The Jellicle Ball is upon us!
"VICTORIA!" Jelly screeched when she saw Victoria come into the clearing, followed by Electra, who had woken up just a moment before, "WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT STAYING CLEAN? AND YOUR NICE WHITE FUR! YOU'RE THE HARDEST KIT TO CLEAN!"
Victoria turned a deep shade of red, close to Bomba's fur. All the kittens, who were talking quietly, looked up and started whispering. Jenny grabbed Electra, for Electra had gotten dirt all over her as well, from being dragged halfway across the junkyard. Jelly began to roughly lick Victoria clean, Jenny doing the same to Electra.
The kittens turned back to their quiet chatting, tittering. Suddenly, squealing began to fill the Junkyard. Victoria looked up from sulking and saw Tugger sauntering towards the kittens. Next to her, Electra was squirming in Jenny's arms, trying to leap towards Tugger. Jenny eventually released her, satisfied with the cleaning. Electra, who wasn't expecting to be released, shot forward and crashed right into Tugger. Tugger fell back shocked, with Electra clinging to his chest. Victoria sighed, wishing she could join in on the fun.
"You're not going anywhere until your coat is spotless!" Jelly scolded in between licks, "It's your own fault you decided to go and get dirty!"
Victoria scowled and laid her head back down on her paws.
An hour later, Jelly shook Victoria gently awake.
"You can go play now, Victoria," she said softly, "Just please stay clean!"
Victoria blinked her eyes sleepily, and leaped of Jelly's lap. She ran toward the circle of chatting kittens.
"VICTORIA!" Electra shouted. The kittens looked up at the new arrival, smiling.
"Jelly held me captive until I was as white as, well, um-"
"A dove?" Misto suggested quietly, smirking.
"Yes! Thank you!" Victoria smiled at her friend. Her stomach suddenly grumbled.
"Hey there kits! Anyone hungry!" The kittens looked up to see Munkustrap walking towards them carrying an armful of mice and birds, followed by a scowling Alonzo.
It was as if someone had read her mind! Victoria and the other kits ran up to greet their protector. Asparagus looked scornfully down at the kittens who were pawing at his ankles. He was one of the older toms who didn't like the kittens much. But as he was second-in-command as the Jellicle protector, it was his duty to help look after the kits.
Victoria grabbed a couple of mice and a pigeon, and carried them back over to where she was sitting. Soon, her friends started to join her with their pickings from the pile of dead animals. They finished up their lunch and started to chat again. Soon, they were yawning and could barely keep their eyes open. The warm sun felt so good, and they were just so tired. Jelly and Jenny smiled at the kittens all piled on top of one another, asleep.
When Victoria awoke, the sun was already setting and the adult cats were running around, trying to set up the Jellicle Ball. Carbucketty and Exotica were already awake and seemed pretty intent on not unlatching themselves from each other. Ugh, Victoria thought, why do they have to that right out in the open? She caught Electra's eye, who had just woken up, and nodded toward the grinding couple. Electra stared at them for a moment, then made a disgusted face. Victoria grinned at her reaction. Electra padded over to where Victoria was sitting.
"Ew! Can't they find a den?" Electra said, disgusted, still looking at Exotica and Carbucketty.
"I know…" Victoria said absentmindedly.
"Have you picked a mate yet?"
"I already told you! Yes, and I'm telling anyone till the mating dance!"
"Awww, can't you tell me?" Electra plead, "I promise I won't tell anyone!"
"NO!"
They heard footsteps approaching, and turned. Demeter was walking hurriedly toward them.
"Can you all wake up the rest?" Deme said, rushed, "Bring them over to Jenny's. And pull Exotica and Tumblebrutus apart from each other. They'll see each other plenty tonight."
Victoria and Electra nodded, giggling. Demeter turned on her heel and jogged away, smirking.
"How 'bout I deal with the two lovebirds, and you start waking the others?" Victoria said. Electra nodded and started to poke the kittens at random. Victoria walked up to Exotica and Tumble and tapped them on their shoulders.
"Ahem." Victoria said. The two acted like couldn't hear her.
"EXOTICA AND TUMBLE!"
The two cats looked up, startled. Several other cats had stopped what they were doing and looked at the 3 gathered cats.
"What, Victoria?" Exotica said crossly.
"Well, it's time to go to Jenny's." Victoria said, just as cross, "And everyone else would prefer not to see you all mate."
"We weren't mating!" Tumble said defensively, like a kit.
"Well, it sure looked like it."
Victoria turned on her heel and stalked over to where Electra had wakened almost all the kittens. There was a slow trickle of sleepy kits walking to Jenny's den, behind her. Victoria snuck a look over her shoulder to make sure that Exotica and Tumble had untangled themselves. They walked back to Jenny's holding hands. Exotica gave a glare over her shoulder aimed at Victoria as she walked by.
"Well, that's all of them!" Electra exclaimed, having not taken notice of Exotica's behavior.
"Mhmm." Victoria agreed.
They followed the line of kittens back to Jenny's den to make final preparations for the Jellicle Ball.
Let me know what you all think!