Lt. Jg. Ryden Tarus Kel - The Valley
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Ryden Kel
Dec 15, 2025, 5:53:08 PM (2 days ago) Dec 15
to sb11...@googlegroups.com
((Midflight - Shuttle))
Wethern: Not much need for us considering we would only be involved in
an emergency.
Ryden felt his shoulders relax at that. The word emergency lingered,
but without weight... just a fact, nothing more.
A soft trill from the console broke the moment.
Wethern: Looks like we are here. Put your tray tables up and ready for decent.
Kel: Guess that’s our cue.
Renn: I’ve missed this part... standing somewhere before any memory claims it.
((Short time skip – Planet Surface))
The shuttle settled into a small clearing, the hum of its engines
fading into the steady rush of a nearby river. Ryden stepped out into
the open air, drawing in the scent of damp earth and foliage. It felt
untouched... quiet in a way Starbase life never was.
Wethern: We should probably set up camp. There looks like a nice spot
about a klick away from here.
Kel: That sounds perfect.
Renn: Lead us somewhere with shade and I’m sold.
Wethern: Looks like an ion storm is moving in but should only cut off
our Comms for a few hours. Should be clear by the time we leave in a
couple of days.
Ryden barely spared the sky a glance. A few hours without comms felt
almost like a gift.
Kel: A little forced solitude never hurt anyone.
Renn: Spoken like someone who grew up camping on Trill.
Wethern: How much hiking have you both done?
Renn: Sira... Sylvax's second host... she was an avid camper and
hiker. I'm learning to enjoy it more than I have.
The name landed gently. Ryden watched Renn as he said it... how
naturally he spoke of her now, not as someone who had replaced
anything, but as someone who had added depth and patience where there
hadn’t been much before.
Kel: And I... was always getting Renn to go out into the wilderness
with me when we were kids. Maybe he can keep up with me now?
Renn gave a sarcastic smirk and Ryden chuckled to his friend.
Wethern: Looks like a rocky stretch ahead but I've heard the views are
amazing. Who wants to lead the way?
Ryden felt a familiar excitement spark in his chest...the simple joy
of being here, with people he trusted.
Kel: I’ll take point.
Renn: Figures. Try not to leave us in the dust, Ry.
Ryden smiled as they set off, the path winding gently into the trees.
Nothing about it felt dangerous. Just open. Quiet. Waiting to be
explored.
The trail opened suddenly, trees thinning as Ryden crested a low
rise... and the view stole the breath from his chest.
Below them, the land dropped away into a wide river valley, the water
carving a silver-blue ribbon through dark stone. Sunlight filtered
through broken cloud cover, catching on mist rising from the rapids
and turning it faintly iridescent. Across the valley, sheer rock faces
were softened by moss and low-growing foliage, the colors layered and
alive.
Ryden slowed without realizing it.
Kel: Okay… yeah. This was worth the hike.
Renn came up beside him, gaze sweeping outward, lingering.
Renn: I always forget how big the universe feels when you’re standing
somewhere like this.
Wethern: ?
Ryden felt that familiar hum settle in his chest... the quiet sense of
rightness that came from being exactly where he was meant to be, no
uniforms, no expectations. Just space. Just time.
Kel: Looks defensible, dry ground, close to the river but not too
close. Perfect campsite.
Renn nodded, glancing around with an appreciative tilt of his head.
Renn: You always did have an eye for places like this. Somewhere you
can breathe.
Wethern: ?
Ryden set his pack down and straightened, taking one more look at the
valley before them.
Kel: Let’s claim it before someone else does... ::looking around in
their solitude:: ... though I doubt we’ll have much competition.
Renn smiled faintly, the expression easy, familiar.
Renn: Lead on, Ry.
Wethern: ?
Ryden stepped forward, the grass soft beneath his boots, the world
wide open in front of them.... nothing urgent, nothing pressing. Just
the promise of a good camp, a shared meal, and time that belonged
entirely to them.
