Chryssie watched from the shadows at her friend Demeter, and Munkustrap who walked along together, paw in paw. She felt a slight twinge of sadness, but she shook it off, taking comfort in the fact that the way the two were then was the way they should always be. She swept over the junkyard with her eyes to check on everything. Everything was quiet, peaceful although too peaceful for Chryssie.

She got up and began to move along the outskirts of the junkyard. She walked, trudging through the brush, and to the lake, then under her tree. She looked up at the branches, and the trunk, then at the threatening bark that protected it. It made her bitter inside to think how she scaled the tree with such ease, that the bark wasn’t nearly as intimidating back then. She had claws back then, and could climb without even damaging as much as a single, tender pad. Now she had hands, and no claws. The bark seemed a lot more threatening. Nevertheless, she took a deep breath, and climbed with the grace of a human into the tree.

It was a slightly cloudy night, but the full moon shone through. Chryssie sat on her branch and looked up at the moon.

"Hello up there!" Chryssie looked down and saw a human boy looking up at her and smiling. She looked at him a few minutes then up at the moon again.

"I said Hello?" The boy said again, with a slight hint of uncertainty about his voice. Chryssie looked down at him again, and then said

"Hello." remembering she was human.

"What are you doing up there?" The boy asked standing by the tree.

"Sitting."

"Well why don’t you go home?" "I am home." The boy was silent a minute.

"You live in a tree?" Chryssie looked down at him with the superiority of a cat. She stood up on the tree branch.

"No." she said, clearly annoyed at the human’s stupidity. The boy seemed to think.

"You don’t have a home do you?" Chryssie just looked exasperatedly at the sky.

"Come down, I’ll take you to my home." Chryssie crouched on her branch.

"No." She gave him a menacing glare.

"Well you can’t stay in the tree."

"I’ll go home. I have a perfectly good home, thank you very much." She couldn’t keep the venom out of her voice. With inhuman agility, she swung down from the tree, and ran along the shores of the lake. The boy tried to follow, but she was too fast for him. He turned and started home, wondering about that girl.

Chryssie ran on, and found herself on the other side of the lake. She walked by the waters in quiet thought, and shivered slightly because of the chilly night air.

"Yes it is a cold night, my dear," said a cold voice she knew all too well. She slowly turned to see if her intuition was correct. It was, for there he stood.

"Macavity...." she said coldly, raising her guard, and looking around for the nearest weapon. He stood a few feet behind her, with a cloak swirling in the wind, a rich, velvet purple, with gold lining, which was considered a sign of royalty.

"No need for weapons. I am not out to catch a human wandering in the woods tonight." He said, as if dismissing her. She froze, stunned, and then watched him warily.

"What do you want?" She asked rigidly.

"Come." he said, beckoning to her. She didn’t move. She crossed her arms and glared.

"Consider this a truce for tonight, my dear." Macavity said with a slight trace of impatience. Chryssie considered it, and walked along side him. They walked in silence for a while until Macavity spoke, which broke the silence.

"You make a beautiful human." Macavity mused.

"Strong, fair of face, with more morals and dignity than the rest of the pathetic race. But for so noble a creature, why such a lowly form? Nevertheless, you make a beautiful human Chrychaesa." Chryssie’s anger returned to her.

"You have yourself to thank for that."

"No. No. You have yourself."

"If you hadn’t had killed...."

"But if you hadn’t offered yourself instead..."

"If you wouldn’t be so determined to have Demeter…"

"If you wouldn’t be so determined to keep us apart." Macavity said, calmly. Chryssie sighed.

"If we both could just get along."

"What was that?" Macavity asked.

"If we both could get along with one another, none of this would have happened. I wouldn’t be needed, the tribe united would be safe with powerful protectors..."

"That day can’t happen, my dear. Once we tried to keep the peace... it failed. Our tribes, our ideals are just too different." "

We both have our reasons." She said softly, looking down and tightening her arms around herself as the wind swept passed them. Macavity removed his cloak, himself being a cat and draped it around her shoulders. She looked at him for a minute and accepted it, taking comfort from the warmth, even if it was Macavity’s.

"Tell me," she started cautiously.

"Why do you want Demeter so much? You are powerful, strong, and can have any queen you wanted.... for the most part. Why Demeter?" Macavity was quiet for several minutes, carefully wording and thinking through what he was going to say in his head.

"She’s.... different from other queens. She isn’t as light or airy as the others, she has her own accent of grace... she’s everything that I’ve been waiting for." Chryssie thought this over.

"But, Macavity... there are other queens that are deep like Demeter..."

"No, Chrychaesa, you don’t know." Macavity said, with a sad annoyance. He grew silent again. Chryssie looked at him and prodded gently.

"I would if you’d tell me." Macavity looked at her, as if trying to figure out what the disadvantages would be if he told her.

"Chrychaesa, it’s beyond your capacity." He said finally.

"You are the one to say that to me? When I have undergone all the challenge that you have placed before me? When I have wept tears of pain and misery, and suffering? Macavity... you should know all that I have become now. I am here, as I am, because it is all that you have made me to be." She said, discovering herself in the process. She was all that Macavity had made her to be, all the hardships he had placed on her had made her stronger, and it had given her who she was, and who she was destined to be.

Macavity seemed to consider her words, and thought them over. The appeal was bold, a very great risk of trust, although he was puzzled. Why would she put so much trust in one spot when she knew he was her enemy? He thought again.

"Why do you say such a thing? Why do you appeal so much when you know that I can hurt you with that information?"

"Because I will trust someone with his truce promise." She said simply, looking at him straight in the eye.

"I see." Macavity said, nodding. Chryssie looked at him a few minutes more and continued walking next to him. They walked on in silence.

"I don’t understand you, Chrychaesa." He said finally. Chryssie turned to face him, and cocked her head puzzled.

"Why do you have a hard time understanding? I’m as real as you are. I am of the same essence. I am of the same form.... wait; scratch that out. No! I mean, forget I said that, same emotional status... I need to love, hate, grieve. What is there not to understand?"

