Aileen

Author's note: This is rated PG for mild violence and very mild suggestiveness. More violence in the next ones than the first. I suggest you read these in order. Enjoy!!

Crawling, hobbling, limping. The road draws to an end. A black and white figure appeared out of the darkness. Aileen had approached from the shadows. Here pure eyes turned white in the moonlight. The small kitten had learned the hard way to be unseen. She had learned to be serious, and meek. She had learned to be clever, and witty. All this was not easy to learn. She could not run from a pollicle. She soon learned to out wit it instead. She could not play. Her hobbles never ended. Her left foot remained hidden in the shadows, but when seen it was twisted and weak. It turned inward more than a normal paw should be turned, and it refused to lie flat on the ground (note: If you put the side of your foot on the ground, turned in, and try to walk, you'll probably fall down. That's how her foot was.). When she walked, she walked on the side of her foot, unreliably. This made her limp pitifully. This disability was her's from birth. She was ungracefully hobbling all the time, and yet she was a distant and unnatural beauty.

She had been traveling for days now. She was born a stray and her mother was murdered before her eyes. It was a stormy night on her mother's death. She and her mother had cuddled up on someone's porch snuggly. When Aileen's eyes opened she was watching her mother being dragged from her by a large ginger cat. She tried to get to her mother but her foot prevented her. Though unable to see her, she had heard her mother's piercing screams. In timing with a single, brilliant bolt of lightning the screaming stopped, and the gasps of pain with it. The ginger cat then had come upon Aileen. He looked as though he was planning on killing her as well, but he looked at her and seemed to decide that she would suffer more if he simply left her to strive on her own, and he left her.

The lightning bolt declaring her mother's death had always haunted her. The light, the ferocity, the deathly glare, the thundering laughter of the cat. All this was enough to poison her very reason of life. But she had made it out. She had outsmarted the pollicles whom tried to pursue her with simple plans. Standing in front of a wall when a pollicle is following, and than diving out of the way at the last moment, for example (Pollicles are well known for their stupidity.).

But once, she could not escape a coming danger. A large calico tom began to slowly follow her every footstep. She at first did not notice him. Then he became extremely noticeable. She tried to pick up her hobbling pace, very unsuccessfully. She ended up falling over, which gave the calico tom a golden opportunity to attack and began to claw at her for no good reason. She refused to be helpless. She retracted her claws and hissed. But the calico tom was much bigger than she was. His claws streaked across her face and left a large scar on her face. She came close to blacking out, but she forced herself to look up. What she saw made her eyes widen.

A small group of young cats had come up behind the calico. One had a large patch over his left eye. Another had a small strike of brown across his nose and right eye. Another had beautiful big eyes with black and red fur. One was a totally white kitten who stood out the most. Another was a white, black, and a somewhat orange striped kitty who looked excited. And the last one was a black tom with a white face and three white paws. They looked about her age. Aileen's eyes pleaded with them to help her. The six glanced at each other and finally the toms pounced on the calico, while the queens dragged Aileen behind a trashcan. As this happened, she looked up at the young toms. The patched one proved to be strong and fast. The brown striped tom seemed to be jumping all over, never stopping. The black tom proved to be extremely slick when he needed to be. The three kept pursuing the calico until he had given up and left, giving Aileen one last glare.

The young queens rushed over to the toms making sure that they weren't seriously hurt. After the inspection was done they all turned to Aileen. The excited looking striped kitten was blunt. "Hello! I'm Etcetera!"

"Jemima." The large eyed kitten stated.

"I am Victoria." The white kitten had said this. Before any of the toms could say anything Etcetera Began: "This is Tumblebrutus," she pointed to the patched one, "Pouncival," the jumpy one with a brown strip across his nose, "and Mistoffelees." "Quaxo for my friends." The black and white cat interrupted, glaring at Etcetera. "Oh yes, Quaxo, right! His name is Quaxo too." Etcetera mumbled a bit as she declared this.

