Authors note: The first part is almost G, unless you don't like depressing disabilities. But towards the end of this, it gets a little fiery.

Aileen was surprised and happy that she had bore a kitten and that both of them were alive. But after a while she realized that something was wrong with the kitten of whom she had named Ebony. After taking it to see Jelly, she was informed that it was blind from birth. Aileen was determined to make up for what she had done to her child in different ways until Quaxo convinced her that it was not her fault.

After seven months, Ebony was quite grown up acting. She and Aileen would walk together. It was a heart wrenching sight. Aileen was Ebony's eyes. Ebony was her feet. Aileen saw for Ebony. Ebony walked for Aileen. The two would hold each other's arms and guide each other. Ebony would help Aileen balance herself, and Aileen helped Ebony beware of what was before her. When Ebony had memorized the pattern of the junkyard, she walked by herself.

By the time a eight months had passed, Ebony was walking all the time. Once, though, she decided to venture further than she had before. She fell into a small ditch and tried unsuccessfully to get out. She was very confused as to what happened. She could not see what it was she was in, and she was afraid. Her calls reached the ears of a kitten nearby.

Jett had seen before the blind kitten who walked with her mother, and had seen her walk alone before. He heard her calls and dashed towards the sound. When he found Ebony frantically moving around from side to side in a ditch, he felt that he should help her. Ebony paused her action suddenly and perked up her ears at the sound of Jett's feet. "Is there someone there?" Ebony asked uncertainly.

"Yeah." Jett answered shakily. "I'll help you out." Ebony waited patiently for something to happen. Jett looked around and saw an old broomstick. He lowered it slowly down into the hole and gently touched her with it.

"Can you feel that?"

"Yes"

"Grab it."

Ebony fingered the stick slowly, and then grabbed it. Jett heaved her out and she reached out her paw for his. When she found it she smiled a very pretty smile. He was about to leave, but she held on to his paws still.

"Thank you. What's your name?" She asked. "Jett." He muttered. "I'm Ebony. May I feel your face?" Ebony asked Jett. Jett looked confused. "Why?" he asked. "It's the closest I can get to seeing and recognizing you. By the shape and feel of things I paint a picture of them in my mind, and I want one of you." "Okay." Jett answered, blushing. He guided her hands to his face. She softly moved her hands around it's shape, form, every crease and slide. She poked his nose and quickly apologized, giggling a little. "It's okay." He said smiling. Ebony's quick fingers had found his lips and she moved back a little in surprise. "Your smiling." Ebony stated. "I don't know what a smile looks like, but I do know it's feel. Mother told me that a smile is something precious. She said many cats have seen smiles, but never actually seen them as something precious. Your smiling now, and I wish I could see it."

Ebony unleashed a soft place in Jett's heart from that moment onward. He, like others, had taken smiles for granted. He had taken just plain cats for granted. She opened his eyes to a world different to any that he knew of. He never liked to look at the other cats, now he took time to study the beauties of them. He even played with Pouncival a little, which was very surprising. He never had a disability, just a small disorder and lack of communication.

He had changed her feeling about cats, too. She had always been sort of afraid of cats when she couldn't see them. She trusted her mother and father, of course, but Jett had helped her to feel as though she could trust other cats. He made her feel calm.

She had always felt a little claustrophobic after her experience with the ditch. But whenever she thought about it, she remembered the kind kitten who helped her out and let her feel his face without flinching.

After about nine months (since she was born), it was getting to be time for the jellicle ball. Quaxo taught Ebony how to dance. He made sure that they practiced in an area with a smooth ground. She became a very good dancer. Aileen taught her to sing. She sang beautifully. She was an alto, as Aileen was a soprano, so they sang very much in harmony. Ebony enjoyed her lessons immensely and could not wait for her first jellicle ball to come.

Jett was also excited and watched her practice her dancing one day. "Can you teach me that?" He asked her shyly. Ebony spun gracefully around and felt the face of the questioner. Immediately recognizing the kitten, she smiled and nodded. He watched her dance a bit before he began to try it, too. He followed her every step and soon was able to catch up with her in her dancing. "You dance well." Ebony remarked. She could not see him, but could hear the steady rhythm of his feet and could tell that it was good. Jett blushed but didn't stop the dance.

