The half-grown wolf didn't entirely understand what she had gotten herself into, but it seemed like fun. Kera was always confident with her magical ability and she was fairly sure that she would be able to do well.

Kera was also, incidentally, unaware of the term 'jinxing it.'

She didn't know many others in the line-up. She knew Dragon, who went first, and she cheered for him loudly with her tail wagging. She was glad to see his wings (as dysfunctional as they were), though she barely caught sight of him summoning fire regardless. Perhaps, however, it was for the best-- she wouldn't have wanted to be on the recieving end of a misfire.

The next was a black panther who she cheered for much more quietly, more out of politeness than anything else. She watched with a furrowed brow, frowning, waiting-- and she gasped as it began to get dark. The wolf sprung up to all fours, half-ready to bring light to the cave once more, though the darkness soon faded.

Asshole, she thought bitterly, fur a little bristled as she sat herself back down. The sour taste in her mouth quickly left as she saw Rift take the stage; tail wagging again as she cheered for him as well, at the same volume as she had cheered for Dragon.

She watched the tree with admiration; but she began cheering upon seeing her own mushrooms clamber up the tree under Rift's touch. They were hers, but she didn't particularly mind. Kera liked sharing her mushrooms-- her gift, as Giggle kept calling it.

She flashed the cougar a good-natured grin as he returned, tail thumping hollowly against the cave floor, and then turned to continue watching. She did not cheer for the three gembounds that entered the ring; the first, Zevruu, who she was still half-convinced had something to do with the lights turning off, predictably made it dark as well. Her fur bristled and she watched the serval stalk back to his seat.

The next two, birds.

Kera still hated birds, decidedly. She watched tensely, biting her tongue. One of them was a little like Alan, though instead of making lights she seemed to be manipulating the light the mushrooms were already giving off. It doesn't count, the wolf thought with a little huff.

And then, it was her turn.

The half-grown wolf pushed herself up and entered the ring with nails clicking against the ground. She had no idea what she was going to do-- but she would be fine. She would figure it out, but first things first: an introduction.

The wolf turned and bowed her head neatly. "Hello," she said. "I'm Kera. I turned the lights back on." She refused to let this title die. Pride was nothing to be ashamed of however, in Kera's not-so-humble opinion.

With this, she turned towards the massive oak tree. It was time to get to work.

The white wolf stepped forward confidently towards the oak tree and delicately pressed her nose against it. She focused quietly for a moment, calmly, as her gemstone began to glitter pink under thick, ragged fur-- but it had worked.

Kera had never tried to bauble a living thing before; but within a few moments light began to travel up the bark of the tree and through it's branches; illuminating it a brilliant golden-white. It even reached the leaves, colouring them almost white, but it wasn't a particularly strong light. No, it was dim-- but damn it had worked.

Her tail wagged as she turned back towards the audience with a big grin, shaking any and all nervousness away from her fur. "I bring light," she said proudly, as if this much hadn't been obvious already-- and on she went with the next spell. It took her a moment to think of, a moment of standing there smiling and wagging her tail distantly, but she got there.

Kera sat back with her tail once more thumping against the cave floor. She was filled with mixed emotions; contentedness, pride, nervousness and the fear of failure, but she cast her gaze up and began to concentrate once more on her next spell.

The flow of magicka was always a comforting thing for Kera. To feel the magic coursing through her veins, powered by her gem, which she would always swear felt warmer as it cast magic, regardless if it actually did or not. The rose quartz lodged into her skin began glowing once more, and then-- just above the heads of the crowd --an orb began to form.

A good one. Once again, in Kera's not-so-humble opinion.

At first, it was nothing more than a speck of brightly-glowing light, but it began to form and shift before it began darting across the audience, across the tree, across the ceiling and around the spire. It was almost too fast to see the distinct shape of, but what had started off as a mere speck of dust took the shape of something distinctly bird-shaped.

Tenzin, Kera should think. She had only seen him once, but he was still the only bird she trusted. She took care into trying to form the orb into the general shape of the ice-phoenix and she took pride in the fact that, even while it was moving, his wings were still noticeable, his head, even his long tail-feathers as they swept behind him.

It was not large, but the resemblance was there. It was not blue either. The bird-orb was a bright shining yellow and white-- though she'd have to remember to ask Alan how he made light blue. The orb spread light across Polaris' already-light room, the tree, the heads of the other gembounds watching, and Kera had to pick herself up to keep eyes on it, to control where it was going and what it looked like.

