MovieGirl44~ You sure do smell an oil covered rat that goes by the name of Conleth. I didn't end up using any of your names yet, but that part is coming up soon.

Breakaway25~ The planes here are jets, a lot like F-18s and F-22s but they don't know that other kinds of planes exist yet. And yes, I've read most of the Warriors books but it's been slow going for me.

Chapter 6

"Stop!" I screamed as Soomsani curled her lips around my injured wheel. She gave a muffled growl.

"Roven," Elsayah gasped as I struggled in her grip, "Until we get your nose gear into place you are not going to get anywhere." I clenched my teeth as the pain in my landing gear shot above tolerance level. Even Whitefern was holding steady as I sputtered unintelligible words in a steady snarl.

"Roven," Soomsani was beginning to lose patients waiting for me to stop moving. I tried to stop but my wings began to shake. "Really," Elsayah disdain in her voice, "Now!"

Soomsani pulled and for a moment I felt faint. There was a sharp pop and the pain was gone. I was winded from the experience as the healers let go. "There," Elsayah sighed, "you can get up now." I struggled to my wheels and found no pain, apart from the constant ripping ache where I'd been shot.

I spun to see Whitefern holding back a laugh. She made a disfigured sympathetic face then began to treat her mother Talca, who had fallen sick. Even Talca let a wheezing chuckle escape her throat. Regan came in, drawn by my pathetic screams of pain, with a panic stricken, beat look. He let out a breath before setting himself down. His presence made me remember what had happened.

Like a flood gate released, I found my wheels trembling as the troubles of the world beyond the tunnels came crashing back, knocking me into reality. I wanted to get out all of a sudden, to get away from the planes of Thunder Pack. Soomsani must've seen my anxious expression. "Roven, you can go out but don't stray far and come in as soon as it starts raining or your bandage will get soaked." A gave a short, grateful nod then sighed. Regan followed me out to my annoyance.

"Mother is debating on whether or not to take Conleth as a mate," I heard Regan whisper behind me.

I whirled around to face him, "What? She wants to take that oil covered deer carcass as her mate?" I was outraged.

Regan rolled back a few inches, "She's considering taking Conleth as a mate. She hasn't yet. Besides, the pack needs to have two leaders. If it doesn't we're going against the Leader's Code."

"Even the first planes of the forest knew more about the Leader's Code than we do and it didn't even exist," I snarled back. "No plane in their right mind would let their leader be mates with Conleth."

Regan gave me a pleading look. "Let's just fly, Roven, and… get away from the planes that might be listening… so we can talk." I gave a quick nod and we took off, but not without trouble. My side was giving me tiring pain and the deer hide tied around it was rubbing painfully against the raw spots. My brother twisted his head around to face me, "Okay, now you can fume all you want."

"I can't believe her," I sighed, "Mother might take Conleth to be her mate!"

"Yes," Regan said somewhat tiredly, "We've established that."

"So why is she doing it?" I wondered aloud, "That creep would kill her if he got the chance."

Regan rolled his eyes, "I'm telling you, Conleth is not that bad of a plane. Sure he's a little rude to us but that doesn't change the fact that he and Mother are doing their duty for the pack."

"Their duty?" I barked madly, "Conleth just wants power! He wants nothing else, trust me."

"Whatever let's you hunt," Regan said exasperated. "It's not like we have any say in Mother's decisions anyway."

I let it go and we flew in silence for a few moments. I felt raindrops pattering against my wings but paid no mind, even though Soomsani had told me not to stay out. Regan shot me a quick glance, obviously thinking the same as me. "The rain feels good on my wound," I answered the unspoken question.

"I don't know, Roven, I think you should listen to a healer," Regan cautioned as the rain became heavier. I gave a shrug and flew on. We heard thunder in the distance, startling and scaring Regan, yet I flew on, burning off energy I had stored up being in the infirmary. Regan began to look nervous. I knew he didn't like storms and especially didn't like flying in them but I paid no mind to my brother's feelings for once. Finally Regan spoke up, "Roven, we should be getting back." He gave an anxious glance at the storm clouds above.

I looked back at him and smiled, "Why?"

