Post by Therdde on Oct 30, 2008 17:27:27 GMT -5
Characters:
Nayeli - Female Cougar
Kein - Male Adolescent Cougar
Poe - Female Raven
- Wind-Blown Lowlands -
Nayeli awakes sooner than she would have expected; it still appears to be somewhat dark outside the cave. There's a hint of light that suggests sunrise is only a few minutes away, but considering how exhausted she was last night, she's surprised that she's awake now at all. Moving carefully, so as not to wake Kein, she slips away from his side and heads toward the entrance, peering out into the pre-dawn gloom. Hmm. Should she be surprised that Azriel didn't come back during the night? His scent is still recent, but stale--he left for good, apparently. With a quiet stretch, she heads outside to take care of business before Kein wakes up.
Kein's dreams have been far from peaceful. In them, his father is even more formidable than he was in real life, and less willing to just talk. Nayeli moving away brings him closer to waking up, but he isn't quite there yet. Rather, he is stuck trying to figure out a way to keep her safe, keep them /both/ safe, from the cougar that seems to be behind every tree in the area, always half-hidden in shadow, stalking them, keeping them from a moment's rest, and undoubtedly preparing to leap out soon. After Nayeli leave, he stirs in his sleep, restless and troubled at the scene playing through in his head.
This raven is just not one that most creatures would want to see around, let alone meet. This raven love to cause trouble and misery for her own personal gain. This raven is just plain crazy, is what she is. With a mad flutter of wings, this raven lands alight the branch of a nearby tree and cackles.
Nayeli heads away from the den entrance, inhaling deeply to see if anyone else has wandered past in the last several hours. She's not able to detect any new scent, so maybe they'll have somewhat of an uneventful departure. And if today's trip is uneventful as well, that's definitely fine with her! Stifling a yawn, she pads a little bit further, then figures she's far enough away.
Poe clacks her beak when she spies young, innocent, cougars. And already she gets a glimmer in her eye, and a special thought in her heart. It is the way of this raven to break hearts. "O, undesirable wench, are you the reason behind this stench?"
Nayeli looks up in surprise as she finishes. A bird, talking to her? Her eyes narrow and she retorts sharply, "What do you want?" She doesn't know what a 'wench' is, but it most likely isn't a compliment. What kind of fool bird just starts randomly insulting a cougaress? So much for the day starting off uneventfully.
Poe cackles again. "Ah, so she crawls out of her shell, to deny the smell." This raven only wants to find a way to exploit this cougaress. Perhaps even just cause some misery. "Such a dim little cat, hiding like a little rat."
Nayeli hisses angrily at the bird, tail twitching. "Are you just taunting me for your own amusement? Or do you really want something from me?" If not, she's just going to ignore the foolish avian and head back into the den. Kein's company is infinitely more enjoyable, anyway.
Finally, Kein's eyes open, and the first thing he notices... Causes his heart to start beating faster, causes him to leap to his feet and rush out of the den. He hadn't been expecting to wake up alone, and what if... Did something happen while he was asleep? He wasn't so tired that he wouldn't have woken up if she cried out to him, was he? And he doesn't smell any blood, so she would have had a chance to call out, right? But where is she?! The nightmare is mostly gone, but with the feelings it inspired still in him, he has to find her. Now.
Poe lays eyes on Kein as he darts out of the den. Ohhhh ho ho ho ho hoooooo! How delicious. If there's one thing Poe really enjoys, it's toying with the hearts of the young. "I see you have a mate, and what a work of art, but to say this I hate, he will eventually break your heart."
Nayeli notices Kein at the same moment the raven does, and her expression turns from a scowl to a delighted smile, though perhaps a bit tempered by the look of panic on her friend's face. "Kein?" she asks, concerned. "What's wrong?" She's really annoyed with that raven for insinuating that she and Kein are mates. And supposedly he'll break her heart? He's crossing the line with that one.
Kein spots Nayeli moments before she speaks. He hasn't even heard the bird, with how intently he is focused on Nayeli. Is she okay? She doesn't /look/ injured. Still, he is quick to close the distance between them, wanting to be by her. He has to take a breath that is meant to be relaxing before he can speak, and then he says, "Nothing. Nothing's wrong." Not now, anyway.
Poe caws and flutters to the lowest branch she can find and fixes the young cougars with her eyes. "There is one undeniable natural chime, where there may be questionable love, ne'er to be cherished through time, you hope you fit the other like a glove, whereupon you find in yourself your young, to which can be etern'lly tracked, to th' moment whereupon love has sprung. But oh the moment of their portrayal, with all their small claws and tails, whereupon the male will make complete his betrayal, and unmatched shall be your wails, a broken heart, a failed start, for failed young love, when push comes to shove." At this Poe cackles. "I see a sad mother, left behind by her other. Alone... alone... alone..."
Nothing is wrong? Then why does Kein look so upset? Maybe he just didn't sleep well or something. "Okay," Nayeli says with a brief shrug, not pressing the matter. She's about to suggest that they head back inside the den to discuss their next move when more speaking from the raven causes her to turn her head to the side to glare at it. Stupid avian! But her eyes gradually widen as she slowly makes sense out of the foreboding poetry. Surely this raven is just trying to distract them or cause them to worry? But who speaks in such an unnatural way?
Kein doesn't pay any attention to the bird until he is standing beside Nayeli, until he has a chance to nuzzle against her lightly. Only then does his ear perk up towards the raven. The meaning behind her poetry doesn't escape Kein, but it is nonsense, all the same. Slowly, he looks up to the speaking bird, after coming to rest at Nayeli's side.
Poe sees that she has doubt rising in Nayeli, and must now work on Kein. "You, male, are the one most tragic. One moon from your crime against your friend, a most dark and future magic, you will find yourself at your life's end." Poe caws and fixes Kein with her eyes now. "Because you would betray this girl, she would not come to save you, and thus as the tapestry of your life unfurl, thus is the beginning of the tragedy of two." The raven caws again. "And only thus is the beginning of this doom. I see a small dead body, there will be an encounter with a boon, and that which grows in her womb, shall soon also find its tomb." The raven looks between them both. "Beware! Beware their ancestors!"
What does it mean? What /can/ it mean? It sounds like the kind of thing that the tribal shamaness would say--all the weird language and words she doesn't understand. The meaning is clear, for the most part, and she doesn't like it at all. She gives Kein an anxious look and nuzzle as he comes up beside her, then looks back at the bird, with the same question running through her mind: what does it mean?
