A New Home
Disclaimer: I do not own CATS the musical (cept a few fan arts and the DVD movie), nor do I own the poems. The only original character(s) are Kringal, Mariana, Billy Jones, and Kringal's family/tribe.
A/N: NO. You may NOT use these characters, this story, or these scenes in ANY WAY, FORM, or FASHION without my written permission.
Crits and comments welcomed.
Enjoy.
The orange tabby cat twiddle about on the train, doing his orderly check-up before the train had left for course. Today was a good start, making him believe that today was going to be a luscious day, yet again. His smug smile was clear and bright on his muzzle as he pranced passed the doors of the occupants for the long drive to London. A scuttling tune was bouncing through his ears that only he could hear, beating to his prance as he started to head towards his own quarters; that very same move causing him to bump into a prowling kitten.
"Oh, 'scuse me, miss. Are you lo—" He stopped mid sentence as he finally opened his merry eyes from their large sockets. Those sandy brown eyes became as wide as the iron wheels of the carts on the track, but before he could manage to say or rather do anything else, the kitten sounded off a loud note of merriment towards him.
"UNCLE SHANKS!!" the tabby colored cat shrunk his ears at the sound retreating from the other's voice area and tried his best to get out of her reach, but to no success. Soon enough, he was succumbed to the young kitten's grasp, a rather hard hug as loving as the young one wanted to be.
"Kringal," He gasped, trying his best to get out of the death grip that was taking his breath from him forcefully. "It's good to see you too…but do you think you could let me go?" He tried his best to pat the young kitten's head, letting her know that she can let go, but even his arms were immobilized.
"Hm? Oh! I'm sorry; I didn't mean to hurt you Uncle Shanks!" The high pitched voice, but yet somehow innocent to the ears, of the kitten tore through Shanks' ears, causing him to smile.
"It's okay, Kringal," He patted the top of her head with his paw, forgiving her with a deep sigh. He just couldn't stay mad at his only niece. He knew that she only meant well, but he also knew that her loose personality would get her into trouble someday. The thought gave him an idea, and he started to pray that he was wrong.
"Um…Kringal, please tell me that your mother is here with you." His ears started to twitch backwards, not sure if he should worry or not just yet. Kringal shook her head with a smooth line as a smile, her golden eyes a pair of glimmering beaches in the cart's light.
"Nope, I'm all here by my lonesome self!" She giggled, not sounding at all low about being on a train by herself.
Skimbleshanks started to feel worried, his ears starting to sink behind him at a slow rate, as his tail started to take on a drag form compared to its chipper movement just moments ago.
"And…where is your mother?" He was too nervous to ask her, afraid of what the answer might be, but he had to ask anyway. He remembered that the last time he had seen his sister and her daughter on the train; it was to take Mariana to the hospital for an unknown sickness. He didn't know what happened after they returned home.
"Oh, she's fine. We actually found out that the sickness was pneumonia; the docs were fabled by how she received it! We were thinking that it might have been from the baby that our pets have just recently received not too long ago." She smiled at this knowledge, not only being proud that her mother was doing fine, but also knowing how much her uncle cared for his sister; she knew that he would be a reck from knowing that she had left this world without seeing him last.
As Kringal saw, this news did help Shanks. He breathed out a heavy sigh and poised his ears up. Well, that was one thing out of the way, now to ask the more accurate questions.
"Alright then, why would Mariana send you to London by yourself?"
"It was my choice because I want to live with you and the others in the junkyard!" He didn't even have to wait a millisecond after he finished his question. She answered it as if she was born with this answer.
It took a while for this information to seep through his head and register to accurate meaning. When it did, his eyes went as wide as they had when he had first seen his niece standing before his office door.
"No, no—Kringal, you can't stay with me. I…I don't know the proper means of raising a kitten by myself, and I would have to consult with the leaders of the tribe, and that would most certainly take weeks to discuss in time, and then there's the matter of fact of where you are going to live; you are not going to be a junk-yard cat, nor an alley cat! You were born and half raised in a wonderful family home, that I can't understand why you left in the first place—"
"Because I was casted out by mother's tribe that rested in our fields."
