Post by Therdde on Jul 26, 2011 21:24:56 GMT -5
Characters:
Qaletaqa - Male Cougar
Maul - Female Cougar
- Snowy Highlands -
It's hard to imagine how Qaletaqa could possibly look more apprehensive than he usually does, but somehow, he manages. Slinking low to the ground and his ears as flat to his head as he can make them, the male moves in short bursts with frequent pauses across the rocks, sticking to what little cover there is to be had up here. One might be forgiven for thinking he is out on a hunt at first, from the way he is behaving, but the bordering-on-panicked looks around him, his creased brow, the nervous liplicking all speak to a different conclusion - Qale is downright afraid of someone finding him up here. It has been far too long since he's seen and spoken to Maul after...everything that's happened, though, and he is determined this time to find her, despite the hesitation, the misgivings, should anybody find out.
Ever since their extended time together, Maul has certain done her fair share of giving Qale all the space he could possibly desire. By the time anyone, even the most seasoned females among the tribe, could tell she was pregnant, his scent had completely left her, and the fact that no one has come growling at Qale should be indication enough that she has kept quiet on the subject. Now, though, with her belly growing ever larger, the only thing Maul can bring herself to do, when she is not hunting, is rest. The sound of someone approaching the shallow cave she has made her home is enough to get the very pregnant cougaress to her feet, but she does not retreat into the opening in the rock or otherwise attempt to go undetected. Very few animals would dare challenge her here, and should the approaching creature prove to be one of them, a fight would probably be easier than ceaselessly wasting energy by running off anytime something approaches her.
The movement of Maul's standing catches the high-strung male's attention quickly, and for a moment he automatically tenses. But recognition is not long in coming - though it's not clear for a second that Qaletaqa knows who he's staring at. In fact, he looks a little wondering, his eyes wide as he looks at Maul. She's...she's so...she's so -pregnant-. The open fascination he displays is almost cublike, until he gathers himself and, looking suitably embarrassed by his behaviour, urges his paws to take him closer to Maul. He moves slowly, testing each step before he commits to it just in case she shows any discomfort at his approach. "M...M-Maul?" Qale says hesitantly, when he finally remembers he has a voice.
Maul does look Qale over for some time, but when he speaks, in that same, stuttery tone he has always used, she apparently decides she still trusts him, at which point she lies back down quite carefully. "This can't be the first time you've seen a pregnant female, Qale. You were here when my sisters got pregnant. And Nyssa." It's a little bit of gentle teasing, and as Maul does it, she actually listens for any hint of anyone else in the area. There is none, either during or after her speaking, but she's still not sure any reference to Qale being a father would be acceptable.
With an awkward little half-smile that displays how aware he is of what an idiot he must look like, Qaletaqa decides not to come too close. He stops when they are at a comfortable distance for conversation, and doesn't show any signs of approaching any closer yet, though he doesn't sit. "Well, y-yes, but..." But it wasn't with his cubs. "...it's-it's not really the same." And pregnant females are not really his area of expertise, despite his healing talents. It's painfully clear that Qale isn't quite sure how to act, though he is trying his best. "Oh, I-I would have brought something for you to eat, you know, I just, but I didn't, I wasn't, um, sure if I w-would find you, sorry." Smooth.
"You don't have to be sorry, Qale. They're not your responsibility." Deliberately, Maul keeps eye contact with Qale as she says that. Almost immediately after, though, she wonders if she went too far, and she looks away. "And even if they were, I am not so demanding as some of the Matrons here have been. I do not expect to be fed." Which is not to say she does not appreciate the meals she has been given since she became pregnant. She only means to set Qale at ease, but there is no saying how well she's doing at that.
Qaletaqa knows that he made it clear to Maul before that one of his doubts about this whole situation was anyone finding out that he was the father of her cubs. But even so, when she tells him they are not his responsibility, it bothers him a bit more than he anticipated. Does he want them to be his responsibility? "No, no, it's not that I...I just meant I-I should have been more thoughtful. And I should have, um, should have come by before, I was just..." A coward, fearful, terrified? "...I was just a bit, um, nervous. You know. What with everything, and...and...yes."
