Chapter 2:
Reunion

Ten moons later…

Ten moons had passed, and Angelpaw, now Angelwing, and her brother and sisters were now warriors. Their names were Northwind, Petalflight, Fanshine, Cloudsky, and Fleetingheart.

Angelwing was the last of her litter to go on her first solo hunt since becoming a warrior. Her well-muscled body gleamed in the light as the red flower tucked behind her left ear waved in the wind. She looked at her family who were looking back at her with pride.

Angelwing noted that Northwind had uneasiness mixed with the pride in his eyes. Unbeknownst to her, he had had a dream last night saying that a cat named Goldenpelt would come here and that it was crucial to get him and Angelwing to fall in love and become mates for a reason he didn't know, nor wanted to know.

Angelwing nuzzled her mother who assured her saying, "Don't worry. You'll do just fine."

Northwind smiled and said, "Take care, little sis." Her older sisters said similar things.

Angelwing then turned to Bearstar, who was still wary about letting her go off on her own, despite his pride in her. "Father, promise me I can do this on my own. Promise?"

Bearstar looked at his mate and son who both shot him looks that said, 'Agree or I'll make you'.

"I promise." Bearstar sighed. These days, it was rare that he saw eye-to-eye with his daughter about these things.

Giving him a smile, Angelwing nuzzled him, then dashed off, watched by the proud Clan cats.

Bearstar sighed. Though he too was proud of her, he was still unsure.

Outside of the camp, Angelwing saw a squirrel and chased after it. She ran further away from the camp, not paying attention to her surroundings.

Across the river, Riverstar's daughters, Streamsplash, Songflight, and Sunmark, snuck into MoonClan's territory to start a forest fire. There hadn't been much rain lately, so fires were easy to start. Streamsplash made sure to have it start close to where Angelwing was hunting to endanger her. All the animals, Angelwing included, ran franticly from the fire.

From WaterClan's territory, Riverstar looked on evilly. Beside him was a slightly smaller tomcat that was golden with his icy blue eyes. Goldenpelt, as he was now known, watched on. He was now completely brainwashed by his father, cold and mean, a heartless killing machine.

"The plan is afoot. GO!" Riverstar hissed into his ear.

Goldenpelt knew that that was his signal and made his way into MoonClan's territory undetected, his icy eyes glowing with determination. His mission and only priority: Kill Bearstar...

The other MoonClan cats had seen the fire and Bearstar, Runningrain, and her siblings worried in fear for Angelwing's life. They hoped desperately that she was safe. She wasn't.

Angelwing fled the flames that consumed everything.

The flames had trapped the black she-cat. Coughing, she passed out, not even stirring when a golden tom arrived.

Goldenpelt sniffed her, picked her up, and proceeded to get out of the fire. Trees burned all around them as he ran through the once green forest. A tree fell down in front of the tom, causing him to stop for a moment to think of another path. He put another burst of speed in, making him run faster. Once he was out of the fire, he dropped Angelwing in a safe place.

"W-where am I?" Angelwing asked quietly, coughing.

"Safe." Angelwing looked at her savior. Where had she seen him before? Then she remembered. Her hunt! He'd interrupted it!

She hissed, "My hunt! Why'd you bring me here? Who do you think you are?"

"Don't you give me that attitude; I think I'm the one that just saved your life!" Goldenpelt said, shocked at her ungratefulness.

"Look, I had everything under control!" Angelwing hissed, getting to her feet.

"Not from where I'm standing." Goldenpelt meowed, thinking, she is impossible!

"Then move downwind!" Angelwing snapped. She wanted to leave, but she had to find out whom he was. He seemed familiar somehow. Then his scent entered her nose. A memory from ten moons ago flooded her mind.

In amazement, her amber eyes widened. "Did you see the size of that thing? You were really brave!"

"Yeah?" The tom smiled. "You were, too. My name's Goldenpaw."

"I'm Angelpaw!" She beamed. "Wanna fight?"

Goldenpaw looked admiringly at her. "Sure."

They started to stalk around each other, waiting for a chance to strike, when her father, leaped out of nowhere. Riverstar also jumped in front of Goldenpaw. Behind each of the leaders was their mate…

"Goldenpaw?" She asked in amazement.

"Goldenpelt now." The tom smirked.

Angelwing couldn't help but smile. After all, she hadn't seen him in ten moons.

"Angelwing!" Bearstar meowed as he approached his daughter and this stranger. Runningrain and Northwind followed him. (Their sisters were back at camp, nearly frantic with worry for Angelwing.) They both nuzzled her.

"Who are you?" Bearstar hissed. Then he caught the younger tom's scent. "Goldenpaw!"

"His name is Goldenpelt now." Angelwing mewed. This got Northwind's attention.

"What're you doing in MoonClan territory?" Bearstar hissed, his fur bristling.

"I humbly ask to join your Clan." Goldenpelt said.

"NO! I will not have the son—NO!" Bearstar hissed.

"No I'm not. Not anymore. I left WaterClan a long time ago." Goldenpelt lied. "I wish to stay in MoonClan with your permission."

Bearstar hissed again, not believing what the tom said. He paced around Goldenpelt, thinking it through. After a few paces, he stopped in front of Goldenpelt and growled. "I don't approve of this."

"Father, he saved Angelwing." Northwind meowed. He knew that Goldenpelt had saved his little sister. For the sake of the Clans, they had to be together!

Angelwing held her breath.

"I guess you can stay, but I'm keeping my eye on you." The MoonClan leader warned, gazing back at Goldenpelt. Saying no more, he and Runningrain headed back to their camp, followed by Goldenpelt, Angelwing and Northwind.

Goldenpelt smirked, sending a smile to Angelwing as they headed back.

Back at the camp, Goldenpelt was forced to sleep outside under a dead tree. When her parents and siblings went into the leader's den to sleep, Angelwing crept over to Goldenpelt.

"Hey, uh…thanks for saving me today." Angelwing said shyly.

"What kind of hunter are you anyway? You were almost killed." Goldenpelt asked.

"What?" Angelwing asked.

"You wouldn't last three days on your own." Goldenpelt said.

"Oh, and I suppose you could teach me?" Angelwing asked, provoked.

"Huh, well, yeah." Goldenpelt said, turning away, as Bearstar called, "Angelwing!"

"Coming!" She called. She jumped in front of Goldenpelt and said, "All right. Impress me. We start at dawn." As she walked into the den.

"I look forward to it." Goldenpelt said, chuckling, while he wondered why she was like that. She-cats were too complicated for anyone to understand…