Post by abyss on Nov 1, 2008 20:54:28 GMT -5
Characters involved:
Imala, female elder cougar
Maulisho, female cougar
Chesmu, male cougar
Synopsis: Maulisho meets Imala. They have a troubling conversation about Chesmu... who overhears part of their discussion.
Wildflower Drop
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Perhaps a result of one of the nearby eroded pools providing water through some minute cracks in the rock, the area here is flourishing with plant life - a myriad of flowers, in a rainbow of colors, wash over the area in a stark contrast to the bleak rock surrounding it. What gives the area its name is that the wildflowers also flush down the side of the mountain, which is too steep for most creatures to even attempt to climb down.
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As she penetrates Amaranth's outer boundaries, Imala feels distinctly pleased with herself. Chesmu may not have been happy to see her, but he put up no resistance, letting her simply walk past him, and deeper into the territory she believes he still presides over as Chieftain. This particular area is not as lush as it would be in warmer months, but she stops to lap at a trickle of cold water flowing through a crack in the rock -- probably some runoff from melting snow.
While waiting for her mate to finish hunting or whatever other activity he's busy with, Maulisho has taken the opportunity to get some exercise in. Following a period of stretching, she's now taking a walk through her home territory, enjoying the solitude. She /is/ keeping a cautious eye out for Chesmu, but she highly doubts that he'll ever come near her again, especially after their last encounter. How many scars will he keep from her claws? Is he even going to stay in Amaranth?
When Imala lifts her head from the trickling water, a twinging joint causes her to grit her teeth in a silent growl. Her mind may still be sharp, as her claws and fangs are... but her body has aged. She is not as strong as she once was. Though she would never admit to that, perhaps not even to herself, her lifestyle /has/ changed as a result. Once she prowled through any territory she pleased; powerful and vicious, she feared no creature, gladly leaping into any fray. She has not yet lost a fight, but she fears that, one day, her strength may fail her. Her encounter with Chesmu has left her feeling recharged. Deciding to rest for a moment, the grey-tinted cougaress sits down and glances around idly. In her own fresh tracks, she notices a few frozen plants, half-crushed, beneath the crust of snow. In warmer months this is likely a lush place... and from what she could see from the cliff, the rest of the territory looks promising as well.
It's somewhat of a relief to see that things really haven't changed that much during her long stay in the desert. Amaranth still looks like the Amaranth she was familiar with, with minor terrain variations here and there. Erosion, new plants, and so forth. Things do change, but there's not enough to make Maulisho feel as though she's a stranger here. It's /home/, and she's glad to be back. Even with everything that's happened over the past week or two, nothing can possibly dissuade her to stay here for good, especially now that Kasim is enthusiastic about the idea of a second litter. This /is/ their home, and she's excited about raising up new sons and daughters in such a great territory. Her eyes catch a flicker of motion, and it's with some surprise that she realizes that she has /no/ idea who that cougaress is, over there. A recent newcomer? Or a cougaress that's been here for a long time? With a thoughtful murr, Maulisho begins to pad over toward the seemingly older female.
Imala moves her paw, scraping snow away from the frozen ground. Most of the plants have been flattened by the weight of a snow, but she can see a few colorful blossoms, now edged with frost. Lush indeed... and large, if the rumors are true. Then again, most of her information has been gathered from the various prey creatures she managed to capture on the course of her journey; what little she knows may be false, or if true, greatly exaggerated. The cougaress looks forward to learning the truth for herself. Catching the sound of approaching paws, she perks her ears and looks up, turning her head until she spots Maulisho. She remains still as the younger cougaress draws closer, looking her over with what seems to be calm thoughtfulness. Is this a member of Chesmu's tribe, or just a wandering rogue? Whatever the case may be, Maulisho does not appear threatening... so Imala does not appear threatened. "Good day."
