Post by Nyssa on Sept 11, 2010 14:24:25 GMT -5
The Pine Forest
Kein, Nyssa
Last night was colder than the one before it, and the dew that glistened in the trees and on the tips of the grass had the beginning glint of frost hidden in it, but when the sun came up and brought the morning with it, it was warm and pleasant. It stirred Nyssa and she rose in the pale dawn, doing what she could not to disturb Kein in his slumber, rolling away from him in order to begin a morning ritual of bathing her fur. When that was quite underway, she began to purr softly as the long tendrils of sunlight danced on her back and warmed her further. Content to stay there, Nyssa's mind began to wander, unable to recall if any dreams graced her last night but found that she was not upset at that realization. It is not necessary, after all, to always dream. Her eyes slowly fall away from the bright morning sky to the cougar beside her, smiling to herself as she wonders of the past that created him. He has hinted before that it has not been easy but one day she would like to speak with him on all the occurrences that brought them to where they are now, their paws on Amaranth's mountains, their bodies enveloped by Amaranth's forests, themselves warmed by Amaranth's sun. Nyssa 'hmms' through her purrs and returns to her grooming, unable to bring herself to wake him.
Kein stirs only slightly as Nyssa moves away from him. He does not wake completely. The air still holds a slight chill, and he would sooner remain lying down on the ground kept warm by his body heat. Eventually, though, he is drawn from his sleep, and he stretches out on the ground before opening his eyes to look at Nyssa. Perhaps he should have opened his eyes first, so that he could watch her groom herself for a while, but since there is little chance that he can pretend to still be sleeping, he slowly sits up. "I think I'm going to have to move you to a darker part of the forest, Nyssa." It is not a genuine complaint. Though he would have loved to spend another hour or so just lying beside her, he is used to her not sleeping in, with the short time they've been together.
She would be quite content to let the morning go by, bathing her fur in sunlight as she smoothed her pelt to perfection, and even as Kein stirs beside her she continues the task. That is, until he rises, and after a lengthy inspection of her fore leg Nyssa's gaze returns to Kein. At first her brow furrows curiously, and then concern spreads across her face. "Oh," she breathes softly, looking down to her paws. "I'm sorry." Her apology is quite genuine, though Kein's tone of voice doesn't seem very upset at being woken again at the rising of the sun. "I enjoy it so," she muses. While the moon and the night sky with its stars hold their own mysteries, it is the sun that comforts her during the day. Then she rises with him, nosing at his shoulder lightly, "Good morning," Nyssa teases, her muzzle toying with a smile.
Kein appears somewhat amused by Nyssa's apology. To prove that he is not actually upset, he responds by nuzzling against her when she noses at his shoulder. With a smile of his own, he says, "How are you going to put up with a grump like me, hmm?" Not very well, he suspects, if she gets upset when he tries to joke. Admittedly, he's not very good at the whole joking thing. Perhaps, then, the solution is that he shouldn't try it again. At least not first thing in the morning. He is still not upset, though, and he licks at her neck, likely doing nothing to help her morning grooming job.
"Well," she ponders for a moment, laughing lightly at Kein's attempted groom before she takes her task to him for a time. Nyssa's purr rises as she tends to Kein's neck, nosing underneath his chin before she pulls her head away, "I will just have to... un-grump you, then?" She watches him for a time, "I didn't mean to wake you, you know... should I make it up to you?"
Kein purrs quietly as Nyssa grooms his neck. If he was at all genuinely grumpy upon waking, he clearly doesn't remain grumpy now, and just to set aside any worries she may have that he was upset at waking up this early, he says, "I believe you already have." He bumps his head against her lightly before sitting down. Though he looks just at her, his ears twitch as he catches the sounds in the forest all around them.
"In that case," Nyssa replies warmly, nipping her teeth at Kein's neck as he's done with her so many times. As he settles she moves a little closer, wrapping her tail around her haunch and leans against his shoulder. The sun grows ever brighter as it slowly climbs higher in the sky and Nyssa's content smile blooms further. In their last encounter some very interesting words were exchanged between the two of them and they have been on her mind off and on over the last few days. "Kein," she speaks up, resting her cheek on his shoulder. "Tell me about yourself." And that-- well, that could mean anything.