If Kein believed in predetermination, what the strange raven says would likely bother him more. Even as it is, he doesn't /like/ it. Between Azriel's appearance yesterday and this bird today... But he is /not/ going to betray Nayeli. Ever. What the raven says just makes him more determined in that regard, and he growls lightly. "You should learn to watch what you say to felines, bird. We know how to climb." Of course, catching birds is a great deal more difficult than just slimbing to where they are, since they can fly away.
Poe doesn't seem unfettered in the least. Almost as if she expected him to say that. "Time will tell. Many who have said that fell." The raven caws, swoops downlow right past the cougars for show, probably in an effort to make then a little more afraid of what the raven said, and soon Poe is gone.
They do indeed know how to climb, and Nayeli is halfway tempted to try and do just that when the raven suddenly flies off after one last cryptic remark. Nayeli just stares at the dwindling avian form, not sure what to say. Finally, once the raven is out of sight, she looks back toward Kein, uncertainty and confusion written all over her expression. That was definitely one of the strangest things she's ever experienced, and this soon after meeting Azriel?
Kein takes a step back when Poe flies down by them, then stares off after the flying bird. Troublesome creatures. How are they ever going to find a good one to deliver their messages to Amaranth. He'll have to think about it, but for now... He looks back to Nayeli after a moment, then finally asks, "Are you okay?" He could just be asking about whether the brid upset her... But he isn't.
"I'm.. fine, I suppose," Nayeli finally says, her voice somewhat shaken. The bird is all she can think about right now. Was it the avian equivalent of a shamaness? Even the Amaranth wise ones never spoke quite like that. But then again... this /was/ a bird. Or maybe it was just crazy and Nayeli shouldn't even be thinking about it. She just doesn't know, and that's what makes her uneasy. "What was that all about?" she asks, deciding to get Kein's perspective on what just happened.
"It doesn't matter. She was wrong." About many things. They aren't mates yet, and if... or when... or if... that happens, he would never leave her alone. Ever. Kein has, at least, recovered from the nightmare, but he can still remember how it made him feel, how much he was worried. He would never abandon anyone he worries about that much.
But how he can be sure? "She sounded like a shamaness or something.. although I don't remember Paoro ever using words quite like that." It was just plain /weird/, what that bird was saying. Poetry isn't something that Nayeli is familiar with, though she can hear the intentional use of rhyme. And more rhyme, and more rhyme. What was the point of talking like that?
Kein never got a chance to really get to know Nayeli's grandmother. She gave him his markings once, but other than that, he has never really seen her from anything but a distance. And though, to a great degree, Kein accepts spirituality as natural... He also feels rather distanced from it. Spiritual guidance is the domain of females. Of female /cougars/. Of a select few female cougars. None of the wolves ever seemed to hold a deep belief in spirituality, not that he ever saw. Not like Paoro or Ayashe. Kein is capable of telling when someone is trying to guide, though, as opposed to when someone is just trying to hurt. "A shamaness is supposed to be compassionate, Nayeli. That bird wasn't." Far from it. She seemed to take delight in delivering hurtful prophecies.
Maybe that's why she's been so hesitant to accept the raven as any kind of spiritual being. And while her grandmother wasn't always the bearer of exciting news, she /was/ compassionate--something that definitely did /not/ characterize that raven. "I guess you're right.." Regardless, it's something she's going to almost certainly be thinking about in the near future. But with a weak smile, she tries to dismiss it from her mind for now. "You're probably right--I'm sure it wasn't anything to worry about."
Kein nuzzles against Nayeli lightly, and says, "I promised you last night that I would never abandon you. That will never change." He won't let it. After speaking, he gives Nayeli a smile. He won't claim that the have no reason to worry whatsoever, but there is definitely no reason to worry because of anything that bird said.
And once again, it's Kein's confidence that makes her feel better. Nayeli can't help but wonder why she doesn't have that same confidence, or why something as trivial as a random avian's odd speaking would cause her to doubt Kein at all. As much as she doesn't like to consider the possibility, it may simply be a remnant of what's happened between them in the past. She's simply afraid that Kein /will/ leave her again, because he's done it before. But that was a long time ago, and things have changed. She's changed. Kein's changed. And so now, she's going to try her absolute hardest to believe him, and to have as much trust as she possibly can. "I know," she answers softly, returning the nuzzle.
"Good." They /have/ both changed, and their circumstances have changed as well. Chesmu has no more influence over what happens to them, and Kein will not be taken away from her by the need to flee with his family. From now on, anywhere one of them goes, the other can follow. And, with that in mind... "As soon as you want to continue, I'm ready." If it's not for hours yet, he's fine with that, but if she wants to move on from this place right away, with all that has happened here, he is fine with that, too.
"I'm ready to go right now. The sooner we put distance between here and Azriel, the better. In fact, hopefully we.." Nayeli trails off, wondering if she'd offend Kein by completing the sentence. Hopefully they /won't/ ever see Azriel again, but what if Kein doesn't share her wish? Azriel /is/ his father, after all. She stretches a little, partially to mask her slight embarrassment at the slip, but also to prepare herself for the journey. The sun is completely above the horizon--perfect for traveling. And this time there doesn't appear to be any pending storm in the sky, so they /should/ be able to make good distance.
Hopefully we aren't moving towards him? Hopefully we won't be followed? Kein can't claim to know what Nayeli was going to say... And he doesn't think he should make an issue out of it. Instead, he just gives a little nod of his head. "Okay." He takes a single step away from her as she stretches, to allow her room to move however she wishes, and waits for her to stand back up straight.
Nayeli finishes stretching, complete with a yawn, several blinks, and a lopsided smile. "I feel like I could walk the entire day without stopping." And she hasn't even had breakfast yet! But now that fear and uncertainty and anxiety have been dealt with, she's full of the initial enthusiasm she had when they crossed over the Amaranth border into the unknown. Her first impression was that the outside was very similar to the inside: similar grass, trees, sky, and so forth.. but then again she could always /see/ those things from the border, even though she hadn't actually been out there to examine them closely. But the further away they go, toward lands she hasn't /seen/ yet, let alone been to.. who knows what they'll encounter?
