Post by tanniyn on Nov 22, 2008 4:11:10 GMT -5
Characters:
Kein - adolescent male cougar (Amaranth Chieftain)
Nayeli - adolescent female cougar (Amaranth Matron)
Ajax - adult male wolf
Setting:
Wooded Terrain (Amaranth)
Scene:
Kein's pace is relaxed as he goes about his border patrol. He knows Nayeli wants to talk, but he's content to remain in companionable silence for as long as she is. Most of his attention is devoted to his surroundings, but some of it is given to her. It is not terribly early in the day, but the sun has not yet reached its highest point.
It probably wasn't a request that Kein was expecting, but Nayeli is plenty glad that the Chieftain didn't mind her tagging along with him while he conducts his patrol of the Amaranth territory perimeter. She has a few questions and issues that they need to talk about, but she doesn't want to be distracting, either, so this first segment of the border has been walked in relative silence. It's not a bad thing, as she just enjoys being with him, and even a quiet walk together is rather enjoyable. Beautiful weather, great company... who could ask for a better morning?
It's been a long time since he's been around this land; around the mountain, particularly. The wolf, not having walked these parts since a young juvenile boy, pads quietly along the dirt, shifting leaves and vegetation out of his path as he moves. Ajax still isn't as stealthy as is attributed to most of his kind, but he's not the same clumsy pup he used to be, either. Though he appears generally alert, ears rotating around as they detect random noises in the area, the male isn't completely there, mentally. He's really trying to figure out why he left in the first place. The sights, the scents... everything. The forest was so familar. Even the mountain now, while not previously a typical hangout, still reminded him of his puppyhood. He remembers desiring adventure, and wanting to explore far from here. But he doesn't remember desiring it for so /long/. Golden eyes scan the surroundings idly, not entirely taking in all that they pass over. So distracted is he, that the Amaranth border he is nearing is as of yet completely forgotten.
Kein has not seen a single wolf since he took over as Chieftain. He knows that wolves have been in Amaranth before, both from the one that tried to take him as a cub and from the occasional scents, but he has not smelled a wolf since they left the desert. Even as he walks the border, he has not caught the young male wolf's scent, not yet. For weeks, now, the border has been calm, and Kein is grateful. He doesn't expect that to be any different today, and after a while, he brushes against Nayeli lightly, smiling as he does so.
It's ironic that the biggest 'threat' to Amaranth was Kein himself, at least from the former Chieftain's standpoint. Kein and the rest of his family, intruding into the lands that they once called home, deposing her father. Was that the beginning of his descent into madness? Was Kein and his family indirectly responsible for driving her father insane? Not a comforting line of thought, and she flashes Kein a grateful smile for bringing her back to the present. "I guess you're going to become very familiar with every bush and tree along this path, hmm?" Her voice is light and teasing, and she tries to push the other thoughts out of her mind. What happened, happened. She can hardly blame Kein for her father's actions.
Ajax continues onward, head down, meandering his way along his way. Tail swaying slowly behind him, his thoughts take priority for a long time, before a new scent suddenly touches his nose faintly. Perking his ears, the wolf stares at the ground a moment, taking a moment to gather his wits about him before whisking his head about in a bewildered manner. He /surely/ didn't mean to come this far. And it /is/ too far. This isn't a canine scent; it's something else. Unsure, Ajax lowers his head to the ground, inhaling the alien scent. It reminds him of something... something logged far away in his memory. Glancing about cautiously, he slowly comes to the realization that this is /not/ a scent he remembers being friendly. It is at this moment a voice reaches his ears; distant, yet definitely a voice. A female voice. Reflexes jerk Ajax back slightly in a drive to turn and flee, yet, curiosity.. or foolishness.. convince him to stay, and watch for the source of the sound. So, he lays upon his belly, inching behind a bush he sincerely hopes is hiding him well enough.
Kein has done his best to actively avoid thinking about Chesmu, because it only leads to anger. Anger that has no place here anymore, but that he never managed to rid himself of. He saw Chesmu executed. That should have been enough. He hears what Nayeli says, and answers immediately with, "I think I already am." He is amused by her joking, and his tone gives that away, along with the smile that remains... Right up until the hint of a scent catches his nose. It is not entirely welcome, and Kein stops walking, sniffing at the slight breeze. The scent is too strong to be coming from far away, and it is not from anyone he knows. If he recognized the wolf's scent, he would be a little more relaxed, but as it is... Apparently, it is finally time for him to deal with an outsider. To decide how he'll do so... And with his Matron as a witness, no less. Looking vaguely in the direction of the scent, he calls out, "Show yourself." The amusement from seconds ago is gone, but there is no anger or and only a hint of warning in his tone.
Even though border patrol really isn't in her job description as Matron, Nayeli knows that she needs to familiarize herself with exactly where Amaranth territory starts and ends. Perhaps she'll accompany her friend on more of these patrols until she's comfortable with where the boundaries are currently at. She wasn't, however, expecting there to actually be any activity while they walked, so when Kein stops, she's a little startled. Good thing at least one of them was actually paying attention to the breeze! The scent seems to trigger a memory from a while back, and with the memory comes a face. Ahh, yes. This intruder would be one of those mysterious creatures known as wolves. At least Kein has experience in dealing with them, so Nayeli decides to let him handle the situation. Of course, she's right there to support him as needed, and even as he gives out his warning, she brushes gently up against him, then steps away in case sudden movement is needed.
Grar. There goes the element of surprise, and hoped-for undetection. The canid shuts his eyes tightly, praying that the large felines aren't those given to immediately attacking intruders... which he /knew/ he was, having smelled that which must obviously be the border. After waiting a moment, he reluctantly steps out from behind the bush, his head low in silent respect. Anything to allow him a moment to explain himself. Maybe they would understand? Ajax slowly makes himself fully exposed, yet remains silent for now.. he doesn't want to come across as inpertinent.. and waits for a sign that would suggest he might offer excuse for his rude intrusion. His eyes glance over at the female brieftly, having mostly been focusing upon the male, and twitches an ear slightly before looking back to the other. The larger cat would most likely be the aggressive, of either, he reasons to himself.