Kein gives a light, playful growl, scarcely distinguishable from his purring, as she nips at his neck. He remains settled, though, as she leans against him. When she speaks, though, his purring stops, and he looks at her in silence for a moment. If he had been expecting her to say anything, that was not it, and he is really not sure how to respond. Tell her about himself? "I'm not sure... What is it that you want to know, Nyssa?" Though his purring is gone, he's not upset. A bit confused, perhaps. He's not the talkative sort, and he's not sure what sort of things another cougar might want to hear in response to such an open question.
"Whatever you want to tell me." Admittedly, she sprung a wide question on him, moments after he'd woken, but it was on her mind and it is something that Nyssa would certainly like to know. Who is Kein, and not the cougar who has become a weary Chieftain. Besides, "I'm sure that you'd like to know about me... after all, I-- I would love to know everything about the father of my cubs." The last tempts from her a rosy blush in her ears. Tell me about yourself, Kein, her thoughts dance in her mind, and she manages to bring her eyes up to settle on his face.
Everything. Kein's ears flatten against his head for just a moment, right up until she reminds him that he has wished the same thing about her. One day, he should like to know everything about Nyssa. It still takes him a moment to say anything, though, as it is difficult for him to know where to begin. "I... I don't know, Nyssa." What is easiest to talk about? His family, he supposes. "I have... had... Well, I had two litter mates. A brother and a sister. And seven children. You've met Maul, I know. She's one of the youngest." That's more than Nyssa knew anyway, right? And perhaps the conversation can find direction from here, anyway.
She catches the very end of Kein's wary expression and leans into him further, and perhaps he will see that as a comforting gesture rather than demanding all his most painful and hidden secrets all at once. But, who are /you/, Kein? Nyssa reaches up and again grooms his neck very gently, herself quiet for a time before she smiles, "I was a litter of one." Though Nyssa is certain that her mother has had other litters since her departure a few seasons ago, "But my clan are all my brothers and sisters." Then she's pauses, her eyes to Kein to see if he can feel the question in her mind. Who are you?
Kein keeps watching Nyssa. He has a slight feeling of discomfort, one he just barely notices, and he finds he has no more idea what to say now than he did seconds ago. With a deep breath and an apologetic smile, he says, "I'm really not sure what to say, Nyssa. I don't think I'm as complicated as maybe you think I am." Not that he really considers that a bad thing, but it doesn't make light conversation about himself easy. "I, ah... Huh." It has been so long since he has been anything other than just the male who patrols these borders to try to keep his family safe. What does he enjoy besides that? Besides spending time with and watching Nyssa? He's not even sure /he/ knows who he is.
It is not that she enjoys watching Kein struggle to find an answer to, perhaps, an unanswerable question, but she smiles because as he searches for that answer, to Nyssa, he is even now creating himself. It wouldn't make much sense if she shared that with him, but, "Kein, whenever you think of something, come and tell me. I want to know about who you are, not the events that created who everyone else perceives you to be." Then she finds herself laughing very softly. He must think she's crazy. But that's alright, she doesn't mind it in the slightest. She is content and that's most important.
Impossible for Kein, anyway, who, like many males, thinks of himself as the actions he performs, not as some abstract description. But Nyssa already knows what actions he performs, so that's clearly not what she's asking about. Because he should really like to answer this question to her satisfaction, he says, "All right. Tell me who you are." Or if not who she is, tell him how to answer the question she has asked.
"A... wanderer," is the first and hesitant answer that she gives to him, and knowing well that it is not enough of an answer, continues. "Do you remember when I first set my paws on this mountain? We spoke briefly and I told you that. In no uncertain terms did you respond that you were not a-- spiritual being-- that I'd best speak with one of the Sisters. Well, as I said, I think Amaranth came from the same beginning as my own clan, though the branches on that tree took many directions. I--" she looks up at the spreading tree above them and points with her nose, "am that branch there and you--" she turns her head as far to the other side as it will go, picking the furthest branch from the first, "are that one there. But, like all things, the same beginning." Nyssa then gestures to the thick and sturdy trunk, bright eyes soft at the edges. "I was asked to find a purpose."
