"Mirage?!Are you O.K?What happened to you?"Trixi helped the white tiger to lean against a rock.A creature who had once been perfect and beautiful,Mirage was now scarred and matted,her coat dirtied and dull,her ice blue eyes a sickly gray.Her voice was hoarse.

"The humans killed half of us...took the rest hostage...Mayor Darkmane tried to reason with them.. said she'd come back with help once she got away,but she never came.Then I tried to get out.I found a hole in the courthouse wall,behind where the jury sits...we escaped,but they caught us...There were shots...screams...I was the only one that ran fast enough...the screams...horrible!"She stopped,closed her eyes.Trixi took out her canteen and gave Mirage the rest of the water.The tigress took it greedily."I almost got caught when I reached the forest,but a cat saved me and took me in the trees until they left...she was purple."

"Gimp!"cried Caddie.Mirage nodded.

"She told me to head this way,and she disappeared.Next thing I knew,I found you..."Trixi listened to her.She knew she had underestimated Gimp.That tabby might be a few whiskers short of a full feline,but she had a heart of gold.Mirage coughed."Trixi,you wouldn't ever lead such cruel beasts onto us like that.I knew you didn't do it.I'm sorry for all the horrible things I've done to you."Trixi and Caddie looked at each other.This apology took them by surprise."It's just that everyone said that creatures like lops are evil."

"Evil?EVIL?!I'm not evil!"cried Caddie."Why those no-good stupid,mean ol' fudgenwhackers!"

"Well,you look kind of devilish with those pink eyes,Caddie,"laughed Trixi.She turned to Mirage."Look,um,thank you,for that apology.It means a lot,especially to an evil psycho lop rabbit!"Mirage smiled and held out a paw.

"Truce?"Trixi shook her paw.

"Truce..."

*** *** *** ***

"FOOLS!INCOMPETENT FOOLS!Can't your pea-brains comprehend that a human is a creature like us?If we can raise one to be good and kind,can we not do the same with more?It's called domestication,you morons!DOMESTICATION!!"The caracal took deep breaths and glared madly at the council of Vixenberry.Digoby patted her gently.

"Kitty,dear.Calm down a bit.You don't want to pop an artery,now,do you?"Cat turned around slowly,eyes narrowed.

"I AM CALM!!!"Digoby covered his ears."If I were calmer,I'd be six feet under the ground!"

"That's fine,dear.You're hyperventilating,though..."Anyone could see that the meeting was not going well.The council was stubborn,refusing to listen to Cat's "preposterous ideas".This made Cat more than angry.She was pissed off to the core.

"Don't these guys know what they're getting themselves into?If they don't start to listen,ol' Kitty Cat is gonna decapitate 'em!"Nick turned,worried,to Digoby.The level-headed mole just shook his head and shrugged.Beside him,Skylre was bent over,her paws plugging her ears.Sniper seemed to think she had the right idea,and had his head buried deep under a wing as the meeting continued.

"Miss Prideflower..."began the Vixenberry Head of Council,a rather wrinkled-looking panda.

"Don't you 'Miss Prideflower' me,callous freak!"The panda,whose name was Bull Temple,looked to his council pleadingly.A handsome young male bobcat stood up and addressed Cat.

"Cat Prideflower,my name is Blue Golde,and I'd like to commemorate you on my behalf.I can't speak for Bull and the rest,but I agree somewhat with your opinions,and I feel they should be considered.I know what all of us in Vixenberry must be thinking.A human?How can we tame one of those?They massacre other creatures and care not for others,but the power and control their own race desires.They even kill one another if it gives them an advantage.But,as you mentioned,Cat,you have raised a small human baby from an abandoned newborn to a happy,healthy ten-month old.This child is under your influence,and therefore has no thoughts of evil and malice..."

"Though I wonder if the kid will after hanging around that raging feline,"snickered a council member.The bobcat named Blue shot a look towards the voice but continued without a reprimand.

