Chapter Two

When I awoke, I was surrounded by concerned faces. My mother rushed over, "Tanto, what have you done?"

"I-I-I didn't do anything," I sat up shakily, my head still throbbing from my out-of-body experience. "It just…happened. I don't know how."

"She had a vision," Teathrice explained calmly, her golden eyes on mine. "She has the gift of prophecy—it cannot be controlled. The Future announces itself whenever it feels like it."

"But…what did it mean?" Jenny looked at the grey queen. Teathrice shrugged, "Prophecies are very hard to decipher. Even when the Future makes itself known, it is always ambiguous. The Future can change, even after prophecy. It depends on the cat."

My mother looked at me, "Well, Tanto? What does it mean?"

"I don't know," I replied weakly. I could feel a heavy sleep seeping into my bones. "I'm so tired. Can we talk about this is the morning?"

"Tantomile, now is not the time for games!" My mother scolded. I could tell she was angry, but I was too tired to care.

"Perhaps she should stay here," Teathrice said gently, casting a cautious look in my mother's directions. Everyone was well aware of Jennyanydot's infamous temper. "With me."

Mother straightened up, "Excellent idea, Teathrice. Alright, all of you, give her some air. Let her rest til morning. Come, Coricopat, we're going home."

With that, my mother disappeared, Corico trailing along behind her. He cast me a worried glance. I forced a smile. I did not possess the strength to send him a reassuring telepathic message.

"Just rest," Teathrice put a comforting arm around me. It was odd, being touched by a stranger. I didn't have much physical contact with any of the cats—Corico and I communicated telepathically, there wasn't much need for touching.

I nodded, grateful to be away from Mother. If Teathrice hadn't spoken up, Jenny would still be haranguing me for answers. I drifted into uneasy sleep.

~*~

I awoke the next morning, stiff but well rested. Teathrice was sitting next to me, her kindly eyes watching over me as I slept. She gave a soft smile, "How do you feel, Tantomile?"

"Much better, thanks," I returned the smile as best I could. It felt odd, smiling. I didn't do it very often.

"Do you remember what happened last night?" Teathrice's golden eyes searched my face. I nodded, "I had a vision. A prophecy."

Teathrice gave a small nod. Her eyes seemed to penetrate my soul once more, "Do you remember what you said?"

"Um," I took a moment to collect my thoughts. I took a deep breath and repeated as much as I could remember. Teathrice listened intently, nodding gravely from time to time. When I finished, I turned to the older queen with expectation, "What does it mean?"

Teathrice's fine features were set in uncertainty, "It is hard to say, Tantomile. But part of your prophecy has already come true. Did you know that this very morning Deuteronomy's mate, Tyrophilia, was found dead?"

"Tyro's dead?" I felt my stomach drop with dead weight. I knew she had been injured by Bombalurina several months earlier, but I had assumed that she was doing better.

Teathrice nodded gravely, "Yes. Apparently her wounds became infected. She died during the night."

"So…my prophecy was true," I said slowly, trying to absorb the information. Teathrice leaned forward earnestly, "Yes, Tanto, which is why you must try to remember everything that you said. It is very important, so that we may prepare for what is to come."

I nodded, still trying to take it all in. Teathrice must have noticed my dazed expression, for she put a reassuring paw on my shoulder, her warm smile filling me with an odd sense of comfort, "Come. Old Deuteronomy has called a meeting of the Jellicle this morning. We must attend."

I dutifully followed Teathrice through the junkyard, to the platform where Old Deuteronomy stood, looking out at the Jellicles with sorrowed eyes. As we wove our way through the crowd, I could hear the whispers.

"There's Tantomile—"

"—predicted Tyro's death last night—"

"What other powers does she have?"

"—I hear she can read minds—"

"Doesn't she just give you the creeps?"

"She's a dark angel—"

"—bringer of death—"

"—cursed—"

"—prophecy—"

"—strange—"

"—freak."

The last word fell on my ears like a death toll. So far, I had been able to avoid that ugly word—that word that now hit my face like mud, that slid down my cheek like filth. I recoiled at that word—what a horrible, hateful word! Teathrice continued moving ahead of me; she had learned long ago to block out the whispers.

Not knowing what else to do, I continued walking, never turning my head to the right or the left, even though I could still hear the whispers of fear and ignorance whirl around me like eddying pools in a stream.

I could see from my mother's crestfallen expression that she, too, could hear the whispers. Her face looked at me with such sorrow, as if to say, I told you, darling. I told you they would not understand.

Mother was right. They did not understand. How could they? They feared me now—I was the bringer of death. With a single word, I could kill a cat. In reality, I had only predicted Tyro's death, but that fact seemed to slip the minds of the Jellicle population.

Tanto.

