Post by malak on Dec 28, 2008 15:23:08 GMT -5
Wooded Terrain
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Heading away from the lake means moving into the woods where trees stand in varying stages of growth. The older trees are taller and reach to the sky while the smaller and younger trees struggle upwards towards that same light. Along the ground are bits of broken tree limbs and different types of shrubs and other vegetation staking their claim on whatever sunlight they can find and keep. Leaves rustle and grasses wave in the breezes that occasionally come through this area, though most of the surrounding air is fairly mild compared to some areas. However, when winter or a large storm hits, this wooded area offers protection to all creatures who can make their way to safety. The flow of melted snow from the south continues down the gentle slope towards the north, emptying into the nearby lake.
=================================== Exits ===================================
[North] to the Lake [South] to the Highlands
[Southwest] to the Grove [West] to the Stone Formations
================================================================================
[IC] Azriel
[IC] Malak
There's an early morning fog still lingering around the woods, most likely coming from the swollen lake not too far away. Being cut off from his usual hunting grounds was an irritation at best. He'd taken the kills he'd made along his patrols and hid them up in a tree to bring to Aylin later so instead of chowing down on a single kill she could simply devour several. Neon eyes squint to the misty sky above him and the male grunts, sliding back upon his haunches to rest his paws for a breif moment. Ears rotate to the sounds around him as he leans against the nearest tree trunk, a wide long yawn cracking his jaws.
The last few days have not been particularly peaceful for Malak. Aylin's appearance has interfered with the mission that brought him here, to the mountain, as he doesn't feel comfortable leaving her alone for long periods of time. Not with the vaguely familiar scent of the strange male that lingers in the area. Now is one of the times he has had to leave, though. Hunger gnaws at him, and he's certain Aylin would like more to eat, too. And, as he stalks through the trees, the scent of dead animals reaches him. Malak responds to this with a grin. Nothing like cutting out the work by stealing prey from another, less deserving creature, so he follows the scent, moving stealthfully.
He hadn't stored the kills very far, he wasn't a cub when it came to stealing others prey and had had it happen once or twice before to himself. Gaze shifts in the direction of where he'd stored the dead animals though he lets his gaze rest in the direction he'd left his sister. Splotched ears rotate back and forth and its a very very faint rustling that grabs the males attention. Azriel's head swivels and his nostrils flare though for the moment all smells in that general area are lost to him. A small puff of a breeze brings enough of Malak's scent to get the cougar on his paws. Jaws set, neon eyes narrowing and searching left to right for the stealthy cat as Az' moves to intercept, trying to figure out which direction the other is coming from exactly and where.
Malak does not realize that he is being hunted immediately. Here, outside of Amaranth, even if only just, he would expect any hunter to be decidedly inferior to him. The wind is not in his favor to tell him that the other male cougar has not just been here recently, but is here now, and so he continues advancing toward the tree. While he devotes most of his attention to following the scent, he does not ignore his surroundings. It is largely luck that kept Azriel completely unnoticed long enough to get close, but then the faintest sound of movement reaches Malak's ears, and he stops moving abruptly.
When the rustling of movement ceases the other male stops as well. Az's ears swivel around him and he eventually continues to move towards his kills and promptly sits right at the base of it. The male tale taps the ground expectantly, ears twisting back to look almost akin to horns and his eyes narrow into the woodlike shadows. Whiskers twitch as Azriel searches and finally, if not barely, spots the unmoving male not far away. Brows arch and Azriel waits, no sign of aggression, no word of threat. Large paws eventually begin to knead the somewhat damp soil beneath him.
It is not until Azriel begins moving again that Malak actually pinpoints his position. After that, it is easy to spot the other male through the trees as he moves... And easy to spot, also, that he has been noticed. Well. It is probably lucky for them both that he does not realize what, exactly, is so familiar about this male's scent. They are too evenly matched, and it is likely best that they only have one problem facing them both at a time. And while he would not attempt to steal the prey of this other male, there is still the issue of the other male lingering around the cougaress who is bearing his brother's cubs. Malak remains where he is, but finally, he stands upright, tail flicking as he returns Azriel's staring silently.
