Collecting Seashells, Stones, and Shiny things

[historybug]

((Ooc: Open to whoever wants to post! ))


The heavy fog that had settled over the coast was slowly fading away as the mid-morning sun struggled to shine through the heavy cloud cover. The gray clouds hung in the sky, forewarning the creatures of the Peninsula that a heavy rainfall was to be expected. However, the rain did not come. It only came when the creatures thought it wouldn't rain. So currently, there was no rain. Only a humid mist that dampened everybeast's fur, if they dared to step outside.

But this weather was common to the Peninsula in the Spring, and most of the creautres simply decided to stay inside until the sun broke through the clouds and promised a sunny day.

Nikkole Rudderwake, however, was not one of those creatures.

She absolutely had to be outside.

The reason? Nikki couldn't stand being inside anymore! Due to the snow and the ice and the cold weather, she had been forced to stay inside most of the winter and she was tired of being couped up inside. She need fresh air! She needed time alone to her thoughts without anyone coming up to her and offering her their condolences. She had heard enough condolences! It was all just words! None of it helped! No condolences, no matter how deep from the heart, would ever bring Brant back. He had been gone far too long.

So outside Nikki sat on a small rock, not far from the underwater entrance of Holt Seaslate. Her copper dress and chestnut brown fur growing damp in the light fog, as she sat next to a small pale and watched her son, Benji, as he ran back and forth from the shallows of the water.

Benji was enjoying himself immensely. Not only did Momma take him outside to play, but he was finding all sorts of little treasures! He had found bits of broken seashells, pretty little stones, and small shiny things. He didn't know what the shiny things were, but they were pretty, so they went in the bucket.

Having wrapped his light blue blanket around his neck like a cape, and putting his sword in his black cloth belt, Benji was able to use both paws to pick up his little treasures.

Standing in the shallows, Benji giggled as the cold water lapped at his footpaws. It was so cold! Whenever a little wave threatened to touch his footpaws, he would jump over it. Soon it became a little game. The waves would try and catch his footpaws, but Benji would jump out of the way just in time.

Nikkole smiled as she watched Benji jump about in the waves. Her father would not have approved them being outside by themselves, but Nikki didn't care. Not only did she need some fresh air, but Benji needed a chance to be outside as well and run all his energy out. Oh how Benji looked so much like his father, but the little thing didn't know that his father most likely will never be coming home....

Little Benji giggled as he ran (more of toddled quickly with his short little legs) to his mother. "Momma Momma!" He smiled as he came, his paws holding a large shell. "Lookie Lookie! S'ell! Bigga S'ell!" Benji babbled in his baby language that not many creatures understood.

Smiling as her son ran up to her, Nikki (who understood her child's funny language) replied. "Wow! Look at the big shell you have! It's bigger then your paw! Let's put it in the bucket so we can take it inside and show Grandpa!"

Benji gave the shell to his mother who put it in the bucket. He clapped and giggled more. "Yessis! Yessis! S'ow Granpaw!" Benji gave a big smile as he hurried back to the water. "Gets more. S'ow Granpaw!"

Nikkole chuckled. Benji had yet to learn how to pronounce Grandpa, so he stuck with 'Granpaw'. Thankfully her Father didn't mind and played along with his Grandson, even calling himself 'Granpaw' sometimes.

Little Benji's dark blue eyes sparkled as he looked among the rocks for the pretty ones. He was throughly enjoying himself, when he heard a noise. Looking down the coast, Benji wondered where that strange noise was coming from. Pulling out his wooden play-sword like he has seen his father done once before, he snuck around the larger rocks that would hide his little frame, searching for where the funny noise was coming from.

Sighing to herself, Nikki picked up the little bucket and stood up, dusting her dress off. "Benji!" She called out. "It's time to head back inside. Time to show Grandpa your treasures!" However, Nikki received no reply. Looking about, Nikkole started to panic! Where was Benji?

Instinctively pulling out the knife hidden in her brown cloth sash, Nikki raced to the shore line, and franticly began searching. All the time calling out, "Benji! Benji!!!"

Suddenly, Nikkole spun around, the bucket in her left paw ratting as it's contents jostled about, and her knife in the other. She had heard the noise that Benji had and she could see the exact source of the noise.

The source, being less then three paw lengths from her son....

[Skipper]

The weather was perfect. Burl, desiring a moment's silence after the usual week-long chaos that always followed his returns to the Holt, had ambled out to the beach, where he had assumed nobeast was present. This proved a mistaken assumption when a little dibbun came wobbling up to where Burl sat in the sand. Evidently, the little one was rather interested in the small, curious contraption in Burl's paw. It was fashioned entirely out of metal, and while Burl hadn't the slightest knowledge of its purpose, he knew that it made a sort of clicking noise when a particular knob was twisted.

