The next day was only slightly overcast. Callestia was humming a tune as she walked into the Junkyard. Today was the day she would tell Old Deuteronomy that she wanted to be mates with Macavity, she felt that he at least had the right as her leader to know. She was also going to tell her brother and take a severe scolding at her being with Macavity from everyone. She didn't know if she was going to leave her home.

Little did she know is that she would be left with no choice. The day went by as it usually did, she helped Jenny teach the mice how to crochet, helped Jelly care for the newer kittens, laughed as watched Munkustrap patrolling the area. She saw Bomba and Tugger fighting again and then ten minutes later snogging behind the great tire. Not long after that Tugger was hitting on Callestia while Bomba was giving Demeter her daily lessons. Munkustrap sighed heavily as he watched Demeter, Callestia felt sorry for him, he was so smitten with the gold teen-queen. She hadn't even performed her coming-of-age dance yet. The funny thing about the two was that Munkustrap had never done his coming-of-age dance either, yet he was their Protector. It was no secret to her that he was waiting for Demeter. Later in the day she was on her way talk to Deuteronomy.

"Jelly?" She asked her second mentor.

The yellow tabby looked up at the Joyous Cat and smiled, " Callestia my dearest! What can I do for you?"

Six year old Alonzo giggled and looked up at Callestia, he held out his paws and she picked him up, kissing him on the nose.

"I was wondering if you knew where Old Deuteronomy was. I needed to talk to him."

"Why yes dear." Jelly said, "I believe he was-"

"MACAVITY!"

Callestia and Jellyorum jumped at the sound of Demeter's shrill voice. The sound of his thunderous laugh could be heard echoing across the yard as a terrible crash was heard. Callestia put the patched kit down on a cushion and was closely followed by Jelly as the two queens rushed out to the source of the commotion. In the clearing they found a small human sized coffee table that was crushed by a big pile of trash. Munkustrap was holding his father while the older cat himself had a paw to his chest and was breathing heavily from fright.

The tux queen rushed up to them where they stood on the Great Tire, she leaned forward and stood up on her toes, she felt her stomach drop and her heart grow cold from fear, "What happened Munkustrap?" She called to him.

He looked down at her and then pulled her up, "It was Macavity. That damned bastard almost crushed my father under that table and junk. Damn near killed him." He looked away sheepishly and tended to his father, "Excuse my language but this is the fifth time in two days that he has gotten close to killing my father. Each time he gets closer!" It was clear how frustrated their Protector was.

Callestia's eyes grew big with concern as she helped settle Old Deuteronomy. The poor ageing tom was shaking terribly and she offered to take him back to his human home while Munkustrap helped clear the area and make sure no one else was hurt. She held her beloved Leader's arm as they walked out of the Junkyard and to his home.

She made cheery conversation and tried to avoid talking about Macavity, but Deuteronomy wasn't to be fooled. He knew something was wrong with her and wanted to know what.

"You are quiet today my dear," he said.

She shook her head, "Just shook up over the latest attack I supposed." Her voice was small and distant.

He nodded, "You are thinking about Macavity but not about the attacks. There is something else Callestia? Something you would like to tell me?" He looked at her with a side glance.

She gulped and then cast her gaze downwards, "I. . .Well. . we've been seeing each other for some time now, while I'm on patrol. He proposed matehood to me." She looked up into the tom's face earnestly, "Old Dueteronomy I love him! I don't regret it, and I can't explain why."

He nodded, "I can see into your heart and I know you truly love him. When he first met you I could see that he loved you as well, but he was a different cat back then. I advise heavily against it but if it is what your heart desires, then who am I to stop true love?" He smiled warmly.

Callestia grinned shyly and then looked down at his paw, "There is something that has come up with his proposal." She took a quick breath in, "Back at the Yard Munkustrap said that that was the fifth attack on you in two days. If I become his mate I will ask one thing from him; a promise that you will be spared. No more attempts on your life in exchange for me."

When she looked back at her Leader's face she saw the shock clearly there, she had never seen him shocked before.

"You what?" he asked.

She nodded, "I will offer my life for yours." She held up a paw before he could go on and object, "The Jellicles need you more than me, you are our Leader. If you died of anything else besides old age the Tribe would fall apart. Everyone would leave, possibly disban, because the pain of losing you would be too great. This way I can be with the tom I love and you will be spared."

"Oh my dear," he said as he enveloped her in a massive hug and held her close, a tear fell from his grey blue eye. "You are the bravest cat I've met in my long life.

Her eyes became cloudy with tears, "You think I'm brave? They won't hate me for leaving?"

He shook his head, "They will not hate you, they will love you even more than they do already. What you are doing is so selfless, I don't think you really understand your own actions," he opened his arms and embraced the distressed queen. "Tantomile and Coricopat will be here in a few moments."

True to his word the two mystics appeared around the corner. Deuteronomy explained to them what was happening and they nodded. They accompanied their leader and the tuxedo queen all the way to his home.

"He mentioned us having lots of kits," she said. "Is there any way you can see them?"

The twins looked at each other. Coricopat spoke, "We have already seen your future."

Tantomile nodded, "You will have kits soon."

Callestia eyes lit up with happiness, "Really? How many?

After concentrating on his old vision for a few moments Coricopat smiled gently, "There will be three, two queens and a tom."

