The trip back home dragged on, the mares heaving and neighing as they hurried down the city roads. It took may turns until they discovered the rge wooden bridge lit by moonlight. Felix halted the mares to a stop, turning around to inspect his friends. Syri sat with Janette leaning against her, keeping her paw over Janette's stomach wound. Her mother Emyri sat by to comfort her, keeping an eye on the injury before gncing up at Felix. He turned to KuliKuli who sat at his side in the front, spotting the little fairy that slept on her thigh. Tootsie snored softly, nuzzled against her wing as she curled up for warmth.

  KuliKuli and Felix both turned around, peaking out the sides of their carriage to take one st look at Kershin Market. The city was once full of life and lights, joyous children of different species pying on the streets, and multiple vendors as far as the road went offering food, clothes, or other valuables. She remembered her first trip to Kershin to see the circus show by her friend Janette's request. Watching the acrobatic tricks and magical dispys was amazing, unlike anything she could ever imagine. For a brief moment, her lip quivered into a smile upon recalling those memories. But her cat ears dropped, and her heart sank when visions of the circus on fire brought a foul reminder of how that night ended.

  Coming back with her family in preparation of confronting the monster hunter was a time when she felt strong, a brief period in her life when she carried the confidence in herself that they could win against all odds. Discovering and gaining the assistance from Nihja and her friends gave them the boost they needed to rescue her mate and best friend. But now here they are, running away again. No matter how things changed, they would end the same for her. The city was afraid of them, Perdilius is close to catching them, and she was clueless as to how they can stop them.

  Felix reached out and gave her paw a squeeze, grabbing her attention. His weak smile offered some comfort when met with her teary face, embracing her as she leaned into his chest. She sniffled, shivering as she sobbed quietly. He rubbed her back, kissed her cheek and let her cry as much as she needed. In truth, he didn't know what to say to comfort her. But maybe there was nothing to be said, or so he hoped. Staring up at the three moons in the sky reminded him of the friends they left behind. Zena and Reta, especially Norowa Reta. He breathed in as they parted, with KuliKuli wiping her face clean. Felix gave Kershin Market one st look before pulling the reins in, hearing the clip-clops of the mares crossing the bridge. The sound of rushing waters deep below gave them an excuse not to exchange words.

  "Easy does it now." Emyri spoke softly.

  She and Syri helped carry Janette from the rear of the carriage and into her home. Felix brushed the mares' fur and hugged them before leading them to the stables to eat. KuliKuli and Dimyri helped prepare Janette's room for her, grabbing some extra pillows from the guest bedrooms to add atop her bed for comfort.

  "Oops." Dimyri gasped as her cws tore up the first pillow she grabbed.

  KuliKuli shook her head. "It's fine, just put your cws away and be more careful."

  "Sorry." She muttered, feeling her body tremble with nervousness. She tossed the shredded pillow aside before grabbing another.

  It was a few minutes until Janette found herself lying in bed, watching Emyri grind a few green herbs with a rock in her paw. She kept mushing the stems and leaves until they were a chunky herbal paste.

  "Felix be a dear and help me here, would you?"

  He nodded and approached her. "How can I help?"

  "There's still a bit of the arrow lodged in her wound. We can't handle these things easily when our paws are big and poofy, but you can. I need you to grab the shaft of the arrow with a firm grip." She expined, noticing him hesitate. "Felix, I need you to do this for her. She can't heal fully with that arrowhead stuck in there."

  "I understand." He gulped, reaching out with trembling hands. He breathed in as his fingers wrapped around the shaft. Janette hiccupped, sipping on a gss of wine. It was her fourth gss, and her cheeks were already turning red. "Haven't you had enough wine?"

  She giggled and slid the gss across the dresser beside her. "Listen here buddy, I want to be a bit tipsy for this part. I'm no dummy, this is going to sting badly."

  "It'll hurt less if we do it quick." Emyri instructed Felix how to grab the arrow. "Now press your hand on her wound. Put some force onto it. Syri?"

  Her daughter nodded, reaching out with her cws. She inhaled then pressed the tip of her cw around the wound, puncturing her skin just a bit. Janette closed her eyes and groaned, turning her head away from them.

  "Okay Felix, I need you to lean the arrow where Syri cut. This will help so that the barbed edges don't rip out much on the way out."

  Felix bit his tongue, following her directions. He couldn't yank the arrowhead with haste, or it would risk tearing her wound further. But if he was too slow, it would be like dragging a knife across her insides. Suddenly he was thankful for Janette's quick thinking, her being in a near drunk state helped her body rex so that she didn't wiggle or shake as much. Keeping his eyes locked on her wound, he pressed the arrow to the right side and felt it give, sliding out with a drop of blood.

  "Now move." Emyri pushed in, rubbing the green paste over the puncture wound. Janette hissed under her breath, looking down to see Emyri's work. "This will help your body heal, it numbs the muscles to make the pain go away."

  "Gosh that feels warm though." Janette mentioned.

  Emyri nodded. "Your body is reacting to it, that's good. You'll need food and water to replenish your energy, your body will be working more than normal to get back in good shape."

