All Alone in the Moonlight
Rumpelteazer stared into space. Anyone would have thought that she was meditating, but she was really deep in thought. She liked to pull this stunt in case any cat were to come and bother her, and it helped her think straight.
Next to her lay her two sisters, Rumexcigo and Eleannty. They watched her for a moment, waiting for her to move. Rumpel concentrated on the brightness of the glowing sliver of the moon, upon knowing that this would convince them to leave her in peace. Sure enough, the two queens sighed and abandoned the moon roof of the broken down car, leaving Rumpel to think.
Rumpelteazer was thinking hard. Her mind was full of the normal stuff, plans on the next house raid, her new wrestling strategy that she was to try out on Mungo. She didn't notice the tall shadow looming over her. That is, not until it spoke.
"Good evening, Rumpelteazer."
Rumpel shrieked and spun around. In front of her stood a large tom, hair tangled and matted. Rumpel screamed again. It was one of Macavity's henchman.
"Where's Mungojerrie?" the tom questioned her hoarsely.
"Why is tha' your business?" she snapped.
"The boss wants him, dear queen," he replied. "but he also wants you!"
The tom lashed out a claw. Rumpelteazer jumped back, just in time to see another figure fly over the hood of the car and collide with the tom. The tom screamed in pain. Rumpel lay there, watching in horror as the two cats fought on. Then, at long last, the tom flew over the Junkyard, not landing until across the street. He wasn't moving.
Rumpel lay there in shock. Then she slowly got up and stared at the remaining battler. It was a queen, a soft gray angora. "Wh-who are you?" Rumpel asked shakily.
The angora turned to her, then replied in a voice that was barely a whisper. "My name is Mistenia."
And with that, she disappeared without a trace. =^..^= Rumpel lay half asleep on the roof of the car. She could hear Mungo's voice: " 'Ey, Rumpel, let's go! I wanna get ta Jakes 'fore there's a big crowd!"
Rumpel moaned and covered her head with her paws. "Not now, Mungo." She turned over and tried to get back to sleep.
"Aw, c'mon," Mungo pleaded. "You cin always sleep."
"You cin always eat."
Mungo sighed. "You jus' aren' listenin', are ya?" He pretended to pout. "I remember all the toimes you woke me up."
Rumpel covered her ears and concentrated on sleeping, but what made it hard was that Mungo had started tickling her ribs. "Please?" he begged.
Rumpel giggled and gave a playful swipe at his face. "Oh, all roit, Mungo," she laughed. "Jus' stop tha' and we'll go!"
Mungo allowed her to get up. But before they left Rumpel grabbed him and held him back. "But remember," she whispered. "you'll get yours!" And with that she shoved him off the car.
She leaped off the car, waited for Mungo to get back up, then they were off with their bags slung over their shoulders. They were headed toward Jakes, the best barbeque restaurant in the metropolis. Quite soon they were running back in the direction they came, bags full.
They were on their way back to the car when they noticed a large crowd gathered at the tire, which the watch cat, known as Munkustrap, perched.
"Wonda what's goin' on," said Mungojerrie. "Let's check it out!"
The quick-change comedians galloped over to the tire, quickly hiding their bags behind them (with some difficulty), as they knew Munku disapproved of stealing. They sat patiently, awaiting the news in store for them.
"May I have your attention please!" called Munkustrap (quite unnecessarily, as all the pairs of lamplike eyes were turned on him). "We have a new addition to the Jellicle tribe. May I introduce you to Mistenia!"
All the Jellicles applauded politely as the gray angora mounted the tire, but Rumpelteazer swiveled around to face her partner. "Mungo!" she whispered. "Tha's th' cat tha' saved me back the otha noit!"
"Really?" asked Mungo, but Munkustrap saw them.
"Would you two like to share something?" he questioned them, eyebrows raised.
"No, Munkustrap," chorused the knock-about clowns like a pair of well- behaved school children. Mistenia giggled, a reaction to which the watch cat turned an Evil Eye in the duo's direction. Then he continued his speech: "Now, you all know that every Jellicle that sets paw in our land is to be treated with respect..."
"Until she's not new anymore," Rumpel overheard Pouncival whisper to Tumblebrutus. "Then it's time for the practical jokes!"
