Not several miles from where Anaakii was being raised, there existed a run down, abandoned warehouse, of little consequence to the humans that had once owned and run it. It had given way to ruin and was now inhabited by a ever growing tribe of strays, many of which had come directly off the streets and knew just how terrible “real life” could be.

Although most of them were rough and tumble ruffians that any well bred cat would know better than to associate with, it wasn’t by any means a place of destitution. True, it held some aspects of the street, the gangs, the violence, but since a number of them had once, in years long since past for some, been Jellicles, there were some gifts of dance and song within the supposedly dredges of the feline society.

Mostly, their society was an odd combination of grace, beauty, violence, and a raw savagery that frightened the people of the Jellicles. The perfect breeding ground, most believed, for criminals and those of the underground.

It had been years since what the strays referred to as the Rebellion. Since the eldest stepson of their leader had tried to usurp his stepfather, and half brother, and had failed. By now, most of the younger cats had no knowledge of the circumstances of the situation, only knowing of the low whispers and rumors that were kept far from the ears of their leader. It seemed now that only those who had been directly involved with the affair knew, along with several of the elders of society. Otherwise, the Rebellion had taken on an almost romantic view to some of the younger toms and queens of the warehouse.

~*~

Among those younger, more idealistic toms was a tall, thin, black feline whom the others respectfully called Raptor. He was the eldest son of one of the longest lines at warehouse. Save, perhaps, only the blood line of the leader and his offspring.

Raptor was still fairly young and still given to kittenish impulses, but was vastly more mature and cunning than most of the other toms of his age group. He had the air of a criminal in the making, yet the air of an intelligent and knowing leader, which many took into respect. The other toms his age respected him for many reasons, not only for his attitude and the way he held himself.

Earning the nickname, few could actually remember the true name he had been given on his birth, at a relatively young age, Raptor was as ruthless and intelligent as his name suggested. He was considered to be one of the leader’s prime agents, used mostly to deal with the Jellicles, than some of the other, more petty, assignments the toms his age earned. He was cool and long to anger, although few saw any need to anger the young tom whom had been rumored to murder a Jellicle simply because negotiations weren’t going the way he had intended.

Among his most devote followers were a younger tom named Pacer, who idealized Raptor, a shy, somewhat timid young queen named Zia, and a tom about Raptor’s age, called Gypper.

It was a late afternoon in the springtime. The four above mentioned young felines were gathered together, not doing much of anything. Preferring to merely sit and think about their own private thoughts.

Raptor, who had been laying silently atop a wooden crate, lifted his head as a pair of young toms, about his age, entered the room. His sharp, green eyes lit with recognition, but he didn’t speak or make any movement. Instead, Pacer sat up, smiling.

“Hey, guys!” he said, glancing back at Raptor as if to make sure he would be allowed to greet the other two toms with any enthusiasm. “What can I do ya for?”

The first of the toms smiled back at him, but his eyes narrowed suspiciously at Raptor, feeling a slight twinge of distrust. “Ah, nothing today, Pacer. We were just passing through.” He made a quick gesture towards the far doorway, on the other side of the room. “A quick errand, I guess you could say.”

Pacer nodded. “Really? Who for? The Boss give ya another errand to run, or is it just a personal thing?”

“Personal,” the tom answered. “Now, if you’ll excuse us.”

He began walking, looking away from the four cats watching him and continuing forward. The second tom stayed close after him, eyeing Raptor suspiciously. The sleek, black tom arched an eyebrow, finally speaking.

“Of course, it wouldn’t be an errand for the Boss, Pacer.” He cast a look of disproval at the younger tom. “Why would he bother to send our dear friend Skeet on an errand? It would only end in disaster.”

The first tom spun around, his eyes narrowing. “Shut up, Raptor.”

Raptor couldn’t resist a short laugh as the second tom turned, almost reluctantly, to face him, looking as though he wanted to sink into the floor. Standing, Raptor nimbly hopped down off the crate, approaching the other two toms. The other three cats watched him with interest.

“Now, now, Pippen, what’s the matter?” He flashed a lazy smile. “Don’t like it that I poke a little fun at your brother, here?”

Pippen eyed the larger tom warily, then sneered. “Leave him alone, all right?”

“Why should I? Because you say so?” He took another step towards the two, extending an arm, and giving Skeet a slight nudge in the chest. The smaller tom took a step back, looking away quickly. “Why doesn’t he try and make me stop? It doesn’t really say all that much that you always have to stand up for him, does it?”

“I told you to shut up,” Pippen growled, shoving Raptor’s paw away from his brother. His normally cheerful face darkened considerably and the other three cats tensed, sensing something about to happen.

