Post by Mythri on Jul 18, 2009 17:28:04 GMT -5
Cast:
Cael, adolescent male cougar
Nayeli, adult female cougar
Kein, adult male cougar
Scene:
The young cougar's eyes, focused on the empty space where Mythri disappeared, are filled with a sappy kind of awe for a moment, and Nayeli's voice tempts from him a tiny, yet wistful, sigh, "Yeah..." he agrees, and to punctuate the feeling his tail curls and uncurls with other, thankfully unspoken thoughts, running through his mind. Cael blinks, ears ballooning forward then nervously shifting to the sides of his head, "I- I mean," he stumbles slightly, shaking his head and trying to forget the hot blush that flames the inside of his ears red, "I mean, she's p-pretty rude... for, um, someone who's trying to help her out a little..." FAIL.
While she hasn't devoted all that much thought to it, it /has/ occurred to Nayeli that her three sons are quickly reaching the age where girls might be catching their eye. And while it's somewhat sweet and amusing to see the effect this brief encounter has had on Cael, it's also somewhat alarming. There's a reason why males are almost without exception forced to leave Amaranth when they grow old enough. And while Cael is son of the Amaranth leadership, that doesn't negate the fact that he is still indeed a male and one who apparently is now discovering exactly what that means. "Yes, she was pretty rude, wasn't she?" And that'll be something that Nayeli talks to her about, next time they encounter one another. "Is that all you noticed?" They both know it's not. The mother in Nayeli is trying to pry /just/ a little... curious as to how much her eldest son is growing up. She's quite proud of him, regardless of how much he might be stammering and verbally stumbling around right now.
Kein has not been gone long. His morning ritual has been altered to include getting food for Nayeli and bringing it back as soon as possible, ever since she gave birth. Most often, it's something small, but it's better than nothing, enough to ensure she isn't hungry until he manages to complete some of his daily patrol. This morning is nothing different, as Kein returns a few hours after he left with a hare in his mouth.
Cael stammers, eyes narrowing as he tone inadvertantly takes on an accusative, "W-what do you mean by that?" He refuses to turn his head to look at his mother, and would like nothing more than to run off into the bushes and hide in a cave some where for a while; but then Mythri would find him o.0;; To compensate for his nervousness, the male plunks down on his rearend and coughs, like he meant to. Mm-hmm. "She's just... I--" Breath. "I don't get it." Cael ends with that, a little weakly, then picks his head up when he notices Kein arrive, as well. ._.;
Perfect timing! Well, maybe not exactly. There's really no way to hide the fact that Mythri was just here a few moments ago, and Nayeli is pretty sure that her mate is not going to be pleased with the news. Maybe if she can distract him... The cougaress does her best to seem as delighted as possible at the sight of the approaching chieftain, and it's not all just for show. She really /is/ glad to see him.. even if the time he chose is a bit awkward. "Well," she responds to Cael in a voice loud enough for both males to hear, "I think your father would be able explain a bit better than I would." Slightly different situation than Kein had when he was Cael's age.. obviously.. but surely between both parents, they can help Cael understand why he's feeling the way he is. Not to mention they do need to discuss the very real possibility of him having to leave Amaranth in the near future.
Explain... What? It isn't until Kein sets the hare down, a short distance away from Nayeli, that he can smell the recent presence of the newest arrival in Amaranth, and his tail flicks as he recognizes it. At least he has gotten better, in weeks past, at concealing his anger, but half of the reason he wanted Nayeli to meet Mythri on Nayeli's terms, and away from here, was so that the cubs would be well out of the way of potential danger. He doesn't say anything, though, rather looking btween Nayeli and Cael. At least the cubs are obviously quite fine... And, he supposes, if Mythri had tried anything, Cael and Nayeli together should have been able to keep Maul and Shade safe.
"N-no, I mean, um," Cael stops and frowns, shakes his head and sighs; this time it's more resigned frustration than longing, unrequited love sort've... thing. "I... think she's following me. She acts like she hates me but I see her everywhere and she thinks she can teach me things?!" Cael snorts, the very /idea/ that /she/ could teach /him/, although it's likely she feels the exact same way. "Nevermind," he finally mumbles, having wanted to discuss Mythri in slightly better context, and definately without Kein nearby. Kein! Speaking of, he glances at his father with that 'nevermind' face, and then glances off into the woods. Bleh.
