Open Shipyard OVER & OVER ───〃leaving

[Smokewreath]

all you have is your

FIRE

─〃

⟢

There is nothing for them here in these rotting boards and creaking old sheds, the sea froths against the rocks and ocean breeze seems almost stale; like the land itself is dying for lack of attention. He knew deep down that the moment the ships stopped coming that was it, it was a slow and gradual decay and no one wanted to be the first to break from the familiarity of the sandy beaches to seek a better life. It was terrifying in a way, knowing you had to venture into the unknown, into places you had never set paw before, just for the slim chance of survival. His kits are only 2 moons, freshly weaned and needing more than meager scraps, more than a life huddled under waterlogged boards on cold stone concrete. His sister's kits deserved more now too, already so big and restricted to the same confines as a kitten out of fear, out of worry; after what happened to Clay's mother the idea of any of them being out of his sight for longer than a moment formed a knot in his stomach.

"I've had it..." His voice creaks like a swinging hinge, his throat raw from shouting the previous night and scars still spotted his muzzle where the shattered boards had torn at him in his panicked attempt to grab Shimmer from her dying mother's side. "We can't keep going like this, this place its..." A wasteland. Even the forest cats stopped trying to pick this place clean. He remembers Downy's remark, how they had fought and seemed to have settled somewhere else in the vast treeline beyond the shore. His kits would starve here, his sister, his---his single orange eye drifts over to Lichen and Haze, glances away sharply as he tilts his head up and clenches his jaw, "We need to leave, we need to go...I don't know. Somewhere...we can't stay here. There is no prey, there are hardly any shelters left. We are carrion to be picked by vultures, bones for the crabs to scavenge. I will not let my family be feed for the sea." But where exactly, other than 'the forest' he knew nothing, just passing rumors of the colony as it once was huddled and miserable far away from their rocky outcrop. Was there truly something there in the heart of those territories? Or was it wishful thinking? Oasis or mirage, hard to say but it was a risk he felt strongly needed to be taken.

─ & the place you need to reach.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

& if I fall, I fall

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• Ooc - Please do not have your character suggest a specific place as that will be something @PIKE will be doing! Thank you! :3
• 

  Smoke

  
  — Future RiverClanner (Shipcat)
  — He/Him
  "SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  — Solid black tom w/vitiligo and one orange eye.
  #ff7d46
  
  

 

[Brook]

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

" Stay close to me, little bird... "

Brook's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, though her tone was firm, carrying the weight of loss and determination. Ever since Rain's passing, the ache in her heart had only grown heavier. This place, this wasteland... it had stripped so much from her and the others. Once a sanctuary, it had become a graveyard of memories and dreams. Her tail tightened protectively around Lilac, her gaze flicking to her daughter, whose small form pressed against her side. Brook's chest tightened. She couldn't risk losing her too. Not here. Not to this place.

Her ears twitched as Smoke spoke with conviction, and for once, Brook found herself agreeing with him entirely. " I stand with you on that. " she said, her voice steady but edged with sorrow. " We have to leave this forsaken place. What once was is no longer ours. I don't want to lose any more cats to... this. " Her words faltered briefly as she nuzzled Lilac, rasping her tongue gently over her daughter's ear.

But as she spoke, an unshakable uncertainty crept in. Where could they go? Where could a group this large find safety, find hope? Her tail flicked in thought, her turquiose eyes scanning the gathered cats. So many looked lost, hollowed out by grief, the weight of their tragedies pulling them down. Yet they were here, weren't they? Standing, breathing, clinging to the fragile hope that they might find something better beyond the horizon.

" Where do we go? " Brook asked, her voice quieter now, laced with reluctance. " Does anyone know a place that can house this many cats? A place where we won't lose more of us? " Her gaze lingered on each cat present, searching for an answer she wasn't sure they had. Brook didn't want to separate from the group... Not when she knew Lilac had friends here, not when she herself had family and bonds she couldn't bear to sever.

But staying here wasn't an option. Not anymore.

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

•  
• 
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  

 

[Wave]

Wave of RiverClan

Wave sat quietly as the others voiced their concerns, her pale blue eyes reflecting the weight of the conversation. She understood them, truly, she did. The dangers were undeniable, their prey was growing scarce, and the shelters they relied on were collapsing one by one. But the thought of leaving the sea behind gripped her heart with an ache she couldn't shake. The rhythmic crashing of waves had been her lullaby since birth. Would she ever get used to its absence? Could she?

Her gaze drifted to Adder, the one who knew her better than anyone. If anyone could understand what this decision meant to her, it was him. Her sea captain had always told her, a captain goes down with their ship. Yet, as her eyes lingered on Adder, then shifted to Crescent and Rushing, she realized the truth she had carried all along.

They were her ship.

