OK... almost done!! I know I haven't updated for like 1 million years... ok maybe like a month...?? But I've been unbelievably busy!! So much sport to do... and I have another week on cricket tour next week! But Jerrie and Teaser are almost done... like I said... three more chapters I think? :)
Thanks to all my reviewers :D enjoy!!
Chapter 29
"P-p-presto!" stammered Mistoffelees, throwing up his paws in a feeble attempt to relight the lights. Nothing happened. A paw found his shoulder, and the tuxedo cat let out a screech.
"Shh, it's only me!' hissed Tugger. "C'mon, kit, we need the light. I know you can do it!"
"PRESTO!" cried the Conjuring Cat, and the lights shone again. Tugger smiled proudly at his friend and Misto grinned up at him shyly.
Munkustrap straightened up and glanced around, eyes roving frantically over slightly singed cats until they came to rest on a still form.
"Demeter!" he cried, racing over to her side. She struggled to her feet.
"I'm OK, Munku… it's all go--" She was cut off by his lips pressing against her softly. She returned his kiss and clung to him, oblivious to the rest of the tribe who were staring at them in astonishment. A sneeze from Tumblebrutus ruined the moment.
The couple sprang apart like they'd been electrocuted, and Munkustrap flushed an unrivalled shade of scarlet.
"U-u-hh… umm… w-w-well… -e-rr…" he stammered, absolutely mortified. There was an awkward silence until Tugger wolf-whistled.
"Nice work, bro. Took ya long enough to get her!"
After this outburst, the rest of the tribe clamoured excitedly… "A perfect gentleman for you, Demeter darling…"
"What a cute couple!"…
"About time Munkustrap came out of his shell"…
"Match made in Heaviside"…
"Absolutely adorable!" Upon which Munkustrap reddened further and longed to sink into the ground.
"Hh-mm," he cleared his throat, "Is everyone accounted for?" he asked, pointedly avoiding the current subject.
A scream greeted him. "JERRIE!" A sobbing Rumpleteaser threw herself over a scorched, limp figure, a bit of the way away from the tribe.
"NO!" howled Munkustrap, sprinting haphazardly over to her and gazing down at the still, dead body of his best friend.
"No, no, no, no, no… NO!" he cried over and over, haunted by the empty, soulless look in the eyes of the once-vibrant tiger tabby.
The Junkyard was dead. They had wandered around for so long that the early rays of sunlight had started appearing from the sky. Slouched around the Yard centre, the members of the tribe were frozen in misery. No-one moved. No-one spoke. It was silent.
Alonzo was curled up in a ball. Cassandra was lying face down with her nose in the dirt, a very uncharacteristic pose. Exotica's face was white and pale as she relived the death of her love Admetus.
The kittens were paired off, Victoria pressed into Plato's chest, Electra and Etcetera lying close together, Jemima curled in Tumble's lap. Misto was lying limply over his drainpipe. Tugger was hugging Bomba and had an arm around Misto at the same time.
Jenny and Jelly were in silent hysterics, while their mates stared aimlessly ahead, absentmindedly holding their mates. Demeter slumped over the TSE1 and Pouncival was frozen in terror. Munkustrap and Teaser had not moved from Jerrie's side. Support came from a surprising source.
Moving in sync, the twins to the centre of the Yard and Coricopat spoke.
"It has been a long, long day, and a longer night. We all need sleep," he said softly.
"It will not do for us to fall apart like this," chided Tantomile gently.
"Jenny, Jelly, Skimble, Asparagus, retire to your den. Plato, Victoria, Tumble, Jemima, Etcetera, Pouncival, all of you, go to the kitten den, Support each other. Alonzo, Cassandra, Exotica, go to Alonzo's home. Tugger, take Bombalurina and Mistoffelees with you. Electra, Demeter, stay here. All of you, get some rest," Coricopat ordered softly, gently, but firmly.
Having a firm direction proved good. All the cats moved off silently.
*Tanto…*
~It is the right thing to do…~ reassured his sister.
"Electra, see to Rumpleteaser. If you can persuade her to go with you to the kitten den, so much the better. Demeter, you can look after Munkustrap. Tantomile and I will see to Mungojerrie…"
"Teaser…" Electra whispered hesitantly.
