I think their eyes just moved - whitecough

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    ✦ Wolfpaw's chest burnt as she woozily stepped back into camp. It was so cold... he was so cold. A loud cough erupted from him and he wheezed as it sting in the aftermath. He looked around; he was almost positive everything wasn't supposed to be spinning. He could make it to the medicine cat at least, he thought as he started making his way over. His tail dragged along the snow as he walked. No, no. He couldn't walk anymore.

    "Hey," he said to no one in particular, "Tell Flaxenglare I can't train today. Sorry."

    And with that, Wolfpaw leaned against the apprentice den, trying to get some kind of control over his breathing before he slid to the ground and cuddled into himself.

    rjr04Rk.png


    GINGERPAW— 7.5months . Male . Shadowclan Apprentice


    Gingerpaw had just begun to awaken, the cold keeping it impossible for him to sleep any longer. Fur fluffed out as far as it could go, the little apprentice would stretch out and yawn, eyes squeezing shut. He tried to fight back the grogginess at the edges of his mind, trying to get alert so he could start his day. He was thinking about how maybe he could ask around to go and train with someone today, to try and get caught up on some missed lessons since his own mentor had seemingly gone MIA- but all those thoughts vanished when he heard a soft ‘thump’ against the den, and Wolfpaw’s tired voice coming through.


    “Sure thing, Wolfpaw,” meowed the tom with another yawn, not quite understanding the severity of the situation before he poked his head out of the den. He couldn’t see his fellow apprentice right away, and confused Gingerpaw at first thought perhaps the other tom had just gone off to go do something else- until he noticed the bundle at the base of the den curled up into itself. At once Ginger’s amber eyes widened in surprise and worry, and the little tom felt anxiety begin to flutter in his chest. Why was he down on the floor like that? Surely that wasn’t comfortable, especially with this cold?


    “Wuh-Wolfpaw?” He stammered, frozen to his spot standing in the apprentices den. What was he supposed to do, was there anything he could do? When he had checked up on Sorrelstar, and Oliveslip appeared, hadn’t she mentioned something about catmint? But what or how did that even help? Breathing rapidly, Gingerpaw turned his anxieties into action, stepping forward and crouching down next to the tom. Gently Gingerpaw pressed himself into the other boy, trying to keep him warm, and Wolfpaw permitting, would try and help the apprentice back up to his feet, offering him a shoulder to lean on. Would the other boy really refuse to move, he at the very least would stay near to offer warmth. “What, what’s wrong? Are you OK? We should really take you to Oliveslip...” he mewed, voice rising with his anxieties.

    Icon by Scribe!

    "So I walk alone down the darkest roads"

    "The anthem of a bird with a broken wing" — Canarysong


    "I'll get Oliveslip, Gingerpaw stay here with Wolfpaw and don't move him around to much, its cold out here in camp-I don't know whats going on but this is concerning, I also don't want them to get worse" she instructed towards Gingerpaw, handling to the best of her ability that she could-she couldn't tell why Wolfpaw was in such a state or whats going on, she never really seen whitecough so she didn't know the complete symptoms of Wolfpaw other than them being weak and hardly being able to make it to the apprentice's den. Before Gingerpaw could answer the young warrior slipped off to find Oliveslip, a concern look playing in her icy blue eyes-sure she was normally a blunt and cold warrior but she did care for her clanmates.


    "I am who I say I am"


    "Speak" "Thoughts"

    OLIVESLIP ))






    ❝ But we're a million worlds apart.... ❞

    — Firedawn, Warrior of Shadowclan

    tags — storage — plotting — main

    Firedawn had been waddling back towards the nursery after picking something for herself in the fresh kill pile. Her emerald gaze spotted Wolfpaw and at first, her eyes lit up happily at seeing the happy go lucky tom. But then he stumbled, and her stomach sank and she hurried as much as she could towards the apprentice den just as Gingerpaw asked about getting Oliveslip and Canarysong appeared giving orders, "Wolfpaw?" Her expression was one of concern as she attempted to wrap her feathery tail around him to keep him warm. He was burning up and her concern grew as he seemed to be confused. Was he sick? She knew that since she was pregnant that she shouldn't be around sick cats, but she would step back once Oliveslip or Flaxenglare arrived to keep him warm.

