Chapter 22 – Ramifications

Demeter woke up, feeling very tired. She had expected to be left alone again. But to her surprise, she was surrounded by orange fur. In a panic, she jumped up and screeched, making the two cats around her jump up and recoil into fighting stance. "What is it!" Rumpleteazer asked, wide eyed and bushy-tailed.

"I dunno, I dunno!" Mungojerrie was peering around, as though he were expecting a monster to come out of nowhere. His paws were curled up like fists, and he punched the air twice as though there were an invisible opponent there.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! That was me!" The three looked at each other before sighing with relief. "I thought you were Macavity."

"Oy, Macavity," Mungejerrie mumbled, looking down at his fur in disgust. "Last thin' I need is to look like Macavity." (Demeter hadn't meant to insult him.) But the tom soon perked up. "You'll nevah 'ave to worry about 'im again!" he announced proudly. Demeter blinked, looking between the two. "I thought we should break you outta 'ere and take you 'ome!" Rumpleteazer punched her brother in the ribs. "Oof! She 'elped," he said, pointing to his sister as he rubbed his ribs.

"I came up with the idea! Toms!" She rolled her eyes and threw her paws up in the air before turning to the confused queen. "We promised we'd 'elp ya! Now we're doin' it! We're breaking you out!" Demeter still looked confused. "Get anythin' you need, 'cause we're not comin' back!"

"Um…" Demeter didn't quite grasp what the two were saying. (Not only due to their accent…) "How?" The little gold and black queen really didn't want to give her hopes up anymore than she already had in the past. Constantly trying to evoke her former companions didn't work, and that's all she could think up at the time. Every inch of the warehouse was crawling with Macavity's minions, and he never was one to call them off of an attack.

"No one pays attention to us in the mornin' when we leave." Mungojerrie explained while shuffling through his things. He took a moment to frown at having to leave his favorite candlestick before continuing on his explanation. "It's the best time to go out 'cause the yard is almost always deserted. The only time, actually. Cats get 'igh off catnip, or are too tired to get up, or somethi--"

"An' that's the perfect time to sneak you out!" Rumpleteazer interjected. "Easy as Strasburg pie!"

Demeter's hopes lifted as she was filled with a new energy. She shot up from her sleeping spot and joined in the excitement of the two tabbies before stopping dead. (Well, not DEAD, that's a bad word to use in this situation.) Her thoughts went back to the cat she saw on her first days here…and of the many horrors after that. "I don't want you to get hurt because of me," she said quickly, suddenly panicking for the well-being of her two friends. "I don't know what Macavity would do to me, but he would certainly do away with you two! He'll call you traitors and have you killed!"

Mungojerrie stopped all activity and seemed to grow pale. But Rumpleteazer shook her head. "'e won't," she said assuredly. "We're the best cat burglars in the 'ole tribe!" She tried to ignore the fact that her brother now looked sick. "You just 'ave to keep up with us, got it? That's the most important thin'!" Demeter nodded to show that she understood. She would do anything to get out of this place. She had always been afraid to try and escape because she was sure Macavity would come after her. That was even if she could get through the gauntlet of cats that constantly stayed at the entrance of the warehouse.

But her thoughts were cut short as the two became very serious. (This must be how they get before a heist.) It took a few moments for Demeter to realize that this was it…this was the moment she had been waiting for since she was forced into this tribe.

Macavity sat in his den, wondering if the queen he had scared off the day before would return to him today. She was expected to meet him everyday, yes, and she never backed down from meeting with him, although upon consideration, he realized that may have been simply from fear rather than wanting to be with him. Oh, how he had messed everything up. For once in his life, he was considering his own actions, and the aftermath of them. (But of course, his mind always went back to the same fail-safe that kept him free from responsibility or guilt.)

She was the one aggravating him. She was the one who would always be by that brother of his. She was the one who was hurting him. But he couldn't simply hate her for all these things. He had to forgive her for all her transgressions and try not to scare her next time. She scared far too easily, he realized.

Try again. He knew patience…for the most part. When he couldn't figure out a human contraption, he did at times throw it against a wall…but that didn't stop him from trying again with the now broken contraption! But he couldn't very well throw a queen against the wall…He didn't want to break her, though he tried.

Getting up, he took in a deep breath. It wasn't like him to be nervous about something. But today, there was definitely something off…his emotions among them. If only he could just figure out how to control his emotions, and try and reason with the queen. Maybe start anew. He didn't know what he could do, but now that he had his epiphany, realizing he didn't want the life he had been seeking his entire life, he knew that something had to change.

