Chapter One
*Author's Note: Here it is, Chickadees--the moment you've been waiting for! Again, thanks for all your positive comments on Dark Side. Hope y'all like this one just as much :) *
"Because of tonight, a Mystic dies."
~Tantomile's Prophecy [Full Version of the Vision is located in Chapter 10 of Strange One]
Bombie must be having a nightmare again.
She thrashed about violently, shaking the entire bed frame. Tugger sat up quickly, looking at the bunk above him with concern. This was not the first time she had woke him with her muffled cries or mutterings as she dreamt of evil things. But never had she kicked so forcefully or cried out so loudly. Tugger began to fear that she would hurt herself.
He peered over the side of the bed cautiously, "Bombie?"
She threw her leg out defensively at the sound of his voice; Tugger barely ducked the blow. From his position on the floor, Tugger could see Bombie's head pop up over the side of the bed, "Tugger, are you OK?"
"Fine," he gave an embarrassed grin.
Bombie's pretty face set in concern, "What were you doing?"
"I was just…uh, checking on you," he admitted, rising back to his feet. His face was now even with Bombalurina's as she leaned over the bed.
She cocked her head quizzically, "Checking on me?"
Tugger nodded. He didn't want to embarrass the queen; he knew she would hate it if he knew about her nightmares. So, he lied.
"I, um, just had one of those feelings, ya know? I just wanted to check on you."
"You just had one of those feelings?" The red queen gave an amused smile. Tugger nodded. She laughed, "Tugger, you sleep like the dead. Nothing in the world could wake you up—not even one of those feelings."
"I…couldn't sleep." Tugger lied again. Why couldn't she just accept it and move on?
Bombie leaned forward, her eyes dancing mischievously in the dark room. "Were you watching me sleep, Tugger?"
"Maybe," he returned her smile.
Bombie shook her head with a laugh, "You are a strange cat, Rum Tum Tugger."
Tugger shrugged, chuckling in agreement. Bombie's face softened in the pale moonlight. She gave a small smile as she whispered, "Well, I'm going back to sleep."
"Good night," Tugger replied, climbing back into his bunk.
Bombalurina's head reappeared over the side, her curious expression making her seem like an adorable kitten, "Seriously, Tugger. Why?"
"I'm obsessed with you," Tugger winked at her. She giggled. She knew he was still lying, but she must have realized that he wasn't going to give a straight answer, because she disappeared back over the edge of the bed. Tugger could hear her shift overhead, curling back up to sleep.
Tugger wondered what could have been dark enough to send the red queen into such a fit. He knew from junkyard gossip that Bombie had a pretty shady past, but she never spoke of it. But that night's episode had proven that she had suffered more than Tugger realized. He heard the mattress creak above him, heard the light sighs that signaled that Bombie had drifted back into peaceful slumber, and made a promise to himself. He didn't know what had caused her such pain, but that night, Tugger swore that no matter what it took, he would make sure that Bombalurina never suffered like that again.
~*~
It had been one year since Tugger's banishment, nine months since Bombie's death, and almost two months since Etcetera had witnessed Skimbleshanks' and Jennyanydots' last stand against Munkustrap.
The young queen watched the sorrowful expression on her mother's face—Jellyorum knew the truth. Etcetera had not breathed a word to anyone about the horrific scene she had witnessed at the train station; yet Jellyorum seemed to know exactly what had happened to her best friend.
Cetty couldn't stand to look at Tumble anymore. The very sight of him made her sick. Deep down, Cetty was certain that Tumble had no idea what happened to the two cats—he had no idea that the henchrats were really under Munkustrap's control, or that Jenny and Skimble were surely dead by now. But still, he was the cause of their demise. If he hadn't told Munkustrap…
Then we could all be free by now, Etcetera thought morosely. She kept playing Skimble's last words over and over in her head—I've fought too hard to keep my family free—I'm not going to willingly sell them into slavery.
At the time, she had no idea what that meant. Now she knew.
Shortly after Jenny and Skimble's disappearance, Munkustrap introduced a new edict—the harshest one to date. All Jellicles had been forced to leave their human homes to reside full-time in the Jellicle Junkyard. Only certain cats were allowed to leave—and even then, on the strictest of surveillance. Although most of the cats did not agree with this new idea, they went along with it. They were slowly beginning to understand the implications of opposing Munkustrap.
She turned her doleful eyes to her sister, Demeter, who was now heavy with her second litter. She was due any day now. Cetty felt sorry for the unborn kits—they would never know what life was like before Munkustrap became Jellicle Leader; they would never understand the simple joy of freedom, the ability to live with humans and play in the back alleys, or climb the trees in the forest. To top it all off, they would have to live with the shame of having Munkustrap as a father.
Since she had left the Jellicles, Bombalurina had felt the loss of Demeter gnawing at her soul. She missed her friend terribly; there was not a day that had went by that Bombie's thoughts did not turn to the black and gold queen. What was Dem doing now? Did she not realize how truly evil Munkustrap had become?
Bombie knew that Demeter was too weak to stand up to her mate; the red queen only hoped that Munku had not done anything to abuse Demeter's sweet and gentle nature. Still, Bombalurina was eaten by the guilt that if something did happen to Dem, it would be because Bombie was not there to protect her.
