Shadow
By: Jessica R Vance
Rating: PG
Summary: Two years after the Jellicle ball, one of the tribe's new kittens falls under suspicion. Is he truly the villain they think he is?
A/N: Special thanks to Becky-chan for being my British dictionary and biggest supporter of continuance of this story!
---
"You are all light - I am all shadow."
"Cyrano De Bergerac"
---
Chapter One - Little Miracles
-
"Lylisan!"
"Forrestia!"
"Jeniiva! Jequimas!"
Cassandra, Bombalurina, and Demeter were not happy. Their kittens were off and about - again. Demeter's twins were rarely apart, and Bombalurina and Cassandra's girls were never far behind them. The kittens were unusual - all four were nearly the exact same age. The twins exceded Lylisan and Forrestia by only a few days.
"Jequimas! I swear, if you're off getting those kits into trouble somewhere..."
Jequimas was the self-proclaimed leader of the foursome. He was feisty, arrogant, loud, and nothing at all like either of his parents. A stark contrast to his shy, quiet lookalike, he was forever leading his "gang" into seven kinds of trouble.
"Shh! Here they come!" Giggling could be heard.
Demeter shook her head and sighed. "Get out here now, the lot of you!" There was a pause, then four kittens crawled out of the oven. The twins, silver versions of their mother, grinned sheepishly. A splotched red queen, with hints of gold in her coat, followed closely behind. And lastly, a sleek, slight queen with all shades of black and grey tumbled out. "Where have you been!?" the golden queen demanded.
"Been in there the whole time, Mum," Jequimas answered boldly, "You just couldn't find us!" Lylisan giggled, a wordless congratulations on his genius hiding.
"You, mister, are in serious trouble," Demeter repremanded her son, taking him by the ear. He squealed, causing his cohorts to giggle incessantly.
"Laugh it up, girls," Cassandra said, grabbing her daughter. "You're not much better." Lylisan grinned and waved goodbye to her friends.
Forrestia grinned winningly up at her mother. "Hallo, Mum," she greeted her.
"You, my little one, are..." Bombalurina sighed, "Not to do that, ever again." Forrestia grinned and trotted away with her mother.
"That's not fair," Jequimas pouted, "How come she never gets in trouble?"
"Because her mother spoils her rotten," Demeter answered. "I am not so lenient."
"Awww..." the twins complained as they were led away.
---
"And what have our little bundles of joy been up to today?" Munkustrap asked, casting a disapproving eye on his oldest kittens. They grinned sheepishly.
"Hiding from their mother," Demeter answered, frowning. "Jequimas' idea, I fear." The tom smiled proudly, then wilted with a look from his father. He glanced at his twin.
"Jequimas," Munkustrap sighed, shaking his head, "What am I going to do with you?"
"Er... let me go with no punishment?" the little tom guessed, smiling winningly. Another look was shot in his general direction. "Guess not," he muttered, his head sinking.
Munkustrap was losing his patience quickly. "Both of you... just... go to your den," he sighed.
---
The Jellicle tribe certainly had its hands full. Mates were producing kittens every three seconds, it seemed, and with kittens came a world of both troubles and joys.
Munkustrap and Demeter, thus far, had the most kittens. Their oldest, Jeniiva and Jequimas, were twins, and were practically mystics, as much as they could read each others' minds. But as similar as they seemed, they were, as is often the case with twins, as different as day and night. Jequimas was a rambunctious troublemaker, feisty, and always harrassing the adults. Though his play was all in good fun, he was never at a loss for an annoying gesture.
Jeniiva, on the other hand, was quiet and sensitive, though greatly amused by her brother's antics. Perfectly content to sit to the side and watch, Jeniiva often reprimanded her brother... though often amidst a fit of giggles.
Their two newest sons, Grimterra and Phileasimal, were only a few months old, but already had distinct personalities. Grimterra was very much like his father - quiet, intelligent, and level-headed. Phileasimal clung to Demeter like a lifeline, leaving her side only to be with Orpheus. He never spoke, and was always nervous; he jerked his head around as though always being followed by an unseen phantom.
No one ever thought it would happen, but it did - the Rum Tum Tugger and Bombalurina had settled down. And not only settled down, but had a kitten. Their only bundle of joy, called Forrestia, was, as so many only children are - spoiled rotten. She was a perfect mixture of her mother and father, in both appearance and personality. She loved to flirt and have fun, but when she wanted to, she could be the biggest softy you've ever seen.
Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer had also been blessed with two litters of kittens. As if two troublemakers wasn't enough, the pair had produced three more. Their oldest, from the first litter, was Rubeus. He was (surprisingly) the calmest and best behaved of the trio. He had a habit of behaving in the presence of adults, then leading his sisters in raids when no one was looking. He was quick-witted, but tended to play stupid when asked where Rumpleteazer's pearls had gone.
Diamant, the older of the second litter, was as big a flirt as the great Bombalurina had been in her day. She was usually surrounded by toms, much to the annoyance of her protective older brother. She loved following him on his nightly raids to snatch shiny jewelry for herself (in the great tradition of her mother).
