Post by electricia on Oct 31, 2009 7:06:25 GMT -5
This was actually my entry for the Halloween-contest on Final Bow; my first ever finished Cats-fanfic at all! ;D And my shortest so far ... 
Just thought to post it in here: it's mainly about Electra ((We needed to stuck on the characters we got in a earlier contest and I got Electra^^)) and the happenings at the Halloween celebration from her view partially. It's a bit gloomy and creepy but I think it fits well 
Prologue
I panted. Swinging my arm up in the air I made a little jump that was fellowed by a kick of my right leg and screamed like in ectasy. It was an amazing feeling and though I heard my heart already tired drumming into my ears my jumps got higher, my kicks wider and my whole dance wilder and wilder! Nothing ever could stop me, it flew like pure electricity through my vains –
Suddenly I heard a frightened shriek behind me and turned around like a flash. Bombalurina next to me continued her passionated dance and stunned I watched Etcetera falling down with a bloody flesh wound onto her breast. In the next moment Victoria and Rumpleteazer began to scream in fear. Immediately I got the shapes and figures of the others running towards me, passing and shoving me. Totally confused I made a few steps away. Another scream could be heard then I listened to Demeter’s voice not far away from me shouting anything I couldn’t understand. But all reacted with panic.
“Vic, Silla!”, I got myself screaming and passed some new figures but couldn’t spot my friends, “Victoria, Sillabub, where are you?” In the meanwhile the noise surrounding me became that loud that I wasn’t able to pick up their voices. Anyone’s voice. Desperate I ran over the centre to search for them and to just flee and hide, to flee the chaos, made some steps looking back over my shoulder, slid away-
Chapter 1
Electra moaned; her body felt like she had broken every single bone of hers. Slowly the young tabby opened her eyes and tried to sit up straight. It wasn’t possible: the queen got nausea and terrible headaches and sunk back on the cold ground and clenched her teeth because of pain.
The dark striped female laid stretched out in the middle of the junkyard centre and just slowly her memory returned. Hissing quietly Electra laid her forehead into both paws and massaged her temples. Finally she dared another attempt to stand up and looked around; she was all alone.
Frowning Electra walked over the left centre till her nose catched a certain scent. Relieved the reddish queen started running and found the owner behind the old car: “Sillabub! Everlasting, I’m so glad!” The younger calico looked pretty as bad as Electra herself felt some moments ago. She trembled over her whole body and made a dismayed, frightened impression. “He wasn’t there”, Silla murmured absent and one second Electra was confused; what was she talking about?
“I called after Vic and you. Again and again”, the dark tabby said clueless and got more worried when Sillabub lifted up her head with her big eyes pearing into hers: “What? What have you done?” She turned her head away oddly slowly and didn’t seem to realize the whole situation at all.
“I can’t remember anything ...”
Electra replied nothing; Sillabub’s strange behaviour made her shudd inside but the dark tabby stayed calm outside. What happened with her? Thoughtful Electra looked down – and widened her turquois eyes in horror. Was that blood sticking on Silla’s paws? Again Electra felt sick and atrocious. She couldn’t imagine – not Silla! –
Once more Sillabub reacted very slowly and tilted her head: “Are you alright?” Electra stared stunned onto the white, bloody paws of her friend and spoke out the incredible, impossible suspicion: “You attacked Cettie at the celebration!” While she spoke Electra shook her head as if everything inside of her struggled to believe that it was true, “But why?” It overstressed her imagination.
The brownish queen face to face stared back at the tabby and seemed to be petrified. Fearful and fury at the same time tears caused by anger like Electra guessed rolled down her tiny cheeks: “How can you claim that? I would never ever injure another Jellicle! NEVER!” Suddenly her hazel eyes got a red twinkle and like out of the nowhere the kitten began to scream and to whimper. She hold her head in both paw like Electra did before and cried loud in a very high pitched tone. Frightened the reddish tabby grabbed her wrist and wanted to hug the queen: “Silla! What’s up with you?”
But Sillabub was obviously not able to listen to her. Fury she tried to release herself and started to hiss and to growl without that the striped female could make out a danger or reason: “SILLA!” Now Sillabub unsheathed her claws and dug them into Electra’s arm. Panting loud the tabby freed her immediately and Sillabub got out of her reach. But she wasn’t Sillabub anymore; the queen in front of Electra studied the wounded cat like a lion his prey, studied Electra like she would attack her every moment. Electra’s eyes and face went hot and a lonely tear fell from her face.
“What are you doing? Why are you doing it?” Right after the last word left her mouth Electra unsheathed her claws and blocked Silla in the very last second. Amazingly strong Sillabub pressed her claws against Electra’s and growled loud. Out of her mouth this sound was unreal and absurd and that frightened Electra just more. But one thing was much worse: she was in a fight with one of her best friends! The dark tabby sniffed and tried to ostruct the dark calico who got more and more angry. She wouldn’t be able to hurt Silla! But her rage seemed to make her stronger and stronger and finally Electra had no opportunity any longer. A slight wound at her breast and shoulder she got from Sillabub and defended herself for the very first time; blood sprayed through the air and Sillabub fell down shrieking, fearful, whimmering, staring shocked at Electra – and lost her conscience.
Electra didn’t understand. Her head was swimming and her knees got mellowed; she faltered. She did attack a Jellicle! A Jellicle female who wasn’t only pretty much younger than herself but also a very good friend! Though everything what happened the dark tabby knew that this had been a big mistake. The shocked impression into Sillabub’s big, hazel eyes came to her mind’s eye and Electra got the suspicion that it finally awakened the brownish calico out of her trance. In a pretty cruel way ...