  "This is... amazing," Felix said, gently pcing the bloodied arrow on a bowl. "Where did you learn this?"

  "Aunt Alma." Syri expined.

  "A friend of the family." Emyri added.

  Janette smiled as sweat began to run down her forehead. "Maybe we can meet this Auntie sometime."

  Emyri kept quiet, gathering up her things and rushing out the door.

  Janette looked puzzled. "Something I said?"

  Syri patted her arm. "We haven't seen her since Perdilius."

  The room went silent, everyone understood how she felt. It took a minute until Felix opened the nearby window, leaning outside and sighing loudly. "We left Reta back there."

  "Hey, we didn't have time to grab everyone." Janette replied, adjusting her composure and wincing. Syri held her arm, guiding her to sit up. "Thanks."

  "It's not right, maybe I should go back."

  "What?" Both Syri and Janette raised their voices in shock.

  Felix turned around, looking more determined and confident in the idea. "Yea, think about it. Before we left, we messed around with the house and fortified it in case Perdilius and his men came here. They're looking for cat girls but I'm a simple peasant. No one at Kershin Market would like twice at me walking around."

  "Kershin is a few hours away, we're looking at several hours before sunrise." Janette expined, her eyebrows scrunched together in consideration of his idea. "H-How would you even go around picking her up in her wolf form?"

  "Yea, your friend is massive!" Syri added, spreading her paws wide in a childish manner of describing Reta's size. "She'll be so heavy!"

  Felix shrugged. "We could ask Nihja. I'm sure Tootsie could help me find her."

  "Her wing is broken," Janette pointed out, "And things were messy at best when we rescued you two. That city is on high alert, and Perdilius is back there. Not to mention that hunter."

  Both of them shared a knowing look, leaving Syri puzzled.

  "What's with that gnce?" The Nekomata asked with concern. "Is something wrong?"

  Felix turned to look out the window. "It's nothing, just some questions Jay and I had when we were keeping watch. By the way, do you still have that book?"

  Janette nodded. "In my satchel downstairs."

  "Great." He muttered, scratching the back of his head. With a nervous look, he clicked his tongue and spun around, facing the two. "I should head down, talk to the others."

  "If it's about you going back, forget it." Syri huffed, hopping out from Janette's side and blocking the door. "I know my sister doesn't remember everything still but she will remember you, and she would never forgive me if I let you go like this."

  Felix held out his hand and shook his head. "No it's not that-"

  "It better not!"

  "She's right, Felix." His friend spoke in agreement, "I know you mean well but we're not in a good pce right now. We're all hurting, the worst we can do is split up. Stay with us."

  "Please." Syri pleaded with sad eyes. "I may find Wolfy scary but Nityri lost her friend too. I mean KuliKuli, oops. Still!"

  Felix approached her calmly, pcing his hand on her arm and locking eyes with hers. He smiled when he noticed her crossed look, there was some unease in her spirit despite her determination and confidence. The resembnce with her sister was clear, it was like speaking to a younger version of KuliKuli. They were different in many ways but here, it was like he was talking to the same woman.

  "I understand but if I don't go-"

  "Felix." Janette spoke out, "Let's try to be optimistic about things. Nihja is back there, she knows where we left Reta. There's a good chance she may find her and look after her until we come back. I can go and look after I recover."

  "Wha- absolutely not!" Syri cried out, stomping her foot down. "You are staying right here even if it means restraining your arms onto the bedposts!"

  Janette stayed silent, turning to her friend. Both of them cracked a smile before ughing to themselves, leaving the younger Nekomata blushing red.

  "Stop ughing!"

  "Sorry, sorry." Felix expined, hiding his grin. "Janette, you're not going alone."

  "You think just because you're the man here that means I do what you say?" She asked, raising her brow and grinning at his discomfort. "I ran my own shop before meeting you, I am just as capable here. Besides, Perdilius would recognize you. He's seen your face up close, but he wouldn't know me. I'm the best individual to sneak in and out, and my friend Nyitzcha is there. I'll just head to her bar, ask her about Nihja then I can go from there. See? Easy."

  "Let's just talk about this after you recover first," Felix asked, Syri nodding her head in agreement. "Now can I please leave the room?"

  Syri huffed and crossed her arms, taking two steps to the left. He gdly walked out, pausing at the doorframe momentarily.

  "Hey Syri?" He asked, giving her a smile. "Thanks for finding us. This isn't a good time right now but... I'm gd you guys are here."

  Syri looked down, her cheeks blushing and her tails curling around her waist. He chuckled to himself and closed the door behind him, taking a few steps down until he found himself at the stairway. Leaning into the rail, he breathed in deep and exhaled, feeling the optimism fade with it. He shook his head, uncertain of what they were going to do now. But maybe his friend was right, this wasn't the time to make moves.

  Yet he couldn't convince himself to stay put, Reta wouldn't if she were in his pce.

  "Damn." He cursed under his breath, walking down the steps.

  They had to retreat, it was the best move for them. But even then, why did he carry this feeling of shame with him? Did he fail as a friend, as a partner? If he couldn't save his friends, would he be able to protect her when the time came?