Living Nightmare
March was upon the Jellicles, and it was an ordinary month, nothing exciting ever happened during March. The cool stale air blew past the black tuxedo tom. It was definitely getting warmer, but it just wasn't spring yet. The days were warmer, a lot nicer too, but the nights were still dreadfully cold. Mistoffelees wrapped his tail around his body as he perched up on top of his den. His one blue and one gold eye gazed down at the junkyard. It was still morning, though afternoon was quickly approaching. Most all of the jellicles were out playing, and Misto could only see a handful. He wasn't in a high position to see the entire yard, and he didn't need to be, it really wasn't his job. That's what the watchers were for, and Rumpus-despite his own personal dilemma, and Tantomile were doing great at their jobs. He knew they were great at their jobs, but it made him wonder why he was suddenly so intent on trying to look for the other Jellicles playing below him. What was it that was making him on edge? Watching some of the kittens down below play, he frowned trying to justify the feeling he was having. He spotted Jemima, playing with her friends, Etcetera, Electra, Rumpleteazer, Cagalli, and Victoria. Cagalli was definitely the youngest of the group, but Etcetera and Cagalli got along great, and the others didn't seem to care about Cagalli's young age. At first glance, he didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Just a group of girls giggling, talking about toms, as they played a harmless game. Though Teazer looked as though she were cheating; which again was normal-ordinary. However, Mistoffelees felt like something was terribly out of place, and gave the group of girls, as no one else was close enough for him to see, once again. This time, he definitely noticed odd behavior. Jemima. The young Black-Scarlett Calico wasn't acting normal. Her body language didn't scream that of a happy adolescent queen having fun with her friends. Though she seemed to smile everytime one of the queens looked at her, Misto saw her frown everytime they looked away. Her eyes often looked around, for something, for something off, Misto realized. He was doing the same thing, and if Coricopat was right about Jemima having some mystical power, then that was what was wrong. It had to do with something that only those with some mystical powers could detect. They didn't have to have a specific power to detect things when they were wrong; when something wasn't right all mystics got the same feeling, the feeling of anxiousness. A vague knowing that something was about to happen. Mistoffelees really only had the gift of light, and had a bit of a teleporting ability. Teleportation was still new to Mistoffelees so he got it wrong half the time. He also couldn't teleport very far, and probably wouldn't be able to, even once he learned to master that ability. Still, with just having the ability of light, Misto had still sensed something amiss. Being that he didn't know anymore then that, Mistoffelees stood up stretching, then jumped down, startling some of the queens a few feet away. The only other one Mistoffelees knew to turn to, the one he hoped would have some answers, was Coricopat.
"Have any of you seen Coricopat?"
The queens all looked to one another, and not one of them seemed to know.
"He is down in the south part of the yard. When I spoke to him earlier, oh he was so kind, but I could still hear the agitation in his voice." Came Victoria's soft voice. "Is it important, Mistoffelees?"
"I believe so. Thank you, Victoria."
He would have gave her a small touch of affection out of gratitude for her help, and if it were any other day, he would have. But he felt a certain urgency, and just couldn't take the time to show his appreciation, except to thank her. Mistoffelees closed his eyes, picturing the south wing of the yard in his minds eye. The south wing wasn't far at all, so he didn't see a problem with attempting to teleport.There was a brief sense of a floating sensation, and once he felt grounded again, he opened his eyes. Mistoffelees was in the South area of the yard, and like Victoria had said, so was Coricopat.
"I figured you'd show up eventually."
Misto nodded. "So then, you already know why I am here."
Coricopat eyed the black tuxedo, and shyly confirmed his statement with a silent nod. "I imagine all of us cats possessing gifts, have felt something odd nagging at the back of our minds."
"Do you have any idea what's wrong? What it is?"
"Not what. Who." Coricopat shook his head in disbelief,"I can't imagine who would be powerful enough to send a ripple that all of us gifted cats can sense. But I believe it is definitely someone."
"Someone..." Mistoffelees brooded over that for a second. "Is this cat in trouble?"
"That I don't know...but it's possible."
"I wonder..." Mistoffelees couldn't help but think of Gilbert, but he seemed more like he was battling his own demons, maybe his own past, not fighting off some sort of mystical ability.
Straightening up, Coricopat approached Misto,"What is it?"
"It's,...well it's nothing. Gilbert was having a rough go of things a couple months ago. I doubt he's the source of all this. I think it's his own past that is tearing him apart. So..." He shrugged,"Forget I mentioned it."
"No, it's fine. Perhaps, once we figure out who is responsible for this mystic disturbance, a couple of us can try and get through to Gilbert."
Smiling, Misto agreed. He'd feel bad and hate himself later if he passed up an opportunity to get Gilbert the help he needed.
"So how do we figure out who is the source and help?"
Thinking it over, Coricopat smiled,"That new queen, Krystalle. She might know. She's empathic, she might be able to feel who is in the most distress."
It was definitely a starting point, but Mistoffelees shuddered to think what it must feel like to experience the emotions of those around you. It had to be exhausting.
~^*^~
"You can't hide it forever, Demy. Now tell me which one of those sleazy toms did this to you."
Demeter frowned as Bombalurina pestered her. She had found out about her pregnancy a few weeks after she had told Rumpus. Right around the time she had started to show a bump. Luckily for Demeter, Bombalurina never paid any attention to gossip and rumors and stayed far away from Panthera. Otherwise, Bomba would have found out much sooner. She of course was shocked, which led to her lecturing Demeter about how she shouldn't be having sex and if she had to she needed to be safe, which finally led into Bomba hugging her-apologizing-and promising to help and support her any way she could. Jemima had been the one to point out that Demeter needed a loving sister and not one lecturing at her, so Demeter had been grateful to Jemima. Still, ever since Bombalurina found out, she had been hounding Deme about who the father was. Demeter seriously feared for the black and white tom, so had kept silent and secretive about it. And again, thanked Heavyside that Bomba stayed away from Panthera, and other gossip and rumors. However, sooner or later Bomba would figure it out, especially if Bomba came to her den one of these days, and Rumpus greeted her.
"Can't you respect my privacy and his? Why is it so important for you to know who the father is?"
"Because Demy, I want to know what low-life tom would knock up a queen barely age appropriate to bare children and then expect her to do it all herself. I know it's not Tugger. Even though you fancy him, I know you wouldn't sleep with him...he's just not your type."
Demeter frowned as Bombalurina talked. She was going back into guessing mode. Useless, Demeter wasn't going to confirm or deny any of Bomba's guesses, but she still continued to try. Though, she was right about Tugger, she liked Tugger, but sleeping with him just didn't sound all that satisfying. He was all about the fun, and sexual gratification, nothing loving or tender about his one night stands; or so she had been told by a number of queens.
"Munkustrap wouldn't cheat on me, so it can't be him. Oh, is it Alonzo? Tell me now Demy, I'll go give that patchy tom a piece of my mind."
"Would you just leave it alone?" Demeter sighed.
"Alright...Tumblebrutus then? He's more your type, though I've always pegged him as a gentlemen, plus he's a little on the shy side." She shook her head, trying to eliminate the other shy toms in the yard. They were too shy to make a move, let alone sleep with her little sister. "Asparagus Jr? He's a few years older then you, but he would definitely be more loving then Tugger. Though abandoning the queen to do it all alone is hardly loving."