    ✦ "Huh?" Wolfpaw panted, trying not to put all his boy weight on Gingerpaw but accidentally doing so anyways, "Don't... Don't get Oliveslip, she's busy with other people... I'll live.." Just then, his leg gave out and he stumbled to the snow. He tried to push himself back up as he witnessed Canarysong leave and Firedawn arrive. A light laugh came from his hoarse throat as Firedawn put her tail on him. Relcutantly, he pushed it off.

    "Don't... you might catch something..." each breath he took was audible, which scared Wolf to hear. Was he really breathing that heavily?

    "I'm... tired, that's all. Lemme sleep, please?" He'd give anything to collapse back into the snow and rest more.

    rjr04Rk.png


    GINGERPAW— 7.5months . Male . Shadowclan Apprentice


    The young tom had to stifle the fur from raising along his spine as a crowd of cats began to gather around the sick apprentice and himself, and he let out a soft ‘oof’ as Wolfpaw leaned all of his weight into him. Gingerpaw had a moment of mild surprise as he realized that he was stronger than he thought he was, finding it only mildly difficult to support that sort of body weight. Had he always been capable of that? He wasn’t sure, and didn’t have much time to ponder it anyways as the other apprentice fell back into the snow. He only had time to nod his head, not fully catching what Canarysong had thrown his way before the molly was gone again, and it was back to being him, Wolfpaw, and now also Firedawn.


    At risk of catching anything himself, a thought which the boy hardly even really thought about, he kept himself firmly pressed against Wolfpaw in spite of how warm he already felt. Gingerpaw knew that that sort of warmth was most likely unnatural, but that didn’t mean he wanted to leave him laying in the cold, either.


    “Yuh-you need her too, though,” he meowed softly, brows furrowed together as he looked towards Firedawn with worried eyes. Wolfpaw didn’t want her to catch something? It took a moment for the gears to turn before he realized that he probably meant because the she-cat was pregnant. Yeah, that, probably wouldn’t be a good thing Gingerpaw settled on. Still, that didn’t stop the fact that Wolfpaw was pleading to fall back asleep while in the snow, and despite what Canarysong told him, he gently nudged the other apprentice with his nose. “You can, uhm, sleep if you need to, but not out here, Wolfpaw.” He said, voice still soft. He didn’t know Wolfpaw all that well, but that didn’t mean he liked seeing the other apprentice so... not his usual self, either. It felt weird, to not see him bubbly and full of energy, and it made Gingerpaw’s anxieties worsen. If only he could carry him into the apprentice’s den, or to Oliveslip’s which would be even better! No way was he strong enough to do such a feat though, not on his own.

    Icon by Scribe!

    ✦ "No, no, I'm tired," he whined; he didn't want to be standing up anymore. He wanted to be somewhere, laid down and drifting into sleep. He shook his head to stop himself from dozing. Honestly, shaking his head only made everything worse, and he groaned loudly as his headache worsened.

    "Hey, Gingerpaw? Thanks for helping me out." He was thankful someone came over to make sure he was okay. He wished he was feeling a bit better so he wasn't burdening Gingerpaw with his whole mess.

    rjr04Rk.png


    GINGERPAW— 7.5months . Male . Shadowclan Apprentice


    “Ah-ah-all the more reason to bring you to a nest, Wolfpaw,” the little tom meowed kindly, not removing himself from Wolfpaw’s side. It still frightened the tom seeing the slightly older apprentice this out of it, but Gingerpaw just couldn’t let himself leave now. Yes, there were others but... he was still waiting for Canarysong to come back with Oliveslip, and it was still apparent that Firedawn was at more risk than himself. Even if he could go, Gingerpaw wasn’t sure if he would- even if the situation gave him anxiety, he felt if he left it untended too, he would simply worry himself half to death about not knowing what was going on, anyways. Once again, the little round tom tried to nudge Wolfpaw back to his feet, still intending to support him to the best of his abilities.


    “O-oh-“ he stammered, not expecting the apology, and he paused in his actions. Pausing briefly, he took his tail and gently placed it along the others back, smiling softly towards him. He had never really been thanked for something before, he was much too used to being or acting as a doormat or just simply doing what he was told to receive a genuine thank you. It felt... good. “You uhm, there’s, you don’t have to thank me, it’s OK- I just want to see you, uh, not... not like this.” That... could have been smoother, but ah well, it got the point across well enough, and Gingerpaw was more than happy to be here, since he honestly didn’t think he was helping that much.

