The Fighter Part Four

The Fighter - Part Four

The clearing before the enormous tire lying on its side was already filling when the trio arrived. Bombalurina led eagerly, Demeter sticking close to her side, with Munkustrap remaining in the rear. Her keen eyes took in the situation at a glance.

"This way," she said, leading the two with a quick dash. "There's a car trunk over here with a good view. In the back, but y'kin still hear."

A dozing Cassandra had already made herself comfortable on the black metal still warm from the day's sun, and regarded the others with little concern as they settled down. Bombalurina was the first, with Demeter sitting close at her flank and Munkustrap taking a spot slightly behind. There was a half-second warning cry before the scruffy tom kitten Plato came diving from nowhere and hastily made his seat on a shoebox over Munkustrap's head. Deuteronomy was already seated on the tire, the cats one by one falling quiet as he slowly spoke.

"In the beginning," Deuteronomy began, gazing lovingly at the adoring kittens crouched around him, especially the tiny black and white young one sprawled over his haunch. "All cats were Jellicles."

"Heard it!" Tugger's voice snapped from somewhere. Munkustrap shot a glare of daggers at the sound of the voice, followed by disapproving hisses from several others. Deuteronomy held up his enormous pad, calming the very wind with a wise majesty, and continued.

"In the beginning, all cats were Jellicles. We lived in harmony, away from humans. Our home was the deep green woods and meadows of Heaviside. Death was unknown to us, and deception and evil had no foothold in our paradise. The meadows were rich with crystal clear streams and soft grass, the woods full of the blessed Cat Plant on which we fed. In those days of old, we cats were not life-eaters as we are now. We sang with the birds, swam with the fish, danced with the squirrels, and let the mice creep over us freely as we slept in the sunlight. The nights were forever moonlit, providing the spirit for our songs and dances. Yes, quite accurately those were the days of paradise."

His eyes had risen to the sky as he spoke, reflecting the tiny lights of stars with a wistful air...as though he had been there, Demeter thought.

"What happened?" the tiny black and white kitten called Sillabub lifted her head from resting on Deuteronomy's flank. He smiled, bringing his worn old face down and patted her between the ears.

"My dear, somehow, some way, a tom was born among the Jellicle Cats with a black heart. His name has been long since lost, for it has been forbidden to speak it. His fur was blacker than the blackest night, the only mar being a set of three red claw marks on his flank."

Several cats hissed evilly below their breath. Demeter pressed her ears forward, trying to discern what they said, but was unable to. She heard Munkustrap shift behind her.

"This cat was the first of many to bear the Red Claw marks. At his birth, the moon disappeared and the night was cold. It was a foreboding, some said. Others said it was a blessing. He grew, and was indeed a handsome tom. He was a cat of many ideas...some brilliant, some dangerous. But the Devil Cat had--somehow--laid her claws on his heart, and it was he who brought the Jellicles' downfall.

The Dark One was sleeping among the green moss of the forest when he was approached by a mouse. As was the Jellicle custom, the mouse had no fear for the cat. It crept forward and nestled down in the warmth of the cat's belly fur. The Dark One's eyes slitted open, and saw the flicking tail of the mouse against him. With what we now know as a hunting cry, the Dark One sprang and pounced, capturing the mouse between his paws. The mouse struggled and cried out, pleading to the cat he thought was a friend.

'O Cat,' it cried. 'Why do you steal my freedom? I have never harmed you. Both our kinds have lived in peace forever.'

But the Dark One only laughed. 'Foolish rodent. I am a Jellicle Cat. You are a mouse. I am by far bigger, stronger, and faster than you are. Why should you then be equal to me? I am your superior, mouse, and I will not lower myself to allow you to climb up and down my legs any longer.'

'O Cat,' the mouse continued to plead. 'I have never heard such talk. Please, return my freedom and I will no longer trouble you.'

