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"Shining Even Now" by Kaleadora

***Author's Note: Concerning the poem of Lorea-Lekki'Lai. The bit of verse recorded at the end is part of a poem written by my older sister, Danielle, and I give her the credit for it. She has no idea I found it, and she'll just have to make her codes more complicated, for I deciphered the poem quick as a wink. The beautiful, tragic lines made a deep impression on me that I'm sure will never leave. I'd just like to thank her for writing it. Danielle, this story is dedicated to you, though you'll never read it, and never know how much I admire your writing skills. Thank you.***

*** Author's Prologue:

This is a story about cats. But don't stop reading! These aren't just any cats. These are the Jellicle Cats of Old, who lived when the world new and Humans had not yet arrived to spoil things.

These Cats are much like Humans of Medieval times, but without most of the unattractive/undesirable characteristics. They walked on the toes of their back paws, wore clothes, and shoes, and jewelry. They kept pets. The favourite pet of these particular Cats was the Horse. These Cats bred the smallest, cutest little ponies you ever did see, and every Cat and Kitten, rich or poor, had one. And only one, for each Kitten was matched to a Foal, and if one dies, the other must do without. And these Cats could communicate with their pony, and vice-versa, but not with any other Cat's pony, for they had not the bond of love and friendship.

These Cats lived in peace and harmony with their neighbours, the Pollicle Dogs, for many a long age. Until, that is, the Pollicles took a liking to the Jellicle's land and style of building. Then came the Great War, and the Jellicles, taken off guard, were slaughtered. The small groups that escaped fled, on horseback, deep into the wilderness, and joined together again, slowly building a civilization. Among these were two small kittens, Scorba and his younger sister, Springstilla. After the Elders traced the family lines of those Cats that were there, these two kittens were found to be in closest relation to the now deceased Lord of Wenlatu, what had been the Jellicles' capital city. Scorba, for he was elder, was proclaimed the new Lord of the new city, Salrennon, and Springstilla was named his replacement should he die or go travelling. Poor little dears, so much responsibility at a very young age! But together they bore it, and ruled well (with some help from their counselors). They built up Salrennon from nothing, salvaging what they could from the land and creating the rest from scratch. And as they grew older, they grew wiser and more royal-like in the eyes of their People.

One fine day, Lord Scorba took out a hunting party to get a main course for a banquet in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the establishment of Salrennon. But they did not return that night, and search parties and scouts were sent out, as much as could be spared. The bodies of the party were found around the bones of a campfire. The horses stood around, dying of misery, and were killed in sympathy. Yet the Lord's body was not there, nor was his mare, Pernicepant. The searchers went out as far as they dared, scouring every inch of the land. Neither Lord Scorba nor his mare were ever found, and the Lady Springstilla was proclaimed leader of Salrennon.

This story takes place when the Lady was a queen on her prime, and Salrennon much bigger and more prosperous than ever would have been imagined. That was when things started to Happen. ***

Shining Even Now

Chapter One

A horse was coming up the road. A rather pretty mare it would have been, had it been cleaned up. But it was dusty and skinny, and would have been ugly but for the happy, wholesome light in its eyes. Upon its back was a grey-cloaked traveler, dusty as his mare, but much wearier looking, and bent as though he had been riding for a very long way. The farmer would have been suspicious of Pollicle, but saw the whiskers peeking out from the grey hood, and saw the bold Jellicle emblem upon the mare's blanket. The farmer, who had been hoeing a bit of garden near the road, stopped, and leaned on his hoe as she watched the rider approach.

"Hi! Who be you?" the farmer called. The horse came up in front of him, and the rider peered down. His face was overshadowed by his hood, but his voice was friendly as he asked, "And good day to you, sir! I hail from afar east. Might I ask you, who rules at Castle Salrennon?" The farmer pushed his hat up on his brow and gave the rider a strange look. "You must indeed come from afar," he said, "and have rather bad fortune to happen so close to Salrennon, and yet not heard of our Lady." The rider shifted his weight upon his horse. "Lady? Quite interesting. Do, sir, please tell me of this Lady." The farmer, who was rather proud of the stock of information he had on the Lady, smiled widely and started off.

"Well, sir, if there be a queen in all of this land to match, or even come close to, the beauty and grace of our Lady, then by golly! I'd like to meet her. Our Lady is wiser, and lovelier, and kinder than anycat that be upon this Earth, I'd like to bet. Why-"

The traveler interrupted, "Do pardon, sir, what is this remarkable Lady's name?" The farmer, a bit annoyed at being cut off, replied, "Her name is Springstilla, and long may she live!" The rider sat back in his saddle with a sigh. "Springstilla! The name is like music from the tongue." The farmer nodded, content. "The thirsty call it water, and the hungry call it bread. Say, be you a'going to the Castle, traveler?" The rider gathered up his reins. "Yes, in fact I be," he answered. "Ah, you won't regret it, any road. You'll be a'wanting back in before you even leave the room of the Throne!" The rider nodded, and the mare snorted and pulled at the reins. "I best be off, then. Thank you so, sir, I'm much obliged." The farmer smiled, a trifle smugly, and pushed up his hat in farewell. The rider waved a paw and spurred his horse to an easy canter up the dusty road.

The Lady Springstilla sat upon her Throne, with hundreds of soldiers at her command, and a dozen servants at her bidding. She was utterly bored. All windows to the Hall were open, and a soft breeze blew through, cooling the Lady's brow. The day was overcast, but not gloomy, for a few patches of blue stood in the sky, and many birds sang sweetly, their songs faintly reaching the ears of the Lady of Salrennon. She sat alone in the Throne Room, very bored and wishing that she could join the birds, outside and singing.

Suddenly, a yellow and black goldfinch winged through a window and perched upon the left arm of the Throne, twittering a tune. Springstilla sat up and watched it raptly, glad for anything to relieve the boredom. She held out a paw to it, and it stepped up, still singing. When the lilting little tune finished, the Lady asked, "What news bring you today, little one, that I should have the honor of your visit?" The finch bobbed its tiny head and sang to her a song of a dusty traveler cloaked in grey, coming 'for to see' her. It told her to watch this rider carefully, else she might lose her Ladylike demeanor. The Lady laughed, and the sound rang like chimes through the Hall. "I'll watch him carefully, little one. Might I ask that you stay and meet him with me?" The finch chuckled a few notes and flew to her shoulder, as pretty an ornament as could be wished.

Just then, a tall guard stepped into the Hall and walked to the Throne, kneeling before the Lady. "Arise, Micuanare," Springstilla said. "Has the rider in grey arrived?" Micuanare stood and looked at her in surprise, but smiled knowingly when he spied the little finch upon her shoulder. He stepped to the right of her Throne, calling to the rest to 'bring him in'.

Another guard appeared, and behind him was a grey-cloaked Cat, flanked by four more guards. Beneath his cloak his paws could be seen, brown with yellow toes. Springstilla rose, immediately wary of this Cat. He knelt before her, and she bade him rise, asking, "What is your name, traveler?" The rider stood and looked at her. "Indeed, at least one of the stories is true, and that truer than can be described," he said softly, his upturned face still shrouded in shadow. "You are the most lovely ever I have seen. But the rest are yet to be proved: Wisest? Kindest?" The Lady stared at him. "Well, the first was a compliment" she mused. "I bid thee, remove thy hood and give us thy name," she said. The finch sang a single loud, clear note. "Rather insistent, isn't she?" the rider said, as though to himself. "And for all her beauty, she allows a bird to perch upon her fair shoulder. Is she not wary that it may soil her magnificent gown?" The finch sang a few notes in the Lady's ear, reminding her to remain calm. "Remove thy hood and give me thy name!" she commanded, putting paws on hips in her trademark gesture of annoyance and frustration. "Patience, Lady! The first I shall grant you, and we shall see if you cannot guess at the second." With that he swept off his hood. He was brown with yellow tabby stripes, and upon his head was a small, relatively plain golden crown. The guards fell back in utter awe, and Springstilla gaped at him before her.

"Sc-Scorba?" the Lady asked softly. "Indeed, M'Lady!" the tom cried, smiling broadly. "Oh, Scorba! You.. you trickster! Coming in here all dirty and ragged, and daring to mouth off to me! Oh, I'd have your HEAD if I wasn't so indescribably happy to see you!" Forgetting her appearance, Springstilla leapt from the dais of the Throne and flew into her brother's outstretched arms. The finch flew from her shoulder and perched upon the left arm of the chair, singing. "Lord Scorba has returned! Our Lord is returned, against all hope!" a guard shouted, his loud, round voice echoing through the Hall. He and the rest began a rousing chorus of this and much like it.

