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Tammy, Fombulabri and Blaizerette cowered in the corner, clutching each other close. They flinched and ducked as a can flew just above their heads, flattening against the wall. A red tattered cat turned, from the yellow and orange tabbied Queen he had just struggled with, to the trio. Blaize hissed as Macavity towered above them. He laughed at her, and began to walk closer but, to their surprise, a tuxedo coloured Tom jumped on his back. Macavity threw him aside and growled at him. Forgetting about the kitten and all the othe Jellicles he had managed to put into unconsciousness, he unsheathed his already long claws and walked towards Mistoffelees. Suddenly, Bri got a feeling of deja vu. She closed her eyes and the vision she had had months ago replayed in her mind. She opened eyes and to her horror, the surroundings were the same and the same frightened look was plastered on the Conjurers face. She screamed - not in fear, but in rage - and hurled herself at Macavity. He howled in confusion as she clawed and bit him blindly. Normally, this monsterous cat could have thrown any Jellicle of her size aside easily, but something was preventing him from being able to. Bri continued to claw and bite, now knowing what she was doing. Macavity's arms began to tightened close to his body, not being able to move. He fell to his knees, as if an invisable, inpenatrable rope bound him tightly. Finally, the black and orange Queen stopped to look. Macavity lay motionless, blue glowing light wrapped around him like a cord. Fombulabri jumped in pain and looked at her hands. Glowing bright red, they felt like they were on fire. Tears formed and rolled down her cheeks as the pain increased. Misto leapt over Macavity to her side and wrapped his arms around her. She pulls her attention from her hands to Mistoffelees. She tried not to smile, but was unsuccessful. Bri looked back at her hands, realizing that the pain had disipated. Misto let go of her and looked at Macavity.
'What? How?' He stuttered. Bri shook her head.
'I don't know.'
'What is going on? Let me GO!!' Macavity roared, struggling to get free, but his efforts were usless. Blaizerette and Tandilana stepped up from behind the Conjurer and Bri. Fombulabri put her arm over Blaize's shoulder and smiled at the red tabby.
'What are you smiling at, witch?!'
'It's just that you're not in any position to be making demands, Macavity.' She hissed through her teeth. Her smile faded when his widened across his face.
'I won't be stuck here forever. But if you release me immediatly, I promise to spare you and your mate.' He motioned towards Quaxo. Bri blushed. Then she straightened.
'How do I know you're telling the truth? Why would I trust you?' Macavity closed his eyes and thought for a moment. When he opened them the tuxedo coloured and black and orange Jellicles were embraced and their lips were pressed against each other. He rolled his eyes and moved slightly. To his surprise, his back leg thrusted forward and kicked Fombulabri, causing the two to seperate. misto hissed at Macavity and lightning burst from his paw into him. The Jellicle enemy groaned in pain. Tammy and Blaizerette giggled.
'Oh, you little bastard! Keep your magic paws off me!' Macavity grunted. 'Now, to answer your question...Go to the window. If the storm has disipated, I swear upon my powers - that you may take them from me (and it is magic that holds my oath, not me) - to leave your tribe alone for a while and not hold this against you.' He smiled at what he knew. 'I am very much more strong than you, you cannot challenge me.' Bri rolled her eyes. She knew as well as Misto that that storm wouldn't have have calmed down and that Macavity was just trying to trick them. She walked over with Mistoffelees to the window just to humour (or tease) the red tabby. Bri looked through the stained glass and her jaw dropped. The only thing that moved outside was a string hanging from an old light bulb. All else was still - including the wind.
'How...' She stopped and smiled back at Macavity. 'Well, well. Would look at that. The storm's all cleared up.' A look of disappointment and fury swept across his face. He roared and tried to move, but winced at the pain of the cords tightening around him.
'Oh, do they tighten when you struggle?' Fombulabri's voice was beginning to sound vicious.
'Uh...Bri?' Blaize didn't like the look on her twin's face.
'Blaize! He's our enemy. He swore through his magic that they belong to me now!' She held out her paw, knowing that his magic would enter it. Mistoffelees suddenly snapped to attention - he remembered something.