Callestia smiled and looked down at her tummy.

Tantomile's grin shrunk, "But we have something else to tell you."

Coricopat picked up, "After you and Macavity first met,"

"His sister came to us when she thought she was pregnant," Tantomile said.

"We saw two parts of one vision." The tri-colored tom said.

His sister spoke again, "It hurts us to say so, but only one will live."

Callestia's smile vanished.

Coricopat spoke, "But he will go on to be an amazing tom. We will raise him,"

"Because I will give myself to Macavity." Callestia said quietly. The others looked at her, "I will go with him to save the Junkyard. I will tell him that is my one condition for mating with him and going with him." She looked back at the mystics with a bright look of hope in her eyes, "Tell me more about my future son."

Coricopat smiled and did, "You will name him Mistofelees and he will mate with the daughter of Griddlebone."

"Griddlebone is going to have a kit?" The tux shouted excitedly, "Oh can you tell me when? What will her name be?"

Tanto smiled, "Her name will be Victoria and she will be born in two years time after your tomson. But you must never tell Macavity. Griddlebone wants to hide her daughter from him and will give her to the Jellicles. You will never tell her that Mistofelees is your tomsom." She had closed her eyes and now opened them, "There is one more thing we have to tell you," a brilliant smile spread across her face, mirrored by her brother.

Callestia looked at the male half of the pair, "You are carrying your kits now. Only by a few days." He told her.

Her jaw dropped and her paw automatically went to her tummy. "I. . .I am? My Mistofelees is with us now?" She knew that seventeen was young to have kits, even by a house cat's standards.

They spoke as one, "Yes." Their voices harmonizing perfectly, smoothly. "He loves you already and will possess magic abilities like his father. That is all we know," they concluded.

Callestia nodded, "Thank you." She looked to her companions. "Thank you so much for still believing in me. I. . .I was afraid you would abandon me."

Coricopat shook his head. "We know what he is capable of in violence. But with you there was always something different in his heart. Even before he left we knew you would always become his mate. With that in mind it wouldn't be right for us to leave you when you are sacrificing your life for our father's."

The tux smiled and quickly wiped away a stray tear from the corner of her eye. "Tomorrow I will make an announcement to the tribe; I'm leaving."

That night she went back to the Yard and gathered the cats she called friends and family.

"I need to tell you all something," she said. "I leaving the Tribe and mating with Macavity."

No sooner had the words left her mouth than the crowd went into an uproar.

It was Tugger who called out first, he pushed through the crowd and stood in front of her. "But why?!" He nearly shouted, "What on Everlasting cat's green earth would make you want to leave with Him?!"

Callestia saw the hurt in the Main coon's deep golden eyes. This wasn't the first time a queen he loved was leaving him, the first it had been. . .she couldn't think about it. The memory for her was too painful as well.

She grabbed her left arm with her paw and looked away sadly, "It's complicated and I really don't expect any of you to understand."

Jellyorum walked over to her and put a paw on her arm, "You love him don't you. . ."

Callestia bit her lip and then nodded, "Yes, I do. I know what he's done but the young Macavity I knew is still there and I love him. And he loves me."

"But you can't just leave with him!" Bombalurina shouted, her white face turning as red as her fur. "He's a monster Callestia. An evil cat the likes of which this world has never seen."

Her friend shook her head, "I have to. This will end all the life threatening attacks on Old Deuteronomy. This is our chance to save him and sway Macavity from trying to kill him. And for me to be with the tom I love."

That stopped them all. The Jellicles had become shallow, yet careful creatures ever since their Glamour Cat left but they really listened to the tux queen's words. When they heard her reasons for leaving they were taken aback and in awe of her self-sacrifice.

Jellyorum and Bomba reached out and both wrapped their arms around her, hugging her close.

Callestia couldn't help but begin to cry as they did, followed by the rest of the Jellicles. When it was finally time for their beloved Joy Cat to leave she turned to Jennyanydots, "I didn't have the heart to tell Bustopher Jones that I was leaving, but I did let him know that I love him dearly. Please tell him why I left."

Jenny nodded while she cried, "We will dear."

The last cat she hugged was Demeter. In recent years they had become close friends and the gold queen was having a hard time saying good-bye. As they embraced each other once more Callestia whispered two things in her ear. The first being a request to never be sung about in the Jellicle Ball, it didn't want to ruin the ball with her sad story about leaving her family and friends.

The second shocked Demeter, "Demeter, my sister, my best friend. I'm pregnant." She stepped away and looked into the green eyes of her friend and put a finger to her lips to ask for silence.

She turned without another word and disappeared into the darkness. Callestia knew how badly Macavity had mentally scarred Demeter but she felt like the younger queen had to know.

It was a sad, depressing, tear filled night when the Joyous Cat left them. The second Jellicle to walk away of her own free will, only this time it was to save them all. They knew she wouldn't stop Macavity from terrorizing them , but at least she had spared their lives.

Not soon after she left the Junkyard she made her way to where Macavity was waiting with a smile on his face. After he had kissed her 'hello' she nodded, "I will go with you my love. But!" She looked at him seriously and he listened, "You will not kill Deuteronomy ever."

He nodded and nuzzled her, "You have my word. Now let's go home."