Post by yoki on Apr 5, 2008 16:34:49 GMT -5
Wooded Terrain
Oh man. This is a /bad/ idea. Last time Pel wandered too far from his mother, he was picked up by a stranger and interrogated. The experience has left him a little reluctant to stray too far, but today is a good day. The mid-day sun is bright and encouraging, lighting up all the normally scary shadowy places. The cub feels a rare sense of adventure and confidence and decides to make the best of it. Besides, the rocks are starting to get boring. It wasn't very hard to quietly sneak off-- Kein's method has merit. The second born lopes toward the woods, alert for danger and eyes dancing with curiosity.
In the distance there is another figure a hare by the name of Yoki to be precise sniffing at the air and winkling her nose totally aware off her surroundings. She does not spot the cub yet, but she does pick up some scents. It took the rabbit some time to get the courage to come this far in the area to look for some one hoping the rabbit does not become a meal in the process. "He-hello?" She calls out in a scared voice hoping to hear a rsponse or at least scare off any predators that might be near by.
Pelutho freezes at the unexpected noise. Is it that bird again? Is it his mother? No, it's a different, unfamiliar voice. Ears pinning for a moment, the boy considers running back to the stones. Then again, the voice sounded kind of...scared. Surely something worth being terrified of wouldn't sound scared, right? Right. After a moment's hesitation, he calls back, "Hellooo?" His fear is quickly dominated by wonder: who else is exploring the woods today? Cautiously, the cougar takes a few steps toward the voice.
The stranger to the area Yoki lets out a soft sigh apparently her calling out was not a good idea she freezes in fear for a moment waiting to see who it is that's coming in her direction. The voice did sound like it was close. "Wh-who a-ar-are you?" Her voice breaks sounding even more scared than before... she starts to get herself ready to take off at any moment which is her nature to take off everytime she's frightened not familliar with the cub either to her it is probably one of the many predators wanting to turn her into a meal.
There! The owner of the voice is in sight now. She seems to be roughly the same size, but those ears! The boy's jaw drops at the sight. He is almost to awestruck to answer, "Pel. Um, you?" Woah. Eyes glued to her ears, he continues toward her. Pel approaches slowly, more curious than ever, but just as ready to bolt if this...creature tries anything.
Yoki blinks her eyes when she spots the cub before she starts to shiver in fear. "I-I-I a-am Y-yoki." She answers the question. "Y-you ha-have not se-seen another hare like me a-around." She *gulps* "Ha-have you?"
Chesmu is always vigilent in Maulisho's personal requests. So far be it from him to be unaware of Pelutho wandering ff. Which surprises the Chieftain. Pelutho has always been a more quiet reserved cub. Not one to always wander off Like Kein (Who had learned his lesson after the wolf incedent.) So Chesmu begins to walk very quietly up to pelutho. Very quietly.
Hare? Hair? Yoki is a hair? Pel frowns, trying to think. After a long moment, he shakeshakes his head vigorously. "Nooope. Just you." He is staring, he knows, but she is fascinating. And her hind legs. Wow. "You don't gotta be scared," he assures, noticing her shudders and stammers. The chief is too stealthy to be noticed, for now. All the cub's attention is on the strange individual before him.
Yoki moves her ears a little not noticing the chieftain being distracted by the cub. "Ye-yes I do. I need to be scared all the time." She tries to explain to Pelutho, "You do not understand." The hare adds. Not knowing rather or not she should try to explain to the cub she is a prey animal and his kind and other predators eat her kind.
Chesmu is now directly behind Pelutho. He thinks of something appropriate to say. After a while, Chesmu says. "And what are you doing this far out, Pelutho?" Chesmu says. "You realize that your own mother wouldn't be happy to see you out here?"
Pelutho shrieks and jumps at the sound of Chesmu's voice. Whirling about to face the older male, he tries to control his heart rate. "I, I, I was just, um, exploring." Peering fearfully upward, he trembles ever so slightly. Lip quivering for a moment, he blurts hysterically, "Don't tell Mom! I'm not as bad as Kein! I'll never do it again! I'm sorry! Please don't tell Mom!" He /knew/ this was a bad idea! This is what he gets for trying to be like Kein.
Yoki shivers even more when she hears and spots the bigger cougar. The hare does not say anything instead she quickly turns around and starts to hop off hoping that the chieftain Chesmu does not notice her and she gets away letting her instincts kick in.
