Disclaimer: In no way do I own any of the cats from "Cats" the musical, all
of them belonging to the talented T. S. Eliot. The characters Chyna and
Cassie belong to me though. Stealing them will result in Macavity doing
evil and mean things, like the evil villain he is. Enjoy the story!
Chapter 14
Chyna's ears pricked up. Misto had just sent her the "signal" and she gave the attack signal...she barked like a Pollicle. The Jellicles heard it and with as it seemed one motion all leapt unto the unsuspecting hench cats. Fur and claws started to fly as Chyna slipped from behind the bush and looked for a way to enter Macavity's lair...oh the front door! She made her way through the fighting Jellicles and had to give a few swipes out to clear her path. She entered the dark and silent lair, eye's trying to adjust to the pure blackness of the place...and the sense of evil lurked everywhere. It took every ounce of courage for her not to turn back. She tiptoed along the hallway all the way to the end where Cassie was located. She looked in the window and there was Cassie, kicking and writhing on the floor. 'Holy Ever Lasting Cat!' She thought wildly as she glanced down at the lock. Misto had done his job! She quickly opened the door and closed it behind her, not wanting to cause any suspicion. She knelt down and took Cassie by the paw.
"What's the matter Cassie?" Chyna asked hurriedly.
Just then Cassie settled down and took a deep breath. "The kittens are on their way!" She moaned.
Chyna took out a knife from her collar. She stepped to the bars on the outside windows and started sawing off the bars, reassuring Cassie as she did. The bars came off fairly easily and quickly. Tucking the knife back into her collar, she helped Cassie back on her feet.
"Cassie? I need to get you back to the Junkyard. Do you think you can make it." Chyna asked hopefully.
Cassie took in another deep breath. "Yes, I can make it, but not on my own." Chyna smiled at Cassie.
"I would never leave you alone. Well, do you think you can get through that window?" Cassie surveyed the window, then nodded. Chyna helped Cassie slide through the window then followed her. Cassie leaned up against the wall with Chyna.
"Are we just leaving him here?" Cassiopia asked, her eyes growing wild with fear.
"No, hon, he is in good hands. Munk, Plato, and Mungo are all in there with him."
Cassie relaxed at that point. "I trust you, Chyna." The two cats then slipped away from the evil lair, both letting a sigh of relief ecsape them, heading towards the Junkyard.
**********************************
Azimech was awakened by a Pollicle bark that resounded outside the lair. 'Gosh, not this time of night." he moaned, turning over. He laid there for a second, listening for more barks, but none came. 'Odd.' He thought. 'Oh, well. At least I cam get back to sleep.' He closed his eyes and tried to get comfortable on the hard floor which he has slept on for his whole life as one of Macavity's hench cats. He was just drifting off into a fitful doze when another henchcat ran in.
"Help!" He cried. "The Jellicles are attacking! We need all the help we can get outside!" With that the cat turned on his heel and raced toward the entrance where Azimech could undeniably hear battle sounds coming from outside. He quickly sat up, all the blood drained from his face. The Jellicles were attacking! How could that be! Then a smile crossed Azimech's face as he realized something...his perfect get away! He leapt off the floor and slowly thought out the plan. He would slip through the back door, then sneak off, then maybe begging for a meal and bed for the night. He then looked to see if anyone was watching. Noting that no one was, he headed toward the back door. When he reached there, he flew open the door and all he saw was freedom. He stood there for a second, overwelmed by his feelings. His cheeks were wet, even though he didn't even remember starting to cry. He then summoned up every ounce of strength he had and ran for it. He got across the clearing into a dark alley, and he breathed now as a free cat! He ran anyway, to get out of Macavity's territory.
