Post by Therdde on Jul 14, 2011 18:02:38 GMT -5
Characters:
Maul - Female Cougar
Ruya - Female Cougar
- Stone Formations -
It is the first, and likely the only, time Maul has been or will be pregnant, but whether for stories she has heard from the other females of the tribe or for something else, parts of it feel very familiar, at least to the point where there is no doubt in her mind about her current state, and it is only a matter of time before others in the tribe recognize what the change in her scent and her slightly bulging belly means. In the heat of the day, Maul is merely resting from an as-of-yet unsuccessful hunt, making use of the shadows created by the rock formations.
Ruya has been in Amaranth lands for over a year now, and she's finding herself growing more restless as the seasons pass. The middle-aged cougaress absentmindedly wanders towards the secluded stones near the edge of tribal territory, and a brisk wind soon carries a vaguely familiar scent her way. The shamaness pro-tem continues forward, approaching the sun-warmed rocks and spotting one of the tribe's daughters laying among them. With a chirped greeting, she asks after the younger female: "How goes your summer this year?"
Though a solitary creature, even by their species' standards, Maul is sociable enough. Always has been. She looks in the direction of the approaching pawsteps, and though she seems cautious, once she recognizes Ruya, she relaxes again. She does, however, stand, more out of respect than anything else. "It is going well. And yours?" Simple small talk, at least on Maul's part, and she has gotten to be decent at it, over the years.
The other's body is mostly obscured by its prostrate position on the ground, so it isn't until Maul rises to all fours that Ruya recognizes the slight swell to her belly. "Congratulations, Maul. Does your family know yet?" the shamaness says simply, though her insight is more from natural experience as a two-time mother than it is anything spiritual. She's reminded once again of her own pair of children back home among the Ahyoka.
The congratulations brings a thin smile to Maul's muzzle. "I knew better than to think I could hide it for long. But no. No one else knows, yet. Thank you, Ruya." The female is, after all, happy to be having cubs, even if it is not news that she has been eager to spread.
"They're quite a joy. Having others around to help watch them is always nice, too," Ruya continues, her own expression reflecting the other female's genial smile. "I think I'd like to go see my younger two again soon...perhaps after your half-sister returns to take her rightful place. I'm not getting any younger, after all," the cougaress adds with a wry chuckle. Pausing to consider a thought, her blue-green eyes peer after the younger female for a brief moment. "You're a daughter of the last matron, are you not?" She only knows the immediate basics of the Amaranth's family tree, but she at least recalls much the Chieftain's line.
It is now your pose.
Maul does not respond to the question right away, simply because she finds herself absorbed by thought. When her gaze refocuses on the other female, she has to remind herself what was last said. "Huh? Ah, yes. Did you... were you ever here when my mother was here?" It is the current topic of conversation, so it seems an appropriate question to ask, instead of any of the half dozen others that flitted briefly through her mind.
Ruya shakes her head at the returned question. "No, I was not. But as one directly of the Great Mother's line...you have a right to the role I have taken, as well." It's not an outright request, but the subtle suggestion is there nonetheless. The older female has already mentioned her want to go back home, after all, which certainly suggests that the role is at risk of being vacated once more in the coming moons.
"Me?" Maul narrows her eyes in thought, but almost as soon as she does, her expression changes again as she finds herself unable to keep from laughing. It's an amusing thought, at least at first, and maybe, if she is lucky, she can simply blame her mood swings on the cubs currently growing within her, as almost as quickly as she went from thinking to laughing, she goes from laughing to sober. "You're not coming back after you go to check on your other children, are you? No... But me?" Nothing about the younger female suggests she is inherently opposed to taking the position, but rather that she feels others might be opposed to her taking the position, although she has no logical reason for believing so.
