Part One: Out Of The Shadows

Before the Jellicle Ball

Chapter Five: I Love You

And the night's too long and cold

here without you I grieve in my condition

for I cannot find the strength to say I need you so...

"No. Never, I'll never go back!" The nightmares were back, but they had grown worse, she had begun sleep walking now, her body moving, running trying to get away from that which was after her," Let me go! He's not your son anymore!" By now she had taken herself out into the middle of the yard, the storm that had blown in drowning her fur with rain as she stumbled in the slick mud.

Munkustrap had night watches, only because he could stay awake, and because Alonzo hated the night shift. It wasn't his style, but Munkustrap could deal with anything, however with the hardness of the falling rain, the fearless Tabby had been forced to take refuge under the Old Ford, but still he could see most of the yard and keep track of the going ons, but what he did not expect to see was Demeter stumbling about in a confused manner in the mud," De--" He stopped himself, she was sleep walking again, the last time someone had tried to wake her, she had gone crazy and Bomba had ended up staying with Jenny for a while, her arm cut up right good.

Moving carefully, the tall silver and black tom moved out into the rain, a disgruntled hiss leaving his lips as he got wet. Like most cats he was not fond of the water, at all. With a few quick bounds he was next to Demeter and leading her back towards the closet home she shared with her son and sister.

" No. You never said you loved me! I'll never be with you again Macavity! Never you hear me!" She struggled, her body pushing at Munkustrap's, her dream telling her she was fighting against Macavity," I don't love you anymore...I-- I love... someone else." Her tone had changed, it had softened, but then as quick as it had it became fierce again," No! Please oh ... no don't not again! Macavity please..." Her body trembled with fear and or cold and she clung to the Silver and black tom, her claws digging into his fur sharply.

Munkustrap did all he could to keep from crying out as her claws worked deeper and deeper into his chest. He had to get her to stop, but that would risk waking her and then what? He had some advantages over the small queen, for one he was bigger and two, stronger. Carefully taking a hold of her paws, he removed them from his chest and then lifted her into his arms. She had grown almost quiet now, her only sounds were that of defeated sobs. So helpless. He felt so many things for her, but was it all because of pity? In all honesty... he didn't know.

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"Oh thank the Great Rumpus Cat! She's okay. I thought---" Before she knew what she was doing, Bombalurina had lost her composure and was sobbing to an uncontrollable point against the door of the closet home, and for once she could care less if anyone saw this display of emotion, including the young kit who's arms had bonded about her knees and was staring hopelessly at the form of his mother.

" Is Momma okay Aunt Boma?" He looked to his strong Aunt, only to find her very sad, and not so strong. Plato did not know what to do, he wanted to be there for both his Mom and his Aunt, his sister too... but he knew he couldn't be there all the time, but luckily others could when he couldn't, like Munkustrap. The tom kitten was most relieved to see that it was his idol who held his Mother safely in his arms. It was a welcoming sight indeed.

"She'll be fine. She was just walking in her sleep again. Maybe... maybe I should take her to the dark twins?" Munkustrap offered, looking from the smaller face to the more shapely one as it nodded.

" Yes. Do. Do it now, go Munkus please help her. I can't, I can't do this anymore and Plato, the poor kid he's all out of sorts because his Mom is." Bombalurina slowly regained her composure and looked around," Munkus... she ... she keeps saying he's going to come back for her, and for Plato. That he's angry, hurt that she hasn't come back to him this time.. and there's more, but she's not telling me the whole deal." Fret and worry lined the usually sexy queen's face," I don't know how she knows all this, but Coricopat and Tantomile will know. Please get her some peace of mind. We all need it, even you."

The Sentinel nodded, his concern as deep and as grave as Bombalurina's, if not deeper," Okay. I'll take care of her. I promise, but you two go back to bed, and in the morning Bomba make arrangements for Plato to go spend time with Jelly for a while. At least till after the Ball." He knew that was a long time, two weeks, but the kit's safety was highly important.

"Alright. Just take good care of my girl Handsome." Bomba smiled, but it was sad and tired as she placed a small kiss on his cheek.

" I will. I always keep my promises."

