Judgement Day

Chapter 4

Finally, I'm off hiatus! This chapter took longer than I expected, I'm so sorry for making you all wait! It's not a very exciting chapter, but it's still needed in the story. Plus, sorry its written even more poorly than my other chapters. I'm quite rusty after not writing for the entire summer. Next chapter will be a little more exciting, with couple of new minor characters. I hope you enjoy it, and I'll see you guys soon!

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The sun touched the tips of the trees for the fifth time since Ash had first awoken. Five long, treacherous days had passed, and living amongst the clan cats wasn't becoming easier. The sun was setting now, and most of the warriors (which he had learnt meant the cats who hunted and fought for the clan) were returning from their daily patrols.

He watched them as groups would come and go from the entrance of the camp. They would come with prey hanging from their teeth, proudly placing them in a pile in the middle of the camp. They would glance towards the medicine den for only a second, then turn away again.

There had been no news of his mother.

Ash swallowed, his stomach felt hollow with worry. Surely by now someone would have caught a glimpse of her, or she would have come looking for him. He thought back to the last time he had seen her, that heartbeat they had made eye contact in the forest. What if he had distracted her, and the clan cats had caught up to her?

He shook his head. He didn't want to think about it.

He decided he needed a distraction. Standing up, he turned and walked back to where Badgerheart was audibly complaining to himself. Ash sat behind him and watched as the herbs piled around his big hefty paws. "What's wrong?" he asked curiously. He had grown closer to the medicine cat, and he didn't feel fear around him anymore.

Badgerheart sighed, "We're out of marigold." He sat back defeatedly, "I thought we had some more but..." He gestured to the mess of leaves on the ground. "I'm going to have to make another trip upstream to get some before the sun's gone."

Ash stood back in surprise as he stood, starting to make his way to the entrance. He's going now? "W-wait a second, what's so important about Marigold in the first place? Can't you wait until tomorrow?"

Badgerheart stopped, and let out a deep sigh. "Marigold has many uses, such as healing infections and easing joint pain in elders." He said, as if he had rehearsed in saying this. "I have a condition, in which my bones ache like an elder's would, only I've had it since I was very young. The marigold helps ease the pain slightly, and it's the reason I'm always so slow and unsteady."

Ash glanced at the thick-furred tom's legs. He had thought that was because he was old, not because of a serious condition. 

"It's also the reason I'm here, serving as the medicine cat. I could never become a warrior like this." He sighed, sounding sad. Is that why he never told me? Ash wondered.

"Well, I'm glad you didn't become a warrior, you would probably hate me if you did." Ash said. He realised afterwards that could easily have been taken the wrong way, but thankfully Badgerheart just smiled genuinely.  

"Thank you, but I still need to get that marigold tonight or else I'll be nest-ridden tomorrow morning."

Ash looked up again as he saw him continuing to leave. He seemed to walk heavier now that Ash was aware of his condition. Then thoughts started processing in his head, and he came to a decision. Taking a deep breath, he blurted out, "I...I could come with you, if you wanted..."

The black cat's ear twitched, and he turned to face him with a look. It was both concern, and confusion, as if he were wondering what could have possibly made the shy cat decide to come with him.