This might seem a bit stupid, but give me a chance. Please? Anyways, I love criticism, even if you don't like it. Please tell me if I should continue =)

Summary: For many generations, the tribe has followed the traditions their ancestors left behind: White cats must mate with black cats, and under no exception can a red cat mate with a black cat. What happens when Jemima finds herself in love with a certain black tom?

Chapter 1 – I refuse!

From the tire in the center of the junkyard under the star-lit sky, Munkustrap and Old Deuteronomy looked proudly at the cats below them. The tribe was living prosperously thanks to the rats and mice the junkyard provided. In the center, the kittens could be seen chasing each other happily and merrily.

Such a happy beginning. Let's end it now with a: they all lived happily ever after. Just kidding. Here's where the trouble begins.

The kittens, consisting of Jemima, Electra, Etcetera, Victoria, Tumblebrutus, Pouncival, Mistoffelees and Plato, were all near adulthood, which meant one thing to most: the finding of a mate. Though it might seem easy to find a mate since there were an even number of toms and queens, it wasn't. A month after birth, kittens were told what colour cats could mate with each other. At the time, the kittens thought it was yucky and funny to be talking about mating, but now, they realized how significant it was.

At this time, Jemima and the other queen-kits were discussing who they wanted to mate with.

"So, I guess you're mating with Misto right?" Electra asked Victoria.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?"

"Well according to tradition you have to, since he's the only black cat," Electra replied.

"I think it's ridiculous we have rules against mating because of what colour we are," Jemima said softly.

Victoria agreed which made Etcetera ask in surprise, "You don't want to mate with Misto?"

The white kitten sighed and said dully, "I already told you, I like Plato, not Misto."

"Why?" Etcy asked, confused.

"Misto's like a brother to me, especially since I always see him with my sister!" Victoria giggled as she looked at Jemima, who blushed. It was hard to believe that Jemima and Victoria were sisters but nevertheless they were.

"He's just a friend," Jemima said unconvincingly.

"Well you can't mate with him anyways since you're red and he's black, so it's good you're only friends," Electra stated.

"Why are you such a sucker to all these rules?" Victoria enquired.

"When you have Jellylorum as your mother, you turn into a rule book," Electra replied while Etcetera made a face that said: don't even remind me of those horrid lectures…

"So who do you want to mate with?" Victoria asked Electra and Etcy.

"Tugger!" Etcetera screamed.

When she saw her friends disapproving looks she said, "I'm just kidding, shesh."

"With you, we never know…" Electra mumbled under her breath.

"You know I got over it once…well once Pounce told me how he felt." Etcetera mumbled.

"Oh right, that was the time he gave you that rose right?" Jemima asked.

Etcetera blushed and nodded but said nothing more.

"I don't know who I want to mate with. Since apparently Pounce is taken and Misto has to mate with Victoria, I can only choose from Plato and Tumble." Electra said in a bored tone.

"But what if I don't want to mate with Misto?!" Victoria shrieked.

The other kittens looked at her in surprise as Electra said sympathetically, "According to tradition, you have no choice."

"It's not fair! You don't have any restrictions to choosing a mate, why should I? Or Jemima? Why should I have to mate Misto when I clearly love Plato? Besides, it's sooo obvious that Jemima and Misto like each other." Victoria ranted.

"Wait, Jemmie and Misto like each other?" Etcetera asked.

"You weren't supposed to tell anyone!" Jemima hissed.

"Oops, sorry," Victoria said sheepishly.

"It's okay, not that it matters anyways. Like Electra said, you're the only one who can mate with him," Jemima sighed, hanging her head in glum.

"Well I refuse to follow it! I won't mate with Misto when I love Plato so much and I won't break my sister's heart!" Victoria declared.

The other kittens gasped and Jemima said quietly, "You know they'll never let you."

"No one but me controls my life, which means I will mate with who I want. You think I haven't noticed, but I've seen you with Misto. I can see how much you eyes glow and how happy you are when you're near him. So clearly, you don't like this anymore than I do. Are you with me?" Victoria said to Jemima.

Jemima hesitated as she asked slowly, "Is it that obvious?"

Victoria rolled her eyes but grinned before saying, "That's not the only thing I saw happen between you two."

Jemima blushed before saying, "Fine, I agree with you. I think we should tell Old Deuteronomy how we feel."

"How you feel about what?"

The four kittens jumped at the new voice, which belonged to Munkustrap. As the Jellicle Protector came to stand in front of the kittens, he repeated his question.

Victoria and Jemima gulped and the sight of their father but didn't say anything.

"Come on, I know you have something to say, you two do this all the time," Munku said teasingly,

Jemima and Victoria both looked at each other before Jemima quietly stepped up and said, "We don't agree with one of the Jellicle traditions."

Munku froze and said sharply, "Which one?"

"The one saying that white cats have to mate with black cats and red cats can't mate with black cats." Jemima blurted.

The four kittens stared at Munku's face, which held a mask of surprise, pain, horror and to their fear, hatred.

"You two better come with me, we need to talk to Old Deuteronomy," Munku said stiffly, as he began heading towards the old tire.

Jemima and Victoria looked at each other in fear before slowly following their father.

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Please tell me what you thought! I'm practically begging!

DNDK 38