A New Jellicle – Meeting Starflower

A month after the Jellicle Ball, in which Grizabella ascended to the Heavyside Layer, Mistoffelees came bounding up to Munkustrap who was sunning himself in the Junkyard.

“Munkustrap, my human brought another cat home last week. What do I do? I would have come sooner, but my human locked us both in so that this new cat wouldn’t go back to her old house. Humans!!!”

Munkustrap could see that the little magickal cat that really looks like he is wearing a tuxedo was very upset about this “ Mistoffelees calm down. You are a magickal cat. Your human uses your influence in her spell work does she not?” he waited for a nod from the little cat, “You have nothing to worry about, unlike many other humans, witches don’t replace their cats until they die. You’re safe. She might have brought this new cat home to keep you company during the day while she works. After all, she doesn’t know what you do while she’s not there does she?” Munkustrap was bitten by the eternal bane of all cats then, curiosity…. “What does this new cat look like?”

“Okay, for a start it’s a queen. What am I going to do with a queen?”

At this Mistoffelees got a very strange look from Munkustrap

“She’s pure black. I mean, the Tugger sings about me and says that I’m pure black but I’m not. This cat really IS all black from her ears to the tip of her tail. No white bits at all. I think my human may have gone a little strange though. She calls my Tuxedo, which is fair enough, but this new cat she calls Snow. Snow’s smaller than I am, and I’m fully-grown and a midget! I can’t tell if she’s a kitten or a full-grown cat or what she is!”

“Mistoffelees, Jemima is a fully-grown cat and she’s not much bigger than you are.”

“Yes but Jem’s my sister Munkustrap, she’s going to be small. This new cat’s no relation as far as I know. And she’s got these pretty silvery grey eyes Munkus, What if she’s a Jellicle?”

“Huh?”

“Well you know the rules:

Jellicle Cats are Black and White
Jellicle Cats are rather small
Jellicle Cats are merry and bright
And pleasant to hear when we caterwaul
Jellicle Cats have cheerful faces
Jellicle Cats have bright black eyes
We like to practice our airs and graces
And wait for the Jellicle moon to rise
Jellicle Cats develop slowly
Jellicle Cats are not too big
Jellicle Cats are roly-poly
We know how to dance a gavotte and a jig
Until the Jellicle moon appears
We make our toilette and take our repose
Jellicles wash behind their ears
Jellicles wash between their toes
Jellicle Cats are white and black
Jellicle Cats are of moderate size
Jellicles jump like a jumping jack
Jellicle Cats have moonlit eyes

Munkustrap shook his head at Mistoffelees, “Get to know her a bit better, find out more about her, get her confidence, find out her particular name and then bring her here to introduce her around.”

“But Munkus, She’s really aloof. It’s almost as if she doesn’t want to get to know me. We’ve been locked in the house for a week now and I still don’t know anything about her. How do I go about approaching her?”

Author’s note - Please remember that our little Mistoffelees is only just out of kitten hood. He’s stopped getting bigger, but he’s not very old.

Munkustrap was shaking his head at this. “Mistoffelees what are we going to do with you? Every cat is convinced that you are aloof and untouchable, but you’re really only shy. We’ll try something simple for you. Next time your human puts down some cream, offer her some as well. I know what happens to you on cream, so it’s not going to hurt you if you offer some to her is it? Break the ice a little. Do a magick trick for her.”

“So basically what you’re telling me to do is court her and then bring her home for parental approval right? What if she thinks it means that I really want her for a mate and I find out that I don't like her that much after getting to know her and - "

Munkustrap put a hand (uh paw) across the little Jellicle's mouth to stop him from babbling. "If she's a nice enough cat, she'll know what you're doing, and besides, it's polite to get to know your housemates. Go home now and start making friends."

The human belonging to Mistoffelees had put down a small dish of cream, hoping that the two cats would share it. The cat known as Snow was sitting on the other side of the room watching Mistoffelees lapping at the cream.

