Misto gritted his teeth as he struggled to cross the yard. Bast, he hated being a cripple! He sat down in front of cupboard, rubbing his aching and stiff legs. He couldn't dance any more…not that any of them danced since the night the Jellicles were attacked, but even if they still did dance, Misto couldn't. His legs were about ruined; Jenny had just managed to save his legs.

"You know if you talked about it, it would make it easier," Misto looked around, glaring at Shima. It had been about two weeks since she had returned to the Jellicles. He struggled to his feet, shaking his head, before turning away.

"I had mates you know," Misto paused, looking around at Shima, who was looking quite young and scared.

"Macavity…he, uh, gave me away," She continued. Misto was unsure of what to say.

"I-I'm sorry," He murmured. Shima gave a small smile.

"I've never told anyone…care to trade stories?" Shima asked. Misto thought for a moment, before giving a small nod. They both sat down.

"Me or you first?" Shima asked.

"You…give me time to prepare," Misto answered. Shima nodded, taking in a deep breath.

"It was a year after the attack on the yard, a year after Daddy was hit by the car and a year since Macavity had taken me and renamed me Renaya," Shima started. "A cat, called Milo, had made his way into Macavity's sights. He was a hench-cat but he had the potential that Macavity was after. Macavity wanted him to take a certain roll in his organizations. Milo refused," Shima glanced at Misto. "Macavity let it pass but watched Milo, just waiting for anything to come up…it soon did, Macavity had noticed Milo looking at me, that he protected me from the others. Macavity offered him the role again…but he also offered me as a mate," Shima sighed. "Milo accepted and I moved into a private room with him…at first I was scared, I was only a year old and I wasn't…ready for certain things. He just smiled and said he wasn't going to force me into anything." Shima smiled, a smiling, chocolate brown and white splotched Tom with gentle green eyes making its way into her mind. "I stayed with him…and I felt safe with him,"

"You fell in love," Misto said softly. Shima nodded.

"When I was at Macavity's, I was always on guard, even when I was asleep…but with Milo, I felt safe…I felt loved." Shima turned her head away, but Misto saw the tears in her eyes.

"About five months after we were put together, Milo was called out to do something for Macavity. He kissed me and said he loved me and he'd see me later. I told him that I loved him and he left. He never came back," Misto's eyes widened.

"Oh, Shim, I'm so sorry," He breathed. Shima gave a small nod.

"He was killed by a Pollicle…they brought his body back though, I saw him, I saw his bloody and broken body before Macavity ordered it be taken care of," Shima sighed.

"Macavity let me mourn for a while, before he ordered me back to work…then a month after Milo was killed, Macavity gave me to another Tom," Shima's tone had become bitter.

"He was possessive, ruthless, cruel." Shima sighed, shuddering as the image of a tall, strong, short haired dirty gray Tom with leering orange eyes and a smug grin came into her mind, wiping away all images of Milo.

"His name…Ryder," Shima said. "I hated him…I hated him so much," Shima shuddered, her fur bristling.

"He used to hit me, just for fun." Shima growled. "But one night…it went bad, he tried to…he tried to rape me, Misto," Misto's eyes widened, a snarl escaping his lips.

"He was clawing at me," Shima murmured, her paw brushing at a series of crisscrossed scars on her right inner thigh. Misto blinked, staring at them in disbelief.

"Macavity ran in at that moment, pulling Ryder off of me. Griddlebone held me as I shook and cried. Macavity was screaming at Ryder, yelling for hench-cats." Misto watched as emptiness settled through her crystal blue eyes.

"Ryder was dragged out and killed…Macavity used him as an example," Shima glanced at Misto, her eyes back to the present. "Even though Macavity may have beaten me, though he may have tried to kill me…he never let a cat…uh, mate with another unless the other one was consenting," Misto nodded. Shima sighed, looking at Misto.

"Well?" She asked. Misto gave a small nod.

"This probably isn't going to sound as bad as I've been making it," Misto told her. Shima nodded.

"Okay," Misto took in a deep breath.

