Darbie appeared unsure, but Larys comfortably scurried over to Mika's shoulder once more. Looking away, Darbie nodded silently and trudged off into the woods towards the stream. Partway there, he stopped and hung his head and tail as the tears started flowing.
I couldn't protect her again! Darbie thought to himself frustratedly. All I wanted was to keep Larys safe, but I can't do anything! Even when those things attacked... Exasperated with himself, Darbie began pounding his little fists against a nearby tree as hard as he could.
"You won't hurt anyone but yourself if you punch like that," Darbie heard from behind him, and whirled around to face the speaker. Aubrey finished rolling up the sleeve on Mika's shirt so it did not dangle as he looked at Darbie evenly. Aubrey's hair was still damp, but no longer a matted mess, which must have taken some effort to achieve. Only a bit taller than Darbie, and with the slightly oversized clothes on, Aubrey appeared almost cute in a rural impish sort of way. Striding over to where the half-cat boy had been pummeling the tree, Aubrey planted his feet, reached back, and threw a single firm punch at the same tree. Darbie could hear the splinter of wood as Aubrey connected, and when he stepped back, saw some of the bark fall from the impact.
Aubrey noted the awe followed by self-doubt which crept into the half-cat boy's eyes. "Well, I have had many years of training, even if this body is rather weak," Aubrey stated, brushing the bits of bark off his hand. "Nobody starts out strong, they just need to have the determination to learn." Darbie looked at her doubtfully, and Aubrey sighed.
"Look, your stance is completely off, and you put no power into your punches. Not to mention the way you're balling your fists. You're more likely to break your hand that break your enemy's nose," Aubrey continued, adjusting Darbie's position as he spoke. "Now try."
Darbie hit the tree again, but his lack of confidence showed, and the tree revealed no impact. Aubrey kept adjusting Darbie's posture and repeating the order to punch until finally, at his wit's end, Darbie pulled back and walloped the tree. While not as solid as Aubrey's punch, the two boys could finally hear the thud, and Darbie looked at his little fist in wonder.
"Well, that's better than before, at least," Aubrey said. "We should get back before the others start looking for us."
Darbie started to nod, but then remembered, "I was going to wash up at the creek."
Aubrey wrinkled his freckled nose a bit, and replied, "Yeah, you could probably use it. C'mon, I'll rinse out your clothes while you clean up."
Mika leaned back against a log near the fire and let his aching body finally relax a bit. "Sorry about all the ruckus," Mika said softly to Larys, who was crouched comfortably on his shoulder. "I didn't realize we'd get into so much trouble right away; I probably should have found a safer way to get you and Darbie to Arlor."
Larys placed a small paw consolingly on Mika's cheek, and he smiled regretfully. "My master is a great wizard, she should be able to help the two of you, and Ed as well," Mika said hopefully, stoking the fire a bit.
Aubrey and Darbie returned together, Darbie carrying his wet clothes. Darbie's still-damp ears, tail, and light dusting of fur gave him a slightly bedraggled appearance. Aubrey tossed him a blanket, and proceeded to hang Darbie's clothes by the fire to dry. Mika raised an eyebrow at the oddly conscientious Aubrey, but said nothing.
The night passed uneventfully, the group being too tired from the day's events to do much other than take turns at watch, and even Ed was amazingly untalkative. When the sun rose the next morning, Aubrey hurriedly shook Mika awake. A drowsy Mika took a few moments to focus on the little face staring grouchily down at him.
"It's morning already, change me back!" Aubrey ordered angrily.