Scorba held Springstilla at arm's length and studied her carefully. "Indeed, I have missed you, Sister," he said softly. "Verily, so have I, you," the Lady replied, equally soft. "Have you still Pernicepant?" Scorba smiled and wiped a tear from his sister's cheek. "But of course! She's a bit worn, and we're both very tired, but alive as ever! Have you still Remith er'Aught?" She wiped a tear from her brother's cheek and replied, "He's in the barn now. Oh, but he would be glad for a sight of Pernice once again!" The Lord bent his head and kissed his sister's brow. "And she for sight of him." Springstilla's tear filled dark blue eyes gazed into Scorba's, a sandy orange that she knew so well from their kittenhood. Brother and Sister, Lord and Lady, embraced, weeping, as the soldiers shouted and the finch sang.

Chapter Two

The Lord's Throne was set upon the dais next to the Lady's once more. Every single Jellicles as was able poured into the Castle, forming huge lines, just to see the two together again, even though the pair had ridden through every single village in the Royal Carriage. General Prosperity soared.

The Lord and Lady went riding together every day upon their lovely horses. Pernicepant was once again the lovely, sprite-like pony with a fiery personality, happy as a lark to be with Remith er'Aught again. The mare was a light chestnut, with flaxen mane and tail and a broad blaze. The gelding was a seal brown, almost black. Both had the flaxen feather and blue eyes that just about all the Jellicle Ponies had. To a Cat, one's pony was a reflection of one's prosperity. The bridles and blankets were brightly coloured, and decorated with tassels. On each horse's blanket was boldly embroidered the symbol of the Jellicles, a J-rune with a crescent moon. The Lord and Lady wore long, billowing capes with this symbol all around the border, and it made the Jellicles' spirits soar to see such.

The entire Jellicle civilization was feeling stronger and more confident with two wise, powerful leaders at Throne. So, you must realize that the statement that was made, quite innocently, by a tom in the marketplace one day was completely inevitable, and certainly not meant to turn out the way it did. This tom remarked wistfully to his mate, "Now, if only we could see the Lord and Lady upon the Throne in Wenlatu, would that not be the best thing you ever saw?" His mate agreed. The Cat running the fruit sales, near which these two happened to be standing, heard the remark, and thought it entirely accurate. He passed it on to most of his customers that day, and they casually told their family and friends. As you all know, gossip spreads faster than wildfire and grows as it spreads, and no later than two days after the original statement was made, word reached the Castle that the people were mustering for war against the Pollicles, that their magnificent city of Wenlatu might be taken back. Springstilla was aghast.

"Oh dear, this is not at all what we expected," she said to her brother one evening as they ate in the Castle Dining Hall. "No, no, it's certainly not," Scorba agreed, rather absently. Springstilla stared at him. "Scorba, I can't believe you," the Lady admonished. "What? What did I do?" the Lord, instantly alert, protested. "You were actually considering it, weren't you?" Scorba opened his eyes wide in innocence, and shook his head, replying, "No, I certainly was not! Where'd you ever get such an idea?" Springstilla rolled her eyes. "Just now, I saw that look in your eyes." She took another bite from her plate. Scorba about protested once again, then closed his mouth and half-smiled wryly, looking down at his plate as he pushed the food around. "Yeah... yeah, I guess I was. So what?" The Lady sighed and looked at him. "So you know we couldn't do it! The Pollicles are far too powerful, Scorba, and there are only very few of us." Scorba met her gaze. "How do you know they're still so powerful? Mayhap they've destroyed themselves, and we don't know it, for we just hide here in the middle of nowhere, afraid to try." Springstilla's mouth flew open. "How dare you say such of your People?" she hissed, trying not to let the guards hear. "Don't do this to us! We've come so far, we can't just throw it all away on some whim of yours." Scorba stared at her evenly. "I'm just saying that it's a possibility. At least consider it. Can't you remember the majesty of Wenlatu's palatial halls?" Springstilla slowly stopped eating, or even pretending to. She nodded carefully. "And," she added, joining into the game, "doesn't it just make your blood boil to think of those horrid Pollicles living there? Desecrating its beauty." Scorba nodded. The two sighed in unison.

A short tune chimed out from the sill of an open window near the two. Springstilla's face lit up, and she held out her paw to her new friend. "Come, little one, what news bring you now?" she asked as the finch alighted upon her paw. Scorba smiled fondly. The finch whistled a bit, pottering about on her paw. The two remained silent and sill, patient. At last, the finch turned to Springstilla and sang a quiet song about bravery and loyalty. When it ended, tears ran down the queen's cheeks. The finch gently touched its beak to her nose and turned to Scorba. He then sang a song of patience, of a long waiting for something good that came at last. Scorba grinned and stroked the bird's head gently. The finch whistled a long, low note, then looked to Springstilla, cocked its head this way and that, and then was gone, flitting away into the evening sky.

"What do you suppose he was telling us?" the Lady asked. "Well," Scorba replied, "he told me to wait, and the chance to overthrow the Pollicles would come, in time. I didn't understand what he told you." The queen sighed and stared out the window after the finch. "He told me to be brave, and never give up when things get bad. I have to be careful to always keep the best interests of my People at heart." The two made a marvelous picture, faces rapt as they gazed out the window in the candlelight. Little did they know just how accurate their interpretations would turn out to be.

Chapter Three

About two weeks later, a major turning point in the lives of the Lord and Lady occurred. That was when Veynatia was discovered, by the most unlikely Cat to become so important. That Cat was a bold, over-confident, mysterious, and defiant queen by the name of Lorea-Lekki'Lai, and here is where she enters our story.

A small grey Cat walked slowly around the marketplace, her blue cloak billowing in the breeze and her hood shadowing most of her face. The toes of each of her paws were a bright orange-gold, and a three-banded stripe of the same color was centered on the bridge of her nose. No one took much notice of her, and she took no much notice of anycat else, but to buy items from the shopkeepers. From her right paw swung a large basket that she always carried to market, and used for the carriage of whatever she happened to buy.

The market closed late that day, for what reason none can seem to recall. But it was happy chance that Lorea-Lekki'Lai stayed there as late as she did. As she left the village, riding along another dusty path that eventually branched off to her family's home, she caught sight of a lovely little finch, swinging upon a twig and singing cheerily. She smiled a bit, knowing that all finches had the favour of the Lady. Deep inside, Lorea-Lekki'Lai was fiercely jealous of the Lady Springstilla, and at the same time admired and loved her more than most others. These emotions clashed horribly within her, and only one could shine out at a time. At that time, the latter mentioned emotion was atop, and she smiled at the finch, but spoke not.

The finch flew away, and Lekki sighed and rode on down the road in the dusk. A few moments later, she thought she heard a sound that was not the steady clop-clop-clop of her mare's hooves on the road. She slowly pulled the mare to a halt, listening intently with her acutely sharp hearing. She heard it again: a small, frightened whimper that could barely be heard above the sigh of the wind in the boughs of the elms near the road. She dismounted carefully, and stepped slowly to the northern side of the road, listening. It came again, more faint this time. A definite whimper it was, of a child. Lekki knelt to the path, her skirt flowing about her. The breeze blew her hood back from her face, and a final ray of the sun peeped out of the cloudbank and lit the stripe on her face afire before disappearing again. Looking to the ground, Lekki held out her paw to the bushes, from which the whimper had come, and waited. The breeze ruffled her head-hair, and she grew chilly, but she did not move. Her near-hind paw began to tingle from being underneath her, but she did not move. At last, she was rewarded to a degree that no other Jellicle could claim as she felt a tiny nose sniffing at her paw. She was upwind, but the owner of the nose was so near that that did not matter; she could smell it clearly. Pollicle it was, there was no mistaking that. She looked up slowly and carefully, not making eye contact, and saw the body of a tiny Pollicle Puppy sitting at the edge of the road and sniffing her paw.

Long did Lorea-Lekki'Lai sit there upon the dust of the path until she won the trust of that Pup. Patience and great care were needed, and she did as well she could. The Puppy was very cold, and quite skinny and dirty. When at last it had decided that the Cat would not hurt it, it cuddled into Lekki's arms, shivering with cold and fright. The Jellicle held the Puppy tight for a long while. Then she held it out and looked at it. It was too dark to tell much of color or feature, but tear-filled eyes glittered in the moonlight. Lekki pointed to the Puppy, then to herself, then to her mare, and smiled, cocking her head inquiringly. The Puppy nodded and snuggled up to the Cat. She lifted her up in her arms, and carefully mounted the mare, holding the Puppy securely in one arm. She cantered smoothly all the way to her family's small farm, wrapping the Puppy in a fold of her cloak where it lay against her.

