Chapter One: Wake Up
Wake up Luna! Luna-
"Wake up." A deep toned voice rang out in a room. The entire area was completely dark with electric purple glow emitting from the ground and up into the walls and through the ceiling.
A large deep purple creature hovered over a desk; seemingly observing maps. As he spoke to the other resting in the bed, he heard audible whine coming from beneath the sheets, "Must I fight you to your lectures every morning I am home?" The being was tall, and wore a black pair of jeans that he had fitted with a belt. His canine like claws lightly scrapped the floor as he occasionally slid about to grab another map, "Some of them are learning. Just like you."
"Must I do this nearly every day, papa?" A woman bellowed out with a soft groan.
In the corner of the dark room was a bed. A blonde peeked through her blankets. Her own golden eyes shimmered in the darkness. While the other was more human, "My Hollow's effects are the only thing that make me anything like any of you." A blackened leech rolled off the side of her neck. It was quite long, and shared the young woman's vibrant golden glow through its veins, "I'm so tired of acting like something should happen with them. Half the time they won't even look at me."
"Luna." A low whine could be heard in the corner from her father, Osa. The Irinaut glanced back at her. A dim golden glow came from him. It wasn't what it had used to be, "I am not asking you to find a mate, Luna." Osa had adorned many more scars along his arms, chest, and back. A few scattered his face. He wore his armor most of the time these days, but on rare occasions, he did relax, "Though, you do know what it means for you to acquire a mate, yes?" His feathers raised on his neck as he seemed genuinely curious.
"Oh god, dad please not now." Luna pressed the pillow over her face before dragging it down and holding it to her chest, "I go out there, I listen to the lectures with them, but none of them even want to speak to me. Even now." The young woman sighed softly before looking at the ceiling, "Any of them that show interest, are only interested in a chance at the throne themselves. Just read their minds like you do everyone else's." She sat up, "None of them are interested in even being friends. If mom were here I know she'd understand.." Luna rolled over with her back facing Osa.
Osa's golden purple feathers raised on his chest and neck. He and Luna couldn't seem to find an understanding on the matter, and the mention of Raven took him by surprise, "Luna, a Queen has typically found a suitor in their eighteenth year. You are coming up on your twenty first, yes?" He chirped lightly. His canine like claws dragged against the obsidian like floor before he took a seat next to her on the bed, "I do not wish for you to find one until you are ready, but do not continue closing doors. At least attempt to make a friend of them. You will need a council of your own one day." He laughed lightly, "Now, I am not always around to read their minds Luna."
"No one has really caught my eye. I don't know. Even the younger ones..they aren't like you. I don't get it." As he mentioned not always being around, it drew her attention off the subject, "Is that why you're here so early? Are you leaving again?" Luna finally sat up. Her long blonde hair was a mess around her, "How long will you be gone this time?"
Osa rolled his shoulders, "Only a few weeks. It simply depends on what we find. Zio will be right next to you the entire time I'm gone. You know you do not have to worry about me, Little Moon."
Luna finally crawled out of the bed and hugged her father. She was wearing a pair of black sweatpants and a plain oversized black t-shirt. Likely her father's own, "You know I'm going to worry. I hate when anyone leaves." The thought of Zio seemed to make her roll her eyes, "Mr. By the Book? I can hardly get a word out of him unless it's history related. He's so, awkward, and you can't get Fex near any of the other Irinaut's here."
The purple skinned Irinaut returned the hug. A quick brightened pulse of electric gold ran through his veins for a moment before quickly returned to that dulled state, "If you wish to learn more about your people, simply spend time with them. Zio is one of the most knowledgeable Irinaut's here, and Fex is, well, Fex." Osa really had no way to explain Fex, but he had earned his place rightfully so, "Now, go ahead and get dressed. I will meet you at the manhole with the others before we depart."
"W-woah you're leaving now? But, but you've only been back a few days. I thought you would at least be here a little longer." Luna seemed visibly upset. The young woman crossed her arms to her chest, "Why can't the others go without you? Can you, can you please just stay a few more days dad?"
