"What do you steal for Macavity?" Tumble boldly asked one of the young ginger, calico cats that had been brought into the yard by the large tuxedoed Bustopher Jones. Both of them, a brother and sister with nearly identical markings, glanced at each other and shrugged.
The red tabby Admetus and his kitten charges for the day; white and brown Tumblebrutus and all white Victoria, had come over to investigate when the two had arrived and were now peppering them with questions, curious as to why these famous Macavity hench-cats were at their junkyard looking so worn down and sad.
The young Queen, called Rumpelteazer, had on an old necklace that she fiddled with nervously, her brother Mungojerrie leaning over to lick her shoulder reassuringly every now and then.
"We stoled some food, is all," she told them. "Them hench-cats have a huge appetite an' me 'n' Jerrie was run offa our paws."
"Was it hard work?" asked Victoria, pulling nervously at her own pink sparkly collar.
Rumpelteazer nodded, she'd been exhausted from having to constantly carry food back and forth to Macavity's lair. The siblings had used to think cat-burgling was fun, but Macavity had driven them hard, and punished failure with pain and humiliation.
"Are you joining our tribe?" Admetus asked, flicking back the white stripe in the middle of his brow to look at them better. New tribe members would be welcome, as far as he was concerned.
"They're decidin' in there," Mungojerrie gestured to where the Protector spent his days when not on duty.
"Never fear," Bustopher Jones was telling the silver tabby Munkustrap as they exited the Tom's den. "My arrangement is entirely legitimate. The kitchens will supply him with their leftovers and the kits will be left alone. Macavity prides himself in doing highly visible, open and above board business, it helps miss-direct others from his more nefarious deeds."
Munkustrap nodded, then moved over to regard the young Queen and Tom that Bustopher had arranged freedom for from Macavity. They were two very lucky cats.
"Welcome, Jellicles. Stay here tonight and meet your new tribe members, you will be free to return to your human home tomorrow, with myself and Bustopher there to double check that there are no spies or other hench-cats lying in wait. Please, feel free to come and see us whenever you like, we are family now. "
The two young cats nodded thankfully, and followed Munkustrap as he led them away to meet the others. Bustopher excused himself and went in search of a particular black and white Tom kitten.
..
"Mistoffelees, there you are my lad!" Bustopher called, finding him with the brown and grey patched Pouncival trying to catch each other's tails. The kits rolled apart and Bustopher gave them a stern look until they straitened themselves up and stood at attention for him.
Mistophelees little white face and Pouncivals, which had a streak of brown that ran across from his left temple to over his left eye, looked as stern and foreboding as young kittens could be. Bustopher laughed inside, this was a game he liked to play with them, giving each a piece of dried fish when they passed inspection.
"Come now Mister Mistoffelees, it is time for you to go and talk with Old Deuteronomy again. I hear he has an excellent story to tell you about the pharaohs."
Mistoffelees trotted besides him excitedly as they started off on the long walk to see the Jellicle leader.
"Bye!" he called to his friend as he went. Pouncival just crossed his arms, screwed up his freckled nose and went 'humph!'
A young Tom, the ginger and white Plato, saw him and wandered over to see what the problem was.
"Why does Mistoffelees get to see Old Deuteronomy all the time? Me an' the other kits hardly see him at all, and it's not fair!" Pouncival whined.
The young Tom considered his complaint and sat down beside him. "Mistoffelees has really strong magical powers, Pouncival. The last cat who had them was asked to go and talk to Old Deuteronomy, to listen to his stories and learn from his wisdom, but he decided he wanted to stay at the yard and play tricks on the tribe. Do you know who that cat turned out to be?"
"Macavity?" Pouncival said uncertainly. Plato nodded and reached out and ruffled his head fur.
"Macavity," he agreed and looked after where the two tuxedo Toms, one big and one small, had left. "Mistoffelees isn't just hearing stories. He's learning things, important things. And he has to go listen to lectures from Tantomile and Coricopat as well. Don't be too jealous of him, okay?"
Pouncival rubbed vigorously at the side of his freckled nose and scrunched up his face, feeling a little bit mean for having got envious of his playmate earlier. "Okay Plato. Will you play with me?"
The other Tom considered, he was a Tomcat now, after all. But he was still a young one, so he reached out lightning quick and tapped Pouncival on the shoulder. "You're it!" he yelled, before leaping up and bounding away. With an indignant (and delighted!) squeak, Pouncival ran after him.