You searched for: “ferule
ferrule, ferule, feral
ferrule (FER uhl) (noun)
Usually a metal ring or cap that is placed around the end of a wooden stick or handle to strengthen it: Stanley repaired the handle of the broomstick by using a ferrule.
ferule (FER uhl) (noun)
A rod or ruler used in punishing children: Steve remembers his mother saying that the teacher at her school used a ferule on their hands if they were not clean.
feral (FER uhl) (adjective)
Wild, savage, escaped from domesticity and turned wild: The feral cats gathered on the back fence to meow at the moon.

The witch in the forest used a ferrule to straighten her ferule which she then used to chase the feral cats away from her Candy House.