Part 2
Alonzo stretched and yawned before getting up from TSE 1 looking around for any of his friends. He could see Admetus help a pregnant Tantomile around. MQ, Misto and Quaxo, were practicing their powers, Cori and Amazon was nowhere in sight and he knew Exotica was in the den resting. She was soon due to give birth to their kittens.
"Hello there", a voice said and a scarlet tom appeared beside him. "How's life treating ya Alonzo?"
"Fine Strong and you?" Alonzo looked at the scarlet stray.
"Meh can complain ya know. So when will those housecats get here?"
"In spring probably", Alonzo said and shrugged. "Well Munk's gonna be here soon checking up on us. He's the protector after all."
"I thought that was your job."
"It is, but it's also Munk's job. You see-"
"Munkustrap is first protector and Alonzo is his second in command", Cori said walking up to them. "But in winter Zo is head of the yard."
"This is our first winter here Ori", Alonzo said.
"So not true. When we were kittens-"
"We banned together and kept warm. I was not-"
"Letting the rest of us do something foolish so you acted like a leader", Admetus said calmly.
"Why are you two always ganging up on me", Alonzo asked with a grin.
"Because it's fun?" Cori asked.
"It won't be fun when I tear that grin of your face", Alonzo said sweetly and Strong chuckled.
"You cats are odd."
"I couldn't agree more", Amazon said as she came bouncing towards them happily.
"Hey you're one of us", Admetus said.
"Addie baby", she said teasingly. "I haven't been a Stray-member half as long as you have."
"Stray", Strong asked with big eyes. "Stray as in the tribe the Strays?"
"Yeah", Alonzo said looking at him and Strong looked at Alonzo's face and saw the scars on his cheek, from Munkustrap's claws. Strong flew up.
"YOU ROCK!" he yelled.
"Huh", Admetus asked.
"I heard all about you on the streets! How you messed up Macavity's plans! How you made him run with his tail between his legs! How you chased him off like the pollicle he really is! How you-"
"Okay okay", Alonzo said and laughed. "We get it strong."
"You're awesome."
"No", Alonzo said. "We are just a tight family."
"Awesome", Strong said again.
"Looks like we got ourselves a fan club", Exotica said as she came walking over softly. Alonzo jumped down from TSE 1 and hurried over and picked her up and carried her.
"I can walk on myself Zo", she said.
"Barley", the toms, save Strong, and Amazon said. They had this discussion every day. Admetus helped Alonzo get her onto the car and Cori and Amazon made it comfortable for her with a pillow Alonzo had been sitting on, to protect from the snow.
"Stop making such a fuss", Exotica groaned.
"Honey", Alonzo said as he put her down. "We only care for the health of all of you."
"How many is in there", Strong asked and then blushed when they all looked at him.
"Two or three", Exotica said.
"No", Tantomile said as she and MQ came over. "Four."
"How do you", Exotica said and Tantomile looked at her. "Oh…"
Admetus and Cori helped her up and Misto conjured out another pillow.
"Aw I wish I could get pregnant and be fussed over", Amazon said with a dreamy look on her face.
"You will be", Cori said and was tackled by his mate, he landed between Tantomile and Exotica, they took their chance and sat close to him.
"Help!" Cori said as the queens started to purr and cuddle with him.
The toms just turned around ignoring him.
"Come on guys", Cori said.
"No", they all said, Strong was also used to this by now.
"Please", Cori begged.
"Nah", Admetus said. "I don't have the strength."
Cori crossed his arms and looked annoyed as the queens kept cuddling and teasing him.
"You're all evil", he said.
"We know", the queens said.
"Makes you wonder", Alonzo said calmly. "Am I the dad of Ica's kittens or is Ori? OW!"
Exotica had put her claws into his tail and they looked at each other with fond smiles.
"Violent today are we", Alonzo smirked.
"Baby isn't I always?"
Alonzo got over to her and kissed her nose.
"I know, that's why I love you so much", he said.
"You seem to be alright", a voice said and they looked down and saw Munkustrap watch them.
"Hey Munksy", Alonzo grinned and rose. "How have you been buddy?"
Munk jumped up. "Fine, a bit worried about you and…" he saw Strong. "Who's this?"
Strong blushed again which didn't show on his scarlet fur.
"This is Strong", Alonzo said and smiled. "He's been spending the winter with us and wants to ask you something."
"What", Munkustrap asked.
"I… I would like to join the Jellicle tribe", Strong said and stood tall.
Munkustrap looked at him. "Why?"
"Life on the streets are hard and dangerous these days", Strong said sadly. "If you don't join a tribe you'll die… if you can't find a nice human home." The last was said with sarcasm. Alonzo rolled his eyes, a cat with no love for humans.
