Hello you guys! You guys have done great with the reviewing. I'm finally
getting some regular readers and I want to say thank you. I could never
have written this story without your support. I trust those who reviewed
got their picture. If you didn't, email me at ryouko6cube@yahoo.com and
I'll be happy to send it to you. You can even review me directly, though it
won't show up on the board.
One note to readers; don't assume anything in this fan fiction. The plot is liable to twist and run your assumptions over. ~Mungojerry; It's outta control! (Points at a strained Ryouko trying to tie in a stack of papers with leather reins)
To relieve a few people, I have decided to tell you who Sophanispa ISN'T. I am sorry to say but she is not Grizabella reincarnated. That was my initial plan but I decided to change her identity (before I began the story) to explain other aspects. In the last chapter, it sais that she had spoken to Deuteronomy while he was held in Macavity's lair. Grizabella was still living at that time. If they are one and the same (which they aren't) how could this have been possible? Well she could have remembered . . . But she didn't and she's not, so don't waste your time thinking it. My stupid brother tried that connection and thoroughly confused himself, but he's . . . stupid. I know you guys won't get confused as easily as this git that I live with. Oh, well. *sigh* SOMEONE HAS GOTTEN THE QUESTION RIGHT BUT THEIR EMAIL WAS NOT ON THE REVIEW AND I COULD NOT FIND THEM. WILL ECLIPSE PLEASE NOTIFY ME WITH THEIR EMAIL! DO NOT GIVE AWAY THE ANSWER PLEASE!
Anyways, I'm sorry the last chapter was so long. I just sat down to write and everything just kept getting bigger and bigger. It should keep you busy for a while though.
And with no further delay. Except for this. . .
Mungojerry; BUUUURRRRP! Ryouko; Nice one. Mungojerry; *'cuse me* Thank ya!
Chapter Eight ~**S.W.A.T. Jellicles Rescue**~ (Do you guys remember that cartoon, SWAT cats? It used to be on cartoon network and there were these cats and they like piloted these cool jets and there was this dude who- Mungojerry; Oye! Yer goin' off 'gain.)
Demeter watched the queen walk off quickly. She felt a sore spot deep within her at the thought of Sophanispa leaving so abruptly. She looked out the door of the bungalow and spied her walking quickly with Mistofolees back to the tree. The golden cat allowed herself to be magicked into the tree by Mistofolees. She felt a tug on her arm and she turned to see Munkustrap smiling slightly at her.
"What's bothering you, fair Demeter," he called. He liked this name for her. It was what he'd called her the night she had first returned to the tribe and had gone to the small party.
"I don't know what to make of her," Demeter sighed. "I thought at first she was Grizabella reborn (see; you guys aren't the only ones who thought so) but she's too old. Her birth must have occurred right after I'd left if she's been with Macavity all her life."
"Maybe she was born when you were there?" Munkustrap suggested, steering her further inside and shutting the door. The room, full of beautiful sunset colors from the western window.
Demeter blanched at the thought. She didn't like the thought of Macavity having been with other queens while she was his woman but she didn't want Munkustrap to know that either. She took his confused look and gave him her reason.
"I don't think there were any other queens around when I was there," she answered. "She was either stolen or 'made' around the date of my escape. Why Macavity would want to steal a kitten, a female kitten, is beyond me."
"Maybe he wanted to train her," Munkustrap suggested.
"That des make sense," Demeter agreed. "But he would have taken a male. The only solution left was that the queen who mothered this kitten gave birth to all female. I'm guessing that Macavity took the whole lot and kept only the strongest."
"I don't think that's the case," Munkustrap answered puzzled. "She is much too small, probably the runt of the litter. He would not have picked her for her strength. I believe that she may be -"
Demeter put a finger to his lips "Don't say it. She's strong enough to take on half the toms in this tribe and still come out on top, with a collar to boot."
"She has much in common with you," Munkustrap told her. "She avoids the toms' affections if she can; she doesn't buy into Tugger's tricks . . . is that why you're drawn to her?"
"That may be it," Demeter thought aloud.
"Come walking with me," he asked her. "The moon has just begun to wane but will still be quite bright."
"Of course," she purred, and she followed him out into the falling darkness.
~}~}~}~}~}~}~}{~{~{~{~{~{~{~
"I'm not even tired!" Sophanispa sighed as she lay on the floor of the tree once again. Mistofolees was chasing a bit of yarn across the floor, bumping into her side ever so often. She snagged it away form him and hid it behind her back. He only smiled at her and snapped his fingers, the yarn re- appearing in his small black paw. He grinned wider as she looked about her frantically.
"Oh, you think you're funny, do you?" she asked him. He laughed quietly and she pounced upon him. "I'll show you funny!"
She snatched back the yarn and they were suddenly immersed in trying to get the yarn away from each other. Every time Mistofolees used magic, Sophanispa would cry "Cheater!" and attack him playfully.
They continued to be engrossed in their task, not noticing the several heads that had popped up over the barrier. A throat cleared and the both looked slowly to the edge, expecting to find Tugger and possibly Bombalurina. Instead, there were most of the younger queens, looking glassy eyed and pleading.
"What the-" Mistofolees grunted before the queens swarmed over the edge and knocked Sophanispa off his chest, upon which she had been sitting.
"CAN WE STAY WITH YOU!?! PLEASE!!!" they all cried in unison, mauling Sophanispa.
"Why would you wanna do something like that?" she asked, sitting up and pushing them away gently. "This isn't even my house!"
"It will be soon, by the looks of it," Electra snorted jealously.
"Oh hush," Sophanispa hissed at her. "You've come here to ask me a favor and you're being rude. There is absolutely nothing going on between Tugger and I, other than some strange fantasy he's got going on in his mind about most of the girls in this tribe. You've nothing to worry about form me, though I don't reckon he fancies you."
Mistofolees stood up and was finally noticed by the queens. "Why do you want to stay?"
"We're afraid of Macavity," Jemima told him. "I think Bombalurina's been-"
"Jemima!" Victoria mewled. "I told you not to say that! Now they're going to think . . ."
"Hi!" said a deeper voice. Cassandra poked her head up above the edge. "Can we stay?"
"Who's we?" Mistofolees asked, but he was again ignored. Cassandra and Exotica clambered over the edge, followed shortly by Tantomile, who for once, besides the chase, was sans Coricopat.
"Well," Sophanispa sighed. "I guess you guys could stay. Just don't mess with anything. I don't know how Tugger's going to take you all being here but one thing's certain. If anything is amiss, he'll be in an even worse mood."
"I'm going to go back to my dumpster," Mistofolees told Sophanispa. "You aren't in danger anymore right?"
"I'll look after her," Tantomile told him quietly. "I will call if something is happening."
"Slumber party!" Etcetera squealed in delight after Mistofolees had left. "And there aren't any boys! Except . . . maybe Tugger'll come later!" she giggled girlishly.
"So . . ."Sophanispa began. "Are you guys going to sleep?"
"Of course not," Cassandra purred deeply. "No one really sleeps at slumber parties. They play games, tell secrets . . ." she looked over at Tantomile slyly and the younger cat blushed.
"That sounds fun!" Jemima chimed in. She seemed to be in a much better mood now that Tugger had gone to look for her sister.
Sophanispa, reluctantly, was dragged into a ring of secrets where the girls asked each other embarrassing questions such as who is the object of their affections.
"So who do you like?" Victoria asked Jemima. The young queen blushed profusely and murmured something. "Do I have to answer?"
"'Course you do!" Exotica exclaimed, lying upon her stomach.
"I . . . um . . . 'lonzo," she said quickly, hoping they hadn't caught what she'd said.
"Alonzo?" Tantomile squeaked. She blushed at having drawn attention to herself.
Cassandra grinned. "Your turn, Jemima."
Jemima, still blushing, turned on Tantomile. "Who do you like?"
"Same," she answered, her voice still squeaky.
Tantomile turned her amber colored eyes to Sophanispa and pointed. "What about you?" Sophanispa looked bored.
"No one," she answered blandly.
"Oh, come on," Exotica goaded. "There must be someone . . ."
"I know someone who likes you," Cassandra purred. "He's not bad looking either."
Sophanispa tried to suppress the urge to ask who it was as she was prodded by the other queens.
"No, really," she answered. "There isn't anyone. I don't know anyone well enough, except maybe Tugger and Mistofolees and they certainly don't count."
"Why don't they count?" Victoria asked.
"Well," Sophanispa began. "Tugger is too much for me to take on, even if I wanted to do so, plus, I sort of live with him. Mistofolees already likes someone else and I won't let myself love him because of that. He's just a brother." Sophanispa wondered of it was her imagination but she thought she saw Victoria give a small sigh of relief.
"If you tell me who you like," Cassandra taunted. "I'll tell you who likes you."
"No!" Tantomile shouted. "Don't say anything!"
Sophanispa thought in her head. If she just said a name, she could get the information. It didn't even have to be true. By the reaction of Tantomile, Sophanispa thought it to be Alonzo, her crush.
"All right," Sophanispa allowed. "I like Tugger, but don't let him know. He'll think he's won a gold medal or something stupid like that." 'Of course,' she thought silently. 'I wouldn't like that goat in a thousand years!'
"Too bad," Cassandra told her. "That's not how the game works. Not telling!" Tantomile looked relieved but Sophanispa looked utterly infuriated. She tried to take it back.
"I was only kidding!" she gasped. "I still don't like anyone! I was only saying that to get the name!"
"Sure," Victoria laughed. She silenced herself immediately when Sophanispa rounded on her. "And who do you like!"
Victoria looked utterly shocked, her white fur making her looked ghost like. "I thought it would have been obvious."
"Well . . ." Sophanispa drew out, crossing her fingers behind her back and wishing for Mistofolees' good fortune.
"It's Quaxo," Victoria whispered.
"Quaxo?" Sophanispa exclaimed. "Who the hell is Quaxo?"
The other girls giggled as Etcetera gave her a hint. "You've only known him as a magical helper."
"Well," she told the other cat. "I wish he'd be my magical helper now when I can't understand a word you're saying!"
"Just ask around," Electra suggested. "The people in your lot should know who he is." She smiled.
"My turn!" Victoria announced haughtily before Sophanispa could make any comments. She looked around and pointed slyly at Cassandra who smiled slyly.
"As most of you know," she purred. "I have changed my affections frequently. There was the brief spell with Alonzo, then young Plato come to play as well. I make passes at Tugger, but who doesn't." she eyed the sulking Sophanispa.
