| After a long tension holding over the Jellicles, the strays finally attacked. The Jellicles had known that the strays eventually would, but they�d never been sure of exactly when. They�d been sure the attack would be one hard to forget, and it was. The strays massacred the Jellicles. �Get down here!� Munkustrap called out to all the toms of the Jellicle tribe. �The strays are coming!� Chaos spread through the junkyard. The queens went to hid with the kittens, while the toms stayed out to fight. Two teen-queens refused to go to hiding. �Ria, Marajade, please!� Jennyanydots begged. �Please come into hiding.� �No way!� Ria said, shaking her head. The gray flame streaked queen kept a firm, rebellious look across her face. �Yeah,� Marajade echoed. She stood firmly by her friend. The plain black queen stared defiantly at the motherly queen. Jenny�s face held a look of pain and annoyance. �Girls, I can�t put up with this right now. You have to come!� �If the boys can fight, why can�t we?� Marajade demanded. �Because� it�s not what girls do!� Jenny looked flustered as she tried to answer the girls. �Well, it�s what these girls do,� Ria said flatly, and led her friend off. �Oh�� Jenny moaned as she put her face in her paws. �They�re going to kill me!� Ria and Marajade slipped through the junkyard to the battlefield. As the came upon it, they could hear the shouts and war cries of various cats on both sides. �Wow!� Marajade murmured as she saw the cats fighting with a fury she�d never seen. �I�ll say,� Ria murmured in reply. Her deep navy blue eyes scanned the field. �Should we try to take on that one?� she asked, pointing to a tall ginger cat. Marajade gasped. �Are you crazy?! That�s Macavity!� �I know.� A sly smile appeared on Ria�s face. �We can do it.� Her voice held more confidence than she actually felt. A smile to match Ria�s came across the small black queen�s face. �Let�s go.� She took off towards the tall ginger cat, Ria right at her heels. They attacked from behind but were easily thrown off by Macavity. They attacked again, but it was useless. Macavity turned to face them, a sneer across his face. �What cat dares to attack me from behind? Can�t face me like a real tom?� When he saw the small queens standing there, determined expressions, he laughed. �A couple of little queens? Trying to attack me?� He cuffed each of them across the shoulder. �Go home, I don�t want to hurt a little queen today.� �Who are you calling little?� Ria hissed, standing to her full height, and still being a few inches shorter than Macavity. Macavity�s eyes narrowed. �Are you going to be rude to me, or are you going to leave and go home like good little girls?� �We�re not here for just anything,� Marajade started. �We�re here to fight!� Ria yelled, jumping at Macavity again. Macavity snarled and knocked her to the ground. He placed a paw on her chest to keep her there, then he slammed Marajade to the ground and pinned her down as well. �I asked nicely,� he growled in Ria�s face, �but now I�m going to have to get mean.� Ria�s eyes were still narrowed angrily, but Marajade�s face was now full of fear. She�d always been the slightly less daring one. �Ri, maybe we should just get out of here,� Marajade said nervously. �That�s a very good idea, little one. If you just leave, then I�ll let you go.� Macavity looked expectantly at Ria for an answer. �No. We�re not backing out now.� Ria struggled under the huge paw to free herself. �Fine then.� Macavity looked briefly around, then yelled, �Scandle!� At this, a mangy brown and white cat joined them. �Yeah, boss?� he asked in a hoarse voice. �Tie these� �sweet� girls up for me.� �Sure thing, boss.� The cat darted away for a couple seconds, and came back with a second cat to help him, and some thick rope. Macavity cocked his head and studied Ria for a second. �You know what, use chains on this one,� he decided, pressing down on Ria�s chest. �She�ll probably need them.� The second cat ran off and came back a moment later with a set of chains. Ria and Marajade were then tied and chained up, which left them helpless. Two guards were set around them to keep anyone from helping them. They sat that way for the rest of the afternoon, and all they could do was wait for the battle to be over. |
| Proulogue: Battling the Strays |