-Three days later-
"Who's there?" Fern demanded. She could smell a cat.
The fur on her neck bristled. She could smell that it was a tom, and not a friendly one.
"This is my territory!" The snarl came from the branch above her.
She looked up and a shower of bark flew into her eyes.
While she was blinded, pawing at her eyes to get the bark out, she heard a thump beside her a knew the tom had jumped down.
"I'll give you a two second head start. Onetwo."
Fern, still blinded, was knocked to the ground instantly.
She'd never fought blindly before, but hey, you're never too old to learn!
She kicked up, feeling his warm blood as she scratched his stomach.
"Ow!" He yowled and jumped back.
She quickly blinked out the last pieces of bark.
The tom she was facing was a brown cat with deep blue eyes.
"Get out of my territory." He growled.
Fern knew it would be better if she did and didn't put up a fight, but you know Fern. She doesn't back down.
She snarled at him. "No."
Then she realized that he was just acting tough.
"Please?" He asked.
Shejumped at him. "No." He was very easy to defeat.
Another cat scent washed over her.
A she- cat.
"Matt?" The other cat called. "Matt, the housefolk refilled our dish, come!" She emerged to see her friend pinned by a cat half his size.
She purred in amusement. "Well, well, well. What do we have here? Looks like the tough cat found his match in strength."
"Latte, stop please." Matt struggled to get Fern off.
Fern felt like they were no longer a threat, so she hopped off.
Matt stood up quickly, obviously embarrassed that he had been beaten by a cat half his size.
"Hi, little one. What's your name?" Latte asked.
"I'm Fern, and I'm not 'little'."
"But you're not big."
She couldn't argue to that.
Her stomach growled. She realized she hadn't eaten for a long time.
"Well, Fern, would you like to come to our barn? We have lots of food."
"I- I'm kinda trying to get somewhere."
"Where? I bet I can get help."
I can't tell you. "I think I have a little bit of time to spare. I'll come." Her stomach needed food before she continued anyway.