Age of Awesomeness: Thank you!

Creekrunner: Thanks!

Sunripple: I wanted to show the transition of greenleaf to leaf-fall to show the dire situation of the sickness.

POV: Strikepaw

Time: Midday, a half-moon later

Temperature: 25F

Strikepaw blearily raised his head and looked around the den, he groaned at the pain in his head and twisted to see Duskstar and Stonestripe conversing in the corner of the medicine den. He strained his ears to hear what they were saying.

"How many are sick now?"

"Two more have fallen ill, Berrybright and Hawktail."

"What are we going to do? ThunderClan in pressing at the borders and most of the clan is sick!"

"I am doing my best Duskstar. Recovery is a long process that will not be sped by anyone. My priority is to get these cats well, not battle-fit. That they do on their own."

Strikepaw saw Duskstar's icy gaze gleam and he was worried the leader would lash out at the medicine cat, but she simply flattened her fur and stalked out.

Stonestripe turned back to his store, shriveled from the sudden cold, and let out a long sigh.

"Oh StarClan, what am I to do?"

Suddenly a lean tabby shape followed by another tom whisked in the den, "Your awake!"

Strikepaw turned to see Tabbypaw, her eyes alight, "We were all so worried you weren't going to wake up! Oh Mudfoot, go fetch Slashpaw immediately!"

Strikepaw saw the pelt of his denmate swish out, "Wait, Mudfoot? You received your warrior name?"

Tabbypaw squealed, "Yes, our vigil was last night. I'm Tabbycloud now."

Strikepaw pushed back his disappointment at missing the ceremony and jealousy at the new warrior's status. He forced out a rough purr. "I'm so happy for you."

Tabbycloud purred back, "I'm just glad you're awake. Slashpaw will be overjoyed. Mudfoot will be back with him soon."

Suddenly there was a call, "Tabbycloud!"

The lean she-cat twisted before Tigerstripe popped his head in the den, "Ready to go hunting?" he purred.

Tabbycloud purred back, "Of course."

She turned and smiled at Strikepaw, "See you!" before turning out of the den, brushing pelts with Tigerstripe.

Strikepaw was shocked. He thought Tabbycloud liked him! He certainly liked her…

He pushed down a rise of anger and settled his chin on his paws, trying to think about other things.

"How are you?"

He looked up to see Stonestripe hovering over him.

"I'm fine."

Stonestripe sniffed him and pulled away, surprised.

"Yes you are, I'll keep you here for another few days but then I think your ready to start training."

"That's great!"

Slashpaw lunged in the den. "Finally! I've missed you so much, and Dovesoar has been worried sick! I can't wait! Hurry up and get better! I wish I could stay but I'll come back later because Sparrowcall is waiting for me."

He rasped his tongue across Strikepaw's ear before rushing back out of the den.

Strikepaw smiled, in a bit of better spirits than before his foster brother had arrived. He crept out of the den into the clearing before Stonestripe could see him.

"Take that, ThunderClan filth!"

Strikepaw turned to see Lilystripe's three kits playing in the clearing. He recognized Willowkit's silver tabby pelt next to Breezekit's silver and white, on top of them both was Echokit, letting out a triumphant cry as her frosty-silver pelt blew in the breeze.

He turned to see Lilystripe, her eyes hollow with grief over her lost mate. He opened his jaws to speak but Shiverfawn whisked over and nudged him away.

"We need to leave her Strikepaw."

"Why?"

"She's dying. There's something wrong with her head that not even Stonestripe's herbs can reach. We've been feeding her, but she won't eat. I'm working with her, but she just seems to have given up on life."

"It's not fair! What about her kits?"

"She claims they'll be better without her."

"That's fox-dung! Her kits need her, the clan needs her! Breezefang wouldn't want this!"

"I know, I know. Be brave my kit, with leaf-bare, bring the worst of every cat and sorrow upon us all."

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Strikepaw woke to the sound of crying.

He looked up to see a weak Snowspring huddled in the corner, still smelling of the sickness, with Stonestripe beside her.

"I…I just…all I wanted…it's not fair!"

"They would have died anyway with your greencough. I'm so sorry Snowspring, but there are just some she-cats who can't have kits."

Snowspring let out another small cry.

"Who would have been the father?"

She shook her head a little. "No, it doesn't matter."

"Snowspring…"

"No!"

She scuttled away from the medicine cat and heaved herself into her nest, burying her muzzle into the moss.

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Strikepaw woke again later that night to a low wail from Mosssplash.

"She's dead, my little Nettlekit is dead!"

Stonestripe pushed his way forward before leaning down to Strikepaw, "You're the healthiest, fetch Pinesweep."

Strikepaw took off, haring across the clearing to the warriors den. He spotted the tom's crow-black pelt just a few cats away. He nimbly made his way over to him and nudged the tom's side.

Silver eyes opened and met his.

"Yes?"

"Nettlekit…Mosssplash needs you."

Pinesweep's eyes filled with sorrow.

"I know what has happened. Thank you for waking me."

Then, the tom darted out of the den into the night to his mate's calls.

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Strikepaw awoke once again, just as the milky dawn light was beginning to glimmer over the horizon. Stonestripe sat not too far from him, his ears flattened and face contorted into a look of utter sadness and defeat.

More bad news?

"Stonestripe?"

"It was a night of no light, Strikepaw. We lost the prospect of new kits from Snowspring, Nettlekit, Berrybright, and Scorchflower. Lilystripe is dying of grief, Wildblaze has gone mad with anger, as Scorchflower was his mate, and Mosssplash is severely depressed due to Nettlekit's death, but she'll survive with her other three toms, Sootkit, Ravenkit, and Swampkit, hopefully."

He turned to look at Strikepaw, his amber gaze smoldering.

"But…there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Shiverfawn is expecting kits, and I presume Tabbycloud will be soon too. Lilystripe's three kits are to be apprenticed soon, the sickness is fading, and we have two new warriors. Clan life goes on Strikepaw, and StarClan willing we will make it out of this."

QOTC: What name do you think should be Strikepaw's warrior name?

Predictions for the next chapters, anyone?