Altaica's Story
Part four-The confrontations.
Alta awoke in the morning to the sound of a foot tapping on the seat. She opened one eye to a slit and noted that Demeter was standing there looking royally pissed off. She nudged Munkustrap gently and muttered, "Someboday's awfully put out 'bout somfin...."
He groaned in response and opened his eyes to see Demeter. "Hiya sweetheart," he purred with a sickly sweet smile. "Uh...is something wrong?" He flinched when she bared her teeth.
"You could say that," she said, grabbing Altaica by the arm and pulling her out of the car. When they were a reasonable distance from the Ford, Demeter released Alta's arm and spun to face her. "I heard Corico and Tanto talking while they attended to me! You think I don't have ears? You were only being nice to me so that you could get me out of the way and get Munkustrap for yourself!!!"
Alta frowned in confusion. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up heah. What did Corico and Tanto say?"
Demeter sighed. "Something about how crafty you Americans are. How tight your operation was, helping me over to the box in such a show of kindness and then CONVENIENTLY ran into Munkustrap and then later curled up with him in the Old Ford!!! I can't believe you!!" she added, bursting into tears.
Alta shook her head a little. "Dem, I'd nevah try tah tayke Munkus from yous. I know dat 'e's yuawh life. Ah'd nevah do dat to yous! Besides....well....ah'm kinda tayken."
Demeter smiled through her tears. "You must work fast, eh?"
Alta laughed. "No, no not here. Well, I mean, he's IN London, he's just not IN the Junkyard is all..."
Demeter nodded slowly. "I understand. But..I don't know, I don't want the whole Yard thinking that...that..."
Alta placed a paw on her shoulder gently. "Ah undahstahnd, Dem. And ah tink ah know how ta fix it."
The black-and-gold queen hurriedly dried her tears. "How?"
Alta smiled. "By nippin it in da bud." She winked at Demeter and started off, calling, "Oh Corciopa'....Tantamile...."
Demeter laughed, shook her head, and headed back for the Old Ford.
Altaica arrived at the box for the third time in the last couple of days. She dashed inside quickly and slammed the nearest Twin into a wall....Coricopat. "What....did....you....say?" she hissed quietly, holding him by his throat at arm's length off the ground.
He couldn't say anything, of course, since she was holding him by the throat. He was a fairly large tom, and among other thoughts running through his mind, one was 'How the heck is she holding me up?'. However, Tantomile was there in a moment, frantically clawing at Altaica's arm. "Let him go!" she cried.
"Will you tell me?" She had learned from the best, Coricopat realized. She knew just what cards to play when. Unknowingly, Engle had taught her well. Corico managed a slight nod, gasping for breath. She released him, and he slid to the floor in a crumpled heap. Tantomile rushed to his side before turning to hiss at Altaica.
She didn't even flinch. "What did you say?" she asked again, sounding calm. However, there was an evil glitter in her eye....
Coricopat gulped. "Merely that it seemed a little suspicious that you ran into Munkustrap and then curled up in the Old Ford with him and that he didn't protest..." he said, trailing off as Altaica leaned forward, looking very, very menacing.
"Say that to ANYONE in this junkyard or out of it, and they will be ruined. You will too, if I hear of it and get my paws on you. D'you hear me?" she spoke very, very softly, razor blades edging her voice.
Gulping, the Twins could only nod and watch as the striped cat left, radiating pure Fury.
"Is it just me," said Tantomile cautiously, "Or does she lose her accent when she's angry?"
Meanwhile, Demeter was making her way back across the Junkyard. A Junkyard that seemed very dark and cold all of a sudden... She shivered as an icy wind cut through her very skin, bringing a taste of the winter to come. She shivered and was about to reach the old ford when a lean ginger arm reached down and grabbed hers, pulling her away. She had time for one word-"MACAVITY!!!!!!!"
Alta had just stepped out of the box when she heard the cry. She quickly scanned the junkyard, but while there was no sign of the "ginger tom", there was also no sign of a certain black-and-gold queen, either. She sniffed the air and scented something she hadn't smelled before in the Yard, yet was undeniably familiar to her. Fear rippled down her spine as she realized it....it was Evil, plain and simple, a sort of under-scent that Engle had carried also. She swiftly ran up the pile to the Old Ford, leaping inside in one smooth motion.
