A sound caught my ear and I strained a bit to hear it. It was a beautiful sound. I almost felt as if it came from the moon. More songs joined it and I was excited. It sounded so beautiful! Who cares about the kitten named Charity?

“ She’s ignoring us because she’s listening to the songs,” someone above me said. I think she was my mother. “ I did the same thing.”

“ She is darling Cyra!” another voice cried,” But she doesn’t look like either you or Misto.”

“ She looks like my mother,” someone else, I think my father, said,” My mother was a snowshoe cat.”

“ I’ll bet your kitten is wondering who Charity is,” someone chuckled,” I remember wondering who I was.”

“ Your name is Charity,” my mother said licking me,” I am your mother, Cyra. Your father is named Mistoffelees. Misto for short.” To someone else, she said,” Thank you for delivering her Alonzo.”

“ You’re welcome,” the person who thought I wouldn’t know who Charity was said,” I guess that wraps up this generation’s kittens.”

“ My kitten,” another voice said,” And Teazer’s kittens if she ever gets any.”

“ Oh, I forgot.”

“ What’s going on?” I asked,” Who’s Alonzo? Who’s Teazer?”

I heard my mother laugh a bit. “ Teazer is short for Rumpleteazer and she’s your aunt,” my mother, Cyra, answered,” Alonzo is the tom who delivered you.”

“ Oh,” I said,” What’s that sound?”

“ It’s called moonsong,” my mother said,” But tonight is a special night Charity. Tonight, the songs of the wind, stars, and clouds join moonsong.”

“ Hey Misto,” someone called,” The kitten out yet?”

“ Yeah she is Tugger,” my father called.

I fell asleep right then. I was tired. I mean, I was just born I had a right to be tired. I felt my mind drift off elsewhere and soon, I was unconscious.

Tara:
Charity went to sleep and her mother, a red tiger tabby named Cyra, turned to the newcomer and said,” Don’t let us interrupt the Jellicle Ball Tugger. Go and have fun.”

“ Bring her over there,” Rum Tum Tugger, a friend of hers and her mate’s, suggested, ” I’m sure they’ll love to see her.”

“ I’m not sure,” Rumpleteazer said,” Macavity might be watching. We’re talking about Misto’s and Cyra’s kitten. She ought to have a lot of power. And she can hear moonsong and all those other songs which might be a power plus.”

“ I scanned the area, Macavity’s not there,” Misto told them,” Gee, I sound like Demeter.”

“ Naw,” Alonzo shook his head,” You’ll start sounding like Demeter when you start talking about how you think about Munkustrap’s eyes.”

Mungojerrie, Teazer’s older brother, put an arm around his mate Jemima and said,” I’m sorry to sound selfish but I need to get back to the Ball. Plato can’t be protector by himself. I mean, I’m the vice. I know another cat who should be there too since he’s the main protector…”

“ Fine, I get the hint I’m going,” Alonzo groaned,” Happy Birthday Charity. Later all of you. Hey Teazer, you coming?”

“ I’m staying for a little while longer,” Teazer said sitting down beside Cyra,” Bye!”

“ Bye,” Jemima returned. The left the Cyra’s nest and proceeded on to the Jellicle Ball.

“ Charity picked a good time to be born,” Jemima mused,” I mean, now she’s like her mother. She can hear all songs.”

“ Do you think she’ll get any powers?” Mungojerrie asked.

“ Most likely,” Alonzo nodded,” I mean, we’re talking about the daughter of Misto, a powerful conjurer, and Cyra, the cat who hears all songs and is a conjurer too. What do you think?”

“ That’s going to be one powerful kitten,” Tugger let a breath out,” Little Charity is going to be on the top of Macavity’s ‘ Get Rid Of,’ list.”

“ So long as she doesn’t have Coricopat’s and Tantomile’s power, I’m happy,” Alonzo said,” When they were born they were using their intuition like crazy. They even told Skimble that he would have a daughter before she was even born.”

“ Mother told me about that,” Jemima nodded.

