The Mongrels were heading east.The horde was intent on taking over a town,not just any town,but Vixenberry.They had tired of their old ways,living everywhere and terrorizing anyone in their way,and now they wanted control of the capitol of this country.It would grant them more power than anything,which was all they were interested in,especially Whiskuhs and Dewclaw,the leaders.They knew it would have to wait until after winter,four months,when the hard weather was over.But they would claim Vixenberry,even if it meant killing all who lived there.

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

TWO MONTHS LATER...

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

It had been a couple months since Trixi,Mirage,Caddie and Lynx had arrived in Ivy Wood.The winter forbid the Outcasts from going out,but no one complained.They had warmth from the cottage,food from the garden and fish from the lake that had been harvested,hunted and stored a month before,and they were never at a loss for companionship.

Trixi had found a good companion in Tet.He was kind and funny,and never scorned her for what she had to say.Trixi almost felt some chemistry between them.But that was absurd.Not only was Tet an entirely different genus and species from her (Trixi had been brought up with the myth that one should only love within the species;in a way,it was a good idea,for two creatures of different genus' and species could marry but never have children,but dated because love is blind,and many creatures of different species and same genus were able to start families,and other creatures different from each other entirely were enjoying married life and adopting a family.)he also seemed to be interested in the wolf Keely Skypack.Trixi had nothing against her at all,she liked every one of the Outcasts,but she did sometimes wish that Tet spent all his time with her.He reminded her so much of Buddy...

As for Keely,well,by this time she was about seven months to term.The poor little wolf was so tiny herself,that her huge belly seemed to swallow her up.Interestingly,she never seemed to have trouble with it.If her back was sore,she didn't show it,standing up straight and tall.Her paws never had to support her stomach,she was just fine crossing them on her chest in her usual stance,thank you very much.She didn't even walk with the usual 'pregnant waddle waltz',as she scorned it.If Keely had to get somewhere,she stormed.And nothing could keep her from giving Nick the beating he deserved whenever he made one of his Comments.

The other Outcasts were already beginning to get ready for the new arrival.Tet,being quite the handybeast,had fashioned a gorgeous crib out of oak.Skylre had declared herself too old for toys,now that there were two younger kids to act 'grown up' in front of,and had given up the plush bear and rabbit that had accompanied her on the trip that had landed in disaster.Dr. Digoby was to deliver the child,and had set up everything already.

"You've got to be prepared,"he had told them.Keely had laughed.But there was one baby that was getting all the attention at that time.Larke's first birthday had arrived,and everyone was making sure it remained a celebration,not just for the little human,but for Cat as well.

She was the only one that seemed depressed.Her green eyes seemed to have grown duller,and she rarely talked anymore.No one ever suggested to her the possibility of returning to Vixenberry;they could not do so in this weather anyway.As Larke's birthday rolled around,she seemed to grow even more sullen than before.Perhaps it was because she had broken her promise to her son.Perhaps she was regretting her choice to stay in Ivy Wood.Whatever the case,Tet began to grow very worried.He did not want to see Cat do what he had almost done to himself.The worried vulptod talked to Keely and Trixi about it the night after Larke's birthday

"I'm afraid she might try to...you know...do herself in,"he fretted.Keely nodded.

"Why is she so down?"asked Trixi.She had not heard of the incident.

"Well,"began Tet."We sort of lost our chance to rally Vixenberry.It's a whole other story I'll have to tell you another time.But after that,Cat just gave up.She normally would have put up a huge fight,but this time..."He sighed."Now she wants us all to live in Ivy Wood like,well,outcasts,and she was trying to help us not to be!It's like she's phased out the past year of hard work."

"So that's why you don't go anymore?I thought it was just the winter weather,"said Trixi.Keely shook her head.

"Trust me,if Cat were acting like her normal self,we'd be trekking down there regardless of a stupid blizzard!"

"She'd fight to her death.Now she's just fading away like a lost soul,"muttered Tet.

"Can we do anything about it?"asked Trixi."I mean,you shouldn't just ignore the past,no matter how painful it is.It's something I've learned."Tet just lowered his head.

"No,Trixi.You can try all you like,but you won't be able to get through to her.No one can..."

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

Trixi pondered about what Tet had said for days afterward.How could Cat just ignore her own ideas like that?It just wasn't right.Trixi knew that for the first couple of weeks after arriving in Ivy Wood,she herself had tried to forget all about Starbrook,but it had been too hard and painful.She missed it dearly because of Buddy,but she had a new life.She finally realized that she could have a new life without forgetting the old,and soon,it became easier to remember without feeling homesick.Cat must be going through about the same thing,Trixi decided.Maybe Tet was wrong.Maybe she could get through to Cat.Would the caracal take advice from someone she hardly knew,though?Trixi sighed.It wouldn't have worked,anyway.

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

Blue Golde looked out at the snow from his house.Smokie Ringpaw and his fiancˇe,Faerie,were visiting,and the three were talking nonchalantly,except Blue was spacey during most of the visit.

"So I said to him,'You got a problem,pal?'"Smokie was saying.Faerie giggled and batted her eyelashes.

