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This is not a Balto story, but it is a wolf story. It is completely independent of any of my Balto stories, and I have been working on it for over a year now. I have decided to share it with all of you to see how it is going. I appreciate your reveiws. Though this is a “teaser” it is very long. The finished story will be over three hundred pages most likely… enjoy!

-RTW


The Story of a Wolf


Started 12/10/05

Finished:

Pages

Words:





All of the material within is the sole property of the author, Anthony E. Rotramel. None of this work should be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the express permission of it’s author. Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

The Story of a Wolf © 2006 Anthony E. Rotramel. All Rights Reserved.

Prologue

Change came into the world the Wolves of the Valley lived in, very quietly one winter's night, deep in the woods, in a little cave. In the cave, two wolves lived, and it was they who had brought these small creatures into the world. The male, whose name was James, walked over to his mate, and the children’s mother, her name was Rain. James and Rain were alone in the world, choosing the life of a loner, over life in a pack. Theirs was a scattered belief, almost a rebellion against the traditional ways of their species.
James nuzzled his mate, and watched his daughter, and two sons, as they laid there, asleep. He smiled at Rain and walked outside. It was raining.
James felt the cool liquid hitting his back, closed his eyes, and smiled.
He could hardly wait to start the children's teaching. Theirs would be the first, in a succession of trainings going on throughout the forest, against the Mountain Clan. The Mountain Clan was a group of wolves that, for all intents and purposes, ran things in their small valley. They were oppressive, and killed all of those who stood in their way. James walked back into the cave, and upon ensuring that the children and their mother were safe and comfortable, fell asleep.

It was later that night when James was awoken by a sound. He was instantly awake and alert, as he heard voices, and soon, large shadows played across the rock walls of the cave, the shadows of wolves.
His heart was instantly full of fear, for somehow he knew the Mountain Clan had caught up to them. He stood and woke up Rain, who in turn woke the children.
The small family was making their way out of the cave, when James was stopped by a voice.
"Going somewhere James?"
The voice was familiar.
"Shadow." James said, turning to face his brother. "I'm honored. You actually came for me yourself."
Shadow laughed, and walked towards James. He was a large wolf, black with gray tipped ears and paws.
"I can't let you get away brother. You were the head of our fighters, for someone as important and looked up to as you to rebel against us... I cannot allow it. The pack must see what happens to traitors, no matter who they might be."
He smiled at the pups.
"Such beautiful children James..."
Rain stepped in front of them.
"You stay away from them!"
"Oh," Shadow said, laughing again. "Looks as if someone is protective."
He walked closer to James, and stopped in between Rain and James.
"You'll be the first to go."
Then he snapped his jaws around Rain's throat, and bit down, swinging her to the floor as he did so.
"NO!" James yelled, but it was too late.
Blood sprayed from Rain's shredded throat, and quickly pooled on the smooth rock floor of the cave.
Her eyes full of fear, and pain, Rain tried to say something, but instead spit up some blood, and fell to the floor, gasping for air, soon, she stopped breathing.
James was shocked. There was a red streak of his mate's blood on his face. He couldn't believe it, she was gone. He gritted his teeth, unwilling to let his brother see the pain her death caused him. They both had known this was probably how it would end, the Mountain Clan was ruthless, but he'd hoped to plant the seeds of rebellion in his children first.
"One down..." Shadow said. "…three to go."
"Three?" James thought.
He looked down, and saw that only his two sons were beside him.
"The girl got away." James thought. At least there was hope in that.
James knelt down.
"I'll not go easily." He said.
"Oh I knew that." Shadow said. "That's why I brought them."
"What?" James asked. He turned and saw his own unit advancing from the rear. He turned back to face his brother. "Though I may die here, others will carry on the fight, there will be a day that sees your death, and the freedom of the Wolves of the Valley."
James quickly turned and leapt at the attacking wolves. He fought very well, but they outnumbered him, and soon the fight was over.
One of the wolves walked over to Shadow.
"Sir, what about the pups?"
Shadow sighed.
"Not one aspect of my brother's treachery will leave this cave." He looked down at the shaking pups. "Dispose of them."
The wolf nodded and quickly did his duty. He made it quick for them, and left the chamber of the slaughtered family.
Shadow walked out and saw Amra standing outside the cave.
"Is it done?"
He nodded.
She sighed.
"So you've done it then, killed your own brother?"
"Yes," Shadow said. "James and his family are dead, and their treachery died with them. As the leader of the Mountain Clan, I had to do what I did."
Amra nodded.
"Yes, all is right again."
Shadow smiled.
"Come, let us return to our own cave, and leave this stench of death."
Amra was about to nod her head, when a rustling sound reached her ears.
"What's that?"
She walked past Shadow.
"Be careful Amra." Shadow said.
Amra disappeared into the bushes beside the cave.
"Oh!"
"What is it Amra!" Shadow said. "Get back out here!"
Amra emerged from the bushes, a small white wolf pup hanging from her jaws by the scruff of its neck.
"What is that?" Shadow said, walking over to her.
"It's a pup." Amra said. "...and a very young one too."
"It's probably one of James's." Shadow said, a tone of disgust in his voice. "I'll have my units take care of it."
"No!" Amra said.
"Excuse me?" Shadow said. "What did you say?"
"I apologize my lord." Amra said, kneeling before him, "but may I talk to you?"
"Stand up Amra." Shadow said. "Now what is it?"
"She's so young Shadow, can't we take care of her, adopt her? Do you really have to kill her?"
Shadow sighed and looked at the pup.
"Do with her what you will. If you want her to be our child, then she is ours."
Amra smiled.
"Thank you my lord."
Shadow smiled.
"Now come, let us show our new member our home."
Shadow started to walk away from the small cave, and Amra followed him, the small pup sitting on her back.

Soon after Shadow had left, a small wolf clan was walking down the trail past the cave, when they heard a whimpering from inside. The scout halted the wolves, and ducked inside. He walked through the small entrance chamber and stumbled upon the murdered family.
The young wolf was overcome with sadness at this sight. One of the victims didn't even have his eyes open yet.
"This must be the work of the Mountain Clan." He said aloud. "No one else in the valley is as cruel as this."
He sighed.
"Poor James."
He'd known the two since they'd been but pups of the Mountain Clan. They'd been very good friends, he and James, but when the young wolf had fled the Mountain Clan, in fear for his life, it was James who had come after him, determined to bring him back to Shadow, where he would be killed. He'd heard that James had fled as well, and had been looking for him... now it seemed he had found them, but too late.
"Looks like your devotion to that tyrant never quite paid off." The young wolf said.
Then he heard the whimpering again.
He walked away from James, and walked to the front of the chamber, where against the wall, a white wolf lay, a female.
"Rain." The young wolf thought. "My Aniae, what did they do to you?"
The mother's throat had been ripped open, and her spine severed. She lay in a pool of her own blood, and it was from under her that the whimpering was coming from. The young wolf gently rolled Rain over, grimacing as he saw that her head was hanging by only a fold of skin. What he saw under her took his breath away. It was a pup. It looked like it was about the same size as the one that had been killed. The young pup was drenched in his mother's blood, and had a big cut over his right eye.
"Looks like they tried to do you in too little fella." The young wolf said. "Lucky we came by."
He tried to pick up the young wolf, but it latched onto its mother, and wouldn't let go.
Tears came to the young wolf's eyes.
"I'm afraid she's gone little one." He said. The young pup looked at him, and though his eyes were not yet open, he understood.
The pup hung his head and let go of his mother. The young wolf picked him up and carried him out of the cave.
"By Aniae, Joshua, What's that?!" The small female that was the young wolf's mate, said, as he came closer.
"It's James's pup." Joshua said.
"Well, what are you doing with it?" She asked.
Joshua sighed.
"James is dead..."
The young female gasped, and her gaze traveled to the small pup as Joshua sat it on the ground.
"...it was the Mountain Clan," he said. "I'm sure of it."
"Well what about this little one then?" The female asked.
Joshua sighed again.
"Well we can't just leave it out here. It's much too young to survive without a mother."
The young female smiled.
"Joshua, let's adopt it, I'll take care of it."
"Are you sure Silver?" Joshua asked.
She smiled again.
"You always said you wanted a son Josh."
Joshua smiled back at her.
"Yeah, yeah I guess so."
He looked at the small pup, which crawled over to Silver, and nestled up against her leg.
"It looks like he likes you." Joshua said.
"He needs a name." Silver replied.
"How about... Aaron." Joshua said.
Silver smiled.
"Aaron you are then." She said.
She looked back up at Joshua.
"We'd better be getting back to the cave soon. It's no telling how long he's been without food."
Joshua nodded, and resumed his post at the head of the pack.
Soon, the small pack of wolves had vanished into the thick evening mist.

Chapter One

Star walked quietly through the woods. It was dark. It had been many hours since the sun had just ducked below the horizon. Today was quite possibly the most important day of her life. The day she was to be a blooded hunter of the clan. She'd been training for this moment for the last two years. Usually she would have had a hunting team with her, as the daughter of the Alpha; she would be the leader, but... not this time, not the first time. Star knew as she crept through the forest, that many wolves didn't come back from their first hunt, some were killed, and others ran away, preferring exile to the possibility of death.
Star would do neither.
Though the deer were dangerous when hunted alone, she would take one down; just as thousands of wolves had done before her. She knew that Aniae the wolf goddess, who watched over all of them, would be with her, and she would be successful.
Star could smell her quarry now. She crept through the trees as low as she could, as her stark white fur shone like the sun itself in the moonlight. Her coloration had always perplexed her. How was it that she could be white, when her mother was gray, and her father was black? She didn't have any answers, and every time she confronted her parents about it they stalled, almost as if they didn't want her to know the truth.
"... but why wouldn’t they want me to know the truth?" Star said aloud. Then she remembered where she was, and what she was doing. "I shouldn't be thinking of this right now." She thought.
It would be light soon, and if she hadn't killed a deer by that time, she would fail the challenge, and be banished from her clan, forsaken by her family.
Suddenly up ahead, she saw it. It was a deer, a young doe, but still dangerous. A deer's hoofs were deadly weapons, and if one connected with your head, you might not get up, even strikes to the shoulder or worse, back, could and often did break bones.
Star cautiously snuck through the forest, waiting until she had closed the distance, from herself to the deer, to about ten yards, then she ran.
The deer saw her then, and took off as well.
Few things could keep up with a deer on the run, but a wolf was one of those few.
Star ran harder than she ever had, pulling up alongside the deer at a forty-five degree angle, just as she'd been taught. She was confident as she leapt at the doe, teeth flashing. It was a perfect text book take down.
The fall broke the doe's front legs, and when she tried to run again, she fell to the ground. Star was on top of her quick as lightning then, and tore at the deer's throat.
The deer tried to kick Star with its back legs, but Star was careful to avoid those deadly hoofs. She clamped down her jaws and waited. Soon the deer's body went limp, and it stopped struggling, the only sign that she was even alive, was her fearful darting eyes, but soon even they slowed, and then stopped.
The deer was dead.
Star was elated.
"I did it!" She screamed.
She tilted her head to the stars, and howled for all she was worth, singing the song of victory.

When Star returned to the cave, there was a big party waiting. The Alpha's daughter was now a full member of the pack, and this was cause for celebration. The deer that she had killed, along with the one her brother had taken, were to be eaten in a feast for the whole pack. Her father, the Alpha himself had tracked and downed a bear, for this occasion.
Star had never felt so good in all her life.
She looked around the cave, and saw her brother standing with some of his friends, a gray wolf named lightning, and a white one, named Cloud. Everyone knew that Cloud would be her brother, Samuel's mate, it was only a matter of time, and age, and Cloud was a year younger than Samuel.
Star decided to walk over to him.
"Hey Sam, how'd you do?"
Her brother smiled.
"About the same as you."
She returned his smile.
"This is so exciting!"
He nodded.
"Yes, yes I suppose it is." He remained silent for a moment, thinking. "What did you think of the hunt?"
"It was fun... kind of." Star said.
"Oh really?" Samuel said.
Star sighed.
"Okay, so maybe... I didn't like killing her, but... but it had to be done, and I did it."
"That you did Star..." Samuel said. "...that you did..."
Star's father walked in the room then, and everyone fell silent, and knelt down.
Shadow cast his gaze upon his two children, and they walked up to him.
"Please everyone," he said, "stand and let us celebrate our newest members."
Everyone in the chamber regained their feet and resumed talking.
Shadow smiled at his children.
"I am very proud of both of you." He said. "I was watching you as you hunted. Did you know this?"
Both of them looked shocked and shook their heads.
'Well we'll work on that later." He said. "…but I was very impressed by what I saw, especially from you Star."
Shadow turned to his daughter.
"In fact, I was so impressed by your performance I am giving you the position of leader of our fighters. I have watched you as you trained, and have seen a great potential in you. Killing is second nature to you, you were born for this job, and it is yours."
Star bowed her head.
"Thank you Father."
He smiled.
"Come now, stand up, dispense with the pleasantries. Let's celebrate my children's victory."
They both smiled, but Star couldn't help but see a bit of disappointment in her brother's eyes.
The three of them walked down to Amra, who was already in the chamber.

Star was very tired.
Her training had been long and hard. As leader, she had to better than any of those under her, and she had trained hard. It was all going to pay off now, with her first attack. Though she was tired, she couldn't let that dull her senses, her unit depended on her to be alert, their very lives depended on it.
She went over the details of the mission in her head.
A few days ago her father had called her into his chambers. There he had told her of a small pack of wolves that were teaching their members against the Mountain Clan. They must be silenced. Most important was a small gray wolf named Silver, and her mate Joshua. They were the targets, and the leaders of this rebellion. She was told that Joshua had fled the Mountain Clan some time ago, and had been hunted by them ever since, it was only now that they had found him. Her mission was to deal with the two of them. The loss of its leaders would quell the rebellion before it even began. In addition she had been given permission to eliminate anyone who stood in her way.
Star could see the small pack's home from her vantage point on top of the hill. The pack had made their home in an abandoned cabin at the side of the river.
Below, half of her unit waited in the trees, the most trusted of the group was behind her, ready to charge down the hill at her order.
On the other side of the cabin near the water, another unit waited, led by her brother, ready to charge down the only other entrance Star had found in her recon of the place. The wolves below had no idea that their lives hung by a simple sign Star would soon give.
She looked once more at the cabin, and tried to recall the scout's description of its interior. Satisfied that now everyone was in their places, Star tilted her nose toward the trees and howled, long and sharp. Then she turned to those behind her, as she heard the other wolves scrambling from their positions, the ones below sounding the alarm.
"Follow me down the hill, then break off and attack at will, just keep them off me until I get to the cabin."
"We will Star." One of the wolves said.
She smiled.
"Good."
Star turned and saw that the battle was already raging in the clearing below.
"For the Mountain Clan!" She screamed.
Then she ran down the hill.

Aaron had been on guard duty when the battle erupted seemingly from nowhere. One minute, the clearing had been as peaceful as it always was, and the next it was full of wolves. He'd sounded the alarm and then charged out to meet them, followed by some of the small pack's best fighters.
"Try to find the leaders, attack them first!" Aaron yelled.
He saw a white wolf, who could only be the main leader, charge down the hill then.
"I've got him." He said. "You guys take care of the rest."
Aaron broke off the attack, and turned, planning to intercept the wolf, but stopped, as he jumped through the window of the cabin.
"What could they want in there?" Aaron thought. "Oh no! Dad!"
Then he turned and ran through the fighting wolves, back to the cabin.

Star reached the bottom of the hill and leapt at the window of the cabin. The glass shattered as she hit it and she went through it, landing somewhat roughly on the wooden floor inside. She knew that as soon as the alarm had been sounded, they'd begun to evacuate the targets... That's how she thought of them, the targets. It made it easier not to remember that these were living creatures she was to kill. ...and that meant that she didn't have a lot of time. Star sprinted up the stair case, and was attacked.
A young wolf jumped down at her, but he clearly hadn't been trained, at least not well, because he left himself wide open.
It was a bit of a shame. The wolf was probably not even a full year old yet, and in fact, had he not attacked her, Star would have let him be... but he had attacked her.
Star leapt in the air and tore at the young wolf's exposed belly. He howled, and fell... right past Star.
Her strike had knocked him clear of the stair case and he fell to the floor below.
Star continued running up the stair case, and into the room at the end of the hall.
There she found her target. The female was standing at the back of the cabin, and pushed something... no, someone, out the window.
Then she stopped, and turned to Star.
"You're from the Mountain Clan, aren't you?" She asked.
Star sighed.
"I don't know you Silver, but you shouldn't have spoken out against my father."
Silver smiled.
"You believe that?"
"Believe what?" Star asked.
"Believe that tyrant is your father." Silver said haughtily.
That's enough talk traitor!" Star said. "For crimes against the Mountain Clan and our great leader, you have been sentenced to death. I am here to carry out this sentence. Will you come quietly? I can make it fast for you."
Silver's eyes fell to the floor. Star smiled.
Then Silver jumped out the window.
Star ran to the shattered window, careful not to step on any of the broken glass. She smiled.
Silver's escape had not gone as planned, instead her fall had injured her, and from the way she was limping, she'd broken her left foreleg.
Star jumped out of the window and landed on her back.

Aaron raced through the cabin, heading straight for the room where he knew his mother had been.
When he saw the broken window he raced to it.
What he saw there horrified him.
The white wolf stood over his mother, who had fallen to the ground. She was hurt, and hurt bad.
"NO!" Aaron yelled, as the wolf brought her paw down on his mother's head.
"I can't believe it..." Aaron thought. "She's... she's dead."
Aaron looked at the white wolf, memorizing his features.
"I'll kill you for this one day." He thought. "By my mother's blood I swear it."
Then he turned and ran, following the rest of the wolves as they retreated into the woods to the south.

