnt mind. Re'shan couldnt do anything or risk Aphoroul poisoning other worlds. He closed his eyes and turned away.

He ignored the sound of flesh like tenticals splitting through the earth. Seraï and Garl shouting at him to help. Valere and Zale yelling, screaming, afraid. Those he claimed he was friends with.

He opened his eyes checking to see how much things escalated, and was met with a wall of red fire. Erlinas force field.

Garl was throwing everything he could at the wall of flames, ramming into it in an attempt to break through. Seraï seemed to be about to portal, Re'shan grabbed her arm

"Don't. They will kill you, you might be immortal physically but enough damage to your torso and you won't be able to function." Seraïs eyes widened in shock before remembering Re'shan had watched every universe.

*Zale pov*

The flesh tentacles wrapped around him and valere prying them away from garl and seraï. Much to zales dismay. He felt panic and tears welling up. He couldnt even get his arms free from the fleshy coils.

they constricted around him, he could barely hear anything over his heartbeat and panic. Even so he could hear Valere throwing every curse word at their attacker.

Valere why! Why of all things! Why do you choose cursing at the most powerful being at the universe! Not only that but that being already was angry!

And then he watches in horror as Valere decided to BITE down on the tentical holding her captive. To Zales surprise it did drop her.

However he also heard a growl of pain from Aphoroul. His eyes widen in fear for the girl he grew up with causing his own body to heat up to abnormal heats.

Perks of being born on the summer solstice ment his body created much more heat then the average human, especially when emotional.

This caused the tentical around him to loosen as well just enough for his hand to grasp his sword.

Chapter Text

Valere pov*

Valere threw herself at the wall and winced in pain. It didn't budge, not surprising considering these used to be able to block dwellers. So she turned to the next most plausible escape. Attacking the source of the wall.

Aphoroul for some reason was focusing on keeping Zale trapped. This made Valere have a window of time to escape. That limit was as long as Zale could keep focus on him.

So Valere ran straight to Erlina, who wasn't expecting the bold teen to straight up attack her. Still erlina managed to keep her focus while dodging Valeres attacks.

That was until Valere was hit over the head and passed out.

Brugaves had hit her.

*Brugaves pov*

He hit her. The girl that he felt like a father to. He had hurt her and she was now passed out on the floor. He dropped his weapon in shock at what he had done.

He had to right? If not Valere could have seriously harmed Erlina! Or at least make Erlina loose focus and have the force field break! If that happened they would be overpowered and he and erlina would get their wish. Or at least he would get part of his.

So this was the best option right?

Zale and Valere shouldn't remember much after his wish was fulfilled. He checked over his shoulder. Zale was still struggling in Aphorouls grip.

Brugaves picked valere up, and was struck with guilt. Valere was normally so strong but seeing her unconscious and helpless, it felt wrong. Especially because it was his fault.

Aphoroul motioned for them to get things over with.

So brugaves walked through the portal casting one last look over his shoulder at this world.

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Chapter Text

*?????? Pov*

It was cold.... so cold and dark. Where was I Where was everyone else...

Everyone else? Why do I feel like I should know who they are...

No I remember... Z... someones name started with a Z.

Za...le...

ZALE! That was his name I was sure of it! Zale. What... what happened to him... what's happening to me...

I woke up still cold, but at least it wasn't as dark anymore.

I looked around confused. The walls where made of flesh. Floor a mixture of substance that I didn't want to know. I seemed to be in a cage the bars made of bone.

She pushed myself into a sitting position. I couldn't feel my legs. If I tried to move them I felt pain where they connected to my waist.

I took a deep breath and looked over at them. Then almost threw up at the sight.

My legs where a twisted bloody mess. Bent out of shape in all the wrong places. Blood staining fur.

Wait fur? Since when did I have

I reached down and touched a bit of the fur that wasn't stained with the crimson liquid. It was soft and short only a few layers before it reached the tender skin. It's color seemed to originally be some bluish gray.

I took a deep breath, I didnt remember what my legs where supposed to look like but I was sure this wasn't it.

I fought back tears before glancing around catching sight of another cage to my left. Pulling myself over proved difficult when my legs dragged uselessly behind.

