I'm sorry! Normally it doesn't take me 5 days to update but I've been really busy with cross country captains practices and I've just been so tired lately that I haven't written anything good. Well, anyways, Chapter 12. It's Goldenhawk's POV this time.

GOLDENHAWK

The rays of the scorching sun penetrated the canopy of leaves overhead and beat down on the pelt of a golden tabby with rippling darker stripes. The golden tabby swiftly padded deeper and deeper into enemy territory, a wad of herbs clamped tightly in his jaws. Goldenhawk glanced over his shoulder once, to make sure he was not being followed. This is madness, pure madness, Goldenhawk thought to himself, yet his white paws carried him still towards the MeadowClan camp. A little over a full moon had passed since his dream with the Protector, and with the outbreak of hacking coughs lately in CoralClan, the healing cat thought it might be a good excuse to offer herbs to MeadowClan, and maybe settle a bit of the bitter rivalry between the two Clans. But the main reason he was travelling to MeadowClan, and possibly even risking his life, was to tell Seapaw about his dream.

Again, the thought crossed the healing cat's mind to simply not tell the MeadowClan learner of his dream. But he pictured her hurt ocean-blue eyes the next time they would meet, and he knew that he had to fulfill his promise. If IslandClan is on my side, maybe I won't have to travel to the camp, Goldenhawk hoped, but he knew that it was very unlikely that he would come across the silver tabby alone.

Suddenly, he heard the crackle of a branch, and he tensed, his tail lashing. He could almost feel a pair of eyes burning into him, but Goldenhawk could not smell anything with the herbs in his mouth. A bundle of silver fur shot out at him, with claws outstretched to rip at his fur. Goldenhawk had no time to dodge, but braced himself for the impact. Thorn-sharp claws pierced his sides, and he tried to roll over to shake his attacker off. His golden fur bristled as he realized he would not win this fight. But the claws clutching his tabby flanks were already retracting, and Goldenhawk saw his own surprise reflected in the ocean-blue eyes of Seapaw.

Thank IslandClan, Goldenhawk let out a sigh of relief, and forced his fur to lie flat along his spine again. The silver tabby learner hesitated, and padded forward to touch noses warmly with the CoralClan healing cat. He blinked his amber eyes in surprise at the warmth of her greeting, but he did not question her. Perhaps the MeadowClan learner was growing up a little, becoming a little less annoying.

"I thought maybe you wouldn't come and find me, Goldenhawk!" Was that the slightest hint of a purr in her voice? Goldenhawk decided he must have imagined it as he dropped the herbs in a pile at his white paws. He pushed them towards her with his front paws, his whiskers twitching.

"I don't have much time to explain," Goldenhawk meowed, plunging in quickly to the reason why he was here. "But I had a dream last night at the Protector's chamber that I think you should know about." Seapaw tucked her paws neatly under her body, and wrapped her silver-striped tail around her front paws. She gazed up at the healing cat with unblinking blue eyes, and for a moment, Goldenhawk found he could not speak.

"Right.." The healing cat meowed awkwardly, trying to find the words to begin, "I was in a sunlit clearing, when Flamefrost appeared to me. She...she told me that the war would end very soon. Flamefrost told me that within my destiny was the destiny of the Clans. She told me that I must do the same thing as you, and follow my heart. And...she told me that she was my mother."

"Your mother?" Seapaw's blue eyes blazed with disbelief as she meowed, "But healing cats can't have kits!"

"Do you think I don't know that?" Goldenhawk felt frustration pulse through his paws; how could he have believed that Seapaw might have matured a little? She couldn't be more annoying if she tried! The golden tabby tom flexed his claws into the dirt, taking comfort in their strength. The disbelief in Seapaw's ocean-blue eyes faded, and was replaced with bewilderment. She seemed to hesitate, as though she wanted to tell him something.

"Can I trust you?" Seapaw meowed, looking uncharacteristically concerned. Goldenhawk gazed at her for a long time with narrowed amber eyes, as though he could learn all her secrets simply by staring at the beautiful silver tabby.

"I trusted you," He mewed simply, giving his white chest fur a few licks to hide his embarrassment. Seapaw seemed satisfied with this answer, and she took a step towards him, her eyes darting from side to side to make sure they weren't being overheard.

"Mangrovepaw - Acacialeaf's silent learner, I'm sure you know her- spoke to me yesterday," Seapaw murmured quietly, her voice like a stream trickling over pebbles. Goldenhawk knew he must have looked shocked, because Seapaw protested hotly, "She did, I swear I'm not lying to you, Goldenhawk. She told me that she was the kit of Wavestar and Twilightstar, and for some reason, Cliffstorm found out and tried to kill her. Twilightstar took her and left her in MeadowClan for us to find."

The forest seemed to blur before Goldenhawk's amber eyes, and he felt his head spinning. Seapaw meowed his name softly but he didn't register her sweet voice sounding in his head like an echo. Something stirred in his mind, and he tried to grasp it, but the thought scurried away. As he stared up at the clear blue sky, he thought again, he could hear whispers.

"The Protector has come..." A soft voice was carried on the hot breeze, and Goldenhawk shivered, despite the heat. Seapaw gave him a quizzical look, but didn't say anything, only pressed her muzzle to his golden tabby flank. The CoralClan healing cat rose to his ivory paws, licking a ginger forepaw as he stared at Seapaw. She was annoying, yes, but somehow, Goldenhawk felt drawn to her for some reason. The golden tabby tom felt as if their destinies were somehow intertwined, and for the first time, he was glad that he had met the silver learner.

"I won't tell any cat, I promise," Goldenhawk mewed solemnly, blinking at the younger tabby fondly. Seapaw kinked her tail and scuffled the sand with a front claw. Her silver tabby pelt seemed to shine even more brightly in the hot sun.

