"Kitty!"

"No,Larke!I'm not a dumb old cat,I'm a weasel!"Nick cried.

"Leave him alone.It's the only word he knows,"Tet said with a shake of his head."No matter what,we just can't teach him anything else."

"Humans are slow,that's why!Slow,dim-witted animals!Yet they think they're the most intelligent creatures on the planet!Isn't that a hoot!"Keely howled.

"Yeah,I'll bet they say the same thing about you,boulder-belly!"Nick laughed.Keely got to her feet,a bit awkwardly,for she had gotten even more enormous in the past couple of months.She stood firmly over Nick and thrust a fist into his face.

"Would you like your pointed face to be caved in like a pug's?"she threatened.Nick,who knew that even in her current state Keely could pummel him flat,gulped and shook his head.

"I thought so.Now if you guys don't mind,I'm going to take a nap.I feel like a zombie."She left the room,and Tet noticed that she was beginning to waddle a slight bit.Trixi shook her head.

"Poor Keely.It must be awful!"

"Yeah.I'd be so embarrassed,walking around like that!"said Mirage."She can't even fit into any clothes!"

"Yech!I hate clothes!They're for creatures who hardly have any fur,like elephants and humans!"Nick said.Trixi looked downward.She rather liked how she looked in her sarong.

"Not that they don't look good on you,Trixi,"grinned Tet sheepishly.The gray lop fiddled with the ribbon that tied her ears together at the bottom.

"You're such a flirt,Tet,"giggled Mirage,hoping he'd flirt with her.Tet blinked at the tiger.Had it really sounded that way?He gulped as the sultry tigress sidled up to him."Do you think I'd look good in a dress or a nice miniskirt?"She was batting her eyes.Nick pulled her away by an arm.

"I bet you'd look good with anything on,sweet-cheeks,"he trifled.Mirage slapped him on the face.

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

Keely woke up,feeling a bit of pain in her belly.She gulped nervously,sat up, and checked the time on the grandfather clock that stood proudly in the bedroom.The feeling passed,and she lay down again.Soon she was awake with the same small pain.The clock had ticked away fifteen minutes since she had last looked at it.

"Oh,that's what I thought it was,"she moaned,and heaved herself out of bed.She hurried into the main room.Cat looked up as she came in.

"Keely!What's the matter?Are you alright?You look like you've seen a ghost!"

"I'm...uh...I..."She gulped."I think I'm going to have a baby."

"What?!Now?!Today?!Oh,oh...don't panic...Don't panic!!!Digoby?!DIGOBY!!!"Cat rushed out of the room in a frenzy.Keely gaped after her.

"Geez!What's wrong with her?"Pretty soon all of the Outcasts had come rushing into the main room.

"Keely!Are you O.K.?"

"Don't panic,Keely!!!!"

"Where?Where is it?The baby!Is it here yet?Huh?Huh?"Everyone was fretting in one giant mass,all except Keely.She felt she had to do something.Taking a deep breath,she screamed as loud as she could.

"OOOWWWWW!"Suddenly,the Outcasts were silent,staring at her in silent fright."O.K.,"she said."Now that I have your attention..."The Outcasts relaxed."I am going to mosey into the bedroom.I want all of you to settle down.When you have,you may join me.Thank you!"she said,drawing out the syllables in each word sarcastically.There was silence as she left the room.The rest of the Outcasts stared after her in shock for a brief second before they went into another frenzied jumble.

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

"Keely?"Tet stood nervously by the door.The wolf beckoned to him from her bed.

"Come in!What do you think I'm going to do,yank your ears out or something?"Tet walked in and sat on a chair by the bed,wringing his paws.

"Are...you alright?"he asked."It's been a few hours and I was worried there was something wrong..."Keely burst out laughing.

"What are you,some sort of moron?Did you think it'd be over and done with in five minutes?Did you expect to see me climbing the walls and screaming bloody murder?Pah!Oh,man,you've seen too many motion pictures,Tet."He grinned foolishly.

"Oh,so it isn't too bad?"Keely grinned.

