@jumalanpelko (Hope tagging is okay! qwq)
Jumalanpelko OCs time! :D
Here’s my Suncat and Guard! Who are actually Guard and Suncat!! (It’s complicated) Their story is also kinda just raw story concepts and not fleshed out but I’d love to share what’s been floating in my brain for a bit :’)
The previous Suncat before Kukinta was considered a good Suncat by the cult. She diligently did her job without complaint, smiled when needed, and seemed to be perfect for Her. So it came as a shock when Suncat made a run for it near the end of her life. The cult and Suncat’s guard had grown lax, and therefore was late to realize what had happened. The Suncat made it to the very edge of Her’s original range before dying.
She was naturally a bit upset and quickly attempted to locate the closest kitten She could hop to. Unfortunately, this ended up being Kukinta, who by chance happened to be right where she shouldn’t be. She would’ve died had Kukinta not been there, but that isn’t this story.
Kukinta and Lupaus had been inseparable ever since they could open their eyes. Kukinta was quiet and unsure of herself while Lupaus was outspoken, confident, and spunky. Lupaus was one of the only cats who could draw Kukinta out of her shell and always managed to rope her into things— including nearly going into Where She Won’t Go.
And so, Kukinta was right there when Suncat died.
The cult instantly went searching for Her when they realized Suncat was dead and She had moved. Suncat had lasted longer than the average suncat, so all the kittens were currently almost too old for Her.
Lupaus found Her first. Lupaus could always find Kukinta, even when no one else could. Kukinta always hid whenever she was overwhelmed and didn’t want to be found, but she could never escape Lupaus’s eye.
Lupaus found Kukinta in hysterics, while the presence of Her emanated from her chest. Kukinta was terrified, sobbing desperately while Lupaus hugged her about how she couldn’t be the new suncat, she didn’t want to be, she didn’t want to leave her mother, didn’t want the responsibility, didn’t want to die, didn’t want to lose Lupaus — her only friend.
“You won’t have to,” Lupaus told her, hugging her tightly.
Lupaus devised a plan. She would act as Suncat. She’d take all the responsibilities, she’d become family-less(she didn’t like her mother anyway), she’d do it all, and Kukinta could be a normal cat.
And Lupaus didn’t break promises.
So when the cult found them, Lupaus excitedly told them all about how she could feel Her inside her, and how happy she was to be the new suncat. It was such a great honor! The cult accepted this—after all, Lupaus was big, healthy, strong, and high sunfur—and started to figure out who would be Lupaus’ guard. Kukinta panicked, whispering furiously in Lupaus’ ear that this wouldn’t work— As soon as Kukinta and Lupaus were separated, they’d realize that Lupaus didn’t actually have Her and Her presence was coming from Kukinta.
Lupaus didn’t skip a beat. She announced that She wanted a very specific cat to be Her guard: Kukinta. The cult was instantly skeptical. Kukinta was small, fragile, skittish, untrained, and still a kitten. She couldn’t be a guard. Lupaus and the cult argued for a while, but Lupaus was forceful, confident, persuasive; She always had a way of getting what she wanted.
The cult begrudgingly allowed Kukinta to be Her guard, and through Lupaus’ insistence trained/learned alongside Lupaus.
The game was on. Kukinta and Lupaus stayed inseparable (and as alone as possible), and no one was the wiser about the true identity of Suncat.
However, time began to wear on Lupaus and Kukinta. It became harder and harder to hide when Kukinta started to become sick and Lupaus didn’t. Lupaus tried to disguise Kukinta’s sickness by pretending Lupaus herself was experiencing illness/Suneve, but it was only a matter of time before they realized Kukinta was sick. Afterall, She protected everyone from sickness or suffering — only suncats ever got sick.
As Kukinta deteriorated, so did Lupaus’ mental state. As time went on, she became frustrated. Lupaus wanted to experience life, she wanted a family, she wanted kits, she wanted real friends, she wanted to be FREE GOSH DANGIT. She despised the rules and the responsibilities that came with being a suncat. She started to resent Kukinta. Lupaus wasn’t even a REAL suncat, why did she have to sacrifice everything for a pathetic cat who ran away from her responsibility as a suncat the first chance she got? Kukinta didn’t deserve the honor and freedom she got as a guard. Why did Lupaus have to suffer while Kukinta got everything that should be rightfully Lupaus’?
Lupaus’ breaking point was when her long-term crush turned her down. Lupaus was a suncat. The audacity of her to even ASK— Had she no shame? No honor? It was a disgrace to Her. Lupaus’ only focus should be on Her.
Enraged and grief-stricken, Lupaus broke her promise. She publicly screamed at Kukinta. This was all Kukinta’s fault! She was a disgrace to Her and the previous suncats, running away from her duty and making LUPAUS do everything for her! Kukinta was a pathetic coward, weakling, and even worse friend for making Lupaus take on the burden alone. Kukinta had taken EVERYTHING from her. Lupaus couldn’t have a normal life as long as she was suncat.
So Lupaus was done being suncat. She revealed to everyone that Kukinta was the REAL suncat, and had pretended all this time that she wasn’t.
Kukinta was devastated, panickedly trying to explain herself as the cult cats looked at her in confusion and disgust. Lupaus turned her back and stormed off. Kukinta could barely speak, her distress only worsening her Suneve symptoms. She couldn’t do this. She was dying.
Kukinta had been a horrible friend. She was a pathetic loser who was too scared to do her rightful duty. She had chosen her, and she had let Her down. Kukinta deserved every scolding, every word, every bad thing. How could Kukinta have done this to her only friend, her best friend?
Meanwhile, Lupaus had time to calm down and reflect. She felt conflicted, her resentment mixing with her compassion and guilt. No, this wasn’t right. She shouldn’t have yelled at Kukinta like that. Maybe they both made mistakes, they were both scared and stressed, but this wasn’t fair to Kukinta. Kukinta had always been there for Lupaus, too. She tried her best to support Lupaus, all through her time as a suncat. Even when Kukinta was suffering, she had stayed by Lupaus’ side, comforting her and helping her in anyway she could. It was selfish of Lupaus to turn a blind eye to her best friend’s suffering. They were both hurting. Acting like this wasn’t helping anyone. Lupus would go back. She’d apologize to Kukinta. And then they could face the consequences and the future, together as friends.
Lupaus stood, staring down, stricken with grief alongside the crowd of cats. Kukinta lay dead. Suneve and grief had consumed her. It was over. Words left unspoken, friendships torn apart, the thread snapped. Kukinta died thinking Lupaus hated her. Lupaus would never get to apologize, never talk to her best friend ever again.
And the cycle would continue.
