><Dulldrums><

[Guardian]

If there was more to life than eating and sleeping, no one had informed Guardian of it. The male thought he had once had an exciting life, long ago -- but all of that was ages ago, and as he thought on it, foolish and immature. He was aging, and coming to realize that he was lucky to be alive and healthy, abide one-eyed. Many were not so lucky.

Such thoughts were too depressing for him to keep his mind on for long, though. In truth, the male was bored. He hadn't had any sort of company for months, perhaps years. Being a puma, this was not half so traumatic as it would be for a wolf. He could continue to go years without seeing another of his species without having a nervous breakdown. It was against his nature, though; he spent his early days among others of his kind, and was accustomed to it. He wouldn't mind seeing at least one puma from time to time.

Still, he didn't specifically seek company -- that was just asking for trouble, going against basic instinct and self-preservation. Seeking company meant sharing food, and while he had seen a few pumas in the area handle it, it was just too unnatural for him. Maybe Kari and Kent could handle each other's presence, but his stomach ruled him with an iron fist, and sharing food was out of the question.

Thus, the male made sure he was not hungry when he patrolled his territory, both to ward off intruders and perhaps meet someone new. He didn't have to kill the hapless feline that stumbled unknowingly upon him.

((Ugh, such a suck post. Sorry x.x ))

[Savannah]

((Well, crap. I can't remember how many cubs she had. X3 Should've listed it on the character list thread. x-x))

// She had left her territory once again. She did so often. She loved her adolescent children, almost to the point of obsession, but they were also a painful reminder. She had once had a sort of mate. Well, her only mate really, seeing as she'd only mated once in her lifetime. At any rate, he had up and abandoned her and their cubs without so much as a warning. One day he was there and the next, he was gone.

Being raised a fairly social puma, she took this hard. Then again, she was no longer in contact with any of the individuals that had taken her in and raised her either. She supposed that didn't help matters either.

The effect of circumstances snowballed into a crushing distrust for those of her own species, particularly males. She could bear to see her son once in a blue moon and the fact that she shared a territory with her daughters made seeing them unavoidable. It had been easier at first. They had still been young and she clung to them. She babied and obsessed over them to absurd degrees. But now that they'd long been old enough to live without her, she found life more difficult.

Thusly, she went off on these sort of adventures. She needed to escape what her life had become and try to clear her mind so that she might bear more of what was in store for her. She's so engrossed in her thoughts that she hardly notices the scent of another puma nearby. When she consciously becomes aware of it, she freezes midstep, ears flattening back. Perhaps she would have the chance to escape without being noticed. \\

[Guardian]

There would be no escape for Savannah ((Well that sounds ominous o.O )). Guardian's sense of smell had not dulled with age, though his sight had (the missing eye didn't help), and the wind was in his favor. He had barely lifted his nose from the ground when he smelled the other puma near his borders, and seconds from being in them. Had it been a male puma, Guardian's instincts would have taken over and demanded he chase the puma away with tooth and claw.

Since it was a female, they only demanded he politely chase her away. Guardian's ears flicked back. Frankly, he thought chasing away a creature that wasn't exactly on his territory a bit rude, and besides, this was a puma he had never met before. She was from around here, yes -- everything about her scent was familiar, except for her identity. A fellow puma from around these parts that he hadn't caught wind of was unusual indeed, and made him wonder what he had missed when he was busy eating and sleeping.

With a snort the puma headed off. Fortunately, the female was close, and it wasn't long before he thought he could make out the shape of a puma. She smelled of cubs, but he could not see any of them nearby; older, perhaps? He kept a distance back to be sure, knowing from handling Rubica that mothers were ferocious and would skin him alive. His own "daughter" had been that way, after all. But then, wasn't that the normal way of pumas? Chase everything away.

He had a long way to go before he was normal, in that case, because instead of chasing Savannah anywhere he stepped a bit closer, whiskers and ears forward.

"Greetings."

He said nothing else, giving her the chance to turn tail and flee if she wished. He hoped she stuck around, though, if only to exchange names and let him know where her cubs were, so she wouldn't chase after him and kill him later when he accidentally strayed in their direction. However, he hoped that came out in conversation; "So where are your cubs located?" was not exactly a question that got a pleasant answer.