"...and that is what I expect from all of you," Munku continued, now casting a wary eye in Pounce and Tumble's direction, then at The Rum Tum Tugger, who was looking rather curious. "Thank you."
He helped Mistenia down and left to his den. This was Rumpel's chance! She dragged Mungo over to the new tribe member and grinned. "Hi!" she greeted Mistenia. "I want ta thank you for savin' me loife an' ta welcome you to th' troibe. Ya must be excoited, aren' ya?"
Mistenia grinned back. "Yeah, I guess I am." She turned to Mungojerrie, who had reached into his bag to retrieve a bit of barbeque. "And who are you?" she asked politely.
"Mugojewee," he replied, his face stuffed with chicken.
" 'E said," explained Rumpelteazer at the puzzled look on Mistenia's face, then slapping her partner on the back, forcing him to swallow. " 'is name is Mungojerrie, an' I'm Rumpelteazah."
"Oh!" Mistenia laughed. "So, Rumpelteazer, I was wondering if there were any vacant dens around here."
"Sure!" said Rumpel excitedly. "I cin dig ya up one! You're gonna loike it 'ere, Mist."
"I'm sure I will." =^..^= Rumpel backed out of the newly-made den and turned to Mistenia. Instead she saw her wrestling with Mungojerrie, who was having trouble staying on top. Finally, Mist pinned him down and grinned. "I win," she boasted.
Rumpel giggled as the two cats went through another round, ending with the same results. Then Mist noticed the den. "Oh! Thank you so much, Rumpel!" She crawled inside. "This is the best!"
Rumpel smiled. "Yeah, well, enjoy yer stay. There are a lot o' really noice cats around 'ere. I'm sure you'll make some good friends."
"I think I already have," Mist replied. The two queens bid each other farewell, then Rumpel followed Mungo to the car.
"Boy, she sure cin pack a punch," Mungo muttered.
"Told ya you'd get yours," Rumpel teased, then ran as Mungo chased her the rest of the way.
That night Rumpel surveyed the Junkyard from atop the car. She had been examining the large mounds of trash when she noticed a figure skulking in the shadows. She turned her attention on the figure, then recognized it at once as The Magical Mr. Mistofelees. She transfixed her gaze on him until he disappeared into Mistenia's den. I wonder what that was about, she thought, then fell asleep. =^..^= Rumpel pattered through the 'Yard to Mist's place. Mungo was still asleep, but Rumpel knew that he would have nothing to worry about if he found her gone. They never left the Junkyard separately, and she was sure she would be back by the time he had awaken.
She reached the den and peered inside. "Mist? Mistenia?" No answer. Rumpelteazer set a paw down in the doorway, and almost instantly she heard Mistenia's voice.
"Rumpel? Is that you?"
Greatly relieved, Rumpel called back. "Yeah, it's me. Jus' wan'ed ta see if you were doin' alroit."
"Yeah, it's great here." The angora slunk out of the shadows in her den and smiled. "I met this tom, Mistofelees. You know him?"
"Yeah," Rumpel replied.
"Really great guy. We're gonna go fishing in the creek this afternoon, so I won't be here for a while, okay?"
"Yeah, sure," said Rumpel, hiding her disappointment. " 'Ave fun!"
"Thanks." Mistenia trotted off, tail high in the air.
Rumpelteazer sauntered back to the car. On the moon roof lay her partner and mate, fast asleep. Rumpel crouched on the hood, then sprang up and knocked him off the car.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Mungo toppled off the roof. He quickly got up and saw Rumpelteazer standing next to him, a mischievous and obvious look on her face. "You!" Mungo cried. Rumpel giggled and led him in a chase around the car a few times, then she swiveled around and pounced. The two of them wrestled, bouncing off mounds of trash nearby.
Rumpel stood up after a while, brushing dirt out of her coat. "Remember 'ow we firs' met?" she asked playfully.
"I don' loike bein' reminded."
"I really beat you up good!"
"I know tha'. Some days I cin still feel th' bump on my 'ead."
"I was tha' good?"
"For a kitten, yeah. For a queen, yeah."
"Well then, I loike bein' reminded. Besides," Rumpel smirked. "where would ya be withou' me?"
"Let me think...does th' 'Eavysoide Layer sound fair enough?"
"So you're glad I took ya in."
"Yup."
