Hi guys. Thanks for reading this far. Not much to say on this one. Hope you like it. Thanks for reading. :)

"No! No! Stop! STOP!"

Munkustrap woke up suddenly. His heart was racing and hurting at the same time. He looked over at Demeter who was sleeping softly and quietly. He sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his forehead. He needed to get everything in a line and not all over the place like it was at the moment. He got up and went up to the perch on top of the junkyard. He needed some air otherwise he might not survive the night. Once he got out there, he looked into the sky. Another starry night, there had been a lot of them lately.

"Mr Munkustrap?" A small voice came from behind him.

Munkustrap sighed and turned his head behind his shoulder to see who it was. Standing behind him was Carbucketty. He smiled when he saw the young cat. Carbucketty came up to join him to look into the sky.

"Can't sleep?" Carbucketty asked.

"Nightmares keeping me up." Munkustrap chuckled.

"Same." Carbucketty chuckled.

"Thinking about the others?"

"Missing them, thinking about them, I just can't get them off my mind." Carbucketty said looking at the ground.

"I know it's hard."

"Got a plan yet?" Carbucketty asked hopefully.

"Still coming up with one." Munkustrap sighed.

"Well, when you do, can I be involved?" Carbucketty asked, twiddling his claws.

Munkustrap stared at Carbucketty, surprised by what he had asked. He left a little silence before answering.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, they're my friends and I want them to come home safe."

"It's going to be dangerous."

"I don't care."

Munkustrap nodded in approval. He liked this sort of spirit from young cats. It was what he had trained them to do from a young age.

"Well, I'd be happy if someone joined me." Munkustrap said.

"I'd be happy to join you." Carbucketty said smiling.

"Good."

A smash came from behind the two toms. Munkustrap pulled Carbucketty behind him to protect him from danger if it was coming.

"Stay behind me." Munkustrap whispered to Carbucketty.

Carbucketty didn't say anything and just nodded in agreement. Munkustrap got into a fighting stance ready for whatever was coming towards them.

"Don't act all macho Munkus!" A familiar voice eased the two toms.

"Lonz!" Munkustrap sighed.

Alonzo came from out of the shadows of the night. Carbucketty came from behind Munkustrap when he saw the black and white cat. Alonzo ruffled the fur on top of his head. Alonzo and Munkustrap smiled.

"Who were you expecting?" Alonzo laughed at Munkustraps scared face.

"No one. Just being safe." Munkustrap brushed off.

"No, you weren't! You were scared to death." Alonzo laughed again.

"I was not!"

"Yes, you were."

Carbucketty tried to hide a smile going across his face. He didn't want to smile at Munkustrap and Alonzo fighting but he couldn't help it, it was too funny. Munkustrap noticed this and waved Carbucketty off back to his den. Carbucketty did so as he didn't want to make Munkustrap angry.

"That young cat is going to be the death of me!" Munkustrap sighed.

"Is that a promise?" Alonzo asked.

"Very funny."

"He's just making sure you keep your grey hair."

"He's going to turn them white!"

"He's not that bad."

"Touché."

Munkustrap and Alonzo laughed. Munkustrap squinted as a pain in his chest came about when he laughed too much. Alonzo couldn't help but notice.

"Maybe I should go on the rescue mission."

"And why would I allow you to do that?" Munkustrap asked, holding his side.

"Because you're injured." Alonzo said with a worried face.

"I'm fine Lonz!"

"No, you're not!" Alonzo shouted into the sky.

Munkustrap sighed at Alonzo's answer. He knew he was injured but it wasn't that bad! Alonzo was being over the top, the injury was nothing. He had been through a lot worse; Alonzo knew that as well but was being overprotective.

"I'm going to rescue the kittens and that's final." Munkustrap said, putting his foot down.

"Well can I at least go with you then?" Alonzo said, trying to compromise.

"No. I'm not putting anyone else in danger when we face Macavity."

"But you're fine with putting yourself in danger even if you are very badly injured?"

"Yep."

"You're intolerable."

"I'm not putting anyone else at risk."

Alonzo paused for a moment. Munkustrap was right, if anyone else went on that mission, they could really badly hurt or worse. Alonzo wasn't going to be responsible for that and he knew Munkustrap never wanted to put anyone in danger if they didn't have.

"Fine. Just be careful when you go." Alonzo finally agreed.

"You finally agree with me?" Munkustrap stared into Alonzo's eyes.

"Only just." Alonzo said through gritted teeth.

Munkustrap pushed Alonzo in the arm. Alonzo didn't move though; he was used to it so could stay still when Munkustrap did this.

