Post by Therdde on Jun 24, 2009 16:05:09 GMT -5
Characters:
Ama - Female Cougar
Kein - Male Cougar
- Wooded Terrain -
It still hurts. Days later, and she still can't think back on Cheveyo's words without stopping and trying to pull herself together again. Then it's true: he means harm. And this is the grievous news Ama bears as she limps back to Amaranth. She fled hastily that day - away from her sons for fear of anything she might say. Things she might regret along with others. But for now, she must not dwell on it - must focus on getting back. It took her longer than she imagined to leave. Longer still to return to Amaranth: in her haste, she sprained a forepaw, and while it seems to be getting better, she still has a limp, and she hasn't eaten since she began her return. She looks nearly as haggard as she did when she told Hahnee he must not return to Amaranth. Nearly. But not quite. Her eyes are quite clear, aside from the grief that seems to hover around her, like some sort of aura.
Though Kein has left Ama be, has not even attempted to find her, she has never really been far from his mind. Her, and her sons. Kein told his mate of them, and she said she was going to pass it on to everyone that Cheveyo, especially, is not to be trusted, and is not allowed here. Is it enough, though? With the birth of his second litter so near, that is the question that is plaguing him. Is it enough... And should he really be sending his first litter out into the world with someone like that out there? With all the thoughts that occupy his mind, it is easy for Ama's approach to go unnoticed, as he is only checking for /foreign/ scents, /foreign/ sounds.
She recognizes the firm marking that belongs to Kein. Could it be that, just this once, the scents of home cause a horrid feeling to form deep in her stomach: dread. Her son - maybe her /sons/, both of them, are intending to- she can't bear to think of it again. She closes her eyes and, finally, Ama presses on. It has occurred to her that she should not have confronted Cheveyo so quickly. She should have inquired deeper into his plans. But she failed to do so in her desperate haste. She cannot say what he plans. That only added to her reluctance to return home. Believing she may have heard pawsteps, Ama's limping gait ceases so she may listen more closely. Yes: someone else nearby - who? Ama doesn't utter a word, but rather angles herself in the direction of the movement. Part of her hopes it is Kein. The other wishes it would be someone - another Sister, perhaps. To delay.
Thoughts, fears, and doubts aside, he becomes aware of another's presence before he could be attacked. He stops walking, slowly pushing his thoughts aside, and looks up. Before he can see Ama, before he even knows it is Ama, he knows that he will not be getting attacked this instance. Large though the approaching creature is, it's gait is off. Injured. No creature could be so foolish as to attack a full-grown male cougar while injured... Or so he hopes. Even so, he keeps his eyes trained in the direction of the approaching animal. It is only moments before she comes into sight that he actually catches a specific scent. So. Ama.
Faltering, Ama comes to a stop when she first sees him. It is Kein, of course. Who else could she expect to see at the borders? Her face is grim, and only seems to darken as her eyes lower to her paws - one of which is held roughly an inch from the ground. The swelling has gone down, despite her unwillingness to rest. A few more days and she may be able to hunt a little better. Then her eyes lift again, and she does her best to offer a smile, though it's a little uncomfortable. That done, she proceeds once more. She's a soft-spoken creature. She won't yell from a distance. ...except when she's terribly upset, as she experienced a few days ago. She intends to greet him, but when she is close enough to see his face clearly, she cannot bring herself to do so. She stands, perhaps looking a little empty. Her tail curls.
It's Ama. She's hurt, and more than just physically... And whatever his problems, no matter how much he tries to portray himself as uncaring, in pains him to see one of the members of this tribe hurting. Perhaps Ama more than some, strangely. Why should her well-being matter more to him than, say, Chandani's? Well, at least there is some excuse he could use... But based on Ama's expression, that excuse is probably wearing thin. Even so, he moves at least as close to her as she does to him, before she stops, and when he /does/ come to a stop, he says, "You should sit, Ama." There is not /too/ much concern in his tone... But there is some.
