I'm so so so so so so so sorry for not updating in like forever! I've been really, really busy lately and I've had no time at all. Here's the next chapter. I hope to gety a chapter up every other day! :)

Disclaimer: I don't own warriors.

Chapter 8: Spreading

Chestnutpaw plodded through the forest, his fur glossy and clean. He had just given himself a good washing, trying to cleanse himself of the image of Cloudtail. It didn't work.

The apprentice didn't know why he was so shook up by it. He had seen blood and gore before. He had been in one or two battles over the past eight moons. A disease? It shouldn't be able to frighten him this much.

Maybe it was because he could stop it, like he could an attacking cat or fox. This was an enemy that he couldn't fight, with his mind or his claws.

Chestnutpaw angrily swiped at a pebble by his feet. He was helpless against this disease. He couldn't protect his Clan, his leader or his brother from it. It scared the tom nearly to StarClan.

Chestnutpaw recalled that morning again, but instead of Cloudtail's distraught and gaunt face, he found himself picturing Frondpaw.

The way she had been so distracted, so unlike herself and the expression of mischief that crossed her face when he insisted they should go out hunting whether their mentors liked it or not. And her blue eyes, twinkling.

Chestnutpaw recalled her fur brushing against his as they stood side by side, listening. Her quick thinking as she hissed out her part of the attack.

The tom stopped, seating himself beneath an oak tree, and sighing. His thoughts were buzzing around his head like bees and he tried to regain his normal state of mind.

Chestnutpaw knew he had been a flirt most of his time in the apprentice den. He had constantly teasing the she-cat's and complimenting their fur or their stalking skills. He had always been into mischief, wrapping himself in an almost impish aura. The she-cat had always eaten it up.

But Chestnutpaw hadn't been looking for a mate; it was just in his nature to act like that. The thought hadn't even crossed his mind.

That's why Frondpaw's apprentice ceremony hadn't meant anything to him. He had never really visited the nursery very much. All he knew was that the new apprentice was a she-cat, her parents were Berrynose and Icepool, and that her name was now Frondpaw.

Of coarse, Chestnutpaw tried to swoon Frondpaw, but it didn't really work out like it usually did. The tom purred, remembering one of their first exchanges.

"Hello, there," he had mewed smoothly, falling into place besides the creamy-white she-cat as she headed towards the fresh-kill pile.

"Hi," she mewed, voice energetic. She had a smile in her eyes and Chestnutpaw felt himself purr.

"It's Frondpaw, right?" he asked, causing Frondpaw to nod briskly as she picked a squirrel off of the heap. Chestnutpaw followed suit, grasping a finch in his jaws. He nodded towards a corner where his brother, Cliffpaw, also was laying.

"Ish waff susposed fo sist wif Dovepawsh," Frondpaw said behind her meal. Chestnutpaw glanced at her warmly and placed his bird down.

"Well, why don't you ask her to join us?"

Frondpaw purred at the idea and positioned her kill besides the ginger tom's finch. She headed towards her friend, but then stopped as if realization overcame her.

"Hey, what's your name again?"

"Chestnutpaw."

The she-cat's eyes widened and she took a step towards him. She looked him over up and down and then shook her head in disbelief.

"I should have known," she whispered, laughter in her voice. "Dovepaw told me to look out."

"What?" Chestnutpaw was confused at the she-cat's sudden change in mood and tone. What did Dovepaw say about me?

"She told me that you would try and do this," Frondpaw continued, looking up at him. "She told me that you would try and get me to drool at your paws."

Chestnutpaw shuffled his paws uncomfortably, suddenly noting that Dovepaw had informed the new apprentice of his habits. He wasn't sure why he felt so…guilty. Maybe it was because of the way Frondpaw looked at him.

"I have to go," the she-cat mewed quickly. And then she picked up her kill and took off towards Dovepaw, Briarpaw and Ivypaw.

Chestnutpaw had admired Frondpaw from afar for a while. She had captivated his attention, and he found that he didn't loose interest in her. Slowly, his habit of fluttering from she-cat to she-cat like an indecisive butterfly, died.

He remembered getting into mischief with Frondpaw, after she had finally stopped labeling him as the 'flirty flutter-by.' They had so much fun sneaking out, pulling pranks with Cliffpaw, pulling pranks on their own and blaming Cliffpaw.

Chestnutpaw sighed, relishing the memories. He knew that he liked Frondpaw. He knew that he liked her a lot. But for some reason, he could never just tell her. Sometimes he wished she would just tell him that she liked him, at least in the same way he liked her.

The ginger tabby moaned, laying his head on his paws. He suddenly felt so tired; he figured it was because he hadn't gotten a good sleep last night. Closing his eyes, Chestnutpaw pictured Frondpaw's pretty face in his head. And then he let the darkness overcome him.

***

Brambleclaw lingered at the back of the patrol, scenting the forest distractively. Ahead of him, Toadspots was leading his first patrol, only three sunsets since his warrior's ceremony. Dustpelt and Ferncloud made up the rest of the patrol, their tails tightly intertwined and their heads bent over. Brambleclaw heard the she-cat's frantic whispers and Dustpelt's low hiss. Clearly, they were worried about something.

This sickness has got everyone troubled. Brambleclaw felt a shiver pass up his spine as he pictured Cloudtail's state. Including me.

Brambleclaw couldn't deny that the disease made him fill with fear, not for him, but for Squirrelflight and his sons. The dark tabby couldn't even imagine what he would do if he lost one of them.

The deputy thought about goofy, innocent Cliffpaw; Chestnutpaw and his persuasive and mischievous spirit; beautiful Squirrelflight who could be fiery and gentle at the same time.

Brambleclaw decided right then and there that he would talk to them all after he finished the patrol. Infact, the tabby decided that he would make an announcement to the whole Clan. That is after he talked to Firestar. He would make sure they knew to keep clean and safe; he wouldn't let any of them become infected.

Suddenly, Brambleclaw collided with the fuzzy backside of Dustpelt. Brambleclaw shook his head and tried to spit out the hairs that now coated his mouth.

"Dustpelt, what's the hold up?"

The warrior turned around, fear glistening in his eyes. He nodded towards something in front of them and Brambleclaw gently pushed past him to see what the matter was.

A horrible stench hit the roof of Brambleclaw's mouth. The tabby nearly retched and he couldn't help but realize he had smelt this fragrance before. Squinting against the sun and the smell that seemed to singe his eyes, the tom made out something that nearly stopped his heart.

The tabby immediately recognized the aroma as the smell that was Cloudtail, and ahead of Brambleclaw lay Chestnutpaw, his chest barely moving up and down. Filled with shock and fear, the deputy could only mutter a few words.

"It's spreading."

And then he dashed towards his son, prepared to drag him all the way back to Jayfeather's den.