Post by Therdde on Nov 1, 2010 21:21:45 GMT -5
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Nyssa - Female Cougar
Kein - Male Cougar
- Wooded Terrain -
She'd moved as far as she dared. She didn't think the Matron would follow her but those words certainly have and with it a flood of tears that she cannot stop. Nyssa his heaving with the exertion of having moved so far, her sobs deep in her chest and wrench her stomach bringing on a dizzying spin in the back of her head. At one point her paws had finally stopped and she sat down in the snow, dejected, and could only cry. It hurt for so many reasons that she just couldn't pinpoint all of them. She wanted to be angry but she couldn't. She wanted to find Nayeli and apologize but she couldn't. She wanted to find Kein but didn't dare, not now. And so the young female settled on the tears that would not cease, her eyes rivited to the snow at her paws.
By the time that Kein manages to locate Nyssa, alarmed is the mildest word that could possibly be used to describe him. No part of Nayeli suddenly breaking from her trend of sticking to the southern parts of their territory could possibly be good, and when her scent eventually led him to where Nyssa had been staying... It doesn't matter that there was not even the faintest scent of blood in the area, save from the regular meals eaten there. He has been envisioning the worst as he attempted to track Nyssa. Not Nayeli. Nayeli is neither with cub nor so young as Nyssa, and even were either of those true... He would likely be here anyway, looking upon a clearly distraught young cougaress as his tail lashes behind him and finding himself unable to speak, to announce his presence, as he is still too busy trying to imagine what happened.
And if it were different where would she be then? Would it hurt this much? Would she even know what it meant to be so wounded without the evidence of any physical scars? She can't bring herself to think clearly about anything and through blurry eyes glances up to the gray sky and when her eyes fall from the answerless void up there they land on Kein. They widen and her breath catches but Nyssa can't hold onto a feeling of surprise for it washes away in a flood of relief. She stands and quickly, desperately goes to the Cheiftain, burying her face against his chest and shoulder and allowing herself to continue to wrench out every single sob that she can. What does she say? Nyssa only shakes her head and mumbles what may have been an apology but for all her distress it is unintelligible.
As Nyssa presses against him and cries, Kein's tail continues to whip about behind him, the only clear sign of his anger. It is well outside of his control, and everything else he does is gentle as he rubs his head against her neck and tries to soothe her with some idle grooming. It's all he can do, for now. Attempt to calm her so that he can find out what happened, although it scarcely matters. The only thing that keeps him from wanting to strip the flesh off whoever did this to her is the knowledge that it was probably Nayeli who did so... and even that does not help much. He may not be so far removed from his mate... or former mate... that he could act so violently toward her, but he will not stand by while she puts Nyssa through such pain.
It is some time before Nyssa could even be considered calmer but for the young female it feels like forever, like it would just never end. Eventually she manages to pick her head up and look at Kein, look at his face and his eyes, her own creasing with the effort to keep what little composure she's managed to gain. "Kein, I'm s-so sorry." Nyssa doesn't fully know what she is sorry for, but for now she settles on the apology for being so distraught. Having managed that she sits on her haunches and sighs an uneasy breath, pressing against the Chieftain's tense shoulder.
"You have no reason to apologize." Kein's voice when he answers is gruff, but plenty sincere. He would be hard pressed to find fault in Nyssa. It's not that he truly believes her incapable of it, were he to think about it in depth, but he has never seen her behave in any way objectionable. He can't say the same of Nayeli, recently. "What did she do to you?"
"N-nothing," is what she manages at first and she is well aware that Kein will see through that lie as easily as any one of his own children had said to him before. But Nyssa shakes her head and shuffles uncomfortably for two reasons; the first is obvious but the second, now that Kein is here, she doesn't want to cause a problem. "Please don't be angry," are the surprising next few words but when she looks up at him her eyes are filled with that plea. Please, don't. It is, after all, her own fault. But Nayeli's threat? Nyssa's ears splay at the thought and she swallows hard. "She blamed me for her anger. It's not true but, but if it made her feel better then that's okay. But I knew that Amaranth was broken long before I tred on it... now I see why." And then the moment the words are out of her mouth she regrets them and Nyssa panics. "Kein, no, I'm sorry, I shouldn't-- Oh, please, just... leave it be." And then there are tears again when she looks at her stomach. That threat lingers just over her shoulder and the fear in her eyes is apparent.