But the Dark One now felt a strange feeling. The mouse wriggling between his paws sent a sensation throughout him that he'd never known before. And he liked it. Grinning and showing his flat teeth, the cat hissed. 'I am finished talking to you, mouse. I am superior. I shall do as I please.'

And he killed the mouse. It was the first death in our paradise, and the first time any cat had ever tasted blood. The dizzying passion of the hunt and kill rose inside his heart, tainting it forever, and with gruesome relish he proceeded to eat the mouse. And so began our exile."

Deuteronomy stopped again, watching the wide-eyed, intent faces of the cats around him. "When the mouse's bones were found, smothered in the scent of blood, all cats, mice, squirrels, fish, and birds were shocked. 'Who has done this?' they demanded, looking to each other with the first suspicion and distrust. 'It was the squirrels!' rose the first cry. 'The mice have always envied their fine, furry tails.' The squirrels retaliated. 'No, it was the birds! They rival with the mice for food.' But the birds ruffled their feathers. 'No, it was the fish! They have gone beyond their taste for insects.' The fish, frightened by the sudden rise of anger, flashed their silver bellies and vanished into the water, never to return, nor to speak to those above water again. The mice, noses quivering in fury, raised their beady eyes to the Jellicles. 'It was the cats!' they cried. 'One among them is missing. Where is the one with fur of black?'

The Jellicles looked among themselves, and indeed the Dark One was no where to be found. 'Let us find him,' the cats agreed. 'He is intelligent. He should have a say.'

'No,' the mice squeaked. 'Death has been brought upon us. Never again will we trust any of your folk, Jellicle Cat, bird, squirrel, and fish. May you all perish!' And the mice scampered down into their underground burrows.

'The bringer of death must be found,' the cats insisted, undeterred. 'Let the mice cower in fear, but we want justice.' And so Jellicle Cat, squirrel, and bird began the search.

The Dark One had hidden himself in a tree, sleeping away the drunken state of content he'd fallen into after finishing the mouse. A crack from a branch nearby stirred him from his sleep, and he raised his head to see a squirrel perching near his nose. The squirrel flicked its bushy tail.

'The Jellicle Cats are searching for you,' it said. 'There has been death.'

The cat yawned and sat up. 'Death? How horrible. How, friend, did this tragedy come to pass?'

'The folk are not sure,' the squirrel answered. 'A mouse has been killed by another being. Of what, they do not know.'

'Could this being have been a Jellicle?'

'It is possible.'

'Could this being have been a squirrel?'

'That is also possible.'

The Dark One took a step back. 'Then how am I to know you are not the bringer of death? How am I to know you will not bring death upon me?'

Now the squirrel looked worried. 'I assure you, Jellicle Cat. It was not I.'

'But if death has been brought, then word of mouth is no longer valuable. Give me a sign of trust. Here, sit upon my shoulder.'

Wanting to prove himself innocent, the squirrel dashed up the cat's leg to perch on his shoulder, its whiskers quivering. 'Here I am, Jellicle. I have an open dive for your throat, and yet I do not. You see, I am not the bringer of death.'

'So you are not,' the cat nodded as the squirrel lowered to the branch. The first suspicion spread.

'I gave you my sign of trust,' the squirrel said. 'Now you give me yours. I will bear my neck, and you touch it with you nose. For me to trust you, you shall not bite.'

The squirrel bared its white throat, and the Dark One pushed his nose against it. The scent of the squirrel's fur and the throbbing of its vulnerable jugular vein so close was intoxicating to the Jellicle, and with a snap his jaws closed around the squirrel's neck. Squeaking in dismay, the squirrel struggled and flailed, gashing its tiny incisor teeth against the cat's nose. The cat dumbly released, and the squirrel backed away, eyes wide with fear. 'You are the bringer of death! You are the one, Jellicle!'

The Dark One rubbed ruefully at his muzzle, staring at the squirrel curiously. 'Argh, bushtail. You are harder to kill than the mouse. But it is all the more fun. My fangs could not hold you, they are too flat. If they were sharp, they could have severed your throat easily. You would be dead.'