If the wolf had not done what Kein said, Kein might have attacked. If the wolf had come out snarling or glaring, Kein might have attacked. The wolf does not do these things, though, and Kein remains where he is, standing beside his mate. He watches the other male cautiously, but it takes him only a moment to decide that Ajax is probably not a threat and that, more importantly, the wolf knows it. Of course, there is always the chance of more wolves around, somewhere unseen, and that is why Kein does not let his guard down yet. He is determined to be fair, though. "You are not in danger here." Because no animal is going to be fully open if he thinks he is only going to be attacked for it, especially since the wolf likely knows he was trespassing. "Who are you?" Again, his tone is not angry, but he does expect to be answered.
And as the wolf comes out from his hiding place, Nayeli can't help but give it a long stare, eyes running over every inch of his body, comparing him to the mental image she has of the other wolf. Definitely plenty of differences, and yet he's still undeniably just as much of a wolf as the other. But the important detail that the Matron notices is that the wolf seems to realize that he's been caught trespassing, and thankfully isn't getting all defensive about it. That is, of course, always subject to change, but at least this encounter is starting off with words--albeit careful, guarded words--rather than claws and fangs.
The wolf's eyes narrow in suspicion. A lingering thought in the back of his head keeps him from completely believing in Kein's words. Something about these large creatures. Unease tugs at Ajax as he's questioned, but he replies, unwilling to disrespect the addresser. "My name is Ajax," he utters quietly, yet loudly enough for them to undoubtedly hear. Shifting his paws slightly under him awkwardly, he glances between both cougars with curiosity in his face. The gaze of the female catches him off guard; she doesn't appear nearly as guarded as the male does at the moment. She even appears to be quite curious as well, of him. Averting his eyes back to Kein, Ajax adds in swiftly spoken words, "I apologize sincerely for intruding upon your lands; I was unaware of my surroundings..." The words drift off, the awkward feeling again building inside of him.
Kein apparently believes what the wolf says, believes his apology, as he responds quickly enough with, "We will overlook it." Ajax is not welcome, not necessarily, but Kein sees no danger in giving him, and him alone, a pass for this incident. There was no harm intended, after all. "I am Kein, and this is my mate, Nayeli. These are our lands." So... There should be no worry that another cougar is going to come around a corner and decide /not/ to forgive Ajax for his trespassing, right?
Our lands. Those two words cause Nayeli to smile briefly, as ironic as it is that 'our lands' would happen to be the very lands that they were intentionally leaving behind at one point. They had every intention of settling elsewhere, probably a good distance away from Amaranth, and yet.. here they are. Her smile disappears though, and she adopts a serious expression once again. "Are you here alone, Ajax?" There is every possibility that the wolf might lie, either saying that he's alone to false ease the cougars' alertness, or saying he has other wolves in order to try and scare the cougars. But either way, Nayeli knows that it would be beneficial information to hear, assuming that the wolf doesn't try anything stupid, like lying to them.
A low nod is given in response to the cougar male. "I appreciate it," Ajax says, relief flooding his body. Perhaps his demise /isn't/ today, after all. The wolf senses the element of stress in the moment, and he starts to move a hindleg backwards in a motion that suggests an intention to turn back and head the way he came, but then Kein continues, and the wolf pauses in his turn, slightly bewilidered. He had expected them to. basically, shoo him off at this point. But apparently they don't mind a small chat. Anything that would encourage a positive relationship with the mountain dwellers, /especially/ their leader and his mate, is a very good thing. The wolf smiles faintly, dipping his head towards Nayeli when she's introduced. "I am grateful for your generosity, Kein and Nayeli," and then turns his attention to the female when she addresses him. "I am alone; I have no pack, nor a companion," he informs them, completely honestly. He can only hope they believe him. It is then that their markings attract his attention. He's seen them before... but where?
The wolf has not lied yet. At least, not that Kein can tell. And since he is, by all appearances, alone, Kein draws some of his attention in, instead of watching for the wolf pack that might have been hiding. He does not speak, though, allowing Nayeli to handle the more social part of this situation. She seems to be better when it comes to being social, and... Well, why not? That is, after all, a large part of what her job, as Matron, is about.
Nayeli looks genuinely surprised at the wolf's confession, and it's a few seconds before she can answer. "You travel alone? Forgive me for my ignorance, but.. I thought that wolves were inherently pack-based. Our tribe here is rather unusual for cougars, but I thought such a thing was normal for wolves?" It's not intended as a reprimand or insult by any means; the Matron is simply curious at something she's never heard of or encountered before. The only things related to wolves that she's heard about, whether from Kein or elsewhere, had always described wolves as being dangerous simply for the very reason that you rarely encountered only one.
That's IT. He knows where those markings are from. It was from a long time ago... another cougar... when he was a young wolf, exploring the forest and the ground below the mountain. Who /was/ that? He racks his brain, trying to remember her name.. then he's distracted by the matron's words. Ajax dismisses his thoughts for the moment to answer her, "Normally my kind do settle into packs, yes. I, however, left my birth-pack long ago, and never settled into a pack in these lands." He offers a slight shrug, unfamilar himself with the habits of packwolves, and whether he really /should/ be in one. Apparently, he doesn't really care. He knows packs to be less of a family, and more of a prison. You are in a certain place, and if you do anything the alpha doesn't want you to do, you're shown no mercy, but rather a lasting reputation for -- /mercy/! Maulisho! That was her name! Ajax blinks once, suddenly blurting in the moment, "Do you know of a female cougar, by the name of Maulisho?" He then shrinks, desparately hoping he hasn't offended them. Oh, /please/ no.
Maulisho. His memories of his mother are not yet happy. There is still too much sorrow, and he is surprised by how strong its grip still is. "We knew her." The past tense is not deliberate, but it shows that Kein has accepted, dealt with, that loss. Though he never saw her body, he knows she isn't coming back. His tone has changed, becoming somewhat brittle, as he tries to keep his emotions in check. Mom traveled far. How long will they receive visitors wanting to know as to her whereabouts, and... The wolves. Has anyone sent word to Larkspur about Maulisho's death?
