creaking bones [open]

Sprucesnow yawned, waking up from his nap. He glanced around for a moment, disoriented. He hated to admit it, but he had gotten somewhat used to his residence in Riverclan. Not that he wanted to go back or anything. He had missed the familiar camp, and was glad it hadn’t been completely demolished, to the point of no repair.

The air was growing colder, and if he got weaker this leaf-bare, he wanted to do it in his home. It was no secret that the cold moons were a dangerous time for elders, with the amount of sicknesses going around, and the lack of prey, but he had to make it through. For his mate, for his kits, and his other kin. Standing up, and shaking out his molted pelt, he stepped into the clearing.

He sat down in a warmer spot, hoping someone would approach and have a chat with him as he groomed his shabby pelt.

Tigerpaw had grown used to the ways of an apprentice rather quickly. Bloodstrike was a no nonsense mentor, he told the ginger tom what needed to be done, and Tigerpaw did it. In a way, the pair was perfectly suited for partnership - Tigerpaw didn't ask unnecessary questions, and Bloodstrike didn't provide unnecessary information. He was enjoying it. But still, the itch for more information about the clan's origins had only grown more intense, and Tigerpaw found himself looking for answers.

So when he spied Sprucesnow lazing in a warmer spot in the clearing, there was little hesitation. Tigerpaw padded over slowly, tilting waving his tail in greeting. "Hello."

Deerkit padded out the entrance to the nursery, glad to escape the crowded den. A cold breeze swept over the camp and he fluffed up his soft kit pelt against the chill. It was only his second time outside of the nursery and he looked around with uncertainty. There were a few warriors scattered around the camp but they all looked busy patching nests or chatting with each other.

The kit spotted an old looking tom sitting alone and walked towards him. As he got closer he recognized the cat as Sprucesnow, one of the elders his mother had told him about.

A cat a bit older than himself sat down next to Sprucesnow and Deerkit hesitated a moment, before gathering his courage and continuing towards them. "Hello." He said politely.

The elder was quickly joined by another, a younger cat. Smiling, he racked his brain for the young tom’s name. But after a glance at his vibrant ginger pelt, Sprucesnow knew who this was. "Hello, Tigerpaw, isn’t it? How have you been lately?" Who was he kidding? This was one of the kits that the mottled cat had been most curious about. Their heritage was certainly interesting, to say the least. He tried to make himself informed on all of those type situations. But he held no grudge against any of them. After all, love was love. Where would he be without Nighthawk?

After a few more moments, the pair was joined by one of Sprucesnow’s kin, his grandson. "Deerkit!" he grinned. He had been delighted when his daughter had given birth, and now he had an even larger family from it. He admittedly hadn’t spent much time with the youngest part of his family, but now was a perfect opportunity to do so. "What’s new with you?"

"Yes, Tigerpaw," he confirmed, sitting and glancing sideways at Deerkit, who had received a much more hearty hello. He was still learning who was related to who, but he figured that this kit and elder definitely shared blood. It didn't hurt his feelings - Tigerpaw knew that family bonds meant a lot to the clan. He just wished his own father felt that way. One ear slanted back in irritation at the thought, but he shook his head. There was no sense in dwelling on could-bes or what-ifs. He would make his own way, without Redfall there to guide him.

Tigerpaw wrinkled his nose in thought. "You're Sprucesnow, right?" He'd tried to memorize everyone's names, but there were so many. The apprentice sank down on to his belly, one forepaw draped across the other. The ground was cold, Leafbare's clutches already having taken hold of the forest, and Tigerpaw shivered slightly from the contact. "Will it get warm again, do you think?" He asked sheepishly. Tigerpaw didn't know how seasons worked. In the Upwalker nest, the temperature was always comfortable.