Okay, this is the sequel to The new Jellicle, which was my first Cats fic…this one isn't like Obsession and everything else I've written but I'm still pretty pleased with it.
You can choose whether or not to read the first one, but it might make more sense if you do…
I don't own Cats…sigh…
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Tugger groggily opened his eyes as he heard someone enter his den. He saw his niece, Munkustrap's eldest daughter, Mali, standing in the doorway. She was grinning, leaning against the doorway, her silvery fur shining in the rising sunlight.
"Hey, Tugger," Mali said as she walked into his den and settled down beside him.
"Hey, princess," Tugger yawned, sitting up. Mali leaned against his side, rubbing her lame back left leg.
"Where are Sparkles and Sparkles junior?" Tugger asked. Mali threw him a soft glare.
"That is my mate and kit you are talking about, Tugs," Mali told him. Tugger grinned.
"Hey, you spark too you know," He said. Mali held up her paws to eye level and let them spark briefly.
"Mistoffelees and Quaxo are with Cori and Tant," Mali said, answering his question. Tugger leaned back and stared at her.
"I'm surprised he's let you out of his sight, princess," Tugger told her. Mali gave a small smile.
"I almost died, Tugs," Mali murmured. "He's just a little over-protective at the moment," Tugger wrapped his arms around Mali and pulled her close. Mali had almost died after she, Misto, Coricopat and Tantomile were abducted by a crazed cat called Sultan, who believed that magic cats were a disease that needed to be wiped out. Mali had withstood the most torture, the most 'screech' testing but it had taken its toll on her.
"So, what brings you here?" Tugger asked. Mali gave a smile.
"What? I can't come see my favourite uncle?" Mali asked. Tugger smiled.
"Better hope I'm your favourite uncle," Tugger said. Mali laughed.
"Dad wants to see you," Mali said a few moments later. Tugger looked at her.
"Come to see your favourite uncle, huh?" Mali offered a smile.
"Hey, I volunteered to get you because I wanted to see you," Mali told him. Tugger sighed and stood, holding his paws out. Mali took his paws and he pulled her up. They both walked to where Munkustrap was standing on the tyre. Mali leapt up to sit beside him. Tugger gave a small smile when he saw Munkustrap grin and nuzzle Mali. Mali tuned out as Tugger and Munkustrap started talking. She grinned and waved to Alonzo as he and his kitten, Artemis, walked past. Alonzo waved back. Mali offered a smile in Percy's direction as he walked past. Percy barely acknowledged her. He hadn't been the same since Cinnamon had died. Mali remembered when Misto had walked into the infirmary, where Mali was under Jenny's watch, and told her that Percy had just returned to the yard…carrying Cinnamon's bloody, battered and broken body. Mali sighed and looked back at her father. Tugger was walking away. Munkustrap's green eyes met Mali's blue ones. Munkustrap wrapped his arm around Mali's shoulders and hugged her tightly.
"Hey, Dad…can't breathe," Mali said, her voice muffled by Munkustrap's silver-black striped fur. Munkustrap chuckled and let her go. He watched as she smoothed out her silver-black striped fur, which was identical to his. Mali cast her eyes over the yard. She gave a slight shiver and tilted her head, watching everyone's reactions to the cooler wind.
"There's a change in the wind," Munkustrap said wisely. Mali looked at him and gave a slight nod. Munkustrap smiled as Mali leapt off the tyre and quickly walked over to stand by two tuxedo cats, one larger with green eyes and one just about out of kitten-hood with blue eyes. Munkustrap smiled as she hugged her mate, Mistoffelees, before she hugged her kitten, Quaxo. He settled down on the tyre as the three walked off.
The next day Mali and Munkustrap stood in an alley, staring down at three dead bodies of cats.
"What have you got?" Alonzo asked as he stepped up to join them. Mali listened as Pouncival threw up violently outside the alley.
"We told you that it was sickening," She heard Munkustrap say to him. Mali stared down at the cats, tilting her head slightly as she examined them.
"This isn't Macavity's work," Mali said, walking around the bloodied, mangled body of a tan cat.
"What makes you say that, Mali?" Alonzo asked.
"Macavity's kills are more organized…more controlled," She said, being careful to not to step in the large pool of blood. "These kills are…violent, spur of the moment," Munkustrap and Alonzo exchanged looks as Mali continued to walk around the bodies.
"How do you know?" Munkustrap asked. Mali indicated to the wounds on the dark gray cats back.
