ORIGIN

Kin-Kin was settled back on her haunches, waiting and ready to face her chosen opponent, although the confident glitter in her eye said who she knew... or hoped she knew... who it might be. She was grinning, her chest puffed and proud, her fur exuding a glow that was soft and unintrusive, but just enough to add a wonderfully impressive sheen to her already gilded fur. The crystal wrapped around her foreleg was empty today; her sword left back at her Polaris den.

She was going in bare today, for old times' sake; although obviously her cape, and the crystal wrapped around her right foreleg, remained.

Today would perhaps be her opportunity to claim a new and bolder title, although she was fond of the noble air the title of Magickal champion gave her... but somewhere along the line she'd told herself, that perhaps it was time for a change. And today, was another golden opportunity; her chance to feel young again, and relive the days that forged her unbreakable sense of pride.

She wondered, then, if Imperia would expect to be fighting her age-old 'nemesis' here today. She also wondered if today the caracal would finally be able to beat her into the dirt like they'd wanted since the day they'd met.

How times had changed.

Kin-Kin grinned, holding her chin high as she posed for the crowds she imagined would be watching with bated breath.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

Kin-Kin's ears twitched, and she turned towards the caracal with grin growing ever wider. Kin-Kin slowly rose to her paws, and feigned a warming stretch, arching her back and extending her forelegs out in front of her. "Surprised? Gonna be a little outta my comfort zone without magic, I'll admit," she said with a wink, as though it was their first time tussling. "You'll go easy on me, won't you?"

Kin-Kin's voice though, was light with amusement; they both knew full well that there'd be no going easy in this battle.

Without waiting for a response, Kin-Kin lowered herself into a battle stance, paws placed squarely apart and tail raised. She paused for a while, considering her first move. It felt odd, without the blade clamped in her jaws, and she found herself running her tongue along pristine fangs. First time for everything, she supposed; and the same sentiment went for striking first.

Her paws began to move, carrying her in a slow circle around the caracal, looking for a gap in their defenses. But she knew better than anyone that the feline was more experienced than she was in the art of physical combat.

After a moment's consideration, knowing that Imperia could feel everything that was going on inside of her head, she lunged, aiming to use brute force to knock the feline down, and hoping that her preference for elegance and grace would give her the much-needed element of surprise.

Round 1/5
Attack: lunge to knock Imperia down.
Defense: none.
Injuries: none.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

For a moment, it looked as though her surprise attack had been successful, with the two colliding in what she hoped was a blaze of glory. But the wolf was given a sharp reminder that the caracal could feel her every move, and probably already knew what she was going to do well ahead of time. Kin-Kin stumbled as she felt Imperia's paw strike at her ankles, but managed to stay upright, and hopefully, keep the upper hand. Hopefully, her retained balance would allow her to pin the caracal down...

Round 2/5
Attack: none.
Defense: stumble to stay upright.
Injuries: none.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

Kin-Kin was indeed taken by surprise- less by the caracal's move itself, and more by the sheer force by which Imperia threw her off, and met her head on. The she-wolf had little choice but to try and meet Imperia mid-leap, knowing that the rules forbade drawing blood, and hope that Kin-Kin's training... even if she'd been slacking as of late... would be enough to overpower or equalize. She thrust her entire body weight against the force of Imperia's leap, knowing that if she failed, Imperia would have this.... but if she was successful, then it would move onto a match of endurance, each one trying to wrestle the other down.

Although Kin-Kin stumbled back from the initial blow, she managed not to go down, and rose up onto her hind paws to continued trying to force her back.

Round 3/5
Attack: None
Defense: meet imperia's attack head on.
Injuries: none.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

Kin-Kin and Imperia were locked, each one's strength keeping the other upright, as each tried to wrestle the other onto their back. There would be no backing down without losing this tussle, and Kin-Kin put everything she had into the moment until her hind legs ached. Imperia failed to push her down, as Kin-Kin's training came through and she met with equal strength. She gritted her teeth and persisted, hoping that she could instead push them down and gain the upper hand.

But it would seem to be a stalemate.

Round 4/5
Attack: wrestle them down!
Defense: none
Injuries: none.

---

When I speak.

When I think.