And then, the Tenzin-orb landed between Kera and the others, facing the audience, and gave a little bow. Kera had to act fast.

Kera concentrated once more, focusing as hard as she could-- but she was distinctly tired now. Her gem did nothing and the Tenzin-orb was beginning to fade.


Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn...

Her intention had been to make it appear as though the bird-shaped orb exploded into thousands of tiny, flickering lights but it was clear that wasn't happening. Instead, she shifted, eyes bearing into the orb of light. She attempted to reinforce it, but she couldn't do so for very long.

With a breath, she focused. The Tenzin-orb gave a little flourishing bow before taking off once more above the heads of the audience, where he flickered out of sight near immediately after spreading light once more down upon them.

This was fine. Kera picked herself up and bowed her head. "Thank you for watching," she said politely, hiding any trace of bitter disappointment that her final spell hadn't gone to plan. She had done well regardless; Rift's tree was glimmering like a lightbulb and she was sure that her orb wouldn't be forgotten so soon.

... she hoped, anyway.

The wolf padded back to her spot in the audience, nails clicking once more against the cave floor, and slumped down tiredly to rest her head on her legs, watching the ring for the next performer.

@Septiezal

Septiezal watched the white wolf, Kera, with interest. She claimed to have brought the lights back on.

Ah, yes, I remember now.

This must have been the Gembound everyone talked about a few cycles back. She may have fixed the generator, but any creature with half a brain and no limbs could dislodge a gem. He wondered if there were others who helped, or if she took all the credit herself. Pride disgusted him, it was reminisce of that vile Mosi. The so-called "God of the Star's" oozed it, but Kera was young. Perhaps, she would not become that monster.

However, her magick was impressive for her age, he would give her that.

Septiezal slithered onto the make-shift stage after Kera retreated into the audience. He rose up in an "S" shape, scanning the crowd as he flicked his tongue. Cycles ago, Septiezal would have rather died than perform magick in front of a large audience. Even now, he felt his gut twist as their eyes bore holes into him, but if fire had taught him one thing, it was discipline. Outwardly, Septiezal retained a calm, albeit, sullen demeanor as he cleared his throat and picked up a stick with his tail. If all went according to plan, this was going to hurt.


"Lisssten here, fellow Gemboundsss," He announced, pointing his stick at the crowd. "I am known as Sssseptiezal and I will ssshow you the power of fire!" His glower shifted into an uncertain smirk. "If it will let me." He muttered.

The serpent's saliva thickened into a bright, honey-colored slime. It oozed and dripped from the sides on his mouth like viscous drool. Septiezal open his mouth wide, the substance coated his mouth, connecting his gapping maw with gooey strands. He brought the stick up to his mouth and ran it over his jaws, scrapping up the viscid, orange saliva with the tip. When he was done Septiezal close his mouth, as the last of the substance dripped away from his mouth, returning his saliva to normal.



"speak"

Septiezal gripped the stick tightly in the coils of his tail. The gel that coated the tip in a thick blob was slowly starting oozed down. He eyed the audience with his ember eyes, as if to indicate something, then cut them back to the gelled up stick.

A sense of relief wash over him felt his gem heat up. Now, he could get on with the show. Septiezal cracked open his jaws ajar. A soft sizzling sound came from with the serpent's throat. It could have been mistaking for a gurgling hiss, but Septiezal knew what it was. As the superheated bile rose in throat, it boiled it raw. Septiezal arched his head back, suddenly spitting forward the lava-like fluid on to the stick.

Without warning, the gel exploded into a myriad of flaming gallops, sending fireballs in every direction. Septiezal, having been so close, allowed himself to become struck. There wasn't much he could do in the way dodging. Instead of crying out in pain, the serpent held a stoic expression as the flames agonizingly ate at his scales. He knew this happen, and he prepared for it. He covered his burning skin with his coils, hoping to smother the lose flames.

Despite the pain that wracked his body, Septiezal held his composure, raising the now burning stick, like torch, to the audience. He still had one more spell to do.

