Chapter 7

*Demeter*

The days dragged on and there was no luck with finding Celeste. Jerrie was becoming more and moreworried he rarely slept and was always in the groups that went searching for information. I was just as upset, with the information Jerrie had given me I was almost certain that Celeste was really Rumpleteazer my Rumpleteazer. Today Bomba and I were going back to Tanti and Cori's den to try and get any information on Celeste, if anyone could figure out where she was or if she was alive it was the twins. As we approached the door to the den Tanti stepped out and smiled warmly at us we half-heartily smiled back and followed her into the dark den.

We all sat in a circle on the ground in the middle of the floor; Bomba and I waited patiently to see if they would receive any information. The only thing was is that they could only give clues as to where or how she is not straight forward answers and that makes everything a little more difficult. The twins' eyes flew open and they breathed heavily for a minute before relaying what they had found "The princess you search for is somewhere where only her protector can find her at. She is away from evil at the moment but darkness is still looming in the distance." They nodded at us and left for the back room to rest, as performing magic to find someone seems to wear them out. We left the den in silence and as we were walking back to the main clearing I stopped and looked at Bomba

"Her protector? Who could that be?" Bomba thought for a moment before her eyes lit up in excitement "Mungojerrie, it has to be him. I overheard Celeste telling mom and Jenny that Jerrie would never let Macavity truly hurt her." I flinched at Macavity's name but now was not the time to be scared. I took off for Jenny's den much faster and more determined. When I entered the den Jerrie was nowhere to be found. Running into the back room I found Jenny and mom sitting around. "Jenny, where is Jerrie?" She thought for a moment before responding "I believe he is with Alonzo at the tire."

I nodded and left the den as fast as I entered and rushed towards the tire. Upon arriving in the clearing I saw Jerrie sitting at the tire looking very depressed i jumped up onto the tire ad spoke very quickly "you and only you know where Rump-Celeste is hiding." he jumped up and glared accusingly at me "How would I know?" he hissed; I groaned in response before continuing "You're her protector. Is there anywhere outside of Macavity's warehouse that you both knew of?" he went to yell back at me but stopped and grabbed his collar "Our human home, I met her there when she got away from Macavity." He took off towards the exit leaving me standing there with hopefulness filling my heart.

*Celeste/Rumpleteazer*

Being back at my owner's was very nice, I didn't have to fight for my food or for a place to sleep it was just there for me when I wanted it. The only bad thing was memories kept finding their ways into my dreams. Some were good memories but most of them were rough. I did remember that it was because of Jer that I ended up back at Macavity's but I didn't walked into the room and jumped towards it tackling it to the floor we rolled around for a minute till the cat pinned me and I realized it was Jer. Breathing heavily I whispered his name "Jer?" I was shocked and wasn't even sure if he was really there. He leaned down and nuzzled my neck before standing up and then helping me up also "Celeste, Oi have been so scared. Oi can no' believe Oi le' 'im ge' ya again." He pulled back from the embrace to look into my eyes "Evahehone will be so happeh ta see ya safe again." I backed away from him "Oi can no' go back Jer." He froze and the happy look dropped from his face and a confused one replaced it "Woi no'?" I whimpered hating to see him sad "Jer, Oi am ta afraid ta leave the house fo' fear tha' Macavity will ge' me again." Jer nodded in understanding but then a smile made its way onto his face. "Then we will staeh here." I watched him carefully knowing that he was up to something; he loves the Junkyard and the Jellicles too much to stay away from them. For the rest of the day Jer was being so sweet and helping me do everything; which is now getting very annoying.

The next morning I woke up in our bed alone. Getting up I moved around the house trying to find Jer but it seemed he was not here. I walked to the kitchen to get some of the food they always left out for me-well us. Suddenly Jer came running into the room causing me to hiss and jump up onto the counter. "Sorreh Les, Oi didn' mean to scare ya." Oi nodded my head and sat down on the counter. Jer hopped up next to me "So Les ya said ya wahe scared ta leave the house, so Oi brought some of the toughes' toms Oi know." At his words three toms entered one was Munkustrap but I didn't know their names. "Jer" I started but was cut off by Jer himself "Celeste, ya need ta come back ta the junkyard with us, i' is the safes' place fo' ya." I looked away upset because I knew what he said was true. "Okay Jer Oi will go back with ya." He smiled and hopped up onto the counter top with me and nuzzled his face into my neck "Oi promise ta protect ya from evaheh thin'."

Getting up we both hopped off the counter and headed towards the door but before we left I stopped "Jer, will we visi' hahe more often right'?" he glanced back at me and smiled knowingly "of course we will Les" Then we took off with Munk and the other two who I learned were named Alonzo and Admetus. As we made our way down different streets I was on edge every second waiting for something to happen and it did. Several tall dark toms jumped out from the shadows and surrounded us I whimpered and moved closer to Jer knowing that Macavity had to be close by. A laugh rung through the area and made me shiver in fear; Jer moved to wrap his arms around me but he was to slow. Macavity grabbed me and pulled me a good distance away from the group "Honestly, did you think you could get away from me again?" he questioned me.

I did do anything in reply but stare at Jer in fear. He scratched his claws across my stomach causing a gasp of pain to escape my mouth as blood started to seep through the cut "answer me, bitch." I was sobbing by now "No, no Oi didn' think Oi could ge' awaeh from ya." he growled and scratched me again "don't talk to me like that!" I whimpered I could not give in to him not now. Jer finally yelled "Les, please for me." I hung my head in shame "No I didn't think that I could get away." As I looked up I found all the henchcats laying on the ground and the toms growling angrily at Macavity who still held me captive. The arms around me let go and without wondering why I ran to Jer; when I was in the safety of his arms I saw Demeter with a brick in her paw. Macavity was nowhere to be found and that made me very happy. "Jer, Oi don' feel so good." With that Jer picked me up and took off running towards the junkyard which just so happened to be around the corner. Jer took me straight to his mom's den where they started cleaning my wounds. Jer had walked away and when my wounds were cleaned up and dressed I started freaking out "Jer! Jer! Jer!"

He was at my side in a second and pulled me into his arms and started rocking me trying to calm me down. Someone else entered the den and sat on my other side trying to help calm me down along with Jer. As I calmed down I realized that the other person holding me was a queen; turning I saw the tall red cat, Bomba, from my first day here sitting there. Jer stood up "I'm going to get you something to eat Les." I nodded in reply though I was scared to be left alone with Bomba. "Everything will be okay." Bomba said trying to comfort me "Oi have heard tha' before." she laughed and scratched me behind my ear causing me to relax instantaneously she then spoke again "Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home" I jumped out of the bed and stared at her in shock "how da ya know tha'?" She smirked and walked out of the den I tried following her but Jelly and Jenny stopped me as soon as I exited the den "not so fast you have to get some rest before you go running around, and they dragged me into the den and forced me to lay down with questions swirling around in my head.