Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer watched as the yellow tabby disappeared through the fence. They raced after her and arrived at the junkyard in no time.

Demeter didn't bother telling the other cats that she got Jing back. She carried the small kitten over to her box, tucking her under the blankets. She was just happy to have her daughter back. Jing opened her eyes, not to see the warehouse, but the kind eyes of Demeter. She groaned, sitting up.

"Lie down, Jing." Demeter pushed her gently back into the box. "You need to rest, while I get Jenny to clean you up. Stay here." She hurried off to find the Gumby cat. With a flick of her tail, she was gone.

Once she was out of sight, Mungojerrie crept up to the box, followed by a very shaky Rumpleteazer. "Psst!" Mungo whispered. "Psst! Jing?"

The kitten turned her eyes to the cats. Her face brightened up when she saw who it was. "Oh, Mungojerrie! Rumpleteazer! Am I ever glad to see you!" the kitten meowed.

"Shh! Not so loud. We're not supposed to be here." Mungo said, looking around for any sign of Demeter or Jennyanydots. "We just wanted to say sorry for ditching you."

"It's okay." She replied, placing her paws on the side of the box.

"Are you hurt?" Rumple asked, her whiskers twitching.

"I'm a little sore, but not much damage has been done to this kitten." She said proudly. "Uh-oh. You guys better get out of here. Munkustrap's coming this way."

They didn't need telling twice. They darted off just as Munkustrap approached the box.

"Dem—?" he cut off. His eyes swelled up with tears, a smile on his face. "Jing! Where did you come from?"

He wrapped his arms around the kitten's neck. She gasped for air. He let her go and looked to her. "How-How did you get here?"

"Demeter rescued me." She told him the whole story of how she was captured and how she escaped. "Don't tell anyone that I'm here, though. Demeter wanted Jenny to clean me up first."

"What do y—" Then he noticed the gash on her side. "Oh, dear. I can see what she means."

"Munkustrap? Are you disturbing my patient?" Jenny replied, coming up behind him. Demeter smiled and shook her head.

"What? No. I was looking for Demeter. I thought I saw her here." He stammered.

"Yes?" she said, approaching him.

"I just wanted to see if you were back. That's all. And I see that you have brought her—" he pointed to Jing. "—back with you. I guess I'll be off."

"You go with him, dearie." Jenny said, ushering the two out the door. "I need to work in private."



"What?!" Macavity roared. "You were defeated by one, measly JELLICLE!"

"She took me by surprise, sir." Kaine said, bowing his head.

"SHE?!" He struck Kaine across the face, opening his cheek to the bone. He didn't cry out or try to stop the bleeding, but instead, left it alone, blood dripping to the floor. "Oh, this is low standards, Kaine."

Kaine lifted his eyes, a sense of pride, anger and determination in their yellow glow. "I can get her, just let me try."

"And what? Get defeated by another Jellicle? No. I'll just have to get her back myself." He turned to leave.

"Sir, she's with the Jellicles now. They'll be on heavy guard."

"Do you doubt me? Do you think that I won't get her?" Kaine shook his head. "Good. I'll make those Jellicles cringe beneath my claw. Their fear of me is dissolving. I must act quickly. Tomorrow night is the Jellicle Ball. No doubt now the kitten will want to join in. I have a plan, though, to sway her will."



Jing had to be on guard the next day. Everywhere she went, she was surrounded by the kittens and maybe Alonzo or Skimbleshanks would come with to make sure she stayed out of trouble.

Jing slept on the old car, the sun beating on her unguarded stomach. Alonzo was curled next to her, his arm over her. She enjoyed the company she got, especially from Alonzo. Demeter had given birth to Jing when she was with Alonzo, but now she was mated to Munkustrap and Alonzo to Cassandra. Jing's fur proudly showed the markings of Alonzo, but she was spirited like her mother.

Nudging closer to her father, Jing inhaled the sweet smell of tuna. She opened her eyes slightly and looked up to the tom. "Have you been to the fish market, Dad?" she asked, teasingly.

He smiled and gave a little chuckle. She pressed her face into his chest and dozed off in the warm sun. Carefully, Alonzo picked up the kitten and climbed down from the car. He held her in his arms as he walked over to where Demeter and Munkustrap were resting. He sighed, setting her down next to her mother. Demeter hugged the kitten closer. Smiling, he stalked off through the pipe.

A shadowed tom slipped unnoticed into the junkyard, a cruel smile appearing on his face. Silently, he climbed onto the old car and up between a broken radio and a bike tire. There the tom waited.