I wonder if I got down upon my knees and begged you readers (I know you're out there) to review, if you'd do it. Okay, here goes, (getting on knees) "PLEASE REVIEW! I AM CRYING BECAUSE YOU GUYS DON'T REVIEW! CAN YOU SEE MY TEARS? HUH?"

Mungojerry; Um, Ryo. Thay cain't see ya.

Ryouko; What d'ya mean they can't see me?

Mungojerry; Oi mean, thay cain't see ya 'cause you're wroitin' ol this 'ere stuff! Thay don't know if ya actually got down on your knees and begged 'em ta review!

Ryouko; Oh. Well, take Mungojerry's word for it. I was on my knees!

Mungojerry; Now 'at dint sound roight.

Ryouko; Shut up! You're just as perverted as those tuba players from school! (chucks a shoe at instrument case.)

Mungojerry; Well, 'at was im'ture.

Ryouko; Let's get on with the story. I don't have the energy to decipher your cockney.

Mungojerry; Who'ever. (What ever) You're the boss.

~Chapter Seven~ ~**Rumors, Dreams, and Preparations**~

She was running, her legs about to give out. Macavity's face loomed in her mind as she pushed herself further. (What's the difference between further and farther besides the spelling? Does anyone know? Or care?)
His laughter rang off the invisible walls, bursting with sound in her fragile ears. She stopped running and stood in the center of the abyss, just listening to his laughter and her own exhausted breathing.
"DID YOU THINK I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU DEMETER, MY LOVE?" his voice boomed in the darkness. Demeter shivered with fear and adrenaline coursed through her veins with a fervor. She looked all around but couldn't see her nightmare. Suddenly, she saw him, standing off in the distant blackness. He grinned and began to saunter towards her slowly.
"NO!" Demeter cried, turning to run. She ran right into the one she longed to free herself from and his arms clasped about her.
"How did you-?" she began in fury. He cut her off by sealing her mouth with his own. The kiss was fiery hot and made Demeter swoon.
Macavity only laughed as she sunk to the ground, her eyes rolling back in her head.
"Put her down, you fiend!" a voice shouted strongly from the abyss. Demeter came to herself just enough to watch the golden queen emerge from the palpable blackness.
"Well," Macavity growled. "If it isn't little Sophanispa. Why did you run away?"
"Probably for the same reason she did, you piece of Pollicle crap!" the little cat shouted defiantly. "Now get out of her dreams!"
"You want to try and force me?" he asked dangerously.
"Oh, yeah," she spat. She flew at him in a swirl of golden color, her tiny paws moving so quickly Macavity had to either let Demeter go or be cut to ribbons. He dropped his self-proclaimed woman and stood back to fight his younger captive. She circled and eyed him like a worthy opponent.
"Do you really think you can take me on, child?" he asked her. "You, who cowered each time I entered the room. You, who succumbed to the beatings, only after I had had to nearly kill you three times to make you obey? You won't stand a damn chance!"
"There is one thing I have going over you," she told him. "You've never seen me fight!" she took a flying spin at him, something straight out of a Chinese action film, landing a solid kick to his abdomen. He moved to grab her ankle, but she was gone. He looked around and heard a noise behind him. He spun around, finding Sophanispa with Demeter's arm slung over her shoulders. Sophanispa gave a wave and slashed at the velvet darkness in front of her.
She had created a rip in the dream and she stepped through it with Demeter in her arms. Macavity flew at the rip but they were gone. The rip had already mended and they were both lost to him for the moment. Macavity flew back to his own mind and woke in the darkness of his own lair, thinking of a plan to get the both of them back for good.

~}{~

"Are you all right?" Sophanispa asked the failing Demeter.
"I'll be fine, once we get away from Macavity," she huffed.
'It's all right," Sophanispa assured her, laying her down. "We've escaped for the moment. We're in the dreaming place. Macavity has learned to transcend his own body and go into sleeping minds. He used to do it with me when I was trapped there. I learned how to do it when he wouldn't leave me alone. I even learned how to block him out."
Demeter merely looked at her. "Who are you?"
Sophanispa looked down at the other queen and sighed. "I wish I knew. I'm here to find out! That's why I left Macavity. Also because he beat the crap out of me every time I so much as sneezed." She looked around hurriedly.
"You've gotta wake up soon or he can come back. I've made a shield so he can't enter anymore, not unless you let him. I don't think you will." she smiled at Demeter, taking her paw in hers. "Be careful. He's been after you ever since I've known him. I just never knew who you were until now. He'll try anything to-aa AAaah!" Sophanispa cried aloud. She spasmed and clutched her chest. She coughed up violently and fell to her knees, blood dripping from her lips. She looked at Demeter with fear plain on her face and suddenly de-materialized before Demeter's very eyes.
"Sophanispa!" she shouted, trying to feel for her. The younger queen had disappeared. Demeter began to cry and gradually, the bungalow room and Munkustrap's worried face materialized in the place of all the darkness.

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Tugger woke first, stretching out his lean black form. He closed his eyes and snuggled closer to the cold body of Sophanispa. Wait, cold? His eyes flew open and he moved to inspect her. She was in much of the same position he'd moved her to, but she was stone cold and barely of good color. Her cheeks, usually a faint rose, were completely white, save for the gold dusting across her eyes and her mouth was partly open, no breath passing her pink lips.
Tugger moved her into a sitting position, hoping she was merely asleep. She didn't stir and he was afraid he'd lost her. Maybe he'd killed her, but how? Maybe the reason she hadn't gotten physically close to anyone was that it would kill her to do so. But that was stupid, he thought.
He patted her lifeless cheek to no avail. She hung limply in his arms, utterly lifeless and unmoving.
"Come on girl," he whispered. "Wake up! You can't be dead, babe, come on!"
Someone was at the trunk. A familiar face poked up from below.
"Coricopat?" Tugger asked confused. "What are you doing here?"
"We," he corrected Tugger as Tantomile; his twin pulled herself over the brink. "Sensed something horrible!"
"It wasn't me!" Tugger exclaimed. "I didn't kill her!"
"No," Tantomile said slowly. "But you will revive her."
Tugger only looked at them.
"What do you want me to do?" What is this? Were tears noted in Tugger's voice? *GASP*
The twins only nodded in unison. Tugger knew what to do. He gave one more glance to the mysterious pair and bent to the young queens still form. He met her frozen lips with his own and pushed, not air, but his own brand of magic into her system. This restarted her heart, allowing him now to start her lungs with his own powerful breath. He had to force air into her lungs a few time before her body awoke.
'More magic,' Tugger thought desperately. 'She needs more magic!' "get Mistofolees!" he shouted to the twins.
"We already have," they told him in complete unison, Tantomile's voice an octave higher than her brother's. "He's on the way."
"Lend me some of your power," Tugger hissed hastily. "She's barely floating! Needs more power!" Coricopat and Tantomile joined paws, Coricopat taking one of Tugger's. Tugger began again on her still form.

