Post by Chibiabos on Oct 18, 2010 23:23:56 GMT -7
Pine Forest
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Blanketing the lower slopes of the mountain, this stretch of ancient pines is but a fraction of their vast realm, which follows the foot of the mountain range far in the distance to the northwest. The wind here is strong and almost constant, the boughs of the trees swaying hypnotically with constant whirr and sigh. Adding their many voices to the timeless song of the pines are innumerable birds, most of which remain here year round. There is a smell and rumor of fire; indeed, surface fires (which the trees withstand) are not uncommon in this place, which prevents a great deal of undergrowth from forming. Though perhaps not as diversely as in warmer areas, a variety of herbs, fungi and occasional berry bushes can still be found here by those who know where to look, many of them unique to the area. At a higher altitude, this place is drier and cooler than the jungle. In the summer the climate here is temperate, while in winter this place sees its share of below-freezing temperatures, and snow is not uncommon.
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Characters: Sri (M. Dhole), Chiti (F. Dhole), Daya (F. Dhole Pup)
Daya yapyaps. Is Chiti -sure- about this step mommy business? There's absolutely no sleeping allowed with such loud puppies about! Daya is too much for her siblings, trying to rouse them to play with loud yaps and barks, but they merely cover their ears with their paws. Daya grrrs and tries headbutting Sajala.
Sniffsniff SNIFF SNIFF. He hasn't seen the jackal around lately, but honestly he sort of wishes she'd come back. As it stands now, Sri is feeling out of the loop and quite unhappy about it. He's loitering off among the dappled shade of the trees, but there's nothing like insistant puppies to pull a guy out of a good brood. "Daya!" shouting it, before he reluctantly gets to his paws and heads on over. "What are you doing? I told you earlier to leave the snake /alone/--"
Chiti had just barely gotten to sleep! Dhole pups don't just need parents... they need an entire clan! "Whrghblerghle?"
Daya yaps, "Snake? Where! But, daddy ... they look so fun, the way they ... slither ... and they looks so soft and tasty ..."
"And then they /bite/ you!" when he says 'bite', Sri goes for Daya's nose to try to give her a nip. Then he swings his head over towards Chiti and tries to give /her/ a nip too. "You! We have to talk. There have been some problems around here lately." Poor Chiti! She just wants a /nap/ and NOW look--
Chiti is far too asleep still to avoid the nip. She hadn't even gotten to the HALF-coherent mumblings, yet! It does help her wake up some, though. "Glrb...huh?" There we go, half-coherent. She lifts up her head, and gives it a shake. "The... problems?" Real words! She's nearly there. She tugs herself up to a sitting position, with another shake. "What's... been going on?"
Daya says, "Not if I bite them first! Aww, daddy, you're no fun!" she pouts.
"Bite Chiti," Sri suggests. "It might help her wake up! Go on!" chipper. He flops onto his stomach and regards the other adult with -- less gravity than he should have. It doesn't take much to perk him up, really. "But. There were tigers around here recently, and there was a jackal who was going on about some group of bad tigers? And I feel like we need to find out more or move. Except they were talking about coming -here--"
Chiti blinks. Tigers who - and bad tigers, and - that brings her the rest of the way to awake pretty quickly. "Here? But -" This is where she went to get away from the bad stuff happening, after her old clan got decimated. "The... the bad tigers, or jackals, or... who?"
Daya wastes little time in 'sicking' Chiti. With a scamper, dash and pounce, the pup mercilessly attacks Chiti's tail! Nomnomnom!
Sri wiggles a little, impatiently. "The ones I saw were -- a few tigers and a jackal -- one of the Do-Rakhanaa, I think. And one of the tigers wanted to stay here and I said I didn't like that, but I've smelled other tigers around here at least once, and it sounds like they might come here too, and apparently they're not terribly pleasant?" lilting up. "I told them about how you'd had your clan members -- disappear."
Chiti manages to ignore tail-nommings. Except for the occasional wince. There's an actual problem here, after all. Awake. Ooh, yeah, she's awake. Ow. Awake. Ow. She nods to Sri, and tries to focus on... Ow. Okay, first things first. She turns around to try to get Daya off her tail. Spin-spin-there. Okay. "Jackals... jackals are okay. But tigers... They're never good news. Even the ones that have jackal companions. Those jackals... can't tell you how many of them come limping back from some misadventure." She sighs.
Daya gives up trying to chase the tail that keeps evading her. She looks at Daddy. "What's a tiger?" she asks. "Are tigers like wolves?"
"She seemed nice enough. Sensible. I've never met one of the Do- Rakhanaa before." Technically spekaing he still hasn't, but shh. "In any case-- I know there -are- wolves around here. I've never seen any though. I don't know if we should just leave, or ask them what they've heard, or --" Sri flicks his ears back and glances at his daughter. "Like bigger, scarier wolves. Who-- I didn't think they hung around in groups, but--"
Chiti nods. "Well... it can't hurt to talk to the wolves. They might at least have some idea. But... we should be careful. Some wolves..." she leaves that unsaid, and glances down to Daya, nosing down at her. "Tigers are as much bigger than me as I am than a rabbit," she explains softly. "And some of them are as mean as bite-flies."
Daya decides daddy's tail is less elusive, and pounces it! Nomnomnom! She looks at Chiti. /Up/ at Chiti. "But, but ... you're big!" she yaps.
