AN: Hey guys! First off … I'm SO SORRY about the ridiculously long delay. Pretty much all of my free time had been consumed by school and work as I finished off my last semester as a college senior. And now … I've graduated! Yeeeeeaaahhhhh! :D

In my spare time, I've revamped quite a bit of Chapter Two based on some very astute suggestions from my reviewers. There are no serious plot changes, but I seriously reworked Jemima's interactions with Tugger in a way that made more sense, and I also added several new lines to Quaxo and Misto's conversation that gives quite a bit more insight into where Victoria is right now and Jemima's relationship to her. Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to review thus far and help me make this story the best it can be. I hope you enjoy this chapter!And please feel free to drop me a review! Nothing makes me happier! :)

Oh, and by the way! If any of you are Les Mis fans, I uploaded the first chapters of a Joly x Eponine fic I'm starting calledIf I Could Close Your Wounds.Yes, you read that right. Joly x Eponine. Feel free to check it out!

Chapter Four

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"Bast, I hate patrols,"Alonzo muttered to himself as he paced the perimeter of the Junkyard for what had to be the twentieth time. Dragging his feet along the ground, he kicked a can out of the way and plopped down heavily onto the ground, resting for just a moment.

Sheesh, do we really need constant patrols the day after the Ball? Seriously? Haven't I earned the right to sleep in today? Bast!

"Hey there, handsome."

Alonzo's ears perked up as a sultry voice floated his way from a nearby junk pile. He turned and smiled as a familiar heart-shaped face peeked out from a cardboard box and an almond eye winked at him from the shadows.

"Well, hello there, beautiful," he hummed. "How you doing today?"

Chuckling lightly, the slender brown queen sashayed her way over to him and tickled him under his chin. "Not bad, honey. I haven't seen you since the Ball. What have you been doing all day, hm?"

Alonzo sighed as the tension in his muscles released beneath her touch. "Munkustrap's got me stuck on patrol duty. The guy's been super paranoid about a second attack after the Macavity incident last night."

"Awww," the queen crooned. "You look exhausted, honey. Here, let me make it all better."

Alonzo purred, leaning in contentedly as she began to stroke his face.

"Ahem."

Both cats froze. Slowly, they turned until their eyes met those of the incensed-looking Cassandra who had just walked onto the scene.

"Oops!" Exotica giggled, backing away from Alonzo. She winked at Cassandra. "We were just playing around, Cass. Don't take it too seriously."

"Leave!" the Abyssinian queen snapped.

The smile faded from Exotica's lips. Murmuring a quick but sugary goodbye to Alonzo, she rounded the corner of the junk pile and disappeared.

"How dare you?" Cassandra hissed, stalking furiously toward her mate.

The black and white tom rolled his eyes. "Come on, Cass. It's just a game. You know that."

"She's my cousin, you idiot. Do you have any idea how that looks! What if someone had seen you two carrying on like a couple of mongrels in heat, you brainless cad? Did you think about that?"

"Hypocrite," Alonzo snarled.

Cassandra's eyes shot wide. "Excuse me?"

"Oh, don't play dumb," he snapped, suddenly enraged. "You've been smoozing it up with my little brother since the end of the ball, you two-faced harpy."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"No? Then I guess Mungojerrie just imagined he saw that little scene you were making with Quaxo at the north end just this morning."

Cassandra choked, guilt flashing briefly through her eyes. And then she hissed, "Well I'd say you started it, acting like some kind of Tugger-wannabe with all those kittens last night!"

The two mates glared daggers at each other, both refusing to yield. It was in moments like these that made them wonder if their relationship was really worth it. They loved each other. They truly did. In their best moments, they were one of the most affectionate couples in the Tribe. But Cassandra was proud and high maintenance, and Alonzo was cocky and juvenile. He was a compulsive flirt, one who tried too hard to beat out Tugger as the lady's cat of the Junkyard. In retaliation, the indignant Cassandra had taken to inciting his jealousy the best way she knew how – by flirting with Quaxo. It was a vicious cycle that always defined their bond and it only seemed to worsen over time.

Finally, Cassandra let out a tired sigh and reached over to stroke her mate along the cheek. "Come on, Alonzo," she whispered, her face softening. "Let's just go home so we can make it up to each other, alright?"

"Can't," Alonzo breathed out in frustration, though he reached up to return her caresses with his own. "I have to stay on patrols for another three hours at least."

