"Rook needs to take it easy for the rest of the week," Jeremy told Saffanah. Rook watched, sitting at the window sill. He was still slightly tired but his cuts did not hurt that much anymore. Jeremy held a basket. 
             "Ok," nodded Saffanah. "I'll take care of him." 
             "Good girl," smiled Jeremy, rubbing her forehead. Inside the basket was a white pillow. Jeremy placed the basket on the window seat beside Rook. 
             "He's going to sleep in this basket for a few nights as well," Jeremy added. Diana was leaning against the doorway. 
             "Why?" asked Saffanah. "I want him to sleep with me."
             "He can't darling. He's got to take it easy. And you know you move a lot when you sleep. It might not be the best idea for both of you to sleep on the same bed. And he's got wounds..., we don't want you to get any unnecessary bacterias," explained Diana. Jeremy scratched Rook's head.
              "You're ok sleeping in the basket, aren't you?" Jeremy asked. 
              "Sure," Rook shrugged. Saffanah padded over to Rook and pet him lovingly. Rook purred, smiling at her brightly. 
             "Who was that cat?" asked Diana. 
             "I have no idea. Never seen it," Jeremy shrugged, scratching his head. 
              "Rook's never gotten into a fight," Diana said. 
             "I know. Maybe this cat is trying to cause trouble. We really should get those electronic cat flaps," Jeremy said. 
             "Yes. I told you, I already found a few online. We don't want other cats coming into our house either," agreed Diana. 
             "You know, what was weird, the cat fighting with Rook had a missing tail," Jeremy sighed. "As if he had already gotten into many fights."
             "I'm glad Rook made it out alive," nodded Diana. "Well, dinner's ready in ten minutes. Saffanah, wash your hands." Saffanah nodded. Her parents walked out of the room, making plans about something called a SureFlap. 

--

Rook yawned. He was curled up in the basket, listening as his family ate dinner. He didn't have the energy to join them. He liked the basket. It was right next to the window. He could just peer outside and stare as he rested. He hear soft footsteps. Light. A cat's footsteps. His eyes snapped to the door. Entering Saffanah's room was Domino. Rook almost jumped but sighed in relief. He was glad it wasn't Missing tail cat although he was scared what Domino wanted. He hoped Domino wasn't here to yell at him again. 
           "How did you get in?" was the first thing Rook could say. 
           "Snuck in," replied Domino. He leapt onto the window sill next to Rook. "You alright?" 
            "Yeah. Went to the vet. Fell asleep so I didn't really feel anything the whole time," shrugged Rook. 
            "Thanks," Domino blurted. Rook tilted his head.
            "Thanks?" he repeated. "Why?" 
            "You're a hero," continued Domino. "I can't believe you fought Missing tail cat. For me." 
             "Oh thanks. H-how do you know?" asked Rook. 
             "He told me," Domino said. 
              "Told you?" 
              "Yeah. Missing tail cat told me." 
              "What do you mean? How did he- what?" 
              "Yeah. I saw him walking by my house. Diesel saw him first, I mean. He started barking like crazy. I looked out of the attic window and there he was. He was messed up of course. He had like blood everywhere. He saw me and he climbed to the attic. Obviously, I was freaking out but it did look like he was going to die so I wasn't too scared. I could smell you on him. That was when I knew you were the one who had damaged him like that. I didn't let him in of course but he talked from outside the flap. He said you got mad when he threatened to hurt me. And then he said that you defended me and then you fought him."
             "But why would he say that? He hates us."
             "Apparently he loves friendship. He said that he admired what you did for me. He said he could see we had a great friendship. So he told me that I should forgive you. Of course, I was going to forgive you anyways. Like in a few months, when I forgot about the farm. But when I heard you were hurt and rushed to the vet, I came to see you right when you got back. He also said that friendships are important." 
             "Oh..., well... I guess we didn't really know him, did we?" Rook frowned. 
            "No, I guess not. But he still did try to kill us. So let's not give him too much credit," Domino said. Rook smiled. 
              "I'm sorry. I really am," Rook apologised. 
               "I know. I'm sorry too. And I forgive you," Domino replied. 
               "I guess it's over with Missing tail cat now," Rook said, rather relieved. 
               "Well, not quite. I rethought about it. And I thought about it a lot," Domino said slowly. "And I think we should help him." 
               "Help him?" exclaimed Rook. "we can't do that. Are you crazy?" 
               "But why not? He'll tell you about the Clans. Where you came from. Plus, we might make a few less enemies," Domino explained. 
               "Are you kidding?" Rook asked seriously. "You've got to be kidding." 
                "I'm not kidding. For the first time in my life, well not first time, but for a rare time in my life, I'm not kidding. I'm serious. We should. I've thought it over. We can do it. I mean, did you see how fast we ran. And you can fight off Missing tail cat," Domino said. 
              "I didn't. Jeremy chased him away in the end," Rook corrected. "You can't be serious. I'm not allowed to do anything for a week." 
              "Then you rest. We'll do it when we're ready," Domino shrugged. 
               "His friends are going to be dead by then," Rook pointed out. 
               "Maybe, maybe not," Domino said. "We don't know. But if they are, we can help them."  
              "Let's say, I said yes, how are you going to tell Missing tail cat we changed our minds. It's not like we know where he lives," Rook said. 
               "At the farm," replied Domino easily. 
               "Yes but he doesn't live there anymore, does he? The men want to kill him."
               "He told me where he was. At the end of the sunflower field. So it's a yes."
               "No. I didn't say it was a yes." 
                "You said, let's say I said yes...."
                "But I didn't say yes." 
                "You just did." Rook glared at Domino.
                "Come on. Trust me. You asked me to trust you when we went to the farm. I trusted you. Now you've got to trust me," Domino said seriously, holding Rook's gaze. Rook turned away, thinking. He couldn't do it. He didn't want to fight for anything else. But the look his friend was giving him. Trust me. He trusted him. He trusted Domino. Domino really wanted it. He'd do it for Domino. 
              "I'll do it. But honestly, why do you want to do it anyways, I don't care about the Clans," Rook finally said. Domino looked triumphant. 
               "Thank you!" grinned Domino. "And if you don't want to know where you came from, I do. I'm sure you're going to be curious, once he starts talking." 
               "What do you want to live with the Clans?" teased Rook. Domino looked serious though. 
               "Maybe."