Post by Mythri on Dec 8, 2010 6:13:35 GMT -5
Cast:
Mythri, adult female cougar
Kein, adult male cougar
Scene:
She hasn't had much luck hunting so far today, and it's been nearly long enough to where she's decided to hold off for the time being and check back on her cubs. They're just shy of being able to wander off on their own, or at least far enough away from where she's concealed them that they could jeopardize their own safety without realizing it. Mythri stalks along a familiar hunting trail, filtering through various scents as she attempts to locate something--anything--that she can kill and eat. Some days its easy, and other days, like today, prove to be much more difficult. It's usually nothing she can fault or blame, other than a myriad of various factors and circumstances that don't always fall in her favor. Long training and countless times hunting have taken her past the point of impatience and irritated, although she's not immune to feeling a slight bit frustrated when she has nothing to show for time spent away from her cubs.
Though frustrated by the fact that has is still in Amaranth... frustrated by all manner of things, actually, with the fact that he and his newest cubs are still in Amaranth only topping the list... Kein has managed to settle into a routine, and it isn't a terribly unpleasant one. If only he could have found such a routine with his first two litters, things may have been more pleasant then. At least, he likes to hope that when he gets to look back on this time in his life, he will finally be satisfied with something from his past. Now, as he makes his way back northward after a cursory sweep of the southern part of the territory, he perks his ears is response to a sound no louder than the shifting of leaves in a tree. Mythri may be well-trained, but Kein has not reached his age in his position by being careless, and he's fairly certain someone is in the area.
With a barely audible sigh, Mythri relaxes, recognizing the scent as that belonging to the tribe's chieftain. If Kein is nearby, then the chances of her finding any prey in the vicinity are that much slimmer, regardless of whether the male is hunting or just passing through. She'll just have to go hungry this time, and try again later on. For a moment, she's halfway tempted to just leave as quietly as she came, but then again if the chieftain is aware of her presence, that might come across as rude, and the last thing she wants is to anger or irritate the chieftain. Not that she much cares what he thinks about her, other than the fact that he could, at any time, decide that she needs to leave the mountain and take her cubs with her. An impossibility that she hopes he would never impose on her, but will never assume that he wouldn't. Grimacing, she stands up from her crouch and waits for him to notice her--if he hasn't already. So much for the hunt.
With none of the courtesy common to more sociable species, Kein simply holds his ground until he manages to locate the cougaress. He does not even offer a greeting, verbal or otherwise, immediately upon spotting her. If it were just Mythri, he might continue on his way now, but what he sees is a considerably lighter Mythri from the last time he came across her, and so after forcing himself to take a deep breath, he takes a few steps towards her before saying, "Hello, Mythri."
Mythri dips her head in her customary manner of respect for the chieftain's position. "Chieftain." Her greeting is just as simplistic, but no doubt exactly what Kein was expecting to hear from her. They've had this dance on more than one occasion thus far. If neither has anything pressing to tell the other about, then the conversation is over as quickly as it began. And for her part, the only real news is that her cubs have been born, but he can no doubt determine that for himself by a single look at her. Assuming, of course, he hasn't already been through the area where her cubs are presently hidden away. She's confident that the chieftain would be able to detect them, and although she's /fairly/ certain he wouldn't harm them--why else would he have allowed her to stay in Amaranth in expectation of their birthing?--she's not entirely sure that he won't reveal their location to others in the tribe that she would prefer didn't know.
It is not much a secret that Kein is not terribly fond of Mythri. He does not hate her, but it's unlikely he will ever want to spend time with her as he does with his daughters, or with Nyssa. Still, though he has always been standoffish when it comes to Mythri, when he speaks next, a hint of concern actually manages to escape through his tone. "How are you holding up?" Kein was certainly a mess aftewr his first litter was born. Nayeli too, though more rarely. Mythri looks as though she is managing well enough, but he still asks.
If she's taken by surprise at Kein's seeming concern, Mythri shows little reaction. "I am regaining my strength and endurance each day, and my cubs are growing quickly on their own as well." Not as fast as she might hope, but then again one cannot exactly rush basic development. She's just anxious for them to be able to move and speak on their own and for her not to have to be quite so concerned with their helplessness, though that will still be an issue for some time yet. Her tail twitches a little, and she almost glances around as if expecting to see Maul somewhere, listening in with that disapproving expression she remembers from last time. Well, Maul is not a mother yet, and as far as Mythri is concerned, she cannot pass judgment until she reaches that point in her life as well.
Kein gives a slight not of his head, then asks, "And what of my grandcubs, Mythri?" How many are there? What genders? Kein has never been a very involved grandfather. This is the third time he has become a grandfather, and he doesn't foresee that changing. He has always kept an eye on his grandchildren, and their mothers, to make sure they are getting what they need, though, and while Mythri may not be his daughter... there can be no harm for him to look in on them, occasionally.
