Author's notes: I'm trying my hand out at descriptive piece. This is my first attampt at a really detailed story so please be kind. It's based on Etcetera and a search for a part of her past she thought she lost long ago. I'm hoping this'll be emotional to some extent as the subject of the story is depressing.I can't remember if this chapter has any use of 'bad' language so if you don't like that sort of stuff don't read.
A small pale brown kitten curled up in its mothers lap. The kitten, barely a week old, had already opened its eyes and was looking up at its mother fondly. Her fluffy white fur providing soft bedding for the little kitten.
"We'll watch the sunrise together, my little Etcetera." The queen soothed.
The pale brown kitten looked into her mother's glassy blue eyes then away in the direction of the hills over the piles of loose junk.
"It's rising sweetheart." The queen whispered as the first rays of light flashed over the hill tops.
As the golden beams intensified in brightness, they bounced off the glass around them from bottles and window panes, shining intense rainbow colours all around. Etcetera squealed with delight as her fur changed a light pastel lilac. Song birds started their melody as the sun rose higher into the sky. Etcetera was captivated by the colours and the birds and the warmth of her mother. The sweet smell of wild flowers intoxicated her senses and gave her an almost floating feeling.
"Look over there." Her mother whispered.
Etcetera looked in the direction she was pointing to see and old stain glassed window.
"Watch it my love." The queen said gently.
Etcetera watched as those golden rays hit each of the coloured panes.
"Pwitty!" Etcetera gasped as a million colours splashed across her and her mother, plunging them into a world of vibrant colour and light…
"Etcetera, Etcetera…"
The pale brown kitten opened her eyes groggily to see a pair of bright blue ones staring back at her.
"Err..." Etcetera groaned, batting at the eyes and missing.
"Wake up Etcetera, don't be so stubborn."
"I was dreaming of…" Etcetera began.
"You can dream tonight, but now you need to get ready. Get up!"
"Stop shaking my Victoria, I'm up I'm up." Etcetera sat up tiredly and scowled after the pure white Victoria as she left the makeshift room.
The pure white kitten stuck her head round the door, "Stop day dreaming Etcetera. We need to go now."
"I was dreaming…" Victoria left, "…I was dreaming of mum."
Etcetera forced back the tears and stood up a little shakily. She walked slowly over to the door and walked out into the bright light of midday. As she looked across the junkyard, she could see numerous Jellicles spread out over the various mounds of junk. She'd lived here all her life, since the age of a week at least. She only knew this because of the dreams that plagued her every night. It was always the same, she was a week old, curled up in her mothers lap and watching the sun rise. Every time she reached the scene with the old stain glassed window, she'd wake up. Either she'd wake up herself or someone else would interrupt her dream. Etcetera was desperate to know what happened after that, did something happen to her mother? Did something happen but she just couldn't remember it? She'd spoken to Old D, the tribe's leader, about this dream but he could offer her no guidance.
"Etcetera! Get over here now!"
The kitten jumped as Jellylorum, one of the older queens, came marching over.
"Etcetera stop that daydreaming this instant! You have lessons with Jennyanydots in minutes! You mother will worry if you don't show up!"
Etcetera scowled, Jenny wasn't her mother… well not her real mother anyway. She was just an adoptive parent who Etcetera believed had nothing to do with her. No one had ever said that Jenny was or wasn't her mother but she knew who her real mother was from her dreams, not that she knew what her mother looked like, she could only remember those eyes and that soft white fur.
"There you are Etcetera, you're late."
Etcetera walked straight passed Jenny, who'd just spoken to her, and sat down next to Electra. The calico kitten was an orphan and she knew Jenny wasn't her mother. Etcetera on the other hand was unsure… very unsure.
"Where were you?" Electra asked.
"Dreaming."
"About your mother?" Electra said quietly.
"Yeah." Etcetera muttered back.
"Did you dream anything new?"
Etcetera had told the calico everything and visa versa. They joked that they were each others deposit box because they told each other their secrets and could rely on the other to keep it.
"No, I didn't dream anything new." Etcetera said sadly.
"Vicky interrupted you didn't she."
"Yeah… how do you know?"
"Because I sent her over to find you. I'm sorry Etcetera, I was just getting a bit worried that's all and Jenny wouldn't let me go…"
"Don't worry; I would have woken up anyway."
"Ok, I just didn't want you to be mad at me."
"I couldn't be mad at you; you're my best friend." Etcetera pulled Electra into a hug, "No, you're like a sister to me."
Electra hugged her back, "I think that too."
"You know something." Etcetera sighed, "All I want is for my real mum to be with me and come back to the junkyard. I want her to live with me here, not in some grotty house… if she's alive that is."
"Girls, girls stop that and get ready! Etcetera you're late enough as it is without distracting Electra!" Jenny snapped over the other kitten's heads.
"Come on, let's get this over with." Electra smiled grimly.
The two stood and left the tyre, taking a seat in front of Jenny behind the other kittens.
"Now, today you'll be learning how to knit." Jenny smiled.
The kittens groaned but said nothing else.
"Now let's pair you up so we can begin."
Etcetera and Electra moved closer to each other so Jenny could see that they wanted to work together.
"Tumblebrutus, you go with Pouncival."
The two toms grinned and moved out of the circle to sit in the pipe. They weren't going to be doing any work, they'd be making fun of all the other kittens and Jenny wouldn't notice.
"Victoria, you pair up with Mistoffelees."
The two of the smiled at each other and made their way over to an old oven.
As Jenny continued to pair the kittens off, Etcetera and Electra sat tensely. The only other kitten left was Jemima.
"Jemima you go with…" Jenny looked down on the two other kitten still not paired, "…Electra."
Etcetera groaned, she'd have to be paired up with Jenny... again.
"Good luck." Electra whispered as she and Jemima wondered over to the farthest corner of the clearing.
"Right Etcetera, watch and learn."
Etcetera sighed and sat down in front of Jenny with a pair of knitting needles and white string, this was going to be a very bad day and she'd only been up half an hour.