Tails of Longing
How useful was a tail? Why did cats use their tails to express their emotions?
Munkustrap was sitting on the tire, where Deuteronomy used to stand, with his lovely mate Cassandra. She was on her belly, in her favorite place at Munkustrap's left hip. The silver tabby was sitting with his legs draped over the edge of the tire, and his left paw was on the other side of Cassandra's waist. His thoughts, however, were not on the silky Siamese. Draped across his legs and twitching thoughtfully, was his long tail.
What was the true use of a tail? What did emotions look like when they were expressed by a tail? Why did they look that way?
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Munkustrap picked up his tail and contemplated it.
His tail was a wonder to him, and ever since he was a kitten it had betrayed him. Whether with guilt, with happiness, or longing. A tail for longing. Munkustrap chuckled to himself at that thought. But how would he ever have been able to talk to Cassandra if his tail hadn't had her attention? That's the thing: he couldn't have. Most would look at the muscular silver tabby and think he was all courage and honor. Most of them would be right, but there were those few things that made even Munkustrap twitch and get all tongue-tied. Talking to queens he liked was one of them.
What had his tail been doing that fateful day when Cassandra came and sat with him? It had been the Jellicle Ball last year, when Deuteronomy rose to the Heavyside Layer and made Munkustrap Jellicle Leader. Tugger had been there, cheering him on like a brother should. He could be such an ego centered idiot, but you could always count on the Rum Tum Tugger to be there for you. Of course, the one thing Tugger never helped Munkustrap with was ladies. Tugger seemed to just expect his brother to be as good with them as he was.
Etcetera was mated with Tugger now, and should be having his kittens within the next few days. Munkustrap smiled at the thought. Tugger was going to be a dad. Looking down the tire, Munkustrap looked at his son. Bragi would be tall, and his silver coloring was definitely going to be something he took from his dad. His exotic facial shape, and slightly sinewy figure he got from his mother. There were some brown stripes worked into the black ones, and the white fur shone on his chest when the sun hit it. He was still young; only around a year old. Munkustrap's tail swished with pride when Bragi looked up at him with his violet-edged green eyes.
"Father," He said, his voice smooth like Cassandra's. "May I go play with Bomba and Pouncival's kittens?"
Aaah yes, who could forget the Bomba and Pounce twins? The corner of Munkustrap's mouth twitched, echoed in his tail when he nodded his head. Bragi raced off, and across the small clearing, Munkus and Cassandra watched their eldest son pounce on Bomba's eldest daughter, Cadenza. The tip of Munkustrap's tail curled, and Cassandra rolled onto her back. Looking up at her mate with her sky blue eyes, Cass smiled.
"What are you thinking of, my love?" Munkustrap looked down at her with his emerald green eyes and returned the smile. Leaning over, Munkustrap kissed her gently.
"Nothing, just contemplating the yard..."
Tails of love, tails of woe, tails of hate and tails of longing.
Oh the vast use of the tails of cats.