I darted along the darkening road, keeping my eyes on my destination. Much to Talon's protests, I was alone. I had to be, otherwise I wouldn't be able to speak freely with Old Deuteronomy; Talon still didn't know about my past. I paused for a moment as my head began to spin. Seventeen years! Knowing I'd been on earth for that long—longer, because of my year as a cat—made me feel strange. I took a deep breath to steady myself and continued to the Vicarage wall. I glanced up at the moon that was peeking over the horizon. Within a few hours, the Jellicle Ball would begin.

Old Deuteronomy was sitting upright, watching the moon as it rose. As I approached, it was as if he didn't notice me at first, but then he surprised me by saying, "Good evening, Kroova."

I leapt up onto the wall. "Good evening."

He turned to me, fixing an unblinking stare on me. "Is something bothering you?"

"Yes…" I paused, trying to frame my thoughts into words. "Today when I saw Gryffin's kitten, I didn't see her name. It's been bothering me for a while," I glanced at him. "That is the reason, after all, that I'm a cat."

"Ah," Deuteronomy settled onto his stomach, returning his focus on the moon. "So they didn't block your memories back up."

"As far as they know, they did," I said quietly. "I've only feigned ignorance because I needed to talk to you. But it's been hard keeping it from Vail."

"Your daughter certainly is extraordinary," Deuteronomy commented. "And they are both going back to Ireland with you?"

"Yes," I nodded. I was quiet for a moment. "Why do you think I couldn't guess the kitten's name?"

Deuteronomy chuckled. "Vail isn't the only one with powers over the mind," he said. "I took certain… liberties while you were unconscious."

"So you… got rid of my gift?" I scrunched my nose, frowning at my paws. "Why?"

"I should think it would have become clear to you."

I stared at him. "It was only a danger to cats while I was human," I reminded him. Then it hit me. "You want to turn me back, don't you?"

"I was informed of the trials you've experienced this past year, and I feel no one should be taken from their family to go through that kind of pain."

"But I didn't know," I pressed. "I didn't realize what I was missing!"

"Exactly." Deuteronomy sat up again and looked me straight in the eyes. "Do you know what you've missed by not being human? Your friends in America managed to raise the money for a flight back within a week, and Mike flew over himself to get you. He had plans for your future, do you realize that?"

I stared at the old tom. "I have a life," I said. "I have a future, I don't need another one!"

Deuteronomy continued as if he hadn't heard me. "When he came and talked to your mother, he was heartbroken that you were missing. He led several search parties before everyone else gave you up for dead. Eventually, his parents had to come get him; he refused to leave unless he found you."

"Why are you telling me this?" I demanded. "I have a family. I have a home. That past isn't part of me anymore!"

"Is it?" Deuteronomy raised an eyebrow. "As I said, your daughter isn't the only one with powers involving the mind. She pulled you all into a sort of limbo before the conjurers transferred energy to you. Did you know it is possible to not return to your original body?" I stared at him, not following his point. "It is a simple matter of pulling in the right direction, and therefore a soul transfer is simple."

I blinked. "Wait, what?"

"You didn't honestly think I would send you into the life of a cat alone, did you?"

I thought back to that time, pondering over each cat I'd met. He wouldn't do anything to his tribe; they were too precious to him. My thoughts fell on the barn cats. "Who are they?"

"I think you'll be able to match their personalities with several of Cassie's friends," Deuteronomy smiled. "Take your time to think it over, but not now. You'll wear yourself out."

"But," I scratched my head. "That doesn't make sense. They've been living there for generations."

"During a soul transfer," Deuteronomy explained. "A person's entire soul is split in a way. The majority of the soul—the memories, the instincts—returns to its true body. But the essence follows the pull of the controller. For example, do you and Talon tease each other a lot?"

I nodded, laughing a little at the memories of all our playful banters. As if someone turned on the light, my jaw dropped. "Is—is that Mike?"

Deuteronomy chuckled. "I couldn't leave the poor boy heartbroken forever."