“I’m sorry ... Everlasting, I’m sorry ...”
That busy with everything circling into her head Electra didn’t notice footsteps and voices that came nearer quickly. Finally the dark striped queen turned her head around and spotted many Jellicles returning. Then a white female, it must have been Victoria, ran towards Sillabub still lying on the ground and bowed down to her. Any tom shouted something rude and one moment later the young tabby got that she was meant. She looked down onto her paws, still full of blood. It felt so ... unreal, everything needed, so it seemed to Electra, hours to reach her mind. A pair of paws grabbed her shoulders and shook her: “Tell me that this is false! Tell me that you haven’t hurt her!” The bright, soprano voice hurt into Electra’s ears. Then she was released and recognized the cat. Etcetera still bled but she didn’t seem to get it. But the look of her bright brownish eyes was filled with pain and desperation.
“Tell me that you haven’t done this to her! TO ME!” And now Etcetera in fact started crying and shoved Electra with all of her strength. Not prepared for anything the reddish striped female fell backwards on the ground and moaned almost impercetible. Already she felt fury claws like these of Sillabub digging deep into her flesh –
“ETCETERA! STOP!”
Another fury voice was heard and pushed away every feeling of apathy inside of Electra; Munkustrap was fastly next to her, bowed down and reached out his paw. Wabbling she stood up – and looked into blank and fury faces: “Please ... I really didn’t want to hurt her ... she – she sudden started – to attack me –”
“She probably needed to defend herself!” The loud voice of Plato interrupted her like a knife and was followed by an angry growl, “Silla never could hurt other Jellicles! She isn’t even able to fight for her own!” Now some other voices raised up and agreed with the young tom. Electra recognized water summing up in her eyes though she knew before that no one would believe her: “For months Electra overstressed the lines without any following consequence! Jenny was a fool thinking she could change her naughty behaviour! But injuring another Jellicle knows just one reply!”
Helpless Electra’s eyes wandered from one look to the other, all turned away. Then she reached the pretty amber ones –: “Cettie, you must believe me, I couldn’t hurt you or Silla, I didn’t want it –” This time it was the look of Etcetera that made her silent when her best friend spoke again quietly. Fury. Disppointed. Unwillingly: “Liar.”
What worse could happen now to her? Electra burst out crying; unclear her ears caught some voices that called after banning her from the tribe but that wasn’t as half important as the expression on Etcetera’s face, now trying her very best to ignore the reddish tabby till Electra gave up on her. Sobbing she sunk deeper near to the ground but Munkustrap’s paws hold her up: “You disappoint me giantly, Plato: do you really believe Electra would hurt a younger, much tinier Jellicle queen? Do you really think she would wilful and on purpose attack her friends? You know the streets and know how they form cats – and you know what trust and friendship can cause on them.” Completely calmed his bright, green eyes crossed the ones of Plato and made him stay in silence. Now Munkustrap upstraighted himself to his full length and was awesome enough to cause silence all around the junkyard.
“Just to let you know: I don’t want to push forwards too fast and I won’t. Electra might be naughty and cheeky sometimes but we don’t talk about any kittenish prank that went too far!” Slowly his voice got an angry tone, “There’s more background ...”
Victoria next to Electra nodded sobbing quietly and made a step towards Munkustrap and Jennyanydots also did: “She should tell us what happened”, the snow-white adult sniffed while some other cats left the gather mumbling and murmuring to each other. Munkustrap nodded, took Electra’s upper arm careful and led the tabby away from the centre. Electra’s tears dryed, she didn’t cry anymore. In the moment she felt just thankfulness for Munkustrap.
“That’s going to get real Halloween little by little”, Alonzo said who now join the little group; he could hardly imagine the whole thing, “You didn’t wound her because of boredom, right?” The voice of the white and black-patched tom was a mix of sarcasm and urge to get the truth. Tilting his head Alonzo studied the younger female one moment sceptical. “No”, was Electra’s only reply and again she rubbed her eyes.
Like he had been confirmed by this Alonzo flicked his paw tips: “Yep! Macavity – what did I say? He might transformed himself into Silla to hurt Cettie and Electra, huh?” Wrinkling his nose the male turned around to Munkustrap for listening to his opinion. But the silver striped tom frowned: “If that would have been his plan Macavity rather would have looked forward to wound the other adult toms. It would have been much easier then to either kidnapp the kittens or gain his fun with the queens.” The tom distorted his face disgusted. They reached now some of the bigger junk heaps where no one would disturb or interrupt them. Though, like Electra thought gloomily, probably nobody wanted to get into her near. Sitting between all the junk Electra told them everything she could remember and tried not to miss anything.
“Slowly reactions?”, Alonzo asked sharp with raised eye brows and changed one look with Munkustrap during Victoria seemed to be pretty confused, “Well, she ... it was odd, she acted like ... she would be into any sort of ... dream”, Electra decided to describe and a shiver ran down her spin at the memory of the unclear look into Sillabub’s brownish eyes. Vic still studied her friend pretty disunderstanding – and then sudden slapped one paw over her mouth shocking: “Everlasting ...”
Alonzo and Munkustrap shared another look and Alonzo began to growl fury: “This f***ing coward!” Electra lifted up her tilted head. She understood as much as Victoria in the first moment. Finally she got an awfully idea ...: “He took – control over Silla?”
