The mist made it almost impossible for her to see the ground plastered in front, but still the red queen kept on running. She ran for hours at a time, not once daring to look back at the surroundings she had emerged from. She ran from the life she had once known, trying to block out the memories that kept invading her senses. She ran from her hopes, her dreams, from the pressure of always having to be the best; always having to get her way. She ran from the only family she had ever known, so he, her son, would have the hope of a family that he would never have to forget. Terrified of him leaving her also, she clutched the little tom kitten to her chest tighter, refusing to let him go.

Tristram was growing thin now from lack of food. How long had it been since he had last eaten? Last had something to drink? Bombalurina honestly couldn't remember; she had been running for two days now and hadn't the foggiest clue to where she was. How long had it been since she had eaten or drank anything? She hadn't eaten anything that even resembled a meal since the night before she had bore her son, and both were growing more feeble as time went on. It had been Tugger's birthright to abandon and exile her, she couldn't fault him for that. By not letting him know of Tristram's parentage she had committed treason against a leader of the tribe; Deuteronomy had exiled cats for less, but that didn't stop the hurt from flooding her senses. Now that she had no guaranteed protection and share in food portions, she would have to act fast, for now both her and her sons lives, depended on it.


She had left. She was actually gone. Run away from the only home she had ever known, the only family that she had left in the world.

The Rum Tum Tugger stared out into the fog from the top of the TSE 1, aggravated. Once the initial shock of the whole situation had worn off and his anger had cooled, a deep pain had settled in his stomach. He was ashamed. He was famed for having a temper to rival Macavity and Bombalurina combined when caught of guard and when he didn't get his way, and enough stubbornness to outwit a Pollicle, but his actions as of late had been truly unforgivable. He couldn't fathom how he had let his anger get the best of him. The tribe wouldn't dare speak out against his judgment, it wasn't their place given the situation and the fear each of them felt regarding Deuteronomy's sons, and he was known for not making the wisest of decisions when his ego was damaged. He shuddered.

She had left. Disappeared without a trace. His ears pressed against his head when he was forced to admit that it wasn't entirely her fault. He had chased her out; the only queen who had ever actually made him feel something. Whether it be happiness or anger, love or hate; she had him wrapped around her claws, permanently scarring him, and he had made a complete fool out of her.

Demeter had lunged at him when she had found out about her sister's banishment. Of course initially she had been hurt by the red queen, but when she found out what he had done to her sister, she cracked. Munkustrap had to pin her to the ground in order for him to get away. Of course his brother and father had not been pleased with his decree as they were primarily the ones who decided how to govern the tribe, but he was part of the dominating family, and therefor his word was law and it was final when Old Deuteronomy and his brother were not around. The tribe had searched for her for days after her banishment, and when no traces could be found, he had given up hope. Demeter was inconsolable.

And he hadn't only chased Bombalurina out, but he had chased his son out. His own flesh and blood.

An innocent kitten who hadn't a clue about what was going on around him, would be denied the right and protection of a family, in result of his hotheaded actions. But it wasn't completely his fault, he reasoned.

She had taken him with her. She had taken his son. Anger filled him and a hiss escaped the back of his throat.

She had lied to him; lied to the tribe! She hadn't been raped, and she hadn't been seeing another tom! She had lied! All the tribes trust had been completely betrayed because of a made up story. She had ruined their relationship with a deceitful, hurtful, make-believe story.

His Sapphire eyes narrowed as a thought crossed his mind.

Tristram was their son. Both he and Bombalurina shared the responsibility of raising him.

He was just as well the scarlet's property as his own. He wasn't alley cat scum. He was a feline with emotions, and a life to lead. The grandson to a Jellicle Leader!

Tugger swore silently. She was only trying to protect Tristram.

Bombalurina had done nothing wrong; only feared for her life and that of her sons. And look at what he had done! Forced her out onto the streets to do only god knows what to survive. He couldn't live with himself if something happened to either of them. Twisting his head, Tugger glanced out into the hazy horizon, trying to make out the lines of the city in front of him to the best of his ability. As he got up to leave the Junkyard in hopes of finding the crimson queen, a small growl forced him to a halt.