"Demeter...Oh, Bombalurina...It's nice to see you. Nice?" Rumpus had entered Demeters den, then looked to Demeter asking her if it was nice. "No? Ah."
Bombalurina wasn't stupid, and Rumpus knew in about two seconds she'd piece it together. And she did, the realization dawned on her face, both cats could see it happening. She had guessed Rumpus once, but eliminated him, believing the tom was too good and too much of a gentlemen to engage in a one night stand. Had she been wrong.
"You? You're the jerk who got my little sister pregnant! Aren't you? Why else would you just barge into her den unannounced?"
Rumpus ears flattened, and he gave her a confused look. He had a feeling this wasn't going to be a happy experience. A claw popped out on one of her fingers and that had him speaking, quickly.
"Now look Bombalurina. I know you're upset, but shouldn't this be calmly talked over."
"Ohhh calmly talked over? Like you calmly talked my little sister into sleeping with you, hmmm?"
"That's ridiculous."
Bomba pointed her clawed finger at him, and jabbed him in the chest. "You listen to me. How dare you sweet talk your way into my sisters bed, get her pregnant and then not mate with her and support her. You abandoned her! I have no-"
"Bomba, leave him alone." Demeter grabbed her sister's arm. "I'm not the naive helpless little sister who needs you to protect me anymore."
Rumpus swatted away Bomba's clawed finger, frowning as he rubbed his chest where she had jabbed him.
Demeter continued,"You're all wrong. He didn't manipulate me into sleeping with him, I invited him into my bed and the first time he had said no. I was the one who convinced him. Secondly, he did propose to become my mate but I said no. Even after I said no, he still vowed to help me through this. So just leave him alone."
Bomba let it all sink in and finally she turned around, her eyes glaring down at Demeter. "You convinced him to sleep with you, and then rejected his proposal to become mates? What if he had simply just took that answer and then left you to do this on your own. Are you insane?!"
Rumpus hated that Demeter was upset, and almost scolded Bomba for upsetting the golden queen. Demeter was pregnant and didn't need this sort of talk and stress in her life. She had enough to deal with.
"Bomba." Rumpus warned. "She's not a little girl anymore. She can make her own decisions, and has. She knows and understands that there are consequences to those decisions. Not to mention she has full support and help from Jenny, Jemima, myself...and you."
It was unspoken, but Bomba caught on that he was only calming her down for Demeter's sake, and as much as she hated to admit it, he was right. She did need to be calm for Demeter. Nodding her head, she apologized to Demeter. Rumpus grinned when he saw a shy smile creep onto Demeter's face. He crossed over to her, wrapping her up in his arms, one of his paws going down to rub her baby bump. They'd be greeting their baby in a couple months, and Rumpus was both excited, anxious, and scared at the same time.
Bomba gave the pair a small smile,"So, is there anything...I can do for you Demy?"
Demeter gave Rumpus a look, and he gave her his silent approval.
"Well not at the moment, but Rumpus and I were going to make some dinner in a couple hours. Would you like to join us, maybe? Ummm...Munkustrap can come as well, if he's not busy."
Bombalurina grinned at that,"He might be busy, but I'll ask him. I'll definitely be over here for dinner."
~^*^~
Etcetera had been a little bummed out when Admetus pulled her away from her friends, but upon seeing her other brother George, who she clung to, she saw her father. She didn't remember much about her mother, she had died shortly after she was born, a little over three (human) years ago. She waved at her father, and giving George one last hug, she flew into Old Deuteronomy's arms. Admetus and George stood a little off to the side, and George only gave his younger sister a shake of his head. He loved her, but she was hard to handle on certain days. Gus sat nearby, and Cettie barely noticed. Deut's two sons noticed, and didn't think much of Gus being in Deut's den, the two grew up together and were good friends after all. They weren't rude however, as the two had greeted both their father and Gus when they had arrived. Etcetera was snuggled in the warmth of her father's arms, when a knock on the door was heard.
"Come in." Deuteronomy beamed.
Gus was nervous about the whole thing, but Deuteronomy seemed to be more relaxed when he decided to talk to his kids about his new mate first, before coming out to the entire tribe about it. Gus figured if Deuteronomy was going to tell his children, that Gus should, and they had decided to tell them all together, get it all over with, as quickly as possible. Asparagus and Jellylorum entered the den of their leader, and immediately confusion set in their faces. All of Deuteronomy's children, least the ones who were still in the junkyard, were in the den, and so was their own father.
"Wow...It's one big gathering of families. Is Bustopher's family showing up next?" Asparagus tried to joke, but he felt as though Deuteronomy brought him there for a reason and he wasn't about to like it.
Jelly only shook her head,"Good afternoon father."
Smiling, he gave her his paw in greeting. Asparagus nodded,"Father...Leader."
"Sit down, all of you. If you want."
Asparagus fidgeted, sitting down, usually meant big news. He sat down, and though Jelly didn't sit down, she stood up behind Asparagus, her paw resting on his shoulder. Cettie continued to sit down in Deut's lap. George sat down, and Admetus preferred to stand. Breathing loudly, Deuteronomy gave his two sons a hard look. He hoped they'd be okay with his new relationship. He already knew Cettie wouldn't completely understand and would probably accept that Gus would be her step-father, or 'second daddy' without a seconds thought.
"I brought....no, that's not exactly right. We..." He gestured between himself and Gus,"Brought you here, because we have something to tell all of you."
Gus gave Asparagus and Jelly his attention, and continued where his Deut left off. "We, well we're a couple, in love...we wanted to let you five know before we announced it publicly."
Asparagus snorted,"This is...some sort of joke, right? You two...in love?"
He would have laughed, if Deuteronomy and Gus didn't look as serious as they did. But how was he suppose to take such news? His father always did have a bit of his eccentricities and did joke around often.
"No Asparagus. I love your father, and I want to be with him till the day I die. I hope you can understand that, that you can accept that."
Jelly jumped in, and Deut wasn't sure if he was grateful his kids were remaining silent, or if he should be worried. "So how long as this been going on? I mean, just to out of the blue claim you love each other? Seems fast to me."
Deut shook his head,"We use to date, back when we were teenagers, but you all know we would have been exiled for having those thoughts and urges towards one another back then. We did end things, but I suppose the feelings we had toward each other never fully went away."
Gus nodded his head,"I fell in love with Deut, back then, and I never really stopped loving him."
"Woah, okay..." Asparagus shot up to his feet, anger replacing his previous confused and shocked face. "You never stopped? So that thing with mom....was what just a way to drown out your unrequited love with Old Deuteronomy. Then after she died and the Leader's mates died, you just figured that was your chance to get back with your 'True' love?"
Gus ears flattened. "Son, you know that's not true."
"Oh just...stop." He turned to Jelly, the anger still bubbling on the surface. "Congrats little Sister. You and I are the result of some rebounded mistake."
Growling low in his throat he turned to leave, going there had been a mistake. As soon as her brother left, she forced a small smile. "Sorry, he...I think you just took him by surprise. He likes to jump to conclusions. He's a lot like....mother."