My eyes widen as I saw who was inside. Blond hair, and dark tan skin. Zale. I reached my hand down through the bars to touch the soft mat of hair.

The second my hand connected my brain flashed with images.

Smiles, laughter, tears, comfort. All from this blond boy. What else am I forgetting.

It didnt take long for me to notice his legs they where the same mangled mess as my own.

I was able to see his legs better then my own and it wasn't pretty for either of us.

His legs seemed more of a bloody mess then my own but not by much. This was also when I noticed hoves. when my eyes caught sight of his hoves I went to check my own feet and sure enough they where the same.

I also noticed his ears where not human either. Instead they where similar to a deer or goats and there where small stubs poking through his hair. Horns.

I felt my own head and, just like the hoves, found similar appendages decorating my own head.

I froze hearing voices and emedently dropped to the floor of the cage.

Please please please don't see I'm awake! I thought as I squeezed my eyes shut.

I heard the voices come closer. One sounded strangely familiar.

"Are you sure they're going to be ok? Their legs look so painful..." that voice it made me feel so many conflicting feelings. Happiness, anger, betrayal.

The other voice was new. It sounded shredded and dry.

"I've already told you, their fine. Won't even feel it until it's healed."

I involuntarily flinched when I heard something hit the bone bars of the cage.

"Looks like she's already waking up, or at least responding to sounds already." The same shredded voice rung out.

"Thank you Lejugg. It hurts seeing them like this but it will be better this way."

"That's true Barma'thazël. It will be better for them."

Chapter Text

Valere pov

Cold was a feeling I've become used to. That and forgetting. I've forgotten so much. I keep feeling like there's something I have to do but I can't remember. It'd ok though. I'm safe in the cage. Me and Zale where safe.

We looked up as the door opened, two familiar figures walked through. One checked on us often, his name was Barma'thazël. The other one made sure we healed correctly and occasionally fixed what he saw wrong. Including memories. He was named Lejugg.

My eyes stared up at the two. Unsure of who they where to me. Captures? Protectors? Who's to say. Zale also stared up at them. We haven't spoken to them yet, partially of fear, partially because we dont really understand what they want.

"These two where practice for what you will become. Give or take a few details, it will be more painless and faster for you now that I've perfected these models." The creatures large third eye settled on me while the normal ones watched zale.

"I want to keep my memories, of them at least." Barma'thazël seemed to be nice, kind even sometimes. But talk of memories of us confused me.

"That won't be allowed. The two dont contain those memories, but they are locked away subconsciously, if you where to retain them, they could end up remembering who they where." Lejugg chuckled "but I'll let you keep the father like feelings you have to them, you just won't understand why you love them."

"I see..." Barma'thazël crouched down to the bars of the cage. My eyes settle on him, hair falling over my face. "Don't worry Valere, I won't let you remember the pain I put you through... you'll be ok."

He turned to zale putting a hand between the small curved horns forming "you to zale."

I wanted to scream to break out of this cage and make him regret what he did to us. But no idea why. I couldn't if I wanted to anyway. They kept us weak and tired.

Days fly by no one coming other then the people who brought us the food needed. The rotting gore, organs and flesh growth that came from somewhere... some place i didnt even want to know about.

Me and zale gag from the smell but force ourselves to get it down our throats. We had to survive. It didnt matter how or why. We just needed to. Somewhere people cared.

My mind flashed with people, faces blurred but clear. Laughs sobs. Bad good and strange.

Me and zale sobbed clutching eachothers arms. Some kind of anchor. Some way to keep eachother together. Not to lose ourselves in the blurred memories.

Until the door creaked open and a figure stepped through. The shadows seemed to morph around him, enveloping him in a cloak of darkness. I knew through my fragmented memories that he was bad. Really really bad.

I growled and attempted to put myself infront of zale, even though our cages where the exact same size. A chuckle filled the air.

"Barma'thazël, your pets are acting up again, might be time for a final memory wipe before your transformation." He snapped his fingers and the bone cage fell apart. I quickly put myself between zale and the stranger. Still wobbly on my feet due to learning how to use the hoves correctly.

