Post by tanniyn on Oct 19, 2008 7:07:39 GMT -5
Characters:
Yuma - male adolescent cougar (Amaranth Chieftain)
Nayeli - female adolescent cougar (Amaranth)
Setting:
Pine Grove (Amaranth)
Scene:
This has not been such a bad day, Yuma reflects as he makes his way through the pines. The talk with Chesmu left him feeling hopeful. He returned to the highlands that night to bring the news to Nayeli and Kein, only to find them gone -- but he does not think that they have left the territory yet. Whatever their plans for the future may be, he knows that Kein will not be able to go any great distance until his wounds are healed. More likely, they just moved somewhere more sheltered, less exposed to the elements. Now it is the following day, mid-morning, and Yuma has resumed his search for the pair of cougars.
Nayeli has to admit, the talk she had with Chandani has left her in much higher spirits, and more determined than ever to find her brother and talk with him. It's still hard to believe that Yuma is the tribe's Chieftain now--goodness, she grew /up/ with him! He's only as old as she is! With a tight smile, the girl travels at a leisurely pace west from the snowy area where she left her sister. She'll check the grove, and if Yuma isn't there, she'll just sweep north. He has to be around here somewhere! Pine needles make a dull crumbling noise under her paws as she walks, though Nayeli isn't really worried about trying to stay quiet.
Fed and fully rested, bearing only good news for his sister and her friend, Yuma is feeling better than he has in days. There's a bit of spring to his step, the young male showing a bit of the good cheer that was his characteristic as a cub. Struck by a playful whim, he swipes at a frost-encrusted pine cone, batting it ahead of him as he goes. Nayeli may not be taking any great pains to be quiet, but Yuma is making a fair bit of noise himself, alternating between batting the pine cone and pouncing after it.
It's been a while since she's heard such sounds, but Nayeli recognizes the noise off to the side from back when she used to do the very same thing. It's been some time since her last assault on a pine cone, but she does remember. Hmm. Angling off toward the sounds, she now concentrates on keeping herself quiet; she's hunting now, in a sense. Crouch down. Slink forward. Listen carefully. She's getting closer and closer now; any moment now she should be able to see who's responsible for the noise.
By the time Yuma pounces into view, he's too focused to pay attention to his surroundings. Completely unaware that his sister is crouching nearby, he lands on the pine cone with both paws, which have grown large enough to engulf it. The male sinks down slightly, lowering his hindquarters, and aims a powerful swat at the pine cone. *Thwap!* It goes sailing in Nayeli's direction.
Okay, this was definitely /not/ was Nayeli was expecting to see. Yuma, the new Chieftain, the new leader of all the Amaranth cougars... and he's pouncing a pine cone? It's only when that particular pine come comes flying in her direction that she's startled out of her incredulous staring. /Wow/. Any images she had of Yuma becoming a solemn and serious leader are immediately shattered--which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as she's glad to see he still possesses some of his youthful energy. Suddenly feeling a little mischievous herself, Nayeli backs away from the pine cone, as quietly as possible, until she's hidden.. but within pouncing range of it. If she's lucky, Yuma will continue his attack on it, and won't notice the scent of a newcomer to the vicinity.
Yuma crouches down, muscles tensing, his ears pricked forward. He watches the pine cone arc through the air, waiting for for the soft thud that will signal him to pounce... and when it hits the ground, he springs. This time, however, when he lands, he brings his paws down on the pine cone with a bit too much enthusiasm. It flattens with a crunch. Sitting up slowly, Yuma lifts his paw and regards the shattered pine cone with a look of almost comic dismay.
There is always, of course, plenty of inherent danger when pouncing an unsuspecting cougar. Namely, the self-defense that kicks in and may result in retaliatory slashing with claws or biting with teeth. Nayeli is hoping, as she launches herself from her hiding position, that Yuma will recognize both her scent and triumphant giggle quickly enough to keep from accidentally injuring her. It's not like they haven't surprised each other before, but given recent events, she hopes that Yuma isn't too much on edge or paranoid about something happening. His antics here with the pine cone seem to suggest otherwise, though, thankfully.
Yuma is caught entirely by surprise when his sister leaps into view, and he is definitely not quick enough to move back if her intention is to pounce him. Fortunately, his reaction is not defensive; he recognizes her immediately, and only then becomes aware of her scent around him, mingling with the smell of snow-dampened pine needles. Instead the male laughs. "Nayeli! I was just looking for you." Of course, that's not really what it /looked/ like he was doing... but that was only a momentary distraction.
Hah! She's got him! As Nayeli leaps forward, she grabs at Yuma just before impacting him. Her momentum, coupled with Yuma's total lack of preparation for such a pounce, results in them both tumbling on the ground. Nayeli is quick to roll over and swat her forepaws down on top of her brother with a wide grin. "You were just looking for me, hmm? Well, you found me!" She giggles and gives him an affectionate headrub. "Y'know, if that"-she points a paw in the direction of the pine cone-"is how our new Chieftain deals with his enemies, remind me never to get on your bad side!"