The answer helps Kein, at least a little. He can't find it in himself to directly answer her initial question, though. At least, he doesn't think he does. Rather, with a thin smile, he says, "That's not quite true, Nyssa. Maybe that branch could be one of my children. One of the Sisters here. The Matron. I, though..." Kein gestures with a nod of his head to a nearby tree. It fits with her analogy, doesn't it? "I scarcely know my family. I knew my mother when she was alive, of course, but what little I know of the rest of them... I think I'd sooner not." Kein takes a deep breath before he continues speaking. "I'm not of your tree, Nyssa, and my own... There is little worth saving of my own. I have great pride in my children, Nyssa, but it is the Amaranth bloodline that makes them as good as they are. As for me... I've always been content to be a protector to a bloodline that deserves it. That's who I am."
"There is certainly more than just a protector," Nyssa ponders, her voice impossibly quiet. After all, if Kein were content with simply that, he would not have such a strong desire to leave that behind. But she does not utter that sentiment aloud, instead pressing her cheek against Kein's shoulder. "There is great strength in your voice when you speak of your children. I admire that." It is important for any creature to believe in what it is they do and what they stand for.
"More, sure. Nothing I am so proud of, though. Nothing I would like to do more for you and our cubs, when the time comes." Kein rests his head lightly atop hers. "My children have always made my life worthwhile, Nyssa. I've never been as close to them as I would have liked, but they are wonderful cougars. All of them. Just as I know the ones we haven't had yet will be."
"They will certainly reflect the strength of their father, just as your children now do, I am sure of that." Perhaps she will ask Kein that question again and perhaps until that time he will keep that question in his mind, to ask himself when the twinge of doubt creeps up on him. For now, Nyssa is satisfied in those answers and also satisfied that Kein has given her more to think about in the hours when they are not together. Contentment warms her heart just as the sun warmed her fur this early morning and she rests her head against him still, her eyes closing with a sigh.
Kein nuzzles against Nyssa lightly before saying, "I should go hunt, Nyssa." He has had a relaxing enough morning, as well as a couple weeks, thanks to his time with Nyssa. As much as the idea is occasionally appealing, though, he does not believe he can lie about all day. Not for as long as he remains in Amaranth, anyway, and certainly not with winter growing ever nearer.
"Then, good hunting, Kein," Nyssa responds, herself standing and stretching. She will likely follow the same route in short order, but will wait and forgo the risk of she and Kein running into the same prey. She does not say goodbye, though, leaving him only with a soft smile to take with him.
Kein, Nyssa
Last night was colder than the one before it, and the dew that glistened in the trees and on the tips of the grass had the beginning glint of frost hidden in it, but when the sun came up and brought the morning with it, it was warm and pleasant. It stirred Nyssa and she rose in the pale dawn, doing what she could not to disturb Kein in his slumber, rolling away from him in order to begin a morning ritual of bathing her fur. When that was quite underway, she began to purr softly as the long tendrils of sunlight danced on her back and warmed her further. Content to stay there, Nyssa's mind began to wander, unable to recall if any dreams graced her last night but found that she was not upset at that realization. It is not necessary, after all, to always dream. Her eyes slowly fall away from the bright morning sky to the cougar beside her, smiling to herself as she wonders of the past that created him. He has hinted before that it has not been easy but one day she would like to speak with him on all the occurrences that brought them to where they are now, their paws on Amaranth's mountains, their bodies enveloped by Amaranth's forests, themselves warmed by Amaranth's sun. Nyssa 'hmms' through her purrs and returns to her grooming, unable to bring herself to wake him.
Kein stirs only slightly as Nyssa moves away from him. He does not wake completely. The air still holds a slight chill, and he would sooner remain lying down on the ground kept warm by his body heat. Eventually, though, he is drawn from his sleep, and he stretches out on the ground before opening his eyes to look at Nyssa. Perhaps he should have opened his eyes first, so that he could watch her groom herself for a while, but since there is little chance that he can pretend to still be sleeping, he slowly sits up. "I think I'm going to have to move you to a darker part of the forest, Nyssa." It is not a genuine complaint. Though he would have loved to spend another hour or so just lying beside her, he is used to her not sleeping in, with the short time they've been together.
She would be quite content to let the morning go by, bathing her fur in sunlight as she smoothed her pelt to perfection, and even as Kein stirs beside her she continues the task. That is, until he rises, and after a lengthy inspection of her fore leg Nyssa's gaze returns to Kein. At first her brow furrows curiously, and then concern spreads across her face. "Oh," she breathes softly, looking down to her paws. "I'm sorry." Her apology is quite genuine, though Kein's tone of voice doesn't seem very upset at being woken again at the rising of the sun. "I enjoy it so," she muses. While the moon and the night sky with its stars hold their own mysteries, it is the sun that comforts her during the day. Then she rises with him, nosing at his shoulder lightly, "Good morning," Nyssa teases, her muzzle toying with a smile.
