The Cheshire Cat's decline

Audrey Ashgrove sits on the steps outside her home in the Citadel, barely noticing the bustle around her as folks head to Market. Her head is bowed, deep in thought as her fingers nervously knot together...

Audrey Ashgrove draws a breath and rises, plucking a growth of greenery from the neat planting stand nearby as she makes her way back inside the home she shares with her partner Gabe. 

On entering her gaze sweeps the hearth and she smiles forlornely at the once large ginger cat dozing by the fire, her voice soothing, "Tis near time for my beloved to return, dear Cat. Our soup for tea is about ready, but t'would be grand if you would awaken and try some of the new potion that Gabriel has worked so hard on to boost you and which I have added to this potage."

She moves to the roughly hewn wooden cutting board and grinds the leaves small before stirring them into a bowl of gruel. Taking the bowl, she places it carefully on a stack of books resting on the sofa and turns to see the Cheshire Cat wearily watching her movements from his nest before the fireplace.
Audrey Ashgrove looks with tenderness at the feline and in a reassuring tone speaks to him, "aah, my friend, you are awake. I hope you are a little rested. You slept all the night it seems."
The Cat mews faintly, its answer barely audible and lays its head back onto its paws, seemingly exhausted from such a small exertion.

Audrey Ashgrove gasps and covers the ground to kneel near the Cat with lightning speed, crooning softly and gently lifting the Cat into her arms, returning to the sofa to rest it on her lap. Her hands smooth the sweat-soaked fur and her glance shifts between the limp feline and the bowl before them.
"Will you be at least trying some of the potion, hmmm? I know the effort taxes you, but I fear...," here she pauses, the words catching in her throat as a sob escapes her lips, "...I see you fading each moment, dear Cat. I have doubts that ArchDruid Fitheach and Gabe can reconstruct the instructions for that preservation remedy in that old tome soon enough to help you."

She chews at her lip and one hand continues to stroke fur and the other proceeds to take up a spoon and gradually stir the gruel, "Gabe found all but one of the listed ingredients and Lord Jaekob helped him to obtain the elusive Unicorn Horn, but they have as yet not had success at deciphering all the written words and have misgivings about creating an elixir before they can determine the complete passage. We dread to lose you through haste in our actions, but we have so little knowledge as yet, even when we are all working together." 

Audrey Ashgrove looks at the Cat with growing concern, its body slumped over her thigh and its head resting heavily on her stomach. She passes the spoon through the potage and places it directly near the mouth of the Cheshire Cat, her voice suddenly determined. 
"Now, come, my friend, just a wee measure for now. My catnip is burgeoning just outside the door and I'll be darned if anything in my care will wither and wane... and that includes you!"

The Cheshire Cat's ears twitch and it lifts its drooping head a fraction as its tongue haltingly licks at the spoon. After lethargically sampling the enticing mush, the aroma of the catnip tempting the feline to draw on all its reserves of strength, its eyes wide and alert for a moment before retreating back into the warmth of Audrey's lap and she watches its eyes drift shut and a drowsy purring begin.

Audrey Ashgrove lets out a relieved breath and settles herself back into the corner of the sofa, not wanting to disturb the Cat at rest. She returns the spoon to the bowl and places her other hand calmly on the Cheshire Cat's slim body as she intones an old lullaby to ease the feline into a deeper slumber, her thoughts roaming to Gabriel and ArchDruid Fitheach and hope growing within her that they would indeed have success in their endeavours this very day.

To be continued...