Ok, now might be a good time to back up. My name is Tara. Do you know me? Maybe. Aren’t I dead? Yes. But let me stop you right now, I may be dead but in a way I’m still alive. Big explanation, I won’t bother telling you. Ever since I died, I’ve been invited to live in the nest of the Everlasting Cat, the cat god. The big guy let me stay there if I wanted and I can always go back to the place where people go. Anyway, maybe I should back up even more.

The minute I was born I already knew I was different. I mean, I can hear cats talking. How crazy is that? What’s even better is that when my parents died, it kind of amplified this strange power and I could even talk to cats and they actually talk back to me.

Long story made short: my adoptive parents moved to England, I met my two very wonderful cats Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, I died, I went to heaven, and now I work for the Everlasting Cat.

The birth of little Charity was years later and the Jellicle Cats were at one of its best stages. All the kittens grew up and Munkustrap was a great leader. Occasionally, the EC had to help him a bit but it was worth it. And what’s better? Now I was looking at the next generation of Jellicles being born. But little Charity I knew would end up growing up to be someone very special.

I was just looking down on earth, watching them like I usually am. I’m kind of like the cat guardian angel. The EC was busy elsewhere appearing to another tribe when a flash of ginger caught my eye on the ground. “ Oh no,” I whispered,” Macavity.”

Macavity. An evil, cunning, smart, and most of all ruthless criminal. Titled the Napoleon of Crime by humans, cats, and dogs. All in all, he’s just that really bad person that you see in all the movies. And what’s worse, he’s a conjurer which means he can zap himself from one place of another unnoticed.

I turned my attention back to earth.

“ There’s the Ball,” Tugger announced,” Those kittens are so cute.”

“ I never thought you’d say that,” Alonzo smiled,” I mean, I know you consider yourself cute but I never thought you’d share the credit.”

Tugger pushed Alonzo onto the floor. “ I’m not that vain,” Tugger smiled too.

I looked at the kittens of the Jellicles and it made me smile. I don’t know why, it’s just nice to see the kittens of what used to be kittens. I looked at Alonzo and felt a small wave of pity. He didn’t have a mate yet. And neither did my Rumpleteazer. I wish she would settle down. Alonzo is perfect for her.

They entered the main area and Tugger was instantly tackled by his pair two month old daughters: Adrina and Synille.

I laughed as Alonzo, who delivered all of the other kittens, was swarmed. He let himself be taken down and ended up in the pile of laughing kittens. Ten kittens I might add.

“ Tara,” a voice said behind me.

I turned around and saw the cat Reena. She was to be reborn in a few days as Jemima’s son. “ Hello Reena,” I smiled,” Do you see Alonzo down there?”

Reena laughed and looked down with me. “ He reminds me of Skimble,” she smiled,” I wish I could visit him. He’s missed me so much.”

“ Coricopat and Tantomile grew up to be so graceful,” I complimented her kittens,” Jiana looks just like you.” Jiana is Tantomile’s daughter. Tantomile had a son too named Jennervan.

“ Has that new kitten been born yet?” Reena asked.

“ Yes,” I nodded,” They named her Charity. Macavity is lurking down there. I hope he doesn’t go after anyone this year. My cats are really happy because now they have a niece.”

“ This is the year Munkustrap gets to choose someone to be reborn for the first time,” Reena bit her lip,” I wonder if he’ll be able to manage. I think he’ll send up Jellylorum.”

“ Me too,” I agreed,” He’s really nervous. You can tell by the way he’s twitching his tail a lot.”

Reena laughed. “ I’m looking at his eldest son,” Reena told me,” Josiah. He looks just like Munkustrap.”

Reena and I were friends. I mean, she was a Jellicle. All the other ones had already been reborn. She didn’t want to be reborn with Skimble not there. Skimble was her brother.

“ Who’s that?” she asked pointing at a small kitten.