It was Corico. I looked around, as if seeing the crowd for the very first time. I spotted my brother, at our usual meeting perch. I bounded up to him, relieved to see a friendly face in the sea of distrust.

You OK? His voice echoed in my head.

I'll be better once this is all over, I shot him a mental message. He nodded. Then he looked out at the crowd, They're watching us.

Ignore them.

It's hard. I can feel their eyes burning my skin.

In a few days, they won't even remember we're here, I reassured him. It'll be just like it was before.

I think it'll be more than a few days before they forget this, Corico's inner voice held a wry tone.

I shot him a look that could have withered an oak tree, Enough funny business.

Old Deuteronomy was speaking now. "As most of you know, Tyrophilia died last night. It appears that the wounds she received from her fight with Bombalurina became infected. So, as punishment, I am extending Bombalurina's sentence to another full year of exile."

There was a slight gasp from the crowd. Bombalurina had been exiled for fighting with Tyro; she was supposed to return soon. I heard Dem whisper to her mother, "That's not fair! It's not even Bombie's fault."

The second line of my prophecy returned to my mind. Tonight will tip the balance between wrong and right.

Apparently, Teathrice remembered that line as well; she looked at me in mild alarm. I nodded, letting her know that I felt the same. It was wrong to punish Bombalurina for Tyro's death, but in his grief, Old Deuteronomy justified his actions. The scale had been tipped—in the wrong direction.

~*~

Coricopat was right. The others did not forget us as quickly as I had hoped. Everywhere I went, I could feel eyes upon me. The cats would part like the Red Sea whenever I entered the yard; no one wanted to be anywhere near me. I used to think being ignored was bad; now I wished I could sink back into anonymity.

One day, as I was passing by some kits, I heard one cry out, "Look, it's Tanto—the witch!"

I whirled around at the sound of the voice. I did not recognize the kitten, but then again, I didn't know many of the cats who were in the Tribe.

"Great," whispered the second kit in fear and alarm. "Now she's gonna cast a spell on us and kill us all, like she did Tyro."

I felt as if I had been struck by lightning. I could not move. I stared at the kits dumbly; I lost all ability to speak or think. There was a moment of horror as the kits stared back at me, their eyes wide with fear. The fear in their eyes hurt worse than their careless words--that look of distrust, how it cut my very heart!

Finally, I regained control of myself. I was now enveloped in an overwhelming feeling of sadness. I turned away and disappeared into the shadows, trying to prevent the flood of sobs that threatened to fill my eyes, bombarding my chests with their quick, rapid shudders. They were kittens—mere kittens!—and yet they already knew the language of fear and hatred.

I moved away from the hustle and bustle of the yard, to the farthest corner. I sat under a tree and cried until I felt my heart would break. I was so confused—how had they hurt me so deeply? I did not even know them! I had always told myself that I did not care what others thought; that I was strong enough to deal with the rejection my abilities had caused. But now here I was, reduced to tears by some foolish kittens!

"Tantomile," came a voice from above, cool and soft. I looked up to see Teathrice, resting in the branches of the oak tree. I quickly wiped my tears, looking for an excuse, "I-I-I was just—"

"Ignorant cats say ignorant things," Teathrice seemed to read my mind. I knew she didn't actually read my mind because I would have felt it if she did. I often wondered how she could be so perceptive and not possess telepathic abilities.

"My mother warned me that this would happen," I sniffled again, shaking my head sadly. "I always knew—a part of me just always sensed it—that this day would come. The day the other cats remembered that Corico and I were mystics, the day they shunned us. I thought I would be strong enough, when the time came. I didn't think it would hurt this much."

Teathrice's kind face frowned with compassion. She patted the spot next to her on the branch, "Come. Sit with me."

I nodded and climbed up beside her. We sat there, side by side in silence for several minutes. Finally, Teathrice spoke, looking out over the yard with her somber eyes, "It may not seem like it, but you have a gift, Tantomile. You may be ridiculed, or even hated for it, but that is the price we pay for possessing such a gift."

"But I did not ask for this gift," I replied through my tears. "Never would I have asked for such a thing."

Teathrice smiled at me softly, "No one asks for this cursed blessing, darling. The Everlasting Cat gives it to the cat who can use it to do the most good."

"How can my prediction do anyone any good?" I was incredulous. Teathrice shrugged, "We may never know. But remember Tantomile: you were chosen. Set aside. You were given this unique gift; from your birth you were destined for greatness. You may never see your purpose, but you must realize that this gift was given to you for a reason. We all have gifts—some are different than others—and it is our job to find out what those gifts are and how to use them for the greater good."

I nodded slowly; the first glimpse of hope had begun to dawn on my soul. Perhaps Teathrice was right—I was chosen to possess this gift, chosen to use this gift to help the Tribe. On my darkest of days, I would recall this conversation and Teathrice's kind words. It was her words of comfort that would keep me from total despair.