"I have seen fit," she continued. "As the oldest queen under our parents of course, to date younger toms."
"Get on with it!" Electra exclaimed.
"Well," she purred. "I have taken a liking to Admetus."
"Eeew!" Jemima squealed. "You like my brother!"
"And mine likes you," Cassandra threw back. Jemima squealed.
"Which one, which one!" for Cassandra had four brothers.
"Not telling," she said with her eyes shut and her nose in the air. She opened them and pointed evilly at Electra. The rude cat glared back at her and spat out an insult.
"You know very well who I like, you great whore of a cat," her eyes were squinted and her lips protruding in a pout.
"Yes but our company doesn't," Cassandra answered nonplussed. These two sisters did not get along very well. "You must answer."
Electra glared some more but hissed the name. "Admetus."
"You're just jealous," Cassandra taunted her youngest sister. "You think he'll pick me over you. You're probably right."
"You haven't always been this cocky," Jemima piped up, covering for her friend. "You used to go after Munkustrap before Demeter returned. As soon as she came back, he tossed you aside like an unwanted leftover." she met Cassandra's eyes with a young defiance.
"I wouldn't be so quick with my tongue if I were you," she hissed back.
"Etcetera," Electra said. "What about you."
The light colored cat blushed, her sweet little face in a childish grin.
"Let me guess," Victoria said in feint ignorance. "Might it be Tugger?"
"Well, yeah," she answered blushing deeper.
"Why did I even ask?" Electra moaned. "It's always the same."
"I don't want to hurt your feelings Honey," Exotica told her. "But you've got to open your eyes. Tugger doesn't seem to like any of us in particular, though he never let us spend the night alone with him."
"But there is someone else," Etcetera piped up.
"WHO!?" everyone shouted in unison.
"Um . . ." she became nervous under everyone's stares. "I kinda like Tumblebrutus."
"Um, honey," Exotica answered. "He's kinda . . . um . . ."
"Taken?" Etcetera supplied a tad anguished.
"No," Exotica said. "Not exactly."
"Celibate?" Sophanispa guessed.
"What's that mean?" Etcetera asked.
"Doesn't matter," Exotica answered. "He's not."
"Is he like really, really gross and disgusting?" Victoria asked innocently.
"Well, kind of," Exotica answered.
"I know!" Jemima shrieked. Everyone jumped at the sound of her voice.
"He's related to Macavity?" she guessed.
"Wrong!" Exotica and Sophanispa exclaimed.
"He's gay," Electra blurted.
"Electra, please," Sophanispa exclaimed. "You've insulted just about everyone tonight!"
"But she hit it right on the nail," Exotica muttered.
"So he's really happy?" Etcetera asked innocently.
If this were anime, they'd have face faulted. Exotica shook her head in silent mirth.
"No," she said laughing. "He's not particularly happy. He likes . . . someone else."
"Who?" Etcetera asked.
"He likes Tugger," Electra blurted again
"Yuck," Victoria spat. "That's dirty."
"Why?" Sophanispa asked. "You all like him."
"We aren't of the same gender, though," Exotica explained. "It isn't Tugger we find disgusting. It's the fact that we aren't his only admirers."
"Who cares?" she countered. "This Tumblebrutus character can like whomever he wishes."
"But he's a tom!" Victoria exclaimed. "Toms aren't supposed to like other toms!"
"Who said?" Sophanispa asked. "Is there a rule written somewhere? Did the Everlasting Cat say this?"
The silence that followed told her that there was not and He had not.
"Well," Cassandra began. "He said that queen and tom would come together when the time was right. He never said that two toms couldn't . . . but He didn't say they could either."
"I am not trying to make anyone mad," Sophanispa added. "I am just trying to get us to accept each other. We can't fight amongst ourselves when Macavity is this powerful. We can't afford to be prejudiced against those who are different. I don't wholly support Tumblebrutus' proclivity but I am not going to interfere. I believe he has the right to do what he wants and be left alone."
The other queens contemplated this while Etcetera thought of someone to ask. She looked to the last queen, Exotica and pointed, her hand shaking a bit. The queens were all a bit afraid of Exotica. She was the most mysterious of cats, excluding Macavity. She also had been subject to a few cruel humans once who had dyed her fur a strange orange yellow color.
"Hmmm . . ." she said stretching her long black legs. "Whom do I like? Well, as you know, I usually pick those toms that seem to be slightly detached. I find that they suit my needs better than well seeked men.
"Thus, I have young Plato for this ball's run," she answered finally.
"Have you no emotion?" Victoria asked a little angrily. Plato was one of her friends and she did not approve of Exotica using him.
"I have not yet found the one right for me," Exotica answered in her defense. "I have no alternative but to try everyone in the tribe."
"That's sick," Electra muttered.
The queens played a few more games, the younger cats slipping into a sleep-deprived stupor. Sophanispa suggested that they get some sleep.
"Can you do those shield thingies please?" Etcetera asked sweetly as she claimed a bit of clear floor.
"I can do a few," she answered tiredly, sinking into Tugger's beanbag. She kept the collar on, not wanting it to be nicked by an over fond queen. "I'll do the younger ones tonight since the others may be able to put up more of a fight."
As they settled into sleep, Sophanispa left her own dreamspace and moved into the nearest mind. It was Electra's mind and Sophanispa saw some of her rudeness rubbed off into the walls. Sophanispa understood that this girl had been jeered at since she was a kitten and life had taught her to attack automatically.
'So it's nothing personal,' Sophanispa thought silently. She clapped her hands and conjured the shield, moving on to Etcetera's brightly lit mind. She repeated this for Victoria and Jemima and even managed to do it for Tantomile.
"I'm getting stronger!" she exclaimed, the twin alarmed for a moment. "You're the fifth one! I've always been able to do about three or four. Later," she waved and moved on to Cassandra.
"I don't know if I can do another one," she told the dark queen. "I feel a bit strained but we'll see." She clapped her paws together and got a faint golden shower, an ineffective shield.
"Sorry," she said to the older queen. "I guess I've exhausted the power for tonight."
"It's all right," Cassandra purred. "If Macavity shows up, I'll run through the gap. Can you light it up so I can find it?"
"Sure," Sophanispa answered. "Just remember to close it once you're through or he'll be able to breach the shielded area."
"It's strange," she said suddenly. "Speaking about him like this again."
"How so?" asked the golden queen.
"It was back when Victoria and the younger ones were still kittens," Cassandra told her in a dreamy sort of voice. "Macavity stopped terrorizing us after Old Deuteronomy had returned. The younger ones stopped believing their mothers when they used him as a threat. We thought he'd died." she added hopefully.
"But then you appeared, terrified of something," she continued looking at the golden queen. "We could smell your fear. You stopped being afraid once you and Tugger became friends. Why is this?"
"It's not what you think," Sophanispa answered. "There really isn't anything between us. I only said his name to get the information about my admirer, which I think you just made up."
"I didn't make him up and you didn't answer the question," she told her smiling. "Why aren't you afraid anymore?"
"Well," Sophanispa began. "For one, I have shut Macavity out of my mind and out of the minds of people around me, for he can get to us via others' minds. Two, between Tugger and I, if one of us is in danger, the other kind of expects to be helped. We have saved each other a few times. Also, being surrounded by haters of Macavity helps one to feel more secure."
Sophanispa moved to leave and Cassandra did not stop her. The conversation was closed.
She made an identical slash in Exotica's mind and gave her the instructions that would close it once she was through. She then returned to her own mind and sleep.
~}~}~}~}~}~}~}{~{~{~{~{~{~{~
Bombalurina lay curled upon the floor, bleeding, broken, and crying. She shivered profusely as she heard Macavity's laugh down the hall. She was kept within a cell type room with a lockable door (from the outside) and no windows. Her tears ran silently from her eyes as she relived the Macavity induced horror. The first day she had just been kept in this cell, chained to the wall with unbreakable shackles. There had been an annoying guard placed outside that kept throwing sinister taunts at her whenever he heard her move or speak.
Bombalurina had thought that she had been brought here to rot within this miserable dump, and quite bored out of her mind, she had screamed at the guard to come and fight her after he had insulted her particularly harshly. He had merely snickered and ignored her until her food was brought.
"Macavity's got som'mat special stored fer ya," he grunted in a Mungojerry-like accent. Bombalurina, terrified of this, did not touch her food, rather buried so she would not become desperate enough to indulge.
She had gone into a fitful sleep only to find she woke much later than she had intended, her worst nightmare perched upon his heels, inches from her.
"'Lo, kitten," he growled lowly. She hissed and scooted back from him so quickly that she scored her leg against the floor. He got onto all fours and stalked towards her. She backpedaled until she was pressed against the wall.
So terrified that she virtually became frozen, Macavity had no trouble indeed when he decided to pin her to the wall and lick her cheek, in which she broke out of her stupor.
"Don't touch me," she spat, attempting to scratch at him. The chains grew magically shorter, pulling her more tightly against the wall.
"Don't defy me Bombalurina," he purred menacingly. "You've not yet encountered my new magic. I believe a particular affect of my magic has brought you here."
"I didn't come here," she spat again. "You brought me here."
"You fled the tribe," he insisted.
"Only because my supposed boyfriend was kissing another queen," Bombalurina shouted seethingly. "She, of course, having worked for you."
"He was not kissing her, I daresay," Macavity answered in a voice that was marked strangely by knowledge. Bombalurina was confused indeed. "He was no doubt saving her life which I managed to endanger a few minutes before he awoke. Would you have had him let her die, her body already cold in his arms?"
Bombalurina was silent. 'This is ridiculous,' she thought. 'I'm being taught virtue by the biggest criminal in the cat world.'
"I guess that you would not," he said, regarding her silence. "I would have, if it suited me. Unfortunately, she has lived and began protecting your precious tribe from me, thwarting my attempts at taking Demeter and throttling your precious tom friend, that unusually flirtatious Tugger."
"You'd better not hurt him," Bombalurina hissed.
Macavity laughed. "Actually, I've had three failed attempts, all stopped by that runt." He looked pained at last at the mention of Sophanispa.
"I thought I had a perfect little worker when she was born here. I hadn't ever had the chance to train someone from kittenhood. She, at first, showed signs of being a most formidable child, faster and strangely stronger than any of my employees. I sent her out on numerous accounts and if any of you had known it was she, you might have called her Infamous Gold. Everyone under me thought it was a good idea to dub her this and so it became. In fact, the reason I was never found at any crime scene for a while was simply that she was there, not I. She was a master escape artist and was never caught, but was always nearby. She was never interrogated for her innocent appearance deterred anyone from accusation.
