Post by bracken on Feb 23, 2010 23:20:06 GMT -5
Leafy Glen
Oakbend, Female Brown Bear
Tonka, Male Brown Bear
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The scent of a male bear is hard to miss. Tonka has been around the area, elusively avoiding the potential wrath of mother bears -- though his curiosity has temporarily delayed his normal ceaseless wandering. It's been a day or two since he happened to meet the youngster, Moon, at the edge of the pond. Now in something of a tribute, the grown male has spent most of a breezy afternoon pushing rocks around the shore as the cub had been doing. Of course, his size and dexterity allow him to manipulate much larger rocks, and soon he has quite an arrangement that, if it doesn't have any particular meaning behind it, is at least interesting and aesthetically pleasing. To him, anyway. He's just moving one of the final stones (and one of the largest), using the same meticulous care as he does with almost everything he bothers to do.
Since settling into the valley, the pungent scent of bear has almost washed away the scents of the pack that once called the area home, and the pool outside the den has become a favored place to, well, do almost anything. Forage, fish, lounge, and swim - it's the perfect place for a family of bears to settle around. Still, Oakbend has been hardly complacent, patrols the landscape constantly to learn and set borders. And so it was she crossed the scent of a male, one of her own kind, and not something she'd scented in quite some time. With a loping sort of lumber, she comes from further down the valley towards the densite, ears tucked back as the scent grows stronger and a loud, frustrated huff escapes from her.
Tonka should really have been keeping his guard a little stiffer. Then again, he's never been known for being overly cautious, even around other bears. And why should he be? He knows his place amongst his own kind, and even those who are particularly aggressive or unfriendly are usually fine to let him go his way without a fight. Not that there have been many other males around to get territorial towards him. He hasn't seen another male in over a year, in fact, which is nothing for him to complain about. Tonka has just finished pushing the big rock into its place when he hears the huff, his rounded ears perking up as he gazes towards it. For a moment or two he quietly watches the female, his forequarters raised with his big ol' paws resting on the stone and his head tilted with a cub-like curiosity, a mellow smile on his broad muzzle.
A passing fancy's face isn't that quick to register with Oakbend, but then, why would it? They never mattered in the long run, and in many cases, it was better not to form attachments. It just made running them off harder. Still, that cock-headed look brings a squint to her small, dark eyes, and a wet snort is uttered as she expels his scent from her nose. "Huh." Is all she utters at first, seemingly distracted as she looks about, no doubt ensuring her cubs aren't about, or worse, in pieces. When she spies neither, thoughts of imminent attack are put to the side, though she keeps a fierce look in his direction. "And why are you here?"
Perhaps he thought her more than a passing fancy, or maybe its just the fact that he interacts with so few other bears that he tends to remember the ones he does happen to meet, but he seems a little surprised that she doesn't recognize him. Or maybe she does? Tonka tilts his head in the opposite direction, that look of innocent curiosity still lingering, unaffected by her gruff reception. "Oh, you should know that much, Oakbend." He chuckles softly, moving down from his rock and taking a few steps in the female's direction. "My stomach usually dictates my direction, unless I happen to be on a pilgrimage." It's no wonder why he ended up here -- autumn is a time for feasting, and this place is bountiful enough for a larger population of bears than it supports. Enough so that the male can take time out for leisurely activities such as his little art project. "How have you been?"
Oakbend does inevitably recall him, though, she's never one to be a cheery host even on the best of days. Still, at the lack of any signs of aggression or danger, she does bite on the attempt at conversation even if she remains planted in front of the den. "What doesn't the stomach dictate? When it is full, we sleep. When it's hungry, we roam. When it is satisfied, so are we." His question on her well-being is given a tilt of her head in response. "I... am well. My sister and our cubs have come here. Our home could not support us, and we found this place and with no time to spare, either."
Another chuckle leaves the male's throat, and once he's at a comfortable distance he flumps unceremoniously to his rear-end. "Well, sometimes the soul needs feeding, too. So, spiritual travels sometimes leave my stomach empty. Or, relatively empty." A pause, as he leans back a bit, appreciating a stomach still mostly full of fresh-caught fish. He gives his large, shaggy head a heavy nod. "Glad to hear you and your family are doing well. If you stay here you oughtn't have much trouble with food, spirits willing."
"No, and I'm glad for it." Oakbend remarks as she regards the landscape, plentiful in it's autumn bounty. "I cannot see what brought this land to be abandoned, but, all the better for me. We didn't have to push anyone our of their territory. It seems a peaceful enough place, and perhaps, a good place to remain even when the snows melt. We will have to see, though, I have hopes this place will be as generous come spring as it is now."
"If it's as good as in past years, it will be." Tonka assures with another nod. "And the wolf pack that lives near here... or did... is civil, at least. I couldn't imagine a better place for raising a cub." In fact, he himself grew up in the area. Not this exact place, but near enough. And without the protection of mother-bear, though he was lucky enough to have found other guardians. "I imagine the young one I met here the other day is yours, or your sister's. I didn't get her name. Quiet little thing." There's a soft, admiring note in his voice. Brief as it was, he must have gotten a favorable first impression from the girl.
