ARGH! I realised I'm becoming EXACTLY like the authors I get frustrated with... not updating in FOREVER! SORRY! I have a BAD case of writer's block... this chapter is a kind of fill-in... it's still important to the plotline, but it's kind of short.

In answer to some reviewer questions:

Jerrie writes in his accent because he doesn't know any different. He writes words phonetically, so he writes like he speaks. He can't spell very well :)

Well yes, Pouncival's speech is a TAD bit like Paris Jackson's... it's very similar, I realised that myself. Maybe I subconsciously based it on her speech because it was a very touching one :)

Chapter 25.

"You're back again, good fighter? What are you doing here?" Mungojerrie snarled at the voice that had come out from the shadows, "Saladin. Ya owe me 'nother one, if Oi remembah rioghtly. Oi've come back. To work." "You don't think Macavity will accept you back? After all you've done?" "Shu' up. OI need your 'elp. Oi 'ave an oidea…"

"Boss?" "Saladin. Come in." The jet-black cat entered the room, dragging a calico tabby behind him. "Mungojerrie." It was a statement, not a question, or command, surprisingly enough, from the Napoleon of Crime.

"Caught him walking about the back alleys, sir. You always wanted his blood. I thought you would like to have him at your mercy, sir." "Indeed, Saladin. You have done well," hissed Macavity.

"Thank you, sir." Saladin bowed and backed into the corner, leaving Mungojerrie in the centre of the room. "Now, what would be the most painful torture…?" Macavity smirked.

Saladin stammered, "If you don't mind, sir, I think that forcing him to work for you, sir, would be the worst punishment, sir. He'd be turning against his kind, sir. It's the ultimate pain, sir."

"Out of turn, but indeed correct, Saladin. I agree. Mungojerrie, if you try anything funny, your death will be my pleasure. Get. Out."

Rumpleteaser was hysterical. Munkustrap was upset, to say the least. Pouncival was distraught. Chaos reigned.

"QUIET!" Munkustrap bellowed. The only sound that could be heard was Rumpleteaser sniffing. "Now… we will leave this matter for half a day. We shall hold a council of elders this afternoon, at 3pm. All ideas shall be presented then."

The matter seemed to be at rest, until Plato stepped forward. "Munkustrap, I think that the kittens should be allowed at the meeting too. Mungojerrie was as much our friend as he was yours. Please?"

Munkustrap sighed. "Ok then. We'll see you at the meeting."

Demeter sighed at Munkustrap. He had been pacing non-stop for the last three hours. Panicking. Mumbling thoughts out loud. Panicking some more. Groaning. Cursing. Swearing. Sighing. Non-stop! It pained Demeter to see him so frustrated and upset.

And finally, he dropped onto the bed and closed his eyes in a grimace, let out a groan and curled up in a small ball. "Oh, Munkustrap…" Demeter sighed for the 1234th time those 3 hours. She sat down beside his limp form and stroked his cheek sympathetically.

"It's OK, Munku, it's all gonna be OK…" she whispered and kissed his forehead.

"No, it's not," he groaned. "Deme, we haven't got enough firepower to take on Macavity. We can't attack. We can't risk losing someone else…" he whispered miserably.

Demeter closed her eyes. "Oh… Munkustrap. It's not your fault. We'll find another way. Don't worry."

"I call this meeting to order. Does anyone have any ideas?" There was a bleak silence following his words.

"Well then… I propose that… I mean, we… I… we… can't…" he took a deep shuddering breath and collected himself.

"After examining all possible choices… we cannot afford to lose another tribe member… we haven't got enough firepower to attack Macavity… I don't want to do this… but…" he looked around and saw many sympathetic and upset Jellicle faces; however, they were all nodding in agreement, albeit sadly.

Even Rumpleteaser.

"So you're just gonna leave him there? Alone? Without even trying?!" cried Pouncival. "He's my friend! You can't do that!"

The distraught kitten ran off sobbing. Jenny rose to go after him, but Munkustrap's extended paw stopped her.

"Leave him, Jenny," he sighed miserably, his face creasing and making him look worn,

"He needs to think it out himself. Mungojerrie was always there for him, and now he's not going to accept anyone 'taking' his place. He's also got to learn to deal with some things alone. Mungojerrie's not always going to be there for him. Something that I think a lot of us have to learn too. Including me."

With that, Munkustrap slowly made his way over to his den.

"Why'd you come back?" Saladin asked.

"Oi 'ad to. For moi friends. They're all Oi've go', an' Oi couldn' le' Macavity keep 'urtin' 'em," Mungojerrie explained sadly.

"You are really rather loyal. Maybe even overly loyal. Risking your life to return the most feared cat ever, just for some friends?" Saladin commented.

Mungojerrie was furious. "They're moi friends! They mean more ta me than anythin'! An' Oi could nevah 'urt 'em!"

"Ok, ok, calm down." Saladin was bemused by his fierce loyalty. Mungojerrie was mad at Saladin's lack of emotion. They didn't speak for the rest of the evening.

A/N: Now we start to learn a bit more about Saladin. I like to see Mungojerrie as a very loyal, loving cat, despite his whole 'theiving' get-up. In stark contrast, Saladin is a well-spoken, well-educated cat, but emotionally kind of stale. Him and Jerrie get on because they can talk (kind of) but their 'friendship' (if you would call it that; I prefer 'working relationship') is very volatile.

I also think it's very cute to have Munkustrap rely on someone and show his softer side a lot more often :)