An Ode to Shade...

It was hot. Hotter than it should be, even out here in the canyons and crags. Sparrow stretched himself out in the shade, panting quietly. The heat was brutal, but surely it would settle as the sun began to set. He knew he was in for one heck of a time until then though, given he’d been awoken to the sweltering haze having invaded his previously cooled den.

He rolled over on the cooler stones, mostly in vain, searching for a place to beat the wave of sudden summer heat that had rolled through. It wasn’t the worst he’d experienced, but it was… certainly draining, to say the least. 

Not for the first time, he wondered why he bothered sticking around the Crags; it was dusty and dirty, there was so little vegetation… He didn’t mind the quiet so much, but those other two animals were always lurking around – Scrap and Junk, he think they called themselves? The hyena seemed far friendlier, but the hyaenodon was all the bark and bite the duo needed and… Sparrow honestly just didn’t wanna deal with all those gnarled teeth.

But on top of that, he distantly thought of the shady oaks of the creek, the bubbling brook that ran through the woods. Sure, it was pretty populated and crowded -- and stars above, everyone and anyone knew he wasn't a guy that liked crowds -- but it would surely be cooler. The grass under his paws, the creek to go for a quick swim in, the glorious wonderful shade overhead to block out the harshest rays of the sun... Not to mention, his neighbours would most certainly be far more... neighbourly, he supposed. Everyone that inhabited the crags were hardy, rough and tumble, scrapping to survive. It was a lifestyle Sparrow was used to, sure, but it wasn't something he preferred... especially not alone. Maybe it was high time to consider moving back, seeing if he could wiggle into the little ecosystem there without disturbing it too much... 

He jolted awake, having hardly realized in his thoughts that he’d almost drifted to sleep. The sun was inching across the sky, and now his shade was moving. The harsh and unforgiving sun beat down on his face, forcing his eyes to shut tight against the glare. Agh… Not again.

Sparrow rolled back over, searching once more for a cooled spot. Anything to endure the heat until evening.