There is light at the end of this tunnel.
Funny. It’s just the place they tell you not to go - but here he is, going anyway, soil shifting under his claws.
Brandon needs this. He supposes he ought to stay, carry on living in the family sett... that is badger custom, after all.
But even the outlying setts, now, are cramped. Every twilight, he wakes up and finds younger cubs - Brocklyn, usually - sleeping on his soft stomach... wriggling... paws sticking in.
Yes. He needs this.
Something within is calling, compelling him through this tunnel, out into the wider woodland world.
Thanks for reading…
…and a big welcome to new followers and subscribers!
I appreciate your patience as I continue upgrading Exploring the Eyrie this summer. Important changes are on the way - but the main schedule hasn’t changed.
You’ll still get every story, every week(end). Look out for them from Saturday to Monday (maybe Sunday to Tuesday, depending on your time zone. I work on UK time: UTC or UTC+1. I never expected to have readers across 11 different countries! I’m still figuring out what times are best to post for us all).
This week, anyway, we have a bit of anthropomorphism, since badgers ‘often [occupy] the same sett for generations’1 - but what if one of them needed their own territory?
I love this part of writing2. ‘What ifs’ become ‘whys’… soon enough, you have a story.
But stories also involve change… within the characters, usually, but this one is about making a change, too.
Brandon’s going, then he hesitates. Next, he reminds himself why he’s going. Finally, he decides to follow that feeling - that strange inner pull - for certain and for good.
Has something like this ever happened to you? How did it turn out?
Next Time:
Noxious Doors
Part of Exploring the Eyrie will always be free - but if you enjoyed your fictional escape, please consider a paid subscription. There are three options:
Yearly: £60 (just £5 a month).
Monthly: £6 (x12 months = £72 a year).
Founding: £80 (suggested).
What you’ll get: every story, every week(end) - straight to your inbox.
I’m currently revamping the Eyrie. Things may look different, or even behind, for a little while.
For now, then, you can simply pledge a future subscription. You won’t be charged until I enable payments (starting in 2024).
Thank you for exploring the Eyrie.
Copyright © E.A. Colquitt 2024
The Woodland Trust, ‘Badger (Meles meles) - British Mammals’, The Woodland Trust < https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/mammals/badger/ > [accessed: 1/7/2024].
As well as getting to learn new things. Did you know that badgers have ‘outlying setts’? These are spaces that branch off, via tunnels, from their ‘main sett’ (where they usually live). If I’ve learnt that before, I’ve since forgotten. I read it while researching this story, and just thought it was a really cool fact.