He frowned for a minute.

"Quandelin?"

"Yes."

"Is that your birth name?" he asked skeptically.

Why wouldn't it be? Not wanting to annoy him I answered plainly, "Yes."

He shrugged again, and looked me over.

My coat is a tense gray and black, with some brown streaks every here and there. My eyes are a sharp green, and my nose is black and gray speckled.

It was almost as though he hadn't noticed my appearance until then- his expression was one of shock and surprise, and even a hint of admiration. However, what little of that look on his face was swept away in an instant, when two kittens bounded over.

"Munkustrap! Who's that?"

"Yeah! Who are you?"

"You're not a Jellicle!"

"Where'd you come from, anyway?"

They turned to each other.

"I'll bet she's a spy!"

"Yeah! From the Dissimula tribe!"

"Or Bronwyn!"

"Definitely!"

The kittens had gotten so caught up in their own conversation that they had completely forgotten about me. That was a good thing.

"Quandelin..." started Munkustrap.

"Yes?"

"Come with me; you need to meet some of the Jellicles."

I was puzzled. "Why?"

He didn't answer my question. Instead, he brought me over to a group of young toms and queens about my age. They were neither kittens nor full- grown adults. I was extremely nervous.

"Mistoffelees, Victoria, Lomei, Callisto, Admetus, Tantomile, and Victor-I would like you to meet Quandelin." He paused. "She will be staying with us until Old Deuteronomy arrives next week. Then we will decide if she is to become one of us."

"One of US?" a queen asked. "What do mean 'one of us'?"

"A Jellicle. A member of the tribe."

Their jaws dropped. Every single one.

Munkustrap broke the silence saying, "I would like all of you to show her around this afternoon." He turned to me, smiled, and said, "Sleeping arrangements will be made this evening. Have a nice afternoon, all of you!" He left at a bit of a run.

The Jellicles stared at me for a moment. One of the cats, her coat pure white, said, "I'm Victoria. Follow me, and I'll show you the tire. Then we can all introduce ourselves properly." She turned and headed up the slope, her jeweled collar sparkling in the afternoon sun.

*****

Once we were all seated, she said enthusiastically, "Now let's all go around and tell Quandelin our names!"

"Oh joy..." said one of them, sarcastically.

Victoria sighed, and suggested, "Why don't you go first?" and gestured to a Jellicle on her right.

"My name is Victor." His coat was white with light brown patches (A/N: I forget what he looks like, so I'm just making it all up...) and his eyes were a dull gray. I smiled at him and turned to the cat next to him.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"I'm Lomei," she replied. She was mostly black with a few red and white patches here and there. Her eyes were a darker gray than Victor-but they had more emotion to them. A life of their own.

"And you?" I asked the one next to me.

"Callisto," she said kindly. Her coat was black with orange-tipped ears and tail. Her eyes were a sharp tawny. She looked kind and fierce all at the same time. Loyal, friendly, rebellious, and so many other characteristics forming complicated layers making up her personality. I had never seen such depth in just one glance.

I nearly shook myself before turning to my right.

"Who are you?"

"Admetus," said the gray cat. He added, "Pardon my interruption, but how have you come to us?"

I blinked in surprise. I composed myself before replying, "I was a stray. I have never belonged to a tribe before. I wanted to lead an actual life, and when I stumbled upon your junkyard... Well, I figured that this was the right place to go." He flashed his black eyes menacingly, as if in warning. I looked at him innocently before turning to the next cat.

"My name is Tantomile," said a gray and white queen. Her tone was mysterious and unrevealing.

"I'm Mistoffelees," said the next cat quickly. He was a tuxedo cat with a small white face and paws. I could not help but love his eyes... So entrancing.

There was a pause. "Now what should we do?" I asked.

As though it were obvious, Victoria said, "Show you around, of course!" I wonder where-"

"MACAVITY!"

A/N: hehe, sorry for not updating, I had computer problems. Thanks for reviewing (if you have) and if you haven't-REVIEW! Oh, Alex and Maddie: Do you like your characters? Hehe, im sure you do.