As the darkness of his unconsciousness seemed to slowly ebb away, Ash could make out muffled voices around him.

"Do you really think...?" A she-cat's voice spoke, in a scared whisper.

"No, I don't." A deeper, more gruff voice responded. He sounded closer to Ash, as if he was standing right over him. "I know what everyone's been saying, but..."

"It's obvious though, isn't it? We should do something before-"

"Quiet already!" The deep voice hissed. "You might wake him."

"Look, would you just-"

"No."

"Badger-"

"Just drop it already."

"...Fine."

Ash heard the distancing pawsteps lead away from him. Slowly, but carefully, Ash tried to open his exhausted eyes. He was blinded by the sharp light at first, but soon his vision cleared. He saw a black tom, with long shaggy fur standing in what appeared to be some type of cave with his back turned to Ash.

His head felt heavy, as if he had been asleep for ages. He tried to stand, but his legs wouldn't support his weight correctly, and he stumbled back down. The black tom turned, seeing he was awake and rushed over to him, pushing his paw down on his back.

"Stay down, you're not badly injured, just dazed. It's alright now."

As he said that, Ash realized he wasn't alright. He didn't know this cat. And he had no idea where he was. He struggled more against the tom's hefty paw, but he only pressed harder down. Using his teeth, he bit down hard on the black cat's paw. He recoiled, letting a pained grunt as he did so.

Just as his grip loosened, Ash made a run toward the mouth of the den. He didn't stop as he brushed past the stone walls on either side of him. He skid to a halt as reached the mouth of the den.

Bright light shone down from the treetops, clearly he had been asleep for almost a whole day. Around him, he noticed several cats were sitting in what appeared to be a low ravine. They individually turned to look at him, intrigued by his appearance.

Ash panted harder, in the gripping realization that he must be in the very heart of one of the clans. But he didn't care which one, he just knew that all of his instincts told him to get out of here. Desperately looking for an escape to the ravine, he noticed some of the cats were sitting up, as if wondering if they should go to him. Their gazes bore into him, and he could feel the hostility in the air begin to rise like smoke.

Something pressed up against his back, startling him into the only defense he had. He swiped, feeling the thick fur of the black tom's pelt part as his claws slashed at him. Ash darted away as he understood what he just did, and the tom only flinched. Ash wondered if he had hurt him at all, until he could see a few red drops of blood trickling between his fur.

Ash stammered to apologize, "I-I'm sorry I didn't mean-"

"Shh. It's alright. Just come here for a second, okay?" He whispered, keeping his gaze on the rest of the cats but tapping his tail to signal him closer. Ash carefully drew closer, but only because more cats had started making their way towards them. Soon there was an overwhelming amount of cats, especially since Ash was used to there being only one in his life.

In that heartbeat, he realized his mother was still out there. He saw her get away, but she had no idea where he was. I have to go find her!

Before he could plan his escape, parting the crowd, a muscular calico cat stood before him. The other cats hushed, waiting for him to speak. Ash immediately guessed that he was the one in charge.

He tilted his head up, looking down at the kit as if he were merely a nuisance. "I see you've awoken." His voice was deep and raspy, "I am Cardinalstar, and these are my clan mates." He gestured to the cats around him with his tail. The cats stood proudly as he introduced them, as if they were proud to live under his rule. Ash couldn't see why. "And tell us, who are you?"

Ash attempted to make eye-contact, but the leader's green eyes stared intensely at him, waiting for an answer. The eyes of the other cats followed his, and he felt the gazes of everyone on him. He answered quietly. "I'm...Ash."

Cardinalstar's sharp eyes narrowed, studying the small gray tom closely. "Tell me, where are you from?"

The surrounding cats seemed to lean in, eager for an answer. Backing up, he bumped into the cat he had scratched before. He glanced upward, making eye contact with him. Ash was surprised to see the worry in his eyes, as if he was cautioning him to make the right choices.

"I'm..." Ash started, contemplating his answer. "I'm from...really far away."

The crowd sat back, murmuring their thoughts to one another. He looked back up at the black tom, and he only shrugged in response. He technically hadn't lied, he had no idea where his home was. But he assumed it wasn't near here.

The leader raised his tail for silence amongst the whispering, and looked back down at Ash, doubt clouding his eyes now. "Is that so? You came here alone then?"

"Um...yeah." His ear flicked. The crowd sat in silence, as if they were expecting more. Just leave me alone! He wanted to wail. He realized that he was subconsciously trying to bury himself in the black tom's fur. For some reason, he felt less afraid of him than the others. Perhaps it was the fear they both shared at this moment.

Cardinalstar looked at him for a little longer, but only blinked calmly. He rose, and turned to leave. "Very well then. Come, let him rest for now." He beckoned his followers, and with a low mumbling the cats all dispersed one by one.

Ash exhaled as the tension cleared. He was still scared, but it felt as if all his energy had been used up just to speak to the clan cats. He shrank back in exhaustion, realizing the black tom was still there, standing behind him.

"Thank Starclan that's over." He grumbled just loud enough for Ash to hear. He looked down at him with his dull gray eyes. "Would you like to come back inside now?"

Ash just stared back, and in his exhaustion all he could do is nod. They slowly walked back inside the leafy den, relishing in the peaceful space it provided. The tom gestured toward the mossy bedding Ash had awoken from earlier. "You can rest there if you'd like. I'll get you some water."

Ash sat down, he wasn't sleepy anymore but he felt worn out. He watched the black cat pull a bundle of leaves out from a small hole in the wall, searching for one in particular. They both sat in silence as he searched, and Ash knew he had to break it. "Why did you do that?"