"How. How can you walk along side me, as if we have been confidents all our lives? How can you forget your hate of me so fast? I know you have hated me; you have proved it time and time again. I just don’t understand all this." Chryssie paused and thought over his question.

"There have been times where I have wished you were dead, yes. There have been times where I have loathed the very ground you walked on, yes. But in this truce... with this confidentiality, and with nothing to fear... I lose all reasons to hate you. Yes, you’ve killed my parents, and yes, you’ve killed the real love that I can have without having to put others through torment, but..." she sighed.

"It’s hard to explain. It’s more of a feeling. It’s more of a requirement to do this. I don’t hate talking to you, when everything isn’t hidden or secret... just a bare all kind of thing. It makes me forget who we are, what we’re fighting for. A chance for peace you might say, away from the others." Macavity considered it.

"I see what you mean." He said simply and walked on.

"Macavity..." Chryssie started. He turned to face her. She was silent a minute looking at him, and studying him.

"I don’t understand. You know that Demeter will love Munkustrap. Why don’t you accept it? The tribe, yours and mine... maybe peace will happen that way."

"I..." The first time Macavity had ever been at loss for words.

"Well the same applies for you." He said simply. Chryssie nodded.

"That is true. And I have you to thank for giving me strength to accept that Munkustrap is no longer mine."

"What strength?"

"You changed me, in form. It serves as a divider. He and I will have a caring for each other, there’s no way to escape that, but it’s lost the feeling of love. I have to learn to accept it. It would make things easier for yourself if you learned to accept it. I’ve had help. I understand how difficult that would be to go through, but we are the same." Macavity silently considered her words, and saw the truth in them.

"Chrychaesa... you speak the truth, but I can only begin to fight on my own. It’s a battle I have to resign myself to fight."

"I understand." They went deeper along the lake and soon She found herself in slightly familiar area. They had talked a little about this and that, but they couldn’t help talking about the deeper issues.

"Tell me why you are so in love with Munkustrap." Macavity said. Chryssie paused and looked down a little sadly.

"It’s for the cat he is. He and I are.... were close, and…"

"Were?" Chryssie bit her lip and wouldn’t look at Macavity.

"We used to..."

"Used to?"

"We did..."

"Did?"

"Would you let me finish?" she said looking at him with amusement.

"Why?" Macavity asked, grinning. Chryssie’s smile softened and she said,

"Never mind the whole ordeal."

"He no longer cares for you as he did?" Macavity prodded gently.

"No, he does, it’s just that, it’s more like the birds and the bees now." Macavity looked at her.

"Just because you’re..."

"Human." Chryssie finished.

"It can’t be helped." She said continuing.

"I just have to remember that I can’t do what I normally could." She rubbed her sore hands from her climb and winced as a splinter was discovered. Macavity took her hand gently in his paw and looked at it, his eyes being more useful in the dark. He saw the splinter and unsheathed a claw. As quick as lightning, he inserted it under her skin and drew out the splinter before she knew what was happening. She was left stunned.

"Thank you." she said softly and continued.

"Here." Macavity said taking her to a place where there was two glasses filled with a dark, red liquid.

"Drink. It will help warm you." She took a sip and felt drowsy. She felt herself drifting off to sleep.

"What have you done?" she asked as she lost her footing and began to fall. Macavity caught her.

"It’s only to make you sleep." He said softly, and comfortingly. Macavity picked her up and carried her towards the junkyard.

Rum Tum Tugger, who had come out looking for her, saw Macavity carrying a seemingly dead Chryssie with a silent, resigned look on his face. Tugger immediately hissed and started towards Macavity in a violent rage.

"How DARE YOU!!" He growled. He started to lash out at him with his claws.

"Silence fool." he said coldly backing away with Chryssie securely wrapped in the velvet cloak in his arms.

"Chrychaesa is only sleeping. She shall be awake in the morning. Take her into the junkyard, and say nothing of what you have seen, for both her and my sake." Tugger took her and looked cautiously at him, and then turned away with Chryssie.

Instead of taking her to Munkustrap, Tugger took her to his own space, and gently laid her down. He curled up next to her, and left the velvet cloak with her, and went to sleep.

Macavity looked after her and then darted into the shadows as he saw Demeter and Munkustrap walking and laughing happily together.

"Munkustrap... shhh! Let’s not wake up the entire tribe!" Demeter said in a playful whisper.

"Oh but where’s your sense of adventure?"

"Out the door when Jellylorum starts to scold us. Munkustrap! Macavity!" she whispered suddenly alarmed.

"Macavity’s not here. He can’t come this close; he knows that. Rest easy tonight Demeter. He has been quiet enough. It’s time for peace."

"Oh I can’t shake the feeling of his presence."

"You’re safe." Munkustrap said taking her in his arms.

"I’m here."

"You always will be." Demeter said, relaxing.

"I’m just being silly." She said smiling. Munkustrap smiled and then with Demeter, entered the yard.

"Demeter... don’t mistrust yourself. You’ll always know when I am here. Munkustrap, you desert Chrychaesa... I don’t see why Demeter and Chryssie can be yours... Demeter... if only you can see how much I have always loved you." He faded away into the shadows, and continued on to his lair, with a heavy sadness in his heart.

Chryssie turned and looked up from her deep slumber. What had she been drinking? She looked around and saw Tugger next to her. She smiled at her friend and then crawled out of the lair, and stood up, so that she could stretch. She then hurried into the junkyard. She had decided to keep quiet about last night’s events, and then froze when she noticed Macavity’s cloak about her. She then heard a fluttering and then saw paper on a sharp thorn. She learned Macavity’s tricks, and noted the message.

"Keep it. -M." was all it said. She smiled to herself and left the cloak at her own place, and then mingled with the various cats of the yard.

Cassandra was the first up, and when Chryssie came up, Cassandra glared.

"And how is the fallen Jellicle?" She sneered.