"Will you see me again?" Seapaw hesitantly asked him, her silver fur prickling along her spine. Goldenhawk blinked in surprise, and Seapaw hastily added, "I mean, if you hear more things from IslandClan, or if I do, I think we should tell each other."

Again, Goldenhawk was faced with a difficult choice. He didn't want to drag a learner, much less one from an enemy Clan, into his problems. But, gazing into her hopeful eyes, a mixture of viridians and ceruleans, the CoralClan healing cat found he could not refuse. The golden tabby nodded, and Seapaw let out a rusty purr. She bent her head down to pick up the herbs in her maw, and blinked at Goldenhawk, her eyes saying more than words ever could. Seapaw darted foward to touch noses quickly with the healing cat, and trotted away from him.

Watching her go, Goldenhawk felt his white paws prickle with some emotion he couldn't quite pinpoint. He felt as if he had been doused with water, but he shook his head, letting the thoughts scatter like water droplets. He found that he was not looking forward to going home to CoralClan, to treat his Clan for their strange coughs. The handsome golden-brown tomcat turned to creep out of MeadowClan territory, before he was caught by a cat who would not consider him a friend.

TORNADOSTORM

Amber eyes blinked in surprise as a familiar yowl sounded throughout the camp. The dark gray tabby tom turned to see Sandstar leaping onto the Boulder in one powerful leap. The light-colored tabby's pelt shone ginger under the hot sun, and he looked down at the assembling Clan, his green eyes glinting with pride. Tornadostorm realized that it must be time for Fernleaf's kits to be apprenticed. His yellow eyes found the three kits, who were mewling with excitement as Fernleaf gave them each a few licks to tame their soft fur. Tornadostorm's whiskers twitched with amusement as Tumblekit let out a loud mrrowr of protest as his mother licked him roughly.

The MeadowClan protector half-wished, as he padded up to sit at the delegate's spot at the foot of the Boulder, that he might be able to be a trainer to one of these kits. But, he knew, it was too soon after Stonepaw's death, and there were many protectors who hadn't had the chance to train a learner of their own yet. Bittersweet regret flooded over him as he wondered whether Stonepaw might have trained one of these kits.

"Cats of MeadowClan!" Sandstar yowled, his voice ringing across the camp. Immediately, silence fell over the Clan, and Tornadostorm saw every pair of eyes turn to look at the ruler. "We are gathered here today to give three kits their learner names. Sleekit, Tumblekit, Dolphinkit, come forth."

At the beckon of Sandstar's light ginger-striped tail, the three kits padded fowards confidently, though Tornadostorm thought he could see fear glint in Dolphinkit's green eyes. He blinked encouraginly at the light smoky gray she-cat, and she stared at him with terrified green eyes.

"Nighthawk, you will train Sleetpaw," Sandstar addressed the black tom, who also happened to be the father of these three kits. Sleetpaw, who was a small black she-cat with amber eyes, twitched her ears impatiently, as if she could hardly wait to begin training. "Nighthawk, you are strong and fearless. Pass on these qualities to Sleetpaw."

"I'll do my best," Nighthawk promised, touching noses with his daughter. Tornadostorm noticed that they seemed to be copies of each other; black pelts as dark as night, with light yellow eyes. The two cats sat down next to each other on the left side of the Boulder, waiting for the ceremony to be completed.

"Typhoonstorm, you will train Tumblepaw," Pride flooded over the MeadowClan delegate as his son was mentioned. Although Typhoonstorm was young, and had only served his Clan as a protector for a little over a moon, no cat could doubt his strength or loyalty. Sandstar continued, "Typhoonstorm, although you are young, you have proven yourself to be a quick-thinking and loyal protector. I know you will train Tumblepaw well."

"Of course, Sandstar," Typhoonstorm meowed, his long light gray fur bristling with excitement. His blue eyes blazed as he touched noses with Tumblepaw, who was a dark gray tabby tom with green eyes like his mother's. Tornadostorm saw that Tumblepaw was chatting animatedly to the delegate's son as they joined Nighthawk and Sleetpaw, and his tail curled up with amusement; Typhoonstorm would have his paws full.

"Morningfrost, you will train Dolphinpaw," Tornadostorm's yellow eyes flickered over to the silver tabby, whose blue eyes blazed with intensity. Blue eyes, Tornadostorm realized, that were not unlike Seapaw's, who was sitting not too far from her mother. Her ears were pricked and strained, as though she was struggling to hear something on the breeze. Sandstar meowed, "Morningfrost, you have faced trials with a protector's spirit. Pass on your courage to Dolphinpaw."

"I will, Sandstar," Morningfrost promised, padding forwards to touch noses with the smoky gray learner. Dolphinpaw seemed to accept the friendly greeting, for she looked slightly less terrified as she joined her siblings and their trainers. Soft purrs of approval rose from every cat in the Clan as they greeted the new learners.

Soft fur pressed against Tornadostorm's, and he turned to see Dovefeather, his beloved. Her green eyes were shining as she twined her white tail with his, and he felt strengthened by her touch. He pressed his muzzle against hers, and he felt her throaty purr rumbling throughout her body, to the tip of her long-haired white tail.

"I love you, Dovefeather," He murmured suddenly, overcome by a rush of love for his mate. She blinked at him, her ivy-green eyes saying more than she ever could. "I couldn't do this without you."

"You don't have to," She purred lightly, her white tail swishing happily. The MeadowClan delegate echoed her purr as she mewed, "I love you too, mousebrain." Tornadostorm stared up at the clear sky, his gray tabby tail swishing in pure joy. He wished that life could always be this way, but as he turned back to his Clan, he knew that soon a storm would break the happiness in his life.