Quaxo had been thinking about what his friends had said.
No-one did seem to notice Electra, she just was there. She didn't talk to many people, mostly her brother and occasionally her friends but never to anyone else. She was a nice enough kitten wasn't she?
When he though about it, Quaxo couldn't say. He'd never really spoken to Electra before, the only news he ever got about her was through her brother.
He didn't realise how far away from the junkyard he had walked until he noticed that the stench that always lingered around his home was gone. Looking up, he tried to figure out where he was. All around him were trees and fields stretched far over the horizon. It was hard to believe this kind of nature was so near to the city.
He knew if he just walked back he would get back to the junkyard in no time but it was still nice to know where he was.
As he walked he noticed a quiet humming and the sound of someone falling over then that same person beginning to cry. Quaxo followed the sound. He had recognised the voice but couldn't quite put his paw on who it was.
He heard the crying stop and the humming begin again. He crept around a large oak tree and could just make out the silhouette of a small kitten, dancing inelegantly around a clearing.
Quaxo watched as the clumsy kitten got her paws entangled and tumbled to the floor, crying out as she landed hard on her side. She sat up, pounding her paws on the ground in frustration. As the moon found its way through the trees, it lit up the small queens' face.
Quaxo sighed at Electra's tearstained face crumpled and he found himself walking over. The tiny queen didn't acknowledge him as he put his arm around her awkwardly. He felt her snuggle her head close to his chest, still sobbing gently.
Quaxo couldn't remember a more uncomfortable moment and he wondered what had possessed him to comfort a queen he didn't even know. The silence was unbearable and, hesitantly, he attempted to break it.
"What were you trying to do?" He asked. It was a stupid question but it made the heavy sense of awkwardness lift slightly.
Electra looked up at him, her huge hazel eyes wavering with tears, but still she said nothing.
Not wanting the silence to reappear, Quaxo continued as if he was talking to himself.
"I think I know what you were doing" He smiled as Electra's eyes widened in alarm. Quaxo had never noticed how beautiful her eyes were, how they sparkled whenever her expression changed. They were clearly her best feature.
"You were practising weren't you?"
Electra nodded, looking down and suddenly finding her paws very interesting.
Quaxo found it remarkable how she never said anything yet her expressions and gestures spoke much louder then if any words had left her lips.
He crouched down in front of her, trying to see her face. Taking both her paws, he noticed that she had begun to cry again.
"It's not fair! Vicky is amazing at dance, Jemima can sing like an angel and Etcy is so bendy and acrobatic she's like rubber! I can't do anything like that. I can't even do the first dance of the Jellicle ball right and that's suppose to be the easiest because everyone joins in! I'm useless!"
The ranting kitten glanced up at Quaxo who was gaping at her, open mouthed.
"I think that's the longest thing I've ever heard you say" He managed to get out, still gawping.
Electra giggled, blushing scarlet beneath her paws. Quaxo thought over what she had just said.
"You're not useless, just shy…." Quaxo wanted to continue but couldn't think of what to say.
Electra nodded slightly and pulling her paws away, began to walk away. Quaxo scratched his head. He wanted to help but he didn't know how. Staring after the petite queen, he had an idea.
"I could help you." He said and Electra turned, looking puzzled.
"Help me how?" she asked, walking so they were face to face. She was so small and, although Quaxo wasn't the largest of toms, he still towered above her.
"I could erm… teach you some of the dances" He said, staring over her head. He was almost knocked of his feet when Electra threw her arms around him.
He smiled down at the happy kitten who looked up at him ginning.
"Thank you!"
Quaxo patted her head gently and freed himself from her hold.
"We'll start tomorrow alright?"
Electra nodded eagerly and sped back towards the junkyard, the spring back in her step. Quaxo watched the happy kitten smiling. He had seen a new side of her today, a more confident one. He felt he understood a bit better how she felt around her friends.
He knew he wouldn't be able to teach her alone. After all, there were times in the dancing when the queens were doing something completely different to the toms and Bomba said she had something special planned for the kittens to do for Tugger's song.
He searched through his mind, trying to think of a queen who would be able to help Electra. He didn't think any of her friends would be good. She had already made it clear how uncomfortable they made her feel.
Quaxo sighed and made his way back to the junkyard. What had he got himself into?