"Good try but failed." Alonzo said leaving Munkustrap to his thoughts.

Munkustrap smiled as his friend left. Alonzo always agreed with him, even if they had had a fight about it beforehand. Even though they did fight, it was always a play fight and always had a good ending. Munkustrap was about to go back to his den he shared with Demeter, when he saw something that caught his eye.

0000

Tugger and Bomburlina were in the middle of the junkyard waiting for someone. They didn't want anyone else to know this person was coming so they kept quiet and only moved in small movements. They didn't have to wait long before that person turned up.

"Thanks for waiting for me." Skimble said as he joined the other two cats.

Bomburlina hugged Skimble when he jumped down. Skimble had been away since the fight with Macavity and his henchmen. So, it was a pleasure to see him back even if the rest of the tribe weren't awake to see him back.

"It's good to have you back." Tugger said patting Skimble on the back.

"It's nice to be back. You're my family, I belong here." Skimble replied.

"So, you do." Bomburlina smiled.

"How's everyone getting on?" Skimble asked. He knew about the kittens missing but knew not to bring that up.

"Working hard but there's always something beneath." Bomburlina said mysteriously.

"Wow. Really clear there Bombi." Tugger said sarcastically.

Bomburlina just stuck her tongue out at Tugger. Skimble chuckled, they never got along or got through a conversation without fighting.

"That's enough you two." Skimble sighed whilst smiling.

"Yes Skimble." The two cats said in unison.

Skimble shook his head. They never listened to a word he said but knew to take it on in the back of their heads.

"Everyone's fine. Missing the kittens but Munkustrap's working on it to get them back." Tugger finally said after a while.

"That's good to hear. Is he going to be okay to go on it?" Skimble asked the two cats.

"He thinks so. The rest of the tribe, not so sure." Tugger said worried.

"He's always racing ahead with something." Skimble sighed.

"Even if he is injured." Bomburlina sighed.

The three cats sighed. Munkustrap was never going to listen to anyone unless something put him in danger. This rescue mission was going to put him in danger, but he wouldn't know that until it really happened.

They didn't realise though, Munkustrap was watching and hearing everything they were saying. Munkustrap decided to not move towards them and decided to stay where he was. He wanted to listen to them more, but could he take anymore? He had heard everything they had just said. He decided to just go back to the den and think it all over. As he walked away he made a crashing noise which made the three cats in the centre of the junkyard look up and see him walking off.

"Oh no." Skimble said as he saw Munkustrap walk off.

"That's not good." Bomburlina agreed.

"I'll go talk to him." Tugger said walking off but Skimble grabbed his arm stopping him from going after his brother.

"Give him some space." Skimble told Tugger.

"But…" Tugger tried to say but the look from Skimble told him not to.

Tugger looked to the place where Munkustrap had been. He wanted to go after his brother but Munkustrap would be mad if Tugger didn't listen to Skimble. He stayed where he was and turned to Bomburlina for some advice. Bomburlina just gave him kitten eyes and didn't say anything to help Tugger out. Tugger gave up and went to his den, Bomburlina followed soon after with Skimble going to his den last.

0000

Munkustrap got back to his den. He was in a lot of pain from walking all that way. He stumbled into the den. He looked up to see if he woke Demeter, luckily he didn't, and she was still asleep. Well that's what he thought. He came further into the den.

"Why did you go outside?" Demeter's voice came in a stern tone.

"I thought you were asleep." Munkustrap answered.

"I wasn't. So, are you going to answer my question?"

"I needed some air."

"What did Jenny tell you?"

"To stay in the den for a while until the pain went away."

"So why didn't you?"

"I needed some air." Munkustrap pushed.

"Did you have another nightmare?" Demeter asked in a more kinder tone.

"Another one?" Munkustrap asked.

"Well did you?"

"I did. I can't seem to shake them off."

"No one can shake them off. Not even you."

Munkustrap sighed and then moaned as another pain shot through his side. Demeter tutted and stood up next to him.

"You need to take care of yourself." Demeter said, putting her paw on Munkustraps shoulder.

"I am. I need to put the tribe first though."

"No, you don't. They won't care if you take a few days off."

"Oh, trust me they will." Munkustrap said with force.

"Come to bed." Demeter finally said.

"I'll go back on patrol. Alonzo might need me." Munkustrap said leaving the den.

"Munkustrap!" Demeter shouted after him in tears.

It fell on deaf ears. Munkustrap still went out of the den and headed towards where his patrol usually was. Demeter was left in the den alone to her thoughts. She felt faint so sat down on the bed to steady herself. She had been feeling faint for a while and being sick in the mornings. Wait… could that mean?