Authors note: This is where the story picks up a bit. I am sorry for the delay in getting around to the actual plot. I have a tenancy to write long introductions to set the scene and get the readers used to the characters, but there can always be too much of a good thing. So here it is: the plot will pick up from here.
The she-cat's conversation lasted long into the afternoon. The day was particularly hot, and the four she-cats moved to a shaded part of the junkyard.
"Oh this heat!" Demeter exclaimed, fanning herself. "It's enough to make a cat insane!"
Jemima and the others nodded their heads in agreement. Jemima closed her eyes to take a nap, but a bloodcurdling yowl made them fly open again.
The four she-cats sprung to their feet. Jemima hid behind her mother, the cat's scream still ringing in her ears. Bombalurina and Grizabella hissed, the fur on their backs standing up in alarm.
The yowl sounded again. Three cats sprinted into the clearing of the junkyard. Jemima recognized two of them as Alonzo and Munkustrap, but the cat in front of them was unrecognizable.
Peering out from behind her mother, Jemima watched the scene as Alonzo, Munkustrap, and now Rum Tum Tugger and Pouncival joined in the chase.
The unknown cat flew around the junkyard in a crazed manner, yowling in fear and rage, mud and blood staining his fur. Tugger pounced, hitting the cat and knocking it over. Munkustrap held the cat down. It was hissing, spitting, screaming, it's eyes rolling in the back of it's head. Munkustrap stared at the cat. "Go get Old Deuteronomy," he said urgently to Tugger, who bolted off right away.
The cat had stopped screaming now, but was panting, hissing, and just as hysterical as ever. Something was clearly wrong with this cat.
A crowd had begun to gather around Munkustrap and his prisoner. "Get back!" Munkustrap hissed at the other Jellicles who retreated once more, alarmed.
Old Deuteronomy entered the scene, eyeing the crazed cat with worry. "He needs water," he murmured in his low voice. "Pouncival, Mungojerrie, Alonzo, Tugger!" he called. "Fetch as much water as you can, and bring it quickly!" Then, calling Jennyanydots to the scene, the two began inspecting the crazed cat.
"Heat stroke," Jennyanydots diagnosed. She was literate in the human print and had spent many days in the human library reading many books. The Jellicles trusted her for information. "He has gone crazy from the heat.
"Not just that," Munkustrap said. "Look there," he flicked his tail at the cat's head.
Jennyanydots looked closer. "Great Rumpus Cat!" she exclaimed when she saw the deep gash on the cat's forehead and the sticky blood oozing from it.
Tugger had returned with a pail half full with water. "The others are coming with more, I just figured that he needed some immediate treatment," he explained as Jennyanydots looked unhappily at the small amount of water.
Then Jennyanydots nodded, understanding. "Jellylorum! Exotica! Fetch me those rags from the pile over there!" she called to her fellow elders.
The two she-cats came running, their mouths full with rags. Then, dipping them into the cool water, they draped them over the cat, covering him with cool water. The rags heated up within seconds, and the queens replaced them with cooler water which was now coming in by the bucket load from the four toms.
The cat had calmed down a little; his breathing had become less heavy and he had stopped hissing. His energy was wearing out.
Grizabella and Bombalurina had headed over to see what they could to to help. Demeter and Jemima followed.
Jennyanydots dismissed all the toms from their duties as well as Exotica who needed to head home to her humans for the day.
"Demeter and Jemima can dress that wound on his head," Jennyanydots said, replacing a rag on the tom's shoulder.
Demeter nodded, then picked up a cool rag and began to sponge off the tom's head. Up close, Jemima could see that the tom was unconscious now. She noticed that the tom was only a kitten, not too much older than herself, and that he was very thin. She also thought she caught a glimpse of dark gray fur underneath the fur that was matted with mud.
"Jemmi, hand me that cloth will you?" Demeter asked. Jemima passed a thin cloth to her mother who gently wrapped it around the cat's head as a bandage.
"We have to move him out of the sun," Jennyanydots said, noting the scorching temperature of the afternoon sun.
Grizabella stepped forward, eager to help in any way she could. "He can stay in my den," she offered. "It's shady and cool in there, and I can stay with Bombalurina for the night."
Jennyanydots and Jellylorum were taken aback by Grizabella's change of heart. The old Grizabella would have never done such a thing!
Bombalurina and Demeter stepped forward to slide a blanket under the cat's body. Then, they dragged the blanket across the junkyard clearing towards Grizabella's den. Jemima followed close on their heels.
Grizabella quickly made a nest for the cat inside her cool, shady den. The cat was laid to rest there with cool rags surrounding him again. Jennyanydots came in to inspect the quarters in which the cat would be staying. Nodding approvingly at the cat's setup she turned to inspect the crazed cat's health.
"His breathing has slowed down," she said, "but his heart rate is still too high as is his temperature. Someone will have to stay with him at all times."
The she-cats turned to one another, exchanging glances. "We'll all take shifts," Bombalurina said.
Jennyanydots nodded. "Come and tell me if there's any problems," she said as she and Jellylorum left the den.
The four remaining cats looked at one another. "So, who gets the first shift?" Demeter said quietly.
"I'll take it," Grizabella offered. "Then I'll go and fetch Bomba when I am tired."
Bombalurina agreed. "Then I'll wake Demi around midnight."
"Then I'll get Jemima," Demeter said. "She'll have the shift until dawn."
Jemima was a little fearful. This cat is crazy, and they expect little Jemmi to look after him? She thought.
As if she could read Jemima's mind, Bombalurina said supportingly , "He's unconscious. It's not like he's going anywhere. You'll be fine."
Jemima nodded, still unsure. Then, taking another look at the cat on the bed in the den, she felt a twinge of pity. The tom was barely older than herself, and not much bigger. He was skinny and weak. Bombalurina was right. This cat was in no state to put up a fight.