A/N: Going to carry this on. Please review!
It wasn't uncommon for a Gumbie cat to sit.. And sit.. And sit.. And sit. After all, thats what made a Gumbie cat.
The other major attribute to Jenny's role as Gumbie cat was to be a sort of carer, and teacher. She taught the mice, helped with the kittens, ran an infirmary for the tribe.
Yet in the year that followed the disappearance of her twins, she'd just sat. And sat. And sat. And sat. Gumbie duties were only taken care of when absolutely necessary, and even then, they were done with half a heart.
On the Saturday morning that this chapter begins, Jenny was resting in a basket in her den. Her mate wasn't due home until late, and once again, she found herself dwelling on the subject of her children. The feeling of guilt had multiplied by the day. Only now did the Jellicles realize that they'd been wrong to send the two cats away- they really hadn't been that bad.
Plus, they were only young.. Who knows what might have happened to those naughty streaks? Perhaps they'd have vanished, but personally, Jenny and Skimble hadn't really minded all that much.. Sure, Jenny would box the kittens round the ear now and then, but she'd loved them. Her love for her children had usually overpowered her disapproval. Yet in the heat of the moment, during Munkustrap's confrontation, she'd been too stunned to say a thing. The now-Protector had over dramatized the situation to try get the message through to the calicos, and had momentarily decieved Jenny into feeling negatively towards them for the first time. The look on her daughter's face.. She'd cried. She'd wanted her mother to stand up for them, and she hadn't. There was no doubt that Skimbleshanks would have leapt in- he mentioned it when Jenny told him about the incident- but she'd just sat there.
And now, her two would hate them. They'd have joined Macavity for good, and would have it drilled even further into their heads that the Jellicles were monsters.
"Perhaps we are.." Jenny sniffed, sitting back in her basket as she rested her chin on er paws. The twins she and Skimble held so dear would be completely changed. Corrupted, perhaps even criminally insane? Would she still love them if she met them? Of course.
"Jenny!" A yell came from outside her den, causing the Gumbie cat to stir. She sighed and pulled herself up to her feet. She'd have to see her children again. She just had to.
The night they'd been sent away had been the worst of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer's lives. The two had stumbled out of the Yard and onto the streets, where they stopped to decide what to do. Having absolutely zero options, 'Teazer and 'Jerrie had just continued to walk, the male of the two softly stroking his sister's headfur. The two cats walked in silence for what seemed like hours, growing more and more weary as the sky began to take on a slight orange tinge.
'Teazer's tears had long since dried, and were replaced by a wounded, haunted look on her soft features. His sister's misery broke Mungojerrie's heart even more- he even felt a surge of anger towards the tribe. How were they expected to survive out here? They'd be dead by dawn.
Perhaps that would have been true- if they had remained on the streets to see dawn. Mungojerrie had long since taken his sister into his arms, cuddling her for warmth as the two slept on top of a wooden, shabby box. They'd been rudely awoken by a tom- his name not at all familiar to either cat. He'd promised them shelter, food, and training. They got it, too. They just weren't too pleased about the fact that it was all provided by the Hidden Paw.
On the same day that Jenny was awaiting Skimble's return, the calico twins were lazing in the canteen. It was clearly not even up to the standards of the Yard- and if it couldn't compare to a place built of junk, then that really said something about their living conditions.
The Hideout had slowly changed 'Teazer and 'Jerrie- whether it was for the better, they didn't know. Their accents had grown stronger. They were working as skilled criminals, thieves for the Hidden Paw, but they still felt the same underneath the well tones, lithe late adolescent exteriors. Mungojerrie was still fiercely protective of his sister- and she still wanted answers about the incident that had sent them away.
"Cmon, Jerreh! Ploise can woi go? Oi wanna see Ma an' Da agaihn," Rumpleteazer hissed quietly, leaning across the wooden table to speak to her brother. The Jellicle Ball was impending, and Macavity had frequently spoken of his intention to- for want of a better phrase- 'scare the living Pollicle shit out of those pansies.' They were invited, along with the rest of the Henchcats, who had shown no resistance. Jerrie, however..
"'Teazah, no. Oi don' wanna see ya get 'urt again. Skimble an' Jenny.. Thoiy don' wan' us anehmore.." The calico tom sighed, folding his arms as he dropped his head. "They wouldn' stan' up fo' us then, whoiy now? Oi don' even think thoiy'll be missin' us."
Harsh as his words sounded, 'Teazer had to agree. She was desperate to know why she hadn't been defended by her mother, but, like 'Jerrie, had come to accept the same conclusion.
"Per'aps its bettah tha' we stay 'ere.." 'Teazer choked out, casting her chocolate eyes downwards. Her twin's head snapped up almost instantly, using a paw to tip her chin up.
"Hoiy, it could boi a whole lo' worse, ya know. We go' ah good ploice 'ere, 'Mac doesn' realleh get mad at us-"
"MUNGOJERRIE! RUMPLETEAZER! GET YOURSELVES IN HERE RIGHT NOW," The Hidden Paw's ever-raspy voice bellowed through the Hideout, causing each and every hench to shudder and send sympathetic looks towards the twins.
Despite herself, 'Teazer giggled, jumping up from her seat.
"Whot was it ya were soiyin 'bout 'Mac being chilled?" She asked, narrowly avoiding a playful swat on the head.
"Can i', Rumpleteazah,"
A/N: I DID MORE. Totally sang the first line.. 'AAAAND SIIIIITS AND SIIIIITS...'
I want to move this on to when they go back to the yard (which for me, will be when they do their song in the movie.) Please review, and thanks to HowAboutThat for reviewing the last chapter!