The Jellicle Chronicles - Year Four

Homeless

Several Jellicles could tell you that the world can be a bitter place to live. Several of the Tribe began life as strays, or unwanted “pets.” The Young Toms and Queens were almost all abandoned kittens, who were instead raised by Skimbleshanks and Jellylorum. Several of the adults were castaways, who first were snatched up by Macavity, and then fled to the relative safety of the Yard. A few adults came to the Yard after spending a rough time outside, foraging in refuse worse than junkyards. Only a few of the Jellicles knew the happiness of a Human home. Therefore, only the Yard Jellicles knew what drove a Human to seek refuge inside the Yard one day. 

      Quaxo, of course, spotted the Human first. From his perch on top of the pile of wrecked automobiles, the Black and White Sentinel spotted movement at the gate near the Yard Office. Growler did not scent him. Sleeping in her house, the Pollicle teenager was downwind when the stranger slipped inside the Yard. Brutus was inside the Post at the Railway Pipe, and did not know of the Human intruder. So, no one but Quaxo knew about him at first. 

      Now in cat-form, Quaxo had a tougher time making it down the pile of cars, but that did not stop him. He had to keep track of the Human, and see where the intruder was going. Then, once he was down, and had the Human in sight, he had to keep from being seen. Growling in his throat, the Sentinel came out into the main “street” in the Yard. The Human was looking around, but not really for a large black and white junkyard cat. Quaxo now had a better chance of seeing where the Human was going. 

      Where would a Human fit? None of the lairs would work because they were spacious only to Jellicles. The oven was big for a Jellicle, but would be too confining for a Human. He might be able to move some of the boxes aside and find a spot under the tables near the tire. Then, nearby, there was… 

      The CAR! Quaxo now put on the speed. By going up the back way, he could beat the Human coming around the corner. He had to get the Young Adult group out of the back seat! He charged up the boxes stacked up against the side of the car, and ran across the roof. Some of the car’s windows were broken, but the holes were too jagged to go through. The best way in and out of the old car was the hole in the floorboard. Quaxo launched off the roof and caromed off the post of a bed frame to the ground. Charging under the car, he popped up through the hole and onto the front seat. 

      “Get out, NOW!” Quaxo reared up to look over the front seat. Exotica and Alonzo were in the front seat, and they did not question the Sentinel. 

      “All of you get out! Move it!” 

      Tumblebrutus shoved legs and tails out of the way, freeing himself and Electra quickly. Quaxo moved aside as Electra went over and out first, followed closely behind by Tumblebrutus. Etcetera did not understand, but Asparagus told her to go and they would talk about it later. The White Tabby Queen went out followed by Gus. Last but not least, Pouncival and Jemmina cleared the back seat just as the Human tried to look into the back window. Quaxo ducked down and dove through the hole. 

      “What’s going on, Sentinel?” Tumblebrutus was waiting for Quaxo, and stopped him from going out from under the car. The Human’s feet were just a little ways away. 

      “Human intruder. He came in this morning, and looked as though he did not want to be seen by the Yard Human.” 

      “What’s he doing?” Asparagus was trying to look out from under the car. 

      “I do not know, but I did correctly surmise he would look for shelter here. This is the only place that would be large enough for a Human.” 

      “Cettie, get down!” 

      Pouncival pulled the White Tabby Queen down and away from the floorboard hole. Jemmina covered Cettie’s mouth as she started to protest.