…CP4
All the way back to the tribe, Bomba is trying to find the right words to her sister, to tell how and why they must leave before someone gets really hurt. They were lucky today. Bomba and Exotica is unharmed, while the three toms spots scratches here and there. They have come out of the fight far easier than expected. They were very lucky today.
The tribe is gathered in the clearing, and as soon as they return, they get surrounded by worried tribemates. Exotica is lead away by her sister, while Mistoffelees, the younger brother to Munkus and Tugger, nearly latch himself to their side and refuses to let go.
Demeter comes from her hide and stands by Bomba, who can feel her mood sink to nothing. How can she even tell her? But then Munkus surprises her.
"Tugger, when you can, go to the theater and gather the brothers. Macavity will return and we need to be ready."
Tugger nods, and to her even greater surprise, kisses Bomba on the cheek before running off. Frozen in shock she stared after him and nearly misses the rest of Munkus' instructions.
"Alonzo, go tell the other what happened, and the rest, be ready."
"N-No," Bomba stammers, making them all look at her, "He's after us. If we leave he will let you be." Demeter clings to her paw.
Munkus' smile is kind, "Don't be foolish," he says, "We look after our own. All of us." He lays a paw om Bomba's shoulder and she can't help but lean in and rub her head against his neck. Yes, she understands why Demeter likes him. He's the rock the tribe stands on.
"They will hurt you," whispers Demeter, eyes on Munkus, "They will kill."
He gently moves from Bomba to Demeter, "He has done it before and he will do it again. You being here will not change that. You not being here, will change so much, so please," he offers her his paw and Demeter takes it. They lean in towards each other, nearly touching noses, "Please stay." He whispers.
Demeter nods, the frightful look in her eyes slowly bleeding away, giving room for something else. Determination. Bomba gives them some space and joins the twins who is talking without words again. She will never know how they do that.
Tanto seems to look at something far away while Cori is watching the tribe.
"Do you know when?" Bomba asks carefully. Tonto's ear twitch and Cori answers.
"We will see when they come, but for now, we have time."
Better answer than many she has gotten from them before. She nods her thanks and heads for the den, feeling tired in her whole body.
She lies down on her pillow but can't sleep. This is all her fault. She let Magron here, its because of her Macavity has found them. And its because of her he will attack, no matter what Munkus says.
It's her fault, but if she can't stop the fighting, she will join it. She will do her part to take down Macavity, even if it kills her.
…
The days comes much faster than anyone expects.
The tribe gathers during the next few weeks. Even cats Bomba has never met before joins them. Friends, distant family-members, kittenhood-mates and so on, until their number is beyond anything she could have thought possible.
And one day, as the snow is about to become soft and muddied, Tanto and Cori suddenly stand before Munkus, eyes hazy but with clear voices, and they announce that Macavity is on the way.
Face grim, Munkus gives out his order and they all prepare.
The youngest queens take away the kitten along with those deemed too old to fight. The rest gather before Munkus, ready to protect. He looks at all of them, and before they go, each one touches him.
Bomba doesn't miss the lingering embrace Munkus and Demeter share.
Munkus and Tugger then lead them out of the clearing, the twins leading the way. The rest of them follows, including Bomba and Demeter, both ready to defend their home.
….
The twins lead them to an open space where the humans usually drive around with their machines, however, the humans haven't been there for days, and last week's snow is still lying on the ground. It's wet and soft beneath Bombas feet and she knows it will be pure mud at the end of the fight.
They spread out and wait.
Not for long, though, as barely an hour pass before Mcavity shows himself. He clearly expected a fight, having brought every one of his cats, but Bomba is relieved to see their number is almost equal to the Jellicles.
Macavity stands in the middle of space and Munkus jumps down from the machine he stood on and goes to him. Bomba can't hear what they say, but their body language is clear. Macavity hisses and bares his teeth, and Munkus' tail swipe angrily from side to side.
When, in a flash and out of the blue, Macavity strikes Munkustrap, sending him tumbling into the snow. He then jumps on top of the Jellicle leader, and all hell breaks loose between the many cats.
