A Hero's Welcome
By Mirahcles

Macavity sat on his pile of silk and stared out the window. He watched one of his strays chase down a Peke. Moments later, a fierce barking and hissing was heard followed by a dog yelping in pain.

Macavity hadn't always been bad. He had grown up with Tristan for a brother, who was a wonderful role model. But something in him had snapped and he had chosen to live in exile.

Several years earlier, Macavity had waged war against the Jellicle tribe. Strays had poured into their junkyard from all entrances, slashing at everything in their path. Macavity backed his brother against the old Ford, and despite that fool Skimbleshanks' efforts to save his friend, Macavity had killed his brother. Then he had turned and fled the junkyard, calling his strays off, leaving hundreds of toms and queens dying or wounded. The tribe had never recovered. Only a few dozen remained these days.

A paw on his broke his reverie. His queen, Maverick, was standing beside him. He sneered at her and she left. He did not want her now.

He thought back to when he had lived in the tribe. Life had been comfortable. He had been seeing a very young Demeter. he had been happy. But Macavity was tired of following Munkustrap's meaningless rules. (Note: These are macavity's thoughts, folks, not mine)One day, he snapped. Macavity hit Demeter and mortally wounded his best friend Calliope, and fled the junkyard, never to return in peace. The rebellious side had surfaced, and Macavity would never be the same again.

At times Macavity regretted killing so many cats, but he pushed the regret aside, and hid his feelings under a cloak of hate. Hate for Munkustrap. Hate for Demeter, whom he had loved so much. And most of all, hate for the tom he'd become.

He'd come to live in the abandoned mansion and gathered a motley crew of strays and rats to do his bidding. And he'd gotten slaves. Queens to whom he'd promised a better life were now lifeless cats drained of all emotion, staring at the world through hollow eyes, victims to whatever mood Macavity might be in.

Slaves. Suddenly, Macavity was struck with a brilliant idea. He would take that white kitten, Victrola, or whatever her name was, hostage. And when that fool Mistoffelees tries to come look for her, he'd threaten him with her, and force him to bring him Demeter or fight to the death. Maverick would be jealous, but she'd get over it. Commanding her to take over in his absence, he began to put his plan into action.


Victoria slept soundly in her box beside Demeter, dreaming about Mistoffelees. Suddenly, a large paw was over her mouth and nose and she was being dragged away from the junkyard. She scratched and fought the hand that held her, and suddenly something hit her on the head and she lost consciousness.

When Victoria came to, she was in a metal cage. The place smelled rank. Strays-two of them- stared at her from the doorway. She glared at them. Suddenly Macavity entered the room, silent as a snake. He looked at Victoria, false pity in his eyes.

"You ought to feel very alone, you know." he said.

"Why should I??" Victoria hissed.

"All your friends are dead. I've had them...............executed."

Victoria gasped and tears filled her eyes.

"So now I'm all you've got..." Macavity continued. Victoria just sobbed. Macavity cackled and left her to her misery.


"Vicki! Victoria, where are you??" Everyone was searching for her back at the junkyard. She was nowhere to be found. Coricopat and Tantomile were out on the streets searching,and Tumblebrutus was up in the tower searching the rooftops. Where was Vicki??

Mistoffelees rounded up Alonzo and Skimbleshanks and headed toward Macavity's place, certain that's where she'd be. It was a long walk. They made a strange procession: A white and black, a black and white, and one orange tabby wearing a waistcoat and pocketwatch. A little girl stopped in her path and said:

"Mommy, look at the kitty! He's wearing a vest!" Giggling, the child continued on her way. Finally they reached the mansion. Climbing along the trellis, Alonzo and Mistoffelees peered in the second floor window. Skimbleshanks continued up to the fourth floor and looked in the window. There was a cage in there. And a white cat cowering in the middle of it. Vicki!

"Victoria!" he shouted. She looked at him and shook her head wildly. Her eyes looked panicked. She was motioning for him to do something.......

Too late. Suddenly the window opened with such force that it knocked him off the sill.

"NO!" shouted Alonzo from the second floor. Mistoffelees had to grab him to keep him from jumping down after Skimbleshanks. They watched their friend fall four floors and hit the grass below. He landed with a thud and a groan. Two strays rushed out and carried him inside while Alonzo shouted insults at them through Misto's paw. After the strays had left, the toms opened the window and entered the second floor. They had to get to the fourth floor-fast.


Victoria sobbed inside her cage. She had watched with horror as her friend was knocked off the sill. No one could survive a four story fall like that, and Skimbleshanks was middle aged. He was surely dead. Suddenly the strays burst back into the room, dragging a limp Skimbleshanks. They threw him in the cage and shut the door, locking it again.


Skimbleshanks opened his eyes. His side was murder, and his hip felt broken. he turned his head to the side and saw Vicki sitting in the corner, her knees up to her chest and her arms around them, crying.

"Victoria" She gasped and looked over.

"Skimble!" she ran over and threw her arms around his neck. he winced but hugged her back.

"I thought......I thought, well....."

"Where are Misto and Alonzo?"

"They're here? They've got to get out of here, now!"

"Now,calm down. They're looking for you. Us, now. They're smart lads. If trouble gets to tough for them, they'll go back and bring the whole tribe kickin' down the door! Skimbleshanks said.

Victoria shivered. Skimbleshanks put his arms around her and she soon fell into an exhausted sleep.

"Please hurry, lads...." Skimbleshanks said softly.

Next

Email Mirahcles at Jesse@quiksilvernchs.zzn.com


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