Chesmu looks down at Pelutho. "I would have expected this sort of behavior from Kein. Not from you, Pelutho." Chesmu says. "I am afraid I must tell your mother about this. The last time your brother wandered off he was snatched by a wolf and I had to chase him down to get him back! Don't you understand why I am doing this?"
Tears leap into Pel's eyes and it isn't long before they're pouring down his muzzle. He is a disappointment. What if Mom doesn't want him anymore, because he's too much trouble? "I-It's just that Kein m-made it seem like s-s-so much fun and I w-wasn't goin' to go very far-" Anything else he might add is lost in a wave of sobs. Hiccuping, he replies, "I kn-know you're just doin' it to make sure we stay safe." Sniffle. The cub's crying dwindles and after a moment, he is silent, head hung in shame. A couple stubborn tears slide off his nose and hit the dirt.
Yoki lets out a soft sigh feeling bad for the cub she stops and turns back swalloing again making a *gulping noise* The hare's still scared but feels like she needs to try and help out. "I-it is not fun. Y-you can get yourself hurt or worse." The rabbit tries to help out. "I know from first hand experience how dangerous it can be to go off on your own and how bad things can get." The rabbit then pauses for a moment trying to think off the cub's name and when she remembers it the female adds. "Pel."
Chesmu nuzzles Pelutho. "Listen, Pelutho. One of these days I'm not gonna be here. Your father won't be either. At that point you'll have to think about what you want to do with your life. But for now, you are a cub. Meant to be protected. What if that wasn't a hare? What if it was something hungry... and I wasn't here?"
Ears flicking, Pel realizes the hare - Yoki- has just spoken, from a safe distance of course. They're both right and the cub knows it. Nodding slightly, he looks miserable. "Uh huh," he agrees quietly, sniffling. "I was gonna come right back, Chesmu, honest!" Pawing at the dirt for a moment, he clears his throat and asks, "D'you think Mom'll be mad? I was just gonna make friends with Yoki, that's all!"
Chesmu looks down at Pelutho. "Look. Intending to come back and coming back aren't always the same thing." Chesmu says. "You need to stay safe. Its okay to make friends. Honestly it is. But... you shouldn't wander off until you're at least old enough to fight for yourself."
Yoki feels bad for the cub and moves her ears suddenly when the hare hears him say that he wants to make friends with her. The hare suddenly looks shocked. She is so used to cougars and predators looking at her as food she's even been called food right to her face on occasion so she's used to that. When predators talk about making friends with her/preys kind then that's something the rabbit could never quite adjust too. "I-I do not know if that will work out us being friends that is."
Pelutho looks over his shoulder at Yoki. It wouldn't work out being friends? Looking confused, he replies, "But Chesmu said it was ok." So that makes it ok, right? Turning back to face the chieftain, the cub asks, "But what if I just walked a little ways to make friends, would that be ok? Not wandering off, exactly...just walking a little to meet new people." He can't see anything wrong with that. Making friends is good! As an afterthought, he adds, "And if I told you I was goin', or somethin'?"
Chesmu looks down at Pelutho. "If you take an adult with you, I would imagine that would be more workable, Pelutho. The idea is to not go alone, to go with an adult, if you can convince one."
Yoki looks over towards Pelutho appearing to be a little nervouse, "It is ok to make friends. The reason, I said. I do not know if it will work out is your kind eats mine. You or your family might want to or even actually try to eat me if they get hungry." She tries to explain trying to keep it as close to being club friendly as possible. "That was why I've been scared when you showed up."
Pelutho frowns. Mom and Dad will be too busy keeping Kein out of trouble to take him anywhere. The only other choice is Chesmu, and he has chief duties to attend to, like rounding up wandering cubs. Luckily, Yoki gives him a chance to avoid answering Chesmu. Spinning to look at the hare, he replies, "I wouldn't eatcha! Promise! And I'd tell my family what you look like, and that you're my friend, and they wouldn't eatcha either." That's what friends are for, right?
Yoki moves her ears a little and sighs keeping her attention on the cub, "I do not know how your family will react to be honest." She says then looks down at the ground. "To some I am food. I know and come to accept it even though, I do not like it. I've even been told I am food by some of those who wanted to eat me. That is how things are." Then waits to see how the cub handles it, the rabbit really does feel bad about telling him this she did not want to hurt or upset the poor and cute cub but feels he has to know why she's been so scared off him.
Pel doesn't know how they'll react, either. THe boy is also struggling to comprehend the thought of being eaten. Well, that /does/ explain why she was so skittish. He feels a wave of sadness at the thought of someone eating his new friend. Anxiously turning to Chesmu, he asks, "Could you make a rule to not eat friends?" Chiefs can do that, right? Then Yoki could hang around here and not get eaten by anoyone and then she won't be so scared!