Kein appears somewhat amused by Nyssa's apology. To prove that he is not actually upset, he responds by nuzzling against her when she noses at his shoulder. With a smile of his own, he says, "How are you going to put up with a grump like me, hmm?" Not very well, he suspects, if she gets upset when he tries to joke. Admittedly, he's not very good at the whole joking thing. Perhaps, then, the solution is that he shouldn't try it again. At least not first thing in the morning. He is still not upset, though, and he licks at her neck, likely doing nothing to help her morning grooming job.
"Well," she ponders for a moment, laughing lightly at Kein's attempted groom before she takes her task to him for a time. Nyssa's purr rises as she tends to Kein's neck, nosing underneath his chin before she pulls her head away, "I will just have to... un-grump you, then?" She watches him for a time, "I didn't mean to wake you, you know... should I make it up to you?"
Kein purrs quietly as Nyssa grooms his neck. If he was at all genuinely grumpy upon waking, he clearly doesn't remain grumpy now, and just to set aside any worries she may have that he was upset at waking up this early, he says, "I believe you already have." He bumps his head against her lightly before sitting down. Though he looks just at her, his ears twitch as he catches the sounds in the forest all around them.
"In that case," Nyssa replies warmly, nipping her teeth at Kein's neck as he's done with her so many times. As he settles she moves a little closer, wrapping her tail around her haunch and leans against his shoulder. The sun grows ever brighter as it slowly climbs higher in the sky and Nyssa's content smile blooms further. In their last encounter some very interesting words were exchanged between the two of them and they have been on her mind off and on over the last few days. "Kein," she speaks up, resting her cheek on his shoulder. "Tell me about yourself." And that-- well, that could mean anything.
Kein gives a light, playful growl, scarcely distinguishable from his purring, as she nips at his neck. He remains settled, though, as she leans against him. When she speaks, though, his purring stops, and he looks at her in silence for a moment. If he had been expecting her to say anything, that was not it, and he is really not sure how to respond. Tell her about himself? "I'm not sure... What is it that you want to know, Nyssa?" Though his purring is gone, he's not upset. A bit confused, perhaps. He's not the talkative sort, and he's not sure what sort of things another cougar might want to hear in response to such an open question.
"Whatever you want to tell me." Admittedly, she sprung a wide question on him, moments after he'd woken, but it was on her mind and it is something that Nyssa would certainly like to know. Who is Kein, and not the cougar who has become a weary Chieftain. Besides, "I'm sure that you'd like to know about me... after all, I-- I would love to know everything about the father of my cubs." The last tempts from her a rosy blush in her ears. Tell me about yourself, Kein, her thoughts dance in her mind, and she manages to bring her eyes up to settle on his face.
Everything. Kein's ears flatten against his head for just a moment, right up until she reminds him that he has wished the same thing about her. One day, he should like to know everything about Nyssa. It still takes him a moment to say anything, though, as it is difficult for him to know where to begin. "I... I don't know, Nyssa." What is easiest to talk about? His family, he supposes. "I have... had... Well, I had two litter mates. A brother and a sister. And seven children. You've met Maul, I know. She's one of the youngest." That's more than Nyssa knew anyway, right? And perhaps the conversation can find direction from here, anyway.
She catches the very end of Kein's wary expression and leans into him further, and perhaps he will see that as a comforting gesture rather than demanding all his most painful and hidden secrets all at once. But, who are /you/, Kein? Nyssa reaches up and again grooms his neck very gently, herself quiet for a time before she smiles, "I was a litter of one." Though Nyssa is certain that her mother has had other litters since her departure a few seasons ago, "But my clan are all my brothers and sisters." Then she's pauses, her eyes to Kein to see if he can feel the question in her mind. Who are you?