Maulisho notices the lack of red markings on the other female as well, leading her to similar thoughts. "Good day to you as well," she greets in return, dipping her head slightly. "Are you.. just visiting?" She would assume so, unless there's been a lapse in the tribal procedure for marking new Sisters. "My name is Maulisho, by the way--I'm one of the tribal members here in Amaranth." The other female's eyes cause her to feel slightly intimidated, in a rather similar fashion to how she felt when addressing Donoma. Maybe it's just something that comes with old age?
Imala sits up straight as she regards the other cougaress. She looks old enough to be Maulisho's mother, and there's certainly something matronly about her... not warmly indulgent, but stern and disciplinarian. "Yes," she answers, and there's no mistaking the rasping quality of her voice. If Maulisho had ever heard it before, surely she would remember it now. "I am Imala." The older cougaress pauses and tilts her head a fraction, looking at Maulisho expectantly. It's as if she believes Maulisho should know who she is, by name alone.
Maulisho offers a warm smile in response, but there is no recognition in either her expression or in her voice. "Welcome to Amaranth, then. I don't know if you've met any other felines here, but our Chieftain is Yuma, and I'm sure he would be more than happy to have you stay as long as you would like." There's always the chance that Imala has been here since after Maulisho and her family left for the desert, in which case the older cougaress would probably figure that /she/ should offer /Maulisho/ a greeting. Oh well. If that's the case, Maul can always try to explain a little bit further.
Imala does not notice any sign of recognition from the younger cougaress. She believed that Chesmu may have told the members of his tribe about her... in fact, she even wondered how much hostility she might face from the other cougars, if he had told them about his past in any great detail. This one, at least, does not even seem to recognize her name. The slight smile the realization brings fades when Maulisho continues. Her surprise does not show, but suddenly her expression is guarded, carefully neutral. /Yuma/ is the Chieftain? Imala has heard from several sources that Chesmu has offspring, but she does not know their names; in truth she has thought little about them at all. "I have not had the pleasure of meeting Yuma," she rasps. "I have only met Chesmu. I am his mother." Somehow, that is more palatable to her than simply saying, 'He is my son.'
Now there's a startled reaction from Maulisho. /This/ cougaress is Chesmu's /mother/? Suddenly all the stories that he told her a long time ago come flooding through her mind. Horrible stories, and ones that made her wonder how such an evil cougaress could ever have raised cubs. Or even managed to secure a mate in the first place! But now seeing Imala in front of her, she doesn't.. /look/ evil. It's several moments before Maulisho responds, and when she does, her voice is a little hesitant and confused, "I've.. umm.. well, he's mentioned you before." Quite the understatement.
It had been hard to track his mother since she appeared. It hadn't helped that he was sidetracked by Paoro. And yet very helpful. For the first time in a few days Chesmu's thinking has cleared up, though Chesmu is unsure how long this will last. He must find Imala and expel her, however, It'd be his last duty as a member of Amaranth before he leaves. It's a decision he didn't make lightly, but he feels he'd cause too much damage by staying... and what if he falls ill again? He has not discovered Maulisho and Imala, yet.
Inwardly, Imala's shrewd mind is already at work, wondering how her plans will change now that she knows Chesmu is no longer the Chieftain. For all she nows, Chesmu may be searching for Yuma as she and Maulisho speak, rushing to summon the true Chieftain... and convince him to drive her away, or worse. This thought does not inspire fear in the older cougaress, but anger. Chesmu purposely led her to believe /he/ still had a position of power. "Has he?" Imala makes herself smile, though the expression doesn't make it all the way to her eyes. "Nothing too bad, I hope? Chesmu was always quite a storyteller." Amazingly, she chuckles at this, as if she's just made a light joke.