I looked closer and said,” That’s Eliza. She’s Victoria’s second eldest. The youngest is Telia. It’s kind of funny. Eliza’s pure black while victoria is pure white. And Telia looks almost exactly like Etcetera.”

“ Telia was born on the night of the song of the cloud,” Reena remarked,” That’s interesting. Isn’t Telia the reborn form of Syna?” Syna was another cat friend of mine and Reena’s but she was reborn recently.

“ Yes,” I nodded,” And Gus is right there. “ I pointed to a brown and black short hair kitten. “ He belongs to Etcetera and his name is Chellor.”

“ I see,” Reena nodded,” I’m kind of reluctant to go back to earth.”

“ Why?”

“ I’ll forget everyone I’ve seen here,” Reena gestured around her,” Heaviside, the EC, you. I’m really going to regret forgetting you.”

“ It’s ok,” I ran a hand down her back,” The EC wants me to be reborn as a cat. But he’ll let me remember. I’ll remind you.”

“ Who’s kitten are you going to be?”

“ Rumpleteazer’s,” I said looking back down. The cats were singing and dancing about Alonzo the protector deliverer. “ That is, if she ever gets kittens I will be her daughter.”

We were silent as we watched the Jellicles dance and sing. The kittens did most of the singing about Alonzo. Victoria, Coricopat, Tantomile, Electra, and Jemima sang about him too since he had delivered them too. I laughed a bit when they started singing about how his friends pushed him in front of a huge crowd after delivering Electra.

I turned my attention to Rumpleteazer and her group of friends. My guess it that while Reena and I were talking she had left Cyra. She was such a happy cat, it pained me that she didn’t have a mate. I mean, she really deserved one. My attention then went to Mungojerrie. I was happy for him. He had found Jemima, she may have been a little younger than him but they were a good match anyway. Reena was looking forward to being their son.

The Ball went on. I saw the way they danced the way a cat would and they were all good except for Jellylorum who had gotten too old to dance. The kittens were in one corner all talking and laughing.

“ I hope Alonzo chooses Rumpleteazer to be his mate!” Synille, Tugger and Bombalurina’s youngest, chirped.

“ They’re perfect for each other,” her sister Adrina agreed.

“ Why are we talking about Alonzo and Rumpleteazer?” Victoria’s eldest son Varion asked.

“ What else are we supposed to talk about?” Eliza demanded.

“ Various bird types?” Josiah joked. He was Munkustrap’s eldest.

“ You spent too much time with Alonzo,” his youngest and only sister Persephone rolled her eyes,” That’s sounds like something he would say.”

“ Actually, Munkustrap said that, not me,” Alonzo smiled appearing behind the kittens.

“ You’re making a habit of that,” Telia, Victoria’s youngest, frowned,” I think Mericive is copying you.”

“ I know I am,” Mericive, Munkustrap’s middle son, appeared behind Telia and tackled her.

“ Hey!” Chellor, Coricopat’s son, cried,” Let me in!” He jumped into the pile.

“ Wait for me!” Jiana and Jennervan, they were twins but their mother Tantomile had survived the birth, exclaimed joining the pile. Soon, all the kittens were engaged in one of two piles of wrestling matches.

Reena and I were laughing with delight. “ They are so cute!” I giggled.

“ Tugger, Munkustrap, Demeter, and Bombalurina used to behave like that,” Reena smiled,” I remember. I’m the one who delivered Deuteronomy’s sons. I was assistant birthmother until Syna came.”

“ Just to think,” I said,” Munkustrap and Demeter have known each other for six years before they could ask each other out. And they’ve liked each other even before Alonzo came.”

“ Charity is waking up,” Reena pointed down.

Charity:
I woke up and felt my mother beside me. “ Hello Charity,” my mother said licking my forehead,” You hungry?”

I nodded and supped a while. When I was finished, I asked,” Where’s poppa?”

“ Right here,” my father said. I felt his hand on my head,” Charity, do you hear that song?”

“ Yes,” I nodded,” I hear it. I think it’s from the moon.”