"The rain's getting heavier and a storm is coming," he said with a slight quiver in his voice.

I was not ready to face the healers' lectures, "You can go but I think I'll fly a while longer."

Regan cast a worried look at me then banked back towards home. I watched him go, hovering slightly. He disappeared within moments, just as lightning cracked the sky. This made me jump and regret going on alone. I took off after him. "Regan! Wait!" but he was already gone. I shrugged as the storm grew worse. I turned back to camp.

I was not expecting there to be no form of guarding around the entrance at all. I slipped into the tunnels and saw the two guards who were supposed to be outside hunkered down just inside of the opening. They looked at me intently, "This storm is too strong."

"To strong for guarding?" I asked. They gave guilty looks then nodded. If the strongest warriors of my pack were hunkering down, perhaps Regan was right, "Has Regan came through here yet?"

Isron, Whitefern's father, looked concerned, "Why? Did he go out in this storm with you?" I nodded. Isron looked at the other warriors, "Have you seen him?"

"No," they replied simply.

Isron just shook his head, "If we find him we'll tell you."

This made me nervous as I drove down the hall to the infirmary. Whitefern cast me an annoyed look as she saw me. "You know what Soomsani will say about this?" she hissed, "She'll have your throat once she finds out that you've been flying in this storm."

"I know," I sighed. Sure enough, Soomsani's eyes were disappointed.

"You realize how much work you are?" She shook her nose, "First your screaming as I snapped your nose gear into place, then this… this… disobedience?"

Whitefern rolled her eyes, "You can't blame a plane who's been cooped up all week."

"No matter," Soomsani snarled slightly, "he still has gone out into the rain and spoiled the herbs healing his wound." She stalked off to the other side of the cave and grabbed another hide, this time it was thicker, a bear hide. She then pulled it over to me and tore off, quite painfully, the old hide. Soomsani looked surprisingly pleased with herself when she saw me flinch. She gathered new herbs and applied them to my fuselage once more. "This should be better equipped for flight in light rain." Whitefern giggled slightly.

I looked at the new bandage, "So I don't have to stay in the infirmary?"

"Correct," Soomsani said. "But I still want you to come in everyday for the next week."

I nodded and she let me go. Whitefern followed, "Do you know where Regan is?" she asked.

"Regan went with me flying," I slowly answered, "He went to return to camp before me. I haven't seen him since." Whitefern didn't look worried and that took the edge off my fretting.

"Knowing him," she started, "he probably went hunting."

"Knowing him, he probably wouldn't," I corrected, "Regan is afraid of storms." Whitefern still shrugged but her eyes told of a slight fear. I left her to lay down, my exertions of flying catching up to me.

Three days past and Regan was not to be found. Fear had settled in my belly once more.

When I awoke one morning, I found Conleth standing over me with a cross look. In his eyes flashed unmistakable evil. I turned my nose up to him groggily. "Good, you're up," he snickered, "because you have some explaining to do." He took hold of my nose cone fiercely and forced me to my wheels.

"What did I do?" I yelped as I looked down at my nose as it bled from his bite.

Conleth growled, "Where's Regan?"

"I don't know," I answered.

"Are you sure? Intel tells me that you've been out flying in a storm, when you returned Regan was gone."

I looked up at him with fire behind my eyes, "What are you accusing me of?"

"Murder," he shrugged, "or treachery, turned traitor by the twoleg."

"What?" This was impossible but Conleth didn't think so. He grabbed me once more and shoved me violently outside the tunnels.

"You're lucky I have pity on you," Conleth snarled, "You're lucky I didn't choose death for you." I only opened my mouth and tried to form words, processing what I'd just heard, but couldn't protest in time. "You will defend yourself in front of the council." He turned to the right instead of left towards an older plane's den. An unasked question ripped through the air: Why were we going here? Conleth answered, "Before the council you go to Narvelous." He led me into the largest of the elder's rooms, which normally would be buzzing with the nonchalant chatter of the elder's stories. But today only one plane was standing there.

Only Narvelous, our judge in matters such as these, was in the room. His old, scarred nose twisted around at us. Grey eyes met ours. His navy blue markings were faded as his old age caught up with him. "Conleth, why is Keeleth's son here? Has he done wrong?"

