Munkustrap's ears flattened against his head, and his whiskers twitched violently. He shook his head quickly, expertly removing all impacted snow from his headfur. His eyes narrow, teeth bared, cold hard gaze sweeping over the cold turbulent grey junkyard ahead. With his heightened senses working through the storm, he heard Alonzo at his back, breathing heavily. And he saw—

A blur of gold and black.

Eyelids twitching in the flurry of snow, Munkustrap sharpened his gaze.

Again, the flurry of black and gold fur swept by, closer than ever. Another snowball came hurtling through the air, narrowly missing him. Munk's hind legs coiled in anticipation of a strike. He was fairly certain he could make out Demeter's streaked pattern…

There!

He jumped, and only a tiny portion of his mind registered when he was hit from the side, knocked flat into the snow. But not for long—Munk rolled back to all fours, hackles raised, unexpectedly facing his little brother, who also stood, shaking out.

"Tugger!" he growled, barely able to form the name through clenched teeth.

Tugger shook out. Urgently, "Listen, Munk—" but not another word got out before Alonzo joined in the conversation by tackling Tugger, a rather triumphant expression on his face. "Gotcha, spy!"

"Alonzo!"

"No!"

Two rather sultry female voices, currently raised in alarm, sounded from close by. Munkustrap didn't care, even when he saw Bomba spitting at his second-in-command and Cassandra trying to pull Alonzo off by yanking his tail.

He had just seen Demeter's pale face, peering around the corner of a junkpile. Munk ignored the commotion behind him, even the shrieks from the two queens and the yell from his brother: "Chill, Munkustrap!"

He leapt forward. Demeter's face disappeared, but he quickly caught sight of her mostly-black tail and followed, hotly, closing the distance.

Demeter. This was the first time he'd seen her in almost three days. His heart was pounding, his veins flooding with adrenaline from the chase.

She looked back quickly, kicked some snow in his direction, and sprinted around a corner.

Munk hissed, blinking against the sting of snow, and raced after her. He didn't know what to do or say to his mate. All he knew was that he was mad, mad enough to…to…

He rounded the corner and found Demeter pressed flat against a towering crate, slick with ice, her chest heaving mightily. All around snow was packed tightly into the crevasses between the frozen junkpiles, forming a solid wall of dirty grey. She was trapped.

Munk slowed greatly, approaching one step at a time. Eyes still narrowed, he stood from his crouch, using his size automatically to tower over the small queen mere feet away. He hissed.

His breathing was ragged, deep. His mind barely registered thoughts, only churning feelings inside. Seeing Demeter again brought a wealth of emotions, some rather painful. Anger, full-out-rage, pleasure, contentment, hope, fear, and uncertainty. But the emotion quickly winning out was overwhelming relief, and affection—mixed with a bit of irritation.

But that was before he saw Demeter's face.

She was staring at him, lovely green eyes wide and fearful, back flattened against the crate, chewed-off nails digging into the icy wood behind her, lips parted and trembling.

She was terrified. Of him.

And Munkustrap felt horrid, his blood turning to ice in his veins. She'd only ever been afraid of Macavity, never him. Not him. He was her guardian, her protector, her comforter.

Her lover.

Munk's posture instantly relaxed. Seeing her like this, all he wanted to do was hold her, and promise that nothing like this would ever happen again. That he was nothing like his elder brother, Macavity.

But something in her expression, and his own guilt, stabbed him. He backed up, opening his arms in a gesture of apology, but Demeter, after biting her lip and staring at him hard, slipped on by, moving swiftly out of his sight.

Munk stayed frozen. The accusations in his head screamed What kind of monster are you? What have you done to your love?

What have you done?

Victoria shook Plato's shoulder, digging in her nails just to make sure he was feeling her.

His lips descended on her shivering ear: "What, Vic?"

Victoria pointed. "I see Misto! Up ahead."