"You're so brave,Smokie-wokie!"she cooed.The raccoon and the red panda touched noses.Blue groaned inwardly.The female red panda,who didn't even look like a panda but a reddish raccoon,could drive him up a wall."Isn't Smokie brave?Isn't Smokie sweet?"she would sigh after every word the raccoon said.She even once complemented him when he accidentally belched!"Cat would never act like that,"Blue thought.He was still heart-broken after his visit to her cottage.Why had she been that way?Had it been because of him?Was it because he had been afraid to stick up for her during that last meeting?

"Damn!I'm such a coward!"he muttered under his breath.That had to be it!

"What was that,Blue?"asked Smokie.

"Oh,no-nothing..."the bobcat stammered.Smokie didn't look convinced.

"You still can't get your mind off that Cat Prideflower,can you?"he asked.

"Oooo,Blewey-wewey,do you have a crushy-wushy?"giggled Faerie."Won't you ever shutty-uppy?"thought Blue menacingly.Where had Smokie found this schoolgirl?

"Well,I guess you wouldn't believe me if I said no,"said Blue to his friend.

"You're right,I wouldn't,"said Smokie."So fess up!"Blue smiled wanly.

"Ah,Smokes.You caught me red-pawed.Yes,I was thinking about Cat Prideflower.I can't get my mind off her..."

"Hee-hee,how sweet!"gushed Faerie."Oh,did I interrupt you?I'm so sorry!"How Blue wanted to reply,"Yeah,I bet,"or worse at that moment!

"Go on,Blue,"urged Smokie.

"Well,I just kept thinking about that last meeting.I was thinking only about myself and my job.I should have stuck up for her,Smokie,and now I've lost her...I mean,not that I actually had her in the first place,"he ended after Smokie gave him a Look.

"I think what you mean is,you lost your chance to ever get to know her,"suggested Smokie.The tawny bobcat nodded.

"Exactly."He scratched one of the black stripes that cascaded down his whiskered muzzle.Faerie chose this moment to giggle loudly.

"Oh!Oh,Blue!You crack me up!You're so...so inexperienced!You remind me of a schoolboy!Oh!Passing notes during Study Hall,that sort of thing!You know what I mean,those shy little geeks with all those pimples and glasses who are obsessed with computers and calculators!Whoo!"She laughed hysterically.Smokie put his head in his paws after an apologetic glance to Blue."Yeah,those shy little geeks are probably who you work for today,bimbo,"thought Blue.The "bimbo" finally calmed down.Smokie shrugged at Blue.

"I really don't know what to tell you.If you knew where she lived in Ivy Wood,then you could go talk to her after this weather cleared up.But nobody knows where those Outcasts are."Blue became uncomfortable at Smokie's suggestion,but he tried not to show it.The raccoon turned quickly to Faerie."Why don't we go,now,Sweetums?"Oh,please."Listen,I'll meet you in the motor-carriage,I have to talk to Blue here."Faerie put on her coat and opened the door,rudely letting snow into his living room.

"Ta-ta,Bluezy!Hope your girl troubles end soon!"She giggled and was gone.Smokie had to close the door after her.He faced Blue,a knowing grin on his face.

"You do know where the Outcasts live,don't you?"he asked.Blue sighed and placed a paw on his shoulder,talking in a low voice.

"Yes,I do.But you have to promise me,you won't say a thing to the council."

"I knew that little bit about going into Grasse and warning them about the Outcasts was a story!"cried Smokie triumphantly.Blue looked nervous.

"I only hope the council doesn't,"he whispered."Listen,please promise me you won't say a word..."

"Gee,Blue,this could get the both of us into a lot of trouble.I mean,you know what Bull said..."

"Promise me!!"Blue grabbed the fur on his friend's shoulders.Smokie winced.

"You have my word,Blue.I swear on my fiancˇe's life that I will not say anything."Blue released him."But I don't like it,Golde.I don't like it at all."

"You just keep to your promise,Ringpaw.I'll take full blame for anything."Smokie looked relieved."And don't you dare tell Faerie!"

"Trust me,Blue.I wouldn't spill a secret like that to Miss Gossip Queen out there.Relax,you're safe with me."

"I hope so,"said Blue as he let Smokie out.

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

"Say Mama,saaa-aay Mama!"Mirage cooed at Larke.The baby grinned.

"Maaaaa,"he announced.

"Close enough!Hey,Cat!Come here and listen to this!"Mirage hefted the boy up and placed him on Cat's lap.Larke snuggled against her.

"Kitty!"he cried,playing with her tail.Cat's sad expression was doubled.

"Oh,you don't even know that I'm your mother,do you?You just think I'm some huge pet to cuddle with.I shouldn't be surprised.Most human children think that way."She got up,placing Larke back in Mirage's arms,and left.Trixi had been watching from the other side of the room.

"Do you think something as simple as Larke saying 'Mama' will get her to snap out of it?"she asked.

"Snap out of what?I thought she was always like that,"snorted Mirage.Trixi shook her head.

"That's not what Tet and Keely told me."

