A/N: I love CATS, but I have a hard time writing a story where there they are typical, ordinary...cats. I tend to see the Jellicles as special felines, the children of the Egyptian Goddess, Bast. As such, they have two forms. The four legged 'normal' cats, as well as a humanoid form that they take when no humans are around to see them.
I also see the Pollicles in much the same way, only as children of Anubis.
Kittens and pups are the usual cute little balls of fluff and fur, until they reach puberty, or the equivalent thereof.
Like teenagers the world over, this can be a difficult time of growth on their path to adulthood.
Some mature quickly, while others are....late bloomers.
This is Rum Tum Tugger and Quaxo centric. There will be het pairings as well as slash pairings.
I make no appologies.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, but my own imagination.
Chapter 1: Limelight and Shadow
"Tugger!"
The shrill screeching of the princesses made Quaxo wince as he closed his eyes and flattened his ears against the back of his head. Why did they always have to squeal like that whenever they saw the handsome young Maine Coon? Sure, The Rum Tum Tugger was suave and cool. He had panache and he had style. But one could also make the same claim of his older, more down to earth brother, Munkustrap. Whereas Tugger was flashy and full of whimsical charm, Munkustrap showed his prowess by being the strong, responsible type.
Munkustrap would make a good provider and reliable mate to some lucky queen one day.
And Tugger? He would leave a swath of broken hearts and trampled dreams in his wake.
As more high pitched screeches filled the air, Quaxo gave up all efforts at pretending to take a nap. Lifting his head he peered out of the broken window of the old car to see what was going on outside. His whiskers twitched in irritation at the scene taking place before him. It was the same old routine, over and over again.
Victoria, Jemima, Etcetera and Electra where all clustered around The Tugger, jockeying for position to see who could actually get closest to him. Curious how Tugger could seem to swagger even when standing still, and he wore that annoying smile that was full of smug amusement on his face. Behind him, his little band of followers watched closely, trying to imitate him, and perhaps hoping some of his coolness would rub off on them, through osmosis perhaps. Pouncival and Tumblebrutus where hopeless. They exaggerated expressions and movements to the point of being comical, but Plato seemed to be getting the hang of it. He even managed to catch Victoria's eye a few times. Quite a feat with Tugger hogging the attention and limelight.
Suddenly Tugger turned his head and caught sight of Quaxo watching from the car. His amused smile seemed to fade a bit and his eyes held something else as he looked Quaxo's way.
What was that?
Pity?
Quaxo felt himself bristling as his one time friend gave him that look. He didn't want pity from anyone. Especially not from that egotistical, narcissistic, puffed up young tom who thought he was all that and a side of catnip! Turning his back on the group, Quaxo leaped out of the side window of the car, and dashed off over the heaps of junk as fast as his four little legs could carry him.
Tugger missed most of what the others were saying to him, as he watched the small, black and white kitten run away. There had been a time when he and Quaxo had been the best of buddies. They had romped and played and gotten into all kinds of mischief together, just as kittens where prone to do. But that had all changed when they got older and the real 'change' itself had come about. It had been a gangly and sometimes ungainly process, getting used to the new form and learning to walk upright on two legs. He had had a few stumbles along the way, but the benefits had quickly become clear. Hands with oposable thumbs where a definite plus.
It wasn't long before the rest of his age mates caught up to him, with one notable exception.
Quaxo, the smallest and shyest one of all, remained in kitten form. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months, with still no signs of the change coming upon him. As his peers drifted away, finding new and exciting things to do, he was left more and more on his own, feeling very much the misfit and outcast. Soon he stopped even trying to interact with the others, preferring to sulk in solitude. The rift between himself and his former playmates had grown wider, until it seemed almost an insurmountable chasm.
Everlasting Cat, thought Tugger sadly to himself. Please, let it happen for him soon. Before he's lost to all of us, forever. His musings on Quaxo and his pitiful state were rudely interrupted by Etcetera yanking a bit too enthusiastically on his tail.
"Dance for us, Tugger! Dance!", she squealed imploringly.
"Yes, dance for us!", chorused the others in anticipation.
Suddenly, the Main Coon found that he had little desire to be their source of adoration and entertainment. He forced an indulgent smile and clucked Electra under the chin to take the sting of his response away.
"Not now, pretties. Not now. I have some other things to do." With that, he extricated himself from his adoring fans, and sauntered off, leaving a troop of baffled admirers in his wake.
Pouncival was the first to break the ensuing baffled silence. "Tugger actually has something else to do?"
It left them all scratching their ears in bewildered contemplation, as they wondered what could possibly be more important than they were.
To be continued....?
