It was when they made a second camp that they started to hear noises coming from the briar. Going out into the woods, you have to be ready for your fair share of trouble. But they could only bring so much to defend themselves with!

 Frackus rarely got into physical altercations himself, so the only physical thing he had to protect himself was just a really big, hefty, stick. But, he took it with him, even though he'd have a better shot. Though he knew very few spells that could cause serious harm to somebody, just telling somebody that you're a witch will have them shaking in their boots around you. 

 So, what did they have to protect themselves? Well, Delga had a kitchen knife, and Aaba emptied her satchel - nothing but sewing supplies, anyways- and filled it up with stones. “Yours is only close range,” she had said. “I can just throw this at somebody from ten feet away!”

 Aaba put down her dried meats and fruit, and reached for her special satchel. Delga didn't stir. To be completely honest, they've only come across wild animals so far. There's no need to be afraid of what is probably a rabbit or raccoon.

 Aaba was still careful. This is the one time they’ve switched roles, with Delga usually being the more cautious of the two and Aaba being more… well, Aaba. Guess living in the woods for two days and the constant threat of death can really change a woman, eh? But this is one of those times where Delga should have been more careful. For it wasn't a raccon, rabbit, or even squirrel in that brush. Once Aaba creeped closer, holding satchel above her head, it revealed itself to be a…

 “Wait! It’s just me!”

 Luther!

 Delga got up from her spot, and stormed her way towards Luther. She even pushed Aaba out of the way, too!

 “You little rat!” She dropped to her knees- but not in a pathetic way, more like a I'm mad at at a cat kind of way, y'know?- slammed her fists onto the cold Earth, and look Luther right in the eyes.

 Luther, the little pussycat, regained his composure before he said, “I get rid of those, for you.”

 “Look at the mess you got us into!” Delga said.

 Luther looked around. “What? I didn't make you guys go camping.”

 “So you don't know?” Aaba asked, standing off to the side just behind Delga.

 “All I know is that you weren't at the house, so I followed your scent till I got here!”

 “Is a cat's smell really that good?” Aaba asked.

 "How should I know? I've only been one for six years.” Luther said. “By the way, unless you're hoping to get mauled, maybe cover your tracks up a bit better?”

 “I guess you're right,” Delga said. “Say, since you're a wild animal, why don't you help us with that?”

 Luther wanted to leave, but she went and grabbed him by the scruff! Rats, no way to escape from that. “Sure. You've still got some food left, right?”

 “You stupid cat,” Delga said. “You sent us to a witches house!”

 Luther was quickly filled in on the situation. Just from Aaba, though. Delga was off to the side, angrily scribbling beautiful portraits of Aaba into the dirt, and she only got up once Aaba was finished and made her way to Luther once again.

 “And you,” Delga pointed at him with her stick, “are going to help us!”

 “I didn't know a witch lived there!” Luther sat back on his haunches, and began to lick his paw- which Aaba could not help but be disgusted by. I mean, sure, he's a cat, but how can he just put the paws that have touched dirt, blood, dust, all the like?- “Besides, what could I, a cat possibly do for you?”

 “Spells? Aren't you a witch?” Delga said.

 “I was a witch, before I made the delightful transition into a cat.” 

 This, neither of them could ever understand, but to be a witch you had to be humanoid. Luther had explained it to Aaba before, but it went right over her head.

 “Scout the trail for us!” Delga said. “After all, you did say we were just asking to be mauled.”

 Luther glared right into Delga's eyes. He likes to think of him as tough, but he just can't be rid of that fear of Delga he has. “Alright, I'll do it.”

 “And don't think we're going to give you any of our rations!”

 “What? Then how am I supposed to survive?” Luther shouted.

 “You're a cat! Go and hunt a mouse or something like that.”

 Luther didn't argue, or even talk to Delga after that. He did, however, complain about it to Aaba while she pet him. He curled up beside her, started purring, and eventually fell asleep.

 What a relief it was to know they wouldn't have to deal with a big scary forest creature! However, their relief has made Delga and Aaba momentarily belive that they wouldn't encounter any problems anymore. 

 That was incorrect, they'd be having another forest visitor. Just give it a few days.