"Except that they're /terribly/ elusive." Moody again. "Still." He hadn't been paying enough attention to everyDaya, and now he pays; he yelps sharply and aims a hard nip at her. "Hey now!" the dhole gives his head a shake, ears flapping, and huffs out a breath. "Even /big/ dholes have to worry about things. A tiger is the size of /two/ dholes. At least. And they've got paws with teeth in them." Frowny.
Chiti nods to Daya, and then looks back up to Sri as the pup heads off to him. "There's trouble in our fur now, no matter where we shake it out. There are better tigers, and worse ones, but I'd rather see none of them near pups. But to move again... Sajala still hasn't quite put on enough weight for me to be really happy, since you got here."
Daya snorts. "Yeah, and she /still/ snores a lot. Someone should fix that!" she pouts. As though on cue, from her sister's slumbering form nearby, the sound of a buzzsaw-snorting pig hybrid rings out in spurts.
"Regardless of her /snoring/--" Sri pokes Daya, "I don't know. I'd rather ifnd out more, I think -- if only because I don't know where exactly these particular tigers /are/. And I -don't- like the idea of a clan of them."
Chiti nods. "No... clans are for dholes. Tigers... they're meant to travel alone. If they're together... either there's something going wrong, to make them join. Or they're the something wrong." She shakes her head softly, considering. "How should we find out more, then? Is the jackal you spoke to still around, can we get more information from her?"
Sri ponders a few moments. "I haven't seen or smelled her around within the last few days -- but I can go afield a bit, and see if I can hunt her down. If we really -are- going to have a group of tigers here soon, then I imagine she might be lurking about. I don't know quite how they were involved with -that- group, but--"
Daya yawns at long last. Could Daya's energy be ebbing finally!? She sits and scratches at a dirty, itchy ear with a hindleg.
Chiti nods slightly. "We... perhaps we can make a deeper den. To keep the pups safe, and out of the way." She looks over to Daya, starting to settle down, as she continues. "These trees have deep roots; if we dig, they'll keep the earth in place. If we're staying here..." And that is the question, isn't it? To stay, or flee...
"I suppose. It's good for a start -- b ut you were talking about your clan who disappeared, and now--" he whines softly. "/Tigers/. Hff. Would you like to stay with the pups while I go on a search for a few days?"
Daya bounds over to Chiti, putting her paws up on Chiti's shoulders and wagging. Daya likes Chiti! If only she'd let Chiti sleep ... or her tail to heal ...
Chiti tilts her head down, and licks at Daya's face, and then looks back up to Sri and nods. "I can do that. Perhaps... I'll work on that den, while you do. Perhaps even..." she laughs, and looks to the pup. "Would you and your sister like a race to see who can dig faster?"
"Put 'em to work! They've got to be good for /something/ other than biting my tail." Sri tries for a baleful stare in Daya's direction but can't keep it up for very long at all. "I think," he decides, and clambers to his paws, giving himself a hearty shake, "I'll give it a start now."
Daya says, "Of course I can dig faster. My sister's not even awake!" Silly girl.
Chiti smiles to Daya. "Even better! You can get a head start now!" she says, and then turns back to Sri. "Be safe. Even if you find out nothing, come back here safely."
PART II -
Characters: Chiti (f dhole), Daya (f dhole pup), Kirana (f wolf), Gyarahabala (m elder wolf)
There was something heavy in the air when Kirana awoke; some distant foreboding that had been growing in the back of her mind and now was rising more urgently into the surface of her thoughts. Of course, the disappearances and the gathering menace to the south were troubling enough, not to mention the bad dreams that seem to have been plaguing Gyarahabala as well as herself. But this was something else. Familiar, but unsettling. A long stretch and meditation outside the den where all was peaceful and quiet had revealed nothing unusual, but failed to put her completely at ease. Only after wandering up onto a ledge of stone on one of the steeper forested slopes that she's caught a clear whiff of a scent that she had both suspected and dreaded: smoke. Not the old scent from past burns. This is fresh. Scanning what can be seen of the northwestern horizon, she spots it, barely. Far off, there's a gossamer whisp of black against the pale sky, and she has to squint and focus to keep it in her vision. But it's there, unmistakably. Perched on a rather small outcrop, the wolf crouches in a pose that makes her look almost as if she is waiting to pounce, and stares at the distant signal in thoughtful silence. )
Chiti has been wrangling the pups since Sri left. This mostly means getting about three hours of sleep a day, never all at once, and being awoken by tail-gnawings. Worst of all is when the pups /are/ quiet. That generally means they're getting into trouble. Never has she so much wanted the rest of a clan to help her. Things are far too quiet, now, and that's what wakes her. She looks around - yes, there's Sajala. But where is Daya? She's not in the den. Chiti gets up quickly, heading out and looking for signs of the youngling.
Daya is out and about, seeking trouble alright. She spots a dark silhouette crouched on a rather small outcrop. The wayward pup 'sneaks' crawling on her belly toward the unfamiliar target ...
A keen triangular ear twitches in the wayward pup's direction, but for a moment the wolfess seems totally preoccupied with her thoughts, and the youngster goes unacknowledged. She lets Daya get quite close before suddenly turning her peircing gaze in the pup's direction. "Careful, dear one." Her voice is somehow stern and soft at once -- grave, yet gently amused. "A hunter caught without her packmates may become the hunted." Pivoting on her paws, she stands up to her full height on long, slender legs and without breaking the motion jumps down from her perch to land before the youngster, still watching her intently. Despite the words of warning, Kirana doesn't seem very hostile. She seems relaxed and more curious of the pup than anything else as she approaches at a lope, nose twitching to take in her scent once she's close enough.
