Author Note: I have decide to enter the Jellicle Week June contest by BroadwayKhaos. The forth prompt was to create a Jellicle tradition so here is the forth chapter with the Jellicles new tradition. Enjoy!
Chapter 4: Festival of love
The silver tabby slowly opened his eyes; he looked over and was surprise to see the no one. The silver tom sat up completely awake, it was rare that the golden queen gets up before him, and he grew concern for his mate. The silver tabby got out of bed and exited the bedroom. He searched the den but could not find his golden mate. So he decides to go outside.
The silver tom was taken back when he exited his den as the bright light from the sun blinded him for a few moments. Once his eyes were adjusted to the bright light, the silver tom looked up at the sky to see what time of the day it was. The sun was hallway through its journey to its highest point.
"I slept in," Munkustrap growled, use to getting up around sunrise. The silver tabby looked around the clearing noticing that some of the human home Jellicles returned, and were currently talking with others. The silver tom search the crowd until his vision stopped at the two queens that were chatting on the tire. With his target insight he began to approach the two queens.
"Well, it looks like someone finally decided to get up." The red queen teased as the silver tabby approached the tire.
"Shut up, Bomby." Munk growled glaring at the red queen.
"And it seems like he woke up on the wrong side of the bed too." Bombalurina laughed
"I said shut up!" Munk snapped, surprising both queens.
"You know what," Bomby growled, standing up. "You may be the protector but that gives you no right to yell at me." The red queen stated glaring back at the silver tom.
The golden queen still sat on the tire as she watched the red queen face the silver tom. "Bomby," Demeter called trying to end the battle that was forming between the two. "Bomby please," The gold queen begged as the red queen looked back at her friend.
"Fine," Bomby sighed, turning back to the silver tom. "I'll let you deal with Mr. Grumpy." The red queen stated as she hit her shoulder against the silver tom's side as she walked pass him.
The silver tom turned and watched the red queen walk away.
"That was not nice Munk." Demeter scolded from her place on the tire as the silver tom looked back up at her.
"Why didn't you wake me up this morning?" Munk asked with a stern voice.
The gold queen knew that something was going on that was changing his personality and she had to get to the bottom of it. "You got home late, and you looked sound asleep. I figured that you needed the extra sleep." Demeter explained, looking at her mate with concern as she heard a soft growl coming from her silver mate. "Munk, what's wrong?"
"There is nothing wrong." Munk growled, turning away from the gold queen.
"Munk, please," Demeter begged, standing on top of the tire, as the silver tabby looked back at her over his shoulder. "Please, tell me what's bothering you."
"There is nothing bothering me." Munk lied, with a stern voice the growl still present but softer.
"Munk," Demeter called as she slowly approached the silver tabby as he turned to face her. "I can tell that there is something troubling you. You do not usually act like this." The gold queen explained, standing in front of her mate as he looked away from her. She looked into his eyes and knew she was right, there was something on his mind that was affecting him, she just needs to find out what.
The gold queen slowly raised her paw and placed it lightly on shoulder. The silver tom looked at her paw and watched as it lowered until it was on his chest. "Munk," Demeter called softly as the silver tom looked at her. "Please, tell me what's wrong."
The silver tom lowered his head with a heavy sigh. He looked back up at his mate as she softly clasped his paw, and slowly lead his away from the clearing and back to their den were they could talk privately.
Once inside the den, the golden queen guided her mate to set down.
"I'm sorry Dem," Munk sighed, as he sat down beside his mate with his head lowered.
"I know you are," Demeter replied, laying her head against the silver tom, as she began to stroke his back, trying to comfort him.
"There is just so much going on, I guess I just overwhelmed myself." Munk explained laying his head in his paws.
"I understand, Munk," Demeter sighed. "This heat wave could threaten our survival, and as protector, it puts a lot of stress on you. It is easy to become overwhelmed. Plus the heat can make anyone more irritable."