And no matter how much it hurt, she would leave the sea behind for them. She had to. With a sharp intake of breath, she closed her eyes for a moment before looking back to the group, her gaze steady despite the storm inside her. " Yer right. " she said, her voice calm but firm as she finally spoke. Her tail flicked once, her body still aching from the collapse of the shelter, though she was healing bit by bit.

She had been keeping an eye on the others, especially Brook and Russet, but her focus often strayed to Rose. Something about the little one tugged at her heart fiercely, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt the desire to claim the kit as her own.
" There has to be a place fittin' fer the lot o' us, aye? " she meowed, her head held high as determination flared in her gaze. " We jus' have ta give it a good look round. If we all knock our noodles together, we're sure t'find some place we can go to. All of us. "

Her words carried a spark of hope, her voice steady as though willing the others to believe it too. She might miss the sea more than she could put into words, but for her family and for this ragtag group of cats she now called her crew... She would find a way to adjust. Together, they would weather this storm. Together, they'd find a new horizon.

HOLD ONTO ME AS WE GO ——･ﾟ✦​

･ﾟ✦ —— As we roll down this unfamiliar road

Mention of rose, crescent, Rushing, Adder and russet

 

[Russetfall]

FALLING FOR THE PROMISE OF THE

EMPTINESS MACHINE

The shelter Russet's unconscious form had been dragged to ironically felt more like a tomb than the shed she'd nearly been crushed under the night before. She felt vulnerable, trapped even wounded as she was, and it was this suffocating feeling that had her struggling to her feet and limping to lay just outside the entrance with a grimace against the pain radiating from her shoulder that now held an uncomfortable warmth. She's just in time to catch Smoke's lament and her frown deepens as she catches his eye.

"I think this has probably been a long time coming," Her voice is unusually soft, lacking the normal sharpness she usually wielded to keep other's a tail length away. Green eyes closed for a moment and Russet shuddered; she could still see the piece of tin rattling above her and then spearing her shoulder as it fell. "...Last night was just the most obvious sign."

It's hard to deny it, as emerald eyes drift from cat to cat. Last night was only the beginning, she was sure of it. The shipyard had given all it could over these long moons and now that there was nothing left to give it seemed content to take its repayment in blood. Dewdrop had unfortunately been it's most obvious victim.

Before her parents gang of rogues had collapsed in on itself Russet had been no stranger to travel. They had all moved wherever who led at the time felt was right so she had seen all sorts of places along the coastline. Still...a place that could support this many cats..? Russet shook her head with a huff. It was unheard of. It was a miracle this place had provided for so long as is.

"I never saw any place that could support this many cats before I came here. If there is such a place I doubt it's on the shore..."

ITS BEEN DECIDED HOW WE LOSE

───────i only wanted to be part of something──────

• ooc:
• 
  Russet
  — Future Riverclanner
  — She/Her
  "SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  — A Green-eyed Chocolate Mackerel Tabby With Low White
  #8a2c55

 

[Adderfang]

He didn't want to say it and thankfully, he didn't have to. Smoke took the words from his head, and for that, Adder was grateful. Sand and wreckage could no longer sustain them. Scrounging enough prey to feed their growing family was already a hassle—but last night was the final straw.

The fear of losing each other had finally unmoored them, dragging their anchors up from the ocean floor. There were remnants of their loss all around. The shadows beneath each cats eyes ran deep with exhaustion. All things considered, he was one of the lucky ones. His family made it out alive—scaped and battered—but alive.

Wave was still weak. The kits were still shaken. He was in no better shape. Adder flicked a sore ear, feeling the hard crust of blood crack where it clung—what was left of his ear still hanging on by a thread of flesh.

His weary gaze flickered to Wave. Adder had expected resistance to the move. But instead, she spoke with the conviction he hadn't expected. Without a word, he shifted closer, his tail curling over her back—to show her it would be okay. A meager comfort, but all he could offer.

He knew just how deeply this would hurt her. It meant everything that she would place such a huge part of herself second to them. But of course, she did. That was his Wave.

Many of the cats were stranded strays from dormant ships. Adder, however, had chosen this place—chosen Wave. He was not native to these shores, but he had made them his home. Beyond them, the land he knew was barren, treacherous—hardly a home. A place where every day was a fight to stay alive. Every mark on his body a reminder of what he left behind.

When the question arose, he didn't hesitate. "Wherever we go, I want to be in the scouting party. I'm not raising my kits in a barren wasteland." That was all he had to say about it. Adder wouldn't accept any place that wasn't safe for his family. He was at a loss for ideas, but wherever they ended up, he would keep them safe.

