No one ever did find out where Jenny had gone that first night they discovered she'd been sneaking out., or what she was doing all that night. But from then on, Jessica was not alarmed when she wasn't there during the night, so long as she was back by morning.
At least some of the other furbies were not so easily reassured that things were fine. Sundown in particular, was suspicious, and expressed the most annoyance at Jenny's nightly outings. If he greeted her at all the next morning, it was usually with a scowl or look of suspicion.
Kitri, Dmitri, and Toby were all too glad to help her out the window every night,
Polly, who had become increasingly timid and quiet since late winter, came out of her shell and was much more relaxed and talkative when Jenny was not around - unless the subject was Jenny.
Polly retreated into herself again with the morning and the return of Jenny. She also did her best to avoid Jenny and stay as far out of her way as possible in every circumstance, be that combat training, watching TV with Jessica, or meal times.
Jessica did notice this, and tried to get Polly to talk about it, but to no avail.
Strange little upsets started happening too.
To start with, when the furbies played outside during the nicer days, they could only play among the trees in the front yard, because Jenny had become horribly phobic of the backyard. She claimed it was there that she had nearly got grabbed by a magpie, and that was why she had been so scratched up. She flatly refused to go back there, and screamed at anyone else not to go there whenever they might.
This made no sense to the others. There were magpies out front too, and none came anywhere near any of the furbies.
One afternoon when Jessica was at work, Sundown and Duckling were just finishing up a little skit they planned to put on that evening, and Duckling said "Great idea, Downy - er, Sundown. Hey, you could've told me you minded that so much."
"Minded what?"
"My calling you Downy."
Sundown gave Duckling a questioning look. "Eh? Whatever gave you that idea? I don't mind at all. Actually, I like it."
"oh, okay then." said Duckling, looking confused. "I wonder whatever gave Jenny that idea? She told me you hated it and were planning on giving me major heck for it the next time it happened."
"Jenny, hmh?" Sundown grimaced. "Well, I wonder just how many other lies she's been telling."
"Or how many times she's been sneaking out before we caught her at it." said Duckling.
"Exactly." Sundown agreed.
Holy Easter and Passover week started. Jessica read the furbies the stories of Passover and of Easter, a bit more with each passing day as it coincided with the season.
All of the furbies loved Jessica's reading time, but Jenny showed a morbid curiosity early on. She would interupt the reading whenever any suffering was mentioned or implied, asking questions like how long did Jessica think the whippings lasted, or what kind of whips were used.
This earned her disgusted scowls from the other furbies, especially from Dmitri and Sybil.
"I don't know, Jenny, I don't care to know, and that's not the point of the writing." was the sort of firm reply from Jessica, who would continue reading.
Two days before Good Friday, Jessica took Dmitri and headed out to work, leaving some food out for the other furbies as she so often did.
Kitri had slept in, and was just getting up and making herself look somewhat presentable for the day, when Jenny joined her.
"I don't know if I ever told you this, Keets, but I really like your mohawk, it really suits you."
"Thanks. But Jenny, it's 'Kitri'."
"Sorry, Kitri." Jenny corrected herself.
Kitri looked warily at Jenny. She noticed Jenny hadn't cleaned herself up from breakfast yet, which was unusual too. Jenny's fur was messy and tangled in places, with crumbs and probably something sticky in it here and there. But Kitri decided not to comment on that and just call her on the issue at hand, Jenny's sudden apparent interest in her mohawk. "If you liked it so much, why did it take you so long to compliment me?"
Jenny spluttered, "Well, it's just that no matter what Sundown says, I think it's cool."
"What's Sundown got to do with this?"
Jenny was just waiting for this, and was inwardly laughing that Kitri took the bait. She continued. "Well you know him and his mane? I think he's jealous because your mohawk is just a bit flashier. He said it was over the top and that you're entirely too vain about it. And the last time Toby took charge of combat training, Sundown and Buck both said they were glad to get a break from your bossiness."
"Oh really?" Kitri frowned.
Jenny smiled sweetly at her, saying, "But I wouldn't make anything of it or bring it up to Sundown, he was probably just having a bad day when he said it."
Kitri's eyes were narrowing this whole time, and when Jenny finished, she remained silent.
"Just thought you should know." said Jenny. "Well, I really like that mohawk."
Kitri's frown only deepened.
Satisfied at Kitri's apparent upset, Jenny retreated and was about to leave the room.
"Hold it Jenny." Kitri suddenly said.
Jenny turned back, startled.
"My mohawk notwithstanding, this 'bossiness' as you call it,"
"I didn't, that was Sundown and Buck." Jenny protested.
"Whatever." said Kitri, "that's all part of being in command of a mission or combat training session."