~}{~

Mistofolees raced across the junkyard, Alonzo and Admetus on his heels. He had received a telepathic message from the twins and he was off at once. The other two hadn't known why he was so worried but the quickly followed him at his orders. Mistofolees practically flew up the tree trunk, the larger toms waiting at the bottom.
He came over the edge and found the chain of magic the three had made, with Tugger feeding the magic into Sophanispa through her mouth. She gave a spasm in his arms and he stopped the flow. Her eyes were open but the only thing that could be seen was the whites. Tugger gave a wounded cry in which he noticed Mistofolees. The magician moved quickly to Tugger's other side and laid his paw upon the shoulder of his brother. Coricopat did the same on the other side, leaving both of Tugger's hands free.
Tugger looked into her face and noticed that there was blood on her lip. He gasped and Mistofolees urged him to hurry, or she wouldn't make it.
The maned tom nodded and bent to her once more, meeting her blood lined lips with his own. 'Live, babe, live,' he willed her with his mind. He felt a tremor pass through her body and he hoped with all his heart that that was a good thing.
He felt it when she took a breath and he opened his eyes, which were uncharacteristically full of tears. She shivered in his arms, drawing breath normally. Her eyes were still closed but at least she was breathing.
Tugger hugged her to his chest possessively, as if he'd never let her go. A steely cold voice jarred him from his relief of Sophanispa's living.
"Now that you've found your queen, I guess I'd better leave." Tugger looked up to find Bombalurina standing in front of him. She sniffed, a tear forming in the corner of her eye. "I hope you're happy," with that, she turned around and fled from the tree.
"No, Bombi!" Tugger reached after her with his paw. She didn't even look back and he watched her run across the junkyard, over the pile of rubbish, and into the tree beyond. He looked to the twins and Mistofolees, but they had dismissed the problem in light of Sophanispa's condition.
Tugger looked back to the girl in his arms, setting Bombalurina aside for the moment as well. She was stirring slowly, murmuring in a tortured tone. She moved from side to side, her head rubbing against his arm.
Slowly, she opened her beautiful green eyes and looked up . . . at Tugger.
"What the? . . ." she exclaimed. She pedaled out of his lap and ran into the twins, whose arms surrounded her, the pair licking her feverish face and caressing her back. She jumped nervously, possibly the brightest thing in the tree flat at the moment. She untangled herself from the twins and backed up again, bumping into Tugger and startling so badly that she fell over onto the floor. She looked utterly terrified, everyone seeming monstrous to her.
"Are you all right?" Mistofolees asked gently. Sophanispa looked at him and moved quickly into his arms, hiding her face in his neck. He looked surprised but he calmly rubbed her back with his paws. Two more cats jumped up into the tree.
"Where is she?" a queen's voice asked desperately. Sophanispa looked out from Mistofolees' lap and saw Demeter and Munkustrap.
"There you are!" Demeter cried. She rushed over, took the small queen into her own arms, and hugged her.
"Boy," Tugger whispered loudly. "Sure is getting crowded around here," he moved to his beanbag. "There's a reason I live in a tree, you know."
"Are you all right?" Demeter asked the young one. The golden cat was thoroughly confused. She couldn't really speak well yet, still in shock.
"She was stone cold when I woke," Tugger informed her. "As if dead. The twins showed up and helped me revive her partly but more magic was needed. Mistofolees fed me enough to bring her back completely. Bombalurina walked in on it and thought something else was going on. She's run off in a rage."
"She was stone cold because Macavity got to her subconsciously," Demeter told everyone. She relayed the happenings of the night before, quickly supplying the reason for Sophanispa's pseudo death.
"You must all try to protect your minds from Macavity as you dream," Demeter told them. "Or he can do this to you. How much energy did it take to revive this one, the smallest of us?"
The twins gave a silent reply, letting her know that there had been strain. Mistofolees nodded somberly, understanding where she was going. Tugger just looked at Munkustrap.
"Well done, brother," Munkustrap said to Tugger. "If you had not woken when you had, she might not be with us just now."
"Don't mention it," Tugger told him.
"Do you mean," Sophanispa coughed. "That I owe my life to him?"
"Primarily," Coricopat and Tantomile told her.
Sophanispa looked at Tugger. "I suppose I owe you one."
Tugger grinned, his old self sneaking back into place. "I suppose you do, babe."
"Don't call me that," she said flatly. She flinched when Tugger stood up and sauntered over to her.
"And why shouldn't I call you that?" he asked confidently, draping and arm over her shoulders.
"Because I don't want you to," she told him obviously.
"I call everyone names," he said arrogantly. "Why should you be so different?"
"Because everyone else you call names enjoys it and won't hit you if you continue to over step your boundaries with them," she told him quietly.
He only laughed and stood, moving back to his lounging position.
"Excuse me, sir," Sophanispa addressed Munkustrap. "Who is in charge?"
"Well," Munkustrap said, a bit surprised. "Old Deuteronomy sits upon the vicarage wall all day and doesn't really make appearances unless we are upon the Jellicle ball, which is a good three weeks away . . . which reminds me that preparations must be made. I suppose that I am the leader of this tribe in a way. You see, we don't have any official leaders. . ."
"Munkustrap is in charge," Demeter assured her. "He just doesn't like to boast as one of his brothers does." She shot a meaningful look in Tugger's direction. He shrugged and smiled at her.
"You need to call a meeting," Sophanispa told him urgently. "Every cat in this place needs to know how to protect themselves. There are a few reasons why I came here. One was to get away from Macavity; the other was to warn you all of his new found powers. I will explain more in depth at the meeting but it must be soon and everyone must be there, for their own protection."
Munkustrap looked unsure but Demeter nuzzled his shoulder. "We need to listen to her now," she told him. "She knows things we do not."
"I will call this meeting," Munkustrap stated. "And what should I tell them?"
"Tell them the truth as you know it," Tantomile answered. "Macavity has learned some new tricks that are very dangerous to us and you have someone who can help us defend against these trickeries."
"And what if they ask questions?" Munkustrap added.
"You act as if your position is in jeopardy," Sophanispa pointed out. "Are you not well liked amongst the tribe?"
"No," he answered. "Forgive me. I am a bit nervous, not having really acted the part of a leader."