"Cassandra that isn’t very nice." Cassandra just turned away.

"Hey there Chryssie!" Bombalurina called happily. She came up and hugged her.

"Hmm." she said then.

"You smell different."

"I’m just going to have to take your word for it, for I can’t smell."

"You smell really different." Bomba said again.

"Almost like Macavity." Chryssie thought a minute. She hadn’t touched Macavity, and he hadn’t touched her so enough of his scent could be evident. He’d only removed a splinter. Then she thought of the entire evening. The cloak! Bomba frowned.

"Are you ok Chryssie?"

"I’m alright Bomba. I have a cloak that has been owned by Macavity." She said with a shrug.

"Oh well then. It’s just a cloak that smells like Macavity then." Bomba said grinning, though she didn’t hide the concern in her eyes.

"Shall we go into the junkyard?"

"Yes, please. Let’s go. I think that everyone else will be very happy to see you. You seem to have distanced yourself from us in a sense."

"I apologize. I’ve just had a lot on my mind."

"It just seems like when you have a lot on your mind, you become a shadow. You just fade away, and then you’re back, and then you fade away again."

"I thought you’d be used to it by now."

"Oh we are, we just miss you."

"Once I clear myself up, I’ll be family girl Chryssie again." Bomba smiled and lead Chryssie into the junkyard.

"Well, it seems as though the kittens have been playing again." Chryssie saw the junkyard was a disheveled mess. There were trashcans upturned and there were pieces of junk everywhere.

"Were was everyone in all this?"

"Can’t say I can tell you." Bomba murmured. They both looked over the junkyard in wonder. Skimbleshanks entered the yard, and when he saw the mess, he looked up at Chryssie and Bomba and said in his lovable Scottish accent

"What in the world did you do in here, lassies?"

"Nothing!" Bomba said indignantly.

"We didn’t do anything Skimble. We’re as awestruck as you." The threesome looked around the junkyard in dismay. Out of the corner of her eye, Chryssie noticed Munkustrap come out of his cave with Demeter. That gave a slight twang in her heart, but she covered it up.

Bomba felt her hurt because she looked at Chryssie then at Munkustrap. She decided to keep quiet, though Bomba knew that Chryssie couldn’t say here if it was going to hurt her.

"Good Heaviside, what happened here?" He looked around the junkyard in horror.

"I don’t know." Bomba said.

"I do." Chryssie said, smiling because of the three unknown culprits infinite energy.

"Who?" Skimble asked.

"Right! Who?" Bomba asked, excitedly.

"Yes, who is it Chryssie?" Demeter asked.

"I think it was Etcetera, Electra, and Jemima."

"Why would they do a thing like this?" Munkustrap asked, horrified with Chryssie’s intuition.

"I was a kitten once myself. They were probably playing, and forgot to pick up after themselves." Then, there was a great wave of giggling, and a white flash zoomed by, followed shortly by a gray flash, then a black flash. The white one stumbled and crashed to the floor and took the gray and black one down with it. The white one then started laughing hard.

"Oh my gracious!! I tripped!"

"Speaking of the little demons." Munkustrap said, and the girls froze. Munkustrap had just enough time to wink playfully at Chryssie, and then he turned stern and no-nonsense like. The three kittens froze and looked up at Munkustrap with a timid and humble expression.

"Hi Munkustrap…" Etcetera said slowly.

"Don’t ‘Hi Munkustrap’ me." He said.

"Take a look around. What do you see?"

"A mess…?" Electra guessed.

"Messes aren’t supposed to be here you know." Munkustrap said with a stern tone.

"We’re sorry Munkustrap." Said Jemima, and all of the kittens had their ears pinned against their head. Munkustrap couldn’t keep it in anymore, and he laughed out loud.

"That’s alright girls, just try to pick up after yourselves." He gave them a hug, and helped them clean up. The girls breathed a sigh of relief and happily ran about to do Munkustrap’s bidding. He turned and looked towards Demeter’s direction with a playful smile on his face.

Chryssie noticed that Munkustrap had forgotten she was there. Chryssie turned and silently left, looking down at her feet. She paused, just outside the junkyard. She turned and looked at Munkustrap a minute; he didn’t notice she was gone. She sighed and walked out, just as Tugger entered from another side of the junkyard.

Etcetera finished cleaning up her mess and then gave a shriek of delight when Tugger came in. She rushed over and rubbed against his leg in affection. He only grinned at her, causing her to go into a swoon. Tugger moved up to Munkustrap and Demeter.

"Hey you two. Anyone see Chryssie around here?"

"She’s… well that’s funny," Munkustrap started.

"She’s gone."

"What do you mean ‘she's gone’?" Tugger asked.

"Well, she was just here." Bomba said, looking around. She knew why Chryssie had left though.

"I swear she disappears faster than a shooting star." Demeter said, puzzled.

"I wonder why…" Bomba said, bitterly. She walked off to a secluded section of the yard. Skimble went after her.

"I suppose you know as well as I do, lassie." Skimble said.

"I do, Uncle Skimble."

"Then I suppose we need to figure out a place where she can be happy, being close to us, but far from Munkustrap. I’ve told them to be careful about their affections in front of her. They try, but…" Skimble shook his head.

"Chryssie is too smart, not even for her own good. She’ll know what Munkustrap and Demeter are; what they do." Bomba shook her head.

"I wish I could help her."

"As do we all lass." Skimble concluded.

Tugger sighed.

"Well surely you can have an idea where she might have gone? Munkustrap, you know her best…"

"No Tugger, I have no idea," Munkustrap said quietly.

"Don’t worry Tugger, she’ll be home soon."

"How caring you are." Tugger said bitterly, and then turned his back, and addressed the kittens playfully.

"And how are you fine queens?"

"Well I don’t know about you, Tugger, but I am a little tired. I’m going to go lie down." Electra said. Etcetera looked disappointed.

"No Etcetera, you stay. Please, stay with Tugger." Electra said, prodding Etcetera playfully in the ribs. She left them and curled up in a secluded spot.

