Well, well, well. What have we here? Might they be readers?
Mungojerry; Oi dunno 'bout 'at. Maybe they jus' wont ta bug ya by openen'
the page bu' no' readin'.
Ryoko; You aren't helping my self-esteem. How am I supposed to get out of
depression when you turn pessimist on me?
Mungojerry; Gee, oi din't know ya were d'pressed.
Ryoko; *sigh* Oh, well. On with the story. A few people were asking who
Victor was. He is not a made up character. I believe he was a swing in
London (or was it Broadway? . . .) Whatever. He's like Exotica. Swings are
sometimes forgotten BUT NOT BY ME! *pant, pant*
Mungojerry; There's som'mat wrong wit' ya!
Chapter Nine ~** Who to go With? **~
Demeter stretched her legs out and yawned. There was only a week left before the ball and much to be done in that time. She sat up on her rug and noticed that Munkustrap was already up an about. There was breakfast on the makeshift table and a small note attached.
"Meet me at the tire," it read. It was signed off with a beautifully looped M. Demeter smiled at the thought of Munkustrap still leaving these little gifts for her.
She stretched out some more and folded the note, putting it with the rest he had given her over the time they'd been together. Still smiling, she opened the door and crawled out into the sunshine.
There were cats scurrying everywhere, hanging up lights and clearing a place in all the junk for the ball. Pouncival and Tumblebrutus were pushing a larch broom across the ground to level off the accumulated dust and other powder like substances. Demeter waved to various felines as she made her way over to the tire where Munkustrap was sitting with a clipboard.
As cats checked in with him, he crossed off their names and the task that had been completed. The list, halfway finished, was still quite long and the Jellicles would have to do every bit of work quickly to have it done in time for the ball.
Demeter arrived at the edge of the tire and watched as Munkustrap argued with Skimbleshanks. When the dispute had been settled, Demeter nudged the silver tabby's knee to get his attention.
He looked at her over his clipboard and squinted his eyes. "Ah, yes. Demeter." He looked down at the clipboard and found a spot with his finger. "It says here that your duty for the ball is to take care of cat nip supplies. Have you done it yet?"
"Almost," Demeter answered. "Is that what you wanted? You told me to meet you here."
"Ah, yes," he said again, consulting the clipboard. "It also says that you are to go to the ball with Munkustrap."
Demeter smiled and nudged him again. "You didn't have to do that," she told him. "You know I'll go with you."
A crash brought their attention to somewhere along the side of the junkyard. Etcetera, Victor, Jemima, Admetus, and one bewildered looking Alonzo were in a heap covered in boxes, shoes, and other miscellaneous junk that had toppled from a rickety towering pile. Apparently, Alonzo had been attempting to clear the pile but unbeknownst to him, there were four cats within the pile, ready to jump out at him.
Alonzo untangled himself from the dog . . . er . . . cat pile and rounded on Admetus.
"Do you think it's funny to try and sabotage me?" Alonzo was very angry.
"Wasn't my idea! Geez 'lonzo! Get mad at the girls, not me!" Admetus had his hands up in defense.
Alonzo glared at Jemima and Etcetera and growled. Etcetera looked mortally wounded and Jemima started to cry. Munkustrap came up behind his brother at that moment.
Alonzo looked shocked. He knelt by the crying Jemima and put an arm around her shivering shoulders. "It's okay. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Jemima just sniffed and looked at him with big wet eyes. He patted her shoulder. "Are you all right now?" She nodded slowly and he stepped away.
"Now you need to clean this mess up," Munkustrap told the younger cats. Alonzo laughed and smirked, turning to walk.
"Hold it," Munkustrap said, grabbing Alonzo's tail to stop him from leaving. "Since this is your task anyway, you'll help them clean it up."
"But I didn't do it!" Alonzo answered incredulously. "I was going to do y own work but these kids decided to make a mess!"
"And now you'll help clean up," Munkustrap told him. Alonzo looked like he wanted to talk back again but thought better of it and turned to clean up with the others.
"All right," he said turning back to Demeter. "What else needs to be done concerning food?"
"Most of it is stable and well stocked," Demeter counted off. "Unless of course Pouncival goes on a blue cheese spree again. Then the tribe'll be sick due to his exotic sense of taste. We have more than enough catnip and I think we should install an age limit for cats like Victoria, Jemima, Electra, Sophanispa, Etc. . . ."
"We can't do that," Munkustrap told her. "They're all of age now. They aren't kittens anymore. What they get into while nipped is their own responsibility. I do think we should watch them. Tugger is not a threat. He only toys with them and nothing more comes of it but I am worried the younger toms such as Plato or Admetus, who may or may not prove to be responsible. You saw what happened just now. Toms that still act like kittens should be watched when taking nip."
"Is that going to be someone's job?" Demeter asked, dreading the answer.
"I haven't appointed anyone yet but I suppose Jennyanydots or Jellylorum would be ideal for this position."
"I don't think so," Demeter answered. "They'll be a bit too strict on them. We need someone who'll know when a cat's had enough. If we left it up to our mothers, there wouldn't be nip at all."
"Who fit's this description?" Munkustrap asked her incredulously.
"There are only a few cats in this tribe who would," Demeter answered. "Mungojerry and Rumpleteazer are religiously eating and stealing nip, so they'll know the signs of it. I would say Old Gus, but his cataracts will inhibit him. I used to be in company with the biggest nipper this planet may hold, I know the symptoms and I daresay Sophanispa knows them as well. If I am not mistaken, Bustopher Jones will know as well, though he may not admit it."
"I don't think a monitor is necessary," Munkustrap said after a brief period of thought. "If we can speak to a few of the people mentioned, I believe we can have them monitor in their own little groups. I think you can handle the older queens."
"I don't know," Demeter answered. "I wouldn't want to have to tell Cassandra or Exotica, lest they challenge me."
"Ask Teazer to help you," he added. "I think Mungojerry backing her along side you will give them something to think about. He and I can take care of the toms. Sophanispa can coax the younger queens to watch their level of the stuff. The older cats can take care of themselves and I don't think we'll have a problem with cats getting nipped."
"What about Tugger?" Demeter asked.
"Hmmm," Munkustrap thought. "It is probably out of the question to ask him to abstain from the nip, but if he put on a show of being controlled with it, maybe the others would follow. They all seem to idolize him and that would cut Mungojerry and my work in half. We'd only have to worry about Alonzo and Coricopat, plus. The queens would follow him as well."
"I'm not going to ask him," Demeter told Munkustrap bluntly. "If he doesn't do something outrageous, Bombalurina will comment, which she only seems to do in his presence."
"Fine," he told her, wrinkling his nose. "I don't particularly enjoy asking him of favors either. He never forgets that you owe him something, no matter how long ago the favor was." They arrived at a pile of rubbish containing a broken microwave with the back knocked out, a rusted wheel from a semi that served as a doorway, a beanbag salvaged from Tugger's wrecked tree, a torn kite hanging from the wheel peak, a long plank from a motorboat, a car trunk lid, a piece of a children's jungle gym, a RITZ® cracker box, and old carpet that resembled Deuteronomy's coat, a busted television, and a wooden chair with the crossbar missing.
There was no one around and the interior was silent.
"Don't tell me he's still sleeping!" Munkustrap exclaimed. "Lazy fool, Tugger! I'm coming in!" Munkustrap pulled back the kite remains and stepped inside the dim abode. Demeter followed without haste and her eyes quickly adjusted to the lack of light.
Tugger was sprawled on the beanbag chair, Bombalurina and Sophanispa on either side, using him as a human . . . er . . . cat pillow. They were asleep but he was calmly gazing at his brother and his companion.
"May I help you?" he asked. Sophanispa blinked awake at the sound of his voice, sat up, and stretched with a cavernous yawn. She smiled at Demeter, wiping the sleepers out of her eyes. She reached over and nudged the snoozing Bombalurina, "Oi! Wake up, Bombi!" The rouge queen yawned and murmured, opening one eye and spotting the newcomers. "Demi?"
"Wake up," Demeter called. "We have work to do!"
"Don't want to!"
Tugger laughed and sat up abruptly, allowing Bombalurina's head to clunk to the floor. She sat up fast and swiped at him. "Whatdya do that for, huh?"
Tugger laughed and skirted away from her, moving closer to Demeter and Munkustrap. "So what did you want?"
"Well," Munkustrap said, consulting the clipboard. "Bombalurina is due with the light hangers because of her height, and so are you, Tugger. Sophanispa is with Mistofolees, Victoria, and Electra, chasing the rats from the drainage pipe."
Okay," Sophanispa said, slipping out immediately. She was eager to get the work done for her first ball over with.
Bombalurina stretched seductively and glanced at Tugger who was paying no mind. He was standing now, taller than Munkustrap by a few inches, not counting his mane. He looked at the clipboard to make sure he wasn't being fooled, and then turned to exit.
"Tugger," Munkustrap indicated. "Wait a minute. I have something to ask of you."
"Make it quick," Tugger chided. "I don't have all day to talk to you. I have lights to string up."
"Concerning the ball in a week's time," Munkustrap began. "The younger cats are now of age to imbibe catnip."
"Good for them," Tugger said indifferently. "What do you want me to do about it?"
"Well," Munkustrap said reluctantly. "I know you're probably going to want to decline my request, but would you please try and set a basis for responsibility? I would like you to let the younger ones follow you in something worthwhile. Try and pass the message that if they take in too much nip, they may be degraded?"
"What's so degrading about getting nipped?" Tugger asked incredulously. "I'd do it all the time if I could get my paws on the stuff."
"That's my point," Munkustrap sighed. "They follow everything you do and I'm afraid that they'll all get completely nipped trying to compete with your rock hard tolerance."
"So you want me to lay off on the nip?" Tugger asked.
"Could you?"
"I don't know," he answered truthfully. "It would take some major motivation."
"What do you want?" Munkustrap asked, dreading the answer.
"Munku!" Demeter shrieked. "Never ask him what he wants! It'll be something you can't give him!"
Tugger grinned.
"Uh oh," Munkustrap and Demeter said simultaneously.
Tugger just laughed. "I'll think about it." He exited the flat and left the two cats to give each other dreadful looks.
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The four small cats chased the rats along the pipeline, the squeaking of the rodents filling the pipe with deafening echoes. Mistofolees led the group, followed closely by Sophanispa, Electra behind her, and Victoria bringing up the rear, struggling to keep her white coat clean. Mistofolees was zapping rats if they fell behind, sending the grimy rodents back to a cage in his dumpster.
The four cats emerged about a mile away from the junkyard. They had come to the end of the pipe and Mistofolees was going on a rat-zapping spree. The air was full of blue sparks and detached fur.
The three queens sat upon a sunny patch of grass nearby, Victoria stretching out on her stomach, Electra watching a butterfly, and Sophanispa dozing. Mistofolees cane over when he was finished and rolled along side Victoria. He looked a bit worn out after using his magic that profusely. He rolled onto his back, his tail hitting Sophanispa in the back. She turned to look at him, Victoria's head visible above his stomach. She suddenly remembered something.
"Hey, Misto," she called.
"Mmm?"
"Who's Quaxo?"
Victoria's head shot up and she looked at Sophanispa wide eyed. Mistofolees turned onto his side so he was facing the golden queen.
"Quaxo? That would be me, or my unmagical self," he answered. Sophanispa smiled and Mistofolees became confused. "Why?"
"No reason," she answered, glancing at Victoria's face. "I just wondered who he was."
They basked in the sun for a while longer and set back through the rodent free pipes.
They emerged back in the junkyard just before sunset. The lights were all hung and the tire actually gleamed under several layers of wax lifted from the garage down the road. The four cats went to find Munkustrap to have him check their names off the list.
Munkustrap was busy with Cassandra when the younger cats found him. She seemed appalled that she was to be given extra work.
"You're the only queen who can do that," Munkustrap told her exasperated. "Exotica can't because she's been seen there too many times and everyone else has high visibility. You can't be seen as easily!"
"But that stupid farmer shoots at cats." Cassandra pointed out. "I can't go stealing supplies when he's got his dogs and his trusty shotgun with him."
"We cin 'elp wit' at," Rumpleteazer said brightly, bringing Mungojerry over by the hand. "We're used ta stealin' frum 'at ol' farmer."
"And I can disguise them well enough that not even the dog will notice them," Mistofolees piped up. He looked at his paws, tiny flares of electricity sparkling on his fingertips.
