Post by Pavane on May 9, 2012 21:33:31 GMT -5
Wiraqu - male cougar
Kachina - female cougar
Minya - female adolescent cougar
---Sprawling Mesa---
Spring! Snow is melting. Spring! Baby animals are being born. Spring! Little flowers are bursting up from beneath the ground. Spring! The Chieftain of the Amaranth is rolling around in a patch of the soft new grass, stretched out on his back and wriggling. Awww yeah.
It is indeed spring, especially with all the snow melting and leaving huge puddles all over the place. Kachina is lounging upon a rock, forepaws hanging from it while her gaze drifts towards the forest. Her attention often rests on it, as if she was waiting for something to appear. She licks slowly across a lifted forepaw and smoothes out some fur across her head before a faint sigh escapes her. While the young feline is an adult she still has an adolscent's body, lanky and thin, muscle is found but she may never reach her full adult size at this rate. With a lash of her tail she shifts upwards so she is sitting, form stretching and a few bones poping back into place as she goes.
See? Wiraqu doesn't have to be dignified. Kachina has all the dignity covered, her and the other females of this clan. He gives another good wriggle against the grass, then rolls over onto his belly and stretches up. Prrp! Ah, nothing like a good spring to get the body moving. He prances a few steps, then gathers himself into a crouch and pounces up onto a rock near to Kachina's. "Hello, kitten." Adultwhatnow? Pff. Wiraqu isn't one of those, and he doesn't see why Kachina should be, either!
Kachina blinks slightly and peers at Wiraqu, a faint smile is perhaps seen towards the male. "Hello Wiraqu." Perhaps she woke up on the right side of the rock today? Her tail lashes a few times and soon curls to her side while she looks back towards the forest, ears perking forward. She could almost swear she just heard something, though she can't tell if its from something alive or well not somuch alive.
Wiraqu's answering grin is much less faint. He bobs his head once, then tilts it, looking out over the forest. Hmmmm.... nope, he doesn't see anything. After a few moments, he looks back to the other cougar. Hmmm. His eyes aren't yet so old as to be blind! So. Must be that girl stuff. "Spring's a good time for setting out, you know."
Kachina glances back towards Wiraqu a moment, a faint frown seem before she shrugs and glances to her forepaws. "Perhaps it is." This said softly. "I don't know why I should go out on it though. Doesn't make much sense to me." Her tail tip twitches a few times at her side.
Wiraqu nods sagely. "Plenty of hunting, in spring." Practical cougar, Wiraqu is.. in some regards. There's still a few blades of grass sticking to his back from that rolling-around. At Kachina's disinterest, he tilts his head. "Don't suppose you have to, if you don't want to. Least, not where I'm concerned. I dunno what the shamaness would say, but..." A shrug. In some ways, it's his territory, this mountain; in another, it's all the varied territories of the Sisters, and he just their guest. "If you've already found yourself, well, maybe you can give your paws a rest. Or tell yourself to stop wanderin' out there and come here to meet you!" He grins.
Kachina ear twitches as she listens to Wiraqu. "I didn't grow up here, I don't even fully undersand there ways." Her ears lower a moment at the thought of leaving the place she's called home, it is a place she's called home far longer then any other place she's been. "I don't know how to find myself. Not when I'm consently battling if the things I hear are from real animals or the dead ones." She isn't sure what to do with her 'gift' at times it drives her crazy, she's on high alert a good amount of the time and it turns out to be nothing but some ghost squirrel skittering around in the leaves, or a bird. It boggles her mind why she has this and she has no idea what to /do/ with it.
Spring is finally here! Minya spots Wiraqu and Kachina in the distance and begins walking towards them.
Wiraqu nods understandingly to Kachina. He didn't grow up here either! But... he's the Chieftain. He doesn't need to understand those things. All he's _required_ to do is defend the tribe and please *cough* the Matron. Anything else is bonus! The young female has a harder road, for not only is she expected to walk the path of Amaranth more fully... she has a wild-reaching ability that might be confusing even for one fully trained and experienced. As for Kachina, with a cubhood stuck alone in the dark and an adolesence of pushing away nearly everyone, even those who might help... why, it's enough to make even Wiraqu frown slightly. "Well. Seems to me, perhaps you've got to deal with the trail you're walking before you start another one."
Kachina is utterly confused over things, over many things. A soft breath escapes her and her head hangs a moment so she can eye the ground. If her father was here, if she was never taken then perhaps.. Just perhaps she wouldn't be like this, but then she wouldn't be here either. Her eyes close tightly a moment, ears slowly perking at the sound of movement which she at least knows is a real as the scent of the other is caught. "So it seems.. An I don't know how to start the trail I have as it is."
