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Chapter Ten
"I've come for my revenge, Mel," Malcolm hissed, tail waving back and forth.  Felix was crouched over Mel.  He had a feeling he knew what Malcolm's intentions were, but he didn't say anything.
"Felix, was it?  I don't want to fight you.  Just step out of the way--we have some unfinished business to tend to."  Mel opened her eyes and tried to say something, but her voice was too hoarse to hear.  She was unable to do anything but lie there, waiting for death either from her injuries or from Malcolm.
Felix guarded Mel.  "I won't leave," he said, unsheathing his claws.
"I suppose you're Mel's new toy?" replied Malcolm.  "Leave her.  She would ditch you in a second any day."
"That's a lie.  And I won't listen, no matter what you say."
Malcolm sighed.  "Very well then.  If you won't listen to reason, then I shall have no choice." With that, he let out a battle cry and launched himself at Felix, teeth bared.  Felix felt claws meet his shoulder and attacked as well, slashing at Malcolm's belly.  They reared onto their hind legs and batted at each other, and their blood mixed with Mel's.
They soon became a red mass of fur. Malcolm leaped back.
"You fight bravely, Felix.  But I did not come to do battle with you, so I shall save my strength for another day."  He ran off.  So that was one less thing to worry about.  But another moan from Mel reminded him of the true crisis at hand.
Felix wondered how he could help his companion.  He didn't know where the vet was, and no humans were around. And what if the dog came back?  Felix felt locked in place, unable to think clearly. Then he heard pawsteps.  Malcolm again?
A slim figure slunk towards him.  Felix could see her clearly now, a light brown cat with fearful green eyes.  She saw Felix and recoiled, ready to flee.  He decided to chance it and talk to her.
"Can...can you help me?" he asked.  The cat looked fearful.   "I won't hurt you."
She paused, then saw Mel, which apparently made up her mind.  "Y-Yes..." she said quietly and walked forward, sniffing at Mel's body.
"I'll need....cobwebs...and..."  She listed some herbs, and described what they looked like. Felix nodded and went to fetch them.  Many of the humans had gardens, so it wasn't very difficult. He collected the cobwebs from underneath a house.
When he came back the cat was still examining Mel.  Felix hoped he could trust this cat.  He dropped the items.  She pressed the cobwebs onto the injury, which stopped the bleeding after a while.  The herbs were chewed into a pulp and placed on the wounds.
"All you can do now is wait.  I'm sorry, there's nothing else I can do," she said after a bit.  Felix was surprised at her knowledge of medicine.  Did all strays know that?  Either way, he was quite grateful for her.  He wished he could do something in return.
"Thank you, er...what's your name?" he asked.
The cat had been staring into space and it took her a bit to reply.
"...Birch," she said shyly.
"Well, thanks Birch."  Felix watched Mel.  She was unconscious.  He wondered if Mel would survive the night.  Felix seemed to stare at her for an hour, and when he turned back, Birch was gone.