Over the few days since they'd hatched, Kestrel had taken to kind of aimlessly wandering around the caves. They didn't really stop moving, except for find food, water, and shelter when they needed. They'd run into a few gembound, but nothing that suggested they were in any kind of era of oppression or cruelty. There was hope in that - Teosar had a chance to be truly free. But it also made it difficult to learn anything substantial about the Masters. They'd heard a bit - a deer covered in fungus with a ruby on his head, a giant serpent of water that screamed and howled dramatics, some pixie that flew through the caves creating mischief in her wake, and, most intriguing to them, a gargantuan beast of darkness that led an army of twisted monsters of evil corruption. To someone that had never experienced any sort of fantasy cliches, that sounded like the kind of target they were looking for.

But their latest wandering had led them to an actual building. They hadn't seen anything like this before, made purposefully and tactfully, grande and beautiful. But for what purpose?

Stepping along the walkway towards the entrance made Kestrel nervous. They felt exposed without the cover of shadows or undergrowth or really anything to hide behind. The potted plants, maybe, but there weren't enough to create any decent space to creep along. They found themselves growing more nervous as they approached wondering if this was a mistake - what if someone here recognized them?

Their anxieties melted away, however, as they took to exploring the palace. While most things were a blur and vague shapes, they could smell the cleanliness and the grandeur of it all. Beautiful gardens that smelled of sweet flowers, ornate hallways that smelled like crystal and incense, a library that smelled almost musty but delightfully so, and eventually they picked up what smelled like freshly made food. But...from two directions? Oh...they didn't know which way to follow!

So they picked one, bounding forward with excitement at the prospect of a good meal, whatever it was behind that wonderful smell, and wondered if it would be offered or if they would have to steal. Well, somebody with this kind of palace surely wouldn't miss a small meal...or two.

Their nose led them to a doorway with a stand next to it where the smell was coming from. Raising themselves up on their hind legs, they leaned over the counter and came face to face with a....creature. A short conversation later and Kestrel found themselves saddled with a bowl of some white-yellow kernels of some kind and something that smelled very much like a tasty mouse but shaped like a small rod wedged in a thick brown...something.

They were also directed to the door next to them. A..."cinema." They could watch movies and shows while enjoying their snacks. Those words meant just about nothing to Kestrel, but it wouldn't hurt to check it out...right?

So into the cinema they went, immediately realizing the issue. They could barely see what was on the screen. It was barely anything but moving shapes. There at least were a lot of seats, ranging from far back to right at the front, so they chose as close as they could get, set their snacks down, and did their best to watch and listen.

Immediately, they realized that this could only be fate that had led them into the theatre. For on the screen - was the Masters! Shocked at their amazing luck, they disregarded their half-eaten hot dog to watch intently, squinting as best they could to get a look out of what they were seeing on the screen.

Two creatures - the narrator called them Jupiter and Totum - hard at work creating creatures. Both of them were in shapes Kestrel could not even begin to imagine. They watched, wondering if these were the same cruel masters that Teosar was talking about, ears perked to listen to every bit of information they could get out of the screen, trying to memorize the shapes and see as much detail as possible...while also absentmindedly munching on the popcorn they'd set right in front of them.

Hm, buttery. And salty.