"Well Toby doesn't give nearly as many orders."
if Jenny thought she could get Kitri mad at toby for some implication that he was somehow better at training, Jenny had another thing coming.
"Maybe not, but unlike you, he's very good at following instructions and he gives 110%, whether he's instructing or just training."
This caught Jenny off guard, putting her on the defensive. "Hey, I'm doing my best." Jenny retorted, hoping Kitri would take that at face value and leave it alone.
But it was becoming evident that Jenny didn't know Kitri as well as she thought she did, and underestimating her was more than likely just going to land her in trouble.
No, Jenny, you're not doing your best." Kitri stated. "You've gotten weaker at just about everything lately, the training sessions, the acting in our shows and rehearsals. It's as if you really don't want to be there "You've even been neglecting your own personal care. What's going on with you?"."
It's all just getting too hard." Seeing Kitri's grim expression, Jenny realized that making excuses just wasn't going over well. But then, another idea popped into her head. Maybe she could still turn this into Kitri VS. Toby after all. So Jenny switched gears again and said, "And with the combat training, it's not just you. You were saying how Toby gives 110 percent. Yeah. he's a real roughneck out there. Some of us think he's taking this stuff and himself way too seriously."
"And just who might comprise 'some of us'?" Kitri challenged.
"Just comments from somebody here and there," Jenny quickly said, then continued on before Kitri could throw another loaded question at her. "He acts as if he's fighting Jeff the Killer and expects us all to be."
"Because one day we will be fighting Jeff The Killer and ilk for real." Kitri stated. "That's why we're all drilling you so hard. Those creeps will not be playing nice, or pretending to fight. You can't go out there unprepared."
"Well it's not fair to the rest of us who can't keep up with him. Somebody should tell him to chill out a little, don't you think?" Jenny suggested.
Kitri narrowed her eyes, tail wagging up and down in annoyance. "So let me get this straight. Sundown's jealous, I'm vain and bossy, and Toby needs to chill out. am I getting this right?"
Kitri's counter-attack set Jenny back on her heals a bit, and she made a clumsy recovery. "Look, Kitri, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. I only meant to compliment you on your hair."
"So you did." Kitri replied tersely. "But that's not important. The point is, however many people you say complain, none other than you hasccome to Toby or me about it.
That's because some of us are, please try not to take this the wrong way, a little scared of what reaction they might get."
Kitri sent Jenny an ice-cold stare. "So tell me exactly who 'some of us' are then, if you're so brave."
Jenny squirmed. "Well, you know, the weakest furbies training. You know, the ones with the least skill or speed, the ones who can't keep up. I'm sure you've noticed."
"I'm aware of which among you are at what level in their training, but I'm also aware that most are trying very hard."
There was an uncomfortable pause, as Kitri kept an unwavering stern eye on Jenny. Finally she broke the silence. "Jessica hasn't said anything to us about anything she's overheard. But if there are furbies who just aren't cut out for this mission, it's better I know about it now than later when it really counts. I'm gonna tell you something that I hope will make you appreciate what we're doing and why. When you're in a battle, you have to learn to follow instructions and orders very quickly, and do it well. Toby and I train differently for a reason. With me, you learn to follow commands and out-maneuver one another. With Toby, you learn to act on your own to dodge attackers when not as many orders are given. And I assure you that both of us are equally serious about preparing you for this mission. So if you don't wanna be part of it, let me or Jessica know so we can carry on without you."
"I don't want out." Jenny protested.
"Good, then stop complaining and start applying yourself more." said Kitri.
Yes, Sarge." And with that, Jenny left the room and went elsewhere.
She found Sundown in the kitchen, taking a drink at the tap.
"Sundown, just a heads up, you might want to avoid Kitri for a while, something's got her in a pretty bad mood."
"Hmm." was all he said, and continued drinking.
"Probably you." said Toby, whom Jenny had hoped to avoid. He jumped off the cupboard where he'd just finished a bit of toast Jessica had given him. He rolled right into Jenny before she could think to make a quick exit, then he gave her a good sniff and lick on one side.
"Eww, bleah! Toby!" Jenny recoiled. "Get out of my face!"
"Okay then, go around like a slob with jam stuck in your fur for all I care, you never used to." said Toby with a smirk. He watched her run out of the kitchen. "Nervous little bat." he said.
Sundown chuckled. "Can't exactly blame her this time, Toby, you've got in-your-face down to a fine art."
Jenny was soon heard, greeting Peekaboo and Tina in the basement, and asking them if she could join their game.
Toby looked back at Sundown with a lopsided grin. "Heh. You know something's definitely not okay with her. I'm trying to find out just what it is and why."
"She's trying to set us all against each other, I'm sure of it." said Sundown. He jumped down from the sink to join Toby on the floor and spoke to him in quiet tones, "So let's keep an eye on her.
