Part 13
Exie was crying, she refused to leave her den or kittens, the only things she would not abandoned because Alonzo's scent was on them.
"Exie", Misto asked as he entered the den slowly.
"What do you want Mio", she asked rubbing her eyes to hide her tears.
"Are you feeling any better", he asked.
"No."
"We might… we will find a way to get him back."
She looked at him smiling sadly. The four kittens mewed in confusion.
"Their calling for their dad", Exie said sadly. Misto walked over pick Orion up and putting him back in his cot.
"We will get him back", Misto said. "Munk is out there with Strong trying to find that tom Balch."
"The Butcher?"
"Huh?"
"Balch the Butcher. With the help of other cats he slaughtered a tribe loyal to Macavity."
"That's why he's called butcher?"
"No… but I won't tell you near my kittens."
"Who else knows?"
"I guess all the grownups… Edan told me."
"I see…"
"Go", she urged him towards the door. "For some reason I think you must know the truth…"
He nodded and left, kissing her cheek first.
"See you later… mum", he said and her eyes widened a bit as he ran out.
"Munkustrap is really searching for that tom", Skimble asked in horror. "He's gonna get killed!"
"I know that might happen", Deuteronomy said. "But Chimera seems to believe that Balch can help us."
"How by slaughter another tribe", Jenny snapped. "Can't you remember what he did to those cats?"
"Skinned them and handed the skins to other cats as blankets, broke their necks, broke their arms, mauled them, mutilated them… and more."
"Exactly! And you want to allow that that that monster to come here?"
"We don't have a choice Jenny", Misto said, choosing that moment to make his presence known. "We must get Zo back and help those other cats."
"Mistofelees haven't your p-guardian taught you that it is not nice to eavesdrop?" Jelly asked.
"He did… I just didn't listen", Misto said looking around at the older cats. "So this Balch is… really that terrible?"
"Yes…" Deuteronomy said sadly. "And I'm afraid that Chimera might be just as bad."
"At least we know James only has one group of cats on his side", Skimble said trying to be optimistic.
"How can we be sure", Jenny asked. "It can just be a hoax on Chimera's part. Maybe he's trying to lure us into false security."
"It wouldn't surprise me if it was", Deuteronomy said. "But as Mistofelees said… we don't have much of a choice in this matter."
"I'm really sorry about that part", an unknown voice said and they looked around. "Really I'm truly sorry, if I was to decide you would've been left out of this."
"Where are you", Skimble demanded.
"I'm right here", the voice said from behind him and he turned to look into a shady part of the yard.
"Show yourself", Jenny said and a pair of amber eyes was shown. "I meant all of you."
"But that's not in protocol…" the voice sounded almost sad.
"Now young man show yourself to your elders and act as a gentletom."
"But I'm not a gentletom… I'm a gentler tom."
Jenny looked at the eyes confused, the sad tone was gone and she could tell by the eyes that the tom was grinning at her.
"Come out", Jelly said and walked closer to the shadows and the eyes backed away slightly. "You don't have to fear us."
"I rather not take any chances… last time someone said that to me I got scarred for life…"
"How lad", Skimble asked.
"Ever been burnt by a hot iron brander?"
Skimble and the others winced and Jelly and Jenny gasped in horror.
"How… how old were you", Jenny asked.
"Just one."
"You were still a kitten?"
"Cruelty knows no boundaries."
"But didn't the one doing it hesitate?"
"Hesitation is a weakness says cruelty, cruelty knows no boundaries says the kindhearted, the kindhearted sees too much optimism, optimism exist to let you down says pessimism, pessimism only leads to happy surprises."
The Jellicles stared at the eyes they looked back, not even blinking.
"Come out of there", Misto said. "We've already seen Chimera so why shouldn't we see you?"
"But you saw him in moonlight and things look different in daylight."
"I know that voice", Macavity said as he and Munkustrap walked over. "Cand!"
"Good day sir what can I do for you?"
"You can show yourself so I can tear you to pieces!"
"What did I do?"
"Attack me from behind and got Griddle into James' claws!"
"I did not!"
"What?"
"We were supposed to attack you, not fight back as much when you started to defend yourself though… and let you defeat us and let you flee with her. But she had to step in between…"
"She tried to save me."
"I'm sorry that she did. Believe me I didn't want her to end up in James' paws."
"Believe you? You've been posing as a psychopath!"
"Are you sure about that?"
"WHAT?"