"Nyssa-" Kein's sentence is abruptly stopped, as he is reluctant to cause her any more distress. He cannot simply agree to look the other way, though. "This will not happen again. If she comes to you... I want you to direct her to me, okay?" That's not the end of it. Not by a long shot. But he does not need to tell Nyssa of his plans, as unformed as they are currently, any more than he has ever told his mate of his plans when he thought it might only upset or worry them. "We should have left long ago. Traveled through the winter, if that's what it took." And maybe they should yet, but Kein knows as well as anyone what traveling with a heavily pregnant cougaress is like, and he won't risk that situation again. Not knowing that there is almost definitely not enough time for them to find a safe territory before their cubs are born.
She doesn't want to tell him this for it is obvious that Kein is angry and that is the last thing she wants. This... situation, this stir, was what she didn't want to have happen. "Kein," Nyssa starts and then stops again, pausing only long enough to stand and straighten her shoulders a little, though she is obviously still ill at ease. "She-- she said that my-- our cubs-- that I should watch them closely in case--" and then she can't finish it at all, that horrid thought, and through squeezed out tears manages to utter, "I'm so afraid for them now."
Kein stills as Nyssa speaks again. He doesn't respond for some time, as it takes the majority of his concentration to keep from growling, to remind himself that the last thing he wants is to frighten Nyssa. Even for his best efforts, when he speaks, his voice carries with it a quiet growl. "Listen to me, Nyssa. Nothing is going to happen to our cubs. Nothing." And for that... Yes, for that threat, he could strip Nayeli's flesh from her body, and without a concern for what Nayeli's ancestors or the spirits who watch over Amaranth would do to him in return, without a concern about what it would do to him to so savagely kill someone he once loved so deeply, someone he thought he still loved. It doesn't matter, as he already allowed Nayeli's family to destroy his mother. He won't let them destroy the children who were meant to be untainted by Amaranth as well.
There is a darkness somewhere in the back of his eyes and that, more than his tone, puts the young female further on edge. "Promise me something even more important than that, Kein," Nyssa responds, her voice surprisingly gentle but firm. This is important, even more important to her than that the Chieftain names his cubs. "Whatever brought the Matron to her state, and that is fault I place on no one but circumstance... promise me that you will not let her anger destroy you, that you will not... will not reciprocate those words to her." He would have to be blind not to see the seriousness on her face. "It will not heal Amaranth."
It continues to take him time to formulate his answer, as Kein cannot simply agree that he will say or do nothing unkind to Nayeli. Not after everything that has happened. There is, however, something he can promise. "When I left this place... When I took Nayeli with me... I did it because I did not think there was anything in Amaranth worth saving. Maybe I was right. But this place... I let Nayeli bring us back, and it is home now to my children. My grandchildren. I don't know what I can promise you, Nyssa, if Nayeli is to take after her father and brother. If I can help it, I will not be the reason Amaranth falls. But I will not sacrifice you or our cubs for this place."
"It will not be much longer," Nyssa replies, some how managing a breathy laugh and a smile that is equally as fleeting. "Kein, I cannot hear my guide but I am not lost. I am afraid but... I don't want to be. Perhaps what this mountain requires is not something that you or I can provide and staying will only prolong... all this." The female shakes her head and then rests her cheek against his shoulder again, unwilling to break that contact right now. "I'm sure it can't be much longer..." she finishes, voice sounding almost dreamy.
"As soon as they can travel, Nyssa. As soon as we can keep them safe while we travel... we'll leave. Leave and never look back." It's not that simple, of course. Kein is incapable of turning away, should any of his children need him. Should any of his children be threatened. But the cubs he is having with Nyssa will not be raised here. Will, if he has his way, not even remember this place.
Nyssa's only response to Kein is to nod her head, keeping that contact with his shoulder and cementing that feeling deep in her mind. She doesn't want to forget that, particularly if the Chieftain has to spend any length of time away from her in the near future which... he may very well have to. Still, the female is able to settle herself some in this manner and when she looks back at him there is a soft smile on her whiskers. "Stay," she asks gently, adding, "You still have a naming task."
"And you... you still have the task of birthing them, as I recall." Kein's tone is no lighter, but he does attempt to lighten the topic of conversation, all the same. It's difficult, given how he is busy thinking of what he'll do once he tracks down Nayeli, but to satisfy Nyssa he sits beside her. At least for a few hours, he will not be going anywhere.
"That is true, indeed," Nyssa offers, nipping at Kein's shoulder before beginning the arduous task of settling down to rest and accompanying the room for her belly. It is easy to tell that the Chieftain wants to be off but for now she wants-- needs to have him here with her. She doesn't ask him again, resting there with him for the time being has her content enough, though she knows that once he moves off-- well. Nyssa shrugs and focuses on soothing her frayed nerves, for now. The whole birthing experience isn't one she's sure she wants to focus on just right now.
