<span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;"><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;">K’risti’s senses were in overdrive as she studied the two citadel guardians approach; her nose twitched, making her whiskers whip about her face, her tail lashed about, beating itself softly against her legs, even Crysalis hissed his concern in her ear. She stiffened to attention, more from dread than respect, for something was afoot, she could feel it in her body, and taste it with every intake of breath. She stood and listened to the summons, then dutiful fell in behind her escort, but she sneaked a look over her shoulder at her partner’s back as he was ushered off in the opposite direction. The rigidity of his gait told her that he too was apprehensive of this sudden change, but duty to the Order compelled them both to follow where they were led, to do as they were instructed. K’risti padded softly down the hall in step with her escort, her soft feet a mere whisper on the stone floor, but her mind was far from silent in its thoughts about this sudden summons and the meaning behind the formality. </span></em></span><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;"><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;"> </span></em></span><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;"><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;">She stiffly walked to the offered seat and sat down as if it were made of nails, causing her bottom to shift about uneasy. Elena’s smile eased her fears in a way of a mother soothing her child would, and K’risti relaxed her shoulders and sat back more comfortably in the padded chair. The smell of the tea’s herbal scent engaged her mind and she listened to her mentor with rapt attention. A change in her pairing was not unheard of, but was rare none-the-less and her uneasy concerns tried to resurface themselves in her thoughts. She squashed them back down by taking the proffered cup and inhaling its aroma deeply as she contemplated her response. It would do no good to ask about the sudden change, if she were to have known the issues at hand, Elana would have informed her of them. Duty only left one proper and expected response from those who served the Order. </span></em></span><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;"><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;"> </span></em></span><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;"><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;">“I trust the Order, and I trust you Elana. If this is what is required of me, then I have no objections and will fulfill my duties as you instruct”, she said with soft eyes, and a relaxed tone. Changing to a new Guardian was no small matter in and of itself, and Elena had made no mention to a person she had previously met. The bonding would have to be done enroute it would seem, during possible conflict, and with another pair in observance, she shuddered at the violation of personal privacy. It was not uncommon that pairings undergo arguments, fights, and feuds during the bonding process, as well as an intimate closeness at times. Much akin to life partners squabbles and such, before a symbiosis takes hold and they then can act as one. “I eagerly look forward to meeting my new Guardian, and to seeing Hextehe and Beldak again”, she softly purred, not a lie really, it would be instructional to hear of her friends’ first adventure, and her curiosity of her unnamed mystery partner was beginning to make her lightheaded. Crysalis yawned aloud, his interest in all of this, so K’risti stroked his ears until a proper purr issued from his throat. </span></em></span><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;"><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;"> </span></em></span><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;"><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 1em;">“We are excited to see these new ruins, much knowledge can be gained from the past and I do like learning new and interesting things. My curiosity is peaked!” she nearly gushed at the pending boon of information to be learned. </span></em></span>