Post by abyss on Oct 6, 2008 16:59:51 GMT -5
Characters involved:
Yuma, Male Adol. Cougar
Kein, Male Adol. Cougar
Synopsis: Yuma and Kein have a much-needed talk.
Setting: Snowy Highlands
Just after the break of dawn, Yuma finds himself making his way to the highlands. It has been several hours since he left his father in Tohopka's care. The young male had intended to search for answers immediately... but in the wake of such stress and shock, he found himself talking a walk instead, in an attempt to clear his mind. When the rising sun begins to shed light on the deceptively peaceful landscape, Yuma knows that he has delayed too long. The situation has to be dealt with before someone gets killed, and it seems that he will have to handle it himself. With a reluctant sigh, the adolescent leaps down from a ledge and begins to make his way across the stony, snow-covered ground.
The snow and cold have been a blessing for Kein, given his current condition. His fur has kept him warm enough, even with the blood loss, Especially with nayeli sleeping right next to him, and the cold has kept the wounds he received from swelling. He is still not a pleasant sight to look at, but he felt much better upon waking than he did when he went to sleep. He still hasn't moved, though. Mom and Nayeli are still nearby, even if they're sleeping, and nothing is pressing enough to make him abandon his relatively comfortable position. He is very alert, watching, listening, and smelling at the breeze, but otherwise, he just devotes his time to thinking.
For all Yuma knows, the cougars involved may have already left the territory... it would seem, after all, that he is the last to find out about anything. He has always accepted that as a simple fact of life, but it's proving pretty damn inconvenient now that he's expected to act as Chieftain. The male frowns down at the snow, which has covered up any trace of the fight that happened here last night. Maybe they /have/ left... but who are they, specifically? Chesmu was supposed to speak with Nayeli, and Yuma had not expected any trouble to come from that. Instead it led to the former Chieftain lying, battered and defeated, in the snow. Yuma will not rest until he knows how that happened. Finally the adolescent pauses, squinting against the glare of the rising sun, making out a few distant shapes.
It does not take Kein much longer to spot Yuma, but he has not yet identified the figure that is approaching them. He grows tense, but he does not attempt to wake Nayeli or his mother. Not yet. Unless Chesmu is really stupid, he won't be approaching Mom anytime soon, but that doesn't mean that whoever is approaching them can be trusted, and with Kein already wounded, it'd be nearly impossible for him to protect his mother, Nayeli, or himself against anything, even a cougar his own age or a little younger, so he is prepared to wake his mother up if it appears whatever is approaching them is a threat... But he also knows that both Mom and Nayeli must be exhausted, after staying up most of the night because of him.
Yuma may not be recognizable from a distance, but his bearing does not seem threatening. If anything, he walks a bit slowly, his head lowered, approaching the group of cougars with a sense of slight reluctance. The adolescent is already close to Chesmu's size, only a shade smaller, but his bulky build and unmarked coat should identify him -- or at least prove who he is /not/ -- as he draws closer to the cougars lying close together in the snow. He stops a reasonable distance away and waits for a moment, to see if his arrival has been noticed... and if so, what reaction they have to his presence.
Kein frowns as he catches Yuma's scent, and slowly pulls himself to a sitting position. The pain is nothing compared to how it was last night, but even so, moving is not pleasant. Thankfully, what healing his leg did last night holds, so it doesn't begin bleeding again. This is about as much posturing as he'll be doing, though. He's really not well, and that, more than anything else, makes him distrust the other adolescent, makes it harder for Kein to remember what his mother told him last night. Yuma may be Chesmu's son, but he is not Chesmu, anymore than Kein is Azriel. He remains sitting and watching Yuma as he comes closer, saying nothing. Almost without realizing it, he has placed himself between Yuma and Nayeli.
Yuma is close enough to make out Kein when he rises to a sitting position. He has not identified the other cougars still sleeping behind him, but he focuses his full attention, for the moment, on the other male. For a few seconds, nothing happens - he looks at Kein, and Kein looks back at him. Finally, however, Yuma begins to make his way closer, stopping again only a dozen feet away, and this time he settles down on his haunches. This close, he can see that Kein has sustained some injuries of his own. "What happened?" he asks, quietly.
Kein told himself he was going to be polite to Yuma the next time he spoke with the current chieftain. Of course, that was before Chesmu attacked him and he defended himself, but... As far as Kein knows, Yuma had nothing to do with that, so Kein takes a deep breath before speaking. When he does, there is still anger in his voice, but it is not anger with Yuma. Just anger with the situation. "Your father found out that Nayeli was going to leave with me, and... He objected." No need to go into detail. The nature of CHesmu's objection ought to be clear enough, after all. Kein has no idea, yet, that either Yuma or Chesmu suspected he was actually mating with Nayeli, in large part because he has no plans towards doing that, at least not anytime soon.
