With the new season that rolls in on the marshes comes warm weather. The apocalyptic blanket of white that once covered the camp has now receded, leaving muddied grass and new growth - evidenced in the flowers sprouting around ShadowClan's camp, a marvel of color only recently observed by the void-furred apprentice.
But the new season's growth doesn't stop at bursts of color sprouting from the earth. No, new-leaf brings a new group of apprentices to Eeriepaw's sleeping grounds - an already cramped den under brambles, further cramped by the four, five, six students that have joined them in the past moon. He's lost count of the new sets of paws now, but knows there will only be more to squeeze into the den with each moon that passes.
And Eeriepaw too, is growing. Always growing, spindly limbs forced to curl in tighter against him each time he settles into his nest, to make room for more and more and more. Joints begin to ache each morning as he rises to navigate over sleeping forms in the apprentice den in an attempt to leave for training with Spectermask, and he almost always ends up stepping on someone's tail in the process. Frustration to start his days off with - never ending, only going to get worse with the next set of apprentices to move in.
Something needs to change.
So, when the apprentice den is finally empty of its inhabitants, Eeriepaw slinks back in to retrieve his nest and the bird skull he keeps within it. Spider-like form moves to drag his belongings out of the shadows of the bramble bush - opting to settle his nest outside of the apprentice den instead, just along the edge of it. His legs would have plenty room out here - never ending room to grow.
After straightening his nest out to his liking, the apprentice carefully places his bird skull within it and makes sure his avian friend is safe, before he lays in the nest himself. Free to sprawl out without his paws hitting someone else, Eeriepaw stretches his legs in triumphant delight. What a good idea this was, for he'll be able to watch the camp from here too!
But the new season's growth doesn't stop at bursts of color sprouting from the earth. No, new-leaf brings a new group of apprentices to Eeriepaw's sleeping grounds - an already cramped den under brambles, further cramped by the four, five, six students that have joined them in the past moon. He's lost count of the new sets of paws now, but knows there will only be more to squeeze into the den with each moon that passes.
And Eeriepaw too, is growing. Always growing, spindly limbs forced to curl in tighter against him each time he settles into his nest, to make room for more and more and more. Joints begin to ache each morning as he rises to navigate over sleeping forms in the apprentice den in an attempt to leave for training with Spectermask, and he almost always ends up stepping on someone's tail in the process. Frustration to start his days off with - never ending, only going to get worse with the next set of apprentices to move in.
Something needs to change.
So, when the apprentice den is finally empty of its inhabitants, Eeriepaw slinks back in to retrieve his nest and the bird skull he keeps within it. Spider-like form moves to drag his belongings out of the shadows of the bramble bush - opting to settle his nest outside of the apprentice den instead, just along the edge of it. His legs would have plenty room out here - never ending room to grow.
After straightening his nest out to his liking, the apprentice carefully places his bird skull within it and makes sure his avian friend is safe, before he lays in the nest himself. Free to sprawl out without his paws hitting someone else, Eeriepaw stretches his legs in triumphant delight. What a good idea this was, for he'll be able to watch the camp from here too!