"It was after that old crackpot fool of the vicarage was held within the bowels of my lair that she began to rebel. She had not reached queendom when she refused to raid the Victoria Grove stile. The two cats that had been under my employ had kept the goods form my base when I had withheld pay from them and I had sent her to return it to me. She outright refused to have anything to do with the Jellicle tribe, that is to say, under my orders. She was well beaten for this and locked down here for quite some time. I did send her out once or twice but she so obviously thwarted me on purpose that I could not allow her free reign anymore than I could walk the junkyard freely. I locked her down here with no intent on freeing her. Meanwhile, she proved an excellent target for my new powers.
"It was on a day that I had been practicing these upon her that I had been called to an upper level of my lair to deal with a pair of smugglers that she attempted her first escape. She had tried to sneak through the door as I raced out of her cell to meet my guests. I had closed the door and caught her tail. She of course let out a shriek.
"Extra security, locks, etc. . . She was not to escape. However, there were those days when I was inevitably occupied. Having been informed that Demeter may have been sighted alone near the compound, I rushed from her cell, leaving the door unchecked. I did not go back to her cell until the next afternoon. Upon my return, I found the guard still unconscious, in critical condition, and a vacant cell, the shackles whole and unbroken. Having been born under my roof, she had practiced slipping in and out of the shackles, a detail I had neglected. She was also extremely lethal to those not aware of her presence and the unfortunate guard died the next day. I believe it is in her blood to be perfectly honest."
Bombalurina didn't give any sign that she understood him, rather sporting a confused look.
"Don't tell me Demeter neglected to inform you?" he sneered. "Well, she would wouldn't she. Perfectly normal for someone who would leave their lover."
"Don't you badmouth her," Bombalurina screamed in a fiery rage. "She left you because you had beaten her silly, been with other women, invited all sorts of straggled into your house, become the worst criminal known to cats, and on top of it all, separated her from her family and friends ever since you coaxed her away from the junkyard that night. She's glad she left you and so am I!" She hissed in pain as he nonchalantly backhanded her.
"Well," he purred ominously in her ear as he pinned her to the ground. "I suppose you will just have to take her place." Bombalurina's scream had ripped through the air.
She had watched him leave with the utter loathing only a certain crime could leave behind. She felt dirty and stained and most of all used. She hoped most sincerely that he had never done anything that horrible to Demeter, though she knew in the back of her mind that he had.
The one encounter of Macavity she'd had before this had been before Demeter's return. He had cornered her in an alley behind a pub across the road from the junkyard and had tried to have his way with her there where indefinitely the owner of the pub had chased him away, hearing the cat fight. This was both his way of filling Demeter's spot and enacting his revenge upon her.
Thus, when he entered her cell again later that night and dragged her by the arm into the main hall, she kowtowed and didn't struggle. She did not want a repeat of that afternoon, her arms sore from trying to throw him off.
He dragged her to her feet halfway down the hallway and bade her to walk in front of him, prodding her in the back to make her walk faster. She emerged into a lit room that, given Macavity's location, was quite well furnished. There was an old chandelier salvaged from the Italian joint down the road, many of the candle brackets broken or empty. The ones that were still intact we lit not by candles or light bulbs, but by a luminescent sphere of light about the size of a tennis ball.
Bombalurina was so preoccupied with the chandelier that she had stopped to admire it. Macavity knocked her bodily to the ground, bringing forth a shriek.
She was not the only one who vocalized against Macavity's attack. Bombalurina was pulled to her feet once again to find Tugger staring at her flabbergasted.
"What are you doing here?" they asked each other in unison. The crack of a leather whip caught their attention. Macavity was sauntering forth, the whip gripped in his dark paw, a menacing grin placed on his visage.
He cracked the whip again, the tip denting the plaster next to Tugger's head. Bombalurina noticed that Tugger's paws were chained high above his head, giving him not room to struggle. His feet however were not chained and Bombalurina wondered how he had been brought here. She deducted that he must have been unconscious for if his legs were free, he would have used them.
Tugger did not flinch, yet sneered at his captor. Macavity laughed manically, attempting to shake the other tom's nerve. Instead, he turned to Bombalurina.
"I suppose there are other ways of procuring the wanted information from you," Macavity hissed at Tugger. He grasped Bombalurina's arm and forced her to the ground, twisting the limb painfully. She cried out and Tugger flinched.
"Ah," Macavity purred. "Getting to you, are we? Well, let's see what you do when you see this." Macavity pulled Bombalurina up again and kissed her roughly, tearing a scream form her mouth.
"What do you want to know?" Tugger asked suddenly.
Macavity did not relinquish his hold on Bombalurina but looked up at the tom. "You are willing to cooperate?"
"Well," Tugger answered carefully. "I hate seeing people tortured. No one deserves that, well, maybe you do, but other than that . . ."
"Watch your tongue boy," Macavity shouted. "Or I shall continue." He gave Bombalurina a lurch for emphasis.
"If you do," he answered. "I won't tell you anything."
"Where is she hiding?" Macavity exclaimed.
"Who?"
"Demeter," Macavity stated. "And that retched girl Sophanispa!"
"Oh them," Tugger shrugged in his chains. "I dunno."
"You lie!"
"Me?" he asked incredulously. "Would I lie to you?"
"You would if you wanted to save Sophanispa," Macavity pointed out.
"What? That little golden puffball's more trouble than she's worth!" Bombalurina lightened up at the sound of those words. Macavity backhanded her and forced her to the ground.
"For that little lie," Macavity hissed. "You'll be forced to witness this!" Macavity began to laugh evilly, holding Bombalurina's wrists. He tried to force himself upon her and Tugger shouted, drowning out her screams.
"Let her go," he growled angrily. "Release her and I'll tell you." Macavity stood, allowing Bombalurina to stand. He waved his hand and she disappeared, back in her cell behind the locked door.
"What have you done with her?" Tugger hissed.
"She's save for the moment but if you don't cough up answers soon, she'll be back out here on the floor."
"You sick bastard," Tugger shouted. Macavity scored the whip across his face, creating a long gash that filled with crimson.
"Now that we're out of dreamspace," Macavity interjected. "You will sustain injuries I give you and feel real pain. Speak up. My patience grows short."
"Demeter resides with Munkustrap," Tugger answered him. "You'll have a hell of a time getting her. It's probably impossible, in fact, I discourage you from it. You will certainly not live through the experience."
"Stop babbling, idiot!" Macavity roared. "Where is the other one?"
Tugger looked at Macavity and thought. Betraying Demeter's position hadn't been bad because Munkustrap lived in the old bungalow, which was surrounded by other cats' dwellings. It was a protected area and Macavity did not have much a chance at breaking into it without being seriously wounded. Sophanispa however resided in Tugger's tree, hopefully with Mistofolees. Magic could counter magic but Tugger didn't know how strong Mistofolees was in comparison to the monster that lurked before him.
"You know where she is," Tugger answered finally, deciding to risk it.
"She is where you live then," Macavity deduced. "Perfect. She is undoubtedly alone without you there to save her. I shall give her a visit later tonight." Macavity left the hall, the lights dimming and Tugger left in darkness alone.
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Sophanispa slept fitfully, rolling around in the darkness, aware that there were others around her. She continued to sleep however, not waking.
Within her mind she thrashed as well. She was pacing in the darkness, thinking about what Cassandra had said. "Somebody likes you." The feeling in Sophanispa's gut was unfamiliar. She continued to pace, her eyes on her feet. She collided with someone and fell back on her butt.
Tugger helped her to her feet. He looked positively harassed, his cheek bleeding and his mane unkempt.
"What's wrong?" she asked him urgently.
"You need to flee the tree!" he warned her. "Take Mistofolees and leave! Macavity's coming for you tonight!"
"Mistofolees isn't here!" Sophanispa answered. "Most of the queens are though. They were frightened and came here, thinking we would protect them, though you weren't here."
"Take them all and go! Take them to the bungalow! Tell Munkustrap that Macavity's coming to the junkyard tonight and be ready to fight him if necessary!"
"Where are you?"
"I'm chained to a wall in the main hallway. Bombalurina's locked in a cell somewhere."
"I'm coming to get you guys!" Sophanispa exclaimed.
"No!" Tugger exclaimed, placing his paws on her shoulders. "It's too dangerous!"
"Bull!" Sophanispa shouted. "I'll take a few people with me and wait until Macavity leaves. I'll break in and just free you guys. I know my way around his lair. I grew up there for cripes sake!"
"Don't risk it!" he demanded. "Leave me! Go for Bombalurina. She's going through hell over here. I think he may have ra-"
"I know," Sophanispa cut him off. "It's what he does to most queens he lures into his compound. I'm coming to get the both of you right now. Once she's gone he'll just turn his attention to you and I don't think you want any more wounds like this one." She turned his face gently with her paw and prodded the wound. "He hasn't cleaned it has he?"
"I'm bleeding as we speak," he answered shaking his head.
"See you in a few," she whispered. "I need to wake up. Hit me or something."
"I am not going to hit you," he told her.
"Well," she shouted "Do something! I need foreign stimulus to wake up!"
Tugger grinned. "Stimulus you say? All right!" He grabbed her around the shoulders before she could move and kissed her forehead.
"Whaddya do that for?" she asked Etcetera's sleeping face. She had woken up within the tree, the other queens fast asleep, night surrounding them.
"Wake up!" she nudged Etcetera. "Everyone wake up!"
"Mama!" Victoria exclaimed. "I don't wanna get up!"
"Up now! Everyone, you are in grave danger!"
The older queens had stirred at this and helped to wake the younger cats.
"What's happened?" Electra asked groggily.
"I can't explain now," Sophanispa told her hurriedly. We need to leave. Hurry! Down the trunk. Quickly now, and keep your eyes open for you- know-who."
The queens exited the tree, Tantomile waiting for Sophanispa, knowing she couldn't get down herself. Once everyone was on the ground, Sophanispa led the way to the bungalow. She knocked furiously on the door.
Munkustrap opened it after the second barrage of knocks and was thoroughly surprised to find them on his doorstep.
"What has happened?" he asked.
"Macavity is coming tonight!" Sophanispa told him in an urgent whisper. "He is due near Tugger's tree later. Tugger and Bombalurina are held within his lair. I am going to rescue them when Macavity leaves his base and would like two helpers. Do you know who could possibly come with me?"
"My brother and I will come," Tantomile told her. She turned to Munkustrap. "These queens need to stay somewhere they perceive to be safe and your place seems to be the best for the moment."
