There she lay, shivering and shaking; the queen Macavity had kitnaped. Munkustrap scooped her up, purring gently. "It's alright, Deme, I'm here now." He looked around, making sure that the ginger fiend wasn't around to try and stop him. Demeter writhed, trying to break free of his arms.
"Please, let me go... don't hurt me..." she whimpered, eyes closed tightly and still struggling.
"Demeter, it's me, Munkustrap. I'm not going to hurt you. Not now, not ever." Munkustrap turned to the other Jellicle toms he had brought. "Alonzo, Plato, keep a sharp eye out for Macavity or his hench-cats. He doesn't usually give up anything without a fight."
The rescue was surprisingly simple. Throughout the entire operation, they met no opposition or any sign of resistance to Demeter's liberation. It was almost like they wanted her gone, but Munkustrap knew better. It came as almost a letdown when the Jellicles made it back to the 'yard without incident.
"Where are you taking me?" Demeter sobbed, "I want to go home."
"Shhh," Munkustrap crooned, noting that the queen couldn't see that they were home. "You are home, Demeter. Back at the 'yard, where Bombalurina, Cassandra, and the rest of your friends are."
"Munkustrap! Thank the Great Cat you're safe!" Jennyanydots came up to the group. "Is anyone hurt at all?"
"Just Demeter," the silver tom replied, automatically heading for the infirmary, located inside an old van. "Macavity didn't hold us up at all." At the mention of the ginger tom, Demeter screamed, writhing in Munkustrap's arms.
"Poor dear," putting a paw to Demeter's forehead, the Gumbie cat began to analyze the queen's injuries. Claw marks on the undersides of her arms where rough paws had grabbed them to prevent the queen from clawing, bite marks on her jaw and neck, dried blood on the insides of her thighs...
Munkustrap came to visit Demeter a few days later. She sat on one of the seats, clutching an old tattered blanket around herself. Bombalurina, who had been sitting with her arm around the golden queen's shoulder, looked up and then whispered something into the other queen's ear. In response, Demeter's head snapped up, looking at Munkustrap with wide, frightened eyes.
"Demeter," Munkustrap began a little nervously, "are you feeling better?" The gold queen just stared at him. "I was worried about you." Still no answer. "I'm glad you're—"
"Munkustrap, just stop," interrupted the scarlet queen, her manner not tolerating any arguments. "She obviously doesn't want to be around toms just yet." Demeter gave a small nod.
"Oh," Munkustrap said, crestfallen. "Well... if you need another person to talk to, Demeter, I'm always available." He turned, and then paused, "Just remember that it's my job to always protect you, Demeter." Under Bombalurina's glare, he left, not knowing if his words had any affect on the golden queen.