Post by Therdde on Nov 29, 2008 1:08:28 GMT -5
Characters:
Kein - Male Adolescent Cougar
Kasim - Male Cougar
- Eroded Well -
Kein has not yet been back to see Nayeli. Since talking to Chandani, though, his thought have been more relaxed. His patrolling has mostly been in the southernmost sections of the tribe, since he has caught no hint of the strange male's scent in the northern parts. Finally, he returns to the well, this time actually interested in a drink. The sun is at the horizon, and quickly falling, but it is still reasonably warm.
Only a few feet away from the well is the sleeping form of Kasim. This area has been somewhat of a resting area for the cougar as of late, a place where he can unwind and relax. With everything that's happening--or did happen--that's exactly what the cougar needs right now. His steady breathing shows that Kasim is having a rather peaceful sleep, somewhat of a luxury these days. Every now and then he'll have a bad nightmare, usually about what might have happened to Maul. It's not as frequent as it used to be... but it's still there.
A peaceful night's sleep is a luxury for /everyone/, these days. As such, even though Kein spots Kasim easily, he is reluctant to wake the older male. He stops, briefly, then approaches the well slowly, trying to be quiet. Yes, he wants to talk to Kasim. Has for a while. But he's not certain what he wants to talk about if anywhere near important enough to wake the other male.
The only sign of a slight disturbance in his sleep is when one of his rear legs gives a slight twitch, but that's it. Kasim isn't really dreaming in his sleep... just sleeping.
Kein arrives at the well and bends down to drink from the water there. After a full day of walking, he spends a couple moments like this, just slaking his thirst. Finally, he takes a step back, then sits and looks at Kasim, licking the excess water off of his face as he does.
Kasim sleeps. z.z
Kein stays there for a moment, just watching. It is a few minutes before, finally, he says, "Kasim?" If this fails, he'll head back to the highlands, but... He really would like a chance to talk to Kasim before he does, since it is generally several days between the times he sees his adopted father.
A small and tired grunt escapes the cougar as his name is spoken, craking one eyelid barely open to see what the rucus is. Aww, grumpycougar. When he makes out who spoke, however, Kasim's mood is slighly lifted, evident by the small smile that creeps onto his muzzle. "Hey there Kein," he says, still sounding a bit tired. Not much of a morning cougar. XD
True, but then, it really isn't morning. Still, Kein says, "I hope you were not too tired. If so, it can wait." Kein would be glad to get back to Nayeli, after all, especially since his path has not taken him by her even once today. He knows there were others around her, so he is not concerned, but he would be unable to sleep her, certainly.
"Kein, I'm never too tired to talk to family," the older cougar says with a growing smile, getting to his paws slowly before stetching himself out. Morning or not, it still doesn't lessen the fact that he was asleep and may still be a bit tired. Oh well. Giving a big yawn, Kasim starts to make his way over towards Kein, the smile still on his face. "So what's on your mind these days Kein?"
Kein remains seated where he is as Kasim approaches. It does not take him long to answer, "Nayeli is... Well, she's pregnant." Kein kept his concerns well and truly to himself when he spoke with Nayeli and Chandani about it. Certainly, of him, Nayeli, and Chandani, he is supposed to be the strong, confident one. He is really not without his concerns, though... And more than anything, he wishes his mother were still here, that she could still do what she has always done. Say something to convince him that everything will be okay. He has not had that since she died.
A mixture of feelings start to run though Kasim when he hears what Kein says. One one paw, he's extremely happy to hear that, and how Kein will soon be a father. But on the other... it reminds him of how close he and Maul were to achieving the same goal. No, don't think about that now. This is a happy moment. "Kein that's... wow, Kein that's great news," Kasim says with a big smile, trying to sound as happy as can be. "Congratulations. You must be excited." He certainly was.
"I am." No conditions. It /is/ exciting news, and Kein's concerns don't lessen that. They don't just go away either, though. "And I'm worried. I... I don't know how to be a father." Kein spent a good portion of his childhood avoiding Kasim. More or less the entire time they were in the desert, anyway, for one reason or another. And Azriel is certainly no sort of role model. Neither was Chesmu. So how is he supposed to know what to do?
"Kein, trust me when I say that you certainly aren't the first male to ever be worried about this sort of thing," Kasim says with a slight chuckle, leaning in to give his 'son' a sort of comforting nuzzle, sounding as if he's speaking from experience. Even though Kein and Pel weren't his real sons, he still wanted to act like a real father towards them and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't nervous at first. "I can't /tell/ you how to be a father, Kein, but always remember to be /yourself/. Be the cougar that Nayeli fell in love with, and the rest will come to you."