'Abri, no! You can't handle...' but it was too late. Red, firey light left Macavity's body and entered Bri's. Misto put his paws on her shoulders. trying to break the connexion, but was thrown back, along with Tandilana and Blaize, by a burst of energy that exceeded Bri.
Misto groaned in the corner but pushed himself up when he heard one of the two kittens whimpering. He saw Blaizerette already consoling Tandilana, who had fallen on a broken bottle. She cried out as the pain increased. The Conjurer leapt to her side and put his paws over her. The wound closed and Tammy ceased from crying. The three looked up and squinted at the blinding light that surrounded Fombulabri and Macavity. Misto blinked when the light expanded and brightened, then suddenly disappeared altogether.
'Bri!' Tammy and Blaize screamed in unison and leapt towards Fombulabri as the slumped to the ground. Misto slid to her also.
Macavity stood slowly on wobbly legs. Blaize hissed with disgust at him. He just chuckled in his throat.
'She just made a huge mistake - but it works for me...' He turned and bolted out of the car before Mistoffelees could even raise a finger. But he didn't care. He stroked Bri's mane back from her eyes as the other two kittens watched.
'What happened?' Munkustrap hobbled over to the group, holding his hurt head. 'Dem! Bomba!' He ran back to the rust and satin Queens before he could receive an answer. He shook them slightly, making sure they were okay. After he knew they were, he picked up Jemima and Sillus and stroked them. Bombalurina and Demeter followed and licked their daughters.
Misto smiled wide when he saw Fombulabri's eyes flutter, then open.
'Wha...what happened?'
'I'll explain later.' He whispered as if it would hurt her to do otherwise. Blaize and Tandilana giggled with delight and cuddled around Bri. She smiled at her friends, then looked back at the Conjurer. His face showed so much concern, and yet, fear. She put her arms around him and pulled him close.
'I love you, Quaxo. I always did.' She slid off him, laid back between the other two and closed her eyes. Misto stared blankly at her. *I love you, too* He thought to himself as a tear rolled down his cheek. Blaize lifted her head and looked at her sister.
'Is she all right?' She asked Misto. He nodded.
'She's just exhausted. Taking magic from another being takes a lot of energy.' Blaizerette smiled and replaced her head on Bri's side.
'So, what happened?' Bombalurina walked up beside the Conjurer.
'I'll explain later.' He slowly laid down next to Fombulabri and closed his eyes. Bombalurina rolled hers.
'I'm always the last to know.' She turned to see Munkustrap about to put his paw on her shoulder. He paused, but still placed it where he intended.
'He'll tell us when he's ready. I trust Mistoffelees.' He smiled and placed a kiss on her cheek to make her feel better. 'But let's check if everyone is alright.' She nodded and walked over to Rumpelteazer, who was strewn across the dash-board, while Munkustrap went in the oppisite direction toward Mungojerrie.
'Is he okay?' Demeter, who was holding Jemima and Sillus close to the orange thief, asked conserningly. The silver tabby shook Mungo and waited. Mungo blinked and sat up. His paw went straight to his head.
'Bloody 'ell! Me 'ead 'erts like a bleedin' Pollicle!' Demeter laughed through her nose.
'I guess so.' Mungo turned to glare at her, but Bomby trying to wake Rumpelteazer caught his eye. He forgot about his 'bloody' headache and bounded toward the two. Bombalurina, jumped when he landed ont he dash-board in front of her.
'Geez, Grovian!' Mungo ignored her comment about his place of residence, and shook his mate. 'You don't think that's what I've been doing?' She was always sarcastic to the two thieves, especially Mungojerrie.
'Listen, twirp, I'm just tryin' ta see if she's a'right. So could ye please shu' up for a minute?!' The satin Queen just stared blankly at him. No one had ever yelled at her, let alone told her to shut up. She turned to Munkustrap and Demeter, waiting for one of them to tell him off, but Munkustrap just shrugged. She didn't like Teazer very much. Why was rhis illiturate thief more imprtant than her? She moaned, pouted and stomped over to join her sister and the silver tabby. Demy patted her on the shoulder and held her close.
