Yay! Another chapter! Some action actually happens in this one so I hope u like it.
Munkustrap lay sprawled sleepily on the tire in the late summer sun, half watching the kittens play and half reflecting on the year gone by. Jenny and Skimble had, indeed been mated at the Jellicle Ball (much to everyone's delight) and they had happily adopted Tumblebrutus, Pouncival, and Plato. Tumblebrutus was nearly an adult cat and Plato could speak, see and walk properly shortly after he became part of the tribe. Munkustrap's mother had run away to pursue a life of glamour and fame, which seemed to be going well so far. Then Munkustrap's older brother, Macavity had been exiled after his magic went haywire. Two more kittens had been born, Victoria and Electra, and cats had been found, some abandoned, some just injured and helpless. It has been a chaotic year. Then Munkustrap was woken from his trance by a shout.
"Tumble! Pounce! Plato! I thought I told you guys to stop putting glitter in my fur!" Munk looked up and saw a furious black and white tuxedo kitten chasing after the three brothers, covered from his ears to the tip of his tail in glitter. Tumble scooped up Plato, who was lagging behind, and they dashed off again, laughing hysterically. The other cat, Quaxo, gave up and pretended to try and get rid of the glitter. He then 'gave up' and sauntered off. He wasn't fooling anyone. Everyone knew he loved glitter and wouldn't miss a chance to be covered in it. Munkustrap chuckled to himself and lay back down and fell asleep.
Hours later he was woken up by another shout. He sat up and looked around, sniffing the air. He ran towards the source of the scream- and froze in shock. Some kind of cat was dragging Plato into the shadows of a bush. The poor kitten was wailing and trying to bite his captor's paws, but he was too small. The other cat held him with ease. Tumblebrutus and Pouncival were scratching and biting his captor, but again, they were simply too small and the cat in the shadows swatted them away like flies. Coming out of his trance, Munkustrap yelled for backup and lept into battle. He seemed to be gaining the upper hand and eventually, the older cat dropped Plato. The young kitten yelped and hid behind Munkustrap, badly hurt and terrified. Two more cats arrived at the scene and joined the fight - one of them was Helios, another Jellicle protector who was much older than Munk, and the other was Mercury, the last cat of the four Jellicle protectors. Helios took Tumblebrutus, Pouncival, and Plato out of the way and joined the fight with Munk and Mercury. Once the three older cats had given the stranger numerous scratches and bites, he fled. However, he obviously didn't want to leave without getting what he came for, so he scooped up Tumblebrutus (the nearest kitten) and dashed off. Munkustrap immediately organised a rescue party.
"Alonzo!" He yelled for his friend in the group of waiting Jellicles. "Take Skimble and block off West Alley! Mercury, go with Helios and guard North Street! Asparagus, Tugger, come with me. We're going to surround him at the park!" The named cats sped off to their assigned places.
Munkustrap raced to the park as fast as his legs could carry him. He had grown quite protective of the three brothers over the past year and to see one of them get kitnapped could quite possibly be one of his worst nightmares. He looked around the grassy clearing, eyes wide. It was quiet. Too quiet.
"Wait up, bro! I can move my hips for miles, but running is not my strong point!" Munkustrap turned to face his brother, Tugger, with a sigh.
"I can't see him..." Munk murmured, distressed.
"So where is he?" Asapragus Jr had caught up, panting. Munkustrap's mind raced through the streets and alleys as he tried to work out the way Tumblebrutus's captor could have gone. His friends had blocked any alternative routes so the cat should have ended up in the park... unless... Munkustrap mentally kicked himself. He was such a pollicle- the cat must have gotten on a boat in the Thames! It was so obvious now.
"The Thames!" He yelped and sped off again.
Munk skidded to a stop at the edge of the river, almost losing his balance and splashing into the murky water below. He looked along the river frantically, searching for clues. There were a few boats here and there, but Munkustrap couldn't see the kitten' captor on any of them. His eyes flicked over a barge, anchored a long way down the river, and he tensed up. Only one cat in London could own a barge like that- Growltiger. If Tumble had ended up in that boat, he was as good as dead. Munk slunk over to the boat cautiously, motioning for Tugger and Asparagus to stay where they were. As he got closer, his ears picked up traces of raucous laughter. He scaled a tree and craned his neck in order to get a better look at the barge. Between the leaves, the silver tabby spotted a large, grey cat with half an ear and an eyepatch standing in front of a black and brown tabby, who was holding a semi-conscious Tumblebrutus by the scruff of his neck.
