Post by Therdde on Sept 24, 2010 18:51:22 GMT -5
Characters:
Kein - Male Cougar
Nyssa - Female Cougar
- Wooded Terrain -
Winter has fully enveloped the mountain. It makes waking less than desirable, as Kein would sooner remain sleeping rather than let the chilly air steal all the warmth from his chosen resting spot. Having spent pretty much all of his time with Nyssa while she was in season left him with much to do once it was over, though, particularly in the way of making sure the tribe members are getting enough to eat. This year it is more by keeping any outsiders from poaching within Amaranth than by doing the actual hunting himself, as he did a lot of last year. After all, all of Kein's children are well capable of caring for themselves and their children this year, in a way they weren't during last year's harsh winter, at least so long as he does his job of protecting the borders. All except, perhaps, for those yet to be born. It is the possibility of more cubs in his future that has Kein not returning to Nyssa until very late, as he had no intention of coming to her without some gift, even if the hare he carries with him is a rather meager present.
It's been some time since she and Kein were together for any lengthy stretch of time. Since then the weather has certainly grown colder and snowier, and Nyssa has found it most difficult to pick up the subtle whispers of her guide all that time, but somehow she's found that she's kept herself warm and content from the inside. Actually, something else has. She's quite sure of it now, in fact, and while she doesn't show very much at all there is certainly a subtle difference in the line of her body. She sat at the edge of the trees, watching the sun disapear in a hazy glow of pinks, purples, then blues and smiled as she enjoyed it. The cougar stood, pausing as all four paws steadied herself and she found herself laughing softly; she just feels-- happy. As she turns, Nyssa picks up her head and ears, catching an approach, a steady gait she has learned to recognize. "Kein," she calls softly, unable yet to see him in the evening dark.
Kein's ears flick in the direction of the greeting from Nyssa. He replies with nothing more than a muffled chuff, as anything else would delay his arrival, even if only by the time it would take to drop the rabbit and then to pick it back up. Soon enough he is within sight of her, anyway, and he does not hesitate to approach her before setting the hare down within her reach. His mouth finally empty, he greets Nyssa with a cautious smile.
At first his smile is returned warmly, eyes flitting from Kein's face to the hare now at his paws, but when she looks back at him a second time-- caution? Nyssa's ears twist curiously and she reaches out to touch his shoulder briefly with her nose. As she lifts her head, thinking to ask him what is causing concern to write itself on his face, what comes out is a soft bubble of laughter. "Kein," she manages again, eyes bright. "I have something for you." For now, though wholly appreciate, the hare is left out of her immediate concern.
Kein's caution is replaced with surprise as Nyssa announces that she has something for him. That was rather not what he had been expecting. Someday, perhaps, he will learn that no female will ever say anything to him that he would expect, and then he might be saved some confusion in dealing with them. "You have...?" Ah, but wasn't Nayeli much like this during the beginning of her first pregnancy? Did she announce it so quickly as this? He really can't remember, though it was only a few years ago. Should he get his hopes up, or... "Yes?" Or perhaps, rather than thinking on it for incredibly long moments, he should let Nyssa tell him what it is.
Is it really so surprising, or... "Should it be a mystery to you?" she asks aloud, her muzzle playing with both a shy and coy smile, as though she can't quite decide what emotion she should be betraying to the outside world. While she's not terribly far into it, there is something that just tells her what she needs to know. That knowledge is enough to elicit the content laughter that she has become accustomed to as of late.
"Maybe I am getting to know you better, Nyssa. You are not as mysterious as you think you are." Still, Kein waits for her to tell him directly, though a smile plays on his muzzle as he does. He spent the vast majority of his life not wanting cubs, doing all he could to avoid having any more than he already did. He's really not sure when that changed, but now that it has, he should like nothing more than for Nyssa to say what he hopes she is going to say.
"Then I am not trying hard enough," is Nyssa's immediate reply, her whiskers spreading with perhaps a hint of pride as Kein's own muzzle up turns further. She has certainly had much to consider over the shorter days and longer evenings, but there is nothing in the world that could dampen the joy in her heart at this moment. Before coming to this mountain, cubs had never crossed her mind as a charge that she would be asked to care for, yet now that she finds herself in such a position she would not ask to rethink her decision. Kein has been and is a father, but Nyssa is not a mother alone. "You and I will... /we/ will have cubs."
Kein does not display joy as some might. When he was younger, perhaps he did, but he truly does not remember much in detail about the days when he first learned he would be a father. Being perhaps old enough to be /Nyssa's/ father, he does not laugh or hop about. His smile does remain, though, and immediately after hearing what she has to say, he steps towards her in order to nuzzle against her with a fierce passion, and for all that just the time he has spent with Nyssa has improved his view on life, the news that he will soon be a father again produces a lightness in his heart that he has not felt probably since he was himself a cub.
