I squeaked and whirled around to face a black and silver striped Tabby. He was staring at me with an expression I couldn't decipher.

"Who are you?" The Tabby demanded.

"Kiana," I replied.

"How did you find us?" He asked.

"Excuse me?" I was confused. "Find who?"

He narrowed his eyes. "Don't play coy with me. Do you work for Macavity?"

I gulped. "N – No." His expression softened and he took his paw off my shoulder. "Please help. There were, um, Pollicles chasing after me. Help me hide just in case they come back!"

"I didn't hear any Pollicles…"the Tabby mused.

"They, uh, gave up halfway. I just kept running."

The Tabby nodded. "Very well. Well, at least come inside and warm up." A light rain was falling down from the sky. I blinked the raindrops out of my eyes with my long eyelashes.

"Inside where?" I asked.

"The Jellicle Tribe," the Tabby responded.

"Where's that?"

He chuckled. "You're standing in it right now!" I looked down at my feet, only to see dirt surrounding me. I looked back at him with confusion written across my face. "What I mean is, you're already standing in the center of my tribe. That microwave you hid in? That's the home of a couple fellow Jellicles, Cassandra and Alonzo."

"Cassandra and Alonzo?" I repeated. He nodded and stepped closer to the microwave. He opened the door and removed the small dish resting on the floor, revealing a tunnel that led underground.

"That tunnel leads to their den." He put the dish back and closed the door. "So, if you would follow me to my den, my mate and I will happily let you spend the night there."

For once in my life, I smiled a real smile. And let me tell you something: it felt good! We walked over to an abandoned stove on the opposite side from where the microwave was. I looked around to see the other so – called 'Jellicles', but I didn't see any. The Tabby told me that they were all inside their dens, probably sleeping. He said most Jellicles preferred the night life.

"Dem!" The Tabby called out as we walked inside. "Come here for a second!" A black and gold queen walked out of the bedroom and gave me a warm smile.

"Hello," her voice was filled with warmth. "What's your name?"

The Tabby smacked his forehead. "Oh, I forgot introductions! Kiana, this is my mate, Demeter. And I'm Munkustrap, or Munk, for short."

"Please, call me Dem," Demeter added. "Welcome to our den, Kiana."

"Thanks," I said. "It's very lovely." Sure I may have been locked up for a year, but I certainly knew my manners.

Munk turned back to Dem. "She was being chased by Pollicles," he informed. "I offered to let her stay the night here."

"Perfect!" Dem lit up and pulled me towards the kitchen. "Come. You must be famished!"

As if on cue, my stomach rumbled with hunger. I nodded. "Yes." She dished out what I now knew was Munk's favorite, Mouse Soup. This was much better than rice pudding back at the warehouse!

While we ate, Munk and Dem told me about the different Jellicles. They said there weren't too many cats my age here, only Rumpleteazer, Mungojerrie, Mistoffelees, Coricopat, and Tantomile. Dem had a sister, Bombalurina, and Munk had a brother, Rum Tum Tugger. His father was the leader, Old Deuteronomy, and their child was Jemima, a kitten. I wanted to meet her, but she was sleeping over at her friend's den.

"Who's Macavity?" I lied as the conversation died down. I watched Dem tense up and Munk glance at her.

"He's one of our biggest enemies," Munk said. "He used to be a Jellicle, but he was banished after the horrible things he did. He's a conjurer, just like Mistoffelees, who you'll meet later. He actually has a son your age, Plato." My ears perked up. "Yeah, poor tom ran away from his father and we took him in. He left one night – just disappeared."

"What happened to him?" I asked, hoping to get one step closer to finding my old friend.

"No one really knows," Munk said after a short pause. I deflated. "Macavity's not the only enemy we have. We also fear the Hidden Paw. He's just as evil as Macavity, who is also known as the Napoleon of Crime. " Yeah, as if I didn't already know that about the ginger tom.

Author's Note: At this point, I should mention that no one knows who the Hidden Paw really is. Plato has managed to keep his real identity hidden.

"Wow. He sounds terrible." Dem seemed to calm down a bit. I made a mental note to ask Munk about that later when she wasn't around.

"Well," Munk stood up. "I'll go fetch you some blankets. Take the couch. It's very comfortable." I helped Dem with the dishes while Munk got my bedding. I bid them good night and got settled into bed. I had never felt so warm, comfortable, and safe in my life. I didn't want it to end.


"'ere we ore," Jerrie announced to the other three henchcats with him as he looked up from the piece of paper in his paws. "'enchcat Quahtahs, Room M7." They pushed open the doors and peeked inside their new room.

"We're supposed to sleep in that?" Marque, one of Plato's henchcats, grimaced as he pointed to the tiny beds. "But they're so tiny!"

Teazer put an arm around his shoulders as best as she could. He was tall and she was short. "It woll be alroight. We con get used tah it."

"I guess you're right," Marque mumbled. Teazer chuckled.

"Oi olways am!" She replied.

"She's roight," Jerrie added. "Even whon she's wrong, she's roight."

"Ond thot's whoy Oi love yah," Teazer said as she nuzzled up to her mate before giving him a quick kiss.

"Yuck!" Eustace, the fourth henchcat, pretended to gag. "Please! Spare us from your PDA!" The four friends laughed and entered their new room, wondering how long their stay would last.


"Ah, Plato!" Macavity called out as he saw Plato pass by his office. "Come here for a moment."

"Yeah?" Plato asked as he walked over to his desk.

"How are you and your henchcats coming along?" Macavity asked.

Plato shrugged. "Fine, I guess. I just checked on them. Most of them are exploring or talking to your own henchcats."

"Very well," Macavity stood up. "Well, I'd like for you to meet my own top henchcat. Follow me." Macavity led him to the Medical Room, where he was introduced to Griddlebone. A black and tan tom was lying on one of the recovery beds.

"Good afternoon, Sir," Zakk saluted.

"Zakk, this is my son, Plato," Macavity introduced. "You might remember him from when you were both kittens."

Zakk nodded. "Yeah, I remember him."

"Plato, this is Zakk, my own top henchcat. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer are to train with him and no one else. His duties are different than the others." Plato nodded and they turned to walk away, but Macavity spun back around. "Zakk, I need that report on Axel."

Zakk grinned. "Taken care of. He and his henchcats are all dead."

"Perfect," Macavity nodded. "Get well."

They left and Zakk growled. Plato was here, and Zakk was NOT happy. He didn't want Kiana to have her heart broken again by him. He remembered that day Plato left. Kiana fell apart. She no longer had that warmth in her eyes and she barely spoke a word. Zakk vowed to not let Kiana get hurt again.