"No."

Rainpaw was pushing Sandpaw, trying to get her out of the den. "You're healed," she said, "Go train or something." Rainpaw knew that neither Sandpaw nor herself had gotten over the death of the popular queen. I'm pretty sure no one has, she thought.

"No."

"Move."

"NO!"

Sandpaw wrapped her tail tighter around herself. This is going to take a while. Ashpool entered, her face weary and her eyes dull. Oh no, Rainpaw thought, not another sickness.

Sandpaw looked up. She sighed and stood, shakily, to her paws and limped out of the den. "Ashpool," Rainpaw began, "who is it now?"

Ashpool lowered her head. "It's Tawnyheart. She's fatally ill." Rainpaw gasped. Mother? But she was fine. Rainpaw turned to look outside, and saw Tawnyheart walking to the fresh-kill pile, and broke into a bought of coughing. Rainpaw cringed.
"ShadowClan has clearly left it's mark." Rainpaw observed, leading the subject away from the sickness. Nearly the whole camp had been destroyed, even the nursery had been attacked. Ashpool nodded and collected some catmint together to take to Petalstar. Rainpaw quickly followed her mentor to the leader's den.

Petalstar was curled around her two kits, Nightkit and Flowerkit. Firestorm, who was pacing outside of the den, turned to Rainpaw. As Ashpool walked in, he stopped Rainpaw and bent down to whisper to her, "She says she's fine, but Petalstar coughs all night. I was hoping you could convince her to let Ashpool treat her." Rainpaw nodded quickly and followed Ashpool through the curtain of vines.

"You need to take it!"
"No I don't!"

"I'm your medicine cat, I can tell when you're sick."

Petalstar shook her head and pushed the leaf away from her. Ashpool muttered something under her breath. Firestorm tried to enter, but Ashpool shook her head and told him to stay out. Nightkit jumped up and ran after his father.

"Petalstar," Rainpaw began cautiously, "you don't want your kits to get sick, do you?" Petalstar shook her head. She smiled weakly at Rainpaw and took the leaf in her mouth. "You have a very smart apprentice there, Ashpool," she commented.

   Rainpaw beamed triumphantly. The grey she-cat exited the den, seeing Hailpaw and Windpaw playing. She felt a stab of longing, wishing to be able to be that careless. But Ashpool won't let me play, she thought with mixed emotions.

   As she was walking back to the den, she bumbed into something. "Sorry," she muttered, looking up. It was Littlepaw. "It's fine, I wasn't looking where I was going either."

   Littlepaw awkwardly stepped to the side to return to the apprentice den. Rainpaw continued on her way. Ookaay then. Wonder why he's acting that way. Maybe-

   Rainpaw shook her head to clear the thought. No, I'm a medicine cat apprentice. He wouldn't dare.