A/N: Introducing more characters! Yay!

A Promise of Home

Chapter Two

The sun at finally peaked at the top of the sky when the small party had slowed down. Tigerpool had hunted down a small, thin rabbit for the three of them to share. Rabbits weren't typical of RainClan territory. They usually opted for fish caught from the nearby streams or small mice that scurried through the ferns. But fresh-kill was fresh-kill, and they had since grown used to it. Homekit dug into the rabbit with excitement, being sure to give a prayer to StarClan before his meal. For him, thin rabbits were all he'd ever known.

"Where are we going?" Homekit mewled as he dug into the rabbit. Tigerpool exchanged worried glances with her mate. Rockfur padded forward.

"RiverClan is our best option," he whispered to her. "It's been moons now, surely it will be safe enough."

"RiverClan!" Homekit said in surprise. "Can we mother? Please!" He longed to meet other warriors, to see clan life for himself. But Tigerpool didn't look convinced.

"Are you sure that is wise?" She hissed to Rockfur. "Wouldn't it be better to wait a few more, at least until Newleaf, when Homekit is of apprentice age?"

"I am apprentice age!" Homekit interrupted, chest thrust out in pride. "Father says one more quarter moon, and I would've been Homepaw…" There was sadness laced with the excitement in his voice, filling Tigerpool with sorrow.

"Oh sweet kit," she drew her son close. "Someday you will be a great warrior. The greatest, kindest warrior in RainClan." Maybe even leader, StarClan save him.

"I don't need to be the greatest warrior," Homekit all but whispered. "I just want to be a warrior…" he turned to face his mother. "Please can we go to RiverClan?" he asked again. It took everything Tigerpool had to not sob at her son's request. She loved her kit more than anything in this world. The thought of bringing him back to a place that may wish them dead filled her with such dread. The clan they left was not the same as the clan they would return to.

But she knew RiverClan. She knew that RainClan and RiverClan shared the same blood a long time ago. She knew that they would protect Rockfur and her kit with their lives if Shrewstar ordered it. And more than that, it would be a step towards home. The place they have dreamed of since their paws set food outside the last border boundary in RainClan. She looked over at Rockfur, who gave her a small nod. His blue eyes were filled with hope. Who was Tigerpool to refuse that hope? Who was she to stomp it out with petty fears? Their family was chosen by Greenstar – by StarClan themselves – to become something bigger than they were. And who was Tigerpool to reject that?

"I…alright," she said weakly. Rockfur sighed in relief, padding over to nuzzle his mate softly.

"Everything will be fine," he said softly. "Shrewstar is a kind and gentle leader, with a good heart. She will help us come home. I promise."

Tigergaze watched as their new leader stood atop the Rain-wood, his piercing yellow eyes surveying the clearing. She tried her best to avoid eye contact, as all the cats in RainClan did now days. Leapstar's attention often came at a cost when he suspected traitors. And he was always suspecting traitors. When the evening sun hung low in the sky and cast shadows throughout the camp, he became convinced they were usurpers in every corner, but no cat dared even think about it.

Any cat with relation to Greenstar had vanished, declared dead by Leapstar's paw for treason. Of course, only Tigergaze and Leapstar were present on Greenstar's deathbed to witness his change of heart. But Tigergaze chose her actions wisely. She took the precious moments after his death to warn Rockfur and his small family, rather than to announce his new leadership. He was reluctant at first, after given the knowledge that he was the rightful leader. Greenstar may have been mouse-brained enough to change his mind so close to the end, but at least he was wise enough to choose the right warrior. Rockfur and Tigerpool fled the territory.

Ever since then, she kept the whispers alive. The whispers that they were alive. Fled to the twoleg territory, fled beyond the moors, fled to the pine forest…the story changed with each whisper. But one thing was for certain, they were always plotting their return.

These whispers were saved for precious few moments, late at night in the apprentice den when all others were long since asleep, or between a queen and a medicine cat early in the morning. The leader had spies that came with his paranoia, and it was announced of his intentions should any cat be caught spreading these whispers. They had begun to die out since then, as the moons drew on. But they were never completely gone. They grew back to their former glory after Leapstar announced to the clans at Fourtrees of Rockfur's "betrayal" and unfortunate accident at sunningrocks after he kidnapped his pregnant mate in an attempt to flee. The RainClan warriors immediately saw through the lie, but didn't dare speak of it. They didn't want themselves to end up in an "unfortunate accident at sunningrocks."

After Leapstar announced himself as leader, it was no surprise when he immediately announced his son as deputy, as was the RainClan way. Maplefire was only able to be an apprentice for a moon, his warrior name announced the same time as his new position. Tigergaze saw a bit of herself in the small, ginger-pelted apprentice. She too had to become the clan's medicine cat quite young, after her mentor had died of old age. She watched the ginger tom pad up to his father, pride in fear in his eyes as he was made deputy. Despite the circumstances, Tigergaze couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride herself.

She thinks Maplefire might have made a good medicine cat, had StarClan chosen a different path for him. During his brief moon as an apprentice, he often spent time in her den. Sometimes he would help her organize herbs, other times he would help tend to the queens. And sometimes, he just wanted to talk, for no other reason than that they enjoyed each other's company. He was kind, yet shy and naive. He reminded her of Greenstar in that manner. The clan cheered when he was made deputy, for they held far more respect for him then they ever would his father.

