Post by Therdde on Jan 13, 2008 20:24:45 GMT -5
Characters:
Paoro – Female Cougar
Tadewi – Female Cougar
Bodhi – Male Wolf
Skelaghe – Female Wolf
Dichali – Male Bighorn Sheep
Roki – Male Cougar
- Stone Formations -
Paoro shakes her head, shrugging slightly. "I can't say, Tadewi. He had his reasons, but they did not make much sense to me. Something about...Man, and how he thinks they are to be admired." She sighs, looking down at her paws, seeing Tadewi's atop hers. "He will surely get himself killed."
Tadewi listens to her mother's explanation, but when the young cougar hears the word 'man' she raises her brow. "M-man?" she struggles with the word as if it were difficult to pronounce. Clearly this is something she hasn't learned much about. "I don't understand," she admits, her face expressing quite a great deal of confusion.
Paoro notices the confusion in her daughter's eyes at the mention of humans, and so Paoro settles down on her haunches to explain. "Man is the great predator. It walks on two legs, and kills indiscriminately - hoofbeasts, birds, even other predators. But it doesn't kill like we do...it uses some sort of magical tools to kill without ever needing to so much as touch the creature." She sighs softly, shaking her head. "LaVeaux is not as mature nor as responsibly thinking as he believes he is. It is one thing to respect and fear Man...it is another thing entirely to admire him." She shakes her head. "But no matter. There is no need to dwell on such sadness...I've had my fill of it lately."
Listening to her mother provide insight into this mysterious creature sends a shiver down young Tadewi's spine. To kill without ever needing to touch the creature? How is that possible? A series of questions rush through her mind as she keeps a questioning, though now more fearful, look on her face. Hopefully the spirits will pay a much needed guiding visit to her brother... She then just softly nods in agreement to a change of subject.
As though reading Tadewi's mind, Paoro shifts to a more lighthearted topic. "I wonder, have you been made aware of your spirit totem yet? Both Roki and Moonseeker have found theirs," she inquires, whiskers twitching slightly.
Thinking back on the coming-of-age ceremony she witnessed just prior to separating from her family, Tadewi nods slowly. "I think so..." she says slowly, her tail tip flicking pensively. "It was the Wind, I believe?"
Bodhi pads toward the stone formations slowly while keeping his nose low to the ground not wanting to lose track of Paoro's scent, his head lifting every once in a while to take a closer look at the area "I must admit I am curious to see what reception we will get once we find her, the last time was fairly respectful but also a bit suspicious which makes sense when a strange wolf appears" a slight smirk appearing on his lips as he speaks softy
It makes sense when any strange animal appears. Skelaghe still doesn't know who 'her' is, the cougar who Bodhi knows, but she hasn't asked previously and she doesn't ask now. A name won't help her at this point, anyway. She walks beside Bodhi and remains silent, not at all concerned about what reception they'll get.
Paoro smiles. "Not quite, but that may be a clue. Spirit totems generally take the form of an animal - mine, for example, is a bald eagle." Her ears prick up as they catch the faint sounds of voices, swiveling back radar-like to better focus on the origin. She swivels her head around in turn, sighting a pair of wolves on approach. The matron is not alarmed; both her dealings with Viridian and the rag-tag group she was associated with in the search for the cure have made her quite familiar with lupines.
Tadewi doesn't spot the entrance of the others just yet, but she does catch Paoro's ears swiveling around all of a sudden. Just as quickly, Tadewi searches the clearing to spot the approach of two wolves not too far off. She hasn't met much with their kind, just one short encounter when the young cougar apparently overstepped her bounds while wandering. Just the same, she's been rubbed the wrong way by them and so her demeanor changes to a slight bit of aggression as they draw nearer.
Bodhi smiles warmly as he notes the two cougars up ahead and knows one of them instantly "Aaah, there we have her" head twisting to look at Skelaghe for a few moments "Took a bit longer than planned and with a few detours but at least we have arrived" His attention returning to the two cougars as he keeps his warm smile and continues toward them "Good Evening Matron Paoro, it has been quite a while since I’ve visited your lands and it looks even better now than during my last" A respectful nod in greeting offered to both Paoro and Tadewi
Skelaghe's posture is far from aggressive as she approaches Paoro and Tadewi. Her tail rests behind her and her posture is relaxed. The matron of this tribe, at least as far as how Bodhi addresses her, does not appear to intend to attack either Skel or her travelling companion. Should the younger cougar do something of the sort, though, Skel would to no more than retreat. She's not here to pick fights. Allowing Bodhi to greet the two without competing with her for words, she greets them both with a polite bow of her head, saying nothing yet.
Paoro dips her head in response to the polite greeting. "Thank you, brother wolf, though I'm afraid I've forgotten your name since we met. Your companion's, too," she adds, gesturing towards the she-wolf accompanying him. Facing the wolves, she fails to notice Tadewi's changed demeanor.
Tadewi watches the wolves approach and takes note of the pleasant smile upon the male's muzzle. Her brow contorts in confusion once again, and her nose wrinkles a tad as she glances up to her mother for clarification once more. Friends? This reunion was becoming more and more puzzling to her the longer it continued. With her ears still drawn back, Tadewi at least relaxes her tensed shoulders just a bit. Apparently her mother knew these two, and she couldn't possibly allow any harm to occur.