Kein grins at what Nayeli says. Can he? Well, he might not be /quite/ as enthusiastic about it, but, yes, he feels like he could probably walk the entire day. Of course, he would probably be completely worn out by nightfall, but... Maybe he'll sleep better, if that's the case. With the grin still on his face, he begins walking northward, then says, "Well, I definitely can't let you outwalk me."
"And I can't let /you/ outwalk /me/!" Nayeli takes a few quick steps to bring herself alongside her friend. "I tell you what, though.. if I so much as /see/ another raven, I am going to /eat/ it!" Not that she's ever caught a bird before, or even tasted one, but.. it's meat, no? She can always try to catch it. Or at least chase it off. Yeah.
Kein laughs openly, this time. He's grateful that the mood seemed to lighten so quickly, and he responds, "Seems like an awful lot of effort to go through, just to try to eat a bird. I hope we come across something we can eat soon, though." The first scent trail he finds that smells even remotely like prey, he'll probably insist that they follow it. He hasn't eaten since... Well, it /seems/ like it has been a lot llonger than it has, with how much has happened since they left Amaranth.
Nayeli laughs as well. "It's times like this that I almost wish I could eat grass." /That/ would be a weird feeling, walking in the middle of a buffet that stretches for such a long distance in front of them. "Though I guess it would get boring, not being able to hunt anymore or anything like that." Stalking and pouncing grass.. boring! But yes, she is hungry. What kind of food will exist out there in the world? What she's used to? Something else? She wonders, none-too-easily, if there's anything out there that will hunt /them/. Who's to say that cougars will always be the dominant predator wherever they go?
Kein isn't so concerned with the boring aspect. True, twigs and rocks are no longer the worthy adversaries they were when he was younger, but he's sure he could find other forms of entertainment. Grass just really isn't appealing, though. He's sure he could spend all day trying to eat it and still never get full. Yes, he wuld much rather spend all day hunting and less time actually eating. At least when he's hunting, he gets to prove that he has learned something, that he has some skill that is worth something. What skill is there in eating grass? "Not to mention eating the same thing every single day. I guess that's another thing we should look for in an area. Different types of food." He's okay with eating rabbit most of the time, but if he /never/ got to eat anything different? He'd probably dislike it as much as he dislikes the idea of eating grass.
Hmm. Now she is curious. Curious enough to.. chomp at some of the grass. It doesn't cut apart as nicely as she would have hoped, and she ends up pulling a few strands out of the ground. But it only takes a single bite before she's spitting it back out. Yuck! She runs her tongue across her teeth, trying to clear the nasty taste from her mouth. "Yeah..." she finally says, glowering at the barely chewed vegetation on the ground. "Different types of food would be great."
Kein tries to hold himself back from Nayeli's attempt to eat grass. It's not like it's something he hasn't tried before. What cub doesn't get curious about why prey species eat it? Her reaction is still funny, though, and though he turns his head away, it's impossible to hide his amusement. He is only joking when he says, "Guess we don't have to be too worried over whether where we choose has grass or not, then."
Nayeli suddenly crouches down and slinks off to the side, quickly disappearing into the tall grass. One could probably hear her moving as her speed /is/ rather quick, as she circles around to where she'll be right in front of where Kein is moving toward. They don't /need/ grass, but it sure is nice to have. Plenty of cover for when they'll be hunting, and much better than open areas such as the rocky mesa.
Grass is not the only thing in which they can hide. Trees. Boulders. How nice will it be when they find a place where the prey is not used to having cougars around, who aren't used to cougars hiding in trees or on top of large rocks, waiting for their prey? Still, he knows what Nayeli is getting at when she heads off. He thinks. Either that, or she has caught a scent trail that he missed. He feigns ignorance of where she is going, though, rather continuing along on his path... But not willing to let her continue to keep all of the poucing to herself. "Nayeli?" He's not the best actor, but he manages to keep from laughing. "Where'd you go?" Of course, if she /did/ catch the scent of some prey, he almost definitely just scared it off.
She's so tempted to call back, perhaps even instigate a chase through the grass, but she's also tempted to simply wait for Kein to get close enough and then pounce at him. Hmm. Just for fun, Nayeli lets out a low growl, and then slips, much more slowly and quietly, several feet to the side, trying to pinpoint Kein's exact location. He should be moving in /that/ direction, ending up /there/.. and if she stands /here/... It should be the perfect ambush!
The growl helps Kein, and he keeps his ears perked, listening for her, at the same time that he crouches and slows his own pace. In absence of prey to hunt, he'll gladly play-hunt with Nayeli. What better way to show off all his mother and Kasim have taught him, now that he is feeling better. His leg aches, just slightly and briefly, at the now-unfamiliar movement, but it fades very quickly and doesn't alter his movement at all.
Nayeli goes completely silent and still, also listening. There's a rush of adrenaline when she realizes that Kein isn't moving. He's waiting. Stalking her. This brings their playing to a completely new and frightening level, as Nayeli has to admit that now she feels more like the prey than the predator. But no--she /can/ catch Kein, and she knows it! She's not helpless, and it's not like she hasn't hunted difficult prey before. And while not being any kind of expert on stalking or tracking, she's not a complete amateur at this. Her goal now is to remain silent and let Kein make the first move. Patience.
Kein can't actually follow the trail she left, since he didn't think she would take the game this seriously. Well, he /could/, but it would take much longer, and she might realize what he's doing. Hence, he's stuck using where she was when he last heard her and judging by how strong her scent is. It's a welcome exercise, since he hasn't hunted at all since they left the oasis, and he is glad that she's putting effort into it, like he is. Still, his steps are slow, deliberate.
It doesn't help that Kein /could/ be moving right at her, and she probably wouldn't be able to hear him as the occasional breeze through the grass creates more than enough background noise to cover any faint pawsteps. But still, her ears listen intently for any indication that he might be moving... but she can't detect anything. He must be still motionless where she left him, waiting for /her/ to make the first move. It is indeed a game of patience now, and Nayeli is determined to stay crouched right where she is.
After a short while, Kein passes where she would have been if she had stayed where she was when she growled. Or at least, he's close enough that he could see her, had she stayed put. Given how strong her scent is, though, she can't have moved off too far... And now, he actually has a scent trail. With a grin, he turns to face the direction he thinks she went off in.
Wait a second.. was that movement that she heard? Nayeli crouches down even lower, ears swiveling a tiny bit as she tries to catch any unusual sound. Like grass being parted by a large feline body, for example. If Kein is moving, he's doing a very good job of staying quiet. Nayeli is still more or less convinced that it's nothing but a battle of patience now--surely she would have heard him if he had started moving again.
