I have a new story everyone! Slightly different from what I normally write but I hope you have fun it. I am still working on my other fics but so far what I'm satisfied with what I've got :/ Enjoy!

In a faraway ocean, in a small and barely seaworthy dinghy, a mother lay dying. Several months ago she had fled her home where life was becoming dangerous for her and her unborn kit. Others had left before her, seeking a place of escape from their current nightmare. They spoke of a far off island populated by Jellicles that that was ruled by a wise and benevolent leader. The island itself was said to be wonderful with long beaches and dense woodlands. And it was rumoured that at times, when the moon shone especially brightly, the Jellicles would dance beneath the starts. They hoped, that the ruler of such a place would listen to their stories and grant them sanctuary. She never knew if they made it.

Now she herself was following their footsteps, hoping that she could reach this island. It was far out at sea, with no land in sight, that her son had been born. Two sunrises ago, when here kit was only a day old, the sun had been shrouded over by dense heavy clouds. By mid-morning a storm was raging. The mother had done her best to keep the boat under control; but after a particularly violent wave the clew snapped and had dropped the boom on the side of her head. It must have hit something deep and vital because her head wound had not stopped bleeding since. And now as she curled up in the hull of her boat she knew that the combination of shock and blood loss was slowly killing her.

Tucked up her side was her son. Somehow he had come through all this and was still peaceful, all curled up and fast asleep. But for how much longer could they last like this? What would happen to him once she...

A loud screech disturbed her thoughts, even through the haze of diminishing unconsciousness she could recognise the cry of a land bird. Beneath her the waves had picked up as they approached a coastline. And above her the Jellicle moon was shining bright. She smiled. They had made it, her son would be fine. Peaceful at last she slipped away quietly, and did not wake up.

Meanwhile the gentle rocking of the waves caused the smaller cat to roll away from his mother, a little at a time, until he bumped into the bow of the boat and stayed there. He was woken up by a huge splintering noise that was the already battered boat being split in two as the keel got caught in a reef and the entire craft was pulled against the tide. He continued on towards the coast, crying shrilly all the while, in what was really just a battered pile of driftwood. His mother remained with the main wreck. It stayed where it was for some time until the tide reversed and rose, high enough to lift the boat from its confines and carry it out to sea.

The smaller wreckage drifted closer and closer to the land of the Jellicles until it was nearly visible in the early morning light from the sandy shoreline. At this time the beach would usually be deserted but tonight three young Jellicles were walking across the sand, with the Jellicle moon sinking behind them. The peak of the ball had ended and many of the Jellicles were returning to their dens to catch a few hours rest before the sun rose. But the three friends had decided to watch the last of the moon's lustre as it faded with the rising of the sun before they too went to bed. At first glance an observer might think them an unlikely trio, Munkustrap was tall and had silver tabby fur. He walked along with a steady tramp wearing only a light grey cloak and a simple leather belt that sat comfortably around his waist, in preparation for when he'd be old enough to wear arms.

Beside him strode a black and gold Maine Coon known officially as The Rum Tum Tugger and more commonly as Tugger. He was even taller than the tabby and would have been considered the most easy going of the trio as well as the best looking. Although born a bastard he wore a thin circuit of gold around his head which signified that he was a member of Jellicle royalty.

The final member of the group was a young tuxedo named Mistoffelees. He walked a little ahead of the other two, stepping lightly over rocks and seaweed in search of shells. He was perhaps a year or two younger than the others but they seemed to regard him as a complete equal (and in Munkustrap's case, maybe a bit more). The three of them traversed in this unhurried fashion across the beach, rarely talking but enjoying each other's presence all the same.

Pushing his novice's tunic out of the way Mistoffelees crouched down to examine what he thought was a pile of shells but turned out to be pebbles, smoothed and worn by the sea. They were pretty looking he reflected, though not what he wanted. But his friends might like them so turning around he called out to the other two.

"Munku, Tugger, look at these!"

Munkustrap and Tugger came over and crouched down next to Mistoffelees. The tux had not been wrong, Munkus loved pebbles. Choosing a flat pinkish one he balanced it in his paw for a moment, then with practiced ease he skimmed it across the moonlit ocean. It bounced once, twice... six times before it sank to the bottom of the sea, leaving only ripples.

Mistoffelees clapped his hands with admiration and Tugger tried repeating the trick, but his pebble only bounced three times before sinking. So instead he took a few more rounded pebbles and tried throwing them out past the breakwaters while Munkustrap continued skimming.

