Dust Coated Hearts [Open]

Minkpaw lay in the medicine cats den. The tunnel collapse the other day was more severe than she had thought. The dust had gotten into her lungs and she had gotten rather sick. She was weak and frail and was nervous of what would happen. Would Falconpaw be okay when he found out? How would her father react? Would she die or would she live? She didn't know. She just wanted to sleep, but she couldn't. Her thoughts attacked her like a pack of dogs.

Falconpaw was almost a warrior. He was so busy finishing his training, that the days ticked by. He couldn't find Minkpaw, but he didn't have time to ask. Finally, two days after the collapse he found her. In the medicine den. Dread filled his stomach as he saw her lying there, looking so weak and frail. The tom walked over to his mate, nuzzling her neck. "Minkpaw?" he whispered gently.

She jumped a bit as he spoke, having not noticed him enter. "Yeah. Hi, Falconpaw." She said, rumbling a bit.

"Why aren't you training?" he asked cautiously, licking her head lightly.

"'M sick. The dust from the tunnels hurt my lungs or something." She explained, lolling her head to the side. She flicked her ears, eyes quite bleary.

Falconpaw's eyes searched Minkpaw's. There was something wrong. Something bad. "No, Minkpaw." he whispered. "We have sticks to collect. Stones, beautiful."

Minkpaw shook her head. "I love you, Falconpaw, you know that, right?" She asked, looking straight into his eyes. Her ears flattened. She knew what was coming and she couldn't stop it. But she welcomed it.

"I know, and I love you too. But you are going to go stone hunting with me in a bit, alright? Come on, you can get up right?" Deep down Falconpaw knew she couldn't. He wanted her to get up. She needed to get up. They had stones to collect. Kits to have.

Minkpaw looked away. "I can't, Falconpaw. I'm sorry. Just, go without me, 'kay?" Her eyes blinked, a caring, weak look in her eyes. "Bring me back the prettiest stone you can find, 'kay?" A bit of tears formed in her eyes, and it was becoming more hard to speak as she spoke more.

"Right now?..." the tom asked confused. He could tell she was weak and didn't want to leave her side. "You gotta come find it with me!" Falconpaw pleaded more loudly, desperately.

"I'm too weak. Just... Bring it back for me so I can see it, okay?" She purred, licking his cheek affectionately. Each second she felt weaker and weaker.