Tragedy

Munkustrap's eyes opened slowly. Very slowly. Darkness. Damp mold. Old leather. Dust. Shuffling feet. These scents, sounds, and more flooded his senses immediately accompanied by the question: where was he? Letting his eyes rove up, he saw the only window in the room a small rectangle near the ceiling, stained a filthy yellow from years of wear. The only light in the vast space was that able to filter through the grime. A moment's more observation discovered he was in the basement of a library. But then came the question: why?

The answer was revealed to Munkustrap as something soft and warm gently came to rest on his flank. The tabby tensed at the unexpected touch, but was put back to ease as the sound of a contented queen's purr rumbled in his ear. Now he remembered... The queen's paw moved from his flank to wrap around his chest and squeeze as she scooted closer to him, mumbling drowsily.

"It's too early. Go back to sleep."

The warm atmosphere about them was too lulling and comfortable to be broken by a reply, so he lay, still and content, drinking in the tranquillity. Even when the thought entered his mind, jogging his memory, he was reluctant to rise. "Greeneyes's mother is going to have a litter soon. I promised Gus I'd check up on them today."

"Do it later," she sighed. "It's barely morning. You've got all day." She snuggled closer, burying her nose into the fur of his neck. Gently, he shook her off as he stood and stretched..

"It's got to be getting on noon already. I promised."

The queen sat up as he rose, gazing at his striped back with a pout. "Duty always comes first..."

"What?"

"Nothing," she mumbled, glancing at the floor with a arm crossed over her middle. "How many litters does this make?"

"Uh...three, I think. Their first didn't survive. Greeneyes was the only survivor from the second."

The female closed her eyes, lips drawing tight in concentration. "Go on, then. It's your duty."

Her expression didn't go unnoticed, and Munkustrap's face clouded in concern as he took her paws and helped her to her feet. "Are you alright?"

Demeter looked up to him, smothering away her former facial cast with a warm smile. "Of course." She slipped her arms around his shoulder in an affectionate hug. "You go on now. Make sure that mother's healthy."

Munkustrap seemed hesitant to leave, and did so only after an insistent push from Demeter. "Alright. I'll see you at the junkyard...."

Demeter's mind was surfing through that very memory later that afternoon as she lounged on the window of her human's dwelling. Butterflies danced flickering over the colorful flowers of the small lawn garden, but she hadn't the desire to chase them. The sky was gray and overcast, indicating a downpour of rain at any moment. A breeze blew strongly, carrying with it the tangy scent of brewing storms. She closed her eyes in the hot wind, mind wandering over nothing particular. As was typical with her thought pattern, it eventually landed on her mate Munkustrap.

Their bondage was a good one that would last out the years. Though the fiery passions they felt early in their union were long since gone, a tender affection remained: a gentle comfort at each other's presence that they loved. They were happy. Leaning back against the window sill, Demeter closed her eyes, a smile playing over her lips.

A few drops of rain fell onto her nose, and with a start Demeter rose up again, blinking. The rain would come sooner than she expected. It was just a light sprinkle now...no reason to get up. Her eyes wandered over the street and sidewalk lining the front of the house, and landed on the lovely red cat who padded along them.

"Bombalurina!" she called, and at her beckoning the red female bounded up the yard and perched beside Demeter on the window.

"Heya, Dem. I was looking for you." She settled back on her haunches, her face illuminated by her smile. "You will never guess where I've been!"

"Tell me," Demeter giggled.

"Picture it," Bombalurina gestured with her paws. "The roof of the highest building in the city: a juicy piece of fresh fish, ice cold milk, and the cutest tom in the tribe all in one evening."

"Tugger set up a dinner for you?"

Bombalurina laughed at the disbelief covering Demeter's face. "Oh yeah. We chased a bunch of rats down by the pier, then watched the sun set from the building, then when it was dark we walked through the park down by the fish pond." Settled back, Bombalurina giggled and gazed towards the sky, sighing. "I'll leave it there."