Kein keeps watching Nyssa. He has a slight feeling of discomfort, one he just barely notices, and he finds he has no more idea what to say now than he did seconds ago. With a deep breath and an apologetic smile, he says, "I'm really not sure what to say, Nyssa. I don't think I'm as complicated as maybe you think I am." Not that he really considers that a bad thing, but it doesn't make light conversation about himself easy. "I, ah... Huh." It has been so long since he has been anything other than just the male who patrols these borders to try to keep his family safe. What does he enjoy besides that? Besides spending time with and watching Nyssa? He's not even sure /he/ knows who he is.
It is not that she enjoys watching Kein struggle to find an answer to, perhaps, an unanswerable question, but she smiles because as he searches for that answer, to Nyssa, he is even now creating himself. It wouldn't make much sense if she shared that with him, but, "Kein, whenever you think of something, come and tell me. I want to know about who you are, not the events that created who everyone else perceives you to be." Then she finds herself laughing very softly. He must think she's crazy. But that's alright, she doesn't mind it in the slightest. She is content and that's most important.
Impossible for Kein, anyway, who, like many males, thinks of himself as the actions he performs, not as some abstract description. But Nyssa already knows what actions he performs, so that's clearly not what she's asking about. Because he should really like to answer this question to her satisfaction, he says, "All right. Tell me who you are." Or if not who she is, tell him how to answer the question she has asked.
"A... wanderer," is the first and hesitant answer that she gives to him, and knowing well that it is not enough of an answer, continues. "Do you remember when I first set my paws on this mountain? We spoke briefly and I told you that. In no uncertain terms did you respond that you were not a-- spiritual being-- that I'd best speak with one of the Sisters. Well, as I said, I think Amaranth came from the same beginning as my own clan, though the branches on that tree took many directions. I--" she looks up at the spreading tree above them and points with her nose, "am that branch there and you--" she turns her head as far to the other side as it will go, picking the furthest branch from the first, "are that one there. But, like all things, the same beginning." Nyssa then gestures to the thick and sturdy trunk, bright eyes soft at the edges. "I was asked to find a purpose."
The answer helps Kein, at least a little. He can't find it in himself to directly answer her initial question, though. At least, he doesn't think he does. Rather, with a thin smile, he says, "That's not quite true, Nyssa. Maybe that branch could be one of my children. One of the Sisters here. The Matron. I, though..." Kein gestures with a nod of his head to a nearby tree. It fits with her analogy, doesn't it? "I scarcely know my family. I knew my mother when she was alive, of course, but what little I know of the rest of them... I think I'd sooner not." Kein takes a deep breath before he continues speaking. "I'm not of your tree, Nyssa, and my own... There is little worth saving of my own. I have great pride in my children, Nyssa, but it is the Amaranth bloodline that makes them as good as they are. As for me... I've always been content to be a protector to a bloodline that deserves it. That's who I am."
"There is certainly more than just a protector," Nyssa ponders, her voice impossibly quiet. After all, if Kein were content with simply that, he would not have such a strong desire to leave that behind. But she does not utter that sentiment aloud, instead pressing her cheek against Kein's shoulder. "There is great strength in your voice when you speak of your children. I admire that." It is important for any creature to believe in what it is they do and what they stand for.
"More, sure. Nothing I am so proud of, though. Nothing I would like to do more for you and our cubs, when the time comes." Kein rests his head lightly atop hers. "My children have always made my life worthwhile, Nyssa. I've never been as close to them as I would have liked, but they are wonderful cougars. All of them. Just as I know the ones we haven't had yet will be."
"They will certainly reflect the strength of their father, just as your children now do, I am sure of that." Perhaps she will ask Kein that question again and perhaps until that time he will keep that question in his mind, to ask himself when the twinge of doubt creeps up on him. For now, Nyssa is satisfied in those answers and also satisfied that Kein has given her more to think about in the hours when they are not together. Contentment warms her heart just as the sun warmed her fur this early morning and she rests her head against him still, her eyes closing with a sigh.
Kein nuzzles against Nyssa lightly before saying, "I should go hunt, Nyssa." He has had a relaxing enough morning, as well as a couple weeks, thanks to his time with Nyssa. As much as the idea is occasionally appealing, though, he does not believe he can lie about all day. Not for as long as he remains in Amaranth, anyway, and certainly not with winter growing ever nearer.
"Then, good hunting, Kein," Nyssa responds, herself standing and stretching. She will likely follow the same route in short order, but will wait and forgo the risk of she and Kein running into the same prey. She does not say goodbye, though, leaving him only with a soft smile to take with him.