().() JointClan/MellowClan ().() Part Nine ().() The True Light -Updated-

"Should... should we tell them about Moony?" Kira asked hesitantly.

"With all the stuff going on.." Branchstar trailed off. "I don't think so, their already worried about the ground tremors and stuff.. It'd freak 'em out more."

"I-I guess you're right..." Kira admitted. She knew a lot more than he did. Maybe that's why she's leader.

(Or maybe everybody used peer pressure on her.. AND WA LA SHE WAS LEADER! xD)

Branchstar nodded slowly, keeping a steady pace as they walked. Almost there, almost home. "Hopefully they haven't noticed we're gone yet..."

((Branchstar is late on that one xD))

Silver was panicking.
She ran out of camp, charging toward Branchstar and Kira.
Her yowl sliced through the air.
"BRANCHSTAR!"

"They noticed." Branchstar muttered. "We're fine, we're fine.. Calm down." She said, slightly smiling.
Wolf was confused. Very confused. Why were Kira and Branchstar walking so close together? He walked up, eyes wide and purred at Branchstar. "Where were you?" He asked.

Silver took not of Kira and Branchstar.
Her smile faltered for a half moment before reappearing.
"I sorta got caught by twolegs with Stripepelt...." she muttered, fading off.

"Uhm... Kira isn't here right now, but leave a message after a beep and he'll be right back to ya," Kira replied, eyeing Branchstar.

Branchstar half smiled for a moment, and then groaned internally at the thought of giving an explaination.
"We were.. We were.. Exploring the farther part of the forest, past the borders." Branchstar said finally. "I.. I think we might have to move because of the twolegs and I just want to be prepared. Kira offered to help, right Kira?" Branchstar asked, looking sideways at him.

Wolf looked curiously at them. Branchstar only ever used that tone when she was doing one thing..
Lying.

"Exactly," Kira agreed. He hope she knew what she was doing1

Wolf decided he would confront them both later. About why his mate was so close to his best friend, about why they were lying.. He didn't notice he was close to Silver, like Branchstar was to Kira. He nodded. "True." He said quietly.

Branchstar nodded, looking tired.

"We got a little tired on the way back. Why don't you just lay down, Branchstar?" Kira offered.

Branchstar nodded, and the excitement died down as she padded to her den.

"Kira, can I speak to you?" Wolf asked pleasantly, ready to kill him.

"Yeah, sure!" Kira replied. He wouldn't refuse to do anything for Wolf, his friend, his best friend!

(So oblivious.. xD)

Wolf padded out to just outside the camp, Kira following, and then whipped around. "Why'd you and Branch lie?"

"Whaddya mean? I didn't lie," Kira lied again.

((XD))

"I reallllyy wouldn't get yourself in deeper then you already are." Wolf snapped, looking cross. "Just tell me the truth."

"Hey, look, I don't know why you're so jumpy all of a sudden?" Kira asked, changing the subject.

"Because you and Branch lied." Wolf said calmly, casually changing the subject back. His eyes were locked with Kira's.

"I did not lie, Wolf, trust me!" Kira replied, hiding his true feelings but meaning the trust part.

Wolf shook his head slowly. "I'll ask Branch then. I could tell she was lying, she's a rotten one."

"Fine, ask her. She'll tell you the truth!" Kira said, which was indeed the truth. Or was it?

Wolf glared at him threateningly, and then nodded curtly, padding into the leader's den.
Branchstar looked up, tired. "Yes?"
"You and Kira lied about where you were. Why?" Wolf asked demandingly, but calmly.
"N-no we didn't." Branchstar replied almost automatically, only stuttering slightly.

Kira followed Wolf, backing Branchstar up by saying, "See? I told you!"

"You stuttered." Wolf said, using an auccusitory tone.

"I'm tired." Branchstar replied. "That might have something to do with it."