"What are you talking about, Munkustrap?" Tugger asked from his spot. "You've run every Jellicle ball since you were old enough to do so. The tribe will do anything you ask. Stop being so timid."
Munkustrap swallowed and nodded. He was feeling the abrasive feeling that Macavity usually left in the Jellicles' minds; the feeling that he was being worn down from the inside out.
"I'll call your meeting, child," he told her. "Where should it be?"
"Not here, that's for sure," Tugger said emphatically.
"The bungalow," the twins purred. "Large enough for many and also protected." Coricopat added.
"When?" Munkustrap asked.
"As soon as possible," Sophanispa urged.
"Tomorrow night," Munkustrap decided. "I'll let them all know between now and then. In the meantime, you stay here in the tree. Tugger;" he turned to address his younger brother. "You will stay here with her as well as Mistofolees. I don't want anything to happen to her."
Mistofolees nodded with respect. Munkustrap had always protected his younger siblings, those who needed it anyway. Tugger scoffed, as much as an agreement anyone could get from him for the time being.
The twins slinked down the trunk, leaving the five cats above. Munkustrap turned to speak with his brothers while Demeter addressed the younger cat.
"Thank you for saving my dream," Demeter told her.
"Don't worry about it," Sophanispa assured her. "No one deserves to be locked up in their own mind while Macavity has at them. Not many people have had the experience, luckily." She looked down sadly. "I'm here to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else."
Demeter smiled and ruffled the white fluff on Sophanispa's head. She climbed down the trunk, followed shortly by Munkustrap.
"So what happened?" Mistofolees asked. "I only got the part that you were in danger. The twins sent me images of you and Tu . . . um, you struggling."
"What were you going to say, Mistofolees?" Tugger asked flatly.
"Nothing," he told his brother.
"Out with it," Sophanispa urged.
"Well," he began nervously. "I'd rather not." Sophanispa gave him a look and he hastened into it.
"The twins said you were in danger and that Tugger was sustaining you but needed more magic and they sent me a telepathic image of this and, well, I can understand why Bombalurina ran off. If I hadn't known what I was seeing, I would have been enraged that Tugger had gone so far." Mistofolees ended shyly, blushing slightly.
"Don't be so bashful," Sophanispa told him. "He saved my life, nothing more. Bombalurina will be told the entire story and she won't be angry any more."
"I don't know about that," Tugger sulked. "She usually stays mad at me for some time. I'll have to impress her some way or another."
"You could always ask her to the ball," Mistofolees suggested,
"That might work," Tugger said doubtfully. "But she might refuse just to spite me."
"What ball?" Sophanispa asked randomly. The toms looked at her and started laughing. She raised an eyebrow at them until Tugger got his breath back enough to exclaim.
"My, you have lived a sheltered life to not know of the Jellicle ball," he gasped.
"It's a time once a year where one of the Jellicle tribe is chosen to ascend to the Heavyside layer and begin a new Jellicle life," Mistofolees answered.
"Old Deuteronomy chooses the one he deems most worthy," Tugger added. "I'll probably never get chosen to go but this is much more fun."
"Tugger usually doesn't gat too involved in the festivities," Mistofolees explained.
"Well, I can't exactly be down there dancing all the time," Tugger interjected. "I dance when the toms are separate from most of the queens because I'd be mobbed to death if I didn't do otherwise!" (Notice in productions Tugger is usually up in a corner, separate. Here is a semi logical explanation. He does dance, but not as much as everyone else does.)
"Who are you going to ask, Mistofolees?" Tugger interrogated the black tom.
"Um . . . well," he blushed again. "I don't think I'm going to ask anyone."
"Why not?" Sophanispa asked curiously.
"I . . . um, well," he blushed even redder.
"You're just like Mungojerry," Sophanispa said lightly. "Too shy to tell your lady you love her. Well, we can fix that."
"Huh?" he asked. "Mungojerry? What about him?"
"I was talking to him last night while Tugger was on his collar retrieving escapade," she explained. "He had stopped what he was doing and just started bawling. He said something about Rumpleteazer knowing he liked her and he was convinced she didn't feel the same. I talked him into telling her about it. I guess we'll find out today whether it worked out or not."
"So who did you like again?" Tugger asked Mistofolees.
"None of your business," he told the older cat.
"I'll tell you mine," he promised. "If you tell me yours. I can even help you out!"
"You don't like anyone," Mistofolees shouted. "You just want to know!"
"Actually," Tugger contradicted. "There is someone I like. I just don't make it obvious. I have two agendas, little brother. One; to win all the available queens over, and two; to woo the one I want."
"Can't you kill two birds with one stone with the first agenda?" Sophanispa asked.
"In most cases, yes," he answered. "If I were after someone like Etcetera, I'd already be done. She's an easy target. If I were after someone like Bombalurina, I'd be halfway there. If I were after someone like you, I'd probably have to direct my attention to one or the other, for you're very high maintenance."
"Then you'd better be glad you aren't going after someone like me," she told him.
"Ooh," Mistofolees moaned. "Take that!"
Tugger clutched his chest in mock pain. "Oh woe is me! I hath been wounded by thy arrow's pierce, fair Diana, the virgin goddess."
"Damn," she cursed playfully. "I missed his heart."
Mistofolees laughed and was promptly frightened out of his mind when Mungojerry jumped into the tree all of a sudden. He opened his eyes to find he was in Tugger's lap. His brother looked down at him and Mistofolees crawled away quickly. "Sorry. Didn't mean to jump there. Oops."
Mungojerry had mauled Sophanispa and was covering her face with kisses.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" He had her clutched tightly to his chest.
"Hey," she groaned. "You wanna let me go now?"
"Oh," he realized he was suffocating her. "Sure. Sor' 'bout 'at."
"Okay," Mistofolees said. "What was that all about?"
"Me an' Teaza are goin' ta the Boll togetha!" Mungojerry exclaimed.
"But you two always go together," Mistofolees pointed out.
"Yea, s'roight," he agreed. "But this toim's different!" He sounded genuinely excited. "We's goin' as mates!"
"Well congratulations," Tugger said with a notable lack of enthusiasm.
"Don' worry, Tugga," Mungojerry said. "You an' me sista Bomba is goin' roight?"
"I'm not so sure about that, Jerry," Tugger told him. "She's run off 'cause she's mad at me."
"Well," Mungojerry consoled. "Ya got lots a toim an' lots a queen's ta choose frum. Goo' Luck!" Mungojerry disappeared down the trunk.
"I guess it went well," Sophanispa said after he'd left.