Finally, there was Sapphira - the little copy of Mungojerrie. She was coloured like him, with dark orange and black blotches, and she watched his every move, mimicking everything he did. He told her stories of his "great robberies" ("petty capers," said Rumpleteazer), and Sapphira did all she could to measure up to his level of greatness. Mungojerrie thought it was adorable. The rest of the tribe found it trying.
Alonzo and Cassandra had their own brands of trouble - three brands, in fact, called Lylisan, Orpheus, and Kristoforas. Lylisan, the oldest and only queen, was an ardent follower of Jequimas - and her feelings for him were not very well hidden. She trailed him like - dare one say it? - a puppy, and he accepted her adoration happily. Although he, being a tom, didn't realize just how deeply she cared for him.
Orpheus, the couple's oldest son, was, to all intents and purposes, a mute. He never spoke, but communicated through his body language and expressive blue eyes. He shared a deep bond with Phileasimal, and the two could often be found sitting in amiable silence, surveying all the goings-on of the junkyard.
Kristoforas was Alonzo's youngest son, and therefore was lavished with attention from his father. Although spoiled, the jet-black kitten never let the attention go to his head. He was humble and intelligent, and loved being with his closest friend, Rubeus. Though he thought he was subtle, everyone in the tribe knew about Kristoforas' little crush... on one of his mother's closest friends, Demeter.
No group of kittens is complete without a full-blown mystic. And, as everyone had expected, that mystic turned out to be the daughter of Coricopat and Tantomile - Teilujah, whom her father affectionately called his "little accident." As observant and mysterious as her parents, Teilujah drifted from group to group of kittens, always smiling a secret smile as though she knew things the others did not.
The youngest kittens belong (naturally) to the youngest pair of parents - Plato and Victoria. Their son, Apostrophe, was extremely fond of his "uncles" - Carbucketty and Pouncival, and spent most of his time with them, learning acrobatics. He sometimes went with Rubeus on his late-night prowls, and was quickly becoming a stealthy cat-burglar.
Then there was Orea - the very youngest of the new kittens. She was (it was agreed upon among the entire tribe) beautiful. Lithe and flexible like her mother, with a coat of perfectly blended red-brown and pure white. Plato absolutely adored her - he and Victoria fawned over her as though she was a newborn, even months after she and Apostrophe's births.
Thus the newest generation of Jellicles came into the lives of their parents.
Who could know what would befall them?
---
By: Jessica R Vance
Rating: PG
Summary: Two years after the Jellicle ball, one of the tribe's new kittens falls under suspicion. Is he truly the villain they think he is?
A/N: Special thanks to Becky-chan for being my British dictionary and biggest supporter of continuance of this story!
---
"You are all light - I am all shadow."
"Cyrano De Bergerac"
---
Chapter One - Little Miracles
-
"Lylisan!"
"Forrestia!"
"Jeniiva! Jequimas!"
Cassandra, Bombalurina, and Demeter were not happy. Their kittens were off and about - again. Demeter's twins were rarely apart, and Bombalurina and Cassandra's girls were never far behind them. The kittens were unusual - all four were nearly the exact same age. The twins exceded Lylisan and Forrestia by only a few days.
"Jequimas! I swear, if you're off getting those kits into trouble somewhere..."
Jequimas was the self-proclaimed leader of the foursome. He was feisty, arrogant, loud, and nothing at all like either of his parents. A stark contrast to his shy, quiet lookalike, he was forever leading his "gang" into seven kinds of trouble.
"Shh! Here they come!" Giggling could be heard.
Demeter shook her head and sighed. "Get out here now, the lot of you!" There was a pause, then four kittens crawled out of the oven. The twins, silver versions of their mother, grinned sheepishly. A splotched red queen, with hints of gold in her coat, followed closely behind. And lastly, a sleek, slight queen with all shades of black and grey tumbled out. "Where have you been!?" the golden queen demanded.
"Been in there the whole time, Mum," Jequimas answered boldly, "You just couldn't find us!" Lylisan giggled, a wordless congratulations on his genius hiding.
"You, mister, are in serious trouble," Demeter repremanded her son, taking him by the ear. He squealed, causing his cohorts to giggle incessantly.
"Laugh it up, girls," Cassandra said, grabbing her daughter. "You're not much better." Lylisan grinned and waved goodbye to her friends.
Forrestia grinned winningly up at her mother. "Hallo, Mum," she greeted her.
"You, my little one, are..." Bombalurina sighed, "Not to do that, ever again." Forrestia grinned and trotted away with her mother.
"That's not fair," Jequimas pouted, "How come she never gets in trouble?"
"Because her mother spoils her rotten," Demeter answered. "I am not so lenient."
"Awww..." the twins complained as they were led away.
---
"And what have our little bundles of joy been up to today?" Munkustrap asked, casting a disapproving eye on his oldest kittens. They grinned sheepishly.