"Do you have an opening role, or a part of your own?" Jett asked her. "Not really." Jett thought about it a bit and then asked her nervously, "Would you like to find a part in the ball to dance with me on?" Ebony stopped her dance moves and looked as though she were in deep thought. "Well, why not? Do you like to sing?" "Umm, I haven't tried it recently." "Well than come on and try!" Ebony beckoned Jett. "Hmm. Why don't you try your father's line?" Ebony asked. "Or perhaps my father's line? Just for the moment." Jett shrugged and muttered, "I think I'll just do the invitation to the jellicle ball." "Okay." Ebony accepted. Jett unsurely began to sing, "Jellicle cats come out tonight. Jellicle cats come one come all. The jellicle moon is shining bright! Jellicles come to the ball. Jellicle cats come out tonight! Jellicles come to the jellicle ball!" Jett had done a good job. He had an in between voice, not really alto, not really soprano. His voice was not tipsy, but securely light and cute. Like Pouncival's in a way. "That was good!" Ebony praised him.

Together they constructed a small song and dance. It was very short, but pretty and emotional. Ebony and Jett planed on presenting it at the ball. They practiced it time after time, until it was perfected and ready for the ball.

The first ball for the kittens had come at last! Exotica spent her time singing with the adults. Energite spent his time doing antics with Tumble and Pouncival. Jett stayed off to the side. He still did not especially like crowds. Ebony came up and danced beautifully with everyone at times. Jellylorum sang a song about Gus, last year's choice. In the loss of innocence dance, the kittens were shooed away to the side. They weren't old enough. Exotica used this opportunity to look over Ebony, her little brother's friend. Ebony had a very unaware look on her face. She didn't know that Exotica was examining her like someone in a store looking at an out-of-style outfit. Energite was very bored so he sort of looked at Ebony too. Jett didn't like the bored way that he was looking at her. He also didn't like the sneers Exotica made as she looked at her. Jett growled at the two and they both looked his way in surprise. "Just leave her be!" Jett hissed so that Ebony could not hear words, though she heard the hissing and the anger in his hissing.

When the dance was done, the kittens came back into view of the others. It was time to dance for fun now. Quaxo made the lights blink and all began to dance. Aileen stayed off to the side and proudly watched her daughter dance her heart out. But she suddenly noticed that Jett was looking Ebony's way. It surprised Aileen when she saw him looking at Ebony. She didn't know whether she should be happy or disturbed. After the dance she eyed him carefully.

He suddenly nudged Ebony a little and she felt at his face and nodded. Jett led Ebony to a clear spot of the floor. Ebony let go of Jett's supporting hold and began to slowly but surely dance. She danced more beautifully than ever before, gliding and using moves Aileen had not seen before. And then, she began to sing.

"Moonlight, all round.

Stars in the night, circling me.

Hear my song, give me strength.

Lend me the courage to see the bright light of a torch."

To everyone's surprise Jett, who was standing near by began to dance next to her. He began to sing a verse:

"Send me the courage!

Unleash my hope.

Bind all the fear of those who I loathe.

Light my way with the bright light of a torch!"

They then both began sing a small duet. They switched around. It turned out that Ebony could sing soprano as well as alto, as could Jett.

"The bright light of torch!

Warming my soul, hear me now.

I have but little to offer.

But give me the strength to go on!"

The song ended with a pose so pretty that Aileen couldn't help but to smile. Ebony had lifted her foot up high and Jett had ended with a small pirouette next to her. They had both out danced the best dancers and had sung more beautifully than the best singers. Jett helped Ebony to find her way back to the old car that she liked to sit on. And he sat next to her. Everyone was still in shock when they were done. Ebony and Jett had always been 'in the background' kits. No one knew that Jett could dance or sing, and no one but her parents had really seen Ebony sing or dance. Even Quaxo and Aileen were surprised at her agility and stunning ability's.