Munkustrap nodded silently. He had not asked questions yet seemed to be in a stupor. The queens filed past him and began explaining to Demeter who shrieked in fear.
Tantomile and Sophanispa set out to a large cardboard box near a chair. Pouncival sat curled upon the chair sleeping. Tantomile however ignored this brother and knocked into the box. Coricopat's head popped above the edge of the box and looked at her with curiosity. His eyes flicked to Sophanispa and he immediately jumped out of the box, having communicated telepathically with his sister.
"We need one more person," Sophanispa told them. They stopped at the old dumpster and extracted Alonzo to help in the rescue. He was filled in as the four cats flew over the junk pile and into the trees.
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"We know they've been this way, at least," Sophanispa whispered as she picked up a leopard spotted bandana, usually tied around Tugger's leg. She fastened it around her own and continued on, leading the rest into Macavity's territory. They each knew of the danger and kept quiet, silently padding through the trees towards the compound.
Sophanispa showed them to a concealed cave in which they kept watch. When Macavity's wild body could be seen sprinting across the small wood, they knew it was safe to enter. Sophanispa led them into a small hole just big enough to admit a cat at a time. They were now inside and could hear crying down the hall. Sophanispa disabled the feeble guard near the entrance. They had come in the back way and were in the long stand of cells.
Sophanispa began by opening every door she passed, the occupants within fleeing quickly. Some held mice or other rodents. One held a particularly disgruntled rabbit. A few held Pekes that offered with freedom left the cats alone. Finally, they arrived at Bombalurina's cell. Sophanispa smashed the lock with a well placed kick and wrenched open the door. She beckoned Tantomile to follow her for if Macavity had done what she thought he had done, Bombalurina might not want to be touched by a tom.
She sat chained against the wall sobbing; her arms stained with blood form the shackles, one of her legs deeply gashed. Sophanispa broke through the chains binding her and lifted the larger queen to her feet. Tantomile helped her as well and together they got Bombalurina out of the cell.
"Take her and go back the way we came in," Sophanispa instructed Tantomile. "Take Alonzo with you. Coricopat and I will go for Tugger. Knowing you two are telepathic; tell us when you've gotten to the cave or if you've gotten into trouble. We'll meet you there." Sophanispa took off along the corridor, disappearing around a corner. Coricopat followed her with a last look at his sister.
Tantomile helped Bombalurina along as Alonzo kept his eyes open and soon they were back through the hole and inside the cave where Tantomile held the shaking Bombalurina in her lap, Alonzo holding her other hand and watching the outside of the cave. She sent a message to her brother, letting them know that they were safely inside the cave.
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"They have reached the cave," Coricopat told her in a deep voice. "Safely."
"Thank you, Coricopat," she said as they turned another corner. They were now in the main hall and Tugger could be seen dangling from his chains, his wrists worn raw from struggling and hanging. His cheek still bled freely and his eyes were closed.
Sophanispa knew how his chains worked. She had to reach behind him for the slits in the wall and find the trigger. The only problem was that the slits were barely big enough for her hands to fit inside and no one else could get him down meaning she had to unhook him and jump out of the way or he would fall on her. She wasn't sure she could support his weight.
She gave Coricopat an encouraging glance and stepped up to Tugger. He was tall enough that his feet still touched the floor as he dangled from the ceiling chains. She put both hands in either side of the wall near his torso and began searching for the niches in which the trigger would be.
She found them fairly easy and slid her small arms inside, trying to keep her chest form touching Tugger's. She couldn't reach like this and having no other choice, went on tiptoe and reached further into the wall, resting her body along the length of his. He opened his eyes, ready to fight off Macavity, but saw her instead. Never one to pass up an opportunity, he laughed. Sophanispa glared at him as she hit the trigger and tried to jump out of the way.
The chains slid away from the wall with a loud clattering noise and Tugger fell form the wall, pinning Sophanispa, just as she knew he would. He smiled at her as he stood and helped her up again, rubbing his wrists painfully.
"That could be heard outside," Coricopat informed them. Sophanispa nodded and grabbed both their arms, leading them towards the front. A loud cats call could be heard.
"She says Macavity is back, but not going towards the hole we came through," Coricopat said frightened.
"That means he's coming through this door!" Sophanispa whispered. She turned the other way, the toms following her. The wound their way through the twisting corridors and heard the front of the compound echo as Macavity erupted in anger.
"YOU LIED TO ME TUGGER!" he roared. His voice became even louder as he realized Tugger was not on the wall.
They had reached the hole. Coricopat slinked through first, followed by Tugger. Sophanispa, having an easier time of it, being smaller, crawled halfway though and screamed. She was being pulled back through the hole by Macavity. Tugger seized hr hands and pulled, Coricopat frozen with fear. Sophanispa gave a kick and was pulled back up through the hole, Macavity howling with anger. He attempted to follow them through but Tugger punched him in the face, blocking the hole with a boulder. It was only a matter of time before Macavity freed the boulder which was successfully wedged between the dirt and the metal wall of the lair.
Sophanispa tried to stand but her legs had been sliced to ribbons. Tugger and Coricopat spirited her away to the cave where they found Bombalurina unconscious and a very frightened Tantomile and Alonzo. Tugger hoisted Bombalurina in his arms, Coricopat carrying the smaller burden of Sophanispa while Alonzo and Tantomile fled before them hand in hand. The six cats returned to the junkyard later that night, the whole yard wanting to hear the tale of their escape. Tugger's tree had been completely trashed and so he, Bombalurina, and Sophanispa were taken to the bungalow so Jellylorum and Jennyanydots could administer cat style first aid to them. Coricopat, Tantomile, and Alonzo stayed as well, though Jennyanydots shooed anyone else who dared to enter off to mind their own business. The queens had left to their respective accommodations, leaving the bungalow free for the wounded, plus Munkustrap and Demeter.
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The three wounded lay in what would have been a human bathroom. The tub was filled with water (they were still connected to water) and Jennyanydots was cleaning The wounds on Tugger's wrists and face.
"I'm not hurt that bad!" he exclaimed. "Let me do it myself. Ow!" He winced as she washed out his scraped up wrists.
"I'm not letting you do anything for yourself," she told him. "You've been getting into trouble ever since you were a little kitten and you always asked me to let you clean your own scrapes. The one time I did, you came down with some cold that was particular to infectious cuts."
"All right," he growled. "Maybe that once. At least I don't use alcohol on the cuts. Ow!"
Bombalurina was sitting up and looking much better. Her cuts and scrapes were bandaged and she was even talking again, though she hadn't said a word about her ordeal. Sophanispa, on the other hand, had lost a lot of blood the night she had been pulled from the hole. Macavity had gouged her legs so badly that blood still showed through her bandages. She was still asleep as Jellylorum replaced her bandages.
Bombalurina now felt slightly guilty. Sophanispa had indeed risked her life to save her, though Bombalurina did not know that Macavity had in fact left the base. She remembered why she had left the junkyard and what Macavity had said about Tugger keeping Sophanispa alive and she decided to believe it.
Tugger, however, did not even seem to remember the reason Bombalurina had left. He was just glad to be back in the junkyard, though his stay in Macavity's tender care had been brief.
Sophanispa groaned and move under Jellylorum's gentle hands. She opened her green eyes slowly and blinked a few times. Attempting to sit up, she became extremely dizzy and nauseated. She put a paw to her temple in attempt to calm the pain.
"What-" she asked quietly. She looked around her in fear.
"It's all right now dear," Jellylorum told her. "No one will hurt you here."
Sophanispa relaxed a bit but still flinched any time someone came near her. She looked down at her bandaged legs and noticed the leopard spotted bandana still tied around her leg. She untied it and looked over at Tugger, who was busy making Bombalurina laugh.
"Hey, Tugger," Sophanispa called softly.
"Oh, you're awake!" he exclaimed. "You had a close one, there."
"I found this on the way there," she told him waving the bandana.
"Oh," he answered. "I didn't even notice it was missing." She passed it over to him.
Sophanispa settled back in her bed and allowed Jellylorum to fuss over her.
"See what can happen when you're mean to queens, Tugger," Jennyanydots scolded. "If you hadn't made Bombalurina mad-"
"It's okay, ma'am," Bombalurina told Tugger's mother. "It wasn't his fault. I just didn't understand what I was seeing and thought too fast, jumped to conclusions. If I hadn't run off, none of this would have happened."
Munkustrap entered the bathroom. "May I have a word with your patients?"
"Of course," Jennyanydots answered, leaving the room, Jellylorum in tow.
"I would like to know what happened," Munkustrap told them after the queens had left. "How did Macavity catch the two of you?"
And so the three delved into the story from the cold body of Sophanispa to waking up in the bathroom.
Munkustrap looked impressed somehow. He had known part of the story before hand but had not heard of the happenings within the compound, nor had he known of the battles waged in the minds of the cats.
"We will just have to guard ourselves more carefully from this point on," he announced to the three. "You're tree is ruined. You are welcome to stay here if you must."
"Thank you brother," Tugger answered sarcastically. "But I fear I must decline. Living under your roof would remind me all too much of being back at home. I wish for a dwelling, not a place to be scolded every five minutes."
Bombalurina and Sophanispa laughed at Munkustrap's exasperated face.
"Well," Munkustrap scoffed. "Would either of you ladies like to stay here?"
They looked at each other and laughed as Tugger imitated his brother.
"If they want to," he told Munkustrap. "They'll let you know."
The queens giggled as Munkustrap glared at his younger brother.
"As you wish then," he snarled. Tugger might have gone too far with his taunting of Munkustrap. He turned and left abruptly, leaving the three to giggle and chat amongst themselves.
"I think I'm gonna stay here," Sophanispa told them. "Demeter is really nice. What about you, Bombi?"
"I might stay here with my sister or I might go back to the car with Jemima," she replied.
"What do you mean in a car or Munku's house?" Tugger asked incredulously. "I thought you two were going to live with me?"
"I thought you didn't want me to live with you?" Sophanispa asked at the same time Bombalurina asked. "But your house is destroyed."
"It won't be destroyed forever," Tugger told Bombalurina. "Plus, I'll feel weird without anyone around anymore."
"It's a deal, then," Bombalurina exclaimed.
Well, that was chapter eight. Where to go from here, I'll think about. Damn, these are getting long. Did you know that the first chapter was only two pages long? All together, this story is *gasp* 68 pages long? Oh well. As long as you guys like it right? Keep reviewing. Keep trying for that prize. (it's nothin' really, just another picture) Hopefully my fic will soon be posted on another site called The Litterbox, if the web mistress likes it, that is.