"Hello!" Minya greets the two cougars when she gets closer. She looks around, but fails to find a suitable rock nearby. She stops near Wiraqu's rock, and after a few moments jumps onto it.
Wiraqu leans over with a lick for between Kachina's ears. "If your father was here," he says in echo of her thoughts, "He'd likely have some mystical advice. But me, well... I'm pretty much limited to chasing rabbits of the physical sort." A slight grin, at that. "Still. Maybe the same advice works. There's two ways to hunt. One is to lie in wait and hope." He pauses a moment, looking at Kachina. "In the other... first, you find a scent. Next, you follow it, until you catch the rabbit or lose the trail. If you lose the trail... you try again." He smiles encouragingly to the younger cougar, then turns to one younger still. "Hello, Minya." When she jumps up to join him, he lowers his head to butt his cheek lightly against her. "How are you?"
Kachina sends a slight glance towards Wiraqu as he speaks what was on her mind. For a moment she's quiet. "I'm.. sure he would." A faint smile seen. Her gaze turns back towards the forest while she listens to the male. What he says is true, she has been doing one of them, laying and waiting, hoping.. Perhaps she needs to find it herself then. Perhaps all the sounds and noises she has been hearing is that scent trail. "Thank you Wiraqu." Out of all the feline's here, he has always been the only one she ever really opened up to, and trusted to some degree. A glance is offered to Minya along with a slight nod.
Minya grins when she feels Wiraqu's cheek and attempts to gently chomp his nose. "I'm fine. Winter is finally over. How are you two?"
Wiraqu nods to Kachina's thanks, and smiles. Perhaps it's that thing of being the first cougar not of her own family she met. Or his ever-charming personality. Ooh, he likes that option. It's totally that. "You're quite welcome." Maybe it'll even help! Rabbit-based metaphors: an often-overlooked avenue for deep spiritual wisdom. He can't imagine why. Minya's playbite gets a chuckle, and he gives his head a little shake against her. "Indeed it is! How many kinds of spring flowers have you found so far?" He grins. "Me, I find myself well!"
Kachina tilts her head slightly as she watches the two a moment before her gaze drift upwards to the sky, ears perking forward. Was that a eagle?.. She makes a faint face at the thought of eagles. "Yes, winter is gone. Spring is here, new trails and issues along with it. I'm..well.."
Minya says, "Uhh..." when Wiraqu asks. "Trails and issues?" she turns her head and asks. Interesting. Maybe the trails have something tasty at their end? "What trails and issues?"
Wiraqu sits up a little, curling his tail around his legs and flicking the tip. "A new season always has new trails. That's how the world keeps itself interesting - there's almost always something new around the next hill, if you keep an eye out for it." He grins cheerfully. "And if you count the fresh new flowers, you know where to find the fresh new bunnies nibbling them." The cougar licks his muzzle exaggeratedly.
Kachina peers over at Wiraqu. "You have a thing for bunnies don't you?" Is questioned, is that a joking tone? So it would seem!
Minya listens to Wiraqu's words and smiles when he mentions bunnies. "I like bunnies." she says and chuckles at Kachina's question.
Wiraqu draws himself up. "The rabbit is an essential metaphor for our times," he says gravely. Serious cougar is serious. "The long ears, reminding us that our perceptions shape the world around us. The hopping motion; that our course is not always straightforward. The white tail, reminding us that opportunities are most obvious as they retreat, and we must be proactive. The briar-patches, to tell us that the good things in life do not come without the bad. The wiggly nose, reminding us to be vigilant. The tasty flesh, reminding us of the importance of dinner." Serious cougar grins wide.
Kachina is quiet as she listens to Wiraqu, a soft smile seen as he explains and she hums softly before a faint nod of her head is seen. "Well.. I suppose you have a good point there." This said softly as she thinks about what he said and how it does make a good amount of sense towards rabbits!
Minya listens to the serious cougar, trying to understand his serious wisdom. She grins when he mentions dinner and says, "I like the dinner part." She rolls onto her side and attempts to snatch the serious cougar's paw.
Wiraqu tussles his paw against Minya, batting at her. "A fine part, is dinner. Very fine!" He grins. To Kachina, he nods sagely - of course he has a point! After all...
The Wiraqu, he speaks; and, having spake,
Moves on: from his words thou may take
What wisdom, kindness or eternal truth
Bring forth thy tears. He's off to find a lake.
"Say," says Wiraqu. "Now that it's getting warm again, I could go for a swim. The lake's probably nicely melted, don't you think? Could be fun!" He stands up, stretching out luxuriantly, and looks between the two females. "How about it?"
