Guardian Angel (Guardians Of The Galaxy Fanfiction)

Sudden Illness

"I'm ready! I swear I'm ready!"

"Yeah," asked Ashen as she padded forward and watched as Dish danced around her. She could barely walk and the excitement in the air was choking her. However she understood it so she didn't try and scold it. It would probably just get him more excited.

Dish worked his claws against the ground and bunched his muscles. "I've been practicing every night for a moon with Whisper."

"Yes you have," barked Ashen as she recalled the numerous nights she fell asleep to the two sparring and when she woke up they were still sparring. She didn't know how they did it but she knew that it was very important to Dish so she wouldn't discourage it.

"And I've been exercising every spare heartbeat I'd had," Dish rambled on and Ashen was beginning to tune him out.

"Alright! Alright. I know you've been working very hard but Somber is one of the best fighters I've seen in a long time. Just don't be discouraged if you lose," murmured Ashen as she licked Dish between the ears.

He leaped backwards and shook his head to clear it. "I won't," he vowed before he turned and bolted. "Dad! Where are you?"

Ashen snorted in amusement and heard Whisper purr behind her. The delicate she-cat bounded forward, rubbing against Ashen's legs. "He's excited, now isn't he?"

"You'd be too," Ashen pointed out with eyes gleaming in pride. "Besides you've worked as hard as he has and I appreciate that."

"It's no problem," assured Whisper as he smiled broadly. "He's part of my family and even though I'm feline he's like my son too. I love him and I'd do anything for him!"

Ashen rumbled and beamed before she bounded forward. "I'm actually debating on who to place my bets on," she chuckled as she shook her head slowly. "I mean Somber is great but Dish has gotten very good."

"Not too good for your truly," purred Whisper before she darted forward. "Race ya!"

Ashen spread her wings and flew past Whisper. She grumbled before she picked up her own pace and skidded to a halt beside Dish. Ashen landed beside Somber who looked to be staring off into space.

"You know you don't have to do this," murmured Ashen as she touched her nose to Somber's ear.

Somber had just had surgery the day before and he seemed tired. He'd never admit it though which sometimes scared Ashen. He had gotten more cybernetic implants in him but it seemed like something else was going on. However Ashen knew that Somber hated when she said anything about his health or wellbeing in front of his friends.

"I'm alright," assured Somber as he braced his muscles and licked his lips. Ashen frowned at him and Somber took a step forward her. He smiled and touched his nose to Ashen's ear. "I promise you that I'm fine."

Ashen nodded and stepped aside, allowing her brother to pass her. He bounded forward and forced his force to be light and cheery. "Are you ready to lose Dish," he asked as he looked to the young pup and wagged his tail.

"Only if you're ready to lose dad," he joked warmly as he wiggled his haunches. He had trained very hard for the moment and he wasn't going to let anything ruin his fun.

Somber chuckled before he lowered into a battle stance. Dish did the same while Ashen padded over to sit beside Whisper. Whisper curled her tail over her paws and looked on to Dish with interest perking in her eyes. "He's going to win you know," purred Whisper as she smiled broadly.

"We'll see about that," rumbled Ashen as she looked on, excitement now showing in her eyes.

Dish barked in excitement before he narrowed his eyes to slits. "You first," offered Somber as he waved his tail.

Dish nodded before he bolted forward. Dish reared on his hind legs and went to swipe Somber's paws out from under him but Somber stepped sideways and slammed his head against Dish's chest. Dish fell backwards before he hauled himself to his paws, growing under his breath. He then charged forward and bared his teeth in a snarl. He surged forward but Somber once again lowered down and bounded forward.

He sunk his teeth gingerly into Dish's scruff and threw him aside. Dish yelped in pain as he collided with the ground. He muttered and hauled himself back to his paws. He shook his pelt and charged once more. He wasn't going to give up under any circumstances. He continued forward before he bounded on the other side of Somber and pushed two front paws on Somber's flank, trying to push him over.

Somber pushed back and Dish fell backwards again. Somber went for another attack before he suddenly let out a harsh cough. He kept coughing and coughing until his whole body shook. Tears streamed from his eyes and each breath turned into a rattles cough deep in his chest. He lowered down a bit and coughed into his paws and it sounded as though he was choking and gasping for breath.

"Somber," gasped Ashen as she bolted to his side. She pressed against him and watched the coughs take over his body. "Somber are you alright?!"

Somber looked up as he struggled to breathe. He wanted to say her was fine but every time he tried he burst into another hacking fit. Ashen pressed harder against her brother as she tried to ease his breathing. It did little good.

"What did I do," gasped Dish as his eyes widened in shock. He took a step back and nearly tripped over his own tail.

"You didn't do anything," assured Whisper as she darted to the young pup's side and tried to calm him down.

Ashen looked over to Dish as Somber continued coughing painfully. "How about you go and play Dish," she offered hopefully, her eyes pleading.

Whisper smiled and looked to Dish. "Yeah come on Dish. I bet I can beat you!"

Dish didn't look like he wanted to but he wasn't about to argue with Ashen. He nodded slowly and bit his lip. He allowed Whisper to steer him away but he trudged away reluctantly. Once they were far enough away Ashen turned back to Somber.

"Breathe Somber, just breathe," she urged gently as she rested a paw on his chest and felt how tight it was.

Somber managed to take in a few breaths without coughing and once he finally regained his breath he looked fragile. He looked over to Ashen with a far away look in his eyes.

"Somber," she gasped as she pressed against him and felt Somber relax a bit against her. "Let's get you to your cage."

"No," rasped Somber and Ashen was just pleased that he could speak. "I'm fine."

"Yeah and wolves will fly," she snorted before her eyes lit in amusement. "Well I'm a bad example of that."

"I'm fine," argued Somber a bit more forcefully but unfortunately for him Ashen wasn't about to be persuaded that easily.

"No you're not," growled Ashen as she steered her brother toward his crate. He desperately wanted to argue but he thought better of it and just allowed Ashen to take him to the cage. Somber leaped in with some effort and Ashen followed. She forced him to lay down despite his protests.

"I'm fine," Somber argued as his breath heaved in his chest.

"Yeah right," muttered Ashen as she pushed on his shoulders a bit so he would stay down. "You're sick but you don't want to admit it."

Somber shook his head madly. "I'm not sick. I just swallowed something and it's tickling my throat."

Ashen rolled her eyes. She didn't want to argue with her brother but she had her own theory about his coughing. She would just keep it to herself through for now. She just laid down and curled around her brother, feeling warmth spike from his pelt. She knew that he must have a fever.

"Just rest. I'm sure you'll be better in the morning."