The queen pouted. "Aww. If Munk is so scared about Macavity coming back, why can't he just do the patrols himself?"

"He's stuck at Jenny's den. Apparently Jemima fainted earlier today and he doesn't want to leave her …"

His voice cut off when he saw his mate's eyes turn venomous. "Jemima," she hissed. "Jemima, Jemima, Jemima. Now why does the whole world suddenly revolve around that spoiled, straight-laced little brat?"

Alonzo rolled his eyes at her. "Quit acting so jealous, Cass."

The queen recoiled as if struck. "Jealous? Ha! Why in Bast's name would I be jealous of that kitten?"

"Because now that Jemima's manifested her powers, you're no longer the only moon mystic in the Tribe."

Cassandra froze, her face paling as his veritable words struck her to the core. Her mind flashed back to the previous night. That horrible moment when she saw the moonlight fill that kitten's eyes the same way they once only filled hers.

"S-so what?" she rasped. "What threat is that to me? Her powers are nothing compared to mine." Then, face twisting in pain, she pulled away from her mate. "Leave me alone."

"Cass …"

"Leave me alone!"

The proud queen stormed off, leaving her mate to stare after her. He silently hoped for Jemima's sake that Cassandra's jealousy wouldn't stay burning hot for too long.

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With the darkness came dreams, and with the dreams came memories. Memories soft and faded like an old photograph long hidden away. Unlike the nightmares that crashed over her the night before, these dreams bore the sleeping Jemima gently along like an ebbing stream. And she drifted, flowing backwards as her mind conjured up those memories that she had not even realized she had forgotten.

"Jenny … what is wrong with her?"

The little calico's ears perked at the sound of her mother's voice. Carefully so as not to alert the adults outside, the kitten rolled over upon the bed and leaned in to better hear the voices beyond the door.

"I can't be sure, Demeter," she heard her aunt reply. "There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with her vocal cords. Her throat is healthy. So are her lungs. She should be able to speak just fine, but …"

"Then why is she mute?" came her father's voice. "Jenny, she hasn't spoken a word in weeks!"

Another sigh from her aunt. "Well … I'm sorry to say this, but … it could very well be that she is suffering from trauma, poor thing."

"Trauma!"

"Yes. From what I can tell … Jemima doesn't remember anything that has happened. I'd say her mind repressed those memories to protect itself. But the shock … it seems to have robbed her of her voice as well."

"But what can we do?" her father whispered.

"Medically, nothing more. We'll just have to hope and pray that Jemima will learn to speak again on her own."

The kitten's heart broke when a loud sob erupted from behind the door. "Oh Munk!" she heard her mother cry. "What are we going to do? What if she is always like this?"

"Shhhh," came the soothing hush from her father. "We'll help her, Dem. We'll find a way. She's going to be fine."

"But what if she isn't? Oh Munk, why is this happening? Why?"

The kitten felt tears spilling down her face as her mother's cries continued on in earnest. Sniffling, she buried her face in the blankets and covered her ears with her tiny paws. She couldn't bear to hear her mother hurting so much, especially knowing that she was the cause of it.

Then she heard the soft approach of footsteps and rolled over quickly so she was facing the wall. The fridge door creaked open and the sunlight shone in, and then there was a paw at the kitten's shoulder.

She lifted her head, blinking against the sudden brightness until she could make out her father's warm, smiling face.

"Come on, Jem," he whispered. "We're going home."

She blinked, then nodded, snuggling into his as he lifted her up into his arms and carried her out into the light. He could feel him stroking along her back and she nuzzled him, praying the action spoke all the words she couldn't bring herself to say.

She felt her father's lips against her forehead. "It's going to be alright, Jem. It's going to be alright …"

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"Aha! Tag! You're it! You're it!"

"Agh! No fair!"

"Eeek! Run!"

Shrieks of laughter rang out through the air, startling the napping kitten awake. Rubbing her paws over her eyes, she crept forward and peeked around the other side of the junk pile, where she spotted a group of giggling kittens chasing each other around in circles. One gray and white tomkit was racing after two queenkits, while the rest were climbing up on top of the opposite piles.

"Tumble!" one queenkit shrieked. "Slow down, you meanie!"

"Ha! No way!" the tomkit yelled, and then he leaped forward and tapped the little queenkit on the back paw.

"Eeek!"

"Tag! Now you're it, Cettie!"

"Eeek! I'm it! Run away! Ah!"

