Pouncival opened his eyes wearily. As his eyes focused in the dim lighting, he debated whether to close them again or not. Waking up meant facing the day; A day which would probably just hold more neglect and abuse.

He tentatively moved one paw out in front of him, flexing it in an attempt to get rid of the stiffness gained from sleeping on it in a weird way. He was hungry but too weak to go out hunting and he highly doubted that there would be any food waiting for him at his human's house.

He jolted up at the sound of paws on the metal bin outside the entrance to the warehouse, pain shooting through his spine. The owner of the paws entered, carrying two large dead rats by their tails. He grinned at Pouncival, looking ridiculous with two rats hanging from his mouth.

The ginger tom bounded over and placed one of the rats carefully in front of the surprised kitten, before tucking into the other one himself.

Pouncival prodded the rat gingerly, his eyes never leaving the intruder.

"It's ok; I've not done anything to it. Eat it! From the looks of you, you've not eaten properly in a long time."

Pouncival obeyed him and attacked the rat hungrily, savouring every mouthful.

The strange ginger tom smiled, holding out his paw to Pouncival.

"I'm Macavity by the way."

Pouncival took it, still not quite getting over the friendliness of a cat who should naturally be his enemy.

"Pouncival"

"Well, Pouncival. I think you'd better tell me how you got yourself looking like this!" Macavity gestured towards the cuts and bruises all over the tiny kitten's body.

Pouncival swallowed his last mouthful of rat and began to tell his story.

Tugger smiled as Etcetera begged him for the eleventh time that hour to play with her, tugging at his leg. Tugger felt entirely trapped; He had Victoria clinging onto one arm, Jemima grasping the other. Electra hanging onto his back like a limpet, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist and Etcetera somehow wound around his legs.

He shrugged his shoulders, ignoring the complaints of Electra as her grip around his neck loosened and she tumbled to the ground.

"Sorry Cety, Looks like you'll have to talk it over with your friends!"

He grinned as the hyper kitten untangled herself from his legs and threw herself at the unsuspecting Victoria. The snowy queen squealed as she fought off the playful Etcetera while rolling down the hill.

Tugger's plan was beginning to work apart from one thing. Electra had, as he had hoped, gone running after the two rolling kittens. Jemima, however, obviously the cleverest of the kittens, had seen the chance of getting Tugger to herself for once.

Tugger was one step away from freedom but Jemima was showing no signs of letting his arm go.

"Listen, Jemmie babes, I don't think your mum would be very happy about this. Do you?"

The calico kitten shook her head and Tugger felt the blood begin to flow in his paw again. He breathed a sigh of relief but tensed when he felt her rubbing against his legs.

"But I like you Tugsy!" Jemima whined, clearly enjoying the attention she was getting.

It was odd. For some reason, Tugger felt scared. The reason itself wasn't what was odd. The reason for feeling it, however, was. He was scared of Demeter seeing them. Scared of what she would think, scared of what she could and would do.

There was nothing the black and gold queen wouldn't sink to. Tugger had seen that with the way she had controlled Macavity and if she said anything about Tugger most of the tribe would automatically believe her because of his reputation.

He felt Jemima paw at his legs, angry at her being ignored and he crouched down to face her. He looked into the kittens innocent eyes and sighed.

"Jemima, you need to go. Your mum won't be very pleased with me if she sees will she?"

Jemima shook her head and Tugger watched her run away, not affected by his sudden change of mood. He relaxed, glad that she was gone. He didn't like having to hurt the little queen but it was for her own protection as much as his.

Demeter could use Jemima as a way of getting back at Tugger. She hated him and the feeling was completely mutual. If she could somehow make it seem that he had harmed Jemima in any way, his reputation would do the rest.

Tugger sighed. His reputation; It was built on lies, a way he could see Bomba without arousing suspicion. She had changed too of course. Partly to make their mission easier and partly as a way to carry out her threat against Demeter.

Tugger found himself smiling. Bomba had certainly gone through with her threat. She was now the most attractive queen in the tribe and every tom was finding it hard to resist her. Tugger had noticed; to his own amusement that even the Protector of the tribe was fighting the urge to watch her as she danced. No tom would ever look at Demeter when Bomba was around.

He looked up at the sky and cursed. It was getting dark and he had promised Bomba he would meet her at dusk. He scrambled to his feet and rushed through the junkyard to her den.

Bomba had finished her flirting for the day and she was exhausted. She was just preparing to have a quick catnap before Tugger arrived when Demeter appeared.

Bomba hissed. "Get out."

Demeter smiled her signature smug smile and made as if to leave.

"Fine, I assume you don't want to know about what I saw today then."

"No, I Don't. Now leave!" Bomba didn't even look at Demeter as she spoke.

"Well you won't want to hear about Tugger then will you?"

Bomba sat up, looking suspiciously at Demeter.

"What about Tugger?"

Demeter shrugged. She had the scarlet queen right where she wanted her.

"You said you didn't want to know."

Bomba shook her head, worried about what Demeter was about to reveal.

"Fine! Tell me!"

Demeter moved to sit next to her and smiled.

"I knew you'd want to know."