The tumble does not appear to have bothered Yuma much; he makes no immediate effort to get up, lying sprawled on his back. He grins up at his sister in a slightly embarrassed fashion when she headrubs him, his ears slicking sideways. She saw. "You couldn't," he replies, swatting lazily at Nayeli with one broad paw. Big as he's gotten, his paws still seem a size too large. "Anyway, I've got good news for you and Kein," the male adds.
"Oh, I know I couldn't," Nayeli answers sweetly. A bit over-dramatically, perhaps. She grins as Yuma's paw thwaps her, but her expression turns intently interested at his statement afterward. "Good news?" she echoes, eyes widening slightly. "Does that mean Daddy's going to be okay?" Nayeli hasn't been able to see their father yet; the only information she's had so far was the description of injuries Maulisho inflicted on him.
Yuma blinks once at Nayeli's question, surprised slightly, until he realizes -- of course. Nayeli has not seen their father since the night of the fight. "Dad's going to be fine," Yuma quickly reassures her. "I think he'll need to rest for a few more days, but Tohopka's been keeping an eye on him." He hopes that's still the case, anyway. "But that's not actually what I meant. I had a talk with him yesterday, and he's promised not to fight Kein or his parents." The adolescent pauses a second before continuing, "And he said... that you're allowed to leave the territory, if that's what you want to do."
Oh, good. Nayeli had been concerned that her father would be permanently disabled or crippled because of his injuries, but it doesn't sound like that'll be the case at all. And Tohopka's watching over him? Okay. Nayeli headtilts when Yuma explains that their father wasn't what he was thinking about. What other 'good news' could he possibly have? But when her brother continues, Nayeli suddenly feels as if the conversation just became surreal. She's allowed to leave? She's.. /allowed/ to.. to /leave/?! Her jaw slowly drops several inches as she stares at her brother. "He.. really said that?" she finally asks, voice barely above a whisper.
"Yeah, he said that." There's no mistaking the disbelief in Nayeli's voice. Yuma glances at his sister, and then something in the sky seems to draw his scrutiny. The male watches the clouds drift slowly by as he speaks. "I really think he'll keep his promise. Dad meant well... he was just worried about you, and he got carried away." Too carried away, apparently, to realize that he was doing more harm than good. Yuma's tail sways reflectively, bapping against the ground. "I don't expect him and Kein to become friends, but I don't think there will be any more fighting."
/That's/ an understatement. Nayeli doesn't ever plan on telling anyone else in her family how Kein was up front and honest about how much he hated her father. With a soft sigh, she rests her head on her brother's chest, staring straight ahead at some of the nearby trees. "Do you really think he means that? I mean.. he /told/ me that he wouldn't hurt Kein if I said what he told me to." And Nayeli still has the vivid memories of how /that/ turned out. Kein, lying in the snow, covered with his own blood. Yeah. Her trust in her father isn't exactly the strongest right now.
Yuma takes a moment to consider Nayeli's question, looking serious -- or as serious as he can be, still lying on his back -- before finally shaking his head. "I think he understands that you're capable of making your own choices. It was like..." A faint smile appears on the cougar's muzzle. "Like he still thought of you as a cub." It's a touching notion, but now, like himself, Nayeli is nearing adulthood. "He said that he wants to talk to you. If you'll hear him out, you can decide for yourself whether you think he's sincere," Yuma suggests.
Nayeli immediately looks uneasy, ears splaying off to the sides and a frown replacing any sort of smile she might have previously had. Talk to her father about this? The last time they did, it turned into a lot of yelling and tears. Nayeli isn't even sure what she would say to him after what he did to Kein. "I don't know, Yuma..." She sighs, grimacing. "After what he did to Kein.. I just don't know." Is there anything that Chesmu would be able to say or do that would completely convince Nayeli that he'd /never/ try hurting Kein again? She highly doubts it.
Looking back at his sister again, Yuma takes note of her expression. His own slight smile fades, the adolescent looking serious again. It's understandable that she needs more reassurance than her father's promise... but Yuma is unaware that Chesmu has already broken his word to Nayeli, only knowing that their father has upset her by his actions. "I thought you might want to see him alone, while he was still... resting." And, therefore, not likely to cause much of a stir. "But if you don't want to..." Yuma can't force her. Sighing, he lets his head thump back against the ground, which is cushioned by the thick layer of pine needles. "I gave him a second chance, and I think you should too," he says. "'Cause he's not getting another one."
Nayeli nods slowly, chewing on her lower lip. "I suppose you're right." She gives another nod, this time with a lot more resolve. "I'll go see him a little bit later on, then." But there isn't any hurry, is there? She wants to enjoy this time with her brother; it seems to have become more and more of a rare thing to sit down and actually talk to Yuma like this, and with him becoming the Chieftain and all? No, she definitely doesn't want to hurry up and leave. With a thoughtful murr, Nayeli tilts her head in her brother's direction. "So.. do you have any big plans for what you'll do as Chieftain now?" It's intended to be somewhat of a humorous comment, as she knows that Yuma was just as surprised as she was at the position more-or-less thrust upon him.