Now here she was. Crawling slowly out of the darkness. In all of the commotion they had not noticed her leg, and she kept it closely behind her to keep it out of sight. She smiled a bit, in a bittersweet way. "My... name... is Aileen. " she managed. This was the moment when her eyes had turned to a pale white in the moonlight (the beginning), quite alike to copies of the moon itself.

Jemima reached out a kind paw to help her up. Aileen at first ducked away from it.

"Are you injured?" Jemima asked in a concerned way.

"No, I am not... injured per say." Aileen answered carefully. She looked at Jemima's caring face, and decided she could keep nothing from her. Unsurely she took her soft paw and she made an attempt to stand. With the help she managed, and now they could all see her foot clearly. Unwilling to raise her head, she noticed a few of their eyes widen in surprise.

Jemima put a pitying paw on her back and muttered a small "I'm sorry."

"Why?" This had made her head lift a bit. "You have done nothing to me. In fact, I owe perhaps my life to all of you." Aileen looked up at them as she said so, and noticed that Quaxo's head was cocked a bit, and his eyes were full of emotion. He finally spoke.

"We were just on our way to the junkyard. We are going to have the Jellicle ball tomorrow night, would you like to come?" Aileen gave him a questioning look, and Pouncival spoke up,

"It is a gathering of rejoicing of which we have once each year. Please say you'll come." Aileen smiled at the slightly younger tom.

"I'm going no where else, why not?" And the seven gathered themselves up and left.

"It's not much farther," Victoria groaned as Tumblebrutus nudged her. Aileen proved to be extremely slow, so Quaxo and Jemima helped her hobble along. Etcetera was very much of a chatterbox, and described in more detail about the jellicle ball. She told about old Deuteronomy and that he chose who would go into their next cat life. She explained that it was mostly a time where they would traditionally sing about themselves and usually were dancing to the music. Almost unintentionally, Aileen gave a slight wince at the word "dancing". Only Jemima and Quaxo noticed though, after all, they had to each hold onto one of her arms to help her. Dancing?! How am I supposed to do that? I may be able to sing but dance??!! Tumblebrutus interrupted Aileen's thoughts.

"Old Deuteronomy don't dance, though. 'Sit by him if you like." Victoria glared at him in disgust at his improper English, but he didn't seem to care that much. Etcetera kept on blabbing until Pouncival pounced on her tail and they began to wrestle playfully. It ended up with an affectionate head rub and a truce. Aileen smiled faintly as the others giggled.

The six taught Aileen a few songs for the ball, and Jemima said that she might sing along with her on her line. All was going quite well. Aileen had grown to like these six cats. She liked the way Tumblebrutus spoke, very poor, but nice. She enjoyed watching Victoria snap at him for that reason. Victoria was a well brought up queen, who could act slightly spoiled sometimes, but was usually caring and good. Pouncival was by far the funniest. Sometimes he would fall quite unintentionally, and let out the funniest sounds you ever heard. Etcetera was much like him. Funny, but kind. She was much more of a chatterbox than Pouncival was, though. In fact, he hardly ever talked at all. Jemima was the kindest of them. She was quiet and lovingly understanding. She was already becoming quite close to her. But Aileen didn’t know what exactly to think about Quaxo. He had the same type of kindness that Jemima had, but he had a mysterious air about him. He could be very funny and playful sometimes, in a cute and kittenish way. Though he had a strange scent. Aileen’s fur stood on end each time their fur brushed. Aileen was definitely a weak kitten, but she had extremely good senses. Something about him was very different, and unlike the other’s similar scent. He seemed shy sometimes, but enjoyed attention when he received it. Aileen at last had decided that she rather liked this handsome black tom. He was not much bigger than she was, but she thought he was stronger than he looked. But all the same, she kept an unknown fear about him to herself.

“We’re here!” Quaxo exclaimed with his playful, yet soft and drifting voice. Aileen stared, amazed at the sight before her.

