Little Bombalurina sat in the shade, watching Macavity and the Rum Tum Tugger fight. The two brothers never did seem to get along, and whenever their brother, Munkustrap, wasn't around, they always started to argue. Bomba guessed that it was because of the competition for girls. Both Toms were everything a Queen could hope for. They were handsome, strong, and, to put it simply, sexy! Macavity, however, seemed to have something that Tugger did not. The charm that he held was almost…wicked! He was also rebellious and decisive.
Bombalurina looked on as Munkustrap ran in to break up the fight. Munkus wasn't even close to his brothers as far as his ability to attract girls. He was so serious all the time, and yet he was respected by all of the cats in the Junkyard, because he was going to be Old Deuteronomy's successor.
Reluctantly, Macavity and Tugger stopping fighting. Snarling at Munkus, Macavity slunk away. After the others had all left, Tugger spotted Bombalurina and trotted over to her. "I've heard a rumor that someone's turning into a Queen in a moon cycle!" The main coon purred.
Bomba smiled. "Yup! I'm anxious for it to come. I've been waiting for it ever since my first Jellicle Ball!
"So, who are you planning to make your Tom?" Tugger asked slyly.
Bombalurina smirked to herself. She had expected to ask. She knew that Tugger was very attracted to her. "Oh, I don't know…" She said mysteriously, "I guess I'll just have to see who shows up!"
The truth was that Bomba did have an idea of who she wanted to mate with. Actually, she had two ideas. She liked both Tugger and Macavity. Macavity was sexy, but he knew when to be serious, and Tugger was downright flirtatious and playful. In the end, it would really come down to who got to her first. Of course, she didn't tell either Tom this, or a Tugger vs. Macavity fight would have sprung up faster then you could say, "Oh Heaviside!", and she had a good idea of who would win. Macavity had ten times the physical ability that Tugger had.
Tugger nipped her playfully on her ear. "Don't worry, darling. I'll be right there." Bomba knew that he would be.
Finally, the morning of the Jellicle Ball arrived. The Junkyard buzzed with excitement. Throughout the day, cats arrived to join in the fun. Bombalurina's heart was pounding as her sister, Demeter, helped her get ready. "You're lucky…" Demeter sighed, smoothing down a stubborn piece of fur. "I have to wait till next year!"
"Oh, don't worry! I'll leave some good Toms for you!" Bomba teased.
Just then, there was a commotion outside. Bombalurina darted out of her den, and pushed her way curiously through the crowd of cats that had quickly formed, Demeter following close behind. When she finally reached the center of the crowd, she gave a gasp of horror. Macavity was being held tight by Munkustrap and Skimbleshanks in front of old Deuteronomy. His majestic head was hanging low, and there was blood splattering his fur. She let out a cry at the sight, and tried to run to him, but Tugger held her back. "Don't." He admonished.
Old Deuteronomy was looking sadly at Macavity. "I am disappointed in you, my son." The Jellicle leader sighed. "Murder is not, nor will it ever be tolerated in our clan. I have no choice, but to banish you for your crime."
"Fine!" The red and black Tom snarled. "But I'll make you regret this, I swear!"
Old Deuteronomy shook his head gravely. "Munkus, Skimble. Please escort Macavity to the edge of the Junkyard."
As the two Toms led Macavity away, the criminal made eye contact with Bomba for a second…and then he was gone. Bomba stood in shook for a moment, and then sank to her knees, overcome with grief and confusion. Tears spilled silently from her face and splashed into her lap.
"No!" Demeter ran to her sister's side, her eyes wild with fear. "Who was it?!" Her voice quivered, and died in her throat, replaced by a choked sob.
Old Deuteronomy turned to Demeter, "My dear child…"
Suddenly, Demeter's father, Bolono, burst into the Junkyard for an unseen entrance. "Where is she?!" He screamed. "What did he do to my mate?!"
Then everyone knew. Delina, Demeter's mother, was the victim. Demeter's whole body went numb with shock. "…Mom? No…She didn't…He…And I…" She couldn't even put two words together.
As she struggled to grasp what had happened, a maniacal crackle echoed throughout the Junkyard. "Macavity! TRAITOR!" Demeter screamed.
She bolted from the crowd, trying desperately to reach her den. As the familiar home came into view, Macavity suddenly appeared in front of her, his face twisted in a demonic grin. "I'm a traitor, am I?" He whispered, "What makes you say that, sweetheart?"
