[set sometime last cycle]

Luna's collection of stones, started many cycles ago, had grown to the meager number of four. Unimpressive perhaps, but each held a potential immediate to Luna’s senses, unlike the thousands of other discarded gems collecting dust in the forgotten corners of the caves. She had considered an expansion of the little burrow where they lay, as her eyes drifted from stone to stone. It was then that the thought came to her - she knew, with some certainty, the origin of the Cerussite. But what of the other three?

Her last journey through time ended on a sour note - nay, several - but the fear had faded since it’d last swept her away. Not all of them had been brutally slaughtered in war, surely. She’d set a goal for herself still; One moment of interest per stone, and not a second more.

And if those ghosts found her again, she simply would never cast another spell. Ever.

She settled herself in an open field, the grass peppered with bright flowers. She enjoyed the sweetness they brought, in colour and smell, and to match them she’d collected some local fruit to eat. Either they’d aid her magic, or they’d soothe her distress after a successful attempt. One must fuck around to find out.

First, the Diaboleite. Its colour fascinated her with its richness and depth. Still, looks aren't everything. She pressed her forelimbs against the fragment, willing her energy forth. She tried to picture what she wanted to see in her mind’s eye, but her mind came up blank. Anything about its previous owner, or owners, would do.

The cave around Luna seemed to gently fade, like the dimming of lights before one of Cepheus's theatre shows. She found herself staring at a rocky landscape--it could have been anywhere in Origin, really. Orion, maybe; one of the tunnels, or Polaris... or somewhere else.

At first it wasn't clear what she was seeing.

Then, a slightly pudgy rock among all the other rocks moved, and stepped into the light, shaking dust from its fur and emitting a loud, bright chirp.

The creature had that ungainly look of youth. Not one of those created and released as an already-grown Valkhound, then, but something that had grown from a chrysalis. Oversized eyes gazed around, bright blue, and too-big feet stumbled on thick claws as it moved forward.

Its beak was jagged, blue-tipped, but the brilliant pale blues and black streaks that would pattern its adult coat were still dull and marked with soft white spots. It waddled forward, and peered down; the vision seemed to pull back a little, and Luna could see it was at the water's edge. It blinked, head jerking to and fro--and then dove sharply in, Luna's vision suddenly consumed by water and a swirl of bubbles.

The vision felt bitter cold, suddenly chilling, as though she herself had taken the plunge.

An instant later it came to the surface, paddling awkwardly with its stunted wings, a flapping Orion's Scale fish clamped in its beak. As it dragged itself onto shore again, the vision faded, the light seeming to brighten once again.

@Luna

She was pulled into a scene with little effort, a feeling that opened a pit in her stomach - had they found her? But there were no horsemen to be seen amongst the crags. Or anything of note, really. Had she made a mistake?

But then, movement! A gembound emerged from its natural camouflage, and Luna took the time to admire it while she could. Bird-like, but heftier than normal, even as a juvenile. She assumed it to be young, at least. Its staggering brought her right back to her caterpillar days.

She followed it into water and out, unsure if the sensation of dampness in her coat was entirely imagined. Perhaps this had been its first catch. The first of many, one would hope. It'd be a great shame if it had been cut short of reaching its full potential, and she began to move an arm back to check - before she caught herself. One vision per stone. She'd just have to trust that this owner had been its last, and whatever death it had found would not inform its next life.

The second, a bright Bayldonite. She had silently decided to save the Turquoise last, being the most impressive gem of the three. She felt the cold surface under-paw, and began the spell again.

The vision this time was more brief, and somewhat unclear. 'Eating' seemed to be the theme of the day, though instead of fishing, this creature appeared to be foraging in thick underbrush. That underbrush made it more difficult to see, with dappled light and shadows shifting through the moving leaves. What was visible appeared to be fairly large--hard to tell without something more to give it scale--and covered in soft, thick fur that was likewise mottled, though rather than light and shadow this was a rainbow of hues marbled with black.

Its face was too far down in the dirt, snuffling for something, for Luna to truly see. Its tail was short, swaying a little bit behind it; a brief glimpse of a hairy hind paw showed suction-cup toes.

Little more could be gleaned before the vision faded, leaving her with this short, but rather colorful, impression.

@Luna

This one took a little more effort, but it came to her all the same. She squinted in an attempt to make out the figure snuffling about the undergrowth. What colours! It brought to mind the more poisonous varieties of insect she had seen scuttling proudly about on her outings. And their paws were doubly curious, clawed and fearsome but with strange, bulbous toes. Odd to see on such a stout Gembound, though their purpose alluded her for now.

When it faded from her, the flowers of the meadow seemed dull in comparison. The gem had matched its owner in brightness, it seems.

After having two visions of Gembounds eating, she paused to help herself to her own forage. What was she going to do with these stones? She quite liked collecting them, yes, but the idea of her own children was… Quite much. But to deny these beautiful creatures a second life - preposterous!

She sucked the berry juice from her fingers, watching the last of the gemstones - the Turquoise - in thought. One last vision (though she made sure her paws were clean before touching the gem).

The highest points in Pegasus were nearly mountainous. Where the rising hills intersected the cave walls, a few sheer cliffs of stone provided alpine-looking outcrops.

Luna was suddenly looking out from atop one, gazing down over the vast valley of Pegasus with its winding river. Before her, a creature lounged, content and safe atop its cliff face. It was dark coppery-brown in color, with darker legs, spots and floppy ears; a little beard moved as it chewed a bit of grass it'd snatched from near the edge. It was lying half upright, half on its side, hind legs out so that she could see its cloven black hooves. A long, furred tail was draped lazily over them.

It turned its head to scan the horizon with fiery eyes, the gleam of turquoise visible as a thread through massive horns, not unlike Pegasus's river winding through its meadow.

All else seemed peaceful, the image uneventful, the creature safe in its chosen haven.

@Luna

The last vision left her dazzled, clear as day and gorgeously vibrant. It instilled an admiration in this creature, perhaps an envy, as it gazed down upon its kingdom. Perhaps she could too could attempt the climb and witness her home from up high.

That would be the last, lest Luna wanted to test her luck again. A peaceful note to end on.

She finished the rest of her forage, watching the flowers sway as she reflected on all that she had seen. With the last mouthful of fruit, she collected the stones and began the walk back to her burrow.

[exit]