Even the most cautious prey does not stay still indefinitely. They are much more likely to start running if they think he's getting to close. Nayeli has nothing to fear from him, though, and her lack of motion gives her some advantage. The only way he has to tell how close he is to her is by how strong her scent is, and while it will keep him from running into her... He might not be close enough for this to work. He can't tell, with how well the grass hides her. Even so, after only a few steps, he stops moving. Any closer, and she'll see or hear him, he's convinced... So he crouches a little further preparing to pounce at her and taking one more deep breath. Whether he's right or wrong, the game is about to grow rather more active. Will she rn if he doesn't get her, or will it turn into a wrestling match? Finally, after that deep breath, he leaps forward, hopefully directly towards the hiding Nayeli.
That sound again.. and again.. it's Kein! It has to be! Nayeli grins, both at the realization that Kein's stalking skills are amazing! as well as the fact that she's in for quite a victory here if she can pull off the upset. Since she's been relatively motionless, she's guessing that he's either just blindly stalking along, hoping to hear her or just run into her, or else he's trying to track her by scent. And if that's the case, with her scent pooling around her right now... Maybe it's just that alleged sixth sense. Maybe it's some subconscious recognition of the sounds that come from a launched pounce. Or maybe it's just luck on her part. Whatever the case, Nayeli happens to slink to the side just in time to avoid the sudden appearance of Kein lunging over her head. That was /close/! With a grin, she crouches down again, but makes no move to run off or wrestle back. Unless, of course, Kein decides that he needs the pin to make up for his failed counter-ambush.
Kein doesn't get as close as he had hoped, but he /does/ get close. If she were prey, it would not be a very long chase before he caught her, which is good for any hunt. He doesn't need to chase, though, as she hasn't moved from where he first saw her when he spins around, after landing. Any doubt that he is completely healed is gone, as both the landing and his turn have all of the feline grace they would have before the fight with her father. He is grinning when he faces her. It might not have been a win, per se, but she is neither advancing nor retreating, so he just crouches again, giving her time to make the next move, if she intends to.
Nayeli is grinning as well, nearly laughing, and finally she does make the first move: she crawls slowly toward her friend, letting out a light giggle when she gets close enough to bat a paw at him. "I can't believe how quiet you were! I honestly thought you were just waiting for me to move first." She very nearly got pounced, after all! But it's a weird feeling--she's glad that Kein obviously did so well, but yet she knows that she's going to have to work harder and do better next time, or else any competition they have is going to be rather lopsided in her friend's favor.
Kein falls over when she bats at him, but the remaining grin makes it obvious that he's just fooling around. Right now, there is nothing on his mind other than how fun, and relaxed, this was. No worries about when they'll find something to eat, who might be following, or whether they'll be up for all the challenges that face them. He is just relaxed. "I am a lot of things, but patient isn't one of them. Not like you." If it hadn't been for her scent, he might have thought she had managed to just disappear.
"You're certainly quiet enough to where you don't really /need/ to be patient, I guess!" Nayeli laughs again, crawling forward the several more inches required to bat at him again. "How about this: you be quiet, I'll be patient, and we'll catch something that way?" Surely there's a hunting strategy that can be created out of those two elements? Hunting is going to be a unique challenge: either they both win together, or both lose together.
Kein sits for a moment, just thinking about that. It they were to come upon some animals scent, up ahead of them, he could certainly circle it and chase it in her direction after getting close to it. That should limit the amount of work they both have to do, right? Provided that he can actually get it to go in her direction. A lot of prey tend to move around a lot when they're getting chased, but... Well, it might work. With a nod of his head, he smiles and says, "That'll work."
Nayeli lets out a long sigh, then slowly climbs back up to her paws. "Well. This was fun and all, but I'm guessing you probably want to get moving again." Not like she's in any particular hurry to get wherever they're going.. precisely because that 'wherever' could be anywhere. They aren't heading toward a particular destination. They're just /going/. And that's the fun part--with no remaining distance and no estimated time of arrival, who's to say that they're wasting time or going the wrong way? It's the perfect journey!
"I don't know. You might have to help me stand the rest of the way up, after knocking me over like that, first." Kein does his best to hide his grin as he says this, but he's not very successful. As to whether or not he intends to continue playing... Well, even he hasn't decided that, yet. He'll just have to decide that when Nayeli comes over to help him up, if she even does.
Nayeli struggles not to laugh and fails miserably, looking down at her friend's pathetic attempt to be lazy. "Oh /yeah/.. I mean.. I hit you /so/ hard!" She laughs again. "How about this. If you /don't/ get up, then..." Hmm. She considers. "..then.. I'll pounce on you and /tickle/ you until you get up!" Ooh. Threatening! She also considers the idea of just running off in their original direction of travel, forcing him to either get up and chase her, or remain here and be left behind. The only problem with that idea is that she doesn't /want/ him to be left behind, and there's no guarantee that he won't do just that, knowing that she'll eventually come back.
Kein hmphs as he finally stands, taking a step closer to Nayeli. "I see how it is. Well, I'll just have to keep that in mind, the next time you want help getting up." Given his grin and the humour in his voice, he is far from upset. He hadn't really expected that to work anyway, and he's not sure he would have continued the game if it /had/ worked, so there's really no reason for him to be upset.
Nayeli tilts her head at him, giving him an "Oh, /really/?" look before breaking out into an amused smile. "Okay, okay. I guess we're ready to head off?" They've had a few interruptions now, but hopefully they can make some good progress now before needing to take a break, whether for a meal or for a rest.. or for anything else. And if there's another raven that starts talking to them along the way? She's going to just ignore it. Problem solved.
Kein gives a little nod of his head, then turns back to the north to continue walking. Their game as relaxing, and he is easily ready to continue along their trip. So far, they've yet to see anything truly unique or special. Of course, animals have probably all ready settled around anything as special as the stone formations in Amaranth, but he still expects to see /something/, sooner or later.
Nayeli falls into step beside Kein, feeling a thrill at how natural it seems now, to be walking alongside her friend as if she somehow belongs there. She never really thought that he would have a problem with her walking beside him, rather than partially behind or perhaps farther away to the side, but the fact that she's been free to be so close to her friend's side... it's something special for her. There's a smile on her muzzle that most likely isn't going to leave anytime soon as she walks next to Kein.
