As Hestia lay petrified before the oncoming car, I had dropped into the razor-edged grass. It cut at my fur, but my claws cut back, and I managed to free myself in time to tackle her out of harms way. The vehicle sped past, seemingly indifferent to the night's drama.

If only, I said to myself, walking home silently with my brothers. If only…

Her death had been painless; at least, Vulcan tried to assure me so. There was no blood. There was no scream. There was no time.

There was just no time…

The night sky spread out above us, giving the air a calm equanimity. The stars that could be seen through the lights of the city flicked down at us, making me numb. The sky always sent a cold wave of fear over me—it was a constant reminder of how big the world was, and how small I was in comparison.

"Is there anything bigger than the sky?" I wondered aloud. I was suddenly very tired. But not sad. Why wasn't I sad?

"Who knows?" Vulcan purred quietly.

"Who cares?" Jupiter shrugged, "It's not like anyone's ever going there anyway. No Cat in our lives, at least."

I nodded a few times before falling asleep mid-stride. I was so, so tired…

--oOOo—

"Where is she now?"

"Buried. We couldn't just leave her on the side of the road to be scavenged by Pollicles."

"Ah, so that's why your paws are muddy."

"Yeah."

I wasn't asleep, but I wasn't fully conscious either. We weren't in the alley—I assumed that Father had met us on the way there. Cronus's scent lingered in the air as well. I didn't know if it was on Father, or if he was really there.

"So Demeter's asleep?"

"Yeah, she totally passed out on the way home. Jupiter and I took turns carrying her."

"She doesn't look that beat-up about the whole ordeal." Cronus's voice. Why was it tinged with anger?

"I'm not asleep…" I managed to mumble, the visions of dream fields finally clearing as I opened my eyes slightly. Everything around me was a blur for several seconds, until my eyes had adjusted to the lighting.

Father helped me up, and I could see the sadness in his fiery eyes. It was the same sadness he held for Mama; an unhealed and recently opened wound.

"Father… it's not your fault. It's really not your fault at all." I wanted to say more, to say anything that would make that sadness go away.

"I know, Demeter." He spoke softly, but his voice wavered with anger. I was scared for a moment, until I realized that it was not anger directed at me. He was angry with himself.

"Father—" I tried to comfort him, but he couldn't contain it any longer. Swinging his long body around, he aimed at a small wooden post holding up a decorative fence. His claws struck it, carving deep grooves in the wood, before pulling out again violently, sending splinters everywhere.

His attack surprised us all, but he seemed to be relieved of his tension—for the time being, at least.

"Come, let's go home. It's been a tiring evening and we could probably all cope better with a clear mind." He turned, and began to walk towards our home. Jupiter and Vulcan followed up behind him, but Chronus lingered back with me.

I waited until the others were several yards away before I turned to Chronus. "You want to tell me something." I could see it in his eyes. He was angry with me.

He looked back without hesitation. "You killed her."

"I did not."

"Vulcan and Jupiter have no sense, you of all Cats should know that!"

"Cronus, there was no way to predict what happened! I was stuck in that horrible knotted grass, I couldn't—" I was silenced by a loud crack before toppling over myself.

My eyes shot back up in disbelief. The side of my face burned and stung, confirming my fears. Cronus looked stunned in spite of himself, but he quickly recovered and walked away without saying anything more.

He hit me. Cronus had hit me.

"You killed her."

"Demeter, are you—DEMETER!" I ignored Father's call and ran in the opposite direction.

--oOOo--

I took every turn I came upon, not knowing, not caring. I finally had to stop when I tripped over a large rock, simultaneously hurting my paw and falling over again. It was at this point that I took the time to find out just where I was. Looking around, I could identify the location as a park—one I had never been to before, but a park all the same. There were dim lamps that surrounded the elliptical pond in the middle, lighting the way on a paved road that circled the premises. It was quite peaceful.

Then I was sad.

The feeling washed over me without warning, blocking any positive thought from entering my head. I started with the recent events. Cronus. Why had he come to loathe me so much? Again the pain in my face made me wince.

Was it like this for Hestia before she died? A sharp pain… and then what?

"You're trying to grow up too fast."

Hestia would never grow up.

She was dead. Hestia was dead.

"Dear, what are you crying for?"

The voice made me jump and whirl around. Normally I wasn't so skittish, but it had been proven to me not but an hour ago that you never knew what would happen. Never knew what was waiting to sneak up behind you.

"W-what?" I hadn't realized that I was crying at all. I had been too lost in my mind.

"I asked you why you were crying." She was a queen: an older one, but not yet an elder. Despite my current mental state, I could not help but admire her beauty. Her fur was glossy, and her face well-shaped. She had the air of one who knew it, too.