The black cat turned with moss in his mouth, his long bulky fur swinging as he did. "Do what? Help you?" He made his way over to Ash, dropping the damp piece of moss at his tiny gray paws. "I couldn't just leave you there to fend yourself alone. Plus, it's my job to help any cat in need. That is the role of a Medicine cat, other than interpreting signs and speaking to Starclan."

Ash was slowly drinking his moss as he listened to him. He didn't really understand what he was talking about, but he suddenly realized how dehydrated he had been. It must have been since yesterday morning he had drank anything. Sinking his teeth into the soft bundle, he squeezed the water out into his mouth. When he had drank enough, he pushed the small plant aside.

"By the way, my name is Badgerheart, and this is Thunderclan."

Ash looked up at him, fear igniting inside him. He may have no idea what he meant by interpreting signs, but he could understand that he for one was definitely in a clan, specifically Thunderclan, the one his mother had warned him most about.

Badgerheart hadn't noticed his fear, and was sorting out the herbs he had pulled out earlier. Ash shivered, and said in a low, shy voice. "What do you clan cats even want with me?"

Badgerheart looked a little taken back by the comment, but continued to answer calmly. "Well, we don't really want anything from you, it's just we found you unconscious in the woods, and we couldn't just leave you there."

"So I can leave then?" His eyes sparked up, but dimmed again as the black tom only frowned.

Badgerheart shook his head. "Not yet. We can't just let a kit wander around the woods, It would be against the warrior code. And I know you lied about coming here alone. I think everyone picked up on that..." He mumbled, but continued in a more normal tone. "But I promise, as soon as we find your mother and-or father, we will return you to them. You wouldn't happen to share their names, would you?"

Ash would have told him, but he suddenly realized he didn't know his mother's real name. Living isolated by himself, he just assumed she was his mother, and he was Ash. And his father...he had no idea what a father was. His mother never spoke about one, and he had never met one. Ash felt embarrassed, and just shrugged in response.

Badgerheart sighed, but dismissed it. "Oh well. We'll still do our best to return you home." Ash looked at the genuine care in his eyes. He meant what he said. Perhaps his mother had been wrong, maybe the clans weren't so bad after all.

At that moment, a large shadow appeared at the entrance of the den, marching in with purpose. "Badgerheart!" the voice growled. It was deep and brittle. Ash cowered slightly at the large cat walking in. "Where is he? Where is the rogue!?"

"Stop shouting Brickjaw!" Badgerheart hissed, standing defensively in front of Ash's small body. Ash tried to peek from behind him, and saw a massive black and white tom. His mouth was noticeably scarred with several scratches, and all that remained for his tail was just a small tuft of fur. Ash immediately figured this guy was trouble.

"I was on patrol, and I heard that he was awake." He sneered, making eye contact with Ash's shy gaze. "We need to get rid of him now."

"He's hurt, he needs to wait longer to heal properly." The medicine cat's fur stood on end, although he was trying his best to stay patient. "He's not leaving until I say he can leave."

Brickjaw snorted. "And when will that be, huh? You wont be able to say much once he kills you in your sleep." Ash was shocked by his accusation. He would never kill anyone! Shrinking back further, He left Badgerheart standing furiously in front of him, willing to protect him at all cost.

Brickjaw stopped, and looked the medicine cat up and down, his lip slowly curling up. "What happened? You're bleeding." He pointed a paw at Badgerheart's chest which had been torn earlier by Ash.

He lifted his tail and covered the scratches. "It's nothing. Just an accident."

The black and white tom rolled his eyes in detest. "And that's not proof enough that he's dangerous? He hurt you of all cats, Badgerheart. If you can't see that's a bad omen, then I worry for our future."

And with that he turned, marching out of the den with as much aggression as when he came in. Badgerheart stood awhile longer, his eyes wide in shock and anger. Eventually he sighed, letting his fur sit flat again. He turned to Ash, sympathy in his eyes. "Please excuse my brother. He has quite a temper."

"That was your brother?" Ash gasped in astonishment. How could such a calm cat be related to a brute like that? Badgerheart nodded, but more sadly.

"I know he means well. He can be really kind and gentle once you get to know him." he sighed, attempting to smile. "He's just trying to do his best as deputy, and he's trying to protect me most of all." Growling in a deeper voice to himself he added, "But I don't need protection, I'm practically as old as a badger for goodness sake."

Ash stared at him, but Badgerheart only shook his long fur out and smiled at him. "Well, nevermind. I suppose I should continue tending to you now."

"But I feel fine." Ash lied. He didn't really hurt, he just felt tired and nauseous from all the aggression he's faced so far. And the sinking feeling of knowing it wasn't going to end soon.

Badgerheart dismissed him with a wave of his tail. "No matter, I'll still check you over. You seem like you got a lot of bruises from last night..." He trailed off as he started fussing over a mixture of leaves and herbs.

Ash crouched, staring blankly out towards the entrance where he knew cats would still be staring at bitterly, waiting for him to leave the den. He was an enemy to cats he didn't even know, but he had no intention of staying long. He thought of his mother, who was probably worrying and searching the woods everywhere for him.

I'm so sorry for making you worry, He thought, but I promise I'll find you eventually.

--

Thanks guys for reading my story! I really appreciate it!! <3

Writing might go on a little hiatus soon. I'll try to keep up on it, but I write 99% of it in school, and that ends next week. But I'll see you soon, promise!