Yes, his stories were indeed rather impressive, but then again, wouldn't Maulisho consider her own to be the same? There's no reason to dismiss a story simply on the basis of how dramatic it is. "He's.." She grimaces. "Well.. he's been rather hostile, recently." Another understatement. He only ripped into her son, leaving him bloodied in the snow. Not to mention what he's tried to do to /her/. "I try to stay away from him now, and he from me." There's plenty more to explain, but only when she's sure of Imala's intentions. Whether or not Chesmu /was/ exaggerating, Maul isn't going to just start describing tribal conflicts to a complete stranger.
Chesmu finally hears familiar voices. One of them is his mother... and... And just by hearing the other voice, it seems any progress Chesmu had made in getting well has gone backwards. He creeps up slowly and silently until he's as close as he dares without revealing himself. Eyetwitch. What are those two discussing?
Many years of practice have given Imala nearly perfect control of her expression. She shows no sign of the rage building within her. If her plans are ruined because Chesmu intentionally misled her, she will make him suffer for it. When Maulisho goes on to mention Chesmu's hositility, however, her attention is drawn sharply back to their conversation. Apparently Chesmu is not popular with all the other cougars of his tribe... perhaps that has something to do with him losing his position. She arches her brows at the younger cougaress, appearing concerned. "Hostile?" The older female shakes her head slowly, letting her shoulders sag, as though this news saddens rather than surprises her. "That is troubling news," Imala says quietly, her hoarse voice barely more than a whisper. "His father was prone to fits of temper. I've always feared..."
"Yes, hostile." Maulisho lets her tone cool down considerably, though not intended to be any reflection of her feelings toward Imala. "Attempted rape, attempted murder.. I would consider that hostile. Thankfully he has failed on all accounts." And thankfully he has finally been stripped of his position, never to become Chieftain again. She'll make sure of that. Not that she expects Yuma to relinquish his position, short of Chesmu actually killing his son to try and take it back. He wouldn't do something like that, though.. right?
Chesmu bares his teeth angrily, but doesn't croak a sound. His *father?* His father was never around! Missing always! How could his mother tell lies like this?! Of course, hhe knows how, and he knows why. His eye twitches as he narrows his eyes at his mother. Perhaps his father was actually a good cougar, unlike her. Chesmu will never know. Eyetwitch.
Imala lets out a shuddering sigh, closing her eyes as Maulisho lists Chesmu's misdeeds. With her shoulders hunched and her tail curled around her paws, the cougaress now appears shrunken, showing her age more clearly. She may even seem afraid... yes, afraid of the cougar she strode boldly past only minutes before. "I decided to come here when I heard that he had become the Chieftain of your tribe. I'm relieved to hear he no longer holds that position."
Maulisho nods, still grimacing. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but I want you to be aware of what your son is doing." She falls silent, tail twitching, and glancing off to the side. She could have sworn she saw another feline form in the distance, but when the motion doesn't repeat itself, Maulisho shrugs and focuses back on Imala. She must have been imagining it. "I don't know where he is, but the last I saw him, he was fairly injured and unable to move."
Chesmu feels his blood getting hot so she's conspiring with Imala? Eyetwitch. Chesmu could do so many things right now, but then, shiver, his mother would kill him. Chesmu feels his claws digging deep into the frozen ground. Ground that has been and should be his. His teeth are still bared and clenched. Traitor! Maulisho, you damned traitor!
The older cougaress nods understandingly. She may look troubled, but the news only confirms what she has always believed about Chesmu. Imala should have known that the cougars of Amaranth would see her son's true nature... she finds herself wishing she had gotten here sooner. With her influence, things could have turned out much differently. "Of course... thank you," she says to Maulisho. "I spoke with Chesmu only a few minutes ago. He didn't appear injured." Imala pauses, as if hesitating, before confessing, "However... he led me to believe that he was still the Chieftain."
Maulisho looks startled. "You just saw him a few minutes ago?" Unconsciously she looks to the side again, at where she thought she saw motion not too long ago. Was that Chesmu? Is he watching them, even now? The thought of his eyes on her again... it's not a comforting thought. "And why would he think he's still the Chieftain?" Perhaps just to try and fool his mother? Something doesn't feel right about all this, and Maulisho doesn't like that. Something's wrong.