I hope you guys continue to read. Get ready for chapter nine!
One note to readers; don't assume anything in this fan fiction. The plot is liable to twist and run your assumptions over. ~Mungojerry; It's outta control! (Points at a strained Ryouko trying to tie in a stack of papers with leather reins)
To relieve a few people, I have decided to tell you who Sophanispa ISN'T. I am sorry to say but she is not Grizabella reincarnated. That was my initial plan but I decided to change her identity (before I began the story) to explain other aspects. In the last chapter, it sais that she had spoken to Deuteronomy while he was held in Macavity's lair. Grizabella was still living at that time. If they are one and the same (which they aren't) how could this have been possible? Well she could have remembered . . . But she didn't and she's not, so don't waste your time thinking it. My stupid brother tried that connection and thoroughly confused himself, but he's . . . stupid. I know you guys won't get confused as easily as this git that I live with. Oh, well. *sigh* SOMEONE HAS GOTTEN THE QUESTION RIGHT BUT THEIR EMAIL WAS NOT ON THE REVIEW AND I COULD NOT FIND THEM. WILL ECLIPSE PLEASE NOTIFY ME WITH THEIR EMAIL! DO NOT GIVE AWAY THE ANSWER PLEASE!
Anyways, I'm sorry the last chapter was so long. I just sat down to write and everything just kept getting bigger and bigger. It should keep you busy for a while though.
And with no further delay. Except for this. . .
Mungojerry; BUUUURRRRP! Ryouko; Nice one. Mungojerry; *'cuse me* Thank ya!
Chapter Eight ~**S.W.A.T. Jellicles Rescue**~ (Do you guys remember that cartoon, SWAT cats? It used to be on cartoon network and there were these cats and they like piloted these cool jets and there was this dude who- Mungojerry; Oye! Yer goin' off 'gain.)
Demeter watched the queen walk off quickly. She felt a sore spot deep within her at the thought of Sophanispa leaving so abruptly. She looked out the door of the bungalow and spied her walking quickly with Mistofolees back to the tree. The golden cat allowed herself to be magicked into the tree by Mistofolees. She felt a tug on her arm and she turned to see Munkustrap smiling slightly at her.
"What's bothering you, fair Demeter," he called. He liked this name for her. It was what he'd called her the night she had first returned to the tribe and had gone to the small party.
"I don't know what to make of her," Demeter sighed. "I thought at first she was Grizabella reborn (see; you guys aren't the only ones who thought so) but she's too old. Her birth must have occurred right after I'd left if she's been with Macavity all her life."
"Maybe she was born when you were there?" Munkustrap suggested, steering her further inside and shutting the door. The room, full of beautiful sunset colors from the western window.
Demeter blanched at the thought. She didn't like the thought of Macavity having been with other queens while she was his woman but she didn't want Munkustrap to know that either. She took his confused look and gave him her reason.
"I don't think there were any other queens around when I was there," she answered. "She was either stolen or 'made' around the date of my escape. Why Macavity would want to steal a kitten, a female kitten, is beyond me."
"Maybe he wanted to train her," Munkustrap suggested.
"That des make sense," Demeter agreed. "But he would have taken a male. The only solution left was that the queen who mothered this kitten gave birth to all female. I'm guessing that Macavity took the whole lot and kept only the strongest."
"I don't think that's the case," Munkustrap answered puzzled. "She is much too small, probably the runt of the litter. He would not have picked her for her strength. I believe that she may be -"
Demeter put a finger to his lips "Don't say it. She's strong enough to take on half the toms in this tribe and still come out on top, with a collar to boot."
"She has much in common with you," Munkustrap told her. "She avoids the toms' affections if she can; she doesn't buy into Tugger's tricks . . . is that why you're drawn to her?"
"That may be it," Demeter thought aloud.
"Come walking with me," he asked her. "The moon has just begun to wane but will still be quite bright."
"Of course," she purred, and she followed him out into the falling darkness.
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"I'm not even tired!" Sophanispa sighed as she lay on the floor of the tree once again. Mistofolees was chasing a bit of yarn across the floor, bumping into her side ever so often. She snagged it away form him and hid it behind her back. He only smiled at her and snapped his fingers, the yarn re- appearing in his small black paw. He grinned wider as she looked about her frantically.
"Oh, you think you're funny, do you?" she asked him. He laughed quietly and she pounced upon him. "I'll show you funny!"
She snatched back the yarn and they were suddenly immersed in trying to get the yarn away from each other. Every time Mistofolees used magic, Sophanispa would cry "Cheater!" and attack him playfully.
They continued to be engrossed in their task, not noticing the several heads that had popped up over the barrier. A throat cleared and the both looked slowly to the edge, expecting to find Tugger and possibly Bombalurina. Instead, there were most of the younger queens, looking glassy eyed and pleading.
"What the-" Mistofolees grunted before the queens swarmed over the edge and knocked Sophanispa off his chest, upon which she had been sitting.
"CAN WE STAY WITH YOU!?! PLEASE!!!" they all cried in unison, mauling Sophanispa.
"Why would you wanna do something like that?" she asked, sitting up and pushing them away gently. "This isn't even my house!"
"It will be soon, by the looks of it," Electra snorted jealously.
"Oh hush," Sophanispa hissed at her. "You've come here to ask me a favor and you're being rude. There is absolutely nothing going on between Tugger and I, other than some strange fantasy he's got going on in his mind about most of the girls in this tribe. You've nothing to worry about form me, though I don't reckon he fancies you."
Mistofolees stood up and was finally noticed by the queens. "Why do you want to stay?"
"We're afraid of Macavity," Jemima told him. "I think Bombalurina's been-"
"Jemima!" Victoria mewled. "I told you not to say that! Now they're going to think . . ."
"Hi!" said a deeper voice. Cassandra poked her head up above the edge. "Can we stay?"
"Who's we?" Mistofolees asked, but he was again ignored. Cassandra and Exotica clambered over the edge, followed shortly by Tantomile, who for once, besides the chase, was sans Coricopat.
"Well," Sophanispa sighed. "I guess you guys could stay. Just don't mess with anything. I don't know how Tugger's going to take you all being here but one thing's certain. If anything is amiss, he'll be in an even worse mood."
"I'm going to go back to my dumpster," Mistofolees told Sophanispa. "You aren't in danger anymore right?"
"I'll look after her," Tantomile told him quietly. "I will call if something is happening."
"Slumber party!" Etcetera squealed in delight after Mistofolees had left. "And there aren't any boys! Except . . . maybe Tugger'll come later!" she giggled girlishly.
"So . . ."Sophanispa began. "Are you guys going to sleep?"
"Of course not," Cassandra purred deeply. "No one really sleeps at slumber parties. They play games, tell secrets . . ." she looked over at Tantomile slyly and the younger cat blushed.
"That sounds fun!" Jemima chimed in. She seemed to be in a much better mood now that Tugger had gone to look for her sister.
Sophanispa, reluctantly, was dragged into a ring of secrets where the girls asked each other embarrassing questions such as who is the object of their affections.
"So who do you like?" Victoria asked Jemima. The young queen blushed profusely and murmured something. "Do I have to answer?"
"'Course you do!" Exotica exclaimed, lying upon her stomach.
"I . . . um . . . 'lonzo," she said quickly, hoping they hadn't caught what she'd said.
"Alonzo?" Tantomile squeaked. She blushed at having drawn attention to herself.
Cassandra grinned. "Your turn, Jemima."
Jemima, still blushing, turned on Tantomile. "Who do you like?"
"Same," she answered, her voice still squeaky.
Tantomile turned her amber colored eyes to Sophanispa and pointed. "What about you?" Sophanispa looked bored.
"No one," she answered blandly.
"Oh, come on," Exotica goaded. "There must be someone . . ."
"I know someone who likes you," Cassandra purred. "He's not bad looking either."
Sophanispa tried to suppress the urge to ask who it was as she was prodded by the other queens.
"No, really," she answered. "There isn't anyone. I don't know anyone well enough, except maybe Tugger and Mistofolees and they certainly don't count."
"Why don't they count?" Victoria asked.
"Well," Sophanispa began. "Tugger is too much for me to take on, even if I wanted to do so, plus, I sort of live with him. Mistofolees already likes someone else and I won't let myself love him because of that. He's just a brother." Sophanispa wondered of it was her imagination but she thought she saw Victoria give a small sigh of relief.
"If you tell me who you like," Cassandra taunted. "I'll tell you who likes you."
"No!" Tantomile shouted. "Don't say anything!"
Sophanispa thought in her head. If she just said a name, she could get the information. It didn't even have to be true. By the reaction of Tantomile, Sophanispa thought it to be Alonzo, her crush.
"All right," Sophanispa allowed. "I like Tugger, but don't let him know. He'll think he's won a gold medal or something stupid like that." 'Of course,' she thought silently. 'I wouldn't like that goat in a thousand years!'
"Too bad," Cassandra told her. "That's not how the game works. Not telling!" Tantomile looked relieved but Sophanispa looked utterly infuriated. She tried to take it back.
"I was only kidding!" she gasped. "I still don't like anyone! I was only saying that to get the name!"
"Sure," Victoria laughed. She silenced herself immediately when Sophanispa rounded on her. "And who do you like!"
Victoria looked utterly shocked, her white fur making her looked ghost like. "I thought it would have been obvious."
"Well . . ." Sophanispa drew out, crossing her fingers behind her back and wishing for Mistofolees' good fortune.
"It's Quaxo," Victoria whispered.
"Quaxo?" Sophanispa exclaimed. "Who the hell is Quaxo?"
The other girls giggled as Etcetera gave her a hint. "You've only known him as a magical helper."
"Well," she told the other cat. "I wish he'd be my magical helper now when I can't understand a word you're saying!"
"Just ask around," Electra suggested. "The people in your lot should know who he is." She smiled.
"My turn!" Victoria announced haughtily before Sophanispa could make any comments. She looked around and pointed slyly at Cassandra who smiled slyly.
"As most of you know," she purred. "I have changed my affections frequently. There was the brief spell with Alonzo, then young Plato come to play as well. I make passes at Tugger, but who doesn't." she eyed the sulking Sophanispa.
"I have seen fit," she continued. "As the oldest queen under our parents of course, to date younger toms."
"Get on with it!" Electra exclaimed.
"Well," she purred. "I have taken a liking to Admetus."
