Author's note: Chapter 3 has arrived! I'm trying to make this chapter dramatic so if I fail, please note that I tried.
"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.
"Are you cold, Etcetera?" The queen asked.
Etcetera nodded and shivered. The queen reached out for something, suddenly Etcetera found herself wrapped up in a blanket of bright butter yellow.
"Look here Etcetera; I've sewn you into the corner."
Etcetera eyed the curled up kitten with awe. She knew that she'd never be that good at sewing.
"Now Etcetera there's something you should know. I…"
"ETCETERA!"
Etcetera woke to find herself lying on top of the junk pile surrounded by the glass but protected by the cushions. Someone was striding towards her, the solid shadow advanced menacingly, followed by a slightly larger form.
Etcetera sprang to her paws, clutching the blanket that had somehow got into her paws. She backed away from the figures, terrified that something deadly was about to happen.
"Etcetera why are you up here? You know this area's out of bounds to the kittens! It's far too dangerous to be here let alone sleep here! What were you thinking?"
Etcetera recoiled at Jelly's voice, she looked at Munkustrap for help but he offered none. He looked very relieved, probably because she'd been found and was relatively unhurt. Suddenly the cuts on Etcetera's paws started to sting. Etcetera felt tears well up in her eyes and she bit her lip against the pain that was now burning white hot and spreading very slowly away from the cuts.
"Come on Etcetera; let's get you back to the safety to the clearing." Munkustrap smiled kindly.
"When we get back young lady you're going straight to Old D!" Jelly snapped.
Munkustrap walked over to Etcetera and took her paw in his. Then he withdrew and looked at his paw with a shocked expression on his face. He took Etcetera's paw back and flipped it over. It was covered in drying blood, a deep cut was bleeding steadily and it dripped off Etcetera's fingertips.
"Oh my God…" Munkustrap whispered, taking the paw gently in his own then turned her other paws to find many more cuts and scratches.
"It hurts." Etcetera whimpered, drawing her paw away from Munkustrap's.
"Let's get you back." Munkustrap said gently.
The three Jellicles headed back to the invisible stairway that Etcetera had climbed earlier and Munkustrap and Jelly started to descend but Etcetera hung back.
"Come on Etcetera, don't waste time!" Jelly snapped.
"I…I I'm scared." Etcetera started to cry, for one the thought of cutting her paws again frightened her and she was also scared of heights. She hadn't realised how high this junk pile was and now looking down she realised that if she fell, there would be no chance of her surviving.
"Come on Etcetera, we need to get back."
Etcetera looked up into Munkustrap's eyes and shook her head shakily. "I can't, I'm scared of heights."
Suddenly Jelly was at her side but offered no words to consul the scared kitten. "You're scared of height? In all my years on this good Earth…"
"And many they have been." Munkustrap said with an innocent grin on his face.
Jelly glared and continued, "In all my year's I've never ever heard of a cat who was scared of heights. Now stop making excuses and walked down that pile!"
Etcetera whimpered and backed away from Jelly.
"Etcetera, I'll carry you down if that would make you feel safer." Munkustrap offered.
"Could you?" Etcetera asked, seeing a glimmer of hope once more.
"Sure, just climb onto my back and hold on."
Etcetera did as she was told (for once) and walked over to Munkustrap. She climbed gingerly onto his back, clinging onto his shoulders and wrapping her legs round his waist.
"Hold on Etcetera." Munkustrap warned before starting the descent down the pile. Jelly had already gone on ahead of the two and she was half way down already. Etcetera stupidly glanced over her shoulder to see the endless drop below her. She stiffened and shaped her eyes shut, burying her head in Munkustrap's neck.
"I'm not too heavy am I?" Etcetera asked uncertainly, keeping her eyes shut tight.
"Don't worry Etcetera, you're not that heavy." Munkustrap panted slightly.
"But why are you going so slowly?" Etcetera voice shook with fear.
"Because I keep stepping on glass…OW!" Munkustrap's body jerked violently, as his paw connected with a particularly large glass fragment. Etcetera screamed in the tom's ear and clung tighter to him.
"It's ok Etcetera its ok…" Munkustrap quickly reassured as he regained his balance.
He climbed down more slowly, trying not to pay attention to Etcetera who was whimpering in her ear, which was now ringing. Etcetera glanced down to see Jelly waiting impatiently at the bottom, from where she was she could see the older queen tapping her paw in annoyance and making I-don't-believe-how-long-they're-taking gestures. Etcetera felt a little safer seen as they were nearer the ground.
"Don't worry Etcetera we're nearly there…"
"HURRY UP!" Jelly suddenly shouted.
Munkustrap jumped, stepped onto a pile of glass, put his paw through it and lost his footing. His knees bucked underneath him and he fell backwards. Etcetera screamed as she and Munkustrap rolled down the pile of glass and metal shards and before she hit the floor, Etcetera was plunged into blackness.
Ok, I kind of made Jelly an orge in this but I'm not that bothered, she's not my fav cat anyway. I'll post chapter 4 as quickly as my hands can type.