@Sunflower

the air is crisp and smells heavily of snow, the sharpness of it burning his nose. he stands it for a moment or two - then his nose wrinkles up, a delicate sneeze rippling through him. the snow and sleet are a far cry from the summer he cherished and father winter was never as gentle as the warmer months. he does not seem to mind, though; his sneeze is chased by a sheepish laugh, ears twitching in the sudden stillness - trying to listen for any who might have witnessed it. the air here is full to bursting, the sound of the ocean jarring and new.

salt and sand are almost enough to block out the elements and he lets his toes squish into the sand, delighting in the texture beneath his paws. his head swivels, curious - obviously debating between moving forward to moving to the sea. would the water be cold today? or is it eternally warm? he is still but for a moment longer before muscles bunch and release, uncoiling with a delighted whoop! - as he lopes gently towards the water, not intending to stop until his paws were soaked in the waves.

""

Sunny had been heading to the beach already. It was much more pleasant, and sometimes the sand held warmth for longer. Sunflower practically despised winter, especially the snow. Desperately missing the summer. His flowers are already becoming a bit dried. Which caused him to be a bit upset. What a waste. But he knew that the earth always turned, and he must go through winter to get to the summer he so cherished. So he came upon the beach slowly. Yawning all the way.

Sunflower saw Daisy running towards the waters, and grinned, yelling to him, “wait up cous! I’m coming with ya!” He would then sprint towards the waters, laughing all the way. As his paws hit the water, he let out a small hiss, “dear Gods it’s cold!” His teeth chattering for dramatic effect as he looked up and laughed towards Daisy, waiting to see his reaction. It wasn’t a particularly pretty day, quite dreary, in fact. Sunny would kick up some water at his cousin, hoping to invoke a bit of playfulness in him.

@Daisy

Here comes the Sun

And I’ll say, It’s alright...

code by corvus

Her lithe frame walked with poise as she made her way behind her two clansmen. Poppy held a soft smile on her lips as she watched how Daisy went after the water first, Poppy had half the heart to calmly tell him to be careful, but they were adults so she kept her lips tight against her wishes. His sneezing had her tickled as she had whispered "bless you" to him before looking at the crashing waves of the water. Sunflower went races into the edge of the water and it caused poppy to stir a deep laugh to echo from her lungs. She swore when they got together it was hilarious to watch unfold. The maroon lioness would stretch herself behind them and come up alongside Daisy's left and run her shoulder softly into his ribs.

Poppy watched as Daisy placed his paws into the edge and she would support him with a soft coo. "You can do it only a few more steps, I'll look out for the deep end." her words were just a faint whisper, she never spoke loudly and her tone never raised over itself even when she was angry. "Sunflower, ahh be careful we don't know what lurks in the depths," she warned cautiously as her eyes popped from Daisy's toes and out into the waves. She too wanted to play in it, but she was a lady of high ranking class - she'd wait until no one was around to test out the waves for herself.

@Daisy @Sunflower

[OOC] Tell me to butt out if ya'll want! <3 The splashing and laughter drew her first. The woman smiled when she spotted the three felines up ahead, cerulean optics sifted between the three as she gave a soft, gentle chuff so as not to startle them from their play. "It's nice to see that the allure of the sea isn't lost on those passing through here." The sovereign was happy to see it, and pleased that this spit of land hadn't turned them into the slobbering monsters champing at the bit that it had done to many of those that she had been trapped with. Jewel shifted so she could sit, and enjoy the sunlight and the laughter. Not that she hadn't had laughter - she had laughter every day. But that was from her children. Listening to the laughter of adults was far more soothing to the soul. It was what had drawn the ebony queen from her intent of recruiting to trail towards the sound. @Poppy @Daisy @Sunflower

Table coding by Jolee

sorry for the wait!

he stopped just shy of entering the ocean - getting close enough for the waves to gently lap at his paws. it tickles, the water seeping beneath the sand to wet his pawpads and the space between his toes. he grins as he stretches them out, delighting in the strange sensation - attention shifting only when @Poppy bumps her shoulder against his. she's always a welcome weight, especially now when the winter wind burns at his cheeks. he leans his weight against her for a moment, seeping in her warmth until @Sunflower calls out. ears shift, listening intently, as he hears the weird sound of steps on the sand as sunny gallops forward. then there is splashing, wild and jarring, and then sunny is hissing in complaint. despite his cousin's gentle ire, daisy only laughs - the sound warm. "of course it's cold!" comes his easy rebuttal, words shining through the giggles.

poppy's offer is quiet but welcomed all the same, and his smile softens but keeps the playful edges. "you should join us!" he says in quiet encouragement. they all deserved to have fun here, on this cold afternoon. tentatively daisy steps forward then, encouraged by both of his cousins, hazy eyes widening as the ocean swallows up his paws. he sloshes forward until he's ankle-deep before stopping again, a breathy laugh rumbling from the depths of his chest. "oh!" he says, almost a gasp - sunny hadn't been lying, it was cold! he is struggling to adjust to this when he is splashed: sunny's well-aimed shove of water hits him squarely in the face. he splutters, gasping - shaking his head to rid himself futility as the water seeps into his fur.

a third voice, and unknown one at that, catches his attention - his paw raised in revenge, his mischief paused for now. his head turns, nose scrunching up as he scents the air - but all he can truly smell is the sand and salt. "hello there!" he calls, looking just to the left of where jewel sits - ears pricked forward as he offers her a smile. his paw still wavers where it's raised, poised - his revenge forgotten for the moment in lieu of the new stranger.