((My posts seem rather random tonight))

[Savannah]

// She sees the male approach and stiffens, returning all four paws firmly to the ground. Her stance changes, though she can't decide if she wants to stay or leave. Tail flicking anxiously, she looks him over. Somewhat older.. and larger than she. He didn't seem dangerous.. But then, he was missing an eye. Was he perhaps a violent type? Or had he been the victim? She can't help pondering this as she wavers, weighing her choices.

She hadn't spoken to another puma, aside from her cubs, of course, for several months. She supposed that it would do no harm to say hello and then be on her way.. She had been raised to be social and at the moment, she rather cursed that fact. Perhaps if she'd had a more, dare she say 'normal,' start to life, she wouldn't be so inclined to stay.

She's frustrated with herself for even considering the fact of conversing with this brute. Had she lost her mind? How many times did she have to be burned before she learned to stay clear of the fire? She very nearly growls, but contains it to a mere twitch of her lip.

Hardly relaxing her posture, she returns his greeting with a brief, "Hello." \\

((That's fine. Random can be fun. =3))

[Guardian]

Guardian admitted it -- he was secretly hoping the female would be a social butterfly and be happy to converse with him. He could dream, right? Surely Rubica is the anomaly in puma behavior, not Kari. Surely every puma is as willing to converse from time to time as he was.

Wrong.

The male took a step back at the look in Savannah's eyes and the twitch of her lip -- a slight grimace, but it spoke volumes. He had irritated this female; he could see it in her stance, eyes, could practically smell it. The male's ears went back and he sagged slightly, averting his gaze. It was silly, really, submitting when she was almost on his territory, not the other way around. However, he didn't want to be attacked if he had done something wrong.

"I'm sorry... If I interrupted you, you can go. I don't mind if you enter my territory as long as it's brief."

He paused, eyes flickering to her briefly.

"I'm Guardian, by the way."

Curse his mouth! Now by sheer politeness she would have to respond. It didn't cross Guardian's mind that "polite" wasn't really in a normal puma's vocabulary.

[Savannah]

// Her learned social tendencies cause her to grimace once more and howl angrily in her mind. A faint snarl manages to escape this time. She is quick to cut it off, especially as she sees the male take on a more submissive posture. This was rather bizarre. Damn her curious nature. Tail twitching in a slightly agitated manner, she answers, voice a bit strained, "I apologize for coming so close to your land. I didn't realize."

She pauses. He had offered his name. Infuriating.. She was compelled to respond. "I'm Savannah," she grumbles, growing more and more upset with herself. Her fresh experience with betrayal, influences her to flex her fore paws upon the earth. She wanted so terribly to lash out. How dare this male speak to her. She had no desire to seek the company of others.

Oh, but she must. It was ingrained in her mind. How many pumas had she grown up around. At least five adults. Of course, her main guardian had been her most constant companion. But still, she had grown accustomed to the presence of others to the point that too much time alone was unbearably boring.

The contradictions were enough to make her want to scream. She hardly handle her opposing views. How could such polar opposites fit inside one head? \\

((Rawr. Internal conflict=<3))

[Guardian]

Oh great, now he had only annoyed her further. Guardian drooped and backed up when the female's tail twitched. His whiskers flattened at her apology. What was she apologizing for? Had he not just told her she was free to step through? Perhaps she was just being polite. But since when were other pumas polite? Even Kari didn't bother with everyday pleasantries like wolves or other social animals did.

Then Savannah seemed annoyed at him offering his name, and he only became more confused. If she was so aggravated, why didn't she just leave or attack him? Why did she keep returning the pleasant conversation? He was used to pumas either being social or being normal, not this odd mix between the two. It seemed like Savannah wanted to move on her way, and yet had no choice but to stick around and answer him.

The male sat down and stared sheepishly at his paws. "Well... It's nice to meet you." And there he went again with the standard pleasantries. The male looked briefly at Savannah to make sure she wasn't about to eat him, then licked nervously at one massive paw. "But if you have somewhere to go..." Go and leave? Save me this embarrassment? In the end, Guardian decided it was best not to complete that sentence.

