The Jellicle Chronicles - Year Six

Pawprints

 “Hey, Shadow.” 

      The huge black Enforcer stopped, and glanced back at the more junior Enforcer. They were patrolling a loading dock area near a set of little used tracks, and the time had been relatively boring. Shadow was starting to only half-look at the stacks of crates and boxes and other paraphernalia that sat on the docks, waiting for trains that might never come. Some of the crates had been sitting here for at least a couple of years. Fairfax Shipping must have gone out of business, and no one has bothered to find their entire inventory. 'More likely,' Shadow had snorted, 'they just don’t care.' His mood had gone downhill from there. 

      Right now, any distraction was welcome, so Shadow took a grain of interest in whatever his subordinate found. Styx was looking down at the tracks just ahead of them. 

      “What is it?” 

      “Will you look at that!” 

      Shadow went closer to the lip of the loading dock. In front of him, he could see a longhaired Scarlet Queen, traveling alone. She had black tabby striping and a white tail tip. When she stumbled on the uneven ties, they could see her gloves went black to gray to white. Her figure was almost too perfect. Even Shadow had to appreciate the sight. 

      “I’d sure like to entertain that dame for a while.” 

      “Let’s not get your hopes up too high just yet.” Shadow squinted at the Queen. Was she a Queen? “There’s something about that broad.” 

      “Come on, Shadow. Just a little bit of fun…” 

      “Styx? You want to tell the Boss about the broad? Let’s just pick her up and see what the Boss wants us to do with her.” 

      “Okay, okay. As you say, Shadow. But if I lose out on a piece like her…” 

      “Yeah, I’ll see that you’ll get my next Queen ration. Come on.” 

      Both Enforcers went inward on the loading dock, and ran ahead of the struggling Queen. Shadow knew they could outdistance her easily. She was tired and probably weak. Hopefully, she would not be any problem. 

      When they jumped down on the tracks in front of her, the only thing she did was stop walking forward. Shadow watched her head rise, and saw her face. Princess. Definitely not quite adult yet, but she would be soon. She stood and swayed. No, she would not offer any resistance. Still, there was something remotely familiar about her. Her emerald green eyes tried to focus on him. 

      “You’re … not … him…” 

      The green eyes rolled upward, and Shadow caught her as she fell forward. She was thin under the long fur, but even that brief bit of contact told him she would have been something. Yeah, he thought, Styx knew how to pick them all right. 

      “I wonder what she meant by that?” 

      “Styx? If you want that answer, help me get her back to the main office.” 

      Between them, they placed the Princess into a “fireman’s carry.” Shadow could not help but notice that Styx handled the unconscious female more than was necessary, but he kept quiet. 'Let him get his jollies,' he thought. But, even he had to admit the female felt pretty good. If the Boss allowed it, he definitely would want first dibs. He doubted seriously that his claim would be permitted, being fourth in the chain of command. Damn Lucifer probably would get her before anyone. By the time he got a hold of her, she probably would not any better than this.