Staying

[Therdde]

Characters:
Maul - Female Juvenile Cougar
Qaletaqa - Male Cougar
Kein - Male Cougar

- Pine Grove -

The snow here is not as thick as on other parts of the mountain. At least, not at ground level, it isn't, as the thick pines have kept much of it from falling to the ground. It makes walking about much easier on small paws, and Maul is taking advantage of that to play a game of chase with... herself? There are no other cubs about. Not even other family members. Still, she takes her game very seriously, running away from, or towards, her unseen playmate, giggling as her often active imagination fills in for the missing companion, replacing the shadows cast by the bit of light that breaks through the snow-covered branches with the form of Maul's "friend".

If only the other cougar in the area could still entertain himself with such games, to put himself in a better mood. Qaletaqa misses his cubhood. Things were easier, then. And he still had his mother...well, as much as he could describe her as being present, considering her mental state. But she was there, and she loved them. Nobody loves him now. Nobody ever will. Qale is now up on a low, thick branch, feeling very sorry for himself, staring morosely out at nothing, one hind leg and his tail hanging down. But the crunch of snow underpaw catches his ears, and he lifts his head listlessly. Someone needing healing, no doubt, before they evict him.

The game brings her ever closer to Qaletaqa, but even once Maul is within sight of the male cougar, she doesn't see him. She is too busy leaping forward to attempt to capture her fleeing friend, and upon catching him, she playgrowls quite mercilessly at the ground. At least she is not so caught up in her imagination that she speaks, but from a distance, it would be easy to think that Maul has actually caught something. albeit something very small.

Qaletaqa certainly sees her, and recognizes her, and the frown that spreads across his muzzle is deep and unhappy. His tail begins to twitch. What is she doing here? Why does she have to be here? It's unfair of him to blame the cub for his current state, but he can't help it. He resents her, and her hopefulness, and her youthful exuberance, her acceptance, just...everything. He doesn't want to talk to her, but he does keep an eye on her. Hopefully once she's killed whatever it is she's caught, she'll leave.

Unfortunately for Qaletaqa, and for Maul, she is not necessarily stronger than her friend, even though she got the upper paw originally. After a short while of growling, she flips over onto her back suddenly. She holes her forelegs straight up, as though to fend off her playmate, but it only takes a couple seconds for her eyes to focus on the very real cougar much further above her than she was imagining her small friend was. "Hey!" After speaking, she rolls over again, but she cranes her neck to look up into the tree.

Qaletaqa blinks a few times, then his brow creases and he looks away from her. Well, she knows he's there. Look at that happy cub face. How he wishes it would leave. "Go away," he growls softly, to emphasize his point. He doesn't care for company right now, and especially not hers. Why should he? It's not like he's going to be here very long.

Well, the happy leaves, even if the cub it was attached to doesn't. Maul frowns as the older cougar growls at her. "That's not being nice." It's the only thing she can think of to say, because she has no idea why Qaletaqa has suddenly decided to be not nice to her again. She thought she helped him! He seemed friendlier when they last parted ways, and now... He's growling at her? Why?

"Yeah, well," the older cougar mutters sullenly, still looking away. "I'm not feeling very nice right now." He bites back a tirade. The more he encourages her, the more she'll stay, probably. And then Kein might- bah, would it matter? Kein's getting rid of him anyway! The thought both warms and chills Qale at the same time. Doesn't matter if Maul goes running to daddy anymore.

"Well," Maul starts, in her most matter-of-fact voice, "it's really hard to feel nice if you don't act nice." Yep! Mommy says so. Why, exactly, has Maul decided to cling to Qale? Most likely, it is as simple as that he is not family, and unlike Sweet Rain and some others, he doesn't seem to actively report to her family. It means she can say pretty much whatever she wants without worrying that it will get back to Mommy or Daddy and cause them to be concerned that their daughter is acting all odd again.

Qaletaqa peers over the branch, glaring down at the little cub. Logic says that he shouldn't unload his anger on the poor cub, but that same anger is telling him something completely different. "Does it matter?!" he growls down at her, wondering if this will drive her off, back to her father. "Why should I act nice, hrm? What difference 'sit going to make now? I'm out of here no matter how...how nice I try to be, so how come I have to make the effort?!" His tone grows softer as he goes on, until he's basically just ranting quietly to himself, his tail lashing agitatedly. "So much easier just t'keep to myself."

Maul doesn't run, but she does tense up and shrink back as Qale begins yelling down at her. Even when she has been in trouble, or even when she is being the biggest pest she knows how to be, she has never been yelled at. At least... Well, her family never yells at her. Her now-family. To say the least, she doesn't like it. It frightens her, and it is tempting to just run. "You *aren't* making the effort! You're being mean, just like always!" Maul's voice trembles with a combination of fear, confusion, and sadness.

See? He shouldn't have yelled at her. Now she's scared, and while a petty part of him is pleased that he's had some small measure of vengeance, the bigger, nicer part of him kicks him and reminds him that he's picking on a cub. Qale feels terrible for it, and that puts him in an even worse mood. "Well, get used to it," he snarls sullenly, unaware that Maul's never been spoken to so harshly. "Or no, actually, don't. You won't have to anyway." As far as he's concerned, Kein's made up his mind.