Misto ran from the yard, his green eyes wide in fear as he ran along the fog filled paths through the woods. He had been forced to run from the yard. He had heard Munkustrap's yell for the Jellicles to run and he knew all was lost. Tugger had been forced back from Misto when Misto ran for it. His sore paws hit the pavement as he continued to run, he could hear the hench-cats close by his tail. Misto stopped suddenly. He was on a bridge, but the other side was blocked. Hench-cats blocked the other side. Misto looked around, seeing the other hench-cats walk out from the fog. The hench-cats laughed as they blocked Misto's escape. Misto fell to the ground as a fist connected with the side of his jaw. Misto gave a weak groan, his paw holding his sore jaw.

"Naw, does it hurt, Mistoffelees?" A hench-cat jeered. Misto cried out in pain as claws dug into his sides and legs.

"Hm, what would you be without your dancing?" Misto looked around in fear at the hench-cat who asked that. Misto screamed in pain as one of his legs were broken. The hench-cats backed slowly away, leaving Misto clutching at his broken back left leg and sobbing in pain. One hench-cat remained, he grabbed Misto's hips, putting a foot on his back and twisting his hips viciously. Misto screamed in unadulterated agony. The hench-cat stepped back, leaving a crying Misto writhing on the ground.

"What do we do with him?" One hench-cat asked.

"Take him back or kill him?"

"I say we kill him," Misto looked around. He slowly started to drag himself towards the edge of the bridge. Either he jumped or faced the hench-cats. Either way, he was probably going to die.

"Hey, what's he doing?" Misto pushed himself off the edge of the bridge, falling into the freezing cold water below and being swept away by the rapids. Misto managed to grab a rock, breathing heavily as he gasped for air. His fur stuck to his skin with the water. Misto took another deep breath and let go of the rock, trying to swim to the bank. He finally managed to drag himself onto the bank, breathing heavily, coughing water up from his lungs. He looked around, hearing the hench-cats talking, muffled. Misto struggled to his feet before falling down with a cry of pain. He heard the hench-cats start talking louder. He struggled to his feet once more, pain piercing his hips and broken leg. He managed to stumble through the woods and onto the streets, falling onto all fours, trying to make the pain in his leg and hips less. Two days of excruciating pain later and Misto finally made it to the back up yard. His legs were dragging behind him now as he pulled himself through the yard.

"H-Help," Misto called, his voice croaking.

"Bast, Misto!" Tugger cried as he ran to his fallen friend. Misto screamed in pain as Tugger tried to pick him up.

"M-Misto, what is it?" Tugger asked, panicked.

"L-Legs," Misto whispered. "Hips,"

"I've got Jenny, Tugger," Misto looked around, seeing Coricopat looking tired and worn. Jenny knelt down beside Misto, trying to stabilise Misto so she could move him.

"W-Where's Tantomile?" Misto asked Coricopat. Coricopat winced, his eyes filling with pain.

"Her and her kittens are dead…only Shima survived," Cori answered sadly. "But we can't find her…" Misto looked at Tugger as Cori walked away.

"W-What?" He stammered, crying out loudly in pain as Jenny tried to move his hips. Jenny paled.

"Keep talking to him, Tug…this is going to hurt him," Jenny whispered in Tugger's ear.

"W-Where's Shima?" Misto asked, his voice shaking with the pain he was in.

"Munkustrap got hit by a car on the way here, the human took him to a vet, luckily his injuries were minor…but Shima got left behind, we can't find her…we don't know if she's still alive," Tugger explained. Misto screamed suddenly as Jenny tried to set his hips right. Misto blacked out with the pain.

"When I came to, Jenny explained to me how severe my injuries were," Misto sighed. "That it would be lucky if I was able to walk again…however, I learnt to walk with difficulty,"

"At least you're alive," Shima told him softly.

"But I can't dance, Shima, I can't dance!" Misto sobbed softly. "I can't even keep Victoria's memory alive by dancing!"

"You'll be able to eventually, Misto, you just need to strengthen them up," Shima tried. Misto looked at her.

"Don't you think I've been trying, Shima?" Misto asked. "Every time I try, Jenny yells at me, saying that I can't do it," Shima gave a thought hum.

