Post by Mythri on Jul 18, 2009 17:00:41 GMT -5
Cast:
Kein, adult male cougar
Mythri, adolescent female cougar
Scene:
The sun has nearly reached its highest point. In parts of Amaranth, it has begun to get hot enough at midday to become uncomfortable, and Kein, tired from the responsibilities of the new litter, has decided to take a brief rest. Not long. Just enough that he can cool down some. Then he'll circle around and make his way back to Nayeli, so that she can have some time to rest, or take a walk, or whatever she'd like to do today.
Does she need a rest? Mythri feels quite fine, having just come from the shade of numerous pine trees. She's now traveling farther south than she had during her morning run, and her amber-rimmed dark eyes are bright and alert as her pace slows, allowing her to take in more of this new area of her home. And what an area it is--! Bright flowers of all colors assault her senses, nearly causing her to come to a complete stop in cublike wonder.
The newest cougaress to Amaranth caught Kein off guard once. It isn't terribly likely to happen again, even in the 'safety' of Amaranth. He may be 'resting', but he is not asleep, and as he senses another cougar approaching, through some combination of sound and smell, he lifts his head, allowing him to spot her quickly over the bed of flowers. After spotting her, he takes a deep breath before chuffing out a polite, if nonverbal, greeting. One that won't betray any reluctance on his part, like words may have. Unlike his son, Kein is not likely to be following Mythri around, begging for attention, anytime soon. Or ever.
For a brief moment, Mythri is sure that the boy did indeed follow her, or manage to get to where he'd be waiting for her to stumble across him. But no--the chuff-greeting sounds as though it's from an adult, and unless there's yet another male cougar living on the mountain, it's most likely Kein who's spotted her approaching. Perfect. Just the cougar she was hoping to find, and as a bonus, it's a good bit earlier than she was expecting. Even more of a bonus: she doesn't have Kein's son tagging along, presenting an awkward problem to deal with. With a slight dip of her head in greeting, Mythri alters her course slightly to close the distance between the two of them down to something more conversational.
Perhaps he /should/ have greeted her verbally. Without that reluctance in his tone, how could she possibly have known that he doesn't really want to talk? Still, as she approaches him, Kein pulls himself to his feet. It takes effort, but he is not completely inept at being polite, and once she draws closer, he says, "Good day." Just one of the polite things animals say.
Yes, she supposes it is a good day. She's living here in Amaranth now, isn't she? "Your son, the one who's been.. watching me. What is his name?" Straight to the point, perhaps, but why not? Mythri slowly comes to a stop when only several feet away from the larger male, keeping her head slightly lowered, but her gaze still locked onto his. Her tail is motionless, but otherwise she seems to be completely relaxed, if still a bit energetic.
"Well, that depends. Are you willing to finally tell us who you are?" Not that Kein honestly cares, but he supposed it would be nice to be able to introduce the newomer to his mate and others by name. Really, though, it is Mythri's silent refusal to give Cael her name that has Kein asking. Why should there not be a mutual exchange of names, instead of it being one-way?
He says that like it's a bad thing for her to keep her identity private. It's not like he's given her /his/ name, after all! Or the younger male, for that matter. But her respect for Kein's leadership must be evident at all times. "I am Mythri, daughter of Revan." Daughter of the cougar who nearly succeeded in murdering your lifemate. But of course, she doesn't need to point /that/ out. Her relaxed stance now tenses slightly, bracing and preparing for whatever kind of startled reaction the male leader of Amaranth might have. At least she was able to keep her tone neutral, if a little bit.. anxious? Or maybe wary.
Daughter... of... Kein stares at the female before him for a moment, any civility that there was to his expression gone. Daughter of /Revan/. What does her name matter to him, now? With a quiet growl in his tone, he asks, "Why don't you ask your father who my son is? He'd know." After speaking, Kein keeps his gaze on Mythri, watching her reaction closely. Does she know what her father and his companion, Malak, have done to the cougars here? Did one of those two send her here? Had he bee a little slower, the day they met, she might've easily harmed him, and then, with her blatant disregard of their borders...