Yoki slowly backs away appearing to be even more nervouse than before keeping her attention on Pelutho then turns to face Chesmu. Not knowing what to say at the moment hoping that the chieftain will step in and help her out with some of the explaining or answer some off the questions.
Chesmu looks at the hare... then down at Pelutho. He wishes he could, but it is an unfortunate truth that the hare *is* food. "I am sorry, Pelutho, but your hare is right." Chesmu says. "I can't really make a rule protecting your friend."
Fresh tears leak from his eyes, first with sadness at being refused and then they turn to hot, angry tears. "But, Chesmu! How am I supposed t'make friends if they keep getting eated! It's not fair. Kein gets to make friends and /they/ don't hafta get eated, but when /I/ try to make a friend-!" Pel chokes down a sob. What he fails to mention, however, is that Kein's friend is Nayeli, a cougar. That doesn't matter to the boy. A friend is a friend.
Yoki winces a little when fresh tears starts to come from Pelutho which makes her feel bad for what she said. That was not her intention to upset the cub, "M-maybe I should go." She says. Then slowly starts to turn around giving Chesmu some time to stop her if he choses to do so. The hare really does feel terrible about the whole situation.
Chesmu looks over at Yoki. "I do apologize for this. But I imagine you understand. I cannot turn away the way things are." Chesmu leans down and noses Pelutho. "No one is about to eat another cougar in Amaranth. Kein is friends with Nayeli. No one eats Nayeli." Chesmu leans forward and nudges Pelutho toward home.
Sniffling, he asks, "I can only make friends with cougars?" But there are so many other things out there! Birds and hares and stuff! Ears flattening, he looks one last time at Yoki. "I'm sorry we can't be friends, cause I'd really like to be," he mumbles. Slowly and quietly, except for a couple more snuffles, the boy reluctantly starts back toward the stones.
Yoki frowns a little, "I do understand." She calls out to Chesmu. Then lets out a soft sigh, "I am sorry too Pel. I would like to be friends with you too." Then turns away and her own tears starts to come down her face not wanting any one to see and thinks to herself. 'Frith why do you always have to make these things so hard on me?'
Oh man. This is a /bad/ idea. Last time Pel wandered too far from his mother, he was picked up by a stranger and interrogated. The experience has left him a little reluctant to stray too far, but today is a good day. The mid-day sun is bright and encouraging, lighting up all the normally scary shadowy places. The cub feels a rare sense of adventure and confidence and decides to make the best of it. Besides, the rocks are starting to get boring. It wasn't very hard to quietly sneak off-- Kein's method has merit. The second born lopes toward the woods, alert for danger and eyes dancing with curiosity.
In the distance there is another figure a hare by the name of Yoki to be precise sniffing at the air and winkling her nose totally aware off her surroundings. She does not spot the cub yet, but she does pick up some scents. It took the rabbit some time to get the courage to come this far in the area to look for some one hoping the rabbit does not become a meal in the process. "He-hello?" She calls out in a scared voice hoping to hear a rsponse or at least scare off any predators that might be near by.
Pelutho freezes at the unexpected noise. Is it that bird again? Is it his mother? No, it's a different, unfamiliar voice. Ears pinning for a moment, the boy considers running back to the stones. Then again, the voice sounded kind of...scared. Surely something worth being terrified of wouldn't sound scared, right? Right. After a moment's hesitation, he calls back, "Hellooo?" His fear is quickly dominated by wonder: who else is exploring the woods today? Cautiously, the cougar takes a few steps toward the voice.
The stranger to the area Yoki lets out a soft sigh apparently her calling out was not a good idea she freezes in fear for a moment waiting to see who it is that's coming in her direction. The voice did sound like it was close. "Wh-who a-ar-are you?" Her voice breaks sounding even more scared than before... she starts to get herself ready to take off at any moment which is her nature to take off everytime she's frightened not familliar with the cub either to her it is probably one of the many predators wanting to turn her into a meal.
There! The owner of the voice is in sight now. She seems to be roughly the same size, but those ears! The boy's jaw drops at the sight. He is almost to awestruck to answer, "Pel. Um, you?" Woah. Eyes glued to her ears, he continues toward her. Pel approaches slowly, more curious than ever, but just as ready to bolt if this...creature tries anything.