Azimech ran away, as fast as he could, from the Jellicles who were attacking his master's lair! 'Oh, well.' he thought. 'Macavity always taught us to only worry about ourselves, friends only make you weak.' He shook his head as he tried to rationalize his decision of leaving Macavity when he needed him the most. Azimech's eyes blurred with frenzied tears as he ran, not even knowing where he was anymore. He stopped abruptly when he heard voices. He peeked from around an old can and saw two kittens worrying about something. Well, one looked older, more mature. The other just giggly and childish. He focused on the calico, the older looking one. He grew strongly attracted to her as he watched her every move. Her gentle manner, her soft smile seemed to beckon him from the shadows that he stood in. He crept slowly forward, trying not to make a sound and listened to their conversation, just hoping to at least get the calico's name.
"Do you think my Tugger will be ok?" asked the white and brown striped kitten.
"I don't know, Ecentra. I have heard many stories on how tough Macavity's hench cats are." Azimech was in awe of her voice; it was sweet and very melodic.
"I wish Munky would let us go along." Ecentra whined. "I wanna see one of them, just to see how tough they really are! I bet Tugger could take on ten of them at once and not even get a scratch!" the kitten doubled over, giggling.
"Oh, I don't know about that!" the calico kitten gasped, her eyes widening. "I have heard one too many stories from Demeter about how mean and ugly they are!"
Azimech was taken aback. He never thought that his tribe actually scared the Jellicles! He just thought that they thought that they were too high and mighty for them...but this calico seemed different from all the other Jellicles he's known for the short period of time that Macavity has them in his lair. He was quickly snapped out of his trance when he heard a voice yell out, "Ecentra! Would you come here please?"
Ecentra looked at the calico worriedly. "I didn't think she would find out this quickly!"
"What did you do this time?" scolded the calico.
"Nothing." Ecentra sulked off, readying herself for another lecture on how you shouldn't tie kitten's tails together.
The kitten slowly stretched in the moonlight, causing silver tips to accent her beautiful almost queen body. She quietly sang to herself a song about moons and balls as she groomed her soft colorful fur. He couldn't take it any longer. He stepped forward from out of the shadows. The kitten froze in place, sensing the new presence. She slowly looked up, afraid of what she might find. Her bright brown eyes met his dark brown eyes, then she quickly blushed and looked to the ground at her feet. He just wanted to hear her name. She was so kind, so gentle; the name was probably angelic, like her.
She broke the ice,"Hello. Who are you?" she asked gently. Azimech hung on the last syllable as if it was the last sound he would ever hear on earth. He then snapped to and saw those beautiful brown eyes staring up at him questionably.
Azimech smiled his warmest possible smile. "My name is Azimech."
"That is a beautiful name. Mine is Jemima." Azimech's heart skipped a beat at the sound of her name. It was angelic! He took her by the paw and kissed it. She blushed and looked at her feet, smiling to herself.
"It's nice to meet you, Jemima."
"You too, Azimech." Just hearing her say his name made him want to take her in his arms and never let go. "What are you doing here?"
This question awoke him from his fantasy. How could he answer that question without causing her to revolt in fear and disgust? If she knew he was a henchcat of Macavity...
"I am looking for a place to stay. Do you know anywhere I can go?"
Jemima's face lit up. "You bet I do! You can stay with me and my tribe!" she said, taking his paw in hers. Azimech melted at her touch. She dragged him to this motherly looking tubby cat...a gumbie cat!
"Jennyanydots? Can Azzy stay here with us?" Jemima asked the motherly cat hopefully.
'Azzy...'he thought. 'I like that!'
"Does he have any other place to stay?" inquired Jenny, eyeing the tom suspiciously.
"No, ma'am. I am sorry to be a bother, but my owners have turned me out for a baby. They didn't want a cat lying around eating up their food or giving fleas to the baby." Azimech explained.
Jenny shook her head. "Some humans are so cruel! Well, my name is Jennyanydots, and this," the cat pointed to another cat who was arguing with Ecentra," is Jellylourm. If you have any problems, just come to us."
