ORIGIN

To say that Serendipity was stressing out would likely be an understatement.

Although she was settling into the new home fairly quickly with Azure, she was in a near-constant state of fretting over what kind of sister-gift she was meant to get her newly-proclaimed sister. It was important to her-- she wanted a family and Azure deserved a chance at a family that wasn't... whatever her actual family was, wherein her brother was her father and her mother was her grandmother.

It didn't make any sense to her.

She didn't know what she wanted to get for Azure, though. She wanted it to be personal, and meaningful. Something that she'd really like and keep forever, because they'd be sisters forever. At least, that's how she thought it would work. She wasn't that sure.

There was only really one thing that would bring her any solace. Making and fixing things-- done far out of the way of the house, as not to disturb Azure with the noise.

Today, she had found another rusted knife. This one was differently-shaped compared to the other two she'd found-- thinner and curved. It seemed like it might break if she tried to stab something with it, so she was... fairly unsure what it was meant to do. Decoration, maybe?

Not that it entirely mattered. Serendipity had put it in hot water for a while to get the rust off, and was in the process of noisily sharpening the rest of it. She had to be careful, given the shape-- but the sound and the slight burn of her muscles as they worked was a comfort to her. It cleared her mind.

It was nice, too, to just work out in the open of Orion, under the quartz in the dark.

@Attikias

ATTIKIAS
violence for violence
is the rule of the beasts

Attikias had continued his journey throughout the caves, his mind still reeling over the interaction with Vargas. The creature hung in his mind like a weight, stalking in his shadow, running long fingers over his nerves as the child paced. His thoughts wandered, then blanked- it was best to not think.

He was hungry, anyways. Though, here in this rocky cave, Attik had nearly no idea how to even approach tracking. It was warmer- warmer than the forest, at least, and wasn't misty like his birthplace. No, here, the ceiling was misty, glittering quartz staring down over the elf's dark body.

Calloused feet padded across Orion's dusty floors, navigating through unnatural square structures. Attikias found his hand running along the walls while the other carried his weapon. It interested him, though perhaps not to the point of investigation as he'd experienced in the tunnels before this cave. No odd depictions played across their surfaces. He was alone with his shadow and his thoughts.

A sizzling and eerily unnatural noise filled Attikias's pointed ears all at once. The hunter stiffened, eyes going wide. Smoothly, he took his weapon in both hands and crouched slightly, prepared for whatever was actually causing the noise pollution.

Thankfully, whatever was making the ruckus didn't seem to be moving. Was it prey? Attik's knuckles tensed as he stepped forward, eyes glancing to the floor as he stalked around corners and buildings. His spear pointed and lead him, often peeping around corners before the rest of his body followed.

The noise grew near unbearable as he neared its source, his teeth grating along with it. It echoed in his skull and pulsed behind his eyes. Whatever creature was making this noise wasn't the brightest, it seemed- did it want to attract predators?

Was it a predator looking to attract prey? Another Overseer, looking to find test subjects? With all this noise, it's a surprise if they attracted anyone other than predators.

As he rounded the corner, the appearance of purple shot through his nerves. A sense of different took over Attikias and his shoulder twinged as his brain instinctively shot for magic. All at once, light faded around him, the darkness curling off his shoulders lightly- while it wasn't heavy, it at least darkened the area around him as if he were standing under a tree in sunlight.

In a chance of bravery, Attikias found himself speaking up, spear held out in defense. "Hello?" His brain absolutely defaulted with the one word, his throat clamming up as he squawked. He couldn't tell what this creature was from the back, but, if it were smart it would perhaps answer.

He just hoped it didn't answer with teeth.

@Siren

Dip

Attikias