"Eeew!" Jemima squealed. "You like my brother!"
"And mine likes you," Cassandra threw back. Jemima squealed.
"Which one, which one!" for Cassandra had four brothers.
"Not telling," she said with her eyes shut and her nose in the air. She opened them and pointed evilly at Electra. The rude cat glared back at her and spat out an insult.
"You know very well who I like, you great whore of a cat," her eyes were squinted and her lips protruding in a pout.
"Yes but our company doesn't," Cassandra answered nonplussed. These two sisters did not get along very well. "You must answer."
Electra glared some more but hissed the name. "Admetus."
"You're just jealous," Cassandra taunted her youngest sister. "You think he'll pick me over you. You're probably right."
"You haven't always been this cocky," Jemima piped up, covering for her friend. "You used to go after Munkustrap before Demeter returned. As soon as she came back, he tossed you aside like an unwanted leftover." she met Cassandra's eyes with a young defiance.
"I wouldn't be so quick with my tongue if I were you," she hissed back.
"Etcetera," Electra said. "What about you."
The light colored cat blushed, her sweet little face in a childish grin.
"Let me guess," Victoria said in feint ignorance. "Might it be Tugger?"
"Well, yeah," she answered blushing deeper.
"Why did I even ask?" Electra moaned. "It's always the same."
"I don't want to hurt your feelings Honey," Exotica told her. "But you've got to open your eyes. Tugger doesn't seem to like any of us in particular, though he never let us spend the night alone with him."
"But there is someone else," Etcetera piped up.
"WHO!?" everyone shouted in unison.
"Um . . ." she became nervous under everyone's stares. "I kinda like Tumblebrutus."
"Um, honey," Exotica answered. "He's kinda . . . um . . ."
"Taken?" Etcetera supplied a tad anguished.
"No," Exotica said. "Not exactly."
"Celibate?" Sophanispa guessed.
"What's that mean?" Etcetera asked.
"Doesn't matter," Exotica answered. "He's not."
"Is he like really, really gross and disgusting?" Victoria asked innocently.
"Well, kind of," Exotica answered.
"I know!" Jemima shrieked. Everyone jumped at the sound of her voice.
"He's related to Macavity?" she guessed.
"Wrong!" Exotica and Sophanispa exclaimed.
"He's gay," Electra blurted.
"Electra, please," Sophanispa exclaimed. "You've insulted just about everyone tonight!"
"But she hit it right on the nail," Exotica muttered.
"So he's really happy?" Etcetera asked innocently.
If this were anime, they'd have face faulted. Exotica shook her head in silent mirth.
"No," she said laughing. "He's not particularly happy. He likes . . . someone else."
"Who?" Etcetera asked.
"He likes Tugger," Electra blurted again
"Yuck," Victoria spat. "That's dirty."
"Why?" Sophanispa asked. "You all like him."
"We aren't of the same gender, though," Exotica explained. "It isn't Tugger we find disgusting. It's the fact that we aren't his only admirers."
"Who cares?" she countered. "This Tumblebrutus character can like whomever he wishes."
"But he's a tom!" Victoria exclaimed. "Toms aren't supposed to like other toms!"
"Who said?" Sophanispa asked. "Is there a rule written somewhere? Did the Everlasting Cat say this?"
The silence that followed told her that there was not and He had not.
"Well," Cassandra began. "He said that queen and tom would come together when the time was right. He never said that two toms couldn't . . . but He didn't say they could either."
"I am not trying to make anyone mad," Sophanispa added. "I am just trying to get us to accept each other. We can't fight amongst ourselves when Macavity is this powerful. We can't afford to be prejudiced against those who are different. I don't wholly support Tumblebrutus' proclivity but I am not going to interfere. I believe he has the right to do what he wants and be left alone."
The other queens contemplated this while Etcetera thought of someone to ask. She looked to the last queen, Exotica and pointed, her hand shaking a bit. The queens were all a bit afraid of Exotica. She was the most mysterious of cats, excluding Macavity. She also had been subject to a few cruel humans once who had dyed her fur a strange orange yellow color.
"Hmmm . . ." she said stretching her long black legs. "Whom do I like? Well, as you know, I usually pick those toms that seem to be slightly detached. I find that they suit my needs better than well seeked men.
"Thus, I have young Plato for this ball's run," she answered finally.
"Have you no emotion?" Victoria asked a little angrily. Plato was one of her friends and she did not approve of Exotica using him.
"I have not yet found the one right for me," Exotica answered in her defense. "I have no alternative but to try everyone in the tribe."
"That's sick," Electra muttered.
The queens played a few more games, the younger cats slipping into a sleep-deprived stupor. Sophanispa suggested that they get some sleep.
"Can you do those shield thingies please?" Etcetera asked sweetly as she claimed a bit of clear floor.
"I can do a few," she answered tiredly, sinking into Tugger's beanbag. She kept the collar on, not wanting it to be nicked by an over fond queen. "I'll do the younger ones tonight since the others may be able to put up more of a fight."
As they settled into sleep, Sophanispa left her own dreamspace and moved into the nearest mind. It was Electra's mind and Sophanispa saw some of her rudeness rubbed off into the walls. Sophanispa understood that this girl had been jeered at since she was a kitten and life had taught her to attack automatically.
'So it's nothing personal,' Sophanispa thought silently. She clapped her hands and conjured the shield, moving on to Etcetera's brightly lit mind. She repeated this for Victoria and Jemima and even managed to do it for Tantomile.
"I'm getting stronger!" she exclaimed, the twin alarmed for a moment. "You're the fifth one! I've always been able to do about three or four. Later," she waved and moved on to Cassandra.
"I don't know if I can do another one," she told the dark queen. "I feel a bit strained but we'll see." She clapped her paws together and got a faint golden shower, an ineffective shield.
"Sorry," she said to the older queen. "I guess I've exhausted the power for tonight."
"It's all right," Cassandra purred. "If Macavity shows up, I'll run through the gap. Can you light it up so I can find it?"
"Sure," Sophanispa answered. "Just remember to close it once you're through or he'll be able to breach the shielded area."
"It's strange," she said suddenly. "Speaking about him like this again."
"How so?" asked the golden queen.
"It was back when Victoria and the younger ones were still kittens," Cassandra told her in a dreamy sort of voice. "Macavity stopped terrorizing us after Old Deuteronomy had returned. The younger ones stopped believing their mothers when they used him as a threat. We thought he'd died." she added hopefully.
"But then you appeared, terrified of something," she continued looking at the golden queen. "We could smell your fear. You stopped being afraid once you and Tugger became friends. Why is this?"
"It's not what you think," Sophanispa answered. "There really isn't anything between us. I only said his name to get the information about my admirer, which I think you just made up."
"I didn't make him up and you didn't answer the question," she told her smiling. "Why aren't you afraid anymore?"
"Well," Sophanispa began. "For one, I have shut Macavity out of my mind and out of the minds of people around me, for he can get to us via others' minds. Two, between Tugger and I, if one of us is in danger, the other kind of expects to be helped. We have saved each other a few times. Also, being surrounded by haters of Macavity helps one to feel more secure."
Sophanispa moved to leave and Cassandra did not stop her. The conversation was closed.
She made an identical slash in Exotica's mind and gave her the instructions that would close it once she was through. She then returned to her own mind and sleep.
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Bombalurina lay curled upon the floor, bleeding, broken, and crying. She shivered profusely as she heard Macavity's laugh down the hall. She was kept within a cell type room with a lockable door (from the outside) and no windows. Her tears ran silently from her eyes as she relived the Macavity induced horror. The first day she had just been kept in this cell, chained to the wall with unbreakable shackles. There had been an annoying guard placed outside that kept throwing sinister taunts at her whenever he heard her move or speak.
Bombalurina had thought that she had been brought here to rot within this miserable dump, and quite bored out of her mind, she had screamed at the guard to come and fight her after he had insulted her particularly harshly. He had merely snickered and ignored her until her food was brought.
"Macavity's got som'mat special stored fer ya," he grunted in a Mungojerry-like accent. Bombalurina, terrified of this, did not touch her food, rather buried so she would not become desperate enough to indulge.
She had gone into a fitful sleep only to find she woke much later than she had intended, her worst nightmare perched upon his heels, inches from her.
"'Lo, kitten," he growled lowly. She hissed and scooted back from him so quickly that she scored her leg against the floor. He got onto all fours and stalked towards her. She backpedaled until she was pressed against the wall.
So terrified that she virtually became frozen, Macavity had no trouble indeed when he decided to pin her to the wall and lick her cheek, in which she broke out of her stupor.
"Don't touch me," she spat, attempting to scratch at him. The chains grew magically shorter, pulling her more tightly against the wall.
"Don't defy me Bombalurina," he purred menacingly. "You've not yet encountered my new magic. I believe a particular affect of my magic has brought you here."
"I didn't come here," she spat again. "You brought me here."
"You fled the tribe," he insisted.
"Only because my supposed boyfriend was kissing another queen," Bombalurina shouted seethingly. "She, of course, having worked for you."
"He was not kissing her, I daresay," Macavity answered in a voice that was marked strangely by knowledge. Bombalurina was confused indeed. "He was no doubt saving her life which I managed to endanger a few minutes before he awoke. Would you have had him let her die, her body already cold in his arms?"
Bombalurina was silent. 'This is ridiculous,' she thought. 'I'm being taught virtue by the biggest criminal in the cat world.'
"I guess that you would not," he said, regarding her silence. "I would have, if it suited me. Unfortunately, she has lived and began protecting your precious tribe from me, thwarting my attempts at taking Demeter and throttling your precious tom friend, that unusually flirtatious Tugger."
"You'd better not hurt him," Bombalurina hissed.
Macavity laughed. "Actually, I've had three failed attempts, all stopped by that runt." He looked pained at last at the mention of Sophanispa.
"I thought I had a perfect little worker when she was born here. I hadn't ever had the chance to train someone from kittenhood. She, at first, showed signs of being a most formidable child, faster and strangely stronger than any of my employees. I sent her out on numerous accounts and if any of you had known it was she, you might have called her Infamous Gold. Everyone under me thought it was a good idea to dub her this and so it became. In fact, the reason I was never found at any crime scene for a while was simply that she was there, not I. She was a master escape artist and was never caught, but was always nearby. She was never interrogated for her innocent appearance deterred anyone from accusation.