“ She’s smart for a kitten,” Misto (it’s easier to say than “ my father.”) told my mother, ” Smart, and powerful.”

“ Don’t let it sink into her head,” Cyra told him crossly,” She might let it sink in a little too much. According to what Teazer and Jer told me, that’s what happened to their brother.”

“ Mmm,” I could sense that Misto was nodding,” I get it.”

“ Huh?” I asked.

“ When you’re older,” Misto told me,” Hey Charity, you up for going somewhere.”

“ You are not taking her to the Ball,” Cyra cried,” Macavity might be there!”

“ On the contrary Rettania, I’m right here,” a silky voice hissed.

I felt my mother tense up as she held me close to her,” Go away, leave my kitten alone Macavity.”

“ What?” the voice, I think Macavity, pretended to be appalled,” No greeting? I’m surprised at you Rettania. What? I’m not allowed to visit my own niece?”

“ I’m ashamed to be your cousin,” Cyra snapped,” And don’t call me Rettania.”

“ Fine Cyra,” Macavity sneered,” And Kyliron wanted to say hello to little Charity.”

“ Tell him you are not welcome to my nest,” Cyra hissed hugging me tighter,” What do you want?”

“ To see little Charity,” Macavity laughed,” You’d better keep an eye on her Quaxo, I might decide I could use her power.”

“ Don’t you dare threaten her,” Misto said. I sensed him walking towards Macavity.

“ Sirius?” a voice asked.

“ Jer!” Macavity cried,” I was so sure you were all gone!”

“ The twins told me to come back,” Mungojerrie had a shrug in his voice,” Now, are you going to leave now, or are you going to force me to fight you?”

“ You’d never ever be able to beat me Jer,” Macavity laughed.

“ You’d be surprised how strong I am when I’m mad at my older brother for attempting to kill my best friend, cousin, and niece,” Mungojerrie shot back,” Now, get out!”

“ I’ll be back for you little Charity!” Macavity swore and I heard a poof and I sensed that he was gone.

“ Oh no,” Cyra moaned licking me,” He does know. We won’t let him have Charity.”

I felt someone pick me up. I think it was Mungojerrie. “ I won’t let him take her,” he assured my parents,” He may kill someone else, heck he could have the heart to kill you two, but he won’t kill me. I’ll make sure to protect your family.”

“ Thank you ever so for telling us he could kill us,” Misto said sarcastically,” Very appreciated.”

“ May I have Charity back?” Cyra asked.

I felt myself being passed back to my mother and I cuddled next to her. That Macavity person was mean, he wanted to kill my parents. “ Uncle Mungojerrie?” I asked.

“ Yes Charity,” he said.

“ I’ll take care of my parents too ok?” I volunteered.

They laughed a bit and Mungojerrie said,” Ok Charity. You take good care of them if Macavity comes back ok?”

“ I will!”

“ Speaking of taking care of people,” Misto began,” Jer, you should be protecting the Jellicles! You’re the vice!”

“ I know,” he sighed,” Don’t hesitate to call me if you need me.”

“ Thanks Jer,” I sensed that Cyra kissed his cheek,” I appreciate it.”

“ You’re family,” he told her,” And now Misto is. Family is the most important thing in the world to me.”

I felt drowsy and soon, I was asleep again

Tara:
“ Macavity had better leave them alone,” Reena pressed her lips into a thin line,” If he dares hurt that kitten…”

“ Calm down Reena,” I said putting a hand on her head,” Not like we can do anything about it. We’re dead remember?”

Reena laughed. “ I guess we are,” she smiled sitting in my lap,” You know what Tara? I’m kind of nervous about Jellylorum coming up here. I mean, we haven’t seen each other in a long time.”

“ She’ll be ecstatic to see you,” I pet her,” Look at the Jellicles. Munkustrap is about to choose someone.” I watched as Munkustrap held Jellylorum’s hand and led her up to the tire. She had a smile a mile long on her face as the tire began to lift up.

