"See reason? What reason?!" he bellowed at his sire. "Those humans mean to drive us from our rightful home and you want us to do nothing!"
"That's not true, Macavity!" Munkustrap, Macavity's younger brother jumped up in his sire's defence. "Old Deuteronomy's found a new home for us. He's recieved the blessing of the Everlasting Cat, there's nothing wrong with this new home."
Macavity whirled to face his silver brother. "Nothing wrong with running like cowards, you mean." he hissed.
The two brothers faced each other, the other tribemembers nervously sitting to the sides. The brothers were evenly matched, Munkustrap's cool demenor matching his silver coat in sharp contrast to the flaming temper of Macavity's red one. If there was a fight, it would either be determined by Munkustrap's skill or Macavity's strength.
Old Duteronomy sat on the tire. Never before had he been at such odds against his son. Macavity hadn't been his ideal choice as Jellicle Protector, but as the eldest it was his position by birth. Munkustrap would have been the better suited to the task, but he was the younger and only if something were to happen to Macavity would Munkustrap step up to the roll. Out of one corner of his eye, a patch of orange moved. Old Deuteronomy turned his head to see the Railway Cat, Skimbleshanks, moving to stand next to the youthful Munkustrap. The orange tabby had a level head. Perhaps he could do something... Do the impossible task of trying to change the mind of Macavity.
"Macavity, lad, I know it isnna gonna be easy for any of us." he said in his thick Scottish brogue. "But these are humans we're talkin' about. We canna fight them. The only magic cat we have, wee Quaxo over there, isnna even weaned yet." he continued, tilting his head towards a three week old Quaxo held securely in the arms of his mother, Noilly Prat. "There's no shame in avoidin' a fight ye canna win."
"Can't fight them? You mean won't fight them." Macavity spat. "But if you won't do something, I will." he hissed and turned to walk out of the Junkyard.
Old Deuteronomy stood. "Macavity." The red tom stopped, but didn't turn. "Take no action against those humans." Old Deuteronomy's word. That was Jellicle Law. Macavity gave a low growl and stalked out of the yard, the Jellicle tribe watching as their protector left them.
The Jellicle Leader looked down at his younger son, who was still looking after his brother, the brother who had at one time been his hero. Although he didn't want to admit it, the old tom knew that soon the young tom would have to assume his brother's cast-off mantle. Would he be ready for it?
Macavity watched from a nearby roof as the construction company's warehouse was engulfed by flames that reached high into the night sky. He didn't bother to supress a twisted smile as he watched the firefighters try in vain to extinguish the blaze. The fire was a mix of magic he had procured from a down and out magic cat for the price of a meal and the humans' own chemicals. It wouldn't go out, not until the last timber had fallen.
"See how it feels to have one's home threatened." he said lowly. He could feel the heat of the blaze through his short coat, and decided that it was time to leave. He had much to do.
A new home. Old Deuteronomy had made that much clear. Macavity had broken Jellicle Law by burning the building and his pushishment was banishment from the tribe. Had it been worth it? Yes. His purpose had been served. When the humans sifted through the remains of the warehouse, they would find a calling card. A piece of metal with one word scratched into it:
The humans would learn to fear that name. To fear a name of a creature that they at one time thought was nothing more than a common pet. Turning his back to the fire, Macavity walked away. Away from the fire, away from the Junkyard, and towards the docks. He had plans for the docks, and all those cats who idled away their time there. Oh yes he did...
Demeter... Macavity looked down from the fire escape at the queen who was blissfully unaware of the danger lurking above her. He smiled, exposing long canine teeth. She had grown up quite nicely. True enough, he had noticed her budding beauty before his banishment, but Macavity had given more attention to her older and more sensual sister, Bombalurina. The ginger tom was aware that his younger brother, Munkustrap, had been courting Demeter as of late and he had, on occasion, seen the two young cats together. It appears we both have the same eye for the queens, dear brother. Macavity thought to himself.
Quietly slipping down the fire escape, Macavity fell into step behind the yellow queen. Her step was filled with a youthfull energy and her eyes shone with the hope that the young have for life. Macavity halted and drew back a little ways when he heard the sound of a Peke. The fur on his back stood on end. He hated Pekes almost as much as humans. Demeter also heard the sound of the approaching dog, but was not as quick as her more streetwise former-tribe mate. The Peke caught the queen in it's gaze and quickly gave chase. Demeter was easy prey. She was still young, didn't know how to properly avoid a dog. Macavity thought about this new development. It might be quite a good thing indeed to have this queen in his debt.
"HELP!" Demeter called from a dead-end alley. She was backed against a wall, frantically looking for anyway to escape. The Peke looked at her with a gaze full of sadistic glee. "HEEELLLLP!" Demeter screamed louder.
"Ain't no one gonnna 'ear ya, doll." the Peke grinned/growled. "You can make this easy or 'ard..."
Demeter was frozen to the spot. She couldn't move and she was out of distance for any Jellicle to hear her. The Peke approached her, it's jowls slobbering in anticipation of a short bit of fun before a quick kill. The quick kill only if he had enough fun with the game before.
"Well, well, this certainly won't do." came a smooth voice from behind the Peke. The voice sounded familiar to Demeter, but she couldn't place it. The dog turned.
"You..." it growled. "You's the one that took down 'Enry..."
An outline of a tall, thin tom became visible to Demeter. "And I'll do the same to you. One more Peke is nothing to me." The Peke growled, lunging at the cat. There was a blur of red as the two forms passed each other.
They both stopped.
The Peke fell, a hole ripped in it's soft underbelly.
Demeter looked at her savior, trying to place him. He had long red fur, soaked in the red blood of the Peke. His long whiskers were uncombed and his coat, that which wasn't bloodsoaked, was dusty and looked like it hadn't been groomed in months.