"Me too."
Rumpelteazer stared into space. Anyone would have thought that she was meditating, but she was really deep in thought. She liked to pull this stunt in case any cat were to come and bother her, and it helped her think straight.
Next to her lay her two sisters, Rumexcigo and Eleannty. They watched her for a moment, waiting for her to move. Rumpel concentrated on the brightness of the glowing sliver of the moon, upon knowing that this would convince them to leave her in peace. Sure enough, the two queens sighed and abandoned the moon roof of the broken down car, leaving Rumpel to think.
Rumpelteazer was thinking hard. Her mind was full of the normal stuff, plans on the next house raid, her new wrestling strategy that she was to try out on Mungo. She didn't notice the tall shadow looming over her. That is, not until it spoke.
"Good evening, Rumpelteazer."
Rumpel shrieked and spun around. In front of her stood a large tom, hair tangled and matted. Rumpel screamed again. It was one of Macavity's henchman.
"Where's Mungojerrie?" the tom questioned her hoarsely.
"Why is tha' your business?" she snapped.
"The boss wants him, dear queen," he replied. "but he also wants you!"
The tom lashed out a claw. Rumpelteazer jumped back, just in time to see another figure fly over the hood of the car and collide with the tom. The tom screamed in pain. Rumpel lay there, watching in horror as the two cats fought on. Then, at long last, the tom flew over the Junkyard, not landing until across the street. He wasn't moving.
Rumpel lay there in shock. Then she slowly got up and stared at the remaining battler. It was a queen, a soft gray angora. "Wh-who are you?" Rumpel asked shakily.
The angora turned to her, then replied in a voice that was barely a whisper. "My name is Mistenia."
And with that, she disappeared without a trace. =^..^= Rumpel lay half asleep on the roof of the car. She could hear Mungo's voice: " 'Ey, Rumpel, let's go! I wanna get ta Jakes 'fore there's a big crowd!"
Rumpel moaned and covered her head with her paws. "Not now, Mungo." She turned over and tried to get back to sleep.
"Aw, c'mon," Mungo pleaded. "You cin always sleep."
"You cin always eat."
Mungo sighed. "You jus' aren' listenin', are ya?" He pretended to pout. "I remember all the toimes you woke me up."
Rumpel covered her ears and concentrated on sleeping, but what made it hard was that Mungo had started tickling her ribs. "Please?" he begged.
Rumpel giggled and gave a playful swipe at his face. "Oh, all roit, Mungo," she laughed. "Jus' stop tha' and we'll go!"
Mungo allowed her to get up. But before they left Rumpel grabbed him and held him back. "But remember," she whispered. "you'll get yours!" And with that she shoved him off the car.
She leaped off the car, waited for Mungo to get back up, then they were off with their bags slung over their shoulders. They were headed toward Jakes, the best barbeque restaurant in the metropolis. Quite soon they were running back in the direction they came, bags full.
They were on their way back to the car when they noticed a large crowd gathered at the tire, which the watch cat, known as Munkustrap, perched.
"Wonda what's goin' on," said Mungojerrie. "Let's check it out!"
The quick-change comedians galloped over to the tire, quickly hiding their bags behind them (with some difficulty), as they knew Munku disapproved of stealing. They sat patiently, awaiting the news in store for them.
"May I have your attention please!" called Munkustrap (quite unnecessarily, as all the pairs of lamplike eyes were turned on him). "We have a new addition to the Jellicle tribe. May I introduce you to Mistenia!"
All the Jellicles applauded politely as the gray angora mounted the tire, but Rumpelteazer swiveled around to face her partner. "Mungo!" she whispered. "Tha's th' cat tha' saved me back the otha noit!"
"Really?" asked Mungo, but Munkustrap saw them.
"Would you two like to share something?" he questioned them, eyebrows raised.
"No, Munkustrap," chorused the knock-about clowns like a pair of well- behaved school children. Mistenia giggled, a reaction to which the watch cat turned an Evil Eye in the duo's direction. Then he continued his speech: "Now, you all know that every Jellicle that sets paw in our land is to be treated with respect..."
"Until she's not new anymore," Rumpel overheard Pouncival whisper to Tumblebrutus. "Then it's time for the practical jokes!"
