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Dark figures circled around the sleeping kittens. Closer they came until the leader, a handsome gray tabby, leaned over Etceterina. “She will do…yes, she will do nicely.” He drew a long, curved dagger. The blade was as long as the Toms forearm, and the hilt was encrusted with deep red rubies, which shone blood red in the pale moonlight. The silver blade drew close to Etceterina’s neck, just inches above, the cold steel presses against her skin, starting awake she managed one short scream before the blade slashed her throat.
With a start Etceterina woke up, her hand went immediately to her throat, no blood. No cut. She looked around her, no creepy figures. The fog had lifted and now let the moonlight shine through. She looked back down at her calico friend, and put a paw on her forehead. “Breathe!” Just as the other times, nothing happened. She was still puzzled over how she had managed to produce white fire from her paws. She still wondered what she did to make it work; she still had no idea what it was she did.
A gentle breeze began to blow all of the sudden, and then just as quickly as it had come, it vanished. Slowly she turned around and saw a large, shaggy, black Tom. He very much reminded her of the Jellicle Leader, Old Deuteronomy, though this tom was much bigger in size, and looked much older. “You have heard, and you have seen. You must come to us at Lythielm. Beware of those who seek to use you. Trust little…Vyna famm ouihk uha.”
“Wait…do not leave yet…” had she just understood him? “Who are you? How can I go anywhere, I can’t leave Jemy!”
The tom just smiled warmly down on her and pointed east, “Go…and you shall find.” Then without warning he just disappeared leaving Etceterina distraught. She sat staring where the old cat had formerly been in a daze, *What am I supposed to do now? Jemy’s…no I won’t think of that…what am I going to do…* A tear trickled down her face and dripped off her chin. More tears come, making two trails down her face, and once again she buried her face in her best friends dead body.
“You really shouldn’t be crying, yah know? There’s nothing to be sad about.”
Etceterina snapped her head up and looked for the owner of the voice. Despite her tear stained face, her eyes shone bright with furry. Her fire filled gaze immediately fell on a tall Tom. He did not look past 3 Jellicle Moons, he was black as night and had red patches blending with his black fur. He stood by a large pine tree looking down at her with a small smile on his face. A smile! Of all things. “What?!” Etceterina sputtered. She tried to say more but nothing came out, all she could do was open and close her mouth, like a fish.
“Oh! Stop sucking air! You look ridiculous.” He laughed, “All I meant was all you need to do was use your magic to heal her, well she won’t be good as knew, but she’ll be in a lot better shape then she is now…she’ll be alive. And her vital organs won’t be exposed for the rest of us to see! Really, I mean come on now, you could have at least covered her up, you may want to see her stomach but I’m pretty sure you don’t want to see the contents of mine all over you, now do ya?” As of now, the black tom was kneeling over both Jemteazer and Etceterina. Etcety had stood up to lash out at the stranger, but he had somehow gotten past without her seeing. “Man, it worse than I thought…” he said to himself under his breath, “I don’t know if I can do this boss…well here it goes anyway.” He put his paws over the exposed stomach and closed his eyes. His lips were moving silently, and the base of his ears became damp with sweat. Etceterina was going to firmly tell him that she didn’t need his help, and that she can very well take care of herself, and anybody else who needed her, but was stopped by the faint rainbow of colour coming from his hand. The light looked like it had been weaved together to make a brilliant blanket of yellow, blue, red, green, and white. The mini blanket settled on Jemteazers abdomen and slowly the torn skin began to mend together until the wound was closed altogether, and the only trace of the horrible gash was her blood matted fur. He took his black paws and placed them on her chest, pushing down slightly and whispering the word ‘breathe’, causing Jemteazer to take a deep, quivering breath, as if she had been holding her breath the whole time. “She’s still in pretty bad shape, we need to get her to Lanucurk soon.” he turned to look Etceterina in the face, and caught her awed expression, “What?”
“Wh-what did you just do? Is she alive?” Etceterina knelt down beside the two cats, nervously she brought her hand forward to touch Jemteazers forehead. It was warmer, though it still felt cold.
“What? The magic? Oh that was nothing compared to…” The male cat turned slowly and looked down at Etcety. He finally understood.
“Nothing compared to what…or who.?” Etcety was intrigued, she didn’t like secretes, unless it was she who was keeping them.
“You don’t know do you?”
“Well I won’t know unless you tell me.” She said facetiously.
“You…well I guess you’ll find out sooner or later…you have magic.” Startled Etceterina looked up at the male and found herself staring into the most beautiful green eyes she had ever seen. Suddenly she was very aware that a handsome Tom was standing in front of her and that she was on the ground, of course the announcement that she had magic was still fresh in her memory.
“You can’t be serious, I can’t have magic. I’m just…me.” Etcety added an innocent gleam to her eyes. “But I can see how a strong, handsome Tom like you could have magic.” Somehow Etceterina had moved herself closer to him and though she only reached to his chest, she was staring deeply into his eyes. Then he laughed. A deep, rich laugh. She flinched back, “What are you laughing at?”
“You.”
“Me?!” Etceterina was a little put off now. “Why are you laughing at me?”
“Oh, don’t be offended…its just I’ve never had someone as small as you make a move on me before.” He was no longer laughing, though he had a look on his face that hinted he was still amused.
Etceterina was offended, “I am NOT small! And I was NOT coming on to you!” Etcety crossed her arms and leaned into her right leg, pushing her hip out.
“Oh come on…forget it.” Jemteazer moaned quietly, directing their attention on her. “We need to get her to Lanucurk.” He pushed past Etceterina and picked up Jemteazer. “Come on.”
“Whoa…don’t I even get to know your name? I mean if we’re going to travel all the way to Lanucurk together…My name is Etceterina-you can call me Etcety- from the Jellicle Tribe”
He looked at her and hesitated. “My name is Ravien-from the Chilean Tribe.” He whispered the last part, but not low enough. Etceterina’s eyes became wide and her breathing became faster. “Lets go.” He started off into the thick forest of trees. Etceterina shook herself and ran after him.