"He never said anything about your son," Mythri answers, tone still cautious. "Only.. about your mate, Nayeli." She swallows hard, forcing herself to maintain her gaze, though the obvious increase in anger and hostility from the older male is a good bit unsettling. This /definitely/ is not how she anticipated this meeting would go, and it's with an odd sense of relief that she's thankful that Kein's son is not present. For some reason, she's glad that he wasn't here, listening in, and knowing who she is.
Would Cael even remember? He was so young, back then, and... He didn't know Malak's name, apparently. Kein remembers, though. He remembers everything those two have done to his family, and he remembers the implication that Revan and Malak wer associated with Cheveyo. What is he to think about Revan's daughter's presence here, honestly? "Why are you here?" His tone doesn't change, and he doesn't play around. She can answer him, and if her answer displeases him or she appears to be lying... Then her stay in Amaranth will have been a very short one.
It's a fair question. Why come to Amaranth to live, instead of elsewhere? Mythri could have gone just about anywhere to seek out a new place of residence, so why choose the mountain? Or, more specifically, why decide to live among the Amaranth tribe? "My father told me about your lands." It's quite simple, actually. Not only did he tell Mythri that there were many cougars living there, but apparently they were under the delusional idea that cougars could somehow befriend lesser species. It's not that particular reason that drew her here, but simply for the fact that it will provide an effective sanctuary for her. So, her simple response, coupled with her request of yesterday to live here, should be a satisfactory answer for the male leader, yes?
Kein continues to stare at Mythri. It's as easy for him to believe that she's being deliberately dense, for whatever reason, as it is for him to believe that she's innocent. And, as he told Ama... He /can't/ leave the possibility unexamined. "What did your father tell you about us, Mythri? That we were weak? That we would be an easy target?" Because they aren't, and they won't be. Even after speaking, Kein keeps his teeth bared, but he hasn't advanced on the female yet.
Again swallowing hard, Mythri nods. "Yes, he did tell me that your tribe is weak." Weak, deluded, abominable... she could list a great number of derogatory adjectives, as Revan was /quite/ vocally upset over Amaranth's existence. "His attack on your mate convinced him of that." She probably /could/ be a little more.. diplomatic or tactful, but such things always seem to get in the way of simple honesty. Besides, her skill set is composed of other things, few of which are verbal. Her ears flatten a little, most likely in response to the continued baring of fangs in her direction. What was that Kein himself told her about being able to defend herself should the need arise?
What Mythri says doesn't help Kein to control his anger. Sure, he recognizes that, unless she is just /really/ stupid... Or bold... She wouldn't be telling him this if she had less than honorable intentions. All the same... Her father never once hid who he was, what he felt. Not that Kein saw, though he only encountered Revan once. She really could just be that bold, that confident that he won't do anything about it, and she has never once sought to ensure him that she intends them no harm. "I'm going to ask you one more time. /Why/ are you here?" At that, Kein finally takes a step forward. He's not asking how she came to be here, how she learned of them, but /why/ she is here. Still, he watches her for any hints that she is lying.
She just doesn't understand. Why is she here? She's already told him, or has he forgotten this quickly? Mythri looks confused, though her eyes do widen slightly and she instinctively takes a step backward as the male advances on her. "I.. don't understand. You already know why I came here, and you've already given me that permission to live here on the mountain." Sure, the fact that Revan is her father might stir unpleasant memories, but why the aggression toward him? She's here against her father's wishes and commands, not fighting alongside of him!
"I know why you told me you came here. Why do you want to live /here/, of all places?" Kein doesn't take another step forward, leaving them at the exact same distance apart as they were before he took his step forward. If either of them were capable of reading minds, this would have been over much sooner. They aren't, though... And so he is forced to drag this unpleasant conversation on, when he would much prefer to tell her to leave, to get away from him and stay away from his family, either permanently or temporarily.
The question seems to take Mythri by surprise. Is it really that difficult to figure out? "Why.. why /wouldn't/ I want to live here?" This is the real question that the male is having to figure out an answer to? The real matter here? "Throughout all my training, my father would remind me over and over of what a beautiful place this must be. Not to mention, of course, that there are other cougars here, too." Her gaze, having glanced for a moment to the northwest, as if in the direction that her father most likely is, returns to meet that of the older feline. "There's never been any doubt in my mind that I wanted to live here, someday."