Chiti sniffs for the scent, and begins trailing the pup. She lets out a soft, cooing call, trying to locate Daya. She can't have gone far, can she? Chiti certainly hopes not, as she follows that trail towards the pup - and the wolf she's found. One of these days, Daya is going to get herself into real trouble like that...
Daya trembles a bit. This one ... is a bit bigger than her ... and, come to think of it ... bigger than daddy. Ummm ... daddy ... "Daddy!" the pup suddenly cries, turning and fleeing and running in terror ... right into Chiti's legs. OOF! Hey, those weren't there!
The wolf chuckles and watches the pup flee -- right into Chiti. She regards the older dhole with an even gaze and a friendly smile as she lowers her head in a bow. "Good evening." And then, looking down at Daya, "Sorry for startling you.. but there are more startling things out here than I. Minding your elders may not seem like much fun, but believe me, running into them is worse."
As things for Daya to collide with go, Chiti's legs are one of the better options. She lowers her head to give the pup a comforting nuzzle, licking at her to try to calm her before looking to see just what's terrorized her. Ah. A wolf. She stands her ground to the larger creature - she couldn't really run without leaving Daya behind, after all, so she has little choice. Wolves can be a problem. But... they can also be allies. And this one seems to be friendly enough, so she smiles back, and returns the bow as best she can with a pup against her legs. "Greetings."
Daya hides behind Chitilegs. So brave she was, sneaking up on a wolf, and scampering in terror when her expert stealth was somehow foiled! Now she peers out at the ... not-a-dhole. "Is that a tiger?" she asks Chiti.
"Thankfully not." Kirana answers for Chiti, her smile widening at the suggestion. "I'm a wolf. Tigers are much bigger, and stripey-er. And a lot more un-dhole-ish." Dropping to her haunches casually and wrapping her bushy tail about herself, she regards Chiti again. "I'm Kirana, head of the Saahasi. I was hoping I'd run into you sooner than later, but other happenings have prevented me from seeking you out before now."
Chiti laughs softly, and nods in agreement with Kirana's explanation. "Wolves and dholes are like rats and mice," she adds, trying to put it into concepts the pup will understand. "We're closer than we are different." She nods to Kirana. "I'm Chiti, of..." Of what? There's her, and Sri, and the pups. Stragglers from two clans without one of their own, yet. She jumps on, past the awkwardness. "There's been a lot of trouble going around, it seems. Friends gone missing. Tigers."
Daya says, "Rats and mice? So ... since we're smaller ... we're mice?" she asks, then giggles. That sounded silly!
Kirana chuckles again. "That would imply me to be a rat, I suppose." The tip of her tail flicks, catlike, as she considers this prospect with a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. Her expression sombers considerably at the mention of the ever-present troubles. "Yes. We've heard rumors of tigers gathering, and some of our own have gone missing as well." Her ears fold back momentarily and her head dips, eyes dropping earthward as if waighed by the sudden remembrance of grief. But she brings herself back to the present with a shake of her head, and lifts her gaze to meet Chiti's again. "And more potential trouble --" She adds, looking northwestward again though the smoke can't be seen from down here, "The fires have started."
To the east, under the Stone Arch, an old three-legged wolf quite familiar to Kirana appears. At seeing his very dear packmate and leader in a potentially delicate contact situation, Gyarahabala appears and pauses. He would think an old wolf would not be viewed as much of a threat, but not wanting to risk boldly blundering forward, he waits to see whether there is tension in the situation. Seeing the lone she-dhole with a pup, but not appearing too threatened, the old three-legged wolf slowly makes his way over toward Kirana, Chiti and Daya. He sits quietly behind Kirana for now.
It does sound silly, but Daya's got the idea now. And more importantly, she's laughing, not scared. She nods to the pup, smiling, and looks up to Kirana, sharing the joke. The smile grows rueful as she sees the wolf's sorrow, and then she looks out to follow the gaze, staring at trees that offer no hint as Kirana explains. "Troubles stuck in our fur like burrs," she murmurs, with a soft whine. When she turns back, her eyes flick to Gyarahabala approaching, startled for a moment - but he is clearly old, and lame. Not very threatening. If this is the state of Sahaasi, the wolves and dholes are alike these days in more than shape. "Troubles, faced together, are often easier," she offers. "Perhaps we can be companions in these troubles." There. Now to see what the wolf thinks of that.
Daya stays hiding behind Chiti's front legs. "She seems nice, just like you, Chiti," Daya says, speaking of Kirana. She peers oddly at the three-legged wolf behind Kirana.
The wolfess offers a warm glance back at Gyarahabala as she hears the familiar three-legged pawsteps, then returns her attention to Chiti. "Very true. I certainly hope that we shall be companions, as all of our combined strength and courage may soon be needed." Again Kirana turns her regard towards the pup. Unlike most adults tend to do, she doesn't ignore the youngster or treat her like an annoyance. "Thank you. I'm glad you think so." She smiles again faintly. "You seem nice, too. You needn't be afraid to speak to me, either. I won't bite."
Gyarahabala smiles warmly at the pup. Supporting his leader, he adds, "From our pack's earliest beginnings, Saahasi have respected and valued peace and honor over lineage and birthright, but I do not think this was ever as true as it has been the past two generations of Saahasi. We have been terribly humbled, and it was only when we stood, shoulder to shoulder, unified with others that we overcame our losses. It is a lesson we cannot ever forget."
