Author's note: This will be a quieter chapter: no more fights by now, just a little talk. I'm trying to show some relationships between characters, specially those of Pandora and several other cats (including her mother).

Thanks for your reviews, Roman and Cettie! I'm keeping an eye on your work, too.

Disclaimer: I don't own Cats (but it's engraved in my heart).

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CHAPTER 4 – MOONLIGHT CONSPIRACIES

"Is everybody here?" asked Rothiger in low voice. He was standing on top of the junkpile where the young Jellicles used to go when they didn't want to be found.

"Yes, the six of us", answered Kant. The cream-colored tom looked at his left, where Syren and Danfred were sitting. The twins Baline and Belanor had climbed to an old TV and were playing with a loose cable.

The red and black maine coon sat down with an expression of annoyance. "Right then, can anybody tell me why are we gathered here in the middle of the night when we could be peacefully sleeping in our dens?"

"Because the adults are excluding us from the discussion on 'the topic of the week'", answered Syren, making a face. "And we may have something to say. After all, Pandora is our cousin."

"Yes, and she's completely nuts," replied her brother.

"Hey, wait a minute!" said Baline jumping down the TV. "Could you explain us what's the situation? Belanor and I have been busy kittensitting Merrick and didn't catch a bit of all the gossip around here."

"The situation" began Danfred, "is the following: after what happened ten days ago with Macavity and that queen Pandora, there have been several meetings of Old Deuteronomy with Munkustrap and the rest of the adults to decide what to do. I've been – well – eavesdropping a little, and found out that Munkustrap wants to organize a party to find his daughter, but Alonzo, Tugger and several other cats think it could be dangerous and grab Macavity's attention on the tribe. They haven't reached an agreement yet."

"Did you hear something about Demeter?"

"That's the main point of disagreement", said the grey young tom. "Most of them still think she was allied with Macavity when she was exiled. Except for Syren's mother: Bombalurina thinks Demeter is innocent. And Munkustrap is not completely sure of her guilt by now."

"About bloody time", muttered the copper calico queen between her teeth. "My mother has always believed in her sister's innocence. And I do believe it too. I mean, if she was with Macavity, why did she escape and went to live in the streets? And what that criminal did to her kittens.... She must have been the victim of some misunderstanding or trick."

"What about Mungojerrie?" asked Belanor from her observation post.

"He seems to be recovered, at least physically", continued Danfred. "He's been under Jenny's care until three days ago. I saw him yesterday slipping out of the junkyard and into the city... he must have been looking for her."

"You said 'physically'. Did you feel anything wrong with him?"

"I'm not mystic or anything like that", the grey tom replied, "but he seems a little... maybe 'obsessed' is not the right word, but it's the only one I can think of."

Rothiger looked rather disgusted at this. "Since when is it normal to have a crush on somebody who has almost brought him to the edge of death?"

"Oh, shut up", said Syren. "She can't be that bad. After all, we are family."

"Insanity can happen to the best families."

"This conversation is getting pointless", interrupted Kant. "Are we actually doing anything? If not, we'd better go back to sleep."

Rothiger stood up and faced his sister. "Surely you're not thinking of looking for her too, Syren?"

"If we split up in three groups, we can cover this part of the city in a few nights."

"What for? To find a psycho queen who probably hates us all?"

"We should talk to her and find out... about the Demeter and Macavity thing and all the rest. We are almost the same age as she, so maybe she'll rely on us more easily than on an adult cat. I surely wouldn't talk to Munkustrap if I were she."

The copper queen's brother was not convinced yet. "Alright, sis, I'm with you... but just for tonight. We'll go in pairs, one tom and one queen, and everybody will be back before down. Mind you, if our parents catch us going out of the junkyard at night they will shut us up in our dens until we grow as old as Deuteronomy."

"If we don't find her tonight we'll give it up," added Kant. "And I think the queens should stay. It can be dangerous."

"No way, Kant," whispered Baline. "It was our idea, so we're going too. Syren, you and Danfred can go eastwards, along the riverbend; Rothiger, you go with my sister and take care of her."

"Who died and named you boss?"

The petite calico queen didn't bother answering. "Kant, if you're not afraid of Pollicles, we two can go to the park."

"Who said fear? Let's go! Remember, here before sunrise."

The group of young Jellicle made its way soundlessly through a broken fence and walked into the city, longing for adventure.

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The moon came out from behind a streak of clouds and lit up a rather depressed part of the city. The old factories stood up right in front of a row of ugly houses, made decades ago for the working-class humans, and later abandoned when the factories closed.

On the roof of one of those houses, a golden tabby queen looked to both sides several times until she was sure the coast was clear. Then she crawled through the narrow window of an old attic.

"The street is deserted, mom. It's time."

The attic was small, dusty, dimly lit by the moon. Demeter was sitting on an old worn sofa; around her, several pieces of furniture were scattered about the room.

"I'm going to miss our home. We've been living here for months."

"This is not a real home, just an abandoned human den. And it's not safe any more now Macavity knows of my existence. You'll be better if you stay with those humans for a couple of weeks while I look for a better place for us. They'll take you in: I remember they used to feed us when I was a little kitten." She climbed to the sofa and sat beside her mother. "I'm sorry you have to run away again because of my failure."

"Don't say that, you haven't failed. It's just that he is more powerful, more evil. Why don't you give it up, my little one?" asked Demeter in a worried tone. "I am scared for you. You've been planning this for such a long time... but now I have a dreadful feeling."

