Private Footprints in the sand

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

She gave a nod of her head. "Yes, the real danger is there is only you and be who can use the force to hold our breathes longer." She said it but smashing the rocks with a renewed vigorr she was looking at Mugen. "We will maybe be able to use some of the intestines." She said it and Mugen looked at her. "I see what you are thinking and it could in theory be possible if we could clean them carefully and be able to strengthen the exterior of them. We would need to do a lot more but if it could be repurposed it would take a lot. Might be easier to just get some sap and a mouthpiece on a bladder if we could fill it with air and keep it sealed. Make a refillable rregulator."

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren slowed her motion at that, the stone in her hand lowering slightly as her attention shifted between Jesse and Mugen. Her glowing amber eyes lingered for a moment, not on practicality but on the materials being discussed.

There was a brief pause.

"…That is…inventive," she said carefully.

Her nose wrinkled faintly, though she did not comment further on that part of it.

Her gaze moved instead to Mugen as he continued, following the logic of it rather than the discomfort.

"The bladder would be more consistent," she added, her tone even, observational rather than directive. "If it can be sealed properly, it would reduce the risk of failure under pressure."

She turned the stone once in her hand, then brought it down again in a controlled strike.

"It would also be easier to replace," she continued more quietly, "if something goes wrong."

A brief pause followed as she glanced toward the shoreline again.

"…Either way, it would extend how long someone could remain below," she said, her tone thoughtful. "Which makes recovery more viable."

Then she resumed her rhythm, contributing without stepping beyond her place in the discussion.

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

Mugen pointed. "SHe isn't wrong, bladders would be better though intense pressure would still be dangerous. I don't know if I can recommend them beyond twenty maybe thirty feet down if use but even then you would need to be able to take a couple of them... and a weight belt to counter them like a diver otherwise the air might make you more buoyant and rise back up." He spoke and Jesse gave a nod seeing it. She was guessing at some fo the ideas but she knew some anatomy and there was some things that they might have to do. There was a chance but they weren't going to be going into the deeper ocean to find things the shallows were fine just needed to be able to operate long enough to secure lines and lay tracks to pull and drag better. "I'll help where and with what I can, we have enough skills to do things and we still have several other islands of crash site to explore or work on."

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren listened, her attention shifting between Mugen and Jesse as they worked through the idea. The stone in her hand lowered slightly, her focus no longer entirely on the task but on the limitations being outlined.

"…Then it is not a solution for depth," she said quietly, more observation than critique. "Only for extending time in controlled conditions."

She brought the stone down again in a measured strike, the crack deliberate, her rhythm steady even as she spoke.

"Which is sufficient," she added, glancing briefly toward the shoreline, "if the objective remains in the shallows."

A brief pause followed as she considered the mention of weight and buoyancy.

"It would require coordination," she continued, her tone even. "Balance between air, movement, and restraint. Otherwise, it introduces more risk than it removes."

Her gaze returned to them, composed, not directing, simply adding to the understanding.

"…But if the goal is to secure lines and prepare for retrieval," she said, quieter now, "it may be enough."

Then she resumed her work without further comment, contributing where she could without stepping beyond her place in the discussion.

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn Seren Gwyn

Jesse gave a nod of her head. She could see the benefit of it and they needed the right supplies. Which was here and with whatever else they might be able to do so she smashed a few more rocks as Guilia was looking things over. "There is a lot here, even if we don't have a lot of the metals we have enough crushed stone that we might be able to work with the water and sap. Sealing once in dries and we can use it to go back over the mud if we do it correctly. Mortar instead of just hardened earth." She said it while looking and the idea of a few things for the cathar. "I can think of a few others things in the jungle itself that we might be able to use. There were plenty of ditches we could dig to make additional pathways and extensions."

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren slowed her motion again, the stone in her hand lowering slightly as she listened. Her glowing amber eyes shifted from Jesse to the surrounding materials, then briefly toward the jungle as if tracing the possibilities being laid out.

"…Mortar would improve durability," she said quietly, her tone thoughtful rather than assertive. "It would also reduce the need for constant repair."

She turned the stone once in her hand before bringing it down in a measured strike, the crack deliberate but controlled.

"If the jungle can provide additional materials," she continued, "then expanding outward becomes more viable."

A brief pause followed as she considered the mention of pathways.

"Ditches could help with both movement and drainage," she added, her gaze flicking briefly toward the shoreline. "Especially if the weather shifts."

She did not push further.

Instead, she resumed her rhythm, steady and deliberate, contributing to the work while leaving its direction to the others.

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

Guilia gave her a nod. "And with other things, if we set everything up there is a chance and ditches will allow us to find the places we can set up traps should something come after us." She said it and Jesse had a look on her face when she was thinking about it. "We might be able to do more though, if we could secure the base for the water ways and dig under parts of it then we would be able to have it so nothing could reach or bother it." Jesse smashed more but she had some better ideas herself for now... better she was seeing where they could make anything useful in these cases. It gave her a lot more ot be able to do though as she looked.

