Kin-Kin's paws carried her as she moved, cape flowing at her back, her ears pricked in thoughts. occasionally, she raised her muzzle to sniff the air, but other than that, she kept on moving. The lights' return had surprised her; did she even still need to hunt for this 'Batcat' creature now? After all, their aim had been to restore the lights. Was it all pointless now?

Kin-Kin, in her glorious solitude, had surged ahead of the others, but it seemed she'd long since lost the odd slime trail. There had been a fork in the road, and she'd come across a different one, one that smelled different. Kin-Kin didn't particularly care that she'd lost it, as she was bound to discover something else along the way, and this 'batcat' was notoriously hard to catch, anyway. At some point or another, the group was bound to split up and search. Kin-Kin would just rejoin them later.

So, she padded onwards, golden glow reflecting on the pools and catching in the long-abandoned gems of the deceased. she seemed unmoved by their presence; Kin-Kin had seen it all before.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Astaroth

Astaroth had spent his time fretting over the bones of his own fortress, clearing out the pile to the side of it and stacking and interlocking the bones to rebuild the walls and building up new ones on the outside. That is, until he caught a scent, an old.. friend? He didn't know what quite to call her.. He pulled the bone out from the wall he was currently working on, cursing as he saw and heard it give way, making quite the raucous clatter. He looked into the corner inside his fortress, where two baubled jewels lay glowing faintly.. he supposed it was time to see the maker of those jewels again. He padded out of the fortress and over a mound, "Kin?" he barked out, trying to hide any emotion in his voice.
"Speaking."
Thoughts.
tags: @Kin-Kin
notes:

Kin-Kin's ears swiveled as a voice tickled her sensitive ears, close by. The voice itself was unfamiliar to her ears, but as she turned to face it, seeing someone cresting a mound of bones close by, her glow brightened and eyes shone with recognition. The pup she'd met so many cycles ago had grown; they towered over her now. A grin crept across her muzzle, and she swept back into a sitting position to await their approach, tail waving slowly from side to side.

"Hey, Kid!" she called in greeting, ears pricked. "Long time no see, huh?"

Although the pup had changed vastly, they could see that from the way they held themselves, the way that they approached, their appearance was unmistakable. and it was clear to see that Kin-Kin was still the same Kin-Kin. Not a scar marred her fur of glowing gold, not a crack marred the jewel upon her crest. and the smile on her face was the same as ever, proud and glowing with cool confidence.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Astaroth

Astaroth held himself slightly lower than usual as he strode towards her, sitting down on his haunches as well, curling his tail tightly around himself as he looked her in the eyes, his piercing and cold. His voice was deep and gravelly. "Long time no see indeed, I'm hardly a kid anymore." He said slowly, "Now what is the so-called champion of the caves doing in the rooom of bones?" His expression would have been unreadable as he looked her straight-on.
"Speaking."
Thoughts.
tags: @Kin-Kin
notes:

Kin-Kin chuckled at the black wolf's words, her grin widening. "These days, near everyone is a kid to me," she said with a wink, meeting their chilly gaze with eyes that sparkled with life, like carefully-crafted jewelry. Age had provided Kin-Kin with a wealth of experience, and as she met the gaze of the pup she'd once known, she saw someone else entirely. She didn't know what had happened in all of those cycles, but she could see it had changed them. The look on her face flickered through thoughtfulness for a moment, but she gave no other sign of intrusion. one's business was their own, hers included.

"I go where I please," she replied with a smirk. "I don't need a reason... Buuut, I suppose you could say I have a reason. A kid I met wants to find a hybrid creature.
It was meant to bring the lights back, but I don't suppose it matters now. Me? I was only in it for the thrill." she chuckled again.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@astaroth