I felt my ears heat up as I smiled to myself. I guess everyone gets a happy ending, I thought. I knew I'd figure out the rest of the barn cats later, but now I just wanted to get back to Talon. I stopped myself from leaping off the wall and turned to the Jellicle leader. "Could you block the memories? But only some of them?"

Deuteronomy smiled and held his paws out. I sat in front of him. "Just hold on to the ones you want," he said as he placed his paws on my temples.

=^..^=

Talon grinned as he saw Kroova returning to the junkyard. Everyone was scattered around close to the clearing as they waited for the Ball to begin. The gold tom crouched as Kroova came in perfect pouncing range… With a laugh, he sprang at her, and she responded by fighting back. For a moment, Talon was proud. She'd come so far from the shy queen he'd met a year ago.

"Ok, that's enough," Kroova said, giggling a little. She sat next to him, snuggling into his side. "When does it start?"

"When Munkustrap comes out," Talon said, pulling an arm around her waist. "He's just patrolling the area."

Kroova sighed and rested her head on Talon's shoulder. He glanced down at her.

"What?"

She smiled. "I love you," she said, kissing his cheek.

Talon returned the kiss. "I love you, too."

=^..^=

My ears perked up, and I heard the tribe cats starting to move towards the clearing. I grinned at Talon. "It's time," I said. I stood and padded silently towards the clearing, listening intently for the first notes. I sat in a shadow, watching for Munkustrap to appear.

Are you blind when you're born?

Can you see in the dark?

Dare you look at a king?

Would you sit on his throne?

Can you say of your bite; that it's worse than your bark?

Are you cock of the walk?

When you're walking alone?

Because Jellicles are, and Jellicles do

Jellicles do and Jellicles can

Jellicles can and Jellicles would

Jellicles would and Jellicles do

When you fall on your head, do you land on your feet?

Are you tense when you sense there's a storm in the air?

Can you find your way blind when you're lost in the street?

Do you know how to go to the Heaviside Layer?

Because Jellicles can and Jellicles do

Jellicles do and Jellicles can

Jellicles can and Jellicles do

Jellicles do and Jellicles can

Jellicles can and Jellicles do

Can you ride on a broomstick to places far distant?

Familiar with candle, with book and with bell?

Were you Wittington's friend?

The Pied Piper's assistant?

Have you been an alumnus of Heaven and Hell?

Are you mean like a minx?

Are you lean like a lynx?

Are you keen to be seen when you're smelling a rat?

Were you there when the Pharos commissioned the sphinx?

If you were and you are, you're a Jellicle cat!

[A/N Just because I don't feel like it, I'm not going to type up the whole song; you guys all know it.]

I couldn't recall having so much fun in my entire life. Singing and dancing with the Jellicle tribe… it was as if someone had thrown us all head-first into our own world, where nothing mattered but the dance and there was no such thing as problems. As a cat, I wasn't a very good dancer, but Cassie had been, so I used those memories to help me (it was a little difficult at first, but I soon began to flow like the others). When Deuteronomy appeared and called all the cats out for the main part of the ball, Talon pulled me aside.

"I think you should rest," he said in an undertone.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not tired," I scoffed. I tried to go back to join the dance, but Talon held firm.

"Do you really think that's the best idea?" he asked. He pulled me into a hug, and I knew what he was getting at.

"The kitten is going to be fine," I insisted. "A little dancing isn't going to hurt." I glanced back, hearing the music starting to slow. "Come on," I said, pulling at Talon's paw. "Let's join for this part, at least." Talon sighed, but followed me back towards the other dancers. We all settled down, lying in a mass of jumbled bodies, each pair snuggling into their mate. I rested my head on Talon's shoulder and closed my eyes, just listening to everyone breathe.

A strange energy entered the atmosphere, and even though nobody moved, we were all tense. I tried to place where and when I'd felt the prickling sensation on the back of my neck… It was familiar, but I couldn't place the memory. Then the silence was broken by a shriek from Demeter.

"MACAVITY!!"

[A/N] :P I will update soon, because I can't leave this hanging. But I'm being summoned by a higher power to set the table, and therefore I will let you all read what I have.

MandoJetti: This doesn't mean anything but war. As you already know… Pomegranate!