Chiti smiles as the foray of friendship is accepted, and nods. "I'm glad," she says to the wolves, and then noses down to Daya, giving the pup a nudge. "Why don't you say hello to Kirana, Daya? She's going to be our friend, her and her pack." Gyarahabala gets a soft chuckle. "Our heads may be at your shoulders. But still!" she says to him.
Daya finally crawls back out from under Chiti toward Kirana, her dark little muzzle sniffing the strange scents, so different from her father's or Chiti's. "You're pretty," she says to the silvery she-wolf, wagging her tail. "Do you have puppies?" she asks, not sure if its an inappropriate question.
And again Kirana's expression grows mirthful, half-lidded eyes gleaming. "Thank you again. You're quite a lovely young lady, yourself. You remind me of one of my daughters when she was your age." She doesn't seem offended by the pup's question, merely giving a small shake of her head. Though her expression is still cheerful, there's a hint of whistfulness in her voice. "I did, but they're not pups any longer, alas. They've grown up. Don't be in any hurry now, Daya. My pups grew up far too quickly."
Gyarahabala looks to Kirana, then back to Chiti and giggles a bit. "You should see us standing shoulder-to-shoulder to a tiger such as Bhata or Bhaskar. And yet much of the strength in an alliance come from the eyes of birds, and the ears on bats so we know more about a threat and where they are than the thread knows about itself. Dhole and wolf have sharpness of nose that can find otherwise hidden trails to tell us where a threat has been and what they have been up to, and smaller size grants access to more paths through dense jungle, granting shortcuts and paths to safety or to help others. When our enemy is an brute force unmatchable for its strength or ferocity, there are other ways to even the odds than trying to equal their muscle."
Chiti smiles at Daya's greeting and question, and Kirana's response to her. That part is familiar territory, now - the same sort of conversation that happens when two clans come together, or hunting-groups returning from a long exploration. It makes her own tail sway slightly, a little cluck of contentment coming from her throat. Gyarahabala gets her consideration, though, with a stilling of motion as she considers on what he says. "We aren't really a... fighting force. The pups are still so young, and... we can help, certainly. Sharing kills, watching other younglings, but... Sri and I, we aren't warriors."
Daya says, "It sure would be nice to have more pups our age to play with ... but if they want to sleep over ... I hope they don't snore as loudly as my sister!"
An accomodating chuckle is given to Daya before Kirana addresses Chiti again. "There's more to a warrior than physical strength. As Gyarahabala said, there are other ways to fight back against an enemy than with direct force. Fortitude and resourcefulness may win out where claws and teeth can't find purchase." A pause, and the she-wolf rises back to all fours, bowing again first to the adult dhole, then to the pup. "Please, give Sri my regards. I'm sure we will meet again soon, perhaps elsewhere. If you are new to this place, I would advise you to beware the fires. They move quickly. Now, I must make sure that my own family is out of danger." Another glance is exchanged with her packmate as she turns to go, calling back over her shoulder as she lopes away, "Farewell, Chiti and Daya! May good hunting and safety run with your pack!"
Gyarahabala perks his ears. "Fire?" He grows alarmed, just what they need in this refuge from the dangerous jungle, and quickly mounts the outcrop Kirana had been perched upon before being hunted by the pup. He flattens his ears. "It is distant, but ..." he turns back to the dholes, a bit worried. "How many of you are there? Just in case, it might be good to have everyone to go, if the wind brings it this way." He looks back to his packmate and ledrene. He is concerned for Saahasi, of course, but he knows Kirana is more than capable of ensuring the pack's safety, and he decides, perhaps, he should stay here and help keep watch on the fire for the dholes, as Chiti appears to have her paws full with the puppy. Realizing he has neglected to introduce himself, he bows surprisingly gracefully for his missing forelimb to Chiti. "I am Gyarahabala, also of Saahasi, and I place myself at your service."
Chiti smiles for Daya, and nods softly to Kirana, though with a bit of hesitance. This fight has already had losses for her, and she hasn't even begun to fight back yet. She'll have to think more on that, and what can be done. But whatever it is, the pups certainly come first. She gives Daya another nuzzle, and then calls, "Farewell, Kirana. May your days be joyful!" Once the female has left, she turns back to Gyarahabala. "We can move, if this place is unsafe. But... Sri has gone, to seek for the jackal with the tigers who came here. If we move now, we'll have to find each other again. Perhaps we'll be fortunate, and the fires will keep away... I'd better go check on Sajala, though."
Daya says, "Fire? I don't like fire. It make stinky smoke!" As though on cue, the ambient smoke from the distant fire causes the pup to sneeze. achOOOOOOO!
Gyarahabala says, "Lakshmi. Unfortunately, when I last saw her, she was some distance away. I hope Sri does not get lost trying to find her. I am certain she will intercept Sri if she sees him, though ... I know she knows the importance of these relationships. She is a very dutiful kol-bahl and dedicated to this mission."
Chiti seems too distracted to pay much attention to the elder wolf, now, though she listens and nods. "He'll be back soon. I hope." She hesitates a moment, then nosebumps Daya. "Come on. Let's go see if your sister is awake..." she says, and starts herding the pup back in that direction. She looks back, after a couple steps, and nods to Gyarahabala. "I am glad, for... others to stand together with," she says, and smiles, before continuing on back to the den.