"Piece of cake.The media makes it look terrible.It really doesn't hurt that much,knock on wood.Wait a sec..."She took a deep breath,looking only moderately uncomfortable."There,"she said after it had passed."See?No problem!"Cat walked in with Digoby.

"Tet,why don't you let Keely get some rest.She needs her strength for later,"said Digoby.The vulptod nodded,and turned to Keely.

"Take care,"he said.Keely gave him a thumbs-up sign and turned to Cat.

"Are you going to stay with me?I want you here the whole time,"she was saying as Tet walked out.

"Of course,Keely.I'll stay right here..."

Tet closed the door and walked to the main room,where most of the Outcasts were gathered.

"How is she?"asked Trixi.

"She's doing fine.As for me,I'm a wreck!"

"Ha!You're actin' like you're the kid's father!"laughed Nick.Tet gave him a dirty look.

"Keely's my friend.She's like my sister.I just can't stop worrying about her..."

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

The day turned into night.The younger creatures drifted off to bed soon after evening.Tet sat on the couch,grinding his teeth.

"Lighten up,Tet,"said Nick."She'll be fine."With that,he disappeared to bed.Mirage and Sniper soon followed,and pretty soon,the only two left were Tet and Trixi.The lop put a comforting paw on Tet's back.He turned to smile at her.

"Aren't you going off to bed?"She shook her head.

"No way.I want to make sure you're O.K. before I go."Tet smiled wider and began to notice just how blue her eyes were.

"You're really sweet,you know that?"he said.Trixi blushed.

"Well,I just wanted to...well..."She turned away.Tet reached over and touched the watch that lay around her neck.

"Could I see this?I like it a lot."She nodded,and Tet took it off of her and held it in his paw.He opened the clasp and looked at the time.It was almost one in the morning.His eyes focused on another thing,a picture of Trixi with another rabbit that lay on the opposite side of the watch."Is that your brother?"he asked cautiously.

"Yes.That was Buddy."Tet saw tears well up in her eyes and he closed the watch quickly,giving it back to her.

"I'm sorry.I didn't mean to upset you.I was just being curious..."Trixi shook her head and sniffed.

"Don't worry about it.You didn't do anything..."Tet sighed and looked forward,a strange expression in his eyes.

"I know how you feel.It was really hard being a freak back when I lived in Vixenberry.They taunted me,threw things at me,and even threatened to kill me.But I felt safe,and do you know why?My mother.I always ran to her after getting beaten or laughed at,and she always used to take me into her arms and comfort me.She would always say,'Tet,you're something special.You have all of the luck in the world.Don't let anyone ever say that you don't belong.'She named me after a new year's celebration in some far off country that is supposed to bring luck and prosperity,you know.And I truly believed I was lucky.Then,she died..."He buried his head in his paws for a moment,brushing back his hair-fur.

"I'm sorry,"said Trixi softly."What about your father?"

"He left as soon as I was born.Said he didn't want any part in a freak's life...I didn't believe it when Mom said she was dying.I thought she was teasing me.But the cancer spread quickly...After that,I was alone,and I couldn't take the torment from everyone else all by myself,so I ran away.Anyway,Cat found me,and took me to live with her and Larke,Sniper,and Digoby.Pretty soon,Nick,Keely and Skylre came,and we were the Outcasts.I never told them any of this,not even Keely or Nick..."He sighed and turned to her."Did I bore you?"

"No!Of course not!I was just thinking about how they used to torment me back in Starbrook because I was a lop.They did it to Caddie,too.I know how much it hurts..."Tet nodded.

"More than anything in the world..."They looked at each other and smiled,realizing just how much they had in common.The bang of a door and a cry from Cat brought them back to reality.

"Tet!Trixi!Go look!Go see!It's a girl!Oh,it's a beautiful little female!!"Tet's heart felt as if it would burst.

"Is Keely O.K.?"Cat shoved him towards the door.

"Go,see for yourself!"Tet turned to look at Trixi.

"Coming?"Trixi shook her head.

"You go...I'll see the baby in the morning."Tet nodded.He knew she didn't want to intrude.He turned around and burst into the room.