"But that gives me no reason to act like a jerk." Munk replied, remembering how he treated the red queen only a few minutes ago.
"True," Dem agreed. "But I am sure she knows that you didn't mean it, and you could always apologize to her."
The silver tom just let out a sigh.
"Munk," Dem called, sitting up and facing her silver mate. "Look at me please." The gold queen begged as the silver tabby slowly lifted his head up and looked at her. "I know that this heat wave has put a lot of pressure on you, but you need to understand that you are not alone. All of us are here to help you."
"Thanks Dem," Munk sighed with a slight smile as he placed his head against hers making the gold queen smile. "I love you Dem," the silver tom said sweetly as he softly kissed her lips.
"I love you too," Demeter replied, kissing her mate back.
Hours have past as the silver tom sat on his perch and watched the junkyard. The sun was halfway through its journey to the horizon, when the silver tom saw something unnerving. The red queen sat on the TSE 1 car trunk, sunning herself in the evening sun alone. The silver tabby searched the rest of the junkyard but could not see where the gold queen was. He slowly got down from his perch, worried about where his golden mate might be.
"Bomba," a male voice called, breaking the red queen out of her daze, as she looked up at who called her name.
"Well, if it isn't Mr. Grumpy." Bomba growled softly, watching as the silver tom approached her.
"Bomby, I want to apologize for how I acted this morning. I had a lot on my mind, and I wasn't thinking properly." Munk explained, as the red queen glared at him. "Can you forgive me?"
The red queen looked at the silver tom that stood before her. "No." Bomba replied and turned her back to him.
"Bomba," Munk pleaded.
"I won't forgive you." She replied, still not facing the silver tom.
"Why not?" Munk asked, wondering why she was being so difficult.
"Because you hurt my shoulder." Bomba replied, looking at the silver tom through the corner of her eyes.
"You are the one that rammed your shoulder in me." Munk explained crossing his arms over his chest.
"Fine, I'll forgive you," Bomby replied, turning around and facing the tom. "If you do something for me." The red queen added with a smirk on her face as the silver tabby raised an eye brow at her.
"What is it?" Munk asked, dreading what the red queen would ask of him.
The red queen's smirk grew as she stood and slowly walked up to him strutting herself as she walked around him, so close that her fur just touched his, with her tail circling him. The silver tom watched as she walked around him, feeling very uncomfortable as she flirted with him. Once she was in front of him again, the red queen leaned against the silver tom. She placed her paw under his chin and slowly guided him to look down at her. Their faces inches apart.
"Kiss me." Bomba pleaded, as she watched the silver tom's eyes widen. "All you have to do is kiss me and I'll forgive you." The red queen explained. "But it has to be on the lips."
"You know I can't do that." Munk replied, looking down at the red queen.
"Oh come on Munk." Bomba pleaded, rubbing her chest against his. "I know you wanted to."
"Whether I want to or not. I will not betray my mate." Munk explained with a stern voice.
"She doesn't have to know." Bomba flirted; pressing her chest against his as she softly placed her paws on his back and slowly moved them down. "It's just one kiss."
"Sorry Bomba," Munk replied as he reach and grabbed the red queen's paws and removed them from his back and stepped back separating himself from the red queen. "But your flirting does not work on me."
"You're no fun." Bomba pouted, as the silver tom released her arms.
"Sorry, but you know that I would never hurt Dem." Munk explained.
"I'm sure she would allow a small kiss," Bomba cooed.
"Bomba," Munk warned, with a stern voice.
"Alright, no kiss." Bomba huffed as she crossed her arms across her chest.
"Have you seen Dem lately?" Munk asked, changing the subject.
"Last time I saw her was after lunch, she went back to the den." Bomba explained.
"Thank you Bomba," Munk replied, turning and heading back to the den.
"Dem is so lucky to have a tom like him." Bomba sighed as she watched the silver tabby run off.