She had to admit, it felt weird mentioning her dear dead mother in the presence, of apparently, Gus' new male mate. She wasn't angry, but she did understand why Asparagus felt the way he did. If Gus had always loved Deuteronomy, then what did he feel about their mother? Did he love her? And even if he did, wasn't she still considered second best to Deuteronomy. She tried to give her approval, but when she saw Deut grasp Gus' paw in his own, it just got too weird and uncomfortable for her.
"Jelly?" Gus asked, pleading that she wouldn't flee, that at least she would try to make an effort to accept and respect his relationship with Deuteronomy. She looked more like her mother, but she got most of her understanding personality from Gus himself.
"I....can't. I have to check on Asparagus. He needs me right now." She mumbled another sorry and then she too left.
Deuteronomy hesitated to see the reaction on his own children's faces, and was grateful when Gus' paw squeezed his in reassurance. Cettie of course watched their interaction with interest, and spoke up first, once the other two loud jellicles-Jellylorum & Asparagus- were gone.
"So you two are together?" She pressed two of her fingers together, making a kissing noise.
Deuteronomy couldn't help but to smile at his youngest daughter. "Yes, Etcetera."
She giggled, getting up and flinging her arms around Gus' neck. "Well if that's all you wanted to say, I can go back and play, right?"
When Deuteronomy nodded, she kissed Gus' cheek,"Bye other daddy."
She ran out quickly to go play with her friends again. George only chuckled. "Father, you do not need to worry about whether or not Admetus and I will accept your relationship. For starters, it's your life, your feelings. Only you can determine if what you feel for Gus is true, and only you can decide to be with him. Our own opinions shouldn't matter."
With that said, he gave his father a small hug,"Aside from all that, I'm really happy for you. It's been a long time since I've seen you truly happy." Turning to Gus he raised an eyebrow,"Don't hurt him."
Gus, though still upset over his own children's reactions, felt a little more relaxed. Having the approval of his mates children was enough to ease any worries he had over his future relationship with Deut. His mate, he said once more in his head. He liked the sound of that. "I won't." He promised George.
"You don't even need to ask my opinion." Admetus commented, giving his approval in his own way. Though he did add,"I know how much you loved mom, and I know she'd be happy that you've moved on and someone you can love again."
Deut smiled and dragged his oldest son down into a hug. As soon as Admetus pulled away from the hug, he smiled when Gus and Deut moved closer together.
"I'm sorry, Gus, about Jelly and Asparagus."
"Don't be Deut. I expected a much worse reaction between the two of them. I'm sure they'll come around eventually."
There was a look shared between them, but a small shy knock sounded just outside the den. George got up and walked over to the door, opening it slightly. Krystalle gave the young tabby a glance, before remembering he was a son of the Jellicle Leader. Poking her head inside, the tall black queen bit her bottom lip. "I am sorry to interrupt you, Leader."
"Oh please, come in. What's the matter?"
She observed the others in the den upon entering it. It didn't take long for her to pick up on the overwhelming emotion between Gus and Old Deuteronomy. There was a smile of understanding, acknowledgment and approval on her face. She had been surprised and relieved when she had met a few other Jellicles with 'abilities' and she didn't feel as out of place as she first thought she would.
"Um." She took a breath,"I felt something last month, and it's only been getting stronger. I didn't know who else to go to, but I feel so much pain, confusion..."
A paw went up to her head, and in a moment of dizziness, she found herself being steadied by Admetus. Shyly, she smiled up at him and he patted her shoulder. He did let go of her, but she noticed that he stood by her in case she wasn't completely firm on her feet.
Gus frowned, wondering if it had anything to do with his vision a month ago. "Do you think..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but didn't have to, Deuteronomy picked up on it and understood. "Gus here got a vision last month, it could be related to whatever it is you're feeling. Gus...You still haven't told me anything about it. Just that you had felt suffocated."
The older tom took a deep breath,"I was in a never-ending hallway. There was numerous doors, and all at once the doors opened. There was so many voices, I couldn't think, couldn't breathe...The noise was just so painful."
Krystalle froze when Gus mentioned, 'voices', but in another moment forced herself to relax. This wasn't about her, and she wanted to find out who it was, she wanted to help if she could. Suddenly, she felt it, and she would have fallen to the ground if Admetus hadn't caught her in his arms. Gasping out loud, she clutched her head. "I...It's...I feel him. Oh it's so much pain."
The other toms stood up in alarm, but it was Admetus who tried to shake Krystalle. "Krystalle, hey snap out of it. It's not your pain, it's some one elses. Focus."
Krystalle licked her lips, concentrating on Admetus, trying to focus. Blinking, she gasped,"G..Gilbert. Oh heavyside, It's Gilbert."
"George." Admetus gestured.
George moved over and took Krystalle into his arms, allowing Admetus to move. Stealing a glance at his father and his father's mate, he didn't have to say anything. He was a Guardian after all, going off to help and protect others in the yard was what he did.
Deuteronomy nodded," We can take care of Krystalle."
With that, Admetus left the den in a hurry, seeking out Gilbert, and assuming the tom was still somewhere in the junkyard.
~^*^~
Gllenning walked aimlessly around the yard, a completely normal thing for him. He was a restless sort of tom, always had to be moving around. It didn't really come as a surprise when he ran into a young cream colored calico. The name was on the tip of the Abyssinian's tongue. Gilbert, Gilbert had to be the toms name. With a broad smile, Glen wandered over to Gilbert.
"Hey buddy." Glen easily placed a paw on the toms shoulder.
Things had been building up inside his mind for quite some time. Time though had been one of the first concepts that Gilbert lost, once the noise in his head became too unbearable for him. However, that touch, that simple little gesture seemed to trigger something deep within himself. He gasped out, as a rush of images he had never seen before came at him.
** ** **
He stood, shivering in the cold, still a young kitten. His frightful eyes looked all around, the setting unfamiliar to him. Streets, streets were off in the distance, and he could hear a loud car zoom by in the distance. Couldn't have been too far, because the noise had hurt his ears. All he could remember thinking at that point was that he needed to find his mother. He remembered going to be beside her, and now here he was. His mother wouldn't leave him, he couldn't believe that. With his fluffly tail wrapped around his ankle, he started to walk toward the sound on the streets. That seemed like the best place to look really. All the way, he had hesitated and his movements were slow, but as soon as he reached the black tar of the road he ran quickly across, and stopped on the other side. There were other cats, just a few, around. None of them were his mother, but it didn't stop him from calling out.
"Mommy. Mommy where are you?!"
** ** **
The sorrow in Gilbert's eyes was the main thing that alerted Glen, and his smile vanished quite quickly. He was out of it, and though by all rights the young tom looked like he was in some sort of trance, or about to have a psychotic break, didn't stop Glen from caring. In fact those types of cats were the ones who needed the most help and no one wanted to, they all kept their distance from the crazy ones.
"Gilbert." His paw was rubbing his shoulder, hoping that would snap him out of whatever he was into and would calm him down.
It didn't, naturally, and when he heard Gilbert call out for his mother, Glen gave him a confused stare. Something about it had seemed familiar, but he chalked it up to his own paranoia. Glen still held onto Gilbert, but stood in front of him, kneeling slightly so that Gilbert could look into his eyes.