"Fucking pirates." He hissed under his breath. His ears strained to hear their conversation.
"I found this one by the Jellicle Junkyard, sir." The brown cat spat, gesturing vaguely at Tumble. "Thought he migh' be useful."
"Very good, Grumbuskin. You never fail to find good additions to our crew." The grey cat smiled a grotesque smile. "Take him below and make him useful." The brown cat bowed and dragged Tumblebrutus below deck. Munkustrap dropped lightly from the tree and thought hard. It would be very unwise to fight the pirates without backup, they would seriously outnumber him. He could try talking to them, but who ever heard of a pirate who preferred to sit down with a cup of tea and talk about their problems and feeling? Munk scoffed at the image. His other option, however, would be to walk away and forget about the kitten forever. 'Talking it is' Munk thought. 'I'm screwed.' He strolled onto the barge casually, pretending he was supposed to be there. He could feel his heart pumping in his throat and the adrenaline coursing through his veins, supercharging his whole body until it shook like a leaf. He plastered a smile on his face as he approached Growltiger, the Terror of the Thames. He extended one paw towards the huge shabby cat.
"Good day, sir! Are you the Great Growltiger I hear about so often?"
"Yes... what do you want?" They shook hands, rather enthusiastically on Munkustrap's part.
"My name is... uh, Hyperion and I come to you to make an offer." Munkustrap said through his now aching jaws. He kept grinning.
"What kind of offer?" Munk could tell he had gotten the other cat's attention.
"I have heard so much about you and your wonderful, plentiful crew, and I was wondering if you would trade me one of your members for a plentiful sum of money?"
Growltiger hesitated, and then reluctantly said,
"Of course, Hyperion. Follow me please." Growltiger led him down a small flight of creaky wooden stairs and into the crew's quarters. Munkustrap looked around desperately, trying to find his friend.
"Take your pick, my friend. Although I warn you, a lot of them are very disobedient." A few pirate cats looked down at the floor. Finally, Munkustrap recognised Tumblebrutus. Aside from a few scratches and bruises (and the fact he was still fading in and out of consciousness) he looked unharmed. As Munk watched, some cats tried to wake him up by slapping him across the face. He winced at the sharp noise.
"Get him some water, Chaos." Growltiger... well... growled. A small-but-evil-looking queen nodded once and fetched Tumble the water. Meanwhile, Munkustrap made a great show of parading around the room, asking cats' names, and pretending to think about them. Instead, his mind was reeling, going over and over his ridiculous plan. Chaos returned with a rusty pail of dirty water. She chucked the contents on Tumblebrutus and he sat up, spluttering. His eyes surveyed the room and the cats, before stopping on the silver tabby.
"Munkustrap?" He whispered hoarsely.
"What did he say?" Growltiger snapped.
"He said Munkustrap, sir." Chaos replied, staring at Munk, who fiddled with his collar nervously.
"Who- who is this... Munkustrap, may I ask?" He stuttered, trying desperately to regain his usual confidence. His eyes flickered over to Growltiger, who was staring at him intently.
"What did you say your name was, cat?" Growltiger said, dangerously quiet.
"Hyperius, sir." Munkustrap replied, shaking dreadfully.
"No. Wrong. You said your name was Hyperion! You lied to me! And yes, now I think about it, you do look strangely familiar. Just like a certain Jellicle Protector, Munkustrap." Growltiger had Munk trapped in a corner. The silver tabby started to panic. He couldn't escape, he couldn't leave Tumblebrutus, and there was no way he was going to bluff his way out. He was going to die here. Or at least they were going to make him wish he did. 'Crap.' Munkustrap thought to himself.
"You intruder! You... you scoundrel! You shall be hanged! Or maybe burned alive!" Growltiger laughed evilly and made to hit Munkustrap over the head. Instead, he swiped at the thin air where Munk had been seconds before; he had rolled out of the way and made a break for the stairs. Unfortunately, the pirate cats were too afraid of their master to let him get away, so they grabbed at his legs and dragged him down. Munkustrap lay sprawled on the hard wooden floor, looking up fearfully at Growltiger, awaiting his death.
