No, she finds them

Bwen and Venus had nearly made it to the village, having accepted that Cass had gone in a different direction or already made it back, when they heard something whistle through the trees behind them.

Turning quickly, but not quickly enough, they saw an arrow, tipped with some sort of floral bud where an arrowhead should be, strike the ground at the their feet. Bwen and Venus tried to jump for cover, but vines shot from the arrow point ensnaring both their legs and continuing to grow up their torsos rapidly.

Venus began to panic until she saw Cass’ silhouette and bow stalk into view.

“Well what the hell Cass!? I’m glad you found out what the blessing did, but that doesn’t give you a right to use it on us! Friends don’t point weapons at friends. Venus said angrily while trying to chip at the surprisingly durable vines with the dagger she’d poofed from her seemingly invisible inventory.

Venus felt a chill go up her spine when Cass continued approaching without answering. The shadows had to have been playing tricks on her eyes. Cass seemed to move more… predatorily than Venus had ever seen her. Almost slinking toward them.

Bwen looked bewildered, but distracted by their entanglement.

When Cass’s head and blonde hair finally came into view Venus gasped. Her canines had grown a little longer, and her pupils had bent into feline slits, but the most notable change was the tall brown tufted feline ears that had replaced her previously very normal ones.

Both Bwen and Venus stopped their movements entirely, staring in pure befuddlement.

And then… Cass let out a literal purr.

She still didn’t acknowledge Venus’ words and twirled around her trapped allies gloatingly.

“Um, Cass?” Bwen asked, concern clear in his throat.

Cass purred even louder. And began to number her head into his chest affectionately.

“Has, uh, had this ever happened before?” Venus asked, feeling struck stupid.

Bwen gulped… “Uh… no.” he replied, then looked at Venus in mutual concern.

Cass… did not take kindly to Bwen ignoring her in favor of Venus, as she turned and hissed, fur puffing up on her ears and… oh god there was a tail. How had Venus missed the tail?

Cass moved defensively between Bwen and Venus, still rubbing her rear along Bwen’s pinned hips and torso, from one side of him then the other, but still very much hissing.

Concern mounted in Venus as she recognized the astonishingly feline body language from Cass. “Um Bwen… uh she’s moving like…”

Bwen chimed back, alarm in his voice. “What?”

Venus gulped.. “She’s uh… she’s in heat.”