"I have a nice human home", Munk said.
"You're so lucky", Strong said sarcastically. "I have nothing against housecats… just the things living with them."
Munk rolled his eyes. "You can stay for as long as you like Strong, but only Old Deuteronomy can say if you're going to be a Jellicle or not."
"When will he get here?"
"When spring is here."
"Are all Jellicles hiding out in their warm and cozy homes", Amazon asked.
"Some may stop by since it's not as cold now", Munkustrap said and looked at her.
"A storm is coming", Cori, Ad and Alonzo said at the same time.
"Hey I thought Mil and Ori were the mystical twins", Misto grinned. "Not you three."
"We would be triplets if that was the case", Cori said, trying to get away from the queens. But he didn't have much success. Alonzo rose again and jumped down and walked towards the gate.
"Guys", he called. "It's time."
"Time", Munk asked in confusion as Ad and Cori jumped down, followed by MQ and Strong. "Time for what?"
"Oh they are just making a round", Amazon said. "No biggie."
"A round", Munk asked.
"Munk", Alonzo said and looked at the gate. "Do you know when most queens on the streets abandon their kittens or try to kill them?"
"No…"
"In winter", Ad said darkly. "Slimmer chance of them surviving the cold."
"Have you found anyone yet?"
"Only dead ones", Alonzo said. "Come on guys, Amz have Munk help you if you need it."
"Sir yes sir!" Amazon yelled and saluted him.
"Did they do this when you lived in the other yard", Munk asked.
"No", Tantomile said. "Because those winters weren't as cold as this one."
"It's amazing that strays are so loyal…"
"We live together, we survive together", Exotica said calmly.
Griddlebone was crawling through an old coal shaft in an old fabric, she didn't like what it did to her fur and even though being a cat, she couldn't see a thing.
"Why must he always send me to find this creepy cat", she grumbled.
"Because you are a bug", a voice said and she felt cold steel at her throat. "And bugs love creeps."
"Put that thing away."
"I don't think so, now what does mister big-shot want this time eh? Another killing, kidnapping, theft?"
"I don't know all I know is that he wants you."
She heard soft thuds around her and swallowed as she saw two pair of eyes in front of her. She never liked to get this cat to Macavity, she always got hurt or scared.
"If it isn't our favorite Persian queen", another voice said. "What does the old rug want now?"
"Me", the first one said and she felt the steel move from her throat. "Get going then Bonnie." She scrambled back the way she came and before following he turned to the amber eyes.
"Kaita", he said.
"Yes Finie", Kaita said and hurried up to him.
"You know what to do. I want the Stray leader soon."
"Of course."
"Just follow the plan and nothing can go wrong."
"Who do you take me for, Esero?"
"'Who do you take me for Esero'", Esero mocked and swiped at Kaita who dodged and with a chuckle ran out. "You shouldn't let him act like that, he reminds me of you Fin."
"So… That's a good thing. Now ol' big-shot is calling."
"Yeah… so what am I supposed to do?"
"Eavesdrop isn't that what your name suggest?"
"My name means spy and you know it."
Finie smirked and left.
Later that night Munk found Alonzo a top a huge junk pile. He climbed up and sat beside him.
"Hey", he said.
"Hi Munk."
"You didn't find anyone?"
"Only one… but it was too late."
"I'm sorry."
"Did you know that some say that stars are the kittens taken from this world watching us?"
"No", Munk said. "But now I know."
"It's a comforting thought… at least the dead ones are in a better place. They don't have to live through this cold."
"Yeah but in summer it will get warm… Will you survive that long?"
"As long as we're together it's fine."
"What did Exotica mean with 'we live together, we survive together'?"
Alonzo chuckled. "Nothing Munk, nothing I would explain anyway."
"How come?"
"Because you already know the answer", they smiled at each other and then Munk looked at the sky. The sky was lit up by a flash.
"Whoa!" he said and flew up.
"What is it Munk", Alonzo asked and got up too.
"Did you see that?"
"See what?"
"That flash!"
"What flash?"
"It lit up the entire sky! How couldn't you have seen it?"
"I did-"
"Did you guys see that", Strong yelled up at them and Munk hurried down to meet him. "It was the sixteenth flash I've seen."
Alonzo didn't listen, he looked out into the dark and narrowed his eyes before jumping down, not knowing a pair of amber eyes watched him from afar.
TBC
Malurina - Why is the summary driving you nuts?
dariella - I take it you like the Strays?
Quill of Thoughts - You'll have to see ;)
raptoregg64 - I'm not gonna say :)