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 Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:45 pm
Iseq had come to know about her sister's pregnancy during a brief visit some time back and had been aware of their birth, dropping by to check in on them from time to time in her various comings and goings in the woods. It had been a while since her last visit and the urge to see how her nieces and nephews were doing had been clawing in the back of her mind. She knew that Raven would be a more than adequate mother to her brood. The lioness could see her sister in the children and sometimes pondered on who their father had been. A darkly coated fellow to be sure, with some manner of facial, back, and tail markings, but that's not what she wondered on. What was he like in person? Iseq didn't care enough to go prying to see if she could get anything out of her sister, nor did she fancy tracking him down to just observe him. No, at present she was perfectly content to stick to the woodlands that had become as familiar to her as her own heartbeat. A half fallen tree covered in thorny vines had dipped lower into her path than it had been on her previous trip through. Without slowing her pace, Iseq dipped low enough to not be bothered by the sharp thorns, simply letting the longest of them barely drag across the dark fur of her back. They should be closer now, her kin. A ghost of a smile passed across her features at the thought of how big the cubs must have grown, how much they would be learning. While not being so active in their upbringing, it did her heart good to see them.
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Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 7:35 pm
 Odd prowled restlessly along the borders of the clearing where his mother made her den. Since Calder's abduction his movements and those of his siblings had been severely limited by his mother. She was not often around, as usual, but now she expected her remaining cubs to stay near the den so that no more would be stolen. Odd suspected she was tracking the lion who had stolen Calder, but it wasn't as if she asked his opinion or gave him choices or anything like that.
"I can't even play properly," he muttered.
Not only had Calder been his playmate of choice in games of pretend, but the restricted area which now served as his boundaries left him little to work with for active pretending. He might as well close his eyes and make up stories in his head. Perhaps that was what he should do. Or maybe he should try clearing his mind so that the spirits could speak to him. Maybe the spirits would even have suggestions for amusing himself.
He stalked to the edge of the prescribed area and seated himself comfortably. Then he closed his eyes and tried to let his mind go blank, sending his senses out into the forest. The spirits communicated through many media, his mother had taught her cubs, and so he was trying to make himself open to more than just visual signs. He was already pretty good at noticing those, he figured.
Instead of spirits, he ended up sensing something - someone - more mundane. He grinned and opened his eyes, announcing proudly, "Aunt Iseq! I smelled you."
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Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:01 pm
Her sister's current neck of the foods felt a little off, which made Iseq's fur want to bristle. There wasn't the tang of blood or anything, just a faded presence of her scent. It was still there, but even less than it normally was. What would draw her presence from their secluded wood. Pausing her advance, the lioness closed her eyes and sniffed the air, drawing her ears back slightly. There had to be a good explanation for this. One she knew that she would learn soon, either from one of her nieces or nephews, from the spirits, or from her sisters herself.
Pressing on towards the den, Iseq followed a trail very familiar to her, though it was very narrow and ill marked. A young voice calling out proud and clear made her freeze in her tracks. A low, soft laugh answered Odd's call before anything else did.
"I've been found then," She said with an echo of a chuckle, springing over a fallen log and padding to where her nephew had called out to her. "Hello, Odd-child. It is good to see you again. I swear, you get bigger every time I see you." Iseq said as she moved to give the boy a bit of a nuzzle before looking around the clearing of the den with a faint narrowing of her eyes. All of the children were right here, with the exception of one. Returning her attention to her streak-tufted nephew. "Where is your mother and Calder? They don't feel here...And the rest of you aren't off exploring and learning. Tell me, what happened here?" Iseq said as she sat next to the boy.
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Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 8:23 am
Odd grinned when he heard his mother's sister laugh. The women in his family all had such wonderful laughter. It was always genuine, even if it was sometimes unkind, and it always made Odd want to smile when he heard it. He stood up and waited eagerly for her to come into view so that he could greet her properly. Her visits were always interesting, and would be a welcome break from the tedium imposed by his mother's sudden caution.
"It's good to see you again, too," he replied earnestly. "Even if I don't think you're any bigger than the last time I saw you."
The question which followed her survey of the clearing took Odd a little bit by surprise. For whatever reason he had expected that Iseq would know of the horrible thing which had befallen the family, and he'd actually assumed that his mother had asked her to come and watch them while she went in search of Calder and the lion who had taken him. He'd sort of hoped that was the case when he sensed her approach, because he'd been sure that her arrival would mean they could wander a bit farther afield.
