Post by Therdde on Nov 1, 2010 21:17:47 GMT -5
Characters:
Nyssa - Female Cougar
Nayeli - Female Cougar
- Pine Grove -
It can't possibly much longer, can it? The young cougar feels as though she is about to explode and probably looks like it, too. She tires much faster and is more frequently prone to mood swings that surprise even herself. Right now she is uncomfortable, and that is probably the most pleasant way to put it. Uncomfortable and even a little afraid. Nyssa can't quite tell what it is that is the matter but the feeling in the back of her mind is uneasy, just as it was the last time she spoke with Kein. What she hopes is that nothing else has happened to the Chieftain's other grown children. For now, Nyssa lays under the tree cover, flexing her toes in discomfort at the movement inside her. She looks at her belly, her expression softening noticeably, but when she sighs the sound quavers and that unease returns.
There are no mood swings for her anymore. Only one mood remains, and nothing seems to be able to improve it. Nayeli stalks through the mottled shadows as she passes tree after tree, tail lashing behind her. Her teeth seem to be bared in a permanent snarl, and even her fur looks as though she hasn't taken the time to recently groom it. But where one might suspect sickness or madness in her eyes, there is only a terrible clarity, an intensity that shows that she is quite in her right mind, however misguided it might be. A low growl issues from her throat as a sudden scent overwhelms her, the scent of another feline and one who is heavy with cubs. Recognition leads to a narrowing of her eyes, and abruptly her course diverts in the direction of where the scent is coming from. It is long past time for a confrontation between the two of them, and now is as good as any other time.
As time passes, Nyssa's ill-feelings grow almost unbearable. She starts to get up, to move and stretch her muscles, but the approach of purposeful and unmasked paws has her backing up with a sudden and intense protective instinct. She should leave. Now. But it is not long before she sees the Matron her stomach sinks, her face a mixture of both terror and tears. What Nyssa cannot do is flee, so instead and closes her eyes and bows her head. It's true that she has never met Nayeli but it is clear -- quiet clear -- who this cougar is. The younger of the two does not break her silence, wishing that she could hear the gentle whispers in her ear once again that everything was going to be okay.
There she is. Nayeli stops just as abruptly, and stares at the other female. Pregnant. With Kein's cubs. Unconsciously, the matron extends her claws and clenches at the frozen ground underneath of her paws even as she grits her teeth. How dare she. How /dare/ she take Kein away from his mate! It's not even the pregnancy that infuriates Nayeli. The chieftain does indeed have the prerogative to mate with any female in the tribe; it's the fact that he's distanced himself from his mate to the point of near-separation. All because of this... this /girl/. With another low growl, Nayeli starts forward again, feeling her muscles tensed to the point of aching, her head throbbing with the white-hot fury that threatens to overwhelm her. "Nyssa," she says, barely keeping her voice level, but not even trying to mask the venom in her tone.
The girl feels her throat closing up and her chest is aching, heaving with the effort of trying to keep herself in full control of her emotions. It is very difficult. Nyssa manages to look up for just a moment when she hears her name called and then is sorry that she did. Her paws rivet her attention again instead and her ears fall back, berated. "M-matron," she manages to squeeze out but nothing else comes. She wants to say that she is sorry, that she did not know coming here would lead to this, that she, at first, feared what would happen but none of that comes from her. She is frozen to the spot, afraid and ashamed.
It's as if she is watching from afar, watching herself confront this interloper, but without being able to control herself. Nayeli's eyes widen slightly into a piercing stare as she continues to approach, tail still lashing behind her. What does she want from this? It's too late to undo what has already happened. Nyssa is pregnant and Kein has already made his decision to abandon Nayeli for this girl. "Do you realize, girl, what you have done? You have destroyed all that I have worked so hard and so long for." Her voice is bitter, and suddenly tired, as if the effort of remaining enraged has taken its toll on her. The matron's shoulders slump as she halts, though the intensity in her gaze does not lessen.