Chesmu has heard enough. Maulisho can no longer be trusted. Traitor! Chesmu growls lowly, turns around and pushes off, running elsewhere. Maulisho has betrayed him. And with his mother, yet! Who knows what those two are planning for him. Damn you, Imala, Damn you, Maulisho!
Again Imala nods, though she quickly notices that Maulisho's gaze is no longer on her. "Yes. Up on the edge of the cliff," she says, turning her head to look behind her, her eyes wandering up the steep, stony mountainside. Has Chesmu followed her? She cannot be sure. Her eyes and ears, while far from failing, are not nearly as sharp as Maulisho's, and she cannot see anyone else in the area. "I couldn't say... but it worries me," she says, in a confiding rasp.
This is not good. Chesmu should not be so active and about in these lands, especially trying to promote the fact that he's still chieftain. Maulisho needs to let Kasim and Pelutho know to be on their guard; she'll have to just hope that Kasim gets back before too much longer. She'll go wait in the birthing cave until he gets back, and then they can decide what to do. Perhaps speak with Yuma? She's not sure if he'll be so open to the idea of dealing with his father for good, but /surely/ he'll see that they can't allow Chesmu to stay in the territory, obviously still hostile! "It was a pleasure to meet you, Imala," she says, taking a step backward. "I would love to stay and continue our conversation, but I must be off. My family needs to hear about this threat, and I would be remiss to not tell them immediately."
Once it becomes clear that Maulisho is about to depart, Imala rises back to her paws. The slowness of her movement is not just an empty display; she has been exposed to the cold for far too long, and she feels stiff, her paws nearly numb. "That is a wise choice," she says solemnly. "I'm sure we will speak again, Maulisho." Chesmu may have fooled her, but the cougaress does not believe that all is lost. Plans can be modified. If Imala is clever enough, she may still get what she desires from the Amaranth tribe. A smile spreads across her greying muzzle. "Farewell."
Imala, female elder cougar
Maulisho, female cougar
Chesmu, male cougar
Synopsis: Maulisho meets Imala. They have a troubling conversation about Chesmu... who overhears part of their discussion.
Wildflower Drop
================================================================================
Perhaps a result of one of the nearby eroded pools providing water through some minute cracks in the rock, the area here is flourishing with plant life - a myriad of flowers, in a rainbow of colors, wash over the area in a stark contrast to the bleak rock surrounding it. What gives the area its name is that the wildflowers also flush down the side of the mountain, which is too steep for most creatures to even attempt to climb down.
================================================================================
As she penetrates Amaranth's outer boundaries, Imala feels distinctly pleased with herself. Chesmu may not have been happy to see her, but he put up no resistance, letting her simply walk past him, and deeper into the territory she believes he still presides over as Chieftain. This particular area is not as lush as it would be in warmer months, but she stops to lap at a trickle of cold water flowing through a crack in the rock -- probably some runoff from melting snow.
While waiting for her mate to finish hunting or whatever other activity he's busy with, Maulisho has taken the opportunity to get some exercise in. Following a period of stretching, she's now taking a walk through her home territory, enjoying the solitude. She /is/ keeping a cautious eye out for Chesmu, but she highly doubts that he'll ever come near her again, especially after their last encounter. How many scars will he keep from her claws? Is he even going to stay in Amaranth?
When Imala lifts her head from the trickling water, a twinging joint causes her to grit her teeth in a silent growl. Her mind may still be sharp, as her claws and fangs are... but her body has aged. She is not as strong as she once was. Though she would never admit to that, perhaps not even to herself, her lifestyle /has/ changed as a result. Once she prowled through any territory she pleased; powerful and vicious, she feared no creature, gladly leaping into any fray. She has not yet lost a fight, but she fears that, one day, her strength may fail her. Her encounter with Chesmu has left her feeling recharged. Deciding to rest for a moment, the grey-tinted cougaress sits down and glances around idly. In her own fresh tracks, she notices a few frozen plants, half-crushed, beneath the crust of snow. In warmer months this is likely a lush place... and from what she could see from the cliff, the rest of the territory looks promising as well.