His green eyes tare the male apart piece by piece thoughtfully. He's young.. strong.. entirely capable. His ears search out if there are any others with him as his sister had mentioned 'brothers'. Satisfied that the other male was alone, for now, Azriel narrows his gaze thoughtfully, a faint scowl touching his maw as he thinks. Malak's scent was the one he'd smelled earlier and his sister had clearified that the strange male was one of the brothers, though not the one in which she was bearing his cubs. Head lifts a degree as he debates what to do now, having previously mentioned to his sister he had no need nor reason to meet these brothers. Azriel was a male of few words and thus simply grunts in greeting, an ear twitching back.
If Malak knew that this cougar is Aylin's brother, this would probably play out much different. At least, it would if he knew this cougar is Aylin's brother without knowing Azriel's name. Malak does not know these things, though, and so, after a moment, he says, "Your presence is not wanted here. However, as we are both trapped by the flood, I suggest we simply try to keep our distance from each other." The territory to the south of them is claimed. The area between Amaranth and the lake is not large enough to support two fully grown male cougars for long. Indeed, if Azriel were smaller, Malak probably would have just attacked to assert his claim, however temporary, on this land. As it is, he suggests a relativelyt peaceful solution.
The other males declaration that his presence wasn't wanted get a short clipped laugh from the other. "Well your presence is not wanted either," rummbles he. Azriel's ears twitch as the male shifts his weight, "Then I suggest you also keeping your distance from my sister," he drawls slowly. He knew not the males name, even though he was sure Aylin had told him before, but he knew this male was the same that had been lingering around her and thus most likely one of the brothers. He wasn't thrilled about the cubs, but Aylin was still his sister and thus his to protect, or so his brain was telling him recently.
His... /sister/? Then why would Aylin have not mentioned this? Malak narrows his eyes as he looks at Azriel. Even if Aylin /is/ his sister, why would that give him any reason to be lurking around her? Well, probably for many of the same reasons that Malak and Revan continue to travel together, but nevertheless... "Your sister is carrying my brother's cubs. I will not let you bring them harm." Possibly the same thing Azriel is thinking about him? But then, there is still the matter of Aylin not mentioning anything about this cougar, so Malak finds it hard to give him the benefit of the doubt.
So this is the other brother. What was his name again?? As Azriel racks his brain the male chuckles gently, if you could call it gently. "If I was going to cause harm to your brothers cubs, I'd have done it already." He'd been close enough to his sister that if he really didn't want the little bugger around he could have made it so. He eyes the other skeptically and hrrs, "Who's to say you won't harm them, seeing as they are not yours?" Azriel shifts his weight. If he knew what the other was thinking he could easily answer why Aylin had not mentioned who he was and the fact he was her brother.
Malak is willing to accept that he and Azriel have many of the same reasons for being here. They could continue this forever, and never be satisfied. "I cannot ask you to trust that my motives are pure, though they are. Just as I cannot trust anything you say. Not until I speak to your sister." Which only requires that Azriel remain here until Malak has a chance to do so, but there is no way to know that Azriel will be willing to do that.
Azriel slowly pushes himself to his paws, stretching as he does, "Fair enough," he finally answers the other. "You can talk to her after I feed her," and with that he turns to launche himself up the tree, gathering the three somewhat lean hares in his maw and a fox a little fatter then the one he'd got her previously. As the male lands back upon the ground with a heavy thud he turns neon eyes to the other male and mrrs deeply, dropping the kills, "I'll give you space when you talk to her, don't worry about me lingering." That was his short extension of a friendly gesture, as he scoops the kills up once more and without another word moves off in the direction of where his sisters scent is strongest.
Again, that was not what Malak had been expecting, and he can certainly appreciate not needing to worry about making sure that Aylin is fed today. What he cannot do, thoguh, is allow this male to be around Aylin alone, and so he is close on Azriel's heels as the other male begins walking in Aylin's direction, but he does not speak again. No interrogation. No attempts at forced civility.
