Post by abyss on Oct 4, 2008 22:52:04 GMT -5
Characters:
Yuma, male adol. cougar (Amaranth)
Chesmu, male cougar (Amaranth)
Setting: Eroded Well
Given Yuma's hesitation, and the time he spent to say a few words to Maulisho, the Chieftain -- /former/ Chieftain -- has a few minutes' head-start already. The adolescent does not immediately rush to close the gap. His paws feel as though they are made of lead, and he dreads the conversation he is about to have with his father.
Chesmu is not even on the territory anymore, but he still manages to find a place he can lie down without worrying about rogues who might attack him. The ex-Chieftain, though he regrets standing down, has finally had a rest. He is still lying where he had himself a catnap, but he doesn't see Yuma approaching, however.
By the time Yuma finds his father, he could use a nap himself, emotionally drained and now tired from the long trudge. When he sees Chesmu laying in the wildflowers, however, he pauses and briefly tries to collect himself. What does Chesmu think of his son now, having taken his former position? He did not so much as glance at Yuma before leaving, and now they are both beyond the territory's borders. "Father..." That title, at least, Chesmu will never lose. The adolescent moves out into sight, moving closer to the older male. "... How did this happen?"
Chesmu looks up and sees Yuma, then stands up and walks toward him. "I did not want this. If there were any other way, I would still be Chieftain." Chesmu says. "But, your father did a most terrible thing and must take responsibility." Chesmu tilts his head to Yuma. "That is how it happened."
Yuma sits down when Chesmu moves toward him, exhaling in a slow sigh. He avoids meeting his father's eyes, looking down at his paws. "I..." The younger male flattens his ears, hesitating briefly before firming his resolve and plowing ahead. "I can understand why Maulisho is so upset. She was right. You and I would be upset if..." Yuma clears his throat. "That... happened to any of my sisters." Finally he looks up, regarding Chesmu. "You don't have to leave Amaranth, though. I want you to stay." This is not a command, of course; his expression is, if anything, a bit pleading.
Chesmu looks at Yuma. "You came all this way to tell me that, Chieftain?" Chesmu says, using his son's new title. "You could have used a winged friend as a messenger for that task."
Yuma looks down at his paws again, feeling as though he has been slapped with the title. "I thought Kein was going to claim himself as Chieftain... and I didn't want him to be," he says quietly.
"Despite his mother's opinion..." Chesmu says. "I do not believe Kein would have been a very fitting Chieftain. Being Chieftain is more than confronting others when you believe them of wrongdoing."
The adolescent still does not know what to think. Though he had time to think while he followed Chesmu out of Amaranth land, it was not nearly long enough to recover from the shock. His shoulders slouch, and his tail curls over his forepaws. If Kein /had/ claimed the title for himself, would Yuma have fought him, or would he have left with Chesmu? To him it seems an important question... though he had not expected either to result in him acting as Chieftain pro tem. "Does mom know anything about this?"
Chesmu has no idea. "I doubt it. You know how she'll wander for seasons at a time." Chesmu says. "So what do you plan to do?"
"I should talk to her..." Yuma does not think Ayashe would have a very forgiving opinion of Chesmu's actions, but would she have called for him to forsake his position? "And grandmother, if I can find her." The young male has a lot of faith in the wisdom of the shamaness, but he does not sound hopeful, knowing that Paoro is scarcely seen. He sighs again, shaking his head slowly. "I don't know. It's just so much to think about."
Chesmu smiles to Yuma, picking up on how Yuma is feeling pretty well. "You don't want to be Chieftain, it's plain to see." Chesmu says. "You can try to find your mother or grandmother, though you could probably save yourself a lot of pain and... oh, I'm not being ambitious, but... you could re-enact me as Chieftain. I'm sure I could set things straight and since I stepped down I already did what Maulisho wanted me to do. She never said anything about me staying off as Chieftain, technically I'd be a new Chieftain by law and therefore would have a clean slate."
After Chesmu proposes this idea, Yuma is quiet for a moment, apparently considering it. True enough, he did not ask for the title, nor does he look forward to the difficulties he will face if he retains the position... but he does not think that handing it back over to Chesmu would solve anything. "I don't think Maulisho will see it that way." And Kein... as far as he knows, Kein may have just been using this as a way to set son against father. How can he really know for sure? The male looks up to the sky, trying to focus his thoughts, which are crowded with questions and worries. All of this... over a title. A word. Yet Yuma is slowly realizing how much that word truly symbolizes.
Chesmu tilts his head again. "That's true. If you were to reinstate me, you'd have to do it with her present... asking her permission." Chesmu says. "That way, if it actually happens, she can't turn around and say she doesn't want it to happen." There is Kein to consider, but Chesmu believes Kein had decided to leave. "It is your call."