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

• "speech" - thoughts
  

• 

• 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​

 

[KNOT]

There were many worst nights of Knot's life, but the last one had solidified its place amidst the rest. Her lungs burned, her eyes burned, her paw burned, her back burned, she was sure even her tail, nothing but a stump since she was a kit, burned too. Even if the pain was worth it (better in agony with Garnet alive, than safe with Garnet dead), limping toward the growing crowd absolutely sucked. She looked towards Smoke, staring momentarily in annoyance as she was taken away from Garnet's side, eventually relenting and curling her muzzle into a frown as she realised he was right. The pair's tenure in the Shipyard had not been the pleasant 'retirement' that they had expected, prey had been poor and those around them needed more support than Knot could've ever anticipated. She'd been happy to help, Garnet too, but as others rallied, admitting they had no ideas but wanted to go somewhere together, the mossy tabby hesitated.

She looked between Garnet and the Shipyard cats and, for the first time in moons, felt herself a true outsider, one who wondered if betrayal would strike their group as it had done for countless before. If they journeyed now, they journeyed into the unknown, there might not even be a place that would fit all of them... with a grimace, she wondered if self-preservation was the correct approach, to get ahead of the crowd and think for her loved ones before someone else got the idea first. But, as her yellow eyes traced the fresh wound upon Garnet's shoulder, the idea seemed reckless. To head out on their own now would be a death sentence, all they could do was hope. Hope that this group would be the one, hope that the next dawn would be brighter than this one. Hope didn't feel as comforting as she'd like, an often-forgotten anxiety crept into her throat, threatening to turn her words scratchy again.

Knot thought of herself as she wanted the loners to think of her as, pictured that collected cat and pretended to speak as that same figure - the words came easy when she pretended. "Wherever it is, let's not get too close to water, yeah? Be happy to never see a gull again." The idea of the white bird's mockery was almost enough to ease the nervous energy within her twitching ears and spacey eyes, but reality had a funny way of cuffing one's face when they wanted it to go away.

"Anyway, lot of us got injured by that den, if we're gonna leave, wanna know none of us are gonna get left behind. Dunno if you all believe in pacts or promises, but I wanna hear somethin' like that - no matter where we go, or what happens, we stick together, no exceptions." Even if it'd slow the group down, she couldn't stomach the thought of Garnet being abandoned in the search of a better tomorrow.


​

 

[Shark]

I WONT LET THIS BREAK US

​

---

"Your just gonna leave?" exclaimed Shark as he caught the conversation going on among the adults, abandoning his game of 'gnaw on the next cat to walk by' in favor of frowning up in disapproval at the adult. Were they supposed to be better than that? Braver? "So your ugly old den fell down-- there's plenty of others around here." he said, aqua eyes glancing around as if to confirm that-- yes-- there were still other old sheds dotting the coastline along with a number of abandoned boats either beached or still tied in the harbor. And while Shark didn't care-- because these cats were dumb and he definitely didn't need them-- he didn't understand why they all suddenly wanted to go.
​

---

shipyard cat - male - 5 months blue ticked tomcat with high white and aqua eyes​

​

 

[willowburn]

(☾) crouched beside smoke, willow knows what he's thinking. his mind stews with worry, thoughts of last night mingling with memories of the ship, of being gracelessly tossed out into the unknown. the ghost tabby presses into her brother, a gentle reminder of her presence, his life, the things he now knows and the cats he now shares himself with. as cats of the shipyard gather and mingle, smoke speaks out, and willow already knows what he's going to say.

it breaks her heart anyway, to hear it. the rawness to his tone, the defeated croak of "i've had it," that escapes his scarred maw. evergreen glances away from ember, out across the barren, abandoned docks, the cold, empty sea that washes gently against the pebbled shore. this is their home, has been for moons, since before the bug triplets were even breathing, since before the bird twins, even. this is the place they'd lost night, her grave not far from where they now sit, marked with a worn white stone. winter wind rustles the dark smoke fur of the molly, and she fades back in, watching her brother's mouth as it speaks.

other cats agree, cats willow never would've expected to. wave's accented tone murmurs assent, brook as well, russet, alder, garnet. willow nods slowly, eyes closed, breathing deep. "there'll be a place. there was this place. there have to be others." pressing a slender paw into the rock beneath her, she wears the stone with her paw pad, feeling its rough surface alive against her skin.

a young voice interrupts, callous and accusing. willow finds the ocean blue gaze of shark as he stare bitterly up at smoke. "there is little prey here, young one. not enough for all of us. we speak of finding a new place, one with space for everyone, with warmth and shelter from the wind." she can see his inner turmoil behind the mask of outraged childishness. she feels it too, deep inside, though adult enough that she can hide it. why must they leave? why can't the weather change and the waves grow small? it's unfair, but willow has come to terms with life's rules. "leaf-bare may get worse. the storms almost knocked us apart. this group… we deserve a good place to live." sage eyes glance up, find garnet, blink. "all of us, sick, injured, young, old."