"Th... thank you..." Demeter stammered, not sure whether or not she was better off with this tom or the Peke. "W... who are you?"
The tom looked down at her, a mild look of amusement crossed his face. "I guess you were a bit young when I saw you last, Demeter." he said, in a low voice. "You've done a lot of growing, very nice growing indeed." Demeter was aware that his eyes were roaming all over her body, making her feel very exposed.
She gulped. "I... I guess we must have met if you know me." she ventured, standing. "But I'm afraid I don't know who you are."
The tom walked up to Demeter, who stepped back until she was backed up against the wall. He placed one hand beside her head and licked the Peke blood off his other. Demeter shuddered. "You wound me, Demeter. You mean to tell me you don't remember Macavity."
Demeter's eyes shot wide open. "Macavity... But... But you're banished!"
A bored look crossed his face. "Banished... Jellicles seem to forget that banished doesn't mean dead."
"But this is Jellicle territory." Demeter protested. "You're not supposed to be here!"
"Would you have prefered the Peke to kill you?" Macavity asked, smiling. "He would have, you know."
Demeter's features softened a bit. Macavity smiled. Her defences were dropping. "I'm sorry, you're right. I should be more greatful."
"Then would you mind doing me a small favor in return?" Macavity asked. "It's nothing really. You'll be back in the Junkyard by nightfall." He took a small step nearer the queen.
Demeter smiled. "I guess that would be alright." she replied. "I mean, you're Munk's brother. That means you're practically family for me now! What can I do?"
"What a sweet young thing you are." Macavity smiled. So trusting, innocent, and so naieve...
"DEMETER!" Munkustrap called from the tire. He was getting worried. Demeter should have been back hours ago. It was almost nightfall. Skimble, Alonzo and Tugger also came back from their searches. Munk looked at each of the toms, and each shook their head in turn. Jennyanydots shuffled nervously about and Jellylorum, new to the duities of assisting the Gumbie Cat looked about worriedly.
"Munkustrap..." came a small voice from the side of the yard. Munk looked over to see the outline of a queen. The voice he recognized as Demeter's right away, and he felt his heart sink as he neared her.
The yellow queen was almost unrecognizable. Her fur was in tangles, her collar had been torn off, she was bruised, and bleeding all over. When he reached her, she collapsed into him.
The silver tabby pulled her to him. "Demeter what happened?" he asked. "What dog did this to you?"
Demeter's voice shook. "It wasn't a dog...." she sobbed, "He killed the Peke..."
Munkustrap was confused. "A human? Demeter, was it a human?"
"It was a cat..." she whispered horsely between sobbs, "Macavity!"
Hatsu had been patiant with him. After several weeks of nursing, Hio had started to feel strong enough to get up and walk around. It had been shaky at first, his rage nearly getting the better of him on several occasions when his legs refused to cooperate with him. But Hatsu's calm influence had always been nearby and gave him aid in such a way that he no longer felt ashamed of his weakness. In return, as he had grown stronger he had started to help her around the den, moving heavier objects that her smaller frame couldn't handle, occasionally chasing away a stray Peke or two. The first time he had done that, Hio was amazed to find that he was actually able to wrestle the dog to the ground, and might have delivered a fatal blow to the poor creature had Hatsu not interceeded on it's behalf.
But that had caused a blow to Hio. He had nearly killed, something that he had sworn he wouldn't do again. Retreating to his corner of the den, Hio had isolated himself from Hatsu's concerned gaze. It was only after a great deal of urging on Hatsu's part that Hio emerged.
"I nearly killed it." he said, as if for the first time in his life, the horror of the very idea of killing something hit him. "And right in front of you..."
"Hio, you are trying." Hatsu replied. "No one can change overnight, memory or no. You didn't kill it. You listened to me. You heard reason."
He looked at her with pleading eyes. "Then, you don't hate me?" he asked, the thought of his actions repulsing her, causing her to leave him forever terrifying him.
"No." she smiled, gently brushing his cheek. "I don't hate you at all." And to emphasize the point, Hio felt her arms gently hug him.
"Even after I tell you those dreams?" he asked. "The one with the queen?"
"Even that dream." she replied quietly. "Hio, I'm going to take you someplace tomorrow. Somewhere where you will be able to help purify your spirit."
Hio looked at her, confused. "I don't understand." She smiled.
"You don't have to right now."
Hio lay on a pile of empty bags, looking out of the truck the two cats were riding in. Hatsu still hadn't told him exactly where they were going, fustrating him. He looked down at her. She was sleeping on another pile of bags. His frown dissapated and he smiled a little.
It was a gentle smile, the type he somehow knew he hadn't used very much in a long time. Hio knew that Hatsu was having an effect on him. Although what exactly the effect was he couldn't really say. The feeling was so alien to him now that he couldn't even really name it. He watched the sleeping queen as she slept. As the truck bounced over bumps in the road, her fur would shift ever so slightly before falling somehow back into place. She always seemed so immaculate, so clean. He knew that he must be a fright to her. His coat was unkept, and his fur was dusty. Perhaps, perhaps if he cleaned it she would... She would what?
Hio's brow furrowed. What did he want from her? He had her friendship and support, and wasn't that what mattered to him? Settling back down, he sighed. He thought back to the dream about the queen, Demeter. He knew what he had done to her. For that alone, he didn't deserve the friendship that Hatsu extended to him. And he certainly did not deserve to have these feelings he had recipricated by her.
A sound brought him to attention. Hatsu was awake and caughed softly. "Are you alright?" Hio asked.
Hatsu looked at him and smiled. "Of course. I think there is too much dust in these bags." Hio frowned. The bags were clean. He knew his nose to be the more sensitive of the two, and he smelt nothing but the light scent of a detergent.