Torrent Past, Steadfast Future

When Sinead woke the next day, Dalethria kept the promise to begin teaching her the safe paths through the caverns. The one they were using now was Dalethria's favorite and most traveled as the acidic waters rarely touched these walls after the storms receded. It was a general rule because there were times that violent storms would sweep through the caverns with unpredictable speed, but those were the days she remained holed up in her self-made home to ride it out until she sensed that danger passed.

Dalethria emphasized that the paths had to be memorized. There could be no permanent markings as the volatile waters would wash away any reminders and pointed out significant rock formations that would serve as identifiers. Along the way she pointed out fresh water pools and how long Sinead could remain in these areas to rest and as her power grows, she would learn to judge the changes in weather and trust her instincts when danger approached. She repeated and emphasized as necessary to facilitate this pertinent information to memory.

Once outside the sun glistened off Dalethria's black armor. She always wore it outside the caves for protection and intimidation. Scavengers feared the imposing image, a sight that Sinead was familiar with when they first met and witnessed first hand how the Imperials lost their nerve and panicked in her presence.

She regarded Sinead and nodded. "Lead the way, little vele."

Sinead would recognize this entrance as the one she had retreated to over a week ago.

Given the whirlwind of events that had taken place at Dalethria's lair, it didn't take long for Sinead to fall asleep once she made it back to the brunette's bed. She had meant it that she was perfectly fine sharing the bed with her. While she was clearly committed to give her all as the Sith's apprentice; she had no issue bunking together, or even having sex. After all, her attraction had been obvious, not that she had tried to hide it. She still believed that there was little to nothing she could conceal from the other woman for the time being. And she appreciated the lack of games anyway.

When she woke up next, she realized Dalethria had either not slept or done so in the main room, for the other side of the bed was still fairly neatly made compared to Sinead's side. Shrugging it off, she refreshed and got dressed, including putting her weather-resistant outfit back on, and soon was on her way out with the Sith.

She listened with utmost attention to Dalethria's explanations about the various spots, as well as memorizing the network of caves. Being unable to put any markers made sense to her, and left her fairly unfazed. As a thief she had rarely had the occasion to make it easier for her to mark her itinerary to go steal something after all. And in her youth on Zelos II, she was a good scout.

The blonde asked for minor clarifications a few times, easily speaking up when need be. Overall she didn't need further details to commit the caves to memory; but if she had something to say, she did so.

As they stepped outside, she let out a long sigh of appreciation at the sunlight. Her rare physiology was very satisfied at the moment.

She was brought back to the task at hand when Dalethria spoke to her. She nodded and promptly took them towards the high cave where she had crash landed her ship.

When they reached the Feuille d'Automne, she was relieved to see that nobody had appeared to find her. She smiled and rested a hand on the hull, before she unlocked the freighter and once the boarding ramp had lowered, she invited Dalethria to follow her aboard.

"Welcome to my home," she said warmly.

She wasn't materialistic but the ship had been her home for years now, and was her most prized possession. The freighter was clean and functional, with the few living areas displaying color accent and several shelves with decorative objects she had collected over the years, some she had stolen and never sold because she fell in love with them, and some boxes with assorted datacards in them. There was a pragmatic yet welcoming vibe to the ship.

"It won't take me long to pack; but would you like to look over the ship parts I will need first?"

She was standing quite close to the Sith as the hallways were fairly narrow on the freighter, making a serpentine path around the ship, with the various rooms connected only to the corridor.

"I know it won't be a while before I've earned that; but I don't know if you plan to make future trips to the Feuille."

Being sequestered for a short time was not completely intolerable for the half-breed, but Dalethria knew that Sinead would crave the sunlight. It was a necessary part of her healing process that tied in perfectly with helping Sinead safely acclimate to her new life navigating the treacherous caverns. Now it was time for the apprentice to show the master her home.

Dalethria felt relief from Sinead that the ship was untouched. The ship was well concealed and this area was less traveled - whether by Imperials or scavengers - so it was unsurprising to the Sith. After a quiet reunion with the it, Sinead invited Dalethria aboard, who was pleasant and quite possibly eager. The Sith surmised the feeling was cemented in the desire to go through her belongings more than excitement in what her master thought about the ship.

This was the second ship Dalethria had been aboard in recent years and already felt a palpable acceptance here instead of a jarring misplacement of self. Being aboard Baska's ship made her feel small, ignorant, and out of place. It was humiliating despite the other woman being patient. Dalethria felt none of that here and took an interest in how Sinead decorated the ship, noting patterns of colors and designs.

