I'll Love you always.

Location: DFC Infirmary Tree

Characters Involved: Kasto, Madison

The entrance to the infirmary is opened, briefly letting in the orange light of the fire outside, casting a silhouette of a certain limping squirrel as she enters, cutting off that light and reducing the tent to its usual dim state. Madison's breath is heard, unsteady gasps through her nose as her teeth are gritted together hard. She is silent for a few long moments, before she eventually brings herself to speak, dreading the response... but dreading the lack of a response even more. "...Kasto...?"

Kasto Isn't looking good at all. all of his Fur is gone...His hearing is going too...and..so is his voice. the after effects of the potion isn't what anyone was expecting. And he's laying on his back, staring up...eyes opening and Closing every now and then...Madison gets no responce.

Madison fears the worst, and even when she spots that blinking that worry isn't alleviated. She steps over, doing her best to remain calm. "Kasto." she repeats again, a little louder.

Kasto slowly looks to her...he doesn't really remember her anymore...not much, Her name though...that brings her back in his mind. "M....madison?"

Madison nods, moving to his bedside, astonished at the other squirrel's sorry state. She remains calm, but the tear-soaked fur of her cheeks is a telltale sign. "Yes, it's me. Are you...?" completing that question really isn't necessary.

Kasto slowly tries to sit up but it doesn't work. So instead, he just sighs. "I....I'm not.......Sure.......If..I'll make it...." his voice is pretty bad now. very low, sounds like it wont last for very much longer. "I..just want you to know...." he's forcing full sentences out. "I..love you...and...I'm sorry”

Madison's breathing in turn is lacking any natural pace or rhythm, wracked by panic and half-sobs as she stands at his bedside in the gloom of the tent. "I... I know." not the reply he was no doubt hoping for, but there's more. "I'm... not angry. If that's what you were thinking. I want to to get better." Not many of her true feelings are making their way out; they're either guarded, or just afraid to come out, in a sense.

Kasto tries to smile a bit but it fades as he ends up turning away, giving a hacking cough. Then he slowly turns back and sighs. "there...They....they're saying....I'll...most likely....be dead...." gasp for air..."by...m-morning..."

Madison swallows hard. She doesn't even attempt to smile as he becomes the focus of her speech, "No you won't. That's not like you. You'll get well again." she says, but the words sound superficial.

Kasto slowly closes his eyes, and lays quiet for a few moments. "No....I...wont...." he replies. "But...now....that...that I know...your not....m-mad...I'll....die....die in peace....."

Madison swallows again, the squirrel's throat dry. "You /will/ get better," she insists, as though surprised that her stubbornness hasn't already forced him better. "You have to. You must..."

Kasto slowly...shakes his head again. "I...wont....I'm sorry..." he replies. Then, slowly he extends his paw over to her. "I...want you to know...Who I really am...start over...." he smiles a bit. "I'm...K-

Kasto...." he says. The Kasto she met...wasn't him...it was a Drugged up, voice hearing squirrel...this...this is the real squirrel...the real him. Maybe, Just maybe, she'll never get the chance to know him.

Madison's breathing is getting more troubled as she fights back sobs. She's not used to sobbing. It's

difficult. She moves to take his paw as, without the awful stormcloud of addiction, they introduce themselves truly for the first time. "And I'm Harley... Harley Madison." she murmurs, "And you might be the only one in seasons to see who I really am... more than even me."

Kasto smiles a small bit. "I...I would give you my last name...but...heh..I...I dont remember....it" he replies, giving her paw a squeeze, not letting go. "I'm...pleased...to meet you" the dying squirrel smiles a small bit.

Madison can't help it. She might have spent two days denying the feelings were anything but an induced hallucination by a selfish trickster, but she doesn't believe that, not really. And finally she breaks down, huddling over his bed. "I don't want you to leave me." she stammers.

Kasto shakes his head a bit. "I...dont want to leave you either..." he replies. "But...Is that..you..talking? Or....or...the thing.....I....did......" he trails off, breath getting shorter for a few moments..."...To...you?" he finishes off the sentence a few moments later.

Madison squeezes his paw. "It's me. I never knew, I wouldn't admit it, but it's me. It's clear... It's never been more clear." she finds that now she's begun, it's much too easy to share her thoughts.

Kasto slowly Sighs and a tear falls form his eyes too. "I...Love you..." he whispers to her. "I...always will....and...always have...."

Madison, deep down, knows there's problems. All the deceit, however well-meant, would need time to overcome. But right now is not the time, and she allows herself to forget all that. "I love you too." she whispers in return, squeezing his paw again. "Please stay with me."

Kasto smiles fully for the first time, but its a full tired smile. "I...Will always...be..be with you..." he gently goes up to try to dry her tears away. "I...want you to remember...that..."

Madison is shaking like a leaf in the wind. Her optimistic words continue, but it's clear her heart knows differently. "I... I know you will. Because you're going to get better. And... and we're going to travel Mossflower together..."

Kasto tries to smile but fails. "I'm...sorry....." he slowly shakes his head. "I..I...do not think....i will be....alright...." If there's anything to show that, the fact he's furless now.

Madison can't find any other words. She just sits, clutching his paw, her head moving to rest upon his shoulder as she shudders with silent tears.

Kasto Slowly he weakly wraps his arms around her, giving her cheek a small kiss. "You...know...I'll...never..forget you..." he whispers into her ear.