Conleth nodded, "He was the one to bring the humans and to kill his brother. He is the one I blame!" I was horrified at Conleth's accusations. Regan was only missing. He probably decided to take a longer hunting trip than usual.

Narvelous stared at us for long seconds. When he spoke his voice sounded raw, "He has done no wrong. He is a coward though, I've seen it in him before, but there is no need to punish there."

"He is the one responsible for all of this and I have proof."

Narvelous watched Conleth fume calmly, "You come to me and here's my ruling: innocent. If you want a different answer you can come to me with a different plane… or ask me a different question."

Conleth's eyes went red. "Your ruling is not reliable nor needed anymore, Narvelous," Conleth raged, "You are relieved of duty." Conleth pounced upon the old warrior with bared teeth. Narvelous had no time to respond, he was down with a deep bite in his neck. Oil dripped off of Conleth's lip as he watched the judge die.

Narvelous, though, did not look rattled or afraid, he looked maddened, "My ruling is: guilty. You should have never been called leader… You killed Covan, I saw you. You knew that Keeleth would pick you if Covan died. Goodbye… killer… murderer…" Narvelous snapped weakly at Conleth, only grazing his body enough to draw oil.

Conleth growled and gave Narvelous a vicious bite leaving him dead. I couldn't believe that Conleth had betrayed his pack while he was leader. Conleth was going to be the death of the pack if nobody stopped him. I couldn't let that happen. "I'll expose you!" I roared to his face.

A sly smile crept around his nose, "Not if I expose you first." He dashed off in seemingly genuine panic. "Murderer! Narvelous is dead, as is Regan!" I stood there in shock as the few planes left gathered in another of our larger rooms. I couldn't help but to hear the terrible shouts and outraged roars I was receiving as several large warriors herded me into the council room. After not even five minutes there was the whole pack crowded in the room with me, Conleth, and my mother at the front. Conleth pushed me into the crowd which scattered from the spot I was standing. "I give you Roven," Conleth shouted, "the murderer of many!" Angry cries erupted from the pack. "He killed Narvelous, countless pack members, and even his own brother, Regan. And for what, I ask, did he do this for? I know because he, just before this meeting, tried to kill me as well." Conleth turned to show his small, Narvelous made wound to the pack. They gasped and snapped angrily at me again. "He wants power! For all I know, he could have killed his own mother as well. I would have been lost if not for Narvelous. The brave soul sacrificed his life for mine, taking the bite that was meant for me. My pack, my brethren, if you know what's right, you will banish this creature lower than dirt. I have made my ruling as has Narvelous. He was about to say "guilty" and this cruel creature attacked. If he, the murderer, would like a chance to speak," Conleth was in tears, "then let him. But heed my words: this rough deserves not to be in a pack but alone, like those we have banished before." Cheering angry agreement, the pack closed in on me before I could speak.

"Enough!" My mother screamed, "This is not a fair judging if the accused does not speak." She looked at me as if I had broken her heart. She believed Conleth and if I did not sway her, it would be the end of me.

I rolled forward, "My pack… um, if you believe Conleth, I wouldn't blame you but what you'll see, if you look close enough, is that it is really my accuser who killed Narvelous. As for my brother, Regan, you know that neither of us would possibly hurt one another. It was not me that killed him. The storm only sent him as missing. I let him go before me… without me…"

"So you did kill him! Things may have turned out differently if you would have stayed by his side," Conleth screeched.

I wanted to bite him but tried not to let his words get to me, "…I know that I shouldn't have left him, but I'm sure he's fine! Where is your proof?"

Conleth laughed, "My proof? My proof? My proof is that you killed Narvelous. I wouldn't put it past you to kill your brother as well. Nobody has seen him for a whole day."

"Well," I growled, "I accuse you! You killed Narvelous, that's his oil on your chin. Face it, you're selfish, low-down, and you only care about power and yourself. You would sacrifice the whole pack if you had to!" The few elders who had made it past the fighting nodded in agreement but still those who agreed with me were far less than those who didn't.