She nearly landed on top of Munkustrap, who had been ready to poke his nose out. "What's wrong?" he asked, alarmed. "You're running like you have Macavity at your heels."
If the situation had been different, she would have laughed at how close he was. "Mac....cayme...'e got Demetah...." She managed to choke out, breathing heavily from fright and from the run. Munkustrap's eyes widened and she continued, "Ah think ah know wheah 'e's takin 'er, but we gotta act fahst....time's of da essence." She turned and leapt out the way she came, with Munkustrap on her heels.
"I'll get the rest, you start scouting!" he called as he sped off. She laughed to herself. Why scout when she knew where to look?
She met up with the group of toms that Munkustrap had managed to put together three blocks over. It was just stating to rain. She shivered and sneezed as lightning forked across the sky. Munkustrap put a paw on her shoulder in reassurance, and she led them to the apartment that Macavity called his home.
They got in through the cat door, Altaica leading the way. She calmly walked through the rooms that were littered with instruments used in Jellicle-and-stray torture, having seen it all before and having much of it used on her. She was immune to the shudders and wide-eyed stares of the felines behind her, completely forgetting that they had been rather sheltered.
An extensive search turned up nothing, no Demeter, no Macavity, and fortunately no Ocenir. That had been Altaica's greatest fear, that he would be here and that the troupe behind her would attack. They were just letting themselves out of the cat-door when Altaica felt the familiar presence of the tribe's Conjurer in her mind.
* So, Mistoffelees, what brings you to this neck of my mind? * She asked glumly.
# Taica, you have to get back here quickly! A patched tom brought Demeter back, and he asked to see you. Well, Jemima brought him up to her pipe and he's still there. Trouble is, Macavity's come back and is demanding to see someone named Ocenir. Well, Etcetera's doing her best to keep him occupied, but you know what a dangerous game that is.... #
* Gotcha. We'll be there in five. * She turned to the group of toms with a frown. "Bad news from the Yard. Macavity's back."
The look on Munkustrap's face somehow told her that they would get there in less than five minutes.
Altaica proved correct as the group raced back into the Yard two and a half minutes later to find everycat barricaded inside their homes, with Macavity pacing around, knocking things over. Altaica could see Jemima's frightened face peeking out from her pipe, and behind her, ever so faintly, was the familiar bulk of Ocenir. She could also see Demeter in with Coricopat, Tantomile, and Bombalurina, not in the box, but in a microwave that was set precariously atop the oven.
The toms with her scattered to all sides, and Altaica remained at the center. She could tell that they wanted her to seek refuge somewhere, but she would refuse. Besides Munkustrap, she probably had had the most experience with cats like Macavity anyway.
She crept closer, staying close to the ground. Several times his evilly red eyes looked in her direction, but through some strange twist of fate he didn't see her. When she was close enough, she waited for him to look into the junkpiles again. He did eventually, and in one motion she leapt to her feet and ran at him with all her might.
She hit him full-force on the back, her claws fully extended. He let out a scream that would have frightened Firefrofiddle and started spinning, attempting to get her off. This merely caused her to dig her claws in deeper, attempting to remember certain pressure points that she had memorized long ago from one of Engle's books.
"Back of the head!" She exclaimed, and in her lapse of concentration he threw her, but not far. She landed on her feet, taking most of the weight on her left side. She shook it off and prepared to charge again. She didn't bother waiting this time, but ran straight at him. One of his paws, talons of battleclaws extended, hit her in the stomach. She winced, but it was nothing that she hadn't experienced before. She determinedly scratched at him, him retaliating, until finally she dealt a blow to his eyes that caused him to drop to his knees. She swiftly leapt over his ginger-furred head, her own blood mingling with his, and hit him in the back of the head with the side of her hand. He instantly slumped forward, unconscious.
The loss of blood hit Altaica hard right then, and her knees gave out, her eyes rolling to the back of her head as she succumbed to blissful unconsciousness. Seeing her falling, two cats rushed forward to catch her. One, from halfway up the junkpile, was the patched tom known as Ocenir. The other was the silver tabby who had been able to do nothing except watch this slender queen defend a Junkyard that was hardly her home: Munkustrap.