Azimech bowed to the cat." Thank you ma'am."
Jenny looked surprised. "What manners! Oh, if only Pouncival could learn from you..."
"Bye Jenny!" yelled Jemima as she grabbed hold of Azimech's paw and dragged him off. She crossed the Junkyard to the old Ford, then began climbing it. Azimech took a quick glance at the license plate...T.S.E.? Who was that? Oh, well. He would figure it out later. He followed Jemima up to the roof of the car.
"This is were I come to be by myself, you know. Just a place to get away from everything." Jemima giggled. "To think...to contemplate."
"Such big words for a little kitten." Azimech teased Jemima.
Jemima growled at him defiantly. "I am not a kitten! I am a queen!"
"Oh, really!" taunted Azimech.
"It's true! At the last Jellicle Ball, which was like three days ago, I was officially made a queen. No tom would have me though...I have no sweethearts." Jemima's face fell at that remark.
Azimech put his arm around her. "A beautiful queen like you? I feel sorry for the blind toms around here! Jemima," he quietly purred, tilting her face up towards his gently, "the first moment I laid my eyes on you, your beauty had me in awe. I thought you were an angel, sent by the Everlasting Cat from the Heavyside Layer." A tear dripped down Jemima's face. "Oh, my...Azimech that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me!" Jemima reached up to wipe away her tear, but Azimech stopped her. He gently wiped it away himself then kissed her...a long, deep, meaningful kiss that would never escape Jemima's memory. When they pulled away, Jemima looked closely at Azimech. "Oh, my..."she whispered to herself again, studying him. She cannot believe she didn't notice his dark handsome brown eyes and his orange stripes that accented his perfect facial features. As she looked up at him in the blue moonlight, she felt her crush for the Rum Tum Tugger fade away. She was now experiencing true love, and it coursed through her like a wild fire. She never wanted to leave this moment, with just her in Azimech's arms, staring up into the sky at all the stars...she understood now what Mistoffelees was going through, having his one true love stolen from right underneath his nose. She looked up again at Azimech and kissed him, then they settled on the roof, ready for Jemima's first ever mating dance...
Chapter 14
Chyna's ears pricked up. Misto had just sent her the "signal" and she gave the attack signal...she barked like a Pollicle. The Jellicles heard it and with as it seemed one motion all leapt unto the unsuspecting hench cats. Fur and claws started to fly as Chyna slipped from behind the bush and looked for a way to enter Macavity's lair...oh the front door! She made her way through the fighting Jellicles and had to give a few swipes out to clear her path. She entered the dark and silent lair, eye's trying to adjust to the pure blackness of the place...and the sense of evil lurked everywhere. It took every ounce of courage for her not to turn back. She tiptoed along the hallway all the way to the end where Cassie was located. She looked in the window and there was Cassie, kicking and writhing on the floor. 'Holy Ever Lasting Cat!' She thought wildly as she glanced down at the lock. Misto had done his job! She quickly opened the door and closed it behind her, not wanting to cause any suspicion. She knelt down and took Cassie by the paw.
"What's the matter Cassie?" Chyna asked hurriedly.
Just then Cassie settled down and took a deep breath. "The kittens are on their way!" She moaned.
Chyna took out a knife from her collar. She stepped to the bars on the outside windows and started sawing off the bars, reassuring Cassie as she did. The bars came off fairly easily and quickly. Tucking the knife back into her collar, she helped Cassie back on her feet.
"Cassie? I need to get you back to the Junkyard. Do you think you can make it." Chyna asked hopefully.
Cassie took in another deep breath. "Yes, I can make it, but not on my own." Chyna smiled at Cassie.
"I would never leave you alone. Well, do you think you can get through that window?" Cassie surveyed the window, then nodded. Chyna helped Cassie slide through the window then followed her. Cassie leaned up against the wall with Chyna.
"Are we just leaving him here?" Cassiopia asked, her eyes growing wild with fear.