Nyssa - Female Cougar
Kein - Male Cougar
- Wooded Terrain -
She'd moved as far as she dared. She didn't think the Matron would follow her but those words certainly have and with it a flood of tears that she cannot stop. Nyssa his heaving with the exertion of having moved so far, her sobs deep in her chest and wrench her stomach bringing on a dizzying spin in the back of her head. At one point her paws had finally stopped and she sat down in the snow, dejected, and could only cry. It hurt for so many reasons that she just couldn't pinpoint all of them. She wanted to be angry but she couldn't. She wanted to find Nayeli and apologize but she couldn't. She wanted to find Kein but didn't dare, not now. And so the young female settled on the tears that would not cease, her eyes rivited to the snow at her paws.
By the time that Kein manages to locate Nyssa, alarmed is the mildest word that could possibly be used to describe him. No part of Nayeli suddenly breaking from her trend of sticking to the southern parts of their territory could possibly be good, and when her scent eventually led him to where Nyssa had been staying... It doesn't matter that there was not even the faintest scent of blood in the area, save from the regular meals eaten there. He has been envisioning the worst as he attempted to track Nyssa. Not Nayeli. Nayeli is neither with cub nor so young as Nyssa, and even were either of those true... He would likely be here anyway, looking upon a clearly distraught young cougaress as his tail lashes behind him and finding himself unable to speak, to announce his presence, as he is still too busy trying to imagine what happened.
And if it were different where would she be then? Would it hurt this much? Would she even know what it meant to be so wounded without the evidence of any physical scars? She can't bring herself to think clearly about anything and through blurry eyes glances up to the gray sky and when her eyes fall from the answerless void up there they land on Kein. They widen and her breath catches but Nyssa can't hold onto a feeling of surprise for it washes away in a flood of relief. She stands and quickly, desperately goes to the Cheiftain, burying her face against his chest and shoulder and allowing herself to continue to wrench out every single sob that she can. What does she say? Nyssa only shakes her head and mumbles what may have been an apology but for all her distress it is unintelligible.
As Nyssa presses against him and cries, Kein's tail continues to whip about behind him, the only clear sign of his anger. It is well outside of his control, and everything else he does is gentle as he rubs his head against her neck and tries to soothe her with some idle grooming. It's all he can do, for now. Attempt to calm her so that he can find out what happened, although it scarcely matters. The only thing that keeps him from wanting to strip the flesh off whoever did this to her is the knowledge that it was probably Nayeli who did so... and even that does not help much. He may not be so far removed from his mate... or former mate... that he could act so violently toward her, but he will not stand by while she puts Nyssa through such pain.
It is some time before Nyssa could even be considered calmer but for the young female it feels like forever, like it would just never end. Eventually she manages to pick her head up and look at Kein, look at his face and his eyes, her own creasing with the effort to keep what little composure she's managed to gain. "Kein, I'm s-so sorry." Nyssa doesn't fully know what she is sorry for, but for now she settles on the apology for being so distraught. Having managed that she sits on her haunches and sighs an uneasy breath, pressing against the Chieftain's tense shoulder.
"You have no reason to apologize." Kein's voice when he answers is gruff, but plenty sincere. He would be hard pressed to find fault in Nyssa. It's not that he truly believes her incapable of it, were he to think about it in depth, but he has never seen her behave in any way objectionable. He can't say the same of Nayeli, recently. "What did she do to you?"
"N-nothing," is what she manages at first and she is well aware that Kein will see through that lie as easily as any one of his own children had said to him before. But Nyssa shakes her head and shuffles uncomfortably for two reasons; the first is obvious but the second, now that Kein is here, she doesn't want to cause a problem. "Please don't be angry," are the surprising next few words but when she looks up at him her eyes are filled with that plea. Please, don't. It is, after all, her own fault. But Nayeli's threat? Nyssa's ears splay at the thought and she swallows hard. "She blamed me for her anger. It's not true but, but if it made her feel better then that's okay. But I knew that Amaranth was broken long before I tred on it... now I see why." And then the moment the words are out of her mouth she regrets them and Nyssa panics. "Kein, no, I'm sorry, I shouldn't-- Oh, please, just... leave it be." And then there are tears again when she looks at her stomach. That threat lingers just over her shoulder and the fear in her eyes is apparent.