Yuma nods slowly. "I'm not ready to make any decision yet, one way or the other." He looks back at his father again. "Give me some time. I want to do whatever's best for the tribe... so everyone's opinion should be taken into account, right?"
Chesmu nods. "Right." Chesmu says. "that's always best. One thing Kein failed to understand was I was not doing what I did for the tribe for myself only. I listened to the sisters, as you must. And you remember all the border patrols we went on together..."
The younger cougar begins to nod again, then he pauses slightly and blinks. "You're not going to leave, are you? We can still do border patrols together..."
Chesmu pauses a minute, to consider what his son just said. "Well, without me... the tribe is short an experienced patrolling males, unless Kasim were to stay. Even then, I'm pretty sure I'd be an asset after all. On the other hand..." Chesmu says, then leads into "I'd be a male on another male's territory."
Yuma looks slightly wounded by this. "I do not have a mate here. This is my home, but I wouldn't say that it belongs to me... it belongs to my sisters." He means not just his blood-sisters, but all the females of Amaranth. "It's our job to protect them. Maulisho, too... she is staying here with us." This is as close as he will come to asking his father not to repeat his earlier transgressions. Yuma believes in his heart that his father will not make the same slip twice.
Chesmu seems as if he senses what Yuma is thinking. "Always do your best. The Chieftain is not *boss.* The Chieftain is a servant. It's hard work." Chesmu says. "We all make mistakes, and we all hope that we'll come through okay. But don't do anything to make the sisters feel you're awful as a Chieftain. You're young... I was barely an adult when I began where you are now. You need to realize that being Chieftain means more than just... walking the border and peeing on bushes." His way of indicating that he, like Maulisho, is on a healing path for what he did."
Yuma nods, understanding already how hard it is -- and so far, he's only had a small taste. The next few days, maybe much longer, will not be easy for him. "I'm going to do my best." Young as he is, relatively immature and inexperienced, he /does/ have good intentions. Will that be enough? He has not even earned his red markings yet. "We should go back tonight... I don't trust Kein," he confesses, remembering the look the other male had exchanged with Nayeli.
Chesmu nods. He's still tempted to tell Yuma he's not coming back, but... "Yes, let us return."
Yuma looks relieved, clearly desiring his father's support and council, and for the first time in what seems like hours, a slight smile comes to his muzzle. "Thank you," Yuma says sincerely, getting up to give Chesmu a warm nuzzle. Once he has done so, the cougar begins to make his way back toward Amaranth territory, keeping pace with his father to walk beside him.
Chesmu returns the nuzzle and walks toward the territory. "Tell me one thing. Why do you say you don't trust Kein? He gave you this position."
"It wasn't his to give." Yuma shakes his head, continuing to walk as he speaks his father. "You stepped down by your own choice." Chesmu may not have /wanted/ to, but it did not, after all, come down to a matter of force. "I thought Kein was going to claim it. Or Kasim." Would that have made Maulisho the Matron? The young male quickly dismisses that thought, focusing on answering his father's question. 'I saw him look at Nayeli' sounds like such a weak excuse, but he has no excuse other than that... just a feeling of distrust. "I don't know... maybe I'm completely wrong. But he didn't seem happy to be here."
Chesmu shakes his head and chuckles. "No, I imagine he wouldn't care to stay at the place wherein his mother was harmed." Chesmu says. "Maulisho may have forgiven me, but Kein clearly has not. I don't quite see how that would keep you from trusting him."
Yuma sighs. He stops for a moment, looking reluctant, even slightly embarassed. "While I was away, I found a female's scent... it made me feel strange," he admits. "I didn't find her, but... I don't know what would have happened if I did." Small wonder he doesn't trust Kein, who is so close to his own age.
Chesmu connects the dots easily. "I understand. You're worried that he might be involved in something..." Chesmu clears his throat. "Improper with Nayeli. That sounds like it is still under my jurisdiction as her father. I'll talk to her."
Yuma nods, and begins to walk again, feeling a small measure of weight lifted from his shoulders. "Thanks." He would not know how to broach the subject with his sister, but he /can/ speak with Kein... he may not address the subject directly, but he may be able to get a better understanding of the other male. As they walk, the surroundings become more familiar, and soon they are back within the tribe's territory.
Chesmu nuzzles his son. "Why don't you refresh yourself, young Chieftain, and we'll meet by the mesa." Chesmu says. "Take your time."
Yuma returns the nuzzle, looking grateful, before moving off to some restful place. With so many thoughts going through his head, he wonders if he will be able to fall asleep... but he is snoring almost as soon as he has settled down.