"You really don't know?" he asked, incredulous despite the evidence. "Calder was taken while my sibs and I slept. Our mother went to find him and bring him back."
Plaintively he added, "And the rest of us aren't allowed to leave the clearing until she comes back."
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Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:49 pm
The proud aunt gave a chuckle and nodded. "That is a good thing, I suppose." She had no real reason to be larger than from the last time she came to visit. Iseq had not lain with any male that could get her in the family way, nor had she been doing any overeating, always careful to only take what it was that she precisely needed when she needed it. That was the way she had grown up knowing anyway.
Iseq shook her head with a little inclining tip to the side, brow furrowing. "Taken..." She breathed, feeling a p***k of something akin to indignation in the back of her mind. How dare someone take one of her nephews! What compelled them to do so? The rust and smoke colored female snorted a sigh. "I pray my sister luck in her search then. Does she come back at night or has she been staying far afield?"
The mixed expression of her softened at Odd's plaintive addition. "Perhaps I should stay until her return then. Growing youngsters need to stretch their legs and being able to play might help you all work off some nervous tension if you have any...Think you and your siblings could handle that?" She asked with a faint quirk of a grin, pretty certain of what the answer would be.
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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:38 am
"Probably," Odd agreed.
He didn't know of too many reasons why a grown-up would get bigger, and none of the ones he could come up with were anything good. Mostly they involved injuries getting infected and swelling up. Or pregnancy, but he was a little fuzzy on that, it being the wrong season for him to learn through observation of others. He did know that pregnancy did cause grown-ups to get bigger though. At least the female ones. Oh, and eating too much could make someone bigger, theoretically, but he'd never seen that happen. Fatness was only a hypothetical, abstract concept to him.
Odd watched his aunt's reaction. It was far more subdued than his mother's had been. He didn't think he would ever forget that, or the increasing ire with which she returned from her tracking each day. He couldn't believe that she was having a difficult time tracking the lion - his mum could track anything, and surely the spirits would help her, too - but he did know something was making her frustrated.
"She's usually back a little bit after dark," Odd replied. "But if you stayed...that would be really wonderful."
He hoped she wouldn't think he was saying that because he was afraid of being taken himself. He actually wasn't. But he really, really wanted to do more than just hang around the clearing waiting for his mother to return in a bad mood. Maybe if she came back and Iseq was here, she might be more cheerful.
"My legs feel very, very short. They need stretching."
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Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 12:42 am
Iseq hummed in thought, her eyes closing for a moment. She could just imagine her sister's anger at having a child taken and, from her continuing lack of success, what it must be like for her going out day after day. Tense, tired, angry, frustrated, and quite possibly worried. The mental image made her flick her ears before turning her head to face Odd, opening her eyes again.
"Well then, my Odd-child, I shall have to stay then. I will stay and visit with you and your siblings and perhaps when your mother returns I could have a word with her. I bet talking may help her some, at least to calm down for the night before getting worked up searching for Calder tomorrow. Also, if she is so set and leaving absolutely everyday, I could stay closer so that I may watch over you all in her stead until she returns. We can catch up, play games, and learn things. Would you like that?" She inquired, her tone calm and even.
The lioness didn't get the feeling that the youngster was worried of an abduction happening to him. His demeanor didn't sell that. Poor boy was probably bored being so confined when he and his siblings were generally allowed to explore so much more freely.
"Then stretch them, we shall. Let us walk. Show me where you explore." She rose to her feet. "Tell me, has your mother said anything about the one who took your brother? Anything at all?" Iseq narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing from the boy to the den. "Odd, was it your father?" She asked, refocusing on her nephew. While she herself have a regular male companion, the lioness was aware how some males could be if they father had come to father a litter of cubs from a female with whom they don't reside or live close to. Taking a child of their blood from the mother for the sake of having their child close at hand, either pride from the conquest or pride from the outcome, maybe some paternal urge to care for one, but the last of those seemed the least likely to her. If the male were so compelled by fatherhood, would he not stay close and at least offer portions of kills to the mother and young? Exclusive caring urges set aside for one cub over the others didn't sit well with her. If it were up to her, either the father stay and help or just keep the hell away and let the mother tend to her brood as she may.
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Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 5:13 am
"It probably will," Odd supposed. "And it'll be more fun with you here, definitely!"