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She was surrounded by dark trees when she stopped running. She had never been this far from the junkyard before but this was a good thing for the reason she'd come. She didn't want anyone to find her yet.
"I was right," Bombalurina sobbed into her arms as she sat against a pine tree. "I wanted to believe Jemima but I just had to have a look for myself. I just can't understand why the other three were there!" She continued to cry.
"What does she have that I don't have?" she cried to the tree. "I'm taller and older than she is. I'm prettier too! Plus, I've known him longer than any other queen! She didn't even act as if she liked him! It's not fair!"
"Maybe that's what he wants," she whispered. "Not someone who hangs all over him, but someone who lets him come to her. I can do that too, but he won't come to me!"
She turned around and punched the tree enough to make her hand ache. she turned around and came face to face with her worst nightmare.
"Hello, Bombalurina," he said. Her lower lip trembled.
"What are you doing here?" she asked carefully.
"I might ask you the same thing, but I have a better plan," he raised his paw and issued a swift blow to her temple. She blacked out instantly.

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Jemima was becoming worried about Bombalurina, who had left in the morning and still not returned by noon. The younger cat had been roaming around, playing with Victoria and Etcetera.
They were playing a game of truth or dare near the old tire when Etcetera squealed. Tugger had just come down from his tree with another cat on his shoulders. He was shortly followed by Mistofolees, Electra lurking behind the trunk. Tugger swaggered over to the little group of new queens, grinning his handsome face off.
"You're so strong!" Etcetera exclaimed. She blushed at having spoken to her idol.
"Not nearly as strong as you might think," a voice said flatly. "You wanna put me down now?" The cat on his shoulder, whose hindquarters were the only visible thing at the moment, gave a kick of her leg and Tugger set her down amongst the queens. She brushed off her fur and took a seat between Victoria and Etcetera.
Electra gave a battle cry and hurled herself at Tugger. He moved out of the way without even glancing in her direction. She skidded to a halt against Jemima.
"What are you guys doing," a voice purred. Cassandra and her sister Exotica emerged from behind a can, their black fur and sleek forms contrasting with the younger queens. They slid in between the younger and took seats.
Last of all, to come to the unofficial assembly was Tantomile, looking quite strange without her twin. She gave Tugger a long glance and sat next to Etcetera, with whom she felt familiar. Tugger now stood within a circle made up of queens, which in itself was not very surprising.
"What is this?" he asked them playfully. "An ambush?"
"I'll start," Victoria said to her companions proudly. She stood, her white fur glistening in the sunlight of the spring afternoon. She cleared her throat for show and began.
"As we were so mortally beaten," she said.
"Last time we did meet," Cassandra purred, standing. They were moving around the circle, each queen standing once she spoke.
"We have come back, to see you again," Jemima told him clearly.
"To deliver your defeat," Exotica added in her deep voice. Tugger was looking comically from face to face as they stood to give him the low down.
"We had chased you, and given up," Electra said harshly. She looked angry.
"Finally caught by a kitten, nothing taller," Tantomile whispered. Sophanispa gave her a dirty look.
"You won back your prize, but we'll win again," Etcetera giggled.
Sophanispa was the only one sitting. Victoria bent to whisper something but the golden cat waved her off, jumping to her feet.
"Don't get me wrong," she said to Tugger. "I had nothing to do with this, but I believe my line is something like 'Now we'll get your collar,'" the other queens applauded and Tugger smiled.
"How are you going to catch me?" he asked confidently.
"We have you surrounded," Cassandra pointed out.
"Ladies," he began. "Why do we have to play this game?"
"Because it's fun to chase you!" Etcetera exclaimed, pawing his arm.
"And because you made a promise," Exotica hissed. "The one to catch you gets your collar, but the notorious duo had been thieved in the night, returning your collar to your own throat."
"You know too much," Tugger told her. "I'll just have to kill you!" He tilted her chin up with a flirtatious gesture, bringing her dark face close to his. When she closed her eyes in anticipation, he moved away, smiling. She hissed at him, but smiled seductively.
"This time," Victoria told him. We get to keep the collar."
"Correction," he hissed, glancing at Sophanispa. "The one who wins it can keep it. Unless they want to share, of course."
"You promise," Jemima asked, moving close to him with her finger raised.
"I promised," he purred, moving close to her, his nose not an inch away from her own. He put a hand on her waist and she closed her eyes. She felt him move away and opened her eyes to realize she was standing alone with Sophanispa a few feet away.
The chase was on. Tugger was frightfully fast, moving without purpose, his erratic path confusing the queens. Sophanispa stood and watched while the rest went nuts over him.
"The rules are," he shouted. "You must not only catch me, but unfasten the collar as well!"
"But that's not fair!" Electra cried.
"It's been done before," Tantomile gasped, already out of breath. "It can be done again. Stop whining, Electra."
"That's right," Tugger added. "Don't play if you can't hack it." He dodged an attempt by Victoria.
"Come on Sophanispa!" Cassandra shouted. "We need your help!"
"No you don't," she assured them. She watched Tugger run under a low hung branch, closely followed by Jemima. There was a crash of under crush and Tugger suddenly flew backwards from higher in the tree. He'd grabbed a branch and flipped himself over it, losing the young Jemima within the foliage. That was fine because Tantomile was behind him, ready to catch the maned tom. He felt her hands on his back and spun out of her grasp, nearly running Etcetera over in his haste to get away.
"Go for it, girls!" Sophanispa cried. "There are more of you now! You can outnumber him!" Tugger flew by, blowing her a kiss and making the rest of the queens squeal.
"Save it," Sophanispa shouted.
The queens were gaining on him, especially Cassandra, the tallest of the seven chasing him. Tugger put himself into full throttle, realizing that if he didn't do something quickly, they would have him before long. This was when Electra sat down on the trash can lid next to the bungalow and pointed at Sophanispa.
"She's not helping," she said tartly.
"Well," Rumpleteazer said, appearing at last, Mungojerry at her back. "'Avent ya 'eard? They's togetha!"
"What?" Tugger and Sophanispa asked simultaneously.
"Bull," Sophanispa spat. "Nice try, Rumpleteazer. Next time you try revenge on your brother, leave me out of it!"
"'Ow'd ya know?" she asked incredulously.
"Well," Sophanispa said slowly. "I don't know you well enough for you to hate me and I haven't done anything with this idiot to make you think so. The only two things I could think of were revenge for the theft of the collar, or Bombalurina and her misunderstandings." As everyone's attention was drawn to the argument, Tugger snuck away from the lighted clearing and stood under the shade of the trees. He didn't see a shadow move above him.
