development HANGING IN THE BALANCE ♱ [ GREENCOUGH ]

[SHARPSHADOW]

His slip into the Medicine Cat's Den had been a quiet one. He wouldn't make a fuss about fighting through his sickness knowing it could very well make it worse. Especially not when cats like Snowlark and even Marblepaw had recovered seemingly without trouble... The gift of a Medicine Cat— maybe even two in ShadowClan's future— gave them the privilege of not having to fret over every sniffle and cough. Sharpshadow had dared to be annoyed. Annoyed rather than agonized, an expectation made with foresight she didn't truly have. Never mind that they had all been frostbitten to pick apart the entire marsh for the Medicine Cats' stock. Of course, when he needs it, their cure is gone.

A quarter moon has passed. Maybe it'd be surprising to not see Sharpshadow strolling across camp, newly released and ready to join his Clanmates in the warrior's den. Instead, harsh, mucus-filled coughing rings across the clearing, violently ripping from his throat. Marblepaw could only pour so much honey down his throat. Whatever it did to soothe did not mend. He thinks to apologize, but the fit doesn't spare him a moment, continuing on until the honey loses its flavor and StarClan themselves could surely hear the soreness of his throat.

And when it does end, she can hardly catch her breath. Her lungs wheeze with effort. There's snot in his nose. The wetness at his eyes— did the coughing bring it? Did the sickness? Was it that third thing she would rather not acknowledge: desperation?

He does something he hasn't done in a long, long time. " StarClan... " he prays. " Please... " Don't let me die here.

OOC: Takes place before,,,,, whatever is going on with @MARBLEPAW here

​

 

[Halfsun]

Sickness... it made her uncomfortable to say the least. How Marblepaw and Starlingheart were able to be around it so often is beyond her. She didn't care if a StarClan warrior came down from the heavens and told her to become a medicine cat themselves, it was a path she can never imagine her paws walking on. Ever. She just didn't have the stomach for it. If a clanmate so much as coughed around her she would take two big steps away and instruct them to stay as far away as possible. So its probably an odd sight then, to see her heading in the direction of the herb-scented cavern, a mouse clutched in her jaws.

She pokes her head in (careful not to go all the way, of course. She wasn't crazy after all) and her mismatched eyes struggle to adjust to the dim lighting but still, she manages to find her intended target. She sets the mouse down at her paws. "Brought this for Sharpshadow..." she says to whoever. It didn't matter. "Is there anything I can do to like, yknow, help?" she asks, speaking to one of the medicine cats this time. Her former mentor coughs and she wrinkles her nose, not bothering to hide her disgust "Hey! Keep it down over there, you're being gross!" she calls to him at the back of the den. But despite her teasing words, worry forms a knot at the back of her mind.

( ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ ) smile for me when you set me free

• 
  
  
• 
  HALFSUN SHADOWCLAN WARRIOR; SHE / HER ; SISTER TO APPLEJAW, ASHENFALL, SWANSONG, GARLICHEART, AND LAURELGRIN
  

  A tall and well-toned she cat with a long half-and half pelt, one side being a dark blue tabby and the other a bright cream, split by a pool of white at her center and travelling up her face like flames she is fire and ice simultaneously swirling into one. Her eyes are a mismatched shade of blue, with one being bright like the daytime sky and the other dark like the depths of the river.

  ✦ Difficult in battle + a skilled fighter
  

 

[MARBLELEAF]

The worst has happened. Without the precious catmint she'd distributed to the rest of her Clanmates — that she'd chewed and forced down her own selfish gullet — Sharpshadow's condition has deteriorated drastically. She'd done what she could to ease his suffering; she'd given practically all of the honey she had left in her storage, and some part of her tormented brain had recalled Starlingheart teaching her about feverfew. It's even in the name, she thinks, but while it had brought his body temperature down for awhile...

The fever had returned. It had not touched the sickness that now ravages his body.

Marblepaw can hear Sharpshadow wheezing quietly behind her. "StarClan. Please..." She closes her eyes, praying in tandem: Do not let her die here. Please. Please, let me find something... anything...

The fawn-colored tabby startles at another, sharper voice. Halfsun has come to deliver some prey to her patient, though Marblepaw dismally wonders if she'll have the strength or appetite to put it to any use. The medicine cat apprentice gives the young warrior a brisk, tired nod of thanks and murmurs: "There's nothing you can do but keep your eyes peeled for catmint when you go on patrol." Her gaze strays back toward the herbs at her disposal, and her brain begins to twist and scream in protest.

Marblepaw sighs. "Sharpshadow, it's time for more feverfew. I can feel that fever from here." She nips a segment from her supply and pads closer, chewing it into a pulp as she walks. Every pawstep feels like a death sentence, only... it is Sharpshadow she has sentenced to death, not herself.

