Part 11

In the doorway stood a cat in a dark green cloak, it was leaning at the doorpost and twirling a couple of keys on its finger. It was grinning and from the dim moonlight its teeth sparkled.

"Well, well, well", the cat said and by the voice they could tell it was a tom. "You still haven't broken the habit of going in and out of here."

Munkustrap groaned it was the stranger but he saw Alonzo smile wide.

"Cori", he practically yelled and hurried up to their cell door. "Bloody hell what are you doing here?" Munkustrap looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Cori", he asked and then his head snapped to the stranger from the yard. "You're Coricopat!"

"I am", the tom said and folded down his hood. He had bangs and his headfur was sticking up in a messy way. His headfur and bangs were black and he had a pendant with a sun around his neck. He had leather bands around his front paws and legs and on his left shoulder he had a shoulder protection plate in leather. From it ran a long and broad leather band all the way down his chest and back to his waist. There the bands joined with a belt. Alonzo's grin got wider.

"You look the same", he said. "Well a bit more muscular."

"As do you Zo", Coricopat grinned and walked up to their cell. Alonzo's paw shot out and he pulled Coricopat close and now he looked angry.

"What are you doing here", he asked. "Don't you know how much danger you're getting into?"

"I do Alonzo", Coricopat answered and removed Alonzo's paw. "But I just couldn't leave you here after all you did for me and Tantomile."

"Holy shit that's the guy", Tugger called from the window. "That's Sierra's son Munk!"

Munkustrap stared firstly at his brother and then at Coricopat who grinned and winked.

"So", Cori said. "Who want out?"

Alonzo grinned grimly and nodded. Coricopat let them all out.

"Where do we go now", Sarah asked.

"Follow me", Cori hissed and hurried out and they followed him. Outside lied two guards unconscious.

"What happened to them", Almondo asked.

"I introduced myself", Cori said and looked back at them. "They didn't take it well. Am I that repulsive?"

Alonzo looked him up and down then shuddered. Coricopat reached over and swatted him before they snuck out of the dungeons.


"What now", Tugger asked as the seven of them was inside Alonzo's den.

"Alonzo", Coricopat said and then patched tom turned to him.

"Yeah?"

"I think it is time now."

Alonzo bit his lip and shook his head.

"Alonzo."

"Cori I can't… not while all the others-"

"What others", Almondo yelled. "Most of them got killed when the mine blow! Now those who are left are in their dens wondering what to do!"

Everyone was quiet.

"Then", Alonzo said and looked out on the starry sky. "We'll free them."

"What", Extra asked. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Extra we were always more than the guards and those palace pussies can't fight. No offence" he turned to Tugger and Munk.

"None taken", Munkustrap said. "We are pretty unusual for being spoilt palace kits."

Alonzo's lips twitched. "I believe that when I see it."

"That they're here talking to you and without their daddy knowing are proof enough don't you think", Cori said and Alonzo looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"Deuty-whatever doesn't know?"

"Deuteronomy doesn't know."

"Blimey", Alonzo turned back to Munk and Tugger. "Looks like the Jellicle princes are more like common cats than I thought."

"Well", Tugger said and grinned. "We try."

"Not good enough", came a voice from the door and there stood Hadey.

Alonzo bared his teeth and pulled out a knife, the others took whatever they could as weapons. Everyone except Coricopat.

"Come one Sierra junior", Tugger told him. "Arm yourself."

"Tugger I am Sierra junior. Why would I need weapons?"

"Good question", Hadey said and got closer. "No need for violence I just want to talk to my son."

"Sorry but you don't have one", Munk said. "Not after what I've seen and heard." Alonzo smiled at him.

"Well that's not for you to decide is it Jellicle prince."

"But he's right", Coricopat. "Now turn around and leave before I do something I might (not likely) regret later."

"And that would be?"

"This."

At first nothing happened then Hadey's eyes rolled back into his head and he fell backwards.

"Everlasting cat", Sarah said and looked at him. "What did you do?"

"Nothing", Cori grinned. "I just showed him the truth."

"Want to elaborate?"

"No then you'll join him on the floor."

"What makes you think I'm like him?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

"Yes. I'm not stupid you know."

Cori grinned again. "Was that a question?"

"Shut up", Sarah hit him. "Now what we do?"

"Extra tie him up", Alonzo ordered and pulled down his curtains and pulled out a paper. "Let's plan the rescue."


Misto had been following Tantomile around all day trying to approach her but he didn't dare to. As soon as he was close enough to her his nerve would fail him and he would walk the other way. For the moment he was locking around the corner and saw her talking to one of the elder queens of the tribe.

"Hi Misto", said a cheerful voice from behind him and he jumped. Laughter like silver bells to his ears rang through the air. "Sorry I didn't want to scare you."

Misto turned around. "It's okay Jemima."

She tilted her head. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing", he looked around the corner again and Jemima did the same.

"Why are you spying on Tantomile?"

"None of your business."

