Post by Curiosity on Sept 22, 2007 19:32:33 GMT -5
Characters Involved:
Paoro, matron
Ahiga, chieftain
Moonseeker, sister
Tadewi, sister
-- Stone Formations --
Wind whistles through the mountain as Paoro consults the wisdom contained within the mystical formations of stone found to the north of the heart of the tribelands, listening to birdsongs and the faint trickle of water in the near distance. Her children are all fully grown, and she has many thanks to offer the spirits for allowing her second litter to thrive, none of them being taken early by the harsh judge that is nature this time around. Her prayers are issued silently, but she has no doubt the gods can hear them in the quiet of this sacred place.
One of the said children is making her way on to where her mothers is. Moonseeker slowly moves along, tail swaying while her gaze drifts over the rocky area around the area. Her maw twitches as she lifts her head, a warm smile offered to her mother along with a purr once she's near the older feline. Though she stays quiet not wanting to bother her as she seems rather busy.
There is much for which Ahiga should be grateful as well, and even the mighty chieftain must humble himself before the spirits. Still, it is a proud day for him, and a quiet one. Troubles outside of the stones are forgotten for now. Ahiga makes his way toward the sacred formations at a leisurely pace, enjoying everything about the serenity of the area: the feel of the ground beneath his paws, the wind's whistling, the scents that abound. Spotting Paoro and Moonseeker, he remains aloof for now and sits not far away. There's an unmistakable smile on his muzzle--but it's very faint.
Just as one makes their presence known, yet another follows not too far behind. True to her namesake, the young cougar seems to appear mysteriously with the wind and then ebb off again just as enigmatically. Tadewi seems to be following the breeze as it flows through mountains and weaves itself in and around the sacred formations where she spots her mother. A short moment of studying the surroundings lets her know that once of her siblings is here, as well as her rarely seen father. No outward emotion is expressed from the young cougar for the moment, and she keeps a silent and stoic approach until she is within a few feet of her family.
One might wonder why the cougars do not simply move their territory to include the stone formations if they hold its mysticism so high on the totem pole. To Paoro, the answer is simple: one cannot 'own' a place of such spiritual power. She has heard of a wolf pack that once called the formations their territory...one of their ranks contracted the Sickness, and the rest of them faded away into nothingness. Such power can not be constrained by mortal paws. As the sounds of approach draw near, the matron glances up and smiles at her family. "I see our boys have already begun the dispersal even before I was ready," she observes with a light chuckle. "Moonseeker, Tadewi...you have both grown strong in your hearts, and as you have now come of age, you will no longer be considered children of the Amaranth, but instead Sisters of our tribe."
Moonseeker glances over to Tadewi and then her father, a smile offered to bother while she settles down onto her haunches and looks back curiously to her mother as she listions to her. Her ears perk and she lifts her head and grins at this. "Really ma?" She questions while her tail wiggles about and she sways a bit on her paws. About time they get more responabilites around this place.
The smile on Ahiga's face only grows as Paoro speaks, and he watches his daughters with obvious pride. However, he says nothing, as always: the silent presence.
Tadewi has a dicernable sway to her step as well as she follows the breeze in toward the stones. Casting a glance to her mother as she speaks, Tadewi settles her rump down on the ground to rest for the moment. She then turns to look at her sister and father once more before returning her attention to her mother. 'Sisters of the tribe...' is something that settles hard on her shoulders. The days of carefree youth were now over, and she and her sister, as well as their other siblings, now held greater responsibilities and expectations.
Paoro nods in response to Moonseeker. "Mmhmm. As Sisters, you will be allowed to venture beyond the heart of our lands, and explore the surrounding areas to your heart's desire, so long as you bear the marking of the Amaranth with pride. For you, Moonseeker, named for the guardian of the night, let the stars and heavens show you the true path." She turns to her other daughter. "And you, Tadewi, must let the wind direct your paws to where they must step next in life." If they think being a sister will be tough, at least they don't have to find their own territory like their brothers will.
Moonseeker glances back to her sister watching her before what her mother says catches her full attention and she looks back to Paoro. She smiles and nods before glancing up to the sky pondering where it might lead her. Still, its nice to have a place to come home to with family around thats for sure.
'...to venture beyond the heart of our lands,' Tadewi concentrates on this bit of information first. She had never really considered the vastness of their land, regardless of the many days she spent off wandering about. To now be free to explore the surrounding lands and let the wind guide her...it would truly be a gratifying adventure. Again a cool breeze rushes by and rustles through her dusty fur as her head turns up with the breeze and her eyes search out over the land where it sails off.