Ama moves her head slightly - perhaps it was meant to be a nod of agreement - then seats herself. She pulls her good forepaw close to her body; the injured paw rests lightly against her forelimb. Her tail wraps absent-mindedly around her paws. "Chieftain Kein," she offers, dipping her head forward, just the slightest bit. "How good to see you again," and while she's not insincere, she sounds emotionally drained. Not surprising. "I bear news of my sons," she says - surprising perhaps, as she usually asks about the tribe upon seeing Kein. Perhaps, seeing that there is no point in delaying the inevitable, she would rather breech the subject now, ask other questions later.
Is there even any point in her telling him? Can't Kein figure out everything he needs to know simply by how she is injured and upset? He draws in a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Can he ask her to do what he wants her to do next? Can he /trust/ her to do what he wants her to do next? "You don't have to say anything." He knows. He has known since Moonseeker first told him. And now she knows too. "You rest... And we'll talk about it soon." After he decides if he can really ask Ama to actively work against her children. If he can trust her to do just that.
Her eyes don't leave his face until he speaks. Then her head bows again and remains that way. She sighs softly. Ama has been accused of lying to her own sons. Has heard with her own ears what Cheveyo intends to do. She hasn't forgotten what she promised herself when Kein first alerted her to the /idea/ that her son - or sons - may intend to somehow attack Amaranth. To infiltrate Amaranth. If Cheveyo attacked, she would face him herself. But would he attack? Before, when he knew she was simply a "victim" he never would have. Would that change now that she has made it clear that she will side with the "traitors"? Ama finally lifts her gray-green eyes. She won't mention seeing Hahnee. Not right now. She doesn't know where the second son stands in this matter yet. "Thank you," she whispers, "Thank you for understanding." She pulls herself onto her paws as best as she can, then forces a smile onto her maw.
Should he warn her that he may soon be asking her to do something that she can't, or simply won't do? Or should he give her some time to recover? Kein takes another deep breath before speaking. He will /not/ let her children threaten his... But if he is going to do this correctly, if he is going to keep his family in this home, he will have to tread very carefully. "You have not eaten recently. You should move a little further into the territory, and I will get you some food." He can't help but feel that his offer crosses a line only he can see. How dare he offer her anything while he is thinking about asking her to betray her children? But /his/ children are what matter to him. If he has to destroy every relationship he has ever built up with anyone, including the children, if he has to compromise every value he holds dear, to keep his mate and his children safe, he'll do it without hesitation.
"Oh, well..." she begins, almost appearing caught off-guard by the offer. After the /last/ time he offered her a meal - even a small one - after that she could hardly expect it again. Her smile is, perhaps, a little more genuine this time around, and she merely nods her head in response. She doesn't move right away. "I hope all has been well here," she comments softly, trying to pull thoughts from her sons while she can. In the meanwhile, she does start making her way further in... this season is going to be harder on her than usual. What happened to her life? Where did the simple days go...? She could start it at the place when she first returned to Amaranth. When Ahiga was no longer chieftain. When she first met... Chesmu. But she cannot blame him. He's dead.
/Has/ all been well here? He has started telling his sons they will soon have to leave. Since the last time he saw Ama, he has learned that his son attacked and drove away another cub. No, nothing is going well, right now, but he is /determined/ that it will get better. "Things are fine." They will be, anyway. "Just rest. I'll bring you something soon." Whatever he can catch in a short amount of time. The day is advancing, and he's like to be back with his very pregnant mate soon.
She pads alongside the chieftain a little ways, until he answers. She won't press him further - she'd rather not. Not right now. And that just might be understandable. Ama nods again - just rest. Sounds like a good idea; she has been traveling almost non-stop since she spoke to Cheveyo and saw Hahnee. On a paw, recently-injured... by her own foolishness, really. She should have been paying more attention when moving at that speed... "Of course. Thank you," again. A little further and she'll find a nice tree to rest under for a while. Clean up her fur. Organize her thoughts. This situation does not bode well for her. Or anyone close to her.
Kein does not speak again, not right away. Maybe he will spend some time talking with her when he brings her whatever he manages to catch. Who knows? Regardless, it is with no hesitation that he turns to head away from her and slips between some trees, moving stealthfully as soon as he is out of sight of the female cougar.
- Time Passes -
It is nearly an hour before Kein returns, carrying nothing more than a hare. He is capable of catching much larger animals, but time is an issue, as it almost always is. He spends so much of his days hunting. For himself, his mate, his children... Food never goes to waste around Amaranth. In the time that he has been gone, he has been thinking about much. If only he'd been able to come up with any conclusions.
