So weeks went by and Colerya and Mistoffelees met regularly at the open place to practice. Once after they had finished for that evening, when there was only two weeks left for the Jellicle Ball, Mistoffelees turned to Colerya and said:

"You have improved all the time. What do you think, should we start to plan your solo dance to the Ball?" Colerya smiled widely and nodded. She enjoyed dancing now when she had learned to control her own body and wasn't falling all the time. She enjoyed the feeling when she managed to do a set of pirouettes perfectly or she jumped in the air and touched her toes with her paws.

"So would you be ready to practice already tomorrow? We must practice frequently so we can finish your dance number in time", Mistoffelees asked. Colerya didn't dare to say no.

She dances so beautifully, Mistoffelees thought when they went through Colerya's dance number. The queen had proceeded very well, considering that two months earlier she barely stayed on her feet. Mistoffelees watched as Colerya slowed her pirouettes and stood up at the end. Her dance was done. Mistoffelees started applauding slowly, then more faster until he almost crushed his paws against each other.

"Magnificent!" he shouted as Colerya smiled broadly and bowed slightly.

"Thank you. I feel so happy, I really love dancing!" she said and after a moment of hesitating continued, "Thank you, Mistoffelees. I couldn't be able to do this without you." Mistoffelees raised his paws to reject the compliments.

"Don't just thank me, it was you too who made this." Colerya seemed to glow like someone had just lighted a light bulb inside her.

"It's Jellicle Ball soon", she said, "I can't wait for it!"

Mistoffelees smiled to her.

"Neither I."

Night before Jellicle Ball. Colerya knew she needed to sleep but she was too excited. Tomorrow she would go there and perform her dance to all of them. She would become officially a Jellicle, a Jellicle worthy of consideration. She'd finally have a place in the world. She laid down on her tyre and watched the moon. It was almost full.

Tomorrow, she thought.

The morning creeped slowly to the junkyard. When Mistoffelees came out from his pipe he found almost all the cats already up, talking about the upcoming Ball. Jemima was with the other kittens, playing and focusing her excitement to the tag game. Munkustrap was having a conversation with Alfonzo. Mistoffelees would bet they were talking about Macavity. Mistoffelees hoped he would make a excpection this year and not to attack them on the Jellicle Ball. They rarely had an opportunity to celebrate the Ball without his interruptions. And for Colerya's sake, too. If her dance is being ruined by anyone I'll personally... make them to regret it. Mistoffelees thought bitterly. Then another idea popped into his head: Has anyone told Colerya about Macavity?

Colerya slowly woke up and found out she had finally fallen asleep ontop of her tyre. She stretched long and climbed down to the yard. My, my.. Everyone's up already? She looked around the yard, wondering where should she go when someone tapped her on her shhoulder. She turned around and saw Mistoffelees smiling warmly to her.

"Oh, hello Mistoffelees!" she greeted.

"Hello, Colerya. Would I speak to you for a moment?"

"Sure", Colrya said and followed Mistoffelees to a bit more disclosed location. There he turned to her and said hesitatingly:

"Colerya.. I just thought. Has anyone told you about a cat named Macavity?"

Colerya shook her head:

"No.. Is he one of the Jellicles?" Mistoffelees expression suddenly grew dark.

"No.. he isn't. He is -as a matter of fact- our enemy."

"He has been attacking to our tribe regularly during these years. Almost without excpection he has always attacked on our Jellicle Ball. I needed to warn you. He is very dangerous and would not wish you to get in any danger", Mistoffelees explained watching Colerya's cheery expression fall. He felt bad to ruin her joy, but he would feel even worse if she would get kidnapped by Macavity. He went on:

"We have no any assurance that he's going to attach tonight, but if he does, you need to get safe. If he spots a new queen among us, he'll most surely kidnap her." Mistoffelees looked into Colerya's mismatched eyes.

"I do not wish your first Ball will be ruined by someone like him."

Colerya looked to the ground. Then she sighed and raised her eyes to Mistoffelees'.

"I promise you, I'll keep myself out of trouble. We can still wish he stays away."

Mistoffelees nodded but didn't mean it. He wouldn't think Colerya could protect herself against Macavity, if he decided to take her, he would. Mistoffelees nodded again and then got up.

"Well, that's all I wanted to tell you. I think we should go back to the others."

The night was falling. All the cats slowly creeped to the yard, ready to start the Ball. Colerya was almost trembling with exitement. She was observing the situation above them all, from her tyre. At her time she would land to them and join the dance and singing.

Now it was completely dark.

The clouds drifted away from the front of the moon.

The silvery shine illuminated the yard.

The Jellicle Ball began.

Mistoffelees felt wonderful. He was dancing in the swirling group of cats, they all singing and dancing. He saw a quick glimpse of Colerya dancing, a wide happy smile on her face. Mistoffelees turned his face away and decided to concentrate on his dance. There was still time for her number.