There's a nearly imperceptible wince on the part of the Matron, as the mention of Kein's mother brings back that horrific memory of finding her dead and ravaged body in the birthing cave after they had just returned to Amaranth lands. Not exactly the particular 'welcome home' that one desires. But even as Kein describes briefly their knowledge of Maulisho's existence, Nayeli is curious as to how this particular wolf knows of the Chieftain's mother. She would have immediately guessed that he was from the desert wolves that Kein's family lived among for a while.. except that he said that he wasn't from a pack at all. How, then, does he know of Maulisho?
Ajax flinches slightly at the cougars' obviously negative reaction towards his question. Or, something like that. The fact that they attribute this reaction towards his question of /Maulisho/ worries him, though... and then it occurs to him the words Kein had used: 'We /knew/ her.' He tilts his head to the side curiously, a foreboding sense growing in his chest. Hoping he was merely reading too much into it.. he does that sometimes.. the wolf inquires further, "Knew?" Perhaps she had just left. It could be. He glances to the Matron, eyes hopeful. "She has left the tribe?"
Kein no longer looks at the wolf, or at Nayeli. He mostly stares at the ground. They should send a messenger to Larkspur. That's the first thing he thinks, even as Ajax is talking. He doesn't know how well he could handle the next animal who comes seeking his mother. And what about one seeking Ayashe or Chesmu? Did they have any friends in other lands who might think to check in on them? There is a delay, the time it takes him to realize what Lupin said and to form his reply, before he says, "She's dead. I'm... Sorry."
It only takes a cursory observation for one to realize that Kein is rather upset right now. Stepping closer to give him a quick brush of support, Nayeli adds to his words: "It was a rather recent death, so some of us who knew her are still trying to deal with the loss." The question foremost in her mind is unasked: how does this wolf know her? There's a lot about Maulisho's past that Nayeli hasn't had explained to her, and she's even wondered at times if Kein even knows everything. The only other cougar that she can think of would be Kasim. Oh, and Paoro too, of course. Nayeli vaguely remembers the shamaness once telling her of meeting Maulisho a long time ago, when she first came to the tribe. Paoro had been Matron then, and Nayeli can still hardly imagine her wise grandmother once being a far more energetic young female.
... Dead? Maulisho? Last time Ajax saw her, she was only an adolescent.. though at the time she had appeared to him quite full grown, having been large enough in comparison to him to tower over him. He can't imagine her older than that yet; she was far too young to have -- the wolf's eyebrows knit together in concentration, unsure of how to proceed. Questions, so many questions.. then at Nayeli's comment, Ajax seems to break out of his daze a bit. He's still not quite there, yet, though. "... How?" he manages quietly, attempting to his utmost not to appear prodding in such a delicate situation.. but he wants to know! Then the realization of his questioning might come across as being slightly strange to them; his being a wolf and her being a cougar. Amending the situation swiftly, he adds, "I knew her once. A long time ago, when she was a young cougar, about the age the both of you now are, and when I was a pup much younger.."
Kein closes his eyes and takes some deep breaths. It hurts, but he has to hold himself together. After a brief moment, he looks back up at the wolf. "She was murdered." His voice is a little stronger now. Not much, but a little. He doesn't mention who murdered her, doesn't want to speak of Nayeli's father while she is standing here. It is possible that Kein will never get over his hatred of Chesmu, and Nayeli doesn't deserve to have to deal with that, with her father being dead, too. "She never mentioned you. Did you know her well?" Mom often talked about Larkspur, but Kein doesn't recognize Ajax's names from any of the stories she ever told him.
So it was indeed from Maulisho's younger days. Nayeli has often wondered what she was like as an adolescent, or even as a cub, for that matter. She had a rough life growing up, from what she remembers hearing, but somehow it doesn't surprise her that she befriended wolves other than Lark. Something for her as the new Matron to keep in mind. If Kein's mother found wolves an honorable species to befriend, then she should do the same. This wolf here, Ajax, seems decent enough, if a little uneasy about trespassing--which he should be, of course.
Ajax is confused. Maul was /murdered/? He couldn't see her ever deserving someone's wrath so much as to be victim of /murder/. Sure, he hadn't known her as an especially /loving/ creature, but now that he remembers, he wasn't exactly the most cooperative wolf pup, either. Now that he thinks of it.. she was rather generous. Which brings him back to his previous conclusion. Kein doesn't want to go further into the matter, and Ajax doesn't think he really wants to know. Obviously something terrible happened.. that's all he really wants to have to hold onto. At Kein's second comment, a hint of a smile pulls at the corners of his mouth. He didn't blame Maul for not mentioning him; /he/ wouldn't have mentioned him. Glancing up into the eyes of each cougar, attempting to relate all the sincere sympathy he can, the wolf exhales, speaking softly, "I did not know her well, but I knew her. I was exploring, and spotted her one night alone. Over the waterfall.." Ajax pauses, thinking. "I did not know what she was; I considered her only a cat, and therefore, worthy of a chase. She quickly let me know this was /not/ an action respectful of a much larger species.." He chuckles very lightly, now completely remembering it all.
Ajax as a pup, trying to chase his mother. Sorrow aside, even Kein smiles. It's slight, and gone almost as soon as it's there, but... He's glad Ajax told him. It's the kind of cute story that maybe he can tell his cubs, someday. One that does not have Chesmu in it, one that is not tainted with sadness. "Thank you." Right now, Kein would probably welcome any stories about his mother when she was younger, before... Before Azriel, and Chesmu, and the desert, and... Everything.
What is the chance that it was the same waterfall that she and Kein discovered during their brief trip out of Amaranth lands? That awesome display of water... Nayeli tries to visualize a young wolf chasing a young cougar, and even she has to crack a smile at that. Yes, she can definitely see the hunter quickly becoming the hunted, and Maulisho would never have put up with such nonsense. That must have been one seriously funny scene to behold.
Oh, it was. Well.. for Maul. For Ajax, it was quite terrifying. The wolf nods now to Kein, his expression a twisted one of amusement and pain. He had been wondering why he was here again; it's only now that he starts to realize she had been one part of it. The other part was entirely disconnected, of course, but half of him had been pulling at him while he was gone. That evening when they had talked.. about -- "Mercy. Taught me a lesson in mercy, she said. Explained it to me, and tried to get it through my hard head.. she quite failed at the time, but it's starting to seep it's way through over the years." Ajax offers a slight smile, partly wishing the two cougars before him could have been there.. he wants them to understand it! He wanted to come back to see Maul.. after she had finally had enough of his idiocy and shunned him, as she climbed into the tree and ignored him, thus ending the conversation. He wanted to talk to her.. ask her forgiveness, perhaps?
