Individual review responses again!

.xx.Slashing Claws.xx.: Hooray, a new reader! ) Thank you so much, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Samack: Unfortunately, this one isn't quiet as "action-packed" as I promised. But I hope you like it all the same.

All right, it's Tornadostorm's POV and a little bit of Goldenhawk. I'm officially doing these in no particular order at all. XD

TORNADOSTORM

The sun slowly began to dip below the horizon, casting pinks and oranges across the clear sky. The setting sun filled a hollow surrounded by brambles and bathed in a blood-red color, the same color as was on Tornadostorm's white paws. The dark gray tabby was sitting in the clearing of the CoralClan camp, his muzzle pressed into his fallen Clanmate's light gray fur. The MeadowClan delegate bowed his head, almost overwhelmed by grief, as he replayed the events of the day in his mind.

He had gone on the sunhigh patrol with Heronwing, Twisterclaw, and Typhoonpaw, when they had noticed two CoralClan cats hunting in the Fishingpond. Tornadostorm had gestured with an ivory paw for the cats to stay where they were, but Heronwing had let out a ferocious snarl and launched himself at the nearest one, a silver tabby called Whispersong. A snort of exasperation had escaped Tornadostorm; he had no choice but to back up his warrior, and threw himself into the fray. A dark ginger tabby, called Sunstrike, was fighting Twisterclaw and Typhoonpaw. Typhoonpaw had let out a yowl of pain as Sunstrike raked her claws along his light gray flanks. He had fled, his fluffy tail between his legs, to the camp to retrieve help. Twisterclaw had let out a vicious snarl, for Typhoonpaw was his learner, and leapt at Sunstrike with his claws ready to shred her fur. Tornadostorm knew he wouldn't appreciate his help, and turned instead to Whispersong. He saw Heronwing lying very still on the ground, and wondered, for a heartbeat, if he was dead, until he saw the faint rise and fall of his dark brown striped flanks. His amber eyes snapped to a motionless silver tabby body, and he recognized Whispersong. A trickle of blood dripped from her mouth; she was dead.

Suddenly a cuffed paw hit him in the back of the head, and he crumpled to the ground, blackness washing over his amber eyes like a tide. Am I dying? Tornadostorm had wondered as conciousness faded from him. But he had woken up, and when he did, he saw that Whispersong's body had gone, and that Sunstrike had vanished. Heronwing still lay on the ground, but he was sitting up now, his shoulders hunched and his amber eyes staring in disbelief at a lump of gray tabby fur. Tornadostorm had struggled to his paws, and recognized the body; it was Twisterclaw, and he was dead.

Now, Tornadostorm sat a vigil for the cat he had been trained with, for the cat who had been his friend since their days in the nursery together. Bittersweet regret washed over his tired heart as he thought of all that Twisterclaw had left behind. He had been training Tornadostorm's own son, Typhoonpaw, who was now sitting beside the MeadowClan delegate, his nose pressed into his trainer's fur. Typhoonpaw had just been assigned a new trainer, Snailstripe, but she had told him he could take a few days to grieve for his dead trainer. Twisterclaw had been a fine protector, one who was willing to defend his Clan until the last breath. And he had done just that.

Sandstar emerged from his den, his white pelt turned red under the rays of the setting sun. His green eyes narrowed with concern as they passed over the body of the fallen protector. Quietly, he padded up to Tornadostorm and beckoned him with a flick of his ginger-striped tail.

"I need to speak with you. Now," Sandstar murmured urgently into the delegate's ears. Tornadostorm flattened his ears to his gray head, annoyed; couldn't this wait until he was done grieving? But the pleading look in his ruler's eyes won him over, and Tornadostorm silently followed his ruler back into his den, which was located in a burrow at the roots of an ancient palm tree.

Tornadostorm's yellow eyes slowly adjusted to the dimness of the den, and he watched as Sandstar curled up in his nest of moss and feathers, tucking his white paws neatly underneath his small ginger body. The delegate opened his mouth to speak, but broke off as his ruler let out a huge sigh, his whole body sagging with exhaustion.

"Tornadostorm, tell me honestly," Sandstar hesitantly meowed, his voice etched with concern as he continued, "am I doing a good job?" The delegate's ears pricked with surprise to hear his ruler so defeated. Sandstar was a proud cat, and would never back down from his decisions if he believed what he was doing was the right thing. He had never heard the MeadowClan ruler voice his doubts.

"Yes," Tornadostorm mewed earnestly, hoping he sounded as if he truly meant it. Sandstar's light-colored tail-tip twitched irritably, but he seemed to believe that his delegate was telling the truth. Sandstar's green gaze was clouded, and Tornadostorm could tell that the sand-colored tom was clearly agitated. The delegate hesitated before adding, "Is there something else wrong?" Sandstar bristled defensively, his viridian pools blazing with anger. It was everything Tornadostorm could do not to flinch away from his anger.

