Oops, sorry abou the lack of update yesterday. It completely slipped my mind. . I'll put up two today to make up for it~

My soul weeps for my dear friend even now. In the months since he has revealed his tale to me, he has seemed to 8ecome far more open and trusting. And yet, I cannot shake the feeling that hope dwindles in his thoughts.

The hive we have 8egun 8uilding nears completion. It has 8een half a sweep since the winter's eve this all 8egan, and now the summer months are upon us. I caught Terezi watching the glowing insects flying a8out last night, managing to catch one in cupped hands. Our companion cherishes the warm air, though he does not remove the cloak. Ever since his explanation, I've not offered to replace it nor his 8ranch.

There have 8een no reports of Ampora 8eing sighted anywhere in the vicinity, nor anyone else that the Empress may have hired to find us. Perhaps they think us dead.

We still altern8 guard duties, and it was during one of mine that f8 decided to show us her plans. We have a station set up in a tree a small distance from the hive. There is only one direction one can approach from, as the others are 8locked 8y jagged cliffs.

I spotted movement in the distance, quickly locking my attention onto the potential threat. I could not make out many details, 8ut it was clear that he was headed in our direction. This was not a unique occurrence, and so I paid it nearly no mind. I would simply do what I did every time; take hold of him from a distance and walk him in the opposite direction.

This was when I discovered something out of the ordinary.

Nothing 8ut confusion filled my thoughts as I stared down at him. Given his apparent 8lood, I should have 8een a8le to 8end him to my whim with no trou8le whatsoever. So then why did he continue? Why could I not force him to walk away? All I could imagine was the possi8ility that he wore another color than his own in order to appear harmless.

This was an Imperial Agent.

They had found us, and I somehow found myself taking the entirety of the 8lame for this. I repelled off of my perch only after taking hold of my small satchel which stored my dice, along with a sword just in case. I could not allow him any nearer. I had worked too hard, we had come too far.

My footsteps were light as I approached, 8reath held out of instinct. Once he came near, I rolled the dice in my hand and silently tossed them to the ground.

The results were far from prefera8le. An unlucky roll left the tree I hid 8ehind to let out a terri8le groaning, and I managed to evacu8 only seconds 8efore it 8egan to fall. And while I escaped with my life, I now stood directly 8efore the figure I was meant to 8e driving off.

To have attacked head-on was a foolish mistake, though I realized this only after it was too l8. As I swung my sword, I felt static fill the placid air, and I 8ecame aware of the fact that each of his eyes were of a different color.

To anger a psionic of any level is a significant danger. 8ut this one appeared to 8e exceptionally skilled. The sparks of red and 8lue flung my 8ack against a near8y 8oulder, and I remain even now astonished that I retained feeling in my legs.

He stood so very near to me now, and for the first time, I found myself terrified of someone whose 8lood is so much lower than my own. I had to alert the others, to warn them that were I to die here, which was seeming more and more likely, that they had to get to safety. And yet, I did not want to reveal to him the fact that I was not alone.

I 8ecame aware of a voice crying out a name which I did not recognise. My assailant reacted, and I watched his dangerous expression soften. Terezi had her own sword in hand, 8ut out companion urged her to lower it as he stepped forward toward the psionic. I was released, and though my every instinct told me to lunge, to send my 8lade piercing through his 8ack, I only watched the scene unfold 8efore me.

The name was repeated- Sollux Captor, he'd called him- as he reached his hand out, asking for reassurance that he had identified him correctly. When it was given, he explained that he could never mistake the explosion of energy. I myself cannot tell the difference 8etween one psionic's and the next, so I must assume that the increased sensitivity is rel8ed to his lost vision.

It seems that this is the very individual whom he had me write a8out, the gold 8lood who was on the verge of entering his quadrants. And while our meeting was not how I would have preferred it to have taken place, I suppose I can forgive Captor, if only 8ecause my dear friend's face lit up 8righter than I have ever witnessed, and the smile which crossed his lips as a result was that of pure astonished admiration.

Captor seemed horrified that his old friend has lost his vision since their last meeting, 8ut he has 8een assured that he does not mind his disa8ility. I can only assume that, at some point, he has learned of the mutation, as the story regarding hiding his eye color was reiter8ed.

His acceptance of the offer to join our company came in an instant, and I have never seen such joy in those 8lind eyes upon hearing the response. The 8ruises on my 8ack feel as though they will never heal, however, I am willing to put the encounter 8ehind me.

The evening is warm. From the next 8lock, I can hear Captor and our mutual friend discussing the past few sweeps and how their lives have changed in the time since they last parted. It is a calming sound, making me quite nearly forget that we remain outlaws. For the time 8eing, we are nothing more than four trolls enjoying what time we have on this world. I look out at the landscape 8efore me at the clear sky. At the stars like glittering pe88les strewn upon the shoreline. At

There is something in the distance that appears to 8e an Imperial ship. I must alert the others and prepare for immedi8 evacu8ion.