I thought I would be scared in the presence of the Napoleon of Crime, but somehow, I wasn’t. In fact, more than any other emotion I was feeling, I was feeling very annoyed.

“ Where are your friends and parents now little Charity,” Macavity said stuffing me into a wooden cage,” I think I’ll have fun thinking of ways I want to kill you.”

I ripped off the gag and called up my magic. I burned the cage and aimed fire at him. But he had not let down his shield and not even I could throw it off. My powers aren’t exactly at it’s full point yet you know. He waved his hand and I found myself in another wooden cage. I burned that one too.

Macavity was starting to get annoyed so this time he kicked me in the stomach before stuffing me in an aquarium. I got mad at him, healed myself and then made the glass of the aquarium very hot. So hot, it cracked and I could punch a hole in it.

“ You are really starting to annoy me,” Macavity said and this time he flicked his paw and the air around just me shimmered. That coward! He put me in a magic proof bubble!

“ You coward!” I screamed pounding the side of the bubble,” You have to put a kitten in a magic proof bubble. Which just goes to show how weak you are.”

“ When you watch your blood make a puddle on the floor, then you can call me a coward if you can stop screaming,” Macavity laughed picking up a knife. A very sharp and long knife. He went to the bubble and popped it with his magic.

I tried to run but he caught me around the waist and threw me onto a floor. Before I knew it, the weak coward tied me with magic proof rope too. So I couldn’t exactly burn it. I tried biting it off but it hurt my mouth. He held the knife at my shoulder with every intention of carving me up.

“ Ready to scream little Charity?” he asked pushing it in a bit. But not hard enough to poke skin.

“ After I ask just one question,” I said. Mad as I was, I did feel kinda sorry for the guy. Teazer told me the story of how Draco tried to kill them all and in the process, their youngest brother Loriek had died. “ Do you miss Loriek?” I asked looking him in the eye.

He paused and for a second, I thought I could see him tremble a bit. But maybe I imagined it because he instantly laughed and pulled my hair again. “ Insolent kitten, is that the best question you could ask?” he demanded cackling.

“ You never answered my question,” I said flatly. I never noticed it before but he had really dark green eyes.

I saw him get a look in his eye and he shook his head. “ Enough questions,” he threatened pushing the knife even harder into my shoulder. I closed my eyes and trembled a bit. I wasn’t afraid to die. I mean, everyone dies. I was just afraid of how I die.

The sting of the knife cutting into me made me give a yelp. I was not going to scream. I was not going to give him the pleasure of my pain. I felt the knife cut into my flank and I stifled another scream. I tear trickled down my shoulder and I tried not to cry.

“ Don’t make me force you to scream,” Macavity hissed holding the knife against the side of my stomach,” Trust me, you don’t ever want to get a cut here. It hurts.”

“ The only reason you like seeing other’s in pain,” I whispered because I was still trying not to cry,” is because you can not get rid of your own.”

He drove the knife into my side. Not deep enough to kill me but just enough that my yelp was a little louder. More tears came down but I held my breath and made sure that I didn’t scream. I would not submit to him.

“ First your mother,” I managed to gasp out,” Then Loriek. And your other two siblings were taken by the cat catchers. The only reason you never showed up at the Jellicle Ball that night was because you were ashamed to let your siblings see what you have become.”

He drove the knife into my other shoulder. I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth but not before I caught a tear start to trickle down his face. “ Shut up!” he hissed.

“ It’s not too late,” I said biting back my tears or pain,” Teazer has always missed you. Mungojerrie too and… ahhhhh!” I screamed as he drove the knife into the other side of my flank.

“ Shut up, shut up, shut up!” he screamed driving the knife down my other side. For a minute I was afraid he wanted to open me up and grab the nearest organ he could get his paws on. I kept my mouth shut since I didn’t want to give him any ideas. My blood was starting to puddle on the floor around me.

“ And I just wanted to say,” I said before I started crying from the pain of it all,” That even if you do torture me to death, they may not forgive you, but I will. You had a lousy life, I understand how the scared little kitten Sirius, became the Napoleon of Crime.”

He hit my face which sent me flying across the room. He was biting back more tears but a few escaped and went down his face. “ You know nothing!” Macavity screamed at me,” How could you, with your perfect life, with your perfect parents, and perfect friends and perfect, perfect everything know, even guess how someone like me could be? You know nothing Charity.” He was on the verge of breaking down.

