Prolouge
A balmy breeze blew a feather down the street. It seemed deserted now except for the rare speeding car. The stars twinkled above, and the ground below rustled in the breeze. The feather found a resting place on a mound of white fur. A white head popped up and batted the feather away, back into the breeze. Upon closer inspection, an observer would see that the white fur was a very young cat. She had ocean blue eyes, one of which had a thin black ring around it. As she got up and streched, her tail, tipped with orange, streched out behind her. She sat back and groomed herself carefully. She gazed about, looking for other cats. The faint sound of laughter and caterwauling reached her ears. She followed the sound to a large, brightly lit junkyard. She snuck in, hoping she wouldn't be seen by any other cats. She slowly approached a cat about her age and asked softly, "What is going on?"
Chapter 1
Tansyleaf jumped at the sound of a voice as soft as the gentle breeze that was blowing. She turned to see a beautiful young cat with large eyes that would've been very pretty if it weren't for the terrible look of defeat that filled them. She was shocked for a moment, but she then warmly, yet excitedly said, "Don't you know? It's the Jellicle Ball! Who are you?"
"M...m..my name is Corssica," she stammered. She shrank back out of fear that this cat would hurt her like every other cat she came in contact with did. When no blow came, she glanced up with a sudden hope in her eyes at the aspect of having a friend for the first time in her life. "What's your name?"
Tansyleaf smiled at Corssica. She was glad to see the desperation leave her eyes. "My name's Tansyleaf, but my friends call me Tans. Is this your first Jellicle Ball? It's mine."
"Yes. In fact, I've never even heard of a Jellicle Ball. Or a Jellicle. What's a Jellicle?" Corssica asked.
The junkyard fell silent. A grey tabby tom stepped forward. "What's a Jellicle?" he echoed, not believing his ears. "Why, my dear kitten, we are Jellicles. I am Munkustrap. For all practical purposes, I am the Jellicle leader."
Corssica gazed at the tom in awe. She slunk away, fearing that the tom would hurt her. As she was scurrying away, she heard a voice from behind her. "Don't go!! Wait!!!"
She turned to see a group of young cats like herself chasing her. She collapsed, shaking with her paws over her head. She felt a gentle paw stroke her fur. "Poor thing. She's scared to death. It's OK. We won't hurt you," cooed a soft voice. Corssica looked up to see the group that was pursuing her sitting around her. A brightly colored calico was the owner of the voice. There were six other cats in the group, one of which was Tans. The calico smiled. "My name's Rumpleteazer. This 'ere is me brother, Mungojerrie," she said, gesturing to a tabby tom as brightly colored as herself. As she intoduced the group, she indicated each with her paw. "This is Pixalinx, but we call 'er Pixie. I think you know Tans. This is Rumstaffelees, otherwise known as Rummy. This crazy cat is Kiteria. We all call 'er Kit, though. And this," she said, indicating a black tom with an overdone gesture, "is the magical Mr. Mistoffelees! You can just call 'im Misto, though." She grinned at Corssica with her wide white smile.
Corssica smiled back. These cats seemed very nice. "My name is Corssica." She glanced at the cats around her. Her gaze stopped on Misto. He was very handsome.
"Good ta know ya, Corsy!" Mungojerrie said, breaking into her thoughts.
"Yeah, pleased ta meet ya!" echoed his sister.
Rummy smiled at the kitten. "Welcome to the Jellicles," she said. Being older than most of those in the group, she was a little more formal. "Everyone is welcome with us. Well, almost anyone," she said, her voice taking an edge on the last sentence. She gazed around warily.
Kit, who couldn't stand anything serious, whacked Rummy with her tail. "Don't be silly, Rum!!! Macavity isn't around!" She put her paw around Corssica and led her back to the party. "Let's go par-tay!"
Corssica followed Kit eagerly. For the first time in her life, she wore a smile on her face. Kit began talking again. "Everyone here's really nice. Misto's really cool. He's gonna teach me to do magic, just like-" She was interrupted by a shriek.