WITH THE ECHOING HYMN ☾ OF MY FELLOW PASSERINE

• // " #979c88"
• 
• WILLOW ☾ SHE / THEY, SHIP-YARD CAT. 28 MOONS OLD, PENNED BY LAVS
  
  
  a lithe black smoke feline with ghost striping and leaf green eyes. long smoky fur dashed through with grey and white adorns her frame, sliced across by darker stripes that frame her face and legs. eyes like sage, brilliantly green, gaze with an intelligent look. she is scarred across the bridge of her angular nose.

​

 

[PIKESTAR]

Frustration. Rage. Acceptance. Fear. A cacophony of voices fills the air. It's beginning to become too much to bear. He knew this was coming any say now, but he never would be prepared for it. And then, it's as if he's back in that field of flowers. The voices of his friends begin to drown out. Their figures become a blur, and for a moment he swears he can see a familiar starry pelt of pale gray. A set of blue deep as the sea locks onto him before opening their maw.

"You will gather the cats of your colony and travel inland to RiverClan's ancestral home, away from the dangers of the sea and to the bounty of the forest's rivers."

He looks to his friends who are no longer blobs. Ears flick in the direction of Shark, who voices his displeasure. Did no one hear him? Or see him? Considering that no one has brought up a strange looking tom, he can't help but turn in the direction of where he last saw Seabriar. However, there is nothing there. Was he... Even here? N-no, I'm losing it. That was just a strange dream. Seabriar isn't real. Right? But... If it's real, then...

The shipyard. When he first arrived he was all alone in the world. He had lost everything dear to him and didn't know what else to do. Truthfully, he only planned to stay a little bit. Being in shipyard brought back so many bitter memories. What had stopped him was each and everyone of the cats in the Shipyard. They had welcomed him and of course with every new beginning it took some adjusting. Thankfully, the cats (well most) were kind such as willow, blaze, wave, smoke, and even adder. It was due to their kindness and guidance that he was able to thrive in the Shipyard and truly call it home. For the first time in forever he could look at the sea and think of fondly of his past. It still stung, but he wasn't alone anymore. He had friends and family. Even if they all butted heads with each other, in the end he cared for each and everyone of them. Though, there are still some he'd admit would get on his nerves.

I want to repay them. Smoke let us stay in that shed, when they could have let us fend for ourselves. Wave's giving up this place even though it meant everything to her. Adder tried going back to save her and their kits, even though he was hurt. There isn't anything he won't do for his family. Russet nearly died. We're lucky that she even survived. I was worried when we found her, that she would've been... She's strong that's for sure. Knot too. I don't even know how she's standing. And Shark? he's still so young. He doesn't understand it yet. Do the other kits and younger ones know?

Pike knew it just as much as the other adults. Ever since the ships stopped coming, everything was steadily declining. It was made bearable with the friends they made and families they had, but now they couldn't ignore the signs anymore. If they stayed here it would be a slow and painful death and he didn't want that. He wanted a future in which his friends and family could thrive. Where their kits didn't have to go to bed hungry or look to their parents asking for more than a few measly scraps. Or where parents didn't have to look in sorrow when their kits wanted to share their scraps with them. All of them deserved a better fate than this. Even Shark, who didn't want to leave the only place he called home. There's nothing for us here anymore.

Not a single word has left his maw. Hesitance prevents him from taking any action, as he is terrified of leading his friends and family to a more tragic fate. Perhaps it is also fate that from the depth of his mind, Seabriar's words ring once more. "...travel inland." And that is enough.

"We should travel inland,"

he mews. It is in this moment that they look at him. After all, none of them had suggested a direction in which they should go. What they did suggest was somewhere they could thrive. Anywhere but this doomed place. Knot even suggests a place without any water close by because of the gulls... I just think you have bad luck with gulls though. He decides it's better not to bring this up or else he'd get an earful and whatever would transpire would derail them severely.

He looks to Adder.

"A scouting party is a good idea."

I'm not sure what things we'll run into trying to find Riverclan's ancestral home. Or the forest rivers?

"We can get a group of us who goes ahead of the rest of us, so they can warn us about danger or led us to a safe place to rest our paws for a bit before moving on."

Maybe it's not the best system out there, but of they knocked all their noodles together like Wave suggested then they could up with something better. Either way, their journey was going to be challenging. Everyone needed to cooperate and place some faith in one another.

Speaking of faith, he turns to Knot. Her worries are justified. By all accounts it's easier for the rest of them who were uninjured to leave those who were behind. However, he'd seen it firsthand. He'd seen everyone work together trying to pull everyone out of that forsaken shelter. Willow ever the wise brings up this point as well. However, he can't help himself from adding on to her point. A long tail flicks in Russet's direction.

