#rivercat

[everybody-votes]

Poll 6 - London Not-Underground

A part two to the Underground poll, enjoy!

As for the previous poll.... Look, I'm not saying there are wrong answers, but do better (Currently absolute monarchy and presidential republic are in the lead)

[rhodeislandbaseballexperience]

Friday Afternoon Visit To Sutter Health Park, Home Of The Sacramento Rivercats

Last week, I was on the west coast on assignment for ABF Freight. Sacramento, California to be exact. After a busy week of work and a cool experience at the Golden 1 Center to see the Sacramento Kings play the Portland Trailblazers, I had some personal time on Friday to explore Sacramento’s baseball fields and experiences. One baseball park in particular caught my attention – Sutter Health Park.…

[krinskrans]

pre show

[yet-another-heathen]

Cold, Cold, Cold - VIII

1,744 words. Original work, The Jackal of An-Nadr

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Content Warnings | UNREALITY, fever whump, very vivid hallucinations, nightmares, fear of drowning, hypothermia, anchored to the bottom of a river, used as bait, crying into your captor's arms, gorgeous & incoherent begging

Taglist | @killtheprotagonist @secretwhumplair @ink-and-salt @kixngiggles @brutal-nemesis @thebewilderer @whumpsical @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi @whimperwoods @shydragonrider @pizzasthengym @thecyrulik @ceph-the-writing-spook @mylifeisonthebookshelf @ohwhumpydays @redwingedwhump @whump-queen @scoundrelwithboba

The thready, unraveling world had stopped making any sense to Nadeem so very long ago. He didn't know how long he'd been drifting. Only that night had now come, and the cold had, too.

Silt pressed between his toes as he strained toward shore, just barely brushing the tops of the muckweed with every kick. His hair drifted out in a raising and dipping halo around his shoulders, frost crusting the strands everywhere it touched the water.

He could count on one hand the number of times he had ever gone swimming at night, especially alone. No matter how much he had always trusted the river during the day, it was a game with death to be out here after the sun had set. The rivercats that lazed at the glinting heat of the shore would have returned to the river by now. The ones that couldn't even be bothered to roll an eye in a human's direction during the day would be out hunting for cattle that wandered too close to the blackness of the shore—and they were much more difficult targets than him. And even if the alligators didn't kill him, The Purratu's cold northbound waters were enough to. 

The motion of the current had already wicked away any of the heat his body had to offer. Shivering against the steady onslaught of water was useless. He knew with a creeping sense of dread that worsened with every minute; I'm dying.

Still he tread water, trying to keep his chin above the surface. His wrists had been bound behind his back, the anchor tied from them to the depths far too heavy for him to lift. He had spent all of his strength and energy trying to drag it closer to shore, but now his violent shivering was beginning to slow. His body was failing. He didn't know when the stranger was coming back to him, only that he was running out of time.

A sharp, shuddering breath rattled his shoulders, sweat seeping into the pillows as he tried to curl deeper around himself, chasing the warmth that was quickly seeping out through the bottom of the canvas bed. No matter how much he shivered, the draft from below took away all heat faster than he could make it.

Was this his punishment? Were they not coming back?

I can't do this.

He gave a frustrated sob as he tried, one last time, to saw his hands free of the rope. The fibers cut deeper and deeper into his skin, succeeding in doing nothing more than spreading more blood into the water.

He twisted his hands weakly in the leather strips tying them to the head of the bed. His fingertips had long since turned a worrying shade of frigid grey, and it took all his focus to get them to gradually flex to try to keep life in them.

The ladder creaked as one of the creatures came down the steps. He caught the flash of eyes, metallic silver pools of light that glinted in the blackness like those of a hyena. The predator shifted through the small space, the sound of lanterns tinkling against its shoulders. Then a second set of glinting eyes joined it soon after.

"Come back!" he cried in a fog of breath into the empty night. His voice was hoarse from clattering teeth, weak with the only shallow gasps he could still reach from the surface of the water. The lights of windows flickered orange against the dark landscape, glittering like embers in the wind.

He knew this man could outwait him. He could remember nothing of the stranger's face, but a deep well of rot in his chest told him he was facing something worse than freezing to death and drowning. He was bait. Even as the shouts grew closer and he saw the distant silhouettes of his townspeople pass, he bit back his sobs and kept himself silent.

If they come for you, I’ll kill them before you have even a chance to scream.

But now he heard his sister's voices in the distance. He had been a constant for their whole lives. They knew him. They knew him well enough that he knew the river was one of the first places they would look. He could do nothing but cry as he ran out of time.