"I don't know where your mother is...but I'm sure she's out there somewhere. We can find her for you." Glen knew or suspected Gilbert wouldn't hear him, but he wanted to try. To try and get through to the tom. Come on, Come on....Glen silently pleaded.
** ** **
"Oi...hey hey...stop trying to man-handle me. And you did not just touch my hair." He gasped a bit too dramatically. "Do you know how long it takes to get this fine looking hair just right? I don't want to brag, but it was perfect."
His rambling was cut off the moment two bigger toms threw him into a cell. He groaned out when he felt the back of his head hit the hard wall behind him. He went to rub the back of his neck, hearing the click of the lock on the cell door. The two brutes walked off, probably annoyed by him. Alone again. Well he thought so, but another Hex had appeared, one of more importance. He was a white and silver tom who only gazed at him with indifference.
His eyes had lit up at another cat to talk to, even though he knew this one would probably end up torturing him, he craved on someone else he could communicate with. "What's this then? You planning on roughing me up a bit, throwing me in a cage and locking me away? Well you're too late. Ha!"
He stood up a little surprised that his little tirade hadn't gotten any sort of reaction from the tom. Very strange indeed. The tall white tom only shook his head.
"I don't plan on doing anything to you. Aside from isolating you...maybe you'll be more cooperative when you're crying out in hunger." He leaned his face closer to the bars, catching his paw from scratching him. "Take a good look, this is the last face you'll be able to see and talk to for a while."
** ** **
Realization dawned on Glen, now THAT was definitely familiar. He remembered being thrown in a cage and 'bragging' about it as it were. Not one of his better moments, but it helped him keep his spirits up, at the time. Was it possible? That Gilbert was reliving his memories. That Gilbert himself probably wasn't even sure what exactly was happening to him? He had seen some weird things, both on the streets and in the junkyard, so he had to assume it was possible. Those words, were word for word, it was too right to be just a coincidence.
"Oh Gilbert...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
And he was, especially when he saw Gilbert start to come around, to snap out of whatever it was that he was in. Glen didn't really get into the whole mystical thing. Oh he believed in those Mystic Jellicles abilities and trusted in those jellicles, but he really knew nothing when it came down to special gifts, certain cats get. So he wasn't sure he could help, and this killed him. Gilbert's ice blue eyes blinked, and his one paw was back to his head, the memories and thoughts still swirling around in his brain. He had heard something about 'mystic cats', and 'couldn't help'. But the memories, because that's what they had to be, but Gilbert couldn't remember those things ever happening to him. Did they? They were so real, as if they were his memories.
"So...much..." He gripped his head, searching for a word. With so many in his head, it was difficult for him to concentrate. "Loneliness."
Glen gritted his teeth,"I know. I'm sorry."
He hadn't meant for Gilbert to see all those memories but there was nothing anyone of them could do now. He pulled Gilbert into an embrace, and before Gilbert even knew what was happening, he was holding onto Glen tightly. He still didn't fully comprehend what was happening to him, but Glen, for some reason he felt oddly connected to Glen. As if he knew Glen at a deeper level then anyone else would. That and, Glen was the only one that he felt almost sane around. He was holding onto his last strain of sanity, and he feared what would happen if he left go. Glen started to comfort him, but only minutes after holding Gilbert, there was a definite change in the toms emotions. His body stiffened under his embrace, and he could feel the tom sob.
"No..." Gilbert shook his head, trying to bury it in Glen's chest.
Glen had been about to ask what was wrong, when he heard others. They were close by and Glen frowned. Was it happening all over again, but with the memories of others, instead of Glen?
"Whats...what's happening to me?" Gilbert spoke quietly, but it was still forced; it sounded like it had been a struggled just to ask that question.
Mistoffelees, Tantomile, Admetus, and Alonzo walked into view.
"Looks like Glen's got him."
Glen heard Gilbert whimper, probably memories of the four now filling his head. Of course, he was only guessing, due to what happened with him and Glen. He shook his head at the four.
"Please, just keep your distance. I don't...completely understand the mystic types, or whats happening to Gilbert, but he's got a chunk-ful of my memories, maybe all of them in his head. You four, coming near him, I think he's starting to relive all of your memories as well."
Tantomile turned to Misto,"Is that even possible?"
He shrugged,"I'm not sure. This is more Coricopat's area of expertise."
Alonzo only sighed, looking at Gilbert's shaking form. He did feel sorry for the tom, but avoiding him hadn't helped him thus far. "We can't continue to avoid him. He needs help, and if he is a mystic then he needs proper training. We have to get closer to him."
"I'm just saying,...I don't think he'll go with you. Willingly. He's too confused...." He didn't mention that Gilbert was most likely in pain as well, because, that was moot. It was obvious to all of them how much pain the tom was in.
Alonzo nodded to Admetus, who started to go around, to cut off Gilbert's escape, if he chose to run. Alonzo on the other hand started to get closer to Gilbert from the opposite direction. "Misto, teleport to the infirmary. See if Jenny can administer a sedative."
Gilbert froze up, understanding what was about to happen, but another couple steps on Alonzo's part, and Gilbert felt more images rush at him. He cried out, but it was too late. He was already seeing himself with two other toms, a mostly black tom with a little bit of red on his face, and a tom that he recognized as Rumpus cat. He was being clingy to the unfamiliar tom-who still seemed familiar, and he realized it had to be his brother, and Rumpus was off to the side a little injured-still alive but he wasn't moving. Someone else was taking his brother away, and as much as he tried to stop them from taking him away, they still did. At the sound of Gilbert crying out for them to not take away his brother, Alonzo paused. That sounded like a memory he had since buried in his mind, a memory Rumpus can't remember due to a head injury. Gilbert pushed Glen aside due to the emotions the memory gave him and stood up, staggering. Mistoffelees had teleported away, and Tantomile was asking him if there was anything she could do.
"Just keep your distance for now. Maybe he won't get any of your memories if you do that. Any more memories would probably only confuse him more and I can only imagine the types of emotional reactions that would have on Gilbert."
She nodded her head numbly, looking at Gilbert sadly. The last thing he would need was a bunch of queen memories in his mind that would lead to him questioning if he was really a tom or not. Did he only see memories? There were so many questions in her mind. Luckily, she didn't have to wait long. Mistoffelees teleported back in, right behind Gilbert. His eyes widened and he sank to his knees.
"Too many!" Gilbert cried. "It's too much."
Mistoffelees whispered a sorry, as he grabbed the toms shoulder and pushed the needle into his skin. He went to move to stop Mistoffelees, but Alonzo moved in and held him down, Admetus coming up from behind. Gilbert shouted out some more, more memories and thoughts filling his head. Misto injected the sedative and then withdrew the needle. Tears fell down Gilbert's cheeks, and then he slumped backward, being supported by Mistoffelees. His eyes fluttered closed.
"Just rest Gilbert." Misto coaxed.
It wouldn't be long before it wore off. However, he hoped Jenny would be willing to keep him mildly sedated for a little while. At least until they could figure out a way to help Gilbert build up his own mental shields. He didn't know if Jenny would approve of him sedating Gilbert in the first place. She hadn't been there; Noilly had been. She understood it was an emergency, but she was probably already doing the polite thing and informing Jenny what she had done. Gllenning came over, his paw brushing away some of the locks of hair off of Gilbert's face.
"Will he be okay?"