Munkustrap glanced nervously at Alonzo for encouragement. His friend gave him a smile and mouthed,” You can do it.”

Munkustrap smiled back and held his hand up to the sky.

“ Where’s the EC?” I cried looking around,” He’s late!”

“ Ok, now I’m scared,” Reena looked around too,” This is a god we’re talking about. And he’s late?”

“ EC!” I called,” The Jellicles!”

“ I didn’t forget,” a booming voice said kindly. A rather large cat appeared beside me. The EC was about the size of a tiger. But he could have been any size he wanted. He smiled at me and Reena and we bowed to him. To Munkustrap, he privately said,” You did a good job Munkustrap.”

“ Thank you,” Munkustrap whispered.

The EC took Jellylorum into his paws and lifted her into Heaviside. She looked scared at first but looked around her and all fear left her. She bowed to the EC and said,” I am honored to be in your presence.”

“ Jellylorum,” the EC said putting her down,” You will live your life here until I find it time for you to be reborn. Until then, make your nest anywhere you wish. I will restore you to your younger year, the age you were when you gave birth to your daughters.”

“ Is Deuteronomy here?” she asked.

“ Yes,” the EC smiled,” He lives in a cave not too far from Heaviside’s forest. You may go visit him. You’ll have to pardon me, I am needed in the Fredrian Tribe.” The EC nodded to us all and vanished.

“ Oh Jellylorum,” Reena called.

“ Reena?” Jellylorum asked. She saw her friend and rushed to her. The two embraced and it was really sweet to see. “ Oh god I thought you would have been long reborn by now,” Jellylorum said refusing to let go.

“ It takes longer for cats who die to be reborn than cats who are chosen,” Reena explained,” Well Lori, you already look younger.”

Jellylorum, Lori as Reena nicknamed her, examined herself and laughed,” I do look younger. I look just like I did when Etcetera and Victoria came in.” It was just then that she saw me. “ What’s a human doing in Heaviside?”

“ My name is Tara, Jellylorum,” I bowed my head respectfully,” I have been gifted with the power of speaking to cats. I work for the EC.”

“ It’s a pleasure to meet you Tara,” Jellylorum returned.

“ Hey,” I said looking down on earth,” Yes! Alonzo is proposing to Teazer!”

“ What did she say?” Reena dragged her friend to look down on earth with me.

“ She’s asking if he really had to ask,” I jumped up and down,” She really did like him all along! My Teazer will have kittens!”

“ I think going to be reborn into the next generation,” Jellylorum remarked.

“ I think you will too,” Reena said hugging her,” You know what the bad thing about being reborn is? Your forget that you were reborn.”

“ You two go visit Deuteronomy,” I told them,” I want to watch Charity.”

Charity:
Time passed and soon, my eyes opened. It was a shock at first but sight was wonderful. The first thing I saw was my mother’s eyes peering down at me. They were green, very green. She was a red tiger tabby. Misto, my father, was a tuxedo. I was a snowshoe. I saw a lot of other cats there. I later learned that they were my father’s friends Munkustrap, Tugger, Alonzo, and Mungojerrie. Rumpleteazer and her friends Jemima and Demeter were there too. Jemima was holding a kitten.

Wow, I didn’t know I was such a big deal.

“ Hello,” I said.

“ G’day,” Rumpleteazer greeted me patting my head.

“ Charity,” Cyra said looking into my eyes,” Hold still a while.” She examined my eyes and looked at Misto. “ Can you tell me what color her eyes would account for?”

Misto examined my eyes too and said,” I see blue, and a little bit of green, and some hazel in there too. She’s a very beautiful kitten.”

“ All kittens are,” Jemima said letting her kitten sit beside me.

“ Where am I?” the kitten asked.

“ Loriek, I want you to meet your cousin Charity,” Jemima said,” She’s the one beside you.”

“ Hello,” I greeted him. His eyes were still closed.

Jemima took her son back up. Demeter, Munkustrap’s mate, laughed and said,” She reminds me of you Cyra.”