"Etcetera…What are you doing here?" He hadn't seen the little queen ever since she had found out that he had fathered Bombalurina's kitten, and he didn't think that he would. His tail twitched. Her face, usually so bright and energetic, looked pale and extremely pained. He felt the knot that was present in his stomach get tighter. He had ruined another life.

"I-I had to know something," her voice stuttered as she tried to choke out the words. The wounds were still fresh in her mind. "And I want to know the truth, I think that I deserve that much," she took a step forward, forcing him to back away, as her amber eyes dampened. "What happened, Tugger? I mean, what did I do? I don't understand. Did I ever do anything that made you run to her," he couldn't help but notice the malice she had when mentioning the older queen, "or have you been with her all along?"

The Maine Coon shifted his gaze to the damp ground in front of him, tail bristling. "Etcy- Etcetera," her nickname was too personal now, "I never meant to hurt you. It just- it just happened. Bombalurina and I, we- we've had a past together. You know that. Everyone knows that. Once you have that kind of bond with someone, it's hard to break."

"Never meant to hurt me? Never meant to hurt me! Ha! Well guess what Tugger, you have hurt me! And you know what they say: it's in the past! It shouldn't corrupt our future, but you couldn't let it slide! You couldn't even pretend to be upset for our relationship!"

He held a paw out to stop her.

"We had been seeing each other secretly for a few months beforehand- way before you and I even found out we were to be mates! And then we broke up. I told her that there was someone else, and that she shouldn't hang around with someone like me, someone who would never commit to a serious relationship," with the likes of her, " She was furious. I guess I thought that I had to hurt her to help her," Tugger, seeing the tears begin to fall from the young queens eyes, frowned and attempted to brush them away. After all these years he still couldn't handle tears. The Rum Tum Tugger, didn't do tears. He didn't handle other cat's emotions. "Come on Etcetera- don't cry. Come on.

"Etcetera, there's someone special out there for you, but for now you have to believe that it's not me. I can't commit to you, you've been holding onto this fantasy ever since you were a kitten! It was a delusion, and that's all. It wouldn't be fair to you if I just kept dragging you along without any real intentions of settling down with you. I'm not the committing type and you deserve more than that," he cupped her chin, raising her trembling face to his.

Struggling to speak she began to back away shaking her head in disbelief. "Was there ever one minute that you actually cared for me? Did… Did you actually ever have the slightest feelings for me? Or did you enjoy leading me on all these months?"

Etcetera's face paled. " Did you ever think that you could have ever found it within your heart to love me? Tugger, you know what you mean to me!" He could tell that she was starting to become desperate and he hated knowing that it was his fault. "Tugger, we can still try! I'll forgive you! I don't care about what happened with you and Bombalurina, it's in the past, and you have to realize that she's gone now! She's not going to come back. We don't have anything to worry about, we can start over! I'll be a good mate; you know that I will, I'll take care of you-" the leopard tom put up his paw to silence her.

"Etcetera I- I can't. I'm sorry but… I can't. It wouldn't be right," his neck fur began to bristle. Dealing with emotions was never his strong suit, and he didn't want that to change now. "I can't be who you need me to be."

Etcetera bit her lip, wiping the tears from her eyes. The hurt and disappointment was no doubt showing on her face, despite the brave front she had tried to put on. "Puh. Well, would you look at you, acting all mature and stuff. Never thought I'd see the day. Guess we all have to grow up sometime."

Dejectedly, she backed away and Tugger felt a bit of his heart break.

"Do you love her? Bombalurina I mean… If you don't have those feeling toward me, or anyone else, do you have those feelings for her?" It was an honest, to the point question that she needed the answer to.

Tugger was silent and uneasy, for once not knowing what to say, and for once not having a witty comeback. Did he love her? Or was it just the fact that he had a son now that he wanted her back? Did he even want her back? Did love truly even exist? He simply didn't understand what force could be great enough to bind two souls together for the rest of their lives. Flirting was one thing, but love? That was something completely different. Some cats were just meant to stay single, right? If not, then why did they? If there really was someone out there for everyone, why were people, cats, and every other stupid species on the earth fine on their own? Why did people fight for some emotion that didn't exist? Why did other people not? Why was he thinking about this so much? Why did he suddenly have a headache? Realizing that the younger queen was still standing in front of him waiting for a response, he groaned.