Keely was lying on her side,her back to him as he entered.Digoby,who had just finished cleaning up,nodded to Tet and left the room.Beside the bed was the crib he had made,and inside was a small little bundle.He turned his attention to Keely for the moment.

"Um...Keely?"She turned to face him,looking tired and damp.

"Hey,Tet.I told you it was a piece of cake,"she croaked."Did you see her?"Tet looked into the crib.The baby was a tiny,beautiful replica of Keely.He smiled.

"She's gorgeous..."he whispered,awed.

"Isn't she precious?You should have been there,Tet.It was amazing."He turned around and saw Cat.He hadn't even noticed her come into the room.Keely gave a sharp laugh.

"I'm glad someone enjoyed it,"she snorted.Tet turned to her.

"Can I...can I hold her?"Keely waved a paw at him.

"Go ahead.I don't mind at all..."Tet reached into the crib and gently lifted the baby wolf into his arms.

"Wow,"he breathed as the little infant grabbed onto one of his fingers.

"I'll say!Your first day as a mother,Keely,"smiled Cat.

"Yep!And I'm already exhausted!"she quipped.Tet carefully handed Keely her daughter.

"What are you naming her?"he asked.Keely looked down at the newborn.

"I like Robyn,you know,after the bird.It was always my favorite.My parents and I used to watch them in the spring.You don't think it's silly...do you?"

"Robyn's a lovely name!"said Cat."Now why don't you just relax and hold her for awhile.She needs to get used to you.Tet and I will leave you alone.Call me if you need anything."Cat left the room,and Tet went to follow.Keely grabbed his arm.

"It's funny how something I used to think was so horrible could turn out to be wonderful.I can't believe I used to hate Robyn,"she said.

"Well,she wasn't really a true creature yet.You were just scared..."he said.

"I was,"she yawned."Boy,was I scared."Tet patted her on the shoulder as she settled down with Robyn,and left to find Cat,closing the door behind him.She was sitting in Larke's room,gazing into his crib.

"You know,Tet?"she whispered."Watching that birth in there really made me start to open my eyes again.I began to realize just why we're here in the first place.I promised my son a good life,and he's going to get one.I'm through feeling sorry for myself,and I'm going to do what I set out to do regardless of what creatures think or threaten.We are going to get Vixenberry to see the light,Tet,and we are going to do it soon!"Tet grinned broadly and clamped a paw on Cat's arm.

"That's the Cat I remember!"he cried,a bit too loudly.Larke woke up and whimpered.Cat picked the human up and soothed him.

"Don't worry,son.Mommy's here.She's back for good!"Larke looked up at her.

"Mama,"he said.

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

"Ooohhh,she's so cuuuute!"squealed Skylre and Mirage together.Keely,who was reclining on the couch in the main room,rolled her eyes.

"Look!Her eyes are violet!Just like yours,Keely,"said Trixi,peering over Nick,who was holding Robyn.Surprisingly,he had fussed over her more than anyone,even refusing to give her back to her mother.

"I'm glad she doesn't look like that ugly creep Jael!"muttered Keely in a cold tone.Tet nodded.

"He sure was ugly,especially after I knocked his face in!Er,no offense Keely."The wolf howled with laughter,grabbing her sore belly.

"None taken!Ha!You sure gave him a face lift,Tet!He looked just like a shrew when you finished.Ha!Serves him right,the bas..."Keely caught Cat's glare and remembered that Caddie,Skylre and Lynx were listening."I,uh,mean the,um,big bad wolf!Yeah,he-he..."

"Well,hello,hello!You guys remember me,don't you?"The eight original Outcasts (except Larke,of course) looked at each other,recognizing the voice.

"Uh-oh!"they remarked simultaneously.But Trixi,Mirage,Caddie,and Lynx had a different reaction,and ran to hug Gimp,who had let herself in.

"Gimp!Hi!Remember me?I'm Caddie!"

"Gip!Gip pupple tat!"

"Hi,Gimp!!"The purple cat grinned as she helped herself to some fruit that lay on a table.