“ Hey, where’s Victoria?” Misto asked,” I thought you said she’d be here.”

“ She’s coming after we leave,” Demeter told him,” She took up kitten duty while we were visiting.”

I supped a while and then asked,” Momma, when will I be able to meet other kittens?”

“ Soon,” Cyra told me,” On Tugger and Munkustrap’s birthday, they’re throwing a party so that you kittens can all play.”

“ And he’ll be six,” Alonzo crowed,” You’re getting old Munkustrap.”

“ Shut up,” Munkustrap pushed his friend onto the floor.

“ Ok,” I said putting a paw over my mouth.

They laughed. “ Not you,” Munkustrap patted me,” I’m talking to this dolt over here who called me old.”

“ Well, you are,” Alonzo complained. Munkustrap held a fist over him and Alonzo screamed and held out his paws hoping to protect himself.

I giggled. Then, I felt this like, presence in my head. Like, I don’t know. Like maybe someone was in my head. I shook my head trying to clear it but it got even worse. Soon, I was out.

Tara:
“ What’s happening to Charity?” I cried. I turned to Deuteronomy. Ever since Reena left, I had become friends with him and Jellylorum.

Deuteronomy looked down. He looked the same way he did when the Golden Jellicles were kittens. He shook his head and said,” I don’t know.”

“ EC!” I cried. He appeared beside me. I pointed down at Charity and asked,” What’s happening to her? I mean, something’s down there. Something not mortal or anything.”

The EC looked worried and he sighed,” There’s nothing we can do Tara.”

“ What’s happening?” Jellylorum asked looking down.

“ Charity has power remember?” the EC told reminded us,” Also may I remind you that not all cats go to Heaviside. Some stay on earth, restless for revenge or help or sorts. Little Charity is getting possessed.”

“ You’re a god,” I stressed,” Can’t you do anything for her?”

“ Oh Teazer,” Charity said. The far off look in her eyes was gone. Her voice had changed to one of a grown tom’s voice. Charity looked at Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer with amused hatred. “ Remember me?”

“ Charity!” Cyra cried. She tried to use her magic to kick whatever or whoever was in Charity out. Misto combined his magic with hers but it didn’t work.

Charity laughed menacingly and said,” Having a hard time remembering Teazer? Maybe this will help you remember.” Charity twitched her paw and suddenly Teazer and Mungojerrie were in an aquarium.

Rumpleteazer gave a screech and pounded the glass. The one inside Charity cackled again. “ What’s the best way to kill four kittens?” she crowed,” Drowning them!”

“ You killed Loriek!” Teazer was screaming hysterically. Mungojerrie was trying to calm her down. Her hysteria made her stronger and she broke the glass.

“ Draco, get out of her!” I was screaming. Deuteronomy put a paw in my lap which told me there wasn’t anything I could do for them. I mean, I was dead.

“ Draco,” Mungojerrie hissed,” Get out of my niece now.”

“ We have to do something,” I muttered.

The EC sighed and said,” I guess you’re right. Draco won’t get out unless we do something. Come with me Tara. I’ll need your strength too.”

He grew, took me in his paws and disappeared and went down to earth. Draco was laughing, threatening, and trying to use his magic ( rather Charity’s magic) on his two middle children.

“ Leave them alone!” I screamed. No one could see me, but I’m sure they could hear me.

“ Tara?” my cat’s chorused. Wow, they remember my voice after all this time?

“ Put your hands around the kitten’s neck and pulled up,” the EC told me.

I walked closer to Draco who did see me and gave a long wail as I dragged him out of the kitten’s body. He struggled and tried to bite me. I was surprised at how much he looked like Macavity. Well, duh, Draco’s his father but still. I was about to take him down to the Ever Cave, the Non-Human Hell, when he scratched me and I screamed. I let go by accident and he disappeared.

“ It’s ok Tara,” the EC told me,” Our work here is done.”

“ Tara, don’t go yet!” Rumpleteazer said looking around the room for me.

