Post by Therdde on Oct 23, 2010 11:14:36 GMT -5
Characters:
Mythri - Female Cougar
Kein - Male Cougar
- Sloping Gradient -
Hunting has grown progressively more difficult as the cubs within her continue to grow. As her style of hunting relies almost entirely on stealth and positioning, it has been possible to compensate for the physical changes, but it always must end with a pounce or a dash, and that is where Mythri has noticed the greatest challenge. Regardless, she is determined not to let this part of motherhood best her. Difficult still means it is possible, and that is good enough for her. For now, she is resting quietly in the small crevice on the eastern edge of the mountain, hunter satisfied for the time being. Her eyes are half-closed and her breathing steady, body lying in an awkwardly comfortable position.
Kein seldom gets to this part of Amaranth anymore. It is, after all, as far away as he can get from Nyssa and still be in Amaranth, and he's none too fond of being so far from her. Recently, though, he has caught traces of a new scent, and one that, unlike with the two newcomers that Kein has yet to meet, was somehow familiar. Somehow unsettling. With winter beginning to release its hold on the land and the birth of his cubs growing ever closer, he does not ignore that scent as he might have otherwise, so long as the creature carrying it stayed in the southern part of his territory. Rather, he is searching for its source. As he walks, his tail whips about behind him, showing his irritation and uneasiness, but that is about as much noise as he makes, with his paws nearly silent on the cold ground.
Mythri had planned on waiting for just a single day more to see if Kein would finally come and speak with her. If she still hasn't seen him by then, she would enter further into Amaranth territory and seek him out herself. It's not that she's in a hurry to encounter the chieftain, but she does want his permission to be there just in case there's a confrontational situation between her and another Amaranth cougar who finds her. But for now, she rests.
As Kein draws nearer, with a stronger scent and time to think about it, he finally manages to place its owner. It's different, and it has been ages since she has been here, but he is certain of who he will find. Before he approaches the resting cougar, he stops walking to give himself time to think, to try to anticipate what, exactly, he will find. After all, he never would have expected to see Cael or Mythri again. He's not even entirely sure he would want to see either of them. Better that they... or she, as he can catch no trace of his eldest son's scent... had returned after he left. Since Mythri is here, though, Kein stands upright and begins approaching her again. It doesn't take him long to locate her, and as he walks toward her, he makes no effort to conceal his presence any longer.
As might be expected, Mythri is a light sleeper and even now, she's just resting. The soft sounds and faint vibrations of pawsteps on rock bring her to full alertness in a second, and dark, amber-rimmed eyes stare at the entrance to the crevice as the approaching cougar gets closer. With the mountain breeze not helping her at all in identifying the other feline's scent, Mythri has to wait until the other has reached the entrance, but then it takes her no time at all in recognizing the tribe's chieftain. "Kein," she greets in a low chuff. "I was beginning to wonder if my request to speak with you had ever reached your ears." She is then silent, looking the male over, noting any differences between the now-older cougar in front of her and what she remembers of Kein.
Kein does not even attempt to fully enter the small cave. He never has, even when his own cubs were born there. He simply stands there, looking her over as he processes what she says. After several moments, he answers simply with, "It hadn't." Another flick of his tail. He doesn't bother to say anything else. He is not one for small talk, and since she apparently wanted to speak to him... Well, he won't be interrupting her, anyway.
Mythri nods, thoughtful. Intentional on the part of the two cougars she had met? Maybe. Regardless, Kein is here, now. "I bring news and a request." Small talk does not appeal to her, either. She hesitates for a moment, as if trying to decide on the particulars. Finally, she states in no uncertain terms, "Cael is dead, and I need a safe haven where I can birth his cubs." There is no apology in her tone, no grief... no emotion at all. Will Kein demand an explanation? There may indeed be some emotion that comes in such an explanation, despite her best efforts to maintain her cool composure.
Kein continues to stare at Mythri for a moment after she speaks. Any bright side he imagined there might be to her presence here is gone, now, but other than causing him a bit of hesitation, it doesn't seem to affect him much. He does not, however, address Mythri's request. Rather, he asks, "How?" Does it matter? Perhaps, were it not for Mythri's request to stay, he wouldn't have cared.
So much for hoping. Mythri averts her gaze to stare at the crevice wall across from her, silent for a long moment before looking back over at Kein. "I know of what happened but only with a moderate degree of accuracy. I.. found his body, after he had been violently killed by a large group of wolves." She takes a deep breath. "Whether he was hunting, or had just run into them, or even if he was ambushed.. it was impossible for me to figure out. Even the wolf that I did find refused to explain before I killed it." She shakes her head, and her voice is tinged with regret. "I should have been there with him, or.. something." It could not have been an honorable death, being ambushed and murdered. Though she has no doubt that Cael fought to the bitter end--she /had/ found plenty of spilled lupine blood, though any dead bodies had been removed from the scene by the time she had found it.