“ But I will,” I said sitting up against the wall. I couldn’t heal myself since the rope prevented me from doing any magic. And besides, I think the knife made the cuts magic repellant. “ If you talk to me,” I added.

“ Oh god,” Macavity buried his face in his hands,” I can’t.”

I tried to move myself closer to him but the cuts he made hurt too much. Especially the one on my side and flank. It made me feel stiff. “ Come here,” I told him soothingly,” Sirius, you can talk to me. I want to help.”

He crawled to me like a scared kitten coming to his mother and rested his head in my lap. “ I miss little Loriek,” he whispered.

“ There, there,” I said quietly,” Do you miss your mother and your siblings?”

“ Yes,” Macavity said hugging me a bit. He was acting like a scared kitten. I knew he needed someone to talk to so I didn’t point the fact out. I cringed a bit because his paws were touching my cuts. “ And I’m sorry to say I think I miss Demeter and Bombalurina too,” he admitted.

“ Your adoptive daughters,” I nodded,” Who was your best Jellicle friend?”

“ The one who now despises me the most,” Macavity was still trying not to cry,” The one who left and didn’t even tried to talk to me when I took Deuteronomy. The one who wanted to ruin my plan.”

“ Rum Tum Tugger,” I whispered,” I see.”

“ We were best friends, we shared everything when I first got here, except for my past,” Macavity continued still hugging onto me,” When I was expelled, I expected him to at least speak a few words in favor for me. But he did the exact opposite and spoke out against me saying I was a liar that deserved to be expelled.”

“ What happened next?” I asked.

“ I found a female,” Macavity continued,” Her name was Olympia. She was the light of my life, my side kick as I began to get my reputation. But she was only using me to get money herself. The night she tried to kill me, I killed her the same way I killed Draco.”

“ You burned her?” I wanted to know. I would hugged the guy back but you see, it’s hard to move when you’re all tied up with magic resistant cords.

“ Yeah,” Macavity whispered,” I should untie you shouldn’t I Charity?”

“ That’d be nice of Sirius,” I said. I had to keep his good side.

He waved his paw and the rope was gone. I tried to heal myself but like I expected, the cuts were magic proof.

“ What have I done to you?” he whimpered looking at my cuts,” Oh god, what have I done to all those people?” He waved his other hand and a bowl of water and a cloth appeared. He moved closer and started to pat my cuts with the wet cloth. It stung but I wasn’t one to complain.

“ Thank you,” I whispered cringing.

“ Did that hurt?” he asked.

“ You cutting me?” I asked,” Yeah. But it makes me feel a lot better knowing that your healing, rather than hurting me.”

“ I don’t how, but talking about Loriek, my mother, Tugger, it like made Sirius come out,” Macavity told me,” I was that scared little kitten again, in the alley of the city watching a van take my only family away. The first thing after I found out they weren’t in the pound anymore was go to our nest to think about what I could do. I found Tugger, Bombs and Demeter there. That was probably the last moment Sirius had before really turning into Macavity.”

I cringed as he began washing the cut on my side. He was right, that did hurt. He apologized and waved his other paw. A bowl of some kind of ointment, or salve appeared and he lightly rubbed it onto my cuts.

“ I also had a mate…” he began.

“ Charity!” a voice cried cutting off his sentence. I snapped my head towards the entrance. Telia, Tara, Persephone in the front, Tugger and Alonzo behind them.

“ What did you do to her?!” Telia cried running to me. She pushed Macavity aside and examined my cuts. She gave a long wail and turned to him, her eyes filled with rage,” You coward! Look at what you did to her! I dare you to say that you didn’t!”

“ But…” Macavity began.

“ You monster,” Alonzo yelled and grabbed Macavity by the shoulders and threw him across the cave.

“ Alonzo, calm down!” I cried but I was too weak to move.

“ Lay down Charity,” Persephone told me pushing my head down gently,” Let Tugger see your cuts.”

“ But Macavity…” I began.

Tugger put a paw on my mouth to make me be quiet. “ Macavity won’t hurt you,” he told me taking the paw away,” Alonzo will take care of him.”

“ But he’s…” I tried to say but Tugger covered my mouth again. I threw it off with my magic and yelled,” Macavity is the one who was cleaning my cuts!”