Misto remembered what Munkustrap had told him that he should do and paced over to where Snow was sitting. "Would you like to come and share this cream with me? She left plenty for both of us, and if I tried to drink all of it myself I would get drunk. Not a fun thing to happen”

Snow had a very soft speaking voice so Mistoffelees had to come closer to hear her reply, “Why thank you Tux, I’ve never had anyone offer to share their cream with me before.”

Together they walked to where the dish of cream was sitting on the other side of the room. Mistoffelees wasn’t really sure how to bring up the topic of names, so he just kept quiet, thinking, ‘How do I tell her that my name is Mistoffelees without making a fool of myself?’

Snow was also thinking, ‘Mistoffelees, I wonder if I should tell him that I already know his particular name so he doesn’t have to worry. But if I did that he’d ask me how I found it out, and I don’t think I’m ready to be laughed at today. I mean, like he’d believe that I was a magickal cat. Who ever heard of a magi…ckal…cat…any…way…Hang on a second… Mistoffelees! I wonder if he could be the Mistoffelees? My luck couldn’t be so good. How do I bring up the subject? If it really is him I can’t use magick to nudge him. I’ll have to do it the other way. Damn, that takes longer’

By this time the two had reached the cream. Snow smiled shyly at Mistoffelees and let him start drinking first, she on the other hand started humming a song that her last human had sung to her. It was called Mr Mistoffelees and Snow knew that her human had heard the song from a Jellicle cat.

Needless to say, when Mistoffelees heard his song coming from a cat he barely knew he was surprised to say the least. Naturally, he was bitten by that bug that plagues catkind as well – curiosity – and asked her where she’d heard it from.

“My last human sang it to me one day and told me that a very strange cat who she called the Rum Tum Tugger had taught it to her. I don’t know ho but my last human could understand cat. I really like the song. I just wish I knew if it was about a real cat, one I could meet. Do you know about him? Mistoffelees I mean, I’ve met the Tugger.”

Mistoffelees could hardly believe his ears. She’d heard of him! And from the Tugger? He had to find out more, but didn’t want to sound boastful. “I’ve heard of Mistoffelees… I know him quite well actually. His mother had a bit of a thing for alliteration, poor kit. He’s a nice enough fellow though. What happened to your last human? You don’t look old enough to have had another one. You look like a kit yourself.”

“Well my last human mated for life with one who was horribly allergic to me, so she asked one of her witch friends if she would please take care of me between rituals. The poor dear was distraught when she realised that she had to have either her mate or me. But I really didn’t mind, I will still get to see her when she comes to visit.”

“You lived and worked with a witch?”

“Still do Tux. So do you don’t you? I’m not going to work with your witch, but I live with yours and work with mine. I can’t change that now. She calls me her ‘familiar’ and from what I’ve gathered, that’s pretty important.”

“Yeah you’ve got a point there Snow”

“Tux, if I tell you the name that my mother gave me, my particular name, would you tell me yours? I mean, if we’re going to be living in the same house, it makes sense that we call each other what we’d prefer, except when the humans are about.”

Once again Mistoffelees was floored. It was almost as if this cat knew what he was thinking. “Snow, I don’t want to sound pretentious or anything, but you already know part of my name. The full thing is Magickal Mister Mistoffelees, like I said my mother had a thing for alliteration. I’m not messing with you, and the Tugger’s song is wrong, I’m not all black.”

“I didn’t think you were all black” Snow murmured, “My mother had a thing for descriptive names. Lucky me got a physical description, my brother was a different story, but I’m not going there, don’t ask me to. Are you really magickal?”

“Do you want me to prove it to you?”

Snow nodded at this.

“Okay, but before I do, you didn’t actually tell me your name.”

Snow blushed under her fur, not that Mistoffelees could see that, “Sorry about that, my name is Starflower Light-Eyes. Like I said, mum liked descriptive names.”

“That’s a nice name. What would you like me to do? I can do lightning” Mistoffelees was taken by a very kittenish feeling at this point

“I’d like to see lightning, but I don’t think it’s a good idea inside. Outside?”

“Outside it is. Lets go.”

So the two cats when out into their back yards and Mistoffelees showed off a bit with the lightning, shooting it from his paws and running it between his ears. After a while the two went back inside to the cream.