Star stared down at what was left of Silver's head.
"One down..." She thought.
She looked around. The rest of the small pack had fled, and the clearing was silent once more.
"... and I guess that one will have to do."
She cursed aloud and looked around.
Yep, Joshua got away." She thought.
She howled, and her unit emerged from both the cabin and the forest.
She looked at her unit.
"Let's go home guys." She said. "You did well."
As the wolves started to walk in the direction that would take them home to the cave, Samuel walked up to his sister.
"Well?"
She looked at him.
"Well what?"
"Did you get them?"
Star sighed.
"No."
"No?" Samuel asked.
"I only got one, the female, but she was the primary target, so we're still good, and I want to know the minute Joshua appears, this is one job I intend to finish."
Neither Star nor Samuel heard the gray wolf, as he snuck along the ridge above them.

Chapter Two

Star was standing in her chamber, preparing to go to sleep.
She'd had to report her failure to her father. Usually failure was accompanied by a strong possibility of death of the reportee. Her father had made an exception for her though, on the promise that she would correct herself as soon as she could.
Star sighed.
More and more it seemed her parents were trying to keep something from her.
"... but what could that be?" Star asked herself.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sound at the edge of the ledge.
Star walked over to it and looked down.
A gray wolf suddenly leapt into her chamber and started attacking her. Star screamed and threw the wolf off of her. He hit the wall, fell to the ground, and stood back up. Both were breathing hard.
Then the fire in his eyes faded, and he looked confused.
"Rain?" He said. "How can this be?"
"What?" Star asked.
"You must be.... must be her daughter...."
"What are you babbling about?" Star asked.
The gray wolf smiled.
"You look just like your mother."
"What?" Star asked again. Then she heard the sounds of her soldiers running to her aid. Soon the chamber was full of wolves. They drug the gray wolf away. Then, after ensuring that Star was alright, they left, and Star was alone once more.
She laid down, many thought racing through her mind at breakneck speed.
"That wolf knows something that I don't," She thought.
Star closed her eyes.
"He called me... Rain."
Star slowly drifted off into a troubled, shallow sleep.

Star was walking down to the bottom chamber of the cave.
She'd woken up, not an hour after she'd drifted to sleep, and couldn't stand it any longer. She had to know what the wolf knew. She was waling pretty fast, as she didn't want her father to see her. It was an odd feeling, the first time she'd ever felt unsafe in her home.
Having successfully eluded her family's detection, she ducked into the tunnel that led to the bottom of the cave, where the prisoner would be kept. As she approached, she saw three wolves of her own unit standing outside the chamber.
She walked up to them.
"Evening Star." One of them said. "What brings you here this late?" Asked another.
She smiled.
"Good evening guys; I just need to speak to the prisoner real quick."
"Sorry Star," The other guard said, "but your father told us not to let anyone in, anyone." He repeated his word with emphasis.
"Oh..." Stare said. "Well, I talked to my father, and he wants me to interrogate the prisoner, to see if I can locate the rest of his pack so that we can eradicate these rebels."
The leader looked at the other two.
"O-okay." he said. "Go on in."
The wolves moved aside.
"Thank you." Star said. Then she ducked inside.

When she entered the chamber, she saw the wolf, on the floor in the center of the chamber.
He stood when she entered.
"Oh," he said, "it's you, curiosity get the best of you?"
Star nodded.
"Look... um... I... I feel really... well, I'm not supposed to be here, in fact, I could be killed for saying I had my fathers permission when I didn't but for some reason... I'm here."
The wolf sighed.
"So what do you want to know?"
"Why did you call me Rain, and... you said... I looked exactly like my mother, I look nothing like Amra, and she’s gray."
The wolf smiled.
"You've already begun to suspect that which I can confirm for you."
"What's that?" Star asked.
"That your parents... aren't your parents."
"Who were they, what were their names?"
Your father's name was James and your mother..."
"... was named Rain." Star said. "Right?"
The wolf smiled. "Yes."
"But, then... then why... why am I here?"
The wolf sighed again.
"It is a long story."
"So this... this isn't my home, my family..." Her voice drifted off, as she began to think.
"I'll tell you what," Star said. "I'm going to talk to my parents, and if you're right... I'll get you out of here."
The wolf smiled.
"What's your name, anyway?" Star asked.
"Joshua." The wolf answered.
Star turned, without another word, and exited the chamber. Her father had a lot of explaining to do.

Star found her mother sitting in her chamber.
"Hey sweetie," Amra said. "What are you doing up so early?"
Star sighed and looked down.
"Are... are you my real mother?"
Amra looked surprised. "What kind of question is that, of... of course I..." Amra stopped talking as Star looked up at her.
Amra sighed.
"I... I knew this would come up someday..." She sighed again. "No Star, I'm... I'm not your real mother."
Star stepped back from Amra as the implications of this new information sank in. Amra noticed Star's changing attitude.
"Why... why didn't you tell me?" Star asked.
"We... we didn't..."
Amra sighed and fell silent. "I'm sorry."
She paused, not knowing how to continue.
"Star... we may not be your biological parents, but we adopted you, took you in, and now, you're..."
Star looked away from Amra and walked a few steps away. Amra stopped talking and looked at the floor. She paused a moment, and then stepped next to Star.
"... you're as much my daughter as Samuel is my son."
Star sighed and looked at the floor.
"I love you Star. I... I raised you, watched you grow up... your father is so proud of you, of what you've become, and what you can be... we both are."
Star sighed again and looked at Amra. "I'll be in my chambers," she said. "I'll... I'll see you in the morning... Amra." Then she turned and walked out of the chamber, leaving Amra alone...

Star had no intention of being in her chambers in the morning. She walked quickly back to the lower chamber. When she reached the chamber, she found the same guards there.
"There's no way they'll let me just walk out here with Joshua," she thought, "and I can't fight all of them."
The guards hadn't seen her yet. Star ran up to them, a plan forming in her mind.
"Star?" The leader of the three, and a wolf that Star was good friends with, said, as she approached.
"Yes," she said. "There has been an attack at the south entrance. We need everyone we can to go there immediately."
"An attack," the wolf asked.
"Yes," Star replied. "They're rebels. We think they may be trying to save him."
The wolf nodded and turned to the other two guards. "Go to the south entrance and support the fighters there."
"Yes," Star said. "Tyrus and I will guard the prisoner."
Tyrus, the leader, looked surprised. "Won't you be needed to repel the rebels?"
"No," Star said, stepping next to him. "I'm to guard the prisoner."
Tyrus looked at her questioningly.
"The order comes straight from my father, if you want to question him..." Tyrus cut her off.
"No, Star, that's alright." He turned to the other two once more. "Go to the south entrance, and report back to me as soon as it is secure."
"Yes sir!" The two wolves said as they turned and ran up toward the main chamber.
When they had gone, Tyrus turned to Star. "The rebels must be pretty desperate to attack us here."
Star sighed. "Yeah... yeah, I guess they are."
Nothing was said between the two for several minutes.
Finally, Star broke the silence. She turned and looked at Tyrus.
"Watch the entrance, if any rebels make it this far, shout my name." Then she turned and started to walk away.
"Star?" Tyrus asked.
Star stopped dead in her tracks. "He knows!" She thought.
She turned to Tyrus. "What is it?"
"Where are you going?" Tyrus asked.
"I... I just need to speak to the prisoner."
"Why?" Tyrus asked slowly.
"Um..." "Come on Star, think, think." "I need to talk to him to see if he knows anything about the attack."
"He's not buying it." Star thought. "I'm going to have to jump him, on three, one... two..."
"Make it quick." Tyrus said. "If the rebels do make it this far, I may not be able to fend them all off."
Star almost sighed with relief, and smiled.
"Alright, I'll be right back." Then she ducked into the chamber.

"So you returned." Joshua said, as he stood from his place in the corner.
"Yes." Star said. "You were right, my... Amra told me so."
"So what now?" Joshua asked.
Star sighed. “My entire life here is based on a lie, I... I don't belong... anymore."
Joshua nodded.
At that moment, Star made a decision that would take her life one hundred eighty degrees from where it had led her thus far. "I'm going to get you out of here."
"How?" Joshua asked.
"Leave that to me." Star said. The thought of what she was going to have to do made her feel sick. "For now follow me." She stepped out of the chamber.
No one was there.
"Tyrus?" Star called. "Tyrus, where are you? What are you doing, abandoning your post?"
A low growl came from her left, and Star turned.
"Tyrus!" She said in alarm.
Her friend was in a low fighting stance, and seemed ready to pounce on her. "I can't believe it Star, I never thought you would link up with these rebels, I thought you were smarter than that..." He started to circle her. "Star, by the order of Shadow, alpha of the Mountain Clan, you are guilty of treason against the Mountain Clan. The sentence is execution, will you come quietly?"
Star couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Tyrus... Tyrus please, don't do this. We've been friends for so long, I don't want to have to fight you."
Tyrus scowled at her. "Were friends Star, were... now... you're just another dirty rebel."
A tear came to Star's eyes when she heard her friend talk about her like that.
Tyrus..." Star started, but he cut her off. "... it doesn't matter what you say. Even if you were to turn on him and kill him it wouldn't set right what you have done wrong." Without another word, Tyrus leapt at her.
Tyrus was bigger than Star, and he knocked her sprawling. Star found herself suddenly in a race for her own survival, a race that only she or Tyrus, not both, would be able to complete. The two rolled violently over and on top of each other, both evading the strikes of the other. Star wasn't at her best, or the fight would have been no contest, but this was Tyrus, her friend. Tyrus on the other hand wasn't at all bothered that it was Star he was trying so desperately to kill, or if he did, he didn't show it. Tyrus was gaining the upper hand, and Star was losing. Tyrus caught her twice in the muzzle and as she stumbled backward, leapt on top of her again. Star went straight over backwards, landing on her back, Tyrus on top of her. He opened his jaws wide, intending to tear out her throat, but unfortunately for him, he'd forgotten about Joshua. The wolf dropped his paw down hard on the back of Tyrus' neck. Star heard the grisly snap of bone, and saw his eyes roll back in his head, and then he slumped to the floor, dead.
Star climbed shakily to her feet.
"Why did you do that!" she screamed at Joshua.
"He was going to kill you." Joshua said.
"He was my friend!" Star screamed back. "He..." She stopped and took a deep breath. "... he was my friend." She said quietly.
Nothing was said between the two for a minute or so.
"We should get going." Star finally said. "When they find him they'll be after us both. I truly have no place here now..." She looked down at the ground. "... no life here now."
Then she led Joshua out of the cave.

Klax knew something was wrong as soon as he and Julious made it to the South entrance.
Everything was calm.
Just in case it had been a small attack, or Star had exaggerated or something, the two walked over to the two guards at the chamber entrance.
"Hello Klax." The guard said, walking over to him.
"Hello Trius." Klax said. "How've you been? I heard that Jaina had pups not long ago."
Trius smiled. "Yeah, two nights ago, scariest thing I've ever seen, but... they're wonderful to have around."
"Yeah," Klax said, returning his friend's smile, "I remember my first."
"So Klax, what brings you out here?" Trius asked. "I thought you were on guard duty tonight too, the prisoner, wasn't it?"
"Yeah..." Klax responded, "... by any chance, has there been an attack on this entrance tonight."
Trius looked puzzled. "No, it's been quiet all night, why do you ask?"
Klax sighed. "Star told us there was an attack, she had both of us come over here to help, and she stayed with..." Klax stopped. Everything made perfect sense now. "No," he thought, "it can't, it's impossible... Star... a rebel?" Suddenly he looked back up at his friend. "Trius, I've got to go, if you see Star, detain her, I want to talk to her."
"Detain Star?" Trius asked. "I don't know if I..." Klax cut him off. "... just do it Trius, I think... I think she may be a rebel."
"How?" Trius said. "What makes you think so?"
"I don't have time to explain Trius, just trust me." Without another word he and Julious turned and sprinted back toward the lower chamber.

Klax's worst fears were confirmed as he and Julious stepped into the lower chamber. He saw a dark form lying on the ground outside the entrance, in the middle of a dark pool. Klax stepped forward, as Julious threw up on the floor.
It was Tyrus, and he was very dead.
Klax turned away from the body of his brother, and toward Julious. "Sound the alarm." He said.
Julious looked shocked, but slowly and turned.
"... and Julious..." Klax said. Julious stopped walking and turned back to him. "... if you see Star... kill her."
Julious looked at the ground and sighed, and then he looked up and nodded curtly. Julious turned and ran out of the chamber, shouting his alarm.
Klax turned back to the body of his brother. "I'll see you dead for this Star." He thought. Then he turned and followed after Julious, sounding the alarm.

Star and Joshua had made it as far as the south entrance undetected, when they heard the first warning howl sound.
Star turned to Joshua. "I think they're onto us..." She paused. "... you killed one of the members of the pack, and... and I helped you. They'll kill us both if we're caught."
Joshua remained cool and unshaken. "Then we don't get caught... right?"
The two started walking forward again, continuing unchallenged as they stepped near the entrance.
Star stopped and turned to Joshua once again.
"Where's the guard?"
"I'm right here." Trius said, as he dropped down from the rock ledge above. Star for crimes against this pack, I hereby order you to stand down, if you do so now, I'll see to it that your death is a fast one..." He growled and turned his gaze on Joshua. "... unlike this rebel who seems to have influenced you."
Star could feel the electric energy between the two of them. It crackled almost audibly in the chamber.
"Trius... please, stand down, don't make me do this." She said.
"Do what?" Trius asked.
"This!" Joshua yelled as he leapt at Trius, his jaws open wide, going for the throat.
Instantly, visions of Trius and his mate, and more importantly the small pups, which soon would not have a father, flashed before her eyes.
"NO!" Star cried, as she leapt and intercepted Joshua, knocking him to the floor.
"What are you doing?!" He yelled. "This wolf is the enemy!"
Star turned to Trius. "I'm sorry..." Then she swung her paws quickly, just as she'd been trained. Trius didn't even realize that it was she who had attacked him, before he fell, his vision collapsing into blackness.
Star stared down at her friend. "I'm sorry..." she repeated.
Then she and Joshua ran out of the cave, to safety.

Klax was not looking forward to what he had to do.
Shadow had called him to his chambers to explain the reasons behind the alarm that had been raised early this morning. In the time since Tyrus had been killed, they'd found Trius at the south entrance. At first Klax thought she'd killed him as well, but he'd only been unconscious. He'd soon woke up, and had the evidence that Klax needed to start a search for Star, and to make sure that she paid for what she'd done. They'd also called together the entire pack, from oldest to youngest, and searched the cave, Star was no longer in the cave, she'd escaped, eloped with the rebel leader.... and now Klax had to tell her father this.
He stopped walking as he reached the Alpha's chamber, and took a deep breath. "Here goes..." He thought. Then Klax walked into the chamber.
The Alpha noticed him immediately, and rose from his place in the corner, walking over to him. Klax bowed his head. "You summoned me my lord." It was a statement of fact, not a question.
Shadow nodded. "Yes," He paused as if thinking. "Klax, you can stand..." The alpha waited until Klax had done so before he continued. "... perhaps you can explain to me why it is that you took it upon yourself to sound an alarm, and then gathered the entire pack, and searched this cave, all without my word to do so."
Klax nodded once. "Yes my lord, there has been a murder.... and Joshua has escaped."
Shadows eyes narrowed. "Did I not assign you, and two others to guard him, why have you failed, and speak quickly Klax, before I grow tired of waiting for an answer."
Klax started to shake. It wouldn't be unlike Shadow to kill him for failure such as this.
"Please my lord, hear me out, I..." He sighed. "...one of our own has betrayed us, it was they who killed Tyrus, and injured Trius, as well as gave myself and Julious false orders to strengthen the south entrance because of a rebel attack, drawing us away from the prisoner."
"One of our own?" Shadow said, his anger clearly showing through in his voice. "Surely this traitor must be hunted and destroyed for their actions. Do you know who it was?"
"Yes my lord." Klax said.
"Well?" Shadow said impatiently.
As Klax was about to speak, Amra ran into the chamber. "Oh Shadow, I must speak with you! It's about..." Shadow cut her off sharply. "What is this? You just run in here unannounced, while I am speaking to another, get out!"
"Shadow please!" Amra said, tears in her eyes. "I heard everything..." Shadow cut her off once again. "So you're eavesdropping as well? You are out of line Amra, and I suggest you straighten up, now."
Amra dropped to the floor. "I am sorry my lord, I... I lost control, but I beg you let me speak with you before you hear what Klax has to say."
Shadow thought for a moment. "I shall hear you, after I am done speaking with Klax."
Amra had tears in her eyes again. "...but... but my lord, I..." Shadow turned and hit her, once, it was the first time he had ever struck her. She looked shocked. "You dare challenge MY decision?! Shadow yelled. "I have already bent my rules in your favor Amra, don't push it any further."
Amra just nodded.
Shadow turned back to Klax. "Now, what was it you were about to say..." he looked behind him at Amra.
"... before we were interrupted Klax?" Shadow turned his gaze back on Klax.
Klax gulped. "My lord, we have evidence that it was... that it was Star."
Shadow remained his stoic self, except for the smallest tremble of his muzzle that was just barely visible. "I would speak with these witnesses of course."
"Of course my lord." Klax said. "There is but one, Trius, she attacked him at the south entrance."
"Thank you for this information Klax. You were right to take the actions you did, and are commended for it. I take it that Star is no longer in the cave then?"
Klax nodded, once. "No my lord, she is not, it seems she escaped with Joshua."
Shadow remained quiet for a moment. "Start the hunt for her. She is not to be harmed. Not until I speak with Trius will I make that decision, but find out where she is, and who she is with. Such information will decide her fate."
Klax nodded curtly. "It will be done my lord."
Shadow turned toward Amra. "You are dismissed then."
Klax turned and ran out of the chamber.
"Now, Amra, what is it you needed so desperately to tell me?" Shadow said.
Amra stood. "I... I had to tell Star the truth."
"The truth? Shadow said, walking over to her. "What truth?"
"The truth about her parents..." Amra said.
Shadow's eyes went cold. "When?"
"Early this morning." Amra said.
"How much did you tell her?" Shadow asked.
"Only that she was orphaned when she was younger, and that we adopted her." Amra responded.
Shadow sighed. "Then it is true. She is a rebel. That gives her a motive."
Amra stood up. "Shadow she is our daughter. You will do everything you can to save her?"
Shadow shook his head. "She is an adult, and she has made her choice."
"... but... but you can't mean that you intend to..."
Shadow whirled around and faced her. "What do you think I should do?!" He yelled. "If she is a rebel then she has condemned herself, I cannot play favorites and forgive her solely because she is my daughter. All of the other rebels we have hunted and destroyed have been someone’s sons, or daughters... or brothers..." he added quietly.
"... no..." He stepped back from Amra and started to walk out of the chamber. "... she has made her choice." Then he stopped, as another thought occurred to him. ".. and if I should hear of you helping her, in any way... you will have made yours." Then he walked out of the chamber, leaving a stunned and grief stricken Amra, alone.

