Running from Family
By Actress of Broadway
Edited by Skimbleshanks the Railway CAT
I don't own "CATS." I just own the new cats.
Chapter 8: Returning to Family and Friends
Two months had passed since Quaxo learned why Ringmenka sent him away and Mistoffelees rejected her. Quaxo was very worried about her. At first, he didn't want to go in fear of her banishing him. Also, he wasn't speaking to Mistoffelees because he was very upset at his phantom personality.
But soon, Quaxo couldn't help himself. He went to Ringmenka's corner at the end of the week. He thought that he would talk to her and tell her that he knew her problem and that he was all right. He knew that he would have to lie about his feelings but he thought that it was the best thing for her to hear. If he told the truth that he was hurt, he knew that the red Jellicle that he greatly cared for would be devastated. Shaking that image from his mind, he turned the corner to where he could see the mattresses where Ringmenka slept. But she wasn't there.
Worried, Quaxo jumped up on top of the mattresses and looked around. Stealing a look at the ground behind the mattresses, he saw something. He bent down and picked up the rose that Mistoffelees gave Ringmenka. It was now black, crumbled, and withered. Quaxo became even more worried and leaped down. He searched the junkyard until he collapsed from running and caught his breath. He then realized that Ringmenka was gone. He hung his head, got up, and left, dropping the withered Rose onto the ground.
When he left the junkyard, he ran into Rumpleteazer. She asked, "What were you doing in the junkyard?"
Quaxo didn't answer and started to head for his home.
"Couldn't find her, could you?"
Quaxo stopped and faced Rumpleteazer, a little confused from his daze. "Find who?"
Rumpleteazer smirked. "I know, Quaxo. I know that you have been seeing Ringmenka for about four months."
Quaxo's eyes widened. He had assumed that only he knew about Ringmenka's whereabouts for the past six months so he put on the mask of ignorance. "Uh … what are you talking about?"
Rumpleteazer chuckled. "I've known all along that Ringmenka has been staying at the junkyard."
"How did you know?"
Rumpleteazer chuckled some more. "Because I was the one who told her to stay there. She doesn't have another home to go to."
She then turned the conversation to a serious matter. "But right now, I don't know where she is. Ever since Mistoffelees rejected her … "
Quaxo interrupted. "Wait. How do you know about that?"
Rumpleteazer gave a casual shrug. "I bring her food every week. How else would she be able to survive? There aren't enough rats and mice around to help her function day to day. The last time I saw her, which was sometime last month, she broke down and told me everything from when she sent you away to when she told Mistoffelees to leave."
"Then why didn't you say anything to me?"
"Because Ringmenka begged me not to tell you. She didn't want you to know her dilemma. She wanted to tell you herself. But now who knows where she is?"
Quaxo suggested, "Maybe she went back to her original home."
Rumpleteazer scoffed. "Her original home? No way. She would never go back there … even if it was the only option she had left."
Quaxo tilted his head a little. "Why not?"
Rumpleteazer shook her head. "I can't tell you. Let Ringmenka tell you herself when you see her again. But don't bring it up. She'll never want to talk about it then. Don't ask me why. That's just how her mind works."
Quaxo nodded and asked, "No idea where she is?"
Rumpleteazer shook her head. "If I knew, I would tell you. I know how much you care for her. But I will tell you this … if she comes back … she'll go to you first. You're her best friend … and she does care for you a great deal. She told me herself."
With that, Rumpleteazer left and Quaxo thought about what she just said. He knew that Ringmenka thought very highly of him. But would she go to him first? Still wondering about that, he headed home.
---
Ringmenka's whereabouts remained unknown for the next four months. Quaxo grew very worried but knew that he couldn't find her without any clues. He never discussed his worries with his family or friends. However they could tell that something was bothering him.
One day, Quaxo was lying around the house with Etcetera and Jellylorum in the other room. As he was starting to drift off to sleep, he heard tapping at the window. He looked up and saw a white hand with a red arm. He smiled, quickly went to the window, and opened it. Ringmenka's head slowly came into view. Quaxo smiled even more. "Hi. I've missed you."
Ringmenka slightly smiled. "I've missed you too."
She sighed and head-rubbed his arm. Quaxo helped her up but then froze. Ringmenka was wearing the purple ribbon Mistoffelees gave her. It was in a crisscross fashion at the front of her neck. The ribbon was held in place by a broken pin. Fur standing up on the back of his neck, he asked, "Where did you get that?"
Ringmenka bit her lower lip and touched the ribbon. "It's … something a cat I like gave me. Listen, is your mother around? I need to talk to her."
Quaxo pointed silently to the next room and Ringmenka left to find Jellylorum. Rubbing his temples, Quaxo looked on the bureau to his right where he saw Mistoffelees sitting. "You didn't do anything. She still loves you over me."
Mistoffelees just looked at Quaxo with no emotion and shrugged lightly. "I can't help it if she likes me better than you. I can't argue with her taste."
Quaxo hissed and jumped down to the ground. Mistoffelees looked at Quaxo and said, "Look, I didn't ask her to fall for me. I never really knew she was there until I selected her and your sister ten months ago."
Quaxo ignored his other personality and went to the doorway where Jellylorum and Ringmenka were talking. He took a little peek to watch the interaction. Ringmenka said, "Please let me come back! I don't have a home to go to."