Ruya doesn't seem affected by Maul's laughter; she's one to find humor in unusual situations herself. "Not likely. It's home to me, after all," the cougaress answers simply, but honestly, enough. "Why not you? You're of the Great Mother's blood. And this place is more like home to you." She gives a little casually shrugging toss of her shoulders. "Besides, I never did think myself so in tune with the spirits as others I've known...perhaps it's more an affinity of yours?" she trails off, gauging the younger female's reaction to her inquiry.
"I am, aren't I?" Maul keeps her sedate demeanour, now, as she verbally addresses the fact that she is of Paoro's bloodline more than the question about her relationship with things not physical. That, she has lived with for... well, longer than with the fact that she was born to this tribe. Actually born to it. She forgets that, sometimes. "I am. And it is." So maybe she never actually answers Ruya's last question with words, but after a moment, she nods. "I could be shamaness." And it's quite a shocking revelation for the currently very girl-like adult.
Ruya considers for another moment, before stepping closer and offering the younger cougaress the briefest of encouraging touches to her dye-marked shoulder. "I will be staying a short while yet," she repeats, as though to reassure the mother-to-be that she has time yet to adjust to the impending shift in role -- especially with young cubs on the way. "If I can be of any help to you...just ask." With either of the coming new responsibilities for Maul, as shamaness or mother.
Shamaness. Her. Finally, Maul seems to find amusement in the idea again, at least enough so that she responds to the touch by smiling again. Responding to the offer of help, Maul says, "I will, Ruya. I will. But... you should know that you will be missed, when you go. You served us well while you were here." It is no longer idle talk. Maul is expressing genuine appreciation, which is not something she has done many times in the past. It's amazing that the tribe has stayed together as well as it has since her mother left, and she's sure Ruya had some part in that, particularly since, without her, there would have been no one of Paoro's line to help guide the tribe for some time.
"Puh. I hardly changed the world," Ruya answers in response, deflecting any attempts to thank her for something she doesn't see as being worthy of making any sort of big deal over. "I merely stepped into a space that needed to be filled for a short time." And perhaps helped to keep the tribe held together as a result of her decision, though she'd hardly be the first to come out and claim such a thing. "Besides, Arroyo is my family, too...and we're all of the Great Mother's family." Which is perhaps another factor that's kept them all united, even in separate territories, despite everything fate has sent the tribe's way over the years. "I'm sure you will fare better guiding the tribe alongside your half-sister."
The appreciation has been acknowledged, and with all that Ruya says, Maul responds first and foremost by rubbing her head against Ruya. "And your granddaughter. Yes. We will thrive." For all Maul has spent the majority of her life feeling haunted, this certainty that they will not only survive, but do well... It's a strange feeling, but a solid one, and she voices it more to assure Ruya that her family who remains here will be well even in her absence. As, hopefully, her family elsewhere is doing well in her absence.
Ruya isn't particularly worried about her distant children; though not nearly as large as the Amaranth, the Ahyoka family is still an adequately safe haven. A briefly-heard purr emerges from Ruya's throat at the returned gesture of familial affection, the cougaress smiling at the younger female. "Of course...you're living evidence of that," she responds, gesturing towards Maul's swollen belly with a nod of her head, indicating the next generation beginning within. "Have you eaten lately? I was thinking of fishing out something from the lake for lunch, and it'd be no trouble to bring you something as well." She has growing cubs to feed, after all, and Ruya's not so old and stiff yet.
There was a time not long ago when Maul refused food from everyone, her would-be mate included. Now, though... yes, she has developing cubs to think about, and so she responds, "Thank you, Ruya. That would be wonderful." There is no telling whether Maul's attempts at hunting today would be successful at all, and she, for one, is not able to overcome her intense fear of water in order to snag some easy food. At least, she has never been hungry enough to attempt it, yet.
Ruya nods to the younger female, a smile on her maw as she does so. "I'll be back before nightfall," she murmurs in farewell before turning to head towards the northeast, leaving Maul among the stones for a little while more. The scent and sound of water draws the shamaness closer, inviting the talented fisher to practice her skills in the crystal-clear lake.
