pafp IRIS | SYMPTOMS

[OWLEAR]

His breathing is heavy and laborious. Where he rests within Berryheart's den, his chest heaves as he gathers enough air to speak. "You will reassign her, won't you?" he asks, seeking assurance more than anything else. He means to continue but pauses for air instead, the once wise and lively gaze turned unfocused, dull. It had set in slowly. After they returned from the Gathering, Owlear knew where it came from. Word spread around the clans. SkyClan. A daylight warrior. Others blamed her. Owlear, instead, mourned. They said there would be no cure. Berryheart found something, he knew. Knew it would help. Knew that there were too many cats that needed it, even still, and that he had lived a long enough life already.

Knew that eventually this would get the better of him regardless. That was okay. He breathes deeply again, shuddering with the effort, and coughs roughly down towards his own chest, tucked respectfully away from their leader. "Make sure she doesn't fall behind because of me." Already he felt as if he could not do enough for her. To languish here, without a kind word to share as she tried and tried again– StarClan will welcome him, but that does not mean Owlear will leave without regrets. "Make sure they know her strengths."

˗ˏˋ〚  OOC NOTES INFORMATION 〛´ˎ˗

• ooc: please wait for @HOWLINGSTAR !
• 
  ──── owlear. senior warrior of thunderclan. cis male.
  ──── approximately 90 moons old, yet still youthful.
  ──── pansexual and single,   though with past flings.
  
  ──── a chocolate tabby with long, thick fur and a broad-shouldered build. despite his age, he is still a strong, imposing tomcat with clear, attentive eyes. though they are a muted hazel, they seem to twinkle with silent wisdom and a warm, deep-seated joy.
• "speech"

​

 

[HOWLINGSTAR]

Howlingstar crouches next to the nest where her dear friend lies, her face pinched in anguish when he turns away to let out a wet, pained cough. “That won’t be necessary, Owlear,” She mews in assurance, staring at him with an urgency. She does not fear this illness. Not personally, at least. She has six more lives to spare; let her lose some to this wretched disease if it means she can make sure her clanmates are not alone while they fight through what could be their final moments. She will be with them through every step.

“There is a cure, my friend. You will get better. Until then, Stormpaw will be fine with the other mentors; I’ll take her out myself a few times with Skypaw, I promise it. But when you are better, you can give her an assessment yourself.” A sad smile stretches across her muzzle as she watches him. In the back of her mind, she knows he’s been refusing the lungwort offered to him, knows how dire this situation is. But she will not give in. If she has anything to say about it, he will not die. She swears it on StarClan’s hunting grounds. “Just…take the cure, Owlear.” ​

 

[STORMFEATHER]

She cannot help it—that is her mentor laying there suffering from yellowcough. Gone are the days of long hunting and battle training with her senior mentor. She had grown to love Owlear like something resembling a father. She could not quite grasp what it was about him. It hit her then, as she lingered outside the medicine den, eavesdropping on the conversation he was having with Howlingstatr. He was her warrior mentor—and that relationship was beyond anything a family bond could describe.

The tricolor apprentice's eyes brimmed with tears. He had to give her assessment—StarClan would will it. She bit her tongue and shook her head before falling prey to fear and hurt and ran away from the medicine den. She would not have to say goodbye—there would be no need. Owlear would get well again and they would finish her training. He would see her final name!

​

 

[OWLEAR]

He shakes his head in a slow, languorous sway. It is good that she is here with him. Good that she can hear the seriousness of his tone when he says, not knowing just how close his apprentice rests and listens to all he has to say, "I have lived a long enough life." Not as old as the oldest of them, and not so old that he would give up on his bones, but old enough to say that he is tired, and has had enough. The illness is a battle he will not win without treatment, and treatment would not be his. Not when there were so many younger cats in need of it. "She would be my last, I think." Tired from even this much conversation, Owlear closes his eyes. Sleep is not quite there, but threatening nonetheless. Maybe it is death instead, come to keep him comfort. He does not say it to Howlingstar.

"She must be more patient on her hunts, but I do not doubt that she could take on a badger if she must." None could, they both know it. Yet he can imagine her success anyway, and the stories that will be told. "Ensure that my sickness does not hold her back."

˗ˏˋ〚  OOC NOTES INFORMATION 〛´ˎ˗

• ooc: —
• 
  ──── owlear. senior warrior of thunderclan. cis male.
  ──── approximately 90 moons old, yet still youthful.
  ──── pansexual and single,   though with past flings.
  
  ──── a chocolate tabby with long, thick fur and a broad-shouldered build. despite his age, he is still a strong, imposing tomcat with clear, attentive eyes. though they are a muted hazel, they seem to twinkle with silent wisdom and a warm, deep-seated joy.
• "speech"

​

 

[HOWLINGSTAR]

Unaware of Stormpaw's lingering presence, Howlingstar remains crouched next to her friend with the crown of her head facing him. Her eyes are closed as her nose brushes the ground, his words crushing her. It sounds like he is giving up and she finds herself growing angry that she can't keep him from doing so. "Don't talk like that," She demands softly, a sorrow clinging to her words.

Nevertheless, she nods along slowly when he relays his instructions for her. Choked up, she dares not speak yet, not until she can get herself to swallow down the feeling. Finally, she is able to utter, "I won't." She would take the apprentice out herself, with Skypaw, and they would work on their hunting together. She would train her as well as she trains her own apprentice in the meantime. "I promise."​