Cinder and Quince were in the safety of the Enchanted Wood, but still running. Finally after running for awhile, they reached a cave and collapsed into it and instantly fell asleep. They woke to an orange female with a dark orange chest with creamy tints. She was standing in the mouth of the cave. Cinder kicked Quince lightly to wake her. When Quince spotted the cat she jumped up and her fur started to puff up.


“ Greetings. “ The female dipped her head. “ I won’t hurt you, although you are in my cave. “ She sat still with her green eyes flicking over the sisters. Quince slowly relaxed. Cinder sat next to her and smoothed her pelt with her tail. Quince glanced at Cinder, unsure. “ Well you can introduce yourselves, instead of sitting there like bumps on a log. “


“ What about your name? “ Quince mewed.


“ I will reveal my name when I wish. “ The female cat answered evenly.


“ This is Quince. “ Cinder flicked her tail at Quince. “ I am Cinder. “


“ Why are you in my cave? “ The female cat asked, but not in an aggressive way.


“ We were fleeing from the Pack. They creeped up on us and my mother and our friend Secret told us to leave and run to the Enchanted Wood. We collapsed here and fell asleep almost instantly. “ Cinder paused. She noticed the female’s tail flicked when she said Enchanted Wood.  “ How long have we been asleep? “


“ Most of the night. I came back at dusk and found you sleeping here. It is dawn now. I caught you some prey. “ She picked three mice by their tails from outside the cave. She dropped one in front of Cinder and one in front of Quince.


“ Thanks. “ Quince meowed.


“ No problem. “ The female ate her mouse with the sisters.


Cinder felt that she had to say something. “ So… um… Goldfish. “ Cinder stopped and waited for the female to look up.


“ Goldfish? “ The female’s eyes were full of laughter.


“ Yes. Until you tell us your name. We call you Goldfish. “ Cinder said.


“ Ok. “ Goldfish flicked her ears. She thought it was funny.


“ Anyways, Goldfish. How did you come to live in the Enchanted Wood? “ Cinder noticed that Goldfish flicked her tail again.


“ I grew up here, but farther in that direction. Near Quendlinel. “ Goldfish gestured with her tail toward the place where Quince and Cinder’s father had died. Aspen had showed them the little village from afar once.


“ Near Quendlinel? Our father died there, killed by the pack. “ Quince said.


Goldfish looked Quince in the eye, her face screwed up in sadness. “ My whole family was murdered by the Pack. My mother, my father, my brothers and sisters. “ I barely escaped with my life. I was seven moons old. “


Cinder and Quince gasped. Quince went over to Goldfish and stroked her back with her tail. Cinder went on Goldfish’s other side and they huddled close together like that for awhile. After that the three were as close as sisters. The rest of the day they spent talking getting to know each other.


Cinder, Goldfish, and Quince were chattering like birds when Quince flicked her ears forward. “ I hear something. “ Cinder and Goldfish heard it to. Sticks cracking and waving leaves. Then a voice.


“ Cinder! Quince! Where are you? “ Then something big hit the ground, hard. Cinder, Quince and Goldfish raced out of the cave toward the voice. What they found shocked them. Secret was lying unconscious in front of them, with blood trickling out of several scratches on her body.



Goldfish helped Cinder and Quince drag Secret to the cave.


“ Who is she? “ Goldfish asked.


“ She is our mother’s friend… Or was. “ Cinder mewed. Quince flinched.


“ You don’t think mama died.. Do you? “ Quince asked uncertainly.


“ No. Of course not. “ Cinder could tell she looked agitated. She turned to Goldfish. “ Do you know how to wake unconscious cats? “


“ No. We will just have to wait. “ Goldfish answered.


“ Then we will wait. “ Quince answered and crouched next to Secret and started cleaning her bloddy fur. “ Do you know of any herbs that might help these scratches? “ Quince asked Goldfish.


“ Marigold will keep away infection. Dock and comfrey will help soothe the wounds. “ Goldfish replied.


“ Could you get some? “ Cinder asked.


“ Of course. “ Goldfish left the cave. After a little bit Goldfish came back with three types of plants, which all smell very strong. “ Help me with this? You just chew them up and rub them into the wounds. While you are doing the little ones, I am going to treat the bigger ones. “ Cinder and Quince nodded and started chewing.


The taste was nasty but for Secret it was a mere sour berry on the tongue. “ How did you learn all of this? “ Cinder asked.


“ My father’s father taught me. I am what you call a healer. There are few. I am one of them. “ Goldfish replied.