Post by Therdde on Jun 6, 2008 0:30:31 GMT -5
Characters:
Skelaghe – Female Wolf
Nayeli – Female Juvenile Cougar
Chesmu – Male Cougar
Paoro – Female Cougar
Ahiga – Male Cougar
- Pine Grove -
Skelaghe has spent the last couple days relaxing, primarily at the stone formations. Her paws are still a little sore, but they have gotten better. She certainly won't push herself so hard while she's on the mountain ever again. Her pace is definitely relaxed, now, as she heads generally southward. She needs to head off to hunt, but she hasn't wanted to leave the formations, since that's where she expects to find Paoro. Eventually.
She definitely needs to speak to Chandani, and soon... but there's been a reluctance, almost as if Nayeli is afraid to find out the truth about what happened. And so... she's still lurking in the pine grove, occasionally tearful, occasionally angry, but mostly just depressed. The thought of growing older really has lost any joy that it once had. Sigh.
Skelaghe is really not a good huntress. When she lived with her pack, she didn't have much need to cultivate those skills, and she has only had a year on her own to start getting better. She might not be following a useless trail, except for that the smell of cougars is /everywhere/ in these parts, and she can't tell that the small tracks she is following haphazardly belong to yet another cougar, not yet. Her path is taking her directly towards Nayeli, though, at it won't be long before she realizes that it is definitely not food that she has been following.
Uh oh. That's... a wolf. In fact, it almost looks like the same wolf from the other day, though Nayeli doesn't trust her own senses enough to distinguish between various wolves--especially ones that she hasn't met or really obtained a good scent image from. But still. A wolf is a wolf. Her course of action is simple: HIDE.
Moments later, Skelaghe spots movement ahead of her, and stops abruptly, crouching slightly. It takes a second longer of scanning the area in front of her before she sees the small cub, and she stands as abruptly as she stopped walking. Oh. Forcing a smile onto her face, she calls out, "Hello there." Skelaghe has been around long enough, now, to tell that this is not Chandani or Yuma, so it must be one of the other two. Nayeli or Misae.
This is /not/ good. Nayeli was hoping to remain undiscovered, but apparently it didn't work out so well. She continues backing away, eyes wide, and smelling of fright. Should she run? The wolf almost certainly is faster. Should she... what else /can/ she do? There aren't many options at all, and now Nayeli begins to understand why wolves are feared.
Skelaghe's smile fades as she spots Nayeli backing away. Her earlier mannerisms were impossible to mistake, and she wonders how long this little cougar was watching, and whether the cougar thinks she's actually being hunted. "Hey, it's all right. I'm not going to hurt you." Skelaghe's voice is soft, and she sits to emphasize what she says.
Would any wolf ever say that he or she /would/ hurt someone being hunted right then? Nayeli doesn't believe it for a second. Why shouldn't the wolf attack her? She's smaller and she's a /cougar/! That should be reason enough! Nayeli continues backing away, occasionally glancing to the side or over her shoulder for any possible escape route.
This isn't quite working, and Skelaghe takes a deep breath, trying to think. She doesn't want to stand back up, and pursuing the young cougar is almost definitely not the way to convince Nayeli of her intentions, but... "Y'know, I'm good friends with your parents, and your grandmother... I'm sure they'd like it if you and I could be friends too." As Nayeli continues backing away, Skel raises her voice slightly, just so she can continue to be heard, but her voice remains pleasant.
Good friends with all her family? Riiiiight. Nayeli is young, but she knows that she can be lied to, especially from a Stranger. Wolf or not, Nayeli isn't going to trust this newcomer, especially not to the point of being a /friend/! She and /Kein/ are--were--friends, and this wolf will have to do more than just talk to achieve that.
No, but apparently saying that got Nayeli to pause long enough for Skelaghe to say something else. Remaining where she is, she says, "I don't blame you for using caution. That is very wise in a cougar your age. So let's try to make a deal, okay?" Skelaghe doesn't give Nayeli a chance to answer, because she has a very brief window of opportunity. "If you'll stay, even just right there, I'll lie down. The second I move to stand up, you can leave, and I won't be upset. Sound fair?" Again, Skelaghe doesn't wait for an answer before she lies down fully. She may be faster than the young cougaress, but Nayeli would have a chance to get away if Skelaghe tried to stand up.
Wise? Nayeli narrows her eyes. Kein never said she was wise. Why would this wolf say that, then? The girl takes another step backward... and then stops. She doesn't know why this wolf wants to make such a deal, but Nayeli can't see anything wrong with just listening. Plus, the longer the wolf doesn't eat her, the more of a chance she has for rescue to arrive. Mommy, Daddy... anyone!
Skelaghe smiles as Nayeli stops backing up. There. Shifting oh so slightly so that she's more comfortable, she says, "My name is Skelaghe." She doesn't actually ask who Nayeli is. She'll give the girl a chance to introduce herself, unprompted, first.
Nayeli certainly doesn't plan on revealing her name; certainly not to a stranger. She remains silent, giving the faintest of nods to show that she comprehended the name. Okay. The wolf is Skelaghe... now what? Why is she here, and why is she talking to Nayeli?
Okay, apparently not... Skelaghe takes another breath, trying to handle this in a way to put Nayeli at ease. After a moment of silence, she speaks up again. "You know, I came to the mountain just to see you, your sisters, and your brother. So far, I have met Chandani and Yuma." Well, she met Chandani a few months ago, but still... "It's really no wonder the chief is so proud of you. You are a beautiful young cougar."