Yuma closes his eyes, looking outwardly calm. Inside, however, he is a bit worried. What will he tell Chesmu if Nayeli refuses to see him? So soon after the fight, he would not be surprised to find out that his sister is still unhappy with their father. When Nayeli says she will speak with Chesmu, the male nods, relieved. He does not open his eyes until she asks her question... one green-gold eye slides open, looking at her as if not sure she is serious. "Big plans? No. Definite no, sis." Yuma's muzzle curls in a slight smirk. "It's hard enough just keeping everyone from fighting."
Any amusement or humor that Nayeli might have been feeling quickly drains away. Keeping everyone from fighting. Sigh... "Yeah," she agrees, suddenly wishing she hadn't said anything. An awkward silence ensues, which she feels somewhat obligated to break. "Umm.. well, hopefully there won't be any more fighting if Kein and I leave." Probably not the most diplomatically correct way of putting it, but... oh well.
Yuma's ears slant sideways during the slightly awkward pause. He was trying to make a light remark, but it had the complete opposite effect. "I don't think there will be." The male opens both eyes now, regarding Nayeli - the humor is gone from his expression now too, but what's left is mixed and unreadable. So she /is/ going. By now he was expecting it, but it's different, hearing it from Nayeli herself... and he's spent so much time handling everyone else's reaction that he hasn't had much time to consider how /he/ really feels about it. "So... that's really what you wanna do, huh?" he asks, trying to sound casual.
"I still need to talk to Kein about it," Nayeli admits, knowing that Kein had rather bluntly hinted that he was reconsidering the whole idea. And, of course, she's sure that her father will probably have something to say to her about it as well. "It's still an 'if'. I'd.. /like/ to go, but..." She sighs again, idly clawing a furrow through the pine needles. "It's so hard to know what's the right decision sometimes." Grimace. "I love being with Kein, and the thought of getting to explore new lands with him /is/ exciting, but I know it would be hard to just leave you and the rest of our family here. Even if we /did/ visit, it just wouldn't be the same."
Yuma rolls over onto his stomach, shaking a few pine needles from his head, then shifting positions slightly to scratch behind an ear. He might not be looking at Nayeli, but he is definitely listening to her - and he can hear the painful indecision in her voice. The male is quiet for a moment, looking off into the distance, though nothing but pine trees can be seen in any direction. How can he tell her that he understands? Until Maulisho returned to Amaranth and turned everything upside-down, all he could think about was what lay beyond the territory's borders. He felt the call of the unknown, and it would not be long before he answered it. But now? Now, he's Chieftain. "If you stayed... I don't think you'd be happy. You might spend the rest of your life wondering what you missed."
Nayeli isn't sure what to think at first, as her brother seems to be either just thinking or ignoring her. But when he speaks, she feels a smile begin to form on her muzzle. He understands! That's /exactly/ what she's afraid of. It's what's always bothered her ever since she was old enough to understand that it wasn't fair that their father took Yuma on those exploratory trips around the territory but never /her/. And now, presented with an opportunity to explore beyond there... and with her best friend? She would definitely spend the rest of her life regretting not going. "Thanks," she says simply, giving Yuma's side a gentle headrub. Need she say any more? He understands, and she knows that he understands.
Yuma smiles at the headrub, the gesture seeming to lighten his mood. "Anytime, sis," he says, leaning sideways to butt her lightly with his head. "But you know I'll miss you." Having admitted it, he's quick to change the subject. After all, Yuma really /will/ miss his sister, but it's too painful to think about now. Instead, he asks the question that's been on his mind since he saw Nayeli sleeping in the snow with Kein and his family. "Did you know this was going to happen? That they'd make dad step down?"
Nayeli grins at the lighthearted physical and verbal response. She has her mouth open to say something joking in return when Yuma's sudden question catches her off guard. Oh no. He /would/ ask that. Flushing slightly and feeling like she's been caught in the middle of doing something bad, she finally nods. "Yes.. I knew." Knowing that she probably needs to explain her seemingly traitorous actions, she quickly adds, "I thought that Daddy wouldn't try and argue.. and I definitely didn't know that all this fighting would happen." Can she even continue without sounding disloyal to her family? "It was actually.. Kein.. who was supposed to be the next Chieftain, or at least that's what I thought his mother was intending would happen." She was definitely surprised when Kein seemingly changed his mind on the spot.
Yuma looks at his sister, his expression more curious than accusational. His sister has been involved with Kein much longer than he imagined. Of course he knows that they were friends before Maulisho left the tribe with her family, but he had no idea she had any contact with him before their seemingly sudden return. Even so, Yuma's obviously not judging Nayeli... though he /does/ seem surprised by his sister's last remark, blinking once. "Uh, well. That explains a lot." He, too, had expected Kein to try to claim the title... and while Kasim seemed a less likely possibility, he would have been less surprised by /that/ than he was by the actual outcome. What would Yuma have done in either case? "Any idea why he nominated me instead?" Yuma asks, cocking his head slightly.