"Well,well!It's been years,Trixi!You haven't aged a bit!"Trixi didn't want to point out that it had only been four months."And Kiki,has it been nine months already?"

"Keely.My name is Keely,"muttered the wolf.

"Right,Kelly!Well,howdy,Rat!How's your son,Parke?How're you doing?And if it isn't T�te-�-t�te!You old gulptod,you!Digatme,Skyburr,nice to see you!Hi,Hick!Where's Sniper,the canary?Oh,there he is!Polly wanna cracker?He-he!"Mirage snickered and muttered to Nick.

"She gets my name wrong all the time too!"As if on cue,Gimp turned to grin at her.

"Nice to see you,Rajah!"she crowed.Cat sighed impatiently.

"Well,Gimp,as much as we'd love to chat with you,I have to insist that you state your business here and hit the road.We have one new mouth to feed as it is."

"So I see,so I see.What's his name?"she asked,tickling the newborn on her stomach.

"Robyn.Her name is Robyn,"said Nick.Gimp grinned.

"Goblin,eh?Strange name for a girl.Anyway,none of my business.I came here to warn you Outcasts of danger,"she said,talking as though the subject was as casual as the weather.

"Danger?What sort of danger?"Cat wanted to know.Gimp sidled closer to them,looking suspiciously around at nothing in particular.

"Oh,cut the dramatics and get on with it!"hissed Keely.

"The Mongrels are coming,"Gimp said.

"What?!Here?!"cried Cat.Robyn began to wail,and Nick decided that she was better off with Keely at the moment.Trixi remembered something Gimp had said before about mongrels,but she wasn't sure.

"Who are these Mongrels?"she asked.Cat explained.

"The Mongrels are a horde of terrorist creatures.They love roaming the countryside every few years and killing innocent town dwellers.They're cannibals,scavengers,and just plain rotten."

"Are they...humans?"asked Mirage,remembering all too clearly the attack on Starbrook.Cat shook her head.

"There are a couple of them in the horde,but mostly it consists of other mangy beasts."

"And they're coming to Ivy Wood?"asked Trixi,pulling Lynx close to her.

"Naw.They're going to Vixenberry.I was up in the trees over their camp and I heard the whole plan.They want to settle down,can you believe that?"Gimp said.

"Settling down?In Vixenberry?I'd believe that as much as I can picture you settling in one spot,Gimp."said Cat.

"Well,you never know,Hat.I just might decide to live with you fuzzies!"

"Perish the thought!"muttered Keely.

"Just thought I'd warn you of it,Outcasts,"said Gimp."But you have nothing to worry about just as long as you don't go into Vixenberry."

"Oh,you don't have to worry 'bout that!"snorted Nick.He had yet to learn of Cat's "revival".Tet had been silent the whole conversation,watching Cat.He saw her shake her head as Gimp left.

"We have to warn them..."Trixi said suddenly.

"What?Are you crazy?They said they'd kill us if we returned.I say we mind our own business,and Cat agrees with me,right-o Kitty?"Nick looked at the Outcast leader.

"I agree with Trixi.We have to warn them,"she said.Tet smiled broadly,as the other Outcasts displayed shock.

"Cat?"

"Does this mean you're back?"

"What did she say?"

"I just don't believe it!"

"Is it really true?"asked Keely excitedly.Cat smiled.

"It sure is,Keely.Thanks to you and your little Robyn.And my son Larke..."

"Mama!"cooed the human from the floor.

"Not to mention...!"

"Ah,and Tet too!"she grasped the vulptod's paws in hers."Tet,too..."

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

Trixi looked through the shrubs and saw Vixenberry for the first time.It was a very quaint looking town,the kind where it seems everyone knows your business and vice-versa.Kind of like Starbrook.Trixi gulped.

"Oh,what if they don't listen?"

"Nonsense,they'll have to,"urged Tet."You don't ignore that type of thing."

"Besides,"added Cat."They've never seen you before,so they can't claim you have no right to be there."Trixi took a deep breath.Tet,Cat,Digoby,and Nick smiled encouragingly.