The ball went on, of course. Aileen still wasn't sure about the way Jett glanced at Ebony. Before she knew it, though, it was time to pick the chosen cat.

Deuteronomy shook his head. "My dear cats," he began, "It has come to be time that I go to the heavy side layer." The cats were all shocked at his gesture. "I could have left two years ago, you were ready. But I took pity on Grizzabella and Gus. Now I really must leave. The new leader will be-" all the toms straightened up, and Tugger had an expectant 'to cool for you' smile on as he waited for his name to be called. "-Munkustrap." Everyone looked up at Munkustrap, except for Ebony. Tugger stomped away unhappily and Etcetera pouted that he wasn't chosen. Aileen let out a breath of air she didn't realize she was holding. Munkustrap would be a good leader, unlike Tugger.

Munk escorted Deuteronomy up to the tire and it lifted Deut up to the heavy side layer. Everyone looked at Munk expectantly. "Umm, well," he stuttered, "that concludes the ball." Everyone simply shrugged. Good enough, not a long speech, but not a simple wave of the paw.

A few cats went to their owner's house to sleep. Others who didn't have an owner made their way to their piece of junk home. But some cats simply settled down there and then, to tired to head anywhere. Aileen Quaxo and Ebony stayed behind to talk to Jemima and Tumble. Jett settled down to sleep on a washing machine. Exotica walked over with the older queens to sleep. Energite ran around. Ebony cuddled inside the washing machine that Jett was on. Jett heard Ebony and called a good night to her and she answered. Aileen glanced at them, this time smiling.

But sometime later, Jett heard a scream very close to him that almost caused him to fall off the washing machine. As he came to his senses he realized that Ebony wasn't in the washing machine. He looked around, panicky, and saw a glint of black and red colored fur. He bared his fangs and pounced on the bit of fur. He was thrown off, and when he was, he saw the actual size of the fur was. Huge! Jett would have backed off there and then if he hadn't noticed that he was holding one of those old plastic garbage bags usually lying around and that it was squirming and calling for help. Jett recognized the scent. Ebony! Jett pounced on the black and red cat once more and clawed sharply at him. Once more he was thrown to the ground, this time with blood coming from his side. The stray clawed poor Jett over and over again as soon as he was down and Jett thought that it was the end.

Suddenly he heard a female yell "MACAVITY!" and there was much commotion. The stray left and ran towards a ginger cat nearby. When he reached the ginger cat they began to run away like heck.

Demons couldn't have described the thoughts Jett had. That cat had abducted his best friend, the only communication he ever had in the junkyard, in his life, and he was not thinking very elision thoughts about this cat.

Munkustrap came running up to Jett and saw the blood on him. "Jett, what happened?" Munk knew it wasn't going to do much use to ask Jett, but he tried any way. "Jett please." Jett swiveled around and the horrible fire of hate in his eyes was visible to Munk. "Ebony." He finally growled.

Months had soon passed since that day. Jett was still quiet, but not himself. The fire never left his eyes. No one knew what to do. Quaxo claimed he could not conjour her unless he knew where she was. Going up against Macavity and his new hench cats was suicide. Tantomile and Coricopat glanced at each other and said in unison. "We can find her." Aileen had never really known these two mysterious cats before. She had wondered about them since they first met. "It may take a very long time." Coricopat said. "But we will try." Tantomile said.

It was indeed was taking a very long time. After about ten months the two opened their long closed eyes and said in unison, "We know where she is."

"She is alive, but weak." Tantomile said. "She is not close at all." Coricopat said. The two told Quaxo the exact spot of where she was. Quaxo concentrated hard. He didn't need an assistant this time. He pulled out his red cloth and focused hard on it. A small bulge began to form. As he pulled off the cloth, a trembling and bloody Ebony was found underneath it. Her parents embraced desperately as she put her paws on their faces. "Mom! Dad!" She exclaimed. Jett saw the whole thing and those who were watching would have noticed that his fiery eyes did not quench, but they cooled deeply.


Next
Back