Nayeli slowly shakes her head. "I don't know, Yuma. I guess you're the most logical choice since he doesn't want to stay here." She remembers his statement well: "I don't belong here". Not an easy thing to admit, perhaps, but it at least serves as an explanation for why he suddenly refused to become Chieftain. "Are you angry at him for what he's done?" Or what he had originally been intending to do, for that matter. Nayeli wonders if she needs to ask forgiveness for /her/ part in what's taken place. Her transgression was more of /not/ doing something--namely, telling the former Chieftain what was about to take place.
"I can't really blame him for that," Yuma says when she explains that Kein does not want to stay. If they did stay, Chesmu and Kein might eventually get to the point where they're comfortable around each other... but there's no guarantee that would happen. Chesmu's promise might only be a short-term solution. After all, male cougars do not usually get along very well. There's a slight pause before Yuma answers Nayeli's question, shaking his head. "No, I'm not angry. I've just been trying to understand how everything turned out this way."
"I don't think anyone saw things turning out the way they did." That's an understatement if Nayeli's ever heard one. But.. what's happened has happened. If she could somehow go back and change what took place, she'd do it in a heartbeat if it meant that Kein wouldn't be attacked and injured. The mental picture of him lying bloody in the snow dampens her mood somewhat, and it's a somber expression that she gives Yuma before moving to rest her head back down on her forepaws.
The understatement causes Yuma to grin slightly, though the expression fades when he notices Nayeli's somber look. Rising to his paws, he moves forward to nuzzle his sister comfortingly. "What's done is done... and I think everyone's finally settling down." Hopefully, the peace will hold until Kein and Nayeli decide to leave. Although there will be less tension when they are gone, he does not want them to feel rushed into leaving.
Nayeli nods, suppressing a sigh, though she does seem to cheer up a little at the nuzzle. "I sure hope so, for your sake if nothing else." Yuma certainly hasn't had the easiest transition into Chieftain. Wasn't expecting it /and/ plenty of fighting to go around. Can it possibly get any harder than that? With a brief nuzzle in return, Nayeli slowly gets to her feet, knowing and dreading what she has to do next. Fighting the sudden lump in her throat, she nuzzles Yuma again, this time much more intensely. "I'm going to miss you so much, Yuma." This might be the last time she gets to see him, if Kein suddenly decides that he is indeed leaving and wants to move right away.
Yuma swallows hard, as if trying to force down the sudden sadness threatening to overwhelm him. Once Nayeli is gone, how long will it be until he sees her again? As long as he is acting as Chieftain, he is bound to this territory; he would not be free to go visit her even if he wanted to, even if he knew where she and Kein went. What if he /never/ sees her again? The male closes his eyes, and his jaw clenches for a moment as he bites down on his tongue. The sharp pain and the taste of blood distract him from his emotions, and Yuma's gold-green eyes open again. The cougar lingers close to his sister for another second or two, half-leaning into her nuzzles, before forcing himself to withdraw a few paces. No sense in making this any harder than it has to be. "Take care of yourself, sis."
Nayeli is silent for a while, content to just continue nuzzling her brother as if trying to absorb every bit of brotherly affection from him. Finally, though, she pulls back, offering him a brave smile. "I /will/ come back to visit and see how you all are doing." She manages a shaky grin, even. "Plus, I'm sure you'll have a pretty cougaress friend by then and I'll need to make sure that she's good enough for the Chieftain." Her humor is a bit stretched, perhaps, but it's the thought that counts.
The male does look slightly reassured when Nayeli promises to visit. Yuma won't enjoy having to wait for her return, but of course it's possible that he won't hold the title of Chieftain for long. He was a remarkably responsible cub; that hasn't changed, and he will tend to the needs of the tribe as long as he is able... though privately he'd rather be doing anything else. Yuma smiles when Nayeli mentions pretty cougaresses, but it looks a bit forced. "Don't doubt it," he says, trying to sound more cocky than he feels.
Nayeli's smile is strained as well, though the thought of Yuma having a pretty mate is a pleasant one, and the thought of him eventually having cubs for her to come see is equally as exciting. Who knows how long it will be before she returns though? A lot could happen in the meantime. "Goodbye, Yuma," she finally says, giving her brother one last headrub before turning to head on to where she's fairly sure her father is still resting. She also has no doubt that this next conversation won't be nearly as enjoyable.
In truth, the mere thought of a pretty cougaress fills Yuma with a kind of strange, restless anxiety. If he met a female, would he feel driven to force himself upon her, earning her ire as his father earned Maulisho's? Only a few weeks ago, he discovered the powerful allure the scent of a strange cougaress can have, even when the smell is old and faded. Or, like Nayeli, would he find himself choosing between her and his tribe? Yuma masks his uneasiness with another smile, this one less forced, as he returns his sister's last headrub. "See ya, sis."