"'O-ow could 'e do tha' ta me? O-Oi loved 'im! An' Oi nevah g-go' ta tell 'im…" howled Rumpleteaser inconsolably.
Electra put an arm about her shoulders. "Come with me, Teaser. Cori and Tanto are going to look after him. You need rest…"
Surprisingly, Rumpleteaser complied and walked sluggishly off with Electra.
"Munku?" Demeter asked gently. The silver tabby didn't reply. "Munku?" He stared stonily at her, and Demeter's heart broke for the 2nd time that short morning.
His face was cold and bleak, but behind the exterior she saw a world of pain and hurt in his eyes. The liquid emerald shone with hurt and despair, and it was as if the strong cat standing before her was transported to kittenhood, his eyes begging and pleading with her to go back and reverse the deed done, to make everything better.
A tear slid out of her amber eyes and she threw her arms around the tribe protector. He staggered to his feet and walked off in a dreamlike trance.
Coricopat and Tantomile looked at each other gravely.
*If the prophecy is to come true…*
~Then… it will be precarious…~
*True, sister, but they must be willing to accept it…*
~Indeed…~
*~We are in for a hard time…~*
It was stormily quiet for a mid-afternoon at the Jellicle Junkyard. Rumpleteaser walked off on her own, desperate to escape the oppressive misery and cry in peace. Mungojerrie's body was covered and ready for a burial, which, as the fill-in Tribe Protector, Coricopat, had announced would be held in two days' time.
Wandering all by herself, the tiger queen tensed as she heard some snuffling. When two roly-poly Pollicle pups burst out, she relaxed.
"Mischief an' May'em…" she scowled deeply. Something inside her snapped. She launched and spat, kicking and scratching for all she was worth.
"Jerrie… always… lioked… ya… be'er… 'n… me… an'… now… 'e's… gone…!" she screeched, clawing at the pups. "YEOW!" they howled as blood spurted everywhere.
"Oi 'ope ya satisfied now!" Tufts of fur flew everywhere.
"Munku? Please talk to me…" whispered Demeter, heartbroken with pain for her Silver Tabby. Her pleas fell on seemingly deaf ears. Munkustrap was hardened into a shell, not feeling and blocking all external issues out.
"YEOW!!" whined the pups. Alonzo, safe in Cassandra's embrace, pricked up his ears as he heard Rumpleteaser screech. Leaping off the Havana Brown, he tore off to tell Munkustrap.
"M-Munku-ssss-trap!" he panted. "Rumpleteaser's being attacked! We gotta help her!"
The prone tom picked himself up off the bed and said blankly, monotonously, "Lead the way." Demeter shot despairing eyes at the second-in-command, who shrugged helplessly at the queen and took off, followed mechanically by Munkustrap. Closely following them were Coricopat and Tantomile.
"Take tha'… an' tha'!" Upon arriving at the scene, contrary to Alonzo's belief that Rumpleteaser was being attacked, they found the said queen mauling two Pollicle pups.
"RUMP-le-teaser!" roared Alonzo. "Get off of 'em!" Hearing his cries, the tiger tabby stopped slashing and collapsed in a heap, sobbing her heart out. Coricopat and Tantomile exchanged glances.
~Will they, brother?~
*Everything now rests on Alonzo. With Munkustrap temporarily 'disabled', so to speak, Alonzo must be the one to find it…*
~And if he does not…?~
*You know the answer to that as well as I, Tanto.*
~But I wish to hear you say it…~
Her twin brother sighed.
*If Alonzo does not find it, Mungojerrie will pass on to the Heaviside Layer. Munkustrap may never be the same, and I doubt young Pouncival will find life all too easy. In short, things will never be the same…*
~Things never remain the same, brother. They will change eventually anyhow…~
*And I welcome good change. This change, however, would be an avoidable tragedy…*
~Tell me it won't happen, Cori…~
*That I cannot, Tanto…~
"Right," said Alonzo. "Teaser…" he added gently, "Stay here." The black-and-white tom stepped forward and examined the two roly-poly pups, who were bleeding and a little less furry. Coricopat and Tantomile seemed to hold their breaths.
