Post by Curiosity on Dec 8, 2010 11:06:21 GMT -5
Characters Involved:
Kein, male cougar
Ruya, female cougar
=== Wooded Terrain ===
It's rather amazing, how quickly his children are growing. You'd think he might have remembered that part, that it really doesn't take all that long for them to grow up, but he doesn't. Of course, this time around, the pride he has in his children is tempered by the bitter, unfulfilled desire he had to raise them away from here, but his anger is no longer so pronounced as it was shortly after they were born. As Nyssa is off to stretch her legs and get some water, Kein is just lying nearby and watching the two young cougars slumber, perhaps not quite so peacefully.
Ruya has been a protective mother, as she always has been, never straying too far from the place where her eldest daughter gave birth to her first pair of grandchildren. However, though she has been spending most of her time alone with Nyssa and her cubs, the middle-aged cougaress has been anxious to speak with her mate, the chieftain, at a more opportune time. Having caught his scent in the spring breeze, she approaches the birthing spot now -- cautiously, should the cubs' father be wary, though she makes little attempt to hide herself as she draws nearer. When she steps into the small clearing where the family trio is resting, Ruya dips her head in a polite greeting. "Chieftain."
Wary? Kein? Only... well, always. The male's ears flick in the direction of pawsteps, and though he fights the automatic tenseness of his muscles, he cannot even begin to truly keep himself relaxed. By the time Ruya is within sight, the chieftain is standing and facing the direction of the approaching steps. Knowing Nyssa left in another direction, she is the only one he absolutely does not expect to see, but even so, her mother was not very high on the list. After she greets him, he takes a moment to breathe, and some of the tenseness leaves his shoulders before he says, "Ruya. It is a pleasure to see you again." Perhaps not so much, but this time, at least, there are no little signs of aggression in Kein as he tries to battle instinct in order to be polite to his mate's mother.
Ruya offers a slight smile to Kein's reply, perhaps not entirely sure she believes his expressed sentiment. No doubt in their paws she would feel the same, but she is only a messenger in this situation; it is the will of the spirits that Arroyo be chosen, not her own. But that is part of the reason why she has come to seek the chieftain out. Pausing to gently lick the foreheads of each of her sleeping grandcubs in turn, Ruya then lifts her muzzle to inquire: "I am curious, Chieftain of the Amaranth. Did you ever have the privilege of meeting the Great Mother in your life here on the mountain? I have only heard stories from my father about her wisdom."
Kein is silent for a moment, barely looking at Ruya at all as he tries to place the one Ruya and Nyssa both refer to as the Great Mother. It does not take him long to put a name to the title. "Paoro, right? Oh yes. I met her." It takes effort, but Kein does his best to keep the bitterness out of his tone, bitterness he has seldom felt when thinking of Paoro. Even now, the desire to do right by Nayeli's ancestors is there. If not, he wouldn't care that his cubs were supposed to be raised here. Or his daughter, more specifically. Still, his obedience doesn't require that he has to /like/ the fact that he is stuck on this mountain, and it may take time to fully recover from the most recent request from Paoro.
Ruya settles down onto her haunches near the sleeping cubs, feeling comfortable enough to do so now that the ice has been broken. "Oh? Tell me, what is it you remember most about her?" Perhaps she hopes to gain some insight through Kein's memories of her grandmother -- though whether the insight is only regarding Paoro or Kein as well is left to be said.
"What do I remember most?" It's not a hard question, but still, Kein is silent for a moment as he stands still and stares past Ruya while thinking. "I remember how much she cared for her family. It was the most important thing to her. Is still, I imagine." It is the nicest answer Kein could have given, besides being accurate, so far as he knows, and he feels good that, if nothing else, he did not let his unresolved anger cause him to be petty in his answer, even if that would have felt good too, though for a shorter time.
Ruya smiles pleasantly at the fond memories of her grandmother, purring softly in her throat before the rumbling rolls into actual words. "I believe you are right, Chieftain. As I believe that her choosing of Arroyo is a blessing, not a curse." It is stated in such a way that it is clearly defined as her opinion, though set up in such a way that she has put Paoro's support behind her words as well. She is interested to see if Kein is still upset with the selection, or if he may be able to come to terms with it...whether through guidance or on his own.
Kein was being mature, doing a fair job of acting his age. Then Ruya brings up Arroyo's appointment, and immediately Kein's tail twitches and his muzzle shows a faint frown. "What more would you have of me, hmmm? What more would she have of me?" Kein takes a deep breath to keep his tone from becoming too incensed, but he is not done quite yet. "I've accepted that Paoro has more say in what happens to her family than I do. I've always accepted that. I have always done what I could to fulfill my obligation to my mate's ancestors. But I too care for my family, Ruya, and I am done seeing them sacrificed for the good of Amaranth." It is crueler than he intended to be, and some part of his expression conveys a desire to apologize, but his muzzle remains set in a hard line.