Plato didn't look particularly pleased at this, but taking his cue from Victoria, headed quickly in that direction.

Upon reaching Mistoffelees' small sheltered area, Vic breathed a sigh of relief (it was really, very cold out here) and said without preamble: "Misto-Jemima's-missing-have-you-seen-her?"

Mistoffelees, who appeared to be struggling with a pair of candy cane bagpipes, jumped. "What?" His dark, searching gaze swept over Victoria and her large companion. He stared at Plato a bit rudely, as if asking in his head, "What are you doing here?"

Plato said, bluntly: "Jemima's out there. In this blizzard." Victoria nodded desperately, eyes filling with icy tears (she really, really didn't like the cold) and said: "Misto—please, don't you have any idea where she is?"

Misto shook his head, wordless. His features contracted, and his lips moved silently, worriedly.

Plato prompted, "You were supposed to be watching her—"

"I know that!" he snapped, standing up straight, the black hair on his shoulders rising. "I know. I shouldn't have left her…" His harsh expression broke for an instant, and Victoria saw how truly alarmed he was. It alarmed her to see that, because her good friend was never at a loss. His magic, his extraordinary senses, his cleverness were all a match for whatever life in the junkyard could throw at him.

Plato said: "Then you have no idea where she is now?"

Misto looked at him, calm again. "No. But I'll find her."

Victoria, not quite sure what was going on between the two toms, butted in: "Alright, Misto. Well, we already covered most of the southern junkyard…"

"I said I'll find her," Misto emphasized. "Consider it done!" There was such a fervency in his tone that Victoria believed him, completely, for a whole ten seconds. Then natural doubts crept in. "But—"

"Vic," Plato said, sharing, finally, an understanding look with Mistoffelees, "He'll handle it. We should get you back inside."

Victoria saw that there was no arguing with the two of them. And really, if anyone could find Jemima, it was the Magical Mr. Mistoffelees. "Okay, then. But one question?"

"Yes?"

"What in the world are you doing here with Tugger's bagpipes?"

Misto winced. "Um, yeah. Long story short, I'm trying to get the snow out. It's frozen-stuck. But there are more important things now!" And like that, the magical tom disappeared, leaving a very confused pair of cats blinking in the cold.

A brown-and-white tom was unceremoniously being dragged through the snow, leaving a body trail behind that might have been amusing under less lethal circumstances. Pounce let out an exhausted huff, and filled his lungs with air, arms and legs aching something fierce from dragging the much-larger Tumblebrutus through the snow.

Through the steadily falling snowflakes and harsh wind, he saw the black coat of Mistoffelees, several yards ahead in a little sheltered area, smacking and shaking some inanimate object. Pounce huffed again, and called, "Misto!"

And just as soon as his voice sounded, he saw the large, foreboding form of Plato entering Mistoffelees' immediate area.

Pounce jumped, and latched onto unconscious Tumble, dragging them both behind a box of fish that was sadly empty. His heart rate increased tenfold, and he squeezed his eyes shut, praying to the Everlasting Cat that Plato hadn't heard him.

He really, really didn't want to be murdered by Plato before he had a chance to tell Etcetera how her laugh was the sweetest thing he'd ever heard.

He waited, tense, but warmed by apprehension. Finally, after what seemed like ages, he peered out.

Nobody was there.

Pounce sighed, partly relieved and partly resigning himself to the task of dragging Tumble somewhere safer, and definitely warmer. After all, being one of the spies, he owed it to Tumble to make sure that Tumble got to say goodbye to Electra, before he died of broken ribs and hypothermia, or, if that didn't do it, Plato, Alonzo, or Munkustrap…

"Etcy! There's Vic!"

Etcetera whirled around, trying to use Electra's comment as a beacon to locate her big sister. "Vicky! Where?"

Electra indicated with a toss of her head, saying, "She's over by Mistoffelees…and…wait…there's Plato!"