Demeter knew better than to laugh as well, but it was hard to stifle her conspiratorial giggle. "Do you two really love each other?"

Bombalurina turned her head to the side, pondering the concept. "Nah, not really. Well, not yet anyway. I think the minute The Tugger gets serious, POW! There goes his image." Setting her paws behind her head, she gazed thoughtfully at her younger friend. "I guess I don't have to ask the same about you and Munkustrap?"

Demeter turned her face away, feeling herself blush. "You don't. Of course I love him."

"...well it doesn't show..."

Demeter snapped her face back. "What did you say?"

It was Bombalurina's turn to look away. "Honestly, Dem, it's hard to imagine you two really together. It seems like you're always alone while Ol' Stripes is off doing whatever. I mean, c'mon. You two have been mates long enough." She smiled slyly. "Where's the kittens?"

Bombalurina didn't see it, but Demeter stiffened. Did she know? No, she couldn't... "Well," she began nervously. "He said that...until things around here settle down--I guess that means when Macavity's gone--he doesn't think it's a good idea to have any."

Bombalurina scoffed. "Lame excuse, if you ask me."

Demeter knew Bombalurina hadn't meant to sound insensitive or cruel, but something in her own words had disturbed her. He doesn't think it's a good idea to have any... Mumbling a troubled goodbye to her friend, Demeter rose to her paws and darted from the small house just as the sky opened up and rain came hurtling down in sheets.

Unlike most cats, Demeter loved the rain. She ran through the dark alleys as she neared the city, shutting her eyes and letting the rain hit her face. The coolness of it felt wonderful and refreshing as it slipped beneath her outer layer of fur...and then she felt nauseated. Demeter's running slowed considerably, and she finally stopped under a sheltered awning, panting heavily though she wasn't tired. Thunder rumbled in the distance. The nauseous feeling grew around her stomach and she grabbed it, as though her paws could make the feeling vanish. It didn't. The throat-rolling feeling that she was going to throw up took hold, and the breaths she took to stop the feeling of dizziness did little good.

Looking up, she could make two thin gray shapes melting in and out of her vision as they approached her through the rain. Their scents drew closer, and she recognized them as Coricopat and Tantomile. Grateful for a familiar face--or two--she reached out for them. The tom took it, and Demeter felt herself led into an alley through a haze of dark mist. She didn't realize when her paws gave out from under her and she fell into the twins' arms.

Her vision slipped in and out of focus, barely registering. She didn't know if she was awake or not, nor did she care. The feeling about her was that of familiarity, too pleasant and too comfortable to be stirred. She felt a warmth pass over her midsection, as though someone has placed their hand there.

"Soon," said a female voice of pouring wine. "Not yet, but soon."

The sound of sloshed liquid and rustling fabric could be heard, though not by her. She was too content, to taken, with what was going to happen.

It was raining in the junkyard, too.

Munkustrap had been caught in a hard downfall on his routine patrol of the Jellicles' territory, and with barely any time to find shelter he sped through the junkyard, eager to get home as soon as possible.

"Munkustrap, in here!" called a voice.

From the shadowy recesses of one of the junkyard's many crevices, a silvery paw beckoned the tabby in. Ducking his head, Munkustrap dashed for the awning of a blue tarp, stopping under its protective shelter to shake water droplets from his fur. Good manners.

The den was just one of many shelters used by the Jellicle Cats, whether just for an escape or for shelter such as this. The smells that drifted out from within were those of a warm fire, sweet food, and other cats. He set one paw to go in through the pipe-lined entrance and hadn't taken one step inside when Jemima and Etcetera ran smack into him. Head over tail they collapsed to the floor. The two kittens shook their heads and looked up fearfully as their parents stood over them. Skimble glared as Jellylorum fussed.

"Oh, goodness! Munkustrap are you alright? Etcetera! Jemima! How many times have I told you to settle down? We'll leave for home as soon as the storm's over! I won't tell you again, now go back to bed."

