Chapter 13: Mungojerrie's not there

I am naming a chapter after the topic of said chapter. What is this madness? Also, if you enjoy this, please go check out my Harry Potter and CATS crossover. It's called Sidenote. I think you'll really enjoy it. Okay, after that shameless self-promotion, Explaination Time: IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE JERRIE'S CAPTURE! Jemima is being shunned by the other Jellicles. Both Jerrie and Jemima are miserable, but things are only getting started.

Chapter 13: Mungojerrie's not there

Mungojerrie held his knees close his chest. He quietly mewled as he planned to take his revenge on Jemima. He thought he could trust her. He didn't truly have his heart in his work. He generally meant well.

Well look how well 'well' got you! He thought. Good frickin' job, Jerrie. Your whole family hates you, your one chance at a mate was the reason you're in here. It's incredible you were able to survive to the age you're at, you're so stupid!

"Please!" cried a sarcastic voice. Jerrie looked up. Through a crack in the roof, was the unmistakable white muzzle of Jemima.

"If you were an idiot, don't you think you would have been caught a while ago?" She said. Jerrie climbed up to the crack in the roof.

"Jemima," Jerrie said, full of guilt, "I'm so sorry. I know how absolutely sh*tty my actions have been. I really miss the sunshine. I really miss you."

Jemima smiled. She lifted a metal flap, spilling light into the room. Jerrie smiled at Jemima. She was curled above the room, trying not to be seen by the others. Jerrie reached up to kiss his queen-friend. He was millimetres away when Jemima put a paw to his lips.

"Don't think I'm not still upset." She said. Jerrie smiled, grabbed her by her collar and pulled her in. She rolled her eyes as she kissed him. She slipped away from him, leaving him slightly disappointed.

Jemima sighed

"I hate what this Junkyard has become. Cats flinch in my presence. My *cough* father, Munkus barely looks at me. My friends… they are close to me. They and my mother, they're close to me. Other than that…"

Jemima's eyes filled with tears. Jerrie put a paw on top of hers. Before Jemima could know what he was doing, Jerrie had lept up out of his cage. Jemima grabbed him by his collar.

"Don't think you're gonna go running off!" Jem hissed as she pulled him close to her face. Jerrie went slack and Jemima rolled her eyes.

"Hide behind the oven. You'll be able to leave at night. I'll meet you by the intertwining trees on the edge of the forest, half a block from the Junkyard west gate."

Jerrie nodded "Oven. Intertwining trees, edge of froes, half block, Junk gate. Got it!"

And Jerrie was gone.

MEANWHILE…

Alonzo sat against the door of the cage. His eyes drooped slowly. He had been up all last night and would probably be up all tonight as well. He hadn't seen his mate Cassandra in almost a week. Knowing her, she wasn't going to be happy. It's not his fault. He'd been looking for Jemima for ages, and then he had to be the one to guard at Jerrie's cage.

Alonzo sat up. He swore that he wouldn't fall asleep, but his eyelids betrayed him. He awoke to the sound of the scrapping of metal and retreating paw steps. He opened the door of the cage. Crap! He thought. Mungojerrie's gone. Munkustrap's gonna kill me.

Alonzo ran off to find Munkus (and writing his will).

IN JEMIMA'S DEN: A DAY LATER

Demeter sat with Jemima asleep on her lap. The poor kitten had been through way too much in way too little time. Munkus walked dejectedly into the den. When he saw Demeter, sitting with a slumbering Jemima, did a smile play at his lips.

"You okay?" Deme asked

Munkus sighed "I will be. Alonzo just told me that Mungojerrie escaped."

Both Munkus and Deme's eyes both dragged down to Jemima.

"You know she was bound to help him. If not intentionally."

"I just can't believe that Jerrie worked for Macavity."

Deme smiled,

"I know, but Macavity, can be… alluring. He has this way with his words."

Munkus smiled. Deme suddenly felt a twitching on her leg. Jemima had woken and was staring up at her, with those big brown eyes.

"Mum..?" Jem asked, Demeter stroked her head,

"Yes, Jemima?"

"Why did you guys hate Grizabella?"

Demeter laughed at the random question. She looked at Munkus expectantly.

"Well…" Munkus began, as he sat down, "Grizabella was my mother. When she had me, my brother and my annoying sister, she *cough* didn't exactly like any of us. She didn't want to be stuck taking care of some stupid kittens. So she did what only made sense to her. She left. She became a star, I think. I'm not sure.

Then she returned and wanted the whole tribe to accept her. Hoping, praying, that we would forget her previous betrayal. No one did. All the kits – aside from you and Vic – understood as much as that we don't want her around. What about you Dem? I don't quite understand why you were so keen to help her."

Deme sighed.

"Before I explain, I just want to say, I did work for Macavity. A part of my life I much regret and we have moved past it. Anyway, when I did work for him, Grizabella was living with Macavity. According to your story, they should have hated each other… but I guess Griz liked Mac the most. I don't know. Either way, they were there. When Mac introduced me… man, she was amazing. She was like the mother I never had. I know that sounds cliché, but I don't care. When I slunk out of Mac's den, covered in blood and bruises and wishing I was dead, she would help me. She'd clean me up and make me feel like tomorrow would be a better day. 'Course it never would be. In fact, I began to dread the red fur as much as I loved him. When I was told I would go into the Jellicle Junkyard, she was the last cat I spoke to. I still remember everything she said to me before I left…

SPOKEN FLASHBACK…

A younger Demeter sat in tears next to a visibly younger Grizabella.

"…And now I have to go into that stupid Jellicle Junkyard! Griz! What am I going to do?"

"Oh… Demeter," Grizabella cooed, "Trust me when I say this. This is your opportunity to get away from Macavity. I left the Jellicle Junkyard when my eldest son was kicked out. I regrated it the very first second. I never should have left. I left behind my two sons without their mother right after they lost everything else. Oh, my other sons. They're so beautiful. Well one, I'll admit is a furry pain in the ass, but the other… is so special. I know he'll amount to great things. I know also he'll never accept me back into the tribe. I've come to terms with that much. He's… he's… so incredible. I know you'll like him. If anything… if you like them… tell my son I always loved him."

END FLASHBACK…

Munkustraps eyes were shining with tears.

"She really said that?" He asked. Demeter smiled,

"And she was right. You are so special. Really, truly, you are."

Jemima rose from her place on her mother.

"I'm going for a walk. I'll be back."

Demeter stretched.

"We'll come too." She said, to Jemima's retreating figure. Munkus and Deme walked paw in paw after their daughter.

SEVERAL MINUTES LATER…

Jemima finally made it to the intertwining trees. She sat against said tree before calling out for Mungojerrie.

"Jerrie… Mungojerrie!" she called "C'mon! It's me! Where are you!?"

"JEMIMA!" called a disembodied voice that Jemima knew that was Mungojerrie.

"Jerrie! THANK HEAVISIDE! I thought you weren't coming for a second!"

Jerrie lept over a shrub in a panicked rush. He grabbed Jemima's shoulders.

"JEMIMA!" he cried as Deme and Munkus suddenly appeared.

"Oh no!" Jerrie cried, "I'm so sorry! I didn't wan…"

Jerrie was drowned out by a malevolent laughter.

"You shouldn't have run, Jemima…" said Macavity.

Then suddenly, Munkustrap, Demeter and Jemima fell to the floor.