Post by Therdde on Dec 21, 2008 0:17:59 GMT -5
Characters:
Kein - Male Adolescent Cougar
Nayeli - Female Adolescent Cougar
Kaya - Female Cougar Cub
Nuba - Male Cougar Cub
- Fallen Log -
It has certainly been an eventful trip so far. The first day was calm enough. Then they woke up to rising water levels, and were forced to retreat to the north. As if being cut off from their planned route back to Amaranth wasn't bad enough, here, far away from Amaranth and by themselves, Nayeli gave birth. Since that moment, Kein has slept little. The few times that he drifted off, his sleep was light, and interrupted quickly by an unfamiliar sound or by movement from the cubs or his mate. Though he is lying near them, he is not curled up by his mate, as he would normally be at night. Rather, he is sitting up a couple feet away and trying to keep fully aware of their unfamiliar surroundings. Trying to keep his sleeping family safe. As the moon shines down, trickling through the leaves above, his head nods several times. If not for his desire to not leave their side, he would get up to take a walk, to wake himself up.
Unlike her mate, Nayeli is quite awake now, after the short nap she felt compelled to take shortly following the cubs' birth. Her body and emotions were overwhelmed, exhausted, and in desperate need of rest. It didn't last long, as the needs of her cubs did and still do claim first priority, but at least she's not nodding off like Kein seems to be doing. "Go ahead and get some sleep," she whispers softly, eyes glinting slightly in the moonlight. "We'll be fine." It's a weird sound, rolling off of her tongue. She's used to using the singular.. but now.. she's a mother. The event of birthing itself took her completely by surprise, and she's still glad that Kein was able to remain (somewhat) calm during it; no doubt he wasn't expecting it to happen anytime soon either. And right after they discovered that this unexpected and unusual flooding has effectively trapped them on the opposite side from their home. Paoro and Kasim will no doubt be worried for both of them, yet Nayeli still can't help but remain relaxed. She's survived the birthing of five adorable little cubs, and really isn't in the mood for worrying about what might happen.
Right next to her mother's warm, soft body is one of the cubs. This is her firstborn, Kaya. Suckling upon her form, the young cub is barely experiencing the idea of drinking and eating, filling her stomach. This entire situation, senses, an outside world. All foreign.
Kein might have fallen asleep again, if not for Nayeli's voice reaching his ears. He lifts his head to look at her, and at the cubs by her side. She might not be in the mood to worry, but Kein can't seem to do anything but worry. So many things could happen. He knows he will have to really sleep eventually. Even if he didn't, they will need to eat. He can't stay awake by their side to watch over them indefinitely, but he certainly wants to. All but ignoring her statement that he should sleep, he asks, "How do you feel?" Is she hungry, or thirsty? It wouldn't take her long to get to the water, to take a drink, and though he cannot provide for the cubs as Nayeli can, he can make sure they all stay in one place, stay safe, for the time it would take her.
How /does/ she feel? Tired still, yes. Sore. Weak. But overall, there's just a sense of peace and contentment. She's a mother now, with both her cubs and her mate, and that makes everything just right. "I feel.. well.. about as well as can be expected," is her response, perhaps just a tad joking in nature. She doesn't feel /bad/, and doesn't really have any needs at the present, other than to just rest and recover. And to be there for her cubs, obviously, which is what she plans on doing. Even at the thought of them, she instinctively looks down and runs her tongue over each of their heads. So tiny and helpless, and yet so beautiful.. each in their own individual way.
Her joking response isn't exactly reassuring, but Kein will accept it. Though he has said similar things before, he can't help but ask, "If you need anything, you'll let me know, right?" He can't provide for the cubs, but he can certainly provide for Nayeli, and he has every intention to do so. Whatever he needs to do, he will make sure she gets the time she needs to recover.
"Of course I'll let you know, dear." Nayeli gives as warm and reassuring of a smile as she can. "The only real thing that I need now is for you to be as happy as I am." Implied: stop worrying so much and just relax! Probably not going to happen, as she knows that he's anxious about their safety and needs, but she can at least /try/ to calm him down, can't she? "Have you been able to think of any other names yet?" Probably not while he's half-asleep here, but maybe the extra mental activity will take his mind off of worrying.
Kaya finishes getting her first meal from her mother and settles down against her and curls up, purring quietly.
Will Kein wait until she actually tells him she's hungry to go hunt? Almost definitely not. There is a chance that she might tell him before he gets a chance, but he will not wait just to make her ask for food. What about other things, though? She has never had to ask him for anything, so how will he know if she's really fine, or if she just isn't telling him? Though he hasn't really stopped worrying, he does, finally, lie down. Names continue to be something that escape him, even as he shifts his gaze from Nayeli to the cubs at her side. Quietly, he answers, "Not yet." But he'll think about it... And then, maybe, it will fulfill the purpose Nayeli had in asking.
