"Etcetera! Where are you going?" Demeter yelled as she watched the young tabby kit run off.

"I want to play with Electra!" she whined.

"Not till you eat your breakfast! Get back here. Where's your brother?" Demeter was already feeling exhausted, and she'd only been awake for an hour.

"I don't know where Pounce is. What's for breakfast? Bird? Fish? Mouse?" Etcy asked, bouncing around.

"Calm down. Fish this morning. I've got to get Admetus and find Pouncival though. Stay here and don't eat too much," Demeter warned. Etcy nodded, not paying attention and already eating. Demeter sighed as she walked towards the oven.

"Admetus," she said, sticking her head around the side of the door. "There's fish at my box. You better hurry if you want some. Etcetera's already started.' Admetus groaned as he rolled over.

"Ok, I'll be there in a minute," he muttered, grooming himself.

"I won't though. I've got to find Pounce. Don't let Etcy leave please." Admetus nodded, hearing the stress in Demeter's voice. "Thank you!" As she turned to go find Pouncival, she crashed into somebody much larger than her.

"Oh, sorry Tugger," Demeter apologized. She didn't really like him. She thought he was too close to too many queens for his own good. "I'm trying to find Pounce."

"I just sent him back to your box," Tugger told her.

"Why did you have my kit?" Demeter asked angrily, starting towards the box.

"Whoa! Calm down Dem. He came to me. I was just teaching him how to hunt mice," he explained, following her. Demeter stopped, still several feet from the box.

"Wow! You can hunt Tugger? I'm surprised," Demeter said nastily. Tugger's mouth dropped open. "Well, I best be going now. Three kittens to watch," Demeter said, continuing back towards the box, leaving Tugger stunned.

When Demeter reached the box, Pouncival was staring at her with his mouth open.

"What Pounce?"

"You were really mean to him," he said.

"He deserves it. He's hurt Bombalurina too many times. I don't like him," she explained.

"But mommies aren't supposed to be mean. Mommies are nice," Pounce told her, like it was the most obvious thing and she should already know.

"I'm sorry Pouncival. I'll try my hardest to be nice to him. I promise. Is that better?" Pounce nodded. "I heard he taught you how to hunt."

"Yep! I caught my first mouse ever! It was really good too. And it was fat!" Demeter laughed.

"That's good. Are you full then? There might be some fish left if you're hungry," Demeter offered.

"No, you can have it. You're probably hungrier than me."

"Thanks Pounce. You're a sweetie. Did make any new friends besides Tugger?" she asked, leading him into the box where Etcy and Ad were eating.

"Yep. I met Old Duderomeny," Demeter interrupted him with a giggle and Admetus snorted. "What?"

"I think you mean Old Deuteronomy," Demeter corrected.

"Oh. Yeah. I do. Anyway, I also said good-bye to Munkustrap. And I made friends with Misto, the magic cat," Pounce told her. Admetus hissed at Misto's name.

"What's wrong Ad?" Demeter asked.

"Nothing. I just don't like Misto too much."

"You don't like anybody, do you?" Etcetera asked. Admetus blushed.

"I like Demeter and Munkustrap. And Bombi, and Jellylorum."

"I meant the kittens," Etcetera interrupted.

"Let's drop this, ok?" Demeter quickly intervened. She could tell Admetus was becoming rather uncomfortable. "He can like whoever he wants to."

"Yeah," Pouncival agreed. "We all can. Just like we can all not like Victoria!"

"What's wrong with Vikki?" Demeter asked curiously.

"She's a brat," Admetus told her. Etcy and Pounce nodded in agreement. Demeter stared at her kits in surprise.

"Oh. I didn't know you two already felt that way about her. I knew you did Ad, but I understand why. What did she say to you two?"

"She's just kinda snobby," Etcetera said. "Can I go play with Electra now?"

"Yes, go ahead. Admetus, why don't you take Pounce to meet Plato and Tumble?" Admetus stared at her like she had sprouted celery out of her ears.

"Ha ha. That's a good one Dem," Admetus said sarcastically. "They really enjoy my company. I can't even talk to Electra without them showing up and making fun of me."

"You want to talk to Electra?" Etcy asked, halfway out the door.

"I want to talk to somebody, and she's the only one who won't tease me. Even though she laughs. Still, she's better than nobody," he explained.

"Well, I can help. I can bring her here and Tumble won't be able to see you, so he won't make fun of you," Etcy offered. Admetus blushed. Noticing, Demeter smiled.

"Like she would want to talk to me."

"I think she would. I'll ask. Don't leave." Etcetera ran out the door.

"Gosh! She's a nosy little kit. What am I supposed to say to Electra?" Admetus exclaimed.

"I would start with hello," Pounce put in. Demeter couldn't help but laugh.

"I agree with Pounce. That's a good way to start a conversation. The rest will come to you as you go, don't worry," Demeter assured him.

"Thanks guys," Admetus said, rolling his eyes.

A/N: I don't have school today, in honor of the people who have fought in wars. We love you guys! If you know a veteran, tell them thanks. It was so sad when they came to see the play. During the last few wars we acted out and when 'Taps' was played, they started to cry. It made me teary-eyed.

Krissy4: That is awesome! I love snow too, but we don't have any yet. Our backyard is white though, but that's because our puppy chewed up a pillow and the stuffing is everywhere. Are you making fun of my crazy plots? That one was actually written as a school assignment for humanities class. It was fun.

Jemima-luvah: I know you did. I was just talking about the Wednesday performance though, or I would've mentioned Bridget too. I'm sorry I made you feel unloved. Oh, and do you by any chance have Vickie's phone number? I need to call her. And I'll tell Bompa when I email her.