"I guess you're right.If she is such a great debater,then she must be tougher than she's letting on.Activists usually have loud mouths and huge tempers,"said Mirage.

"That used to be Cat,all right,"said Keely as she walked into the main room.She plopped onto the huge couch that lay in the southwest corner."Geez,why am I so tired lately?"she asked no one in particular.

"Maybe it's a mid-life crisis?"suggested Mirage.Keely glared at her.

"What,you think because I'm like this that I must be some middle aged wife to some sleaze male?Please!"

"I wasn't talking about you,chill out!I was referring to Cat,"glowered Mirage.

"Excuse me.Sorry,"sighed Keely,not unkind.Mirage rolled her eyes anyway.Luckily,Keely didn't notice.

"Well,Cat is twenty-six.Would that be considered mid-life?"she asked.

"No,that would be considered 'Generation X',"said Trixi.

"Post-partum depression,maybe?"Mirage joked.Neither Keely nor Trixi laughed.

"Well,"said Trixi."I still think Larke is the only one that can get Cat to lighten up.Mirage,you saw how upset she got when Larke didn't call her 'Mama'.It sounds really dumb,I know,but it's worth a shot."Keely sat up slowly.

"You know,I never thought of that.It is a good idea.If Larke can just tell her that one single word,then maybe she will remember just why she started this crusade."

"You never know,"said Mirage."Many of the greatest ideas in the world sounded dumb or absurd when they were first brought up..."

"Yeah,like the internet!"grinned Keely.

"Well,like I said before,it's worth a shot,"said Trixi.Mirage nodded and knelt on the floor,placing Larke next to her.

"Larke,can you say,'Mama'?Can you?Can you?"she said,her sickeningly sweet tone rising to a squeal.

"Can you say 'Barney'?"groaned Keely.Trixi sighed.Larke giggled.

"Kitty!"he cried,grabbing Mirage's whiskers.

"OW!You little monster!"

"This is going to take a lot of work,"moaned Trixi

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

Whiskuhs,one of the leaders of the Mongrels,found the horde was not surviving the winter as well as expected.

"They're dropping like flies,"she whined in her high-pitched rasp.The other Mongrel leader,Dewclaw,rubbed his muzzle thoughtfully.

"If this keeps up,then we won't have enough creatures left for the takeover at Vixenberry,"he said.Whiskuhs raised her brow at her canine companion.

"What do you mean by that?"she yowled.Dewclaw looked back at the mangy feline.

"What do you mean by that?I told you we were going to bombard them and fight."Whiskuhs was feeling too tired to argue.

"Who says we have to do battle?"she purred.Dewclaw was ready with a saucy remark,but then realized just what Whiskuhs was implying.He began to laugh in a menacing tone.

"Whiskuhs,you're as smart as you are vile!"he said.The feline grinned.

"You have to be in the terrorist business,honey.You just have to be vile..."

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

"Anden Winx say tooda Bwat-ak,'Weeve my fwiends alone!'Tissy an Woj an Cabbie was 'cared,but Winx fight 'way badums aww by heeself!"Lynx had told the story a hundred times before since he had come to Ivy Wood,but no one had applauded as much as Larke did at that moment.Lynx puffed himself up proudly and walked over to Cat."See?Lok tot Winx were vewwy bwave!"

"Well,you are,"smiled Cat wanly.She was beginning to adore this child.Lynx climbed up on her lap.

"Lok is Tat baby?"he asked.

"Yes,Larke is my baby,"said Cat.

"Howcum he no tat?"asked Lynx.

"Well,he isn't really mine.I adopted him.Larke is a human."

"Mommy taid huwins bad,"said Lynx."Mommy gone now."Cat looked away.

"Not all humans are bad,Lynx.Some are very nice,like Larke.I wanted to prove to everyone how good some humans are,but I failed..."A tear rolled down her cheek.Lynx patted her.

"No cwy.Evvyun lissin to Tat,"he said,and tumbled off her lap,skittering into another room.Cat looked in the direction Lynx had departed,then at Larke,playing happily on the floor.Had she really been wrong?

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

Outside,the winter raged on.Blizzards pounded at the cottage,threatening to tear it down.Hail smacked on the roof,frightening the younger Outcasts like Caddie and Lynx.Boredom soon reigned around the cottage,especially in Sniper,who hadn't been able to fly freely in two months.The little hawk waddled around with a frustrated look in his eye.Keely began to get more uncomfortable,though she didn't show it.She,Trixi,and Mirage had recruited Tet and Nick to help them teach Larke to refer to Cat as "Mama".Digoby was busy entertaining Skylre,Caddie,Larke and Lynx.Cat,meanwhile,was still moping around,though she would occasionally think about her old ideas and dreams.However,they did not remain in her mind for very long,as she tended to force them out as quick as they arrived.Time passed slowly.One month came and went,and a couple of weeks followed with agonizingly sluggish pace after that.Soon,though,two months had gone by,and the winter was over.Spring flowered and blossomed in Ivy Wood.The last remnants of snow were shaken off the trees by the robins that alighted on them.The Outcasts soon found themselves catching a second wind,as they romped outside like playful imps.Ivy Wood was alive once again...

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