Mungojerrie became frantic when his yellow Queen wasn't waking up - or breathing. Tears welled in his eyes. He turned to the trio, but they were occupied. He turned back to Rumpelteazer. He sniffed, leaned in and kissed her. He was surprised when he felt her arms reached up and wrap around him. When they separated, he stared into her brown eyes.
'Well 'ello ther 'andsome.'
'Did ye do t'at on purpous?' Teazer smiled.
'So ye would kiss me? Of course!' Mungo shoved her shoulder and stood up. She laughed and then rubbed both her shoulders. ''Tis not cold 'nemore.' She stood up and looked outside.
'What?' Mungojerrie didn't need and answer when he saw that most of the snow had melted and a few of the kittens were playing outside.
'Mungo! Look!' She squealed with excitement. He nodded, tehn watched as Rumpelteazer zipped out the opening and appeared on the other side, racing towards the kittens. Mungojerries laughed when he saw her pummel one from behind. Then he turned, exited and followed her.
'Grrr! You're gonna get it, now!' Etcetera batted at Rumpelteazer's ear playfully after the surprise attack. Electra joined in from giggling on the side and leapt onto the orange and yellow tabbied queen, biting her playfully. Etcetera rolled on her back, laughing uncontrollably (as kittens often do) when Teazer yelped in fake pain. She turned to face her opponent, but Mungojerried stood in from of her. She was about to shove him out of the way to look for Electra, but Etcetera jumped on his back. He jumped with surprise, and tried to grab the white tabby off his back, so Teazer decided to join in. She leapt on him and he fell on his side. Etcetera jumped off before he hit and returned on his stomache. Before long, the three were rolling around and became a white, black, yellow and orange ball of unrecognisable fur. Etcetera stopped the rolling when she heard her friend hiss.
'Elec?' She trotted over to Electra with the two thieves trailing behind. Electra stood behind a bag of cans, with the White Queen.
'Vicky? Elec? What is it?' The two didn't take their protective gaze off the object. Victoria even curved her back, and let off a low growl. They did not answer. Etcetera was about to shake Electra to get her attention, but Mungo inturupted.
'Um, I think t'at...' He pointed to a Pittbull, covered in blood, sticking his nose between an old stove and bike across the way. 'I's what they're lookin' at.' Rumpelteazer and Etcetera both gasped and jumped into Mungo's arms. He held the closer as the Pollicles nose led him close to the five Jellicles. He let go of them and pulled Victoria and Electra behind him as the Pollicle neared the two frozen kittens. The dog growled as he picked up the scent. He came around a corner and yelped in pain as his nose felt like fire. He recovered quickly and snapped at Mungojerrie;s paw, which had swiped at him. The orange Tom tumbled back in time, but the beast was enraged now. He shoved his way to the frightened, mewing kittens. Mungo tried to fight him off, but he managed to grab a hold of Victoria's leg. The White kitten screamed, cried and stuggled, but the Pollicle was at least three times her size.
'Mungojerrie! Please, help me!' Tears streamed down the kittens face, leaving a trail against her pure white coat, as the bloody pittbull dragged her out into the clearing. Mungo growled, and tried to leap after her, but his face contorted in fear that his paw was stuck under something. Teazer tried to pull whatever it was off, but she was not strong enough.
Victoria lay without strength under the grasp of the dog. She used all the strenght in her fighting helplessly with the Pollicle's hold.
He finally stopped and set the kitten down. She lay completely still, playing dead, hoping he was leaving. She felt as if her stomache collapsed when the weight of both the beasts' paws laid on her her side. *Why isn't Mungojerrie saving me?* She sobbed as she felt the monsterous dog bite down softly into her fur. He then retracted, as if the taste was not to his liking, but then growled deep in his throat.
'Victoria?!' She opened her eyes as hope filled her, but all she could see was red. 'Vicky!' She knew that whoever it was saw the Pollicle getting ready for a meal. She felt weight lift off of her as hissing, barking, clawing and finally whimpering surrounded her. The whimpers faded in the distance as she felt weight again, but this time, it was gentle. 'Vicky,' Two familiar voices made her relax. Plato and Mistoffelees. She laid her head down and let them tend to her as everything around her went dark.