"and how." Toby agreed.
"We need a dual strategy plan." Sundown continued secretively, "She's already told at least one lie about me, to Duckling. Who knows what else she's said, and why. So, I'll try to hang back and watch her from a distance. I'm going to try to make her lose interest in me. Meantime, you do what you do so well, get in her face, get all over her if and when you can; unease her. Try to make her freak out. Maybe she'll let something slip."
A positively fiendish grin formed on Toby's face. "Will do, my friend," He gave a low purr that ended on a quiet but wicked chuckle.
Sundown's eyes widened for a moment, then he burst into a chuckle, "Oh, you're good."
Toby's grin suddenly faded, "Uh-oh, that could seriously backfire on me if Jenny turns it around and tells Jessica something like I'm bullying her."
"No worries, I'll talk to Jessica and let her know about it as soon as I can get her alone, or when Jenny's nowhere near her."
"Whew. Okay."
"Hey guys, what's up?" Kitri came bounding in.
"Kitri!" Sundown exclaimed, surprised.
"Something you guys don't want me knowing about?" she asked. "You didn't eat all the toast with cheese on it, did you?"
"No, for once, he didn't." said Sundown, looking at Toby.
"Yeah, he did." toby flung back, sticking his tongue out.
"So, Kitri, how are you today?" asked Sundown.
"Just fine, other than having an unpleasant little chat with my favourite furby this morning," she said in a lower tone and with a wince. "Do you think I'm bossy?"
"Yep." said Toby, grinning impishly.
Kitri stuck her tongue out at him. "I mean Sundown."
"No, I don't think you're Sundown." Toby answered her again.
Kitri growled and threw an aggravated glance at him. "Toby, shut up!"
Sundown burst out laughing.
"See what I mean?" Toby countered, then grinned at Sundown, who was still laughing.
Kitri suddenly advanced on Toby.
He shuddered and backed away.
Oh, you're gonna get it now." Sundown said with a grin.
Soon, Kitri had Toby cornered, and then she gave him a good sound beaking about the face and on each side of his head.
"Ow!" Toby laughed.
Kitri continued the play attack.
Toby pretended to cry through his laughter.
Hah! You brought this on yourself," Kitri said with a smirk. "Didn't he, Sundown?"
Hey, don't mix me up in this." Sundown grinned and continued watching from a safe distance.
Kitri finished with a few yanks on Toby's lopping ears.
Hey!" He objected. Finally, Kitri backed off with a grin. Toby grinned back. "Yeah, I deserved that." He admitted.
"So, Sundown, what do you think?" Kitri asked.
About what?"
Do you think I'm bossy?"
"No, of course not. Well, no more than you've always been - " Then Sundown became serious as he looked questioningly at Kitri, "Let me guess, Jenny told you I thought you were?"
"Yeah. she also said you thought I was vain and that my hair style is too flashy."
"What - the!?" Sundown looked incredulous. "It's not true, not a word of it."
"I know, I didn't believe it either." said Kitri.
"That clinches it, Jenny is a first-class liar and muck-stirrer." Sundown kept his tone low, but there was no mistaking the seriousness in it. "She must think we're total idiots if she expects any of us to believe that crap." said Toby.
"I had my suspicions too." Kitri smiled broadly. "One of these days she's gonna lie herself right into - "
Suddenly, Tina came barrelling up the stairs, apparently upset.
"Kitri, will you tell her to stop calling me Christina?"
"Who? Peekaboo?" Kitri asked.
"No, Jenny. She keeps calling me that."
"Why would she?" Sundown wondered.
"To be annoying, I guess." said Toby.
"She said it was prettier than Tina." said Tina.
"The nerve! Okay, that's it, she's gonna get it - "
"Kitri, wait!" Toby stopped her. "Hold it."
"What now?"
"She knows Tina's short for Palestina, right?"
"Yeah, or she should." said Kitri.
"So why doesn't she insist on calling her that instead? I mean, where did she get Christina from?"
They could hear Sybil in the basement, giving Jenny heck for upsetting Tina, so knew it was safe to continue the discussion for a little longer.
Kitri looked at Toby, then at Sundown. "Something's really not adding up with her. Look, Tina, why don't you just stay here and help Sundown and Toby finish up breakfast.
"Are you gonna confront her about this?" toby asked urgently.
"no. Not yet." said Kitri. "But I'll be watching her like a hawk when I'm here, though.
Sundown and Toby looked relieved.
"Whatever her game is, we can't let her know we're on to it until we're sure what she's up to." said Kitri. "But if you ask me, she must've been just biding her time, waiting to strike all that time since she arrived. Now that we've all finally got our guard down, wham, her true colors start to show."
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