"Altaica," said a voice softly, beckoning. "Wake up..."
"'Cenir, if you tell me that Engle was at me again, I swear I will punch your lights out," she muttered incoherently. Her eyes opened swiftly as she heard at least four cats laughing hysterically.
It took a little time for her eyes to focus, but she smiled at the scene that met her eyes. She was lying down inside somewhere, she realized, for rain was once again pounding on the roof. She saw Mistoffelees caring for several wounds that SOMEONE had dealt to her, although she didn't remember whom. She saw Demeter and Munkustrap on one side of her, Ocenir on the other side. She then noticed that her paw was numb, possibly from Ocenir gripping it so tightly. "Yo, 'Cenir....blood in the paws is a good thing."
He grinned sheepishly and loosened his grip. "Sorry."
She sighed and let her eyes wander. She saw Coricopat and Tantomile tending to another cat a little ways away, a cat whose fur was covered in blood. Alonzo stood guard at the cat's feet.
Munkustrap, seeing where she was looking, nodded slightly. "You got him good, Taica," he said with a smile.
She sighed. "You should take him and leave him at the apartment. His master will care for him. Don't keep him here," she said, closing her eyes again.
Munkustrap was about to protest, but bowed his head instead. "As you wish." He stood and walked over to where Alonzo was, and held a hurried conference. Soon, Macavity was well on his way home, and Munkustrap returned to Altaica's bedside.
Seeing the grip Ocenir still had on the now-sleeping Altaica's paw, Munkustrap nodded slightly. "You may stay, Ocenir, for now, as you are a comfort to Altaica. But after she is well, we will have to hold a conference with the rulers and elders of the Tribe, to decide if you can stay." Ocenir nodded in agreement and obvious relief. Munkustrap smiled, and then turned to Demeter. "I apologize, but I have to go and see Deuteronomy about the events of tonight. I expect that he will be coming to the Yard soon." Demeter nodded, and he cupped her face gently in his paw. Then, he was gone.
Alta smiled in her sleep and her eyelashes fluttered a little. She was dreaming now, Ocenir could tell, and she wouldn't wake till morning.
And then, he decided, they would see where to go from there.
Part four-The confrontations.
Alta awoke in the morning to the sound of a foot tapping on the seat. She opened one eye to a slit and noted that Demeter was standing there looking royally pissed off. She nudged Munkustrap gently and muttered, "Someboday's awfully put out 'bout somfin...."
He groaned in response and opened his eyes to see Demeter. "Hiya sweetheart," he purred with a sickly sweet smile. "Uh...is something wrong?" He flinched when she bared her teeth.
"You could say that," she said, grabbing Altaica by the arm and pulling her out of the car. When they were a reasonable distance from the Ford, Demeter released Alta's arm and spun to face her. "I heard Corico and Tanto talking while they attended to me! You think I don't have ears? You were only being nice to me so that you could get me out of the way and get Munkustrap for yourself!!!"
Alta frowned in confusion. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up heah. What did Corico and Tanto say?"
Demeter sighed. "Something about how crafty you Americans are. How tight your operation was, helping me over to the box in such a show of kindness and then CONVENIENTLY ran into Munkustrap and then later curled up with him in the Old Ford!!! I can't believe you!!" she added, bursting into tears.
Alta shook her head a little. "Dem, I'd nevah try tah tayke Munkus from yous. I know dat 'e's yuawh life. Ah'd nevah do dat to yous! Besides....well....ah'm kinda tayken."
Demeter smiled through her tears. "You must work fast, eh?"
Alta laughed. "No, no not here. Well, I mean, he's IN London, he's just not IN the Junkyard is all..."
Demeter nodded slowly. "I understand. But..I don't know, I don't want the whole Yard thinking that...that..."
Alta placed a paw on her shoulder gently. "Ah undahstahnd, Dem. And ah tink ah know how ta fix it."
The black-and-gold queen hurriedly dried her tears. "How?"
Alta smiled. "By nippin it in da bud." She winked at Demeter and started off, calling, "Oh Corciopa'....Tantamile...."
Demeter laughed, shook her head, and headed back for the Old Ford.
Altaica arrived at the box for the third time in the last couple of days. She dashed inside quickly and slammed the nearest Twin into a wall....Coricopat. "What....did....you....say?" she hissed quietly, holding him by his throat at arm's length off the ground.
