Cori stretched out, yawning. He heard a groan and frowned before opening his eyes, he found himself staring at black and white patched fur.
Oh, that was right…Toms night.
Cori sat up, rubbing his eyes, he looked over at the sleeping Plato and Admetus, who were both in their own corners, snoring…and then to Tugger and Quaxo. Cori smiled, tilting his head. Quaxo was held closely in Tugger's arms. Cori smiled, while he knew something was up between them, that there was some chemistry, Quaxo and Tugger had no idea. Cori rubbed his eyes tiredly, yawning largely.
"Hey…it's too early to be awake,"
"But it's…oh," Cori looked out the door, seeing it was still dark outside. Alonzo rubbed his eyes, looking at Cori through half closed eyes.
"Go back to sleep," Alonzo mumbled, rolling over. Cori lay back down and sighed, closing his eyes once more. Cori gave a shiver as a cold biting wind suddenly blew through the den. Cori felt uneasy all of a sudden…he felt like something bad was going to happen.
Tantomile blinked as a cold wind suddenly blew through the den, she shivered as it hit her. Munkustrap's hold around her tightened.
"You alright?" Munkustrap mumbled tiredly.
"Yes…just cold," Munkustrap smiled tiredly at her and cuddled her closer to his warm fluffy fur. Tantomile smiled against his shoulder as she moved closer to him. She couldn't help but shake off the feeling that something bad was going to happen…and soon.
"TUGGER!" Cori winced at Etcetera's scream. Tugger gave a groan from where he was sitting beside Cori.
"Why?" Tugger groaned as the queen-kits came running towards him.
"They're your fan-club," Admetus grinned. Tugger glared at him.
"They creep me out," Quaxo mumbled from behind Tugger. Tugger laughed, looking over his shoulder at Quaxo.
"But they love you!"
"I know…that's what creeps me out," Quaxo grinned.
"You should ask Munkus to distract them," Plato suggested, grinning at Tugger as the kittens got closer.
"Quaxo?"
"On it, Tugs," Quaxo quickly got up and ran towards the tyre, quickly talking to Munkustrap. Munkustrap gave a laugh but called the kittens over. The kittens quickly changed their direction.
"Addie, I need your help for this one!" Munkustrap called over.
"Sweet…Rumpus Cat," Admetus laughed, getting up and running off.
"Rum…what?" Cori asked.
"It's a song…listen to it," Alonzo laughed. "It's a good one."
Of the awful battle of the pekes and the pollicles
Together with some account Of the participation of the pugs
and the poms
And the intervention of the great Rumpus Cat!
The pekes and the pollicles everyone knows
Are a proud and implacable passionate foes
It is always the same whereever one goes
And the Pugs and the Poms although most people say
That they did not like fighting yet once in a way
Will once and again join into the fray
And they
Bark bark bark bark bark bark bark bark bark
Until you could hear them all over the park
Now on the occassion of which I shall speak
Almost nothing had happened for nearly a week
And that's a long time for a Pol or a Peke
The big police dog was away from his beat
I don't know the reason but most people think
He slipped into the Wellington's Arms for a drink
And no one at all was about on the street
When a Peke and a Pollicle happened to meet
They did not advance or exactly retreat
But they glared at each other and scraped their hind feet
And they started to
Bark bark bark bark bark bark bark bark
Until you could hear them all over the park
And they
Bark bark bark bark bark bark bark bark
Until you could hear them all over the park.
Now the Peke although people may say what they please
Is no british dog but Heathen Chinese
And so all the Pekes when they heard the uproar
Some came to the window, some came to the door
And together they started to grumble and wheeze
In their huffery-snuffery Heathen Chinese
But a terrible din is what Pollicles like
For your Pollicle dog is a dour Yorkshire tyke
There are dogs out of every nation
the Irish, the Welsh and the Dane:
The Russian, the Dutch, the Dalmatian,
and even from China and Spain.
The Poodle, the Pom, the Alsatian
And the Mastiff who walks on a chain.
And to those that are frisky and frolical,
Let my meaning be perfectly plain:
That my name it is simply symbolical,
and you'd better not do it again!"
And his braw Scottish cousins are snappers and biters
And every dog-jack of them notable fighters
And so they stepped out with their pipers in order
Playing "When the Blue Bonnets Come Over The Border"
And the Pugs and the Poms held no longer aloof
But some from the balcony some from the roof
Joined into the din with a
Bark bark bark bark bark bark bark bark
Until you could hear them all over the park
Huffery snuffery huffery snuff!
Until you could hear them all over the park
BARK BARK BARK BARK (x 100)
NO!
(Silence)
When these bold hereos together assembled
The traffic all stopped
And the Underground trembled
And some of the people were so much afraid
That they started to ring up the Fire Brigade!
When suddenly up from a small basement flat
Why who should stalk out but the Great Rumpus Cat!
His eyes were like fireballs fearfully blazing
He gave a great yawn and his jaws were amazing
And when he looked out through the bars of the area
You never saw anything fiercer...
...Or hairier
And what with a glare of his eyes and his yawning
The Pekes and the Pollicles quickly took warning
He looked to the sky and he gave a great leap
And every last one of them scattered like sheep!
And when the Police dog returned to his beat
There wasn't a single one left on the street!
