Chapter 3: The White, the Black, and the Naughty
I was lounging on a cushion, trying to keep my over-active mind from formulating more schemes. If we went at this rate we would be out of ideas by the Jellicle Ball. I flicked my tail in contemplation, and heard a shuffling of paws to the side of me. Pouncival pulled himself up beside me and sat down.
I lifted my head, "Doesn't anyone say please anymore?"
Pounce smirked, "Sorry. I just thought you'd like to know we're going to have a meeting of the trouble-makers, if you would like to join us."
I jumped enthusiastically to my paws, "Let's go! Where are we meeting?"
Pounce slid down the pile, "In the old car." I followed him, stepping in his paw steps. It wasn't far. I balanced myself precariously on an old tire as Pounce jumped limberly into the old car. Its paint was cracked and peeling and the door Pounce had just jumped through hung open like a gaping wound. I adjusted my footing and jumped towards the wound, grabbing onto the upholstery. I pulled myself up onto the brown, leathery mound and sat down. This was our society hang-out.
I quickly took stock of the place. Jemima was quietly staring at her paws, and Etcetera was lying on her back. Pounce's head was tilted as he watched Etcetera. In a moment, I saw that there were two bodies missing from this rusty space. I scanned each face, "Where are Victoria and Quaxo?"
Everyone avoided my eyes. Finally, Pounce leveled with me, "We don't know. We looked, but we haven't seen them around for days."
"The white queen and Mr. Magic have left the building," I meowed sarcastically. "Oh well."
The three of them shrugged. Etcetera opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off. "Oh, what the heck? Let's go find them."
Everyone stared at me. "What?"
"Well," Jemima confessed, "we really have nothing else to do. Our parents have grounded us to the junkyard."
"You," Pounce snickered. I pricked him with my claws and he yelped.
"Alright," I meowed, "I'll go with Pounce. Jemima and Etcetera, you two can go together." The two she-cats beamed at each other and jumped out the opposite door I had come in. I grabbed Pounce's tail and drug him out the other end.
Once we had landed safely onto stable ground, Pounce and I made our way through the junkyard, trying to find any sign of Mistoffelees or Victoria. We poked our noses into each crevasse, and passed many cats on the way. None of them knew where the ditchers were.
After a while, both of us were starting to get weary. "Can we stop?" Pounce pleaded.
"One more block," I told him, stretching my limbs. Pounce consented, and flicked his tail from side to side.
Suddenly, a tom strutted out from around the corner, but it was no ordinary tom. I felt myself sway a little. It was the Rum Tum Tugger. H smiled when he saw us. I knew Pouncival was trying to burn holes in the older tom's coat. I just smiled.
"Hello," he greeted, "what are you two doing here?" He tickled the bottom of my chin and I purred in delight.
Pounce wedged himself in between us, "We're looking for Victoria and Mistoffelees." His voice was like ice.
"Victoria and Mistoffelees," Tugger mused. "Well, I saw Misto heading that way a little bit ago," he jerked is thumb back to where he had come from. "I haven't seen Victoria in a couple days. Why are you looking for them anyway?" he asked, flashing me a killer smile. I giggled like the kitten I was.
Pounce bared his teeth slightly. "We have to be going."
"Alright," Tugger sighed reluctantly, "have fun." He came over to me, "Come and see me sometime, okay?"
I nodded, "Later."
"Perfect," he purred. Tugger circled his hips and thrust his butt out at me. I swooned into Pouncival's arms. The tom probably shot daggers at Tugger as it happened. When I woke, Tugger was gone and Pouncival practically drug me through the yard.
Finally, we spotted Misto. He was crouched inside a pipe, his green eyes darting back and forth. I jumped lightly on top of the pipe and hung my head over the entrance. "What's up, Quaxo?"
Misto jumped and hit his head on the top of the pipe. He got out, grumbling and rubbing his head. "What's wrong with you?" he growled.
I jumped back off of the pipe and landed next to him. "Well, I thought you'd enjoy a visit from your friends." I crossed my arms, "You missed the meeting."
"What meeting?"
"Of our group," I growled. "The one you helped found."
"Oh," recognition dawned in his eyes. "Why are you telling me this?"
"You're a part of it!"
"Not anymore," Misto said matter-of-factly. "That's kit stuff."
"Kit stuff? Suddenly you're too grown up to play pranks?"
"Exactly. Please leave me alone."
"Sorry, Mr. Magic," I tried to contain my anger. "You're too busy hiding in tunnels, aren't you?"
"Hiding from she-cats," Pouncival glared at Misto in jealously. "Some of them have found out I'm a magic cat."
"Well, Mr. Big-shot," I growled, "I hope you're happy." I grabbed Pouncival and drug him away before Quaxo could retaliate. I felt betrayed, but held back the tears in my eyes. Misto is my oldest friend besides Etcetera and Jemima. He had told us about his powers before anyone else, and he doesn't care to show up and see us. I hoped he would choke on his new found fame.
Jemima and Etcetera made their way through the junkyard in the opposite direction, and didn't need Tugger's help to find their prey. Victoria was practicing her dancing on a tire high above the dance floor. She looked like an angel fallen from the Heaviside Layer.
"Victoria!" Jemima called. The white queen stopped in mid-step and looked down at the two kittens standing below her.
"Jemima! Etcetera!" Victoria made her way down the pile gracefully. Jemima felt jealousy eating at her stomach. "How are my best friends?"
"Are we your best friends?" Etcetera asked. "We had a little meeting, and neither you nor Misto was there."
"I'm sorry," regret glinted in Victoria's eyes. "Misto and I are growing up; we don't have time for kid's games. I know I'll come and see you once in while, and I hope we can still be friends."
"We're still friends?" Jemima asked.
Victoria smiled, "Of course. I'm just trying to build my life ahead of me. I need to practice for the Jellicle Ball, and I'm looking for a good mate. I hope you understand."
"We do," Jemima assured her. Victoria was older than them, after all.
Etcetera smiled, "I guess. I'll probably do the same thing when I'm your age."
"I hope so," Victoria purred. "I'll see you later."
Jemima and Etcetera left the clearing. Now, all they had to do was find Pouncival and Electra. They needed to forget this incident and get ready for the Ball, after all.