He chuckled before zale fell to the floor. My eyes widened and I dropped down to him cradling his head "ZALE!? PLEASE WAKE UP!" My heart raced before my body froze up and body fell to the floor. Eyes drifting shut as a fleshy tentical dragged its way towards us.

Chapter Text

She woke up on a bed, more memories gone. But also one was still there, yet it felt wrong. I felt a strong familiar bond to Barma'thazël. This memory didnt feel right. Like it was all a lie. I walked over to zales bed sitting at the base of it tail swaying.

His golden hair had gotten longer, hanging around his face. The ram horns where also coming in well, beginning to wrap around the ears.

She stayed there until those stormy blue eyes opened. He smilled "Hey Val val." The two pressed their forheads together before Valere helped zale up. "Where are we?"

"I dont know..." it felt familiar. A blue and red bed, a moon shaped glowing stone on her side of the room and a sun on zales. The two opened an unlocked door and rushed into the hall, stones cracked beneath their feet, yet the walls lacked something that they where used to by now. Blood.

Yet the two didnt get far before they run into a form. Familiar, it sounded familiar to, it sounded like a parent. "Just where do you think you two are going!" Barma'thazël rounded the corner and stood infront of the two tail swaying.

He glared down at the two who froze up in fear. Until he turned the two around and pressed on of his hands against either of their backs pushing them along with the path he was taking. "You two are not leaving without breakfast."

The two tilted their heads but allow themselves to be lead into the kitchen, a small room with a table on one end that they where sat down on.

They both tilted their heads as Barma'thazël handed them both a bowl of yogurt. Valrres decorated with blueberries and zale strawberries. The fruits flashed in their minds, along with giggles.

Valere stared down at the bowl eventually a growling stomach urging her to eat. Once the bowl was nearly clean she scooped a last spoonful into her mouth.

Teeth sliding through a blueberry and her mind flashed with red. Staring down at her hands and a pile of guts a gore. Face and hands stained with red.

She collapsed on the floor of the kitchen coughing and wrenching. Barma'thazël and zale ran to her voices wringing in her ears as she sobbed.

Barma'thazël picked her up like a child and carried her back to the room that she woke in. Zale followed along asking questions and wanting to help Valere.

He tucked The sobbing Valere into bed and crossed over to a bookshelf.he then sat on a chair calling zale to sit on the rug infrint of the chair and Valeres bed.

From there he spoke of a women who had a tree, a tree in which people stole, she wished for whoever tried to pluck a fruit from that tree without her permission would be trapped in it. So when death came for her, she simply told death that all she wanted was a pear. Then death was stuck in a pear tree.

Chapter Text

Since the blueberry incident Valere has only been able to eat certain foods, in fear of triggering another memory.

Valere was reading a book om her bed when Zale ran in, tripping over his own hoves occasionally. "Valere! Guess what dad said!" Valere sighed and set her book down.

"What is it this time." She sighed standing up, pelt skirt sliding of the bed.

"We get to go outside!" Valeres eyes widened at that knews. The curtains where always drawn hiding the outside world, if they so much as touched them Barma'thazël would usually get upset.

The two ran over to the door as Barma'thazël cautiously unlocked and opened it. The two rushed out sunlight blinding them.

Sand crunched under their hoves as they ran. The two sided to a stop at a red rock outcropping with a beautiful view. Valere sat down eyes wide as she took in everything. Zale sat beside her as he ran his hands through the sand.

"It's beautiful..." she whispered.

The two of them splayed out in the sand watching the thick clouds swirl. Eventually Barma'thazël sits down beside them holding two Tupperwares.

"I assumed i wasn't getting either of you in for lunch." He explained as the two grabbed their respective containers and gobbled down the food.

Once they where done Barma'thazël stood up. "Were gonna go on a little walk ok?" Barma'thazël sighed not wanting to bring the two along but disliking the idea of leaving them to themselves more.

The fleshmancer had sent a minion this morning informing Barma'thazël that there had been people traveling between the sea of stars. He knew they would be heading to the cyborg village of repine, or the cerulean expanse, the desert that he inhabited.

"You all need stay close ok, its dangerous." He grabbed his two bladed staff and put it in its holster. He sighed in guilt as the two follow him, naive to the danger and what could happen if they strayed a little to far.