The female has never once mentioned disliking her father. Of course... Kein, of all cougars, understands not blaming offspring for the sins of their parents, and Nayeli's love for her father never got in the way of their relationship. Still... "We don't take kindly to spies here, Mythri, and your father will not be tolerated anywhere near my borders." Ever, under any circumstances. He will /keep/ Amaranth a beautiful, and hopefully peaceful, place to live for the majority of cougaresses here, if he has any choice, and if that means driving one cougaress from the territory... Then so be it.
Spies? So that's why Kein had his son watching her and following--wait. He couldn't have known, could he? Unless he just /suspected/, and still decided to have his son... "Is that why your son has been following me? You don't trust me enough to let me be alone in /your/ territory?" Mythri's tone is indeed accusative, but still maintaining at least some level of respect. It's a fine, tight balance between the two. "And what is his name? I've told you who I am."
"If I didn't trust you to be alone in my territory, I would not let you stay in my territory." Kein's voice is raised to respond to her accusation. If Cael is following Mythri, it is of his own accord... And probably has nothing to do with who Mythri's father is, since he doubts Cael knows. "His name is Cael. I am Kein. And if you want to know another cougar's name, I suggest you ask that cougar." Let them respond to this unpleasant female as they will.
"And where is your mate, Nayeli? I must speak with her." Mythri ponders the name 'Cael', letting it repeat over and over in her mind. Yes, that name seems to fit, though it seems a bit.. ambitious.. for such an adolescent. She tries not to think of what Cael would be like if he had grown up under her father's mentoring, rather than Kein's. Would Cael have made the same decisions and rejections that she has? Or would he be still with Revan, preparing for his adult years of purging? Her tail lashes at the thought, and her ears, if not already splayed back a little, would no doubt flatten.
Kein isn't sure he likes the idea of this adolescent too near his newest cubs, or his mate. Trust comes slowly to Kein, and though he is not chasing her out, that doesn't mean he is entirely pleased at having her around. "I will let her know that you wish to speak to her." He intended to return there soon anyway, to give Nayeli a break from Maul and Shade. If Nayeli wants to spend that time speaking with this newest female... Kein won't suggest against it.
Not quite the answer she was hoping for, but she really can't blame him for being slightly cautious. Regardless, his response is not satisfactory, so Mythri decides to push a little forward on this. "I don't mind waiting until you are ready to go." A very faint smile--or is it more like a smirk?--punctuates the sentence, as if she knows already that he'll no doubt refuse her. Probable outcome: Nayeli will surprise her at some point in the near future and the entire conversation will begin with Mythri entirely off-guard and off-balance. Nope. Not going to happen that way, at least not if she has anything to say about it.
A very brief, but audible, growl comes from Kein again. "My mate has recently given birth to cubs. /If/ she decides to speak with you, it will be on /her/ time. Not yours." And Kein's tone suggests exactly what he said to Cael, not long ago. 'Get used to it.' Nayeli may be willing to go out of her way to accomodate the members of Amaranth, but until Nayeli accepts Mythri's presence here, Kein wouldn't even call her a Sister, and it is his job to look out for his mate's wellbeing, and that of their newest cubs.
Cubs? The tiny smile abruptly vanished, replaced with a look of... what? It's gone an instant later, replaced with a carefully neutral expression. "I'm.. happy to hear that your mate has.. had cubs." Very interesting indeed. Does her father know that Nayeli is a new mother yet again? She'll have to ponder over this once she's alone again. "Tell her for me, when you let her know." There's no change in that unreadable look, and suddenly, abruptly, Mythri is walking off to the west, toward another unexplored area of the mountain. If she happens to stumble across mother and children, well... then so be it. It's not like she's /looking/ for them, after all.
No doubt, Kein will be telling Nayeli a great many things about Mythri. He doesn't respond to her, though, instead just watching as she walks off. Besides speaking to Nayeli, he will have to spend the coming weeks watching more fervently for any sign that Malak or Revan have been nearby. And here, he was hoping to have more time with his cubs, this time around...