The silver tabby was outside of the den when he heard a loud thump from inside the den. He quickly entered the den and looked to his left.
"Hi Munk." Demeter called surrounded by books of all sizes.
"Dem, what are you doing?" Munk asked approaching his mate, noticing that the loud thump came from the books falling off the selves, and helping her up.
"I am looking for my cookbook." Dem replied, picking up some of the books.
"Why?" Munk asked, as he helped his mate pick up the books.
"For the Mouse Fest tomorrow." Demeter informed.
"That's tomorrow?" Munk asked, looking at his mate.
"Yes." Demeter answered, looking at her mate. "Did you forget?"
"Yes," Munk sighed looking away and picking up another book.
"You probably forgot because you have been so concern about the heat wave." Demeter explained, watching her mate pick up another book.
"Probably," Munk sighed.
"Oh, there it is." Demeter stated, picking up the old human cookbook, which was under the book that the silver tom just picked up.
The gold queen put the cookbook to the side then helped her mate pick up the rest of the fallen books and placed them back on the selves.
"I don't know if we are going to have Mouse Fest this year." Munk stated putting the last book on the selves.
"What do you mean?" Demeter asked facing her mate. "It's a Jellicle tradition. Every year during the summer we come together and play games, eat fancy food, dance, and have fun."
"I know Dem, but with this heat wave," Munk started trying to get his words together. "I just don't know if it is a good idea to have it."
"Now don't be a party pooper," Demeter stated, as her mate looked at her, surprised by what she called him. "Just because it is going to be warmer this year doesn't mean we can't have fun." The gold queen explained as the silver tom turned away and sighed. "I still think you are worrying too much again. Besides the kittens are looking forward to Mouse Fest and you wouldn't want to disappoint them would you?"
"No," Munk sighed, still looking away from her.
"Alonzo already announced that he and the other tom are going to start setting up tonight." Demeter explained, going to her cookbook.
"When did he say that?" Munk asked looking at his mate.
"At lunch, while you were up on your perch." Dem replied, looking through her cookbook.
The silver tabby let out a heavy sigh as he sat down.
"Oh, I just remembered," Dem stated, looking back at her mate, as he looked up at her. "Alonzo said that he would like your help setting up the games." Demeter added, watching as her mate gave out a small groan as he lowered his head into his paws. The gold queen walked over to the silver tabby and sat beside him. "Munk," She called embracing her mate. "I hate seeing you like this. Are you sure you are alright."
"I'm fine," Munk mumbled. "My head is just pounding."
"There is a lot going on." Dem stated. "Why don't you just worry about Mouse Fest for now and worry about the heat wave once Mouse Fest is over."
"Easier said than done," Munk sighed. "I'm going to go lay down."
"That may help." Demeter replied softly, as she watch her mate stand and enter the bedroom. She let out a sigh then got up and went back to her cookbook. "Now should I make BBQ mouse or munkburgers?"
That night the silver tabby and the other toms set up the Mouse Fest games and made sure that they were working properly. Once the toms were done, they went back to their dens. The silver tom looked down at the rows of games. The games where all made using cat toys and some of the junk that was around, like the game Whack a Mouse, the goal was to use a hammer to wake the toy mice, there was a game where you threw balls to hit old milk bottles, and Dunk a Cat. Dunk a Cat was the silver tom's favorite game, only because Tugger was usually picked as the cat that was to be dunked and it was hilarious to watch.
The silver tabby finally made it back to his den. He entered the den with a sigh and noticed that his golden mate left her cookbook open. Out of curiosity, the silver tom walked over to the cookbook.
"Of course she would chose to make that," Munk sighed looking at the recipe. "I swear I could kill the cat that came up with the name munkburgers."
The silver tabby shook his head as he went to the bed room. He carefully sat down on the bed not wanting to disturb the sleeping queen, and curled up around her sleeping form, slowly falling to sleep.