Ama has taken the time to rest, just as Kein suggested. She spent a good half-hour grooming her coat to the best of her ability, then curled into a ball at the base of the tree to close her eyes. Her cat-nap does some good at restoring her - at least a little - but it cannot remove reality entirely. The scent of blood and the sound of pawsteps are what draw her from her nap. Her head lifts, turning to lock on Kein. Then she rises slowly, allows herself a quick, back-arching stretch (though she is careful not to put too much weight on her forepaw), then watches him quietly. She is /very/ hungry, now that she thinks of it and smells prey. But she won't budge until it is offered.
Kein does not stop walking until he is close enough to drop the hare near enough Ama that she does not have to move far to get it, after which he backs up ans sits down. Even once the hare is no longer in his mouth, he does not speak, even if he does seem to plan on staying here for a while. He isn't soing to delay her meal.
"Thank you," Ama whispers again. After that, she hardly wastes any time in devouring the rabbit. Fur is removed rapidly, meat eaten... it isn't like it's the most filling meal ever, but she would never complain. It far more than she's eaten in /days/. She licks her chops - she wants to at least clean up a little. Then sits up straight and looks at Kein. She doesn't know what he means to ask her. She's lost. Alone. And so she asks, "What will I do now?" And she asks Kein, as if he has the answers. This is his land, after all... and she's brought more trouble with her than she ever intended...
"You'll stay here and recover, Ama." Whatever he will be asking, it will not be today. "When you are feeling better... Then you and I can talk. But until then, I just want you to take it easy, okay?" Maybe this is a mistake. Maybe Kein should come forth with everything he is thinking right now... But he really wants to wait until she is feeling better physically and might be a little less emotional. It's not only because it give his current plan a greater chance of success. He /is/ genuinely concerned for her. That's just not the /only/ reason he wants to wait.
She looks at her chieftain quietly, and when he answers she dips her head again. Very well. That is what she will do for now. No doubt he /is/ concerned, but... he isn't going to do or say anything right now. And so she will try to keep her mind free of- well, how can she not worry? It seems her entire existence has come to revolve around defending and keeping her sons out of trouble. Except that... she can't this time. She may have to be the one who removes the threat. Or tries. But can she do that? Even she's not certain... and telling them she's sorry - Amaranth or her sons - won't fix it either. "...I will."
Though he does not want to say anything to give away what he may soon be asking her... As he stands, Kein says, "For what it is worth, I am very sorry that it has come to this, Ama." If Kein could have his way, he would go back and /demand/ that his mother join him and Nayeli, instead of asking. He would have paid no heed to Paoro's request that they return to clean up the mess their parents left behind. And he would not be here now, being persecuted for always doing the best he can, even when it hasn't benefitted him. Especially when it hasn't benefitted him.
And, were there anyone here who were capable of understanding that more than Kein, it would be Ama. She has played her piece in Amaranth's history. It seemed like a good thing then. Had she only known what her time with Chesmu would result in... she would have lived life, cubless... perhaps unhappy due to her lack of children of her own, but ultimately happier than she is now. "I am too," she acknowledges his words quietly, her face sad and tired. She isn't a young cougar anymore. She can feel it. She can never have more cubs. The possibility seems highly unlikely after this. And destiny seems to be indicating that /she/ may have to do something to intervene. Something desperate. She has a choice between being their mother and defending the only home she cares to have. And her home is winning the bet. Perhaps she is too like her own mother... "I am too," she says again, whispering as she bows her head. They have made her ashamed.
"I will check on you in a few days." By then, his new litter will probably have been born... And that may give him the power to decide that he doesn't have, right now. Kein remains standing there for a moment, as though trying to decide what else he should say. Nothing else comes to his mind, though, and so he begins to turn, as though to leave.
Ama slides back to the ground, careful of her forepaw, her eyes closing. She would thank him again, but it seems to have come to a point where saying it again... wasn't right. Whatever happens next... she'll be here. Recovering, waiting, and when she is well - if she can be well again - she will do what needs to be done. She'll speak further to Kein. Something will have to be done, even if the chieftain hasn't spoken of anything yet. "Farewell," she utters at last, lifting her eyes to watch him go. It's all she can do right now.
