Chapter 5: A New Hope?
Nightspark was licking a nasty slice on his hind paw when Apollo came loping towards him and said, "We got the little queen home just fine. She is still unconscious. We laid her in your bed because it's the softest."
Nightspark just nodded and looked around. Nobody seemed to be too badly hurt. He looked at the gash on his leg. He sighed. He'd have to get Carrito to sew it. He didn't want a big scar on his leg. What would the females think? Mikki came over to him and helped him get onto her back. "All right everybody, back to the house. Sheari, please bring Carrito with her bag. I got a nasty cut on my leg. I also want her to look at the female."
Sheari smiled a doggy smile and dashed off.
When they arrived at the house, which was just a bunch of crates and boxes, they heard a scream from inside. Nightspark jumped of Mikki and stumbled. He dashed into the house and up a small set of stairs. When he got to his room, he saw that the little queen was awake and Ragtail was cowering in the corner. It was pretty easy to asses the situation. "Ragtail, leave us. When Carrito arrives, send her up please." He said as gently as possible. The little female was still very frightened. Her ears were back against her head and her claws were out. "Easy babe. I won't hurt you. Neither will any of the other Pollicles. If they do they'll answer to me." He said as soothingly as possible.
Rumpleteazer was still sleeping, but something was bugging her nose and so she slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes widened when she realized that there was a Pollicle looking at her. She screamed. The Pollicle backed into a corner. Suddenly a large cat burst into the room. She put her claws out and hissed. The other cat didn't say anything. She couldn't see what kind it was because there wasn't a lot of light. He was saying something to the dog whose name was apparently Ragtail. Then the other cat turned to her and flipped a switch. Light flooded the room and Rumpleteazer was able to see. The handsome cat in front of her was midnight blue and had a dark yellow mane. 'I wonder if this is Tugger's cousin.' He looked like him, but without the leopard spots and golden fur. She hissed again. The other cat just sat down and began to lick an awful looking cut on his gold hind paw.
He looked at her again and said gently, "Easy babe. Easy babe. I won't hurt you. Neither will any of the other Pollicles."
She just continued to stare at him silently.
He sighed while he studied her. She had calico coloring, but tabby stripes. Her eyes were a vibrant deep blue and he had to struggle to not lose himself in them. She was really cute. There was something about her that was temping. "Who might you be, darling?" he asked when he was able to talk again. "I think I have right to know after I saved you."
Teazer looked at him while he was looking at her. He was very handsome. And his voice was pleasant to listen to. Her ears perked up and she retracted her claws. He said he wouldn't hurt her. It wouldn't hurt to tell him her name. "I'm Rumpleteazer." She said quietly.
Her voice was like a bell, beautiful and striking. "Well, Rumpleteazer- wait! Aren't you part of the Notorious Duo?" he exclaimed curiously.
Her blue eyes looked suddenly became suspicious. "Yes. I was. My former partner was Mungojerrie. Why? Have you heard of us?"
"Of course, my dear queen. Your reputation is very widespread. It is a pleasure to meet one half of the famous trouble makers. I would be honored if you would teach me, sweet lady." He said laughingly and then bowed at the waist. She smiled and he thought he'd melt.
"And who might you be, pretty boy?" she asked as she smiled.
"I'm not 'pretty boy.' That's my cousin's nickname. I'm-" he started to say, but was interrupted when Carrito burst into the room.
"Well, well, well, Nightspark. What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?" she asked as she hustled over to him.
"Glad to see you too, Carrito. Before you deal with me, I'd like you to meet Rumpleteazer. I had to save her from Shredder and his gang. She took a bad fall and I'd like you to make sure she's all right." Nightspark said as he motioned to the queen sitting on the bed who looked wide-eyed at the dark yellow queen in front of her.
"Oh, you poor dear." Carrito cooed as she looked Rumple and down.
Rumple hissed as she came towards her. Her foot hurt and she didn't want anything to touch it.