Exotica leaped from the boughs of the tree and landed on Tugger's shoulders. He slumped with the impact, tossing her over his neck and onto the ground in front of him. She landed on her back with a loud thud. She blinked up at Tugger in wonder, the breath knocked out of her momentarily. By the time she sat up, he was off and running again.
"Hey babe," he greeted, sliding next to Sophanispa.
"Don't call me that," she reminded him, moving the arm he'd nonchalantly slung over her shoulders.
"You wanna get them off my back for me?" he asked.
"Na," she answered smirking. "Maybe if they don't catch you. I'll try my luck. I'm letting you know now. If I get your collar again, I'm not giving it back."
His face fell with the realization that he didn't have a backup, as he'd previously thought.
"I'm calling for reinforcements," he shouted. He gave a loud cry, which made several toms look in his direction. The queens were after him again.
"Yo," he shouted. "A little help here!" Five of the younger toms stood and began to run over to help him out.
"Now it gets interesting," Sophanispa called. "Six toms and seven queens. You're still outnumbered."
Tugger only glared at her, his eyebrows meeting furiously. He carefully dodged the ever-gaining Exotica, who slid into Victor, who held her upper arms strongly, his height already surpassing hers.
"Queens cannot continue to play if they are tagged," Tugger shouted. Exotica looked at him in shock.
"You golden devil," she hissed angrily. Tugger wiggled his eyebrows at her and jumped over the groping Etcetera, who was scooped into the arms of Plato. She meowed loudly and sat down in a huff, her temper tantrum short. The next few events were a bit cataclysmic. Cassandra performed a great flip over the shoulder of Admetus, escaping for now but unfortunately, for Electra, who was less acrobatic than her sister and tailing the older queen to get a shot at Tugger, ran full on into Admetus and was out of the chase. Pouncival, who had been chasing after Victoria, tripped over Erotica's leg and flew headlong into Tugger. The two went down in a crash and Jemima flew in their direction, headed straight for the maned flirt. Pouncival jumped up and tackled her as gentle as he could manage. Tugger righted himself as soon as the queens were distracted, his tail fuzzing out due to adrenaline. Cassandra fell prey to Tumblebrutus, who up until that point, hadn't been too deep into the game. Now it was only Tantomile and Victoria on his tail. Tugger wasn't worried, especially when Alonzo came out of nowhere to join the ranks of the defending toms and picked Tantomile up by the waist. Tantomile didn't look that disappointed to be out for she gave Alonzo a fond lick on the cheek before returning to her brother. Victoria froze. She was the last cat left and Tugger stalked to her, three toms on each side of him. She looked scared and lost and was saved when Mistofolees came over and gently tagged her on the elbow. "I thought you weren't playing," she asked him. "I didn't want you to get hurt," he told her. "Well, now," Tugger said loudly. "So much for all that boasting. I've still got the collar 'round my neck and you're all out of the running, which is now non-existent." "Can it, you overconfident Casanova chick magnet of a tom," Sophanispa shouted over the din of complaints. Everyone turned to look at her, the yard unusually silent. "I resent that," he said in mock sorrow. "I never slept with any of them. Would you believe it or not, I'm still a virgin!" "Uh huh," Sophanispa answered sarcastically. "That collar has my name on it, you know." Tugger laughed. "It was a thing of luck that you got it the first time. Try weaving past six toms, each twice your size!" With that, he crossed his arms cockily and waited. "One change of rules though," she said. "To disqualify me, a tackle must be made." "Sure," Tugger allowed. Sophanispa didn't move. She waited for the first tom to come within range of her and to start the game off; she jumped straight into the air, landing daintily upon the back of Victor, the youngest of the toms. Pouncival jumped up to catch her but she'd already performed a phenomenal back flip off Victor, whom Pouncival tripped over in his unbroken eye contact with the girl above. She spun out of Alonzo's reach, meeting Admetus as she dropped to the ground. He jumped back, thinking she'd hurt herself, but by the time he realized she was fine, she was through his legs and speeding off towards the target. Tumblebrutus and Pouncival both raced toward her in an arced path, set to meet in the middle. Sophanispa saw them but continued forward. "Don't do that, you idiots!" Tugger shouted. "She's going to make you collide!" But Sophanispa's posture was not one of halt. She kept on her course, jumping not back as one might have thought, but again straight into the air, her feet coming down silently on the two toms' backs. The only two really in condition to stop her were Admetus and Alonzo, who looked at each other nervously. Coricopat suddenly joined the fray, grabbing her from behind and pulling a complete Tugger move on her. She, undoubtedly reminding one of Victoria, kicked up her right leg and knocked him on the head. (also reminds one of Goldmember!) He fell back from her and she prepared for the charging Admetus. She stood upon her hands, poked her head up, and waited for him to get close enough. Prepared for her to kick him, he charged and jumped at her golden form from five feet away. Anticipating this, she folded in on herself, lying on her back, her legs pressed to her chest. Admetus flew over her and into Coricopat, who'd been trying to get her from behind. She sprung herself up with a jump and leapt at Alonzo, who looked both excited and frightened by the little queen. She feinted left, then right, to try to trick him. He wasn't falling for anything and she thought she'd have to give up, noticing that the rest of the toms were recuperating enough to come back in for another try. She finally just went for it. Taking his slightly bent stance and using it as a springboard, bouncing from his knee to his back. She got her feet under her before Alonzo could shake her off and leapt from his back, knocking him to the floor, the other toms leaping after her to stop her momentum. Tugger, genuinely surprised that she had gotten to him merely opened his arms to catch her as she flew through the air. Her arms were around his neck, his arms curving around her back and knees. She shut her eyes tightly. He smiled as she fumbled with the buckle on the collar. Her eyes remained closed as she maneuvered it to open. Her attention was elsewhere, giving everyone's favorite flirt the perfect opportunity. He drew closer and closer, amazed that she was lying still in his arms. Two things happened at once. She popped the buckle open on the collar, opening her eyes, and her lips met Tugger's, the sly cat. Everything froze, including the other cats. Sophanispa sat there utterly frozen, her eyes wide and panicked. Tugger drew back with the biggest grin on his face anyone in the junkyard had ever seen. Sophanispa snapped. She flipped out of his arms, hissing in anger as she skidded away. The fur on her back was standing at attention and her pupils had thinned down to leave her eyes almost completely green orbs that glittered with fury. She hissed again, tearing off across the yard and right up the tree trunk. She had the collar in her teeth and when she came to the edge of the floor, she gave a great lurch and somehow made it over the side without aid. Tugger smiled after her, everyone else shocked. The queens, all happy to see the collar won again, were disappointed at Sophanispa's reaction to Tugger's mischief. Each of them would have given a small body part to have had that happen to them. All in all, the afternoon had been spent in an interesting way.