Nayeli - Female Cougar
Kein - Male Adolescent Cougar
Poe - Female Raven
- Wind-Blown Lowlands -
Nayeli awakes sooner than she would have expected; it still appears to be somewhat dark outside the cave. There's a hint of light that suggests sunrise is only a few minutes away, but considering how exhausted she was last night, she's surprised that she's awake now at all. Moving carefully, so as not to wake Kein, she slips away from his side and heads toward the entrance, peering out into the pre-dawn gloom. Hmm. Should she be surprised that Azriel didn't come back during the night? His scent is still recent, but stale--he left for good, apparently. With a quiet stretch, she heads outside to take care of business before Kein wakes up.
Kein's dreams have been far from peaceful. In them, his father is even more formidable than he was in real life, and less willing to just talk. Nayeli moving away brings him closer to waking up, but he isn't quite there yet. Rather, he is stuck trying to figure out a way to keep her safe, keep them /both/ safe, from the cougar that seems to be behind every tree in the area, always half-hidden in shadow, stalking them, keeping them from a moment's rest, and undoubtedly preparing to leap out soon. After Nayeli leave, he stirs in his sleep, restless and troubled at the scene playing through in his head.
This raven is just not one that most creatures would want to see around, let alone meet. This raven love to cause trouble and misery for her own personal gain. This raven is just plain crazy, is what she is. With a mad flutter of wings, this raven lands alight the branch of a nearby tree and cackles.
Nayeli heads away from the den entrance, inhaling deeply to see if anyone else has wandered past in the last several hours. She's not able to detect any new scent, so maybe they'll have somewhat of an uneventful departure. And if today's trip is uneventful as well, that's definitely fine with her! Stifling a yawn, she pads a little bit further, then figures she's far enough away.
Poe clacks her beak when she spies young, innocent, cougars. And already she gets a glimmer in her eye, and a special thought in her heart. It is the way of this raven to break hearts. "O, undesirable wench, are you the reason behind this stench?"
Nayeli looks up in surprise as she finishes. A bird, talking to her? Her eyes narrow and she retorts sharply, "What do you want?" She doesn't know what a 'wench' is, but it most likely isn't a compliment. What kind of fool bird just starts randomly insulting a cougaress? So much for the day starting off uneventfully.
Poe cackles again. "Ah, so she crawls out of her shell, to deny the smell." This raven only wants to find a way to exploit this cougaress. Perhaps even just cause some misery. "Such a dim little cat, hiding like a little rat."
Nayeli hisses angrily at the bird, tail twitching. "Are you just taunting me for your own amusement? Or do you really want something from me?" If not, she's just going to ignore the foolish avian and head back into the den. Kein's company is infinitely more enjoyable, anyway.
Finally, Kein's eyes open, and the first thing he notices... Causes his heart to start beating faster, causes him to leap to his feet and rush out of the den. He hadn't been expecting to wake up alone, and what if... Did something happen while he was asleep? He wasn't so tired that he wouldn't have woken up if she cried out to him, was he? And he doesn't smell any blood, so she would have had a chance to call out, right? But where is she?! The nightmare is mostly gone, but with the feelings it inspired still in him, he has to find her. Now.
Poe lays eyes on Kein as he darts out of the den. Ohhhh ho ho ho ho hoooooo! How delicious. If there's one thing Poe really enjoys, it's toying with the hearts of the young. "I see you have a mate, and what a work of art, but to say this I hate, he will eventually break your heart."
Nayeli notices Kein at the same moment the raven does, and her expression turns from a scowl to a delighted smile, though perhaps a bit tempered by the look of panic on her friend's face. "Kein?" she asks, concerned. "What's wrong?" She's really annoyed with that raven for insinuating that she and Kein are mates. And supposedly he'll break her heart? He's crossing the line with that one.
Kein spots Nayeli moments before she speaks. He hasn't even heard the bird, with how intently he is focused on Nayeli. Is she okay? She doesn't /look/ injured. Still, he is quick to close the distance between them, wanting to be by her. He has to take a breath that is meant to be relaxing before he can speak, and then he says, "Nothing. Nothing's wrong." Not now, anyway.
Poe caws and flutters to the lowest branch she can find and fixes the young cougars with her eyes. "There is one undeniable natural chime, where there may be questionable love, ne'er to be cherished through time, you hope you fit the other like a glove, whereupon you find in yourself your young, to which can be etern'lly tracked, to th' moment whereupon love has sprung. But oh the moment of their portrayal, with all their small claws and tails, whereupon the male will make complete his betrayal, and unmatched shall be your wails, a broken heart, a failed start, for failed young love, when push comes to shove." At this Poe cackles. "I see a sad mother, left behind by her other. Alone... alone... alone..."
Nothing is wrong? Then why does Kein look so upset? Maybe he just didn't sleep well or something. "Okay," Nayeli says with a brief shrug, not pressing the matter. She's about to suggest that they head back inside the den to discuss their next move when more speaking from the raven causes her to turn her head to the side to glare at it. Stupid avian! But her eyes gradually widen as she slowly makes sense out of the foreboding poetry. Surely this raven is just trying to distract them or cause them to worry? But who speaks in such an unnatural way?
Kein doesn't pay any attention to the bird until he is standing beside Nayeli, until he has a chance to nuzzle against her lightly. Only then does his ear perk up towards the raven. The meaning behind her poetry doesn't escape Kein, but it is nonsense, all the same. Slowly, he looks up to the speaking bird, after coming to rest at Nayeli's side.
Poe sees that she has doubt rising in Nayeli, and must now work on Kein. "You, male, are the one most tragic. One moon from your crime against your friend, a most dark and future magic, you will find yourself at your life's end." Poe caws and fixes Kein with her eyes now. "Because you would betray this girl, she would not come to save you, and thus as the tapestry of your life unfurl, thus is the beginning of the tragedy of two." The raven caws again. "And only thus is the beginning of this doom. I see a small dead body, there will be an encounter with a boon, and that which grows in her womb, shall soon also find its tomb." The raven looks between them both. "Beware! Beware their ancestors!"
What does it mean? What /can/ it mean? It sounds like the kind of thing that the tribal shamaness would say--all the weird language and words she doesn't understand. The meaning is clear, for the most part, and she doesn't like it at all. She gives Kein an anxious look and nuzzle as he comes up beside her, then looks back at the bird, with the same question running through her mind: what does it mean?