"Roven," my mother choked on the words, "I cannot deny that you have killed Narvelous but I cannot confirm that you have killed Regan… I hereby banish you from the pack. If you are seen within our territory by sunrise tomorrow you will be an intruder and killed. You are a disgrace to our pack and will not be seen as a member, friend, warrior, or even family to this pack again. You will be classified as an… enemy to this pack." She held back her tears as she thought she was doing what was best for her pack. She jumped down from her stage and nudged me out the tunnel. "You know I wouldn't do this if I had a choice. I believe you; I really do, but with Conleth and most of the other pack members disagreeing… I can't let you stay."

"Mother, I know you're doing what you think is right. I'll go," I turned away from her and mumbled, "If you believed me, you wouldn't have Conleth as your mate." I did not look back as I ran. I was too shaken to know where I was going or what to do. I would not have prey brought to me from the hunt tonight. I was alone and vulnerable. If I was to survive with the twolegs around, I had to join or make a pack and, right now, that seemed unlikely.

I spent the rest of the day searching for an abandoned cave or tunnel. I found an old abandoned camp but the airplane scent was still fresh. I concluded that the scent was from a rival pack that had recently been attacked. Oil stained the grass but no bodies were to be seen. I passed over one pot that had so much oil that whoever once laid there had to have died. A chill passed over me as I realized how close the twolegs were. They could be lurking around the area now, waiting for me to move in. But even in the desperate state I was in, I was not going to choose a home where murder took place. I glanced around me once more before deciding, still, to investigate and slipped into one of the tunnels. Nothing seemed to have taken place in here, not a drop of oil or piece of metal to hint any fighting. I explored deeper, the light fading from the entrance. My eyes slowly adjusted into night vision and I was shocked to what I saw. Three young hatchlings huddled in a bend in the tunnel. A large female plane lay next to them with her eyes closed and breathing shallow. Her breath was fetid smelling and her markings on her back were dull. She opened one eye as I crept closer. She gently nudged the hatchlings toward me, staring at me with fear for her young in her eye. I knew I could not care for them but still pushed the hatchlings under me, protectively next to my nose gear like my father used to do. She sighed before going limp and closing her eyes for the last time.

I couldn't help but feel responsible for these hatchlings now that they were orphaned but being so vulnerable myself, I didn't know what to do. They now pressed their wings against my nose gear in fear and hunger. "I won't let you down," I promised more to myself than them. I had to hide them and hunt or there would be no chance of survival.

I knew the hatchlings would not leave their den unless I forced them so I left them there to hunt. I hoped that this ground was not part of any packs' territory. Twisting my head to scan the ground under me, I spotted two large bucks sparing for a doe. I hungrily licked my lips in anticipation of the meat. Being alone, bringing down both of the bucks would be a challenge but I knew that if I were to keep my strength up and feed the hatchlings I would have no choice. Taking down the deer with a pack would be simple, but not now. Now I could only deal with one at a time and during mating season for the bucks they would have no thoughts. They would wildly charge through anything that got in their way. Their large antlers and bulk would be a challenge to get around. I landed lightly in the woods around the clearing. The trees were just thick enough to hide my movements without my wings hitting branches and trunks. I crept quietly toward my prey, trying to concentrate on the job at hand. Each time I heard the loud CRACK as the deer hit each other I jumped. The noise unnerved me, reminding me vaguely of the twolegs' weapons. I finally sprung forward and grabbed tightly the neck of the largest buck. The antlers of the two deer locked and the second was dragged down with his opponent. I heard the snapping of bones as I bit harder. I dropped the struggling buck and lunged toward the second. This one thought enough to try to use his horns. I easily dodged them. This gave me an advantage of hitting him hard with my wing. He stumbled and I tried to jump onto him. I missed by a hair.

