Post by Therdde on Nov 29, 2008 1:14:13 GMT -5
Characters:
Skelaghe - Female Wolf
Kein - Male Adolescent Cougar
Nium - Female Cougar
- Snowy Highlands -
Skelaghe told Sketch and Vincent to remain just outside of Amaranth. She trusts these cougars, quite possibly more than she should, but after all that has happened, she does not want a simple misunderstanding to hurt them. Her pace is slow. She is tired. Her leg hurts. And she desperately wants to just lie down for, well... days.
Kein wanted to return to Nayeli. Unfortunately, he has caught scent of another wolf. A female, this time. It is hard not to growl, as he stalks in the direction of the wolf. At least Ajax had the sense not to wander far into their territory. Between the male several days ago and this female now... And so near to where his mate has been sleeping...
In these colder highlands, Nium had not expected to see another cougar. She expects the rest of the tribe to be at the lower reaches of the mountains where the spring warmth was finally very present. The abnormally large puma sits under a tree, resting this afternoon after a successful hunt as her reddened lips indicate. Against the snow, movement is visible. She spots a cougar she immediately recognises as Kein coming closer, but not directly at her. It appears as though Kein is hunting something, not prey, but something else. It concerns Nium slightly, and because of this she does not call out Kein's name. She lowers herself quickly, not wanting to be spotted by whatever it is her Chieftain is looking for.
Skelaghe's pace is much slower than that of the new chieftain to these lands. She is alert, though, and it is not long before she hears someone approaching behind her. She makes no effort to hide, instead turning around to face the approaching animal. She visits too rarely to have realized that the scent marks are from a different cougar, and so she is not expecting a hostile welcome.
Kein spots Nium as easily as she spots him. She is decidedly not who he is searching for, though. No, his target comes into sight only moments later, and it is easy to see in his body language that he is prepared to do whatever it takes to prevent her from getting any further into the territory. Raising his voice, he says, "Identify yourself, wolf." There si a hint of a growl, a warning, in his tone. He is not to be ignored.
Wolf? Nium suddenly realizes this could turn into a fiasco. From her journeys, she's learned that if there's one wolf around, there's always three or more with it. That being said, Nium has nothing against wolves, but knows how aggressive they can be. She comes down the small hill to Kein. She raises an eyebrow, wondering if Kein will inform her what's going on, or if she'll just watch events unfold. Staying a short distance away from the chieftain, she puts a nose to the ground, interpreting the scent of wolf.
Skelaghe remembers enough to know that this is not Chesmu. He is much younger, even though he has those same markings on his face. Regardless, she identifies herself immediately. "My name as Skelaghe. I am a friend of your people." As she speaks, she bows her head. Perhaps not as low as normal. The male she is currently facing is more aggressive than most she has met in these lands, and she would rather like to know if she should be fleeing. Still, it is a respectful gesture.
Afterwards, he might explain everything to Nium. For now, there is something he must handle. "A friend of my people would not be so reckless about trespassing on our lands. What is your business here?" The growl is gone, but he is still prepared to use force against this wolf. His eyes do not leave her, though he keeps track of where Nium is.
The large huntress lifts her head, and meets eyes with the female wolf. Nium's stance quickly mimics Kein. It isn't her place nor turn to speak, so she remains quiet, but ready for whatever Kein might ask her to do. She doesn't recognise the wolf. Chances are she wouldn't recognise any wolf nearby. Nium wonders what, then, this intruder means by 'friend' of the Tribe.
How long will she be allowed to speak? She can't be certain, but... Well, if she truly wants to set his fears at ease, she must not rush what she has to say. Skelaghe answers with, "I have visited every spring and fall since I have been in these lands. I owe much to the cougars here... But I must confess that I am here to request another favor. I and my companions, who will not cross your borders without permission, are in dire need of asylum." That's as well as she can sum it up, anyway.
She speaks. She does not yell. These things grant her a longer time to speak than Hinto was given, and what she says causes Kein to pause. She speaks rather extravagantly, and it takes Kein a moment to actually process what she says. Her behaviour speaks more loudly and clearly to him than her words, actually. "Asylum. You wish to stay here?" She claims she has visited before. Was she always seeking... asylum... every spring and fall? That seems unlikely, so... What is she asking for? Still, his eyes remain on the wolf, rather than looking back to the nearby Nium.
