Everybody thank jelliclesoul635 for this chapter. They completely inspired me to go write it. That was one of the best review I have EVER gotten! YAY!

A trudge. The slow, degenerate walk of someone with no hope of happiness left in the world. If you should ever see a cat with their ears drooping, their tail dragging on the ground, and their paws barely lifting up off the ground, they are trudging.

Demeter was trudging.

Trudging firmly in a direction that was not the Junkyard and not anywhere warm and happy. She didn't even know where she was going but wherever it was, it was not where she wanted to be. The Jellicle Junkyard. But Munkustrap was right in a way, she reflected. She should have told them. She should have left as soon as possible. And she most definitely should not have allowed herself to

"love him." She whispered softly. Hadn't she learned her lesson? But with the Jellicles…with Munkustrap…still, it was better that she put it all behind her and moved on, like she had originally planed.

"Goin' somewhere moi swee'?"

Demeter's reaction was instantaneous. Ears flat against skull, claws out, teeth bared, she looked around hissing. Sitting on a crate above her was a chunky black cat with a missing ear and fur that would make any self respecting cat want to wash themselves very thoroughly. It was a cat Demeter knew very well. The cat that usually stood guard over her when Macavity was out.

"Carbuckety!" Demeter hissed. "Leave me alone!"

"Ooo, someone has some fight in her."

"Yes and if you let me pass I won't scratch your eyes out." Demeter bluffed. Inside she was quaking. If Carbuckety was here the he was probably nearby.

"See now, I can't do that. Ole Mac has offered a big reward for your return an' if I take you back I get the reward an' maybe back in Mac's good graces. He ain' exac'ly been pleased wiv me since you lef'. So why no' 'elp ou' an old friend an' come quietly?"

Demeter spat at him. "I'd sooner drown in the Thames." She growled.

"That can be arranged." Purred a deep, suave voice from right behind her. Demeter's eyes grew big. Every hair on her body stood up. She hadn't even heard him come up behind her. Slowly Demeter turned around. There stood the Tom of her nightmares. From his uncombed whiskers to his dusty ginger coat, he was bigger and scarier than she remembered.

"Hello lover."

"Macavity." She whimpered.

"Tsk tsk luv, that's no way to greetthe Tom who has been pulling his fur out with worry over you." Macavity grabed Demeter roughly and crashed his mouth on hers, possessive, claiming, violent.

"Do you know how long I've been watching you? Waiting for my chance. I was almost ready to plan an attack on those miserable Jellicles and low and behold, you walk right into my paws. I must thank you sweetheart. I admit I did not relish the thought of losing my good henchcats to those dastardly Jellicles."

Mention of the Jellicles mad Demeter bold.

"The Jellicles would have whipped out your henchcats without breaking a sweat."

Macavity smacked her across the face.

"You do not speak to me that way!" He smiled that clod leering way that would always haunt Demeter. "It seems you've forgotten who I am. Pray let me remind you."

Macavity stared at his handiwork. Yes, his old Demeter was back. Matted fur, wild eyes, and whimpering.

"" she whispered to herself rocking back and forth.

"Munkustrap? That pansy! If memory serves he is the reason you left, isn't he?"

Demeter whimpered.

"What? Did you think he would save you? Munkustrap isn't worth the breath it takes to say his name. I'm ten times the cat he'll ever be!" Macavity boasted.

Demeter's eyes widened as some familiar faces peered around the corner. Then she did the bravest thing she had ever done. She distracted Macavity.

"If you're ten times Munkustrap, he's twenty times you! Cast willingly give Munkustrap their respect because they love him whereas you have to tear respect from them out of fear!"

Macavity's face clouded with rage.

"Such a way with words." He whispered. "Well let me match your eloquence. If Munkustrap is so worthy of your love and respect, why hasn't he come to he rescue of the fair damsel? Tell me, where is he now?"

Macavity felt a paw tap his shoulder. He whirled around.

"Here."

And Munkustrap punched him in the face.

Betcha thought that was the end of the chapter, didn'tcha? Well as much as I love cliffhangers (and I do) this is one time where a cliffhanger would get me hunted down and killed. So on with the chapter!

Macavity staggered back clutching his nose. The rest of the Jellicle search party (which unfortunately consisted only of Munkustrap, Alonzo and Bill Bailey) leapt out of hiding. Alonzo dove for Carbuckety's throat but Carbuckety fended him off. Munkustrap and Macavity went at it like, well, like two cats in a catfight. Unnoticed by the others' Bill Bailey slipped by and went to Demeter.

"Come then Miss, don't want to be in the way. Easy does it now." He could see that Demeter was hurting, but from physical, emotional, or psychological scarrage he could not tell. He gathered the trembling Demeter in his big paws and helped her pick her way across the lot away from the fighting cats, whispering encouragements to her the whole way.

"That's good dear, almost there. What you did was very brave, distracting Macavity like that. Slick bastard that he is (pardon my language) he would have heard us for sure if his attention wasn't riveted on you."

They made it a safe distance and Bill Bailey helped Demeter slide to the ground.

"Now would you like to rest here for a moment and continue on to the Junkyard, or would you like to wait for the others?"

Demeter thought longingly of the Junkyard. Of Jenny's gentle ministrations, of the quiet sunny seat cushion, of food, and comfort, and all of her friends. The she thought of The Toms currently fighting (especially…Alonzo…) and realized that she would never forgive herself is something happened to them and she wasn't there. Demeter looked up at Bill Bailey.

"I'd like to stay."

He nodded.

"Right. You stay here out of sight and scream if someone comes for you, but I think I need to rejoin the skirmish."

"Go." Demeter said. "I'll be fine."

Bill Bailey dashed off back into the fray and Demeter tucked her knees up under her chin and waited.

Okay, now I'm done. With the chapter, not the story. Coming up next: the Jellicle ball. Does anyone know if Anybody has written Bill Bailey before? I've never seen him in any fic so he's really the first cat I've had to right from scratch. I see him as very polite to the ladies (esp. Demeter, because his brother is sweet on her) beloved playmate of kittens and likes to joke around with his tom friends. Muscular, gray, beefier than munk, you get it.