Post by temperance on Nov 21, 2007 21:10:32 GMT -5
Characters:
Azriel, adult cougar
Ayashe, adult cougar
Pine Grove
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The pine grove is shadowy and cool, and smells sharply, pungently, of sap. The trees are tall, their reddish trunks shadowed by their bristling branches, which start about four feet off of the ground. There is little underbrush, only a thick carpet of dead pine needles that, when the weather has been dry, crackle underfoot like a thousand tiny breaking bones, but provide near-silent cover when the air is damp. What undergrowth there is is mainly ferns, which spring up near the trunks of the trees. Too, there are pale mushrooms, and shelf fungi which seem to poke out of the trunks, bright, malevolent oranges and reds and yellows.
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It was still chilly but you could feel warmth on its way, at least in mid day you could. Now however in the fading light the cougar breaths in the cool air only to exhale it with a rather sour expression. Darned female.. Azriel shifts his weight as he moves closer to the pines to scratch himself along their trunks partially for an itch and the rest to rid him of Maulisho's scent. Bothersome female. Why did he bother with her then? Those are his reasons and he's not likely to share with.. well.. anyone. Az' grunts as he catches a good spot to itch and leans heavily into the pine trunk, ears flattening in contentment and eyes briefly closing. Mmmm. Happy kitty.
It has only been a few seasons since Ayashe left her tribe's home territory to find her own place in the world, but - at least to her - it feels as though an age has passed. Unable to remember the last time she saw or spoke with one of her one kind, she has been drawn to the grove by Azriel's scent and, as she moves with tender care through the pines, is seeking out its source with bright eyes and a slight spring to her step. As usual, the female is careful not to disturb the world around her, lest she attract the unwanted attention of the Man that she can also smell in the area. Ayashe's experience with humans is limited, but she knows better than to make her presence known to them. Like malevolent gods, they are prone to take life as suddenly as they grant it.
He's in the middle of scratching that oh-so-bothersome itch when a sound perks his ears and the feline stops dead. Head turns and green eyes peer into the surrounding area, body tensing briefly. Hrr.. Whiskers twitch and nostrils flare as the cougaress' scent slowly drifts to him as she nears. Another female? He begins to think its Maulisho however the scent is different, and the pace. Ears twitch and the male stands tall to continue staring the direction Ayashe is coming from, a curious 'gruff' coming from his throat.
Ayashe freezes. It occurs to her that there might have been a reason her father was so adamant about keeping other males away from his mate and cubs - what if this stranger is as dangerous as Ahiga made all strangers out to be? The only males that she has ever known were family, and shared the blood that runs through her veins and fuels the anxious pounding of her heart. What is this strange stirring she suddenly feels?
He continues to stare even as the sound of treading paws ceases. Whiskers twitch again and Azriel stays as still as before. It seems to be a stand off between two stone-cats before he finally flicks his tail and chuffs into the growing darkness, "Who's there?" His voice is gruff, somewhat gravelly and deep. For now, no malice is shown. Azriel keeps a low cover, ya never know who you may need to befriend for the future ya know. Ears twitch to their sides and the male scans the shadows, barley picking out a shape in the distant darkness.
Ayashe's voice dances through the pines, "Pay me no mind, lord. I am but the wind in the trees and the whisper of the water." The female does not show herself, believing that if she remains absolutely still, he will stare right past her and mistake her petite shape for a trick of the fading light.
Azriel squints his eyes, voice is definitely female... scent is definitely cougar. The male grunts deeply and takes a slow step forwards. "Is that so.." Azriel murrs slowly, "The last time I checked, the wind and water did not speak to me." Azriel leaves the pine trunks to venture slowly into the fading shadows, eyes adjusting to the lack of light. He pauses however has Ayashe comes more into view and hesitates in his paces towards her. "Oh... Evening m'lady.." he drawls slowly, ears twitching forwards.
"Didn't your tribe ever teach you the ways of the wind and the water?" Ayashe asks as Azriel makes his approach. Her voice is light and teasing, but not without a hint of apprehension. She has every reason to be frightened and every reason to run - and yet she remains as solid and unyielding as stone. Either she's very brave, or very foolish. "We can take whatever shape we choose."
Azriel ahs faintly as he views her, gaze taking in everything and storing her features to memory. "I am unfortunate to never have experienced a 'tribe' as you call it," he rumbles. Head tilts to one side as she continues and the male grins very faintly, "Well then, lady of the winds and waters," he murmurs, "Whatever shape you choose, it's a pleasure to meet you.." Tribe.. she must be from Amaranth, just like Maulisho. They're multiplying. "My name’s Azriel. What may I call you, little stream?"
"If I gave you my name, so too would I give you power over me - and you wouldn't want that, would you, lord? The wind and water should be allowed to travel as freely as the birds in the sky and the fish in the creek." Ayashe has been daring enough for one day. As she turns away from Azriel, she throws him a haphazard glance over her left shoulder to ensure he does not follow when she retreats through the trees. "Farewell, Azriel."
Azriel hrrs softly and grins, perhaps an actual grin and not a smirk, as the female turns to leave. "So be it then.." he rumbles. The male flicks an ear forward as he catches her farewell and calls his own, "Farewell, little stream..." Azriel inwardly cringes. Did he just give a random female a nickname? Bleh. However... she was different the all the rest... wasn't she? The male scoffs to himself before daring another look and turning back to trot into the pine grove once more. Wimmenz.
