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A break in the winter weather had brought Sailor Corvus out to the Destiny City Memorial Park that evening. The forecast predicted a return to the frozen rain and flurries brought by the winter wind within another day or so, but that was then and this.... This was a beautifully pristine, clear and wonderful night. The air was crisp, but not frigid and this far away from the city one could stand back and really look at the stars without watching them fade back into the night sky due to a dozen street lights, headlights and fluorescent signs.

The moon lit her way through the lightly wooded area. Normally Corvus would have found herself near the playground; a place she often went when she was hoping to meet with the Knight Celsus or any of their mutual friends. It was a place where she had met others as well-- Senshi friends that she had once held on to so dearly, and now...

Sighing softly, the Senshi of Vengeance ventured off the path. Although her mind wandered she did her best to remain alert, not wanting to find herself caught unaware by a stray Chaos signature. Despite always being prepared, her magic now seemingly always at the ready, Corvus did not want to fight that night-- talk, perhaps, for there was always time for talking, but certainly not fight.

"Salutations," she smiled in return, head tilting towards the sound of an unfamiliar voice that brought with it the feel of an equally unfamiliar signature. The first thing she noticed about the other young woman was just how brightly the white of her fuku shone in the darkness between the light of the moon. Even if it hadn't been for the glow of the delicate whirls and scrolls-- transcendence markings, that much Corvus was familiar with-- she would have appeared to be a warm beacon of light against the dark night.

"Mmhm, something like that." Corvus nodded, a tumble of raven-black curls falling around her face as she did so. A dark gloved hand came up to tuck those same strands back behind her ear, exposing bright eyes and a warm smile once more. "I thought I'd take advantage at the lack of holiday chaos and wander one of my usual routes to see if any other Chaos has surfaced. I also have a friend I visit from time to time in these woods-- if you can consider a tree a friend."

From the tone of her voice it was clear that she did-- or, if not the tree, than at least the memories that had been attached to it.

As her fingers fell from her hair she extended her hand to the other senshi. "Corvus. I don't believe we've met before....?"

She squeezed the other woman's hand gently as one might a dear lifelong friend or trusted confidant. There was no need to force anything further; no need for a display of strength or underlying threat in a firm grip. She had nothing to prove beyond wanting to offer that simple branch between them in greeting.

"The pleasure is mine, Kallichore. It's both a blessing and a curse when the nights are quiet. It makes many of us anxious, but I'll take the respite for what it's worth." If there wasn't a great battle to prepare for or some fool of a Negaverse officer launching an attack on a building, or a large gathering of civilians (carnivals, city hosted holiday functions, music festivals... nothing seemed safe) then there was time to work on getting one'son civilian affairs in order-- time to focus on school, family, friends.

Friends.

Distracted briefly, a momentary glimpse of a pained expression could be seen crossing the otherwise composed senshi's face. Plush lips had pressed together into a thin line, a storm cloud passing through her vision for only seconds before she was regarding the other senshi with a gentle smile again as though nothing had happened at all. "Longer than I'd like to admit, sometimes. Eight years come the end of this month. Sometimes it feels like it was just yesterday.... What about you, if i might ask the same? Walk with me while we talk?"

Corvus was flattered by the assumption that she must somehow house great knowledge in having been around the block, so to speak, for an additional year over the other senshi. It brought a soft flush of rose to her pale face; something she would most likely try to brush off as a response to the cool brush of the gentle evening breeze, if she could. It also drew a soft laugh from her along with the slow shake of her head.

"Seen some things, yes, but I would not say that the past eight years have brought wisdom." Arsinoe would say that she was being modest. Mag Mell would roll his eyes. Celsus would...

That pale pink color deepened into a deeper rose that would be unmistakable should Kallichore take notice of it. Hopefully the path they strolled along was too dark-- a vain hope, but one none the less.

"Kallichore... Wait." Corvus paused in their stroll and turned, eyes widening as realization set in followed by a broad grin. "Stars, you're Kallichore. I remember when your message went out to all of us. I'd thought to seek you out and thank you personally for trying to do what so many Mauvians have failed to do over the years, but..." Anything she might have said would have been an excuse when the truth of it all was that she had been too lost to have been much help to anyone at that time in her life, and too bitter to have said anything positive.

"It's good to finally meet you. From the information you've gathered, you certainly seem to know more than enough for the younger generation to take benefit from."

"Oh, of course. I've learned something," Corvus laughed softly as she shook her head, a gentle smile curving the corners of her mouth as she looked to the other woman. "Learning something doesn't necessarily mean that I am wise, though." She was no Obi-wan, no Yoda, no wise woman who others knew of in order to set up a pilgrimage in order to seek her out for her knowledge or experience... Corvus had spent enough time away from the war that she doubted she even qualified, even if she had thrown herself back into it.

How much had the Negaverse changed since she'd awoken?

How much had Order?

