Author's note: Hey everyone, I'm absolutely shattered, it's currently twenty past one in the morning and I've just finished editing this piece, so if there is anything I've messed up, please point it out and I can sort it. I should have really left it to later on and read it again but I wanted to get this chapter up as soon as possible. Anyway, just to recap, author is a sleepy bunny and may not make sense (not that I usually do), so be understanding but still point out any mistakes. Thanks, now on to the review replies.

Big Bad Draven: Thank you very much for your review, here's a new chapter, which I hope will be as good as the rest of the story.

Mystitat: Thanks for the review, and I am 'keeping it up'. Here's a nice new chapter with a pretty red bow on it.

Jemima-luvah: I updated, well you probably noticed if you are reading this now. Don't worry, Uni stuff has been taken care of, kind of. Thanks for the review.

Krissy4: Ahh I love Munkus, and here's more of him in this chapter. I like Demeter too, like so many young people she knows best, hehe. Thanks for the review and hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chimalmaht: You know I'm really impressed by me being able to type your name now without having to look at how to spell it, hehe, I have a sad life. Ahh, gotta love Munkus, he's a sweetie. As for Demeter and Macavity, I'm trying not to give anything away, butthere's gonna be a hell of a ride before things turn out the way you may think. Thanks so much for the review, and I hope you enjoy this new chapter.

Now that that's all done, here's the latest chapter of A Story of Life.

(Munkustraps' POV)

The training session had been over for at least half an hour now, but I was still there, sitting in the same spot where I had spoken to Demeter earlier. Straight after training I had gone back hoping that she would still have been there, but she was long gone.

I didn't know what I had intended to do if she had still been there. Part of me felt I should pat her on the shoulder and encourage her in her pursuit of Macavity. The other part, probably the more sensible part wanted me to talk her out it. Macavity wasn't the type of partner she should be looking for. She had only seen one part of his personality, the sickly sweet and charming part. I on the other paw had seen enough of his nastier side to last me a lifetime. Someone had to tell Demeter about that side of Macavity, even if it seemed like they were meddling.

One thing was for certain; I doubted if I would have mentioned my feelings for her, and it wasn't just shyness on my part. I felt terrible about it, but this method was tactical. Without my feelings for her, I'm impartial, a concerned friend. Once I do tell her I become something else, I become jealous of her loving another tom. Thinking about it, this may seem like I'm scheming, but I'm not that kind of tom, at least I don't think I am.

I wonder if the reason I have against this, is that Macavity isn't the right kind of tom for Demeter, or whether Demeter with any tom would cause the same feelings. If Demeter had chosen Alonzo, or even Tugger instead, would I still feel as jealous as I do now? Is that why I'm planning ahead?

Skimble had taught me about the importance of a good strategy on the first few days of training, never rush into anything without a plan. It seemed like this thought was passing into my everyday life, other things from training were too, like this feeling, a sudden acute alertness. I was on my paws in an instant, muscles tense, listening for anything out of the ordinary. The crunch of a paw upon dried up twigs came from behind me and I turned around to face the source of the noise.

"Enjoying your training, Munkustrap?" Macavity stood on the edge of the clearing of junk.

I groaned inwardly, an encounter with my cousin was the last thing I needed right now.

"It's going well," I replied civilly, although through gritted teeth.

"And Demeter?" He asked. "You were certainly enjoying her company earlier."

I was wondering when he would bring Demeter up. I also wondered whether she had gotten round to telling him how she felt. If she had then he was here to gloat.

"She's a nice queen," I replied, glaring at him.

"But not one you'll ever be able to get, this Jellicle Ball she'll be coming of age, and I shall be the one to bring her into adulthood."

I held back a snarl. How dare he assume that? Ok, Demeter liked him, but did she like him enough to perform the mating ritual with him? That initiation was one of the most important moments of a Jellicles' life, and for a partner most of them chose someone they trusted with their life, even if they were only friends. Would Demeter want to spend this special moment with Macavity, someone she barely knew?

"And does she get no say in this matter?" I asked, trying not to let my feelings get the better of me.

"I believe she has already had her say. How does it feel, to know that she'll never see you as anything more than a 'girlfriend'?" Macavity smirked.

That was it. I'd had enough. If he knew, there was no way I was staying here for him to gloat about how Demeter wanted him and not me. I turned to leave the clearing, but I didn't get more than two steps away before I felt the pressure of claws along my arms. Macavity had grabbed my arms, pinning them to my sides. I winced as he let his claws sink into my skin.

"Lesson number one," Macavity whispered into my ear, making me shiver, "Don't ever turn your back on me, you'll do well to remember that, Munkus."

"Get off me," I growled.

"As you wish, dear cousin, as you wish," Macavity released me and slinked off into the shadows.

He was going to pay for that. I didn't have a clue why I was letting him get the better of me. I had grown up on the streets, survived things that most cats would never have to face. Right now Macavity was treating me like somebody naive and stupid enough to let him push them around and I was letting him get away with it. I was glad no one was around to see it.

I took a deep breath. It was time for a new plan. What I was going to do was scrape up what was left of my dignity and head back to my den for a lie down. Then I was going to get revenge, or at the very least stand up to that idiot. I wasn't going to let him push me around anymore.

I held my head up high, stalked out of the clearing, but once again someone interrupted my exit. I came face to face with Bombalurina. I only had to glance at her expression to know that she had seen everything.

"I have to ask, Stripes," she said, in an annoyed tone. "What the hell was that?"