Showing signs of life (5)
I believe the answer is:
astir
'showing signs of life' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for astir that I've seen before include "Excitedly moving" , "Up and about -- is art (anag)" , "in the land of the living" , "Excited; out of bed" , "Out of bed or on the move" .)