Ruya leans back slightly at the accusatory tone, though she does not flinch nor flatten her ears in response. "Nothing is being asked of /you/, Chieftain. Arroyo is the one who must undertake the task set before her. All you must do is support your daughter as the chosen one." The sharpness of her words is counterbalanced by the soft tone in which they are delivered, but the firm edge is there nonetheless. "I do not think the Great Mother would intentionally 'sacrifice' one of her blood -- you know as well as I that it is not her way. If she has deigned to name Arroyo as her next successor, then we must accept her foresight and hope for the best." It may sound fatalistic, what other way is there? Surely the spirits can see what they cannot. "Where is your shamaness? Does she not have an opinion on the matter?"
"Isn't it? You think it is nothing to ask me to, if not remain myself, allow my youngest daughter to remain in a land that has done little good for me? Where I have seen my mother murdered before others would act, where the best things in my life have been slowly destroyed?" The anger in Kein's tone is muted, as he says what he does to make a point. Nothing else. "I loved Nayeli when Paoro asked us to return from where we would have made a life for ourselves. I love Nyssa now, and would not leave her, or else ask her to leave our daughter unsupervised. And Amaranth... My mother always spoke of Amaranth as though it would be her salvation, even when she fled from it. Even death couldn't keep her away from it. I always would have stayed until I was certain Amaranth would give those who most required it the salvation they sought, and I'll stay now, even while our shamaness, our matron, have fled from those same duties. But don't tell me that it is nothing for me to do so, that my family has not sacrificed and been sacrificed for this land, for the ideal of what Amaranth should be."
They have no Wise One to guide them? No wonder the Amaranth are lost. "Kein." Ruya only speaks after the chieftain has fallen silent again, and her words are carefully chosen and deliberately spoken. "I know you have suffered much - both from what my daughter has told me, and what I have felt from you myself - and I am not unsympathetic." There is a brief pause as Ruya considers her next statement. "But even if you do not agree, will you not at least give her the choice? The Great Mother has chosen her for something great...is it not her place to decide whether or not she will do as has been asked of her?" the female inquires plaintively. "And she will not be left unsupervised. I will stay here with her until she is grown. And I will stay as shamaness." It is not stated as a request, nor is the chieftain's permission sought for such. It may not be precisely her place to do so, but without any other female leadership present to lay claim to the role, who can say otherwise?
Kein is silent for a time, just watching Ruya. Or perhaps not, perhaps he is more focused on thought, as he does not seem to focus on any one feature of her until he reaches some conclusion. "I love your daughter, Ruya, and for her sake, I would not fight with her mother. But I would not leave my daughter with you alone, shamaness or not. Arroyo is hardly old enough to be able to choose whether it is nap time or not. But until she is old enough to accept what has been decided for her... Until she is old enough to choose a mate who will help her keep these lands safe... I am going to be here. I've told your daughter as much already, and I am not one to run away from my obligations."
Ruya does not seem to have much issue with the compromised suggestion, as she lifts her shoulders in a casual shrug. "All the better. I would not wish for any young cub to grow up without their parents, much less my own grandchildren." In truth, Ruya would be much more concerned if the chieftain had decided to simply leave Arroyo behind in his want to move on. A thought draws her attentions away from the matter at hand, and a quiet 'hm' escapes her throat. "I suppose I should become more well acquainted with the rest of your tribe, if I am to become part of it as well," she muses aloud, before her eyes refocus on the male opposite her. "I do not wish for the wishes of spirits to drive an unnecessary rift between you and I, Kein. My daughter has found you worthy of her love, and I do not think she is misguided. Although we may be of...differing opinions, you are a strong chieftain nonetheless, and I can rest easy knowing my grandchildren are safe under your watchful eye."
"I have no fight with you, Ruya." Oh, he would. He has said he doesn't want to, and there is no reason for there to be conflict between them, but if there were, he would fight her. There is simply no call for it... but as of yet, no reason to be any more sociable than he usually is. Whether it's because he has had enough of trying to be civil or to give her an opportunity to leave, to go become acquainted with the rest of the tribe, as she said she would, he takes a step towards his cubs and says, "If you'll excuse me, I think it's time to take them on a bit of a walk." He does not, just yet, lower his head to nudge them out of their sleep, though.
Her piece has been stated, and there has been no opposition to her claim. As such, when Kein subtly expresses his wishes to take his children on a walk -- alone -- Ruya does not object. Dipping her head in another gesture of politeness, the self-proclaimed shamaness moves to take her leave. "Farewell, Chieftain Kein. I am sure we will meet again." With a final glance at her grandcubs, the cougaress turns to slip back into the foliage surrounding the hidden clearing, and towards the heart of the tribe lands to the south.
