Private The Lost City

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jungle Outfit
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

"Of course," Valery said, permitting him to adjust her stance. As he did, Valery felt the warmth of his breath against her ear and couldn't help but smirk. He was being careful, keeping just enough distance to maintain propriety, but she decided to test him a little and tease the Prince of Onderon. She shifted her weight slightly, deliberately pressing her lower back into him as she leaned forward to take the shot, closing that gap he'd so carefully maintained.

"Like this?" she asked, her voice playful, with just a hint of challenge. She could feel the tension between them, a mix of excitement and nerves, and she enjoyed pushing him just a little further. "Deep breath, right?" She inhaled slowly and steadied her breathing, letting the moment stretch out before she finally pulled the trigger. The shot rang out across the chasm, and Valery actually managed to hit her target.

Both because of his help and previous training sessions, but she'd not admit to the latter.

Once the shot had struck the target, she looked back over her shoulder at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "How was that, hmm?"

Vince ​

 

[Vince]

The Lost City
Exploring with Valery Noble ​

'Like this?' she asked, after pushing up against him with her lower back. His belt was filled to the brim with equipment. Although the blaster had left its holster and the rope was bridging the gap, the pommel of his knife, a torchlight, commsunit and a few other items were all there. The Jedi was bound to feel something poke against her as the two of them made contact. Instead of answering her immediately, he took a moment and slowly stepped back a few centimeters "Excuse us" he spoke, with a hint of discomfort or awkwardness in his voice

He then got back to business. "That is excellent." She knew to hold her breath and he simply nodded. Although he could not be entirely sure that she could see him, their proximity ensured that she would be able to tell that it was indeed a nod.

A big smile flared up when she hit the target. The hands which had been by her arms for potential support and adjustment were slowly removed as to not cause a disturbance. He also took a small step around her and raised a hand for a high-five. "Outstanding! For someone who claims she cannot shoot; you did very well." The speech was about as formal as it always was - likely, it was more than something he just put on for show. The enthusiasm was there too as a bright smile shone at her.

He then moved closer to the edge to start pulling the rope up, consequently letting his back face her. Whilst working, he turned his head to the side to speak to her. "We apologise for earlier."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jungle Outfit
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

"It's quite alright," Valery said with a smirk, having felt his equipment before he stepped back. There was a teasing glint in her fiery eyes as she turned slightly to watch him, her expression composed but with a hint of playfulness that she didn't bother to hide. She understood the awkwardness of the moment, but instead of letting it linger, she decided to diffuse it with a bit of lightheartedness.

As Vince turned his back to her to start pulling up the rope, Valery took the opportunity to compose herself fully. Her fingers lightly brushed against her own hand, still tingling from the high-five they had shared. The warmth of his praise and the genuine smile he had given her lingered in her thoughts, making her feel a bit more at ease despite the earlier tension.

"You know," she began, her tone still carrying that playful edge, "You're a pretty good teacher. Maybe with a few more lessons, I might actually get the hang of this." She let her gaze drift back to him, the smirk still playing on her lips as she observed his focused demeanor.

Should she tell him about her previous lessons?

...maybe another time.

"And don't worry about earlier," she added more sincerely, "These things happen in close quarters. I think we handled it pretty well." With that, she stepped a bit closer, ready to continue with the task at hand, but still carrying that genuine, confident energy that she always seemed to exude.

"You ready to keep going?"

Vince ​

 

[Vince]

The Lost City
Exploring with Valery Noble ​

Despite actively working on pulling the rope back in and ordering it in a ring to hang it back onto his belt, the young Royal's broad shoulders fell as she spoke with lightheartedness and grace. A relieved smile grew on his lips whilst he continued doing his task.

His head turned to her right when she suggested a few more lessons. His eyes carried doubt, confusion and a bubbling sense of eagerness. The Prince truly had yet to show the sort of poker face one might expect from a person who had spent most of their life at the Royal Court. "Learning to properly handle the blaster could come in useful if you ever find yourself unfortunate to be in that situation." he stated before pausing to think for a brief moment. "A few more lessons would be our pleasure to provide. Odds are that we shall be spending some time to build relations on Coruscant for the forseeable future, perhaps we could meet there."