"It was after that old crackpot fool of the vicarage was held within the bowels of my lair that she began to rebel. She had not reached queendom when she refused to raid the Victoria Grove stile. The two cats that had been under my employ had kept the goods form my base when I had withheld pay from them and I had sent her to return it to me. She outright refused to have anything to do with the Jellicle tribe, that is to say, under my orders. She was well beaten for this and locked down here for quite some time. I did send her out once or twice but she so obviously thwarted me on purpose that I could not allow her free reign anymore than I could walk the junkyard freely. I locked her down here with no intent on freeing her. Meanwhile, she proved an excellent target for my new powers.
"It was on a day that I had been practicing these upon her that I had been called to an upper level of my lair to deal with a pair of smugglers that she attempted her first escape. She had tried to sneak through the door as I raced out of her cell to meet my guests. I had closed the door and caught her tail. She of course let out a shriek.
"Extra security, locks, etc. . . She was not to escape. However, there were those days when I was inevitably occupied. Having been informed that Demeter may have been sighted alone near the compound, I rushed from her cell, leaving the door unchecked. I did not go back to her cell until the next afternoon. Upon my return, I found the guard still unconscious, in critical condition, and a vacant cell, the shackles whole and unbroken. Having been born under my roof, she had practiced slipping in and out of the shackles, a detail I had neglected. She was also extremely lethal to those not aware of her presence and the unfortunate guard died the next day. I believe it is in her blood to be perfectly honest."
Bombalurina didn't give any sign that she understood him, rather sporting a confused look.
"Don't tell me Demeter neglected to inform you?" he sneered. "Well, she would wouldn't she. Perfectly normal for someone who would leave their lover."
"Don't you badmouth her," Bombalurina screamed in a fiery rage. "She left you because you had beaten her silly, been with other women, invited all sorts of straggled into your house, become the worst criminal known to cats, and on top of it all, separated her from her family and friends ever since you coaxed her away from the junkyard that night. She's glad she left you and so am I!" She hissed in pain as he nonchalantly backhanded her.
"Well," he purred ominously in her ear as he pinned her to the ground. "I suppose you will just have to take her place." Bombalurina's scream had ripped through the air.
She had watched him leave with the utter loathing only a certain crime could leave behind. She felt dirty and stained and most of all used. She hoped most sincerely that he had never done anything that horrible to Demeter, though she knew in the back of her mind that he had.
The one encounter of Macavity she'd had before this had been before Demeter's return. He had cornered her in an alley behind a pub across the road from the junkyard and had tried to have his way with her there where indefinitely the owner of the pub had chased him away, hearing the cat fight. This was both his way of filling Demeter's spot and enacting his revenge upon her.
Thus, when he entered her cell again later that night and dragged her by the arm into the main hall, she kowtowed and didn't struggle. She did not want a repeat of that afternoon, her arms sore from trying to throw him off.
He dragged her to her feet halfway down the hallway and bade her to walk in front of him, prodding her in the back to make her walk faster. She emerged into a lit room that, given Macavity's location, was quite well furnished. There was an old chandelier salvaged from the Italian joint down the road, many of the candle brackets broken or empty. The ones that were still intact we lit not by candles or light bulbs, but by a luminescent sphere of light about the size of a tennis ball.
Bombalurina was so preoccupied with the chandelier that she had stopped to admire it. Macavity knocked her bodily to the ground, bringing forth a shriek.
She was not the only one who vocalized against Macavity's attack. Bombalurina was pulled to her feet once again to find Tugger staring at her flabbergasted.
"What are you doing here?" they asked each other in unison. The crack of a leather whip caught their attention. Macavity was sauntering forth, the whip gripped in his dark paw, a menacing grin placed on his visage.
He cracked the whip again, the tip denting the plaster next to Tugger's head. Bombalurina noticed that Tugger's paws were chained high above his head, giving him not room to struggle. His feet however were not chained and Bombalurina wondered how he had been brought here. She deducted that he must have been unconscious for if his legs were free, he would have used them.
Tugger did not flinch, yet sneered at his captor. Macavity laughed manically, attempting to shake the other tom's nerve. Instead, he turned to Bombalurina.
"I suppose there are other ways of procuring the wanted information from you," Macavity hissed at Tugger. He grasped Bombalurina's arm and forced her to the ground, twisting the limb painfully. She cried out and Tugger flinched.
"Ah," Macavity purred. "Getting to you, are we? Well, let's see what you do when you see this." Macavity pulled Bombalurina up again and kissed her roughly, tearing a scream form her mouth.
"What do you want to know?" Tugger asked suddenly.
Macavity did not relinquish his hold on Bombalurina but looked up at the tom. "You are willing to cooperate?"
"Well," Tugger answered carefully. "I hate seeing people tortured. No one deserves that, well, maybe you do, but other than that . . ."
"Watch your tongue boy," Macavity shouted. "Or I shall continue." He gave Bombalurina a lurch for emphasis.
"If you do," he answered. "I won't tell you anything."
"Where is she hiding?" Macavity exclaimed.
"Who?"
"Demeter," Macavity stated. "And that retched girl Sophanispa!"
"Oh them," Tugger shrugged in his chains. "I dunno."
"You lie!"
"Me?" he asked incredulously. "Would I lie to you?"
"You would if you wanted to save Sophanispa," Macavity pointed out.
"What? That little golden puffball's more trouble than she's worth!" Bombalurina lightened up at the sound of those words. Macavity backhanded her and forced her to the ground.
"For that little lie," Macavity hissed. "You'll be forced to witness this!" Macavity began to laugh evilly, holding Bombalurina's wrists. He tried to force himself upon her and Tugger shouted, drowning out her screams.
"Let her go," he growled angrily. "Release her and I'll tell you." Macavity stood, allowing Bombalurina to stand. He waved his hand and she disappeared, back in her cell behind the locked door.
"What have you done with her?" Tugger hissed.
"She's save for the moment but if you don't cough up answers soon, she'll be back out here on the floor."
"You sick bastard," Tugger shouted. Macavity scored the whip across his face, creating a long gash that filled with crimson.
"Now that we're out of dreamspace," Macavity interjected. "You will sustain injuries I give you and feel real pain. Speak up. My patience grows short."
"Demeter resides with Munkustrap," Tugger answered him. "You'll have a hell of a time getting her. It's probably impossible, in fact, I discourage you from it. You will certainly not live through the experience."
"Stop babbling, idiot!" Macavity roared. "Where is the other one?"
Tugger looked at Macavity and thought. Betraying Demeter's position hadn't been bad because Munkustrap lived in the old bungalow, which was surrounded by other cats' dwellings. It was a protected area and Macavity did not have much a chance at breaking into it without being seriously wounded. Sophanispa however resided in Tugger's tree, hopefully with Mistofolees. Magic could counter magic but Tugger didn't know how strong Mistofolees was in comparison to the monster that lurked before him.
"You know where she is," Tugger answered finally, deciding to risk it.
"She is where you live then," Macavity deduced. "Perfect. She is undoubtedly alone without you there to save her. I shall give her a visit later tonight." Macavity left the hall, the lights dimming and Tugger left in darkness alone.
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Sophanispa slept fitfully, rolling around in the darkness, aware that there were others around her. She continued to sleep however, not waking.
Within her mind she thrashed as well. She was pacing in the darkness, thinking about what Cassandra had said. "Somebody likes you." The feeling in Sophanispa's gut was unfamiliar. She continued to pace, her eyes on her feet. She collided with someone and fell back on her butt.
Tugger helped her to her feet. He looked positively harassed, his cheek bleeding and his mane unkempt.
"What's wrong?" she asked him urgently.
"You need to flee the tree!" he warned her. "Take Mistofolees and leave! Macavity's coming for you tonight!"
"Mistofolees isn't here!" Sophanispa answered. "Most of the queens are though. They were frightened and came here, thinking we would protect them, though you weren't here."
"Take them all and go! Take them to the bungalow! Tell Munkustrap that Macavity's coming to the junkyard tonight and be ready to fight him if necessary!"
"Where are you?"
"I'm chained to a wall in the main hallway. Bombalurina's locked in a cell somewhere."
"I'm coming to get you guys!" Sophanispa exclaimed.
"No!" Tugger exclaimed, placing his paws on her shoulders. "It's too dangerous!"
"Bull!" Sophanispa shouted. "I'll take a few people with me and wait until Macavity leaves. I'll break in and just free you guys. I know my way around his lair. I grew up there for cripes sake!"
"Don't risk it!" he demanded. "Leave me! Go for Bombalurina. She's going through hell over here. I think he may have ra-"
"I know," Sophanispa cut him off. "It's what he does to most queens he lures into his compound. I'm coming to get the both of you right now. Once she's gone he'll just turn his attention to you and I don't think you want any more wounds like this one." She turned his face gently with her paw and prodded the wound. "He hasn't cleaned it has he?"
"I'm bleeding as we speak," he answered shaking his head.
"See you in a few," she whispered. "I need to wake up. Hit me or something."
"I am not going to hit you," he told her.
"Well," she shouted "Do something! I need foreign stimulus to wake up!"
Tugger grinned. "Stimulus you say? All right!" He grabbed her around the shoulders before she could move and kissed her forehead.
"Whaddya do that for?" she asked Etcetera's sleeping face. She had woken up within the tree, the other queens fast asleep, night surrounding them.
"Wake up!" she nudged Etcetera. "Everyone wake up!"
"Mama!" Victoria exclaimed. "I don't wanna get up!"
"Up now! Everyone, you are in grave danger!"
The older queens had stirred at this and helped to wake the younger cats.
"What's happened?" Electra asked groggily.
"I can't explain now," Sophanispa told her hurriedly. We need to leave. Hurry! Down the trunk. Quickly now, and keep your eyes open for you- know-who."
The queens exited the tree, Tantomile waiting for Sophanispa, knowing she couldn't get down herself. Once everyone was on the ground, Sophanispa led the way to the bungalow. She knocked furiously on the door.
Munkustrap opened it after the second barrage of knocks and was thoroughly surprised to find them on his doorstep.
"What has happened?" he asked.
"Macavity is coming tonight!" Sophanispa told him in an urgent whisper. "He is due near Tugger's tree later. Tugger and Bombalurina are held within his lair. I am going to rescue them when Macavity leaves his base and would like two helpers. Do you know who could possibly come with me?"
"My brother and I will come," Tantomile told her. She turned to Munkustrap. "These queens need to stay somewhere they perceive to be safe and your place seems to be the best for the moment."
Munkustrap nodded silently. He had not asked questions yet seemed to be in a stupor. The queens filed past him and began explaining to Demeter who shrieked in fear.
