"Darling! Wake up, we have to go to Mass!"

The kitten yawned, showing her mini teeth, as she got out of bed and put on her shabby clothes. She hoped their pay would come soon so that they could be replaced. She went through the doorway into the main room where her parents and her sister, Cassandra, were sitting. She avoided all their eyes as she sat down to her small meal.

There was a long moment of silence while they all ate. It was the kitten's mother who spoke to her first.

"If you won't tell us where you were yesterday, Darling, then at least say sorry in the chapel if you did anything wrong. Tell the Priest. He'll help you."

The kitten nodded automatically, although she had no intention of telling anyone about why she was out so late or why all her things had been covered in mud and leaves. She snuck a glance at Cassandra, who looked blank as usual.

"Amen." The kitten finished her desperate prayer quickly and then opened her eyes and looked around the chapel. She caught sight of her pursuer yesterday standing in a huddle amongst her friends and admirers. and quickly looked away as her blue eyes met the older kitten's green ones. When she dared look again, there was a secretive smile plastered on her face, but at least she was looking in the other direction.

At the end of the service, the kitten left her parents to talk to the Priest about her 'recent odd behaviour' and tried to get home before her tormentor could get out. But she was too late.

"Hey, Kit!" the older kitten yelled as she turned a corner. "Where're you going?"

The kitten fought to keep herself from bolting like she did yesterday. She forced herself to look up at her enemy.

"We've got a little gift for you today," she smirked as she looked around at her group of followers. Alonzo, a tom of about her age, tightened his arm around her waist. The kitten's composure broke.

"Leave me alone, Cassandra!" she screamed and turned and ran.