slumberless nights [c]

Even with the soft rumbling noises, slowed breathing, and warmth enclosing the den, Martenpaw had no luck with sleep. Maybe a few glimpses of slumber had popped in, but as soon as she felt peaceful, something else would wake her up. A new thought would arise or a cricket would chirp, giving the apprentice an urge to wake.

After getting up several times to lay in a different position, the restless molly sat up. Peering through the entrance, she could see the stars, their presence bringing a sense of safety. But, they also told her that dawn had yet to arrive. Carefully stepping over tails, limbs, and sleeping apprentices, the she-cat quietly made her way to a little spot below the Willow Branch. Tucking her paws beneath her, head tilted up towards the stars, she rested her eyes. That was her position when a sound alerted her of another cat's approach.

Who's there?

Stormpaw has always been a restless sleeper, and it’s only gotten worse since he became an apprentice. He was always nervous about one thing or another. After struggling and wiggling around in his bed of moss for a while, falling in and out of vivid dreams, he woke up once more and huffed a sigh. He stayed still for a bit, listening to the sounds of the other apprentices to try and bring him some comfort, stilling his racing heart. His ears perked up at the sound of movement and he opened his eyes.

He looked blearily into the dark, only realizing it was Martenpaw leaving the den when she paused in the entrance. Out of both curiosity, and perhaps some hankering for company that was actually awake, he pulled himself to his feet. He stretched for a moment, then padded out after Martenpaw.

“Couldn’t sleep either?” He asked softly as he approached.

A warm smile touched her maw when she recognized the voice. Pale green eyes turning towards the tom, she motioned for him to come and join her with the flick of the tail. "Yeah..." she sighed, "It's nice seeing the stars back though."

"Do you have trouble sleeping often, Stormpaw?" the molly asked in a quiet whisper, not wanting to wake anyone. The peaceful atmosphere in camp was calming, a cool breeze blowing by every once in a while.

Stormpaw smiled, coming up next to Martenpaw and settling down beside her. He shivered in the cool night breeze, but he liked being able to cool off from the collective heat of the den. Bright blue eyes looked up at the shimmering stars, following her words, and he nodded agreement.

“Yeah… I get pretty vivid dreams and then I always think too much to go to sleep in the first place,” Stormpaw admitted with a small chuckle, his already quiet voice pitched lower to avoid disturbing the rest of camp. “How about you?”