Nium comes a bit closer to Kein as she feels the tension disipating somewhat. If he seems more comfortable with the wolf, Nium follows. She lifts her head, sampling the scent again of the wolf named Skelaghe. Nium isn't sure how she would feel with wolves living amonst them, even for a short period of time. Granted, up until winter she had no idea what it was like to live with *anyone* around.
Skelaghe is thankful for the deescalation. She doesn't know how well she would be able to handle another period of fleeing, especially if she were fleeing from Amaranth. She lifts her head some, and says, "Yes, we wish to stay. We have been driven away from our home." Skelaghe has absolutely no problem with giving the cougar to whom she is speaking, and the female by his side, the details, but she does not want to get him lost in her words this time, as he apparently did last time.
Kein finally glances to Nium, almost as though wanting her input, though he does not look at her for long enough to get it. Rather, he turns his gaze back to the wolf, who is quite unlike any wolf he has ever met. After a brief moment, he asks, "What drove you away from your home?" This is not, after all, a decision he could make lightly, or without all of the details.
"Two cougars." Skelaghe harbors no animosity towards cougars, in general, but she knows how her companions reacted when she told them they were going to be living with cougars, so she quickly adds, "I can only assume they were looking to form a new home territory. We need only a place to rest, to gather our strength, since our welcome in the territories between here and our home is thin."
Cougars. As in, more than one, so... Probably not Azriel, right? So far, Kein has seen no reason to deny her access to these lands, but it is still not a decision he feels he should make here, on the spot, so he says, "I must consult with others in my tribe. Until I do, you are permitted to remain on our border. Who are your companions?"
Nium looks over to Kein. If he doesn't immediately decline her request and deny her acess to the lands, he obviously has a strain of trust. Therefore, so does Nium. The warrior sits down, then, looking back over to Skelaghe with an expressionless face. She examines her closely, looking for scars, or any unique feature.
Skelaghe is unscarred. Her limp has left her. But she is /tired/, and Kein's verdict... Well, it was not what she had hoped to hear, but she is more than willing to accept it. "I understand. I am traveling with two dogs. Their names are Sketch and Vincent, and they will obey me." And since she has proven that she will obey Kein, as the leader of these lands, that should say all it needs to say, she hopes.
Dogs? Kein is not familiar with the species, but there are only to of them, and so long as this wolf vouches for them... "Very well. Rest north of here, at the border, and you will have your answer within two days." It is the best he feels he can do for her. They do have to be careful to guard their borders, after all.
Nium knows very well what dogs are. She remembers they are loyal, and do fight to the very bitter end. Sometimes in packs, sometimes in pairs, sometimes alone they traveled. Of course it reminds her of traveling in the summer from the east. Nium closes her eyes for a moment. She remembers an unfortunate event on her travels spent with two dogs. She shakes her head of the deadly finale it had and opens her eyes. "I'm heading north, ma'am." She finally speaks in her deep, feminine voice. "If it's alright with you, Kein, sir, Skelaghe could travel with me." That's how she presents it, but it doesn't take much to gather that she means keeping an eye on the wolf, and acting as a guide, among other things.
Two days. Two days, and this will all be over... One way, or the other. Either they will be forced to stay on the mountain, between wolf and cougar territories, until either those violent cougars catch up with them and they are killed or they realize the cougars are no longer chasing them and move on to find a new home, or they will be granted the refuge they seek. Just two more days. Skelaghe gives a nod of her head at this male's decision, but remains silent as the female cougar near him speaks.
This would be the second time Kein has left a Sister of his tribe alone to escort a wolf north of his lands. This time, though, he is not really concerned about it, because in favor of finding his mate, he was prepared to allow this wolf to escort herself out of his territory. "That will be fine. Take care, Nium. Skelaghe." He remains where he is, intending to watch as the two head off.
Nium nods and looks over to the wolf with the same focused expression. This will be interesting, a wolf. She's never seen one this close. The huntress can't help but to examine it's phyiscal attributes. Smaller, but lithe and agile, less compact as her. Of course with her muscle, even fellow Sisters and males of Amaranth are smaller and less compact than her. "Fine. Good bye, sir. I'll be waiting with her in two days." She stands, and walks past the wolf, expecting her to immediately follow.
Skelaghe does follow. It isn't hard, after all, to figure out what is expected of her, and she would do nothing to risk what little remaining chance of salvation she and her companions have. She walks in silence, to start, not trying to strike up a conversation with the female who is much larger than she is, though she will absolutely have to before they get close to her two companions.
Perhaps Kein will visit before the two days is up, but for now, he and his mate have much to discuss. His talk with Kasim, and now this... It will be hours yet before he is capable of sleeping, he knows.