Tantomile and Sophanispa set out to a large cardboard box near a chair. Pouncival sat curled upon the chair sleeping. Tantomile however ignored this brother and knocked into the box. Coricopat's head popped above the edge of the box and looked at her with curiosity. His eyes flicked to Sophanispa and he immediately jumped out of the box, having communicated telepathically with his sister.
"We need one more person," Sophanispa told them. They stopped at the old dumpster and extracted Alonzo to help in the rescue. He was filled in as the four cats flew over the junk pile and into the trees.
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"We know they've been this way, at least," Sophanispa whispered as she picked up a leopard spotted bandana, usually tied around Tugger's leg. She fastened it around her own and continued on, leading the rest into Macavity's territory. They each knew of the danger and kept quiet, silently padding through the trees towards the compound.
Sophanispa showed them to a concealed cave in which they kept watch. When Macavity's wild body could be seen sprinting across the small wood, they knew it was safe to enter. Sophanispa led them into a small hole just big enough to admit a cat at a time. They were now inside and could hear crying down the hall. Sophanispa disabled the feeble guard near the entrance. They had come in the back way and were in the long stand of cells.
Sophanispa began by opening every door she passed, the occupants within fleeing quickly. Some held mice or other rodents. One held a particularly disgruntled rabbit. A few held Pekes that offered with freedom left the cats alone. Finally, they arrived at Bombalurina's cell. Sophanispa smashed the lock with a well placed kick and wrenched open the door. She beckoned Tantomile to follow her for if Macavity had done what she thought he had done, Bombalurina might not want to be touched by a tom.
She sat chained against the wall sobbing; her arms stained with blood form the shackles, one of her legs deeply gashed. Sophanispa broke through the chains binding her and lifted the larger queen to her feet. Tantomile helped her as well and together they got Bombalurina out of the cell.
"Take her and go back the way we came in," Sophanispa instructed Tantomile. "Take Alonzo with you. Coricopat and I will go for Tugger. Knowing you two are telepathic; tell us when you've gotten to the cave or if you've gotten into trouble. We'll meet you there." Sophanispa took off along the corridor, disappearing around a corner. Coricopat followed her with a last look at his sister.
Tantomile helped Bombalurina along as Alonzo kept his eyes open and soon they were back through the hole and inside the cave where Tantomile held the shaking Bombalurina in her lap, Alonzo holding her other hand and watching the outside of the cave. She sent a message to her brother, letting them know that they were safely inside the cave.
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"They have reached the cave," Coricopat told her in a deep voice. "Safely."
"Thank you, Coricopat," she said as they turned another corner. They were now in the main hall and Tugger could be seen dangling from his chains, his wrists worn raw from struggling and hanging. His cheek still bled freely and his eyes were closed.
Sophanispa knew how his chains worked. She had to reach behind him for the slits in the wall and find the trigger. The only problem was that the slits were barely big enough for her hands to fit inside and no one else could get him down meaning she had to unhook him and jump out of the way or he would fall on her. She wasn't sure she could support his weight.
She gave Coricopat an encouraging glance and stepped up to Tugger. He was tall enough that his feet still touched the floor as he dangled from the ceiling chains. She put both hands in either side of the wall near his torso and began searching for the niches in which the trigger would be.
She found them fairly easy and slid her small arms inside, trying to keep her chest form touching Tugger's. She couldn't reach like this and having no other choice, went on tiptoe and reached further into the wall, resting her body along the length of his. He opened his eyes, ready to fight off Macavity, but saw her instead. Never one to pass up an opportunity, he laughed. Sophanispa glared at him as she hit the trigger and tried to jump out of the way.
The chains slid away from the wall with a loud clattering noise and Tugger fell form the wall, pinning Sophanispa, just as she knew he would. He smiled at her as he stood and helped her up again, rubbing his wrists painfully.
"That could be heard outside," Coricopat informed them. Sophanispa nodded and grabbed both their arms, leading them towards the front. A loud cats call could be heard.
"She says Macavity is back, but not going towards the hole we came through," Coricopat said frightened.
"That means he's coming through this door!" Sophanispa whispered. She turned the other way, the toms following her. The wound their way through the twisting corridors and heard the front of the compound echo as Macavity erupted in anger.
"YOU LIED TO ME TUGGER!" he roared. His voice became even louder as he realized Tugger was not on the wall.
They had reached the hole. Coricopat slinked through first, followed by Tugger. Sophanispa, having an easier time of it, being smaller, crawled halfway though and screamed. She was being pulled back through the hole by Macavity. Tugger seized hr hands and pulled, Coricopat frozen with fear. Sophanispa gave a kick and was pulled back up through the hole, Macavity howling with anger. He attempted to follow them through but Tugger punched him in the face, blocking the hole with a boulder. It was only a matter of time before Macavity freed the boulder which was successfully wedged between the dirt and the metal wall of the lair.
Sophanispa tried to stand but her legs had been sliced to ribbons. Tugger and Coricopat spirited her away to the cave where they found Bombalurina unconscious and a very frightened Tantomile and Alonzo. Tugger hoisted Bombalurina in his arms, Coricopat carrying the smaller burden of Sophanispa while Alonzo and Tantomile fled before them hand in hand. The six cats returned to the junkyard later that night, the whole yard wanting to hear the tale of their escape. Tugger's tree had been completely trashed and so he, Bombalurina, and Sophanispa were taken to the bungalow so Jellylorum and Jennyanydots could administer cat style first aid to them. Coricopat, Tantomile, and Alonzo stayed as well, though Jennyanydots shooed anyone else who dared to enter off to mind their own business. The queens had left to their respective accommodations, leaving the bungalow free for the wounded, plus Munkustrap and Demeter.
~}~}~}~}~}~}~}{~{~{~{~{~{~{~
The three wounded lay in what would have been a human bathroom. The tub was filled with water (they were still connected to water) and Jennyanydots was cleaning The wounds on Tugger's wrists and face.
"I'm not hurt that bad!" he exclaimed. "Let me do it myself. Ow!" He winced as she washed out his scraped up wrists.
"I'm not letting you do anything for yourself," she told him. "You've been getting into trouble ever since you were a little kitten and you always asked me to let you clean your own scrapes. The one time I did, you came down with some cold that was particular to infectious cuts."
"All right," he growled. "Maybe that once. At least I don't use alcohol on the cuts. Ow!"
Bombalurina was sitting up and looking much better. Her cuts and scrapes were bandaged and she was even talking again, though she hadn't said a word about her ordeal. Sophanispa, on the other hand, had lost a lot of blood the night she had been pulled from the hole. Macavity had gouged her legs so badly that blood still showed through her bandages. She was still asleep as Jellylorum replaced her bandages.
Bombalurina now felt slightly guilty. Sophanispa had indeed risked her life to save her, though Bombalurina did not know that Macavity had in fact left the base. She remembered why she had left the junkyard and what Macavity had said about Tugger keeping Sophanispa alive and she decided to believe it.
Tugger, however, did not even seem to remember the reason Bombalurina had left. He was just glad to be back in the junkyard, though his stay in Macavity's tender care had been brief.
Sophanispa groaned and move under Jellylorum's gentle hands. She opened her green eyes slowly and blinked a few times. Attempting to sit up, she became extremely dizzy and nauseated. She put a paw to her temple in attempt to calm the pain.
"What-" she asked quietly. She looked around her in fear.
"It's all right now dear," Jellylorum told her. "No one will hurt you here."
Sophanispa relaxed a bit but still flinched any time someone came near her. She looked down at her bandaged legs and noticed the leopard spotted bandana still tied around her leg. She untied it and looked over at Tugger, who was busy making Bombalurina laugh.
"Hey, Tugger," Sophanispa called softly.
"Oh, you're awake!" he exclaimed. "You had a close one, there."
"I found this on the way there," she told him waving the bandana.
"Oh," he answered. "I didn't even notice it was missing." She passed it over to him.
Sophanispa settled back in her bed and allowed Jellylorum to fuss over her.
"See what can happen when you're mean to queens, Tugger," Jennyanydots scolded. "If you hadn't made Bombalurina mad-"
"It's okay, ma'am," Bombalurina told Tugger's mother. "It wasn't his fault. I just didn't understand what I was seeing and thought too fast, jumped to conclusions. If I hadn't run off, none of this would have happened."
Munkustrap entered the bathroom. "May I have a word with your patients?"
"Of course," Jennyanydots answered, leaving the room, Jellylorum in tow.
"I would like to know what happened," Munkustrap told them after the queens had left. "How did Macavity catch the two of you?"
And so the three delved into the story from the cold body of Sophanispa to waking up in the bathroom.
Munkustrap looked impressed somehow. He had known part of the story before hand but had not heard of the happenings within the compound, nor had he known of the battles waged in the minds of the cats.
"We will just have to guard ourselves more carefully from this point on," he announced to the three. "You're tree is ruined. You are welcome to stay here if you must."
"Thank you brother," Tugger answered sarcastically. "But I fear I must decline. Living under your roof would remind me all too much of being back at home. I wish for a dwelling, not a place to be scolded every five minutes."
Bombalurina and Sophanispa laughed at Munkustrap's exasperated face.
"Well," Munkustrap scoffed. "Would either of you ladies like to stay here?"
They looked at each other and laughed as Tugger imitated his brother.
"If they want to," he told Munkustrap. "They'll let you know."
The queens giggled as Munkustrap glared at his younger brother.
"As you wish then," he snarled. Tugger might have gone too far with his taunting of Munkustrap. He turned and left abruptly, leaving the three to giggle and chat amongst themselves.
"I think I'm gonna stay here," Sophanispa told them. "Demeter is really nice. What about you, Bombi?"
"I might stay here with my sister or I might go back to the car with Jemima," she replied.
"What do you mean in a car or Munku's house?" Tugger asked incredulously. "I thought you two were going to live with me?"
"I thought you didn't want me to live with you?" Sophanispa asked at the same time Bombalurina asked. "But your house is destroyed."
"It won't be destroyed forever," Tugger told Bombalurina. "Plus, I'll feel weird without anyone around anymore."
"It's a deal, then," Bombalurina exclaimed.
Well, that was chapter eight. Where to go from here, I'll think about. Damn, these are getting long. Did you know that the first chapter was only two pages long? All together, this story is *gasp* 68 pages long? Oh well. As long as you guys like it right? Keep reviewing. Keep trying for that prize. (it's nothin' really, just another picture) Hopefully my fic will soon be posted on another site called The Litterbox, if the web mistress likes it, that is.
I hope you guys continue to read. Get ready for chapter nine!