"Following you?" Nayeli's brow perks as she echoes her son's lament. Maybe that's not entirely a bad thing, though it /would/ be nicer if Mythri was both more trustworthy and more.. well.. polite? Or something that would put Cael at ease. Kein too, for that matter. But as her son seems to want to be through with this conversation, Nayeli nods, turning her attention to focus on her mate. "You should have seen the way your son stood his ground just a short while ago," she announces proudly, throwing a smile and glance toward Cael. So maybe he did get tripped up, but that's beside the point. If Mythri really has had all of this training that she seems to feel no shaming in admitting, then Cael did a very impressive job indeed.
Unfortunately for Cael, it's not as easy as 'nevermind'. "What happened?" Oh yes, he will be having a talk with Mythri soon. Forcing Cael to stand his ground certainly doesn't seem like not causing trouble, but at least Kein doesn't seem terribly worried. According to Nayeli, Cael did well, and he's getting large enough that Kein can trust in his ability to help keep everyone safe.
Cael fights the urge to sigh and fight against Kein's insistance about what happened. He is in the throws of that rebellious stage, but Kein has already had enough of that in his life that Cael does not need to add to. So he takes a deep breath and stands, turning to face both parents, watching them for a second before he shrugs, almost embaressed. "I came here to talk to mother, and she shows up and says that she's Revan's daughter, and this and that, and I told her it was rude and she should respect your lands and your space, and she decides to have some twisted sense of fun and go after me! Or... something." The boy dances from paw to paw, then roughly sits back on his haunches again. Awkward.
Something like that, anyway. Nayeli is quick to jump in, just to make sure one additional detail isn't forgotten. "It was strange, but she apologized for her father's actions when he almost.. well.." Almost killed her. The feeling of utter helplessness as her throat was caught between the jaws of that unreal male is something her dreams will never let her forget, ever. Nayeli's gaze briefly flicks over to the hare, half-wishing she hadn't eaten yet, but that's not Cael's fault. Her eyes look toward Kein once more, waiting for a reaction. Anger at Mythri? Pride in Cael's actions? They still need to talk to Cael about what's happening in his life.. /to/ his life.
Yes, Kein will defintiely be having a talk with Mythri. Soon. For now, though, he lets it go with a brief nod of his head. Cael's discomfort, after all, is obvious. Is he proud of the boy for leading Mythri right to Nayeli, Maul, and Shade? Not so much, but at least whatever anger is in him is not directed at his oldest son, probably because he managed to take care of it. Kein still doesn't like the thought of his children leaving. He has thought about it as little as possible. Perhaps for that reason, he still doesn't recognize the whatever it is between Mythri and Cael. He doesn't want to.
Cael only shrugs at Naylie's interjection, deciding it best now that he's... sort've explained things to keep his mouth shut and to not dig himself into the giant hole. Apparently he's already in one, somehow, with Mythri, and he'd rather not have something else to figure a way out of at the same time. "I thought I'd try to help her a little, so she didn't have another..." his eyes drift to Kein for a moment, "misunderstanding with someone else, but she acts so... she just... I don't..." Cael shakes his head, picking up a forepaw and rubbing it across his muzzle. "I didn't even know she was following me until she bursts out claiming how great she is, for some reason." He sounds resentful, but he keeps looking back with that /look/ on his face to where she last vanished.
Nayeli is quite curious now whether or not Mythri has met any of her other sons, and if so, what they think of the female adolescent. Maybe she should go talk to them here shortly? Or perhaps Kein would like to do so himself, if the thought has occurred to him as well. She watches the two males with somewhat of a bemused smile, and can't help but wonder if Mythri's watching them from hiding. From the little bit of interaction she's had so far with.. with Revan's daughter.. it seems like the kind of thing that Mythri would do.
Cael's discomfort remains obvious. He's obviously not eager to speak about this... And because of that, along with Nayeli's smile, Kein is not able to remain as blissfully ignorant as he might prefer. Still, should he push the issue now, or wait until later, when he and Cael could be alone to talk about it? Surely, Cael knows that he relays a lot of their conversations to Nayeli, but would Cael be more willing to open up if Nayeli weren't listening to them? Kein doesn't know. He is quiet for a moment, then, with a quiet sigh, asks, "How close are you and Mythri, Cael?" After asking, he sits, preparing for this to be a long conversation. He knows that Cael was following Mythri, one day. Mythri has apparently followed Cael. And while the younger male might not be pleased about Mythri's behaviour, Kein can name plenty of times when Nayeli has gone after him, as Cael said of Mythri, for fun. And most unfairly too, often, but is this more flirting that troublemaking?