The clear look of Munkustrap and Alonzo’s bitter nodd replaced every outspoken response. Horrified Electra started to clean her paws; like fresh the blood was twinkling into her red and black striped fur.
Chapter 2
Anytime I left my place to return into my den. In the meantime my mind could recognize every single shape and face; everyone came back to the junkyard now – and every face without exception that passed me was filled with distrust, silent anger and even fear. As if they thought they could be next ones to get attacked! I snorted at every time, went straight without looking at the left and the right and took effort to ignore them.
“Scared about our little shocking Halloween kitty?”, a loud male voice pretty behind me came up followed by a bright giggle, “Yeah, try to flee and hide at the right time before she calls her ginger Big Boss!” That was Rumpleteazer. The coloured striped queen and her twin brother now caught up with me and suddenly I remembered that both hadn’t been there one hour ago: “Ridicolous!”, Jerrie snorted and walked at my left side, “Simple ridicolous! But at Cettie I’m disappointed the most.” He gave me a slight worried look and in the next second Teazer right to me hissed loud. It sounded like a mix of anger, mock and desperation: “I tried to talk with her how stupid she behaved but ‘Oh-no-she-hurt-me-I’ll-never-forgive-her’!” Fury Teazer kicked against any junk lying on the ground and sighed. I got a very bad conscience; she as well as I was best friends with Etcetera. “Sorry”, I could hear myself speaking.
But immediately both siblings shook their head: “Don’t talk rubbish, Leccy. We know that you couldn’t do that without any reason. And Silla won’t get unhealable damage.” I gulped audible and nodded slowly: “Thank you.” Finally I could smile a little bit; it was consoling that Jerrie and Teazer believed me. “How is Silla? Do you know anything?”
Jerrie scratched his ear thoughtful and bit his lip: “Well ... she’s still unconcious but Jenny and Jellylorum care for her.” Sudden he shuddered: “I never listened at both quarreling that awful.” My stomach became cramped; Jellylorum also was one of the guys who didn’t believe me. I saw her face and the friendly twinkling eyes in mind and felt a new urge to cry. To say nothing of Sillabub herself ...
I felt a paw on my shoulder and looked into Rumpleteazer’s freckled face. She also made a sad impression but though tried a grin: “Head and ears up, Leccy. Silla will be fine and in three weeks everything is forgotten, believe me!” With a last encouraging look and a mischievous smile she joined Mungojerrie and both started to mock slightly and joking about Pouncival who did avoid the little group in a wide bow.
Though I was still depressed and dejected the presence of Jerrie and Teazer had been unspeakable balm for my heavy heart. So I made my way further alone through the junkyard in direction to the old oven. My den I had made into the junk heaps behind the broken car but I didn’t want to meet Jellylorum now who surely was yet with Jenny in her den. Sautering next to the gates of the yard my ears twitched sudden by a mess of a few tom’s loud and excited voices. Curious I turned my tilted head around and approached a bit.
“... would be completely unnecessary, we saw quite clear what happened and Macavity wasn’t the evil this time!” Plato gestured unwillingly into Munkustrap’s direction whose body tense I recognized very worried, “It’s just a precautionary meassure and I want to guard the gates. We became incautious in the past weeks when nothing happened.” Again his voice was quiet and calm though I exactely got that he was sick and tired of the discussion.
Of course I was the reason for it! I withdrew, look sticking on the gathered toms who luckely didn’t notice me so far, finally reached the oven and hid behind it. With dropped ears I wrapped both arms around my knees, jerked heavily by a loud, fury scream of Alonzo, sighed and laid my chin onto my paws.
-- --
Restless I laid onto my fluffy, warm and colourful old blanket and couldn’t find sleep. I didn’t dare to look after Sillabub because I knew that Jellylorum and Jennyanydots still were with her. Moaning I turned around from the left to the right and back again and was glad that I shared my little hide-away with no one else and observed the stars shining into my den. Finally I stood up, stretched my legs and left the place. Walking around seemed to be a good idea now.
Nevertheless I made a bow around the centre and climbed over the more difficult lookable junk heaps. Barely anyone was out now; the slender shapes of Carbucketty and Gilbert crouched independent to each other in the near of a rusty ladder that made up one way up upon the high located chair. I liked both toms but ... honestly had not much urge to talk to any of them. Plus I didn’t need the ladder now; with a nearly silent leap I landed on the chair and sat down. Everything was quiet. My eyes wandered away from Gilbert who now left his place and disappeared into the shadows in the next moment, probably for hunting and spotted another two figures at the gates. Frowning I peered through the night and noticed black and white fur into the moonlight; Alonzo and Munkustrap indeed guarded the entrance now. Right now the younger tom yawned, but immediately shook his head and observed the surroundings attentive. But nothing moved at this time now ... – Stop! What was that?
I did err; out of the corners of my eyes another shadow sneaked over the centre and hid between the junk. With raised eye brows I leaned over to get out who it was and nearly fell from the chair when the thin stars’ light made me recognize it: Sillabub! Careful to not slide away and cause any noise the young, tiny calico now climbed over the tire and disappeared behind it.
In the first second I was completely stunned and not able to get any reasonable thought. Everyone told me that she had been unconscious! Why was she now wandering through the junkyard and where? And excerpting that ... Jenny surely wouldn’t had let her go – suddenly I felt dizzy and needed to cling to the chair to not fell almost down at the second time when I imagined Jennyanydots lying injured into her den ...
