PART 1: CHANGED
Chapter Three: What to do with Mistoffelees?

Mistoffelees awoke a little while later, calmer now. He still insisted on staying in Demeter's arms, but he had ceased crying and was offering bits of conversation every now and then. Once he was sure that Mistoffelees wouldn't go into hysterics at the idea, Munkustrap suggested that they look for shelter.

To everyone's surprise, Demeter dug a wad of bills out of jeans' pocket. It baffled Munkustrap where the money had come from and Mistoffelees looked at it suspiciously. Demeter pointed out that they shouldn't be humans either, so why were they letting something good like this worry them? Neither male was really in the mood to argue, so they reluctantly agreed to let it be.

Tucking the money away, the trio started out. Feeling an unexplainable urge to scold Munkustrap and Demeter for embarrassing him by holding hands, Mistoffelees strode ahead of them. In his cat body, he never would've felt this way, but he figured that his new, human body had something to do with it.

After nearly an hour of wandering the city, they happened across a dingy hotel. After a quick conference, they decided that they had enough money (Demeter's humans talked about it all the time, so she knew what the different slips of paper meant) to spend the night there. Maybe even two.

They slipped quietly into the front lobby and paid for one room (all they could afford). The manager eyed Demeter's shapely, human body with obvious attraction, but Munkustrap glared at him and slipped the other two away from his gaze.

Glad it had two beds and they wouldn't all have to try and cram all into one bed, Mistoffelees claimed his bed. He tore the covers off and made a nest on the top of the bed. After a couple of frustrating minutes, Munkustrap and Demeter were already in bed and ready to sleep, Mistoffelees found a comfortable position. He yawned hugely and stretched his legs, tucking them back afterwards. He murmured a good night and was finally still and silent.

"'night, Munk," Demeter whispered. Munkustrap sighed and draped an arm around her waist. "'night."

Demeter was the first to awake the next morning. She was amused to find that Mistoffelees, despite his obvious horror to sharing a bed with them, had abandoned his own bed and was curled up next to her. Successfully pushing Munkustrap to the far end of the bed and getting himself in the middle. She realized sadly that he hadn't been able to sleep soundly the last day unless he was in contact with either her or Munkustrap.

Careful not to wake the sleeping males, she slipped out of the bed.

Demeter walked to the bathroom and gazed at herself in the mirror. It wasn't what she expected, but it would have to do. She sighed and ran her hands through her hair a few times, attempting to make obey her commands. When it refused, she made a face at herself in the mirror and left the hotel room.

She walked down the pathway outside the rooms until she arrived at the main lobby. Careful to not attract the manager's attention, she slipped bagels, doughnuts, and milk into the ice container she had brought along. Maybe it looked a little stupid, but they were going to eat, so it didn't really matter.

Munching on one of the doughnuts she had taken, she had to admit it tasted better in this body, she returned to the room. Realizing how daft she would look, Demeter knocked on the door. She had, of course, forgotten the key.

"Everyone decent?" she called.

The door swung open to reveal a distraught Munkustrap. His hair, she actually thought it looked good now, was mussed and hung into his eyes. A touch of sweat was on his brow. Demeter almost dropped her bucket.

"Where were you?" he demanded.

"Getting breakfast," she replied. From behind him, she could see Mistoffelees rocking nervously on the bed. "What's he doing?" The boy jerked his head up.

"Deme!"

He practically shoved Munkustrap aside, throwing his arms around Demeter. She did drop the bucket this time. Hugging her tightly, he began to whimper. Demeter grabbed his shoulders and pushed him out to arms' length. She looked him in the eye.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He shook his head and frantically tried to get back into her embrace. Reluctantly, she let him. She looked up and caught Munkustrap's eye.

"We can't leave him without telling him," he said softly. "I was... uh, using the bathroom when he woke up and he totally flipped out. Guess he thought he was alone and we had abandoned him. Anyway, I could hear him start to scream for Vicki and Jenny and I had to run out of there." He paused a moment. "I had to grab him and pin him down before he would stop. Even then, he kept calling out for them, only not as loud."

Demeter clutched Mistoffelees close to her chest. She was horrified. She had never known Mistoffelees to be so skittish. This whole human thing must be terrifying him more than either her or Munkustrap had guessed.

"It's OK, Mistoffelees," she soothed. "I won't leave you again."

He relaxed a bit and looked up at her face. His own was streaked in tears. "Promise?"

"Promise."

He nodded thoughtfully and very reluctantly pulled away. She noticed that he made sure to stay within an arm's length of her. Bending over, he lifted the ice box that she had dropped off the floor. He opened the lid and peered inside. His blue eyes lit up for the first time since they had left the junkyard.

"Look, Munk!" he exclaimed, shoving the bucket under Munkustrap's nose. "Bagels! And they're fresh, too. Not like the ones in the junkyard."

He dug one out and eagerly bit into it. Shutting his eyes, he happily chewed the bagel. Then he motioned for Munkustrap to eat as well.

The three ate in silence. Mistoffelees polished off three before excusing himself to the bathroom. Munkustrap cocked his head when he heard a squeak of fright. Then he grinned.

"It's OK, Misto. That's supposed to be there," he called.

"Are you sure?" Mistoffelees called back.

"Positive." Demeter blinked. "What is?"

"Nothing." He resumed eating, a knowing smile on his face. After a while, he turned to Demeter.

"Since we're humans, we have to fit in with them." She nodded. "I think that you and I should go out and look for... uh, jobs." Demeter tilted her head.

"What about Misto?" Munkustrap frowned.

"I know. He's too young, at least his human body is, to get a job during the day. My humans' children don't have jobs. I think he'll have to go to one of those places that they send them to. A... a..." He looked helplessly at Demeter.

"A school?"

"Yes. A school." He paused. "We'll have to break it to him gently. I don't want him going into hysterics again. That's the last thing my nerves need."

Demeter agreed. She ate her bagel slowly, waiting for the boy to come back out. She certainly was not looking forward to this.