Open Shipyard tell them you're my girl | intro

Threads taking place in the abandoned shipyard.

scalepaw

OH THE WATER KNOWS
RiverClan
4
0
Freshkill
0
Nickname
Scale
Pronouns
she/her
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The evening was bitterly frigid, as most nights had been lately, but Scale hardly felt it. Her well-insulated pelt, thick and sleek, wrapped around her small stature lovingly. Rounded tufts of blues, grays, and oranges shimmered faintly in the dim light, a callback to the name her mother had given her. She had often told Scale how her fur glimmered like fish scales in sunlight, and those bittersweet memories brought a gentle smile to Scale's pale maw.

Foggy recollections of being bundled up in her mother's paws, listening to her soft, melodic voice while the waves lapped against their home, had been the safest she'd ever felt. The thought of it filled her chest with a familiar ache. I wonder how you're doing out there, Mom. Do you miss me as much as I miss you? Her hazel eyes glistened as tears threatened to fall, looking wistfully towards the inky ocean. It had been only a moon since her mother had passed, slipping away quietly in her sleep.

There had been no clear reason, though Scale often wondered if it was tied to the old injury in her mother's leg. A wound that had never healed properly. Her mother had endured the pain with such quiet resilience, especially after Scale's father had left. Few were left to ease her suffering.

"Your presence always heals me, my little cattytail. So strong and so kind." The tender words echoed in Scale's mind, her mother's meow as clear as if she were still beside her. It was a phrase the older she-cat often said when she was fretted over. A nickname Scale ached to hear one more time.

Scale tilted her gaze up toward the overcast sky, where only a few muted stars pierced through the thick clouds. A small, wistful part of her liked to imagine her mother was somewhere out there, looking back at her. The thought was comforting, even if she knew it was little more than a dream. She sighed softly, resting her small head against the cool, weathered wood of the railing. Her plump body tightly tucked in, paws hidden beneath her to preserve warmth. Most of the other cats were fast asleep by now, but Scale had struggled to find rest in recent nights. With no mother or father to usher her the kit off to bed she felt justified in staying up.

It seemed another cat was rummaging around on the deck behind her but she paid it no mind. The frosty air nipped at her whiskers, but she felt no intention to move or retreat inside. Instead, she stayed, letting the rhythmic sounds of the waves soothe her restless mind. They mingled with faint echoes of her mother's sweet scent and silky voice in her memories, a momentary aid against the chill of both the night and her thoughts.


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    ○ scale

    LH blue-cream tortie w low white and hazel eyes

    afab, undecided gender, she/they, 5 moons

    kit of the shipyard

    undecided orientation, single, crushing on no one

    child of npc x npc ; only child

    "speech", thoughts, powerplay

    peaceful and healing powerplay accepted

    toyhou.se - hub - playlist - penned by tasmagoric

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    strength
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    stamina
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    agility
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    hunting
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    swimming
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    climbing
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    charisma
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It was colder at night, Crescent thought the water below was bad enough during the day but he walks around during the evening with a dramatic shiver whenever she can. While he carries a lot of his fathers more subdued attitude occasionally a flair for the dramatics stemming through wave crashes through. This is one of these moments, "brrr" he chatters her teeth as wobbly legs cross the wood of the shipyard. While she is normally fast asleep at this point he finds himself a little restless, Crescent becomes far more adventurous at night. It hurts his eyes less, so he can sacrifice the cold for that. He doesn't stray too far from her family, just in case someone stays up and is worried about her.

She, herself, is worried in this moment. Another cat is awake and resting on the railing, he's not a great jumper so instead she trots as close as she can. Pressing his paws against the wood of the railing to lean up at her, admiring how she can keep herself so steady currently. "Hello" she whispers softly, trying to not disturb anyone but wanting to be polite. His parents always teach him how good it is to not ignore anyone, sometimes she's pretty sure she's seen them do the opposite but he isn't one to critique. The salt of the sea sprays from the waves, lightly dappling him in droplets. Tiny nose wrinkles and her whiskers shiver at the sensation, he doesn't wish to think about how her fur might curl from this.

"How many stars are there?" He asks, blinking warmly at the youth. Maybe she wanted to be alone. Unfortunately Crescent doesn't quite understand the concept of voluntary isolation and is insistent on trying to be a friend.
 
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Scale's hazel eyes flickered toward the sound of soft paw steps, her quiet moment broken by a gentle voice. Tilting her head slightly, she watched with mild surprise as he pressed her paws against the railing and gazed up at her perch. Her plump tail curled upward, forming a curious "?" as she observed him, her youthful features alight with intrigue. Crescent's dramatic shiver and whispered "Hello." brought a faint smile to her lips tinged with amusement. Looks like I'm not the only restless cat.

"Chilly, isn't it?" She murmured playfully, her tone low enough not to disturb the others slumbering nearby. With warmth in her voice, a subtle invitation to linger. Her gaze was on his twiddling whiskers and a soft chuckle escaped her as he wrinkled her nose.