"Nyssa-" Kein's sentence is abruptly stopped, as he is reluctant to cause her any more distress. He cannot simply agree to look the other way, though. "This will not happen again. If she comes to you... I want you to direct her to me, okay?" That's not the end of it. Not by a long shot. But he does not need to tell Nyssa of his plans, as unformed as they are currently, any more than he has ever told his mate of his plans when he thought it might only upset or worry them. "We should have left long ago. Traveled through the winter, if that's what it took." And maybe they should yet, but Kein knows as well as anyone what traveling with a heavily pregnant cougaress is like, and he won't risk that situation again. Not knowing that there is almost definitely not enough time for them to find a safe territory before their cubs are born.
She doesn't want to tell him this for it is obvious that Kein is angry and that is the last thing she wants. This... situation, this stir, was what she didn't want to have happen. "Kein," Nyssa starts and then stops again, pausing only long enough to stand and straighten her shoulders a little, though she is obviously still ill at ease. "She-- she said that my-- our cubs-- that I should watch them closely in case--" and then she can't finish it at all, that horrid thought, and through squeezed out tears manages to utter, "I'm so afraid for them now."
Kein stills as Nyssa speaks again. He doesn't respond for some time, as it takes the majority of his concentration to keep from growling, to remind himself that the last thing he wants is to frighten Nyssa. Even for his best efforts, when he speaks, his voice carries with it a quiet growl. "Listen to me, Nyssa. Nothing is going to happen to our cubs. Nothing." And for that... Yes, for that threat, he could strip Nayeli's flesh from her body, and without a concern for what Nayeli's ancestors or the spirits who watch over Amaranth would do to him in return, without a concern about what it would do to him to so savagely kill someone he once loved so deeply, someone he thought he still loved. It doesn't matter, as he already allowed Nayeli's family to destroy his mother. He won't let them destroy the children who were meant to be untainted by Amaranth as well.
There is a darkness somewhere in the back of his eyes and that, more than his tone, puts the young female further on edge. "Promise me something even more important than that, Kein," Nyssa responds, her voice surprisingly gentle but firm. This is important, even more important to her than that the Chieftain names his cubs. "Whatever brought the Matron to her state, and that is fault I place on no one but circumstance... promise me that you will not let her anger destroy you, that you will not... will not reciprocate those words to her." He would have to be blind not to see the seriousness on her face. "It will not heal Amaranth."
It continues to take him time to formulate his answer, as Kein cannot simply agree that he will say or do nothing unkind to Nayeli. Not after everything that has happened. There is, however, something he can promise. "When I left this place... When I took Nayeli with me... I did it because I did not think there was anything in Amaranth worth saving. Maybe I was right. But this place... I let Nayeli bring us back, and it is home now to my children. My grandchildren. I don't know what I can promise you, Nyssa, if Nayeli is to take after her father and brother. If I can help it, I will not be the reason Amaranth falls. But I will not sacrifice you or our cubs for this place."
"It will not be much longer," Nyssa replies, some how managing a breathy laugh and a smile that is equally as fleeting. "Kein, I cannot hear my guide but I am not lost. I am afraid but... I don't want to be. Perhaps what this mountain requires is not something that you or I can provide and staying will only prolong... all this." The female shakes her head and then rests her cheek against his shoulder again, unwilling to break that contact right now. "I'm sure it can't be much longer..." she finishes, voice sounding almost dreamy.
"As soon as they can travel, Nyssa. As soon as we can keep them safe while we travel... we'll leave. Leave and never look back." It's not that simple, of course. Kein is incapable of turning away, should any of his children need him. Should any of his children be threatened. But the cubs he is having with Nyssa will not be raised here. Will, if he has his way, not even remember this place.
Nyssa's only response to Kein is to nod her head, keeping that contact with his shoulder and cementing that feeling deep in her mind. She doesn't want to forget that, particularly if the Chieftain has to spend any length of time away from her in the near future which... he may very well have to. Still, the female is able to settle herself some in this manner and when she looks back at him there is a soft smile on her whiskers. "Stay," she asks gently, adding, "You still have a naming task."
"And you... you still have the task of birthing them, as I recall." Kein's tone is no lighter, but he does attempt to lighten the topic of conversation, all the same. It's difficult, given how he is busy thinking of what he'll do once he tracks down Nayeli, but to satisfy Nyssa he sits beside her. At least for a few hours, he will not be going anywhere.
"That is true, indeed," Nyssa offers, nipping at Kein's shoulder before beginning the arduous task of settling down to rest and accompanying the room for her belly. It is easy to tell that the Chieftain wants to be off but for now she wants-- needs to have him here with her. She doesn't ask him again, resting there with him for the time being has her content enough, though she knows that once he moves off-- well. Nyssa shrugs and focuses on soothing her frayed nerves, for now. The whole birthing experience isn't one she's sure she wants to focus on just right now.