Comments: Whoo! This shall be my first CATS fanfiction. The plot is from a strange dream which I had the luck of remembering, and I hope that it is an enjoyable one. I haven't written in a long time, and I'm sure I'd make many mistakes regardless, so if you notice any errors in the spelling or grammar, please don't hesitate to inform me! This is simply the introduction, so not much is revealed yet, but hopefully I'll be able to stick to the plot like I want to. I feel confident that you'll find it interesting, if nothing else. Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: Andrew Lloyd Webber owns CATS, not me! 3

Introduction

Demeter was thinking.

It was not something that she liked to do; it usually unearthed less than pleasant memories. Oftentimes she kept herself under the security of instinct, doing only the minimal amount of reasoning required for survival and shutting off the rest of her mind. In times like this, however, when the Ball was over and the Junkyard nearly deserted, the natural need for contemplation crept into her mind. She thought about her Name, she thought about her dear friend, Bombalurina… she thought about the probing feeling in her head and spun around wildly.

Behind her, she saw the softly glowing eyes and complex markings of Tantomile— or at least, she thought it was Tantomile. It could very well have been Coricopat. Either way, it was one of the twins, they were alone, and whoever it was had been probing at her mind.

"What was that for?" Demeter snapped at the cat, her ears flattening defensively.

"I was curious," Tantomile said. The female voice confirmed her identity. "Forgive me." She slid off of her perch, sitting down beside Demeter.

"Curious?" Demeter blinked, her stiff posture loosening. "About me?"

"You puzzle me. Your mind is closed to everything."

Demeter looked at the ground for a long time. Tantomile watched her. Every now and then she could feel wisps of emotion trickle from her, but for the most part her mind was as it always was; sealed away. Suddenly the younger queen looked up, their eyes locking.

"Tantomile," she said, her speech wavering unexpectedly with nervousness, "Do you… really want to know why? Does it really matter that much to you?"

"Not particularly, but I feel it would do you a world of good."

As Demeter looked into the elder queen's orbs, trying to decipher any mockery in them (there was none), she was flooded with such a sudden feeling of trust and peace that she had to wonder if it wasn't merely Tantomile filtering the emotions through her. Naturally or not, she gave in.

"…Okay. I'll tell you. It's long, because I'm telling you everything. And you can't tell anyone what you hear, alright? Even Coricopat."

"Coricopat is my spirit brother. I cannot hide thoughts from him, even if I wish to do so."

"Well, whatever. Tell him not to tell anyone."

She sat down. And she told her story.