Etcetera had been living with Demeter for a week now. She felt she had done a lot of good around the junkyard too. Admetus had more friends, Demeter had a bigger box, the kittens were all at peace, for the most part, and Tugger could hunt birds. Actually, that last one was because of Pouncival, but she didn�t care.

Deciding it was time to play, Etcetera left the bag she had been lying in. She couldn�t quite remember why she was in the bag, but at the moment she was bored. Stretching as she stepped out of the bag, Etcy jumped in surprise as a paw hit her shoulder.

�Ha ha!� Electra said. Etcetera looked up to see the tortoiseshell queen above her. �I got you. Now I just have to find Pouncival and I�ve got everybody!�

�Oh yeah! We�re playing hide and seek. I forgot.� Electra rolled her eyes.

�Sometimes Etcy, sometimes.� Etcetera smiled sheepishly and went to sit by Admetus on a nearby plank.

�This game would be a lot more fun if Victoria hadn�t gone back to Tumble and Plato and if Misto had a brain of his own,� Etcy commented, making Admetus laugh.

�Yeah, that�s true. He says its love. I personally think its stupidity,� Admetus put in.

�I don�t think Misto�s stupid. I think he�s afraid of rejection, what with him being so short and the only magical cat in the junkyard,� Electra told them, coming to sit next to them. Etcetera nodded in agreement. �Anyway, I can�t find Pounce anywhere. Do you know where he is?�

�I do,� Tumblebrutus said, walking into the open. Plato followed, carrying a wide-eyed Pouncival.

�Let my brother go!� Etcetera yelled, leaping up off of the plank.

�Not so fast Etcy. We found him. I think we should trade.� Plato smirked at the foursome. �It�s only fair.� Pouncival now looked like he was about to cry.

�What do you want Plato?� Admetus asked with a sigh.

�I think that if Electra is going to be your girlkit,� both Electra�s and Admetus� faces turned a light shade of pink at that word, �she deserves to know how you killed your mom. Tell us all and you can have little Pouncival back,� Plato offered. Admetus� face had gone from pink to pale white and stony. �Well?�

�I didn�t kill my mom,� Admetus whispered, tears becoming visible in his eyes.

�What about your brother?� Tumble jeered. Etcetera, Electra, and Pouncival were all staring curiously at Admetus now, wanting to stop the older kits, but feeling as if they shouldn�t.

�I didn�t kill Balam either.� Admetus was struggling to hold back the tears now. Etcetera gulped and glanced at Electra, feeling nervous.

�Then what happened to them?� Plato asked, not as meanly as before.

�Why should I tell you? You wouldn�t believe me anyway.� A tear rolled down his cheek. Plato put Pouncival down, surprised Tumble and him had actually succeeded in making Admetus cry. Pounce immediately ran to Etcetera�s side.

�If you didn�t kill them, who did?� Tumble questioned, becoming more curious.

�A car did,� Admetus said, barely audible. �A stupid human car.� All the kittens present fell into an awkward silence, staring at Admetus in surprise. Tears were freely running down his face now.

Etcetera slowly stood up and walked over to Admetus. She wrapped her arms around him in a hug. Pouncival came over to help his sister support the collapsing older kitten. Together, they carried Admetus back to their new box.
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�What happened to him?� Demeter asked, worried after seeing Etcetera and Pouncival trying to carry the much older kitten. As soon as Demeter took the crying Admetus out of Pounce and Etcy�s arms, they fell to the ground.

�Tumble and Plato. It was so horrible Demeter. They stole me,� Pouncival started.

�Then they said if we wanted him back, Admetus had to tell Electra how he killed his mommy,� Etcetera added.

�And his brother,� Pounce reminded her.

�Oh yeah. Then he told us what really happened and started to cry. So we brought him back here,� Etcy finished. Demeter shook her head, rubbing Admetus� back.

�Boy, those two. I�m going to have to have a talk with Jellylorum. They still keep tormenting Admetus. It never stops,� Demeter murmured to herself, feeling exhausted.

�I think they�re going to leave him alone,� Pouncival said. �They seemed really surprised when he started to cry. And sorry when he told them what really happened.� Etcetera nodded, agreeing with what Pounce was saying.

�I sure hope so. Those kits have ruined so much for Admetus.� Demeter glanced at the said kitten and saw he was asleep now. She grabbed the pillow she had made out of cotton balls and slipped it under Admetus� head.

Swiping at a tear, Demeter turned back towards Etcetera and Pouncival. Her mouth smiled at them, but her eyes betrayed her true feelings. They looked worried and sad, even sort of haunted. Looking into her eyes made the kittens uncomfortable, and they averted their eyes.

�You two don�t have to stay here. Go back out and play.� Both kits shook their heads.

�We�d rather stay here and make sure Adme�s ok when he wakes up,� Etcetera informed her. The three sat in silence for awhile, Etcy and Pounce getting more fidgety, Demeter swiping at more tears. Finally, a knock on the side of their box broke through the silence.

�Who is it?� Demeter called out unenthusiastically. Electra peeked around the corner of the door.

�It�s me, Electra. Is Admetus ok?�

�He�s fine Electra. Just sleeping. Would you like to come in?� Demeter asked.

�Sure.� Electra stepped into the box and sat down next to Etcetera. �This is a nice box Demeter. Much bigger than your old one,� Electra said, trying to make small talk.

�Thanks dear. It�s a lot better for raising kittens in.� Admetus stirred in his sleep, causing everyone to look at him. When he didn�t awaken, everybody averted their eyes to a different place on one of the walls.

Demeter sighed, realizing it was time for dinner. She didn�t want to leave Admetus though.

�Are you staying for dinner Electra?� Demeter asked, standing up.

�I don�t think so. Mom probably wants me back now. Can Etcy come get me when Admetus is awake?�

�Sure. I�ll send her over when he�s up,� Demeter promised. Electra stood up and waved good-bye as she headed out of the box. �What do we want for dinner tonight?� Pouncival shrugged first, leaving the choice up to Etcetera.

�Hmm, I guess some type of bird tonight.�

�Ok. Don�t go anywhere. Somebody will be over to watch you guys in a minute. I�ll be home soon.� Etcy and Pounce nodded their promise to stay put as Demeter walked out of the door.

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