Closed Pawprints in the Snow (Taylani)

[Isedan Autumnrun]

Issy watched the preparations with all the feline intensity of her nature, following each drop of each slice into the water everytime the knife moved. She couldn't help it and the kelvic had to refrain from reaching out to bat at the pieces that were cut away.

"Fallan will know what to do, but it isn't a matter I think he should yet be involved in. It is just frustrating right now, Taylani. I'm sore enough from the mans obsession, and I know by season's end I won't be able to change anymore. I don't know that I will enjoy such a long time without being able to feel the grass beneath my paws or the wind on my whiskers or the tickling sound of a dove about to take flight." Her face took on a look of such pleasure just thinking about it the woman nearly colored when she realized it. "I'm sorry, I know you want to help, Taylani, but it's...it's a delicate situation right now. His brother and some of the others are trying to convince him out of the aggression. He will have his child, and then I will just slip away and be done with him and all of this."

She let out a long slow hiss through her teeth and closed her eyes. "Presently, I just want to enjoy the snow. It comes earlier up in Sylira, afterall and even the swamps can get it thick. Mmrrr there's nothing quite like darting across the currents in the bogs after a hare fresh from his warren." The shifter grinned then pressed her hands against her back, stretching a little to discourage the tension from the discs. "Hey, how long will the soup take, do you think? The snow is getting thick and I sorely want to play; you should come prancing with me!"

[Taylani]

Taylani smiles, her fingers making quick work of the vegetables, though the chunks were uneven. Some were large, others were small, but they were in there. Taylani leans over and pinches a bit of salt and then pepper from Fallan's pack that he had left her, to sprinkle into the mix as well. "I don't think it is wise for you to stay there Isedan. Not for you, not for yo- the babe, not for anyone really." However her time as captive had taught her one thing, that someone else' choices were their own. She was not going to take that away from anyone else as hers had been. "I won't speak of it if you truly don't want me to." Blue eyes cut over to Isedan's, silently speaking of how much she thought it was a poor idea to keep it secret.

Yet she couldn't help but laugh at the Kelvic's other suggestion, and with her palms planted on the ground she moves upwards. "The soup has to sit on the fire for some time..if we don't leave too far from the tent we can go out and play some." Though in all honesty Taylani was half confused on how one played with a kelvic. It seemed disrespectful in some way to treat her as Taylani would have treated a true Serval. However she couldn't deny the excitement in the other woman, so she simply cocked a brow up, "though I don't have fur to warm me, so I will need my cloak back." The last is said with a genuine smile.

[Isedan Autumnrun]

"I know, Taylani, but I don't hate the others around the man. They are doing what they can." It still didn't mean she enjoyed their company yet. The whole of the society troubled the shifter but no more would be let to be spoke of for now. Especially not when Tay at last agreed to go play with her. Neither would be able to do as much as they thought they might, but both could surely enjoy it, right?

The kelvic beamed in delight and shed the cloak without reproach, rolling her shoulders for a moment after the other had taken it back and dressed. She stood at the entryway looking out with wide and excited eyes, one hand resting against the curve of her belly, a thumb distractedly carressing the skin, before the change was let to come. Where a woman had stood before, the bright flash of light and color replaced it with that of the serval.

She stood, her sides slightly distended, upon the well worn ground with tail flicking side to side and large ears thrust forwards. The only reason she pulled herself away this time was so she could turn and lope towards Tay, rubbing against her calf and mewling merrily, that short tail curving at the back of the Syliran's knee. There was something about the human that just clicked with the kelvic, briefly making her think of Lukyc. It wasn't sexuality or romance or anything like that. But it had been some years since she'd bonded with the man and some of the memory had faded. Whatever curiosity it was, Issy was glad for the friendship of the other woman.

Satisfying her need for contact, the serval wove between the others legs and then headed for the tent flap once more, chirping back at Tay to hurry up, come on, let's go play!

[Taylani]

Taylani had never in her life seen a Kelvic change. She had thought it would be almost a blending of forms, kind of like how when she mixed pigments into paints and slowly the color spreads through the water. Except that is not at all what happened, a flash of lights and then where once a very naked woman stood a serval took her place. It was so quick that Taylani had to blink for a moment at how fast it was, it was also one of the most amazing sights that she had ever seen.

When Isedan came over to rub against her leg she did what came natural, and bent to rub her hands along the feline's back. She allowed her fingers to scratch gently at the point of back nearest the tail, laughing a little at the playful expression on the cat's face. "You are so beautiful Isedan." She speaks honestly, tying her cloak tight and with one last check of the soup on the fire, she ducks outside into the snow.