Kachina hums softly while she looks to Wiraqu, ears perking forward and her nose twitches. She seems to ponder this idea of swiming in the lake before she slowly nods. A faint smile seen once more. "Well.. I suppose a swim would be rather nice actually."
Minya hmms and after a few moments replies, "I think it's a good idea." She smiles and stands up.
Excellent! Wiraqu leans down to bump his nose against Minya's side, then leaps off the rock. "Come on, then!" With that, he starts off across the mountaintop at a brisk amble. He shall lead the way as fearless leader!
Kachina smirks faintly and slowly shifts to her paws following after him in the process. Her tail slowly swaying a few times while she takes in a slight breath. "Wonder if I can see dead fish.." She murmurs to herself at the thought. Would they still be in the water, swiming if there ghosts? Well she has no idea on it!
Minya is walking some distance behind Wiraqu, looking around. It's much more beautiful now that winter is over! They are almost there and Minya accelerates, trying to get closer to Wiraqu.
---Pristine Lake---
The lake has, technically speaking, melted. There is no longer ice on the surface. Well, not much ice, anyway. There's a few thin crackly bits right near the edges, in places where the reeds shade it from the springtime sun, but those hardly count, do they? Of course not! The day is bright and warm, spring is in the air, and Wiraqu is totally going swimming! As they reach sight of the lake, he turns from amble into charge, stretching those legs and making it rather hard to catch up. He bounds forward! He runs out along a fallen log! He leaps for the water! Caaannoooonbaaaaall!
Kachina follows along not to far from Wiraqu, her ears perking as she looks over the area and pauses while glancing towards him. She blinks and her maw opens before a faint laugh escapes her while he leaps into the water. For a moment she forgets herself and is soon running forward, large paws slam against the log and once at the end she leaps forward towards the water just aiming for a different spot then where did Wiraqu endterd into it. Even if it is spring the water for sure will be cold to some degree!
Minya accelerates even more. She leaps towards Wiraqu when she gets to to log's end.
Cold? This water? Noooo, cold is not the most accurate descriptor for this water. More like... frigid. One cold snap away from being covered in ice. Like the heart of a woman rejecting him. Like the frozen depths of despair. Like certain parts trying to retreat inside his body. "Rrrrheaow!" yowls Wiraqu as he surfaces, summarizing all these concepts at once. That having been established, he paddles his way deeper. Keeping in motion, yes. Keeping in motion will keep him from being a Wiriceqube. Probably.
Kachina pops up and lets out a half squeal at the sudden cold water that is gripping at her. "WHO'S idea what this again?!" She eys Wiraqu and is soon following after him into deeper water. The coldness creeping into her to the core but she just has to keep moving right??
It's cold! And wet! Minya is surprised for a moment, but she quickly finds Wiraqu and continues following him, trying to ignore the cold water.
Whose idea? Wiraqu's idea! Smart cougar like that, no wonder he's Chieftain here! The male is grinning ear to ear, swimming along through the cold water. "Invigorating, isn't it?" he calls back. Well... that's one word for it. Other words that come to mind are rather impolite, but that's why the power of positive thinking is so important!
Kachina smirks at the thought, invigorating was SO not the word she was looking for thank you! She continues to swim along slowly getting warmer in the process. "I suppose.. Its not /that/ bad.." Is soon murmured out.
Minya chuckles and tries to swim faster, which is not very effective, but at least it's helping her stay warm. "It could be a little bit less cold and less wet." she says and chuckles again.
See? See!? Wiraqu was totally right. This was and is an awesome idea. The motion keeps the blood flowing, as he paddles around (careful not to get too close to the waterfall) and circles back toward Kachina and Minya. "And where would be the fun in that?" he asks Minya with a grin, ducking his muzzle into the water and splashing.
"It's water! Always wet." Kachina calls out to Minya while she swims about in a circle a few times. Though she suddenly pauses and is floating there with her head tilted to the side as her gaze settles on the water, as if something caught her attention. Oh dear..
Minya laughs and moves closer to Wiraqu and tries to splash him. She tries to move even closer and playfully attacks any part of Wiraqu's body when she gets close enough.
Someone is doin' it wrong! Frigid water is for swimming in, not floating around in. Floating around is for lakes at midsummer, when the air is thick and hot. Silly cougar. Wiraqu paddles his way to Kachina as she drifts there, even as Minya launches an assault on his shoulder like the amphibious warrior she is. He bumps his nose against Kachina's side, then turns his head to chomp playfully at the younger cougar. Rrraowr!
