The morning after the Deep Violet signal, Riyan stood at cliff edge with tactical focus that suggested he was waiting for something rather than casually observing ocean. His scarlet eyes tracked horizon with precision that made Livia—emerging from camp with frost patterns still clinging to her morning meditation posture—immediately suspicious.
"You're expecting something," Livia observed, moving to stand beside twin. "That's not normal ocean surveillance. That's anticipation."
"Observing variables," Riyan said neutrally. "Midnight exercise may have created detectable phenomena. Monitoring for unexpected responses is tactical prudence."
"That's deflection phrasing," Livia countered, but before she could press further, Raven's voice cut through morning air with sharp urgency.
"There's something in the water! Large object, approximately two hundred meters offshore, drifting with current!"