The squirrel fled, but the Dark One had already gathered himself to pounce. His teeth closed around the squirrel's neck tightly. There was a crack as the Dark One jerked his jaws to the side, and the squirrel's neck was broken. Licking blood from his stained whiskers, the cat paused a moment to think. 'I could have killed you the first time had my teeth been sharp. But your teeth drew blood from my muzzle. If I were to have your teeth, I will not fail again.' And the Dark One robbed the squirrel of its sharp incisors, placing them as his own, then ate the squirrel. And so the Jellicle Cat had fangs.

The search continued into the evening. But the alliance between the folk was growing weak, for the body of the squirrel had been found.

'Now one of our folk is dead,' the squirrels screamed in outrage at the cats and birds. 'Which of your folk is responsible for stealing his teeth?'

The Jellicle Cats looked to the birds, and shook their heads. 'It could have been either. If we rally all our folk, which all we are lacking the Jellicle of Black Fur, we can discuss and see what is to be done.'

'No!' the squirrels cried. 'We will not risk any more of us to fill your treacherous bellies. May you all be banished!' And they disappeared into the trees. The Jellicle Cats and birds carried on the search.

The Dark One was now creeping through a meadow, pushing aside tall grass. Overhead, a bird of noise sighted him. 'Jellicle Cat! Jellicle Cat!' it cried, its black feathers gleaming as it circled lower. 'The folk are in need of your presence! Death has been brought upon us! Nevermore shall we live in safety! Nevermore!'

But the Dark One said nothing. His golden eyes were wide and mystified, watching the bird overhead circle lower and lower. He felt his legs tense.

Thinking the cat had not heard him, the bird flapped lower. 'Jellicle Cat! Be wary! The Jellicle and bird folk want to meet to discuss what is to be done. We must make sure death is banished. We want to make sure death will be nevermore! Nevermore!'

Still the Dark One was silent. His haunches crouched, preparing to pounce. The black bird of noise circled still lower, fluttering just above the cat's head. 'Jellicle Cat! Jellicle Cawww!'

With a sudden surge of strength, the Dark One leaped and extended his front paws, grabbing at the bird. But the cat's pads were soft and the bird's feathers smooth, and no grip could be found. The bird spun in dizzying circles, black feathers flying in every which direction. It slammed to the ground, crying in surprise. The cat bounded forward as the bird regained its feet, flapping desperately to get back onto the wind's back. The Dark One leaped again, once again reaching to grab the bird. But his soft pads slipped on the feathers, and with a savage kick the bird's long talons slashed the cat's arm, making the fur grow red. The cat growled and snarled in anger, and when the bird was nearly out of reach he leaped again, smacking the bird over the head and knocking it to the ground. When the bird looked up, the cat's yellow eyes were fixed on it, both his paws pinning the bird's wings to the ground. 'You are even harder to catch than the mouse and the squirrel. All the more fun.' And he killed the bird, then sat back to think. 'I tried thrice to grab the bird, but my grip was lost. However, your talons drew blood to my arm. Perhaps if I had the same talons, I could catch birds on the first try.' And before devouring the bird, the Dark One took the bird's talons and placed them in his own feet. And so, the first Jellicle Cat had claws.

Shortly after, the body of the dead bird was discovered, and--"

The serene silence that had been built up around the junkyard as Deuteronomy told his story was shattered by Tugger's droning self-made snores. The cats whirled to face him angrily.

"Tugger!" Munkustrap snarled and rose aggressively. "If you don't like the story, then get out of here. Some of us are trying to listen."

"Fine," Tugger flicked his mane in contempt and rose to his feet, strutting away with a flick of his tail. "I've got better things to do."

The cats watched him leave, one by one turning back to Deuteronomy. They were unsure whether or not he would continue. The feeling built up around them was gone, and would take time to be built up again. But Demeter was curious. "Go on," she whispered, which in the silence was well-heard. The ancient cat smiled.