A beautiful young cougar? It almost hurts in a way, to hear this from a stranger wolf, having never heard it from her best friend. The fact that this wolf mentions Yuma and Chandani does nothing except to increase Nayeli's worry. What if her siblings do something foolish and end up being eaten by this wolf, or one of this wolf's packmates? Her suspicions are confirmed by the wolf's mistake. Nayeli knows that her father isn't "so proud" of her at all. He's proud of Yuma, hence his spending all that time training him and exploring with him and all the other things they do together. Again, Nayeli is silent, wondering what other kinds of falsehoods this wolf is going to give her, trying to become her "friend".
Skelaghe isn't sure what else she could possibly say to get this young cougaress to trust her, and she glances northward. She would really like to put Nayeli at ease and talk, but... She came this way to hunt in the first place, and she shouldn't stay away from the stone formations for too long, and if this truly is a futile endeavour... Maybe she should just stand up, thereby giving Nayeli her nonverbal permission to leave. She looks back at Nayeli before she does, but she doesn't say anything else immediately.
Border patrol. *More* border patrol. Peeing on bushes. *More* peeing on bushes. Chesmu could definitely use some more excitement in his days. At the same time, he is also grateful there *isn't* any, because then it means things are safe. Still, things could definitely be more interesting for his sanity's sake. After a moment, however, he finally gets something interesting: voices. Chesmu deems himself to alter course for the voices.
Oh no! The wolf is getting up--time for Nayeli to get out of here! Not wasting time with a single word of farewell, the girl just turns around and begins running as fast as she possibly can. Can she get away in time? Wait... that's... that's /Daddy/! "Help!" Nayeli all but shrieks, racing toward her father.
Skelaghe wasn't expecting just turning her head to cause to cause that kind of reaction, and she frowns slightly, but she remains lying where she is all the same. She did promise that she wouldn't be upset and that she wouldn't pursue. As she hears the girl cry for help, though, she sits up and remains where she is. The worst thing for her to do would be to leave, now, since she might be mistaken for someone else.
Chesmu looks down as his youngest daughter runs over to him. Okay, so one of the voices was Nayeli. "What's wrong, Nayeli?" Chesmu says, then looks over and sees Skelaghe. Now why would Nayeli be afraid of Skelaghe?
Daddy can deal with the wolf--Nayeli's only goal right now is to get far away. Safe. Her paws carry her quickly past her father, and her only response to his question is a yelled, "Save me from that wolf!" If Chesmu doesn't see the wolf just yet, he will soon! Nayeli keeps sprinting, with adrenaline providing a nice burst of energy. Where should she hide? Wait... what about up in a tree? Can wolves climb trees too?
Skelaghe offers a thin smile in Chesmu's and the departing Nayeli's direction, because she /did/ promise that she wouldn't be upset. Besides, the idea of anyone needing to be protected from Skelaghe is, quite simply, funny. The shewolf wouldn't hurt anyone, not even prey, if it could be helped. That's really the reason she's not a great huntress, and the reason she was mistakenly tracking Nayeli in the first place.
Chesmu watches ahs his daughter runs away, eyebrow raised. Well, then. Poor girl. Not fully aware of what just transpired, Chesmu shifts his attention back to Skelaghe. "I can talk to her if you like. I don't see any harm done yet unless you *were* trying to eat my daughter, but I'm pretty sure you weren't." Chesmu chuckles. "Let us just call it endearing of my daughter."
Skelaghe shakes her head resolutely as Chesmu offers to talk to his daughter, not for any desire to hide anything, but because she doesn't want Chesmu to try to force his daughter to befriend someone Nayeli wants nothing to do with. "It will be all right, Chesmu. If anything, I think I was trying a little too hard to befriend her." Nayeli will come around, or she won't, but forcing the issue won't help anything. At any rate... "How was your day?"
It's been a couple of moons since Paoro has graced the Amaranth lands with an obvious presence - it wouldn't be unusual if a couple of rumors about her death had begun to circulate among the others, but the tribe themselves have carried on unconcerned, as if they were perfectly aware that the shamaness is quite capable of taking care of herself despite her age. But even so, the former matron would not leave her home and her family for so long without a very good reason, and as the cougaress herself - dusty, her underbelly speckled with burrs, her proud crimson marks only slightly faded - meanders back into her tribelands once again, her expression seems heavy, concern simmering beneath the surface. If she's aware of others in the immediate area - in fact, she's practically walked directly into their conversation - she doesn't show it outwardly yet.
Chesmu tilts his head a moment. "If anything I'll at least tell her that you're trustworthy if nothing else." Chesmu says to the she-wolf. "At any rate, I am fine, myself. "I think it helped in Yuma's case that Chandani and I were around to assure her that you're safe." He doesn't notice Paoro's return yet.
"If you wish." Skelaghe may well be unable to befriend the young cougar on her own, at least before she leaves the mountain, but she's not terribly concerned about it. Of course, there is very little that Skelaghe is terribly concerned about. She takes a deep, relaxing breath, then asks, "Have you found Paoro, yet?" No, Skelaghe has not noticed the approach of the former Amaranth Matron. She was rather focused on Chesmu and Nayeli.
The shamaness does not need to even open her mouth to announce herself - the she-wolf present does it for her. "You need look no further," Paoro speaks aloud, addressing the inquiring canine before sweeping her gaze towards the current head of Amaranth, offering him a polite bow of her head. "I apologize for my absence, Chieftain. I hope it did not result in troubles in our tribe."
Chesmu is about to speak up when he hears Paoro's voice coming from behind him. He turns to look over at Paoro. "Oh!" Chesmu says. "There you are, Paoro. I've been looking for you." This is good. Perhaps he can talk to Paoro about Ama, she still needs markings. He's also not sure if he should talk to Paoro about what he did to Maulisho.
Skelaghe perks her ears back in Paoro's direction, and turns to face the shamaness. It has been a long time, but even if Skelaghe had been deaf to the obvious statements telling her who this cougar is, Skelaghe would remember her. She's just not so sure the opposite is true, as she is only one random visitor to these lands. She dips her head respectfully, but she remains silent, letting the chieftain talk to Paoro.
