Post by Curiosity on Feb 17, 2011 0:11:11 GMT -5
Characters Involved:
Mythri, female cougar
Leotie, juvenile female cougar
Ruya, female cougar
=== Wildflower Drop ===
If Mythri could ever have something as frivolous or trivial as a favorite time of the year, it would be fairly close to now. Decent hunting, and weather that's neither sweltering nor freezing cold. At present, however, she's more concerned with her cubs than with the change of the seasons. They're keenly aware, which is good. They're learning, which is better. They're constantly talking and asking questions, which is... She's more concerned about their rather unchecked mobility, and knowing how strong the desire to explore is for each of them, there's the constant anxiety about one or more of them wandering off. It is highly unlikely that she will ever feel truly safe and unthreatened in Amaranth, and as such is determined to do her best to keep her cubs in a close proximity. Exploration will come eventually, but not until she's satisfied that each of them understands the constraints and responsibilities associated with such an undertaking. She's considered moving them from their home amongst the flowers, but each time such a deliberation comes up, there always seems to be better reasoning for staying put. And thus, she remains, doing her best to help each of her cubs survive yet another day.
Significantly less anxious than her mother is Leotie, laying about lazily in the flowers of the drop. Already the strong heat of summer is fading, but with her still rather fluffy coat, the juvenile isn't about to complain about such things. Waking from a short nap with a wide-mouthed yawn, the young cougaress rolls to her stomach and stretches herself out slowly, nothing in particular on her mind. Maybe she'll run around? Cause some mischief, as cubs her age are likely to do. Maybe not? She's not entirely sure at the moment. What she is sure of though, is that she's comfortable there on the ground. With a slump, the cub lays back down, though she's attentive enough not to go back to sleep.
Ruya is the most recent immigrant to the Amaranth lands -- well, aside from the cubs born into it not long after her arrival -- and despite the fact that she has been here for a number of moons already, she is still acquainting herself with the many members of the extended tribe. Perhaps somewhat due to her own fault, as she's been mostly keeping to the company of her daughter and new grandcubs, but in no small part also a result of the wandering paths that several sisters choose to take across the widespread tribal lands. Even so, she feels it's her duty as the new (and admittedly, self-proclaimed) shamaness to make the effort to meet some of those with which she has not already the chance. She had heard of one other new mother in the lands, and had even seen a couple of her cubs playing with her own grandchildren, but had yet to meet the solitary female herself. Wandering towards the southwestern edge of Amaranth's mountaintop range, she soon finds herself padding among the last floral remnants of summer; it's not hard to spot the other cougaress on the flat horizon, and Ruya stops a considerable distance away, merely watching quietly until she is acknowledged.
Her father always taught her that fear was never to be viewed as an enemy, but rather as a catalyst. Fear, if properly controlled, could be used to energize, rather than paralyze. Mythri wouldn't have labeled her concern for her cubs as /fear/, necessarily, but she's tried hard to utilize it in much the same way. An ear twitches at the faint sound of movement. With a yawn of her own, Mythri lifts her head from where she's presently flopped down, giving her daughter an appraising glance. The young girl looks rested, bored, and probably hungry. But before Mythri can progress further down that line of thought, she suddenly notices the subtle movement of someone approaching. Smoothly, and without any hesitation, Mythri rises to her paws, taking two steps to put herself between this newcomer and Leotie and her two siblings. It's hard to tell from this distance who the other adult is; some of the other mountain inhabitants are easy to recognize, and others.. not so much. Especially the ones that she hasn't made an effort to get to know all that well.
As far as fear goes, Leotie wouldn't know the feeling. Not in it's definitive form, at least. For the entire time she's been roaming around what little acreage she's been able to move around on, Mythri has been there to protect her. So the newcomer doesn't scare the girl in the least. Instead, her ears perk up and she finds herself staring at the other adult. Not rudely, but curiously. This is before her mother stands up however, the bulk of the fully grown mother cougar blocking her view of the stranger. With a huff of breath, Leotie stands up herself, and takes a place firmly behind one of Mythri's back paws, peeking out at the stranger.
