A/N: Okay, thanks to my reviewers, I appreciate it. Here is the final chapter, although there is an epilogue to follow. I don't know whether to post the epilogue or if its better to just end it here. Tell me what you think, a little critique or whatever - and if you want the epilogue let me know.
Chapter 9 – Questions and Answers
At the Junkyard, most of the Jellicles were sunning themselves or napping, enjoying the sunshine. Not all of them were quite so relaxed. Demeter was hiding in her den, worried about her mate and awaiting news. She knew that Mistoffelees had gone to see if he was alright. At the gate, two other cats were anxiously awaiting the magical cat's return and hoping that the Jellicle protector was also on his way. They were the only two that knew that the magical tom was on a rescue mission, of sorts. The Rum Tum Tugger was pacing and muttering to himself while the black and white patched tom, Alonzo, watched him in silence. He seemed calm at first glance, but his tail was flicking constantly, betraying his nervousness.
"Do you think they'll be okay?" Tugger said, stopping suddenly.
"Yes, why wouldn't they be?" Alonzo replied, trying to keep the worry out of his voice.
"It is Macavity we're dealing with here. What if he does something to Munkustrap when he gets out? Or Misto? What if he decides to get revenge on Misto for messing up his big plan at the Ball?" Tugger cried, totally panicking as he thought through all the dreadful possibilities.
"Everlasting Cat! He better not! He touches my little brother and I'll kill him myself!" Alonzo yelled, getting more worked up himself.
Both toms were now pacing, tails lashing in agitation. Suddenly Alonzo stopped and looked out onto the street, appearing to calm down. Tugger noticed, and stopped as well, looking at the black and white curiously.
"What is it?" the Curious Cat asked.
"I'm sure I just caught Misto's scent on the wind, I think he's on his way."
The two toms watched, and sure enough the tuxedo tom turned the corner. He was laughing and talking to a tall silver tabby. The two looked up and saw Tugger and Alonzo waiting for them. Munkustrap burst out laughing again when he saw Tugger.
"Oh hey Tugger. We were just talking about you." Mistoffelees said, suppressing a chuckle.
"What exactly were you talking about?" Tugger hissed.
"Your little, uh, 'accident' the other day" Munkustrap gasped, trying to catch his breath and calm down.
Tugger growled, glaring at the small magician. Mistoffelees quickly took on an innocent demeanor, but he had that mischeivous glint in his eye.
"So Munkus, did it go alright?" Alonzo said, sensing the danger and swiftly changing the subject.
"Yup, without a hitch. Although I shouldn't go back for a few days, let her get all worried so that she won't … uh," he paused and Mistoffelees looked at him in surprise, "er, be mad that I ran away." He finished.
"Oh good. But why have you got scratches, and are those bite wounds?" Alonzo said, noticing Munkustrap's injuries from the fight with the Pollicle and sounding worried again.
The silver tabby glanced at Mistoffelees, who gave him a half shrug and a look that plainly said 'I'll go along with whatever you say, its up to you what you tell them'.
"Well, there was a Pollicle hanging around in the back garden, that dumb Rottweiler from next door. He'll think twice before coming into my garden again. I'm fine."
"Great. Glad to have you back. You should go see Demeter, she's been worried sick." The black and white advised, relaxing again.
"I will. I'll go now. Thanks again Misto, you're becoming quite the little hero." He ruffled the smaller tom's headfur affectionately as Mistoffelees rolled his eyes at the word 'little'.
"What are you going to tell her?" Tugger asked before his brother could leave.
"What do you mean?"
"You know Demeter, she can pick up Macavity's scent a mile away. She'll know."
"Oh. It's all over now, so I guess I can tell her the truth, or most of it anyway."
Mistoffelees grinned, he knew that Demeter would probably be just as upset about what the human had threatened to do as she would about Macavity.
"I'm going for a nap. See you guys later." The tux said before heading to his den.
"I'm gonna go see Bomba, let her know you're back." Tugger winked, before strutting off.
Alonzo nodded his goodbye to Munkustrap and walked off. Munkustrap sighed, glad to be back at his real home and padded off to see Demeter.
When he got to the den, he found her sitting staring at the door as if she was waiting for him to come home. She saw him approaching and smiled, but suddenly hissed and stood up, fur standing on end.
"Demeter, it's okay, it's me." He said in a soothing voice.
She said nothing but continued to watch him warily.
"I know I smell like him, but I can explain all that. I wasn't really sick, my human kept me in because she had got a new cat, sort of." He continued to tell her how Macavity had ended up living in his house and the events of the last week and a half, well most of them. She relaxed as he talked but when he finished the story, she looked confused.
"Why didn't you let Alonzo tell us what was really going on?" she asked.
"Oh, well, I didn't want you to worry." He said sheepishly.
"I was worried anyway! And why did you help him escape? I still don't understand."
"Uh…" he hesitated, wondering if he should tell her.
"Well?" she said impatiently.
"Okay, I'll tell you. You see, because we kept fighting all the time, the human decided she was going to… uhm, have us both … neutered," he finished quietly. Demeter still heard and gasped in outrage.
"She didn't, did she?" The golden queen snarled.
"No, of course not. That's why we had to escape, she was going to do it in two days, so we both had to get out of there. Macavity will never go back, and I intend to stay here until she gets all worried and forgets about it."
"Thank the Everlasting Cat." She sighed, nuzzling him and purring.
The pair decided that the rest of the tribe should be alerted of their Protector's return but decided not to tell them the true story. Munkustrap was greeted by all the cats glad to have him back, but got a fright when he saw Jennyanydots walking purposefully towards him. Alonzo must have told her about the fight with the dog. He knew what she was going to do, and wondered if he had time to run.
"Munkustrap, you better come with me and let me check you over." The Gumbie cat shouted.
"Oh no, I'm fine Jenny, honest." He protested.
She was determined though, and dragged him off to give him a thorough examination. He knew she would do this, Jennyanydots didn't trust vets so she insisted on giving a second opinion whenever any Jellicle was sick or hurt. Munkustrap was glad to get the chance to visit Mungojerrie and check up on him. He explained what had happened but swore the tiger tabby to secrecy. He had felt that Mungo deserved to know why he had been attacked, but he didn't want the whole tribe to know. However these things have a terrible habit of getting out, and within a day the whole tribe knew everything, except the neutering bit, that had been kept quiet much to Munkustraps relief.
The day after he arrived, Munkustrap visited Old Deuteronomy at the vicarage. He told his father what had happened, including the fight with the Pollicle. Munkustrap himself had been surprised that Macavity had defended him, although he had not mentioned this to anyone and he knew Mistoffelees could keep a secret. When he voiced this thought, Deuteronomy just smiled.
"So, you've figured out what your dream meant then?" the old cat said.
Munkustrap thought for a second, then realised that he had. He understood what it meant now.
"Yeah. It meant that although he has changed and we hate each other now, he is still my brother. That won't change."
"Well done Munkustrap. I knew you would work it out." Old Deuteronomy smiled.