As a last word on the subject of his mother and Calder, at least as far as he was concerned, Odd felt compelled to add, "I'm pretty sure she actually knows where he is, but I'm not sure she knows how to get him back from there just yet. Maybe you can help her come up with something?"
It would be really wonderful if Iseq could somehow help his mother to solve the dilemma of Calder missing. Odd missed his brother, for one thing, and for another thing he really didn't like having his mother in a bad mood all the time. It was exhausting to be around her, since he felt like he was walking on the tips of his toes all the time. Not that she tended to take out her frustrations on her cubs, but Odd couldn't help want to avoid doing anything that might add to her stresses.
"I like to explore the forest," he said as he set off. "I've been practicing finding and reading signs, and then following them. I think I'm getting pretty good at it, too."
While not usually inclined to brag, Odd did want to show off a little for his aunt, the only family he had that he really knew. He wanted to impress her, and maybe his mother through her. But apparently Iseq was still focusing more on Calder and her sister than Odd's explorations. He couldn't fault her priorities.
"It might have been," Odd said. "I don't know, really, but I think it probably was."
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Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:32 pm
"I see. I would be most willing to offer my assistance however she may need me. A slightly different perspective may be helpful. At the very least, I can be someone she can vent to." After all, approaching a task with your head all clouded with anger and the like could make it more difficult to see things clearly, to think things through.
Iseq would do anything she possibly could to lend assistance to her sister's search for Calder.
She smiled, keeping pace with the boy. "That's wonderful and a good practice to get into. it will serve you well as you get older. You can only get better then more you practice. What all have you been able to find while following these trails and signs, aside from a visiting aunt," She added with a bit of a playful grin.
While worried for her sister and Calder, she wanted for Odd to enjoy himself during their time together.
"It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility, but I can ask your mother when she returns after seeing if I can soothe her some. Then we can be certain who it was and I can learn everything my sister already knows, like where he was taken to and what all she's tried. But, that can be saved for this evening. Tell me of your explorations through these woods."
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Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 6:59 am
Odd had a difficult time imagining his mother venting, honestly. He supposed she might vent to her sister, if anyone, but she certainly didn't vent to her children. On the other hand, until Calder was taken Odd had never seen any evidence that she would need to vent. His mother was a lioness who generally took everything in stride, and Odd strove to emulate that outlook.
"Well, the other day, before Calder was taken, I was following looking through spiderwebs and it brought me to Broni and a dead bird she'd come across. We decided the bird belonged to the spirits and left it for them."
He was particularly proud of that expedition, actually. He had been looking through the spiderwebs and then walking as straight from the epicenter of the web as he could manage in their forest home until he found another spiderweb to point him in a new direction. He hadn't disturbed any of the spiderwebs, of course. Just used them as guides. He was also pleased by the way he and Broni handled the bird, which they had also decided was a test for them, even if they didn't know who was testing them.
"There's a place in the stream where it curves and fish get tangled in the roots of a tree that they can't see around the curve. It's a really easy place to fish from. I found it with Herryk a few days before Calder was taken." It was odd how suddenly his life was divided into Before Calder Was Taken and After Calder Was Taken. He didn't care much for the division.
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:35 pm
Iseq nodded as she listening to Odd recounting his adventures through the wood. The lioness let a proud little smile pull at the corners of her mouth. "Very good. That was a wise decision that the two of you made. There wouldn't be any good or honor in taking something that already belonged to the them. What you did was the best that you could have done. Very good indeed." If he was learning as much as she thought he was, then he would have left the delicate spiderwebs whole, simply using them as a conduit of guidance.
The aunt made a soft sound of understanding. "A good place to practice fishing. Have any of you tried fishing from the banks or standing in the water yet? It can be a true test of patience, but it is always well worth it for you truly earn your meals."
She paused given the boy a once over, taking into account the way he phrased things. "You miss your brother very much, don't you?" Iseq inquired, giving Odd a gentle nudge. Having never not known at least the general area where Raven resided in between their occasional visits during their going about, the thought of being completely removed from her sibling, not knowing where or how she was, seemed a terrible thing indeed. "If I have any feel for the bond between siblings, which I believe I do, I know that Calder is thinking about you as well. Missing you as much as you are missing him..."
