This Time. Don't Need Another Perfect Lie. [closed :D]

Sagewhisker wheezed in his nest, his eyes a crusted blur as he felt the sickness overtake him. It wasn't an unusual feeling to him. He had escaped the carrion sickness once he was an apprentice, and had died of Greencough when he was leader. If he were to lose his last life, a stupid sneeze wasn't how he planned to go, but that was what it was starting to look like. His brother had already died, the stubborn medicine cat, and ran to StarClan. Now, he was supposed it was his turn next, to meet up with Softwhisper. And Amalric. And Froststar.
No, not yet. Although he was no longer leader, the clan still needed him, he felt. Things were going in a terrible direction for the clan, and it was with a growing regret that he had ever stepped down. Maybe Nightstar wasn't ready. Maybe if he had still been leader, none of this chaos would have occurred.
There was no going back, though. He had already made his choice; for Froststar, his kits, and his clan. The tabby had thought it would quell whatever anger StarClan must have had for him. Did it?
The tom groaned, unable to help but stay cooped up in this den any longer. He stood up and carried himself outside of the den, clouds covering the moon, it took a bit longer than usual for his eyes to adjust. When they did, though, he saw a familiar, red she-cat on the side of the clearing alone, looking about as well as he did himself. "Gingerheart." He called lightly, walking over and dipping his head slightly in greeting to her.

This was becoming a pain. Lying around like a useless kit not being able to do anything because she was sick. All because of that stupid toad she ate. How was she supposed to know that someone went into Carrionplace to hunt? It was idiotic, and here she was paying the consequences for someone else's action. Yeah times were tough, but she's gotten through something like this before. The lack of prey at least. Letting out a loud cough, she realized just how tense she was. Quickly shaking herself to relax, she glanced up to see Sagewhisker padding towards her. Well, that was a bit of a surprise. She hadn't seen much of him lately, but he looked awful. Almost worse than her. "Greetings, Sagewhisker. How are you doing today?" she asked, a little worried about the elder. He was quite old now, probably one of the oldest in the forest, and since he was sick too, she couldn't help but wonder how he felt.

Sagewhisker sniffed, shrugging as he went over and took a seat next to the younger red cat. "I'm about as good as I've ever been." He mused, his humor about as weak as the rest of his body, though that didn't stop the small, crooked smile on his face. The tom turned his head away from Gingerheart for a few moments, breaking into a coughing fit in the other directions. "Apologies." He muttered, trying to regain his composure, but having to take a few more heartbeats to catch his breath. When he finally did, he sighed. "Maybe I really am too old to stick around anymore." He said. It was hard to tell if the elder was joking or not. "How are you, Gingerheart?" He asked, "You know, you're so stubborn, I would've thought your sickness would've given up and left by now." A bit ill-mindedly, he scanned the rest of the clearing, looking over the next generations of warriors; trying to see if Cloudbillow or Mistflower were out, or Nightstar, Thrushstripe, Mallowroot... The later three he wanted to see for any sign of the clan's recovery.