"No one is going to get left behind. We could have left Russet behind, but we didn't. We all worked together to find her and others too. Wave helped Russet even though she was hurt. The adults tried gathering all the kits they could find and dragged them out. If that isn't enough proof to you that no one gets left behind, then I promise you. I promise I won't let you get left behind."

This time it is Willow and not Seabriar's words who embolden him. There is a place for them. Whether or not they would like it is another matter, but it has to be better than this.

"I... If we travel inland. Past the twoleg place is a forest. There's a river there that surrounds an island. Maybe that place could be our new home?"

Perhaps he should have considered thinking things through a bit more. After all, it sounded an awfully a lot like he knew of this wonderful place for awhile and decided until now to share it. Or they'd ask how he'd know about such a place and that was horrible to. They'll think I'm losing if I said oh, a cat in a dream told me we have to go to this place where our ancient Riverclam ancestors are.

 

[Wave]

Wave of RiverClan

Wave listened intently as Russet spoke, her ear flicking once in silent acknowledgment. The thought of not making it... of not returning for her, it was a grim one she refused to linger on. Many cats had risked themselves to help others escape that terrible night, and though only Dewdrop had been lost, the knowledge of it stung deeply. She lashed her tail irritably, a fleeting expression of her lingering frustration.

Her gaze shifted to Adder as he spoke, his practical suggestion of scouting earning a soft purr from her. A crooked smirk tugged at her lips, and she winked playfully at him. " Aye, o' course ye would, ye bleedin' heart. " she teased gently, leaning into him just slightly. Her eyes momentarily settled on their kits, Crescent and Rushing, who lay curled together. They were safe now, but the memory of Rushing's boldness during the chaos still rattled her. She knew he meant well, but the thought of losing him or Crescent was unbearable.

Wave's ear flicked again, this time toward Knot. Her icy blue eyes rested on the other cat with a long, thoughtful stare as she processed the suggestion. " I would... like t'still be close t'some form of water. " she admitted, her tone earnest. " Call it me sea farin' bones, but havin' no water at all leaves me restless. " She inhaled deeply, her resolve strengthening as her tail swept once through the air. " But as fer leavin' anyone behind? Absolutely not. A captain doesn' leave anyone behind. " Her voice was firm, conviction etched into every word. " I can promise ye already, nobody will be left behind. Not if I have a say innit. "

When Shark spoke up, Wave turned her attention to the young cat, her expression softening as she listened. She swallowed once before replying gently, " Aye, yer right, there's plenty o' dens still around. But there's no promise they won't fall over, ye see? There's too many cats t'house all o' them. Yer welcome t'come with us, like I said. No cat shall be left behind. " Her voice was steady, though her gaze briefly flicked to Willow, who had started to explain further to Shark.

Then Pike's voice broke through, surprising her. His suggestion to travel inland made her blink a few times as she turned to face him fully. There was something both unexpected and reassuring about his words, his agreement to a scouting party, his caution about potential dangers ahead, and his insistence that no one would be abandoned. When he mentioned her specifically, her whiskers twitched with a mix of humility and pride.

" Ah, ye don't need t'mention tha'... " she muttered modestly, though her eyes gleamed with a quiet pride. " Anyone would've... " But as she looked at him, she noticed the quiet strength in his resolve, a desire to take responsibility for the group. It was admirable.

She tilted her head slightly, curiosity dancing in her gaze. " Ye know what... Yer makin' up a pretty lil' picture there. " she remarked with a faint grin. " I wouldn't mind seein' it for meself. " Wave's voice held a mix of intrigue and cautious optimism. She could tell Pike believed in what he was saying, and she was willing to trust that vision for now.

HOLD ONTO ME AS WE GO ——･ﾟ✦​

･ﾟ✦ —— As we roll down this unfamiliar road

 

[Bay]

The dreaded conversation strikes up again, and every word spoken from every mouth feels like a slap to the face. Bay all but scowls at the crowd — it would be foolish to call them friends, but if anything, they're like allies. A tight-knit group that does not succumb to so much greed that they end up tearing one another apart. Despite all the things that easily annoy him, Bay has grown to feel a sense of fondness towards these cats- or perhaps he just enjoys the safety of numbers too much to simply let this go.

If they leave, so will he. He is used to abandoning previous homes in hopes of something better.

"Scouting party?"

Bay only chimes in when Adder brings the idea to the table; finally something for him to actually bite into. He is not interested in blabbering about, but being proactive is much more to his liking.

Pike is full of things to say today. Bay impatiently tears at the muddy grass underneath his paws as he waits, eyebrows shooting up with how decisive his companion is.

"Have you been there?"

He forces Pike into one place with a mismatched glare.

"We could've started hunting or making dens there ages ago... why keep it a secret?"