I went over to her, put a hand on both of my cat’s heads and said,” If you need me again, call me and I’ll do my best to be here.”

“ Tara,” Mungojerrie tried to bat at the hand he felt. It went strait through my arm. I let go of them and the EC brought us both back to Heaviside.

“ That was very brave of you Tara,” the EC told me,” To tell you the truth, did you know a cat like Draco could have killed you?”

“ You never told me that part,” I frowned,” But how can he kill me? I’m already dead.”

He laughed. “ Well, there’s two types of dead,” he told me,” A deceased living person, and a deceased dead person. Deceased dead person can’t be reborn, ever.”

“ Oh,” I smiled sheepishly,” Will I still get to reborn as Teazer’s daughter?”

“ Yes,” the EC nodded,” I’ll let you remember only a little bit though. That way we won’t scare Alonzo too much.” He smiled after the last part indicating that he was joking

Charity:
I woke up from my trance and shook my head. Teazer was crying against Alonzo, now her mate to be. My mother was cradling me back and forth and Misto was with Mungojerrie asking for an explanation.

“ What happened?” I cried,” Auntie Teazer what’s wrong!”

“ How could he still be here?” Teazer was sobbing,” How, how, how, how?!”

“ Charity?” Cyra asked,” Are you Charity again?”

“ Did you change my name while I was asleep?” I asked.

“ Yes, you’re Charity again,” Misto picked me up and asked,” She got possessed.”

“ Tugger, Munkustrap,” Jemima looked at them,” You’ve been quiet.”

“ I know,” Munkustrap sighed,” I may have been hallucinating but I thought I saw a human pull whoever it was out of Charity.”

“ Me too,” Tugger frowned.

“ Did she have brown hair, green eyes, and looked around fourteen?” Mungojerrie asked.

“ Yeah,” the two nodded.

“ It was Tara,” Mungojerrie mused.

“ I’m confused,” I complained,” Why is everyone crying?” I started to cry right then. I mean, it’s frustrating not to know what’s wrong.

“ I’m going to erase her memory of this,” Misto concluded.

“ What?” Alonzo demanded when Teazer had let go. He couldn’t say anything before because he couldn’t breathe.

“ I’m also going to put a barrier around her so no one else gets in there,” Misto said forcefully,” But it’ll end up taking her memory of the ordeal away.”

“ Maybe that is for the better,” Cyra agreed.

“ Erase my memory?” I asked.

“ But Misto,” Jemima began,” It’s not right!”

“ Did you see what she can do?” Tugger said backing Misto’s decision,” If anyone else, like say Draco’s brother or possibly another dead criminal, got into her, what do you think that’ll do? You saw what a dead Draco did to Teazer and Jer. You want that happening to the kittens?”

“ What do you think Munkustrap?” Jemima asked hoping he would back her up.

Munkustrap sighed heavily,” I’m afraid Jemima that it is in everyone’s best interests for Misto to put the barrier. I don’t want to jeopardize the kittens or anyone else.”

Jemima was clearly tense and disapproved but she decided that she didn’t want Loriek to get hurt. I saw that Loriek was awake, kittens can always tell. If they erased my memory, Loriek would remember for me. Then again… maybe not. He just fell asleep.

“ Please,” I pleaded,” If you erase my memory, make sure you erase the memory that I had powers. I want to be normal.”

“ Sure,” Misto said,” If that’s what you really want Charity. Have anything to say before I put the barrier?”

“ Yes,” I nodded,” Jemima, don’t worry. It’s for the good of us all.”

Jemima patted me and whispered to me,” I’ll tell you what happened when you’re older.”

I smiled and said,” Tell me when I’m six months.”

Misto put and hand on my head and one on Cyra’s head so he could draw power from her too. I felt a slight tingle and soon, I dropped to sleep.

Tara:
I watched my Teazer get married to Alonzo and cried a bit from the sweetness of it all. Electra, who hadn’t even wanted to get married, decided to finally tie the knot with Pouncival, another cat who really didn’t want to get married either.