Burl offered the peculiar toy-thing to little Benji. He had seen the dibbun wandering about the Holt before, but this was the first time the two had ever interacted.

"Benji! Benji!!!"

The big otter glanced up at a rather frantic-looking otterwife. He smiled disarmingly. "Ah, hey, he's fine. Just dropped a shell, but I think 'e'll survive."

Burl rose to his footpaws and brushed the sand off his clothes. "Yore--"-- he cleared his throat --"yore Brant's wife, right?" Usually, he was terrible with names, but Brant Rudderwake was a friend.

---

((Eh, *shrugs* that's the best I can do for now.))

[historybug]

Benji slowly waddled around the big rocks (or to him they were big anyways. On a regular beast, they may have been waist high, no more), trying to be as quiet as he could to see what that funny clicking noise was. With his curious dark blue eyes scanning the ground, Benji began poking everything he could, with his play-sword, to see if it was making the clicking sound.

The rocks, were not clicking. Nor was the seaweed, the sand, or was the half buried shell he found in the surf.

Momentarily distracted by the shell as the clicking has stopped. Benji put his sword back in his belt and unburied the shell. It was a dull white with purple stripes in a flat fan shape. Benji giggled as he ran his paws over the bumpy top and the smooth bottom.

Just as he was about to take the shell back to his mother, the clicking started again. But it was louder this time. Peeking around the nearest rock, Benji saw the source of the noise. It was an otter! A big, strong otter! But he didn't look scary. He looked like he was from home! And he had something shiny in his paws!

Waddling up to the big otter, Benji watched as the otter twisted a funny knob and the clicking noise started again. Giggling at the noise, Benji smiled as the otter handed the odd shiny thing to him.

Twisting the nob, Benji continued to giggle as the little toy clicked and clattered away.


"Ah, hey, he's fine. Just dropped a shell, but I think 'e'll survive."

Nikkole relaxed her shoulders a bit and put her knife back in her sash. Benji was fine. He was standing next to an otter as oblivious as ever with a little clicking toy in his paws. Nikkole had seen this otter around the Holt before. He wasn't very tall, but he was strong. Nikki had seen him doing the odd job, most of all of them requiring a fair amount of physical strength. She also saw Brant hanging around with him occasionally. His name was Burl...something... Whatever his last name was, he wasn't a threat.

"Benji Rudderwake!" Nikki said with a stern voice, her free paw on her hip, the other paw still holding Benji's shell bucket.

Benji looked up from his little toy. Smiling he waddled over to his mother showing her his toy."Clicky Momma! Itsbe a Clicky!"

Bending over down, Nikki picked Benji up and held him on her hip. Looking him straight in the eye she scolded him. "Don't ever run away from Momma like that again Benji. You worried Momma a lot."

Benji looked sad, sticking his lip out a bit."Surry Momma. Clicky!" Benji's focus would not be taken away from his new found toy.

Nikki sighed with a slight smile on her face as Benji continued to twist the sliver toy and causing it to click like a mad sand-crab. Looking back over at Burl, she did her best to shove her worries down and give him a smile. "Thank you."

Burl rose to his footpaws and brushed the sand off his clothes. "Yore--"-- he cleared his throat --"yore Brant's wife, right?"

Looking down at the sand, Nikkole bit her lip a bit. "Yes, I am Nikkole." Brant had been gone for weeks. Most everyone in the Holt thought that he was dead. Nikki, although she hated to think that way, knew that it was the most likely outcome.

"You're Burl correct?" Nikki asked, desperate to change the subject to anything but Brant..Anything....


((Ooc: No worries, I was getting less and less...inspired as the post went along.))

[Skipper]

Interestingly, Burl had only recently arrived at the Holt, having spent half the winter with his uncle. He knew nothing of Brant's disappearance. Nobeast at the Holt ever really spoke about it, most likely out of dread.

Burl, ever the observant otter, failed to notice Nikkole's expression. He smiled and offered a large paw. "That's right, marm -- Burl Shadock. An' this is Benji, I take it?" He chuckled as he glanced down at the little one who had rather taken to the "Clicky."

((Whose post? Yours, or mine?))

[historybug]

Burl, although a kind otter, didn't seem to notice Nikki's emotion, nor the fact that supporting Benji on her hip and that holding the bucket of shells took up both of her paws...