Kein, male cougar
Ruya, female cougar
=== Wooded Terrain ===
It's rather amazing, how quickly his children are growing. You'd think he might have remembered that part, that it really doesn't take all that long for them to grow up, but he doesn't. Of course, this time around, the pride he has in his children is tempered by the bitter, unfulfilled desire he had to raise them away from here, but his anger is no longer so pronounced as it was shortly after they were born. As Nyssa is off to stretch her legs and get some water, Kein is just lying nearby and watching the two young cougars slumber, perhaps not quite so peacefully.
Ruya has been a protective mother, as she always has been, never straying too far from the place where her eldest daughter gave birth to her first pair of grandchildren. However, though she has been spending most of her time alone with Nyssa and her cubs, the middle-aged cougaress has been anxious to speak with her mate, the chieftain, at a more opportune time. Having caught his scent in the spring breeze, she approaches the birthing spot now -- cautiously, should the cubs' father be wary, though she makes little attempt to hide herself as she draws nearer. When she steps into the small clearing where the family trio is resting, Ruya dips her head in a polite greeting. "Chieftain."
Wary? Kein? Only... well, always. The male's ears flick in the direction of pawsteps, and though he fights the automatic tenseness of his muscles, he cannot even begin to truly keep himself relaxed. By the time Ruya is within sight, the chieftain is standing and facing the direction of the approaching steps. Knowing Nyssa left in another direction, she is the only one he absolutely does not expect to see, but even so, her mother was not very high on the list. After she greets him, he takes a moment to breathe, and some of the tenseness leaves his shoulders before he says, "Ruya. It is a pleasure to see you again." Perhaps not so much, but this time, at least, there are no little signs of aggression in Kein as he tries to battle instinct in order to be polite to his mate's mother.
Ruya offers a slight smile to Kein's reply, perhaps not entirely sure she believes his expressed sentiment. No doubt in their paws she would feel the same, but she is only a messenger in this situation; it is the will of the spirits that Arroyo be chosen, not her own. But that is part of the reason why she has come to seek the chieftain out. Pausing to gently lick the foreheads of each of her sleeping grandcubs in turn, Ruya then lifts her muzzle to inquire: "I am curious, Chieftain of the Amaranth. Did you ever have the privilege of meeting the Great Mother in your life here on the mountain? I have only heard stories from my father about her wisdom."
Kein is silent for a moment, barely looking at Ruya at all as he tries to place the one Ruya and Nyssa both refer to as the Great Mother. It does not take him long to put a name to the title. "Paoro, right? Oh yes. I met her." It takes effort, but Kein does his best to keep the bitterness out of his tone, bitterness he has seldom felt when thinking of Paoro. Even now, the desire to do right by Nayeli's ancestors is there. If not, he wouldn't care that his cubs were supposed to be raised here. Or his daughter, more specifically. Still, his obedience doesn't require that he has to /like/ the fact that he is stuck on this mountain, and it may take time to fully recover from the most recent request from Paoro.
Ruya settles down onto her haunches near the sleeping cubs, feeling comfortable enough to do so now that the ice has been broken. "Oh? Tell me, what is it you remember most about her?" Perhaps she hopes to gain some insight through Kein's memories of her grandmother -- though whether the insight is only regarding Paoro or Kein as well is left to be said.
"What do I remember most?" It's not a hard question, but still, Kein is silent for a moment as he stands still and stares past Ruya while thinking. "I remember how much she cared for her family. It was the most important thing to her. Is still, I imagine." It is the nicest answer Kein could have given, besides being accurate, so far as he knows, and he feels good that, if nothing else, he did not let his unresolved anger cause him to be petty in his answer, even if that would have felt good too, though for a shorter time.
Ruya smiles pleasantly at the fond memories of her grandmother, purring softly in her throat before the rumbling rolls into actual words. "I believe you are right, Chieftain. As I believe that her choosing of Arroyo is a blessing, not a curse." It is stated in such a way that it is clearly defined as her opinion, though set up in such a way that she has put Paoro's support behind her words as well. She is interested to see if Kein is still upset with the selection, or if he may be able to come to terms with it...whether through guidance or on his own.
Kein was being mature, doing a fair job of acting his age. Then Ruya brings up Arroyo's appointment, and immediately Kein's tail twitches and his muzzle shows a faint frown. "What more would you have of me, hmmm? What more would she have of me?" Kein takes a deep breath to keep his tone from becoming too incensed, but he is not done quite yet. "I've accepted that Paoro has more say in what happens to her family than I do. I've always accepted that. I have always done what I could to fulfill my obligation to my mate's ancestors. But I too care for my family, Ruya, and I am done seeing them sacrificed for the good of Amaranth." It is crueler than he intended to be, and some part of his expression conveys a desire to apologize, but his muzzle remains set in a hard line.
