Note: Welcome to my first full length Cats fic! I'd better start out saying that I'll probably be really slow at posting new chapters, seeing as I'm going to be insanely busy in the near future. So, your patience is greatly appreciated. Anyway, this is the introduction, and if you like it, please review and tell me so. The more feedback I get, the faster I'll add to it. Sounds reasonable, right? On with the story! (Disclaimer: I don't own Cats, yaddah yaddah yaddah.)
A chill wind slashed through the junkyard behind the Russel Hotel. The few cats who remained there had already taken cover from the imminent storm. Jellicles didn't live in the yard, but there were always a few around.
Two queens sat in a discarded wooden trunk and watched the sky darken. Jennyanydots was only dimly aware that Jellylorum was speaking to her. When she sensed that the other cat was finished and waiting for an answer, she nodded vaguely without taking her eyes off the entrance to the yard. Jelly shook her head.
"You haven't been listening to a word I've said, have you?" she asked.
"No, I'm sorry," apologized Jenny, slowly bringing her gaze to the other queen, "I've been somewhat distracted…"
"You're still worried about Chanceamberine," Jelly did not say it as a question.
"I can't help it. Something just wasn't right. She's not the kind of queen to run off with an unknown tom!"
"Papageno didn't have a problem with it," Jelly nodded to where the Jellicle Protector sat, underneath the old TSE 1.
"I know that," Jenny sighed, "But I still wonder."
Soon, great icy raindrops began to fall from the sky, accompanied by the low growl of thunder. A bolt of lightning tore across the sky. Jennyanydots jumped upright.
"Did you see that?" she asked Jellylorum.
"What? Where?" asked the other queen, scanning the yard quickly.
"There!"
Another flash of lightning illuminated the forms of a cat and a kitten struggling into the yard against the wind.
"Amber!" cried Jenny, dashing out with Jelly on her heels.
Jelly picked up the little silver and white kitten as Jenny helped Chanceamberine to shelter. The brown and black tabby had once been a beauty, but now she was gaunt and wild-eyed as she lay on her side, gasping for breath.
"Amber!" Jenny said frantically, "What's happened?"
Amber fought to rise, reaching towards the little queenkit.
"Grizabella…" she began, but then fell back down and closed her eyes. She did not move again.
Jenny and Jelly looked first at each other in shock, and then in wonder at the kitten who sat staring out at the storm with wide ice-blue eyes.
Note: You like it so far? If you do, I have a challenge for you. I'll be introducing a new queen at some point during this story, and I'm fresh out of ideas as to how she's going to look. I'm looking for very original ideas, so if any of you have some, please leave them in a review, and I'll let you know who's idea I've chosen when I get to that part of the story. Thanks!