“So Starflower, why did your mother call you Light-Eyes, except for the obvious”

“She was expecting me to have black eyes like my dad. He had black eyes and a cheerful face as well. Mum said even though my eyes are grey they come from his side. Hers are green and my mirror twin’s are blue, also from her side. Water and sky. Why’d I get moonlight?”

“Um Starflower, moonlit eyes are something to be proud of…”

“Mistoffelees – “

“Misto, please. If we’re living together, Mistoffelees is a long name to keep saying.”

“Okay, you can call me Star then. As I was saying, what’s to be proud of with moonlit eyes? I’ve been looked at as a freak by all the cats I’ve met. It’s not nice… … I have something else to tell you as well. Here watch – “

Starflower proceeded to lift herself directly up off the floor.

“ – You see, I too am a magickal cat. I read your mind earlier when you were trying to think of a way to bring up the topic of names. It didn’t click right away that you were the Magickal Mister Mistoffelees that I’d heard about, as who thinks their full name in their head? I’m sorry. I won’t read your mind again without your permission.”

Mistoffelees’ mind was working nineteen to the dozen when something struck him.

“Is that why when I told you that the Tugger’s song about me was wrong you said that you didn’t think Mistoffelees was all black?”

At this Starflower had the grace to look a little embarrassed.

“Actually yes it is. I’m surprised you didn’t pick up on it right away. And I am fully grown. I’m not a kitten. Dad wasn’t a very big cat and I also inherited his size. He was a black and white cat, very handsome mum says. I don’t know his particular name, I know him only as Dad.”

Mistoffelees suddenly remembered his manners. “Would you like a drink? Um… you’ll have to come down though.”

“Why thanks Misto. Who is Munkustrap?”

“Munkustrap is the leader in training for the - Hang on a second, I thought you said you weren’t going to read my mind anymore.”

“I didn’t. I got that out of you before as well. The curiosity only just caught up with me is all.”

“Fair enough. I really think you should meet Munkustrap, but for Heaviside sake, and mine, call him Tom when you meet him. His humans have stranger names than ours do. I also think you should meet Salem as well. He’s the leader and I think he’d really like to meet you. How about, after a nap, we go down to the junkyard and I introduce you around?”

“I’d like that. I didn’t get out much at my last house; my human was a little paranoid that I would get squashed by one of those metal machines. Do you think your friends would like me?”

“I really think they would. I just hope we don’t run into Tugger. Not on your first trip to the junkyard”

“Why? What’s so bad about the Tugger? I have met him you know. He reminded me of one of the friends my last owner had. All talk and no action”

“Actually, Tugger has the tendency to – ah shall we say appropriate – any and all attractive queens he lays his eyes on. And let’s face it, you’re very attractive. I just don’t think you should have to go through with that on your first trip there that’s all. Especially since my sister would have his tail if she caught him. She’s his mate”

“You think I’m attractive?”

Mistoffelees sighed. Wouldn’t you just know that that was the one phrase she picked up on out of that! Now he was in for it! Thinking to himself he decided that it wouldn’t be so bad after all. He didn’t have a mate yet, but he was starting to think that he’d like one of his very own. First though he’d have to see if Old Deuteronomy accepted her as a Jellicle Cat. Shouldn’t be too hard though, from the sound of things, she was one by birth. Aloud he said, “Well… um… actually… yes I do. I’m a little tired though, so I’m going to have a nap. Are you coming?”

With that he raced out of the room and in beside the fire that his human had thoughtfully left going when he went out that morning. He tucked his head onto his forepaws and promptly fell asleep.

Starflower smiled to herself at this. Then she ate a little as she was a bit hungry and followed him through into the lounge area. She cleaned herself thoroughly and then curled up to watch Mistoffelees sleep. After some time had passed, she too slept.

They Dreamed

Starflower, being the experienced dream walker returned from the dream trails first, and watched Mistoffelees carefully to make sure that he got out okay.

‘Such a well-mannered little cat. And very cute as well. I wish I could introduce him to Maruman, but he’d have to become more experienced at walking the dream trails before I could do that. He has to know how to control his trips there before I can introduce him to my esteemed brother. I wish Mar wasn’t so far away. He’s a much better teacher than I am.’