"You know my father Macavity. He loves to pull your leg. I can guarantee that I'm not Esero."
Macavity's eyes narrowed. "I don't believe you."
"You don't believe me when I say I'm sorry, you don't believe me when I'm telling you my dad is lying to you… what should I do to make you believe me?"
"There's no way I'm gonna believe you!"
"Suits yourself", Cand shrugged. He then turned to Misto and Munkustrap. "You wanted to find the answers to get Alonzo back right?"
"Yes", Misto said hurrying up to the shadows without thinking. Munkustrap tried to snatch him back but the little tom had been too fast. "I really want him back and I know everyone, save a very few, wants the same."
Cand's eyes softened a bit.
"A son's love is really very beautiful and nothing angers us more than seeing our fathers or mothers hurt."
"Chimera's been hurt", Macavity asked.
"Did he do any over agile moves or fought you yesterday like he usually do", Cand asked turning to him.
"No", Macavity said. "Now that I think about it… it's odd."
"Can we stop this chitchatting and get down to business", Munk asked. "You're here to take us to Balch right?"
"Balch", Cand laughed. "Why'd I take you to that butchering bastard? No I'm here to take you to Soho or more accurate the Soho slum and Morë-sára-cened."
"Who?"
"I know that name", Skimble said. "Morë-sára-cened the cat who everything has read. His coat's dark as night but don't challenge his insight. Because he knows more of truth and lies than any other will in their lives. His hearing rivals that of a bat and he knows everything you can be sure about that."
"You do know he wrote that himself", Cand said. "But yes that's him."
"I have heard of him too", Deuteronomy said. "A very wise cat."
"Says the wisest of them all."
"Are you trying to flatter him", Macavity asked.
"No just stating the facts… now", he stepped into the sunlight. "Any more questions?"
Jenny had gasped in horror seeing his face or more accurate the red burn-scar on his face, shaped like a dragon.
"Why do I always get that reaction from cats", Cand grumbled and stalked past them. "This way." When he walked past Macavity the ginger tom grabbed the black tail and pulled Cand back so they came face to face.
"Hold it", Macavity said. "I still don't trust you."
"Fine", Cand spat. "You can bring as many cats as you want with you how's that? If I try something tricky there won't be any way you can't defeat me!"
Macavity growled.
"Come on Mac", Munk said. "You, me, Misto, Strong, Admetus and Cori-"
"And me", Skimble said but Deuteronomy shook his head, no Skimble needed to stay should they be attacked again.
"-can handle one Shadow." Munk went on.
Macavity looked at the beaming Shadow.
"Are you sure about that Munkustrap?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Good", Cand said. "Then let's go." He started to run, he ran up a junkpile and flew from it towards an old lamp, he grabbed it and spun around it as if it was a bar in gymnastics, let go of it, grabbed on with his tail, swung a few more laps before letting go, sailing over the fence, landing on a car roof and then jumped down to the street before finally darting into an alley. The Jellicles gaped at him.
"Are you still sure", Macavity asked and Munk shut his mouth.
"Let's go", he yelled and the group left.
"Ah there you are Chimera", James said as the Shadow came limping towards him and Finie, they were sitting on HAL. "I thought you'd curled up and died in that warehouse. What took you so long?"
"I had to put the pieces back together", Chimera growled.
"Well you did it too fast", Finie said and smirked.
"Oh shut up you overgrown shoe brush." Chimera snarled at him.
"How rude!"
"Says the psychopath!"
"Now now kitties", James said and both group leaders gave him a death glare that he ignored. "Don't fight here. We are all on the same side."
"And that is exactly", Finie asked.
"My side", James rose and looked at the town. "All this will be mine."
"This yard is already yours", Chimera spat and tried to drag himself up on the car.
"I didn't mean the yard Chimera", he looked at the struggling tom. "Do you need a paw?"
"Fuck off", Chimera snarled.
"How rude", James said.
"Very", Finie said dryly.
"You shut your big fat mouth", Chimera growled at him and got up on the car. "If you didn't mean the yard what did you mean then?"
"First this yard, then the neighborhood, then the city, then England, then this entire island and then the world!" James yelled and laughed crazily.
"Yeah you don't got manpower enough to do that", Chimera pointed out.
"True that is very true", Finie said.
"Aw you do agree with me", Chimera said with a mock sniffle.
"On occasions when you make sense."
"That makes sense."
"It does doesn't it?"
