Note: I had wanted to write the Desert of Death and Tears as the war between the Clans and the Foster Care, however when I started writing it the story decided to go down a different path and I flowed with it instead of trying to force it back to the original concept. I hope you enjoy the story. This was also one of two beginnings I wrote for this story and hopefully I made the right decision in keeping it instead of the other. Any and all comments would be appreciative. Thanks.

Chapter One

Anne stood on the edge of the eastern canyon, staring out at the valley beneath her. She didn’t like it here in the Desert, too many people demanded too much of her. She wasn’t used to any of this and no one was really giving her the time she needed to adjust. At least Raven was correct when he stated only a select few of the Elders knew she was actually Astra Solarius. Anne was glad for that and for the fact they were allowing her time before revealing her true identity to everyone.

She sighed as she turned away from the view and began climbing back to the Clans’ caves. The only reason they agreed to giving her more time was because Raven demanded it. With Jake still down and out from the Clanology of the Subspecies’ roof caving in, Raven was the pro tempore Lupus Alpha. A slight smile curved Anne’s lips at this thought. Raven hated it, but she found it quite amusing.

Raven was a born leader though he tried very hard to hide it. The Clans had been thriving under his and Jake’s care, and for the past several years more and more children had been born among both Clans because of Raven’s duel nature. Anne sighed deeply when she entered the Canyons and several of the older Solarius women converged on her. Depression filled her quickly, she really didn’t want to deal with them and their fighting as they attempted to teach her control.

Raven had been incorrect when he stated she was an Earthen element back at the college, her abilities went way beyond that. Anne brought a hand up to rub at her temples when the women began squabbling amongst themselves before they even reached her. When the shoving and screaming started, she ducked behind a couple sand pillars as she quickly made her escape.

Anne hurried around a couple more pillars when she noticed a few more of her self-assigned teachers. She just didn’t want to deal with anyone today, tonight, or any time in the near future. Deciding to check into Jake and Coby’s conditions before she went home, Anne ducked into the infirmary. Shadowed golden eyes stared up at her as she made her way across the room.

A bit of happiness filled her as Anne sat between Jake and Coby’s beds. She smiled as she reached out and brushed the dark bangs away from Jake’s eyes. “How are you feeling, Jake?”

“Like hell.” His brow creased as his gaze roamed around the cavern. “What happened after the roof collapsed? Why are we in a cave?”

Jake watched as Anne visibly cringed and wondered just how bad it was. He found out when his gaze fell on Professor Soren, then Coby. “Coby…” He whispered as he tried to reach his youngest brother’s side. Anne was easily able to pin him to the cot in his present weakness.

“Coby’s fine, Jake. He’s recovering nicely. You need to stay still for a little bit longer or Raven’s work on you will be a waste.”

Jake stopped his efforts at reaching Coby and turned to stare up at Anne instead at her dire tone. “What happened while I was out, Anne? Tell me all of it.”

She nodded once before settling on the bed beside him, knowing now that he was awake, he would want to keep a close eye on Coby. “After you did whatever it was to knock me unconscious when the College’s roof caved in, the table we were hiding under broke into several pieces, one of which had collided with that thick skull of yours and knocked you out cold. I must say I was quite happy it did. The whole tit-for-tat thing you know.”

Jake’s gaze returned to Anne’s in amazement. She was actually teasing him, instead of being completely afraid of him. Before he could ask any of the questions now flowing in his mind, she went on.

“Don’t look at me like that, Jake. We’ve all been worried about you…” Anne’s voice lowered to the barest of whispers. “Some in the Clans believed you would never waken and started searching for another Alpha to take your place. Raven and I worked long hours in secret to make you, Coby, and Professor Soren healthy again.”

He blinked a couple times up at her in silence. Obviously they were back at the Desert of Death and Tears. But why would Anne and Raven have to treat them in secret? And just how were they able to do anything to help?

“How were the both of you able to help us? And why did you have to do it in secret? Because they were trying to find a replacement for me?”

“It was all Anne who was able to mend the three of you.”

Anne leapt to her feet in fright at the masculine voice behind her. “Damn it, Raven. Don’t sneak up on me like that.”

“I apologize, little sister. I’ll not do it again.” A sly grin belied his solemn words and proved he wasn’t contrite over scaring her at all.

