Web of Lies

xiii

"So, that's why we should investigate OceanClan for Coralstar's disappearance," Quailfern finished, looking pleased with himself. He looked around at the four cats sitting in front of him, Willowberry, Reedspeck, Gravelstar, and of course, Robinflight.

"Quailfern," Willowberry groaned, looking up at Quailfern. "That is the dumbest plan I have ever heard of."

"What? Why?" Quailfern asked, looking slightly offended. "Is it too complicated for you? Would you rather we just ignore the possibility the other Clans may have a hand in this?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that-"

"Okay, okay, come on, guys. Let's stop fighting. It's my turn to share my plan," Robinflight interrupted. Willowberry glared at Robinflight, ears flattened and claws digging into the earth. Quailfern huffed and sat down with the rest of the cats.

Robinflight walked up to where Quailfern stood, a few feet in front of the others. She took a deep breath and started.

"When I was in the-" Robinflight began, only to be interrupted by a pissed Willowberry.

"Is this just going to be ine big storytime or can we get to the plan?"

"I haven't even started!" Robinflight protested. "Can I just speak?"

"I just want an actual plan, okay?"

The two were about to break out into an argument, but Gravelstar finally spoke up.

"Decorum, delegates, decorum," Gravelstar sighed, stepping in between the two. "MossClan is in enough unrest already, we don't need our two leaders fighting. Come on, Willowberry, just let Robinflight speak."

"Two leaders? Seriously? You can barely consider Robinflight a leader of MossClan. She's been gone for what, three days? She hasn't done anything for this clan, I've been the one doing all the leadership work! I am not going to let you call this mouse-brain a leader, okay?" Willowberry snapped. "I'm sorry, but this is ridiculous. This meeting is ridiculous. This clan is ridiculous. And you, Robinflight, are the worst, most ridiculous "leader" this clan has ever seen."

Gravelstar and Quailfern watched as Willowberry turned and ran out of the medicine den and into the forest. Cats turned and stared at the angry she-cat, clearly confused at what had been happening.

"Robinflight-" Quailfern began.

"I'm going after her."

"Robinflight!" Quailfern took a few steps towards Robinflight.

"What? Why shouldn't I? Someone needs to talk to her."

"No, we need to leave her alone!" Quailfern argued.

"Quailfern. Come on. Let me go find her," Robinflight said calmly. Quailfern's expression hardened, but he didn't protest as Robinflight ran in Willowberry's direction, rain starting to fall on her russet-brown fur.

More cats turned and stared as she dashed into the dense forest. The leaves blocked out what little sun was shining, casting a dark blanket on the MossClan forest. It was a little bit harder to see, and the rain and wind combined washed out any scent of Willowberry she could find.

"Willowberry! Come out and talk to me, coward!" She yelled, hoping the trees didn't muffle her voice. "You're acting like a kit!"

"You do realize that's the worst way to get someone to come to you, right?" A voice purred from behind Robinflight.

"The worst way for the worst cat."

"Pfft." Willowberry rolled her eyes, sitting down on the soft ground. "What are going to do, beg for my forgiveness? Why'd you come out here?"

"I..."

"You don't know."

"No."

"Hm." Willowberry stared at a worm inching its way across the ground, her ears twitching. "You know you're only proving my point that you're a bad leader by abandoning that meeting, right?"

"Oh, I know. But you're also being a bad leader, storming out like that. You should learn to control your temper."

"I'm not a leader, I shouldn't be held to that standard. However-"

"I'm not a leader either, I'm a deputy. Coralstar is the leader, hold him to that standard," Robinflight noted, sitting down. Rain drops fell around the two cats, providing a gentle, ambient noise for their conversation.

"I am holding him to that standard. I think it's scummy that he just disappeared like that, and I think it's scummy how you keep sneaking off."

"It's scummy how you lost your temper and stormed off like a whiny kit."

"I-" Willowberry started, then stopped. "Fine, I was being overdramatic. But until Coralstar comes back, you're the leader. You need to lead the clan."

"Fine, fine," Robinflight sighed. "I'll stop sneaking off. But that doesn't mean we stop searching, alright? We need to find Coralstar," Robinflight argued, yet her voice was calm and gentle.

"I know, and we can figure out some sort of arrangement that can help us find him. And I'll stop acting like a "whiny kit" if you stay around, okay?" Willowberry proposed. Robinflight could see she actually meant it, which was rare for the sarcastic medicine cat. It would be easy to decline her offer, to brush her off as a manipulative cat and keep sneaking off. But maybe Willowberry had a point, and maybe Robinflight shouldn't just brush this off. It was a good offer after all.

"...Deal."

"Alright." Willowberry stood up, brushing mud off of her paws. "Let's head back. We've been out here long enough, and it's going to storm soon."

Willowberry turned and started walking back to the camp, but Robinflight stayed behind. The medicine cat turned and stared at Robinflight, confused.

"Come on," She repeated.

"Did you mean what you said back there? About the clan being ridiculous?" Robinflight asked softly. She had to admit, she was still a bit hurt by her words.

"Uh," Willowberry said, drawing out the syllable. "Sort of. I... never really liked MossClan, to be honest. My mom... wasn't exactly liked, so the clan projected their hate for her onto me, you know?"

"Why did MossClan hate her? She seems really nice," Robinflight wondered aloud.

Willowberry laughed softly yet coldly, no mirth in her voice. "Yeah. She- she did something along time ago. Before I was born. We should really get going now," Willowberry answered.

Robinflight looked at Willowberry, and saw a side she hadn't seen before. Before, she had seen a salty, ride she-cat that had little to no respect to anyone. Now, she saw someone who had been rejected by her own clan for something she didn't do. Someone who had been treated like an outsider, then placed in a position where she cared for the cats that had hated her for so long. Robinflight had felt plenty of emotions before, but she could never name the emotions she felt in this moment to this troubled medicine cat.

"Did you choose to be a medicine cat?"

Willowberry was silent for a moment, stating at the ground. She then looked back to Robinflight, a bit of a sad look in her eyes. "Let's get back to the meeting. We've been here for awhile."

They really hadn't. But Robinflight didn't want to push for answers when she had, albeit a few, answers.

"Okay," She said softly, following Willowberry out of the forest and into the camp.

"Finally, you're back," Quailfern groaned, dragging Robinflight back to the medicine den. "Did you two have your little make-up? Can we get back to making a plan?"

Robinflight looked to Willowberry then to Quailfern.

"Yeah, and it's a good one."

a/n: lmao if yall want any stupid info about these characters ask them because I want to share my stupid details about them