"I hope so."
"But you don't think so?"
"I don't know if he will be."
Tantomile agreed, walking closer towards them. "Even if he does learn to build up shields to block out memories...isn't the damage already done? I mean I don't know how many extra memories he's got in his head, but he's got a bit of memories from Glen, Alonzo, Admetus, and Mistofelees. That's too many. Won't he be confused about who he really is and which are his memories and which aren't?"
Mistoffelees frowned, why couldn't he have sensed something was really wrong with Gilbert a couple months ago? Why couldn't he have known Gilbert was just starting to develop mystic abilities? If he had known he could have helped Gilbert build up defenses before any of this had happened.
"Sounds like that could happen." Misto frowned,"But I'm sure there's a way to weed out those memories or get rid of them?"
"I don't know, none of us has ever had a problem like this before. I'll talk to my brother. Coricopat might know something though."
The group agreed, and Glen was the one who lifted Gilbert into his arms.
"I'll talk to Jenny about finding him a relatively isolated bed in the infirmary. If he wakes up with a bunch of Jellicles around..."
Alonzo didn't finish his sentence, but they all knew what he was implying. The group headed to the infirmary, hoping that there would be a way to help the unconscious tom. Glen took one last glance at Gilbert, before following behind the others.
--- ---
Back To Year One
To Year One Fanart
"Have any of you seen Coricopat?"
The queens all looked to one another, and not one of them seemed to know.
"He is down in the south part of the yard. When I spoke to him earlier, oh he was so kind, but I could still hear the agitation in his voice." Came Victoria's soft voice. "Is it important, Mistoffelees?"
"I believe so. Thank you, Victoria."
He would have gave her a small touch of affection out of gratitude for her help, and if it were any other day, he would have. But he felt a certain urgency, and just couldn't take the time to show his appreciation, except to thank her. Mistoffelees closed his eyes, picturing the south wing of the yard in his minds eye. The south wing wasn't far at all, so he didn't see a problem with attempting to teleport.There was a brief sense of a floating sensation, and once he felt grounded again, he opened his eyes. Mistoffelees was in the South area of the yard, and like Victoria had said, so was Coricopat.
"I figured you'd show up eventually."
Misto nodded. "So then, you already know why I am here."
Coricopat eyed the black tuxedo, and shyly confirmed his statement with a silent nod. "I imagine all of us cats possessing gifts, have felt something odd nagging at the back of our minds."
"Do you have any idea what's wrong? What it is?"
"Not what. Who." Coricopat shook his head in disbelief,"I can't imagine who would be powerful enough to send a ripple that all of us gifted cats can sense. But I believe it is definitely someone."
"Someone..." Mistoffelees brooded over that for a second. "Is this cat in trouble?"
"That I don't know...but it's possible."
"I wonder..." Mistoffelees couldn't help but think of Gilbert, but he seemed more like he was battling his own demons, maybe his own past, not fighting off some sort of mystical ability.
Straightening up, Coricopat approached Misto,"What is it?"
"It's,...well it's nothing. Gilbert was having a rough go of things a couple months ago. I doubt he's the source of all this. I think it's his own past that is tearing him apart. So..." He shrugged,"Forget I mentioned it."
"No, it's fine. Perhaps, once we figure out who is responsible for this mystic disturbance, a couple of us can try and get through to Gilbert."
Smiling, Misto agreed. He'd feel bad and hate himself later if he passed up an opportunity to get Gilbert the help he needed.
"So how do we figure out who is the source and help?"
Thinking it over, Coricopat smiled,"That new queen, Krystalle. She might know. She's empathic, she might be able to feel who is in the most distress."
It was definitely a starting point, but Mistoffelees shuddered to think what it must feel like to experience the emotions of those around you. It had to be exhausting.
~^*^~
"You can't hide it forever, Demy. Now tell me which one of those sleazy toms did this to you."
Demeter frowned as Bombalurina pestered her. She had found out about her pregnancy a few weeks after she had told Rumpus. Right around the time she had started to show a bump. Luckily for Demeter, Bombalurina never paid any attention to gossip and rumors and stayed far away from Panthera. Otherwise, Bomba would have found out much sooner. She of course was shocked, which led to her lecturing Demeter about how she shouldn't be having sex and if she had to she needed to be safe, which finally led into Bomba hugging her-apologizing-and promising to help and support her any way she could. Jemima had been the one to point out that Demeter needed a loving sister and not one lecturing at her, so Demeter had been grateful to Jemima. Still, ever since Bombalurina found out, she had been hounding Deme about who the father was. Demeter seriously feared for the black and white tom, so had kept silent and secretive about it. And again, thanked Heavyside that Bomba stayed away from Panthera, and other gossip and rumors. However, sooner or later Bomba would figure it out, especially if Bomba came to her den one of these days, and Rumpus greeted her.
"Can't you respect my privacy and his? Why is it so important for you to know who the father is?"
"Because Demy, I want to know what low-life tom would knock up a queen barely age appropriate to bare children and then expect her to do it all herself. I know it's not Tugger. Even though you fancy him, I know you wouldn't sleep with him...he's just not your type."
Demeter frowned as Bombalurina talked. She was going back into guessing mode. Useless, Demeter wasn't going to confirm or deny any of Bomba's guesses, but she still continued to try. Though, she was right about Tugger, she liked Tugger, but sleeping with him just didn't sound all that satisfying. He was all about the fun, and sexual gratification, nothing loving or tender about his one night stands; or so she had been told by a number of queens.
"Munkustrap wouldn't cheat on me, so it can't be him. Oh, is it Alonzo? Tell me now Demy, I'll go give that patchy tom a piece of my mind."
"Would you just leave it alone?" Demeter sighed.
"Alright...Tumblebrutus then? He's more your type, though I've always pegged him as a gentlemen, plus he's a little on the shy side." She shook her head, trying to eliminate the other shy toms in the yard. They were too shy to make a move, let alone sleep with her little sister. "Asparagus Jr? He's a few years older then you, but he would definitely be more loving then Tugger. Though abandoning the queen to do it all alone is hardly loving."
"Demeter...Oh, Bombalurina...It's nice to see you. Nice?" Rumpus had entered Demeters den, then looked to Demeter asking her if it was nice. "No? Ah."
Bombalurina wasn't stupid, and Rumpus knew in about two seconds she'd piece it together. And she did, the realization dawned on her face, both cats could see it happening. She had guessed Rumpus once, but eliminated him, believing the tom was too good and too much of a gentlemen to engage in a one night stand. Had she been wrong.
"You? You're the jerk who got my little sister pregnant! Aren't you? Why else would you just barge into her den unannounced?"
Rumpus ears flattened, and he gave her a confused look. He had a feeling this wasn't going to be a happy experience. A claw popped out on one of her fingers and that had him speaking, quickly.
"Now look Bombalurina. I know you're upset, but shouldn't this be calmly talked over."
"Ohhh calmly talked over? Like you calmly talked my little sister into sleeping with you, hmmm?"
"That's ridiculous."
Bomba pointed her clawed finger at him, and jabbed him in the chest. "You listen to me. How dare you sweet talk your way into my sisters bed, get her pregnant and then not mate with her and support her. You abandoned her! I have no-"
"Bomba, leave him alone." Demeter grabbed her sister's arm. "I'm not the naive helpless little sister who needs you to protect me anymore."