Ama - Female Cougar
Kein - Male Cougar
- Wooded Terrain -
It still hurts. Days later, and she still can't think back on Cheveyo's words without stopping and trying to pull herself together again. Then it's true: he means harm. And this is the grievous news Ama bears as she limps back to Amaranth. She fled hastily that day - away from her sons for fear of anything she might say. Things she might regret along with others. But for now, she must not dwell on it - must focus on getting back. It took her longer than she imagined to leave. Longer still to return to Amaranth: in her haste, she sprained a forepaw, and while it seems to be getting better, she still has a limp, and she hasn't eaten since she began her return. She looks nearly as haggard as she did when she told Hahnee he must not return to Amaranth. Nearly. But not quite. Her eyes are quite clear, aside from the grief that seems to hover around her, like some sort of aura.
Though Kein has left Ama be, has not even attempted to find her, she has never really been far from his mind. Her, and her sons. Kein told his mate of them, and she said she was going to pass it on to everyone that Cheveyo, especially, is not to be trusted, and is not allowed here. Is it enough, though? With the birth of his second litter so near, that is the question that is plaguing him. Is it enough... And should he really be sending his first litter out into the world with someone like that out there? With all the thoughts that occupy his mind, it is easy for Ama's approach to go unnoticed, as he is only checking for /foreign/ scents, /foreign/ sounds.
She recognizes the firm marking that belongs to Kein. Could it be that, just this once, the scents of home cause a horrid feeling to form deep in her stomach: dread. Her son - maybe her /sons/, both of them, are intending to- she can't bear to think of it again. She closes her eyes and, finally, Ama presses on. It has occurred to her that she should not have confronted Cheveyo so quickly. She should have inquired deeper into his plans. But she failed to do so in her desperate haste. She cannot say what he plans. That only added to her reluctance to return home. Believing she may have heard pawsteps, Ama's limping gait ceases so she may listen more closely. Yes: someone else nearby - who? Ama doesn't utter a word, but rather angles herself in the direction of the movement. Part of her hopes it is Kein. The other wishes it would be someone - another Sister, perhaps. To delay.
Thoughts, fears, and doubts aside, he becomes aware of another's presence before he could be attacked. He stops walking, slowly pushing his thoughts aside, and looks up. Before he can see Ama, before he even knows it is Ama, he knows that he will not be getting attacked this instance. Large though the approaching creature is, it's gait is off. Injured. No creature could be so foolish as to attack a full-grown male cougar while injured... Or so he hopes. Even so, he keeps his eyes trained in the direction of the approaching animal. It is only moments before she comes into sight that he actually catches a specific scent. So. Ama.
Faltering, Ama comes to a stop when she first sees him. It is Kein, of course. Who else could she expect to see at the borders? Her face is grim, and only seems to darken as her eyes lower to her paws - one of which is held roughly an inch from the ground. The swelling has gone down, despite her unwillingness to rest. A few more days and she may be able to hunt a little better. Then her eyes lift again, and she does her best to offer a smile, though it's a little uncomfortable. That done, she proceeds once more. She's a soft-spoken creature. She won't yell from a distance. ...except when she's terribly upset, as she experienced a few days ago. She intends to greet him, but when she is close enough to see his face clearly, she cannot bring herself to do so. She stands, perhaps looking a little empty. Her tail curls.
It's Ama. She's hurt, and more than just physically... And whatever his problems, no matter how much he tries to portray himself as uncaring, in pains him to see one of the members of this tribe hurting. Perhaps Ama more than some, strangely. Why should her well-being matter more to him than, say, Chandani's? Well, at least there is some excuse he could use... But based on Ama's expression, that excuse is probably wearing thin. Even so, he moves at least as close to her as she does to him, before she stops, and when he /does/ come to a stop, he says, "You should sit, Ama." There is not /too/ much concern in his tone... But there is some.
Ama moves her head slightly - perhaps it was meant to be a nod of agreement - then seats herself. She pulls her good forepaw close to her body; the injured paw rests lightly against her forelimb. Her tail wraps absent-mindedly around her paws. "Chieftain Kein," she offers, dipping her head forward, just the slightest bit. "How good to see you again," and while she's not insincere, she sounds emotionally drained. Not surprising. "I bear news of my sons," she says - surprising perhaps, as she usually asks about the tribe upon seeing Kein. Perhaps, seeing that there is no point in delaying the inevitable, she would rather breech the subject now, ask other questions later.