Etcetera looked at her friend and then concentrated on Tugger. She felt her heart beating hard against her ribs and she tried to calm it.

Tugger then grinned at her again, and took her under his arm, playfully, causing both Etcetera and Jemima to swoon. Chryssie walked out of the yard; her eyes lowered to the ground, and tears welling up in her eyes.

"Chrychaesa." Macavity’s voice spoke her name. She looked up and there he was in front of her.

"Are you crazy? Munkustrap with blow a fuse if he catches you here!" Chryssie said, forgetting her truce was over.

"No Chrychaesa. I am not crazy, as you put it."

"Then what are you doing here?" She asked concerned.

"I was just passing through. I saw you wandering here, your eyes lowered. What is it?"

"Nothing." Chryssie said briskly, passing by Macavity. She felt a remarkable danger of tears.

"It’s Munkustrap…"

"Oh Everlasting Cat." Chryssie murmured, dropping to her knees and holding her hands over her eyes. Macavity’s face was cold, but his paw was kind. He reached out and touched her head gently, and stroked her hair. He knelt beside her and passed his hand to her cheek and pulled her face, so that she could face him. There his paw, with the most threatening paws played over her face, stroking her cheek and tracing her jaw line. He gently wiped away the tears of pain.

"There was a time where I took so much pleasure in your tears, but now I see no pleasure in them." Chryssie bowed her head. She then raised it and faced Macavity. She could see a slight trace of concern in his eyes.

"Thank you Macavity." She then stood.

"I need to get back," she said, her eyes still filled with pain, but no tears.

"Those who notice I’m gone will wonder."

"Chrychaesa…" Macavity said, realizing what gave her pain.

"I’m sorry." They both knew it was his fault.

"Some faults turn out for the best Macavity." She said softly. He got up and followed her to the entrance of the junkyard. Tugger looked up and saw Chryssie coming back.

"Etcetera, darling." He started.

"Yes Tugger?" Etcetera asked eagerly.

"Please run and get my collar for me." Etcetera dashed up.

Tugger also got up and then started walking quickly towards her. He got to the edge and stopped short, because Macavity was a few yards behind her. Munkustrap and Demeter both didn’t notice him there. Chryssie turned.

"Goodbye Macavity, and thank you again."

"Please take care." He bid her, and then watched her enter.

Chryssie saw Tugger standing before her.

"Chryssie? What are you doing?" Tugger asked furiously.

"That’s Macavity you know."

"I know Tugger, I know."

"Why are you speaking with him then? How can you? After all he’s done to us? After all he’s done to you?"

"Tugger, there are some things that can’t be explained, but I’ll try. We talked. It was by accident. We discovered sides of each other and ourselves that have been hidden away. We can talk. Nothing more. In reality, we are still enemies, yes. But now, he knows me. When we are alone, we’ll talk. Really there are things about Macavity that others lead themselves to believe. They are too lazy to understand the truth. But… I can talk to him. He understands better than anyone what I go through. Even Jennyanydots doesn’t have a complete understanding."

"I don’t understand." Tugger said coldly.

"I don’t see why it has to be Macavity either." Chryssie growled in a human throat.

" Tugger, will you trust me? I don’t follow the tribe’s intuitions, just my own. It helps now because I’m like this. I wish you’d trust me better Tugger. You know that I won’t betray the tribe. My talks with Macavity are personal, confidential. We aren’t trading information. We are sharing what’s inside. You should trust me." Tugger softened.

"I know, Chryssie. I just worry about you."

"I know Tugger." Chryssie said, and hugged him.

Etcetera came in with Jemima. From the corner, Admetus was watching. He then noticed Macavity.

"Tugger, what are you talking about? You already have you collar…" She then froze. She saw Tugger hugging Chryssie, the cat she had admired! Hurt, Etcetera was only able to sit there. Admetus tried to find what Macavity was looking at. It seemed to his perspective that Macavity was eyeing the kittens. Etcetera then took off, Jemima following.

Macavity saw Chryssie was being taken care of. He turned and left for his miserable home. Admetus noticed that chain of events as well.

"Maybe Etcetera and Jemima won’t be caught." He muttered, though he was worried.

The day passed on, and Chryssie’s mood didn’t improve. It didn’t worsen either. She just felt like she was just ‘there’ for no reason at all.

Soon it grew darker, and it got colder. Munkustrap was just announcing that the Jellicles should settle down for the night. He finished his announcement then saw Chryssie. She was looking out of the yard and trying to peer into the darkness. He smiled and came up behind her. He gently touched her shoulder.

"Chryssie?" He asked. Startled, she whirled around and faced him.

"Good gracious, don’t do that to me." She sighed in relief.

"What is it?" He asked, smiling.

"Have you seen Etcetera or Jemima? I haven’t seen them anywhere. I went out to look for them, but I don’t know where they could be."

"I haven’t seen them lately. I have seen them earlier today."

"So did I. Munkustrap, this is too weird. I’m afraid they might have wandered off. What if they’re hurt?"

"Hey Chryssie?" Admetus started. But she couldn’t hear, for Munkustrap and started calling out to the cats.

"Has anyone seen Etcetera or Jemima?"

"You mean they’re missing?" Electra asked.

"Jennyanydots!" She had started panicking. Soon the entire tribe was bustling, calling out the lost kittens’ names and looking in normal places where they’d play. As the Jellicle tribe fruitlessly searched, Admetus came up and tapped Chryssie’s shoulder. Munkustrap also had his attention.

"If you please, Munkustrap… I saw Macavity looking at Etcetera and Jemima just earlier today." Admetus then turned.

"Look!" A small agent of Macavity was seen in the shadows. Alonzo and Plato dragged the guard out of the shadows, and then roughly brought him before Munkustrap. Munkustrap stalked up to the guard and said in a low hiss

"You tell Macavity that we are coming to collect our stolen kittens, and that he’d better give them up quietly."

The two then let the agent go, who hurried out of the site, towards his home with Macavity.

