Cats Onwards

Chapter 19. The Stranger cat.

The Jellicles disbanded to regain their breath for a few minutes, Bustopher Jones would be arriving soon for his visit.

Jemima leaned against the automobile and closed her eyes briefly, she could feel the headache from earlier creeping its way back up her neck.

"Jem, are you OK?" Victoria asked softly as she pattered over to her dear friend. Jemima's eyelids fluttered open and she gave the white queen a weak smile.

"Yes, just a bit dizzy. I must have been spinning to much." Jemima reassured. At that moment Plato, Alonzo and Admetus wandered over. Plato wrapped his tail around Victoria's waist and he pulled her into an embrace. Admetus hopped up onto the car and Alonzo approached Jemima. The pair gave each other a shy smile, they both knew how they felt deep down but their nerves got the best of them.

"It's strange to think that just a year ago Grizabella limped onto our stage of a junkyard." Alonzo pondered as he glanced out over the Jellicle stage.

"Definitely. Skimble had mentioned a washout star from the tribe when I was younger but I believed she would never come back..." Jemima sighed.

"And now she's enjoying all the glory of the Heaviside layer." Admetus cried in a sing-song tone. "Lucky thing."

"Don't count yourself out of luck Admetus, you're dancing with Cassandra tonight." Victoria cooed mockingly.

"Yeah, you're the only tom she doesn't want to stand on a Lego brick." Alonzo grumbled. He and Cassandra had an odd relationship, much like that of siblings. "Speak of the devil..." Cassandra appeared and gracefully climbed onto the car beside her soon-to-be mate Admetus. "Hey Cass!" Alonzo greeted brightly.

"Go stand on a Lego brick, Lonz." Cassandra hissed. Jemima and Admetus snickered at the queen's sass. Once the laughter had subsided, Jemima leaned back, tilting her gaze to the stars.

"Oh how beautiful it must be up there."

Alonzo sighed in content as he watched the kit's illuminated face, her whiskers shined in the moonlight.

"Not as beautiful as down here." He whispered. Jemima's eyes widened as she listened to the black and white tom. Her head snapped forwards and her gaze met Alonzo's. He couldn't believe he'd just said that out loud, and she had heard! He could feel himself become flustered. "Well, I uh...yeah." He blurted lamely. Jemima had fire burning in her cheeks but she felt alive in the moonlight. Quickly, she stepped forwards and threw her arms around Alonzo's neck. The tom was taken back in surprise, after a moment or so he completely forgot about their surroundings and wrapped his arms tightly around the kit's waist. Now was the perfect moment to finally ask what had been on his mind for a very long time. "Jemima, will you dance with me tonight?"

The black and red kit drew back and glanced up into the tom's eyes. Her gentle smile brought a wide grin to his face.

"Yes Alonzo, I will." She whispered. Suddenly, there was a great crash from across the yard which frightened nearly every feline about.

"Macavity!" Demeter shrieked. Instinctively, Alonzo pulled Jemima behind him to protect her from the threat. Munkustrap sprinted from a den entrance and leaped to the center of the yard, he crouched low and hissed warningly to the darkness ahead.

"Demeter, hide the kittens!" He boomed. The black and gold queen nodded abruptly before gathering up her offspring and ushering them into a den. Most of the Jellicles had scattered in fear only Munkustrap, Alonzo, Plato, Admetus and Cassandra remained.

"This cannot be Macavity's doing. He would have shown himself by now." Cassandra growled.

"One can never be too cautious with our brother." Tugger groaned as he emerged from a hiding spot.