Is there even any point in her telling him? Can't Kein figure out everything he needs to know simply by how she is injured and upset? He draws in a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Can he ask her to do what he wants her to do next? Can he /trust/ her to do what he wants her to do next? "You don't have to say anything." He knows. He has known since Moonseeker first told him. And now she knows too. "You rest... And we'll talk about it soon." After he decides if he can really ask Ama to actively work against her children. If he can trust her to do just that.
Her eyes don't leave his face until he speaks. Then her head bows again and remains that way. She sighs softly. Ama has been accused of lying to her own sons. Has heard with her own ears what Cheveyo intends to do. She hasn't forgotten what she promised herself when Kein first alerted her to the /idea/ that her son - or sons - may intend to somehow attack Amaranth. To infiltrate Amaranth. If Cheveyo attacked, she would face him herself. But would he attack? Before, when he knew she was simply a "victim" he never would have. Would that change now that she has made it clear that she will side with the "traitors"? Ama finally lifts her gray-green eyes. She won't mention seeing Hahnee. Not right now. She doesn't know where the second son stands in this matter yet. "Thank you," she whispers, "Thank you for understanding." She pulls herself onto her paws as best as she can, then forces a smile onto her maw.
Should he warn her that he may soon be asking her to do something that she can't, or simply won't do? Or should he give her some time to recover? Kein takes another deep breath before speaking. He will /not/ let her children threaten his... But if he is going to do this correctly, if he is going to keep his family in this home, he will have to tread very carefully. "You have not eaten recently. You should move a little further into the territory, and I will get you some food." He can't help but feel that his offer crosses a line only he can see. How dare he offer her anything while he is thinking about asking her to betray her children? But /his/ children are what matter to him. If he has to destroy every relationship he has ever built up with anyone, including the children, if he has to compromise every value he holds dear, to keep his mate and his children safe, he'll do it without hesitation.
"Oh, well..." she begins, almost appearing caught off-guard by the offer. After the /last/ time he offered her a meal - even a small one - after that she could hardly expect it again. Her smile is, perhaps, a little more genuine this time around, and she merely nods her head in response. She doesn't move right away. "I hope all has been well here," she comments softly, trying to pull thoughts from her sons while she can. In the meanwhile, she does start making her way further in... this season is going to be harder on her than usual. What happened to her life? Where did the simple days go...? She could start it at the place when she first returned to Amaranth. When Ahiga was no longer chieftain. When she first met... Chesmu. But she cannot blame him. He's dead.
/Has/ all been well here? He has started telling his sons they will soon have to leave. Since the last time he saw Ama, he has learned that his son attacked and drove away another cub. No, nothing is going well, right now, but he is /determined/ that it will get better. "Things are fine." They will be, anyway. "Just rest. I'll bring you something soon." Whatever he can catch in a short amount of time. The day is advancing, and he's like to be back with his very pregnant mate soon.
She pads alongside the chieftain a little ways, until he answers. She won't press him further - she'd rather not. Not right now. And that just might be understandable. Ama nods again - just rest. Sounds like a good idea; she has been traveling almost non-stop since she spoke to Cheveyo and saw Hahnee. On a paw, recently-injured... by her own foolishness, really. She should have been paying more attention when moving at that speed... "Of course. Thank you," again. A little further and she'll find a nice tree to rest under for a while. Clean up her fur. Organize her thoughts. This situation does not bode well for her. Or anyone close to her.
Kein does not speak again, not right away. Maybe he will spend some time talking with her when he brings her whatever he manages to catch. Who knows? Regardless, it is with no hesitation that he turns to head away from her and slips between some trees, moving stealthfully as soon as he is out of sight of the female cougar.
- Time Passes -
It is nearly an hour before Kein returns, carrying nothing more than a hare. He is capable of catching much larger animals, but time is an issue, as it almost always is. He spends so much of his days hunting. For himself, his mate, his children... Food never goes to waste around Amaranth. In the time that he has been gone, he has been thinking about much. If only he'd been able to come up with any conclusions.