"There's a paper here…" he exclaimed in surprise. "Smells like… Macavity!" Munkustrap sprang to life suddenly. "Give me that!" he cried, and scanned the writing, reading aloud.
"He who had watched over one for three moons full,
Who watched and cared, and whose heart feels the pull,
Of undeniable affection for his young charge,
Has a 2nd chance, by and large,
If he, but one day after his fall,
Shall be carried to the spot of his charge's last call,
And there, his charge drops one sliver of blood,
He will again rise, like a flower from bud,
But be warned: for the ritual to work like this,
It requires his best friend's tears and true love's kiss."
"What does this mean?" he mumbled. Alonzo perked up, and hissed, "A precarious solution… a riddle in kind… this is it! Isn't it?!" The harlequin tom turned to the mystical twins, eyes alight with hope. Coricopat smiled in relief. "That it is," he said gently.
"Well, what are we waiting for?!" cried Munkustrap. "We have work to do! C'mon guys! Tribe meeting!" The five cats bounded off.
"TRIBE MEETING!" roared Munkustrap as he leapt into Centre of the Yard, beaming. Demeter almost fainted. The tribe collectively leapt about 5 feet in the air.
"We have the solution! We can save Jerrie!" cried Alonzo. Teaser was beaming so hard it looked like her cheeks would split. The tribe gathered around, clamoring.
"OK!" Munkustrap called above the noise.
"He who had watched over one for three moons full,
Who watched and cared, and whose heart feels the pull,
Of undeniable affection for his young charge,
Has a 2nd chance, by and large,
If he, but one day after his fall,
Shall be carried to the spot of his charge's last call,
And there, his charge drops one sliver of blood,
He will again rise, like a flower from bud,
"I guess that means Pouncival…?" Jennyanydots guessed uncertainly. "That it does!" burst out Cassandra. Alonzo looked proudly at his mate and nuzzled her. Munkustrap continued,
But be warned: for the ritual to work like this,
It requires his best friend's tears and true love's kiss."
"Who's his best friend?" frowned Tugger. "I'd say Teaser," he added as an afterthought.
"No, stupid, she's his true love!" squeaked Etcetera excitedly as Rumpleteaser blushed to the colour of Jemima's fur.
"Then it means Munkustrap," Tumblebrutus piped up. Everyone agreed.
"So… where was Pounce's last call?" asked Munkustrap, brow furrowed. "Err… I screamed… henchrats… over… on the top of the TSE1!" recollected the kit, smiling.
"OK." Munkustrap was still worried. "Cori, Tanto, is there any particular time of day…?"
"No, Munkustap," they answered in unison. "But," Coricopat added, "You can only try once. So you must… MUST… get it right."
Rumpleteaser paled. Munkustrap blanched. The tribe gasped.
"You ready?" Munkustrap asked in a low, hoarse voice. "Yeah." Rumpleteaser nodded and Pouncival on his other side motioned in the affirmative. Jellicles surrounded the TSE1, holding their breaths.
Munkustrap lowered the prone body of his best friend onto the top of the trunk and expelled his held breath in a burst. He gripped the shoulder of the tortoise-shell kitten at his side.
Pouncival screwed up his face in a grimace before running a small cut on his wrist with a sharp piece of metal. It bled freely and he let a drop fall on Mungojerrie.
The tall silver tabby thought hopeless, helpless thoughts. About Mungojerrie never coming back. Pouncival nearly dying of grief. Teaser never smiling again. He himself retreating into a fantasy world of longing and losing his Demeter… tears spilled out of his eyes and wet Mungojerrie's fur.
Rumpleteaser sucked in a shaky breath and stepped forward. Munkustrap stared at her intensely, fear and worry clouding his handsome face. She leant over her love's body and whispered, "Boi th' Evahlastin' Ca', Jerrie, Oi love ya. Please wake up…" She kissed his lips gently.
No-one moved. Munkustrap stood rigid, more scared than he had ever been in his life.
Cliff-hanger :) sorry guys