Skelaghe - Female Wolf
Kein - Male Adolescent Cougar
Nium - Female Cougar
- Snowy Highlands -
Skelaghe told Sketch and Vincent to remain just outside of Amaranth. She trusts these cougars, quite possibly more than she should, but after all that has happened, she does not want a simple misunderstanding to hurt them. Her pace is slow. She is tired. Her leg hurts. And she desperately wants to just lie down for, well... days.
Kein wanted to return to Nayeli. Unfortunately, he has caught scent of another wolf. A female, this time. It is hard not to growl, as he stalks in the direction of the wolf. At least Ajax had the sense not to wander far into their territory. Between the male several days ago and this female now... And so near to where his mate has been sleeping...
In these colder highlands, Nium had not expected to see another cougar. She expects the rest of the tribe to be at the lower reaches of the mountains where the spring warmth was finally very present. The abnormally large puma sits under a tree, resting this afternoon after a successful hunt as her reddened lips indicate. Against the snow, movement is visible. She spots a cougar she immediately recognises as Kein coming closer, but not directly at her. It appears as though Kein is hunting something, not prey, but something else. It concerns Nium slightly, and because of this she does not call out Kein's name. She lowers herself quickly, not wanting to be spotted by whatever it is her Chieftain is looking for.
Skelaghe's pace is much slower than that of the new chieftain to these lands. She is alert, though, and it is not long before she hears someone approaching behind her. She makes no effort to hide, instead turning around to face the approaching animal. She visits too rarely to have realized that the scent marks are from a different cougar, and so she is not expecting a hostile welcome.
Kein spots Nium as easily as she spots him. She is decidedly not who he is searching for, though. No, his target comes into sight only moments later, and it is easy to see in his body language that he is prepared to do whatever it takes to prevent her from getting any further into the territory. Raising his voice, he says, "Identify yourself, wolf." There si a hint of a growl, a warning, in his tone. He is not to be ignored.
Wolf? Nium suddenly realizes this could turn into a fiasco. From her journeys, she's learned that if there's one wolf around, there's always three or more with it. That being said, Nium has nothing against wolves, but knows how aggressive they can be. She comes down the small hill to Kein. She raises an eyebrow, wondering if Kein will inform her what's going on, or if she'll just watch events unfold. Staying a short distance away from the chieftain, she puts a nose to the ground, interpreting the scent of wolf.
Skelaghe remembers enough to know that this is not Chesmu. He is much younger, even though he has those same markings on his face. Regardless, she identifies herself immediately. "My name as Skelaghe. I am a friend of your people." As she speaks, she bows her head. Perhaps not as low as normal. The male she is currently facing is more aggressive than most she has met in these lands, and she would rather like to know if she should be fleeing. Still, it is a respectful gesture.
Afterwards, he might explain everything to Nium. For now, there is something he must handle. "A friend of my people would not be so reckless about trespassing on our lands. What is your business here?" The growl is gone, but he is still prepared to use force against this wolf. His eyes do not leave her, though he keeps track of where Nium is.
The large huntress lifts her head, and meets eyes with the female wolf. Nium's stance quickly mimics Kein. It isn't her place nor turn to speak, so she remains quiet, but ready for whatever Kein might ask her to do. She doesn't recognise the wolf. Chances are she wouldn't recognise any wolf nearby. Nium wonders what, then, this intruder means by 'friend' of the Tribe.
How long will she be allowed to speak? She can't be certain, but... Well, if she truly wants to set his fears at ease, she must not rush what she has to say. Skelaghe answers with, "I have visited every spring and fall since I have been in these lands. I owe much to the cougars here... But I must confess that I am here to request another favor. I and my companions, who will not cross your borders without permission, are in dire need of asylum." That's as well as she can sum it up, anyway.
She speaks. She does not yell. These things grant her a longer time to speak than Hinto was given, and what she says causes Kein to pause. She speaks rather extravagantly, and it takes Kein a moment to actually process what she says. Her behaviour speaks more loudly and clearly to him than her words, actually. "Asylum. You wish to stay here?" She claims she has visited before. Was she always seeking... asylum... every spring and fall? That seems unlikely, so... What is she asking for? Still, his eyes remain on the wolf, rather than looking back to the nearby Nium.
Nium comes a bit closer to Kein as she feels the tension disipating somewhat. If he seems more comfortable with the wolf, Nium follows. She lifts her head, sampling the scent again of the wolf named Skelaghe. Nium isn't sure how she would feel with wolves living amonst them, even for a short period of time. Granted, up until winter she had no idea what it was like to live with *anyone* around.