Yoki blinks her eyes when she spots the cub before she starts to shiver in fear. "I-I-I a-am Y-yoki." She answers the question. "Y-you ha-have not se-seen another hare like me a-around." She *gulps* "Ha-have you?"
Chesmu is always vigilent in Maulisho's personal requests. So far be it from him to be unaware of Pelutho wandering ff. Which surprises the Chieftain. Pelutho has always been a more quiet reserved cub. Not one to always wander off Like Kein (Who had learned his lesson after the wolf incedent.) So Chesmu begins to walk very quietly up to pelutho. Very quietly.
Hare? Hair? Yoki is a hair? Pel frowns, trying to think. After a long moment, he shakeshakes his head vigorously. "Nooope. Just you." He is staring, he knows, but she is fascinating. And her hind legs. Wow. "You don't gotta be scared," he assures, noticing her shudders and stammers. The chief is too stealthy to be noticed, for now. All the cub's attention is on the strange individual before him.
Yoki moves her ears a little not noticing the chieftain being distracted by the cub. "Ye-yes I do. I need to be scared all the time." She tries to explain to Pelutho, "You do not understand." The hare adds. Not knowing rather or not she should try to explain to the cub she is a prey animal and his kind and other predators eat her kind.
Chesmu is now directly behind Pelutho. He thinks of something appropriate to say. After a while, Chesmu says. "And what are you doing this far out, Pelutho?" Chesmu says. "You realize that your own mother wouldn't be happy to see you out here?"
Pelutho shrieks and jumps at the sound of Chesmu's voice. Whirling about to face the older male, he tries to control his heart rate. "I, I, I was just, um, exploring." Peering fearfully upward, he trembles ever so slightly. Lip quivering for a moment, he blurts hysterically, "Don't tell Mom! I'm not as bad as Kein! I'll never do it again! I'm sorry! Please don't tell Mom!" He /knew/ this was a bad idea! This is what he gets for trying to be like Kein.
Yoki shivers even more when she hears and spots the bigger cougar. The hare does not say anything instead she quickly turns around and starts to hop off hoping that the chieftain Chesmu does not notice her and she gets away letting her instincts kick in.
Chesmu looks down at Pelutho. "I would have expected this sort of behavior from Kein. Not from you, Pelutho." Chesmu says. "I am afraid I must tell your mother about this. The last time your brother wandered off he was snatched by a wolf and I had to chase him down to get him back! Don't you understand why I am doing this?"
Tears leap into Pel's eyes and it isn't long before they're pouring down his muzzle. He is a disappointment. What if Mom doesn't want him anymore, because he's too much trouble? "I-It's just that Kein m-made it seem like s-s-so much fun and I w-wasn't goin' to go very far-" Anything else he might add is lost in a wave of sobs. Hiccuping, he replies, "I kn-know you're just doin' it to make sure we stay safe." Sniffle. The cub's crying dwindles and after a moment, he is silent, head hung in shame. A couple stubborn tears slide off his nose and hit the dirt.
Yoki lets out a soft sigh feeling bad for the cub she stops and turns back swalloing again making a *gulping noise* The hare's still scared but feels like she needs to try and help out. "I-it is not fun. Y-you can get yourself hurt or worse." The rabbit tries to help out. "I know from first hand experience how dangerous it can be to go off on your own and how bad things can get." The rabbit then pauses for a moment trying to think off the cub's name and when she remembers it the female adds. "Pel."
Chesmu nuzzles Pelutho. "Listen, Pelutho. One of these days I'm not gonna be here. Your father won't be either. At that point you'll have to think about what you want to do with your life. But for now, you are a cub. Meant to be protected. What if that wasn't a hare? What if it was something hungry... and I wasn't here?"
Ears flicking, Pel realizes the hare - Yoki- has just spoken, from a safe distance of course. They're both right and the cub knows it. Nodding slightly, he looks miserable. "Uh huh," he agrees quietly, sniffling. "I was gonna come right back, Chesmu, honest!" Pawing at the dirt for a moment, he clears his throat and asks, "D'you think Mom'll be mad? I was just gonna make friends with Yoki, that's all!"
Chesmu looks down at Pelutho. "Look. Intending to come back and coming back aren't always the same thing." Chesmu says. "You need to stay safe. Its okay to make friends. Honestly it is. But... you shouldn't wander off until you're at least old enough to fight for yourself."
Yoki feels bad for the cub and moves her ears suddenly when the hare hears him say that he wants to make friends with her. The hare suddenly looks shocked. She is so used to cougars and predators looking at her as food she's even been called food right to her face on occasion so she's used to that. When predators talk about making friends with her/preys kind then that's something the rabbit could never quite adjust too. "I-I do not know if that will work out us being friends that is."
