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 Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 2:29 pm
It was a fine autumn day. The large Vuli celebration has gone well, with few hitches, and this pleased the Queen greatly. It was good to have larger festivals from time to time, but there still was the Giving of Thanks to plan for. It personally was her favorite of the three smaller festivals that were within her domain. She padded through the brilliant colors, both below her paws and above her head, savoring the chill bite to the wind and the indescribable spice of leaves, pinecones, frost, and a hint of such things as cinnamon and pumpkin.
The wind ruffled her thickening fur playfully, cooling the skin under the fur refreshingly. She stepped out from under the trees and came to a stop upon a rise in the ground, the soil warm beneath the autumn sun. She sat there for a moment, face raised to the sunshine, inhaling the scents, savoring the chill, flexing her toes in the earth. Life was very good.
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 1:19 pm
 Yathy walked along briskly. She had a great game idea, even if it wasn't for her own clan, and needed someone to run it by. The first one she saw, anyone would do. Eagerly Yathy looked around, but was disappointed. Everyone seemed to be out today. Her tail twitched as she tried to think of where she might find someone. She walked along until a spot of orange caught her eye. There! Quickly she hurried forward hoping to catch them before they vanished again. She giggled at the thought it was a ghost. Maybe she could make a game out of that.
"Halloooo~" She called. Yathy pulled up short as she realized she had managed to find the Vuli Queen. Oh dear she hadn't mean to disturb her while she was enjoying some alone time.
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:50 pm
Mada's ears angled towards the greeting, turning to see a turquoise leopardess approaching. She knew this was not one of her clan, but she always greeted those of the pride with warmth. Outsiders were usually met with a slightly cooler but infinitely polite and courteous welcome. Those of her clan... well, they were all family to her. So she smiled openly, turning and rising to her paws to meet the leopardess halfway.
"Good to see you," she said genuinely, dipping her head in a gesture of respect. "I can see you already know me, but I shall introduce myself regardless." Her eyes squeezed shut momentarily in amusement before she became a bit more formal. "Madakata at your service."
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 9:45 pm
The leopardess gave a happy grin as the lioness came to meet her. Appearantly she didn't mind too much about the interruption. Which was very good for Yathy since everyone else had made themselves scarce.
"Madakata, its a pleasure. I'm Yathy, the Entertainer. Please pardon my intrusion on your time. You see I developed a new game for winter and needed to run it by someone." An amused chuckled escaped her inviting the lioness to laugh with her, "unfortunately I think everyone is spending the day out. If you're not busy and don't mind listening I would be happy to explain it to you."
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Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:59 pm
"Gladly, Yathy," she agreed amiably, stretching herself out in the pool of sunshine. Games were one of her favorite parts of the celebrations. In fact, had she not become Queen, her rank likely would have been Entertainer as well. "Come, sit with me and tell me about your idea." She turned attentive purple eyes to the leopardess, ears pricked, her entire attitude was of complete interest and focus.
Of course, anything involving Mrao galas also interested her, since her mate was the head of that clan. She preferred the unpredictable warmth and chill of Autumn, of course, but winter brought such beauties, such pristine loveliness, as well as very unique situations to enjoy that never came otherwise, she enjoyed it nearly as much. Yes, the other seasons had their value as well, but for her, it was about the chillier half.
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Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:30 pm
The leopardess parked herself right by the lion. She was in her element and utterly happy. Yathy with a bit of startle-ment noted the pretty landscape spread out before her. It teased the back of her mind; there was a game waiting there.....
She shook her head and pulled herself back. "This is a lovely place," she took a moment to compliment the queen on her choice of locations. "During winter you'll recall how the young clear off any patches of ice and go sliding across them correct?" Who hadn't? Yathy had even tried that one herself. It was super fun, though you had to be wary of ice cracking on deep water.
"I was thinking of something similar, but with snow ball." Her eyes brightened. "The participant would be given a snowball and he had to kick it with a back foot across the ice. There would be markers of course. Rings drawn in color that would give points for getting inside. But watch out! If the snowball is kicked too hard it will explode into powder and you'll get a demerit." Yathy looked eagerly at Madakata to see what she thought.
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Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:42 pm
Mada wasn't the sort to immediately praise an idea, or immediately frown on it either. She preferred to think on things before deciding what she felt or thought about them. She took that time now to mull the leopardess' idea. Idly, as she tumbled the idea about in her mind, she began to gather scattered fallen leaves into a pile, eyes focused on them thoughtfully. Her expression was serious and meditative, clearly considering rather than ignoring.
