"Where have you been?"
Munkustrap watched as his friend entered the junkyard through the hole in the chain link fence.
"Been keeping tabs on me, Munk?"
"Just curious as to your whereabouts," he replied simply, eyes never leaving the ginger tom.
"I don't believe that is any of your concern."
"It will be, soon."
"Soon?"
Macavity laughed.
"Old Percy about to bite it, huh?"
Munkustrap bristled.
"Of course not. But he is considering retirement..."
"Well, I'm so 'terribly' proud of you. I'm sure you've deserved your position."
"I've worked hard," Munk replied sternly. "Unlike you, I train every day."
Macavity growled, the smile gone from his face.
"You don't know what I do."
Munk padded towards the ginger tom.
"I can guess. You have a queen's scent all over you."
"Your point?"
Munk shrugged.
"I notice that it's a different one from last time."
Macavity's eyes narrowed into slits.
"Your point?" he repeated, harsher than the last.
"I 'thought' you and Demeter…"
"You thought what?" Macavity cut in icily. "That we're together? That we're happily mated? Is that what you thought?"
Munk's eyes widened.
"You mean…you guys aren't…"
"She doesn't want me," Macavity snarled, tearing at the grass beneath his paws.
Munkustrap couldn't help notice a feeling of warmth that was growing within him. A feeling that he wasn't quite able to comprehend.
"Maybe she just wasn't ready for a relationship," he offered gently.
The ginger tom shook his head.
"No. She has eyes for someone else."
"Really? Who?"
"You really aren't the brightest, are you Munk?" Macavity laughed bitterly. "It doesn't matter. I 'will' get Demeter to love me. You can mark my words on that. Now get out of my way."
Munkustrap tried not to flinch.
"You can't just make someone love you, Mac."
"I said to get out of my way."
"I'm not moving until you tell me why you are leaving all the time. What are you doing out there?"
"Haven't we already established that?"
"Asides from the obvious."
Macavity raised his eyebrows.
"You should join me, Munk. There's more to life than this junkyard."
The grey tabby crossed his arms.
"The junkyard is my life."
"And 'this' is why you can't get laid."
"That's not..."
"Anyways," Macavity interrupted. "Who knows? You might even see your mother out there if you look hard enough."
"Don't bring my mother into this," he snarled.
"Awfully protective, aren't we? Seeing as she abandoned you and all that. Do you think she walks the streets? Spends every night with a different mate..."
"I said stop!" he hissed, unsheathing his claws. "She wasn't like that!"
Macavity smiled, finding enjoyment in riling up the future protector.
"Wasn't like that? You don't seriously think that you and Tugger share the same father now, do you?"
"I said..."
"In fact, one can only wonder if perhaps she reunited with her bastard's father outside the junkyard..."
"Mac..."
"Maybe that's why she lef-"
The ginger tom didn't get to finish sentence as he was tackled to the dirt. He may have magic and the size advantage, but Munkustrap hadn't been lying about the extent of his training. He certainly wasn't a kit anymore, and there were few left in the tribe that could take him one on one. Unless, of course, there was magic involved.
For a minute, it was utter chaos. A flurry of claws and fur, hissing and spitting as months of pent-up rage were finally released. It was plain to see by all that their friendship was rapidly deteriorating. Macavity spent more time away from the tribe than with them, and seemed to find no other pleasure than making everyone else as miserable as he was. Munkustrap didn't consider himself a violent cat, but could be incredibly threatening when pushed over the edge.
"STOP!" A booming voice called out. Munkustrap felt another set of claws dig into his shoulder and yank him away from Macavity.
He panted, looking up to meet Percy's cold gaze.
'Oh no.'
The two toms had apparently been making a scene, it seemed as though half the junkyard was gathered around them. Some looked invested, other looked fearful.
"Either of you care to explain?" Percy hissed.
Munkustrap looked at Macavity, who too was breathing heavily. The grey tabby had gotten a couple of good strikes in, he could see claw marks gracing the ginger tom's side and face. The wounds weren't too deep, but they looked painful.
"I 'asked' a question," Percy growled when neither tom made a move to respond.
"We were training," Mac muttered.
Even though Percy was getting up there in age, he was still threatening, even to cats like Macavity. Sturdy and well-muscled, Percy was a brawler, and a great one at that. Munkustrap could only imagine what he was like back in his prime.
"Oh, is this what we are calling that egregious display?"
"Percy..." Munk started. The older cat's subsequent glare was acidic, stopping the grey tabby on his tracks.
"Macavity, return to your den. You are not to leave until I tell you too."
The ginger tom looked like he wanted to argue, but thought it best not to push it further.
"You too," he growled to Munk. "We will speak later."
Munkustrap held his head down as he pushed his way through the cluster of cats. His den seemed so much farther away when being glared at with many pairs of accusatory eyes. When he did reach his den, he all but collapsed. He closed his eyes, hoping that he would wake up and realize everything was just a dream.
His ride on the self-pity train didn't last long however, when he felt the weight of a kit landing directly on his back.
"Ouch," he hissed, shaking the weight off of him. "Aren't you supposed to be in the nursery?" he asked his little brother, who was now pouting on the floor.
"The nursery's boring," he protested. "Anyways, Teazer said that you tried to kill Macavity earlier. Is it true? Is it?"
"Maybe you should stop spending so much time around Rumpleteazer," he muttered.
"Well, Teazer heard it from Bomba who heard it from Admetus who heard it from George and George says you jumped on him and were clawing his eyes out..."
"Tugger!" Munk yelled, tossing a pillow in his general direction. "Go find someone else to bother. I'm not in the mood."