~}~}~}~}~}~}~}{~{~{~{~{~{~{~

Night fell with a weighted presence of rain. Thick clouds covered the night sky in pale gauze, here and there a star peeking through. Mistofolees shuddered in the tree. He and Sophanispa were sitting across from each other, chatting idly about nothing.
"Are you afraid of lightning?" she asked when the skies lit up with a flash, followed closely by a tremendous clap of thunder that shook the boughs of the tree. She looked around with a wary eye but settled back into her calm manner of speaking.
"I'm not afraid of it," Mistofolees answered after a moment of thought. "I can't be afraid of something I use in my magic. I just don't like it. It hurts my eyes."
Sophanispa looked off distantly, not aware of her surroundings. She wore the collar around her small throat, pulled into the last hole on the buckle. The spikes stuck out oddly, being large enough to stab someone with. She would have to remove the collar if she wanted to lie down. She thumbed it absently and stretched out on of her legs.
"I'm surprised he isn't mad at you," Mistofolees said quietly.
"He still thinks I'm going to return it to him, probably," she countered.
"Are you?"
"Not after what he pulled today," she spat.
"Every other queen after him would have loved him to do that to them," Mistofolees scoffed. "Even the beautiful . . ." he paused, catching himself before he could say anymore. "Never mind."
"Spit it out," Sophanispa teased. "Finish what you started. I won't tell anyone unless you want me to."
Mistofolees looked at her and considered it. Sophanispa had not done anything to be deemed untrustworthy, not to him anyway. He finally relented and opened his mind to her.
"I don't know what she thinks of me," he began. "We've always been the best of friends. Loosing what I already have with her would be a great blow to my heart."
"I can always find out for you," Sophanispa offered. "If she's one of the younger queens anyhow. I can't really help you if it's Cassandra or one of her sisters."
"It's not one of them," he assured her.
"Will you tell me if I guess?" she asked perkily.
"I'll tell you," he said. "Think purest of appearances and mind. She understands everything I say, which is more than I can say for some of her friends."
"That indicates Victoria or Jemima," Sophanispa thought. "But Victoria looks more innocent than her sister." Mistofolees nodded.
"How . . . cute!" Sophanispa exclaimed at last. "I think it'll work. She obviously adores you."
"You think so?" Mistofolees asked, suddenly livelier than before.
"Now you sound like Mungojerry, sans accent of course," she added as an afterthought. "And look how well his situation turned out. I'm sure you two will become a lovely couple."
"Can you do me a favor?" Mistofolees asked her timidly. "Can you keep an eye on her and maybe find out her feelings?"
"I already said I would," Sophanispa answered indignantly. She turned her back to him and began stretching out her legs, her calves shivering in tension ever so often.
"Who do you like?" Mistofolees asked.
"Me?" she sounded as if the question was preposterous. "I try not to like anyone."
"What?" Mistofolees asked incredulously. "How can you live like that?"
"Easy," she answered. "I just think back to what happened the time I did love someone. I don't ever want that to happen to anyone again."
"I guess I understand," Mistofolees said quietly. "I don't expect you to want to share it."
"Na," she said, turning back to look at him. "I'll tell you some of it."
"You don't have to," Mistofolees offered, being a gentleman.
"It happened not too long ago," she began, delving into her story without taking Mistofolees offer. "There was this tom employed temporarily by Macavity. None of Macavity's employees ever saw me for I was always given a solitary mission. The few times I ever went with someone, that person either was killed upon his or her return, or was Macavity himself. No one knew of my existence, so I was a valuable tool to Macavity in the fact that I could not be traced." She sighed sadly.
"This tom was one of the few to actually see me and know who I was and not loose his life. After my few failed attempts at escape, Macavity had posted him as an expendable guard. We became very close friends, if you know what I mean." She looked out at the pattering rain and sighed again.
"Macavity found out about our friendship and did not take lightly to displays of affection within the ranks. The tom was killed, and I was beaten. I will not tell you how he was killed for I lack the words to describe the horror in a way that would keep your dreams safe from fear."
Mistofolees shivered nonetheless. He moved up behind her and placed a reassuring paw upon her shoulder.
"I'm sure you'll be fine," he whispered." Macavity doesn't have you anymore and we'll protect you."
"That's the thing," she spat. "I don't want to end up like her."
"Who?" Mistofolees was thoroughly confused.
"Demeter," she explained. "She's terrified to the point of handicap. I don't want to be hiding behind the tribe as she is. Of course, she isn't equipped to deal with Macavity. She still sees him as an object capable of love. I never had that problem." She unfastened the collar and hid it beneath the beanbag. Stretching out on the floor, she looked at Mistofolees.
"I can now sleep in peace," she pointed out. "Tugger won't molest me if you're here."
"I don't think other people's presence bothers him," Mistofolees explained. "I've lived with him most of my life and he never acted self conscious. When we were little, he would goad one of the girls into being a model and he would 'show us how things were done.'"
Sophanispa made a face of disgust. Mistofolees realized he hadn't painted the picture of his brother that he'd wanted. "I don't mean he went that far. He would flirt and titillate them but never really did anything out of bounds."
"Well," she sighed. "At this point, they would probably let him. Do you know what he said last night?"
Mistofolees shook his head and allowed her to continue.
"He's bent on making me like him," she hissed. "Not because he likes me even. Only because it serves his over inflated pride."
"I don't understand him and I'm related to him," Mistofolees answered. He stretched out across from her and laid down until they were staring eye to eye.
"If he really wanted to win me over," she started. "All he'd have to do was drop everyone else. As of now, I am not impressed, even if he did save my life."
"He didn't go after Bombalurina this morning," Mistofolees pointed out. "For him, that was strange."
"Why?"
"Well," Mistofolees began. "Before you appeared, the one queen to get much of anything from Tugger was Bombalurina. I believe she thinks he's replaced her with you."
"How stupid," Sophanispa muttered.
"And after today's little game," Mistofolees added. "I wouldn't be surprised if Tugger lost some of his worshippers. It looked like Tantomile took a liking to Alonzo."
"Good for her," she said. "Alonzo takes after Munkustrap."
"What?" asked a voice. Munkustrap emerged from over the edge, followed by the occupant of the tree. "Something about me?"
"Nothing important," Sophanispa murmured. She sat up and stretched again.
"About tonight's arrangements," Munkustrap began briskly. "The three of you shall be here, my brothers keeping watch on your condition. I would ask of you to sleep close to each other so as to better keep watch but after this afternoon . . ." He trailed off and gave Tugger a long look.
"No worries, Munkustrap," he waved.
"Easier said than done, dear brother," he reprimanded. His anger didn't make the slightest dent in Tugger's bright features. He just kept beaming at the sliver-striped tabby.
"Anyways," he returned his attention to the younger cats. "If that is all right with you, Sophanispa; that is the best thing we can manage at the moment. Mistofolees will sense magic and Tugger, if needed, can revive you. His brand of magic is best for starting the heart." Munkustrap sounded very sarcastic on the last note of his speech.
"Fine," she answered shortly. Taking her at her word, Munkustrap left them to streak quickly through the rain.
"My rules," she said pointedly at Tugger. "Are very simple to follow. No groping or anything else that is remotely suggestive. Our positioning, of course, will be open opportunity but I swear, if you do it, I will not have it this time. Maybe, if you behave, I'll return your collar." With that, she scooted closer to Mistofolees.
Cats are different from humans in the fact that they can sleep against one another or intertwined with each other and not find the positions remotely suggestive. Tugger, however, was more inclined to look for suggestion because of his nature. This is why Sophanispa and Mistofolees found nothing wrong with how they arranged themselves.
Sophanispa was resting comfortably against Mistofolees' white chest, facing outward with his arms around her. Mistofolees, though the smallest tom, still made Sophanispa seem smaller than ever. The back of her head was at level with his throat, her feet only reaching to the middle of his shins.
She was tired enough from that day's activities that when Tugger slid into his place in front of her, she didn't complain. Mistofolees' arms were around her upper body. Her head was slightly inclined and when Tugger slid all the way in, she was resting against his chest as well. His hands went to her waist and he scooted himself up until Sophanispa was effectively trapped between them. She shivered momentarily, trying to block out the memories of being trapped by Macavity, and relaxed against their chests. She closed her eyes and drifted off into a dreamless sleep, feeling warm and protected, the fear chased out.
Little did the boys know, she was monitoring the three of their minds. She knew when Mistofolees fell asleep and she knew when Tugger's mind was breached from outside. Macavity was up to his tricks again.
Sophanispa entered the maned toms mind and concealed herself, watching for the infamous king of crime. Tugger was stretched out luxuriously in his own mind, a smile on his face. Macavity appeared out of nowhere and hauled the tom to his feet. They were about the same height but Tugger was at the disadvantage.
'He can handle himself,' she thought. That was, until Macavity issued a ferocious blow to the other's face. Once Tugger was staggering, Macavity pulled his bristling arms back in a sudden stance that could only mean one thing. His new brand of magic was ready for attack mode.
Sophanispa had never seen his technique but Macavity loved to brag. The impending blast would be strong enough to disembowel in the mind, and Tugger would be in the same position she'd been in that morning.
She rolled out of her shielded patch of darkness and pushed Tugger out of the way, catching part of the blast on her arm. Blood blossomed across her golden fur as she and Tugger scrambled to get out of Macavity's way.
"Leave," she shouted. Waves went out from her body on ever widening circles. The ripples caught Macavity, pushing him back.
She clapped her hands and a golden light flashed for a split second. Macavity grunted and disappeared. She had cast a shield around Tugger's mind.
"What just happened?" he asked incredulously, rubbing a scratch on his cheek.
"He's trying to get at me through you," she told him. He can't enter my mind directly but there are ways to transport himself there. We have to go to Mistofolees now and make sure he's safe. Follow me." she ran off through the darkness and slashed at the thick air. She slipped through and visually disappeared.
"Wait! Where are you?" he shouted. A golden paw lined in white reached out from the abyss and seized his arm. He was pulled through the gap.
"What?" he gasped as he emerged in another realm of darkness. This one was lit u in places by small flashes of lightning. Mistofolees danced alone in this place, perfectly safe. Sophanispa clapped again, the same golden light flashing. The dancing Mistofolees noticed them and padded over.
"I don't have time to explain right now," Sophanispa began as he stopped in front of them. "When we wake up, I'll tell you. Now is too dangerous. If you see Macavity, head through that slash," she pointed at a spot lined with golden light. "That will bring you back to me." She left, followed by Tugger.
"Same goes with you," she said. "The hole is lit so you can find it. Later," she turned to leave.
"Are we even then?" Tugger called after her.
"Not quite," she told him. "I am confident that you could have gotten away before he killed you, so I did not entirely save your life. However, consider part of my debt to you completed." With that, she left.
Tugger smirked and went back to his own dreams, which were uninterrupted.

