A/N: Hey folks! Here we are again, the first ACTUAL chapter. It's a little boring I know, but we're still just getting started. I think I have a better idea where this story is going, or at least I know how it's all going to end. The second chapter will probably be up sometime either later this week, or next weekend. We'll see. As always, reviews are my friend, and enjoy the chapter!

Home

Chapter One

The trees whistled above them, cool winds swirling beneath the pine needles and carving their way between their cones. Homekit shivered under the pine-scented breeze, his pelt ruffling in defense. The summer was beginning to draw to a close, and the small family had felt each day grow slighter shorter than the one before. This was Homekit's first winter. And in a way, it was Tigerpool and Rockfur's first winter as well. In the RainClan territory, their secluded valley left little room for wind and snow to reach. While the other clans huddled amongst themselves, RainClan thrived. Of course, they paid their price one way or another. Nearly every clan had waged war on them, each wanting a piece of their safe, fertile valley for themselves. And each time, RainClan had kicked them out. While the invading clans held the advantage of higher grounds when attacking, RainClan had stronger, healthier, and more numerous warriors. Each one willing to die for their clan if need be.

RiverClan was the only clan who rarely, if ever, invaded their neighbors. It was said that the same blood flowed through both of their veins. There may be some truth to that, as they both share the same sleek pelts and knack for fishing. StarClan would frown upon the slaying of their own blood, no matter how distant the relation. As a result, the two neighboring clans held much respect for each other, with a truce that stretched back farther than any elder's most distant memory.

Rockfur had considered going to RiverClan for help when they first were chased out by Leapstar. He knew that Shrewstar held a deep respect and friendship with Greenstar, and would protect his heir if asked. But Rockfur knew that RiverClan would be the first place Leapstar would look. If they were to join up with their allies one day, they would have to bide their time.

Homekit was watching his father. Watching the way his tail hung low and his eyes were furrowed in deep thought. He was often like this. Especially on days when their walks were the longest.

"Father?" Homekit asked, his little legs trying to keep up with his parents. Rockfur blinked a few times, turning to face his kit. Tigerpool was a few paces ahead, but slowed down when she heard her mate speaking to her kit.

"Have I ever told you of the time I was nearly caught by a RiverClan patrol for trespassing?" He purred. Homekit blinked in surprise. His father rarely told stories of his younger days in the clan. When he did, there was a sadness in his eyes that Homekit couldn't bear to see. But Rockfur didn't look sad this time. There was something else in his eye, a glint that Homekit didn't recognize.

"No…" he trailed off, wondering where the story was going. Rockfur sat down.

"I wasn't much older then you," he began. Homekit stared, wondering where this story was going. "But I was curious. Curious enough to cross our territory to see sunningrocks, that is." Tigerpool gasped in shock.

"You did not!" She said in shock. But there was amusement to her voice.

"Yes, I did," he purred back. Homekit looked between them, not understanding.

"What's sunningrocks?" he asked curiously. Rockfur only shook his head with a purr.

"A piece of land – important land, that has been fought over for years. I was just a kit, wondering what all the fuss was about. I wanted to see for myself what this was. What was worth the fighting." At that, he frowned once more, a flash of pain in his eyes. "My father died in a battle for sunningrocks," he said softly. Homekit looked at his feet.

It was difficult for Homekit to imagine such things. He was never born in the clan, though his parents spoke of little else. If they weren't teaching him their ways – ways that made little sense to Homekit, they discussed plans, strategies for how to get home. Homekit often wondered what that was like. Home. RainClan was his home, his parents told him. RainClan was where he belonged. But he had never even set foot in the valley. He knew of their customs, their secrets…he even knew all of their names! But he didn't know home. Although he was still young, barely into his fifth moon, he dreamed of belonging.

"What happened?" Tigerpool asked softly. Rockfur looked up, the moons of grief clearing away in his eyes.

"So I went, and I saw them for myself. Of course, I didn't go alone you see, I made Greenstar – Greenkit at the time – come with me. I was always the more adventurous one," he purred. "But he pushed me off the rocks. At the time, I thought that it was part of a game, a joke…" his vision clouded once more. "But he pushed me off because he had seen a RiverClan patrol coming. He knew that they wouldn't harm him. He was the leader's only kit, meant to be leader himself one day. But me?" He shook his head. "RiverClan didn't care about a curious RainClan kit." Tigerpool was watching her mate with curious, unblinking eyes. "Greenkit saved me – maybe even my life. Even if it came at a cost to himself, he knew that it would have cost me something more." He looked at his kit. "Do you now understand why I'm telling you this?" Homekit opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it, eyes furrowed in concentration. Rockfur stared into his eyes. Wide, unblinking blue eyes. The same bright color as his sons, and a stark contrast to his mate's blazing copper-colored eyes. Homekit shook his head.

"A good warrior always looks out for those smaller then himself, for they don't have the strength or training that we do. Even if there is a cost to ourselves, our cost will always be smaller than theirs." Rockfur then stood up, shaking the pine needles off his pelt, but Homekit stood still. His parents often said things like this, advice that didn't make much sense to him. But this was the first time that Rockfur had ever told him a story from his days as a kit.

"Go with your mother," his father purred. "I'll be back soon…with a big fat squirrel." Rockfur leaped into the dark trees. But Homekit was still standing still, thinking of what he was told. He looked at his mother, exhaustion clear in her posture. She was still young, but the stress between her and Rockfur in keeping their small family alive all while roaming through the pine forest had aged her beyond her years. Homekit thought back to Rockfur, lost in memories of what they had lost. A good warrior always looks out for those smaller then himself…then why didn't anyone look after them? Then, his eyes brightened with new purpose, and a fresh spring to his step. I'll look after them. Someday, I will be so big and strong that my parents will never have to worry about hunting again!

Tigerpool padded up to her mate, who was licking the burs out from his legs. She watched him tug them out one by one, eyes concentrated. Homekit was a few paces away, curled up fast asleep, ears twitching slightly every once in a while

"You never told me that story, of the sunning rocks," she said softly. Rockfur twitched his ears and looked up at her.

"Greenstar was my best friend," he said with a sigh. "And he was a good warrior. Maybe even a great one…but he never saved me at the sunningrocks. Not as kit, at least…" he gave a huff of amusement. "He was a good leader and a good friend…but he was a pain in the tail back in those days."

"So were you," Tigerpool reminded him, her voice amused. Rockfur purred.

"You were always the good one. Just like Homekit. Yes…" They both looked at their kit, still asleep. His light grey fur a mixture between Tigerpool's light and Rockfur's dark pelts. "I can't imagine StarClan blessing us with a better kit," she said with a sigh. Rockfur nuzzled her head gently.

"I don't want him to lead," she said, her voice full of emotion. "We saw the way it tore Greenstar apart…I can't bear the thought –" she broke off with a sob, burying her face into her mate's plant. "There must be some other way…"

"I know," he whispered softly to his mate, watching their kit sound asleep. "I know."