"Gah." After her initial response, Maul rolls over onto her side, so as to no longer by lying on her belly. "You keep this up, and I'm going to nip you. We promised we wouldn't do this. That we'd be friends, and play, and... not do this." She's as much at fault as Qaletaqa is, of course. She had to mouth off about responsibility. But at least /she/ has the excuse of the roller coaster moods her pregnancy has caused to fall back on. What is Qale's excuse?
Qale's only excuse is that he is Qale. Awkward is all he knows. Even so, when he is told off, it brings the same little half-smile back to his muzzle and he shakes his head. "You're right, you're right, we-we did promise. Sorry," he slips in anyway, using his apologies like punctuation. Straightening up, Qale looks back at Maul, his eyes flicking between her face and her belly. "How, um, how are you doing, then? Is everything alright?" He means with her, physically, since that's something he might be able to help with should the answer be no, and he hopes he doesn't sound too 'involved' that she'll follow through on her threat to nip him. If, however, there were something else bothering her...well, he'd at least like to know about that too.
"I'm doing well, Qale. They're... doing well." Okay, so not all of it has been pleasant, but she has enough experience to know that the minor pains are a natural part of having cubs growing inside her. "There /is/ something you should know, though. Something that... Qale, when Ruya leaves, I'm going to be Shamaness." It may influence how large a role Qale plays in the lives of these cubs. Or it may not. It cannot be considered a "concern" of hers, though. She has come to accept the idea, and even, to some degree... to look forward to it.
It's good to know that Maul and the cubs (his cubs!) are fine, and Qaletaqa smiles to hear it. The idea that Maul is slated to become Shamaness, however, is greeted with a little more faltering. "Oh," is what he says at first, tilting his head. Well, that certainly is news to him, and he wonders just how much time he'll be able to...or rather, feel comfortable spending with the cubs as Maul becomes more involved with the tribe once more. He finds, unnervingly to say the least, that the idea that he might want to draw himself out of the cubs' lives so to stay out of the spotlight...is not an idea that appeals to him. "Are...are you pleased?"
She is, isn't she? Yes, but why? After a moment of silence, Maul answers, "If it would have been up to me, I think... I would have left Amaranth a long time ago. A very long time ago. But something would never let me, and... I think this is why. These cubs, and being Shamaness. Yes, Qale. I am pleased. I am... mmm... fulfilled."
Listening to Maul talk, Qaletaqa's gaze no longer wanders, his head still cocked slightly as he watches the cougaress. Finally, he smiles and nods, and he takes a couple of steps towards her to, if she lets him, press his nose affectionately against her cheek in a rare display of proactive affection. "Then I'm pleased with you, Maul. Congratulations." He's glad that he had a part in that. And really, he cannot think of a more appropriate Shamaness. What Maul told him all those seasons ago about his mother still comes frequently and unbidden to his mind. Qale's ears still shift this way and that, however, even though he has relaxed a little since first seeing her. Now that Maul is going to become such a figure, he's got to keep an eye out even more. It wouldn't do for him to think he could have so much to do with the cubs. Would it?
Maul allows Qale to press his nose against her, although she does not allow it to remain that way for long before she draws back in order to playfully lick the male's nose. "Now, as soon as my cubs are born, you owe me a good romp, you hear me?" Because they've done this whole serious thing for practically the whole time they've been together, and it simply will not do to continue that. No, she needs to growl and pounce at Qale for a little while. And maybe go looking for some plants with him. Carefree, friendly stuff.
Wrinkling his nose at the sudden and surprising attack, Qale looks down at Maul with a few blinks before smiling. "I promise, and don't, don't think I'll go easy on you," the male says, looking more cheerful than he feels, and taking a few steps backwards in readiness to leave, to let Maul rest. Perhaps he is reading too much into what Maul is saying, but he does not miss her reference to 'her' cubs. But...But that's okay, right? Right. After all, he hasn't really wanted to be too involved, has he? No he hasn't. And seeing Maul today hasn't made him want to change his mind, right? ...well...
Maul rests her head on a paw as Qale begins to back up, appearing perfectly happy to rest, herself. Either fortunately or unfortunately, she has no idea how her attempts to make sure Qale knows she doesn't expect him to do anything more than what he wants to do have been taken, and so she is capable of closing her eyes without any concern that she has just said all the wrong things for all the right reasons.