Bodhi dips his head once more "My name is Bodhi and my last visit was a fair while ago as you had a number of younglings around, including a recently adopted that had yet to get her markings and who I spent most my time around before meeting you" exhales slowly as he lies down relaxing and basically puts his trust in the two cougars "Paoro meet Skelaghe who is a recent arrival in our lands and showed great interest in meeting your tribe after i told her of it, Skelaghe meet Paoro who is the Matron of the Amaranth tribe"
A certain bighorn was wandering about the mountain on his own again. It seemed it was hard to keep the ram in one place for long. Dichali had actually spent a while with his heard after having taken the trip to and back from the cure, but, being a rather strange ram, his heard wandered too little for his liking. Thus, here he was, wandering about alone again...and into a place that'd seem suicidal for most prey creatures.
Skelaghe is about to introduce herself, as there is no reason for Paoro to know her name, when Bodhi speaks. As she is introduced by him, though, she smiles and looks up to Paoro and Tadewi. With a nod of her head, she says, "It is a great pleasure to meet you, Matron Paoro." Her ears twitch to the direction of Dichali, but her interest, at least for the moment, lies in front of her.
Paoro bobs her head once again. "What's the interest, if I may ask?" she addresses the she-wolf, head tilted slightly.
Tadewi casts her eyes back in the male's direction. The event that he speaks of remains somewhat fresh in her mind, but she seems to fail to remember a wolf there...wait, no, there might have been one. Unconsciously the young cougar squints her eyes a bit while trying to think. Whatever happened to that other young cougar? Well, that was a question for another time. Pushing back the thought, Tadewi finally sends a nod in their direction and allows her ears to spring back up to normal.
Bodhi remains silent for now as Paoro questions Skelaghe, his ears swirling slightly in Dichali's direction before his head follows, his brows raising slightly at the sight of the ram but shrugs slightly as he sees no interest or use in the ram at the moment and returns his attention to watching Tadewi instead with a wry smile
Dichali twitches his ears as he notices the meeting of predators. However, having noticed Paoro, he wasn't too bothered, on top of his standard being full of himself. He just made his way up to the group and bowed his head to the matron cougar. He'd speak but, he doesn't just want to burst into things...not that he hasn't just done that physically.
Skelaghe keeps her eyes on Paoro as she answers the Amaranth Matron's question. "I come seeking a specific cougar, though I am not sure of her name, or even that she is a member of your tribe, Matron. I have come to these lands with my former packmate, who told me of the group who led him to the cure that saved people in both these lands and my former lands. I am hoping you can point me in the right direction." Skelaghe is a story teller. This is the most profound story she has ever heard, but there are people behind this story, people she can actually meet. She's not willing to let them remain as nameless figures in history.
Paoro blinks in mild surprise. "Helaku?" she ventures a guess at the mention of 'former lands'. "I was one of the cougars involved with the search of the cure, yes. The only female, I believe. Perhaps I am who you seek." The matron appears even more surprised when the ram makes his arrival. "Dichali? What brings you here?"
Attentions come and go in the direction of the ram, but all this talk of searching and cures leaves Tadewi admittedly in the dark. She does her best to sit by and try to understand, especially now as Paoro seems to have an acquaintance in the ram, as well.
Dichali tilts his head a little and gives the closest thing he can to a big smile. "I was just wandering and happened across all of you," he states, "Funny I should do it when someone happens to be asking you about us." He then decides that it seems he'll be having a little chat, so he carefully lowers himself to a laying position. "I do trust you've been well off since our little adventure, Paoro," he asks as he gives another twitch of his ears.
About us? Of course, Skelaghe heard about the ingenious ram, who was the one to learn how to use the cure. Is this that ram? She nods at Helaku's name, then glances briefly to Dichali before looking back at Paoro. "Perhaps you are, in which case, I am even more pleased to meet you, Matron."
"Indeed, I have," she answers the ram, finding it somewhat amusing that he'd so willingly settle down to such a vulnerable position around so many carnivores. She glances to the she-wolf as she speaks. "I think you'd be even more pleased to make the acquaintance of Dichali, here...he's the one who figured it all out. Perhaps it's why he's so confident as to lie down in the presence of hunters," she adds with a light chuckle.
Bodhi takes a deep breath as he turns his focus fully toward the ram and studies him "In that case my thanks and gratitude for figuring it out" a wry smile on his lips as he dips his head respectfully
Dichali gives his head a slight shake. "I know you, and I'm not easily frightened," the ram noted, "It doesn't seem too dangerous to lay here at the moment..." He peers from Paoro to Skelaghe and back. "Well it /was/ me that came up with the idea to spread the cure and the idea to work together," he states, taking a moment from his big headedness to give credit where it's due, "That's true, but Paoro led us all the way and that must have been a very hard task." "You're welcome," the ram adds in reply to Bodhi as he gives another bow of his head.
Roki appears along the same path Dichali had taken, not knowing that he had been stalking the one who saved his and everyone he knows life. At the sound of voices he held back for a moment, but having recognized one of them he strode confidently into the clearing. Looking every bit a much more capable and stronger a hunter than the one who left his mother's side way back at the ceremony of his departure. A crash course in life on your own will develop that you know.. "Dinner invites itself now? Things have changed." he chuckles with a smile.