Nightspark walked over to her and knelt down in front of her. "It's ok. Carrito is a nurse and I saw you take a hard fall. I just want her to make sure you are fine. I don't like to see beautiful queens in pain." He looked into her eyes again pleading.
A small smile crept over her face as she looked at him. She nodded and looked towards the other queen. The other queen came forward and introduced herself.
"Hello my dear. I'm Carrito. I'm the nurse for the Jellicle tribe around here. Let's check you out." She looked at Nightspark and shook her head. "Sorry, you'll have to leave. This is a ladies' job." She said as she pushed him out the door and slammed it.
Rumpleteazer couldn't help herself and emitted a silly giggle. The look on his face was identical to one of the Rum Tum Tugger's after he'd been rejected by a queen.
As the door slammed in his face, he heard Rumpleteazer give a high pitched giggle. He felt weak in the knees and almost collapsed. That giggle was like tinkling bells and he loved it. He started pacing. He'd never felt this way about another cat before, especially a queen. What was happening? He had an inkling about what it was, but he pushed it aside. What would the others say? He stopped pacing in horror as he thought about what his cousin would say. After all, Tugger had taught him how to be a ladies' tom. He continued pacing again. He couldn't figure out what it was about her that made him fell happy. But wait. He stopped pacing. She was part of the Notorious Duo. She had a mate… but didn't she say her 'former' partner? Maybe that meant she was available. He smiled at the thought.
Meanwhile inside, Rumple forgot her fears as Carrito examined her body. She was very much like Jennyanydots and Jellylorum mixed together. When Carrito put a paw on her foot, she yelped.
"Oops! Sorry dearie, I didn't realize it would hurt that much. I'm going to have to set it. You won't be able to walk on it for a while. I'd give it at least three weeks." Carrito apologized.
"But I'm suppose to meet my friend at the train station in two weeks." Rumple whined.
"Sorry sweetie, but if you don't want to have a limp, you'll stay off it. Maybe Nightspark can take you or he could meet your friend for you. Nightspark's a good cat. He seems to be quite taken with you honey. He's one of the best cats to have on your side." Carrito said as she set the calico's foot.
"What do I do if I have to relieve myself?"
"Well, I can either set up a box here, or you could get one of the female Pollicles to take you out. Sheari is a real nice poodle. I'm sure she'd do it." Carrito busied herself with tidying up the room again.
"I'd rather go out to do my business."
"O.k. should I get Sheari then?" Carrito asked.
Rumple nodded silently as she thought about meeting the Pollicle.
Carrito came back and opened the door. "Rumple, this is Sheari. Sheari, this is Rumpleteazer."
"Hello lovey. Nice to meet you. I hear you'll be laid up for a while. I'll be happy to help out any way I can." Sheari said cheerfully as she lay down near Rumple so that the cat didn't feel too intimidated.
Just then Nightspark came into the room and immediately went over to where Rumple was. "Well, what's happening?" he asked concernedly. Even though he'd only just met her, he still felt for her.
"Hold on a minute fancy pants," Carrito called.
He stopped talking and looked at her.
"I need to clean your paw as well." she finished as she pulled out a bottle of cleaning solution.
Nightspark walked over and sat down still looking at the little queen,
She just smiled and said, "Carrito said that I broke my paw and that I have to stay off it for at least three weeks." She shrugged helplessly. "I don't mean to be imposing, but can I stay here? I don't have any place to go. I came from the Jellicle tribe up north. I know your cousin, Rum Tum Tugger."
He stared at her. She knew Tugger? She was a Jellicle too. That made him feel better. "You know Tugger? How is he?"
She laughed. "He's fine. Breaking hearts as usual. Yes, he's like an older brother. I was the only kitten who didn't fall for him. I already had a love." She let her face fall a bit as she remembered the look on Jerrie's face when she left him. "Besides, he was too arrogant for my tastes. Also, he disapproved of my burgling. He says hi and wants you to visit. He's actually the one who told me to find you. He said that you'd take care of me as a favor. Will you?"