He couldn't say anything, of course, since she was holding him by the throat. He was a fairly large tom, and among other thoughts running through his mind, one was 'How the heck is she holding me up?'. However, Tantomile was there in a moment, frantically clawing at Altaica's arm. "Let him go!" she cried.
"Will you tell me?" She had learned from the best, Coricopat realized. She knew just what cards to play when. Unknowingly, Engle had taught her well. Corico managed a slight nod, gasping for breath. She released him, and he slid to the floor in a crumpled heap. Tantomile rushed to his side before turning to hiss at Altaica.
She didn't even flinch. "What did you say?" she asked again, sounding calm. However, there was an evil glitter in her eye....
Coricopat gulped. "Merely that it seemed a little suspicious that you ran into Munkustrap and then curled up in the Old Ford with him and that he didn't protest..." he said, trailing off as Altaica leaned forward, looking very, very menacing.
"Say that to ANYONE in this junkyard or out of it, and they will be ruined. You will too, if I hear of it and get my paws on you. D'you hear me?" she spoke very, very softly, razor blades edging her voice.
Gulping, the Twins could only nod and watch as the striped cat left, radiating pure Fury.
"Is it just me," said Tantomile cautiously, "Or does she lose her accent when she's angry?"
Meanwhile, Demeter was making her way back across the Junkyard. A Junkyard that seemed very dark and cold all of a sudden... She shivered as an icy wind cut through her very skin, bringing a taste of the winter to come. She shivered and was about to reach the old ford when a lean ginger arm reached down and grabbed hers, pulling her away. She had time for one word-"MACAVITY!!!!!!!"
Alta had just stepped out of the box when she heard the cry. She quickly scanned the junkyard, but while there was no sign of the "ginger tom", there was also no sign of a certain black-and-gold queen, either. She sniffed the air and scented something she hadn't smelled before in the Yard, yet was undeniably familiar to her. Fear rippled down her spine as she realized it....it was Evil, plain and simple, a sort of under-scent that Engle had carried also. She swiftly ran up the pile to the Old Ford, leaping inside in one smooth motion.
She nearly landed on top of Munkustrap, who had been ready to poke his nose out. "What's wrong?" he asked, alarmed. "You're running like you have Macavity at your heels."
If the situation had been different, she would have laughed at how close he was. "Mac....cayme...'e got Demetah...." She managed to choke out, breathing heavily from fright and from the run. Munkustrap's eyes widened and she continued, "Ah think ah know wheah 'e's takin 'er, but we gotta act fahst....time's of da essence." She turned and leapt out the way she came, with Munkustrap on her heels.
"I'll get the rest, you start scouting!" he called as he sped off. She laughed to herself. Why scout when she knew where to look?
She met up with the group of toms that Munkustrap had managed to put together three blocks over. It was just stating to rain. She shivered and sneezed as lightning forked across the sky. Munkustrap put a paw on her shoulder in reassurance, and she led them to the apartment that Macavity called his home.
They got in through the cat door, Altaica leading the way. She calmly walked through the rooms that were littered with instruments used in Jellicle-and-stray torture, having seen it all before and having much of it used on her. She was immune to the shudders and wide-eyed stares of the felines behind her, completely forgetting that they had been rather sheltered.
An extensive search turned up nothing, no Demeter, no Macavity, and fortunately no Ocenir. That had been Altaica's greatest fear, that he would be here and that the troupe behind her would attack. They were just letting themselves out of the cat-door when Altaica felt the familiar presence of the tribe's Conjurer in her mind.
* So, Mistoffelees, what brings you to this neck of my mind? * She asked glumly.
# Taica, you have to get back here quickly! A patched tom brought Demeter back, and he asked to see you. Well, Jemima brought him up to her pipe and he's still there. Trouble is, Macavity's come back and is demanding to see someone named Ocenir. Well, Etcetera's doing her best to keep him occupied, but you know what a dangerous game that is.... #
* Gotcha. We'll be there in five. * She turned to the group of toms with a frown. "Bad news from the Yard. Macavity's back."
The look on Munkustrap's face somehow told her that they would get there in less than five minutes.