Yuma can hear the barely-suppressed anger in Kein's voice, but after wondering whether he was about to be attacked himself, it is still a relief to hear an explanation. He can handle growling. "Nayeli is going to leave with you?" Chesmu had pleaded with Yuma not to let Kein /take/ Nayeli away, which is a rather more forceful phrasing. The adolescent is silent for a moment before he says, "I think that a lot of this is my fault. I saw you looking at Nayeli, and I thought that maybe... along with supporting your mother, you might have other motives for returning." He shakes his head slowly. "I shouldn't have said anything to Chesmu, but... none of this was supposed to happen. I was going to talk to you myself."
Kein glances back to Yuma's sister. She /was/ going to leave with him, but now, after this... He doesn't know if she still intends to leave with him, or if he'll even let her, when he is finally well enough to leave Amaranth. It's not a pleasant thought, though, and after a moment, Kein looks back to Yuma. "It doesn't matter anymore. You don't need to worry." He has no idea what he will be doing in the near future, but more and more, he's suspecting that Nayeli will have nothing to do with it, and the idea depresses him. Things were getting so much better, and even after he gave up his chance at becoming the chieftain of Amaranth, it seemed that they were going to continue getting better, but it didn't take long at all for that to change.
Yuma blinks once, following the direction of Kein's gaze. He had assumed that the other sleeping cougars were Maulisho and Kasim, but he realizes that he should have expected Nayeli to be among them. "Normally I would agree with you," he answers, with a sort of apologetic grimace. "But if I'm acting Chieftain... I kinda /have/ to worry." Yuma looks over his sister's sleeping form, his tail swaying slowly in the snow behind him. "If she wants to go with you, that's her choice to make." /Choice/ being the key word there. Yuma would never let Kein 'take Nayeli away,' but he will not stop her if she leaves of her own accord.
"Not according to your father." And Kein simply doesn't expect Yuma to side with him or Nayeli over his own father. Still, Yuma doesn't appear to be a threat, so Kein slowly lies down again, stretching his injured foreleg out and letting it rest. After lying down, he wonders if he should even bring up what he originally intended to speak with Yuma about... But then, if attacking a cougar who was, technically, still a brother of the tribe isn't enough to convince Yuma that Chesmu should not be allowed to regain his position, likely nothing Kein could say would do it.
Yuma flattens his ears slightly. His father. Has he come to make excuses for Chesmu's behavior, even though he does not understand it? The adolescent loves his father dearly - after all, Chesmu has never done any wrong by his only son. Regardless of this, Yuma does not agree with the stance his father has taken. If he is old enough to act as Chieftain and make decisions for the tribe, surely Nayeli, who is the same age, can be allowed to make her /own/ decisions? "My father stepped down. As a father, he might not approve, but that doesn't mean he has a right to stop her." He looks back at Kein. "Or attack you."
Kein takes a deep breath and forces a thin smile. "I'm glad you feel that way, Yuma." Kein doesn't ask what punishment Yuma might have in mind for Chesmu, though. The current chieftain might believe that what Maulisho did to Chesmu was enough, but even if he doesn't, whatever punishment Yuma might decide on probably won't be enough to satisfy Kein... So it's probably better that they don't approach that subject, and probably better if the decision isn't left up to Kein. Kein is calm enough that he's capable of recognizing that, but not calm enough that he wouldn't want to see Chesmu dead, if the opportunity arose, after everything that has happened.
Snow begins to fall.
Yuma nods once, not quite managing to return Kein's forced smile. He's bone-weary, still not sure if he's doing the right thing... and now it seems that he will have to have a serious discussion with his father. Unlike Kein, Yuma doesn't wish his father unnecessary pain, but he will be glad if Chesmu's injuries keep him off his feet for the next few days. "I'm sorry for whatever part I played in this," he says, getting back to his paws as snow begins to drift down from the morning sky.
