set directly after on the cruelty of the passage of time

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.

Astraea was only passing through. It was by happenstance, pure and simple, that one of Tectus's calls reached him: a distant, muffled echo, one that rang with odd familiarity. It was a voice he had not heard in a very long time.

When he came in sight of her, a vague disgust--or maybe it was misery, or simple jealousy--touched him. Another awoken, still with a powerful and original form, whilst he was still stuck like... this. Irritation touched him as he resigned himself to the inevitable questions on this front.

Still... it was good to see another of them awoken. Perhaps he could make use of this. The cave certainly could.

"Overseer Tectus," he greeted, drawing closer--and to forestall any confusion: "You are looking for me?" He gave it only a beat before continuing, a space where he didn't have to watch for gaping maw and wide eyes, or a demand for his true identity as he came to a halt before her. "It is good to see you have awoken."

@Tectus

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.

Astraea hummed in thought. These were hard questions, not that Tectus could have known. Not that they were difficult themetically, not exactly. But explanations would not be so black-and-white. He'd need to give her some... background information, first.

"There was a long period of hibernation," he began, flicking an ear as he considered his words. "The caves woke some time ago, but it has not been too long. You've woken later than most, but," and here, ruby eyes sought out Tectus, looking her over absently. "Your re-emergence now does give hope that perhaps you won't be the last." He looked around, casting a gaze over dusty ruins. He didn't want to linger here overlong. And perhaps a brief glimpse of Eridanus would show her what they were up against. "Walk with me," he decided, turning and heading in that direction. "There is a lot I should catch you up on."

His gait was sedate, unhurried--but neither was it languid or at ease. It was the old businesslike stroll, though how he detested that click of hooves...

"There have been changes." ...Oh, how there had been changes. Some he didn't wish to get into, and the Overseer wouldn't need to know, regardless. Others... "Lord Dhracia has been keeping tabs on our progress, of course. Raheerah is no longer present in the caves," and he kept his tone perfectly neutral, free of judgment, here. "Nor are Dawa, Tamulus, or Jupiter. You remember the rebellion, I trust," he went on, glancing to her questioningly. If so, it would come as no surprise that Jupiter was gone. Enki, he didn't mention, but for other reasons. "In their absence I had to elevate someone else to take their place. Vargas has been raised to Master. He is with Master Totum in Draco; they are attempting to revitalize the nest, and are keeping a baseline quota met as we rebuild."

He wove his way toward Tunnel I. The familiar quartz pillars still stood, their engravings still visible.

"But awakening isn't the only challenge that we are facing. You've noticed the Gembounds," and a soft exhale through flared nostrils said much of his thoughts. The situation was complex, at the very least. "They have lived for quite some time without guidance or rulership. For the most part, they are harmless, and occasionally they are useful." He didn't elaborate, to explain his own gaps in memory that had since filled, his temporary position of pure benevolence. Instead he moved briskly on. "I would suggest not bothering with them, except where you can make use of them, though of course you may put down rebellion or threat and respond to disrespect as you see fit." A faint smile curled his lips at this. He'd almost wish to see it.

"I will suggest you see to Master Vargas and Master Totum, and if you find something there that you deem worthy of aiding, then by all means. They have reawoken Hydra, and there are sporadic Trials once again. Centaurus has just been reawoken, as well, for training. Cassiopeia is open, though still mostly dormant." Again he hummed softly, going over all he'd said in his mind; he came to a halt before the pillars. "But first, I will show you another problem that has cropped up in our absence. Do you have any questions so far?" he asked, turning to Tectus.

@Tectus

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.

*exit to next thread

A soft snort indicated agreement at her first remark, as Astraea set out into the tunnel. Indeed, he imagined a simple vacation might have been received more poorly. "We still have much to make up for," he warned, but it was with a mild tone. Tectus, he knew, would already know that.

The news of the Throne took him by surprise; he had to search his memory for a moment for the name, and dislike came with the memory. The one whose form mocked his own, purer and more beautiful, but such an irritation. That being said, the news of the Throne was also secretly a relief. He could hardly say as much, but it was as if it had been taunting him: his old seat of power, unsuited to this joke of a new body. He considered how best to react, and after a moment decided to pair his response with information on these Gembounds as a whole.

"They have lived a very long time without us. They awoke before we did, or rather, many of us did waken later. They established what they feel is a society, and in fairness to them, they are not all bad. Many are reasonable enough, and wish to help. But certainly there is a sort of... culture shock," he settled on, sighing. "Pride is annoying," he added bluntly. The stag had been mostly a loudmouth, in his experience, and a troublemaker, stirring the others toward resentment and aggravating demands. "...But yes, his magic is advanced compared to many of them, and he's also proven useful now and then when directed toward the right targets. In fact," (and another devious smile curled his lips), "it might be best if you enlist him in dealing with what I'm going to show you. Forcibly, if necessary; I can come with you if you wish. It can be punishment for the Throne. But... that alone was truthfully just stone. I have not used it since awakening." He didn't clarify why, although it was probably obvious. He would not say it out loud. And realistically he should have simply told his Overseer to deal with it alone, but if she were uncertain about her power since awakening, he would not risk her now. Tectus was too important for that; too few of them remained.

"You will regain your strength," he added, glancing to her. "And then perhaps you can aid with this. Tell me-... Do you remember Order?" Astraea asked, and took the first steps through the overgrown, dim-lit gap that headed into Eridanus.

This conversation should be continued in a new thread in Eridanus.

@Tectus