Demeter's cry of joy was heard throughout the junkyard. Everyone came rushing to her, nearly falling over with the sight. The Rum Tum Tugger, himself, fainted. The kittens (now older) gasped and went to his side. Everyone came up to Jing and hugged her, cried and stepped back, looking on in tears.

Jing watched as the crowd parted and Old Deuteronomy walked up to the young queen. He said nothing, but took her in a huge embrace. Releasing her, he turned to a confused group of kittens.

"This, kittens, is the lost one, Jing." His low voice boomed. "Three years ago she was taken by our feared enemy Macavity. Day and night we searched with no prevail. But now, she has been found and returned to us by our very own Munkustrap." The crowd cheered. "We must, as always, take great caution. No doubt Macavity will be searching for her. Keep on your guard."

He stepped down and walked back through the crowd, disappearing back into the night. The cats said their farewells to Jing and went to sleep. The small group of kittens walked up to Jing and introduced themselves and who their parents were.

Coffee (Mungo/Rumple), Ponukka, Lilypad and Jellydrop (Pouncival/Etcetera), Bezzil (Tantomile/Coricopat). Last came Gummibean. She slowly approached Jing and sat in front of her.

She held out her paw to Jing. "I'm Gummibean. My mom's Victoria and my dad......" She took a deep breath and finished. "....my dad is Mistoffelees."

Jing's heart sank. Mistoffelees had taken a new mate. Nonetheless, she smiled to the kitten. "Pleased to meet you. Where is your father anyway?" She asked, not seeing the magical cat anywhere.

Gummibean shrugged. "He disappears like this all the time, but never this long." She began to grow worried. Misto was always here in time for dinner. Gummibean hurried from the tire, yelling over her shoulder, "I'm sorry, but I must find my dad!"

Jing didn't hesitate. She jumped after the kitten. Just as they reached the pipe, Munkustrap stepped in their way. "No one is to leave. Not tonight. I'll send a few toms out in the morning."

Jing shoved him out of the way. "I must find him, Munkustrap. I will not leave a friend behind." She darted through the pipe. Gummibean made to follow, but Munkustrap grabbed her shoulders.

"Gummibean, stay with your mother. We'll find your father." Victoria grabbed her daughter and hurried to the oven. Munkustrap turned to the pipe. "Jing?! Jing!" he called. Receiving no reply, he sprinted after her.



Sunlight streamed into Mistoffelees cell. He squinted his eyes open and stretched. He had slept terribly. Letting out a yawn, he approached the bars. Kilia sat next to Misto's cage, deep in slumber. Reaching through the bars, Misto tapped her. She woke with a start.

"Oh, dear....how long have I been asleep?" she asked, not thinking of whom she was talking to.

"Almost an hour. No one came down, though." Misto rested against the bars.

"That's good. If I had been caught, who knows what would have happened to me." Finally, she caught on that she was talking to Mistoffelees. "I'm not supposed to be talking to you!"

"Don't worry, I won't tell a soul." He replied. "I promise."



It took Munkustrap a while to catch up with Jing. It seemed she knew exactly where she was going. Munkustrap kept calling after her until she finally stopped for him. He paused a little ways from her. She seemed to be talking into the shadows. Finally, he saw who she was talking to. A small red and white tabby looked on from the darkness. Seeing him, the kitten hissed and scampered off. Jing turned swiftly and darted down the street, stopping at a row of alleys. Munkustrap came to her side, panting.

"There's nothing you can say or do that will make me go back." She looked around, trying to figure which alley it was. It was so different in the daylight.

"I didn't think there would be." He replied, ignoring the question Who was that cat? throbbing in the back of his mind. "But, if we do come upon Macavity, let me handle it. Okay?"

She didn't answer. Taking off at a sprint, she went down the darkest alley, Munkustrap following close behind. Stopping, they came to a brick wall. Munkustrap looked for a way through, but he found none.

"Now what?" he asked, looking back to Jing. "There's no way through."

"Who said we're going through?" She replied, turning to him.

Without warning, Jing let out a war cry and tackled the silver tabby. They fought, clawing each other with great speed. Munkustrap finally threw her off and stood back, breathless.

"What are you doing?" He didn't get the answer he wanted. His world went dark as Jing pitched him a severe blow to the head. He collapsed in a heap, Jing standing over him with sorrow in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, my friend," A tear fell from her eye. "But, it was the only way I could free Mistoffelees....."

"Bravo." Macavity clapped his paws as he came out of the shadows. "I didn't think you could do it, but I guess I made a mistake."

"I did what I needed to do. Now, give me what I came for." The hair on Jing's neck began to tingle.

"Don't be hasty, Jing." He circled behind her. "You'll get your precious mate back soon enough."

Her anger was beginning to rise. "I'm in no mood for games, Macavity."

"This is no game." He whispered in her ear. "It's war." With a quick swipe of his paw, Jing fell next to Munkustrap, unconscious. "And in war, I always win."

