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'Plato? Come 'ere,' Etcetera called him over from fluffing Victoria's pillow.
'What?' he asled, reluctant to leave her side.
'Just come here.' Plato looked up at Mistoffelees, who motioned for him to go. Plato took one more glance at the white Queen and joined Etcetera outside.
Misto looked down at Victoria after Plato left and stroked her face.
'Get better, sweet princess,' He whispered softly.
'Plato smiled as he looked around for Etcetera.
'Etcety...where'd ya go?' his hear swiveled when he heard giggling behind him. He turned and saw a white ear sticking out from under some cardboard. He tip-toed closer and snatched the cardboard off her. She screamed joyfully and jumped onto him. He fell on his back, with the white tabbied kitten still latched around him. The two laughed together, forgetting about Victoria. Then, Plato rolled Etcetera on her side, licked Etcetera's cheek and pinned her down.
'Now, tell me what it is you wanted.' He stared deep into her brown eyes. She freed one paw and covered her motuh to stop from laughing. But she still said nothing. Plato narrowed his eyes at her.
'C'mon, now you've made me curious.' Etcetera smiled and rolled.
'Fine.'
She wriggled out fromunder his grasp and crawled behind slabs of caordboard, which she was lying under before. Plato sat and waited, until the kitten backed out and turned around. He smiled when he saw her paw grasping a blue flower.
'It's the first flower in the Junkyard since they last went away.' She batted her eyelashes. 'I found it for you.' She extended her arm, holding the flower inches away from his nose. He smiled wider, took the blue plant from her and inhaled.
'Thanks, Etcety.' He took his gaze from the flower to her face - anticipating something. He reached out, pulled Etcetera close and kissed delicately on the lips. Her arms flung into the air and wrapped around his neck. They seperated when they heard scuffing feet. Etcetera's grin intensified when she saw none other than Rum Tum Tugger, walking past them toward Munkustrap, Demeter and Bombalurina's favoured spot in the Yard. She snatched the slower from Plato and pranced toward the tiger-cat. She held out the flower as she ran.
'This is for you, Tugger.' Tugger, who was surprised by the kitten, took the flower a little bedazzled and looked past her at the hurt Plato. He smiled weakly.
'Uh, thanks, Etcetera. Why don't you go see if your friend, Victoria is okay.'
'OK!' She turned and ran obediantly back to the stove where the white princess was being tended to. Rum Tum Tugger sauntered over to Plato, holding out the blue flower.
'I believe this originally belonged to you.' Plato half grinned and execpted, but said nothing.
'The Rum Tum Tugger continued to his destination. He curled down beside Bombalurina, pretending to cuddle. She smiled, half asleep and kneaded his arm.
Then, Tugger butted her with his hip, causing her to fall of the large box. Munkustrap and Demy awoke, blinking tiredly, but laughed when they saw the Sating Queen lying perturbed on the ground. Munk turned his head, looked at the Tugger and shook his head sarcastically, though he had thought it was funny himself.
'You're gonna regret that, bud.' Bombalurina curled up her nose, baring her teeth playfully. She lept onto the box beside the tiger-cat. She landed surprisingly close, causing the conceited Tom to fall backwards. He kept his balance, however, and jumped back at her. She swiped at him with her black paw. He grabbed and pulled her around underneath him.
'I will, will I?' He leaned in and kissed her. She let her paws drp to the ground. The Silver Tabby, who had been enjoying watching the two threatening each other with Demeter, stood and interupted them when he saw theur lips meet.
Putting those two together was disasterous. Both were highly conceited and too proud to show they liked one another. Even after hearing about Pouncival (who she had become closer with at the last Jellicle Ball) and Fombulabri, the flirtatious queen didn't change one bit. She didn't care about THOSE two, but she didn't particularly like the black Tabby. Fombulabri was beginning to take her place as the Junkyard Harlot. Tugger, on the other hand, didn't mind having yet another princess swooning over him (or so he thought). However, every Jellicle in the tribe knew that the tigered Tom and Scarlet Queen would end up back in each other's arms. Munkustrap didn't like this idea at all. He loved Demeter with all his heart, but he had feelings for Bomby that he could not deny. Especially since they shared a kitten - Jemima.
Bombalurina smiled at the Silver Tabby, then back at Rum Tum Tugger, then back again.
'Don't get jealous now, Munk.' Demeter cleared her throat and stood. Only she was allowed to call him by that name, and her sister knew that.
'I'm not jealous,' He put his arm around the rust coloured Queen. 'I already have someone to keep me warm.' Bombalurina made a face in disgust and pushed Rum Tum Tugger away from her.
'That was not my intention.' Tugger glowered at her comment, but instantly forgot about it. The four sat back down and relaxed in each others arms.
Etcetera rest her chin on Victoria's shoulder, waiting for her to wake up. She lifted her head back up to look at the Conjurer.
'Misto, are you sure you can't wake her up?' Mistoffelees rolled his eyes.
'Yes. I did heal her, but she needs to rest and heal completely on her own.' She thrusted her bottom lip outward, pouting, and set her head back down, The other two kittens that were there, anticipating their white friend waking up, each put a paw on Etcetera's shoulder for comfort. Jemima pulled her paw away first to scratch her ear. Her paw moved quickly up and down, trying deperately to relieve the itch she had. Eletera, seeing Jemima scratch, caused her to feel an itch on her oppisite arm. Etcetera laughed when the two finished at the same time. They were interupted from attacking the white tabby with mean looks, by Victoria groaning and shifting her weight. Misto immediatly turned from setting up food on a shelf to the White Queen. He waited motionless until her eyes fluttered and her brilliant blue pupils peeked through the lids. The three kittens screamed joyfully, but immediatly quieted when Misto put his paw to his lips. He leaned over the white kitten. He kissed her cheek lovingly and whispered in her ear.
'How are you feeling, sweet one?' She smiled up at the Tuxedo coloured cat.
'I'm better now,' She flashed her infectious grin at him, but scowled when she realised the other kittens were around from their giggling. She looked into his eyes. The kittens all hugged the white princess, pushing the Conjurer aside. She laughed and hugged back at first, but recoiled when she felt a sharp pain inside her and coughed weakly. The kittens ceased from their embraces around her and all looked at her with sorrow and fear.
Misto jumped to her side and laid her down softly. She eventually stopped coughing and looked up at him.
'Why can't you heal me completely, Misto?' He felt as if he were about to cry when he saw a tear fall from one her crystal blue eyes, but he held back and rubbed Victoria's shoulder.
'My magic is not strong enough. There are parts of you that you have to heal naturally,' he replied. She sniffed and groaned in pain. She pulled the black cat close to her.
'Misto?'
'Yes?'
'Don't leave me, please?'
'Of course not.' He laid down beside her and cuddled close. Jemima, Etcetera and Electra, after exchanging sad, pitiful glances, curled around the two and fell asleep.