He shook the ideas out of his head. He was the fastest so if anything happened he could be there in an instant.

Valeres ears pricked up when she heard voices. "There's people!" Valere attempted to head to the sound when Barma'thazël grabbed her arm and dragged her and zale behind a cluster of boulders.

"Whats going on what's wrong?" Zale asked panicked.

"Be quiet." He hissed. Zale and Valere huddled behind the rocks confused and concerned. They never heard him talk so aggressively. "Just... dont move."

Valere glanced out from behind the rock. Seeing a group of people. Her face dropped as smiles and laughter rang through her head. Bittersweet joy flooded her and she wanted nothing more then to run to them.

"We are going back."

"Wait what?" Zale complained. "Why?"

"No questions. We are going now!" Barma'thazëls tail wrapped around Zales wrist tugging him to his feet. Knowing Valere would follow if they started leaving.

With one last cast over her shoulder before rushing to catch up to her family.

Chapter Text

Valere sat on her bed bored. She hung her head over the edge of the bed. Hair dangling over the edge onto the floor. Her legs proved against the wall hoves clicking together as they swayed back and forth.

"I'm bored zale..." Valere sighed and flopped onto the bed normally. "Those people... they sounded so... familiar..."

"I... I understand that. I feel it to." The two had something pulling them, pulling at their hearts and urging them to run to these figures.

The two sneaked out of the room which was very difficult due to the sound of the hoves. Valere opened the door following zale out into the cold dessert.

"I can't believe where doing this! Dad's gonna be so mad!" Zale whined. Barma'thazël was angry the first time they saw these people. He would not be pleased if he found his kids gone after meeting them.

"We'll be fine. Besides we just want to get a peek at them, we'll be back before he even knew we where gone." Valere led the way the pathway somehow prominent in their minds.

The headed out across the cerulean expanse however after sometime they heard the voices again. Valeres eyes lit up and she dragged zale toward them. The two ducked behind a large three eyed skull.

There where three of them.

One a girl with dark brown hair metal coating parts of her body. They knew she must have been from repine considering its the only living cyborg village left. This girl leaned against a boulder eyes shifting around to watch the sands.

The other clad in colorful robes. Darling shades covered most of his skin. Any part that would be left exposed was wrapped. Except for his face, clouded in shadows only two white eyes staring out. This creature sparked two things in Zale and Valere. Hope in their hearts, yet fear in their minds.

And the last one. Their eyes where pulled to him. He had dark brown hair and a cheerful expression. A scar dragged over one eyes made them feel pangs of guilt for some reason.

He chatted pleasantly to the others. Seemingly trying to cheer them up.

"I'm sure they're fine! They always manage to find a way out of things." The last part a small frown snuck onto his face before he shook his head and sighed.

"Aephorul is dangerous. He wouldn't let them get away, not when a wish required them." The colorful one looked away. Eyes holding some deep pain.

"All we know is that they are here somewhere, according to cedric three creatures from another world took up residence here. Two of those have to be Zale and Valere."

Valere and Zale froze at their names. Flashes of far of things played in their minds. How did she know them, how did all of them know them!

Zale inched away from the top of the dune. Valere on the other hand seemed frozen eyes wide.

Zale wrapped his tail around Valeres ankle dragging her away from the rim and snapping her out of it. He pulled her up as voices rose over the dune.

"Someones here!"

"It's probably just an anima-"

"Nothing that big is able to survive in the cerulean expanse, unless they had the intelligence of a human!"

Zale and Valere started running, running back to home, back to safety. Away from these strangers who knew them!

Valere quickly gained more speed then Zale. Gaining more and more of a lead. Not even realizing she was leaving Zale behind.

Zale was tackled to the ground and a dagger pressed against his neck.

The pressure loosened quickly however. "Zale?"

Chapter Text

You cant be Zale..." the brunette girl let him up as the boy with the cheerful face grabbed his arm.

"its him." Resh'an sighed. He looked away hands balling into fists.

"zale... what did they do to you..." Zale leaned away as the once cheerful boy enveloped him in a hug. His tail flicked in irritation.

"Look I do not know who any of you are." He attempted to back away. Yet when the boy grabbed his wrist a memory flashed.

