Arquia knew this cave. It was the very cave where she had hatched. It felt like home. Her emerald scales blended in perfectly with the trees while her golden swirls mimicked the light streaming in through the forest canopy. The only thing that gave her away was her clumsiness, leaving a trail of broken branches and trampled undergrowth in her wake. Arquia did not like how she was so big now. She could no longer rely on logs and bushes to hide herself, nor was it easy to dart about like she did before. After walking for a bit, she made a quick survey of the area before laying down in a clearing, making it easy to spot potential enemies should anyone approach, yet also leaving her out in the open.
The thought had finally hit her that now that she had escaped, she had no idea what she was to do. Her past life had been dedicated to serving someone, and now that she longer had such a duty, she felt like she had no purpose. Arquia's stomach grumbled. Right, now she had to feed herself.
Her gaze settled upon a mouse, which was a bit ambitious in venturing this close to a dragon. Or perhaps it thought she was just a weird looking bush? Either way, Arquia pounced, bringing the full weight of her body down on the poor thing. However she was rusty, and she barely caught it by the tail before eating it in one gulp. Normally that would have satisfied her, but she was still hungry. She licked her lips as she continued to scan the area for any signs of movement.

@Tourmaline

Eridanus was calming. The scent of the earth below her and the dew on the ferns didn't feel exactly like home, but it was close enough. Maybe Tourmaline should make a small den here... A place to come back to when she was tired would be nice, rather than sleeping in found crevices every time.

She did not however, expect to find a massive trail of broken underbrush. In all her time in the caves, Tourmaline had never seen evidence of something so big. Intrigue and fear mount in her brain. She takes a few careful steps forward, as they do say curiosity killed the cat, no?

Following the trail of crushed ferns and smashed logs, she watches with awe as the clearing opens up to reveal a massive form, with glistening green and gold scales. Tourmaline had never seen anything like it, as she struggles to place the word she'd joked about another time. Dragon...

All she can do is stare as the two of them lock eyes. "...Hello," she chokes out.

@Arquia

Her gaze slowly landed on a... cat? Arquia just stared at Tourmaline for a few moments, trying to determine if this thing looking at her was prey. And then it spoke. She froze, not quite sure what to say. Had they followed her here? What did they want from her? Although in size the Pallas's cat was considerably small than her, Arquia was still cautious. You could never know what to expect, and you should never underestimate your opponent. Well was it her opponent? She wasn't sure.
The dragon crouched down so that their eyes were level and continued to stare at Tourmaline. "Who are you? Who do you serve?" Was it another servant of the owl's, here to take her back to the master she had deserted? A shiver went through her at this thought, and she bared her fangs slightly in warning. She could not go back. If this cat was here with such an intention, she would be prepared to fight.

@Tourmaline

Tension mounts as the two them stare. She feels like she should move, but she finds herself rooted to the dirt like the ferns around her. As a result, Tourmaline stands her ground when Arquia bends down. It's far from pleasant though.

She takes a deep breath to recompose herself, before uttering as calmly as possible,"I'm... I'm Tourmaline. I serve no one." She knew no master - she wandered and met other Gembound in her travels, and then they both went their separate ways.

Though, the dragon's demeanor seems... off. She tries something she maybe shouldn't, asking, "Is... Is something wrong?"

@Arquia

Arquia was a bit impressed by the cat's bravery. At this distance, it would take only one quick movement to incapacitate them, yet it stayed in place. Was it stupid? Or was it rightfully confident?
"Tourmaline." she repeated, feeling the name roll off her tongue. It was a longer name than any gembound she had met before, yet it still felt easy to say. So- they had no master? How was that possible. Didn't everyone have someone that they served? And if not, how could they say so with such confidence, as if it were alright to be a loner. Surely no one could bear to live without purpose, by themselves, forever wandering? Or. maybe there was purpose without a master. Arquia simply had not thought about it like this before.
The question seemed to stun her. No one had ever asked her that before, and she wasn't quite sure how to react. "Nothing's wrong! I'm fine. I. Am. Fine." The dragon took a deep breath, her exhale stirring the fallen leaves around them. A few long moments passed. "What makes you think I'm not?" she tried to make it sound like a demand, but in truth it came out in a softer tone, tinged with worry, and perhaps a bit of sadness.

@Tourmaline

Pulling back a bit from the dragon's face, Tourmaline begins to regret her decision to investigate. I need to be careful, is what she observes, watching the dragon huff her anger and then calm her breathing.

Seems she hit a nerve. The silence surrounds them, before she tries again. "You seem... afraid. I don't try to be threatening," is what she decides on, her trepidation obvious.

@Arquia

The glow emitted from her yellow swirls flickered for a second. She didn't like to be seen as weak. She was not afraid. Not in the slightest. She couldn't be- but she was. Her gaze seemed to soften, and her demeanor shifted from cautious to slightly more relaxed, even vulnerable. "I had a master once." Arquia's gaze drifted away, staring at something only she could see. "They may come back for me. But I can't go back. I can't." fear crept into her face, as she thought back to before, how scared she had been every day under their careful watch. She unconsciously flexed her claws at this memory. "I'm free now but... what do I do?" The dragon stared back at Tourmaline. "What- what do you live for?" Scared. Hopeless. Lost. The emotions seeped through and she no longer had any energy to hold them back. She no longer cared about keeping herself composed in front of the cat. Or rather, she couldn't.

@Tourmaline

She takes a step back as the dragon glares, but then the façade softens, and she takes two steps forward. Tourmaline just wants to help -- she might not be the best at it, for she is young, but she'll give it a shot either way.

"A master... I do not know who they are, but I have no intentions of taking you back to them," she answers, doing her best to calm Arquia down, as well as telling the truth. Golden eyes watch with compassion as the world falls away around them. It's only the two of them in their conversation now.

A determined look spreads across her face. "I live for myself. And for others. I might not know everything... but I do my best to teach what I know." A paw is placed on one of Arquia's talons. "I can't teach you how to live, but I can teach you things worth fighting for."

@Arquia

Arquia sensed the cat was not lying. They had no connections to her master, and perhaps could be trusted. Perhaps. Now that she knew that there was hope in living this life, she would fight for it to stay this way. Even though she had only been free for a little while, she knew that it was much better than anything she had before.
The dragon felt a warmth spread through her as she gazed into Tourmaline's eyes, her swirls emitting a soft glow. For the first time she felt... safe. It was like a weight being lifted from her, freeing her from all her troubles, for they could wait till later. In this moment things would be okay.
Living for herself... she didn't even know that was possible. She didn't know she could. Arquia nearly pulled away upon feeling Tourmaline's paw out of instinct, but she stopped herself. The small gesture, though she barely felt the weight, was reassuring. "Teach me. Teach me how to live." she felt a tingle in her chest, not quite from her heart, but rather from where her amber gemstone was, and pushed it out, feeling energy rush through her and out through her claws. A small flower sprouted out of the ground next to where their paws touched, petals furled up in a bud. "Tourmaline, be my friend?"

@Tourmaline

Tourmaline watches as Arquia's scales flash brilliant gold. She hopes it's a good sign, as Arquia is lost in thought. She patient, waiting for when she's ready to speak up again.

Tourmaline might not know everything, but she'll always help someone in need. "I'll try my best," she answers, nodding her head.

"Life is what you make of it. If you spend it seeking for a master, a master you will find. Spend it living for yourself, and you will know no master."

@Arquia