Chapter Three

Star had been running with Joshua for quite a while. She was having second thoughts about what she'd done. "I had it made with the Mountain Clan." She thought to herself as she was running. "I was the daughter of the alpha, the leader of the fighters... I had a great life" ... but doubt also filled her from second viewpoint. "Could I really have continued that life, knowing it was all a lie?" Star didn't know the answer to this question, but that life was over, there was little doubt about that.
Suddenly Joshua stopped.
Star continued slowed her pace, until she came alongside him, and then she stopped. "What is it?" She asked, "Trouble?"
Joshua remained silent, but lifted his muzzle and sniffed the air. "No," he said. "I think we escaped. I don't smell any pursuers."
Star sighed with relief. "Good." She said. "I need a break. We've been running for quite a while." She walked over to a nearby stand of trees, and sat down under them. "You're not even out of breath, you must run a lot."
Joshua looked at her. "You get used to running when you're a rebel."
Star didn't know what to say. "Yeah... I guess so..."
It was silent for a while, before Joshua walked over and sat beside her. "I'm sorry," he said. "That last comment came off a little rough. I didn't mean it that way."
"I understand." Star said.
It was quiet for five minutes or so, before Star broke the silence. "Back in the cave, I asked you how I wound up at with the Mountain Clan, and you said that it was a long story."
"... and?" Joshua asked.
Star looked around and smiled. "Well, we seem to have plenty of time."
Joshua sighed. "Yes, of course you want to know your history, and you should after all, being kept in the dark about it your entire life." He paused. "Star, I knew your father when we were members of the Mountain Clan, I was the lieutenant of the first unit, and he was the leader of all the fighters. The Mountain Clan hasn't always been the way it is now, in fact, I used to enjoy living there. Our fighters were greatly reduced from what they are now, because the alpha then, Shadow's father, was a diplomat, he solved everything he could through talk, instead of violence." Joshua smiled. "Your father and I were the best of friends, in the one really big war we did have, we saved each others lives more times than we cared to count. We... we were almost brothers..." He sighed. "... our alpha was killed in that war, and Shadow, as the alpha's son, took control of the clan. Over time a few of us noticed a change in the clan's policies, we more than tripled our fighters, and we started fighting a lot more, some of us thought too much. A few of the wolves in the second unit decided to stage a coupe, and remove Shadow... he found out about the plan, and had the entire second unit executed."
Star gasped. "Oh my gosh!" She cried.
Shadow nodded. "Because four or five of the unit were plotting against him, and because he didn't know who they were, only that they were in the second unit, he had one-hundred and twelve wolves executed. There was no trial, no questioning, nothing... he just murdered them." He was quiet for a moment, and Star could tell that this memory was painful for him. "A lot of my friends were in that unit; my brother and father as well. I had to watch them killed, and they weren't part of the plot, I know that, they were murdered. That was how I met Silver." He stopped talking and smiled. "I was extremely upset with the murder of my family and friends, and she... she helped me during a very difficult time. We got to be better friends, and I started to spend time with her more on my off hours..." He stopped and laughed. "Your father was kind of ticked at me, because I'd found a girl, and wasn't spending as much time with him, but he soon met a young female, snow white, just like you, and he knew why it was that I didn't spend as much time with him." He stopped again and the smile disappeared. It was right after the murders that wolves started separating from the clan, that the rebellion began. Now, Silver never was afraid of anything. A few months after the murder of the second unit, she finally couldn't stand it anymore..." A smile crept back up his muzzle. "... she marched herself up to Shadow's chambers and demanded that he speak to her. Shadow didn't even know who she was then, and agreed. She protested the murders, and told him off pretty good. When I heard of it, I was shocked and scared for her, after what had happened to the second unit, for what a few of their members planned, how would he react to what she had said. I didn't know, but I wasn't about to stand around and see her killed, like I did when my father and brother were murdered... I took her out into the forest, and we stayed there together for about two weeks. I told your father that I was scouting out the enemy's positions, but that was only a cover, in reality it was quite possibly... no, it was the best two weeks of my life. It was then that Silver became more than a friend to me... I asked her to be my mate, and she agreed." He smiled again. "She was so happy, couldn't wait to tell her parents..." He sighed and the smile disappeared again. "We returned to the cave, I figured Shadow had forgotten about what she'd said... the night we got back, Silver and I spent our first night together, and were planning to tell her parents in the morning..." He paused and sighed. "When we went to their chambers and called their names... no one answered. We walked inside, and... and found them. They were all dead."
"What?" Star asked.
Joshua sighed. "Shadow... he had them killed, all of them. Her mother, her father, three brothers and two sisters... all dead. The children weren't even a year old."
"I... I can't believe that... that he would do that." Star said.
"Oh I doubt he could do it himself, he had it done. He issued the order, on some phoney treason charges, said they were meeting with the enemy and plotting to give away our troops... I don't remember exactly, but..." He sighed. "... Silver was devastated, just blown away by the death of her family. For a long time I remained by her side constantly, I even shirked some of my responsibility's as a lieutenant, but your father understood, and he covered for me." He paused. "We really were best friends... anyway, after about a month, nothing happened, and I gradually felt that she was safe again. One day, she came running into my chamber. Her shoulder was bleeding, and her mouth was all cut up, and... and her paws were covered in blood. I was alarmed of course, and I asked her what happened, while trying my best to help her wounds... she told me that she'd been attacked... they were wolves of the first unit, your father's unit... and she killed them. See when I'd thought she was in danger, I'd taught her how to fight. She was a good learner, and... and she'd killed five members of the clan. I instantly knew that Shadow wouldn't let this bow over, and started thinking of what to do. There was no way I was going to watch her die. I finally decided to talk to your father. He refused to help me. It was the beginning of the collapse of our friendship. He'd ordered the attack. It seems Silver had been meeting with some members of the Lightning Clan..." He noticed the confused look on Star's face when he said this. "... you wouldn't know about them, Shadow exterminated their pack before you were born. At the time though, they were the enemy, and she'd been talking to them, letting key pieces of information slip, information that I had told her, but they didn't know that..." He paused. "Your father refused to help me, and so, on my own, Silver and I left the Mountain Clan. It was late at night. We simply checked out at the south entrance, and never went back. We were presumed dead, until the rebellion grew big enough to strike out at the Mountain Clan, and Silver and I were spotted among the rebels. The leader of the rebellion was killed in that attack, and had it not been for Silver, would have fallen apart, but she kept the wolves fighting, and we became the leaders. That first battle had taken a horrible toll on us. We went from one hundred to about nine, counting Silver and I. We roamed the countryside, always on the alert for the patrols Shadow had out looking for us, led by none other than your father. We fought one another a few times, but... but neither of us could bring ourselves to finish it. I let him go as much as he did I. The rebellion obviously quieted down, and it was a few months before I heard your father's name mentioned again. He'd taken Rain and left the Mountain Clan. I don't know why, and... and I guess I never will, but... I started to look for him, eager to rejoin my friend. One night we were walking out in the woods, and I found a small cave. I left the remainder of the rebellion outside, and walked down into the cave, where I found your father. He was dead; he and his whole family, including one little pup, who hadn't even opened his eyes yet. They... they really messed up Rain, and... and I suspect James was alive to see it... it had to have been the mountain clan, it just had to be... no one else is so cruel."
"... and what happened to me?" Star asked. "How do you know James was my father?"
Joshua sighed. "It couldn't be anyone else. You look just like Rain, and that gray marking on your face and muzzle? James had that too."
Star was shocked. "So what you're telling me is that the wolf I thought was my father, actually murdered my father?"
Joshua nodded.
"My Aniae." She said. "How could this be? He doesn't seem like a murderer."
"Star." Joshua said. "How many rebels have you killed on his order?"
"Oh..." She said, and fell silent.
Joshua said no more.
"Well what am I to do now?" Star asked. "I have no home, especially knowing more about him... my father will have me killed if I return to my... the Mountain Clan."
"Our door is always open." Joshua said, standing.
"Become a rebel?" Star asked. Joshua looked hurt. Star shook her head. "I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean it that way."
"I understand." Joshua said.
Star sighed. "I guess... he was my father, and... and I don't think I can fight him."
Joshua nodded. "Alright, I respect your decision." Then he turned and started to walk away.
Star watched him go, and then sighed, and turned the other way, running deep into the forest.

Chapter 4

As Joshua walked through the forest, he didn't hear the black wolf that slunk along behind him. Joshua believed he was safe, and stopped at a small stream, to drink. It was then that Joshua became aware of the black wolf's presence, as he slammed into him.

"What am I doing?" Star thought. I can't make it our here all by myself."
Almost without realizing it, she began to turn and walk back the way she'd come.
"Maybe I can catch back up to him." She thought. Star quickened her pace.

Joshua was in a fight for his life, and he was losing. The black wolf was very strong, and Joshua wasn't as young as he used to be. Age had slowed his once lightning quick reflexes.
The wolf was currently on top of him, trying quite desperately to crush his skull. If he didn't do something quick, Joshua was done for.
"Looks like I might be with you soon Silver." He thought.

Star ran into the next clearing, and stopped in her tracks. She'd found Joshua, but he was under attack, and not doing too good from the looks of things. She overcame her shock, and dashed over to him, jumping on his attacker. She tumbled over into the water with the wolf on top of her. The two started fighting under water, and then as they broke the surface, slashing and biting at one another. Star was hit several times in the face before she got her paw up to defend herself. She shook off the strikes, and returned the favor, knocking the wolf back into the water. She waited for a moment, and the wolf didn't surface. Star waited for a while before she turned and walked toward Joshua.
Joshua stood up and ran at her. "Star?"
She smiled.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Well..." Joshua cut her off. "... STAR LOOK OUT!"
She was about to ask why, when the black wolf exploded out of the water, and landed on her back. She whirled around, trying to throw off her attacker. No matter how much she kicked and tossed, she couldn't dislodge him. The black wolf wrapped his jaws around her throat and bit down. Star was really afraid now. Pain speared through her body, down her spine, to the very tip of her tail. She screamed and reared up, throwing her attacker over her back, and into the stream. In full rage now, Star jumped in the stream, and held the wolf under water. It would only be a matter of time.
The wolf managed to work his away around until he was looking into her face. She jumped back, and the wolf swam to the top, short of breath.
"Sam?" Star asked.
Her brother glared at her.
"Why are you here?" Samuel asked.
Star sighed. "It's... it's complicated."
"If you're with him then what I heard must be true. You're a rebel."
Star sighed. "Sam please."
Samuel stepped back and started to walk away.
"You're my sister Star, I'll give you this one chance. Next time we meet it won't go so well."
Star waited until her brother had gone away, then she turned to Joshua.
"Is the door still open?" She asked.
He nodded, but looked concerned.
"What is it?" Star asked. It wasn't until then that she felt a pulsing stream warm fluid trickling down her neck.
She looked down and saw that her shoulder was covered in blood.
Joshua started to run over to her. "Star!"
She tried to take a step toward, and her front legs collapsed. She looked up. Joshua was right beside her.
"Just hold on Star, don't give in, fight, don't go to sleep!" He said.
His words were garbled and hard to understand. It sounded as if she were under water. Then she fell over on her side. The last thing she saw was Joshua's face. Then her vision faded to blackness.

Star came to inside a large cavern. She slowly opened her eyes and blinked a few times. The pain in her neck wasn't as bad as last time she was conscious, and it had stopped bleeding. The blood had dried and hardened down her shoulder and across her back.
Star started to stand up, but half-way her vision blurred and the pain in her neck surged back to life. Slowly she laid back down. "Not quite strong enough yet to stand." She thought.
Star had no idea how long she'd been out, but she knew it must've been a while. The last thing she remembered was Joshua kneeling beside her after her brother... now there was something she really didn't want to deal with now. "There is little for me to do now, but rest." She thought. Feeling tired now, she yawned, and laid her head on her paws. She closed her eyes, and soon drifted back to sleep.

The next time Star woke up she felt much better. The nausea was gone, and her neck felt a little better.
"Hey, look who's awake."
Star whirled around, and her vision blurred badly. She could still make out Joshua's form beside her. As her vision sharpened she saw that he was smiling.
"How do you feel?" He asked.
Star yawned. "A little tired, but other than that I'm fine."
"You had us all scared there. You were out for a while."
"How long was it?" Star asked.
Joshua smiled. "It's been almost three days."
'Three days!" Star said.
"Yeah." Joshua said. "I thought we were going to lose you." He sighed. "That... that was a pretty bad wound."
Star sighed. "Yeah..." Then a thought occurred to her. "Where am I?"
Joshua smiled. "I'll soon tell you all about it. There are a few people who want to meet you."
"Really?" Star asked.
Joshua nodded. "... but you may want to wash off first. You've got a lot of dried blood on you. There's a spring behind you, wash off and come and get me. I'll be outside."
Star smiled. "I will… thanks."
Joshua just smiled and walked out of the cave.
Star turned and tentatively stuck her paw into it. Satisfied that the water wasn't freezing, she stepped down into it, letting the warm water soothe her aching body. She closed her eyes and sighed. There was some steam coming off the spring, as it was warmer than the air in the chamber. She breathed deep, and felt the hot air enter her lungs. Feeing better now, she turned her head and began to clean herself off.
Soon Star had finished her task, and her white fur shone once again. She climbed out of the water and shook herself off. She shivered slightly as a cool breeze blew through the chamber. "This must be close to the outside." Star thought. She walked to the entrance to the chamber. It felt good to get up and walk a bit, but her neck started to throb again. "This is going to take a little while to heal." She thought. Star knew she was lucky to be alive. She looked at the ceiling of the chamber. "Someone up there must care about me." Then she trotted to the entrance and stuck her head out.
"Well, you look like a drowned rat." Joshua said with a smile, as he walked over to her.
She smiled. "Yeah, I haven't dried off yet..." She sighed.
"Let's step back in there for a minute." Joshua said.

First off.. I'm A quick reader so yes I did finish it and I like what I've seen so far.. bring on the finished piece and I will review it completely when availible!

-Lowes

"Let's step back in there for a minute." Joshua said. The two of them walked back into the chamber. "Now listen to me Star. You have a lot of enemies here, my decision to bring you here was not a popular one, so watch yourself, you're going to have to prove yourself for these wolves to accept you, after all... you hunted them for a while there, and... and you've killed some of their friends.... and family." He added quietly.
Star sighed. "I don't understand something."
Joshua smiled. "What's that?"
Star sighed again and looked down, trying to find the right words. When none came, she looked back up. "Why'd you do it?"
"Do what Star?" Joshua asked.
"Why'd you save me? Why didn't you just let me die out there, I... I know I would have had it not been for you, I'm lucky to be alive as it is."
Joshua nodded. "Yes you are." He sighed. "Star, things here aren't like they are in the Mountain Clan, that's why we're rebels..." He added with a smile. "... but I have forgiven you for the death of... of Silver. It wasn’t you, you were following orders. My anger is reserved for the wolf that issued the order, Shadow."
Star sighed. "I'm so sorry Joshua, I mean... I... I don't know what to say."
Joshua smiled. "It's alright Star, you don't need to say anything. You proved yourself to me when you came back, and saved me. We both owe our lives to one another. Had you not gotten that wolf off me... I wouldn't be standing here either."
Star smiled. "You're a good person Joshua, I... I only wish that I'd seen that before..." Star fell silent.
"I told you it's alright." Shadow said. "... besides, you... you kind of fulfilled her only wish."
"What?" Star asked, confused.
Joshua smiled and sighed. "All Silver wanted was to lead this group, and she had told me that if she were to die, she didn't want it to be by some hunter, or from old age... she... she wanted to die standing beside those who meant the most to her..." he looked up and gestured around the chamber. "... all of these wolves."
Star sighed. "That's not much consolation..."
"Look Star..." Joshua said. "... all of us have done things we're not proud of, you just... you just have to put it behind you, live in this moment, you can't change the ones that have passed."
"I guess so." Star said. She looked up and smiled. "Thanks."
Joshua returned her smile. "Now come on, there's someone I want you to meet."