Cael's face twists into a look of startled worry, verging on disgust. Close?! "Uhn.. n-not at all, that's why I don't know why she's following me everywhere." Fidget. His attention moves quickly from his father's face to his mother's, but what he sees from Nayeli in that strange all-knowing mother smirk is worrisome. Cael coughs, harumps, and flattens his ears. "I don't think she likes me at all. I was just trying to be nice to her." And, why is /he/ getting the third degree?! Isn't /Mythri/ the one making all the trouble? Kein should take her aside and give her one of those fatherly-type lectures, followed by the ever more brutal mom-lecture. That'd straighten her out, to be sure. Cael leaves his... personal feelings just that. Personal.
Nayeli is obviously not a male. She doesn't think like a male thinks. She doesn't feel like a male feels. And yet, she can't help but place herself in Mythri's position, at least a little bit, and recognize some of the same things that she saw in Kein. Her son might claim that he's not close at all, or not interested, but she saw the way he looked at her. He might not even recognize it for what it is, but there's definitely /some/ interest. Maybe not romantic. Maybe not ever. But definitely an interest to know more about this girl who's been suddenly placed in his life. Or... maybe such thoughts are completely absurd. But if it's anything like what she's seen in her own mate, and his interest in her... Who knows?
The boy doth protest too much, methinks. Forcing himself to not focus on all that is negative about this, and with only the slightest twitch of his muzzle towards what might be a smile, he says, "Maybe she was following you for the same reason you've followed her." Wouldn't it be easier if Kein could just tell his children that they aren't allowed to grow up any more than they already have? /If/ Cael is starting to be attracted to females, the other boys can't be far behind, and... Still, given Cael's continued reluctance to talk about it, Kein is prepared to let this rest for just a while longer, after what he just said. Maybe Cael /would/ be more willing to talk without Nayeli listening in.
Something is rotten on the mountain of Amaranth. Cael's confusion seems to grow a little frantic at Nayeli's words, and he almost balks when Kein pipes in again. "/I/ wasn't following /her/," he gruffs, unable to believe that dear mum and dad are cornering him like... like... like a wild animal!! D: In fact, after their first meeting at the rocks, Cael had given up following her; he didn't even approach her on the mountain, since she beat him to it! He lets go of a huge sigh, and eyes both parents suspiciously, "This is so not my fault." Halo.
"We didn't say anything about this being your /fault/, Cael," Nayeli finally speaks up, still smiling in that.. bemused and somewhat-secretive way. "There's nothing wrong at all to be interested in a girl." A polite cough and grin are sent in Kein's direction, and the look that she flashes her mate speaks volumes. Take it from your parents, son.. without interest, no you! "If I can make an assumption here, I'd say that you don't understand her, but you really wish you did?" Not /quite/ the words that Kein's told her about their own relationship in the past, but she's intelligent enough to have picked up on that. Girls are complicated, yes! Guys are curious, yes! Poor Cael. And does Mythri even suspect this? If so... woo. This is going to be a very interesting next couple of.. days? weeks? months? And so, life in Amaranth goes on, very much as it has this past age... full of its own comings and goings...
/Does/ Kein wish he could understand Nayeli, or would it require breaking his brain in order for him to do so? Of course, there have been times when he wished he knew what she was thinking, since he's /certain/ that what she's thinking and what she's saying are not always the same thing. And, without a doubt, he may not understand her at all on any given day. Still, Nayeli's question is not altogether off base. He's just not sure he's capable of understanding any female, and if he were, it must mean something's wrong with him. As Nayeli takes over part of the conversation, for which Kein is /very/ grateful, Kein slips into silence, just watching his son and, yes, exchanging glances with his mate.
!! Cael chokes. "N-no, noofcoursenotwhywouldyouthinkthat?" OMG /MOM/. The insides of his ears are burning red as Nayeli exchange that... /parent/ look of theirs. Creepy cougars. Cael is terribly ignorant when it comes to girls, after all, the only ones that he knows are his mother and his sisters and he is definately /not/ interested in them. Conversely, they have not captured Cael's attention like Mythri has. The young male twitches his toes and tries very hard to sit still, but it's difficult with that overwhelming feeling of embarssesment falling on you like a ten ton avalanche. Other than that, he's great. "I just... I just wish she'd be more... more, um... " Cael shrugs. "Maybe."
