Chapter 4: Cats being picked off one by one.

I still don't own warriors. Man, it gets tedious saying this every time I write a chapter. What are they gonna do, go through each chapter of every warriors fanfic individually to make sure ? Do they actually do that? Erin Hunters, if you are reading this, I love all your books-the Seekers stories too. Bluestar's Prophecy is your best book yet and Bluestar and Hollyleaf and Jayfeather are my favourite cats. Please make Dovepaw as unique as they are. Although Tadpole is pretty cool too and I intend to let him remain so as history is changed in this chapter. Oh yeah, please give Brightheart an apprentice sooner rather than later. And maybe Ferncloud too.

In the RiverClan camp, Mistyfoot was assigning hunting patrols. "Graymist, you'll lead this one. Take Pinefur, Robinpaw and Dapplenose."

Pouncetail called out from the other side of the camp, "Dapplenose has fallen ill!"

Mistyfoot sighed. It had seemed the greencough epidemic was ebbing over. It had been a hard leaf-bare, especially considering they were so short of paws. Not only were many cats ill with greencough but Minnowpaw and Pebblepaw had gotten in a fight with a badger two seasons ago. Minnowpaw's leg had been savaged so badly that she'd barely been able to walk for three moons. Pebblepaw had lost most of his tail, an ear, and a good deal of his self confidence. Now they were almost recovered but their training had been delayed so much that, even though they were more than twice the age of the other apprentices they were still training. They couldn't take on full warrior duties to ease up the load yet. Minnowpaw, once the troublemaker of the Clan, had become subdued and careful, taking her time with everything. Mistyfoot had thought she would be relieved if this happened, as it would be proof that her granddaughter was finally maturing but actually she longed to see Minnowpaw skive off a duty just for the heck of it or even destroy part of the much-needed medicine supply in a game just so Mistyfoot could see that she wasn't too traumatized by the fight with the badger.

Blackclaw, Reedwhisker, Beechfur, Mintfur, Nettlepaw, Otterheart, Swallowtail and now Dapplenose were ill. Otterheart and Beechfur had both come close to death at times, according to Mothwing and Willowshine. Mistyfoot just hoped they returned with the catmint soon. It would be welcome.

"Okay," Mistyfoot made a mental note to check up on Dapplenose, who had once been her apprentice, later. "I'll go on patrol with you. Just let me tell Leopardstar first."

But when Mistyfoot entered Leopardstar's den she was greeted by a fit of coughing. No, not her too. Mistyfoot silently prayed to StarClan for an end to this. Her leader was not as young as she used to be. "Leopardstar," she began.

Just then Copperpaw entered the den. "Leopardstar," she gasped. "Important message!"

"Copperpaw," rasped Leopardstar. "You get outside the den. You too, Mistyfoot. I'm contagious. Tell me your news from there."

Mistyfoot and Copperpaw exited the den. "I'm going on the next hunting patrol with Pinefur and Robinpaw but if you're sick, I'll stay in camp and see if Rippletail and Mallowpaw can go instead of training."

Leopardstar sighed. "I think we can trust these cats to know their duties for the day. You go on patrol. But put Rippletail and Mallowpaw in charge of cleaning out the elders' den and the nursery. I heard Icewing complaining about contagions seeping into the kits' filthy bedding yesterday. Now Copperpaw, what is it?"

"Mothwing was hit by a monster on the Thunderpath and Willowshine says she'll live but she has a shoulder wound and she's unconscious and she can't be moved just yet so Willowshine is going to treat her there and Duskfur and Dawnflower are with her and, oh yeah, they probably don't have the catmint," said Copperpaw in one breath.

Mistyfoot took a second to absorb all of this and then she screamed, "Copperpaw!!! When you have information like that, tell your leader right away!! Don't put it off!!! Mothwing could DIE, for StarClan's sake!!!!"

Every head in the camp turned to see what Mistyfoot was screaming about and Copperpaw backed away in alarm. "I was going to tell my leader right away but Leopardstar ordered me out of the den! I meant to tell her but I was just following orders! I'm s-s-sorry!" she gasped. Everyone had it in for her today, it seemed.

Mistyfoot gulped and backed down. "I'm sorry, Copperpaw. You didn't deserve that. I guess I'm just tense. Everything has been impossible lately what with the greencough epidemic and us being driven out of our camp in Greenleaf and having to make up for lost time with everyone being short of food. It's like the cats we need to do the duties are being picked off one by one." She felt ashamed of herself. Was this how the Clan deputy reacted to stress.

Mothwing spent the night in the comfort of her mother and brothers. It had been so long since she'd slept so close to another cat. The life of a medicine cat was lonely and Willowshine slept in outside the medicine clearing most nights to give her privacy. Mothwing was warmer and more comforted this way. She forgot all about RiverClan in the comfort of her family.

There had to be a reason why Minnowpaw and Pebblepaw are still apprentices after all of this time. I mean, they were born before the Great Journey, or so I've been led to believe. All the other cats that are that old have been warriors for moons. I'm sure Erin Hunter will tell us in the next series but while we're waiting there's room for speculation.