Shipyard A single mom who works two jobs // kit wrangling

[pineheart]

Pine lets out a weary sigh and shakes his head, already deeply regretting his decision to help wrangle the kits together. They needed to make a headcount– to know how many little bodies would have to be carried and fed. Not all of them had caretakers to take care of them. And it would be easier to leave if they could just… gather them all in one place. The question now was the best way to do that. He paces back and forth, swearing under his breath. If the cold hadn't hardened the sand, he would've just dug a pit to throw them all in until they had to leave.

Maybe he could throw them all in the shed he, Torrent, and Squid had been sleeping in instead? Most of them were already nearby, but… would they all fit…? He wasn't even sure how many there were. On the night the shelter collapsed, so many little ones had come running out of there, like a thousand ants from an anthill.

His head is starting to hurt already. With another sigh, he sticks his head into the shed and looks around. How many kits could they fit in there? As long as they weren't all as big as Torrent, maybe… 20…? They'd have to sit squeeze in, though. Maybe it was better to line them all up out front. How would he make them sit still? Threats of violence didn't tend to help with kits, and their caretakers certainly wouldn't appreciate it. Maybe he'd just have to hope for the best and that nothing interesting happened nearby to distract them.

Then, an idea starts to form. What did kits like? Games. Playing. He starts drawing a line in the sand, starting from one edge of the shed, going in a wide berth around and forming a large semi circle. It was a very simple game; stay in the circle, and Pine doesn't eat you for lunch. He could leave out the last part.

Satisfied with his work, he takes the nearest ones first– he tells Torrent, Squid, and Lilac to stay put in the shed, he's going to bring friends for them to play with. Then he ducks out again and approaches Smoke and Willow.

"We need to get a head count on how many kits and young ones we're bringing with us," he starts. "Not all of them have somebody to look after them, and we can't leave anyone behind… and it'll probably be easier to avoid it if we're less scattered. Could you bring your kits with you to the shed–" he points with his tail back towards where he'd come from. "Tell them anything you want to make them stay put while I wrangle the rest– I've drawn a circle in the sand so we can keep them… contained, so to speak. You can tell them it's a game."

He looks around, spotting Wave and Adder with their kits, and pads over to them. "Wave, Adder–" he repeats what he'd told the others, and looking at Adder, sighs for the third time. "Could you help out with this, Ad? I think you know more of them than I do. I wasn't sleeping in the shed that collapsed like the rest of you, so I'm not even sure how many there are. We might be able to get Smoke to help too…"

// ooc: first addressing @Torrent @Squid @lilacbird , then talks to @Smoke and @willow , and then @Wave and @Adderfang... feel free to 'overhear' the convo and join in! (pine voice) please help

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENT -

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡ Torrent had of course argued with Pine before he left, saying he could help, and that he didn't want to stay put in the den. He was so sick of staying put, going through his usual state of defiance before eventually calming down, and waiting for others to start arriving at the shed. Torrent had eventually come to the conclusion that after being ushered around by Pine, they would like to see a friendly face.

Sorry Pine. Torrent thought, silently giggling to himself.

Careful not to disturb Pine's sand drawing with his paws, Torrent stood outside to wait, going back and forth between pacing and working his claws into the ground. His patience grew short when he was excited, and his excitement was nearly overflowing.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Throw me in the sky ⟡ you would swear the sun shining‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• ⟡ OOC -
  Waiting outside the shed for whoever arrives!
  
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• Torrent
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | 6 Moons | Shipyard Cat
  
  ⟡
  "speech"
  - text - thoughts
  
  ⟡
  To be mentored by Pine (FUT)
  
  ⟡
  A rosetted charcoal Bengal.
  
  ⟡
  Has a sturdy build with a large head and paws, and short thick fur.
  
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  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
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  Usually seen with Squid

 

[Brook]

⋆˚✿˖° I was dancing in the rain, I felt alive and I can't explain

Brook watched Pine pace about, her head tilting slightly in thought. The way he moved, sighing to himself, was almost endearing.... It was like he was carrying the weight of something much larger than himself. Whatever was rolling around in his head, it had to be big. She wondered what had passed between him and Pike. What offer had been given to the young tom, who still seemed somewhat unsteady on his paws? Flicking an ear, she blinked as Pine suddenly dipped his head into the shed, pausing there for a long moment before pulling back out. Something had shifted in him. He looked… less troubled than before. As if a thought had settled into place.

Curious.

Brook tilted her head to the other side before finally pushing herself up from where she had been resting. She gave her shoulder a quick lick before trotting over, just as Pine addressed Torrent, Squid, and Lilac, instructing them to move into the shed. And then, just as quickly, he was off again, heading toward Smoke and Willow.

Curious and curiouser.