If Kein believed in predetermination, what the strange raven says would likely bother him more. Even as it is, he doesn't /like/ it. Between Azriel's appearance yesterday and this bird today... But he is /not/ going to betray Nayeli. Ever. What the raven says just makes him more determined in that regard, and he growls lightly. "You should learn to watch what you say to felines, bird. We know how to climb." Of course, catching birds is a great deal more difficult than just slimbing to where they are, since they can fly away.
Poe doesn't seem unfettered in the least. Almost as if she expected him to say that. "Time will tell. Many who have said that fell." The raven caws, swoops downlow right past the cougars for show, probably in an effort to make then a little more afraid of what the raven said, and soon Poe is gone.
They do indeed know how to climb, and Nayeli is halfway tempted to try and do just that when the raven suddenly flies off after one last cryptic remark. Nayeli just stares at the dwindling avian form, not sure what to say. Finally, once the raven is out of sight, she looks back toward Kein, uncertainty and confusion written all over her expression. That was definitely one of the strangest things she's ever experienced, and this soon after meeting Azriel?
Kein takes a step back when Poe flies down by them, then stares off after the flying bird. Troublesome creatures. How are they ever going to find a good one to deliver their messages to Amaranth. He'll have to think about it, but for now... He looks back to Nayeli after a moment, then finally asks, "Are you okay?" He could just be asking about whether the brid upset her... But he isn't.
"I'm.. fine, I suppose," Nayeli finally says, her voice somewhat shaken. The bird is all she can think about right now. Was it the avian equivalent of a shamaness? Even the Amaranth wise ones never spoke quite like that. But then again... this /was/ a bird. Or maybe it was just crazy and Nayeli shouldn't even be thinking about it. She just doesn't know, and that's what makes her uneasy. "What was that all about?" she asks, deciding to get Kein's perspective on what just happened.
"It doesn't matter. She was wrong." About many things. They aren't mates yet, and if... or when... or if... that happens, he would never leave her alone. Ever. Kein has, at least, recovered from the nightmare, but he can still remember how it made him feel, how much he was worried. He would never abandon anyone he worries about that much.
But how he can be sure? "She sounded like a shamaness or something.. although I don't remember Paoro ever using words quite like that." It was just plain /weird/, what that bird was saying. Poetry isn't something that Nayeli is familiar with, though she can hear the intentional use of rhyme. And more rhyme, and more rhyme. What was the point of talking like that?
Kein never got a chance to really get to know Nayeli's grandmother. She gave him his markings once, but other than that, he has never really seen her from anything but a distance. And though, to a great degree, Kein accepts spirituality as natural... He also feels rather distanced from it. Spiritual guidance is the domain of females. Of female /cougars/. Of a select few female cougars. None of the wolves ever seemed to hold a deep belief in spirituality, not that he ever saw. Not like Paoro or Ayashe. Kein is capable of telling when someone is trying to guide, though, as opposed to when someone is just trying to hurt. "A shamaness is supposed to be compassionate, Nayeli. That bird wasn't." Far from it. She seemed to take delight in delivering hurtful prophecies.
Maybe that's why she's been so hesitant to accept the raven as any kind of spiritual being. And while her grandmother wasn't always the bearer of exciting news, she /was/ compassionate--something that definitely did /not/ characterize that raven. "I guess you're right.." Regardless, it's something she's going to almost certainly be thinking about in the near future. But with a weak smile, she tries to dismiss it from her mind for now. "You're probably right--I'm sure it wasn't anything to worry about."
Kein nuzzles against Nayeli lightly, and says, "I promised you last night that I would never abandon you. That will never change." He won't let it. After speaking, he gives Nayeli a smile. He won't claim that the have no reason to worry whatsoever, but there is definitely no reason to worry because of anything that bird said.
And once again, it's Kein's confidence that makes her feel better. Nayeli can't help but wonder why she doesn't have that same confidence, or why something as trivial as a random avian's odd speaking would cause her to doubt Kein at all. As much as she doesn't like to consider the possibility, it may simply be a remnant of what's happened between them in the past. She's simply afraid that Kein /will/ leave her again, because he's done it before. But that was a long time ago, and things have changed. She's changed. Kein's changed. And so now, she's going to try her absolute hardest to believe him, and to have as much trust as she possibly can. "I know," she answers softly, returning the nuzzle.
"Good." They /have/ both changed, and their circumstances have changed as well. Chesmu has no more influence over what happens to them, and Kein will not be taken away from her by the need to flee with his family. From now on, anywhere one of them goes, the other can follow. And, with that in mind... "As soon as you want to continue, I'm ready." If it's not for hours yet, he's fine with that, but if she wants to move on from this place right away, with all that has happened here, he is fine with that, too.
"I'm ready to go right now. The sooner we put distance between here and Azriel, the better. In fact, hopefully we.." Nayeli trails off, wondering if she'd offend Kein by completing the sentence. Hopefully they /won't/ ever see Azriel again, but what if Kein doesn't share her wish? Azriel /is/ his father, after all. She stretches a little, partially to mask her slight embarrassment at the slip, but also to prepare herself for the journey. The sun is completely above the horizon--perfect for traveling. And this time there doesn't appear to be any pending storm in the sky, so they /should/ be able to make good distance.
Hopefully we aren't moving towards him? Hopefully we won't be followed? Kein can't claim to know what Nayeli was going to say... And he doesn't think he should make an issue out of it. Instead, he just gives a little nod of his head. "Okay." He takes a single step away from her as she stretches, to allow her room to move however she wishes, and waits for her to stand back up straight.
Nayeli finishes stretching, complete with a yawn, several blinks, and a lopsided smile. "I feel like I could walk the entire day without stopping." And she hasn't even had breakfast yet! But now that fear and uncertainty and anxiety have been dealt with, she's full of the initial enthusiasm she had when they crossed over the Amaranth border into the unknown. Her first impression was that the outside was very similar to the inside: similar grass, trees, sky, and so forth.. but then again she could always /see/ those things from the border, even though she hadn't actually been out there to examine them closely. But the further away they go, toward lands she hasn't /seen/ yet, let alone been to.. who knows what they'll encounter?
Kein grins at what Nayeli says. Can he? Well, he might not be /quite/ as enthusiastic about it, but, yes, he feels like he could probably walk the entire day. Of course, he would probably be completely worn out by nightfall, but... Maybe he'll sleep better, if that's the case. With the grin still on his face, he begins walking northward, then says, "Well, I definitely can't let you outwalk me."
