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Chapter Eleven
The next few days went on uneventfully.  He kept applying herbs regularly, and slowly but surely, Mel was recovering.  Soon she was well enough to stand.  Apparently the wounds were not as deep as he thought.
"I think it's about time I taught you how to hunt, Kitty," she said one day.
Felix was still concerned for her health.  "Are you sure you're well enough?"
"Of course I am!  Nothing can keep me down," reassured Mel.
Felix sighed, knowing it was no use arguing.  "Alright then.  My friend already taught me the basics."  But Mel didn't seem to hear him.  They walked for a while, eventually reached a wooded park.  Suddenly, Mel stopped.
"What do you smell?" she asked.
Felix paused, sniffing the air.  He opened his mouth, as he had seen Mel do when she was on the hunt.  He tasted something familiar.
"Mouse," he said.  Mel nodded.
"Can you find it?" she asked.  Felix motioned towards some thick trees.  The mouse sat on a root, nibbling away at a seed.  It was so intent on its meal that it did not notice the two hungry predators only a few feet away.
"Easy prey," Mel commented, "Crouch down.  Lower...now creep forward slowly.  Keep your tail down, but not on the ground."  Felix did as Mel told as she gave her instructions.
"Pounce!" she whispered finally.  Unfortunately, Felix's leap was sloppy and it was able to sense him just in time to dart back into its hole.
"Better luck next time."  Mel strode away, leaving Felix to follow.  Soon they stopped again, found a rabbit, and did pretty much the same thing.  The rabbit darted away through the forest and Felix gave chase.
He was sure he was about to catch the rabbit when the ground disappeared and Felix plunged into a shallow pool.  His prey glanced back at him, and Felix could have sworn it was laughing at him.  Of course, that was actually just Mel,  standing over him.
Whiskers twitching, Mel suggested that they try something different.  After the soaking wet Felix had dried off, Mel told him the plan.
"Once we find some prey, I'll come up behind it, and it'll run to you," she explained.
Felix nodded, and they found a shrew.  He heard a rustle and a yowl.  That was the signal. When the small animal came running, he jumped out from a bush and grabbed it.  Felix stood proudly, waiting for Mel to come.
"Looks like you've caught your first prey," she said.  They began eating. It tasted delicious.
That night was the most fun Felix had had in quite some time.  There was much laughter and talking.  They dashed through the forest and tried to climb trees.  Prey was plentiful, but it was no longer the focus of their evening.
They relaxed on a grassy hill overlooking a lake, gazing at the stars in silence.
"We should stay here," said Mel suddenly.  Felix looked at her in surprise.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Just you and me.  We could live here, and forget all about this stupid quest."
Felix closed his eyes for a moment, not sure how to explain this to Mel.
"But...well, I have to save Yuke.  She's..." he began.
Mel lashed her tail angrily.  "'She's? Oh, I see how it is."
Felix began trying to explain, but he knew that nothing would prevent Mel from being angry with him.  He had made a mistake in not making sure Mel understood in the beginning, now he had to face the result.
"I'm going to sleep.  Lots of travel tomorrow," she said.
Felix blinked. "You're still..."
"I promised to help you, didn't I?" Mel said icily.  She turned away.
Felix still wanted to apologize.  "Look, Mel..."
"Good night, Felix."