There's a reason Ruya left so much space between herself and the other female. She's been a mother herself, after all, and she knows how fiercely protective instinct can be. As far as identification goes, Ruya gives off mixed signals; the marking on her flank is a trio of wavy blue lines rather than the typical red of the Amaranth, but she has recently taken the traditional shamaness' marking on her forehead as well. Her turquoise eyes remain locked on the other mother's intense gaze - though only as a means of reaffirming her presence, not in way of a threat. "Greetings, Sister. I am Ruya. Granddaughter of Paoro." Perhaps that will serve as identification purposes, though it's entirely possible this young female is not familiar with Amaranth's first matron.
Her daughter is given the barest of attention; just enough to be aware of her presence and location, but not enough to let the girl distract her from dealing with this approaching feline. Her tail briefly brushes across Leotie, reassuring, but then she takes a step forward, challenging. When she hears the introduction given, the only relaxation is internal. Outwardly, she gives a single, brief nod. "And I am Mythri, daughter of Revan." With some of the denizens of this mountain, such an introduction on her part has led to raised eyebrows, if not outright horror or disdain. Such a reaction hardly bothers her, but she does quirk an eyebrow, waiting to see the other's response to her own name and heritage.
The interaction between the two adults is a bit puzzling to Leotie, but she's gathered enough information to know that they're just introducing themselves.. right? Feeling the brush of her mother's tail against her back, the little cub takes a few timid steps to the side away from the safety of the pillar of her mother's arm, and swishes her own tail behind her. "I'm Leotie!" She calls out, then immediately ducks back to the safety of her mother's arm.
Ruya remains neutral at the returned introduction, having no associations to tag onto the offered name. Having been born beyond the mountain, she grew up mostly detached from what became of Amaranth's history, beyond what her father had told her, and the chieftain has not deigned to share that particular name in what little information he has shared with her thus far. The tension of the moment is broken, as is often the case, by the interruption of a child, and Ruya's cerulean eyes shift down to the halfway-hidden cougar cub, offering the girl a friendly smile. "Well, hello there, Leotie. Are you one of Arroyo's friends? I'm her grandmother." Further information, which may allow Mythri to determine more about the relatively unfamiliar cougaress.
No reaction at all. Interesting. Either this Ruya is uninformed, or is trying to be diplomatic. And as the other adult greets her daughter, Mythri is inclined to believe the latter is more accurate. "My daughter's social development is progressing just fine." In other words, none of your business. Still, it might not be a bad idea to have her cubs spend a little more time with the other youngsters of the tribe. It would give them some good perspective, and if they have been even remotely paying attention to what she's been trying to teach them, they might see it as an opportunity for competition. A venue to demonstrate what they've learned. Hmm. "Are you just here to satisfy your curiosity?" Mythri asks, wondering if the chieftain sent her. This particular area isn't the most remote on the mountain, but seldom do any of the other tribal sisters just wander through without any inherent purpose in their pawsteps.
The other cub's name passes by Leotie practically unnoticed. No, Leotie hasn't formally met the other cubs of the tribe just yet, but she was still young, and her mother was doing right by keeping her safe within her sight. But now, Ruya has tapped into that childlike curiosity that all cubs possess eventually. Shaking her head, she looks up at Mythri as she answers the question for the cub, and eventually practically shoves her forehead into the backside of Mythri's forearm, demanding momentary attention. The stern face she shifts her features into is nothing short of comical, though it's clear the cub intends to be taken seriously. "Where are other cubs?" She asks, her voice's pitch little more than a squeak compared to the grown females'.
Still smiling down at little Leotie, Ruya's blue-green orbs swivel to meet Mythri's in an even gaze, her head remaining otherwise still. "I was asking the girl," she clarifies in a tone that carries just the slightest edge, to combat the other female's own curt intonation, "and I'd like to hear her answer." She's interested indeed, especially when she hears the juvenile's response. A brow lifts, both curiously and expectantly, to accentuate her lingering stare-down with the slightly younger cougaress. She says nothing further for the meantime, simply awaiting the other's answer to the cub's own question.