Kachina ears slick back against her head as she seems to be watching something under the water. Its a fish, just not a very live fish, half rotted and somewhat boney just swimming there near the bottom. A faint whine escapes her for a moment as she finds herself unable to look away. That is until the touch to her side an with a blink and she looks to Wiraqu watching him a moment. "I'm gona get out.." Is murmured while she makes a quick retreat to shore. Thefish at least doesn't follow her, not that Wiraqu and Minya could see it to start with.
Minya starts following Wiraqu, but stops when she notices that Kachina is watching something. She can't find anything, and when Kachina speaks, Minya asks, "What happened?"
Wiraqu tilts his head to Kachina, looking to the clear lake waters. He frowns slightly, then nods. At Minya's question, he bumps his nose to her side. "Nothing for you to worry about," he tells the younger cougar. "But! Perhaps we should head out of the water soon. I wouldn't want to have to explain to your mother why your tail got frozen off." He grins playfully.
Kachina pauses once on shore and gives herself a hard shake which sends water flying in all sorts of directions. She heard the question to Wiraqu and knows the answer but isn't about to just give it. Enough of the clan think she is crazy as it is, no reason to add into it.
Minya turns and bats at Wiraqu's nose. She laughs and says, "I think we should. It's a bit too cold." She starts swimming towards the shore.
Wiraqu chuckles to Minya. "Bah! No such thing as too cold for a brave young cougar. Now, I may admit it is perhaps a bit on the chilly side, but that should hardly present a real problem." He swims on toward shore as well, following after Minya... but giving more than a few glances toward Kachina, already out of the water. He doesn't say anything to her, though.
Kachina glancs around her a few moments, as if searching to make sure she wasn't followed perhaps. Though what would follow her? Within the shallows of the water rests a different fish though, though this one a skeleton. It wiggles a times as if trying to 'free' itself from the rocks that have it pinned down. With a faint snort Kach shifts on her paws backing away from the ghostly image, her eyes widen at the sight looking utterly fearful of what ever it is that she sees. This is not turning into a good night for her..
Minya gets out of the water, but Kachina seems to be scared by something again. She tries to find anything in the water that could scare her. "What is there? I can't see anything."
Out of the water, yes... but Kachina still doesn't seem to happy with what she's seeing. Wiraqu frowns slightly, but then Minya distracts him. He leans down, nosing at the adolescent. "No, Minya. You can't." His tone is slightly sad, and slightly approving; it's a far easier thing for Minya to not be troubled by such visions. "There are some cougars who see differently. They have their own path to walk, and you and I, well... we have ours."
Kachina is quiet while her gaze rests upon the boney thing and chews against her lip a moment as if wondering what to do. A shakey breath escapes her and she ponders before slowly moving forward towards the boney fish. There is a pause once more and she shifts to quickly push the rock off the caught ghost. Her whole form quivering and fur almost standing on end for a moment. Once the rock is off the boney fish bounces and splashes a few times before it turns and hops into the water more and 'swims' away as if it could swim.
Minya listens carefully as Wiraqu explains. After a moment, she asks, "Differently?" She silently watches Kachina move the rock. Strange...
Wiraqu watches as Kachina... pushes around a rock on the lakebed. This is apparently a tension-laden activity. "Yes," he says to Minya, not taking his eyes from Kachina. "Ask your mother about the spirit-world sometime. She can explain it better than I." Sploosh. After a moment, he steps toward Kachina and speaks. "Perhaps you should rest, kitten. I was planning on a hunt anyhow; I can bring you something to eat." A slight smile. "Some nice rabbit." It all comes back to the rabbits, see?
Kachina takes in a breath as she shifts to rest against her haunches, her gaze rests upon the water as the boney fish soon disappears. Not into a shadow just gone as if it was able to pass on? She isn't sure at the moment. Her gaze turns to Wiraqu watching him and she nods a moment while her eyes close tightly and her head lowers in a half bow. Her mind is spinning at the moment, questions, so many questions an no answers to any of them.
Wiraqu nuzzles Minya, then pads over to Kachina, lowering his head and nosing gently at her shoulder. "I'll be back. Rest, and let the sun warm you until then." With that, the male turns and heads off toward the trees, lowering himself to the slinking hunter's crouch.
Minya nods. "I will ask her." She smiles when Wiraqu mentions rabbits. Maybe she will go catch one later. But not before resting a bit.
Kachina shifts and settles herself down upon the ground, head resting upon her frontpaws in the process. There is a pause an a faint snort escapes her in the process. "Sure.. Take care on the hunt."
Minya settles down in the warm sunlight near Kachina. She closes her eyes and begins thinking about Kachina, this day and... rabbits.