Star walked through the cave, following Joshua. She realized, as she was walking, that all eyes were on her. The wolves stopped whatever they were doing, whatever they were saying, and whispered to one another as she walked by. Star sighed and kept walking.
Joshua led her to a chamber at the east end of the cave. He ducked inside, and Star followed.
The chamber was actually divided in half by a rock wall. Joshua stopped and turned back to her. "Stay here until I call for you."
She nodded, and Joshua stepped around the wall.

"Aaron?" Joshua said, as he stepped around the rock wall.
A gray wolf stood up from the corner where he'd been lying, and walked over to him, smiling. "Dad?"
"Hey son." Joshua said. "How are you doing?"
"Pretty good." Aaron answered. "You?"
"Alright," Joshua said.
"I miss mom..." Aaron said.
Joshua sighed and looked at the floor. "Yeah... yeah, me too."
A few moments of silence passed before Joshua smiled and looked up at his son. "I've got someone that I want you to meet."
"Who's that?" Aaron asked.
Joshua turned his head. "Star, come around here."
Star slowly stepped around the wall.
The smile disappeared from Aaron's face, replaced by a scowl. "What's she doing here?"
Star sighed and hung her head.
"Aaron." Joshua said. "That's not any way to treat a guest."
"Dad." Aaron's voice quivered with anger. "Do you have any idea who this is?"
Joshua nodded. "Yes I do son."
"Then why.... how could you bring her here, why would you bring here?"
"She's like us." Joshua said. "I was captured and she saved me, in the process, she lost her standing with the Mountain Clan. She's as hunted as we are now, if not more so."
"Let them find her then." Aaron said. "It’s what she deserves."
"Aaron!" Joshua said. "What would... what would your mother think?"
"I don't know dad." Aaron said. "What would she think of you bringing her murderer to the only thing she ever cared about?" Then he turned and walked past Star, headed for the exit to the chamber.
Joshua sighed. "I'm sorry about Aaron. Would you wait here for a minute?"
Star nodded and Joshua ran out of the chamber, following his son.

"Aaron, Aaron?" Joshua called. He looked around, and saw his son walking out of the cave. "Aaron, stop, please." He ran up to his son. "Aaron, we need to talk."
Aaron whirled around. "Yeah dad, yeah we do! How could you betray mom this way! Huh! You brought her killer here, here! Why?!"
"Aaron, I have something to tell you." Joshua said slowly. He sighed. "Silver.... your mother and I were going to do it next year, but... but certain events have made it necessary for you to know..."
"Know what?" Aaron asked.
Joshua sighed. "Let's step over here." He said.
The two walked over behind a cluster of stalagmites, giving them a little more privacy.
"Son... Aaron, you're... you're not my son."
"What?" Aaron asked. "Dad, what are you talking about?"
Joshua sighed. "Your... your mother wasn't able to have pups."
"Well then... how...." Aaron said. "Dad, you're not making a lot of sense."
"Listen to me Aaron." Joshua said. "About two years ago Silver and I were walking through the woods when we heard a crying sound coming from a cave we were walking by. I went inside and found a murdered family, it had to be the Mountain Clan, no one else is so cruel. The father was my best friend, James... the crying was coming from underneath the mother... I rolled her over, and found a small pup..."
"No..." Aaron said, unbelievingly.
"... Silver and I decided to adopt it, and... and we named it Aaron." Joshua finished.
Aaron was quiet for a moment. When he did respond his voice quaked with anger. "Why didn't you tell me, why did you lie to me?"
We didn't lie to you Joshua said.
Aaron was silent for a little while. Finally he looked up at him and sighed. "Why'd you lie to me? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Oh son," Joshua said, "we didn't lie to you, we... we just didn't tell you the whole story..."
"Why tell me this now." Joshua said. "What event made it so important?"
"Aaron.... son, Star is... is your sister."
Aaron took a step back.
'What?" Aaron said.
"Star is your sister." Joshua said again. "Silver and I adopted you, and Shadow and Amra adopted her."
"No." Aaron said, tears coming to his eyes. "No you're... you're lying."
Joshua sighed. "Aaron I'm not lying, she's your sister." He took a step toward his son. "I know this is hard, but..."
"No." Aaron said, shoving his father away. "Get away from me, leave me alone!"
Aaron turned and ran out of the cave.
Joshua let him go.

Joshua walked back into the chamber and saw Star sitting in the corner, crying softly. He walked over to her. "It's alright." He said. "He’ll just take some time."
"Why is it so important that he, in particular, knows about me?" She asked.
Joshua sighed. "Star, when I told you the story, about your past, I left out one part."
"What's that?" Star asked.
"I was lured into the cave by a crying sound, what I found in there was... was Aaron."
"... but I heard you call him son." Star said.
"Silver and I adopted him." Joshua said.
"... but that means..."
"That means he's your brother." Joshua said. "Your real brother."
Star looked shocked. "Where is he?"
Joshua sighed. "I... I don't know, he... he ran off when I told him."
"I'm so sorry." Star said. "I never meant... I mean, if I'd known..."
"I told you don't worry about it." Joshua said.
Star sighed. "It's... it's hard."
Joshua smiled. "That's good, means there's still some good in there."
She smiled. "Yeah, I guess so."
"Don't worry about Aaron, he'll come around." Joshua said.
Star nodded.
"Come on." Joshua said. "We have a lot to talk about. Your knowledge of the Mountain Clan could finally give us the opportunity we've been looking for."




Chapter Five

Star had been talking with Joshua for quite a while. She was telling him everything she knew about the Mountain Clan, and the tactics they were employing against the Rebels. This information turned out to be vital to the survival of the rebellion, as the Mountain Clan was planning a massive attack, one that would wipe out the rebellion, once and for all.
When she finished talking, Joshua sighed. “I knew it was bad, but… I had no idea what was coming.”
Star shook her head. “None of us did.”
Joshua looked up at her. “I think it’s time we took the fight to the Mountain Clan.”
A look of shock crossed Star’s face. “What, are you crazy?”
Joshua shook his head. “They’ll never expect it, will they?”
“Well…” Star stammered. “… no, no I guess not, but they’ll still wipe you out.”
Joshua sighed again. “Star, sometimes, when there’s no other recourse, you must attack. Remember that?”
Star nodded. “That’s what we were taught when we trained to be fighters, but…”
“… but what?” Joshua asked.
“This… this is just crazy.” Star said. “I can’t believe I’m even thinking about it. They’ll outnumber us by at least a hundred to one!”
Joshua nodded. “… but if we don’t do this, then we’ll be wiped out by this attack. There’s no way to plan for it, because we don’t know where or when they plan to carry it out. If we run now, we’ll just keep running. It’s time to stand up and fight back.”
Star sighed and nodded. “I guess you’re right, but… this isn’t going to be pretty.”
Joshua looked at her. “War never is.” He said quietly.
Star remained silent, and just nodded.
Silence reigned in the chamber for a while, before Joshua spoke again. “So we do this?”
Star once again remained silent, just looked up at him and nodded, once.
Joshua smiled, and stood, walking toward the exit to the chamber. “Let’s bring it before the pack then.”
“Wait a minute.” Star said. Joshua stopped walking. “Why do we call ourselves a pack? That’s a little small isn’t it? I mean, we’re bigger than that, how about Clan, and…”
Her thoughts drifted back to the bubbling river just outside the cave. “… the River Clan.”
Joshua looked slightly confused.
“You know…” Star said, walking over to him. “Water is calm, and passive, yet when the rains come, the river swells, sometimes destroying trees, and even killing those who don’t take refuge. It is calm and passive, yet deceptively powerful.”
Joshua smiled. “I like it.”
“So we are the River Clan.” Star said.
“Yes.” Joshua responded. “We are.”
Then the two of them walked out of the chamber, side by side.

The entire pack was gathered in the main chamber of their small cave. They were all awaiting Joshua's orders. They all knew something big was about to happen. It was in the air. They didn't know what, but something was about to happen. The wolves were all whispering to themselves, each voicing their particular opinion about what exactly that something was. They all stopped as Joshua stepped in front of them. "My friends." He said. "I am proud to say we have a new member to our little pack, Star, formerly of the Mountain Clan."
The whispering began again, as Star stepped next to Joshua. All the wolves knew her, and feared her. She smiled. "My fellow wolves, I am now one of you. I have joined the rebellion against the Mountain Clan, for reasons of my own." She paused. "It is high time that we take the fight to the Mountain Clan."
One of the older wolves stepped forward. "I agree, but what you speak of is suicide. They outnumber us... by... by at least a hundred to one, if not more." There were hushed whispers agreeing with the old wolf.
"This is true." Star said. "... but if we run now, we'll always be running. It's time that we show the Mountain Clan that we are a threat to them, that we can do some damage. Right now they think of you as no more than a nuisance, you've attacked a few hunting parties here and there, but, as of yet, have had no solid victories." She looked at Joshua. "I have conferred with Joshua, and we agree that we are big enough that we should not refer to ourselves as pack, but... as clan."
Another round of whispers passed through the room. “If we are accepted by the high council, it will mean that we are an established entity, no longer rouges of the Mountain Clan, but a clan of our own." She smiled. "The River Clan."
More than a few wolves nodded, and silently agreed with her. If the high council accepted them, then they could function with their blessing. This would mean the rebels would finally have some support.
"... but before we take this to the high council, we must prove that we can take care of ourselves as a Clan. How many of our number have been killed on Shadow's orders?"
More whispers floated throughout the chamber. The number was large. There was no doubt of that.
"... the actual number may astound you." Star continued. "I know it did me... thirty five. Thirty five wolves of the newly established River Clan have been killed in the raids by the Mountain Clan. In a true Clan, one death is enough to start a feud, and more than that is cause for all out war. What have we done? Oh yes, we've killed four of them, and wounded a few, when we attacked one of their hunting parties... five." She sighed. "It... It is difficult for me to say this, as... only a week ago; these wolves were my friends... and family..." She looked over at Joshua, and then back at the crowd of wolves in front of her. "... we need to hurt them worse. We need to show them that they should take us seriously. We need to start this war for real."
The wolves cheered.
Joshua walked up to her side. "Star will be the new leader in military matters, so all of you listen to what she has to say. She has the authority to issue orders, and you will follow them like they were my own."
Star looked at him, an expression of "why?" etched across her face.
"Our last leader was killed in the same raid as..." he sighed.”... as Silver. The position is open." He smiled. "Want it?"
Star smiled. "Yes sir!"
He smiled back at her. "Good. It seems as if the wolves will follow you."
Star nodded. "I just hope we know what we're doing."
Joshua nodded. "I do too. This could be the rise of the rebellion..."
".... or if we're wrong, the end of it." Star finished.
Both of them nodded.
"Well, I suspect you have a lot to discuss with the clan, so get to it. I'll be in my chambers if you need me."
Star nodded. "Thank you Joshua."
Then she walked down into the crowd of wolves.

Star crouched quietly in the forest. She and her newly formed strike unit were preparing to make their first strike against the Mountain Clan. A militant unit was patrolling the area, looking for rebels.
“Well they’re about to find some.” Star thought. She looked behind her at the wolves that were under her command. She nodded, and turned her head back to the front. The unit hadn’t appeared yet. The terrain favored the small unit that Star had been able to assemble on such short notice. The River Clan had received a tip from one of the few spies they had in place within the Mountain Clan, a tip that there would be a force patrolling the area today.
The spy expected them to hide, to avoid the area, which is what the majority of the River Clan was doing, but Star heard opportunity knocking, and assembled a few fighters to answer its call.
The terrain favored Star and her small unit. The area they had set themselves up on was a shallow holler, an area of land which resembled a ditch, or a small valley. The earth sloped upwards quite steeply on both sides of a five foot path at the bottom. Star and half of her strike force were perched the right side, while the second half were on the left. When the patrol appeared, the wolves of the river clan would jump down and take them by surprise.
As Star was thinking, she heard a stick crack, and turned her head to the right. She could just barely make out the silhouette of a wolf, as he crept through the morning mist. Soon, several more appeared, fifteen in all. Star recognized the leader instantly.
“Sam?” She sighed. “Why you?”
She turned her head to the wolves behind her. “They’re coming.” She whispered. “Ready on my mark.”
She turned her head back to the target, and watched as the fifteen wolves proceeded through the base of the holler, completely unaware of what waited for them above.
The leader entered the kill zone of Star’s planned attack, but she let him go, drawing the rest of the group in as well.
As the seventh wolf entered the kill zone, she tilted her head toward the morning sun, and howled.
The wolves below looked up, just as the twenty five wolves that made up Star’s strike force, fell on them from all directions. The battle was a blur to the wolves of the Mountain Clan. The attack was so unexpected that many of the wolves were killed before they even knew what was really going on.
Star jumped on top of Sam, and hit him three times. He backpedaled and fell to the ground. Star was on top of him as soon as he regained his feet, and hit him three more times, sending him sprawling to the ground. This time he stayed down.
The other wolves had already wrapped up the fight, and the only surviving member of the patrol was Sam.
He blinked a few times, and as the dust settled, he recognized his attacker.
“Star?” He asked. Sam coughed.
Star walked up to him. “Sam, you’ve let me go once, so I’m going to repay the favor, once. You go back and tell dad… tell Shadow that the rebels are no more. If he continues his campaign against us, he will be at war with the newly established River Clan, understand?”
Sam coughed again and nodded.
Star smiled. “I was always the better fighter.”
Sam was about to say something, but as soon as he opened his mouth, Star belted him in the side of the head. He slumped to the ground, unconscious.
Star turned to the other wolves. “Good job.” She said. “We’ve dealt our first strike. Now let’s get out of here.”
The others nodded, and followed Star, as she fled the bloody battleground.

When Star reached the place that she had told the rest of the clan to meet her, she expected to hear cheering… instead, she heard nothing.
As Star looked around, she saw a wolf lying just inside a cave partially covered by trees. She walked over to it, and gasped.
The wolf’s throat had been shredded, and he was very dead.
Star back peddled away from the horrific scene. She swallowed hard, and stepped forward, careful to step around the dead wolf.
Inside the cave were more bodies, stacked along the cave walls. Their blood ran together and made the floor very slippery.
As Star continued forward, she was stopped by a voice behind her. “Star, stop where you are, don’t make me kill you.”
Star stopped.
“Now turn around, slowly.” The voice said.
She turned, and saw a flash of gray, as a paw whistled through the darkness.
Star barely felt the impact as she collapsed to the ground.

Samuel climbed up the slight slope that led up to his father’s chambers. He’d gained a slight limp from his encounter with his sister.
Star’s actions perplexed him. She’d always been the better fighter of the two, and was a year older than he. Samuel had always thought that she’d be the end of the rebellion. Indeed, she had started out that way. Star had attacked the rebels with extreme prejudice. She’d been trained well, and though he loved his sister, she was probably the coldest person he’d ever known, even more so than his father.
Shadow was always cold, to everyone, even his family. Star on the other hand could turn her coldness off, and switch it back on when it was needed.
The fact that his sister was now fighting against him filled Samuel with fear, fear that the rebels might actually win what was now an official war.
Until today, the Mountain Clan had hunted the rebels with very little reprisal. Sure, they got lucky, and killed a few of their attackers, but the rebels always lost a lot more… a lot more.
Today, they’d lost none, and Samuel had lost fourteen. His father was going to be incensed.
Samuel paused as he neared the entrance to his father’s chamber and sighed. He wasn’t looking forward to this.
Samuel felt something in his mouth, and spat on the rock floor. It was blood.
He shook his head. If Star had wanted to, she could’ve killed him, but she didn’t.
“Why not?” He thought. The answer to that question troubled him.
Samuel sighed again, and stepped through the entrance.

Shadow was standing in the corner when he walked in, his mate beside him.
“Who’s there!” His father yelled, as they both turned.
“Sam?” Amra said, as she ran over to him. “Samuel, are you alright?”
Sam sighed and nodded. “Yes mother, I’m fine.”
Shadow looked at his son, a confused look on his face. “Amra, leave us.”
Amra looked up at Samuel, a sympathetic look on her face.
“I love you.” She whispered.
Sam nodded. “I know.”
Amra walked past her son and out of the chamber.
Shadow walked about half way to his son, and stopped, motioning for Samuel to join him.
Samuel sighed and walked over to his father.
“What happened son?” Shadow asked. “You’re a mess.”
“It was Star.” Samuel said. “She and about twenty-five of the rebels jumped our patrol.”
“Don’t the rest of them know to report to me?” Shadow said, his expression changing to one of anger. “What are their names? I’ll see to it that they do so next time.”
“They’re dead.” Samuel said.
“What?” Shadow asked.
Samuel sighed. “I’m… I was the only survivor father.”
“How many of you were there?” Shadow asked.
“Fifteen.” Samuel answered.
Shadow gritted his teeth. “… and you lost to the rebels, to your sister?!”
Samuel nodded.
“Why did you survive? I’m guessing you didn’t kill all twenty-five of them yourself!”
Samuel sighed. “I… I don’t know why she let me go father.”
“Weakness.” Shadow said. “She couldn’t kill you.”
“She had a message for you father.” Samuel said.
“What’s that?” Shadow asked.
Samuel sighed. “Here goes…” He thought. “Her message is this: The rebellion is no more, they… they are now the River Clan.”
“Clan!” Shadow yelled. “They have some nerve thinking they can call themselves Clan!”
Samuel nodded. “They will be making it official with the high-council soon.”
Shadow gritted his teeth.
“… father?” Samuel said. “I… our campaign against them will not be tolerated by the council if they are recognized as a clan. Now they’re fugitives but…”
“I know that!” Shadow yelled.
A chill ran down Samuel’s spine.
“Father… I… I don’t think I can kill my sister.”
“What?!” Shadow screamed.
“Star is my sister father. The other rebels I care little about, but…”
Shadow stepped up close to Samuel. “I want you to lead a strike force to their cave, kill them before they get recognized, reduce their number to a point that the council will not recognize them.”
Samuel sighed. “Father I’m serious.”
Shadow looked up at his son, astonishment on his face.
Moving quicker than Samuel had ever seen, Shadow hit him. Then, before Samuel had time to react, his father hit him again, and again, throwing him to the ground.
Shadow knelt down beside Samuel, who was very surprised to say the least.
“You may be my son, but you are a solder, and you will obey orders! I don’t care how you feel.”
Shadow stood up.
“Now, I want you to move out with that strike force ASAP.” Shadow turned to walk away, and stopped. He paused for a moment, and then walked back over to his son, who was struggling to stand; the burning throb in his leg having transformed into a sharp and persistent pain. He knelt down beside Samuel again. “Your sister is ten times the fighter you are.” He sneered. “You disgust me. No wonder she let you live.” Then he spat on Samuel and walked out of the chamber.










