Munkustrap paced in front of the Junkyard with a look of anger plastered on his face. He honestly couldn't believe she was doing this again. After all that had happened in the last year, after all he'd done for her. She had to be the most difficult queen he had ever met, and he knew a lot of them. He'd spent the whole morning looking for her, only to find she'd left. Teazer had told him she was out visiting her family. To many of the cats in the Junkyard, this seemed like a sweet act. But Munkustrap knew the truth and didn't exactly approve. Besides, it was important that she attend this meeting, for the safety of the Tribe.

"She just doesn't care," muttered Munkustrap with a sigh. He gave up. He was just going to go back inside and start the meeting.

That's when he saw her. She was walking down the street with the biggest grin on her face. Munkustrap stepped out on the curb to greet her with a scowl. This however didn't deter the Blue Russian queen as she came closer. On the contrary her grin grew into a bemused smile. There were toms in the Tribe who proclaimed of the young queen's beauty. Munkustrap never saw it. His brother Tugger attempted to explain it was her regal appearance; vivid green eyes and soft, blue, silver tipped fur were what most tom's noticed. However, he also pointed out that her playful attitude and the fact she was unassuming of her appearance were the real draw points.

"You see, big brother," Tugger had spelled it out as best he could. "There are plenty of queen's in the Tribe that are much easier on the eyes. But our girl, she doesn't even realize she's cute most of the time. Plus, you can actually talk to her."

Munkustrap laughed; he knew from personal experience you couldn't talk to that queen. She was far too much of a rogue. He watched in silent anger as she stepped right up to him and smiled.

"You're late, Onya."

"You know, dahling," spoke Onya in her usual Russian-English drawl. "You worry far too much." She flicked her tail under his chin as she walked by. "Lighten up."

Munkustrap glared at Onya as he followed her into the Junkyard. They walked silently. When the other Jellicles spotted them, they began to whisper. There were very few in the Tribe who knew Onya's history. It had been Old Deuteronomy's idea, in order to keep cats safe. Munkustrap had agreed with his father, but had a feeling they didn't mean the same cats. Over the past year Onya had remained a mystery to most of the Tribe Even those who knew her history found her to be an enigma. Onya played close to her chest, not letting her hand show until the timing was perfect. She also had a great poker face; her emotions always seemed in check when you told her something. The Rum Tum Tugger, Rumpelteazer, Mungojerrie, and Alonzo were the only members of the Tribe who could figure out Onya; other then Old Deuteronomy, of course. Munkustrap's mind flashed back to the day he first met Onya.

It had been a little over a year ago. All day long the sun had been shining brightly and the Junkyard had been filled with activity. Jellylorum and Jennyanydots had been running around all day fussing over how Mungojerrie was going to be bringing two kittens to the yard to become Jellicles. Even though everyone had been told that these kittens were almost a year old, they still were making plans for who they would live with.

"After all dear," Jenny had announced. "Surely, these little queens will be too frightened to stay alone at first."

Munkustrap had wanted to explain that these were no ordinary street kittens. He wanted so badly to tell the whole Tribe the truth. But he knew he couldn't. Not only would it be a direct disobedience of his father and a breach of trust, but it would be similar to someone announcing what had happened between Macavity and Demeter to everyone. Such an action would not only be painful for the individual the story was about, but it could put the Tribe in danger. Munkustrap prayed to the Everlasting Cat that at least one of these queens would be somewhat sweet.

Luckily and unluckily for Munkustrap, he got his wish. When the sun set that evening, Mungojerrie arrived with a tiny queen by his side. It was amusing to watch them walk in. Mungojerrie was a tabby-calico mix and actually quite small. The queen walking next to him seemed to be the same breed and was much smaller then Mungo. If you ignored the fact that the queen was smaller with lighter coloring and that she had soft hazel eyes instead of evergreen, then you'd swear you were looking at mirror images. Old Deuteronomy had been taking care of another pressing matter; so, it had been Munkustrap's job as Jellicle Protector to greet the new kittens.