~}~}~}~}~}~}~}{~{~{~{~{~{~{~

The three awoke that morning, still tangled in a heap but no anger towards each other. Even better, that no one woke without breath.
"That was an interesting dream," Mistofolees groaned, sitting up.
"It wasn't really a dream," Sophanispa told him. "You really were in danger. I cast up a shield so Macavity couldn't enter."
"This sucks," Tugger muttered. "Macavity was always a threat but he was never this close. How the hell did he acquire these powers?"
"It began," she told them. "Or he thinks it began, with you, Mistofolees."
"How could it begin with me?"
"Remember the cat-napping of Old Deuteronomy?" she asked. He nodded in confusion.
"Well," she continued. "Macavity masqueraded as your esteemed grandfather while he was kept locked within the compound. I was placed as his guard, not even a queen yet. Macavity returned, wounded and fried to a crisp. I happily thought he was going to kick it right there but the bastard still had some life in him. He was so angry that the tribe had managed to get the best of him. He backhanded me and commenced to attempting the strangling of Old Deuteronomy." Tugger and Mistofolees both scoffed in anger. The Jellicles kept utmost respect for Deuteronomy and knowing this made them hate Macavity even more.
"I tried to stop him, for I had been speaking to Old Deuteronomy and that cats mind in utterly profound. He threw me off and suddenly there was all this blue light. Macavity roared in a mixture of pain and pleasure, and Deuteronomy was gone. Macavity began laughing uncontrollably and I'd thought he'd finally gone mad. I cowered in terror, afraid of what he might do in this state. He stopped laughing finally and muttered repeatedly that he knew the secret. Your magic must have permeated him and left some permanent stain because after that, he was suddenly using these magical powers that he'd never had before. He spent a long time cultivating these powers and training himself. I, unfortunately, was his experimental target practice. There is a reason for my quick movements. Maybe you have noticed that he stopped coming around." they nodded again.
"Well," she said a tad brighter than before. "This made me try another mad escape. I ran during the day, when he was asleep, and I hid myself beneath some old leaves and junk by night. This is when you found me," she indicated to Mistofolees.
"You guys know the rest," she said at last.
"That's interesting," Mistofolees added. "I had no idea that my magic could do that, leave a stain, I mean."
"I'm hungry," Tugger complained. "How about breakfast!"

