Chapter 1

It was cold snowy evening, Munkustrap and Alonzo were stationed at the gates of the junkyard, protecting it from any potential harm. Munkustrap cupped his paws and blew into them in attempt to stay warm before roughly nudging a drowsy Alonzo in the ribs.

"shit, I hate night potrol" the white and black tabby groaned

"especially in the winter" Munkustrap added.

The two stayed quiet for a little longer until Munkustrap heard whimper.

"Do you hear that?!" the silver and black tabby exclaimed

"hmm" Alonzo mumbled, falling to sleep again.

"listen!" Munk snapped, nudging is friend in the ribs again

Alonzo's ears perked up as he listened intently. When he heard it his eyes went wide and his head shot to Munkustrap.

"I think it's coming from over there!" munkustrap said motioning to a dumpster the was to the left of the gates. The two toms crept closer until they had a better look at what was hiding behind the large green trash receptacle.

"Everlasting cat!" Munkustrap cried to the now very awake Alonzo.

They both stared down at a small grey and crème patched kitten who was curled up in a ball shivering and whimpering profusely.

"Go let Jenny and Jelly know so they can prepare a bed" Munkustrap called over his shoulder to Alonzo, as he began to crouch down to lift up the kitten. Alonzo nodded and ran off into the Jellicle junkyard.

"Come here darling" Munkustrap cooed as he began to lift up the freezing kitten. She was too cold and tired to flinch away, despite everything she'd been through; so she allowed the tom to lift her into his strong arms and carry her into the junkyard. Before he could knock on Jennyanydot's and Jellyorum's den, the door swung open and Jenny emerged.

"Oh dear me" she exclaimed when she saw the shivering kit in munkustrap's arms. "give her here!"

The gumbie cat gently took the poor kitten from the tom and cradled her close against her chest, fussing incoherently about the state of the kit.

"why don't you come in Munkustrap dear." Jenny suggested "you're probably freezing and I know Demeter is dying to see you." She said as she tightend her grip on the chattering kitten. Munk nodded and followed the gumbie in. he was immediately swarmed with hugs from the playing kittens who had been forced to spend their day indoors due to the winter storm. Bombalurina was seated on a sofa next to her sister Demeter who was holding her sleeping daughter Jemima in her arms. When they saw what their adopted mother was carrying they both gasped.

"Jelly!" Bomba called to their other adopted mother who was in the other room.

Demeter stood up and walked over to her mate.

"who's kitten is that!?" she questioned bewildered.

"we don't know." He said before kissing Demeter and sleeping Jemima on the head. "Me and Zo found the poor thing shivering behind the dumpster out front."

Just then jellyorum came rushing out of the back room. She gasped with utter horror when she saw what Jennyanydots was tucking into a cot in the back right-hand corner of the den.

"Quick get more blankets!" Jenny commanded before Jelly could say anything. The tan and white queen rushed to a bin that was filled with extra blankets for emergencies like this one. She picked up two thick wool ones and rushed to the cot. She wrapped them around the kitten snugly. The queen kit began whimper loudly so Jennyanydots sat down on the cot next to her and began to rub her back.

"Shhhhhhhhhhh dearie." She whispered "you'll be alright." She did this until the whimpering ceased.

"Is she…?" Demeter began to ask.

"dead? Oh no dear, only sleeping. She needs it after everything shes must've been through."

Jellyorum nodded in agreement. "we will have to try to get her story when she wakes up." She added.

Everyone nodded.

"what's a kitten that small doing out alone at night anyway." Bombalurina questioned, angry that a mother would be that irresponsible.

"this time a year it's hard for mothers, especially single ones who live on the street, to care for themselves and their offspring."

"So they'll just leave them to die!?" Demeter asked with disgust as she hugged her sleeping kitten tighter and kissed her forehead.

Jennyanydots nodded sadly.

"I better go and find Alonzo and get back to our rounds" Munkustrap finally stated.

"Ok, I think he went to tell the others about our little newcomer." Jellyorum informed.

He nodded and then turned to Demeter.

"Ill see you later" he said before kissing her and Jemima.

After the silver tabby left, the queens went about their evening routine while they waited for the kitten to awake.