Chapter 2: Chill of the Shadows
Disclaimer: I don't own CATS.
Also, today's prompt is Shade
The sun just reached the peak of its journey and sent its rays directly down on the tribe spread out below. As was expected, the kittens still seemed undeterred by the harsh element as they could be found in some form of activity or chatting animatedly; something the older cats would never cease to be awed by.
Pouncival was engaged in an intense wrestling match with his equally hyperactive sister, Etcetera. The two kittens enthusiastically tried to pin each other, ignoring the heat created by their own wildly flailing limbs. It seemed that neither cat was really gaining any sort of advantage and it became clear that the winner was only going to be decided when one of the kittens tired before the other.
Just out of range of desperate paws and unruly tails, Electra and Tumblebrutus sat, laughing as they encouraged the rowdy encounter. Tumblebrutus actively called to his sister, reminding her of all their brother's ticklish spots. Since Tumble was used to being constantly tackled by his brother, he was eager to see Pouncival get a taste of his own medicine (though always in good fun). On the other hand, Electra couldn't suppress her giggles as she shouted words of encouragement to urge Pouncival on. The young tom needed someone in his camp, and she had no problem filling the role for her dear friend.
After a few more minutes of heated battle, Etcetera fell onto her back and refused to get up. She was too tired to move another inch. Pouncival let out a triumphant shout as he held his paws strong over his head. He was happy to have at least one victory under his belt this day. However, as quickly as he had let the rush of winning flood through him, the patched tomkit felt his exhaustion hit with full force, and he immediately collapsed, resting his head on one of Etcetera's extended arms. Both kittens were too tired to remedy the situation, if it even made them uncomfortable.
The two spectators quickly trotted over to congratulate the current victor and state their confidence to Etcetera that she would rein victorious next time. After brief exchanges the other two kittens gave into the allure of resting in the sun and stretched out next to the panting contenders.
Pouncival took a moment to catch his breath and let his clownish grin once again grace his features. He then began to scan the clearing, filling his mind and heart with the peace in the junkyard that he so loved. The three musketeers, Jem, Victoria, and Quaxo were happily playing off to the side of the clearing. Each cat seemed to be trying to teach the other two different dance moves. Addie sat peacefully on an old paint can, his head bowed over a small human book. Somewhere throughout his kittenhood he had learned to read the human's strange symbols. He was the only cat that the tribe considered fluent in the written language. A gentle smile played at the corners of his mouth; he was clearly enjoying the story settled in his lap. The tabby twins, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, sat giddily on the boot of a car as they held their heads conspiratorially over a burlap sack. No doubt they were sorting through some precious new loot.
However, it didn't take Pouncival long to figure out what exactly was wrong with his view of the clearing: all the adults seemed to be missing. Sure, the twins, Victoria, and Quaxo were technically adults, but those cats were just completing one year as an adult. Pouncival was still trying to remember that they weren't kittens any longer, so to his young mind, they didn't count. No, all the "real" adults like Munkustrap and Bombalurina were out of sight. The patched tom quickly repeated his gaze about the yard. The older cats that were usually luxuriously stretched out in the sun's rays were found well hidden, deep in the shade of the piles and various pieces of junk that hung over the clearing.
The young tomkit peered through cracked eyelids and tried to crane his neck without disturbing the other kittens around him. The adults were gathered in small groups with their heads bent together. Additionally, the atmosphere that seemed to surround these assemblies weren't playful like that around the thieving twins, but seemed to have a much darker tone. It was the kind of aura that made Pouncival uneasy in the dark. The shade hid things from view and seemed to suck warmth out of the very air. The sun couldn't smile on them and the glint in their usually playful eyes was gone.
Pouncival watched with a captivated uneasiness as Cassandra slipped from one group to the next, exchanging terse words and worried glances with each cat. It was clear that all the adults were trying to act casual, and to be honest, Pouncival wouldn't have even noticed if he hadn't been looking for what seemed unusual. But none of that mattered now, because he did notice. Something was wrong.
With a quick wriggle, Pouncival freed himself from the pile of kittens surrounding him. Etcetera fluttered her eyes open as she gently shook her newly freed arm. "Whatcha doin' Pouncie?" She tried to say through a rather large yawn.
The caramel and white tom mustered up a playful smirk as he glanced around the clearing, looking for a quick excuse. He quickly shushed the yawning queen so that she wouldn't wake the other two felines up. "Shh! I'm just a little thirsty. I was gonna ask for some water. Be back soon, Cetty. Don't worry." Pouncival wasn't even sure that Etcetera heard the last portion of his explanation as she rolled over and cuddle closer to her best friend, slipping back into her catnap. Not that it mattered, as long as she didn't investigate further, Pouncival was in the clear.
The bin of water was a welcoming sight as the tom picked up a nearby saucer and dunked it in the deliciously cool basin. After draining the saucer dry, Tantomile quickly chased Pouncival away, keeping him from taking another swig of the valuable but limited resource.
Pouncival then lingered around the area, pretending to contemplate where he was going to go socialize next. As his eyes darted from the napping pile to the dancing cats across the clearing, the kitten strained his caramel colored ears towards the small group gathered in a large refrigerator box. It was the smallest group consisting of Jellylorum, Jennyanydots, and Asparagus Jr. Their words were hushed and seemed to be muffled by the dark corners of the shadow cast by the shelter, but Pouncival could pick out a few words and phrases. After all, Jennyanydots was his own mother and he had years of experience when it came to eavesdropping on such a familiar voice. He snickered at the fleeting thought before concentration once again on the hushed exchanges.
He couldn't really catch the entire conversation and without getting any closer and obvious, Pouncival could only hear words scattered to the wind. He heard terms like 'tear down', 'move', and 'separate'. The young tom couldn't string the words together into any coherent idea, but their deep power seemed to leave his very core shaken. He couldn't really explain his feelings and thoughts, but it was as if something deep within him was sucked dry and robbed from his heart.
Pouncival decided that he had listened to enough of their puzzling conversation and trotted back to the pile of sleeping cats. Without a second thought the tom squirmed his way under Tumblebrutus's warm body and curled his own around his sister's. He didn't care how close he was to being a grown tom and how kittenish his actions were. He needed to feel the comfort that he always experienced when cuddling with his family, he needed to do something that he was familiar with. The patched tom scooted even closer to Etcetera as a shiver ran down his spine. He closed his eyes, trying to ignore the sensation. Even though the sun was still high overhead and the temperature hadn't changed one degree, a sudden chill seemed to grasp Pouncival.