He smiled and offered a large paw. "That's right, marm -- Burl Shadock. An' this is Benji, I take it?"

Looking down at her paws, Nikkole rolled the handle of the bucket on to her wrist and gently shook Burl's strong paw. Trying to mask her discomfort after bring Brant up, Nikki put on her best smile and bounced Benji a bit on her hip.

"Nikki, please, that's what everybody calls me. And yes, this..." Nikki said as she turned her head to Benji, who was still playing the the 'clicky'. "..Is Benji. Benji? Benji, look at Momma."

Benji twisted the 'clicky' one more time and giggled as it rattled, tapped , and vibrated. Hearing his mother's voice he looked up into her eyes.

"Can you say hello to Mister Burl and thank him for your toy?" Nikki asked as she looked from Benji to Burl and back to Benji to show her son who he was supposed to be talking to.

Benji smiled at Burl with his large blue eyes and his wide pearly smile. "T'ank ye missta' Burrrel!"

Nikkole chuckled, her rudder swishing gently on the sand. "Both he and I thank you." She nestled Benji's head fur a bit with her own head in a gentle gesture of love toward her son as he leaned against her shoulder, spinning his 'clicky' in his paws. "Benji's the world to me..." Nikki continued as she looked back toward Burl. "...I don't know what I would if I lost him...." Clearing her throat, Nikki swayed gently back and forth as Benji continued to lean on his mother's shoulder, clutching the clicky in his paws.

Benji was beginning to feel a bit drowsy, but he didn't want to show it. He had been having a fun time with Momma on the beach, and he had met a new friend who had given him a fun new toy! He didn't want be sleepy now!

Nikki felt Benji lean more and more upon her shoulder. Continuing to rock slowly, she tried to change the subject. "So, I'm just curious Mister Shadock, what were you doing out here alone?"

((Ooc: Mine, defiantly mine. Hope this one is alright...))

[Skipper]

Burl shrugged. "I just thought I'd come out an' get some time alone, I guess." He crossed his arms and glanced around at the slate sea. "It's quieter." His voice dropped to a lower tone as he seemed to drift into some memory.

He returned.

"S'wot're ye doing," he asked a bit abruptly, "exactly?"

---

((Eh... short.))

[historybug]

Burl shrugged. "I just thought I'd come out an' get some time alone, I guess." He crossed his arms and glanced around at the slate sea. "It's quieter."

"Yes...." Nikki nodded slowly as she looked out into the sea as well. "Yes it is isn't it...." Rocking slowly back and forth, Nikki quietly began to hum a light, soft tune as she felt her son start to dose.

Benji's bright blue eyes started to grow heavy as he leaned upon his mother's shoulder. He didn't want to go to sleep, he wanted to stay awake and play with the new toy he had! He wanted to show Grandpaw his treasures! He wanted to play with Mista' Burrrel!...But his mother's dress was so soft....Benji buried his face in his mother's shoulder. Her music was so sweet, and the sounds of the calm sea was so soothing.....

Nikki continued to rock her son as she stood there watching the sea. Brant loved the sea. If he wasn't working, he would come out early in the morning for a quick swim. He used to tell her that it calmed him down. Nikki smiled a bit to herself. Her father did always say that you could never keep a sea otter from the sea, no matter how hard you tried.

"S'wot're ye doing," he asked a bit abruptly, "exactly?"

Nikkole was drawn sharply out of her memories when Burl spoke. What was she doing out here this early? Looking down at Benji who was curled up in her arms, she smiled. "Well, I suppose the same reason you are out here. To be alone, to get some fresh air, and to give Benji some time to play." She sighed. "Sometimes....it's just too much in there and I just need some time..."

[Skipper]

Burl nodded and followed her gaze to the sea. "Aye. . ."

For a while, the two did not speak. After all, this was their purpose in coming out here in the first place. But thoughts began to cross Burl's mind about Nikki. Something just seemed a bit off, and it bothered him that he didn't know what it was. He couldn't help but open his mouth once more.

". . . How's Brant?" he asked.

[historybug]

Burl nodded and followed her gaze to the sea. "Aye. . ."

Nodding slightly, Nikki nuzzled the top of her sleeping son's head. He was completely asleep. Very little would wake him up now. She smiled. His little snore sounded like a light purr. It was just like his father's, only Brant's was louder and was more of a soft growl. Nikki loved that about Brant. Sure he was a rough, tough sea otter, but he was still soft and kind on the inside.

Just like the sea...

Nikki had seen the sea at it's worst and best extremes. It could be rough beyond belief. Waves higher than a badger's head had crashed over these shores, but, like it was now, the sea was calm. The waves that broke the shore barely lapped at shoreline.

