[ti]Private[/ti]In the Face of Death

[silverfang218]

Shadowpaw had been sick from the beginning; it was a given that he was going to get ill with something since he was going into leafbare without having fully recovered from his adventure, but he was just unfortunate to be vulnerable just when this new disease starts going around. Poor Shadow. All the weight that he had gained back is now gone again, and it felt like an eternity since Shadow didn’t have pain racing down his spine.

At this moment, the tiny apprentice is looking for warmth; he’s a cold lil boy. He lifts his head and his dull violet gaze darts around until it falls onto a certain elder in a nearby nest. Picking a moment when the elder doesn’t seem to be paying attention to him, Shadow slips into the elder’s nest. His legs are wobbly, but the apprentice moves carefully so he doesn’t fall.
The little apprentice noses right up against Greyear’s side, making himself as comfortable as possible as he hopes that the normally grumpy elder won’t yell at him.


Tag:
Dofferz!

[Dofferz!]

The tom stiffled a miserable cough even as he rested, eyes closed and weakly snoozing inside of the medicine cat's den. His body shivered with uncontrollable chills even though heat emancipated from his pelt. The spreading sickness had finally taken its toll on the elder, and even as he lay there, specks of crimson dotted his muzzle and bedding where he had become too weak to even lick the droplets from his maw. Larkbeat often attempted to get the elder to eat even the slightest scrap of freshkill, but was always left untouched and unacknowledged. At one point he had complained about catching the sickness and had refused treatment out of pride.

It was suddenly when a warm body slid into his nest that he began to break into awareness. Greyears would of recognized the apprentice by scent any other day, but his nose was congested. Coughing, the grey tabby weakly shifted his position, perhaps disturbing Shadowpaw's comfort, but the elder wanted to see who exactly he was sharing his nest with.

Shadowpaw.

Greyears hesitated a moment, debating whether he should mummer some comment to the apprentice. Tell him to go be sick in his own nest. But instead, he didn't. He wiggled closer. The tom didn't speak just yet, but he was preparing his words in case Shadowpaw asked what was different with him. Why the sudden change in heart.

[silverfang218]

Shadowpaw shifts away slightly as Greyears turns to look at him; if he was being honest, the apprentice had hoped that the elder was asleep and unable to notice him. That clearly wasn’t the case as the elder looked at the small, slightly cowering apprentice. Here it comes, a threatening growl telling him to get out of the elder’s nest- no? Nothing. Sweet.

Shadow turns away as coughs wrack his small body; even though it doesn’t really matter anymore, Shadow isn’t going to cough on his nestmate. That would be rude. After a moment, the coughs subside and Shadow presses his pelt against Greyears. He doesn’t ask why the elder didn’t kick him out immediately, mostly out of fear that the question would prompt Greyears to do just that. The young cat nuzzles into Grey’s fur for comfort.

They can be miserable cuddle buddies together.

[Dofferz!]

Shadowpaw ceased to say something, and lightly surprised, Greyears assumed that he too wouldn't have to speak. Not yet, at least. Although his mind was content with that, his heart didn't seem to agree and his mind wouldn't stop running. As much as the elderly male thought about it and regretted to say it, he was thankful for Shadowpaw's company and he wouldn't wish for anybody else at his side right now.

Besides Jaysong, perhaps.

For moons the silver femme had put up with him and treated the tom well, but as two clans split into three, her parting words refused to depart with her: 'Take Care, Greyears.' even his niece and last living family member had put up enough of his fox-dung, but not Shadowpaw. The violet eyed apprentice was young and forgiving. He had his whole life and Warriorship laid out ahead of him, but instead of pursuing it, he was laid out and dying beside him.

'no.. not even Jaysong..'. If these were in fact his last waking sunrises, Greyears wouldn't spend it with anybody else. Not even his niece. Not even Sunkit. 'Starclan rest her soul.'

No, he was thankful. The tabby stumbled with words for a moment, trying to find how to say it--to express his gratitude for the apprentice with a simple "Thank you." before burying his muzzle underneath the moss and his paws and mummbling, "Thank you for not allowing me to die alone."

[silverfang218]

Shadowpaw… Shadowpaw looks nothing short of stunned as Greyears thanks him. Of all the words that could of come out of the elder’s mouth, those were the words that Shadow least expected. After a couple moments spent in stunned silence, Shadowpaw moves so that he is resting his head against Greyears’ side. “No one deserves to die alone.” Shadowpaw whispers, his violet eyes darkening from memories of his own miserable experiences. He had been so thankful to have little Sootkit by his side, even when he had thought they were doomed. “Thank you for tolerating me. I’m sorry I bit your tail so many times and that I pestered you so much.”

After another moment, Shadowpaw snuggles up close, basking in Greyears’ warmth. “Thanks for letting me stay here.” He purrs softly, “You are very warm.” Shadow stifles a cough, before getting all cozy with a content expression on his face.

[Dofferz!]

Truthfully, Greyears hadn't known what to expect back from the apprentice, and in heartbeats, he began to regret the words in which he spoke. 'Starclan, you're such a mousebrain..' he scolded himself, breathing out with a heavy, exaggerated huff that only left his throat dry and coughing.

'No one deserves to die alone.' the words echoed in his head and he flicked an ear in acknowledgement. Shadowpaw's apology resurfaced old memories of both Shadowkit and Wildkit romping around bringing chaos to Ivyclan in their every waking moment. Wildkit pouncing on his tail as the elder slept, only to be ambushed by Shadowkit as well. He knew he was their favourite target. Instead of bringing out all that he hated, after a content "Mhm" because he was a nice, warm fluff, Greyears drawled, "And when you stood up for Wildkit and left Jaysong speechless." he could still picture that all those moons ago before the sickness, before the journey.. before the fire that still left him weak. "You two had to go cheer her up afterwards."