Private Forgotten Echoes

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Field Attire
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike | confiscated slugthrower rifle

Aadihr nodded in agreement. The defences were serving their intended purpose, he supposed. Why not let the fauna stay occupied with the fortifications for a while and scout around.

Aadihr could not see the orange hues of dusk shine through the otherwise impenetrable canopy overhead, but the forest communicated it in waves of its own feeling, the reduction in photons beginning indicating restful period of night for the upper canopy as they shared the energy collected to the jungle below with their bioluminescent vines and sap.

The forest was quick to commune with Aadihr, sharing its sensations freely as if they were the Spirit Tree itself. Perhaps that was a simplified manner of describing the blessing - the tree offering its force-light as a badge of authority to those who have appeased it. Perhaps the flora simply thought they were limbs of the spirit tree. In a less than literal sense, they almost were - acting as it's agents for its benefit.

The moss and roots shared the outline of the ruins, open gaps in the earth where they could not grow into. Azurine Varek was right, there was another entrance. It appeared to be undisturbed by fauna presently as well, though that may simply mean it's defences worked faster.

It would take several hours and sunset rapidly approached.

"That seems like a sound plan" Aadihr replied, crawling in reverse back down the hill overlooking the conflict. "There is another entrance yet undisturbed, but it is a ways off, this ruin is much more expensive than I had thought."

Aadihr stretched his neck. It had been a long day, but he would be fine in the dark - it shouldn't even be dark with the bioluminescence present - but time still brought exhaustion.

"Should we find shelter along the way? We would have to turn back if you want to rest at the Terlathi village"

Aadihr stifled a yawn.

Azurine Varek​

 

[Azurine Varek]

To Infinity And Beyond

Outfit: Clothing/Armor | Glove | Right Arm | Talisman
Weapons: Lightsaber 1 | Lightsaber 2 | Hook Swords

Azurine smirked as she watched Aadihr crawl back down the hill, his movements deliberate despite his clear weariness. "Turning back? After all that build-up about performing for Spirit Tree blessings? Not a chance," she said, light but firm. She crossed her arms, shifting her weight onto one leg as she considered his suggestion. "Besides, I don’t think whatever’s waiting in there is going to take the night off just because we decided to catch some Z’s."

Her gaze turned toward the bioluminescent glow that shimmered faintly through the underbrush, the soft light casting eerie patterns on the mossy ground. “We'll definitely be better off finding shelter nearby. This place has got enough teeth without us wandering into them half-blind and exhausted.” She paused briefly, chuckling, "Pun intended."

Azzie reached down while removing the glove from her hand, brushing her fingers lightly against a patch of bioluminescent moss-covered rock that seemed to react to her touch with ripples of blue-green glow. The texture, damp and rough, sent a faint pulse of resonance through her senses. Closing her eyes, she focused, letting the Force guide her thoughts. Images flickered through her mind—shifting shadows, the cool, damp scent of stone, and the faint trickle of water echoing off walls. A cave, hidden but not far. It was worn smooth by time, its entrance veiled by thick vines. She heard whispers of prayer and warning in a language long forgotten she couldn't understand and saw the flicker of torches against the stone walls—

Though her body shook, she only barely managed to cut the visions off before they were too much. Yanking her hand back, her breathing having sped up by a lot, she leaned out to grasp onto Aadihr’s arm to recenter herself before speaking. "You know... you sure are lucky you have a survival expert such as myself." She gave a small grin and pointed her thumb at her chest with an overly dramatic flair. The skills she’d had no choice but to learn surviving alone in the canyons of Iridonia as a child may come in handy, though they had come prepared with at least some of the things they would need. Broken branches, displaced rocks, a faint sound of sedimentary water carried on the damp breeze—all pointed her toward her destination.

Azzie didn't wait any further. She let her instincts lead her, balancing the Force's guidance with her survival understanding. By the time she reached the yawning mouth of the cave, concealed by thick, luminescent vines glowing, she could feel it. This place had once been a sanctuary, and tonight, it would be theirs.

"Home sweet cave."

Aadihr Lidos​