Mungojerrie

The tom had been counting the weeks since Axel died. Over thirty-six. The twins' eighteenth birthdays came and went and neither said a word. It was only a matter of time before the bald freak figured them out. It's not like they could write down any plans or find time to privately congregate—eyes were on them at all times. Rumpleteazer swore she could feel Raithen watching them through a telescope when he went away.

They might as well be street rats again; their heists were once again only a means of survival. They took no joy in robbing other tribes or 'teaching them lessons' by roughing up one of their members, but it meant waking up to see another morning. Neither Bengal had forgotten just how quickly things could fall apart, and so they walked a fine, thin line to avoid any mistakes again.

"Mate." Mungojerrie's ears flattened every time he heard that word. "Raithen wants you in his quarters immediately." The orange-and-black tom trotted down the steps and sat in his usual seat in front of Ixion. He didn't even bother announcing he was there anymore or asking what he wanted. He got his orders, he did them. No need for chit-chat.

"I have something a little different for you." Raithen said as he cleaned off some of of his new jewels. "Listen carefully. My eyes over in Kensington told me a former employee we'll call him has taken up residence in Holland Park's tribe. I want you to bring him here so I can have a word with him."

"Is that so?" Droned the teenager.

"Yes, though if you tell him you're bringing him to me, I don't think he'll comply so easily. We had a little falling out, if you will." Mungojerrie only cocked a brow at that. "He'll require a some persuasion."

"Tuh! If you want persuasion, you should've asked my sister."

"I was getting there, lad. I want you to bring your sister and convince this gent meet me for a chance to reconcile." Mungojerrie snorted. "What? What's funny?"

"Sorry, mate, just remembered a joke." The teen said, still smirking.

—

"I had a dream I stabbed the old wanker in the eye." Rumpleteazer told her brother. "It was lovely." He wasn't listening; he was scanning the park among the human visitors to try and find just where and how a tribe could have a living space nearby.

Mungojerrie sneered. "God. This place is too happy."

"You wouldn't be saying that if we were happy."

"Uh huh."

"Are you sure he meant the actual park and not the street?"

"Who cares? The longer it takes us to figure this out, the longer we get to be out of there." He'd made his point. Still, with Raithen's 'eyes' being everywhere, neither wanted to risk even looking like they were going to make a run, so they went down up and down nearly every damned street in the district named Holland Park. "These houses remind me of our old one."

"Mhm. Doesn't a David Beckham live here?"

"Huh?"

"Some bloke on the telly. He's married to a dancer! I think her name is Linda—"

"Wrong David Beckham, Teazer."

"Huh... which one am I thinking of, then?" The Bengal shrugged and followed her brother. Soon the scent of feral felines struck them. They were close. "What did Raithen say he looked like again?"

"He said look for a German Rex with a tortoiseshell coat."

"That fuzzy bloke right there?" Indeed, the queen had found their target. "All right, here goes nothing."

"Teazer, wait!" She knew better than to just strut into a tribe's territory, even on a job!

"What? We don't have to be sneaky. We're inviting a guest to dinner." She swished her tail and strided on over, playing the game. Mungojerrie thought to himself, Dinner, then a swim in the River Thames.

With the unkempt, yet still beautiful Bengal working her magic, the target was theirs in no time. It took a good buttering up to convince him Raithen had nothing but warm intentions... Teazer could not stand this. It killed her. One side of her wanted to instead just warn him to stay away from Hammersmith and face the consequences herself... the other made herself truly believe she had no idea what Raithen really wanted to do with him.

Yes, she was just a silly little ditz. That was a better way to think of it. It's what got her through the day.

The twins went to bed that night knowing they'd done their job at the very least. Getting through the night was more difficult than getting through the day. Neither could fall asleep—one never knew if they'd get to wake up the morning after.

Someone started pounding on their door. Jerrie started awake before Teazer did, but he was ready to act. When he opened the door, it was Mosstail. Mungojerrie glowered at the mere sight of him. "Yes?" The mute tom pointed to the yawning queen sitting up in bed. "What?" Mosstail simply lowered his paw and waited. "What is it? Do I have to follow you?"

"I think he wants me, Jer."

"No." Jerrie said at once. "Take me to Raithen." Mosstail blocked the doorway and shook his head. The Russian Blue had learned well to fear the Bengal, but this time he was following orders. "What does he want?"

"He can't talk, Jerrie." Teazer stumbled out of bed and walked to the doorway. "I'll go. Clearly it's important if they want my help." She gave him a discreet wink; obviously they just needed some sweet-talk... as if Raithen's was worn out by now. Unfortunate they shared such a talent.

Jerrie did not like this, but what did it matter? "Be quick about it." And so Mosstail walked Teazer down the dark hallway, leaving Jerrie to pace and rock alone in the room. He couldn't stand his sister not being there, and the longer it took, the more it ached. He could hear muffled laughter and music downstairs that brought some comfort, but it didn't last long. When things became quiet, the Bengal crept out of the bedroom. He simply followed his sister's scent. She wasn't in lounging room. He maintained calmness for his own sake and continued to follow until he ended up in Raithen's parlor, where he saw her asleep on the couch with the stranger curling up next to her.

Mungojerrie turned around and walked along the hallway. The tom veered sideways and had to hold himself up by the wall. He walked in a daze, the urge to vomit cracking in his chest.

