"MACAVITY'S HERE!" Colerya woke up immediately and sprung up from her cozy sleeping place. She heard loud rustle down from the yard and peeked over the edge of the junkpiles. All the Jellicles were running to the yard, to see what's happening. Colerya noticed Munkustrap standing before everyone else, facing Macavity. Macavity attacked.

Colerya gasped when the ginger cat slashed Munkustrap on the cheek, but he received a slash in return. The two cats glared at each other in a hostile manner and charged again. It continued several seconds. Colerya gasped again when the couple separated from each other, Munkustrap's cheek was now covered with blood. There were also bruises on his body, clearly standing out from his silver fur. Macavity was too injuried, but he didn't look so wounded. Colerya started slowly, silently climb down from the top, keeping an eye on Macavity's hencemen. No one paid attention to the shadow sliding down to the yard.

Mistoffelees was covering in the shadows. He was trying to hide as well as he could. He would be useless in fight, he's was too small, Macavity would knock him out with only one slash. Most of the Jellicles were having a small fights against Macavity's hencemen. Suddenly Mistoffelees heard a soft thump and felt silky fur brush against his just for a second. He looked next to him and realised that Colerya had slid down next to him without making a single sound. She looked at him, then back to Munkustrap and Macavity and whispered:

"I should've know he would attack today. Just after Jellicle Ball when everyone's relieved that he didn't attack on us during the Ball. Just when we're unarmed." Mistoffelees nodded. He was getting worried. Munkustrap's strength seemed to be drain, but Macavity was still not even breathless. He looked down at the injured silver tabby and smirked. Just one slash and Munkustrap collapsed on the ground. Demeter screamed and rushed to pull him aside but then Macavity started to aproach her, an impure grin on his face. He was just about to grab her when Alonzo stepped between them and hit Macavity in the face. Now it was their time to fight.

Colerya watched in horror when Alonzo was thrown aside. Tugger attacked then. They'll be out of toms soon, Macavity's too strong, he's beating them all! After a time, which seemed to be only a mere seconds or several hours to Colerya, Tugger was out of the game too. Tumblebrutus. What the heck are we going to do? They can't beat him alone. Colerya felt her muscles tighten. I can't just let them get beaten..

Mistoffelees wished Tumblebrutus could finally beat Macavity. They were slowly getting outnumbered. He felt Colerya stretching next to him. God, I wish she's not too scared or anything. Tumblebrutus was already exhausted. Colerya's breathing was getting short and superficial. Macavity had his same smug grin when he walked to Tumblebrutus, who was holding his stomach. Macavity raised his paw for the final slash. Then happened something unexpected.

Mistoffelees felt a small current of air wiping over him and he realised Colerya was no longer next to him. He gasped loudly.

"COLERYA! DON'T!"

Macavity turned his face to the source of the voice and was suprised by a black shadow with sharp claws.

Colerya felt the ginger cat fall beneath her. She slashed him on the face and chest and hopped over him. Macavity was quickly up again and watched Colerya a suprised expression on his face.

"Well, well.." he said, "I hadn't heard they had a new cat." His grin changed into a cruel grimace. "They won't be having long." He charged to Colerya and hit her in the chest. Colerya fell backwards and to the ground. She attacked to Macavitys feet.

The ginger cat fell to the ground and Colerya punched him hard in the face.

"Don't - you - ever - dare - to - attack - here - again", she said while hitting him. Suddenly she felt herself being thrown in the air and her head hitting something hard. She heard someone call her name before everything went black.

Is she okay? Voices echoing in the darkness. An answer.

Yes, she's quite badly bruised but I'd think she'll be up soon.

She tried to move her arm. An effect in the speakers.

She's moving. Colerya? Are you awake?

Are you allright?

She opened her eyes and the pain rolled over. Colerya gasped.

"So it does hurt. But it could be worse. Can you speak?"

Colerya opened her dry mouth.

