One More Chance, Chapter Two
Araina, after her encounter with Macavity and sharp objects slid through the
junkyard, past the areas with the most cats to see if anyone noticed her. One cat
did. It was Etcetera, her arch enemy.
Etcetera glared down at Araina, and stood right where she could block Araina's
way.. She briefly studied the bandages tied across Araina's legs. "Those look
stupid," she announced. "What did you do to get that?" Etcetera couldn't help
but smirk at how stupid Araina looked.
"I cut myself," Araina muttered. She pushed past Etcetera and went to her bunk
bed on the far side of the Junkyard. She crawled up the blankets that hung off
the sides, and curled herself into the largest pile she could find on the bed. This
wasn't easy with her legs as sore as they were.
Unable to sleep with her legs in so much pain, Araina just lay stretched out,
thinking about anything to keep her mind off the pain. First she thought of her
uncle, Macavity. She thought of how he'd helped her realize what she had to live
for, even though it wasn't much. Next she thought of the older queens, who
hated her with a passion. She couldn't say she liked them much. Jemima could
be all right at times, but only when she was around Mistoffelees. Araina smiled
fondly as she thought of her favorite cousin. He was much older, but that didn't
matter to her. From Mistoffelees, her mind drifted to her brother, Darren. He
used to protect her a lot, but had grown out of that as he gained interest in
finding a mate. Her older sisters, Callie and Carisin, had also grown out of
playing with Araina and had begun watching toms every chance they got.
Araina's mind drifted farther from the pain in her legs as she thought of one of
her other uncles: Munkustrap. He could be friendly, but had seemed to develop
a disliking for Araina for whatever reason. She had to admit that she especially
disliked his three kits. Ratina and Rasheena, the twins, were slightly evil, and the
younger one, Echo, was adopted, but didn't care a bit. Her thoughts then turned
to Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer's kittens. Munzey, the oldest, was mean as
heck. Mio, the next oldest, was pretty mean too. Summer, third oldest and the
only girl, was actually quite pleasant when she wasn't around her brothers.
Alonzo, the youngest, was always very nice, but couldn't defend Araina when his
brothers teased and bullied her because he was so much younger and smaller.
But Araina had to admit that she liked him a lot. The final thought that entered
Araina's mind, before she stopped contemplating her life, was of the Forbiddens.
The Forbiddens were the largest enemy for the Jellicles. Even more so than
Macavity's gang. Macavity's gang had suddenly quit attacking the Jellicles. No
one noticed that this happened to be just after Araina entered the tribe. Going
back to the Forbiddens, Araina had heard rumors of the Forbidden toms abusing
queens in every possible way. The fact of it was, though, Araina didn't believe it.
Neither did Alonzo. Neither thought that any tom could be that evil.
As Araina thought of the Forbiddens, she thought of an idea that had never
entered her head. Why not join the Forbiddens? They couldn't be that bad. And
besides, the tribe certainly wouldn't care. It didn't matter to them, did it? She
didn't think so. Araina decided at that moment that she wanted to investigate
the Forbiddens.
Araina started to leave her area to go find the Forbiddens and watch them for a
while. But she didn't have time to do that. Just as she stepped out of her area,
she saw a tom. He had smooth, silky fur, that was patterned like a Bengal's. It
was golden-brown with black spots spattered all over.
The tom gazed at her with a star-struck look. The look said he thought she was
the most beautiful creature ever.
"H-hi," Araina stuttered softly. "I'm Araina. Who are you?" She gazed back at
him with an equally star-struck look.
The tom blushed and looked down. Then he gazed shyly up at her. "I'm
Tigralyn," he said softly.
"Where are you from?" she questioned. "I'm a Jellicle."
"I'm a Forbidden. We live over by the railroad tracks."
Araina's eyes lit up. "I've been thinking about the Forbiddens a lot. The toms
don't really abuse queens as much as everyone says, do they?" Suddenly
remembering that this rumor might be true, Araina backed away slightly.
"Oh no," Tigralyn assured her. "We wouldn't be that mean. Don't worry, I won't
hurt you."
Araina stepped forward a bit. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, don't worry. Who would want to hurt a pretty little queen like you?" He
glanced down at her bandaged legs. "Who did that to you?"