Kein doesn't even try to stand when Yuma does. It may be impolite, but that isn't his intention. By the time he manages to stand up, though could have both easily said their goodbyes and the current chieftain could be on his way to... Well, wherever he intend to go, from here. "You were looking out for her." Her, of course, being Nayeli. Kein won't blame anyone for that, unless, of course, it leads a cougar to try to take Nayeli away from him, against her will and his. "I don't want to speak ill of your father to you, Yuma." It's obvious that Kein has no compassion for Chesmu, nor does he feel any friendship towards the former chieftain, but he still understands the position that Yuma and his siblings are in. "But if you can do anything to keep him away from me and my family, it would probably be best. I would appreciate it, even after I leave." Chesmu hasn't changed, as far as Kein believes, and the anger still in his tone gives that away. Chesmu proved that last night, and Kein doesn't want the former chieftain anywhere near his mother. As for when he'll leave... Well, he ought to speak to Yuma about that, too, but unless the current chieftain tells him to get out, he'll leave the subject alone.
The snow pleasantly drifts downwards as a reminder of the winter, settling softly on rocks, trees, or its own brethren snowflakes.
What Yuma intends to do is get some much-needed rest, but he does not turn away from Kein just yet. His gaze remains on the other male, and Kein's words do not appear to surprise him... it is almost as if he had expected this to come up. "Chesmu didn't seem angry when I spoke to him." It feels strange to be referring to his father by name rather than title, either past or present. "But he hasn't changed his mind, either," Yuma admits with a sigh. "I'll talk to him. If he won't listen, or he acts out in anger again..." He leaves the outcome unspoken, but whatever he plans on doing then, it seems to pain him.
Kein gives a nod of his head. When he suggested that Yuma should take the position, he had no intention to pit Yuma against his father, and today, there was no particular desire to lay that burden on Yuma. Kein really can't be certain what the best comparison is, given that if he ever saw Azriel and he were capable, he wouldn't hesitate to do whatever necessary to make sure his family and friends remained safe. If it were Kasim, though... Even as angry as the laid back male has made him lately, he would not want to be forced to do anything to physically harm him. With another deep breath, he says, "Thank you for listening to me, Chieftain." If nothing else, this conversation has served to make Kein believe that staying here while he heals will not be too miserable. It at least lightens his mood a little. Not much, but some. "Farewell."
The snow stops falling gradually until the skies are clear of the flakes.
"You're welcome." Yuma nods in return to Kein, trying not to look too stunned when he is addressed as 'Chieftain.' "Farewell," he answers, turning away and beginning to trudge off through the layer of snow, which has been thickened by the brief flurry. Now, finally, maybe he can get a bit of rest.
Yuma, Male Adol. Cougar
Kein, Male Adol. Cougar
Synopsis: Yuma and Kein have a much-needed talk.
Setting: Snowy Highlands
Just after the break of dawn, Yuma finds himself making his way to the highlands. It has been several hours since he left his father in Tohopka's care. The young male had intended to search for answers immediately... but in the wake of such stress and shock, he found himself talking a walk instead, in an attempt to clear his mind. When the rising sun begins to shed light on the deceptively peaceful landscape, Yuma knows that he has delayed too long. The situation has to be dealt with before someone gets killed, and it seems that he will have to handle it himself. With a reluctant sigh, the adolescent leaps down from a ledge and begins to make his way across the stony, snow-covered ground.
The snow and cold have been a blessing for Kein, given his current condition. His fur has kept him warm enough, even with the blood loss, Especially with nayeli sleeping right next to him, and the cold has kept the wounds he received from swelling. He is still not a pleasant sight to look at, but he felt much better upon waking than he did when he went to sleep. He still hasn't moved, though. Mom and Nayeli are still nearby, even if they're sleeping, and nothing is pressing enough to make him abandon his relatively comfortable position. He is very alert, watching, listening, and smelling at the breeze, but otherwise, he just devotes his time to thinking.
For all Yuma knows, the cougars involved may have already left the territory... it would seem, after all, that he is the last to find out about anything. He has always accepted that as a simple fact of life, but it's proving pretty damn inconvenient now that he's expected to act as Chieftain. The male frowns down at the snow, which has covered up any trace of the fight that happened here last night. Maybe they /have/ left... but who are they, specifically? Chesmu was supposed to speak with Nayeli, and Yuma had not expected any trouble to come from that. Instead it led to the former Chieftain lying, battered and defeated, in the snow. Yuma will not rest until he knows how that happened. Finally the adolescent pauses, squinting against the glare of the rising sun, making out a few distant shapes.