Laughter of him and the boy. The two layed out on a hammock laughing.

"You dont remember me...? Remember any of us?" The boy asked with tears bilding behind his eyes.

"I think the question I should be asking is who are you. And how do you know me and my sister!" His tail flicked as he took a step forward. The colorful man then stepped infront of the others and Zale shrunk away.

"Just as I suspected. Seraï, if you would be kind enough to teleport us back to repine, I will explain what's happening." He casted a glance back to zale. "To both of our groups."

The girl he addressed apparently named Seraï grabbed a dagger and ripped a portal into the air. Zales fur stood on end where he had fur. The cheerful boy seemed to notice and grabbed him by the arm again.

"It's ok, its perfectly safe." He had a sad smile on. They strange thing is the words worked. He relaxed and allowed the boy to help him through the portal. His hoves touched down on cold metal and he flinched.

Electricity screamed around him scratching at the walls and glowing screens assaulted his eyes. He crouched down hands over his ears and tail wrapping around himself.

"Ah, an oversight on my part." The colorful man hummed. "I forgot the sensitivity that demons have." The colorful one crouched down only for zale to stumble away. "I'm going to help you, stop moving." He placed a hand on zales forhead magic rushed into him before Resh'an pulled away.

The sounds where pulled to a quiet hum. "Why am I here, how do you all know me."

The cheerful boy was about to speak up when the colorful one stopped him. "He wont remember anything. I think its best if I explain things Garl."

The cheerful boy, apparently named Garl nodded and stepped back.

"my name is Resh'an, the others are Seraï and Garl. You and Valere used to travel with us but someone took you away. They destroyed your memories, and transformed you. Im sure you and Valere have flashes of things you remember, after all if I knew anything about you two its that you wouldnt go willingly."

"if i knew you, then why do I want to run whenever I'm near you." Zale mumbled backing away. Resh'an sighed.

"It's because Aephorul adds a natural fear response to me in all of his creations, for two reasons, so if they see me they'll get away before I can harm them, or so they wouldn't hurt me."

Zales eyes widened at the mention of Aephorul. Memories flashed, seething writhing tenticals, screaming, Valere rushing to his side as he lay motionless.

"We can break his hold on you, But it will take some time." Resh'an attempted to keep his voice pleasant as to not scare Zale any further.

"May I add some input." Seraï spoke from her spot leaning against the wall. Once Resh'an nodded she went and crouched beside Zale.

"Even if we break his hold on you, you may never fully remember us. I want you to have a choice in this matter." Zales tail flicked.

"What are you talking about, you'd let him go back to being a demon! To not even knowing who we are!" Garl was upset. Even though he couldn't remember him, this seemed unusual.

"Sometimes they would rather forget!" She snapped back at Garl. "You have never been transformed into something you aren't! The memories of what you used to be can be painful! They hurt, and even worse you know that you'll never get the full picture back!"

Garl seemed shocked at the girls outburst. Tears pricked in the corner of her eyes that she wipped away. "Seraï I'm sorry-"

"Whatever. This isn't about me right now, its about him." She turned her attention back to zale. "Would you like to come back, to be with this group again, or would you rather forget and go back to your sister."

"I've never been away from her or dad before..."

"Dad?!" The rest of the group asked in unison.

"Barma'thazël..." he mumbled.

"Barma..thazël... Barma... Brugaves!" Garl shouted quickly figuring it out. "If Elysan'darëlle is Erlina then Barma'thazël has to be Brugaves!"

Seraï hummed in agreement.

"Brugaves... that name, makes me sad..." he mumbled. Seraï put and hand on his shoulder.

"I know what you mean by that..."

"I think, I want to remember..." he grumbled again.

Chapter Text

Valere ran and saw Barma'thazël outside of the house.

"Dad! Dad's im so sorry! We went out on our own! And people saw us and now Zales gone!" He put his hands on Valeres shoulders.

"What happened. Where, and why did you leave him." Barma'thazël was clearly trying very hard not to be angry and make Valere feel even worse.

"We wanted to find the people from before. B-but they saw us and we ran, he was right behind me and then he wasnt! And I dont know where he is!"

"Thats ok. Take me where you went. He's probably just hiding somewhere."