Nikki was so consumed by her thoughts that she hadn't really noticed that Burl had been quiet as well, deep in his thoughts.

". . . How's Brant?"

Nikkole's breath caught in her throat. Closing her eyes, Nikki turned away. Why? Why did he have to ask? She came out here to avoid all these questions! Why?

Choking on her voice, Nikki struggled to give the response that she had been forcing herself to give to everybeast that continued to ask her. "I..I don't know..." Tears coming to her eyes, Nikki sat down on a nearby rock and continued to rock Benji, trying to hold back.

[Skipper]

Burl's brow furrowed, and guilt grew in his chest. He knew that he'd said something wrong, that he somehow wasn't supposed to mention Brant, but why? Had something happened to Brant?

Burl lifted a paw to the back of his head, looking down at the upset otterwife. What was he supposed to do? She was clearly upset, and Burl didn't know why, but he couldn't very well go and ask her about it! She'd likely break down completely, and things could only get worse from there.

"S--sorry. . ." he muttered. "I didn't. . . know. . . uhhh. . ." Really? That was the best he could come up with? Burl berated himself inwardly for not sounding more sympathetic, more concerned, more anything.

[historybug]

Setting Benji's bucket down gently on the sand, Nikki was able to wipe at her eyes as tears began to flow freely down her muzzle. She had cried a lot when Brant first disappeared, but since then, she had been trying her best to hold it all in and be strong. She had to be strong. Benji couldn't know just yet, he couldn't. Nikki knew that Benji had begun to notice his mother's sadness, so she had to hold it in and become happy again for Benji. But with Burl mentioning him, Nikki broke down. Thankfully Benji was asleep and couldn't see her cry.

"S--sorry. . ." he muttered. "I didn't. . . know. . . uhhh. . ."

Nikkole wiped at her whiskers which had started to collect the salty tears. "No, no..." She said with a slight sniffle. "I'm sorry. I..I really shouldn't be cry....crying.. It's a while since Brant.....Brant...and you didn't know...How would you have?..You weren't here." Nikki sighed with a sob.

Softly, she rotated the sleeping Benji so she held him with both of her paws on her lap. "It just gets so...so hard sometimes....But I have to hold it in...I just...just can't let Benji know.....know his father is....gone." More tears ran down Nikki's face as she spoke quietly, rocking her son gently.

[Skipper]

Burl felt absolutely terrible, though perhaps he shouldn't have. But he couldn't help it. He'd just brought up the loss of Nikki's husband, who, by the sound of it, had died sometime during Burl's absence from the Holt.

Another emotion tugged at him, though, and he felt compelled to find out what ever became of Brant. After all, the two were semi-close friends -- not quite close friends, but beyond acquaintances -- and he felt that he had a right to know.

Burl kept his distance politely, but knelt so that he was at eye-level with Nikki. Her attention, right now, was on little Benji, which was understandable -- whatever hole Brant had left, Nikki would try make up for it with Benji. Burl's next question would probably be better left unasked, but he asked regardless.

"I'm, uh, I'm sorry for yore loss, an' -- an' ye don't have to answer if'n ye don't want to, but," his voice dropped to a whisper, so as not to disturb Benji, ". . . Wot 'appened to Brant?" He was fairly sure Nikki could handle it, and his expression showed it.

She was unusually sad, but Burl knew her as the reckless, stubborn otterwife who never really took "No" as an answer and whom enemies would be prudent to avoid, particularly when a weapon lay in her paw. Knowing Nikki Rudderwake, what Burl was now witnessing was probably a side of hers few beasts ever saw.

[historybug]

Nikki held Benji very close as he slumbered in her lap as her tears dripped slowly down her cheeks. He was so small, so sweet, and so much like his father. Nikkole ran her paw gently through her son's fur. His fur was still baby soft. It was starting to crust on the edges like his Father's used to be, but it was still soft and long. Running her paws through it, Nikki always started to wonder what kind of otter Benji would be when he grew up. But then she would think to herself, that she knew what he was going to be. He was going to be tall, strong, loyal, brave, and polite; an overall honorable otter.

Just like his Father....

These thoughts just made Nikki start to tear up even more. She missed Brant so, so much. Why couldn't she just look up and see him marching down the beach, broad sword strapped to his side, messenger bag over his shoulder, singing one of his comical traveling songs? She could then run into his arms, telling him he was so horrible for making her worry and he would pick her up smiling his roguish smile. He would then reply that she shouldn't have worried, he just had to take the extra long way. Benji would then run into his Father's arms, babbling all about what Brant had missed while he was on his trip and they would go back into the Holt, a family again.....