He offered a pleased nod upon hearing her brush the situation behind them. "Yes, let us be off." Vince stood back up and hooked the rope to his belt once more. He would wait for her to take the lead and follow. While he might have been comfortable in a jungle, this was rather clearly her home turf. "The sun seem to be setting. In a thick jungle like this one... we both know what that means. Are there any nightly predators we should be weary of?"

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jungle Outfit
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery's smirk widened at Vince's eagerness, her fiery gaze playful as she folded her arms across her chest and leaned in just a little. "I'll have to take you up on that offer. It would certainly come in handy," she said, her voice carrying a hint of her own excitement at the idea of spending more time together. "I'm a quick learner, so I'll hopefully be easy enough to manage," she teased, clearly enjoying their banter.

Her expression then shifted, the playful spark in her eyes replaced by a more serious shimmer as he mentioned the approaching night and the beasts that lurked in those shadows. "Predators? More than we can count," she replied, her tone now carrying a sharp edge. "The jungle comes alive when the sun goes down, and most of its hunters are at their best after dark. But it's not just the predators either."

"Even the trees, the plants... anything can be deadly here."

She paused for a beat, letting the weight of her words settle, then smirked again. "So, it's time to find some shelter. There are caves nearby — safe, as long as we reach them before the real predators come out." With a glance toward the jungle's depths, she gestured for Vince to follow. "Let's move."

Vince ​

 

[Vince]

The Lost City
Exploring with Valery Noble ​

"The plants too?" he asked, brows risen in an almost impressed manner. "That is not part of a normal Onderonian expedition." he said, reminding her of how he too came from a jungle planet, but also highlighting how different the planets were, still. When the rope was at its place by his belt once more and she ushered them to move, he raised a thickly muscled arm "After you." He then clasped both arms behind his back, and similarly to her, allowed his chest to rise high as they once more got back on the move.

"We are unfamiliar with both flora and fauna of this planet. The reading we did on the ship might not have been the most productive. What should we look out for whilst still on the move?"

Whilst moving, he let out a low "oh" upon seeing how close they were to another rock-wall of sorts. They were not quite by a mountain, but rather at the lower end of a cliff. Perhaps his question had been overly ambitious - perhaps they were close enough to a cave for it not to matter. Regardless, his smile lingered and he appeared to be enjoying himself. "Considering the chasm we just crossed and this cliff wall we are approaching, it would not be a surprise to us if this used to be the bottom of a river or lake. If anything, it must have been thousands, or perhaps even millions of years ago. This jungle looks too ancient for it to have been recent."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jungle Outfit
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery's gaze swept over the surrounding jungle as Vince spoke, her senses extending through the Force to feel the subtle life signatures around them. She grinned at his impressed reaction. "The plants here can be just as dangerous as the predators," she said, "Onderon is tough, but this jungle... it's ancient and wild. It has adapted to a lot more than we realize."

As they walked, her fiery eyes darted from the dense flora to the imposing cliff wall ahead. His observation about the land's history tugged at her curiosity. "It does feel like we're walking through a place that's been shaped over millennia. The chasm, the cliffs... maybe water once flowed through here, carving this land into what it is now."

Another grin followed before she nudged his shoulder, "We can nerd out over it more later. For now, let's find some shelter, hm?" she teased with a wink. "There should be caves close to where we are. They're quite small, but they offer shelter from the wind and rain." Perfect for a single night in the Jungle.

Safe from the elements and she knew how to keep herself safe from fauna and flora, too.

Vince ​

 

[Vince]

The Lost City
Exploring with Valery Noble ​

His reaction on her nudge was a little delayed. It was as if he was either distracted in other thoughts or as if her nudge was too soft for him to feel - but then he looked down to her. His eyes lingered attentively and a smile turned into a bit of a laugh as she felled her comment about nerding out on the planet's geology later. He offered a nod as he chuckled.