Jellylorum shook her head. "I cannot. You harmed my youngest daughter. I cannot allow you to be near her."
Ringmenka pleaded, "Please. I beg you. You're my family. I miss you … and Quaxo … I even miss Etcetera."
"I assumed you hated her."
Ringmenka shook her head. "I didn't. I don't. I'm just … not good with controlling my emotions … and I've never been around anyone like her. But I do like Etcetera. Even though she's a little annoying at times, she … adds flavor to my life. Please … take me back. I'm sorry. I will never harm her again, I promise."
At the doorway where Quaxo was, Etcetera joined her brother. "What's going on?" she whispered.
Quaxo said, "Ringmenka's back … and she wants to be in our family again."
Etcetera smiled. "Good. I miss her."
Quaxo was surprised and looked down at his sister. "You do? Even after she scratched you?"
Etcetera shrugged expansively. "Well … maybe I went overboard with asking her … and I'm not the type to hate another cat. You know that. Besides … she's fun to be around … even if she pushes me away all the time."
Quaxo chuckled. "I know. She said that she doesn't hate you. Apparently she never did."
"I know. I heard that part. I just moved here to hear better."
Just then, Jellylorum entered the room and saw them. Etcetera giggled and asked, "So … is she coming back?"
Jellylorum shook her head. "I haven't decided yet."
Quaxo begged, "Please take her back. I miss her."
Etcetera nodded. "I miss her too."
Jellylorum looked at her kittens. "You miss her … after what she did?"
Etcetera said, "We can look past that. She's sorry and promises not to do it again. Please!"
Quaxo added, "Besides, she doesn't have any other place to go."
Jellylorum looked into the other room where Ringmenka waited for an answer. Jellylorum sighed and said, "Fine. She can stay. But the first sign of trouble, she's leaving." With that, she left the room.
Ringmenka grinned as Etcetera and Quaxo joined her. The red Jellicle grimaced at Etcetera's scars and said, "I'm sorry about that."
Etcetera waved it off. "Don't worry about it."
Ringmenka then surprised them by asking, "Well, Etcetera … aren't you going to hug me?"
Etcetera said, "I thought you didn't like it when I hugged you."
"Only when I didn't expect it. Since I asked, I'll be fine."
The younger queen grinned and gave her friend a hug. Ringmenka smiled but then saw Quaxo staring at her ribbon. Her face fell and she looked away. Quaxo turned and slowly left the room.
---
That night, Quaxo was hanging out on the balcony. He was still upset at the fact that Ringmenka still couldn't forget Mistoffelees even though he rejected her. As he heaved himself up to go inside, he stole a peek at the roof and saw Ringmenka lying on her back with her left hand behind her head and her right playing with the ribbon. He jumped up to the roof and asked, "What are you doing out here in the cold?"
Ringmenka looked at him and said, "I could ask you the same thing."
Quaxo lay down next to her and said, "I sometimes come out here for some peace and quiet."
Ringmenka slightly nodded. The two young cats lounged where they were for a while until Quaxo thought of something. "Say … your coming of age Jellicle Ball is in two months, isn't it?"
Ringmenka just nodded. Quaxo asked, "Do you want any particular tom to approach you?"
Ringmenka looked away and sighed. "Well … I have two. But … I don't know which I care for the most."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, one of the toms is you … and the other … is your other side, Mistoffelees."
Quaxo knew this already but feigned ignorance. "Really?"
Ringmenka lowered her eyes. "Yes. I know I should only care for one or the other. However … that's easier said than done. You're my best friend in all of the tribe. But I've had my eye on Mistoffelees for about two years now."
That surprised Quaxo for Mistoffelees said that he didn't notice her until almost a year ago and he hadn't been out before that time. But Ringmenka continued before he could ask. "Lately, I've been developing feelings for you. So now … I don't know what to do."
Quaxo sat up. "Will you choose one of us? Because you shouldn't love two cats like that … especially if one is just another personality in the other's body."
Ringmenka nodded and sat up as well. "I know. I promise; I'll make my choice at the Jellicle Ball."
"You promise?" Off her nod, Quaxo stood up. "Come on. We should get to bed."
Ringmenka nodded. "I'll be a moment."
Quaxo nodded and went inside. Ringmenka laid back down and sighed. "Asparagus … I could really use you now. I'm don't know what to do."
Just then, she saw a shooting star flash past. She took it as a sign from Asparagus and smiled. Sighing, she got up and went inside.
Once she was inside, Ringmenka shivered at the cold. Out of habit, she grabbed a sheet of newspaper but then stopped. Thinking about what she was doing, she put the sheet back and went to the bed where Quaxo and Etcetera were getting ready for bed. Looking up, Etcetera queried, "You going to sleep?"
Ringmenka nodded and asked, "Um … may I … join you two?"
The two siblings were surprised at this. Quaxo asked, "Are you sure? You've never wanted to join us before."
Ringmenka nodded. Etcetera pulled her in and went right to sleep. Shaking her head, Ringmenka went easily to sleep behind the younger queen. Quaxo looked at her for a moment until he dropped off to sleep behind the red Jellicle with his arm curled around her waist. Ringmenka felt it and sighed in her sleep.