Swallowing I hesitated one moment but then decided to follow; to call for Munkustrap and Alonzo would take too much time now, I could loose Silla in the meanwhile! So I left the chair and sneaked climbing over the heaps of junk, now also clear her fine scent into my nose. Suddenly I got paralyzed by another scent, my eyes widened instinctive and I bared my teeth – right in the second when Sillabub sudden stayed still like a statue made of stone, then began to tremble over her whole body again and sunk down; it seemed as if any invisible power would suck out all of her strengths again, she fell down and didn’t move anymore.
My mouth opened frightened but any scared yell never left my mouth: filled with horror I observed the tall shape of every Jellicle’s nightmare sneaking near to Sillabub’s lifeless body and forgot that I was just half hidden, forgot that he probably noticed me long ago – forgot that he could kill me. The with messy, long and reddish fur covered head sudden jerked into my direction and stunned like I was I couldn’t pull back my head at the right time. Nearly I could listen how his face distorted to an evil grin. The sound of unsheathing claws cut the air amazingly loud and probably by it I won back control over my legs; as fast as possible I crawled away backwards, his shadow over me suffocated all the light of the moon and the stars, right when I tried to stand up and run away his paw closed like a flash around my neck and choked me. Struggling with shock and fear I could just watch at this horrid face: “You really doesn’t seem to care about your little, pretty nose sticking it into everything you shouldn’t take care for. You may found out you don’t need it any longer ...” I hold my breath when the sharp long claw tips of his other paw in fact touched my nose.
“I ... I will scream!”, I studdered whispering not expecting he would get impressed by it. Macavity tilted his head, his awful eyes piercing mine, said nothing – and without any warning tightened his grip around my neck. Wriggling weakly I squeaked barely audible in fear but why should he stop? I tried to breath hastily, panically, my look swam –
Suddenly I felt big, unresistable pressure when he threw me away. Choking I found myself lying on the ground, a pair of feet next to me. At next I was pulled up by my ears, forced to look at him.
“That would be a very bad idea but try; your throat won’t be much robuster than your ears!” A sudden pain stuck into my ears and I felt some liquid flowing them down. I bit both lips and jaws together and it got a bit more bearable. I starrted back to the ginger male, his face just inches away from mine. If he had fun at my pain he didn’t show obviously.
“Excerpting that”, he whispered and grinned again, “no one will listen to anything coming out of your dirty mouth. Your little friend did a great job on that.” He dragged me onto my feet and over to Sillabub still lying on the ground. Snorting Macavity kicked at her body: “I could easily overtake her. Such weak. No challenge.”
I took a weak attempt to struggle but ended up in glaring at him: “She’s much stronger than you ever will be. We all are! You’ll never strike us!” It probably were my last words but I didn’t care now. Unsheathing my own claws I waited for his sharp claws digging into my neck –
A fury yell and his owner came out of the nowhere and shoved me away. Frightened to the core I rolled out of the way and my because of astonishment widened eyes spotted Pouncival and Plato, both with also unsheathed claws and more screams could be heard. Suddenly I watched Tumblebrutus with a very pitiful face expression and took his paw. Together we stumbled over the junk, passing Jerrie, Teazer, Alonzo and Munkustrap who were running into the opposite direction, noses wrinkled, teeth bared, claws twinkling. Sudden I pulled back: “Wait! What about Silla? I can’t leave her there!”
I was already about to sprint back but Tumblebrutus grabbed my paw again: “No! The others will bring her back! Come on!” With a look over my shoulder I turned around to follow my buddy. Some roars and screeches brought us back into the junkyard centre where the most of the other toms and a few queens waited excited –: “Electra! Everlasting!” Once more I was deprieved of my breath when a lot of fluffy, white fur flew on me, arms stretched out wide. Relieved I laid my arms around her waist, getting just slowly how damnit barely it had been between death and life!
And if that had been any sign all gathered cats burst out apologizing to me. By Bombalurina I didn’t get one but four and Demeter looked as if she wouldn’t dodge from my side again. Surprised I found out that it just got on my nerves; I mean I wasn’t used to that! For that reason it was a giant relief when the rest of the toms and Teazer returned, all softly wounded, breathless and angry: “The coward disappeared again before we could knock him out!”, Alonzo panted fury and pulled back his claws.
Jerrie carried Sillabub; she moved weakly: “She will get fine again”, he said looking at my half opened mouth. All together we sighed almost synchonous and any queen behind me gave a choked whimper. Nearly automatically I shook my head: “Everything will be okay, Cettie.” Turning my head around to her I took her paw while Jellylorum called after me because of my ears. I grinned at her and walked straight towards my den, still holding my best friend’s paw.
Epilogue
“What an unforgetable Halloween!” Jerrie arched one eye brow grinning at the others who had gathered around the tire. Some days had gone by after that fussed fight against Macavity. Sillabub however shuddered with an unbelievable face expression staring at the striped tom: “Oh, thanks, I prefer to cut it out.” Anyhow all cats sitting here could understand her. The whole thing still had leave his effect on her; the young calico often got tired quickly and was haunted by nightmares, wounding her friends. Electra, lying next to her on the ground as comfortable as possible, rubbed her head softly on Silla’s knee and smiled purring.
“At least we have an awesome stage show for the next Jellicle Ball!”, Pouncival said enthusiastic though the happenings still stuck on his mind. The others nodded and discussed roles and plot for the next hours.