"No more tonight, Misto," Sophanispa told him. You're still tired from the rats."
"Na," he answered. "I can do a bit more."
"I'm not going tonight anyways," Cassandra said, winking at Sophanispa. "I wouldn't want to tucker out Mistofolees."
Mistofolees looked indignant but he didn't say anything. The cats checked in with Munkustrap and Sophanispa pulled Mistofolees off with her. She entered the flat and was glad that the others weren't there.
"What's up with you?" Mistofolees asked as she bade him to sit.
"I found out who Victoria likes," Sophanispa said quickly, trying to hide her grin.
"Who?!" Mistofolees exclaimed, rolling to his knees.
"Remember the night I came and got Alonzo and went to rescue Bombi and Tugger? Well, earlier that night, you know the queens all came to the tree. They were playing a stupid game where you had to say who you liked and when it was my turn, I picked Victoria. She said a name I didn't recognize and no one would tell me who it was. They said to ask some of the people I hung around. I didn't want to ask Tugger because he's dumb but I thought I'd ask you. She likes Quaxo."
Mistofolees looked dumbfounded, his mouth slightly open and his eyes wide. A smile gently curved his lips until he looked like the happiest cat alive. His boyish features made him all the more handsome as he left the flat. Almost immediately after he left, Tugger entered, sweeping aside the kite remains and peering into the dim room.
Sophanispa glared up at him. "You were listening, weren't you?"
"I was listening the first time he told you he liked her too," Tugger enlightened her. He sat down next to her and slung an arm around her shoulders. She bluntly lifted his arm off but continued to sit beside him.
"Must you be so difficult?" Tugger scoffed.
"Must you be so conceited?" she retorted.
"No wonder you don't like anyone," he blurted. "You can't be a normal girl." He may have sensed that he had gone too far or maybe he felt her body tense beside him. He threw his hands up over his head and braced himself. And with good reason.
With a shrill battle cry, she flew at him, paws a blur. Being close to him, she didn't have enough momentum to hurt him. This only made her angrier and she nearly blew through the roof when he chuckled.
Batting her paws away, he jumped and pinned her flat to the ground, leaving no room for escape. She strained against him to no avail, finally complying and lying still, not looking at him.
"What's the matter with you?" Tugger shouted. He stopped when he saw the fading light glint off a tear falling slowly down her face. He let her up but she didn't rise. She curled into a fetal position and shivered. Tugger was dumbfounded, not knowing how to deal with a crying queen, or even why she was crying.
"Um . . . sorry," he whispered embarrassed.
"I hate it when you're right," she hissed.
"What?"
She looked up at him and her face was shining with tears and anger. "You said I wasn't normal. You don't know how right you are. There is something about me that would make your blood curl and sickens me as it is."
"What?" Tugger asked seriously. "Do you like queens?"
Her mouth dropped open and she was rendered speechless. Tugger almost thought he was right until she regained her voice. "You missed it completely, but you made me feel a little better."
"Why did you get so mad in the first place?" he asked, moving closer and pulling her into a sitting position. She seemed tired of fighting so she allowed him to maneuver her shoulders.
"You reminded me of something," she answered simply.
"You seem to say that after you go into your shivering fits," he remarked. "The first time you took my collar, you did it. You did it when I found you in my tree. I always remind you of Macavity?"
"Not always," she whispered looking at him. His brown eyes were serious and deep and this was the first time she noticed that he was actually quite handsome. When he leaned toward her, she didn't stop him.
'Wait a minute!' she thought. 'What am I doing?' She turned her head away from him at the last second and felt his warm breath against her neck. Instead, he kneaded her shoulders with his strong hands, bringing a quiet purr from her.
She was quite content to sleep and nodded off against his chest. He sat comfortably with her warmth against him, listening to the tribe busily getting ready for the ball. The sun set finally, and one by one, exhausted from working all day, the Jellicles retired to bed.
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She woke the next morning in a very good mood, warm, and still a bit sleepy. Opening her eyes, she discovered she had hardly moved. Tugger had slid down from a sitting position to a lying one. Sophanispa was still held to him and she noticed Bombalurina's arm over his waist. Neither of her friends had woken yet so she decided she'd go find breakfast.
She tried to sit up but Tugger's arms tightened around her and he shifted in his sleep. She found herself held tight against his chest, immobile and extremely embarrassed. She looked up at the ceiling and muttered, "You'd better be asleep, or I'm gonna kill you."
She sat still for a moment, waiting for him to relax and let her go. His arms finally went limp and she rolled away, shivering at the sudden lack of body heat. She left the sleeping Bombalurina to contend with him.
She stepped out into the junkyard, the sun gleaming on the cleared ground hurting her eyes. She looked around carefully, cautiously taking every detail before she sat down on the ground.
She knew the farmer would be leaving cream out for the cats so she scampered over to the farmland, her paws becoming wet with the early morning dew. These cats welcomed her though they knew nothing of her. All they knew was that Macavity was a bad cat and Sophanispa was his enemy. Methinks the enemy of my enemy doth be my friend.
She sidled up to a large black tom name Pharaoh and began to drink from the milk pail. She hadn't been here and the other cats had noticed. A particularly sassy queen named Asha snorted as Pharaoh hugged Sophanispa.
Asha came up, shoved the small queen aside, and grabbed Pharaoh. She snarled at Sophanispa. "What makes you think you can come here after what you've done?" she snapped.
"What have I done?" Sophanispa asked angrily. "What are you talking about?"
"He came here!" Asha hissed scathingly. "Macavity came looking for your hiding place and he killed Donny!"
Sophanispa's blood ran cold. Pharaoh, who had been warm to her when he saw her, turned a cold stare on her with his yellow eyes.
"What happened?" Sophanispa asked distantly. Pharaoh answered her in a deep voice.
"He came one night," he said slowly. "Screaming in a rage because he couldn't find you anymore. Said something about your mind being closed. He blew up the barn, killing Donny and Almond, who lived in the loft together."
"I-I'm sorry!" she cried. "I didn't know!"
"And now you eat our food like one of us!" Asha shouted, moving forward. Sophanispa staggered backwards and tripped. She was shocked that Macavity had come to the farm. These cats were helpless against him.
Asha lunged, her brown fur puffed up along her spine. She lashed out with her arm and four great scratches showed upon Sophanispa's chest. Pharaoh joined in along with an orange cat named Suboshi.
They pummeled the poor queen and she just sat and shook with anger at Macavity and the cats hurting her. Her eyes suddenly flashed and she was on her feet. The three cats fighting her backed up a bit but continued to laugh and sneer at her.
"Don't touch me again," she hissed at them. Asha cackled and flew at her once more. Sophanispa shot into the air and hovered above Asha. The two toms backed up in shock.
"Still want to fight?" Sophanispa hissed, blood dripping form her numerous wounds onto Asha's face. Asha turned slowly, keeping her eyes on Sophanispa, then darted towards the farm house. Sophanispa collapsed from exhaustion. She had never before levitated, and she hated herself for doing it. It proved something that she would rather die than reveal.
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Mungojerry, Rumpleteazer, Cassandra, and Mistofolees waited until dark to set out to the farmland. They had stopped by the bungalow to tell Munkustrap where they were going and overheard Tugger and Munkustrap in an intense argument. Apparently, someone was missing and Tugger wanted to go look for him or her. Munkustrap wouldn't allow it due to the present Macavity scare. Tugger had lunged at Munkustrap, stopping himself just in time. He gave his brother a glare to melt hell and left, bumping Mungojerry on the way out, not even looking back to apologize.
"Who's got'en inta 'im?" Mungojerry scoffed when the maned cat was out of earshot.
"It sounds like he's looking for someone," Cassandra purred. "Maybe Bombalurina's been caught again."
They turned to Munkustrap and filled him in on their mission. He gave them the okay and they left the bungalow.
The sun had set not long before but the darkness was already stifling and tangible heat covered the land. The four Jellicles crossed the boundaries and changed direction, heading for the farm.
Crickets silenced themselves as the cats crossed the now dry grass, picking up their shrill chirping once they were sufficiently alone. Cassandra crept along at a cautious pace but the others weren't concerned much about safety.
Rumpleteazer was chatting animatedly to Mungojerry, her tinny voice barreling along as her tale escalated. Just when Cassandra was about to shush her, Rumpleteazer ate it, falling to the dark grass with a squeal.
"Be quiet, Teazer," Cassandra hissed quietly. "I don't want to get caught!"
"There's som'mat down 'ere!" Rumpleteazer told her. "Som'mat wet an' warm."
"Eew," Cassandra commented.
Mungojerry kneeled by Rumpleteazer and rummaged around on the ground. "Oye," he exclaimed. "There's a cat down 'ere!" He lifted the torso of the cat and they got a good look at her.
"It's Sophanispa!" Mistofolees pointed out. Cassandra was shivering in fear.
"She's thrashed," Mungojerry muttered breathlessly. Rumpleteazer was staring at her hands, which were covered in blood.
The mission to the farm was obviously postponed. Mungojerry lifted Sophanispa carefully, trying not to disturb her in case something was broken. She was breathing in short gasps and her pulse was faint but she was alive. The cats returned slowly to the junkyard.
"We need to move faster," Cassandra whispered. "Whatever did that will still be nearby. What if she's bait and Macavity's lurking around here?"
"Oi can' move any fasta. She moight be too 'urt ta tek the fasta pace," Mungojerry told her in an annoyed voice. Rumpleteazer was furiously rubbing her hands on her legs.
"Oi can' ge' it off!" she exclaimed, brandishing her hands which were covered in a brown coagulated film of blood.
"Try scratching it off," Mistofolees suggested. The lights in the junkyard could be seen in the distance and the cats trudged on.
As they neared the yard, Bombalurina and Demeter rushed out to meet them. They looked frantic and worried and when they caught sight of Mungojerry's burden, they ran even faster towards the group.
Mungojerry knelt and allowed the two queens to take Sophanispa into their laps. Jemima came a few minutes later and cried out when she saw her friend.
"Someone get Munkustrap," Demeter ordered, taking charge of the situation. Bombalurina moved to go but Demeter held her fast.
"No," she hissed. "Not you. Mistofolees, get Munkustrap. Quickly!" The tom sped off as the cats knelt around Sophanispa and the two queens tending her. She had slashed down her chest, across her face, along her legs, her arms; even her back was covered in deep slash marks.
"These look like they were done by cats," Demeter assessed. "But there were many cats, not just one. I think Macavity has found followers." She shivered and Sophanispa drew in a long breath, her eyes tightly closed.
Munkustrap arrived, along with Tugger. The maned tom sucked in a noisy intake of breath and cursed. "Shit!"
Munkustrap knelt next to Mungojerry and looked the queen over. "Does anyone know what happened?"
"Only one who knows anything is her," Cassandra told him. "We found her like that."
Munkustrap stood quickly. "Get her to the bungalow immediately. Her life is in danger. She's lost a lot of blood and she's probably in shock. Get my mother and Jellylorum and make sure that she isn't disturbed." Munkustrap turned to leave but Tugger stopped him.
"You know we could have avoided this if you had let us search for her earlier," Tugger spat. "Why are you being so nonchalant about it?"
"It doesn't do one good to dwell on the past," Munkustrap told him. "I am sorry but rather than risk the cats you would have taken with you to search for her, we risked only one life."
"She risked her own life to come to us," Tugger exclaimed angrily. "She knows better than any of what Macavity is capable and she still came to help us, to warn us."
"That is irrelevant," Munkustrap answered curtly, continuing on his way.
"Why?" Tugger shouted, following his brother. The other cats were watching the argument with wide eyes. "She in long term effect, saved lives. She didn't even know us, and she still came to our rescue. The tribe owes her their lives and you can't even pay up!"
Munkustrap turned back to face Tugger, fury in his eyes. "She brought Macavity down upon us! If she had not come, he would still be using her as target practice in his hovel, leaving us alone." WHACK!
Munkustrap's head jerked to the side and he staggered. Tugger dropped his arm from the backhand he had just delivered to his brother. "You wouldn't be saying these things if you had been stuck in Macavity's lair. You don't know what it's like in there."
"I have heard about it several times from you and the queens who have been there," Munkustrap began. "I think I can imagine-"
"Well, you haven't been listening very well, have you," Tugger berated him. "And don't even try to imagine it. You won't come close. Stop acting like this isn't partially your fault." Tugger turned around and lifted the limp form of Sophanispa. Bombalurina stood as he did, helping Demeter to her feet. The red queen followed Tugger while Demeter went to Munkustrap. She touched his arm and he flinched away, not looking at her.