That definitely sound like his mother, and Kein has to take a deep breath. It almost feels as though his mother is providing him with one last lesson, a suggestion as to how he should deal with others in his position as Chieftain, even after her death. He can only hope if... If she is somewhere, watching, and she is seeing this... That she can be proud that he was not aggressive towards the trespassing wolf, that Ajax had a chance to relay the message. Slowly, he nods. When he finally feels like he can speak, he says, "I know she'd be glad that you lived long enough to understand what she meant." Apparently, well before she had cubs, she was already teaching young animals valuable lessons.
Okay. She just /has/ to ask. "Where was this waterfall that you mentioned?" If it's the same one, then she and Kein /have/ to go visit it again, if for no other reason than to see a scene from his mother's adolescence. "And do you remember if she had red tribal markings on her like Kein and I have?" If she was already a member of Amaranth at that time, perhaps she might have mentioned such an encounter to Paoro. Assuming that Ajax answers yes, it might be worth pursuing.
The wolf nods in return to Kein, head lowering gently to gaze at the ground thoughtfully. Then he lifts it again to glance at Nayeli, his eyes curious. "The waterfall? It is only slightly north of here, very near," he answers, ear twitching faintly. "She had been swimming in the water.. looking at the stars from the bottom of the lake." The canid turns his gaze to the markings on each cat, even focusing upon Nayeli's form to conjure the image of Maulisho clearer. Yes, he can definitely remember the marking. "Yes, she had the markings. She was a new member of the tribe, if I remember correctly," he replies. Then he has a question of his own. Ajax knows this is painful for them, but he still /has/ to know. He can distinctly remember her commenting upon the matter, once.. unsure if she was to find one. "D.. did she ever find a mate?"
She did. The cougar that Kein has only recently referred to as father. Answering that question is not as easy as it might seem, though, because he isn't sure how much he should say. How much he should leave out. Finally, he gives a slight nod, and says, "She did, a very loving one, and she had three cubs." Only two survived, but Kein definitely doesn't mention that, any more than he mentions that the cubs she had were not with her mate. With the ghost of a smile, he adds, "I was one of them."
So that /was/ the same waterfall! Nayeli feels a thrill at the thought that she and Kein had discovered the same waterfall that his mother had, and hadn't even realized it. And looking at the stars, from the bottom of the lake? That sounds like a wonderfully romantic evening with Kein waiting to happen. Hearing that Maulisho had been a new member of Amaranth at that time... yes, she'll definitely have to ask Paoro about that.
Ajax looks up at Kein with a new expression that is difficult to interpret. Ears splaying back slightly, the wolf dips his head before the male. "It is a pleasure to meet the son of Maulisho." A smile faintly upon his lips, he adds, "I'm sure she is more than proud that one of her kin has earned such an honorable position as leader of your kind." He doesn't know /when/ she died; it might have been after his taking of the position, but either way, Ajax isn't going to touch that direction again at all. In the same way, his interest in /who/ her widowed mate is.. or was.. is stifled as well. No need to cause any more pain.. Ajax most likely wouldn't know him, anyways. Letting out a low sigh, the wolf glances to the Matron, respect renewed in his face. He looks to the sky; it has gotten dark very quickly since he'd approached the border. Turning to the cougars again, he stands, tail swaying slightly as he observes the two, wondering whether they was anything left on their minds to ask him, or whether his time here had come to an end.
"Thank you, again." Kein still feels raw emotions cutting at him, but... There was a reason for this meeting, after he spent time blaming himself, a lot, for his mother's death, and he is grateful for it. Kein is fairly quick to add, "You are welcome to stay here, if you need to rest." Not to enter deep into Amaranth. Kein is not certain he would feel comfortable, offering /that/. He will not kick Ajax out, though. For all he knows, the wolf has been traveling for a long time.
Nayeli looks surprised at her Chieftain's offer of hospitality to a wolf, but realizes that she's glad at his invitation. In fact, it's time for her to make a bold decision as Matron. Perhaps a bit sudden, as she hasn't really had a chance to discuss this with her mate, but it /feels/ right. "Ajax, I'll be honest with you. I am brand-new in my position as Matron of the Amaranth, but I want to be clear to you that although we are protective of our borders, we honor Maulisho's friendship with the wolves that she knew." A warm smile is offered to the lupine, and she steps back to the side of her mate. The possibility for suddenly having to defend themselves seems to be nil right now, as Ajax seems to be friendly enough.
"I am grateful for your offer," Ajax replies in response to the Chieftain, and yet shakes his head slowly simultaneously, "Though I am on something of a journey, and to spend any more time in one place I would feel to be further neglect of the task at hand." However, then Nayeli's bold statement is brought forth, and Ajax turns to her, a smile brightening his expression considerably. Tail swaying softly behind him, the wolf blinks slowly, pleasure written upon his features. "I cannot explain my gratefulness to you, young Matron. I will remember your generosity, both yours and your Chieftain." Nodding as well to Kein, the canine takes a step to the side, his head tilting towards them as he smiles one last time with a quiet voice uttering, "I do not know if I will see either of you again, but I wish you a long and happy life, while you take charge of Amaranth, and after."
Kein gives a nod to Ajax and replies with, "I wish you the same. Be well on your travels." He remains standing as the wolf prepares to make his departure, pressing against Nayeli as he does so.
"Thank you, Ajax." Nayeli takes a deep breath, then offers the wolf a smile. "I know that Maulisho would have been proud if.. she could see what you've grown up to become." She presses back against her mate, offering him a soft purr as the wolf departs, looking a lot happier than when they first saw him. "You know what?" she murmurs to Kein. "We /have/ to visit that waterfall again. I want to see the stars from the bottom of the lake with you."
Kein does not respond to his mate immediately. He heard her, though, and he thinks about what she says. The waterfall. He had almost forgotten about it, with everything that has happened since they returned. Just weeks ago... he was thinking about living there. After a short time, he nods, a slight smile creeping onto his muzzle as he does so. "We will. Soon." As soon as they feel things have calmed enough that they can leave for a few days.