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Blanketing the lower slopes of the mountain, this stretch of ancient pines is but a fraction of their vast realm, which follows the foot of the mountain range far in the distance to the northwest. The wind here is strong and almost constant, the boughs of the trees swaying hypnotically with constant whirr and sigh. Adding their many voices to the timeless song of the pines are innumerable birds, most of which remain here year round. There is a smell and rumor of fire; indeed, surface fires (which the trees withstand) are not uncommon in this place, which prevents a great deal of undergrowth from forming. Though perhaps not as diversely as in warmer areas, a variety of herbs, fungi and occasional berry bushes can still be found here by those who know where to look, many of them unique to the area. At a higher altitude, this place is drier and cooler than the jungle. In the summer the climate here is temperate, while in winter this place sees its share of below-freezing temperatures, and snow is not uncommon.
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Characters: Sri (M. Dhole), Chiti (F. Dhole), Daya (F. Dhole Pup)
Daya yapyaps. Is Chiti -sure- about this step mommy business? There's absolutely no sleeping allowed with such loud puppies about! Daya is too much for her siblings, trying to rouse them to play with loud yaps and barks, but they merely cover their ears with their paws. Daya grrrs and tries headbutting Sajala.
Sniffsniff SNIFF SNIFF. He hasn't seen the jackal around lately, but honestly he sort of wishes she'd come back. As it stands now, Sri is feeling out of the loop and quite unhappy about it. He's loitering off among the dappled shade of the trees, but there's nothing like insistant puppies to pull a guy out of a good brood. "Daya!" shouting it, before he reluctantly gets to his paws and heads on over. "What are you doing? I told you earlier to leave the snake /alone/--"
Chiti had just barely gotten to sleep! Dhole pups don't just need parents... they need an entire clan! "Whrghblerghle?"
Daya yaps, "Snake? Where! But, daddy ... they look so fun, the way they ... slither ... and they looks so soft and tasty ..."
"And then they /bite/ you!" when he says 'bite', Sri goes for Daya's nose to try to give her a nip. Then he swings his head over towards Chiti and tries to give /her/ a nip too. "You! We have to talk. There have been some problems around here lately." Poor Chiti! She just wants a /nap/ and NOW look--
Chiti is far too asleep still to avoid the nip. She hadn't even gotten to the HALF-coherent mumblings, yet! It does help her wake up some, though. "Glrb...huh?" There we go, half-coherent. She lifts up her head, and gives it a shake. "The... problems?" Real words! She's nearly there. She tugs herself up to a sitting position, with another shake. "What's... been going on?"
Daya says, "Not if I bite them first! Aww, daddy, you're no fun!" she pouts.
"Bite Chiti," Sri suggests. "It might help her wake up! Go on!" chipper. He flops onto his stomach and regards the other adult with -- less gravity than he should have. It doesn't take much to perk him up, really. "But. There were tigers around here recently, and there was a jackal who was going on about some group of bad tigers? And I feel like we need to find out more or move. Except they were talking about coming -here--"
Chiti blinks. Tigers who - and bad tigers, and - that brings her the rest of the way to awake pretty quickly. "Here? But -" This is where she went to get away from the bad stuff happening, after her old clan got decimated. "The... the bad tigers, or jackals, or... who?"
Daya wastes little time in 'sicking' Chiti. With a scamper, dash and pounce, the pup mercilessly attacks Chiti's tail! Nomnomnom!
Sri wiggles a little, impatiently. "The ones I saw were -- a few tigers and a jackal -- one of the Do-Rakhanaa, I think. And one of the tigers wanted to stay here and I said I didn't like that, but I've smelled other tigers around here at least once, and it sounds like they might come here too, and apparently they're not terribly pleasant?" lilting up. "I told them about how you'd had your clan members -- disappear."
Chiti manages to ignore tail-nommings. Except for the occasional wince. There's an actual problem here, after all. Awake. Ooh, yeah, she's awake. Ow. Awake. Ow. She nods to Sri, and tries to focus on... Ow. Okay, first things first. She turns around to try to get Daya off her tail. Spin-spin-there. Okay. "Jackals... jackals are okay. But tigers... They're never good news. Even the ones that have jackal companions. Those jackals... can't tell you how many of them come limping back from some misadventure." She sighs.
Daya gives up trying to chase the tail that keeps evading her. She looks at Daddy. "What's a tiger?" she asks. "Are tigers like wolves?"
"She seemed nice enough. Sensible. I've never met one of the Do- Rakhanaa before." Technically spekaing he still hasn't, but shh. "In any case-- I know there -are- wolves around here. I've never seen any though. I don't know if we should just leave, or ask them what they've heard, or --" Sri flicks his ears back and glances at his daughter. "Like bigger, scarier wolves. Who-- I didn't think they hung around in groups, but--"
Chiti nods. "Well... it can't hurt to talk to the wolves. They might at least have some idea. But... we should be careful. Some wolves..." she leaves that unsaid, and glances down to Daya, nosing down at her. "Tigers are as much bigger than me as I am than a rabbit," she explains softly. "And some of them are as mean as bite-flies."
Daya decides daddy's tail is less elusive, and pounces it! Nomnomnom! She looks at Chiti. /Up/ at Chiti. "But, but ... you're big!" she yaps.