Maul - Female Cougar
Ruya - Female Cougar
- Stone Formations -
It is the first, and likely the only, time Maul has been or will be pregnant, but whether for stories she has heard from the other females of the tribe or for something else, parts of it feel very familiar, at least to the point where there is no doubt in her mind about her current state, and it is only a matter of time before others in the tribe recognize what the change in her scent and her slightly bulging belly means. In the heat of the day, Maul is merely resting from an as-of-yet unsuccessful hunt, making use of the shadows created by the rock formations.
Ruya has been in Amaranth lands for over a year now, and she's finding herself growing more restless as the seasons pass. The middle-aged cougaress absentmindedly wanders towards the secluded stones near the edge of tribal territory, and a brisk wind soon carries a vaguely familiar scent her way. The shamaness pro-tem continues forward, approaching the sun-warmed rocks and spotting one of the tribe's daughters laying among them. With a chirped greeting, she asks after the younger female: "How goes your summer this year?"
Though a solitary creature, even by their species' standards, Maul is sociable enough. Always has been. She looks in the direction of the approaching pawsteps, and though she seems cautious, once she recognizes Ruya, she relaxes again. She does, however, stand, more out of respect than anything else. "It is going well. And yours?" Simple small talk, at least on Maul's part, and she has gotten to be decent at it, over the years.
The other's body is mostly obscured by its prostrate position on the ground, so it isn't until Maul rises to all fours that Ruya recognizes the slight swell to her belly. "Congratulations, Maul. Does your family know yet?" the shamaness says simply, though her insight is more from natural experience as a two-time mother than it is anything spiritual. She's reminded once again of her own pair of children back home among the Ahyoka.
The congratulations brings a thin smile to Maul's muzzle. "I knew better than to think I could hide it for long. But no. No one else knows, yet. Thank you, Ruya." The female is, after all, happy to be having cubs, even if it is not news that she has been eager to spread.
"They're quite a joy. Having others around to help watch them is always nice, too," Ruya continues, her own expression reflecting the other female's genial smile. "I think I'd like to go see my younger two again soon...perhaps after your half-sister returns to take her rightful place. I'm not getting any younger, after all," the cougaress adds with a wry chuckle. Pausing to consider a thought, her blue-green eyes peer after the younger female for a brief moment. "You're a daughter of the last matron, are you not?" She only knows the immediate basics of the Amaranth's family tree, but she at least recalls much the Chieftain's line.
It is now your pose.
Maul does not respond to the question right away, simply because she finds herself absorbed by thought. When her gaze refocuses on the other female, she has to remind herself what was last said. "Huh? Ah, yes. Did you... were you ever here when my mother was here?" It is the current topic of conversation, so it seems an appropriate question to ask, instead of any of the half dozen others that flitted briefly through her mind.
Ruya shakes her head at the returned question. "No, I was not. But as one directly of the Great Mother's line...you have a right to the role I have taken, as well." It's not an outright request, but the subtle suggestion is there nonetheless. The older female has already mentioned her want to go back home, after all, which certainly suggests that the role is at risk of being vacated once more in the coming moons.
"Me?" Maul narrows her eyes in thought, but almost as soon as she does, her expression changes again as she finds herself unable to keep from laughing. It's an amusing thought, at least at first, and maybe, if she is lucky, she can simply blame her mood swings on the cubs currently growing within her, as almost as quickly as she went from thinking to laughing, she goes from laughing to sober. "You're not coming back after you go to check on your other children, are you? No... But me?" Nothing about the younger female suggests she is inherently opposed to taking the position, but rather that she feels others might be opposed to her taking the position, although she has no logical reason for believing so.