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren slowed her work again, the stone in her hand lowering as she listened to the two of them build the idea outward. Her glowing amber eyes moved from Guilia to Jesse, then toward the surrounding terrain as if quietly measuring how the land itself might be persuaded to cooperate.

"…If you shape the ground correctly," she said after a moment, her tone thoughtful rather than assertive, "it can do much of the guarding for you."

She turned the stone once in her palm before setting it aside for another, smaller piece.

"Ditches would slow movement and expose approach paths," she continued. "Especially at night or in poor weather."

A brief pause followed as she looked toward where the waterways had been discussed.

"If portions are dug beneath and reinforced, they could also serve as concealed storage or sheltered passage," she added, offering the thought without pressing it.

She glanced back at Jesse.

"Not everything defensive needs to appear defensive."

Then she resumed striking the stone, measured and steady.

"Obstacles that look natural are often the most useful."

Jesse Organa d

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

Mugen looked at her with a nod of his head and Guilia spoke. "Yes and it will give us other things, there are only eight of us so we don't need something massive but being able to spread out supplies, having back up and long term storage, having places where we can make fallback locations or stashes for weapons. Will serve us a lot better, the blood fields we have caches for equipment where we might need it as well as medical supplies." Guilia had a nod of her head as Jesse checked on parts of it though with a smash. "We do need to start trying to make things we can use for medical, we have been lucky so far. There are not as many predators here so far... the crash might have been lucky to be more isolated and away from the larger continents for good and bad. We might have found some remnants of bases or colonies attempted here."

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren listened as they spoke, the stone in her hand resting for a moment while her attention shifted fully to the discussion. Her glowing amber eyes moved between Guilia, Jesse, and Mugen, then briefly toward the distant tree line and shoreline beyond, as if measuring the island in broader terms than before.

"…Redundancy is rarely wasteful," she said quietly. "If one point fails, another remains."

She brought the stone down again in a controlled strike, the crack sharp but measured.

"Caches would also reduce response time," she continued, her tone thoughtful rather than directive. "Especially for injuries or sudden threats."

A brief pause followed at Jesse's mention of medical supplies.

"Luck is useful," she said, "but it should not be relied upon."

Her gaze shifted once more toward the horizon.

"If there were previous settlements here, even failed ones, they may still offer something of value. Materials. Tools. Records. Evidence of what did or did not work."

She resumed her rhythm, steady and deliberate.

"…Even mistakes can be resources."

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

Mugen gave a nod of his head. "That is true but we don't know where or if there are any. So searching out too far could be a lot more dangerous. The planet was considered a hazard because it had a lot of predators and we are lucky to be on some of the smaller islands instead of near the continents. There is a handful but not nearly as many competing for mates or territory so we are benefitting that... but searching for something could have us in more dangerous territory without the protective measures we have developed." He said it. "Though if there was a facility we would be able to possibly have supplies and electrronics, we'll salvage what we can and work on more."

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren slowed, the stone in her hand lowering completely this time as her glowing amber eyes shifted to Mugen with a faint narrowing of focus.

There was a brief pause.

"…Since when do we know where we are?" she asked calmly.

The question held no accusation, only direct curiosity sharpened by the fact that this was apparently established information she had not heard established.

She glanced briefly toward the shoreline, then back to him.

"You said the planet was considered a hazard." A small pause followed. "That suggests identification, records, or prior survey data."

She turned the stone once in her palm, thoughtful now.

"If that exists, it may be as valuable as any salvage site."

Then, quieter, though no less pointed:

"I was under the impression we were still operating with less certainty."

She set the stone back into place and resumed a measured strike, contributing as before, but her attention was now clearly waiting for an answer.

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

"Vendaxa?" He looked at her more curious. "It was on the flight and the shallows between some of the islands and continents are beautiful as are the arkley predators on the world. Any galactic tour goes over to look upon it." He said it. "It was in the travel guide they had on the ship, I was looking forward to the stop over on hologram fun world." He said it and Jesse had a look on her face when she was looking over some of it. Guilia looked over and at him. "Mugen, I think you are the only one who reads the travel guides, most on the ship were there for the booze and the casino and the singers. Some act from coruscant getting to travel around."

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren's motion stilled, though this time the pause was marked by a faint shift in her expression rather than sharpened curiosity. Her glowing amber eyes moved to Mugen, then flicked upward as if reassessing her entire situation in a new light.

Then, she rolled her eyes just slightly, and with enough control that the gesture was almost imperceptible.

"…Vendaxa," she repeated quietly, filing the name away while silently questioning how such a detail had managed to stay buried for so long.

She brought her stone down in a measured, heavy strike before looking back at him. "I was not on that ship for a sightseeing tour, so no, I failed to study the promotional literature."