Chapter 6

Star came to in a chamber of a cave. She felt blood running down her face, stinging her eyes. Star wiped it away with her paw, and blinked a few times to clear her vision.
She slowly stood, and shook her head a few times, trying to get rid of the sharp and persistent pain that filled her head.
“Oh good, you’re awake.” A voice said from behind her. “Now we can carry out your sentence.”
“What?” She asked. “What did I do?”
The wolf stepped into her line of sight. She was surprised to see, not a member of the Mountain Clan, but a member of her own Clan.
The gray wolf sneered. “What did you do? Don’t play dumb with us, we know what you did, you betrayed us.”
“No.” Star said.
The wolf stepped forward and hit her in the face again. Star fell to the floor, unable to remain standing.
“Yes.” He said. “No one else knew where we were. We even moved the clan, and they still found us.”
“… but…” Star started, but she was cut off by the gray wolf. “… but nothing. “ The wolf said. “They have Joshua now, and we have you. I hope you’re happy.”
Star remained silent.
“Get up.” The wolf said.
Star tried, but found she couldn’t lift herself.
“GET UP!” The wolf yelled. He kicked Star in the ribs, rolling her across the chamber.
Star’s lungs burned as they struggled to regain their ability to process air. She slowly struggled to her feet.
“Follow me.” The wolf said. “The rest of the Clan is already there.”
“Where?” Star asked.
The wolf smiled. “You’ll soon find out.”
Then the two of them walked out of the chamber.

Samuel was standing in front of a group of wolves his father had assembled to wipe out the rebellion, once and for all.
Samuel cleared his throat, and the chattering wolves fell silent.
“All right Men.” Samuel said. “As you know, our mission is to wipe out the rebellion, every last one of them. We do have captured their leader, and he is awaiting trial. Through information gathered from a spy the rebels thought was on their side, we have discovered their location, and are going there now. Prepare yourselves, this is likely to be a long battle.”
Samuel moved to the head of the group. “Let’s move out!”
The wolves slowly walked out of the cave.

Star followed the gray wolf through the forest for quite a ways, before they came to the end of the tree line.
The land extended probably twenty feet out, and then stopped, literally. At the end of that twenty feet was a drop off, at least two hundred feet deep.
The clearing in front of the drop was full of wolves; the wolves of the River Clan.
Star received mixed looks from the wolves; some of sadness, some of anger, and some, though very few, of pity.
The gray wolf shoved her toward the drop off, and she stopped at the edge.
The gray wolf stood in front of her.
“Star, for crimes against the River Clan that resulted in the death of twenty of our Clan members, and the capture of our leader, Joshua, I hereby find you guilty, and sentence you to death…”
Star looked behind her as he paused.
It was a long way down.
“… do you have anything to say in your defense?”
“Yes.” Star said. “I’m innocent.”
“Really.” The wolf sneered. “Who else would have, or even could have betrayed us then?”
Star remained silent.
“Exactly.” The wolf said. “With no new evidence to bring forth, I find you guilty and sentence you to death.”
The gray wolf turned to the black one that had walked up beside Star, and nodded.
The black wolf started pushing Star towards the drop. She fought the wolf, but he was strong, and her paws slid on the rough gravel.
Star watched the drop get closer and closer, until her back paws felt air.
She fell backwards then, but grabbed onto the cliff with her forelegs.
The black wolf looked back at the gray wolf, who nodded.
The black wolf nodded back, and raised his paw, bringing it down on top of Star’s.
She screamed as he ground her paw into the gravel. She couldn’t hold on for long.
“This isn’t fair.” Star thought, as she began to lose her grip. “I didn’t do anything, I want to live!”
Just when she thought she wasn’t able to hold on anymore, a voice sounded from the trees. “STOP!”
The gray wolf looked behind him. “Who are you, and why must we stop?”
“I have some evidence in her… in Star’s favor.”
The black wolf looked up at the gray one.
The wolf paused for a moment, and nodded.
The black wolf turned back to Star, and pulled her up on the cliff.
Star was shaking so hard she couldn’t stand, and fell to the ground. Her breath came in ragged gasps.
“What is this evidence?” The gray wolf asked. “Show yourself.”
A black wolf stepped out of the trees.
“Aaron?” The gray wolf asked.
The black wolf nodded. “I went to rescue my father as soon as I heard he’d been captured, and found that he was too heavily guarded for me to succeed on my own, however, I did overhear a brief Samuel gave to a group of wolves just before I left.”
“And?” The gray wolf asked.
“And it wasn’t Star who betrayed my father; it was the spy whom we got the information from.”
The wolves assembled in the area gasped, and started talking in a hushed whisper.
The gray wolf nodded and turned back to Star.
She summoned all the courage she had, and stood shakily.
“Star, in light of this new evidence, I find you innocent of the charges against you. I’m sorry about the mix-up.”
Star just stared at him.
The gray wolf, along with the rest of the River Clan, made their way back into the forest.
Star slowly walked over to Aaron. “Aaron, thank you! You showed up just in time!”
Aaron smiled. “You’re welcome Star.”
“Why’d you do it though, I… I didn’t think you liked me.”
Aaron sighed. “I don’t like what you’ve done in the past, but… my father believes in you, and if he does, so do I.”
Star smiled. “That’s good to hear.”
“Besides,” Aaron said, nuzzling her shoulder. “You’re my sister.”
Star smiled. “That’s right bro.”
Aaron sighed. “However, there’s still the matter of my father to attend to.”
Star nodded. “Don’t worry about him. I’m sure we can rescue him.”
Aaron smiled. “I knew you’d say something like that.”
“Come on.” Star said. “Let’s get back to the cave. We have a big operation to plan, and not much time to do it in.”
“You’re right.” Aaron said. “Let’s go.”
The two wolves, brother and sister, walked into the trees, heading back toward the cave.

Star had assembled the remainder of the River Clan inside the cave that they had taken refuge in. Aaron was at her side now, as she prepared to speak to them.
“… I still think it’s risky.” Aaron said.
“Look,” Star said. “The Mountain Clan is obviously ill at ease with Shadow as their leader. If we take out the head, then they can join us, we can win the war without killing everyone. They’re good wolves, you just have to give them a chance.”
“I don’t doubt that they are.” Aaron said. “But Shadow is bound to be well guarded, and he is their Alpha, they will die to protect him.”
Star nodded. “Yes, until recently, I was one of them, but…” Star stopped.
“… but what?” Aaron asked.
Star remained silent.
“Star?” Aaron asked.
Star looked at him. “What if we kept the rest of them occupied?”
“What do you mean?” Aaron asked, confused.
“What if we… what if we made them think the danger was somewhere else?”
“You’re talking about a diversion.” Aaron said.
“Yes.” Star answered. “A diversion, something to occupy them while a very small team of us moved in and made the actual attack.”
“That could work.” Aaron said. “But what would be big enough to make them abandon their leader?”
“What about a second attack, an attack on the front entrance.”
Aaron thought for a moment. “That’s suicide.” Aaron said finally, shaking his head. “And what If Shadow joins the defense?”
“He won’t.” Star replied. “Shadow is a big coward.”
“Oh really?” Aaron said. “What about all the wolves he’s killed?”
Star sighed. “He is a great fighter, but he rarely fights, he avoids combat. He sends others in to do it for him.”
Aaron looked away from Star and sighed. Then he shook his head and turned back to her. “I don’t like it, it’s too risky. Besides, who would the team be?”
“Well, you and I obviously, and five… no three… yes, three of your most trusted soldiers.”
Aaron sighed. “I still don’t like it. We should wait, if this doesn’t work, then the entire resistance could be lost.”
“That’s true.” Star said. “But what would be better, to be hunted the rest of our lives. Watching, as each of us falls one by one, or… or go out trying to sort out this mess.”
Aaron sighed, and Star stepped forward, getting closer to him. “Aaron, what would your mother have done?” She whispered.
Aaron looked up sharply.
Star remained silent and just looked at him.
Aaron slowly nodded. “Alright, so if we do this thing, we’re going to have to go at it head on. We’ve got to be committed.”
Star sighed. “Yeah…”
Aaron smiled. “So, you ready to do this?”
“Actually no,” Star said, “no, I’m not.”
Aaron could tell something was troubling her. “What is it Star?”
“Why’d you come back for me?” Star asked. “I mean… I’d understand completely if you’d let them kill me, and then told them your info.”
Aaron sighed. “I… I thought of something my mother once told me.”
“What was that?” Star asked.
Aaron smiled. “I was real young, and she and Dad had just had a fight. I was scared. They’d never fought in front of me before. She said that… that family has to stick together, because without family… we’re lost, we don’t know where we’ve been, and without knowing where we’ve been, we can’t possibly know where we’re going.” He paused and sighed. “Star, it is very hard for me to trust you. You already said you understand that, but… but though I may disagree with your past actions, you are my sister. I can’t change that…” He looked up at her. “… and I don’t think I’d want to.”
Star smiled.
“Ready now?” Aaron asked.
“Yeah.” Star said. “Yeah, let’s do this.”
She smiled at Aaron, and walked out of the chamber, thoughts of déjà vu going through her mind.

“Are you insane!” The older wolf asked.
Star and Aaron had just announced their plan of action to the rest of the River Clan, and needless to say it hadn’t been received very well.
“Maybe.” Star said. “If that’s what it takes to end this conflict.”
Aaron smiled at his sister and stepped forward. “We’re not insane. It is completely feasible that we could succeed. It will require sacrifice, and courage, but it is possible. Star is right. We need to end this now, and we may never get this chance again.”
“I don’t like it.” The older wolf said.
“Look,” Star said. “What else do we have to do? The answer is nothing, and if we do nothing, it is only a matter of time before Shadow kills each of us. If we just run away from him, he will kill us one by one, and the resistance will be destroyed, and the hope of freedom for the wolves of the Mountain Clan with will die with us. We have to fight now, not for us…” Star paused and turned toward the young wolves that were being watched over in the corner. “… but for them, for our children, and their children. What life do they have to look forward to if we give up?”
The other wolves talked in hushed tones to one another.
Aaron stepped up beside Star. “She’s right again.” He said. “You know she is.”
One by one the wolves stepped forward, behind Star.
She and Aaron turned around, and smiled. “We have a lot of planning to do, and not much time, so let’s get started. This is going to have to be perfect.”

















Chapter 7

Star and Aaron were watching the back entrance to the Mountain Clan’s cave. Though usually guarded by a single sentry, their were now six wolves posted outside the entrance
“You see them?” Star asked.
“Yeah.” Aaron said. He sighed. “Yeah I see ‘em. What are we going to do; you think he’s on to us?”
“No,” Star said, “it has to be coincidence. The attack is going to begin in about five minutes. We can’t waste any time.” She turned to her brother. “Can you take two of ‘em?”
“No, no I doubt it.” Aaron responded.
“Alright,” Star said. “I’ll take two then.” She turned to the other four wolves with her. “You guys take one each. That’ll be all six. Don’t kill them unless you have to, we’re after Shadow.”
The other wolves nodded.
“Ready?” Star asked.
“I guess.” Aaron replied.
“Let’s do this then, go!”
Star, Aaron, and the other three wolves with them ran down to the entrance. Star’s first attack knocked her opponent to the ground, and her next took care of the second. Aaron dispatched his foe soon after, and two others fell as well.
Star turned to see the sixth sentry running toward the entrance. “Get him!” She yelled.
The fourth wolf jumped on the sentry’s back, and knocked him to the ground. After a short scuffle, the final sentry was out of the fight.
Star smiled at Aaron, who was breathing hard. “That wasn’t too bad.”
“I don’t know.” Aaron replied. “Light here has a pretty bad wound on her foreleg.”
“Yeah,” Star said, walking over to the wounded wolf. “The fighting inside is liable to get pretty bad. You think you can hold your own?”
The wounded wolf smiled. “Yeah, yeah I think so.”
“Good.” Star said. She walked in front of the small group. “Well guys, guess it’s now or never. This is for the River Clan. You all know what’s at stake here…”
The other wolves all nodded silently.
“… so I won’t go into that.” Star finished. She sighed. “Everyone ready?”
All the others nodded in the affirmative.
Aaron stepped forward. “Then let’s get this over with.”
He took off toward the entrance, and the rest of the force followed him.

Out at the front entrance, another group of wolves was positioned up on the top of a hill facing the front entrance of the Mountain Clan’s cave. This force was considerably larger than Star’s small group.
The leader turned to his soldiers. “This battle may be very difficult. Try to wound and not kill, remember, these wolves aren’t the enemy, Shadow is.”
The wolves all nodded curtly.
“Alright,” he said.
Down below the wolves that were guarding the front entrance turned and walked back toward the entrance, meeting seven others that were coming outside.
“They’re changing the guard.” The leader said. “That’s our cue, attack!”
The entire clearing seemed to swarm with wolves, as the river clan charged down the hill, meeting thee fourteen wolves head on. Fighting ensued, and the alarm was raised. Soon, the entrance was flooded with wolves of the Mountain Clan, defenders of their home. These wolves had no idea what they were rushing into. The wolves of the River Clan were ready to make their last stand if that was what was what they had to do. Secretly though, they hoped that wouldn’t be necessary.

At That moment, Star, and her strike force were standing in the middle of the main chamber. It was late at night, and the chamber was deserted. “Where are they holding him?” Star asked.
“Down below.” Aaron answered.
“Alright.” Star said. “Take the other three, and go rescue him.” She looked up toward the chamber that Shadow lived in. “I’ve got something else to take care of.”
Aaron nodded, and he and his three friends ran down a sloping tunnel to the right.
Star ran up the inclined ledge that led to the alpha’s chambers.

“Dad?” Aaron said.
“Aaron, is that you?” Joshua said, standing and walking toward the entrance to the chamber he’d been kept in.
Aaron smiled. “Yeah it’s me dad.”
Joshua smiled. “What are you doing here?”
“We’re here to rescue you.” Aaron replied. “Star is here too.”
“Star?” Joshua asked. “Where is she?”
“She went to take care of Shadow and end this war.” One of the other wolves said, stepping forward.
“We better go help her.” Joshua said. “Shadow is a very good fighter.”
Aaron shook his head. “No dad, I’m supposed to get you out of here, Star’s orders.”
“Who’s orders?” Joshua asked. “You forget that I’m the Alpha of this Clan. I say we’re going to help her. If she has a problem with that, then she can take it up with me later.”
Aaron sighed. “Alright.” He said. “But I really wish you’d leave here, I… I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Joshua smiled. “It’s alright son, I’ll be fine. I may not be as young as I used to be, but that doesn’t mean that I’m weak.”
Joshua turned to face all of the wolves present. “Now let’s go, she’ll need our help.”

Samuel had re-entered the cave only minutes before the attack on the front entrance began. He’d been unable to find his sister, or any of the rebels for that matter The cave they’d taken refuge in had been deserted.
Samuel was standing in his father’s chambers. “Dad, I have a report for you.”
“Is she dead?” Shadow asked, never taking his eyes off the hole in the wall he was staring at.
Samuel sighed. “No, the rebels must have been tipped off to our attack, because they weren’t there.”
Shadow laughed softly and turned to his son. “That’s because they’re here.”
“What?” Samuel asked. He walked over to his father’s side. The battle was raging in the clearing out in front of the cave. Samuel could see it from the hole his father had been staring through.
“Now that you’re here,” Shadow said. “I want you to go down there and organize our defense. We’ll push them back in no time. I have little doubt that Star is here somewhere, find her and kill her.” Shadow turned back to the hole. “Then we’ll take care of this.”
“Um.. dad?” Samuel asked.
“What is it son?” Shadow asked.
Samuel sighed. “I don’t know quite how to say this, but I don’t agree…” Samuel sighed again. “I don’t think I can fight for you anymore.”
“What?” Shadow asked, almost unable to believe his ears.
“Dad, when we went to kill those rebels, they were wolves, just like us. Under your orders my men killed… little babies, mothers, fathers. This isn’t war at all, its genocide.”
Shadow’s face changed from surprised to completely incensed. Samuel had never seen his father look so angry. His father’s change of attitude filled Samuel with fear.
“So that’s… that’s how you feel son?” He asked. His tone was grave and cautious.
Samuel paused a moment before he answered. “Yes.”
“Well I can’t have you leading my fighters then, now can I?” Shadow said.
“No dad, this… this is actually my resignation.” Samuel said.
“Your resignation?!” Shadow asked. He was dumbfounded by his son’s stupidity. “What you think you can be some kind of hunter or somethin’, and not be loyal to me; me, your own father!””
Samuel sighed. “Father, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“Well I do son.” Shadow said. “The things you have just said are treacherous to the Mountain Clan, and you validated them just now. You know the rules.”
Samuel suddenly realized what his father was going to do. “Dad, you… you can’t be serious. I’m… I’m your son.”
“As Star was my daughter.” Shadow replied, taking a step forward.
Samuel took a step back, trying to keep some distance between he and his father. “Was?”” He asked.
“She’s dead to me son…” Shadow said, glaring at him. “… as are you.”
“Dad please don’t…”
Samuel was cut off as Shadow leapt at him.

