III.
Breathing in the cool, morning air, Anaakii shut her eyes and relaxed as the wisps of wind brushed through her fur. She felt as though she could sit there forever, just letting the wind caress her body. However, she knew she couldn’t. Her parents were sure to become nervous and frightened if she didn’t leave some kind of note behind her.
Crouching back over the slip of paper she had found, Anaakii slowly wrote out a short message. She didn’t intend on staying away for long, she wrote. She only wanted to wander a bit, to see what was out there, besides the Jellicles. She wanted to know what other worlds existed that she had never seen before. Finally finishing, the young queen crept back to where her parents lay sleeping.
It was hardly even in her memory any longer that these weren’t her true, blood parents. They had raised her from kitten hood and she did not know any other parents besides them. They had always been so good to her and it wasn’t much of a wonder why the fact that she was adopted never entered into her mind any longer. True, she didn’t look like either of them, but, then again, she knew of kittens who didn’t look a thing like their parents.
Anaakii bent close to kiss her mother lightly on the head. The older queen murmured something in her sleep, then rolled back over. She watched her mother a moment longer, kissed her father, then placed the piece of paper on the bed near them, where they would be sure to find it.
“Forgive me, Momma, Poppa,” she murmured softly. “I’m not leaving you. I’m just finding myself.”
Turning away from them quickly, before she changed her mind, Anaakii hurried out the door and back into the fresh air of the outside. The wind’s fingers touching her body instantly decided for her that she had made the right decision.
~*~
Anaakii drifted around the village for a while, curious and wide eyed as a kitten. She sniffed cautiously at every place she could, taking in the scents and sights of the village. True, she had been here before, numerous times, but never before on her own. She had never seen the true sights of the bustling, little village without her father near to her side, watching and protecting her with every movement.
“Hey, little girl, come on over here,” a voice called.
Anaakii turned, her ears perking forward with interest. She saw a tom, about her father’s age gesturing to her. Not suspecting any kind of harm would befall her, the young queen walked over, a smile on her face.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
The tom eyed her a moment, then smiled. “How long you been in the village for, kid? Long time?”
Anaakii shook her head. “No. Actually, I just got here today,” she confessed. Life without danger had taught the young queen little common sense.
“New to town, eh?” The tom licked his lips, then extended his arm to her. “How’s about I show ya around, kid?”
She stared at his arm a moment, then placed her paw on top of it. “I guess so. Maybe you could show me where to get a good meal. I’m simply starving.”
“As am I,” he murmured, but the young queen didn’t catch his drift. She smiled, allowing him to lead her down the street.
“So, uh, what’s your name?”
“Anaakii. Yours?”
“You can just call me Jasper. Everyone else does.”
“Well, Jasper, pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Pleasure’s mine, I’m sure.”
After a while, when they hadn’t come to any food, Anaakii began to grow a bit nervous.
“Where exactly are we going?” she asked him.
“Right through here,” Jasper replied, leading the queen into an alley. Anaakii nodded silently, looking about for some source of food.
“I don’t see anything.”
She turned back to the older tom, letting out a gasp as he grabbed onto her wrists.
“What are you doing?”
“What do you think?” he retorted with a laugh. “Honestly, you house cats are so trusting, it’s almost disgusting.”
“I’m not a house cat!” she hissed, trying to break away from him. She screamed breathlessly when he put his paws on her body, panicking. Yet, frightened as she was, she couldn’t find the strength to break out of his hold. Moaning in terror, she was slammed against the rough brick of the human building.
“Stop, please, stop!” she whimpered, closing her eyes.
As though an answer to her prays, she felt the pressure of his body suddenly fall away from hers. She opened her eyes, curious and terrified. She shrunk back against the wall as a tall, slender tom stood over Jasper, his eyes blazing.
“You again, Jasper? I’m surprised some Pollicle hasn’t killed you yet?” the tom spat.
Jasper sneered. “You’re all so high and mighty, aren’t ya? You and those damned Jellicles.”
The younger tom hissed. “Don’t compare my people to the Jellicles!”
“Why shouldn’t I?” Jasper retorted. “After all, neither of you have any respect for us street people. We’re the ones who really live hard, not your strays.” He snorted. “Not that you can really call your people that. After all, the majority of you always in live in that warehouse, or around it, and I’m betting a bunch of you even live with humans. Just like the Jellicles.” He cringed back as the younger tom raised his paw. “Ah, but don’t worry yourself. I’m on my way.” He stood, casting a dark look at Anaakii. “You can go back tah rescuing your damsel in distress.”
Without another word, he shrunk back into the shadows. Anaakii sunk down onto her heels, putting her paw on her forehead. She felt sick and dizzy. Her eyes drifted up as she saw the tom kneel beside her.
“You all right?” he asked softly.
“Yeah… yeah, I’ll be fine.”
She noticed that he didn’t leave or make any motion of doing so, so she cleared her throat. “You don’t have to watch after me, you know. I’ll be fine.”
“Sure. Of course you will,” he said with a smile. She narrowed her eyes in anger, but didn’t know what to say, since he didn’t look as though he were quite mocking her. “Say, you have a place to stay tonight?”