A slight inclination of her head back to where she can see her daughter with one dark blue-rimmed eye. "They are elsewhere on the mountain, and when the time is right, you will get to meet them." There's a firm undertone of finality to her words. The timing is /her/ decision, not Leotie's, and certainly not that of this other adult. "Anything else you'd like to hear?" she asks, turning her glance back toward Ruya. There's the faintest chill in her voice, as she's trying--for her daughter's sake, if nothing else--to not be annoyed by the other adult.
Ruya continues to stand silently still for several moments after Mythri speaks again, the apparent consideration on her expression perhaps making it a bit too obvious that she's mentally judging the other female by both her words and actions. "Hmm. You must have been an only child. I am sorry that you did not have others to play with as a cub...but you should not deny your own children that privilege as well," Ruya states, perhaps in an overly meddlesome manner, even for a middle-aged female. Briefly pondering the other cougar's question, she finally responds: "Perhaps I'd like to know how you are affiliated with the Amaranth, as you do not bear the marking I have seen on others of the tribe."
Mythri is taken aback. Perhaps not diplomacy after all; this other cougaress is definitely not at all familiar with who she is. Others to play with as a cub? Mythri doesn't try to hide the pride in her voice. "I would have been far too busy training to play with others while I was growing up, regardless." Her tail lashes behind her. "Rest assured that my cubs will have every privilege they need to become strong cougars." More than any other cubs here on the mountain, though Mythri isn't going to say that much out loud. She may not have much tact, but she's not completely antisocial. "And while I may not have the Amaranth markings, these cubs were fathered by Cael, and I have the chieftain's permission to raise them here."
Leotie isn't really sure what to do or say at the moment. Mother wasn't in the best mood it would seem, given her tense disposition. Though the other adult was nice enough, that didn't mean that the cub was naive enough to just wander up and make friends that easily either. Not to mention Mythri wouldn't appreciate that gesture in the least. For now, the cub remains where she is, if a bit more content with the nature of the conversation now that she's sort of understood where it's going.
Ruya's arched brow raises another notch at Mythri's response to her assessment. "Training? As a cub?" She can't help but chuckle at that notion, though it's more incredulous than mean-spirited. "I can only imagine -- or perhaps, hope -- that by 'training' you mean climbing trees and chasing butterflies. You're only a cub once, after all," the shamaness muses in a casually sagacious manner. She lifts a forepaw in a brief wave, dismissing the other answer as soon as it's been heard. "Well, if you have the chieftain's permission, then far be it from me to go against his wishes." It would seem that Ruya has already had the 'pleasure' of becoming acquainted with Chieftain Kein.
"Climbing trees, yes." There's a hint of grim humor in Mythri's response. "When I wasn't learning how to hunt and kill. Among other things." Chasing butterflies? She chased a lot of things, and the chasing was just the beginning. She doesn't waste her breath replying to the other adult's casual acceptance of her presence here. Even if Mythri didn't have the chieftain's permission to be here, she didn't need Ruya's acceptance or rejection, either way. Her decisions were her own, not another's. Getting approval from Kein to raise her cubs on the mountain was simply a means to facilitate what she had already decided to do. Her tail briefly brushes against her daughter again; she has not forgotten the young girl still standing there, no doubt listening for all she's worth.
Ruya's amusement fades away once more at the other female's curt reply. Her common sense wants to believe that Mythri is merely exaggerating her cubhood antics (or lack thereof), but upon further introspection she comes to realize that, were such a harsh environment a factual background for the other cougaress, it would certainly explain her behavior and mentality. "Hmm." She shifts her weight, perhaps subtly adjusting into a slightly less aggressive stance. "Climbing, hunting, killing...these are all certainly things a cougar must learn in life...at a certain time. Playing, learning, loving...these are also things a cougar should experience." The self-titled shamaness holds Mythri's gaze for a moment of silence before continuing. "Do not deny your children -- or yourself -- the full experience of life, Mythri."
