On my bikeride this morning I thought about Beast and then about the
other two.  They were together a remarkably long time, considering they
were all refugees, from 1991 to 2000.    

Max was top-cat in seniority and my affections but Beastie ruled the
clowder.  When Beast showed up I tried to chase him off because Max had
been declawed and was always indoors until I arrived home one night to
find all three lying around like long-time friends.  Oh well.  It took a
bit of time to win Beast over but an offering of fresh tuna from my
dinner finally did it.  Beast took advantage of Max's shyness and
constantly tweaked him - Max eventually learned not to take him
seriously.  

One funny remembrance.  In the early days there was Beauty, another
refugee who only had a couple years to go but it was the time of his
life and he was a great a joy.  One morning I was skimming the pool  and
Beast chased Beauty around the berm, Beauty losing footing at one point
and falling half in.  Great sport!  So Beast starts on Max who runs
around the pool edge as well but suddenly turns and jumps the narrow
isthmus in the center and Beast, attempting to make the sudden change,
misses and lands in the pool.  His chagrin was as great as my laughter.

When I trapped and brought Franz home he was entranced by Beast and
would follow him all around, to Beastie's great disgust, hisspitting and
running -  "YooHoo!  Sailor!  Seafood!"  and this large ginger cat
running from the relatively diminuative Franz.  I always figured that
the reason for Franz's affection was because there was a lot of ginger
cats in the feral pack Franz was born into.  Eventually Beast got
acclimated and even basked in Franz's attentions;  for one thing it made
it easy for Beast to entice Franz into a grooming session which would
always end with Beast bopping Franz.  Here's the two playing guard cats:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/8370077/8368669adMlyQfXEX

In June 1996 I moved from Florida, forever I thought, Ha!  This
transported all 3 from an urban environment - all they'd ever known - to
really rural surroundings with the nearest house 500' off.  Franz,
always afraid of anyone but me, managed to escape the house - jumping 6'
o the grond and running into the woods.  2 or 3 days later I came home
from work and heard a meoww:  Franz was abut 50' up a pine, no doubt in
reaction to some large strange animal.  When I spoke to him he came donw
in a hurry and we had a love-in.  Beast's adjustment was immediate.  One
morning as I turned onto the dirt road from the driveway I saw a flash
of ornage down the road.  Peering, sure enough, it was Beast, about 400'
down and on the opposite side poiuncing on something in the brush.  "All
these worlds are yours" my friend.  "But attempt no landing on Europa".  
Norm  - here's Max and Beast surveying their new surroundings:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/8370077/8368737ZOSqvYSfjP

--
"The web has got me caught.  I'd rather have the blues than what I've
got."  <via Nat King Cole>