"A new lot of kits, which meant a new lot of worries and problems. And a new lot of queens to drool over Tugger and join his fan-club", Munkustrap thought to himself, smiling wryly. He watched the kits playing in the clearing from his vantage point on top of the highest pile of rubbish in the junkyard. Two in particular he would keep a close eye on, as they were Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer's kits, and would no doubt follow in their parents' troublesome ways. Whenever either of the kits got in trouble it was always someone other than Mungo or Teazer who scolded them, as the two always ended up praising them for the misdeeds or not scolding enough. However if they caught Teazer in one of her moods, then the kits ran for cover and waited until she had cooled down.
He groaned as he spotted Rum Tum Tugger, or Tugger for short, come strolling in followed by the usual group of queen admirers, Bombalurina sticking to his side like glue as always. Even though he and Tugger had become friends, he really did think that Tugger set a bad example to the younger toms. Most of the older toms had grown out of that faze, like Pouncival for example, he had found his mate at the previous Jellicle ball and had settled down to a proper way of life. He frowned scanning for Demeter, she was never seen far from her sister, Bombi's side but she was no where to be seen again. He called to Alonzo who was flirting with Cassandra close by, and asked if he would take over for a few minutes. Alonzo, of course, agreed readily as it was seen as a great honour to be asked to watch over the other cats, even for a short time.
Munk leapt down from his perch and walked over to where Bombi was. "Bombi, where is Demeter? I haven't seen her for a few days. Is anything wrong with her?" he questioned in a worried tone of voice. It wasn't like Demeter to not come to the junkyard for such a long time, if she was ever away for a few days – never more than two – then she would visit as soon as possible. However he had definitely not seen her for nearly a week, which was very unlike Demeter.
"Oh don't worry Munkustrap! She has gone on holiday with our humans. Our female is rather ill, and the male has taken her away to see their offspring. They're also going to collect another cat I think. The female insisted that Demeter went with them, but not me as I usually fight with their daughter's queen Phoebe, as her mates roaming eyes are never looking away from me! She will be back with us by tomorrow evening, I believe" she said, all the while watching Tugger flirt with the new queen on the block. She was very possessive of Tugger, thinking of him as her own. She was loath to share him with his fan-club but he was very flirtatious and needed to be the centre of attention so had to put up with it. He could normally charm the whiskers off any queen, but he was being unsuccessful with this particular queen who was new to the area. She laughed in his face and went to the nearest other cat which was the ever proper Jennyanydots to ask some questions.
Both Munk and Bombi studied the new queen. She was a very pretty cat with the same raw sex appeal that Bombalurina and Demeter possessed, but she seemed unaware of it or she did not use it to her advantage. She was smoky grey with a white underbelly, throat and chin; black paws, tail-tip and ears; and a white stripe down to a pretty pink nose. But her eyes were the most beautiful thing about her as they were ice blue with flecks of aqua marine. She also had a turquoise collar on with a heart-shaped name tag, which meant that she had an owner somewhere. Bombi noticed that Tugger was staring at her with desire in his eyes. Jenny had finished talking to the queen and was now leading her to where the physic Twins – Tantomile and Coricopat – could be found. Munk frowned, said a somewhat distracted goodbye to Bombi and then followed the two queens and a much slower speed.
When he caught up with them, the new queen was having her mind read by the Twins. They had to make sure that a cat was who he or she said they were, and that they posed no threat to the group. They also made sure that cats were worthy of their positions, as they had screened him before he had become the group's Protector. So he knew how much it could hurt, and that it damn-near killed you if they forced their way into your mind without your permission. But this queen didn't even bat an eyelid, she grimaced as they finished but that was the only sign that they had read her mind. He watched fascinated as they bowed to her, before saying something to Jenny and then leading her off to where he normally could be found.
"Alonzo? Where is Munkustrap? We have something important to tell him," both the Twins said in unison.
"I don't know! He went off to talk to Bombi, but then he vanished. Can I take a message? I could tell him that you were after him, if you want?" he said in an interested voice. He and Cassandra had been keeping watch over the junkyard, in between bouts of flirting, but that didn't matter.
The new queen spoke then, in a very melodious voice, "Do you think we could wait here for him? I'm sure that he won't be very long, and what I have to say is rather urgent." She looked from one cat to the other, so that she had looked at each of the four cats who were standing before her.