Mythri narrows her eyes. "While I appreciate the advice--" Sardonic much? "--perhaps you missed it when I said earlier that my cubs will grow up to be as strong of cougars as is possible. They will experience everything they need to, rest assured." Another tailbrush at Leotie; perhaps the words are meant more for her, to reassure and to excite. Now if this blathering fount of wisdom will just leave, Mythri can get back to the more important things in her life. She can almost feel the impatience emanating from her daughter. No doubt in the form of questions, but after they've talked then perhaps a short foray into the surrounding mountainside. Or, perhaps both at the same time. Walking and talking go well together. Usually.
Staring uncertainly at first at Ruya, and then back at Mythri, Leotie remains silent as usual. There isn't much for her to say at the moment, but close examination of the girl's expression would show that she did look a little miffed. Weren't there more important things to do? Like.. go for a walk? Play? Eat? Not stand around and have some weird conversation with an equally weird stranger. Poking her head out from between both of Mythri's forearms, the cub squeezes her way out in order to grab the mother cougar's attention, and sticks her nose out just a bit at the shamaness. "Can we go now?" Leotie asked her mother in a whiney tone of voice, the brat in her becoming apparent suddenly. Go where, though? Leotie wasn't even sure. Anywhere!
Ruya's maw is set in a grim expression, clearly not pleased with the other female's response. However, as much as she'd like to poke her nose around in this unusual business (where Mythri is obviously convinced it doesn't belong), she can't go about telling other mothers how to raise their cubs...and besides, she's got her own grandcubs to worry about. Her gaze flits down to the juvenile as she pushes her way out from between Mythri's legs, though she's unable to summon even the slightest smile at the otherwise adorable action with so much else on her mind. "Hmm." With that, Ruya turns away without another word and heads back towards the east, towards the rest of the tribe.
Mythri, female cougar
Leotie, juvenile female cougar
Ruya, female cougar
=== Wildflower Drop ===
If Mythri could ever have something as frivolous or trivial as a favorite time of the year, it would be fairly close to now. Decent hunting, and weather that's neither sweltering nor freezing cold. At present, however, she's more concerned with her cubs than with the change of the seasons. They're keenly aware, which is good. They're learning, which is better. They're constantly talking and asking questions, which is... She's more concerned about their rather unchecked mobility, and knowing how strong the desire to explore is for each of them, there's the constant anxiety about one or more of them wandering off. It is highly unlikely that she will ever feel truly safe and unthreatened in Amaranth, and as such is determined to do her best to keep her cubs in a close proximity. Exploration will come eventually, but not until she's satisfied that each of them understands the constraints and responsibilities associated with such an undertaking. She's considered moving them from their home amongst the flowers, but each time such a deliberation comes up, there always seems to be better reasoning for staying put. And thus, she remains, doing her best to help each of her cubs survive yet another day.
Significantly less anxious than her mother is Leotie, laying about lazily in the flowers of the drop. Already the strong heat of summer is fading, but with her still rather fluffy coat, the juvenile isn't about to complain about such things. Waking from a short nap with a wide-mouthed yawn, the young cougaress rolls to her stomach and stretches herself out slowly, nothing in particular on her mind. Maybe she'll run around? Cause some mischief, as cubs her age are likely to do. Maybe not? She's not entirely sure at the moment. What she is sure of though, is that she's comfortable there on the ground. With a slump, the cub lays back down, though she's attentive enough not to go back to sleep.