The confusion, fear, and sadness go nowhere. Qale keeps snarling, and Maul has no idea what she has done to deserve it. She has only tried to be friendly to someone who clearly wanted a friend. Since that has backfired, she does now what Qale wanted her to do from the start. She runs off, suddenly, tears stinging at her eyes as she flees. Perhaps she would stay, try to work this out, but the last thing she wants is for the mean cougar to see how he has made her cry. She's not supposed to cry. She's supposed to be strong, and smart, and friendly... But it doesn't always work that way.

Qaletaqa doesn't watch her go. He feels awful, terrible, absolutely livid with himself for doing that to a cub. But it's all for the best. This way, she'll hate him, and she won't come to visit, and that'll help him keep his own mental distance from the tribe, and when the time does come for him to leave he won't have to miss any of them. He turns to lay his head against the branch, but sleep is a long time in coming.

- Time Passes -

Qaletaqa hasn't moved since his...discussion with Maul. It took him a long time to fall asleep after that, and even now his rest is fitful. He is cold and uncomfortable but can't be bothered to move, every now and again his eyes flickering open, unseeing but only just asleep. He doesn't expect anybody else to come and visit him. At least, he hopes not.

Luckily for Qale, Kein has not been to see his daughter. Even if he had, the girl probably would not have told him anything. She is not terribly open with her father. That's where Qale's luck ends, though, as Kein's path back home for the night is leading him directly toward the restless young male. Furthermore, Kein actually has good reason to speak to Qale, as well as all the other males of Amaranth, seeing as how he'll be gone for a few days here shortly.

What's this? Even in his state, Qale can still pick up the sound of paws crunching on snow, and he lifts his head apprehensively. Doesn't sound like a cub's steps. Damn. From his vantage point, it doesn't take Qale long to pick out Kein's shape against the snow and his heart sinks. Oh, no. Maul's told him. Maul's told him and he's here to get rid of me. Drawing up both his leg and his tail, Qale remains tensely in the tree, half-hiding. What an idiot he's been.

Even Kein does not often make a habit of checking the trees, but if there is one thing Qaletaqa can't hide, it's his scent. Even the strong scent given off by the trees is not enough to cover it entirely, and as Qale's scent grows stronger, Kein's pace slows. With no sight of the other male on ground level, Kein begins looking up, but with how little moonlight sifts through the tree branches, it will take some luck for him to find a stationary target quickly. He doesn't call out, though, not certain that he wants to bother Qale if the other male is sleeping. It's not as if Kein is leaving the territory this exact minute, after all.

Oh, no. Kein is looking up. Looking for him and not saying anything. Qale almost panics. Kein is stalking him, trying to hide his presence, Kein wants to kill him! Luckily, logic catches up. Look at him. Kein isn't stalking anybody, not like that. So Qale swallows hard and decides to hail him. "L...l-looking for me?" If Kein wanted him dead, he probably wouldn't look so...casual. Would he...?

As soon as Qale speaks, Kein's gaze shifts to the younger male, and it isn't long before he can pick out Qale's outline against the darker wood and needles of the tree he's on. "Ah. Yes. I'd like to speak to you for a moment." Kein's tone is no friendlier than it ever is, but he doesn't sound angry either. He doesn't launch directly into what he wants to say, though. As much as he tries to be laid back, there are small, every day ways that he feels pressed to assert his authority, especially with the males in the territory, and he's not going to sit here and look up at Qale as a young cub looking up at a wiser mentor during this, or any, conversation.

"S...sure." Well, this is it. Maybe. Either Kein's really good at hiding his intentions, or his daughter hasn't told him anything yet. But Qale isn't so clueless about the idea of hierarchy that he would just lounge about in a tree while talking to his--...the Chieftain of the tribe he's helping. The younger cougar slinks off the branch and drops to the ground, and after a brief shake he...appears to be trying to merge with it. Pressed close to the snow, Qale's clearly apprehensive about something, though he tries to sound normal. "Um, is...is something wrong?"

This is not the first time Qale has appeared disproportionately nervous. Though Kein has not gone out of his way to frighten Qale, to keep him in his place, neither does Qale's nervousness upset Kein. So long as Qale is fearful of what Kein /might/ do, he is unlikely to do anything that Kein might view as inappropriate... or so Kein believes. "Nothing is wrong, but I'll be leaving in the next couple of days. When I do, I should appreciate your help in keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary." Is this a sign of trust, that he's actually telling Qale he won't be around to respond to any trouble? Sort of, but he also trusts the Sisters of the tribe to take care of themselves for a few days, should Qale try anything untoward.

Qaletaqa blinks. Owlishly. Quite a few times. Kein is...leaving him here. With his females. And no Kein. But with Kein's females. The thoughts go round and round in his head, and he looks baffled, so baffled that he straightens a bit as if closing a little distance between them might help him comprehend things better. "I...uh..." Wait, if Kein is going to kick him out, why's he trusting him with... "Wh...um, where are you going?" is all he can think to ask for the moment.