"Yes."
"I'm so glad you noticed."
"Well you must have been working on it."
"I have it took so much time."
"Well hard work pays off."
"That it does you are so right."
"Thank you."
"You're most welcome."
"What the hell is the matter with the two of you?" James yelled and they looked up at him innocently. "Seconds ago you wanted to kill one another and now you're buddy buddy!"
"I think he's been in the sun too much don't you", Chimera asked looking at Finie.
"I know", the black and brown tom said. "You should take better care of yourself James or else how will you conquer the world?"
"He won't."
"You're right yet again."
"No I mean he never will."
"And again."
"He's too useless."
"And again."
"I mean he's nothing without his little jewel."
"And again. Man you're on a roll today!"
"Thank you very much, but he's also kinda stupid."
"And yet again you are correct!"
"Stop that", James yelled at them. "Stop mocking me!"
"Why", Chimera smirked. "We are having so much fun, aren't we Finie?"
"Absolutely", the other tom answered. But then both of them were knocked of the car furiously and when they looked up they saw a tall black and white tom glare at them.
"Don't you dare insult the Stray leader!" Alonzo roared. "I will kill you the next time you do!"
"You and what army", Finie spat and all of James' soldiers closed in on them hissing. "Oh… that army."
"Charming isn't he", James said patting Alonzo on the back. "My best idea evah! Twisting his loyalties so I have use of all that brain activity of his and his strength… and of course his emotions."
"If you want to see brain activity", Finie said getting up, brushing himself off from sand. "You should take a look inside Chimera's head."
"Or Finie's" Chimera said.
"If I want your opinions I'll ask", James spat at them. "From now on you will do what I want you to when I tell you to! No more acting on your own accords."
"That wasn't part of the deal!"
"Do you want to live?" James smirked and Chimera looked around at those who surrounded him.
"Whot ois going on 'ere?" A grey tom with a white chest and stomach and with light grey and black patches and with heavenly blue eyes were stalking towards them and James paled a bit.
"Balch", he squeaked but then cleared his throat. "Balch", he said with a stronger voice. "What are you doing here?"
"Oi wanna know whoi my partner nevah came back!"
"Uh well you see… he's kinda… dead."
"Ya koilled 'im?"
"No! No it was a dog!"
"A dog? Ya call yerself a dog?"
"No I didn't kill him! The Stray leader did!"
"'e koilled 'imself?"
"No the true Stray leader did!"
"Sir aren't you the Stray leader", someone asked and James looked really frustrated. With a smirk Chimera took his leave before Balch would notice him and Finie did the same, leaving James to this 'little' problem.
"We're here", Cand whispered from his place underneath a car. The Jellicles and Macavity was either beside him or behind him. Munk was to Cand's right and followed the black tom's gaze and saw an old bookstore that had been closed for a very, very long time.
"Are you sure", he asked.
"Yes", Cand whispered. "Morë doesn't like crowds that much."
"Why are you whispering?"
"One can never know what lurks around here." Then, as if fate wanted to proof his point, a paw grabbed his arm and pulled him out from underneath the car.
"Cand?" Macavity exclaimed and flew out followed by the Jellicles. They looked up and saw a grey tom with a white chest and stomach and with light grey and black patches and with heavenly blue eyes sit on the hood holding Cand dangling in the air by his arms.
"Well lookie here", Balch said and smirked. "One Shadow, a couple of Jellicles and a Hidden Paw. Wow not a bad catch."
"Let me go you big goof!" Cand said and swiped at him and was dropped. He landed softly on his feet and glared up at the other tom. "Do you have to be so rough?"
"Not really no… who's idea was it to give Prometes the part?"
"No idea."
"Well he'll probably mess it up or else them 'Strays' are really dense."
He jumped down to them.
"Balch I presume", Macavity said.
"Yes. Inside now." He stalked past them over to the bookstore.
"No offense Cand", Macavity said to him as they followed Balch. "But that guy is like your dad and Finie combined."
"I know you should see all three of them together sometime", Cand said happily and followed Balch. The Jellicles looked at each other and Macavity said:
"Three?"
What trap had Cand lured them into now?
TBC
Quill of Thoughts - Happy you liked it and no I'm not gonna force you to choose.
Malurina - Chi isn't macavity's favorite buddy :P
HumanGunieapig - That is Chimera's purpose in life ;)
RedRubyStorm - A lot of people seems to like him for some reason... just don't tell him that.