Upon hearing the mention of rain, he looked up to the skies - or at least that was what he attempted to do. Instead of seeing the blues or whites above, all he saw was the incredibly thick tree crowns above them. Rain in an environment like this would likely not fall down in dripplets like most people were used to. Instead, it was likely to come flooding down in irregular and likely unpleasant little waves as thick leaves gave way to the weight of the water before bounding back up to gather more water. This time, it was not something which he commented on, instead, he simply nodded in agreement "We really should"

As the duo closed the distance to the cliffside, the young Royal's eyes followed its walls. It was filled with crevices and potential caves. His pace slowed a little, causing him to fall a few meters behind her as he took in the sight and snapping a photo before entering a light jog to catch back up. After a bit of walking, he finally pointed to what looked like a large cave mouth or massive crevice "What do you say, will that do?" - it would only be when they got closer that it would become apparent that it was a simple crevice - far from sufficient for shelter.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jungle Outfit
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery couldn't help but laugh as they reached the crevice Vince had proudly pointed out. It was barely big enough for one person, let alone two. With an amused smile, she turned to him, her eyes twinkling in the low jungle light. "Well, unless you've got some shrinking powers you're hiding from me, this little spot isn't going to cut it," she teased, nudging him playfully as she looked at the narrow space.

She doubted he'd get in there with those shoulders.

"Come on, let's find something a little less... tight." She didn't stop grinning and walked ahead, scanning the familiar cliffside until her eyes fell on a hidden cave entrance behind a wall of thick vines. It wasn't much larger than the crevice he had found, but definitely more suitable for both of them to take shelter. The wind wouldn't reach them, nor would they drown and get soaked in the harsh rain storms of New Cov's jungles.

It was just... still cozy.

"Now this," she grinned, pulling the vines aside, "This is what we need. Cozy, but just enough space to keep us dry." She stepped inside, her gaze sweeping over the interior. "Not bad, right? It'll keep us safe from the rain and give us a little more room to breathe." She cast him a teasing wink, clearly amused by their small adventure into finding shelter.

"If you set up the bedrolls, I could get a fire going. Maybe cook a meal?"

Vince ​

 

[Vince]

The Lost City
Exploring with Valery Noble ​

She was having a bit of fun observing the crevice he had found. Vince could not help but to chuckle along himself whilst shaking his head. This was certainly not going to suffice. He could not fit in there, let alone with her. And even if they could, it would offer little to no protection against the elements regardless - and a little more would be needed if they wanted to be sheltered both from the rain and from potential bestial threats.

The duo moved on until the Jedi identified a better location. He looked to it with approving eyes but still let out a playful "You really meant what you said when you spoke of 'a little less tight' - but you are right, of course. With a little bit of work, this little cave sure could be cozy." The way in which he said 'cozy' was with a slight sense of unfamiliarity. He gave her a somewhat uncertain look as they peered in behind the vines "But are you sure we would fit? It looks deep, but we do not think it would be possible to stand in there."

Regardless, he let out a light laugh. His Royal accent stood in stark contrast to his lightheartedness. Before long, he offered a nod and extended a large and open hand to receive her bedroll before getting to work. Once it was in his possession, he would crouch and head into the small and protected cave before getting to work. "Back on Onderon, we used to camp in tents that the Court Servants set up. Last time we were in a cave like this was with the Beast Riders a few years ago." he said, whilst scratching his head, noticing that his crouched form filled much of the cave's width.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jungle Outfit
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery's smile turned into a playful smirk as she glanced back at Vince and the small cave he was preparing. "Oh, I meant it alright. This is definitely more snug than spacious," she teased, her tone light but amused. "But I'm sure we can make it work. We'll just have to adjust a little."

Just as the word left her lips, the first few drops of rain began to fall, splattering against the ground with a soft patter. "Looks like our timing is perfect," she added, eyeing the sky as the light sprinkle quickly turned into a steady drizzle. "Let's hurry. We don't want to be completely soaked."

With Vince crouched inside, Valery crouched and passed the bedroll to him. She then turned to squeeze into the small space beside him, brushing close as she adjusted their setup. "Tight quarters, but we're resourceful, aren't we?" she joked, giving him a nudge with her shoulder.