Goodness, you should have seen the look on the face of Lekki's mother when Lekki sauntered in casually with a Pollicle Puppy on her hip! 'Bout had a heart attack, poor thing. Her father took a bit more kindly to the Pup, and her younger brother thought it the neatest thing he'd ever seen; because, of course, no Pollicle had been seen in those parts for as long as the Jellicles had been there. The Pup was a lovely chocolate brown with cream patches, and great big crystal blue eyes that shone up at her new friends with love.

The Puppy could write much more clearly than speak, so it wrote down its name, and Lekki's mother, who was a bit learned in the written language of the Pollicles, translated it as best she could. "Veynatia," she announced proudly. "Little bitch, eh?" the tom said gruffly, with a touch of fondness, as he patted the Pup's head. Veynatia grinned happily and looked around at the four Cats.

Now, remember what I said about gossip? Here we go again. Some say it was Lekki's younger brother who happened to mention it to his friends at the schoolhouse; others think it was the father who's tongue got too loose while staying late at the tavern. But whatever, or whoever, the reason, somehow word got out that a Pollicle was being kept in the house of Lorea-Lekki'Lai and her family.

Now as for the gossip, it spread just as fast, or faster, than the previously mentioned comment, and grew to immense proportions. Lekki's family was receiving unwanted company at all hours of the day and night, all hoping to see the Pollicles (for by the time it reached the villages, the single puppy had grown to three full grown Pollicle bastards from mouth to mouth on the grapevine). And by the time rumour reached the Castle Salrennon, it was said that a whole company of Pollicle soldiers was hidden in the barn of a small farming family away east. The Lord Scorba himself rode out with a company of Jellicle soldiers to investigate.

"Momma, Dad, Lekki, come quick! That's the Lord, isn't it?!" young Opearney (Lekki's brother) cried from the kitchen window. All three came at once, Lekki with Veynatia at hip. "By the Everlasting Cat, I believe it is!" the father, Trustorvye, replied with wonder. "And a whole bunch of soldiers! Wow!" Opearney shouted, running to the door to see. His mother, Yewpilt, snagged him by the collar of his shirt. "Oh, no you don't!" Turning to Lekki, she said softly, "I think you should handle this. You did take responsibility for the Pup, anyhow." Lekki nodded solemnly, and opened the door, keeping Veynatia directly behind her so as not to be seen by the Lord and his soldiers.

"Good Day to you, Madam!" Lord Scorba cried as he dismounted a small ways from the door. Most of the soldiers gave the barn dark glances and sat uneasily upon their mounts. Lorea-Lekki'Lai curtseyed low, and Veynatia behind her ducked down, still unnoticed. "Speak you not, Madam?" the Lord inquired. Lekki blushed, and shook her head, placing a paw over her throat. "Ah, I see," Scorba said quietly, with a look somewhat like sympathy in his eyes. Lekki's eyes flashed, and she scowled, cutting through the air with her paw. She neither needed nor wanted sympathy for her lack of voice, and would take none such, not even from her Lord. To the great surprise of the soldiers, Scorba laughed out loud, and Lekki smiled a bit. "Very well, Madam, I give no sympathy where it is not desired, not unless it be needed. Now, have you heard these strange rumours of the contents of your barn?" Lekki raised her eyebrows, and shook her head truthfully. "Well, there's some crazy words going around that you be housing Pollicle soldiers in thy barn, Madam. What do you think they may have originated from?" Lekki's mouth hung open. She was horrified that anyone would think such of her and her family. But she knew very well where it had originated, and she was not a Cat to lie, so she did not shrug in response to the Lord's question as many of us might have done. "Be it permissible with you that my soldiers search thy barn, Madam?" the Lord inquired. Lekki nodded, and the soldiers thundered off upon their horses to do so. The Lord stepped closer to Lekki, and said, "You can trust me. This rumour started somewhere, and I would simply like to know where. No one will take anything from you, or force you to do what you do not wish. But might I request that you tell me where this all started?" Lekki stared into his eyes for a long moment. Then she sighed, seeing he was sincere. She reached behind her skirts and gently pulled Veynatia before the Lord of the Jellicles. The queen held the Puppy firmly, her eyes showing open defiance against anything the Lord might do to harm Veynatia in any way.

Scorba stood and stared at the Puppy, astonished. Then, with complete suddenness, he burst into laughter. The queen and the puppy stared at him quizzically. The Lord bent and slapped his knees in mirth for a moment, then knelt and placed his paws on the Puppy's shoulders. "So THIS is where all the trouble came from, is it? A single little bitch puppy. By gosh, this is a story to tell the Lady! She will enjoy this, after how worried she got at the rumour." Veynatia giggled and smiled shyly, and the Lord grinned and continued to chuckle softly. At last the soldiers returned, and he rose. The company gaped to see the Pollicle Puppy standing there, and Lord Scorba laughed again to see their faces such. "Madam, might I request that you come to Castle Salrennon with me and my men, to let the Lady meet you and your little secret?" he asked. Lekki's face both turned very pale and lit up at the same time, and Scorba laughed again as she recovered herself and nodded eagerly. Veynatia giggled sweetly, and the Lord smiled down at her.

Chapter Four

Lorea-Lekki'Lai dressed quickly in her best dress of a silvery-copper, long and smooth. She dressed Veynatia in one of her old dresses that she had worn as a kitten: simple, but pretty, and in a cream to match the Puppy's patches, and was trimmed and sashed with burgundy. They both sat atop Lekki's mare, Tallomidgen, and waved to the rest as they rode at the fore of the company of soldiers, alongside Lord Scorba. Veynatia had no idea what was going on, but sensed that it was very important. So she remained very still and quiet, every now and then glancing behind her at Lekki for reassurance.

Lekki herself was again torn between great honor and disgust, and was not sure how she would react before the Lady. She rode uneasily, and was always being startled by every small noise that could be heard alongside the path. The Lord shot her a few strange glances, but did his best to keep up a pleasant conversation, into which Veynatia would occasionally insert a comment. Those the Lord listened to carefully, and he seemed to understand the Pollicle language very well, even the nonsensical babble that accompanied the Puppy's normal speech. Lekki wished that she could.

They rode through many small towns and villages, and got the strangest looks and shouts from the townspeople upon seeing the Pollicle riding alongside their Lord. But none of the company said anything, and Scorba alone smiled and waved at them. For the Puppy sensed their hostility, and was silent as she looked out at them.

They at last came to the great stone walls of Salrennon, and the Gate opened before the company. The soldiers rode with the Lord and Lekki up to the Castle Salrennon, but then fell back as the two horses in the lead continued over the bridge and underneath the portcullis, and through the Castle Gate. There they dismounted, and the stablehands took their horses to the stables for rest and feed. It was midafternoon when they entered the Castle. Lord Scorba's strides were very long, obtained from his life of wandering, and Lekki, carrying Veynatia, had to step very quickly to keep up. Without hesitation he walked straight into the Throne Hall. Before turning into the entrance and appearing before the Lady, Lekki stopped and took a few deep breaths and gave Veynatia a short hug where the Puppy rested upon her hip. And then Lorea-Lekki'Lai stepped into the Throne Hall of the Lord and Lady of Salrennon, and there met the one whom she had both admired greatly and detested for many a year: The Lady Springstilla.

The Lady rose, and beside her stood the Lord. Lekki kept her head low as she walked quickly to the Throne, though Veynatia gaped openly. Upon reaching the Throne, Lekki set Veynatia down and curtsied very low. The Puppy did her best to copy, but fell down in a heap, looking cross. The Lord smiled fondly, and the Lady laughed her sweet bell-like laugh. The Puppy grinned up happily as she stumbled to her feet, and Lekki blushed a bit as she took Veynatia's paw.

The finch winged in through the window that was always kept open for him. Veynatia stared at the handsomeness of his black-patterned golden feathers. She stretched out her free paw, and the finch alighted upon it, chirping. Veynatia's eyes were big as dinner plates, and her mouth as round as she gazed upon the Bird. The finch studied the Pup solemnly, then flitted to the Lady's shoulder and sang. All four present before it watched it carefully and silently. The finch looked around at them all, then swooped to the top of the Lord's Throne and threw its head back, singing loudly a song of victory.