    Icon by Scribe!






    ❝ But we're a million worlds apart.... ❞

    — Firedawn, Warrior of Shadowclan

    tags — storage — plotting — main

    Firedawn would growing more worried with each passing second. Her ears flicked in anxiety at the state of her favorite apprentice and she licked his forehead in a comforting gesture before she huffed in finality. Wolfpaw needed to go to the medicine cat den. But neither she nor Gingerpaw carry him there so there was only one other options. She would meet Gingerpaws eyes with a serious yet calm glow as she meowed softly, "Stay with him, Gingerpaw. I'm going to find his mentor and see if he can talk some sense into him." She would look at Wolfpaw once more, giving his cheek a soft affectionate nuzzle before rising to her paws and walking as quickly as she could towards the warriors' den to find her mate.


    FLAXENSUN


    —— FLAXENGLARE ——

    Soon to be King

    Flaxenglare had specifically told Wolfpaw to get his tail to the training area as soon as the sun was up. Why is he not surprised his apprentice didn't make it?

    That's a lie, he IS surprised. For as much as Wolfpaw complains...he never misses a lesson. Never.


    So it both is and isn't a surprise when instead of Wolfpaw his mate appears, breathless to tell him the news.

    No.


    Flaxenglare has no patience for these idiots. If he were sick, he'd scoot his tail right to the den, get his meds, and go on working anyway. Getting your medicine wasn't weak or selfish, it was the same as eating - not everyone was starving, quit acting like it! And, with that mentality locked on, Flaxenglare has no shits to give as he storms into the apprentice's den. Grabbing Wolfpaw's ear, he leans in close and hisses, "You listen to me you little snot goblin - if you don't take your herbs willingly, i'm going to cram them so far down your throat your arse will be growing roots got it!?" letting the boy's poor ear go, Flaxenglare stands up tall, sizing the smaller boy up, "Get to your feet Wolfpaw. if you're so tough you could deny medicine then you should be more than capable of doing your chores and you'll be doing EXTRA because you left me waiting!"

    His words are harsh, his tone impatient, but the way he looks over his boy speaks volumes. As he's saying all this, he's gouging just how sick he is, if he needs to bring Olive here or he should just pick him up and carry him. He isn't afraid to do either, and is already planning on grabbing Wolf's scruff now and carrying him to get help. He can't wait. Sorrelstar being sick and now Wolfpaw...if either of them...if even ONE of them...



    "Speech"





    ✦ "I'm not denying anything," Wolfpaw whined as Flaxenglare let his ear go, the slight pain amplifying as it pulsed from his eat outward. "I just think... other people are sick, so Oliveslip's gotta go take care of them first. Like- like Sorrelstar, she's super important so she's gotta be first... it's only fair." Wolfpaw sniffled and coughed, "Why do you gonna be so mean to me when everyone else is trying to help me....? Like Firedawn.... and Gingerpaw.... and Canarysong are all tryin' to help.... and you're yelling at me. Stop it." His tone was irritated as opposed to actual anger; his ear still hurt. Would he tell his mentor? No; he didn't know if it was out of spite or simply not to make anyone worry anymore. If he died right here in the snow, at least no one would be mad at him for not being in the medicine cat den right now.

    —— FLAXENGLARE ——

    Soon to be King

    Flaxenglare hadn't meant to grab his ear so hard, but he instantly regretted it when he saw the boy wince. If he wasn't so peeved, he'd have apologised - instead, he hissed, "Tell me how well Firedawn, Canarysong and Gingerpaw have gotten you to move? You've lost your chance to be coddled, i'll coddle your sorry ass when you're sobbing about bitter leaves not denying them" That's it, he gave Wolfpaw his chance to not be manhandled - Flaxenglare would not waste another second. "I swear to starclan if you say that kind of - you're important Wolfpaw," the way he says it it's clear the 'to me' is very heavily implied - perhaps unconsciously so. Grabbing Wolfpaw's scruff, he tries to pull the boy - as gently as he can - onto his own back. "The sooner you get treated the sooner you won't HAVE to be treated. And you can make it up to Olive by getting more herbs after..." he tries his best to soften his voice, to push the irritation back and be more kinder, more...sincere. Why does everyone have to be so selfishly selfless? "don't argue with me Wolfpaw" it's hard to describe the way he says this as a snap or a hiss. It's almost like a firm plea.