Paoro shifts her glance between the present pair, a mildly questioning look on her face. "For what am I sought?" she inquires in her ever-gentle tone, settling down onto her haunches. Were she still a matron, she might be more concerned with cleaning up her unprofessional appearance before handling guest matters, but as a shamaness, she knows that external appearances are not the most important priority in dealing with others, and also that some things cannot wait.
Chesmu looks over at Skelaghe, then back to his mother-in-law. "Skelaghe tells me she wishes to catch up with an old friend. I have business to bring you as a Chieftain. Ama has returned. Sans marking." Chesmu knows the meaning of the marking being gone, but he knows also the significance of a cougar who wishes to have the marking again. Homecoming. "I have determined she is welcome to return to the tribe, but she will need new markings. And possibly a subtle warning about their absence." Not that he means to tell Paoro how to do her job. But it’s his recommendation. "There are some other... private matters, I might have to discuss in regards to a mistake I made."
Paoro listens quietly to all Chesmu has to say before speaking, nodding once as punctuation to his statements and storing it all away for future review. "Very well. But proper etiquette dictates that our guest's issue must be resolved first. So...Skelaghe, is it? What is it you need from the Amaranth?"
Skelaghe did desire to speak with Paoro, once, before she agreed to help out Ahiga. Even then, though, she did not have much of a desire to catch up so much as simply make sure Paoro was well. With a smile, she says, "What I have to say can wait-" And why not? It has waited so long, already. "-but I would prefer a private counsel, when you have a moment, Shamaness." Not so much private, either. Simply away from Chesmu, but saying it like that would be bound to raise questions.
Chesmu doesn't question Skelaghe of desiring a private talk with Paoro. He is a respecter of privacy. "Do not allow me to stop you. Take all the time and privacy you need. I am still currently patrolling, only stopped when I found Nayeli and Skelaghe here."
"Nonsense," Paoro answers Skelaghe, smiling genially at the canid. "We can certainly speak now." She nods to Chesmu before rising to all fours again, beginning to move towards Skelaghe with the intention of following her wherever she decides to lead. "I will be back soon to discuss the other matters, Chief Chesmu," she promises solemnly before turning away and padding along behind the she-wolf.
Well, that's a relief. It was no surprise that Paoro did not recognize her from that one single day, many months ago, but the shewolf was concerned that it might effect how she was received. With a dip of her head to Chesmu, she says, "Good day, Chesmu." She then stands to head southward. Her pace is slightly faster than normal for her, sore paws aside, but it is still a very easy pace to match. She will wait until they have a little distance to continue speaking, though.
- Wildflower Drop -
Paoro is content to walk in silence - too often do words clutter up an otherwise peaceful moment with meaningless filler - but if the lupine visitor wishes to speak, she will oblige. But until then, the shamaness simply pads on quietly behind her, wondering what it is the stranger wishes to speak to her about. No recognition of Skelaghe occurs, but to a feline, all canines look the same...just as the reverse is likely true.
Skelaghe certainly did not recognize Chandani when she first arrived here, and after another prolonged absence, she may again not recognize any of Chesmu and Ayashe's cubs, or Ama, or anyone else. It is for other reasons that Paoro sticks out in her mind, and Chesmu too, for that matter. As they get a comfortable distance from where Chesmu was, Skelaghe does speak up, but her words are far from meaningless. "It would seem that your return was perfectly timed, Shamaness." It did not particularly surprise Skelaghe to learn that Paoro had been gone until recently, as she will forever believe that there is a reason why everything happens when it happens. "I've asked to speak to you in private because I've come across someone who wishes to be reunited with you, although he may not have your current chieftain's favor." If Paoro can determine who Skelaghe means from that, great. If not, she certainly will not beat about the bush further, but it seemed more appropriate than just saying, outright, 'I've found your mate and I'm taking you to him.'
Paoro's brows furrow slightly as Skelaghe speaks, wondering who she could be referring to. Surely neither Roki nor LaVeaux would bother to go through a neutral third party to speak with her, if for different reasons, but she doubts Kasim would be so interested in reuniting with her specifically. However poor it may sound on behalf of such a loving mate, the shamaness doesn't even consider the possibility of this mysterious male being her long-lost mate...it's been a year since the epidemic, and she's already grieved over his assumed death. "Who?"
- Jagged Cliffs -
"Your mate, Ahiga." Skelaghe does not look at Paoro as they walk, keeping her eyes on the terrain to make sure they are going in the proper direction. Because of this, she cannot tell, immediately, how Paoro reacts to this, but she doesn't simply go on speaking as she might otherwise. What she does to is continue walking, since they are heading in the direction of where Ahiga said he would be for as long as circumstances would allow him to stay there.
And he is still there now, as fortune would have it. It's during the night that Ahiga is most active, and so it stands to reason that he would be less so during the day. As it nears the afternoon, the former Chieftain has found himself a comfortable spot in which to lay down and rest. He's pressed himself up against a small stone atop the flat surface of the cliff, trying to get as much shade as he can from the sparse supply, but he knows he'll have to look elsewhere when high noon arrives. For now, he dozes, his notched left ear and its companion swiveling to tune into the soft sounds around him. His red markings have faded with time and he's gained new scars, but he is still recognizable as Ahiga.
