Web of Lies

vii

"It'll take a week to heal, okay? Just let it rest, and don't put too much pressure on it, understa-" Willowberry stopped speaking mid sentence and turned to look at the small group of cats at the entrance of the camp. "HillClan is here, you better get going."

Robinflight nodded, then got up and padded over to the group of cats. They were thin and starved, so starved Robinflight could see their rib bones. She felt a pang of pity for them, she couldn't imagine being forced from her home due to a viscous enemy.

"Hello, I'm deputy Robinflight, and this is-" Where was Coralstar? Robinflight looked around, dumbfounded. The cats stared at her, expecting Robinflight to introduce them to the leader. She had to make up something. Robinflight glanced at Willowberry, beckoning for her to come over. Willowberry did, looking as threatening and beautiful as ever.

Wait, did she say beautiful? No, no, she had to get back to introductions.

"This is Willowberry, our medicine cat," Robinflight said. Willowberry looked at the cat leading the group, examining their thin frame and empty face. Was that the leader?

"Gravelstar, it's been quite a while," Willowberry said coldly. Gravelstar, a light gray tom with black specks, nodded curtly.

"It has, it has. How is Frostcatcher? Is she doing well?" Gravelstar asked. Willowberry flinched at the mention of Frostcatcher. Her face hardened and she flattened her ears.

"Frostcatcher has passed away. I though you would've heard," Willowberry answered harshly. Robinflight didn't know any Frostcatcher. Why would Willowberry care so much about them?

"I'm so sorry. Information doesn't travel fast between clans," Gravelstar apologized. There was tension in the air, so thick Robinflight could slice it with her claws. She needed to change the topic quickly.

"Gravelstar, Quailfern will show you around camp. You can put your apprentices in the apprentice den, queens and kits in the nursery, and I'm sure Willowberry would love another medicine cat," Robinflight explained. She glanced at Willowberry, wanting to make sure that she was okay with another medicine cat. Willowberry just stared at the horizon, an angry look in her mesmerizing green eyes. "Quailfern, please show these cats around."

Quailfern, who had materialized at her side, nodded eagerly and set to work with the tour. When they were safely occupied, Robinflight turned to Willowberry.

"Who's Frostcatcher, and why were you so mean to Gravelstar?" Robinflight asked, getting straight to the point.

"I wasn't mean to Gravelstar," Willowberry replied snarkily. "I was correcting him. Frostcatcher is dead. He was wrong."

"You didn't answer my question! Who is Frostcatcher?"

"Frostcatcher was my mom, okay?" Willowberry snapped. "She died when I was a kit. Her and Gravelstar were good friends, but they fell out of contact after OceanClan rose to power. It's not important. What is important is that stick."

"What?" Robinflight pleased to have finally learned the dead cat's name.

"Y'know, the stick you gave me?"

"Oh, I forgot about that with all the... drama," Robinflight admitted, embarrassed. Willowberry didn't seem to mind, and she followed the silver she-cat over to the medicine den. Willowberry dug the stick out of the hiding place and threw it in front of them.

"Any ideas?"

"Ideas about what?"

"What the stick would mean, dolt."

"Uh, well, it's really hot, so maybe fire? The ends are burnt and stuff, so?" Robinflight suggested.

"But why fire? And why are there claw marks?" Willowberry pondered, more to herself than to Robinflight. "I don't remember ever having memories relating to fire. Do you?"