    Because it is.

    "Speech"










    ❝ But we're a million worlds apart.... ❞

    — Firedawn, Warrior of Shadowclan

    tags — storage — plotting — main

    Firedawn would appear, slightly out of breath after rolling back into camp behind her mate. She reached the group when Flaxenglare began gently tugging his apprentice towards the den and after hearing his arguments, her expression would take on an expression that rarely came on her face, anger.


    "Wolfpaw." Her tone had seemed to evolve, her maternal instincts kicking into overdrive as she moved to meet the apprentices eyes properly, "You listen to me. Don't you dare say anything that insulting to me or Flaxenglare ever again. You are his apprentice, you are important to both of us and seeing you like this is scary." Her tail would lash slightly as she stressed the word and her expression softened lightly, "So stop being so stubborn and get into Oliveslips den right now, or I won't let you be one of the first to see my kits."


    ✦ "Gingerpaw!" Wolf called out, laughing half from his true attitude and half from the fever, "Help me out, I'm getting attack from all sides!" His laugh continued on hysterically as he tried to stumble his way on Flaxenglare's back. Did Flax and Fire really care that much? He mattered? That was weird. He shouldn't have mattered; he was supposed to die when he was a kit, but he stuck around. What if Starclan was coming for him now?

    "... Oh no, what if Starclan was coming for me now?" he said quietly as he looked to all three cats. "Welp! I had a good run... it was fun... Oh lord, I think I'm gonna get sick," he sighed, falling off of Flax and back into the snow.

    —— FLAXENGLARE ——

    Soon to be King

    Lucky Wolfpaw fell, because Flax would’ve dropped him if he’d had the chance. He was tempted to start beating Wolfpaw up, but decided that’d just cause the boy to have more things he’d refuse to get treated. Instead, he shoots Firedawn a glare he knows she can better read as a helpless look, before his withering state turns in Gingerpaw, “This is getting nowhere. Go get Olivenose, tell her to bring all her herbs" then to Firedawn he’d say, “Help me clear the snow around him so he doesn’t freeze to death" and to Wolfpaw he’d say, “Youre not dying today. If you do, I’ll claw my way up to the heavens and drag your screaming spirit back into your body so shut up" then he’d begin to brush the snow away from the kid, occasionally furiously licking his pelt dry where it had gotten soaked. “Sick cats are so irritating " he hisses, not bothering to keep it under his breath.


    "Speech"







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    GINGERPAW— 7.5months . Male . Shadowclan Apprentice


    So many things began to happen at once the minute Flaxenglare entered the camp, and watching the older tom was like watching a deadly storm approach. Gingerpaw felt as if he were stuck on the thunder patch, watching a monster speed dangerously close, unable to move away even if he wanted too. All the little boy had to do now was wait for impact- and it came in the form of a very angry older male who was seemingly reaming into Wolfpaw.


    It caught Gingerpaw off guard as he blinked his wide amber eyes in quick succession, unable to decide whether he was appalled or afraid of the tone Flaxenglare was using against the other apprentice. Couldn’t he see that he was sick, so very sick? Would this really help? How on earth did you and Firedawn end up as partners? He thought, watching the spectacle, and letting out a little surprised mew as Flax pulled Wolfpaw away. The rush of cold that came to take his place, and he had to shake himself to regain composure. His head felt like it was spinning with the sudden chaos, and he couldn’t help but wonder if this was just the sort of chaos that Wolfpaw natural brought to himself. “You are important,” he mumbled after a second, not really directly too anyone- ironically enough, the little tom didn’t think of himself as enough of a presence for that opinion to matter.