Chapter 2
The entire pack that had surrounded Corssica came running to Munkustrap, knocking both Kit and Corssica over in the process. Pixie ran in front of the pack and reached him first. "Munk! Tans's been kidnapped by Macavity! We've got to help her!" she exclaimed.
The news threw the junkyard into total chaos. "Please. Please, everyone! QUIET!!!" he finally shouted, silencing everyone. "Now, everyone, just stay calm. I'm sure Mistoffelees will bring her back as he did Old Deuteronomy."
Misto looked at the ground. "I...I...I can't. I can't. I used up my powers for the night when I did that magic show. I didn't think I'd need it again. Honest!"
Munkustrap looked down at Misto. "Well, I suppose you should rescue her. Is anyone willing to help Mistoffelees save Tansyleaf?" No one's paw ventured up. It would be folly to try and face Macavity. Misto looked around hopefully. He positively knew that he couldn't face Macavity alone.
Corssica realized that no one was going to even try and help her friend. She ran beside Misto. "I'll help Misto. Tans is my friend, and no one messes with my friends!" Misto let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Very well. Mistoffelees and Corssica will save Tansyleaf," Munkustrap declared. "You both have my best wishes and blessings. Good luck."
Chapter 3
"Kid, you have absolutly no idea what you've gotten yourself into. Macavity's mean. He's evil. He's," Misto gulped, "got brute strength." Misto and Corssica were walking in the sewer trying to find Macavity's lair.
"I don't care. Tans is my friend, and I don't abandon friends." Corssica said determinly. Misto stopped for a second and gazed after Corssica. She seemed like a brave little tornado in a small cat's body. Corssica looked back at her friend. "Are you coming or not?"
Misto shook his head quickly to clear the clouds that were there. It was almost like he was in a trance. "Yeah. I'm coming." he said. "Where are you from that you'll brave so much for a friend?"
Corssica stopped abruptly and sighed. She was afraid the subject of her past would come up. She turned, sat down, and looked straight into Misto's eyes. "I was dumped on the streets as soon as my eyes opened. I never had any friends. Every cat I came across would scratch at me or something along those lines. I slept where I could and ate what I found." Corssica looked down at the ground. "Tansy was my first friend." She looked back up and said, "I suppose I'm boring you."
Misto shook his head vigorously. "No way. I'm sorry you've been hurt, but it won't happen again. You've got the Jellicles now, and we never abandon a friend."
"Which is exactly why all of Tans's friends didn't come with us, right?" Corssica said sarcastically. She wasn't usually like this, but she felt the need to put up a wall. "This cat can hurt me like everyone else," she thought. There was something about Misto... She heard footsteps coming. "Shh!!" she said, pulling Misto behind a pipe. One of Macavity's henchcats came strolling down the sewer.
Misto suddenly felt his collar slipping. "Oh, no," he thought. It dropped into the water with a sickening "plop".
Chapter 4
The matted cat turned around. He gazed suspiciously into the shadows. Misto had made the mistake of looking straight at the sentry. His bright yellow eyes were like lanterns to their hiding place. "Halt! Who goes there?" No answer. He dropped so that no one could see him. He snuck behind Misto and Corssica. He waved his paw slightly. Four others of his kind snuck through the darkness and surrounded the two young cats from the back.
Misto looked around. "Where'd he go?"
"I do not know," Corssia said. "Do you get the feeling we're being watched?"
"By who?" a gruff voice said from behind them. The two young cats turned to meet five extremly unsavory characters grinning evily. "Grab 'em, boys." Both cats immediatly felt both of their front paws grabbed. There was one hench cat on each side, holding them roughly. The leader grinned and turned to walk away. "Bring 'em on. Macavity loves visitors."
Misto's eyes widened. "Macavity?" he murmered fearfully. He felt a sharp pain as one of his captors hit him squarely in the ribs.