Skelaghe looks to Dichali again. "I am grateful to meet you as well, Dichali. I had heard of both of you, but I did not know your names." Skelaghe finds herself in the presence of two great heroes, and she is rightfully humbled by the experience. Skelaghe then glances to the arriving cougar. She's not pleased with how he refers to Dichali as dinner, given that she owes much to this ram, but she says nothing, given how she is in this tribe's territory.
Paoro smiles at Dichali. "I'll allow some, but certainly not all, of the credit to be attributed to me. It was a team effort, to say the least." Another familiar voice approaches, and Paoro immediately abandons the others to greet her son with a nuzzle - family always comes before strangers in Paoro's world. "My family is returning to me, it seems. Perhaps my luck has begun to turn, after all," she muses aloud.
Tadewi starts to feel herself needing to wander about some more as the conversation between all of these new creatures continues to play itself out before her. Sadly she hardly knew anything of which they spoke about. It is only the approach of her stalking brother that finally catches her attention and snaps her out of her daze. "Roki!" she calls, "It has been a while."
Bodhi grins widely at the episode unfolding before him then chuckles softly at Paoro's musing "I would say that one good deed deserves another" his brows furrowing slightly as he muses "and I’m sure your role in getting the cure has given you a large amount of karma in your favor"
Dichali seems unbothered by Roki's comment. "I'll have you know I've been called dinner several times before, but so much as injured only once," he notes in amusement, "And that once wasn't even at the hands of a predator." That's certainly a good show of how lucky he's been considering how very vulnerable he was while the sickness had him. He offers another head bow to Skelaghe before commenting on what Paoro had said. "Therdde helped a great deal in speaking with other prey creatures..." he explains before pausing thoughtfully, "Everyone was some sort of use."
Roki turns his sly predatory stare from Dichali to his approaching mother.. and despite the proud strong hunter he seems to be turning into, in her presence he seems to go right back into mama's boy mode and purrs happily returning the affectionate nuzzle. He furrows his brows in concern with what she says about her luck but gets distracted to Tadewi's call. "Hello sister. It certainly has! Your growing up!" Though no faster than himself of course.. He hears the rams boast and just smiles good naturedly.. not knowing what to say to a prey's apparent overconfidence. "The spirits must favor you greatly." He says after finally finding the words.
There's another name that Skelaghe does not recognize. Therdde, who could be any species, along with Misery, who she still wrongly assumes is a wolf. Skelaghe's attention is not fixed on Dichali, as Paoro is greeting family and Skel would not dare intrude on that. "As much as you do deserve my gratitude, that is not the only reason why I have come here. My packmate, Helaku, could only tell me so much. I would like to know more, though, so that I may pass your story on accurately." Which leads to her next question. "Who is Therdde?"
Paoro's ears flick at Bodhi's response, and she pauses long enough in her family affections to acknowledge him. "Perhaps you're right, Bodhi." But then her maternal side kicks in again, and she returns her primary focus to that of the pair of offspring so recently returned to her. "Roki, dear...Tadewi already knows, but your father got sick from the illness that affected so many...and he left us in an attempt to prevent the rest of us from catching it. He...hasn't returned yet."
Tadewi watches her brother as her mother explains the case of their father. She lowers her eyes slightly, glancing out toward the surrounding forest as she quietly takes in his response.
Bodhi on the other hand having said what he wanted returns to silence and merely observes the others who speak with furrowed brows, a slight smile on his lips as he returns to his favorite task of merely listening and observing which is what gave him the nickname shadow
Dichali tilts his head as he listens to Skelaghe. "Therdde is my friend," he answers, "He's a duck, he acted as a watch out for me when I was too weak, and I carried him on my back when he was too dizzy. He did some important talking for us in regards to the horses and other such prey animals." He ponders the comment about spirits favoring him, but doesn't seem to know how to respond to it.
The rest of the clearing and everyone else in it fades away from Roki's notice as his mother explains to him what happened. He sits down, feeling the need to as the weight of her words settles on him. "...Who is protecting the tribe?" he whispers. His family's safety the first thing to come to mind. He hopes his father is all right and concern is marked obviously on his face.
Paoro's brows furrow in worried, perhaps frightened, concern, and then she manages to put on a half-smile for the benefit of her offspring. "I am, I suppose." It's obvious that all of the wear and tear of life, especially during recent events, has taken a toll on the cougaress, making her look and feel older than she truly is.
Ah yes, the duck of the group, a strange addition. If not for his species, he would have never been noteworthy, as he did not do much when Skelaghe's only source of information previous to today was nearby. "Do you, by chance, know where Therdde nests?" Do ducks nest? Skelaghe can't admit to ever meeting one before. She keeps a single ear on the conversation, storing what information she gleans away. Paoro's mate was ill, had to leave, and hasn't returned. For their sake, she hopes he is still alive, but she still doesn't intrude on their conversation.
Dichali gives a nod at Skelaghe's latest question. "Well I think it's where I nest cause it's usually where I find him," the ram notes. He quietly hopes that Paoro's mate is well as well.
Roki looks to his sister, then back to his mother again. His sense of duty and responsibility setting in. "I will too." His spirit quest will have to be put on hold as more important matters make themselves known to him. Not that duck nests aren’t fascinating in their own right, the other conversations in the area seem to fall by his interest’s wayside. "I take it the ram is not for eating.." he says in a whisper with a smile to his mother and sister, trying to lighten the mood some.