"Munkustrap," she whispered. "She'll be fine. It's not your fault."
"No," he hissed. "He has a point. If I had listened to him earlier, she might have been found before this. But those wounds are older than when he came to me. She was hurt before he noticed she was missing."
"Don't blame yourself just because Tugger had a tantrum," Demeter told him.
"And what of the girl?" he asked, finally looking at her. "What would you say of my accusation?"
Demeter opened her mouth and closed it. She shook her head and walked ahead of Munkustrap. "You do not understand what it is like for a queen inside Macavity's lair. Tugger does not even understand that much, though he is closer than you are. Do not say that about her again. She was not being selfish when she left." Demeter returned to the junkyard. Mungojerry and Rumpleteazer, along with Cassandra rushed past the stoic Munkustrap.
When they were gone, Munkustrap put a paw to his cheek where Tugger had hit him.
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She slowly opened her eyes and saw a blurry face above her framed by golden fur. A wet cloth was being rubbed along her face.
"Mom?" she asked, the golden fur of the blur triggering something in her young memory.
"Not exactly," Tugger said, slightly laughing. Sophanispa blinked several times, clearing her eyes. Tugger came into focus, a sopping cloth in his hand. They were in the flat.
"I brought you here instead of the bungalow," he explained. "Munkustrap was being stupid so I asked Jellylorum to help me get your wounds cleaned. She left a few minutes ago with instructions to wash the wounds first with water, then this stuff," he held up two bottles, one brown, and the other grayish white.
"Where's Bombalurina?" Sophanispa asked weakly.
"She's getting food," Tugger answered, wringing out the blood soaked cloth in a bucket. He wet it again and dabbed at her legs until the blood was restricted to the cuts. He then moved to her back, making her lean forward to allow him room to clean.
"Okay," he said when he was done. "Now comes the hard part. This bottle," he held up the grey one. "Contains alcohol, which is very painful. I am supposed to use it on your cuts to sterilize them. Would you rather me not?"
"Na," Sophanispa told him. "Do it."
"Are you sure?"
"Just do it!"
"Your funeral," he muttered. He poured the alcohol on the rag and pressed it to her cheek. She gritted her teeth but didn't make a noise. He continued to swab the area of her cuts, going down her neck, gently dabbing down her chest, not lingering or even giving room for her to yell at him. She didn't even say anything until her got to her legs. She cried out when the liquid met her wounds, for they were deeper there.
"It's all right," he said soothingly, doing those wounds quickly. He moved to her back and she shook with pain as he disinfected the wounds.
Next, he put iodine peroxide on everything, to keep it sterile. This didn't hurt much except when he dabbed a bit too hard. After the iodine, he wrapped her various wounds in bandages and stepped back to admire his work.
She looked up, a few tears in her eyes. She smiled up at him and her face managed to look sad at the same time. "Thanks."
"Are you going to tell me what happened?" Tugger asked.
"I suppose," Sophanispa answered, settling down on the floor. She sat up immediately and writhed. The wounds hurt under the bandages. "I can sleep like this!"
She tried to get comfortable and finally settled for lying on her side.
"I went to the farm this morning for breakfast. I used to go there all the time before I was locked up. The cats there attacked me because of Macavity. He had gone there looking for me and had killed some of their number. They blamed me, and attacked."
"What made them stop?" Tugger asked. "I don't mean that I wanted them to keep going, but did someone else come? Why didn't they kill you?"
"I think they meant to kill me but . . . something . . . happened," she did not want to tell him what that something had been.
"What was it?" he asked, predictably.
"They got scared off by something," she said quickly, not wanting to reveal any more.
"Did you see what this something was? Was it a Peke?"
"No," she said gloomily. "It was me."
"You scared them off?"
"Yes," she answered.
"How?"
"I . . . can't . . . I don't want to say," she answered, tears falling from her eyes.
He touched her shoulder and their eyes met. "You can tell me. I won't say a thing to anyone."
She sniffled and looked into his brown eyes. She wanted to trust someone but she didn't know if Tugger, of all people, would be the one to tell. She decided to try him.
"I flew," she said shortly.
"You ran?"
"No," she told him. "I mean I flew in the air. I levitated and it scared them off."
He was silent for a moment and she could see him thinking.
"Where did you learn to fly?" he asked slowly.
She sighed and decided to tell the truth. "You can't learn to fly. I was born with the ability."
"Hey," he said, his face lighting up. "That's kinda cool. If you could fly, why did I have to carry you up the trunk every time you needed in the tree?"
"I can't just fly," she told him. "I need incentive. I've only done it twice and I collapsed after both times. It takes too much energy and I don't want to be able to fly anyways."
"Why not?" Tugger asked. "You can catch birds and stuff. It's fun, I bet."
"I'm not the only one who can fly," Sophanispa muttered. "Think about what that means." She closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Tugger sighed. "I still don't understand you." He took the bottles and extra swaddling back to Jellylorum and returned to find Bombalurina asleep as well. He lay down beside her and fell into a deep sleep where he dreamed that Sophanispa with angel wings was trapped in a box and Demeter was running away from her while Macavity laughed in the background. He woke later in the night, knowing his dream had woken him. He tried to remember what it was, but couldn't recall it. He checked Sophanispa to make sure she was still there. Some blood was showing through a few bandages but other than that, everything was fine. He closed his eyes and returned to sleep.
~}~}~}~}~}~}~}{~{~{~{~{~{~{~
He woke the next morning to find Bombalurina awake and staring at him.
"What?"
"I didn't hear you come in last night," she told him suspiciously.
"I was taking some stuff back to Jellylorum," he told her. "I came in and you were fast asleep. I'd only been gone a few minutes so I figured you had had a long day to conk out in less that five." She looked mistrusting but he could see she was fighting a losing battle. She'd be dreaming about him again by noon.
"You'll never guess what happened," Bombalurina squealed in excitement.
"You blew up the car?"
"No!" she exclaimed. "Jemima got a date to the ball! My little sister's all grown up!"
"That's nice to know," Tugger whispered, scooting closer to Bombalurina. She pretended not to notice but inside, she was quivering.
"Yeah! She went up and asked Alonzo last night," Bombalurina continued, giggling nervously. "She spent a good part of the day working up her courage."
"That's weird," Tugger said absently. "I thought Alonzo was into sleek, darker queens. Plus, the tom is supposed to ask the queen. It makes us look more in charge. We look undermined if the queen asks us."
"He refused her," Bombalurina said, ignoring his little brag. "She said he looked and sounded very sorry, but he refused all the same."
"Well, there's my point. You just said she had a date," Tugger recounted.
"Yes," Bombalurina agreed. "She was walking back to the car, looking all sad, when Pouncival came out of nowhere and asked her. She said she was so flustered she agreed without thinking about it!"
"Uh-oh," Tugger thought aloud.
"She says she's still going to go with him," Bombalurina assured him. "Wouldn't hurt to try, anyways."
"Of course," Tugger whispered. During her last few sentences, he'd moved from beside her, to nearly over her, his nose just inches away. She had frozen, not breathing lest she endanger her position.
"Last time we did this," she whispered. "You dropped me on my ass!"
"Last time," he added. "The whole tribe was watching." He kissed her lightly and her pulse broke the charts. His hands found her waist and he held her tightly, his arms curving around her back.
"Don't tell me the Rum Tum Tugger was embarrassed," she purred.
"Na," he grinned. "It'd just be a shame to lose my image. Next thing you'd know, the queens would be after Munkustrap. Now that'd be embarrassing!" He kissed her again and this time she wasn't shocked into a stupor.
After a while, they lay still, basking in each other's warmth.
"Well," Bombalurina said.
Tugger just kept snuggling. She tried clearing her throat.
"What?" Tugger asked.
She gave him a meaningful look.
"I know that's supposed to mean something," he said smiling. "Can you give me a hint?"
She scoffed and pushed him away. "You just got done buttering me up and you ask a stupid question like that?" She stood up and went through the makeshift doorway. "Eat sand and choke, Peke scum!" And with that, she was gone.
Tugger shook his head. "What did I do?"
~}~}~}~}~}~}~}{~{~{~{~{~{~{~
Sophanispa woke up a little after the scene with Bombalurina and she found Tugger sitting against the wall with a very frustrated look on his face.
"What's wrong?" Sophanispa asked. She sat up and grimaced.
"She left!" he exclaimed, his voice slightly higher than usual. "I just gave her the moment of her present life and she got all huffy and left!"
"Bombalurina?"
"Nah," he said sarcastically. "The Everlasting! Of course, Bombalurina!"
"What is it you did?"
"I don't know!" he snapped. "She was going on about how Jemima found a date to the ball and then I sort of kissed her. She enjoyed it!"
Sophanispa's eyebrows went up. "I would have killed you, but that's just me. Anything else?"
"Well," he thought about it. "We were on the floor and she sort of looked at me funny and said 'Well,'" and I didn't know what she was talking about so I asked her and she got all pissy and left!" Tugger was really in a state over this. It wasn't every day a queen turned him down. That is, until he met Sophanispa.
"Is it possible that while she was talking about Jemima, she might have dropped a hint?" Sophanispa asked.
Tugger thought some more. "I guess. She looked all excited while she was telling me the story. She went to ask Alonzo out!"
"She's going with Alonzo?"
"No," Tugger said seriously. "She's going with Pounce. I think it might be because she asked Alonzo instead of waiting for toms to come to her."
"What?"
Tugger looked at her strangely. "In these types of situations," he began. "It's traditional for the toms to ask the queens. Maybe Alonzo didn't go with her because she asked him."
"Or maybe he's going with Tantomile," Sophanispa added. "You remember them the night we rescued you. He'd probably asked her around then-" her face suddenly became shocked.
"What?" Tugger asked frantically. "What happened?"
"I know why she's mad at you!"
"WHY!"
"She wanted you to ask her to the ball!" Sophanispa enlightened him. "She probably told you about Jemima to remind you of the upcoming event and then you went and ranted about the toms asking the queens and she was all ready for you to ask! And you blew it big time!"
Tugger's face was pale but he regained color after a few moments. "That's all she wanted? Geez! You guys make big deals out of nothing at all!"
Sophanispa shrugged. "Maybe you should go find her and ask her."
Tugger nodded and left the flat in a hurry. A few minutes later, Mistofolees and Victoria entered.
"We heard about last night and thought we'd bring breakfast," Victoria told her, offering a bowl covered in plastic. "This was left near the edge of the yard." Sophanispa, not used to humans, slashed at the plastic wrap instead of peeling it. She sniffed at the cream within and dug in, thanking them vigorously.
"So who are you going to the ball with?" Victoria asked eagerly.
"No one," Sophanispa answered a bit defensively. "What about you?"
"We're going together!" Victoria exclaimed. "He asked me last night!"
"Oh really," Sophanispa said, giving Mistofolees a grin. "Nice work!"
"Why don't you ask someone?" Mistofolees suggested. Victoria looked stricken.
"What?" he asked her. "What's wrong?"
"It wouldn't be right for the queen to ask the tom," she told him. "The only reason Jemima did it was because Electra dared her to. Under those circumstances, it's perfectly fine, but the tom must approach the queen under normal ones."
"Well," Sophanispa told them, lurching herself to her feet. "I hate to tell you guys, but it's not going to happen. I'll go by myself, if I'm well enough by then."
"We've all got to meet in front of the tire this afternoon," Mistofolees informed her.
"Why?" she asked frantically. "Has someone disappeared again?"
"No silly," Victoria said giggling. "This is just for instructions. Who's going to sing what and who's going to dance with whom in the mating dance. I was stuck with Plato last year so I know how it is with someone weird. You don't want to get with anyone weird for the ball."
"I ended up with Electra," Mistofolees laughed. "And funnier still, Tugger had to dance with mom!" the three of them laughed. Bombalurina came in and her face was in her pout.
"Boys suck!" she exclaimed. "They don't even take a hint! Now he's following me all over the place! I can't get rid of him!"
"He wants to ask you to the ball," Sophanispa told her. He figured it out after you left.
"Translation," Bombalurina said. "You woke up and found him in a snit and figured it out for him."
"Would I do that?"
"Mungojerry and Rumpleteazer?"
"Friendly act!"
