Web of Lies

xii

The cave was quite boring, honestly. The walls had no engravings, there were no other cats (other than a few tempei she had managed to avoid), and of course, no exit in sight. She had started to regret going down this cave, when a familiar voice called to her.

Actually, three familiar voices.

Before she knew it, Reedspeck, Quailfern, and Wren dashed up to her. Reedspeck checked Robinflight for injuries, Quailfern asked her what had happened, and Wren sat there licking his paw. Robinflight enjoyed the sudden attention, sure, but she was more happy she was reunited with familiar faces.

"Robinflight! What happened? You look so hungry, and... you've been down here for so long!" Quailfern cried, nuzzling Robinflight. Robinflight returned the nuzzle, getting to her paws.

"So long? I've been down here about an hour or two. It's not like I've been gone for a week," Robinflight corrected, suddenly confused. She hadn't been down here that long, she was sure of that, but the worried faces of her peers made her doubt her conclusion.

"Robinflight, you've been down here for two days," Reedspeck said slowly. "Do you even know what this cave is?"

"...no?"

"We went back to Willowberry after you fell, and she explained-"

"-rather rudely," Quailfern interrupted, inciting a small laugh from Robinflight. Reedspeck rolled her eyes playfully and continued.

"She explained that this is the Cave of Isolation, one of many caves of scary stuff, whatever she called it. Time here is... messy. You think you've been here for two hours, when really it's been two days," Reedspeck explained seriously.

"If that's what's happening, then we have to get out of here, fast. Tempei could find us," Robinflight said. She stood up, suddenly more scared than she had ever been before in this cave. "We can't waste time. Come on!"

"You're right. Let's go." Reedspeck nodded her head while Wren looked oddly calm.

"What's up with you?" Robinflight said to Wren. "You're... calm."

"Of course I am. I've been here before. Let's get going, now," Wren said cooly, turning and walking away. The three remaining cats shared confused looks, then followed him. Something wasn't adding up, but Robinflight couldn't quite place her paw on it.

It took a surprisingly short amount of time to get to the tunnel. Robinflight assumed it was because time was 'messy' (Reedspeck's words, not hers), and the cave was just messing with them. She was still confused, however, about Reedspeck's mentions of 'the caves of other scary things'. Were there more caves with different features? More monsters? This was too complicated, too messy. Like grass all tangled together, and she couldn't untangle it. Too complicated, too many blades of grass, too many knots. Better to just tuck it away in her mind and leave it be.

"Well, how're gonna get back up?" Quailfern asked. "Even if we can get to the tunnel, it's not like we can just, walk up."

Wren jumped up into the tunnel, using his gleaming white claws to steady himself and lock himself in place. "Pfft, we just claw our way up."

Quailfern bristled and followed Wren's actions, albeit a bit less gracefully. His claws scrambled for a grip, slipping over tiny pebbles. Reedspeck nudged him forward, then turned to Robinflight.

"You should go up first. I could lift you up there. You're a bit... short," Reedspeck offered. Robinflight was a bit ticked at the mention of her height, but she was genuinely surprised that her sister was being kind.

"You... want to help me."

"Ugh, yes, fuzz-brain. I don't hate your guts. Come on."

Robinflight nodded, a bit skeptical, and climbed onto Reedspeck's back. Reedspeck grunted, lowering her head. Robinflight, wobbling side to side on the skinny cat's back. Slowly, she reached up her two front paws and put them in the tunnel. She unsheathed her claws and got a good grip before hefting her lower half up into the tunnel. Wren and Quailfern had already made their way up, no doubt close to the surface. She glanced back down to Reedspeck, who was already preparing to jump up.

Shakily, she clawed her way up the tunnel, already feeling the cool breeze of the main cave on her face. She could sense Reedspeck behind her, nudging Robinflight forward and keeping her steady. She liked having a supportive sister for once, but she wasn't used to positive attention from family members.

"Come on, you're doing fine," Reedspeck reassured, gently pushing her forward. Robinflight slipped on a pebble, starting to fall back down. Reedspeck, luckily, caught her and put her back in place.

When they got to the surface, Wren and Quailfern were already sitting and waiting for them.

"You three should head back to your clan," Wren noted, licking his paw.

"No, not yet. You have some things to clear up," Robinflight reminded, taking a step towards Wren. "You've been lying."

"Robinflight, we should really be going," Quailfern whispered, looking a bit nervous.

"And why do you think that?" Wren purred, rather calm. Too calm.

"You said you had never seen that tunnel before, however, when you guys came to find me, you said you'd been there before. How did you get there if you didn't fall down the tunnel?" Robinflight confronted. Quailfern and Reedspeck exchanged confused glances, awaiting a fight.

"Pfft, you know there are more ways than one to get into that cave, right?" Wren laughed. "Maybe you should just get back to your clan, hm? Every clan needs their deputy."

"Well, I, uh-" Robinflight stammered. She just realized how dumb she had been. Of course there was more than one entrance to that cave. And of course she had to go and make a fool of herself. She really should just run back to MossClan.

"Yep, we're just going to leave now," Quailfern interrupted, cutting the tension and pushing Robinflight over to the MossClan tunnel. "Toodles!"

Robinflight was silent the entire way back to the clan, until Willowberry ran up to her.

"So you found the Cave of Isolation, huh?" Willowberry snapped, clearly angry. "While you were out having fun with tempei, I had to run the clan."

"Well, I sure hope you did a good job," Quailfern sneered, stepping forward. "With your attitude I'm surprised you didn't start a inter-clan war."

"With Robinflight's irresponsibility I'm surprised she hasn't just let MossClan starve," Willowberry shot back.

"Willowberry, it's not Robinflight's job to lead. It's Coralstar's, and he's missing. Robinflight was trying to find him. I'm glad you took responsibility, but you aren't deputy. Leave her alone!" Quailfern said. Robinflight was sick and tired of their fights and them trying to speak for her. She'd had enough of this bickering.

"Shut up!" She yelled, shocking Quailfern and Willowberry. They stared at her as she continued to speak. "I can speak for myself! I don't need you guys to speak for me! Now, could we just make a plan for what will happen until we find Coralstar?"

"F-fine," Willowberry stammered. "I'm sorry, okay? We'll go do that. C'mon." Willowberry turned and stormed over to the medicine den, clearly miffed at being called out.

"Robinfl-"

"Quailfern, I'm mad at you, too," Robinflight interrupted, following Willowberry to the medicine den. "Now let's go make a plan."