ORIGIN - Three-way reunion

At the first whiff of smoke, Kin-Kin had finally left Eridanus- with at least half of what she'd been looking for, and a pleasant feeling of fulfilment in her chest. Yet, even better, somehow, was the familiar face she'd met on her way out. Obviously then, there was no time to stop for a catch up, because dallying isn't the best idea at the first sign of a fire- but on the way Kin-Kin had taken the opportunity to sneak business into a casual chat. As Kin-Kin quietly tried to usher Imperia from Tunnel I towards Polaris, she not-so-subtly dropped the tidbit that there was someone she'd been wanting them to meet.

There wasn't much more to it than that Kin-Kin had taken the lead, and had gone ahead towards the river's bank- occasionally glancing back to make sure that she was still being followed. Then, when they reached a suitable place where they could rest and wait- close by her den, but not too close- Kin-kin stopped and drew in a deep breath. She tilted back her head, her ears laid back and eyes closed. Then, she let out let out a deep, throaty howl, the sound ringing and singing from deep within her chest. It carried and echoed throughout the cavern, filling Polaris with her free-spirited song.

Finally she stopped, settled down on her haunches, and pricked her ears to listen to the dying echoes. That one felt like a good one- she glanced back with a wry grin to see if Imperia had heard it, and was impressed.

That was the signal- now all there was to do was wait.

" speech "

@Imperia @Huckleberry

It wasn't long after Imperia saw the strange creature who ate petals that the fire started. They were tempted to stay and simply revel in the fire, but it didn't seem as fun if they weren't the ones who had caused it. Also, the smoke had started getting to their lungs - they weren't used to a fire that big. So they left, and in the process met someone they hadn't seen in a while.

Kin-kin and they talked as they walked, and they didn't complain when she basically steered her to Polaris, saying there was someone she wanted them to meet. Their curiosity was piqued, and they followed dutifully. Upon arriving in Polaris, they sat beside her and listened as she howled. It was loud and clear, echoing around the cave, and they couldn't keep the grin off their face. They were definitely impressed, and it likely showed.

It was oddly refreshing to be back with Kin-kin. They hadn't seen her in a while, and it was nice to see that she was still doing well. The last time they had seen her was only briefly, and not long after the Olympics. Knowing her loss in the magic competition - well, it was good to see she hadn't let it set her back.

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

tags: @Huckleberry @Kin-kin
notes: here

Huckleberry could hear the howl all the way from the nest were they were sleeping. The sound jerked them awake and their head immediately rose, their ears perking. That sounded like Kin-Kin...so that meant it was time. They looked around - there was nobody else in the nest right now, which was good news for them. No need for any kind of sneaking. Next to them, Shiny raised her head, her four ears alert as well, although probably out of fear instead of excitement. "No need to worry, Shiny, the howl is a good howl. The howler is a friend." Huckleberry leaned over and cave the little catsquirrel a reassuring lick and she responded with a small nuzzle before climbing onto their back as they stood.

They bounded through the short tunnel, Shiny clinging to their back, hoping desperately that they didn't run into any of their family members on the way. Upon reaching the exit, they spread their wings and leaped into the air, heading towards where they heard the voice ringing from. At some distance away, they spotted the two figures on the stones below and brought themselves down.

As they touched the floor and got closer, they felt a sudden rush of nervousness go through their body. Huckleberry paused and took a deep breath, focusing on Shiny's warm weight on their back. They continued forward, moving around the crest of a boulder to come face to face with Kin-Kin and the stranger.

They looked at the cat and suddenly remembered that this was a killer too. Their ears flattened with anxiety and their head bowed, wings quivering a bit. "H-hello...it's good to see you again...Kin-Kin..." Their small tail was whipping nervously and even Shiny was watching the two warily, having never met them before, not knowing if they were friend or foe to their friend.

@Kin-Kin @Imperia
oh look i responded finally

Kin-Kin glanced at Imperia with pride clear in her eyes as the last echoes of her howl faded into the emptiness. She couldn't help finding the caracal's grin infectious, despite her efforts to maintain a cool facade. The wolf stretched, then settled down close to Imperia herself, moving so that their haunches were almost touching. Then she waited for a while.

Time passed.

Finally, Kin-Kin heard something- and looked up to see the very face she'd wanted to see- the hybrid, now fully grown- emerging from behind a rock. Kin-Kin nodded approvingly, quickly standing and moving towards Huckleberry so that she could introduce the two. She glanced at the little creature they were carrying, and tilted her head, but decided not to mention it. Finally, the wolf cleared her throat. "Huckleberry, this is Imperia," she introduced, nodding her head towards the cat. "And Imperia, Huckleberry." Then she moved back towards Imperia, once again seating herself by their side, she swished her tail in a subtle gesture for them to move closer, hoping that they'd be less nervous when they saw Kin-Kin so close to them.

