Coughing violently, I vomited blood onto the already stained pavement. I lifted my head wearily. All the pollicles seemed to be down. "Munkustrap?" I whispered through cracked lips. "Munk? Where are you?" I caught sight of him through a pile of dead pollicles. Crawling over to him, I shook him gently. I turned him over to face me. His eyes were shockingly blank and blood trickled gently out of the corner of his mouth. "Oh no." I put my paw in front of his mouth and nose. No breath came. Opening my mouth, I let out a despairing scream.

"Demeter."

A voice. A tom's voice. "Munk?" I whimpered pitifully. Cracking open an eye, I peered up at the tom standing above me. It was Alonzo. He had several wounds, especially a nasty gash in one shoulder. Opening my other eye, I sat up, head swimming. "Alonzo? Oh, Alonzo, where's Munk?"

My memory painfully began piecing itself together. Remembering what had happened to Munkustrap, I let out another scream. Alonzo swiftly bent down, and I buried my face in his soft fur. Oh everlasting cat. He felt so warm. "I sobbed into his fur. "Alonzo! Alonzo, Munkustrap's dead! Dead! I saw him. His eyes.....they were so dead!" Alonzo said nothing, letting me sob out my feelings. I cried myself to sleep.

Only five Jellicles were left. Tantomile, Coricopat, Alonzo, Rumpelteazer, and me, Demeter. It was a scary thought. Once, we had more than twenty-five. Now... Bomba was dead. Misto was dead. Even Tugger was gone. Munkustrap. A lump rose in my throat. He had whispered to me that day, "You're what makes my life worth living in." He had even kissed me. Alonzo's voice broke through my thoughts.

I barely listened. My thoughts were on Munkustrap, reliving memories of him, him and me, him with me. "Dem? Are you ok?"

"What?! Uh....yeah, I'm ok." I sat up and tried to keep her mind from drifting.

I grunted slightly as I pulled on the dead pollicle. We were clearing the yard. I tried not to look at the dead Jellicles. I knew I would cry if I looked. Instead I stared straight ahead. I felt a paw on my shoulder. I turned around sharply. It was Rumpelteazer. She smiled at me. "Here, Dem. Let me take tha.'" I looked down as she stepped beside me pulling on the pollicle's arm. "You alrigh,' Dem?" I nodded, still not wanting to look at her. "You miss, Munk, don' you?" I looked up then. There was sympathy and understanding in her eyes. "I know how i' feels. I los' Mungojerrie, you know."

I nodded again, watching her. Her eyes suddenly widened. "Dem! Watch ou' fo' tha' edge!" I stepped onto thin air. Letting out an ear-splitting screech, I fell, arms grasping wildly. Then, darkness.

"Demeter."

I opened my eyes. I was in a soft meadow. A familiar tom stood before me. Munkustrap. I hugged him tight and his strong arms held me also. "Oh, Munk. I've missed you so much."

He gently gave me a kiss. "I know, sweetie. I know. But, look. You gotta stop moping over me. Find yourself a nice tom. Do it for me, Dem." I looked up into his eyes. They were serious, but with a tiny spark of joy. I nodded, my voice caught in my throat. "Good." He gave me his sweet, perfect smile. "See you around, Dem."

"She's alive!"

I groaned and opened my eyes, rubbing my pounding head. "Yeah, I'm fine." Alonzo looked relieved. "That was a nasty tumble you took. Come on, I'll lead you back." I took his extended paw. His soft gaze melted my heart. As we walked towards the junkyard, I thought I could hear Munkustrap's soft laugh float by on the wind, his heart-breaking voice approving my choice. I gazed up into the setting moon and whispered, "Soon, Munkustrap. Soon."