Since the time they had been inside, the snow had blanketed the ground gently. The grass was still visible but the snow was thick enough to leave prints in. Her red hair, free and flowing down her back, gathered flakes of the white crystals that floated softly down. "I can see why you like the snow so much Isedan. I never took time to stop and just play in it while I was in Syliras." She spoke to the cat as if it were still capable of speaking back, knowing that it was kelvic and not a mere serval. However she still was unsure of what the protocol was to playing with them. Perhaps if she had had any sort of animals in Syliras she would have a bar to go by, but as it was she only had what seemed natural. And at that point, the natural thing seemed to get down on Isedan's level. So she squatted, her balance having not left her served her well and her hands reach out once more to pat and pet the cat.

[Isedan Autumnrun]

Issy followed easily alongside the human, her merry purrs sweeping the physical and emotional aches away in favor of the delight that at last she would enjoy what Sylira had given to her before!

As soon as they were outside, the feline leapt away from Tay, pouncing into a fresh pile and sending a puff of white crystals into the air. She twisted and swatted merrily at them, chattering the whole time in the language of the cats her delight. Her paws closed upon a clump that did not break up and pulled it to her muzzle, biting into it until her creamy snout was now covered in the cold flakes; the bite of the cold in her nose made her shake her head hard, tossing crystals hither and yon before her tongue could sweep them from her whiskers.

~Mrewl!~ She cried out and finally turned to where Tay was, crouching in the snow. The sight looked funny, the young woman just starting to show the child she carried too crouching down on her level. Lukyc never did that; did Tay not know how to play? Perhaps she needed learning! Issy hopped out of the snowpile and trotted towards the woman, pressing her face into the hand once more and purring happily.

You don't have to worry about hurting me, Tay...

She tried to project her thoughts through her actions, licking at the offered fingers and palm and then batting at it.

I'm tougher than I look. Come on now, on your feet! Just use the snow!

Issy tried to demonstrate through actions now by hopping away and bowing before the woman, long front legs stretched towards Tay and rump high in the air so that the short tail flicked and twitched proudly. Now stand up. She rose back to her feet and looked at the snow between them, still purring. A thick clump stood out now and the serval scooped her right paw over it, pulling it towards her, and then dropping her muzzle into it to bite the chunk of snow into pieces.

The feline shook her head again and mewled licking away the flakes from her whiskers. Once more, she would demonstrate to rise by lowering into a bow and then standing only to grab at another pile of snow and swat it towards Tay in encouragement.

[Taylani]

Taylani laughed at the cat's antics, she watched how graceful she danced on the snow, and even how she seemed to try and communicate. Taylani had always been so studious when it came to dance and song, she rarely took chances to simply play. So she did not have much experience with the frolicking nature of the cat, however she was willing to try.

Standing up, adjusting her cloak around her shoulders, Taylani bent and scooped up a little of the snow. It was cold in her hands, and it didn't take long for the cold to turn stinging but it was so mild Taylani shrugged it off. Instead she tossed the powdery white flakes into the air. Lifting her head to stick her tongue out and catch the light feathers of cold on her tongue. She turned, letting the red hair that graced her head fan out behind her. Giving the cat a wide grin she sat in the snow and did something she had seen children in Syliras do, but had never attempted herself. she laid back and splayed her arms and legs, then she scissored them to make sweeping motions in the snow.

Grinning, exhilarated she sat up, ignoring the snow that coated her cloak and hair. She simply shook her head, and let the snow fly from it, some of it towards Isedan.

[Isedan Autumnrun]

Issy felt a wave of elation when she saw Tay at last catch her drift, getting to her feet and even gathering a handful of snow to toss in the air. Of course, the servals response to this was to stand up on her hind paws and swat at the bits that came falling around them, mewing loudly when she caught some.

The feline sat back on her haunches and gathered her front paws to her muzzle to lick the melting crystals from off of them. The whole experience brought such happiness to the feline that she wanted nothing more than to run around and play forever. It drew to her mind fond memories of her youth and the times spent with Lukyc near Syliras during the colder times of the year; he had loved playing with her in the snow, taking great handfuls of it and having snowball fights with her (though they were never packed too densely).

Then the pregnant woman was back on the ground and flopping onto her back with arms splayed. At first, Issy thought she was hurt and immediately stopped her play. With ears thrust forwards, she chirped at Tay and walked over to her, watching worriedly as the other lay with limbs akimbo in the snow. Again, the serval chirped at her, but as soon as she came in range, the womans arms began to wave at either side, synchronizing with the movements of her legs, causing Issy to hop back a bit and mewl instead, her head tilting as she watched her.

