Jellicles In Training
A Cats Musical/CO world Crossover
Chapter 13 – "The New Plan and the French Thieves"
"Wait, you mean to say, you had a vision, Misto?" All eyes were on the Conjuring Cat. "Sigh, weren't you even paying attention to what I just said? Maj's capture is really a trap! When the stronger cats leave, Deravity's Pollicle-Cat army will annihilate the rest of us. If we don't evacuate or something, he'll…" "Why should we even believe you?" Burmie interrupted. "You're not like Maj; the cat-star has never sent you a vision of the future in your life!" "Yes, but it wasn't the cat-star that sent me this warning, it was Maj!" Everyone gazed at the magic cat in astonishment. "It's true. I heard her voice warning me of what is to come. She even gave me an image of what will happen if we don't get out of here!" Everyone started worrying. If Misto's vision really came from Maj, then Deravity's plans must be true. How were they going to survive this one?
"Misto's right," Munk agreed, "we've got to get out of here before the attack. The question is where?"
"Sigh, are we gonna have ta change homes forever!?" Tugger complained.
"Wait, I think I have an idea!" Tabbitha, who was usually shy, stepped in. "Snow, doesn't that cousin of yours still live around here?"
"Why yes, she resides by the dock down the road. Never really leaves."
"You have a cousin, Snow?" Jelly asked. "You never told us."
"She's not really a Stray so I don't really see her much. In fact, the only time I see her is right before The Stray-Cat Ball."
Rosuto, who was really close to Snow's cousin, helped explain, "She's called the Junkyard-Keeper Cat. When the ball comes, she get's everything ready for us."
"Well anyway," Tabby continued, "The dock she lives at is full of old, abandoned boats. We can probably hide out there till the other's come back from rescuing Maj."
"Sounds like a good idea to me." Usagi approved, "Let's just hope there's enough room." And with that, both tribes headed in the direction of the docks.
* * * *
As morning approached, Maj expected to feel the hopeful warmth of daylight shine from the single cell window. Unfortunately, she felt nothing, for the sun never shone over Deravity's lair. She sighed, the poor kit felt weak with exhaustion. All night she could hear nothing but Roscoe and DeSoto bickering with one another. The only silence she got was when they swapped shifts. At least she'd probably have a bit of peace with the new guards. Little did she know, the new guards were on her side. As the shadows of two mid-sized cats drew nearer, she could hear the voices of two French cats singing quietly to themselves.
Bella: Hee hee! Frisk: Shhh!
Frisk: Frisk O' Malley Bella: and BellaStealer
Both: We're a notorious couple of cats
Bella: As knockabout clowns, quick-change comedians
Tight-rope walkers and acrobats
Frisk: We have an extensive reputation
We make our home in Central Park Grove
This is merely our centre of operation
Both: For we are incurably given to rove
When the family assembles for Sunday dinner
Bella: Their minds made up that they won't get thinner
Frisk: On Argentine joint, Bella: potatoes and greens
And the cook will appear from behind the scenes
Frisk: And say in a voice that is broken with sorrow,
"I'm afraid you must wait and have dinner tomorrow!
For the joint has gone from the oven like that!"
Both: The family will say, "It's that 'orrible cat!
Frisk: Was it Frisk O' Malley Bella: or BellaStealer?"
Both: And most of the time they leave it at that
Frisk O' Malley and BellaStealer have a wonderful way of working together
And some of the time you would say it was luck
And some of the time you would say it was weather
We go through the house like a 'urricane
Frisk: And no sober person Both: could take his oath
Frisk: Was it Frisk O' Malley Bella: or BellaStealer?
Both: Or could you have sworn that it mightn't be both?
And when you hear a dining room smash
Or up from the pantry there comes a loud crash
Or down from the library there comes a loud ping
From a vase that was commonly said to be Ming
Then the family will say: "Now which was which cat?
Frisk: It was Frisk O' Malley Bella: and BellaStealer!"
Both: And there's nothing at all to be done about that!
A pair of almost identical French Chausie cats with tiger-like stripes appeared in the doorway. The queen cat of the two peered at her through the barred window in the door with a look of curiosity in her eye. Maj gazed back in disgust. But then, the new queen, whose name was BellaStealer, did something Maj did not expect. She smiled at her. Not the kind of evil grin a thief would normally use, but a look of trust instead. "Well, well…looks like you were right, Monsieur Frisk." She turned to the other cat. "She really is a Stray. Oh magnifique!"
"Shhh, best keep it down, Madame la Bella. Our plans must remain secret." Frisk O' Malleywhispered as he looked around. When the coast was clear, he quietly let BellaStealer inside the cell. Maj was totally confused. Weren't they suppose to just be guarding her? And what plans was he talking about? The French queen walked right up to her, a caring look in her soft, blue eyes. Maj looked away from the Thief Cat. "You're Maj-ology of the Strays, right?" Bella asked politely.