"Oh, it's not a big deal," Sandstar tried to sound casual, but his delegate could tell that it was a big deal, at least to him. The MeadowClan ruler mewed, "When I was a young warrior, I was known as Sandstripe. I was the newly-appointed delegate under Pebblestar. I thought that I had everything..." The old tom's voice trailed off, and his green eyes clouded once more.

"But then...?" Tornadostorm prompted his ruler, no longer trying to hide his curiousity. Sandstar narrowed his eyes into green slits, his eyes focused on a memory that Tornadostorm knew he could never see.

"I met someone," Sandstar twitched his whiskers ruefully, his tail-tip twitching in anxiety as he meowed, "I met a pretty little golden tabby from CoralClan. I hated her when I first met her, but our first impressions of each other were incorrect. She was going to have my kits. We realized how dangerous it was for us to continue our relationship after that, and I never got to meet my kit, or learn his name, because he was given to a differnent CoralClan kit-bearer to nurse."

Tornadostorm felt his limbs stiffen in shock and disbelief. This cat, his ruler, the one he had looked up to for his bravery since he was a mewling kit in the nursery, had broken the code of tooth, claw, and compassion this severely? He stared at Sandstar with wide yellow eyes, as though he had never properly met him before in his life. He felt as if Sandstar had betrayed him, and the whole Clan, and he felt like his ruler was a stranger to him. But then again, was he really being fair? Wouldn't he do anything to be with Dovefeather, his beloved? He locked eyes with his ruler, and the delegate understood in that heartbeat why he had broken the code so horribly.

"Every Meeting," Sandstar began, but his voice faltered. He cleared his throat, and tried again, "At every Meeting, I looked for my kit. I prayed to IslandClan that he would look like me. But there is no other cat on the island who even slightly resembles me, and I don't even know if my son is alive..."

Tornadostorm felt his heart twist in pity for his ruler, and he walked over to the old cat, who looked so defeated and grief-stricken. He gave his ruler a quick lick between the ears, as to remind him that he was not alone. Tornadostorm tried to imagine how he would feel if Typhoonpaw or Mudpaw was growing up in another Clan, and he didn't even know who they were. The young MeadowClan delegate cherished his relationship with his two sons more than anything, and he couldn't even begin to imagine the pain that Sandstar must have gone through to give that up with his son.

"I won't tell another cat," Tornadostorm promised, realizing that his ruler must trust him above any other cat to share such a huge secret with him. Sandstar gave him a brief nod, and Tornadostorm took that as a sign that he was dismissed. Dipping his head submissively, he backed out of his ruler's den and left him to be alone with his memories.

His yellow eyes were drawn to cat with long, sleek white fur, and a purr rose in his throat as he recognized his mate, Dovefeather. The slender young queen's head turned towards him as he called her name, and her leaf-green eyes lit up at the sight of him. She pushed her muzzle to his and he felt her purr echo his own. Tornadostorm twined his tail with hers, allowing himself to be lost in her comforting scent. The Clans were in a dark, dark time, but somehow, things didn't seem so bleak when he had Dovefeather at his side. The two cats wordlessly padded into the protector's den, which was a huge burrow underneath the roots of an acacia tree, and curled up beside each other in their nests of fresh moss. His mind dimly registered the faint snoring of Falconclaw, and he surprssed a mrrowr of amusement as he drifted off into a comfortable and easy sleep.

GOLDENHAWK

A handsome golden tabby stared up at the statue of the island's Protector with wide amber eyes, his striped-tail twitching in anticipation. Beside him, a light brown tabby she-cat with clear blue eyes blinked warmly at the golden tabby. Goldenhawk recognized Acacialeaf, the MeadowClan healing cat. He saw a young tortoiseshell step out wordlessly from behind her trainer, her beautiful dark dappled coat glowing silver in the soft moonlight. Goldenhawk dipped his head politely to Mangrovepaw, and received a friendly dip of the head as well from. Behind them, a light ginger tabby she-cat with golden eyes squeezed through the tunnel, and Goldenhawk noticed that the StoneClan healing cat, Yellowinch, had arrived.

The CaveClan healing cats wordlessly slipped into the tunnel, their tails swishing with anticipation. Goldenhawk dipped his head politely to Mysticlight, a light brown tabby with stormy gray eyes, and Cirruscloud, a long-haired with she-cat with two different colored eyes, in turn, and the six healing cats turned to the statue of the Protector. Goldenhawk noticed that tonight, the stone cat looked more ginger than brilliant gold, and his white chest fur was not apparent. "He looks just like you, Goldenhawk!" Seapaw's voice resounded in his head, and he winced, trying to shake the thoughts of the silver learner. He padded forwards in silent awe and lay down beside the statue, and the other healing cats did the same.

"Oh, IslandClan, show me what I must do," Goldenhawk murmured, closing his amber eyes and pressing his nose to the statue. Immediately, sleep overtook him, and darkness washed over him like a tide.