Kein - adolescent male cougar (Amaranth Chieftain)
Nayeli - adolescent female cougar (Amaranth Matron)
Ajax - adult male wolf
Setting:
Wooded Terrain (Amaranth)
Scene:
Kein's pace is relaxed as he goes about his border patrol. He knows Nayeli wants to talk, but he's content to remain in companionable silence for as long as she is. Most of his attention is devoted to his surroundings, but some of it is given to her. It is not terribly early in the day, but the sun has not yet reached its highest point.
It probably wasn't a request that Kein was expecting, but Nayeli is plenty glad that the Chieftain didn't mind her tagging along with him while he conducts his patrol of the Amaranth territory perimeter. She has a few questions and issues that they need to talk about, but she doesn't want to be distracting, either, so this first segment of the border has been walked in relative silence. It's not a bad thing, as she just enjoys being with him, and even a quiet walk together is rather enjoyable. Beautiful weather, great company... who could ask for a better morning?
It's been a long time since he's been around this land; around the mountain, particularly. The wolf, not having walked these parts since a young juvenile boy, pads quietly along the dirt, shifting leaves and vegetation out of his path as he moves. Ajax still isn't as stealthy as is attributed to most of his kind, but he's not the same clumsy pup he used to be, either. Though he appears generally alert, ears rotating around as they detect random noises in the area, the male isn't completely there, mentally. He's really trying to figure out why he left in the first place. The sights, the scents... everything. The forest was so familar. Even the mountain now, while not previously a typical hangout, still reminded him of his puppyhood. He remembers desiring adventure, and wanting to explore far from here. But he doesn't remember desiring it for so /long/. Golden eyes scan the surroundings idly, not entirely taking in all that they pass over. So distracted is he, that the Amaranth border he is nearing is as of yet completely forgotten.
Kein has not seen a single wolf since he took over as Chieftain. He knows that wolves have been in Amaranth before, both from the one that tried to take him as a cub and from the occasional scents, but he has not smelled a wolf since they left the desert. Even as he walks the border, he has not caught the young male wolf's scent, not yet. For weeks, now, the border has been calm, and Kein is grateful. He doesn't expect that to be any different today, and after a while, he brushes against Nayeli lightly, smiling as he does so.
It's ironic that the biggest 'threat' to Amaranth was Kein himself, at least from the former Chieftain's standpoint. Kein and the rest of his family, intruding into the lands that they once called home, deposing her father. Was that the beginning of his descent into madness? Was Kein and his family indirectly responsible for driving her father insane? Not a comforting line of thought, and she flashes Kein a grateful smile for bringing her back to the present. "I guess you're going to become very familiar with every bush and tree along this path, hmm?" Her voice is light and teasing, and she tries to push the other thoughts out of her mind. What happened, happened. She can hardly blame Kein for her father's actions.
Ajax continues onward, head down, meandering his way along his way. Tail swaying slowly behind him, his thoughts take priority for a long time, before a new scent suddenly touches his nose faintly. Perking his ears, the wolf stares at the ground a moment, taking a moment to gather his wits about him before whisking his head about in a bewildered manner. He /surely/ didn't mean to come this far. And it /is/ too far. This isn't a canine scent; it's something else. Unsure, Ajax lowers his head to the ground, inhaling the alien scent. It reminds him of something... something logged far away in his memory. Glancing about cautiously, he slowly comes to the realization that this is /not/ a scent he remembers being friendly. It is at this moment a voice reaches his ears; distant, yet definitely a voice. A female voice. Reflexes jerk Ajax back slightly in a drive to turn and flee, yet, curiosity.. or foolishness.. convince him to stay, and watch for the source of the sound. So, he lays upon his belly, inching behind a bush he sincerely hopes is hiding him well enough.
Kein has done his best to actively avoid thinking about Chesmu, because it only leads to anger. Anger that has no place here anymore, but that he never managed to rid himself of. He saw Chesmu executed. That should have been enough. He hears what Nayeli says, and answers immediately with, "I think I already am." He is amused by her joking, and his tone gives that away, along with the smile that remains... Right up until the hint of a scent catches his nose. It is not entirely welcome, and Kein stops walking, sniffing at the slight breeze. The scent is too strong to be coming from far away, and it is not from anyone he knows. If he recognized the wolf's scent, he would be a little more relaxed, but as it is... Apparently, it is finally time for him to deal with an outsider. To decide how he'll do so... And with his Matron as a witness, no less. Looking vaguely in the direction of the scent, he calls out, "Show yourself." The amusement from seconds ago is gone, but there is no anger or and only a hint of warning in his tone.
Even though border patrol really isn't in her job description as Matron, Nayeli knows that she needs to familiarize herself with exactly where Amaranth territory starts and ends. Perhaps she'll accompany her friend on more of these patrols until she's comfortable with where the boundaries are currently at. She wasn't, however, expecting there to actually be any activity while they walked, so when Kein stops, she's a little startled. Good thing at least one of them was actually paying attention to the breeze! The scent seems to trigger a memory from a while back, and with the memory comes a face. Ahh, yes. This intruder would be one of those mysterious creatures known as wolves. At least Kein has experience in dealing with them, so Nayeli decides to let him handle the situation. Of course, she's right there to support him as needed, and even as he gives out his warning, she brushes gently up against him, then steps away in case sudden movement is needed.
Grar. There goes the element of surprise, and hoped-for undetection. The canid shuts his eyes tightly, praying that the large felines aren't those given to immediately attacking intruders... which he /knew/ he was, having smelled that which must obviously be the border. After waiting a moment, he reluctantly steps out from behind the bush, his head low in silent respect. Anything to allow him a moment to explain himself. Maybe they would understand? Ajax slowly makes himself fully exposed, yet remains silent for now.. he doesn't want to come across as inpertinent.. and waits for a sign that would suggest he might offer excuse for his rude intrusion. His eyes glance over at the female brieftly, having mostly been focusing upon the male, and twitches an ear slightly before looking back to the other. The larger cat would most likely be the aggressive, of either, he reasons to himself.
