The Jellicle Chronicles - Year Two

The Goodnight Choice

In May, at the full moon closest to Beltane, Jellicles at the Yard celebrated the high point of their calendar - the Jellicle Ball. All the Jellicle Tribe would attend this special Festival, and rejoice with each other. Normally, the various Jellicles, especially those who had a special name or history, would strut their stuff, and then everyone would seek the “Jellicle Choice.” Bestowed upon by the Jellicle Leader, the Chosen One would be taken up into the Heavyside Layer to view the “Wonders” of the Jellicle afterlife. Then, eventually, they would return, and take up a new “Jellicle Life.” Last year, Old Deuteronomy was given the choice, and Munkustrap became the Jellicle Leader. 

      This year, the celebration would be thin and fragile. One only had to be around certain individuals to know the “why” of this atmosphere. In the Infirmary, an overturned bathtub that also served as the Nursery for births and babysitting, two individuals remained. Jennyanydots floated near the Brown Tabby Queen, Scatterburr, as she prepared to give birth. On the average, the Jellicle Cat had a gestation period of nearly five months, and gave birth to one or two offspring. Having mated with Quaxo in December, the Brown Tabby was definitely ready. Nearby, Jellylorum sat beside the still form of the other occupant. His head covered with bandages, the Black Guardian, Nightwalker, hovered in the gray area between life and death. Periodically, he would awaken briefly, try to communicate with whomever was there, and then fall back into the twilight. Jellylorum did her best, but she did not have the Power of her ancestors. 

      The most affected Jellicle by the two guests of the Infirmary was also the biggest - Quaxo. The huge Black and White Tom was now the third of the male Jellicles who insisted to be with his Mate when she gave birth. In this case, Jenny did not mind this Tom as she had Mistoffelees or Munkustrap. This kitten was Scatterburr’s first, and she was very agitated. Without Quaxo’s calming influence, Jenny would have hog-tied the Brown Tabby. Instead, Quaxo’s huge paws calmed his Mate by holding hers, or stroking her cheeks or shoulders or throat. Periodically, he would lower his head, and whisper in her ear, or kiss her lightly on the mouth. Being that close to the big Tom and his Mate, Jenny could not help but feel a bit jealous. She wished Skimble would be that attentive to her at times. 

      The trouble did not present itself in Quaxo until the Queen was involved in a relaxation period. Then, one had to look into the Tom’s eyes. Quaxo knew who lay next to them, and his presence and his condition haunted him. Nightwalker was the heaviest casualty of the “Pollicle Night,” as the Yard denizens called it. To save Scatterburr and her unborn kitten, Nightwalker had sacrificed himself by delaying the Pollicles trying to storm the Yard. Quaxo felt partially responsible, and so did his Mate. 

      Two other individuals sat with the Brown Tabby as she neared to presenting the Tribe with its fifth kitten. As Scatterburr had done for her before, Victoria sat beside her friend, holding a paw when Quaxo did not have it. Behind the White Queen, Mr. Mistoffelees held his Mate, and let Jenny know he was available should any complication arise. The Conjurer also was very much aware of the injured Guardian, and wished he could have done more. It was the nature of Nightwalker’s injuries that haunted him. Extremely roughed up by the Pollicles, it was a miracle or just the sheer tenacity on Nightwalker’s part that he was even alive when they found him. Two dead Pollicles lay before him, giving evidence that he did not go down without a battle. But, the numbers had beaten him in the end. Part of his brain and a portion of his skull had been damaged beyond the Conjurer’s healing magic. Part of his right paw was missing, and good-sized chunk of his right arm was gone as well. Nightwalker would never really be whole again. 

      Others would have liked to have stood vigil over the huge Guardian. If duty had not called, Munkustrap and Brutus would have been here. Until the crisis was over, one way or the other, Munkustrap, Demeter and Bombalurina shared the Sentinel duties. Quaxo insisted on returning to his lesser duty of the Vicarage Guardianship. Right now, Alonzo and Tumblebrutus stood guard at the Pipe.