"Plato!" Etcetera hissed, scooping some snow into a perfect sphere. "The nerve! Parading Victoria around as his prisoner!"

"There goes Mistoffelees," Electra reported, frankly confused. "He looked…rather freaked out, tell you the truth…"

Etcetera ignored her friend, focusing all her energy on making a second, third, and fourth snowball. "You know, I think I'm getting pretty good at this!" she added brightly.

Electra reported: "They're turning—heading back this way! He's got a hold on her paw!" A nudge at her shoulder made her turn, quickly.

Nudging her was a snowball. Held up by Etcetera, who raised an eyebrow. Electra took it, nodding grimly. "Let's."

When Plato and Victoria came closer, unaware, Etcetera took aim and threw. She was the best at this snowball business—her shot hit Plato in the face.

Electra darted to the side unprotected by Victoria and hurtled the snowball, striking Plato's flank.

Etcy darted forward, seizing her sister's arm. "Victoria! Run!" She pulled mightily, separating the white queen from her captor.

Electra, meanwhile, plastered Plato with a third snowball, although he managed to block the brunt of it with his forearm. "Quit it!"

Electra sneered. "Who's not allowed to play now, Mr-High-And-Mighty?" The fourth snowball was speeding towards its target, but Plato smacked it away easily. He hissed, backing away, and reached for Victoria, hissing more strenuously when he found her gone, never once taking his eyes off Electra.

Electra knew that look, the danger, the madness in a tom's eyes. She knew what it meant for her, but took a quick breath and packed more snow together, forming her fifth and final snowball…

"Etcetera! Electra!" It was Victoria's voice, rather commanding. "Stop!"

To the protestations of Etcetera, Victoria strode forward, planting herself firmly between Plato and Electra. She shook her head. "Plato is…" she paused, turned slightly pink in the face, and continued: "helping. He's helping us find Jemima!"

Etcetera blinked confusedly, and looked at Electra, who stared, nonplussed, at Victoria and the tom behind her. "Jemima? Where's Jemima?"

Vic said, worriedly, "No one knows. You two haven't seen her?"

Etcetera said brightly, "Well, of course! Yes. A while ago. Actually…" she looked at Electra for help. Electra's frown of confusion deepened. "Jemima's missing?"

"Yes," Plato said, stepping next to Vic and putting his arm around her in what Electra considered an overly-familiar gesture. But Victoria didn't seem put-out…to the contrary, she smiled and nuzzled the large tomcat, her paw coming to rest on top of his.

Etcetera's wide eyes took in the scene, blinked, and then regained her usual bright n' cheerful expression. She winked at Electra.

Electra, somewhat placated that Victoria was alright but not too pleased at couple-y signs of affection from anyone, frowned more. The tiny icicles clinging to her eyelashes crinkled against her brow. "So. Let's find Jem."

"And Pouncy and Tumble!" Etcetera burst in. Her expression was anxious, and mirrored Electra's feelings on the subject perfectly.

Electra, out of learned habit, had kept her gaze focused on the threatening figure of Plato, and saw an odd expression pass across his face at the mention of "Pouncy and Tumble". Her guard rose, and she asked, quietly, "Have you seen Pouncival or Tumblebrutus?"

"No." Victoria answered for them, while Plato blinked a few times, clearing his face of that odd expression.

"Doesn't matter. Mistoffelees will find Jemima. All of you queens—" he nodded towards them—"need to get inside. The storm's getting worse."

"But P—"

Electra cut of Etcetera's complaint swiftly. "Okay. We'll meet you back there."

Plato raised an eyebrow, and said, "Not a chance. We've lost one queen, and the safest place for you is out of this storm." Victoria nodded in agreement, and shivered just to prove the point.

Electra's mind raced. There was really no arguing with him…but Tumble might be in danger! And yet, it didn't look like they were going to be able to shake Plato. But still—Tumble!

Etcetera said it for her. "But…Pounce and Tumble are out in the storm…they might be in trouble?"