"I don't know! Can anyone say that they really love someone? Can anyone really love something enough to commit to them alone personally?" Though the last statement was said mainly for his benefit, it seemed to give the white queen in front of him a big enough answer.

"I see. I, um, I hope you're happy. With your life and whatever happens with-" seeing she wasn't getting anywhere, and feeling her emotions taking control of her, Etcetera blurted out a quite "bye" before charging off into the fog, disappearing from view.

The Rum Tum Tugger felt trapped as he watched her go. Part of him wanted to run after her, sweep her into a kiss, apologize profusely, and take the easy road. Life with Etcetera would be easy, and he could forget all about this little misadventure. The other part of him however, the bigger part, wouldn't let him get away with that, though. He had to do something. He wouldn't let Bombalurina raise his son on the street; especially with the risk of ruining another innocent life. He wouldn't do that, not after what had just happened to Etcetera. Infact, he would do this for her. Etcetera's pain wouldn't be for nothing. He would find his family and bring them back. He would change this. He would get the tribe back together. He would mend Demeter's broken heart along with Etcetera's ruined trust. With a leap of faith, Tugger jumped of his perch and headed out into the foggy distance.


The dark wood that led into the tavern was damp with the ongoing rain and the mold that had built up over the years. The gruesome stench of rotting rat corpses hung in the air as a greeting; welcoming her in. Welcoming her to Hell. It was a ghastly place, a place that Bombalurina had only heard about from random strays that had come from it or visited it regularly. She was told of its secrets and the crimes that were committed everyday behind its walls. It was a haven for predators who prayed on the weak and helpless, a way of life for those who had none of their own. Macavity had been a frequent occupant here in his lifetime. As she entered she heard the floor creek and instantly everyone's eyes shifted to her, warily. As the radiant red queen walked the seemingly never-ending passages of granite, she came to a small room-like place that she guessed was for storing drinks and food. When she entered she noticed a strange group of queens watching her from the back of the room. Warily, she quickly went to leave, but a thick voice held her back.

"What's the likes of a queen like you, doing in a place like this?" A fluffy calico queen asked as she approached, never taking her eyes her. Bombalurina looked up to meet her gaze as if addressing a challenge. "Desperate times call for desperate measures."

A queen the same colours as Tantomile, except with bright oranges and reds matting her fur, let out a loud cackle. "Don't talk, don't talk. Lemme guess; you think that you've seen hard times," spitting out the last fraze, the fire colored cat grinned, "Queenie, everyone here has a story, yours is pro'ly the same as everyone else's."

Bombalurina, getting defensive, let out a warning growl as her fur bristled. "Even so, I don't see how my business is any of your concern, so if you'll excuse me-" The third queen, a rather chubby Bostopher Jones look alike, cut her off, laughing. "Looks like we got ourselves a kitten here. Gottcha self in real trouble, eh girly?" The queen said as she revealed the kittens form. Bombalurina crouched down, claws unleashing.

"I don't see how that's any of your concern. Move. Now."

The fluffy one, the Calico and presumed leader of the group, started to circle her, smiling coyly down at the young kitten. "Easy honey, they don't wish to scare ya. Us Queens gotta keep together if we want to survive. Help each other out, if ya know what I mean? We're just curious is all, no need to get defensive; we're all friends here," noticing the red queen had calmed down, she continued. "How'd a pretty thing like you come to be in a dump like this?"

The other two queens circled around before seating themselves beside a large burning fireplace, before motioning to Bombalurina and the other queen to come join them.

As they all sat down, Bombalurina began to feel oddly at ease. It was like she had been to this place before, belonged to it, and it was welcoming her home with open arms. Maybe it was because she had spent the beginning part of her life in an old, rundown warehouse like this one, or maybe it was because these queens reminded her of the crowd Macavity once hung around with. The Calico defiantly reminded her of someone she had met once before, as a small kitten.

As the fatter queen of the three made herself comfortable, she nudged a bowl of frothy foul smelling liquid toward the red queen. Bombalurina shuddered when the foul smell reached her nose. As the queens returned to their normal positions of leadership in the group chatting noisily, they still inquisitively watched Bombalurina, as if afraid that they would miss a single facial movement. There was an air about her, something special they hadn't seen before. She was definitely attractive, there was no doubt about that, but there was just something different about her.