"Victoria and Mistofolees?"
"I made a promise!
"What?" Victoria asked curiously.
"TANTOMILE AND ALONZO!!!?" she exclaimed.
"That was together before the night you were rescued. You just happened to see them for the first time while with me."
"If he asks me," she spat. "I'm not going. It'd serve him right to dance with his mother again. Jennyanydots knows exactly what her son's like and she'll give him the rap again!" With that, she sat on the floor and started chucking small stones at the kite remains. Someone one the other side of the tarp yelped and stepped through.
"I'm not doing it," Bombalurina snapped. "I don't care how much he begs."
"If who begs?" a mellow voice asked. Coricopat stepped through the door. His pretty, orange eyes swept the room, landing on Bombalurina and Sophanispa.
"Hello," he greeted.
"Are you looking for Tantomile?" Sophanispa asked.
"Uh, no," he stammered. "I was um . . . looking for . . . a-um." he looked to Victoria and Mistofolees for support. Mistofolees' face went blank for a moment and Sophanispa had the idea that he was listening to something in his mind. He glanced at the two female occupants of the flat and smiled. Tugger chose that moment to enter the flat, his eyes going directly to Bombalurina.
Mistofolees, also not a man of opportune moments, told us what Coricopat had come for.
"My good friend Coricopat is feeling shy and he wondered if any of the ladies in this room would like to go with him to the ball?" Mistofolees said in one breath. Victoria looked at Sophanispa excitedly, Sophanispa looked at Mistofolees with wide eyes, Coricopat gazed at Sophanispa, Mistofolees glanced nervously at Tugger, Tugger looked in wide-eyed surprise at Coricopat, and Bombalurina glared at her maned stalker.
"I'll go with him," she said nonchalantly, glaring acid at Tugger. He looked at her with a gasp. "You'll what?"
"I," Bombalurina said standing. "Will gladly," she said as she stepped to the door. "Go with Coricopat," she grabbed the Witch's cat's arm. "To the Jellicle ball!" And with that, she was gone, along with Coricopat.
"That was weird," Sophanispa said softly. She turned to Tugger. "What happened?"
"She kept running from me!" he stuttered. He looked to Sophanispa. "You're on a role you know. Not one queen has asked me to the ball yet. Last year, I had at least four. It seems as soon as one rebels, the rest are all following."
"Don't try to pin you're back luck on me," she said indignantly.
Mistofolees cleared his throat. Everyone in the flat looked at him.
"Coricopat's original message had been more discreet," Mistofolees announced. He had meant to only ask Sophanispa but seeing as he is gentle and kind in nature, he thought it would be prudent to ask Bombalurina as well, just in case she was insulted that he wouldn't have asked her." Mistofolees ended, looking embarrassed.
"Perfect!" Tugger exclaimed. He turned to Sophanispa. "Go tell him the mistake! You're Coricopat's date, and Bombalurina's mine!" Sophanispa gave him a look that clearly said she didn't want anything to do with him. Mistofolees cleared his throat again. Tugger threw him a murderous look.
"I'm sorry but there are a few things to consider," Mistofolees told him sheepishly. "If you continue to carry on like this, your hard earned image will be damaged."
Tugger soaked that in and almost immediately calmed down to the point of speaking and not yelling.
"Who you take to the ball will not necessarily be who you dance with at the ball," Mistofolees pointed out. "If I remember, you ended up taking mother last year, and most of the time you were paired with Bombalurina."
Tugger still looked angry, but the anger had been cooled from white- hot frustration to glowing embers under water.
"All right," he said quite calmly. "I'll try to find someone else." He exited the flat.
Sophanispa giggled. "Oops."
"He'll be back," Victoria said as a matter of fact-like.
"Oh, God I hope not," Sophanispa answered.
~}~}~}~}~}~}~}{~{~{~{~{~{~{~
The next day, Sophanispa was able to walk on her own again and she still didn't have a date for the ball. It wasn't as if she needed one. She could go alone. It was what Grizabella did on her night of the ball. She had been somehow incorporated into a few of the dances, and not just the group ones. Jennyanydots had given her lines with Victoria up to Sophanispa, seeing, as Victoria never wanted to sing alone. Her parts in some of the introductions of different cats were strange as well. In Tugger's song, she was expected to either sit back with Munkustrap and the older cats, or go gallivanting after her maned friend along with most of the other queens. She decided running after him with everyone else would be fun. She wasn't obligated to catch him, after all. And Etcetera was keeping her scream.
It was going to be fun, and she wouldn't let anything get her down. She spent the day before the ball With Jemima, Etcetera, Victoria, Electra, and Tantomile. It was just those queens and then, miraculously, toms began showing up.
First to show was Alonzo. He nervously looked at Jemima and sat beside Tantomile, their fingers entwining as soon as his butt touched the ground. Pouncival came up behind him and Jemima's face lit up when she saw him. They were very cute together. Mistofolees found his way over and suddenly Victoria looked flushed. She smiled prettily and he slid in next to her. Etcetera, Electra, and Sophanispa exchanged looks. None of them had dates. Two silhouettes emerged over the hillside and the three single queens looked to the horizon. When they came into focus, Victor and Tumblebrutus appeared. Two out of three queens slumped back in disappointment, the third not caring about sexual orientation. In fact, Tumblebrutus walked right up to Etcetera and asked her in front of everybody. She was shocked, as was everyone else. She nodded profusely and Tumblebrutus knelt to join her.
"I thought you were gay!"
"Huh? Who told you that?"
"No one," she said quickly, looking at Electra. "I told you!" Electra wasn't listening. She had her own surprise. Victor had handed her a flower.
"Will you go with me to the ball tomorrow night?" he asked.
"Yep!" she answered enthusiastically, sending a look of triumph into the setting sun, placing the flower behind on of her perky ears. Sophanispa felt left out, just a little. She didn't have a date, and her singing parts were minimal, but then all the younger cats' parts were minimal.
It was another Jellicle tradition for the couples to spend the night before the ball together. Not to do anything suspicious, but to be more in harmony with their partner so the ball would go smoother. The idea was that their hearts would synchronize and their minds would know each other. A Jellicle never learns the words they sing. They just know.
And as every cat but herself went to a special niche with their partner to synchronize, she went home to the flat.
She flopped down on the floor and peeled off the last of her bandages, leaving them off for the night. She would be alone, so it really didn't matter. She wouldn't be bumped by anyone or sat on rudely. The flat was hers.
She fell asleep against the wall, her head resting on her knees.
She awoke a while later and knew there was someone inside the flat. Since she wasn't expecting anyone, she automatically jumped to Macavity. She took a sniff of the air and couldn't detect anything different, but someone was there! She could feel it and se them just beyond her senses. She jumped into action when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She flew at the intruder, scratching and spitting to scare them away. Her limbs still hurt a bit but she could use them well enough. Apparently, she still needed recovery time because the intruder pinned her to the floor and covered her mouth with his paw.
"Don't you know how to be quiet?"
"What are you doing here?" Sophanispa whispered. "Why aren't you with your partner?"
"I never got one!"
"I find that hard to believe," Sophanispa told him. "What about Jennyanydots?"
"Mom? She's talked dad into dancing this year on account of this being one of her last balls."
"Jellylorum? Cassandra? Exotica?"
"All taken, not to mention Jellylorum would have eaten my face for pissing Bombalurina off again. You're my last resort, babe."
"You wanna get off me? My cuts still hurt."
He rolled off. "Maybe if you hadn't tried to kill me when I came in they wouldn't hurt so badly."
"Maybe if you would have warned me you were coming I wouldn't have had a Macavity attack on you."
Tugger was about to say something but he stopped abruptly. "We can't fight right now. We need to get ready."
"What exactly is going to happen tomorrow?" Sophanispa asked him.
"Well," he began, stretching out beside her. "We'll all make some tiny entrance at the beginning. My mom did this weird thing last year where my mane was invisible and the part that was visible was darker. It was sort of cool, but I don't think I'm going for maneless this year." Sophanispa was staring at him as if he were an idiot.
"Anyways," he continued. "Munkustrap told me this evening that he wants the kittens of last year to hold bigger parts this year. Since you've never held any parts, and Old Deuteronomy put in a good word for you, you now have a total of one solo."
"Okay," she said. "I'm a little lost. Where is this solo?"
"At the end of the first batch," he told her. "It used to belong to Grizabella as the chorus cat but she's gone. The rest of her solos are gone as well, but we need this one small hole filled. You are also doing the duet shorties with Victoria."
"Any other surprises?" I asked him nonplussed.
He grinned and his teeth could be seen in darkness. "You may or may not like the next thing I am going to say but there is a teensy weensy part in my song that Bombalurina has flatly refused to do."
"Why has she refused?"
"It's sort of intimate," he explained.
Sophanispa gave a blank stare. "I've never seen this done. I'm working blind."
"It's a part where she comes over and we dance together and then she does this high kick and gets real close," he demonstrated, moving their faces closer together. "The lyrics at the time are 'I only like what I find for myself, no!' and I'm supposed to drop her on her stomach. Only she doesn't want to dance with me at all! Someone's going to have to take over all her dancing parts, or at least the ones with me in close vicinity."
"Not happening," Sophanispa told him. "I'll only know what gets passed to me on that night. My part isn't hers and most of her charts will be with her. I can't dance it if I don't know it."
"Maybe you could talk to her," he whispered.
"That's no good either," Sophanispa said. "If she bails, which I doubt, I move in and save the day. I think that plan will work. I'll ask her about that one part but you're on your own for the rest."
"Oh," Tugger said uncomfortably. "I have to tell you about your other . . . parts. Munkustrap thinks it's a good idea, since you know so much, to sing with Bombi and Demi if Macavity drops by, which he's bound to do."
"I can't do that!" she exclaimed. "They'd kill me!"
"Not if you made your own stanza," he pointed out.
"Munkustrap's going to get me killed!"
"There's something else he wants you to do," Tugger said. "But I'm not going to tell you because you'll just get mad."
"Are you sure I'll get mad?"
"Pretty sure. He wants you to duet with someone on a song."
"Why me?"
"I think he's guilty because of your wounds and what he said," Tugger assessed.
"What did he say?"
"I'd rather not," Tugger sighed. "He was pretty provocative, blaming stuff on you, Macavity you know?"
Sophanispa groaned. "I blame myself for Macavity bothering you. If I hadn't escaped, he'd still be using me as target practice."
"Don't say that," Tugger said. He turned all-serious all of a sudden. "Don't you ever say that! You might be dead, and for what? To have Macavity able to enter our minds and no reason for others suddenly dropping off dead in their sleep? Munkustrap sees you as selfish because he's never been on the bad side of Macavity's lair. He's never even tried to imagine it. And of course, Demeter's happy to leave him in ignorance because she certainly doesn't want to relive the experience. I bet if Munkustrap was kidnapped, he'd see this all a different way, and it would be for the better."
"I can't help but think it's my fault, though," she said still. If I'd never come, I'd never have died in your tree, and Bombalurina wouldn't have ever gotten captured, and you wouldn't have been nabbed, and I wouldn't have gotten hurt, and your tree would still be there, and-"
"Quiet," he whispered, putting a finger to her lips. "We're supposed to be synchronizing our hearts or whatever that junk means."
"You know" Sophanispa yawned into his chest. "I used to think you were just a womanizing idiot who happened to be a jerk. I think you're a really nice guy sometimes. Thanks." And with that, she fell asleep in his arms, her head against his chest. She had willingly fallen asleep in his arms, she knew she was there, and she wasn't there for any other reason than she finally felt comfortable around him. He sighed and hugged her. He kissed her forehead and whispered. "No. Thank you." He didn't know what he was thanking her for, but he knew he'd find out soon enough. He went to sleep and sometime before dawn, their hearts clicked into place, their rhythms identical to each other.
Well, that was interesting. Nobody gasp . . . yet. You guys don't know what's going to happen.
Mungojerry; Ha-ha! Oi do! Oi know Whot's goin' 'appen! Ryouko; Could be worse. I could have everybody die! Mungojerry; Yeah, but on account 'at she ain't 'at cold, on'y one's gon' boite it! Ryouko; MUNGOJERRY! Don't listen to him! He's lying! No one is going to die! Not really, maybe . . . okay not for a while anyways.
