Web of Lies

xviii

Robinflight dashed out of the medicine den and over to a brown tom dragging in the limping body of Coralstar. Coralstar's yellow fur was dirty and matted, and blood was leaking from a wound on his neck. The once-great leader looked dazed and delirious, muttering illegible words under his breath, like a chant.

"Coralstar?" Robinflight mewed, terrified. Willowberry rushed out of the medicine den, blocking them from coming in.

"Let us in, Willowberry," The cat helping him stand growled.

"No. Put him in the leader's den. He can't go in there," Willowberry instructs. She gestures over to the empty leader's den. "Put him in there, and then wait there with him."

"Why can't he go in there?" The cat asked snarkily. "He's about to die."

"Then hurry up," Robinflight interjected. "Put him in the leader's den."

The cat glared at Robinflight, but she was deputy, so it wasn't like he could just defy her.

"Robinflight, go with Quailfern and talk to the cat who took him in. Reedspeck, look after the cats in the medicine den. I'll look after Coralstar," Willowberry commanded. Robinflight, Quailfern, and Reedspeck nodded and headed over to their respected locations. Willowberry leaned in to whisper to Robinflight. "Question him about where he found Coralstar. I'll jump in when I feel the need."

Robinflight nodded and marched over to the leader's den, making sure to keep next to Quailfern. Once they got inside the leader's den, Quailfern shoved the cat to the ground.

"Hey!" Robinflight protested. "You can't just be a jerk to him!"

Quailfern just shot her a look and sat next to the cat. Willowberry ran in after him, already carrying various herbs in her mouth. She dropped them next to Coralstar and began her work. Before she did, however, she gave the nod to Robinflight- a sign to start the interrogation.

"So, uh..." Robinflight began, before realizing she really didn't have any questions planned. Quailfern noticed this, huffed, then took over.

"Where'd you find him?" Quailfern demanded, his voice intimidating, almost scary.

"I, I don't really know! I just fell asleep in the woods, and I woke up, and there was Coralstar, and-"

"Okay, but where did you fall asleep?" Robinflight pushes. "You have to know that."

"The Border River, near BrookeClan!" The cat sputtered. "He was laying on the shore!"

Quailfern and Robinflight exchanged glances.

"What were you doing napping, anyway? Weren't you supposed to be hunting?" Robinflight asked, very, very suspicious.

"Look, it's complicated! I was hunting! But this cat jumped out of a tree, and they were all nice and pretty and stuff, and then I just fell asleep! When I woke up, all my fresh-kill was gone, and I saw the same cat about to push Coralstar into the river, and then-"

"Calm down," Quailfern interrupted. "Take a few breaths."

The cat nodded quickly and took a few quick breaths that, admittedly, were useless, as he jumped right back into panic.

"Okay, what happened next?"

"She was going to push him into the river, but I shouted at her and she ran away, so I pulled him away and brought him here!" The cat said, all in one breath.

Robinflight's eyes widened. She knew what had happened, but she needed to go to the Border River to end this mess.

"Quailfern!" Robinflight hissed in Quailfern's ear. "I have to go to the Border River, I'll be right back! Trust me!"