Post by Pavane on Sept 28, 2011 22:00:59 GMT -5
Leafy Glen
Kachina - Female Juvenile Cougar
Ikuna - Male Juvenile Wolf
---
Everything has been very stressful the within the last 24 hours. Kachina did fall asleep once she was sure all was alright, moving wasn't an option after the fight. She takes in a shakey breath, eyes opening and she looks around fearful while she shifts upwards upon her paws. Everything is different.. and she looks utterly lost at the moment.
Once everything was okay, Ikuna spent the next few hours cuddled up against each of his packmates in turn. Well, mostly Asku and Chewy, but even Grumpy Skahla got affection. Now, though, he's reassured himself that They're Here and He's Here and Everyone's Okay... and so he's starting to spread his attention again. Like... to a very confused looking Kachina, now awake. He approaches her, tail wagging gently, and smiles. "We did it."
Kachina hears the voice and looks over to Ikuna curiously, she tilts her head and lifts a forepaw to scratch across her cheek a few times. She hasn't gotten near any of the wolves, save for Ikuna that is. "Ya.. Your family did it.." She offers with a quiet tone.
Ikuna splays his ears, and his tail droops a bit. It's true. He hadn't thought of it that way, but... "They're not all my family." There's that older one, and there were a couple others he saw in the distance. But... they are all wolves. Not a single cougar. Kachina is still alone, in some ways. He scoots a little closer to her. "We'll find yours, too."
Kachina glances towards the forest, her ears perking forward slightly and then up to the sky as if she was looking for something. "They didn't even try to find me.. Your family found you. I bet they didn't care that I was gone. I'm sure my brother was happier without me around." Being locked up for so long does things to a young one, seems it did something to the young cougar as well. "It doesn't matter if we find them or not." Her tail twitches a few times and she doesn't glance over at Ikuna once he scoots closer.
Ikuna leans himself against Kachina's side, and gives her his imitation of a cat-style headbutt. The young cougar is already bigger than he is, and if she decided to take her annoyance out on him, she could probably hurt him pretty badly. He doesn't even think about that. "Then come with us," he offers. "Chewy came lookin' for you, too, remember?"
Kachina grunts out slightly at the headbutt and glances over at Ikuna, her ears perking forward while she watches him. "She came because you was here Ikuna.. If it wasn't for you being here.. I'd be dead." This said with a rather flat tone.
Also true. Ikuna doesn't like it being true, but... it is. While Wachiwa did go calling in the hole... she came here, up on this mountain, all because of him. He droops a little more, trying to think of an answer. He can't come up with a good counter-argument or anything. All he manages to say is a quiet, "'m glad you're not. I like you."
Kachina doesn't like it being true, but it is.. If it wasn't for Ikuna and his family she would have been the one clawed apart. She shrugs slightly and lets her gaze lower to eye the ground. "You don't know me.. How do you like me?" She seems sorta confused on it. Sure they spent a lot of time down in that hole but its not like it was out of choice.
Ikuna blinks a little. Well, he... uh... that is... he just does! The pup tries to figure out how to explain. "Because... you helped me. You were nice. You coulda been mean. You coulda taken all the food for yourself. You coulda told me the other wolf was better, and I deserved to be in the hole. But you didn't do any of those things, 'cause you're nice. That's how come I like you." He nudges his head against her shoulder. "There's lots I dunno about you, but... I know that."
Kachina lifts a brow and her maw twitches. "Ya well.. I wouldn't do that.." She offers with a soft tone at the thought, her ears lowering for a moment and she is quiet while thinking it would seem. "Thanks Ikuna.." Is soon murmured out.
Exactly. Kachina wouldn't do that, and Ikuna knows it. That's his point, right there. The pup smiles a little, and stays close against Kachina as she thinks it through. "Uh-huh," he says when she thanks him. He's just glad he could maybe help a little. After that, he goes quiet for a bit, not sure what to say next.
Kachina lifts her gaze up to the sky once more, watching it as if searching for something once more. "Thank you for saying I can come with you Ikuna.. But I'm not a wolf. I don't think the others would want me around.. I mean I'm guessing that at least.." A faint sigh escapes her and she peers over at the young wolf. "Maybe I could try and find some cougars.."