“ What?” Alonzo demanded. He had his claws on Macavity’s throat. The ginger cat hadn’t even made any move to fight back.

“ Where do you think the medicine came from?” I asked them,” Where did the water and cloth come from? He used his magic to make them for me.”

“ He’s in your mind,” Tugger said putting his hand on my head,” He’s putting thoughts in there that aren’t real.”

“ Tugger, he told me about how you were his best friend once,” I said looking strait into Tugger’s blue eyes,” He told me about his life. Do you know what he went through?”

“ I don’t believe this,” Alonzo grunted extending his claws again,” I’ll finish him off and then we’ll see what really happened without him putting it into your head.” He pressed his claws deeper into Macavity’s neck.

“ Nooo!” I cried shooting up and tackling Alonzo. We fell to the floor, all three of us, and I fell on the side which had been cut strait down. It made me scream a bit but I held onto Alonzo’s tail. I kept a good grip on it too while they stared at me in amazement. “ He’s been through hell,” I insisted, ” He looks for the pain of others since he can not get rid of his own. I talked to him, which is more than you two are doing. He just needs time and help.”

“ This tom is the Napoleon of Crime Charity,” Alonzo said coldly trying to get his tail back but I wouldn’t let go,” This is the tom that has kidnapped Deuteronomy and many others, he is most wanted for every crime imaginable, he tried to kill your father, mother and I when we were all three years, and may I remind you that he tortured you.”

“ And he’s a liar, a cheat, and a murderer,” Tugger agreed.

“ He is Sirius,” I defended,” He is my uncle. Look at me, I was the one damaged and I don’t see any damage on you. At least not physically. I’m the one that was tortured, not you. And he is the one who attempted to try and clean my cuts.”

I felt someone put my head in his or her lap. I saw it was Tara. “ Father,” Tara said looking up,” Enough damage and death surround us. Must you add to it?”

Persephone and Telia walked up and held me too. Soon, I was on my feet. I limped to Macavity and sat beside him. He was trembling in the corner and he reminded me of a scared kitten. I got a sudden vision of him, as a kitten years ago, cowering behind boxes as his father tried to kill him and his siblings. And the vision came from him. He was sharing this memory with me.

“ You know Charity, Tara,” Alonzo slumped and looked away,” Maybe your gifts aren’t all magic and dancing and singing. Maybe your true gift, is understanding.”

“ So we’ll let him live?” Tugger demanded jumping in front of Alonzo who began to walk out of the cave.

“ What true damage do you see Tugger?” Alonzo asked quietly,” Only to Charity and she isn’t bothered.” He sighed and looked at the Persephone and Telia. “ Let’s go home,” he sighed pushing them out.

“ What about Charity?” Tugger asked.

“ Let her decide,” Alonzo said. They left me, Tara, and Macavity in the cave.

We were silent for a while until Macavity said,” Thank you Charity. Thank you also Tara. Forgiveness is something that not a lot of people have. I am lucky to have met you.”

“ And who are you now?” Tara asked. She may have just got here, but she had caught on really quickly.

“ I am Macavity,” Macavity said sadly,” I always will be. Sirius never would have killed anyone at his own free will unless it was self defense. Bring that bowl and cloth over here, I need to finish cleaning you.”

Tara brought the bowl of the paste stuff and the bowl with the wet cloth and held my head in her lap as Macavity cleaned and put the medicine on the rest of my cuts. Sure it felt like he was burning me, but the feeling of fire lasted about a second.

“ Charity!” another voice called. I heard five people running in. My father, Coricopat( who quickly left), Rumpleteazer, Josiah, and Munkustrap appeared and stopped frozen.

“ What did you do to that kitten?” Munkustrap demanded towering above Macavity who still went on washing the cut on my side very slowly and carefully.

“ Something which I am very regretful for,” Macavity whispered not daring to face Munkustrap.

“ I’ll take my daughter now Macavity,” Misto hissed at the cat. Macavity got up meekly and stood far enough from Misto that he could ensure that he wouldn’t hurt my father.

“ Did I miss something?” Josiah asked,” I mean, I feel as if something’s wrong with this picture.”

“ You aren’t the only one,” Munkustrap told his son as he stood in front of Macavity, ”What do you have to say in defense for yourself?”

