Tristan had resigned his studies hours ago, but he had told Absidae that she was welcome to continue her work; she had decided she would do so, so as to catch up with the other apprentices who were all near her age. Sid was starting her magical journey late in her life, and it wasn't until nearly midnight that she realized her stomach had been growling for at least a half an hour. Deciding she needed to eat, and probably sleep, the young woman decided to retreat from the tower for the time being.
Perusing around the kitchen, she contemplated what she was learning. Healing herbs first, then the dangerous ones; Sid resigned herself to only use harmful herbs in the most dire of situations. Absidae's thoughts were interrupted by a small creaking noise on the stairs. Not wanting to give away the fact that she had heard whoever it was, she tensed her shoulders slightly, and turned her head almost unnoticeably towards the sound. From her peripheral vision, Sid couldn't see who was headed towards her. She tightened her grip around the plate in her hand, and as the footsteps neared her, Sid lifted the plate and whipped around, her auburn hair clouding her vision as someone grabbed her wrist, preventing her from smacking them over the head with a plate. Absidae gasped, her hair finally clearing her vision. Her eyes locked on Orion's, and he smiled playfully.
"Are we going to go through this every time someone enters a room that you're in alone?" He teased, releasing her wrist. "No one is going to attack you here," his voice was soothing, and Sid felt a wave of relaxation wash over her. His eyes were much more of a striking, tree bark brown than the chocolate Absidae had originally noticed, and she felt captivated by them. Orion's smile faded into a soft smirk, and when they finally broke eye contact, Sid felt as though something was missing. "What are you doing down from your tower?" He asked, moving past her towards the cabinet.
Absidae shook her head, straightening her back as she moved towards the other side of the kitchen with her midnight snack. "I was hungry, I haven't eaten since I came down for tea," she gestured to the place across from her. "Will you join me?" Orion nodded, and sat down with his own plate of food. "Do you get hungrier the closer you get to your moon cycle?" She asked tentatively, knowing the last time she had prodded him, he had fled her presence.
Orion paused, and then nodded. "Being nearer my moon cycle does many things; I get more irritable, more tired, and hungrier; I'm much more on edge and ready to fight over the slightest inconvenience. That, Sid, is why I retreated to my room when you approached me about my 'tragic back story' earlier. I don't see why you shouldn't know, however. I have two brothers, I'm a triplet. That's rare enough when it comes to werebears; single births are the accepted norm, while twins happen on occasion. Triplets, as with any birth, are very rare. I'm also the runt. My boar and sow left me to die in the woods; I was in an orphanage until I was sixteen, and came to Paris three years ago." Absidae gasped, but Orion held his hand up. "It doesn't bother me anymore; my brothers are strong and work for my father in the council. I learn and hone my magic, and someday I'll show him what he missed out on, having me as a son."
"I hope he already knows it," Sid complimented shyly, looking up at him from the rim of the mug of tea she had in her hands. "I'd like to see what a Moon Bear looks like, I've never seen one in person," Absidae's voice was nervous, tentative, and almost frightened to ask. "Maybe tomorrow?" Orion smiled, and nodded, before bidding her goodnight and vanishing up the stairs.
Absidae breathed a sigh of relief, glad she hadn't insulted her new companion. It was strange to think that, after having only been among the fold of these people who understood her, who accepted her, for two short days, she felt as though she belonged. So, Sid did up her dishes and padded her way back to her room, bidding goodnight to her little lizard, and falling asleep under the calming, blueish gray glow from the crystals that floated on her ceiling.