"However,I am but one creature,Cat,and as a rookie council-member experiencing his first day on the job,I have no strong voice.I cannot change the minds of an entire town,but I hope you have comfort in knowing at least one Vixenberry townscreature supports you.That is all I have to say,thank you."The bobcat sat down with the eyes of the entire council-hall upon him in silent surprise.The Outcasts waited for their leader to snarl at Blue Golde,accusing him of wheedling,but the maize-furred caracal was,for once,speechless,her mouth hanging open as she stared at the young bobcat who had just taken his seat and cleared his throat.Her fists,clenched hard enough to make the skin under her fur bright white,began to relax and unclench.Her tense brows rose from where they covered half her eyes and rested in their usual place.The big,tufted ears she had kept flat on her head for the entire meeting now rose.Slowly she stepped off the council-stand,tail twitching.She nodded to her Outcasts and to the council,and left without a sound.The council stared after her,bewildered.Their gazes turned to Blue.The bobcat shrugged sheepishly and lowered his eyes to his council-journal.

*** *** *** ***

Mirage was feeling better after a rest.Carefully she stood up,and turned to Trixi.

"So,where are we going?"she asked.

"A place called Ivy Wood,to meet some Outcasts.Maybe they'll take us in!"said Caddie.Mirage raised her brows.

"You're going to live with outcasts?Why not stumble into a nice town and pretend you have amnesia?"

"Caddie and I...don't fit in with townscreatures.We're lops,remember?You could find a town to live in,though.You have nothing to hide,"said Trixi,looking at the ground.Mirage sniffed.

"By myself?With a town of creatures I don't even know?No way,Trixi.I'm sticking with you two.If you want to live with outcasts,then I'll live with them too.After all,"she said with a grin."I won't have anyone to tease!"

"Sure,Mirage.But I think we should start again tomorrow.It's evening already,and I don't think we should travel at night,"said Trixi.Mirage looked around her.

"We're staying here?For the night?I can't sleep in the dirt!It's so...dirty."Caddie rolled his eyes.

"Tough!"he said.Trixi sat down.

"We'll have to sleep in shifts.You know,have one person awake for a few hours while the other two sleep,and then we'll rotate."

"And we have to look for food in the morning,"said Caddie.Trixi nodded agreement.Mirage stared at them.

"What?!You have no food?What am I supposed to do?"

"You're a tiger,"grinned Caddie."Go hunt!"Mirage put on such a repulsed look that Trixi almost burst out laughing.But she didn't want to get on Mirage's bad side,not after they were almost friends.The white tiger looked around again,and joined the two rabbits on the ground.

"I can't believe this..."Night came quickly,and soon the three animals were fast asleep,their first day towards Ivy Wood behind them.

*** *** *** ***

Tet woke up from his nap.

"I must have slept a whole hour!"he said aloud.He was still upset about Keely and what had happened.Tet realized he had better stay away from her for awhile.He got up,stretched,checked on the slumbering Larke,and walked out of the cottage.Upon seeing the evening sky,he let out a surprised gasp.He had slept longer than he thought!The others would be coming home soon!As if on cue,Sniper flew into view.

"Hey,Sniper!How did it go this time?"Tet expected the usual response,but instead Sniper cawed a "wait and see" and landed on the ground,looking for bugs to snack on.Tet smiled.Had Cat really gotten through to them this time?Was there hope for Larke and the rest of them?He ran to greet Cat and found a sullen caracal leading the party back home.Tet looked confused.

"What happened?Sniper seemed to think it went well."Cat groaned.

"We had one on our side,but that was it,"she said.Tet patted her on the shoulder.

"Well that's great!Better than nothing!"Cat shook her head.

"It isn't enough..."She headed into the cottage as they arrived.Nick turned to Tet.

"She's just hidin' it.Not only do we have one council-member on our side,but it looks like Cat's found herself an interest,if you know what I mean!"

"You mean she's fallen for some council-member?Did she tell you that?"Nick drew circles in the dirt with a foot.