Now they seem to be getting somewhere. Nayeli gives a small nod, still smiling. This is rather amusing... Cael sounds just like what Kein seems to be like quite a bit of the time! Granted, he's become a lot more understanding and knowledgeable of her as their relationship has progressed, but there's still no denying the similarities between he and Cael. Maybe because.. they're both males! There's something in Cael's tone and Kein's looks over at her which makes her feel like laughing out loud. She doesn't, of course, but gets the message. "Maybe you both would prefer some time alone for guytalk?" Just a thought.
Is that not what Kein wondered just moments ago? Apparently, females are much better at predicting what males are thinking that the other way around. Regardless, Kein does not answer, leaving it up to his son for now. Was Kein caught a little off-guard my this? Yeah, a little bit. He'll struggle through if Cael is willing to get this over with now, but if Cael is still really not eager, Kein will jump at the opportunity to really not talk about this right now.
All it takes is one quick look at Kein to see his reluctance, and his son is off like a shot. "NothanksI'mallsetI'mgoingtogohavesomedinnerImeanbreakfasterormaybeanapyeahthatwouldbegoodIthink."Cael bumbles through some thoughts before smiling meekly at Nayeli, pink ears and green face looking for all the world like he's going to lose his lunch, and he gives her a quick headbutt before turning and promptly fleeing. His strides are long and in a few quick bounds he is at the edge of the grove and disappearing, distinctly in the opposite direction of Mythri. FLEE!
Obviously, Kein having quite a different kind of parentage than Cael has, or even than Nayeli had, he probably didn't learn about... certain things... in /quite/ the normal way. Regardless, Nayeli knows that Cael's curiosity is only going to drive him to further frustration, as embarrassment and maybe more than just a little bit of pride is going to prevent him from asking his parents. It'd probably be for the best if Kein just sat him down, acknowledged that they both didn't really feel like having this conversation, but did it anyway. So! "Kein, dear.." Uh oh. It's that irresistible smile. "..I think that you probably should follow him and go ahead and continue this conversation. We don't know enough about Mythri to know what her reaction to all of this is going to be, and I think that Cael would be a lot better prepared if he.. well.. if he knew what he needs to." You know, /man/ stuff.
It's with near-reluctance that Kein looks from the retreating form of his son to Nayeli. He knows that tone all too well. Why can she not just let this be, for now? Kein just looks at her silently for a moment, wondering if arguing will do any good. He's sure this will be every bit as awkward for Cael as Nayeli's first heat was for him, and he really wants no part of it, just now, but then... "Can't we just give him a little time, to come to terms with some of what he's feeling first?" How much time? That's what Kein is not so certain abot. He does not know exactly how of Mythri is, and... Hrf.
"That's just it.. I think Cael needs answers moreso than he needs time. Do you think you could have 'come to terms' yourself when you were his age before you understood what was happening? It's confusing, frightening, and frustrating, and..." Nayeli trails off, realizing that she's probably sounding a bit too confrontational or argumentative. "I'm sorry.. I don't mean to.. it's just.. I'm just worried for him, I guess. He should be excited about getting to pursue a girl. And maybe it shouldn't be Mythri, but.. either way.." The cougaress shrugs a little, lowering her head to nose at her still-sleeping daughters as nothing more than an excuse to break eye contact with her mate. "I guess.. I could always talk to him if that'd be easier for you..."
If Nayeli could read Kein's thoughts, he would likely be in a great deal of trouble, right now. /Why/, exactly, should Cael be excited about getting to pursue a girl? How would Kein's life be simpler now if he had not been so attracted to Nayeli? So, so many ways. The worst mistakes he has made, all his life, have been because of Nayeli and his feelings for her. Not that he loves her any less for it, but everything gets complicated from here on out, for his son, and he's supposed to be /happy/ about that? Kein fights off a sigh that might betray his thoughts, which are honestly more centered on how he will soon be losing his sons than on any regrets he has about his relationship with Nayeli. He fights the frown that would only show how very much he does not want to do this. He cannot avoid the hesitation before he finally speaks, though. "No... I'll speak to him." Could Kein be any less excited about that, really? After speaking, he stands.
