Kin-Kin padded on a usual patrol, the crystalline blade in her sheathe softly clinking, and cape softly glowing at her back. She was growing bored of waiting for something to happen, and today she intended to change that; it was time for her to get back to her old tricks, get back into the swing of training again. It was time to work out until she retained all of the grandeur of her youth. Then she could get into a real fight or two. She'd been picking them, sure; she was as outspoken as ever. But recent losses had really put things into perspective just how much she'd lost. She'd become too cocky and sure of herself, and had neglected what made her great in the first place.

She could hardly believe that after all these cycles, her first loss to Imperia had finally come, at the same moment as she'd lost her limelight to a bunch of kids. It was something so simple, and yet it gnawed at her; as she knew it would. Better to lose to Imperia, though, than some random kid. The same, she supposed, went for Xireidi. But he was so much younger; so much less experienced than the caracal who'd been her longtime rival almost since their emergence. That was what really irked her, and when she was back in shape, Kin-Kin swore that a rematch would be close at hand. And maybe, after that, the ever-looming showdown with Blackberry that she was certain would come eventually. The hybrid's mother was too uppity for her own good, too dangerous; and Kin-Kin thought it only right that she'd be the one to knock her down a peg.

It was slightly ironic. The goose's daughter would be long dead without her.

Kin-Kin had spent so long dwelling on her losses and failings, meandering alone in the dark, that it almost felt good to have something to aim for again. But she was high-stepping, tall and proud, as she wove long-familiar paths. It was as she patrolled the cavern's perimeter that she caught a glimpse of a shadow, hunched quietly in a rocky outcropping- almost invisible in the shadow. Kin-Kin raised her muzzle and sniffed- but whoever it was, the stranger was no goose. They smelled young; and Kin-Kin caught a trace of blood, too. The she-wolf padded forward curiously, separating herself from the lights the newborn had been so transfixed upon. Her soft golden glow fell upon their little alcove as she peered in.

She'd never seen a gembound like this before- the face was unusual, but reminded her, curiously, of a tiny imp-like monkey who'd once rode on her back. She tilted her glowing head, violet eyes inquisitive. Her gaze trailed over the stubby nose and big forehead- the small ears and the unusual, dextrous-looking hands and feet. She sat down in the entrance, swishing her tail to adjust her cloak.


She shook herself back to the matter at hand, realizing that her scrutiny might be considered rude.

""Y'allright, Kid? I smelled blood."


" speech "

Kin-Kin watched, a brow quirked in mild amusement as the young one tried to look at her but succeeded only in falling face-first to the ground at her paws. She tilted her head, unable to resist a slight wolfish grin, but hid it by dropping her muzzle to nudge the young one's shoulder, offering her help in getting up. She was glad to hear that the young one was okay; though she wondered if his problems were down to fluctuations of the cave lights, or some kind of blindness. She hoped it was the former, and not just so she could show off her lights. But if it was the latter, she could understand. For some creatures, the light was harder to adjust to than others, though she'd never known why. Some just preferred the dark, it would seem. Her glow brightened slightly- less out of conscious effort, and more of a response to her emotions. After a momentary pause for consideration, she sucked in her breath and focused in.

Her glow focused, darkening into a single point before separating itself from her body in a shimmering mist; it took shape into a bright orb of light hanging in the alcove just above the youngster's head, enough to illuminate the area like a torch.

"Better?" The she-wolf asked, shaking her head to smooth her golden fur. After all, first impressions were everything. When the kid asked her name, the she-wolf grinned, sending a wink- that he may or may not have seen- his way. "The name's Kin-Kin! Demigod and master of light. Nice to meetcha. Do you have a name yet?"


" speech "

Kin-Kin felt the young one tug briefly at the fabric hugging her gem- but unless they pulled harder, she wasn't worried. This fabric had been burned, soaked, ripped again and again over the years, and although it still bore the marks, it wasn't gonna be moving any time soon. In any case, he soon let go, and Kin-Kin watched as he adjusted to the brightness, paws covering his eyes, dark form illuminated by her golden glow.

She waited patiently and watched as he opened his eyes, tail swishing softly. And then, as he stared, she raised her chin and beamed a wolfish grin. Her fur, gilded in her own limelight, glowed softly, rendering her features unmarked by shadow. Her moonstone gem was spotless with its soft blue gleam- and the blade softly clinked against her foreleg, shimmering as it sent out rainbow sparks like a disco ball. Her eyes, of the deepest violet, glittered with mirth. Yes- she was a fine figure, deserving every stare she got, and basking in it. It had been so long- she'd almost forgotten why she loved speaking to newborns. But this youngster brought it all back, and she loved him for it already.

"Kamala, huh?" the she-wolf echoed, ears twitching in a moment of thought before she nodded. "Ah, yes. You seem young. Smell it, even. When did you hatch?" She wondered if the young one had met anyone else- it seemed as though he'd walked quite a way on his own. If that were so, it was good that Kin-Kin had found him when she did. The caves could be a dangerous place. She paused; as the youngster wondered where he was, Kin-Kin nodded. "They call this place Polaris- the Room of Lights." As he greeted her enthusiastically, repeating the words she'd spoken, Kin-Kin showed white fangs in a broad grin, and couldn't resist a chuckle.


" speech "

Kin-Kin nodded, ears twitching encouragingly as the youngster put 2 and 2 together and thought back to his birth. "Ah. No worries!" Kin-Kin hastily responded to the little one's apology. After all, the lights fluctuations were random at best, and time could be difficult to measure. For her, cycles and ours were almost indistinguishable; but she remembered when she was that age, they felt so, so long.

Kin-Kin grinned as the little one commented on the names of herself and the cavern. "Of course! Perfect home for me, don't you think?" Kin-Kin thought for a moment, casting a glance up towards the orb of light she had summoned. She could bring it with them, she knew, with ease; but when she left, she knew it would leave little Kamala in darkness again. As he asked her to show him more of Polaris, Kin-Kin nodded vigorously, a grin lighting up her face. "For sure! There's a lot to see here! it's one of the biggest caves. First though..."

Kin-Kin set her paws apart and prepared for her usual ritual. The ground beneath her paws creaked softly, letting out a quiet groan. It reformed, leaving a small crater- and in its center, a glistening quartz gem. Kin-Kin glanced up at the gorilla, awaiting his reaction as she gathered her light about her and prepared to imbue it with light. The orb was wavering slightly, but she'd more than make up for it in a moment.


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