ORIGIN

Kin-Kin skulked through the undergrowth, her nose twitching and ears perking as she took in all the new scents and sounds, her paws falling gently on soft moss. Her cloak rustled gently against her soft, gilded pelt. This was the first time she'd been to Eridanus, and she had to admit, she was impressed. The flowers smelled sweet, suspicious even. The trees were fresh, and all in all, it was a rather welcoming atmosphere to the she-wolf.

Tail waving slowly, as she raised her head she couldn't see the cavern ceiling arching far above, making it feel almost endless in here. Freeing, even. Wandering on, the wolf soon found her senses tuning to the burbling of a tiny stream somewhere nearby.

Her dry throat emerging to the forefront of her mind, Kin-Kin padded towards it, her mind calm and confident, perhaps overly so. Moving to the waters edge and out into the open, she bent down and lapped at the crisp, cold water with a soft pink tongue.

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Yet again, there she was, prowling her perceived territory with Eridanus. It was a quieter day, warranting some very casual lumbering through the trees, snacking on the go. Barren stems and broken branches were left in her wake, a standard sign that a large herbivore was recently passing by. Everything was still painful and tender from that fight with the dragon, especially her muscles. Regardless, she was already back on her Brawler feet, prepared to attack anyone or anything for the soul purpose of it's demise.

Water was up ahead, the clearing between trees a window to catch a glimpse of something by the water's edge. What it was, exactly, remained to be seen. Each step became quieter until the only sound to be heard was the rustling of brush. In mere moments, the three ton cow was stepping from the trees, bright red eyes locked on target. It remained that way even as she filled her scarred trunk with gallons of water. This creature was not a wolf... perhaps a dog? The cape was interesting and the fur looked soft. Gada briefly contemplated what she might use that cape for.

After Gadanai quenched her thirst, she softened her eyes up and smiled in a friendly manner. Anything she could do to make her size less threatening, she did it, including the occasional gentle flap of her ears.

"Hello, passerby! I am Gadanai and I welcome you to my humble home."

Her trunk seemed to gesture at the forest as she spoke of home, the idea of "owning" territory settling deep into her twist of a mind. At one point, she knew it wasn't true, but the older she got and the more she said it to herself... It gave her a sense of dignity and pride that she certainly didn't lack anyway. Not in her mind.

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As she heard the undergrowth rustling, Kin-Kin's ears perked and twitched, following something as it moved. For a moment, she kept on lapping, but as soon as her need was satisfied she turned, and was met by the sight of an enormous creature moving towards the water. Kin-Kin seemed taken aback for a split second, before bowing her head in greeting. The creature, it seemed, was here for the same reason she was.

There was no problem with that, of course.

They spoke to her in a deep, rumbling voice, and the wolf nodded. She padded a few steps forward to give them a tentative sniff, her tail swishing calmly.

"Kin-Kin," she replied smoothly, shrugging her shoulders to once more adjust her cape. As stylish as it was, lately it had become nothing short of annoying... "Pleasure to meet you, Gadanai! What a lovely name for a lovely lady, might I add."

The wolf didn't know what it was, but something about this set her on edge. Perhaps it was just their size. yes, that had to be it. Even still, the lovely lady decided to keep her wits about her, and as usual, flattery and flirtation was the best way to go.

"My, what a wonderful place to call home!" she cried, with a grin lighting up her face. As if in response to her emotions, the wolf's fur lit up in a blaze of gold.

"Have you lived here long?"

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The body language of this creature was intriguing. Even the subtle adjustments of the cape failed to escape her observation. The tail wag was, frankly, quite funny to see. Regardless, her expression remained unchanged as the canine introduced herself, the spewed flattery in the most professional way. Gadanai flicked dirt up into her own chest as she held onto that feeling for a moment. Euphoria was a funny thing, coming upon the simplest gestures. Er, the kind that further solidify her ego, that is.

The pride that was woven into her voice as she took one more sweeping glance at her surroundings signified how much she enjoyed Kin-Kin already. What truly sealed it, however, was that glowing fur. Whatever the dog said went unheard, eyes staring in awe at the amazing glow. Her trunk coiled tight as she restrained herself from grabbing the animal right then. It was better to have them come "willingly" into their own demise. Treasures needed to think they were safe.

"Since I was a wee calf; I claimed a den in the cavern wall and have called it home ever since."
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"How sweet," Kin-Kin breathed, as though reminiscing her own puppyhood as she spoke. "I had a place I called home for most of my puppyhood... Though I never feel sure whether it was a sense of belonging or a fear of leaving that kept me there," Kin-Kin mused, watching the way they held themselves, swept themselves, and nearly tied their trunk in a knot as they beheld her glowing fur.

That certainly inflated her ego.

She raised her head even more at that, showing off as much of herself as she possibly could by turning in a quick circle, then seating herself down on her haunches, her ears twitching and stance comfortable. Had they gone for her at this moment, Kin-Kin would have found it more difficult to escape, and yet she exuded an aura of recklessness and pride. Her gaze mischevious and almost daring them to make a move, what she showed was not weakness but overconfidence.

The wolf had every ounce of faith in the world, and it rested on the shoulders of not only herself but Gadanai. If anything was to happen, it wouldn't happen here.

"I can't say I've ever had a little hollow or den of my own. But if I did, I daresay I wouldn't stay long. Freedom means too much to me. As I wander these caves, I can never stay anywhere long as I did when I was a pup..." The she-wolf curled her tail around her haunches.

"Tell me, have you ever been on a journey like that, dear lady?"

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