"I have done no such thing," Nyssa responds despite her overwhelming fear and she shakes her head to emphasize this. If anything she has created something rather than destroyed anything. But even this thought doesn't fully alleviate the pain in her chest and it takes all of her effort to lift her head and confront those burning eyes. Her own are filled with held back tears and she tries to steady her voice. "You know nothing of me, Matron, and I know little of you. That may be my fault but know that I was brought here by the wishes of my clan. That is what I believe. And I have lost something so dear to me that I may have as well ripped out my own heart." Obviously the loss of her guide, even to gain something so precious as what she carries, hurts her deeply. But the effort of the speech is clear and as he chest closes around her she drops her head and allows those tears to fall, her back legs buckling under her so that she is sitting. "Y-you don't know..." and there she stops again, unsure if she should tell Nayeli her first reaction to her season was to leave and to keep Amaranth blood there on the mountain and not to interfere.
"No, /you/ don't know," the matron says harshly, the fury once again back in her voice and expression. She takes a step forward, bristling. "Kein has been mine for longer than you have even lived here. He is the chieftain! The mate of Amaranth's matron. And you.. you would just.." She trails off, shaking her head. "Do you really think I care that you will birth his cubs?" The matron gives a bitter laugh. "He does not speak to me anymore, and works hard to avoid me. You have stolen him from me, girl. You have destroyed the bond that has made Amaranth strong." The real question is, what does Nayeli plan on doing about it? It's already been impossible to persuade Kein to change his mind. She's already been informed by the spirit of her grandmother that she's no longer in control of events. But perhaps she can seek her own private vengeance, here and now. Nayeli feels herself all but trembling at the thought, the realization that she can prevent Kein from giving himself completely and fully over to this younger female. She can stop this, and maybe her chieftain will come back to her.
Now it is Nyssa's turn to feel anger fueled by the tears on her cheeks. "Kein was already broken before I ever stepped on this mountain." She remembers that day. "Even the very -trees- bent away from him, saddened and afraid." Nyssa shakes her head and tries desperately to straighten her spine but still withers under the Matron's piercing eyes. "I was led here by my Guide for a -reason-. I'd thought that reason might be to help the Chieftain of this tribe to recover what it was he had lost; his will, his spirit, whatever it was. Perhaps that was my purpose here and I could return to my clan, my family, and prove that what I had done was what had been asked of me." Then with a huge burst from her chest, her next words are mixed with such a painful sigh. "I -ran- -away- when my season came for I feared it would cause him so much more hurt than he was already carrying! I could not allow that to happen... then when I returned," and then Nyssa's voice fails her, her whisper strained and difficult to hear. "I realized that what Kein wanted was also what I wanted. I was so afraid yet I knew that some where, some how there would be good from this... though it hardly feels that way now."
Another bitter laugh. "Good is relative, is it not? You'll have your good, but at my expense." Her breathing quickens, almost to the point of panting. "Enjoy your victory, girl, but..." She may not be able to make herself commit violence here, but she can still inflict damage with words. "Always keep a close eye out on your future cubs." Nayeli bites off each word in a near-snarl. "It would be a tragedy if something happened to them." She gives one last stare, feeling a thrill race through her. But just as quickly, it passes, and there's the tiredness once again. And, as always now, the dull ache of bitterness. She turns, slowly, and begins walking away, toward the east. There is one last place she wants to visit before... whatever happens. One last place she'd like to see, and remember. And dream.
That ache is replaced by a deep rooted fear and the young female finds herself staring in disbelief at the Matron after that final, hateful parting of words. At first all she can do is stare, but she summons what she can, remembering the feeling of the wind all around her, comforting and strengthening, and with a gentle puff from her chest hopes that her Guide will carry these last few words for her to Nayeli's ear if it is to disappear from her life forever. "Now I know why the very mountain aches under my paws." And then Nyssa says no more, for there is nothing for her to say, and instead with tears brimming she turns and hastily retreats, her chest burning, ears ringing with those terrible words.