But he didn't....Brant wasn't marching through the fading fog. Nobody knew where he was. Nobody knew if he was dead or missing. Nobody knew anything..

He was just gone...

While Nikki was in her own little world, Burl had knelt down in front of her. He spoke in a gentle whisper as Nikki looked up, her eyes a bit glassy from her tears.

"I'm, uh, I'm sorry for yore loss, an' -- an' ye don't have to answer if'n ye don't want to, but," his voice dropped to a whisper, so as not to disturb Benji, ". . . Wot 'appened to Brant?" He was fairly sure Nikki could handle it, and his expression showed it.

Nikki looked down at Benji once more and sighed gently. Sniffing a bit, she replied quietly. "Brant...Brant had been coming back later and later from each delivery. He said that there had been an increased presence of vermin on the roads, taxing the creatures that traveled on the roads."

Reaching up with a paw she wiped her tears and continued. "He said that to avoid them he had to go around the roads and it took longer, but it was nothing to worry about. I knew better. He was carrying his sword more then normal. He was worried, I could tell. But he went anyways. He always though about providing for Benji and I, more than for himself."

Nikki choked on her words, but she cleared her throat and continued. "A couple weeks ago, he left to deliver a package that he said was important. He said he would be back in three days. But he didn't come back..." She sobbed a bit.

"After five days, Skipper, my Father sent out some search parties. No one knew....what happened....it seemed he dropped off the package...and...and...nobody knows...the likelyhood...isn't high........" Nikki just couldn't, couldn't continue. She had been holding it in for so long, or so it felt. And unfortunately for Burl, it all came bubbling out upon him.

[Skipper]

Burl moved to sit beside Nikki and placed a gentle paw on her shoulder. "I'm -- I'm sorry. . . Nikki. . ." He tried to say something comforting, but words evaded him. What was there to say? That it would be okay? But it wouldn't be, and they both knew that.
. . . or. . . did they?

An intense feeling washed over Burl as the idea struck him. . . did they? . . . He stared out to sea for a while, face turned to stone. The whole thing was crazy, but it could be done. It was a radical move; he might only create more problems for himself, but it was worth the trouble, for sure. And who knew how many more beasts he could be helping if he actually pulled it off?

". . . I could do it," he muttered under his breath. But he caught himself before Nikki could react. Hopeful that Nikki hadn't heard him, Burl patted her shoulder.
"It will be okay," he said as he rose, ". . . It will." The last two words were more for himself than Nikki. The next few days would be madness.

[historybug]

Nikkole closed her eyes as her tears ran freely down her fur. The likelihood wasn't high. Brant probably wasn't coming back. But, but he had too! He had too! He couldn't be dead. No matter what everyone else said. He couldn't be dead!

It would break Nikki's heart if he was....

Burl moved to sit beside Nikki and placed a gentle paw on her shoulder. "I'm -- I'm sorry. . . Nikki. . ."

Nodding, Nikki brushed at the tears. "Everybeast is....doesn't help much being sorry...." She looked down at her sleeping child and sighed to herself. "...This is the reason why I came out here in the first place...I wanted to stop crying..." Nikki sobbed. "It's just so hard...."

Silence fell over the three, save for the slight moan or grunt from the sleeping Benji. Nikki wasn't sure what Burl was doing, he seemed to be simply sitting there, staring out at the sea. Wiping at her drying eyes, Nikki knew that her tears were done. She needed to stop crying. It wouldn't do her any good.

Feeling the tear drop necklace she wore, Nikki knew that the only thing she could do now it hope, and move on. Being a sobbing, pitiful, useless otterwife wouldn't help anything. Nikki reached down to pick up Benji's bucket when she thought she heard Burl say something.

Looking up, she gave Burl a curious look, but he didn't seem to notice. Instead he just patted her shoulder.

"It will be okay," he said as he rose, ". . . It will."

Nikkole sighed again as she grabbed the bucket. "Eventually, maybe..." Adjusting the way she was holding Benji, Nikki gathered herself up. "...Until then, I'll have to manage." She stood up, Benji's head resting on her shoulder and his bucket dangling about her wrist so she could old her son properly. "Thank you for putting up with me Burl...I'm normally not like this..." Nikki sighed as she turned to walk to the entrance to Holt Seaslate. "I guess I should head inside and get this little one to a proper bed. You coming?"

((Guess this is pretty much the end of the thread....Unless you have more of a plan.... ))