Will You Greet the Daylight Looming? (c)

Tallshadow sat in a pathetic patch of sun, trying to absorb any warmth he could. He was painfully thin, the shapes of his bones shifting under his dulled pelt were clearly defined, and his face had a shallow, sunken look. Today was a good day though, or at least, a good day compared to the long-stretching nights of fever dreams and bone-ratting shivers. The tom wheezed out a cough, blinking his eyes to clear the haze as the world tipped sideways for a moment. Straightening, he beckoned weakly with a twitch of his tail for his apprentice.

“Berrypaw, if you’re feeling up to it let me see some of your battle moves. You can go ahead and strike at me, claws sheathed please, I won’t try to dodge, just get a feel for how hard you need to hit and how to keep your balance.” The golden tabby pulled himself to his paws, swaying slightly before falling into a fluid battle stance, muscle memory the only thing holding him up.   “It’ll be good to get a gauge on the weak and strong points in your form before you try sparring with the other apprentices.”

Tallshadow purred softly, dropping his stance and sitting back on his haunches. “I said if you’re feeling up to it, and you don’t look up to it.” He flicked his long tail over the cream she-cats ear. “Your balance is good though.” He broke off in a fit of wheezing coughs, his eyes watery and dull when he looked back at Berrypaw. “I don’t think either of us are up to training today.” He sighed quietly, feeling a stab of grief that Berrypaw didn’t know the thrill of running the moor or the smell of heather just beginning to unfurl in the dawn. She knew sickness, and she knew uncertainty and she was still trying her best despite it. “Do you have any questions for me instead? I’m not that old,” He shot her an amused grin. “But I've seen some things, if you’d like a story.”