    Wolfpaw calling his name was enough to jar him back into the moment, and Gingerpaw focused back just in time to watch Wolfpaw dramatically slide from Flaxenglare’s back, landing once more with a soft ‘thwump’ in the snow. The little orange and white tabby’s brows furrowed in worry, he lifted a paw to go and walk towards them all again, almost as if to curl right back up around the older apprentice again when Flaxenglare spoke to him. “Oh yes, uhm, I can, I can do that!” He stammered, too intimidated to mention that Canarysong had already run off to grab the medicine cat once before. I wouldn’t catch myself on the end of refusing something for you, he thought to himself. With that he moved forward, stopping once by Wolfpaw to gently press against him as an action of comfort, hesitating only once more to look at Flaxenglare and Firedawn. Wolfpaw will be fine with them, he thought, unsure of why he was so hesitant to leave, but... like he thought previously- he wasn’t going to be the one to tell Flaxenglare ‘no’, and with that, the little apprentice raced off to try and find the medicine cat.


    // OLIVESLIP

    Icon by Scribe!

    ✦ The thought of death racked his brain as Flaxenglare and Gingerpaw spoke. It was so scary; he didn't wanna die. His siblings were already gone, taken before their lives began. He couldn't die too, he couldn't do that to his mom or anyone else.

    Still, Wolfpaw didn't know if he wanted to be important to people. That only served to scare people and get them mad at Wolf. If no one cared, then no one would miss him when the whitecough theoretically took him, Curse his amiable personality!

    "Take care, Gingerpaw," Wolfpaw coughed out as he sat up, "Oh, and Flaxen," Wolfpaw grumbled as he tried to push the warrior playfully.

    "It's bold to assume I'm going up instead of down when I'm gone," Wolfpaw joked, but death still haunted and terrified him, his whole body shaking as he eyed the ground sheepishly.

    "I don't wanna die out here.." He said as quietly as he could.


    ShadowClan senior warrior | black & ginger torbie | missing left eye | tags

    This would be Tansyface's third Leafbare, although only the second she actively remembers, but whitecough was nothing Tansyface hasn't seen before. Tansyface treated it with the same amount of caution that she treated every other illness, and as amusing as it was to watch the back and forth between Flaxenglare and Wolfpaw, Tansyface observed from what she deemed to be a safe distance. Seeing Flaxenglare, Gingerpaw, and Firedawn stand so close to Wolfpaw made Tansyface's own pelt itch with hypothetical germs. She scratched at her chin with her hindpaw as she spoke, raising her voice so she could be heard by the ever growing group without the need to step closer, "You aren't going to die if it's just whitecough; greencough kills."


    She stopped scratching, took a moment to observe the way loose fur got caught between the claws of her hindpaw before continuing, "And Wolfpaw, it is horribly selfish of you to not seek treatment," So maybe insisting on Wolfpaw's importance didn't appear to be working from where Tansyface was sitting. Wolfpaw didn't appear to be taking it seriously, insisting that he didn't need treatment and making jokes. "Every moment you go without treatment is another moment you expose the rest of the clan to illness. Foxdung to that others need it more, you only say that because it makes you feel good and selfless in the moment, and takes no regard for what your actions expose the rest of us to." It was harsh of her, but Tansyface felt as though it was needed in certain situations. She was guessing as to why Wolfpaw denied needing treatment, speaking as to what she assumed his motivations were. Tansyface could only hope she could guilt him into it.

    "Tansyface is absolutely correct!" came Oliveslip’s frantic meow, having been fetched by Gingerpaw. There was another one with whitecough? The outbreak was starting, then. StarClan, help them. "Wolfpaw, come to my den right now, you are to stay there until you’re cured. We cannot risk anyone else becoming sick." To emphasize her point, she padded over to the apprentice and aimed to curl her tail over his back, pressing against him and trying to support him. She would then attempt to guide him to the medicine den, silently hoping she had enough catmint to last the leaf-bare, with all of the sick cats popping up everywhere.



    "speech."



    i guess you wonder where i’ve been —— tags.

    "So I walk alone down the darkest roads"

    "The anthem of a bird with a broken wing" — Canarysong


    Canarysong came hurrying back with a concerned look playing on her gaze, Gingerpaw had also come to grab Oliveslip. A concern look played in her eyes as she looked at the crowd and then back at Oliveslip and Wolfpaw. "Do you need help getting him to the medicine cat den?" she asked the medicine cat worriedly. She had never seen someone act in such a state as Wolfpaw had, and hoped everything was alright and that Wolfpaw gets what he needed as fast as possible.


    "I am who I say I am"


    "Speak" "Thoughts"