He knew he brought her here for a reason…She was good for him…and would heal him in time. If he could just figure out how to start again before it was too late.

Rumpleteazer took a deep breath and peered out of her den, making sure there was no attention directed on their little hut. Then she motioned for her brother to come forward. Mungojerrie grabbed Demeter's arm and went up to the opening. The tabby tom went out first, followed by Rumpleteazer. They carefully hid Demeter from sight with their bodies as they raced over to the pile of sewage, junk, and rat bones the two kittens used to leave the warehouse every day. As soon as they reached the pile, Mungojerrie went first, and Demeter did her best to keep up with him. But he was fast, and she kept sinking into the festering pile of sewage.

She tried not to think about what she was walking through as she followed the footsteps of the tabby in front of her. Rumpleteazer kept pushing her forward to get her to move faster. And with a lot of effort, the already tired queen reached the top, where Mungojerrie helped her up. As soon as Rumpleteazer reached the top, they went through a window and jumped down onto a fire escape, where they started their descent down to the deserted fenced in yard.

Demeter nearly squealed with excitement at smelling fresh air for the first time outside of that wretched warehouse. She was also impressed at how empty the yard was in the morning! It almost seemed like the warehouse was deserted, if she didn't know any better. Demeter followed the twins, not quite as sure of foot as the other two were, down the fire escape and onto the yard.

It was there she could see the fence she was meant to go through. There was a small dug out hole on the bottom where the cats seemed to exit. (No wonder it was always so crowded there. So few cats could leave at the same time!) She raced over with the other two towards the opening that held her freedom!

If only everything was so easy.

"THERE SHE IS!" The three cats whirled around to see cats were pouring out from all over. Rumpleteazer made a little yelping sound, and Mungojerrie grabbed Demeter's arm, practically dragging the queen to the exit. How! How did they know!

Then she remembered how every morning, cats would go out of their way to torment her out of the den. How could she have forgotten to tell the others this? Of course they would realize she was gone.

Rumpleteazer shot through the opening like a mad cat. Mungojerrie pushed Demeter to go through. The gold and black queen dove forward to go through the whole. Just as freedom seemed so close, Demeter chocked and tried to move backwards. But it was no use. Her collar was stuck on the fence. Her prided collar was stuck on the fence!

"Come on, come on!" Rumpleteazer seemed to squeak as both tabbies tried to unhook the collar. Just as the collar came loose, and Demeter was nearly out the hole, she felt paws grab at her feet. "NO!" Rumpleteazer screamed, grabbing at Demeter. But the gold and black queen was dragged through. Demeter saw Rumpleteazer's terrified eyes as she herself was hurdled backwards.

The cats forcefully spun her around. She saw that a few had pinned Mungojerrie to the ground before her view was blocked by the swarm of cats that rounded on her. There seemed to be a blood lust in the sudden crowd of cats that was in the yard. Some yelled for the others to stop. Some cheered others on. But there were more than enough cats to cause Demeter harm, slashing and tearing into her fur, leaving the poor queen screaming as blood began to trickle down her fur.

Mungojerrie had broken lose from the cats that had him pinned and pushed a few cats out of the way, taking a few slashes and bites at the ones attacking the frightened queen. He had only got out a few swipes in Demeter's defense, before the attention went onto Mungojerrie. He was once a friend to most of them, and they turned on him in the frenzy of the hunt.

Rumpleteazer was screaming behind them, hitting her paws against the fence. But if she tried to get through, the cats would probably turn on her as well. So all she could do was watch in horror, and cry.

Griddlebone raced out of her den at the sound of mass fighting in the yard. She hated to hear those sounds, but couldn't help herself but to go see what all the fuss was about this time. She raced up to the window where she could view everything, and saw a swarm of cats rounding the exit to the streets. Unsure of what to make of the situation, she strained her eyes and leaned forward against the glass to try and make out what was happening.

Was that orange fur? She was almost sure of it. She took a few moments to consider what she saw, before coming to the conclusion that the tribe had decided to turn against the infamous cat burglars who were hardly otherwise hated. Griddlebone shuddered at the thought of this. If they could turn on those kittens, they could turn on anybody. The Persian hardly wanted to see them die, but what could she do?