At their question, Scale turned her attention back to the clouded skies, letting her gaze wander over the little dots of light. The stars were faint, only a few managing to shine through the gloom. She thought for a moment, her voice distant as she meowed. "Hmm... I don't think anyone's ever counted them all. Unless you just mean the few peeking out tonight?"

The colorful tabby peeped back at the fellow kit her smile softening. "What about you? How many do you think there are?" She could enjoy solitude, but a friendly presence was always welcome. A little company wouldn't be so bad on such a somber night. "Oh!" Her ears perked up with realization and sheepishly she added on. "My name's Scale by the way."


  • dRMjoUs.png

    ○ scale

    LH blue-cream tortie w low white and hazel eyes

    afab, undecided gender, she/they, 5 moons

    kit of the shipyard

    undecided orientation, single, crushing on no one

    child of npc x npc ; only child

    "speech", thoughts, powerplay

    peaceful and healing powerplay accepted

    toyhou.se - hub - playlist - penned by tasmagoric

  • fg14g93.png

    strength
    ●●●●●●○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

    stamina
    ●●●●●●●●●●●○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

    agility
    ●●●●●●●●●○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

    hunting
    ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●○○○○○○○○○○

    swimming
    ●●●●●●○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

    climbing
    ●●●●●●●●●○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

    charisma
    ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●○○○○○○○○
 
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Even if she could scarcely see past the fog that curdled up to her eyes from her breaths, there was something omnipresent about the world above, if she were to lose her sight entirely, then it'd still be there. For the little feline, it was a grounding thought. With the Shipyard degrading the way it was, a grounding thought sounded just peachy. Shiver racked the tabby's body as she jumped along the dockyard, brought further than her usual stargazing platform by youthful voices in the distance. Buggy, yellow eyes contorted in sympathy for the pair, had they not seemed so... content, she'd have convinced them to take shelter with her own kits. She shuffled uncomfortably, claws clacking against the icy deck. 'Do their parents know they're out here? Do they have parents? Are they even good parents? It was a stern reminder she did not know her compatriots well enough, but she didn't think her views would be changed with context. They needed parental guidance.

"Funny thing about stars... they never end," the short-tailed she-cat smiled, standing a good distance from the edge of the boat. She could see the pair well enough, a thick-furred tortie and a pale little thing. She inhaled sharply, feeling the wind bite her lungs. 'Ugh... miss when it was warm every season.' She resisted the urge to sneeze as she continued her lesson. "Chased the same ones all my life, never got closer to them, but more and more of 'em seemed to appear. Got the only star I need now." She thought of Garnet and swore her heart could've melted even the thickest of snows away. Stars were hardly as special as the ones closest to her, but they were pretty.

Tattered ears threatened to pin back as she was reminded of her strangeness, how her name had so far seldom fell from her own maw. Embarrassment caused her voice to stutter. "Ah, right. Name's Knot, like the tangle o' fur when cleaning it's a faff. Know it's uncool to have some old busybody about while you're tryna make friends, want me to stay silent, let me know, yeah? Just don't want you out and about by yourselves when an owl'd look at you and go 'yes please'." What remained of a stubby appendage wiggled at the mention of the bird of prey - even if Scale was as tall as she was now, Knot figured she'd have the experience to at least be able to fight a bird off long enough for the little ones to flee.


 
Wave of RiverClan
Wave lounged upon her perch, her tail lazily flicking back and forth in a rhythmic sway, eyes half-lidded as she surveyed the scene. She trusted that Crescent was fine where they were, but her watchful instincts never wavered. If her little one needed her, Wave would be there in a heartbeat. Always close, always vigilant. And if not her, Adder was just as steadfast in keeping an eye on their kits, though her mate currently was with Rushing, no doubt.

Her tail flicked once more as her gaze landed on Scale. A cute little button of a cat, she mused with a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She considered moving to check on Crescent, but she knew her kit's habits well enough by now. Cres had always been a creature of the night, drawn to its mysteries and quiet she supposed. Wave didn't fully understand it, but as long as someone was nearby to ensure their safety, she didn't mind. Tonight, Cres was lucky her mother hadn't retired to bed just yet.

When she noticed someone else approaching... older, unfamiliar, Wave's body tensed for a moment, muscles coiling instinctively as her sharp gaze assessed the newcomer. But as no immediate threat presented itself, she let herself relax, her tail resuming its slow, languid flicks.

" Oi, ye over there. " she called out, her accent thick and playful, a crooked grin on her face. " Ye cute button, dontcha worry yer lil' head off! They're in good eyes, promise ye that. But I appreciate yer watchful eye all the same! " Her voice was warm yet edged with her no-nonsense confidence, a subtle reassurance that her kit was always under the safest care.

HOLD ONTO ME AS WE GO ——・゚✦
・゚✦ —— As we roll down this unfamiliar road