================================================================================
Heading away from the lake means moving into the woods where trees stand in varying stages of growth. The older trees are taller and reach to the sky while the smaller and younger trees struggle upwards towards that same light. Along the ground are bits of broken tree limbs and different types of shrubs and other vegetation staking their claim on whatever sunlight they can find and keep. Leaves rustle and grasses wave in the breezes that occasionally come through this area, though most of the surrounding air is fairly mild compared to some areas. However, when winter or a large storm hits, this wooded area offers protection to all creatures who can make their way to safety. The flow of melted snow from the south continues down the gentle slope towards the north, emptying into the nearby lake.
=================================== Exits ===================================
[North] to the Lake [South] to the Highlands
[Southwest] to the Grove [West] to the Stone Formations
================================================================================
[IC] Azriel
[IC] Malak
There's an early morning fog still lingering around the woods, most likely coming from the swollen lake not too far away. Being cut off from his usual hunting grounds was an irritation at best. He'd taken the kills he'd made along his patrols and hid them up in a tree to bring to Aylin later so instead of chowing down on a single kill she could simply devour several. Neon eyes squint to the misty sky above him and the male grunts, sliding back upon his haunches to rest his paws for a breif moment. Ears rotate to the sounds around him as he leans against the nearest tree trunk, a wide long yawn cracking his jaws.
The last few days have not been particularly peaceful for Malak. Aylin's appearance has interfered with the mission that brought him here, to the mountain, as he doesn't feel comfortable leaving her alone for long periods of time. Not with the vaguely familiar scent of the strange male that lingers in the area. Now is one of the times he has had to leave, though. Hunger gnaws at him, and he's certain Aylin would like more to eat, too. And, as he stalks through the trees, the scent of dead animals reaches him. Malak responds to this with a grin. Nothing like cutting out the work by stealing prey from another, less deserving creature, so he follows the scent, moving stealthfully.
He hadn't stored the kills very far, he wasn't a cub when it came to stealing others prey and had had it happen once or twice before to himself. Gaze shifts in the direction of where he'd stored the dead animals though he lets his gaze rest in the direction he'd left his sister. Splotched ears rotate back and forth and its a very very faint rustling that grabs the males attention. Azriel's head swivels and his nostrils flare though for the moment all smells in that general area are lost to him. A small puff of a breeze brings enough of Malak's scent to get the cougar on his paws. Jaws set, neon eyes narrowing and searching left to right for the stealthy cat as Az' moves to intercept, trying to figure out which direction the other is coming from exactly and where.
Malak does not realize that he is being hunted immediately. Here, outside of Amaranth, even if only just, he would expect any hunter to be decidedly inferior to him. The wind is not in his favor to tell him that the other male cougar has not just been here recently, but is here now, and so he continues advancing toward the tree. While he devotes most of his attention to following the scent, he does not ignore his surroundings. It is largely luck that kept Azriel completely unnoticed long enough to get close, but then the faintest sound of movement reaches Malak's ears, and he stops moving abruptly.
When the rustling of movement ceases the other male stops as well. Az's ears swivel around him and he eventually continues to move towards his kills and promptly sits right at the base of it. The male tale taps the ground expectantly, ears twisting back to look almost akin to horns and his eyes narrow into the woodlike shadows. Whiskers twitch as Azriel searches and finally, if not barely, spots the unmoving male not far away. Brows arch and Azriel waits, no sign of aggression, no word of threat. Large paws eventually begin to knead the somewhat damp soil beneath him.
It is not until Azriel begins moving again that Malak actually pinpoints his position. After that, it is easy to spot the other male through the trees as he moves... And easy to spot, also, that he has been noticed. Well. It is probably lucky for them both that he does not realize what, exactly, is so familiar about this male's scent. They are too evenly matched, and it is likely best that they only have one problem facing them both at a time. And while he would not attempt to steal the prey of this other male, there is still the issue of the other male lingering around the cougaress who is bearing his brother's cubs. Malak remains where he is, but finally, he stands upright, tail flicking as he returns Azriel's staring silently.
