The forth chapter- yes, fourth. FanFiction spazzed and didn't move this above Majestic and Shimmer when I updated.
I followed Jellylorum and Rumpleteazer. They know where they're going. Me? Not so much. I simply followed, taking in the surroundings that I am so familiar with now towering above my head. Jellylorum kept glancing around nervously.
Suddenly, something appeared in front of us. Jellylorum hissed and bared her claws, while Rumpleteazer backed up towards me.
And then the older queen relaxed. "Oh," she sighed. "It's you." Then she turned towards me. "This is Coricopat," she said. "He has an aura that repels heat-scent. Cori, this is...that's odd. I forgot to ask for your name," she finished, turning to me.
"Aiirelle," I said. I stared at the tom. He was looking right back at me with stormy gray eyes. The eyes look familiar.....wait.....they're my eyes.......I think I gasped.
In the moment we gazed at each other, something clicked. All of the sudden, when I focused on him, I could hear a soothing voice in my head, saying "What? Why is she here? It wasn't supposed to happen yet!"
Coriocpat's face remained calm, however. "If you would excuse me, Jelly. Teazer." And just like that he slipped by. And he didn't even acknowledge me! RUDE!
Jellylorum looked after him with an odd look. "Funny," she said. "Normally Cori's very civil. He doesn't run away like that very often."
"Eh. 'e's done tha' tuh meh befo'," Teazer said. Jelly looked at her like 'Really?'
"Teazer, honey," she said. "You're a thief. Did you ever take something of his?" Wait, what? Thief?
I noticed that the tips of Rumpleteazer's ears turned pink. "Well....uh....maybeh?"
Jellylorum smiled. "There's why. And we better get back to the junkyard soon."
Rumpleteazer nodded, then they hustled me down the street. Eventually we came to a junkyard. I've passed this junkyard when I've taken the younger kits- WAIT, no, they're kids. Not kittens. Ugh. Anyway the KIDS to the park. There. I got it.
We passed a silver tabby on the way in. He started to approach, but Teazer cut him off. "Eh-heh. Uhm....'ere's your collah, Munk," she said, holding a black collar with silver studs in it up to him. The tom's paw flew to his throat, and Teazer made a 'go on' motion with her paw behind her back. Jelly steered me in and took me to a den.
"This is the queen's part of the medical den," she announced. It was rather cheerful, with a few pillows strewn here and there. I studied Jelly as she bustled about, and her voice filled my head. "Looks exactly like Coricopat....why? Perhaps that's why he ran away so suddenly. But she's in heat....must keep the toms away. For once, thank the Everlasting Cat for Teazer being a burglar."
Puzzling. I can read minds...THAT IS SO COOL!
Then there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Jelly called.
"Coricopat. I'd like to speak with A- the queen you found," he said.
He knows my name. Does that surprise me really? Not particularly.
"Okay. Come in," Jelly said.
The silver tom slipped in, moving smoothly. He came and stood by me, his frame about an inch taller. "I'd like to talk to her alone, Jellylorum."
The creme queen raised an eyebrow, but left the den without object.
Coricopat let out a breath.
Thank Heavyside that wasn't Jenny. Jellylorum is much more relaxed and laid back.
How are you talking to me?
You're my other half. I'm your other half. We're the telepathics, once one, but split in half on a malfunctioning journey to the Heavyside Layer. Have you ever wondered why you seemed more catlike than most? Or that you have a knack for good guessing and reading people's moods? All signs of the telepathic. I was surprised that they showed up while you were human.
Wait, if I'm supposed to be a cat, why was I a human?
Again, malfunction in Heavyside. The Everlasting Cat isn't perfect, you know. All these terms are rather familiar, aren't they?
...Yes...
That's your past lives. We are the sixth telepathics. There will be three more after us.
...Okay...
Please don't faint. It will do no good for when Jelly comes back.
Well, I can't control wether I faint or not!
Temper, temper.
Hush up!
I will when I want.
Coricopat!
See?
I stopped for a moment. The bickering seemed second-naturish. Like I was supposed to.
Told you.
Don't go reading my mind! My thoughts are PRIVATE.
Your mind is my mind. Split in Heavyside, remember? We can't hide much from each other.
Well that's gunna do me real good.
Oh, so not only do we have a temper, but we're sarcastic too, huh?
I shot a glare at the tom standing before me, who smirked back.
Jelly's coming back.
I know. I was waiting to see how long it would take you.
The creme queen walked back in. She looked from my narrowed eyes to Cori's smirk.
"Jelly, I'd like you to meet my sister, the other telepathic," he said.
Jellylorum's face broke out in a smile. "Well, it certainly took you a while to find your way back now, didn't it dear? Why, the last telepathics were before my time, and then when Coricopat showed up by himself instead of with a twin, we were dumbstruck. But I'm afraid you will still need to stay here while we wait for heat to pass. I reckon it will be over in about four days. You're at about the hight of it. And until then, he," she said, pointing at Coricopat, "Will have to stay away. I'm sorry, but it's the rule."
"That's alright, Jelly," Cori said, nodding curtly as he made his way for the door. "I will be seeing you, Sis," he called.
And old grudge bubbled up inside of me. "Don't call me sis!" I yelled at him. I heard his chuckle as he left the medical den.
Five days later, I was introduced to the rest of the tribe. And later that day, I was taken to Old Deuteronomy.
"Welcome to Aiirelle. These are her last moments with that name. For she is about to reveal to us, her Jellicle Name," he announced to the other cats.
I had conversed with the leader during my stay at the medical den. Being the Jellicle Leader, he was able to speak telepathically, though not one himself.
I stepped forward with a smile on my face.
Your eyes are shining with pride, you know.
I'm proud of myself for figuring out my name so quickly.
That would be a good reason for eyes shining with pride.
"I am Tantomile," I said. "Witch's cat.
~FIN~
This was never intended to be a long story. Simply some practice for writing in first-person.
Login: Well, you know now.
Olliv Lynn Sulam: Yeah, pretty much. But it makes them irresistible to toms, it happens twice a year, and it's the only time they can get pregnant.
givetherabbitthefreakintrix: Well, now you know. It's Tantomile.
All done! Thanks to the people who've read and reviewed this story!