"Do you think they'll make us leave?"
Bombalurina shrugged. She knew Mungojerrie was worried about his mate Exotica and his sister Rumpleteazer. All three of them used to work for Macavity.
"I don't know yet, I want to see what Demeter has to say."
The four cats moved silently through the shadowy Junkyard to the old oven. Inside, waiting for them, was Tantomile and Coricopat. The twins had been captured but had managed to escape by hyponotizing their gaurds. They could always sense danger but this made the tribe wary of them.
"Sorry I'm late,"
The six cats turned together to see a small black and gold queen in the entrance. Bombalurina smiled but Demeter's face stayed serious.
"What news do you have for us?" Tantomile leaned forward slightly to see Demeter better as the others moved to sit by the walls. Demeter stepped into the circle.
"Not a lot, I'm sorry to say. Munkustrap either has more important matters on his mind or he isn't saying. He hasn't said anymore about us being exiled since Electra but I think the idea's still there."
Coricopat spoke up:
"He actually talks of exiling us?"
Demeter nodded.
"He was angry one night at Jerrie and Teazer and he said all cats who had connections with Macavity should be exiled."
"Wait a minute."
Bombalurina stood up.
"If all cats with connections to Macavity are to be exiled then he would have to include Jemima. Will the rest of the tribe allow her to be exiled?"
Exotica shrugged.
"The tribe respects Demeter as she helps Jennyanydots and Jellylorum, Rumpleteazer and Mungojerrie often help the kittens find food. Tantomile and Coricopat guard the tribe and make Munkustrap's and Alonzo's lives much easier. Bombalurina teaches the kittens the dances for the Jellicle Ball because she's the only one who knows them all. Without all of you daily life in the tribe would be much harder."
Rumpleteazer nodded,
"Don't forget yourself, Exotica. You hunt for Gus and any other cats unable to hunt for themselves."
Exotica merely smiled. Mungojerrie stood up.
"It doesn't matter how helpful we are if Munkustrap decides we need to go then we will end up going."
Coricopat nodded.
"We need a plan for if we are exiled."
"There are planty of empty warehouses down by the docks, we could live in one of them, there's plenty of rats round there as well so we go hungry."
Exotica nodded.
"I often hunt there, tomorrow I can take a good look around and see if there's any we can live in."
"We should start stockpiling food as well. When you go hunting try and catch one more than you need then we can save them so we don't have to worry about hunting as much if we are exiled."
Bombalurina nodded.
"Try not to draw attention to yourselves though. Jerrie, Teazer tone the stealing down as much as possible."
The two tiger tabbies nodded.
"We need to go it's almost dawn,"
Rumpleteazer, Mungojerrie and Exotica left together. Demeter slipped away to the den she shared with Munkustrap soon after.
"Won't Jemima wonder about your absence?"
Bombalurina turned to smile at Tantomile.
"She'll probably think I'm at Tugger's,"
Tantomile nodded and the red queen slipped out into the night.
"Was anyone watching us?"
Tantomile shook her head, she had checked earlier and had checked again after the meeting.
"Do you think they really will exile us?" she asked her brown eyes worried.
Coricopat shook his head.
"Not yet,"