The tabby-calico mix introduced herself as Rumpelteazer with a shy bow. At that time she'd been eleven months old. Despite a little underlying attitude, she seemed to be a very sweet and respectable queen. Mungojerrie had excused himself, and Munkustrap had introduced Teazer to the rest of the Tribe. For a few minutes, it was a pleasant meet and greet. At least until Skimbleshanks asked where the other queen was. That seemed to be the cue for Mungojerrie to re-enter with Onya at his heels. Tugger had once accused Munkustrap of judging Onya before they'd even been introduced. Maybe that was right. It was hard to have a positive opinion of someone when you knew as much about their past as he'd known about Onya when they'd met. There were times that she teased she'd sensed his discontentment and that's why she'd done what she'd done. On that first day, she'd brushed right by him, smiled to the crowd, and introduced herself.

Ever since that day, she'd kept doing that. It didn't matter what he did for her, she seemed to always pass him by and do as she pleased. Munkustrap had to admit, she knew when to listen and did offer him respect at sometimes, but, it was the other times that bothered him. It wasn't that she didn't listen to him; it was that she completely ignored him when she felt the need. Mungojerrie and Tugger were always complaining about his requests and refusing to do them, Onya didn't hear them. Munkustrap couldn't blame her, he guessed, it was how she was raised.

"You know, dahling, you also assume too much."

Munkustrap jumped a little as Onya spoke. He hated when she did that. You'd think a conversation was over, but it turns out Onya was just mulling over possible things to say. He really didn't like it, because it always seemed as though she was just going to blurt out something in the middle of another conversation. That would never happen, but it always seemed that way.

"What do you mean," questioned Munkustrap. He was half playing dumb, and half curious. He looked around to find they were standing right outside his oven, where the meeting would be held.

"I heard you talking to Demeter the other day. I wasn't spying, that's not my style. I simply heard it in passing. She was complaining about my attitude, and you said I was just raised like that. But you're forgetting one key thing."

"What's that?"

"I grew up here." Onya stated this in a calm and matter of fact voice. As though she was saying the sky was blue or the grass was green. "I came here when I was nine months old and having been living here for well over a year. I'm two now. So that makes me an adult."

Munkustrap blinked at Onya. He swore sometimes that queen made no sense at all.

Onya sighed. "I was a kitten when I came here. I'm a full grown queen now. Thus, I grew up here. I've been with the Jellicles longer then I was with my family."

"Yes, but you're still with them." Munkustrap said, subconsciously placing stress on the word 'with'.

The smile Onya had been wearing slipped and Onya just shook her head. "Munkustrap, I like and respect you most of time. I know I don't show it all that often. But that's for a very simple reason. There are times where I am sure I hate you. Now can we please just get this meeting over with, I have things to do."

Munkustrap nodded, getting a bad feeling about Onya's reaction to the meeting's subject. When they entered, all the other cats turned to face them.

"It's about time you two got here," Proclaimed Tugger. "I'm got queen's waiting to see me."

"Now who'd be desperate enough to wait for you," teased Onya as she slid next to Tugger.

"Listen, Green eyes, I'm only letting you get away with that because you're cute."

Munkustrap ignored the two-way conversation until it had ended, then he began the meeting.

"Now, as you know, these meetings are to decide what we are to warn the kittens about; new junkyard rules, the Macavity threat, and other such things. This evening we will be discussing a new threat..." Munkustrap paused to take a breath. A small voice in his head told him he should have talked to Onya and Teazer about this privately before bringing it to council, but a louder voice was told him his job was to protect the Tribe. With that split second decision, Munkustrap continued. "Tonight we are here to discuss a new menace... The Russian Blue Syndicate."

Most of the toms and queens on the council gasped. The Russian Blue Syndicate was legendary and dangerous. Munkustrap knew he'd made the right decision in that moment. In the next, however, he wasn't sure. The smallest voice floated over the gasps and mutters into his ear; a tiny whisper; barely audible sound.

"I hate you, Munkustrap."

Munkustrap's gaze flickered over to Tugger and Onya. The Rum Tum Tugger shook his head in disappointment, as Onya stared at him without an expression. Munkustrap saw beyond the lack of emotion to the tears welling in Onya's jade green eyes. It was in that instant, that Munkustrap regretted his choice.

A/N: Well that was the first chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks to my beta Krissy. To those of you who read the original, this is pretty different. To new readers, I hope you enjoy this story. The author's point of view will change characters depending on who is there when an important event occurs. I will do my best to get the next chapter up soon. Please review.