"One might think you're in love." He didn't answer. "Do you want to…"

"What", he asked without taking his eyes from Tantomile.

"I was wondering if you would… like to hang out sometime."

"Well…"

"It's not a date", she hurried to say. "That is… if you want it to it can be."

"I'd like to hang out with you Jamie." She beamed. "Just not right now."

Her face fell. "Why?"

He didn't answer her.

"Do you fancy someone", she asked with a slight quiver in her voice. Something Misto didn't notice. Again he didn't answer and Jemima looked from him to Tantomile.

"It would never work", she said.

"Huh?"

"You and her… she's too old."

"So?"

"And…" She didn't continue she just took off.

"What's with her", Misto asked aloud as he looked after her.

"Who knows", a soft female voice said and he jumped again and turned towards the noise and came face to face with Tantomile.

"Uh h-hi Tantomile."

"Hi yourself Mistofelees. Why are you spying on me?"

"Well you see… uh after…"

"Oh you want to see if I will harm anyone else?"

"No! I-I mean yeah that would be good."

"It would wouldn't it. Well back to the important things. I think that the reason behind Jemima's reaction is quite obvious don't you think?" With a smile she walked off leaving Misto to look longingly after her.


In the meantime Sierra and Deuteronomy were glaring at each other over Deuteronomy's desk. The court had found Sierra innocent and after hearing the story they agreed with him that Melodious had something to do with the dead kittens. They wanted Deuteronomy to take actions. The two toms had decided to travel to Melodious' land with some of the toms but they knew it wouldn't be enough. They were arguing on how to proceed.

"Deuteronomy if you asked him he would help you", Sierra said exasperated. "Macavity is your son and he will help you."

"We are not on speaking terms. When he left it was on good terms with his brothers but not me. He wanted me to go with Bella to learn some good lessons."

"I can't agree more."

"Sierra…"

"You were a better leader before. Before you let Bella dig her claws into you like that you would have acted towards Malicious long ago. Back then you always believed in me."

"I believe in you when you are not talking nonsense. Like now. I don't want Macavity here."

"Too bad… I've already sent for him."

"You've what?"

"And if I'm not mistaking he would be here… Now."

The door flew open and Macavity entered he stopped dead when he saw his father.

"Sierra", he said. "You told me you and Munk and Tugger wanted to see me. Now where are my brothers and why is he here?" he pointed at Deuteronomy.

"I'm sorry I lied to you Mac", Sierra said. "But we need your help."

"Why?" Sierra told him the story of the dead kittens. "I see and why isn't Munk here? Or Tugger for that matter?"

"Because they left to do Everlasting cat knows what in that land and my son followed them."

"Coricopat?"

"Yes… you know him?"

"We got pretty close my last few weeks here. So my brothers left without telling daddy dearest and now we have to go rescue them?"

"And most likely the rest of the tribe", Deuteronomy said. "I don't care that we are not on speaking terms son. I just want your brothers back and those poor souls freed."

"Then the Hidden paws will help you with that."

Sierra grinned and patted him on the back.

"Good boy", he said. "Now let's go."


Three heads peaked up from the high grass and looked around before ducking again and Almondo, Extra and Sarah hurried towards the slaves working. Tugger and Coricopat were heading towards the guards and the palace cats. Munkustrap and Alonzo were doing the same but from another direction.

"Now where is Hadey", Malicious groaned.

"I don't know", Velari said looking a bit worried. "He told me he would go to Alonzo's den to see if he could find him."

"How did Alonzo get out of jail?"

"I don't know… but he and his friends are… resourceful."

"Yes… next time I see him thought I will take care of what I should have years ago."

"And that is?"

Malicious picked up a flower. "Flowers are beautiful things are they not?"

"Yes love", Velari said.

"They are so frail though."

"Yes love."

"A shame that this particular flower is weed and you know what to do with weeds don't you?"

"Love, I do not understand."

Malicious crushed the flower in his paw. "Weeds need to be destroyed, pulled up with the roots and that is what I am going to do."

"What?"

"You Alonzo is weed love and I am the gardener who will make sure that this weed dies and makes sure that there will be no chance for other weeds to grow."

"Are you going to kill my son?"

"Yes then those other rebels will quit. They are like a car love, the rebels are the wheels, body and mirrors. Your son is the motor. Without the wheels the car won't go, but wheels can be exchange, bodies can be built and mirrors aren't really needed. But your son Velari is the motor and without a motor… the car won't go or start. It will stop… forever."

"T-they can get a new one."

"Not one as good."

"Are you sure killing him is the only way?"

"Yes and I will enjoy it."

"Then let's enjoy it then", a voice yelled and Alonzo stood before them. "Come on Malicious."

Malicious smirked. "You want to fight me?"

"Yes."

"Suits me kid… it's your funeral." And with that they flew at each other.


TBC

Sorry for the time it took to update but my professor has been trying to kill me and my friends with groupassignments and individual assignments about the cities' evelopment(right word?). I've been studying none stop since the last update.