If the wolf had not done what Kein said, Kein might have attacked. If the wolf had come out snarling or glaring, Kein might have attacked. The wolf does not do these things, though, and Kein remains where he is, standing beside his mate. He watches the other male cautiously, but it takes him only a moment to decide that Ajax is probably not a threat and that, more importantly, the wolf knows it. Of course, there is always the chance of more wolves around, somewhere unseen, and that is why Kein does not let his guard down yet. He is determined to be fair, though. "You are not in danger here." Because no animal is going to be fully open if he thinks he is only going to be attacked for it, especially since the wolf likely knows he was trespassing. "Who are you?" Again, his tone is not angry, but he does expect to be answered.
And as the wolf comes out from his hiding place, Nayeli can't help but give it a long stare, eyes running over every inch of his body, comparing him to the mental image she has of the other wolf. Definitely plenty of differences, and yet he's still undeniably just as much of a wolf as the other. But the important detail that the Matron notices is that the wolf seems to realize that he's been caught trespassing, and thankfully isn't getting all defensive about it. That is, of course, always subject to change, but at least this encounter is starting off with words--albeit careful, guarded words--rather than claws and fangs.
The wolf's eyes narrow in suspicion. A lingering thought in the back of his head keeps him from completely believing in Kein's words. Something about these large creatures. Unease tugs at Ajax as he's questioned, but he replies, unwilling to disrespect the addresser. "My name is Ajax," he utters quietly, yet loudly enough for them to undoubtedly hear. Shifting his paws slightly under him awkwardly, he glances between both cougars with curiosity in his face. The gaze of the female catches him off guard; she doesn't appear nearly as guarded as the male does at the moment. She even appears to be quite curious as well, of him. Averting his eyes back to Kein, Ajax adds in swiftly spoken words, "I apologize sincerely for intruding upon your lands; I was unaware of my surroundings..." The words drift off, the awkward feeling again building inside of him.
Kein apparently believes what the wolf says, believes his apology, as he responds quickly enough with, "We will overlook it." Ajax is not welcome, not necessarily, but Kein sees no danger in giving him, and him alone, a pass for this incident. There was no harm intended, after all. "I am Kein, and this is my mate, Nayeli. These are our lands." So... There should be no worry that another cougar is going to come around a corner and decide /not/ to forgive Ajax for his trespassing, right?
Our lands. Those two words cause Nayeli to smile briefly, as ironic as it is that 'our lands' would happen to be the very lands that they were intentionally leaving behind at one point. They had every intention of settling elsewhere, probably a good distance away from Amaranth, and yet.. here they are. Her smile disappears though, and she adopts a serious expression once again. "Are you here alone, Ajax?" There is every possibility that the wolf might lie, either saying that he's alone to false ease the cougars' alertness, or saying he has other wolves in order to try and scare the cougars. But either way, Nayeli knows that it would be beneficial information to hear, assuming that the wolf doesn't try anything stupid, like lying to them.
A low nod is given in response to the cougar male. "I appreciate it," Ajax says, relief flooding his body. Perhaps his demise /isn't/ today, after all. The wolf senses the element of stress in the moment, and he starts to move a hindleg backwards in a motion that suggests an intention to turn back and head the way he came, but then Kein continues, and the wolf pauses in his turn, slightly bewilidered. He had expected them to. basically, shoo him off at this point. But apparently they don't mind a small chat. Anything that would encourage a positive relationship with the mountain dwellers, /especially/ their leader and his mate, is a very good thing. The wolf smiles faintly, dipping his head towards Nayeli when she's introduced. "I am grateful for your generosity, Kein and Nayeli," and then turns his attention to the female when she addresses him. "I am alone; I have no pack, nor a companion," he informs them, completely honestly. He can only hope they believe him. It is then that their markings attract his attention. He's seen them before... but where?
The wolf has not lied yet. At least, not that Kein can tell. And since he is, by all appearances, alone, Kein draws some of his attention in, instead of watching for the wolf pack that might have been hiding. He does not speak, though, allowing Nayeli to handle the more social part of this situation. She seems to be better when it comes to being social, and... Well, why not? That is, after all, a large part of what her job, as Matron, is about.
Nayeli looks genuinely surprised at the wolf's confession, and it's a few seconds before she can answer. "You travel alone? Forgive me for my ignorance, but.. I thought that wolves were inherently pack-based. Our tribe here is rather unusual for cougars, but I thought such a thing was normal for wolves?" It's not intended as a reprimand or insult by any means; the Matron is simply curious at something she's never heard of or encountered before. The only things related to wolves that she's heard about, whether from Kein or elsewhere, had always described wolves as being dangerous simply for the very reason that you rarely encountered only one.
That's IT. He knows where those markings are from. It was from a long time ago... another cougar... when he was a young wolf, exploring the forest and the ground below the mountain. Who /was/ that? He racks his brain, trying to remember her name.. then he's distracted by the matron's words. Ajax dismisses his thoughts for the moment to answer her, "Normally my kind do settle into packs, yes. I, however, left my birth-pack long ago, and never settled into a pack in these lands." He offers a slight shrug, unfamilar himself with the habits of packwolves, and whether he really /should/ be in one. Apparently, he doesn't really care. He knows packs to be less of a family, and more of a prison. You are in a certain place, and if you do anything the alpha doesn't want you to do, you're shown no mercy, but rather a lasting reputation for -- /mercy/! Maulisho! That was her name! Ajax blinks once, suddenly blurting in the moment, "Do you know of a female cougar, by the name of Maulisho?" He then shrinks, desparately hoping he hasn't offended them. Oh, /please/ no.
Maulisho. His memories of his mother are not yet happy. There is still too much sorrow, and he is surprised by how strong its grip still is. "We knew her." The past tense is not deliberate, but it shows that Kein has accepted, dealt with, that loss. Though he never saw her body, he knows she isn't coming back. His tone has changed, becoming somewhat brittle, as he tries to keep his emotions in check. Mom traveled far. How long will they receive visitors wanting to know as to her whereabouts, and... The wolves. Has anyone sent word to Larkspur about Maulisho's death?
There's a nearly imperceptible wince on the part of the Matron, as the mention of Kein's mother brings back that horrific memory of finding her dead and ravaged body in the birthing cave after they had just returned to Amaranth lands. Not exactly the particular 'welcome home' that one desires. But even as Kein describes briefly their knowledge of Maulisho's existence, Nayeli is curious as to how this particular wolf knows of the Chieftain's mother. She would have immediately guessed that he was from the desert wolves that Kein's family lived among for a while.. except that he said that he wasn't from a pack at all. How, then, does he know of Maulisho?
