She was running, ever did it seem she was running. She cut across mounds of garbage and through narrow passes, wretched cars lining either side like a canyon, her pursuers closing in behind her. She was fatigued and weary in more that just body, but in mind and spirit also. She fell just before reaching the boarders of the Yard and found that she was unable to rise once more. Backing away until her shoulders grazed the fence Mar hissed and growled angrily, ears flat against her skull as she watched the toms approach. There was a third with them now, a black and white they'd called to for help, all looking at her suspiciously, the tips of their tails twitching.
They made no move towards her however, only crouched a good deal away. "Who are you?" The patch coated black and white called out. Mar bared teeth and hissed, her fur stood on end, chest heaved, and body was cold and numb with fright. "She's hurt," said the youngest, before the other brown tom nodded. "We heard screaming and went to look." he put in turning to the black and white who seemed to think for a moment before saying to neither of his companions in particular, "Go fetch Munkustrap." The queen's head still blazed with fire, and her vision came in trembling, fleeting burst, color and depth distorted greatly causing her to squeeze shut her eyes and will it all away.
She didn't like being so vulnerable or trapped, yet here she was, her back quite literally to a wall. Her nose alerted her first the presence of not only one, but many new comers. She opened her eyes and saw a sliver tom approaching, low, hand held towards her in a placating manner. "I'll tear you!" Mar bellowed, trying to force some menace into her voice. "Before you can ever touch me, I'll tear you!" The tom, who she realized was the same cat she had seen acting so strangely before sat down and looked at her for several minutes watching as the queen struggled to regain control of her senses. Recognition lit in his gaze as a breeze cut through the fence, and roughed through the fur of the gathered cats. "He can't hurt you here." he murmured, causing Mar's stomach to clench tightly unnerved by the ease with which this male spoke of Macavity.
The tom turned to an older queen with a lightly colored coat and whispered something. But hadn't he done just that? Mar wondered thinking still of Macavity. Hurt her while she slept, foolishly believing there was safety in her dreams anymore. "So, um, what's your name?" asked the younger of the brown and whites, he was pawed gently to silence by his companion while the female hurried away. The tortoise shell remained quiet as she surveyed the group, toms and queens of varying age were gathered watching her with interest, whispering and motioning with curiosity.
"My name is Munkustrap," called the silver cat then his voice clear and commanding. "Second in command to Old Deuteronomy, Protectorate, and Guardian of the Yard and to any friendly cats therein." Munkustrap said, tone steady and even. "May I know your name?" he asked then, his time falling, becoming friendly more familiar than when he had named his title and rank. Mar eyed the others hotly. What did he mean friendly cats therein? Macavity had followers, by they were expendable, and he offered protection to no one, so cats living as such was a foreign concept to her. The queen licked her lips before answering, "Mar." she said weakly.
Munkustrap nodded, a short name consisting of a single syllable, indicative of a cat born and raised stray. "Well," he said clearing his throat. "This is the Jellicle Junkyard. We're a family here, made up of many different cats, from many different walks of life. You could stay here too, as long and you obeyed the laws, and maintained the peace." Mar listened, closing her her eyes against a heavy wave of nausea.
It was then that the crowd who had gathered parted allowing a bold red coated queen and a calico, led by the old female who had hurried away, to pass by. "What is all the fuss about?" the red cat asked with irritation. Her ears twitched at the sight of Mar huddled against the chainlink. "A new cat?" she scoffed brows raised, her expression fell when she noticed her companion tense, it was then that she scented the air. "Macavity." the queens said, their solemn voices synchronized, Mar bristled, but the red queen quickly took command of the situation. "There's nothing to see here," she said turning to the congregation. "Now, shoo." When a few of the younger cats hesitated she put her hands on her hips and stomped her foot. "I said 'now!'"
The calico approached the stray carefully, "It's okay," she said with a gentle smile. "My name is Demeter," she said before motoining to the red cat. "That incorrigible force of nature back there is Bombalurina, and you're going to come with us." Mar hissed slightly as she pulled away from Demeter's outstretched arms. "Listen, I know this is scary, it was for me too," the queen went on in an easy tone. "My name wasn't always Demeter, it used to be Wren, like the bird, but I renamed myself when I came here. The Yard is a chance for a fresh start, and a new life for cats-" "Particularly those with a rough start." Bombalurina cut in then after seeing to the crowd dispersal. "Munkus, says your name's Mar. Well come on Mar, lets get you fixed up, dry, and something to eat."
The alley cat's hard gaze shifted uneasily between the other females who were trying hard to garner some type of trust with her. She cautiously took their offered hands and followed them warily to their shared den. It was small, cozy, draped with bright and colorful fabrics making it feel homey and lived in, it smelled delightfully of rosemary. Demeter set about to cleaning the wound on the back of Mar's head, a painful and thankless chore while Bombalurina shifted about a few containers, and heated some water, smiling as Mar watched in awe between winces. "I take it you've never had tea before?" she asked. It was true that Mar had seen Macavity imitate human behaviour before but it was his violence and cruelty that had imbedded itself in her mind. "My friend and I love tea." the queen went on.
"Y-you aren't sisters?" Mar asked. "Sisters in arms maybe, but there's no blood." Balurina said without turning. Mar doubled over with a bout of dizziness then and her hostesses exchanging worried glances. After handing the new cat a steaming cup of sweet scented herb tea Bombalurina took a seat, followed by Demeter. They looked at one another as though unsure of how to begin, Demeter bit her lower lip. "You've had a run in with Macavity, the Mystery Cat, haven't you?" Bold and daring Bombalurina broke the silence at last. Mar turned away in surprise her face paling, unable to find her voice, tail twitching irately.
Balurina smiled weakly. "That's nothing to be ashamed of, lots of cats have." she pressed her lips together. "I liked my toms wild, dangerous, fast paced," she mused with a twisted smile into her tea cup. "Still do, but boy did I get more than I had bargained for with him," her tone had changed, bitter but with a slight whimsical lilt. "We were Hell together, stealing, vandalism, nights of endless burning passion," she fell silent as she stared at her cup, lost in thought and memory. "We broke whatever laws we pleased, but that was the thing," she paused rubbing a wrist absentmindedly. "Laws aren't the only things he likes to break."
Mar watched the red cat sip at her steaming beverage for a moment before prying. "You loved him?" Balurina sneered at the question. "Love's a strong word dear, I don't use it very often." Demeter elbowed her friend with a devilish grin. "Especially not with the Rum Tum Tugger!" she teased trying to cheer her up, Bomb turned on her. "You know very well that he is on probation, don't play coy with me!" Mar couldn't help be feel that she was missing something until Demeter explained things. "Her tom, they aren't speaking at the moment." Her tom? The stray's expression must have betrayed her confusion because Balurina interjected with further explanation.
"Things work differently here, you get to choose, oh, and feel free to kick him in the head when you see him!" After a few moments of silence Demeter felt that she could share her own story with the thin and ragged queen. "I know about his cruelty too." Mar looked with a guarded interest, the calico's tone was much different as she spoke, low, lamenting. "Lone queen, dark alley, I'm sure you know the rest..." Mar nodded grimly as she stirred her tea, copying their motions, her gaze fell, did they expect her to share as well? "Misto, is on his way isn't he?" Balurina questioned before seeing the fright in Mar's eyes. "His a young thing, sweet, but he can help with," Bombie paused unsure of how to put it. "Mistoffelees is a conjuring cat, he can deal with any lingering... Threads that tie you to Macavity..."