She hadn't expected such a response, and she certainly didn't think Kein would be quite a jovial as she has found herself to be. But she is surprised at the sudden and purposeful contact from him, and a moment later she presses her cheeks and face against his own, her purr low and rich. The news is certainly welcome. Perhaps somewhere in the back of her heart she is afraid, afraid for what that might mean for those that live far within Amaranth's borders, but for now it does not matter. Concern, too, for the silent wind is kept at bay. Nyssa finds herself laughing softly once again through those purrs, and gently takes her head away to look at Kein with shy eyes.
Kein makes eye contact with Nyssa. He is still smiling, but there is a drive about him that keeps him from seeming relaxed. "Our cubs will lead wonderful and rich lives, Nyssa. I promise you." Away, far away, from threats like Malak and Revan, Azriel and Cheveyo. Away from the politics of a tribe and with a father who is actually capable of spending some time with them. More now than ever, Kein is committed to leaving Amaranth in the spring. As soon as his cubs are capable of travel. It will mean he is facing a busy winter, but for the first time in ages, he feels as though he is capable of meeting a challenge.
"As you will," Nyssa responds, allowing herself the pleasure of sitting down for a moment, glancing down at a belly that isn't quite showing enough to be obvious. "Perhaps," she whispers in thought, "this is why I was drawn here. Do you remember when my paws first touched these lands?" She does. Something pulled her to this mountain and inexorably toward the Chieftain. The wind, her guide, has died down considerably over the last few weeks but she believes that it may begin to push her forward again as spring arrives. "For you, I think." The reason she came here.
"If I am the reason you came here, then I owe your guide more gratitude than I could ever express, Nyssa." His relationship with the Matron is falling apart. He feels severely underappreciated in his own territory. But all of this was going on long before Nyssa came, and she has given him a reason to be happy again. Oh yes. He owes her guide much. As Nyssa is now sitting, after speaking Kein lowers his head to push the hare closer to her.
Thinking on her guide causes a flicker of doubt to flash across her features but she blinks it away and only shrugs. Nyssa would very much like to talk, at length, with Kein about where she has come from and learn what it is that created him. They tried, once, but perhaps the Chieftain was not ready to do that. Maybe now... She looks up at him with a soft smile, then to the hare with a shake of her head. She's about to say, 'That's alright, thank you,' but stops herself and purrs instead, "Thank you, Kein." Before she begins to eat, though, she rests her head against his shoulder.
Kein finds himself purring as Nyssa rests her head against him. He licks gently between her ears before taking a step back and lying down to leave her with her food. He can't much bring himself to look away from her, though, so hopefully she is not a self-conscious eater.
Kein - Male Cougar
Nyssa - Female Cougar
- Wooded Terrain -
Winter has fully enveloped the mountain. It makes waking less than desirable, as Kein would sooner remain sleeping rather than let the chilly air steal all the warmth from his chosen resting spot. Having spent pretty much all of his time with Nyssa while she was in season left him with much to do once it was over, though, particularly in the way of making sure the tribe members are getting enough to eat. This year it is more by keeping any outsiders from poaching within Amaranth than by doing the actual hunting himself, as he did a lot of last year. After all, all of Kein's children are well capable of caring for themselves and their children this year, in a way they weren't during last year's harsh winter, at least so long as he does his job of protecting the borders. All except, perhaps, for those yet to be born. It is the possibility of more cubs in his future that has Kein not returning to Nyssa until very late, as he had no intention of coming to her without some gift, even if the hare he carries with him is a rather meager present.
It's been some time since she and Kein were together for any lengthy stretch of time. Since then the weather has certainly grown colder and snowier, and Nyssa has found it most difficult to pick up the subtle whispers of her guide all that time, but somehow she's found that she's kept herself warm and content from the inside. Actually, something else has. She's quite sure of it now, in fact, and while she doesn't show very much at all there is certainly a subtle difference in the line of her body. She sat at the edge of the trees, watching the sun disapear in a hazy glow of pinks, purples, then blues and smiled as she enjoyed it. The cougar stood, pausing as all four paws steadied herself and she found herself laughing softly; she just feels-- happy. As she turns, Nyssa picks up her head and ears, catching an approach, a steady gait she has learned to recognize. "Kein," she calls softly, unable yet to see him in the evening dark.
Kein's ears flick in the direction of the greeting from Nyssa. He replies with nothing more than a muffled chuff, as anything else would delay his arrival, even if only by the time it would take to drop the rabbit and then to pick it back up. Soon enough he is within sight of her, anyway, and he does not hesitate to approach her before setting the hare down within her reach. His mouth finally empty, he greets Nyssa with a cautious smile.
At first his smile is returned warmly, eyes flitting from Kein's face to the hare now at his paws, but when she looks back at him a second time-- caution? Nyssa's ears twist curiously and she reaches out to touch his shoulder briefly with her nose. As she lifts her head, thinking to ask him what is causing concern to write itself on his face, what comes out is a soft bubble of laughter. "Kein," she manages again, eyes bright. "I have something for you." For now, though wholly appreciate, the hare is left out of her immediate concern.