"Ah. Yes, she would be mine." Oakbend remarks, and oh.. just there.. there's the crack of a proud smile. "Moon. I'm quiet pleased she's got a solid head on her shoulders, and not near as thick as her cousin who is... well.. named for the rock that is his." Though gruff, her voice is gentle enough in regards to her nephew. "I'm surprised her brother, Keen, wasn't lurking about looking to ruffle her fur, but, such is the way of siblings. With two youngsters and one older, it was imperative we found a place like this, so we set off some time ago to see out new territory."
Tonka listens intently and notes the smile. His own smile widens as well, considering those cubs are, as far as he knows, his kids as well. He takes a moment to consider this, quiet as he reflects, before giving a reply. "Well. It'll be nice to have the company of other bears around. As much wandering as I do, I tend to linger here more often than I do other places. And will continue to, as long as I'll be tolerated." He adds with a hopeful look, indirectly asking permission to stay. "I'd be obliged to help keep the little ones out of trouble -- or keep trouble away from them, as the case may be. Not that you're not capable of that on your own, but having been one myself, I know cubs can be a pawful."
Oakbend regards the bear's request with a level, but considering, expression. It was unheard of for a male to give two shakes of a paw about a cub beyond killing it if it wasn't his and try to chase it off early if it was, and that suspicion has been passed from mother to daughter for countless ages. Still, there is a decided lack of browns, and that fluff-brained black she crossed paths with is hardly suitable to protect a territory. Above all, he's the only unrelated male she knows. It's a rock and a hard spot, but finally she does huff out, "Very well. Mind yourself, though. I lost my first cubs. I wouldn't see it happen again."
Tonka's head descends in a respectful bow as Oakbend replies, and when she mentions her firstborn his ears droop, his heavy brow knotting in a frown. "Neither would I. I'm sorry you lost them. You won't lose these, not by my claws at least." With a grunt, the male pushes himself to all fours again. "And nor if I have anything to say about it."
His vow may be hard to swallow for now, but, it is still reassuring in some small measure. "Be well, Tonka." Ah, see, she does remember his name! "The valley is yours as well as ours. Let us hope it treats us well this winter and the ancestors watch over us. If there are any threats, I am just a roar away, but... for now, I think it's high time for a rest." This said, she turns to head towards the root-covered entrance to the den, the fresh earth piled around the opening proof of ongoing excavations - afterall, wolves are a fair bit smaller than bears.
Oakbend, Female Brown Bear
Tonka, Male Brown Bear
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The scent of a male bear is hard to miss. Tonka has been around the area, elusively avoiding the potential wrath of mother bears -- though his curiosity has temporarily delayed his normal ceaseless wandering. It's been a day or two since he happened to meet the youngster, Moon, at the edge of the pond. Now in something of a tribute, the grown male has spent most of a breezy afternoon pushing rocks around the shore as the cub had been doing. Of course, his size and dexterity allow him to manipulate much larger rocks, and soon he has quite an arrangement that, if it doesn't have any particular meaning behind it, is at least interesting and aesthetically pleasing. To him, anyway. He's just moving one of the final stones (and one of the largest), using the same meticulous care as he does with almost everything he bothers to do.
Since settling into the valley, the pungent scent of bear has almost washed away the scents of the pack that once called the area home, and the pool outside the den has become a favored place to, well, do almost anything. Forage, fish, lounge, and swim - it's the perfect place for a family of bears to settle around. Still, Oakbend has been hardly complacent, patrols the landscape constantly to learn and set borders. And so it was she crossed the scent of a male, one of her own kind, and not something she'd scented in quite some time. With a loping sort of lumber, she comes from further down the valley towards the densite, ears tucked back as the scent grows stronger and a loud, frustrated huff escapes from her.
Tonka should really have been keeping his guard a little stiffer. Then again, he's never been known for being overly cautious, even around other bears. And why should he be? He knows his place amongst his own kind, and even those who are particularly aggressive or unfriendly are usually fine to let him go his way without a fight. Not that there have been many other males around to get territorial towards him. He hasn't seen another male in over a year, in fact, which is nothing for him to complain about. Tonka has just finished pushing the big rock into its place when he hears the huff, his rounded ears perking up as he gazes towards it. For a moment or two he quietly watches the female, his forequarters raised with his big ol' paws resting on the stone and his head tilted with a cub-like curiosity, a mellow smile on his broad muzzle.
A passing fancy's face isn't that quick to register with Oakbend, but then, why would it? They never mattered in the long run, and in many cases, it was better not to form attachments. It just made running them off harder. Still, that cock-headed look brings a squint to her small, dark eyes, and a wet snort is uttered as she expels his scent from her nose. "Huh." Is all she utters at first, seemingly distracted as she looks about, no doubt ensuring her cubs aren't about, or worse, in pieces. When she spies neither, thoughts of imminent attack are put to the side, though she keeps a fierce look in his direction. "And why are you here?"