The red queen had been looking for an excuse—any excuse to return to her friend. Demeter's pregnancy was the perfect reason, but Tugger had been so adamantly against it that Bombalurina knew she'd have to find another reason.
"This isn't going to work," Bombalurina announced one morning at the breakfast table.
"What?" Tugger looked up, caught off guard by her sudden announcement.
"Bomba's roight," Teaser admitted with a shake of her head. "We can't take on the entire Jellicle Troibe wif jus' four cats."
"The odds definitely aren't in our favor," Tugger agreed.
"From wot Oi 'ear, Munku's takin' care of that for us," Mungo commented dryly as he sharpened his claws on the table top. Teaser gave him a slight swat on the paw for his lack of manners. Noticing everyone's confused expressions, Mungojerrie explained, "Word on tha street says three elders 'ave gone missing already."
"So?" Bomba looked at him curiously.
"The only three elders that were brave enough to oppose 'im," Mungo added.
"Looks like we got out just in time," Bombie turned to Tugger, who nodded in solemn agreement. She turned back to the tiger-striped tom, "Still, that doesn't help us. We need more cats."
"We could pick up a few recruits around town," Rumpleteaser suggested helpfully.
Tugger shook his head, "They're not Jellicles. They wouldn't understand. Besides, I couldn't ask them to fight for something that they don't believe in."
"Well all the Jellicles are locked up in the yard," Bomba commented, flicking away an imaginary piece of lint from her knee. "I've heard that Ole Munku's got everyone there now. No more human homes."
"Which means we're screwed," Mungo announced glumly.
"Which means," Bombie's eyes focused intently on him. "We'll have to sneak back in to get them."
"No way," Tugger stood up quickly. "I'm not letting anyone take that risk."
"We're all adults here, Tugger," Bomba reminded him. "Besides, if we do it right, we can get in and get out before your brother even knows we're there."
"I said no," Tugger glared fiercely at her. The red queen returned his angry stare. There was a tense moment as a silent battle of the wills continued.
Finally, Bombalurina shrugged, "Fine. We won't do it."
"Good," Tugger gave a curt nod. "We'll just have to find another way."
The red queen nodded in agreement, a soft smile on her face.
Teaser knew that look—that crafty twinkle in her big sister's eyes. Bombalurina was going back, whether Tugger liked it or not.
~*~
Tumblebrutus stood at his post, his paws clasped behind his back. It seemed like an ordinary day at the yard. Well, except for the fact that no one was allowed to come and go as they pleased, and the fact that no one smiled anymore. There wasn't any reason to smile.
The young tom looked over at Etcetera, who was staring morosely out into the distance. She must have sensed his gaze, for she turned to see him. When their eyes met, she quickly looked away. There was something odd in her gaze. Could it be fear?
Tumble contemplated this for a moment. Over the past few weeks, Cetty had been acting strangely around him. Well, she always acted strangely, he thought with a wry grin. But stranger than usual.
There were times when she seemed as if she were about to say something, but decided against it. And any time he entered the room, she quickly found an excuse to leave. He simply didn't understand it—they had been friends since they were kits! What had he done to upset her?
Tumblebrutus decided that he would ask her. He made his way over to the queen, who shifted uneasily when she saw him approach.
"Good morning, Cetty," Tumble smiled warmly at her.
"Morning," she didn't return the warmth.
"May I ask you something?"
"I guess," Cetty looked away nervously.
"What's wrong?"
She stopped and looked at him. After a moment of silence, she spoke, "Nothing, Tumble."
"Yes, it is something," Tumble retorted. "For awhile now, you've been acting really weird around me—you don't talk to me anymore, you never look at me—"
"I-I do, too," Cetty countered weakly.
"Look me in the eye right now," he challenged. She was unable to do so.
"See?" His voice gave a slight pitch of desperation. "What did I do, Cetty?"
"It doesn't matter now," she said quietly, wrapping her tail around herself.
"Yes it does," he stepped forward, concern on his young face. "Cetty, my friendship with you does matter. I want to know what I did wrong, so I can fix it. Please, Cetty, talk to me."
"I can't," she whispered, quickly disappearing over the side of the car.
~*~
Tantomile awoke with a sudden sense of urgency. Something was about to happen—very soon. She immediately thought of Demeter. Had the black and gold queen given birth?
No, something told her that Demeter's pregnancy was not what the premonition was about.
You OK? Wherever Coricopat was, he must have sensed her uneasiness.
Fine. Where are you?
Across the yard with Alonzo. Why? Do you need me?
Tanto smiled at her brother's concern. No, I'm fine. It was just a dream.
It's never 'just a dream' with you, Tanto. What did you see?
Nothing. I just had a feeling.
About what? Cori's inner voice held a tone of curiosity.
I don't know, Tanto admitted.
Some psychic you are, her brother commented dryly.
Bugger off, the black and white queen replied flippantly. She sat up, taking time to survey the yard. Everything seemed to be in order. There had been two new litters of kittens born in the last five months, the kits ran through out the yard happily, yelling and pouncing and fighting and laughing, like kits do. The queens were sunning themselves in a row, chatting softly about this and that as the toms played games and tried to catch the females' attention.
Just an ordinary day.
But something told Tantomile that was about to change.