Cael, adolescent male cougar
Nayeli, adult female cougar
Kein, adult male cougar
Scene:
The young cougar's eyes, focused on the empty space where Mythri disappeared, are filled with a sappy kind of awe for a moment, and Nayeli's voice tempts from him a tiny, yet wistful, sigh, "Yeah..." he agrees, and to punctuate the feeling his tail curls and uncurls with other, thankfully unspoken thoughts, running through his mind. Cael blinks, ears ballooning forward then nervously shifting to the sides of his head, "I- I mean," he stumbles slightly, shaking his head and trying to forget the hot blush that flames the inside of his ears red, "I mean, she's p-pretty rude... for, um, someone who's trying to help her out a little..." FAIL.
While she hasn't devoted all that much thought to it, it /has/ occurred to Nayeli that her three sons are quickly reaching the age where girls might be catching their eye. And while it's somewhat sweet and amusing to see the effect this brief encounter has had on Cael, it's also somewhat alarming. There's a reason why males are almost without exception forced to leave Amaranth when they grow old enough. And while Cael is son of the Amaranth leadership, that doesn't negate the fact that he is still indeed a male and one who apparently is now discovering exactly what that means. "Yes, she was pretty rude, wasn't she?" And that'll be something that Nayeli talks to her about, next time they encounter one another. "Is that all you noticed?" They both know it's not. The mother in Nayeli is trying to pry /just/ a little... curious as to how much her eldest son is growing up. She's quite proud of him, regardless of how much he might be stammering and verbally stumbling around right now.
Kein has not been gone long. His morning ritual has been altered to include getting food for Nayeli and bringing it back as soon as possible, ever since she gave birth. Most often, it's something small, but it's better than nothing, enough to ensure she isn't hungry until he manages to complete some of his daily patrol. This morning is nothing different, as Kein returns a few hours after he left with a hare in his mouth.
Cael stammers, eyes narrowing as he tone inadvertantly takes on an accusative, "W-what do you mean by that?" He refuses to turn his head to look at his mother, and would like nothing more than to run off into the bushes and hide in a cave some where for a while; but then Mythri would find him o.0;; To compensate for his nervousness, the male plunks down on his rearend and coughs, like he meant to. Mm-hmm. "She's just... I--" Breath. "I don't get it." Cael ends with that, a little weakly, then picks his head up when he notices Kein arrive, as well. ._.;
Perfect timing! Well, maybe not exactly. There's really no way to hide the fact that Mythri was just here a few moments ago, and Nayeli is pretty sure that her mate is not going to be pleased with the news. Maybe if she can distract him... The cougaress does her best to seem as delighted as possible at the sight of the approaching chieftain, and it's not all just for show. She really /is/ glad to see him.. even if the time he chose is a bit awkward. "Well," she responds to Cael in a voice loud enough for both males to hear, "I think your father would be able explain a bit better than I would." Slightly different situation than Kein had when he was Cael's age.. obviously.. but surely between both parents, they can help Cael understand why he's feeling the way he is. Not to mention they do need to discuss the very real possibility of him having to leave Amaranth in the near future.
Explain... What? It isn't until Kein sets the hare down, a short distance away from Nayeli, that he can smell the recent presence of the newest arrival in Amaranth, and his tail flicks as he recognizes it. At least he has gotten better, in weeks past, at concealing his anger, but half of the reason he wanted Nayeli to meet Mythri on Nayeli's terms, and away from here, was so that the cubs would be well out of the way of potential danger. He doesn't say anything, though, rather looking btween Nayeli and Cael. At least the cubs are obviously quite fine... And, he supposes, if Mythri had tried anything, Cael and Nayeli together should have been able to keep Maul and Shade safe.
"N-no, I mean, um," Cael stops and frowns, shakes his head and sighs; this time it's more resigned frustration than longing, unrequited love sort've... thing. "I... think she's following me. She acts like she hates me but I see her everywhere and she thinks she can teach me things?!" Cael snorts, the very /idea/ that /she/ could teach /him/, although it's likely she feels the exact same way. "Nevermind," he finally mumbles, having wanted to discuss Mythri in slightly better context, and definately without Kein nearby. Kein! Speaking of, he glances at his father with that 'nevermind' face, and then glances off into the woods. Bleh.