Finally, Kin-Kin cleared her throat again. "So...uh. Huckleberry's been havin' some family issues. I feel like they'd be better at explainin' all this than me." They glanced at Huckleberry expectantly before turning back towards Imperia. "And Imperia? Well, you've spent more time dealin' with this sorta stuff than me. I had a feelin' that you'd be a bigger help'n I ever could." She shuffled her paws, her smile only a little sheepish.

" speech "

@Imperia @Huckleberry

Huckleberry nodded sheepishly, unable to hold eye contact with the stranger. "Yes...I'm Huckleberry." Even thought introductions were wholly unnecessary, they still felt like they had to introduce themselves to Imperia. They were suddenly reminded about how old these two were. Much older then them and even older then Mama. They shivered as they tried to find their words but nothing came to their throat.

They felt Shiny give their ear a small reassuring lick. Huckle-friend, no need to fear. Just tell them what you've told me. And as usual the effect on Huckleberry was strong. They sat down and took a deep breath, turning towards Imperia to start telling their tale. They felt a surge of bravery go through them, although, as they started speaking their was still some shaking in their voice and they talked slow and unsure of themselves.

"W-well, my Mama is Blackberry, she's this goose thing and she's, uh..." Crazy. "...y-yes, crazy. I guess. But I love my mama! She's my mama and I love my papa too and they love each other. She's just, uh, violent. Well, I have a whole family, brothers and sisters, most of them Mama adopted but Baneberry and Elderberry are my blood siblings. Mama and Papa trains them to fight, but its mostly Mama. She teaches us to fight and to kill and to be merciless. I used to kind of like it, it was fun to fight! I liked using my magic and winning or losing fairly but Mama wanted me to be physical. I d-don't really like blood...but she wants me to be like her and she gets angry when I'm not." One of their claws came up to their face and traced down the long, ugly scar that would never go away.

"I made her upset. She doesn't like it when we make friends outside of the family, she says that we have enough within. She didn't trust me after...after Kin-Kin helped me. But what's wrong with making friends? Why can't I love my family and love other people too! But Mama doesn't understand!" As the memories started flooding back of their estrangement from the family, Mama's mistrust of them, and that day, their voice grew higher and faster and more desperate. "Sh-she took me out, one day, after they killed someone...the whole family! Tore them apart! She f-found a bird that couldn't walk a-a-and...sh-she...she f-f-forced m-me..." Tears welled in their eyes as they relived the moment. Stepping up to the side of the bird. Leaning down, taking their neck in their jaws, the wounds on their side burning. And the soft snap and the taste of blood the blood in their mouth all the blood, it was everywhere it was never going to get out of their fur!

The broke into sobs and claws at their face while Shiny furiously groomed the back of their neck. "I killed her," they wailed. "I killed an innocent little bird and then I gave it life because I couldn't stand what I had done! And then I g-gave it to Mama and sh-she...she never let me even touch it! My child...my child hatched and xe doesn't even know! Xe thinks I'm just xer sibling!" Unable to continue, they wailed and collapsed on the ground, Shiny giving a small meow of protest at the sudden movement.

@Imperia @Kin-Kin

Imperia waited for...whoever it was Kin-kin wanted them to meet to show up. They shifted their paws slightly, aware of Kin-kin being so close they were nearly touching. Eventually, they realized someone was approaching. That someone was clearly a hybrid. Between what exactly, they couldn't tell. A moose, certainly. Aside from that...They had no idea.

They watched briefly as Kin-kin got up to greet them before focusing their attention on the hybrid. As they were introduced, they nodded their head lightly in greeting. "Huckleberry," they murmured quietly. "It is...nice to meet you." The pleasantries seemed to fall flat - they had never been the best at being polite. But considering this was someone Kin-kin wanted them to meet, they supposed this was the least they could do. They glanced at Kin-kin as she came back over to them, speaking. Family issues. No wonder she wanted them to meet the hybrid. They flicked an ear and turned toward Huckleberry as they began to speak.

They stayed silent throughout it all, but their mind was racing. This was all similar to what their and Aaliyah's relationship was. Except...it seemed Blackberry was far more successful they were. They felt an inkling of annoyance at this, but pushed it aside - it wasn't what they needed to focus on at the moment.

