When night came, sleep eluded Snakefang. She was too sickened. Bristlestar was Kaasuk's mother. That was worse than saying mentor. She looked around the den. Viperfrost and Addertooth were fast asleep beside her, unaware of what had transpired. Deciding she'd had enough she left the den and was surprised to find an earth brown she cat gazing up at the stars. "Who are you and why are you out?"

The she cat turned her head and faced the medicine den. "My mentor. She's in there. Whitecough they tell me." Snakefang padded over to the she cat. The she cat was nearly as tall as Snakefang. The cat lowered her ears. "I do hope she gets better." Snakefang felt a sudden urge to put her tail around the she cat, she resisted.

"How old are you?" She asked simply. "You seem a bit big to be an apprentice. I'm 15 moons, by the way." The brown cat giggled as if Snahkefang had made a joke.

"I'm eleven moons," she replied," my name is Earthpaw. What's yours?" She smiled.

"Snakefang."

"Cool! You're the new warrior right?"

"One of them." Earthpaw's eyes seemed to sparkle and she flicked her tail.

"Oh cool! So are you looking for a tom?" Snakefang flinched, she hadn't expected the question and she didn't like to talk about her preference but if this she cat wanted to know...

"I've never been interested in toms," she said simply and vaguely. She didn't say it outright, her preference. Earthpaw's eyes only seemed to brighten for some reason. "Well I have to go to bed now, I hope your mentor makes it." Snakefang then left Earthpaw in the camp and entered the den.

*****
"Snakefang wake up!" The voice cracked like it was sad. Snakefang opened her eyes and saw a brown blur.

"Earthpaw? Is that you?"

"Yes." Snakefang heard Earthpaw sob and walked out of the den. She looked at the apprentice. Earthpaw's coat was brighter in the sunlight.

"Earthpaw, what's wrong?" She asked the sobbing apprentice. Earthpaw sniffed.

"My mentor has developed Greencough."

"Greencough?"

"Worse form of Whitecough."

"Oh.... Oh Earthpaw, I'm so sorry." She furred the apprentices back sympathetically.

"And Bristlestar chose you to continue my training until my warrior ceremony."

"SHE DID WHAT?!"