"...and that is what I expect from all of you," Munku continued, now casting a wary eye in Pounce and Tumble's direction, then at The Rum Tum Tugger, who was looking rather curious. "Thank you."
He helped Mistenia down and left to his den. This was Rumpel's chance! She dragged Mungo over to the new tribe member and grinned. "Hi!" she greeted Mistenia. "I want ta thank you for savin' me loife an' ta welcome you to th' troibe. Ya must be excoited, aren' ya?"
Mistenia grinned back. "Yeah, I guess I am." She turned to Mungojerrie, who had reached into his bag to retrieve a bit of barbeque. "And who are you?" she asked politely.
"Mugojewee," he replied, his face stuffed with chicken.
" 'E said," explained Rumpelteazer at the puzzled look on Mistenia's face, then slapping her partner on the back, forcing him to swallow. " 'is name is Mungojerrie, an' I'm Rumpelteazah."
"Oh!" Mistenia laughed. "So, Rumpelteazer, I was wondering if there were any vacant dens around here."
"Sure!" said Rumpel excitedly. "I cin dig ya up one! You're gonna loike it 'ere, Mist."
"I'm sure I will." =^..^= Rumpel backed out of the newly-made den and turned to Mistenia. Instead she saw her wrestling with Mungojerrie, who was having trouble staying on top. Finally, Mist pinned him down and grinned. "I win," she boasted.
Rumpel giggled as the two cats went through another round, ending with the same results. Then Mist noticed the den. "Oh! Thank you so much, Rumpel!" She crawled inside. "This is the best!"
Rumpel smiled. "Yeah, well, enjoy yer stay. There are a lot o' really noice cats around 'ere. I'm sure you'll make some good friends."
"I think I already have," Mist replied. The two queens bid each other farewell, then Rumpel followed Mungo to the car.
"Boy, she sure cin pack a punch," Mungo muttered.
"Told ya you'd get yours," Rumpel teased, then ran as Mungo chased her the rest of the way.
That night Rumpel surveyed the Junkyard from atop the car. She had been examining the large mounds of trash when she noticed a figure skulking in the shadows. She turned her attention on the figure, then recognized it at once as The Magical Mr. Mistofelees. She transfixed her gaze on him until he disappeared into Mistenia's den. I wonder what that was about, she thought, then fell asleep. =^..^= Rumpel pattered through the 'Yard to Mist's place. Mungo was still asleep, but Rumpel knew that he would have nothing to worry about if he found her gone. They never left the Junkyard separately, and she was sure she would be back by the time he had awaken.
She reached the den and peered inside. "Mist? Mistenia?" No answer. Rumpelteazer set a paw down in the doorway, and almost instantly she heard Mistenia's voice.
"Rumpel? Is that you?"
Greatly relieved, Rumpel called back. "Yeah, it's me. Jus' wan'ed ta see if you were doin' alroit."
"Yeah, it's great here." The angora slunk out of the shadows in her den and smiled. "I met this tom, Mistofelees. You know him?"
"Yeah," Rumpel replied.
"Really great guy. We're gonna go fishing in the creek this afternoon, so I won't be here for a while, okay?"
"Yeah, sure," said Rumpel, hiding her disappointment. " 'Ave fun!"
"Thanks." Mistenia trotted off, tail high in the air.
Rumpelteazer sauntered back to the car. On the moon roof lay her partner and mate, fast asleep. Rumpel crouched on the hood, then sprang up and knocked him off the car.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Mungo toppled off the roof. He quickly got up and saw Rumpelteazer standing next to him, a mischievous and obvious look on her face. "You!" Mungo cried. Rumpel giggled and led him in a chase around the car a few times, then she swiveled around and pounced. The two of them wrestled, bouncing off mounds of trash nearby.
Rumpel stood up after a while, brushing dirt out of her coat. "Remember 'ow we firs' met?" she asked playfully.
"I don' loike bein' reminded."
"I really beat you up good!"
"I know tha'. Some days I cin still feel th' bump on my 'ead."
"I was tha' good?"
"For a kitten, yeah. For a queen, yeah."
"Well then, I loike bein' reminded. Besides," Rumpel smirked. "where would ya be withou' me?"
"Let me think...does th' 'Eavysoide Layer sound fair enough?"
"So you're glad I took ya in."
"Yup."
"Me too."