Tugger's view

Well this is interesting. All of us against Macavity and we are still losing. Damn Misto, running off after Vicki like that. He just can't leave her alone. I hope they find Demi soon, I don't think we can keep this up much longer, not without magic. Macavity is so strong with his magic. How come he inherited all the magic and Munk and I got none at all? I wonder how Munk is doing. I hope he is O.K. I know we argue sometimes, well often, but I can't bear to be without him. He is my brother and the tribe needs him. I can' be a Jellicle leader; it's just not me. We really need to find Demi though-he won't recover if we don't. Demi means the world to him and to Bomb. Really, I doubt he'd survive without her. Where are Vicki and Misto? What can possibly be taking them so long? Surely my brother's lair isn't that big.

Alonzo's View

I swear to the everlasting cat that if I get out of here, I will never scratch anybody again. I will play with the kittens more and I will take Cassy out on a romantic date. I'll buy her flowers and fish and all the stuff queens like. I'll repaint the den like she asked. I just don't want to die here-not like this. I want to see my friends again and have a leisurely nap with Cassy by my side. I want to have kits and that sorta thing. Maybe. One day soon. Where the hell are those magical cats?

Misto's View

She was barely alive, just breathing, not even moving. It was enough though. I carried her out and we began to make our way back to the main hall. Then Demi woke up and screamed. Vicki quickly placed a paw over her mouth to stop her but it was a few minutes before she stopped thrashing around. Then she began to sob and I was so surprised that I dropped her but picked her up again quickly when Vicki gave me a dirty look. Demi sobbed all the way back only stopping to ask about Munk. When we explained what had happened, she calmed a bit and tried to walk. She was far too weak; Macavity hadn't fed her since she had arrived so I ended up carrying her again. The battle was still raging as we ran through. Vicki stopped to scream "run" at everybody and shot bolts at Macavity. He was caught off guard giving us all a chance to escape. We rushed towards the exit, me carrying Demi. Just as the door was looming it began to close. Macavity was laughing behind us. I leapt towards the door but I didn't see who came behind me. I turned and found henchcats attacking the group. Vicki wasn't with us. She was, missing. I heard her cry from the other side of the closed door. I instinctively ran to the door trying to push it open but it was too heavy. She was yelping in pain. I banged the door with tears streaming from my eyes. This couldn't be happening. We were safe outside; all of us were going to be fine but not my Vicki. He had got her. After all these years he had finally got his daughter back and he would never let her go. Then just as I turned from the wall to return to the junkyard, I heard her scream again. She was being dangled off the top of the junk pile by her father.

"Say goodbye to Vicki. She isn't coming back." Then they were gone again. I hear her yelp and then it all went silent.

Vicki's View

I was too slow I couldn't make it through the door. It closed just in front of me with Alonzo barely making it through. I ran pushing at it, begging the everlasting cat to open the door. Then he hit me hard around the face, my own dad. I was yelping and I could hear Misto yelping to on the other side of the door. He was so near but so far at the same time. Worlds apart, I knew I wouldn't ever see him perform again or watch him dance or any of the things that made me love him. Then I was being dragged up over a pile of junk and I was over the edge. I saw Misto below me crying and the others just staring, petrified for me. Macavity simply yelled and then just as I thought he was going to drop me he threw me across the floor and told them I would never see them again. I didn't cry for days, I never cried in front of him. That would have been a sign of weakness; but when I was alone, I thought of Misto and the tears fell. Then one day I was running. Then I was falling. I fell so far.

Bomb's View

They came back wearily into the junkyard, at first I thought that Demi wasn't with them but then I saw her being carried on Misto's back. He was crying but I could not see why. Maybe he was injured. I ran over to help him and Demi literally fell into my arms. The minute she was off Misto's back, he ran off sobbing. I glanced at Tugger but he simply looked away. I knew something was wrong but I was too worried about Demi at that minute to care. I immediately had Demi taken to Jenny and Jelly who swiftly patched her up. Most of her injuries were emotional ones but she was hungry. Munk was nowhere to be found and for a while I worried he had killed himself or something but as I was lying with Demi on the tyre and he returned. At first he did not see Demi but she called to him. He shook his head and carried on believing he had imagined it but then she ran and they were soon rubbing against each other, purring. It was beautiful and I even saw Tugger smile at it, he'll deny that in the den later. Later that evening we were sitting around listening to Demi's tale when I realised that cats were missing. I found Jemima, Electra, Etcetera, and Cassy sitting in a quiet corner crying but when I asked why they just shook their heads. I tried to ask Tugger and Alonzo but they just sent me after Misto. He was soaking wet sitting in a drainpipe. I should have realised she was missing straight away but I didn't, she was normally so quiet and timid anyway. I assumed she was sleeping. Misto just turned to me and looked straight through me as though he was hoping to see somebody else. It took me half an hour to get the story out of him. Between the sobbing, I gathered something about Vicki's past and her future; if she had one. Search parties were sent out but nothing was found. Macavity had moved her far away from the Jellicles. Misto nearly died in those first few days, he did not eat or sleep. He was ill and everybody was afraid we would lose him, and then he picked himself up; but when he thought nobody was there he would cry himself to sleep.

