ORIGIN

Everything hurt. Kera's muzzle was still stained red with her own and the goose's blood, still wrinkled through a deep and throaty snarl. Despite her broken teeth, she was still sure that she could tear out a few feathers should the situation call for it-- alternatively, she could use what legs that still responded to her to claw and tear at the goose. The problem with this was that she wasn't entirely sure if it was a clever thing to do. As much as Kera didn't want to admit it, she was clearly beaten here.

That did not mean, however, that she was going to do what this flimsy bird told her to.

Seeing that her obvious show of dominance had fallen flat, she decided to snort and growl through the pain instead. "If you wanted me to move, maybe you shouldn't have hurt my legs," she spat. "Seeing as your legs are fine, maybe you should be the one to leave."

Kera knew that only one leg had been broken. Her back legs were a little bruised, but they would work. She could walk perfectly fine on three legs, though running might be a bit of a challenge. She was sure it would work again soon, however, and things would be fine.

She also knew, should she be attacked again, that she could still stand. While she was quite injured, she knew the goose was as well, but she wasn't sure how long either of them could stay fighting after their initial scrap. She wasn't so sure if the goose would so easily leave, either, but for now, Kera stayed on the ground, fur bristled, and growling.

Blackberry did her best to hold back the squeaks of pain that were so desperately trying to escape her little body. Now that the battle had died and the adrenaline was wearing off, she realized how much her wounds hurt. Her flesh was still soft and tender and her feathers weak and the claw marks down her body were painful. She wanted this dog gone and she wanted it gone now. But of course it wouldn't leave.

She looked at the dog with fiery eyes and honked loudly. "How dare you?! You were the one that woke me up and intruded on me! This is my place, not yours! I'm not going to leave my own spot after I've beaten a moron like you. And its not my fault that your leg was weak enough to break." She hissed loudly, her mouth open threateningly. The last thing she wanted right now was another fight but what she wanted even less was to leave after a victory. She had fought for her spot and she had won. Why didn't this dog understand that?


"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Kera
notes:

The more seconds that ticked by, the more Kera wanted to crawl into some hole somewhere and frantically lick her wounds. She was already halfway there, she supposed-- the area she lay in, currently, was nothing more than a hole with some uncomfortable rock under her belly. She did not want to remain here, but leaving was a sign of defeat. It was not the wounds, the blood or the broken leg that showed she was beaten (though one shouldn't ask her about the Rock Incident in this regard) but it was the fact that she would do as she were told that would truly mean she lost.

She made an effort to stand, really, but she found that even trying to move the broken leg hurt. She shifted, back straight and ears low. "You haven't beaten me," she sneered coldly. "This is my place now. I can't move. So it's mine. Your legs are very thin. I could break them." She wasn't entirely sure where the cold threatening came from- there was still angry and hatred that boiled in her belly, but she had thought to herself that perhaps it was wrong.

Kera wanted to help people, not fight them. Perhaps instead of grilling the goose, she should have gone and gotten bedding for it and left it be. But she didn't. Perhaps that was her mistake and something she'd have to carry herself, but at the same time-- this bird was dangerous. Surely she was helping others by weakening this thing? It was bleeding-- that has to account for something?

Kera did not know. It was too late to try and change things, and she could not take her eyes off the bird in the event that another scrap broke out between them.

Blackberry stared at the pup. What on earth was wrong with this imbecile? Sure, its leg was broken, but it could probably still limb away! It didn't need all four of those limbs to move, right? And how dare she demand such things after suffering such a defeat? How dare she make threats while in such a condition?! This is not her place, it's MY place! She can't chase me away!

But, then again, what was the point of staying here? She had already failed to find bedding and this rock wasn't very comfortable. Besides, there were so many more interesting places to explore that weren't just some narrow tunnel. If she left, though, where would she go? Maybe to Polaris? No, that's probably where the pup would go. Back to Orion then? She wondered if the coyote was still skulking around. She'd rather not confront him in such a state. Then, obviously, stay here!

But there were other rooms. She could sneak through Orion and go somewhere else, find a place where no one would disturb her and she could settle as HER place. She would find lots of bedding and there would be food too! And she'd be alone. And away from this ridiculous mutt. She could pass this off as mercy - giving a stinkhole and finding a palace. Yes, that was it. That was what she would do.

