OoC: Liquid timed to before the pack failed activity check.

It was a new day, and rather than push herself to the limit training, still sore with her father and wondering about that part of herself that had slipped out during their scolding, Rivin decided that today she was going to do something to enjoy herself. And not just that, she wanted to call on one of the only wolves in the pack that she considered her friend. Once Rivin had made her way to the oceanside she tilted her head back, calling for Calico Jack. The day was already starting to become a hot one, despite it not yet reaching noon, and Rivin was sure that Jack wouldn’t mind going swimming either. Plus he’d get to see how much she’d improved since he first started to try and teach her to swim when they were younger. For the first time in ages a genuine smile touched Rivin’s lips. She could hardly wait for him to arrive. "Talk," 'Think.'

Life is grand for the young Calico Jack. Sure, his mother is a drunken puddle most of the time and the last raid hadn’t gone exactly as hoped but hey, at least he is still breathing! Stepping out of the cavern that borders the beach, he takes in a deep lungful of the ocean air and closes his eyes. This is where he belongs. The salt of the water permeates the air, filling his nostrils as he dragged in the air. It is comforting, familiar and will always remind him of home. No matter where life takes him, whenever he smells the ocean, he will remember these blissful, lazy, days.

A call reaches his ears and the teenager’s eyes snap open, a smile curling his lips as he pushes out the air he had been holding. Turning in the direction that Rivin had called from, the boy whistles for his companions to follow before taking off at a long lope. Having reached his ‘awkward’ stage of life, Calico Jack looks like he is all legs and elbows, more angles than actual wolf, as he races across the black sand. It does not take him long to find the fire marked girl he considers his best friend.

By the time he pulls to a stop in front of her, a huge grin is on his lips and his eyes sparkle with merriment from just from being in her presence. Jolly Roger circles overhead, cawing a greeting to Rivin while Flying Dutchmen hangs out further up the beach, far from the water’s edge. Happily, Jack greets his friend with his strange, cracking voice, “Rivin! How are you doing? Been meaning to find you and congratulate you on your first raid victory! But uh, it kind of slipped my mind.” The grin turns bashful as he admits he forgot but it quickly brightens again because nothing can dampen his spirits today.

Head cocks to the side as Calico asks, “What can I do for you?” The waves crash beside them, spraying their heads of foam across the beach before retreating once more. What a perfect day.


"Calico Jack"

Rivin waits, the time ticking by slowly, but her friend would arrive. She can see his companions, and she barks a greeting to them all. She took note how the Flying Dutchmen stayed far away from the waves but her attention quickly returns to Jack. His words cause her heart to leap and Rivin feels her cheeks warm. “O-oh?” Genuine shock appears on her face, though she is grateful that someone had noticed she had won at least one of her battles. She waves a paw back and forth as she speaks. “Don’t worry about it! I’m sure you’re the only one who noticed anyway.” But this isn’t meant to be a downcast meeting. She offers him a sheepish smile.  “Still… Thanks. You were fighting pretty hard too. I’m surprised you didn’t take all those bamboo wolves down.” She meant the compliment. He was a great fighter.

The waves crash beside them as Jack asked what he could do for her, and Rivin nodded to the ocean.  “I figured we could use a day to have some fun. The water is a pretty nice temperature, and I’ve been practicing swimming… Want to come with me?” She arches a brow, moving for the water even before Calico has a chance to answer her. She splashes some water at him, a cheeky grin on her face.  “...or are you suddenly afraid of getting wet?”

"Speech," 'Thought.'

Paws kick at the sand as he admits that he forgot to congratulate her and the bashful, shocked reply she offers has him chuckling. Her following words have Jack scoffing and he shakes his head vigorously as he says, “Not true! I am sure Gil noticed. Besides, you are an amazing fighter and you kick ass!” Tossing his head back, he practically shouts the last part before he lowers his gaze back to her. Humor smolders in his eyes and his lips tug upward as he says, “And now the whole world knows too!”

A paw absently waves away the compliment she gives as he warmly says, “Aw thanks Rivin. I need to train harder so I can beat everyone next time! Maybe we can train together… if you want.” Then the fiery-marked girl is nodding toward the ocean and talking about swimming and Jack is fast on her tail as she moves for the water. A bark of laughter is given at her taunt and he plows into the waves, wadding out further until he can duck underneath the surface.

It is an entirely different underneath the water where a calmness unparalleled on the surface world waits for him. With several strong strokes, he pushes himself further out, where the rolling waves can no longer tug him back toward shore. Breaking the surface dramatically, he tosses his head back to send a spray of water arching through the air. Sucking in a deep breath, he bellows a laugh and shouts back toward she had been, “You coming?!” Teasingly, the boy splashes water back in her direction.


"Calico Jack"

Rivin had doubts that the leadership of the Raiders had noticed, but that was okay. She was getting stronger, learning more and more, and she had managed to maim her first opponent with the help of Lark… or at least she was pretty sure they had! The wound had looked bad. So even though she had gotten scarred in her second fight, she could wear those scars proudly. And, someday, the whole world would know her name as a raider. But hearing that from Jack brought a different feeling, her heart fluttering and her cheeks burning beneath her fur. The compliment from him means the world to the femme. Her closest friend appreciated her efforts. His appreciation was all she needed to push onward.

At his suggestion of them training together, her embarrassment shifted into a cocky and playful grin. “Sure we can, if you think you can keep up~” Her words are light and playful. But that would be an effort for later, sometimes after this wonderful, sunny day. The water at her paws laps at her paws as Rivin walks with more confidence than the day they first met. The water reminds her of the patchwork calico, and Rivin is happy to make her way to where she can swim. Once she is deep enough, the red-streaked femme surges forward, calling back out to him. “I said I’m better, not as good as you!” Laughter spills from her maw. She needs this.

Into the depths, she swims, out to where there is less resistance from the waves that threaten to take her back to the shore. Seeing a wave rush toward her, Rivin pushes up and rides to the top of the water with a giggle. Then she casts her attention back to Jack, or at least tries to. The wolf might as well have been part fish because he is beneath the surface, and Rivin looks around as she paddles, hoping to catch him before he pops up and surprises her.

"Speech," 'Thought.'