Her guidance offered, and hopefully accepted, Paoro's role is finished. She will continue to be a constant source of support and advice should her children need it, but they are old enough now to begin making their own decisions. With a smile that is somehow sad as well as happy, she offers a nuzzle to both of her present children before walking over to Ahiga and settling down beside him - a silent gesture of permission to leave, independent, before the matron.
Moonseeker purrs while nuzzling her mother back happily, she's a bit surprized that there isn't more to say though and she tilts her head while watching her mother move away. The young cougar shifts to her paws, a faint bump of her head offered to her sister's shoulder in the process. A warm smile is then offered to her parents, though she isn't fully sure about leaving right at the moment. She ponders what her sister will do.
And a nuzzle is given to Paoro when she moves beside Ahiga. The chieftain purrs quietly, expressing pride as well as support for his mate. Then, he turns a smile on Tadewi and Moonseeker, watching to see what they will do now that they are independent cougars.
The young cougar's attention is focused solely on that wafting breeze...sweeping up high into the air to rustle the leaves of the pines and other vegetation boardering the formations, then swirling around and coming back to weave in and around each stone in turn. She keeps her head raised so that the breeze continues to rustle through her short fur and tickle her whiskers upon passing. Not catching the movement of the others around her, she lets out a tiny sound when she feels her sister bump against her shoulder. With a soft, deep breath, she inhales some of that cool breeze so that it refreshes her lungs and the wind truly becomes a part of her. "It looks like a new chapter in our life, Moonseeker," Tadewi speaks softly as the breath seeps out with her words.
"So it seems Tadewi." This offered as Moonseeker watches her sister a few moments before she glances back to the sky, pondering to herself. After another moment passes she starts to move off, if her sister follows she doesn't care, though she won't ask her to. The young feline figures its about time she start checking the place out away from home, and at the moment its not a bad time to do so. Thought its safe to say that she'll be back at some point.
And the true book of their lives is just now starting to be written with each paw falling upon the earth. Absently one of Tadewi's ears swivels to pick up the soft, faint steps of her sister beginning to melt off into the darkness. With another deep breath and pensive glance cast toward the clouds, the young cougar rises to her paws, as well. A flick is given from the end of her heavy tail, a form of silent acknowledgement to her parents and past guardians as her paws begin to carry her off in the opposite direction from her sister. Wherever the wind may lead her she was bound to travel, but return...yes. She most certainly would, just as the winds ever constantly bring themselves full-circle.
Paoro, matron
Ahiga, chieftain
Moonseeker, sister
Tadewi, sister
-- Stone Formations --
Wind whistles through the mountain as Paoro consults the wisdom contained within the mystical formations of stone found to the north of the heart of the tribelands, listening to birdsongs and the faint trickle of water in the near distance. Her children are all fully grown, and she has many thanks to offer the spirits for allowing her second litter to thrive, none of them being taken early by the harsh judge that is nature this time around. Her prayers are issued silently, but she has no doubt the gods can hear them in the quiet of this sacred place.
One of the said children is making her way on to where her mothers is. Moonseeker slowly moves along, tail swaying while her gaze drifts over the rocky area around the area. Her maw twitches as she lifts her head, a warm smile offered to her mother along with a purr once she's near the older feline. Though she stays quiet not wanting to bother her as she seems rather busy.
There is much for which Ahiga should be grateful as well, and even the mighty chieftain must humble himself before the spirits. Still, it is a proud day for him, and a quiet one. Troubles outside of the stones are forgotten for now. Ahiga makes his way toward the sacred formations at a leisurely pace, enjoying everything about the serenity of the area: the feel of the ground beneath his paws, the wind's whistling, the scents that abound. Spotting Paoro and Moonseeker, he remains aloof for now and sits not far away. There's an unmistakable smile on his muzzle--but it's very faint.
Just as one makes their presence known, yet another follows not too far behind. True to her namesake, the young cougar seems to appear mysteriously with the wind and then ebb off again just as enigmatically. Tadewi seems to be following the breeze as it flows through mountains and weaves itself in and around the sacred formations where she spots her mother. A short moment of studying the surroundings lets her know that once of her siblings is here, as well as her rarely seen father. No outward emotion is expressed from the young cougar for the moment, and she keeps a silent and stoic approach until she is within a few feet of her family.
One might wonder why the cougars do not simply move their territory to include the stone formations if they hold its mysticism so high on the totem pole. To Paoro, the answer is simple: one cannot 'own' a place of such spiritual power. She has heard of a wolf pack that once called the formations their territory...one of their ranks contracted the Sickness, and the rest of them faded away into nothingness. Such power can not be constrained by mortal paws. As the sounds of approach draw near, the matron glances up and smiles at her family. "I see our boys have already begun the dispersal even before I was ready," she observes with a light chuckle. "Moonseeker, Tadewi...you have both grown strong in your hearts, and as you have now come of age, you will no longer be considered children of the Amaranth, but instead Sisters of our tribe."