Yuma, male adol. cougar (Amaranth)
Chesmu, male cougar (Amaranth)
Setting: Eroded Well
Given Yuma's hesitation, and the time he spent to say a few words to Maulisho, the Chieftain -- /former/ Chieftain -- has a few minutes' head-start already. The adolescent does not immediately rush to close the gap. His paws feel as though they are made of lead, and he dreads the conversation he is about to have with his father.
Chesmu is not even on the territory anymore, but he still manages to find a place he can lie down without worrying about rogues who might attack him. The ex-Chieftain, though he regrets standing down, has finally had a rest. He is still lying where he had himself a catnap, but he doesn't see Yuma approaching, however.
By the time Yuma finds his father, he could use a nap himself, emotionally drained and now tired from the long trudge. When he sees Chesmu laying in the wildflowers, however, he pauses and briefly tries to collect himself. What does Chesmu think of his son now, having taken his former position? He did not so much as glance at Yuma before leaving, and now they are both beyond the territory's borders. "Father..." That title, at least, Chesmu will never lose. The adolescent moves out into sight, moving closer to the older male. "... How did this happen?"
Chesmu looks up and sees Yuma, then stands up and walks toward him. "I did not want this. If there were any other way, I would still be Chieftain." Chesmu says. "But, your father did a most terrible thing and must take responsibility." Chesmu tilts his head to Yuma. "That is how it happened."
Yuma sits down when Chesmu moves toward him, exhaling in a slow sigh. He avoids meeting his father's eyes, looking down at his paws. "I..." The younger male flattens his ears, hesitating briefly before firming his resolve and plowing ahead. "I can understand why Maulisho is so upset. She was right. You and I would be upset if..." Yuma clears his throat. "That... happened to any of my sisters." Finally he looks up, regarding Chesmu. "You don't have to leave Amaranth, though. I want you to stay." This is not a command, of course; his expression is, if anything, a bit pleading.
Chesmu looks at Yuma. "You came all this way to tell me that, Chieftain?" Chesmu says, using his son's new title. "You could have used a winged friend as a messenger for that task."
Yuma looks down at his paws again, feeling as though he has been slapped with the title. "I thought Kein was going to claim himself as Chieftain... and I didn't want him to be," he says quietly.
"Despite his mother's opinion..." Chesmu says. "I do not believe Kein would have been a very fitting Chieftain. Being Chieftain is more than confronting others when you believe them of wrongdoing."
The adolescent still does not know what to think. Though he had time to think while he followed Chesmu out of Amaranth land, it was not nearly long enough to recover from the shock. His shoulders slouch, and his tail curls over his forepaws. If Kein /had/ claimed the title for himself, would Yuma have fought him, or would he have left with Chesmu? To him it seems an important question... though he had not expected either to result in him acting as Chieftain pro tem. "Does mom know anything about this?"
Chesmu has no idea. "I doubt it. You know how she'll wander for seasons at a time." Chesmu says. "So what do you plan to do?"
"I should talk to her..." Yuma does not think Ayashe would have a very forgiving opinion of Chesmu's actions, but would she have called for him to forsake his position? "And grandmother, if I can find her." The young male has a lot of faith in the wisdom of the shamaness, but he does not sound hopeful, knowing that Paoro is scarcely seen. He sighs again, shaking his head slowly. "I don't know. It's just so much to think about."
Chesmu smiles to Yuma, picking up on how Yuma is feeling pretty well. "You don't want to be Chieftain, it's plain to see." Chesmu says. "You can try to find your mother or grandmother, though you could probably save yourself a lot of pain and... oh, I'm not being ambitious, but... you could re-enact me as Chieftain. I'm sure I could set things straight and since I stepped down I already did what Maulisho wanted me to do. She never said anything about me staying off as Chieftain, technically I'd be a new Chieftain by law and therefore would have a clean slate."
After Chesmu proposes this idea, Yuma is quiet for a moment, apparently considering it. True enough, he did not ask for the title, nor does he look forward to the difficulties he will face if he retains the position... but he does not think that handing it back over to Chesmu would solve anything. "I don't think Maulisho will see it that way." And Kein... as far as he knows, Kein may have just been using this as a way to set son against father. How can he really know for sure? The male looks up to the sky, trying to focus his thoughts, which are crowded with questions and worries. All of this... over a title. A word. Yet Yuma is slowly realizing how much that word truly symbolizes.
Chesmu tilts his head again. "That's true. If you were to reinstate me, you'd have to do it with her present... asking her permission." Chesmu says. "That way, if it actually happens, she can't turn around and say she doesn't want it to happen." There is Kein to consider, but Chesmu believes Kein had decided to leave. "It is your call."