Yuma - male adolescent cougar (Amaranth Chieftain)
Nayeli - female adolescent cougar (Amaranth)
Setting:
Pine Grove (Amaranth)
Scene:
This has not been such a bad day, Yuma reflects as he makes his way through the pines. The talk with Chesmu left him feeling hopeful. He returned to the highlands that night to bring the news to Nayeli and Kein, only to find them gone -- but he does not think that they have left the territory yet. Whatever their plans for the future may be, he knows that Kein will not be able to go any great distance until his wounds are healed. More likely, they just moved somewhere more sheltered, less exposed to the elements. Now it is the following day, mid-morning, and Yuma has resumed his search for the pair of cougars.
Nayeli has to admit, the talk she had with Chandani has left her in much higher spirits, and more determined than ever to find her brother and talk with him. It's still hard to believe that Yuma is the tribe's Chieftain now--goodness, she grew /up/ with him! He's only as old as she is! With a tight smile, the girl travels at a leisurely pace west from the snowy area where she left her sister. She'll check the grove, and if Yuma isn't there, she'll just sweep north. He has to be around here somewhere! Pine needles make a dull crumbling noise under her paws as she walks, though Nayeli isn't really worried about trying to stay quiet.
Fed and fully rested, bearing only good news for his sister and her friend, Yuma is feeling better than he has in days. There's a bit of spring to his step, the young male showing a bit of the good cheer that was his characteristic as a cub. Struck by a playful whim, he swipes at a frost-encrusted pine cone, batting it ahead of him as he goes. Nayeli may not be taking any great pains to be quiet, but Yuma is making a fair bit of noise himself, alternating between batting the pine cone and pouncing after it.
It's been a while since she's heard such sounds, but Nayeli recognizes the noise off to the side from back when she used to do the very same thing. It's been some time since her last assault on a pine cone, but she does remember. Hmm. Angling off toward the sounds, she now concentrates on keeping herself quiet; she's hunting now, in a sense. Crouch down. Slink forward. Listen carefully. She's getting closer and closer now; any moment now she should be able to see who's responsible for the noise.
By the time Yuma pounces into view, he's too focused to pay attention to his surroundings. Completely unaware that his sister is crouching nearby, he lands on the pine cone with both paws, which have grown large enough to engulf it. The male sinks down slightly, lowering his hindquarters, and aims a powerful swat at the pine cone. *Thwap!* It goes sailing in Nayeli's direction.
Okay, this was definitely /not/ was Nayeli was expecting to see. Yuma, the new Chieftain, the new leader of all the Amaranth cougars... and he's pouncing a pine cone? It's only when that particular pine come comes flying in her direction that she's startled out of her incredulous staring. /Wow/. Any images she had of Yuma becoming a solemn and serious leader are immediately shattered--which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as she's glad to see he still possesses some of his youthful energy. Suddenly feeling a little mischievous herself, Nayeli backs away from the pine cone, as quietly as possible, until she's hidden.. but within pouncing range of it. If she's lucky, Yuma will continue his attack on it, and won't notice the scent of a newcomer to the vicinity.
Yuma crouches down, muscles tensing, his ears pricked forward. He watches the pine cone arc through the air, waiting for for the soft thud that will signal him to pounce... and when it hits the ground, he springs. This time, however, when he lands, he brings his paws down on the pine cone with a bit too much enthusiasm. It flattens with a crunch. Sitting up slowly, Yuma lifts his paw and regards the shattered pine cone with a look of almost comic dismay.
There is always, of course, plenty of inherent danger when pouncing an unsuspecting cougar. Namely, the self-defense that kicks in and may result in retaliatory slashing with claws or biting with teeth. Nayeli is hoping, as she launches herself from her hiding position, that Yuma will recognize both her scent and triumphant giggle quickly enough to keep from accidentally injuring her. It's not like they haven't surprised each other before, but given recent events, she hopes that Yuma isn't too much on edge or paranoid about something happening. His antics here with the pine cone seem to suggest otherwise, though, thankfully.
Yuma is caught entirely by surprise when his sister leaps into view, and he is definitely not quick enough to move back if her intention is to pounce him. Fortunately, his reaction is not defensive; he recognizes her immediately, and only then becomes aware of her scent around him, mingling with the smell of snow-dampened pine needles. Instead the male laughs. "Nayeli! I was just looking for you." Of course, that's not really what it /looked/ like he was doing... but that was only a momentary distraction.
Hah! She's got him! As Nayeli leaps forward, she grabs at Yuma just before impacting him. Her momentum, coupled with Yuma's total lack of preparation for such a pounce, results in them both tumbling on the ground. Nayeli is quick to roll over and swat her forepaws down on top of her brother with a wide grin. "You were just looking for me, hmm? Well, you found me!" She giggles and gives him an affectionate headrub. "Y'know, if that"-she points a paw in the direction of the pine cone-"is how our new Chieftain deals with his enemies, remind me never to get on your bad side!"
