The Third: Ferretsnap.

[lio]

Don't waste your time.

TW: Illness

Weak. His breaths came in ragged gasps, his entire body shaking with the effort of each inhale and exhale. It was cold. Very cold. Too cold.

Ferretsnap lay curled up, too exhausted to raise his head. He didn’t know where he was, having found anywhere he could to collapse without worry. Or, well, without worrying about things like the weather or predators. He had something else to deal with right now, that being the illness that had stricken his body. It was unknown when or how he had contracted it, but being alone in the Outskirts with no access to a medicine cat and know knowledge of herbs on his own, Ferretsnap was fresh out of luck. Even if he knew anything, he had grown so weak, so fatigued that he couldn’t gather herbs regardless.

He hadn’t eaten in days, nor had any water. It was a surprise that he had survived this long.

It was silent save for the rustling of leafless branches and his struggling wheezes. He hadn’t spoken to anyone since his disappearance from RiverClan, keeping to himself and ignoring all others that tried to approach him. Even after he had traveled close to the twolegplace, Ferretsnap simply walked past, pretending he didn’t hear the few kittypets that attempted to speak to him. He didn’t have time to talk to them. There was no time to stop and chat. He had to stay busy, keep moving to stay alive.

But now where had that gotten him? He was alone. Nobody to stand by his side as the illness nudged him closer and closer to death. Ferretsnap let out a low groan, cursing himself for his stubbornness. If he had opened up, if he hadn’t been so focused on himself, would he not be alone? If he hadn’t been so selfish as to leave RiverClan, would he still be with Clanmates? Would he have had a chance of survival? It was difficult to tell. Perhaps if things had gone differently, he wouldn’t be dying with such regrets.

Ferretsnap allowed his eyes to close as his breathing began to slow. Well, he knew one cat he wanted to talk to. Once he was in Starclan, would he be able to apologize to Glisteningpaw?

With his final breath, he gave a thin, sad smile.

He hoped so.