"I'm not a bother. I'm curious."
When Munk failed to respond, the small golden tom leapt into his nest, curling up next to him.
"It's okay," he said. "I don't like Mac much anyways. He probably deserved it."
Munk wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. Maybe both. He wrapped his tail around his little brother, finding comfort in his company.
"Munk!" Tugger whined. "It's too warm..."
"Too bad," Munkustrap interrupted. "You can't leave now. Maybe you'll think twice about barging into my den."
Tugger groaned but made no movement to leave.
The moment didn't last long, however. Munk raised his head when he heard pawsteps approach the doorway. His stomach dropped when Old Deuteronomy entered.
'Oh no.'
Tugger, however, was thrilled.
"Daddy!" he screamed, leaping from Munk's nest and barreling into his father's thick, shaggy coat.
"And how are you, young one?" Old Deuteronomy purred.
"I'm good," Tugger said happily. "But George said that Munk tried to kill Mac today so he's not good..."
'Thanks a lot, Tug.'
Munkustrap felt his father's eyes boring into him as Tugger continued to leap on the old tom.
"...and Teazer said that..."
"Rum Tum Tugger," Old Deuteronomy gently interrupted. "I would love to hear the rest of your story, but I need to speak with your brother right now."
Tugger frowned.
"No one 'ever' wants to listen to me," he pouted.
"That's not true," Deuteronomy chuckled. "And I will visit you later. But I have more important matters to attend to right now. Do you understand?"
"I guess..."
"Good. Now go back to the nursery like the well behaved kit I know you to be."
Munk almost choked. "Tugger" and "well-behaved" didn't belong in the same sentence. He watched the kit leave with his tail dragging behind him. Old Deuteronomy then made his way across the den, taking a seat next to his older son.
"So," Munkustrap cleared his throat. "I'm guessing Percy..."
"Look at me, son."
Munk looked up, withering underneath his father's gaze. He could feel the tears forming in his eyes.
'Stop crying. You're not a kit, for Heavyside's sake.'
"Care to explain to me what happened today?" Old Deuteronomy asked calmly. There wasn't any judgement in his voice, but no sympathy either.
"Macavity and I got into a fight," he said softly, trying to stop his voice from shaking.
"So I've been told."
The grey tabby dropped his gaze, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe.
"Son, I need to you look up at me while you talk."
"Yes father," he whispered.
"Why did you attack him?"
"He started it..."
"Really? Because I have multiple accounts that say you were the one to strike first. Is that true?"
"Yes, but..."
Munkustrap trailed off.
"But what?"
"I...I wanted to know where he was going. I mean, he leaves the junkyard all the time. I just wanted to know what he was doing, is all."
"But that is not your place to know, is it?"
"I suppose not," he mumbled. "But...well, I just remember when mother would leave all the time. And I wanted to know where she was going. And then she just...left. She left and she didn't come back. I can't help but think that Macavity would do the same."
"Is that why you attacked him?"
"No, father. He...well, he said some things that I didn't agree with."
"What things, Munkustrap?"
"He implied mother was a streetwalker. And...he called Tugger a bastard. I...I couldn't let that stand. It was a matter of honor, sir."
Old Deuteronomy shook his head.
"There is nothing honorable in bloodshed, Munkustrap."
"But father..."
"Macavity is facing his own demons, son."
"But that doesn't make it right!"
"No. And he should not have said those things. But you must not sink to his level. If you do so, you are no better than he is."
"I know, father."
"I'm disappointed in you, Munkustrap."
"I 'know' father," he sniffled.
Neither of them talked for a while after that. He hated that he disappointed his father, his tribe. He knew he had to be better, he had to be above name calling and picking fights. Especially picking fights with the cat who used to be his best friend.
"Son?" his father said, shaking him from his thoughts.
"Yes sir?"
"Regardless of what happened today, I want you to know I am proud of you."
"But you just said..."
"Being proud and being disappointed aren't mutually exclusive ideas."
Munkustrap sniffled again.
"Come here," the older tom said, enveloping his son in a hug.
"I know I have placed many expectations on you, especially at a young age. And for that, I apologize. But my dear child, don't forget to live. To enjoy what life has to offer. And most of all, don't forget who you are. I didn't choose you to be our next protector because you are my kit. It is because I truly believe you are the best for the job. You have the biggest heart of any Jellicle, and you will go on to do great things. Do you understand?"
The grey tabby nodded.
"Yes father. And I promise, I won't let the Jellicles down."
"I know you won't. Now, try to get some sleep while you can. I imagine Percy isn't going to let you off as easy as I have."
"I will."
"Good." Old Deuteronomy rose from Munk's nest and made his way to the exit.
"I suppose I have to make good on my promise to your brother. He does love to listen to himself talk."
"Father?" Munkustrap asked.
"What is it, child?"
"Does it...does it bother you, the things they say about Tugger? I mean...that...well, that he might not..."
"I'm going to stop you right there, Munkustrap. Tell me, would you love your brother any less if someone had told you that you weren't related by blood?"
"Of course not!" he exclaimed.
"Then I believe you have answered your own question. Rum Tum Tugger is my son, regardless of how he came to be conceived. And now I must bear the responsibly of listening to his, what I am sure to be stimulating, stories for the remainder of the night. Do pray for me, child."
For the first time today, Munkustrap smiled.
"Sure thing father."
He watched Old Deuteronomy leave, suddenly feeling very alone. He curled up even tighter in his nest as he tried to get some sleep. He didn't want to think about what tomorrow would bring.