"Sir!" He said panting for breath as he stumbled into the great hall. Macavity looked up from his melancholy state.

"What is it, captain?" "Munkustrap and his tribe are coming this way. He says to give back the stolen kittens."

"What stolen kittens?"

"I don’t know sir! I frankly don’t know what he’s talking about."

"It’s just like Munkustrap. He blames his irresponsibility on us. Come, we will go to deal with this. All of us." Macavity growled, and with his whole tribe hooting and hollering, marched out of his lair, towards the Jellicle site.

As Munkustrap’s tribe was getting ready for their march towards Macavity’s lair, Chryssie found Munkustrap pacing angrily.

"Munkustrap?" "Isn’t this just like Macavity?" He asked, turning towards her.

"When do you start to blame Macavity?" Chryssie asked gently.

"Munkustrap, this is just wrong." "What is? What is so wrong about taking some of our kinsman back?"

"Well how can we be absolutely sure it was Macavity? Doesn’t he usually start something before he actually does the deed?" That seemed to make Munkustrap pause in consideration.

"Where else would they be?" He then asked.

"I don’t know but…"

"Where else would they be but Macavity?" He asked and stalked out.

"Munkustrap…" Chryssie called out, and once again had to fight the tears.

"No Chrychaesa, don’t cry now." Said a voice as soft as the wind.

"Rawtawny… he doesn’t see, he doesn’t see…"

"My only advice is this, my sweet dear friend… Learn to accept all that comes. It will turn out right in the end. Just keep being strong, and bear it all in silence. It will all be rewarded."

"It hurts so much." Chryssie said weakly, but nevertheless, she covered it with a strong façade.

"Nothing is impossible love, as you well know." Said Rawtawny, melting into his cool sleek tall form. Chryssie could only look at him with admiration.

"You look ever more handsome then last." Rawtawny smiled softly.

"You’ll always be beautiful." Chryssie shook her head, and then looked towards the Jellicles. They were ready.

"I need to stop all this. You know of Macavity. He’s changing. You know that."

"He is. I felt it in you."

"I just hope this won’t set this off course." Chryssie said, suddenly afraid.

"Whatever happens, I’m with you. At your call I’ll be there." Chryssie nodded and took a deep breath. She walked out and joined her tribe members. She took her place beside Munkustrap, and they began the trek through the brush towards a deserted area of the woods, where Macavity was thought to be.

They walked for an hour, and Munkustrap suddenly halted.

Across from the Jellicles was the entire tribe of Macavity. Chryssie stole a glance at Munkustrap. She saw his eyes harden and heard a small growl. The leaders approached. Munkustrap approached with Alonzo and Chryssie, Macavity with two guards. Both of them look hostile.

"Wait!" Chryssie called as she stood between them.

"Chryssie, no!" Munkustrap said sharply, afraid she was doing something insane. Chryssie looked up at him with her jaw fixed and an urgent stare, which were signs that she was being stubborn.

"Chryssie not now."

"Yes now." She said and looked at her tribe and then at Macavity.

"We apologize." She said to Macavity.

"Chryssie, have you gone mad?" Demeter cried out.

"No, Demeter, I am perfectly fine. Listen; don’t you think that Macavity would have brought the kits along to barter with? To barter with for you, Demeter?" Munkustrap stopped. Everyone saw she had a point.

"Chrychaesa knows my methods well. I do not have your kittens Munkustrap." Macavity said coldly.

"Then that means Chryssie is a traitor." Cassandra said, her moment to lower Chryssie’s reputation at hand.

"What?" asked several voices in stunned confusion.

"It’s true! She had the scent of Macavity all over her today."

"But it was a cloak!" Bomba protested.

"One that Macavity gave to her." Cassandra finished with a triumphant gleam. Chryssie let Cassandra’s words sink into her head. Several cats turned to look at her in horror. Some were begging her to deny it, and to amaze them with her arguments.

Munkustrap and Alonzo stepped away from her. Munkustrap said with a slight trace of pleading in his voice

"Well Chryssie, what is your say in this?" Chryssie thought through her words. Then she held herself tall, and strong.

"Please deny it Chryssie. Please…" Jennyanydots pleaded. Chryssie as well as everyone else heard her words.

"No, I don’t deny it. I was walking with Macavity and he gave me his cloak…" There were gasps and occasional cries.

Tugger, who was in the back, could barely hear what they were saying up front.

"I knew it!" Cassandra yelled.

"You always were a traitor but didn’t admit it, though you had several opportunities. No wonder you defeated Macavity so many times! You worked it out with him!"

"That can’t be true Cassandra!" Chryssie returned, only calmer than Cassandra.

"Else, how could Demeter still be with us today?" Cassandra was too excited.

"It was a deal to make you look good in front of Munkustrap then. You deliberately did it so that you can look good, so that you could mislead Munkustrap."

"After all we’ve been through?"

"You succeeded in looking good." Munkustrap tried not to listen, but concentrated on the human. Chryssie was holding herself high and straight and taking whatever Cassandra dished out.

"You have cheated on him, you have hurt him…"

"Cassandra…" Demeter started.

"You shouldn’t talk. He died once for you."

"Which brings me to another point, which you wouldn’t let me say in the first place." Chryssie said.

"If I was working with Macavity, why would I give my life for him? Why would I jump off the cliff after him? Why would I march into Macavity’s lair alone, and return mangled and broken, but with him all right? Don’t you think there is real affection in that?" Cassandra thought for a moment.

"No, because…"

"That’s enough!" Munkustrap said, angrily.

"Munkustrap!" they heard Jemima’s familiar voice shout out.

"It’s them!" Both girls ran towards Jennyanydots who gathered them up in her arms.

"My darlings…" she cried.

"Thank Heaviside!" Tugger sighed. More relief wasn’t found anywhere else, but in Tugger. He marched over to them and hugged them both.

"Do you know how worried I’ve been?" He asked. Etcetera only cried on his shoulder.