It's somewhat of a relief to see that things really haven't changed that much during her long stay in the desert. Amaranth still looks like the Amaranth she was familiar with, with minor terrain variations here and there. Erosion, new plants, and so forth. Things do change, but there's not enough to make Maulisho feel as though she's a stranger here. It's /home/, and she's glad to be back. Even with everything that's happened over the past week or two, nothing can possibly dissuade her to stay here for good, especially now that Kasim is enthusiastic about the idea of a second litter. This /is/ their home, and she's excited about raising up new sons and daughters in such a great territory. Her eyes catch a flicker of motion, and it's with some surprise that she realizes that she has /no/ idea who that cougaress is, over there. A recent newcomer? Or a cougaress that's been here for a long time? With a thoughtful murr, Maulisho begins to pad over toward the seemingly older female.
Imala moves her paw, scraping snow away from the frozen ground. Most of the plants have been flattened by the weight of a snow, but she can see a few colorful blossoms, now edged with frost. Lush indeed... and large, if the rumors are true. Then again, most of her information has been gathered from the various prey creatures she managed to capture on the course of her journey; what little she knows may be false, or if true, greatly exaggerated. The cougaress looks forward to learning the truth for herself. Catching the sound of approaching paws, she perks her ears and looks up, turning her head until she spots Maulisho. She remains still as the younger cougaress draws closer, looking her over with what seems to be calm thoughtfulness. Is this a member of Chesmu's tribe, or just a wandering rogue? Whatever the case may be, Maulisho does not appear threatening... so Imala does not appear threatened. "Good day."
Maulisho notices the lack of red markings on the other female as well, leading her to similar thoughts. "Good day to you as well," she greets in return, dipping her head slightly. "Are you.. just visiting?" She would assume so, unless there's been a lapse in the tribal procedure for marking new Sisters. "My name is Maulisho, by the way--I'm one of the tribal members here in Amaranth." The other female's eyes cause her to feel slightly intimidated, in a rather similar fashion to how she felt when addressing Donoma. Maybe it's just something that comes with old age?
Imala sits up straight as she regards the other cougaress. She looks old enough to be Maulisho's mother, and there's certainly something matronly about her... not warmly indulgent, but stern and disciplinarian. "Yes," she answers, and there's no mistaking the rasping quality of her voice. If Maulisho had ever heard it before, surely she would remember it now. "I am Imala." The older cougaress pauses and tilts her head a fraction, looking at Maulisho expectantly. It's as if she believes Maulisho should know who she is, by name alone.
Maulisho offers a warm smile in response, but there is no recognition in either her expression or in her voice. "Welcome to Amaranth, then. I don't know if you've met any other felines here, but our Chieftain is Yuma, and I'm sure he would be more than happy to have you stay as long as you would like." There's always the chance that Imala has been here since after Maulisho and her family left for the desert, in which case the older cougaress would probably figure that /she/ should offer /Maulisho/ a greeting. Oh well. If that's the case, Maul can always try to explain a little bit further.
Imala does not notice any sign of recognition from the younger cougaress. She believed that Chesmu may have told the members of his tribe about her... in fact, she even wondered how much hostility she might face from the other cougars, if he had told them about his past in any great detail. This one, at least, does not even seem to recognize her name. The slight smile the realization brings fades when Maulisho continues. Her surprise does not show, but suddenly her expression is guarded, carefully neutral. /Yuma/ is the Chieftain? Imala has heard from several sources that Chesmu has offspring, but she does not know their names; in truth she has thought little about them at all. "I have not had the pleasure of meeting Yuma," she rasps. "I have only met Chesmu. I am his mother." Somehow, that is more palatable to her than simply saying, 'He is my son.'
