16 Chapter 16

"Rouges? Interesting. Have you come to raid us or just tell us of this information?" I bowed my head and said, "Just information King Crow." Then another cat asked, "Are you a Sun or a Night cat?" King Crow seemed curious of this as well, so I said, "I am a Sun Cat. I will be taking my leave now." I once again bowed my head, and I rushed out of the camp.

Cats were sent after me, but I was still faster. I ran to the lush part of the forest because the scorched part was being searched by the cats Ace sent out. Then I bumped into Quinn. I stood back and hissed. Quinn said, "Wait wait it's me!" I growled, "I know it's you, traitor!" He said, "W-wait... you saw me with Ace?"

I slowly nodded, and he said, "Oh no... A-Ace said that he was going to kill me if I didn't show him where you were, and Lu told us that you'd be asleep until tomorrow... but you were up early." I sighed and said, "I don't know what to say. I thought you were my friend. You could've at least lead him somewhere else." Quinn lowered his head and said, "I know. And I'm sorry."

Before I could respond, my legs started getting weak and I fell. Quinn didn't shout, but he said, "Birch! Are you okay?" I couldn't respond, and then I lost consciousness.

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We were lucky to find an abandoned territory. It seems like it was previously owned by Sir Clover. Anyway, Lu was able to find materials to take care of Yuna, and the clearing was silent. The only thing that made noise was the soft weeping of Jay. Kyle was there trying to comfort him, but nothing worked. Then Lu came out of the medicine den and called Jay over.

I walked over to the doorway after they went inside, and I heard Lu say, "She's going to be alright. She had a small burnt stick in her throat, so it's nothing too serious. I just have to hope that the wound in her throat doesn't get infected." Then Jay said, "Thank goodness... I was worried that something fatal happened."

Then Lu said, "Birch should still be asleep, so we can go and get him now." I heard paw steps, so I moved away from the den, and sat somewhere else. When they came out, I heard Quinn shout, "Bandit!" No one else heard it, so he must be far away. I rushed out of the clearing, and Smoke followed me saying, "And where are you going?"

I didn't answer him. I just kept going until I saw Quinn with Birch. Smoke said, "Wait... Bandit, you heard him from out here?" I nodded and said, "I have super good hearing. I meant to tell you, but so much was going on." Quinn rushed over and said, "Thank goodness you heard me! I need to tell Lu what happened, so keep an eye on Birch!"

Before I could protest, Quinn just ran off. Then Smoke said, "So you know what Birch and Yuna were talking about that day." I flattened my ears and said, "Why do you want to know about it?" Then Smoke said, "It could be something important that Birch entrusted her with, and I want to know about it. I couldn't hold it in. I laughed loudly and said, "That's hilarious!"

Smoke kept a serious look on his face, and he asked, "Bandit. What were they talking about?" I sighed and said, "Ask her yourself. I'm not telling you anything." He scoffed and then Lu and Jay came running over. Lu rushed over to Birch and put her ear on his chest. She then said, "He's still stable. He just needs rest." Jay picked him up, and we all walked back to the camp.

When we got there, Yuna was outside talking to Echo and Bell. Lu shouted, "Hey! Get back inside!" Yuna instantly went back inside the medicine den, and Jay brought Birch inside the den. Smoke and I stayed outside, and I heard Jay say, "Can't I just bring him into the den I'm sleeping in?" Lu spat, "Fine. But I will have to visit to check on his kits and his status."

Lu left the den, and Jay took Birch to his den. Smoke walked in, and I prepared myself for anything. "S-Smoke? What are you doing here?" Her voice was a bit raspy, but she was fine. I heard Smoke say, "I want to ask you something. What did you and Birch talk about the day before we found the lake?" She was choked. She wasn't ready to tell him yet and telling him now would be awkward.

But she did ask, "W-What do you think we talked about?" Smoke asked, "Did he give you some kind of secret or something?" Yuna said, "No, it wasn't a secret or anything." "Then what was it?" Smoke kept pushing her, which was kind of a bad idea since she's so shy. I walked in and said, "Smoke stop messing with her. She doesn't have a secret from Birch."

Smoke glared at me and said, "Fine. You'll just have to tell me." I flattened my ears and said, "I already said I won't." Smoke snorted, then he walked out. Yuna asked, "H-How do you know?" I said, "Well I have very good hearing. I heard you and Birch talking about it." She sighed and said, "Thank you for not telling him. That would be embarrassing..."

I smiled and then I walked out. I walked into the forest to chill out, and then I was ambushed by Smoke.