"Grrr, who wants to know?"
"Just a pair of thieves who wish to live their life as AristoCats." Maj looked up at the French Feline. "We need your help, Mademoiselle. We want to escape this place with you."
* * * *
As the cat tribes approached the docks they could see it wasn't completely abandoned. Three cats, two toms and a queen, were roaming around the old boats. There was a light brown tabby in a vest, similar to Skimble's only blue, lying in the sun. An old British Shorthair tom wearing a ship's captain coat, was asleep in a small hammock made from an old sail. And sitting at the end of the dock tying knots in some fishing-cord was a Squitten queen with tabby stripes and Bengal spots. The kittens rushed toward her.
Rosuto: I have a Keeper Cat in mind
Her name is GrowlyMeowlyDots
Her coat is of the Squitten kind with tabby stripes and Bengal spots
All day she waits beneath the stair or on the step or on the mat
She waits and waits and waits and waits
And that's what makes a Keeper Cat
That's what makes a Keeper Cat!
Mal, Kyuu, & Mouse: But …
When the ball's hustle and bustle has come
Then the Keeper Cat's work is but hardly begun
When all the cats are in bed and asleep
She tucks up her skirts to the Junkyard to creep
She is deeply concerned with the ways of the mice
Growly: Their behaviors' not good and their manners not nice
Mal, Kyuu, & Mouse: So when she has got them lined up on the matting
She teaches them
Growly: music, crocheting and tatting
Rosuto: I have a Keeper Cat in mind
Her name is GrowlyMeowlyDots
The fishing cord she likes to wind and tie it into sailor knots
She waits upon the windowsill or anything that's smooth and flat
She waits and waits and waits and waits
And that's what makes a Keeper Cat
That's what makes a Keeper Cat!
Mal, Kyuu, & Mouse: But …
When the ball's hustle and bustle has come
Then the Keeper Cat's work is but hardly begun
She thinks that the Seagulls
Growly: just need employment
Mal, Kyuu, & Mouse: To prevent them from
Growly: continuous unwanted annoyance
Mal, Kyuu, & Mouse: So she's formed from that lot of unruly low-rates
A troop of well disciplined helpful sea mates
Growly: With a purpose in life and a good deed to do
Mal, Kyuu, & Mouse: And she's even created a Seagulls' Tattoo!
All Kittens: For she's a jolly good fellow!
Growly: Thank you my dears!
The Keeper Cat cuddled the Stray kits as they gathered around her. "Well, fancy seeing you all here." She said happily as Usagi and the others approached. "And I see you brought some new friends. Oh, it's so nice to have visitors." Usagi stepped forward. "Actually, were here because we need your help, Growly." Hearing this, the Squitten queen sat up on her hind legs. "Sigh, you'd think that after what happened last time, The Shattered Claw would never attack again." She sighed, looking around to see that someone was missing.
"Well unfortunately, he has. But this time, we're not going in alone." The bobtail turned to the Jellicles. "Our new friends here are going to help us get Maj back. We're using the same plan as last time, but we need your help as…" "No, No, and for the third time, NO!" The Keeper Cat interrupted. "I'm not getting into some dangerous situa…" "Growly, we just need someplace to stay." Snow added. "Oh……well, that's OK then."
Just then, the brown tabby tom stepped in. "Well, if you're going with last time's plan, I take it you'll be needing us again?" He asked as he put on a small cap which was the same color as his vest. Usagi tuned to the tom. "Of course, Splinterbanks. No one knows the underground like you do." The tabby smiled smugly. "Well, I'm not called The Subway Cat for nothing." "Yawn, and what am I, smoked salmon?" the old British Shorthair woke up.
"You're going to need a retired Pirate Cat Captain if yer wanting to journey down there." "Whouy, Capteen Morgan, ees dat you?" Jerrie gasped. "You know him, Jerrie?" Munk asked. "Well, shiver me timbers, if it ain't Mungojerrie. I haven't seen you since me old mate, Growltiger, was lost." The old sea cat replied, "See you've finally left that ol' bastard, Macavity." "Enough chit-chat, everyone." Usagi stepped in, "We'd best get everyone settled in and start putting our plan into action" Misto finally felt a bit better. At last, they we're going to save Maj. Little did he, or any of the others, know the she wouldn't be the only one to be rescued.
* * * *
Sorry for the wait, Readers. More stupid writer's block. Anyway, I kinda want to explain a few things about Growly. She's what's called a Squitten. The term Squitten is generally used to refer to cats with the condition Radial Hypoplasia (under-developed radius bones) or Foreleg Micromelia (small forelegs). Meaning they can kinda sit like kangaroos or squirrels. You can look up more on Wiki.
Also I hope you like Capt. Morgan. I've been wanting to use him in my story for a long time. For some reason, nobody ever really mentions him in fan-fics. Once again, I'd like to thank Malurina for all her help. Well, onto the next chapter! See ya!