Paoro, however, does not. The shamaness stops dead in her tracks at the mention of her mate's name, staring at the back of the she-wolf's head with wide-eyed disbelief. "...Ahiga?" she manages to repeat, her voice a startled choke as she tries to comprehend exactly what she's being told. Slight movements catch her peripheral vision, and her eyes turn to fall upon the unmistakable form of her thought-dead mate. It's the same effect as one might have seeing a ghost - and for a brief moment, the shamaness, being so in tune with the spiritual realm of things, believes him to be exactly that, and Skelaghe his medium. But the way his fur is brushed by the light breeze, his ever-familiar scent hanging in the air, and the fact that if nothing else, Paoro is wishing so much for him to be real that he just might be if he weren't already all confirms that he's truly still alive - and the normally eloquent cougaress is speechless.
Skelaghe turns her head to face Paoro when the cougaress questions what she has been told. Before she can say anything, though, she sees Paoro's head turn, and she follows Paoro's line of sight to... There he is. Ahiga. Skelaghe smiles brightly, enjoying the feeling of accomplishment, of doing something inherently good, that this has brought her, but the only move she makes is to take a step back. She promised Ahiga that she would bring Paoro here, and she has, but she has no right and no desire to intrude further on their reunion. She can imagine that if she had a mate, she would not want someone who is practically a stranger hanging over her upon seeing her loved one for the first time in over a year. This is no longer her show, and should Paoro or Ahiga eventually close the distance between the two of them, she will leave completely.
There's always an odd feeling when one is being watched -- a sort of pressure behind the brain, a prickling at the back of the neck -- that alerts one when nothing else will. Even in his dozing state, Ahiga can feel this. It stirs him from his slumber, but it doesn't sit with him fully until he lifts his head and glances around, trying to pinpoint the source. It doesn't take him long to spot it, and his heart catches in his throat. There is the wolf -- but more importantly, there is Paoro. She looks . . . well she looks awful, truthfully, and not at all what he expected, but more importantly she is alive and here. The male slowly rises to his feet, lifting his head with the faintest hint of a smile tickling at the corners of his mouth. "Paoro," he intones quietly. "Do you come carrying what was once my land with you?" An obvious prod at her condition.
The former matron would typically laugh at her mate's wry comment, but the poor female is still struck dumb by this powerful new realization. "Ahiga..." she murmurs again, before padding quickly up to the grizzled male, pressing herself up against his chest, her muzzle buried up underneath his chin. "I thought you were dead," she breathes in a low voice heavy with joyful sorrow, or perhaps sorrowful joy, her eyes closed to keep the tears waiting there from spilling over uncontrollably. Even so, her words are choked with quiet, occasional sobs when she does manage to speak. "I never thought I'd see you again...where have you been?"
Skelaghe does not take any more time in turning around to leave Paoro and Ahiga alone. She'll head back into Amaranth to ensure that they get the privacy they deserve, by distracting anyone who ventures too close, and then she can finally head back home tonight or tomorrow.
Ahiga grunts softly when he finds himself with his former mate pressed up against his chest. He eases himself onto his haunches and for the first time since he arrived in these lands again, he seems to wilt and soften. Then again, Paoro always seemed to have such an effect, however minute. The former chieftain rests his chin atop Paoro's skull and then turns his head to rub his cheek over the same spot. She doesn't smell like him anymore. It's somewhat disconcerting. "I have been lost," he responds as his purr starts. "The illness made me forget many things, and I could not remember them for a very long time." Even still, his memory is lacking in parts. "I could not come back until I was certain that I was well and fit again."
Paoro's tongue flits out to give her mate a tenderly affectionate lick, pulling away after he's explained his absence. "I still can't believe you're really here...but I'm so happy you are." Her face easily betrays these conflicting emotions, her teary eyes contrasted by her happy smile. "We have grandchildren now. Ayashe has taken my place as matron, and she has chosen a mate to lead alongside her." The unspoken line being that even if he is back, he would not be able to return as a chief - though Paoro, being the same age and realizing the pleasures of a quieter life away from the spotlight, would not be surprised if that was not what he desired anyway. But even so, another chief means another male, and she's quite familiar with how Ahiga feels about other males.
No, Ahiga truly does not have any desire to take back his place as head of the Amaranth tribe. Even if he did, he knows he would not be able to hold onto it long anyway. He isn't exactly as young as he once was, and the illness took something out of him. Of course there's still that territorial spark, but he doesn't address it now. "I know," he states. "Skelaghe told me." Hey, he remembered the name of a wolf -- that's something. "We can go away, you and I. They no longer need us." It's unclear just whom he means by 'they'. The tribe? The children?
It would be arrogant to disagree and argue that the tribe does need her - Paoro feels that they enjoy her presence, but to say that they cannot function without her is putting too little faith in the family and tribe. But, what she can say and mean is: "They may not need us, but I need them. And I need you, too." She meets his gaze, her pale green eyes easily staring deep into the intimidating male's own eyes without the fear that others might feel. "Will you stay here with me? At least for a little while longer?"
Ahiga frowns slightly, his ears slipping back. Staying here has been troublesome, trying to keep himself hidden from the new chieftain. It's almost insulting, really, skirting about the borders of this land like one of the many males he chased off in his days as chieftain. But he can't fight against that look, and he never has been able to. He holds it for several seconds of silence before he drops his gaze again and extends his neck forward to bump the top of his nose against his mate's chin. "I am not sure Chief Chesmu will tolerate my presence should he discover me here, but if you wish it, I will linger."
Paoro almost laughs at her mate's answer, and lets slip a chuckle nonetheless. "You? You are the great Chief Ahiga, my love, father of matron Ayashe and a distinguished guest of the Amaranth shamaness, I might add. I doubt there will be much fuss over whether or not you can stay for a while," she replies, touching her soft pink nose to his own. "Come back with me. Ayashe's cubs will no doubt love to finally meet their grandfather," she purrs, not giving the ruddy male a chance to protest before turning and practically bounding away with a spring in her step, occasionally casting back sly glances to make sure the lumbering male is keeping up, and seeming younger than she has ever been for years now.
