((The original chapter that was supposed to go here was called 'Trash and Treasure' and centered on the notorious duo- Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer. While I really enjoyed writing the chapter, my beta (Taffy-chan!) noted that some of the themes might fall under an 'M' rating. Stupid 'M' rating. For any fans of the troublemaking tabbies, I intend to rewrite 'Trash and Treasure' back into the story later on. Right now, I have just posted the sixth chapter in its place. The storyline might jump around a little to fix these problems, but I just was not able to make the original chapter work at this place in the story anymore. Sorry, I've really done my best to make it flow. ; ))
Chapter Five: White and Gold (And How they Differ)
Griddlebone's first week back with the Jellicles went smoothly until she found herself being pulled aside by Macavity's silver counterpart. She cringed slightly as he grabbed her arm, but followed him nonetheless, not wanting trouble on her record so early on. He led her all the way down the big staircase to the last level before the ground floor. She was led to a small, round room that was crowded with cats. She struggled momentarily as she tried to remember their names.
The leader, of course, was Old Deuteronomy. He was easy to pick out. Then there was her sister and father, again, she had no trouble identifying them. The little queen that Griddlebone had constantly referred to as 'Goldie' (much to her contempt) was there too. Old habits die hard, she reflected as she scanned her memory for the queen's name. Demeter, that was it. Little golden Demeter. So much like her, yet loved so much more. Demeter's friend was off to her side, the tall red one. Bombalurina. She'd hung around Macavity's tribe, too. An oriental brown Griddlebone hadn't seen around before sat next to the white-and-black Jellicle who had earned the nickname 'Patches' among Macavity's tribe. Patches was to the right of The Rum Tum Tugger. A name like that was one nobody ever forgot. She racked her brain until she came up with most of their names, running over them once again. Old Deuteronomy, Gus, Jellylorum, Munkustrap, Demeter, Bombalurina, Alonzo, and The Rum Tum Tugger. Griddlebone prayed that the oriental brown's name would come up before she was expected to address her.
She sat down carefully, glancing around the table multiple times. An uneasy silence hung over the group, nobody quite sure what to say. Her father started them off quickly, noting the tension hanging on his daughters' shoulders. As he started, Jellylorum and Griddlebone both gave off quiet sighs of relief.
"While all of you know why we're here, I believe my youngest does not…" He made brief eye contact with her as she shook her head slowly. Her father continued. "The council of the Jellicle tribe has gathered to vote on…" He stumbled. Griddlebone buried her face in her hands. He'd forgotten what he was saying. There was ear-drum splitting silence ringing through the room as they waiting for him to continue. Demeter finally spoke to prompt him.
"The re-admission…"
"Ah, yes… that's it. The council of the Jellicle tribe has gathered to vote on the re-admission of the queen Griddlebone, who left due to unknown reasons." He finished. There was a sigh of relief among the council.
"Unknown reasons?" Griddlebone spat, her tail flicking back and forth.
"Well, dear, we really haven't gotten a straight answer from you…"
"Kitnapped!" She repeated in an annoyed tone. Demeter scoffed.
"Of course you were." She said in a nonchalant fashion, her tail flicking back and forth. Cassandra's gaze shifted between her friend and the new queen.
"Well, to maintain peace, I suggest we just try Griddlebone to see if she's worthy enough to rejoin the tribe." Deuteronomy offered, realizing they were on the verge of a fight
"Did you try Demeter to see if she was worthy? Or did you just throw her in with your oldest son and stick her on the council?" Griddlebone snapped. Demeter stood up violently, knocking over an old bit of pottery with her tail.
"Oh, that's so the last straw!" She seethed, moving forward.
"But it sort of what happened…" Jellylorum pointed out, siding with her sister. Demeter was momentarily torn between the two. She shook her head, calming down as Munkustrap pulled her into a sitting position and wrapped his arms around her.
"No, it isn't." She said, trying to stay calm.
"How am I different?" Griddlebone demanded of her, leaning back on a stack of old books.
"You're different because you know what exactly Macavity is accomplishing by make our tribe bigger." Jellylorum reminded her. Griddlebone was stunned in silence for a second.
"I can't tell you." She said in a slightly mortified fashion.
"See, we can't trust her." Bombalurina put in, placing a paw on Demeter's shoulder.
"Why not?" The gold queen demanded.
"If there's anyone in here besides me that knew the answer to that, Goldie, it'd be you." She said smoothly. There was another ringing silence throughout the room.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Demeter mutter defensively after half a minute of mind numbing silence. Eight sets of eyes fixed themselves on her. "Wanna tell them how you used to be Macavity's mate? And how YOU knew about his plan for the ball?" She said, enjoying her moment of not being the bad guy, for once. Munkustrap and Bombalurina withdrew their paws from her shoulders.
"Is that true?" Munkustrap asked quietly.