"Thank Heaviside they’re safe." Chryssie sighed and started towards them.

"No." said Munkustrap standing in her way.

"Munkustrap, what…" she started.

"No." he said simply again.

"I can’t let you near them. I’m sorry Chryssie." He turned and stalked away, but kept an eye on her.

"You treat her like that?" Macavity asked coldly.

"This isn’t your concern Macavity, or is Cassandra right?" Munkustrap asked demandingly.

"There was never more wrong in a cat." Macavity returned.

"I can’t believe you." Munkustrap said shortly. Macavity had never felt angrier in his life. He strode up to Munkustrap who got ready to fight. Suddenly they both stopped.

Chryssie felt something heavy in the air, something so full of apprehension she couldn’t bear it. Here she was, in the middle of two tribes, when the ground began to shake, and rumble. The sky and the earth began to roar. Chryssie saw the ground split just inches from them. It opened to quickly for her to call out a warning. With screams and crashes, the cats fell into a deep pit in the earth, into the darkness. Chryssie felt herself falling. She screamed and fell quiet as she hit the floor hard. Soon, it was all darkness.

She looked around in the blinding darkness, for she didn’t have the eyes of a cat, and could not see in the darkness. She called out helplessly.

"Munkustrap? Demeter? Anyone?" She heard muffled noises. A bit of rock fell from the ceiling of the cavern, allowing a bit of light into it. The cavern was large, and wet. It was cold to Chryssie. She looked around, and saw both tribes trapped with her. Munkustrap had found Demeter and was trying to comfort her. Tugger was helping with the frightened kittens. All was a mad scramble. Chryssie crawled to a quieter place where she cried.

"Everlasting cat, please just take my life." She sobbed. She felt a gentle paw.

"Chrychaesa, don’t think that way." Macavity said. He stroked the sobbing girls hair and stood in silence.

"I just can’t face it anymore. My own tribe… they won’t let me speak. They don’t trust me."

"I’m partially to blame for that." Macavity said quietly, sitting down on a rock and pulled her into his lap.

"But it’s half the tribe as well. They can’t rust you, and they can’t trust me just because I am with you. Why can’t they see?"

"Chryssie, you’ll make them understand. I promise. You need the courage to tell them the truth. I believe you were trying to tell the truth, until that cat decided to take over."

"She’s always wanted to get me in trouble. Ever since she found out that I loved him, and Munkustrap loved me in return."

"But does he now?"

"He can’t! It won’t work. I believe he does, and it hurts us. I even told him to love Demeter so that he would get over his pain quicker. Don’t you see? He belongs with her, and she with him. We both need to face these things. You and I do. I need to stop hurting."

"But you know that once you are yourself again, he’ll drift back to you."

"I won’t make it to my form, my real form. Something deep inside tells me I won’t."

"Don’t scare yourself."

"I’m not. I dream about it. It will happen. It will be not by your hand. I don’t know. It won’t be by you."

"Why do you say that?"

"I’ve seen it. I know what’s going to happen."

"Then prevent it."

"You don’t understand. I need to. I can’t avoid it. It’s something that has to be done." Macavity looked at her silently.

"You are going to keep it secret?"

"I have to."

"Why?"

"Because I can’t be sure." Macavity stroked her hair.

"I’m sorry." Chryssie shrugged.

"I just wish it was today." She stood up and walked out into the darkness. Macavity followed. They found their tribes angrily facing each other.

"See? Chryssie arrives with Macavity now!" Cassandra shrieked at her.

Chryssie didn’t hear; she was too busy surveying the ceiling. It looked like two jagged edges with plenty of open space. The darkness was the overbearing cliffs. Chryssie then heard running water. She followed the sound to another wall. Bits of dust were flying off it, and rocks dropped to the ground. Chryssie realized that there was a ton of water on the other side, and there was little time to get out before the wall collapsed.

A sudden fear seized her heart, but she brushed it off. She tried to find Munkustrap. But everyone was in a shouting frenzy. She found a tall rock and stood on it. She then shouted

"NO!" at the top of her lungs, just as Munkustrap did while performing the Pekes and the Pollicles. Everyone instantly quieted. She took a deep breath.

"Everyone, we need to get out of here, and we don’t have much time. We need to somehow get up there." She pointed to the lowest and thickest cliff.

"From there, we can climb on our own to the surface."

"Don’t you think you’ve said enough?" Munkustrap asked wearily, standing on the rock and crossing his arms.

"Since when did you start doubting her?" Macavity said stepping onto the rock as well. Chryssie stepped back.

"Since when did you start defending her?" Both toms were angry and they took warning swipes at each other.

"Ever since I found out that she had more sense than you!" Macavity declared.

"You pushed her aside, and failed to see through, and yet she is still the innocent creature she once was. You’ve forsaken her!" Munkustrap angrily advanced. Chryssie knew this was going to result in a fight.

"Wait!" she shouted. She stood in front of Macavity just as Munkustrap attacked. Munkustrap’s paw hit Chryssie’s face and scratched it. It also sent her off balance, and she tumbled to the ground unhurt, but shocked. She put a hand to her face and touched the scratch. She withdrew her hand and saw blood on her fingers. Munkustrap was by her side faster than anything anyone had ever seen. He knelt by her and moved her hair away. He saw the scratch he had left on her.

"Everlasting Cat, Chryssie… Forgive me, if anything forgive me." He said quietly, stroking her face. Macavity jumped down after him. Chryssie stood up and glared at Munkustrap.

"That’s what happens when you let foolish pride blind you. You have struck down a member of your tribe on act of protecting your dignity. For all you know, Macavity could be right, but you wouldn’t see that because if pride. Don’t you both see? In order for us to get out of here alive, we need to work together. We all need to work together. No female dashes, no acts of honor for tribes. We have to do this. Both tribes can’t do it alone." Munkustrap listened to her words. He looked up at Macavity and held out his paw. Macavity shook it.

"We’ll work together on this one." Munkustrap said.