She had reached the junkyard that they had all told her about. Many cats of all shapes and sizes sat in a circle around a tire. They all seemed to be watching the sunset, as though they were waiting for something. Tumblebrutus instructed Aileen to stay behind a small pile of junk before Jemima came to get her. The six ran excitedly towards a large silver tabby. He looked stern and responsible. Etcetera reached him first and began to franticly whisper something to him. At first he backed away a bit in surprise and said something that looked like, "Say again?" Etcetera began once more to whisper in his ear, and his eyes widened. By now the others had reached him.

"Can she stay for the ball? Please?" This sounded like Pouncival.

"She ain't going no where." Obviously Tumblebrutus.

"She is very proper and kind." Victoria was making a motion as to strangle Tumblebrutus as she said this.

"Oh do let her stay! She's my friend!" Surprised at Jemima for her words, Aileen was touched. The tabby was too. She hardly asked for anything, but now she was asking.

Peeking out a little more, Aileen spotted Quaxo talking quickly to two identical and slick cats, who were looking her way. Aileen sensed something strange about this two, as well as Quaxo. Less electric absorbed than Quaxo, but more mentally powerful. Oh yes. She could sense it very well.

The silver tabby looked as though he were deep in thought. Then, slowly he seemed to have made a decision. "She can stay until the Jellicle Ball is over. After that, it is Deuteronomy's choice." Etcetera squealed with delight, and Pouncival jumped like a jumping jack. Jemima lifted herself up and walked towards Aileen’s hiding place. Jemima reached out her paw, and a paw out of the darkness grasped hers.

A small, feminine form took shape before the circle of cats. The pretty black and white cat tried her best to stand strong as she kept a grip on Jemima. Jemima patiently helped the kitten hobble up to the tabby cat. His stern face seemed to soften a bit as he watched her hobble. Her pleading eyes made a motherly looking cat almost cry. "I am Munkustrap." The tabby finally stated, "You are welcome to the junkyard.

"Thank you." Aileen almost cried out as she hugged Jemima.

Immediately she was scooted over to two kindly queens called Jennyanydots and Jellylorum. They groomed her fur a bit and wiped away the dirt. She was silky and smooth. She hobbled with Jemima to an old, rusty microwave oven, and there they discussed many things with each other. Jemima told her more about the Jellicle ball. Jemima was to sing the song "Memory" in memory of last years' choice, Grizzabella. Jemima and Aileen talked about last year and how grand the ball was, that year. And than, Jemima stumbled upon the subject of the "loss of innocence" dance.

"When Deuteronomy comes, we begin the loss of innocence." Jemima explained. "That is when a kitten leaves kitten hood by finding a partner to mate for their first time with. The more serious type comes latter on, usually on the second or third year. Most of our kittens already lost their innocence last year. Err... including me." Jemima fumbled at her last words, and Aileen smiled a little. Jemima continued bravely. "Pouncival went with Bombalarina last year, but I think that he might go with Etcetera this year. Etcy didn't go last year, and I think those two are getting close."

Aileen thought about this for a moment, "So, I guess I'm still a 'kitten'." she mumbled.

"Well, tomorrow night you shall become a young queen." Jemima declared. Aileen looked up at her nervously.

"Whom would I go with?" she asked, "How would I be able to even attract anyone to me?" Jemima smiled mischievously.

"I think you already have someone's eye on you." She stated triumphantly.

"Who?"

"Oh, somebody you've met."

Rolling her eyes, Aileen decided to play her little game here. "By the way," she asked, "who was it you went with last year?" That made them even enough.

Jemima turned slightly pink and muttered a small, "Tumblebrutus." Hah! Cute couple.

Soon they began to get tired, and they curled up next to each other and fell asleep.

Aileen woke up with a start. She found that Jemima was already awake. "It's close to sunset!" She exclaimed excitedly. The ball! Of course, it was tonight! Jemima helped Aileen get out of the microwave and helped her on her way to a large tire. Apparently, they were all supposed to meet there just before sunset, for there were already many standing around the tire.