"I just… lost someone near to me." I ducked my head in slight embarrassment of my tears, but she sat next to me as if we were close in relation ourselves.

"Oh? Imagine that, I have too." She smiled when I looked up in surprise—it was a lovely smile, but it had remorse in it.

"Really?" I had forgotten not to talk to strangers by this point, "Who was that?" Not want to seem rude, I added, "For me, it was my sister." Speaking it out loud almost made the tears come again.

"My mother."

"Oh," I was surprised yet again, "I lost my mother too. Except that it was before I was old enough to remember, so I never really met her."

"Really, now? I'm sorry to hear that. At least we can know that they all made the journey to the Heaviside Layer," she sighed sadly, "And that's good enough for me."

"Heaviside Layer?" I blinked in confusion. "What's that?"

It was her turn to be surprised. "You don't know? My, no wonder you look so awful. The Heaviside Layer, my dear, is where all Cats go when they die. It's a place of wonders, and once a Cat gets there, they have the chance to be reborn into a different life."

"I've never heard of such a place." Father had never spoken of it. The idea, though—that Hestia would never die completely, that she could come back if she wanted—sent a shiver of warmth through my cold body.

The older queen shook her head. "Really, not knowing what the Heaviside Layer is. I suppose you don't know what Jellicle Cats are either!" She laughed jokingly, but I was once again thrown into puzzlement.

"No, I don't." Father had mentioned Jellicles before. I knew that they were a tribe of Cats known for their graceful dancing and singing. All Cats could sing and dance, of course, but Jellicles were famous for their annual Ball. Still, I asked; I liked this queen, even if she was a stranger to me, and even if I was only a kitten myself.

"Oh! I'm sorry," She ceased her laughing in mild embarrassment. "I will explain that too, then, if you'd like."

"Yes, please," I was slowly growing happier. Was this what it felt like to have a mother?

"Well, Jellicles are Cats who have banded together as a tribe. Every year, they have the annual Jellicle Ball, where they dance and sing and have quite a wonderful time. Then, some point around the middle of the night, their leader will choose a single Cat that he allows to enter the Heaviside Layer. They have some very interesting participants!" She laughed lightly again.

My heart sank slightly. "A Cat has to be chosen to go to this… Heaviside Layer?"

"Well, they think so. I don't, I believe that every Cat has the chance to if they like. That's one of the reasons I'm leaving for a while, I had several arguments with some of the more devout followers in the tribe. I figure that by the time I come back, those Cats will have left."

"Oh!" I was excited now. "So you're a Jellicle?" I had heard of them as a group, but never met one in person!

"Yes, yes," She smiled, some of her own sadness still visible, "I've been to several Balls. There are some very nice Jellicles there. I'm just leaving for a bit to see the outside world. They got quite offended when I said I wouldn't be there for the next few gatherings, but I'm sure they'll forget about it eventually. You should go someday yourself. You know the Junkyard, right? The one downtown? That's where they all go. It's actually quite clean, several of them live there."

"No, I couldn't. I'm not much of a dancer."

"Don't worry about that, dear. They'll be happy to take you up. I did that for several years, in fact. My student was a little kit like you, maybe a couple moons older. She learned well. Do you sing?"

"A little. I like to sing, but I'm not as good as Hestia—" I stopped abruptly, the lament coming without warning. I had to cough to keep my cry suppressed.

"Don't cry, it's alright," She gave me a warm hug that subdued the pain, "Hestia, you say? Was that your sister? What a pretty name."

"Yeah." I couldn't say any more.

She looked down at me, sensitive to my current state. Then, without speaking, she began to sing softly. I listened to the sound of it in silence—it seemed like a lullaby, but her voice was rich and kept the song comforting rather than tiring. It was short, and she soon finished.

"You have a very pretty voice." It sounded foolish out loud, but it was the truth.

"Why, thank you." She smiled again, looking happier herself. "It is something I pride myself in."

Somewhere in the distance, a bell tolled—it was very late.

"I must be on my way," The queen sighed and stood, helping me up as well, "And I'm sure you should get back home as well. Do you know the way?"

I looked around, and in the distance I could see the bridge that we had been on earlier. I could follow it home. "Yes, thank you." I gave her the best smile I could. She really was like a mother… or like I'd imagined a mother to be.

"Before we part, I didn't catch your name, dearie."

"Oh… Demeter. My name is Demeter."

"Demeter. Your name is pretty, just like your sister's." She gave me a final smile. "If you ever do happen to become a Jellicle, look for the cat I trained in dance. She's almost like a daughter to me now, really, I'll be sad to leave her behind… her name is Bombalurina. Unique, isn't it? I think it's her Second Name. Talk to her if you ever get the chance, she's a doll."

"Okay!" I waved a goodbye as we parted.

It took me until I was at the mouth of our alley to realize that I hadn't asked for her name.