Kein, adult male cougar
Mythri, adolescent female cougar
Scene:
The sun has nearly reached its highest point. In parts of Amaranth, it has begun to get hot enough at midday to become uncomfortable, and Kein, tired from the responsibilities of the new litter, has decided to take a brief rest. Not long. Just enough that he can cool down some. Then he'll circle around and make his way back to Nayeli, so that she can have some time to rest, or take a walk, or whatever she'd like to do today.
Does she need a rest? Mythri feels quite fine, having just come from the shade of numerous pine trees. She's now traveling farther south than she had during her morning run, and her amber-rimmed dark eyes are bright and alert as her pace slows, allowing her to take in more of this new area of her home. And what an area it is--! Bright flowers of all colors assault her senses, nearly causing her to come to a complete stop in cublike wonder.
The newest cougaress to Amaranth caught Kein off guard once. It isn't terribly likely to happen again, even in the 'safety' of Amaranth. He may be 'resting', but he is not asleep, and as he senses another cougar approaching, through some combination of sound and smell, he lifts his head, allowing him to spot her quickly over the bed of flowers. After spotting her, he takes a deep breath before chuffing out a polite, if nonverbal, greeting. One that won't betray any reluctance on his part, like words may have. Unlike his son, Kein is not likely to be following Mythri around, begging for attention, anytime soon. Or ever.
For a brief moment, Mythri is sure that the boy did indeed follow her, or manage to get to where he'd be waiting for her to stumble across him. But no--the chuff-greeting sounds as though it's from an adult, and unless there's yet another male cougar living on the mountain, it's most likely Kein who's spotted her approaching. Perfect. Just the cougar she was hoping to find, and as a bonus, it's a good bit earlier than she was expecting. Even more of a bonus: she doesn't have Kein's son tagging along, presenting an awkward problem to deal with. With a slight dip of her head in greeting, Mythri alters her course slightly to close the distance between the two of them down to something more conversational.
Perhaps he /should/ have greeted her verbally. Without that reluctance in his tone, how could she possibly have known that he doesn't really want to talk? Still, as she approaches him, Kein pulls himself to his feet. It takes effort, but he is not completely inept at being polite, and once she draws closer, he says, "Good day." Just one of the polite things animals say.
Yes, she supposes it is a good day. She's living here in Amaranth now, isn't she? "Your son, the one who's been.. watching me. What is his name?" Straight to the point, perhaps, but why not? Mythri slowly comes to a stop when only several feet away from the larger male, keeping her head slightly lowered, but her gaze still locked onto his. Her tail is motionless, but otherwise she seems to be completely relaxed, if still a bit energetic.
"Well, that depends. Are you willing to finally tell us who you are?" Not that Kein honestly cares, but he supposed it would be nice to be able to introduce the newomer to his mate and others by name. Really, though, it is Mythri's silent refusal to give Cael her name that has Kein asking. Why should there not be a mutual exchange of names, instead of it being one-way?
He says that like it's a bad thing for her to keep her identity private. It's not like he's given her /his/ name, after all! Or the younger male, for that matter. But her respect for Kein's leadership must be evident at all times. "I am Mythri, daughter of Revan." Daughter of the cougar who nearly succeeded in murdering your lifemate. But of course, she doesn't need to point /that/ out. Her relaxed stance now tenses slightly, bracing and preparing for whatever kind of startled reaction the male leader of Amaranth might have. At least she was able to keep her tone neutral, if a little bit.. anxious? Or maybe wary.
Daughter... of... Kein stares at the female before him for a moment, any civility that there was to his expression gone. Daughter of /Revan/. What does her name matter to him, now? With a quiet growl in his tone, he asks, "Why don't you ask your father who my son is? He'd know." After speaking, Kein keeps his gaze on Mythri, watching her reaction closely. Does she know what her father and his companion, Malak, have done to the cougars here? Did one of those two send her here? Had he bee a little slower, the day they met, she might've easily harmed him, and then, with her blatant disregard of their borders...
