***Big shout out to my reader Cocobutterrox for the kitten names and descriptions! You rock! Also, another birth scene. Might be graphic to some people...***
I woke up the next day feeling really groggy. I turned my head to see that Tugger's side of the bed was empty. I slowly got up just as Tugger walked in.
"I see someone is finally awake!"
I stuck my tongue out at him, but he wiggled his eyebrows up and down suggestively while looking at me with my tongue out. I quickly put my tongue back in my mouth. "Ugh. What time is it?"
"Almost noon."
"What?!" I cried. "Is Bomba and Jerrie doing ok?"
"Yeah, I just came from Jenny's. There's another surprise, too."
"What?"
"You'll have to see."
Tugger walked with me to Jenny's den. He had to support me since I was still feeling groggy. We walked into the den, and there was Bomba holding her newborn tom, with a smiling Jerrie gently rubbing the small head. I snapped out of grogginess. A movement caught my attention, and sitting on another examination table was…
"Victoria!" I cried. She was holding a small bundle in her hands. "D-did you have your kitten?"
She grinned. "Last night."
"I am sooo sorry I wasn't here!"
She waved me off. "Don't worry about it. You were sleeping." Suddenly Misto appeared by my side. I jumped three feet. I'll probably never get used to him appearing out of thin air.
"Sorry," Misto said apologetically. He picked up the kitten to show me. It was a beautiful queen. She was white with silver spots all over her body. "Her name is Fairuza."
"That's beautiful…" I whispered, then turned to Bomba and Jerrie. "Hey Bomba, what did you name your kitten?"
"We've been thoinking oll noight, ond we've decoided to nome 'im Ovahad," Jerrie said.
"I like that!"
"When is your kitten due?" Bomba looked at my round stomach.
"Supposedly any time now," I said, looking at Tugger.
Well, it's been over a week now, and I'm still carrying my kitten. Jenny and Jelly keep telling us to be patient, but I don't think we can wait any longer. I can tell Tugger is stressed, even though he denies that he is. I see the worry in his eye. Oh! Speaking of eyes, Fairuza and Ovahad finally opened their eyes! Fairuza has beautiful turquoise eyes, and Ovahad has a deep broze color.
Jemima and the rest of the kittens were always by our side, trying to be as helpful as they can. Etcetera had finally gotten over her obssession with Tugger, and frankly, I don't think he minded that much. I could see he wanted to be a good role model for his coming son/daughter because he stopped flirting with queens altogether. Bomba and Victoria always brought the kittens over, and I loved watching them teetering around our den. All of us (including the other Jellicles) were anxiously awaiting the arrival of our kitten.
It finally happened one night. I had gone to bed early while Tugger went over to Munk's. My stomach began cramping and soon the pain became unbearable. I tried calling for Tugger but was too weak. I tried getting out of bed but crumpled to the floor. I thought I was all alone but heard Misto's voice in my ear.
"Aliyah? We need to go to Jenny's!"
"M-Misto? How did you know I was here?"
"Coricopat and Tantomile saw in their minds what was going on and told me, they're finding Tugger and bringing him to Jenny's."
Misto helped me up and held onto me all the way to the den. Laying on the examination table, the contractions came faster and faster. Tugger burst through the door moments later and winced at the blood that came out of me. He shook it off and sat next to me as Jenny instructed me to push.
AHH! I had never experienced such pain before in my life! I cried as I felt the head coming through. Tugger was coaching me and trying to calm me down. After my crying died down I noticed that the room was silent. I knew the kitten was out, but I heard no crying. Tugger was still and stared atraight ahead.
"What? What's going on? Why isn't the kitten crying?"
Tugger did not meet my eyes. "The umbilical cord is wrapped around her neck."
Her? I had a queen! A baby girl! But...the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck?! "Save her!" I cried. "Don't let her die!"
Misto was there the entire time and was trying to revive the kitten with his magic after Jenny had removed the umbilical cord. The only sound in the room was my crying and the faint sound of Misto trying to save the kitten. I felt that time was moving by slow as I anxiously listened for any sound from my baby. A few minutes later, I heard the kitten suck in air and begin mewing. Jenny handed her to Tugger and he licked her clean before handing her to me. She was mostly white, and had patches of red on her ears, arms, and legs. There was a lump around her neck, which meant she was going to have a mane like Tugger.
"What should we name her?"
"She looks like a...Chartara," Tugger said thoughtfully.
"Chartara..." I repeated. "It's perfect!"
Word spread fast around the junkyard, and everybody came to visit the new kittens. Jenny shooed them after a while so we could have some quiet time. Tugger had been holding Chartara and was studying her mane.
"Whew! Well, at least my mane won't be lost." I rolled my eyes. Chartara yawned and fell asleep in his arms. As I watched Tugger look at our daughter, I knew she would be a daddy's girl. He would definitely spoil her, and she would probably get away with anything.
"Everlasting Cat," I thought. "Please don't let her be like her father with his flirting..."
***All the kittens have finally arrived! Next update soon to come!***