"By the way, I'm Marlenea and these are my queens, Scarlet," the leader said pointing to the fatter queen, "and Malinxa," the Calico added pointing to the Tantomile look alike.

"I'm Bombalurina, this is Tristram."

Marlenea smiled at Scarlet, who arched an eye at Malinxa, who smirked in return.

"Honey say no more, say no more. So, who's the father?" Malinxa asked, her flame like coat and wild hair glowing as it basked in the warmth of the fire. Alarmed at the fact that these queens had dared to ask her such a personal question, Bombalurina growled, unwrapping Tristram, who was starting to make a fuss.

"Doesn't really matter who he is, now does it? I can't go back. I'll never see him again. It was a stupid mistake anyway, everyone warned me not to go with him. I let my idiot hormonal feelings get in the way of common sense."

Marlenea felt the red queens stress radiating toward her, and in a rare spurt of emotion put a soothing hand on her shoulder, deciding to lighten up the mood. When the crimson queen was ready to talk, talk she would. It was just a matter of waiting. "Best to believe me dearie; we've all had our common share of toms throughout our lifetimes. Be we blessed with good happenings, or situations from hell. But when you face the reality of what you're facing, when your survivals at hand, they're all really handy to have around. If you get what I mean." Marlenea winked suggestively. Bombalurina gaped in shock.

"You mean you- You- You're," she sputtered pointing a claw at Marlenea, "You're all like Grizzabella!" Horrified and rising, she clutched Tristram protectively to her chest, not noticing Marelenea's paw still grabbing her shoulder. She tried to back away, only to be brought back down by a forceful pressure.

"Ah so that's where you're from! I knew there was something odd about you, I did. You're from the Jellicle tribe! Old Grizzie was a friend of ours years ago, you know. Don't look at us with those judgey little eyes, you of all should know what it's like to have nowhere to go, no one to turn to," Marelenea said as she snaked her arm around the red queens shoulders, pulling her closer. "You must do what it takes to survive. It really ain't all that bad Bombalurina. It's ain't like you hear, you do get used to it… After a while," the calico was dragging a claw across Bombalurina's neck, smirking. Bombalurina looked down, embarrassed. She had reacted too harshly. Had she not done something similar? She may not have gotten paid for it, but she had definitely too had her share of toms. She may have not been viewed as a whore, but she was definitely no better. Still, she had to admit that no matter how sick the job that these queens had and performed, they did have a point. They did look well taken care of. As far as she could tell they all had a bed to sleep in and obviously had food to eat. So really, if she was being completely honest, it couldn't be as bad as everyone thought it.

Scarlet smiled and motioned to Bombalurina, offering to take Tristram, to be only growled at in response.

"Don't worry your pretty little red head off, I won't hurt him. The 'nannies' take care of the kits while you're running about tending to your work. There's a nursery a little bit down from here that'll take him off your hands for the required amount of time."

"And what makes you think that I'll stick around here and tend to random toms every night?" Bombalurina hissed as her ears turned back. She wasn't who she once was. She had worked hard to change her ways, and there was no way she was going back to them now. "I'm no whore! I'm not like- like-" (Like who I was before I got pregnant).

"Go ahead honey, say it. We know what you were going at; us. You're not like us," Scarlet said, looking into the fierce amber eyes of their newest harlot. She was weakening with every second that went by, she couldn't refuse this life much longer. It was inevitable. Bombalurina simply had no other choice. The group of queens let out sultry laughs and glared at the red queen, who remained silent.

"An' where else would you go? Y'said it yourself, that you don't have a home. Y'said you got no family. Sweetie, listen to me. I know what it's like to live your life on the streets and it's much harder then anything we do here; what we gotta put up with. You would have it good here; the tavern offers protection that you wouldn't find anywhere else. It also got the promise of eating. Much more then scrounging for scarps would," Marlenea continued, getting aggravated with the younger queen who seemed to be hastily reconsidering.