Ruya doesn't seem affected by Maul's laughter; she's one to find humor in unusual situations herself. "Not likely. It's home to me, after all," the cougaress answers simply, but honestly, enough. "Why not you? You're of the Great Mother's blood. And this place is more like home to you." She gives a little casually shrugging toss of her shoulders. "Besides, I never did think myself so in tune with the spirits as others I've known...perhaps it's more an affinity of yours?" she trails off, gauging the younger female's reaction to her inquiry.
"I am, aren't I?" Maul keeps her sedate demeanour, now, as she verbally addresses the fact that she is of Paoro's bloodline more than the question about her relationship with things not physical. That, she has lived with for... well, longer than with the fact that she was born to this tribe. Actually born to it. She forgets that, sometimes. "I am. And it is." So maybe she never actually answers Ruya's last question with words, but after a moment, she nods. "I could be shamaness." And it's quite a shocking revelation for the currently very girl-like adult.
Ruya considers for another moment, before stepping closer and offering the younger cougaress the briefest of encouraging touches to her dye-marked shoulder. "I will be staying a short while yet," she repeats, as though to reassure the mother-to-be that she has time yet to adjust to the impending shift in role -- especially with young cubs on the way. "If I can be of any help to you...just ask." With either of the coming new responsibilities for Maul, as shamaness or mother.
Shamaness. Her. Finally, Maul seems to find amusement in the idea again, at least enough so that she responds to the touch by smiling again. Responding to the offer of help, Maul says, "I will, Ruya. I will. But... you should know that you will be missed, when you go. You served us well while you were here." It is no longer idle talk. Maul is expressing genuine appreciation, which is not something she has done many times in the past. It's amazing that the tribe has stayed together as well as it has since her mother left, and she's sure Ruya had some part in that, particularly since, without her, there would have been no one of Paoro's line to help guide the tribe for some time.
"Puh. I hardly changed the world," Ruya answers in response, deflecting any attempts to thank her for something she doesn't see as being worthy of making any sort of big deal over. "I merely stepped into a space that needed to be filled for a short time." And perhaps helped to keep the tribe held together as a result of her decision, though she'd hardly be the first to come out and claim such a thing. "Besides, Arroyo is my family, too...and we're all of the Great Mother's family." Which is perhaps another factor that's kept them all united, even in separate territories, despite everything fate has sent the tribe's way over the years. "I'm sure you will fare better guiding the tribe alongside your half-sister."
The appreciation has been acknowledged, and with all that Ruya says, Maul responds first and foremost by rubbing her head against Ruya. "And your granddaughter. Yes. We will thrive." For all Maul has spent the majority of her life feeling haunted, this certainty that they will not only survive, but do well... It's a strange feeling, but a solid one, and she voices it more to assure Ruya that her family who remains here will be well even in her absence. As, hopefully, her family elsewhere is doing well in her absence.
Ruya isn't particularly worried about her distant children; though not nearly as large as the Amaranth, the Ahyoka family is still an adequately safe haven. A briefly-heard purr emerges from Ruya's throat at the returned gesture of familial affection, the cougaress smiling at the younger female. "Of course...you're living evidence of that," she responds, gesturing towards Maul's swollen belly with a nod of her head, indicating the next generation beginning within. "Have you eaten lately? I was thinking of fishing out something from the lake for lunch, and it'd be no trouble to bring you something as well." She has growing cubs to feed, after all, and Ruya's not so old and stiff yet.
There was a time not long ago when Maul refused food from everyone, her would-be mate included. Now, though... yes, she has developing cubs to think about, and so she responds, "Thank you, Ruya. That would be wonderful." There is no telling whether Maul's attempts at hunting today would be successful at all, and she, for one, is not able to overcome her intense fear of water in order to snag some easy food. At least, she has never been hungry enough to attempt it, yet.
Ruya nods to the younger female, a smile on her maw as she does so. "I'll be back before nightfall," she murmurs in farewell before turning to head towards the northeast, leaving Maul among the stones for a little while more. The scent and sound of water draws the shamaness closer, inviting the talented fisher to practice her skills in the crystal-clear lake.