Paoro offers another nuzzle to her son - technically her only son, now - at his offer of assistance. The spirits know she could use all she can get until Ayashe returns. If she returns. "I appreciate it, Roki. More than you know." Having her family back around her again will do much to revive her hopes and lift her mood. She chuckles at his comment, shaking her head. "No, he's not."
So if Skelaghe were to follow Dichali's scent, she may well stumble across this duck, Therdde. That is good enough for her, especially as she trusts the fates to guide her where she needs to be at the proper point in time. Silently, Skelaghe pieces together the extra information she has learned in the short time she has been here with these animals, just to make sure she doesn't forget anything.
Perhaps she might laugh if she had more of an idea about what was going on. There were just too many faces and too much being talked about that she was feeling more and more overwhelmed by it all. First her other brother was lost from their family for his desire to seek out 'man', then she learned her mother played some integral part in the search for a cure to this mysterious illness. Tadewi just couldn't grasp it all. "I need...to take a walk." she says simply, rising to her paws and turning for a lightly worn path into the surrounding forest.
Dichali twitches his ears and peers around quietly for a moment now, giving Paoro some time to speak with the family.
Paoro nods to Tadewi, looking after her with a bit of concern in her eyes. "Thank you, Roki," she replies in return, before turning back to the group. "I apologize, but I have other things to tend to at the moment. If you need to speak with me again, Skelaghe, you know where to find me." With that, she trots off, with Roki likely following shortly thereafter.
Roki likely follows shortly thereafter.
Skelaghe gives a nod to the departing Paoro. She may take the Amaranth Matron up on that at a later date. She looks back to Dichali, then. "I don't believe I managed to introduce myself to you, Dichali. I am Skelaghe." Her tone remains polite, maybe even deferential, perhaps odd, given that she's speaking to a prey animal.
Dichali also nods to Paoro and family as they depart. He then gives Skelaghe yet another bow of the head. "I don't live awfully far from here," he notes, "And the place I think Therdde stays is on the way, so either of us probably aren't far from here."
Skelaghe did manage to notice the direction from which Dichali came, and she assumes that is the direction where he lives. Speaking to him, she says, "I have business with the Viridian pack, yet, as there is a wolf there who may also be able to offer me more information." No, there isn't, but there /is/ a coyote there who may be able to help her. "If you see Therdde, would you put in a word for me? I can assure you, I do not mean you or anyone else who helped any harm. I owe you much." Not hunting Dichali and Therdde, if she could even manage to take down a ram or a duck, is the least she could do in repayment of that.
Dichali gives a little nod. "Alright," he says as he looks thoughtful, "Which wolf are you looking for?"
Skelaghe answers readily, with a fine memory for details. "One by the name of Misery. She brought the cure back to Viridian." Which is why Skelaghe has, thus far, assumed Misery is a wolf, thought it would probably not surprise her terribly to find out otherwise.
Dichali tilts his head. "She must have been with the other group," he states, "I don't remember her." "I will speak to Therdde for you, as you ask."
Skelaghe knows there were two groups who eventually found their way to the cure's location, though she has yet to meet anyone from the group that reached the cure without Paoro's guidance, at least without Paoro's guidance until right up at the end. Upon hearing that Misery must be a member of the second group, she is even more keen on meeting the 'wolf'. "Thank you, once more, Dichali."
Dichali nods yet again. "You're welcome," he says before peering around a little from his vantage point. He only now notices most the others are gone, having left himself, Skelaghe, and Bodhi.
Skelaghe glances back towards Bodhi, who has been very quiet, as Dichali looks around. She knows how much simply letting others talk can teach a person, but someone had to ask questions to guide the learning process, a skill Skelaghe has cultivated over the years. After that, she looks back to Dichali. "It has been a long journey for my guide and I, Dichali, and I fear I should rest, as it seems others here have already done." Or they walked off to patrol, or whatever. The point is, she should take her leave of these tribal lands and find a place where she can safely rest.
Dichali carefully pushes to his feet. "I suppose I should be on my way back to my own kind," he states, "May you both rest well."
Bodhi dips his head as he finally decides to rejoin the conversation "may both you and your kind stay safe and well Dichali" a wry smile on his lips as he slowly sits up "and to show some proper manners since i know yours, my name is Bodhi"
Skelaghe offers a slight bow of her head and returns the farewell, after Bodhi speaks. "Likewise, Dichali. May Tobba guide you on your path back to your family." After speaking, she returns to Bodhi's side in a silent offer to join him in sleep for at least one more night, knowing he may need to return to his pack soon, though she has no intention of doing so. Right now, the mountains hold the most opportunities for her, though she wouldn't might if he remained to travel with her.
Dichali gives another bow of his head toward the others before he makes his way make off in the direction of where his kind tended to stay.
Bodhi simply smiles softly as Skelaghe returns to his side and offers her a friendly nuzzle and murrs humoredly "It would seem like this visit was more educational them originally expected eh?" his gaze somewhat on Dichali as he leaves
Skelaghe is not so sure she expected it to be less educational than this. "It was a good visit to make and a good time to make it." She would have expected no less, though she had anticipated further travelling before encountering any of the animals that she sought.