-----
Lieutenant JG Ryden Tarus Kel
Medical Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240109RK1
Wethern: Not much need for us considering we would only be involved in
an emergency.
Ryden felt his shoulders relax at that. The word emergency lingered,
but without weight... just a fact, nothing more.
A soft trill from the console broke the moment.
Wethern: Looks like we are here. Put your tray tables up and ready for decent.
Kel: Guess that’s our cue.
Renn: I’ve missed this part... standing somewhere before any memory claims it.
((Short time skip – Planet Surface))
The shuttle settled into a small clearing, the hum of its engines
fading into the steady rush of a nearby river. Ryden stepped out into
the open air, drawing in the scent of damp earth and foliage. It felt
untouched... quiet in a way Starbase life never was.
Wethern: We should probably set up camp. There looks like a nice spot
about a klick away from here.
Kel: That sounds perfect.
Renn: Lead us somewhere with shade and I’m sold.
Wethern: Looks like an ion storm is moving in but should only cut off
our Comms for a few hours. Should be clear by the time we leave in a
couple of days.
Ryden barely spared the sky a glance. A few hours without comms felt
almost like a gift.
Kel: A little forced solitude never hurt anyone.
Renn: Spoken like someone who grew up camping on Trill.
Wethern: How much hiking have you both done?
Renn: Sira... Sylvax's second host... she was an avid camper and
hiker. I'm learning to enjoy it more than I have.
The name landed gently. Ryden watched Renn as he said it... how
naturally he spoke of her now, not as someone who had replaced
anything, but as someone who had added depth and patience where there
hadn’t been much before.
Kel: And I... was always getting Renn to go out into the wilderness
with me when we were kids. Maybe he can keep up with me now?
Renn gave a sarcastic smirk and Ryden chuckled to his friend.
Wethern: Looks like a rocky stretch ahead but I've heard the views are
amazing. Who wants to lead the way?
Ryden felt a familiar excitement spark in his chest...the simple joy
of being here, with people he trusted.
Kel: I’ll take point.
Renn: Figures. Try not to leave us in the dust, Ry.
Ryden smiled as they set off, the path winding gently into the trees.
Nothing about it felt dangerous. Just open. Quiet. Waiting to be
explored.
The trail opened suddenly, trees thinning as Ryden crested a low
rise... and the view stole the breath from his chest.
Below them, the land dropped away into a wide river valley, the water
carving a silver-blue ribbon through dark stone. Sunlight filtered
through broken cloud cover, catching on mist rising from the rapids
and turning it faintly iridescent. Across the valley, sheer rock faces
were softened by moss and low-growing foliage, the colors layered and
alive.
Ryden slowed without realizing it.
Kel: Okay… yeah. This was worth the hike.
Renn came up beside him, gaze sweeping outward, lingering.
Renn: I always forget how big the universe feels when you’re standing
somewhere like this.
Wethern: ?
Ryden felt that familiar hum settle in his chest... the quiet sense of
rightness that came from being exactly where he was meant to be, no
uniforms, no expectations. Just space. Just time.
Kel: Looks defensible, dry ground, close to the river but not too
close. Perfect campsite.
Renn nodded, glancing around with an appreciative tilt of his head.
Renn: You always did have an eye for places like this. Somewhere you
can breathe.
Wethern: ?
Ryden set his pack down and straightened, taking one more look at the
valley before them.
Kel: Let’s claim it before someone else does... ::looking around in
their solitude:: ... though I doubt we’ll have much competition.
Renn smiled faintly, the expression easy, familiar.
Renn: Lead on, Ry.
Wethern: ?
Ryden stepped forward, the grass soft beneath his boots, the world
wide open in front of them.... nothing urgent, nothing pressing. Just
the promise of a good camp, a shared meal, and time that belonged
entirely to them.
-----
Lieutenant JG Ryden Tarus Kel
Medical Officer
StarBase 118 Ops
O240109RK1
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