By now about five minutes had passed and Starflower was a little concerned that Mistoffelees hadn’t returned from the dream trails yet. She knew they could be dangerous if you didn’t know what they were, so she walked closer to him and gently licked his nose.

“Wha-? Wassa matta? Don’ wanna wake up. Pretty black cat. Wanna stay ‘sleep dreaming of her. Go ‘way”

“Wake up Misto. Come on sweetie, you can’t stay on the dream trails forever, they’re dangerous. And I’d miss you too much. Tell me about the pretty black cat.”

At the sound of Starflower’s voice, Mistoffelees’ eyes flew open.

“Huh? I thought you were a dream. It was a nice dream. Talking, dancing, singing… “ To himself ‘Shut up Misto, any more and she’ll know that you want her as a mate and then won’t you die of embarrassment. It was a nice dream, but that’s all it was. She doesn’t really dance and sing like that. You know that. Wake up to reality and remember that you’re just friends.”

Starflower watched Mistoffelees a little bemused. She knew roughly what was going through his mind, it was written all over his face. She shook her head and sidled closer to him.

“Don’t you remember Misto? I told you that we were on the dream trails. You need to be careful there. Reality and the trails coexist, what happens on one leaves its mark on the other. I’d like to teach you more about them if you’d let me. There’s someone I’d like you to meet there”

Mistoffelees was a little grumpy, as he was really interested in the dream he’d had. “Dream Trails? I don’t remember talking about dream trails. We talked about names and magick. When did dreams trails come into the equation? Bastet preserve me, but I have no idea what you are talking about Star.”

Misto looked out of the window and saw it was late afternoon. “You’ll have to explain the dream trails to me later. I have to get to the junkyard. Munkustrap wanted to see me tonight. I think there was a problem with Macavity. Did you want to come with?’

“Okay. Oh Misto, don’t worry if the Tugger’s there. I’ve met him and he’s all testosterone, no brains. I prefer someone I can talk to. Like you Mistoffelees.”

Mistoffelees turned a bright crimson under his fur at this. “Why? I’m nobody special. I’m just a little black magick cat… I have an idea. We’re running late. Close your eyes for a minute and I’ll get us to the junkyard a quicker way.”

Mistoffelees twined his tail around Starflower’s and brought his forepaws together thrice. Sparkly gold light surrounded the pair and they were translocated to Mistoffelees’ home at the junkyard. He figured that he would try his luck while Starflower’s eyes were still closed, as the dream that he’d had was still very vivid in his mind, so he turned and kissed her gently.

”MACAVITY!!!!!!!”

Starflower jumped a mile at this. Mistoffelees grinned at her wryly. “That sounds like my cue. It was Demeter. I’d better go and see if it’s really Macavity or if she just smelled you and panicked. If it’s really Macavity, I could be needed. You’ll be safe here though. Stay and wait for me?”

“Naturally. I don’t know where I am remember. You will be coming back won’t you? I hope you plan on finishing that kiss”

“I can be dumb sometimes! Yes I’ll be back, and I would love to finish the kiss. Wait here” Mistoffelees started running down the pipe he called his home at the junkyard, sparks of electricity running over his coat.

“DEMETER!!! CARRA!!! GET OUT HERE NOW!!!!”

A black and gold cat slunk out of the oven. “Oh, Hi Mistoffelees. When did you get here?”

“About three minutes ago. Was it really Macavity or did you just jump again?”

“I can smell a strange cat… coming from your pipe actually.”

“Carrameana, you and your paranoia just interrupted the sweetest kiss I’ve ev – Never mind.”

“A kiss?” Demeter’s ears perked up. “You’ve chosen a mate? Now who could it be…? Tantomile? She’s the only Jellicle of age that’s not related to you at the moment. But I thought your brother was interested in her. Fancy that, you stealing a queen of your broth – “

Mistoffelees had gotten tired of trying to get a word in edgeways politely. So he just put his paw over Demeter’s mouth. “No Demeter, it’s not Tanto. Mungojerrie wants Tanto, not me. I’m not telling you who it is until she’s met at least Munkustrap. I want to know if he agrees with my thoughts on her. Do you know where he is?”

