A/N - Hello, and welcome to chapter one! I'm sorry it took so long to get it out, but my beta went on vacation. (Yes, I found a beta.) I decided to post this chapter before she got back, and here it is! When she gets back, I'm sure Grassy Leaves will be a wonderful beta who helps fix all the mistakes that I seem to miss.
In other news, don't expect the next chapter for a while. I have a few trips to make this summer, and I definately can't write anymore until I finish my summer homework.
Finally, I decided to change the name of this fanfic. Now, instead of "New Home, New Clans", this fanfic will be called "The Siblings' War". The series, however, will remain "Tale of the Rogue Clans".
Well, sit back, relax, and enjoy the first chapter! Don't forget to review when you finish!
~Night
Chapter One - A new home?
To say that Rosethorn was frustrated was like saying a den full of foxes with a way into the nursery was mildly dangerous. A complete understatement.
First, there was the problem of scouting. Goldhawk, the leader of the traveling group of cats, sent out a couple of patrols each morning, to check for badger sets and foxes' dens, Twolegplaces, and any other dangers, not to mention the chance that one of these patrols would return with a place that could become their new home. Of course, the chances of finding a place without too many Twolegs with a lot of prey and enough land to split into four distinct territories was slim to none, but that didn't stop any of them from hoping.
Usually, the patrols consisted of Gorgewhisker and Beechwing, followed closely by Pinepaw, Ivoryflash, Redclaw, and Redclaw's apprentice Amberpaw, and finally Falconfall and Rosethorn, with Rosethorn's apprentice Wildpaw close by. Each of these cats was chosen for specific reason. Gorgewhisker had a strong sense of smell, and could smell a badger or enemy cat from far away, while Beechwing was a fast and strong fighter. Pinepaw was training to become a medicine cat, and could find herbs that the group desperately needed, all while having two strong warriors to protect him. Ivoryflash could be diplomatic when necessary, and could make deals with cats when traveling through dangerous areas. Of course, she wasn't afraid to show a bit of her claws to do this, and Redclaw was always happy to claw some fur to help out. Amberpaw went along because she was Redclaw's apprentice, and while having a strong mentor who isn't afraid to fight isn't a bad, it's always good for an apprentice to know how to deal with things peacefully. Falconfall was on the patrols because of his speed, because he could outrun many of the cats in the group. This allowed him to travel great distances before turning around and returning, so he was able to tell the group what to expect. And, of course, Rosethorn liked to think of herself as a great tracker, who could find prey if she was on one side of a mountain and the prey on the other. Wildpaw followed along to get hunting and tracking experience, and because she was Rosethorn's apprentice. Though these weren't always the groups they split into and sent off, they were the groups most often chosen to scout ahead.
This was not the case today. As Rosethorn rose from the nest she had quickly made the night before, she stepped on a thorn and had gotten it wedged into her paw. It was fixed quickly by Peppersprout, who pulled the spiky plant out of her paw before she knew what he was doing and told her to give it a good lick, which she did. However, she could not walk without a limp, let alone run. Even now, she lagged behind in the group of traveling cats, and it was almost sunhigh. There was no way she would have been able to keep up with Falconfall's quick paws. So, instead, they sent out Shiningrain, Rosethorn's sister, with her apprentice Rainpaw, leaving Rosethorn to limp in the back of the group with Wildpaw. And, of course, Graywolf.
Graywolf was the other reason why Rosethorn was in such a foul mood. Twilightsky, Rosethorn's mother, had had three healthy kits when she gave birth. The birth of Falconkit and Rosekit went easily. At least, as easily as giving birth can be. Graykit came next, and he wasn't quite as easy, but eventually he was born too, healthy as Falconkit and Rosekit. However, when the fourth and final kit slid out, her blue eyes were open, and she wasn't breathing. After quite a bit of work from the young at the time Moorwinds, though, the tiny kit blinked and inhaled her first breath. This kit was Shiningkit, later to become Shiningrain. However, the queen that had born these four kits had never stopped bleeding, and she died soon afterwards. Luckily, there were two other queens in the nursery at the time, Vineflower and Snowstorm, who between them had three kits, Icekit, Cloudkit, and Frostkit. Between the two of them, they had enough milk to nurse the four motherless kits. However, Shiningkit remained weak as a kit, and had little sense, so Graykit took it upon himself to protect her. Even after she became an apprentice, then a warrior, he still tried to protect her, even though she grew stronger (though, in Rosethorn's opinion, Shiningrain still needed some StarClan-sent help with her sense).
And now, Shiningkit, who had become Shiningrain, had been sent off on patrol, where Graykit, who had become Graywolf, couldn't protect her. And so, the shaggy gray tom began to worry before she had even left, reminding her to come straight back if anything happened, and to be careful, and to make sure she drank enough water while traveling. If Rosethorn had thought that his fretting was bad then, then this was unbearable.