"He never said anything about your son," Mythri answers, tone still cautious. "Only.. about your mate, Nayeli." She swallows hard, forcing herself to maintain her gaze, though the obvious increase in anger and hostility from the older male is a good bit unsettling. This /definitely/ is not how she anticipated this meeting would go, and it's with an odd sense of relief that she's thankful that Kein's son is not present. For some reason, she's glad that he wasn't here, listening in, and knowing who she is.
Would Cael even remember? He was so young, back then, and... He didn't know Malak's name, apparently. Kein remembers, though. He remembers everything those two have done to his family, and he remembers the implication that Revan and Malak wer associated with Cheveyo. What is he to think about Revan's daughter's presence here, honestly? "Why are you here?" His tone doesn't change, and he doesn't play around. She can answer him, and if her answer displeases him or she appears to be lying... Then her stay in Amaranth will have been a very short one.
It's a fair question. Why come to Amaranth to live, instead of elsewhere? Mythri could have gone just about anywhere to seek out a new place of residence, so why choose the mountain? Or, more specifically, why decide to live among the Amaranth tribe? "My father told me about your lands." It's quite simple, actually. Not only did he tell Mythri that there were many cougars living there, but apparently they were under the delusional idea that cougars could somehow befriend lesser species. It's not that particular reason that drew her here, but simply for the fact that it will provide an effective sanctuary for her. So, her simple response, coupled with her request of yesterday to live here, should be a satisfactory answer for the male leader, yes?
Kein continues to stare at Mythri. It's as easy for him to believe that she's being deliberately dense, for whatever reason, as it is for him to believe that she's innocent. And, as he told Ama... He /can't/ leave the possibility unexamined. "What did your father tell you about us, Mythri? That we were weak? That we would be an easy target?" Because they aren't, and they won't be. Even after speaking, Kein keeps his teeth bared, but he hasn't advanced on the female yet.
Again swallowing hard, Mythri nods. "Yes, he did tell me that your tribe is weak." Weak, deluded, abominable... she could list a great number of derogatory adjectives, as Revan was /quite/ vocally upset over Amaranth's existence. "His attack on your mate convinced him of that." She probably /could/ be a little more.. diplomatic or tactful, but such things always seem to get in the way of simple honesty. Besides, her skill set is composed of other things, few of which are verbal. Her ears flatten a little, most likely in response to the continued baring of fangs in her direction. What was that Kein himself told her about being able to defend herself should the need arise?
What Mythri says doesn't help Kein to control his anger. Sure, he recognizes that, unless she is just /really/ stupid... Or bold... She wouldn't be telling him this if she had less than honorable intentions. All the same... Her father never once hid who he was, what he felt. Not that Kein saw, though he only encountered Revan once. She really could just be that bold, that confident that he won't do anything about it, and she has never once sought to ensure him that she intends them no harm. "I'm going to ask you one more time. /Why/ are you here?" At that, Kein finally takes a step forward. He's not asking how she came to be here, how she learned of them, but /why/ she is here. Still, he watches her for any hints that she is lying.
She just doesn't understand. Why is she here? She's already told him, or has he forgotten this quickly? Mythri looks confused, though her eyes do widen slightly and she instinctively takes a step backward as the male advances on her. "I.. don't understand. You already know why I came here, and you've already given me that permission to live here on the mountain." Sure, the fact that Revan is her father might stir unpleasant memories, but why the aggression toward him? She's here against her father's wishes and commands, not fighting alongside of him!
"I know why you told me you came here. Why do you want to live /here/, of all places?" Kein doesn't take another step forward, leaving them at the exact same distance apart as they were before he took his step forward. If either of them were capable of reading minds, this would have been over much sooner. They aren't, though... And so he is forced to drag this unpleasant conversation on, when he would much prefer to tell her to leave, to get away from him and stay away from his family, either permanently or temporarily.
The question seems to take Mythri by surprise. Is it really that difficult to figure out? "Why.. why /wouldn't/ I want to live here?" This is the real question that the male is having to figure out an answer to? The real matter here? "Throughout all my training, my father would remind me over and over of what a beautiful place this must be. Not to mention, of course, that there are other cougars here, too." Her gaze, having glanced for a moment to the northwest, as if in the direction that her father most likely is, returns to meet that of the older feline. "There's never been any doubt in my mind that I wanted to live here, someday."
