Back to the Observatory...
Back to the Library...
Hello!!!
I'm amazed that I've actually put this much of my fic up. If you like it, emeow me! And please send me any fics you would like to have put up! Now, on with the story...
I shivered myself awake. At first, I didn't realize where I was, but as I rose and hit my head on the cold ceiling, I remembered.
Mistoffelees was nowhere to be seen. It figures. You idiot, why did you trust him? I thought to myself. Stretching the chill from my muscles, I stepped outside.
"Hello, dear," I turned around to see a marmalade tabby sitting on a car hood to my left. "Are you Celestia?" she asked with a smile.
"Yes. How'd you know?"
"Munkustrap told me. I'm Jennyanydots, but Jenny suits me better. Munkus was looking for you. He's probably around here somewhere," she said.
"Thanks. I guess I should go find him..." I began to say, but Munku pounced down from the washing machine.
"There you are. Where were you?" he asked.
"I just woke up. I was in that pipe over there," I gestured with my paw.
"We've got a long trip ahead of us."
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"You need to meet Old Deuteronomy," he explained, and led me out of the Junkyard.
I was glad to have Munkustrap as a guide. I didn't even know my way around London, and I was even more confused when we reached the outskirts.
"So you slept in the drainpipe?" Munku asked.
"Yes."
"I'm surprised you didn't run into Misto. I thought that was his territory."
"I did," I replied.
"Oh. He's a remarkable magician, but not the type who loves the limelight," Munku remarked.
"He was...very nice," I said softly.
"He's kind of shy. But he has Victoria hooked, though." Munku picked up the pace. I kept my eyes on my paws, wondering why my face felt hot. I wonder who Victoria is? I asked myself.
"Oh," I said.
"He earned his place as a Jellicle at the last ball when he brought back Deuteronomy, but some of the younger toms think he still hasn't earned his place with them." Freak of the tribe... I remembered. So that was what he meant, I thought.
"There's the vicarage," Munku pointed, and we hurried on.
As we came near, a large, grey tom appeared, basking in the morning sun on the wall.
"Why, hello Munkustrap. I haven't seen you in a while. And who is your friend?" the old tom smiled kindly at me.
"This is my uncle, Deuteronomy, Celestia," Munkustrap replied. I bowed low. "Uncle, this is Celestia. She showed up last night in the junkyard." Munku introduced us.
"Welcome, Celestia," Deuteronomy smiled again. "Are you a Jellicle?"
"Er... not exactly," I stammered.
"Who were your parents, child?" the tom asked.
"I... I don't know..." I was nearly inaudible.
"Don't fret over it, child," the kindly tom said. "If you want to stay with us, you will have to be accepted at the next Jellicle Ball," he said. I gulped. What would I do?
"Is there any sort of test?" I asked.
"No. All you must do is be faithful and true to us and what we do," Deuteronomy said. I felt an overwhelming desire to be one of these Jellicles. But Macavity... No. He couldn't have meant it. How can someone be owned? I looked up.
"I would love to..." I sighed.
"Then I will welcome you in advance," the cat smiled.
Munkustrap and I returned to the Junkyard. Now it was becoming filled with cats of all ages. A reddish-brown girl around my age scampered up.
"Hi!" she said with a grin. "I haven't seen you around here before."
"I'm Celestia," I said.
"My name's Jemima," she said. "Would you like to come sit with us?" she motioned to the top of an old stove where three more cats reclined.
"Uh...alright," I said, unsure. I followed her over.
"Guys, this is Celestia," she said to the others. "Celestia, this is Victoria, Etcetera, and Electra," I smiled shyly at the cats.
Suddenly, we were interrupted.
"Meow, girls," A large male with a lion-like mane hopped down with a playful sneer.
"Sorry I can't stay, ladies, but I am rather busy today," he grinned. "Catch you later."
"Bye, Tugger!" Etcetera squealed. "Oh, isn't he the cutest?!"
"It makes me want to drool," Electra confessed.
"Seems kinda snobby," I remarked.
"He's just that way. It makes him cuter," Jemima said.
"Well, he is cute, but nothing can compare to Misto," Victoria continued.
"Have you met him yet?" Jemima asked me.
"Um... yeah," I said, taken aback by the question.
The conversation switched into discussion about the Ball.
"You're going to love it," Jemima said. "We just dance, dance, dance all night long, until Deuteronomy picks the next cat to go to the Heaviside layer. Of course, it's never one of us, we're too young, but it's still exciting! I was accepted last year," she explained.
"Wait a minute," I said. "Dance?"
"Yeah," Victoria said. "It's a major part of being a Jellicle."
"The most fun, anyway," Etcetera said. I was worried. I'd never even tried to dance before.
"Vic's the best," Electra said. Victoria demonstrated with a mind-boggling leg lift. I stared in amazement. I could never do that!
"Oh, rats!" Etcetera exclaimed. "We're late for Jenny's stupid knitting classes," she hopped down from the oven.
"Jenny'll probably be by soon to sign you up," Jemima grinned at me. "But you'll have one last day of freedom!"
"Bye, guys!" I said with a smile as they padded around a corner. I felt a little confused. I was really glad to have made some new friends, but what would they think when they found out my secret? And when they found out I couldn't dance?