Qaletaqa - Male Cougar
Maul - Female Cougar
- Snowy Highlands -
It's hard to imagine how Qaletaqa could possibly look more apprehensive than he usually does, but somehow, he manages. Slinking low to the ground and his ears as flat to his head as he can make them, the male moves in short bursts with frequent pauses across the rocks, sticking to what little cover there is to be had up here. One might be forgiven for thinking he is out on a hunt at first, from the way he is behaving, but the bordering-on-panicked looks around him, his creased brow, the nervous liplicking all speak to a different conclusion - Qale is downright afraid of someone finding him up here. It has been far too long since he's seen and spoken to Maul after...everything that's happened, though, and he is determined this time to find her, despite the hesitation, the misgivings, should anybody find out.
Ever since their extended time together, Maul has certain done her fair share of giving Qale all the space he could possibly desire. By the time anyone, even the most seasoned females among the tribe, could tell she was pregnant, his scent had completely left her, and the fact that no one has come growling at Qale should be indication enough that she has kept quiet on the subject. Now, though, with her belly growing ever larger, the only thing Maul can bring herself to do, when she is not hunting, is rest. The sound of someone approaching the shallow cave she has made her home is enough to get the very pregnant cougaress to her feet, but she does not retreat into the opening in the rock or otherwise attempt to go undetected. Very few animals would dare challenge her here, and should the approaching creature prove to be one of them, a fight would probably be easier than ceaselessly wasting energy by running off anytime something approaches her.
The movement of Maul's standing catches the high-strung male's attention quickly, and for a moment he automatically tenses. But recognition is not long in coming - though it's not clear for a second that Qaletaqa knows who he's staring at. In fact, he looks a little wondering, his eyes wide as he looks at Maul. She's...she's so...she's so -pregnant-. The open fascination he displays is almost cublike, until he gathers himself and, looking suitably embarrassed by his behaviour, urges his paws to take him closer to Maul. He moves slowly, testing each step before he commits to it just in case she shows any discomfort at his approach. "M...M-Maul?" Qale says hesitantly, when he finally remembers he has a voice.
Maul does look Qale over for some time, but when he speaks, in that same, stuttery tone he has always used, she apparently decides she still trusts him, at which point she lies back down quite carefully. "This can't be the first time you've seen a pregnant female, Qale. You were here when my sisters got pregnant. And Nyssa." It's a little bit of gentle teasing, and as Maul does it, she actually listens for any hint of anyone else in the area. There is none, either during or after her speaking, but she's still not sure any reference to Qale being a father would be acceptable.
With an awkward little half-smile that displays how aware he is of what an idiot he must look like, Qaletaqa decides not to come too close. He stops when they are at a comfortable distance for conversation, and doesn't show any signs of approaching any closer yet, though he doesn't sit. "Well, y-yes, but..." But it wasn't with his cubs. "...it's-it's not really the same." And pregnant females are not really his area of expertise, despite his healing talents. It's painfully clear that Qale isn't quite sure how to act, though he is trying his best. "Oh, I-I would have brought something for you to eat, you know, I just, but I didn't, I wasn't, um, sure if I w-would find you, sorry." Smooth.
"You don't have to be sorry, Qale. They're not your responsibility." Deliberately, Maul keeps eye contact with Qale as she says that. Almost immediately after, though, she wonders if she went too far, and she looks away. "And even if they were, I am not so demanding as some of the Matrons here have been. I do not expect to be fed." Which is not to say she does not appreciate the meals she has been given since she became pregnant. She only means to set Qale at ease, but there is no saying how well she's doing at that.
Qaletaqa knows that he made it clear to Maul before that one of his doubts about this whole situation was anyone finding out that he was the father of her cubs. But even so, when she tells him they are not his responsibility, it bothers him a bit more than he anticipated. Does he want them to be his responsibility? "No, no, it's not that I...I just meant I-I should have been more thoughtful. And I should have, um, should have come by before, I was just..." A coward, fearful, terrified? "...I was just a bit, um, nervous. You know. What with everything, and...and...yes."
