Chapter 4
3 weeks later.
"Oh my, what a beautiful kitten," grinned Macavity, looking down at the shaking body of Demeter, 2 week old Jemima clutched in her paws. He smiled devilishly at Bombalurina, who's frail form was being held by two of his henchcats. She struggled momentarily, but a henchcat hit her and she went still, desperately looking at her sister.
"Leave them alone!" she cried weakly, but Macavity ignored her and tried to prise open Demeter's paws that were guarding her kitten.
"Come on Demeter, this isn't a good time to play games." he snarled, Macavity was hoping that is would force her to break her grip, but all it did was make the young mother hold on tighter, Jemima mewling as the grip around her tightened. Bombalurina tried to reach her, but as she finally forced her way out of the henchcats paws, Macavity turned and hit her head sharply. Bombalurina wasn't conscious any more.
Bombalurina woke up, glad that her latest nightmare had only been a memory and was no longer reality. She saw that Jelly was waiting for her, and gently moved her sleeping sister's head off of her lap. Jemima was bigger now and was sleeping next to her mother, rather then in the crook of her neck or on her stomach.
"Where's anty going?" Asked Jemima, now half-awake,
"Auntie's just going out" whispered Bombalurina softly. Jemima nodded in agreement then fell back to sleep. Bombalurina smiled fondly at her niece then got up, being careful not to wake her sleeping family.
As she and Jellylorum walked to Old Deuteronomy's den, both of them prayed silently to the Everlasting Cat that they would be accepted into the tribe. Jelly wished hard that they would accepted as she had developed a soft spot for the 3 queens. They reached Deuteronomy's den in silence, both too nervous to speak to each other. Inside, Munkustrap was waiting for them. He greeted them then looked behind them, as if he was expecting someone else as well.
"Where's Demeter?" Munkustrap asked. Bombalurina had to stifle a giggle at the tom's obvious crush on her sister. But she set her face still, it was no time for silliness or flirting. (It had been hard to avoid the temptation when she saw Rum Tum Tugger laying on TSE1's bonnet).
"She's sleeping" was Bombalurina's curt reply. Munkustrap stood aside, letting the queens past him and into what Old Deuteronomy called 'the study', Munkustrap then proceeded to move in the obvious direction of the infirmary where Demeter was still sleeping. Old Deuteronomy was waiting for her.
Old Deuteronomy was slightly shocked by the change that a few weeks of good food and rest had made. He had briefly visited the queens while they had been unconscious but now he was looking at Bombalurina in her full glory, and he hoped to be seeing Demeter and Jemima looking better too soon. When he had visited the queens, they were scrawny little things with no fat anywhere, especially with Demeter. Their bones could easily be counted and they were all a little small. But now Bombalurina was looking the older adolescent she was.
"It's nice to see you." He commented. The scarlet queen looked confused for a moment, not knowing that Old Deuteronomy had visited her and her family just over 3 weeks previous. She bowed respectfully, aware that this one conversation with the Jellicle Leader could change her, her sister's and her niece's lives forever.
"I'm Bombalurina sir and I'm here to speak to you about..." Her voice trailed off as Old Deuteronomy raised his paw to stop her.
"I am very much aware of why you are here, Bombalurina," interrupted Deuteronomy in his deep, yet calming voice. "And I am here to tell you that I accept what you are about to ask. You and your sister with her kitten are very much able to stay here for as long as you wish." Bombalurina was once again looking confused and shocked. It wasn't how she had planned the meeting to go at all; she was expecting that she would have to explain and possibly plead to be allowed to stay, yet Old Deuteronomy had answered her question before she had even asked it! Bombalurina turned to see Jellylorum smiling, and that told her that what she had just heard was real and not just wishful thinking.
"Thank you," Bombalurina whispered, unsure what else she could say. Then she walked out, a happy Jellylorum beside her. Outside Old Deuteronomy's den Jelly pulled Bombalurina into a hug. Bombalurina stiffened for a moment then accepted the embrace, clinging onto the fur on Jelly's back as they held the embrace. The two queens then walked back to the infirmary, both purring softly.
Back in the infirmary, they arrived to see Demeter waking and Jemima lying on her chest, pushing at her cheek.
"He accepted it!" Squealed Bombalurina, unable to stay formal any more. "This is our home!" Then the realisation began to dawn on them; that they were safe from Macavity, that they could live without constant fear of beatings. That they were safe.
"There's one other thing" Jelly said as she interrupted their thoughts, "I spoke to Old Deuteronomy yesterday and he said..." The sister's were looking at her with curiosity all over their faces. "He said that if he agreed to you staying I could adopt you," Jellylorum finished, slightly rushing the last few words. Bombalurina was looking shocked for the second time that day and Demeter was also looking shocked. For a moment Jelly thought that she had said something wrong, but then she found herself being pulled into a giant hug by the two sister, with three queens purring loudly and Jemima mewling, confused at why she was surrounded by different smells and fur.