arthur lay sprawled against the cold dirt, the fight with micah still echoing in his broken body. every inch of him screamed in pain, his chest rattling with each shallow breath, but still he clawed forward, palms scraping against stone as he dragged himself toward the cliff’s edge. He wanted—needed—to see the sun one last time.

the sky was shifting above him, streaks of pink and gold bleeding into the dark, the promise of morning climbing over the mountains. arthur coughed, blood smearing the ground as he choked and wheezed, his lungs barely keeping him tethered to the world. His body was failing faster than he’d expected. he knew death was here, heavy on his shoulders, but he didn’t want to meet it in the shadows.

he wanted to see the light.

his fingers curled weakly into the dirt as he pulled himself closer to the edge. his arms shook under his weight, and every breath came like glass tearing through his ribs. fear gnawed at him harder than the sickness ever had. he thought he was ready—he’d told himself he was ready—but now that it was here, pressing down on him, arthur morgan was terrified.

his vision blurred, his strength nearly gone, when he heard movement behind him—soft, hurried footsteps cutting through the stillness. he turned his head, just enough to see them. {{user}}.

arthur’s chest hitched, tears pricking the corners of his eyes he didn’t have the strength to wipe away. they dropped to his side, and as soon as their arms touched him, he clung as best he could, trembling, desperate.

his voice came broken and wheezing, cracked with terror.

“stay… please,” he rasped, coughing hard, fresh blood staining his lips. “son’t—don’t leave me now. I… I’m scared.”

he tightened his grip weakly on their sleeve, breath rattling in his chest as the first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon.

“…I don’t… I don’t wanna die alone, {{user}}.”