"Shortly after, the body of the dead bird was found. The birds, already frightened by two former deaths, snapped at the cats angrily and flapped into the air, wasting no time in getting away from the Jellicles. 'Nevermore!' the cried in anger. 'Nevermore will we trust you Jellicle Cats! Nevermore! May you all suffer the same fate as your bringer of death!'

Now the Jellicle Cats were alone, and frightened. It was now clear to them the bringer of death was indeed of their kind, and they backed away warily from each other, glaring in suspicion. 'Which one of you is the bringer of death?' a cat snarled. The others reeled back. 'Us? Why do you speak of us? You could very well be the bringer of death, yet refuse to speak of it.' The bickering grew louder, until one booming voice rose over them all.

'Why do you quarrel among yourselves?' the Dark One made himself known by standing tall atop a rock, his golden eyes gazing regally down at them all. 'What has happened to our camaraderie?'

The cats were relieved to see him. 'There have been three deaths among the mice, squirrel, and bird folk. The fish have gone into the water and will not speak to us. The others have fled in fear for their lives. You, Jellicle of dark fur, are wise and intelligent. What do you say we should do?'

The Dark One smiled to himself, and leaped down among them. 'I say we need a leader. The cats have been too long a cooperative group. We have been abandoned by what we called our friends in this tragic time. I say that now we should rally ourselves together as a tribe, with a sole powerful leader, and take advantage of our superior abilities to rule over the fish, mice, squirrel, and bird folk. We have all the reason to rule.' He looked to the cats for their support, but was returned only nervous eyes. One with fur of white stood forward.

'What you speak of is odious,' he said. 'The Everlasting Cat has willed it that we live in peace with the other folk. One among us has brought death to our friends. And here you talk of superiority and conquering...and of leadership. You are speaking of defying the very laws by which we have lived by since time began. How can you suggest such?'

The Dark One snarled at the white. 'I suggest what I know is right, cat. I have witnessed what our kind is capable of. See!' And the Dark One spread forth his ivory-white claws and showed his needle fangs. The Jellicles gasped. 'I am the bringer of death!' the Dark One yeowled, bristling. 'I am more powerful than all of you! Any who do not follow my words shall have death brought upon them!' And without another hesitance he shot forward and killed the cat of white fur. The others scattered in all directions, hiding among the forest and meadows in fear of the killer. The Dark One relished it, and laughed insanely, giving chase. The Jellicles were defenseless against him. Toms, queens, and kittens all fell before his savage claws and fangs. They were afraid, and none dared to fight him.

But the mournful cries of the Jellicles as they were slaughtered rose into the sky, gathering in a dark cloud of sorrow. The Everlasting Cat was drawn from her nightly run across the sky by the cries of her people. Ears and whiskers pressed forward in curiosity, she peeked down into the woods, and saw the blood and destruction that littered the forest...not only cats, but of mice, and squirrels, and birds, and fish. A growl rose in her throat, and she leaped to the ground, tearing off into the forest to find the bringer of death. Her glistening white fur shone with divine golden light, her deep blue eyes searching every inch of the dark, tainted woods. She came upon the Dark One, belly full of slaughtered flesh, sleeping. Raising an enormous white paw, she pinned the cat down as he woke and started.

'Everlasting Cat,' the Dark One spoke calmly. 'Is there something you wish to discuss with me?'

The divine feline only snarled. 'Do not insult my intelligence, Jellicle. You have tasted the flesh of many, against the laws I set for you and your kind. The Cat Plant is enough to feed you all, and the friendship between you and the other folk is invaluable. To break that is the turn yourself against the Jellicle beliefs...against me. I should kill you.'

'Then why do you not?' The Dark One flexed his white claws, stained a crimson red, in contempt to his true superior.