She was surrounded by who her apprentice was, and still is to a degree, and became fully aware of Sinead's proximity when they stopped in the narrow hallway. Her eyes drifted from the various rooms down the corridor to the young woman and yesterday's admission regarding sleeping arrangements. Dalethria's decision to not share the bed was rooted in reality - she was not tired. Her body was too heightened with exhilaration on unlocking the holocron and the resilient bond that was forged between her and Sinead.

Truth be told, she was unsure what would have happened if she succumbed to curiosity and joined her. Oh, she had checked on Sinead's slumbering a great many times, but it was from the safety of the entryway. The attraction between them was palpable but Sinead took that knowledge, embraced it, and was unabashedly honest about what she wanted.

Being this close caused all that to surface once again and Dalethria had went still to collect her thoughts. It worked in her favor that being stoic was her norm but the bond that they shared made it difficult to predict what Sinead would pick up with her untrained mind, if anything.

"It would make sense to go over your needs now."

She still looked to Sinead but avoided full eye contact.

It was a weird experience to let someone see the inside of her ship, likely all of it. Sinead traveled light; but her ship had been her home and sole companion for so long, that the craft was still very dear to her heart. In a way, she believed it fair that as she had seen Dalethria's inner sanctum in the depths of the caves, the Sith saw the Feuille. She would have normally dreaded having someone aboard as such; but she felt comfortable around the brunette, something that still baffled her. She wasn't skittish by nature; for life had ensured she wasn't. And she opened her mouth too easily when speaking up hastily but truthfully.

Yet there was something about the unexpected bond with the Sith, and her genuine and quick acquiescence to be apprenticed to her, that made Sinead confident rather than afraid. She didn't expect life as a Sith to be easy; but she didn't expect that generally speaking. It was also why she was so bold in admitting that she found Dalethria attractive, intellectually and sexually.

And this attraction was even more potent as they stood in such close quarters in the narrow hallway. She couldn't tell much beyond Dalethria's stoic expression. Her untrained gift made her aware something was at play just outside of her perception's reach; but that was it. She knew it wasn't just her natural observation skills based on the eerie feeling that made the air almost crackle with unsaid and unknown.

Maybe she should be wary of being an open book to the Sith; but she didn't really care. It made sense, even though it should have frightened her. She'd rather trust in the bond between them and use her energy to become stronger and smarter.

Yet she couldn't help bursting in laughter at the stoic reply that came out of the brunette's mouth.

"Oh, Dalethria," she chuckled.

She realized that the other woman avoided eye contact.

"I'm very tempted to take that as an invitation," she added before swiftly but tenderly cupping the Sith's face in her hands, searching for her eyes.

She briefly pressed her lips against the brunette's but she didn't linger, instead letting go of her mentor.

"Let's check the engine room," she added before pivoting away, leading the other woman towards their first stop for what was needed as future ship parts.

There was no warning for there was no danger thus it took the Sith completely by surprise when Sinead cupped her face, instantly causing eye contact. What invitation had Dalethria offered? She just wanted to know what parts her apprentice needed to get the ship running. This display was confusing and she couldn't remember anyone touching her in such a fashion in decades.

But then Sinead kissed her. It was brief, tender, and left her with confusion and quiet longing for that gentleness to return. Gentleness that was genuine and not laced with deceit felt precious.

When her apprentice turned away, Dalethria briefly chew on her lower lip and committed the feel of their lips pressed together to memory.

With a harsh exhale through her nose, she stood up right and pressed her lips together, following Sinead to the engine room.

"Check the engine room?" she asked quizzically, looking briefly into the adjoining rooms they passed. "How many places in your ship are broken?"

Sinead hadn't any expectations regarding Dalethria's reaction to her kiss. She had felt compelled to do it and if there was one thing the blonde was good at, it was letting her instinct guide her, even though it could lead her to freaking trouble. She smiled after she moved away, finding some weird solace that the Sith hadn't rejected her. She was playing it by ear. After all, it wasn't as if she could hide the fact that she found her new mentor attractive on multiple levels. She had given her promise to honor the bond between them and study the dark arts; but she was winging the rest. After all, she also had to stay true to herself.

As they made it to the engine room, she switched extra lights on and crouched near a panel, opening it, to give the brunette a good view.

"The hyperdrive is shot, and I would need to replace some other wiring and a cooling unit, but the latter are minor."

She looked up to the Sith Master. "Several of my external shield units got smashed too along with a satellite dish."

Yeah, Dalethria had done a number on her the moment she had felt her through her untrained senses.