Scorba nodded almost imperceptibly at Springstilla, and she did such in response. Then the Lord and Lady took Lekki and Veynatia to a nicely sized room, where they were told that they would be staying for some time. Lekki smiled and curtsied again in thanks, and Veynatia clambered upon the bed and jumped around a bit, trying to touch the curtain that hung above it. The Lord told Lekki that it was imperative that they Question the Puppy, so as to find out possibly vital information about the Pollicles. Lekki consented, with some ware and hesitation. She loved that Puppy dearly, as a daughter, and did not want anything to come about that might harm Veynatia. The Lady, understanding such female emotion, consoled Lekki as well she could, assuring that they would not harm the Puppy. Lekki sighed and sat upon the bed, gazing out the window. They think she's a key to another War, she thought to herself. Just a pawn to get the information they need to fight against the Pollicles.

Lekki herself had been an infant Kitten at the War in which Wenlatu was lost to the Jellicles, yet she remembered clearly the pain and suffering that War inflicted upon all. She did not want to be party to helping another such thing come about. And yet she knew in her heart that it was inevitable. The Jellicles' pride would not allow them to hide for much longer. Another War would come, another long time of fighting. But maybe this time we will win, a thought occurred to Lekki. Perhaps, she answered herself. Perhaps. The queen stared thoughtfully out of the window as the Puppy jumped about on the bed behind her, and in the next room the Lord and Lady were discussing what was to be done.

Chapter Five

After a long while, Lord Scorba sent a messenger to Lekki and Veynatia's room, to give them his summons and guide them to the Room of Inquiry, where discussions (and interrogations) were traditionally held. Both the Puppy and the queen were given big, soft chairs to match those of the Lord and Lady, and they took them rather uneasily. Springstilla spoke to Lekki, "We decided that you should be present during the Pup's questioning. If you object to any that we do or say, make it known and we will desist." Lorea-Lekki'Lai nodded, and Lord Scorba began the proceedings. He questioned the Puppy in her own language, and Springstilla translated for Lekki's benefit. (Remember, all that Scorba and Veynatia say is in the Canine language, and Springstilla immediately translated, though I will not write her words.)

"What is your name?" Lord Scorba asked. "I'm Veynatia," the Pup replied cheerfully. "Well then, hello, Veynatia!" Scorba smiled. "Hiya. What's goin' on? How come you took me and Pfeffa-Marli away, to here?" (Both the Pollicles and the Jellicles quite occasionally speak a few words in Lapine, the ancient language of Rabbits. Pfeffa-Marli can be roughly translated to mean 'Cat-Mother'.) "We took you here because we don't see very many of your kind around here, and you are a very interesting sight." Scorba replied. "Oh. Well, I never seen any Pfeffa around where I lived." Looking around, Veynatia commented, "I like this place, it's pretty. Kinda like our Castle, only nicer." The Lord was immediately wary, but did not show it. "I went to...'your' Castle, once, long ago. It seemed very nice to me then. Is it not so nice now?" Veynatia swung her legs. "Yeah, it's kinda...cold there. Cold and bare. I don't like it." Scorba sat back and crossed his legs. "Why do you think it's like that?" Veynatia sighed and glanced out the window. Lowering her voice to a whisper, she replied, "The Mezzer-rah makes it that way. He doesn't like pretty things, I don't think. My mommy said that he cut down all the pretty trees by the castle, and all the gardens are waste." Springstilla gulped a bit before translating. Scorba shared a glance with her before continuing.

"Who is the Mezzer-rah?" he asked. Veynatia's eyes grew wide and frightened, and she put a paw to her lips. "Shhhh! Don't say it so loud, They'll hear. They are bad. They take people away if they talk about the Mezzer-rah." Scorba's eyebrows shot up. "Oh! Thank you for warning me. Who is this person?" Veynatia sighed and rubbed her nose. "The Mezzer-rah is our Ruler. He tells us what to do, and how we should live, and what jobs our mommies and daddies have, and how much they get paid. He's mean and cruel, an' no one likes him, bu' he's so powerful that nobody c'n stop him. No one will even try. He's allus sendin' his messengers around, to see if anybody is being bad. They warn us about his thousands of soldiers, an' say that all of those soldiers'll come and burn our towns if we be bad. A little town 'cross the Market from mine got burnt, just like they said, only it was only about two dozen soldiers, ever'one says."

Lord Scorba pondered this for a few moments. "What happens to people who are bad?" he asked at last. Veynatia leaned closer, and he did also. She glanced around, then whispered in his ear, "They gets....impaled!" She leaned back and glanced darkly to the east, towards Wenlatu. "You know what?" she said thoughtfully and confidentially after a moment. "I really don't think the Mezzer-rah has a thousand soldiers. I think he just says that to make people afraid, so that they'll be good. Only we're sick of being good, or some of us around where I lived. There are lots an' lots that'd fight for him on their own, and lots more that would fight for him just 'cause he told 'em to." Scorba nodded gravely, then cocked his head and looked at her very intently. "Veynatia, what would you say if I told you that I want to fight the Mezzer-rah, and all his soldiers, and make your country pretty again?" Veynatia sat up and towards him, and her whole face lit up. "Oh, do you really? That's so cool!" Scorba grinned, and Springstilla and Lekki both went very pale, exchanging a glance. "Yes, I do," Scorba replied, sitting back assuredly. "Do you think I could do it?" Veynatia looked up at him pleadingly. "But won't you try, anyway? You're Pfeffa! You gots claws, sharper than ours, and teeth like ours. You're faster, and smarter!" Scorba laughed. "Now where did you hear all that?" Veynatia giggled. "My mommy told me. She said that the Jellicles will come back someday, and the Castle would be pretty again. But she looked very sad. I think she thought that the Pfeffa would kill her, just 'cause she's Pollicle. You wouldn't, would you?" Scorba leaned forward and took the Puppy's paws in his own. "Veynatia, I swear to you, by all the honor that is in this kingdom, that I would never, ever do such a thing. I want only to rid the land of the evil that is in it." Veynatia's eyes shone brightly into the Lord's, and she smiled.

"Now, Veynatia," Lord Scorba said, sitting back again. "I need your help, if ever we are to conquer the Mezzer-rah. Will you help me?" With a happy, excited glance at Lekki, the Pup answered, "Oh, yes! I'll do anything." Scorba smiled. "That's wonderful. Now, listen carefully. Would you be willing to go back into Wenlatu for us, and see exactly what's going on?" Upon hearing the translation, Lekki was on her feet in a flash, shaking her head firmly. "Pfeffa-Marli, it's okay!" Veynatia insisted. Springstilla quickly translated, looking up at Lekki from where she sat beside the latter's chair. Lekki looked desperately at the Puppy for a moment, then her gaze shifted to the Lord, and she sat, very slowly. "Now, then," Scorba resumed. "What do you say? You don't have to answer right away. You don't even have to answer at all. I know it's very hard for you to think about becoming so vital in the plans of someone you've just barely met. If you say yea, the chance to betray us would be almost irresistible. You may do what you please. If you care to go home right away, so you shall. We shall give you a mount, and home you shall go, with all the information you need to destroy us. It is your choice."

Veynatia sat very still and silent. She was very intelligent for a Puppy of her age, and was contemplating the gravity of the situation. She could, so easily, go home to the Mezzer-rah and have him destroy every last Jellicle, for she knew almost the entire situation. Or, she could choose to stay here with them, and let them go to war without any basis for their plans. The third, and most difficult, choice would be to go back to Wenlatu as the Jellicles' scout, and gather such information as she could, and then come back and give them a rather good chance at winning Wenlatu back. She wondered what it would be like to see trees, and flowers, and bushes, and grass all around the great Castle. And right then, Veynatia made the most difficult decision of her whole life, and the one that would both reward and cost her the most. And at that point, the Puppy grew up, and would never know true childhood again.

She looked directly into Lord Scorba's eyes, and said, very low, "I will be your Scout. I swear to help you, and to get what information I possibly can that would be helpful in your winning a war against the Mezzer-rah and his soldiers. I swear to keep this a deadly secret at all costs, until the point where I might have to recruit some of my People to help you. I swear allegiance to the Pfeffa, to the Jellicles." Springstilla repeated this very softly, and Lorea-Lekki'Lai went very, very pale and gasped. Veynatia smiled faintly and waited for the Lord's reply. "Very well," he said gravely. "Your choice is now binding. You shall start out in a week. Gather what information you can, and then come back to us. Take whatever time you may need." Veynatia nodded. Lekki fainted.

Chapter Six

The week seemed to fly by, and it was time for Veynatia to leave on her Mission. A single messenger would accompany her as close to the Pollicle borders as he dared to go, and then she would go, on foot, into what had become the territory of her Enemy. She was dressed as she had been when found by Lekki, and she would ride upon the messenger's horse with him until he stopped. Lekki begged to be allowed to travel with the Pup, but was firmly refused. When it was time to set out, Veynatia embraced her Pfeffa-Marli for a long moment, then rode away tearlessly.