Demeter nodded. “He’s behind the oven somewhere. I scared the living daylights out of him as well, and he’s gone looking for Macavity.”

Mistoffelees gave Demeter a quick kiss on the cheek and ran off in search of Munkustrap. By the time he eventually found him it the sun was getting pretty low in the sky, so he knew he’d have to talk fast to get Starflower accepted as a probationary Jellicle until she could be introduced to Old Deuteronomy and still get home in plenty of time to help his human with the ritual she had planned for that night.

“Munkustrap! I’ve been looking all over for you. I need you to come with me right now. I know who it was that Demeter smelt. It wasn’t Macavity. It was my housemate. You need to meet her right now. I’ve got to get her home before sundown or our human will freak out.”

At this outburst Munkustrap started to laugh. “Mistoffelees, what is with you today? I haven’t seen you this excited since you first learnt how to shoot lightning bolts from your claws. I’m coming. Settle down.”

Mistoffelees couldn’t contain his excitement. He kept running backwards and forwards like a Pollicle that had found a stick, until Munkustrap picked up the pace enough to satisfy him.

When they arrived at the pipe that Mistoffelees called home, Munkustrap put a restraining um… … paw on Mistoffelees’ shoulder. “Hold it Tux. There’s a strange cat in there. Go and get Alonzo. We could need him.”

Mistoffelees rolled his eyes at this. “But Mun – “

Munkustrap glared at him

“-Tom. The cat in there is Snow. My housemate. I just finished telling you that she was there. That’s who you’re here to meet. You told me to bring her by. Yesterday!”

While Mistoffelees was busy trying to talk Munkustrap around into just meeting the cat in there and leaving the fighters out of it, Starflower was just waking up again. She’d decided to have a catnap while she waited, as she didn’t think that Mistoffelees would appreciate it if she snooped around in his stuff with him not there, and her witch needed her later that night for a ritual. She could hear Mistoffelees pleading with someone outside to just come and meet the cat in his home instead of calling the fighters. She decided to help him out a little bit.

“Misto? Is that you?”

Mistoffelees sighed with relief at the sound of Starflower’s voice, for a minute there he’d thought it might actually be some other cat in his house. Munkustrap on the other hand still wasn’t too sure about it.

“It is me Snow. Remember I told you about Tom yesterday. He’s out here and he won’t come in because he thinks you might be from Macavity’s group and dangerous. Please come out and reassure him” In an aside to Munkustrap “I know her, I like her, and I need to know if she’s a Jellicle. Help me?”

By this time Starflower had come to just inside the mouth of the pipe. To let the two toms know that she was there, she started to purr loudly, as all cats know that a purring cat isn’t about to attack you. It’s not possible. Munkustrap wasn’t as stupid as he seemed to be, so he padded to the opening and spoke.

“Come out into the light so I can see you Snow” To himself he thought ‘With a name like Snow she shouldn’t be too hard to see, it’s spring, no cold white stuff on the ground.’

Munkustrap had forgotten what Mistoffelees had told him about Snow, and she slipped out of the pipe while he was thinking, knowing that he thought he could see her easily, as he was projecting the thought into his public mind, and he was very loud.

Munkustrap heard a soft voice coming from next to Mistoffelees, and he was sure that there was no-cat there. ”Tom, let me guess, a human gave you that stupid name right? They can come up with some ridiculous names all right. Look at me, I’m known as Snow, and I’m midnight black, whereas my brother is Sooty and he’s pure white.”

Munkustrap turned at this and looked at Mistoffelees in surprise, opened his mouth to say something and was struck dumb as his eyes beheld the most graceful queen he had ever seen. She was midnight black, smaller than Mistoffelees and she had silver eyes. Now we all know how small Mistoffelees is, and this queen is about an inch smaller than he is. She wouldn’t be as big as Jemima. This queen was pure Jellicle.

Mistoffelees thought that it was funny to see his immediate leader struck dumb like this “Ah, Tom? Close your mouth, you’ll catch flies like that” Mistoffelees and Starflower dissolved into uncontrollable giggles at this.

