The Beauty Underneath

Chapter One ~ Her Eyes

Jemima didn't really belong anywhere, she found herself stumbling through the pages of her life without the elegance that all of her other friends had. It wasn't anything that she generally resented, it just felt odd sometimes… As if she was on a different wavelength to everyone else in the world but she learned not let this hold her back. With a smile, she looked at her older friend and nodded as she went on another rant about how she was 'unappreciated.'

Domestic life didn't really suit Victoria that well at all, but now she was an adult, she was expected to help with hunting and other kinds of chores around her den. Being doted on was a life Victoria had become accustomed to and when it was taken away from her the realization hit her like a bag of bricks.

"Sorry Jem, I shouldn't be weighing all my grown up things on you," she said giving a tinkling laugh and tapping Jemima's nose with her forefinger. If anyone else had done it, Jemima would have found it annoyingly patronizing but Victoria always did it when she was playing at being an adult.

Jemima giggled back at her and started to play with her own tail, "Dad's started to get uptight now… He almost throttled Pouncival when he said good morning to me."

Victoria nodded knowingly, "Its because you're nearly a queen and a very pretty one at that," she said, poking her tongue out cheekily, "Skimbleshanks is going to be protective. Especially since Pouncival has had a thing for you for years."

Jemima's cheeks got warm as she felt a blush creep upon her face, she opened her mouth to object on Pouncival's behalf until a shrill scream rang out in the junkyard. The two young girls turned their attention to the centre to see Demeter crouching behind Bombalurina and shaking, it was almost too familiar. Skimbleshanks dashed to them both and took a protective stance in front of them, hissing as a ginger cat stepped into the clearing.

Jemima's breath caught in her throat, she never really had a proper look at Macavity before, the first and last time she had seen him was at the last ball and then the adults fiercely made sure she went nowhere near him. He stood with proud posture, a sick smile on his face and quick darting eyes.

Munkustrap walked to him with his claws out and a face of thunder, Macavity gave a booming laugh and nodded at the silver tom with a façade of pleasantness painted over his usual sick expression.

"Oh brother, you shouldn't worry so," he said whilst pinching the protector's cheek. Munkustrap hissed at him and Macavity's eyebrows shot up as he clicked his tongue against his teeth in a patronizing manner, the same type of gesture an adult would do to a naughty child.

"I was just here to see my sweet," Macavity murmured, looking past Munkustrap and past Bombalurina to Demeter. The golden queen flinched and muttered shakily,

"I'm not your sweet." Macavity stepped around Munkustrap and approached the two queens. With that the whole junkyard was on their feet and charging over to the tom. Only a few younger members of the tribe, including Jemima and Victoria, stayed behind and stared in horror. Macavity gave out a loud burst of laughter and jumped up, seemingly running on the top of the crowd of the junkyard. For a moment, he caught Jemima's eye and almost paused if it wasn't for the masses of cats throwing themselves at him. He didn't get to see all of her as Victoria had shielded her friend with her own body. However, he saw the unmistakable red markings, the untamable head fur and her eyes…

They were like two beautiful almonds with a deep brown colour contrasting with the brightness of her fur….Just like his. However, her lips slightly pursed and open were delicate with a soft curve and a shocking red. Just like Demeter's…

It was either the hoards of cats determinately scratching at him and screaming words of abuse or the shock of seeing a nearly complete mirror image of him and his old mate right in front of him.

Though his pride rejected it, Macavity knew it was the latter.

((A/N: Inspiration from the Love Never Dies song ^^' I hope you like it? There will be more chapters if people read or not, I just need to get this story out of my system… But I do accept criticism! So if there's anything you picked up on please put it in a review! C: ))