"Shiningrain's been gone for a while. Do you think she's okay? It's almost sunhigh! Something must have happened! I never should have let her go on that patrol. I knew something would happen, but I just thought I was being paranoid. StarClan, Rosethorn, why did you have to go and get a thorn in your paw. Something's happened to Shiningrain, and it's all your fault! Though, I suppose Goldhawk carries some of the blame. He cold have sent some other cat out on patrol. Why not Aspenfall? He's a good warrior, he should have gone! And-" Graywolf was going to continue his ranting before he was suddenly cut off by his sister.
"Graywolf. First of all, shut up. No more talking, at least while I explain." Rosethorn glared at him, as if daring him to try talking. Surprisingly, he didn't. "Shininrain hasn't been gone for that long. It's nowhere near sunhigh. Falconfall is with her, I would be surprised if anything happened to her. It's not MY fault I got a thorn in my paw, and it's not Goldhawk's. It's the fault of whatever spiny plant decided to grow here. On top of all that, Aspenfall couldn't have gone, he has kits in the nur-Hey!" Rosethorn called out to the shaggy gray warrior, who had suddenly taken off toward the front of the group. "Don't walk away from me! I'm talking to you!" She gave up, as it seemed that he wasn't listening. "I liked him better when he was a recluse and a grouch," she grumbled to herself. Then, she realized what he was staring it.
A golden-brown streak could be seen in the distance over the plains they were traveling through, barely visible not only because of the camouflage provided by it's brownish fur and the brownish grass, but because of the speed it was traveling at. A little ways behind it came a silver streak, who tripped occasionally, only to pick itself up again to chase after the brown streak, which slowed down from time to time to let the silver streak catch up a little. The streaks quickly became visible as two cats, two very familiar cats, darting over the grass toward the group. Falconfall and Shiningrain had returned from patrol. Far behind them ran another grayish streak, and even farther back were six more cats, but these ones moving at a trot.
"What's so important that Falconfall and Shiningrain had to call the other patrols back?" Wildpaw was staring up at Rosethorn with a confused look on her face.
Rosethorn just shrugged. "Hopefully not trouble," she murmured before increasing the speed of her limping, trying to get to the front of the group to find out what was going on.
By the time Rosethorn had gotten up there, the two cats had already arrived and caught their breath. Both Shiningrain and Falconfall were trying to talk at once, making it hard to understand them.
"And there was more water than I had ever seen in my entire life, and it was moving, and-" Shiningrain was suddenly cut off by Falconfall.
"And there was this place where nothing grew at all, not even a weed, it was all hard ground and sand! I could have run forever out there, and-" Shiningrain now took over again.
"And there was this forest between them, and there was prey everywhere! We'd never go hungry!" Falconfall was about to jump in while Shiningrain breathed for her next sentence, when a familiar presence made them both go quiet.
A large gold tom stepped between a pathway the cats surrounding Shiningrain and Falconfall had made. Though his muzzle was almost entirely gray and he moved with the deliberate care of a cat who's joints hurt him, he was still a majestic sight to see, and authority blazed in his green eyes. It was easy to guess that this was the leader of the group of cats.
"Falconfall. Shiningrain." He meowed, looking at them both. "What's all this excitement about?"
Falconfall looked nervous, almost as if he had gotten in trouble, but Shiningrain, clueless as ever, jumped in headfirst. "Goldhawk, I think we found our new home!" Her blue eyes shone with excitement and she bounced slightly.
Goldhawk looked straight at her, and she stopped bouncing, finally realizing the seriousness of what she was suggesting. If she was wrong, then she had just gotten the group's hope up for nothing, and morale would fall, leaving a group of very sad cats on a very long journey. However, to Rosethorn's surprise, Shiningrain met Goldhawk's eyes determinedly. "This is it," she told him. "I can feel it."
Goldhawk watched her for several more seconds before deciding that she must be sure of herself. Rosethorn herself was more than a little doubtful, after all, what could a feeling have to do with anything? Why would Goldhawk place his trust in a feeling by his youngest daughter? He must have known as well as Rosethorn how clueless she was. Well, he would probably demote her to apprentice tasks if she was wrong. If Shiningrain wanted to get in trouble, it just wasn't Rosethorn's business, was it?
"Very well," Goldhawk nodded. "Falconfall. Shiningrain. Show us where this 'new home' is."
Shiningrain immediately brightened. "This way!" She called over her shoulder as she bounded away. Rainpaw had finally caught up, panting and gasping, and a look of despair fell onto her face as she saw her mentor bounding back away, back the way she had just came. However, Wildpaw saved her by beckoning her over with a twitch of her tail, and the pair fell farther back in the group, talking in hushed, excited whispers.
Falconfall fell into step with Rosethorn as the other patrols rejoined the group. "What was that all about?" Rosethorn hissed to her brother. "You should know better than to get their hopes up when it could just be another false alarm!"
Surprisingly, Falconfall didn't reply with a sharp comment or a stabbing jeer. He just shook his head. "You should have seen this place, Rosethorn," his eyes got a slightly far away look, as if he was envisioning it in his head. "It was amazing. I think Shiningrain might be right; that this is the place that will become our new home. It was like-" he stopped suddenly, his ears pricked forward.