Lekki collapsed into the Lord's arms, sobbing. Scorba had no experience with this, and held her uncertainly. Springstilla smiled sweetly at him as he glanced to her desperately. The Lady giggled at her brother, and Lekki felt her temper flare at the thought that Springstilla was laughing at her grief, when that was really not the situation at all. But things happen that we cannot control, and sometimes they are wrongly interpreted. Poor Lorea-Lekki'Lai, what could she do?

Lekki and her family were moved out of their old farmhouse, and into the Castle, where they would be safe. For all of the family's former friends were disgusted that the four had befriended a Pollicle.... Though they would later beg for forgiveness of both the family and the Pollicle. But that is yet to come, and there is still the story at present to be told.

Months passed like any others. Lorea-Lekki'Lai seemed to grow more and more lovely with each passing day that she spent in the Castle's splendor. Her family were healthy and happy, their ponies the same. The four ponies were accepted by Remith er'Aught and Pernicepant, and the six became a veritable herd, sticking together always.

Lekki spent most of her time with the Lord, learning all she could. They walked the gardens, went riding, or sat in the library and read for hours on end. During that time, they actually became quite smitten with each other, though neither let it show.

Springstilla went with sometimes, but generally stayed in what was called the Bird Garden. She by then had a whole flock of finches for friends, and her original pal was their leader. They brought her news from all over the country, but none flew so far as Wenlatu, and therefore, no news of Veynatia's fate or progress was brought into Salrennon for a long, long time. And then the Pollicle came back.

Almost a year had passed since the tiny Puppy had left on her Mission. Then a traveler appeared upon a dusty road, cloaked in a soft green cloak that reflected a tannish color. The traveler came on foot, which was extremely odd. Many Cats tried to stop and question her, but the figure neither stopped nor nodded hello to any, simply walked along towards the Castle. When the figure reached the outer Gates of the Castle, a guard called down, "Who goes there?" The traveler threw back the hood of her cloak, revealing a chocolate brown head with a large cream patch at the forehead. "It is I, Veynatia, returned! Let me in to see my Lord and Lady!" The Gates were opened in a flash, and Veynatia walked in sedately. Word was taken to the Lord and Lady as quickly as possible, and they rushed out, followed closely by Lorea-Lekki'Lai. They met upon the bridge that joined the Castle itself with the border inside the outer wall. Lekki stepped forward, her eyes shining with happy tears. Veynatia smiled softly. She was a Puppy no longer, but a full-grown bitch dog, and very lovely. "Pfeffa-Marli!" she cried, holding out her arms. Lekki flew into them, and the two spun around happily, laughing. Springstilla grinned with her brother, and the Lord offered Veynatia to come inside the Castle where they all might talk.

They went back to the Room of Inquiry, and took the same chairs that they had almost a year ago. Lord Scorba smiled warmly, and said, "We're so glad to see your safe return to us!" Springstilla nodded. "We were all getting a bit worried for you. You didn't get caught, or anything?" (And she needed not translate for Lekki, for the latter was by then quite learned in the canine language.) Veynatia shook her head proudly. "Nope, I sure didn't! I went right into there, and they caught me, but after they questioned me, they let me go. I had to lie a lot to get out, and I still don't think they thought I was telling the whole truth. But they let me go!" The Lady inquired, "What all did you learn that might help us?" Scorba was surprised at her, for this was the first time that his sister had shown any interest or support as to the war against the Pollicles. "Oh, yes! I learned a lot! And I think that, if we do it just right, we have a pretty good chance at winning a war against the Mezzer-rah." The Lord nodded for her to continue, and they all leaned back comfortably as Veynatia started.

"Well, when I first got to the Castle at Wenlatu, it first struck me that there sure weren't very many soldiers to be seen. I suppose that everyone else saw it, but perhaps they didn't notice, for they weren't looking for anything of the sort. Anyway, they didn't bring me before the Mezzer-rah himself, just one of his head soldiers. And he questioned me pretty extensively, and I told him that I had gotten lost, which was the truth. But I had to lie when he asked me where I had been, and if I had seen any...he pronounced it weird, kinda like Yea-lyka, but I knew he meant the Jellicles. I lied, saying that I'd never even heard of such creatures. He seemed satisfied with that, so it's obvious that he isn't all too bright. He asked me about a whole lot more that was totally pointless, I think he just wanted to be able to say that he questioned me fully. And then a few other soldiers took me back to my village, and they let me go. I stayed with my real Marli and Papa, and my littermates, for all of the rest of that time.

Every day, when I was supposed to go to market, I'd pay some other little Puppy to do the shopping for me, and I'd go around, very casually asking about the Mezzer-rah soldiers, and starting discussions. Most of the time people just gave me strange looks and shooed me away, but if I could get one person talking, others joined. We were always careful to seem on the Mezzer-rah's side while out in the public, but once, about a month and a half ago, when a soldier came by and the rest of our discussion group scattered, the bastard behind the counter motioned me inside his little house, which was just behind the store. So I followed, hoping to find some good information. He and I talked for a time, while his wife ran the shop. It seems he used to be one of the Mezzer-rah's soldiers, before he got too old and was discharged. That's all he would tell me, because he was very afraid that the soldiers would catch us both. So he gave me a place and time to meet him, out on the edges of town in the middle of the night. I agreed, and left quickly.

"That night, we both brought blankets and a snack, and met out there in a little thicket to talk. He told me a whole lot, and it's important, so listen up. He said that the Mezzer-rah isn't half as powerful as his soldiers try to make it seem. He doesn't really have a thousand soldiers, he just says that. He's really no more powerful than you are, Lord! Most of his soldiers are getting old, and are not so good at fighting anymore. He's trying to recruit more, but it's not working for some reason. Oh, I wanted SO BAD to tell him about what we are planning, and that I had Jellicle friends who could beat the Mezzer-rah, but I didn't, because I swore I wouldn't. All I said was that if he held tight, and was brave against the Mezzer-rah, then someday things would go against the Mezzer-rah and he would be rewarded. When we attack, that bastard and his wife must be spared, okay?"

The Lord nodded sincerely, thinking of how richly he would reward the bastard for helping Veynatia.

"But I wanted to see for myself. I knew that the soldiers were keeping an eye on me, and that they knew I was not all that I seemed, but I took a big risk and snuck into the Castle armory. There's only enough armor there for about a hundred soldiers, Lord. I was going to try more, but I heard someone coming, and got out fast. I..I knocked down a piece of armor, and alarms went off everywhere. Soldiers came running, and were shouting. I grabbed this cloak as I ran out," (here she fingered the cloak) "And I put it on. I... I can't remember quite how I got out. The next thing I remember is running through the meadows, one of the huge ones, bordered by trees, that lie between that land and this. I tripped and fell.... The guards came on foot, since they don't have your ponies, but they were very fast. I fell into a trough in the meadow, and they ran right past me. I don't know how they missed me, but I lay very still until they came back, grumbling." She choked on a sob, remembering the terror of the moment when they missed her. "And then I got up and just ran, as fast as I could. I went quite a ways, for I reached the other end of the meadow before I couldn't go on any longer. I collapsed, and fell asleep.

"The rest is the usual: I traveled by night, through the shadows, always afraid that they'd catch me and bring me back to the Mezzer-rah. During the day, I usually stayed in the tree belts between the meadows. You can't imagine how happy I was to see the flags of this castle flying in the distance! I came as quickly as I could. And here I am! What now?" Veynatia looked eagerly at the three around her. Lord Scorba stroked his chin for a long moment, deep in thought. Then he sat back, folded his arms, and replied quietly, "Now, dear Veynatia, we prepare our attack on the Pollicles." Lekki grinned brightly, Veynatia sighed happily, and Springstilla fainted.

Chapter Seven

Swift messengers sent out Word immediately to every village. 'To arms, to arms! Deck the horses for war, and gather your weapons! Come to the Castle!' And such like that. The Lady Springstilla still did not like the idea at all, though the others tried their best to convince her. She seemed convinced that it could only end in sorrow and grief. Perhaps they should have listened to her? You be the judge of that.