As a claw came up to trace over a scar they had noticed earlier, they shifted. It reminded them of the scar they had given Aaliyah over her chest, not long after she had hatched. They'd also given her numerous other scars. It was something they had been proud of at the time, and even after meeting her again cycles after they had split. Knowing they were the one to give her them...but now, it just made them feel slightly sick.

After that, Imperia shook their head slightly to try and clear their thoughts before solely focusing on what Huckleberry was saying. At the end, they began to feel uncomfortable. Their eyes closed as the hybrid began to sob. Why had Kin-kin asked them to help with this? This was the different side of the family they were dealing with. She should have found Aaliyah instead - surely she'd have been able to help!

They took a deep breath. Kin-kin had called them; they were going to do the best they could. And that meant somehow...comforting Huckleberry? How could they do that? They walked slowly up to them, glancing at Kin-kin briefly. What did she even expect them to do? They turned back to Huckleberry a little awkwardly. "Hey - Huckleberry. It's...It's okay. I know, it can...it can be hard being forced to kill. I may not know from personal experience but...I've..." their voice trailed off, and they weren't sure if they wanted to continue. Another breath and they forged on.

"It can be hard. And I don't know if it ever gets better. But you need to persevere. Things...can get better. Especially if you manage to just leave Blackberry and the others." They thought about Aaliyah, how distraught she had seemed after killing that badger. And the fierce anger in her eyes as she finally stood up to them. The feeling of watching her walk away. The challenge in her gaze when they saw her again, cycles after she left. She had seemed much better then, had even started taking care of her own child, even if was just someone she had found.

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

tags: @Kin-kin @Huckleberry
notes: here

The she-wolf's ears twitched. She watched the hybrid, and listened as they offloaded everything that they'd already told her to Imperia. The she-wolf mostly stayed silent and still, although she glanced sideways at the caracal once or twice, keenly aware of what they were probably thinking. Why not go to Aaliyah?

Kin-Kin, after all, had seen both sides of the story as they unfurled.

But, Kin-Kin knew Imperia perhaps better than anyone else. Although their experience was from the other side of the story, the wolf didn't know the other cat well enough to trust her with this. She felt, in a way, locked into the responsibility to try and find a balance. Clearly, for Imperia the situation wasn't quite as ideal as it could have been. But they spoke putting logic over emotion; yes, it would be hard. It might not get better.

But something had to be done.

As the parent, clearly Imperia's choices still affected them to this day.

But they were trying their best. As Imperia trailed off, Kin-Kin flicked her tail- a small and everyday motion- but allowed it to lightly brush against the caracal's as she did so.

Perhaps that was what Huckleberry needed to see; that mama could be wrong, and that even when they left their family behind, they wouldn't be alone.

kin-kin remained silent, to let the two talk it out.

" speech "

@huckleberry

It was amazing that Huckleberry could even hear Imperia talking through all of the crying that they were doing but they did. They quieted a little bit and sniffled, looking up at him with glossy eyes. Nothing was processing properly in their head now and it took them a while to even comprehend what was being told to them but as soon as he suggested that they leave the family, it was like a switch being turned on.

They leaped to their feet, wings fluttering anxiously. "What?! No no no no no I can't leave! I can't leave Mama and I can't leave Cloudberry! I-i-i belong with them! Please, don't make me leave them!" It wasn't certain if Huckleberry was even speaking in their right mind at that moment since they immediately turned to Kin-Kin and wailed. "Please, don't make him take me! I can't leave, she'll kill me and she'll kill Cloudberry or I'll kill myself because I can't live without my Mama!"

They wailed again and backed away, ears pressed firmly against their head as Shiny did her best to console Huckleberry by grooming their mane. But it seemed the hybrid wasn't even noticing the gentle licks as they looked between the two in front of them.

@Imperia

Imperia watched as Huckleberry seemed to quiet and listen. They felt Kin-kin's tail brush against them and relaxed slightly at the motion. They waited for the hybrid to say something. And when they mentioned leaving, well...

Their ears lowered against their head as the hybrid burst out, and they were rather shocked at the strength of their words. They instinctively took a step back, eyes widened. After hearing their words, however, the caracal's eyes narrowed and they shifted a little.

"Alright, alright. I'm not going to make you do anything," they tried to console the hybrid. "It was just a suggestion, something that might help." If Huckleberry wasn't going to leave Blackberry, however, they weren't sure how or if it would get better. The only thing that really made it better between them and Aaliyah was the hybrid leaving. And if Huckleberry wouldn't do that...What else was there?

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

tags: @Kin-kin @Huckleberry
notes: here