Star stepped lightly into the chamber that she had played in as a child. It was odd, the feelings that were coursing through her. Where she had once felt safest, she now felt most threatened.
The sight before her startled Star out of her reminiscence through. Shadow was on top of Samuel. His face was a mess, and he had a bad wound on his shoulder. Shadow was positioned to kill Samuel, and raised his paw high.
“Shadow stop!” Star yelled.
Shadow laughed, but lowered his paw. “Or what?” He asked.
A grim look came upon Star’s face. “Not or anything, just stop.”
Samuel raised his head out of the pool of blood beneath him. “Star?” He asked weakly.
Star nodded curtly. “Get up.” She said. “Samuel get up. Get out of here.”
Shadow smiled, and stepped to the left, off of Samuel. “I’ll let the mouse go, just to catch the rat.” He said, never taking his eyes off of Star.
Samuel stood weakly, and limped out of the chamber. Star watched him go, and only when he was out of sight, did she turn back to Shadow. “
Shadow began to circle Star, but maintained his distance from her, staying out of range of any attack she might suddenly throw against him. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing back up here Star. What, you think you’re just gonna waltz right up in here. What are you going to do?”
Star face remained calm, though there was a hot, burning anger beneath. “The attack was my idea Shadow, and I know that you’re not my father, so don’t even try to play that card on me.” Star kept her eyes on Shadow, turning as he circled her, but remaining stationary.
Shadow smiled. It was an evil smile. “Why should I play any cards, why not just kill you?”
“Because you’re a coward.” Star answered. “I know you. I’ve watched you work. You don’t kill anyone. You just send people to do it for you.”
“Oh really?” Shadow mocked. “You ever see me fight Star? Because I guarantee you growing up I had to do my share.”
“And you taught me.” Star said. “So I can beat you.” Star’s eyes narrowed, and her voice betrayed a just a hint of the rage that filled her now. “I will beat you, Shadow.”
“Oh really?” Shadow said. “Going homicidal on your own family now are we?”
“I told you I know the truth.” Star said. “You aren’t my father, Amra isn’t my mother, and this isn’t my family, and this isn’t my Clan.”
Shadow continued to circle Star, increasing his speed just a bit. “You know this is really some thanks.” He said. “I promoted you, I taught you…I raised you for god’s sake! And this is how you repay me.” His last sentence was a statement, not a question.
“You’re a homicidal maniac.” Star said flatly. “If you had just left the rebels alone I wouldn’t be here right now.”
“The rebels?” Shadow asked. “And what do you know of the rebels? Might want to check out your new friends Star; the rebels are traitors, they want to destroy this clan, and every wolf in it.”
“They only wish to destroy you, not the Clan.” Star said, continuing to turn in circles, keeping Shadow in front of her, and in the center of her field of vision. The tension in the chamber was almost tangible. The forces surging between these two wolves were electric.
“Then why have they killed us? They’ve destroyed patrols, hunting parties. These are not military in nature, simply duties of the Clan.”
“That was before I talked to them.” Star
said. “Now they see that the clan isn’t the problem…” Star paused. She was almost shaking now with the rage that filled her soul. She fought to keep it in check, for she knew that if she gave in to it’s tempting power, that Shadow would overpower her and kill her. She narrowed her eyes once more. “… you are.” She finished.
“You know what?!” Shadow yelled. “:Enough of this talk!” He spat at Star, “Let’s settle this… TRAITOR!”
Shadow leapt at Star, and Star backpedaled away from his attack. Shadow swung his paw as hard as he could, and caught Star’s front leg, as she backed away again. As her right foreleg was swept off the ground, Star fell to the right, landing hard on the right side of her face.
Before she had a chance to recover, Shadow was on her. Star raised her front legs over her face; blocking most of the shower of blows that Shadow hurled down at her. A few made it through her defenses though, and Star felt a warm trickle of blood run down the side of her face.
Star knew that if she didn’t get him off of her, she was dead. She threw all her body weight up, and unbalanced Shadow, then she threw her head up, kicking the ground with her back legs as she did so. The momentum of her movements propelled her up in the air, and threw Shadow off backwards. He landed on his back, but was quickly back on his feet. Star rolled to the left, and got back to her feet as well.
Star decided it was time for her to push the attack, and ran at Shadow. She got him twice in the side of the head, and they were good strikes, but they seemed to phase Shadow very little.
He blocked her third strike, and pushed her paw down, throwing her body weight down and to the left. Shadow threw a series of four strikes at Star’s face. She took every one of them, unable to block in her current predicament. She tried to back away, but Shadow stepped forward and kept hitting her, a total of twelve times.
Star’s vision was staring to blur, and split. She could feel two fairly steady streams of blood running down the back of her head, and tasted blood in her mouth.
She shook her head, and some of the blood dripped into her eye. It stung, and she couldn’t see.
Shadow smiled and backed away from Star. He’d pushed her back to the entrance of the chamber with his attack. “Time to finish her off.” He thought. “You’re pathetic.” He said.
Star shook her head again, trying to clear her vision. She blinked a few times, and that helped a little. Star looked back up, just as Shadow turned and kicked her in the face with both his back legs.
Star was lifted off the ground a good five feet, and thrown through the air, through the entrance to the chamber. It was then, as she was dropping toward the ground outside, that Star realized she wasn’t going to make it, she wasn’t going to win. She was going to die.
Star hit the rock hard and rolled twice before she fit her head on a large rock jutting out of the wall, which stopped her tumbling down the slope.
Star stood up, but Shadow was already there. He started attacking her again. Star raised her paws to block, but her injuries had weakened her severely and Shadow’s attacks broke right through them. He hit her three times, quickly, snapping her head back. Then, as her vision settled back on him, he hit her one more time, this time, right below her right ear, using all the strength he could muster.
Star felt a burst of pain, and her vision turned white. She barely felt herself slamming to the ground as she fell.
Shadow jumped on top of her, and raised his paw high.
“We were stupid to resist him.” Star thought. “How could I have ever imagined that we could beat him? I w as such a fool.”
Then she laid still, waiting for the end.
Only minutes before Star was thrown out of Shadow’s chambers, Joshua and Aaron entered the main chamber. “Where is she?” Joshua asked his son.
“She headed up that way.” Aaron said, gesturing towards the chamber at the top of the cave.
“I’m going to head up there and see if she needs help.” Joshua said. “You…” Joshua stopped as Star was hurled through the entrance to Shadow’s chambers. “Star!” He yelled. Shadow ran up to her, and hit her several times, and then once more. Joshua could tell that Star had had it, she wasn’t going to survive much longer. “Star, no!” He yelled. As Shadow stood over Star, ready to deal the final blow, Joshua sprinted up the incline,. As Shadow dropped his paw to shatter Star’s skull, Joshua leapt, and plowed right into him. Shadow’s powerful blow came within three inches of Star’s face, before the impact threw he and Joshua to the ground.
The two of them rolled, slashing and biting one another. Star had closed her eyes, knowing that the end was near, but since she had felt nothing, she opened her eyes, and saw Joshua stand, as Shadow hit him, knocking him into the corner. “Joshua!” She cried. She struggled to her feet, as Shadow tore into Joshua’s throat. Star saw a spray of crimson blood erupt from Joshua’s neck, and a great rage filled her. Her feelings gave her a second wind, and though she was still badly wounded and dazed, she felt a new strength flood her body. Star walked quickly, but quietly up behind Shadow. He didn’t even hear her.
Star tapped him of the shoulder with her paw. Shadow turned, unsure of who had touched him. He was so sure that Star was out of the fight, that the last thing he expected t see was her. Star took advantage of his surprise, and drove her paw straight up into his chin, using all the force she could muster. The blow lifted Shadow off his feet, and threw him to the ground about three feet away. Star was on him in seconds. As Shadow stood, she hit him in the shoulder, throwing him off balance, and smashed him in the face with four crushing blows. As the last one made contact, Star felt the bones in Shadow’s jaw give way, and audibly snap. Shadow stumbled backwards, away from his attacker, but stopped, as his paws came to the edge of the ledge he was standing on. Star drove her paw, once again upward, contacting the base of Shadow’s jaw. Again she felt bone snap, and muscle tear, with the ferocity of her attack.
The force of her strike lifted Shadow on his back legs. As he tried desperately to maintain his balance on the edge of the ledge, he looked down. The floor of the cave was a long ways away, more than one hundred feet.
Star glared at Shadow, whose face, for the first time, showed fear. “Star please, you wouldn’t… wouldn’t kill me? I raised you, just leave me be, and I promise to surrender, you’ve beaten me. What do ya say Star?” Shadow smiled weakly at her. Star’s thoughts drifted to Joshua then, and the great possibility that she’d never speak to him again. Star narrowed her eyes, and gritted her teeth. “Go to hell.” She said. Then she jumped in the air and turned, throwing her back legs out, and kicking Shadow in the chest. Shadow lost his balance then, and tumbled off the ledge. Star heard him slam into the ground far below. She limped to the edge and looked over. Seeing Shadow, she winced. It had been a long way down.
Star was suddenly overcome with weakness, and backed away from the side of the ledge, fearing she might fall herself. Star’s vision began to blur, and she turned, looking at the corner where Joshua had fallen. She took a step forward, and swooned, falling to the ground. Her breathing quickened somewhat and she closed her eyes. Pain coursed through her, and she couldn’t stand. She crawled over to the corner where Joshua had fallen. Standing there was Aaron. She looked up at him and sighed. “It’s over.” She said. “Go around front, and stop this battle.”
Aaron looked at his father. Then he nodded, and he and the other three wolves ran down the slope, and out the front entrance.
Star continued crawling until she was at Joshua’s side, where she collapsed, unable to move any further. Joshua’s eyes fluttered open and he blinked several times. “Aaron?” He asked.
Star blinked back tears at her friend’s condition. “No, Joshua, it’s me, Star.”
Joshua smiled weakly, and chuckled. “Sorry, I can’t see too well.”
“Joshua…” Star started, but he cut her off. “… is it done?”
“Yes…” Star answered. “Yes, it’s… it’s done.”
A look of concern came over Joshua’s face then. “Where’s… where’s Aaron?”
Star had managed to drag herself up to a sitting position, and wiped the tears out of her eyes with her paw. “He went to relay the message to the other leaders, to end the war.”
Joshua winced. “Good, they’ll be… be no more needless bloodshed then.” Joshua paused, closed his eyes, and winced again, as pain jolted his body. “Star… I’m… I’m not going to ma... make it.”
“Yes you will.” Star said, tears flooding her eyes again. “Yes you will.” Her voice cracked at the end, and she stopped.
“No Star.” Joshua said. “Everything is… is already fading.” He saw the tears that were dripping down Star’s face, and smiled, raising his paw and wiping them away. “But… but don’t… don’t be sad. I’ll… I’ll be with Silver soon.”
“But Joshua,” Star asked. “If you die, who’ll lead our new Clan?”
“Joshua smiled again. “Star… I… I think you’ll make a… a fine leader. The other’s will follow you… you’ve… you’ve proven yourself to them now.”
“Me?” Star asked. “I don’t know how to lead a Clan. I mean, I’ve led fighters, small teams, but never a Clan, not in all the duties an Alpha has to perform… I don’t think I can do it.”
Joshua’s breathing rate increased, and it was a few minutes before he was able to speak again. “Yes you can. It’s… It’s in your blood. I have to tell you something before I… before I go. Your… your father was supposed to be… to be Alpha of the Mountain Clan… but Shadow pushed him out. Shadow took over… it’s … it’s what started the war in the first place. Your… your father let him… he said… he said that Shadow would make a better leader… whether he believed that or not… I… I don’t know. It’s just… just what he said. You see, you… you should have been Alpha after… after your father died… maybe… maybe that’s why Amra saved you. Amra has... has been a spy for us for a long time, talk to her, she can tell you more.” Joshua paused for a moment, and Star could tell that telling this story had sapped a great deal of the energy he had left. “Star.” Joshua said. “Lead this clan, the River Clan. Make your mark on the world… do your father proud… make this clan everything… that he never could.” Joshua stopped again, and collapsed into a fit of coughing. When he had finished, his face was covered in bright red blood. “Tell… tell… tell Aaron that… that his father loved him… very much. Tell him to… to stay strong… can… can you do that for me… Star?”
“Of course.” Star said. “I will Joshua.”
“You will be great Star. Pass this on… on to the others… that… that they might know the story of their freedom… that they know the price…and that they’ll treasure it.”
“I will.” Star said. “I will Joshua. I’ll never forget you. Thank you for believing in me.”
“It wasn’t me…” Joshua said. “… it… it was… Amra. Ask her, and… and she can… tell you everything.”
Joshua’s breathing became even more erratic, and he had a hard time choking out this last sentence. “Star… take this clan… make it… everything… that… it… should’ve… been.” Joshua’s head slumped to the floor, his eyes glazed over, as the life left them. Every organ inside his body was shutting down, as the gravely injured engine stalled, and then stopped. Joshua’s chest rose one more time, and he exhaled for the last time. It was in this way, that Joshua, Alpha of the River Clan, leader of the rebellion against the Mountain Clan, father to Aaron, and friend to all those that knew him, died.
Star’s eyes flooded with tears, and she reached down with her paw, and gently closed Joshua’s eyes. She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes, taking a minute to compose herself. Then she stood and weakly limped out of the chamber.

By this time, Aaron and his three friends had managed to stop the fighting. All over the clearing were dead, dying, and wounded wolves, evidence of the chaos that had reigned only moments ago.
“Listen to me.” Aaron said. “Shadow is dead. You have no leader. Surrender will be accepted now, and you can join our new clan, the new Mountain Clan. Please, let’s end this fighting.
An aging silver wolf, who was obviously one of Shadows generals, stepped forward and out of the ranks of wolves, glaring at Aaron. “You’ve killed Shadow?!” The wolf yelled. “Fine… fine then I take his place.” He looked behind him at the ranks of wolves. “All of you attack!”
The wolves looked, one to another, unsure of what to do. They started talking in hushed tones to one another. “I said attack!” The wolf yelled. Still the wolves did nothing, in fact, some of them stepped backward.
“Their loyalty is shaken,” Aaron said. The general turned to face him. “And you my friend, you must realize this.”
“No!” The general said. “The Mountain Clan will cease to exist if I do!” The general looked around him, and then back at Aaron. “I swore my life to Shadow, and my life is his!”
The General leapt at Aaron, but the younger wolf quickly sidestepped, and the other three wolves fell on the General, attacking and killing him.
“Please listen to me.” Aaron pleaded. “I don’t want to have to kill anyone else. There’s been too much killing already, please… listen to me.”
The wolves began to talk amongst themselves, and after a few moments, slowly, they began to gravitate behind Aaron. After almost six minutes, the last wolf remaining loyal to Shadow, threw his inhibitions to the wind, and joined his comrades.
Aaron smiled, and turned around to face
them. “Thank-you.” He said. “Let’s go inside. We have a lot of work to do if we’re going to re-construct this clan.”

As Star made her way out of the chamber, she was met by hundreds of wolves from the Mountain Clan. Star didn’t even notice, she just stumbled by them. She was unsure of her ability to remain standing, so she stayed close to the wall. The flood of wolves didn’t seem to notice her either. Star’s mind was spinning. She had so much to do, and yet she couldn’t even seem to stand. Star slumped against the wall, and slid down on his side. “Am I dying?” She thought. Strangely enough, the thought of her own death hadn’t come to her until today, when Shadow was on top of her. In all the battles she’d been in, where death was inches from her, where it was all around her, she never realized her own could be close by, that she could be the next one to fall. She’d never thought about what it’d be like to die. What would happen to her? Star didn’t know, and that fact, filled her with fear.
A familiar voice brought her mind back to the present. “Star?”
She looked up, and saw a fuzzy black face, that she thought was a wolf. Star opened her mouth to say something, but she couldn’t seem to get the words out. Her head fell back against the ground, and her vision dissolved into blackness.