“I…” She eyed him carefully, then shook her head. “No. Actually, I don’t.”
The tom smiled wider. “Tell you what, then, why don’t you come with me? I know a place you can stay that’s a hell of a lot safer than the streets.”
“Where?”
“The warehouse. Might not be the best of company up there, but it’s a hell of a lot nicer than around here.” He extended his paw to her. Anaakii merely stared at it, suddenly turned cold with mistrust after her little fiasco. The tom smiled. “Ah, don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Anaakii took his paw reluctantly, allowing him to help her to her feet. She met his eyes, then smiled slowly.
“All right. But, just to let you know, I know a few tricks that’ll make you regret anything if you try it.”
The tom laugh and Anaakii felt anger bubble up in her. “Do tell, why didn’t you try these little tricks on Jasper?”
“I… I didn’t think he was going to do anything. At first.”
The tom patted her back, then continued walking. He didn’t bother to glance back and see if she were following. “Well, come on. It doesn’t really matter.”
Anaakii stared after him, confused. She wasn’t sure if she should, but, then again, she couldn’t exactly stay out here by herself. Shrugging, she trotted after him, her eyes watching him carefully. She decided that she would trust him until he gave her a good reason not to.
~*~
Yawning sleepily, Anaakii stretched out onto the bed, placing her arms under her chin. She closed her eyes for a moment, then reopened them to see the tom walk back into the room. He smiled, looking almost guilty about catching her getting ready to sleep. He held out what looked to be food.
“I got you a little snack, if you’d like something to eat.”
Anaakii nodded. “Anything good?”
“Uh… no,” he laughed, shaking his head. “Leftover stuff, but it’s all right, I guess.”
Anaakii smiled in return, sitting up as he placed it in front of her. “‘Tis OK. I’m not exactly restricted to a diet of caviar and cream, ya know?”
He sat down on the edge of the bed. His face revealed skepticism. “Really?”
Her eyes darted up to his, narrowing. “Do you think I’m a housecat or something?”
“I had you pegged as one,” he admitted sheepishly.
“I’m not.”
“Oh.”
Conversation halted as Anaakii dug into her food, refusing to look at him, out of anger. She was usually very quick to anger, not being used to being told something besides what she wanted to hear. It wasn’t so much that she was spoiled as it was she wasn’t at all used to being insulted. After all, she’d really only spent most of her life with her parents and no others. Not even a sibling to fight with on occasion. Eventually, her quick temper cooled and she looked back up at him.
“Sorry I snapped.” She hesitated a moment, then extended her paw to him. “I’m Anaakii. What’s your name?”
“Pippen.” He stared at her a moment, then frowned. “How come I’ve never seen you around here?”
“My parents and I… we keep to ourselves, usually,” she answered, not really wanting to delve into the strange politics that her parents held. Politics she didn’t even quite understand herself. Pippen nodded.
“Hey, I understand. I wish my parents were like that sometimes,” he said, almost ruefully. He lowered his eyes, then looked back up at her. “You know, I should probably let you sleep now. If you’d like, I could show you around some tomorrow.”
“That’d be nice.”
Pippen nodded. “All right. Then.”
Anaakii blinked in confusion as he slipped from her room quickly and silently. She had never seen a tom move so quietly and with fluid motion like he did. Shaking her head, and wondering what exactly she was going to do with tomorrow after her welcome here wore off, Anaakii rested her head back on her arms, closing her eyes. In a matter of moments, she drifted off to sleep.
~*~
Pippen strolled through the dark, dank hallways of the warehouse, looking about. He really didn’t have anything to do, his father hadn’t assigned anything for that night, and he was, quite frankly, bored to tears. He briefly considered returning to Anaakii’s room and finding more information about the strange queen, but decided that she wouldn’t greet it with too much enthusiasm.
He paused a moment, then turned towards his brother’s room. He figured that he should at least inform Skeet about her. Odds were, he’d be interested in what his brother had managed to save on the street. At least, the story, if not the person.
Knocking lightly, Pippen opened the door. A frown of dismay crossed his face as he entered.
Skeet was already asleep. Not a sound sleep, by any means, though. He tossed and turned, obviously still haunted by old memories. Pippen sighed lowly, knowing it wasn’t his brother’s fault, by any means, but still exasperated. He approached the bed, watching his twin for a moment, then sat down and gently touched Skeet.
Crying out, Skeet sat up, grabbing the pillow near him and pressing it to his stomach. Staring blankly through his brother, he sat, trembling for a second, still half asleep. After a moment, his body relaxed and he finally seemed to see his brother.
“Another bad dream?” Pippen asked softly.
Skeet jerked away from his touch and looked away. “Yes. Go away.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Skeet hissed, still not looking at his brother. “No. I told you to get away from me!”
Baffled, Pippen shook his head. “But, Skeet, I-”
“I said get the hell away from me, all right! I’m fine! I don’t want to talk about it! Is that enough information for you? Or, do you need to know exactly what is was about? Do you want me to reiterate all the details back to you?”