Misto's View

We held a memorial service for Vicki today. We told everybody about her family and her past. The tribe had lost their best dancer and the kittens had lost a best friend, everybody missed her and nobody minded her past or her magic. Jemima sang and we all danced. I performed her favourite magic trick. I sat and watched the couples dancing rather sadly. Three months ago that would have been me. She is probably in the Heaviside Layer now; I hope she is happy and I hope she waits for me. Another life without her would be unbearable. Demi apologised, she blamed it on herself and for a while I blamed her to. Then I realised that Vicki was her friend and she wouldn't want me to go through life blaming everybody. Skimble misses her to, sometimes we'll be eating dinner and he'll set an extra place or call her name by accident. It's like she is still here. I suppose she is; the ones you love never truly leave you; you can always find them in your heart. Vicki would never leave me alone so I always have her company. I don't hear her laugh anymore but when I hear a wind in the trees or I see a tree dancing with the wind, it reminds me of her. I will always love her.

Demi's View

It's all my fault she has gone; if only I hadn't gone on that date she would still be here. Misto would still have his mate, Skimble would still have his daughter and Jemima would still have her best friend. I know Misto doesn't blame me anymore and Munk, Tugger, and Bomb always tell me I am overreacting but I can't help it. I am expecting kittens; twins, one boy and one girl. The boy will be called Allegro and the girl will be Victoria; if Misto agrees to it. I miss Vicki a lot, so does Munk. Jemima and Vicki were his favourite kittens. One day we will tell our daughter about the brave beautiful cat she is named after. Vicki saved me and I will do anything to honour her memory.

4 months later (Outside view)

Victoria ran down the alley and attempted to blend into the bin bags, not very easy when you are half gold and half silver. She was a very beautiful kitten resembling both her mother and father in their colouring. It had been her idea to play chase with her brother Allegro and Bomb's kittens Allegra and Rhapsody. Mungo and Teazer had let their two daughters Moonshadow and Moonshine join in and Alonzo's boys, Pan and Hermes, had also joined the fun, rolling around in the dirt. Victoria was secretly rather glad that she was hiding first as it meant she could take the most time without her brother worrying about her. She was just about to burrow under a bin bag when she heard a large clatter. Nervously but bravely she looked out and to her great surprise she saw a cat stumbling down the alley.

"Who are you?" she demanded bravely. After all she was Demi's and Munk's daughter.

"Vicki." The cat said and then she collapsed.

It took Victoria all evening to drag the queen back to the junkyard, by which time her friends had given up looking for her. Apart from Allegro who kept searching, he was sensible and would never leave a Jellicle behind-just like his father. He was astonished to see his sister dragging the cat and ran to get his parents.

"Mum, dad-come with me. See what Victoria has found."

"No." Munk said firmly, "it is past your bedtime."

Allegro ran out the den followed by an extremely annoyed set of parents who became a lot less annoyed and more hysterical when they saw who was lying on the floor in the junkyard. Demi screamed waking all the other Jellicles who came running. Vicki was breathing heavily and Jenny and Jelly soon discovered two gashes to her sides and a head wound. Pan, Hermes, Moonshine, Moonshadow, Allegra, and Rhapsody stood watching their parents desperately trying to save the white cat. Her normally shining fur was red and seeping with blood. She lay dying on the floor in a place that had once been her home. Mungo, Teazer, Cassy, Alonzo, Elect, Etcet, Pounce, Tumble, and Admetus stood around Vicki trying to protect her from the rain that was now pouring from the sky. Tugger, Bomb, Demi and Munk were trying to help Jenny and Jelly. Skimble was talking to his daughter, whispering in her ear and soothing her while Jemima sang a lullaby. Jenny and Jelly lay her head back down with tears falling from their eyes saying there was nothing they could do for her. She was wounded internally by magic: Macavity. Only then was Misto remembered. Bomb ran to find him. Since the memorial he had withdrawn from the tribe only talking to the kitten Victoria and Bomb, Munk, Tugger, and Demi. He was now living on the junkyard outskirts in an old bin. Bomb screeched to a halt outside and screamed for him to follow her as Vicki needed him. The minute her name was mentioned he ran from the bin and pelted across the yard to his beloved mate. He fell to her side crying, while she lay. Finally she managed to speak.

"I have to go now Misto. I know what I have to do. Don't cry; I got to see you one last time. I love you."

"I love you Vicki." He sobbed. Then she was gone. Her white coat stained with blood and tears. Her paw went limp and her eyes clouded over. The Jellicles all turned quietly, crying for their friends. Misto just sat, broken. He left his hand in hers and lay down next to her. Then there was a flash of light as their heads touched and suddenly Vicki was dancing with Misto. She was pure white again. White like an angel, like snow, like Vicki should be. The couple danced for a minute before stopping and just kissing softly in the moonlight. The Jellicles were astounded-how was this possible? Nobody really cared. All that mattered was Vicki was back and she was alive. The cats danced through the night-forgetting the rain and Macavity. The tribe was happy again. For years Jellicles would say magic had cured Vicki, but everybody present knew that it was Misto and Vicki's love that had saved her.

Thanks goes to my wonderful, amazing, brilliant, etc. beta-reader, Sarah Elizabeth Emily Woods. She is brilliant.