"Any little bit of information has to be better than what those of us who were Awakened in the early days had. Cats were awakening us left and right, it seemed, but no one knew what was going on. Astraea-- heavens, it seems so long ago-- Astraea was the Guardian of them all; haughty, angry and awful. They called us together for a meeting in the school gym, of all places. It's been some time since we've had a meeting of that scale." The tone of her voice took on a nostalgic note and she imagined, briefly, that it was much like what elder folks felt like when referencing simpler times.

Were they really simpler, though? It seemed like the Negaverse had become more aggressive then; more violence, less cat and mouse.

"The greatest information I have is to trust yourself; know yourself and what you're capable of because as important as it is to have others to fall back and rely on, you never know when you're going to be caught unaware or alone and we can't afford to lose ourselves to despair."

"You aren't the first with markings like that I've met. Arsinoe, the Senshi of Lanterns and Celsus, a Knight of Chronos are both dear friends of mine." Arsinoe, her cousin, and Celsus... Celsus was certainly something more but 'dear friend' summed each up well enough. Trusted confidants, well respected comrades-- so many things she could say about two of the most important men in her life.

Ares. That name was one that she knew, although she couldn't recall specifics of why until the Dark Mirror was mentioned. Her shoulders had tensed and she stood a little bit taller, recalling a bit of what had driven her back then.

"Come. There's a place where we can stop and talk, just off the path." Corvus reached out to take the other woman by the hand with little thought for any sort of personal boundaries. She was often one to spend time considering them; thinking twice about how natural it was to just reach out to someone because she didn't want to offend them. Crows were known for being social creatures, however, and Corvus was no different in that.

The Senshi of Vengeance lead Kallichore off the path and through the trees, guiding her to a small glen where an odd tree with unique leaves had sprouted several years ago. The sapling had grown faster than average trees, although not so quickly or as tall as to draw attention to itself. The area around it seemed well tended despite being off the route of the man-made trail.

"Astraea, if we're to believe the things she told us, was the reincarnation of the Mauvian that served the Moon Princess. She was beautiful... And she was wretched; likely a result of losing her whole court to a war they couldn't possibly win on their own. Things.... Were violent then. Ugly. It seemed as though someone, on one side or another, was always dying. It was a war and we were all nothing more than child soldiers." She released the other woman's hand as she spoke, stepping up to the petite tree to rest her palm on its trunk.

"She chastised all of us and didn't stick around long enough to make sure that we learned anything of it. I don't know what made any of them think that a group of teenagers could make a difference, and yet we still tried. Were you there for Tartaros? Elysion? Or the events at the Surrounding?" There were so many stories to tell... Could they all be covered in one night?

"When we were first awakened it was with such a strong sense that we needed to find something... Someone. We were looking for her everywhere, and then that sense just.... Faded. I couldn't tell you what it was or why, but it seemed when that need went away we were able to come more fully into ourselves." Instead of searching for a Princess that had lost a war ages ago they were left to forge their own destinies again. They were Order. They were Light. They were the White Moon Court, but they were also so much more. They were stars and moons and asteroids-- heavenly bodies and fantastic space things.

"The loss of Astraea's presence is not something that I will mourn, although I do hope she is well wherever she is." She would not wish ill upon one of their own side's Mauvian, although she was well aware that there were those who went about their jobs in a much more reassuring way now. There were Mau dedicated to their senshi, and others, and it gave her hope for the next generation.

"Celsus is well. The years were unkind to him, for a time, but he is stronger than he gives himself credit and he shines brighter with each day that passes." There was a fondness in her voice as she spoke of the Chronos knight. He was clearly someone that she cared for deeply, if such thing could be taken from tone.

"I could tell you what I recall of each, although I am afraid it is not much. Both places were lands of sleep-- nightmares and dreams. A good bit of what I remember is hazy." So much of what had happened to her, the places she'd seen and the battles she'd fought, had been overshadowed by her losses. How much had she forgotten while she had been wallowing?

"... Were you one of those left behind by her descent into darkness?"

"Alkaid... Now there's a name I've not heard in longer than I would like to admit." The Alkaid that she had once known had been a beacon of light; soft and gentle. They'd met through Saiph and...

Corvus's heart ached at what had been lost, the conversation between she and Kallichore stirring up more memories than had seen the light of day in years. It caused the Senshi of Vengeance to fall silent, only partially processing the other woman's words. She heard her, knew that she was talking, managed to grasp the bits about Ares and the Council and...

"I'm sorry. Stars and stones, forgive me. Your stories deserve all of my attention, not just what bits I can currently manage. I want to have this conversation. I would like for both of us to be able to, but.... May I take a rain check? For another evening? When I know things are going to be serious I try to bring a thermos of tea and some snacks. If you're up for a trip I might even suggest a visit to Corvus so we can talk uninterrupted." For all that Corvus couldn't feel the presence of any others in the area nearby that could always change.

Everything can change...

Corvus wasn't ready for a fight. She had avoided confrontation for how long and now her own mind was threatening to stir up a fight internally. "I try to reserve Sundays for visits-- morning or evening, if you're available it's entirely up to you."