𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙤𝙥𝙖𝙬'𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙙𝙨𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙘𝙮𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 of the brambles she weaved with her paws. The cold made their thorns feel sharper, and she tried her best to avoid them as she reinforced the apprentices' den. She fluffed up her pelt against the leaf-bare chill, the wind making its way under her thick fur.
Usually, the quarry shielded them from the wind, but it had been relentless since dawn, howling like a newborn kit without milk. More snow had fallen in the past few sunrises, layering over the snow below it that struggled to melt in the weak sunlight. The brisk blast of air was starting to form large drifts throughout GroveClan territory and even created some within the camp.
Flutterstorm ordered Indigopaw to fortify the apprentices' den because Russetpaw had complained about gusts of wind seeping through the den walls where he slept. Indigopaw dreaded completing a task for the reddish-brown tom but was happy to have Frostpaw's help. The tom wove expertly nearby, tugging on his reinforcement with a paw to check its integrity.
Indigopaw tried to copy his technique, but her pads began feeling numb from the biting cold. Despite her aching paws, she still wanted to ensure the den was tightly sealed. The last thing she wanted was to wake up with snow forcing its way into the den or crushing one of her Clanmates. As much as Redpaw's snoring annoyed her and Dawnpaw's arrogance got on her nerves, she would never wish the same death upon them that her brother had endured.
Indigokit looked up again, seeing the den roof snapping louder as it cracked under the weight of snow. "Fawnkit, look out!"
In a flash of fur, Willowkit pounced on Fawnkit, and they both tumbled to the back corner of the den. The roof collapsed before Indigokit had time to move, sending a layer of snow cascading into the nursery. Indigokit jumped back to avoid the fray.
Indigopaw staggered backward, pulling the brambles that she held with her. Her breathing became short and raspy as she relived the dreadful event. Her stomach churned and twisted, and she felt like she was on uneven ground. The world spun around her and she felt sick.
"Indigopaw! Are you alright?" Frostpaw was at her side in mere seconds. He helped her to her paws and repeatedly asked her if she was alright. Indigopaw shook her head, not as an answer, but to try and pull herself together. Paws moved in front of her, which felt detached from her body, and she struggled to stand up on limbs that didn't feel like hers.
