Post by Therdde on Dec 29, 2008 21:51:56 GMT -5
Characters:
Kein - Male Adolescent Cougar
Cael - Male Cougar Cub
- Fallen Log -
It is the morning after Kein 'rescued' Cael from Revan. Yesterday was just too eventful for any talking to be productive. His son seemed awfully tired after eating. Kein has been up all night, but he is not yet horribly tired. He /is/ lying down, waiting for Nayeli to awaken, but he is not at risk of drifting off. He is only looking ahead, but he listens closely to what's around him.
Cael has steered /well/ clear of his father since yesterday, and only approached Nayeli when it was time to eat. Even now he's distanced himself from his siblings, but he's /not/ wandering off chasing bugs. He's working on mastering the art of sulking, and doing rather well, it seems. His dark eyes trail to the forest around him as he rests his chin on his forepaws tucked neatly in front of him. /POUT/.
Kein spent a while just trying to decide if he should try to speak to all of the cubs together or if he should speak it Cael alone. As the fainted sound of Cael resting his head on his forepaws reaches Kein's ears, Kein looks in the direction of his son. On seeing Cael away from the others, Kein stands and walks toward Cael, his expression as neutral as he can make it and his pace relaxed. He didn't like these kinds of talks when /he/ was a cub, but he's finding that he likes the idea of them even less, as an adult.
Sulking is boring x.x After a while Cael sighs, not noticing his father's approach from behind, and slowly stands, large paw batting half-interestedly at the grass. No bugs this time, but maybe that's a good thing. The cub churrs quietly, and begins to hum a little off-kilter ditty, bobbing his head to his own little music, before he bounds a step forward on an invisible bug. Alright! Gotcha! He laughs and pounces again, turning himself to follow the critters trail. In doing so, he runs smack bang into Kein's legs and falls back with a squeak, only to realize just who he ran into and his eyes widen in surprise. Gulp. o.o
Kein just stands and watches Cael, right up until Cael bumps into him. It's hard not to be swayed by how cute Cael's current behavior is, and he fights at the smile that causes his mouth to twitch. He doesn't fight the urge to reassure his son, though. He lowers his head to nuzzle, very lightly and very briefly, against the boy. After doing so, he says, "We're going to go for a walk, okay?" Not very far. Out of sight, but not out of shouting ditance, so he can immediately respond to Nayeli if she wakes up and is worried.
At the nuzzle, Cael can't help but roll to his back and grip Kein's muzzle on either side with his huge paws, nuzzling back despite himself. He loves his daddy! Her purr-growls, wanting to continue the awesome game, but dad's tone of voice comes back and Cael's ears droop. As Kein moves off a couple paces, Cael rolls to his paws and follows, dejectedly. He doesn't really want to go anywhere, k'dad? Please? Maybe? Shucks. -.- The boy trundles after his father, but can't help chase after a few shadows and blades of grass that distract him.
Kein listens to make sure that Cael is following, but he does not again look at the cub until after a couple minutes of walking. Then, he sits, facing the boycub. After sitting, he lowers himself so that his is lying, trying to get his head down to the same level as Cael. He has succeeded in suppressing any urge to smile, so that his expression is entirely serious, but he is not angry or disappointed.
Cael continues to chase shadows for a while, but when Kein settles himself her tries to stiffle his play. He can't really help it, though, and he still paws at a few blades of gray, eyes darting from dad, to grass, to dad, to grass, to dad, to trees, to grass, to bug, to dad, and around and around. Cael doesn't really know why Kein brought him here, to talk, and so he doesn't start the conversation. Nopenope. All innocent here!
Kein doesn't expect Cael to begin the conversation. He just waits until Cael's looking around slows down a little. Then, he says, "I need you to listen to me, and to try to understand why your mother and I were upset, okay?" His voice is calm, but still serious. All in all, it is probably a very good thing that this conversation waited, since hopefully Cael will be better capable of listening when he doesn't think he's being yelled at.
As Kein speaks, Cael's attention eventually settles on his father, at least, for a short while. That tone of voice though causes his little mischief grin to fade and his ears to fall to the sides of his head. "'Er wassa bug an' I's gets it an' Wreeevah 'den an' an' an'," and it's there that Cael looses his battle of explination when he seens Kein's expression. He doesn't have the words to articulate it, and so goes back to skulking.. since.. he's good at that, it seems.
