Life 2:12

When Tallstar and Snakepaw got to camp, they could already see much progress was made on repairing the camp. Most of the walls and dens were roughly in shape again. Barkface had already scavenged up some herbs from the destroyed camp and was stocking the medicine den. Though, there was one notable new addition to the camp. Upon the Tallrock that Tallstar called his meetings from was a freshly scratched in Wander symbol. Tallstar and Snakepaw even bore witness as a few cats traced the mark in passing.

"It's always fascinating to see cultural drift." Snakepaw mewed, noting how each cat who retraced the mark did so as if it gave good luck.

"What do you mean?" Tallstar asked, a little bit annoyed that a mark for Wandering was in the camp.

"They've decided to change the meaning of the mark. Where once it was a simple marker to let other cats know these were made by us, they've decided that it means something more. Look at how they trace it. While it was considered lucky to retrace a Wander mark, that's not what they're doing. They've ritualized it. What this means, I do not yet know, but Barkface is probably the one that started it." Snakepaw answered.

Tallstar padded up to the mark, now mystified that something that simply denoted a tunnel being of Windclan origin could take on a whole new meaning. He could actually feel it when he pressed his claws into the fresh grooves. This marker, while being the same as the one they found in the underpass, had a completely different feeling than that one. The underpass one felt like a temporary refuge, like a bush when the winds get too fast. This one felt solid and warmer. It felt like shelter in a blizzard. As Tallstar traced the mark, Barkface came trotting over.

"Do you feel it? This is what our cats felt when they found the old Wander tunnels. They put that feeling into this one. Believe it or not, I wasn't the first to mark the Tallrock. That honor belongs to Morningflower. She saw us find the one at our exiled shelter. The day we found it, we were freed from the pains of starvation. After she scratched it in, near every one of our warriors who saw the Wander tunnels followed suit. While the mark may have at one point have just been a marker, it now has a new purpose. This is the mark of hope, salvation, and Windclan." Barkface mewed, reverently brushing the mark with his paw.

"So, this is what Snakepaw meant by cultural drift… I'm not sure how to feel about this. I mean, I'm glad that we've got something to inspire hope in our cats, but I almost feel like this is disrespectful to the cats that undertook the Wandering. If we ever reinstate the Wandering, how will our cats feel after finding this symbol out there? Will they even understand that it once had a different purpose?" Tallstar mewed, his face twisted a bit in thought.

Snakepaw made his opinion known. "One paw step at a time Tallstar. One paw step at a time. It is completely natural for things to change over time. Many words and phrases we use now don't mean what they used to mean. They drift as we utilize them for different purposes. For example, rabbit legs used to mean you had a really strong grapple since rabbits can kick hard. Now it's an insult about being skinny that the other clans use. Your ancestors won't be insulted because they understand that change would occur. Windclan had forgotten the symbol for the longest time. I'm sure they'd appreciate the rediscovery of it even if it takes on a whole new meaning."

Tallstar turned to face his apprentice, who he was starting to realize never actually had an apprentice ceremony. "I don't know how I can stand you Snakepaw. One moment, you're more impulsive than a kit and the next, you're giving a lecture about history that could put the elders to shame. The worst part is that I can't tell which one is the real you."

Snakepaw chuckled at Tallstar's words. "You're trying to figure out something that doesn't have an answer. There never was a question of which one is the real me because they both are. I love educating, but I also love learning. I like exploring the world, seeing how each clan changes between cycles. I like figuring out what remained the same. I like meeting new cats and seeing how they put up with me. I never have much time, but I try and make every life memorable. I may not remember every life I lived, but I try. I hope with what time I've got, I at least make a memorable experience for you."

Tallstar sighed, feeling his question went unanswered. "Memorable, you most certainly are." He stated flatly.

At that moment, Morningflower came trotting over to talk to Tallstar. "Tallstar, is there anything we can do to reinforce the nursery? We've put sticks and brush to repair it, but I just don't feel safe in it with my kit. Shadowclan got in too easily last time."

Tallstar was about to respond with how there wasn't much else they could do, but he noticed Snakepaw miming a digging motion behind Morningflower. Remembering his own youth, he knew there was a connection tunnel to Windclan's tunnel network in the camp. The entrance had been buried when Windclan moved away from digging, but the tunnels were still there. Not that far in was an expanded space. It was the old digger's den, but maybe it could serve a new purpose. It could be the new nursery, and since the tunnel network was connected, it meant that the nursery had secret escape routes that could protect the queens and kits.

"I've actually got an idea on that Morningflower. Back when I was an apprentice, Windclan had two factions. One was the moor runners and the other was the diggers. While digging got phased out, they did leave behind something that could be useful. There's the diggers den which might be perfect for a new nursery. Snakepaw and I will dig it up, and the queens can decide if it would work for their needs." Tallstar answered.

"I'll go let Ashfoot know. How soon do you think you can find it?" Morningflower queried.

Tallstar looked for Snakepaw to get his more experienced answer. Unfortunately, Snakepaw had already disappeared. He only caught sight of the apprentice when an indignant warrior began to scold Snakepaw for flinging a clump of dirt onto him.

"Watch it Snakepaw! I know you liked those tunnels when we were in exile, but you don't need to dig a whole new one." Mudclaw mewed.

"Not new." Snakepaw grunted, clearly having to fight whatever was used to block up the old tunnel entrance.

Tallstar had to give Morningflower an apologetic smile since he had to go deal with the warrior his apprentice just riled up. Tallstar walked over quickly before Mudclaw could take a swipe at his apprentice. Mudclaw looked relieved to see Tallstar. "Tallstar, good that you're here. Can you deal with your unruly apprentice? He's throwing dirt all over."

"I'll deal with it Mudclaw, though you'll have to put up with this a while longer. Snakepaw and I are digging out the old tunnel network that connected to camp. Snakepaw just got a bit over excited and started on it before I could give the word." Tallstar answered, gesturing for Mudclaw to move along.

Mudclaw stared back at the apprentice who was digging a hole into an unassuming part of the wall. He had questions as to how Snakepaw could possibly know there was a connecting tunnel off that point in the wall but dismissed the question as Snakepaw just being weird again.

Tallstar positioned himself next to Snakepaw so he could help with the digging. "I've gotten a bit of tunnel training, so I should be able to help here. How far do you think we'll have to dig?"

"Standard procedure when sealing a tunnel is about a cat's length of dirt. We should be able to clear it before sundown, but if we do get through, let me check if the tunnel is still sound. We don't want it caving in since it didn't have any maintenance." Snakepaw answered calmly, continuing to dig.

Tallstar knew he'd have to groom himself well after this, not to mention Snakepaw. He let out a huff and got to digging.