The Jellicles were getting worried. They did not know where to start. They knew that Macavity moved his lair every few weeks. The kittens mourned for their friend and the elders hung their heads in shame for not watching her carefully. Mungo and Rumple put all the blame on them, but Munku denied it. It was he who had not suspected anything, but the kittens put the blame on themselves. They were the last ones to see her, except Mistoffelees, Electra and Victoria.

"What will we do?" Electra said, a tone of despair in her voice.

"Me and Rumple could go and look in the alley where we were when she disappeared. Then, we could retrace our steps and maybe she might be at one of the places we......um...robbed?" Mungo said, unsure how to say what they did without getting himself into more trouble.

None of the others took notice to the way he put it. Demeter stood. "I'm coming with you. We don't need you two to get in anymore trouble."

Munku rose. "Demeter...you know what he is capable of—"

"Do you want to get Jing back or not?" She looked fiercely into his eyes. He backed down. "Come on." She leapt lightly from the tire and ran through the pipe, Mungo and Rumple following close behind.



It took Jing eight tries to pass the stealth test. Each time she failed, instead of the nice pat she got the first time, she got a hard cuff on the back of her head.

After the lesson, she was led to her chambers. The door was shut behind her and a guard placed at the door. She was told to stay in there. Macavity would be visiting her shortly.

She sat beneath the barred window and looked to the sunset. She longed for home and the Jellicles. Even though she was not yet one of them, she could become one if she attended the ball, but for two years, she refused to join in. she didn't want to be a part of any tribe or group. She wanted to feel free; free to do whatever she cared.

Her thoughts were taken from the junkyard as Macavity entered the room. He carried a small handkerchief, which Jing figured out as he set it down that he brought her some food. She turned her back to the orange and red tabby. He ignored her insolence and placed the cloth by her side.

Walking to the door, he said, "I'll expect to see better training sessions tomorrow, young kitten." He opened the door. "Beware my wrath, kitten. You will not want it set upon you." He shut the door with a click.

Jing flung the food away with a quick swipe of her paw. Curling herself into a ball, she soon fell fast asleep.



"Are you sure this is where you left her?" Demeter asked as they entered the alley.

"We're sure." Rumple answered, looking around cautiously.

"We don't forget a place." Mungo replied sniffing around the area. Demeter scoffed. 'I doubt that.' She thought, looking into a trashcan.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! The laugh echoed in Demeter's ears. "Macavity!" she darted behind the trashcan. Mungo stayed where he was, Rumple beneath him. They looked around, not spotting any sign of the fiend. Mungo relaxed. Taking Rumple's paw they walked over to Demeter and led her out of the alley.

Once out in the open streets, they sat against the fence. Demeter had had one too many bad experiences with Macavity and she wouldn't like to encounter him again. She heaved a sigh and stood. Mungo and Rumple looked after her as she started to walk down the dark, noisy streets.

"Dem...?" Mungo replied, but she was around the corner and out of sight. They looked at each other and hurried after her, calling her name.



Jing woke sore and stiff. Stretching, she peered out the door. The guard was fast asleep. His snores echoed softly through the hall. Jing prodded him with a careful paw. He didn't stir. Taking risky matters, she dug her claws into his thigh. Nothing. Releasing him, she jumped lightly over him and cautiously trotted down the hall.

"Where do you think you're going, young kitten?" a deep voice said behind her. She glanced behind her to see Macavity with Kaine. He shook his head in disapproval. "Naughty, naughty. We shouldn't run off like that."

He jumped at her. She swerved just in time to dodge his claws. Running around the corner, she leapt down a flight of stairs, tumbling to the bottom. She shook herself off and quickly started running again. She was just about to the door when Kaine blocked her way, making her turn sharply away. Stopping for only a second to look for an escape, Macavity landed in front of her. She gazed up to him, panting heavily. She looked around, spotting a small hole on the outside wall, just big enough for her to fit through. Macavity took a swipe at her. She jumped. His paw missed her and she darted off through the hole and down the alley to safety.

"Follow her and bring her back, unharmed!" Macavity roared. "I'll take care of that personally." He muttered under his breath.



"Demeter!" Rumple said when she finally caught up to the black and yellow tabby.

"What's up? You just ran off." Mungo replied, coming up behind the two.

"I had to think." She shook her head in dismay. "Can I just be alone for awhile?"

"Sure...I guess." Mungo stopped, letting her continue on by herself.

"Yeah, What ever you say, Dem." Rumple sat beside Mungo. They looked to each other and shrugged.



Jing came skidding to a halt. She had run for what seemed like hours. She looked around. She didn't know this part of town. She had to find the junkyard. Barely even a minute after she lost sight of him, Kaine came running around the corner. He saw her immediately, chasing after her with great speed.

Without really thinking, she darted out into the street, nearly getting run over by a passing car. It screeched to a stop and the driver got out, yelling at her. She ran as fast as her little legs would carry her, dodging through the crowds. That was enough of a distraction to get a good distance between her and her pursuer.



Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer watched as the golden tabby disappeared around the corner and out of sight. They both sighed and turned back to find Jing. In the distance a loud screech erupted. They looked to each other and without words, darted through an alley to the source.



Jing had never run this fast in her life. Kaine had gained ground and was on her heels. She sprinted along the alley, stopping dead at a fence that blocked her way. Kaine appeared at the mouth of the alley, a cruel smile on his face. He slowly approached her. She cowered below his bear-like body as he stood over her. She waited for the blow to fall upon her weakened state. But it never came.

A cry called out and Kaine was sent sprawling. Demeter stood in front of the black and white kitten, panting heavily. She scooped up the tiny kitten in her arms and squeezed through a small gap in the fence, hurrying off to the junkyard.

