As Champ stared into the reflective glass his mind began to race with thoughts of confusion.

“Me? No couldn’t happen”

But sure enough, on his tongue was a mark that looked like a snake eating its tail. The strange thing to Champ, however, was it didn't feel out of place. The brand felt like it's been there ever since he was born.

“The King's Court will know of my branding, won't they? They'll come for me? And take me away?” Champ questioned hurriedly

"I just got back and I can't leave again! I'm home, I'm finally home...” Champ said desperately, looking frantically towards his mother and father.

Champ's mind began to race and his heart beat faster at these thoughts.

His mom placed a hand on his shoulder

"It's okay son we will figure it out, just don't worry." She tried reassuring Champ with a smile

Champ replied impatiently

“How can I not worry when it feels like there's a storm in my head, all these thoughts swirling around and lightning illuminating them all painfully in my mind!”

Champ mimicked the sounds of a thunderstorm aloud, making a kind of explosion noise on the roof of his mouth to emphasize his point. Something deep inside Champ’s stomach seemed to lurch, he felt some sort of fatigue set in rapidly as if he had done a full day of yard work in a matter of seconds. He also felt something gathering, charging, and clawing towards the very back of his throat, waiting to be released.

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In that same instant, a boom of thunder filled the room, nearly deafening the family. A great blueish light made them all shut their eyes immediately. An odd burning smell assaulted Champ's nose and it became hard to breathe. Pain filled Champ's eyes and ears and all he heard was a faint ringing. He blinked rapidly to try and have his eyes adjust back to the room. In his mouth, he tasted something faintly bitter and his tongue tingled as if it was numb.

As his eyes finally adjusted to the interior of his house he saw smoke rising from the various fires breaking out all over in his living room. There was debris scattered across the room, household items, and furniture that had fallen over and splintered from the unseen impact. There were sprawling lines almost burned into the walls and floors of the home. His father leaned over his mom helping her up to a seated position, getting her to lean on the underside of the sofa that got thrown a few feet back.

They both looked back at him on the other side of the room, wide-eyed, and scared. He saw his father sweating and looking around for some loose cloth for makeshift bandages, and he could also see his mother in excruciating pain holding the instantly charred and cauterized shoulder. Her cries of pain, echoed when his hearing finally came back. Her arm was lying limp on the floor a few feet beside her.

“What happened?” Champ said dumbfounded and scared. Are you guys okay? Mom! Mom!

The pale, grim, concerned expressions of his father that returned Champ's questioning, made him realize it was his brand. His mark. That manifested the booming thunderous explosion.

“I- I'm so sorry, it was an accident you have to believe me” Champ whimpered out, his voice cracking. Champ got up from the floor and ran outside. Tears once again flooded down his face.

Mimicry had always been Champ's strong suit.