Skelaghe – Female Wolf
Nayeli – Female Juvenile Cougar
Chesmu – Male Cougar
Paoro – Female Cougar
Ahiga – Male Cougar
- Pine Grove -
Skelaghe has spent the last couple days relaxing, primarily at the stone formations. Her paws are still a little sore, but they have gotten better. She certainly won't push herself so hard while she's on the mountain ever again. Her pace is definitely relaxed, now, as she heads generally southward. She needs to head off to hunt, but she hasn't wanted to leave the formations, since that's where she expects to find Paoro. Eventually.
She definitely needs to speak to Chandani, and soon... but there's been a reluctance, almost as if Nayeli is afraid to find out the truth about what happened. And so... she's still lurking in the pine grove, occasionally tearful, occasionally angry, but mostly just depressed. The thought of growing older really has lost any joy that it once had. Sigh.
Skelaghe is really not a good huntress. When she lived with her pack, she didn't have much need to cultivate those skills, and she has only had a year on her own to start getting better. She might not be following a useless trail, except for that the smell of cougars is /everywhere/ in these parts, and she can't tell that the small tracks she is following haphazardly belong to yet another cougar, not yet. Her path is taking her directly towards Nayeli, though, at it won't be long before she realizes that it is definitely not food that she has been following.
Uh oh. That's... a wolf. In fact, it almost looks like the same wolf from the other day, though Nayeli doesn't trust her own senses enough to distinguish between various wolves--especially ones that she hasn't met or really obtained a good scent image from. But still. A wolf is a wolf. Her course of action is simple: HIDE.
Moments later, Skelaghe spots movement ahead of her, and stops abruptly, crouching slightly. It takes a second longer of scanning the area in front of her before she sees the small cub, and she stands as abruptly as she stopped walking. Oh. Forcing a smile onto her face, she calls out, "Hello there." Skelaghe has been around long enough, now, to tell that this is not Chandani or Yuma, so it must be one of the other two. Nayeli or Misae.
This is /not/ good. Nayeli was hoping to remain undiscovered, but apparently it didn't work out so well. She continues backing away, eyes wide, and smelling of fright. Should she run? The wolf almost certainly is faster. Should she... what else /can/ she do? There aren't many options at all, and now Nayeli begins to understand why wolves are feared.
Skelaghe's smile fades as she spots Nayeli backing away. Her earlier mannerisms were impossible to mistake, and she wonders how long this little cougar was watching, and whether the cougar thinks she's actually being hunted. "Hey, it's all right. I'm not going to hurt you." Skelaghe's voice is soft, and she sits to emphasize what she says.
Would any wolf ever say that he or she /would/ hurt someone being hunted right then? Nayeli doesn't believe it for a second. Why shouldn't the wolf attack her? She's smaller and she's a /cougar/! That should be reason enough! Nayeli continues backing away, occasionally glancing to the side or over her shoulder for any possible escape route.
This isn't quite working, and Skelaghe takes a deep breath, trying to think. She doesn't want to stand back up, and pursuing the young cougar is almost definitely not the way to convince Nayeli of her intentions, but... "Y'know, I'm good friends with your parents, and your grandmother... I'm sure they'd like it if you and I could be friends too." As Nayeli continues backing away, Skel raises her voice slightly, just so she can continue to be heard, but her voice remains pleasant.
Good friends with all her family? Riiiiight. Nayeli is young, but she knows that she can be lied to, especially from a Stranger. Wolf or not, Nayeli isn't going to trust this newcomer, especially not to the point of being a /friend/! She and /Kein/ are--were--friends, and this wolf will have to do more than just talk to achieve that.
No, but apparently saying that got Nayeli to pause long enough for Skelaghe to say something else. Remaining where she is, she says, "I don't blame you for using caution. That is very wise in a cougar your age. So let's try to make a deal, okay?" Skelaghe doesn't give Nayeli a chance to answer, because she has a very brief window of opportunity. "If you'll stay, even just right there, I'll lie down. The second I move to stand up, you can leave, and I won't be upset. Sound fair?" Again, Skelaghe doesn't wait for an answer before she lies down fully. She may be faster than the young cougaress, but Nayeli would have a chance to get away if Skelaghe tried to stand up.
Wise? Nayeli narrows her eyes. Kein never said she was wise. Why would this wolf say that, then? The girl takes another step backward... and then stops. She doesn't know why this wolf wants to make such a deal, but Nayeli can't see anything wrong with just listening. Plus, the longer the wolf doesn't eat her, the more of a chance she has for rescue to arrive. Mommy, Daddy... anyone!
Skelaghe smiles as Nayeli stops backing up. There. Shifting oh so slightly so that she's more comfortable, she says, "My name is Skelaghe." She doesn't actually ask who Nayeli is. She'll give the girl a chance to introduce herself, unprompted, first.
Nayeli certainly doesn't plan on revealing her name; certainly not to a stranger. She remains silent, giving the faintest of nods to show that she comprehended the name. Okay. The wolf is Skelaghe... now what? Why is she here, and why is she talking to Nayeli?
Okay, apparently not... Skelaghe takes another breath, trying to handle this in a way to put Nayeli at ease. After a moment of silence, she speaks up again. "You know, I came to the mountain just to see you, your sisters, and your brother. So far, I have met Chandani and Yuma." Well, she met Chandani a few months ago, but still... "It's really no wonder the chief is so proud of you. You are a beautiful young cougar."
