Born Wild

Chapter 9

As she slowly opened her eyes to the increasingly bright dawn, Snowflake wished she didn't know what day it was. The matter was - she did. She did all too well. Deep down, she could feel apprehension weighing in her belly like a boulder, and for a few moments considered an option laid down right before her - the option to turn around and tell Drizzle and Leaf that she'd changed her mind and that she could no longer do as they'd asked. But she knew that option was so far away, out of her reach. She sighed. She had to do this.

She padded out of the den, scanning her clearing in a prayer that she was only half-aware of - a prayer that the cats she dreaded wouldn't be anywhere in sight, perhaps even having given up their plans. Yet there they were - brown, black and lilac fur, three cats crouched in the corner of the camp while sharing low whispers. The thought of having to confront them - especially Holly, her sister - sent a shiver down the she-cat's spine, but she did her best to send it away, along with every other doubt. I can do this, she assured herself. I have to. There's no other way for me to prove my loyalty. And even if there was, Briar and her gang would still be free to do as they please. She drew in a steady breath, trying to calm herself down. I can't allow that to happen.

Gathering all the courage within her, she began the walk to the three, attempting to hide her dread from them. She almost froze as Skye turned around, looking at her with unhidden suspicion. The group stopped their conversation, shifting their attention to Snowflake, along with obvious hostility.

"What do you want?" Briar asked, her eyes narrowing significantly. Her brisk tone and her dismissive yet aggressive demeanor was more than enough to confirm Snowflake's guess - they were in the middle of their planning.

She could feel her older sister's gaze on her back, but she did her best to avoid it. She bowed her head in shame, though on the inside all she could feel was rage and hatred. "You were right," she began, cursing every single word that came out of her mouth. "I was trying to impress Leaf and Drizzle so that they would accept me in their group, but it's pointless. The more I try, the clearer I see the wisdom behind your words. I chose to devote myself to the first cats I met, since I thought there was no better option. But there is - that's what you want to do, right? You want to make this place better. I can see that now. And I'm sorry for whatever I said before."

Briar seemed to relax. She let out a content smile. "I'm glad you finally see things from our point of view. We just want whatever's better for the group. And the group can't possibly be better off with weak leaders." Then she tensed again and spoke again, this time, her words representing some sort of test. "Why do you think we're better off without them?"

Snowflake almost froze. She hadn't prepared for the question. "It's like you said - they're weak and consequently weaken our whole group."

The brown she-cat rolled her eyes. "Yeah, we know that. But why do you think they're weak?"

Think fast, Snowflake! She silently cursed for her lack of words. Fox dung! They'll figure out I was lying! "Umm..." she began, trying to think of something as she went. "They're weak, because..." She stopped. An idea sprouted into her mind. "Because they don't trust cats like you." Words flowed out of her mouth like a river, and she finally began feeling confident. "I joined because I believed in their fairness, in their sense of justice and their care for each-other. I believed in their honor. I had heard from other cats - cats I didn't know - that they were former housecats who had been forced into a new way of life and who were starting anew here. I was inspired by that story. I had no idea of the sheer amount of lies and imagination-born details in that fictional description."

Skye looked impressed with her words, but she knew she had to elaborate if she was to gain Holly and Briar's trust. "When I joined, I expected to be welcome here, to be invited into a place where I could live the life I've always imagined for myself. But instead they treated me with caution and distrust. I kept trying to prove myself, but they refused to accept me. That's their greatest weakness." She was aware of the selfishness in her words, but she pushed away the guilt. I'm doing this for the group! "And then the same thing happened to you. It's as obvious as daylight. There must be a change."

Holly looked at her little sister proudly, while the leader of the group nodded approvingly. "I'm nothing but glad that someone else is able to see sense. Welcome."

The sun was setting by the time she'd finished her discussion with the three. Snowflake hadn't expected to be able to report so much on her first day, but with Briar enlightening her as to so much of their plans, it was time to tell Leaf and Drizzle everything before she collapsed in exhaustion. She requested to go on the evening patrol, along with Shade, Angel and Leaf - the perfect time to let the leader know everything she did. Away from the watchful eyes of Briar's group.

They were already at the border when Leaf finally managed to get the two of them alone. He was now looking at the white-furred spy impatiently, awaiting her report. "Well?" he asked. "Did you find out anything?"

Snowflake nodded. "They let me in pretty quickly. They've been letting me know about their plans all day. I still don't know just how much of that is true, since I don't think Briar would trust someone so easily, but I guess we have no choice but to take everything she tells me as fact, for the time being."

Leaf began shifting his weight from one paw to another, seeming distracted. "So, in the end, what did she tell you?"

"They're trying to figure out a way to change leaders. Briar claims that they only want to help the group get rid of the weaknesses from within - you and Drizzle - but honestly I can't imagine she's telling the truth."

Leaf was clearly disturbed. "And do they have any idea of how to get rid of us yet?"

Snowflake hesitated for a couple of heartbeats. "Well..."

"Well..."

"I don't know whether they'll go with this plan, but they might..."

"Might what?"

"They- Briar asked me if I thought using words was a good idea. If I thought we could get you two to give up your leader status."

"And what did you tell her?"

"I said you might, but that I don't know you well enough to be certain. She said that they could try it out."

Leaf looked at her in confusion. "So their grand plan is to talk me and Drizzle out of it."

Snowflake hesitated again. "Well..."

"Go on..." he pressed.

"I asked Briar what would happen if you refused."

"And what did she answer?"

"She said they would use force in that case; that if you refused to see sense - as she put it - she'd start a fight for the leadership of the group. She said she knows cats." She saw Leaf instinctively tense. "But knowing her- well, not really her, but knowing Holly, I don't think they'll wait to see if words work. You see, she and I used to be really close when we were kits. But after our mother died, she began trusting a 'friend' of hers a lot. I don't exactly know the whole story, but he got her to do stuff for him. Bad stuff. My sister became obsessed with action. She refused to solve anything without a fight. She wanted to leave with that 'friend', to become independent. I chose to stay with our father, and I never saw her again until now. It's been long, but..." She trailed off for a few moments. "But I know she'd always choose the brave way, rather than the seemingly logical one. Even though she's obviously left that 'friend' behind."

The mottled tom was lost in thought. "But what about Briar? She's the head of the operation, right?"

Snowflake nodded. "Yes. I don't know her well enough just yet, but I can tell you for certain she's not one whose word you can take for fact. There's something about her that yells 'fishy'. I can't prove it just yet, but I know she won't stick to words. In fact, I'd bet blood on it."

A sinister silence enveloped the two. At last, Leaf broke it. "That's good to know. Keep an eye out for whatever they'll do next. Let me know if you find something immediately." With that, he padded away, patrolling the border just as he was supposed to. Her mind heavy with worries and her pelt bristled in apprehension, she followed.

Written by Mothfrost