"Gah." After her initial response, Maul rolls over onto her side, so as to no longer by lying on her belly. "You keep this up, and I'm going to nip you. We promised we wouldn't do this. That we'd be friends, and play, and... not do this." She's as much at fault as Qaletaqa is, of course. She had to mouth off about responsibility. But at least /she/ has the excuse of the roller coaster moods her pregnancy has caused to fall back on. What is Qale's excuse?
Qale's only excuse is that he is Qale. Awkward is all he knows. Even so, when he is told off, it brings the same little half-smile back to his muzzle and he shakes his head. "You're right, you're right, we-we did promise. Sorry," he slips in anyway, using his apologies like punctuation. Straightening up, Qale looks back at Maul, his eyes flicking between her face and her belly. "How, um, how are you doing, then? Is everything alright?" He means with her, physically, since that's something he might be able to help with should the answer be no, and he hopes he doesn't sound too 'involved' that she'll follow through on her threat to nip him. If, however, there were something else bothering her...well, he'd at least like to know about that too.
"I'm doing well, Qale. They're... doing well." Okay, so not all of it has been pleasant, but she has enough experience to know that the minor pains are a natural part of having cubs growing inside her. "There /is/ something you should know, though. Something that... Qale, when Ruya leaves, I'm going to be Shamaness." It may influence how large a role Qale plays in the lives of these cubs. Or it may not. It cannot be considered a "concern" of hers, though. She has come to accept the idea, and even, to some degree... to look forward to it.
It's good to know that Maul and the cubs (his cubs!) are fine, and Qaletaqa smiles to hear it. The idea that Maul is slated to become Shamaness, however, is greeted with a little more faltering. "Oh," is what he says at first, tilting his head. Well, that certainly is news to him, and he wonders just how much time he'll be able to...or rather, feel comfortable spending with the cubs as Maul becomes more involved with the tribe once more. He finds, unnervingly to say the least, that the idea that he might want to draw himself out of the cubs' lives so to stay out of the spotlight...is not an idea that appeals to him. "Are...are you pleased?"
She is, isn't she? Yes, but why? After a moment of silence, Maul answers, "If it would have been up to me, I think... I would have left Amaranth a long time ago. A very long time ago. But something would never let me, and... I think this is why. These cubs, and being Shamaness. Yes, Qale. I am pleased. I am... mmm... fulfilled."
Listening to Maul talk, Qaletaqa's gaze no longer wanders, his head still cocked slightly as he watches the cougaress. Finally, he smiles and nods, and he takes a couple of steps towards her to, if she lets him, press his nose affectionately against her cheek in a rare display of proactive affection. "Then I'm pleased with you, Maul. Congratulations." He's glad that he had a part in that. And really, he cannot think of a more appropriate Shamaness. What Maul told him all those seasons ago about his mother still comes frequently and unbidden to his mind. Qale's ears still shift this way and that, however, even though he has relaxed a little since first seeing her. Now that Maul is going to become such a figure, he's got to keep an eye out even more. It wouldn't do for him to think he could have so much to do with the cubs. Would it?
Maul allows Qale to press his nose against her, although she does not allow it to remain that way for long before she draws back in order to playfully lick the male's nose. "Now, as soon as my cubs are born, you owe me a good romp, you hear me?" Because they've done this whole serious thing for practically the whole time they've been together, and it simply will not do to continue that. No, she needs to growl and pounce at Qale for a little while. And maybe go looking for some plants with him. Carefree, friendly stuff.
Wrinkling his nose at the sudden and surprising attack, Qale looks down at Maul with a few blinks before smiling. "I promise, and don't, don't think I'll go easy on you," the male says, looking more cheerful than he feels, and taking a few steps backwards in readiness to leave, to let Maul rest. Perhaps he is reading too much into what Maul is saying, but he does not miss her reference to 'her' cubs. But...But that's okay, right? Right. After all, he hasn't really wanted to be too involved, has he? No he hasn't. And seeing Maul today hasn't made him want to change his mind, right? ...well...
Maul rests her head on a paw as Qale begins to back up, appearing perfectly happy to rest, herself. Either fortunately or unfortunately, she has no idea how her attempts to make sure Qale knows she doesn't expect him to do anything more than what he wants to do have been taken, and so she is capable of closing her eyes without any concern that she has just said all the wrong things for all the right reasons.