Ajax flinches slightly at the cougars' obviously negative reaction towards his question. Or, something like that. The fact that they attribute this reaction towards his question of /Maulisho/ worries him, though... and then it occurs to him the words Kein had used: 'We /knew/ her.' He tilts his head to the side curiously, a foreboding sense growing in his chest. Hoping he was merely reading too much into it.. he does that sometimes.. the wolf inquires further, "Knew?" Perhaps she had just left. It could be. He glances to the Matron, eyes hopeful. "She has left the tribe?"
Kein no longer looks at the wolf, or at Nayeli. He mostly stares at the ground. They should send a messenger to Larkspur. That's the first thing he thinks, even as Ajax is talking. He doesn't know how well he could handle the next animal who comes seeking his mother. And what about one seeking Ayashe or Chesmu? Did they have any friends in other lands who might think to check in on them? There is a delay, the time it takes him to realize what Lupin said and to form his reply, before he says, "She's dead. I'm... Sorry."
It only takes a cursory observation for one to realize that Kein is rather upset right now. Stepping closer to give him a quick brush of support, Nayeli adds to his words: "It was a rather recent death, so some of us who knew her are still trying to deal with the loss." The question foremost in her mind is unasked: how does this wolf know her? There's a lot about Maulisho's past that Nayeli hasn't had explained to her, and she's even wondered at times if Kein even knows everything. The only other cougar that she can think of would be Kasim. Oh, and Paoro too, of course. Nayeli vaguely remembers the shamaness once telling her of meeting Maulisho a long time ago, when she first came to the tribe. Paoro had been Matron then, and Nayeli can still hardly imagine her wise grandmother once being a far more energetic young female.
... Dead? Maulisho? Last time Ajax saw her, she was only an adolescent.. though at the time she had appeared to him quite full grown, having been large enough in comparison to him to tower over him. He can't imagine her older than that yet; she was far too young to have -- the wolf's eyebrows knit together in concentration, unsure of how to proceed. Questions, so many questions.. then at Nayeli's comment, Ajax seems to break out of his daze a bit. He's still not quite there, yet, though. "... How?" he manages quietly, attempting to his utmost not to appear prodding in such a delicate situation.. but he wants to know! Then the realization of his questioning might come across as being slightly strange to them; his being a wolf and her being a cougar. Amending the situation swiftly, he adds, "I knew her once. A long time ago, when she was a young cougar, about the age the both of you now are, and when I was a pup much younger.."
Kein closes his eyes and takes some deep breaths. It hurts, but he has to hold himself together. After a brief moment, he looks back up at the wolf. "She was murdered." His voice is a little stronger now. Not much, but a little. He doesn't mention who murdered her, doesn't want to speak of Nayeli's father while she is standing here. It is possible that Kein will never get over his hatred of Chesmu, and Nayeli doesn't deserve to have to deal with that, with her father being dead, too. "She never mentioned you. Did you know her well?" Mom often talked about Larkspur, but Kein doesn't recognize Ajax's names from any of the stories she ever told him.
So it was indeed from Maulisho's younger days. Nayeli has often wondered what she was like as an adolescent, or even as a cub, for that matter. She had a rough life growing up, from what she remembers hearing, but somehow it doesn't surprise her that she befriended wolves other than Lark. Something for her as the new Matron to keep in mind. If Kein's mother found wolves an honorable species to befriend, then she should do the same. This wolf here, Ajax, seems decent enough, if a little uneasy about trespassing--which he should be, of course.
Ajax is confused. Maul was /murdered/? He couldn't see her ever deserving someone's wrath so much as to be victim of /murder/. Sure, he hadn't known her as an especially /loving/ creature, but now that he remembers, he wasn't exactly the most cooperative wolf pup, either. Now that he thinks of it.. she was rather generous. Which brings him back to his previous conclusion. Kein doesn't want to go further into the matter, and Ajax doesn't think he really wants to know. Obviously something terrible happened.. that's all he really wants to have to hold onto. At Kein's second comment, a hint of a smile pulls at the corners of his mouth. He didn't blame Maul for not mentioning him; /he/ wouldn't have mentioned him. Glancing up into the eyes of each cougar, attempting to relate all the sincere sympathy he can, the wolf exhales, speaking softly, "I did not know her well, but I knew her. I was exploring, and spotted her one night alone. Over the waterfall.." Ajax pauses, thinking. "I did not know what she was; I considered her only a cat, and therefore, worthy of a chase. She quickly let me know this was /not/ an action respectful of a much larger species.." He chuckles very lightly, now completely remembering it all.
Ajax as a pup, trying to chase his mother. Sorrow aside, even Kein smiles. It's slight, and gone almost as soon as it's there, but... He's glad Ajax told him. It's the kind of cute story that maybe he can tell his cubs, someday. One that does not have Chesmu in it, one that is not tainted with sadness. "Thank you." Right now, Kein would probably welcome any stories about his mother when she was younger, before... Before Azriel, and Chesmu, and the desert, and... Everything.
What is the chance that it was the same waterfall that she and Kein discovered during their brief trip out of Amaranth lands? That awesome display of water... Nayeli tries to visualize a young wolf chasing a young cougar, and even she has to crack a smile at that. Yes, she can definitely see the hunter quickly becoming the hunted, and Maulisho would never have put up with such nonsense. That must have been one seriously funny scene to behold.
Oh, it was. Well.. for Maul. For Ajax, it was quite terrifying. The wolf nods now to Kein, his expression a twisted one of amusement and pain. He had been wondering why he was here again; it's only now that he starts to realize she had been one part of it. The other part was entirely disconnected, of course, but half of him had been pulling at him while he was gone. That evening when they had talked.. about -- "Mercy. Taught me a lesson in mercy, she said. Explained it to me, and tried to get it through my hard head.. she quite failed at the time, but it's starting to seep it's way through over the years." Ajax offers a slight smile, partly wishing the two cougars before him could have been there.. he wants them to understand it! He wanted to come back to see Maul.. after she had finally had enough of his idiocy and shunned him, as she climbed into the tree and ignored him, thus ending the conversation. He wanted to talk to her.. ask her forgiveness, perhaps?