Colerya felt the pressure in her chest grow and grow when the Ball continued. She barely remembered to think about her feet and not falling over. But how she was supposed to be calm? After this dance there was only one left anymore. Only one number to her dance. Colerya tried not to think about it too much. She saw the smiling faces around her. They smiled. To her. She was so happy. She swirled around as the other did.. and stopped. Her eyes locked up to an object at the yard. Her smile faded..

Because in Colerya's eyes, the old car in junkyard had just turned it's front lights on. They were rolling over her..

Colerya!

..her steps hesitated..

Colerya! Watch out!

..she took a step backwards..

..the screaming of the brakes..

..and the voice of her mother screaming in her ears..

..and the bright red line..

..suddenly her legs didn't carry her weight anymore..

Colerya! Watch o-!

Thump! Even though Colerya herself couldn't see or realize it, she had collapsed on the ground, unconcious. And everyone around her was screaming..

Colerya!

Mistoffelees watched in horror as the queen fell. Everyone ran to her, screaming, crying. Mistoffelees ran, too. What happened to her? he thought. Munkustrap came behind him and waded through the other queens around Colerya. Mistoffelees watched as he tried to wake her up. Then he picked her up and called Jennyanydots to take care of her. Jenny arrived gasping loud and grabbed Colerya's slack from. They hurried away and when they ran past Mistoffelees, he saw there was tears shimmering on Colerya's face.

Colerya was waking up slowly. The screams had gone away, the images in her head had gone away. She opened her eyes and saw Jennyanydots staring down on her. Colerya took a sharp breath and stood up.

"Wha- what happened?"

Jennyanydots looked her with worried eyes.

"You fainted, my dear", she said, "Just in the middle of the dance. Everyone are really shocked. But they are now continuing the Ball. It's Jemima's song going now."

Colerya didn't say anything. Jemima's song.. so her dance wasn't gone yet!

She heard steps from behind her. She turned around and saw a very worried Mistoffelees running towards her.

"Colerya!" he shouted in relief, "You're awake! Are you okay? Are you hurt or anything?"

Colerya smiled faintly.

"No, I'm okay. How is it going with the Ball?"

Mistoffelees' face was still worried. He glanced at Jennyanydots before he spoke:

"It's Jemima's song now. Your.. your dance would be next."

"And it will be", Colerya said in defiance. Jennyanydots looked at her suprised:

"You can't go there like nothing had happened! You must stay here! What if-"

Colerya held out her paw.

"It's nothing. I'm okay. I can dance", she looked into Jennyanydots' eyes, "And I want to."

Jenny sighed deep and said, clearly reluctantly:

"Very well, then. You can go." She turned to Mistoffelees:

"But you keep an eye on her! If she collapses again then she'll certainly not go to anywhere before I let her!"

Mistoffelees smiled.

"Of course", and he helped Colerya to stand up.

"Shall we go?"

Colerya was amazed she didn't faint, so nervous she were when she was standing in the middle of the junkyard, all other cats watching her. She gulped, took a deep breath, and raised her arms. First the other Jellicles reactions weren't that big, but when she made her first axes and pirouettes, she heard them gasping out of amazement. She felt a smile starting to spread on her face. And she kept going.

When she raised her arms up again for the ending, they all bursted out applauding. She sighed of relief and turned around to look at them. She bowed once, and twice. She heard someone shouting:

"Way to go Colerya!"

She smiled, she didn't know a cat could feel this happy. And next to them all, was Mistoffelees, applauding and smiling to her.

I..I can't..believe this. I'm just.. so happy!

After time, came the next song, and Colerya joined the others again.

When the Ball was over, and Old Deuteronomy has chosen the cat to go to the Heavyside layer (Colerya had the feeling Gus was at least as happy as her), they all gathered together to rejoice. Colerya felt like her heart would pop out from her chest.

And when they finally went to sleep, Colerya fell asleep immediately, a small smile still on her face.

Soon everyone in the junkyard was asleep. That was very big help for a group that silently slid into the yard, group of black figures. They stopped and listened carefully. Then one of the black figures whispered:

"Shall we start, boss?"

"Yes. Yes, we shall", said the tall fire-coloured cat.

Pouncival couldn't sleep. No matter how tired he was, he just rolled over and over his sleeping place. Then he finally got up and decided to find some water to drink. He stepped out of his den and glanced over the junkyard. He spotted the group in the middle of the yard. They were strangers, yet he knew them. Oh no.. OH NO! What should I.. He thought a second should he remain quiet or shout out loud. After that, he screamed:

"MACAVITY! MACAVITY'S HERE! WAKE UP! MACAVITY'S HERE!"