Aileen spotted Quaxo and waved lightly to him. He came over and they talked a little. He's very kind. And cute too! Aileen thought amiably. He did a thing or two that make her laugh, both of them unintentionally.

"I just hope Macavity doesn't come and spoil it like last year." Quaxo sighed. Aileen's eyes shot up to look at his.

"Who?" she asked.

"Oh, he is a ginger cat who tried to catnap Deuteronomy last year. He is very malicious and awful." Aileen's eyes looked distant and sorrowful all of a sudden. This worried Quaxo.

"Are you okay?" he asked, clearly concerned.

"Yeah... I'll- I'll be okay." Quaxo looked at her with his deep, brown eyes. "I- I've met him." Aileen finally managed. Quaxo's eyes widened. "He- he killed my mother- and tried to... kill me." Aileen continued.

"I'm sorry that happened." Quaxo sighed. He came closer to her and licked her cheek, carefully and softly. Pouncival came by then, and Aileen stared at him wave as he left. Pouncival glanced at him, then at Aileen, and grinned mischievously. Quaxo glared at him.

Aileen felt for the first time light. She had always been light in size, but she carried such heavy burdens in her mind. For the first time in her life, her burdens felt lifted.

The sun had set, and the ball had begun! All went to their traditional places for their first song. Aileen sort of stayed to the side for most of the song. She crawled out with Jemima and sang lightly with her on the line: "Could you find your way blind, when your lost in the street?" When the real dancing began, Aileen stayed totally off to the side and admired the dancers. Victoria danced extremely well, but a little shakily. Quaxo was a carefree and light dancer. Aileen watched his every move, and smiled to herself.

Then a crazed looking thing that was apparently supposed to be a cat walked in and began to dance and sing. Judging by the song, his name was Rum Tum Tugger. He flirted with all the kits, and they squealed with delight. Quaxo joined her on top of the old car trunk and whispered to her: "He's such a bore." Well, boring is one word. Psychotic, however, is completely another. When his head began to turn toward her and some of the elder cats (who were looking at him distastefully), he noticed her unfamiliar and beautiful face. He began dancing towards her and flirt. Aileen slid away from him with wide eyes. At this all the elders and Quaxo began laughing. No kitten had ever actually run away from him. He looked unsatisfied and unhappy, so he rejoined his little fan club of kitties. What a weirdo!

Not long after, Aileen heard a high-pitched giggle and a loud hush. She saw two cheerful calicos dancing together with bags in their paws. Then they began to sing a funny, but happy little song. They, apparently, were called Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. They were nice and funny, making Aileen laugh.

Then Quaxo's face suddenly changed, as did the sly twins' faces. Aileen suddenly sensed something, too. She felt the presence of a good, kind, and old cat. Quaxo saw that the look in her eyes and face was alike to his, and he breathed, "Old Deuteronomy?"

An old cat came walking towards them. All went to greet him. Aileen decided it would be better to wait until he reached her to greet him. When he came closer to her she spoke her name. "I am Aileen." Apparently he was told of her reason of presence before hand, for he did not seem too be surprised. She received a warm welcome from him and she sat next to him with Jemima and Victoria. "Now we can all rejoice!" Munkustrap announced.

Jemima then left his side and began to sing "Memory".Towards the end of the song, Aileen sat up and began to sing the duet of the song with Jemima. They had similar voices, and the sound was very pretty. Aileen had a light voice like Jemima's, but her voice was also somewhat lower than Jemima's. The duet was hauntingly beautiful.

When the song was done, Deuteronomy began to sing. They were very encouraging words. But suddenly, a booming laugh and sirens filled the area. A tall ginger cat stood triumphantly nearby, and then disappeared. Everyone but Deuteronomy and Munkustrap hid somewhere. Aileen began to shake uncontrollably and slunk very slowly into shadows. The awful memory of that night. The terrible laugh. The screams her mother let out. The horror of its memories sank into her skin.