Kein doesn't react much as Mythri tells him how his son died. He is not unfeeling. The news hurts him, perhaps more than he would even admit to himself. He has come a long way from the boy who lost a sister and could do nothing but mourn for weeks, though, and all that matters to him is that is was not Mythri's father or uncle that killed his son. Provided, of course, that he can trust Mythri is telling the truth. Even if she isn't, though, could he turn away his unborn grandcubs? "You may stay. But make no mistake, Mythri. This is not the tribe you left, and I will not tolerate any foolishness." She and her family caused enough trouble the last time they were here, and for as long as he and his new cubs remain here, he will not allow any of it to happen again.
Mythri narrows her eyes a fraction, and her voice chills just a little. "I am what I am, Chieftain. I do not seek strife or animosity. If you allow me haven in Amaranth, in return you will have my allegiance to you." A note of pride punctuates her last words, and she raises her head up even more to look at Kein. It will be subordination by choice, not by force or inferiority. And yet, as far as Mythri is concerned, that is the best way.
"You might not seek it, but as I recall, strife has a way of following you." Not that Kein is any different, of course, and that is not truly the thing that he worries about. As such, his voice is as casual as it get, with him, when he says that, only to become more serious when he says, "But you owe nothing to me." Even in the wake of his son's death. "Give your allegiance to Amaranth, and you will have safety here." It seems to him like an important distinction. Amaranth versus himself. Perhaps it shouldn't, of course, as he cannot speak for the future generation of Amaranth, but he is still trying to find some compromise between his future with Nyssa and the well-being, as he defines it, of the tribe.
Mythri gives a quick shake of her head. "I give my allegiance to the Chieftain, as it is his word that grants me safe haven here. By implication, that extends to Amaranth as a whole, but my allegiance is to the chieftain." An important distinction to her, as well. She does not wish to argue the point, however. "My thanks to you, nonetheless." She pauses for a moment, and then adds, with a twitch of her tail, "That was all I had to speak to you, Chieftain." It could be taken for a dismissal, but she means it more as a matter-of-fact statement. One does not exactly just dismiss the chieftain from one's presence. There is protocol to be followed, after all.
Maybe, in the coming days, Kein might explain to Mythri why her faith in him is misplaced. More than likely, though, he won't. She carries his grandcubs as surely as his own daughters have, but he has cubs of his own on the way, and they are the ones that concern him for the time being. That combined with his diminished tolerance for idle social activity does not bode well for much open conversation between the two of them, and with nothing more than a nod, Kein turns to leave. Right. If she's done talking, he has other things he could be doing. Like, perhaps, mourning the loss of a son.
Mythri - Female Cougar
Kein - Male Cougar
- Sloping Gradient -
Hunting has grown progressively more difficult as the cubs within her continue to grow. As her style of hunting relies almost entirely on stealth and positioning, it has been possible to compensate for the physical changes, but it always must end with a pounce or a dash, and that is where Mythri has noticed the greatest challenge. Regardless, she is determined not to let this part of motherhood best her. Difficult still means it is possible, and that is good enough for her. For now, she is resting quietly in the small crevice on the eastern edge of the mountain, hunter satisfied for the time being. Her eyes are half-closed and her breathing steady, body lying in an awkwardly comfortable position.
Kein seldom gets to this part of Amaranth anymore. It is, after all, as far away as he can get from Nyssa and still be in Amaranth, and he's none too fond of being so far from her. Recently, though, he has caught traces of a new scent, and one that, unlike with the two newcomers that Kein has yet to meet, was somehow familiar. Somehow unsettling. With winter beginning to release its hold on the land and the birth of his cubs growing ever closer, he does not ignore that scent as he might have otherwise, so long as the creature carrying it stayed in the southern part of his territory. Rather, he is searching for its source. As he walks, his tail whips about behind him, showing his irritation and uneasiness, but that is about as much noise as he makes, with his paws nearly silent on the cold ground.
Mythri had planned on waiting for just a single day more to see if Kein would finally come and speak with her. If she still hasn't seen him by then, she would enter further into Amaranth territory and seek him out herself. It's not that she's in a hurry to encounter the chieftain, but she does want his permission to be there just in case there's a confrontational situation between her and another Amaranth cougar who finds her. But for now, she rests.
As Kein draws nearer, with a stronger scent and time to think about it, he finally manages to place its owner. It's different, and it has been ages since she has been here, but he is certain of who he will find. Before he approaches the resting cougar, he stops walking to give himself time to think, to try to anticipate what, exactly, he will find. After all, he never would have expected to see Cael or Mythri again. He's not even entirely sure he would want to see either of them. Better that they... or she, as he can catch no trace of his eldest son's scent... had returned after he left. Since Mythri is here, though, Kein stands upright and begins approaching her again. It doesn't take him long to locate her, and as he walks toward her, he makes no effort to conceal his presence any longer.