"The scratches are all different," Mali said. "Some are shallower than the others; it shows it was an uncontrolled attack,"
"Okay, you've been around too many of these bodies," Munkustrap said, smiling slightly.
"So, who is attacking these cats?" Alonzo asked, his honey eyes on the bodies.
"A new cat…one we need to look out for," Munkustrap answered.
"A change in leadership…a change in the wind," Mali murmured. She looked up at Munkustrap thoughtfully.
"The winds are changing," She said.
Mali jumped down from Tania's bed, stretching and yawning as the sun shined through the window. Tania sat up and rubbed her eyes. Mali moved out of the room and walked down the stairs. She ate her breakfast, while pushing away Luca, Tom's new puppy, at the same time. Luca bounced around excitedly as Mali ate.
"Calm down you silly thing," Mali scolded him, hitting his nose as he got to close. Luca gave a low whine.
"C'mon, Mali, play with me!" Luca whined. Mali gave a small laugh.
"Not today, puppy," Mali told him. "Buster should be here soon, Luca," Luca nodded, his black and white fluffy fur bouncing. Mali ran her paw over his head, giving a smile before walking out the cat-flap. Mali walked down the street, stopping when she got to a small cottage like house that the human children stayed away from because they believed a witch lived there, which was partly true. Mali walked down the stone path and slipped through the opening of the door. Coricopat and Tantomile looked up as Mali entered.
"Mali, dearest, how are you?" Coricopat and Tantomile rolled their eyes simultaneously as Mali leapt up onto Gretel's lap. Gretel was an older woman, who had unseeing silver eyes. She was considered partly a witch because she actually knew their Jellicle names. Gretel scratched behind Mali's ears, smiling as Mali purred loudly. Mali pressed her head against Gretel's chest before leaping down to join Coricopat and Tantomile by the door.
"Look after your sister, Coricopat," Gretel told him. "I don't want those kittens of hers to be put in any danger," Mali looked at Tantomile in surprise. Tantomile gave a small smile. Gretel gave a small laugh.
"Didn't you know that, Mali, dear?" Gretel asked. Mali gave a small shake of her head, knowing even though Gretel was blind that she could see perfectly well.
"Admetus better watch out for you, Tantomile…I think he will though, he's a nice Tom," Coricopat, Tantomile and Mali left with that.
"Are you pregnant, Tanti?" Mali asked as they walked towards the yard. Tantomile nodded, smiling.
"Jenny confirmed it last night…Addie and I asked her not to tell anyone yet," Mali gave a small laugh.
"You'll be a great mother, Tant," Mali told her. Tantomile glowed with pride.
Mali watched as the Jellicles went around with their lives, occasionally nodding or waving to her as they walked past. Mali yawned and stretched. She was on watch, sitting on the tyre. She was Alonzo's second; if something was to happen to him then Mali would take over the role of Protector. Munkustrap used to be Protector but when Old Deuteronomy was murdered by Macavity he took over the role of Jellicle leader. Mali was next in line to take over the Jellicle throne if something ever happened to Munkustrap. She watched as Munkustrap left his mate, her adoptive mother, and walked over to her side. Mali waved to Demeter, her adoptive mother, a black and gold queen. Demeter waved back before she herded her and Munkustrap's three kittens, Riya, Hecate and Reema away. Munkustrap sat beside Mali on the tyre. Mali curled into his side. Mali's watch had finished but she decided to stay with her father.
"Where are Misto and Quaxo?" Munkustrap asked.
"They're staying at their human's house for a few days," Mali yawned, rubbing her eyes. Munkus nodded. Mali lay down and rested her head on Munkustrap's leg. Munkustrap smiled as he stroked her head. Mali dozed off.
"Munkustrap!" Mali shot up as Jemima's frightened cry rang throughout the yard. Jemima, a smaller gold, black and red queen, ran up to the tyre.
"What is it, Jemmy?" Munkustrap asked concerned.
"There are humans with vans outside the yard gates!" Jemima cried out. Her mate, Pouncival, ran up moments later. Tugger looked up from where he was talking to Bombalurina when he heard Jemima's cry. He looked to Munkustrap and Mali, both were staring at each other, their mouths moving as they quietly discussed.
"Need to evacuate-," Mali said.
"Queens and kittens-," Munkustrap continued.
"And those without collars,-" Mali continued on. Munkustrap nodded.
"The humans will expect some to fight…" Munkustrap murmured.
"And some to be captured," Mali finished. Munkustrap stared at her, wide eyed.