The rain began to intensify, turning into a heavy downpour that hammered against the vine-covered entrance of the cave. Water dripped from the edges of the rock above them, and the humidity made everything feel even closer. Valery let out a soft laugh. "So much for avoiding the elements, huh?" she said, glancing up at Vince with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But hey, at least we're safe from the worst of it…"

Vince ​

 

[Vince]

The Lost City
Exploring with Valery Noble ​

Rain. It was hard not to notice. Vince glanced over his shoulder to see droplets outside the cave entrance. He quickened the pace at which he rolled out the bedrolls. He put just a little time on trying to make sure they did not have to overlap but soon gave up on the idea as the irregularly formed rock walls and the narrow nature of the cave itself made it an impossible task. Instead, there would most definitely be overlap with a small amount of space at the sides not covered by the bedrolls at all. The wasted space was negligible, but then, they did not have much space to begin with.

He smirked at her comments and looked around. "We will have to be quite resourceful in here, that much is true" his voice was distant, as if still assessing the situation. This was an instance where his wide shoulders and heavy muscular build would work to his disadvantage. While it granted him strength and power on the battlefield and a more imposing figure which earned the Crown some respect in the media and around certain diplomatically natured meetings, it would be a hinderance here.

As if to test it out, he laid down while she was still crouching. Despite his left shoulder and elbow sticking out into one of those small little extra spaces, his other arm still fell over to her bedroll. Considering that his bedroll was overlapping hers, this presented a bit of a challenge. Raising his right arm over his head, a bit more space was created under his shoulder as his arm went up and thus out of the way. Impressive, and in this instance, inconveniently well developed, lats shifted and swelled as he did this, however. The increase in space was still there - but considerably smaller.

Apologetically, he looked up to her from his lying position. "Grand Master, perhaps we should endure the rain, and look for a somewhat more spacious cave."

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jungle Outfit
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery watched him wrestle with the tight space, her lips curving into a soft, amused smile. The rain outside was steadily picking up, the sound of droplets turning into a heavy, rhythmic drumming against the rock. With the limited space they had, moving around each other was already becoming tricky, and when he tried to stretch out, the sheer size of him made it even more obvious.

"No, no," she murmured, voice low and laced with a teasing warmth, as she shifted closer. "We're not going back out there." Her fiery gaze lingered on him for a moment, then glanced out at the worsening storm. "We'll make this work."

With a graceful movement, Valery carefully lowered herself down beside him, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his body. She turned onto her side, facing him, and chuckled softly at the sight of his arm stretched awkwardly across the narrow cave. It was a humorous situation, but there was also something else to it.

"I'd say we've been in worse spots before, hmm?" she said softly, her tone playful yet edged with something deeper. Their encounters with the Mandalorians came to mind. The proximity between them made the air feel charged, and for a heartbeat, she held his gaze, feeling that familiar but unspoken connection hum between them. "Besides," she added, her voice dropping a fraction, "We're Jedi. Being adaptable is kind of our thing."

Valery shifted again, her arm brushing against his. "Let's just get comfortable and wait this out. No reason to get cold and melt in the rain, right?" She smirked, the warmth of her expression a stark contrast to the cold rain beating down just outside.

Vince ​

 

[Vince]

The Lost City
Exploring with Valery Noble ​

She said that they would make it work. His eyes carefully ventured down to himself and the space that remained for her. A playful look with a slight smile and raised brows 'You sure about that?' was sent her way. Somehow, she managed to fit into the space with a good degree of space. With his head tilted to the side, he let out a low "Impressive"

He chuckled upon hearing her joke. Whether he would have found it easier to fight Mandalorians or to contend with the current situation would remain unsaid. His mouth opened a little with a lingering smirk turning into a smile upon hearing of how adaptable the Jedi were. He offered a nod, conceding the point "Adaptable yes - but this level of flexibility" his eyes shot to the small space she had fit into "... that was not quite as expected."

Her shift caused her arm to brush up against him. With his own arm raised high to give them a little more horizontal space, it was likely that he would feel it brush against his core. A focused breath escaped him as his jaw tensed up - it was hard to notice, but a trained eye certainly would. "Yes. Yes, let us get comfortable."

His pack laid somewhere above their heads, very much within arms reach. With his arm already up, he reached for it to open the top hatch where he dug around for a bit, letting his side brush against hers as his arm and core shifted and moved. Finally, he found was he was looking for. With a look, it was clear to see that he would be hard pressed to bring the arm down without bringing it down on top of her. Instead, he got up on his side to save some space. "We brought something to eat. Something which does not require a fire."

