Dayquill visitor [closed]

Shadepaw had been sick for quite awhile now. Every day it became harder to stay awake for. He chest slowly raising and following with much labor as he drew in raspy breaths. His sister Eggpaw had worked so hard to give him the best fighting chance but every day the outlook looked worse and worse.

Shadepaw had never been a very smart cat at all ... but even he could tell he was in pretty serious danger right now. He tried his best to save what little strength he had left. But the sickness had not been allowing him to eat at all due to the heavy nausea that came with it and he hadnt had a meal stay down in so long. He had missed the gathering due to the illness and was so upset about that... his sibling all got to go while he was stuck laying in a nest barely able to keep his eyes open for longer than an hour at a time.

He coughed violently as a little more blood landed on the floor below him from the violence of the coughs. He wimpered a little in a bit of pain. The herbs had helped but everything still hurt.

Hearing pawsteps from outside his ears perked up a little bit his tail twitched hitting against the floor excited for a visitor. He sat up a little wanting to look a little better than he actually was.

Not long after Shadepaw had been apprenticed, he'd fallen ill- horrifyingly so, and horrifyingly fast. It made Dayquill's chest ache in a way he hadn't felt before. If it was different than the simple ache that he'd felt when he was apprentice, when his father had taken over the forest. Everyone was left hurting because of that; it wasn't just him, languishing in his private pain. But Shadepaw... it felt like the little tom had still been a kit just yesterday, knocking his head into things and begging to be taught how to fight. Even if he wouldn't say as much out loud, Dayquill had been thrilled to have him as an apprentice. He was looking forward to their first chance at sparring, to showing Shadepaw their territory, to... so many things he wasn't sure they would even have the chance to do. He held onto the thin hope that his apprentice would make an unexpected recovery, but Fawnshine and Eggpaw didn't seem to share the same optimism.

Ducking into the den, Dayquill was surprised to find it so quiet, except for the sound of pained coughs. Neither of the medicine cats were in sight- just Shadepaw, curled up in a spare nest, head lifted slightly. Like he'd been expecting a visitor. The warrior forced a smile, though his heart twisted at the sight. Finding a nest close by, Dayquill settled onto his haunches, wrapping his tail uncomfortably around his paws. "It's... good to see you," he mewed, voice tense. He wished that was true, but he couldn't find any joy in seeing Shadepaw when it was like this. "How are you feeling? Eggpaw and Fawnshine taking good care of you?"

Shadepaw smiled a little seeing his mentor... it was a sad smile though.

Shadepaw knew it was not going well... he was not doing well. His body shook violently as more coughs came not giving him any rest or break. He slumped over in his nest "not so... not so good Dayquill" he said in a raspy voice

"im sorry we never got to train together" he said tearing up a little. He knew that he wasnt going to leave this den. Animals have an instinct about these type of things when the end is near.

His breathing got fainter and fainter. "Tell mottlerose... she is really good at hide and seek" he purred softly and he closed his eyes... up until this point he had tried to hang on even though he knew it was not going to happen he wanted so much to get better... to be around more with his clan and to really get to training to become a warrior for Thunderclan! Now however, as he closed his eyes he accepted it. Resting his head down at his mentors paws he hid his face behind his tail ... it reminded him of his time as a kit where he had played hide and seek and peekaboo with mottlerose... how happy he was back then. He hoped starclan would be something similar to that... filled with innocence and not a care in the world. Shivering he let go and took his final breath.

Shadepaw has died tragically of an uncurable illness.