Chapter 8

Star slowly opened her eyes. Her first realization was that she wasn’t dead. Her head throbbed with a sharp stabbing pain. Star blinked a few times and her vision slowly cleared.
“Hey, look who’s awake.”
Star turned over, and saw Aaron standing behind her.
“Aaron?” She asked.
He smiled and walked toward her. “It’s me.” He said. “How re you feeling? You took a nasty blow to the head, and lost a lot of blood.”
He sighed and looked up at her. “To tell you the truth, I thought we’d lost you when I saw you fall against that wall.”
She smiled weakly. “I’m not that easy to get rid of.”
Aaron laughed. “And it’s a good thing too. You’ve got a lot of work ahead of you if you’re going to show this Clan what it is to be free. They’re so used to Shadow’s iron rule; they’re very confused right now.”
“How long was I out?” Star asked.
“Two days.” Aaron said. He sighed. “I… we really didn’t expect to see you again.”
Star’s memory came rushing back to her then. She remembered the fight, almost getting killed, Joshua saving her, Shadow’s defeat, and….
Star sighed. “Aaron?”
“What is it?” Aaron asked, walking closer to her.
“Aaron I’m so sorry, your father….”
Aaron sighed. “I know. We found him when we brought you up here.”
Star nodded. “Before… before he died, he told me to tell you that he loved you, very much, and to stay strong.”
Aaron nodded. “Thank-you Star.”
She smiled. “He was a great wolf, and we shall not forget him, nor his sacrifice.”
“That he was.” Aaron said. “My father’s death does leave one question unanswered though, and that is who is going to lead this great new free Clan.” have no desire to lead the entire clan, my preference is to fight, and to lead fighters. None others seem to fit the bill… except you.”
Star smiled. “What makes me so great?”
Aaron’s expression grew serious. “Let’s face the facts Star; if it wasn’t for you, and your actions, the rebellion would never have called itself Clan, much less attacked and overthrown Shadow. You’re a hero, and a great leader. I’ve talked to the others, and the decision is unanimous. We want you to be our Alpha.”
Star sighed.

Star sighed.
“Is it really unanimous?”
Aaron smiled. “Yeah, everyone, even your former enemies look up to you for what you did. Never in our history has such a thing occurred. To accomplish what you have, in such a short time, is… well, it’s a miracle. If you can lead like that in times of war, think of what we can accomplish in times of peace?”
Star smiled. “I suppose I could get used to it.”
Aaron smiled back at her. “You better, the Clan wants you to speak to them later on tonight, it will be your first public appearance to your new Clan. You also have to meet and approve the council members, and commanders we have elected to represent us to you. You have a lot to do, and I know it’s a lot to take in, but you must “get used to it” very quickly.”
Star nodded. “I need to speak to Amra before all of this takes place.”
Aaron nodded and smiled. “She is quite anxious to speak to you as well ma’am.”
Star smiled and stood. “That’s the first thing to go.”
“What?” Aaron asked.
“You won’t be calling me ma’am anymore, that sounds… I don’t know, it just sounds wrong.”
Aaron smiled. “Alright Star.”
“Can you take me to Amra?” Star asked, standing up slowly.
“Are you up to it?” Aaron asked.
“Well I better be, “Star said, “if I’m going to do all those things you just told me about.”
Aaron laughed at her. “I guess that’s a yes then.” He paused and stopped laughing. “Follow me. I’ll take you to her.”
Star and Aaron walked out of the chamber together.

Aaron led Star up to a small chamber near the top of the cavern. He stopped at the entrance, and smiled. “This is it.”
Star smiled back at him. “Thanks.”
Aaron started to walk away. “I guess you gals have some things to talk about, so I’ll leave you alone. I’ll be in the Alpha’s chambers when you’re done. We have a lot to do.”
Star nodded. “I’ll meet you in the Alpha’s chambers as soon as I’m done here.”
Aaron stopped and smiled at her. “Actually I guess they’re your chambers now.”
Star sighed. “Yeah.”
Aaron turned and walked away. Star looked back to the front, and walked stepped into Amra’s chambers.

“Who’s there?” Amra asked, standing from her place in the corner. She smiled as she saw Star in the entrance to the cave. “Star?”
Star knew what she wanted to say, but somehow she couldn’t get it into words. Amra sighed, and walked over to Star, who backed away slightly. “I’m sure you have many questions.” Amra said.
Star sighed. “Yeah, that… that about covers it… I guess my first question is… why didn’t you tell me?”
Amra sighed. “Star, I wanted to, more than anything, and… and I hated to keep it from you, but for the better good of the Clan, and yourself, I had to go along with the lie.
She paused and sighed again. “I suppose I should start at the beginning. When I first met Shadow, he and his brother, James, your father, were very close, and very competitive. They were princes, and they had a lot of time for games and such. Shadow and I got together, and soon after, his father, your grandfather, was killed, fighting the Storm Clan, whose territory lies across the river. He was betrayed by a member of his personal guard, and was killed. I think that the Shadow that I knew, and loved, died that day, along with his father. This event also helped shape him into the tyrant he became. When his father died, your father should have taken his place as Alpha, but he was fighting the Storm Clan as well, and didn’t know of his father’s death until long after the war had ended. Meanwhile, Shadow thought his brother had been killed as well, and took the position of Alpha. With the end of the war, which no one won, your father returned home to find his brother, his younger brother, was leading the Clan. Your father said he could stay there, he said that Shadow was a better leader than he was.” Amra paused, and her gaze seemed to penetrate Star, the cave, indeed, the very fabric of time itself. “I suppose he probably regretted that statement later on, but we had no idea of knowing that… well, I’m getting ahead of myself… Shadow made your father his military advisor, and the two remained extremely close. Then came the day that would change all of that… forever…” Amra paused and sighed. “How… how much did… did Josh tell you?”
Star sat down in front of Amra. “He told me that Shadow had the entire second unit killed, because of a plot to betray him.”
Amra nodded. “But did he tell you about us, him and me?”
Star shook her head.
“We were… Joshua is… was my brother.”
Star stood up rather quickly. “So that means that…”
“… that Shadow, my own mate, killed my father and other brother.” Amra finished. “Yes, he did, and… and I never forgave him for it, not even now. It was then that I started the rebellion.”
“You?” Star asked.
Amra nodded. “As mate to the Alpha, I couldn’t actively participate, but I did convince the first few to leave. Eventually things got so bad, my brother, and his mate, left the Clan, as did the only wolf who could have done something about Shadow in the beginning, your father. He could have taken his throne back, but he did not, he chose instead, to run away. I guess we’ll never know why. Shadow then became obsessed with finding and killing his brother. I didn’t think that he would, but… but he did. Until that point, I held out for my mate. I hoped that I could approach him, and he would stop. I realized that day, that if I ever approached him, he would kill me. It was that night, the night he killed your family, that I found you. I knew instantly who your mother was. You look just like Rain. I thought that I could raise you, and when the time was right, that you would meet my brother, and become part of the resistance, one day, perhaps even overthrow Shadow. I’ve been waiting a long time for this day Star, and you’ve made it, finally, Shadow’s tyranny is at an end, and there will be peace.”
Star was shocked by the information she was being given.
Amra smiled. “I know this is a lot to take in. I’ll talk to you more later. Right now you have a responsibility to carry out. You’re going to have to rule these wolves. There is no leader now, no Alpha. Everyone wants you to be it, but you’ve got to show them that you can do it.”
Star nodded. “I’m supposed to be addressing them tonight.”
Amra laughed softly. “Then you have a lot of work to do.”
Star nodded slowly.
“Well I’ll let you get to it then.” Amra said. “Thank you Star, now just make somethin of it.”
Star nodded again. “I will.”
Amra smiled. “Get after it then.”
“Oh… Alright.” Star said. She turned and walked out of Amra’s chambers, headed for her own.

When Star reached her chambers, she found another wolf standing inside, beside Aaron. The wolf was gray, except for its face, and paws, which were white. A triangle of dark gray ran between the wolf’s eyes, and down his back and sides. The markings gave him an almost armored look.
“Hello.” Star said. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
The wolf smiled and stepped forward. “No, we haven’t, at least, not formerly. My name is Dannion. I was to be your replacement.”
“My replacement?” Star asked.
“Yes,” Dannion said. “Your father needed to have a head of military matters, correct?”
“Yeah,” Star said. “I… I guess so.”
“Well, now that Shadow is dead, and you’re the Alpha, Aaron and a few of the others decided I should fulfill that task with you. That is, if you want me to.”
Star smiled. “You seem nice enough… sure, but know that this appointment is temporary, if at any time I’m not satisfied with your performance…”
Dannion cut Star off. “I assure you that won’t be a problem.”
“Good.” Star said. She smiled. “So, what does the situation with the other Clans look like to you?”
“Dangerous.” Dannion replied.
“Dangerous?” Star said. “How do you mean?”
Dannion stood and walked over near her and then sat down. “Before your father…”
Star cut him off. “… sorry to interrupt, but Shadow was not my father.”
“My apologies.” Dannion said. “Before Shadow died, the Storm clan was beginning to make trouble for us. Maybe they realized that his time as leader of the Mountain Clan was short… I don’t know, but if they keep up their attacks…”
Star sighed. “We’re going to have to respond in kind.”
Dannion nodded.
Star sighed again. “I was hoping to have some time before we had to start a war. It’s going to take some time for all of these wolves to trust me and for me to have the authority with them that an Alpha should have.”
Dannion nodded. “Normally, yes, you’re right, but that’s why you don’t have much time. You don’t have the luxury of getting to know them. You’re going to have to assert yourself, and demand their allegiance, otherwise, the longevity of the Mountain Clan is in question.”
Star nodded. “One thing though…”
She paused, and Dannion looked at her. “Which is?”
She looked down at the ground, and then back up at him. “The Mountain Clan died with Shadow.”
A confused look came over Dannion’s face. “What do you mean?”
“The Mountain Clan has been associated with Shadow’s tyranny for far too long. The Clan is under new leadership, that will be working toward a new life, and that calls for a new name.”
“What’s that going to be?” Dannion asked.
“I like the River Clan.”
Dannion looked confused again. “Why the River Clan?”
Star smiled. “It’s what I called the rebellion while I was leading them. The river is an analogy.”
“I figured that.” Dannion said. “But what does it allude to?”
“Think about it.” Star said. “The river is passive and clam, it flows peacefully, it gives life. Much like this clan’s new beginning, and purpose…” Star paused, seeing the odd look on Dannion’s face. “… but, it also can take life. When the rains come, the river swells. It wipes out homes, and sometimes, even those who are unfortunate enough to get caught in its path.”
Star stopped speaking, but when the odd look didn’t fade from Dannion’s face, she continued. “I’m not afraid to fight, when the reasons behind the fight are right. If it is necessary, I will stand with these wolves to the death, but I won’t be like Shadow, and kill for no reason.”
Dannion nodded, finally understanding. “Sounds good to me, now as to how it will go over with the clan…”
“The Clan will have to accept it.” Star said. “I’m their new Alpha, and I won’t let them challenge the first decision I make.”
“You can’t.” Dannion said, a certain finality in his tone.
Star sighed and nodded.
“Well,” Dannion said, standing. “I guess that’s all I need to tell you, if you’re ready, I guess I will gather the pack in the main chamber. They will be awaiting your address.”
Star nodded. “Get them ready.”
Dannion nodded curtly, and walked out of the room.
As he left, Aaron looked over at her. “Are you ready?”
Star sighed. “I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be…”
Aaron smiled. “Aw come on, it can’t be that bad, can it?”
Star laughed lightly. “Why don’t you take my place then?”
Aaron smiled. “That’s quite alright, you’ll do just fine.”
Star sighed again. “I hope so…”
The smile disappeared from Aaron’s face, and he became very serious. Star took notice. “Star, you can’t hope, you have to know. These wolves are going to be depending on you and you alone. You have to be absolutely sure of yourself in every decision you make.”
“But what if I’m not?” Star asked. “What if I doubt myself, or my abilities? I will sometime. I’m still just a wolf, just like you.”
Aaron stepped next to his sister, as she sighed, and hung her head. “You will be unsure of yourself sometimes.” Aaron said. “You’re right, but as Alpha you can’t let that show through. You have to appear to be strong, even if you’re crying inside.”
Star smiled and looked up at her brother. “Yeah, you’re right.”
“So are you ready?” Aaron asked.
Star nodded. “Yeah, I’m now I am.”
Star and Aaron could hear the voices of the Clan, as they gathered in the main chamber.
“Sounds like the pack is ready as well.” Aaron said. “I’ll introduce you, and then you can take it from there.”
Star nodded.
“After you.” Aaron said.
Star stepped forward, and walked out of the chamber, Aaron close behind.

As Star stepped out of the chamber, she gasped in surprise. The Clan was bigger than she ever could have imagined. She knew it would be large, but there were probably three hundred wolves below her, gathered in the main chamber. “… and they’re all depending on me to lead them.” Star thought.
Aaron stepped forward, and cleared his throat, silencing the wolves. He paused a moment to insure that it was quiet before he began. “Wolves formerly of the Mountain Clan, I give you our new Alpha. Her name is Star, and she wishes to speak to you.”
Aaron paused here, and looked back at her. Star swallowed hard, and fought down the rising panic raging within her. She stepped forward, and Aaron walked behind her, where Dannion already stood.
“My name is Star.” She said. “You have chosen me as your new Alpha, and I have to tell you, I’m quite flattered that you would choose me. That said, things are going to be a lot different now. First of all, you have no need to fear me as you did Shadow. His days and ways are over. I don’t want you to be afraid of me, rather, think of me as family.”
Star paused, and a strange feeling came over her. It filled her with confidence, and her fears fled. “… for that’s what we are, a big family. Each of us depends on another, and we must be able to depend on one another to survive. All accusations of wrongdoing in this Clan will be thoroughly investigated, and the accused tried before a tribunal of his peers. That would be all of you. If you decide he’s guilty, then a fair and just punishment will be handed down. When I said earlier that you had no need to fear me, I did not mean that this is going to be some kind of anarchy. Justice will be served, and wrongdoers will be punished. Running a Clan the size of this one is too big a job for one wolf to shoulder alone. Therefore, soon I will be conducting a vote from all of you. From amongst yourselves, you will select representatives to form our own council. A group of wolves that I will turn to before I make a decision. That will cover most situations. If a situation does come up that does not permit the time to consult the council, I still reserve the right to act alone, and expect you to abide by any orders or directives which I may give you. We are no longer the Mountain Clan. That way, and that name died with Shadow. We are now the River Clan. Our Clan will strive for peace, and prosperity, but there may come times when we have no option to fight. If such an occasion arises, we will strike decisively, and fiercely. I don’t want you to take my kindheartedness for weakness. I myself have fought and killed, and will do so again, if that is what is required of me. I have no qualms about engaging the enemy, but we will not do so rashly. All forms of diplomatic negotiation will be exhausted before such an action is taken. As far as it depends on us, we will live at peace with everyone, but sometimes everyone will not live at peace with us. It is those times when we must fight, and fight we surely will. One such occasion may already be brewing, I have been informed by my military advisor, Dannion, that the Storm Clan was beginning to make trouble for Shadow, if such activities continue, action may be required. I must know that I can count on each of you, no matter what the cost. I feel I can. You all fought valiantly for this Clan not long ago, and I believe you will continue to do so. I will develop a roster for guard duty soon, for now, the second unit will take care of that. I leave the specific assignments to your commander.”
Star paused. “I… I know that as you look around you, you will probably see someone who, until a few days ago, was a traitor of the Mountain Clan, the enemy. I ask you to forgive one another. We must come together as a family in order for this Clan to survive. None of us can change the past, we can only learn from it, and try to do better in the future. Let’s forget the past, and start anew. This is my plea to you. I cannot order this, this is something that each individual must do themselves. But I implore you, please, think of the Clan. We are not individuals. I am not Star, I am the River Clan, and I will do everything I can, to my last breath, to keep it alive. Of that, you have my solemn promise.”
As Star stopped speaking, the wolves started cheering, at first it was only the wolves who had been part of the rebellion, but soon, the rest of the wolves joined in.
Star smiled. “Thank you. Now lets all celebrate the birth of a new Clan, the River Clan!”
Star could barely be heard over the roar of cheering wolves. She smiled again, and started down the shelf of rock, walking toward the wolves below, her clan.