A beautiful young cougar? It almost hurts in a way, to hear this from a stranger wolf, having never heard it from her best friend. The fact that this wolf mentions Yuma and Chandani does nothing except to increase Nayeli's worry. What if her siblings do something foolish and end up being eaten by this wolf, or one of this wolf's packmates? Her suspicions are confirmed by the wolf's mistake. Nayeli knows that her father isn't "so proud" of her at all. He's proud of Yuma, hence his spending all that time training him and exploring with him and all the other things they do together. Again, Nayeli is silent, wondering what other kinds of falsehoods this wolf is going to give her, trying to become her "friend".
Skelaghe isn't sure what else she could possibly say to get this young cougaress to trust her, and she glances northward. She would really like to put Nayeli at ease and talk, but... She came this way to hunt in the first place, and she shouldn't stay away from the stone formations for too long, and if this truly is a futile endeavour... Maybe she should just stand up, thereby giving Nayeli her nonverbal permission to leave. She looks back at Nayeli before she does, but she doesn't say anything else immediately.
Border patrol. *More* border patrol. Peeing on bushes. *More* peeing on bushes. Chesmu could definitely use some more excitement in his days. At the same time, he is also grateful there *isn't* any, because then it means things are safe. Still, things could definitely be more interesting for his sanity's sake. After a moment, however, he finally gets something interesting: voices. Chesmu deems himself to alter course for the voices.
Oh no! The wolf is getting up--time for Nayeli to get out of here! Not wasting time with a single word of farewell, the girl just turns around and begins running as fast as she possibly can. Can she get away in time? Wait... that's... that's /Daddy/! "Help!" Nayeli all but shrieks, racing toward her father.
Skelaghe wasn't expecting just turning her head to cause to cause that kind of reaction, and she frowns slightly, but she remains lying where she is all the same. She did promise that she wouldn't be upset and that she wouldn't pursue. As she hears the girl cry for help, though, she sits up and remains where she is. The worst thing for her to do would be to leave, now, since she might be mistaken for someone else.
Chesmu looks down as his youngest daughter runs over to him. Okay, so one of the voices was Nayeli. "What's wrong, Nayeli?" Chesmu says, then looks over and sees Skelaghe. Now why would Nayeli be afraid of Skelaghe?
Daddy can deal with the wolf--Nayeli's only goal right now is to get far away. Safe. Her paws carry her quickly past her father, and her only response to his question is a yelled, "Save me from that wolf!" If Chesmu doesn't see the wolf just yet, he will soon! Nayeli keeps sprinting, with adrenaline providing a nice burst of energy. Where should she hide? Wait... what about up in a tree? Can wolves climb trees too?
Skelaghe offers a thin smile in Chesmu's and the departing Nayeli's direction, because she /did/ promise that she wouldn't be upset. Besides, the idea of anyone needing to be protected from Skelaghe is, quite simply, funny. The shewolf wouldn't hurt anyone, not even prey, if it could be helped. That's really the reason she's not a great huntress, and the reason she was mistakenly tracking Nayeli in the first place.
Chesmu watches ahs his daughter runs away, eyebrow raised. Well, then. Poor girl. Not fully aware of what just transpired, Chesmu shifts his attention back to Skelaghe. "I can talk to her if you like. I don't see any harm done yet unless you *were* trying to eat my daughter, but I'm pretty sure you weren't." Chesmu chuckles. "Let us just call it endearing of my daughter."
Skelaghe shakes her head resolutely as Chesmu offers to talk to his daughter, not for any desire to hide anything, but because she doesn't want Chesmu to try to force his daughter to befriend someone Nayeli wants nothing to do with. "It will be all right, Chesmu. If anything, I think I was trying a little too hard to befriend her." Nayeli will come around, or she won't, but forcing the issue won't help anything. At any rate... "How was your day?"
It's been a couple of moons since Paoro has graced the Amaranth lands with an obvious presence - it wouldn't be unusual if a couple of rumors about her death had begun to circulate among the others, but the tribe themselves have carried on unconcerned, as if they were perfectly aware that the shamaness is quite capable of taking care of herself despite her age. But even so, the former matron would not leave her home and her family for so long without a very good reason, and as the cougaress herself - dusty, her underbelly speckled with burrs, her proud crimson marks only slightly faded - meanders back into her tribelands once again, her expression seems heavy, concern simmering beneath the surface. If she's aware of others in the immediate area - in fact, she's practically walked directly into their conversation - she doesn't show it outwardly yet.
Chesmu tilts his head a moment. "If anything I'll at least tell her that you're trustworthy if nothing else." Chesmu says to the she-wolf. "At any rate, I am fine, myself. "I think it helped in Yuma's case that Chandani and I were around to assure her that you're safe." He doesn't notice Paoro's return yet.
"If you wish." Skelaghe may well be unable to befriend the young cougar on her own, at least before she leaves the mountain, but she's not terribly concerned about it. Of course, there is very little that Skelaghe is terribly concerned about. She takes a deep, relaxing breath, then asks, "Have you found Paoro, yet?" No, Skelaghe has not noticed the approach of the former Amaranth Matron. She was rather focused on Chesmu and Nayeli.
The shamaness does not need to even open her mouth to announce herself - the she-wolf present does it for her. "You need look no further," Paoro speaks aloud, addressing the inquiring canine before sweeping her gaze towards the current head of Amaranth, offering him a polite bow of her head. "I apologize for my absence, Chieftain. I hope it did not result in troubles in our tribe."
Chesmu is about to speak up when he hears Paoro's voice coming from behind him. He turns to look over at Paoro. "Oh!" Chesmu says. "There you are, Paoro. I've been looking for you." This is good. Perhaps he can talk to Paoro about Ama, she still needs markings. He's also not sure if he should talk to Paoro about what he did to Maulisho.
Skelaghe perks her ears back in Paoro's direction, and turns to face the shamaness. It has been a long time, but even if Skelaghe had been deaf to the obvious statements telling her who this cougar is, Skelaghe would remember her. She's just not so sure the opposite is true, as she is only one random visitor to these lands. She dips her head respectfully, but she remains silent, letting the chieftain talk to Paoro.