Kein does not try to speak or interupt his son. Since learning Revan's name, Wreevah is pretty easily understood as the stranger's name, and Kein has to ask himself, had that wolf from his cubhood introduced himself instead of threating him, would he have followed? Almost definitely, so... Yes. He understands. He can't just ignore it, though. "What you did was very dangerous, Cael. Not everyone you meet is going to be your friend, ans some of them might want to hurt you." What if it had been Azriel instead of Revan? The thought is absolutely terrifying.
An ear swivels Kein's way, and Cael eventually glances up through his sulk as he listens. He tilts his head curiously, not.. really understanding the concept of good and bad, or, heck, danger. His brow furrows as he tries to puzzle through it, but he shakes his head and silently admits that he just doesn't get it. All he can do is just agree. "...'kay," he churrs, not knowing what else to do.
It would have been easy to just tell Cael what to do next time and leave it at that, but Kein does not /want/ his son to hate him, which is why he felt the need to explain to his son. Hopefully, he will actually understand, and hopefully sooner rather than later. This conversation isn't over until it is made perfectly clear what Kein will expect in the future... But maybe he does not just have to tell Cael? Kein's mother always seemed to ask more questions than give orders, so... "What do you think you'll do the next time you see a stranger, Cael?"
What his father doesn't understand, and what Cael can't explain, is that he didn't willingly go with Revan. He was hunting his bug, and ran into the larger male who just picked him up and that was that. Maybe he'll be able to explain to Kein later, but for now all he can do is pout. "Gitchoo.. ? An' ... Mra?" Blinkblink. Right?
Finally, Kein smiles and leans forward to nuzzle his son. "That's exactly right, Cael." And Kein could not be prouder of Cael for having given it. For the fact that he didn't need to be told. Kein can't know exactly what happened, no. He may never know. but if all was not forgiven even before this conversation took place, it certainly is, now.
Dad's praise has the boy instantly beaming and he swells his chest out with pride, "Ri!" he shouts and stands, trundling toward Kein to headbutt him in the chest only to fall in a heap against Kein's body. The boy noms at dad's chest fluff and paws at his chin, mrowling and growling like the FIERCE beast he is! RWAR!
Kein laughs and reaches out with a paw to swat Cael away lightly, playfully. More than anything, he is glad that Cael is back to being playful and happy, now. He wants his cubs to have a happy childhood, and if Cael had been upset for a long time because of this... Well, Kein would have been, too.
It would be hard for Cael to be less than energetic for any length of time, and to be honest, pouting stunk! He'd much rather be playing. His hindend is swatted away and he skitters a few paces back from his father, but bounds forward again and headbutts KEin's shoulder before he tries to scramble over the male's body. "Up!" Hoik!
Kein holds still as his son climbs up his shoulder. Smiling widely and turning his head to watch Cael as well as he can. Only once Cael is up there, Kein stands, slowly and smoothly to try to avoid making the young cub fall.
Cael spreads his paws wide once he settles onto Kein's back and he laughs joyously, noming on his dad's ears, or, what he can reach of them anyway. Eventually Cael manages to wriggle his way into a comfortable postion on Kein's back, his forepaws drapped over his dad's large shoulders and his head held high, surveying his surroundings. I'm KING OF THE WORLD! "Mra!" he purrs happily, wanting NAyeli to see his glory and greatness! MWAHAH!
Kein was going to suggest that they go back to where Nayeli was resting. Getting there before she wakes up would be ideal, after all. Cael saves him the trouble of suggesting it by demanding it, though, and so Kein laughs and says, "Okay, we'll go to Mom." With that, he begins walking back toward where he left his sleeping mate, still moving slowly and carefully to keep from dislodging his son.
Cael holds on, though every few steps he wobbles a little to one side or the other, jostled by Kein's shoulder blades. Tiny black claws peak from his paws, but they aren't anything that should hurt the older male to any degree. Shouldn't. All that can be heard are his joyous little laughs, content to perch on dad until either he falls off, or falls asleep. WHichever first.
When they reach Nayeli, she and the others are still sleeping. Kein look over his shoulder to get a glimpse of his son, then says, in a quiet voice, "Let's let her sleep a little while longer, okay?" After saying it, Kein lies back down, as carefully as he stood up and as carefully as he was walking.
Aaaaaaaaaahhhh *THUD* Cael sloooooowly slides down Kein's shoulder until his rearend hits the grass, and he tumbles rear over head into the grass, laughing. Despite his dad's warning, Cael still laughs a little too loud, but he manages to curb his enthusiasm somewhat. Another shadow catches his attention and he pawslaps at it, rolling to his side and bumping back into Kein, half upside down and squirming against his dad to get comfy. Rar. Sleepily upside down, Cael settles himself for a good dad-snuggle.
