Chapter 2

Bombalurina opened her eyes. For a moment the white glare of the room she was in blinded her; but then her eyes began to focus, letting her see more clearly. Bombalurina looked around and tried to sit up, only for a wave of nausea to come crashing down on her. She laid back down, trying to get a better sense of her surroundings. Suddenly, Bombalurina heard someone coming. She made herself as big as she could, her fur standing on end, while hissing with what energy she had left.

"Little one, there's no need for that!" Exclaimed a voice. Bombalurina looked around for the source of the voice and saw a cat. The cat had a motherly face and a white front, surrounded by black, brown, red, ginger and the occasional golden stripes.

Bombalurina stopped hissing and her fur decreased in size, but didn't entirely flatten. Bombalurina doesn't take chances.

"Sorry" she said quietly, almost whispering.

"It's okay dear. You're allowed to be nervous around strangers" smiled the cat as she sat down so she was level with Bombalurina, then placed something in front of the basket Bombalurina was lying in. Bombalurina smiled back, then looked at what was in front of her. It was food. Bombalurina immediately attacked the bowl, not stopping until it was empty.

"I'm sure that must make you feel better". Bombalurina nodded, then started to lick the closing cuts and gashes on her arms. While she did this she noticed that the cuts on her legs had been bandaged, and that the other cat was holding more bandages. Bombalurina stopped cleaning her cuts and offered one of her arms to the cat. The cat took it gently, and then, after washing it in water, began the slow process of bandaging it. While she did this Bombalurina asked "Where am I?"

"You're in the same junkyard as you were on Thursday." was the soft reply.

"You said Thursday. What day is it today then?" cried Bombalurina quietly.

"Hey, there's no need to be upset. It's Sunday. You were asleep for 2 days before you woke up this morning" The cat explained as she finished tying a knot on the bandages for the first arm. Bombalurina offered her other arm, and the cat continued.

"What's your name sweetheart?" asked the cat.

"Bombalurina," she replied in a small voice, "but my sister calls me Bomba."

"Can I call you Bomba?" asked the cat. Bombalurina nodded, hoping that by having her own home name being used, she could settle herself.

"Why don't I introduce myself. My name is Jelly. Short for Jellylorum." introduced the cat, but then added, "But I think your name is the prettiest", as she finished tying the knot on the other bandage. Bombalurina decided then that Jelly was a cat that she could trust.

Bombalurina had been sent back to bed to sleep by Jelly. When she woke up, she had different priorities.

"Where's my sister?" she asked, now worried as she hadn't seen or heard her since she had first woken up.

"She's next door love, but you can't see her yet. She's still sleeping." Bombalurina's face saddened and tears welled up in her eyes. She had protected her sister, she had carried her sister to the junkyard; and now they wouldn't let her see her own sister?

"Alright" said Jelly with a sigh. Something told her that this wasn't the time to refuse the adolescent of her wish.

"Munkustrap, I need some help!" called Jellylorum. A black and silver tabby rushed in from the other room.

"What is it?" He asked, a state of worry etched on to his face. Jelly chuckled, he was such a worrier for a young teenager. She then straightened her face.

"I need you to bring her family into here." Jelly said as she pointed at Bombalurina.

"Ok Jelly" was the reply and then Munkustrap was gone. He had had a brief look at who Jellylorum had pointed at, but not enough to see Bombalurina clearly.

A few moments later he was back, carrying the unconscious Demeter in his arms like she was as light as a feather. Munkustrap laid her in the basket next to Bombalurina, now fully nticing the red and white teenager.

"And the little one," Jelly huffed. Munkustrap once again hurried into the other room. And then to Bombalurina Jelly whispered "Toms, they can't do anything right unless you tell them twice!" Bombalurina giggled at the cats outburst then turned to her still-unconscious sister.

"You and your family caused quite a shock on Thursday." Jellylorum remarked as Bombalurina checked over her sister and began to clean and groom her. Up till now Bombalurina hadn't been able to remember much of the past couple of weeks, but Jelly had brought the memories flooding back.

Bombalurina was huddled over her sister in one corner of the dark black cell they shared. Macavity had just left, after beating them both to a point past submission. Demeter had fallen asleep almost instantly, the beating taking the rest of her energy. The kitten tried to crawl into her mothers neck, but was too weak, and was yet to open it's eyes. Bombalurina picked it up then settled it in the crook of Demeter's neck. Soon it too had fallen silent, leaving Bombalurina alone with only the shadows for company, as she guarded her family through the night.

Bombalurina turned away, trying to keep her face the same as she battled with the wave of memories which were flooding her head. She turned back around at the sound of footsteps. Just then Munkustrap entered, holding Jemima in his paws while being followed by another cat. Bombalurina took Jemima from Munkustrap then began to groom her. Just as she had done with the kittens mother.

"I'm guessing that the little one is yours." Probed Jellylorum. Much to the three cats surprise Bombalurina shook her head.

"She's Demeter's, not mine." Jelly looked a bit confused.

"Demeter is my sister" explained Bombalurina. Jelly turned to look at the other two cats, they looked as shocked as she was.

"She's too young" protested the cat that had come in with Munkustrap. Once again Bombalurina shook her head.

But their shock quickly vanished as Demeter stirred. For a moment, all four cats thought she was waking, but Demeter only made a small sound before unconsciousness dragged her back into the darkness. As much as she tried to act older, Bombalurina was still a kitten, a kitten without her family. Bombalurina was close to crying. She wanted to see her sister's eyes. She wanted to hear her sister's voice. But she couldn't. Demeter wasn't close to waking. Bombalurina and Jemima would have to wait.