Paoro shifts her glance between the present pair, a mildly questioning look on her face. "For what am I sought?" she inquires in her ever-gentle tone, settling down onto her haunches. Were she still a matron, she might be more concerned with cleaning up her unprofessional appearance before handling guest matters, but as a shamaness, she knows that external appearances are not the most important priority in dealing with others, and also that some things cannot wait.
Chesmu looks over at Skelaghe, then back to his mother-in-law. "Skelaghe tells me she wishes to catch up with an old friend. I have business to bring you as a Chieftain. Ama has returned. Sans marking." Chesmu knows the meaning of the marking being gone, but he knows also the significance of a cougar who wishes to have the marking again. Homecoming. "I have determined she is welcome to return to the tribe, but she will need new markings. And possibly a subtle warning about their absence." Not that he means to tell Paoro how to do her job. But it’s his recommendation. "There are some other... private matters, I might have to discuss in regards to a mistake I made."
Paoro listens quietly to all Chesmu has to say before speaking, nodding once as punctuation to his statements and storing it all away for future review. "Very well. But proper etiquette dictates that our guest's issue must be resolved first. So...Skelaghe, is it? What is it you need from the Amaranth?"
Skelaghe did desire to speak with Paoro, once, before she agreed to help out Ahiga. Even then, though, she did not have much of a desire to catch up so much as simply make sure Paoro was well. With a smile, she says, "What I have to say can wait-" And why not? It has waited so long, already. "-but I would prefer a private counsel, when you have a moment, Shamaness." Not so much private, either. Simply away from Chesmu, but saying it like that would be bound to raise questions.
Chesmu doesn't question Skelaghe of desiring a private talk with Paoro. He is a respecter of privacy. "Do not allow me to stop you. Take all the time and privacy you need. I am still currently patrolling, only stopped when I found Nayeli and Skelaghe here."
"Nonsense," Paoro answers Skelaghe, smiling genially at the canid. "We can certainly speak now." She nods to Chesmu before rising to all fours again, beginning to move towards Skelaghe with the intention of following her wherever she decides to lead. "I will be back soon to discuss the other matters, Chief Chesmu," she promises solemnly before turning away and padding along behind the she-wolf.
Well, that's a relief. It was no surprise that Paoro did not recognize her from that one single day, many months ago, but the shewolf was concerned that it might effect how she was received. With a dip of her head to Chesmu, she says, "Good day, Chesmu." She then stands to head southward. Her pace is slightly faster than normal for her, sore paws aside, but it is still a very easy pace to match. She will wait until they have a little distance to continue speaking, though.
- Wildflower Drop -
Paoro is content to walk in silence - too often do words clutter up an otherwise peaceful moment with meaningless filler - but if the lupine visitor wishes to speak, she will oblige. But until then, the shamaness simply pads on quietly behind her, wondering what it is the stranger wishes to speak to her about. No recognition of Skelaghe occurs, but to a feline, all canines look the same...just as the reverse is likely true.
Skelaghe certainly did not recognize Chandani when she first arrived here, and after another prolonged absence, she may again not recognize any of Chesmu and Ayashe's cubs, or Ama, or anyone else. It is for other reasons that Paoro sticks out in her mind, and Chesmu too, for that matter. As they get a comfortable distance from where Chesmu was, Skelaghe does speak up, but her words are far from meaningless. "It would seem that your return was perfectly timed, Shamaness." It did not particularly surprise Skelaghe to learn that Paoro had been gone until recently, as she will forever believe that there is a reason why everything happens when it happens. "I've asked to speak to you in private because I've come across someone who wishes to be reunited with you, although he may not have your current chieftain's favor." If Paoro can determine who Skelaghe means from that, great. If not, she certainly will not beat about the bush further, but it seemed more appropriate than just saying, outright, 'I've found your mate and I'm taking you to him.'
Paoro's brows furrow slightly as Skelaghe speaks, wondering who she could be referring to. Surely neither Roki nor LaVeaux would bother to go through a neutral third party to speak with her, if for different reasons, but she doubts Kasim would be so interested in reuniting with her specifically. However poor it may sound on behalf of such a loving mate, the shamaness doesn't even consider the possibility of this mysterious male being her long-lost mate...it's been a year since the epidemic, and she's already grieved over his assumed death. "Who?"
- Jagged Cliffs -
"Your mate, Ahiga." Skelaghe does not look at Paoro as they walk, keeping her eyes on the terrain to make sure they are going in the proper direction. Because of this, she cannot tell, immediately, how Paoro reacts to this, but she doesn't simply go on speaking as she might otherwise. What she does to is continue walking, since they are heading in the direction of where Ahiga said he would be for as long as circumstances would allow him to stay there.
And he is still there now, as fortune would have it. It's during the night that Ahiga is most active, and so it stands to reason that he would be less so during the day. As it nears the afternoon, the former Chieftain has found himself a comfortable spot in which to lay down and rest. He's pressed himself up against a small stone atop the flat surface of the cliff, trying to get as much shade as he can from the sparse supply, but he knows he'll have to look elsewhere when high noon arrives. For now, he dozes, his notched left ear and its companion swiveling to tune into the soft sounds around him. His red markings have faded with time and he's gained new scars, but he is still recognizable as Ahiga.