Whatever suspicions Bay might have had lifts from him like morning dew in favor of the boundless energy that heats him up from the inside.

"I want to scout ahead, too. I'm not injured and won't tire anytime soon."

 

[Shimmerkit]

She hovers nearby, cloud-white fur not near as clean as it would have been only twenty-four hours prior yet sticking out so obviously nonetheless. She knew the adults would be upset by the aftermath of the storm, knew that they would be sad that their home was gone now - she was sad too, she was upset now that her mother was gone, now that the only place she knew as home was so damaged that it was no longer left standing - but she did not think that they would be so upset to suggest leaving, to decide to leave behind the stories of the great ocean that she had heard of, the sound that lulled her to sleep at night, the... everything that was this that she knew and nothing more.

Flame orange eyes follow from cat to cat as they each speak, from their tired voices to their outbursts, her eyes landing on Pike as he speaks in finality of an answer to each of the adults questions of where to go. A river, and her maw opens like a fish trapped outside the water, open then closed, open then closed, trying to form the words of what is that? when all she could do was simply snap it shut because there were too many questions forming from the others now, too much action now trying to be taken as they began to think it was a good idea and her ears pinned to her head as it became more final. Whether she liked it or not they were leaving their home, they were leaving her, and she looked away stubbornly from the adults in silence as they began to plan, and though she still listened she did not participate.

ALL GOOD DEVILS

MASQUERADE UNDER THE LIGHT

• "speech"

• 

• SHIMMER she/her, shipyard, four moons.
  ☆ a sh all white cat // masking cinnamon tortie w/orange eyes. stands at a short height
  ☆ mentored by none // mentoring none
  ☆ "adopted" kit of Smoke, mutually seen as a guardian
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ☆ penned by tikki ↛ rabbitcake on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[pine]

Pine is quiet as the discussion continues, still nursing his wounds from the collapse. He wants to go with them, but he knows he can't. He'd only open up his wounds, slow down the healing, and if they really did leave, he wouldn't be able to go with them. His ears flick, part annoyance, both with the situation and himself.

"As much as I agree that we have to leave," he says, "we can't all go rushing off at once. There are injured cats too, and kits that need looking after. There's still the risk that stray dogs could come running, or some other predator, so some will have to stay behind to look after them." He looks at Pike, "if you know where to look, you know more than the rest of us. You should go, at least. Take a few cats with you, and…" Pine glances at Torrent and Squid, still so young, too young to have been through so much. He looks at Brook and Lilac. Brook… she should have somewhere safe to raise Lilac. "Hurry back," he finishes, looking at Pike again.

 

[Squid]

squid

Squid watched quietly from where she was pressed under a bit of debris, hidden in the shadows. Torrent's question seemed oddly prescient now. Leave the shipyard. She had been too young when she was abandoned to remember much of anything else. It was an awful place, full of hunger and little else, but it was all she knew. At the same time, she could feel a thousand questions running through her mind. What would it be like inland? Would there be new birds? New plants? New places to explore?

She flexed a paw, looking at the assembled cats. There were adults she barely knew besides seeing a few of them in nearby shelters. The silver tabby who seems to be making all the plans is not who she would have expected to be speaking for them all. They must have something up their sleeve if they're being listened to like this, though. The information they have is... interesting. It's something Squid files away for later, a different kind of power. Knowing things.

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[ROSEPAW.]

Rose was sitting by her family a bit away to listen in on the conversation that Smoke had started. They had to... leave?. That was a terrifying thought because this place, this beach was everything she knew. Outside there was a strange and unfamiliar place, dangerous some would even say. Rose didn't know what to feel about it but so many agreed to this idea, Wave included. Pike even had an idea of where they could go so perhaps it was wise to listen to the majority. Still she was uncertain, unsure. " We should go with them." Leech suddenly whispered to her like he had read her thoughts or something. Although she knew that Leech didn't really like this place so he probably just wanted to take this opportunity to leave this beach. Rose opend her mouth and was about to answer her friend -

" Sunflower,Tulip,Buttercup, Rose, lets go." Heather who had been watching silently as this conversation unfolded through judging sharp eyes. She didn't look to like this idea as she looked rather disapproving of it. Rose looked back at her mother who gave her a stern look that said she should obey and just quietly follow. Heather turned to lead her daughters away from this conversation she wished their ears to hear nothing more about. To her it was absurd to leave the beach that had been their home for seasons. Knowing she had no other choice Rose got up on her paws and started to follow her family although a bit behind.

// rose family out from this conversation!

 

[Spookii]

SPOOKY

Just close your eyes, the sun is going down... You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now

The coppery tang of blood hung heavy in the air, sharp and overwhelming. Spooky could smell it... too much of it. His nose wrinkled at the scent as his heart hammered in his chest. Many of the cats were still okay, he could see that... But there were so many hurt ones, too. Cats who had thrown themselves into the collapsing shed, desperate to save others. Those who had gotten hurt in the collapse themselves...