Rumpus swatted away Bomba's clawed finger, frowning as he rubbed his chest where she had jabbed him.
Demeter continued,"You're all wrong. He didn't manipulate me into sleeping with him, I invited him into my bed and the first time he had said no. I was the one who convinced him. Secondly, he did propose to become my mate but I said no. Even after I said no, he still vowed to help me through this. So just leave him alone."
Bomba let it all sink in and finally she turned around, her eyes glaring down at Demeter. "You convinced him to sleep with you, and then rejected his proposal to become mates? What if he had simply just took that answer and then left you to do this on your own. Are you insane?!"
Rumpus hated that Demeter was upset, and almost scolded Bomba for upsetting the golden queen. Demeter was pregnant and didn't need this sort of talk and stress in her life. She had enough to deal with.
"Bomba." Rumpus warned. "She's not a little girl anymore. She can make her own decisions, and has. She knows and understands that there are consequences to those decisions. Not to mention she has full support and help from Jenny, Jemima, myself...and you."
It was unspoken, but Bomba caught on that he was only calming her down for Demeter's sake, and as much as she hated to admit it, he was right. She did need to be calm for Demeter. Nodding her head, she apologized to Demeter. Rumpus grinned when he saw a shy smile creep onto Demeter's face. He crossed over to her, wrapping her up in his arms, one of his paws going down to rub her baby bump. They'd be greeting their baby in a couple months, and Rumpus was both excited, anxious, and scared at the same time.
Bomba gave the pair a small smile,"So, is there anything...I can do for you Demy?"
Demeter gave Rumpus a look, and he gave her his silent approval.
"Well not at the moment, but Rumpus and I were going to make some dinner in a couple hours. Would you like to join us, maybe? Ummm...Munkustrap can come as well, if he's not busy."
Bombalurina grinned at that,"He might be busy, but I'll ask him. I'll definitely be over here for dinner."
~^*^~
Etcetera had been a little bummed out when Admetus pulled her away from her friends, but upon seeing her other brother George, who she clung to, she saw her father. She didn't remember much about her mother, she had died shortly after she was born, a little over three (human) years ago. She waved at her father, and giving George one last hug, she flew into Old Deuteronomy's arms. Admetus and George stood a little off to the side, and George only gave his younger sister a shake of his head. He loved her, but she was hard to handle on certain days. Gus sat nearby, and Cettie barely noticed. Deut's two sons noticed, and didn't think much of Gus being in Deut's den, the two grew up together and were good friends after all. They weren't rude however, as the two had greeted both their father and Gus when they had arrived. Etcetera was snuggled in the warmth of her father's arms, when a knock on the door was heard.
"Come in." Deuteronomy beamed.
Gus was nervous about the whole thing, but Deuteronomy seemed to be more relaxed when he decided to talk to his kids about his new mate first, before coming out to the entire tribe about it. Gus figured if Deuteronomy was going to tell his children, that Gus should, and they had decided to tell them all together, get it all over with, as quickly as possible. Asparagus and Jellylorum entered the den of their leader, and immediately confusion set in their faces. All of Deuteronomy's children, least the ones who were still in the junkyard, were in the den, and so was their own father.
"Wow...It's one big gathering of families. Is Bustopher's family showing up next?" Asparagus tried to joke, but he felt as though Deuteronomy brought him there for a reason and he wasn't about to like it.
Jelly only shook her head,"Good afternoon father."
Smiling, he gave her his paw in greeting. Asparagus nodded,"Father...Leader."
"Sit down, all of you. If you want."
Asparagus fidgeted, sitting down, usually meant big news. He sat down, and though Jelly didn't sit down, she stood up behind Asparagus, her paw resting on his shoulder. Cettie continued to sit down in Deut's lap. George sat down, and Admetus preferred to stand. Breathing loudly, Deuteronomy gave his two sons a hard look. He hoped they'd be okay with his new relationship. He already knew Cettie wouldn't completely understand and would probably accept that Gus would be her step-father, or 'second daddy' without a seconds thought.
"I brought....no, that's not exactly right. We..." He gestured between himself and Gus,"Brought you here, because we have something to tell all of you."
Gus gave Asparagus and Jelly his attention, and continued where his Deut left off. "We, well we're a couple, in love...we wanted to let you five know before we announced it publicly."
Asparagus snorted,"This is...some sort of joke, right? You two...in love?"
He would have laughed, if Deuteronomy and Gus didn't look as serious as they did. But how was he suppose to take such news? His father always did have a bit of his eccentricities and did joke around often.
"No Asparagus. I love your father, and I want to be with him till the day I die. I hope you can understand that, that you can accept that."
Jelly jumped in, and Deut wasn't sure if he was grateful his kids were remaining silent, or if he should be worried. "So how long as this been going on? I mean, just to out of the blue claim you love each other? Seems fast to me."
Deut shook his head,"We use to date, back when we were teenagers, but you all know we would have been exiled for having those thoughts and urges towards one another back then. We did end things, but I suppose the feelings we had toward each other never fully went away."
Gus nodded his head,"I fell in love with Deut, back then, and I never really stopped loving him."
"Woah, okay..." Asparagus shot up to his feet, anger replacing his previous confused and shocked face. "You never stopped? So that thing with mom....was what just a way to drown out your unrequited love with Old Deuteronomy. Then after she died and the Leader's mates died, you just figured that was your chance to get back with your 'True' love?"
Gus ears flattened. "Son, you know that's not true."
"Oh just...stop." He turned to Jelly, the anger still bubbling on the surface. "Congrats little Sister. You and I are the result of some rebounded mistake."
Growling low in his throat he turned to leave, going there had been a mistake. As soon as her brother left, she forced a small smile. "Sorry, he...I think you just took him by surprise. He likes to jump to conclusions. He's a lot like....mother."
She had to admit, it felt weird mentioning her dear dead mother in the presence, of apparently, Gus' new male mate. She wasn't angry, but she did understand why Asparagus felt the way he did. If Gus had always loved Deuteronomy, then what did he feel about their mother? Did he love her? And even if he did, wasn't she still considered second best to Deuteronomy. She tried to give her approval, but when she saw Deut grasp Gus' paw in his own, it just got too weird and uncomfortable for her.
"Jelly?" Gus asked, pleading that she wouldn't flee, that at least she would try to make an effort to accept and respect his relationship with Deuteronomy. She looked more like her mother, but she got most of her understanding personality from Gus himself.
"I....can't. I have to check on Asparagus. He needs me right now." She mumbled another sorry and then she too left.
Deuteronomy hesitated to see the reaction on his own children's faces, and was grateful when Gus' paw squeezed his in reassurance. Cettie of course watched their interaction with interest, and spoke up first, once the other two loud jellicles-Jellylorum & Asparagus- were gone.
"So you two are together?" She pressed two of her fingers together, making a kissing noise.
Deuteronomy couldn't help but to smile at his youngest daughter. "Yes, Etcetera."
She giggled, getting up and flinging her arms around Gus' neck. "Well if that's all you wanted to say, I can go back and play, right?"
When Deuteronomy nodded, she kissed Gus' cheek,"Bye other daddy."