"Not exactly.But you could tell.He stood up and made this boring ol' speech,and you could tell she had the hots for him.I mean,who else can shut her up?"Tet widened his eyes.

"Wait a minute!You,my friend,have some talking to do!"

"Man,Tetty.You shouldn't have missed it!"The two friends punched each other playfully as they went inside their home.Cat was holding Larke,a worried look on her face.

"Tet,where's Keely?"The vulptod immediately stopped and faced Cat.

"She went off by herself..."

"Again?"cried Skylre.Nick rolled his eyes.

"Geez!Talk about idiotic!"Tet glared at the black weasel.

"I'll explain everything to you guys,"he said.When he had finished,Cat stood up,giving Larke to Skylre.

"I'll go find her before it gets really dark."The caracal left,leaving a guilty Tet and the rest of the Outcasts inside the cottage.

"Well!I'm going to bed early!"said Nick,seemingly not the least bit concerned.Skylre went with Digoby to put baby Larke back in bed.Sniper had been gone awhile,looking for mice to eat.Tet was alone,and the only one awake when Cat returned close to midnight,holding a shivering Keely tight to her.As soon as she was inside,the young wolf pushed Cat aside and stalked out of the main room to her bed.

"What happened?Why were you gone so long?Were you talking?"asked Tet.

"I just found her.I tried to talk to her,but she wouldn't answer me,so I let it be.I hope she doesn't catch anything."

"She's angry at me...It'll be my fault if she gets sick."

"No,Tet.It's not your fault.She'll cool down after a bit.Just wait and see,"said Cat.

"I hope you're right,"Tet sighed.

*** *** *** ***

Mirage gave a small yelp."Oh!I stepped on a sharp rock!Ouch!"The trio had found food and a stream of fresh water early that morning,after a good night's sleep.They had forgotten to take shifts,and Trixi knew they were lucky they hadn't been snuck up on.She would remind herself to remember the shifts for the coming night.

"Well,hello there!I see you found the bunnies,Mirror!"The amazing Gimp hopped down from a tree and limped over to the three travelers.

"Hi,Gimp!"cried Trixi.

"Hello,Miss Purple Lady Cat!"chirped Caddie as he bounded around her.Mirage raised her brows,something she did quite often.

"My name is Mirage,"she said.The purple cat gave her a toothy smile.

"Right,Garage.That's what I said!"Mirage opened her mouth to speak,but decided against it.

"I thought you were taking the short-cut,Gimp,"said Trixi.Gimp scratched her ear,causing a tiny flea to hop down,angry at being thrown from a good meal.Mirage wrinkled her nose at the flea as it hopped away.

"Oh,I am taking the short-cut.More travelers that way;I told you that.But it kind of zig-zags around this way,and I did say I'd keep an eye on you,didn't I?"

"But,if it zig-zags,"said Trixi thoughtfully."Then it would be a longer way,wouldn't it?"

"No,"Gimp frowned."I'm taking a short-cut."Trixi decided to refrain from another comment.Mirage seemed confused.

"How come you get to take a short-cut and you make us go the long way?"Gimp sighed,as though being pestered with idiotic questions that one would know the answer to,but had to ask anyway.

"Because I travel by myself,and if you three took the short-cut,then I wouldn't be alone,now would I?"

"I think she did more than just hit her head in that war,"commented Caddie under his breath.Trixi nudged him hard,keeping a bright smile aimed at Gimp.

"Well,I'd better be going..."the cat said.Mirage stepped forward quickly.

"Wait!"she said."I want to thank you for saving my life yesterday."Gimp stared at her as though she had a screw loose.

"I didn't save your life.I thought you might have food for me to eat,so I grabbed you."Mirage looked like she was going to scream in anger,but kept quiet."Anyway,I'll see you later,bunnies.You too,Garbage..."

"Mirage!"

"Whatever.Oh,by the way.You three might want to head a bit to the south.You'll find a surprise.Hurry,before something happens to it!Oh,and beware of the Brat Pack.They're around here,and they might sneak up on you at night.Till we meet again!"Gimp leaped up into a tree,with grace she didn't possess on ground,singing a strange tune.