"Come back and take me," he wept breathlessly, "Pl—please." His leg spasmed with a cramp of pain, and with a gasp of shock his mouth dipped below the surface. It took him a few long, terrifying moments to kick again strongly enough to break the surface. The redoubled cold of the night air washed over his face. He sputtered and coughed from the shock of it, feet sweeping back and forth over and over to try to buy enough air.

He let out a breathless sob as claws brushed slowly, carefully back through his hair. He shuddered, shying away from the touch, and held his breath as he felt it pause. Then a warm hand slid down the curve of his jaw and cradled his face. Please, please. "...please."

Please, warmth. "I'll...do...." anything. I'll do anything. Don't let me spend another night like this.

I'll never make it to the oasis if I don't find warmth.

I have to make it. I don't want to die alone like this.

I don't want to die in this forsaken place.

The hand traced his face, soothing over the sweat-drenched mess of his forehead. His eyes lidded as their warmth slowly seeped into his skin, exhausted sobs slipping through clattering teeth.

"I'll do it," he sobbed into the hum of the locusts.

Please don't let them find me like this. Please, don't let my family be the ones to find me.

Baba, Maaman, his sisters—

"I'll do it!" He yelled, and immediately sank back under the surface. In the moments after he surfaced again he was left coughing so hard he almost couldn't catch his breath. 

More lanterns had been lit, glimmering out beyond the high grass like guttering candles. They were still so far away. The wildlife that sang in the banks of the river gave way to the sound of distant cries for a moment before their orchestra breathed over them again.

The creature pulled the blankets away, unwinding him from the tangle of furs. He whined aloud as the cold night air washed over his skin, barely aware of the "Please...no....no," that streamed from his lips.

Talons pulled him out of the blankets, lifting him like he weighed no more than a doll. Then they moved warm over his sweat-drenched clothes, pulled him close against the creature's chest, and continued combing through his hair as arms wrapped around his back. He almost began weeping with relief when warm, bare skin pressed into the numbness of his cheek.

Something writhed beneath his toes in the muck. He jerked his foot away and instinctively kicked at it to keep it at bay, but it wasn’t something he could sustain if he still wanted to breathe. Moments after he was forced to return to his treading, slimy sandpaper scales brushed along the arch of his foot as it persistently returned. 

He braced himself for the needle-pain of teeth, drawn to the smell of the wound in his foot. He let out a near-hysterical whine as he felt those mucousy scales twist up between his toes and wrap around his ankle. Then its body once again pressed cold against the bottom of his foot, slicking over the burn, and kept him from dislodging it even as he returned to his desperate treading.

Lengths of bandage turned slowly round and round his foot, gentle hands working around the wound. 

His fingers curled against its chest, heat radiating against his cheek as he sunk further into the crook of its arms. The air he breathed was tinged with the incense-burn of smoke, huge hands warming the back of his neck. A wordless murmur echoed by his ear, warm breath ghosting over his skin.

Maybe the creature wouldn't... Maybe...

Wait...

No, he couldn't...it couldn't....

Something rustled in the reeds. Something brushed over his hair.

Which was reality?

"Make it stop," he pleaded breathlessly.

"Nadi!" his sister's voices cried from downriver. "Where are you?"

He coughed on more water, breath blooming in silver clouds around his head. Droplets flicked out around him as he turned his head and desperately searched the dark for any sign of the dark figure from before.

A warm cloth wiped across his forehead, washing over feverish skin. A rumbling voice soothed him as he twisted his face away from the contact.

A man's silhouette shifted, so faintly visible against the reeds that he couldn't even be sure he was there. He kicked desperately to try to raise his head from the water enough to call out, but suddenly found, for the first time, that he couldn't reach the surface.

"Õ̵͜d̸̰̆r̷͈̒ä̸̦i̸̻͋!̷̩̌ ̴̯̌G̷̨̊e̴̙͗t̵͚͂ ̴̼̃m̷̖̆e̶̬͊ ̶̑ͅs̷̠̾ȁ̸̝n̵̪͠d̷̠̽b̷͓̆a̷̳̒g̷̩̽s̸̢̊,̵̤͒ ̶̗̽n̴͓̒o̴̗̚w̴̥̉!”

He cast pleading eyes toward the figure, gasping on a breath that was as much water as air. Please. Please.

That...that was no language he knew. And some resigned sort of dread told him that his mind couldn't have come up with it on his own, not even in the fever of dreams like these.

"Nadi! Where are you?"

He struggled to crack open his eyes, but he could see nothing more than incoherent colors swimming beyond his lashes. They lidded as an ember-warm hand brushed back the small hairs at the edges of his face, relief coursing down his spine with a shudder.

He was either drowning or falling asleep. He could no longer distinguish one from the other any more than he could make sense of either of the realities from dreams.

The man on the shore was going to get what he wanted after all.