Again, Shanks hadn't needed to wait for his wonderments to become solid answers. He was now feeling ashamed of himself when he saw the look on his niece's face: Her ears were casted down flat against her skull, her tail tucked under her as if she were getting yelled at. For the first time, he actually saw her eyes become a low yellow color, as if they were rusting away from neglect.
He placed a paw on her shoulder and drew her into a comforting hug, feeling her snuggle her head against his chest as he rubbed her back. He felt wet droplets drop on his chest and forefeet, causing his own ears to draw back in sadness.
"What happened…?" He looked down at her, not caring if she didn't answer right away. It was a burden to be casted out of your tribe, especially if you were born and raised in it. He knew this well, thanks to Grizabella; he thought that he resented her when she had left, but when she returned, it was as if something had filled him anew again. But this was different; Kringle is a good kitten and good natured, she wouldn't even harm an insect, play with it, but not harm it.
"It was my fault, Uncle. I should have known, but for some reason it just didn't register in my puny mind." She sniffled again, wiping some tears from her eyes that threatened to fall. Now her eyes were shimmering gold, but in a sad radiance rather than her glorious cheerful attitude.
"What was your fault, littlelun?" He held her closer, telling her through body language that he won't judge her no matter what she had to say. All the while, he kept thinking of what she might have gone through, what she might have been capable of doing to be casted out of, not just her own tribe, but her own home as well.
"I…I played part with the…the killing of Billy Jones." At this, she started to wail, and crash with tears. Her cries were strong and overbearing, but only to the heart. Shanks was stunned at hearing this, but as soon as her cries reached his ears he snapped out of it and took her to his quarters immediately.
It was a two hour and forty-five minute train ride to London, and throughout the entire time, Shanks had never let go of his niece who was either crying or sleeping from exhaustion. It was here that he started to examine her while she slept. He could feel her heart beat against him as she was curled next to his body, a smile portraying on him. That same smile soon faltered when he had seen the damage done.
Not only was she banned, but apparently they had punished her before her leave: She had scars on the back of her thighs, and just under her upper arms. These scars will most defiantly limit her from jumping, running, and possibly stretching. A growl rumbled through his chest as he saw what those felines had done to his Kringle. He held the kitten closer to him in a protective manner, now changing his mind about her staying with him. No matter what Munkustrap or even Tugger told him, he will have her stay with him, if not, he will be returning to London with blood on his paws.
The whistle blew loud and merry with the arrival of London right next to its bodus. The station was busy with bustling people either getting on or off the arriving train, just an hour away from departing to its next destination.
Well rested and attitude anew, Kringal looked out the window of her uncle's office, her eyes lighting up with merriment, bringing the meaning of her name to life. Her head and eyes were following the busy bodies of the humans across the station, giving the imitation of a cat about to pounce on a playful toy.
Skimbleshanks had to chuckle at this; he knew that she loved London, but it was an amusing offer to see her at the arrival, which was the reason why he woke her up before they did. He knew that she would be mortified if she missed seeing the large city's silhouette before they entered it, and missing the many buildings and streets as they passed towards the station was just a little fragment of her favorite part of the ride.
Approaching her from the doorway of his office, Shanks placed a calm paw upon her shoulder with a warm smile, only broadening when he saw the look on his niece's face; her own face as bright as Christmas, reminding him of the jolly times.
"It's time for us to go, Kringal. We need to get this business out of the way if you are going to stay with me-Oomph!" Before he knew it, he was on his back with a hyperactive kitten in his arms and hugging him to death, again.
"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank youuuu!! I promise I won't be a burden to you, Uncle Shanks!!" she looked up at him with brilliant gold eyes, her tail swaying behind her with excitement and thrill for what was to come.