"Following you?" Nayeli's brow perks as she echoes her son's lament. Maybe that's not entirely a bad thing, though it /would/ be nicer if Mythri was both more trustworthy and more.. well.. polite? Or something that would put Cael at ease. Kein too, for that matter. But as her son seems to want to be through with this conversation, Nayeli nods, turning her attention to focus on her mate. "You should have seen the way your son stood his ground just a short while ago," she announces proudly, throwing a smile and glance toward Cael. So maybe he did get tripped up, but that's beside the point. If Mythri really has had all of this training that she seems to feel no shaming in admitting, then Cael did a very impressive job indeed.
Unfortunately for Cael, it's not as easy as 'nevermind'. "What happened?" Oh yes, he will be having a talk with Mythri soon. Forcing Cael to stand his ground certainly doesn't seem like not causing trouble, but at least Kein doesn't seem terribly worried. According to Nayeli, Cael did well, and he's getting large enough that Kein can trust in his ability to help keep everyone safe.
Cael fights the urge to sigh and fight against Kein's insistance about what happened. He is in the throws of that rebellious stage, but Kein has already had enough of that in his life that Cael does not need to add to. So he takes a deep breath and stands, turning to face both parents, watching them for a second before he shrugs, almost embaressed. "I came here to talk to mother, and she shows up and says that she's Revan's daughter, and this and that, and I told her it was rude and she should respect your lands and your space, and she decides to have some twisted sense of fun and go after me! Or... something." The boy dances from paw to paw, then roughly sits back on his haunches again. Awkward.
Something like that, anyway. Nayeli is quick to jump in, just to make sure one additional detail isn't forgotten. "It was strange, but she apologized for her father's actions when he almost.. well.." Almost killed her. The feeling of utter helplessness as her throat was caught between the jaws of that unreal male is something her dreams will never let her forget, ever. Nayeli's gaze briefly flicks over to the hare, half-wishing she hadn't eaten yet, but that's not Cael's fault. Her eyes look toward Kein once more, waiting for a reaction. Anger at Mythri? Pride in Cael's actions? They still need to talk to Cael about what's happening in his life.. /to/ his life.
Yes, Kein will defintiely be having a talk with Mythri. Soon. For now, though, he lets it go with a brief nod of his head. Cael's discomfort, after all, is obvious. Is he proud of the boy for leading Mythri right to Nayeli, Maul, and Shade? Not so much, but at least whatever anger is in him is not directed at his oldest son, probably because he managed to take care of it. Kein still doesn't like the thought of his children leaving. He has thought about it as little as possible. Perhaps for that reason, he still doesn't recognize the whatever it is between Mythri and Cael. He doesn't want to.
Cael only shrugs at Naylie's interjection, deciding it best now that he's... sort've explained things to keep his mouth shut and to not dig himself into the giant hole. Apparently he's already in one, somehow, with Mythri, and he'd rather not have something else to figure a way out of at the same time. "I thought I'd try to help her a little, so she didn't have another..." his eyes drift to Kein for a moment, "misunderstanding with someone else, but she acts so... she just... I don't..." Cael shakes his head, picking up a forepaw and rubbing it across his muzzle. "I didn't even know she was following me until she bursts out claiming how great she is, for some reason." He sounds resentful, but he keeps looking back with that /look/ on his face to where she last vanished.
Nayeli is quite curious now whether or not Mythri has met any of her other sons, and if so, what they think of the female adolescent. Maybe she should go talk to them here shortly? Or perhaps Kein would like to do so himself, if the thought has occurred to him as well. She watches the two males with somewhat of a bemused smile, and can't help but wonder if Mythri's watching them from hiding. From the little bit of interaction she's had so far with.. with Revan's daughter.. it seems like the kind of thing that Mythri would do.
Cael's discomfort remains obvious. He's obviously not eager to speak about this... And because of that, along with Nayeli's smile, Kein is not able to remain as blissfully ignorant as he might prefer. Still, should he push the issue now, or wait until later, when he and Cael could be alone to talk about it? Surely, Cael knows that he relays a lot of their conversations to Nayeli, but would Cael be more willing to open up if Nayeli weren't listening to them? Kein doesn't know. He is quiet for a moment, then, with a quiet sigh, asks, "How close are you and Mythri, Cael?" After asking, he sits, preparing for this to be a long conversation. He knows that Cael was following Mythri, one day. Mythri has apparently followed Cael. And while the younger male might not be pleased about Mythri's behaviour, Kein can name plenty of times when Nayeli has gone after him, as Cael said of Mythri, for fun. And most unfairly too, often, but is this more flirting that troublemaking?
