So I decided to give you guys two new chapters right away, because I already had this one typed up. It's a lot shorter than a normal chapter (for me), but once you read the ending you'll see why I wanted to leave it at that. Okay, it's Seapaw's POV this time.

SEAPAW

Ocean-blue eyes flickered towards the Boulder, an ancient granite rock where Sandstar stood to address the Clan. The light-ginger tom had leapt onto the Boulder, his muscles rippling powerfully, with one magnificent leap, and sounded his yowl for the Clan to gather.

"Cats of MeadowClan, gather around the Boulder for a Clan meeting!" The MeadowClan ruler's powerful meow echoed across the clearing. Cats of every color and size slipped out from their dens as the moon began to ascend higher into the sky. A light silver tabby watched as a Tornadostorm sat down at the foot of the Boulder, his tail curled over his white paws neatly. The silver tabby did not miss the flash of pride in the delegate's amber eyes, and she realized that it must be time for Typhoonpaw and Mudpaw, the delegate's sons, to become protectors. Seapaw craned her neck to catch the eye of Dovefeather, the learners' mother, and she saw pride fill the white she-cat's dark green eyes.

A very small dark tortoiseshell, her pelt the colors of a thousand shades of dark amber and brown, sat down next to Seapaw and flicked her tail lightly to the tabby's shoulder. Seapaw let out a purr and nudged her friend Mangrovepaw with her head, who, silent as ever, smiled back. When the cats had gathered, Sandstar flicked his light orange tail, and silence immediately fell over them.

"Typhoonpaw and Mudpaw have completed their training, and it is time for them to become protectors of our noble Clan," Sandstar's voice rang out strongly and clearly across the sandy clearing. "Come forward, both of you."

Typhoonpaw and Mudpaw crept forwards silently from beside Heronwing, Mudpaw's trainer, their chins lifted and their tails held high in pride. Typhoonpaw's long, light gray fur glowed silver under the half-moon, while Mudpaw's dark brown tabby fur turned a lighter shade of mahogany. The two brothers exchanged a look of excitement, and stopped a few tail-lengths before the Boulder. The learners gazed up at the MeadowClan ruler, who lifted his head to the stars, almost as if asking IslandClan for guidance.

"Spirits of IslandClan, rain down your blessings upon these cats, who have trained hard in your ways to become protectors," Sandstar performed the ritual with shining green eyes. "Mudpaw, Typhoonpaw, do you promise to uphold and defend the code of tooth, claw, and compassion, and be a loyal member of your Clan?"

"I promise," Mudpaw's golden eyes flashed as his low voice sounded, and Seapaw saw his dark tabby pelt bristle with excitement.

"I promise," Typhoonpaw echoed his brother, his long gray fur prickling along his spinde. Sandstar nodded, and gazed up at the sky again for several moments before he turned back to the two learners.

"By the power granted to me by our ancestors, who walk in IslandClan, I give your protector names. Mudpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Mudstrike. IslandClan commends you for your fierce loyalty and compassion, and welcomes you as a protector of MeadowClan," Sandstar paused for a moment, seeming to consult the stars again, before meowing, "Typhoonpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Typhoonstorm. IslandClan commends you for your bravery and your skill, and welcomes you as a protector of MeadowClan."

Sandstar leapt down from the Boulder to touch his ginger-striped tail to the protectors's shoulders. They dipped their heads submissevly to him, as all new protectors did, and they turned to face the rest of the Clan. Warm congratulatory meows sounded from throughout the hollow as the cats called the protectors by their new names, "Typhoonstorm! Mudstrike!" Mangrovepaw pushed her way through the crowd to press her muzzle to Mudstrike's, who looked quite thrilled to be so close to the tortoiseshell healing cat. Seapaw joined her silent friend, nudging the two protectors heartily. Sandstar bunched his muscles and jumped back onto the Boulder. Immediately, a hushed silence fell over the Clan.

"Typhoonstorm and Mudstrike will sit their protector's vigil tonight and guard the camp. But first, I would like to honor two cats, who should be here," Seapaw's blue eyes flickered to Tornadostorm, who was wearing an expression of grief on his face as Sandstar meowed, "Stonepaw should have received his protector name with his brothers tonight. But he was cruelly slaughtered by Cliffstorm several moons ago. I promise that MeadowClan will not forget Stonepaw."

Several cats called Stonepaw's name, as though they were welcoming a new protector. Grief filled Seapaw's heart as she remembered the dark gray tabby tom. She had still been in the nursery when he had died, but she had been friends with him when he was very young, and she had admired the young learner for his enthusiasm towards life.

"Also, I would like to honor the cat who trained Typhoonstorm," Sandstar continued, after several moments of silence. "Twisterclaw was a brave protector, and his death will, too, not be forgotten by those who loved him."

Murmurs of grief rumbled throughout the camp, and Seapaw again felt grief and loss flood through her. Her blue eyes flickered up towards the half-moon, which was well ascended into the sky. Her paws tingled as she realized that Goldenhawk must be sharing tongues with the Protector at this very moment. Along with excitement, she felt a flash of annoyance as she thought of the CoralClan healing cat, and the way his deep amber eyes had flashed smugly when they had met.

She pushed the golden tabby out of her mind as she noticed Mangrovepaw sitting quietly by herself in the shadows of an acacia tree. Her green eyes were filled with such a heart-breaking look of despair that Seapaw felt as if her own heart was being shredded by claws of pain. The silver tabby quietly padded up to her tortoiseshell friend, who was staring off into nothingness.

"Hi, Mangrovepaw," Seapaw began hesitantly, wondering what words of comfort she could offer to her silent friend when she didn't even know what was wrong. Mangrovepaw's dark viridian eyes flashed with uncharacteristic concern, and her mouth opened to speak. But again, no words came out, and her mouth hung open uselessly, and the silver tabby felt a wave of pity crash over her once more. Not wanting her friend to grow even more distressed, Seapaw quickly mewed, "You don't have to say anything. But can I tell you some things?"

Mangrovepaw blinked, a look of surprise growing on her dappled face. For a moment, Seapaw wondered if her tortoiseshell friend would refuse. But the MeadowClan healing cat learner nodded, drawing her paws underneath her body and focusing intently on Seapaw.

Seapaw, her heart heavy, slowly began to describe what had happened to her in the past moon. Her doubts about being Sandstar's learner, the mysterious ways Acacialeaf and Sandstar kept talking about her, meeting Goldenhawk and sneaking off to the Protector's tunnel during the Meeting. The whispers they had heard in the tunnel. Her strange dream with Flamefrost, Goldenhawk's trainer, and the way he had promised to meet her again. Her own misgivings about the war between CoralClan and MeadowClan. As she poured her heart out to Mangrovepaw, she noticed her friend's green eyes grow wider and wider, her tail waving frantically.

"I sometimes just think Cliffstorm is out to kill all of us. And Twilightstar-" Seapaw stopped abruptly as Mangrovepaw leapt to her paws suddenly, her green eyes huge and frantic. Seapaw tilted her head to one side, puzzled. Mangrovepaw was behaving very strangely. Continuing on as though there had been no interruption, Seapaw meowed, "Who does Twilightstar think she is, anyways?"

Mangrovepaw's viridian eyes flashed once, her dark tortoiseshell pelt bristling with fear. Seapaw realized that there was a knowing look in her leaf-green eyes, and the silver tabby's ocean-blue eyes widened with astonishment as Mangrovepaw opened her mouth very slowly, and mewed in a very tiny, quiet voice,

"My mother."

A/N: As always, reviews are greatly appreciated!