The two kittens slunk to the back to do as they were told. The strong silver paw of Skimble grasped Munkustrap's and helped him up.

"Y'arright, laddie?" he asked, wiping water from his paw.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Do you mind if I wait out the storm here?"

Jellylorum handed the silver tabby a rag, warmed from hanging by the small fire within the shelter. "Of course not, Munkustrap. Noone should be outside in weather like this."

The food Munkustrap smelled had been the few servings Jellylorum served of ham and sausage with roasted apples and a bit of milk. Munkustrap licked a few white droplets from his whiskers and leaned back, gazing out at the steady rain.

"Hope it lightens up soon," he mumbled. "Demeter doesn't like storms."

The evening progressed, quiet and peaceful. The rain only seemed to fall harder as the night wore on. Not necessarily glad for an excuse to stay, Munkustrap fidgeted constantly where he sat beside the orange tabby and watched the two kittens before them struggling with an filthy magazine full of pictures of other cats they had found among the garbage. It wasn't long before Jellylorum pushed them along protesting to bed. Munkustrap sighed.

"One tom to another, Skimble: what's it like to have kittens?"

Skimbleshanks was outright astonished by the blunt question, but in response merely shrugged. "It's arright. They kin be trouble sometimes, but they're lit'le angels. Aye. Why d'ye ask?"

Munkustrap's eyes never left the dark outside. "Demeter's been asking me about it a lot. I don't know what to tell her."

"Does it sound like she wants 'em?"

"Yeah."

"D'ye?"

Munkustrap's shoulders sagged. "I don't know. I can't...I just...I can't see myself as a father, that's all." He left out the small detail that he had lied to her, telling her it would be unwise to have kittens now when the truth was he was just as unsure.

Skimble smiled warmly and clapped him heartily on the back. "An' what makes ye think I did? Heh, I didn't even think 'bout havin' kits 'til lit'le Victoria came along. Turned out arright." He gazed at Munkustrap's grim face, his own grin fading. "Lissen," he said slowly. "Jus' wait an' see what happens. Everythin'll be arright. Ye'll see."

Skimble didn't know how wrong he was.

"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime.

Say the word and I will follow you..."

Munkustrap's fine voice was sung barely audible as he padded his way to Demeter's family home, dodging the puddles of rain that had formed on the sidewalks and streets. The sun was starting to descend behind the western horizon, making the sky a lovely pink with golden clouds and streaks of light blue after the rainclouds had dispersed. The air was slightly chilly with a small breeze, but nothing a good coat of fur couldn't stand against, and the scent of it was clean and pure after the wash. His purpose in mind was to make sure Demeter was fine after the storm...and then viscously he snarled at himself for not acknowledging that he wanted to spend time with her anyway.

"Share each day with me,

Each night, each morning..."

But though he called and circled her family home three times, there was no trace. The rain had washed away any scent trails that may have been left, and pounded into the ground, destroying any pawprints. He was sniffing at one such possible mark near the side of the building when suddenly the seemingly innocent trashcan set there toppled over, barely missing the silver tabby as the lid clattered noisily away. The cat reeled and hissed, arching his back in the instinct to puff his fur. When the clumsy human thing was settled and quiet again he approached it warily, ears straining, paw ready to lash out at any enemy that presented itself.

"Say you love me..."

Then, from behind him: "You know I do..." at the exact moment Munkustrap felt a paw grip his shoulder. Whirling with the same cry of surprise, he saw only Demeter.

"There's got to be a less stressful way of getting my attention," he laughed, smoothing back his mane, but barely had time enough to finish before Demeter threw her arms around his shoulders and kissed him fully. Taken by surprise, Munkustrap could only hold her as well and savor the moment. And when Demeter finally drew back, she smiled at him in such a way that the tabby never remembered seeing before. It was deep, knowing, and more beautiful than he could describe. "Aren't you in a good mood," he observed, smiling in return. Demeter took both his paws warmly.

"Come with me," she said. "To the park..."

