“Shhh! Hurry up now!”

I turned over, opening my eyes slightly. What time was it anyway? Time to be sleeping, I knew that much. What stupid creature was up this late at night? I yawned and ground the sleep out of my eyes.

The window to our room was open, allowing a slight breeze to rustle through Griddlebone’s fur. She was curled on her side, her tail laying lightly over my legs. One of her slim paws was tucked under her head, as if being used for a pillow, and the other was draped lightly over her hip. I lifted her tail gently so as not to wake her, I stood and moved towards the window.

Peering out, I could faintly see Rumpelteazer’s slight form standing in the warehouse yard. A moment later, two new figures, one being Mungojerrie, I’m sure, and the other I had no idea. The blundering thieves huddled close to whisper something to one another, then drew apart for a moment, Mungojerrie pausing to scratch his head. The third cat stood on its tiptoes, struggling to listen in. Rumpelteazer shoved it back with an exasperated sigh.

“Stop it, Quaxo!” So, that’s who it was! “We can’t help you leave if you keep interrupting us.”

“Shhh, Teazer! You’re making me forget what I had to say!”

Quaxo perked his ears forward impatiently, then flattened them back. “Can’t we just leave? This place gives me the creeps.”

“The warehouse?” Rumpelteazer asked with a squeak of disbelief. Quaxo nodded.

“And the strays. No offense.”

“None taken, kid,” Mungojerrie snickered, glancing at his sister. Rumpelteazer punched him on the arm.

“You noisy lout! Shut up!”

“Me?” he growled, advancing towards her playfully.

Rumpelteazer hissed back, lowering her body closer to the ground. She looked as though she were going to attack him, only her tail was twitching above her playfully. I sighed as Mungojerrie swatted at her and got batted back. The tiny queen pounced forward and grabbed Mungojerrie around the waist, hiding behind him. He let out a snort of laughter as her fingers danced up his ribs.

“No, Teazer! No tickling! That’s not fair!” he squeaked, struggling to get away from her and not be too loud about it.

“Everything’s fair in love and war, right Quaxo?”

Quaxo sighed loudly, snapping the tiger cats’ attention to him. He shifted his weight from either back paw to show that he was impatient with their “fighting.” Rumpelteazer emerged from behind her brother, grinning sheepishly.

“Let’s go, then,” she said, grabbing Quaxo’s paw.

He turned his face up to hers in a look of pure admiration. She didn’t seem to take any notice of his gaze, only glanced at Mungojerrie as if to tell him to get moving, too. She was treating Quaxo as she would a younger brother that she didn’t have. I think I was the only one to notice the fact that the little tuxedo seemed to have a crush on the tiny tiger queen.

I watched them with interest as they headed towards the main gate. I had figured that Quaxo wouldn’t stay too long at the warehouse- he was too jittery around the strays. Only a week or so ago, he had actually almost gotten himself beaten up by a group of them because he could do magic. From what I had heard, it wasn’t that they were frightened because he had the ability, just because, poor kit, he didn’t know how to control it. As I understand it, he had apparently just missed frying some large tom’s tail. Only Mungojerrie’s fast talking had spared the little tuxedo from a good beating.

Well, that was all well and good. He was more of a junkyard Jellicle, anyway. Not pampered, by any means, but too gentle to lead a “life of crime.” That is, if you consider living at the warehouse and not actually being assigned to any jobs a life of crime.

What bother me were Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer. They had been loyal employees since kittenhood and the look on Rumpelteazer’s face suggested that she was also considering leaving the warehouse. Sweet as she was, it wouldn’t be too much of a loss to lose a hyperactive queen who always somehow managed to botch every assignment I gave her.

Losing Mungojerrie, on the other paw, was an entirely different story. Despite the fact that he always wanted to assigned with Rumpelteazer, he did actually make a fairly good thief. When he was alone or with a different partner. The tom had potential.

I slunk back to my bed, nuzzling close to my mate. She purred deeply in her sleep and her tail wrapped around my middle. Before falling back asleep, I vowed to figure out what was going on.

~*~

“Up kinda late last night, huh?”

Mungojerrie jumped into the air, eyes wide with surprise. His claws extended defensively, then retracted. He pulled his paws behind his back guiltily.

“A bit, sir. I didn’t see you there.”

I stepped forward a bit. I could see his breath quicken with worry.

“Sorry about that. Why do you look so scared, Jerrie?”

He shook his head quickly. “You startled me, that’s all.”

“Oh. Well, I suppose you might be a bit jumpy. How much sleep did you get last night?”

“Not much,” he admitted, paling. He realized I’d seen him last night.

I waved a paw impatiently. “All right. Enough small talk, Jerrie. I know you and Teazer were sneaking that kitten around last night. Tell me where you went.”

“The junkyard,” he whispered.

I shook my head. “Now, Jerrie, you know that I don’t care if anyone stays or leaves. Pay your dues and you’re free leave, right?” He nodded. “Then why all the sneaking around?”

“Because... because Teazer and I were considering staying there, too.”

“What?”

He cowered back. “Sir, Teazer wants to live with the Jellicles. She likes their gatherings, the... the, uh...”