She smiles and pushes the wad of greenery toward the lead warrior's muzzle. "Here. This will help. I'm going out soon to see if I can find more catmint. Halfsun, don't stick around too long... I really can't afford you getting sick, too." She blinks apologetically at the gray-and-cream she-cat, hoping she would listen to her advice.

『 out of character. 』 ✧･ﾟ:* 『 about. 』

• ooc: —
• 
• Marblekit . Marblepaw, she/they w/ feminine and non-gendered terms.
  — "speech", thoughts, attack
  — 11 moons old, ages realistically on the 1st.
  — mentored by Starlingheart ; mentoring n/a ; previously mentored n/a
  — shadowclan medicine cat apprentice, formerly a rogue. siltcloud x lilacfur, gen 3.
  — currently mated to n/a.
  — penned by Marquette.
  
  
  sh fawn tabby with dull green eyes. courageous, curious, introspective, observant, judgmental, snarky.

​

 

[BOUNCEKIT]

Again, she is unsupervised. Myrtlefoot was crying again this morning, curled around their shared nest, her nose buried in the spot Juniperkit always use to sleep. No matter what Bouncekit did she couldn't seem to get through to her mother—she hasn't been able to for days.

So, Bouncekit inevitably sneaks out of the nursery to adventure around camp. After she gets bored kicking up snow the coughing and wheezing from the medicine cats' den draws her attention. Curiously, she creeps over behind Halfsun and peers in.

Sharpshadow's dark pelt is hardly visible in the dim lighting of the den. His wheezing lungs and runny nose reminds her of Juniperkit, a lot of cats were sick like she had been. Sometimes, Bouncekit wonders why they didn't die when her sister had, or why her sister had to die when they all got to live. It was very confusing to her why StarClan chose Juniperkit out of every sick cat in ShadowClan, sometimes she felt angry with them for this.

"Feel better soon!" Bouncekit squeaks to Sharpshadow and any other sick cat lurking in the den. She then bounds off, anticipating a scolding or at least being shoo'd away for lurking around the medicine cats den.

 

[scalejaw]

★ Scalejaw knew of Sharpshadow's decline- it was obvious, anyways, the way the noise of coughing covered camp. Ears lowered and eyes narrowed each time the hacking began and ended, wondering if it may be the last. She remembers when sickness like this swept the camp- just ahead of rogues that chased other clans into their territory. A breath left her as Halfsun approached the medicine den, and eyes watched Bouncekit follow.

That is when she was on her paws to step over and tell the kit to keep her distance, but by the time she was arriving the young cat was escaping. Scalejaw watches Bouncekit go briefly before poking her own head in, but not far- just far enough in to ask Marblepaw, "How is she?" Her voice is low, quiet, meant only for the medicine cat apprentice. Yellow eyes shift towards the back of the den, where Sharpshadow has been sequestered off too.

A frown is visible on her muzzle. Was this similar to the sickness that had plagued Smogstar- Smogmaw?- and kept him chained to his den? No, they couldn't be sure of that. ".. You let me know if you need anything." This was said to Marblepaw, but her vision was direct upon Sharpshadow, indicating it was meant for both cats in her vision. Eyes drifted to Halfsun next, and dipped her head towards Marblepaw's instruction. If another cat was to attempt to barge in, she'd flick her tail, silently indicating they needed to remain outside of the den.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎┌── AND JUST LIKE THE RAIN ⋅❁⋅ YOU CAST THE DUST INTO NOTHING ──┐‎

• "speech"

• 

• SCALEJAW 🌧 she/her, lead warrior of shadowclan, sixty-seven moons.
  ★ A SH black/LH blue smoke chimera with glowering orange eyes, tufts of fur that make her look dragon-akin, and scars that she wears with pride. motherly and stern attitude, with a warm streak for clanmates and a cruel streak for enemies.
  ★ mentoring no one
  ★ padding after no one / / mother to bonerattle, nightwhisper, and shadefall
  ★ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ★ penned by dallas ↛ dallasofnines on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

​

 

[Snowlark.]

[ ༻❄༺ ] The blizzard had left many sick, Marblepaw, Amberhaze, Him, Bloodwing and many more. Unfortunately from the mutters of when Snowlark was succumb by whitecough himself Marblepaw had mentioned the lack of catmint, and unfortunately for Sharpshadow's luck, ended up sick after the Medicine cat and apprentice's stock went out leaving her in the den barred down until they recovered. Yet, it would seem Sharpshadow had many company from Halfsun, his apprentice, to Bouncekit and now Scalejaw as well who offered up helping the she-cat as well.

