Nightwalker came out of his post as the sun began its downward course, and stretched in a way only Jellicles can. Easing over to where cast-off iron parts and objects lay, he found Tumblebrutus watching from his particular posting. Since Munkustrap ordered an increased alert, Nightwalker had a “companion” of one of the young adult Toms. Thus, each post would not be taken by surprise. But, instead of getting a hello, Nightwalker got all the way to the posting before he realized the Brown and White Tom did not seem to be concentrating on the Vicarage Pipe. Instead, Nightwalker found himself looking at the tail end of the young tom.
“This is not a very pleasant view, Tumble,” Nightwalker growled.
“Sorry, Nightwalker,” Tumblebrutus said, but he did not turn around. “But, I think you’d better come see this.”
Intrigued, the Black Guardian eased his muscular bulk alongside the young Tom. Tumble pointed upward, and Nightwalker followed the direction. From this location, one could see the pile of cars that first Munkustrap, and then Quaxo, used as the main Sentinel outpost. Sitting at the edge of the car’s hood at the top of the pile was a cat in Silver and Black.
“What in the Third Basement is Munkustrap doing up there?”
“I don’t know, but he showed up around noon. He’s been there ever since.”
“Where’s Quaxo?”
“I haven’t seen him.”
“What about the morning?”
“Demeter was up there.”
“Let me get this straight. You’re telling me the First Queen was up there at dawn and our Leader has been there since noon?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, if that doesn’t beat all,” swore Nightwalker. “I never thought I’d see the day that Quaxo didn’t perform his duty.”
“Well, he has been looking a tad tired lately.”
“Yeah,” snickered Nightwalker. “I can bet I know why, too.”
Tumblebrutus heard the undercurrents of the reply, and looked askance at the Guardian. “You’re not saying that he,… I mean, that he and,… no.”
“Wait until you find that special Queen and she tells you she’s yours,” Nightwalker said, looking at Munkustrap. “You’ll understand it then.”
With his ears flat from embarrassment, Tumblebrutus still had a hard time visualizing Quaxo courting, much less mating. “Did you ever have a Mate?”
Nightwalker shook his head. “Not the way Munkustrap or Quaxo does, or the Conjurer. Even you. You’ll probably find someone and be the proper Mate a lot better than I ever was. What you saw the other night? Now that’s the way to have a Jellicle Mate. No, I never did have a Mate in that manner. I was given a female to be my Mate. There was no love or flowers or nothing. I came back to my place and found this poor young Queen there, scared half to death. The Boss said that she was to service me whenever I needed it. That’s what being with the Boss was like. Well, I knew she didn’t really want to be my Mate, but I also knew she had to be there. If the Boss tells you to do something, you did it. So, we made a truce. We made it looklike everything was cool.” Nightwalker did not look at Tumble at all, but kept his eyes on the Silver Tabby on the cars. “No, I would’ve given just about anything to have had a proper Mate, just like Munkus or Quaxo.”
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The Jellicle Chronicles - Year Two
FanfictionThis is the second year out of fifteen years. I did NOT write this (I wish I did), but I wanted to have all the stories in a place that was easier to access. This story was written by Dennis Callin, and pictures were made by Anna-Karin Larsson and...