Paoro – Female Cougar
Tadewi – Female Cougar
Bodhi – Male Wolf
Skelaghe – Female Wolf
Dichali – Male Bighorn Sheep
Roki – Male Cougar
- Stone Formations -
Paoro shakes her head, shrugging slightly. "I can't say, Tadewi. He had his reasons, but they did not make much sense to me. Something about...Man, and how he thinks they are to be admired." She sighs, looking down at her paws, seeing Tadewi's atop hers. "He will surely get himself killed."
Tadewi listens to her mother's explanation, but when the young cougar hears the word 'man' she raises her brow. "M-man?" she struggles with the word as if it were difficult to pronounce. Clearly this is something she hasn't learned much about. "I don't understand," she admits, her face expressing quite a great deal of confusion.
Paoro notices the confusion in her daughter's eyes at the mention of humans, and so Paoro settles down on her haunches to explain. "Man is the great predator. It walks on two legs, and kills indiscriminately - hoofbeasts, birds, even other predators. But it doesn't kill like we do...it uses some sort of magical tools to kill without ever needing to so much as touch the creature." She sighs softly, shaking her head. "LaVeaux is not as mature nor as responsibly thinking as he believes he is. It is one thing to respect and fear Man...it is another thing entirely to admire him." She shakes her head. "But no matter. There is no need to dwell on such sadness...I've had my fill of it lately."
Listening to her mother provide insight into this mysterious creature sends a shiver down young Tadewi's spine. To kill without ever needing to touch the creature? How is that possible? A series of questions rush through her mind as she keeps a questioning, though now more fearful, look on her face. Hopefully the spirits will pay a much needed guiding visit to her brother... She then just softly nods in agreement to a change of subject.
As though reading Tadewi's mind, Paoro shifts to a more lighthearted topic. "I wonder, have you been made aware of your spirit totem yet? Both Roki and Moonseeker have found theirs," she inquires, whiskers twitching slightly.
Thinking back on the coming-of-age ceremony she witnessed just prior to separating from her family, Tadewi nods slowly. "I think so..." she says slowly, her tail tip flicking pensively. "It was the Wind, I believe?"
Bodhi pads toward the stone formations slowly while keeping his nose low to the ground not wanting to lose track of Paoro's scent, his head lifting every once in a while to take a closer look at the area "I must admit I am curious to see what reception we will get once we find her, the last time was fairly respectful but also a bit suspicious which makes sense when a strange wolf appears" a slight smirk appearing on his lips as he speaks softy
It makes sense when any strange animal appears. Skelaghe still doesn't know who 'her' is, the cougar who Bodhi knows, but she hasn't asked previously and she doesn't ask now. A name won't help her at this point, anyway. She walks beside Bodhi and remains silent, not at all concerned about what reception they'll get.
Paoro smiles. "Not quite, but that may be a clue. Spirit totems generally take the form of an animal - mine, for example, is a bald eagle." Her ears prick up as they catch the faint sounds of voices, swiveling back radar-like to better focus on the origin. She swivels her head around in turn, sighting a pair of wolves on approach. The matron is not alarmed; both her dealings with Viridian and the rag-tag group she was associated with in the search for the cure have made her quite familiar with lupines.
Tadewi doesn't spot the entrance of the others just yet, but she does catch Paoro's ears swiveling around all of a sudden. Just as quickly, Tadewi searches the clearing to spot the approach of two wolves not too far off. She hasn't met much with their kind, just one short encounter when the young cougar apparently overstepped her bounds while wandering. Just the same, she's been rubbed the wrong way by them and so her demeanor changes to a slight bit of aggression as they draw nearer.
Bodhi smiles warmly as he notes the two cougars up ahead and knows one of them instantly "Aaah, there we have her" head twisting to look at Skelaghe for a few moments "Took a bit longer than planned and with a few detours but at least we have arrived" His attention returning to the two cougars as he keeps his warm smile and continues toward them "Good Evening Matron Paoro, it has been quite a while since I’ve visited your lands and it looks even better now than during my last" A respectful nod in greeting offered to both Paoro and Tadewi
Skelaghe's posture is far from aggressive as she approaches Paoro and Tadewi. Her tail rests behind her and her posture is relaxed. The matron of this tribe, at least as far as how Bodhi addresses her, does not appear to intend to attack either Skel or her travelling companion. Should the younger cougar do something of the sort, though, Skel would to no more than retreat. She's not here to pick fights. Allowing Bodhi to greet the two without competing with her for words, she greets them both with a polite bow of her head, saying nothing yet.
Paoro dips her head in response to the polite greeting. "Thank you, brother wolf, though I'm afraid I've forgotten your name since we met. Your companion's, too," she adds, gesturing towards the she-wolf accompanying him. Facing the wolves, she fails to notice Tadewi's changed demeanor.
Tadewi watches the wolves approach and takes note of the pleasant smile upon the male's muzzle. Her brow contorts in confusion once again, and her nose wrinkles a tad as she glances up to her mother for clarification once more. Friends? This reunion was becoming more and more puzzling to her the longer it continued. With her ears still drawn back, Tadewi at least relaxes her tensed shoulders just a bit. Apparently her mother knew these two, and she couldn't possibly allow any harm to occur.
