Victoria lived in an old cupboard in the middle of the dump. The lair was not particularly spacious, but cozy, with wonderful view of the central place, which held it's annual meetings and celebrations.
However, the first who Alonzo met here, was Plato. When he saw an unexpected visitor, he stood in his way and his eyes angrily narrowed. "Finally! The major leader just blows the whistle and you're right there, but if something happens to ordinary cat you suddenly have plenty of time, hmm!?"
"Hey, Plato," said Alonzo and then looked puzzled. "What are you talking about?"
Fortunately white cat came back and shed some light on the situation. "Hi, Alonzo. I'm sorry, Plato is just pissed of, that yesterday someone stole all my sheets... "
"Sheets?"
Alonzo took a moment to recall the interior of Vikis abode. Mattress, pillows - it was all worn-out, therefore in a terrible state. Victoria, however, was a creative cat and all deficiencies cleverly cover with old sheets, which surprisingly created a kind of elegant, luxurious effect.
"Oh, those," remembered Alonzo.
"According to the job description you have to defend the interests of ordinary cats! You're paid for it, aren't you!?" sputtered Plato quietly.
"I'm not paid at all," frowned Alonzo.
Victoria rather wiped of him by hip, and with the tail of his nose had told him to go better look around for some other sheets, in which he quickly agreed.
She turned back to Alonzo and shrugged apologetically: "I'm sorry. It unsettled him enought that someone just broke into my house without his permition."
Alonzo didn't understand that he should laugh, so an embarrassing pause turned up.
"You want to come in?" Victoria motioned to her abode.
He shook his head. "No, I will not interfere. Just tell me what did you do last night."
"I was with girls, we had a party, nothing big. El was there too, why didn't you ask her?" Viki looked behind his back, if is Electra accidentally hiden there. "Or she's already tired from the research?"
Alonzo gave her an exasperated sigh. "It's a little more complicated. Anyway, you just came home? Haven't you met someone through?"
Despite it was only a hundredth of a second, Alonzo spotted a short movement of her eyes.
"No," she answered simply.
He slightly raised left eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yes."
"And what about Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer?"
"Oh..." Viki stopped. "Actually, I think they were walking around. But it was no proper meeting, I didn't even greet them..."
He nodded in agreement. "Sure."
"And what about you? Have you spoke to Cassandra?" asked Viki suddenly.
He narrowed his eyes. "Why? Did she saw something important last night?"
Victoria sighed. "Alonzo... It's been already couple of months. Whenever she visits you home, you're either gone or just leaving. Why don't you just hear her out?"
He astonishly raised an eyebrow. "Why don't I...?" He said. Then he shook his head and walked away.
"Alonzo," she called after him, but he ignored it. "Damn."
Electra was too young for mind-returnings to her own memories. But the life of a cat is running fast, so Electra recalled her memories of Alonzo, expired a few months ago. Alonzo - though always a little self-centered - likes kittens and there was always fun with him. She wondered what was going to happen, that this incorrigible prankster transformered from night to night into Cruella de Vil.
But before she could come up with a reasonable solution, Etcetera went around Electra's favorite place in the cats dining room, by a saucy walk of adult queen. El and Etcy were everytime known as an inseparable duo, but today the light tabby cat ignored her and for some reason she continued in her way. El breath deeply to call at her friend, but then she saw Tugger. He stood at the opposite end of the dining room, leaning against a rusted stove, with a slight smile under long whiskers. He was waiting until Etcetera came, they exchanged a few words and together disappeared around the next corner.
Electra looked uncertainly at first. No one was around. Finally, she let her food be and followed their footsteps.
They hadn't got so far. Tugger stood straight as a marble statue, leaving Etcetera brushing around his front legs. With his captivating, puling baritone voice he said: "You know Etcy, that you're very pretty?"
Etcetera made a blissfully meow. "There are much prettier cats than I... "
"Not really," coaxed Tugger - although he did it rather by his anatomy, than by words. "Over the past year you've become a nice queen. Have you also find some tom?"
"No," she said shyly, "I was hoping that there is one already..."
Tugger embraced her gently around the shoulders and while their tails intertwined at the moment, he whispered in her ear completely unromantic: "What about Mistoffelees?"
She looked up to him in surprise. "Mistoffelees? What about him?"
"Well, he spoke to me yesterday, " said Tugger temptingly. "Or you don't like him?"
"Um, I don't know," mused the tabby cat. "He was always so... quiet."
"He's quite shy," said Tugger casually and walked a bit further. "But isn't that desirable? Such a secrecy."
Etcy quickly caught up him, so she could continue with rubbing. "I love secrets..."
"That's very good!" Tugger nodded and rubbed her chin. "What would you say about a short date?"
Etcetera raised her eyebrows. "Date?"
"Right. At eight o'clock, the old pontiac, just you and mr. Mistoffelees," purred Tugger and when he found out that his companion doesn't like that idea so much, he added: "We all would be happy, believe me!"
