Emily, Thank you very much! Happiness is what I strive for, so here the new update! Enjoy! :) Cassieteazer, I like the word carroty hahaha. It's fun to say! :D Maximum-Eliphe-Redbird, You read all of that in one day? Wow! Thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear that you like it. I hope you continue to read!

Twenty-one

"I don't quite know how he is feeling today. He was asleep when I last checked on him."

"I-we- really need to speak with him, Jenny. I'm sure you understand."

"Of course. Go on ahead, but please, don't overwhelm the poor dear. I'm sure he's still very tired and in a lot of pain."

"Of course, Jenny. Thank you."

Two toms walked into the small room where Mungojerrie was trying to rest. They sat down and patiently waited for the calico tom to wake up. They didn't have to wait long though, for Mungojerrie had been in and out of sleep since he arrived at Jenny's den early that morning.

"Good evening, Mungojerrie. I hope you're feeling a bit better," Munkustrap said when Mungojerrie's eyelids fluttered open.

"Oh, Munkustrap, hello. And hello to ya too, Tugger. I'm feelin' a slight bit better. I'm still really sore. And there's a wound on the back of my neck that stings like you wouldn' believe, but other than that, I think I'm alright. Have you gone to see Rumpelteazer yet?"

Tugger shook his head. "Jenny said that it was best that we don't bother her yet. She's in a worse state than you, and rest is too important for her recovery right now."

"It took quite a bit of convincing for her to allow us to see you," Munkustrap added.

"Everlastin' Cat… I'm so sorry to cause ya both so much trouble."

"Now, don't say that," Munkustrap said, patting his friend's head and smiling at him. "I feel like I am the one causing you trouble. You have no idea how guilty I feel for each injury that you and your sister have on your body."

"I feel accountable as well," Tugger said with a nod.

"I'm happy to help," Mungojerrie replied. "Please, don' worry about me." He smiled at the brothers and then sighed. "Well, I suppose that you're both here to find out if Teazer and I found Demeter."

"If you are feeling well enough to talk, any information you can give us is crucial," Munkustrap said.

The calico tom shifted on his bed to get more comfortable. "It's no problem at all. I'm well enough. But, I'm warning ya; it's not good news."

"Out with it, Mungojerrie," Tugger urged. "For a cat that lives for theatrics, this is driving me crazy."

"Sorry, sorry. Anyway, Teazer and I were walkin' through the alleyways of Victoria Grove, as directed. We came across a small market where a queen, who looked a lot like Demeter, was with another tom." Mungojerrie noticed the silver tabby's face fall when he heard that another tom was with Demeter. Mungojerrie felt terrible for causing his friend so much pain. "So we followed them to this pub that Teazer and I were familiar with, and when we got there, we found out that the queen was, in fact, Demeter. But the tom…"

"Who was the tom?" Munkustrap exclaimed, unable to wait any longer. He was in no mood for any type of theatrics.

Mungojerrie let out a sorrowful sigh. "It was Macavity… He has Demeter working for her."

Munkustrap and Tugger gasped and Munkustrap dugs his claws into the center of his paws. Hot, angry tears stung his eyes as he pictured what Macavity could possibly be putting Demeter through. Tugger just stood there with a dumbstruck look on his face.

"Teazer and I… We tried to get her to come back with us, but Macavity's henchcats attacked us." Tears started to form in Mungojerrie's eyes as well as he began to fill with disappointment and failure. "I'm sorry, Munkustrap... I'm sorry Tugger… There was nothin' we could do. We fought, but they were too strong. Rumpelteazer… She wasn' gonna make it much longer. I had to get her out of there. I needed to get her to safety. So we ran… I'm sorry…"

"You have nothing to apologize for," Munkustrap said as tears ran down his silver cheeks. "You did everything you could. Thank you so much."

"We now have a better idea of where Demeter is," Tugger said. "That means we'll be able to get her back quicker."

"I'll do anythin' I can to help," Mungojerrie said, a look a determination overtaking his face.

"You need to worry more about getting better first," Munkustrap said with a small smile.

"However, there is something we need to ask of you," Tugger added.

"Of course," Mungojerrie said with a nod, eager to help his friends. "What do ya need?"

"We know that you and Rumpelteazer occasionally go on jobs for Macavity," the Maine Coon said, no hint of accusation in his voice. He was simply stating a fact, not passing judgment on the tom.

Mungojerrie nodded sadly. "For a long time, Macavity was the only way that Teazer and I could get food and shelter. That, of course, was before we were welcomed into the Junkyard. Once we began makin' a life here, we tried to leave Macavity's little crime ring, but one doesn' just walk out on the Napoleon of Crime. He threatened to attack our home and all the cats we loved if we didn' return to him. We didn' want to put all of ya fine cats at risk, so we promised we would stay. So, every now and then, we go on errands for him and steal whatever he wants. I am almost one hundred percent sure that he is threatenin' Demeter the same way he threatened me and Teazer."

Munkustrap's tail flicked in annoyance. "That sounds about right," he said. "Mungojerrie, does Macavity meet with his employees in the same place?"

"Yeah, it's always the same pub, the one that Teazer and I saw him and Demeter at last night. Ya would think that wouldn' be too smart of him, but the room that he meets in has this sort of passcode to it. Macavity whispers the names of the cats he's meetin' with that night, and they are the only ones who are able to get through the door. Quite clever." Mungojerrie sighed. "I don' really know how that is gonna help though. I doubt that he'll ask for me and Teazer's help any time soon."

"That's alright," Munkustrap said. "We don't need him to ask you two to go on a job. All we need is for you to show us where that pub is. Can you do that?"

"Well, sure. That's easy enough," Mungojerrie said with a shrug. "Is that all ya want me for? 'Cause, ya know, I'll be real useful once I heal up a bit. I can do more than just show ya where an old pub is."

"Actually, we'll probably need you for more than just showing us the pub," Tugger admitted, "so work on getting back to normal soon, alright?"

"Ya got it!" Mungojerrie promised, grinning at his friends. "I'll be in perfect condition in no time! Ya just wait!"

I'm really interested in what you have to say and what you think will happen. Also, suggestions are always welcome! Please, tell me what you think! The more reviews I get, the sooner I'll update. Thanks for reading!

Mew Painappuru