One Step At A Time

"Wow", exclaimed Jemima to her best friend Victoria, you and Misto really are serious aren't you?"

Victoria smiled. "I know! He's so sweet and kind and gentle. He just has this way about him. I mean he gave me the brightest star in the sky for my birthday last week! It's just little things like that which I love!"

"Your such a romantic Tori!"

Victoria looked sad for a moment and said hurriedly.

" I hope he feels the same way about me" She said hurriedly

"You're kidding right? He's crazy about you Tor. You saw how he danced with you at the invitation to Jellicle ball, and he was heartbroken after you danced with Plato"

"Yeah" Victoria thought about the Jellicle ball and what happened.

Every year a female kitten that is about to become a Queen has to perform the mating dance. They choose who they want to dance with as long as the Tom wants to. At the beginning of the ball Victoria performed the invitation to the jellicle ball and Mistofelees danced with her, it was tradition that the Queen to be performs the welcome and the protector of the tribe, who dances with her at the very beginning, chooses the Tom to dance the opening. Munkustrap had chosen Mistofelees as he admired his dancing at the previous ball and knew how much he wanted to do it. Needless to say Misto was very pleased when his friend asked him! After the ball Victoria told Jemima that she loved that Misto had danced with her and it was the best moment of the ball! To Victoria's dismay, Mistofelees had pulled out at the last minute, after the struggle Victoria had had to ask Misto in the first pace, his eventual refusal had hurt her a lot.

One month earlier

Victoria stood alone in a corner of the junkyard; she was practicing the opening dance using some of the steps Cassandra had just shown her. She balanced on her left leg but as she rose up onto Demi-point she lost her footing and toppled over.

"Oh heaviside" She muttered as she sat up

"Victoria?" A masculine voice reached Victoria's ears; she turned around to see Munkustrap. The strong but gentle silver tabby, the tribe's protector.

"Are you ok?" he asked

"Yeah, Cassie has just been through the steps for the opening of the ball next week with me, but it's not going quite to plan."

Munkustrap smiled, "It's nice to see you're preparing. Which brings me onto the matter as to why I'm here, I have asked Misto to dance the welcome with you, is that ok?"

Victoria ran up to Munkustrap and hugged him; he laughed and said "I'll take that as a yes then?"

Victoria also laughed "Defiantly."

"Have you asked a Tom to dance with you at the ball?"

"Erm, no, not yet." she replied sheepishly, knowing how prepared Munk was and liked to be made her feel a little guilty that she hadn't done her bit yet.

"Ok." He said, if he was annoyed, he didn't let it show. That was one of Mukustrap's best qualities, he was always the gentleman.

"Sorry Munk" Tori said "I will, I just haven't found the moment to ask".

"Don't worry, just make sure you do it soon" Victoria looked a little deflated "You're a great dancer and I know you will do a brilliant job at the ball."

Victoria smiled and Munkustrap sang " We can run up the wall, we can swing through the trees" Victoria leapt onto his shoulder and he span her around before letting her fall elegantly into the splits.

"Perfect" He said with his trademark smile and he walked off.

Victoria smiled but sighed, Munk was right,, she really needed to ask a Tom, it was perfect that Misto was dancing with her at the opening, that's who she wanted to ask. She just wasn't quite sure how to do it.

"Demeter?" Victoria called though the sheet that marked Demeter's lair.

"Tori?" Demeter called back.

"Yes"

"Come in Sweetie" Victoria entered the lair. Demeter lived on the far side of the huge junkyard, a little distance away from the centre. She lived with Munkustrap, who was her mate, and her sister Bombalurina and her mate Tugger often stayed there too.

"Have you got a minute?" Victoria asked Demeter

"Sure" Victoria looked around, hoping that neither of the male cats were around, sensing this Demeter said, "It's only me here"

"Right" Victoria said sheepishly "I was just wondering if I could have some advice?"

"Of course"

"Well you know I'm becoming a Queen at the ball, well I still haven't asked a Tom to dance with me. I know who I'd like to ask, I'm just not sure if I should."

"Who is it?"

"Misto" Victoria said, hoping for a positive reaction.

Demeter smiled "I should have figured! So why don't you know, you don't lack confidence Tor!"

"I know" Victoria said with a small laugh "I just don't know if it's right. I mean he's one of my best friends, one of my oldest, what if he doesn't feel the same? I'm not saying I'm in love with him or anything, but, oh I don't know, it would be nice. Do you know what I mean?" Tori said hurriedly.

"I know exactly what you mean. I really believe Misto will say yes, why wouldn't he, even if he does just think of you as a friend, he has no reason not to dance with you. It's not like the dance means you instantly become mates. To be honest at your age, half the cats don't know whom they'll end up with. Hardly any of the Cats here are with who they danced with at the ball, not all of them even danced it!"

"Really?" Victoria asked, feeling a little better.

"Yeah, the only couple I can think of who are still together are Cassie and Alonzo. You know I didn't dance with Munk, in fact Munk never even danced it."

"Who did you dance with?"

"That's a story for another time! But seriously Tor, ask Misto, he is bound to say yes and after you've danced it, who knows where it will lead."

"Thanks ever so Dem, I really appreciate it. Nice changing the subject by the way!"

Demeter laughed "Another time Hun, get me really drunk and it will be sooner than you think!"

"I'll hold you to that! Thanks again"

"Any time Sweetie" Demeter said and Victoria left her lair, going straight to find Misto!