I saw Misty entering the clearing, and knew my time was up. Whatever would happen would happen, and I'd just have to live with it. I went to speak but he silenced me before I could. From the look on his face and the way he was holding himself, whatever he was going to say was serious. As he spoke I could feel my world imploding – it sounded like he was rejecting me before I even spoke. Worse still, it sounded like he was bringing an end to our friendship as well and despite my best efforts I felt myself welling up for the second time that day. I could live with him not loving me, but not even wanting to be friends anymore?

I watched him carefully, trying to figure out where he was going, praying it wasn't as I feared, and I could see clear as day that something was horribly wrong. He was unsteady, breathless. Then he just… collapsed. Right there in front of me. I leapt forward and caught him, and I could feel him burning up. The day wasn't particularly warm, but he'd been sweating profusely.

"Misty? Quaxo! Quaxo!" I cried out desperately. Nothing. I put my ear to his chest and found his breathing shallow and heartbeat faint. "HELP! SOMEBODY!" I screamed to the empty clearing as I hoisted him into my arms and began running. I continued my screaming as I ran towards Jenny's den, attracting the attention of almost the entire tribe as I did. "JENNY! JENNY!" I sprinted into her den, not bothering to knock. "Jenny it's Quaxo! Something's wrong!"

She whirled around, dropping whatever it was she was doing as I barged into her den and jumping to action. "Put him on the blankets," she directed, forced calm in her voice. She quickly began examining him for any injuries. "What happened to him Tugger?" she asked as she carried on.

"We were talking in one of the clearings and he wasn't looking too good and he just collapsed! I thought he was having some sort of panic attack or something…"

"Did his head hit the ground?"

"No, I caught him."

She studied him a bit more. "He definitely didn't have a panic attack Tugger. If he'd just passed out for a moment, maybe. But he's burning up and his heartbeat is faint. Do you know what he ate today?"

"We both had a mouse this morning, but I don't know what he did after. Why? Do you think it was something he ate?"

"Tugger… this isn't a bad mouse. Whatever he ate was extremely toxic. I'm going to make him throw up and hope that helps, but I don't know that it will." The look on her face was grave.

"No! He can't die! I- I-" Jenny gave me a curious look before carrying on with her work. "I love him." Any tears I'd held back earlier flowed freely from my eyes as I sank to my knees. "I was going to tell him. Everyone else be damned. If they want to judge me let them. I love him. Now I may not even get the chance to tell him."

Jenny turned to me and put a paw on my shoulder. "Tugger, I'm going to do everything I can to give you that chance. You and I might never see eye to eye, and I may not exactly be a proponent of such things, but I've never seen you care so much for anyone. Quaxo has always brought out the best in you. I promise you, I'll do everything I can." She gave my shoulder a squeeze and went back to tending to Quaxo as I sat there, crying quietly.

Moments later Munkustrap rushed in, wild eyed. "Tugger? What's happened? Is Quaxo alright? Everlasting, Tug are you alright?" His eyes widened when he saw the state I was in and he rushed over to me.

Thankfully Jenny spoke for me, and told Munkustrap what had happened, with the exception of what I'd just told her, before turning to me again. "Now Tugger, you know him better than anyone. I hate to ask this, but is there any chance he did this to himself?"

I dried my eyes as best I could and steadied my heaving chest. "No. He seemed happy this morning."

"I saw him after you did Tug," Munkustrap said. "He was stressed but not enough for this. He was going to have lunch with Bombalurina before he met-"

I didn't let Munk finish his sentence. "Bombalurina?" I growled. "What was she doing with him?"

"She invited him to eat with her, that's all. He seemed nervous about it though."

"Obviously with good reason," I snarled.

"What are you saying Tug?"

"You know exactly what I'm saying. I don't know how she figured it out, but she must have realized Quaxo was part of the reason we broke up."

"What do you mean Tug?"

"I mean I'm in love with Quaxo, Munk, as I'm sure Alonzo already told you after I left."

"He-"

"Save it Munk, I don't really care at this point. What matters is that somehow, Bombalurina is behind this."

"How can you say that Tugger? You've known her your whole life! You two were together until just yesterday!" Munkustrap said, shock apparent in his voice.

"You're right. I have known her. That's how I know she'd stoop this low."

"Munkustrap, you know I hate agreeing with Tugger," Jenny said as she worked, "but whatever it is Quaxo ingested didn't get in there accidentally, and if she was the last person to eat with him she'd definitely know something, even if she isn't to blame. You'll need to talk to her."

That was all the affirmation I needed. I heard Munkustrap calling after me as I ran out of the den, but I tuned his voice out. I could feel all my emotions stewing as my body became a cesspool of rage and hatred. Wherever she was, I'd find Bombalurina. I'd make her admit to what she did to Mistoffelees.

Then I'd kill her.