Open Shipyard i've got all the common sense [ swimming lessons ]

[Frostmoth]

At Pike's behest (and Frost's chagrin), he and a few of the other shipyard colony cats have been put in charge of teaching some of the others how to swim. Frost, alongside his sister Storm, used to be a boat cat; he spent many days basking in the sun on the deck of the ship or taking a dip in the calm waters. From a young age he had been a fairly proficient swimmer. A necessity, given his environment. He supposes this trait has served him well in more recent times. After he and Storm had been so abruptly abandoned, his ability to swim had become integral to their survival even before they had found camaraderie with the other cats of the shipyard. Camaraderie that he is still resistant to even now.

Of course, it doesn't seem that he has a choice anymore.

"Alright!" he calls to the cats that have come for a swimming lesson. His voice is awkwardly raised, and he glances around, unsure of how to take charge of this situation. Alongside him are Torrent, who is very enthused to be here, and Fox, who is even more shy than Frost is. At this point, Frost can only pray that nobody drowns. It's all that he asks. "You're all here because Pike needs all of us to learn to swim. Or at least try," he begins shakily, but at some point begins to gain ground in his confidence "So that we can move to safer ground and avoid another incident like the storm and shelter collapse." Frost knows that these cats probably already know why it's important- that's why they're here- but he still feels the need to rehash it.

The bicolor tomcat begins to pace somewhat, moving up and down the shore of the water they'll be swimming (or learning to do so) in. "Torrent, Fox, and I will take turns with each of you going over the basics. Once everybody has the general idea down, we'll partner up and practice swimming around for a bit. If at any point you feel like you can't do it just get out of the water. I do not want to go fishing for cats today." Frost pauses and looks back at Torrent and Fox, gives them a nod, and then moves to the crowd to find his first student.

OH, MY GOD ★ MAKE ME IN YOUR IMAGE

• welcome to ur first swimming lesson riverclan! your other teachers are @Torrent and @FOXTAIL feel free to jump in :3 you do not have to wait <3
• ★ FROST — he/him, shipyard (future riverclan), 16 moons
  — penned by carat, feel free to ping or dm for plots!
  — longhair black and white bicolor with blue eyes
  — peaceful powerplay ok! all interactions ok!
  
• penned by carat!

 

[FOXTAIL]

No no no! Why was I thrown into swimming lessons? The shipyard cat thinks nervously to himself, following after Frost and Torrent. Fox has always been around the water— his parents showed no fear to it; and encouraged him and his littermates to dip their paws into it at a young age. At first, the tom was just like them; he felt no reason to be anxious around water. He learnt how to swim at a young age, but even that couldn't have prepared him for his accident one harsh leafbare ago. He remembers playing around on some ice.... that he thought was strong enough to withstand his weight. He remembers how frigid the water felt; how it felt so difficult to swim to the surface. It was like being stabbed by a thousand needles, and he genuinely believed back then.... that he would've drowned.

One doesn't exactly forget how to swim. He's too embarrassed to admit it, but he can't recall the last time he swam for leisure. Despite his anxiety around the water, he is still drawn to it.... and it's because of the scaley, slimy prey that only live underwater. They're going to realize it, I'm not cut out for this, Fox thinks quietly to himself once more— how did he get wrapped into this? Won't he be a bad example? He gets nervous around the water. And somehow, Pike expects him to help with swimming lessons.

He glances over at Frost, giving the fellow shipyard cat a nervous nod. He has nothing to add to Frost's speech, anxiety running down his spine. He lets out a nervous exhale, before approaching his first student in the crowd.​

𝐨𝐨𝐜 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭

• 
  
  

  ---

  credit to raphaelion (via da) for the artwork <3​
• Foxtail​
  

  shipyard cat
  16 moons
  warmhearted
  timid
  experience: trained
  backstory: WIP
  biography: [HYPERLINK]
  credit to rai for the chibi <3
  

  cisgender male [he / him]
  eyes: green
  pelt: black-red torbie
  fur length: long
  parents: dawn and red (npcs)
  

  ---

  ​

​

 

[KNOT]

"Ridiculous..."

It was under a bitter, foul breath that the grey tabby complained, eyes veering away from the volunteers and paws planted so firmly upon the ground it was a miracle they did not root. A few of her shipyard comrades had encouraged her, others had lamented that she would be difficult in the final hurdle, but it was with serious consideration that she wondered if it was better to starve slowly than risk the horrors of the river once more. Her family would do fine without her, though, the idea of her final thoughts being regret that she had disappointed them so stopped her from leaving the area entirely. She had made an oath to Garnet, she had made an oath to her kits, though not one for laws and faith, they had to mean something.

But still, when faced with fear, she could not feel as strongly about them.