That... Well, that kind of makes sense, doesn't it? Kein taught Nayeli simple things like tracking and climbing when they were both children, and if he wants to be a friend to his cubs... Well, it shouldn't take much more than being who he has always been, should it? He only has to wonder if it will be enough to raise them well. To raise the kinds of cubs that his mother would be proud of, since she is no longer around to do so. Though the doubts are far from gone, Kein does smile. It lasts only a second, but it is there. Then, he regains his serious demeanor. "I know... Well, that we've had our differences, and that it took me a long time to get over them... But I want them to know you as their grandfather, Kasim." He doesn't know if that will upset Nayeli. She was upset when /she/ wasn't told who his father was, after all. He will certainly have to talk with her about it, probably the next time he sees her.
Kasim is actually a bit surprised when he hears Kein say that. For the longest time, Kein didn't even seem really interested in him at all, but now he wants him to be knows as their grandfather. A wide and genuine smile comes across the older cougar's muzzle, taking a moment to himself before saying, "Kein... I'd be honored to be their grandfather." Oi, Grandpa Kasim. The title alone almost makes him feel old, yet surprisingly it also makes him feel happy. Odd.
"I will have to discuss it with Nayeli, but I will do everything I can to convince her that this is what's best for all of us." If Kein had his way, his cubs would never have to know about Azriel. That may not be possible, but, at the very least, he does not want them to have the same concerns and be upset by the same things we was as a kid, first by trying to figure out why he was only almost Kasim's son, what he should have been doing different so that it wasn't only almost, and then by learning who his father really was.
The smile never leaves Kasim's muzzle as Kein talks, growing bigger and bigger by the minute. It's not the proud smile from before, but a truly happy one... something that has been rather absent from his life as of late. "Thank you Kein. That... that really means a lot to me."
Kein's smile finally returns. It's much smaller than Kasim's, but this time it remains for more than just a second. "I think you will be a valuable part of their lives." Was some part of this for Kasim, though? Maybe. Kein could have just as easily decided they should never know any cougar as their grandfather, after all, so he does pretend he did this with no regard to Kasim's feelings. Instead, he adds, "You're welcome."
For a few moments, Kasim is silent with his big smile still plastered on his muzzle. He almost doesn't really know what to say next, or even if he should say something at all. Finally, he thinks of something and his big smile starts to shrink, sounding a bit more serious as he says, "I'm very proud of you Kein...and I know your mother would be too." The smile is now gone as he uses past tense, some sadness showing in his eyes but that's it. Kasim doesn't want to make this happy moment depressing.
There is only one thing Kein could say in response to that, and since it seems both inappropriate and weak, he keeps his mouth shut. He answers only with a nod of his head. Of course, it means something to him, but as it is for Kasim, it is still painful for him. It probably always will be, but at least things are looking up. As he promised Kasim they would, they are beginning to forge new, happy memories to lessen the sting of the hurtful ones.
One of these days, Kasim will have to teach Kein the importance of saying what is on one's mind without fear of being judged. Even if he is the Chieftan, Kein doesn't always have to pretend to be the cofident and collected one. He just has to be himself. Well... maybe it will happen over time. After all, Kein became Chieftan just recently. "I know I could never replace your mother but... if you ever want someone to talk to, just come and find me, ok?" Kasim takes a step forward to give Kein a small nuzzle before continuing. "Things will be ok now, I promise." He'll make sure that they do.
As usual, Kein does not return the nuzzling, but he also does not move away. This time, he actually speaks. "I know, and... I will." That is sort of what he was doing tonight, after all. Seeking out Kasim for his advice, something he has seldom ever done. "I suppose I ought to let you get back to sleep now, but... Thanks for talking to me, Kasim." It will never be the same as any talk with his mother, but it did help, and he is grateful.
"And I certainly don't want to keep you from Nayeli any more than I have," Kasim repsonds with a slight chuckle. If they are like anything that he and Maul were like when she was first pregnant, he could guess that Kein would want to be with Nayeli whenever he could. "And you're welcome Son." A small yawn escapes the cougar as he lays himself back down onto his stomach after he speaks, though he doesn't take his eyes off of Kein incase the teen has anything else to add.
Indeed, if it weren't for the responsibility of his position, he would never leave Nayeli's side for any period longer than what would be required to keep them both fed. Kasim is right, though. Kein /does/ want to get back. "Sleep well. I will see you tomorrow." To discuss how they intend to split up the patrols for the day, at least, as well as to tell him how the conversation with Nayeli went. Hopefully, it will go better than he expects. After speaking, Kein stands to begin walking towards the north.
Once he sees Kein start to move away, Kasim rests his head on his forepaws, his smile gone. As happy as he really is for Kein, the one thought that he cant get rid of is how close he and Maul came to that same exact feet. They were /this/ close... but sadly fate didn't want them to go through with it. A single tear falls down the cougar's face but that's all he allows. This is a happy moment for Kein, and he shouldn't be focused on what might have been. It still hurts though. Maul...