The two demons set of. She lead him back to that spot.

"This is where we were spotted..." she mumbles.

"Zale! If you can hear me its safe to come out!" Barma'thazël yells out. No response. Only silence rang out from the dunes.

"Zale please come out!" Valere shouted pleading. Even though both of the knew there wasnt a hiding spot here.

"Fuck!" Barma'thazël yelled. "The one time I let you two have freedom Zale gets taken! Aghhh this is all my fault!" He kicked the sand sending it a cloud of it up.

"Its my fault... I wanted to go outside and find the people from before I was curious... a-and now Zale might b-be hurt... o-or worse!"

"No! No Valere this isn't your fault. I should have let you know how dangerous it was or kept the doors locked when I couldn't watch over you." He pulled her into a hug as she sobbed.

"What if they killed him!" She shrieks in dismay.

"He can't be dead! He cant- w-we will go to Aephorul he can help, hes going to help him." Barma'thazël reassured her. Yet he knew deep down Aephorul would be furious. He had let Barma'thazël take care of the demonlings and he let one out of his protection.

Barma'thazël took valere home. Before leaving he locked up the doors and shutters, trying to keep things safe for the demon still under his care.

He walked up to the shore and sighed before making his way to the castle. This place unnerved a deep part of himself, something told him that it was wrong, the way the flesh pulsated on the walls, almost as if it was alive.

He made it to Aephoruls lookout and knelt into a deep bow. "I come bearing bad news." He mumbled eyes fixated on the ground.

"Rise." Aephorul sighed. "But make it quick." Aephorul sat on his own makeshift throne of flesh.

"One of the young demonlings you entrusted to me." He took a shakey breath, sensing irritation radiating off Aephorul. "They managed to get away while I was patrolling. The girl managed to get back home but the boy got taken by the strangers you sent me to find a few weeks ago."

"You..." the sound of bones grating on eachother sounded out as Aephorul stood throne collapsing. "YOU LET HIM GET AWAY! NOT JUST GET AWAY BUT BE TAKEN BY THEM!" He took a deep breath hand dissapearing into the hood of the cloak. "This... is bad. I will have to take some... drastic measures if He does what I think He will."

"My lord I deeply apologize and show great remorse for my actions. The young demonlinys wont be allowed to run rampant again." Barma'thazël muttered trembling.

"I assume the pulse I felt was one of the young ones activating their own innate abilities. Tell me how this happened."

"A-apperently they where spotted, Valere ran accidently leaving Zale behind, not idea where he went."

"Valere awoke her trait then. She takes after you, given great speed, only a little behind your own." Aephorul hums in annoyance. "Let's hope Zale is unable to awaken his." Aephorul growled pacing. "I need you to leave quickly before Elysan'darëlle returns. I can't have you screwing up everything already."

Those words felt like a knife twisting in his heart for some reason. Yet he left as he was told.

Chapter Text

"How do I know all of you." Zale hummed as Resh'an tinkered away at some potion that will 'break zales connection to aephoroul.' Whatever that mean.

"Well we met as kids and were raised together until you and Velere had to go study in a special school so that you could use your powers the correct way." Garl explained sitting beside Zale. The boy was very touchy yet Zale enjoyed physical touch so he allowed the boy to hold his hand and hug him.

"You met me when I was in disguise as a pirate captain. But you met the real me when Garl almost walked into his death, me you and Valere went on a side quest to go get a stone to help him." Seraï felt similar to Valere in a way. Less touchy and more closed off.

"The potion is ready. Just... try to stay calm, some things might surface while others stay burried." Resh'an explained passing the flask to Zale. Who hesitates but drink the potion. His eyes widen as he swallowed.

He fell on the ground. He remembered. Crippling pain in his legs and head. Valere telling him he will be ok. Further back, small legs running and laughing. Then his larger body sobbing over something.

He felt arms grab him and pull him close, pulling him back to the present. Tears on his face. "Hey its ok. Your ok." Garl hummed sadly. "Did you remember anything... about us...?"

"Resh'an said he wont remember relationships until way later on." Seraï hissed.

