The day of the Jellicle ball, I began to feel uneasy. From what I'd heard about Macavity from the others, he wasn't the type of cat to just let someone go. I was constantly on my guard, and jumped at the slightest movement. My ears twitched at any sound, and there were some times that I just wanted to crawl in a hole and stay there. He was going to find me, I just knew it. He wouldn't be in the best of moods, and because of some… strange turns of events, I knew that, in one way or another, my life was in danger.
The Jellicles were setting up some last minute decorations when I'd had enough. I was tired of waiting around for the Hidden Paw to come find me. I walked as fast as I could towards the entrance of the junkyard, not having the slightest clue as to where I would go after that. I wasn't at all surprised when I heard paw-steps behind me.
"Kroova, wait!"
I stopped and turned to see Alonzo running out after me.
"Are you really leaving?" He asked.
I nodded. "I'm sorry, 'Lonz, but I can't stay in one place. Living with this tribe…" I looked affectionately towards the junkyard. "It was practically paradise, but I don't belong here."
Alonzo was dumbfounded. "Of course you do! You're part of the tribe now," he said, reminding me of my little 'initiation' the week before. I grimaced.
"Well, I really am sorry, but I just can't live in one spot for very long." I smiled weakly, not liking the hurt in his eyes. "I'm a nomad at heart, Alonzo. I need to live on my feet to be satisfied." I tried hard not to make my excuse sound rehearsed, but that was what it was; I'd guessed that someone would try to get me to stay.
He worked his jaw a bit, trying to make sounds. He cleared his throat. "At least stay for the ball," he was all but begging.
"It sounds like a lot of fun," I reasoned. "But trust me, the shorter I stick around, the safer everyone else will be." I mentally kicked myself. I did not mean to say that.
Alonzo suddenly understood. "You think Macavity is still after you, don't you?"
I nodded reluctantly. "He'll be able to hurt someone in the tribe if that's where he finds me. But if I'm on my own, I'm the only one he could hurt." I bit my lip, hoping Alonzo would let me go. "I'll come back if I don't like what I find out there." I added, knowing full well that I wouldn't come back.
Alonzo still looked uncertain, but he said, "I guess you know whats best for you," he looked sad, and I couldn't blame him. I placed a paw on his shoulder, dipping my head in thanks one last time before running off down the road.
=^..^=
"Where's Kroova?" Cassandra asked as Alonzo traipsed back to the center clearing. She had Liebe on her lap, and the younger queens were cooing and tickling her gently.
"She…" Alonzo didn't know what to say. He sighed. "She had to leave."
The entire clearing fell silent, everyone having heard Alonzo's remark. They all looked around, trying to figure out what would prompt such an act. Jenny wrung a towel in her paws, naturally worried about the safety of another creature. Rumpelteazer tried hard to keep tears from her eyes, and Mungojerrie put a comforting arm around her, even though he too was blinking back moisture. Munkustrap was the first to speak.
"Well, let's continue with the preparations. It was her choice to leave, and there's nothing we could do about it." He tried to act blunt about it, but everyone could hear the strain in his voice. It was then that they realized; in the short time Kroova had been with them, they had all grown to love the tough American queen.
=^..^=
~Three Months Later~
Samuel trudged into the junkyard, leading a small tom by the paw. The tom was barely able to walk, and his eyes were huge and bright at the scenery around him. He was almost completely white, with a couple tell-tale patches of grey that blended neatly into the rest of his fur.
Munkustrap greeted Samuel in the center clearing. Samuel spoke before the protector had a chance to speak his mind.
"This kitten was abandoned by his mother, who cannot take care of him. She requested he be brought here, where he can be raised well."
Munkustrap watched the small kitten as he half-hid behind Samuel. He was clutching in his paw a crumpled bit of paper. "Who is his mother?"
Samuel pressed his mouth into a line. "She… her identity is to remain known only to me."
Liebe, who'd been watching from behind Cassandra's legs, suddenly bounded up to the tom, startling him. "What's your name?" she asked, smiling at the other kitten.
He craned his neck, peering up at Samuel who, apparently, knew the answer. Samuel bent down, grimacing in pain from his arthritis, and whispered something into the tom's ear.
"Pike," he said quietly; he was watching Liebe cautiously. The little queen grinned.
"You wanna play, Pike?"
Pike nodded, looking up at Samuel again. He stretched out his paw, offering the paper to the older tom before scampering off after Liebe.
"What's that?" Munkustrap said, nodding at the paper.
Samuel folded it up neatly. "A note for someone. I am sorry, but I must deliver this myself, as it is meant only for its recipient."
Munkustrap nodded. "Then by all means, deliver it. I can tell you are in some sort of a hurry, and you need to leave." He placed a paw on the old tom's shoulder. "We'll take care of Pike, don't worry."
Samuel nodded. "I know you will." He thanked Munkustrap, and waddled along, searching for the cat the note was meant for.
Nobody noticed the pair of watery blue-grey eyes watching from the roof of a nearby house.
=^..^=
Old Deuteronomy folded up the paper and sighed. It seemed Macavity was a part of the tribe no matter what he did to prevent it. The Hidden Paw would always have ties, whether he liked it or not.
[A/N] I would like to thank all of my readers, especially those who have reviewed and given me cause to keep writing! I love you guys, and I love reading your reviews, so by all means, continue to do so! You guys are great!