Doc managed to collect another two arm loads of twigs and limbs that he felt should be able to last then until at least sun up. It was a given that they didn't need the fire to cook over. Which was a miserable reminder that he was hungry as his stomach growled. He sauntered back to the fire while keeping an ear on the woods. All seemed find at the moment.

Kitty poked at the small fire with a stick and looked up to watch her friend approach from the dark with his booty. "You're a really lumberman!" she laughed at the sight of the doctor with an arm full of odds and sods bits of trees.

"Very funny!" he growled. "Aren't fires meant to cook on!"

Kitty laughed. That was until she saw the large cat approaching Doc from behind. "Doc!" She screamed and pointed.

Doc dropped the wood and turned just as the large cat lunged at him grabbing him by the left calf. Doc scream in pain as the animal bit down and tried to drag him back into the dark.

Kitty stood and pointed the shotgun but couldn't get a clear shot as Doc fought the cat with his fists and then pulled the Colt firing one shot that clipped the cat's ear. It only bit down harder. Doc's hands shook as he pulled the hammer back and fired a second shot, this time hitting the large cat in the back leg. It finally let go and hopped off into the darkness. Out of anger and fear, Doc tried to pulled the hammer back again but the gun slipped from his shaking hands and fell down into a crevice out of reach. "Damn!" he squeezed through his gritted teeth while grabbing his leg.

Kitty raced to him. "Oh, Doc!" she said as she swept down beside her fallen friend. "I tried to get a shot off, but I couldn't." her voice shook with anger and angst.

"No...Don't fire anything. We need to be careful. I just dropped that danged Colt down there..." he pointed into the crevice. "We need everything we got now..."

Kitty fussed over Doc's leg. "Oh, Doc...this looks bad."

"Well it don't feel good, I can tell you that. Here," he said asking for a hand up, "let's get back to the fire. I don't think we'll be seeing the cat anytime soon..." he groaned as Kitty helped him limp back to the rock face.

"Here, Doc sit and I'll look at it." Kitty helped Doc to sit. And for some reason she thought for a shorter man, he was pretty hefty in that he was more fit than he let on. A slight smile creased her lips as she opened his medical bag and looked for antiseptic and gauze to wrap his lower limb with.

Doc in the meantime pulled his pant leg up and looked at the puncture wounds. "They're deep..." he said watching Kitty.

"Well I guess so! That cat was trying to drag you off and make you into breakfast..." Kitty tried joke.

"Hum." Doc huffed. "Well, it can starve like me."

"My. You are grumpy now!" Kitty stated while applying more rubbing alcohol which caused Doc to wince. "When we get back to Dodge, I'm firing you as my nurse!" Doc yelped.

"Oh?" Kitty questioned and her eye brows rose.

"You betcha...You'll have us in a malpractice suit in anytime short with that kind of care!" Doc countered.