She stood from where she stood and ruffled her feathers, trying to look as dignified and imposing as possible. "I've beaten you, and no matter what you say will change that fact. Empty threats won't get you anywhere. You can't break my legs in your condition and if you try, you'll hurt yourself even more." She paused for a second, eyeing the wolf carefully before continuing. "However, I'll give you this place. I didn't mean to break your leg so its the least I can do. But if I ever meet you again, do not expect any kind of mercy from me again." She carefully watched the wolf for her reaction before she took her leave.


"Listen to my honk."
How dare you hear my thoughts?! Those are mine! Get out of my head!

tags: @Kera
notes: Sorry for the wait!

Kera watched, bleary-eyed, as the goose shifted and ruffled its feathers. She cared very little for what it had to say, ear flicking. "You've not beaten me," she spat. "Throwing empty threats is all you've been doing this whole time." Her tongue swept across the drying blood around her snout.

This bird was the worst kind of creature. Angry, hateful, and hypocritical. Though Kera didn't entirely know what made something hypocritical yet. She could feel her own anger bubbling up under her skin however, and she didn't have the time to consider how that might be sort of terrifying for her. She couldn't help people if she lost her temper and attacked people.

Decidedly, this goose couldn't help anyone.

She didn't even want this place, though she didn't think she was going to go anywhere anytime soon. She might have been stuck here, in the darkness, in a strange part of the tunnel. Maybe forever, unless she got her act together.

She huffed hard, teeth bared through pain and anger. "My condition means nothing," she snarled. "If I see you again, I'll kill you."

Blackberry glared at the wolf and let out a soft hiss. This wolf was colossally stupid, but she no longer had the patience to deal with her any longer. She needed to treat her wounds and find a good spot to rest. Trying to scare this pup was no longer her concern

"Be that way, beebrain," she hissed. "Likewise. There will be no words at our next meeting." With one last glare at the crippled dog, she turned towards the Orion entrance, her head held high and her steps confident as she disappeared into the cave.

*exit Blackberry

"Listen to my honk."
How dare you hear my thoughts?! Those are mine! Get out of my head!


tags: @Kera
notes:

Kera said nothing, only growling until the goose was straight out of sight. She did not want to think of the events that just transpired-- nor did she want to stay in the event the goose came back and tried to kill her in her sleep.

That, in itself, was unsettling.

She made a silent note of which way the goose went, and then made sure to never go down that path ever again. This was no longer a place for the goose. This was her place-- she had to make it seem like her place, her territory.

It might scare the goose off, at least-- if she changed things. Made it hers. The first course of action would be that she had to lift herself up on her aching legs.

It was painful. She heaved, groaning-- every muscle in her legs, responding or not, practically screamed at her for trying to move. She ignored it-- she ignored it for now, at least, but she was here. She was standing.

She had not lost.

She could not lose. How could she be beaten when she was standing, in this area that was now hers? Yes. This was fine. She won. There was nothing more to be said on the matter.

Kera's next course of action was thusly, and it took exactly three steps. The first, she had to sense for fungal growth in the area. The second, where it would be best to grow mushrooms. The third, grow mushrooms. Then she could move off elsewhere, away from this place that smelled of blood and goose. Away from the goose.

She exhaled shakily and snapped her eyes shut, focusing on the surrounding area.

The world opened up around her at once. Faintly, at first-- she wasn't sure if she was aware of everything around her. It did not entirely matter, Kera decided. She only needed to know where the thickest clusters were, because that's where it would be easiest to grow.

It was already exceedingly difficult to try, but she still wasn't done sensing. She was almost done, but not quite-- she could sense little... things, in the air, but it only told her that it would be okay to grow things here.

She had to find where she would grow her mushrooms, and then she had to try and limp off towards where it was. She thought, perhaps, moving would be the hardest thing to do, but she would tackle it when she got there. For now, she quietly focused.

She was almost done. She could have that assurance, at the very least.

She could tell, now, she was the only thing here. No rats, no mice, no deer. No goose. That was a relief, because it meant that it was gone. No one was here to see her struggle and limp as she tried to move across the tunnel.

She breathed heavily as she started limp-shuffling. Everything around her had opened up properly now, and she could see a nice patch of fertile, rich soil where she could grow her mushrooms. She edged forward, bit by bit, hesitant, and then paused.

She sighed and slowly lowered herself down towards her belly in the dark. The smell of blood was overpowering. The adrenaline was long-gone, now, leaving only exhaustion and grogginess. And pain.

There was a lot of pain.

She lowered her head down towards the soil and concentrated quietly, her gemstone glittering beneath her fur.