Ashwing's Regret (ON HOLD)

Chapter 4

Ashpaw woke up with a start, forgetting where she was. 

"Oh yeah, I'm an apprentice now." she muttered. 

Ashpaw looked around and realized that she was still in Crowpaw's nest, but he wasn't there.

She stepped out of the nest and headed toward the entrance to the den when Parsleypaw came rushing in. 

"Oh no. This is bad. This is very very bad!" she said as she laid down in her nest. 

Ashpaw looked at her with a look of concern. "What happened? Is something wrong?"

Parsleypaw looked at her, fear clouding her gaze. "I'm expecting Coalshade's kits!" 

Ashpaw looked back at her, shocked. How could this happen? Parsleypaw was made an apprentice only three moons before her, how could she be expecting kits? 

"Are you sure that's what it is? Maybe you ate a bad piece of fresh-kill?"

Parsleypaw looked at her as if she suggested to stick her head in a wasp nest. 

"Of course it's not that! I can feel my belly growing and I can barely run! What am I going to do? Now I'll never be a warrior!" Parsleypaw looked at her paws.

Ashpaw looked at her with a look of sympathy. 

"Don't say that! Of course you'll be a warrior. It'll just take a bit longer than usual." Ashpaw leaned over and licked Parsleypaw's ear. Parsleypaw ducked away from Ashpaw's tongue. 

"I know that! But what will everyone think of me? There has never been a pregnant apprentice in the whole entire history of the clans!" Parsleypaw looked at her paws, blinking back tears. "I may as well quit my training." Parsleypaw said as she laid her head on her paws. 

Ashpaw looked at her, shocked. "Don't say that! It'll just take a while for your training, that's all. Well, if you want to talk to me about it, I'll be here."

Ashpaw turned and walked out of the apprentice's den and headed for Jaywing. 

Jaywing scolded her. "Where in StarClan's name have you been?! You've missed the dawn patrol, and now we can't remark the borders until this afternoon!" 

Ashpaw looked at him guiltily. "I'm sorry, I was helping Parsleypaw with a problem," Ashpaw frowned and looked up at him. "Anyway, it's not like anyone tried to wake me up!" 

Jaywing looked at her with a shocked look on his face. "You know that's not the way to speak to your mentor. One more outburst like that and you'll be removing ticks from the elders all six moons of your training." 

Ashpaw frowned. "Fine, it won't happen again. So, what are we going to do?" 

Jaywing beckoned Ashpaw with his tail. "We're going to go to the marsh to hunt with Dawnpaw and Tigershade. Parsleypaw isn't feeling well so she can't come." Ashpaw looked at her paws. 

I guess I'm the only one that knows what's really going on. 

Jaywing padded over to the heather barrier to meet Dawnpaw and her mentor Tanstripe.

"Hey Jaywing. Are you and Ashpaw ready to go?" Tanstripe meowed. 

"Sure, lead the way." 

Tanstripe padded through the barrier followed by Jaywing and Tigershade. Ashpaw ran after him as Dawnpaw caught up to her. "So, are you ready for some fun?" 

Ashpaw looked at Dawnpaw. "Hunting isn't necessarily fun." 

Dawnpaw looked at her as if she was crazy. "How can you think hunting isn't fun? It feels exhilarating! I'll race you to the marsh!" Dawnpaw pelted toward where Jaywing and Tigershade were walking toward the marsh.