Rainpaw blinked the sleep out of her eyes. She raised her head and looked around. Her eye caught something white on the ground. What's that? It looks kind of fluffy.

Rainpaw stretched, and reached out to touch the new substance. It wasn't fluffy. It was cold and wet, but all the same, the gray apprentice couldn't help but roll around in it.

"You certainly enjoy snow."

Rainpaw stood up when she heard Ashpool's teasing mew. She flicked her tail and shook out her fur to dislodge the snow. "So that's what it's called." She said.

Ashpool nodded. "Snow is a sign that leafbare has started. Leafbare brings cold and illness death."

When Ashpool saw the look startled Rainpaw was giving her, she just shook her head. " Oh, don't listen to me. All the illnesses are just getting to my head."

Ashpool went back inside the den. Well, that was kind of weird. Rainpaw shrugged and went to get something from the fresh-kill pile. Out if the corner of her eye, she noticed the dawn patrol entering the camp.

She saw Hailpaw, with his mentor, Stormstripe, coming into camp. He's lucky. He gets to hunt and fight. Rainpaw glanced back at the medicine cat den. But I can heal others; isn't that what I want to do? Littlepaw, Sandpaw, Cloudypelt, and Jaggedclaw padded to the center of camp. Littlepaw turned to look at Rainpaw, but turned away, embarrassed when their gazes met. Maybe it's not what I want.

Rainpaw saw another black tom following the patrol. Oh, Nightspirit. The tom glared at her with his dark blue eyes. Rainpaw was startled and her eyes went wide. Stepped backwards, and ran into someone who was coming up behind her. She turned around, and saw that it was Littlepaw.

"Oh, uh, hi," he stuttered. The brown tom shifted his gaze away from Rainpaw's. "I- I've got to go. Um, hunting patrol." Littlepaw turned to leave.

Rainpaw stopped him. "Actually, could I go with you?" Littlepaw looked surprised. "It can't hurt for a medicine cat to know how to hunt, right? And besides, Ashpool is busy." Littlepaw glanced at the medicine den, then back at Rainpaw, but only for a second. "Well, I'll go ask."

Littlepaw went off to find Stormstripe. Rainpaw entered the medicine den, looking for Ashpool. She wasn't there. Hm. She isn't here. Oh well. Maybe she went herb-gatgering, or...something.

Rainpaw joined the hunting patrol in the middle of camp, and they set off.

Hiya! We got another chappie in, yay! So, what do you think's gonna happen? Is Ashpool hurt or worse, or just herb-gathering? ThunderClan wouldn't do very well with Rainpaw as their only med cat, no offense to her. You'll just have to wait and see!