((LOL, these two are hilarious together. I love it))

[Savannah]

// She watches this males reactions closely. She was a bit bewildered as he sat. He didn't seem to be much of a threat to her. Perhaps she was correct in following the example of her social experiences as a youngster. She seems to relax slightly, though her mind continues roaring at impossible speeds. Why was she still here? Why didn't she just leave? Why did she want to leave? Why was this male speaking to her? From what she had learned recently, other pumas weren't the most social bunch. This unnerved her slightly. Had he been raised in a similar fashion to her? She mumbles an incoherent response to his first statement and tilts her head at his second.

She suddenly begins walking, keeping the same distance between herself and Guardian if not more, only to stop a few yards out and walk back, pacing. She peers at him every now and then, just to keep tabs on him. She was still thinking. Why she was pacing, even she wasn't sure. To ease her agitation in a non-violent way? Still padding back and forth, she speaks, sounding troubled but a little less strained, "No, I don't need to go anywhere." \\


(( I figured these two would be pretty entertaining. ;P))

[Guardian]

The longer the encounter continued, the more confused Guardian became. He thought sitting down and giving the puma an excuse to leave would result in her bounding away. Instead, she continued to stand around, even relaxing slightly. Perhaps she had felt threatened? He was a fairly large puma, though he had figured the lack of an eye would perhaps make him seem a little less scary.

Though, as he reflected on it, that didn't quite make sense. Combined with his other scars, he probably looked like a monster. The male's tail twitched; it would explain Savannah's nervousness, but perhaps not her grumbling and agitation. Unless he had accidentally wronged her by stealing a kill or something, but he didn't recognize her scent.

First she mumbled, then she stared, and then she began pacing. The fur on Guardian's back rose slightly. Was she sick? She certainly wasn't acting like a healthy puma, weird or otherwise. Perhaps he was the one who should go, before she attacked him and ended up having some deadly infection. Her constant looks didn't help him feel any more comfortable about the situation, and the male's claws dug into the light soil.

And then she spoke, and completely lost Guardian entirely. She didn't have to go anywhere? Then why was she pacing around, clearly disturbed? She no longer seemed angry, at least, but her behavior was off-putting enough to make Guardian rise again, though slowly so his movement wouldn't catch her off-guard. He sensed that may not be in his best interests.

"Oh."

He tried to think of something else to say, but for once words failed him. Talking seemed to just agitate her more, anyway, and so the male fell silent, standing uncertainly, watching the female with a slight frown and ears back.

[Savannah]

// She realizes the males discomfort and she sighs, ears twitching. What was she doing? She halts abruptly. Her lip quivers, but it was directed at herself, not the larger puma before her. Savannah was beginning to question her own sanity. But of course, she was noticing these unusual behaviors and thoughts in her. That had to mean something. She couldn't be going completely batty. She shakes her head and turns to face the male, her posture tense but careful. She needed to get herself under control.

She opens her mouth to speak, pauses, shakes her head and shuts it again. Instead, she observes the other puma carefully. He seemed disturbed by her behavior. "Perhaps I'm losing my mind after all," she mumbles under her breathe. She shakes her head again. Guardian seemed to be weighing the situation. Perhaps determining if she were a danger or not. Was she? Even she wasn't sure.

The learned social behaviors in her urge her to put the feline at ease and perhaps have a chat. Other instincts told her she had no business here. Again, she leans toward the learned behaviors from her childhood. Still tense, she lowers herself to what she hoped appeared to be a casual sit. Her tail curls around her and she attempts a friendly grin, though for all she knew it could've turned out looking more like a grimace. "I am sorry for that. Times have been difficult for me.. If you would forgive me?"

And her mind howls at her. Why was she asking him for forgiveness? She'd done nothing wrong. Her ears twitch and the end her tail flickers a bit, but she otherwise manages to keep these contrasting opinions within her own mind. Perhaps if they could get a somewhat normal conversation going, her insanity would fade. \\

[Guardian]

Guardian received no encouragement from Savannah's abrupt halt; rather, he wondered if she had finally decided to attack him, and backed up, ears flat and lips quivering. However, she did not pounce upon turning to him, instead opening and closing her mouth and shaking her head. Lips still, Guardian tilted his head, eyes narrowing and whiskers creeping forward. This puma was weird.

Then she muttered to herself, and though Guardian's hearing wasn't the best, he thought he caught "mind" and "all". Hmmm. Talking to oneself was never a good measure of health, granted, but regardless his ears came up a bit and his tail stilled. Then she sat, and tried to smile at him, and spoke logical, careful, polite words.