"Hey Misto, how much longer till the sun rises?" Tugger asked. Mistoffelees was busy lining up some of the shells he'd collected but replied almost instantly.

"Not much longer, it'll be dawn before you've finished with those pebbles." He began to gather his shells again and Munkustrap knelt down to help him. Munkustrap knew he shouldn't ask about about the tux's private thoughts, but he was curious so he blurted out after a moment's hesitation...

"What's it like being taught by Augur Asparagus, learning about things?"

Mistoffelees looked at him and smiled "What things do you mean Munku?"

Munkustrap, looking flustered, continued on "Like how you know exactly when dawn will come, or the tide will rise, things like that."

"Well everyone knows when dawn's going to come Munku" Misto laughed "You can feel it, it's a truth!"

"Yes, but I mean..."

"Munkus! Misto! Look over there!"

They looked up to where Tugger was pointing and saw a small black blob was bobbing steadily towards land. It was still too far away to see what it was but there was no mistaking the seagulls that hovered over it. And over the bird's squarks they could hear a higher, more pitiful cry of distress.

Tugger was the first to act. Tossing his circuit aside he jump into the water and started swimming. He was closely followed by Munkustrap who remembered to remove his cloak before entering the water; but forgot to do likewise with his belt. The tabby was the stronger swimmer of the two reached the blob first. When he got his first good look at it he was so surprised that he could only gape. Nestled among the remains of what once might've been a small sailing boat (Munkus recognised the skeleton of what was most likely the bow but it was hard to tell) was a newly born kitten.

Tugger splashed up beside Munkustrap a few moments later. "Everlasting!" he panted "Where did he come from?"

"Jellicle moon knows" Munkus replied "What should we do with him?"

Tugger looked back at the squalling infant. To be honest he wasn't entirely sure what to do either, but they certainly couldn't leave the child here for the seagulls to peck at, they'd have to get it to shore somehow.

"Let's try and push it towards the beach, we can dry him off then" he decided. Together the two Jellicles made their slow way back towards the sands with the bundle in between them. Munkustrap went first, he swam sidestroke using his free hand to pull the boat remains through the water. Tugger followed close behind him, pushing the wreckage along with his front paws and making sure the kitten didn't fall out in the process.

Towing something through water is exhausting and although the two toms were strong swimmers they just barely made it back to shore where Mistoffelees was waiting. The tux was a poor swimmer and had wisely decided to stay on the beach where he might not be a help, but would certainly not be a hinderance. He met the other two when they were waist deep in the water and his eyes widened when he saw the squirming bundle that was suspended in Tugger's arms.

"Don't ask" The Maine Coon replied to the tux's questioning eyes, he looked down at the infant with a worried expression. Tugger was unused to babies and wasn't too sure if the way he was holding the infant was causing it discomfort in some way. Mistoffelees held out his arms and Tugger gratefully passed the kitten to him, the tux probably had a better idea than he did. Mistoffelees frowned at the infant's shivering and did his best to dry it with his own tunic until Munkus tapped him the shoulder and passed him the cloak he'd been wearing. Mistoffelees wrapped the cloak securely around the child and brought it close to the warmth to his own chest. It was still crying so he gently traced his pinkie along the tiny cheek until it turned his head and began to suckle.

"Where did he come from?" Mistoffelees asked "He looks very new."

"We found him in the driftwood" explained Munkus "Is he okay?"

"I think so" answered Misto his voice trailed off as he looked down at the infant, who was just beginning to doze "But he's cold. He'll need a foster mother..."

"Let's take him to Augur Asparagus" Said Tugger, putting his circuit back to front on his his head "He'll know what to do, can you get us to him Misto?"

Mistoffelees nodded and passed the baby to Munkustrap, who passed it to Tugger, who held onto it because there was no one to pass it to. The Tux closed his eyes and focused on the tiny particles that made up himself and his friends, the he imagined the four of them in the rounded tower with the tall windows that was the chambers of Augur Asparagus and himself, finally he grasped threads of magic that covered the island like cobwebs and twisted a few into the symbol he wanted and held it there. It was a tricky manoeuvre for a novice like himself which involved focusing on several plains at once, and Misto's head was swimming long before he'd finished. When they finally materialised in Augur Asparagus's cozy living quarters he swayed as the threads sprang back like elastic and was thankful for the supporting arm that Munkustrap provided while he sat down.

Tugger hurriedly looked around the rounded chamber in search of Auger Asparagus but it was the elderly cat that found them first as he climbed down the stairs that lead to the tower roof, he's been up there watching the Jellicle moon fade with the sun's rays.