Taylani was making a snowdove! The shifter had to step back further in order to see it fully, but that was definitely what it was and the sight of the human grinning in merriment too during it further lifted the felines spirits. She meowed loudly and stepped daintily back through the snow towards her. She came well within petting range grabbed a mouthful of snow and tossed it at Tay once more, chirruping and bouncing away once more.

At a little past three feet from Tay, the cat dropped onto her belly, the coolness of the earth spreading across her underside, tongue lapping over her whiskers and the black tips of her ears hidden in white this time. For a moment, Issy lingered like that, then lowered her head and flopped onto her side with a great big sigh. She couldn't lay still in the one thing which brought such merriment to her, however, and eventually, the wildcat was rolling onto her back and curving her spine, the thickness of belly more obvious like this. She held the position for a few ticks then arched her head towards Tay, the top parts of her muzzle splaying out comically so that it looked like she was grinning, large ears cockeyed in the snow.

[Taylani]

Taylani has never been the playful type, she was always the type to set a goal bend her head and push towards the goal. Without taking the time for simple pleasures, such as frolicking in the snow. Sitting in the cold white powder, her knees bent beneath her, her green breeches becoming damp from the snow. She didn't care, a glance toward the tent to make sure that the soup was okay and that the brazier hadn't some how knocked over was given before she leaned forward on her hands and knees and moved toward the serval.

With a simply smile Taylani stretched out beside the cat, on her side, with her head supported by her hand, her elbow bent against the ground. Her free hand moved over to run her hand over the cat's side, petting the silky fur softly, using her fingers to scratch and really get in to the fur of the feline.

"I can see why you find the snow so much fun Isedan." Taylani says, ignoring the chill from the ground. Her breath was seen as she sneezed once, then twice. Playfully she took a small handful of snow, and dumped it over the cat's head.

[Isedan Autumnrun]

There was nothing but merriment to be had in all of it, her short tail swatting at the ground when Tay scooted closer to her. One long foreleg extended towards the maiden then, paw reaching for her face while her side was rubbed. It solicited a longer purr from the feline as her eyes closed and her head rubbed at the soft, though cold, cushion she was splayed out on. It was nice to have fun again, feel normal again. Well, normal as far as kelvics went, anyways!

And then, Tay dropped snow on her head! The feline gave a hiss of surprise and flailed briefly to get back onto her belly and on her feet, her head shaking and her left paw scraping at the cold droplets which had fell into one of her ears. Ah! Cold cold cold! Like ice down your britches, had sufficiently startled her; but once she had it free, it was war, haha! No human was safe from the wrath of the cat as grey-gold eyes fixed upon Tay and that modest tail waved wildly side to side!

Then, she chirped and leapt away towards the tent, diving into some of the drift which clung to the edges, wriggling in the new burrow until her head could appear from a fresh hole, and stare out at Tay. She gave a low and throaty play-growl, shoulders rolling in readiness then bounded from her "hiding" spot at Tay, the small, seven foot or so gap leapt across in a single hop so that she could catch the other womans foot in paws. Another of those playful growl resonated whilst her teeth gnawed at just the tip of the womans shoes, and only for a moment.

Her diurnal sights stared at the foot intensely once it had been freed, ears concentrated forwards and head slightly tilted as she 'listened' for the foot to move.

[Taylani]

The longer the play goes on, the more Taylani was able to release her own tensions that she kept desperately bottled up within her heart. In her attempts to try and force her new life into acceptance within her heart, having to excise the memories of her before time, had left a hard cold stone within her chest. Better the hard cold stone that could accept Fallan's touches, his kisses, without shuddering and remembering what it was like before he had given her freedom. Yet until tonight she had not realized just how weighed down it made her. How completely hollow, but now as she laughed and played the coldness began to warm.

She squealed gently when the cant pounced on her foot, lifting some more snow in her hand to toss at the critter playfully. It was a sight that the Amethyst clans had never seen, the strange often volatile red headed captive laughing much like they were prone to do around their fires at night. None came to join, but there were a few tent flaps that opened and peered out before closing gently.

When Isedan backed off, crouching as if waiting for her foot to attack, Taylani rolled and bounded to her feet. With a grin she dumped, yet another larger wallop of snow down on Isedan before darting off, running away, circling around the tent. Her laughter ringing out as if she did not have a care in the world. All thanks to a curious little kelvic cat who had arguably more troubles then Taylani herself did.