He produced a can and a few bars; likely candy, chocolate or - knowing him - protein bars. He looked around, noting the heavy rain outside "We hope you aren't a picky eater" and offered a smile.

Then, a snap - the sound of a semi-thick branch being stepped on or breaking under the weight of the water - just a few meters outside, cutting through the noise of the rain.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jungle Outfit
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery's eyes remained on Vince as he shifted beside her, the faint brush of his side against hers sending a subtle thrill down her spine. She didn't miss the way his jaw tightened when they made contact, and it brought a faint smirk to her lips. "Maybe you're not as adaptable as you think," she teased gently, voice low and laced with a warmth that hinted at something more.

When he finally produced the food, Valery's smirk turned into a genuine smile. "Well, I've certainly had worse dining experiences." She took one of the bars from his hand, her fingers lingering against his for a beat longer than necessary. "Any meal is decent in good company, at least."

The playful edge to her voice softened as she glanced up at him, feeling the heat of his presence in the cramped space. Even the simple act of reaching up had him shifting closer, and she found herself keenly aware of the strength in his frame, the way he had to be careful not to crowd her with his size.

But then the sudden snap outside cut through the rain's steady rhythm.

Valery's gaze snapped to the entrance, her body tensing as the atmosphere between them shifted instantly. For a moment, she didn't move, her senses focused outward, but she felt Vince's steady presence beside her. Slowly, she turned back to look at him, her expression serious but with that same underlying intensity in her eyes.

With her senses sharpening, she turned her head toward the sound. Her body stilled, but her expression shifted from playful to alert in an instant. "We might have company," she murmured, voice low and steady. Slowly, she shifted, making sure to avoid bumping into him, and carefully reached for her lightsaber hilt.

"Stay close," she whispered, casting Vince a quick look that was equal parts reassuring and serious. "We'll see if they're just passing by… or if they're here for us."

Vince ​

 

[Vince]

The Lost City
Exploring with Valery Noble ​

Two amused brows rose upon hearing her comment on his adaptability. "Master Jedi, we are Royalty, we may have reach, but adaptability has never been our forte" he joked back whilst shuffling a little where he laid. His movements were careful and deliberate, apparently keen on not hurting the comparatively smaller woman.

Hearing her words upon being presented with the meal brought a bit of a smile to his face. "We see that you are not one to complain" with a deep and approving voice.

As the twig broke outside, so did the lighthearted atmosphere. For a moment, his blue eyes looked young and boyish as they stared into hers - obviously not quite sure what was going on. For that brief time, the contrast between them seemed vast indeed. But before she had even uttered the first word, the soldier's instincts in him kicked in. The youth and innocence was pushed aside whilst his hand grabbed his blaster rifle and he quickly moved into a crouched position.

Now, he was not trying to make himself small. Instead, he repositioned his foot to place it between her calves and allowed his back to grow wide as he steadied the rifle against his shoulder. If anything was going to jump in - it would likely hit him first. But then, it would be facing an able warrior and the Grand Master of the New Jedi Order.

He glanced back at her - if she was also getting up, he would slowly start to move backwards - not to change positions with her - but to put both of them closer to the back of the narrow cave. "How do we know that?" he whispered

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jungle Outfit
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery's eyes flickered with appreciation as she saw Vince shift into a protective stance, positioning himself between her and the cave's entrance. Even in the midst of potential danger, the subtle care in his movements, ensuring she wasn't crowded, didn't go unnoticed. There was something deeply reassuring about his presence, about the way he instinctively moved to shield her, despite knowing full well that she was more than capable of protecting them both.

Still crouched low, Valery nodded slightly to his question, her voice a quiet murmur. "We don't, not yet," she whispered, her tone calm but laced with the same tension that thickened the air around them. She remained poised and alert, every sense extended outward, feeling for even the slightest disturbance in the Force.

Her hand hovered over her lightsaber hilt, the cool metal steadying her, though she hadn't ignited it yet. The threat outside was still undefined — could be a wandering animal or something more sinister. Her gaze locked with Vince's for a brief moment, and though her expression was serious, there was something deeply connected in her look, an unspoken trust between them.

