It was evening, stars shone in a velvet sky like fireflies. In the warm air, floated sweet notes of music: the sound of the theatre band warming up for the performance tonight.
Up on the stage, Michael was sorting out his frilly dress, much to the amusement of his friend. Sporting a fine wig, full of bows and flowers, Michael did indeed look a comical sight.
"You ready then?" Alexander asked his friend, buttoning up the dress carefully. Michael looked slightly nervous, as was expected up on stage, especially seeing that a couple of important political cats were coming to watch. He nodded, picking up the hem of his dress and moving to the centre of the stage.
Alexander called to him. "You'll be fine, Nikita and I will be here to look after you if need be". He then walked away from the stage area and towards the palace like house where Nikita was waiting for him.

Near a carriage, both Alexander and Nikita were sitting by a small camp fire, huddling around it for warmth as the night turned slightly colder.
"It's strange... But I had a feeling that Anna Korevna would be here, after all Michael said that she would be" pondered Alexander, gazing towards the stage where sung songs could be heard. "She would not miss any performance"
Nikita shrugged, casually polishing her sword. "Perhaps her carriage ran into some misfortune or maybe she was held up". The Siamese cat absentmindedly added a few more twigs, watching as the flames licked at the wood.
Alexander turned to look at her, genuine interest in his eyes. "Tell me Nikita. You are a duchess right? How come your in the training school with us?"
As he said these words, a haunted expression rose in Nikita's eyes. She turned away, her paws shaking slightly as she reached for her violin that at times she took with her.
"I was born outside the marriage. I'm what cats call... A bastard". Her voice was bitter as she placed her instrument to her chin, holding the bow in her free paw.
She began to play, singing her childhood story, whilst sad, sweet notes poured out of her violin.
As she finished her song, her servant (she was a duchess after all) called out to her.
"Don't you fret about you life. Take it as it comes". Was the advice he gave her, whilst mixing up chemicals and this and that to produce foaming concoctions. Her servant worked in cosmetics, making different make up for high class cat ladies. This was the way he earned a little money.
Nikita set down her violin, smiling at her servants words.
"Ah Boshkev, so how's it coming along?" She padded over to his small stall, watching as he poured some green liquid into a tube.
Her servant grinned at her. "Surprisingly well". He leapt back as suddenly green smoke erupted from the tube. Both the cats covered their mouths, coughing at the acrid fumes.
"Huh huh... Spoke to soon" muttered Boshkov, swiping his paws to be rid of the smoke.
Suddenly Nikita noticed someone was missing. She caught hold of Boshkov's wrist, surveying the grounds around the palace. "Where is Alexander?"
Her servant replied. "Oh... He left whilst you were singing. Heard some commotion near the stage"
Nikita nodded, a frown creasing her brow. "Right... Hope it's nothing serious"