Cael's face twists into a look of startled worry, verging on disgust. Close?! "Uhn.. n-not at all, that's why I don't know why she's following me everywhere." Fidget. His attention moves quickly from his father's face to his mother's, but what he sees from Nayeli in that strange all-knowing mother smirk is worrisome. Cael coughs, harumps, and flattens his ears. "I don't think she likes me at all. I was just trying to be nice to her." And, why is /he/ getting the third degree?! Isn't /Mythri/ the one making all the trouble? Kein should take her aside and give her one of those fatherly-type lectures, followed by the ever more brutal mom-lecture. That'd straighten her out, to be sure. Cael leaves his... personal feelings just that. Personal.
Nayeli is obviously not a male. She doesn't think like a male thinks. She doesn't feel like a male feels. And yet, she can't help but place herself in Mythri's position, at least a little bit, and recognize some of the same things that she saw in Kein. Her son might claim that he's not close at all, or not interested, but she saw the way he looked at her. He might not even recognize it for what it is, but there's definitely /some/ interest. Maybe not romantic. Maybe not ever. But definitely an interest to know more about this girl who's been suddenly placed in his life. Or... maybe such thoughts are completely absurd. But if it's anything like what she's seen in her own mate, and his interest in her... Who knows?
The boy doth protest too much, methinks. Forcing himself to not focus on all that is negative about this, and with only the slightest twitch of his muzzle towards what might be a smile, he says, "Maybe she was following you for the same reason you've followed her." Wouldn't it be easier if Kein could just tell his children that they aren't allowed to grow up any more than they already have? /If/ Cael is starting to be attracted to females, the other boys can't be far behind, and... Still, given Cael's continued reluctance to talk about it, Kein is prepared to let this rest for just a while longer, after what he just said. Maybe Cael /would/ be more willing to talk without Nayeli listening in.
Something is rotten on the mountain of Amaranth. Cael's confusion seems to grow a little frantic at Nayeli's words, and he almost balks when Kein pipes in again. "/I/ wasn't following /her/," he gruffs, unable to believe that dear mum and dad are cornering him like... like... like a wild animal!! D: In fact, after their first meeting at the rocks, Cael had given up following her; he didn't even approach her on the mountain, since she beat him to it! He lets go of a huge sigh, and eyes both parents suspiciously, "This is so not my fault." Halo.
"We didn't say anything about this being your /fault/, Cael," Nayeli finally speaks up, still smiling in that.. bemused and somewhat-secretive way. "There's nothing wrong at all to be interested in a girl." A polite cough and grin are sent in Kein's direction, and the look that she flashes her mate speaks volumes. Take it from your parents, son.. without interest, no you! "If I can make an assumption here, I'd say that you don't understand her, but you really wish you did?" Not /quite/ the words that Kein's told her about their own relationship in the past, but she's intelligent enough to have picked up on that. Girls are complicated, yes! Guys are curious, yes! Poor Cael. And does Mythri even suspect this? If so... woo. This is going to be a very interesting next couple of.. days? weeks? months? And so, life in Amaranth goes on, very much as it has this past age... full of its own comings and goings...
/Does/ Kein wish he could understand Nayeli, or would it require breaking his brain in order for him to do so? Of course, there have been times when he wished he knew what she was thinking, since he's /certain/ that what she's thinking and what she's saying are not always the same thing. And, without a doubt, he may not understand her at all on any given day. Still, Nayeli's question is not altogether off base. He's just not sure he's capable of understanding any female, and if he were, it must mean something's wrong with him. As Nayeli takes over part of the conversation, for which Kein is /very/ grateful, Kein slips into silence, just watching his son and, yes, exchanging glances with his mate.
!! Cael chokes. "N-no, noofcoursenotwhywouldyouthinkthat?" OMG /MOM/. The insides of his ears are burning red as Nayeli exchange that... /parent/ look of theirs. Creepy cougars. Cael is terribly ignorant when it comes to girls, after all, the only ones that he knows are his mother and his sisters and he is definately /not/ interested in them. Conversely, they have not captured Cael's attention like Mythri has. The young male twitches his toes and tries very hard to sit still, but it's difficult with that overwhelming feeling of embarssesment falling on you like a ten ton avalanche. Other than that, he's great. "I just... I just wish she'd be more... more, um... " Cael shrugs. "Maybe."