When the next adventure would come up.
Just thought to post it in here: it's mainly about Electra ((We needed to stuck on the characters we got in a earlier contest and I got Electra^^)) and the happenings at the Halloween celebration from her view partially. It's a bit gloomy and creepy but I think it fits well 
Happy, horribly Halloween
Prologue
I panted. Swinging my arm up in the air I made a little jump that was fellowed by a kick of my right leg and screamed like in ectasy. It was an amazing feeling and though I heard my heart already tired drumming into my ears my jumps got higher, my kicks wider and my whole dance wilder and wilder! Nothing ever could stop me, it flew like pure electricity through my vains –
Suddenly I heard a frightened shriek behind me and turned around like a flash. Bombalurina next to me continued her passionated dance and stunned I watched Etcetera falling down with a bloody flesh wound onto her breast. In the next moment Victoria and Rumpleteazer began to scream in fear. Immediately I got the shapes and figures of the others running towards me, passing and shoving me. Totally confused I made a few steps away. Another scream could be heard then I listened to Demeter’s voice not far away from me shouting anything I couldn’t understand. But all reacted with panic.
“Vic, Silla!”, I got myself screaming and passed some new figures but couldn’t spot my friends, “Victoria, Sillabub, where are you?” In the meanwhile the noise surrounding me became that loud that I wasn’t able to pick up their voices. Anyone’s voice. Desperate I ran over the centre to search for them and to just flee and hide, to flee the chaos, made some steps looking back over my shoulder, slid away-
Chapter 1
Electra moaned; her body felt like she had broken every single bone of hers. Slowly the young tabby opened her eyes and tried to sit up straight. It wasn’t possible: the queen got nausea and terrible headaches and sunk back on the cold ground and clenched her teeth because of pain.
The dark striped female laid stretched out in the middle of the junkyard centre and just slowly her memory returned. Hissing quietly Electra laid her forehead into both paws and massaged her temples. Finally she dared another attempt to stand up and looked around; she was all alone.
Frowning Electra walked over the left centre till her nose catched a certain scent. Relieved the reddish queen started running and found the owner behind the old car: “Sillabub! Everlasting, I’m so glad!” The younger calico looked pretty as bad as Electra herself felt some moments ago. She trembled over her whole body and made a dismayed, frightened impression. “He wasn’t there”, Silla murmured absent and one second Electra was confused; what was she talking about?
“I called after Vic and you. Again and again”, the dark tabby said clueless and got more worried when Sillabub lifted up her head with her big eyes pearing into hers: “What? What have you done?” She turned her head away oddly slowly and didn’t seem to realize the whole situation at all.
“I can’t remember anything ...”
Electra replied nothing; Sillabub’s strange behaviour made her shudd inside but the dark tabby stayed calm outside. What happened with her? Thoughtful Electra looked down – and widened her turquois eyes in horror. Was that blood sticking on Silla’s paws? Again Electra felt sick and atrocious. She couldn’t imagine – not Silla! –
Once more Sillabub reacted very slowly and tilted her head: “Are you alright?” Electra stared stunned onto the white, bloody paws of her friend and spoke out the incredible, impossible suspicion: “You attacked Cettie at the celebration!” While she spoke Electra shook her head as if everything inside of her struggled to believe that it was true, “But why?” It overstressed her imagination.
The brownish queen face to face stared back at the tabby and seemed to be petrified. Fearful and fury at the same time tears caused by anger like Electra guessed rolled down her tiny cheeks: “How can you claim that? I would never ever injure another Jellicle! NEVER!” Suddenly her hazel eyes got a red twinkle and like out of the nowhere the kitten began to scream and to whimper. She hold her head in both paw like Electra did before and cried loud in a very high pitched tone. Frightened the reddish tabby grabbed her wrist and wanted to hug the queen: “Silla! What’s up with you?”
But Sillabub was obviously not able to listen to her. Fury she tried to release herself and started to hiss and to growl without that the striped female could make out a danger or reason: “SILLA!” Now Sillabub unsheathed her claws and dug them into Electra’s arm. Panting loud the tabby freed her immediately and Sillabub got out of her reach. But she wasn’t Sillabub anymore; the queen in front of Electra studied the wounded cat like a lion his prey, studied Electra like she would attack her every moment. Electra’s eyes and face went hot and a lonely tear fell from her face.
“What are you doing? Why are you doing it?” Right after the last word left her mouth Electra unsheathed her claws and blocked Silla in the very last second. Amazingly strong Sillabub pressed her claws against Electra’s and growled loud. Out of her mouth this sound was unreal and absurd and that frightened Electra just more. But one thing was much worse: she was in a fight with one of her best friends! The dark tabby sniffed and tried to ostruct the dark calico who got more and more angry. She wouldn’t be able to hurt Silla! But her rage seemed to make her stronger and stronger and finally Electra had no opportunity any longer. A slight wound at her breast and shoulder she got from Sillabub and defended herself for the very first time; blood sprayed through the air and Sillabub fell down shrieking, fearful, whimmering, staring shocked at Electra – and lost her conscience.
Electra didn’t understand. Her head was swimming and her knees got mellowed; she faltered. She did attack a Jellicle! A Jellicle female who wasn’t only pretty much younger than herself but also a very good friend! Though everything what happened the dark tabby knew that this had been a big mistake. The shocked impression into Sillabub’s big, hazel eyes came to her mind’s eye and Electra got the suspicion that it finally awakened the brownish calico out of her trance. In a pretty cruel way ...
