Tornadostorm

The night sky twinkled overhead, shedding its unearthly moonlight down upon the acacia trees. Through the undergrowth, two cats slipped silently through the trees, their pawsteps soundless and their pelts gleaming with the starlight. Above them, the sun began to dip above the horizon. One of the cats halted and waved his tail for the other to stop, his dark gray tabby pelt glistening in the pre-dawn moonlight. His white paws were clean, and his golden eyes glowed with a sort of arrogance that could either make you respect him or feel as if he were the most annoying cat on the whole island.

"What is it, Tornadostorm?" A light silver tabby she-cat addressed the gray tabby softly, her pelt bristling with apprehension. Her sea-blue eyes had a hunted look in them, as did all of the protectors of MeadowClan in these harsh days. "Do you scent CoralClan again?"

Tornadostorm regarded her with calm amber eyes, his white tail-tip twitching in approval. The silver tabby was a brave protector of the Clan, and she had volunteered to go on the pre-dawn patrol even though she had only left the nursery yesterday, when her kits, Seapaw and Duskpaw, had been given trainers. MeadowClan was lucky to have her, for the recent declaration of war on MeadowClan by CoralClan meant two extra patrols, and all of the protectors and learners were exhausted.

"No, Morningfrost," He replied, although his eyes still carried the hunted look. "I was just thinking about how much needless blood will be shed by the time this war is over." To his surprise, Morningfrost stretched her muzzle to touch his, her round blue eyes wide with sympathy. Morningfrost rarely displayed affection for any cat other than her mate, Falconclaw, and her two kits, Duskpaw and Seapaw. Although no cat doubted that she cared deeply for her Clan, she had a rather sharp tongue that was sometimes apparent in her daughter, Seapaw.

"Are you worried for Dovefeather and your kits?" The question caught Tornadostorm off-guard, but it felt like thorn-sharp claws of pain were shredding his heart. Less than four moons ago, he, Sandstar, and Dovefeather had been patrolling the Fishingpond, when a patrol of CoralClan protectors had ambushed them. To his horror, his learner, Stonepaw, had followed them, and Tornadostorm had been forced to watch his learner be heartlessly murdered by Cliffstorm, the CoralClan delegate. Stonepaw had been a lot like Torandostorm to look at; a dark gray tabby pelt, with amber eyes. Tornadostorm shut his golden eyes, remembering as he had watched the life leave his learner's eyes. Stonepaw had not just been Tornadostorm's learner; he had been his son.

"How could I not be? After what happened to Stonepaw?" Tornadostorm hissed crossly, shaking his pelt as if his pain were droplets of water that would scatter. Morningfrost let out a sympathetic murmur of agreement, and the two continued to patrol the Fishingpond. Tornadostorm could not stop thinking of his son, and how he had wanted nothing more than to prove to his father, and the delegate, that he could be a protector of MeadowClan. And now he was dead, gone forever. In silence, the two protectors of MeadowClan watched with alert eyes, every muscle in their bodies tense for an attack.

Suddenly, Tornadostorm heard pawsteps, and he sprang to his ivory paws, hackles raised. Out of nowhere, a cat sprang at him, claws ripping at his gray tabby fur. Tornadostorm struggled underneath the huge tom, and gazed up into his attacker's eyes. It was a CoralClan learner, almost a protector by the size of him. He was a dark brown tabby tom with lighter brown stripes, and his blue eyes glittered cruelly down at the MeadowClan delegate. Tornadostorm heard Morningfrost screech in alarm, and out of the corner of his amber eyes he saw the silver tabby taking on Ragingfire, a huge dark brown tabby tom, and Twilightstar herself, who was a small white she-cat with gray splotches. His heart sank, realizing that they were outnumbered.

Tornadostorm let a furious hiss as the learner tore at his belly. The delegate went limp, pretending that he was unconcious. The CoralClan learner let out a yowl of triumph that was cut short as Tornadostorm leapt up, knocking the learner backwards. The learner fell hard, and did not move. Tornadostorm peered down at the dark brown tabby, wondering if he was pulling a trick. Then he saw the blood pouring out of a gash on the learner's head. All of a sudden, Ragingfire was beside the learner, nudging him in hopes of waking him. Tornadostorm saw as the learner took a gasping breath, and lay still, the life fading from his dark blue eyes.

"No, Branchpaw, no, wake up!" Ragingfire prodded the dead learner with his paw. Branchpaw did not move. Morningfrost let go of Twilightstar, who was screeching in pain as the silver tabby tore her claws down her flanks, and slowly padded over next to Tornadostorm, who was staring in complete shock at the dead tomcat.

"Ragingfire, he's gone," Twilightstar mewed, her voice showing the slightest bit of remorse, which was odd for the ruthless leader. Ragingfire whipped his head around, his amber eyes burning with disbelief.

"No, he's not dead! He's just hurt, send for Goldenhawk!" Ragingfire mewed, his voice becoming more shrill and desperate as the learner still did not move. "Twilightstar, he can't be dead! He's my son!" Tornadostorm felt his heart plummet to the tips of his white paws. He had done to Ragingfire what Cliffstorm had done to him. Except...Tornadostorm had not meant to kill him. Twilighstar placed her white-and-gray tail gently on the dark brown tabby's shoulder in sympathy, though her hate-filled green eyes were fixed on Tornadostorm. Tornadostorm bowed his gray tabby head, feeling once more the pain of this pointless war. It was like losing Stonepaw all over again.

"I'm sorry," Tornadostorm choked, his throat hoarse and grief flooding him like the highest tides of the ocean. Hadn't his own son been about to become a protector before he was killed? And now, Branchpaw would never know the joys of being a protector for his Clan. It didn't matter that he would have been an enemy protector. Tornadostorm had killed him, and he would never forget it. "I didn't...I didn't mean to."