"Except that they're /terribly/ elusive." Moody again. "Still." He hadn't been paying enough attention to everyDaya, and now he pays; he yelps sharply and aims a hard nip at her. "Hey now!" the dhole gives his head a shake, ears flapping, and huffs out a breath. "Even /big/ dholes have to worry about things. A tiger is the size of /two/ dholes. At least. And they've got paws with teeth in them." Frowny.
Chiti nods to Daya, and then looks back up to Sri as the pup heads off to him. "There's trouble in our fur now, no matter where we shake it out. There are better tigers, and worse ones, but I'd rather see none of them near pups. But to move again... Sajala still hasn't quite put on enough weight for me to be really happy, since you got here."
Daya snorts. "Yeah, and she /still/ snores a lot. Someone should fix that!" she pouts. As though on cue, from her sister's slumbering form nearby, the sound of a buzzsaw-snorting pig hybrid rings out in spurts.
"Regardless of her /snoring/--" Sri pokes Daya, "I don't know. I'd rather ifnd out more, I think -- if only because I don't know where exactly these particular tigers /are/. And I -don't- like the idea of a clan of them."
Chiti nods. "No... clans are for dholes. Tigers... they're meant to travel alone. If they're together... either there's something going wrong, to make them join. Or they're the something wrong." She shakes her head softly, considering. "How should we find out more, then? Is the jackal you spoke to still around, can we get more information from her?"
Sri ponders a few moments. "I haven't seen or smelled her around within the last few days -- but I can go afield a bit, and see if I can hunt her down. If we really -are- going to have a group of tigers here soon, then I imagine she might be lurking about. I don't know quite how they were involved with -that- group, but--"
Daya yawns at long last. Could Daya's energy be ebbing finally!? She sits and scratches at a dirty, itchy ear with a hindleg.
Chiti nods slightly. "We... perhaps we can make a deeper den. To keep the pups safe, and out of the way." She looks over to Daya, starting to settle down, as she continues. "These trees have deep roots; if we dig, they'll keep the earth in place. If we're staying here..." And that is the question, isn't it? To stay, or flee...
"I suppose. It's good for a start -- b ut you were talking about your clan who disappeared, and now--" he whines softly. "/Tigers/. Hff. Would you like to stay with the pups while I go on a search for a few days?"
Daya bounds over to Chiti, putting her paws up on Chiti's shoulders and wagging. Daya likes Chiti! If only she'd let Chiti sleep ... or her tail to heal ...
Chiti tilts her head down, and licks at Daya's face, and then looks back up to Sri and nods. "I can do that. Perhaps... I'll work on that den, while you do. Perhaps even..." she laughs, and looks to the pup. "Would you and your sister like a race to see who can dig faster?"
"Put 'em to work! They've got to be good for /something/ other than biting my tail." Sri tries for a baleful stare in Daya's direction but can't keep it up for very long at all. "I think," he decides, and clambers to his paws, giving himself a hearty shake, "I'll give it a start now."
Daya says, "Of course I can dig faster. My sister's not even awake!" Silly girl.
Chiti smiles to Daya. "Even better! You can get a head start now!" she says, and then turns back to Sri. "Be safe. Even if you find out nothing, come back here safely."
PART II -
Characters: Chiti (f dhole), Daya (f dhole pup), Kirana (f wolf), Gyarahabala (m elder wolf)
There was something heavy in the air when Kirana awoke; some distant foreboding that had been growing in the back of her mind and now was rising more urgently into the surface of her thoughts. Of course, the disappearances and the gathering menace to the south were troubling enough, not to mention the bad dreams that seem to have been plaguing Gyarahabala as well as herself. But this was something else. Familiar, but unsettling. A long stretch and meditation outside the den where all was peaceful and quiet had revealed nothing unusual, but failed to put her completely at ease. Only after wandering up onto a ledge of stone on one of the steeper forested slopes that she's caught a clear whiff of a scent that she had both suspected and dreaded: smoke. Not the old scent from past burns. This is fresh. Scanning what can be seen of the northwestern horizon, she spots it, barely. Far off, there's a gossamer whisp of black against the pale sky, and she has to squint and focus to keep it in her vision. But it's there, unmistakably. Perched on a rather small outcrop, the wolf crouches in a pose that makes her look almost as if she is waiting to pounce, and stares at the distant signal in thoughtful silence. )
Chiti has been wrangling the pups since Sri left. This mostly means getting about three hours of sleep a day, never all at once, and being awoken by tail-gnawings. Worst of all is when the pups /are/ quiet. That generally means they're getting into trouble. Never has she so much wanted the rest of a clan to help her. Things are far too quiet, now, and that's what wakes her. She looks around - yes, there's Sajala. But where is Daya? She's not in the den. Chiti gets up quickly, heading out and looking for signs of the youngling.
Daya is out and about, seeking trouble alright. She spots a dark silhouette crouched on a rather small outcrop. The wayward pup 'sneaks' crawling on her belly toward the unfamiliar target ...
A keen triangular ear twitches in the wayward pup's direction, but for a moment the wolfess seems totally preoccupied with her thoughts, and the youngster goes unacknowledged. She lets Daya get quite close before suddenly turning her peircing gaze in the pup's direction. "Careful, dear one." Her voice is somehow stern and soft at once -- grave, yet gently amused. "A hunter caught without her packmates may become the hunted." Pivoting on her paws, she stands up to her full height on long, slender legs and without breaking the motion jumps down from her perch to land before the youngster, still watching her intently. Despite the words of warning, Kirana doesn't seem very hostile. She seems relaxed and more curious of the pup than anything else as she approaches at a lope, nose twitching to take in her scent once she's close enough.