Bodhi dips his head once more "My name is Bodhi and my last visit was a fair while ago as you had a number of younglings around, including a recently adopted that had yet to get her markings and who I spent most my time around before meeting you" exhales slowly as he lies down relaxing and basically puts his trust in the two cougars "Paoro meet Skelaghe who is a recent arrival in our lands and showed great interest in meeting your tribe after i told her of it, Skelaghe meet Paoro who is the Matron of the Amaranth tribe"
A certain bighorn was wandering about the mountain on his own again. It seemed it was hard to keep the ram in one place for long. Dichali had actually spent a while with his heard after having taken the trip to and back from the cure, but, being a rather strange ram, his heard wandered too little for his liking. Thus, here he was, wandering about alone again...and into a place that'd seem suicidal for most prey creatures.
Skelaghe is about to introduce herself, as there is no reason for Paoro to know her name, when Bodhi speaks. As she is introduced by him, though, she smiles and looks up to Paoro and Tadewi. With a nod of her head, she says, "It is a great pleasure to meet you, Matron Paoro." Her ears twitch to the direction of Dichali, but her interest, at least for the moment, lies in front of her.
Paoro bobs her head once again. "What's the interest, if I may ask?" she addresses the she-wolf, head tilted slightly.
Tadewi casts her eyes back in the male's direction. The event that he speaks of remains somewhat fresh in her mind, but she seems to fail to remember a wolf there...wait, no, there might have been one. Unconsciously the young cougar squints her eyes a bit while trying to think. Whatever happened to that other young cougar? Well, that was a question for another time. Pushing back the thought, Tadewi finally sends a nod in their direction and allows her ears to spring back up to normal.
Bodhi remains silent for now as Paoro questions Skelaghe, his ears swirling slightly in Dichali's direction before his head follows, his brows raising slightly at the sight of the ram but shrugs slightly as he sees no interest or use in the ram at the moment and returns his attention to watching Tadewi instead with a wry smile
Dichali twitches his ears as he notices the meeting of predators. However, having noticed Paoro, he wasn't too bothered, on top of his standard being full of himself. He just made his way up to the group and bowed his head to the matron cougar. He'd speak but, he doesn't just want to burst into things...not that he hasn't just done that physically.
Skelaghe keeps her eyes on Paoro as she answers the Amaranth Matron's question. "I come seeking a specific cougar, though I am not sure of her name, or even that she is a member of your tribe, Matron. I have come to these lands with my former packmate, who told me of the group who led him to the cure that saved people in both these lands and my former lands. I am hoping you can point me in the right direction." Skelaghe is a story teller. This is the most profound story she has ever heard, but there are people behind this story, people she can actually meet. She's not willing to let them remain as nameless figures in history.
Paoro blinks in mild surprise. "Helaku?" she ventures a guess at the mention of 'former lands'. "I was one of the cougars involved with the search of the cure, yes. The only female, I believe. Perhaps I am who you seek." The matron appears even more surprised when the ram makes his arrival. "Dichali? What brings you here?"
Attentions come and go in the direction of the ram, but all this talk of searching and cures leaves Tadewi admittedly in the dark. She does her best to sit by and try to understand, especially now as Paoro seems to have an acquaintance in the ram, as well.
Dichali tilts his head a little and gives the closest thing he can to a big smile. "I was just wandering and happened across all of you," he states, "Funny I should do it when someone happens to be asking you about us." He then decides that it seems he'll be having a little chat, so he carefully lowers himself to a laying position. "I do trust you've been well off since our little adventure, Paoro," he asks as he gives another twitch of his ears.
About us? Of course, Skelaghe heard about the ingenious ram, who was the one to learn how to use the cure. Is this that ram? She nods at Helaku's name, then glances briefly to Dichali before looking back at Paoro. "Perhaps you are, in which case, I am even more pleased to meet you, Matron."
"Indeed, I have," she answers the ram, finding it somewhat amusing that he'd so willingly settle down to such a vulnerable position around so many carnivores. She glances to the she-wolf as she speaks. "I think you'd be even more pleased to make the acquaintance of Dichali, here...he's the one who figured it all out. Perhaps it's why he's so confident as to lie down in the presence of hunters," she adds with a light chuckle.
Bodhi takes a deep breath as he turns his focus fully toward the ram and studies him "In that case my thanks and gratitude for figuring it out" a wry smile on his lips as he dips his head respectfully
Dichali gives his head a slight shake. "I know you, and I'm not easily frightened," the ram noted, "It doesn't seem too dangerous to lay here at the moment..." He peers from Paoro to Skelaghe and back. "Well it /was/ me that came up with the idea to spread the cure and the idea to work together," he states, taking a moment from his big headedness to give credit where it's due, "That's true, but Paoro led us all the way and that must have been a very hard task." "You're welcome," the ram adds in reply to Bodhi as he gives another bow of his head.
Roki appears along the same path Dichali had taken, not knowing that he had been stalking the one who saved his and everyone he knows life. At the sound of voices he held back for a moment, but having recognized one of them he strode confidently into the clearing. Looking every bit a much more capable and stronger a hunter than the one who left his mother's side way back at the ceremony of his departure. A crash course in life on your own will develop that you know.. "Dinner invites itself now? Things have changed." he chuckles with a smile.