Osa grimaced. His feathers had fell flat to his neck, and a serious expression had taken over his face. His golden eyes brightened, "Luna I-"
"I know Dad. I just, I wish we had it all and that we could just go and get as far from here as possible right now." The blonde gave her father one final squeeze before climbing out of the bed herself, "I'll go ahead and get ready and meet you up front."
The large Irinaut hummed lightly. He leaned towards Luna before placing a soft kiss on her forehead after he stood up himself, "I'll see you shortly.”
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The young queen pulled her hair into a braid. Strands had falling off of the front in a mess with her Hollow resting against her neck, but she didn't mind. It felt like it was part of her.
For Luna, her father leaving had become quite normal. Since the death of her mother his focus had been on one thing, and that was fixing their ship or retaining enough parts to build a new one. Osa kept many things secret though. Even from Luna. She felt at times the entire ship of Irinaut's was full of things she didn't know about.
As she placed her hand on the wall and the door opened, Zio stood quietly. The Irinaut glanced over Luna. The queen didn't seem surprised that he was already there.
'Ah. There you are.' Zio hummed out lowly, 'Your father-'
Luna tossed her hand up nonchalantly, "I already know, Zio. He's leaving, again." The young queen sighed, "I know he is doing it for us to go home, but sometimes I feel like he should just steal a ship."
Zio tilted his head. He purred lowly, 'Stealing a ship with the proper equipment is easier said than done.' He gestured for her to follow him as he walked down the hall. The Irinaut had become quite used to this routine with Luna. After more Irinaut's became a constant on the ship, Osa wanted Luna under constant guard. Upon Zio's absence, Fex would take the roll.
"I know that. It doesn't mean I can't dream it." Luna smiled up at him lightly, but as they were walking, several Irinaut's went past them in the hall. Others were packing their bags and clearly preparing to leave, "Wow he's got a crew this time, doesn't he?" Though the more she looked, the more she wondered, "Where's Fex, Zio?"
The pale blue Irinaut cackled lightly, "Fex? Likely in his quarters with the Yetis."
Luna kicked her foot against the floor as they walked down the hall. Even after everything had happened, the distance between her and Fex had only felt further away. She felt so often he was just someone he wasn't going to be able to get to express himself in anything aside from rage, "He isn't going to come say bye to dad? What about the lectures?"
The tall Irinaut chirped, 'Luna, I am certain you know by now that Fex does not enjoy the crowd that comes out during the expeditions.' Zio came to a halt once they were at the manhole, 'Besides, he has never been quite good at goodbyes.' The male leaned back against the wall. His chartreuse eyes glistened within their black scleras. All the while the hollows that hung lightly off his head glistened in blues and reds. Unlike most Irinaut's, Zio had those multiple colors running through him. It was quite unique by its own right. Even with his starry midnight veins coursing through him, his eyes and hollows always found a way to shrine through.
She didn't say much else regarding Fex. The Irinaut had saved her. More than once. The Queen had more respect for her knights nowadays. Even if she didn't always understand their actions.
Osa approached with several Irinaut's behind him, and a few of their Yetis. His mask already hiding his face, and his neck brace was already attached. The Irinaut wore a set of armor that for years, he had never once touched until the loss of Raven. He adjusted the metal brace on the side with a low hum. He never left the home without this armor anymore.
Luna perked up when she saw her father and the other Irinauts dressed as if they were going to battle. She always hated to see him leave, but nowadays, the woman didn't even attempt to ask. She smiled softly up at Osa as he approached her. The blonde crossed her arms to her chest, "Promise me you'll be back as soon as you can?"
Osa tilted his head to the side. He placed his hand on Luna's cheek. Had Luna been born with that pitch black hair like her mother, the two would had been near identical. In both personalities and looks. Especially as Luna matured. He saw so much of Raven in his daughter, and at times he found it rather difficult, "I will be back before you know it."