The tumble does not appear to have bothered Yuma much; he makes no immediate effort to get up, lying sprawled on his back. He grins up at his sister in a slightly embarrassed fashion when she headrubs him, his ears slicking sideways. She saw. "You couldn't," he replies, swatting lazily at Nayeli with one broad paw. Big as he's gotten, his paws still seem a size too large. "Anyway, I've got good news for you and Kein," the male adds.
"Oh, I know I couldn't," Nayeli answers sweetly. A bit over-dramatically, perhaps. She grins as Yuma's paw thwaps her, but her expression turns intently interested at his statement afterward. "Good news?" she echoes, eyes widening slightly. "Does that mean Daddy's going to be okay?" Nayeli hasn't been able to see their father yet; the only information she's had so far was the description of injuries Maulisho inflicted on him.
Yuma blinks once at Nayeli's question, surprised slightly, until he realizes -- of course. Nayeli has not seen their father since the night of the fight. "Dad's going to be fine," Yuma quickly reassures her. "I think he'll need to rest for a few more days, but Tohopka's been keeping an eye on him." He hopes that's still the case, anyway. "But that's not actually what I meant. I had a talk with him yesterday, and he's promised not to fight Kein or his parents." The adolescent pauses a second before continuing, "And he said... that you're allowed to leave the territory, if that's what you want to do."
Oh, good. Nayeli had been concerned that her father would be permanently disabled or crippled because of his injuries, but it doesn't sound like that'll be the case at all. And Tohopka's watching over him? Okay. Nayeli headtilts when Yuma explains that their father wasn't what he was thinking about. What other 'good news' could he possibly have? But when her brother continues, Nayeli suddenly feels as if the conversation just became surreal. She's allowed to leave? She's.. /allowed/ to.. to /leave/?! Her jaw slowly drops several inches as she stares at her brother. "He.. really said that?" she finally asks, voice barely above a whisper.
"Yeah, he said that." There's no mistaking the disbelief in Nayeli's voice. Yuma glances at his sister, and then something in the sky seems to draw his scrutiny. The male watches the clouds drift slowly by as he speaks. "I really think he'll keep his promise. Dad meant well... he was just worried about you, and he got carried away." Too carried away, apparently, to realize that he was doing more harm than good. Yuma's tail sways reflectively, bapping against the ground. "I don't expect him and Kein to become friends, but I don't think there will be any more fighting."
/That's/ an understatement. Nayeli doesn't ever plan on telling anyone else in her family how Kein was up front and honest about how much he hated her father. With a soft sigh, she rests her head on her brother's chest, staring straight ahead at some of the nearby trees. "Do you really think he means that? I mean.. he /told/ me that he wouldn't hurt Kein if I said what he told me to." And Nayeli still has the vivid memories of how /that/ turned out. Kein, lying in the snow, covered with his own blood. Yeah. Her trust in her father isn't exactly the strongest right now.
Yuma takes a moment to consider Nayeli's question, looking serious -- or as serious as he can be, still lying on his back -- before finally shaking his head. "I think he understands that you're capable of making your own choices. It was like..." A faint smile appears on the cougar's muzzle. "Like he still thought of you as a cub." It's a touching notion, but now, like himself, Nayeli is nearing adulthood. "He said that he wants to talk to you. If you'll hear him out, you can decide for yourself whether you think he's sincere," Yuma suggests.
Nayeli immediately looks uneasy, ears splaying off to the sides and a frown replacing any sort of smile she might have previously had. Talk to her father about this? The last time they did, it turned into a lot of yelling and tears. Nayeli isn't even sure what she would say to him after what he did to Kein. "I don't know, Yuma..." She sighs, grimacing. "After what he did to Kein.. I just don't know." Is there anything that Chesmu would be able to say or do that would completely convince Nayeli that he'd /never/ try hurting Kein again? She highly doubts it.
Looking back at his sister again, Yuma takes note of her expression. His own slight smile fades, the adolescent looking serious again. It's understandable that she needs more reassurance than her father's promise... but Yuma is unaware that Chesmu has already broken his word to Nayeli, only knowing that their father has upset her by his actions. "I thought you might want to see him alone, while he was still... resting." And, therefore, not likely to cause much of a stir. "But if you don't want to..." Yuma can't force her. Sighing, he lets his head thump back against the ground, which is cushioned by the thick layer of pine needles. "I gave him a second chance, and I think you should too," he says. "'Cause he's not getting another one."
Nayeli nods slowly, chewing on her lower lip. "I suppose you're right." She gives another nod, this time with a lot more resolve. "I'll go see him a little bit later on, then." But there isn't any hurry, is there? She wants to enjoy this time with her brother; it seems to have become more and more of a rare thing to sit down and actually talk to Yuma like this, and with him becoming the Chieftain and all? No, she definitely doesn't want to hurry up and leave. With a thoughtful murr, Nayeli tilts her head in her brother's direction. "So.. do you have any big plans for what you'll do as Chieftain now?" It's intended to be somewhat of a humorous comment, as she knows that Yuma was just as surprised as she was at the position more-or-less thrust upon him.