"I am 'feline free' today

Eating mice in every way

They adore me so

They sacrifice themselves to me.

If you bother me at all

Upon your head,then,I will fall

That's not good for you

I happen to have many fleas!"

Trixi groaned at the lyrics,no doubt made up by the not-all-there cat herself.Mirage checked herself for any of those fleas.

"If I'm infested with those little beasts,I will die!"she scoffed dramatically.

"I wonder what Gimp meant by a surprise.She said to head south."

"I hope it's food!Or a really cool B.B. gun!"said Caddie.He began to sing to the sour tune of Gimp's song as the trio headed south.

"I have really long lop ears,

I have teeth the carn'vores fear.

If you're mean to me,

I'll bite a huge hole in you!"

"That's so digusting!"grunted Mirage.

*** *** *** ***

Skylre bounded outside.She loved mornings.Flicking her bushy tail about,she padded around outside the cottage.Suddenly,she spotted Sniper,cheeping angrily at an army of ants who were crawling over his breakfast,a mouse.The little fox crept up quietly.With the cat-like leap her species had perfected,she pounced on the brown hawk.

"SSQQUUUAAAAWWWKKKK!"

"Now I've got you!I'm going to hug you and dress you up and pluck out your feathers so I can make myself a Pocahontas outfit!"

"A Pocahontas outfit?Trust me,Skylre,you don't want one of those!"laughed Tet.He had dashed out of the cottage,thinking Sniper was being mauled.

"Why not?"asked Skylre,putting Sniper down.The little hawk gasped for breath and wheezed,glaring menacingly at Skylre.

"Because you're wild enough,Kiddo.Besides,Pocahontas had no nose!"Skylre grinned at Tet as he scooped her onto his broad shoulders.

"I changed my mind.I want to be a princess and have you as my Prince Charming!"Tet blushed madly.

"Oh,well,I'm not a Prince Charming,Skylre."

"I bet Keely thinks you are!"Skylre wasn't serious,but the words hit Tet hard.

"No,she doesn't"he sighed."Keely hates me..."

"Why?"

"You wouldn't understand,Skylre.Just let it be."

"But I want to know.I mean,you two are perfect.You're both wolves!"Tet laughed.

"I'm only part wolf,Skylre.I have fox in me,too."

"Wow!That's what I am!Then you could marry me instead of Keely and we could have a family.I want twenty kids!No,forty!"Tet howled with laughter.

"You're nuts,Sky.Come on,piggy-back ride!"The vulptod galloped like a horse,with the squealing vixen on his shoulders.Inside the cottage,Cat was making fruit porridge for breakfast.Digoby's hefty frame walked in,and he smelled the food with his long snout.

"My,my,Cat,what a delicious aroma!You should forget this Vixenberry masquerade,move south to someplace like Starlight City,and set up your own restaurant franchise.You'd make millions!"He took a taste of the porridge,dodging a slap from Cat."Especially with customers like me!"

"Digoby Hiller Mole,you're a tease!You know I can't leave this place without winning my rally at Vixenberry,not after trying so hard for almost ten months!If I can get the backing from Vixenberry,the capitol of this entire country,then I can influence the bigger cities like Starlight.In turn,they'll influence all the little suburbs,and other countries will follow our lead,and pretty soon the entire world will come to realize that despite our differences,we creatures are all alike!Now leave me alone,I have breakfast to finish.Digoby!Get your paw out of the porridge,you wretched old mole!"

Tet had been listening from the door of the cottage.He wondered if Cat was being logical.Could the whole world really be inspired by just one creature?Or were the rest of the Outcasts just being strung along in someone's crazy fantasy?Suddenly,he felt quite disturbed.He had never actually stopped to think about it,thinking Cat knew what she was doing and that all would be well.But it had been ten months,though he had only been with her for seven and a half.Would perseverance really win the upper hand in this battle?Questions raced through Tet's mind.It was Skylre who brought him back to reality.