Kein's caution is replaced with surprise as Nyssa announces that she has something for him. That was rather not what he had been expecting. Someday, perhaps, he will learn that no female will ever say anything to him that he would expect, and then he might be saved some confusion in dealing with them. "You have...?" Ah, but wasn't Nayeli much like this during the beginning of her first pregnancy? Did she announce it so quickly as this? He really can't remember, though it was only a few years ago. Should he get his hopes up, or... "Yes?" Or perhaps, rather than thinking on it for incredibly long moments, he should let Nyssa tell him what it is.
Is it really so surprising, or... "Should it be a mystery to you?" she asks aloud, her muzzle playing with both a shy and coy smile, as though she can't quite decide what emotion she should be betraying to the outside world. While she's not terribly far into it, there is something that just tells her what she needs to know. That knowledge is enough to elicit the content laughter that she has become accustomed to as of late.
"Maybe I am getting to know you better, Nyssa. You are not as mysterious as you think you are." Still, Kein waits for her to tell him directly, though a smile plays on his muzzle as he does. He spent the vast majority of his life not wanting cubs, doing all he could to avoid having any more than he already did. He's really not sure when that changed, but now that it has, he should like nothing more than for Nyssa to say what he hopes she is going to say.
"Then I am not trying hard enough," is Nyssa's immediate reply, her whiskers spreading with perhaps a hint of pride as Kein's own muzzle up turns further. She has certainly had much to consider over the shorter days and longer evenings, but there is nothing in the world that could dampen the joy in her heart at this moment. Before coming to this mountain, cubs had never crossed her mind as a charge that she would be asked to care for, yet now that she finds herself in such a position she would not ask to rethink her decision. Kein has been and is a father, but Nyssa is not a mother alone. "You and I will... /we/ will have cubs."
Kein does not display joy as some might. When he was younger, perhaps he did, but he truly does not remember much in detail about the days when he first learned he would be a father. Being perhaps old enough to be /Nyssa's/ father, he does not laugh or hop about. His smile does remain, though, and immediately after hearing what she has to say, he steps towards her in order to nuzzle against her with a fierce passion, and for all that just the time he has spent with Nyssa has improved his view on life, the news that he will soon be a father again produces a lightness in his heart that he has not felt probably since he was himself a cub.
She hadn't expected such a response, and she certainly didn't think Kein would be quite a jovial as she has found herself to be. But she is surprised at the sudden and purposeful contact from him, and a moment later she presses her cheeks and face against his own, her purr low and rich. The news is certainly welcome. Perhaps somewhere in the back of her heart she is afraid, afraid for what that might mean for those that live far within Amaranth's borders, but for now it does not matter. Concern, too, for the silent wind is kept at bay. Nyssa finds herself laughing softly once again through those purrs, and gently takes her head away to look at Kein with shy eyes.
Kein makes eye contact with Nyssa. He is still smiling, but there is a drive about him that keeps him from seeming relaxed. "Our cubs will lead wonderful and rich lives, Nyssa. I promise you." Away, far away, from threats like Malak and Revan, Azriel and Cheveyo. Away from the politics of a tribe and with a father who is actually capable of spending some time with them. More now than ever, Kein is committed to leaving Amaranth in the spring. As soon as his cubs are capable of travel. It will mean he is facing a busy winter, but for the first time in ages, he feels as though he is capable of meeting a challenge.
"As you will," Nyssa responds, allowing herself the pleasure of sitting down for a moment, glancing down at a belly that isn't quite showing enough to be obvious. "Perhaps," she whispers in thought, "this is why I was drawn here. Do you remember when my paws first touched these lands?" She does. Something pulled her to this mountain and inexorably toward the Chieftain. The wind, her guide, has died down considerably over the last few weeks but she believes that it may begin to push her forward again as spring arrives. "For you, I think." The reason she came here.
"If I am the reason you came here, then I owe your guide more gratitude than I could ever express, Nyssa." His relationship with the Matron is falling apart. He feels severely underappreciated in his own territory. But all of this was going on long before Nyssa came, and she has given him a reason to be happy again. Oh yes. He owes her guide much. As Nyssa is now sitting, after speaking Kein lowers his head to push the hare closer to her.
Thinking on her guide causes a flicker of doubt to flash across her features but she blinks it away and only shrugs. Nyssa would very much like to talk, at length, with Kein about where she has come from and learn what it is that created him. They tried, once, but perhaps the Chieftain was not ready to do that. Maybe now... She looks up at him with a soft smile, then to the hare with a shake of her head. She's about to say, 'That's alright, thank you,' but stops herself and purrs instead, "Thank you, Kein." Before she begins to eat, though, she rests her head against his shoulder.
Kein finds himself purring as Nyssa rests her head against him. He licks gently between her ears before taking a step back and lying down to leave her with her food. He can't much bring himself to look away from her, though, so hopefully she is not a self-conscious eater.