The Jellicle Chronicles - Year Six

How Green Is My Junkyard?

** We have a visitor… ** 

      Coricopat looked up from his table, his yellow eyes glowing from the power he was invoking. With a slight gesture of his paw, he dismissed the power, and came over to his Mate. Looking over her shoulder, he saw that she was water-scrying. The water was in a silver bowl that might have been from a tea service at one time. The exterior had been damaged, but the interior was bright and shiny. The clear liquid inside had been gathered at night when the moon shone on the water. Now, the darkness of the bowl showed a figure moving outside the Yard. 

      Carefully, Coricopat made contact with her shoulders, completing a link between him and his Mate. Now, their souls combined into one, he could share what she saw and felt, hear and see. 

      ** She is troubled, sick with fear and loathing… ** Coricopat commented as he allowed the sensations to touch him. 

      ** Look where she is, my All… She cannot remain there. Not with Prometheus in his present state. He would kill her… ** 

      Coricopat nodded mentally. The Scarlet Princess Galatea sat by the small stack of flattened stones in the vacant field. Her paw traced the outer section of the small shrine to Rhysant, the young Warlock’s mother. Totally oblivious to outside stimuli, she would not hear anyone’s approach, much less offer resistance or defense. 

      ** Let Nightchaser bring her to us. ** 

      Tantomile smiled as she thought of her son. ** Nightchaser? We have need of you, dearest… ** 

      Moments later, a shadow appeared in the lair of the Dark Twins - green eyes blinking. *** Yes, Mother? *** 

      ** Do you see Galatea? ** 

      *** Yes. She must not stay there! *** 

      ** Bring her to us. ** 

      The shadow did not complain or question, but simply faded into nothingness.

      Spring was unusually good this year, or so the Yard citizens thought. Everywhere they went, Jellicles saw the Herb Gardens verdant with plants and flowers. A while back, Jellylorum, Jennyanydots and Tailkinker has taken herbs from the fields, where they had grown wild, and transplanted them in special places of the Yard. Under glass pieces and plastic sheeting, the “hothouses” allowed the plants to survive the winters. As such, the Jellicle Tribe always had fresh herbs and food plants to augment their diets. On cold nights, Jellylorum and Jennyanydots even made warm broths with the help of a “stove” made up of bricks and a flat slab of iron. 

      However, Spring had a helper this year - a cheerful Silver-Gray Tabby Princess. Melinshade would visit each of the “gardens” and tend the plants in the hothouses. She had found a small watering can, probably used for houseplants, and thrown out because the handle was bent. She had laughed lightly when Quaxo and Shadowdancer had put the handle right again, and had kissed each of them on the cheek for it. With the watering can, she would water the plants, and then sit and use her claws as gardening tools. 

      Her paws seemed to constantly be stained with the soil lately. Melinshade would search out the weeds, discard them, and then touch the plants. The Land knew Melinshade, and harkened to her. Her touch and merry moods always affected the plants. Flowers would blossom, fruit would ripen, and leaves would appear when she caressed a plant or bush. When she pruned the plants and bushes, the cuts would seal and buds would begin to sprout. 

      She loved the plants and flowers. Her Mother had once called her, “Lifegiver,” after seeing her do what she was doing now. A couple of times, lying with Augustus in the sun, she had dreams of dancing in the field, and flowers would magically appear wherever she danced. When she awoke, she was actually lying in a bed of grass and flowers. Melinshade giggled as she thought of that. She remembered one time so well.