ORIGIN - ships passing in the night

There were things Mother could tell him, and things she and their family could not. His fellow Drones were still an unwelcome part of the caves. That was always going to be given until something was done about it, but there were groups Pallas had no idea about. These Gembound didn't know about him, not like any in the past; he was Mother's Speaker, and what better way was there to know more than to simply wheedle it out of others?

Vestyge was an interesting one. Distant from the show, Pallas's concern got the better of him. Was this someone who was part of another secretive group, or simply an individual who didn't like crowds? Either way, he was a better target to prod than the group, particularly given how close some of them seemed.

Besides, he didn't trust a crowd like that. What if someone found out about him..?

And so, as the group dispersed and as Vestyge had already started away from the show, Pallas leapt to action and began bounding off in his direction. This didn't warrant a chipper introduction, not really any introduction at all, but he couldn't just launch into questions right away. First, he had to even catch up, small linsang legs no match for a giant Valkhound's.

"Ah, wait-" Pallas panted as he slowed down- "apologies for bothering you." He'd stopped racing and simply did his best to keep pace with Vestyge. "That crowd was a bit much, wasn't it?" Nothing betrayed him in his practiced tone, even and sure of itself. That end though... Raw chaos rattled him, and he wanted it shoved out his mind. Best to simply focus on the now.

Ears flicked back in a show of uncertainty. "Are you busy? I've been... hibernating for a short time, and there was barely anyone I recognized in that show." Mentioning the Chaos Forge was on the tip of his tongue, but it was already evident that they were still around. He didn't need to look so completely out of the loop. "It feels like nothing and everything has changed, if you catch my meaning."

@Vestyge

It'd be a waste not to watch some of the Olympics, at least. Vestyge had heard word of it travel, but decided to set it out. Not because he thought he wouldn't be able to win - he just had... Bigger things on his plate. He preferred to stick to the edge of the crowd, watching the would-be magicians try their best. He had injuries he didn't want to reopen, and future plans he wouldn't sabotage for the sake of his ego.

No. He wasn't intimidated by the competition at all.

He'd considering making the trip to Orion to see the wrestling, take note of certain techniques or strategies or whatever. But the magicka show was the more visually interesting of the two. Why would he walk all that way just to see two idiots roll around in the dust? That, and magick had a tendency to backfire in more spectacular ways.

He hadn't been disappointed in that regard, but out of respect to the performers, he kept his snickering quiet.

Draconua had been the finale, and the odd one out. Was it the corruption, or the Gembound wielding it that was so familiar? Maybe he'd seen her some place before, cycles upon cycles ago. But aside from that odd pang, nothing else stirred with the recognition. A coincidence was all it was.

Vestyge had been heading back to his pillows in Scorpio when he noticed the tiny shape in his peripheral, calling out in a voice just as small. When he realised it was him Pallas was after, he slowed his gait to something slower than leisurely - let's call it patient. He had nothing better to do after the show - he'd allow a conversation.

There was a time where he wasn't so idle. Where every pause was time wasted on trivialities, and company was the rarest treat. In the midst of this overwhelm, he found himself yearning for that lonely life again. They were in agreement: "It was."

"I'm not." Vestyge kept his answers short, clean. He let his mind mull over the rest of the sentence. He knew the feeling very well - but the addition made him stop in his tracks. Hadn't he been thinking exactly that? Or thought it, in the recent past. He turned to study the small, silver creature with new interest. "And I do."

He decided to offer some of himself, then. He was curious to see where this would go. "I woke up recently, last cycle. I'm still trying to figure things out."

@Pallas

Ah. A quiet one. Pallas could match try to energy, tamping down any remnants of that fake chipper voice he could've put on.

He was thankful for the slower pace, allowing him to half-jog to keep up. Though, it was a little disappointing that this one had also hibernated. 'For how long..?' Pallas jolted to a stop as he was studied, his tail flicking one way and the other for a long, cautious moment.

"I woke up just before all this." He dismissed that with a slight shake of his head, a tilt to put his weight more on one paw than the other. "It's been... well, not as many cycles as it could've been, but I'm still reacclimating to everything. Caves I've never seen... I've heard Hydra is safe now..?" Perhaps having been told through Mother's touch would be better wording, but he wasn't here to tell the truth.

He paused, dipping his head in brief thought. "Back when I was around, all we had were swamps and rocks. Not palaces or oceans— no, we had Fornax. But my point stands; more room, and still that Chaos Forge hacking away at everything." Ears cocked back while he stood somewhat straighter. "I can't tell if there's been any progress in whatever they're trying to do. That's what I'm trying to figure out." No, no, he didn't want to give the impression of bashing on the Forge. It was tempting, but it was too dangerous, so he only continued on with a shrug.

Pallas's head twisted back, indicating towards the Spire and where the show had been. "I was surprised that I barely recognized anyone. Draconua, yeah, but the others? I'm surprised none of the Seven hadn't shown up, or more of the Forge. It makes me feel like I hibernated for longer than I have." If there were any Seven, he certainly didn't know it. Were they and the Children of Rot even still around?

@Vestyge

The effort Pallas was putting in went unnoticed and unappreciated. Vestyge did not expect that much from the newer generations of Gembound - but to be fair, he'd never expected much of anyone his age either. That way he could never be disappointed, and always be more than a little patronising.

The report of Hydra's change was of obvious note, and to be fair, nowhere had been safe the last time the Valkhound had been awake. But considering those cycles must've been long past, it was still an impressive feat. He let out a little phew. "How'd that happen?"

Vestyge nodded along to rest of it, picking out a few points of interest where he could. "I get it. You wake up, and the world's grown while you weren't looking. In your case it's literal, I suppose. Never had much reason to leave Canis last time." He sighed, letting out the mournful feeling that'd begin to swell somewhere in his chest. "Nothing left there, for me - or anyone." He added quickly, hoping to dismiss some of the vulnerability in that statement as it arose.

The Chaos Forge. That felt important, somehow. Maybe it was just the first half of the name. Vestyge's interest renewed and heightened with each unfamiliar name. Despite his recent absence, this little creature knew more about the nest's history than Vestyge did. The stuff he'd been asleep for, at least.

"Tell me more about the Chaos Forge. I'm no historian, but I'm pretty fuckin' old. Maybe I can help."

Pallas had done more than enough to earn a polite introduction. "I'm Vestyge. You?"

@Pallas