Ruya is the most recent immigrant to the Amaranth lands -- well, aside from the cubs born into it not long after her arrival -- and despite the fact that she has been here for a number of moons already, she is still acquainting herself with the many members of the extended tribe. Perhaps somewhat due to her own fault, as she's been mostly keeping to the company of her daughter and new grandcubs, but in no small part also a result of the wandering paths that several sisters choose to take across the widespread tribal lands. Even so, she feels it's her duty as the new (and admittedly, self-proclaimed) shamaness to make the effort to meet some of those with which she has not already the chance. She had heard of one other new mother in the lands, and had even seen a couple of her cubs playing with her own grandchildren, but had yet to meet the solitary female herself. Wandering towards the southwestern edge of Amaranth's mountaintop range, she soon finds herself padding among the last floral remnants of summer; it's not hard to spot the other cougaress on the flat horizon, and Ruya stops a considerable distance away, merely watching quietly until she is acknowledged.
Her father always taught her that fear was never to be viewed as an enemy, but rather as a catalyst. Fear, if properly controlled, could be used to energize, rather than paralyze. Mythri wouldn't have labeled her concern for her cubs as /fear/, necessarily, but she's tried hard to utilize it in much the same way. An ear twitches at the faint sound of movement. With a yawn of her own, Mythri lifts her head from where she's presently flopped down, giving her daughter an appraising glance. The young girl looks rested, bored, and probably hungry. But before Mythri can progress further down that line of thought, she suddenly notices the subtle movement of someone approaching. Smoothly, and without any hesitation, Mythri rises to her paws, taking two steps to put herself between this newcomer and Leotie and her two siblings. It's hard to tell from this distance who the other adult is; some of the other mountain inhabitants are easy to recognize, and others.. not so much. Especially the ones that she hasn't made an effort to get to know all that well.
As far as fear goes, Leotie wouldn't know the feeling. Not in it's definitive form, at least. For the entire time she's been roaming around what little acreage she's been able to move around on, Mythri has been there to protect her. So the newcomer doesn't scare the girl in the least. Instead, her ears perk up and she finds herself staring at the other adult. Not rudely, but curiously. This is before her mother stands up however, the bulk of the fully grown mother cougar blocking her view of the stranger. With a huff of breath, Leotie stands up herself, and takes a place firmly behind one of Mythri's back paws, peeking out at the stranger.
There's a reason Ruya left so much space between herself and the other female. She's been a mother herself, after all, and she knows how fiercely protective instinct can be. As far as identification goes, Ruya gives off mixed signals; the marking on her flank is a trio of wavy blue lines rather than the typical red of the Amaranth, but she has recently taken the traditional shamaness' marking on her forehead as well. Her turquoise eyes remain locked on the other mother's intense gaze - though only as a means of reaffirming her presence, not in way of a threat. "Greetings, Sister. I am Ruya. Granddaughter of Paoro." Perhaps that will serve as identification purposes, though it's entirely possible this young female is not familiar with Amaranth's first matron.
Her daughter is given the barest of attention; just enough to be aware of her presence and location, but not enough to let the girl distract her from dealing with this approaching feline. Her tail briefly brushes across Leotie, reassuring, but then she takes a step forward, challenging. When she hears the introduction given, the only relaxation is internal. Outwardly, she gives a single, brief nod. "And I am Mythri, daughter of Revan." With some of the denizens of this mountain, such an introduction on her part has led to raised eyebrows, if not outright horror or disdain. Such a reaction hardly bothers her, but she does quirk an eyebrow, waiting to see the other's response to her own name and heritage.
The interaction between the two adults is a bit puzzling to Leotie, but she's gathered enough information to know that they're just introducing themselves.. right? Feeling the brush of her mother's tail against her back, the little cub takes a few timid steps to the side away from the safety of the pillar of her mother's arm, and swishes her own tail behind her. "I'm Leotie!" She calls out, then immediately ducks back to the safety of her mother's arm.
Ruya remains neutral at the returned introduction, having no associations to tag onto the offered name. Having been born beyond the mountain, she grew up mostly detached from what became of Amaranth's history, beyond what her father had told her, and the chieftain has not deigned to share that particular name in what little information he has shared with her thus far. The tension of the moment is broken, as is often the case, by the interruption of a child, and Ruya's cerulean eyes shift down to the halfway-hidden cougar cub, offering the girl a friendly smile. "Well, hello there, Leotie. Are you one of Arroyo's friends? I'm her grandmother." Further information, which may allow Mythri to determine more about the relatively unfamiliar cougaress.