The entire Jellicle kingdom (it sounds as a lot, but was really about two thousand all told) met on the green in front of Castle Salrennon. There Lord Scorba spoke to them, and introduced Veynatia. The astonished crowd gaped at her, and she waved brightly. "Veynatia has been our undercover agent for the past year," the Lord informed his people. "She went back to Wenlatu, at risk of her own neck and all of ours, to gather information necessary for us to plan our assault. You all owe her your lives. She was true to her word!" he cried, seeing as not a one among them thought that Veynatia's testimony was not trustworthy. "Had she not been, the Pollicles would be here now, also, and would rule both Wenlatu and Salrennon! She cared enough to help us! And now, we have the chance to take our kingdom back. Will you follow me?" He raised his arms to the air, and a huge roar of approval rose from the crowd. A thankful tear slipped down Veynatia's cheek. "And so we shall go," the Lord said, "in the morning. Sleep well tonight, and ready for war! We shall away ere break of day! Peace be with you all." And with that, he left the platform and mounted Pernicepant. Springstilla, Lekki, and Veynatia followed, (Veynatia rode behind Lekki upon Tallomidgen), and went back to the castle to ready the soldiers.

This may seem hurried, but there is really not all that much to tell of the preparation. All the Jellicles dug out their old heirloom armor and weapons for both themselves and their mounts. Tom and queen alike were going to war, but for any queen as had kittens at side. They would remain in the Castle stronghold.

All of the rest met on the road that led out of the Jellicle kingdom. The Lord and Lady were there, and Lekki and Veynatia. All were dressed for battle and wielded weapons. It gave great heart to the people to see their beloved leaders going with them. It had been decided that, should neither survive the war, that Lorea-Lekki'Lai should rule. (To that Lekki had been speechless, even for her. It took awhile to recover from the shock.) And, should even Lekki die, then Veynatia should rule. If none of the four survived, then the Jellicles remaining should elect a new Lord or Lady.

And so began the March on Wenlatu. They would arrive on the night of their third day of travel, if all went well. They would take the Pollicles by surprise. At least, that was the plan.

It was smooth, easy riding over the meadows of tall grass. The thin belts of trees that stood between the meadows often grew there because of a small stream that flowed. There the Cats had to dismount and find a safe ford for the ponies. And they rested at night in the shelter of the trees and under the cover of the noisy little stream bubbling along.

The trip didn't go exactly as planned, for one cannot hope to predict all things that might happen on the way. Ponies strayed or bolted and had to be brought back, a halt was occasionally called when a rider thought he/she had seen something that could possibly be a Pollicle. And the fording of the streams cost them much time, for many times they had to go far up or downstream to find a safe place to cross.

And so it happened that Lord Scorba, in the lead, caught a glimpse of the outermost Pollicle village minutes after starting on the fifth day of travel. He instantly motioned for a halt and silence. The sun peeked over the edge of the world, casting long shadows and glinting gold off of the crowns of the Lord and Lady. All of the Cats stayed absolutely still, wondering what should be done. "How far," Springstilla whispered to her brother, "is it from here to the Castle?" Scorba considered. "Not all too far," he whispered back. "Mayhap twenty leagues; Mayhap twenty-five." Lekki pulled Tallomidgen up beside them, and Veynatia asked, "What shall we do now?" Lord Scorba glanced over his shoulder at his Cats, all waiting. "It's either we go back to the trees and wait out the day," he answered, "Or we charge now and trust that we get to the Castle before word of us does." The four stared out at the village in the distance.

Suddenly, Lorea-Lekki'Lai sat up very straight, her face anxious. "What is it?" Lady Springstilla asked. Lekki held up one finger. Then she pointed up along the road that led past the village. She swept a paw over the village, and again pointed up the road. Then she motioned back, at all of the Cats, and motioned around, a wide circle around the village, towards the Castle, and clapped her paws together, face urgent but hopeful. Veynatia's face lit up. "Oh, yes! She's right," she said, turning to the Lord and Lady, who did not seem to understand. The Dog translated quickly, "She says to sent one Cat up the road, to get the attention of the townspeople. They'll follow, and pick up others along the way, but they can't overtake a pony. And while the scout is leading all of them slowly away from the Castle, we can go around and right up to the Castle in bits and break right in before they take notice, because they'll be so busy worrying about the one Jellicle that's nowhere near them that they won't think of a whole army!" She grinned brightly as she regained her breath.

"But, what if the townspeople go straight to the Castle, instead of following the scout?" Scorba said. Lekki scowled and bounced in the saddle; they didn't understand her. She pointed to herself, and then grabbed Veynatia's arm, and made motions as though she was pulling the Dog away. Then she seized Veynatia's other arm and waved it about, making a worried face. Then she bent over the saddle with an evil-looking grin, and sat up, smiling to the other three as though that explained everything. The Lady was the first to get it. "You pretend as though you've kidnapped Veynatia!" she cried. Lekki clapped and grinned. "Yeah!" agreed the Dog. "They'll follow you for-" She stopped. "Hey! We're going to be the scouts?" Lekki nodded, smiling broadly. Suddenly, Lord Scorba spoke up. "Wait." They all looked to him. "What if these Pollicles actually think very highly of the Jellicles, and don't like the Mezzer-rah?" Veynatia nodded solemnly. "Yes, like the old shopkeeper." Lekki furrowed her brow. "Try this:" said Scorba. "Veynatia, you walk up to the village as though you go there every day. Then Lekki, you ride by, and Veynatia, you call out to her happily, and point her out to all the villagers, telling them that the Jellicles have come to help. Then run up to Tallomidgen and get on behind Lekki, and see if they follow you when they see that Lekki's not going to hurt you." The Lady sighed. She hated all of this, and wished that they could all just go back to Salrennon. Lekki looked at her with something like pity.

"We can do that!" Veynatia cried. Lekki shook herself out of a thoughtful state and nodded. "Wait!" Springstilla cried. "Like Veynatia said, I'm sure that there are Pollicles that appreciate the Mezzer-rah, and are willing to fight for him." The other three looked solemn again. The Lady continued: "So while some may follow you, others will go to the Castle to warn the Mezzer-rah. I think we should split up, into four companies, and surround the Castle on all sides, moving up a bit at a time. Then we could let half defend against any Pollicles coming to help the Mezzer-rah, and the other half could get inside the Castle and bring it down from there." Lord Scorba nodded, raising his eyebrows, impressed.

Suddenly, a cry came from a Jellicle queen a small ways behind the four. They turned to look, and followed her gaze and pointed paw out to the left, in the east-northeast. Dark shapes, about a dozen, were lined up just on the far side of a belt of trees. They held lances. "Damn!" Scorba hissed. "We waited too long, they've found us!" Then he whirled Pernicepant around and shouted to his people, "Come on, it's now or never! Fight!" A roar arose from the Jellicles, and a young tom was the first to charge. All the others followed. Springstilla spurred Remith er'Aught up beside the young tom. "Have only a few follow the soldiers!" she cried. "The rest follow us!" And she whirled Remith around and sped back, meeting Scorba, Lekki, and Veynatia. About two and a half dozen took off after the soldiers, and the rest turned their horses with incredible skill and followed their Lord and Lady. "Let's go!" Springstilla said cheerfully to her brother. He gave a crooked smile and turned Pernicepant, leading his people towards the Castle. They had no real plan, no formulated attack, but they had their ponies, their intelligence, their speed, and all other feline assets. It was time to fight.

Chapter Eight

"What'll we do?" Lady Springstilla cried over the wind of speed. Scorba shrugged. "Just take it as it comes, I guess," he replied. Turning to Lekki, he pulled Pernicepant up beside Tallomidgen as they cantered. "Stay with Springstilla," he said just loudly enough for her to hear. She looked at him worriedly. "Please...." he said. She sighed and nodded.

"Soldiers!!" came the cry from behind. Without slowing their ponies, all of the Jellicles looked around and saw a dark line coming from the east. Scorba held up a paw and waved it to the company's right, then turned Pernicepant and galloped off. They all followed. Scorba wasn't about to go foolishly into a battle and risk losing many of his people. He was going to the Castle, to fight the Mezzer-rah. His foremost thought was that if the Mezzer-rah could be defeated one-on-one, then the soldiers would give up. And that was what he meant to accomplish.

The soldiers soon fell far behind, for they had not the swift ponies of the Jellicles. Before very long at all, the Castle rose up before them, tall and proud. Yet it was far different than any recalled. Much had fallen into disarray. The walls crumbled in places, the gardens, as Veynatia had said so long ago, were dead wastelands. Scorba's temper, long hidden, flared up, hot and potent.

The horses tore along at breakneck speed, the Jellicles bent over their necks. All was quiet in the Castle, as far as could be seen from where they were. Yet as they came closer, they saw Pollicles coming, from every direction, to defend the Castle. Word of the Jellicles' arrival had traveled extremely fast while they had tarried in the field, trying to come up with a feasible plan. The Lord drew his sword, and the others did so, also. Bending down over his mare's neck, he whispered in her ear, "All speed now, my dear. We have to get there before they do, or all is lost. Quick, now! Quick as Wogdog from the Tartar's bow. Come on!" Pernicepant whinnied courageously and pushed on faster than ever before, fairly flying over the ground. Springstilla saw what her brother meant to do, and felt despair clutch at her heart. But she knew that she must defend his decision, and aid him as was possible.