"We need to get the kittens, queens and those without collars out of here," Mali said. Munkustrap nodded and he and Mali split up to organise those who were staying and leaving. Five minutes later, there were two groups.
Jenny, Jelly, Asparagus, Jemima, Victoria, Electra and Etcetera and Miro (Etcetera's mate) were leaving with the kittens: Olivia, Leeway, Carbucketty, Sillabub, Temperance, Tuppence, Artemis and Apollo. Admetus, a stray, was leaving with his mate and Coricopat's sister, Tantomile, who was pregnant. Alonzo tried to get Munkustrap to let him stay. Skimble was going to protect the queens. Munkustrap talked Demeter into going with Riya, Hecate and Reema.
"I don't care if you are a fighter, if you don't have a collar you have to leave!" Munkustrap yelled as he herded Alonzo back to the leavers.
Munkustrap, Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer, Percy, Pouncival, Tumblebrutus, Plato, Cassandra, Exotica, Tugger and Bombalurina were staying. Munkustrap stood in the middle of the clearing, watching the entrance wearily. He looked to his right when someone stood beside him.
"Mali?" Munkustrap asked. Mali gave a smile.
"Why aren't you going with the queens?" Munkustrap asked.
"I'm not leaving your side, Dad." Mali answered. "Misto and Quaxo are safe and I have to protect my family." Munkustrap nuzzled her side before turning his focus to the gates.
"Are you ready for this?" Mali turned to look for the source of the voice. Coricopat was smiling at her.
"Cori, why aren't you going with Tantomile?" Mali asked. Cori gave a small laugh.
"She has Admetus and besides," Cori said. "Have I ever left your side during a fight?" Mali clasped Cori's paw.
"Thanks, Cori."
"Watch your father's back, Mali!" Demeter called as they left. Munkustrap turned and looked at Demeter.
"Isn't it meant to be the other way around?" Munkustrap called back, grinning. Demeter smiled before she herded the kittens off. Mungojerrie came back when they were safely away. Mali took a shaky intake of breath as she continued to stare, waiting, for the humans to come. Munkustrap looked to his right, where Mali was standing.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Munkustrap asked her. Mali's eyes flicked to him briefly in response.
"You do know what they might do to you…that you may not be able to have another kitten," Munkustrap continued. Mali lowered her eyes.
"It doesn't matter if they do it, Dad," Mali admitted bitterly. Munkustrap turned to her.
"What do you mean, Mali?" He asked. Mali noted that all eyes were on her.
"I can't have any more kittens, Dad, even if I wanted to." Mali said quietly.
"What happened?" Munkustrap asked.
"Because I'm so small, when I had Quaxo…there were difficulties," Mali said. "And then when I had the infection and I had to go to the vet, the vet told Tania that I wouldn't be able to have any more kittens," Munkustrap hugged Mali tightly.
"They are coming, Munkustrap," Coricopat called from his perch on a junk pile. Coricopat leapt down and came to stand by Mali's side. Mali sunk into a crouch when she saw the first human. Several humans entered the clearing from all sides and attempted to grab the Jellicles running around.
"AH!" Mali ran at the human who had Rumpleteazer by the scruff of her neck. Mali sunk her claws into the human's leg, making him yell in pain, before she sunk her teeth in. The human dropped Rumpleteazer and attempted to shake Mali off. From the corner of her eye, Mali saw Percy, Pounce, Tumble and Plato being thrown into carriers.
"Munkustrap!" Munkustrap turned from where he was fending off a human to the cat who yelled to him. Tugger, who was standing in front of Bombalurina, nodded in Mali's direction. The human now had Mali by the scruff of the neck, the human glared at her before throwing Mali into a carrier with a loud thump. Munkustrap listened as Mali kept hissing and snarling. He tore his attention away from Mali as a human male approached him with a net. Munkustrap turned back around when he heard a loud pained cry. He saw a human pulling a large needle out from the carrier Mali was in.
"Mali!" Munkustrap cried out as he ran towards the carrier. He ran past Cori, Tugger, Bomba and the others, who were being grabbed. Munkustrap grabbed onto the carrier Mali was in and held onto the door tightly as he stared in. Mali was slumped in the corner of the carrier, her eyes shut, and her breathing heavy.
"Mali!" Munkustrap cried out. He felt a prick of pain in his neck before everything went dark.
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There…first chapter…
I got my school report today, and I was pretty pleased with it because according to my English teacher I have a very budding imagination…one bad thing, the teachers keep complaining about my absences…I'm top of the class for like five classes, chill! Anywho!
Please read and review!
Luv HGP!