She dared blink out towards the distant water and felt a chill run down her spine knowing that, should she wish to be true to her loved ones, she would one day have to submerge herself once more. The idea of burning lungs and flailing limbs throbbed in her head like a migraine, her throat so dry that she feared the rasp that would emerge if she dared protest the very idea of swimming. The first and last time she had faced her fears, she had lost her tail - what did she stand to lose if this time?

Frost's assurances went in one ear and out the other and, without truly realising it, Knot curled into a ball to protect herself.


​

 

[Wavesong]

Wave sauntered after the young'uns, a glimmer of amusement flickering in her eyes as Frost stepped forward, calling out to those gathered for the swimming lesson. She didn't intervene... At least, not yet. She wanted to see them in action first, to let them show their colours, their skills. They wanted to help? Then this was the perfect way to do so. Teaching those who couldn't swim to navigate the water was no small task. If they faltered, well… she was here. Ready to step in, to offer advice, to give pointers. She was a seacat through and through, after all. Swimming was in her blood, as natural as breathing. The sea had provided for her, had kept her afloat all her life. And she had a strong pair of legs. That was important for swimming. Strong legs.

Nodding approvingly, she listened as Frost spoke, her tail flicking once at the memory of the collapsed shed, a memory she didn't soon want to think of. Back to the now. Now was important. Basics first, good. One at a time, not all at once. That spelled trouble. He was handling things well, and she liked that. Biting back a chuckle at his quip about not wanting to fish for cats, she gave a soft snort of amusement, only for her attention to shift as she spotted Fox. He was nervous. Quickly padding forward, she brushed past him, dipping her head gently.

" Aye, don't ye worry yer pretty head too much, Fox. " she murmured, her voice warm and low. " Yer gonna do just fine, hm? An' mistakes, they're a part o' life, 'kay? Jus' breathe, let it roll over ye. Ye might do better than ye think. " With an encouraging nod, she moved off, settling herself comfortably with a knowing little smile. She believed in them.

Her gaze flickered toward Knot, her ear twitching slightly before she glanced over at Torrent. A thought crossed her mind, her eyes widening just a fraction before returning to normal. She flicked her tail subtly toward Knot.

Perhaps Torrent could help coax her out of that fear of the water…

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

• "speech"
  

• 

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

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENT -

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡ Torrent stood tall on his paws as Frost spoke, his head raised as looked over the group before them. His gaze flickered continuously between Frost, and the cats that were here to learn from them, eager for Frost to finish so they could get started.

At Frost's nod, Torrent took off to the cat closest to him, skidding to a halt in front of a black and white spotted she-cat he had recognized from when they all gathered to welcome the scouting party home. Teetering up and down on his paws, Torrent parted his jaws to introduce himself to Thistle.

"Hi!"

He meowed, his tail swaying in the air.

"I hope you aren't too nervous about learning to swim--I promise it becomes easier once you do it a few times."

Torrent nodded, searching her gaze as he hoped to reassure her with his determined tone.

"And hey!"

He added, poking her softly with a raised paw.

"You're a big kit like me, you'll have no trouble floating in the water, I can show you!"

Torrent turned towards the shoreline, then quickly spun back around to face Thistle as a question flew into his head.

"What's your name? I'm Torrent."

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

• ⟡ OOC -
  Approaching @thistle , I don't mean to disregard Wave's thought, this was just already planned with thistle before the posts prior
  
•  
• Torrentpaw
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | 6 Moons | Riverclan Apprentice
  
  ⟡
  "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.
  
  ⟡
  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
  ⟡
  Usually seen with Squid

 

[thistle's iconthistle]

Thistle listened... and had no idea what the hell she was supposed to do. Swimming seemed like this impossible task, this thing that she really could not find and conquer. When Frost was done spewing some nonsense, she waited patiently to be approached by one of the teachers... and when someone, who she assumed to be Torrent, made his way to her, she gave him a once over with a wary little twist of her lips that she would think to be a smile. The molly dipped her head in greeting, nearly flinching at the paw that outstretched to tap her. She held it in though. She was brave, she could do this.

"Y-yeah, I cannn try I guess.." She told him, stepping up to the shoreline to dip a paw into the icy water. The question about her name made her whip her head up, eyes a bit wide as she took in the frame of the other. "I'm Thistle. Nice to meet you, yeah?" She said, looking back to the water she so desperately did not want to get into. But. Alas. She had to, if she wanted a safe place to sleep when they got to this new place that one guy had been talking about.

She really needed to learn some names. It would make things a lot easier...

Thistle glanced sidelong at her teacher. "So what should I do-- uhm, first?"

THEY WERE AN OPEN BOOK ☆ BUT SHE WAS ILLITERATE

• "speech"
  

• 

• THISTLE she/her, riverclan, seven moons.
  ☆ a lh solid black she-cat with high white and yellow eyes and unruly fur / broad shouldered and heavy weight
  ☆ mentored by ?
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / always tag @hellybear
  ☆ penned by hellybear ↛ hellycinth on discord, feel free to dm for plots / click for toyhou.se

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENT -

Not some average bones, I believe in love!