"Forgive me?" Macavity nodded. "You must forgive me too. For letting such a fine cat become out of our reach." Munkustrap nodded. Macavity started to climb, and Munkustrap gave him a boost. He then turned to Chryssie. She started to reach out to stroke his face, but then stopped in mid air and hurriedly brushed her hair over her ear.

"You’re forgiven." She said quickly and turned from him, and vanished into the crowds. He looked after her and then climbed up after Macavity. Macavity once at the top reached down and helped pull Munkustrap up.

"All Cats!" Munkustrap called out.

"We need to work as one, together!" Macavity announced. Everyone talked in startled confusion, and the two tribes remained separated.

"It’s true. Chryssie has pointed out that we need to work together to get out of here."

"We need to work quickly and peacefully together." Macavity said.

"All of you; talk with each other." Jemima being the bravest cautiously stepped over to a guard and began introductions. He in turn introduced all that was around him.

Soon Jellicles were laughing and talking with the guards. Macavity and Munkustrap sat down and began to talk about ideas.

"Where is Chryssie?" Munkustrap asked.

"She normally has good ideas." Macavity shook his head.

"I’m afraid I don’t know. Maybe you should look for her."

"I still can’t believe I did that to her."

"It can’t be helped." Macavity said understanding.

"Go." He added.

"I’ll be right back." Munkustrap said, getting up and walking through the crowd.

Chryssie was alone by a small pool, cleaning out her scratch. She ripped off a bit of her shirt and placed it in water. She then held it firmly against her face until the bleeding stopped. She felt her tresses being lifted and a paw sliding through her hair.

"Chryssie, please, I can’t ever be more sorry. I never ever wanted to hurt you in my whole life."

"It can’t be helped." She said simply, looking down, and watching their reflections in the water. She shivered at the sound of water seeping through.

"Chryssie… we need your wisdom."

"My wisdom..." she laughed scornfully. She got up and said to herself,

"The wisdom of a traitor." She shook her head.

"Chryssie, of all the mistakes I’ve made, letting myself believe you were a traitor is one of the greatest." Chryssie nodded and started towards the rock.

"Wait," Munkustrap said catching her arm and pulling her back.

"I still need to talk with you." She sat back down, and Munkustrap sat beside her.

"I know what’s going on inside you…"

You can’t have a possible idea what’s going on inside." Chryssie said shaking her head.

"Loneliness? Is it the feeling that I don’t care for you? Or is it the bitterness of your change? Is it the hurt you feel because I now love Demeter, and you can’t interfere?" Chryssie was silent.

"You see I do know. I don’t know what to do to make you feel any better. Macavity told me."

"He told you what?" Chryssie said dejectedly.

"He told me that you didn’t want to live. He said that you prayed for the Everlasting Cat to take your life. Chryssie, I know you’re lonely. I haven’t seen a person who is more alone than you. It seems as though you’re always by yourself. Chryssie, you know that you’ll always be special. You realize that. With me, you knew we were going into a rocky relationship, but because our caring for each other was so strong, we made it over them."

"This is more like a bolder Munkustrap."

"I know you need someone. I also realize that it can’t be me, no matter how much we’d like it to be. The best I can say is that you need to move on, and I know you’ve been trying, and falling the gutters. I only wish I knew someone who…"

"He’s dead." Chryssie said flatly. Munkustrap was quiet. He felt as though he was once again caught in a trap and couldn’t be free.

Chryssie turned and looked at him. She went over and hugged him.

"Munkustrap, I know you only want to help me through this. I realize that, and I couldn’t be more thankful, but I need to fight this one. It will pass. But until that time, I need to cope with this misery. Now lets thing this out or I won’t have to cope with it." She stood up and took his paw, and for a brief time, she felt better.

Munkustrap led her to Macavity. Together Munkustrap, Chryssie and Macavity sat down and began to talk.

"I know that Mistoffelees can help. He can send a few up into the rocks. We need someone who is strong, and who can support ten cats hanging from his legs."

"What are you thinking Chryssie?"

"I’m thinking the human ladder." She then paused.

"Forgive the expression."

"Chryssie that’s good!"

"Macavity?"

"I agree. I have someone who can do that. Would it be alright?"

"That would be great." The earth then began to move beneath them. Munkustrap caught Chryssie and protected her. When it stopped, they looked up and saw the gap closing off.

"We need something to jam the opening." Chryssie said quietly.

"Do you think that log will do?" Macavity asked.

"I think so." Munkustrap nodded.

"But how to get it up there.

"Cats will climb up the ladder and will hold on to the rungs with their legs. Then they could use their upper bodies to push the log up."

"It may work!" Munkustrap and Macavity selected the strongest of the males and females. Then Mistoffelees used telekinetic powers and lifted the strongest. Then he stopped when the height was small enough for the cats to jump. Then the females scrambled up and did as the leaders instructed. They got ready for the log.

Munkustrap and Chryssie started to lift it up and Macavity helped them. Chryssie smiled and nodded proudly. They then handed it to the first cat on the rung that handed it to the second. Up it went. A minor quake occurred just as it reached the top. The female on the top wedged the log into the opening and it stood still.

"Good, now ladies, start climbing up. You on the top, start helping others climb up!" Macavity called. One by one, Jellicle and guard alike all started climbing.

"One at a time." The leaders occasionally reminded. Soon all were left but the ladder and Chryssie.

"Climb up Chryssie." Munkustrap called down.

Chryssie and the ladder cats worked together. Soon the cats and Chryssie had climbed to the edge. The cat dangling on Chryssie’s legs climbed up. Soon it was just Chryssie hanging on the edge when the wall broke down and water rapidly filled the cavern. A large current splashed up.

"Chryssie! Hurry!" Munkustrap called down, but it was too late. A current splashed higher and knocked Chryssie off the ledge. With a scream, Chryssie fell into the deep swirling waters below.

"Chryssie!" Munkustrap yelled and almost went after her, but Macavity held him back.

"No! You’d get killed!"