The female has never once mentioned disliking her father. Of course... Kein, of all cougars, understands not blaming offspring for the sins of their parents, and Nayeli's love for her father never got in the way of their relationship. Still... "We don't take kindly to spies here, Mythri, and your father will not be tolerated anywhere near my borders." Ever, under any circumstances. He will /keep/ Amaranth a beautiful, and hopefully peaceful, place to live for the majority of cougaresses here, if he has any choice, and if that means driving one cougaress from the territory... Then so be it.
Spies? So that's why Kein had his son watching her and following--wait. He couldn't have known, could he? Unless he just /suspected/, and still decided to have his son... "Is that why your son has been following me? You don't trust me enough to let me be alone in /your/ territory?" Mythri's tone is indeed accusative, but still maintaining at least some level of respect. It's a fine, tight balance between the two. "And what is his name? I've told you who I am."
"If I didn't trust you to be alone in my territory, I would not let you stay in my territory." Kein's voice is raised to respond to her accusation. If Cael is following Mythri, it is of his own accord... And probably has nothing to do with who Mythri's father is, since he doubts Cael knows. "His name is Cael. I am Kein. And if you want to know another cougar's name, I suggest you ask that cougar." Let them respond to this unpleasant female as they will.
"And where is your mate, Nayeli? I must speak with her." Mythri ponders the name 'Cael', letting it repeat over and over in her mind. Yes, that name seems to fit, though it seems a bit.. ambitious.. for such an adolescent. She tries not to think of what Cael would be like if he had grown up under her father's mentoring, rather than Kein's. Would Cael have made the same decisions and rejections that she has? Or would he be still with Revan, preparing for his adult years of purging? Her tail lashes at the thought, and her ears, if not already splayed back a little, would no doubt flatten.
Kein isn't sure he likes the idea of this adolescent too near his newest cubs, or his mate. Trust comes slowly to Kein, and though he is not chasing her out, that doesn't mean he is entirely pleased at having her around. "I will let her know that you wish to speak to her." He intended to return there soon anyway, to give Nayeli a break from Maul and Shade. If Nayeli wants to spend that time speaking with this newest female... Kein won't suggest against it.
Not quite the answer she was hoping for, but she really can't blame him for being slightly cautious. Regardless, his response is not satisfactory, so Mythri decides to push a little forward on this. "I don't mind waiting until you are ready to go." A very faint smile--or is it more like a smirk?--punctuates the sentence, as if she knows already that he'll no doubt refuse her. Probable outcome: Nayeli will surprise her at some point in the near future and the entire conversation will begin with Mythri entirely off-guard and off-balance. Nope. Not going to happen that way, at least not if she has anything to say about it.
A very brief, but audible, growl comes from Kein again. "My mate has recently given birth to cubs. /If/ she decides to speak with you, it will be on /her/ time. Not yours." And Kein's tone suggests exactly what he said to Cael, not long ago. 'Get used to it.' Nayeli may be willing to go out of her way to accomodate the members of Amaranth, but until Nayeli accepts Mythri's presence here, Kein wouldn't even call her a Sister, and it is his job to look out for his mate's wellbeing, and that of their newest cubs.
Cubs? The tiny smile abruptly vanished, replaced with a look of... what? It's gone an instant later, replaced with a carefully neutral expression. "I'm.. happy to hear that your mate has.. had cubs." Very interesting indeed. Does her father know that Nayeli is a new mother yet again? She'll have to ponder over this once she's alone again. "Tell her for me, when you let her know." There's no change in that unreadable look, and suddenly, abruptly, Mythri is walking off to the west, toward another unexplored area of the mountain. If she happens to stumble across mother and children, well... then so be it. It's not like she's /looking/ for them, after all.
No doubt, Kein will be telling Nayeli a great many things about Mythri. He doesn't respond to her, though, instead just watching as she walks off. Besides speaking to Nayeli, he will have to spend the coming weeks watching more fervently for any sign that Malak or Revan have been nearby. And here, he was hoping to have more time with his cubs, this time around...