It does not take Kein much longer to spot Yuma, but he has not yet identified the figure that is approaching them. He grows tense, but he does not attempt to wake Nayeli or his mother. Not yet. Unless Chesmu is really stupid, he won't be approaching Mom anytime soon, but that doesn't mean that whoever is approaching them can be trusted, and with Kein already wounded, it'd be nearly impossible for him to protect his mother, Nayeli, or himself against anything, even a cougar his own age or a little younger, so he is prepared to wake his mother up if it appears whatever is approaching them is a threat... But he also knows that both Mom and Nayeli must be exhausted, after staying up most of the night because of him.
Yuma may not be recognizable from a distance, but his bearing does not seem threatening. If anything, he walks a bit slowly, his head lowered, approaching the group of cougars with a sense of slight reluctance. The adolescent is already close to Chesmu's size, only a shade smaller, but his bulky build and unmarked coat should identify him -- or at least prove who he is /not/ -- as he draws closer to the cougars lying close together in the snow. He stops a reasonable distance away and waits for a moment, to see if his arrival has been noticed... and if so, what reaction they have to his presence.
Kein frowns as he catches Yuma's scent, and slowly pulls himself to a sitting position. The pain is nothing compared to how it was last night, but even so, moving is not pleasant. Thankfully, what healing his leg did last night holds, so it doesn't begin bleeding again. This is about as much posturing as he'll be doing, though. He's really not well, and that, more than anything else, makes him distrust the other adolescent, makes it harder for Kein to remember what his mother told him last night. Yuma may be Chesmu's son, but he is not Chesmu, anymore than Kein is Azriel. He remains sitting and watching Yuma as he comes closer, saying nothing. Almost without realizing it, he has placed himself between Yuma and Nayeli.
Yuma is close enough to make out Kein when he rises to a sitting position. He has not identified the other cougars still sleeping behind him, but he focuses his full attention, for the moment, on the other male. For a few seconds, nothing happens - he looks at Kein, and Kein looks back at him. Finally, however, Yuma begins to make his way closer, stopping again only a dozen feet away, and this time he settles down on his haunches. This close, he can see that Kein has sustained some injuries of his own. "What happened?" he asks, quietly.
Kein told himself he was going to be polite to Yuma the next time he spoke with the current chieftain. Of course, that was before Chesmu attacked him and he defended himself, but... As far as Kein knows, Yuma had nothing to do with that, so Kein takes a deep breath before speaking. When he does, there is still anger in his voice, but it is not anger with Yuma. Just anger with the situation. "Your father found out that Nayeli was going to leave with me, and... He objected." No need to go into detail. The nature of CHesmu's objection ought to be clear enough, after all. Kein has no idea, yet, that either Yuma or Chesmu suspected he was actually mating with Nayeli, in large part because he has no plans towards doing that, at least not anytime soon.
Yuma can hear the barely-suppressed anger in Kein's voice, but after wondering whether he was about to be attacked himself, it is still a relief to hear an explanation. He can handle growling. "Nayeli is going to leave with you?" Chesmu had pleaded with Yuma not to let Kein /take/ Nayeli away, which is a rather more forceful phrasing. The adolescent is silent for a moment before he says, "I think that a lot of this is my fault. I saw you looking at Nayeli, and I thought that maybe... along with supporting your mother, you might have other motives for returning." He shakes his head slowly. "I shouldn't have said anything to Chesmu, but... none of this was supposed to happen. I was going to talk to you myself."
Kein glances back to Yuma's sister. She /was/ going to leave with him, but now, after this... He doesn't know if she still intends to leave with him, or if he'll even let her, when he is finally well enough to leave Amaranth. It's not a pleasant thought, though, and after a moment, Kein looks back to Yuma. "It doesn't matter anymore. You don't need to worry." He has no idea what he will be doing in the near future, but more and more, he's suspecting that Nayeli will have nothing to do with it, and the idea depresses him. Things were getting so much better, and even after he gave up his chance at becoming the chieftain of Amaranth, it seemed that they were going to continue getting better, but it didn't take long at all for that to change.
Yuma blinks once, following the direction of Kein's gaze. He had assumed that the other sleeping cougars were Maulisho and Kasim, but he realizes that he should have expected Nayeli to be among them. "Normally I would agree with you," he answers, with a sort of apologetic grimace. "But if I'm acting Chieftain... I kinda /have/ to worry." Yuma looks over his sister's sleeping form, his tail swaying slowly in the snow behind him. "If she wants to go with you, that's her choice to make." /Choice/ being the key word there. Yuma would never let Kein 'take Nayeli away,' but he will not stop her if she leaves of her own accord.