"And I can't let /you/ outwalk /me/!" Nayeli takes a few quick steps to bring herself alongside her friend. "I tell you what, though.. if I so much as /see/ another raven, I am going to /eat/ it!" Not that she's ever caught a bird before, or even tasted one, but.. it's meat, no? She can always try to catch it. Or at least chase it off. Yeah.
Kein laughs openly, this time. He's grateful that the mood seemed to lighten so quickly, and he responds, "Seems like an awful lot of effort to go through, just to try to eat a bird. I hope we come across something we can eat soon, though." The first scent trail he finds that smells even remotely like prey, he'll probably insist that they follow it. He hasn't eaten since... Well, it /seems/ like it has been a lot llonger than it has, with how much has happened since they left Amaranth.
Nayeli laughs as well. "It's times like this that I almost wish I could eat grass." /That/ would be a weird feeling, walking in the middle of a buffet that stretches for such a long distance in front of them. "Though I guess it would get boring, not being able to hunt anymore or anything like that." Stalking and pouncing grass.. boring! But yes, she is hungry. What kind of food will exist out there in the world? What she's used to? Something else? She wonders, none-too-easily, if there's anything out there that will hunt /them/. Who's to say that cougars will always be the dominant predator wherever they go?
Kein isn't so concerned with the boring aspect. True, twigs and rocks are no longer the worthy adversaries they were when he was younger, but he's sure he could find other forms of entertainment. Grass just really isn't appealing, though. He's sure he could spend all day trying to eat it and still never get full. Yes, he wuld much rather spend all day hunting and less time actually eating. At least when he's hunting, he gets to prove that he has learned something, that he has some skill that is worth something. What skill is there in eating grass? "Not to mention eating the same thing every single day. I guess that's another thing we should look for in an area. Different types of food." He's okay with eating rabbit most of the time, but if he /never/ got to eat anything different? He'd probably dislike it as much as he dislikes the idea of eating grass.
Hmm. Now she is curious. Curious enough to.. chomp at some of the grass. It doesn't cut apart as nicely as she would have hoped, and she ends up pulling a few strands out of the ground. But it only takes a single bite before she's spitting it back out. Yuck! She runs her tongue across her teeth, trying to clear the nasty taste from her mouth. "Yeah..." she finally says, glowering at the barely chewed vegetation on the ground. "Different types of food would be great."
Kein tries to hold himself back from Nayeli's attempt to eat grass. It's not like it's something he hasn't tried before. What cub doesn't get curious about why prey species eat it? Her reaction is still funny, though, and though he turns his head away, it's impossible to hide his amusement. He is only joking when he says, "Guess we don't have to be too worried over whether where we choose has grass or not, then."
Nayeli suddenly crouches down and slinks off to the side, quickly disappearing into the tall grass. One could probably hear her moving as her speed /is/ rather quick, as she circles around to where she'll be right in front of where Kein is moving toward. They don't /need/ grass, but it sure is nice to have. Plenty of cover for when they'll be hunting, and much better than open areas such as the rocky mesa.
Grass is not the only thing in which they can hide. Trees. Boulders. How nice will it be when they find a place where the prey is not used to having cougars around, who aren't used to cougars hiding in trees or on top of large rocks, waiting for their prey? Still, he knows what Nayeli is getting at when she heads off. He thinks. Either that, or she has caught a scent trail that he missed. He feigns ignorance of where she is going, though, rather continuing along on his path... But not willing to let her continue to keep all of the poucing to herself. "Nayeli?" He's not the best actor, but he manages to keep from laughing. "Where'd you go?" Of course, if she /did/ catch the scent of some prey, he almost definitely just scared it off.
She's so tempted to call back, perhaps even instigate a chase through the grass, but she's also tempted to simply wait for Kein to get close enough and then pounce at him. Hmm. Just for fun, Nayeli lets out a low growl, and then slips, much more slowly and quietly, several feet to the side, trying to pinpoint Kein's exact location. He should be moving in /that/ direction, ending up /there/.. and if she stands /here/... It should be the perfect ambush!
The growl helps Kein, and he keeps his ears perked, listening for her, at the same time that he crouches and slows his own pace. In absence of prey to hunt, he'll gladly play-hunt with Nayeli. What better way to show off all his mother and Kasim have taught him, now that he is feeling better. His leg aches, just slightly and briefly, at the now-unfamiliar movement, but it fades very quickly and doesn't alter his movement at all.
Nayeli goes completely silent and still, also listening. There's a rush of adrenaline when she realizes that Kein isn't moving. He's waiting. Stalking her. This brings their playing to a completely new and frightening level, as Nayeli has to admit that now she feels more like the prey than the predator. But no--she /can/ catch Kein, and she knows it! She's not helpless, and it's not like she hasn't hunted difficult prey before. And while not being any kind of expert on stalking or tracking, she's not a complete amateur at this. Her goal now is to remain silent and let Kein make the first move. Patience.
Kein can't actually follow the trail she left, since he didn't think she would take the game this seriously. Well, he /could/, but it would take much longer, and she might realize what he's doing. Hence, he's stuck using where she was when he last heard her and judging by how strong her scent is. It's a welcome exercise, since he hasn't hunted at all since they left the oasis, and he is glad that she's putting effort into it, like he is. Still, his steps are slow, deliberate.
It doesn't help that Kein /could/ be moving right at her, and she probably wouldn't be able to hear him as the occasional breeze through the grass creates more than enough background noise to cover any faint pawsteps. But still, her ears listen intently for any indication that he might be moving... but she can't detect anything. He must be still motionless where she left him, waiting for /her/ to make the first move. It is indeed a game of patience now, and Nayeli is determined to stay crouched right where she is.
After a short while, Kein passes where she would have been if she had stayed where she was when she growled. Or at least, he's close enough that he could see her, had she stayed put. Given how strong her scent is, though, she can't have moved off too far... And now, he actually has a scent trail. With a grin, he turns to face the direction he thinks she went off in.
Wait a second.. was that movement that she heard? Nayeli crouches down even lower, ears swiveling a tiny bit as she tries to catch any unusual sound. Like grass being parted by a large feline body, for example. If Kein is moving, he's doing a very good job of staying quiet. Nayeli is still more or less convinced that it's nothing but a battle of patience now--surely she would have heard him if he had started moving again.
