Chapter 2
A few hours later, the four queens stood around the cot that the kitten was sleeping in. Occasionally the kitten would quietly moan and shift in the bed but never showed any other signs of waking up.
"How long do you think she'll sleep?" Bombalurina asked.
"Hard to tell." Jenny answered "It could be days."
They stood in silence a little longer.
"I still don't understand why a mother would just leave their kitten to die like that." Bomba grumbeled
Jennyanydots and Jellyorum just shook their heads and shrugged.
Just then the kitten began to stir. Before the queens could back away from the cot, she shot up and her frightened eyes darted wildly. When she saw the queens she froze and her claws dug into the mattress. Her breathing grew louder and heavier. Before long she was whimpering just like when she had gotten there.
"Shhhh darling its ok we won't hurt you." Jellyorum soothed as she sat down and rubbed the petrified kitten's shoulders.
A few moments later the kitten's breathing slowed a little and she calmed down noticeably.
"That's it darling." Jellyorum said in the same motherly voice "Whats your name?"
The kitten sat and stared at the motherly queen. "Amolia." She said finally after she decided she could trust this queen.
"That's a lovely name." Jellyorum cooed, stroking her messy grey and crème head fur.
Amolia blushed a little bit "whats your name?"
Jellyorum smiled "Im Jellyorum, shes Jennyanydots, that's Demeter, and that's Bombalurina."
All the queens smiled warmly at the kitten.
"Now tell us dear, why were you under that dumpster earlier?" Jenny asked, sitting down on the other side of the kitten.
"I had to hide there or else they'd find me."
"Who would sweetheart?" Demeter asked scared to know the answer.
"The mean cats that killed my mummy!"
All the queens exchanged startled looks.
"Who killed your mummy dear!?" Jenny asked placing her paw on the kitten's back.
"This mean red cat." The kitten said, close to tears.
Demeter gasped cupping her paws on her mouth. Bombalurina put an arm around her sister. Amolia started crying and Jellyorum scooped her up and sat down and began to rock her and whisper words of comfort in her ears. Just then the door flew open and Skimbleshanks and asparagus, Jenny and Jelly's mates came bustling in.
"Well who do we have here?" Skimble said motioning to the queen kit in jellyorum's arms.
"Munkustrap and Alonzo found this poor dear freezing under a dumpster earlier this evening." Jennyanydots said before she embraced her mate. "We think she's a victim of Macavity." The gumbie cat whispered before kissing his cheek. The orange tabby stared in shock for a moment before he went over and kissed his two adopted daughters.
"Darling are you hungry?" Jellyorum asked after Amolia calmed down.
The kitten nodded.
"Can someone get her some food."
"I will." Bombalurina volunteered and made her way to the make shift kitchen in the opposite corner of the den where a pot of leftover stew was. She scooped some stew into a bowl and brought it back to Amolia.
"Eat up sweetie" the scarlet queen cooed, handing the bowl to the kitten. Eagerly, the kitten scarfed down the food until it was all gone.
"There you are, are you full?" Jellyorum asked softly.
Amolia nodded and rested against Jellyorum. The queen smiled and stroked the kitten's fur. She soon fell asleep and was placed back in the cot. The six cats all watched her snuggle down into the covers as sleep carried her further and further away.
"She will need a bath in the morning..." Jellyorum began "…And I want one of you two to give it to her and explain how you know how it feels to be a victim of Macavity."
Demeter flinched at the mention of the hidden paw's name but then nodded.
"I will." She said. Everyone looked at Demeter with surprise.
"Dem are you sure." Bomba asked
"Yeah, I think it will help both of us cope." She stated.
"That's very brave darling." Jellyorum said and kissed the gold and black queen's cheek. "Now lets all get some sleep."
Everyone went to their rooms to get much need goodnight rest and prepare for whatever the next day would bring.