---
"I hope you know what you're doing, Tiger."
"I hope I do, too."
"What did you tell Lylisan?"
"You have told her you're leaving, haven't you?" Jequimas maintained his silence, not looking at his twin. "Jequimas, you have to tell her! What are you going to do, just make her wonder where you've gone?"
"She'll figure it out eventually," he replied evasively. "We talked about my leaving... I'm sure she'll realize what's happened when I don't show up at the ball."
Jeniiva frowned at him. "You're such an arse. I don't care if you leave, but the least you could do is say a proper goodbye to your mate!"
"She's not my mate!" Jequimas retaliated, looking embarrassed. "I... we... well, there was something there, no denying that, but..." he sighed. "I'm afraid that if I see her again, I won't be able to leave."
Jeniiva's eyes softened. "That doesn't surprise me. You can't do anything the easy way, can you?" He grinned at her and she blinked back tears. "Fine then. I'll tell her you've gone. Not that it'll be pleasant... I personally don't enjoy dealing with the broken hearted."
Jequimas' smile faded and he looked away. "I doubt it will break her heart. If she cared that deeply about me, she'd come with me." Jeniiva shook her head but didn't reply as she pulled him to her and embraced him. "I'll visit you and the kits," he said, his voice thick.
"You'd better," was all she could manage before turning and heading toward the junkyard, where most of the tribe had already gathered to celebrate.
---
"It's time. Where's Jequimas?"
"Ah yes. About that."
Munkustrap glared at Grimterra. "Where. Is. Jequimas?"
Grimterra, although fully grown, still trembled under his father's fierce stare. "Well... we weren't exactly able to... find him."
"... What?"
---
Jequimas moved swiftly away from the junkyard. His chest felt heavy and he blinked frequently, but not once did he stop until he reached his old haunt. He slumped against a wall and held his head in his hands, still not positive that he had done the right thing. Should he have made his decision known to the tribe? Should he have left at all? He shook his head. He couldn't go back to the tribe. He didn't belong there. But as he stared at the familiar surroundings of the place where he had spent the better part of his life, he slowly realized that he didn't really belong here either. But before he could wonder where he did belong, the answer appeared in the entrance of the alley.
Lylisan simply stared at him without saying a word, and he returned both the gaze and the silence.
Finally she spoke. "Your father's in fits." Jequimas didn't reply. He looked away from her and stared at the building opposite him. Lylisan approached him - slowly but unafraid. "It came time to rejoin you to the tribe and you were nowhere to be found. As soon as you didn't appear I knew you'd gone. Jeniiva wouldn't tell anyone where you were..." She stopped in front of him. "But I could guess."
Jequimas lifted his eyes to her face. She didn't look angry. She didn't look confused. And she certainly didn't look broken-hearted. Finally he spoke. "Why are you here?"
She replied with the slightest of smiles. "Well, you weren't going to say goodbye to me, so I decided to come and say goodbye to you."
A flurry of questions filled Jequimas' mind as he stared into her face. What did she mean? Was he never to see her again? Was she angry with him for not saying goodbye? Why was she still smiling? His brow furrowed, his silent way of asking all these questions at once.
Lylisan knelt down so that their faces were leve, her smile fading. "Are you really never coming back?"
He looked away. "I told Jeniiva I'd come back to visit her kittens," he replied, "But... I don't think I'll ever rejoin the tribe." He stared at the ground. "It's not my place, Lyli. It hasn't been for a long time." He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "I don't seem to have a place."
The queen leaned back on her heels and studied him. After a few moments' silence, she said decidedly, "Well. This certainly isn't your place." He raised an eyebrow. "This," she continued, "is the home of a tom living in exile from his tribe. As you don't have a tribe, this sort of place is unnecessary." She stood and pulled him to his feet. She continued lightly, "If you are going to abandon your friends and family, you really should do so in a better environment."
With that, she turned and headed out of the alley, beckoning him to follow. He did so. "Where are we going?"
"Someplace better."
---
She led him to the park, where they had walked only days before. Jequimas had expected them to wander about looking for shelter, but Lylisan maintained her purposeful stride. "Lyli?"
"Almost there," she replied. "Don't worry!"
She led him to a playground that looked as though it hadn't been used in years. A small tower in the center supported a slide, a pole, and something that looked as though it might have once been a swingset. The tower had two stories, and the bottom story was well shaded, small, and (compared to the rest of the park) in fairly good shape.
Lylisan led him around the dented and detached slide into the small space. To his surprise, it was already outfitted with a pile of rags and blankets - a fine bed for a homeless tom. Jequimas gaped at his surroundings and turned to Lylisan, his confusion plainly showing on his face. Lylisan smiled.
"I set this up just in case you decided to leave," she explained. "It's nice and secluded - no humans have come around here for ages - and it smells a lot better than your old alley." Jequimas grinned; he couldn't deny that. "Fortunately, it's also closer to the junkyard."
His smile faded. "So?"
"Well, you said you wanted to visit Jeniiva and the kits," Lylisan replied. "So you won't have to go as far. And..." she blushed slightly, "It'll be closer for me, too."
"... You?"
Lylisan's blush became more pronounced as she lifted her chin defiantly. "Well I found the place, you didn't think I was just going to hand it over, did you?" she said, her eyes twinkling despite her frown. "If you live here you're just going to have to deal with me, and that's that."
Jequimas smiled broadly and grabbed her, pulling her close. "I think I can live with that," he whispered roughly, before lowering his face to hers.
And for the first time in what seemed like forever, Jequimas felt that he belonged.
FIN
A/N: Oh em eff gee! I FINISHED this son of a bitch! I really can't believe it. Yes, the ending is cheesy, but do you know how hard it was to think of something I could live with? Gr! L'anyhoodle, it's done, it's finished, fini. Enormous thanks and a fillion e-glomps to Becky for sticking with me during this... and for her "monthly Shadow reminders!" It would never have gotten finished if it weren't for you! Muah!