Chapter 1: Pain

I'm Electra, and I've made some very bad choices in a short amount of time.

I have the blood of three innocent cats on my paws. Don't get me wrong, I didn't lay a claw on them. It might have been better if I had, though.

I blame myself for everything that has happened, though many cats say it's not my fault. I haven't left the junkyard since then, my appetite for adventure gone.

My mate keeps me from suicide; he's the best. I'm not sure if I'll have kits with him, though. Not that I don't want to, I just don't want them to make the same mistakes I made. They might come anyway. That's why I'm doing this.

Cats act differently around me now, not that I blame them. Jemima has become quiet and drawn into herself. Rumpleteazer and Demeter both support and help me out. Bombalurina looks at me with scorn; maybe her sister could soften her up. I don't really know if she will, and I don't really care. Jellylorum doesn't blame me for anything, though she should. Munkustrap is…Munkustrap. Not much different there, but he probably has a different idea about me now.

Writing seems to ease my pain. My emotions are let free, flowing onto the page. It feels wonderful. Maybe, just maybe, I can prevent another disaster from happening. I'm writing partially to myself, and partially for generations to come. I bet you're pretty confused by now.

Here, in this book, I will write my story. It will pretty much be in first person, but some of it will be in third person. If there wasn't some third person, the story wouldn't make sense. I've picked up stories from many a cat during my escapade. The only thing that feels good right now as I'm writing is that my mate is peeking at it over my shoulder. Hopefully, I can show you the way through my story.

I had no one to show me the way, and look where I ended up. Heed my words, readers, and learn from them.

I dedicate this story, my story, to my two best friends in the world: Etcetera and Jemima…

As Rumpleteazer began pushing her kit into the world, she reflected on how she got herself into this. It all started with Mungojerrie.

Jerrie is a very over-protective brother. He didn't let her mix leisurely with the toms, especially Tugger. They had jobs to do for Macavity, and they did them well. There was no time for romance in their world. That's what drove Teazer over the edge.

Teazer began to flirt secretively with the toms behind Jerrie's back. One tom drew her out with him, on her own, often. Plato was an attractive tom in his own right. He was very nice and was excellent at sneaking behind her brother's back. One night together was magical, but in the morning he was not there. Teazer looked all over for him, but to no avail.

She found out later he had left her to pad after Cassandra. Teazer was genuinely hurt, and it became even worse when she found out she was carrying kits.

Rumpleteazer couldn't hide the pregnancy from Jerrie, and he was furious. He gave her a big lecture on responsibility, but softened later at the thought of a new niece.

He was outside of the den now, waiting anxiously for the kits to be born. Rumpleteazer was becoming very tired with pushing, and Jenny could see that. Jenny was the kit-nurse; she was there for almost all of the births. Now she watched Teazer anxiously.

"Just one more push," Jenny assured her. Rumpleteazer was panting heavily, but gave it her all. She collapsed from exhaustion. "It's a she-cat!" Jenny purred triumphantly. She held up the tiny kitten, and Teazer's eyes lit up. Jenny set the kit next to Rumpleteazer, and Mungojerrie was allowed in.

He looked happily on at the little kitten, but his thoughts were clouded with what had to be done. "We can't keep her," Jerrie gently reminded her. Teazer nodded sadly. "We would get in so much trouble with Macavity; it's not even funny." Teazer's eyes were trained on her kit.

"Jenny," Teazer addressed the kit-nurse in a strained voice, "would you take my kit?"

Jenny was shocked. "Of course," she purred gently, and a little hesitantly. She saw how the two fawned over the kit. "You give her a name, though. It will be something of yours she can keep for her whole life. I'll be back tomorrow." She left the den without another sound.

The next day Jenny was hoping that Teazer had changed her mind. It was hard to lose a kit, and even harder to give one up. As Jenny approached the birthing den, she saw that Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were standing outside it, waiting. The kit was whimpering gently between Teazer's two front paws.

"Thank you," Rumpleteazer said as Jenny approached. All Jenny could do was smile. Tears fell from Teazer's eyes as she handed the kitten over to Jennyanydots. Jenny pulled the kit closer with one paw.

"Did you name her?" Jenny asked as she examined the kitten.

"Electra," Teazer's voice was barely a whisper. "Take her, love her, but don't tell anyone I'm the mother" she pleaded. Then she leaned on Jerrie and began to sob. Jerrie's eyes were also misty.

"I won't," Jenny promised the crying she-cat. She picked up the kit silently and turned. As she walked back to her den, tears began to form in her eyes too.

When Jenny approached, Skimbleshanks was gently grooming himself. He looked up as she stood in front of him, the kit dangling from her mouth. "What is that?" he asked, confused.

Jenny put the kit down gently, "This is our new daughter." When Skimble gave her a blank look, she explained further, "I adopted her."

"Well," he purred, sniffing the little she-cat, "welcome to the family, little one." He looked up at Jenny, "What's her name?"

"Electra," she purred. "Her name is Electra."

"Who is the mother?" he asked.

"I promised not to tell," she whispered, her voice trembling. Skimble asked no more, and accepted the kitten as his daughter.