~}~}~}~}~}~}~}{~{~{~{~{~{~{~

Later that day, Munkustrap came to tell the trio that at sunset, the tribe would meet at the old bungalow.
"I'm bored," Tugger groaned.
"Go play with the queens, then," Mistofolees suggested. "That's what you usually do when you're bored."
"I don't want to be dragged into another stupid challenge like yesterday," Tugger answered solemnly. "Next they'll want my tail."
"And who's to blame for that?" Sophanispa asked him. "If you didn't lead on every female you came in contact with you'd never have this problem."
Tugger didn't say anything but turned over onto his back and tossed up a bit of yarn.
They lounged around the tree like this for a while, Tugger taking a nap, Mistofolees and Sophanispa talked about Victoria. They didn't see one of Tugger's lazy eyes open to look at them.
"Have you approached her at all?" she asked him.
"I can't," he ranted. "She's always surrounded by her friends and I can't exactly call her over and tell her."
"Ask her to the ball," Sophanispa said simply.
"I guess I could do that," he answered thoughtfully. "What about you?"
"I don't think I'll go," she answered. "I don't see the point. Who am I going to go with?"
"You don't have to go with anyone," he assured her. "You can come with us."
"Na," she said. "I wouldn't want to impede you."
"You've still got three weeks," he added. "That's plenty of time to get to know some of the toms. Who do you know so far?"
"Well," she thought. "You and Tugger. Munkustrap . . . that's about it. I briefly met Coricopat, but under the circumstances, I can't say I know anything about him except that he and his sister are perfect doubles of each other."
"Well," Mistofolees thought for a moment. "We're going to have to introduce you to some people."
"Na," she waved him off. "It's all right. I don't need anyone, for reasons I already explained."
Tugger sat up and stretched. "Wonderful nap *groan*. It's almost sunset. Let's go," he stood and stretched some more.
"Ready?" he asked her. He sat upon the edge of the floor with his paw out. She slid over to him and allowed herself to be thrown over his shoulder. Mistofolees followed them down; unaware that Tugger now knew his secret.
Once on the ground, Tugger let Sophanispa stand and started out towards the bungalow ahead of the two younger cats. He felt distracted, as if there was something he had forgotten. He entered the bungalow, shortly followed by Sophanispa and Mistofolees.
It didn't take long for everyone to show themselves. Jemima came last, all tears and sorrow.
"Oh," Victoria exclaimed, running towards her sister/friend. "What's wrong?" Demeter was very concerned as well.
"I-i-i-t's Bombalurina," she sobbed. "She's been missing ever since yesterday morning." Tugger and Sophanispa looked at her intently. After both coming to their own conclusion as to her whereabouts, they looked at each other.
"You'd better go look for her," Sophanispa whispered. "You're the reason she ran."
"I believe you're the reason she ran," he contradicted. "But I'm the solution to the problem. Tell Munkustrap where I've gone. I already know what you're going to tell them anyways. Later," he turned and exited the small house.
Munkustrap called the cats to some sort of order in which they stopped their gossiping and chatter to listen to him.
"First of all," he began. "Is everyone here? Gus, are all your children present?" This was the quickest way to role call.
"All present," he croaked feebly.
"Skimbleshanks and Jellylorum?" Munkustrap moved on.
"Bombalurina is missing," Skimbleshanks informed him. "Should we send out a search party?"
"That isn't necessary," Sophanispa piped up. "Tugger has gone to look for her. He should be back when he finds her and he can update her on the events."
"And who are you?" Jellylorum asked slightly peevishly.
"And Bustopher Jones and Jennyanydots?" Munkustrap continued quickly.
"Only Tugger," Jennyanydots said. "But you already know that."
"Of course," he said fondly. "Now, to begin with the problem. We have among us a cat who was previously imprisoned by the mysterious Macavity. They have vital information to us that will keep us safe." many eyes were darting to Demeter, who sat behind Munkustrap, apart form the rest. Munkustrap continued.
"May I introduce, Sophanispa," he announced. Sophanispa stood a bit timidly and moved until she was standing beside the silver striped tabby.
"As you may have noticed, before I arrived here, Macavity hadn't bothered you much for a while. He was taking this time to establish new powers in which he can use against you. These powers are similar to those of Mistofolees, though more powerful and hostile. Mistofolees magic was never used to hurt anyone. Macavity's powers are used primarily to harm.
"A few of you have come in contact with him mind to mind. He has learned to travel through dreamspace and invade one's mind while they sleep. I can cast up a shield, which keeps him out of your minds, but I can only do about four or five in one night. With your consent, I will enter your minds while you sleep. You will know I am there and you can watch me work.
"Other attacks," she continued. "Can hurt you very badly. You must all remember Mistofolees' blue lightning. This is similar in appearance but is much more damaging. Imagine a beam capable of ripping you apart!" Some of the younger queens gasped.
"I am not here to frighten you," she told them. "But if you do not take these new powers seriously, you may not live through an encounter with him."
"How do you know all this?" Jellylorum, immediately unaccepting of anyone who found a friend in Tugger and managed to be female and single simultaneously, asked a bit abrasively.
"Well ma'am," she said curtly. "I have been forced to live with him for my entire life. I was born within the compound, beaten, and curbed until I was fit to be one of his employees, unpaid of course. Trust me; I know what I speak of."
"How do we know you aren't a spy?" Jennyanydots asked. "Forgive me for saying so, but his showing up again is coincidental with your arrival."
"I understand," Sophanispa nodded. "I believe, now that his power is complete, he is out to reclaim Demeter," she looked behind her at the older queen, whose green eyes showed an almost innate fear. Sophanispa's own green eyes reflected the same fear as she turned back to the audience. "Or back for the both of us."
"Why did you risk her?" Electra asked loudly. "By coming here, you've selfishly risked our safety!" she had taken a dislike to the golden queen after the scene with Tugger the day before.
"How dare you!" she hissed at the brown cat. "I bet you wouldn't have lasted two days in his lair, let alone your whole life. How can you call me selfish when you expect the rules of a stupid game to be changed just so you can win?" she thumbed the golden collar just to spite Electra.
"Forgive me," she apologized to the rest of the company. "You may call me what you will, but I bet anything that any one of you wouldn't have done anything different in my shoes." With that, she sat back down. Munkustrap took the attention back to him.
"Any questions?" he asked nervously, afraid they would bombard him.
Several of them asked him about the upcoming ball but only the queens asked about Macavity. Their questions were answered to the best of Sophanispa and Munkustrap's combined ability and the company was released.
Demeter grabbed Sophanispa's arm and something snapped deep within her mind. Macavity's figure loomed up in her mind but she mentally stomped him down, letting forth a cry from her past. She blinked and the images were gone, replaced with Sophanispa.
"You never told me," Demeter said after a moment.
"I didn't think it would matter," Sophanispa answered. "No one else seemed to care."
"Well," Demeter said with a small smile. "None of them ever spent two years with Macavity."
"He talks about you," Sophanispa told her. "He swears you still belong to him. He'll stop at nothing to have you back."
"That sends shivers up my spine," Demeter confided. "How old are you?"
The question caught Sophanispa off guard. She told Demeter and drew a gasp from the older queen.
"You're barely younger than Victoria," she said strangely. "You seem older. I shouldn't wonder why."
Sophanispa smiled and turned to leave.
"Wait," Demeter stopped her. "Do you mind telling me, who are your parents?"
Sophanispa looked at her quickly. "I don't know."
Demeter did not look convinced. "You sound like you know."
"I know who one of them is," she told her. "But they . . . died a long time ago."
"Oh," Demeter whispered. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," the younger queen told her. "It wasn't your fault." With that, she turned and left the bungalow, finding Mistofolees and accompanying him back to the tree.

~}~}~}~}~}~}~}{~{~{~{~{~{~{~

Tugger picked his way through the falling darkness. It was harder to navigate through the trees but he could smell that this was the way Bombalurina had fled. He continued to walk along in the darkness, coming along a change in her direction. There was another scent now that he could vaguely remember. He kept walking, trying to remember the scent. He was so occupied with it that he didn't notice a vine on the path. He tripped over the green extension and fell headlong into a leave-covered pit.
"Macavity!" he whispered, remembering the scent. Everything went black as he bounced off the wall and landed in a heap.

Well . . . no one has gotten the question right yet. Who is Sophanispa? This chapter was full of hints, especially the last part. Good luck.