Feeling to reason whatsoever to deny the request, Munkustrap went along happily.

The park deep within the city buildings was a beautiful place after any wash. The setting sun glistened off the water droplets lingering on the pink and yellow petals of flowers. The stream ran full and fast, flooded with the extra water so that its noisy gurgling was dulled into a peaceful murmur of fluid movement. The birds had settled for the night, ending their mindless twittering, so that Munkustrap and Demeter could walk side by side in serene quiet, their flanks and shoulders brushing. It was in this serenity and this closeness that they remember why they had become mates, and why they never regretted it. Demeter sighed happily as they reached the small pond surrounded by shrubs. In the darkness of twilight the streetlights shone of it still surface with the perfection of a mirror, and she gently touched her mate's arm.

"Your singing was wonderful."

Munkustrap felt her lean her head against him, and he did likewise, gently stroking her back. "Not as good as yours."

The two walked on by, basking in the romantic settings as though Heaviside itself had designed this night just for them. The noises of the never-sleeping city reached their ears as the two cats neared the end of their path, and like a slap in the face it brought them back to themselves, making the walk through the park seem like a distant memory. Across the sidewalk surrounding the park they went, not changing their pace, but perhaps not as aware as they had been alone.

"Munkustrap," Demeter finally said, stopping. "There's something I have to tell you."

Munkustrap faced her, gently squeezing her shoulder in support. "What is it?"

He could tell whatever it was, the thought of it bothered Demeter greatly. Wringing her paws, she looked to the ground as though searching for strength. "I'm...I mean, I'm...I'm going to..."

Taking her chin, Munkustrap brought her face up to meet his, gazing into it lovingly. "What?" he whispered, returning the smile of affection she gave him.

"I'm going to..."

That was when she suddenly doubled over. Demeter's legs collapsed beneath her and she fell into Munkustrap's strong arms with a small cry of pain. Munkustrap stiffened as he held her up, completely shocked.

"Demeter? Demeter, what is it?!"

The female's breathing came quick and rapid, shortened by pain. The tom heard her gasp just above a whisper: "No, not now...not now..."

"Demeter?"

The queen grabbed her stomach, face contorting in agony. Acting on instinct Munkustrap lifted her into his strong paws, holding her tight as she shook terribly against his chest, grasping his shoulders, and darted for the shelter of the alley across the dark street from the park, away from human sight. As though Heaviside had commanded it, a cardboard box lay tipped on its side. Quickly dashing to it, he set Demeter down ever so carefully, and threw the filthy blanket over her that had been laying not two paces away.

Demeter was trembling heavily now, gasping, too weak to lift her head. Taking a deep breath and holding it, she looked up at Munkustrap. Her eyes were pleading and tearfully beautiful, and the pain he saw in them made Munkustrap want to hold her tight and tell her everything was fine. That this would end now. But he couldn't...he didn't even know what was wrong.

"Leave," Demeter gasped, taking another quick breath. "Please, leave."

Entirely confused and in anguish at seeing her like this, Munkustrap only pressed forward with concern. "No! I'm not leaving you. Dem, what's wrong?!"

He could barely believe it when Demeter suddenly snarled and lashed out at him with her claws, not hitting him, but the tips of her claws grazing his cheek. "I said leave!"

Munkustrap took and unsteady step back, licking dumbly at his whiskers. He backed away from Demeter, who didn't seem to notice, but rather than darting away stood warily on his paws just outside the box, tail lashing anxiously. He could not leave her alone like this!

For what seemed hours he paced around the box, keeping out of Demeter's eyesight, listening helplessly to her gasps and pants. At once she moaned loudly as though in the height of her suffering. The sound of absolute torture in that moan nearly drove Munkustrap back into the box to comfort her, only the memory of her demand to stay away keeping him fixed rigidly. He forced himself to stay.

The sound of her torment ended as quickly as it had begun. The moon had moved a fair distance across the sky, but more important than that was the silence that settled over the area. The silence frightened him. Slowly, one paw at a time, he crept forward and peeked into the box.

