Maverick's eyes slowly opened. He blinked a few times, his body feeling heavy and weak. The soft smell of herbs and medicine lingered in the air. As his sight cleared, he saw Kael lying beside him.
The boy was covered from head to toe in white bandages. His chest rose and fell slowly, each breath sounding faint but steady. Maverick stood on his small paws and padded closer, staring at Kael.
"Wake up, boy," Maverick muttered, nudging his arm gently with his head. "Come on… open your eyes."
But Kael didn't move. His body was completely still, his face pale beneath the wrappings. Maverick's tail swished anxiously.
"Where are we?" he whispered to himself.
At that moment, the door opened. The village elder stepped in, carrying a small wooden bowl with steaming herbs. His eyes widened in shock when he saw Maverick standing there, speaking.
"You… you can talk?" the elder gasped, dropping the bowl slightly before catching it.
Maverick turned his head sharply, his red-tinged eyes narrowing. "That's not important," he said firmly. "What happened to him? To the boy?"
The elder steadied himself, taking a deep breath. "We treated him the best we could. His wounds were many, but he is out of danger now. His breathing is steady, and the bleeding has stopped. But… when he will wake up, that I cannot say."
Maverick's ears twitched. He lowered his head and whispered, "Good. At least he is safe." Then he looked back at the elder. "Thank you for saving us both."
The elder gave a small smile. "It is our duty to help those in need. But tell me, where have you come from?"
Maverick's eyes flickered, his tail curling. "Where are we?" he asked instead.
"You are in Briarford," the elder replied calmly.
At that, Maverick's ears perked. He muttered under his breath, "Ohh… the right place."
The elder frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
Maverick shook his head. "We were sent here. General Garrick told us to come and stay here for some time."
The elder's expression softened. "Ahh… Garrick. That explains much. If he sent you here, then you are indeed our guests. Rest easy. You will be safe in this village."
He set down the herbs on the table. "I will leave for now," the elder said. "But I will come again to check on the boy."
Maverick dipped his head. "Alright."
When the elder left, Maverick padded toward the door. He needed to clear his mind. The air outside was fresh, and the sound of children laughing filled the village. As soon as he stepped out, the villagers turned their heads.
"Oh! The cat has woken up!" one of the women said.
"But what about the boy?" another asked softly.
Maverick ignored their stares, walking calmly across the dirt path. But suddenly, a girl rushed forward. She bent down and tried to lift him up in her arms, giggling.
"You're so cute!" she said, pressing her cheek against his fur.
Maverick narrowed his eyes. "Put me down, girl."
The girl froze. Her arms trembled, and she quickly dropped him back onto the ground. "You… you talked!" she squeaked.
The nearby villagers gasped, some stepping back in fear and others leaning closer in amazement.
"The cat… it can talk!"
Maverick flicked his tail in irritation. "Don't sigh so loudly. It's not the end of the world." He turned and walked away, his steps steady and slow.
The girl, however, began following him quietly, trying not to make a sound. But Maverick's ears twitched. Without turning around, he said, "Come out, girl. Why are you chasing me?"
The girl stumbled, surprised. "H-how did you know I was here?"
"I have beastly instincts," Maverick replied flatly, his red-tinged eyes glinting.
The girl stopped for a moment, a little scared now. But her curiosity was stronger than her fear. "Where… where did you come from?" she asked carefully.
Maverick glanced at her once but didn't answer. Instead, he muttered to himself, "We came from…" and then trailed off, ignoring her questions.
The girl frowned. "Hey, wait!" she called, but Maverick padded forward, leaving her behind as he walked deeper into Briarford, his thoughts hidden behind his calm expression.