Rin's eyes searched the alley. Something was wrong. She had the feeling that she was being watched. However, she couldn't see anyone. Then she felt a shadow over her and a few seconds later, a hawk landed on her outstretched arm.
"Heavens, Silver. What are you doing here, you should stay with Blue! What's going on?" Rin asked startled, but the bird lovingly pinched her fingers.
"It's okay, I'm already done. Let's go, the area is not particularly people-friendly.", She continued and went back to the main street. In doing so, she passed the niche. Rin stopped. Something was wrong with her.
'There was someone else here. The smell ... ', she could smell it, but couldn't define it. It was too dark. She couldn't see anything ...

'Your skills have grown. But she can't break through my shield yet ... 'he thought and disappeared silently.

Rin stopped short. ' What was that? Something happened. 'But there was nothing unusual in the niche now. On the contrary, it now looked much brighter and friendlier. She shrugged her shoulders, cast one last suspicious look in the corner, and continued on to the street.
Silver was still sitting on her shoulder and people were wiping back. She observes with disgust, but also a little curiosity, with these unusual people and their animals. It didn't happen very often, actually never before, that a person walked calmly through their city with a bird of prey. They couldn't decide whether it was a woman or a man. But one thing was very clear: they were afraid of them. The elevator already indicated that the person was not good at eating cherries. It was dirty and looked shabby. As if she hadn't had water and a decent meal in ages.
Rin kept walking through the streets, ignoring them all. She knew that people had no idea and maybe it was better that way.She reached the city gate, ran under it and straight into the forest. Silver rose in the air, gave a scream, and disappeared over the forest.
"Mhm." Was all Rin said and kept walking.
Deep in the forest, under a fallen tree, in a depression, Blue lay quietly waiting for the return. He was patient, but the pain increased. Then he heard the scream and knew that she would be here soon. He closed his eyes and waited.
Rin finally got there, jumped over the dead tree and landed with a light leap directly in front of Blue.
She saw the closed eyes and winced. She could feel the pain and hoped it wasn't too late.
"Blue?" She whispered. " I'm here."
He opened his eyes and got up heavily. Rin let out a breath of relief.
"I was afraid you would leave me for good this time ..."
Blue gave her a reproachful look. He sat down at her feet and Rin sat down. Blue lay on her side and showed her the wound.
"At least it stopped bleeding," she whispered and started cleaning the wound. Fortunately, she had got everything at the pharmacy. Sometimes you just have to do without conventional medicine and help yourself with that of the people.
While Rin was treating the wound, she quietly sang a song to it.
("Ipren Saleimin nrhetu Alumgh Elightu nerf ratum agni lessarim al ulinwe djeosd hglyln wynth soliogh ruthwy esamie noiw ...")
The language of the forgotten. She felt the power of the words and amplified them. Blue began to relax and let the words sink in. He knew that they could speed up the healing process and gave himself completely to his partner's hands.
Rin smiled when she noticed that Blue was beginning to enjoy the treatment. As a result, the pain had subsided and he would get back on his feet ...

The night was getting old and Rin checked Blue again.But she didn't need to worry, he was fine. She threw a few more dry branches into the fire and began checking her equipment. The knives, bow and arrow, Taitsu - the old samurai sword, the ropes, flashlight, matches, bandages, water and everything that was still in the backpack, she spread out in front of her and examined it carefully. Nothing could be defective or even missing. It was important that the equipment was complete. She always found herbs, roots and other medicinal plants on the go. But ropes and the like were more difficult.
When morning came she called for Silver. The falcon did not answer, however.
'He should be back here by now,' thought Rin and called for him again.
Blue began to stretch and woke up. He listened attentively into the forest and began to growl softly.
Something was wrong.
"I hear it too, Blue. Let's get out of here.", She whispered and began to get dressed. She threw the old coat over her shoulders and pulled the rucksack over it. She put the knives in the side pockets and two each in her boots. She carried the Taitsu by her side and a bow and arrow on her back next to the backpack.
Rin quickly put out the fire and removed the traces of their nocturnal stay. Despite the twilight it was still dark in the forest. She could make out the faint glow of the sky between the treetops. Blue listened intently, but he stopped growling, instead he put his ears back and waited.
Suddenly it was deathly quiet. No sound could be heard, nothing moved anymore. No wind, no animals, it seemed as if the forest was holding its breath.