When she looked up Jemima was at her side, rubbing her shoulder gently. Quaxo had told her. Aileen did not calm down for a while, but when she began to stop shaking she sat up.

Victoria and Jemima began to dance near each other. And then the song began. "Jellicle Cats" began, the song before the loss of innocence dance. Aileen crawled up next to Deuteronomy and watched the other cats dance and sing. Her ears perked up a bit as she heard, "We like to practice our airs and graces." And Aileen watched as Quaxo gracefully danced to his line. She just could not keep her eyes away from his graceful body and handsome face. Deuteronomy followed her gaze, and smiled. Young ones. He thought to himself.

"Jellicle cats have moonlit eyes." Aileen joined Cassandra on her line, and her eyes turned white and moonlike. She did not notice, but Quaxo glanced up at her at that moment. Her eyes are full of beauty and sorrow. Quaxo thought to himself. The first part of the dance was done, and now came the second part, the "loss of innocence".

They all began to dance very impressively, hoping to find a partner. Alonzo made his way to Cassandra. Tugger walked over to Bombarlarina. Like Jemima predicted, Pouncival and Etcetera began to dance towards each other. Jemima ended up next to Tumblebrutus once again. Electra went to Admetus. Victoria walked toward her partner last year, Plato. Demeter and Munkustrap walked contently towards each other then. While Aileen was watching the others, she did not see a young tom come up behind her, until he nudged her a little. Aileen looked up to face Quaxo's dark eyes. "Would you like to be my partner?" He asked her. Aileen turned a little pink, and finally nodded.

Aileen crawled unsurely up next to Quaxo. He let her come up next to him and he licked her ear. Aileen felt a little calmer. She gave him an affectionate nuzzle and they both smiled shyly as they came closer, and the world was focused on nothing but each other...

Some five hours later Aileen woke up with Quaxo by her side. At her sudden movement he knew she was awake too. Some others were just waking up from a deep sleep. Everyone else was still asleep. Tumblebrutus and Jemima were awake and talking to each other.

"Hi!" Quaxo and Aileen called to Tumble and Jem.

"Hey" they both answered a little shyly, pulling quickly away from each other.

"Have a good time?" Quaxo playfully asked his friends. Batting his paw at him, Tumblebrutus answered,

"Well, um... how about you?" Aileen giggled at the fact that Tumble wouldn't answer. Quaxo turned a bit red, as did Aileen.

"Yeah." He finally muttered as Jemima giggled.

"We were just discussing something that we want your opinion on." she stated proudly. "We're thinking of becoming mates."

Quaxo looked in shock at the two. "You know what you must accept when you do that?" He gasped. "You must be devoted to your one mate, no other cat must be in your life. Are you two actually ready for that? I mean, wow."

"I think that it is a great idea and that you should carry the idea out." Aileen advised. "You must be very careful about this decision, though." She added.

Others began to wake up, and soon every one was awake. They all greeted each other and then went on to the next part of the ball.

Quaxo and Aileen smiled brightly at each other as they thought about the hours before. They had talked to each other about themselves in more detail. Quaxo had told her that he was an only child, but Jemima (his cousin) had been like a sister to him. He said that he was a magic cat with abilities like evaporation, the ability to counjour, and the ability to create lightning from his paws. (Aileen shuddered a bit at the sound of 'lightning'.) He also mentioned that he brought back Deuteronomy last year when Macavity had catnapped him. He said that he usually didn't tell strangers his first name, Mistoffelees. It was known amoung Macavity and his tribe along with other enemys of the jellicles. Someone may recognize him. He trusted Aileen enough to tell her. Aileen hadn’t much to say, except that she was an only child, she had more amplified senses than most cats did, and that she had a phobia of lightning.

It was then that she had snuggled up closer to him and had fallen asleep in his arms, purring as he licked her head and fell asleep after her.

She had found her home at last.


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