"Huh?" Araina looked down, and blushed. "Oh... those.. um.. I did that to
myself. Don't ask about it though."
Tigralyn nodded, but kept his eyes on the bandages. "Well, would you like to
meet the Forbiddens?"
Araina looked regretfully at him. "I'm sorry, but I can't. I'm not allowed by the
railroad tracks." She failed to mention that she'd been on the other side of town
with out permission, as she decided it wasn't important.
"Oh," Tigralyn said rather disappointedly. "Well, we could play here."
Araina nodded eagerly. "Yeah! But we have to stay over here, so the rest of the
tribe doesn't see you, and punish us both."
Tigralyn agreed to this, and the two began playing. And for the next few weeks
the played together as often as possible. After sometime of their secret meetings
going on, things began getting serious. And then Tigralyn asked Araina to be
with him forever. Araina, forgetting the consequences, said yes. They kept this a
secret as long as they could, but it didn't last.
Munkustrap stormed into Araina's area moments after Tigralyn had left after
another of their secret meetings. "Araina, you need to come with me," he said
tightly.
Araina figured what was coming and went without argument.
Munkustrap lead the kit to a special area that was much like a court room. The
elders sat on one side, Deuteronomy sat up in the front, and Munkustrap acted
as a policeman, keeping everyone out, and keeping the accused in.
"Araina," Deuteronomy started, "you have been accused of being with a
Forbidden, if you know what I mean."
"I do, sir," Araina said quietly.
"You do know the punishment if you are found guilty."
"Yes, sir."
"How do you plead?"
There was a long silence. Then, very quietly, "Guilty."
There was an even longer silence. "You do not wish to have someone defend
you? Nothing?"
"I know what I have done, and I am not sorry for it. If I may gather my things?"
"You may. Go now. I do not ever wish to see you as long as I live."
Araina turned and left the area, to return to her space to collect a few needed
things. Once she was finished, Munkustrap lead her to the gate.
As last words to her, he hissed, "Leave, forever."
Araina took one look at him and fled. She ran to the railroad tracks. She ran to
the Forbiddens. She ran to Tigralyn.
A/N: here's the continuation of the first part. Please R/R.
Araina, after her encounter with Macavity and sharp objects slid through the
junkyard, past the areas with the most cats to see if anyone noticed her. One cat
did. It was Etcetera, her arch enemy.
Etcetera glared down at Araina, and stood right where she could block Araina's
way.. She briefly studied the bandages tied across Araina's legs. "Those look
stupid," she announced. "What did you do to get that?" Etcetera couldn't help
but smirk at how stupid Araina looked.
"I cut myself," Araina muttered. She pushed past Etcetera and went to her bunk
bed on the far side of the Junkyard. She crawled up the blankets that hung off
the sides, and curled herself into the largest pile she could find on the bed. This
wasn't easy with her legs as sore as they were.
Unable to sleep with her legs in so much pain, Araina just lay stretched out,
thinking about anything to keep her mind off the pain. First she thought of her
uncle, Macavity. She thought of how he'd helped her realize what she had to live
for, even though it wasn't much. Next she thought of the older queens, who
hated her with a passion. She couldn't say she liked them much. Jemima could
be all right at times, but only when she was around Mistoffelees. Araina smiled
fondly as she thought of her favorite cousin. He was much older, but that didn't
matter to her. From Mistoffelees, her mind drifted to her brother, Darren. He
used to protect her a lot, but had grown out of that as he gained interest in
finding a mate. Her older sisters, Callie and Carisin, had also grown out of
playing with Araina and had begun watching toms every chance they got.
Araina's mind drifted farther from the pain in her legs as she thought of one of
her other uncles: Munkustrap. He could be friendly, but had seemed to develop
a disliking for Araina for whatever reason. She had to admit that she especially
disliked his three kits. Ratina and Rasheena, the twins, were slightly evil, and the
younger one, Echo, was adopted, but didn't care a bit. Her thoughts then turned
to Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer's kittens. Munzey, the oldest, was mean as
heck. Mio, the next oldest, was pretty mean too. Summer, third oldest and the
only girl, was actually quite pleasant when she wasn't around her brothers.
Alonzo, the youngest, was always very nice, but couldn't defend Araina when his
brothers teased and bullied her because he was so much younger and smaller.