"We'll do it without her knowing," Shima suggested. Misto looked at her.

"What?"

"Me and you, I'll try help you dance again," Shima told him. Misto gave a smile.

"Alright, Shima,"

"But let's keep it between you and me," Shima laughed. Misto nodded, struggling to his feet, but smiling just the same.

"You know," Misto said as he walked away. "I do feel better about talking to you," Shima smiled, watching Misto walk away. She continued to sit there, it was warm in the sun.

"So," Shima looked around, seeing Pouncival walk towards her.

"Hello, Pounce," Shima greeted. Pouncival sat beside her, rubbing the brown patch on his left eye.

"Did Misto open up?"

"Yes," Shima answered simply. Pounce smiled, giving a small nod. Shima leaned against his side, her head resting on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her close. He hesitated for a moment before kissing the top of her head. Shima sat up, Pounce looked embarrassed.

"I-I…uh, sorry," He murmured sheepishly. Shima gave a sad smile.

"It's not that I don't like you, Pounce…I've just had a bad past with mates," She told him. Pounce looked at her, shocked.

"You've had mates?" He yelped. Shima gave a small nod.

"Macavity gave me to them," Shima sighed. "The first one, I fell in love with but he was killed…the second, I hated, Macavity killed him for trying to, uh…well, yeah," Shima murmured. Pounce wrapped his arm back around her, Shima leaning back against him.

"Mates is moving a bit fast, Shims…how about just going out?" Pouncival asked nervously. Shima nodded, leaning up and kissing his cheek softly.

"Sure," Pounce purred, nuzzling her head. Shima gave a giggle, nuzzling him back.

"Hm," Shima gave a frightened squawk. Pounce looked at her. Shima and Pounce both looked up to see Munkustrap perched on the cupboard they were sitting against.

"Uh, hi, Daddy," Shima smiled innocently.

"Did you squawk?" Pounce asked in disbelief.

"Shut up," Shima growled. Pounce laughed. Shima pounced on him, both of them forgetting Munkustrap was there as they rolled around, playfully swatting at each other.

"Don't mind me, I'll just sit here," Munkustrap said. They both stopped at the sound of his voice, looking at him.

"Pouncival…?" Munkustrap asked. Shima sighed, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes. Pouncival moved up nervously.

"If you are going to date my daughter…you will take care of her," Munkustrap warned him. Pouncival nodded.

"Of course, Munkus…I would never let anyone hurt her," Munkustrap look at him, scrutinizing the bright brown eyes. Munkustrap gave a shrug and leapt off the cupboard.

"But if you break her heart…I will break your neck," Munkustrap muttered as he walked off. Pouncival gulped. Shima just gave a small laugh.

"He's just playing," Shima told Pouncival as she walked up to him, rubbing her shoulder against his…but she wasn't quite sure Munkus was playing.

Shima slept in the large den that night. The majority of the nights the Jellicles slept together in a large den. Her back was against Munkustrap's back, her paw lightly touching Pouncival's. Admetus and Plato were curled up together. Bomba and Demeter had their backs against one another's as they slept soundly. Jenny lay in Skimble's arms. Tumble was curled up near Plato. Jemima was curled up near Tumble. Tugger and Misto were sleeping side by side, near Cori, who was curled up in the corner. She was sleeping soundly, a small smile on her face.

I'm coming for you.

Shima shot up, her breathing rapid, her hackles raised slightly as she glanced around frantically. She looked around at her sleeping family, none of whom were disturbed by her waking up…except for Pounce that was. He looked at her through half-closed eyes.

"Nightmare," Shima lied. Pounce nodded and closed his eyes once more. It was no nightmare though. It had been Macavity's voice. She looked around at her family once more. Macavity was coming for her…he'd find the remainder of the Jellicles as well and finish them off. Shima couldn't let that happen. Her eyes strayed to Munkustrap and Pouncival before she settled back between them. She couldn't let Macavity hurt them…any of them, but what she was going to do, she had no idea. She'd think about it in the morning, when she could think straight.

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What's Shima going to do? I don't have anything else to add, oh, except I'm going back to school in two days *growl* but I'll still update!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed!

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Luv HGP!