"You don't have to wait at all. If Alonzo is willing, I could talk to you in private, as long as he stands guard for a little while longer." He said coming up behind them, the other cats jumped except her. She just turned around and gave him a very warm smile, before casting a hopeful and pleading look over at Alonzo. Alonzo didn't need asking twice! He nodded his head, saying that it would be his honour to watch over the junkyard while they went off to have their chat.
Ten minutes later, they were in a secluded part of the junkyard that no-one else but Munkustrap and Demeter knew about. He had taken them there as he had sensed that whatever she was about to tell him was very important – and would either bring the group great happiness or great sadness. She got herself comfy on an old armchair cushion that he used as his bed, before studying him for a long while with her head cocked to one side in a very quizzical manner. She smiled at him, closed her eyes and muttered something to herself. He was very confused at this point, but waited patiently for her to start talking. Just as he was about to ask her to begin, she said, "Well I think that I had better introduce myself before I tell you why I have come here. My pet name is Melody, and my Jellicle name is Phoenix. But please call me Mel." She smiled at his shocked face.
She was The Phoenix! He could not believe is eyes! Phoenix was one of the other cats who took over the role of Jellicle leader and had come back as both toms and queens. The Phoenix was a very rare cat to be reborn, as just like the mythical bird known as the phoenix, there had to be a disaster so that she could rise from the ashes. He frowned as this thought hit him, as he had felt a terrible sense of foreboding several times over the last month but had shrugged it off as him being fanciful. The Twins and Quaxo – otherwise known as Mr Mistoffelees the conjuring cat – had also started to sense the same feeling just a few days ago. Everyone had been edgy ever since. He started to ask her to begin her talk but she cut him off at the knees,
"I have come here on a matter of grave importance. You may not know but I am also the closest daughter to my father, Old Deuteronomy, and as so I have been given the task to inform all the cat groups in the area that my father is in ill health and that I fear that he may not live for much longer. Sorry!" She broke off as her voice suddenly broke and her eyes filled with tears. Moved by her tears he went over to comfort her, but she moved evading him. She took a few minutes to compose herself before continuing, "I have left this particular group till last as it is his wish to visit here before... He wants to visit here, as this group is a particular favourite of his and he knows many of the cats intimately. So I have come here to look for a spot where he can rest without disturbance, but with room to enable cats to visit him when he has the strength. I can only be here for a few days before going back to help him arrive here safely and one piece." She broke off to gulp, and cough with tears streaming down her face saying, "and then before he goes I will be made into the new Jellicle Leader in front of you all, and my future mate will be named by my father after he has consulted my dear mother! I am sorry, but I think I would like to be left alone for a while!"
He watched in shock as she ran off into the junkyard to have a cry. He would never have realised that she was Old Deuteronomy's daughter, but his coat did have a stripe the exact same colour as her fur and he held the same inner warmth that she had possessed. He felt sorry for her, as she had no say over who was to be her future mate. That her whole future would be decided for her on the very day that her father would die! He remembered his own father's passing and how stressful it had been on him and on his dear mother and sisters, so he could imagine the kind of stress that she was under now and imagine the stress that the not-to-distant future held. He jumped as Demeter asked, "Whatever have you done to her Munku? And why are you out here alone with her?" Unknown to him Mitsy, Talia, Mojo and Tozar – Mungo and Teazer's kits – had followed him and Mel had lead Demeter to him.
They ran off as he scowled at them. Probably to cause more mischief, he thought. He turned and nuzzled Demeter in welcome. They had been mates for nearly two years, but he was troubled to think that she no longer held his heart as she once had. But she was preoccupied also, something seemed to be on her mind. He told her, while looking at the place he had last seen Mel, "I haven't done anything to her Dem! She is Old Deuteronomy's daughter, and he is ill and close to death. That's why she was crying. And she was here to tell me the reason for her coming here which is she has only come here to prepare for his visit and death here. We will have the honour of hosting the ritual of her becoming the new Jellicle leader, and hearing the choice he makes of her future mate and advisor. Now you must tell me what you are doing back so soon, and all about the holiday you had."
They snuggled up together in the hollow set of drawers, which had become his home, while she told him all about her holiday and the reason for her early return. But no sooner had she finished he left her to sleep in peace while he went to relieve Alonzo and take up the role of the Protector once more. It would also give him time to think about things and how he could tell Demeter about his loss of affection for her.