Skelaghe looks to Dichali again. "I am grateful to meet you as well, Dichali. I had heard of both of you, but I did not know your names." Skelaghe finds herself in the presence of two great heroes, and she is rightfully humbled by the experience. Skelaghe then glances to the arriving cougar. She's not pleased with how he refers to Dichali as dinner, given that she owes much to this ram, but she says nothing, given how she is in this tribe's territory.
Paoro smiles at Dichali. "I'll allow some, but certainly not all, of the credit to be attributed to me. It was a team effort, to say the least." Another familiar voice approaches, and Paoro immediately abandons the others to greet her son with a nuzzle - family always comes before strangers in Paoro's world. "My family is returning to me, it seems. Perhaps my luck has begun to turn, after all," she muses aloud.
Tadewi starts to feel herself needing to wander about some more as the conversation between all of these new creatures continues to play itself out before her. Sadly she hardly knew anything of which they spoke about. It is only the approach of her stalking brother that finally catches her attention and snaps her out of her daze. "Roki!" she calls, "It has been a while."
Bodhi grins widely at the episode unfolding before him then chuckles softly at Paoro's musing "I would say that one good deed deserves another" his brows furrowing slightly as he muses "and I’m sure your role in getting the cure has given you a large amount of karma in your favor"
Dichali seems unbothered by Roki's comment. "I'll have you know I've been called dinner several times before, but so much as injured only once," he notes in amusement, "And that once wasn't even at the hands of a predator." That's certainly a good show of how lucky he's been considering how very vulnerable he was while the sickness had him. He offers another head bow to Skelaghe before commenting on what Paoro had said. "Therdde helped a great deal in speaking with other prey creatures..." he explains before pausing thoughtfully, "Everyone was some sort of use."
Roki turns his sly predatory stare from Dichali to his approaching mother.. and despite the proud strong hunter he seems to be turning into, in her presence he seems to go right back into mama's boy mode and purrs happily returning the affectionate nuzzle. He furrows his brows in concern with what she says about her luck but gets distracted to Tadewi's call. "Hello sister. It certainly has! Your growing up!" Though no faster than himself of course.. He hears the rams boast and just smiles good naturedly.. not knowing what to say to a prey's apparent overconfidence. "The spirits must favor you greatly." He says after finally finding the words.
There's another name that Skelaghe does not recognize. Therdde, who could be any species, along with Misery, who she still wrongly assumes is a wolf. Skelaghe's attention is not fixed on Dichali, as Paoro is greeting family and Skel would not dare intrude on that. "As much as you do deserve my gratitude, that is not the only reason why I have come here. My packmate, Helaku, could only tell me so much. I would like to know more, though, so that I may pass your story on accurately." Which leads to her next question. "Who is Therdde?"
Paoro's ears flick at Bodhi's response, and she pauses long enough in her family affections to acknowledge him. "Perhaps you're right, Bodhi." But then her maternal side kicks in again, and she returns her primary focus to that of the pair of offspring so recently returned to her. "Roki, dear...Tadewi already knows, but your father got sick from the illness that affected so many...and he left us in an attempt to prevent the rest of us from catching it. He...hasn't returned yet."
Tadewi watches her brother as her mother explains the case of their father. She lowers her eyes slightly, glancing out toward the surrounding forest as she quietly takes in his response.
Bodhi on the other hand having said what he wanted returns to silence and merely observes the others who speak with furrowed brows, a slight smile on his lips as he returns to his favorite task of merely listening and observing which is what gave him the nickname shadow
Dichali tilts his head as he listens to Skelaghe. "Therdde is my friend," he answers, "He's a duck, he acted as a watch out for me when I was too weak, and I carried him on my back when he was too dizzy. He did some important talking for us in regards to the horses and other such prey animals." He ponders the comment about spirits favoring him, but doesn't seem to know how to respond to it.
The rest of the clearing and everyone else in it fades away from Roki's notice as his mother explains to him what happened. He sits down, feeling the need to as the weight of her words settles on him. "...Who is protecting the tribe?" he whispers. His family's safety the first thing to come to mind. He hopes his father is all right and concern is marked obviously on his face.
Paoro's brows furrow in worried, perhaps frightened, concern, and then she manages to put on a half-smile for the benefit of her offspring. "I am, I suppose." It's obvious that all of the wear and tear of life, especially during recent events, has taken a toll on the cougaress, making her look and feel older than she truly is.
Ah yes, the duck of the group, a strange addition. If not for his species, he would have never been noteworthy, as he did not do much when Skelaghe's only source of information previous to today was nearby. "Do you, by chance, know where Therdde nests?" Do ducks nest? Skelaghe can't admit to ever meeting one before. She keeps a single ear on the conversation, storing what information she gleans away. Paoro's mate was ill, had to leave, and hasn't returned. For their sake, she hopes he is still alive, but she still doesn't intrude on their conversation.
Dichali gives a nod at Skelaghe's latest question. "Well I think it's where I nest cause it's usually where I find him," the ram notes. He quietly hopes that Paoro's mate is well as well.
Roki looks to his sister, then back to his mother again. His sense of duty and responsibility setting in. "I will too." His spirit quest will have to be put on hold as more important matters make themselves known to him. Not that duck nests aren’t fascinating in their own right, the other conversations in the area seem to fall by his interest’s wayside. "I take it the ram is not for eating.." he says in a whisper with a smile to his mother and sister, trying to lighten the mood some.