"Hiding from their mother," Demeter answered, frowning. "Jequimas' idea, I fear." The tom smiled proudly, then wilted with a look from his father. He glanced at his twin.
"Jequimas," Munkustrap sighed, shaking his head, "What am I going to do with you?"
"Er... let me go with no punishment?" the little tom guessed, smiling winningly. Another look was shot in his general direction. "Guess not," he muttered, his head sinking.
Munkustrap was losing his patience quickly. "Both of you... just... go to your den," he sighed.
---
The Jellicle tribe certainly had its hands full. Mates were producing kittens every three seconds, it seemed, and with kittens came a world of both troubles and joys.
Munkustrap and Demeter, thus far, had the most kittens. Their oldest, Jeniiva and Jequimas, were twins, and were practically mystics, as much as they could read each others' minds. But as similar as they seemed, they were, as is often the case with twins, as different as day and night. Jequimas was a rambunctious troublemaker, feisty, and always harrassing the adults. Though his play was all in good fun, he was never at a loss for an annoying gesture.
Jeniiva, on the other hand, was quiet and sensitive, though greatly amused by her brother's antics. Perfectly content to sit to the side and watch, Jeniiva often reprimanded her brother... though often amidst a fit of giggles.
Their two newest sons, Grimterra and Phileasimal, were only a few months old, but already had distinct personalities. Grimterra was very much like his father - quiet, intelligent, and level-headed. Phileasimal clung to Demeter like a lifeline, leaving her side only to be with Orpheus. He never spoke, and was always nervous; he jerked his head around as though always being followed by an unseen phantom.
No one ever thought it would happen, but it did - the Rum Tum Tugger and Bombalurina had settled down. And not only settled down, but had a kitten. Their only bundle of joy, called Forrestia, was, as so many only children are - spoiled rotten. She was a perfect mixture of her mother and father, in both appearance and personality. She loved to flirt and have fun, but when she wanted to, she could be the biggest softy you've ever seen.
Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer had also been blessed with two litters of kittens. As if two troublemakers wasn't enough, the pair had produced three more. Their oldest, from the first litter, was Rubeus. He was (surprisingly) the calmest and best behaved of the trio. He had a habit of behaving in the presence of adults, then leading his sisters in raids when no one was looking. He was quick-witted, but tended to play stupid when asked where Rumpleteazer's pearls had gone.
Diamant, the older of the second litter, was as big a flirt as the great Bombalurina had been in her day. She was usually surrounded by toms, much to the annoyance of her protective older brother. She loved following him on his nightly raids to snatch shiny jewelry for herself (in the great tradition of her mother).
Finally, there was Sapphira - the little copy of Mungojerrie. She was coloured like him, with dark orange and black blotches, and she watched his every move, mimicking everything he did. He told her stories of his "great robberies" ("petty capers," said Rumpleteazer), and Sapphira did all she could to measure up to his level of greatness. Mungojerrie thought it was adorable. The rest of the tribe found it trying.
Alonzo and Cassandra had their own brands of trouble - three brands, in fact, called Lylisan, Orpheus, and Kristoforas. Lylisan, the oldest and only queen, was an ardent follower of Jequimas - and her feelings for him were not very well hidden. She trailed him like - dare one say it? - a puppy, and he accepted her adoration happily. Although he, being a tom, didn't realize just how deeply she cared for him.
Orpheus, the couple's oldest son, was, to all intents and purposes, a mute. He never spoke, but communicated through his body language and expressive blue eyes. He shared a deep bond with Phileasimal, and the two could often be found sitting in amiable silence, surveying all the goings-on of the junkyard.
Kristoforas was Alonzo's youngest son, and therefore was lavished with attention from his father. Although spoiled, the jet-black kitten never let the attention go to his head. He was humble and intelligent, and loved being with his closest friend, Rubeus. Though he thought he was subtle, everyone in the tribe knew about Kristoforas' little crush... on one of his mother's closest friends, Demeter.
No group of kittens is complete without a full-blown mystic. And, as everyone had expected, that mystic turned out to be the daughter of Coricopat and Tantomile - Teilujah, whom her father affectionately called his "little accident." As observant and mysterious as her parents, Teilujah drifted from group to group of kittens, always smiling a secret smile as though she knew things the others did not.
The youngest kittens belong (naturally) to the youngest pair of parents - Plato and Victoria. Their son, Apostrophe, was extremely fond of his "uncles" - Carbucketty and Pouncival, and spent most of his time with them, learning acrobatics. He sometimes went with Rubeus on his late-night prowls, and was quickly becoming a stealthy cat-burglar.
Then there was Orea - the very youngest of the new kittens. She was (it was agreed upon among the entire tribe) beautiful. Lithe and flexible like her mother, with a coat of perfectly blended red-brown and pure white. Plato absolutely adored her - he and Victoria fawned over her as though she was a newborn, even months after she and Apostrophe's births.
Thus the newest generation of Jellicles came into the lives of their parents.
Who could know what would befall them?
---