Ruya leans back slightly at the accusatory tone, though she does not flinch nor flatten her ears in response. "Nothing is being asked of /you/, Chieftain. Arroyo is the one who must undertake the task set before her. All you must do is support your daughter as the chosen one." The sharpness of her words is counterbalanced by the soft tone in which they are delivered, but the firm edge is there nonetheless. "I do not think the Great Mother would intentionally 'sacrifice' one of her blood -- you know as well as I that it is not her way. If she has deigned to name Arroyo as her next successor, then we must accept her foresight and hope for the best." It may sound fatalistic, what other way is there? Surely the spirits can see what they cannot. "Where is your shamaness? Does she not have an opinion on the matter?"
"Isn't it? You think it is nothing to ask me to, if not remain myself, allow my youngest daughter to remain in a land that has done little good for me? Where I have seen my mother murdered before others would act, where the best things in my life have been slowly destroyed?" The anger in Kein's tone is muted, as he says what he does to make a point. Nothing else. "I loved Nayeli when Paoro asked us to return from where we would have made a life for ourselves. I love Nyssa now, and would not leave her, or else ask her to leave our daughter unsupervised. And Amaranth... My mother always spoke of Amaranth as though it would be her salvation, even when she fled from it. Even death couldn't keep her away from it. I always would have stayed until I was certain Amaranth would give those who most required it the salvation they sought, and I'll stay now, even while our shamaness, our matron, have fled from those same duties. But don't tell me that it is nothing for me to do so, that my family has not sacrificed and been sacrificed for this land, for the ideal of what Amaranth should be."
They have no Wise One to guide them? No wonder the Amaranth are lost. "Kein." Ruya only speaks after the chieftain has fallen silent again, and her words are carefully chosen and deliberately spoken. "I know you have suffered much - both from what my daughter has told me, and what I have felt from you myself - and I am not unsympathetic." There is a brief pause as Ruya considers her next statement. "But even if you do not agree, will you not at least give her the choice? The Great Mother has chosen her for something great...is it not her place to decide whether or not she will do as has been asked of her?" the female inquires plaintively. "And she will not be left unsupervised. I will stay here with her until she is grown. And I will stay as shamaness." It is not stated as a request, nor is the chieftain's permission sought for such. It may not be precisely her place to do so, but without any other female leadership present to lay claim to the role, who can say otherwise?
Kein is silent for a time, just watching Ruya. Or perhaps not, perhaps he is more focused on thought, as he does not seem to focus on any one feature of her until he reaches some conclusion. "I love your daughter, Ruya, and for her sake, I would not fight with her mother. But I would not leave my daughter with you alone, shamaness or not. Arroyo is hardly old enough to be able to choose whether it is nap time or not. But until she is old enough to accept what has been decided for her... Until she is old enough to choose a mate who will help her keep these lands safe... I am going to be here. I've told your daughter as much already, and I am not one to run away from my obligations."
Ruya does not seem to have much issue with the compromised suggestion, as she lifts her shoulders in a casual shrug. "All the better. I would not wish for any young cub to grow up without their parents, much less my own grandchildren." In truth, Ruya would be much more concerned if the chieftain had decided to simply leave Arroyo behind in his want to move on. A thought draws her attentions away from the matter at hand, and a quiet 'hm' escapes her throat. "I suppose I should become more well acquainted with the rest of your tribe, if I am to become part of it as well," she muses aloud, before her eyes refocus on the male opposite her. "I do not wish for the wishes of spirits to drive an unnecessary rift between you and I, Kein. My daughter has found you worthy of her love, and I do not think she is misguided. Although we may be of...differing opinions, you are a strong chieftain nonetheless, and I can rest easy knowing my grandchildren are safe under your watchful eye."
"I have no fight with you, Ruya." Oh, he would. He has said he doesn't want to, and there is no reason for there to be conflict between them, but if there were, he would fight her. There is simply no call for it... but as of yet, no reason to be any more sociable than he usually is. Whether it's because he has had enough of trying to be civil or to give her an opportunity to leave, to go become acquainted with the rest of the tribe, as she said she would, he takes a step towards his cubs and says, "If you'll excuse me, I think it's time to take them on a bit of a walk." He does not, just yet, lower his head to nudge them out of their sleep, though.
Her piece has been stated, and there has been no opposition to her claim. As such, when Kein subtly expresses his wishes to take his children on a walk -- alone -- Ruya does not object. Dipping her head in another gesture of politeness, the self-proclaimed shamaness moves to take her leave. "Farewell, Chieftain Kein. I am sure we will meet again." With a final glance at her grandcubs, the cougaress turns to slip back into the foliage surrounding the hidden clearing, and towards the heart of the tribe lands to the south.