The next day the Jellicle woke with excitement. They did not care that the heat wave made the weather clear and sunny in the mid 90s with no breeze or rain in sight. Today was Mouse Fest and the Jellicles were too busy with having fun to worry about the heat wave.
The kittens were running around going from game to game, begging an adult for help or tips every time they lost. The adults watched and joined in with the fun. But the most fun the Jellicles had was when it was Tugger's turn to be the Dunk a Cat.
All the Jellicles gathered around the bucket that was filled with water that would have come up to Tugger's waist, as the Maine Coon made his way to the wood board that was set up above the bucket. This is when all the toms can get back at Tugger for flirting with their queen, by getting the Maine Coon drenched and saying bye to the fluffy mane.
The fun of games lasted all day, and then as the evening approached, some of the queens began to cook. Each year queens were chosen to help the Gumbie cat prepare meals for the tribe. The golden queen always signed herself up, she was famous for her munkburgers, which are sandwiches made of chipmunk meat. The Gumbie cat made her famous fishsandwiches. Cassandra made BBQ mice and Rumpleteazer made hot birds.
As the sun began its descent, the Jellicles came together as a tribe and ate together.
"Hey, Demeter," Tugger called, in line to get his food, as the golden queen looked over at him. "Do these burgers have real Munk in them?" The Maine Coon asked with a laugh.
"Very funny Tugger," Demeter replied with a stern voice. "But yes each burger is 100% Chipmunk."
After the meals were done, the toms cleaned up the games, as the queens and kits prepared the clearing for the dancing.
As the moon began to rise above the horizon, the Jellicles prepared for their night of dancing. The type of dancing that was held at this festival, were all kinds. Competitions to find out who is the better dancer are always around, as the cats show off their moves.
As the moon began its descent, Mouse Fest came to an end. Just like last year, the red queen and the Maine Coon walk away as the best dancers. The young white princess left with the best ballet dancer, and the Gumbie cat left with the best tap dancer.
The silver tabby stood on the tire and watched as the other went back home to get a good night sleep.
"You seemed more relaxed today." A female voice stated, bring the silver tom's attention to her.
"That's because I took you advice, and cleared my mind from worry about the heat." Munk explained, jumping off the tire and standing next to the golden queen. "Did you have fun today?" the silver tabby asked as he and his golden mate headed to their den.
"Yes I did." Demeter replied. "And I got an award as well."
"For what?" Munk asked
"I got an award for the best munkburgers." Demeter replied watching as her mate rolled his eyes. "Come on Munk, it's not that bad." The gold queen laughed. "Besides, I think that you are the best Munkburger."
The silver tom glared at his mate. "You are lucky I love you."
"Or what?" Demeter asked playfully with a big grin on her face.
The silver tabby smiled down at her as he shook his head.
"Come on tell me." Demeter whined, playfully as she tried to awaken her mate's playful side.
The silver tabby just ignored the golden queen as he kept walking. The gold queen ran ahead, and stopped in front of the den. She turned around and faced her mate.
"Hurry up Munkubruger, before you become rotten." Demeter called, as she watched her mate stop in his tracks and a playful smile appeared on his face. The gold queen quickly ran inside the den as the silver tom ran after her. She gave out a playful scream as the silver tom tackled her on to the bed.
The silver tom looked down at his prisoner, with a smile on his face as she smiled back up at him. The golden queen raised her paw and gently grabbed his chin, lowering his face to hers.
"I love you Munkustrap." Demeter whispered in her mate's ear.
"I love you too Demeter." Munk replied, kissing his mate tenderly.
As the moon began to set the mate's kisses became for passionate as their bodies where joined in their romance.
I would like to take a moment and thank my mother for helping come up with Mouse Fest, Whack a Mouse, BBQ mouse, fishsandwiches, hot birds, and munkburgers! Without her help this chapter would probably be crap, so thanks mom!
Thanks for reading!
I hope you enjoyed!
Please review!