Afterwards, Bomba will not remember much of the fight. Her claws strike, her teeth bites. Foul fur fills her mouth and nose, as screeches fills her ears. She rolls around, fur getting wet with melted snow and the mud lying beneath it. The junkyard is a whirl of cats jumping and running, and fighting.
She has trouble recognizing her own from Macavity's, and focuses on those who attacks her. One catches her across the shoulder with his claws, and pain nearly blinds her. She falls into the snow with an unknown tom over her, feeling his breath on her neck as he goes in for the bite. He is pushed off then, by a furious Tugger, who nearly tears the tom apart.
He then helps her up from the ground and the two then fights back to back.
Bomba looks around, searching for Demeter, who she spots alongside Alonzo and Tumblebrutus, holding her ground. The fearful look in her eyes are gone, and instead is an ice-cold fury as she fights. Bomba is proud of her.
As she beats more and more of Macavity's cats to the ground, she believes they can actually win this. A glance around the yard tells her than the Jellicles are winning, having not lost a single cat, though more and more get hurt.
Macavity's cats a struck to the ground and many doesn't get up. A few runs, but is still many of them, fighting like their lives depended on it. It probably does. Knowing Macavity, if he loses he will take his anger out on those who survives this.
She hits the last cat standing before her, and Tugger pushes him away with a kick. They then take a moment to breath. Tugger looks at her with a grin and a wild, living look in his eyes, and she can't help but laugh as she sees it. Tugger grabs her around the waist and pulls her in for a long kiss.
She lets it fills her with a tingling sensation before battering him away with a smile, reminding him about the fight. He gives her a cheeky grin dwindles as he looks over her shoulder. Suddenly scared, she turns and feels her blood run cold.
Munkus is lying in the snow, which is slowly turning from white to red, and before him is Macavity, holding up Demeter by the throat.
Blinded by the sight, Bomba screams and runs forward, not sensing Tugger by her side. They reach Macavity as one and barrel into him. Demeter falls from his paw, gasping to the ground, but Bomba has only her eyes on this hateful cat who hurt her sister.
She strikes like a mad, knowing Tugger does the same, and they beat him away from those they love the most.
Macavity seems unaffected by their blows and bites, but he backs away, hissing and with eyes that rolls madly in their socket. He jumps backwards, and is suddenly surrounded by Jellicles, all hissing at him.
Macavity has never been a fool, and looking around and knowing he is outnumbered, he quickly turns away and runs. Those of his cats that can stand follows him in a hurry, the rest crawls to the entrance with a hissing Jellicle on their tail.
They have won.
Bomba doesn't celebrate. She hurries back to Demeter, who is helping Munkus to sit up.
Bomba looks over her sister, but doesn't find anything but a few bruises here and there. The worst in her throat, that bears marks after Macavity's paw, and she knows her sister won't be able to speak for days after this.
Demeter doesn't seem to worry about anything but Munkus, who is cringing with pain. Deep scratches cross his forehead and on his back are bleeding, and Demeter is busy pressing snow against them.
It hurts and looks bad, but Munkus is soon sitting without help and even talking, and they all seem to breathe easier at that.
It's a slow walk back to the clearing. Most are hurt, but they haven't lost a single Jellicle. The joy from that fact alone is enough for them all to find the last strength. At home, the wounded are tended to. No one has escaped the fight unharmed, but the worst are Munkus, Alonzo and his broken arm, Plato who they think for a terrible second has been blinded but is thankfully able to see. Other has scratches and bruises, but are alive.
Bomba joins her sister and Tugger in helping Munkus.
He lies in his den and they try to stop the bleeding on his back with snow and blankets. Mistoffelees, who had been hiding along with the other kitten suddenly shows up and helps as well, and before nightfall, Munkus is asleep with Demeter curled up on one side, and Mistoffelees on the other.
Bomba and Tugger leaves to help others, but there is little to be done, and they end up sitting on the large tire, side by side.
"He will come back," she says, mostly to herself. Tugger nods and lies down, uncaring about the snow and his dirty fur. Her pulls her down beside him and she presses herself against him.
She is dirty and a little cold, and her shoulder hurts. But despite it all, she feels safe, and soon falls asleep in Tugger's arms.