Snowlark made his appearance to the brigade with a slight nod in agreement to Scalejaw. "We'll help with Sharpshadow's recovery in any way we can. So don't fear to ask us for help." the young lead warrior expressed gently while a smile slipped onto his maw. They didn't need to lose another, not after Mirestar at least, and Sharpshadow had been on the council since Snowlark had been a 'paw, so losing them would leave a hole within the council just as big as the one Forestshade and Lilacfur had left.

"Has...Sharpshadow shown any signs of improvement? " he also asked in a much more husher tone. Everyone was worried for the sickly lead warrior, that much was clear and the two were probably getting already asked the same repeated question but at least.. the sickly molly would know how much her clanmates worried over her and her health at least.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎┌── Where I am going is right where I am ──┐‎

• "speak""Thoughts"
• 
  Snowlark ❄ He/Him, Lead warrior of Shadowclan, 15 moons.
  ⭃ Lithe long hair blue lynx sepia with high white, and yellow eyes. Stubby tail, permanent resting bitch face
  ⭃ Hailfreckle x Mudsplash
  ⭃ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted (ask first) / / underline and tag when attacking
  ↛ see battle info here
  ⭃ penned by Ryn ↛ @/Rynnaro on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

​

 

[MARBLELEAF]

Myrtlefoot had been enveloped in her grief since Juniperkit had passed; as a result, Bouncekit remained almost perpetually underpaw. Marblepaw had just finished warning Halfsun away when the little tabby she-kit slips closer than she'd like to the herb stores. "Feel better soon!" The bundle of stripes chirps, beginning to flee before Marblepaw can even get a proper warning out. She does anyway, trying for a stern voice: "Don't come back unless you're sick or hurting, Bouncekit!" Stars, imagine if Myrtlefoot had to lose not one, but two daughters to the cruelties of leafbare...

Scalejaw's dark shape flits like shadow to the opening of the medicine cats' den, her yellow eyes gleaming with concern. "How is she?" Snowlark's paler shoulders fill the opening of the den. "Has Sharpshadow shown any signs of improvement?" Marblepaw looks from one lead warrior to the other, feeling helpless.

How can I tell them no? How can I tell them every morning, Sharpshadow's cough is more ragged, her breathing more labored? The pale tabby meets each warrior's gaze squarely before saying, her voice low so as not to alarm Sharpshadow: "No. Sharpshadow has greencough now." Marblepaw's expression is grave, steady, but she can hardly keep the tremor from her paws as she addresses Ternstar's councilmembers. "He needs the right herbs, lots of rest, and prayers, in that order." She wishes she had comfort to offer them — but she doesn't.

『 out of character. 』 ✧･ﾟ:* 『 about. 』

• ooc: —
• 
• Marblekit . Marblepaw, she/they w/ feminine and non-gendered terms.
  — "speech", thoughts, attack
  — 11 moons old, ages realistically on the 1st.
  — mentored by Starlingheart ; mentoring n/a ; previously mentored n/a
  — shadowclan medicine cat apprentice, formerly a rogue. siltcloud x lilacfur, gen 3.
  — currently mated to n/a.
  — penned by Marquette.
  
  
  sh fawn tabby with dull green eyes. courageous, curious, introspective, observant, judgmental, snarky.

​

 

[Amberhaze]

⚛︎₊˚‧ The sound of crackling heaves and hacking of thick phlegm reverberating through the campgrounds made Amberhaze wince, the sound of it renewing the guilt that piled steadily on inside of his trembling body with the knowledge that it was his fault. His fault that Sharpshadow had fallen ill, his fault that there was no more catmint, his fault that marblepaw was now at the end of her rope trying to make up for the losses. He was selfish to have continued parading his diseased self around camp, brushing against his clanmates as he passed them by, or coughing in his nest in between their warm bodies in the night. He had deliberately gone against the instruction of Starlingheart and Marblepaw both, and for that he suffered- and so too did anyone who neared him. He would have gone back in time and changed the outcome if he only could, he would have stayed put, stayed away from his companions- from Sharpshadow- who was so much more important than he. Someone who those around them actually looked to for help and comfort, and he had robbed them of that security.

He settled himself a reasonable distance away from the medicine cat's den, watching as the familiar faces of Halfsun, Scalejaw, Snowlark, and even little Bouncekit came and went through the den's entrance to offer their consolation and assistance where it may be needed. Their support and care for Sharpshadow was immensely apparent, and it only added onto the sensation of overwhelming regret that overtook Amberhaze's gangly form. He was shaking now, and not just from the biting cold in the air. What if he dies because of me? The thought made his chest heave and his throat tighten, a wave of nausea overcoming him as he tried to push the worst outcome from his mind.