Tigergaze sighed, leaving the clearing and retreating back into her den. There was much work to do, before the day was done. Herbs that still needed to be collected, whispered to be distributed. She couldn't deny that RainClan was the midst of its darkest hour. If it was true that Tigerpool and Rockfur's unborn kit had survived after all, there was no doubt she would have a difficult time deciding the rightful heir.

There was a low growl in the night. It was a fierce growl, one that Rockfur and Tigerpool had never heard before in their lives. But they immediately recognized what it was. It was a dog. Tigerpool swept Homekit to her side with her tail curled around them. Rockfur puffed his fur out, lips drew back in a hiss.

In a flash, three howling dogs leaped out from the bushes. Their big jaws snapped at Rockfur, who raked his claws across the dogs face. The dog drew back in a whimper, but that only caused the other two dogs to grow more ferocious.

"Let me go! Let me go!" Homekit mewled. His little claws were unsheathed, but Tigerpool only tightened her grip. "I can fight!"

"You're too small yet, Homekit!" she hissed, although her voice held nothing but fear for their lives. Tigerpool pressed the two of them further into the tree. She watched as the dogs began to circle her mate, but there was nothing she could do. She could only watch as the scent of fear grew more and more.

And then, there was a loud shriek. A sandy-pelted she-cat leaped from the bushes. Her ears were drawn back in a snarl, and her green eyes were narrowed into slits. She wasn't the largest cat that they had ever seen, but she was a frightening sight. And what she did next was nothing short of pure terror. With one large swoop, she drew her paw across and raked her claws down the noses of all three dogs. Blood squirted from their noses, spraying her with red. The dogs took no time to recover or hesitate, they scrambled over each other as they escaped the clearing. But even after they had gone, Tigerpool wouldn't dare let herself give a breath of relief. Homekit was staring at the rough with wonder in his eyes, amazed at how quickly the dogs ran.

"Wow…" he whispered softly. The only cat who seemed to hear him was Tigerpool, who shushed him.

"Who are you!" Rockfur exclaimed. His voice was low and commanding, echoing through the trees. Tigerpool felt a sudden rush of pride for her mate. Moons spent wandering the pines have not changed him. He is a warrior.

But it didn't seem to have the same effect of the she-cat. She simply flicked her tail, reaching a paw up to her face to lick away the blood. She curled up her nose in disgust.

"Ugh! I'll never grow used to hounds."

"Who are you!" It was Tigerpool who spoke this time. Although her voice didn't match the same conviction as her mate's, she tried her best to calm her shaking as she kept Homekit near her flank. The she-cat stopped listening to her when she spoke.

"Some cats call me Brittle," she said slowly. She narrowed her eyes at Rockfur.

"You three belong to the clans, don't you?" she asked. When they didn't answer, she brought her paw back down and narrowed her eyes again. "What brings you all the way out here?"

"We're warriors!" Homekit blurted out in excitement. Tigerpool gasped and shushed her kit once more, sending Rockfur a nervous look. Brittle gave a huff of amusement and looked down at the kit.

"I think I figured that much out," she said. But Homekit was still staring at her in amazement, his grey eyes wide.

"Are you a warrior?" He asked curiously.

"No, she's not," Rockfur snapped. Brittle shot him a glare.

"You say it like it's some sort of an insult. Relax, I didn't go through all that work to save you, but I think it's only fair enough for me to know the reason there are warriors invading my home," she snapped back.

"We're not invading, we're escaping," Tigerpool said.

"Tigerpool –"

"Who is she going to tell…Leapstar?" she hissed. Brittle looked at her curiously.

"You're escaping from the clans?"

"Yes. Our leader announced Rockfur as his successor just before he died. His son Leapstar chased us out and declared himself the new leader. Chased us out of our home," her voice cracked a little at the end. Rockfur's fur was still standing up, his eyes distrusting of Brittle. His eyes widened when Tigerpool spoke, but he didn't try to stop her.

"Why didn't you go to your other clans for help?" she asked slowly. Tigerpool shook her head sadly.

"We didn't know if we could trust them. All we had was out word, not enough to convince them to go to war for us. One of the clans maybe, but even then…" she drew her kit close. "That's where we're headed, RiverClan. It's too big of a risk, but there aren't many choices left," she said with a sigh. Brittle had a curious look on her face, something that they couldn't read. As they went on with her story, she had stepped down from the rocks. There was glint of something in her eye. Respect, it seemed. He paused.

"I know that clans," she began softly, a wistful expression on her face. "I've ran into a good number of warriors in my days…I've seen how they work. How they protect their own, how they value honor and bravery." She turned to Rockfur, that same glint of respect in her eye. "If it's true what you said, that your leader chose you over his son, then there was good reason for it." She took a few steps closer, but Rockfur stood still. "Find me a place in your own, find me a place as a warrior…and I will help you reach this RiverClan. I will help you defeat your enemies, I will keep you safe on the road, and I will help you convince your allies, if they will listen to me." She dipped her head in respect. Rockfur glanced at his mate, who gave him a small nod and purr. Rockfur still didn't know if he could trust her, but the road ahead was not going to be a pretty one. They all saw the way Brittle fought. No other rogue could match her strength. And if it was true what she said of her loyalty, she deserved no less than a home to call her own.

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