Azriel, adult cougar
Ayashe, adult cougar
Pine Grove
================================================================================
The pine grove is shadowy and cool, and smells sharply, pungently, of sap. The trees are tall, their reddish trunks shadowed by their bristling branches, which start about four feet off of the ground. There is little underbrush, only a thick carpet of dead pine needles that, when the weather has been dry, crackle underfoot like a thousand tiny breaking bones, but provide near-silent cover when the air is damp. What undergrowth there is is mainly ferns, which spring up near the trunks of the trees. Too, there are pale mushrooms, and shelf fungi which seem to poke out of the trunks, bright, malevolent oranges and reds and yellows.
================================================================================
It was still chilly but you could feel warmth on its way, at least in mid day you could. Now however in the fading light the cougar breaths in the cool air only to exhale it with a rather sour expression. Darned female.. Azriel shifts his weight as he moves closer to the pines to scratch himself along their trunks partially for an itch and the rest to rid him of Maulisho's scent. Bothersome female. Why did he bother with her then? Those are his reasons and he's not likely to share with.. well.. anyone. Az' grunts as he catches a good spot to itch and leans heavily into the pine trunk, ears flattening in contentment and eyes briefly closing. Mmmm. Happy kitty.
It has only been a few seasons since Ayashe left her tribe's home territory to find her own place in the world, but - at least to her - it feels as though an age has passed. Unable to remember the last time she saw or spoke with one of her one kind, she has been drawn to the grove by Azriel's scent and, as she moves with tender care through the pines, is seeking out its source with bright eyes and a slight spring to her step. As usual, the female is careful not to disturb the world around her, lest she attract the unwanted attention of the Man that she can also smell in the area. Ayashe's experience with humans is limited, but she knows better than to make her presence known to them. Like malevolent gods, they are prone to take life as suddenly as they grant it.
He's in the middle of scratching that oh-so-bothersome itch when a sound perks his ears and the feline stops dead. Head turns and green eyes peer into the surrounding area, body tensing briefly. Hrr.. Whiskers twitch and nostrils flare as the cougaress' scent slowly drifts to him as she nears. Another female? He begins to think its Maulisho however the scent is different, and the pace. Ears twitch and the male stands tall to continue staring the direction Ayashe is coming from, a curious 'gruff' coming from his throat.
Ayashe freezes. It occurs to her that there might have been a reason her father was so adamant about keeping other males away from his mate and cubs - what if this stranger is as dangerous as Ahiga made all strangers out to be? The only males that she has ever known were family, and shared the blood that runs through her veins and fuels the anxious pounding of her heart. What is this strange stirring she suddenly feels?
He continues to stare even as the sound of treading paws ceases. Whiskers twitch again and Azriel stays as still as before. It seems to be a stand off between two stone-cats before he finally flicks his tail and chuffs into the growing darkness, "Who's there?" His voice is gruff, somewhat gravelly and deep. For now, no malice is shown. Azriel keeps a low cover, ya never know who you may need to befriend for the future ya know. Ears twitch to their sides and the male scans the shadows, barley picking out a shape in the distant darkness.
Ayashe's voice dances through the pines, "Pay me no mind, lord. I am but the wind in the trees and the whisper of the water." The female does not show herself, believing that if she remains absolutely still, he will stare right past her and mistake her petite shape for a trick of the fading light.
Azriel squints his eyes, voice is definitely female... scent is definitely cougar. The male grunts deeply and takes a slow step forwards. "Is that so.." Azriel murrs slowly, "The last time I checked, the wind and water did not speak to me." Azriel leaves the pine trunks to venture slowly into the fading shadows, eyes adjusting to the lack of light. He pauses however has Ayashe comes more into view and hesitates in his paces towards her. "Oh... Evening m'lady.." he drawls slowly, ears twitching forwards.
"Didn't your tribe ever teach you the ways of the wind and the water?" Ayashe asks as Azriel makes his approach. Her voice is light and teasing, but not without a hint of apprehension. She has every reason to be frightened and every reason to run - and yet she remains as solid and unyielding as stone. Either she's very brave, or very foolish. "We can take whatever shape we choose."
Azriel ahs faintly as he views her, gaze taking in everything and storing her features to memory. "I am unfortunate to never have experienced a 'tribe' as you call it," he rumbles. Head tilts to one side as she continues and the male grins very faintly, "Well then, lady of the winds and waters," he murmurs, "Whatever shape you choose, it's a pleasure to meet you.." Tribe.. she must be from Amaranth, just like Maulisho. They're multiplying. "My name’s Azriel. What may I call you, little stream?"
"If I gave you my name, so too would I give you power over me - and you wouldn't want that, would you, lord? The wind and water should be allowed to travel as freely as the birds in the sky and the fish in the creek." Ayashe has been daring enough for one day. As she turns away from Azriel, she throws him a haphazard glance over her left shoulder to ensure he does not follow when she retreats through the trees. "Farewell, Azriel."
Azriel hrrs softly and grins, perhaps an actual grin and not a smirk, as the female turns to leave. "So be it then.." he rumbles. The male flicks an ear forward as he catches her farewell and calls his own, "Farewell, little stream..." Azriel inwardly cringes. Did he just give a random female a nickname? Bleh. However... she was different the all the rest... wasn't she? The male scoffs to himself before daring another look and turning back to trot into the pine grove once more. Wimmenz.