"Tetty!I just found a way for you and Keely to become friends!"He turned to look at the little female.

"I don't know,Skylre.I think I should just give up."

"No way!You should never,ever give up!Then someone will steal your victory,or worse,no one will reach the finish line at all!That's what Digoby says!Isn't he smart?"Tet smiled to himself.Skylre had just answered all his questions.He felt he owed her something.

"O.K,Sky,you've won me over.How do I become friendly with Keely?"Little Skylre reached an arm up to hook around the tall vulptod's shoulders.

"Just stick with me,kid.I'll put you on the right course!"

*** *** *** ***

The two lop rabbits and the rather annoyed white tiger trekked south of their original course,looking for the surprise Gimp had promised them.Trixi didn't expect much,considering who the source was,but something told her to keep going.After only twenty minutes,Mirage stamped her foot and sat down.

"That's it!I'm not going another step!We're off our trail and there's nothing here!That cat was pulling our tails!"Trixi sighed,and sat down next to her,defeated as well.

"I guess you're right.We should have just kept going and ignored her,"she said,feeling as though she had been running towards a goal and had stopped right before it.Caddie,however,had discovered something.

"Do you guys hear that?"he asked.Trixi listened carefully.Her sharp ears caught a sort of high-pitched,muffled wailing.

"What?What is it?I don't hear anything!"snorted Mirage.Her hearing was not as acute.

"Shh!"Caddie and Trixi scolded together.They listened again.

"It's coming from over there!"said Trixi,pointing to a small hedge to the southwest.She and Caddie ran towards the hedge and hopped over it.Mirage got up quickly.

"Wait!Wait,I'm coming too!"She loped to the hedge and tried to jump over,but fell halfway and tumbled through.She pushed her way through the thick leaves and short,sharp branches.

"Mirage,look!"The tigress gasped.A hollow tree lay in front of them,a hole in it's side.And bulging out of that hole was a very young,headless kitten!Rather,his head was caught in the hollow of the tree,and he was yowling and screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Hep!Heewwwppp!"he bawled.

"Oh,the poor baby!"cried Trixi.

"What do we do?What do we do?"panicked Mirage.

"Don't worry!I'll get him out!"cried Caddie.He took the kitten's flailing legs in his paws,braced a foot against the tree,and pulled.The kitten screamed in pain.

"No!Caddie,stop!You'll break his neck!"Trixi screeched,dashing over and yanking Caddie out of the way.She knelt by the tree and tried to comfort the little cat.

"Easy,easy there.It's alright.Take it easy.We're friends,and we'll get you out.Calm down...hush now,"she murmured.Gradually,the wails ceased and gave way to little whimpers.Trixi turned to Mirage,keeping a paw on the kitten's protruding back."We'll have to make the hole bigger so he can get his head out."

"I think if I claw it enough,I can do it,"said Mirage.

"Good,"said Trixi."We could go at one end,and you could try at the other.My claws aren't meant for going into wood,though.Rabbits have claws for burrowing."

"That's fine.My claws are meant for tearing,but I think I can manage this,"Mirage said.

"Hey,I could throw a rock at the tree so the hole grows bigger!"said Caddie.

"No!You lop!You could break his head or impale him with broken wood!"snarled Mirage.She set to work on the right side of the kitten's head,clawing feverishly at the wood.Trixi and Caddie dug hard at the left.

"Be careful not to claw him!"warned Trixi.The sun beat down on them,and pretty soon they were sweaty and exhausted.

"I'm tired!"whined Caddie.

"Keep going!We're almost through!"panted Mirage.Her sharp claws were beginning to stick into the wood with each smack.The kitten was becoming restless again,and flailed his feet wildly.

"Caddie,hold him down!"cried Trixi.The albino lop obeyed,but recieved a kick in the face for his efforts.

"I'm trying to help you,dumb kid!"he growled.Mirage stopped a moment,wiping sweat from her brow,and motioned to Trixi.