Kein - Male Adolescent Cougar
Cael - Male Cougar Cub
- Fallen Log -
It is the morning after Kein 'rescued' Cael from Revan. Yesterday was just too eventful for any talking to be productive. His son seemed awfully tired after eating. Kein has been up all night, but he is not yet horribly tired. He /is/ lying down, waiting for Nayeli to awaken, but he is not at risk of drifting off. He is only looking ahead, but he listens closely to what's around him.
Cael has steered /well/ clear of his father since yesterday, and only approached Nayeli when it was time to eat. Even now he's distanced himself from his siblings, but he's /not/ wandering off chasing bugs. He's working on mastering the art of sulking, and doing rather well, it seems. His dark eyes trail to the forest around him as he rests his chin on his forepaws tucked neatly in front of him. /POUT/.
Kein spent a while just trying to decide if he should try to speak to all of the cubs together or if he should speak it Cael alone. As the fainted sound of Cael resting his head on his forepaws reaches Kein's ears, Kein looks in the direction of his son. On seeing Cael away from the others, Kein stands and walks toward Cael, his expression as neutral as he can make it and his pace relaxed. He didn't like these kinds of talks when /he/ was a cub, but he's finding that he likes the idea of them even less, as an adult.
Sulking is boring x.x After a while Cael sighs, not noticing his father's approach from behind, and slowly stands, large paw batting half-interestedly at the grass. No bugs this time, but maybe that's a good thing. The cub churrs quietly, and begins to hum a little off-kilter ditty, bobbing his head to his own little music, before he bounds a step forward on an invisible bug. Alright! Gotcha! He laughs and pounces again, turning himself to follow the critters trail. In doing so, he runs smack bang into Kein's legs and falls back with a squeak, only to realize just who he ran into and his eyes widen in surprise. Gulp. o.o
Kein just stands and watches Cael, right up until Cael bumps into him. It's hard not to be swayed by how cute Cael's current behavior is, and he fights at the smile that causes his mouth to twitch. He doesn't fight the urge to reassure his son, though. He lowers his head to nuzzle, very lightly and very briefly, against the boy. After doing so, he says, "We're going to go for a walk, okay?" Not very far. Out of sight, but not out of shouting ditance, so he can immediately respond to Nayeli if she wakes up and is worried.
At the nuzzle, Cael can't help but roll to his back and grip Kein's muzzle on either side with his huge paws, nuzzling back despite himself. He loves his daddy! Her purr-growls, wanting to continue the awesome game, but dad's tone of voice comes back and Cael's ears droop. As Kein moves off a couple paces, Cael rolls to his paws and follows, dejectedly. He doesn't really want to go anywhere, k'dad? Please? Maybe? Shucks. -.- The boy trundles after his father, but can't help chase after a few shadows and blades of grass that distract him.
Kein listens to make sure that Cael is following, but he does not again look at the cub until after a couple minutes of walking. Then, he sits, facing the boycub. After sitting, he lowers himself so that his is lying, trying to get his head down to the same level as Cael. He has succeeded in suppressing any urge to smile, so that his expression is entirely serious, but he is not angry or disappointed.
Cael continues to chase shadows for a while, but when Kein settles himself her tries to stiffle his play. He can't really help it, though, and he still paws at a few blades of gray, eyes darting from dad, to grass, to dad, to grass, to dad, to trees, to grass, to bug, to dad, and around and around. Cael doesn't really know why Kein brought him here, to talk, and so he doesn't start the conversation. Nopenope. All innocent here!
Kein doesn't expect Cael to begin the conversation. He just waits until Cael's looking around slows down a little. Then, he says, "I need you to listen to me, and to try to understand why your mother and I were upset, okay?" His voice is calm, but still serious. All in all, it is probably a very good thing that this conversation waited, since hopefully Cael will be better capable of listening when he doesn't think he's being yelled at.
As Kein speaks, Cael's attention eventually settles on his father, at least, for a short while. That tone of voice though causes his little mischief grin to fade and his ears to fall to the sides of his head. "'Er wassa bug an' I's gets it an' Wreeevah 'den an' an' an'," and it's there that Cael looses his battle of explination when he seens Kein's expression. He doesn't have the words to articulate it, and so goes back to skulking.. since.. he's good at that, it seems.
