ORIGIN - Stargazer

Andromeda. It was far from Tourmaline's den in Polaris, but every so often she found herself making the pilgrimage to the dark calmness that pervades the room. It soothed her nerves.

And there we also plenty of shiny trinkets to sift through, of course. bling for her den was really a need of hers, but she enjoyed collecting things. It made her home feel more like home.

Her eyes, however, find themselves darting towards movement in the gloom. The dark shape is hard to decipher in low light, so Tourmaline calls out, "Hello? Someone there?"

Some company would be more than welcome.

@Wilder

Wilder was out on her own for now - Vaati had stayed behind at the home, resting with the rest of the family. The home she'd built was not a quiet one and she still wasn't used to living with so many others, so occasionally she would slip away for some time alone. Moments to be by herself again, to recharge. And it was like this that Tourmaline would find her - about the time that she had decided she felt calm enough to return and was just picking herself off the ground when she heard the voice.

Her head turned and at first she went defensive. Too many bad experiences with strangers had made her cautious, wary. But as the dim light offered the first glance of the other one, she relaxed. This wasn't a stranger - she recognized them.

"Hello. I am here." She lifted her tail and took a few steps towards them. "Um. Hi. We've met before, a few times I think."

@Tourmaline

A familiar voice and face emerges from the gloom, to Tourmaline's pleasant surprise. She never really caught Wilder's name - or at least doesn't remember it - but she was a welcome ally and conversation partner in the past.

"It's you," Tourmaline smiles, voice warm. "We have, in passing." In Canis, in Cassiopeia, here in Andromeda cycles prior. It always seemed to be when Gembound congregated in groups - It had never been just the two of them.

She'd step a little closer, open. "I don't know if I ever introduced myself back then, so. I'm Tourmaline. It's good to see you again."

@Wilder

They were friendly, which was good. Still, caution, trauma, and experience had Wilder flicking a quick check in their direction, just to ensure that they had not brought something...unwanted to Andromeda. With an all clear, she allowed herself to fully relax, taking a quick seat as Tourmaline approached. "Hi, Tourmaline. I'm Wilder. And you as well!" Her tail swished behind her and curled around her front paws delicately.

She remembered their first meeting - it had been at the defense of Canis, against Order. So, naturally, a question quickly came to mind. "Hey, so, I have to ask. It's been a while since then, but what brought you to Canis, to fight against Order? Did you have dealings with them in the past?"

@Tourmaline

When Wilder sits down, Tourmaline does as well, tucking her tail under her front paws. She didn't notice the other's quick cast, but she wouldn't have minded if she knew what it was. You can never be too careful.

And it all came back to Order, anyway. "Oh, in the fortress..." she thinks back. How many cycles had it been, already? More than 12. Maybe even 14. "Well... at first, all I heard was that there was danger. To come, and hide, and defend ourselves. If that had been it, and we'd simply weathered the storm, that might have been all that came from it, at least for me," she says, remembering Teosar's roaring voice.

"But when the enemy came... those two white knights. They seemed reasonable enough - until one bowed down for the other to end it, just like that." The sight of the Praetors then had shaken Tourmaline then. It still made her sick. Order did not care for anyone. Only the whole relentless goal. "I don't want that happening to me, or anyone who I care about."

@Wilder