His green eyes tare the male apart piece by piece thoughtfully. He's young.. strong.. entirely capable. His ears search out if there are any others with him as his sister had mentioned 'brothers'. Satisfied that the other male was alone, for now, Azriel narrows his gaze thoughtfully, a faint scowl touching his maw as he thinks. Malak's scent was the one he'd smelled earlier and his sister had clearified that the strange male was one of the brothers, though not the one in which she was bearing his cubs. Head lifts a degree as he debates what to do now, having previously mentioned to his sister he had no need nor reason to meet these brothers. Azriel was a male of few words and thus simply grunts in greeting, an ear twitching back.
If Malak knew that this cougar is Aylin's brother, this would probably play out much different. At least, it would if he knew this cougar is Aylin's brother without knowing Azriel's name. Malak does not know these things, though, and so, after a moment, he says, "Your presence is not wanted here. However, as we are both trapped by the flood, I suggest we simply try to keep our distance from each other." The territory to the south of them is claimed. The area between Amaranth and the lake is not large enough to support two fully grown male cougars for long. Indeed, if Azriel were smaller, Malak probably would have just attacked to assert his claim, however temporary, on this land. As it is, he suggests a relativelyt peaceful solution.
The other males declaration that his presence wasn't wanted get a short clipped laugh from the other. "Well your presence is not wanted either," rummbles he. Azriel's ears twitch as the male shifts his weight, "Then I suggest you also keeping your distance from my sister," he drawls slowly. He knew not the males name, even though he was sure Aylin had told him before, but he knew this male was the same that had been lingering around her and thus most likely one of the brothers. He wasn't thrilled about the cubs, but Aylin was still his sister and thus his to protect, or so his brain was telling him recently.
His... /sister/? Then why would Aylin have not mentioned this? Malak narrows his eyes as he looks at Azriel. Even if Aylin /is/ his sister, why would that give him any reason to be lurking around her? Well, probably for many of the same reasons that Malak and Revan continue to travel together, but nevertheless... "Your sister is carrying my brother's cubs. I will not let you bring them harm." Possibly the same thing Azriel is thinking about him? But then, there is still the matter of Aylin not mentioning anything about this cougar, so Malak finds it hard to give him the benefit of the doubt.
So this is the other brother. What was his name again?? As Azriel racks his brain the male chuckles gently, if you could call it gently. "If I was going to cause harm to your brothers cubs, I'd have done it already." He'd been close enough to his sister that if he really didn't want the little bugger around he could have made it so. He eyes the other skeptically and hrrs, "Who's to say you won't harm them, seeing as they are not yours?" Azriel shifts his weight. If he knew what the other was thinking he could easily answer why Aylin had not mentioned who he was and the fact he was her brother.
Malak is willing to accept that he and Azriel have many of the same reasons for being here. They could continue this forever, and never be satisfied. "I cannot ask you to trust that my motives are pure, though they are. Just as I cannot trust anything you say. Not until I speak to your sister." Which only requires that Azriel remain here until Malak has a chance to do so, but there is no way to know that Azriel will be willing to do that.
Azriel slowly pushes himself to his paws, stretching as he does, "Fair enough," he finally answers the other. "You can talk to her after I feed her," and with that he turns to launche himself up the tree, gathering the three somewhat lean hares in his maw and a fox a little fatter then the one he'd got her previously. As the male lands back upon the ground with a heavy thud he turns neon eyes to the other male and mrrs deeply, dropping the kills, "I'll give you space when you talk to her, don't worry about me lingering." That was his short extension of a friendly gesture, as he scoops the kills up once more and without another word moves off in the direction of where his sisters scent is strongest.
Again, that was not what Malak had been expecting, and he can certainly appreciate not needing to worry about making sure that Aylin is fed today. What he cannot do, thoguh, is allow this male to be around Aylin alone, and so he is close on Azriel's heels as the other male begins walking in Aylin's direction, but he does not speak again. No interrogation. No attempts at forced civility.