Nyssa - Female Cougar
Nayeli - Female Cougar
- Pine Grove -
It can't possibly much longer, can it? The young cougar feels as though she is about to explode and probably looks like it, too. She tires much faster and is more frequently prone to mood swings that surprise even herself. Right now she is uncomfortable, and that is probably the most pleasant way to put it. Uncomfortable and even a little afraid. Nyssa can't quite tell what it is that is the matter but the feeling in the back of her mind is uneasy, just as it was the last time she spoke with Kein. What she hopes is that nothing else has happened to the Chieftain's other grown children. For now, Nyssa lays under the tree cover, flexing her toes in discomfort at the movement inside her. She looks at her belly, her expression softening noticeably, but when she sighs the sound quavers and that unease returns.
There are no mood swings for her anymore. Only one mood remains, and nothing seems to be able to improve it. Nayeli stalks through the mottled shadows as she passes tree after tree, tail lashing behind her. Her teeth seem to be bared in a permanent snarl, and even her fur looks as though she hasn't taken the time to recently groom it. But where one might suspect sickness or madness in her eyes, there is only a terrible clarity, an intensity that shows that she is quite in her right mind, however misguided it might be. A low growl issues from her throat as a sudden scent overwhelms her, the scent of another feline and one who is heavy with cubs. Recognition leads to a narrowing of her eyes, and abruptly her course diverts in the direction of where the scent is coming from. It is long past time for a confrontation between the two of them, and now is as good as any other time.
As time passes, Nyssa's ill-feelings grow almost unbearable. She starts to get up, to move and stretch her muscles, but the approach of purposeful and unmasked paws has her backing up with a sudden and intense protective instinct. She should leave. Now. But it is not long before she sees the Matron her stomach sinks, her face a mixture of both terror and tears. What Nyssa cannot do is flee, so instead and closes her eyes and bows her head. It's true that she has never met Nayeli but it is clear -- quiet clear -- who this cougar is. The younger of the two does not break her silence, wishing that she could hear the gentle whispers in her ear once again that everything was going to be okay.
There she is. Nayeli stops just as abruptly, and stares at the other female. Pregnant. With Kein's cubs. Unconsciously, the matron extends her claws and clenches at the frozen ground underneath of her paws even as she grits her teeth. How dare she. How /dare/ she take Kein away from his mate! It's not even the pregnancy that infuriates Nayeli. The chieftain does indeed have the prerogative to mate with any female in the tribe; it's the fact that he's distanced himself from his mate to the point of near-separation. All because of this... this /girl/. With another low growl, Nayeli starts forward again, feeling her muscles tensed to the point of aching, her head throbbing with the white-hot fury that threatens to overwhelm her. "Nyssa," she says, barely keeping her voice level, but not even trying to mask the venom in her tone.
The girl feels her throat closing up and her chest is aching, heaving with the effort of trying to keep herself in full control of her emotions. It is very difficult. Nyssa manages to look up for just a moment when she hears her name called and then is sorry that she did. Her paws rivet her attention again instead and her ears fall back, berated. "M-matron," she manages to squeeze out but nothing else comes. She wants to say that she is sorry, that she did not know coming here would lead to this, that she, at first, feared what would happen but none of that comes from her. She is frozen to the spot, afraid and ashamed.
It's as if she is watching from afar, watching herself confront this interloper, but without being able to control herself. Nayeli's eyes widen slightly into a piercing stare as she continues to approach, tail still lashing behind her. What does she want from this? It's too late to undo what has already happened. Nyssa is pregnant and Kein has already made his decision to abandon Nayeli for this girl. "Do you realize, girl, what you have done? You have destroyed all that I have worked so hard and so long for." Her voice is bitter, and suddenly tired, as if the effort of remaining enraged has taken its toll on her. The matron's shoulders slump as she halts, though the intensity in her gaze does not lessen.