She ran out quickly to go play with her friends again. George only chuckled. "Father, you do not need to worry about whether or not Admetus and I will accept your relationship. For starters, it's your life, your feelings. Only you can determine if what you feel for Gus is true, and only you can decide to be with him. Our own opinions shouldn't matter."
With that said, he gave his father a small hug,"Aside from all that, I'm really happy for you. It's been a long time since I've seen you truly happy." Turning to Gus he raised an eyebrow,"Don't hurt him."
Gus, though still upset over his own children's reactions, felt a little more relaxed. Having the approval of his mates children was enough to ease any worries he had over his future relationship with Deut. His mate, he said once more in his head. He liked the sound of that. "I won't." He promised George.
"You don't even need to ask my opinion." Admetus commented, giving his approval in his own way. Though he did add,"I know how much you loved mom, and I know she'd be happy that you've moved on and someone you can love again."
Deut smiled and dragged his oldest son down into a hug. As soon as Admetus pulled away from the hug, he smiled when Gus and Deut moved closer together.
"I'm sorry, Gus, about Jelly and Asparagus."
"Don't be Deut. I expected a much worse reaction between the two of them. I'm sure they'll come around eventually."
There was a look shared between them, but a small shy knock sounded just outside the den. George got up and walked over to the door, opening it slightly. Krystalle gave the young tabby a glance, before remembering he was a son of the Jellicle Leader. Poking her head inside, the tall black queen bit her bottom lip. "I am sorry to interrupt you, Leader."
"Oh please, come in. What's the matter?"
She observed the others in the den upon entering it. It didn't take long for her to pick up on the overwhelming emotion between Gus and Old Deuteronomy. There was a smile of understanding, acknowledgment and approval on her face. She had been surprised and relieved when she had met a few other Jellicles with 'abilities' and she didn't feel as out of place as she first thought she would.
"Um." She took a breath,"I felt something last month, and it's only been getting stronger. I didn't know who else to go to, but I feel so much pain, confusion..."
A paw went up to her head, and in a moment of dizziness, she found herself being steadied by Admetus. Shyly, she smiled up at him and he patted her shoulder. He did let go of her, but she noticed that he stood by her in case she wasn't completely firm on her feet.
Gus frowned, wondering if it had anything to do with his vision a month ago. "Do you think..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but didn't have to, Deuteronomy picked up on it and understood. "Gus here got a vision last month, it could be related to whatever it is you're feeling. Gus...You still haven't told me anything about it. Just that you had felt suffocated."
The older tom took a deep breath,"I was in a never-ending hallway. There was numerous doors, and all at once the doors opened. There was so many voices, I couldn't think, couldn't breathe...The noise was just so painful."
Krystalle froze when Gus mentioned, 'voices', but in another moment forced herself to relax. This wasn't about her, and she wanted to find out who it was, she wanted to help if she could. Suddenly, she felt it, and she would have fallen to the ground if Admetus hadn't caught her in his arms. Gasping out loud, she clutched her head. "I...It's...I feel him. Oh it's so much pain."
The other toms stood up in alarm, but it was Admetus who tried to shake Krystalle. "Krystalle, hey snap out of it. It's not your pain, it's some one elses. Focus."
Krystalle licked her lips, concentrating on Admetus, trying to focus. Blinking, she gasped,"G..Gilbert. Oh heavyside, It's Gilbert."
"George." Admetus gestured.
George moved over and took Krystalle into his arms, allowing Admetus to move. Stealing a glance at his father and his father's mate, he didn't have to say anything. He was a Guardian after all, going off to help and protect others in the yard was what he did.
Deuteronomy nodded," We can take care of Krystalle."
With that, Admetus left the den in a hurry, seeking out Gilbert, and assuming the tom was still somewhere in the junkyard.
~^*^~
Gllenning walked aimlessly around the yard, a completely normal thing for him. He was a restless sort of tom, always had to be moving around. It didn't really come as a surprise when he ran into a young cream colored calico. The name was on the tip of the Abyssinian's tongue. Gilbert, Gilbert had to be the toms name. With a broad smile, Glen wandered over to Gilbert.
"Hey buddy." Glen easily placed a paw on the toms shoulder.
Things had been building up inside his mind for quite some time. Time though had been one of the first concepts that Gilbert lost, once the noise in his head became too unbearable for him. However, that touch, that simple little gesture seemed to trigger something deep within himself. He gasped out, as a rush of images he had never seen before came at him.
** ** **
He stood, shivering in the cold, still a young kitten. His frightful eyes looked all around, the setting unfamiliar to him. Streets, streets were off in the distance, and he could hear a loud car zoom by in the distance. Couldn't have been too far, because the noise had hurt his ears. All he could remember thinking at that point was that he needed to find his mother. He remembered going to be beside her, and now here he was. His mother wouldn't leave him, he couldn't believe that. With his fluffly tail wrapped around his ankle, he started to walk toward the sound on the streets. That seemed like the best place to look really. All the way, he had hesitated and his movements were slow, but as soon as he reached the black tar of the road he ran quickly across, and stopped on the other side. There were other cats, just a few, around. None of them were his mother, but it didn't stop him from calling out.
"Mommy. Mommy where are you?!"
** ** **
The sorrow in Gilbert's eyes was the main thing that alerted Glen, and his smile vanished quite quickly. He was out of it, and though by all rights the young tom looked like he was in some sort of trance, or about to have a psychotic break, didn't stop Glen from caring. In fact those types of cats were the ones who needed the most help and no one wanted to, they all kept their distance from the crazy ones.
"Gilbert." His paw was rubbing his shoulder, hoping that would snap him out of whatever he was into and would calm him down.
It didn't, naturally, and when he heard Gilbert call out for his mother, Glen gave him a confused stare. Something about it had seemed familiar, but he chalked it up to his own paranoia. Glen still held onto Gilbert, but stood in front of him, kneeling slightly so that Gilbert could look into his eyes.
"I don't know where your mother is...but I'm sure she's out there somewhere. We can find her for you." Glen knew or suspected Gilbert wouldn't hear him, but he wanted to try. To try and get through to the tom. Come on, Come on....Glen silently pleaded.
** ** **
"Oi...hey hey...stop trying to man-handle me. And you did not just touch my hair." He gasped a bit too dramatically. "Do you know how long it takes to get this fine looking hair just right? I don't want to brag, but it was perfect."
His rambling was cut off the moment two bigger toms threw him into a cell. He groaned out when he felt the back of his head hit the hard wall behind him. He went to rub the back of his neck, hearing the click of the lock on the cell door. The two brutes walked off, probably annoyed by him. Alone again. Well he thought so, but another Hex had appeared, one of more importance. He was a white and silver tom who only gazed at him with indifference.
His eyes had lit up at another cat to talk to, even though he knew this one would probably end up torturing him, he craved on someone else he could communicate with. "What's this then? You planning on roughing me up a bit, throwing me in a cage and locking me away? Well you're too late. Ha!"
He stood up a little surprised that his little tirade hadn't gotten any sort of reaction from the tom. Very strange indeed. The tall white tom only shook his head.
"I don't plan on doing anything to you. Aside from isolating you...maybe you'll be more cooperative when you're crying out in hunger." He leaned his face closer to the bars, catching his paw from scratching him. "Take a good look, this is the last face you'll be able to see and talk to for a while."