"I can't. The only way to prove your innocence and get rid of that demon is getting to the end of this as soon as possible. Besides, now he knows you are alive he won't leave us alone. And the Jellicles will do the same as ever - nothing - so I'll have to deal with it by myself."

"They just want to live in peace."

"So do we, but what Macavity has done to us is too painful to forget. But there's something else. You're worried... but not only about me, right?"

"Right. I hadn't seen my sister and my former friends since before you were born. You only have painful memories, but for me there are also many good things that can't be forgotten. And seeing your father again was… "

"Don't call him my father!" said Pandora, suddenly annoyed. "He doesn't deserve that name." Then she realized she was shouting. "I'm sorry, mom, I didn't want to talk to you like that... but I can't help feeling he has his part of guilt, too, and he'll have to answer for it."

"You are too young to forgive."

"We can't rely on toms. They pretend to love a queen, they use her, and then one day when they grow tired of her they let anybody persuade them that she's no good and then abandon her."

"You'll change your mind some day. When you meet a tom who loves you", said Demeter in her sad soft voice.

"If a tom happens to fall for me, I can't help that, but I won't allow myself to return the favour. Love makes people weak, and I can't tolerate weakness while I have a task to do." She turned to her mother again. "You should be leaving now, mom, it's late. I'll let you know as soon as I find a safer hiding place."

Demeter hugged her daughter and headed for the broken window. "Take care, my little one", she said before going away.

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Pandora stood in the middle of the attic. It was the first time in her life that she was completely on her own, and she felt somewhat relieved. "Now I only have to take care of myself for a while", she thought. "I deserve a free night, without planning, plotting and training."

She climbed to the window sill, enjoying the sight of the empty street in the moonlight. Then she noticed a movement down in the alley. Grey, like a shadow cast by nobody, an adolescent tom walked carefully, followed by a calico queen of a deep copper colour. Their were talking in low voice, but in the silent night they could be heard in all the area. "Dammit! They're going to attract the attention of every Macavity spies in a mile around", muttered Pandora.

She crept out to the roof and jumped, landing just in front of them. The copper queen stifled a cry. "Shhh! You have already woken up half the rats in the neighbourhood. Don't do the same to the other half", whispered the golden tabby. "So, what brings two Jellicles to this place in the middle of the night?"

"We were looking for you. My name is Syren, I'm your cousin."

"Cousin?"

"Yes, I'm the younger daughter of the Rum Tum Tugger and Bombalurina - your mother's sister." Syren held her paw in front of her in a friendly manner. Pandora looked a bit puzzled for a second, and then touched the other queen's paw. "What do you want with me?"

The grey tom stepped forward and spoke for the first time: "We just want to talk. To hear your story."

"And you are...?"

"Danfred. You won't have heard of me, I've been with the tribe only for a short time. Listen - we don't want any trouble with you. If you don't feel like talking to us, we'll go away."

"All right, I'll hear what you have to say. But we can't stay here in the street, there can be spies. Follow me," she said as she climbed up a pipe and entered the attic.

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"... and that's how we escaped from Macavity and came to this part of the city", said Pandora. "We've been moving from one den to another to avoid his spies, and we finally found this place six months ago. I've been living here since then, with my mother, planning my revenge."

Syren was hiding her face in her paws while her cousin spoke. When she looked up again it was covered with tears. "It must have been terrible," she said as she walked towards the golden queen and hugged her. "How can we help you?"

"There's nothing you can do, Syren. Of course you can go home and tell the other Jellicles my story, but... "

"They won't believe us", ended Danfred. "But we can tell our friends, and keep our eyes open. If Macavity or one of his agents make any movement near the junkyard, we'll let you know. There is a junkpile near the northern border of the yard, one with a broken bed base on top. If you want to find us, we usually gather there by sunset."

"Thank you, my friends. I won't forget what you've done", she said, smiling. "Don't cry on the past, cousin. Be proud of yourself and have confidence, and you'll grow stronger."

Syren wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled back. "Goodbye, Pan. I hope we'll meet again soon." With these words she and Danfred went out of the attic and jumped down to the street. Pandora watched carefully their departure, and then climbed to the roof. Too much talk for a single night, she felt she needed a little exercise.

The roof was flat and surrounded by a wide cornice. It was the perfect place for training. The golden tabby made a couple of cartwheels and somersaults to warm-up, and then she started to punch and claw a couple of old plastic chairs. It wasn't like fighting a real enemy, but ir kept her fit and flexible. And fast. Velocity was a good advantage for a queen whose adversaries used to be much bigger than she.

After a while she felt better, and the chairs were in a pitiful state. She made her way back to her den, moving silently in the darkness, and headed for the old patchwork pillow where she used to sleep. But, before she could reach the place, she froze suddenly... when she felt a paw on her shoulder.

Thump. She fell down on her enemy without thinking. "Stupid, idiot, kittenish queen", she thought. "What is the point of being fast when you can't be careful enough to watch your own den?" The tom under her wasn't moving; she separated a little to see his face... and stood up like a shot.

"You? There must be a sign outside saying 'Jellicles welcome'", she grinned.

"I've just met Syren and Danfred on my way. They told me where you lived."

"How did you get in without my noticing?"

"Well, I'm a thief..."

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Sound of drumroll...

Do you think it will be safe leaving those two alone until chapter 5? I hope they don't kill each other while I finish the next chapter (it'll be up soon, I swear).