Part One: The Orphan
Chapter Three
Needless to say, Demeter and I were brought before the Jellicles to stand trial. Blood had been drawn—a serious offence in Jellicle Law—and justice had to be served. We had to wait until nightfall, so that all of the Elders could be present. We stayed in a corner, curled up beside Jellyorum, who stood protectively in front of us, burning the curious onlookers with defiant stares. Like any good mother, Jellyorum knew we were wrong, but she chose to defend us anyway.
After what seemed like an eternity of stares and whispers, night finally arrived, and with it came the Elders. There was no moon that night, making the whole junkyard seem ominous. Notekins O'Malley's dark fur disappeared in the blackness; only his yellow gleaming eyes were eerily visible from his perch atop a car. Teathrice looked down on us with a saddened expression, as if we had disappointed her. Roary Huffersnuff, whom Jellyorum told us was a natural born fighter, just watched the whole charade with a detached look of amusement.
"Let us see the two responsible," Deuteronomy's deep voice quieted everyone in the junkyard. The entire Tribe quickly formed its usual semi-circle before the Elders.
Demeter and I stood before Old Deuteronomy. Tyro was at his side, one eye swollen shut but still looking incredibly pleased with herself. She was about to get her wish. I was about to be exiled from the Tribe. And I was taking Demeter with me. I never felt so awful in all of my life.
"Demeter and Bombalurina of the Tribe of Jellicle," Jennyanydots announced with a severity that I never knew she possessed. "You are charged with attacking another Jellicle without due cause or complaint. What say you to this?"
I looked at Demeter. She was hunkered down, her poor eyes wide with fear. She trembled at the sound of Jennyanydot's voice. Suddenly I remembered that she was younger than I. I wasn't going to let her take the rap for my stupidity.
"It was my fault," I bowed my head apologetically. I looked up with pleading eyes, "But please, please, please don't punish Demeter. She only joined the fight to stop Tyro from beating me up. She was just trying to protect me. You can't send her away; she'll have nowhere to go!"
Deuteronomy looked down on me with kind eyes. He was obviously touched by my plea. He turned to Demeter, "Is it as she says?"
Demeter looked at me, her eyes full of fear and uncertainty. She wanted to admit her own guilt in the matter; she didn't want to leave me. But I shook my head gently, as if discouraging her from doing so. Demeter's head drooped in sorrow, but she nodded to Deuteronomy. Her eyes welled and her cheeks coursed with hot tears of shame as she looked back at me, but she knew I was right. If she had been cast out, she would have been left entirely on her own. She did not have humans like mine to care for her. The Tribe was all she had.
Mumbletins stood, "We shall consider yoar request and determen yoar punishment accordin'ly."
The rest of the Elders slowly stood and filed out to the alleyway, where they debated for several minutes. I looked over at Demeter. She was still petrified. I forced a smile, trying to show her that things weren't really that bad. She returned with her own weak smile, attempting to be brave for my sake.
The Elders returned. Deuteronomy took his place in the center and delivered his judgement.
"Bombalurina," Deuteronomy's voice was as slow and solemn as thunder. "You are hereby exiled from the Jellicle Tribe—"
"No, no, no!" Demeter cried out hysterically, her tiny white paws reaching for me as Jellyorum held her back.
"—for a period of three months," Deuteronomy finished. "Or until Tyrophilia's wounds have healed; whichever takes longer."
The old Jellicle looked down at me, the dark night making his shadow seem ten times larger. His decision was final, but I could still see a twinge of regret in his eyes. He—like the rest of the Elders—knew that Tyro was responable for the fight, but he could not exile his mate and the mother of his kittens. Still, he cringed at the sound of Demeter's pitiful cries as Jellyorum whispered words of comfort to her daughter. Jellyorum's light green eyes looked at me sadly, as if she wanted to hold me but couldn't. That was the Law of the Jellicle: once a cat was in exile, they were untouchable. Alonzo stepped forward; he was the only one who looked me in the eye, "I'll walk you home, Bomba."
I lifted my chin bravely, steeling myself with everything I had to keep my voice from trembling, "That's quite all right, Alonzo. I can get along just fine on my own."
Then I turned around and, with a sense of pride I did not even know I possessed, I walked out of that junkyard and into the dark winter night.