"Let's wait a moment longer, see if they move on," she whispered, her voice a thread of calm amidst the storm of anticipation. Despite the rising tension, Valery's presence was a steadying force, and as always, the quiet strength between them was tangible. Still, she couldn't help but notice the proximity.

Focus.

Vince ​

 

[Vince]

The Lost City
Exploring with Valery Noble ​

It was clear that he felt it. The confidence with which she spoke. The calm and peace which she projected, the intensity in her gaze. The Warrior Prince's eyes softly rested on hers for a few moments, letting their connection become as palpable as it had ever been. The two of them were in danger: The Wild was never to be underestimated. But they also had a strong bond and trust between them.

Then, his attention returned to the cave entrance. It was hard to see the outside properly: It was roughly as dark as it was inside the cave but the cover by the cave mouth and the heavy rain made it hard to see what was going on. What did hint at what was happening outside, however, were the sounds. The sounds of heavy grunts from a singular beast moving slowly and carefully. Chances were, that it too, also listened for its pray, for its footsteps were absolutely silent and aside from its breaths and a low growl, it was just as silent as the two of them.

Eventually, another branch could be heard breaking, this, however, was a large one. Clearly, it was no small beast who lurked outside their cave. Vince's rifle was trained right at the cave entrance - but with all things considered, it was far from certain that a single shot would be able to take whatever prowled outside down. He kept pushing back a little, this time intentionally letting the side of his back brush up against her. He threw her a glance and a nod: This was intentional. It was a silent way of communicating as they would now be able to feel sudden or careful movements the other made.

His back suddenly tensed up as another snap could be heard. It was close now.

 

[Valery Noble]

​

Outfit: Jungle Outfit
Weapons: Double-Bladed Lightsaber

Valery remained completely still, her senses fully attuned to the sounds outside the cave. The low, rumbling growl and the heavy, almost deliberate grunts of the creature outside made her heart rate spike, though her composure never wavered. She had faced dangerous creatures before, but something about this one triggered a deeper sense of alertness.

As Vince's back brushed against hers, the contact grounded her even more, a subtle yet comforting reminder that she wasn't alone in this. She offered him a small nod in return, acknowledging the silent communication they shared through the slight tension in his back.

But then, her eyes widened slightly as another heavy branch snapped in the distance. The sound of that particular growl triggered a memory deep within her mind, and it all clicked together.

A Mantessan panthac.

She had encountered them before, during one of her earlier missions, and their reputation was well-earned. These apex predators were known for how aggressive and fierce they were, and their powerful jaws and sharp claws could rip through most materials with ease. They were also notoriously hard to kill, requiring precise and well-coordinated strikes to their vulnerable spots.

Just great.

Vince ​

 

[Vince]

The Lost City
Exploring with Valery Noble ​

With the rain falling outside it could, at times, become difficult to hear the large beast carefully making its way forth. Whether it had picked up their scent or that of another creature was hard to decipher from inside the cave but the duo had certainly not done much to cover their tracks. That job was left to the heavy rain outside.

The Royal's back tensed once more, this time as his attention snapped to his right. It was no longer the noise of a branch snapping - this time, it was the sound of a powerful beast brushing up against the cliff wall, causing a large rock to groan against the pressure whilst smalling ones were dislodged and tumbled down onto the wet jungle floor.

Then, sounds of heavy breathing and vigilant sniffs. The Jedi could likely feel the back of the young prince swell as he took a deep breath. It was obvious that the predator was getting close. Much sooner than he had anticipated. With a slow shuffle, he pushed back closer to her and, by extension, the rock wall behind them. It was instinctive and created a tiny amount of increased space between the cave mouth and the two of them.

Finally, hints of its nose, sniffing like a blood hound could be seen, followed by a brown mane and yellow eyes. This time, he would not glance back to her - his eyes were fixed on the beast outside, carefully watching for any signs of attack. Still, the Grandmaster and the Prince maintained contact; just like they had on Contruum. Through it, his tension and preparedness would be communicated clearly - just like her calming presence. He also communicated a readiness: With the slightest of pushes from the Jedi, we would pounce, trusting fully in her judgement.