Sorry if this chapter is so short! I am really sorry. This is one of my fav fics! I will update soon! That is a promise!

James watched his bodyguard fall asleep. Her cat friends snuggled up in her lap and tried to keep beside her.

Cat baffled him. She was cool and commanding in one second then nervous and wounded in the next. Her reaction when he had offered, forcefully, to help her was unexpected to say the least.

He shook his head and walked away, wanting to relate the tale to Nathan.

James spotted Nat looking at the bound and gagged assassins in indecision. When he saw James approaching, Nathan said," What should we do with them?"

Looking at them in thought, James rubbed his slightly rough chin. "I think one of us should take them back to Coutron. The other can stay here with Cat as she heals."

Nathan nodded in agreement then turned green at a sudden thought. "I think I should take the assassins back because…" he paused, trying to think of a reason to stay away from Cat's blood, "because… I don't know how to heal!" he said triumphantly.

"If you're sure…"

"Yes! I mean, yeah, I guess," Nathan yelped. James laughed at the boy's worried expression.

"Speaking of Cat…"James began.

"Yeah?" prompted Nat.

"She's getting better," said James cautiously. He wasn't sure why he didn't tell Nathan the real reason he had come to see him.

ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ

Nathan left, taking his, James's and the pack horse. The assassins were flung unceremoniously over the packhorse and Nathan's horse. Nathan rode James's royal gelding.

Cat listened to him go, knowing better than to see him off in her bloody bandages. Bloody bloody bandages.

It was early morning when he left and the bright sun had just peaked over the imperious evergreens. It's cheery light did nothing to improve Cat's mood.

Blood had pulsed more and more from her wound with every heartbeat. It was finally slowing, slowly but surely.

She hated this; being helpless. Never before had she felt so unable to take control. Sure,m spies were rarely themselves, but at least she chose what she did and how she did it. After all those years of desperately resenting the prince, Cat had found herself in his able care.

Once the hoof beats had faded into the distance, Prince James returned. He set about making camp around where Cat rested. He built a make-shift fire-pit close enough for her to be in close proximity, but too far to feel the unwanted heat.

She stopped him from using the tinder and flint by raising her hand and swishing it; creating a fire in the ready pit. Cat was so accustomed to it that it barely used her draining energy.

She sat useless as James began cooking a breakfast of preserved meat and potatoes. She felt like smacking each and every one of her ancestors for not giving her a Healing Gift.

Cat had to admit, however, as she watched James bustle about the fire that he was a much more skilled cook than she.

Deciding to voice her thoughts, she called, "Where'd you learn to cook?" At the end of her sentence she gave a small gasp as pain shot through her wound.

"You learn a lot in the palace kitchens," said James with his back to her. Cat was silent… and bored. Cy and Cal were off hunting and all she had to focus on was the sharp pain in her ribcage.

Cat felt like jumping to her sore feet and screaming, long and loud. Never before had she felt this frustrated. Before James had finished cooking, Cylon and Callie emerged from the forest; Cal was holding a sparrow proudly in her small mouth and Cylon was loping sulkily beside her, looking murderous.

'What happened?' mind-spoke Cat in amusement.

Cylon bared her pearly teeth and meowed aloud. "The stupid animals kept hiding because someone," she paused and shot an accusing glare at the unnoticing Cal, "kept scaring all of the prey away! Then she just had to go and find that deaf old sparrow."

Cal set the sparrow down at Cat's feet. "We can all share!" she purred gladly.

Cat swallowed in mental repulsion. 'Sorry, but the prince is making me some food. You and Cy go ahead and spilt it.'

Cal picked up the dead bird and began using her razor claws and teeth to tear off the brown plumage. Cat wondered with a smirk what array of colors Nathan would turn if he saw the dead sparrow and all of the bloody feathers stuck to Cal's mouth.

Sorry I haven't updated in so long! I felt so bad when I realized! I have the next three chapters written out, but not typed. Pretty soon James is going to learn that Cat can transform. IT is a really cool chap. I am REALLY REALLY SORRY! PLEASE REVIEW!