"Well,"she breathed."Here goes nothing..."She began to walk to the council-hall Cat had described for her.It was enormous from close up,and Trixi could not help admiring it for a moment before she went in.

"Just like a one-roomed mansion..."she said to herself.The council looked up warily as she entered.

"Who are you?What is your business here?"snapped one,a panda that seemed to be in charge.

"Um,my name is Trixi Bigfoot,and I've come to warn you..."

"Are you an Outcast?"growled a wolf.

"Oh,please listen!The Mongrels are coming to take over your town!"

"Just as I suspected!An Outcast!She has to be.She didn't answer my question at once!"snarled the wolf.

"But I...we..."

"Do you know what we do to Outcasts who trespass after we specifically ordered them not to return?"

"But I didn't know about that!I mean,I wasn't here when that happened!Oh,anyway,it doesn't matter.The Mongrels are coming!"The panda ignored her.

"Grab her!"he yelled.Several of the council-members lunged for her.One hooked his paw around her watch,but Trixi wrenched free and ran as fast as she could.

"Kill her!Don't let her get away!"Trixi's feet pounded hard as she ran.Thinking quickly,she lunged in a sharp turn to the left and bounded for Ivy Wood.She was barely able to hear Tet's shouts,urging her on.An arrow whizzed by,neatly grazing her ear.But the rabbit instinct in her told Trixi to keep going,and she did with amazing speed.Finally she reached the shrubs and was yanked into hiding by Tet.A few of the council members were standing close by.

"Hey,I don't see 'er!"

"Pah!Let it be.She won't show 'er face 'ere 'gen,not fer awhile at least.C'mon,let's go back to the Hall."The Outcasts waited another few minutes before slowly creeping out of hiding.Tet brushed himself off.

"What happened?Did they listen to you at all?"

"No!They just attacked!"Trixi said,her heart still pounding.

"I don't believe it!Don't worry,Trixi,we'll get through to them.Tomorrow,all of us will go back down and try to reconcile them.If they refuse to listen again,well,we'll either head for the hills or fight until we get through to them.I'll take a vote tonight,and see what everyone feels we should do."

"But fight,Cat?Surely there must be some other way,my dear,"said Digoby.

"Well,I'm sick of trying to get through to them when all they want to do is battle.If they want gore,I'll give it to them!"

"Let's be rational,Cat..."

"I am being rational,Tet.I'll die for Larke if I have to."

"But think about your son?Would it be best for him if you were dead?Think awhile,dear."They continued to argue as they headed home.Trixi was silent,worried.She went to grasp Buddy's watch for comfort.

"Oh!No!No!"she gasped.Tet whirled around.

"Trixi!What is it?What's wrong?"

"My watch!Buddy's watch!Oh,it's gone!It's gone!No!"

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

The Mongrels sat just on the outskirts of Vixenberry.Things were going according to plan.Tomorrow,they would attack,not in numbers,but in stealth.

"We'll do it just before dawn,"Whiskuhs was saying to the horde.Beside her stood a very proud-looking Dewclaw.The ugly canine grinned as he thought about the fate of the Vixenberry townscreatures."It'll probably be around the early afternoon,"Whiskuhs explained."After that,we'll have it for sure!With the council gone,we can take the rest as slaves!"The horde cheered.Dewclaw turned to his feline friend.

"A brilliant strategy,my catty companion!"Whiskuhs grinned with filthy teeth showing.

"My thoughts exactly.It will sure...he-he...blow their tops!"The pair laughed evilly.The amazing Gimp,from where she was hiding in a tree,began to scramble to Ivy Wood to warn the Outcasts.They would have to help.She had tried to warn the Vixenberry Council earlier,but had almost been killed.She accidentally stepped on a weak branch and plummeted to the ground,right next to Whiskuhs and Dewclaw!The evil duo grinned menacingly at her.

"Well,well..."purred Whiskuhs,wiggling her claws.Gimp gasped,whirled around,and tried to make a break for it.She just had to warn everyone!

The Mongrels began to close in...

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