Yuma closes his eyes, looking outwardly calm. Inside, however, he is a bit worried. What will he tell Chesmu if Nayeli refuses to see him? So soon after the fight, he would not be surprised to find out that his sister is still unhappy with their father. When Nayeli says she will speak with Chesmu, the male nods, relieved. He does not open his eyes until she asks her question... one green-gold eye slides open, looking at her as if not sure she is serious. "Big plans? No. Definite no, sis." Yuma's muzzle curls in a slight smirk. "It's hard enough just keeping everyone from fighting."
Any amusement or humor that Nayeli might have been feeling quickly drains away. Keeping everyone from fighting. Sigh... "Yeah," she agrees, suddenly wishing she hadn't said anything. An awkward silence ensues, which she feels somewhat obligated to break. "Umm.. well, hopefully there won't be any more fighting if Kein and I leave." Probably not the most diplomatically correct way of putting it, but... oh well.
Yuma's ears slant sideways during the slightly awkward pause. He was trying to make a light remark, but it had the complete opposite effect. "I don't think there will be." The male opens both eyes now, regarding Nayeli - the humor is gone from his expression now too, but what's left is mixed and unreadable. So she /is/ going. By now he was expecting it, but it's different, hearing it from Nayeli herself... and he's spent so much time handling everyone else's reaction that he hasn't had much time to consider how /he/ really feels about it. "So... that's really what you wanna do, huh?" he asks, trying to sound casual.
"I still need to talk to Kein about it," Nayeli admits, knowing that Kein had rather bluntly hinted that he was reconsidering the whole idea. And, of course, she's sure that her father will probably have something to say to her about it as well. "It's still an 'if'. I'd.. /like/ to go, but..." She sighs again, idly clawing a furrow through the pine needles. "It's so hard to know what's the right decision sometimes." Grimace. "I love being with Kein, and the thought of getting to explore new lands with him /is/ exciting, but I know it would be hard to just leave you and the rest of our family here. Even if we /did/ visit, it just wouldn't be the same."
Yuma rolls over onto his stomach, shaking a few pine needles from his head, then shifting positions slightly to scratch behind an ear. He might not be looking at Nayeli, but he is definitely listening to her - and he can hear the painful indecision in her voice. The male is quiet for a moment, looking off into the distance, though nothing but pine trees can be seen in any direction. How can he tell her that he understands? Until Maulisho returned to Amaranth and turned everything upside-down, all he could think about was what lay beyond the territory's borders. He felt the call of the unknown, and it would not be long before he answered it. But now? Now, he's Chieftain. "If you stayed... I don't think you'd be happy. You might spend the rest of your life wondering what you missed."
Nayeli isn't sure what to think at first, as her brother seems to be either just thinking or ignoring her. But when he speaks, she feels a smile begin to form on her muzzle. He understands! That's /exactly/ what she's afraid of. It's what's always bothered her ever since she was old enough to understand that it wasn't fair that their father took Yuma on those exploratory trips around the territory but never /her/. And now, presented with an opportunity to explore beyond there... and with her best friend? She would definitely spend the rest of her life regretting not going. "Thanks," she says simply, giving Yuma's side a gentle headrub. Need she say any more? He understands, and she knows that he understands.
Yuma smiles at the headrub, the gesture seeming to lighten his mood. "Anytime, sis," he says, leaning sideways to butt her lightly with his head. "But you know I'll miss you." Having admitted it, he's quick to change the subject. After all, Yuma really /will/ miss his sister, but it's too painful to think about now. Instead, he asks the question that's been on his mind since he saw Nayeli sleeping in the snow with Kein and his family. "Did you know this was going to happen? That they'd make dad step down?"
Nayeli grins at the lighthearted physical and verbal response. She has her mouth open to say something joking in return when Yuma's sudden question catches her off guard. Oh no. He /would/ ask that. Flushing slightly and feeling like she's been caught in the middle of doing something bad, she finally nods. "Yes.. I knew." Knowing that she probably needs to explain her seemingly traitorous actions, she quickly adds, "I thought that Daddy wouldn't try and argue.. and I definitely didn't know that all this fighting would happen." Can she even continue without sounding disloyal to her family? "It was actually.. Kein.. who was supposed to be the next Chieftain, or at least that's what I thought his mother was intending would happen." She was definitely surprised when Kein seemingly changed his mind on the spot.
Yuma looks at his sister, his expression more curious than accusational. His sister has been involved with Kein much longer than he imagined. Of course he knows that they were friends before Maulisho left the tribe with her family, but he had no idea she had any contact with him before their seemingly sudden return. Even so, Yuma's obviously not judging Nayeli... though he /does/ seem surprised by his sister's last remark, blinking once. "Uh, well. That explains a lot." He, too, had expected Kein to try to claim the title... and while Kasim seemed a less likely possibility, he would have been less surprised by /that/ than he was by the actual outcome. What would Yuma have done in either case? "Any idea why he nominated me instead?" Yuma asks, cocking his head slightly.