Ikuna frowns a little, thinking about it. Kachina seems to be making a habit of being right. "You... probably should. Find cougars, I mean." He sighs a little. That means she's gonna go away, and under stress, the pup has formed a rather strong attachment. "But... until you find them... don't go too far away? Please?"
Kachina has had times when she was right rather often.. Even has a cub. She shifts and presses her shoulder against the other's for a moment. "Well.. No I won't.. Not until I find other cougars at least.. Alright?" She bumps her nose against his ear softly.
Ikuna smiles. It's not perfect, but nothing is. And at least, when Kachina goes away, he'll know it's to be with her own kind. Her own pack, not that cougars have any sort of a concept like that. He nods, and nuzzles back at her. "Yeah. All right."
Kachina smiles slightly and nods a moment before glancing over the others. "So.. Who was the wolves here during the fight?"
Ikuna turns a bit, and nods. "Those three are my pack. That's Askuwheteau," he says, pointing to one with his muzzle. Introductions mean big formal names! "He's my big brother, an' he tells good stories. An' there's Wachiwa next to him. She's good for playing silly games." He grins, then continues. "Skahla," pointing to a wolf a bit off from the rest, "Is the alpha. He's real grumpy sometimes, but he means good. He's my brother too."
Kachina just blinks at the long name and glances towards the wolf is question, her ears perking forward and she ahs and nods. "I see.. Long name.." She murmurs out softly. A glance is now sent towards Wachiwa and then Skahla. "Why is he so grumpy?"
Ikuna giggles, and nods. "Uh-huh. Everyone just calls him Asku most of the time." But this is formal introduction time! At the question of Why Skahla Grumps, Ikuna has to shake his head a bit. "Chewy says it's because he's always worried about everyone." He doesn't entirely get it, to be honest. He worries, and he's not grumpy. But Chewy's smart.
Kachina ears perk and she ohs before nodding slightly. "I guess that would make sense. Being in charge and all." This said while her tail twitches slightly.
"Yeah. I guess," says Ikuna. He doesn't seem entirely convinced, in part because he remembers people talking about Skahla having been grumpy long, long before he was the one in charge. But anyway! He gives himself a little shake, and looks at the other wolves. "I dunno any of those others, though. They're not from my pack."
Kachina hums softly and nods while her ears perk. "Well.. They must be rather nice. I mean if there out here helping the pack an all. Are they from another pack or something then?"
Ikuna considers on that, looking over the strange wolves. They look grownup - even more grownup than his siblings are. Like, as old as his mom and dad were, and that's kinda ancient. "They must be, yeah." He hmms a little, thinking it over. "Maybe they're that other pup's pack. They kinda smell like him." Or, at least, the traces of him that were left in the hole when Ikuna got there. Ikuna could introduce himself and find out, but... well, last time he trusted a strange wolf, he got himself kidnapped. He's been just a little hesitant, even though he knows they must be friends.
Kachina hums and nods slightly while she glances over the wolves and then back towards the forest. "I suppose that could be true." She pauses a moment. "Do you think there are more cougars our there.. I mean my mom and dad never talked about 'em.."
Even thinking about strange wolves makes Ikuna just a bit uncomfortable. He's glad for the distraction of a conversation about cougars instead. He ponders it for a moment. "There must be," he finally says. Not that he's ever seen one. Or heard stories about them. Actually, wait a minute. He _did_ hear a story. "Yeah! I know there are, because Asku met one once."
Kachina hums at this, her ears flicking forward once more at this news. "Do you know where he met the cougar at?.." She's curious to say the least and wishes to learn all she can about more cougars.
Ikuna thinks hard about it. He only heard the story in bits and pieces, but... "It was near where we live, I think. The cougar was called... uhm.... Ta- or To- something. I forget." Tantallon, to be exact; who was once called Toyo. Also, a cougar that Kachina knew quite well, when he was alive, since he was her father. So much for /new/ cougars.
Kachina blinks while she looks to Ikuna watching him a few moments. She chews on her lip pondering before speaking up. "Tantallon?" She remembers her father's name rather well. Her gaze turns back to the sky. "That's my father's name.."