"He's dead," Twilightstar repeated in a softer voice, her green eyes flashing as Morningfrost padded up to Tornadostorm and pushed her flank against his defensively.

"You killed my son, and I'll kill you!" Ragingfire suddenly sprang to his paws, claws unsheathed, and he bared his teeth at Tornadostorm. Twilightstar leapt in front of Tornadostorm, her hackles raised warningly as she stood in the way of her CoralClan protector.

"No. This will be dealt with another day," The small CoralClan ruler meowed, her eyes flashing as she glared at the two MeadowClan protectors. Tornadostorm knew that she meant her threat. Ragingfire sank to his paws, letting out a low moan of grief. Twilightstar gently nudged her protector to his paws, and Tornadostorm felt a small glow of admiration for the ruler for being so sympathetic to the grieving father. Although, he didn't quite understand why she would be so caring, when every cat knew that she and her delegate were cruel and bloodthirsty cats. Ragingfire turned away, his tabby tail drooping as he picked up his son's scruff between his teeth and began to drag him back into his own territory. Twilightstar paused for a moment, her emerald eyes full of rage, before turning to follow her protector and the dead learner.

Tornadostorm turned away silently, his dark gray tail drooping in grief. He thought he heard Morningfrost calling his name, but he did not hear her, only trudged on silently through the undergrowth. He raised his golden eyes to the sky, the sun now visible and the stars of IslandClan gone. He wondered if there was one more star now, for Branchpaw, and he felt a tide of sadness wash over his tired heart.

When they reached the small tunnel in the brambles and thorns that guarded the MeadowClan camp, he turned to face Morningfrost. Her blue eyes were filled with sadness, and he felt a rush of gratitude to the silver protector for understanding his need to be silent. However, he needed to be strong for his Clan now. He was their delegate, and he might even be their ruler someday.

"We should tell Falconclaw's patrol to be alert for CoralClan around the Fishingpond," Tornadostorm mewed in a brisk, commanding voice, not allowing his sadness to overtake him. Morningfrost nodded, her beautiful silver pelt shining silver under the rising sun, and they padded through the small tunnel, the thick branches of the bramble brushing against their pelts. Falconclaw, a long-haired light ginger tabby, was waiting for them right inside of the camp. Snailstripe, a light brown tabby she-cat, and Nighthawk, a big black tom, were with him. Morningfrost let out a small purr and twined her silver tail with Falconclaw's; he was her mate, and the father of Seapaw and Duskpaw. Tornadostorm immediately plunged into the story of the CoralClan attack, and how Branchpaw had lost his life.

"So make sure you keep an eye out for any CoralClan cats, all right?" The dark gray tabby tom finished, his ivory tail-tip twitching in anxiety. The three protectors nodded swiftly, their eyes gleaming with the prospect of a battle. "All right, off you go, then."

As they watched the three protectors disappear through the bramble tunnel, Morningfrost glanced at her light paws, seeming as if she wanted to tell him something. Tornadostorm nodded encouragingly, and the protector let out a sigh.

"I was just wondering..." Morningfrost whispered quietly, her eyes on her kit, Seapaw, who was prancing out of the learners' den. "Has Sandstar or Acacialeaf had some kind of sign from IslandClan? About when this war might end?"

Tornadostorm stiffened, trying to hide the flash of alarm that blazed in his amber eyes. It had been only last night when Sandstar had called him into his den, and told him that Acacialeaf, their healing cat, had heard from IslandClan for the first time in seasons. Sandstar had then proceeded to tell him of the new prophecy.

"The Protector's blood will be spilled, and the water that drowns the bird will bring storms to wash away his blood," The sand-colored ruler had recited, his leaf-green eyes sparkling with awe. Tornadostorm had tiltled his gray tabby head questioningly, his spine tingling with fear and his heart calm knowing that IslandClan had not abandoned them.

"Does this mean...the Protector will be reborn?" Tornadostorm's voice was barely more than a whisper. The Protector was a stone statue of a cat who had brought peace after wars had broken out between all four Clans countless moons ago. The Protector had died in the battle, and left a stone statue in a tunnel near the Meteorplace. The four healing cats of those warring Clans had touched their noses to the statue of the Protector, and they spoke with IslandClan, who told them to end the war. The war ended, and the memory of the Protector lived on. Sandstar nodded, his light ginger tabby tail swishing in excitement.

"I think I am right in assuming you have wondered why I chose to be the trainer of Seapaw, an ordinary kit?" The MeadowClan ruler meowed, catching Tornadostorm off-guard. All of MeadowClan had speculated why he would want to mentor such an ordinary kit of no unique bloodline. Sandstar had meowed, "Look at her eyes. They are the color of the seas, of water. I think she is a cat in the prophecy."

And on that mysterious note, Sandstar had flicked his tail, sending him out of his den. Tornadostorm had not gotten a chance to look at Seapaw until this moment, when Morningfrost had asked him of any news. Tornadostorm noticed Seapaw watching him, and he gazed deeply into her blue eyes. They were not just blue, but green, and they seemed to match the ocean itself. The delegate let out a gasp of shock, and turned to Morningfrost, who gazed at him with hope in her dark blue eyes.

"Yes," Tornadostorm murmured, and he saw Morningfrost's eyes light up with hope. The dark gray tabby licked a white forepaw, and he stared at Seapaw, who took off after her trainer, Sandstar, through the bramble tunnel. "And I think your daughter might save us all."

A/N: So, what do you guys think? R&R please, I really need to know what you all think! Constructive criticism would really help!