I hoped you guys like it so far. I know the original character with Tugger is getting old but you should see what I've got in store. You think you know me? None of you know me! Don't hate me for what's gonna happen; hate me for what's already happened! Anyways, either I haven't had any new readers or you guys are waiting for this chapter. Enjoy please. I have a sight now. .It's permanently under construction for the moment but some of the image pages are up as well as Cats Casted and my person page, which might make you cry (just don't look at the picture at the end too carefully. I'd been marching for 2 ½ hours with a beret and uncomfortable uniform on and have bad hair!
Chapter Nine ~** Who to go With? **~
Demeter stretched her legs out and yawned. There was only a week left before the ball and much to be done in that time. She sat up on her rug and noticed that Munkustrap was already up an about. There was breakfast on the makeshift table and a small note attached.
"Meet me at the tire," it read. It was signed off with a beautifully looped M. Demeter smiled at the thought of Munkustrap still leaving these little gifts for her.
She stretched out some more and folded the note, putting it with the rest he had given her over the time they'd been together. Still smiling, she opened the door and crawled out into the sunshine.
There were cats scurrying everywhere, hanging up lights and clearing a place in all the junk for the ball. Pouncival and Tumblebrutus were pushing a larch broom across the ground to level off the accumulated dust and other powder like substances. Demeter waved to various felines as she made her way over to the tire where Munkustrap was sitting with a clipboard.
As cats checked in with him, he crossed off their names and the task that had been completed. The list, halfway finished, was still quite long and the Jellicles would have to do every bit of work quickly to have it done in time for the ball.
Demeter arrived at the edge of the tire and watched as Munkustrap argued with Skimbleshanks. When the dispute had been settled, Demeter nudged the silver tabby's knee to get his attention.
He looked at her over his clipboard and squinted his eyes. "Ah, yes. Demeter." He looked down at the clipboard and found a spot with his finger. "It says here that your duty for the ball is to take care of cat nip supplies. Have you done it yet?"
"Almost," Demeter answered. "Is that what you wanted? You told me to meet you here."
"Ah, yes," he said again, consulting the clipboard. "It also says that you are to go to the ball with Munkustrap."
Demeter smiled and nudged him again. "You didn't have to do that," she told him. "You know I'll go with you."
A crash brought their attention to somewhere along the side of the junkyard. Etcetera, Victor, Jemima, Admetus, and one bewildered looking Alonzo were in a heap covered in boxes, shoes, and other miscellaneous junk that had toppled from a rickety towering pile. Apparently, Alonzo had been attempting to clear the pile but unbeknownst to him, there were four cats within the pile, ready to jump out at him.
Alonzo untangled himself from the dog . . . er . . . cat pile and rounded on Admetus.
"Do you think it's funny to try and sabotage me?" Alonzo was very angry.
"Wasn't my idea! Geez 'lonzo! Get mad at the girls, not me!" Admetus had his hands up in defense.
Alonzo glared at Jemima and Etcetera and growled. Etcetera looked mortally wounded and Jemima started to cry. Munkustrap came up behind his brother at that moment.
Alonzo looked shocked. He knelt by the crying Jemima and put an arm around her shivering shoulders. "It's okay. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Jemima just sniffed and looked at him with big wet eyes. He patted her shoulder. "Are you all right now?" She nodded slowly and he stepped away.
"Now you need to clean this mess up," Munkustrap told the younger cats. Alonzo laughed and smirked, turning to walk.
"Hold it," Munkustrap said, grabbing Alonzo's tail to stop him from leaving. "Since this is your task anyway, you'll help them clean it up."
"But I didn't do it!" Alonzo answered incredulously. "I was going to do y own work but these kids decided to make a mess!"
"And now you'll help clean up," Munkustrap told him. Alonzo looked like he wanted to talk back again but thought better of it and turned to clean up with the others.
"All right," he said turning back to Demeter. "What else needs to be done concerning food?"
"Most of it is stable and well stocked," Demeter counted off. "Unless of course Pouncival goes on a blue cheese spree again. Then the tribe'll be sick due to his exotic sense of taste. We have more than enough catnip and I think we should install an age limit for cats like Victoria, Jemima, Electra, Sophanispa, Etc. . . ."
"We can't do that," Munkustrap told her. "They're all of age now. They aren't kittens anymore. What they get into while nipped is their own responsibility. I do think we should watch them. Tugger is not a threat. He only toys with them and nothing more comes of it but I am worried the younger toms such as Plato or Admetus, who may or may not prove to be responsible. You saw what happened just now. Toms that still act like kittens should be watched when taking nip."
"Is that going to be someone's job?" Demeter asked, dreading the answer.
"I haven't appointed anyone yet but I suppose Jennyanydots or Jellylorum would be ideal for this position."
"I don't think so," Demeter answered. "They'll be a bit too strict on them. We need someone who'll know when a cat's had enough. If we left it up to our mothers, there wouldn't be nip at all."
"Who fit's this description?" Munkustrap asked her incredulously.
"There are only a few cats in this tribe who would," Demeter answered. "Mungojerry and Rumpleteazer are religiously eating and stealing nip, so they'll know the signs of it. I would say Old Gus, but his cataracts will inhibit him. I used to be in company with the biggest nipper this planet may hold, I know the symptoms and I daresay Sophanispa knows them as well. If I am not mistaken, Bustopher Jones will know as well, though he may not admit it."
"I don't think a monitor is necessary," Munkustrap said after a brief period of thought. "If we can speak to a few of the people mentioned, I believe we can have them monitor in their own little groups. I think you can handle the older queens."
"I don't know," Demeter answered. "I wouldn't want to have to tell Cassandra or Exotica, lest they challenge me."
"Ask Teazer to help you," he added. "I think Mungojerry backing her along side you will give them something to think about. He and I can take care of the toms. Sophanispa can coax the younger queens to watch their level of the stuff. The older cats can take care of themselves and I don't think we'll have a problem with cats getting nipped."
"What about Tugger?" Demeter asked.
"Hmmm," Munkustrap thought. "It is probably out of the question to ask him to abstain from the nip, but if he put on a show of being controlled with it, maybe the others would follow. They all seem to idolize him and that would cut Mungojerry and my work in half. We'd only have to worry about Alonzo and Coricopat, plus. The queens would follow him as well."
"I'm not going to ask him," Demeter told Munkustrap bluntly. "If he doesn't do something outrageous, Bombalurina will comment, which she only seems to do in his presence."
"Fine," he told her, wrinkling his nose. "I don't particularly enjoy asking him of favors either. He never forgets that you owe him something, no matter how long ago the favor was." They arrived at a pile of rubbish containing a broken microwave with the back knocked out, a rusted wheel from a semi that served as a doorway, a beanbag salvaged from Tugger's wrecked tree, a torn kite hanging from the wheel peak, a long plank from a motorboat, a car trunk lid, a piece of a children's jungle gym, a RITZ® cracker box, and old carpet that resembled Deuteronomy's coat, a busted television, and a wooden chair with the crossbar missing.
There was no one around and the interior was silent.
"Don't tell me he's still sleeping!" Munkustrap exclaimed. "Lazy fool, Tugger! I'm coming in!" Munkustrap pulled back the kite remains and stepped inside the dim abode. Demeter followed without haste and her eyes quickly adjusted to the lack of light.
Tugger was sprawled on the beanbag chair, Bombalurina and Sophanispa on either side, using him as a human . . . er . . . cat pillow. They were asleep but he was calmly gazing at his brother and his companion.
"May I help you?" he asked. Sophanispa blinked awake at the sound of his voice, sat up, and stretched with a cavernous yawn. She smiled at Demeter, wiping the sleepers out of her eyes. She reached over and nudged the snoozing Bombalurina, "Oi! Wake up, Bombi!" The rouge queen yawned and murmured, opening one eye and spotting the newcomers. "Demi?"
"Wake up," Demeter called. "We have work to do!"
"Don't want to!"
Tugger laughed and sat up abruptly, allowing Bombalurina's head to clunk to the floor. She sat up fast and swiped at him. "Whatdya do that for, huh?"
Tugger laughed and skirted away from her, moving closer to Demeter and Munkustrap. "So what did you want?"
"Well," Munkustrap said, consulting the clipboard. "Bombalurina is due with the light hangers because of her height, and so are you, Tugger. Sophanispa is with Mistofolees, Victoria, and Electra, chasing the rats from the drainage pipe."
Okay," Sophanispa said, slipping out immediately. She was eager to get the work done for her first ball over with.
Bombalurina stretched seductively and glanced at Tugger who was paying no mind. He was standing now, taller than Munkustrap by a few inches, not counting his mane. He looked at the clipboard to make sure he wasn't being fooled, and then turned to exit.
"Tugger," Munkustrap indicated. "Wait a minute. I have something to ask of you."
"Make it quick," Tugger chided. "I don't have all day to talk to you. I have lights to string up."
"Concerning the ball in a week's time," Munkustrap began. "The younger cats are now of age to imbibe catnip."
"Good for them," Tugger said indifferently. "What do you want me to do about it?"
"Well," Munkustrap said reluctantly. "I know you're probably going to want to decline my request, but would you please try and set a basis for responsibility? I would like you to let the younger ones follow you in something worthwhile. Try and pass the message that if they take in too much nip, they may be degraded?"
"What's so degrading about getting nipped?" Tugger asked incredulously. "I'd do it all the time if I could get my paws on the stuff."
"That's my point," Munkustrap sighed. "They follow everything you do and I'm afraid that they'll all get completely nipped trying to compete with your rock hard tolerance."
"So you want me to lay off on the nip?" Tugger asked.
"Could you?"
"I don't know," he answered truthfully. "It would take some major motivation."
"What do you want?" Munkustrap asked, dreading the answer.
"Munku!" Demeter shrieked. "Never ask him what he wants! It'll be something you can't give him!"
Tugger grinned.
"Uh oh," Munkustrap and Demeter said simultaneously.
Tugger just laughed. "I'll think about it." He exited the flat and left the two cats to give each other dreadful looks.
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The four small cats chased the rats along the pipeline, the squeaking of the rodents filling the pipe with deafening echoes. Mistofolees led the group, followed closely by Sophanispa, Electra behind her, and Victoria bringing up the rear, struggling to keep her white coat clean. Mistofolees was zapping rats if they fell behind, sending the grimy rodents back to a cage in his dumpster.
The four cats emerged about a mile away from the junkyard. They had come to the end of the pipe and Mistofolees was going on a rat-zapping spree. The air was full of blue sparks and detached fur.
The three queens sat upon a sunny patch of grass nearby, Victoria stretching out on her stomach, Electra watching a butterfly, and Sophanispa dozing. Mistofolees cane over when he was finished and rolled along side Victoria. He looked a bit worn out after using his magic that profusely. He rolled onto his back, his tail hitting Sophanispa in the back. She turned to look at him, Victoria's head visible above his stomach. She suddenly remembered something.
"Hey, Misto," she called.
"Mmm?"
"Who's Quaxo?"
Victoria's head shot up and she looked at Sophanispa wide eyed. Mistofolees turned onto his side so he was facing the golden queen.
"Quaxo? That would be me, or my unmagical self," he answered. Sophanispa smiled and Mistofolees became confused. "Why?"
"No reason," she answered, glancing at Victoria's face. "I just wondered who he was."
They basked in the sun for a while longer and set back through the rodent free pipes.
They emerged back in the junkyard just before sunset. The lights were all hung and the tire actually gleamed under several layers of wax lifted from the garage down the road. The four cats went to find Munkustrap to have him check their names off the list.
Munkustrap was busy with Cassandra when the younger cats found him. She seemed appalled that she was to be given extra work.
"You're the only queen who can do that," Munkustrap told her exasperated. "Exotica can't because she's been seen there too many times and everyone else has high visibility. You can't be seen as easily!"
"But that stupid farmer shoots at cats." Cassandra pointed out. "I can't go stealing supplies when he's got his dogs and his trusty shotgun with him."
"We cin 'elp wit' at," Rumpleteazer said brightly, bringing Mungojerry over by the hand. "We're used ta stealin' frum 'at ol' farmer."
"And I can disguise them well enough that not even the dog will notice them," Mistofolees piped up. He looked at his paws, tiny flares of electricity sparkling on his fingertips.
"No more tonight, Misto," Sophanispa told him. You're still tired from the rats."
"Na," he answered. "I can do a bit more."
"I'm not going tonight anyways," Cassandra said, winking at Sophanispa. "I wouldn't want to tucker out Mistofolees."