Munkustrap was prepared for any tragedy to have taken place; prepared to help a dying Demeter in any way; prepared for anything, except what he saw.

It was a litter of kittens. Four of them. Four tiny bundles of fur crawling and crying out as they squirmed against their mother's warm side. Two were gray tabbies, one golden-yellow, and the last a colorful blend. Munkustrap's eyes roved over them, to their mother...

Demeter was radiant. Her slim form glowed with the sheen of first motherhood, and with a contented sigh she gazed at her children, then up to her mate. Her jade green eyes radiated a happiness Munkustrap knew he would never see equaled. That smile he'd seen earlier. Reaching up, she guided Munkustrap down to sit beside her, smiling. She didn't have to explain anything. "They're yours."

Munkustrap was lost for words. In a sudden rush of confused emotions of the new position he'd just been placed in, only one thought made itself clear in the dizzying whirlwind.

"I'm a father...?"

Demeter laughed a sound of sweet chimes in the wind and nuzzled his chest, humming contentedly as his arm unconsciously rose to hold her. Together they gazed in wonder at the litter. "Aren't they beautiful?" she sighed.

Munkustrap was lost in the sight of them, not quite believing it yet. As though on its own, his paw moved down towards the squirming bundles of life. Demeter watched as he caressed the four of them with all the tenderness of a father's love. One of the kittens, a female who inherited her father's silver-gray striped coat, jumped at the unfamiliar touch, then sniffed his paw and licked it with a small pink tongue. She let out a small mew then turned to battle with her striped brother over the position closest to their mother's warm fur. Munkustrap didn't try to stop his smile. He held Demeter even closer, reveling in this perfect moment. "I love you. Why didn't you tell me?"

Demeter smiled and sighed, letting her tired self rest against her mate's sturdy frame. "I was scared to. You said you didn't think we should have any, or...I don't know. But it doesn't matter now. I don't think I've ever felt this proud. What do you want to call them?"

Munkustrap had never considered the thought, and wouldn't have the chance now. No sooner had the question been posed did Demeter's eyes land behind Munkustrap, further into the alley, and widen in sudden horror. Munkustrap had only time to hear her gasp before something hard and blunt slammed into the back of his head. He was flung onto the hard asphalt of the alley, vision fading in a black haze of mist. All that was heard before the blackness claimed him was Demeter's scream. All that was seen was a flash of red and black.

It was an eternity that flashed by before Munkustrap woke. His head pounded, his spine ached, and groggily he dragged himself to his hands and knees, groaning in pain. He shook his head to clear it of the mist, only to find that the mist was the darkness of night that still hung over the alley. The moon was low in the sky, greeting Munkustrap's eyes as he looked up...and saw a horrible sight.

The filthy, unkempt red and black coat of Macavity was first to come into focus, followed by the face of Demeter frozen in fear, and between them the flash of a glass shard that was held against her throat. Of the kittens, Munkustrap saw no trace. The rage that welled up inside him was unable to be described in words. Bodily pain forgotten, he leaped to his feet and snarled horribly, prepared to do anything to protect his mate. "Macavity!"

Munkustrap's brother turned only partially to glare at him, growling in hatred. "Munkustrap," he returned in a snarl, chuckling evilly. In a flash he whirled a petrified Demeter and held her in an iron grip before him, the shard crosswise over her throat. He grinned insanely, but said nothing else.

"What do you want?" Munkustrap growled, mane bristling with anger threatening to explode any moment. His fists clenched so tightly his hand shook. "What do you want now, you ratloving dogfilth!" He took a threatening step forward, eyes blazing. Macavity jabbed the sliver of glass as a warning, and Munkustrap froze.

"Stay back unless you want her throat slit," the red tom hissed. The shard's blade was marred by a drop of blood. Demeter's blood. He met her eyes. Begging, scared, pleading. The tabby's blood boiled.

