June 21, 2018

-Chapter Two-
A Serval Named Kinkajou

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-Varian Blackthorn-

Today is the day that I finally get to summon a spirit animal!

Quite confident of me, aren't I? I was aware the Nectar didn't guarantee we'd get a spirit animal but nothing could just ruin this day!

Only, of course, I had to share this special day with my twin sister. Cause, of course, we were born on the same day.

"Oh my Tellun, and they say girls take longer dressing up," My annoyed-looking sister groaned from the doorway.

"Otter dear, take pride in this day," I switched to old English, "For 'twas 'tis day all eyes watcheth as my spirit animal, thee I summon, cometh forth."

I ducked just in time as a pillow was thrown at me. How she got a pillow from the doorway, I have no idea, "Your English is as old as a dead language."

"So...old."

"Oh no, the language just died yesterday."

"Hurry up you two before your spirit animals gets tired of waiting around for you slugs!" Mom yelled from downstairs.

"Yeah, Varian, hurry uuuuup," Autumn was just loading another pillow to throw at me.

"Okay, okay! Don't throw-" she threw it then ran downstairs with me dashing right after her.

- - -

Welp, my mood just dampened. Autumn was going first cause her name was the first on the alphabet. Since it was only the two of us today, that meant I was going last. Yeeeeeyyy. We lived in a small town in northern Amaya with a population of about 500-600 people. So yeah, the whole town had their eyes trained on us. More specifically, trained on Autumn as soon as her name was called.

"Autumn Thorne Blackthorn, come forth," our local Greencloak by the name of Ella Rose, spoke up, carrying the flask that held the oh-so-special Nectar.

Autumn stood, casting me a glance that held the smallest glint of nervousness before walking over to the Greencloak. As soon as she was near, she kneeled on one knee, as we've seen others do in past Nectar Ceremonies.

"Receive the Nectar of Ninani," Ella murmured, bringing the flask to her lips.

I watched my sister closely as her eyes flickered in surprised delight as she took one sip. Ella immediately withdrew as Autumn shakily stood up. The birds shrieked as they flew from the trees. The dogs barked and howled, some running in circles as if they've lost their minds but my attention didn't last on them for long.

I saw a bright blinding flash of light that disappeared as soon as it had reappeared, leaving a large, bulky, soft eyed bear standing right beside Autumn. I've read quite a lot of books...even if the majority are pun books, I've still read other genres. I remembered having a little picture book I used to read when I was 5. It had all the general animals in each continent and so and I've seen the same creature as the one that Autumn now hesitantly reached out to.

"A Spectacled Bear," Ella spoke up with an encouraging smile at Autumn, "Congratulations on summoning your spirit animal, Autumn Blackthorn. Build on your bond and may you live long."

Autumn nodded hesitantly before scuttling back to our seat at the bench. She glanced back to see if the Spectacled Bear would follow and it did.

I was all nerves but I managed to push it down before giving her a grin, "Congrats, by the way."

"Thanks," Autumn smiled back, "Now it's your turn."

"Varian Dimitri Blackthorn," I immediately sat up straight. I felt all eyes shift from Ella to me, "come forth."

"Wish me luck," I muttered under my breath before standing up and walking forward.

"Break a leg," I heard her reply. She knew how much I hated that phrase. It screamed no luck at all in my opinion.

As I approached, I made a quick glance at my mom who watched at at the front seats. She gave me a thumbs up and an encouraging smile before I reached Ella. I almost forgot to kneel down...but I kneeled down.

"Calm down," Ella whispered, only to me, a glint of amusement in her eyes, "It's your one and only aunt giving you the Nectar."

Not exactly a lie. Ella Rose was a woman with dark chocolate brown hair and gray eyes just like Autumn's and mines. Ash had only said that she was our aunt and her longtime old friend. She didn't say if they were related but they looked nothing alike. So we just assumed they were related. Dang, we just assume everything. But she was a friendly woman or well, friendly for a Greencloak, and she cooks the best food! Wew so specific!