Moonseeker glances over to Tadewi and then her father, a smile offered to bother while she settles down onto her haunches and looks back curiously to her mother as she listions to her. Her ears perk and she lifts her head and grins at this. "Really ma?" She questions while her tail wiggles about and she sways a bit on her paws. About time they get more responabilites around this place.
The smile on Ahiga's face only grows as Paoro speaks, and he watches his daughters with obvious pride. However, he says nothing, as always: the silent presence.
Tadewi has a dicernable sway to her step as well as she follows the breeze in toward the stones. Casting a glance to her mother as she speaks, Tadewi settles her rump down on the ground to rest for the moment. She then turns to look at her sister and father once more before returning her attention to her mother. 'Sisters of the tribe...' is something that settles hard on her shoulders. The days of carefree youth were now over, and she and her sister, as well as their other siblings, now held greater responsibilities and expectations.
Paoro nods in response to Moonseeker. "Mmhmm. As Sisters, you will be allowed to venture beyond the heart of our lands, and explore the surrounding areas to your heart's desire, so long as you bear the marking of the Amaranth with pride. For you, Moonseeker, named for the guardian of the night, let the stars and heavens show you the true path." She turns to her other daughter. "And you, Tadewi, must let the wind direct your paws to where they must step next in life." If they think being a sister will be tough, at least they don't have to find their own territory like their brothers will.
Moonseeker glances back to her sister watching her before what her mother says catches her full attention and she looks back to Paoro. She smiles and nods before glancing up to the sky pondering where it might lead her. Still, its nice to have a place to come home to with family around thats for sure.
'...to venture beyond the heart of our lands,' Tadewi concentrates on this bit of information first. She had never really considered the vastness of their land, regardless of the many days she spent off wandering about. To now be free to explore the surrounding lands and let the wind guide her...it would truly be a gratifying adventure. Again a cool breeze rushes by and rustles through her dusty fur as her head turns up with the breeze and her eyes search out over the land where it sails off.
Her guidance offered, and hopefully accepted, Paoro's role is finished. She will continue to be a constant source of support and advice should her children need it, but they are old enough now to begin making their own decisions. With a smile that is somehow sad as well as happy, she offers a nuzzle to both of her present children before walking over to Ahiga and settling down beside him - a silent gesture of permission to leave, independent, before the matron.
Moonseeker purrs while nuzzling her mother back happily, she's a bit surprized that there isn't more to say though and she tilts her head while watching her mother move away. The young cougar shifts to her paws, a faint bump of her head offered to her sister's shoulder in the process. A warm smile is then offered to her parents, though she isn't fully sure about leaving right at the moment. She ponders what her sister will do.
And a nuzzle is given to Paoro when she moves beside Ahiga. The chieftain purrs quietly, expressing pride as well as support for his mate. Then, he turns a smile on Tadewi and Moonseeker, watching to see what they will do now that they are independent cougars.
The young cougar's attention is focused solely on that wafting breeze...sweeping up high into the air to rustle the leaves of the pines and other vegetation boardering the formations, then swirling around and coming back to weave in and around each stone in turn. She keeps her head raised so that the breeze continues to rustle through her short fur and tickle her whiskers upon passing. Not catching the movement of the others around her, she lets out a tiny sound when she feels her sister bump against her shoulder. With a soft, deep breath, she inhales some of that cool breeze so that it refreshes her lungs and the wind truly becomes a part of her. "It looks like a new chapter in our life, Moonseeker," Tadewi speaks softly as the breath seeps out with her words.
"So it seems Tadewi." This offered as Moonseeker watches her sister a few moments before she glances back to the sky, pondering to herself. After another moment passes she starts to move off, if her sister follows she doesn't care, though she won't ask her to. The young feline figures its about time she start checking the place out away from home, and at the moment its not a bad time to do so. Thought its safe to say that she'll be back at some point.
And the true book of their lives is just now starting to be written with each paw falling upon the earth. Absently one of Tadewi's ears swivels to pick up the soft, faint steps of her sister beginning to melt off into the darkness. With another deep breath and pensive glance cast toward the clouds, the young cougar rises to her paws, as well. A flick is given from the end of her heavy tail, a form of silent acknowledgement to her parents and past guardians as her paws begin to carry her off in the opposite direction from her sister. Wherever the wind may lead her she was bound to travel, but return...yes. She most certainly would, just as the winds ever constantly bring themselves full-circle.