"I have an idea of where we might go. The tribe, that is. When, you know... If it becomes necessary. But I have to talk to the animals that live there, first, so... Anyway, it should only be a few days, but if you notice anything out of the ordinary, you should tell Sweet Rain or Nayeli." Kein's speech may be slightly incoherant, but he assumes Qale should be able to figure out what he's talking about, given their last conversation.

Qaletaqa nods dumbly along to the conversation. So, Kein wants him to help keep an eye on things while he goes off to look for a new home for his tribe. How nice of him. And by nice, he means callous. "Y-yeah, I'll do that," he says miserably. What, is Kein trying to rub it in or something? "Only, um, only for a few days, right?"

Kein gives a nod of his head. "It's just off to the east of here a ways. I know a wolf who... Well, he may be able to offer us temporary assistance, and if so... And if it is where I'm thinking it is.... Well, there are some very interesting plants, there. Far different than what we have here. If you decide to come with us, that is. Like we spoke about." When Kein said that Qale should be ready. He actually attempts to correct himself now, because, of course, if Qale doesn't want to accompany them, Kein won't try to force him to.

Qaletaqa continues nodding along sadly, well into the latter part of Kein's speech. Then he lifts his head, unsure of what he's just heard. "You...you still want me to come with you-?" he asks, sounding surprised for a moment before he answers himself quietly. "Oh, no, of course...still have to teach Sweet Rain. That's right. Um...well, I did promise to teach her."

Qale's response takes Kein aback some. He is silent for a moment, just watching Qale. When he speaks, his voice is quiet. Calm. "When I offered you a place to stay in exchange for you teaching Sweet Rain... That deal doesn't expire when she thinks she has learned everything, or when you think she has learned everything. So long as you can abide by the ground rules... The deal stands." Indefinitely, as it does for Kasim. As it would stand for Yuma. It's a rare exception, yes, but not one Kein is going to take away once he feels he has gotten all he can from it.

Staring hard at the ground, it's a minor surprise that the intensity of Qale's focus doesn't burn twin holes in the snow. Under the impressions that he was under, he suddenly feels strangely warm all over. Kein is letting him stay, and not just to have his knowledge transferred to Sweet Rain before he is evicted. Kein is letting him stay. "You're...you're going to let me stay...?" he asks, his voice suddenly breathless, still staring at the snow. He refuses to believe it for a moment.

"For as long as you don't give me reason to not let you stay, yes." Should Qale wind up doing something Kein doesn't like, the Chieftain would not hesitate to remove him from Amaranth, unlike with the Sisters. Even so, Kein is not going to go looking for reasons to evict Qale. He doesn't have to. If he wanted Qale gone, all he would have to do is say it. As of right now, though, he has no reason to want Qale gone.

It's clear Qaletaqa, in all his sleepiness, isn't quite sure how to take this acceptance. For all the times he's thought about it, he'd never thought it would actually happen. After all, he has no male relatives who would let him stay, and he wasn't about to settle down with a female because...well, he just wasn't about to. And now, he's... "Th-thank you," he manages to suddenly blurt out, eyes still searching the snow. Maybe he's dreaming.

Kein stares at Qaletaqa for a moment. He thought he'd made all this clear when they made the agreement, originally, but then... As he recalls, Qale did not seem too pleased, back when they made the agreement, so... Maybe not. "You're welcome. Just don't make me regret it." After all, he gets enough grief from the Sisters of the tribe. He doesn't need the few males that are allowed to hang around giving him the same. "I have to go, now. It's getting late. But like I said, if you see anything out of the ordinary... Sweet Rain and Nayeli will be here." And, with luck, Kein will not be gone for long.

"I-I won't...I won't!" Qaletaqa says more firmly, looking up at Kein at last. Clearly it musn't have been clear, for the gratitude that is reflected on the young cougar's face is clear and honest. He doesn't yet smile, but it may just be he's forgotten to in his surprise. "You-you-you won't regret it, I promise!" The rest of what Kein says is a vague blur, but he picked it up earlier. And now he's a lot more eager.

Kein again watches Qale for a moment, but before too long, he simply nods his head, then begins to walk southward again. His family awaits, and if Nayeli agrees to talk to the rest of the members of the tribe... Then it may be as early as tomorrow that he leaves Amaranth to search for Haze. Better, then, that he return to his family quickly so that he can get some rest.

Qaletaqa watches him go before finally taking a deep breath. He hadn't realized he was breathing so shallow. He didn't have to worry, not about keeping his distance, not about his impending departure, not even about trying to ingratiate himself like Maul told him t--Maul. Oh. Qale's heart ices over in his chest. He'd misunderstood Kein, and Maul had copped it for trying to help him. The thought almost makes him go bounding after Kein, but the thought of overtaking the Chieftain to apologize to his daughter for growling at her doesn't sound good. First thing in the morning then. He has to find her.