She caught the tail end of his conversation, and a smile slowly curved across her face. Counting how many kits they had... Dear stars, that was going to be quite the task indeed. " Clever... " she finally murmured, her ears twitching in approval. " Make it a game. Tell them that whoever stays inside the longest wins and perhaps offer a big prize to the victor. " She cast Pine an amused glance, hoping the suggestion would help.

✿────────────── ──────── Brook ──────── ─────────────✿

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[Adderfang]

There was a lot of work to be done. Everyone was scurrying around, tying up loose ends. Adder spent that time with his family, reaffirming the bonds with his kits and showering Wave in affection. Even if it was just a couple of days, it felt like he was away for years.

Course, there were other things to get done. One task that he was not looking forward to was delivered in the form of a brown tabby. Adder's eyelids felt a bit heavier just looking at him. The chocolate ticked tabby visibly cringed at the nickname. He lagged, getting swept up in the rest of the sentence before he could remember to correct it. "Uh—sure." He glanced in the direction that Pine had come from. Adder picked up with an idle ear what their plan was. Some grand scheme that involved a circle and a shed.

"Too many that it'll be near impossible to get them to stay put." Kits didn't exactly have the reputation for doing what they were told. His were no exception, though they were more well-behaved than some of the feral strays that had hanging around the shipyard. He immediately thought of Shark, swatting and spitting at seagulls, snarling at anyone who got close. Adder sighed.

"We'll try it..." It wasn't like he had a better plan. The tom got to his paws. "Come on, minnows." He beckoned his kits to follow with a flick of his tail. "Maybe you can set a good example, huh?" Yeah. This was going to go exactly according to Pine's plan. These kits weren't going to give them the run around at all.

___________________ There wasn't a wrong or a right he could choose 𓆟 He did what he had to do ________________

• "speech" - thoughts
  

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• Adderfang he/him & riverclan
  𓆟 Chocolate ticked tabby w/ amber eyes. Peppered with scars. Deep gash across the right side of his face exposing one canine slightly. Missing left ear.
  𓆟 Deep gravelly voice that might unsettle others.
  𓆟 Would and will kill a man.
  𓆟 Peaceful and healing powerplay permitted. For other powerplays, DM.
  𓆟 Fur smells faintly of river reeds and damp earth.
  
  
  penned by Scarlet​

 

[Wavesong]

Wave's sharp grin spread wide, her fangs glinting as she gave Pine an amused look. His earnest idea of wrangling the kits into some sort of order was downright adorable to her. Bless his heart, really, for thinking the bundles of chaotic energy would simply sit still and behave. Kits weren't built that way. They had too much mischief in their tiny paws, and the patience of a restless breeze. She'd seen it a thousand times over. But still, she had to give the tom credit for trying, someone had to. Biting back a hearty laugh that nearly spilled from her chest, she instead flicked her tail with a playful spark in her eyes. " Aye, aye, cap'ain! As ye wish! " she teased, her tone dripping with exaggerated formality. " We'll try an' wrangle these wee mischievous kits together, I'll tell ye! Though it's like herdin' fish in a storm. "

Turning to her own kits, her grin softened into something more motherly but no less cheeky. " Cres, Rush, m'wee tikes. " she drawled, giving each a gentle boop on the nose. " Ye better make sure t'listen now, aye? Or else I'll next be makin' ye the villains in m'new story! " Her laugh bubbled up this time, light and teasing, as she nudged the two toward the shed with surprising gentleness for someone so lively. As the kits scurried off, she glanced toward Rose, her expression softening further. " Would ye mind followin' the wee ones too, lil' flower? Keep an eye on 'em, eh? Make sure they don't try to mutiny or somethin'. " She gave Rose a more delicate nudge toward the shed, her affection for the younger cat clear.

Then, with a swish of her tail, she turned her playful grin back to Pine. " An' Pine... " she began, her voice full of mischief. " Yer cute if ye think yer gonna wrangle them all. Them kits here? They're the scourge of the seas, I'll have ye know. Nothin' can beat 'em. Not storms, not waves, not even ye with all yer good intentions. " She winked, her tone light and teasing. " But.. " she added with a chuckle. " Do try. I'll be rootin' fer ye. If ye manage it, ye might just be a miracle worker. " With that, she sat back to watch the chaos unfold, her eyes glinting with amusement.

___________________ We sail the seas of life and believe, ☆ The tides will lead us home ___________________

• "speech"
  

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• WAVE she/her, RiverClanner, thirty-three moons.
  ☆ a black and white lh cat with light blue eyes
  ☆ mentored by who / mentoring no one
  ☆ mentioning: @pine @Crescent @RUSH @ROSE
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ☆ penned by lion ↛ lionheartedphoenix on discord, feel free to dm for plots.