Tumblebrutus and Electra were sat in a small alley, not far from the Junkyard. It was still very early morning and a thick fog filled the narrow street, obscuring most of their surroundings from view. They were waiting. Tumblebrutus had promised to take Electra and her sister Etcetera hunting, but as usual Etcetera was late.
Electra shivered. "I wish Etcy'd hurry up! I'm cold!", she said, "and she promised she wouldn't be late this time! I don't know why we bother taking her." And she shivered again.
Throwing his friend a quick glance, Tumblebrutus edged closer to her until he was snuggled up against her. "Is that better? I'm sure she'll be here soon. She isn't usually this late." He looked around, trying to see through the dense fog. "She's probably right behind us and we just can't see her in this stuff," he pointed out.
"You're probably right. I just wish she would just try and get up on time. We could have finished hunting and be back home in the warm by now!", Electra answered, "if she's not here in the next five minutes can we just go without her? I'm sick of waiting."
Tumblebrutus considered this proposal. The idea of spending time alone with Electra was definitely tempting, but it wasn't very fair on Etcetera and they had already been waiting for over an hour, if they just went without her now they would have been wasting their time. But then again, he thought, if they didn't get a move on most of the mice and rats would already be hidden away nice and safe in their holes and the whole trip would be pointless. And he would get to spend an hour on his own with Electra, without anyone else interrupting. It was too good an opportunity to miss. "Ok, then," he agreed, "if Etcy's not here in five minutes we set off without her."
The pair sat waiting in silence. After a couple of minutes, Electra said: "I don't think she's coming. Knowing her, she's probably forgotten all about us and is busy doing something else or is still in bed or something. Can we go now, before I actually freeze?" She grinned slightly at the young tom next to her. "Please."
With a nod, Tumblebrutus got to his feet and stretched. "You're probably right. Let's get going. I know a really good spot for hunting fat, juicy rats or if you prefer we can stick around here and look for mice," he said, grinning back at Electra.
She shrugged. "I don't really mind, as long as we're doing something." She thought about it for a second. "Rats, I think. The walk would at least warm us up a bit."
"Rats it is then," Tumblebrutus laughed, "this way." He turned away from the Junkyard and was about to set off, when he caught sight a a dark, shadowy figure moving towards them from out of the fog. Tumblebrutus stopped again and grinned. "Etcy! You're always late! Next time we really won't take you with us. We almost went without you!"
Electra giggled and bounded towards the figure. "I did tell you to get up on time. I'm really cold thanks to you and we've probably missed all the best rats! We've been waiting for over an hour, where on earth have you been?", she called out, pretending to be cross with her little sister. She was actually quite glad Etcetera had made it after all. She would have felt horrible about leaving her behind, even though it had been her idea.
In no time the young queen had covered the distance between herself and her sister. "You are completely...", the words died on her lips. She could see the figure clearly, now she was up close and it wasn't Etcetera. Electra screamed.