Now there's a startled reaction from Maulisho. /This/ cougaress is Chesmu's /mother/? Suddenly all the stories that he told her a long time ago come flooding through her mind. Horrible stories, and ones that made her wonder how such an evil cougaress could ever have raised cubs. Or even managed to secure a mate in the first place! But now seeing Imala in front of her, she doesn't.. /look/ evil. It's several moments before Maulisho responds, and when she does, her voice is a little hesitant and confused, "I've.. umm.. well, he's mentioned you before." Quite the understatement.
It had been hard to track his mother since she appeared. It hadn't helped that he was sidetracked by Paoro. And yet very helpful. For the first time in a few days Chesmu's thinking has cleared up, though Chesmu is unsure how long this will last. He must find Imala and expel her, however, It'd be his last duty as a member of Amaranth before he leaves. It's a decision he didn't make lightly, but he feels he'd cause too much damage by staying... and what if he falls ill again? He has not discovered Maulisho and Imala, yet.
Inwardly, Imala's shrewd mind is already at work, wondering how her plans will change now that she knows Chesmu is no longer the Chieftain. For all she nows, Chesmu may be searching for Yuma as she and Maulisho speak, rushing to summon the true Chieftain... and convince him to drive her away, or worse. This thought does not inspire fear in the older cougaress, but anger. Chesmu purposely led her to believe /he/ still had a position of power. "Has he?" Imala makes herself smile, though the expression doesn't make it all the way to her eyes. "Nothing too bad, I hope? Chesmu was always quite a storyteller." Amazingly, she chuckles at this, as if she's just made a light joke.
Yes, his stories were indeed rather impressive, but then again, wouldn't Maulisho consider her own to be the same? There's no reason to dismiss a story simply on the basis of how dramatic it is. "He's.." She grimaces. "Well.. he's been rather hostile, recently." Another understatement. He only ripped into her son, leaving him bloodied in the snow. Not to mention what he's tried to do to /her/. "I try to stay away from him now, and he from me." There's plenty more to explain, but only when she's sure of Imala's intentions. Whether or not Chesmu /was/ exaggerating, Maul isn't going to just start describing tribal conflicts to a complete stranger.
Chesmu finally hears familiar voices. One of them is his mother... and... And just by hearing the other voice, it seems any progress Chesmu had made in getting well has gone backwards. He creeps up slowly and silently until he's as close as he dares without revealing himself. Eyetwitch. What are those two discussing?
Many years of practice have given Imala nearly perfect control of her expression. She shows no sign of the rage building within her. If her plans are ruined because Chesmu intentionally misled her, she will make him suffer for it. When Maulisho goes on to mention Chesmu's hositility, however, her attention is drawn sharply back to their conversation. Apparently Chesmu is not popular with all the other cougars of his tribe... perhaps that has something to do with him losing his position. She arches her brows at the younger cougaress, appearing concerned. "Hostile?" The older female shakes her head slowly, letting her shoulders sag, as though this news saddens rather than surprises her. "That is troubling news," Imala says quietly, her hoarse voice barely more than a whisper. "His father was prone to fits of temper. I've always feared..."
"Yes, hostile." Maulisho lets her tone cool down considerably, though not intended to be any reflection of her feelings toward Imala. "Attempted rape, attempted murder.. I would consider that hostile. Thankfully he has failed on all accounts." And thankfully he has finally been stripped of his position, never to become Chieftain again. She'll make sure of that. Not that she expects Yuma to relinquish his position, short of Chesmu actually killing his son to try and take it back. He wouldn't do something like that, though.. right?
Chesmu bares his teeth angrily, but doesn't croak a sound. His *father?* His father was never around! Missing always! How could his mother tell lies like this?! Of course, hhe knows how, and he knows why. His eye twitches as he narrows his eyes at his mother. Perhaps his father was actually a good cougar, unlike her. Chesmu will never know. Eyetwitch.
