endless troubles [open to shadowclan]

Swiftheart felt so stuffy. It was moderate sickness for her. She cried seeing some of her clanmates cough up blood earlier. She had nothing that severe but it did seem like nothing was going right.

She tried to cling to the usual happiness she had but everyone seemed and looked so ill. How could one be happy or find joy here?

Even leopardstar seemed distraught by it all. But, she was right, they all had made it despite any difficulties, the lake was beautiful and clear of any poisons that had plagued rivers back home.

She looked at her paws. Things did seem pretty glum, no one was happy and most were sick to the point of barely able to stand. She was not sure what was expected now. She felt the same way, but could she express that? She did not want others to see their usually happiest and peppy clanmate break and give into despair. Morale was too low as was. Usually she had boundless energy and positive nonstop talking. Today however she curled up into a ball and hid her face behind her tail. She hoped someone maybe would come by and visit with her a little or even give a little hug but more than anything she felt she just needed rest. The sickies on top of the long journey had exhauted her and she was soon almost alseep, in that half asleep world where you are vaugely aware of your surroundings

Curled up not far from Swiftheart was her apprentice, silent and still. Only the slow rise and fall of her flank showed that Frostpaw still drew breath, lungs rattling and sore. At some point during the day she’d fallen into something between delirium and sleep, and even now, as distant voices penetrated through the fog, she laid still and quiet. If she didn’t move, perhaps the metallic tang in her mouth would fade. Even the slightest twitch seemed to cause that dull ache to surge back into her limbs, along with the fire that ran in her veins in place of life-giving blood. If it weren’t for the burning, she would’ve cuddled up closer to her mentor, but as it was, the idea of touching another pelt made her stomach roil, and she didn’t need any more of that.

Cracking open an orange-yellow eye, belatedly wincing from the sunlight, Frostpaw watched the blurry form of Leopardstar, trying to wonder but lacking the strength.

Swiftheart gently brushed her apprentice with her tail. Poor frostpaw was so sick. Swiftheart didn’t feel great either but frostpaw looked very ill.

Leopard star was giving words of encouragement and swiftheart nodded to her trying to focus the best she could on the words.

Something to make it easier?? Swiftheart blinked her eyes unfocusing and refocusing as she felt so out of it.

I don’t know leopardstar… I just want to take care of frostpaw but she didn’t really know how to do that even.