Ikuna perks up. "Yeah, that's -" Oh. Wait. Uhm. His ears splay and his tail lowers. He didn't mean to remind her that her dad is gone. He just thought... he was trying to help. His voice is rather more subdued as he says, "I think... so."
Kachina slowly slinks down and settles down upon the ground, her head lowering to press against the ground. "Maybe there are no other cougars raound.."
Ikuna presses himself against Kachina's side, sitting beside her with his head up as though he's keeping guard, just like the older wolves do. "There must be. Or else... where did your mom and did come from? They must have had parents, and brothers and sisters." They must, right? Kachina can't really truly be all alone... can she?
"My uncle is gone too.. He lived with me and my family along with his family.. All at the tree." Kachina says after a moment and leans close to her friend. "I'm not sure about my mother and her family."
Ikuna really, really hopes that Kachina isn't right about being alone like she has been about so many other things. He presses against her warmly, and sighs a little. He's met lots of wolves that weren't his family, but that's wolves. Maybe cougars are different. Besides, he doesn't think it would be very comforting to mention. He's not giving up hope just yet, though. "There's gotta be some cougars somewhere."
Kachina closes her eyes and snuffles out slightly. "Maybe.. But.. I'm starting to wonder if there are no other cougars around." Its hard for her -not- to thinks this. No cougar came to save her with the wolves, seems the wolves don't know any cougars then her late fatehr so its starting to look rather bad for the little feline.
Ikuna can't deny the facts. As much as he'd like to comfort Kachina and assure her that there are plenty of cougars... he has not a single bit of actual evidence beyond his hope. He has no more answers. He cuddles against her in silence, and leans down to nuzzle gently between her ears. He doesn't want to lose his friend... but he'd rather lose her than have her feel all alone like this.
Kachina the girl is quiet for a few moments, her eyes closing while she shifts and leans back against the wolf. "Maybe I'll be wrong.." But who knows.. Her eyes close and she starts to doze off once more.
Ikuna nods a little. "Maybe," he answers, uncertain now but still hopeful. He doesn't say anything more, just stays there in that position of affection and guarding as his cougar friend drifts off toward sleep again. Things are better now, but not everything is okay yet.
Kachina - Female Juvenile Cougar
Ikuna - Male Juvenile Wolf
---
Everything has been very stressful the within the last 24 hours. Kachina did fall asleep once she was sure all was alright, moving wasn't an option after the fight. She takes in a shakey breath, eyes opening and she looks around fearful while she shifts upwards upon her paws. Everything is different.. and she looks utterly lost at the moment.
Once everything was okay, Ikuna spent the next few hours cuddled up against each of his packmates in turn. Well, mostly Asku and Chewy, but even Grumpy Skahla got affection. Now, though, he's reassured himself that They're Here and He's Here and Everyone's Okay... and so he's starting to spread his attention again. Like... to a very confused looking Kachina, now awake. He approaches her, tail wagging gently, and smiles. "We did it."
Kachina hears the voice and looks over to Ikuna curiously, she tilts her head and lifts a forepaw to scratch across her cheek a few times. She hasn't gotten near any of the wolves, save for Ikuna that is. "Ya.. Your family did it.." She offers with a quiet tone.
Ikuna splays his ears, and his tail droops a bit. It's true. He hadn't thought of it that way, but... "They're not all my family." There's that older one, and there were a couple others he saw in the distance. But... they are all wolves. Not a single cougar. Kachina is still alone, in some ways. He scoots a little closer to her. "We'll find yours, too."
Kachina glances towards the forest, her ears perking forward slightly and then up to the sky as if she was looking for something. "They didn't even try to find me.. Your family found you. I bet they didn't care that I was gone. I'm sure my brother was happier without me around." Being locked up for so long does things to a young one, seems it did something to the young cougar as well. "It doesn't matter if we find them or not." Her tail twitches a few times and she doesn't glance over at Ikuna once he scoots closer.
Ikuna leans himself against Kachina's side, and gives her his imitation of a cat-style headbutt. The young cougar is already bigger than he is, and if she decided to take her annoyance out on him, she could probably hurt him pretty badly. He doesn't even think about that. "Then come with us," he offers. "Chewy came lookin' for you, too, remember?"