Paoro, however, does not. The shamaness stops dead in her tracks at the mention of her mate's name, staring at the back of the she-wolf's head with wide-eyed disbelief. "...Ahiga?" she manages to repeat, her voice a startled choke as she tries to comprehend exactly what she's being told. Slight movements catch her peripheral vision, and her eyes turn to fall upon the unmistakable form of her thought-dead mate. It's the same effect as one might have seeing a ghost - and for a brief moment, the shamaness, being so in tune with the spiritual realm of things, believes him to be exactly that, and Skelaghe his medium. But the way his fur is brushed by the light breeze, his ever-familiar scent hanging in the air, and the fact that if nothing else, Paoro is wishing so much for him to be real that he just might be if he weren't already all confirms that he's truly still alive - and the normally eloquent cougaress is speechless.
Skelaghe turns her head to face Paoro when the cougaress questions what she has been told. Before she can say anything, though, she sees Paoro's head turn, and she follows Paoro's line of sight to... There he is. Ahiga. Skelaghe smiles brightly, enjoying the feeling of accomplishment, of doing something inherently good, that this has brought her, but the only move she makes is to take a step back. She promised Ahiga that she would bring Paoro here, and she has, but she has no right and no desire to intrude further on their reunion. She can imagine that if she had a mate, she would not want someone who is practically a stranger hanging over her upon seeing her loved one for the first time in over a year. This is no longer her show, and should Paoro or Ahiga eventually close the distance between the two of them, she will leave completely.
There's always an odd feeling when one is being watched -- a sort of pressure behind the brain, a prickling at the back of the neck -- that alerts one when nothing else will. Even in his dozing state, Ahiga can feel this. It stirs him from his slumber, but it doesn't sit with him fully until he lifts his head and glances around, trying to pinpoint the source. It doesn't take him long to spot it, and his heart catches in his throat. There is the wolf -- but more importantly, there is Paoro. She looks . . . well she looks awful, truthfully, and not at all what he expected, but more importantly she is alive and here. The male slowly rises to his feet, lifting his head with the faintest hint of a smile tickling at the corners of his mouth. "Paoro," he intones quietly. "Do you come carrying what was once my land with you?" An obvious prod at her condition.
The former matron would typically laugh at her mate's wry comment, but the poor female is still struck dumb by this powerful new realization. "Ahiga..." she murmurs again, before padding quickly up to the grizzled male, pressing herself up against his chest, her muzzle buried up underneath his chin. "I thought you were dead," she breathes in a low voice heavy with joyful sorrow, or perhaps sorrowful joy, her eyes closed to keep the tears waiting there from spilling over uncontrollably. Even so, her words are choked with quiet, occasional sobs when she does manage to speak. "I never thought I'd see you again...where have you been?"
Skelaghe does not take any more time in turning around to leave Paoro and Ahiga alone. She'll head back into Amaranth to ensure that they get the privacy they deserve, by distracting anyone who ventures too close, and then she can finally head back home tonight or tomorrow.
Ahiga grunts softly when he finds himself with his former mate pressed up against his chest. He eases himself onto his haunches and for the first time since he arrived in these lands again, he seems to wilt and soften. Then again, Paoro always seemed to have such an effect, however minute. The former chieftain rests his chin atop Paoro's skull and then turns his head to rub his cheek over the same spot. She doesn't smell like him anymore. It's somewhat disconcerting. "I have been lost," he responds as his purr starts. "The illness made me forget many things, and I could not remember them for a very long time." Even still, his memory is lacking in parts. "I could not come back until I was certain that I was well and fit again."
Paoro's tongue flits out to give her mate a tenderly affectionate lick, pulling away after he's explained his absence. "I still can't believe you're really here...but I'm so happy you are." Her face easily betrays these conflicting emotions, her teary eyes contrasted by her happy smile. "We have grandchildren now. Ayashe has taken my place as matron, and she has chosen a mate to lead alongside her." The unspoken line being that even if he is back, he would not be able to return as a chief - though Paoro, being the same age and realizing the pleasures of a quieter life away from the spotlight, would not be surprised if that was not what he desired anyway. But even so, another chief means another male, and she's quite familiar with how Ahiga feels about other males.
No, Ahiga truly does not have any desire to take back his place as head of the Amaranth tribe. Even if he did, he knows he would not be able to hold onto it long anyway. He isn't exactly as young as he once was, and the illness took something out of him. Of course there's still that territorial spark, but he doesn't address it now. "I know," he states. "Skelaghe told me." Hey, he remembered the name of a wolf -- that's something. "We can go away, you and I. They no longer need us." It's unclear just whom he means by 'they'. The tribe? The children?
It would be arrogant to disagree and argue that the tribe does need her - Paoro feels that they enjoy her presence, but to say that they cannot function without her is putting too little faith in the family and tribe. But, what she can say and mean is: "They may not need us, but I need them. And I need you, too." She meets his gaze, her pale green eyes easily staring deep into the intimidating male's own eyes without the fear that others might feel. "Will you stay here with me? At least for a little while longer?"
Ahiga frowns slightly, his ears slipping back. Staying here has been troublesome, trying to keep himself hidden from the new chieftain. It's almost insulting, really, skirting about the borders of this land like one of the many males he chased off in his days as chieftain. But he can't fight against that look, and he never has been able to. He holds it for several seconds of silence before he drops his gaze again and extends his neck forward to bump the top of his nose against his mate's chin. "I am not sure Chief Chesmu will tolerate my presence should he discover me here, but if you wish it, I will linger."
Paoro almost laughs at her mate's answer, and lets slip a chuckle nonetheless. "You? You are the great Chief Ahiga, my love, father of matron Ayashe and a distinguished guest of the Amaranth shamaness, I might add. I doubt there will be much fuss over whether or not you can stay for a while," she replies, touching her soft pink nose to his own. "Come back with me. Ayashe's cubs will no doubt love to finally meet their grandfather," she purrs, not giving the ruddy male a chance to protest before turning and practically bounding away with a spring in her step, occasionally casting back sly glances to make sure the lumbering male is keeping up, and seeming younger than she has ever been for years now.