Okay, Electra definitely didn't like the look on Plato's face. It was rather…sinister. But he said only, in what was meant to be a conciliatory tone, "Okay. After I bring you three back to Jenny's den, I'll see if I can find Pouncy and Tumble…"

An orange-and-white-and-black tabby flopped back, heaving mightily, and said, in a strained tone of voice: "Truce, okay? Truce, truce, let's have a bit o' truce."

"You said it, Rumpleteazer," Coricopat wheezed, limbs spread wildly over the snow. He coughed and pulled his tail out from under Admetus, who was also gasping for breath. Draped over his right leg was his sister Tantomile, slowly rubbing snow in her face to cool down. Mungojerrie popped up from behind Exotica, both panting and looking rather worse for wear. Tantomile rolled over, and over, and over again to come up beside Jerrie. "Jerrie, your poor ear…"

He gave a wan smile, too tired for his usual rakishness. "You fight dirty, Love."

She smoothed the torn ear, soothing, "It's not too bad—I can definitely fix this," in a tone that was more reassuring herself than the tabby tom, who shrugged the injury off. "Just a quick trip to my owner's, and—"

"I'm hungry," Teazer moaned, rubbing her scraped-up stomach, the white fur mingled with bright red and deep crimson. "Fighting give me appetite!"

"I agree," Admetus approved.

Exotica rolled her slanted eyes. "It's okay to not agree with her, you know."

Admetus raised both eyebrows high, and managed to look condescending. "I happen to be hungry."

Cori raised one eyebrow and was condescending-looking without even trying. "For once, the thief is right."

Tanto wagged a finger at her twin brother. "Don't start. There is a truce."

Jerrie said heartily, "Yeah. Temporary peace!" He kissed Tanto soundly on the cheek, and nuzzled her with his nose. "Let's make the best of this bad scenario, here."

Exotica looked around, noting the howling wind, biting cold, and flying snow. "Good point. Let's get out."

"Have some dinner!" Admetus said, grinning at Teazer, who grinned right back and pushed herself into a sitting position.

"Triple-date!" Tanto said happily. She nuzzled Mungojerrie affectionately. "It was a double date that started out relationship, remember?"

Jerrie gave her a squeeze. "How could I forget, Darlin? That was the best night of my life…or at least, in the top ten…"

Coricopat, getting up from the ground, looked rather sour, as though he remembered something very different from that night. Rumpleteazer, too, wore a face of disgust. She held up her paws expectantly, and Admetus, realizing his cue, reached down and pulled her up. He might have pulled too hard, or Teazer might have overshot, because she ended up pressed against his chest.

Cori, noting this, extended a paw to help Exotica up. Exotica smiled, and nuzzled him warmly, snuggling into his side.

Teazer wrapped both arms around Admetus, who looked a bit confused but very happy. She squeezed fiercely.

Cori gave Exotica a kiss.

Teazer grabbed Admetus' paws and wrapped them around her waist.

"Jellicles!" Tanto broke in, "I'm not getting warmer standing here."

Jerrie gave her a pinch. "Not at all?"

Tanto fixed him with a calculating look. "Later, Lover. Right now, we all need to get out of this junkyard, find some warm food and have a good, solid rest."

Exotica pulled Cori. "Do let's. We can come back tomorrow morning, after the storm's blown over."

They all headed towards the fence at the west end of the junkyard, Teazer still clinging tightly to Admetus' side even though no one was looking.

"Her face." Voice breaking, Munkustrap added, "I've never seen her look so frightened…" he trailed off in a whisper, and rubbed his face, harshly, as though he could erase the sight of Demeter's wide eyes and trembling lips.

Alonzo, on the other side of the den, nursing a black-and-blue patch on his normally white eye, stopped his ministrations to look at the Jellicle Protector. He slid to all fours and moved closer to Munkustrap, stopping to put a paw on the shaking gray shoulder.