Kein - Male Adolescent Cougar
Kasim - Male Cougar
- Eroded Well -
Kein has not yet been back to see Nayeli. Since talking to Chandani, though, his thought have been more relaxed. His patrolling has mostly been in the southernmost sections of the tribe, since he has caught no hint of the strange male's scent in the northern parts. Finally, he returns to the well, this time actually interested in a drink. The sun is at the horizon, and quickly falling, but it is still reasonably warm.
Only a few feet away from the well is the sleeping form of Kasim. This area has been somewhat of a resting area for the cougar as of late, a place where he can unwind and relax. With everything that's happening--or did happen--that's exactly what the cougar needs right now. His steady breathing shows that Kasim is having a rather peaceful sleep, somewhat of a luxury these days. Every now and then he'll have a bad nightmare, usually about what might have happened to Maul. It's not as frequent as it used to be... but it's still there.
A peaceful night's sleep is a luxury for /everyone/, these days. As such, even though Kein spots Kasim easily, he is reluctant to wake the older male. He stops, briefly, then approaches the well slowly, trying to be quiet. Yes, he wants to talk to Kasim. Has for a while. But he's not certain what he wants to talk about if anywhere near important enough to wake the other male.
The only sign of a slight disturbance in his sleep is when one of his rear legs gives a slight twitch, but that's it. Kasim isn't really dreaming in his sleep... just sleeping.
Kein arrives at the well and bends down to drink from the water there. After a full day of walking, he spends a couple moments like this, just slaking his thirst. Finally, he takes a step back, then sits and looks at Kasim, licking the excess water off of his face as he does.
Kasim sleeps. z.z
Kein stays there for a moment, just watching. It is a few minutes before, finally, he says, "Kasim?" If this fails, he'll head back to the highlands, but... He really would like a chance to talk to Kasim before he does, since it is generally several days between the times he sees his adopted father.
A small and tired grunt escapes the cougar as his name is spoken, craking one eyelid barely open to see what the rucus is. Aww, grumpycougar. When he makes out who spoke, however, Kasim's mood is slighly lifted, evident by the small smile that creeps onto his muzzle. "Hey there Kein," he says, still sounding a bit tired. Not much of a morning cougar. XD
True, but then, it really isn't morning. Still, Kein says, "I hope you were not too tired. If so, it can wait." Kein would be glad to get back to Nayeli, after all, especially since his path has not taken him by her even once today. He knows there were others around her, so he is not concerned, but he would be unable to sleep her, certainly.
"Kein, I'm never too tired to talk to family," the older cougar says with a growing smile, getting to his paws slowly before stetching himself out. Morning or not, it still doesn't lessen the fact that he was asleep and may still be a bit tired. Oh well. Giving a big yawn, Kasim starts to make his way over towards Kein, the smile still on his face. "So what's on your mind these days Kein?"
Kein remains seated where he is as Kasim approaches. It does not take him long to answer, "Nayeli is... Well, she's pregnant." Kein kept his concerns well and truly to himself when he spoke with Nayeli and Chandani about it. Certainly, of him, Nayeli, and Chandani, he is supposed to be the strong, confident one. He is really not without his concerns, though... And more than anything, he wishes his mother were still here, that she could still do what she has always done. Say something to convince him that everything will be okay. He has not had that since she died.
A mixture of feelings start to run though Kasim when he hears what Kein says. One one paw, he's extremely happy to hear that, and how Kein will soon be a father. But on the other... it reminds him of how close he and Maul were to achieving the same goal. No, don't think about that now. This is a happy moment. "Kein that's... wow, Kein that's great news," Kasim says with a big smile, trying to sound as happy as can be. "Congratulations. You must be excited." He certainly was.
"I am." No conditions. It /is/ exciting news, and Kein's concerns don't lessen that. They don't just go away either, though. "And I'm worried. I... I don't know how to be a father." Kein spent a good portion of his childhood avoiding Kasim. More or less the entire time they were in the desert, anyway, for one reason or another. And Azriel is certainly no sort of role model. Neither was Chesmu. So how is he supposed to know what to do?
"Kein, trust me when I say that you certainly aren't the first male to ever be worried about this sort of thing," Kasim says with a slight chuckle, leaning in to give his 'son' a sort of comforting nuzzle, sounding as if he's speaking from experience. Even though Kein and Pel weren't his real sons, he still wanted to act like a real father towards them and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't nervous at first. "I can't /tell/ you how to be a father, Kein, but always remember to be /yourself/. Be the cougar that Nayeli fell in love with, and the rest will come to you."