The deer scrambled to his feet and ran. I attempted one last time to kill the buck by slamming into him. I prevailed. I snapped the animal's neck before dragging my kill to the tunnel entrance. The hunt was a victory but it would not sustain us long. Hatchlings grew fast and needed to eat and in order to hunt for them, I needed to hunt for myself. I pushed the hatchlings to the prey and they eagerly tore apart the buck. I hungrily gorged down my deer and felt strength flooding back into my body. The hunt had distracted me from the deaths and events that had happened. For a time I even forgot I was a rogue. By the time we had finished it was nightfall. We slipped into the tunnels, steering clear of the room where the female lay. I needed sleep, I knew that, but sleep would be hard to come. The hatchlings curled up next to me, nestling under my wing. I sighed; I couldn't keep them safe for long. These tunnels weren't safe and I didn't know how long it would be before my luck for finding food ran dry. Today was a stroke of luck. I wouldn't have gotten both deer if their antlers wouldn't have locked. I wondered how I was to survive. With the twolegs so close that I could smell their faint scent and enemy packs and rogues at every turn, who knew what would happen. I turned my head to the young planes and lay my head down. I watched them sleep until my eyes closed and I entered a restless slumber.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves of the trees, scattering light across the young planes' bodies. They playfully chased one another ahead of me. I wished I could keep them quiet and at my side where no other creature could see them. Taking these hatchlings with me was dangerous but in these circumstances there was no choice. It was find food, water, and shelter or face death as a loner. I scanned the woods around me; nothing was familiar neither in sight nor in scent. I did, however, smell something promising. I could smell a herd of deer. Luckily, the smallest of the hatchlings had caught a squirrel, a rare catch for even the fastest of planes. For a hatchling, a squirrel was a delicacy that could never be passed up. It was full of nutrients that gave the hatchlings energy.

I then thought of his name: Enstryke. He was the smallest in the clutch and the fastest. The name meant small and fast. That is how he got his name. It was Enstryke that first found the plane. She was stalking the herd. Her strange, black body, with almost star like patterns down her nose vexed me. She had a blunter nose and only one vertical stabilizer. She flashed a signal to another plane. His strong looking body and bright blue stripes made him look like a warrior. He relayed the signal to a third plane. This one was a small female with interesting green swirls curling up and around her wings. Her markings faded into brown which faded into her black body. I hung back watching. I knew that this could be the chance I had been waiting for. They looked like a small hunting patrol for a large, strong pack. If I could join them my problems could be solved. Only if I executed my plan perfectly would they accept me. If not, I could be injured or even killed. There was a large reward but a bigger risk. I pushed the hatchlings back and backed away. The risk could be the end of the hatchings, the end of Enstryke, the end of me. I wasn't ready to take that chance. I couldn't risk the lives of my young companions just to find a pack. I turned my back on this chance and turned my attention to finding food and shelter.

The day was ending soon and we had had no luck with prey and shelter was not to be found. My hunger was weakening me. I was not yet used to going without food for more than a day like some of the strongest warriors and lowest pack members. Oh, to be in a pack again. My thoughts made my hope drain from me. I remembered once again that I was a rough, packless and living on only luck. Most of my family was gone and my mother was required by the leader's code that she could not consider me as family. I once again scanned the terrain in vain to see nothing but trees.

Night came on fast as the winter returned. We had curled up together in-between two fallen trees. The trees provided us protection from the wind but not from the general cold. Although the leaves one the trees had not yet fallen the cold was coming on fast. None of us got much sleep.

Frost dusted everything in sight, making the world seem like crystal. The sun was up but warmth had not returned. I nosed the hatchlings to wake them. Enstryke and Sorreltail stirred and opened their eyes but the third hatchling, Isrock, was still. His red wavy stripes on his tail were dull and frost covered his tiny body. He had not made it through the night. The cold and hunger together had taken him down. I rested my nose gently on his lifeless body. "I'm sorry," I cried. "I've failed you. May you live happily in the eternal sky young one." Sorreltail cautiously approached her dead sibling. Her flaps were lowered as she nudged him. She cocked her head before trying again. After trying again for a third time she looked at me confused. I gently picked her up and pushed her gently away from Isrock. I turned away from him and sharp, painful memories of Regan flooded into my mind, was he alive? "I'm sorry, Isrock…" I looked up at the overcast sky, "Take care of him, Greatwings." I knew that Greatwings was in control, and I trusted him but I couldn't help but feel like he had abandoned Isrock. "I know you have a plan. Just take care of him."

Notes:

I know this is coming fast but I need to get closer to the climax or else I'll go crazy.