Sigh… I'm working on other fics right now… I shouldn't be writing this… But the others aren't even CATS fics, so I guess it's okay. ;D

Sephra became instant friends with Demeter. Nowadays, when Demeter wasn't with Bombalurina, she was with Sephra. For a second, Bombie resented Sephra for this. However, she caught herself and felt bad. After all, Demeter just got a new friend, Bombie should be happy for her. She knew that Demeter didn't have a lot of friends. It wasn't that she was unpopular, not at all. Everyone in the Tribe liked her. It was just that Demeter had trouble making actual friends. Bombie had Demeter, Cassandra, Exotica, the toms, and, to an extent, Tantomile. Demeter, however, had only Bombie and Munkustrap. She didn't even have a mate. Bombie at least had Tugger, although he wasn't a very faithful mate. Still, he was better than nothing, which was what Demeter had.

After this thought, Bombie decided to accept Sephra as Demeter's friend. However, that didn't mean she was Bombie's friend. Far from it, Bombie could tell that Sephra hated her with a passion. She had no idea why, but nevertheless, she returned the hate with enthusiasm.

Right then, Sephra happened to be walking in front of the TSE1, where Bombie was sitting. Of course, she had to glare at Bombie while she passed. Bombie rolled her eyes. Why couldn't she just leave her alone long enough to walk past?! Sighing, she got up and walked toward her den. Something was telling her that she had just made a very bad enemy.

Sephra walked across Bombalurina's line of sight, glaring at her as she passed. Of course the little princess wouldn't like anything disturbing her perfect view. Just another part of her perfect life, with her perfect mate and her perfect friends, and right in the middle of this perfect life was her perfect self. Right when she thought this, of course, the princess rolled her eyes, which made Seph's temper flare up tenfold. Luckily, she managed to keep in it check. You have a mission. Don't get distracted by that spoiled brat. Repeating this thought over and over in her mind, Sephra made her way to Demeter, who was lying on a sunny rock.

"Hey."

"Hey! What's up?"

"Nothing. I-I just… Demeter, if someone was talking bad about me, you would tell me, right?"

"Of course."

"We-well then, I guess I should tell you…"

"Tell me what?"

"I-I just…"

"Spit it out, Seph!"

"I-I…" Sephra took a deep breath, "I overheard Bombalurina talking bad about you!"

Demeter was silent. Her face was expressionless and her breathing was short.

"De-Dem?"

When she finally spoke, her voice was a whisper, "What did she say?"

"Sh-she said that you… th-that you… remember, Dem, I didn't say this, okay?"

Demeter nodded.

Sephra let the next sentence out in a single breath, "She said that, even though the tribe loved you and all that, you didn't have many friends and that you had trouble making them and you don't even have a mate even though you became of age like two years ago."

Demeter didn't move, but her eyes went downward and her shoulders slumped.

"Dem, I'm sorry. I don't know why Bombalurina thinks that, she's wrong, okay? You have great friend-making skills, and you'll get a really good mate someday, because you waited. Okay? Dem, please cheer up."

Demeter managed a small smile. Her eyes were glistening with unshed tears. "No, Seph. Bombie's probably right. I'm way too anti-social for my age, and I should have a mate by now. I'm sure Bombie's just worried about me."

Sephra tried hard not to gape as she said, "So… that's it?! You're not even mad?! Bombalurina practically insulted you, and you think she's worried about you?! Wake up, Demeter! She's not worried about you. She's just worried about her reputation as the Tribe Seductress. After all, how many Seductresses hang out with friendless, anti-social cats? None. None, Dem. None."

Demeter was on the verge of tears by now. "You're wrong, Seph. If it were anyone else, I would definitely believe you, but I know Bombie wouldn't do that. We've been friends too long. She wouldn't betray our friendship after this long."

Sephra couldn't believe it. After all the stuff she had just told her, Demeter still believed that the princess cared about her?! Feeling as though she had failed, she said, "Just remember, Dem. People, and that includes cats, can change."

Sephra turned around and left. Demeter allowed a single tear to fall down her cheek.

It didn't really turn out the way I wanted it to, but it's good enough, I guess. ;D

R&R!!! I'll be your friend~~!