Reflecting on this, Bombalurina couldn't help but feel a little bit excited, and then guilty because of her excitement. She would have a home again if she went along with it. Her son would be protected, and fed, and that was all she really wanted. The feeling of the small amount pleasure went away as quickly as it had come, as guilt overwhelmed her in waves. What was she doing? Talking to a tavern slut about the possibilities she would have all over a stupid tom! A stupid 'stud' cat that she had thought loved her. A tom that was wanted by all, but didn't and wouldn't belong to anyone. He was a the real monster here, not these cats; he was the enemy. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't be in this predicament.

But then again, didn't she use to be the flirtatious queen who with only one wink could get any tom she wanted? The queen that every tom craved for, but could never have? Didn't she love it like that? Didn't she get a thrill from being able to have anyone she wanted, for as long as she wanted? No strings, no commitments? Sighing, her ears bent back further. What had happened to that part of her? The part that was so carefree and wild? Since when did she have a conscience? What had suddenly changed her so much, that her ego would deflate? Tugger. That's what (or rather who) had happened to her. Her distorted friendship with him had spawned some sort of demon rivalry, where each one tried to out do each other in everything sensual, damning any and all emotions.

What had gotten her to this point of desperation, though? This point where she would give up everything she had ever worked for, to survive? Life. That also had gotten in her way. She had once been a care free queen, flaunting herself to many and being wanted by all. No regrets, no responsibility. Now all she had left was a tiny kitten and wounded pride. She could change though. She had changed before, so why not change again? It surely was possible.

Maybe, just maybe, she could be that sensual spirit again if she only took on this meager task. It seemed quite small when compared to what she had gone through throughout her entire life. Any emotions that might have been damned with this act were destroyed the moment the tribe disowned her. With this one little act, she could change everything. She could once again become the queen all the toms would fight over, and all the queens would all fight to be. She could go back to the way things were when Macavity was alive; back to the beginning. The beginning before the Jellicle Tribe. Feeling her pride begin to build, she smiled.

She could do this. No. She would to this.

The three vixens looked at the red beauty, noticing her sudden change in expression.

"Come on honey, why all the fuss? You're ain't better then any of us," Scarlet said as she took Tristram from his mothers resentful hands.

Marlenea nudged toward Bombalurina the same bowl of frothy liquid, explaining that they had stole some powdered tablet thing from a human and added it to water, and if she drank it, no more mistakes would happen to her.

Slowly, Bombalurina swallowed the murky substance, trying to not let the vicious taste get to her. Feeling the need to prove herself to these queens, Bombalurina licked her lips and flattened down the fur on top of her head, before approaching a tall dark furred tom who had just entered the room.

Her stomach soon betrayed her outward expression, as a nauseous feeling washed over her. Oh bast, was she actually about to do this? Could she do this? How could she do this? Why did she suddenly feel a headache coming on? Bombalurina felt everyone's eyes on her as she led the tom away toward an isolated part of the warehouse. She was only slightly terrified of what she was about to commit to. Or so she told herself, anyway. She slowly let out a sultry laugh as the tom eyed her up and down lustfully.

"Like what you see, handsome?"

And then it was all beginning.

He touched her arm.

She tried not to flinch.

His lips found hers hungrily, she shuttered disgusted. The twisted tango of her life had finally come to a head.

The tom's kisses were rough and disgusting, his caresses painful and disturbing, but she refused to pull away. She would not give in, not this time. She would not let the little Tugger that seemed to reside permanently in her head, (the one who currently seemed to be saying, "Foolish, stupid, selfish queen, don't you see? You're such a silly girl, because either way, you loose!) win. The power of the mind had always proven to be more efficient then the power of the body in circumstances such as these, Bombalurina knew. So maybe, if she pretended it was someone else doing this to her, she could get through it.

Please Everlasting Cat, let me be able to get through this!

Maybe if she pretended it was a tall tom with a cocky grin, a Maine Coon with commitment issues, she could do this. Bombalurina felt a fire rise from some dark place within her; some deep down place that she had supposedly buried long ago, when she had changed her life for the better. A place that was so tormented, so depraved and starved of attention, that the least little drop of it would turn her into the monstrous, fiery demon from hell that she once was. With a sick little grin, she let the flames in her soul rise up and consume her, slowly turning her soul to ash from the inside out.