Ella brought the flask to my lips, "Receive the Nectar of Ninani."

And holy schist this was the best iced tea I've ever tasted in my whole life! Or well, it tasted like iced tea. And as an iced tea lover, of course I found iced tea yummy. I tried to steal another sip but Ella yanked it back, amusement still dancing in her eyes as she whispered again, "I know, kinda hard to resist."

I stood up, suddenly feeling slightly dizzy. I heard the faint shrieking of the bird as a rumbling kind of pain slowly started to build up from my gut. What the heck was happening to me? I almost fell back as a blinding flash of light appeared just right beside me. I shut my eyes closed before blinking them back open. The light was gone and in its place...was a Serval.

"A Serval," Ella commented with a grin, "Cute little wild cats."

I was immediately cutefied at its adorably little face that I knelt down to pet it, "Aren't you a cute guy."

The pain immediately disappeared as my hand came in contact with his pelt. The Serval showed his sharp teeth before jumping onto my shoulders and curling himself around. I almost fell and died.. okay so maybe the 'dying' part was exaggerated but seriously, he was treating me like a scratch post!

"Build on your bond, kid," Ella told me, "And may you two live long."

"Thanks," I quickly told her before jogging back to Autumn, "I got a Serval!"

"Really? I thought it was a scarf," Autumn replied flatly.

"I'm naming him Kinkajou," I announced, loud and clear. No one was listening since the crowd was dispersing.

"Kinkajou?" Autumn raised an eyebrow, "Isn't that another animal?"

"Yup, but I like the name anyway," I playfully scratched the top of my Serval's head, "You have been officially dubbed as Kinkajou."

Kinkajou seemed to sigh. Autumn looked down at her Spectacled Bear who was currently nibbling the edge of the bench, "I'm naming mines Eir."

"Eir?" I snickered, "I thought Nose or Claws would've fit the bear."

We both turned at the same time when mom and Ella approached, in a conversation of some sorts.

"He would've been proud, Ash," Ella was telling her softly, "He really would've."

"Sure," my mom mumbled. She didn't looked convinced. When she caught us looking, she smiled before engulfing Autumn in a motherly hug, "I knew you were going to get a spirit animal."

"Mooooom," Autumn whined while I snickered.

I didn't realize until it was too late. My mom had slung an arm around my neck, pulling me in and messing up my hair, "Mom noooo!"

"Mom yeeeeees," she grinned all evil-like cause she's evol like that. She loosened her grip enough for me to wriggle out of her grasp.

"You guys are making me jelly here," Ella tsked.

"Well when will you finally hook up with Miku?" My mom teased.

I exchanged a glance with Autumn, horrified, "What? Mom, that's just wrong!"

"That's incest!" Autumn added.

They both looked at us, confused as ever. Ella was the first to get it, "Oh my Tellun you two, did you just assumed I was related to your mother?"

I glanced at mom who was trying hard not to laugh, "Well..."

Ella laughed, "Nah, you're fine! We're not related. Just really good friends back when we were your age."

I caught Autumn giving her a suspicious glance, "But mom said you were our aunt.."

"Yeah, I'm-" it happened all so quickly that I almost missed it but I caught it. A small look between the two women, a warning, "-like those honorary aunts. You know? Since I was good friends with your mother."

I glanced at Autumn, wanting to know what she thought of all this. She looked very much suspicious. But she always does look suspicious.

"Oh," I nodded. I wasn't convinced though. And neither was Autumn but we decided to let it go.

For now.

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For now. Aha. Ha.

Here's ANOTHER aesthetic thing of Varian made by de Volcanic Ash! (Halp me!)

Next: The Search: Chapter Three

Characters:
Autumn and Varian are shared by Me and Ash
Ash belongs to Ash
Ella Rose belongs to Me