It was the height of the season of bird return, for he could hear the exotic calls of the birds that returned once a year, when the weather was the hottest. The sun beat down on Goldenhawk's pelt, touching it to flame, and he remained seated in the sunlit clearing, listening to the sounds of the island around him.

A light golden tabby stalked out of the acacia trees, her pelt burning like the sun and her golden gaze full of stars. Goldenhawk knew at once who this cat was, but it didn't stop his heart from aching. Her amber eyes burned like fires, and he felt grief clutch his heart as he recognized his trainer, Flamefrost.

"Flamefrost, I need you so badly," Goldenhawk let his anguish spill out as his trainer rested her muzzle on his head. He felt almost like a kit curling up to its mother, and he felt comforted by his trainer's touch. "My Clan is dying and there is nothing I can do about it."

Flamefrost's amber eyes flashed like wildfire, and the flames in her eyes seemed to dance with some strange emotion. Flamefrost pushed her flank comfortingly against Goldenhawk's side, and he felt momentarily foolish for acting like a newborn kit in front of her.

"Hush, dear one," Flamefrost murmured, her voice softer than stream trickling over pebbles. Goldenhawk felt peace settle over his heart as she went on, "This war will end sooner than you think. But it is time for you to know what I truly am to you."

Goldenhawk tilted his head to one side, puzzled. His golden tabby tail lashed in anticipation, his white paws itching with anxiety; Flamefrost had been his trainer, and he had loved her deeply. What else could she possibly be to him but a great trainer?"

"You were not just my learner," Flamefrost's mew sounded ragged and hoarse with pain as she revealed, "You were my son."

Goldenhawk felt his world spinning before him, and he sank to his paws, his disbelief and shock apparent in his rigid limbs. This...couldn't be. To start with, his mother had been Clawstrike, a fierce CoralClan protector who had died a few seasons ago. He could remember being a small kit in the nursery, curled up to the light brown tabby. Not to mention that Flamefrost was a healing cat. It was forbidden for her to have kits. She couldn't have been a kit-bearer. But...hadn't Goldenhawk always felt a little estranged from Clawstrike? Hadn't he always wondered why he didn't look more like his brother, Cliffstorm? IslandClan had never lied to him before, and, looking deep into Flamefrost's pain-filled golden eyes- his golden eyes- he knew that she was telling the truth.

As his amber eyes traveled along her pelt, he noticed how much they looked alike. Both of their pelts were light goldenrod, covered with darker gold stripes of fur. They both had deep amber eyes, but Flamefrost had no white chest fur, and no white paws. She was smaller and slighter than Goldenhawk. But the similarities were blatantly obvious to the CoralClan healing cat now. He started to take a step towards his mother, but she backed away from him, tail bristling in fear.

"Goldenhawk, I am so proud of you," She murmured quietly, her tawny eyes burning into his. "The path you walk is difficult, but you face it each day with courage. All I can tell you is what I told Seapaw; follow your heart, for within your destiny lies the destiny of the Clans." Her flame-colored pelt started to fade away, like mist vanishing as the sun creeped out from behind the looming storm clouds.

"Don't leave me," Goldenhawk begged his trainer, feeling the pain of losing her all over again now that he knew she was his mother. He felt sadder than he ever had in his life. But he heard Flamefrost's voice on the swaying breeze, mewing, "I will never leave you, my son."

Goldenhawk blinked, and found himself in the Protector's chambers once more. His heart pounded as he noticed the other healing cats waking up, blinking sleep from their eyes. Sunlight gleamed down on the statue of the Protector, and he realized that it must be morning. He felt strangely discomforted as he blinked up at the statue. Its pelt was no longer gleaming, and he looked cold and stony. Beside him, Mangrovepaw's tail-tip twitched thoughtfully, and the six cats rose to their paws.

"Mysticlight, we've found a good clump of horsetail near our border," Yellowfinch's quiet mew startled Goldenhawk, and the golden tom blinked warmly at the light ginger StoneClan healing cat. Yellowfinch's amber eyes flashed once, as if challenging someone to question her genorousity, before continuing, "I think it grows better on our side of the border. Would you like me to leave some on the border?"

"That would be great, thank you, Cricketsong," Mysticlight's gray eyes flooded with gratitude as she dipped her head to the StoneClan healing cat. Her whiskers twitched, and she exchanged a long look with Cirruscloud, who dipped her head as well to Yellowfinch.

"This is all well, but can we get a move on?" Acacialeaf's sharp meow shocked the CoralClan healing cat, and they all turned to look at her. Her brown tabby tail was lashing impatiently, and she thrust her way through the tunnel. Mangrovepaw gave the other four healing cats an apologetic look, and followed her trainer wordlessly through the tunnel. Goldenhawk followed the two CoralClanners, not wanting to show his own alarm from his dream. His trainer had been his mother for all those moons, and she had never told him. Claws of unease clutched his heart as he raced back towards his own territory, wondering what Seapaw would make of this revelation.

A/N: Well, it wasn't quite so "action-packed", but it was packed with...secrets. XD R&R, please!