“ I tortured little Charity,” Macavity looked down,” But she… she did something none of my victims ever did. She knew me. She asked me a question and pointed out facts that I had kept buried inside for so long. She reached out to me even as I tried to butcher her alive. And somehow, Sirius was able to reach back.” Macavity then closed his eyes and for a while nothing happened. Then, it seemed as if he grew younger. Younger by about two years. His real age.

“ Sirius?” Rumpleteazer asked coming closer,” Sirius? Are you…” She didn’t wait for an answer. She jumped onto her brother and started crying into his chest as we watched in amazement.

“ Teazer what’s wrong?” Alonzo demanded running in. He saw the scenario and sat down very hard. I knew he was trying to find a joke for the situation but was too shocked to come up with one. “ Flirting with someone else now huh Teazer?” he joked. It wasn’t much but it was enough.

“ He’s my brother, I have every right,” she sniffed refusing to let go as if trying to squeeze Macavity out of her brother Sirius.

“ If it isn’t too much,” Tara said, she was the one putting on the ointment along with Misto who helped wash the cuts,” Charity looks as if she just got back from the slaughter house. Maybe it’s a good idea to take her back to her nest?”

“ Munkustrap, Alonzo, Josiah, help me carry her,” Misto said.

“ I can walk,” I protested.

“ Yeah right,” Josiah said helping to carry me. I was going to get him for that.

“ I’ll help,” Macavity volunteered. Munkustrap hissed at him and Macavity shrunk into a corner. Gee, he was reminding me of a scared kitten more and more.

“ Don’t be so hard on him,” I said looking up at Munkustrap,” He did help clean my cuts.”

“ The cuts that he made,” Munkustrap said flatly,” When you get older Charity, you’ll understand. Misto, if it’s alright with you and Cyra, I want your family to stay in my cave. Demeter can help her in the healing process.”

“ You don’t have to Munkustrap,” Misto said,” But if you really want us to, we will.”

“ We have several spare room,” Munkustrap said,” I want you all to stay with us a few days until she’s healed enough.”

“ Thank you Munkustrap,” Misto thanked.

“ What about Macavity?” Alonzo asked.

They turned back. Rumpleteazer still hadn’t let go of her brother, Persephone and Telia were sulking in a corner, and Tara was with Teazer.

“ He’s not so bad after you get to know him,” I said in defense of Macavity,” You just have to give him a chance.”

“ He’ll have a trial like when he did the day he was expelled,” Munkustrap told me stubbornly,” He’ll be lucky if we decide to just turn him over to Scotland Yard.”

“ And if he isn’t?” I demanded.

Munkustrap turned away and I got a very bad feeling. “ You’re going to kill him if the trial goes against him aren’t you?” I demanded. He stayed quiet and continued to carry me out.

“ Charity, calm down.” Josiah told me,” You aren’t exactly in the best of shape you know.”

“ Father, you’ve got to understand,” I looked pleadingly at him.

He smiled sadly and said,” It’s not for me to decide Charity.” He closed his eyes and I felt a sudden drowsiness.

“ You are not putting me to sleep,” I said shaking my head but soon, my eyes closed and I was out.

Tara:
I watched as the four males carried Charity out. I was heart broken. I may have been a weak conjurer, but I still was one. I knew what Munkustrap had in mind for Macavity. And I was sure it wasn’t turning him in to Scotland Yard.

“ Munkustrap wants to have me killed,” Macavity said flatly. He sighed and said,” I understand. I’m not exactly his favorite person am I?”

“ It’s not exactly a plus when you kidnap his father and worry him sick,” Tugger suddenly appeared,” And the fact that you have been a thorn in the flank ever since you were expelled doesn’t help either.”

“ Tugger,” Teazer scolded him,” As if you aren’t annoying?”

“ I’m a different kind of annoying,” Tugger replied,” I’m happy Adrina and Synille aren’t here right now.”

“ Tara,” Persephone called to me,” Come here.”

I walked over to my two friends. I knew they were going to ask about the little calico. Problem was, I knew next to nothing about him. They were also going to ask about my being a conjurer.

“ What happened back there?” Telia asked,” I understand how you can be a conjurer, but who was that calico?”

See? I knew she’d say that. “ I don’t know,” I shrugged,” All I know is that his name is Loriek and he’s a kitten, and that he’s dead.”