"Marking the ice could be an issue," she began slowly. "I don't know many things that would color the ice enough to make a clear section." She could think of several other options to a color marking, though, which could be discussed later. The idea itself seemed sound to her, but she needed more definition. "What would happen if the snowball became airborne? Would that be allowed?" She had other questions, but held them back, allowing the excited Entertainer time and chance to reply with a full answer to each.
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Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:58 pm
Yathy shifted a bit. Was the game perhaps a touch too simple? She would have to wait until winter to fully test it herself. Testing could come after she made sure there were no kinks. Now, though, she bend her mind to the proposed questions.
"I had a thought on that." She replied slowly. At first she'd thought maybe cutting into the ice, but that was too hard. "Near here is a patch of very berries that turn a bright red in fall. I was thinking that perhaps some could be harvested and stored until winter. Then crushing and mixing the red berries with water. We can pour it out into rings and let it harden over night." Yathy felt that would make fairly good visible lines.
Yathy laughed, "nothing much I think. Snowballs break apart so easily, if it got too much air it'd splat and they'd get a demerit. Since it is about sliding the snowball I believe I can subject a number of points depend upon how high it goes." That should insure any high fliers stayed low."
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Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:14 pm
She considered the answers, tailtip flicking. "You'd have to test that first. Most of the color potency fades when a berry is dried. It might work, though. It would be relatively easy to lay out a circle of leaves and pour melted snow over them to melt and refreeze." That was one of her other ideas, but definitely not the only option either. "It might take a few winters to get this right," she warned the leopardess. "But it has promise thus far."
"Now, do they kick the snowball backwards, or forwards?" The idea of using a hindpaw to kick forwards seemed awkward, but kicking it backwards made aiming it a tad difficult. Of course, that might be the point. "Why would forepaws be not allowed?" Her head tilted with curiosity and interest.
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Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:26 pm
This was turning out to be an excellent session! Yathy was pleased with her choice of company. The Queen was asking valid questions and offering solutions. She gave a nod. "Oh it will need numerous tests before I present it. Of that I'm sure. Hmmmm that could be a problem. Perhaps the healers will know what might work." The leopardess made a note to ask them.
She sat quietly for several long moments, with just the tip of her tail twitching. Her next answers were important and she wanted to be sure she got them right. "The snowball will be kicked or rather pushed backwards. We are not dribbling the snowball across the ice as we would with our front paws, but only have one long touch to get it moving. The participant would be allowed to sight him or herself up however they wanted without outside help. Then push the snowball across the ice." Yathy had spent the better part of a day testing all the ways to push a ball. True it wasn't a snowball, but it was the closest she could get.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:46 am
Mada smiled at the eager leopardess, pleased beyond words at her enthusiasm and creativeness. This was exactly what the kings and queens were seeking and hoping for in the pride. Members who took joy and fulfillment from inventing and executing the festivals and celebrations, who were willing to help each other for the enjoyment of others. It made her heart swell whenever she ran across such a member as Yathy.
"It sounds to me as if you have put a lot of careful thought into this game," she said warmly, a soft purr vibrating her throat. "From what I know of the kinds of games that are run during the Mrao festivals, it seems to me your idea will be welcomed and embraced whole-heartedly." She squeezed her eyes shut in pleasure. "Good luck with it, and I look forward to playing it myself, some winter."
"But now, if you will forgive me," she interrupted herself with a sudden and very wide yawn, her tongue curling amidst her sharp teeth. She chuckled and shook her head, letting the motion travel down her spine until her tail tip swung gently. "Unfortunately it seems that I need a nap." The recently concluded Vuli festival had been wonderful but wearing. It was still just warm enough that she'd be able to seek out a sun-warmed rock and sprawl for a snooze. "It was so nice meeting you, Yathy. If I can ever be of any help in the future, feel free to seek me out."
With a polite inclination of her head, Madakata padded off towards the dens.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 1:07 pm
Yathy beamed at the praise. Being sure to get all the minute details correct so a game ran smoothly was tedious work. "Thank you very much for your time, Queen Mada." The leopardess gave a deep laugh. "It's perfectly alright. At least I know it wasn't I who bored you!" Yathy jumped to her feet and gave the lioness a deep bow before she left for her nap. Determined that her idea would work, she headed directly for the healers to speak about a system to color the ice.
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