"Y-yes." Her voice was hoarse. She suddenly recognized the two queens above her. The smiling faces of Jellylorum and Jennyanydots.

"It's already the second time when you're in my care in a short time. And this time you will certainly not leave until I say so", said Jenny. Colerya gave her a bitter smile.

"How.. how did it end?" she croaked with her hoarse voice. Jellylorum sighed and raised her eyebrows as she spoke:

"Macavity and his rats left the yard quite soon after you passed out. I think the wounds he got started finally take his strenght. Munkustrap, Alonzo, Tugger and Tumblebrutus are quite allright, or at least they say so." Jellylorum watched her with eyes full of caring. "Would you like to drink something?"

"Yes, please."

After a moment, the older queen returned with a small bowl filled with water. Colerya drank it gratefully, then Jellylorum pointed at Jennyanydots and asked:

"Hey, Jenny. Weren't you supposed to say something about that someone who visited here?" Jenny frowned a moment, trying to remember, and then her face brightened up and she bursted out speaking:

"Yes, indeed! There was this black stranger who passed by in here. He wanted to see you and we didn't like it because he was a complete stranger and you were badly injured but then he promised he wanted just see you so we let him. And he just, well, watched you a moment and then took off and said we should say regards from him to you." She stopped speaking and looked questioningly at Colerya:

"Do you know anyone like that?"

Coleya shook her head, althought she had a slight guess who this stranger could have been. She put the bowl next to her and closed her eyes again.

Oh well, now that girl's asleep again!

"Daddy!" screamed the black little kitten and stumbled forwards the handsome black tom. The tom lifted the kitten to his arms and nuzzled slightly the black-red queen next to him. "Daddy, where have you been?" asked the kitten. The tom smiled.

"Nowhere. Isn't it more important I'm here now?" The kitten purred loudly to him. The red-black queen huddled closer the black tom.

"I missed you, honey", she said.

"Same here", answered the tom, and softly kissed the queen.

The kitten made prostesting noise at the adult cats' smooching. They stopped and smiled at her.

The family was again happily together.

"There's no way you're going to leave here again!" Jennyanydots screamed at Colerya when she tried to get up two days after Macavity's attack. Colerya sighed.

"Please, Jenny. This is important, really", she said with pleading eyes. The older tabby sighed.

"Well, what is it?"

"What?"

"I'm not letting you go unless you have a really good reason."

Colerya turned her back on Jennyanydots. Then she said quietly:

"You remember that black cat who was here when I was still unconcious?"

"Yes."

A short pause.

"I'm going to look for him."

Mistoffelees peeked over the top of the garbage piles. He was suprised to see Colerya clearing up her sleeping place, like she was leaving to somewhere.

"Are you going to somewhere?"

The queen startled at the voice. She looked at Mistoffelees and then quickly away from him.

"Yes.. I.. I have something to do. Important things", she said. Mistoffelees was stunned.

"What? I mean.. Where? Why?" his head was full of questions. Colerya looked at him, her eyes full of guilt.

"I.. When I was unconcious, there was this cat who visited me. I'm going to look for him."

Mistoffelees felt sudden coldness in his chest.

"Why?"

Colerya stared before her in glazed eyes.

"I.. No, it's too stupid."

"What?"

"I.. I think he might be.. my.. father", Colerya said like she would be ashamed of herself. Misoffelees couldn't encourage himself enough to look her in the eyes. His mouth felt dry.

"So.. when are you.. coming back?" he asked. He turned to look at Colerya.

"You are coming back, right?"

The queen smiled warmly.

"Or course I am", she said and walked to Mistoffelees and hugged him.

"I'm glad you understand", she whispered. Then she suddenly let go of him and tunred around. She walked few metres away from him and then turned around again.

"Tell Munkustrap what I told you. You'll see me again in the next Jellicle Ball", she said, smiled for the last time and slid away from Mistoffelees' sight. He dashed forward to see the last glimpse of her, but she was gone already.

"I'll wait for you", he whispered.