"Leave her," Munkustrap growled, his voice growing louder. "You leave her out of this! She hasn't done anything. Fight me, Macavity!"

An evil grin spread over the battered face of the Mystery Cat, and he drew Demeter even closer to him. The tips of his long fangs gleamed in the moonlight as he leaned forward and ran his tongue up Demeter's cheek, mocking Munkustrap as he growled just loud enough for him to hear. "Don't worry, my dear. We'll be together soon, and we'll have our own kittens."

That was too much. With a roar of mindless wrath Munkustrap charged, sinking his claws into Macavity's shoulder and ripping him away from Demeter. Macavity was no novice fighter, and took the sudden attack in stride. In his bloodlust Munkustrap didn't realize Macavity no longer held the shard.

The two toms brawled with all the savagery of rabid dogs. Neither held anything back as a queen is one of the foremost, most passionate reasons toms will fight. But this was no average queen to them, and their own relationship was by far from two normal kin. For an eternity they fought, blood being flung in every which direction. Wounds were given, received, and met as good as they gave. Finally Munkustrap raked Macavity's back with a viscous set of claws and slammed the fiery tom to the ground. Macavity cursed and spat, too wounded to get up. He clawed in an attempt to regain his feet, but his back was nearly slashed open. Munkustrap collapsed to his hands and knees, panting for breath and spitting red from his mouth. He glared venomously as Macavity dragged himself away, taking hold of a leaning pole and trying to pull himself up on it, face contorted in pain. A gasp from behind made Munkustrap remember.

"Demeter!"

Munkustrap realized too late why Macavity hadn't had the glass shard when he fought: it had found its sheath deep in Demeter's chest. In a mad scramble the silver-gray tabby dashed to her side where she lay fallen, hands clutched over her torso. Munkustrap felt the tears already flowing as he carefully slipped his hands under her back and slowly, very slowly, lifted her into his lap. Agony was written over Demeter's face, but never did she make a sound. "Heaviside, Demeter," he moaned.

Munkustrap's mate looked up at him with calm, cool eyes. There was a strange contentment there: one that masked something etched deep in her features. She smiled slightly, grasping her mate's paw, and held it tight for support as she fell into a fit of violent coughs. Flecks of red blood sprayed onto her white chest. The shard had done its damage: her lungs were filling with the lethal liquid. She got control of her fit and gasped for air, holding Munkustrap's paw to her chest tightly.

"The kittens," she rasped unsteadily. "Are they...(cough)...are they alright?"

Munkustrap nodded vigorously through his ignorance, wanting to save his mate any and all pain he could. She drew a shuddering breath and leaned against him, seeming to breathe easier. "Then all's well."

"Demeter...you can't..."

A slender paw rose to his lips to silence him. "Don't try, Mun...(cough)...you know I'm going to..."

"No! No you're not..."

Demeter shook her head, her breath in short gasps, her paw clenched around his beginning to shake. "Don't lie...please...as long as our kittens..." She coughed again, shuddered, and Munkustrap could only watch helplessly as her body went limp against his. Her eyes closed with a sigh. "I love you."

Munkustrap lost all control of himself and let his grief flow. He hugged Demeter's still form close to him, face buried in her fur as he wept piteously. In his heartache no heed was given to the dirt and gore that covered both him and the area. In that moment something was torn away from him, some protective layer, that left the tabby prone and exposed in sorrow. His heart bled, his body ached, his soul poured itself out in hopes of her eyes opening again; for her breath to return; for the cat he loved to rise and walk with him back to the junkyard with their kittens. And when it didn't happen, when he realized it never would, he wanted nothing more than to lay down and die himself. Only the slight rustle from behind brought him whirling back to cold, hard reality.

Munkustrap gently set Demeter's body down and turned with aching sluggishness. Macavity sat where he'd propped himself against the alley wall, the grin of a lynx on his face as he held one of Munkustrap's kittens in his thin arms, lightly stroking her back. In their mutual moment of exhaustion only a burning rage flickered in their eyes. Macavity's vile laugh said it all.

