Ever since the last Jellicle Ball, Pounce had been getting odd feelings around Misto. He didn't like them at all. It made him nervous and uncomfortable to be around the tuxedoed tom now, where as before they had been good friends. He wasn�t quite sure what the fluttering he got in his stomach around Misto (although he could guess), but he knew they couldn�t be anything good. Mostly he tried not to show how he felt, but sometimes he couldn�t help but smile or purr a little when Misto was around. Pouncival spent a lot of time with Jemima, who he was supposed to be mated to soon, but the feelings she apparently had for him weren�t mutual. Pounce didn�t like leading her on, but felt he had no choice but to.
Breaking out of his thoughts, Pouncival looked around him. The only cats left in the clearing were Mistoffelees, Demeter, and himself.
�Hey Pounce, hey Demi. So, what�d you think? You guys are just about the only cats around here I can trust to be completely honest with me,� Misto said to his two closest friends in the junkyard.
�It was great,� Pouncival answered, a grin on his round face.
�I liked it,� Demeter started. �It wasn�t one of your best though. But, I�m biased, seeing as tulips make me sneeze. You should�ve given them to the queen you fancy. That would�ve been-�
�Wait a minute,� Misto said, interrupting the golden queen�s rambling. �Who said I fancy a queen?�
�Oh, Misto. You have to fancy a queen. It isn�t natural not to.� Pouncival gave Demeter a funny look.
�Why not?� he demanded. Mistoffelees continued before Demeter could answer.
�There�s not even any queens for me to fancy in the junkyard!�
�Misto, you can fancy whatever queen you like. Win her from the tom she�s with now. And why do we keep using the word �fancy?��
�I don�t know Dem. That�s mean though. Why would I want to do that to one of my friends?� Misto asked.
�Wow. This has got to be one of the least interesting conversations I�ve heard in awhile,� Pouncival pointed out. �Either we pick a new topic or I�m going to leave.� Both Mistoffelees and Demeter just stared at him. �Well, I�m slightly uncomfortable now.� For some reason, this caused the two staring to burst out laughing. Not seeing the humor in the situation, Pounce stood to leave.
�No Pounce, wait,� Misto called, his laughter subsiding quickly.
�Yeah. Sorry Pounce,� Demeter apologized, still giggling a little. �Let�s go hunt or something. We can get enough to feed ourselves and probably Bombi and Tugger too. I don�t know when those two last ate. Those kittens of theirs keep them eternally busy.� Pouncival and Misto nodded in agreement, figuring it was safer to for them to do so rather than telling her Tugger and Bombi ate every night.
�Let�s go then,� Misto directed, leading the way out of the junkyard. �I�m assuming we�re going to our normal alley, correct?� Demeter shrugged in response.
�That�s fine with me,� Pounce said.
�Demeter!� Turning around, the group of three saw Alonzo jogging towards them.
�Uh, hi Lonz. What is it?� Demeter asked.
�Nothing too important. Munkustrap�s just being a little hard on the kittens again. One of Bombi�s kittens bit his tail and-�
�You were wondering if I could get him to calm down,� Demeter finished. �Yeah, I guess so. Bring me back a mouse guys,� Demi said with a sigh as she walked away with Alonzo. Mistoffelees turned to face Pouncival.
�Ok, I guess we�ll go without her then,� he said. Pouncival nodded, trying to squash the butterflies that rose in his stomach at the thought of being alone with his magical friend.
�Sure.� The two set out, a comfortable silence between them. Every once in awhile,� Pouncival would glance at Misto, but it always seemed like he was staring off into space or following a butterfly with his eyes or some other crap Pounce would�ve expected from a young female kitten, but not Mistoffelees. A small sigh from Pounce brought Misto out of his latest daydream.
�What�s wrong?� Misto asked.
�I was just thinking about what Demeter said. Do you think it really is important to like a queen?�
�Why do you care? You have Jemima,� Misto pointed out, a hint of bitterness in his words.
�I know,� Pounce continued a bit hesitantly. �But you don�t have anyone.�
�I don�t really care. And even if I did, the only unmated queens in the junkyard are new kits,� Misto told him.
�Well, it�s not all that great anyway. Jemima�s a pain sometimes. She complains about this or that and she won�t get through her head that I don�t like kissing queens.� Pouncival clamped a paw over his mouth as the last part came out. The look on Misto�s face was enough to make Pouncival want to burn his fur off right there. �Aww shit.