Kachina - female cougar
Minya - female adolescent cougar
---Sprawling Mesa---
Spring! Snow is melting. Spring! Baby animals are being born. Spring! Little flowers are bursting up from beneath the ground. Spring! The Chieftain of the Amaranth is rolling around in a patch of the soft new grass, stretched out on his back and wriggling. Awww yeah.
It is indeed spring, especially with all the snow melting and leaving huge puddles all over the place. Kachina is lounging upon a rock, forepaws hanging from it while her gaze drifts towards the forest. Her attention often rests on it, as if she was waiting for something to appear. She licks slowly across a lifted forepaw and smoothes out some fur across her head before a faint sigh escapes her. While the young feline is an adult she still has an adolscent's body, lanky and thin, muscle is found but she may never reach her full adult size at this rate. With a lash of her tail she shifts upwards so she is sitting, form stretching and a few bones poping back into place as she goes.
See? Wiraqu doesn't have to be dignified. Kachina has all the dignity covered, her and the other females of this clan. He gives another good wriggle against the grass, then rolls over onto his belly and stretches up. Prrp! Ah, nothing like a good spring to get the body moving. He prances a few steps, then gathers himself into a crouch and pounces up onto a rock near to Kachina's. "Hello, kitten." Adultwhatnow? Pff. Wiraqu isn't one of those, and he doesn't see why Kachina should be, either!
Kachina blinks slightly and peers at Wiraqu, a faint smile is perhaps seen towards the male. "Hello Wiraqu." Perhaps she woke up on the right side of the rock today? Her tail lashes a few times and soon curls to her side while she looks back towards the forest, ears perking forward. She could almost swear she just heard something, though she can't tell if its from something alive or well not somuch alive.
Wiraqu's answering grin is much less faint. He bobs his head once, then tilts it, looking out over the forest. Hmmmm.... nope, he doesn't see anything. After a few moments, he looks back to the other cougar. Hmmm. His eyes aren't yet so old as to be blind! So. Must be that girl stuff. "Spring's a good time for setting out, you know."
Kachina glances back towards Wiraqu a moment, a faint frown seem before she shrugs and glances to her forepaws. "Perhaps it is." This said softly. "I don't know why I should go out on it though. Doesn't make much sense to me." Her tail tip twitches a few times at her side.
Wiraqu nods sagely. "Plenty of hunting, in spring." Practical cougar, Wiraqu is.. in some regards. There's still a few blades of grass sticking to his back from that rolling-around. At Kachina's disinterest, he tilts his head. "Don't suppose you have to, if you don't want to. Least, not where I'm concerned. I dunno what the shamaness would say, but..." A shrug. In some ways, it's his territory, this mountain; in another, it's all the varied territories of the Sisters, and he just their guest. "If you've already found yourself, well, maybe you can give your paws a rest. Or tell yourself to stop wanderin' out there and come here to meet you!" He grins.
Kachina ear twitches as she listens to Wiraqu. "I didn't grow up here, I don't even fully undersand there ways." Her ears lower a moment at the thought of leaving the place she's called home, it is a place she's called home far longer then any other place she's been. "I don't know how to find myself. Not when I'm consently battling if the things I hear are from real animals or the dead ones." She isn't sure what to do with her 'gift' at times it drives her crazy, she's on high alert a good amount of the time and it turns out to be nothing but some ghost squirrel skittering around in the leaves, or a bird. It boggles her mind why she has this and she has no idea what to /do/ with it.
Spring is finally here! Minya spots Wiraqu and Kachina in the distance and begins walking towards them.
Wiraqu nods understandingly to Kachina. He didn't grow up here either! But... he's the Chieftain. He doesn't need to understand those things. All he's _required_ to do is defend the tribe and please *cough* the Matron. Anything else is bonus! The young female has a harder road, for not only is she expected to walk the path of Amaranth more fully... she has a wild-reaching ability that might be confusing even for one fully trained and experienced. As for Kachina, with a cubhood stuck alone in the dark and an adolesence of pushing away nearly everyone, even those who might help... why, it's enough to make even Wiraqu frown slightly. "Well. Seems to me, perhaps you've got to deal with the trail you're walking before you start another one."
Kachina is utterly confused over things, over many things. A soft breath escapes her and her head hangs a moment so she can eye the ground. If her father was here, if she was never taken then perhaps.. Just perhaps she wouldn't be like this, but then she wouldn't be here either. Her eyes close tightly a moment, ears slowly perking at the sound of movement which she at least knows is a real as the scent of the other is caught. "So it seems.. An I don't know how to start the trail I have as it is."