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The area of the junkyard the dark twins, Coricopat and Tantomile called home was an old run down small scale motorhome. All of it's tires were missing an so it sat flat on the ground with piles and piles of the usual assortments of junk around it and on top of it. Munkustrap wasn't always to found of coming here, he had an odd experience once in the company of the dark ones when he had been a kit. They had told him frightening things, things about his future. This leeriness had to be put aside for Demeter's safety, he could not stand to see her suffer like this anymore.

Come inside Sentinel. Came two voices in unison inside his mind. It was nothing knew to him, for most of the time Cori and Tanti as they were affectionately called rarely communicated any other way. Upon entering their abode, Munkustrap gave an annoyed sniff of the air and crinkled his nose.

"Forgive the smell. We expected this visit of the Silver seeking help for the Gold and so Tantomile has prepared a draught to calm Queen Demeter's dreams." Coricopat instructed as he met the second in command Jellicle and the queen in his arms at the door.

The silver tabby cocked his head to one side with a curious look. Why had Coricopat called her Queen Demeter? All female Jellicles five years and older were called queens, but only Jellicle royalty was referred in that manner and Demeter was not Jellicle royalty.

Not yet Sentinel. But the future holds a crown for her. Tantomile smiled mystically as she entered the room where the other three cats where," The next three nights she must take a thimble full of this before she sleeps. If she misses a dose... her dreams will drive her into madness."

Munkustrap gave a shiver as he felt the pairs of eyes on him, studying him as he carefully adjusted Deme in his arms and took the bottle," Should I wake her and give her some now?"

Both the wiccas shook their heads," No." the replied in their eerie unison voices," Tonight her dream will plague her no more as long as the arms of the protector shields the devil from her mind."

"Go."

"Keep."

"Her."

"Safe."

One said after the other, both aloud an in the tabby's mind as the door behind him opened. Bewildered and shaken, Munkustrap exited the motorhouse and headed back towards the closet that Demeter and the rest of her little family called home.

Stay strong Sentinel. For her.

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"So what's wrong with her? Did they help? Is she going to be okay?"

"Yes, she'll be fine Bomba, they want me to take care of her... why I don't know." Munkustrap's gentle azure eyes fell to the gold and black form still in his arms, he felt a sense of belonging as she shifted in her sleep and nuzzled closer against his chest. He could not help himself as a deep whisper of a purr began in his throat as she tangled her claws gently into his fur.

"Ugh. This stuff smell like pollicle crap!" Bomba exclaimed loudly as she put the stopper quickly back into the bottle that the Dark Twins had given to Munkustrap.

"Bomba not so loud you'll wake her." It was to late, the Silver and Black tabby sighed as he felt the small frame in his arms shifted and a small mew leaving the awoken queen's lips in surprise," It's okay Demeter. Go back to sleep."

" Munk... what are you... why am I..." She was lost. Both her and Munkustrap were soaking wet. He was holding her and she was very nestled against his body and tired. Giving a shiver and despite her reserves, the golden queen drew herself closer against the large tom," I'm... cold and wet. What happened?" Her voice was a nervous whisper, she feared the worst, that Macavity had tried to take her.

Gently Munkustrap sat the queen down, only to find her clinging to him for warmth. He looked up to see that Bombalurina had gone to fetch some blankets and had returned locating the largest she could find and wrapping it around both tom and queen," Thanks Bomba." He offered, his arms drawing Demeter close to him and laying down, his purr kicking in to help lull her back to sleep," Deme you need to sleep. Everything will be explained to you in the morning, but right now just sleep." His blue gaze lifted a moment, watching as Bomba curled up around her nephew a smile upon her face as she closed her eyes.

She was so tired. Munkus was right, she needed to sleep and he was going to keep her safe. Whatever had happened to her he wasn't going to let it happen again. Soon she felt and heard her own purr mingle with his as she closed her eyes, turning her frame so she could rest her head against his broad chest and curl her claws into his fur," I... I don't know what I'd do without you..." She whispered softly as sleep overcame her and she gave into it.

Her words had been heard, a gentle smile crossed the tom's face. She really did care, she wanted him to care about her. Joy and pride swelled inside Munkustrap's heart as it fed the love he had for the queen he was protecting in his arms. With this revelation he fell into a very contented sleep, purring all through the rest of the night.

End of Chapter Five...