“I’m sorry ... Everlasting, I’m sorry ...”
That busy with everything circling into her head Electra didn’t notice footsteps and voices that came nearer quickly. Finally the dark striped queen turned her head around and spotted many Jellicles returning. Then a white female, it must have been Victoria, ran towards Sillabub still lying on the ground and bowed down to her. Any tom shouted something rude and one moment later the young tabby got that she was meant. She looked down onto her paws, still full of blood. It felt so ... unreal, everything needed, so it seemed to Electra, hours to reach her mind. A pair of paws grabbed her shoulders and shook her: “Tell me that this is false! Tell me that you haven’t hurt her!” The bright, soprano voice hurt into Electra’s ears. Then she was released and recognized the cat. Etcetera still bled but she didn’t seem to get it. But the look of her bright brownish eyes was filled with pain and desperation.
“Tell me that you haven’t done this to her! TO ME!” And now Etcetera in fact started crying and shoved Electra with all of her strength. Not prepared for anything the reddish striped female fell backwards on the ground and moaned almost impercetible. Already she felt fury claws like these of Sillabub digging deep into her flesh –
“ETCETERA! STOP!”
Another fury voice was heard and pushed away every feeling of apathy inside of Electra; Munkustrap was fastly next to her, bowed down and reached out his paw. Wabbling she stood up – and looked into blank and fury faces: “Please ... I really didn’t want to hurt her ... she – she sudden started – to attack me –”
“She probably needed to defend herself!” The loud voice of Plato interrupted her like a knife and was followed by an angry growl, “Silla never could hurt other Jellicles! She isn’t even able to fight for her own!” Now some other voices raised up and agreed with the young tom. Electra recognized water summing up in her eyes though she knew before that no one would believe her: “For months Electra overstressed the lines without any following consequence! Jenny was a fool thinking she could change her naughty behaviour! But injuring another Jellicle knows just one reply!”
Helpless Electra’s eyes wandered from one look to the other, all turned away. Then she reached the pretty amber ones –: “Cettie, you must believe me, I couldn’t hurt you or Silla, I didn’t want it –” This time it was the look of Etcetera that made her silent when her best friend spoke again quietly. Fury. Disppointed. Unwillingly: “Liar.”
What worse could happen now to her? Electra burst out crying; unclear her ears caught some voices that called after banning her from the tribe but that wasn’t as half important as the expression on Etcetera’s face, now trying her very best to ignore the reddish tabby till Electra gave up on her. Sobbing she sunk deeper near to the ground but Munkustrap’s paws hold her up: “You disappoint me giantly, Plato: do you really believe Electra would hurt a younger, much tinier Jellicle queen? Do you really think she would wilful and on purpose attack her friends? You know the streets and know how they form cats – and you know what trust and friendship can cause on them.” Completely calmed his bright, green eyes crossed the ones of Plato and made him stay in silence. Now Munkustrap upstraighted himself to his full length and was awesome enough to cause silence all around the junkyard.
“Just to let you know: I don’t want to push forwards too fast and I won’t. Electra might be naughty and cheeky sometimes but we don’t talk about any kittenish prank that went too far!” Slowly his voice got an angry tone, “There’s more background ...”
Victoria next to Electra nodded sobbing quietly and made a step towards Munkustrap and Jennyanydots also did: “She should tell us what happened”, the snow-white adult sniffed while some other cats left the gather mumbling and murmuring to each other. Munkustrap nodded, took Electra’s upper arm careful and led the tabby away from the centre. Electra’s tears dryed, she didn’t cry anymore. In the moment she felt just thankfulness for Munkustrap.
“That’s going to get real Halloween little by little”, Alonzo said who now join the little group; he could hardly imagine the whole thing, “You didn’t wound her because of boredom, right?” The voice of the white and black-patched tom was a mix of sarcasm and urge to get the truth. Tilting his head Alonzo studied the younger female one moment sceptical. “No”, was Electra’s only reply and again she rubbed her eyes.
Like he had been confirmed by this Alonzo flicked his paw tips: “Yep! Macavity – what did I say? He might transformed himself into Silla to hurt Cettie and Electra, huh?” Wrinkling his nose the male turned around to Munkustrap for listening to his opinion. But the silver striped tom frowned: “If that would have been his plan Macavity rather would have looked forward to wound the other adult toms. It would have been much easier then to either kidnapp the kittens or gain his fun with the queens.” The tom distorted his face disgusted. They reached now some of the bigger junk heaps where no one would disturb or interrupt them. Though, like Electra thought gloomily, probably nobody wanted to get into her near. Sitting between all the junk Electra told them everything she could remember and tried not to miss anything.
“Slowly reactions?”, Alonzo asked sharp with raised eye brows and changed one look with Munkustrap during Victoria seemed to be pretty confused, “Well, she ... it was odd, she acted like ... she would be into any sort of ... dream”, Electra decided to describe and a shiver ran down her spin at the memory of the unclear look into Sillabub’s brownish eyes. Vic still studied her friend pretty disunderstanding – and then sudden slapped one paw over her mouth shocking: “Everlasting ...”
Alonzo and Munkustrap shared another look and Alonzo began to growl fury: “This f***ing coward!” Electra lifted up her tilted head. She understood as much as Victoria in the first moment. Finally she got an awfully idea ...: “He took – control over Silla?”