Pelutho looks over his shoulder at Yoki. It wouldn't work out being friends? Looking confused, he replies, "But Chesmu said it was ok." So that makes it ok, right? Turning back to face the chieftain, the cub asks, "But what if I just walked a little ways to make friends, would that be ok? Not wandering off, exactly...just walking a little to meet new people." He can't see anything wrong with that. Making friends is good! As an afterthought, he adds, "And if I told you I was goin', or somethin'?"
Chesmu looks down at Pelutho. "If you take an adult with you, I would imagine that would be more workable, Pelutho. The idea is to not go alone, to go with an adult, if you can convince one."
Yoki looks over towards Pelutho appearing to be a little nervouse, "It is ok to make friends. The reason, I said. I do not know if it will work out is your kind eats mine. You or your family might want to or even actually try to eat me if they get hungry." She tries to explain trying to keep it as close to being club friendly as possible. "That was why I've been scared when you showed up."
Pelutho frowns. Mom and Dad will be too busy keeping Kein out of trouble to take him anywhere. The only other choice is Chesmu, and he has chief duties to attend to, like rounding up wandering cubs. Luckily, Yoki gives him a chance to avoid answering Chesmu. Spinning to look at the hare, he replies, "I wouldn't eatcha! Promise! And I'd tell my family what you look like, and that you're my friend, and they wouldn't eatcha either." That's what friends are for, right?
Yoki moves her ears a little and sighs keeping her attention on the cub, "I do not know how your family will react to be honest." She says then looks down at the ground. "To some I am food. I know and come to accept it even though, I do not like it. I've even been told I am food by some of those who wanted to eat me. That is how things are." Then waits to see how the cub handles it, the rabbit really does feel bad about telling him this she did not want to hurt or upset the poor and cute cub but feels he has to know why she's been so scared off him.
Pel doesn't know how they'll react, either. THe boy is also struggling to comprehend the thought of being eaten. Well, that /does/ explain why she was so skittish. He feels a wave of sadness at the thought of someone eating his new friend. Anxiously turning to Chesmu, he asks, "Could you make a rule to not eat friends?" Chiefs can do that, right? Then Yoki could hang around here and not get eaten by anoyone and then she won't be so scared!
Yoki slowly backs away appearing to be even more nervouse than before keeping her attention on Pelutho then turns to face Chesmu. Not knowing what to say at the moment hoping that the chieftain will step in and help her out with some of the explaining or answer some off the questions.
Chesmu looks at the hare... then down at Pelutho. He wishes he could, but it is an unfortunate truth that the hare *is* food. "I am sorry, Pelutho, but your hare is right." Chesmu says. "I can't really make a rule protecting your friend."
Fresh tears leak from his eyes, first with sadness at being refused and then they turn to hot, angry tears. "But, Chesmu! How am I supposed t'make friends if they keep getting eated! It's not fair. Kein gets to make friends and /they/ don't hafta get eated, but when /I/ try to make a friend-!" Pel chokes down a sob. What he fails to mention, however, is that Kein's friend is Nayeli, a cougar. That doesn't matter to the boy. A friend is a friend.
Yoki winces a little when fresh tears starts to come from Pelutho which makes her feel bad for what she said. That was not her intention to upset the cub, "M-maybe I should go." She says. Then slowly starts to turn around giving Chesmu some time to stop her if he choses to do so. The hare really does feel terrible about the whole situation.
Chesmu looks over at Yoki. "I do apologize for this. But I imagine you understand. I cannot turn away the way things are." Chesmu leans down and noses Pelutho. "No one is about to eat another cougar in Amaranth. Kein is friends with Nayeli. No one eats Nayeli." Chesmu leans forward and nudges Pelutho toward home.
Sniffling, he asks, "I can only make friends with cougars?" But there are so many other things out there! Birds and hares and stuff! Ears flattening, he looks one last time at Yoki. "I'm sorry we can't be friends, cause I'd really like to be," he mumbles. Slowly and quietly, except for a couple more snuffles, the boy reluctantly starts back toward the stones.
Yoki frowns a little, "I do understand." She calls out to Chesmu. Then lets out a soft sigh, "I am sorry too Pel. I would like to be friends with you too." Then turns away and her own tears starts to come down her face not wanting any one to see and thinks to herself. 'Frith why do you always have to make these things so hard on me?'