Demeter woke again, hoping this had all been a particularly vivid nightmare. It wasn't.
She was still enveloped in the heap of slops and rubbish, only this time there was a scraggly rope tied onto her collar. It trailed away, wrapping around something solid in the distance.
In front of her was a whole rat- just as scrawny as the last one, but whole nonetheless. She sniffed at it. The thing had been dead for some time. Still, it was food. She gritted her teeth and choked it down.

Macavity was nowhere to be seen.

Slowly looking around, she saw nothing familiar. Perhaps she was underground, in the sewer systems. That would explain the smell and damp. scanning as far has she could, Dem thought she saw a shaft of light. Sunlight.

That meant two things:

One; she had been here for at least a full night.

Two; she had a potential way out.

An idea began to form in her battered mind. She felt for the cord that held her captive, grasping it between her teeth. It felt slimy and oddly cold. Despite that, she chewed furiously. If she could just-

'Hellooo, there, my dearest darling Demeterrrrrr.'

He was back.

'I've decided it's time for you to make your choice.'

She dropped the rope, hoping he hadn't noticed. It was worn down to a few threads.

'You know what I mean. What's it to be, my sweetness? Will you-'

'Never!' She spat into his face.

'Wrong answer.' His expression could have passed for normal before now- but then it changed. His mouth twisted into a grotesque snarl, his nose scrunched, eyes blazing with something that terrified Demeter.

He swooped apon her. She tried to scream out, but his paw was there, in her mouth. She bit down until she felt her jaws would break, but he didn't yeild. His tongue lolled out of his mouth, panting in anticipation. Demeter struggled for all her might. She had to get free! He came ever closer, with each passing moment the dread became more of reality. It was at then that the rope finally gave in, snapping with a resounding thwack into her assailant's face. Caught between the eyes, Macavity was stunned.

Demeter didn't hesitate, didn't wait to see if her legs still worked. She tore out of there, headed towards the light.

Stumbling all the way, she reached her goal. Scampering up the ladder, emerging into the street, not looking back.

She could hear Macavity beginning his pursuit. A sob tore from her throat. Her legs wouldn't work! In vain she tried to keep going on, hoping to reach the shelter of the alleyways before he could reclaim his prize.

She span into shadows between narrow brick buildings. Her claws, drawn, clicked against the cobbled ground, providing an eerie soundtrack to the chase. Demeter couldn't continue. She fell. Right in front of a pair of paws. Black paws. Big, black paws. Dog paws.

Munkustrap hurried along the streets, always hoping for a sighting. His claws were sharp, his teeth bared. He was ready to save her, whoever she was.

Lucky he was ready, for at that precise moment, he heard a terrified... something between a yowl, sob and cry. It sounded feline and female. He rushed towards the noise- and smelt dog.

A pack of Poms were lounging around, taking up the whole alleyway. Slobber dripped from malicious teeth set into strong jaws, below merciless dark eyes. There were seven of them, five adults and two pups. Where's the RumpusCat when you need him? Munku thought bitterly. Maybe he wouldn't have to fight them.

Something streaked into view. Too small to be an adult dog, to sleek for a pup. It had to be the noise-maker, the kitten.

Munkustrap wached with baited breath as the Poms began to notice the intruder. The biggest, slobberiest one growled something unintelligible. The young queen fell at his feet. Munku gasped. Was she giving into the dog? No- certainly not. His keen eyesight picked up ragged scars across her side. She had probably collasped from her wounds.

That settled it. As the Poms began circling the defenceless kit, he crawled onto the toip of a dumpster, unsheathing his claws with no noise. The high ground gained, he issued a challenge. What was supposed to be a feircesome roar sounded a little too like a pathetic mew. He tried again. This time, it worked. Three heads swivelled around. The leader and two pups stared at him. Now or never.

He launched his grey body through the air, landing square on the larger pup's face. Scratching at the eyes before leaping to the next dog, the howls of pain reached the other dogs' ears. One down, six to go.

The kitten stirred slightly.

Munku was in a trance, biting, clawing and leaping like some crazed dance of violence and blood. His blood, maybe. Something was beginning to hurt, that was for sure.
He had no idea what was happening until there was just one dog left unblemished- the big black leader. He looked almsot rabid, what with the saliva dripping past his maw and his fur tangled and matted. His hackles raised and his lips pulled back in a snarl born of many moons fighting to be on top. Top dog, If you'll pardon the pun.

The dog moved! Munkustrap dodged to the side, swiping across the dark rump. He fell back, wounded and now wary. It was about to start circling again when a yowl was heard. Manic and wild, it chilled all present to the bone. Macavity.

The injured dogs high-tailed (again, sorry for the pun) it out of there, half-howling in fear. Even burly Poms felt terror at Macavity.

Munkustrap crouched next to the wounded queen. She was older than he had expected- close to a year. For some reason he'd been expecting a kit with eyes half-closed. Her eyes glowed with pain, but behing them was something special that drew him in. He shook himself. You can admire her eyes when she's safe. her lids fluttered feverishly.

He acted every inch the valiant protector. 'Can you walk?'

She nodded, stood, fell and shook her head.

'Come here, then.' He boosted her up from below by draping one of her arms across his shoulders.

Macavity's yowl echoed again, closer this time.

The queen's eyes blazed suddenly with terror and her grip tightened around Munku. She missed a step and almost went down. He needed to get her home fast. Bombalurina's house wasn't too far if they cut through the wild strip within the alleys. The little park would be hard to navigate with his precious cargo, but he had no other choice. He shifted her weight slightly, and began to move.

Unheard and invisible to the two young Jellicles, Macavity watched from above.

So, little Deuteronomy, you've taken my prize.

But I'll reclaim her,

And you'll pay.