"Look at the sun!" Mistoffelees said, poking his head out from the junk.

Munkustrap and Demeter came out of the hole they had chosen to nap in for the morning, and blinked against the harsh sun. It had been four days since the incident with Tugger, and so far none of the other kittens were being allowed out of their dens, except Mistoffelees. Munkustrap and Demeter had come in once they were sure Tugger would stay in his room, and asked for Mistoffelees to be allowed to play with them.

Of course, Dueteronomy allowed his son to go with them, proud of his actions concerning the siblings.

"Yeah, it's nice," Demeter said quietly. Munkustrap pushed her forward, and she giggled at her brother. "It's so bright," Mistoffelees said, the little kitten stretching his neck up so far he fell over.

Munkustrap smiled, but then tensed. "Look," he said.

Mistoffelees and Demeter looked up, then backed away. Alonzo and Cassandra had come forward. Cassandra looked solemn, while Alonzo was wincing as he stepped. Demeter noticed this and guessed Alonzo had gotten quite a spanking from Bustopher...

"Hi, guys," Alonzo said. "Hi," Munkustrap said slowly.

"Um..." Cassandra started. "I don't really know if this is going to help...but....I'm...we're both very sorry about...how we acted. We just...we don't....we're.....oh, crap..."

"We're so sorry," Alonzo finished. "That's all we can say, except we hope you can forgive us," he asked.

Munkustrap and Demeter looked at eachother uneasily. Mistoffelees tapped them both on the shoulders. "Please, they mean it!" Mistoffelees said. "Don't you want everything to be nice?" he asked.

Munkustrap and Demeter looked at eachother one more time, then turned to the two kittens in front of them. They both nodded, a sign that they forgave them. Alonzo and Cassandra both sighed in relief, then they slowly crept forward and touched the other kittens paws.


Tugger sadly watched from his den, where he was still confined. He sadly looked back to the room his father was napping in, knowing he could leave now but he did not dare disobey his father.

I am so sorry, guys, he thought. Please let me tell you that....please let me explain why I was so mad....I miss her so much...


Munkustrap and Demeter had agreed to return home with their adoptive parents. Jennyanydots was talking to Munkustrap about her duties as a Gumbie Cat, while Skimbleshanks was explaining to a very interested Demeter about trains. To be honest, Munkustrap was actually also listening to Skimbleshanks, making it look as though he was paying attention to Jenny.

"Eh...hiya," a voice said.

Munkustrap and Demeter looked up. They saw the tiger twins, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. They looked up at them and smiled bashfully. Demeter looked at her brother, and he nodded.

Mistoffelees was right. They had to try and move past this, since everyone was sorry.

"We...we got you guys something!" Mungojerrie kept on. Rumpleteazer nodded. "I hope you like it...it's kind of a peace offering..." she said carefully.

Munkustrap and Demeter crept over to her and looked at the gifts in their hands. Mungojerrie handed Munkustrap a stuffed toy dragon. Munkustrap took it and rolled in his hands. Then he grinned slightly and smiled. "Thanks, Jerrie," he said, touching paws with the tom. Mungojerrie smiled over at his mother, who grinned back at them.

Demeter, however, was stunned into silence. In her hands was a beautiful collar, red and black with spikes. "You like it?" Rumpleteazer asked, worried she would not.

She got her answer when Demeter tearfully wrapped her arms around Rumpleteazer in a squeezing hug, before hurrying into the den.

Munkustrap smiled and turned to Rumpleteazer. "She liked it," he said. Rumpleteazer and Mungojerrie both grinned.

"Jerrie? Teaze?" Skimbleshanks asked. "Yeah dad?" the twins asked at the same time. "Where did you get these?"

They both froze and paled. "Uh........" they both started, not looking too comfortable now.


Demeter stood inside the den, clutching the beautiful collar and smiling through her happy tears.

"Want me to help you with that?" a voice asked. Demeter turned to see Bombalurina sitting on a pillow. The two queenkits stared at eachother for a moment, before she softly said "Yes,".

Bombalurina came up to her and she took the collar out of Demeter's hands. She wrapped part of it around Demeter's neck, feeling the kitten tense. She remained calm, though, as Bombalurina clicked the collar shut around her neck.

Bombalurina turned around to face Demeter. "There," she said.

She admired it. "Wow, my sister is really good at picking stuff out," Bombalurina noted. Demeter blushed and fidgeted the collar slightly. "Thanks...it looks nice on me?" she asked. "Yep!" Bombalurina assured her. There was silence.

"Demeter, I am-" "I know. You're forgiven." "Oh, thank goodness...I didn't want you and someone as cute as your brother hating me-" "Cute?" "Cute?"

Bombalurina gasped in horror at what she said, and that Munkustrap had walked in right as she said it, and she blushed as they giggled.


"Cute?" Mungojerrie asked his sister.

"Yep!" Rumpleteazer giggled. "She called Munky cute!"

"Wow...." Mungojerrie said. Then he thought. "You know, Demeter is really pretty too..."

"I think Mistoffelees is the hottest tom here!"

Mungojerrie looked at his sister in shock. "You like the baby of the tribe?! He's almost 5 months younger then you!"

Rumpleteazer shrugged. "Not that long..."


Tugger looked out. He had just seen the quiet Admetus walk teary-eyed up to Munkustrap and Demeter with a flower. He mumbled a few words when Munkustrap suddenly hugged him.

He sighed. They had forgiven everyone....except for him. Dueteronomy, his father, had finally let him outside, and he wanted so much to approach them, but with all the other kittens, even his own brother avoiding him, he just couldn't.

How could he tell them why he had been so furious with them? He knew know he had been wrong, and he felt gut-twisting guilt inside him.

Then he saw Munkustrap and Admetus had walked away. Demeter was alone. He sighed. Do it now or never work up the courage to do it again, Tugger thought.

"Demeter?" he asked, walking over to her.

She looked at him, her eyes widened in terror, and she was about to run away. "NO!" he cried, then chastised himself. "No...please, listen to me...." he begged quietly.

Demeter stopped, but did not look at him. He shakily took a deep breath.

"I....I'm sorry...I am so sorry how I treated you, and how I turned all the other kittens against you...But...I had a reason...It's stupid, kind of, but please listen...Macavity killed my mother. Her name was Alistania...he killed her only a month after I had been born. Mistoffelees was born from another queen, some white and black named Ioni, but she left...but Macavity.....I hated him. I loved her so much, and he took her from me and from my dad....I hated him so much for it...and then I guess I let my hate of him make me hate you...but I don't hate you! Or your brother! Please forgive me...please, Demeter?"

She did not answer him. He sighed and silent tears began to form. He turned to go-

WHACK. WHACK!

He fell to the ground, shocked, then sat up and touched his paw to his mane. His mane! His beautiful mane...was covered in mud!

He turned and saw Demeter and Munkustrap, their paws muddy and impish grins on their faces. "If your wondering, that means you're forgiven," Munkustrap said.