Private i've blinked, and you've evaporated [ viscerapaw ]

[cloudberrypaw]

@viscerapaw

Cloudberrypaw grinds its teeth together. The hollow of its stomach doesn't hurt so much as it is simply constant, but it detests how its skin pulls too tautly on its frame. So much work, it thinks, for little reward; the pocosin isn't an awful place to be, but with leafbare arriving, it's most definitely not the best. And with its already sickly demeanor and struggles... well, suffice it to say its surprised its survived this long. It won't be surprised if any day now will be its last.

The air shifts slightly, and it notices how it's paused entirely, its patrol treading ahead without looking back to it. They're all hungry, too, and no doubt searching for anything to eat. Cloudberrypaw blows out the air that remains in its lungs and sits for a moment, only lifting its gaze again when another body approaches it. It blinks slowly, acknowledging the other with a gentle but not necessarily kind, "Viscerapaw."

 

[viscerapaw's icon viscerapaw viscerapaw]

Pawsteps slow to a stop as the other apprentice's voice acknowledges rots presence. "Cloudberrypaw," Viscerapaw responds in kind, a curious quirk of rots lips pulling rots features into something resembling a smile. Rots eyes slide along its frame, the familiar sharp angles of a too-thin creature. "You're looking well," rot says, a saccharine syrup—one that belies the pointed sharpness underneath. Rots paws slide into place in front of rot as rots haunches rest on the ground, tufted tail curling around to rest over them. A picture of poise amongst the dampness and the cold. Rots head tilts, a considering gesture as rots eyes make the journey back to its face. Once rots eyes meet its, rot speaks once more. "I see your patrol is moving on without you. Would you like to join me?"

Rot doesn't wait for an answer, instead uncurling rots tail from its coil and raising rots frame to stand once more. Rot takes a step or two, giving an expectant look backward—waiting for the sickly cat to follow along after rot. Rots steps are slower than normal, relaxed enough that rot assumes Cloudberrypaw will not struggle to keep pace with its weaker constitution. "I'm going to be hunting, of course. Every bit of food is necessary in these trying times," rot comments, a hint of sardonicism slipping through in the words.