That... Well, that kind of makes sense, doesn't it? Kein taught Nayeli simple things like tracking and climbing when they were both children, and if he wants to be a friend to his cubs... Well, it shouldn't take much more than being who he has always been, should it? He only has to wonder if it will be enough to raise them well. To raise the kinds of cubs that his mother would be proud of, since she is no longer around to do so. Though the doubts are far from gone, Kein does smile. It lasts only a second, but it is there. Then, he regains his serious demeanor. "I know... Well, that we've had our differences, and that it took me a long time to get over them... But I want them to know you as their grandfather, Kasim." He doesn't know if that will upset Nayeli. She was upset when /she/ wasn't told who his father was, after all. He will certainly have to talk with her about it, probably the next time he sees her.
Kasim is actually a bit surprised when he hears Kein say that. For the longest time, Kein didn't even seem really interested in him at all, but now he wants him to be knows as their grandfather. A wide and genuine smile comes across the older cougar's muzzle, taking a moment to himself before saying, "Kein... I'd be honored to be their grandfather." Oi, Grandpa Kasim. The title alone almost makes him feel old, yet surprisingly it also makes him feel happy. Odd.
"I will have to discuss it with Nayeli, but I will do everything I can to convince her that this is what's best for all of us." If Kein had his way, his cubs would never have to know about Azriel. That may not be possible, but, at the very least, he does not want them to have the same concerns and be upset by the same things we was as a kid, first by trying to figure out why he was only almost Kasim's son, what he should have been doing different so that it wasn't only almost, and then by learning who his father really was.
The smile never leaves Kasim's muzzle as Kein talks, growing bigger and bigger by the minute. It's not the proud smile from before, but a truly happy one... something that has been rather absent from his life as of late. "Thank you Kein. That... that really means a lot to me."
Kein's smile finally returns. It's much smaller than Kasim's, but this time it remains for more than just a second. "I think you will be a valuable part of their lives." Was some part of this for Kasim, though? Maybe. Kein could have just as easily decided they should never know any cougar as their grandfather, after all, so he does pretend he did this with no regard to Kasim's feelings. Instead, he adds, "You're welcome."
For a few moments, Kasim is silent with his big smile still plastered on his muzzle. He almost doesn't really know what to say next, or even if he should say something at all. Finally, he thinks of something and his big smile starts to shrink, sounding a bit more serious as he says, "I'm very proud of you Kein...and I know your mother would be too." The smile is now gone as he uses past tense, some sadness showing in his eyes but that's it. Kasim doesn't want to make this happy moment depressing.
There is only one thing Kein could say in response to that, and since it seems both inappropriate and weak, he keeps his mouth shut. He answers only with a nod of his head. Of course, it means something to him, but as it is for Kasim, it is still painful for him. It probably always will be, but at least things are looking up. As he promised Kasim they would, they are beginning to forge new, happy memories to lessen the sting of the hurtful ones.
One of these days, Kasim will have to teach Kein the importance of saying what is on one's mind without fear of being judged. Even if he is the Chieftan, Kein doesn't always have to pretend to be the cofident and collected one. He just has to be himself. Well... maybe it will happen over time. After all, Kein became Chieftan just recently. "I know I could never replace your mother but... if you ever want someone to talk to, just come and find me, ok?" Kasim takes a step forward to give Kein a small nuzzle before continuing. "Things will be ok now, I promise." He'll make sure that they do.
As usual, Kein does not return the nuzzling, but he also does not move away. This time, he actually speaks. "I know, and... I will." That is sort of what he was doing tonight, after all. Seeking out Kasim for his advice, something he has seldom ever done. "I suppose I ought to let you get back to sleep now, but... Thanks for talking to me, Kasim." It will never be the same as any talk with his mother, but it did help, and he is grateful.
"And I certainly don't want to keep you from Nayeli any more than I have," Kasim repsonds with a slight chuckle. If they are like anything that he and Maul were like when she was first pregnant, he could guess that Kein would want to be with Nayeli whenever he could. "And you're welcome Son." A small yawn escapes the cougar as he lays himself back down onto his stomach after he speaks, though he doesn't take his eyes off of Kein incase the teen has anything else to add.
Indeed, if it weren't for the responsibility of his position, he would never leave Nayeli's side for any period longer than what would be required to keep them both fed. Kasim is right, though. Kein /does/ want to get back. "Sleep well. I will see you tomorrow." To discuss how they intend to split up the patrols for the day, at least, as well as to tell him how the conversation with Nayeli went. Hopefully, it will go better than he expects. After speaking, Kein stands to begin walking towards the north.
Once he sees Kein start to move away, Kasim rests his head on his forepaws, his smile gone. As happy as he really is for Kein, the one thought that he cant get rid of is how close he and Maul came to that same exact feet. They were /this/ close... but sadly fate didn't want them to go through with it. A single tear falls down the cougar's face but that's all he allows. This is a happy moment for Kein, and he shouldn't be focused on what might have been. It still hurts though. Maul...