Mistofolees looked indignant but he didn't say anything. The cats checked in with Munkustrap and Sophanispa pulled Mistofolees off with her. She entered the flat and was glad that the others weren't there.
"What's up with you?" Mistofolees asked as she bade him to sit.
"I found out who Victoria likes," Sophanispa said quickly, trying to hide her grin.
"Who?!" Mistofolees exclaimed, rolling to his knees.
"Remember the night I came and got Alonzo and went to rescue Bombi and Tugger? Well, earlier that night, you know the queens all came to the tree. They were playing a stupid game where you had to say who you liked and when it was my turn, I picked Victoria. She said a name I didn't recognize and no one would tell me who it was. They said to ask some of the people I hung around. I didn't want to ask Tugger because he's dumb but I thought I'd ask you. She likes Quaxo."
Mistofolees looked dumbfounded, his mouth slightly open and his eyes wide. A smile gently curved his lips until he looked like the happiest cat alive. His boyish features made him all the more handsome as he left the flat. Almost immediately after he left, Tugger entered, sweeping aside the kite remains and peering into the dim room.
Sophanispa glared up at him. "You were listening, weren't you?"
"I was listening the first time he told you he liked her too," Tugger enlightened her. He sat down next to her and slung an arm around her shoulders. She bluntly lifted his arm off but continued to sit beside him.
"Must you be so difficult?" Tugger scoffed.
"Must you be so conceited?" she retorted.
"No wonder you don't like anyone," he blurted. "You can't be a normal girl." He may have sensed that he had gone too far or maybe he felt her body tense beside him. He threw his hands up over his head and braced himself. And with good reason.
With a shrill battle cry, she flew at him, paws a blur. Being close to him, she didn't have enough momentum to hurt him. This only made her angrier and she nearly blew through the roof when he chuckled.
Batting her paws away, he jumped and pinned her flat to the ground, leaving no room for escape. She strained against him to no avail, finally complying and lying still, not looking at him.
"What's the matter with you?" Tugger shouted. He stopped when he saw the fading light glint off a tear falling slowly down her face. He let her up but she didn't rise. She curled into a fetal position and shivered. Tugger was dumbfounded, not knowing how to deal with a crying queen, or even why she was crying.
"Um . . . sorry," he whispered embarrassed.
"I hate it when you're right," she hissed.
"What?"
She looked up at him and her face was shining with tears and anger. "You said I wasn't normal. You don't know how right you are. There is something about me that would make your blood curl and sickens me as it is."
"What?" Tugger asked seriously. "Do you like queens?"
Her mouth dropped open and she was rendered speechless. Tugger almost thought he was right until she regained her voice. "You missed it completely, but you made me feel a little better."
"Why did you get so mad in the first place?" he asked, moving closer and pulling her into a sitting position. She seemed tired of fighting so she allowed him to maneuver her shoulders.
"You reminded me of something," she answered simply.
"You seem to say that after you go into your shivering fits," he remarked. "The first time you took my collar, you did it. You did it when I found you in my tree. I always remind you of Macavity?"
"Not always," she whispered looking at him. His brown eyes were serious and deep and this was the first time she noticed that he was actually quite handsome. When he leaned toward her, she didn't stop him.
'Wait a minute!' she thought. 'What am I doing?' She turned her head away from him at the last second and felt his warm breath against her neck. Instead, he kneaded her shoulders with his strong hands, bringing a quiet purr from her.
She was quite content to sleep and nodded off against his chest. He sat comfortably with her warmth against him, listening to the tribe busily getting ready for the ball. The sun set finally, and one by one, exhausted from working all day, the Jellicles retired to bed.
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She woke the next morning in a very good mood, warm, and still a bit sleepy. Opening her eyes, she discovered she had hardly moved. Tugger had slid down from a sitting position to a lying one. Sophanispa was still held to him and she noticed Bombalurina's arm over his waist. Neither of her friends had woken yet so she decided she'd go find breakfast.
She tried to sit up but Tugger's arms tightened around her and he shifted in his sleep. She found herself held tight against his chest, immobile and extremely embarrassed. She looked up at the ceiling and muttered, "You'd better be asleep, or I'm gonna kill you."
She sat still for a moment, waiting for him to relax and let her go. His arms finally went limp and she rolled away, shivering at the sudden lack of body heat. She left the sleeping Bombalurina to contend with him.
She stepped out into the junkyard, the sun gleaming on the cleared ground hurting her eyes. She looked around carefully, cautiously taking every detail before she sat down on the ground.
She knew the farmer would be leaving cream out for the cats so she scampered over to the farmland, her paws becoming wet with the early morning dew. These cats welcomed her though they knew nothing of her. All they knew was that Macavity was a bad cat and Sophanispa was his enemy. Methinks the enemy of my enemy doth be my friend.
She sidled up to a large black tom name Pharaoh and began to drink from the milk pail. She hadn't been here and the other cats had noticed. A particularly sassy queen named Asha snorted as Pharaoh hugged Sophanispa.
Asha came up, shoved the small queen aside, and grabbed Pharaoh. She snarled at Sophanispa. "What makes you think you can come here after what you've done?" she snapped.
"What have I done?" Sophanispa asked angrily. "What are you talking about?"
"He came here!" Asha hissed scathingly. "Macavity came looking for your hiding place and he killed Donny!"
Sophanispa's blood ran cold. Pharaoh, who had been warm to her when he saw her, turned a cold stare on her with his yellow eyes.
"What happened?" Sophanispa asked distantly. Pharaoh answered her in a deep voice.
"He came one night," he said slowly. "Screaming in a rage because he couldn't find you anymore. Said something about your mind being closed. He blew up the barn, killing Donny and Almond, who lived in the loft together."
"I-I'm sorry!" she cried. "I didn't know!"
"And now you eat our food like one of us!" Asha shouted, moving forward. Sophanispa staggered backwards and tripped. She was shocked that Macavity had come to the farm. These cats were helpless against him.
Asha lunged, her brown fur puffed up along her spine. She lashed out with her arm and four great scratches showed upon Sophanispa's chest. Pharaoh joined in along with an orange cat named Suboshi.
They pummeled the poor queen and she just sat and shook with anger at Macavity and the cats hurting her. Her eyes suddenly flashed and she was on her feet. The three cats fighting her backed up a bit but continued to laugh and sneer at her.
"Don't touch me again," she hissed at them. Asha cackled and flew at her once more. Sophanispa shot into the air and hovered above Asha. The two toms backed up in shock.
"Still want to fight?" Sophanispa hissed, blood dripping form her numerous wounds onto Asha's face. Asha turned slowly, keeping her eyes on Sophanispa, then darted towards the farm house. Sophanispa collapsed from exhaustion. She had never before levitated, and she hated herself for doing it. It proved something that she would rather die than reveal.
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Mungojerry, Rumpleteazer, Cassandra, and Mistofolees waited until dark to set out to the farmland. They had stopped by the bungalow to tell Munkustrap where they were going and overheard Tugger and Munkustrap in an intense argument. Apparently, someone was missing and Tugger wanted to go look for him or her. Munkustrap wouldn't allow it due to the present Macavity scare. Tugger had lunged at Munkustrap, stopping himself just in time. He gave his brother a glare to melt hell and left, bumping Mungojerry on the way out, not even looking back to apologize.
"Who's got'en inta 'im?" Mungojerry scoffed when the maned cat was out of earshot.
"It sounds like he's looking for someone," Cassandra purred. "Maybe Bombalurina's been caught again."
They turned to Munkustrap and filled him in on their mission. He gave them the okay and they left the bungalow.
The sun had set not long before but the darkness was already stifling and tangible heat covered the land. The four Jellicles crossed the boundaries and changed direction, heading for the farm.
Crickets silenced themselves as the cats crossed the now dry grass, picking up their shrill chirping once they were sufficiently alone. Cassandra crept along at a cautious pace but the others weren't concerned much about safety.
Rumpleteazer was chatting animatedly to Mungojerry, her tinny voice barreling along as her tale escalated. Just when Cassandra was about to shush her, Rumpleteazer ate it, falling to the dark grass with a squeal.
"Be quiet, Teazer," Cassandra hissed quietly. "I don't want to get caught!"
"There's som'mat down 'ere!" Rumpleteazer told her. "Som'mat wet an' warm."
"Eew," Cassandra commented.
Mungojerry kneeled by Rumpleteazer and rummaged around on the ground. "Oye," he exclaimed. "There's a cat down 'ere!" He lifted the torso of the cat and they got a good look at her.
"It's Sophanispa!" Mistofolees pointed out. Cassandra was shivering in fear.
"She's thrashed," Mungojerry muttered breathlessly. Rumpleteazer was staring at her hands, which were covered in blood.
The mission to the farm was obviously postponed. Mungojerry lifted Sophanispa carefully, trying not to disturb her in case something was broken. She was breathing in short gasps and her pulse was faint but she was alive. The cats returned slowly to the junkyard.
"We need to move faster," Cassandra whispered. "Whatever did that will still be nearby. What if she's bait and Macavity's lurking around here?"
"Oi can' move any fasta. She moight be too 'urt ta tek the fasta pace," Mungojerry told her in an annoyed voice. Rumpleteazer was furiously rubbing her hands on her legs.
"Oi can' ge' it off!" she exclaimed, brandishing her hands which were covered in a brown coagulated film of blood.
"Try scratching it off," Mistofolees suggested. The lights in the junkyard could be seen in the distance and the cats trudged on.
As they neared the yard, Bombalurina and Demeter rushed out to meet them. They looked frantic and worried and when they caught sight of Mungojerry's burden, they ran even faster towards the group.
Mungojerry knelt and allowed the two queens to take Sophanispa into their laps. Jemima came a few minutes later and cried out when she saw her friend.
"Someone get Munkustrap," Demeter ordered, taking charge of the situation. Bombalurina moved to go but Demeter held her fast.
"No," she hissed. "Not you. Mistofolees, get Munkustrap. Quickly!" The tom sped off as the cats knelt around Sophanispa and the two queens tending her. She had slashed down her chest, across her face, along her legs, her arms; even her back was covered in deep slash marks.
"These look like they were done by cats," Demeter assessed. "But there were many cats, not just one. I think Macavity has found followers." She shivered and Sophanispa drew in a long breath, her eyes tightly closed.
Munkustrap arrived, along with Tugger. The maned tom sucked in a noisy intake of breath and cursed. "Shit!"
Munkustrap knelt next to Mungojerry and looked the queen over. "Does anyone know what happened?"
"Only one who knows anything is her," Cassandra told him. "We found her like that."
Munkustrap stood quickly. "Get her to the bungalow immediately. Her life is in danger. She's lost a lot of blood and she's probably in shock. Get my mother and Jellylorum and make sure that she isn't disturbed." Munkustrap turned to leave but Tugger stopped him.
"You know we could have avoided this if you had let us search for her earlier," Tugger spat. "Why are you being so nonchalant about it?"
"It doesn't do one good to dwell on the past," Munkustrap told him. "I am sorry but rather than risk the cats you would have taken with you to search for her, we risked only one life."
"She risked her own life to come to us," Tugger exclaimed angrily. "She knows better than any of what Macavity is capable and she still came to help us, to warn us."
"That is irrelevant," Munkustrap answered curtly, continuing on his way.
"Why?" Tugger shouted, following his brother. The other cats were watching the argument with wide eyes. "She in long term effect, saved lives. She didn't even know us, and she still came to our rescue. The tribe owes her their lives and you can't even pay up!"
Munkustrap turned back to face Tugger, fury in his eyes. "She brought Macavity down upon us! If she had not come, he would still be using her as target practice in his hovel, leaving us alone." WHACK!
Munkustrap's head jerked to the side and he staggered. Tugger dropped his arm from the backhand he had just delivered to his brother. "You wouldn't be saying these things if you had been stuck in Macavity's lair. You don't know what it's like in there."
"I have heard about it several times from you and the queens who have been there," Munkustrap began. "I think I can imagine-"
"Well, you haven't been listening very well, have you," Tugger berated him. "And don't even try to imagine it. You won't come close. Stop acting like this isn't partially your fault." Tugger turned around and lifted the limp form of Sophanispa. Bombalurina stood as he did, helping Demeter to her feet. The red queen followed Tugger while Demeter went to Munkustrap. She touched his arm and he flinched away, not looking at her.
"Munkustrap," she whispered. "She'll be fine. It's not your fault."