The criminal ran a claw light down her cheek. Demeter's mouth moved several times, but no sound came out.
"NO!" Roared Bolono, barreling towards Macavity. "Not my daughter, you bastard!"
Demeter watched with stupefied horror as her father lunged at Macavity. The outlaw's claw quickly made contact with Bolono's throat. There was a horrible ripping sound, and the brave father of Demeter and Bombalurina fell to the ground, never to fight again.
Demeter stood stock still, watching blood pour from her lifeless father's throat. Then, just about every cat in the Junkyard flew at Macavity. Knowing he couldn't take them all, the Tom dropped Demeter and launched himself into the air. The entire Junkyard gasped. Macavity could levitate! All this time, Macavity was laughing like a maniac. "I'll make you regret this day, Father!" He cackled, "And you, Munkus, and you, Tugger! I'll make you all regret it!"
Just before he disappeared, he made contact with Bombalurina again. She saw that Macavity's once black eyes had turned into pits of fire. He was not himself. He had gone mad with rage. Then, in a burst of red light, Macavity vanished.
"Bomba, the ball must go on!"
"No."
"Everything will be fine!"
"No."
Bombalurina sat at Demeter's bedside. The yellow and black princess was in a state of shock, and Bomba wasn't feeling too great herself. She hadn't been as close to her parents as Demeter, but she still couldn't believe that they were gone. Tugger was trying in vain to get Bomba to join in the Jellicle Ball, but she felt it necessary to remain by her sister's side. "Tugger is right, my dear." Jennyanydots offered. "If it was any other ball, I wouldn't protest, but tonight is your Aging Ceremony! You cannot miss it, dear."
"But…" Bomba looked down at her sister's shivering form.
"Not to worry. I will keep watch over her. I won't let her out of my sight." Jenny assured Bomba.
The red soon-to-be Queen looked up at Jenny with tears in her eyes. "Oh, would you? Thank you!"
Bomba hugged the Gumbie Cat tightly, and then turned to Tugger, "C'mon, Tugger. Let's hope we aren't too late for mating."
Tugger purred, and followed her out of the den.
Bombalurina was glad that she had joined in the Ball. Tugger, of course, was the first to get to her during mating. She felt weightless in his arms. It couldn't have been more perfect.
It was quite late into the Ball. "Probably only a few hours until sunrise." Jennyanydots sighed. "Demeter? Demeter, love, are you awake?"
Demeter nodded dully. "I'm going to give your sister an update on how you're doing, honey. I'll only be a moment."
Demeter nodded again. As Jenny left, she jerked up and looked anxiously around. She could have sworn she had seen a pair of pitch black eyes in the shadows…
Jenny hurried back from the Junkyard. Bombalurina had seemed pleased that her sister was beginning to sleep peacefully. "Demeter?" She called as she entered the den, "Demeter, I'm ba-" She stopped in mid-sentence, frozen in horror. Demeter was gone!
Every cat in the Junkyard danced for joy, praising the full Jellicle moon. Suddenly, in the midst of the celebration, Jenny burst through the crowd. "Demeter's gone!" She cried. Every cat fell silent. "Demeter's…gone…" The Gumbie cat repeated. And then she fainted.
It had been three weeks since Demeter's disappearance and Bombalurina was still blaming herself. She hardly ever came out of her den, despite Tugger's, and the other cats' constant attempts to cheer her up. Then, one day, there was a ruckus outside the gloomy den. Bomba paused, and crept cautiously out of the den. She saw the notorious Mungojerrie, and his sister, Rumpleteazer carrying a disfigured form in between them. As the Red Queen looked closer, she gave a cry. It was Demeter! "Oh Heaviside!" Bomba gasped.
Demeter was hardly recognizable. Wound after wound had been pounded into her body, and her hair was matted with blood. "Oh dear Everlasting Cat!" Cried Jennyanydots, who was in the crowd. "Get her to my den, now! The rest of you, go! Quickly!"
Reluctantly, the crowd dispersed. Only Bomba remained. "Oh Demeter…" She breathed.
"Bomba…" Jenny whispered gently. "I know you want to see her, but-"
"Just tell me what he did to her!" Bomba cried forcefully. "Tell me!"
"She…She was tortured and….probably raped."
"Raped…" Whispered Bomba in horror.
"I'm afraid so…I'll do all I can for her…"
The Gumbie Cat disappeared into her den. Bomba sank to the ground, overwhelmed with despair.