Varjak Paw- Above the City
Please note - this is work in progress, and will be updated every 24 hours. If I'm lucky. But enjoy and please review!
Jarlo reluctantly followed Turbulence to the speech. There were thousands of cats there, all perched on the harbour's anchors and around the buildings. The smell of fish was strong. Jarlo wrinkled his nose.
Varjak Paw was standing next to Holly and Tam on a half-smashed crate. The Orrible Twins were behind him on another crate, as well as the Scratch Sisters. Their temper seemed to have disappeared.
"Pernisha, the third Scratch Sister, died for Varjak Paw and his gang, on the west side of the city. She did it to help Varjak destroy Sally Bones. You're still saying she's the best thing for the city?" Turbo said in Jarlo's ear.
"I don't want to talk to you," he growled.
She took a step back. "Then I'll leave you alone."
Varjak cleared his throat, and silence fell. Jarlo's Awareness told him that he was nervous. That comforted him somewhat.
"This city is for Free Cats." The crowd cheered; a cacophony of praise and joy. "Sally Bones is gone, and now the west side is clear." Cheers erupted once again, increasing in volume. "We are going to dine tonight like there's no tomorrow!" Jarlo himself was tempted by his words. "Therefore, I'm saying that for this night only, we can eat as much as we can! No rules! No laws! Just mice, fish, and pidgeons!"
The cats laughed at that. Everyone knew that it was impossible to catch a pidgeon. Jarlo wondered if Sally Bones had ever caught a pidgeon, and the thought made him smile slightly.
Once the entire speech had ended, Turbo dragged Jarlo over to meet Varjak himself. His legendary silver-blue fur shone in the mid-morning light, and his amber eyes were full of courage and confidence. Jarlo felt his power shrink in respect. He gulped, and watched Turbulence address Holly.
"My good friend Holly, it's been a while!" she laughed freely. She sniffed Holly's spiky black and white fur, and laughed again. "You smell horrible! Where have you been?"
Holly's sharp mustard eyes caught Varjak's. "Somewhere secret."
Turbo burst in fits of giggles, and managed to introduce Jarlo. "He's my friend!" she snorted, paws clutching her sides. "Say hello, Jarlo!"
"Hello." That was all.
Varjak smiled warmly. "Forgive me for saying this, but were you a pet?"
Jarlo bristled and snarled, "No."
Tammie rolled her eyes. "The tension is too great!" she cried dramatically, raising a plump paw to her forehead and closing her eyes.
Varjak laughed; a strangely gentle, pleasant sound. But it only made Jarlo more alert. He watched suspiciously as Turbulence ignored him completely and chatted to her friend Holly. After a while, Varjak joined in, the spirit Jarlo had seen whilst fighting the terrible Sally Bones gone.
Jarlo sighed. "I'm off," he muttered.
"No wait!" His Awareness buzzed as he felt the air close in around his tail. He spun around, energy rising, in Slow-Time, powering his Moving Circles, baring his teeth, when he saw it was only Turbo, backing away in fright. He looked around. The other cats were gazing fearfully, cowering into the crates and anchors.
Jarlo steadied himself. Calm, he thought firmly. I must remain calm.
Varjak was looking at him interestedly. Jarlo was aware of this; however, he smiled and said, "Turbo, are you OK?"
The youthful grey cat nodded slowly. "What was that? I've never seen anything like it! You really are a strange one, Jarlo."
Elyza cut in. "I know you! You're that cat from the alleyways!" Her thin claws protruded, glinting dangerously. "You have some nerve coming here!"
Malisha added, "You thought you got away, didn't you? And there's the traitor to all the gangs, the infamous Turbulence! You're not going to steal anything now, are you?"
At that moment, there was muffled laughter, breaking the tension between Turbo and the Scratch Sisters. Tammie had found a flopping fish, and was toying with it hungrily.
"You're Turbulence?" Varjak exclaimed.
"Didn't you know?" the cat chuckled, her fur still unsettled. "I've been here all this time, and you didn't know!"
Varjak laughed half-heartedly with her. Tam's brown eyes widened and she curled a paw protectively around her food.
"You dare steal it, and I-I'll bite you!" she stuttered, big bushy tail wavering.
The crowd, once silent, started tittering nervously at Tam. Omar and Ozzie were glaring harshly at Turbulence and Jarlo, like they didn't deserve to be in the central. They truly are the Orrible Twins, thought Jarlo.
Suddenly, he felt claws rake his shoulder. He turned, ready for a brawl, when he saw it was Ginger, snarling as usual. His ginger fur was on end, and his big blunt claws looked menacing.
"You causin' a mess?" he growled, Ripper and Streak flanking him. The gang was behind him, flexing their muscles, watching diligently.
"No." Jarlo was careful with his words. Ginger was dangerous.
Evidently, the other gangs thought so too. Varjak stiffened, the Orrible Twins glowered, the Scratch Sisters scowled and the other lesser gangs shrank in terror. Ginger's gang spread out like a fan, a gang of trouble.
"Ginger!" Holly shouted. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to hear what this cat's saying," Ginger replied, scars writhing in agitation on his face.
"You haven't missed anything," Jarlo retorted.
Ginger rotated. "Mind your own business, sonny," he growled, threatening to start a fight.
Jarlo puffed out his chest. "You don't scare me, Ginger."
"I don't?" the ginger tomcat asked furiously. "Well, it's about time were!"
Jarlo threw himself against Ginger, who dodged with a lumbering grace. Ginger slashed back, and Jarlo yelped.
It was time to show Ginger. Show him what Jarlo really could do.
Jarlo breathed in deeply, filling the whole of his lungs. The red-hot power surged through him, and he revealed his claws. The world shimmered in Slow-Time. His Awareness tracked down everything moving. He could see Ginger, coming at him, eyes ablaze with fury.
He struck, the power of his Moving Circle arcing through the air, and landing straight into Ginger's mane.
CRACK. Ginger fell back, stunned and bleeding.
One more hit. SMASH. Ginger was almost finished. Nothing left now, Jarlo observed.
He raised his paw. Ginger looked up, defiant, strong, proud.
"Enough."
Varjak stepped in, eyes scrutinising, fur glowing, muscles flexing. Jarlo's breath turned shallow, and he stepped out of Slow-Time. Varjak was emotionless. By the way he seemed to appear and disappear, Jarlo knew he was in Slow-Time, and he sighed.
"Varjak Paw," he said quietly. "I think you've guessed you're not the only one."
"What do you mean?" Holly asked quickly. "Varjak, what does he mean?"
Varjak just stared. Jarlo stared back. It carried on like that until Turbulence cleared her throat.
"Heh heh," she laughed nervously. "I'm starving, and the 'I can eat whatever' rule's still going, right?" She turned around and began to scamper away. "See you guys later! I'm going hunting!"
"Wait for me!" Jarlo called, and rushed after her, breaking the eye-contact with Varjak. As much as he hated that silver-blue cat, it was almost lunch, and Jarlo was curious to see Turbo's dog friends.