Now they seem to be getting somewhere. Nayeli gives a small nod, still smiling. This is rather amusing... Cael sounds just like what Kein seems to be like quite a bit of the time! Granted, he's become a lot more understanding and knowledgeable of her as their relationship has progressed, but there's still no denying the similarities between he and Cael. Maybe because.. they're both males! There's something in Cael's tone and Kein's looks over at her which makes her feel like laughing out loud. She doesn't, of course, but gets the message. "Maybe you both would prefer some time alone for guytalk?" Just a thought.
Is that not what Kein wondered just moments ago? Apparently, females are much better at predicting what males are thinking that the other way around. Regardless, Kein does not answer, leaving it up to his son for now. Was Kein caught a little off-guard my this? Yeah, a little bit. He'll struggle through if Cael is willing to get this over with now, but if Cael is still really not eager, Kein will jump at the opportunity to really not talk about this right now.
All it takes is one quick look at Kein to see his reluctance, and his son is off like a shot. "NothanksI'mallsetI'mgoingtogohavesomedinnerImeanbreakfasterormaybeanapyeahthatwouldbegoodIthink."Cael bumbles through some thoughts before smiling meekly at Nayeli, pink ears and green face looking for all the world like he's going to lose his lunch, and he gives her a quick headbutt before turning and promptly fleeing. His strides are long and in a few quick bounds he is at the edge of the grove and disappearing, distinctly in the opposite direction of Mythri. FLEE!
Obviously, Kein having quite a different kind of parentage than Cael has, or even than Nayeli had, he probably didn't learn about... certain things... in /quite/ the normal way. Regardless, Nayeli knows that Cael's curiosity is only going to drive him to further frustration, as embarrassment and maybe more than just a little bit of pride is going to prevent him from asking his parents. It'd probably be for the best if Kein just sat him down, acknowledged that they both didn't really feel like having this conversation, but did it anyway. So! "Kein, dear.." Uh oh. It's that irresistible smile. "..I think that you probably should follow him and go ahead and continue this conversation. We don't know enough about Mythri to know what her reaction to all of this is going to be, and I think that Cael would be a lot better prepared if he.. well.. if he knew what he needs to." You know, /man/ stuff.
It's with near-reluctance that Kein looks from the retreating form of his son to Nayeli. He knows that tone all too well. Why can she not just let this be, for now? Kein just looks at her silently for a moment, wondering if arguing will do any good. He's sure this will be every bit as awkward for Cael as Nayeli's first heat was for him, and he really wants no part of it, just now, but then... "Can't we just give him a little time, to come to terms with some of what he's feeling first?" How much time? That's what Kein is not so certain abot. He does not know exactly how of Mythri is, and... Hrf.
"That's just it.. I think Cael needs answers moreso than he needs time. Do you think you could have 'come to terms' yourself when you were his age before you understood what was happening? It's confusing, frightening, and frustrating, and..." Nayeli trails off, realizing that she's probably sounding a bit too confrontational or argumentative. "I'm sorry.. I don't mean to.. it's just.. I'm just worried for him, I guess. He should be excited about getting to pursue a girl. And maybe it shouldn't be Mythri, but.. either way.." The cougaress shrugs a little, lowering her head to nose at her still-sleeping daughters as nothing more than an excuse to break eye contact with her mate. "I guess.. I could always talk to him if that'd be easier for you..."
If Nayeli could read Kein's thoughts, he would likely be in a great deal of trouble, right now. /Why/, exactly, should Cael be excited about getting to pursue a girl? How would Kein's life be simpler now if he had not been so attracted to Nayeli? So, so many ways. The worst mistakes he has made, all his life, have been because of Nayeli and his feelings for her. Not that he loves her any less for it, but everything gets complicated from here on out, for his son, and he's supposed to be /happy/ about that? Kein fights off a sigh that might betray his thoughts, which are honestly more centered on how he will soon be losing his sons than on any regrets he has about his relationship with Nayeli. He fights the frown that would only show how very much he does not want to do this. He cannot avoid the hesitation before he finally speaks, though. "No... I'll speak to him." Could Kein be any less excited about that, really? After speaking, he stands.