Kein does not try to speak or interupt his son. Since learning Revan's name, Wreevah is pretty easily understood as the stranger's name, and Kein has to ask himself, had that wolf from his cubhood introduced himself instead of threating him, would he have followed? Almost definitely, so... Yes. He understands. He can't just ignore it, though. "What you did was very dangerous, Cael. Not everyone you meet is going to be your friend, ans some of them might want to hurt you." What if it had been Azriel instead of Revan? The thought is absolutely terrifying.
An ear swivels Kein's way, and Cael eventually glances up through his sulk as he listens. He tilts his head curiously, not.. really understanding the concept of good and bad, or, heck, danger. His brow furrows as he tries to puzzle through it, but he shakes his head and silently admits that he just doesn't get it. All he can do is just agree. "...'kay," he churrs, not knowing what else to do.
It would have been easy to just tell Cael what to do next time and leave it at that, but Kein does not /want/ his son to hate him, which is why he felt the need to explain to his son. Hopefully, he will actually understand, and hopefully sooner rather than later. This conversation isn't over until it is made perfectly clear what Kein will expect in the future... But maybe he does not just have to tell Cael? Kein's mother always seemed to ask more questions than give orders, so... "What do you think you'll do the next time you see a stranger, Cael?"
What his father doesn't understand, and what Cael can't explain, is that he didn't willingly go with Revan. He was hunting his bug, and ran into the larger male who just picked him up and that was that. Maybe he'll be able to explain to Kein later, but for now all he can do is pout. "Gitchoo.. ? An' ... Mra?" Blinkblink. Right?
Finally, Kein smiles and leans forward to nuzzle his son. "That's exactly right, Cael." And Kein could not be prouder of Cael for having given it. For the fact that he didn't need to be told. Kein can't know exactly what happened, no. He may never know. but if all was not forgiven even before this conversation took place, it certainly is, now.
Dad's praise has the boy instantly beaming and he swells his chest out with pride, "Ri!" he shouts and stands, trundling toward Kein to headbutt him in the chest only to fall in a heap against Kein's body. The boy noms at dad's chest fluff and paws at his chin, mrowling and growling like the FIERCE beast he is! RWAR!
Kein laughs and reaches out with a paw to swat Cael away lightly, playfully. More than anything, he is glad that Cael is back to being playful and happy, now. He wants his cubs to have a happy childhood, and if Cael had been upset for a long time because of this... Well, Kein would have been, too.
It would be hard for Cael to be less than energetic for any length of time, and to be honest, pouting stunk! He'd much rather be playing. His hindend is swatted away and he skitters a few paces back from his father, but bounds forward again and headbutts KEin's shoulder before he tries to scramble over the male's body. "Up!" Hoik!
Kein holds still as his son climbs up his shoulder. Smiling widely and turning his head to watch Cael as well as he can. Only once Cael is up there, Kein stands, slowly and smoothly to try to avoid making the young cub fall.
Cael spreads his paws wide once he settles onto Kein's back and he laughs joyously, noming on his dad's ears, or, what he can reach of them anyway. Eventually Cael manages to wriggle his way into a comfortable postion on Kein's back, his forepaws drapped over his dad's large shoulders and his head held high, surveying his surroundings. I'm KING OF THE WORLD! "Mra!" he purrs happily, wanting NAyeli to see his glory and greatness! MWAHAH!
Kein was going to suggest that they go back to where Nayeli was resting. Getting there before she wakes up would be ideal, after all. Cael saves him the trouble of suggesting it by demanding it, though, and so Kein laughs and says, "Okay, we'll go to Mom." With that, he begins walking back toward where he left his sleeping mate, still moving slowly and carefully to keep from dislodging his son.
Cael holds on, though every few steps he wobbles a little to one side or the other, jostled by Kein's shoulder blades. Tiny black claws peak from his paws, but they aren't anything that should hurt the older male to any degree. Shouldn't. All that can be heard are his joyous little laughs, content to perch on dad until either he falls off, or falls asleep. WHichever first.
When they reach Nayeli, she and the others are still sleeping. Kein look over his shoulder to get a glimpse of his son, then says, in a quiet voice, "Let's let her sleep a little while longer, okay?" After saying it, Kein lies back down, as carefully as he stood up and as carefully as he was walking.
Aaaaaaaaaahhhh *THUD* Cael sloooooowly slides down Kein's shoulder until his rearend hits the grass, and he tumbles rear over head into the grass, laughing. Despite his dad's warning, Cael still laughs a little too loud, but he manages to curb his enthusiasm somewhat. Another shadow catches his attention and he pawslaps at it, rolling to his side and bumping back into Kein, half upside down and squirming against his dad to get comfy. Rar. Sleepily upside down, Cael settles himself for a good dad-snuggle.