Kachina grunts out slightly at the headbutt and glances over at Ikuna, her ears perking forward while she watches him. "She came because you was here Ikuna.. If it wasn't for you being here.. I'd be dead." This said with a rather flat tone.
Also true. Ikuna doesn't like it being true, but... it is. While Wachiwa did go calling in the hole... she came here, up on this mountain, all because of him. He droops a little more, trying to think of an answer. He can't come up with a good counter-argument or anything. All he manages to say is a quiet, "'m glad you're not. I like you."
Kachina doesn't like it being true, but it is.. If it wasn't for Ikuna and his family she would have been the one clawed apart. She shrugs slightly and lets her gaze lower to eye the ground. "You don't know me.. How do you like me?" She seems sorta confused on it. Sure they spent a lot of time down in that hole but its not like it was out of choice.
Ikuna blinks a little. Well, he... uh... that is... he just does! The pup tries to figure out how to explain. "Because... you helped me. You were nice. You coulda been mean. You coulda taken all the food for yourself. You coulda told me the other wolf was better, and I deserved to be in the hole. But you didn't do any of those things, 'cause you're nice. That's how come I like you." He nudges his head against her shoulder. "There's lots I dunno about you, but... I know that."
Kachina lifts a brow and her maw twitches. "Ya well.. I wouldn't do that.." She offers with a soft tone at the thought, her ears lowering for a moment and she is quiet while thinking it would seem. "Thanks Ikuna.." Is soon murmured out.
Exactly. Kachina wouldn't do that, and Ikuna knows it. That's his point, right there. The pup smiles a little, and stays close against Kachina as she thinks it through. "Uh-huh," he says when she thanks him. He's just glad he could maybe help a little. After that, he goes quiet for a bit, not sure what to say next.
Kachina lifts her gaze up to the sky once more, watching it as if searching for something once more. "Thank you for saying I can come with you Ikuna.. But I'm not a wolf. I don't think the others would want me around.. I mean I'm guessing that at least.." A faint sigh escapes her and she peers over at the young wolf. "Maybe I could try and find some cougars.."
Ikuna frowns a little, thinking about it. Kachina seems to be making a habit of being right. "You... probably should. Find cougars, I mean." He sighs a little. That means she's gonna go away, and under stress, the pup has formed a rather strong attachment. "But... until you find them... don't go too far away? Please?"
Kachina has had times when she was right rather often.. Even has a cub. She shifts and presses her shoulder against the other's for a moment. "Well.. No I won't.. Not until I find other cougars at least.. Alright?" She bumps her nose against his ear softly.
Ikuna smiles. It's not perfect, but nothing is. And at least, when Kachina goes away, he'll know it's to be with her own kind. Her own pack, not that cougars have any sort of a concept like that. He nods, and nuzzles back at her. "Yeah. All right."
Kachina smiles slightly and nods a moment before glancing over the others. "So.. Who was the wolves here during the fight?"
Ikuna turns a bit, and nods. "Those three are my pack. That's Askuwheteau," he says, pointing to one with his muzzle. Introductions mean big formal names! "He's my big brother, an' he tells good stories. An' there's Wachiwa next to him. She's good for playing silly games." He grins, then continues. "Skahla," pointing to a wolf a bit off from the rest, "Is the alpha. He's real grumpy sometimes, but he means good. He's my brother too."
Kachina just blinks at the long name and glances towards the wolf is question, her ears perking forward and she ahs and nods. "I see.. Long name.." She murmurs out softly. A glance is now sent towards Wachiwa and then Skahla. "Why is he so grumpy?"
Ikuna giggles, and nods. "Uh-huh. Everyone just calls him Asku most of the time." But this is formal introduction time! At the question of Why Skahla Grumps, Ikuna has to shake his head a bit. "Chewy says it's because he's always worried about everyone." He doesn't entirely get it, to be honest. He worries, and he's not grumpy. But Chewy's smart.
Kachina ears perk and she ohs before nodding slightly. "I guess that would make sense. Being in charge and all." This said while her tail twitches slightly.
"Yeah. I guess," says Ikuna. He doesn't seem entirely convinced, in part because he remembers people talking about Skahla having been grumpy long, long before he was the one in charge. But anyway! He gives himself a little shake, and looks at the other wolves. "I dunno any of those others, though. They're not from my pack."