Pippen drew away, startled by his brother’s strange behavior. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just trying to help, Skeet.”
Skeet’s shoulders slumped and he shook his head. “Don’t bother. Really, Pip, I don’t want anymore help. I can handle this on my own.”
“This is about today, isn’t it?”
Skeet didn’t answer.
“You’re upset about what Raptor said, aren’t you?” When Skeet still remained silent, Pippen touched his shoulder gently, half expecting Skeet to punch him. When the other tom didn’t move, he sighed. “Listen, Skeet, it’s not your fault, all right? Raptor’s an idiot. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” Pippen punched his brother’s shoulder gently. “Come on now. We’re a pair, right? A team? That’s why we stick together. Not why Raptor said.”
“Whatever,” Skeet mumbled. He shook Pippen’s paw off, but no longer was it a violent motion. It now the movement of someone defeated. “Just leave me alone now, OK? I want to be alone.”
“If you’re sure you’re all right…”
“Positive.”
Pippen stood, backing away from the bed. Skeet didn’t turn to him, as he wanted him to do, so he turned and continued out the door. Once outside, he covered his face with one paw, shaking his head slowly. Regaining his composure, he lowered his paw, set a calm, stone face, and continued through the warehouse.
~*~
Lowering herself towards the ground, Zia watched as Pippen walked past her. She was certain he had not seen her. She was quite adapt at blending and making herself invisible. Though, she could tell by the way his walk was so stiff, that he had other things on his mind and wouldn’t have noticed her, even if she had been jumping up and down, shouting his name.
Once he had passed and was a reasonable distance away, Zia stood and bounced after him. She made certain to make a good deal of noise, to make sure it seemed as though she had just noticed him. Pippen turned, a small smiled creeping onto his face.
“Zia,” he acknowledged.
“Hey, Pip! What’s up today?” she countered, skidding to a stop in front of him. Due to her severe lack of height, the tiny queen made up for it in energy. Long ago deciding that she didn’t have what it took to be sexy and sultry, the queen decided upon being supremely adorable instead. Grinning, she tilted her head to catch his eyes.
“Nothing much,” Pippen said, not being able to help his smile from growing. “How about yourself?”
“Oh, not too much,” she said, shrugging and mentally adding ‘I’m in a plot to overthrow your father and have you banished, though.’ She looked down and dragged a paw across the floor. “You know, Pip, I’m sorry about what Raptor said today.”
Pippen flinched at the name inwardly, then shrugged on the outside. “Yeah, well, you can’t win ‘em all. I mean, I guess Skeet should just deal with it on his own, I guess.”
“Maybe…” Zia started to walk in the direction where Pippen had been heading originally. “So, where were ya going?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Nowhere in particular.”
“Good. Then, let me join you, huh?”
“All right.”
They walked in silence for a little while, Zia looking up at Pippen occasionally, as though to check and see if he were still upset. She was disturbed to see that he still was. Biting her lip, Zia continued on by his side a ways, watching back and forth, to see if anyone else was coming. She had something she wanted to tell him, but desperately wanted to tell him in private. Pippen looked down suddenly, catching her expression. A soft smile played on his mouth.
“What is it, Zi? Something to tell me?”
“Yes… I…” She wasn’t sure how to put it.
Pippen stopped suddenly, his face growing somber and serious. Zia looked away from him, towards the strong, tall figure that was facing them. Her tail crept between her legs and her knees felt loose and watery. She reached out and grabbed onto Pippen’s arm. The tom straightened his back, trying to look regal and strong, just like the tom standing in front of them.
“Pippen,” the figure recognized, nodding towards them. “You’re out late.”
“Yes, father,” Pippen replied, nodding. “I was just going on a walk.”
He watched as the Mystery Cat cast his gaze onto Zia. The little queen was practically trembling with fear. “Who’s this?”
“Just a friend of mine, father.”
Macavity stared at her a moment longer, then shrugged, turning back to his son. “I would suggest that you head on back to your rooms, Pippen.” His gaze darkened, looking distracted. “It’s not entirely safe out here at night. You know that.”
“Yes, father. I’ll head back soon.”
“Good.”
Still looking distracted, Macavity strode past them, his strength and power unmistakable. Zia clutched at Pippen’s arm, waiting until Macavity’s footfalls had vanished.
Pippen sighed, then looked down at Zia. He laughed lightly.
“It’s all right. He wouldn’t have done anything to you. He has no reason to.” Zia nodded weakly, taking her arm from his. “Now, what was it that you wanted to tell me?”
“I… nothing.”
Pippen watched her curiously, then shrugged. He bent down, kissing her on the head without a thought.
“Well, then, I guess we’d better follow his advice and get back to our rooms. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Good night,” she managed to mumble.
He nodded in agreement, heading off. Zia moaned once he was out of earshot, hugging herself.
“Oh, Pippen,” she moaned softly. “Don’t you see? Don’t you see what’s happening?” She bowed her head. “I love you and you don’t even notice! You don’t even know or see.” Her eyes closed, as though in pain. “I don’t even know if I can stand to see what’s going to happen to you.”