"Yeah, Macavity! Who else? Keep your trap shut, Jellicle." his guard said harshly. They walked on through the dark sewer for what seemed like ages. The smell made both Misto and Corssica gag. They finally came to a room brightly lit with candles. In the middle of this sat Macavity on his throne with a very beautiful grey queen by his side.
Chapter 5
"Look what we found, Macavity," the leader of their small brigade said. The guards threw Misto and Corssica forward.
A cry came from the corner. "Misto! Corssica! Run! Save yourself!!" It was Tans, caged and chained. "Quiet, prisoner!!" boomed Macavity, chucking the fish bones he'd been gnawing at her. He turned back to his new prisoners. "You've done well, Vulpix."
Vulpix, the leader, puffed up with pride. "Thanks, boss."
The queen preening beside Macavity studied the new cats. "Let's string them up torture them, Macavity. Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear them scream?" she said with a voice like satin.
Macavity smiled at the queen. "No, Tantaliza. I think I'll save the torture for Munkustrap and Old Deuteronomy. Now that we have the" he stopped and stifled the mad laughter rising in his throat,"magical Mr. Mistoffelees, the Jellicles are bound to come. Cage them up, boys." The next thing Corssica and Misto knew, they were in a cage hanging next to Tans.
Corssica rushed to the side of the cage. "Tans! Are you OK?" she whispered. Misto was struck deaf and dumb, only seeing Corssica. "She's so beautiful," he tought. He suddenly realized just how easily Macavity could hurt her.
"You'll never get away with this Macavity!!!" he yelled.
"QUIET!!!!!" Macavity roared. "I can. And I will."
Macavity's sureness infuriated Misto. He noticed sparks coming from his claws. "Corssica! Tans! Look!" he whispered.
The two females stared at his claws. "The magic's back!" Corssica murmered. "Get us out of here!!"
"Will do!" he whispered. He closed and concentrated very hard.
Chapter 6
Tans, Corssica, and Misto appeared in the middle of the junkyard. A sea of cats surrounded them. Questions of "Did you get hurt? Are you OK? How did you rescue her? Where's your collar, Misto?" surrounded them. Suddenly all fell silent. Old Deuteronomy approached them slowly.
"You've done well, the two of you. Not only did you restore Tansyleaf to us, but you restored her to us unscathed. I had no doubt in my mind that you would come through." the old cat said. "Now, please. Everyone disperse. I'm sure our heroes are exhausted." The cats wandered away slowly. Nobody wanted to disobey their wonderful leader.
When everyone was gone, Misto approached Corssica. "Uh, Corsy? I need to talk to you."
"OK," Corssica said, following him up on top of an old car. "Shoot."
"Well, I...uh..um..God, this is hard." Misto stammered.
Corssica smiled at her friend. He was so cute when he got flustered. "Just say it quickly."
"OK" Misto said. He took a deep breath. "Corssica, I think I love you." Corssica's face registered shock. "You don't feel the same way, do you?"
Corssica suddenly smiled. "Actually, I...uh..think I feel the same way."
Now it was his turn to be shocked. "Really"
"Really." Corssica licked his cheek and rested her head on his shoulder.
If any cat had bothered to look up to that old, broken down car that night, they would have seen a beautiful tableau. Two young cats, gazing into each other's eyes, under the Jellicle Moon.
Epilouge
Corssica and Misto sauntered out of their tunnel. Corssica stretched and yawned heartily while Misto scratched at the ground to sharpen his claws. Munkustrap wandered over. "Good to see you out, Corssica. Where are your little fuzzy joys?" he said.
Corssica laughed. "Right here." She called back into the tunnel. "Tumbleteazer! Patch! Spot! Mystia! Zarra! Vannie! Come out here, darlings!" Out of the tunnel tumbled six small kittens.
Munkustrap smiled at the proud parents. "Congratulations, you two. I can't think of a better reward for our Jellicle heroes."
The End
(or is it The Beginning?)