With a chorus of squeals, the kittens once again gave chase, jumping and tumbling over one another in their rush. The little calico kitten watched on forlornly from her hiding place, wishing that she could join in with their game. They looked like they were having so much fun.

And then one of the tomkits turned to look in her direction and stopped, his eyes popping wide when they met hers.

"Hey!" he yelled, pointing straight at her. "Hey guys, look! Who's that?"

The kitten froze as the rest of the group stopped to gape at her with wide, curious eyes.

"Oh, hi!" shrieked one queenkit, the one they called 'Cettie.' "Who are you? What's your name? Wanna play tag?"

The kitten didn't respond, the terror clearly written all over her face. She shrank back, her little body trembling in fear.

"Hey, that's Munkustrap's kitten, right? I think her name's … Jenna, or something?"

"Why isn't she saying anything? Is she stupid?"

"Shut up, Pouncival! Look at her. She's scared."

And then one of the kittens – a beautiful, snowy white queenkit – stepped forward and reached out a paw toward the shaking calico. "Hey, it's okay," she whispered when the kitten backed away. "My name is Victoria. Do you want to come play with us?"

With her mouth quivering, the calico shook her head and covered her eyes from the queenkit's gentle gaze.

"Oh no, don't be scared. Why don't you tell us your name?"

The queenkit took another step forward and the calico kitten bolted, scurrying away from them as fast as her little paws could carry her.

"Hey! Wait …!"

She could hear the kittens shouting behind her, but the little calico kept on running until their voices faded. She raced on and on with tears blurring her vision, not stopping until she reached the very edge of the Junkyard. Gasping for breath, she hid behind a pile of boxes and looked around just once to make sure that she was truly alone. Then, seeing no one, she collapsed into the dirt and her body began to shake with violent sobs.

Why … why was she so scared to play with them? Why couldn't she talk like a normal kitten? Why does her body freeze up every time another cat comes close to her?

Why …

Why did she have to be such a freak?

"PRESTO!"

The exuberant yell caused the calico kitten to jump, and then a loud crash resounded from somewhere nearby.Her head spun about, searching for the source of the noise, but she could see no one through her tear-soaked eyes.

There was another yell – "PRESTO!" – followed by another mighty crash, and the calico realized that the sounds were coming from behind the nearby junk pile. She quietly tiptoed over to it, peeking around. What she saw made her eyes widen in surprise and confusion.

It was a tomkit – a rather small one at that – with black and white fur patterned so that he looked like he was wearing a tuxedo. But the tomkit was sparkling. Literally sparkling with tiny dots of light scattered along his fur from head to toe. The kitten watched as he danced around in a circle, spinning an impossible number of times and twirling what looked like a fancy top hat in his paw.

"And now, ladies and gentleman!" he cried in a squeaky voice. "For my next trick, I … the Magical Mister Mistoffelees … will pull five mice right out of this hat!"

The calico kitten leaned in closer, utterly mesmerized as the tomkit waved one paw over the upturned hat. The tomkit snapped his fingers, causing a cloud of purple smoke and glitter burst up out of the brim. The kitten gasped in astonishment, covering her mouth to stifle the sound.

"Ladies and gentleman, feast your eyes!" the tomkit cried dramatically. And with that his paw dived down inside the hat and yanked up a fistful of plump, squeaking mice right by their tails! "PRESTO!"

The tomkit let out a whoop, waving the mice about as the kitten's mouth fell open in awe. Before she even realized what she was doing, she started clapping her paws together in enraptured applause.

The tomkit jumped, his ears perking. "Wha?" Whirling around, he looked up and spotted her. The queenkit's paws froze immediately as the tomkit's face flushed red.

"Oh, uh …" He cleared his throat and hid the mice behind his back, rubbing his neck awkwardly. "Hi there. Um … I didn't realize I was being watched. How long … have you been there?"

The kitten stared back at him silently, frozen like a statue.

"I don't think I've seen you before." The tomkit smiled and took a step forward. "My name is Quaxo. What's your name?"

Her face paling, the kitten trembled and began to back away.

"Hey, you okay? What's wrong?" The tomkit leaned forward to take another step and with a squeak the calico closed her eyes and covered her face with her paws. "Hey, hey, don't cry!" Thinking fast, the tomkit pulled the mice out from behind his back. "Here, do you want one of these?"

The calico didn't respond at first, but after a moment her fingers slowly parted and she peeked out at him with inquisitive eyes.