The clear look of Munkustrap and Alonzo’s bitter nodd replaced every outspoken response. Horrified Electra started to clean her paws; like fresh the blood was twinkling into her red and black striped fur.
Chapter 2
Anytime I left my place to return into my den. In the meantime my mind could recognize every single shape and face; everyone came back to the junkyard now – and every face without exception that passed me was filled with distrust, silent anger and even fear. As if they thought they could be next ones to get attacked! I snorted at every time, went straight without looking at the left and the right and took effort to ignore them.
“Scared about our little shocking Halloween kitty?”, a loud male voice pretty behind me came up followed by a bright giggle, “Yeah, try to flee and hide at the right time before she calls her ginger Big Boss!” That was Rumpleteazer. The coloured striped queen and her twin brother now caught up with me and suddenly I remembered that both hadn’t been there one hour ago: “Ridicolous!”, Jerrie snorted and walked at my left side, “Simple ridicolous! But at Cettie I’m disappointed the most.” He gave me a slight worried look and in the next second Teazer right to me hissed loud. It sounded like a mix of anger, mock and desperation: “I tried to talk with her how stupid she behaved but ‘Oh-no-she-hurt-me-I’ll-never-forgive-her’!” Fury Teazer kicked against any junk lying on the ground and sighed. I got a very bad conscience; she as well as I was best friends with Etcetera. “Sorry”, I could hear myself speaking.
But immediately both siblings shook their head: “Don’t talk rubbish, Leccy. We know that you couldn’t do that without any reason. And Silla won’t get unhealable damage.” I gulped audible and nodded slowly: “Thank you.” Finally I could smile a little bit; it was consoling that Jerrie and Teazer believed me. “How is Silla? Do you know anything?”
Jerrie scratched his ear thoughtful and bit his lip: “Well ... she’s still unconcious but Jenny and Jellylorum care for her.” Sudden he shuddered: “I never listened at both quarreling that awful.” My stomach became cramped; Jellylorum also was one of the guys who didn’t believe me. I saw her face and the friendly twinkling eyes in mind and felt a new urge to cry. To say nothing of Sillabub herself ...
I felt a paw on my shoulder and looked into Rumpleteazer’s freckled face. She also made a sad impression but though tried a grin: “Head and ears up, Leccy. Silla will be fine and in three weeks everything is forgotten, believe me!” With a last encouraging look and a mischievous smile she joined Mungojerrie and both started to mock slightly and joking about Pouncival who did avoid the little group in a wide bow.
Though I was still depressed and dejected the presence of Jerrie and Teazer had been unspeakable balm for my heavy heart. So I made my way further alone through the junkyard in direction to the old oven. My den I had made into the junk heaps behind the broken car but I didn’t want to meet Jellylorum now who surely was yet with Jenny in her den. Sautering next to the gates of the yard my ears twitched sudden by a mess of a few tom’s loud and excited voices. Curious I turned my tilted head around and approached a bit.
“... would be completely unnecessary, we saw quite clear what happened and Macavity wasn’t the evil this time!” Plato gestured unwillingly into Munkustrap’s direction whose body tense I recognized very worried, “It’s just a precautionary meassure and I want to guard the gates. We became incautious in the past weeks when nothing happened.” Again his voice was quiet and calm though I exactely got that he was sick and tired of the discussion.
Of course I was the reason for it! I withdrew, look sticking on the gathered toms who luckely didn’t notice me so far, finally reached the oven and hid behind it. With dropped ears I wrapped both arms around my knees, jerked heavily by a loud, fury scream of Alonzo, sighed and laid my chin onto my paws.
-- --
Restless I laid onto my fluffy, warm and colourful old blanket and couldn’t find sleep. I didn’t dare to look after Sillabub because I knew that Jellylorum and Jennyanydots still were with her. Moaning I turned around from the left to the right and back again and was glad that I shared my little hide-away with no one else and observed the stars shining into my den. Finally I stood up, stretched my legs and left the place. Walking around seemed to be a good idea now.
Nevertheless I made a bow around the centre and climbed over the more difficult lookable junk heaps. Barely anyone was out now; the slender shapes of Carbucketty and Gilbert crouched independent to each other in the near of a rusty ladder that made up one way up upon the high located chair. I liked both toms but ... honestly had not much urge to talk to any of them. Plus I didn’t need the ladder now; with a nearly silent leap I landed on the chair and sat down. Everything was quiet. My eyes wandered away from Gilbert who now left his place and disappeared into the shadows in the next moment, probably for hunting and spotted another two figures at the gates. Frowning I peered through the night and noticed black and white fur into the moonlight; Alonzo and Munkustrap indeed guarded the entrance now. Right now the younger tom yawned, but immediately shook his head and observed the surroundings attentive. But nothing moved at this time now ... – Stop! What was that?
I did err; out of the corners of my eyes another shadow sneaked over the centre and hid between the junk. With raised eye brows I leaned over to get out who it was and nearly fell from the chair when the thin stars’ light made me recognize it: Sillabub! Careful to not slide away and cause any noise the young, tiny calico now climbed over the tire and disappeared behind it.
In the first second I was completely stunned and not able to get any reasonable thought. Everyone told me that she had been unconscious! Why was she now wandering through the junkyard and where? And excerpting that ... Jenny surely wouldn’t had let her go – suddenly I felt dizzy and needed to cling to the chair to not fell almost down at the second time when I imagined Jennyanydots lying injured into her den ...