Munkustrap was a little put out at this, as he couldn’t see what was so funny. “My lady, there is one who you really should meet. Mistoffelees she obviously knows your particular name. We must introduce her to Salem as soon as possible. He needs to know that you have found another Jellicle cat.”

“Is she really a Jellicle, Tom? You’re not just saying that to make me feel better are you?”

“No Misto, I’m pretty sure she’s a Jellicle, but we still need to check with Salem about this.”

By this time the sun was setting. Starflower noticed this and knowing that she was due somewhere else in not much time, so she gently interrupted the two toms. “Excuse me boys, but Mistoffelees and I need to get home really soon or there will be trouble. My witch is coming to collect me for a ritual just after sundown and if I’m not there she’ll panic. Not a good idea with a ritual planned. If there’s someone else I have to meet, meaning no disrespect, could we get a wriggle on please?” Looking at Mistoffelees “We’ll be back tomorrow afternoon? I don’t know about your human… well ours now I guess, but I’ll still be needed at dawn tomorrow and will need some time to recharge the batteries. I’d go by myself home, but seeing as we didn’t really take a route I could follow home I don’t know where we are. Misto! Move yourself!”

Mistoffelees shrugged “We’ll introduce you to Salem tomorrow afternoon” Then he wrapped his tail around Starflower’s and translocated them home. Unfortunately his mind had wandered just a little bit, and instead of being home, they were up a tree around the corner.

Misto immediately jumped down a little embarrassed. Starflower however, lifted herself out of the branches and fell gracefully the last few feet to the ground.

Next Afternoon – Back at the Junkyard

Old Deuteronomy was making his way to the Junkyard proper, as although “Jellicles meet once a year” he liked to check in with those that lived at the junkyard all the time. Everyone knew that he visited, so they knew when to go if they needed to see him. Anyway, Old Deuteronomy was sitting on the tyre in the sun when Starflower and Mistoffelees bounded playfully into the proper, playing a game of “Catch my shadow” and having a wonderful time.

Mistoffelees looked up as they approached the tyre and spotted Old Deuteronomy watching them. He stopped rather abruptly, a little out of breath as they had started the game when they left home, which was a good three blocks away.

“Gotcha shadow Misto! Your turn…… Why’d you stop?” Starflower looked up and noticed the old cat and knew that he was the one that she had come to meet today. After all, she’d only met one other cat with half as much charisma as this old cat, Tom, who she’d met the day before. She automatically bowed deeply to the old cat.

“Sir, this is Snow. May I introduce you with your particular name or would you prefer your family name used?”

“It is alright Mistoffelees. Munkustrap has told me of this wonderfully polite young cat. Child I am Old Deuteronomy. How are you called? Be not afraid. I am the leader of the Jellicle tribe”

Starflower wasn’t a bit scared. A little awed maybe, but not scared of this nice old cat. “Sir, my family name is Snow White. I know it doesn’t suit me but with a witch for a human you have to expect strange things like that to happen. My mother named me Starflower Light-Eyes at birth though Sir. I am honoured to meet you and I hope that I will not disappoint you in any way.”

At this Old Deuteronomy laughed. “Child, as I have only one expectation of any Jellicle, I doubt you could disappoint me in any way. All I expect is that you respect the few rules of the Jellicles, and not tell Macavity of how we are defended.”

“Sir I can do that with ease as I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Macavity. I’ve heard that there is a song about him – The Rum Tum Tugger was very talkative the day that he met my human apparently, but he only sang Mistoffelees’ song to her.”

Starflower went off a little way to bask in the sunlight. Old Deuteronomy spoke gently to Mistoffelees, “Well Mistoffelees, it looks like you have found another Jellicle Cat. Next Jellicle Ball she will be able to participate, I think she may even be able to sing your song with Tugger if you like. I really think you should introduce her to Alonzo when you run into each other. I think there may be a familial relationship there. She has his look about her.”

Mistoffelees and Starflower played in the sunshine together for a few hours, and then went home.

What happened the next day is another story, for another time.

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