"Its true, if anything it was most likely either a flash from something from his childhood or the transformation process. What Aephorul specializes in is traumatizing his victims before they become transformed. He's most likely to remember that first, a defense if his creatures start acting up." Resh'an sighed. "This was just to keep him safe. Safe and alive, so that Aephorul couldn't just flip the switch and turn him off if Barma'thazël lost him."

"What... happened to me and Valere... why can't we remember anything! Are we bad? Is our dad bad?" Zale sobbed.

"He's acting like a ten year old..." Seraï hummed a layer of concern lacing her voice.

"Aephorul breaks his victims, so when memories come back, they lose knowledge of how to regulate emotions, or other things they learn as they grow older. Because they will have to piece things together again." Resh'an explained to Seraï.

"And no. Neither you, your sister, or your dad are bad. Things happened in the past to push you along certain paths. But even if we regret this happening you are a different person now, so is your sister, and your dad. You where good, but now you could be pushed to be bad. Currently the three of you are stuck until pushed to believe in certain things." Resh'an attempted to consol the boy.

Zale just blinked in confusion. How does one explain morals to someone who only ever remembers being around their family.

"You and Valere where good! I'm sure your still good to shes probably just scared..." Garl hummed still holding him closely. He leaned into the touch feeling safer. He smilled softly.

That was until everyone started holding back snickers and giggles. "What... what's so funny?"

"Your tail, its..." Seraï laughed. Throwing a gesture toward where Zales tail was wagging. He felt his face grow red and he hid his face in Garls shoulder.

"Its adorable..." Garl hummed holding him close.

"No its not- th-this is normal for d-demons." The poor boy mumbled. He was only ever teased by Valere before and she never targeted the demon parts.

"It is kinda cute. Makes you look all soft and cuddly." Seraï snickered.

"Leave the poor boy alone you two. He's still figuring out what's going on. Seraï, we should be getting some rest. Does this place have security measures in place?" Resh'an sighed. Zale simply tilted his head as he listened to the conversation.

"Yup one of the first things repine implemented considering how reckless some animals got without sunlight." She patted a metal pillar. "Cedric. Lock down." She barked an order.

"Lock down mode on." Zale yelped and his head swiveled around trying to identify where the voice was coming from. Seraï chuckled again.

"Don't worry Zale I reacted similarly." Garl hummed patting his head. Before helping him to his feet. "Let's go and get ready to sleep." He hummed taking his hand.

The group went through their seperate routines. Zale was quite lost at what to do. Even though one of the things Resh'an did was make his hearing less sensitive this place was still strange and honestly scary for him. So he ended up following Garl around like a lost puppy.

They entered a seperate room with several beds set up. Zale tilted his head when he saw a large book, it didnt look like one he's ever read before, however he did remember it in a way. Garl was about to stop him when his hand brushed over the book and it sprung to life. A feather from a coat nearby flew over and started writing. He scrambled back with a yelp and hid behind Garl.

A short pink haired girl poked her head in and saw the scene. "You found him! He... hes very different looking." She walked in. "Hi Zale. You probably dont remember me but I'm one of your friends! My names Teaks!" She reached a hand out for a hand shake he hesitates but lightly takes it.

"Wh-what was that book?" He wimpered keeping one hand clutching Garls jacket. Garl patted his head in a failed attempt at comfort.

"Yeah I probably shouldn't have left the grimoire laying around. Don't worry though! The book is completely harmless it just writes whatever stroy clings to something. " the girl hummed picking up the book.

"Wait could we use that to get his memories back? the story it wrote when he touched it." Teaks hummed in response to Garls question.

"I think we should probably read it before showing it to Zale just incase its something bad." She mumbled Glancing at Zale who seemed to be calmer.

"Thats a good idea." Mymbled Resh'an as he walked into the room and took a bed by the corner. "Considering the grimoire never reacted before hand it either reacted to something Aephorul did to him, or something that happened while he was already a demon."

Chapter Text

Barma'thazël hasnt let Valere out of his sight since the incident. They two had been wandering the desert hoping that Zale just got lost, or if he was taken that he would escape. Eventually Valere gets tired of it.

"We need to go straight to repine! Thats where they would have taken him right?" She grumbled. Barma'thazël spun to face her.