"Here," he said, taking a single mouse out from the bunch. "You can have this one, if you'd like."

The calico stared at him helplessly, not knowing what to do. She looked down and her mouth watered at the sight of the plump, juicy-looking mouse. Ever so slowly, she lowered her paws, carefully gauging the tomkit's expression.

Well … he didn't look like he was going to hurt her. His eyes were warm, and his smile was friendly. Something in his face reminded her of the snowy white queenkit who tried to approach her just a few minutes before. The tomkit nodded once as if to reassure her that he meant her no harm. The kitten stared back at him, timid and uncertain. Then she ever so carefully began to creep forward.

"There we go. I don't bite. Here …" The tomkit stretched out the mouse toward her. "Take it. It's yours."

She stopped, fearfully gazing down at the mouse as if expecting it to leap out and attack her. Then, with a quivering paw, she grabbed it and pulled away quickly, hugging the still squeaking mouse to her breast.

The tomkit chuckled, watching as she lifted the mouse to her lips and took the first bite. "Gee, you don't talk much, do you? Well, that's okay. How is it? It tastes good, doesn't it?"

The kitten just sat there chewing for a moment, and then she lifted her eyes and nodded, the ghost of a smile tugging at her lips.

"Terrific! The Magical Mister Mistoffelees only uses the choicest of mice for his amazing conjuring tricks." A spark of mischief flashed through his eyes. "Say, do you want to see another trick?"

The calico blinked at him, a little fearful at first. Then she nodded.

"Cool! Watch this!" the tomkit exclaimed. He twirled around once and raised his arms toward the sky. "And now for my next trick, ladies and gentleman, I … the Magical Mister Mistoffelees … am going to magically set a stack of boxes on fire!"

The queenkit watched as he spun about so that he was facing the stack that stood just a few feet away. He began waving his arms as if casting a spell. She leaned in closer, spellbound by his movements.

Then his arm swung out as a great bolt of lightning exploded out of his paw.

The kitten couldn't breathe. Shock and terror ripped through her savagely as the light blinded her eyes. Then the boxes burst into flames with a deafening roar and something inside of her snapped.

"NOOOOOOO!"

"Huh?" The tomkit spun around. "W-w-what is it? Are you …"

But the kitten couldn't hear him. She had curled herself into a little ball on the ground, clutching her head between her paws and whimpering pitifully as she rocked back and forth.

"Hey!" the tomkit cried, alarmed! "Jemima, are you okay?"

He leaned forward to rub her shoulder, but the moment his paw touched her fur the kitten shot to her feet and raced away. She ran on and on, all the way through the streets of London. All the way to the little house where her family lived.

Sobbing for breath, she darted down under the porch and into the leaves, her heart pounding so fast she feared it would explode right out of her chest. She threw herself onto the ground and began to wail pitifully.

"Jemima?" her mother cried, peeking out from the back corner. "Jemima, sweetheart! What is it? What's wrong?"

Still sobbing, the kitten flung herself into her mother's arms and wept into her breast. She clung on tightly as Demeter rocked her back and forth, whispering soothing words into her ear. After a moment, she felt her mother's chest hitch against her cheek, and then hot tears splashed against her head that were not her own. Pressing a kiss against her forehead, her mother pulled the kitten in closer.

"Oh, Jemima … my poor, poor Jemima …"

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The little calico kitten did not interact well with other cats. Whenever her parents tried to introduce her to anyone in the Tribe, she'd just hide behind her mother and refuse to show her face. After many failed attempts to coax her out of her shell, her parents finally decided to let her stay under the porch by herself where she felt safest.

However, there were two other cats in the kitten's life besides her parents who she trusted without a hint of fear. They were her Uncle Skimbleshanks and her Auntie Jennyanydots.

And few things made the kitten happier than visiting her Uncle Skimble on the Night Mail train.

That was what brought her wandering over to the train station one day not long after the incident in the Junkyard. It was around noontime, and all of the workmen were gone to lunch, so the kitten was free to roam about the platform without notice. It took her only a minute to find her uncle, who was napping in his usual spot on the edge of the train caboose. Feeling rather mischievous, she scampered up to the edge of the platform and leaped off, pouncing right on top of her uncle and jolting him awake.

"Och!" the orange tabby cried, tumbling to the ground. He shot up, his eyes wide as he whirled around in search of his attacker. But when his eyes landed on the smiling little calico, the tabby's look of alarm was quickly replaced by a wide grin.