Nayeli slowly shakes her head. "I don't know, Yuma. I guess you're the most logical choice since he doesn't want to stay here." She remembers his statement well: "I don't belong here". Not an easy thing to admit, perhaps, but it at least serves as an explanation for why he suddenly refused to become Chieftain. "Are you angry at him for what he's done?" Or what he had originally been intending to do, for that matter. Nayeli wonders if she needs to ask forgiveness for /her/ part in what's taken place. Her transgression was more of /not/ doing something--namely, telling the former Chieftain what was about to take place.
"I can't really blame him for that," Yuma says when she explains that Kein does not want to stay. If they did stay, Chesmu and Kein might eventually get to the point where they're comfortable around each other... but there's no guarantee that would happen. Chesmu's promise might only be a short-term solution. After all, male cougars do not usually get along very well. There's a slight pause before Yuma answers Nayeli's question, shaking his head. "No, I'm not angry. I've just been trying to understand how everything turned out this way."
"I don't think anyone saw things turning out the way they did." That's an understatement if Nayeli's ever heard one. But.. what's happened has happened. If she could somehow go back and change what took place, she'd do it in a heartbeat if it meant that Kein wouldn't be attacked and injured. The mental picture of him lying bloody in the snow dampens her mood somewhat, and it's a somber expression that she gives Yuma before moving to rest her head back down on her forepaws.
The understatement causes Yuma to grin slightly, though the expression fades when he notices Nayeli's somber look. Rising to his paws, he moves forward to nuzzle his sister comfortingly. "What's done is done... and I think everyone's finally settling down." Hopefully, the peace will hold until Kein and Nayeli decide to leave. Although there will be less tension when they are gone, he does not want them to feel rushed into leaving.
Nayeli nods, suppressing a sigh, though she does seem to cheer up a little at the nuzzle. "I sure hope so, for your sake if nothing else." Yuma certainly hasn't had the easiest transition into Chieftain. Wasn't expecting it /and/ plenty of fighting to go around. Can it possibly get any harder than that? With a brief nuzzle in return, Nayeli slowly gets to her feet, knowing and dreading what she has to do next. Fighting the sudden lump in her throat, she nuzzles Yuma again, this time much more intensely. "I'm going to miss you so much, Yuma." This might be the last time she gets to see him, if Kein suddenly decides that he is indeed leaving and wants to move right away.
Yuma swallows hard, as if trying to force down the sudden sadness threatening to overwhelm him. Once Nayeli is gone, how long will it be until he sees her again? As long as he is acting as Chieftain, he is bound to this territory; he would not be free to go visit her even if he wanted to, even if he knew where she and Kein went. What if he /never/ sees her again? The male closes his eyes, and his jaw clenches for a moment as he bites down on his tongue. The sharp pain and the taste of blood distract him from his emotions, and Yuma's gold-green eyes open again. The cougar lingers close to his sister for another second or two, half-leaning into her nuzzles, before forcing himself to withdraw a few paces. No sense in making this any harder than it has to be. "Take care of yourself, sis."
Nayeli is silent for a while, content to just continue nuzzling her brother as if trying to absorb every bit of brotherly affection from him. Finally, though, she pulls back, offering him a brave smile. "I /will/ come back to visit and see how you all are doing." She manages a shaky grin, even. "Plus, I'm sure you'll have a pretty cougaress friend by then and I'll need to make sure that she's good enough for the Chieftain." Her humor is a bit stretched, perhaps, but it's the thought that counts.
The male does look slightly reassured when Nayeli promises to visit. Yuma won't enjoy having to wait for her return, but of course it's possible that he won't hold the title of Chieftain for long. He was a remarkably responsible cub; that hasn't changed, and he will tend to the needs of the tribe as long as he is able... though privately he'd rather be doing anything else. Yuma smiles when Nayeli mentions pretty cougaresses, but it looks a bit forced. "Don't doubt it," he says, trying to sound more cocky than he feels.
Nayeli's smile is strained as well, though the thought of Yuma having a pretty mate is a pleasant one, and the thought of him eventually having cubs for her to come see is equally as exciting. Who knows how long it will be before she returns though? A lot could happen in the meantime. "Goodbye, Yuma," she finally says, giving her brother one last headrub before turning to head on to where she's fairly sure her father is still resting. She also has no doubt that this next conversation won't be nearly as enjoyable.
In truth, the mere thought of a pretty cougaress fills Yuma with a kind of strange, restless anxiety. If he met a female, would he feel driven to force himself upon her, earning her ire as his father earned Maulisho's? Only a few weeks ago, he discovered the powerful allure the scent of a strange cougaress can have, even when the smell is old and faded. Or, like Nayeli, would he find himself choosing between her and his tribe? Yuma masks his uneasiness with another smile, this one less forced, as he returns his sister's last headrub. "See ya, sis."