** ** **
Realization dawned on Glen, now THAT was definitely familiar. He remembered being thrown in a cage and 'bragging' about it as it were. Not one of his better moments, but it helped him keep his spirits up, at the time. Was it possible? That Gilbert was reliving his memories. That Gilbert himself probably wasn't even sure what exactly was happening to him? He had seen some weird things, both on the streets and in the junkyard, so he had to assume it was possible. Those words, were word for word, it was too right to be just a coincidence.
"Oh Gilbert...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
And he was, especially when he saw Gilbert start to come around, to snap out of whatever it was that he was in. Glen didn't really get into the whole mystical thing. Oh he believed in those Mystic Jellicles abilities and trusted in those jellicles, but he really knew nothing when it came down to special gifts, certain cats get. So he wasn't sure he could help, and this killed him. Gilbert's ice blue eyes blinked, and his one paw was back to his head, the memories and thoughts still swirling around in his brain. He had heard something about 'mystic cats', and 'couldn't help'. But the memories, because that's what they had to be, but Gilbert couldn't remember those things ever happening to him. Did they? They were so real, as if they were his memories.
"So...much..." He gripped his head, searching for a word. With so many in his head, it was difficult for him to concentrate. "Loneliness."
Glen gritted his teeth,"I know. I'm sorry."
He hadn't meant for Gilbert to see all those memories but there was nothing anyone of them could do now. He pulled Gilbert into an embrace, and before Gilbert even knew what was happening, he was holding onto Glen tightly. He still didn't fully comprehend what was happening to him, but Glen, for some reason he felt oddly connected to Glen. As if he knew Glen at a deeper level then anyone else would. That and, Glen was the only one that he felt almost sane around. He was holding onto his last strain of sanity, and he feared what would happen if he left go. Glen started to comfort him, but only minutes after holding Gilbert, there was a definite change in the toms emotions. His body stiffened under his embrace, and he could feel the tom sob.
"No..." Gilbert shook his head, trying to bury it in Glen's chest.
Glen had been about to ask what was wrong, when he heard others. They were close by and Glen frowned. Was it happening all over again, but with the memories of others, instead of Glen?
"Whats...what's happening to me?" Gilbert spoke quietly, but it was still forced; it sounded like it had been a struggled just to ask that question.
Mistoffelees, Tantomile, Admetus, and Alonzo walked into view.
"Looks like Glen's got him."
Glen heard Gilbert whimper, probably memories of the four now filling his head. Of course, he was only guessing, due to what happened with him and Glen. He shook his head at the four.
"Please, just keep your distance. I don't...completely understand the mystic types, or whats happening to Gilbert, but he's got a chunk-ful of my memories, maybe all of them in his head. You four, coming near him, I think he's starting to relive all of your memories as well."
Tantomile turned to Misto,"Is that even possible?"
He shrugged,"I'm not sure. This is more Coricopat's area of expertise."
Alonzo only sighed, looking at Gilbert's shaking form. He did feel sorry for the tom, but avoiding him hadn't helped him thus far. "We can't continue to avoid him. He needs help, and if he is a mystic then he needs proper training. We have to get closer to him."
"I'm just saying,...I don't think he'll go with you. Willingly. He's too confused...." He didn't mention that Gilbert was most likely in pain as well, because, that was moot. It was obvious to all of them how much pain the tom was in.
Alonzo nodded to Admetus, who started to go around, to cut off Gilbert's escape, if he chose to run. Alonzo on the other hand started to get closer to Gilbert from the opposite direction. "Misto, teleport to the infirmary. See if Jenny can administer a sedative."
Gilbert froze up, understanding what was about to happen, but another couple steps on Alonzo's part, and Gilbert felt more images rush at him. He cried out, but it was too late. He was already seeing himself with two other toms, a mostly black tom with a little bit of red on his face, and a tom that he recognized as Rumpus cat. He was being clingy to the unfamiliar tom-who still seemed familiar, and he realized it had to be his brother, and Rumpus was off to the side a little injured-still alive but he wasn't moving. Someone else was taking his brother away, and as much as he tried to stop them from taking him away, they still did. At the sound of Gilbert crying out for them to not take away his brother, Alonzo paused. That sounded like a memory he had since buried in his mind, a memory Rumpus can't remember due to a head injury. Gilbert pushed Glen aside due to the emotions the memory gave him and stood up, staggering. Mistoffelees had teleported away, and Tantomile was asking him if there was anything she could do.
"Just keep your distance for now. Maybe he won't get any of your memories if you do that. Any more memories would probably only confuse him more and I can only imagine the types of emotional reactions that would have on Gilbert."
She nodded her head numbly, looking at Gilbert sadly. The last thing he would need was a bunch of queen memories in his mind that would lead to him questioning if he was really a tom or not. Did he only see memories? There were so many questions in her mind. Luckily, she didn't have to wait long. Mistoffelees teleported back in, right behind Gilbert. His eyes widened and he sank to his knees.
"Too many!" Gilbert cried. "It's too much."
Mistoffelees whispered a sorry, as he grabbed the toms shoulder and pushed the needle into his skin. He went to move to stop Mistoffelees, but Alonzo moved in and held him down, Admetus coming up from behind. Gilbert shouted out some more, more memories and thoughts filling his head. Misto injected the sedative and then withdrew the needle. Tears fell down Gilbert's cheeks, and then he slumped backward, being supported by Mistoffelees. His eyes fluttered closed.
"Just rest Gilbert." Misto coaxed.
It wouldn't be long before it wore off. However, he hoped Jenny would be willing to keep him mildly sedated for a little while. At least until they could figure out a way to help Gilbert build up his own mental shields. He didn't know if Jenny would approve of him sedating Gilbert in the first place. She hadn't been there; Noilly had been. She understood it was an emergency, but she was probably already doing the polite thing and informing Jenny what she had done. Gllenning came over, his paw brushing away some of the locks of hair off of Gilbert's face.
"Will he be okay?"
"I hope so."
"But you don't think so?"
"I don't know if he will be."
Tantomile agreed, walking closer towards them. "Even if he does learn to build up shields to block out memories...isn't the damage already done? I mean I don't know how many extra memories he's got in his head, but he's got a bit of memories from Glen, Alonzo, Admetus, and Mistofelees. That's too many. Won't he be confused about who he really is and which are his memories and which aren't?"
Mistoffelees frowned, why couldn't he have sensed something was really wrong with Gilbert a couple months ago? Why couldn't he have known Gilbert was just starting to develop mystic abilities? If he had known he could have helped Gilbert build up defenses before any of this had happened.
"Sounds like that could happen." Misto frowned,"But I'm sure there's a way to weed out those memories or get rid of them?"
"I don't know, none of us has ever had a problem like this before. I'll talk to my brother. Coricopat might know something though."
The group agreed, and Glen was the one who lifted Gilbert into his arms.
"I'll talk to Jenny about finding him a relatively isolated bed in the infirmary. If he wakes up with a bunch of Jellicles around..."
Alonzo didn't finish his sentence, but they all knew what he was implying. The group headed to the infirmary, hoping that there would be a way to help the unconscious tom. Glen took one last glance at Gilbert, before following behind the others.
--- ---
Back To Year One
To Year One Fanart