As might be expected, Mythri is a light sleeper and even now, she's just resting. The soft sounds and faint vibrations of pawsteps on rock bring her to full alertness in a second, and dark, amber-rimmed eyes stare at the entrance to the crevice as the approaching cougar gets closer. With the mountain breeze not helping her at all in identifying the other feline's scent, Mythri has to wait until the other has reached the entrance, but then it takes her no time at all in recognizing the tribe's chieftain. "Kein," she greets in a low chuff. "I was beginning to wonder if my request to speak with you had ever reached your ears." She is then silent, looking the male over, noting any differences between the now-older cougar in front of her and what she remembers of Kein.
Kein does not even attempt to fully enter the small cave. He never has, even when his own cubs were born there. He simply stands there, looking her over as he processes what she says. After several moments, he answers simply with, "It hadn't." Another flick of his tail. He doesn't bother to say anything else. He is not one for small talk, and since she apparently wanted to speak to him... Well, he won't be interrupting her, anyway.
Mythri nods, thoughtful. Intentional on the part of the two cougars she had met? Maybe. Regardless, Kein is here, now. "I bring news and a request." Small talk does not appeal to her, either. She hesitates for a moment, as if trying to decide on the particulars. Finally, she states in no uncertain terms, "Cael is dead, and I need a safe haven where I can birth his cubs." There is no apology in her tone, no grief... no emotion at all. Will Kein demand an explanation? There may indeed be some emotion that comes in such an explanation, despite her best efforts to maintain her cool composure.
Kein continues to stare at Mythri for a moment after she speaks. Any bright side he imagined there might be to her presence here is gone, now, but other than causing him a bit of hesitation, it doesn't seem to affect him much. He does not, however, address Mythri's request. Rather, he asks, "How?" Does it matter? Perhaps, were it not for Mythri's request to stay, he wouldn't have cared.
So much for hoping. Mythri averts her gaze to stare at the crevice wall across from her, silent for a long moment before looking back over at Kein. "I know of what happened but only with a moderate degree of accuracy. I.. found his body, after he had been violently killed by a large group of wolves." She takes a deep breath. "Whether he was hunting, or had just run into them, or even if he was ambushed.. it was impossible for me to figure out. Even the wolf that I did find refused to explain before I killed it." She shakes her head, and her voice is tinged with regret. "I should have been there with him, or.. something." It could not have been an honorable death, being ambushed and murdered. Though she has no doubt that Cael fought to the bitter end--she /had/ found plenty of spilled lupine blood, though any dead bodies had been removed from the scene by the time she had found it.
Kein doesn't react much as Mythri tells him how his son died. He is not unfeeling. The news hurts him, perhaps more than he would even admit to himself. He has come a long way from the boy who lost a sister and could do nothing but mourn for weeks, though, and all that matters to him is that is was not Mythri's father or uncle that killed his son. Provided, of course, that he can trust Mythri is telling the truth. Even if she isn't, though, could he turn away his unborn grandcubs? "You may stay. But make no mistake, Mythri. This is not the tribe you left, and I will not tolerate any foolishness." She and her family caused enough trouble the last time they were here, and for as long as he and his new cubs remain here, he will not allow any of it to happen again.
Mythri narrows her eyes a fraction, and her voice chills just a little. "I am what I am, Chieftain. I do not seek strife or animosity. If you allow me haven in Amaranth, in return you will have my allegiance to you." A note of pride punctuates her last words, and she raises her head up even more to look at Kein. It will be subordination by choice, not by force or inferiority. And yet, as far as Mythri is concerned, that is the best way.
"You might not seek it, but as I recall, strife has a way of following you." Not that Kein is any different, of course, and that is not truly the thing that he worries about. As such, his voice is as casual as it get, with him, when he says that, only to become more serious when he says, "But you owe nothing to me." Even in the wake of his son's death. "Give your allegiance to Amaranth, and you will have safety here." It seems to him like an important distinction. Amaranth versus himself. Perhaps it shouldn't, of course, as he cannot speak for the future generation of Amaranth, but he is still trying to find some compromise between his future with Nyssa and the well-being, as he defines it, of the tribe.
Mythri gives a quick shake of her head. "I give my allegiance to the Chieftain, as it is his word that grants me safe haven here. By implication, that extends to Amaranth as a whole, but my allegiance is to the chieftain." An important distinction to her, as well. She does not wish to argue the point, however. "My thanks to you, nonetheless." She pauses for a moment, and then adds, with a twitch of her tail, "That was all I had to speak to you, Chieftain." It could be taken for a dismissal, but she means it more as a matter-of-fact statement. One does not exactly just dismiss the chieftain from one's presence. There is protocol to be followed, after all.
Maybe, in the coming days, Kein might explain to Mythri why her faith in him is misplaced. More than likely, though, he won't. She carries his grandcubs as surely as his own daughters have, but he has cubs of his own on the way, and they are the ones that concern him for the time being. That combined with his diminished tolerance for idle social activity does not bode well for much open conversation between the two of them, and with nothing more than a nod, Kein turns to leave. Right. If she's done talking, he has other things he could be doing. Like, perhaps, mourning the loss of a son.