Web of Lies

xvi

"We should just give up," Quailfern shouted, his voice poisoned with anger. "It's been about a week since Coralstar has gone missing. We're never going to find him."

"Quailfern, we should at least tr-"

"We've tried, Robinflight! We've tried! We've tried and half of our search parties almost died! Coralstar is basically dead, there's nothing else to it. Give up, Robinflight!"

Robinflight flattened her ears. "Give up and let my clan go on without a leader! Coralstar isn't dead! I can feel it! He's alive!"

"Your feelings mean dirt!" Quailfern blurted out. Robinflight stared at him, stung and hurt. She expected him to apologize, but he just went on. "Where have your feelings gotten us? Your 'feelings' nearly got five cats of this clan you claim to care about killed! Face it! Coralstar is dead. Dead!"

"He's not dead!" Robinflight choked out, trying to silence her sobs.

"Leave her alone," Willowberry hissed, taking a few steps out of the shadows where she was spectating the argument. Quailfern glared at her.

"And what do you have to say about this," He spat. "Willowberry?"

"I know Coralstar better than the two of you ever will, and trust me, he is not dead. Sure, he may be an old, sick cat on his last few lives, but he is not dead."

"Do your 'feelings' tell you he's not dead?" Quailfern mocked. Willowberry narrowed her eyes.

"No."

"Wonderful!" He laughed coldly. "This clan is being run into the ground!"

Quailfern stormed out of the medicine den where they were arguing and into the warrior's den. Robinflight broke down into stuttering sobs, trying to form words but unable. Turtlefin, his mother, shot the medicine den a look and slunk into the warrior's den.

"Quailfern... he... friend... I..." Robinflight stammered through sobs. Willowberry's face softened and sat next to Robinflight.

"He's wrong. Your feelings do matter. He doesn't," Willowberry said.

"But he does matter! He's my friend!"

Willowberry looked out the den, a stone cold expression on her face. Robinflight looked up at her.

"Are you gonna say anything?"

"Nope."

Robinflight closed her eyes and huffed.

"How can you be sure Coralstar is alive?"

Willowberry looked down at Robinflight. "Weren't you the one so sure that Coralstar is alive?"

"I-" Robinflight paused. "I'm not really sure, honestly. I'm not sure about a lot of things."

"Like what?"

"I think," She began. She had to tell someone. "I think I like sh-"

"Robinflight!" A frantic voice yelled. Before Robinflight could get her words out, Reedspeck burst through the entrance. "Harepelt is sick!"

"She's sick?" Robinflight echoed. "Mom?"

"Yes! She's coughed so hard she threw up, and then continued to cou-"

"Then why in StarClan is she around the kits?" Willowberry yelled, enraged. She shot to her paws, storming up to Reedspeck. "Get her to me. Now."

Reedspeck may have been a proud cat, but even Willowberry had her effect on the she-cat. She nodded meekly and ran back to the nursery, and came back with a hacking Harepelt.