Swallowing I hesitated one moment but then decided to follow; to call for Munkustrap and Alonzo would take too much time now, I could loose Silla in the meanwhile! So I left the chair and sneaked climbing over the heaps of junk, now also clear her fine scent into my nose. Suddenly I got paralyzed by another scent, my eyes widened instinctive and I bared my teeth – right in the second when Sillabub sudden stayed still like a statue made of stone, then began to tremble over her whole body again and sunk down; it seemed as if any invisible power would suck out all of her strengths again, she fell down and didn’t move anymore.
My mouth opened frightened but any scared yell never left my mouth: filled with horror I observed the tall shape of every Jellicle’s nightmare sneaking near to Sillabub’s lifeless body and forgot that I was just half hidden, forgot that he probably noticed me long ago – forgot that he could kill me. The with messy, long and reddish fur covered head sudden jerked into my direction and stunned like I was I couldn’t pull back my head at the right time. Nearly I could listen how his face distorted to an evil grin. The sound of unsheathing claws cut the air amazingly loud and probably by it I won back control over my legs; as fast as possible I crawled away backwards, his shadow over me suffocated all the light of the moon and the stars, right when I tried to stand up and run away his paw closed like a flash around my neck and choked me. Struggling with shock and fear I could just watch at this horrid face: “You really doesn’t seem to care about your little, pretty nose sticking it into everything you shouldn’t take care for. You may found out you don’t need it any longer ...” I hold my breath when the sharp long claw tips of his other paw in fact touched my nose.
“I ... I will scream!”, I studdered whispering not expecting he would get impressed by it. Macavity tilted his head, his awful eyes piercing mine, said nothing – and without any warning tightened his grip around my neck. Wriggling weakly I squeaked barely audible in fear but why should he stop? I tried to breath hastily, panically, my look swam –
Suddenly I felt big, unresistable pressure when he threw me away. Choking I found myself lying on the ground, a pair of feet next to me. At next I was pulled up by my ears, forced to look at him.
“That would be a very bad idea but try; your throat won’t be much robuster than your ears!” A sudden pain stuck into my ears and I felt some liquid flowing them down. I bit both lips and jaws together and it got a bit more bearable. I starrted back to the ginger male, his face just inches away from mine. If he had fun at my pain he didn’t show obviously.
“Excerpting that”, he whispered and grinned again, “no one will listen to anything coming out of your dirty mouth. Your little friend did a great job on that.” He dragged me onto my feet and over to Sillabub still lying on the ground. Snorting Macavity kicked at her body: “I could easily overtake her. Such weak. No challenge.”
I took a weak attempt to struggle but ended up in glaring at him: “She’s much stronger than you ever will be. We all are! You’ll never strike us!” It probably were my last words but I didn’t care now. Unsheathing my own claws I waited for his sharp claws digging into my neck –
A fury yell and his owner came out of the nowhere and shoved me away. Frightened to the core I rolled out of the way and my because of astonishment widened eyes spotted Pouncival and Plato, both with also unsheathed claws and more screams could be heard. Suddenly I watched Tumblebrutus with a very pitiful face expression and took his paw. Together we stumbled over the junk, passing Jerrie, Teazer, Alonzo and Munkustrap who were running into the opposite direction, noses wrinkled, teeth bared, claws twinkling. Sudden I pulled back: “Wait! What about Silla? I can’t leave her there!”
I was already about to sprint back but Tumblebrutus grabbed my paw again: “No! The others will bring her back! Come on!” With a look over my shoulder I turned around to follow my buddy. Some roars and screeches brought us back into the junkyard centre where the most of the other toms and a few queens waited excited –: “Electra! Everlasting!” Once more I was deprieved of my breath when a lot of fluffy, white fur flew on me, arms stretched out wide. Relieved I laid my arms around her waist, getting just slowly how damnit barely it had been between death and life!
And if that had been any sign all gathered cats burst out apologizing to me. By Bombalurina I didn’t get one but four and Demeter looked as if she wouldn’t dodge from my side again. Surprised I found out that it just got on my nerves; I mean I wasn’t used to that! For that reason it was a giant relief when the rest of the toms and Teazer returned, all softly wounded, breathless and angry: “The coward disappeared again before we could knock him out!”, Alonzo panted fury and pulled back his claws.
Jerrie carried Sillabub; she moved weakly: “She will get fine again”, he said looking at my half opened mouth. All together we sighed almost synchonous and any queen behind me gave a choked whimper. Nearly automatically I shook my head: “Everything will be okay, Cettie.” Turning my head around to her I took her paw while Jellylorum called after me because of my ears. I grinned at her and walked straight towards my den, still holding my best friend’s paw.
Epilogue
“What an unforgetable Halloween!” Jerrie arched one eye brow grinning at the others who had gathered around the tire. Some days had gone by after that fussed fight against Macavity. Sillabub however shuddered with an unbelievable face expression staring at the striped tom: “Oh, thanks, I prefer to cut it out.” Anyhow all cats sitting here could understand her. The whole thing still had leave his effect on her; the young calico often got tired quickly and was haunted by nightmares, wounding her friends. Electra, lying next to her on the ground as comfortable as possible, rubbed her head softly on Silla’s knee and smiled purring.
“At least we have an awesome stage show for the next Jellicle Ball!”, Pouncival said enthusiastic though the happenings still stuck on his mind. The others nodded and discussed roles and plot for the next hours.
When the next adventure would come up.