"Not according to your father." And Kein simply doesn't expect Yuma to side with him or Nayeli over his own father. Still, Yuma doesn't appear to be a threat, so Kein slowly lies down again, stretching his injured foreleg out and letting it rest. After lying down, he wonders if he should even bring up what he originally intended to speak with Yuma about... But then, if attacking a cougar who was, technically, still a brother of the tribe isn't enough to convince Yuma that Chesmu should not be allowed to regain his position, likely nothing Kein could say would do it.
Yuma flattens his ears slightly. His father. Has he come to make excuses for Chesmu's behavior, even though he does not understand it? The adolescent loves his father dearly - after all, Chesmu has never done any wrong by his only son. Regardless of this, Yuma does not agree with the stance his father has taken. If he is old enough to act as Chieftain and make decisions for the tribe, surely Nayeli, who is the same age, can be allowed to make her /own/ decisions? "My father stepped down. As a father, he might not approve, but that doesn't mean he has a right to stop her." He looks back at Kein. "Or attack you."
Kein takes a deep breath and forces a thin smile. "I'm glad you feel that way, Yuma." Kein doesn't ask what punishment Yuma might have in mind for Chesmu, though. The current chieftain might believe that what Maulisho did to Chesmu was enough, but even if he doesn't, whatever punishment Yuma might decide on probably won't be enough to satisfy Kein... So it's probably better that they don't approach that subject, and probably better if the decision isn't left up to Kein. Kein is calm enough that he's capable of recognizing that, but not calm enough that he wouldn't want to see Chesmu dead, if the opportunity arose, after everything that has happened.
Snow begins to fall.
Yuma nods once, not quite managing to return Kein's forced smile. He's bone-weary, still not sure if he's doing the right thing... and now it seems that he will have to have a serious discussion with his father. Unlike Kein, Yuma doesn't wish his father unnecessary pain, but he will be glad if Chesmu's injuries keep him off his feet for the next few days. "I'm sorry for whatever part I played in this," he says, getting back to his paws as snow begins to drift down from the morning sky.
Kein doesn't even try to stand when Yuma does. It may be impolite, but that isn't his intention. By the time he manages to stand up, though could have both easily said their goodbyes and the current chieftain could be on his way to... Well, wherever he intend to go, from here. "You were looking out for her." Her, of course, being Nayeli. Kein won't blame anyone for that, unless, of course, it leads a cougar to try to take Nayeli away from him, against her will and his. "I don't want to speak ill of your father to you, Yuma." It's obvious that Kein has no compassion for Chesmu, nor does he feel any friendship towards the former chieftain, but he still understands the position that Yuma and his siblings are in. "But if you can do anything to keep him away from me and my family, it would probably be best. I would appreciate it, even after I leave." Chesmu hasn't changed, as far as Kein believes, and the anger still in his tone gives that away. Chesmu proved that last night, and Kein doesn't want the former chieftain anywhere near his mother. As for when he'll leave... Well, he ought to speak to Yuma about that, too, but unless the current chieftain tells him to get out, he'll leave the subject alone.
The snow pleasantly drifts downwards as a reminder of the winter, settling softly on rocks, trees, or its own brethren snowflakes.
What Yuma intends to do is get some much-needed rest, but he does not turn away from Kein just yet. His gaze remains on the other male, and Kein's words do not appear to surprise him... it is almost as if he had expected this to come up. "Chesmu didn't seem angry when I spoke to him." It feels strange to be referring to his father by name rather than title, either past or present. "But he hasn't changed his mind, either," Yuma admits with a sigh. "I'll talk to him. If he won't listen, or he acts out in anger again..." He leaves the outcome unspoken, but whatever he plans on doing then, it seems to pain him.
Kein gives a nod of his head. When he suggested that Yuma should take the position, he had no intention to pit Yuma against his father, and today, there was no particular desire to lay that burden on Yuma. Kein really can't be certain what the best comparison is, given that if he ever saw Azriel and he were capable, he wouldn't hesitate to do whatever necessary to make sure his family and friends remained safe. If it were Kasim, though... Even as angry as the laid back male has made him lately, he would not want to be forced to do anything to physically harm him. With another deep breath, he says, "Thank you for listening to me, Chieftain." If nothing else, this conversation has served to make Kein believe that staying here while he heals will not be too miserable. It at least lightens his mood a little. Not much, but some. "Farewell."
The snow stops falling gradually until the skies are clear of the flakes.
"You're welcome." Yuma nods in return to Kein, trying not to look too stunned when he is addressed as 'Chieftain.' "Farewell," he answers, turning away and beginning to trudge off through the layer of snow, which has been thickened by the brief flurry. Now, finally, maybe he can get a bit of rest.