Kachina hums softly and nods while her ears perk. "Well.. They must be rather nice. I mean if there out here helping the pack an all. Are they from another pack or something then?"
Ikuna considers on that, looking over the strange wolves. They look grownup - even more grownup than his siblings are. Like, as old as his mom and dad were, and that's kinda ancient. "They must be, yeah." He hmms a little, thinking it over. "Maybe they're that other pup's pack. They kinda smell like him." Or, at least, the traces of him that were left in the hole when Ikuna got there. Ikuna could introduce himself and find out, but... well, last time he trusted a strange wolf, he got himself kidnapped. He's been just a little hesitant, even though he knows they must be friends.
Kachina hums and nods slightly while she glances over the wolves and then back towards the forest. "I suppose that could be true." She pauses a moment. "Do you think there are more cougars our there.. I mean my mom and dad never talked about 'em.."
Even thinking about strange wolves makes Ikuna just a bit uncomfortable. He's glad for the distraction of a conversation about cougars instead. He ponders it for a moment. "There must be," he finally says. Not that he's ever seen one. Or heard stories about them. Actually, wait a minute. He _did_ hear a story. "Yeah! I know there are, because Asku met one once."
Kachina hums at this, her ears flicking forward once more at this news. "Do you know where he met the cougar at?.." She's curious to say the least and wishes to learn all she can about more cougars.
Ikuna thinks hard about it. He only heard the story in bits and pieces, but... "It was near where we live, I think. The cougar was called... uhm.... Ta- or To- something. I forget." Tantallon, to be exact; who was once called Toyo. Also, a cougar that Kachina knew quite well, when he was alive, since he was her father. So much for /new/ cougars.
Kachina blinks while she looks to Ikuna watching him a few moments. She chews on her lip pondering before speaking up. "Tantallon?" She remembers her father's name rather well. Her gaze turns back to the sky. "That's my father's name.."
Ikuna perks up. "Yeah, that's -" Oh. Wait. Uhm. His ears splay and his tail lowers. He didn't mean to remind her that her dad is gone. He just thought... he was trying to help. His voice is rather more subdued as he says, "I think... so."
Kachina slowly slinks down and settles down upon the ground, her head lowering to press against the ground. "Maybe there are no other cougars raound.."
Ikuna presses himself against Kachina's side, sitting beside her with his head up as though he's keeping guard, just like the older wolves do. "There must be. Or else... where did your mom and did come from? They must have had parents, and brothers and sisters." They must, right? Kachina can't really truly be all alone... can she?
"My uncle is gone too.. He lived with me and my family along with his family.. All at the tree." Kachina says after a moment and leans close to her friend. "I'm not sure about my mother and her family."
Ikuna really, really hopes that Kachina isn't right about being alone like she has been about so many other things. He presses against her warmly, and sighs a little. He's met lots of wolves that weren't his family, but that's wolves. Maybe cougars are different. Besides, he doesn't think it would be very comforting to mention. He's not giving up hope just yet, though. "There's gotta be some cougars somewhere."
Kachina closes her eyes and snuffles out slightly. "Maybe.. But.. I'm starting to wonder if there are no other cougars around." Its hard for her -not- to thinks this. No cougar came to save her with the wolves, seems the wolves don't know any cougars then her late fatehr so its starting to look rather bad for the little feline.
Ikuna can't deny the facts. As much as he'd like to comfort Kachina and assure her that there are plenty of cougars... he has not a single bit of actual evidence beyond his hope. He has no more answers. He cuddles against her in silence, and leans down to nuzzle gently between her ears. He doesn't want to lose his friend... but he'd rather lose her than have her feel all alone like this.
Kachina the girl is quiet for a few moments, her eyes closing while she shifts and leans back against the wolf. "Maybe I'll be wrong.." But who knows.. Her eyes close and she starts to doze off once more.
Ikuna nods a little. "Maybe," he answers, uncertain now but still hopeful. He doesn't say anything more, just stays there in that position of affection and guarding as his cougar friend drifts off toward sleep again. Things are better now, but not everything is okay yet.