"Too bad the other three didn't survive," he rumbled. "They would have made some good cats."

Munkustrap shook his head slightly, a strange glow burning in his eyes that bored holes deep into Macavity's fear. "You b****rd," he growled. "I'm going to kill you if I have to go to the dark end of Heaviside to do it." His eyes lowered to the tiny silver-striped kitten, who seemed to struggle and cry for help at every touch of Macavity's long claws. "You let her go."

Macavity shifted his weight, his grin never fading, his eyes never turning their stare from his brother's. "Your mate should have been mine. Your children should have been mine. Your position should have been mine. Do you have any idea how it feels to live like that?"

"I don't know, I don't care, rat filth, and what's more if you don't put her down right now you'll wish you had died instead of Demeter." His voice was raspy with weakness, but cut the still night air like a dagger, piercing with indescribable hatred.

Their eyes locked, unwise as it was, and the years of hate they'd spent trying to kill each other passed between them. Macavity fixed Munkustrap with a dead stare, speaking as he did. "I want you to live as I have. You'll watch your daughter grow up to call me father. You'll watch...and there won't be anything you can do..." That cold, dead stare caught Munkustrap in its claws, and he could feel it; feel Macavity's supernatural power reaching out to smother his mind, his will growing weaker and weaker. "I didn't come here to kill Demeter. That was not my intention. You will be the one to pay for her death...." It was the kitten that saved her father.

A small cry from her was all it took to bring Munkustrap roaring to his feet. Nothing existed in his sight save the brother he so hated. An enormous swipe of his paws caught Macavity across the jaw and lifted him from the ground, the kitten flung from his paws. Macavity landed sprawled across the ground, roaring in agony as his torn back was gashed. Arching it to escape contact with the rough ground, he was momentarily frozen in the eyes of Munkustrap. A strange feeling shot through him, and for the first time he knew the true meaning of fear.

"Get up and fight!" Munkustrap roared insanely. "I've got nothing more to lose! Get up, d**n you!"

With a swipe, Macavity pulled one last trick from his sleeve as he thrust a pawful of gritty dirt into Munkustrap's eyes. Munkustrap snarled terribly as he stumbled back, wiping to clear his vision. When he was able to blink through the grime, Macavity wasn't there.

The Jellicle tabby let out a roar of rage that would have chilled the heart of a lion. With the sound echoing off the dark alley walls he fell to his hands and knees, trying to make clear the emotions and thoughts that spun through his head in a jumble which made no sense. A sound drew his eyes back to Demeter's still form and the sight brought more tears to his eyes. Huddled close to her cold mother in search for warmth and food was the small female kitten. She snuggled close to Demeter, and sensing no reaction let out a pitiful whimper.

Munkustrap dragged his aching body forward and scooped the kitten up in one paw and held her close. She felt the new warmth of his battle-messed fur and snuggled close, oblivious of the gore and grime. Munkustrap stared at her, gently stroking her soft back. In this tiny ball of fur was a life who was completely innocent and naive of the cruel ways of the world. He would hate to see her grow up in this cold reality, where wit and savage strength ruled. This reality that corrupted all who lived in it eventually. No, he wouldn't have it...

Slowly his paw closed around the kitten's fragile neck. It would only be one twist, one snap, and she would be spared all the pain and suffering of living...of seeing loved ones die...he knew how to do it. It would be easy enough. His wrist tensed. Why his grip remained stationary he didn't know.

She mewed pathetically and struggled against this warm thing surrounding her. Blindly her tiny paws rose to push against it feebly, her barely-formed teeth closing around black pads. Those tiny movements sent a warm, familiar feeling throughout her father. It was the same feeling brought on by Demeter. This kitten did nothing but trust and love him, as Demeter had done. This was all that was left of his mate. Smiling, he removed his paw and held the shivering kitten close.

"Don't be scared," he whispered softly. "It's alright. It's alright, Demetria."

THE END