Chapter Seven: Feline Fiasco

A/N: Ok, here's another chapter for anyone out there who is still reading this. It might help to look over previous chapters, but it's totally up to you. I apologize for the delay in updates; things are as hectic as usual. Enjoy!

Demeter awoke feeling inspired. She jumped out of bed and retrieved her art supplies from her drawer and drew continuously for hours until Macavity stormed in. He was holding his nose and trying to stop the blood from gushing out. Demeter took one look at him and rushed to his side, throwing her sketchbook down and grabbing some ice and cloth to tend to his wound. "What happened to you?"

"I was punched." he answered.

"By who? And why would someone punch you?" Demeter gently held the cloth on his nose, pressing down with the ice.

"I don't know. I was just walking and then...well..." he looked as though he didn't want to continue talking about it, but Demeter pressed the issue. "Well? Who punched you?"

"It was Munkustrap."

"Why that dirty rotten Pollicle!" Demeter unknowingly began pressing down with more pressure, her fury was getting the best of her, something Macavity was pleased to see. "Am I hurting you?"

"No, you're fine." Macavity pondered that a moment and muttered. "Actually, you're perfect." he grinned.

Munkustrap was sitting on the tire observing the tribe when Demeter approached him. She looked upset about something, and just when he was about to ask what was troubling her, WHAM!

Her paw flew across his cheek like a speeding train. "OW!" he hollered. "What in the world was that for?"

"You punched him! How could you? Just because you're jealous that I left you for him? Is that it?" Demeter was infuriated, absolutely livid.

"Have you gone bonkers, Dem? I haven't punched anyone! And as of last night you were still in love with me, not him!" he shouted in return.

"Explain to me why Macavity entered my den just now with a bloody nose." She demanded.

"Well I certainly didn't do it...but I would've liked to." he mumbled the last part under his breath, but it wasn't low enough to keep Demeter from hearing.

"You're nothing but a pathetic waste of life. I can't even stand the site of you knowing this is how you treat innocent people." she was about to storm off but Munkustrap wasn't quite finished blowing off his own steam.

"You want to know who the pathetic waste of life is around here, Dem? It's him! He spends his time at the club gambling and drinking. He probably has dozens of girls who know him as well as you'd like to believe you do. And you want to go around talking about how I mistreat innocent people? Look at what you're doing to me! Why are you acting like this? This isn't like you."

"That goes to show how much you know about me. I'm sorry I ever met you."

"I don't even know who you are." Munkustrap said softly, leaving in a hurry to get out of the public gathering that had formed as a result of their outburst.

Demeter left, but not to return to her den. She went to the river to get her emotions in check; it was time she did some serious thinking. She needed to figure out the feelings in her heart. She felt such guilt over Munkustrap, and yet the emotions she felt for Macavity she couldn't even describe. Were they good? Negative? She couldn't be sure. Something wasn't right with her entire self and she needed to solve the problem immediately.

Macavity could not have been more proud of himself, at the chaos he was creating by having control over one powerless queen. He amazed himself. But his work was definitely not over yet. He needed to be with Demeter now. If he could get into her mind while she was still fuming and confused, then there would be no way he could fail. The excitement was almost too much to handle. He chased after Demeter towards the river, quiet like a fox...