Shanks, on the other hand, was far from what she was feeling. As they left the train, and its station through a secret way from the jumbled humans, he couldn't help but know what the cats are going to want to know about her: Why was she banned from her home? That question will most defiantly come up, and he had the guttest of feelings that Munkustrap wasn't going to be keen on hearing about it.
"Uncle Shanks, can we stop for a moment?" the innocent voice of his niece rang out to his ears from behind, and he glanced over in curiosity. His ears twitched in wonderment as she was breathing rather hard and limping in her footing. He was about to ask her what was the matter when the images of her scars and their places flashed past his eyes. He felt that he could be dropped with bricks for being so forgetful about her injuries.
Sighing with anger towards himself he set his paws in front of him as he faced her and sat down against the wall of the sidewalk, letting her catch her breath. He looked at her with stone eyes, only imagining what he could do to those barbarians that called themselves cats. His tail idly wrapped its way around her in a protective manner like it did on the train when she was napping, he didn't pull it back when she gave him a questioning look.
"It's only a block and a half away after this corner, Kringal. After this rest, do you think you can handle it?" He looked down towards her, now realizing that she had grown in the past couple of months, making him realize again that her adult-ship is coming up soon. If his calculations were correct on her age, it should be a matter of weeks from now.
"Yes, I think I can handle it, Uncle." She smiled up at him with cheerfulness. Even though she was in dreaded pain, she wasn't going to let it bother her time with her uncle and friends back at the junkyard. Even though it has been almost a year since she's been there, for she couldn't visit when she was with her mother at the hospital, she misses her friends terribly, and wondered and hoped if they missed her as well.
"Alright, well let's carry on before dusk arrives at our shadows." He smiled and nudged her to stand just slightly and took their pace slower than normal, not wanting to rush her with injuries.
When they finally arrived at the entrance to the junkyard, it was an hour 'till dusk and most of the inhabitants were already there. Shanks looked around as he made sure that his niece didn't wonder off from his sight, trying to spot either Munkustrap or Tugger in his view. Neither surfaced, making him believe that they were either with their mates or out on a meal hunt.
Seeing a patch of calico colors flash before his eyes, he looked down at his niece who was now laughing and tumbling on the ground. At first he was resentful, being reminded of her scars, but he let it slide for once. After all, it's hardly ever that you see Rumpleteazer and her twin Mongojerrie in playful moods other than stealing or rough house.
"Cut it out, Jerrie!! That t-t-t-tickles!!" the merriment of Kringal's laughter made the twin calicos howl in their own laughter, Teazer holding her down while Jerrie took the ultimate pleasure of tickling every sensitive spot he knew on this kitten.
"But dat's da whole idea of it, Gallie!!" He giggled to her and continued on, that is until one of his claws scrapped against one of her underarm scars, causing her to howl and hiss in pain. Mungojerrie immediately stopped and pulled back, his eyes growing wide as he looked down at what he had touched, only to see a long scar that has barely had the chance to heal.
"Wha' is it, Jerrie?" Teazer's voice rang out in the silence, her grip loosening on Kringal's wrist to the point where she could pull away. Kringal didn't, however, she didn't want to keep her scars a secret, but she didn't want them to ask how she received them either.
The male calico cat that was hovering above Kringal looked down at his friend with astonishment, not sure how to feel or what to say.
"I-I'm sorry, Kringal. I didn' mean ta make it worse. Are ya okay?" He backed up from her and helped her up, his ears folding flat at realizing what he'd done.
As always, Kringal was a kind heart and smiled at him, even though the pain was unbearable. "It's okay, Jerrie, you didn't know; you were only being your playful self after all." She laughed at him, nipping at his ears to try and perk them up, hating seeing him or Teazer in a down mood.
Teazer came up and gently lifted Kringal's forearms, taking a glance at the scars; one of them newly bleeding, but not by much.