"Tugger" he blinked in surprise as he walked into the room "What's that you've got there?"

"It's a baby" answered Tugger. He quickly outlined the circumstances that led to the foundling's discovery while the Augur gently took the bundle from his awkward arms. He checked it's breathing and it's reflexes and nodded in approval when he found that the kitten seemed to be healthy.

"I wonder where your mother is" he addressed the foundling "Most mothers would be screaming over the headlands by now. Were you abandoned? Orphaned at sea? Who are you little one?"

At that moment the door to his tower opened and plump, motherly, ginger tabby waddled in. She immediately spotted Asparagus and greeted him in a loud cheerful voice.

"Oh hello Auger Asparagus, busy as usual? We had a splendid ball down at the woodland, the Jellicle moon was spectacular. Here, I brought you some of my special mouse cakes that was left over from the feast, they're best eaten fresh you know and are very good for fur growth."

"Thank you for your kindness Jennyanydotts" said Asparagus, motioning for Mistoffelees to accept the packet. Misto did so, holding the packet gingerly with the edges of his finger tips. Jenny's mouse cakes were famous for eliminating vermin but if you ate one yourself you'd be very unwell for at least a day. Jenny had barely handed over the packet when she spotted the bundle cradled in Asparagus's arms.

"Ohh a baby!" she almost squealed "I love babies, may I have a hold?"

Misto, Munkus and Tugger glanced at each other thinking that might not be a good idea, but Asparagus handed the infant over into Jenny's eager arms without a word. She tucked him securely into the crook of her arm and started nuzzling his face gently against her own.

"He's a darling!" She crooned rocking him back and forth to send him off to sleep (Something none of the younger Jellicles had thought of doing) "Where was he found?"

"He was found in the sea" answered Augur Asparagus "Near the beach."

"Oh I was down by the beach during the ball!" Jenny exclaimed "I was taking a break from the dancing you know, not as nimble as I once was, I found no babies there though. Where's his mother?"

"We don't know, we'll start a search party soon to find her"

"I can look after him!" Jenny volunteered "That is if his mother isn't found, he's adorable"

"That sounds like a fine idea" said Auger Asparagus "Do you have everything you need in your den?"

"No but I soon will" Jenny handed the baby back to Asparagus and hurried downstair listing the things she'd need as she went "Now I'll need some extra blankets and one or two milk bottles, no better make that three, oh and I can't forget the talcum powder..." until she was out of ear shot from the chamber.

Mistoffelees looked at his mentor anxiously "Will he be alright? Jenny could very well have forgotten him by this afternoon and then what would happen to him?"

"She's a motherly soul" Augur Asparagus replied "And anyway she'll have plenty of help, the forest dwellers are close knit community, all bringing each other up like it's nobody's business, you were raised among them weren't you Misto?

Misto nodded, looking a little less worried.

Asparagus continued "Knowing Jenny she'll soon forget all about us and will tell everybody that she found him, I think it's best if we let them go on thinking that for now." The younger Jellicles looked at him "We can tell him the truth when he's older, but some of the cats may have funny ideas about him if they found out that he was discovered in a boat out at sea, by the prince of the Jellicles no less." He winked at the three of them and Tugger blushed. Then Munkustrap, ever the practical cat, stepped up.

"Should I tell the coast dwelling cats to keep an eye out for a mother who isn't a Jellicle? I don't think his mother was from the island or she'd have every islander searching for him by now, but she might have washed up along the rocks somewhere nearby." Asparagus hummed in approval.

"Yes, head down there now, take some of the guards with you if you think you'll need help. Tugger if you could hold this little rascal, Mistoffelees and I will prepare some breakfast for us all."

Tugger accepted the bundle while Mistoffelees ran down to the kitchen to fetch some milk and oats for their breakfast. The Coon was a bit more confident about holding the kitten after having seen the way Jenny did so and took the time to study the infant. He was sleeping now that he was warm and dry and looked peaceful in the early morning light.
"Tumblebrutus"

"What's that?" asked Asparagus who was bending over the fireplace.

"We should name him Tumblebrutus, he looks like one doesn't he?"

Augur Asparagus raised a paw "May the Everlasting Cat nurture and protect you, Tumblebrutus of the Sea."

Half way across the ocean the body of Tumblebrutus's mother slipped beneath the waves and slowly sunk to the bottom of the sea.

R & R if you feel so disposed

Felix