Imala lets out a shuddering sigh, closing her eyes as Maulisho lists Chesmu's misdeeds. With her shoulders hunched and her tail curled around her paws, the cougaress now appears shrunken, showing her age more clearly. She may even seem afraid... yes, afraid of the cougar she strode boldly past only minutes before. "I decided to come here when I heard that he had become the Chieftain of your tribe. I'm relieved to hear he no longer holds that position."
Maulisho nods, still grimacing. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but I want you to be aware of what your son is doing." She falls silent, tail twitching, and glancing off to the side. She could have sworn she saw another feline form in the distance, but when the motion doesn't repeat itself, Maulisho shrugs and focuses back on Imala. She must have been imagining it. "I don't know where he is, but the last I saw him, he was fairly injured and unable to move."
Chesmu feels his blood getting hot so she's conspiring with Imala? Eyetwitch. Chesmu could do so many things right now, but then, shiver, his mother would kill him. Chesmu feels his claws digging deep into the frozen ground. Ground that has been and should be his. His teeth are still bared and clenched. Traitor! Maulisho, you damned traitor!
The older cougaress nods understandingly. She may look troubled, but the news only confirms what she has always believed about Chesmu. Imala should have known that the cougars of Amaranth would see her son's true nature... she finds herself wishing she had gotten here sooner. With her influence, things could have turned out much differently. "Of course... thank you," she says to Maulisho. "I spoke with Chesmu only a few minutes ago. He didn't appear injured." Imala pauses, as if hesitating, before confessing, "However... he led me to believe that he was still the Chieftain."
Maulisho looks startled. "You just saw him a few minutes ago?" Unconsciously she looks to the side again, at where she thought she saw motion not too long ago. Was that Chesmu? Is he watching them, even now? The thought of his eyes on her again... it's not a comforting thought. "And why would he think he's still the Chieftain?" Perhaps just to try and fool his mother? Something doesn't feel right about all this, and Maulisho doesn't like that. Something's wrong.
Chesmu has heard enough. Maulisho can no longer be trusted. Traitor! Chesmu growls lowly, turns around and pushes off, running elsewhere. Maulisho has betrayed him. And with his mother, yet! Who knows what those two are planning for him. Damn you, Imala, Damn you, Maulisho!
Again Imala nods, though she quickly notices that Maulisho's gaze is no longer on her. "Yes. Up on the edge of the cliff," she says, turning her head to look behind her, her eyes wandering up the steep, stony mountainside. Has Chesmu followed her? She cannot be sure. Her eyes and ears, while far from failing, are not nearly as sharp as Maulisho's, and she cannot see anyone else in the area. "I couldn't say... but it worries me," she says, in a confiding rasp.
This is not good. Chesmu should not be so active and about in these lands, especially trying to promote the fact that he's still chieftain. Maulisho needs to let Kasim and Pelutho know to be on their guard; she'll have to just hope that Kasim gets back before too much longer. She'll go wait in the birthing cave until he gets back, and then they can decide what to do. Perhaps speak with Yuma? She's not sure if he'll be so open to the idea of dealing with his father for good, but /surely/ he'll see that they can't allow Chesmu to stay in the territory, obviously still hostile! "It was a pleasure to meet you, Imala," she says, taking a step backward. "I would love to stay and continue our conversation, but I must be off. My family needs to hear about this threat, and I would be remiss to not tell them immediately."
Once it becomes clear that Maulisho is about to depart, Imala rises back to her paws. The slowness of her movement is not just an empty display; she has been exposed to the cold for far too long, and she feels stiff, her paws nearly numb. "That is a wise choice," she says solemnly. "I'm sure we will speak again, Maulisho." Chesmu may have fooled her, but the cougaress does not believe that all is lost. Plans can be modified. If Imala is clever enough, she may still get what she desires from the Amaranth tribe. A smile spreads across her greying muzzle. "Farewell."