Altaica proved correct as the group raced back into the Yard two and a half minutes later to find everycat barricaded inside their homes, with Macavity pacing around, knocking things over. Altaica could see Jemima's frightened face peeking out from her pipe, and behind her, ever so faintly, was the familiar bulk of Ocenir. She could also see Demeter in with Coricopat, Tantomile, and Bombalurina, not in the box, but in a microwave that was set precariously atop the oven.
The toms with her scattered to all sides, and Altaica remained at the center. She could tell that they wanted her to seek refuge somewhere, but she would refuse. Besides Munkustrap, she probably had had the most experience with cats like Macavity anyway.
She crept closer, staying close to the ground. Several times his evilly red eyes looked in her direction, but through some strange twist of fate he didn't see her. When she was close enough, she waited for him to look into the junkpiles again. He did eventually, and in one motion she leapt to her feet and ran at him with all her might.
She hit him full-force on the back, her claws fully extended. He let out a scream that would have frightened Firefrofiddle and started spinning, attempting to get her off. This merely caused her to dig her claws in deeper, attempting to remember certain pressure points that she had memorized long ago from one of Engle's books.
"Back of the head!" She exclaimed, and in her lapse of concentration he threw her, but not far. She landed on her feet, taking most of the weight on her left side. She shook it off and prepared to charge again. She didn't bother waiting this time, but ran straight at him. One of his paws, talons of battleclaws extended, hit her in the stomach. She winced, but it was nothing that she hadn't experienced before. She determinedly scratched at him, him retaliating, until finally she dealt a blow to his eyes that caused him to drop to his knees. She swiftly leapt over his ginger-furred head, her own blood mingling with his, and hit him in the back of the head with the side of her hand. He instantly slumped forward, unconscious.
The loss of blood hit Altaica hard right then, and her knees gave out, her eyes rolling to the back of her head as she succumbed to blissful unconsciousness. Seeing her falling, two cats rushed forward to catch her. One, from halfway up the junkpile, was the patched tom known as Ocenir. The other was the silver tabby who had been able to do nothing except watch this slender queen defend a Junkyard that was hardly her home: Munkustrap.
"Altaica," said a voice softly, beckoning. "Wake up..."
"'Cenir, if you tell me that Engle was at me again, I swear I will punch your lights out," she muttered incoherently. Her eyes opened swiftly as she heard at least four cats laughing hysterically.
It took a little time for her eyes to focus, but she smiled at the scene that met her eyes. She was lying down inside somewhere, she realized, for rain was once again pounding on the roof. She saw Mistoffelees caring for several wounds that SOMEONE had dealt to her, although she didn't remember whom. She saw Demeter and Munkustrap on one side of her, Ocenir on the other side. She then noticed that her paw was numb, possibly from Ocenir gripping it so tightly. "Yo, 'Cenir....blood in the paws is a good thing."
He grinned sheepishly and loosened his grip. "Sorry."
She sighed and let her eyes wander. She saw Coricopat and Tantomile tending to another cat a little ways away, a cat whose fur was covered in blood. Alonzo stood guard at the cat's feet.
Munkustrap, seeing where she was looking, nodded slightly. "You got him good, Taica," he said with a smile.
She sighed. "You should take him and leave him at the apartment. His master will care for him. Don't keep him here," she said, closing her eyes again.
Munkustrap was about to protest, but bowed his head instead. "As you wish." He stood and walked over to where Alonzo was, and held a hurried conference. Soon, Macavity was well on his way home, and Munkustrap returned to Altaica's bedside.
Seeing the grip Ocenir still had on the now-sleeping Altaica's paw, Munkustrap nodded slightly. "You may stay, Ocenir, for now, as you are a comfort to Altaica. But after she is well, we will have to hold a conference with the rulers and elders of the Tribe, to decide if you can stay." Ocenir nodded in agreement and obvious relief. Munkustrap smiled, and then turned to Demeter. "I apologize, but I have to go and see Deuteronomy about the events of tonight. I expect that he will be coming to the Yard soon." Demeter nodded, and he cupped her face gently in his paw. Then, he was gone.
Alta smiled in her sleep and her eyelashes fluttered a little. She was dreaming now, Ocenir could tell, and she wouldn't wake till morning.
And then, he decided, they would see where to go from there.