.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡ Torrent watched her as she eyed the water warily, her voice filled with apprehension as she spoke. Frost said they should go over the basics first, so Torrent didn't want to have her plunge into the water just yet, especially seeing how nervous she looked.

"Don't worry, you don't have to get in just yet," Torrent began, brushing up beside her as he dipped his own paw into the water. The coldness seemed to pierce his skin, and he lifted it back out with a quick flick as droplets sprayed back onto the surface. "The cold doesn't make it nearly as fun." Torrent admitted, shooting her a half smile. He knew it would make the task more difficult, and probably not the least bit enjoyable.

Torrent suddenly spun around, leaping a few fox-lengths away from the shore and readying himself into a crouch as he faced the ocean once again. "You don't have to do this, I just want to get the cold over with." He meowed, repositioning himself on his paws a few times before bounding towards the shoreline, leaping into the water right as he felt his paws plunge into the shallowness of the shore.

With a large splash, his head went under the surface, cold shocking through his entire body, causing him to shut his eyes tight. Though it didn't take long til his paws easily touched the pebbles that lay on the ocean floor, and he pushed back upwards to resurface the ocean. Taking in a quick breath, Torrent shook the water from his ears and eyes as he faced Thistle, kicking his hind and front legs powerfully as adrenaline coursed through his pelt. He swam forward a tail-length to where he could stand, grasping the rocks underneath his paws.

"It's cold!" He meowed, thankful that his thick pelt had served as more protection to the icy water. "I think it might be best for you to walk into the water a bit closer to me--just to where your belly fur touches the surface. That way you can get a bit used to the water before actually swimming." Torrent explained, watching her expectantly.

Pushing upward with all four paws, Torrent allowed himself to float along the water, paddling softly in place beneath the surface. "You have to be relaxed, because if you freak out, you can't focus on how to move your legs." He continued, but paused to wait until Thistle had made it a few pawsteps into the ocean before going on.

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

• ⟡ OOC -
  @thistle
  
•  
• Torrentpaw
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | 6 Moons | Riverclan Apprentice
  
  ⟡
  "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.
  
  ⟡
  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
  ⟡
  Usually seen with Squid

6 Moons

◆

He / Him

◆

Riverclan Apprentice

◆

PROFILE

 

[thistle's iconthistle]

Thistle watched the male take a running leap into the water and almost turned around and left on the spot. Screw that. She was not... oh that was why he'd done it. She spun around as he had and took a running leap into the water, soaking herself tail to ears as she landed a few feet in front of the tom. Her paws easily touched the pebbled floor of the sea as she kept them planted firmly as to not be swept away by the mild current beneath their paws. She listened, cocking her soaked head to the side as she noted what he was doing. "So, uh, what now?" She asked, her tail weighing heavily behind her in the water as she managed to keep her attention focused solely on the tom in front of her.

THEY WERE AN OPEN BOOK ☆ BUT SHE WAS ILLITERATE

• "speech"
  

• 

• THISTLE she/her, riverclan, eight moons.
  ☆ a lh solid black she-cat with high white and yellow eyes and unruly fur / broad shouldered and heavy weight
  ☆ mentored by ?
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / always tag @hellybear
  ☆ penned by hellybear ↛ hellycinth on discord, feel free to dm for plots / click for toyhou.se

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENT -

Not some average bones, I believe in love!

.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡ Torrent lifted a paw as water splashed into his face, shaking the droplets from his whiskers as he stared at Thistle in surprise. "I didn't think you were going to jump in!" Torrent exclaimed, his mew followed by a good-natured laugh. He let his paws rest once more on the ocean floor, needing a break before continuing to paddle the small waves.

"Once you're able to get the motion right, and stay in place without going under, you can start swimming around like this," Torrent began, before swimming around in a few wide circles in front of Thistle. Reaching her side once more, Torrent planted his paws against the pebbles. "When you're actually moving along the water, you have to use your hind legs a lot more. So don't over do it at first, because it can be tiring." He admitted, flicking water from his ears.

"Why don't you try paddling in place?" Torrent suggested, as she was already in the water. "Don't be afraid to let yourself float either, the water will carry you." He had begun to get used to the shocking chill of the ocean, and he was sure it was becoming less uncomfortable to Thistle too. "I'll be right here, just in case." Torrent assured her, though he didn't expect anything to go awry.

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

• ⟡ OOC -
  @thistle
  
•  
• Torrentpaw
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | 6 Moons | Riverclan Apprentice
  
  ⟡
  "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.
  
  ⟡
  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
  ⟡
  Usually seen with Squid

6 Moons

◆

He / Him

◆

Riverclan Apprentice

◆

PROFILE