Raptor’s face flashed with something akin to anger, then fell neutral again. He turned his attention back to Skeet again. “Ah, come on, Skeet, buddy, I’m just playing with ya.” His mouth turned upwards in a cruel smile. “I’m just screwing with ya.”

Immediately, Pippen’s fist swung out and made contact with Raptor’s jaw. Caught completely off-guard, the larger tom staggered backwards, nearly tripping over his own feet. He touched his paw to his mouth, snarling.

“Say anything like that to him again, I’ll kill you,” Pippen hissed, his eyes ablaze with anger and hate. Raptor sneered.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Pippen?” he asked. “Don’t you realize that the more you protect him, the more paranoid and pathetic he gets.” He caught Skeet’s eye and held his gaze. “Hell, he acts just like that Jellicle sometimes. You know. The queen that your father nearly raped that one time?”

Pippen’s fur bristled and he looked as though he was about to tear Raptor limb from limb. However, he stopped himself when he felt Skeet’s paw touch his tentatively.

“Please, Pippen, let’s just leave,” he said softly. “Don’t fight with him.”

Pippen opened his mouth to say something, but caught the weary, humiliated look on Skeet’s face and closed it again. Nodding, Pippen glanced around at the other cats before looking back at Raptor.

“Just stay away from him,” he said lamely.

Grabbing onto Skeet’s arm harshly, he practically dragged his brother after him out the far door. Skeet nearly stumbled and once they were out of earshot, Pippen pushed the other tom away from him, running his fingers through his mane of fur in frustration.

“Bast, Skeet! He’s right, ya know!” He turned away from his brother, scowling. “I shouldn’t keep looking after you!”

Skeet dropped his gaze to the ground, not saying anything. His brother had begun to take on his father’s temper as of late and he knew perfectly well that it would be best for him to just let the other tom rant and rave until he was finished.

Snarling with anger, Pippen suddenly spun back around and grabbed Skeet by the shoulders. Giving his twin a firm shake, he forced his brother to look him in the eye.

“Do you understand what I’m saying, Skeet? Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Skeet replied softly.

Pippen dropped his arms to his sides, just staring at his brother numbly. After a few minutes, he sighed, softening his gaze.

“I’m sorry,” he said heavily. “I didn’t mean to yell at you. I… are you all right?”

Skeet nodded. “It wasn’t that bad. What he said, I mean. I’ve heard worse.”

“Still…” Pippen trailed off, still looking angry and confused with himself. “I’m not going to let him talk to you like that. It’s not right. You know Dad would fire him in an instant if he caught him saying that kind of stuff.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Pippen was silent, then dropped an arm around his brother’s shoulders, giving him a quick, one armed hug. “Come on, then.”

~*~

Zia watched after them for a moment, then turned back to Raptor.

“Are sure you ought to pick on him like that? Aren’t you worried that Pippen would tell Macavity?”

Raptor smirked in the direction the brothers had left, then, without looking at her, walked back to the crate he had been laying on before they had entered. He leaned against it, examining his claws.

“Not really. There are a number things that you could accuse Pippen of, but I don’t believe that him having no pride is one of them. If anything, he’ll refuse to tell Macavity because he’ll believe it’ll make him look weak.”

“Why?” Pacer asked, turning to Raptor again.

“Simple, my friend. By revealing this to Macavity, Pippen will be essentially saying that he can’t defend his own brother from the ‘bullies’ of the warehouse.”

Gypper laughed. “We’re bullies? Hardly.”

“Well, I suppose in Pippen’s eyes we are. After all, we do pick on his poor, defenseless brother.”

Zia shook her head, her mop of white and gray fur falling across her forehead. “Speak for yourselves. I never pick on Skeet.” Her face softened. “I think it’s sad, actually. I mean, what happened and everything. It’s not very fair for you guys to do that to him.”

Pacer, who was white and orange striped, tilted his head, smiling at her. “That’s because you’ve got the hots for Pippen, Zi. Of course, you wouldn’t want to pick on Skeet. That would hurt your chances of getting into bed with his brother.”

Zia snarled, pouncing on him. “Shut up, Pacer, before I physically make you.”

Laughing, the tom pushed her off. “You’re just mad because you’re as see through as water.”

Zia shook her head, rolling her eyes at the same time. “You’re so mature.”

“Shut up, the both of you,” Raptor said, not looking up. Zia and Pacer stopped their “fight” to look at him. “How can I be expected to think when I’m surrounded by you idiots?”

“Gee, thanks,” Zia grumbled, sitting down, a good distance from Pacer, who shot a dirty look in her direction.