"Listen, Munk—she's alright. You didn't hurt her. You had control."

"I didn't!" Munk whispered. "I didn't, not at first! And you didn't see her face…" he buried his face in his arms.

"Munk," Alonzo said, gently. "No harm was done. You got a little wound up. Demeter will understand. She knows you love her."

Munk didn't answer, but kept his face hidden and his eyes squeezed shut.

Alonzo continued, almost talking to himself, "I never meant to hurt Cass. Never. But…the competition…I was being stupid, and I—" he sighed. "All I want is to get her back. But Cass is stubborn. And proud…we really are a match."

Munk raised his head enough to give his friend a watery smile.

Alonzo shrugged, rolling his shoulders. "Probably just have to have it out until the end. Get it all out. Then she'll calm down."

Munk frowned. "Didn't she already have the opportunity to cream you back there? When I was—" he swallowed hard.

Alonzo grimaced, flicking his pupils towards the den's door. "I was taking care of that stupid traitorous furball, when Cass and Bomba started screaming like the world was ending and—" he stopped. "Oh."

Munk nodded wryly. "He was trying to keep a hold on me, so that I didn't do exactly what I ended up doing. Frighten Dem."

"How heroic," Alonzo drawled, less than impressed. "But if he was truly on Demeter's side, he probably should have followed rather than take hold of Bomba. Haven't seen him since."

Right on cue, the Rum Tum Tugger walked into the den, covered in slush, dripping, and wearing an expression that seemed to say, "I hate the world and everything in it, especially you, Alonzo."

Alonzo didn't move a muscle, but said cuttingly: "I wonder what happened to you."

Tugger said, "You really don't want to know." And his smirk was really unsettling after that declaration.

Demeter squirmed, fitfully, unable to get any semblance of rest even though Jenny's bed was soft and warm. She turned to face the dark Abyssinian keeping watch on her.

Cassandra slunk over, expression deliberately calm. "How are you, Demeter?"

Demeter's eyes filled with tears. She shook her head, pushing herself into a sitting position. "He's nothing like Mac."

Cassandra looked politely confused. "What?"

"He's nothing like Macavity," Demeter said, more strongly, wiping her eyes with the back of her paw. "I love him so much."

Cassandra said nothing. She just blinked those startling blue eyes, and asked, with the twitch of her mouth, Why?

"His face," Demeter said softly, crossing her arms around her knees. "When he had me, cornered, he was mad. Could barely think straight; I've seen that look on tomcats before. But once he saw me…" Demeter choked, and said warmly, "His eyes…they were so loving—like always, and he—"

Cassandra nuzzled her, encouragingly.

"When he saw my face, he backed away—so ashamed! Nothing like Macavity!" Demeter finished forcefully, digging her chin into her knees. She looked up at Cassandra through watery eyes. "I just want to be with him. I wish this whole war was over right now and I was back in his arms!" She bit her lower lip, tears spilling out heedless of her attempts to stop them.

Cass said wisely, "Well. Now he's probably a bit torn up himself, and I'm sure he wants the same thing. But we need to finish this war. Demeter," she turned the queen's face towards her, "you can't be ruled by fear. Face this. Throw a snowball at him. Let all hell break loose. I mean, you know now that he'll never hurt you."

Demeter nodded, a gleam returning to her green eyes. "Yes. But it's going to be a lot of work getting him to fight back!"

Cassandra smiled fiercely. "That's it! Show him that you just want to play. You don't need to be protected from snowballs, cold and annoying as they may be!" By the end of this impassioned speech, both queen broke into giggles.

Until Bombalurina slunk in, covered in slush, shivering up a storm. At Demeter's exasperated sigh and Cassandra's epic eye-roll, she help up both paws. "Hey. At least we're even."

A/N: Next chapter is (surprise, surprise!) already completed and scheduled for release tomorrow evening. Have fun!