Scarlot sat in one of the baths, ears drooped and eyes closed. Her body had somewhat gotten used to the aches and new pains she hadn't felt before. She was a quick learner as well, considering that any wrong movements warrented a sharp hit or worse. Her body shone a few cuts and fresh scars to prove it.
A thin cornish rex slid into the water beside her and let out a pleasant groan as his muscles relaxed almost instantly, "Rough day?" He had the slightest southern accent that seemed to add a warmth to his tone even when he was threatening someone. He had been her companion since she arrived and was one of the few toms that didn't treat her differently because she was female.
Opening her eyes she sighed. "Yeah...you could say that." She slid a little further into the water, letting the hot water run over a fresh cut on her shoulder. It had been a warning. "What about you?" She asked, leaning ever so slightly into the cornish rex's side. Scarlot was eternally grateful for him, he had helped her through the first few very rough days. Not to mention he was always there if she needed to talk.
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, careful of her wounds. He planted a brotherly kiss on her temple and pulled her close, "You alright Darlin?" A tender nuzzle under her chin before he fell silent, leaving time for her to speak or dwell in her own thoughts.
Scarlot rested her head on his shoulder. "Worry." She let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "The usual right? I just...Hope that Lorian and Gristen are doing all right. He...He didn't even let me see if they were safe or anything. Rosco...I don't care what he does to me, just as long as their safe."
Rosco gave her a comforting squeeze before resting his cheek on the top of her head, "I'm sure they're fine..." He let out an exaggerated sigh and was silent for a long moment, listening to the water run in the baths around them, "I know it ain't the best time Darlin'... but the boss watns to see you when you're done with your bath."
"Great," she moaned, closing her eyes again. Bast he was hardly giving her time to rest. "Okay, thank you Rosco." Giving a nuzzle under his jaw she stood and climbed out of the bath. After toweling herself off she brushed through her fur with her fingers as she walked down the hall to Macavity's room. Taking a deep breath she tapped on the doorframe as she walked in. "You wanted to see me my lord?"
"You bath faster than most queens..." The ginger tom sounded moderately irritated from the darkness of his bedroom. A squeak and shuffling was heard as a flustered queen ran past her and out the door, "None the less... I have an assignment for you Scarlottin." He ran a paw through his mane of ginger headfur as he stepped into veiw.
Deep down she relished moments when she did things he didn't expect. His irritation was her joy, especially when it involved no punishment afterword. Standing tall, but still keeping her eyes downcast she nodded. "What is the assignment?"
Macavity circled her, savoring the way she withdrew from him when he came closer to her. His tail wrapped around her thigh and brushed over the small of hr back as he returned to stand in front of her. "I need you to be a good little queen and spy on my brother for me? He's a big strong tabby and you... well you're lucky I prefer queen's a bit younger than you!"
Scarlot locked her jaw to any snide remark that was hanging in the back of her throat. Forcing herself to not jerk away she looked up at him. "How do you expect me to spy?" She asked. Her mind was turning over the options she had.
Macavity crossed his arms over his thin chest and nodded, "You catch on fast Girly!" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment, "I'll call on you once a week for a status report. Your mission should be over before the next Jellicle Moon, 5 months. In that time I need as much information on as many fo the Jellicles as possible. Including guard shifts and the like."
Scarlot nodded. "As you wish my Lord, but I ask again, how am I to do this without him knowing? If he is your brother, he will surely be on the lookout." She stated. Seeing holes in his plans could be dangerous. She knew this, but she took her chances anyway.
Macavity shook his head, a knowing smile playing in a naturally seductive way on his lips. "That won't be a problem. My brother has a soft heart. Just act up the little pathetic and damaged queen that I know and love and his tribe should welcome you with open arms!"
Scarlot's eyes crinkled in a slight grimace. Pathetic damaged queen. Clenching her teeth again, she managed a nod. "Am I to leave once I am dismissed? And if so may I go?"
Macavity let the question hang in the air beforenodding after what felt like forever, "Yes you are dismissed. I'll send a scout to meet you at Tony's Fish Market on sundays. It's on the edge of the territory so you won't be questioned about leaving the area."