But Araina had to admit that she liked him a lot. The final thought that entered
Araina's mind, before she stopped contemplating her life, was of the Forbiddens.
The Forbiddens were the largest enemy for the Jellicles. Even more so than
Macavity's gang. Macavity's gang had suddenly quit attacking the Jellicles. No
one noticed that this happened to be just after Araina entered the tribe. Going
back to the Forbiddens, Araina had heard rumors of the Forbidden toms abusing
queens in every possible way. The fact of it was, though, Araina didn't believe it.
Neither did Alonzo. Neither thought that any tom could be that evil.
As Araina thought of the Forbiddens, she thought of an idea that had never
entered her head. Why not join the Forbiddens? They couldn't be that bad. And
besides, the tribe certainly wouldn't care. It didn't matter to them, did it? She
didn't think so. Araina decided at that moment that she wanted to investigate
the Forbiddens.
Araina started to leave her area to go find the Forbiddens and watch them for a
while. But she didn't have time to do that. Just as she stepped out of her area,
she saw a tom. He had smooth, silky fur, that was patterned like a Bengal's. It
was golden-brown with black spots spattered all over.
The tom gazed at her with a star-struck look. The look said he thought she was
the most beautiful creature ever.
"H-hi," Araina stuttered softly. "I'm Araina. Who are you?" She gazed back at
him with an equally star-struck look.
The tom blushed and looked down. Then he gazed shyly up at her. "I'm
Tigralyn," he said softly.
"Where are you from?" she questioned. "I'm a Jellicle."
"I'm a Forbidden. We live over by the railroad tracks."
Araina's eyes lit up. "I've been thinking about the Forbiddens a lot. The toms
don't really abuse queens as much as everyone says, do they?" Suddenly
remembering that this rumor might be true, Araina backed away slightly.
"Oh no," Tigralyn assured her. "We wouldn't be that mean. Don't worry, I won't
hurt you."
Araina stepped forward a bit. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, don't worry. Who would want to hurt a pretty little queen like you?" He
glanced down at her bandaged legs. "Who did that to you?"
"Huh?" Araina looked down, and blushed. "Oh... those.. um.. I did that to
myself. Don't ask about it though."
Tigralyn nodded, but kept his eyes on the bandages. "Well, would you like to
meet the Forbiddens?"
Araina looked regretfully at him. "I'm sorry, but I can't. I'm not allowed by the
railroad tracks." She failed to mention that she'd been on the other side of town
with out permission, as she decided it wasn't important.
"Oh," Tigralyn said rather disappointedly. "Well, we could play here."
Araina nodded eagerly. "Yeah! But we have to stay over here, so the rest of the
tribe doesn't see you, and punish us both."
Tigralyn agreed to this, and the two began playing. And for the next few weeks
the played together as often as possible. After sometime of their secret meetings
going on, things began getting serious. And then Tigralyn asked Araina to be
with him forever. Araina, forgetting the consequences, said yes. They kept this a
secret as long as they could, but it didn't last.
Munkustrap stormed into Araina's area moments after Tigralyn had left after
another of their secret meetings. "Araina, you need to come with me," he said
tightly.
Araina figured what was coming and went without argument.
Munkustrap lead the kit to a special area that was much like a court room. The
elders sat on one side, Deuteronomy sat up in the front, and Munkustrap acted
as a policeman, keeping everyone out, and keeping the accused in.
"Araina," Deuteronomy started, "you have been accused of being with a
Forbidden, if you know what I mean."
"I do, sir," Araina said quietly.
"You do know the punishment if you are found guilty."
"Yes, sir."
"How do you plead?"
There was a long silence. Then, very quietly, "Guilty."
There was an even longer silence. "You do not wish to have someone defend
you? Nothing?"
"I know what I have done, and I am not sorry for it. If I may gather my things?"
"You may. Go now. I do not ever wish to see you as long as I live."
Araina turned and left the area, to return to her space to collect a few needed
things. Once she was finished, Munkustrap lead her to the gate.
As last words to her, he hissed, "Leave, forever."
Araina took one look at him and fled. She ran to the railroad tracks. She ran to
the Forbiddens. She ran to Tigralyn.
A/N: here's the continuation of the first part. Please R/R.