“Jellicle Balls.”

“Yes, sir. Those. And she likes how they let anyone in that wants to be one of them.” Blushing, he bowed his head a little. “I also think that she likes a couple of the toms, too.”

I tented my paws. “Let me get this straight. Just because your little sister has a crush, you’re willing to leave all of this behind? This safety and security? After I’ve looked after the two of you since you came running here for help? Since you had no where else to go?”

“It’s more than that...” He shook his head weakly. “It’s more than that...”

I sighed. “Fine.”

He looked up at me hesitantly. “What, sir?”

“I said fine. Go. You’ll realize what a mistake you’ve made doing this. Just don’t expect to be taken back in here.”

He held out his paws, almost pleading. “Don’t be angry, Macavity. I only want to make Teazer happy. That’s all I’ve wanted to do.”

“At least you’re good to her,” I mumbled. His face tilted, confused. I shook my head.

“Go on, now. Before I change my mind about this.”

Mungojerrie nodded seriously. Giving me a quick grin, which I much preferred to him trying to look serious, he twirled and ran back down the corridor.

I shook my head and turned back around. I drew in a quick breath to find Otto standing not too far off, in the shadows. His sharp gray eyes narrowed hostilely and he took a single step forward.

“Otto... what are you doing here?” I asked after clearing my throat. He shrugged.

“Nothing. I live here. Don’t I have the right to go where I please?” His eyebrow raised.

“Of course.” I nodded slowly. “I was just curious since it seems like you’re sneaking around.”

“I’m not,” he replied shortly. His lip curled with disgust. “I just don’t thunder here like a herd of elephants.”

I felt myself tense with anger. He had no right to talk to me like that. However, there were two reasons I didn’t dare to start a fight with him. One: Griddlebone would be furious if she knew I had fought with her child. And second, Otto was certainly large enough to win any fight I started. Even though he had only recently reached adulthood, he was the largest tom, easily, at the warehouse and he knew it. Team that with the fact that he had won every single fight he had ever gotten into, it was no wonder why I wasn’t eager to start anything with him.

Instead, I straightened my back and looked him in the eyes.

“Well, I guess that’s better than slipping through the shadows like some sort of ghost. Or a coward, if you want to look at it that way.”

He bit down on his bottom lip. “Yes. Well, I ought to go do something more constructive with my time. If you’ll excuse me.”

He spun abruptly and strode away. I could see that he was struggling to keep his temper in check. His tail was twitching angrily as he stalked past one of the young queens. She paused to watch him pass, her eyes wide with fear, admiration, and, if I guessed right, desire.

Catching me watching her examine Otto’s body, the queen flushed and bowed her head. She hurried forward and ducked into her room.

I frowned at Otto’s diminishing shape before heading back into the main hall.

~*~

“Watch me!”

“No, Daddy! Watch me!”

Pippen shoved Skeet, who was trying to stand on his head. Skeet tumbled backwards, rocking onto his heels. He hissed at his brother, then lunged. Hyde, who was watching the kittens with a half-smile, jumped in before they actually hurt themselves or each other, and yanked them apart by their tails. Pippen smacked Skeet, accidently striking his nose. Skeet let out a shriek of pain.

“Pippen!” I called, leaning forward with a look of disproval.

Skeet darted to me, wrenching himself free of Hyde. Hyde backed up a bit, still holding onto Pippen. Once on my lap, he buried his face against my chest.

“Daddy!” he howled, far too dramatic for his swat. “My nose! Pippen tried to kill me, Daddy!”

“I did not!” Pippen cried indignantly. “You’re such a baby!”

“Am not!” Skeet shouted back, spinning to face his twin.

“Are too!”

“Are not!”

“Yes!”

“No!”

“YES!
“NO!”

“SHUT UP!”

Both male kittens jumped about half a mile. My eldest daughter, Vindonia, glared at her brothers savagely. I could see that she was trying to do something over on her side of the room and her brothers’ shouting certainly wasn’t good for her concentration.

“You’re both stupid and noisy! So, shut up, already!”

Pippen glared back at her, standing with his legs far apart and his hands on his hips. Skeet hopped out of my lap and skidded over to him to join in the staring contest. Vindonia hissed, got up, and stalked out of the room. Griddlebone rolled her eyes.

“Why are your children so hard to control?”

“My children? They’re yours as well, darling.”

She nodded sadly. “I know, but the insanity comes from your side of the family.”

“You’re sweet to say that.”

She leaned over for a kiss. “Yeah, I know.”

Pippen started to open his mouth to protest out public display of affection, but was cut off by a scream. His ears fell back against his skull and his fur bristled out. Skeet crouched down as his twin hissed and peered over his shoulder.

I jumped to my feet as a queen stumbled into the room. Her eyes were wild and frightened. She looked around then locked eyes with me.

“What’s wrong?”

She fell to her knees. “A car! Everlasting Cat! It was terrible! So fast! And there was so much blood!”

“Who was hit?” I demanded, my voice strained.