“It wasn’t all me, Raven. You helped as well.”

He shrugged as he snagged the only chair and sat down. “I only told you what needed to be done. You see, Jake…” Raven’s gaze shifted from Anne to Jake. “Anne here is quite unique. Because of how she was raised though, the girl doesn’t like attention drawn to her.”

Raven ignored the punch to his side and Anne’s comment of being ‘right there’ and continued. “I was mistaken about her being an Earthen elemental when I fought Col Reese and she had used an ivy bush to save my life. Her abilities are unlike anything I have ever encountered before. Show him what you can do, little sister.”

Anne felt extremely uneasy with both males staring expectantly at her. She bowed her head and stared at the ground as she tried to come up with an excuse why she shouldn’t. Relief filled her when Jake took pity upon her and saved her.

“Perhaps Anne can show me later, Raven. At the present moment I want to know what happened after I was knocked unconscious.”

Raven bowed his head slightly as he stood and made the rounds around the room. Allowing Anne to explain what had happened to the Alpha’s brothers and why the Clans had been called in to deal with Col. All the way down to why Anne and Raven decided coming back to the Desert was the best course of action.

Anne stopped her explanation when she reached why they had to help all of them in secret. She wasn’t quite sure how to explain what she sensed from a lot of the members of both Clans. It went beyond mere animosity, though she didn’t think it was hatred. Had someone been poisoning them against Jake while he was away at the Clanology of the Subspecies protecting his siblings? She wasn’t certain and when she asked Raven, he wasn’t either.

Should she bring up the matter to Jake so he could think upon it? Or just let it lie until she gained more knowledge of the matter to tell him? Anne wasn’t certain over that either and turned questioning eyes to Raven. He intentionally ignored her and bent over Professor Soren instead. It was odd not to see the Gryphon twins here standing over their cousin. Every day since they arrived here, the twins hardly left Mrs. Soren’s side. Had they found some kind of trouble to get into here in the Canyons? Anne didn’t want to think about that and turned her attention back to Jake, who was watching her curiously.

“You neglected to mention why the two of you had to work on us in secret. Was it intentional or had something hit your head as well?”

Anne stared at him in silence for a moment before she realized he was attempting to joke with her. She shook her head. “I think you need to work on your sense of humor, Jake. That joke was horrible.”

He smirked at her while patting the bed beside him. “Sit and explain it to me. Explain it all to me.”

Anne was going to do as Jake commanded until three of the Clans' doctors entered the cave to check on their conditions, two Solarius and a Lupus. They stilled and a bit of animosity filled the chamber when their eyes fell on her and Raven. Anne shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot as she glanced quickly at Raven for what she should do.

Jake didn’t fail to notice the reactions of the new arrivals to Anne and Raven’s presences. He also noticed Anne’s nervousness rose quickly and appeared ready to bolt at the slightest provocation. He rolled over and stared at the newcomers. After a moment, Jake’s brow drew together in confusion; he didn’t recognize any of their scents. Something wasn’t right here; he knew every Lupus and Solarius when he left five years ago. His nose was also picking up a scent wafting from them he never smelt before, causing his Wolf Soul to awaken and stare at them in suspicion.

Rising to a sitting position, Jake smoothed out the blankets covering him. He then stated quite clearly: “Leave us.”

The three newcomers remained still as Raven shrugged and took Anne’s hand to lead her out of the chamber. Jake growled menacingly, they were not the ones he wanted to leave.

“Halt!” He was pleased when Raven listened for a change and immediately stopped to stare at him in question.

“You’re not the ones I want to leave.” Jake shifted his gaze to the others in the room. “You are.”

They stared at him silently again for several moments, obviously judging his resolve and strength, before bowing their heads slightly and backing out of the chamber. Jake watched them wearily, making certain they were actually leaving. When they had left his sight and scent, he turned back to Raven and Anne, crossing his arms in the process.

“I think it is time you explain exactly what has been going on in my absence. Do not leave any detail, small or large, out. Is that understood?”

Anne shifted nervously again, though she was quite glad she didn’t have to explain anything…yet. She was also grateful to realize Raven was nervous as well. It was satisfying to know, and remember, he hated being in the limelight just as much as she did. Amusement filled Anne as she took a seat and watched him squirm before his Alpha. She could get so used to this.