"No, hon, he is in good hands. Munk, Plato, and Mungo are all in there with him."
Cassie relaxed at that point. "I trust you, Chyna." The two cats then slipped away from the evil lair, both letting a sigh of relief ecsape them, heading towards the Junkyard.
**********************************
Azimech was awakened by a Pollicle bark that resounded outside the lair. 'Gosh, not this time of night." he moaned, turning over. He laid there for a second, listening for more barks, but none came. 'Odd.' He thought. 'Oh, well. At least I cam get back to sleep.' He closed his eyes and tried to get comfortable on the hard floor which he has slept on for his whole life as one of Macavity's hench cats. He was just drifting off into a fitful doze when another henchcat ran in.
"Help!" He cried. "The Jellicles are attacking! We need all the help we can get outside!" With that the cat turned on his heel and raced toward the entrance where Azimech could undeniably hear battle sounds coming from outside. He quickly sat up, all the blood drained from his face. The Jellicles were attacking! How could that be! Then a smile crossed Azimech's face as he realized something...his perfect get away! He leapt off the floor and slowly thought out the plan. He would slip through the back door, then sneak off, then maybe begging for a meal and bed for the night. He then looked to see if anyone was watching. Noting that no one was, he headed toward the back door. When he reached there, he flew open the door and all he saw was freedom. He stood there for a second, overwelmed by his feelings. His cheeks were wet, even though he didn't even remember starting to cry. He then summoned up every ounce of strength he had and ran for it. He got across the clearing into a dark alley, and he breathed now as a free cat! He ran anyway, to get out of Macavity's territory.
Azimech ran away, as fast as he could, from the Jellicles who were attacking his master's lair! 'Oh, well.' he thought. 'Macavity always taught us to only worry about ourselves, friends only make you weak.' He shook his head as he tried to rationalize his decision of leaving Macavity when he needed him the most. Azimech's eyes blurred with frenzied tears as he ran, not even knowing where he was anymore. He stopped abruptly when he heard voices. He peeked from around an old can and saw two kittens worrying about something. Well, one looked older, more mature. The other just giggly and childish. He focused on the calico, the older looking one. He grew strongly attracted to her as he watched her every move. Her gentle manner, her soft smile seemed to beckon him from the shadows that he stood in. He crept slowly forward, trying not to make a sound and listened to their conversation, just hoping to at least get the calico's name.
"Do you think my Tugger will be ok?" asked the white and brown striped kitten.
"I don't know, Ecentra. I have heard many stories on how tough Macavity's hench cats are." Azimech was in awe of her voice; it was sweet and very melodic.
"I wish Munky would let us go along." Ecentra whined. "I wanna see one of them, just to see how tough they really are! I bet Tugger could take on ten of them at once and not even get a scratch!" the kitten doubled over, giggling.
"Oh, I don't know about that!" the calico kitten gasped, her eyes widening. "I have heard one too many stories from Demeter about how mean and ugly they are!"
Azimech was taken aback. He never thought that his tribe actually scared the Jellicles! He just thought that they thought that they were too high and mighty for them...but this calico seemed different from all the other Jellicles he's known for the short period of time that Macavity has them in his lair. He was quickly snapped out of his trance when he heard a voice yell out, "Ecentra! Would you come here please?"
Ecentra looked at the calico worriedly. "I didn't think she would find out this quickly!"
"What did you do this time?" scolded the calico.
"Nothing." Ecentra sulked off, readying herself for another lecture on how you shouldn't tie kitten's tails together.
The kitten slowly stretched in the moonlight, causing silver tips to accent her beautiful almost queen body. She quietly sang to herself a song about moons and balls as she groomed her soft colorful fur. He couldn't take it any longer. He stepped forward from out of the shadows. The kitten froze in place, sensing the new presence. She slowly looked up, afraid of what she might find. Her bright brown eyes met his dark brown eyes, then she quickly blushed and looked to the ground at her feet. He just wanted to hear her name. She was so kind, so gentle; the name was probably angelic, like her.