"Very well." Head held high she turned and left. Once down the hall and away from Macavity's room a shudder ran through her semi damp fur. How she disliked that cat. Once outside the lair she looked out over his territory. When she realized he hadn't told her where his brothers territory was.
Rosco ran up to her with a bag over one shoulder, "Hold your horses Darlin!" He yelled before he caught up to her. "Boss told me to escort you to the edge of the Jellicle territory..." His eyes held a clouded emotion behind his eyes that she couldn't read but ti was gone in an instant.
She looked at Rosco with confusion and worry for a moment before nodding. "Thanks Rosco." Though like the calico had a choice if Macavity told him to do it. As they walked she wrapped her arms around herself, she seemed to do it subconciously now when she was by herself or with Rosco, around any other henchcats she had to be tough to earn any respect. "Rosco...what do you know of these...Jellicles?"
Rosco avoided her gaze and ruffled his short curly headfur, "Well they are the best of the best. They only accept the most elite... long term anyway." He thought for a moment, "I don't know much more about them really. Boss's got a big biff with their protector, Munkustrap"
"The protector? That must be his brother. Munkustrap..." She repeated the name quietly to herself, committing it to memory quickly. "Okay..." She took a deep breath. "Any advice you'd like share?" A small laugh escaped her as she looked ahead at the junkyard now before them.
Rosco stopped as he smelled the edge of the territory. He balled his fists and forced a smile, badly. "I'm real sorry Darlin..." He pulled back his fist and socked her hard in the left eye. He may have been a small tom compared to the other hechnchcats but he was strong for his size and that one punch sent her to the ground.
"What-" But her question was cut off as she spun to the ground. Rolling to a stop she picked herself up, stunned. "Rosco...W-what are you doing?!" Backing up a step she shook her head, trying to clear it from the pained daze. Her ears laid back and her fur ruffled up. He was bigger than she was but still her instinct to defend was kicking in. But why would Rosco, who had been such a good friend, attack her?
Rosco's eyes were filled to the brim with sorrow but his expression and posture were ready to attack. He swung a high kick and caught her in the stomach.
A pained gasp escaped her as she doubled over, falling to her knee's with arms wrapped around her stomach. Scarlot looked up at him, eyes pleading for him to stop. She wasn't going to fight back, she couldn't hurt him. Closing her eyes, she waited until the next blow came.
Rosco crouched next to her, his eyes pleading, "Run..." He said before pickign up a pipe and lifting it over his head.
She didn't need to be told twice. Grinding her teeth against any lingering pain in her stomach she leapt to her feet and ran. One arm wrapped around her still, she was a blur of brown and red streaked fur.
Rosco sighed deeply and turned back to return to Macavity's territory.
Scarlot understood this was the Jellicles territory, but how would she find them? As she ran, to afraid to look back if Rosco was following or one of the other henchcats that were surely keeping tabs on if the two had done their parts. Unused to running through garbage, she tripped and went into a tumble down a pile, coming to a stop when she slammed into a large tire. Lorian and
Gristen giggled as they played with the other kits, playing tag or hide and seek. Any game that came to mind really. However, suddenly a cat came rolling down a mound and through the clearing. Immediantly the Jellicles were at attention, kits rounded up behind Jenny and Jelly.
Munkustrap was instantly alert, moving lightning fast, by instinct to stand a few feet infront of the kittens and the two elderly queens. He sniffed the air and snarled softly when he caught his brother's scent, "What are you doing here?" He said, struggling to keep at least somewhat calm.
Alonzo and Skimbleshanks closed ranks, coming up to form a three-tom circle around the new arrival.
A groan escaped her lips as she pulled herself up on her elbows. Slowly getting to her knee's she looked up, eyes still wild with fear and pain. Opening her mouth she was about to speak when a cry caught her ears.
"Scarlot!" Lorian and Gristen cried at the same time. Bolting from around Jelly and Jenny, narrowly escaping the shocked queens they ran for their sister.