No reaction at all. Interesting. Either this Ruya is uninformed, or is trying to be diplomatic. And as the other adult greets her daughter, Mythri is inclined to believe the latter is more accurate. "My daughter's social development is progressing just fine." In other words, none of your business. Still, it might not be a bad idea to have her cubs spend a little more time with the other youngsters of the tribe. It would give them some good perspective, and if they have been even remotely paying attention to what she's been trying to teach them, they might see it as an opportunity for competition. A venue to demonstrate what they've learned. Hmm. "Are you just here to satisfy your curiosity?" Mythri asks, wondering if the chieftain sent her. This particular area isn't the most remote on the mountain, but seldom do any of the other tribal sisters just wander through without any inherent purpose in their pawsteps.
The other cub's name passes by Leotie practically unnoticed. No, Leotie hasn't formally met the other cubs of the tribe just yet, but she was still young, and her mother was doing right by keeping her safe within her sight. But now, Ruya has tapped into that childlike curiosity that all cubs possess eventually. Shaking her head, she looks up at Mythri as she answers the question for the cub, and eventually practically shoves her forehead into the backside of Mythri's forearm, demanding momentary attention. The stern face she shifts her features into is nothing short of comical, though it's clear the cub intends to be taken seriously. "Where are other cubs?" She asks, her voice's pitch little more than a squeak compared to the grown females'.
Still smiling down at little Leotie, Ruya's blue-green orbs swivel to meet Mythri's in an even gaze, her head remaining otherwise still. "I was asking the girl," she clarifies in a tone that carries just the slightest edge, to combat the other female's own curt intonation, "and I'd like to hear her answer." She's interested indeed, especially when she hears the juvenile's response. A brow lifts, both curiously and expectantly, to accentuate her lingering stare-down with the slightly younger cougaress. She says nothing further for the meantime, simply awaiting the other's answer to the cub's own question.
A slight inclination of her head back to where she can see her daughter with one dark blue-rimmed eye. "They are elsewhere on the mountain, and when the time is right, you will get to meet them." There's a firm undertone of finality to her words. The timing is /her/ decision, not Leotie's, and certainly not that of this other adult. "Anything else you'd like to hear?" she asks, turning her glance back toward Ruya. There's the faintest chill in her voice, as she's trying--for her daughter's sake, if nothing else--to not be annoyed by the other adult.
Ruya continues to stand silently still for several moments after Mythri speaks again, the apparent consideration on her expression perhaps making it a bit too obvious that she's mentally judging the other female by both her words and actions. "Hmm. You must have been an only child. I am sorry that you did not have others to play with as a cub...but you should not deny your own children that privilege as well," Ruya states, perhaps in an overly meddlesome manner, even for a middle-aged female. Briefly pondering the other cougar's question, she finally responds: "Perhaps I'd like to know how you are affiliated with the Amaranth, as you do not bear the marking I have seen on others of the tribe."
Mythri is taken aback. Perhaps not diplomacy after all; this other cougaress is definitely not at all familiar with who she is. Others to play with as a cub? Mythri doesn't try to hide the pride in her voice. "I would have been far too busy training to play with others while I was growing up, regardless." Her tail lashes behind her. "Rest assured that my cubs will have every privilege they need to become strong cougars." More than any other cubs here on the mountain, though Mythri isn't going to say that much out loud. She may not have much tact, but she's not completely antisocial. "And while I may not have the Amaranth markings, these cubs were fathered by Cael, and I have the chieftain's permission to raise them here."