"speak"

The torch in his grasp burned brightly for all to see, like a beacon. Septiezal brought the burning stick down in front of him, its light illuminated his face. Daringly, he flicked his tongue over it as if to smell the flames. The sensation was painful, just like casting fire, but if it wowed the others, then it was worth it. With the torch still held in the air, he twisted his scorched coils around his tail, shooting the audience another look.

At this point, the flames had ate most of the stick growing dangerously close to his tail. Septiezal turned to the side, so that the audience could get a good view of what he was about to do. The serpent open his mouth wide, and slowly brought the flaming torch down into his mouth, as if he was consuming a rat.

He closed his jaws around the flames, smothering it, and as he did, the serpent's scales blacken and crumbled as intense heat rolled down his body charring them into a crisp. Black, fouls smelling Smoke billowed into the air, finally obscuring the python from view.

As the smoke cleared, Septiezal ember eyes flickered brightly through the haze, revealing his deeply charred body. He couldn't help but to grin. Everything had worked out the way he wanted. He gave the crowd a serpentine bow, before slithering his 20ft body off the stage and took his place in the crowd. Regardless if he won or not, Septiezal felt new-found confidence in his magick, and that made his heart swell with pride.

Though he was off the stage, the stench of burnt snake skin still hung in the air.


"speak"

@Ritonai

Ritz strutted around, flaunting her tail and ears, excited to start her show. She made her way on stage, wrinkling her nose at the stench.

"Gembounds, I am the great Ritz! Let the power of fire excite!" She yelled out, so everyone could hear. Before starting her show, Ritz thought it would be a good idea to add a little dazzle to her looks. Spooky, mysterious. Alluring, eye-catching.

Summoning her magick, she allowed smoky red ethereal wings to appear, giving her fiery personality a good kick. Confidence surging through her, she stepped up to the front of the stage and gazed at her audience.

"Let my show begin."

Smirking, the fennec turned dramatically. She would impress them. The snake had done something impressive, but she would do better. Planning her moves carefully, Ritonai used the same spell to make her spit gel-like and flammable. Dangerous spit. The little fox picked a rock up in her mouth, coating it before setting it back down.

Quickly, she repeated the process until she had a nice pile of flammable spit covered rocks. Now, for the next part. she arranged them in a nice pattern, a flower, and prepared for the next part.

Ritonai turned to flash a quick smile at the audience, before focusing on her gem again to summon more magick, this time to light the pyrogel. It'd cause an awesome flower explosion.

Though, Ritz had no clue what dangers it held. Feeling her body heat up, the fox set the pyrogel on fire, watching it spread from rock to rock, balls of flame flying in every direction. Finally noticing the excruciating amount of pain in her foot, she realized that it wasn't even there.

It took all her willpower not to scream. Instead, she turned, bowed, and rushed off stage to go dip the stump in water.

@Kin-Kin

Kin-Kin's tail swished slightly beneath her cloak, the only external sign of her nervousness. She'd been watching, and waiting, but the magickal displays of the caves' newest generation failed to relax or enthrall her, only sending greater thrills of fear through her chest whenever something caught her eye. Luckily, she carried a bundle of river pebbles in her jaws, which hid her expression, and she kept her ears perked and alert, her gaze flitting for a sign of a caracal, or the little bird.

Though Kin-Kin made the best effort to keep her nervousness shielded, she knew that Imperia would feel it all, so there was really no point. But that fear was not without reason; Kin-Kin felt like she had everything to lose here today. Her pride and her title... the two things which made her... her. If she wasn't Kin-Kin, magickal champion of the caves, who was she?

As her name was called, Kin-Kin felt another jolt of fear, and breathed out a deep breath. with a well-practiced swagger, she padded coolly towards her chosen stage, a familiar fairy ring of mushrooms casting an ethereal glow on her display. She laid her burden of stones in the centre- around four small pebbles, with one larger than the rest around the size of a splayed paw.

"And now!" she boomed, raising her voice above the fear. "The show you've all been waiting for! The currently reigning champion, and demigod of light...! Me, of course!" she puffed out her chest and stood tall for the crowds, basking in her own glory as she imagined all the eyes upon her.

Then, Kin-Kin grinned a well-practiced grin, and laid a softly glowing paw against the surface of the largest stone. It took a moment, but there was a creak and a crackle, and Kin-Kin felt relief prickling down her spine as the river pebble shrank, compressing into a small but elegant quartz point, milky and glistening.

---

When I speak.

When I think.