As Star walked through the crowd, greeting each of them, and making her way inexorably toward the main entrance, where a group of wolves had assembled, and were yelling at one another.
A voice stopped her in her tracks.
“Star?”
She turned, and smiled, as she saw the black wolf walking toward her, having trouble navigating the crowd himself.
“Sam!” Star cried, as he finally made it to her side. “You’re alright!”
He returned her smile, and nodded. “I managed to make it through the battle.”
“And Cloud?” Star asked.
Samuel’s face fell, and he sighed.
Star put her paw on Samuel’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry Sam.”
“She’s not dead...” Samuel said, not looking up. “… but she was hurt pretty badly. I… I don’t know if she’ll pull through or not.”
Star sighed. “Sam, I… I hope you don’t blame me…”
Sam smiled again. “No Star, I don’t. If the blame is on anyone, it’s on dad.” Samuel sighed again. “I… I never would have thought…” He stopped.
“I know how you feel.” Star said. “I fell the same way. It… it all feels like a bad dream. I keep wanting to wake up to his face, and forget about it all.”
Samuel nodded, but remained silent.
An awkward silence filled the void between the two.
“Well,” Samuel said, “it sounds like you’re pretty busy, so I’ll let you go. I’ll talk to you later, I’ve got to get back to Cloud.”
“Where is she?” Star asked.
“They’ve gathered the wounded in the third chamber on this level.” Samuel said.
“I’ll come by later.” Star said.
Samuel nodded, and turned to walk away. “Thanks sis.”
Star watched him leaving, feeling as if she should say something. “I love you Sam.” She said softly.
Samuel stopped, turned back to her and smiled. “I love you too Star.” Then he continued walking away.
Star’s attention was pulled from her brother, when she heard a shout, and a yelp of pain.
Star whirled around, and ran at the group of arguing wolves, knowing almost instinctively that the disturbance had been caused by them.
The other wolves in the chamber got out of the way, and it took no time at all for Star to reach the group.
“What’s going on?” Star asked. She looked down, and saw a wolf on the ground, a pretty good wound on his shoulder. “Who’s responsible?”
“So the traitor talks.” One of the wolves said.
Star looked up to see Klax standing there. “Klax?” She asked. “Why, just let it go. What were you arguing about, let me settle it.”
Klax smiled, but it wasn’t a happy smile. “Well then Star, the argument was about you, and about what stupidity made you Alpha.”
“Klax please don’t…” Star started, but Klax cut her off. “Oh I think I will. You’re a traitor and a murderer. You killed my brother.”
Star sighed. “Klax, I didn’t kill him.”
“Yes you did.” Klax yelled. “You took my brother from me, and for that, you will die.” He sneered at her. Of that you have my solemn promise.” He said, mocking her speech.
Star sighed again. “Klax, we’ve know each other since we were pups, please… don’t do this.”
“I can’t forgive you Star, I can’t.” Klax said. The wolves on his side of the group nodded their heads. “
Star sighed again. “Then go, leave this Clan. I don’t want to see anything happen to you.”
Klax sneered at her. “See? You’re weak, can’t even enforce order in your own Clan.”
Star hung her head, knowing it was true. Then she felt a presence beside her. Star looked up, and saw Dannion beside her. “She said leave.” He said, glaring at Klax.
The look on Klax’s face changed, as he saw the other wolves assemble behind Dannion. “Alright.” He said. “Anyone who wants to come, now’s your chance.” With that, Klax turned and walked out of the cave. About twenty wolves followed him out.
Star sighed. “Not leader of the Clan five minutes and already… this.”
“Shh!” Dannion whispered. “Don’t let the Clan hear you talk like that!”
Star nodded. “Sorry.”
Dannion smiled at her. “Hey, it’ll be alright.”
“Yeah…” Star said, watching the seceding wolves, as they vanished into the evening mist.
Star turned to Dannion. “Dannion, I’m going to go to my chambers. Organize a hunting party and supervise it will you?”
Dannion nodded.
“If you need me later, I’ll be with the injured.” Star turned, and walked up to her chambers.

Later, Star walked down to the bottom of the cave, and located the chamber that Samuel had said the wounded were being kept in. The actual sight filled Star with an internal agony worse than any physical pain she could have experienced.
As she walked past the badly mangled wolves, some of them dying, she realized that it was her fault that they were here. It was her descision to use an attack on the front entrance for a diversion, and the resulting battle was the cause of these fifty some wolves’ pain.
Star finally stopped, and found herself alongside her brother. Samuel was lying on the cool rocks, asleep.
Star was about to walk away, when a strained voice stopped her. “Star?”
She turned to see Cloud weakly lift her head.
Star smiled. “Hey Cloud.”
Cloud returned her smile. “Did you come all the way down here to see me?”
Star smiled again. “Yeah.”
“Come over here,” Cloud said, gesturing with her head. “Let’s talk.”
Star nodded, and stepped carefully over her sleeping brother. She then walked over and laid down beside Cloud.
“So, how bad is it?” Star asked.
Cloud smiled, and coughed. “Not too bad.”
Star laughed. Cloud looked confused. “Was that funny?”
“I’m sorry.” Star said. “Sam just made it sound like you were on your death bed.”
“Well, I was.” Cloud said. “But I feel pretty good now. He hasn’t woken up yet. I’ve only been conscious for about an hour now.” Cloud paused. “Star, I… I heard bad things. I heard you were a rebel. That’s not true is it? I mean… you’re here now…”
Star sighed. “Cloud… Shadow is dead.”
“What?” Cloud asked. “How?”
“Cloud I was a rebel.” Star said. “I… I killed him.”
Cloud looked horrified. “… but… but that was your father. How could you do such a thing?”
Star sighed again. “Cloud… Shadow wasn’t my father… I was adopted… and he was going to kill Sam.”
“What?!” Cloud asked. “But… but that was his son.”
Star nodded. “That’s why I killed him.”
Cloud sighed, and then smiled. “Well in that case, thank you.” She nuzzled Samuel lightly, careful not to wake him. “I don’t know what I’d do without this guy.”
Star smiled. “Yeah, he’s really something.”
“So what now?” Cloud asked. “With Shadow gone, who’s going to lead us? Samuel?”
“Actually the rest of the Clan chose me.” Star said.
“You?” Cloud asked.
“Yep, guess so…” Star said.
“Well congratulations.” Cloud said.
As Star was about to respond, Samuel rolled over in his sleep and hit her. He shook his head, and opened his eyes. Samuel yawned, and froze, his mouth wide open.
He finally recovered his composure, and grinned. “Cloud!” He cried. “You’re alive!”
She smiled. “Yeah, I guess so.”
Samuel stood and walked over to her. “I thought you’d left me.”
She nuzzled him and smiled. “Never.”
Star smiled, and stood. “I’ll leave you two alone now.” She turned and walked out of the chamber, stopping a few times to offer words of assistance to the other wounded.








Chapter 9

Star was dreaming. She was with Joshua again. In their brief time together, Star had come to love the wolf, not as a lover, but as the father figure she now realized she’d never really had.
The two of them were running through a field of flowers. Strangely enough, though he’d never met Joshua, Dannion was there as well, and he was running along beside her. Star’s mind was completely at peace. She was no longer the Alpha of the River Clan, had none of the worries that she’d found such a job entailed. Star was again completely free.
The dream went on like this for some time, the three of them, just running through this seemingly endless field of flowers, odd, because Star had never seen such a field in the mountains where she made her home. There were sparse bushes of them here and there, but not entire fields. In fact, the very idea of a field, of flat land as far as she could see, was foreign to her. One might wonder what caused Star’s mind to project these alien images, but Star wasn’t preoccupied with why, she just enjoyed the results.
Star, Joshua, and Dannion turned, as they came alongside a large hill, though the concept of a hill was as familiar to a wolf of the mountains as life itself, this hill was unprotected by the throngs of trees that Star was accustomed to. Instead the steeply sloping landscape was shielded by the same bountiful yellow flowers that protected the fields before.
Star slipped, and fell sideways. Dannion followed her. The two rolled head over tail down the hill. It seemed as if they’d never stop. The sensation wasn’t at all like rolling down a hill in the mountains, which would be covered with rocks. The flowers cushioned their landing, yet somehow sprung back into place afterwards.
Finally, the two stopped rolling, and Dannion wound up on top of Star. This was a somewhat awkward incident for both parties, but to Star, felt somehow right.
Star looked around, and noticed that Joshua was nowhere to be found. She looked back up at Dannion and smiled. He smiled back, and bent his head toward her, but just as the two were about to touch, Joshua was right in front of her. This change startled Star somewhat, and she sat up abruptly. Dannion was gone. She looked back to Joshua. “Star wake up!” He said. His tone betrayed a sense of urgency. “Star, you must wake up, now!” Joshua yelled.

Star opened her eyes, and realized that the events of the past few hours had been a dream, and a very vivid one at that. She sighed, and laid her head on her paws. “What does it mean?” She asked herself. Star sighed again. She didn’t know the answer to her question.
Star closed her eyes, but after a few seconds, opened them again. Something didn’t feel right. She glanced around the dark chamber, and suddenly her heart began to race. She could feel it beating, and was afraid it might burst from her chest. The hair on the back of Star’s neck stood on end as she glanced around the dark chamber once more.
Abruptly a wolf slammed into her, and sent her tumbling. Star stopped rolling, and stood. She couldn’t make out the wolf’s features in the darkness. Soon, her lone attacker was joined by two other wolves. They growled at Star. Star was afraid. She knew she didn’t stand much chance against three wolves. As the first one leapt at her, Star closed her eyes, knowing the end was near. Strangely, her thoughts reverted back to the dream in the field. She remembered Dannion, and the intense feeling she’d felt for him. Then she realized that Dannion was in the chamber, and had intercepted the wolf as it attacked her. Dannion ended the fight fairly quickly, but with a result, not of death, but of retreat.
Dannion had injured the attacker, and the three wolves retreated out of the chamber.
Dannion watched them go. “Cowards.” He said. Then he turned to Star. “Are you okay?”
Star was still terrified, having not quite realized that the danger of her imminent death had passed.
“It’s alright.” Dannion said, walking over to her.
“Who were they?” Star asked.
Dannion sighed. “I saw one of them, but I didn’t recognize them. My bet’s on the Storm Clan though.”
“You don’t know that Dannion.” Star said. “It could just as well have been some of the group that left with Klax.”
“Maybe…” Dannion said. “… but I still say Storm Clan.”
“I guess it really doesn’t matter.” Star said.
“Star, as leader of our fighting forces, I’m organizing a special unit, today.”
“What?” Star asked.
“…a group of fighters that will have the sole duty of protecting you from further attack.” Dannion explained.
“I really don’t think that’s necessary…” Star began, but Dannion cut her off. “I do think it’s necessary, if you had been killed just now, who would take over as Alpha?”
Star didn’t answer. She knew the situation in the Clan already bordered on anarchy. The wolves would split and fight, and… and she couldn’t really even imagine the result.
She nodded slowly. “Alright.”
Dannion smiled at her. “I’m going to go talk to our best. You sure you’re alright?”
Star sighed and nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Alright.” Dannion said. “I’ll see you soon then.” With that Dannion walked out of the chamber.

The next day Dannion had gathered all of the wolves in a lower chamber of the cave, without Star’s approval. “This is something that has to be done, whether she likes it or not.” Dannion thought as he looked out over the group of wolves.
The thought crossed his mind that realistically he could be killed for what he was doing now. It would be an accepted punishment. “… but Star isn’t like that.” Dannion thought.
The wolves were beginning to talk amongst themselves, and were growing restless. Dannion raised his paw and all of them fell silent.
“Fellow wolves… my brothers… and sisters, I am sure you are all wondering why I have called this meeting while our Alpha is out of the cave…”
Several heads nodded, and the wolves started talking again, but quieted once more as he continued.
“… a need has arisen that I feel we must fill, o face dire consequences. I don’t know how many of you know this, but our Alpha was attacked yesterday, and could have been killed. She was in this very cave at the time of the attack.”
Some of the wolves gasped, and started talking amongst themselves again.
“We had thought… or rather hoped that we would be safe in this place… our home… but apparently we are not. The three assassins got in without raising an alarm, and made it all the way to our Alpha’s chambers undetected. This raises two questions. One: Where was our security breached; two: what can we do as a Clan to insure that this never happens again. The answer to this question is why I have called all of you here today, without our Alpha’s consent.” Dannion paused. “I feel we have left ourselves unprotected at home, and this will not do. Now as you know we have a group of wolves that have dedicated themselves and their lives to defending our Clan, and its Alpha. However. While this unit does a good job at providing security and protection from the outside, it has little presence within the confines of our home. I am organizing a unit, whose sole responsibility will be safeguarding the life of our Alpha, with a secondary duty of providing interior security for our clan. The primary job of this unit however will be the security of our Alpha, Star. I will tell you now that such a duty may, and indeed will require, at times, the ultimate sacrifice of it’s members. The safety of our Alpha and should she ever have them, her family, will be tantamount to all else, even your own life. It is not an easy thing to give your life for a cause or belief, therefore I cannot tell you to join this unit, I will only ask, but know this. The longevity of our way of life is uncertain without this unit. If those wolves, whoever they were, managed to make it in here and attack her once, they will do so again, and this time they may be successful. We are in dire need of help, and you are the only ones I can turn to. Please, find it in yourselves to decide that our way of life, that what so many others have died for, is worth all that you can give. I ask that no one that doesn’t know for certain that if asked to give it all, that they could do this, please don’t volunteer, only if you know that you could take her place in death, should you remain here.” Dannion paused, and all the wolves that had been talking before, fell silent. “Those that think they can shoulder this burden please remain behind, those of you that don’t think they’re up to it, please leave the chamber.”
A great many of the wolves turned and walked out of the chamber, but almost a third of original number remained behind. As Dannion looked out over the group he saw all types of wolves, big and small, old and young, male and female. He smiled, and stepped toward them. “Thank you brothers and sisters. We have a lot of work to do. You will be the best of the best. I will train you, but you must commit to learning. If you do this we will be successful, and we will triumph over our foes.”
The wolves nodded, and Dannion started to teach them.

The next day, Dannion walked down from his chambers to the main chamber. Star stood in the center of the room.
Dannion walked over to her. “Star, you got a minute?”
Star smiled. “Yeah Dannion, what’s up?”
“Follow me.” Dannion said. “I have some wolves I want to introduce to you.”
Star nodded. “Alright, but I’ve got to get back soon, the hunting party will need to leave.”
Dannion nodded. “This won’t take long.”
“Alright then, lead the way.” Star said.
Dannion led her down to the lower chambers.

Chapter 10

Three weeks passed without incident. The clan carried on it’s duties, and the wolves lived in peace and harmony with one another. Star had almost forgotten about the assassination attempt.
Dannion on the other hand had not. In fact, he hadn’t thought of anything else the entire three weeks. He was currently standing guard out in front of the cave. He was tired.
It had been over twenty hours since he had even laid down, much less slept… but his relief would be here soon, so he knew it wouldn’t be long.
Dannion’s thoughts drifted to Star then. The sole concentration of his efforts during the three weeks since the attempt on her life had been to see to it that it never happened again. He had told himself at first that the reasons behind these actions were because she was the Alpha of the pack, but… he had since realized it was more than that… much more.
Dannion shook his head, and silently chided himself. “What are you thinking?” He thought. “She’s the Alpha. She doesn’t have time for love… or a family… who know’s if she even likes you. Just let it go… let it go…”
…but Dannion found it was very difficult to just “let it go”, in fact, he wasn’t even sure that he could. He had yet to come up with a way to tell Star how he felt about her. You couldn’t just waltz up to the Alpha and say “Star, I love you”. You had to be tactful about it, and Dannion knew he’d only get one shot at it.
Dannion’s thoughts were interrupted as the oncoming guard come out of the cave and walked over to him.
“Hey Dannion.” The gray wolf said.
Dannion smiled. “Hi Latressa. You sleep well?”
She smiled. “Yeah, I guess.”
Dannion nodded, then he stopped and frowned.
“What is it Dannion?” Latressa asked, stepping up next to him.
“Look there.” Dannion said.
Making their way across the landscape was a group of three wolves, and they were headed toward the cave.
“You recognize them?” Latressa asked.
Dannion shook his head. “No.”
“Should we sound the alarm?” Latressa asked.
Dannion shook his head. “…and cause a panic? No, we’ll see what they want first.”
Latressa nodded, but remained silent as the group continued to make their way toward the cave.
“I wonder what they’re up to?” Dannion thought.

A silver wolf made his way across the rocky forest floor. Life in the mountains was different from his life in the hills below, as was the terrain. His paws were killing him.
The silver wolf was accompanied by two of his closest friends and his personal advisors.
“How much further is it Marques?” One of them asked. “My paws are killing me.”
“And what?” The silver wolf said. “You think mine aren’t Contreras?
“I don’t know how these wolves live in this terrain.” The other wolf said.
“Beats me.” Marques said.
“What are we doing here anyway?” Contreras asked.
“We’re going to go see who’s the new Alpha of the Mountain Clan.” Marques said.
The wolves kept walking toward the cave.

As the wolves got closer, Dannion recognized their leader. “***** it!” Dannion thought. “What are you doing here Marques?”
He leaned over and whispered something to Latressa. She nodded curtly, and ran back inside.
“And I was supposed to be sleeping now…” Dannion thought.

Marques watched as a white wolf, he knew was Star, ran out of the cave.
“That’s her boys.” Marques said.
“She’s onto us.” Contreras said.
“Guess we come back later eh boss?” The other said.
“No.” Marques answered.
“No?!” The other two said at once. “Then what should we do?”
Marques stopped and turned, a huge grin plastered on his face. “How about we walk up and congratulate her?”
The other wolves looked like they thought he was insane.
“Trust me on this.” Marques said “I didn’t become Alpha of the Storm Clan because I was stupid.”
The other two wolves stopped, looked at each other and sighed. Then they followed after their leader.

Again this was FANTASTIC dude.. I can't even name a favorite part...

also can't wait for the next fic in your timeline ethier.. BRING IT!

-Lowes

Hmm, there was no option in the poll for "So good that, if I had the money and time, I'd drag Rotramel by force to Random House's offices and make him publish the thing". Seriously, this is as good, or better, than most novels I've read. And 300 pages? Jesus wept! Get this thing to a competent editor and get it off to some publishers! I suggest Random House, but heck, anyone will do. I fully expect, by no later than 2012, to have at least 2 hardcover Anthony Rotramel first-editions in my personal library. I'm very serious: your stories are that good. Be prepared friend, you're going to make money off these things one day.

The fact that you can work on and create multiple works of fiction at one time simply boggles my mind. You've got two (that I know of) works in your current timeline, this epic work, and I remember something about some Titanic fiction you were doing as well. My heavens, how do you find the time?! You are, hands down, the best writer this site can boast.

P.S. No I didn't finish the teaser yet. I'm about halfway through, or maybe a little more. I'm trying to savor it, rather than wolf it down in one big bite (pun certainly intended).

I suppose I'll sign off now, before my lips get too firmly implanted in your posterior. Peace to you!

Argh! no it ended, I need more of this fanfic!!!!!

Really good stuff I so badly want it to continue but you seem to be working on a lot now so I must try to be patient But this is such a great storyline here, you've surpassed yourself yet again and Im looking very forward to reading more on this great story