Dun, dun, DUN...yeah, I know it's stupid, but, heck, what can I say? It's finally here - Chapter 12 - and Chapter 13 is soon to follow! (Sarabi, this is 'specially for you, seein' as you requested it!) Enjoy!

In a sudden turn of mood, the sky darkened, thick black clouds rolling over us. I cowered (I've never been a fan of storms), but before I could think of running, I heard Bomba gasp next to me. I looked down at her, to see that she was staring, transfixed, at the river. I slowly turned in the same direction - and my eyes met a terrifying sight!

Creeping slowly towards us, was a barge. A barge so big, so dark, that I recognised it at once to be a pirate barge. And, on the deck, stood, not a human, or a dog, but...

...a cat! And not just any cat. Somehow, I don't quite know how, but some part of me knew, was absolutely certain, that this cat we now saw was Growltiger, my father, most feared cat pirate in the whole of Europe. Add the fact that my mother stood serenly next to him, and it was, to me, plainly obvious who this fiend was.

All at once, my fear disappeared, and I knew that now would be the opportune moment to challenge, and defeat, my estranged father, and take revenge on the mother I never knew. Thinking quickly, I grabbed Bomba, kissed her, told her I loved her, then told her to hide in 1 of the abandoned warehouses until I came back for her. She gave me a confused, scared look, but before she could protest, I had kissed her again, and dashed off into the night, praying she'd do as I asked.

Moments later, I was at the water's edge, but the barge showed no signs of stopping. I could see Growltiger and Griddlebone conversing, and all the while shooting glances in my direction. I waited tensely, but I knew that sooner or later I would crack. Sure enough, when Griddlebone broke out in a rich, ringing peal of laughter, I could take it no more.

With a strangled yell that I would later come to realise didn't sound a bit like me, I dived into the river. Thankfully, it wasn't a raging torrent of water, and, me being an almost natural swimmer, I struck out, and was soon at the barge. Plucking up my courage, I grabbed hold of a mooring rope, and began to climb. Up and up I climbed, until I managed to reach the top. With a last, almighty heave, I pulled myself aboard, falling heavely on my side, on the deck...

...at the feet of a scowling Growltiger! Gasping, with weariness and fright, I rolled to my feet, and crouched in defense mode, expecting an attack at any moment.

It never came. Instead, my father scowled at me for a moment longer, before grinning evilly, and saying "So, you must be Rum Tum Tugger. Griddlebone's told me all abou' you - and your father!"

It took a moment for this to sink in. When it did, all I could do was stare. "I - huh. But, you...I mean...aren't you...I was told you were my father!"

Once again, Griddlebone laughed, and now, Growltiger joined her.

"Me? Oh, no, no, no, dear boy, do you really tink I could've sired you. Don't you tink you might look even look a tad bit like me, or, at least, like me lady 'ere. 'Ey, do ya?"

As much as I despised him, I could see that he had a point. While my coat was more like that of a Maine Coon-cross, his was a very badly coloured calico.

"We are in no way at all alike, or related," he sneered ", which leaves me free to kill you without feeling guilty."

So saying, he drew a large, pointed pirates sword from his belt, and began advancing towards, giving me a little warning as he did so.

"If I were you, Tugger," he jeered ",I would stay completely still. That way, it'll all be over before you can say 'Dead Jack Rabbit', and the pain will be minimum."

For a second or 2, I froze, but then, I came to my senses. Determined I was not going to go down without a fight, I turned looking for anything to help me defeat him, and my eyes rested, conveniently enough, on another sword, 2 feet away. I made a wild dive for it, grabbed the handle and pushed myself to my feet just in time to dodge a would-be fatal swipe from my opponent. Backing up a little, I faced the Terror of the Thames, and prepared to do battle.

Ooooooooooooooooohh...exciting huh? Well, please R&R, and as soon as I get some reviews, I promise I'll put Ch 13 up, right? Right? Hello? Is anyone there? Oh, to hell with it... >goes home>