SPLASH'S CAMP
MOON 3 - PART TWO
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☼ GREENLEAF ☼
Twig hadn't returned before the time the sun rose the next morning, much to Flame and Splashs' worry. Flame had recovered from his heat exhaustion, and paced anxiously in camp. Splash stayed curled around the kitten, who mostly just stuck to sleeping and wheezing.
"I'm going out to look for him." Flame finally announced after he'd lost count of how many times he'd circled the camp. He turned to pad out from under the overhang, but he caught sight of the bushes along the treeline shivering.
Twig padded out, carrying a bundle of herbs in his mouth. His tail was held high, and when he saw Flame, he broke into a trot to meet him. Behind him, a white-and-gray cat followed. Flame's ears flattened. Fizzle! He recognized those curled ears.
Flame ran up to meet Twig before they reached the creek. "Twig!" He growled. Twig stopped in his tracks. "What are you doing? Bringing this rogue to our camp!" Fizzle stepped back, trying to flatten himself into the ground.
"What?" Twig blinked in surprise, dropping the herbs and shielding Fizzle with his tail. "You told me to bring someone to help Splash's kit."
"I didn't tell you to bring him!" Flame bristled. He wanted to send Fizzle yowling back to wherever he came from with a fresh wound or two, but he couldn't bring himself to lunge at the young cat. He heard Splash behind him, comforting the weak kitten, his fur flattening.
"Fine. We can't afford to turn you away in a situation like this." Flame said flatly. "Get up. Your name is... Fizzle, right?" The gray-and-white cat got to his paws unsteadily, nodding. "Okay. Come with me, Fizzle." Fizzle padded from around Twig, and the trio padded into camp. The harsh greenleaf-warmed pebbles gave way to cool, flat ground.
Splash perked her head when she saw the cats approaching. "Twig, you're back! And you brought someone..." She sounded exhausted. Did she sleep at all? Flame thought. He sat by, tail lashing, as Splash recounted the story to Fizzle. If the rogue was planning on attacking, he didn't show it in his body language at all. Something tugged in the back of his mind, telling him to make sure hte surrounding woods were clear of any other of Vetch's gang, but he refrained. If he stepped away and something happened to Splash or Twig, or even the still unnamed kitten... He shuddered inwardly.
"Can you help him?" Splash asked.
"Water in the lungs can be a serious problem," Fizzle started ", but I should be able to help, at least a little bit. Can I see him?" Splash brought the kit closer to Fizzle, who sniffed over him. Then,he reached out and began to rough massage the kitten. When the kit made sounds of displeasure, both Flame and Splash bristled, but then he coughed, and up came fluid with it. Twig turned away, shielding his eyes from the scene.
Fizzle stepped back as the kit coughed up more water. "Good. I was worried for a second that he wasn't going to give anything up. Twig, I need the... Twig?" He turned to see Twig facing away from the vomiting kitten. "I need the mullein and some dandelion, Twig." Twig opened his eyes long enough to grab the correct herbs and push them in Fizzle direction.
Chewing the herbs into a paste so it would be easier for the kitten to eat, Fizzle eased the glob of herbs into the kit's mouth. At first, he whimpered, whined, and flailed his tiny legs, before he finally gave in and allowed Fizzle to feed him.
"What did those do?" Flame asked.
Fizzle sat up. "Dandelion will help him to pass any excess fluids, and the mullein is for his lungs. He should be fine, now, but if he starts fussing again, he'll need more."
"Thank you so much, Fizzle." Splash purred as she licked the tabby kit.
"Yes, thank you." Flame said. "But now, you have to leave." He got up close to Fizzle, towering over him. "If you tell any of your rogue friends where our camp is, I will kill you. Now leave. Twig, escort him off of our territory."
Fizzle turned, his tail puffed, and darted out of camp and into the wood, his wet pawprints fading from the pebbles before he even got to the treeline. Twig followed, calling after him.
"Flame, why did you chase him off like that?" Splash sounded both confused, and irritated, her nub tail flicking.
"That was one of Vetch's cats." Flame replied. "We were all lucky that he didn't hurt any of us, or that he didn't bring any others with him."
Splash tilted her head. "He helped the kit, though. I don't think he would've helped him if he was also planning on killing us." Not if his plan was to also steal the kit and run. Flame thought, but he bit his tongue. "Anyways, Flame," Splash said, Flame perking up. "I thought of a name for him."
"What is it?" He asked.
"Turkey." She said, smiling. "I was thinking about that little conversation you told me about, between you and Twig, and I think 'Turkey' is a wonderful name."
2025
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