Biscuit was sitting primly to one side when I walked in, pretending to ignore me. She had never been very friendly, and ever since Diego had taken up with me instead of her, we hadn't spoken at all. What surprised me was that the others also seemed to be ignoring me, or sizing me up with sidelong, surreptitious glances. This seemed an ill omen on such an important night. My son had gone on his First Hunt only last night, and this evening would be given his place with the adults among the hunters. Wondering what the strange behavior portended, I walked slowly and deliberately up to Sheila, with whom I had often shared a morning stroll. Her son was already a hunter, and a friend to my Jimmy.

"Good evening, Sheila, my friend," I said with as close to a normal smile as I could manage. "Have you managed to find out anything about last night?" She turned her head in my direction a bit, but her stare seemed cold. "I know we're not supposed to see any of them till after the ceremony, but I'm dying to know how the hunt went." Sheila seemed to twitch, but maintained her cold dignity.

"I'm sure everything will be revealed at the ceremony, Belle," she replied. "Perhaps you should take your place. I'm sure they will be starting soon." Well, she obviously didn't want to talk to me, or at least to be seen talking to me. Wondering what could be wrong, I moved toward the places reserved for family, trying to saunter nonchalantly, as though I didn't realize I was being shunned. Had Jimmy spoken poorly of me? I could not think something like that of my son, even on his first time out alone with his peers, but I was at a loss to think of anything else.

My nervous thoughts were interrupted by a ripple of silence, and I could see, over the heads of those in front of me, that the Elders were entering the room. Their deportment was grave, their expressions solemn, as they made their way to their own places. It was customary for them to oversee the induction of the newest hunters into the Society, but generally they did no more than lend their imposing presence to the proceedings. It was therefore of great surprise to us all when Grim, the eldest of all, sat and began to speak.

"You all know that last night was the First Hunt for many of your sons. Traditionally we gather here to celebrate their achievements and welcome them into their places as adults." He stopped and surveyed the crowd, his expression growing harder. "But tonight we come to witness something much less pleasant for any of us. Tonight we are here to expose a coward in our midst!" A startled buzz traveled around the room at this announcement. Heads turned and bobbed as speculation ran rampant within only a few seconds. They all wondered, but I knew. This was the reason for my cold reception, and rightly so -- my son, a proven coward! I could not even hold my head up, fearing that someone would see my shame and know, but then Grim begged for quiet. "Please, let the accusation be made." Cuddy, the next eldest and the largest of the three, stepped forward and sat.

"I bring an accusation of cowardice against Jimmy, son of Belle and Diego," he proclaimed loudly, looking directly in my eyes. I looked down, but I could feel every eye focus on me, every whisper form my name. "He has been accused by his hunting party, who three times observed him to approach his quarry and three times to run in fear." My Jimmy? Running from the hunt? I could not understand it. True, he was inexperienced, but had killed a thousand times in play. What could have made him turn tail in front of all his fellows? I could hardly bear to hear the next words, the ones I knew must come.

"He has been accused, and we, his elders have found him guilty," Cuddy continued. "Let him be brought forth and justice be done." I could not watch. I could only die on the inside as the shrinking, protesting form of my son was marched in between two grim-faced hunters. I could scarcely recognize him. Jimmy was rumpled and disheveled. Instead of his usual mischievous air, he wore a look of desperation and shame. The murmur of the crowd soon became a roar, but a single gesture silenced them. Thomas, the third of the elders, was the smallest, but the best loved, and had been well educated. He had been a friend to us since Diego went away, and had known my son well. Thomas came forward and sat down, his wise old face turned toward Jimmy with disdain.

"I never thought to see the day that one of our number would be proclaimed coward," he said in his high, reedy old voice. "But that it should be you, young Jimmy, I can scarcely contain my contempt. How could you bring your mother this grief? How could you bring such shame on our society? I can no longer bear to look upon your face. Get out, you pusillanimous wretch! And never let your face be seen again." My heart seemed to stop, but I could not even mourn. I knew that it must be done. To watch my son slink out from among us to be exiled forever was a pain I cannot begin to describe, but I knew I could not quail. There could be no mercy, for all our sakes. For how could we survive if it be known that our society harbored the most shameful creature of all -- a cat who's afraid of a mouse!