Perhaps he thought her more than a passing fancy, or maybe its just the fact that he interacts with so few other bears that he tends to remember the ones he does happen to meet, but he seems a little surprised that she doesn't recognize him. Or maybe she does? Tonka tilts his head in the opposite direction, that look of innocent curiosity still lingering, unaffected by her gruff reception. "Oh, you should know that much, Oakbend." He chuckles softly, moving down from his rock and taking a few steps in the female's direction. "My stomach usually dictates my direction, unless I happen to be on a pilgrimage." It's no wonder why he ended up here -- autumn is a time for feasting, and this place is bountiful enough for a larger population of bears than it supports. Enough so that the male can take time out for leisurely activities such as his little art project. "How have you been?"
Oakbend does inevitably recall him, though, she's never one to be a cheery host even on the best of days. Still, at the lack of any signs of aggression or danger, she does bite on the attempt at conversation even if she remains planted in front of the den. "What doesn't the stomach dictate? When it is full, we sleep. When it's hungry, we roam. When it is satisfied, so are we." His question on her well-being is given a tilt of her head in response. "I... am well. My sister and our cubs have come here. Our home could not support us, and we found this place and with no time to spare, either."
Another chuckle leaves the male's throat, and once he's at a comfortable distance he flumps unceremoniously to his rear-end. "Well, sometimes the soul needs feeding, too. So, spiritual travels sometimes leave my stomach empty. Or, relatively empty." A pause, as he leans back a bit, appreciating a stomach still mostly full of fresh-caught fish. He gives his large, shaggy head a heavy nod. "Glad to hear you and your family are doing well. If you stay here you oughtn't have much trouble with food, spirits willing."
"No, and I'm glad for it." Oakbend remarks as she regards the landscape, plentiful in it's autumn bounty. "I cannot see what brought this land to be abandoned, but, all the better for me. We didn't have to push anyone our of their territory. It seems a peaceful enough place, and perhaps, a good place to remain even when the snows melt. We will have to see, though, I have hopes this place will be as generous come spring as it is now."
"If it's as good as in past years, it will be." Tonka assures with another nod. "And the wolf pack that lives near here... or did... is civil, at least. I couldn't imagine a better place for raising a cub." In fact, he himself grew up in the area. Not this exact place, but near enough. And without the protection of mother-bear, though he was lucky enough to have found other guardians. "I imagine the young one I met here the other day is yours, or your sister's. I didn't get her name. Quiet little thing." There's a soft, admiring note in his voice. Brief as it was, he must have gotten a favorable first impression from the girl.
"Ah. Yes, she would be mine." Oakbend remarks, and oh.. just there.. there's the crack of a proud smile. "Moon. I'm quiet pleased she's got a solid head on her shoulders, and not near as thick as her cousin who is... well.. named for the rock that is his." Though gruff, her voice is gentle enough in regards to her nephew. "I'm surprised her brother, Keen, wasn't lurking about looking to ruffle her fur, but, such is the way of siblings. With two youngsters and one older, it was imperative we found a place like this, so we set off some time ago to see out new territory."
Tonka listens intently and notes the smile. His own smile widens as well, considering those cubs are, as far as he knows, his kids as well. He takes a moment to consider this, quiet as he reflects, before giving a reply. "Well. It'll be nice to have the company of other bears around. As much wandering as I do, I tend to linger here more often than I do other places. And will continue to, as long as I'll be tolerated." He adds with a hopeful look, indirectly asking permission to stay. "I'd be obliged to help keep the little ones out of trouble -- or keep trouble away from them, as the case may be. Not that you're not capable of that on your own, but having been one myself, I know cubs can be a pawful."
Oakbend regards the bear's request with a level, but considering, expression. It was unheard of for a male to give two shakes of a paw about a cub beyond killing it if it wasn't his and try to chase it off early if it was, and that suspicion has been passed from mother to daughter for countless ages. Still, there is a decided lack of browns, and that fluff-brained black she crossed paths with is hardly suitable to protect a territory. Above all, he's the only unrelated male she knows. It's a rock and a hard spot, but finally she does huff out, "Very well. Mind yourself, though. I lost my first cubs. I wouldn't see it happen again."
Tonka's head descends in a respectful bow as Oakbend replies, and when she mentions her firstborn his ears droop, his heavy brow knotting in a frown. "Neither would I. I'm sorry you lost them. You won't lose these, not by my claws at least." With a grunt, the male pushes himself to all fours again. "And nor if I have anything to say about it."
His vow may be hard to swallow for now, but, it is still reassuring in some small measure. "Be well, Tonka." Ah, see, she does remember his name! "The valley is yours as well as ours. Let us hope it treats us well this winter and the ancestors watch over us. If there are any threats, I am just a roar away, but... for now, I think it's high time for a rest." This said, she turns to head towards the root-covered entrance to the den, the fresh earth piled around the opening proof of ongoing excavations - afterall, wolves are a fair bit smaller than bears.