All hail and all bow to the Great Rumpus Cat!
"Want to go for a walk, Cori?" Alonzo asked after they watched the song. Cori nodded and they left the yard. They walked into the park, both of them settling down under the base of a large oak tree.
"Hey, Lonzo?"
"Mmm?"
"How did you and Quaxo end up at the yard?" Cori asked, rolling over to look at his friend.
"I was six months old when Quaxo was born," Alonzo started. "Two weeks after he was born, I was sitting with him when he suddenly changed…his fur changed, his tail shortened, his coat began glittering…and his paws began sparking," Alonzo glanced at Cori.
"I told my mum and dad, they came running…Dad took one look at Quaxo and ran for it." Alonzo sighed.
"Mum didn't know what to do, but then Quaxo started talking and he began calling his second, magical-self Mistoffelees." Alonzo sighed.
"Over the next two weeks, Mistoffelees powers began to show themselves even more and he began levitating in the den," Alonzo gave a chuckle. "That was a sight,"
"However, this was the time when magical cats were beginning to be hunted down…Mother was scared," Alonzo sighed, looking at Coricopat.
"Then, one night, Mum grabbed Quaxo and me from the den and took us away," Alonzo scratched at his stomach absently.
"She took us to a junkyard, where a large cat was waiting..."
"Mummy, what are we doing?" Alonzo asked, rubbing his eyes as his mother carried both him and Quaxo.
"Be quiet, Alonzo," His mother hissed quietly as they approached a set of large gates.
"Who's there?" A voice called out.
"M-My name is Juliana, I require help, please!" Alonzo's mother called out. A large cat appeared.
"A-Are you Deuteronomy, the leader of the Jellicles?"
"Yes, I am," The Tom answered.
"I-I need your help,"
"With what?" Deuteronomy asked softly.
"Y-You take in magical cats?" Deuteronomy looked around the night, looking for anyone who could be listening before he responded.
"Yes, I do,"
"My son, Quaxo," Juliana lifted up Quaxo. "He has a magical alter-ego, called Mistoffelees, I need you to take him and his brother, Alonzo, I can't keep them safe,"
"Why don't you come into the yard, my dear?" Deuteronomy asked. Juliana shook her head.
"Will you take my kittens and protect them?"
"Of course…but…" He was cut off as two black and white kittens were placed in his arms.
"Take care of them," And with that Juliana disappeared.
"Mummy?" Alonzo called, shocked.
"She's gone, little one," Deuteronomy said softly. "What's your name?"
"A-Alonzo…this is my brother Quaxo," Alonzo said, reaching out and rubbing Quaxo's ears.
"Don't worry, my boys, you will be well taken care of here," Deuteronomy smiled, taking them both into the yard.
"Quaxo was taken care of by Deuteronomy…I was raised by Jennyanydots and Skimbleshanks," Alonzo looked at Cori and smiled.
"You don't hate your mum?"
"I…I don't know," Alonzo answered. "I dislike her for abandoning me and Quaxo when we were so young, just because Quaxo was magical…but she did leave us with a very caring and understanding bunch of cats," Alonzo smiled at Cori.
"Because of where she left us, Mistoffelees was allowed to develop his magic and I have friends who don't judge me because my brother is a conjurer," Cori moved closer to Alonzo.
"I know how you feel…living with the Jellicles is the first time I haven't been judged for being a mystic…or been hurt for being what I am," Alonzo smiled.
"Oh…we should be getting back, it's almost dark and Munkus would kill us if we came back after curfew," Cori nodded and he and Alonzo got up, walking back to the yard…oblivious to the amber eyes watching after them from the tree they had been talking under.
Tantomile smiled as Munkustrap kissed her neck. He was perched above her, smiling.
"Are you sure?" Munkustrap asked her. Tantomile nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck. Munkustrap smiled.
"Tell me if you want me to stop," Munkustrap told her. Tantomile nodded. Tantomile watched Munkustrap as he smiled at her. He leant down, kissing her neck over and over as she purred.
Afterwards, Tantomile laid curled in Munkustrap's arms, exhausted but happy. Munkustrap smiled, kissing her.
"I love you, Tantomile,"
"I love you too, Munkus,"
Tantomile closed her eyes, moving closer to his chest.
Suddenly, shouts erupted around the yard.
"Find me the mystics and the conjurer, bring them to me alive!" Tantomile shot up.
"Cori!" Tantomile whispered, scrambling towards the den exit. She was grabbed and pulled back.
"No, Tants, I'll find him…stay with Bomba!" Munkustrap ran from the den with her in his arms. He quickly placed Tantomile in Bombalurina's care before running out to protect his yard. He assisted the Toms where they needed it, fighting off the cats who had attacked his yard. He clawed the Toms who were gaining on Plato before he looked around. Bombalurina and Cassandra were defending Tantomile. Munkustrap smiled, he knew Tantomile would be safe.
"No, Cori, Quaxo!" Munkustrap froze, looking around. He could just see, through the many cats fighting, was Quaxo being dragged off, an unconscious Coricopat slung across some cats shoulder.
Pain erupted in the back of Munkustrap's head.
He was unconscious before he hit the ground.
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Aw no!
You should know what that song is…if not…grrr…
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