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Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2011 11:20 am
Odd smiled at his aunt's praise, pleased to have earned it. He didn't thank her for the approval she expressed though. He had mostly been raised to show his appreciation rather than articulate it. Thanking spirits could be dangerous, since they had been known to interpret thanks as vows of service or indebtedness, and so Odd had learned not to utter the words "thank you" if it could be avoided.
"Um, well, when I try fishing from the bank I usually end up standing in the water. After I stand up anyway. There's a bit where I'm in the water on my butt first." He grinned. "But I do feel good about catching my own fish and bringing them home."
He would have preferred to continue in this light-hearted vein, but his aunt turned the subject back to Calder. He might have winced, but adapting quickly to situations without making a fuss had been part of his upbringing. In response to Iseq's question he nodded.
"I just hope he's alive and healthy enough to miss me," Odd said honestly. "If our father did take him, he probably wouldn't mistreat him. But what if it was someone else?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 7:26 pm
The lioness laughed and nodded. Everyone had to start somewhere and hearing that her nephew was already having some success in fishing was pleasing to her. That meant that they were skilled and that they learned fast, taking their lessons to heart and perhaps had some inborn talents. These thoughts were very pleasing indeed. "Perhaps after our little explore you and I can see about catching some food for you and your siblings, at least, if you all get hungry before your mother returns home."
She sighed softly and gave him a little gentle nudge. "Oh, my Odd-child, I have a strong feeling that your brother is alive. I can feel it in my bones that he is. If your father was the one to take him, then I agree that it wouldn't be likely for him to do him harm." Iseq paused at his question and shook her head. "If it was someone else, and your momma finds them, then they will be in for a world of hurt. Doubly so if they survive and I come to learn who they are. If it is someone unknown to us, they will learn what it means to intrude upon and disrupt this family. I can tell you that for certain."
She straightened herself, giving her tail a bit of a flick. "That is enough on that matter though. Any more questions, comments, or concerns from me will be brought up to your mother when she returns and we have our chat. Returning to lighter matters, what's your favorite game? Do you have a different one for each of your siblings or is there a general consensus about a favored game above all others? Chase, perhaps, or a hunting game, maybe a finding game?" She offered a smile to her nephew. "Fantastical adventures made all the greater using your minds? Those were always fun." (Word count according to wordcounttool.com: 3533 to this point)
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 5:37 am
Odd shrugged. "That would be fun. We could probably all go fishing. Our mum would worry less if we were all there, I think."
He nudged her back. "I think he's alive too. Calder's too stubborn to die, and too fierce to let anyone kill him."
He kept telling himself that, anyway. It would be impossible for him to keep his peace of mind if he allowed himself to believe otherwise. He knew, logically, that it would make no difference if Calder was stubborn or fierce, but believing otherwise was how he coped with his brother's absence.
"And there is that," he acknowledged. His mother's wrath would be terrifying to behold if Calder had been hurt. And it was nice to think Iseq would be there to fight for Calder, too.
"I guess we could learn to work curses then. But I'd rather learn them for some other reason." This was him trying to make the best of the situation. He'd only heard his mother talk about curses. He'd never seen her actually lay one or anything like that.
He shook his head. "It varies depending on who I'm with. I really enjoy pretending though. But probably we should see what the others want to do."
Call it a wrap?
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:30 pm
[Calling it a wrap. ^^]
"Very true..." Iseq mused aloud with a nod. "We could turn it into a game, but I doubt your siblings would object to a venture away from the clearing of your den. "
She let an easy smile spread across her maw at the returned nudge and the acknowledgement of her promise of revenge against whoever if the culprit was indeed someone they didn't know. "Indeed so, m'boy."
The lioness quirked a bow. "We shall see. I think, if you were to be taught curse working, that in addition to the actual laying of curses and the proper ritual to do so, you'd need to know for certain whom you are laying it upon. It is never a good idea to do so without any idea. There are far too many things can go wrong when one simply lets loose curses without giving them a definite place to go. Too much risk...So, perhaps some other time."
Straightening herself right up, she chuckled with a nod. "A fine idea, Odd. Let's go swing back to see what everyone else is up for." She motioned back down another path towards the den site. Iseq already had it in her mind that she would be staying close as long as she was needed and should Raven find the soul for whom she was searching and her presence no longer be needed, she would drift back into the woods at large. For now though, the time with her nieces and nephews would be cherished and, hopefully, her being there with them could at least give the youngsters something else to somewhat focus on instead of remaining at the den, alone, bored, and worrying over their brother.
[Word total: 4,021]
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