I felt my mother grab me and turn me around to face her. “ Loriek?” she demanded,” A calico with my shade green eyes, looked about two months old, and is dead?”

“ Good description,” I nodded,” How do you know? Did you see him too?”

“ How come everyone see my dead loved ones and I don’t?” Rumpleteazer cried,” How come only Munkustrap and Tugger saw Tara and now, you and I don’t know who else saw Loriek? I miss the little guy.”

“ Aw Teazer, you know I miss you too,” a voice said. We turned and saw the little kitten standing there. Not Jemima’s son Loriek, we saw the dead one.

“ Loriek?” Rumpleteazer and Macavity asked at the same time. I think they realized something that I didn’t because soon they were all over the little kitten.

“ That is so sweet,” Telia sniffed,” God, I am so touched.”

“ Aw dry up,” Persephone laughed,” I have a question.”

“ Don’t we all?” Tugger said sulking beside us.

“ WHAT IS GOING ON?” Persephone demanded loudly.

“ This day can not get any weirder,” Telia said. I think she jinxed it.

Sudden images filled my head. I shook my head trying to clear myself but the vision was strong. And through the eyes of someone else, I saw the past play itself in front of me.

I was in the park. The EC told me to. I had no idea what I was supposed to look for. He had given me only brief instructions. Find a red tiger tabby, offer her some food, see if she’ll trust me. He never went beyond that.

Then, I saw her. She was young, two months old. And a very beautiful cat. She was trotting to the food booth and I think she was going to steal something.

“ Here girl,” I called holding a hand out to her hoping that this was the cat I was supposed to find. It’d be embarrassing to mess up on my first important mission from the EC himself. It’d be a real smear on my resume. “ Yes Mr. Boss sir, I messed up on an order given to me by a very old and very important god.” God I hope that doesn’t happen.

She mewed and crept closer to the food in my hand. She licked it off and I smiled. I pet her a bit and said, “ You liked that didn’t you girl? I should introduce myself, my name is Tara.”

“ And I’m Rumpleteazer,” she said to me. It came out as a meow but I understood what she said anyway.

She left and I watched as little Teazer created a scene and stole two hot dogs. I laughed. When I cook came running at her, I stopped him by giving him some money. He went back to his booth and I looked at the tree she had gone up. Someday, I would be able to help her. I swore that to myself.

The memory flashed to another scene: “ Hey Jer!” I called down from a tree in the forest, “ Come up here. I found a string I think you’ll like!”

Mungojerrie, Teazer’s brother, ran up and smiled, “ I’ll play you tug of war.”

“ I really wonder who will win,” I laughed and grabbed the other end. He had one end in his mouth. We played a game up in the tree which resulted in me letting him win and both of us falling from the tree into a bush below me.

The scene fast forwarded to another memory: I was dying, my time was very near. At either side of my head was Rumpleteazer and Mungojerrie, my two cats. My parents were in the room too. After saying my last words, I closed my eyes and my mind drifted higher and higher.

“ Tara,” a voice called, “ Welcome.”

“ Where am I?” I asked.

“ Heaviside,” the voice told me and a cat about the size of a tiger strode out, “ I was hoping you would want to work with me.”

“ But I’m a human,” I said looking around, “ I mean, I thought I wasn’t allowed in Heaviside.”

“ You are a special human, I have given you your gift,” the cat said.

“ You’re the Everlasting Cat?” I asked.

“ Yes,” he smiled and said, “ Do you want to help me?”

I looked around. Then I looked back down on earth. So much needed to be done, so many needed help. “ How could I refuse?” I asked.

I became friends with many of the cats there, most of them Jellicles. But little Loriek, my Teazer’s brother, had always been very close to me. Reena, Syna, Gus, Asparagus, Deuteronomy, and the EC, all my friends when I was in Heaviside. I would go down to earth several times and help when the EC was busy. I saw myself pulling Draco out of little Charity and telling my cats I would be there if they needed me. And I was, I was here on earth, Teazer’s eldest daughter.

As more of them ran before my eyes, the memories, my memories, came back to me. I was Tara, I was the reborn form of the human Tara. The memories faded but I knew who I was, and the EC let me remember all of it. I considered telling my mother and uncle who I really was but Loriek saw the look in my eye and shook his head.