The nameless second male of the litter remains suckling, attached and dependent on his mother in every respect of the words. As far as size is concerned, he seems to be a bit smaller than his brother sisters, but his appetite certainly doesn't reflect that. He continues on getting his fill happily.
They have Kaya named, and hopefully the rest before too much longer. Nayeli smiles at the delicate feel of the cubs pressing up against her and enjoying their first meals. "You look like you haven't slept in a week," she chuckles, turning her gaze back to Kein. "Go ahead and nap. We'll be fine until you wake up, and then we can talk about what to do from here." As in, how to get back to Amaranth. Or at least how to survive until that's possible, with the water level being so high and all.
Maybe if they were by themselves, they could manage. Or they could try to find another way up the mountain. But with the cubs... Until the water goes down, and until the cubs can follow them, they are going to have to remain in the area. Kein hasn't been worrying about how to get back. Only about everything that might happened until they can get back. Before he follows Nayeli's advice, he asks, "You'll wake me if anyone comes?" He doesn't care if whoever might show up isn't violent, or even if they couldn't present a threat. He doesn't want his mate to be left alone with a stranger, should he manage to sleep through someone getting near them.
The male at last quits his first meal of life, and withdraws his head. Already feeling the fuzzy warmth of his sister, he curls up practically on top of her and does what he can: sleep.
Nayeli licks at her cubs, gently of course, and gives an affirmative "mmm" in response to Kein's question. Of course she will; she has no desire to face anyone right now, strangers especially, and with her cubs at her side she can't exactly just get up and fight off an intruder if it can be avoided. It suddenly occurs to her that she's been purring probably longer now than she ever has in her life--it's as if she can't stop, even if she wanted to. Which she doesn't, of course. Why would she? It's the joy of being a mother.
That is probably the best he can do to provide his family with safety during the periods he needs to sleep. Trust that Nayeli will wake him, no matter who approaches. How he will provide them with safety when he needs to hunt will be another matter, but... Well, he'll have to think about that when he wakes up. When, of course, he isn't thinking about names. Perhaps his dreams will provide him with some answers, in that regard. It certainly won't be long before he has dreams, because very shortly after Nayeli speaks, his eyes close, and it is not long after that he drifts into a sleep that, at least for the immediate moment, is still pretty light.
Kein - Male Adolescent Cougar
Nayeli - Female Adolescent Cougar
Kaya - Female Cougar Cub
Nuba - Male Cougar Cub
- Fallen Log -
It has certainly been an eventful trip so far. The first day was calm enough. Then they woke up to rising water levels, and were forced to retreat to the north. As if being cut off from their planned route back to Amaranth wasn't bad enough, here, far away from Amaranth and by themselves, Nayeli gave birth. Since that moment, Kein has slept little. The few times that he drifted off, his sleep was light, and interrupted quickly by an unfamiliar sound or by movement from the cubs or his mate. Though he is lying near them, he is not curled up by his mate, as he would normally be at night. Rather, he is sitting up a couple feet away and trying to keep fully aware of their unfamiliar surroundings. Trying to keep his sleeping family safe. As the moon shines down, trickling through the leaves above, his head nods several times. If not for his desire to not leave their side, he would get up to take a walk, to wake himself up.
Unlike her mate, Nayeli is quite awake now, after the short nap she felt compelled to take shortly following the cubs' birth. Her body and emotions were overwhelmed, exhausted, and in desperate need of rest. It didn't last long, as the needs of her cubs did and still do claim first priority, but at least she's not nodding off like Kein seems to be doing. "Go ahead and get some sleep," she whispers softly, eyes glinting slightly in the moonlight. "We'll be fine." It's a weird sound, rolling off of her tongue. She's used to using the singular.. but now.. she's a mother. The event of birthing itself took her completely by surprise, and she's still glad that Kein was able to remain (somewhat) calm during it; no doubt he wasn't expecting it to happen anytime soon either. And right after they discovered that this unexpected and unusual flooding has effectively trapped them on the opposite side from their home. Paoro and Kasim will no doubt be worried for both of them, yet Nayeli still can't help but remain relaxed. She's survived the birthing of five adorable little cubs, and really isn't in the mood for worrying about what might happen.
Right next to her mother's warm, soft body is one of the cubs. This is her firstborn, Kaya. Suckling upon her form, the young cub is barely experiencing the idea of drinking and eating, filling her stomach. This entire situation, senses, an outside world. All foreign.