Now Mythri does look a little puzzled. Didn't she just tell him that they were doing fine? What else does he want to know? And then it hits her. Oh, of course. "They will be ready for you to see them soon, and I imagine it won't be long now before they're able to begin learning to speak and walk normally on their own." More or less what she had already told him, only this time the longer version. She'll have to remember to be more verbose next time when discussing her cubs. The chieftain's concern for them is more than she would have expected, but not necessarily a bad thing.
Kein shakes his head slightly at what little more she gives him. "I don't need to see them, Mythri. This isn't the first time I've had a new mother in my territory. Just tell me how many there are. What have you called them? I'd like to know something about my grandcubs."
Mythri blinks. Why is that important now? He has nothing to attach to the names to--no scents, no visual memories. But, if he wants... "There are two daughters, Leotie and Relm, and a son, Rev." Three is a decent enough number. She's sure that any more than that would have been too much to bear, literally. What else does he wish to know about them? "They're.. umm.. they haven't really distinguished themselves yet, but then again they're still very young." She shifts uncertainly on her paws, wondering if that's the answer he was looking for. If not, hopefully he will clarify a bit more for her.
Kein stands still as Mythri tells him something of his newest grandcubs. Particularly the boy. His tail twitches a few times, as it's easy enough to tell what Rev is short for. He bites his tongue, though, before he can say anything that might cause Mythri to take his grandcubs away from Amaranth. He feels some sort of obligation to at least give Cael's children a chance. Perhaps even his son. "You take care of them. And yourself." The concern is gone, though, replaced by irritation, as he says what sounds clearly enough like a farewell.
Were it to come from any other, the charge to take care of her cubs would have been a grave insult. But coming from the cubs' grandfather, not to mention the tribe's chieftain, Mythri can understand the elevated sense of concern. Nonetheless, she takes it as a personal challenge, as if she wasn't already giving her utmost to making sure that they not only survived but became examples of the cougar species that would make her proud. "You have my word, Chieftain," she says gravely, with no hint of sarcasm or amusement. With Cael dead and her father gone for good, her cubs are the only thing she has left to focus on in life. Well, save for herself, of course, but as far as she is concerned, her own training has been completed by this point. Not that she doesn't still learn new things now and then, but her own personal development is to the point that she's satisfied with her progress and can devote her attention to other things. Namely, the three balls of fluff still waiting for her back in the heavily flowered area of the mountain.
Mythri, adult female cougar
Kein, adult male cougar
Scene:
She hasn't had much luck hunting so far today, and it's been nearly long enough to where she's decided to hold off for the time being and check back on her cubs. They're just shy of being able to wander off on their own, or at least far enough away from where she's concealed them that they could jeopardize their own safety without realizing it. Mythri stalks along a familiar hunting trail, filtering through various scents as she attempts to locate something--anything--that she can kill and eat. Some days its easy, and other days, like today, prove to be much more difficult. It's usually nothing she can fault or blame, other than a myriad of various factors and circumstances that don't always fall in her favor. Long training and countless times hunting have taken her past the point of impatience and irritated, although she's not immune to feeling a slight bit frustrated when she has nothing to show for time spent away from her cubs.
Though frustrated by the fact that has is still in Amaranth... frustrated by all manner of things, actually, with the fact that he and his newest cubs are still in Amaranth only topping the list... Kein has managed to settle into a routine, and it isn't a terribly unpleasant one. If only he could have found such a routine with his first two litters, things may have been more pleasant then. At least, he likes to hope that when he gets to look back on this time in his life, he will finally be satisfied with something from his past. Now, as he makes his way back northward after a cursory sweep of the southern part of the territory, he perks his ears is response to a sound no louder than the shifting of leaves in a tree. Mythri may be well-trained, but Kein has not reached his age in his position by being careless, and he's fairly certain someone is in the area.
With a barely audible sigh, Mythri relaxes, recognizing the scent as that belonging to the tribe's chieftain. If Kein is nearby, then the chances of her finding any prey in the vicinity are that much slimmer, regardless of whether the male is hunting or just passing through. She'll just have to go hungry this time, and try again later on. For a moment, she's halfway tempted to just leave as quietly as she came, but then again if the chieftain is aware of her presence, that might come across as rude, and the last thing she wants is to anger or irritate the chieftain. Not that she much cares what he thinks about her, other than the fact that he could, at any time, decide that she needs to leave the mountain and take her cubs with her. An impossibility that she hopes he would never impose on her, but will never assume that he wouldn't. Grimacing, she stands up from her crouch and waits for him to notice her--if he hasn't already. So much for the hunt.
