Private Shipyard Backwritten as time changes and flows ~ Passionflower

[Passionflower Passionflower]

PASSIONFLOWER ── .❇ riverclam | weaver

Passion sat upon a large crate on this cold, late winter day. The sea breeze ruffled and played with her long, wispy fur as she lounged about, soaking up the sunlight that peeked between the clouds before it had to chance to disappear again to a muggy, foggy day. She couldn't wait for the warmth of summer again, when the business picked up and there were far more accidentally dropped fish that she could snatch or beg for. Though, she much prefers meowing and bumping up against the legs of the fisherman and getting pet until they move on with their day, leaving a small fish behind for her poor starving soul... and then moving on to the next to do the exact same thing.

She knew many of them from her countless years in the docks, and which ones were the most likely to give her a little treat before going on their way. She also knew which ones to avoid, which was, arguably, an even more important thing to know. Regardless, she opened her eyes and stares at the flecks of dust that beamed off the sunlight. Oh what it would be like, to be a fleck of dust, floating about without a care in the world... She would surely see so many new things, getting into crevices she couldn't dream of reaching.

In the past, when she was younger, she had a far more adventurous soul. Oh how she strayed and ran from the shipyard, discovering new places and incredible sights. Countless animals and strange figures and buildings and a world of unexplainable things. Cats who would greet you kindly or fight if you even dare cross onto their land. Young ones with pompous attitudes, older folks who would give the traveler advice on where to head and which places to avoid. Despite it all, she always ended up back here, her birthplace, her home, her belonging... it called to her. The sea and the salt and the wood and the fish and the people... something she could never escape, and something she loved now, in her more experienced years.

Her ear flicked, at the sound of a passerby. There were many, always, always many walking by, trotting along, hunting, bickering over who got a fish or using their claws to make sure they were the one who got to eat it today... no, she didn't engage in those types of things anymore. How useless it all was, fate would decide if you got the fish or not, no matter how much you tried to fight back against the great ocean of time. The younger ones always try their hardest, and always fail. Her journeys were great, but the sea decided she was to be here, so here she is, settled and comfortable for the rest of her years.

She turned her head, glancing out at the area outside of the small alleyway, of which she was settled. Oh! Well would you look at that, a newcomer... she didn't recognize the scent, or them at all, really. He carried none of the salt that stung the air in a bitter way. How fascinating... the silver tabby stranger walked in a certain way, and Passion couldn't help her curiosity, head tilted as she studied him.

"Well look see here! You're new around the docks!" She called from the perch where she laid.

I could always try again tomorrow (try again tomorrow)

 

[PIKESTAR PIKESTAR]

Why did he look away from the truth? Why did he ignore all the signs? Ignoring the paws that held him trembled, as if they were moments from snapping from tremendous weight? Was it because of their happiness? Even now reflecting on everything that happened, he couldn't say that neither were unhappy. The smile his love gave him was genuine. It was not a false smile his love had given to others when he was slipping into old habits of toying with the hearts of others. Naturally he would be upset about it, but he understood that this was something he signed up for. Goldy was known for flirting with anything that moved back then.

The very first time they had met was embarrassing to recall. After all, he was still young and had only begun traveling on his lonesome for only a few moons before running into Goldy. If someone told him then, that suave cat would be his mate, he would've thought it was a joke. Then again, at that time he was flustered beyond belief by Goldy's flirtatious nature. It was... It was the first time that any cat showed any interest in him like that, but he was not bold. He winded up squeaking when the massive tom leaned against him, their fur brushing. Mortified by the sound he'd made, he run as far as his paws could take him.

How they managed to get together was another story for another time. One thing he did know was that Goldy loved him deeply. If his love didn't, then they wouldn't been together for as long as they did.

So where did it all go wrong?

It had to be when I brought up starting a family. Things became... Odd then. His love seemed to want to be with him for the rest of their lives, but when it came to having a family together... He did agree it would be nice, but Pike couldn't help but note how distant the response was. He couldn't help but tremble, tears threatening to spill. If only I never brought it up.

He was alone now. His mate had left him in the middle of the night. He awoke to an empty nest, panic seeping into his bones. However, he believed in his mate. That they went off hunting or maybe went on a little stroll. After one sunrise he went off in search of his love. Unfortunately, when the sun rose for the second time he knew. Knew that his mate abandoned him. There was no goodbye. The only answer he was given was the emptiness of their nest, a nest far too big for him. It had been made to accommodate his mates size, and now he practically drowned in it. The home they spent moons making and living in now suffocated him.