"Hello!" Minya greets the two cougars when she gets closer. She looks around, but fails to find a suitable rock nearby. She stops near Wiraqu's rock, and after a few moments jumps onto it.
Wiraqu leans over with a lick for between Kachina's ears. "If your father was here," he says in echo of her thoughts, "He'd likely have some mystical advice. But me, well... I'm pretty much limited to chasing rabbits of the physical sort." A slight grin, at that. "Still. Maybe the same advice works. There's two ways to hunt. One is to lie in wait and hope." He pauses a moment, looking at Kachina. "In the other... first, you find a scent. Next, you follow it, until you catch the rabbit or lose the trail. If you lose the trail... you try again." He smiles encouragingly to the younger cougar, then turns to one younger still. "Hello, Minya." When she jumps up to join him, he lowers his head to butt his cheek lightly against her. "How are you?"
Kachina sends a slight glance towards Wiraqu as he speaks what was on her mind. For a moment she's quiet. "I'm.. sure he would." A faint smile seen. Her gaze turns back towards the forest while she listens to the male. What he says is true, she has been doing one of them, laying and waiting, hoping.. Perhaps she needs to find it herself then. Perhaps all the sounds and noises she has been hearing is that scent trail. "Thank you Wiraqu." Out of all the feline's here, he has always been the only one she ever really opened up to, and trusted to some degree. A glance is offered to Minya along with a slight nod.
Minya grins when she feels Wiraqu's cheek and attempts to gently chomp his nose. "I'm fine. Winter is finally over. How are you two?"
Wiraqu nods to Kachina's thanks, and smiles. Perhaps it's that thing of being the first cougar not of her own family she met. Or his ever-charming personality. Ooh, he likes that option. It's totally that. "You're quite welcome." Maybe it'll even help! Rabbit-based metaphors: an often-overlooked avenue for deep spiritual wisdom. He can't imagine why. Minya's playbite gets a chuckle, and he gives his head a little shake against her. "Indeed it is! How many kinds of spring flowers have you found so far?" He grins. "Me, I find myself well!"
Kachina tilts her head slightly as she watches the two a moment before her gaze drift upwards to the sky, ears perking forward. Was that a eagle?.. She makes a faint face at the thought of eagles. "Yes, winter is gone. Spring is here, new trails and issues along with it. I'm..well.."
Minya says, "Uhh..." when Wiraqu asks. "Trails and issues?" she turns her head and asks. Interesting. Maybe the trails have something tasty at their end? "What trails and issues?"
Wiraqu sits up a little, curling his tail around his legs and flicking the tip. "A new season always has new trails. That's how the world keeps itself interesting - there's almost always something new around the next hill, if you keep an eye out for it." He grins cheerfully. "And if you count the fresh new flowers, you know where to find the fresh new bunnies nibbling them." The cougar licks his muzzle exaggeratedly.
Kachina peers over at Wiraqu. "You have a thing for bunnies don't you?" Is questioned, is that a joking tone? So it would seem!
Minya listens to Wiraqu's words and smiles when he mentions bunnies. "I like bunnies." she says and chuckles at Kachina's question.
Wiraqu draws himself up. "The rabbit is an essential metaphor for our times," he says gravely. Serious cougar is serious. "The long ears, reminding us that our perceptions shape the world around us. The hopping motion; that our course is not always straightforward. The white tail, reminding us that opportunities are most obvious as they retreat, and we must be proactive. The briar-patches, to tell us that the good things in life do not come without the bad. The wiggly nose, reminding us to be vigilant. The tasty flesh, reminding us of the importance of dinner." Serious cougar grins wide.
Kachina is quiet as she listens to Wiraqu, a soft smile seen as he explains and she hums softly before a faint nod of her head is seen. "Well.. I suppose you have a good point there." This said softly as she thinks about what he said and how it does make a good amount of sense towards rabbits!
Minya listens to the serious cougar, trying to understand his serious wisdom. She grins when he mentions dinner and says, "I like the dinner part." She rolls onto her side and attempts to snatch the serious cougar's paw.
Wiraqu tussles his paw against Minya, batting at her. "A fine part, is dinner. Very fine!" He grins. To Kachina, he nods sagely - of course he has a point! After all...
The Wiraqu, he speaks; and, having spake,
Moves on: from his words thou may take
What wisdom, kindness or eternal truth
Bring forth thy tears. He's off to find a lake.
"Say," says Wiraqu. "Now that it's getting warm again, I could go for a swim. The lake's probably nicely melted, don't you think? Could be fun!" He stands up, stretching out luxuriantly, and looks between the two females. "How about it?"