"I have done no such thing," Nyssa responds despite her overwhelming fear and she shakes her head to emphasize this. If anything she has created something rather than destroyed anything. But even this thought doesn't fully alleviate the pain in her chest and it takes all of her effort to lift her head and confront those burning eyes. Her own are filled with held back tears and she tries to steady her voice. "You know nothing of me, Matron, and I know little of you. That may be my fault but know that I was brought here by the wishes of my clan. That is what I believe. And I have lost something so dear to me that I may have as well ripped out my own heart." Obviously the loss of her guide, even to gain something so precious as what she carries, hurts her deeply. But the effort of the speech is clear and as he chest closes around her she drops her head and allows those tears to fall, her back legs buckling under her so that she is sitting. "Y-you don't know..." and there she stops again, unsure if she should tell Nayeli her first reaction to her season was to leave and to keep Amaranth blood there on the mountain and not to interfere.
"No, /you/ don't know," the matron says harshly, the fury once again back in her voice and expression. She takes a step forward, bristling. "Kein has been mine for longer than you have even lived here. He is the chieftain! The mate of Amaranth's matron. And you.. you would just.." She trails off, shaking her head. "Do you really think I care that you will birth his cubs?" The matron gives a bitter laugh. "He does not speak to me anymore, and works hard to avoid me. You have stolen him from me, girl. You have destroyed the bond that has made Amaranth strong." The real question is, what does Nayeli plan on doing about it? It's already been impossible to persuade Kein to change his mind. She's already been informed by the spirit of her grandmother that she's no longer in control of events. But perhaps she can seek her own private vengeance, here and now. Nayeli feels herself all but trembling at the thought, the realization that she can prevent Kein from giving himself completely and fully over to this younger female. She can stop this, and maybe her chieftain will come back to her.
Now it is Nyssa's turn to feel anger fueled by the tears on her cheeks. "Kein was already broken before I ever stepped on this mountain." She remembers that day. "Even the very -trees- bent away from him, saddened and afraid." Nyssa shakes her head and tries desperately to straighten her spine but still withers under the Matron's piercing eyes. "I was led here by my Guide for a -reason-. I'd thought that reason might be to help the Chieftain of this tribe to recover what it was he had lost; his will, his spirit, whatever it was. Perhaps that was my purpose here and I could return to my clan, my family, and prove that what I had done was what had been asked of me." Then with a huge burst from her chest, her next words are mixed with such a painful sigh. "I -ran- -away- when my season came for I feared it would cause him so much more hurt than he was already carrying! I could not allow that to happen... then when I returned," and then Nyssa's voice fails her, her whisper strained and difficult to hear. "I realized that what Kein wanted was also what I wanted. I was so afraid yet I knew that some where, some how there would be good from this... though it hardly feels that way now."
Another bitter laugh. "Good is relative, is it not? You'll have your good, but at my expense." Her breathing quickens, almost to the point of panting. "Enjoy your victory, girl, but..." She may not be able to make herself commit violence here, but she can still inflict damage with words. "Always keep a close eye out on your future cubs." Nayeli bites off each word in a near-snarl. "It would be a tragedy if something happened to them." She gives one last stare, feeling a thrill race through her. But just as quickly, it passes, and there's the tiredness once again. And, as always now, the dull ache of bitterness. She turns, slowly, and begins walking away, toward the east. There is one last place she wants to visit before... whatever happens. One last place she'd like to see, and remember. And dream.
That ache is replaced by a deep rooted fear and the young female finds herself staring in disbelief at the Matron after that final, hateful parting of words. At first all she can do is stare, but she summons what she can, remembering the feeling of the wind all around her, comforting and strengthening, and with a gentle puff from her chest hopes that her Guide will carry these last few words for her to Nayeli's ear if it is to disappear from her life forever. "Now I know why the very mountain aches under my paws." And then Nyssa says no more, for there is nothing for her to say, and instead with tears brimming she turns and hastily retreats, her chest burning, ears ringing with those terrible words.