As when when he left, he wasn't sure how many days had passed. All he knew was that he wailed his heart out, not going out to eat. Maybe he'd been hungry? Was that the original reason why he left? His plan had been to return to the home he once shared with the love of his life, but he never did. Once he managed to scarf down a mouse, he kept trudging forward. He wasn't sure where he was going, but anywhere was better than that place.

Where he wound up was a place where salt clung in the air. It... It comforted him. He had no clue where he was exactly, but the scents that clung to the air reminded him of his time as a kittypet traveling with his twoleg. His twoleg had taken him to many places where the salt clung in the air, where the ground was soft and hot. Sometimes the ground was extremely cool, as if he were walking on ice.

A voice calls out to him, breaking him out of his thoughts.

When he looked for the source of the voice, he finds an older molly with wispy fur. "The docks?" He tilts his head, "What else is around here? I don't want to cause any trouble if I accidentally walked into someone's den. If... There's dens here." Realization quickly strikes him. His fur bristling, "O-oh! Sorry, my name is Pike. I should've, uh, started with that. Thank you... Thank you, ma'am?"

 

[Passionflower Passionflower]

PASSIONFLOWER ── .❇ riverclam | weaver

The older molly chuckled at his late instruction, smiling down at him. "You're alright, don't you worry." Licking a paw, she pondered his words for a moment. Oh how odd this place must seem, for a cat who's... from the forest, maybe? Or a pet, perhaps? "This is th'shipyard right here. The fishermen go about their business and hunt fish to eat." Passion explained. "Y'don't gotta worry 'bout accidentally walking into someone's den." Definitely some sort of wild cat.

"If y'do walk into someone's space, they'll probably just hiss at you a bit n'bring out their claws n'send you on their way." Passion reassured, studying him a bit more with her odd purple eyes. Ears perking up, she said, "Why don't you come up here? It's hard to hear you all the way down there." The silver molly moved over slightly on the crate, to give him room if he accepted her offer. The poor tom looked tired.

"Where d'you come from, Pike?"

I could always try again tomorrow (try again tomorrow)

 

[PIKESTAR PIKESTAR]

Pike feels nothing but relief when she assures him that everything is alright. That he hasn't intruded on anyone's space. In one of his more unfortunate encounters he winded up with the scar across his nose. His nicked ear was from a scuffle with a kittypet from long ago, but he couldn't quite remember their face. It had been ages ago, but he could only remember hissing and unsheathed claws. Regardless, it was nice to know that he wasn't in any trouble. He really didn't want to get into a fight with whoever lived here.

At the question of where he came from, he stood silent. It wasn't as if her line of inquiry was unfounded, but shame settled in his stomach. While she hadn't asked him why he was here, he knew that she it lingered on her mind. She was curious. Anyone would be, especially when there was a new stranger in the neighborhood. However, he didn't feel comfortable telling her that he let his heart lead him here. That he spent days walking aimlessly to perhaps soothe his broken heart? That he was only here because his mate had abandoned him?

Still... He couldn't just keep quiet. The older molly had been nice to him so far, but he didn't know her. Maybe she was steadily growing impatient the longer he kept quiet? What if hissed at him to leave? Well, I mean, I guess she could hiss. Although she asked me to get up there. You wouldn't invite someone to sit next to you if you weren't friendly. Green eyes trail from her figure to the spot beside her.

Hesitantly, he makes his way to the spot she's designated for him. "I used to live near the Twolegplace, err NOT IN IT! But... My den was-" A memory of silver and golden fur brushing together bombards him. His frame begins to tremble, his eyes feel far too watery for his own liking. "My home was destroyed." The answer is not a complete lie. While the den was still very much intact, the cat who made it feel like home was gone. He could no longer stand being in a nest far too big for him or stare at the belongings they gathered together. If he did return... He might rot away in that place forever.

A silver paw rubs against one eye, drying the beginnings of tears before they fall. "I kind of just wandered around and found myself here. I used to travel a lot. Most of the places I went to smelled sort of like here, so I, uh... Was relaxing for a bit. I've been walking for days, so my paws kind of ache. This is a nice place though. The breeze feels nice." Or maybe I'm just really exhausted? Could be. I haven't been eating properly. I probably look like a mess to her.

