A blur of red and black flashed through the streets of London. Tears were close to spilling down Bombalurina's face when she suddenly bumped into The Rum Tum Tugger, causing her to fall backwards. "Watch where you're going!" He cried, but as soon as he looked at her, his tone changed. "Oh! I'm so sorry..." He helped her up and smiled. "Thanks, sorry, I wasn't looking." She said, looking at him slowly. The maine coon's eyes narrowed. "Hold on... Were you at the ball?" He asked. Bombalurina turned red. "I-I- yes..." She sheepishly replied. "Weren't you with Macavity?" "Yes... But I left..." She looked away, not able to meet his eyes once again. Tugger circled her suspiciously. "And why is that?" He enquired. The tabby was on the verge of crying now. "I didn't realise that going the Heaviside Layer was just for him; he promised me that I could join him..." The tears that had been building up in her eyes for the past few minutes were now cascading down her face. A sympathetic look crossed Tugger's face as he started to sing softly. "Macavity, Macavity, there's no-one like Macavity." It was obvious he was trying to serenade her. She was such a beautiful cat, how could he not? It made her giggle when she realised. "How about you come back with me?" He suggested. "I don't think they'd accept me..." Bombalurina whispered. "Old Deuteronomy took Grizabella back in, did she not?" Tugger quirked an eyebrow at her. "Well- I guess so..." She replied. "Then what are we waiting for?" He grabbed her paw and pulled her along in the direction of the Egyptian, a place where the cats usually met.
As they arrived, many cats backed away from the mysterious female and hissed. They weren't fond of strangers, especially ones associated with Macavity. Tugger pushed her towards Old Deuteronomy. "Tugger? Who's this? And why is she here?" The Jellicle leader questioned him as she looked between the two, eyebrows raised, clearly thinking something was going on between them. "My name is Bombalurina, I'm here to ask for your forgiveness..." Bomba butt in, before Tugger could say anything stupid. "Ah yes- One of Macavity's accomplices." She sighed and looked at Tugger. "But why do you want that?" "I realised how selfish Macavity was, only wanting my help so he could go to the Heaviside Layer. It was never about us, just him... Well- That and my mother was a Jellicle." The tabby answered. Old Deuteronomy gasped in surprise. "I thought I recognised you from somewhere. You were Deianira's dear little kitten weren't you? My how time passes. I remember when you and Tugger used to play together in the junkyard." Bombalurina looked up at the leader hopefully with pleading eyes. "I don't see why you can't be forgiven, after all, your mother was a dear friend of mine." Deuteronomy chuckled.