"No," he hissed. "He has a point. If I had listened to him earlier, she might have been found before this. But those wounds are older than when he came to me. She was hurt before he noticed she was missing."
"Don't blame yourself just because Tugger had a tantrum," Demeter told him.
"And what of the girl?" he asked, finally looking at her. "What would you say of my accusation?"
Demeter opened her mouth and closed it. She shook her head and walked ahead of Munkustrap. "You do not understand what it is like for a queen inside Macavity's lair. Tugger does not even understand that much, though he is closer than you are. Do not say that about her again. She was not being selfish when she left." Demeter returned to the junkyard. Mungojerry and Rumpleteazer, along with Cassandra rushed past the stoic Munkustrap.
When they were gone, Munkustrap put a paw to his cheek where Tugger had hit him.
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She slowly opened her eyes and saw a blurry face above her framed by golden fur. A wet cloth was being rubbed along her face.
"Mom?" she asked, the golden fur of the blur triggering something in her young memory.
"Not exactly," Tugger said, slightly laughing. Sophanispa blinked several times, clearing her eyes. Tugger came into focus, a sopping cloth in his hand. They were in the flat.
"I brought you here instead of the bungalow," he explained. "Munkustrap was being stupid so I asked Jellylorum to help me get your wounds cleaned. She left a few minutes ago with instructions to wash the wounds first with water, then this stuff," he held up two bottles, one brown, and the other grayish white.
"Where's Bombalurina?" Sophanispa asked weakly.
"She's getting food," Tugger answered, wringing out the blood soaked cloth in a bucket. He wet it again and dabbed at her legs until the blood was restricted to the cuts. He then moved to her back, making her lean forward to allow him room to clean.
"Okay," he said when he was done. "Now comes the hard part. This bottle," he held up the grey one. "Contains alcohol, which is very painful. I am supposed to use it on your cuts to sterilize them. Would you rather me not?"
"Na," Sophanispa told him. "Do it."
"Are you sure?"
"Just do it!"
"Your funeral," he muttered. He poured the alcohol on the rag and pressed it to her cheek. She gritted her teeth but didn't make a noise. He continued to swab the area of her cuts, going down her neck, gently dabbing down her chest, not lingering or even giving room for her to yell at him. She didn't even say anything until her got to her legs. She cried out when the liquid met her wounds, for they were deeper there.
"It's all right," he said soothingly, doing those wounds quickly. He moved to her back and she shook with pain as he disinfected the wounds.
Next, he put iodine peroxide on everything, to keep it sterile. This didn't hurt much except when he dabbed a bit too hard. After the iodine, he wrapped her various wounds in bandages and stepped back to admire his work.
She looked up, a few tears in her eyes. She smiled up at him and her face managed to look sad at the same time. "Thanks."
"Are you going to tell me what happened?" Tugger asked.
"I suppose," Sophanispa answered, settling down on the floor. She sat up immediately and writhed. The wounds hurt under the bandages. "I can sleep like this!"
She tried to get comfortable and finally settled for lying on her side.
"I went to the farm this morning for breakfast. I used to go there all the time before I was locked up. The cats there attacked me because of Macavity. He had gone there looking for me and had killed some of their number. They blamed me, and attacked."
"What made them stop?" Tugger asked. "I don't mean that I wanted them to keep going, but did someone else come? Why didn't they kill you?"
"I think they meant to kill me but . . . something . . . happened," she did not want to tell him what that something had been.
"What was it?" he asked, predictably.
"They got scared off by something," she said quickly, not wanting to reveal any more.
"Did you see what this something was? Was it a Peke?"
"No," she said gloomily. "It was me."
"You scared them off?"
"Yes," she answered.
"How?"
"I . . . can't . . . I don't want to say," she answered, tears falling from her eyes.
He touched her shoulder and their eyes met. "You can tell me. I won't say a thing to anyone."
She sniffled and looked into his brown eyes. She wanted to trust someone but she didn't know if Tugger, of all people, would be the one to tell. She decided to try him.
"I flew," she said shortly.
"You ran?"
"No," she told him. "I mean I flew in the air. I levitated and it scared them off."
He was silent for a moment and she could see him thinking.
"Where did you learn to fly?" he asked slowly.
She sighed and decided to tell the truth. "You can't learn to fly. I was born with the ability."
"Hey," he said, his face lighting up. "That's kinda cool. If you could fly, why did I have to carry you up the trunk every time you needed in the tree?"
"I can't just fly," she told him. "I need incentive. I've only done it twice and I collapsed after both times. It takes too much energy and I don't want to be able to fly anyways."
"Why not?" Tugger asked. "You can catch birds and stuff. It's fun, I bet."
"I'm not the only one who can fly," Sophanispa muttered. "Think about what that means." She closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Tugger sighed. "I still don't understand you." He took the bottles and extra swaddling back to Jellylorum and returned to find Bombalurina asleep as well. He lay down beside her and fell into a deep sleep where he dreamed that Sophanispa with angel wings was trapped in a box and Demeter was running away from her while Macavity laughed in the background. He woke later in the night, knowing his dream had woken him. He tried to remember what it was, but couldn't recall it. He checked Sophanispa to make sure she was still there. Some blood was showing through a few bandages but other than that, everything was fine. He closed his eyes and returned to sleep.
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He woke the next morning to find Bombalurina awake and staring at him.
"What?"
"I didn't hear you come in last night," she told him suspiciously.
"I was taking some stuff back to Jellylorum," he told her. "I came in and you were fast asleep. I'd only been gone a few minutes so I figured you had had a long day to conk out in less that five." She looked mistrusting but he could see she was fighting a losing battle. She'd be dreaming about him again by noon.
"You'll never guess what happened," Bombalurina squealed in excitement.
"You blew up the car?"
"No!" she exclaimed. "Jemima got a date to the ball! My little sister's all grown up!"
"That's nice to know," Tugger whispered, scooting closer to Bombalurina. She pretended not to notice but inside, she was quivering.
"Yeah! She went up and asked Alonzo last night," Bombalurina continued, giggling nervously. "She spent a good part of the day working up her courage."
"That's weird," Tugger said absently. "I thought Alonzo was into sleek, darker queens. Plus, the tom is supposed to ask the queen. It makes us look more in charge. We look undermined if the queen asks us."
"He refused her," Bombalurina said, ignoring his little brag. "She said he looked and sounded very sorry, but he refused all the same."
"Well, there's my point. You just said she had a date," Tugger recounted.
"Yes," Bombalurina agreed. "She was walking back to the car, looking all sad, when Pouncival came out of nowhere and asked her. She said she was so flustered she agreed without thinking about it!"
"Uh-oh," Tugger thought aloud.
"She says she's still going to go with him," Bombalurina assured him. "Wouldn't hurt to try, anyways."
"Of course," Tugger whispered. During her last few sentences, he'd moved from beside her, to nearly over her, his nose just inches away. She had frozen, not breathing lest she endanger her position.
"Last time we did this," she whispered. "You dropped me on my ass!"
"Last time," he added. "The whole tribe was watching." He kissed her lightly and her pulse broke the charts. His hands found her waist and he held her tightly, his arms curving around her back.
"Don't tell me the Rum Tum Tugger was embarrassed," she purred.
"Na," he grinned. "It'd just be a shame to lose my image. Next thing you'd know, the queens would be after Munkustrap. Now that'd be embarrassing!" He kissed her again and this time she wasn't shocked into a stupor.
After a while, they lay still, basking in each other's warmth.
"Well," Bombalurina said.
Tugger just kept snuggling. She tried clearing her throat.
"What?" Tugger asked.
She gave him a meaningful look.
"I know that's supposed to mean something," he said smiling. "Can you give me a hint?"
She scoffed and pushed him away. "You just got done buttering me up and you ask a stupid question like that?" She stood up and went through the makeshift doorway. "Eat sand and choke, Peke scum!" And with that, she was gone.
Tugger shook his head. "What did I do?"
~}~}~}~}~}~}~}{~{~{~{~{~{~{~
Sophanispa woke up a little after the scene with Bombalurina and she found Tugger sitting against the wall with a very frustrated look on his face.
"What's wrong?" Sophanispa asked. She sat up and grimaced.
"She left!" he exclaimed, his voice slightly higher than usual. "I just gave her the moment of her present life and she got all huffy and left!"
"Bombalurina?"
"Nah," he said sarcastically. "The Everlasting! Of course, Bombalurina!"
"What is it you did?"
"I don't know!" he snapped. "She was going on about how Jemima found a date to the ball and then I sort of kissed her. She enjoyed it!"
Sophanispa's eyebrows went up. "I would have killed you, but that's just me. Anything else?"
"Well," he thought about it. "We were on the floor and she sort of looked at me funny and said 'Well,'" and I didn't know what she was talking about so I asked her and she got all pissy and left!" Tugger was really in a state over this. It wasn't every day a queen turned him down. That is, until he met Sophanispa.
"Is it possible that while she was talking about Jemima, she might have dropped a hint?" Sophanispa asked.
Tugger thought some more. "I guess. She looked all excited while she was telling me the story. She went to ask Alonzo out!"
"She's going with Alonzo?"
"No," Tugger said seriously. "She's going with Pounce. I think it might be because she asked Alonzo instead of waiting for toms to come to her."
"What?"
Tugger looked at her strangely. "In these types of situations," he began. "It's traditional for the toms to ask the queens. Maybe Alonzo didn't go with her because she asked him."
"Or maybe he's going with Tantomile," Sophanispa added. "You remember them the night we rescued you. He'd probably asked her around then-" her face suddenly became shocked.
"What?" Tugger asked frantically. "What happened?"
"I know why she's mad at you!"
"WHY!"
"She wanted you to ask her to the ball!" Sophanispa enlightened him. "She probably told you about Jemima to remind you of the upcoming event and then you went and ranted about the toms asking the queens and she was all ready for you to ask! And you blew it big time!"
Tugger's face was pale but he regained color after a few moments. "That's all she wanted? Geez! You guys make big deals out of nothing at all!"
Sophanispa shrugged. "Maybe you should go find her and ask her."
Tugger nodded and left the flat in a hurry. A few minutes later, Mistofolees and Victoria entered.
"We heard about last night and thought we'd bring breakfast," Victoria told her, offering a bowl covered in plastic. "This was left near the edge of the yard." Sophanispa, not used to humans, slashed at the plastic wrap instead of peeling it. She sniffed at the cream within and dug in, thanking them vigorously.
"So who are you going to the ball with?" Victoria asked eagerly.
"No one," Sophanispa answered a bit defensively. "What about you?"
"We're going together!" Victoria exclaimed. "He asked me last night!"
"Oh really," Sophanispa said, giving Mistofolees a grin. "Nice work!"
"Why don't you ask someone?" Mistofolees suggested. Victoria looked stricken.
"What?" he asked her. "What's wrong?"
"It wouldn't be right for the queen to ask the tom," she told him. "The only reason Jemima did it was because Electra dared her to. Under those circumstances, it's perfectly fine, but the tom must approach the queen under normal ones."
"Well," Sophanispa told them, lurching herself to her feet. "I hate to tell you guys, but it's not going to happen. I'll go by myself, if I'm well enough by then."
"We've all got to meet in front of the tire this afternoon," Mistofolees informed her.
"Why?" she asked frantically. "Has someone disappeared again?"
"No silly," Victoria said giggling. "This is just for instructions. Who's going to sing what and who's going to dance with whom in the mating dance. I was stuck with Plato last year so I know how it is with someone weird. You don't want to get with anyone weird for the ball."
"I ended up with Electra," Mistofolees laughed. "And funnier still, Tugger had to dance with mom!" the three of them laughed. Bombalurina came in and her face was in her pout.
"Boys suck!" she exclaimed. "They don't even take a hint! Now he's following me all over the place! I can't get rid of him!"
"He wants to ask you to the ball," Sophanispa told her. He figured it out after you left.
"Translation," Bombalurina said. "You woke up and found him in a snit and figured it out for him."
"Would I do that?"
"Mungojerry and Rumpleteazer?"
"Friendly act!"
"Victoria and Mistofolees?"
"I made a promise!
"What?" Victoria asked curiously.
"TANTOMILE AND ALONZO!!!?" she exclaimed.
"That was together before the night you were rescued. You just happened to see them for the first time while with me."
"If he asks me," she spat. "I'm not going. It'd serve him right to dance with his mother again. Jennyanydots knows exactly what her son's like and she'll give him the rap again!" With that, she sat on the floor and started chucking small stones at the kite remains. Someone one the other side of the tarp yelped and stepped through.