Veynatia leaned forward and whispered into Lekki's ear. The queen nodded and pulled Tallomidgen over to the right. Scorba didn't notice, for he was far ahead, else he would have tried to stop them.

The gates of the Castle Wenlatu were rising, and the Pollicles closing in fast. Pernicepant raced up to the moat and leapt. Carried by the adrenaline of her run, she managed to hook her forelegs over the drawbridge as it rose. Then, with a final, desperate move that would not have been possible even an instant later, she pulled her back legs up beside her and got leverage against the end of the drawbridge. She thrust hard, and flew over the top just as it closed tightly against the portcullis, and Pollicle arrows rained down all around.

Scorba leapt from Pernicepant's back as she flew through the air, so as not to obstruct the mare's landing. Pernice leaned to the right in midair and landed rolling, over and over. Scorba did likewise, and shot to his feet to check on the mare. She got up easily and nickered encouragingly to her friend. Scorba grinned with relief and sprang upon her back, spurring her onwards to find the Mezzer-rah.

Lekki pulled Tallomidgen up to the old, rusted gate of what used to be a garden and cantered along the iron fence. Veynatia licked her Pfeffa-Marli's cheek, and leapt from the saddle, catching the top of the tall fence and swinging herself over. Without looking back, she took off as fast as she could go. Lekki sighed and spurred her mare over beside Remith er-Aught, doing as Scorba had asked. The Jellicles came up behind them, and the Pollicles before them. The Lady and Lekki drew their swords, and the first battle of the Second Great War began.

Veynatia heard soldiers running along the cobbled paths of the wasted garden, closing in on her. Wishing desperately for a pony, she pushed for speed and sprinting alongside the wall of the Castle. Without missing a stride, she reached down and scooped a rock off of the ground. The soldiers were quite close now, and Veynatia had to dodge arrows from their bows. Swinging out from beside the wall, Veynatia scanned it. There! A window. Closed, but beside it grew a large maple tree. Without hesitating, the Dog let loose the rock from her paw, and it hit the window squarely, shattering it. She grabbed a branch of the maple and swung around and onto it. Without even a glance at the soldiers almost upon her, she ignored the burning in her lungs and scrambled higher in the tree. Arrows flew all around her, thwarted by the network of branches that surrounded Veynatia. She reached the level of the window, and leapt. All seemed in slow motion: the guards shouting and pulling back their bowstrings below, the sudden, sharp pain of an arrow piercing the inside of her off fore leg, the glass on the windowsill cutting into her paws as they touched, the stone floor beneath her as she somersaulted through the window and right into a wall. Then it all caught up with her, and she lay very, very still for a long moment, her breathing heavy and laboured.

Lord Scorba heard nothing but the pounding of Pernicepant's hooves on the stone as the mare cantered along. He figured that the Mezzer-rah would be in the topmost tower. It would also be heavily guarded, most likely. But he wasn't worried, for an undefinable reason. His mind was clear and hell-bent upon one objective: defeating the Mezzer-rah.

Suddenly, a shout behind him turned his ear. Guards, he thought. Great. About a dozen, by the sound of them. Pernicepant snorted, catching his thought. 'Yes, Pernice, guards. So much for easy sailing. We must put on speed again, dear. To the highest tower. Just follow my lead.' Arrows scored the stone around the pair, and Pernicepant deftly dodged them. 'You know I always do, Scorba,' she replied. 'But don't you worry about the guards. I'll lose them, just around this corner.' Scorba grinned.

Pernicepant whirled to the left around the corner, and slipped quickly behind a pile of stones. Scorba, catching on, pulled out his old slingshot and fitted a pebble into it, firing just as the guards came up. Down the long, open-ceilinged corridor the pebble flew till it struck the ground, rattling and echoing. The guards yelled and took off. When they were gone, Pernicepant crept out. 'Where to now?' she asked. Scorba flicked her ear and pulled at the reins. 'This way.' Pernice tossed her head and trotted down the narrow, dark corridor to their left.

"Lekki!!" Springstilla shouted. The queen whirled Tallomidgen around and slashed a Pollicle soldier through the stomach with her sword. Flashing the Lady a thankful grin, she took off to help two toms that were being ganged up against. Springstilla wiped her sword on the grass and remounted Remith er'Aught (she had fallen off moments earlier).

The Jellicles, loss of only a few reckless Cats, had won the first battle. This was the second, out upon a huge meadow, like unto those between the kingdoms, that was within sight of the Castle. The day had clouded over. The gloomy air felt heavy, and not a breath of wind blew to cool the warriors.

Lekki rode back up to Springstilla, grinning. The soldiers were retreating again, the second battle had been won. "They'll form a new attack," the Lady commented. Lekki nodded, then pointed to them and smashed her paws together. Springstilla laughed, but Lekki only smiled. The jealous part of her was rising up again, and she watched the Lady carefully. The other Jellicles rode up around them. Across the barren field, Cats could be seen sobbing over dead horses, and horses hanging their heads beside dead masters. It was heartbreaking to watch, but it was very hard to find it in one's heart to kill the survivors, even out of such pity and shared grief. But among these were a good deal of dead Pollicle soldiers. Though it was a good thing, it was hardly cheering.

Springstilla absently bandaged her near fore leg, which had been lightly scored with a swordtip. Lekki was unscathed. Jellicles tended to each other's wounds, and the wounds of their ponies. There was still a sufficient number of Cats left to fight a few more battles. Springstilla prayed for her brother. Lekki prayed for him, also.

Suddenly, a war cry sounded behind the two. They whirled their mounts, to see a battalion of Pollicle soldiers coming over the hill. Luckily, not all of the Jellicles had been facing the Castle, so they were not entirely taken by surprise. The Lady held her sword high and urged Remith er'Aught forward. Lekki snarled and followed.

Chapter Nine

Veynatia came to just as the first guard poked his head through the window. Acting instantly, the Dog sprang to her feet and grabbed the edge of a table, flipping it up on its end and shoving it against the window, hard. The guard fell back down with a cry, and the window was blocked for the time being. Shaking her head sadly, Veynatia pulled the heavy door open and slipped out into the hallway, all on the alert for guards.

She wished again for a pony, and not for the last time, as she trotted steadily along the halls. She'd never been on her own inside the Castle before, and had no idea of where to go. But from using common knowledge, she figured that the Mezzer-rah would be in a high place. So she climbed up any ascending staircases she came upon, taking turns in the halls at random and praying that she was going the right way.

She was so absorbed in her prayer and search for stairs that she never noticed the Pollicle lurking in the shadows until it was too late. As she passed, he leapt out and grabbed her around her neck, covering her mouth. She struggled, eyes wide with horrible terror. "Shut up, and quit that!" the large bastard said roughly. "A little spy, eh? I saw you riding with the Jellicles. You're going straight to Him, bitch." And though that was not meant as an insult, but as the normal term for a female Dog, it has been frequently said that the insult originated there, and the term has not been at all popular since among the Dogs.

Have you ever ridden a horse inside of a Castle? Neither had Scorba, and Pernicepant had never tried to make her way inside a Castle. So it was 'played by ear', as the saying goes, by both of them. The Lord had a terrible sense of urgency, and Pernice felt it and tried to hurry. The halls were narrow and close, and Scorba often forced Pernice to make sharp, unexpected turns. Soldiers seemed to be everywhere, though few spotted the two. They were rarely even heard by the soldiers, for they were all shouting angrily, arguing about just what was happening. But eventually, a pair of soldiers caught sight of Scorba and Pernice as the latter passed a doorway, and gave chase immediately.

Pernicepant tore along through the halls, her hoofbeats echoing and resounding in the tunnel-like corridors. She got far ahead of the soldiers, but they chased doggedly (excuse the bad pun). Breath for both her and her rider was short and desperate. She trotted into a room, and found six soldiers just as surprised to see her and Scorba as the latter were to see them. There was nowhere to go but in, and Scorba spotted a stairway winding up against the wall opposite. So he spurred the mare for it, as the soldiers leapt from their chairs and drew their swords, shouting. Reaching the bottom of the staircase, Pernice reared up on her hindlegs and turned a right angle to face the stairs. When her forefeet reached the ground again, she gathered her hind legs beneath her and leapt up as a Cat might, planting her forehooves firmly on the sixth stair and pulling her hind legs up behind. In this manner, she and Scorba ascended the staircase with the soldiers in fast pursuit. As she sprang through the doorway at the top, she hooked a hoof behind the door, pulled it forward, and gave it a good, hard kick that slammed it shut with a boom that echoed for quite a while. Scorba turned her to the left and she broke straight into a canter, feeling that they had almost reached their destination, she put on as much speed as her wearied body could handle, and Scorba spoke to her soothingly and encouragingly.