"We aren't going anywhere near there! Even if that is where he was taken its extremely dangerous! Cyborgs are dangerous and will do anything to survive. If they see you as a threat they will kill you!"

Valeres eyes went to the ground. "Doesn't that mean zale would be dead..." the pain in her voice was clear, even though she was trying to hide it. Her tail wrapped around herself in a failed attempt at comfort.

"No, im sure Zale is fine." He sighed, upset at himself for yelling at her. "Most of them weren't even cyborgs so im sure hes fine." He pulled valere into a hug. He knew he wasnt the best at comfort.

He remembered when valere had tripped and hit her head on the counter. Zale was there emedently hugging and cooing to her.

Or when Zale had growing pains in his horns, valere would be there to provide comfort.

Those two knew what to do for eachother. How to keep eachother ok and safe. He had no idea how to comfort Valere. How to let her know shes safe and that her brother would be safe.

"What are they going to do to him..." she trembled. Maybe what she was seeing wasnt memories but something that could happen. There was so much blood and pain in them. She shook her head, she was with Zale in those, so it at least wouldn't happen right now.

"Probably nothing. They just..." he shook his head. He shouldn't be lying to her. She was impressionable but not stupid. "I dont know."

The two searched much longer. Hours on end, scouring the entire area. Then they headed home alone. Valere woke up in the middle of the night. It felt dead. No one to joke with after hours. No one to play or read or cuddle with. She was alone.

So she stood and rushed through the halls as silently as possible. She ran, the second she was free of the door she took of. Stumbling as her hooves sunk into the sand. She figured out how to run eventually. Gaining speed.

She managed to get to the outskirts of the town. She stood on the tips of her hooves and eventually is able to find a spot to look over the wall. And then climb ontop of it to look into the city from different places. She ducked behind the walls whenever a passing cyborg looked up.

She searched swiftly and silently. Before deciding to enter the city. She slipped down into the city. The moment her hooves touched the cold stones a screech erupted into the air.

Screams of thousands of tortured beasts stampeded down her eardrums. She fell to the floor clutching her ears. However it swiftly cut off and was swept away along with a rush of air.

She looked up to see a very disappointed and very upset Barma'thazël.

Chapter Text

Zale woke with a start, sounds screamed at him. His tail puffed up and he looked around. Garl sat up beside him, disoriented and sleepy.

Meanwhile seraï was already at some flat glowing panel. Resh'an simply sat cross-legged im the corner. And teaks had her hands over her ears.

The noise cut off abruptly. "There we go." Seraï groans.

Garl patted Zale helping him up "What was that seraï?"

"Someone got into repine." Seraï grumbled rechecking the footage. "Its- Its her, thats gotta be her!" The entire group runs to watch the footage.

It was hard to see anything. But there was a cyan glow were the tips of valeres hair and her eyes would be. She walked along the wall before dropping into an alley. She then collapsed hands over ears. In just a few seconds a blur of something passes by and shes gone.

"She came here!" Garl smilled. "Do you think she remembered something!"

"She's probably looking for her brother." Resh'an sighed "demons have a pack like structure, especially siblings. She would have assumed he was taken to the only town."

"Cedric, slow the recording." Even slowed down they couldn't make out the blur that took valere away.

Zale kept watching the looped recording before jumping up on the metal panel just below it. "Hey! No zale!" Seraï called after him. He carefully avoided the buttons before sitting on his heels.

"Valere..." he mumbled tilting his head and placing a clawed hand on the monitor. His tail swished in curiosity.

"Zale down!" Seraï growled pulling him of the control panel. "God's didnt realize demons where cats." She hissed.

"What do we do? Is she gonna come back?" Zale wimpered gripping onto the fabric of garls sleeve.

"She's deffinitly going to come back once or twice. That is until she learns shes not getting anywhere." Resh'an grumbled. "I can only imagine the things that where told to her. She's desperate to get you back if shes going straight to repine."

"Should we set up traps?" Seraï grumbled looking through other screens.

"I dont like the idea of trapping her. Shes already scared." Garl hummed brows furrowing together.

"Its the only thing we can do for now. That and prepare for another trip to the cerulean expanse. We need to find what we where looking for in the first place." Resh'an sighed