Skelaghe is thankful for the deescalation. She doesn't know how well she would be able to handle another period of fleeing, especially if she were fleeing from Amaranth. She lifts her head some, and says, "Yes, we wish to stay. We have been driven away from our home." Skelaghe has absolutely no problem with giving the cougar to whom she is speaking, and the female by his side, the details, but she does not want to get him lost in her words this time, as he apparently did last time.
Kein finally glances to Nium, almost as though wanting her input, though he does not look at her for long enough to get it. Rather, he turns his gaze back to the wolf, who is quite unlike any wolf he has ever met. After a brief moment, he asks, "What drove you away from your home?" This is not, after all, a decision he could make lightly, or without all of the details.
"Two cougars." Skelaghe harbors no animosity towards cougars, in general, but she knows how her companions reacted when she told them they were going to be living with cougars, so she quickly adds, "I can only assume they were looking to form a new home territory. We need only a place to rest, to gather our strength, since our welcome in the territories between here and our home is thin."
Cougars. As in, more than one, so... Probably not Azriel, right? So far, Kein has seen no reason to deny her access to these lands, but it is still not a decision he feels he should make here, on the spot, so he says, "I must consult with others in my tribe. Until I do, you are permitted to remain on our border. Who are your companions?"
Nium looks over to Kein. If he doesn't immediately decline her request and deny her acess to the lands, he obviously has a strain of trust. Therefore, so does Nium. The warrior sits down, then, looking back over to Skelaghe with an expressionless face. She examines her closely, looking for scars, or any unique feature.
Skelaghe is unscarred. Her limp has left her. But she is /tired/, and Kein's verdict... Well, it was not what she had hoped to hear, but she is more than willing to accept it. "I understand. I am traveling with two dogs. Their names are Sketch and Vincent, and they will obey me." And since she has proven that she will obey Kein, as the leader of these lands, that should say all it needs to say, she hopes.
Dogs? Kein is not familiar with the species, but there are only to of them, and so long as this wolf vouches for them... "Very well. Rest north of here, at the border, and you will have your answer within two days." It is the best he feels he can do for her. They do have to be careful to guard their borders, after all.
Nium knows very well what dogs are. She remembers they are loyal, and do fight to the very bitter end. Sometimes in packs, sometimes in pairs, sometimes alone they traveled. Of course it reminds her of traveling in the summer from the east. Nium closes her eyes for a moment. She remembers an unfortunate event on her travels spent with two dogs. She shakes her head of the deadly finale it had and opens her eyes. "I'm heading north, ma'am." She finally speaks in her deep, feminine voice. "If it's alright with you, Kein, sir, Skelaghe could travel with me." That's how she presents it, but it doesn't take much to gather that she means keeping an eye on the wolf, and acting as a guide, among other things.
Two days. Two days, and this will all be over... One way, or the other. Either they will be forced to stay on the mountain, between wolf and cougar territories, until either those violent cougars catch up with them and they are killed or they realize the cougars are no longer chasing them and move on to find a new home, or they will be granted the refuge they seek. Just two more days. Skelaghe gives a nod of her head at this male's decision, but remains silent as the female cougar near him speaks.
This would be the second time Kein has left a Sister of his tribe alone to escort a wolf north of his lands. This time, though, he is not really concerned about it, because in favor of finding his mate, he was prepared to allow this wolf to escort herself out of his territory. "That will be fine. Take care, Nium. Skelaghe." He remains where he is, intending to watch as the two head off.
Nium nods and looks over to the wolf with the same focused expression. This will be interesting, a wolf. She's never seen one this close. The huntress can't help but to examine it's phyiscal attributes. Smaller, but lithe and agile, less compact as her. Of course with her muscle, even fellow Sisters and males of Amaranth are smaller and less compact than her. "Fine. Good bye, sir. I'll be waiting with her in two days." She stands, and walks past the wolf, expecting her to immediately follow.
Skelaghe does follow. It isn't hard, after all, to figure out what is expected of her, and she would do nothing to risk what little remaining chance of salvation she and her companions have. She walks in silence, to start, not trying to strike up a conversation with the female who is much larger than she is, though she will absolutely have to before they get close to her two companions.
Perhaps Kein will visit before the two days is up, but for now, he and his mate have much to discuss. His talk with Kasim, and now this... It will be hours yet before he is capable of sleeping, he knows.