"You told me you didn't know…" Bombalurina said slowly, hurt crossing her face briefly. Griddlebone's wry smile seemed plastered to her face.
"Well, Goldie?"
"I… I tried to warn you…" She said, shrinking backwards into the wall. There was another pause before Deuteronomy spoke.
"I understand that both you two have had past relationships with Macavity, but any deed is forgivable. I ask my council to keep this in mind as they vote from both the acceptance of Demeter and Griddlebone. Griddlebone," There was a pause. "You are excused. As are you, Demeter." The two fled from the room together. There was a collective sigh from the rest of the council as they left. "Well, that leaves one thing left for us to do." Deuteronomy stated the obvious, going through the normal process. "Who will speak for Griddlebone?" Jellylorum stood up, nodding to the respected leader.
"I will." She said, closing her eyes briefly.
"Will anyone else speak for Griddlebone?" Silence ensued. "Who will speak for Demeter?" If the previous pause had been silence, then the sensation that followed needed a new word to describe it. All eyes rested on Munkustrap and Bombalurina. Mind numbing silence.
"I will." A quiet voice said. Everyone turned around. It was Cassandra who'd spoken, and she was now bowing her head to Deuteronomy. The leader didn't even bother to ask if anyone else would speak for her.
"Let's start with you, then, dear." He said, motioning toward Cassandra, who nodded again. She swallowed hard, words sticking to her dry throat.
"I'll speak for Griddlebone, as well." Deuteronomy nodded his approval for her to begin. She stumbled over her words the first few times round, but finally came up with something that made sense.
"What we've just learned from Griddlebone and Demeter is quite shocking, to say the least, but does it really change who she is? She's been lying to us, but that must mean she has reason. Demeter may have known about what happened at the ball, but there was no harm done in the long run. Griddlebone even said she couldn't tell us." The brown said, shifting slightly.
"That doesn't mean anything. It means she doesn't want to." Tugger spoke up. Cassandra shot him an annoyed look.
"Jellylorum, what would you say is the one thing Griddlebone wants most right now?" She asked, not break eye contact with the tom.
"To live with her children. That was heartbreak in her eyes, I could see it. It's not something someone can fake." She said, bowing her head slightly. Cassandra smirked as she broke eye contact with the Tugger.
"And Munkustrap, why do you think Demeter lied to you?" She asked, gazing at the silver tabby. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Because she wasn't physically able to tell the truth." He concluded finally.
"Why do you say that?" She prompted, realizing that she was intruded on something personal, but needing to make a point.
"Because she loves me. And I love her. There's only one reason Demeter would lie to me about something like that." There was another of those mind-numbing silences that was all to common during these meetings.
"Jellylorum?"
"I have nothing to add."
"Then we should vote."
Griddlebone smirked as she followed Demeter out of the chamber. The all-to-perfect queen was close to tears as she exited the room. They settled down just outside, dead silent, to no avail. They could hear nothing through the wall. Demeter finally broke the silence with a single word.
"Why?" she asked, emotion pouring out all at once. "He'll never forgive me…."
"Aw, having doubts about your doting mate?" Griddlebone asked in a mock-concerned voice dripping with insincerity.
"No." She said defensively.
"It sounds like you are." Griddlebone put in with a small smile.
"Well, I'm not." She sniffled, a tear running down her black-and-gold cheek.
"I bet he's in there right now, talking about how horrible you are for lying to them." Griddlebone said, leaning her head back against the wall. Demeter ran a paw through her headfur.
"They aren't. They're talking on our behalves and voting. I should know." She said, brushing a tear off her cheek.
"There are a lot of things you should know, Goldie." Griddlebone said as she smoothed out the silky white fur on her hips.
"Like what?" She snapped, not knowing what made her say it. She did not want to know what she should know.
"Like your friend in there, the red one. Let's call her Freckles." She decided spontaneously, realizing she did not have a nickname for the queen.
"Bombalurina." Demeter corrected as she stood up to pace back and forth.
"Anyway, Freckles there? She was in on it." The white queen said, admiring her own fur in a vain fashion.
"What?" Demeter questioned, her ears flattening against her head.
"The plan that made you want to run away." She said, finally making eye contact with her new foe. Demeter mustered her courage and walked forward, plucking a grey hair off the white queen's shoulder.
"The fox may grow grey, but it'll never change its ways." She said, offering the hair to a sneering Griddlebone.
"We've made a decision then?" Deuteronomy asked the room at large. There were nods and quiet words of consent.
"Call them in, then." Gus told Bombalurina, who stood up to fetch them.
"Yes sir." She said in a tone that was dripping with sarcasm. She hated the whole you're older and therefore more important concept. As she entered the main hall, she found Demeter and Griddlebone rather close, and sneering at each other. Slowly shaking twisted thoughts out of her head, she grabbed Demeter's shoulder and jerked her head back toward the room. She spoke a simple phrase that sent chills down her spine.
"It's time."
