A frustrated cry of pain escaped his lips as he landed face first against the cold, rocky ground. He sniffed, trying to clear his nostrils from the sinus pressure building from the impact. A tiny hand that would one day hurl boulders like flowers reached up to touch his nose and felt a wetness there. Blood, no doubt...there was even a taste of it in the back of his throat. How long had he been wandering through the darkness since consciousness and understanding sparked within him? The shattering of the hard and sharp materials that he emerged from at least a day ago still rang loudly in the auditory memory. For some time he'd carried a few chunks of the crystals in his hands and whacked them hard against the wall to judge his surroundings. Now they were lost, as lost as Kamala. Yes, Kamala was his name, he was sure of that much. It was the only word he'd muttered since making this exploratory journey; this journey of chasing the dark lights.

He knew there should be sight and that there were things around him that he should be able to taking in in other ways than tasting, hearing, feeling, and smelling. As a matter of fact, he could see a little bit, but it was only those strange lights. They were blueish purple blurs against a matte background of pitch blackness...but they were there alright, dancing just in front of his eyes. And they drew him forward in his awkward progression of long limbs, flimsy spine, and a head that felt far too big for his immature body. Fascination and frustration pulled him along, ever chasing those lights until fatigue convinced him to find some quiet comfort in a corner of rocky outcropping. Overhead, the lights seemed to be particularly bright and he could almost feel a warmth coming from them. Kamala wrapped his arms around his legs, pulling his knees up close to his chest, and listened to the darkness. He hummed low, soothing himself, and watched the spectral lights dance..teasing him at the vision that would soon come.

(Anyone feel free to hop in)

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 "

@Kamala

This little corner of quiet where he could stare up at the growing brightness had been a nice place of refuge free of blunt and hard obstructions; but he was foolish to believe that he could hide and wait here forever. The answers he needed were not going to just fall into his lap, and if curiosity was not enough to drive him on, hunger would do an even better job of that later. He certainly didn't think he would be approached so quickly in this darkness. With little to no vision, he fully expected to exist in an empty vacuum, perhaps even as master of his own domain...well...he'd have to share it with those lights at least.

When the stranger approached, momentarily blocking the light from reaching his eyes, curiosity bloomed and he leaned closer to the figure. He couldn't quite make out its appearance, only a vague blur of an apparition stood before him, its edges highlighted in a soft glow. Kamala leaned ever further toward the figure and succeeded in toppling over, barely bracing himself one arm so he didn't face plant again. His dark eyes narrowed, trying to see better. The voice caused his ears to twitch and he tilted his head slightly trying to manufacture a response. Blood, yes, that was the word for it. That smell and taste lodged in his throat that reminded him of how clumsy he was, how awkward.

"Can't see so good...everything's fuzzy. Followed the lights and fell a lot." He wiped at his nose with the back of the hand that wasn't supporting him. "I'm okay." He sniffed and flared his nostrils a bit. "Who are you..."

@Kin-Kin

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 "

@Kamala

Once he was righted and able to stabilize himself again with the help of the she-wolf, he reached out one long finger and touched at the material draped around the stranger's neck. The sensation of the new material made the corners of his lips twitch into a near smile. So many new experiences today, but none of them would top what was now happening. The ape's eyes filled with the bright glow of the new light created and he quickly put his hands to them, rubbing hard against his eye lids. Kamala took a shuffling step backward, rubbed at his eyes again and reopened them as if for the first time. The dull brown haze that his eyes had once been was replaced by a new gleam and brilliance. Partially due to the amazing source of light now filling the area, or maybe because whatever had stunted his visual growth before had been shaken loose by this encounter. Whatever the reason, he was thrilled beyond compare at finally being able to see his surroundings.

But surroundings weren't nearly as important as the one standing before him. He didn't want to appear to openly gape at her, but obviously he'd never seen anything like her before. His jaw had gone slack and eyes wider than ever, partially at her appearance but more so at the impressive name and titles she gave. Kin-Kin...a demigod? Master of Light even? Well of course she was! Had she not brought forth light and even his own vision? But how did one address a creature such as this?

"Um..Kamala is my name. But no fancy titles yet..I'm new, I think. I don't even know where I am. But I should be here." He scratched at his cheek and narrowed one eye, trying to remember the greeting she used. Then a smile finally broadened his features as he remembered and repeated it back to her. "Nice to meetcha!"

@Kin-Kin

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 "

@Kamala

"Hatch?" He asked quietly, barely above a whisper. He repeated the word in his head and began putting 2 and 2 together in a much more constructive way. "The crystals...the shards." He muttered again quietly to himself and tried to remember exactly how long ago that had been. Kamala remembered eating several times since then, but up until Kin-Kin helped him to see, all that came before seemed a million years ago. He just shook his head slightly and looked back to her with an animated shrug. "I don't know. I'm sorry..." But he wasn't sure why he was apologizing; maybe because this caped heroine had it put together so well that he felt less that complete by giving such a poor answer.

With a heavy sigh and a flop he dropped his bottom to the cave floor again and folded his arms across his chest. A thoughtful expression settled over his features as he tilted his head, regarding her once more. "Polaris. That's beautiful. Not as beautiful as Kin-Kin, but it's nice. And it is a room of lights, where you helped Kamala to see for the first time." His lips set so tightly together in such a line that they nearly disappeared. He felt a wave of heavy responsibility begin to wash over him. For the first time, the vast empty darkness that was this cave for him in the days before turned into an expanse of limitless possibility. If a creature like her could come out of the nothingness and bring him such a new perspective on this new world, what else could exist out there.

He firmed his jaw and planted his fists into the cave floor and stood up again, then slowly shuffled on all fours back toward her. "Will you show me more of this place?"

@Kin-Kin

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.


" speech "

@Kamala