Day 232

  There's something dangerous about that strange person Orna was talking to earlier today. They look just like us, for the most part. But every once in a while you notice the missing antennae, or realize how strange their skin looks. Little differences for the most part, but enough that it’s somehow even creepier than if they looked totally alien.

  They seemed friendly enough and the expedition's brain trust all seemed to enjoy chatting with them. Personally I think they're being a little too trusting, at least Orna had the sense to keep me around in case the stranger tried something, after the other’s left.

  This Andrea creature just seemed a little too calm for someone on their own in the wilds. It's almost like they don't feel that anything near here can truly threaten them. I don't know if that's overconfidence or a sign that my instincts are right and they’re not as squishy as they look, despite appearing to fit right in with the academic crowd. All the sane people I know would be at least a little uncomfortable being so isolated and exposed in the wilderness. Which means either Andrea isn’t sane, or they’ve got a good reason to feel perfectly safe, and Andrea may be a bit creepy looking but they don’t strike me as someone who’s recklessly out of their mind.

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  Milphny seemed nervous around Andrea too. It was all I could do to keep them from forming weapons on their own initiative after we got close. That doesn’t mean Andrea’s a bad person, I’ll be the first to admit that Milphny is no judge of character, we’ve been bonded long enough that I’m able to recognize Milphny’s limitations. However they are excellent at recognizing physical threats, in fact I’ve never known them to be wrong. I’ve rarely felt my bond react this strongly without having some huge slavering beast charging at us first.

  Speaking of Milphny, they seemed a little stiff when I took them out of the truck today. I’m going to start taking them out more often for exercise. Even if they need more nutrients and water when they're active, they won’t be of any help if they’re too atrophied to help move gear up the mountains or fend off beast attacks. I’m going to talk to the other binders and try to talk them into regularly patrolling the camp in the evenings so we can keep all of our bonded at their best and ready to act at a moment's notice.

  Anyway I’ll be keeping an eye on Andrea’s strange little; Companion? Pet? I’m honestly not sure what that odd little flying creature is. It actually looks artificial, like it’s made of some sort of metal, but Orna seemed to be conversing with it directly. I wish I’d been listening in on their conversation. Andrea may have left for now, but that strange flying creature is staying with us. Milphny doesn’t seem to see it as a threat, but if it's associated with this strange person we met, then it's probably more dangerous than it seems.