ORIGIN

Kin-Kin kept up a slinking pace- brisk, but not much faster than a trot. Her head was lowered and the fur along her neck had prickled upright. Her golden ears were lowered towards her neck. She didn’t look back until the magicka competition and all the other contestants were far behind her, finally slowing to a halt beside the crystal river, where she lowered her head, panting, to look at her reflection by the water’s edge. Even then, she sniffed back the moisture blurring her gaze.

Finally, she raised her head, looking back the way she’d come. She’d heard Imperia call her name, but didn’t expect the caracal to follow. They’d feel everything anyway; all the humiliation and disappointment, and the numbing ache of defeat... though, bitterly, she wished that wasn’t the case. They’d been rivals once; their relationship was built around the heat of the moment and the thrill of battle. Kin-Kin’s feelings right now were nothing if not weakness. And wasn’t weakness the one thing Imperia despised?

Kin-Kin tried desperately to close her feelings off, lying down at the water’s edge. She curled up into a ball and, for the first time since she was a cub, used her cloak to hide her face.

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When I speak.

When I think.

Kin-Kin could do nothing for a while but lie, curled up, face hidden. When finally she moved, it was the simple points of two ears pricking beneath the ragged blue fabric. She’d felt the brush of Imperia’s fur against her own, and a few moments later a golden muzzle emerged, sullen eyes examining the caracal gravely.

She tried to avoid their gaze in a moment of awkwardness, unsure of how to respond to the contact. She swished her tail to smooth her cape and looked out over the crystal river, still looking troubled but refusing to cry, especially in front of Imperia. Finally, the wolf let out a low chuckle. ”It’s stupid, really. Ain’t it?” she asked, still gazing out at the gently rushing river and the lights. ”no matter how much ya practice... no matter how good ya get... it’s all just chance, really. I lost to a bunch of kids! Can you believe it?”

She let out a breath, as though she’d been holding it, the faintest trace of a glow coming into her form, visible only as the shadow faded beneath her. ”Heh-heh. I knew I shoulda judged. Quit whilst I was ahead, y’know?” She dropped her head to the ground, laying it on her forepaws, her tail flicking sadly against her haunches.

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When I speak.

When I think.

Kin-Kin chuckled softly at Imperia’s initial response. ”I suppose so,” she said. ”Maybe that’s why in the end, I ditched battle magic for a sword. Light isn’t the... hardest-hitting magic type, after all. But in the same vein, I suppose, ya never know if you’re ever gonna hit. Ya might run into someone who’s small and fast, who can bite your ankles and dodge your strikes without batting a lash.”

There was a trace of humour in her tone, only slightly overshadowed by resentment.

She looked at Imperia on their command, meeting their gaze evenly, qnd with the tiniest of smiles tweaking the edge of her lips. She couldn’t help but flush beneath her fur, and was silent for a time before offering a wink. ”Didn’t think I’d ever hear ya talk like that, ‘specially not to me. Then again, I never thought I’d ever be knocked down from my perch as magickal champion.” Saying the words made her wince, as though she was admitting it to herself, and she paused before her gaze flicked back to the caracal. She brightened slightly, both in posture and in light. ”What am I gonna call myself now?”

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When I speak.

When I think.

Kin-Kin winked. Imperia's admission to her skills awakened a signature spark of pride within her, and it was a part of her nature to indulge it. "Well, if you want one for yourself, you know who to ask. You'd be first in line." Kin-Kin pushed herself up into a sitting position, shaking her shoulders until her fur fell into place, and her cloak alongside. Whilst she still seemed slightly down, she looked a lot more like her old self.

She appeared to think for a while, ears lowering before her gaze returned to Imperia. "Mhhmm," she murmured, as though deeply considering the words she wanted to say. Would her pride allow it? For a moment it was unclear. Finally, the wolf appeared to come to a decision, and bowed her head slightly, though not in agreement. "In the beginning, it was... the title of champion that gave me my pride. Before that, it was all fake. Yeah, that was... after we first fought." Kin-Kin paused, remembering the act she'd put on, to appear so careless and carefree, and the change in her that that first battle had brought. She smirked vaguely. "I guess I need to learn how to... y'know, rely less on all these fancy titles. I always thought they made me look better, but... losing 'em feels so much worse."

Kin-Kin grinned at the caracal's answer to her question. "Kin-Kin. Demigod of light, and... 'the best'. Doesn't have the same ring to it, does it?" she joked, winking once more, and then breaking into a chuckle.

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When I speak.

When I think.

"Fair enough. I gotta admit, I do think it's far more impressive when it's unique to me." she smirked. "The offer still stands though, if you run into trouble that can't be burned alive." Her eyes glittered with a little spark of amusement. Her gaze flickered momentarily across Imperia's feline form, and a moment later, Kin-Kin spoke again. "I bet it'd make you look pretty rugged.... not that you aren't already."

She shrugged, although seemed somewhat reluctant. "I suppose I could give it a go. But I don't wanna be just... another so-and-so." she already felt a little naked, thinking of using her name alone. "Hmmm. Demigod and master of light, perhaps. I might njot be a champion, but I've still trained in light as long as I've been alive."

She looked a little guilty, as Imperia continued to insist on giving up her titles. But in a way, Kin-Kin was afraid to. She didn't remember ever meeting another who boasted a distinguishing title and wore it proudly, like a banner of their own proud achievements. She sighed softly. "Well, we'll just see."

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When I speak.

When I think.