"Come on this side and help me finish it off,"she puffed.Trixi did just that,and the two females worked and sweated at the hollow tree until Mirage stopped and pulled Trixi away.

"Look,we broke through.I'll just pull on this so the wood will break and widen the hole.She dug her claws into the wood and turned her back against the kitten.Once she found a grip,she began to pull with all her strength.Trixi watched in amazement as the wood began to crackle and break.Mirage put her back into it.

"Almost,I think..."she grunted.The muscles on the tiger bunched and quivered,and with one final yank,the piece of wood came free,sending Mirage toppling onto the kitten as he pulled his head out.

"Yay,Mirage!"cried Caddie."You did it!"

"Oh,no!Look at my claws!They're filthy!"cried the white tiger.The kitten squirmed out from under her,frightened,and tried to get away.

"No!"cried Trixi,grabbing the child.She held him tight until he calmed down."It's O.K.We're you're friends."When he relaxed,she loosened her grip and looked at him.

He was indeed a cat,no more than two years old.He had sable colored fur,with thin black stripes runnung around it.His tail was still short and pointed,a sign of kittenhood.But the most unique feature he possessed,besides unusually large yellow-green eyes,were the tufts of hair on his ears,giving him the appearance of a lynx.Had it not been for his tail,Trixi would have mistaken him for one.

"What's your name,fella?"she asked.The kitten looked up at her with big eyes.

"Whaddat?"he asked.

"What do your parents call you?"explained Caddie.The kitten shrugged.

"Whaddose?Whadare parrots?"he asked.

"Your mom and dad,"said Mirage."Do you have any?"

"Mommy gone.Daddy gone.I inda woods.Bwat-ak huwt me.Inda tree.I cwy."

"You poor baby!When did this happen?"

"Nighty-night.Mean Bwat-ak!Mean,mean,mean!"cried the kitten loudly,Birds flapped and scolded at the noisemaker.

"Bwat-ak?Who is that?What does he mean?"asked Caddie.

"Do you think he means the Brat Pack?"asked Trixi."The ones Gimp talked about?"

"Don't know,"said Mirage.The kitten tugged at Trixi's sarong.

"Hungwy,"he stated.Trixi gave him a few of the fruit they had found that morning.He devoured it greedily.She watched,knowing they couldn't leave him.He was so young,and alone.

"Mirage,Caddie.We have to take him with us,"she said.

"I was just thinking the same thing,Trixi.We can't leave him.He'll die,"said Mirage."I just hope he doesn't give me fleas!"

"You've got enough already!"joked Caddie.Mirage screeched.

"EEK!Where?!"She brushed her hands vigorously over her fur,as Caddie laughed.The kitten giggled at them.

"Tiggy funny!"he cooed.Trixi picked him up.

"Would you like to come with us?We're going to a place called Ivy Wood."The kitten seemed to consider this.

"Otay,"he agreed finally.

"Great!"said Trixi."But first you'll need a name.Mirage,you saved him.Why don't you give him a name?"Mirage dusted her fur off a final time.

"How about Fleabag?"she snorted.

"How about Supercalifragilistickexpialodocious?"suggested Caddie.

"Oh,forget it!I'll name him myself!"Trixi groaned.She turned to the sable-fur kitten."You look just like a little lynx.I think we'll call you that,Lynx.Do you like it?"The kitten thought,then nodded.

"Yeth!Me Winx!Me Winx!"

"Lynx it is,then!Welcome to our little group,Lynx!"Trixi carried the newly named kitten in her arms as the small group traveled back to the main path.Trixi silently thanked the amazing Gimp,wherever she might be,for helping save a life in her odd little way.Trixi asked herself why the cat had called for them to save Lynx,and not tried to do it herself,but realized Gimp had agility,but not the strength of a tiger like Mirage.And perhaps Gimp had felt it was meant for them to find Lynx themselves.Whatever the case,Trixi was deeply grateful to the kooky cat,and hoped she would see her again to thank her in person.Perhaps one day she or even Lynx might save Gimp's life in return...

*** *** *** ***