At some point, her lumbering walk had turned into a stampeding run through Orion, feet slamming heavily against the ground, causing nearby ruins to shiver and stones to clatter from the sheer force of her. She paid no mind, however. There really wasn't a mind in it at all. Somewhere along the way, thinking had ceased and she had one purpose in mind - find her Master.

Master. My Master. Find my Master. Master Astraea. Master Astraea.

"MASTER ASTRAEA!" Her voice boomed and echoed throughout the cave, calling for someone who could give her answers. If he was still here. If he was still alive. If he.

He was here, he had to be. If he was not, then she had nothing. Absolutely nothing but a vintage, useless title and some hastily collected gembounds, in her attempt to live normally when nothing was normal.

"MASTER ASTRAEA!" She called again. And again. Every so often, she would call, until she finally came to a stop without realizing she had, just standing there, head turning right and left to try and see if he was coming. If he had heard her, if he was nearby.

If he cared.

He had seen the form of Astraea in Pride's vision and it had already been a shock through her system. So when she turned to see him this time, it was without surprise, but it was still a painful pang of sympathy. Oh how he had changed from his previous, beautiful form, to become like this new generation; random creations, thoughtless, and weak. She knew he would not appreciate any such emotions from one of his Overseers, however, so she kept it all to herself, merely bowing her head as he approached.

"Master Astraea," she greeted in return. There was a beat of silence as she tried to figure out how best to phrase this without seeming...weak. She was weak, of course, she was still recovering from her thousands of years of sleep, but she needed to put on a front that she was, and forever would be, the same Overseer he had relied on all that time ago.

"Yes," as a confirmation to both of his statements. "It was a little bit of a shock. I do not know how long its been, but everything is different and I...am struggling to find purpose. Is the nest no longer producing...?" But it had to be, else they would all be dead - truly dead, and these stone walls would be destroyed.

If only the great valkhound could frown, but it was at least visible in the shape of her eyes as they narrowed and darkened. "This new generation is so free. They take no orders and show no fear. I do not understand how it has come to this or what I am to do of it. I have tried...cataloguing, and I have a few that will answer to me." She did not mention that one was a caterpillar. "But what is to be done? ...What would you have of me to do?"

She couldn't help that feeling she'd been carrying show through in the last of her questions. A feeling of...loss. Confusion. It hurt to carry and she hated it, oh she hated it so much and she would do anything to be rid of it. Kneel and beg before her Master, worship the ground at his feet if she had to, if only he would release this horrible itching emptiness within her.

Tectus listened, drinking it in, her questions finally answered - hibernation. She had not missed...too much. The caves hadn't been deteriorating for thousands of years, but rather left alone, all its denizens asleep. It was a mildly selfish relief that she hadn't just skipped out on that many years of activity. After all, that was a lone time to go without any production. And the Creator simply allowed this to happen...?

Not her problem, she assumed, as Master Astraea seemed to be handling it fine.

She nodded and walked alongside him, having to slow her own gait to keep pace, but she didn't let it show, nor allow herself any sliver of impatience. They would reach what destination he had in mind when he got there.

He had heard about Raheerah, from Pride's vision - Jupiter too. But not Tamulus and Dawa and she hummed darkly. That was a number of Masters lost, many seats open to be filled. So it did make more sense, now, that Vargas had become a Master. Not just...being called Master. She nodded and rumbled a confirmation at the mention of the rebellion, eyes narrowing. She otherwise took the information in, businesslike and emotionless, probably to fully process later. Not that she had ever been a particularly animated or sensitive beast. It was simply the circumstances that had brought her down to the level she was at.

"Good," she rumbled, breaking her silence. "I was worried the caves had completely shut down. And wondering why we were all still alive, if that were the case." She noted to herself, then, to seek out Master Vargas. That would be her next goal.

At the mention of the Gembound, Tectus snorted, eyes narrowing. "Yes. They seem particularly unconcerned with anything but themselves." She was glad to know she had permission to put down rebellion, and she thought this may be a good time to bring up what had occurred not long ago. "There is one I met - you know him, I believe. The white stag, Pride. I spoke with him at the Throne. Apparently he did not like that I was demonstrating my authority. So he melted it. Your Throne." She flexed her muscles then, rolling back a shoulder. "I would have squashed him there and then, but I have been weak since awakening, I haven't yet regained my former strength." Definitely an excuse, not totally a lie, but she didn't mention how she had retreated mainly because she had completely overloaded from that act and had been on the verge of...something too emotional for the Overseer's liking.

She eyed Astraea, then, ears perked. "No questions, for now - I will seek out Master Vargas and do what I can when we are done. But show me - and if I can help fix this problem, I will."

She continued following the trek of her Master, from this cave to the next, feeling far more stable then she had been only minutes before.