Kachina hums softly while she looks to Wiraqu, ears perking forward and her nose twitches. She seems to ponder this idea of swiming in the lake before she slowly nods. A faint smile seen once more. "Well.. I suppose a swim would be rather nice actually."
Minya hmms and after a few moments replies, "I think it's a good idea." She smiles and stands up.
Excellent! Wiraqu leans down to bump his nose against Minya's side, then leaps off the rock. "Come on, then!" With that, he starts off across the mountaintop at a brisk amble. He shall lead the way as fearless leader!
Kachina smirks faintly and slowly shifts to her paws following after him in the process. Her tail slowly swaying a few times while she takes in a slight breath. "Wonder if I can see dead fish.." She murmurs to herself at the thought. Would they still be in the water, swiming if there ghosts? Well she has no idea on it!
Minya is walking some distance behind Wiraqu, looking around. It's much more beautiful now that winter is over! They are almost there and Minya accelerates, trying to get closer to Wiraqu.
---Pristine Lake---
The lake has, technically speaking, melted. There is no longer ice on the surface. Well, not much ice, anyway. There's a few thin crackly bits right near the edges, in places where the reeds shade it from the springtime sun, but those hardly count, do they? Of course not! The day is bright and warm, spring is in the air, and Wiraqu is totally going swimming! As they reach sight of the lake, he turns from amble into charge, stretching those legs and making it rather hard to catch up. He bounds forward! He runs out along a fallen log! He leaps for the water! Caaannoooonbaaaaall!
Kachina follows along not to far from Wiraqu, her ears perking as she looks over the area and pauses while glancing towards him. She blinks and her maw opens before a faint laugh escapes her while he leaps into the water. For a moment she forgets herself and is soon running forward, large paws slam against the log and once at the end she leaps forward towards the water just aiming for a different spot then where did Wiraqu endterd into it. Even if it is spring the water for sure will be cold to some degree!
Minya accelerates even more. She leaps towards Wiraqu when she gets to to log's end.
Cold? This water? Noooo, cold is not the most accurate descriptor for this water. More like... frigid. One cold snap away from being covered in ice. Like the heart of a woman rejecting him. Like the frozen depths of despair. Like certain parts trying to retreat inside his body. "Rrrrheaow!" yowls Wiraqu as he surfaces, summarizing all these concepts at once. That having been established, he paddles his way deeper. Keeping in motion, yes. Keeping in motion will keep him from being a Wiriceqube. Probably.
Kachina pops up and lets out a half squeal at the sudden cold water that is gripping at her. "WHO'S idea what this again?!" She eys Wiraqu and is soon following after him into deeper water. The coldness creeping into her to the core but she just has to keep moving right??
It's cold! And wet! Minya is surprised for a moment, but she quickly finds Wiraqu and continues following him, trying to ignore the cold water.
Whose idea? Wiraqu's idea! Smart cougar like that, no wonder he's Chieftain here! The male is grinning ear to ear, swimming along through the cold water. "Invigorating, isn't it?" he calls back. Well... that's one word for it. Other words that come to mind are rather impolite, but that's why the power of positive thinking is so important!
Kachina smirks at the thought, invigorating was SO not the word she was looking for thank you! She continues to swim along slowly getting warmer in the process. "I suppose.. Its not /that/ bad.." Is soon murmured out.
Minya chuckles and tries to swim faster, which is not very effective, but at least it's helping her stay warm. "It could be a little bit less cold and less wet." she says and chuckles again.
See? See!? Wiraqu was totally right. This was and is an awesome idea. The motion keeps the blood flowing, as he paddles around (careful not to get too close to the waterfall) and circles back toward Kachina and Minya. "And where would be the fun in that?" he asks Minya with a grin, ducking his muzzle into the water and splashing.
"It's water! Always wet." Kachina calls out to Minya while she swims about in a circle a few times. Though she suddenly pauses and is floating there with her head tilted to the side as her gaze settles on the water, as if something caught her attention. Oh dear..
Minya laughs and moves closer to Wiraqu and tries to splash him. She tries to move even closer and playfully attacks any part of Wiraqu's body when she gets close enough.
Someone is doin' it wrong! Frigid water is for swimming in, not floating around in. Floating around is for lakes at midsummer, when the air is thick and hot. Silly cougar. Wiraqu paddles his way to Kachina as she drifts there, even as Minya launches an assault on his shoulder like the amphibious warrior she is. He bumps his nose against Kachina's side, then turns his head to chomp playfully at the younger cougar. Rrraowr!
