Chapter Eight – Mungojerrie

Nothing has changed. I still don't own any of these characters, except Alexis. Ah well... This chapter is dedicated to my good friend Girlbubble 7991. ON WITH THE SHOW:

Macavity's time at the Heaviside Layer was up. He found Alexis sitting by a window in the attic of the hideout.

"Um... Alexis?" he said, hesitantly.

"Hey Macbleedinggums," Alexis flicked her tail in his direction, but didn't turn round. Macavity didn't bother correcting her, hovering around behind her instead, until at last, she turned to look at him.

"What's up?" she asked. Macavity hesitated.

"I'm... Going back to the Tribe," he said.

Alexis was silent for a moment, before she grinned.

"Good luck," she smiled. "And you know, if they don't take you back – treat you like before – you can always come back here."

"Thanks." Macavity said.

"When are you going?" Alexis got to her paws, and stretched.

"Today. Now."

"Let's go then!"

"You're coming...?"

Alexis had already scampered down the stairs, and Macavity followed her. She knew the city well, and had them back in the alley in a few minutes.

"This it?" she asked. Macavity nodded. They scanned the alley for some sign of movement – some sign of life below ground.

"Over here!" Alexis hopped across the alley. Macavity squeezed behind an ancient dustbin, and saw a chink of light through the paving stones. There was a hole, just large enough for a cat to slide through, and, by putting his eye to the gap, Macavity saw the stairway – rising to the sky. It had come up for him to descend.

"Off you go then," Alexis said. Macavity turned to face her.

"Thank you," he said, awkwardly.

"Hey – you got us loads of treasure..." Alexis' eyes gleamed momentarily. "You weren't half bad for a newbie. Now go Macavity."

Macavity darted through the gap, putting his paws on the stairway. He padded down the first few steps, and it was when he began to see faint shapes of Jellicle cats – moving round below the stairway, that he realised Alexis had called him Macavity. He didn't have any time to think further about it though, because two lithe shapes scrambled up the staircase to meet him.

"Macavity!" the twins chorused happily. Macavity almost didn't recognize them – in his absence, they had gotten taller, leaner. They still looked exactly the same though – and they were grinning (slightly maniacally) at him.

"How was the Heaviside Layer?" Mungojerrie asked.

"Good." Macavity nodded. "I met some nice cats."

"Ooh! Were they actresses – like Grizabella met?" Rumpleteazer asked, eagerly.

"Not... exactly..."

"Hey guess what Macavity!" Mungojerrie stepped backwards to let Macavity get off the stairway. He sent half a glance over his shoulder, his new found wariness from all the housebreaking haunting him.
"What?"

"We got adopted!"

"That's great!"

"We ate a good supper last night!" Rumpelteazer added. Both twins sent off a peal of laughter.

The rest of the Jellicle Tribe began to gather around. One tiny kitten – a ginger cat with black rings around her eyes darted up to Macavity and stared at him out of big brown eyes. She was hurried away by Jennyanydots. Macavity felt a weight settle around his shoulders again. Old Deuteronomy pressed to the front of the crowd.

"Good to see you again, Macavity," he said, and the awkwardness in his voice was palpable. "Did you have a good time in the Heaviside Layer?"

"Yes. Thanks." Macavity said, shortly. He saw Demeter, rolling her eyes at the back of the crowd. Munkustrap and Mistoffelees exchanged a look. The Rum Tum Tugger looked faintly bored. Macavity wondered why they didn't just leave if they didn't want to talk to him.

"I want to talk to you Macavity," the twins' mother had pushed past Old Deuteronomy and fixed Macavity with an icy glare.

"What about?" he sighed.

"Your influence with my babies! They stole a whole roast yesterday! From their family!" A few cats muttered angrily around, but the little ginger kitten giggled. Macavity glared at the she cat.

"I didn't teach them to steal!" he snapped.

"They wouldn't have done it if you had left them alone!"
"Mum!" Mungojerrie looked faintly outraged. "It's not Macavity's fault!"
"We were hungry! And we apologised!" Rumpelteazer added.

Macavity felt fury bubbling up inside him – bottled up for ages.

"I didn't teach them to steal," he said, quietly. "But I know cats who would. And they were nicer than you lot ever will be!"

He began to stalk off, when a voice called him back.

"Macavity!" Old Deuteronomy said, tiredly. "We're tired. We'll discuss this later."

No, we won't. Macavity thought, but he didn't say anything.

That's it for now – but as I'm home with a cold I may be able to write more today (when I'm not sleeping or reading that is.) Please press the review button! It really wants you to!