“What are you thinking about?” Pacer inquired.

“A number of things,” Raptor said absently. He shook his head, his sharp eyes suddenly focusing on the three cats before him. “Although, there is one thing in particular that I think you would be very interested in.”

“What?” Zia tilted her head in interest.

“I was actually thinking about the Rebellion.”

Instantly, the other three felines tensed, looking around to see if anyone was listening. Gypper narrowed his eyes.

“Raptor, be quiet! Don’t you know any better? If Macavity caught you talking about it, then he’d kill you himself. You know the laws.”

Raptor smiled. “Of course, I do, my friend. I’m not an idiot. I also know that Macavity has better things to do with his time than to sit around spying on his prime agent.”

Looking distinctively uncomfortable, Pacer shook his head. “But, still. Maybe you’d be better off not saying anything too loudly about it.”

Raptor cast him a sharp look, then continued. “I noticed that none of you bothered to ask why I was thinking about it. Or even, what parts of it I was thinking about.”

“Probably because it’s nothing good for us if we do,” Pacer mumbled.

“Oh, that’s where you’re wrong. That’s where you’re very, horribly wrong, my friend,” Raptor replied with a grin. “You see, the way I imagine things, the three of you could quite possibly get a more than decent share of the profits.”

“What are you talking about, exactly?” Gypper asked slowly, eyeing Raptor suspiciously.

“A Rebellion of our own.”

Pacer stood nervously. “No talk about this!” he hissed. “Even listening to this could get us killed! Don’t put us in this position-”

“Shut up and sit down, you fool,” Raptor snarled, his calm, controlled façade broken. “You’ll be the one to get us killed, if anyone at all.”

Chagrined, Pacer mumbled something under his breath and sat. His tail twitched behind him, revealing his nervousness plain as day. Zia glanced at him, then back to Raptor.

“What about this?”

“I’m so glad you ask,” Raptor laughed. “You see, I think it would be quite possible to pull this thing off.”

“How so?” Gypper retorted. “Macavity has the entire warehouse at his beck and call. If you tried to pull anything off, he’d crush anyone who tried to help you, then torture you and hold you as an example to the rest of the tribe.”

“If I failed, yes. However, I really doubt I’ll fail.” He caught each of their eyes, folding his paws. “You see, Otto-”

Zia gasped, drawing back. “Do not mention his name, Raptor! Heavyside save you, should anyone hear you speak his name!”

“Fine. Macavity’s stepson wasn’t quite bright enough to pull off a successful Rebellion. There were a number of reasons for this, and I’ve done my research.” He began to pace, his powerful tail swaying behind him. “I’ve researched some of the human techniques to Rebellions, and, quite frankly, they seem to have a better grasp of it than O-Macavity’s stepson did.”

“How so?” Pacer couldn’t help but ask.

“He didn’t have enough followers. True, some, perhaps even most, rebellions aren’t within the majority of the people, but he didn’t have nearly followers to pull it off. Besides, he was foolish enough to do all of his own dirty work. Don’t you see? If he had just been a little more careful, he would’ve succeeded and all you see around you would’ve been different.”

Pacer swallowed. “Why? Why would you want things to change?”

Raptor thought for a moment. “Because, I believe that Macavity’s reign is finished.” He paused a moment, taking in their expressions. “He’s getting old and he’s getting soft. Maybe he was once the feared tom that our parents still talk about it terror, but now, he’s merely a shadow of his old self.”

“That’s not true, Raptor,” Gypper said softly. “He had those Jellicle kittens murdered for merely trespassing. He didn’t even give it a second thought.”

“He’s also out of his mind,” Raptor stated blandly. “That’s why. Not because he’s still the master criminal or anything. He doesn’t give it a second thought because he doesn’t care.” As though he felt a bit guilty about admitting his thoughts, the tom softened his gaze. “It’s time for a change, my friends. Don’t you see? If Macavity remains in power, when he dies, his position will be passed onto that pathetic Pippen. Then where would our people be? They would be scattered and crushed by the Jellicles. You all know it in your hearts.”

Zia looked away. “You think that would happen?”

“I know it would. Besides, it’s high time that some fresh blood was in control of the warehouse. My grandfather was here when Growltiger ran this place and his blood is still in control.” He cast hard looks at each of his followers. “High time.”

The other three cats glanced amongst themselves, fearing to say yay or nay to their leader. Finally, Gypper nodded.

“Fine, then, Raptor. Tell us your plans. You can’t expect to keep everything secret if you expect us to help you.”

“Precisely,” Raptor answered with a smile. He extended his paws to the other two. “Come now. We have some plans to discuss before night falls.”


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