The creature at the bottom of the river curled its body slowly up his calf, fins fluttering against his skin. Its body tightened around him. Then it pulled him slowly deeper, and Nadi's vision wavered as the water closed over his head one final time. The muffled roar of the insects went silent. He turned his eyes once again up toward the night sky, empty breath clawing at his lungs.

He had no more strength to fight. His trembling, exhausted muscles finally went lax with one last, burning exhale that blossomed to the surface. Then he was no more.

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[knitpurlgoal]

hold up the A's are playing in SACRAMENTO next year? they dont have a stadium! are you going to make an mlb team play in the RIVERCATS stadium??? or at SAC STATE????

[gabbyinoz]

Sydney Ferries Rivercat - Circular Quay To Parramatta

We take a trip along the Parramatta River on board a Rivercat, unlike any other of the ferries in the Sydney Ferry fleet taking a Rivercat is a great way to travel, departing Circular Quay wiith stops along the way including Barangaroo, Cockatoo Island, Drummoyne, Huntleys Point, Chiswick, Abbotsford, Cabarita, Kissing Point, Meadowbank, Sydney Olympic Park, Rydalmere and final stop Parramatta.

[the-tampa-rahlls]

Go Rivercats!

[holidayhunteraust]

Traveling in Style: Sydneys Scenic Rivercat Ferry

Today, we’re taking a journey along the serene waters of the iconic Sydney Harbour on a River Cat Ferry.

 The River Cat ferries have been operating since the 1970s and are an integral part of the public transport system in Sydney. These massive vessels can carry up to 900 passengers and travel at speeds of up to 28 knots, providing efficient and affordable transport for locals and tourists alike.

 Upon boarding, the first thing you’ll notice is the spacious interior and comfortable seating. You can choose to sit inside or outside on the deck. But let’s be real, the views from the deck are breathtaking and you don’t want to miss out on that.

 As you make your way along the harbour, you’ll be treated to a breathtaking view of Sydney’s iconic landmarks including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Luna Park. The best part is that you don’t have to worry about navigating through the busy streets and traffic. You get to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

 The River Cats have several stops along the way, including Parramatta, Balmain, and Darling Harbour. All these destinations offer a unique experience to explore different parts of the harbour.

 The River Cat experience is not just a stress-free and budget-friendly option, but it’s also environmentally sustainable. The ferries run on clean energy and produce fewer emissions than other modes of transport – a win-win for everyone!

 If you’re looking for a fun-filled, relaxing and memorable experience while exploring Sydney, hop on a River Cat ferry and see the harbour from a different perspective. It’s an experience you won’t forget any time soon.

 Thanks for joining us on this journey. Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more travel adventures. Catch you on the next ride!

[magicbreakfastcereal]

I got to pet and feed an otter! She was super friendly and playful. #rivercat (at なんば Namba) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwF4ZdalMUp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zjq3sbzl4t1v

[leahdelacrux]

[whatupwithrobandchris]

Proud dad moment my daughter @emmabean_ is singing the National Anthem Tonight @rivercats game pretty Saweet!!! #rivercats #milb https://www.instagram.com/p/CQSJ_AYpLS2/?utm_medium=tumblr

[emmbeth]

Got the ferry home yesterday! #harbour #sydney #sydneyharbour #sydneyharbourbridge #barangaroo #ferry #rivercat #bigday #afterclass #sunshine #beauty #sunshine #nofilter (at Barangaroo Reserve)

[krinskrans]

showtime

[youdidnthaveme]

tonight was a beautiful night for baseball. also learned that I should NOT sit front row behind home plate with a view of the dugout because making eye contact with those men... YIKES I’m an awkward mess

[kornkidd]

At this point I’ve coached a few different teams in a few different #sports Those who know me best know that baseball is my strong suit. That said, with this particular team I think I learned more about what’s important and what isn’t and certainly think it’s likely I learned more from them, then they did from me. The best part of coaching #youthsports is watching the kids get better and better as the days pass. Watching the #confidence build over the days and weeks, is just #humbling and #enjoyable This is one of the #teams I will never forget being a part of. An amazing group of #kids , as well as a fantastic group of #parents and #guardians We’re so fortunate to have that. The families involved in #sports in my town are some of the best I’ve ever experienced. Old friends reunited and a lot of new #friendships have been solidified with both the players and the adults. These guys made me really proud and we could not have done it without the tremendous support of the families. As a team we learned together, we lost together and we won together. Most importantly we had a blast. Thank you to Coach Del, Sean, Jose and my coaching partner in crime Coach Walker. It was an absolute privilege. #thankyou #baseball #coach #coaching #sports #littleleague #youthsports #rivercats #RE3 #greatseason #wanaque #nj #rec https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce0ydlSOvG4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[morningmask27]

when you have a casus belli but you actually just want to beat cats up