Leotie isn't really sure what to do or say at the moment. Mother wasn't in the best mood it would seem, given her tense disposition. Though the other adult was nice enough, that didn't mean that the cub was naive enough to just wander up and make friends that easily either. Not to mention Mythri wouldn't appreciate that gesture in the least. For now, the cub remains where she is, if a bit more content with the nature of the conversation now that she's sort of understood where it's going.
Ruya's arched brow raises another notch at Mythri's response to her assessment. "Training? As a cub?" She can't help but chuckle at that notion, though it's more incredulous than mean-spirited. "I can only imagine -- or perhaps, hope -- that by 'training' you mean climbing trees and chasing butterflies. You're only a cub once, after all," the shamaness muses in a casually sagacious manner. She lifts a forepaw in a brief wave, dismissing the other answer as soon as it's been heard. "Well, if you have the chieftain's permission, then far be it from me to go against his wishes." It would seem that Ruya has already had the 'pleasure' of becoming acquainted with Chieftain Kein.
"Climbing trees, yes." There's a hint of grim humor in Mythri's response. "When I wasn't learning how to hunt and kill. Among other things." Chasing butterflies? She chased a lot of things, and the chasing was just the beginning. She doesn't waste her breath replying to the other adult's casual acceptance of her presence here. Even if Mythri didn't have the chieftain's permission to be here, she didn't need Ruya's acceptance or rejection, either way. Her decisions were her own, not another's. Getting approval from Kein to raise her cubs on the mountain was simply a means to facilitate what she had already decided to do. Her tail briefly brushes against her daughter again; she has not forgotten the young girl still standing there, no doubt listening for all she's worth.
Ruya's amusement fades away once more at the other female's curt reply. Her common sense wants to believe that Mythri is merely exaggerating her cubhood antics (or lack thereof), but upon further introspection she comes to realize that, were such a harsh environment a factual background for the other cougaress, it would certainly explain her behavior and mentality. "Hmm." She shifts her weight, perhaps subtly adjusting into a slightly less aggressive stance. "Climbing, hunting, killing...these are all certainly things a cougar must learn in life...at a certain time. Playing, learning, loving...these are also things a cougar should experience." The self-titled shamaness holds Mythri's gaze for a moment of silence before continuing. "Do not deny your children -- or yourself -- the full experience of life, Mythri."
Mythri narrows her eyes. "While I appreciate the advice--" Sardonic much? "--perhaps you missed it when I said earlier that my cubs will grow up to be as strong of cougars as is possible. They will experience everything they need to, rest assured." Another tailbrush at Leotie; perhaps the words are meant more for her, to reassure and to excite. Now if this blathering fount of wisdom will just leave, Mythri can get back to the more important things in her life. She can almost feel the impatience emanating from her daughter. No doubt in the form of questions, but after they've talked then perhaps a short foray into the surrounding mountainside. Or, perhaps both at the same time. Walking and talking go well together. Usually.
Staring uncertainly at first at Ruya, and then back at Mythri, Leotie remains silent as usual. There isn't much for her to say at the moment, but close examination of the girl's expression would show that she did look a little miffed. Weren't there more important things to do? Like.. go for a walk? Play? Eat? Not stand around and have some weird conversation with an equally weird stranger. Poking her head out from between both of Mythri's forearms, the cub squeezes her way out in order to grab the mother cougar's attention, and sticks her nose out just a bit at the shamaness. "Can we go now?" Leotie asked her mother in a whiney tone of voice, the brat in her becoming apparent suddenly. Go where, though? Leotie wasn't even sure. Anywhere!
Ruya's maw is set in a grim expression, clearly not pleased with the other female's response. However, as much as she'd like to poke her nose around in this unusual business (where Mythri is obviously convinced it doesn't belong), she can't go about telling other mothers how to raise their cubs...and besides, she's got her own grandcubs to worry about. Her gaze flits down to the juvenile as she pushes her way out from between Mythri's legs, though she's unable to summon even the slightest smile at the otherwise adorable action with so much else on her mind. "Hmm." With that, Ruya turns away without another word and heads back towards the east, towards the rest of the tribe.