He'd seen it with his own eyes.

His thoughts spun wildly as images flickered in his mind. The nice molly who always shared stories... she had rushed back inside. So had the grumpy gray molly with the piercing yellow eyes. Even the fluffy black cat had darted into the chaos to save a kit. They had all gone back, knowing the risk, and now... now they were all injured. Well, not all of them... a lot of them. Some had not... But... But...

What were they going to do now?

Blinking rapidly, Spooky dug his tiny claws into the ground, his paws kneading anxiously as his ears strained to catch every snippet of conversation. There was talk of a new place... A place far away from here where they could all find shelter. Somewhere safe.

But if they left... then what would happen to him?

The thought sent a chill down his spine. If they left, he would be completely alone. The very idea of it terrified him. Even if they didn't know he existed, these cats grounded him. They were his world, his stability. He survived on the scraps they left behind, and he found comfort in watching the other kits play. They were his silent connection to something bigger than himself, something he desperately wanted to be a part of but was too afraid to reach for.

He had been building up his courage, little by little, trying to find the strength to approach them one day. But today was not that day.

Swallowing hard, Spooky scrambled backward, his fur brushing against the shadows that always seemed to embrace him. He paused for a brief moment, casting one last glance at the gathered group of cats. His heart ached with longing and fear in equal measure.

And then, as quietly as he could, he turned and bolted back to his hiding spot, retreating to the only safety he knew.

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[Torrentpaw]

TORRENT

༄.° ​

​

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ☀︎ Torrent sat closely next to Pine as he listened to the assembled cats, his paws itching at the idea of a scouting party. Despite his excitement, he tried his best to be respectful, listening to the group thoughtfully, gaze darting to and from each of them as they took turns speaking. Torrent didn't know any of them, but he did his best to remember the names that were spoken. He understood why some of them didn't seem too keen on leaving the shipyard, but maybe once they saw what good could be lying beyond it, they would change their minds.

His ears flicked towards a silver tabby tom as he began to speak, describing an island that could possibly serve as their new home. Torrent listened as the argument of who should go and when carried on, but he couldn't contain the excitement that threatened to bubble over any longer. He had to go on this patrol.

"I want to go."

Torrent meowed, his determined gaze flashing to each of them as he rose to his paws, tail flicking to-and-fro in excitement.

"I know I'm younger than most of you, but if you let me come, I promise you won't regret it."

He added, his words carrying a silent promise.

He then looked back up towards Pine, expecting protest from the tom. Torrent knew he would volunteer to go if he wasn't injured, so he silently hoped that he would let him go in his place without a fight.

​

✦

6 Moons | He/Him | Shipyard Cat

✦

 

[Smokewreath]

all you have is your

FIRE

─〃

⟢

"Scouting ahead sounds like a good idea. If what Pike says is true..." He didn't want to get his hopes up but it sounded exactly like what they wanted; a safe place near water and with ample prey. Inland to the heart of the forest. There is a tic in his jaw as he clenches it, a brief moment of accusation where he wants to demand to know how Pike knows this, why was he hiding this information while cats around them starved -- but now was not the time for infighting and his heated temper cooled immediately. There would come a time for questions later, the sooner they looked into this the better. His dark tail flicks and curls around Shimmer's sulking form, he knows this was a sudden shift after so soon losing her mother; he only hopes. He leans into Willow, nose wrinkling as she chides another child for their smart mouth and he recalls once again why he shouldn't be allowed to watch any others kittens; his patience was limited to his only.

He glances over in Pine's direction, nodding slowly, "It won't do for us all to go scampering into the wild. Pine and I can take up the flank here and follow with the youngsters and injured when the path is cleared. We'll need a few more to help..." So many injured, so many young cats who would need to be carried or corralled, depending. His ear flicks as he sees Heather heard her family off and he resists the immediate impulse to call her an idiot that bubbles in his throat: was she blind? Did she not see that only death awaited them here? That was a task for cats more softspoken and willing to talk than him, he'd have cuffed her in the ear and told her to suck it up. Let the peacekeepers handle that mess, his presence was only needed if it came to blows. Pine's kits (he thinks? he isn't sure but close enough really...) speak out wanting to go and his lone eye darts to the other tom, brow arched; his call but frankly he'd rather the older youth stick around to help here. It was not, however, Smoke's place to tell another how to rear their offspring.

The dark tom clears his throat, "We're burning daylight, take your scouting patrol and hop to it." There is a stern, authoritative tone to his voice as he regards the silver tabby tom, while he didn't think too highly of Pike when it came to anything other than being a decent kitsitter: if he could lead them to somewhere they could settle-together-safe and sound, he might sing a different tune. Unless of course he knew about this cause he was there letting them all starve the past few moons-then he was kicking Pike's ass.