'She is very, very cute.' He thought as he thought about what she said. She was looking at him with those big blue eyes that were bottomless. 'A favor that I will gladly do.' He thought, but said aloud, "Of course I will. It's no trouble at all, babe. I'd love to have a beautiful queen around to protect. As for burgling, I can see why he wouldn't approve, but I do. And again I say that I'd be honored if you would teach me…" He looked at her bandaged paw and hurried on, "After you're healed of course. Is there anything else I can do?"
"There is. Did one of the Pollicles pick up my bags? If you could help me set it up, then you could have your bed back." She told him as she tried to make herself more comfortable.
"All right. You're going to be fine. It may hurt for a while, but it'll get better. Keep an eye on Teazer for me. I'll be back in two weeks to check on you." Carrito said cheerfully as she left.
"That would be fine. Would still like to stay in the room? Well… um… do you have a problem sleeping the same room with a tom?" he asked nervously, dreading the answer. In his mind it wasn't so much if she could stand it, but if he could stand it: her sleeping in the same room as him.
"I don't have a problem with it. I don't have a mate, so there's nobody I can get into trouble with." She said as she tried to push herself up and collapsed, panting. "I guess it's nearly impossible to move my paw." She laughed lightly.
He laughed too as he picked up her bags and dumped them out. Out of the bags came red and silver trappings and jewels. Also some odds and ends, like a brass horse head, a locket, and a lot of ribbons. In addition, a smaller bag fell out. He looked amazedly at it all. He picked up the smaller one and peered inside. In it were about a dozen lock picks, a pot of black paint, some rope, and a few other things that he couldn't tell what they were.
Teazer saw him looking at it and commented, "Oh, that bag? That's my bag of tricks. It holds everything I need to go on runs." She watched as he ran a paw over a velvet pillow. She continued on, "You know… this is only a portion of what Mungojerrie and I stole. This is all my stuff that I stole. I had probably several more bags of stuff, but it was all stuff that he stole for me and I don't want it anymore. Is there a high class area around here? If there is, then… it's ours for the taking." She instructed him where to position the pillows and other pieces. Then she asked, "I know it may seem like a lot, but do you think you could carry me to my bed? I'd do it, but I can't walk."
He looked into her imploring eyes. 'How could I say no?' he thought as he said, "My pleasure, Teazer. May I call you that?" he walked over to the bed and bent down and scooped her up. She put her arms around his neck as he carried her to where her stuff was.
"Of course Sparky." She said as she giggled slightly.
When she giggled, it was right in his ear and he could feel her warm breath on his fur. It made his mane stand on end. As he carried her, he couldn't believe how light she was. It was almost like carrying a ghost. Her fur was silky and soft. He could feel the warmth radiating off her body as he held her close to him. When he reached the pillows, he knelt and set her down gently, making sure to put her bandaged foot in a comfortable position. When he was done, he made the mistake of looking up into her deep, bottomless blue eyes.
Silence. Neither cat spoke. Teazer looked at him. Suddenly he leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She blinked and put her paw up. He blushed and rushed out of the room. 'Wow.' Was all her mind could come up with. The only other tom who had ever kissed her was Mungojerrie. She hadn't planned on finding another tom because of what happened with her former partner, she didn't want to get her heart broken again. And… after all… he was Rum Tum Tugger's cousin. Tugger only slept with a queen and then could care less about them afterwards. Wouldn't any relative of his be the same or similar? Why was she feeling for a guy when she had recently broken off another relationship that had lasted for a long time? And most of all… why was she falling for a relative of the Northern Jellicle playboy? All these thoughts and more swirled around in her head as she curled up as best as she could and tried to sleep.
After he dashed out of the room, he closed the door and leaned heavily against it. What was happening to him? He wasn't supposed to fall in love! Not with her! She was all wrong for him. She was a burglar, although a cute one, but she was single. She wasn't his type at all. She'd be the kind who'd want to settle down right away and have kittens right? But, he still wanted her to be his. He felt complete with her. But first…he had to know if she liked the little kiss or not. He went off to find something to eat. He needed to think away from her. He could still feel her in his arms.
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