The air of the early morning was, as usual, more than cold. There were thick streaks of warm yellow and pink far way at a distant part of the sky, but they were merely a paradox to the freezing atmosphere… the atmosphere that would cruelly greet anyone who was diligent enough to get up so early and step out of his or her den.
The season certainly brought extra morning-sleep to almost all cats; after all, who would want to get out of his or her bed early with the cold and semi-dark still dominant outside?
Munkustrap, internally laughing at all the other cats for their laziness, stepped onto the soft dirt of the main area of the Junkyard. The dirt lacked the comfortable warmth of the dirt on his den's floor, but it was still a luxury compared to what would happen during heavy rain.
It was when he was doing his usual morning stretch when a small meow was heard.
It was Jemima.
"Oh, hey… Good to see you so early," Munkustrap said, white mist escaping from his mouth into the cold air.
"Hey, me too. I couldn't sleep all night since I was so excited! And then I thought sleep was coming… but then I realized I have to come out early to go with you," Jemima said with a yawn and a gentle stretch.
"Well, let's give a quick farewell to Old Deuteronomy and friends before we go," he said.
Both walked to the old leader's den and, after a repetition of good-bye's and thank-you's and be-careful's and see-you-soon's and smiles, the two cats walked out politely.
"Jem, I'm just going to visit Demeter's den before we go. Why don't you say a goodbye to your friends as well?" Munkustrap said.
Jemima nodded and started to walk towards the dens of her friends.
Munkustrap ran towards his love's den and knocked. As there was no response, he quietly stepped in.
"Demeter…" Munkustrap whispered.
"Hmm…? Oh… oh… hey… Munkustrap…" said Demeter, still half-asleep.
"Demeter… I just wanted to visit you before I go out for the vacation…"
"Oh… well… thanks, Munk… Well… I hope to see you back soon," the queen smiled.
Both hugged.
"I better not wake up your sister. I think I should get going. See you… Demter… I'll miss you…"
"And I'll miss you too… even though it's only a few days…"
Both giggled quietly and hugged each other again… This time, more tightly.
When Munkustrap returned back to the main area, Jemima was already waiting for him.
"Jem… already? You said goodbyes to your friends already?"
Jemima nodded with a smile.
"And…?" he said.
"Well, let's go!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm.
However, a few steps before reaching the boundary between the junkyard and the outside world's asphalt, the Jemima suddenly paused.
"What's wrong?" Munkustrap asked.
"Well… I just want to remember this moment when I first lay my paws outside my home," she said.
Oh, it's her first time, he remembered, I suppose it is a big deal for her.
Jemima walked slowly, laying down a paw, and then another paw, and then another paw…
Finally, she lifted her right paw from the dirt and laid it on the black asphalt.
She gasped.
Munkustrap grinned with curiosity.
"Nothing happened…" Jemima whispered to herself.
"I heard that. Why, you thought that fish would rain from the sky when you go out of the junkyard?" Munkustrap said with a playful smile.
"No… It's just… I mean… I knew that nothing would happen, but… I still had this fantasy in my mind somewhere that… that… that told me that it wasn't going to be just a normal moment…" she said, still of a rather surprised tone.
"Well, it's everyday life for Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer," he said with a slight shrug.
Both continued walking. The day was now definitely brighter. Jemima's face, too, was bright with excitement.
"It's… it's… I don't know… so same but different out here!" she exclaimed.
Munkustrap just gave a smile.
"But still, Munk… We're going to be together for this vacation… right?" she asked, suddenly breaking her excitement with her worry.
"At one second, you're happy… and now you are worrying!"
"I mean…"
"Why, are you scared? Jem, feel free to tell me if something worries you."
"Well… I mean… I'm somewhat… kind of scared… well… a little bit…"
"Jem… Don't be shy to say it. And if you're scared, just make sure to be right next to me whenever we walk, for we will go around a lot… but other than that…"
"What about food?"
"Food? Well… I will catch my own, but I hope you have knowledge about hunting mice…"
"I guess I can handle it," she said.
The day passed with much of Munkustrap explaining and Jemima gasping and shouting with eagerness. Then time for supper came… more quickly than anticipated.
"Well… Jem, see how I do," Munkustrap said.
He jumped onto a nearby tire and then up to an old fence that not only seemed to serve no special purpose but was also rather unfitting to the urban setting in terms of appearance. He waited for a while, and, as soon as a small, gray creature appeared on the ground, he jumped like lightning itself onto the poor prey.
Jemima almost lost balance due to his momentum.
"Well…?" Munkustrap asked.
"You're… wow… really a professional!" she answered.
The gray tabby took his claws and sliced open the stomach of the mouse. Red blood oozed out and so did a fresh scent of the intestines and the flesh.
"Quite fat for this time of the year," he said with pleasure and a small pride, "Now you try it."
Jemima went up to the fence and waited… and waited… and much to her boredom, the only source of excitement was the howling wind. Munkustrap was looking up at her with eyes that showed considerable amounts of expectations for her.
Jemima finally saw the rapid movement of a small body and jumped down…
But the mouse was faster than her assumptions and her nose came crashing onto the solid paving.
The mouse disappeared into a small hole.
"Jemima!" Munkustrap said, trying to hide his laughter, "I thought you were a good hunter!"
"I never told you that…" she said with embarrassed eyes.
"You should know how to catch a mouse by now! After all, you're… you're… a mouser!"
"Munk…"
"You date a tom…" Munkustrap kept mocking, although not seriously, "… yet you don't know how to catch a little mouse! Jemima, wow… indeed… How amazing…"
"Munk, stop it!"
Munkustrap froze.
"Seriously, Munk… stop it…"
Munkustrap looked into her eyes… It was filled with embarrassment and humility. Her face was red from the humiliation. Her entire body was shivering. Tears formed at the kitten's eyes and started to run down… slowly… then rapidly…
"Munk… I'm… I'm sorry that I can't… can't catch a mouse well… but I'm… I'm learning… and… and… don't mention about my tomfriend… really… it's entirely private…"
Munkustrap, although he had embarrassed Jemima as a joke, now started to regret his actions deeply… painfully…
"Jem… I'm… I'm… sorry… I was merely joking…"
"Munk, I know… but… look. Let's just calm down and not ruin the vacation…" she said, trying to hold back tears, "... any further."
Munkustrap nodded, looking down.
The protector tabby's heart ached as he was skinning the mouse. Why did I do such things…? Why…? And what does she mean by "not ruining the vacation any further" – or whatever she said?
"Uhh… here. You can have the half of the mouse," he said apologetically, giving the meat to the kitten.
"Thanks…" Jemima said, not quite looking at him.
Munkustrap took a bite into the meat. It tasted horrible. Or rather, the meat was great while it was his painful regrets for his foolishness that spoiled the taste.
….
I certainly appreciate – or really, need – comments! Thank to all who have read this chapter. I hope to update soon!