Chiti sniffs for the scent, and begins trailing the pup. She lets out a soft, cooing call, trying to locate Daya. She can't have gone far, can she? Chiti certainly hopes not, as she follows that trail towards the pup - and the wolf she's found. One of these days, Daya is going to get herself into real trouble like that...
Daya trembles a bit. This one ... is a bit bigger than her ... and, come to think of it ... bigger than daddy. Ummm ... daddy ... "Daddy!" the pup suddenly cries, turning and fleeing and running in terror ... right into Chiti's legs. OOF! Hey, those weren't there!
The wolf chuckles and watches the pup flee -- right into Chiti. She regards the older dhole with an even gaze and a friendly smile as she lowers her head in a bow. "Good evening." And then, looking down at Daya, "Sorry for startling you.. but there are more startling things out here than I. Minding your elders may not seem like much fun, but believe me, running into them is worse."
As things for Daya to collide with go, Chiti's legs are one of the better options. She lowers her head to give the pup a comforting nuzzle, licking at her to try to calm her before looking to see just what's terrorized her. Ah. A wolf. She stands her ground to the larger creature - she couldn't really run without leaving Daya behind, after all, so she has little choice. Wolves can be a problem. But... they can also be allies. And this one seems to be friendly enough, so she smiles back, and returns the bow as best she can with a pup against her legs. "Greetings."
Daya hides behind Chitilegs. So brave she was, sneaking up on a wolf, and scampering in terror when her expert stealth was somehow foiled! Now she peers out at the ... not-a-dhole. "Is that a tiger?" she asks Chiti.
"Thankfully not." Kirana answers for Chiti, her smile widening at the suggestion. "I'm a wolf. Tigers are much bigger, and stripey-er. And a lot more un-dhole-ish." Dropping to her haunches casually and wrapping her bushy tail about herself, she regards Chiti again. "I'm Kirana, head of the Saahasi. I was hoping I'd run into you sooner than later, but other happenings have prevented me from seeking you out before now."
Chiti laughs softly, and nods in agreement with Kirana's explanation. "Wolves and dholes are like rats and mice," she adds, trying to put it into concepts the pup will understand. "We're closer than we are different." She nods to Kirana. "I'm Chiti, of..." Of what? There's her, and Sri, and the pups. Stragglers from two clans without one of their own, yet. She jumps on, past the awkwardness. "There's been a lot of trouble going around, it seems. Friends gone missing. Tigers."
Daya says, "Rats and mice? So ... since we're smaller ... we're mice?" she asks, then giggles. That sounded silly!
Kirana chuckles again. "That would imply me to be a rat, I suppose." The tip of her tail flicks, catlike, as she considers this prospect with a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. Her expression sombers considerably at the mention of the ever-present troubles. "Yes. We've heard rumors of tigers gathering, and some of our own have gone missing as well." Her ears fold back momentarily and her head dips, eyes dropping earthward as if waighed by the sudden remembrance of grief. But she brings herself back to the present with a shake of her head, and lifts her gaze to meet Chiti's again. "And more potential trouble --" She adds, looking northwestward again though the smoke can't be seen from down here, "The fires have started."
To the east, under the Stone Arch, an old three-legged wolf quite familiar to Kirana appears. At seeing his very dear packmate and leader in a potentially delicate contact situation, Gyarahabala appears and pauses. He would think an old wolf would not be viewed as much of a threat, but not wanting to risk boldly blundering forward, he waits to see whether there is tension in the situation. Seeing the lone she-dhole with a pup, but not appearing too threatened, the old three-legged wolf slowly makes his way over toward Kirana, Chiti and Daya. He sits quietly behind Kirana for now.
It does sound silly, but Daya's got the idea now. And more importantly, she's laughing, not scared. She nods to the pup, smiling, and looks up to Kirana, sharing the joke. The smile grows rueful as she sees the wolf's sorrow, and then she looks out to follow the gaze, staring at trees that offer no hint as Kirana explains. "Troubles stuck in our fur like burrs," she murmurs, with a soft whine. When she turns back, her eyes flick to Gyarahabala approaching, startled for a moment - but he is clearly old, and lame. Not very threatening. If this is the state of Sahaasi, the wolves and dholes are alike these days in more than shape. "Troubles, faced together, are often easier," she offers. "Perhaps we can be companions in these troubles." There. Now to see what the wolf thinks of that.
Daya stays hiding behind Chiti's front legs. "She seems nice, just like you, Chiti," Daya says, speaking of Kirana. She peers oddly at the three-legged wolf behind Kirana.
The wolfess offers a warm glance back at Gyarahabala as she hears the familiar three-legged pawsteps, then returns her attention to Chiti. "Very true. I certainly hope that we shall be companions, as all of our combined strength and courage may soon be needed." Again Kirana turns her regard towards the pup. Unlike most adults tend to do, she doesn't ignore the youngster or treat her like an annoyance. "Thank you. I'm glad you think so." She smiles again faintly. "You seem nice, too. You needn't be afraid to speak to me, either. I won't bite."
Gyarahabala smiles warmly at the pup. Supporting his leader, he adds, "From our pack's earliest beginnings, Saahasi have respected and valued peace and honor over lineage and birthright, but I do not think this was ever as true as it has been the past two generations of Saahasi. We have been terribly humbled, and it was only when we stood, shoulder to shoulder, unified with others that we overcame our losses. It is a lesson we cannot ever forget."
