ShegoRulz, It's interesting to see a different side of Tugger, isn't it? It slightly makes up for him being such a pain in the previous chapters. Anyway, thanks for the review! :) Emily, Bombalurina is just causing all sorts of trouble, isn't she? Jealousy will do that to you though... I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks for your support!

Ten

"My dear, beautiful queen, why do you weep?"

Demeter jumped at the sudden voice above her. Usually so alert, she didn't know how she didn't hear him approaching her. She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes. "Who are you," she asked in a watery voice. "What do you want?"

"Me? I don't want anything. I saw you crying and I just thought I'd see if you were alright."

Demeter sighed. "I'm fine. Now please go away."

The strange tom looked hurt, but didn't leave. "But you see, dear, I can tell that something is troubling you and I just want to help you."

"There's nothing you can do to help me, so just go away!" Demeter growled, jumping to her feet.

"Even still, this is a dangerous place for a queen to be left alone. It's full of theives and criminals. It would be wrong of me to just leave you here."

"I can take care of myself," Demeter hissed.

The tom stayed calm, despite Demeter's anger. "I have no doubt in my mind about that, but I would still be tormented by my conscience anyway." Demeter didn't reply, so the two cats fell into silence for a few minutes. Then the tom spoke again. "Would you like to see a magic trick?" he asked.

"Magic isn't real," Demeter replied coldly.

"Ah… A cynic. Wonderful. Well then, dear queen. Tell me, can you do this?" He took a deep breath, ran a claw from his left paw over the middle of his right paw and then held his paw up to Demeter's face. "Blow," he whispered. When Demeter only continued to stare at him in confusion, he chuckled. "Just blow a short breath onto the middle of my paw. Right there on the padding. Blow on it like you would blow out a light."

Unsure of why she was being asked to do something so strange, Demeter shrugged, but did as she was told. She exhaled a short, quick breath onto the tom's paw and then cried out in alarm when it caught fire.

"Amazing, isn't it?" asked the tom as he admired the dancing flames in his palm. "Fire is so beautiful."

"How… How did you do that?" Demeter asked.

The tom just shrugged. "Lots of practice. Look closely though, dear. Look at the colors. They match the colors of your fur. Perhaps that is why I find you so… enticing. You make me think of fire."

Demeter felt her face get warm and it had nothing to do with the fact that she was staring into the flame.

"What is your name, dear queen?" the tom asked.

"Demeter," she replied, not taking her eyes off the fire.

"What a beautiful name. Tell me, Demeter, would you like to come home with me? I can show you some more of my tricks." Demeter only nodded in response, too captivated by the fire to verbally answer. "Excellent," the tom purred. He blew out the fire in his palm and then motioned for Demeter to follow him.

"By the way, love, you can call me Macavity," he whispered into her ear as they walked further away from the junkyard. And with his ginger fur alongside of her golden fur, they both glowed like fire under the moonlight, off to find something- or someone- to burn.

I'm really interested in what you have to say and what you think will happen. Also, suggestions are always welcome! Please, tell me what you think! The more reviews I get, the sooner I'll update. Thanks for reading!

Mew Painappuru