Kein might have fallen asleep again, if not for Nayeli's voice reaching his ears. He lifts his head to look at her, and at the cubs by her side. She might not be in the mood to worry, but Kein can't seem to do anything but worry. So many things could happen. He knows he will have to really sleep eventually. Even if he didn't, they will need to eat. He can't stay awake by their side to watch over them indefinitely, but he certainly wants to. All but ignoring her statement that he should sleep, he asks, "How do you feel?" Is she hungry, or thirsty? It wouldn't take her long to get to the water, to take a drink, and though he cannot provide for the cubs as Nayeli can, he can make sure they all stay in one place, stay safe, for the time it would take her.
How /does/ she feel? Tired still, yes. Sore. Weak. But overall, there's just a sense of peace and contentment. She's a mother now, with both her cubs and her mate, and that makes everything just right. "I feel.. well.. about as well as can be expected," is her response, perhaps just a tad joking in nature. She doesn't feel /bad/, and doesn't really have any needs at the present, other than to just rest and recover. And to be there for her cubs, obviously, which is what she plans on doing. Even at the thought of them, she instinctively looks down and runs her tongue over each of their heads. So tiny and helpless, and yet so beautiful.. each in their own individual way.
Her joking response isn't exactly reassuring, but Kein will accept it. Though he has said similar things before, he can't help but ask, "If you need anything, you'll let me know, right?" He can't provide for the cubs, but he can certainly provide for Nayeli, and he has every intention to do so. Whatever he needs to do, he will make sure she gets the time she needs to recover.
"Of course I'll let you know, dear." Nayeli gives as warm and reassuring of a smile as she can. "The only real thing that I need now is for you to be as happy as I am." Implied: stop worrying so much and just relax! Probably not going to happen, as she knows that he's anxious about their safety and needs, but she can at least /try/ to calm him down, can't she? "Have you been able to think of any other names yet?" Probably not while he's half-asleep here, but maybe the extra mental activity will take his mind off of worrying.
Kaya finishes getting her first meal from her mother and settles down against her and curls up, purring quietly.
Will Kein wait until she actually tells him she's hungry to go hunt? Almost definitely not. There is a chance that she might tell him before he gets a chance, but he will not wait just to make her ask for food. What about other things, though? She has never had to ask him for anything, so how will he know if she's really fine, or if she just isn't telling him? Though he hasn't really stopped worrying, he does, finally, lie down. Names continue to be something that escape him, even as he shifts his gaze from Nayeli to the cubs at her side. Quietly, he answers, "Not yet." But he'll think about it... And then, maybe, it will fulfill the purpose Nayeli had in asking.
The nameless second male of the litter remains suckling, attached and dependent on his mother in every respect of the words. As far as size is concerned, he seems to be a bit smaller than his brother sisters, but his appetite certainly doesn't reflect that. He continues on getting his fill happily.
They have Kaya named, and hopefully the rest before too much longer. Nayeli smiles at the delicate feel of the cubs pressing up against her and enjoying their first meals. "You look like you haven't slept in a week," she chuckles, turning her gaze back to Kein. "Go ahead and nap. We'll be fine until you wake up, and then we can talk about what to do from here." As in, how to get back to Amaranth. Or at least how to survive until that's possible, with the water level being so high and all.
Maybe if they were by themselves, they could manage. Or they could try to find another way up the mountain. But with the cubs... Until the water goes down, and until the cubs can follow them, they are going to have to remain in the area. Kein hasn't been worrying about how to get back. Only about everything that might happened until they can get back. Before he follows Nayeli's advice, he asks, "You'll wake me if anyone comes?" He doesn't care if whoever might show up isn't violent, or even if they couldn't present a threat. He doesn't want his mate to be left alone with a stranger, should he manage to sleep through someone getting near them.
The male at last quits his first meal of life, and withdraws his head. Already feeling the fuzzy warmth of his sister, he curls up practically on top of her and does what he can: sleep.
Nayeli licks at her cubs, gently of course, and gives an affirmative "mmm" in response to Kein's question. Of course she will; she has no desire to face anyone right now, strangers especially, and with her cubs at her side she can't exactly just get up and fight off an intruder if it can be avoided. It suddenly occurs to her that she's been purring probably longer now than she ever has in her life--it's as if she can't stop, even if she wanted to. Which she doesn't, of course. Why would she? It's the joy of being a mother.
That is probably the best he can do to provide his family with safety during the periods he needs to sleep. Trust that Nayeli will wake him, no matter who approaches. How he will provide them with safety when he needs to hunt will be another matter, but... Well, he'll have to think about that when he wakes up. When, of course, he isn't thinking about names. Perhaps his dreams will provide him with some answers, in that regard. It certainly won't be long before he has dreams, because very shortly after Nayeli speaks, his eyes close, and it is not long after that he drifts into a sleep that, at least for the immediate moment, is still pretty light.