Munkustrap

Munkustrap's paw went towards Sophitia's tiny cheek, caressing her as she napped. She was piled over and between her two brothers. They'd had a long and restless night and needed their sleep, yet Munkustrap just wanted to pick each one up and hold them. Such small little darlings that had no idea what importance they held in this world. Demeter opened the flap of their box and stepped inside. "Are you sure about this?"

"No. That's why I better go before I change my mind." At that, Demeter sighed sorrowfully, but Munkustrap gave her a kiss. "I'm not afraid of him." He said assuredly. Demeter knew that, but it's because Raithen also wasn't afraid that she was. The calico nuzzled his neck, coming close to lean against his chest so he could cradle her.

Demeter's ears pricked up and she said, "You've a kind heart. Don't let him take it from you." She said as if reciting it by memory. The words were etched into the silver tom's mind and he held her closer. Before departing, he reminded the elders to watch after Tugger and the lot and he squeezed under the gate. The wetness in the air helped amplify the scent of the tom, so sniffing out Raithen proved to be easy.

It was what was about to occur that wouldn't be.

"Out!" Munkustrap commanded as if they'd take him as an authority figure. "I know you're there." He stood before a small hole in the corner of an old building. "I can wait all day if you'd like, I'm a patient tom."

Raithen poked his head out, ugly face turned even more hideous as it squeezed through the cement walls. "Indeed, you are." Out came one paw, then the other until his whole body came slithering close. "Can't say the same for your cantankerous brother!"

"I agree, my brother acted on impulse, but he had every right to be angry." Munkustrap noticed his lackies coming out of hiding as well, so sick of all of their faces. But really, it was Nebula, with his gargantuan stature and crazed stare, that he wanted to see the least—and that was saying something! He let his lip curl up into a snarl upon sight.

"Nebula, you'll be a good lad, right?" Raithen turned back to him and the Savannah sat down. "He's had a talking to since the incident... your brother really held his own against him!" Nebula noticeably twitched at that comment.

Munkustrap no longer cared about idle chat... he didn't care about politeness anymore. He shouldn't have ever. "I want you out of my territory. I will not fight you for it. We've been here far too long to even consider giving it away."

"A little constructive criticism, mate." Raithen interrupted, holding up his paw. Was this for real or did he just want to grind the Mau's gears, or both? "You claim to be a leader, right? So enough of this 'I want, I want' tactic. You're supposed to give commands, not ask for your way." Now the tabby's nerves had been struck on a petty level; that's what they've come to!

He wasn't taking him seriously when he was goddamn serious! "You will leave. You will turn around and walk all the way back to Hammersmith. Farther if I see fit!"

"Better!" He applauded; he felt a twinge of glee when he saw Munkustrap grinding his teeth together.

"There's nothing to be laughing about. You came into my tribe uninvited, made threats to my mate, my brother, my tribe, and my kittens. You can try all you want to break me all you want, but this is my home!"

Raithen pursed his thin lips and glanced around at his comrades. He noticed the tom that had abused Munkustrap's mercy looking at the ground. "What are you hiding your face for? Too ashamed? It was a matter of loyalty." He looked back at Munkustrap. "Loyalty. Your father believed in that. He did indeed. It was all he talked about, the one thing we agreed was important in a council. That's how I buttered him up and got a position as an advisor. A few months in, he notices some cats are being given the wrong instructions for their jobs... sometimes we run short on food because the cats I sent turn out to be incompetent. Sometimes they never come back from a job. I only desire the best in a tribe, and so the best are who survive. Your father couldn't see that, he was too kind." With every word he said, the silver tom felt weaker and weaker, and more ill. "Kindness gets you killed, mate. I told him the way he runs things will get his tribe wiped out. When he sent me away, I told him my point would be proven... and I've waited long and hard to see this day. You're living proof of his failure."

Munkustrap took a moment before answering, voice slowly becoming a shout. "My father is dead. Killed by his own son. What more humiliation in his name could you possibly want?"

He sighed, "I've heard the term 'like father, like son' before. My father said so, and he was right! I told him so before I pushed him in front of the bus that killed him."

"You're wrong about his failure... you've had cats abandon and betray you... the Jellicles have stood strong against threats since Mercutio. Because of my father, my people believe in real devotion. Not your twisted... philosophy!" He used the best word that came to him that moment. "This ends now." Raithen quirked his brow bone. "You leave here alive and we forget each other's faces."

"The alternative?"

Munkustrap unsheathed his claws. "Or I kill you myself." As reflex, Nebula furled up and hissed, causing Raithen to chuckle.

"You?" Munkustrap growled loudly. That was the only answer he needed. "How's this? If you can get past Nebula, I just might take your threat seriously." Was he serious...? Munkustrap looked up at the towering, spotted tom. "You look like a lad who stays fit. I'm sure the odds are even." That statement itself was a contradiction!

"Raithen, don't make this difficult."

"Either this or we leave with one of your young queens." That was no deal. Munkustrap made that clear already. He had come expecting a fight, after all. "Boy you're stubborn." He paused for a moment, not nearly enough time for Munkustrap to be ready when he heard, "Nebula, ki—" A shocked scream interrupted his order when he was bit in the shoulder by the disheveled, former-mute.

Munkustrap had no time to react, but he heard the familiar voice shouting, "RUN! GO!" A head start!

Nebula unhinged his jaws and threw the cat three feet down the alley where he laid slack. Raithen shook all over, seeing that the Mau had taken off... perhaps this was an opportunity. "Nebula, no!" He stopped him from pursuing. "You there," he said to Mosstail, "give him a good chase, keep him busy, and far away from the tribe. Nebula, I've got a job for you."