No longer able to bear the thought of being useless, of being burdensome, the scrawny shadow of a tom would exit the heart of camp, traversing the cold marshland terrain all the way to carrionplace and back with a wad of moss hanging from his twitching jaws. The journey was longer than he had expected, and yet he found himself strangely at peace as he walked that invisible path alone. The water was ice cold, the moss now newly soaked to it's core causing his tongue to grow numb. Can your tongue get frostbitten? He swallowed anxiously as the unwelcome question squeezed its way to the forefront of his mind. Stop that. This isn't about you. Nothing that could happen to you here can possibly be worse than what Sharpshadow's dealing with. Because of you. Yes, this was the very least he could do besides magically taking away his greencough by some miracle.

He made it back in one piece despite the fact he could barely feel his mouth or paws, all of his limbs having gone stiff from the amount of walking he had done paired with the relentless freeze seeping into his hollow bones. And yet he would press on as he always did, making a beeline for the medicine den and entering it with hesitance. Years as a ratter before coming to the clan had made for lithe paws completely soundless, ensuring that Sharpshadow would not stir from noise alone. Ochre eyes met olive ones, and Amberhaze would jerk his head in what should have been a nod, but didn't quite hit the mark. Despite his inability to speak through his burden, he knew Marblepaw would understand what his intentions were.

The wet moss was set down by Sharpshadow's muzzle with immense care, as if one wrong move might cause the wad to detonate. With his mission complete, he was finally able to speak with maws freed- though they still felt as though they had fallen off- actually, they didn't really have any sensation at all. He willed himself not to drool, pink tongue swiping around his muzzle. "Uh-" His voice came out in a rasp, and he cleared his throat. "I-I thought you might be thirsty...It's cold, so it- it should feel...good on your throat. P-Probably." His eyes bore down into Sharpshadow's half-lidded ones, silently willing her to move. It hadn't occurred to him until this moment just how desperately he wanted for the lead warrior to get to his paws and look down upon him with that insufferably judgmental stare that he always displayed when Amberhaze approached. It was so scrutinizing and it made him feel so small- and yet he would give anything to see it again, to feel small under her again. That bitter attitude as a testament to her health, he realized, and that was something so precious.

✧ ° . ⚠︎ . ° ✧​

ooc Information

• ooc: —
• 

  AMBERHAZE — HE/HIM ･ 19 MOONS ･ WARRIOR OF SHADOWCLAN ･ PENNED BY SLOANE

  black oriental shorthair. a short but lengthy black cat with a boney build and striking ocher eyes filled with unveiled trepidation.

 

[SHARPSHADOW]

She's not... delirious, at least. Not woozy with that thing that had sent her to the mountains. Would it be insensitive to think this was nearly worse, being conscious enough to see the faces teeming around her, the faces creased with pitying looks? His throat bobs at the voice of Halfsun, her voice muffled by prey; and not the phlegm in her lungs. Then she shouts— shouts at him, tells him to keep it down. Sharpshadow's jaws clamp down on a wheeze. He breathes a shaking sigh through his nose, instead. And he feels embarrassed for coughing. No, he feels embarrassed for being here at all; for being yet another mouth to feed. Sharpshadow's pelt burns. It's more than just the fever.

…That didn't help either, though. Another wave of shame rolls over her belly at Marblepaw's word. She looks more carrion than cat as she watches her approach— would be more carrion than cat soon, she knows. The Medicine Cat Apprentice offers her an herby pulp. She doesn't know why they're smiling. Maybe they're happy to try and instill such a dull hope in others… He'd like to claw it off their face, really… but that's not really fair.

It's selfish, to swallow it still when she knows it's a waste. Sharpshadow's wheezing keeps quiet, not for Halfsun's sake. He's happy for her to be shooed away. Her and Bouncekit both, apparently. She's scampering away before he'd even realized she was there, tumbling past the blurred pelts of Scalejaw and Snowlark. The former is trying harder to catch his eye than Sharpshadow cares to meet. Just barely, he shakes his head. Hasn't he already taken enough?

Sharpshadow's eyes flutter shut. He wakes to a nightmare: Amberhaze offering his help; said help being anything but unnecessary. His rasp would sound clearer than anything Sharpshadow could manage in the past quarter moon. Dread twists her face into something ugly. The leather of her eyelids lifts just barely. Almost in disbelief, she blinks.

Her own breath gets caught in her throat. Words are a weak mumble. " Ss- stupid. " He deserves it. He convinces himself he does. " Didn't have to go out there… " The Medicine Cats' stream bubbles nearby. It was a Medicine Cat's job to care for others, at least, but Amberhaze…

He always wasted his energy on things that didn't matter. Sharpshadow reminds herself as she drinks. A thank you gets lost in the bristles of her tongue.​