She shook her head, tears running down her face. I felt my heart jump. Not waiting for her to finish or tell me who was injured, I ran forward and out of the room.

Once I was outside of the warehouse, I saw a crowd of cats standing a ways off, in a tight cluster. They were whispering and, from somewhere in the middle, I could hear the sounds hysterical sobbing. I clenched my teeth and ran forward.

“Move!” I growled, shoving my way through the crowd. I suddenly stopped short.

“Macavity!”

I staggered back as the weight of Grizabella crashed into me. She was the one sobbing. Clutching me tightly, she burst into a fresh round of sobs, burying her face against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her reassuringly. I felt my heart skip a beat as I gazed down at the ground.

Laying broken on the ground was Ira.

His scraggly coat was torn and bloody. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. His hind legs were twisted all the wrong the way. I felt my stomach lurch and bit my lip. Then he groaned. My mother spun to face him. She dropped to her knees and I knelt, too.

“Ira! You’re going to be all right,” she sobbed, stroking his face. He smiled.

“You’re so good to me,” he wheezed. I shook my head.

“God, Ira, don’t talk. She’s right. We’ll get you fixed up right away,” I said, feeling none too confident. He turned his face to me.

“Macavity, my boy. My dear lad. Watch your mom for me, huh?” Grizabella laughed.

“Stop that! You’re going to be fine! Don’t say your goodbyes now! Don’t! I won’t let you!”

He reached out to touch her, then his paw fell back with a cringe of pain. My mother fell forward, pressing herself against his chest.

“Please. Don’t die,” she whispered. He rested his paw on her head.

“Don’t worry, darling. Soon I’ll see you again.”

She wept softly for long time. I’m sure I was crying as well, but I didn’t feel anything. All I could do was stare at her laying on his chest, grief stricken.

Finally, I gently pulled her up and against me instead. She was so weak and crushed that she didn’t even object as I put my arms around her and lifted her off the ground. In fact, she nestled her head against me. Numbly, I turned to the nearest stray.

“Clean him up and get him out of here. And make sure the kittens don’t see anything.”

Carrying Grizabella back to the warehouse, I made sure to use a different entrance.

~*~

“Mom? Can I come in?”

When she didn’t answer, I opened the door softly and peered inside. She was huddled on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. I don’t even think she knew I had entered the room. I sat down on the bed.

“Mom? Are you OK?”

Her eyes turned to me, empty. I felt my heart break for her right then.

“What do you think?”

I hung my head. “I’m so sorry. You have to know that I’m truly sorry about what happened. He was my best friend... besides Orion. I would’ve helped him if I could. I would’ve...”

She sighed heavily. “You know, I don’t even know how I’ve made it this far in life. I shouldn’t have.”

“Mom, don’t-”

“Listen! This is important! You have to understand how good your life is. You have the mate you love at your side and probably will for years to come. My first mate was the one who lead me from the junkyard to begin with.” She let out a snort of disgusted laughter. “The scumbag left me after a month, to chase some new, little thing that he thought was prettier. My second mate... well, you know him. Growltiger. God, he was awful to me.

“My first good mate, and my third, was killed. You know the story. Right after I found out that I was pregnant. And, now, Ira was hit by a car. I had thought that this would be the mate that I would spend the rest of my life with. Now, he’s gone, too.”

I touched her arm. “Oh, Mom, I-”

“Appreciate Griddlebone. She loves you.”

I nodded. Girzabella sat up and hugged me close. It was a desperate hug. After a long moment, she released me with a smile and pulled away.

“I don’t know if it’s too early to say this, but I have to tell you eventually.”

I frowned. “What?”

“I can’t stay here forever.”

“Mom...”

“I can’t and I won’t.”

“Mom-”

“No! I can’t! You don’t understand; there are too many memories. I’ll go crazy if I stay. I really will.”

I squeezed her paw. “But where will you go? And how will you survive?”

“That’s the other thing.” She looked down. “I don’t intend on trying.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Jellicle Ball is coming soon.”

“OK...”

“Macavity, I’m going to go back. I’m going to make them realize that I’m still a Jellicle. I’ll get accepted. And, if I’m lucky, I’ll get chosen to go to the Heavyside Layer. I’ll see Ira again.”

I shook my head slowly. “But, Mom, you won’t. You’ll be reborn into a new life. That’s the way things happen.”

“But, I will,” she replied earnestly. “Love will find a way and we’ll be together again.”

I sneered, hardly able to keep my disdain hidden. “How can you believe that?”

She frowned. “I’m going, Macavity. I’ll go without your approval if I have to. I’d like to know that you won’t be angry with me, though.”

I stared at her for a long moment, then flung my arms around her body. She was caught by surprise and rocked back a little bit. Then her paws found their way to my back and began stroking me as though she would a kitten.

“But, why do you have to go, too?”

“I’ll watch over you. I’ll keep an eye out for you, darling,” she promised, moving her paw to stroke the back of my head. I nodded and pulled back to look at her. She smiled.

“Mom?”

“Yes, dear?”

“Promise?”

“Yes, of course, I do. I promise with every ounce of my being.”

“Then, I’ll make sure you get there safely.”