Ama has taken the time to rest, just as Kein suggested. She spent a good half-hour grooming her coat to the best of her ability, then curled into a ball at the base of the tree to close her eyes. Her cat-nap does some good at restoring her - at least a little - but it cannot remove reality entirely. The scent of blood and the sound of pawsteps are what draw her from her nap. Her head lifts, turning to lock on Kein. Then she rises slowly, allows herself a quick, back-arching stretch (though she is careful not to put too much weight on her forepaw), then watches him quietly. She is /very/ hungry, now that she thinks of it and smells prey. But she won't budge until it is offered.
Kein does not stop walking until he is close enough to drop the hare near enough Ama that she does not have to move far to get it, after which he backs up ans sits down. Even once the hare is no longer in his mouth, he does not speak, even if he does seem to plan on staying here for a while. He isn't soing to delay her meal.
"Thank you," Ama whispers again. After that, she hardly wastes any time in devouring the rabbit. Fur is removed rapidly, meat eaten... it isn't like it's the most filling meal ever, but she would never complain. It far more than she's eaten in /days/. She licks her chops - she wants to at least clean up a little. Then sits up straight and looks at Kein. She doesn't know what he means to ask her. She's lost. Alone. And so she asks, "What will I do now?" And she asks Kein, as if he has the answers. This is his land, after all... and she's brought more trouble with her than she ever intended...
"You'll stay here and recover, Ama." Whatever he will be asking, it will not be today. "When you are feeling better... Then you and I can talk. But until then, I just want you to take it easy, okay?" Maybe this is a mistake. Maybe Kein should come forth with everything he is thinking right now... But he really wants to wait until she is feeling better physically and might be a little less emotional. It's not only because it give his current plan a greater chance of success. He /is/ genuinely concerned for her. That's just not the /only/ reason he wants to wait.
She looks at her chieftain quietly, and when he answers she dips her head again. Very well. That is what she will do for now. No doubt he /is/ concerned, but... he isn't going to do or say anything right now. And so she will try to keep her mind free of- well, how can she not worry? It seems her entire existence has come to revolve around defending and keeping her sons out of trouble. Except that... she can't this time. She may have to be the one who removes the threat. Or tries. But can she do that? Even she's not certain... and telling them she's sorry - Amaranth or her sons - won't fix it either. "...I will."
Though he does not want to say anything to give away what he may soon be asking her... As he stands, Kein says, "For what it is worth, I am very sorry that it has come to this, Ama." If Kein could have his way, he would go back and /demand/ that his mother join him and Nayeli, instead of asking. He would have paid no heed to Paoro's request that they return to clean up the mess their parents left behind. And he would not be here now, being persecuted for always doing the best he can, even when it hasn't benefitted him. Especially when it hasn't benefitted him.
And, were there anyone here who were capable of understanding that more than Kein, it would be Ama. She has played her piece in Amaranth's history. It seemed like a good thing then. Had she only known what her time with Chesmu would result in... she would have lived life, cubless... perhaps unhappy due to her lack of children of her own, but ultimately happier than she is now. "I am too," she acknowledges his words quietly, her face sad and tired. She isn't a young cougar anymore. She can feel it. She can never have more cubs. The possibility seems highly unlikely after this. And destiny seems to be indicating that /she/ may have to do something to intervene. Something desperate. She has a choice between being their mother and defending the only home she cares to have. And her home is winning the bet. Perhaps she is too like her own mother... "I am too," she says again, whispering as she bows her head. They have made her ashamed.
"I will check on you in a few days." By then, his new litter will probably have been born... And that may give him the power to decide that he doesn't have, right now. Kein remains standing there for a moment, as though trying to decide what else he should say. Nothing else comes to his mind, though, and so he begins to turn, as though to leave.
Ama slides back to the ground, careful of her forepaw, her eyes closing. She would thank him again, but it seems to have come to a point where saying it again... wasn't right. Whatever happens next... she'll be here. Recovering, waiting, and when she is well - if she can be well again - she will do what needs to be done. She'll speak further to Kein. Something will have to be done, even if the chieftain hasn't spoken of anything yet. "Farewell," she utters at last, lifting her eyes to watch him go. It's all she can do right now.