(Splee! Chapter two up I still don't own cats, by the by.)

Nine of Spades: Relative to Griddlebone

A white flash slipped through the hedge that covered the entrance to the sewers.

"Good Evening, Lady." A black rat greeted her, bowing deeply. The rain-soaked queen snarled, for the underling was in her way and she was in a particularly irritable mood. The rat scampered to one side, allowing her passage. She gave him not another sign of recognition, only retreated further into the sewer.

"Cats…" He mumbled, taking his post again.

"She made it." Griddlebone declared breathlessly to the room at large. There was quiet, quick rejoicing, for the news meant that there would be less work for them. But the joy, if it could even be called that, was short lived, for nobody really particularly cared. Each cat here was incredibly self-centered, Griddlebone thought, in blissful ignorance as she headed toward Macavity's room. As she hopped from pathway to pathway, taking extra care not to touch her tail to the nasty water, she reflected on the day. It had been raining, much to her contempt, and she had gotten soaked. Luckily, Macavity would have her dried by their underling.

"The good life…" She reflected to herself quietly as she reached the 'door' to the room. "Macavity?" She mewled in a sickeningly sweet tone. He pulled back the drape with a heavy sigh, as if the physical labor was taking a toll on him.

"You're drenched." He commented in a way that suggested he might not care.

"Oh really? I had no idea." She said, dropping the sweet tone. Macavity's paws became fists, but quickly relaxed again. He was not used to other cats giving him sass like this queen was allowed to. "Get one of your nasty henchrats to dry me off?" She purred, her eyes filled with feigned pleading. It was an order in disguise, and Macavity knew it.

"I spoil you." He replied bitterly as the rats entered the room with dirty rags and towels to dry the Lady. As soon as they were done, Macavity chased them out of the door with a hiss and flash of sharp claws.

"Now, we need to talk." Griddlebone said, admiring her now dry and slightly glossy fur.

"I know we do." Macavity shot at her. He would have rather have been the one to start the conversation.

"The messenger made it safely to the Jellicle tribe." She reported drolly, almost as if she found it amusing. "But…"

"What?" Macavity urged her. He really wanted this talk over.

"Why do we have to do this?" She asked, suddenly not just a puffy fur ball with a pretty face, but also a puffy fur ball with emotion.

"Do what?" He asked. Although he was slightly taken aback, he tried to hide it under his calm tone.

"This! Ruin the tribe!" She said in an exasperated tone, now pacing the tent. Macavity was silent for a good time. Finally, the ginger tom spoke, although hesitantly.

"Why shouldn't we?" He murmured. This queen may have been the only cat he feared, and he wasn't quite sure why.

"I have family in that junkyard, Macavity! My sister, my only blood sister!" She yowled. He quieted her quickly before trying to convince her.

"Why should we care about Jellylorum?" He asked in the calmest tone he could manage. She make a noise of exasperation.

"Because I love her! No matter how much of a goody-two-shoes she is, she's the queen I grew up with. My only friend!" She threw back at him. He placed a paw on her shoulder.

"I'm your friend now, Griddlebone. You have me, and you have Exotica…" He tried to comfort her. 'Oh, this was so not my style…' He reflected to himself quietly. She continued.

"You have relatives there, too! It's all about you and your stupid grudges!" She screeched, batting his hand away. Desperately hoping none of his minions were listening in, he tried to calm her again.

"Well, my brothers, my father… they abandoned me. It hurt, it really did… but that is not why I'm doing this. I'm doing this so WE can be in charge. So you can be happy!" He said. The one thing that could get to Griddlebone was her own self-content.

"I'm not talking about your brothers, Macavity. I'm talking about your kittens!" He winced. This wasn't going his way.

"There's so much to care about! Victoria, Mistofeeles-" She didn't have time to finish her list, for Macavity's paw came down on her face.

"No Jellicle is a child of mine!" He hissed, thoroughly offended this time. She sat there for a second, paralyzed in fear, but then bolted for the door, knocking over several intruding henchrats as she went. As she raced for the exit of the sewer, she could hear their pleas of mercy as Macavity discovered them. As she reached the exit of the sewer, the guard rat spoke to her.

"Where are you going to go?" He asked drolly. She stared at him for a second. Word sure did get around fast. Finally she gathered her wits and replied as she leaped up to the outer world.

"Home."