Paoro offers another nuzzle to her son - technically her only son, now - at his offer of assistance. The spirits know she could use all she can get until Ayashe returns. If she returns. "I appreciate it, Roki. More than you know." Having her family back around her again will do much to revive her hopes and lift her mood. She chuckles at his comment, shaking her head. "No, he's not."
So if Skelaghe were to follow Dichali's scent, she may well stumble across this duck, Therdde. That is good enough for her, especially as she trusts the fates to guide her where she needs to be at the proper point in time. Silently, Skelaghe pieces together the extra information she has learned in the short time she has been here with these animals, just to make sure she doesn't forget anything.
Perhaps she might laugh if she had more of an idea about what was going on. There were just too many faces and too much being talked about that she was feeling more and more overwhelmed by it all. First her other brother was lost from their family for his desire to seek out 'man', then she learned her mother played some integral part in the search for a cure to this mysterious illness. Tadewi just couldn't grasp it all. "I need...to take a walk." she says simply, rising to her paws and turning for a lightly worn path into the surrounding forest.
Dichali twitches his ears and peers around quietly for a moment now, giving Paoro some time to speak with the family.
Paoro nods to Tadewi, looking after her with a bit of concern in her eyes. "Thank you, Roki," she replies in return, before turning back to the group. "I apologize, but I have other things to tend to at the moment. If you need to speak with me again, Skelaghe, you know where to find me." With that, she trots off, with Roki likely following shortly thereafter.
Roki likely follows shortly thereafter.
Skelaghe gives a nod to the departing Paoro. She may take the Amaranth Matron up on that at a later date. She looks back to Dichali, then. "I don't believe I managed to introduce myself to you, Dichali. I am Skelaghe." Her tone remains polite, maybe even deferential, perhaps odd, given that she's speaking to a prey animal.
Dichali also nods to Paoro and family as they depart. He then gives Skelaghe yet another bow of the head. "I don't live awfully far from here," he notes, "And the place I think Therdde stays is on the way, so either of us probably aren't far from here."
Skelaghe did manage to notice the direction from which Dichali came, and she assumes that is the direction where he lives. Speaking to him, she says, "I have business with the Viridian pack, yet, as there is a wolf there who may also be able to offer me more information." No, there isn't, but there /is/ a coyote there who may be able to help her. "If you see Therdde, would you put in a word for me? I can assure you, I do not mean you or anyone else who helped any harm. I owe you much." Not hunting Dichali and Therdde, if she could even manage to take down a ram or a duck, is the least she could do in repayment of that.
Dichali gives a little nod. "Alright," he says as he looks thoughtful, "Which wolf are you looking for?"
Skelaghe answers readily, with a fine memory for details. "One by the name of Misery. She brought the cure back to Viridian." Which is why Skelaghe has, thus far, assumed Misery is a wolf, thought it would probably not surprise her terribly to find out otherwise.
Dichali tilts his head. "She must have been with the other group," he states, "I don't remember her." "I will speak to Therdde for you, as you ask."
Skelaghe knows there were two groups who eventually found their way to the cure's location, though she has yet to meet anyone from the group that reached the cure without Paoro's guidance, at least without Paoro's guidance until right up at the end. Upon hearing that Misery must be a member of the second group, she is even more keen on meeting the 'wolf'. "Thank you, once more, Dichali."
Dichali nods yet again. "You're welcome," he says before peering around a little from his vantage point. He only now notices most the others are gone, having left himself, Skelaghe, and Bodhi.
Skelaghe glances back towards Bodhi, who has been very quiet, as Dichali looks around. She knows how much simply letting others talk can teach a person, but someone had to ask questions to guide the learning process, a skill Skelaghe has cultivated over the years. After that, she looks back to Dichali. "It has been a long journey for my guide and I, Dichali, and I fear I should rest, as it seems others here have already done." Or they walked off to patrol, or whatever. The point is, she should take her leave of these tribal lands and find a place where she can safely rest.
Dichali carefully pushes to his feet. "I suppose I should be on my way back to my own kind," he states, "May you both rest well."
Bodhi dips his head as he finally decides to rejoin the conversation "may both you and your kind stay safe and well Dichali" a wry smile on his lips as he slowly sits up "and to show some proper manners since i know yours, my name is Bodhi"
Skelaghe offers a slight bow of her head and returns the farewell, after Bodhi speaks. "Likewise, Dichali. May Tobba guide you on your path back to your family." After speaking, she returns to Bodhi's side in a silent offer to join him in sleep for at least one more night, knowing he may need to return to his pack soon, though she has no intention of doing so. Right now, the mountains hold the most opportunities for her, though she wouldn't might if he remained to travel with her.
Dichali gives another bow of his head toward the others before he makes his way make off in the direction of where his kind tended to stay.
Bodhi simply smiles softly as Skelaghe returns to his side and offers her a friendly nuzzle and murrs humoredly "It would seem like this visit was more educational them originally expected eh?" his gaze somewhat on Dichali as he leaves
Skelaghe is not so sure she expected it to be less educational than this. "It was a good visit to make and a good time to make it." She would have expected no less, though she had anticipated further travelling before encountering any of the animals that she sought.