“ I’ve missed you all,” Loriek said hugging his siblings one last time,” But the EC can let me stay only for so long.”

“ Don’t go!” Teazer cried.

“ I’ll visit,” Loriek smiled,” You take care of Tara ok? And the other Sirius, and Thaliah and Reede.”

“ I will,” Teazer said.

“ Missed you little guy,” Macavity said softly. Loriek disappeared.

“ This day can’t get any weirder,” Telia muttered again.

Charity:
I woke up in a bed of straw. I sat up quickly. We had no straw in my nest. I glanced around. And my nest wasn’t a cave either.

“ Hello Charity,” Josiah said walking into the room,” Good, you’re awake. I guess Misto’s spell wore off.”

“ Hello Josiah,” I returned,” What happened to Macavity?”

He sighed. “ We’re keeping him in the prison,” Josiah told me,” Munkustrap, Alonzo, and Plato brought him in there all tied up. They would have used Mungojerrie in Plato’s place but you know Jer, he wouldn’t settle for imprisoning his own brother.”

“ I didn’t know we had a prison,” I said sitting up against the wall. He gave me a bowl of water. “ Can’t they understand?” I looked at him. He had settled down beside me.

“ Understand what?” Josiah asked.

“ Macavity isn’t all bad,” I said leaning against Josiah,” I mean, he’s just like a scared kitten. If your father would only have the heart to talk to Macavity for a little while…”

“ Charity, we both know that Munkustrap won’t even try to listen to Macavity,” Josiah pointed out,” Macavity’s always been on top of Munkustrap’s, ‘ Get Rid Of,’ list. He’s been wanting to get back at Macavity ever since Macavity tried to kill Demeter.”

“ What am I going to do?” I moaned closing my eyes,” I can’t just let them kill Macavity.”

“ I don’t get you Charity,” Josiah replied,” I mean, I look at your injuries and I cringe. Especially the one on your side. It looks like he was trying to open you up and skin you.”

“ I’m happy you weren’t there to give him the idea,” I joked. I let out a shuddered breath and opened my eyes again. “ This is like a living nightmare for me,” I whispered,” I feel so confused. Macavity is the enemy, I should want him to die. But…” A tear went down my face. I was so confused. So worried.

“ Don’t cry Charity,” Josiah said brushing my tear away,” I can’t stand seeing you like this.”

“ I can’t just let them kill him,” I sobbed,” It’s not right. He’s sorry for what he did. And besides, who’s going to… you know.”

“ Either Munkustrap, Alonzo, Mungojerrie, or Plato,” Josiah said putting an arm around me careful to avoid my cuts,” I don’t think they’ll make Mungojerrie kill his own brother. They probably won’t make Alonzo do that otherwise Teazer will never forgive him. Plato isn’t strong enough which leaves Munkustrap who I think will be very happy to do the job.”

“ He calls himself an understanding leader?” I demanded,” Sorry I’m insulting your dad but I really don’t approve of this.”

“ It’s ok,” Josiah said.

“ I need to think of some way to help,” I said cringing as I tried to stand up.

“ Charity, sit down, you aren’t exactly in the best of shape,” Josiah said supporting me trying to make me sit down,” There isn’t anything we can do.”

“ When is his trial?” I asked letting him help me lay down again.

“ Three days,” Josiah told me,” Demeter said that by then, you’ll be able to walk so long as one of us helps you.”

“ I’ll think of something by then,” I whispered laying my head down.

“ Sleep now Charity,” Josiah said. He stayed beside the bed until I had closed my eyes. I was almost asleep when I thought I felt him lick my cheek before getting up and leaving.

Tara:
We had taken shifts when watching over Charity. Her parents and Demeter did most of the watching but every now and then, Josiah, Mericive, Persephone, and I helped out too. I knew who I was now. I was Tara, the human who moved to England from the US who died of a terminal illness. I couldn’t talk to anyone else, it would freak them out totally. But I knew I could talk to Charity.

I was watching over her right after Josiah’s shift when she woke up. Demeter told her to sleep a lot and gave her some stuff to knock her out too. I guess wore off.

“ Hey Tara,” she greeted. She sat up and leaned against the wall.

“ Hey Charity,” I returned. I looked at the entrance of the room making sure no one was there and turned back to her. “ Can I tell you something very secret?” I asked.