A brief pause followed, and for a moment, the usual wall of her composure thinned just enough to reveal a trace of dry, sharp humor.

Her gaze drifted toward Jesse and Guilia before returning to Mugen. "Though I suppose I should appreciate knowing we crashed somewhere considered 'scenic.' It lends a certain irony to the ordeal."

Without waiting for a response, she resumed her work, her movements falling back into a steady, deliberate rhythm.

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

Mugen looked at her. "Oh it is a fascinating place, the sun has influenced more things and in the more dense continents there are entire ecosystems of predators that don't use sight. THey use vibrations and sound and electroreception to hunt. With some carnivore type plants that can eat arkley but they are deep in the jungles. THey wouldn't last on islands like these, might have some spores from a few of the plants. Nothing as dangerous." He was speaking and Jesse looked a him and then at Seren with a look of 'Look what you did' She didn't have to say it while she was thinking about it but it presented a few things here as she smashed more rocks. "Mugen, sweetie you are overlorading it... just enjoy the moment and when we get out of here we'll find a way to send you to the continent."

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren's hand lowered slowly, the stone pausing before its next strike as she listened to Mugen continue with unmistakable enthusiasm. Her glowing amber eyes remained on him for a moment, then shifted to Jesse at the look she gave her.

There was the faintest suggestion of dry understanding there.

Then back to Mugen.

"…You appear to have been waiting for someone to ask," she said calmly.

It was not unkind. If anything, it carried the slightest trace of amusement.

She brought the stone down in a measured strike, the crack neat and controlled.

"Though I will admit," she continued, thoughtful now, "a predator that hunts without sight is useful information."

Her gaze drifted briefly toward the jungle line before returning to the work.

"As is knowing which dangers remain theoretical and which are close enough to matter."

A brief pause followed.

"Still," she added, glancing once more toward Mugen, "Jesse may be correct. You seem one question away from outlining the entire planetary brochure."

Then she resumed her steady rhythm, contributing without further ceremony.

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

"I am?" He said it and looked at them as Guilia gave a nod of his her head. "Oh." He said it and Jesse looked at him as she offered a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, the information is good and we can use it just don't sound so excited to be here... even if trapped and we need to know." She said it while he gave a nod of his heaad. "I got it." He wass a little sad but not disappointed while GUilia patted him on the shoulder. "Think of it like this, then we benefit from your knowledge, just be the advanced science guy and we'll all think it is magic. If we find any islanders we'll let you be their new god." That got a laugh from him while they were sifting more stone and metal with a nod at the lack of stones and Mari was working outside. "We have food ready."

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren's gaze shifted between them as the exchange unfolded, the stone in her hand lowering while the rhythm of the work gave way to laughter. The faintest trace of amusement touched her otherwise composed features at Guilia's suggestion, subtle but present.

"…A generous promotion," she said calmly, glancing toward Mugen. "Though I suspect divinity would come with additional responsibilities."

She set the stone aside for the moment, dusting fine grit from her hands before looking toward where Mari had called from outside. At the mention of food, there was a visible easing in her posture, small but unmistakable.

"Then that is the most useful information we have received in some time," she added, her tone even, though touched now with dry warmth.

Her glowing amber eyes moved briefly over the gathered materials, the sifted stone, the progress they had made, before returning to the others.

"We can continue after we eat."

A brief pause followed.

"Preferably with more energy and less discussion of being stranded among predators."

Then she stepped toward the call of dinner, content to let the work rest for a little while.

Jesse Organa

 

[Jesse Organa]

Seren Gwyn

Mugen looked at Seren and spoke as he tapped his chin. "No not as many as you think, you need something flashy to show and then you can disappear for a few decades, centuries. If they are primitive enough they might not have an accurate record for time recording so could return in a generation or two to when they start to think you might not have really existed." He said it and Jesse looked at him for a moment. "THat... is oddly specific... Like you haave thought this out and I hear Mari with food so I am going to go and eat before she finds a reason to go get districted with Ginger." She said it and was heading out as Guilia followed with a laugh from the large Cathar.

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren regarded Mugen for a long moment, the stone in her hand lowering as her glowing amber eyes settled on him with quiet scrutiny.

There was a pause.

"…You answered that far too quickly," she said calmly.

Another brief silence followed as she considered the surprising amount of detail he had just provided.

"And with a level of preparation I find mildly concerning."

The faintest trace of dry amusement touched her expression before she set the stone aside and dusted grit from her hands.

She glanced toward where Jesse had gone, then toward the sound of Mari and the promise of food beyond the worksite.

"Fortunately, I am willing to postpone any inquiry into your long-term plans for worship and deception," she added, her tone even, "because dinner appears to be ready."

She stepped past him at an unhurried pace, cloak of composure fully restored.

"Come, Mugen."

A small pause.

"You may explain yourself after I have eaten."

Then she continued on toward the food, clearly intending to do exactly that.

Jesse Organa