Her eyes widened in shock. "Gristen? Lorian?" She choked out, sitting up and holding open her arms to catch them.
The kitten's paws wrapped tightly around their sister's neck and stomach as they gave her a very warm greeting, "We've missed you!" They said in unison before pulling back a ways.
Lorian wiggled a bit with overflowing excitement, "We thought you were gone for good!"
Gristen giggled and nodded at his twin's comment, "Yeah and not like gone-shopping gone! Like--"
The large silver tabby cleared his throat and stopped the twin's rambling speak instantly. "Gristen. Lorian. Kits..."
The two of them pulled away from Scarlottin but kept smiling as they turned to Munkustrap, "Oh Munkus! Isn't it great! Scarlot's alive!"
Scarlot bit back any wincing from the bruises forming from when Rosco hit her, or from any other still healing wounds. She held them close, breathing in their clean scents. Her siblings, her kits, she thought she'd never see again.
"Yes, I'm back." She mumbled into Gristen's headfur. But then they pulled away.
Her yellow-green eyes looked up at the tabby they called Munkus. So this was Munkustrap, Macavity's brother. Staggering to her feet she looked up at Munkus, still a head taller than she was. "I was looking for my kits, siblings." She said, looking at them with a warm, relieved smile. "I...ran into trouble. But it doesn't seem to have followed me here."
The silver tabby looked between the new arrival and the twins, "Trouble?... really?"
The harlekin approached her and sniffed, "Smells like you've been rollin in trouble Love if you don't mind my sayin!" He was refering to the metalic and 'nip scent that usually was associated with Macavity.
"Aye Lass," the older tom, a yellow tabby concured as he sniffed her softly, "Ye wouldn't be brin any of that trouble with ye now?"
"No, no, no" She said, shaking her head. Which happened to be a bad move. The headache hit hard and she staggered. Panting she barely caught herself on the tire behind her and pushed a palm to her head. "I-I don't think so. I think I lost whoever was following me."
Lorian and Gristen took a step forward towards her again, despite Munkustrap's orders before. Worry raced across their joy-filled eyes.
Munkustrap made a subtle motion and Jenny rushed forward, taking Gristen and Lorian's paw in one of her own, "Come now kittens! She will be fine." Without an explaination she pulled the twins back to the other kittens, "The toms just need to have a word with your sister alright?"
Munkustrap joined the harlekin and tabby and stood a few feet infront of Scarlottin. He spoke then, keeping his words low without losing any of his tone, much like his older brother did often. "I will ask this once, and only once: what relationship do you have to the Hidden Paw?"
Scarlot shuddered slightly, her fur rippling at the name. Her mind raced, thinking fast. 'Just act up the little pathetic and damaged queen that I know and love and his tribe should welcome you with open arms!' His voice coiled around her thoughts.
"Relationship? If you mean him beating me and leaving me for dead to hunt my kits than there you go!" She spat, ears laying back. Twisting her body she showed the damage that had been done. Most still healing and scabbed over. Though she didn't have any deep scars she hoped it was enough. She thought fast. Moaning slightly she pressed her hands to her temples. As if the sudden movement made it hurt worse.
Munkustrap looked her over with a quick and critical scan of his sapphire eyes. After his initial scan he searched her face and eyes as if looking for a lie. After a long silent moment he didn't see any, "Very well." He crossed his arms and leaned in close, lowering his voice half a notch, "You are now a trail member of the Jellicles... One screw up and I send you back to where you came got it? We spend every second on guard from that madman and I don't want to find out that you're lying to me alright?"
Scarot leaned back slightly and froze as he leaned in close. It was instinct. Nodding shortly she fell back to her knee's, breathing again. This had to be the hardest part, the rest of this would go smoothly.
Lorian and Gristen broke free of Jenny again, they were quick little things, and leapt back into her arms. "Are you okay sissy?" Lorian asked, touching a healing gash on her shoulder.
"I am now." She mumbled, holding them close. Despite having to be careful around Munkus and the others, she couldn't help but smile.