"Ohoho! Jemima, you naughty little lassie!" The tabby pulled her in for a hug and pinched her playfully on the cheek. "Come to visit your dear Uncle Skimble, have you?"

The kitten nodded happily, rubbing her head against his shoulder.

"Well, come on and sit here then, lass!" the tabby cried, patting the spot on the floorboards beside him. "There's always room aboard here for my favorite little niece."

The kitten obliged, snuggling close to her uncle as he wrapped one arm about her.

"And you came at a good time, too!" he continued, reaching into the breast pocket of his waistcoat and pulling out two enormous mice. "Caught these two fatties here last night while we were passing through Crewe. Shall we split them then, Jem? One for me and one for you?"

The kitten's eyes lit up and she nodded enthusiastically, grabbing the fattest mouse out of his paws and munching into it. Her uncle laughed, ruffling her fur.

"Ah, you're sure a sweet one, lass. Although …" His eyes softened. "You really ought to be playing with more kittens your own age. Haven't you made any friends back there in the Junkyard yet?"

The question made the kitten's eyes dim with sadness. She turned her face away and shook her head.

"No? How about that Miss Victoria, then? She's a nice young kitten. And she was asking about you just the other day, actually."

The kitten's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she just shook her head and took another bite of her mouse.

"Aw, she'd make a good playmate for you, lassie. She's a bit shy like you, but very sweet. Her brother, Quaxo, he's a real nice young tomkit as well."

The kitten's head jerked up at Quaxo's name, and it did not escape her uncle's notice.

"Hm? Do you know Master Quaxo then?"

Regaining herself, the little calico shook her head and averted her eyes.

"Oh, I'm sure you've seen him about. Handsome little tuxedo kit, that one. He and Miss Victoria are twins, believe it or not. You'd never tell just by looking at them, would you. Ah yes, Master Quaxo takes after his father and Miss Victoria after her mother, most certainly."

He smirked when the calico looked up at him curiously.

"Oh yes, I knew their parents well. Did your Pa ever tell you about the famous Mistoffelees family?"

The kitten shook her head again, but this time her ears were perked as if with interest.

"Oh, they were a family of traveling circus performers, lassie. I used to ride with them all the time when they were touring with the Brightman Brothers' troupe. Had their own act and everything, all five of them, though their parents were really the main attractions. The kittens performed a bit more of the smaller tricks on the sides.

"Their mother, Natasha … oh, she was this most beautiful prima ballerina. She could perform the 32fouéttes en tournantmore gracefully than any human dancer I've ever seen. But it was their father, the Magical Mister Mistoffelees the Sixth, who was the true celebrity of the family, lassie.

"His real name was Yuri, and he came from a line of conjuring cats. He could perform tricks and illusions so spectacular that he made Houdini look like a mere amateur. He could fire lightning bolts and fireworks right out of his paws. He could pull a whole litter of kittens out of an empty hat. He could teleport from the front of the stage to the highest reach of the balcony in the blink of an eye. I'd never seen anything like it, lassie!"

The kitten's eyes listened on with eyes filled with wonder as her uncle went on to describe each of the Mistoffelees' tricks in vivid detail. Her heart pounded as she recalled then feats of magic she had witnessed in the Junkyard just a few days before. The magic of the tomkit who was truly the son of the Magical Mister Mistoffelees.

But then her uncle grew silent and his eyes clouded with sadness. He let out a long and heavy sigh. The kitten placed a paw on top of his, worried by his change in demeanor. The tabby smiled at her and pulled her in closer.

"But alas … that was a long time ago, lassie. Some years ago, the Brightman Brothers' troupe disbanded and the entire show closed down. After that, the family decided to make a home for themselves in the Tribe and try to raise their children as normal kittens. Och, but then …"

He paused as if he realized that he'd said something he shouldn't have. The kitten frowned, watching as his face paled considerably. And then he shook his head.

"N-nah, lassie. That is not something I should be telling you about."

Confused, the kitten nudged against his arm, silently demanding that he continue. The tabby stared back at her forlornly for a long, long moment. Then he let out another sigh.

"Well … I suppose you would have heard about eventually, so I guess it's better that you heard about it from me. The family's story has a very sad ending, lassie. Quaxo and Victoria's parents … they died, lassie. They were … killed … in an unfortunate accident some years ago …"

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TBC ...