Utter desolation reigned in the battlefield. Smoke rose up and clouds seemed to move closer as the Pollicles and Jellicles fought. The Cats were just beginning to think that they might win the third battle when three more battalions came charging from the east. Springstilla felt like crying. But just then, an answering shout came from the north, from the direction of the Castle. About one hundred fifty Pollicle townspeople stood there, glaring daggers at the Pollicle soldiers. Everyone froze, and all was silent. A young bastard stepped forward from the newly arrived group, raised a sword, and shouted, "Down with the Mezzer-rah! Long live the Jellicles!!" Springstilla couldn't believe her ears, and Lekki hardly thought she believed her eyes (lip-reading). The Pollicle soldiers seemed just as surprised, and twice as angry as they had been before. A Jellicle queen stood up in her stirrups and cried, "You won't regret it! Come, and you shall live freely in our Lord and Lady's rule!" The Jellicles chorused a loud agreement, and the Pollicle townspeople ran forward to join them as the Pollicle soldiers charged.

Veynatia was shoved roughly through a doorway. She tripped and fell, catching herself on her cut paws and yelping with pain. She was in the uppermost turret of Castle Wenlatu. A tall, dark figure by the southern window whirled around. Veynatia looked up slowly, knowing she now faced the Mezzer-rah. "Found this spy sneaking around the east wing, sir," said the bastard that had brought her there. "You!" cried the figure, staring at Veynatia. His voice was deep and commanding, but not quite harsh..... Veynatia coughed. "Leave us," commanded the Mezzer-rah. The bastard quickly did so.

Veynatia slowly rose to her feet, pondering the Mezzer-rah's voice. She thought it sounded slightly familiar..... "Who are you?" he commanded. Veynatia held her head high and replied strongly, "I am Veynatia." A small, choking sound came from the shadow of the Mezzer-rah's hood. "V-Veynatia?" he said quietly. Veynatia gasped, fitting the voice to a memory of long ago. "Girnyama?" she asked, bewildered and frightened. The Mezzer-rah slowly, slowly reached up and pushed his hood off of his brow. A chocolate brown Pollicle stood there, ice blue eyes very big. It was Girnyama: Veynatia's older brother, who had disappeared as a young bastard. "Hello, Veynatia," the Mezzer-rah said. "Hello, Girnyama," Veynatia replied softly.

Chapter Ten

Suddenly, there was a noise of hoof-on-stone outside the door, and a great shouting. The two inside looked at each other, then whirled their backs to the wall as the door flew open and a horse and rider leapt inside, slamming the stone slab behind them. "Scorba!" Veynatia cried delightedly, waving. The Lord sprang from Pernicepant's back and drew his sword. "Stand back, Veynatia!" he said valiantly. "I'll get him." With a gasp, Girnyama drew his sword. "No!" Veynatia cried. "Veynatia, you are friends with this...Jellicle, our enemy?" Girnyama asked with astonishment and anger. "Yes, I am. He's not my enemy, he's yours," the bitch replied stoutly. "You..." the Mezzer-rah growled, looking to Scorba. "You brainwashed my little sister! Now you'll pay!" With a grunt, he leapt at Scorba, flailing his sword. The Lord shoved Pernicepant out of the way as he dodged to the right. Girnyama quickly regained his balance and snarled, attacking again. This time, Scorba was ready, and he met Girnyama's sword with his own. Veynatia crouched against the wall, afraid to watch but afraid to look away.

With a flick of his wrist, Girnyama sent Scorba's sword flying right out the window. Scorba glanced after it, then back to the Pollicle. The Mezzer-rah raised his sword to finish the Lord, but something... primitive arose in Scorba, and he unsheathed his claws for the first time in many years, slashing the paw that held the sword. With a yelp, Girnyama dropped the sword. Scorba flipped it out the window after his own and grinned mischievously at his opponent, who was licking his bleeding paw. "Come on, Puppy," the Lord taunted, "Forget the weapons. Fight like a Dog!" The Cat lashed out again and caught Girnyama's off shoulder as the Pollicle dodged. "Lying, sneaky Cat!" Girnyama muttered as he zipped in and sank his teeth into Scorba's near hind paw. Scorba yowled, and Veynatia covered her ears. It was a typical Cat-Dog fight from there on out, up until the end.

Lorea-Lekki'Lai heard a Jellicle cry out, and whirled around just in time to see a Pollicle sword slice neatly through the throat and chest of the Lady Springstilla. Many instantly fell upon the soldier, and he was killed. They could not help the Lady, for Pollicle soldiers were running up, all desperate to finish her off. Lekki stood very, very still as the battle raged around her. Then, something deep inside her snapped, and she tore forward and shoved everyone out of her way roughly, falling to her knees at her Lady's side and holding Springstilla's head in her lap. "L-...Lekki?" Springstilla said faintly. Lekki nodded with a grim smile. "Lekki, please.....Oh, Scorba! I..." she trailed off, and fell silent.

Lord Scorba was wearing out, not at all used to such fighting. His opponent was younger and smaller, and he used every bit of advantage he had. But both were wounded badly, and blood ran over the stone floor.

At last it seemed as though the Pollicle would win, and he had Scorba pinned just beneath the window. He raised his head, preparing to tear Scorba's throat out with a single bite. Scorba made a last, desperate attempt, and it saved his people that day. He gathered his hind legs beneath Girnyama, and, rolling back onto his neck, he shoved hard, flipping the Pollicle over him and right out the window, where the Pollicle plunged to his death on the hard ground below, landing directly atop the two fallen swords. The Pollicle soldiers saw him fall, and knew that they were beaten. They fell on their faces before the Jellicles and Pollicle townspeople, and the war was over.

The Lord lay very still, gasping for breath and bleeding freely. Pernicepant and Veynatia rushed to his side. "Scorba!" 'Scorba....!' The Lord smiled up at them. "Did I win?" he whispered. Tears flowed down Veynatia's cheeks. "Yes, Lord, you did. You won." Pernicepant nudged her master gently. 'Get up, Scorba, it's all right now.' "Can't...." Scorba breathed. "Tell Lekki I love her.... Tell her not to cry for me.... I'll always watch over her."

And at that very moment, both the Lord Scorba and the Lady Springstilla of Wenlatu/Salrennon passed away, quite without ceremony or fanfare. They simply breathed their last, painful breaths and slipped from this world into another, into the realm of the Everlasting Cat. Dozens and dozens of black and gold finches gathered around the bodies and sang slow, mournful tunes. The Jellicles wept.

Chapter Eleven

Lady Lorea-Lekki'Lai ruled Wenlatu well, with Veynatia by her side always. The kingdoms of Wenlatu and Salrennon were eventually joined as one, and the Jellicles and Pollicles lived in harmony together, under Lekki's rule.

She took a mate, a handsome tom by name of Hynophuin, who was cousin to Scorba and Springstilla. Lekki bore a lovely young kitten, a female that she named GwenennaJenennaVera. And as she and Veynatia grew old, Jenna was given the crown. And here that kitten passes from this story into another.

And as for Pernicepant and Remith er'Aught? They were the only ponies who lived on without their masters. A foal was born to them the following spring, and it was given to Lekki's daughter.

Lorea-Lekki'Lai died in her sleep one stormy night, and was buried in the now beautiful flower garden that she had helped to cultivate. Jellicles and Pollicles, all of whom had loved her dearly as a leader and friend, came to a huge funeral.

And after the funeral, a piece of paper was found beneath her pillow. It was worn and faded, the writing barely legible. But it was a poem, and here I shall end my tale with the part that could be made out:

'And even now if I could be with you,

I'd tell you true: I love you too.

Even now if I could steal from hell

A second to save you, I would spend it well.

'Even now if we could sense the night

Of death tomorrow, we could have tonight

And even now if we could count the years

That stretch ahead, we'd know to save our tears

For then.

I'm crying for you now.

'But even now my heart must know

Within the hour I must get up and go

To universe of lights and static snow

Because my truest love declared it so!

And 'cause I never know

When will come my time!

So I just try to shine.

'Even now as we rise above

The worlds, I wonder- could this be love?

He says a guarding god is his

Perhaps I'll show him just how blind he is.

Till then the time is now.

And I'm alive, no matter why or how!

I'm shining even now.'

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