'Your actions have tainted the minds of all the Jellicle Cats. Even I cannot reverse what they have seen and the dangerous knowledge they have gained. You will be punished, and I will make certain this will never happen again.'

And so in speaking, the Everlasting Cat forever cut the bonds between the Jellicle Cats and their one-time friends, even among the cats themselves. No longer would they run in a group. In addition to their punishment, all cats were banished from Heaviside; paradise was lost. And our beloved Cat Plant on which we fed has been forbidden for cat folk to taste, yet the smell and taste are so tempting cats who have chewed its leaves become crazed, and would kill for it. The Dark One's fur was scalded beyond growth and he was cast into the shadows of the cruel world outside the forest and meadows of Heaviside, but unknown to the Everlasting Cat he had cornered a queen in his rage to kill and spared her, yet left her to bear his kittens. As to her word, the Dark One was never again to hunt the folk he had slaughtered, but his bringing death upon the other still-defenseless cats never ceased. It was a short time in mortality before the only cats that remained were flesh-eating. Of the Dark One's kittens, four were black, as he was, another was a gray female, and the last was a tom of solid white. The kittens grew, and showed forth what they were born for. The day came when the Dark One confronted his children. The four kittens of black, two toms, two queens, followed his every word, doing the evil deeds he had shown them with their inherited claws and fangs. The gray queen looked at her father in doubt, and turned her tail to run away and live according to her own standards. The white tom, however, faced his father with raised hackles. 'I do not stand for what you live by,' he growled, baring his fangs. 'I will not follow you.'

In a rage the Dark One attacked the white, but he was of old age, and was overpowered by his stronger son. In his show of cowardice the Dark One turned and fled to the ground, never to be seen in the light of day again. Whirling on the remaining dark four, the white hero snarled and attacked them as well. They showed the same cowardice as their sire, and fled to the four corners of the earth, taking their vile evilness with them. The white tom remained, and took it upon himself to try and revive the old customs that the Jellicles lived by in Heaviside...

And so our tribe was founded." Deuteronomy finished his story with a slow breath, gently stroking the two kittens--Etcetera and Electra--who had fallen asleep in his lap, the third remaining dutifully vigilant, her blue eyes ever-wide.

"Is that really how it happened?" Sillabub piped.

"So it is said, my dear," Deuteronomy smiled. "Though we have not been able to rid ourselves of our born urge to hunt for food, we do our best to resist and live true to the Everlasting Cat's laws."

Pouncival finally shifted position from where he had sat stone still since the story began. "What happened to the other five cats?"

"The gray queen traveled the world, leaving in her wake cats that would grow to live by their own accord, with no law, for they are not Jellicles. We do not hate these cats, for once we had all been related, yet we do not allow them our secrets. On occasion we may find a lost Jellicle, and welcome them home." His deep brown eyes turned to Demeter, and she looked down shyly. "The four black, unfortunately, spread throughout the world, bringing and leaving their evil descendants to reside. We do not associate with them at all, and to do so is forbidden."

"Like Macavity," Munkustrap growled deeply. The very name made him bristle. "But that doesn't mean we can't do our best to get rid of them. Macavity and--ow! Demeter!" Munkustrap recoiled violently, making the other gathered cats jerk in surprise, as Demeter's paw suddenly shot out and grabbed his wrist, sharp claws digging into his flesh. Standing in alarm, Munkustrap met Demeter's green eyes, which were wide in absolute terror.

"Macavity..." she whispered, barely audible. Munkustrap pressed his ears forward in worry, ignoring Bombalurina who moved to his side.

"Demeter? You alright, hun?"

The cats watched in stunned curiosity as a physical change came over Demeter. Her breath grew short and rapid, her hands beginning to shake, her eyes bulging. "Macavity...!" she gasped again, then fell forward in feint. The cats jumped to life.

"Take her somewhere warm!" Jennyanydots immediately took charge, rushing toward the gold queen supported in Munkustrap's arms. "Hurry!"