“ Sure Tara,” Charity smiled,” Is it about some tom?”

“ No, much more than that,” I came closer so I could whisper to her and no one would hear.

She got a look of concern and demanded in a whisper,” Good God Tara, you aren’t pregnant are you?”

I laughed. “ No, I’m not,” I rolled my eyes. I dropped my voice to a whisper and said,” You have to promise you won’t tell anyone, not even Persephone, Telia, or anyone else.”

“ I promise,” she nodded.

“ I’m…” I began. God, this would be harder than I thought. I took her paw in mine and said,” I’ll show you.” I gave her the memories, shared the human Tara’s memories with her. When I had let go, she sat a while digesting it. “ I’m the reborn form of my mother’s owner,” I whispered to her,” It’s a lot to take in but I am.”

Charity was speechless. I don’t blame her. “ I kinda scanned your mind,” she admitted sheepishly,” And you aren’t lying. Oh my god.”

“ I needed to tell someone,” I said as I got the bowl of Demeter’s ointment. I began to put it on her cuts. That’s what we were supposed to do once every three shifts. “ I trust you Charity, please don’t tell anyone that I was the human who could talk to cats,” I said,” I’m not afraid of being outcasted. I’m afraid of scaring them too much.”

“ I did tell you I promised,” she smiled. She cringed as I put some ointment on the cut on her side. “ That hurt,” she gasped,” I think getting cut there is about the equivalent of a male’s getting kicked between the legs.”

“ It can’t be that bad,” I giggled,” Turn over a bit.” I put the medicine on her other side and put the bowl away. “ Did the other’s tell you I’m a lesser conjurer?” I said.

“ I kinda sensed it on my own,” Charity said laying down again,” You are a ginger like Draco and Macavity. I was expecting you to get something.”

“ This is perfect now isn’t it?” I smiled,” Think about it: We have two full grown conjurers, then we had you, and now, we have me. And lets not forget both sets of twins.”

“ We are a magical tribe aren’t we?” Charity smiled back,” Hey, is Demeter still going to feed me that stuff?”

“ When her shift rolls in,” I answered.

“ Aww,” Charity moaned,” Grateful as I am for everyone’s support after nearly being butchered alive, I can survive without all this. I mean, I feel as if I could go to my nest right now and grab the nearest mouse I see.”

“ Would you mind if I got it for you?” a voice in the doorway said.

“ Hey dad,” I said.

Alonzo joined my side and held up a mouse. “ Hey Charity, got you this,” Alonzo offered it to her.

“ Thanks Alonzo,” Charity said,” Remind me to get you something when I’m well enough. I don’t know how to thank you.”

“ You act as if I just liberated you,” Alonzo laughed.

“ I miss the taste of a mouse,” Charity explained,” The only thing Demeter said I should eat is that stuff she gives me.”

“ Alonzo,” Demeter suddenly appeared. She looked very cross with Alonzo.

“ Uh-oh,” Alonzo ducked behind me,” Tara, help, she’s going to kill me.”

“ Can I eat it please Demeter?” Charity pleaded.

Demeter rolled her eyes and said,” Ok, ok. I think you’re well enough to eat it. Tara, tell me when your shift is over.” Demeter left.

Charity ate the mouse and Alonzo stayed with me. I think he was going to say something but wanted to hear Charity’s opinion too.

“ Alonzo,” Charity looked at him after washing herself,” What do you want to say?”

He sighed. “ I felt you should know,” he checked the hallway and came back,” I shouldn’t be telling you this but, Macavity’s trial is in an hour.”

“ What?” Charity and I cried at the same time.

“ They didn’t want to tell you two,” Alonzo looked down on the floor,” And if they decide that Macavity is going to be killed, then Munkustrap is going to do it.”

“ And they are, aren’t they?” I asked.

“ Who in there is going in favor of keeping him?” Alonzo answered the question with the question.

“ Teazer and Jer,” Charity replied.

“ But that is only two people,” Alonzo reminded us grimly.

“ But what about you?” I asked,” I mean, why did you tell us?”

“ Because I didn’t think it was fair that they were keeping it from you,” Alonzo said,” I’m kind of sick of everyone keeping things from each other. I’m not saying Munkustrap’s a bad leader, I’m just saying that something like this never would have happened if he had just a little more heart. And I’m his friend, I need to keep him from hurting himself.”