"I'm not doing it," Bombalurina snapped. "I don't care how much he begs."
"If who begs?" a mellow voice asked. Coricopat stepped through the door. His pretty, orange eyes swept the room, landing on Bombalurina and Sophanispa.
"Hello," he greeted.
"Are you looking for Tantomile?" Sophanispa asked.
"Uh, no," he stammered. "I was um . . . looking for . . . a-um." he looked to Victoria and Mistofolees for support. Mistofolees' face went blank for a moment and Sophanispa had the idea that he was listening to something in his mind. He glanced at the two female occupants of the flat and smiled. Tugger chose that moment to enter the flat, his eyes going directly to Bombalurina.
Mistofolees, also not a man of opportune moments, told us what Coricopat had come for.
"My good friend Coricopat is feeling shy and he wondered if any of the ladies in this room would like to go with him to the ball?" Mistofolees said in one breath. Victoria looked at Sophanispa excitedly, Sophanispa looked at Mistofolees with wide eyes, Coricopat gazed at Sophanispa, Mistofolees glanced nervously at Tugger, Tugger looked in wide-eyed surprise at Coricopat, and Bombalurina glared at her maned stalker.
"I'll go with him," she said nonchalantly, glaring acid at Tugger. He looked at her with a gasp. "You'll what?"
"I," Bombalurina said standing. "Will gladly," she said as she stepped to the door. "Go with Coricopat," she grabbed the Witch's cat's arm. "To the Jellicle ball!" And with that, she was gone, along with Coricopat.
"That was weird," Sophanispa said softly. She turned to Tugger. "What happened?"
"She kept running from me!" he stuttered. He looked to Sophanispa. "You're on a role you know. Not one queen has asked me to the ball yet. Last year, I had at least four. It seems as soon as one rebels, the rest are all following."
"Don't try to pin you're back luck on me," she said indignantly.
Mistofolees cleared his throat. Everyone in the flat looked at him.
"Coricopat's original message had been more discreet," Mistofolees announced. He had meant to only ask Sophanispa but seeing as he is gentle and kind in nature, he thought it would be prudent to ask Bombalurina as well, just in case she was insulted that he wouldn't have asked her." Mistofolees ended, looking embarrassed.
"Perfect!" Tugger exclaimed. He turned to Sophanispa. "Go tell him the mistake! You're Coricopat's date, and Bombalurina's mine!" Sophanispa gave him a look that clearly said she didn't want anything to do with him. Mistofolees cleared his throat again. Tugger threw him a murderous look.
"I'm sorry but there are a few things to consider," Mistofolees told him sheepishly. "If you continue to carry on like this, your hard earned image will be damaged."
Tugger soaked that in and almost immediately calmed down to the point of speaking and not yelling.
"Who you take to the ball will not necessarily be who you dance with at the ball," Mistofolees pointed out. "If I remember, you ended up taking mother last year, and most of the time you were paired with Bombalurina."
Tugger still looked angry, but the anger had been cooled from white- hot frustration to glowing embers under water.
"All right," he said quite calmly. "I'll try to find someone else." He exited the flat.
Sophanispa giggled. "Oops."
"He'll be back," Victoria said as a matter of fact-like.
"Oh, God I hope not," Sophanispa answered.
~}~}~}~}~}~}~}{~{~{~{~{~{~{~
The next day, Sophanispa was able to walk on her own again and she still didn't have a date for the ball. It wasn't as if she needed one. She could go alone. It was what Grizabella did on her night of the ball. She had been somehow incorporated into a few of the dances, and not just the group ones. Jennyanydots had given her lines with Victoria up to Sophanispa, seeing, as Victoria never wanted to sing alone. Her parts in some of the introductions of different cats were strange as well. In Tugger's song, she was expected to either sit back with Munkustrap and the older cats, or go gallivanting after her maned friend along with most of the other queens. She decided running after him with everyone else would be fun. She wasn't obligated to catch him, after all. And Etcetera was keeping her scream.
It was going to be fun, and she wouldn't let anything get her down. She spent the day before the ball With Jemima, Etcetera, Victoria, Electra, and Tantomile. It was just those queens and then, miraculously, toms began showing up.
First to show was Alonzo. He nervously looked at Jemima and sat beside Tantomile, their fingers entwining as soon as his butt touched the ground. Pouncival came up behind him and Jemima's face lit up when she saw him. They were very cute together. Mistofolees found his way over and suddenly Victoria looked flushed. She smiled prettily and he slid in next to her. Etcetera, Electra, and Sophanispa exchanged looks. None of them had dates. Two silhouettes emerged over the hillside and the three single queens looked to the horizon. When they came into focus, Victor and Tumblebrutus appeared. Two out of three queens slumped back in disappointment, the third not caring about sexual orientation. In fact, Tumblebrutus walked right up to Etcetera and asked her in front of everybody. She was shocked, as was everyone else. She nodded profusely and Tumblebrutus knelt to join her.
"I thought you were gay!"
"Huh? Who told you that?"
"No one," she said quickly, looking at Electra. "I told you!" Electra wasn't listening. She had her own surprise. Victor had handed her a flower.
"Will you go with me to the ball tomorrow night?" he asked.
"Yep!" she answered enthusiastically, sending a look of triumph into the setting sun, placing the flower behind on of her perky ears. Sophanispa felt left out, just a little. She didn't have a date, and her singing parts were minimal, but then all the younger cats' parts were minimal.
It was another Jellicle tradition for the couples to spend the night before the ball together. Not to do anything suspicious, but to be more in harmony with their partner so the ball would go smoother. The idea was that their hearts would synchronize and their minds would know each other. A Jellicle never learns the words they sing. They just know.
And as every cat but herself went to a special niche with their partner to synchronize, she went home to the flat.
She flopped down on the floor and peeled off the last of her bandages, leaving them off for the night. She would be alone, so it really didn't matter. She wouldn't be bumped by anyone or sat on rudely. The flat was hers.
She fell asleep against the wall, her head resting on her knees.
She awoke a while later and knew there was someone inside the flat. Since she wasn't expecting anyone, she automatically jumped to Macavity. She took a sniff of the air and couldn't detect anything different, but someone was there! She could feel it and se them just beyond her senses. She jumped into action when she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She flew at the intruder, scratching and spitting to scare them away. Her limbs still hurt a bit but she could use them well enough. Apparently, she still needed recovery time because the intruder pinned her to the floor and covered her mouth with his paw.
"Don't you know how to be quiet?"
"What are you doing here?" Sophanispa whispered. "Why aren't you with your partner?"
"I never got one!"
"I find that hard to believe," Sophanispa told him. "What about Jennyanydots?"
"Mom? She's talked dad into dancing this year on account of this being one of her last balls."
"Jellylorum? Cassandra? Exotica?"
"All taken, not to mention Jellylorum would have eaten my face for pissing Bombalurina off again. You're my last resort, babe."
"You wanna get off me? My cuts still hurt."
He rolled off. "Maybe if you hadn't tried to kill me when I came in they wouldn't hurt so badly."
"Maybe if you would have warned me you were coming I wouldn't have had a Macavity attack on you."
Tugger was about to say something but he stopped abruptly. "We can't fight right now. We need to get ready."
"What exactly is going to happen tomorrow?" Sophanispa asked him.
"Well," he began, stretching out beside her. "We'll all make some tiny entrance at the beginning. My mom did this weird thing last year where my mane was invisible and the part that was visible was darker. It was sort of cool, but I don't think I'm going for maneless this year." Sophanispa was staring at him as if he were an idiot.
"Anyways," he continued. "Munkustrap told me this evening that he wants the kittens of last year to hold bigger parts this year. Since you've never held any parts, and Old Deuteronomy put in a good word for you, you now have a total of one solo."
"Okay," she said. "I'm a little lost. Where is this solo?"
"At the end of the first batch," he told her. "It used to belong to Grizabella as the chorus cat but she's gone. The rest of her solos are gone as well, but we need this one small hole filled. You are also doing the duet shorties with Victoria."
"Any other surprises?" I asked him nonplussed.
He grinned and his teeth could be seen in darkness. "You may or may not like the next thing I am going to say but there is a teensy weensy part in my song that Bombalurina has flatly refused to do."
"Why has she refused?"
"It's sort of intimate," he explained.
Sophanispa gave a blank stare. "I've never seen this done. I'm working blind."
"It's a part where she comes over and we dance together and then she does this high kick and gets real close," he demonstrated, moving their faces closer together. "The lyrics at the time are 'I only like what I find for myself, no!' and I'm supposed to drop her on her stomach. Only she doesn't want to dance with me at all! Someone's going to have to take over all her dancing parts, or at least the ones with me in close vicinity."
"Not happening," Sophanispa told him. "I'll only know what gets passed to me on that night. My part isn't hers and most of her charts will be with her. I can't dance it if I don't know it."
"Maybe you could talk to her," he whispered.
"That's no good either," Sophanispa said. "If she bails, which I doubt, I move in and save the day. I think that plan will work. I'll ask her about that one part but you're on your own for the rest."
"Oh," Tugger said uncomfortably. "I have to tell you about your other . . . parts. Munkustrap thinks it's a good idea, since you know so much, to sing with Bombi and Demi if Macavity drops by, which he's bound to do."
"I can't do that!" she exclaimed. "They'd kill me!"
"Not if you made your own stanza," he pointed out.
"Munkustrap's going to get me killed!"
"There's something else he wants you to do," Tugger said. "But I'm not going to tell you because you'll just get mad."
"Are you sure I'll get mad?"
"Pretty sure. He wants you to duet with someone on a song."
"Why me?"
"I think he's guilty because of your wounds and what he said," Tugger assessed.
"What did he say?"
"I'd rather not," Tugger sighed. "He was pretty provocative, blaming stuff on you, Macavity you know?"
Sophanispa groaned. "I blame myself for Macavity bothering you. If I hadn't escaped, he'd still be using me as target practice."
"Don't say that," Tugger said. He turned all-serious all of a sudden. "Don't you ever say that! You might be dead, and for what? To have Macavity able to enter our minds and no reason for others suddenly dropping off dead in their sleep? Munkustrap sees you as selfish because he's never been on the bad side of Macavity's lair. He's never even tried to imagine it. And of course, Demeter's happy to leave him in ignorance because she certainly doesn't want to relive the experience. I bet if Munkustrap was kidnapped, he'd see this all a different way, and it would be for the better."
"I can't help but think it's my fault, though," she said still. If I'd never come, I'd never have died in your tree, and Bombalurina wouldn't have ever gotten captured, and you wouldn't have been nabbed, and I wouldn't have gotten hurt, and your tree would still be there, and-"
"Quiet," he whispered, putting a finger to her lips. "We're supposed to be synchronizing our hearts or whatever that junk means."
"You know" Sophanispa yawned into his chest. "I used to think you were just a womanizing idiot who happened to be a jerk. I think you're a really nice guy sometimes. Thanks." And with that, she fell asleep in his arms, her head against his chest. She had willingly fallen asleep in his arms, she knew she was there, and she wasn't there for any other reason than she finally felt comfortable around him. He sighed and hugged her. He kissed her forehead and whispered. "No. Thank you." He didn't know what he was thanking her for, but he knew he'd find out soon enough. He went to sleep and sometime before dawn, their hearts clicked into place, their rhythms identical to each other.
Well, that was interesting. Nobody gasp . . . yet. You guys don't know what's going to happen.
Mungojerry; Ha-ha! Oi do! Oi know Whot's goin' 'appen! Ryouko; Could be worse. I could have everybody die! Mungojerry; Yeah, but on account 'at she ain't 'at cold, on'y one's gon' boite it! Ryouko; MUNGOJERRY! Don't listen to him! He's lying! No one is going to die! Not really, maybe . . . okay not for a while anyways.
I hoped you guys like it so far. I know the original character with Tugger is getting old but you should see what I've got in store. You think you know me? None of you know me! Don't hate me for what's gonna happen; hate me for what's already happened! Anyways, either I haven't had any new readers or you guys are waiting for this chapter. Enjoy please. I have a sight now. .It's permanently under construction for the moment but some of the image pages are up as well as Cats Casted and my person page, which might make you cry (just don't look at the picture at the end too carefully. I'd been marching for 2 ½ hours with a beret and uncomfortable uniform on and have bad hair!