Kachina ears slick back against her head as she seems to be watching something under the water. Its a fish, just not a very live fish, half rotted and somewhat boney just swimming there near the bottom. A faint whine escapes her for a moment as she finds herself unable to look away. That is until the touch to her side an with a blink and she looks to Wiraqu watching him a moment. "I'm gona get out.." Is murmured while she makes a quick retreat to shore. Thefish at least doesn't follow her, not that Wiraqu and Minya could see it to start with.
Minya starts following Wiraqu, but stops when she notices that Kachina is watching something. She can't find anything, and when Kachina speaks, Minya asks, "What happened?"
Wiraqu tilts his head to Kachina, looking to the clear lake waters. He frowns slightly, then nods. At Minya's question, he bumps his nose to her side. "Nothing for you to worry about," he tells the younger cougar. "But! Perhaps we should head out of the water soon. I wouldn't want to have to explain to your mother why your tail got frozen off." He grins playfully.
Kachina pauses once on shore and gives herself a hard shake which sends water flying in all sorts of directions. She heard the question to Wiraqu and knows the answer but isn't about to just give it. Enough of the clan think she is crazy as it is, no reason to add into it.
Minya turns and bats at Wiraqu's nose. She laughs and says, "I think we should. It's a bit too cold." She starts swimming towards the shore.
Wiraqu chuckles to Minya. "Bah! No such thing as too cold for a brave young cougar. Now, I may admit it is perhaps a bit on the chilly side, but that should hardly present a real problem." He swims on toward shore as well, following after Minya... but giving more than a few glances toward Kachina, already out of the water. He doesn't say anything to her, though.
Kachina glancs around her a few moments, as if searching to make sure she wasn't followed perhaps. Though what would follow her? Within the shallows of the water rests a different fish though, though this one a skeleton. It wiggles a times as if trying to 'free' itself from the rocks that have it pinned down. With a faint snort Kach shifts on her paws backing away from the ghostly image, her eyes widen at the sight looking utterly fearful of what ever it is that she sees. This is not turning into a good night for her..
Minya gets out of the water, but Kachina seems to be scared by something again. She tries to find anything in the water that could scare her. "What is there? I can't see anything."
Out of the water, yes... but Kachina still doesn't seem to happy with what she's seeing. Wiraqu frowns slightly, but then Minya distracts him. He leans down, nosing at the adolescent. "No, Minya. You can't." His tone is slightly sad, and slightly approving; it's a far easier thing for Minya to not be troubled by such visions. "There are some cougars who see differently. They have their own path to walk, and you and I, well... we have ours."
Kachina is quiet while her gaze rests upon the boney thing and chews against her lip a moment as if wondering what to do. A shakey breath escapes her and she ponders before slowly moving forward towards the boney fish. There is a pause once more and she shifts to quickly push the rock off the caught ghost. Her whole form quivering and fur almost standing on end for a moment. Once the rock is off the boney fish bounces and splashes a few times before it turns and hops into the water more and 'swims' away as if it could swim.
Minya listens carefully as Wiraqu explains. After a moment, she asks, "Differently?" She silently watches Kachina move the rock. Strange...
Wiraqu watches as Kachina... pushes around a rock on the lakebed. This is apparently a tension-laden activity. "Yes," he says to Minya, not taking his eyes from Kachina. "Ask your mother about the spirit-world sometime. She can explain it better than I." Sploosh. After a moment, he steps toward Kachina and speaks. "Perhaps you should rest, kitten. I was planning on a hunt anyhow; I can bring you something to eat." A slight smile. "Some nice rabbit." It all comes back to the rabbits, see?
Kachina takes in a breath as she shifts to rest against her haunches, her gaze rests upon the water as the boney fish soon disappears. Not into a shadow just gone as if it was able to pass on? She isn't sure at the moment. Her gaze turns to Wiraqu watching him and she nods a moment while her eyes close tightly and her head lowers in a half bow. Her mind is spinning at the moment, questions, so many questions an no answers to any of them.
Wiraqu nuzzles Minya, then pads over to Kachina, lowering his head and nosing gently at her shoulder. "I'll be back. Rest, and let the sun warm you until then." With that, the male turns and heads off toward the trees, lowering himself to the slinking hunter's crouch.
Minya nods. "I will ask her." She smiles when Wiraqu mentions rabbits. Maybe she will go catch one later. But not before resting a bit.
Kachina shifts and settles herself down upon the ground, head resting upon her frontpaws in the process. There is a pause an a faint snort escapes her in the process. "Sure.. Take care on the hunt."
Minya settles down in the warm sunlight near Kachina. She closes her eyes and begins thinking about Kachina, this day and... rabbits.