She broke the ice,"Hello. Who are you?" she asked gently. Azimech hung on the last syllable as if it was the last sound he would ever hear on earth. He then snapped to and saw those beautiful brown eyes staring up at him questionably.
Azimech smiled his warmest possible smile. "My name is Azimech."
"That is a beautiful name. Mine is Jemima." Azimech's heart skipped a beat at the sound of her name. It was angelic! He took her by the paw and kissed it. She blushed and looked at her feet, smiling to herself.
"It's nice to meet you, Jemima."
"You too, Azimech." Just hearing her say his name made him want to take her in his arms and never let go. "What are you doing here?"
This question awoke him from his fantasy. How could he answer that question without causing her to revolt in fear and disgust? If she knew he was a henchcat of Macavity...
"I am looking for a place to stay. Do you know anywhere I can go?"
Jemima's face lit up. "You bet I do! You can stay with me and my tribe!" she said, taking his paw in hers. Azimech melted at her touch. She dragged him to this motherly looking tubby cat...a gumbie cat!
"Jennyanydots? Can Azzy stay here with us?" Jemima asked the motherly cat hopefully.
'Azzy...'he thought. 'I like that!'
"Does he have any other place to stay?" inquired Jenny, eyeing the tom suspiciously.
"No, ma'am. I am sorry to be a bother, but my owners have turned me out for a baby. They didn't want a cat lying around eating up their food or giving fleas to the baby." Azimech explained.
Jenny shook her head. "Some humans are so cruel! Well, my name is Jennyanydots, and this," the cat pointed to another cat who was arguing with Ecentra," is Jellylourm. If you have any problems, just come to us."
Azimech bowed to the cat." Thank you ma'am."
Jenny looked surprised. "What manners! Oh, if only Pouncival could learn from you..."
"Bye Jenny!" yelled Jemima as she grabbed hold of Azimech's paw and dragged him off. She crossed the Junkyard to the old Ford, then began climbing it. Azimech took a quick glance at the license plate...T.S.E.? Who was that? Oh, well. He would figure it out later. He followed Jemima up to the roof of the car.
"This is were I come to be by myself, you know. Just a place to get away from everything." Jemima giggled. "To think...to contemplate."
"Such big words for a little kitten." Azimech teased Jemima.
Jemima growled at him defiantly. "I am not a kitten! I am a queen!"
"Oh, really!" taunted Azimech.
"It's true! At the last Jellicle Ball, which was like three days ago, I was officially made a queen. No tom would have me though...I have no sweethearts." Jemima's face fell at that remark.
Azimech put his arm around her. "A beautiful queen like you? I feel sorry for the blind toms around here! Jemima," he quietly purred, tilting her face up towards his gently, "the first moment I laid my eyes on you, your beauty had me in awe. I thought you were an angel, sent by the Everlasting Cat from the Heavyside Layer." A tear dripped down Jemima's face. "Oh, my...Azimech that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me!" Jemima reached up to wipe away her tear, but Azimech stopped her. He gently wiped it away himself then kissed her...a long, deep, meaningful kiss that would never escape Jemima's memory. When they pulled away, Jemima looked closely at Azimech. "Oh, my..."she whispered to herself again, studying him. She cannot believe she didn't notice his dark handsome brown eyes and his orange stripes that accented his perfect facial features. As she looked up at him in the blue moonlight, she felt her crush for the Rum Tum Tugger fade away. She was now experiencing true love, and it coursed through her like a wild fire. She never wanted to leave this moment, with just her in Azimech's arms, staring up into the sky at all the stars...she understood now what Mistoffelees was going through, having his one true love stolen from right underneath his nose. She looked up again at Azimech and kissed him, then they settled on the roof, ready for Jemima's first ever mating dance...