A/N: Hello there! Glad to see you again!

Now, without further unnecessary A/N's, let's get back to the story.

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Chapter 11: A bad dream

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The Junkyard

Right when we left

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Deuteronomy woke up from his nap when he heard a cry. He shook his head and walked over to the small bed where his youngest son was sleeping. He gently took the kitten and hugged him tightly.

"What's wrong, Macavity?"

"I had a nightmare," the red kitten softly sobbed.

"It's okay," Deuteronomy whispered. "It was just a dream."

"Where's mommy?" Macavity asked with a small voice. Deuteronomy turned around to search the den, but placed Macavity back in his bed when he didn't find her.

"I'll go look for her, I'll be right back, okay?" He walked out of the den and looked around, but the only cat he saw was a brown queen, staring at the moon.

"Cleopatra, have you seen Grizabella?" he asked.

"I have," she answered, still staring at the dark skies. It stayed silent for a while.

When it was clear she wasn't planning to continue talking, Deuteronomy proceeded: "Where did she go?"

"She has left the Junkyard."

He frowned. "Again?" He had noticed that she did that quite often. He started to walk in small circles. "And do you know where she went?"

"No."

…

"Okay then." He slowly turned around and headed in the direction of the main gates.

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Inside, Macavity was still silently sobbing. Munkustrap, who had woken up from the voices, gently placed his paw on his brother's forehead.

"Calm down, Mac. There's nothing to be afraid of."

Macavity nodded, even though he wasn't sure about that. His sobs slowly faded away. "Munk?" he asked.

"Yes?"

"Will you protect me?"

"Of course I will, Mac. Always."

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Cleopatra observed the stars when she heard someone moving behind her. It was several hours ago that Grizabella had left the Junkyard, and she had been standing on the same pile of junk ever since.

She heard Deuteronomy asking if she had seen Grizabella. She answered the question. She didn't say anything else but the exact answer. No more, no less. However, Deuteronomy apparently wanted more than just the answer, so he asked another question. She answered again. However, she wasn't telling the truth this time. She knew where Grizabella was. The Rising Sun. she could feel everything. She heard laughter, she smelled wine. But she didn't care. Deuteronomy had already left, but she still watched the stars.

She wondered if she could see him in the stars. She wondered where he was. She was trying to see him, but she couldn't. He wasn't coming today. Just like yesterday, just like two days ago.

Unlike three days ago.

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A streetlamp died as Grizabella reached the Junkyard Street. She was so tired she had to force her paws to continue. The music and the laughter still resonated in her ears, and her eyes were tired because of the colorful lights in the club. She didn't remember everything that happened, but she knew she had a good time. When she finally reached the gate, she stumbled upon her mate. She looked away in shame, knowing what he was about to say.

"Grizabella, where have you been?"

"Just… wandering around the city…" she mumbled.

"Don't just run away like that! Your kittens need you!"

"I know, I just…" She sighed.

Deuteronomy hugged her. "Please warn me before you leave. I can't stand it when I don't know where you are."

He was right. She had two kittens, and an entire tribe. That was more than enough to take care of.

Wasn't it?

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"I have a very bad feeling about this."

Grumbuskin and Tumblebrutus watched as the pure white queen stepped onto the barge. It had been several weeks since Growltiger had announced his relationship with Griddlebone, and the crew was anything but happy with that. Of course, nobody even thought about telling that to Growltiger.

"Why?" Tumblebrutus asked.

"She's using him. Just like she uses every tom she manages to seduce. Let's just hope she only takes a part of the loot, and not the whole ship."

"The things one would do for love," Tumblebrutus said with a sigh.

Grumbuskin chuckled. "Yeah, I don't doubt it."

Tumblebrutus glanced at his friend. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, Tumble, I think we both know the answer to that."

Tumblebrutus frowned, and pulled the other tom with him behind a crate. "What in the name of Neptune's beard are you talking about, Grumb?"

"Listen Brutus, I need you to be honest with me for one moment. Did you help that prisoner escape?"

"I thought we already discussed that matter."

"I'm not talking about the Jellicle, Brutus. I'm not talking about that time during the Siamese attack. I'm talking about the slave."

It stayed quiet for a couple of seconds before Tumblebrutus answered. "And what if I did?"

"That is not an answer."

"This is ridiculous," Tumblebrutus said with a fake grin and turned around to walk away. Grumbuskin placed his paw on his shoulder to stop him.

"Look, I'm not going to betray you, I won't tell Growltiger. I just want you to be honest with me for once!"

Tumblebrutus shook the paw off his shoulder and started walking again. "Let it go, Grumb. It doesn't matter anymore."

"It does if you still see her," Grumbuskin shouted after him.

The other tom froze and turned around again. "What on earth are you talking about?"

"I don't know, but you are really bad at pretending you don't know what I'm talking about, and you do it a lot. But do you think I never wake up next to an empty bunk? Or do you voluntarily guard the ship, even when it's not your turn?"

"Listen, Grumb. I don't know what you are insinuating, but I think it is best if you just forget about it."

"Best for you, or for me?"

"For both of us."

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A/N: A shorter chapter, but I hope it satisfies you for now.

Anyways, see you soon for chapter 12.