Chiti smiles as the foray of friendship is accepted, and nods. "I'm glad," she says to the wolves, and then noses down to Daya, giving the pup a nudge. "Why don't you say hello to Kirana, Daya? She's going to be our friend, her and her pack." Gyarahabala gets a soft chuckle. "Our heads may be at your shoulders. But still!" she says to him.
Daya finally crawls back out from under Chiti toward Kirana, her dark little muzzle sniffing the strange scents, so different from her father's or Chiti's. "You're pretty," she says to the silvery she-wolf, wagging her tail. "Do you have puppies?" she asks, not sure if its an inappropriate question.
And again Kirana's expression grows mirthful, half-lidded eyes gleaming. "Thank you again. You're quite a lovely young lady, yourself. You remind me of one of my daughters when she was your age." She doesn't seem offended by the pup's question, merely giving a small shake of her head. Though her expression is still cheerful, there's a hint of whistfulness in her voice. "I did, but they're not pups any longer, alas. They've grown up. Don't be in any hurry now, Daya. My pups grew up far too quickly."
Gyarahabala looks to Kirana, then back to Chiti and giggles a bit. "You should see us standing shoulder-to-shoulder to a tiger such as Bhata or Bhaskar. And yet much of the strength in an alliance come from the eyes of birds, and the ears on bats so we know more about a threat and where they are than the thread knows about itself. Dhole and wolf have sharpness of nose that can find otherwise hidden trails to tell us where a threat has been and what they have been up to, and smaller size grants access to more paths through dense jungle, granting shortcuts and paths to safety or to help others. When our enemy is an brute force unmatchable for its strength or ferocity, there are other ways to even the odds than trying to equal their muscle."
Chiti smiles at Daya's greeting and question, and Kirana's response to her. That part is familiar territory, now - the same sort of conversation that happens when two clans come together, or hunting-groups returning from a long exploration. It makes her own tail sway slightly, a little cluck of contentment coming from her throat. Gyarahabala gets her consideration, though, with a stilling of motion as she considers on what he says. "We aren't really a... fighting force. The pups are still so young, and... we can help, certainly. Sharing kills, watching other younglings, but... Sri and I, we aren't warriors."
Daya says, "It sure would be nice to have more pups our age to play with ... but if they want to sleep over ... I hope they don't snore as loudly as my sister!"
An accomodating chuckle is given to Daya before Kirana addresses Chiti again. "There's more to a warrior than physical strength. As Gyarahabala said, there are other ways to fight back against an enemy than with direct force. Fortitude and resourcefulness may win out where claws and teeth can't find purchase." A pause, and the she-wolf rises back to all fours, bowing again first to the adult dhole, then to the pup. "Please, give Sri my regards. I'm sure we will meet again soon, perhaps elsewhere. If you are new to this place, I would advise you to beware the fires. They move quickly. Now, I must make sure that my own family is out of danger." Another glance is exchanged with her packmate as she turns to go, calling back over her shoulder as she lopes away, "Farewell, Chiti and Daya! May good hunting and safety run with your pack!"
Gyarahabala perks his ears. "Fire?" He grows alarmed, just what they need in this refuge from the dangerous jungle, and quickly mounts the outcrop Kirana had been perched upon before being hunted by the pup. He flattens his ears. "It is distant, but ..." he turns back to the dholes, a bit worried. "How many of you are there? Just in case, it might be good to have everyone to go, if the wind brings it this way." He looks back to his packmate and ledrene. He is concerned for Saahasi, of course, but he knows Kirana is more than capable of ensuring the pack's safety, and he decides, perhaps, he should stay here and help keep watch on the fire for the dholes, as Chiti appears to have her paws full with the puppy. Realizing he has neglected to introduce himself, he bows surprisingly gracefully for his missing forelimb to Chiti. "I am Gyarahabala, also of Saahasi, and I place myself at your service."
Chiti smiles for Daya, and nods softly to Kirana, though with a bit of hesitance. This fight has already had losses for her, and she hasn't even begun to fight back yet. She'll have to think more on that, and what can be done. But whatever it is, the pups certainly come first. She gives Daya another nuzzle, and then calls, "Farewell, Kirana. May your days be joyful!" Once the female has left, she turns back to Gyarahabala. "We can move, if this place is unsafe. But... Sri has gone, to seek for the jackal with the tigers who came here. If we move now, we'll have to find each other again. Perhaps we'll be fortunate, and the fires will keep away... I'd better go check on Sajala, though."
Daya says, "Fire? I don't like fire. It make stinky smoke!" As though on cue, the ambient smoke from the distant fire causes the pup to sneeze. achOOOOOOO!
Gyarahabala says, "Lakshmi. Unfortunately, when I last saw her, she was some distance away. I hope Sri does not get lost trying to find her. I am certain she will intercept Sri if she sees him, though ... I know she knows the importance of these relationships. She is a very dutiful kol-bahl and dedicated to this mission."
Chiti seems too distracted to pay much attention to the elder wolf, now, though she listens and nods. "He'll be back soon. I hope." She hesitates a moment, then nosebumps Daya. "Come on. Let's go see if your sister is awake..." she says, and starts herding the pup back in that direction. She looks back, after a couple steps, and nods to Gyarahabala. "I am glad, for... others to stand together with," she says, and smiles, before continuing on back to the den.