Yuma nods slowly. "I'm not ready to make any decision yet, one way or the other." He looks back at his father again. "Give me some time. I want to do whatever's best for the tribe... so everyone's opinion should be taken into account, right?"
Chesmu nods. "Right." Chesmu says. "that's always best. One thing Kein failed to understand was I was not doing what I did for the tribe for myself only. I listened to the sisters, as you must. And you remember all the border patrols we went on together..."
The younger cougar begins to nod again, then he pauses slightly and blinks. "You're not going to leave, are you? We can still do border patrols together..."
Chesmu pauses a minute, to consider what his son just said. "Well, without me... the tribe is short an experienced patrolling males, unless Kasim were to stay. Even then, I'm pretty sure I'd be an asset after all. On the other hand..." Chesmu says, then leads into "I'd be a male on another male's territory."
Yuma looks slightly wounded by this. "I do not have a mate here. This is my home, but I wouldn't say that it belongs to me... it belongs to my sisters." He means not just his blood-sisters, but all the females of Amaranth. "It's our job to protect them. Maulisho, too... she is staying here with us." This is as close as he will come to asking his father not to repeat his earlier transgressions. Yuma believes in his heart that his father will not make the same slip twice.
Chesmu seems as if he senses what Yuma is thinking. "Always do your best. The Chieftain is not *boss.* The Chieftain is a servant. It's hard work." Chesmu says. "We all make mistakes, and we all hope that we'll come through okay. But don't do anything to make the sisters feel you're awful as a Chieftain. You're young... I was barely an adult when I began where you are now. You need to realize that being Chieftain means more than just... walking the border and peeing on bushes." His way of indicating that he, like Maulisho, is on a healing path for what he did."
Yuma nods, understanding already how hard it is -- and so far, he's only had a small taste. The next few days, maybe much longer, will not be easy for him. "I'm going to do my best." Young as he is, relatively immature and inexperienced, he /does/ have good intentions. Will that be enough? He has not even earned his red markings yet. "We should go back tonight... I don't trust Kein," he confesses, remembering the look the other male had exchanged with Nayeli.
Chesmu nods. He's still tempted to tell Yuma he's not coming back, but... "Yes, let us return."
Yuma looks relieved, clearly desiring his father's support and council, and for the first time in what seems like hours, a slight smile comes to his muzzle. "Thank you," Yuma says sincerely, getting up to give Chesmu a warm nuzzle. Once he has done so, the cougar begins to make his way back toward Amaranth territory, keeping pace with his father to walk beside him.
Chesmu returns the nuzzle and walks toward the territory. "Tell me one thing. Why do you say you don't trust Kein? He gave you this position."
"It wasn't his to give." Yuma shakes his head, continuing to walk as he speaks his father. "You stepped down by your own choice." Chesmu may not have /wanted/ to, but it did not, after all, come down to a matter of force. "I thought Kein was going to claim it. Or Kasim." Would that have made Maulisho the Matron? The young male quickly dismisses that thought, focusing on answering his father's question. 'I saw him look at Nayeli' sounds like such a weak excuse, but he has no excuse other than that... just a feeling of distrust. "I don't know... maybe I'm completely wrong. But he didn't seem happy to be here."
Chesmu shakes his head and chuckles. "No, I imagine he wouldn't care to stay at the place wherein his mother was harmed." Chesmu says. "Maulisho may have forgiven me, but Kein clearly has not. I don't quite see how that would keep you from trusting him."
Yuma sighs. He stops for a moment, looking reluctant, even slightly embarassed. "While I was away, I found a female's scent... it made me feel strange," he admits. "I didn't find her, but... I don't know what would have happened if I did." Small wonder he doesn't trust Kein, who is so close to his own age.
Chesmu connects the dots easily. "I understand. You're worried that he might be involved in something..." Chesmu clears his throat. "Improper with Nayeli. That sounds like it is still under my jurisdiction as her father. I'll talk to her."
Yuma nods, and begins to walk again, feeling a small measure of weight lifted from his shoulders. "Thanks." He would not know how to broach the subject with his sister, but he /can/ speak with Kein... he may not address the subject directly, but he may be able to get a better understanding of the other male. As they walk, the surroundings become more familiar, and soon they are back within the tribe's territory.
Chesmu nuzzles his son. "Why don't you refresh yourself, young Chieftain, and we'll meet by the mesa." Chesmu says. "Take your time."
Yuma returns the nuzzle, looking grateful, before moving off to some restful place. With so many thoughts going through his head, he wonders if he will be able to fall asleep... but he is snoring almost as soon as he has settled down.