 

[Passionflower Passionflower]

PASSIONFLOWER ── .❇ riverclam | weaver

The poor thing was absolutely exhausted. She, for one, knew the weight that travel and losing a home could toll on your soul. He would certainly need time to recover from his journey. Whether the shipyard was just a stop along the way, or a permanent end point, she would make sure he was welcome and comfortable as long as he was here. "Oh, darlin'... She heaved a big sigh, leaning down to rest her head on her paws. "I've lost many'a home, years ago when I was a traveler. I settled in many places and lost more."

Passion lifted her paw to give it a lick, padding her cheek fluff for a second as a gull squawked in the distance. "It hurts everytime, sometimes more'n others, but the ocean called for me to be here, so here I am. She looked up at him for a second, eyes meeting as she smiled. "The ocean called you here for a purpose, so here you are." Passion reassured, taking in the salty smell of the sea and a commotion on the boardwalk between two men. Their voices were loud, and one was shaking around an empty net. After a moment, they went their separate ways. People were always so interesting.

"When was the last time you ate something, Pike?" If the ocean was to have him stick around, she ought to make sure he's well fed and knows where to get food.

I could always try again tomorrow (try again tomorrow)

 

[PIKESTAR PIKESTAR]

Even though they had just met, he feels at ease with her. While her actions haven't indicated that she wouldn't strike or hiss at him, it's the manner in which she carries herself that reassures him. It's as if she is a wise teacher, providing wisdom when needed. Never criticizing, never assuming. Only carefully guiding him. not to an answer he wanted, but to something he needed on his journey to find his own answer. She has the experience to boot. After all, she's lived many more moons than he has. She has experienced and seen more things as a result. To be honest, it felt nice knowing she used to travel a lot as well.

The silver tabby listens with rapt attention. Her words are simple truths. He's experienced many losses. The first major loss he could remember had been when his twoleg passed away. It felt as if his heart was taken from him. If he were to decide which loss hurt more, he would have to admit it would be Goldy abandoning him. The reason was not because he loved his twoleg less than his mate. No, not at all. In his heart, the deepest love he has ever felt was with his twoleg. However, his mate abandoning him hurt the most because he had chosen them. Chosen them to handle his fragile heart with care and they threw it away without care.

A paw settles on his chest. "We share a lot in common, huh?" When was the last time I felt so at peace? "I usually find I'm most at peace near the water. I just followed my heart and it led me here. I guess... the ocean was calling for me, like you said." It felt right. To hear that the ocean brought him here. It only made sense. He walked with no direction and winded up here. He could have ended up anywhere else and yet... He arrived here. At the Shipyard.

"When was the last time you ate something, Pike?"

He froze. When... When was the last time he ate? Running through the past few days of travel, it occurs to him that he can't remember what quite happened. Obviously he hadn't been attacked or anything, seeing as though he was relatively fine. Sheepishly he smiles and rubs a paw against the fur on his neck, "I don't remember. Maybe a few sunrises ago?" How embarrassing... Even more so when his stomach decides that now is the time to growl.

 

[Passionflower Passionflower]

PASSIONFLOWER ── .❇ riverclam | weaver

Passion smiled at the acceptance of her words. Most cats find her belief in the ocean rather silly. Many roll their eyes or call her crazy. It's nice to find a younger one who was polite for once. It seemed to soothe him, thankfully. She watched him relax, and felt as if everything in the world was right. Instead of fighting against the ocean's calling, he came towards it, following the sing of the waves and salt. "If you follow her calling, she'll lead you where you need to go. Whether it be away from her, or right against her banks."

Passion's tailtip flicked lazily, studying the cracks in the wooden boards absentmindedly. Yes, the ocean always knew what was best for them, and when it was time for them to join her domain. It was quite a beautiful thing. She is grateful to be here next to it. She had a feeling, just a hint of it, that this cat would be very important here on the docks. She could very well be wrong. She wouldn't truly know until the flow of fate continued. She hopes Pike finds where he belongs, whether it be here or somewhere far inland.

At Pike's admittance that he hadn't eaten for a good few sunrises, she spoke again, heaving herself up and stretching. "Well, that just won't do. We'll have to get you something to eat." Passion leapt down from the crate, paws elegantly landing on the wooden floorboards below her. "You said you lived near the Twoleg place? D'you ever interact with people much?" She asked out of simple curiosity, to know whether he was one of those who would shy from a hand, or lean into it. Around here, they were much familiar with her and her soft fur, weaving between their long legs and greeting those most familiar with a meow in the morning as she passed by.

It made it extraordinarily easy to get food, if you knew who to approach.

I could always try again tomorrow (try again tomorrow)