Astaroth's ears flicked back in annoyance. How could one be so arrogant? He wondered how he had ever come to believe that this creature could care for him, or anything else for that matter. "You are correct on you being old, though you are incorrect on not needing reasons for actions. You see, when you don't think of reasons or consequences for actions, you hurt people. The foolish pup who thinks they own the world, the so-called mentor who said they'd help and protect the pup they so sympathized with in this world. You seem to have been both at times. But now you've come to my domain, here, you do need a reason, for, at this moment, you aren't entirely welcome here. And here, also, we need no lights, and quite, despise them." Ast's eyes shone fiercely bright as he summed up his magic and shot it out against the ceiling of the cavern around them, the lights popping and sizzling as they shattered, small glass pieces raining down in all directions until the only light directly where they were, was Kin's fur, and Astaroth's eyes, glowing violet in the darkness. "You took advantage of another even in your quest to bring back the lights. I have been called a demon, cruel, but you are crueler than I ever have been, you give false hope, then tear it away. Did you even notice the little pup with the lame paw trying to get your attention so many times? Did you? Because if you did, you made no indication of it."
"Speaking."
Thoughts.
tags: @Kin-Kin
notes:

Well, this had gotten real uncomfortable, real fast. The grin faded from her face, the light of amusement in her eyes quickly dying. She gave no response as theey shattered the light, glancing briefly upwards, before her gaze flickered back to the wolf. "Y'know," she finally said, calculating each and every word. her tail swished slowly. "If you wanted it to be dark, ya coulda' just asked."

Kin-Kin sighed deeply. "Y'know, if ya wanted to see me. Ya know where I am. I built a trail of statues leadin' to my den in Orion, and if that ain't a pretty good pointer, I dunno what is."

Kin-Kin didn't understand where all of this was coming from. She didn't understand what their problem was. She'd showed them her magic, maybe given them a better chance at finding their way in the world. Sure, Kin-Kin's priority was herself, but she'd never had anything like that. "Sure, I look out for myself. You look out for yourself, too, and that's not a problem. I'm here now. Ain't that better?" her ears lowered. "I never said I'd make a good parent. There have been hundreds of Gemlings like you. I taught them magic, gave them a start, and sent them on their way. I never see most of them again."

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Astaroth

Astaroth chuckled as he listened, laughing towards the end. "I was a pup, do you expect gemlings to just know how to find you? And I did try to speak to you again, but you never even acknowledged my existence. You taught me nothing, you promised to, I believed you would. I guess that was just another mistake for a stupid little pup." He kept staring her straight in the eyes, unmoving. "Do you never think what may come of these gemlings that you 'help'? You show them these amazing abilities all in the sake of vanity, making them worship you, and then leave them to this cruel world, you saw my scars, you know what happens when you lift them up so high just to drop them and let them fall. The lights in most of those gems have probably already died out. As mine did long ago, I'm no longer a light, I'm the darkness sucking other lights away."
"Speaking."
Thoughts.
tags: @Kin-Kin
notes:

Kin-Kin's eyes grew harsh, her voice exasperated. "If you want me to leave, then I'll leave," she said. Her voice was firm, and more serious than it had been in many cycles. There was little way that Kin-Kin could turn this situation around. It would doubtless be better to just leave. But she shook her head slowly. "I help in the only way I know how, kid. How many do you think would survive if I stuck with one lone pup, and left the rest alone in the dark? You did fine on your own, didn't you? And so did I."

Kin-Kin's tail flicked. She was glad that her cloak covered much of her body, as the fur along her spine was beginning to bristle. It's been a long time since I first met you, kid. Many, many cycles. Maybe I made some stupid decisions back then. Maybe I was just a stupid pup, myself. You know my pride. You, of all the gems in the cave, should know how much it takes for me to say that. But I know now. Can't we leave it in the past? I'll do better next time. Or this time. Or... whatever it is you want from me. Can't we leave the past in the past? I'll do better."

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Astaroth

Astaroth's posture softened a bit, sagging down, his head lowering, and his tail slackening around his body. "All I ever wanted was a hello, how are you, kid? Even that simple greeting could have made such a difference.. though I can't say I"m entirely upset that you left me so harshly, I've become strong in your absence. I'm even capable of killing at this point, and I have before. I just know for a fact, there are others that aren't as strong as I, and you left them helpless. The past leaks into the present. There's no real way for you to change what happened, but I better not hear about another being left in the dust like me. I will leave this in the past, but you shouldn't. Use this as a way to keep yourself from making the same mistake again." He turned away then, looking back at her, pitying her in a way before starting to walk back to his home.
"Speaking."
Thoughts.
tags: @Kin-Kin
notes: