Embers Of One's Past

This is the campfire seen and includes the details on “The Book of Origins”. The team spend time together around a fire, each sharing something about themselves, and that is where one of their positions comes into play, with it being the book of origins that introduces the concept of the Time Keeper. This is also the moment - around the campfire - where we begin to understand that maybe Lady Ryuu has been on a similar trip before… With companions that no longer exist…

Touch landing

Initial description of the landscape

First night on this new planet

Lady Ryuu, Niao, Seraphine and Caelus were all in their seats, strapped in and as ready as they could be to land on a planet that had little data on what lay upon the surface. The planet that they were going to descend upon was largely unexplored due to communication errors with the previous teams that had arrived there.

They all looked out of the droppod's window only to notice that the once green planet was seemingly covered in a blanket of grey. With faces of concern, they all took in breaths, all but one. Caelus sat firmly in his seat, almost as if this wasn't his first time dropping on an undiscovered planet, but perhaps that was a story for another day.

"Don't look to discouragd now, the storm will help us conceal our landing if anything's down there." He raised, almost as if trying to comfort everyone with what knowledge he did have on this planet.

Lady Ryuu turns her head to the side to look at Caelus with an expression of gratitude. She looked at the planet once more before taking a breath. Her soft voice spoke out, the sound hitting the rest of the group with a calming effect.

"Are we all ready for planet fall?" She enquired, knowing that this was truly the last chance anyone would have to back out.

Everyone in the cockpit seemingly nodded their heads; with this, all was accounted for. The supplies, the people, the tools... Now all that was left was to simply push the lever.

Lady Ryuu reached out her finger and held one of the buttons down on the console. Static seemingly came over the coms, and a voice covered by digital haze came over the line.

"kzzzzzzzk This is station Higanbana y-kzzzzt go for launch"

"This is Lady Ryuu, launching in..."

Lady Ryuu's other hand reached out toward a lever; it was simple in texture and design, and yet large and a big deal. The atmosphere was built with suspense as with each number spoken, the lever grew closer to its final position.

"3..."

"2..."

"1..."

"Modules disengaged, atmospheric decension thrusters set to full"

The radio signalled again and, as if marking the first part of a long journey begain with some words that they would remember for eternity.

"Station Higanbana to Lady Ryuu, May death watch over you during your life and may life watch over you during your death kzzzzzzts~"

The radio signal turned off with the release of the button underneath Lady Ryuu's finger, and with a sense of relief followed quickly by the realisation that they no longer had any control over their descent, the group began to hold on tight.

"All we can do is trust fate, for only time will tell how this landing goes", Lady Ryuu chanted with the attempt to ease anyone's fears.

The shuttle they were on quickly approached the atmosphere and began the descent to break through. Heat engulfed the vessel as an orange tint began to fill the irises of each of the members. Each member looked worried at the amount of heat, but Seraphine looked all too comfortable, almost as if heat itself was something that brought comfort, not fear. 

As the once black panels that covered the shuttle's nose began to burn brightly like the sun back at the home system, the team braced for a landing that wasn't so gentle. As they continued there decent, the orange that once crowded their view was replaced with the familiar grey of clouds, and before they could take in the sights, the shuttle's thrusters jolted the vessel upwards. 

It wasn't enough force to completely break the fall, but after coming to their senses and analysing the surroundings and the remains of the shuttle, they were met with a sight that could only ever be seen in places untouched by society.

A never ending atmoshphere of snow laid ou infront of them, the seemingly tropical climate they thought existed was seemingly covered in snow. The trees bowing beneath their burdens, branches drooping down from the weight of the snow. The cold wind blowing through every crack of the group's clothing was a constant reminder that the natural world wasn't a place for comfort.

"We need a fire!" exclaimed Seraphine as she sprang into action, gathering wood that was suitable and using the now-wrecked shuttle as a source of shelter and dry ground. This was clearly her element; perhaps she had experienced something like this before. 

Under the wing of their now broken shuttle, with the sky being overaken by darkness, with only the light of two moons to use. The squad sat huddled around the fire that Seraphine had managed to spark into life. Seraphine, clearly having some experience, began pulling out some utensils and some of the cans that they had prepared ahead of time.

The squad huddled around a warm fire, the smell of food wafting through the air. Anyone unaware of the circumstances may have thought that they were a group of adventurers on their 100th journey. They all began to share stories, joke about times of trial and tribulation...all but one.

Lady Ryuu sat there with a cup of warm soup in her hands, staring into the fire. Perhaps entranced by the way it swayed with each breath or gust of wind. A familiar feeling wafted over her as she could feel a sense of relief. She looked up, not directly at anyone but seemingly at something. Her eyes glazed with memories of past travels...

Her companions of old seemed to gather around her once more, not in the flesh but in presence. Times of gathering around a fire glazed over her eyes, almost blinding her to the present. With countless nights spent around campfires flashing through her mind, a single tear formed, carving a silent path down her cheek. Though small, one could tell it carried the weight of aeons of lost companions...of scenes repeated around the fire...As if the fire itself were stirring the embers of her past.