Guardian's ears and whiskered relaxed forward and he smiled gently, sitting down. "It's quite all right. I know the feeling." He paused, then decided to risk it. "Though if you don't mind my asking, what hardships do you speak of?"

He wasn't quite sure why he pried. It wasn't like pumas normally helped each other, or like she would even want his help. She'd probably just think he was being a normal male -- helping females with the hope that they'd produce cubs for him later. Was he helping her for only that purpose? No... No, he had no interest in cubs, really. Not right now, and perhaps -- the thought was discomforting, as if it were a sign of how ill he may be -- never.

He pushed the worrying thoughts away and focused back on Savannah. Never mind whether or not he was normal; he had to make sure Savannah didn't go through another, perhaps more violent, mood swing.

[Savannah]

// Her smile becomes a bit more genuine as he explains that he could relate. As he continues, her ears flatten back and her lips pull back, releasing a short growl. How dare he? And within a second, she was livid. What business did he have prying into her life? Of course, she didn't consider the fact that perhaps being polite and mentioning that she'd had problems in the first place had likely been what lured the male into questioning her. Her tail lashes angrily, but she somehow remains sitting. Amber eyes glare, outright offended by the puma.

After a moment, she calms a bit, allowing reason to override emotion. Her lips smooth back down over her teeth but her ears remain back. She had sort of been asking for it saying she'd had troubles to begin with. She could have just apologized. Or just left. How easy would that have been! She wouldn't be sitting her ranging from wanting to gouge the other puma's eyes out to running away to wanting to carry on a polite conversation. There was no doubt in her mind now; she was definitely insane. Why else would she be having so many conflicts thoughts within such a short period of time? She reassures herself once again by noting that she noticed these things and that had to vouch for her sanity at least a bit.

She shakes her head, forcing her ears to return to a more natural position though her tail continues to lash absently back and forth. Between it and her eyes it was the only sign of her previous outburst. She lets herself think about his inquiry logically. Perhaps he could shine some light on her situation and give her a reason that made it all make sense. Her social self returns and she refocuses her attention upon the male. "Actually..." she trails off, wondering how much she wished to share. "Well, to make it short, my mate left me and my cubs. So did my guardian, come to think of it." She seems to get lost in thought, her eyes glazing over a bit. It saddened her to think of her adopted father figure. Her mate on the other hand just pissed her off. It all made her feel worthless. She manages to keep all of these emotions in check this time, expecting them, and pushes her attention to Guardian. Savannah figured that it couldn't hurt to give him the basic details. What could he do about it? There really was no way she could see it could cause her harm. Except for perhaps the emotional turmoil of digging at old wounds. \\

[Guardian]

Guardian supposed that Savannah's behavior should have warned him against asking any questions. However, apparently his conversational skills were no better than the average puma's, and his latest question resulted in Savannah's body language transforming into pure malice.

His first reaction was to strike first, to put her in her place and protect himself. He rapidly squelched the thought, however, despite the protest from his instincts. Why strike before she did? He was a large puma, if old and one-eyed; he figured he could handle her if she attacked him, or at least get free.

Besides, she hadn't attacked him yet, despite her increasing signs of instability. Why would she possibly attack him now? Well, okay, there were various reasons she would, but he pushed them aside. It was just best not to think about a fight, before he felt too tempted to start it before she could.

Then her lips fell, though her ears were still back and her tail lashed. She seemed to be thinking, though about what Guardian couldn't begin to imagine. A part of him was still curious to know what had happened to her, and yet another part wondered if he would be maimed trying to find out.

Or... Maybe she would just tell him. The male listened carefully, not trying to show any emotion. Good thing, because he couldn't really understand the problem. Wasn't it natural for the male to just leave? Though his life and acquaintances often proved otherwise, Guardian's instincts insisted that if he ever mated with a female, he leave her immediately afterward.

However, despite this, he couldn't leave out past experience, where the male had at least made sure his mate didn't die before leaving. Still, males were more likely to kill cubs than stick around, and he wondered if Savannah was overreacting a bit.

Not something he should share, he decided. Instead he dipped his head, tail twitching.

"I am sorry to hear that."

He would have offered more had he thought her more justified in her distrust.