Even the most cautious prey does not stay still indefinitely. They are much more likely to start running if they think he's getting to close. Nayeli has nothing to fear from him, though, and her lack of motion gives her some advantage. The only way he has to tell how close he is to her is by how strong her scent is, and while it will keep him from running into her... He might not be close enough for this to work. He can't tell, with how well the grass hides her. Even so, after only a few steps, he stops moving. Any closer, and she'll see or hear him, he's convinced... So he crouches a little further preparing to pounce at her and taking one more deep breath. Whether he's right or wrong, the game is about to grow rather more active. Will she rn if he doesn't get her, or will it turn into a wrestling match? Finally, after that deep breath, he leaps forward, hopefully directly towards the hiding Nayeli.
That sound again.. and again.. it's Kein! It has to be! Nayeli grins, both at the realization that Kein's stalking skills are amazing! as well as the fact that she's in for quite a victory here if she can pull off the upset. Since she's been relatively motionless, she's guessing that he's either just blindly stalking along, hoping to hear her or just run into her, or else he's trying to track her by scent. And if that's the case, with her scent pooling around her right now... Maybe it's just that alleged sixth sense. Maybe it's some subconscious recognition of the sounds that come from a launched pounce. Or maybe it's just luck on her part. Whatever the case, Nayeli happens to slink to the side just in time to avoid the sudden appearance of Kein lunging over her head. That was /close/! With a grin, she crouches down again, but makes no move to run off or wrestle back. Unless, of course, Kein decides that he needs the pin to make up for his failed counter-ambush.
Kein doesn't get as close as he had hoped, but he /does/ get close. If she were prey, it would not be a very long chase before he caught her, which is good for any hunt. He doesn't need to chase, though, as she hasn't moved from where he first saw her when he spins around, after landing. Any doubt that he is completely healed is gone, as both the landing and his turn have all of the feline grace they would have before the fight with her father. He is grinning when he faces her. It might not have been a win, per se, but she is neither advancing nor retreating, so he just crouches again, giving her time to make the next move, if she intends to.
Nayeli is grinning as well, nearly laughing, and finally she does make the first move: she crawls slowly toward her friend, letting out a light giggle when she gets close enough to bat a paw at him. "I can't believe how quiet you were! I honestly thought you were just waiting for me to move first." She very nearly got pounced, after all! But it's a weird feeling--she's glad that Kein obviously did so well, but yet she knows that she's going to have to work harder and do better next time, or else any competition they have is going to be rather lopsided in her friend's favor.
Kein falls over when she bats at him, but the remaining grin makes it obvious that he's just fooling around. Right now, there is nothing on his mind other than how fun, and relaxed, this was. No worries about when they'll find something to eat, who might be following, or whether they'll be up for all the challenges that face them. He is just relaxed. "I am a lot of things, but patient isn't one of them. Not like you." If it hadn't been for her scent, he might have thought she had managed to just disappear.
"You're certainly quiet enough to where you don't really /need/ to be patient, I guess!" Nayeli laughs again, crawling forward the several more inches required to bat at him again. "How about this: you be quiet, I'll be patient, and we'll catch something that way?" Surely there's a hunting strategy that can be created out of those two elements? Hunting is going to be a unique challenge: either they both win together, or both lose together.
Kein sits for a moment, just thinking about that. It they were to come upon some animals scent, up ahead of them, he could certainly circle it and chase it in her direction after getting close to it. That should limit the amount of work they both have to do, right? Provided that he can actually get it to go in her direction. A lot of prey tend to move around a lot when they're getting chased, but... Well, it might work. With a nod of his head, he smiles and says, "That'll work."
Nayeli lets out a long sigh, then slowly climbs back up to her paws. "Well. This was fun and all, but I'm guessing you probably want to get moving again." Not like she's in any particular hurry to get wherever they're going.. precisely because that 'wherever' could be anywhere. They aren't heading toward a particular destination. They're just /going/. And that's the fun part--with no remaining distance and no estimated time of arrival, who's to say that they're wasting time or going the wrong way? It's the perfect journey!
"I don't know. You might have to help me stand the rest of the way up, after knocking me over like that, first." Kein does his best to hide his grin as he says this, but he's not very successful. As to whether or not he intends to continue playing... Well, even he hasn't decided that, yet. He'll just have to decide that when Nayeli comes over to help him up, if she even does.
Nayeli struggles not to laugh and fails miserably, looking down at her friend's pathetic attempt to be lazy. "Oh /yeah/.. I mean.. I hit you /so/ hard!" She laughs again. "How about this. If you /don't/ get up, then..." Hmm. She considers. "..then.. I'll pounce on you and /tickle/ you until you get up!" Ooh. Threatening! She also considers the idea of just running off in their original direction of travel, forcing him to either get up and chase her, or remain here and be left behind. The only problem with that idea is that she doesn't /want/ him to be left behind, and there's no guarantee that he won't do just that, knowing that she'll eventually come back.
Kein hmphs as he finally stands, taking a step closer to Nayeli. "I see how it is. Well, I'll just have to keep that in mind, the next time you want help getting up." Given his grin and the humour in his voice, he is far from upset. He hadn't really expected that to work anyway, and he's not sure he would have continued the game if it /had/ worked, so there's really no reason for him to be upset.
Nayeli tilts her head at him, giving him an "Oh, /really/?" look before breaking out into an amused smile. "Okay, okay. I guess we're ready to head off?" They've had a few interruptions now, but hopefully they can make some good progress now before needing to take a break, whether for a meal or for a rest.. or for anything else. And if there's another raven that starts talking to them along the way? She's going to just ignore it. Problem solved.
Kein gives a little nod of his head, then turns back to the north to continue walking. Their game as relaxing, and he is easily ready to continue along their trip. So far, they've yet to see anything truly unique or special. Of course, animals have probably all ready settled around anything as special as the stone formations in Amaranth, but he still expects to see /something/, sooner or later.
Nayeli falls into step beside Kein, feeling a thrill at how natural it seems now, to be walking alongside her friend as if she somehow belongs there. She never really thought that he would have a problem with her walking beside him, rather than partially behind or perhaps farther away to the side, but the fact that she's been free to be so close to her friend's side... it's something special for her. There's a smile on her muzzle that most likely isn't going to leave anytime soon as she walks next to Kein.