Rosethorn looked at him in confusion. "What is it?" She asked, but he just purred and sprung forward in a quick trot, obviously excited. Rosethorn shook her head. "Mouse-brain," she muttered under her breath. Then, she heard what had excited Falconfall. A crashing, a roaring filled the air, getting louder as they traveled on. For some reason, it reminded her of water, but Rosethorn had never heard water that sounded anything like thing. Along with it came the tangy smell of salt. What was it? It looked like she was about to find out, as it seemed several cats had stopped at the top of a hill, the only hill in the long area of plains they had been crossing. It towered above everything else, casting it's shadow over the plains. Almost tall enough to be a mountain, but not quite. Still favoring her aching paw, though not quite as much as before, Rosethorn increased her speed until she got to the top of the hill. And, like many of the cats there, froze in shock.
Forests and fields spread out in front of her as far as they eye could see. The fields continued on to the left of the forest, where grass so tall that if Rosethorn stood in the middle of it and stuck her tail straight up it would be unseeable grew. Just beyond the grass, the land suddenly dropped off, leaving a harsh cliff face with a small path carved onto it. And beyond that! More water than Rosethorn had ever seen in her life! Even odder, it moved, and parts of it were white. It seemed to be the origin of the crashing and the tangy smell.
To the other side of the forest, on the right, the plants and shrubbery trailed off, leaving only dirt in its way, which gave way to packed earth, then sand. Rosethorn imagined it must be very hot over there, not having any trees to hide under. Beyond the desert, mountains rose up, tall and proud.
A tingling filled Rosethorn's paws. Suddenly, she could see why Shiningrain thought they could live here. Look at this place! It was amazing! She could run forever! Suddenly, Rosethorn was overwhelmed with the desire to run into the forest, to find the tallest tree and leap into the highest branches, to dart along the ground, the fastest thing there! However, she pushed down the urge when she heard Goldhawk calling her over. She took a deep breath, trying to dispell the feeling while walking over there.
When Goldhawk had gathered herself and her three other siblings together, he spoke. "Shiningrain, when you first spoke of this place, I did not believe that it would truly be as wonderful as you said it was. I now see that I was wrong." He dipped his head in apology. "I believe that your intuition will be able to carry you far. Shiningrain, since you have found our new home, I would like you to become the leader of one of the four clans that will soon form."
Rosethorn stared at her sister. How did she get to be leader? She glared at her jealously. Then, she realized something. Shiningrain, Graywolf, Falconfall, and herself. That was four cats. They were going to divide into four clans. He couldn't be…?
Goldhawk turned to Falconfall next. "Falconfall, you are a swift and strong warrior, and a natural leader. You have served the group well, and also found this place. I would be honored if you would also become a leader." Falconfall dipped his head and nodded an affirmative.
Next was Graywolf. Goldhawk paused here, as if trying to find the words. "Graywolf, though you rarely choose to show it, you are highly intelligent. I wish you wouldn't try to hide your brilliant mind, still, I think that it and yourself would be a wonderful asset as a leader of a clan." Graywolf looked a little unhappy at the idea of actual work, but murmured that he would before Goldhawk turned to Rosethorn herself.
"Rosethorn," Goldhawk meowed, "You are a wonderful tracker and hunter, and undoubtedly would have found this place if you had gone scouting with Falconfall instead of Shiningrain. You have always put your best effort forward, and are continuously looking after the safety of the group. Would you also become a leader?" Rosethorn glowed with pride as she nodded. She would be a wonderful leader, the best leader, she knew it!
Goldhawk nodded, before raising his voice so the entire group could hear him, though most had probably already heard it. "I am proud to announce," he called out, "That Falconfall, Rosethorn, Graywolf, and Shiningrain will become the leaders of the new clans! We will be deciding who will be going to which clan later on. For now, they must find a way to split up the territory."
Goldhawk turned back to the four siblings. "Each of you is to go in a different direction to scout out a territory that you would like your clan to have. You are to identify possible camps, places to train, and, if possible, a place to hold Gatherings and to speak with StarClan. Good luck, and may StarClan guide your pawsteps." He dipped his head to them before ushering the group back down the hill to wait in the shade.
Rosethorn bounded up to her siblings. "I'm going to go check out the forest," she told them. Surprisingly, none of them objected. To her, the forest seemed like it would be the best place to start a clan, with lots of prey to sustain them and plenty of possible places for a camp. However, Shiningrain was staring out at the ocean, fascinated by the way it moved, while Falconfall and Graywolf glared at each other, probably about to get into a fight over some sort of rivalry. Rosethorn scowled at them. Didn't they have any sense? This was a clan they were talking about! They couldn't let a rivalry get in the way!
Instead of voicing her concerns, Rosethorn shook her head. She walked up to Shiningrain and licked the top of her head. "Be careful, all right?" she warned the silver she-cat. Shiningrain merely nodded, still staring out at the ocean. Then, Rosethorn turned to her brothers. "Both of you," she looked at them both, "Remember, it's not just about yourselves anymore." She bounded down the hill toward the forest before turning around to call back up at her brothers, "And don't do anything mouse-brained!" With that last sentence, she turned to race toward the forest.
Toward her new home.