"Everlasting cat, we have to do something!" Munkustrap yelled back but realized that no matter what they did, they wouldn’t be able to save Chryssie. Several cats were crying. Of the females, Cassandra was the only one with dry eyes. She only looked down into the swirling waters.

"Chryssie!" Demeter wailed.

Chryssie felt herself being flung around. Everywhere around her was water. She was hurled into something hard, and fought to stay alive. Finally another crash and she felt air. She soon was still. She felt cold, and barely able to breath. With ragged lungs, she murmured

"Rawtawny..." Before she blacked out, she felt a soothing hand against her back and shoulders. She felt the warmth of a body next to her, and she heard the soft soothing voice.

"Sleep, love." She was falling beyond sleep. She fell into a cave of darkness. Rawtawny could only pray that she was still alive, and did all he could. He kept her warm, and protected her from anything that got to close.

Munkustrap saw the water recede. There was no Chryssie. He had sent the rest of the tribe home, and he sat at the edge with Macavity silently watching. Tears trickled down his face, and every once in awhile; Munkustrap would fall into a fit of hysterics. Macavity only looked on with sad eyes.

"There was nothing you could do, my friend."

"I could have moved faster. I could have saved time not fighting."

"She knew she was going to die, Munkustrap. She had a premonition about it. She said she dreamed she was going to leave earth. She knew she wasn’t going to make it to her true form again."

"But why now?" Munkustrap asked, filled with pain, and he cried harder.

"I can only say I’m sorry." Macavity then turned and left. Munkustrap looked down into the cavern, and found a small flower.

"Goodbye Chryssie." He whispered as he sadly dropped the flower into the darkness of the cavern. He dried his tears, but the pain in his heart remained real. He couldn’t seem to leave the ledge of the cavern, peering into the darkness. Through his tears, he thought he could see Chryssie dancing in her real form, but he shook his head, and got up. With heaviness in his heart, he walked towards home. Macavity joined him, and together they walked into the junkyard.

Tugger went out walking by Chryssie’s lake, still trying to get the fact that Chryssie was dead into his mind. But he still couldn’t believe himself. He slashed an accusing mark on a tree with his claws and stopped because it was Chryssie’s tree.

"How can you do this to us Chryssie? How can you do this to me? How can you do this to Munkustrap? You kept so much hope with us. How can you?" he muttered as he repeatedly slashed the tree.

He stopped in mid-swing when he saw two forms on the beach, one of a tom, one of a queen. The tom was taking care of the queen. He walked over to them.

"Can I help you?" He asked.

"Tugger!" said the strange tom. The tom looked slightly familiar.

"Who are you?"

"I’m Rawtawny. Don’t ask. I need you to help Chryssie." He rolled away from the queen and Tugger saw that it wasn’t a queen, but a girl.

"Chryssie!" He cried out. He took her in his arms and lifted her up. She seemed heavy in his arms and her head dangled, as well as her arms and legs.

"Come with us. We need to get to the junkyard!" Tugger said to Rawtawny and together they both walked quickly towards the junkyard. They climbed the hill and through the drainpipe.

"Hand her to me." Rawtawny said inside the drainpipe. Tugger gently handed her to him and then climbed after him.

"Munkustrap!" Tugger called. Demeter came out of her cave.

"What is it Tugger? Munkustrap’s in mourning." But when she saw what the other tom had in his arms, she dashed inside the cave.

In a second Munkustrap darted out and froze when he saw Chryssie, her head down, and motionless. He rushed over to them.

"Chryssie…" he said, lightly stroking her face.

"Please Chryssie wake up." Chryssie remained silent. Munkustrap reached for her and took her in his arms, tears coming to his face all over again. He kissed her forehead, and not bothering to stop his tears began to cry. A tear fell on the tip of Chryssie’s nose, and Tugger, who was looking at her face, could have sworn he saw her flinch.

"Chryssie, I love you." Munkustrap whispered.

Suddenly Chryssie erupted in coughing. She leaned over and water fell from her mouth to the floor. She then leaned back against a stunned Munkustrap, and breathed heavily.

"I love you too." She murmured, and fell silent. Demeter hysterically leaped at her.

"Thank Heaviside, You’re alive!!" She erupted into tears and joyously ran about the junkyard shouting at the top of her lungs

"Chryssie is all right!!" Some cats stopped dead in their tracks. Some couldn’t believe it, and asked Demeter to repeat what she just said several times. Some cats just got up and immediately ran to Munkustrap. Soon a crowd had gathered around her and Munkustrap. She had opened her eyes, and looked around with dull, but very much alive eyes.

"She looks so tired." Several cats murmured.

Chryssie began to flash on her own, as if lightning was striking her. Munkustrap put her down and stood back, afraid for her. Suddenly a bright spark flashed and there was Chryssie as a cat, her true form. She looked around, and saw Jennyanydots with hopeful eyes and mouth agape. She looked around and her gaze settled on her hands. They were her paws. She then looked towards Munkustrap. She reached a weak paw towards him, and he reached out with his own. They were just about to touch when Chryssie cried out in pain, flashed once and became human again. Munkustrap shook his head. He picked her up and took her into his cave.

"Sleep now Chryssie."

"Thank you Munkustrap." She murmured and slept. Admetus and Jemima looked at Rawtawny.

"Who are you?" Mistoffelees asked, taking notice.

"Shhh," was all Rawtawny said. He looked inside Munkustrap’s cave and saw Munkustrap gently stroking Chryssie’s hair and making sure she was safe, and warm. Rawtawny then walked out of the junkyard, and faded away into a late night mist.

"Hey, I asked for your name!" Mistoffelees called, but to no avail, for once again, Rawtawny disappeared from view. Macavity entered the cave and saw Munkustrap still crying, but with Chryssie.

"She’s alive Macavity." Munkustrap said joyously.

"She’s incredible. Take care of her, I know I would."

"You’re welcome to stay."

"We have to get back, but I know strong friendships will remain. Adieu." He said and walked off with his tribe back home.

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