Saren was exhausted. He could tell by the way his body shook when he stayed standing too long, It wasn’t anyone’s fault but his own but he was still aching to blame someone. He was past the point of yawning constantly, so he trudged along. He was unusually silent as he walked towards the den he shared with his father. A few of his siblings stayed there as well, but at the moment it was oddly silent.The exhausted cheetah strained forward, listening for any sounds that may echo in the small den, ears perched forward.
Luckily, only the soft sound of breathing could be heard. It was distinctly ragged - familiar - and Saren ventured in slowly. He didn't want to wake his father after all. Lately the older Cheeton hadn't been able to sleep and Saren did not want to mess that up.
Still, he was just so tired. He said scooted his way into the roomy den, curling up a ways away from his father.
His plan, however, did not work as planned the freckled Cheetah noted as he was suddenly gazing into glassy ice-blue eyes. His father looked baffled at being suddenly awake, and Saren felt an ache in his chest. He couldn't quite place it - guilt?
“Saren?” said his father’s scratchy voice. A cough follow, though it subsided quickly. The guilt in Saren’s belly grew when he realized his father was awake. Chozi didn’t seem too bothered by his presence though, actually inching forward a bit towards his son.
Saren shook his head, pulling his body up and moving to curl next to his father, who immediately stopped struggling to get closer to his son. Chozi’s sigh of relief was shaky at best, but he curled close to his son. He couldn’t understand why he felt so cold when it was so achingly hot out.
He breathed in the scent of his child, comforted with one of his offspring so close by. Saren looked down at his shivering parent, concern and guilt still overwhelming him quite a bit. "Dad?" He asked softly. "Are you alright?" He knew it wasn't the smartest question, but he didn't know what else to ask.
Chozi, in turn, gave a small hum. "I'm fine, child," he answered softly, his voice raspy and weak. He was suddenly thirsty, but he wasn't willing to move anymore, and not away from the warmth of his son's side. He gave another sigh, laying his head on his son's paws. Saren and Chozi lay together for a moment, Saren watching his father closely despite his own exhaustion. Chozi seemed to doze a bit as he curled further into the the pale fur. Chozi's breathing got easier for a bit as well, too, but a cough was always inevitable.
It wasn't that Chozi had a cold or anything. No, everything of his illness stemmed from not being able to keep any of the food he consumed in his belly. Every time he attempted to eat, bile would rise in his throat and he would cough up the partially digested meats and grasses.
The acid burned at his throat every time, opening wounds that ripped into his throat from his vomit. He coughed because his throat was sore, and breathing - well, breathing hurt. So he kept his breathing shallow, but that made him raspy.
It also made him cough.
He was sure he had an infection in his throat. He could sometimes taste it in the back of his throat - on the better days. His body was too weak to fight it off without proper nutrition though. Water was much easier to keep down, but it came up sometimes too.
Saren nuzzled the side of his father's head, chuffing softly as if to comfort his parent. It was a sound he knew instinctively, one he heard often as a child from his own father. He couldn't remember if his mother ever made the noise, but Chozi mentioned she had before, even if he couldn't quite remember.
Chozi made the soft sound back, easily. It was one of the few noises that didn't scratch at his throat, but he only did it once, to calm his guilt-riddled son.
"I'm okay, Saren, really. I am," Chozi said, carefully. The words only hitched once in his throat at the harsh k, but he didn't cough even once. Saren gave another nuzzle to his parent, making another soft chuff. He sighed, though, after a moment.
"I know, I know," he murmured. "I just worry for you." Chozi was his only parent, after all. Chozi was the only parent he could remember and the only one he would ever know.
Chozi smiled up at his son, grateful that the speckled cheetah was by his side. He felt warm and safe for the moment. Still, however, the thirst pulled at his throat. He sighed, struggling up to his feet. Saren was up and by his side in an instant. "Do you need help?" Saren asked, the concern bright in his voice.
Chozi, after a moment, gave a small nod. Saren slowly walked next to his father. He supported most of his father's weight as they walked. It was something he was slowly getting accustomed to doing for his father. Even as he got used to it, he hoped and prayed to any god that would listen that his father would get better, and soon.
They did not have to go very far, with the pride being almost completely covered in water. It didn't take quite so long for them to reach somewhere suitable to drink. It took some time, but Chozi drank slowly. He lapped at the water lazily, and it soothed his parched and wounded throat quite a bit.
The Cheeton gave a soft sigh of relief, leaning against his son. The water had washed away some of the blood that had caked in his throat, making it feel like new. Like the rocky-feeling of sand and grit down his throat had washed. They would stay here a while, he guessed. The venture here, despite being short, had drained him of what little energy he had gained from sleeping all morning.
At least breathe easy for a little while, and that is what made this worth it.