“ Hey Jellylorum,” I called,” Who was Pouncival, Admetus, and Plato’s mother?”

“ Her name was Frunylle,” Jellylorum said,” Frunylle was killed by Draco.”

“ It’s amazing how time flies around here,” Loriek, a little kitten that died a very long time ago, said. He had taken liking to me because he was the youngest brother of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. He had died the night their father tried to kill them.

“ I know,” I smiled putting him in my lap,” Look at Charity and the kittens. She’s now two months. And I am to be reborn soon Loriek. I’ll miss you.”

Loriek moaned and snuggled into my lap. “ Teazer is almost ready to go into labor,” he told me sadly,” I wish you didn’t have to go so soon Tara.”

I hugged him. It was hard parting with this little kitten. He was so sweet. “ Oh Loriek, I’ll miss you too,” I said.

The EC appeared beside me and said,” It’s time Tara.”

“ I’ll see everyone later,” I called,” I’ll miss you all! Bye Jellylorum! Bye Deuteronomy! Bye Loriek!”

“ Bye Tara!” Loriek called smiling. He knew I wanted to go down there and he liked seeing me happy.

The EC took me up into his paws and went down to earth. We went into the room and I found Teazer cringing in pain. Mungojerrie was holding her paw and Cyra had the other paw. Cyra put water on her head and Alonzo was ready to deliver me.

“ I’ll forget a lot won’t I?” I asked the EC.

“ Yes, you will,” the EC nodded,” It’s time, don’t’ worry. Trust me Tara.”

“ I trust you,” I said. I felt a small tingle which made me close my eyes.

And they didn’t open. Sudden confusion swarmed me. Who am I? What was I doing here? Who was Tara? Why is everyone so loud?

“ She’s beautiful Teazer,” someone said above me,” She looks just like… well, she looks like a female Sirius.”

“ Only I hope she doesn’t get powers,” my mother, Teazer, said,” Hey Alonzo, I feel three more.”

“ They’re coming,” someone said. My mother screamed. Time passed and soon, I felt three more furry bodies next to me and my mother.

“ A red tiger tabby, a ginger, a calico, and a black and white mix,” my mother giggled,” I never knew I would have such a colorful bunch of kittens.”

“ The calico looks like Loriek,” someone else said,” Only, more gold.”

“ Like Demeter,” my father said picking me up,” This one looks like Macavity. I’ll make sure this one won’t ever turn out like him.”

“ I’ll name her Tara,” my mother said taking me back,” Her fur reminds me of Tara’s hair.”

“ Which male will you name Sirius?” my father asked.

“ The tiger tabby,” my mother answered.

“ What of the other two?” the person who said I looked like someone named Sirius said, “ What’s their names?”

“ Alonzo, you name them,” my mother said.

“ Sure Teazer,” my father, Alonzo, said,” Me and the guys thought about names and made a pile of them. We drew names out of the hat and for the black and white mix, her name will be Thaliah.”

“ That’s pretty,” the one who said my siblings were coming mused,” What about for the calico?”

“ Our tom name for him ended up to be Reede,” Alonzo reported.

“ I like it,” my mother, they called her Teazer, said. I heard someone enter the room. “ Hello Charity, hello Loriek,” my mother greeted,” Here’s you’re four cousins.”

“ Hey, we have the full package now!” Alonzo said picking up someone beside me,” We have Rumpleteazer, Mungojerrie, and a different Loriek and Sirius!”

“ Only these two will have the good childhood they deserve,” my mother whispered.

“ All of them will get one,” Alonzo said. I felt him pick me up, nuzzle my head, and then put me down.

“ May I pick up Tara?” the person who just came in said.

“ Sure Charity,” Teazer said.

I felt myself being picked up. “ Hello Tara,” the person whispered,” I’m Charity. You seem so familiar.”

“ Mew,” I mewed. This kitten was familiar also. I felt Charity shrug as she put me down again. I supped mother’s milk for a while and then drifted off to sleep.