""

Sunflower didn’t exactly like the coddling of his cousin. But said nothing. If it were him, he’d dislike the treatment. If Daisy were fine with it, he needed to be too. He hummed slightly as she looked at Poppy. Snorting at her words, “come now, dear Poppy, it’s just a bit of fun! You should join us!” His last words coming at the same time as Daisy’s, “Jinx! You owe me a nice massage later.” He snickered, very obviously he was joking. But hey, he had to keep his cousins on their toes.

Then he heard a stranger’s voice. He brought his body closer to Daisy’s, just in case this woman was a threat. She seemed friendly, though. Pretty, too. He nodded to her, “Would you like to join us, ma’am? It’s a bit cold but otherwise quite nice!” Sunny hoped his cousin wouldn’t splash him quite yet. If only for the woman watching them closely. He bumped his shoulder with Daisy’s lightly, making sure not to put him off balance. Truly he and Daisy were much alike. Both liked a bit of mischief here and there, but were otherwise friendly. They both collected bits of gossip too.

@Daisy @Poppy @Jewel

Here comes the Sun

And I’ll say, It’s alright...

code by corvus

Poppy looked at @Daisy as she giggled "Why this one might think about it....but just be careful we know not what lurks in the deep.." she stated warily of the cool waters. She watched as they played within the water, and she would sit back. Not right now no she wouldn't join - she wanted to be on the lookout for her clan's people first and foremost. Poppy laughed again, softer this time, as she rolled her eyes "This one dare not get sick - Who to watch you lot if that happens?" she called out.


't's nice to see that the allure of the sea isn't lost on those passing through here.' words hit her that was not familiar, she quickly spun her crowned head to the words of a stranger, a dark woman, @Jewel was unlike anything she had ever seen. No clans member of hers wore a pelt as dark as the night sky. "We're very much not used to such splendors. This one and they as well have only seen fields of flowers and ferns. Maybe a lake or river but never a large mass of water that clings stinging air.." she tells the dark woman. She then repeated the words "You called it, 'sea' ? This one wonders what that is..." she said more aloud to herself really. What was...a sea?

Jewel smiled at the trio of troublemakers as they splashed and played in the ocean, her lips twisting into a wide smile. "The "sea" or "Ocean" is a large body of water that surrounds many places.. islands and lands.. Where land may not be connected above the waves, it's connected below." She had traveled on low tide before over visible land bridges, and grinned at the memory of her first terror filled swim back to the 'mainland'. "I would hazard a guess that all lands are connected if not by land, but the waters that touch their edges.." She was no astrologist, so she could only guess or assume such things. Jewel's ears shifted, her head tilting forward as she mused at the three. "There are plenty of places on this land that touch the sea.." Her own home being one of them. In fact, Jewel had begun to wonder if they lived on an island.. and that thought brought discomfort and worry. What would happen should the seas rise up and flood them? Where would they go? Just this one stretch of sand was entrance and exit - that she was aware of.. and thus far, Jewel hadn't seen high tide ebb into the sands, but she also wasn't out here for the duration of the day either. "I'm Jewel.."""

irish

you should join us! his words, somewhere between a plea and an encouragement, are suddenly echoed - a request made in stereo. it seems he and sunny had a similar idea - and daisy grins, delighted to hear it. great minds think alike, right? and if they were on the same wavelength about this, then surely their jinx meant that poppy had to join them! daisy would never pressure his cousin into doing something she didn't want to, and he accepts her second refusal with a flick fo his ear. it'd be nice to share the afternoon of splashing with both of them, but he knew better than to press too hard.

fortunately for poppy, daisy seems to forget all about their shenanigans as jewel begins to speak - answering poppy's question with a thoughtful grace. the new woman speaks of the sea and ocean and everything in-between, and daisy struggles to grasp what she is hinting at. all land was connected by water? but - they weren't standing in water now! boyish features crinkle as he struggles to follow, but says nothing - not wanting to interject, and step on anyone's toes.

with his - their - attention so solidly focused on this new woman, he lowers his paw back into the water. his revenge was not forgotten, but simply shelved for the moment. surely they would want to make a good impression on her, on this - "jewel!" daisy exclaims with quiet awe, a dreamy expression twisting up his boyish features. "a beautiful name!" for a beautiful woman, he's sure! he keeps that assumption to himself though - it wouldn't do to make their new friend uncomfortable. she seemed so knowledgeable, and he was eager to learn (and hopefully understand!), so he's quick to open his mouth and ask: "are you from this, ah, ocean?" or, at least, the area around it.

""

Poppy urged them to be careful and he nodded a bit. Though at the mention of no one taking care of them, he rolled his golden eyes. He was responsible! Sometimes. Most of the time… how responsible he was actually wasn’t important suddenly. Not because he wasn’t! Yeah, he’d be doomed without Poppy.

Humming, he nodded at Poppy mentioning their lack of experience with… oceans. How interesting. He listened to Jewel closely as she described it, probably staring a bit more than he should. But it was quite interesting! He grinned, showing his interest. He could be a little leech for knowledge when he wanted to be. He glanced at Daisy, huffing. He’d wanted to use that line about her name! It was natural, like there’s, so he quite liked it. Though he wasn’t sure how she’d gotten it… she didn’t look like a glimmering gem, exactly. Maybe a shiny price of obsidian, though. “I’m Sunny, this is Daisy!” He nodded to indicate his cousin, though he’d allow his matriarch to introduce herself.

Here comes the Sun

And I’ll say, It’s alright...

code by corvus