With none of the courtesy common to more sociable species, Kein simply holds his ground until he manages to locate the cougaress. He does not even offer a greeting, verbal or otherwise, immediately upon spotting her. If it were just Mythri, he might continue on his way now, but what he sees is a considerably lighter Mythri from the last time he came across her, and so after forcing himself to take a deep breath, he takes a few steps towards her before saying, "Hello, Mythri."
Mythri dips her head in her customary manner of respect for the chieftain's position. "Chieftain." Her greeting is just as simplistic, but no doubt exactly what Kein was expecting to hear from her. They've had this dance on more than one occasion thus far. If neither has anything pressing to tell the other about, then the conversation is over as quickly as it began. And for her part, the only real news is that her cubs have been born, but he can no doubt determine that for himself by a single look at her. Assuming, of course, he hasn't already been through the area where her cubs are presently hidden away. She's confident that the chieftain would be able to detect them, and although she's /fairly/ certain he wouldn't harm them--why else would he have allowed her to stay in Amaranth in expectation of their birthing?--she's not entirely sure that he won't reveal their location to others in the tribe that she would prefer didn't know.
It is not much a secret that Kein is not terribly fond of Mythri. He does not hate her, but it's unlikely he will ever want to spend time with her as he does with his daughters, or with Nyssa. Still, though he has always been standoffish when it comes to Mythri, when he speaks next, a hint of concern actually manages to escape through his tone. "How are you holding up?" Kein was certainly a mess aftewr his first litter was born. Nayeli too, though more rarely. Mythri looks as though she is managing well enough, but he still asks.
If she's taken by surprise at Kein's seeming concern, Mythri shows little reaction. "I am regaining my strength and endurance each day, and my cubs are growing quickly on their own as well." Not as fast as she might hope, but then again one cannot exactly rush basic development. She's just anxious for them to be able to move and speak on their own and for her not to have to be quite so concerned with their helplessness, though that will still be an issue for some time yet. Her tail twitches a little, and she almost glances around as if expecting to see Maul somewhere, listening in with that disapproving expression she remembers from last time. Well, Maul is not a mother yet, and as far as Mythri is concerned, she cannot pass judgment until she reaches that point in her life as well.
Kein gives a slight not of his head, then asks, "And what of my grandcubs, Mythri?" How many are there? What genders? Kein has never been a very involved grandfather. This is the third time he has become a grandfather, and he doesn't foresee that changing. He has always kept an eye on his grandchildren, and their mothers, to make sure they are getting what they need, though, and while Mythri may not be his daughter... there can be no harm for him to look in on them, occasionally.
Now Mythri does look a little puzzled. Didn't she just tell him that they were doing fine? What else does he want to know? And then it hits her. Oh, of course. "They will be ready for you to see them soon, and I imagine it won't be long now before they're able to begin learning to speak and walk normally on their own." More or less what she had already told him, only this time the longer version. She'll have to remember to be more verbose next time when discussing her cubs. The chieftain's concern for them is more than she would have expected, but not necessarily a bad thing.
Kein shakes his head slightly at what little more she gives him. "I don't need to see them, Mythri. This isn't the first time I've had a new mother in my territory. Just tell me how many there are. What have you called them? I'd like to know something about my grandcubs."
Mythri blinks. Why is that important now? He has nothing to attach to the names to--no scents, no visual memories. But, if he wants... "There are two daughters, Leotie and Relm, and a son, Rev." Three is a decent enough number. She's sure that any more than that would have been too much to bear, literally. What else does he wish to know about them? "They're.. umm.. they haven't really distinguished themselves yet, but then again they're still very young." She shifts uncertainly on her paws, wondering if that's the answer he was looking for. If not, hopefully he will clarify a bit more for her.
Kein stands still as Mythri tells him something of his newest grandcubs. Particularly the boy. His tail twitches a few times, as it's easy enough to tell what Rev is short for. He bites his tongue, though, before he can say anything that might cause Mythri to take his grandcubs away from Amaranth. He feels some sort of obligation to at least give Cael's children a chance. Perhaps even his son. "You take care of them. And yourself." The concern is gone, though, replaced by irritation, as he says what sounds clearly enough like a farewell.
Were it to come from any other, the charge to take care of her cubs would have been a grave insult. But coming from the cubs' grandfather, not to mention the tribe's chieftain, Mythri can understand the elevated sense of concern. Nonetheless, she takes it as a personal challenge, as if she wasn't already giving her utmost to making sure that they not only survived but became examples of the cougar species that would make her proud. "You have my word, Chieftain," she says gravely, with no hint of sarcasm or amusement. With Cael dead and her father gone for good, her cubs are the only thing she has left to focus on in life. Well, save for herself, of course, but as far as she is concerned, her own training has been completed by this point. Not that she doesn't still learn new things now and then, but her own personal development is to the point that she's satisfied with her progress and can devote her attention to other things. Namely, the three balls of fluff still waiting for her back in the heavily flowered area of the mountain.