That definitely sound like his mother, and Kein has to take a deep breath. It almost feels as though his mother is providing him with one last lesson, a suggestion as to how he should deal with others in his position as Chieftain, even after her death. He can only hope if... If she is somewhere, watching, and she is seeing this... That she can be proud that he was not aggressive towards the trespassing wolf, that Ajax had a chance to relay the message. Slowly, he nods. When he finally feels like he can speak, he says, "I know she'd be glad that you lived long enough to understand what she meant." Apparently, well before she had cubs, she was already teaching young animals valuable lessons.
Okay. She just /has/ to ask. "Where was this waterfall that you mentioned?" If it's the same one, then she and Kein /have/ to go visit it again, if for no other reason than to see a scene from his mother's adolescence. "And do you remember if she had red tribal markings on her like Kein and I have?" If she was already a member of Amaranth at that time, perhaps she might have mentioned such an encounter to Paoro. Assuming that Ajax answers yes, it might be worth pursuing.
The wolf nods in return to Kein, head lowering gently to gaze at the ground thoughtfully. Then he lifts it again to glance at Nayeli, his eyes curious. "The waterfall? It is only slightly north of here, very near," he answers, ear twitching faintly. "She had been swimming in the water.. looking at the stars from the bottom of the lake." The canid turns his gaze to the markings on each cat, even focusing upon Nayeli's form to conjure the image of Maulisho clearer. Yes, he can definitely remember the marking. "Yes, she had the markings. She was a new member of the tribe, if I remember correctly," he replies. Then he has a question of his own. Ajax knows this is painful for them, but he still /has/ to know. He can distinctly remember her commenting upon the matter, once.. unsure if she was to find one. "D.. did she ever find a mate?"
She did. The cougar that Kein has only recently referred to as father. Answering that question is not as easy as it might seem, though, because he isn't sure how much he should say. How much he should leave out. Finally, he gives a slight nod, and says, "She did, a very loving one, and she had three cubs." Only two survived, but Kein definitely doesn't mention that, any more than he mentions that the cubs she had were not with her mate. With the ghost of a smile, he adds, "I was one of them."
So that /was/ the same waterfall! Nayeli feels a thrill at the thought that she and Kein had discovered the same waterfall that his mother had, and hadn't even realized it. And looking at the stars, from the bottom of the lake? That sounds like a wonderfully romantic evening with Kein waiting to happen. Hearing that Maulisho had been a new member of Amaranth at that time... yes, she'll definitely have to ask Paoro about that.
Ajax looks up at Kein with a new expression that is difficult to interpret. Ears splaying back slightly, the wolf dips his head before the male. "It is a pleasure to meet the son of Maulisho." A smile faintly upon his lips, he adds, "I'm sure she is more than proud that one of her kin has earned such an honorable position as leader of your kind." He doesn't know /when/ she died; it might have been after his taking of the position, but either way, Ajax isn't going to touch that direction again at all. In the same way, his interest in /who/ her widowed mate is.. or was.. is stifled as well. No need to cause any more pain.. Ajax most likely wouldn't know him, anyways. Letting out a low sigh, the wolf glances to the Matron, respect renewed in his face. He looks to the sky; it has gotten dark very quickly since he'd approached the border. Turning to the cougars again, he stands, tail swaying slightly as he observes the two, wondering whether they was anything left on their minds to ask him, or whether his time here had come to an end.
"Thank you, again." Kein still feels raw emotions cutting at him, but... There was a reason for this meeting, after he spent time blaming himself, a lot, for his mother's death, and he is grateful for it. Kein is fairly quick to add, "You are welcome to stay here, if you need to rest." Not to enter deep into Amaranth. Kein is not certain he would feel comfortable, offering /that/. He will not kick Ajax out, though. For all he knows, the wolf has been traveling for a long time.
Nayeli looks surprised at her Chieftain's offer of hospitality to a wolf, but realizes that she's glad at his invitation. In fact, it's time for her to make a bold decision as Matron. Perhaps a bit sudden, as she hasn't really had a chance to discuss this with her mate, but it /feels/ right. "Ajax, I'll be honest with you. I am brand-new in my position as Matron of the Amaranth, but I want to be clear to you that although we are protective of our borders, we honor Maulisho's friendship with the wolves that she knew." A warm smile is offered to the lupine, and she steps back to the side of her mate. The possibility for suddenly having to defend themselves seems to be nil right now, as Ajax seems to be friendly enough.
"I am grateful for your offer," Ajax replies in response to the Chieftain, and yet shakes his head slowly simultaneously, "Though I am on something of a journey, and to spend any more time in one place I would feel to be further neglect of the task at hand." However, then Nayeli's bold statement is brought forth, and Ajax turns to her, a smile brightening his expression considerably. Tail swaying softly behind him, the wolf blinks slowly, pleasure written upon his features. "I cannot explain my gratefulness to you, young Matron. I will remember your generosity, both yours and your Chieftain." Nodding as well to Kein, the canine takes a step to the side, his head tilting towards them as he smiles one last time with a quiet voice uttering, "I do not know if I will see either of you again, but I wish you a long and happy life, while you take charge of Amaranth, and after."
Kein gives a nod to Ajax and replies with, "I wish you the same. Be well on your travels." He remains standing as the wolf prepares to make his departure, pressing against Nayeli as he does so.
"Thank you, Ajax." Nayeli takes a deep breath, then offers the wolf a smile. "I know that Maulisho would have been proud if.. she could see what you've grown up to become." She presses back against her mate, offering him a soft purr as the wolf departs, looking a lot happier than when they first saw him. "You know what?" she murmurs to Kein. "We /have/ to visit that waterfall again. I want to see the stars from the bottom of the lake with you."
Kein does not respond to his mate immediately. He heard her, though, and he thinks about what she says. The waterfall. He had almost forgotten about it, with everything that has happened since they returned. Just weeks ago... he was thinking about living there. After a short time, he nods, a slight smile creeping onto his muzzle as he does so. "We will. Soon." As soon as they feel things have calmed enough that they can leave for a few days.