─ & the place you need to reach.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

& if I fall, I fall

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• 

  Smoke

  
  — Future RiverClanner (Shipcat)
  — He/Him
  "SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  — Solid black tom w/vitiligo and one orange eye.
  #ff7d46
  
  

 

[Adderfang]

Adder's cheeks burned faintly at Wave's comment. After last night, he was just so grateful she was still here. To hear her voice again was a gift. If she hadn't been— He didn't want even to imagine it. He sniffed sharply, shaking the thought away.

There was a flood of voices around him. Each one valuable, full of insight and concern for the future. He understood what they were feeling—He felt it too. But maybe he was more pliable than some others. More willing to adapt to whatever lay ahead.

Until now, Adder had paid little mind to the cats they shared their home with. But after everything Wave had done to help them? After she had risked her life? He was willing to try if they were that important to her.

"That's right. No one gets left behind." He nodded. If he had to, he would carry each and every one of them on his back.

Adder's eyes narrowed as Pike spoke. The place he described sounded good—too good. He didn't know Pike well, but he knew him for being kind, if a bit soft-spoken and easy to push around. The last cat Adder expected to step forward with an idea.

But if this place truly existed—if it could give them a better life—then Adder was willing to entertain the thought. Bay raised a reasonable point too though. If he knew it existed, then why tell them now? They'd been struggling for moons.

"I'll believe it when I see it," He said dryly, casting a measured look at Pike. "Though… I do like the idea of a river." Hopefully with plenty of fish. That would be a welcome change.

His gaze shifted to Torrent, watching the young tom with a stern, assessing look. He was a bit older than Adder's kits, but he worried the boy would hold them back. Especially after the stunt Rush had pulled diving into the shack for some blasted cobwebs. These kits had no idea what was out there. "This isn't a game or some grand adventure," He warned sharply. "You could die out there. We all could."

The last thing they needed was a thorn in their paw. His tail flicked, expression as frozen as the wind. "If you're set on coming, fine. But know I won't let you hear the end of it if you slow us down or get reckless." Adder knew his words were harsh, but the youngster needed to hear them. If he was so set on coming along, let him. But Adder wasn't going to coddle him either. Their situation was dire.

Adder turned away, following the flow of conversation, ready to offer his opinion. He had enough experience surviving on his own. He was willing to share it with others if it kept them alive.

He could agree, partly, with what Smoke had to say. "We should leave soon," He expressed clearly, "But no good will come of it if we're burdened and exhausted. Besides, we need to decide exactly who is going and staying. Like Pine said, something could happen. So enough able bodies should stay behind." He hadn't so easily forgotten Clay and the story she told them about her mother. There were horrible creatures out there, some that looked just like them. What if the place they were considering was already occupied?

Well. He was willing to take it from someone else if none could be bargained. But were the rest of them? Could they make that hard decision? He would do that and so much more for his family. "I suggest we leave tomorrow, at first light. Give everyone in the party a chance to rest and say their goodbyes." He looked to Pike, expectantly. "But you know the way, it's your call."

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

• "speech" - thoughts
  

• 

• 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​

 

[pine]

Pine sighs as Torrent speaks up, saying he wants to go with them. Of course he does- it's what Pine would've wanted to do at his age. He turns to him, meeting the young tom's wide eyed stare. Words sit on the tip of Pine's tongue, but he can't help but think– what right does he have, really, to tell Torrent what to do and what not to do? What right does he have to lecture? He couldn't even keep his family alive when he had one. He looks at Torrent, and he sees… he sees a kit that died many moons ago, one he could not save. Saving Torrent from a hypothetical danger wont bring that kit back, it won't bring any of them back.

It was by pure accident that they'd even ended up acquainted. Pine was not Torrent's father, barely even his guardian, despite his personal feelings of responsibility. But he does feel responsible. He can't… won't lose anyone else.

More cats speak up, and Smoke mentions Pine's name– he meets the black tom's eyes and nods at his suggestion. Then, Adder speaks, voice sharp but words realistic. Pine turns back to the young tom at his side.

"Torrent," Pine says, voice low and even. "Who did you think I was talking about when I said kits? You're barely six moons old. You might be a big kit, but you're still a kit. They'll be travelling all day and night without rest, running when they can. They don't have time to wait for a kit to catch his breath," he hesitates for a moment. "Stay here, where your paws can be useful instead of getting in the way. Stay with Squid," and with me, he thinks, where I can't lose you.

But he doesn't say it out loud, doesn't know how. And he knows, deep down, that if Torrent goes, he can't stop him. What right does he have?

// ooc: @Torrentpaw mention