Hey everyone! Yes, I'm continuing this story! *bows* I'm sure you've all been waiting on the edge of your seats for me to write another chapter of this fic. Anyway, read, review, and... Read and review some more when I post another chapter! *L*

Moving onward!

"MACAVITY!" someone shreiked.

A huge tiger-striped cat leapt from out of nowhere into the middle of the circle. Victoria let out a high shriek, and Callisto and Lomei burst out laughing. Victoria glared and turned beet red.

The tom settled in the center, smirking.

Between laughs, Lomei managed to say, "That's Mungojerrie! He's always pulling pranks like that, especially on Victoria!"

I chuckled and let my eyes wander around the rest of the circle. After the laughter died down, the Jellicles took me on a tour of the junkyard. They were all talking so quickly it was hard to understand what they were saying:

"There's the pipe! Over there!"

"And the oven!"

"And... ohhh, the Rum Tum Tugger!"

"Silly kittens. You give him way more attention than he deserves!"

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Do not, Misto! You're just jealous!"

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

I laughed in spite of their all-too-serious argument. The tour took awhile, and by the time it was done, Munkustrap had arrived to arrange where I was going to sleep.

"Did you enjoy your time here?"

"Very much so," I replied.

"Good." He scanned the junkyard, looking at each of the cats that remained. "Wait here," he said. I obeyed, and watched him walk over to an older tom and queen. I watched the three of them argue for a while, before Munkustrap beckoned me over.

"Quandelin—this is Alonzo and his mate Cassandra. They'll be sleeping here in the junkyard and they'll keep an eye on you." He sighed; but it wasn't out of exhaustion or a "thank goodness that's taken care of" sigh, but almost a sad sigh, as though he would be sorry to leave. "Well, goodnight everyone, and may the Everlasting Cat watch over all of us." He bowed his head, and leapt up and over the tower of junk.

The three of us watched him go before turning to each other.

"Quan, why don't you sleep over here?" Alonzo suggested. I looked in the direction he nodded at to find a large wooden rocking chair resting lazily on the ground. It looked comfortable enough, so I nodded and hopped daintily on to it. It creaked as I sat down. I was eager to get some sleep, since I had been running around all day. I yawned, curled up, and fell into a deep slumber.

*****

I awoke to find someone swatting me with their tail. I looked up and saw Munkustrap staring down at me, his face business-like once again.

"Shhhh! Quandelin! Get up quickly! Old Deuteronomy has summoned you!" Old who? I shook myself and jumped down from my spot, obediently following Munkustrap out of the junkyard. "Quickly!" he said. His pace quickened to a run, and keeping up became difficult with my exhaustion. I thanked the heavens for my night vision, which aided me in following Munkustrap's lead.

We ran for what seemed like eternity until we reached one of the rich London suburbs. Munkustrap stopped in front of a large white house and meowed at the front stoop. I saw an aged brown paw open the kitty door for us. We were lead inside.

*****

The house was dark except for a dim glow coming from a few windows in the rooms ahead. We turned left into a parlor and Munkustrap jumped on to a scarlet cushion near a table adorned with flowered doilies and expensive china. The older cat took a seat next to me, by the glowing coals of the hearth.

He spoke first. "So Quandelin, what brings you to the Jellicles?" His voice was low and comforting, curious but not pushy, wise but not all- knowing.

I took a deep breath and began. "I was running. Some stray pollicles were chasing me all through London. I didn't find safety until nightfall, in an old house near one of the alleyways. I slept there the night, only to find that the house wasn't abandoned as I had originally thought. But the humans there didn't seem to notice me, and I woke up as they were leaving.

"I've always wanted a tribe. I don't know who my parents were or how I came to be a stray. I've learned about a lot about the tribes during my wanderings. I had heard of the Jellicles before, and I knew you had a good reputation, and I figured I would be safe with you." I paused, unsure. "Pardon my asking, sir, but why have you asked me here at such an early hour?"

The older cat chucked. "I don't visit the junkyard often. If I came to speak with you during the day my visit would attract too much attention. This way, no one knows you're here, so the rumors won't begin too quickly." He smiled. "The kittens don't always know what they're getting into when they eavesdrop, you know. I would be up to the tip of my tail in questions and accusations, and I don't need any more of that than I already get... Now you're sure your parents didn't belong to any tribe?"

I wasn't sure what he was getting at. My mind went back to when I had met Munkustrap. 'Quandelin? Is that your birth name?' he had asked. What was suspicious about my birth name? Did they suspect me?! My eyes met my interrogator and I said simply, "I never knew them. Why do you ask?"

He sighed. "Well, let me tell you something. We Jellicles don't like to meddle in other tribes' affairs. As long as we keep to ourselves we can avoid conflict. We also like to keep our junkyard a secret so as not to attract visitors. Now, if your parents did belong to a tribe, friends of theirs could be watching you right now. They could have been following you since you were born. If you're lying to me, you could take all the information you have now and present it to another tribe as an offering, which could create war and enemies. We Jellicles don't support that." He sighed. "I trust you, and I don't believe you're devious enough to do such a thing. Therefore—"

"Wait!" I blurted. What was I doing?! I continued with, "Munkustrap asked me when I got here if Quandelin was my birth name. Is 'Quandelin' the name of an enemy of yours, or..."

The cat's face became grim. "Munkustrap told me your name, and his suspicions soon became my own. The name Quandelin means 'imitator' or 'imitation' in an old tongue." My eyes widened. I was NOT prepared for this, at least not so soon anyway. I hadn't been in the junkyard for even a day, and they were already this far! I suppose the rumors are true... The Jellicles are quick-witted indeed.

(A/N: Bwahahaha... if you review you'll find out more =P)