Just as she turned her eyes away from the sight, she thought she saw a bit of gold among the cats. Her mind slowly started to realize just what was going on. Turning back to the spectacle, she saw what she was positive to be the little queen Demeter as the source of all the fighting. Griddlebone stiffened at the thought.

She hardly liked the queen, but she certainly didn't want her dead…just gone! The Persian shook her head at the thought. She knew the queen wouldn't last long, but this was a horrible fate to befall a cat.

Then a solution popped in her head. She could save the little queen and the orange tabbies she was found of. If she really wanted to, that is. She knew just what card to play. But did she really want to bring about the mass chaos that would certainly ensue?

When she saw that the cats had left Mungojerrie bloody on the ground, Griddlebone turned and raced away. For once, she should have a little less cunning and a little more daring. While running on pure adrenaline, her heart pumping fast, she made her way up to the ginger cat's den. "Macavity!"

Some of the queens focused their attacks on Demeter. They grabbed her tail and pulled her violently into the crowd, who pushed, shoved, scratched, punched, and bit the queen who could only scream as they held her paws behind her. One pretty queen with an old scar across her face began to punch Demeter in the stomach, before taking a swipe at her face. By the time Demeter thought she was about to pass out, all she could do was scream, "Stop! PLEASE! SOMEBODY HELP!"

It seemed like she was falling. The pain was becoming masked by a feeling of weightlessness. As the sun rose and came over the building that was overshadowing the warehouse, Demeter suddenly thought how she may never see sunlight again. Funny…how her mind was drifting…how she seemed to be numbing to it all. Was this a good thing? As her head hung down weakly, the cats blocked out the sight of the suns rays and encompassed her in darkness.

There was a moment where all she could see was darkness, though she seemed to be past the pain. When the light came through again, she sat in utter bewilderment, unsure of what was going on.

There was a sudden streak of ginger fur that came from out of nowhere, and about a dozen toms and queens were thrown back. Demeter was slumped on the floor, but there were no new attacks on her. She could see Mungojerrie lying in a heap on the ground. Her senses were dulled at the time, so she had trouble comprehending what had just happened. With the cries of a familiar voice, reality slowly started to come back to her. Then she realized that her friend was before her. She somehow willed herself to focus.

Stunned, Demeter just stared, unsure if the tabby was even alive. Rumpleteazer had used the momentary lack in fighting to crawl back through the hole and run to her brother. She grabbed his arms and began dragging Mungojerrie's limp body away to the fence. "Demetah!" she called, never stopping her race to the fence.

Demeter shakily sat up, looking around as everything was still in a haze. There stood a viscous looking cat that looked like he was going to kill anything that would dare fight him. His sunken in eyes blazed with fury as his ginger fur seemed to burn with fire. His teeth had never looked more ferocious and his claws were fully extended. Was this real? Demeter made a move to get up, but only then did she remember the pain. Taking in a few heavy breaths, she got up to her feet, and looked over at the unrecognizable cat before her.

There was movement to his right, from a cat that was trying to get away from the terrifying figure. The ginger tom turned and bit right into the other cat's leg. Demeter watched in horror as three other cats lunged on the creature she once knew as Macavity. He threw them aside as though they were nothing. "Demetah!" Rumpleteazer called more frantically.

The queen took the second call to heart and stumbled over to the direction of the voice with a sudden rush of adrenaline. A claw launched out to grab her, but missed her by just a few centimeters. The ginger cat could hardly follow, because the frenzy of cats had now turned on him.

Demeter somehow crawled out under the hole and raced over to where Rumpleteazer was dragging her brother. She looked in horror at the tom on the ground. His sister looked up with a tear stained face. "We 'ave to get him outta 'ere," she managed to say. Demeter bent down and put Mungojerrie's limp arm over her shoulders. She prayed the adrenaline that was still rushing through her would get her through her own pain and frailty to help her saviors to safety.

The gold and black queen tried to ignore the sounds of cats fighting in the background, as it sounded like the fighting had turned into an all out war. She had to help the cats she indebted her life to. As Rumpleteazer and Demeter carried the orange tom to safety, they were followed by the sounds of the massive cat fight behind them that would stay with them for the rest of their lives.

A/N: Happy Halloween ((BOO!)) And thanks to all reviewers...you all basically said the same thing. I'm glad you liked it, the story kind of led me there. I wasn't sure if it fit or not. Anyways...Don't have nightmares or anything, you younguns you, okay?