"Wha' 'appened, deary??" The female calico looked suspicious at the scars. Even though she wasn't the brightest of felines, she knew purposeful wounds when her eyes spotted them.
This was the question that Kringal didn't want to hear, and from two of her best friends to boot. She didn't want to lie to them, but she didn't want to lose them either. Her ears flattened to her skull and tail pulled in close like she had done on the train towards her uncle.
"I…I don't want to talk about it, right now." Her gaze was still glued downward, giving them the only truthful answer that she could give them. The only one she wanted to tell was the one she was scared of telling it to: The heir to the Jellicle clan, Munksustrap.
She looked up when she felt another pelt rub against her back and shoulders. She saw the white fur of Victoria. When did she come in?
"Is everything alright, my lovely kitten?" Her bright blue eyes glimmered in concern as the adult white feline purred against her friend. Victoria had always felt a sister connection to Kringal, but it had turned motherly after her ceremony of adult-hood.
"Kringal somehow recieved a coupa a scars on 'er underarms. Dey looks pretty bad." Jerrie responded faster than Kringal's mind could produce an accurate response to Victoria's concerned voice. She partly glared at her calico pal in response to his answer, leaving him to only innocently shrug.
"What?" Victoria's eyes widened as Shanks had when he had found out. She looked back down at Kringal before her, looking as if she would cry for her kitten friend at any moment.
"Oh! Kringal darling, who would do such a terrible thing to you?" She hugged her closely to her blindly white pelt, her question only meaning to be that of worry and care. Kringal, on the other hand, took it as a theoretical statement towards her scars and only cringed at the touch of her motherly figure.
"I…I'm sorry, Vicky, Jerrie, Teazer...I really don't want to talk about it until I've talked to Munkustrap. Please, please don't tell anyone else about it until things have been settled, please??" She looked up at her friends with pure, glitteringly golden eyes, looking to spring out leaks any second.
The three looked at their younger friend with warm and caring smiles, unable to say no to those innocent and cute looks that she is so naturally able to pull off.
"Of course sweety, we promise." Victoria hugged her friend closely to her chest as Teazer and Jerrie nodded in unison agreement and hugged their friend from behind.
Kringal smiled proudly, letting a few strands of tears fall out of pride and happiness; grateful towards having such amazing and wonderful friends.
Soon, all the cats, including Kringal's ears started to twitch: Munkustrap was returning to the tribe, and he was nearby. Even though he wasn't truly the leader of the tribe, he might as well be: Deuteronomy hasn't been to the tribe since he fell sick a year ago, but he still makes decisions for the tribe when he can.
Kringal all of a sudden became nauseous in the stomach and scooted closer to Victoria's chest, trying to hide herself among the white fur. Her ears plastered down as she felt the muzzle of the white body nudge her gently against the cheek, giving her slight encouragement.
Shanks took this moment to reunite himself to his niece, standing next to Victoria with a nervous gesture of his own ears, not sure if he was ready to have a rough evening with the leader of the tribe. When he looked down at his overly nervous and half shaken niece, however, everything changed. He would risk a winter's moment for her alone.
A/N: I know, I know; I'm not dead. Sorry guys :D. I've just taken a slight break last week and came up with this story when I re-watched CATS the musical.
Oh...My...Gods...I forgot how amazing this musical was. I know, shame on me.
This is not the first fanfic I did for this category, so I am familiar with the characters. But if you feel that I had portrayed someone wrongfully, please message me and I will do what I can. It has been a long time since I've seen the characters in action, after all ;.
I know I didn't describe much of what Kringal looks like, but that was because I was still working on her design during this. I finally (thanks to a friend) have her down and so I hope I will have her posted on my art page soon for you to see. Her description will be in the next chapter...or I might just change this up tonight, lol.
Don't expect many updates soon. I have a Quarterly college (just started) and things are starting to take on a run, so I only have time for my job and doing h/w.
Thank you for being paitent with me, and I will try to update my other stories as well.
I love you, my readers!! :D
-Mytho