Chapter Seven

"AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGH!"

The father cried out in rage, throwing the door open and watching the retreating cats. "YOU CATS NEVER COME BACK HERE AGAIN!" he roared.

Ping.

The father swung around to see a strange cat standing over a broken Ming vase, looking up at him innocently.

"WHO ARE YOU?!" the angry man bellowed, causing the cat to bound out the door as fast as his legs could carry him. With those idiot cats he lived with, the family always got "surprise visitors" because the area window was always wide open. Huffing and puffing angrily, the man slammed the door shut.

"Boy, 'e sure got angry after we pulled out all those pots and pans from the pantry," said Rumpel.

"Even so, it's still fun ta make 'im explode like that," Mungo said. "He looks so much like a mad gorilla when 'is buttons 'ave bin pushed!"

He did a ridiculous impression of the father going on a rampage, causing Rumpelteazer to burst out laughing.

"You're good!" she informed him between giggles.

The notorious duo entered the Junkyard together. They were greeted immediately by Rum Tum Tugger, who was looking excited (remember, there's excited, but there's also Tugger excited).

"You guys, the Ball is tomorrow night! You have any idea what we're getting for food? It is your job, you know."

"Yeah, yeah, we're workin' on it," Rumpelteazer muttered.

"Yeah, well, you better bring something good this time!" Tugger called after their retreating backs.

"What does 'good' mean again?" Mungo asked.

"We put most of the food out for the cats, but take the rest of it and scatter it all over the Junkyahrd." Rumpel replied. "It's th' only way ta get 'im ta eat."

"Roit."

=..=

"YOU DIDN'T GET HIM? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?!"

The henchman, shivering horribly, said in reply, "I'm sorry Macavity, you said he was a kitten..."

"NOT THAT KIND OF KITTEN! HE'S ALMOST FULL-GROWN, YOU FOOL!"

The angry tom grabbed his henchman and hurled him across the street and over a wire fence. There was a very good reason why he wanted him to land there; behind the fence was Pollicle Park.

"Never let other cats do what you could do yourself," Macavity snarled. The Hidden Paw scowled and lay down, listening to the howls and hisses coming from across the street. After only a few minutes, a paw, one that had once belonged to that of a cat's, flew over the fence and landed on the sidewalk.

=..=

Rumpel giggled as she ran through the Junkyard, Mungo chasing after her. Finally, she reached the center of the Junkyard and came to a halt. "Th' Ball's gonna stahrt!" she said excitedly when Mungojerrie reached her side.

Mungo could barely sit still. He loved the Ball. He and Rumpelteazer would educate the kittens on what it was like to be a knockabout clown, about the Pollicles they had made friends with and Pollicles they were enemies with, what it was like to be a natuaral mischeif-maker, listening to them ooh and ahh, enchanted by the quick-change comedians success.

Finally, Munkustrap came out into the open and started to sing:

"Jellicle cats, come out to night,

"Jellicle cats, come one, come all,

"The Jellicle Moon is shining bright,

"Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball!"

Cats instantly became pouring in from every direction: Alonzo, Bombulurina, Demeter, Exotica, Coricopat, Tantomile, all of the kittens, following The Rum Tum Tugger, who was in front of the Magical Mr. Mistoffelees, then all of the other Jellicles, ready to rejoice and find out who will be picked to go to the Heaviside Layer.

Mungojerrie grinned at his partner, who grinned back as they slung their bags over their shoulders and joined the other cats. All the kittens gathered around them at once, ready for another adventure.

"What's the story this time, Rumpel?" Jemima asked.

"Yeah! Tell us!" crowed Carbucketty.

"Hold yer horses!" Mungo laughed. "Actually, we happened to wreck some major havoc jus' a few days ago."

"Get on with it then!" said Victoria, one of the older kittens. She was also a very close friend to the Dynamic Duo.

"Okay, okay," said Rumpel. "Well, it was my birthday, so we wen' ta Jake's fer breakfast. This time we wen' through th' front door 'n'stead of th' back."

"Believe me," said Mungo, "th' people wen' crazy! We ran under a few tables--"

"--an' on top o' them," Rumpel added.

"--and dashed inta th' kitchen. Th' cook wen' mad, o' course, so we had ta dodge a few blows from 'is rollin' pin. We grabbed th' grills an' poured th' good stuff in our bags."

"Then we made away with our stuff through th' back," finished Rumpel.

"WOW!" the smaller kittens squealed, while the older ones looked merely impressed.

Munkustrap trotted over. "Okay, kids, it's time for your dinner. You better get there while it's still warm..."

"Or before B.J eats it all, whichever comes first," Rumpel whispered to Mungo, giggling.

Munkustrap gave them a disapproving look. "I heard that, and don't think the kittens didn't either."-the kittens were snickering among themselves-"Really, you two, you need to set a better example!"

"Aw, c'mon, Munku, it comes in handy if ya wanna become a knockabou' clown," Mungo joked. "An' I'm sorry ta say this, bu' I think a couple o' them already consider us their oidols!"

Munku frowned and led the giggling kittens away, leaving Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer to fall apart, laughing hysterically.

"C'mon, Rumpel," Mungo gasped. "We should probably 'ead over there, too, before B.J really does eat it all!"

While they ate, Mungojerrie only then realized how pretty his partner was. Her fur was shiny and smooth, and her eyes a deep green. Mungo looked at his own coat. It looked like he hadn't bathed in a week.

The night was going by quickly. Before they knew it, it was almost time to announce the lucky Jellicle who was to be sent to the Heaviside Layer. Rumpel went over to Mungo. "Would ya like ta go to th' bridge with me?"

The bridge was a wooden bridge over a particularly rough part of the creek. Every cat at the Junkyard loved the view from atop the bridge.

"They're abou' ta announce..."

"I know."

Mungo gave in and grinned. "All roit, then."

The two Jellicles trotted over to the bridge, out of sight from all the other cats. They sat down and Rumpelteazer rested her head on his shoulder, sighing.

Mungo had never felt so sentimental in his life. Crickets serenaded into the darkness. Water in the creek flowed quickly, ending in small "rapids" and continuing into the Junkyard. Rumpel sat by him on the wooden bridge as they gazed at the Jellicle Moon.

Mungo then became aware of a figure surveying them at the end of the bridge. Spinning around, Mungo felt the familiar prickle of his hair standing on end in fear that he had not experienced in years. Then he saw him.

It was Macavity.

Rumpel saw him too and let out a low hiss. Mungo remained quiet, for Macavity was anything but alone. Behind him was an army of rats. They were awful creatures, reeking of battle and aggressiveness, only adding to the fear.

Macavity smiled evilly and sauntered a few steps toward them. "Good evening, Mungo," he said silkily. "How pleasant to meet up again on such a beautiful night!"

" 'E's not comin' back, Macavity!" Rumpel hissed before the Napoleon of Crime could say anything else. "I'd like ta see ya try an' make 'im!"

Macavity's smile was abruptly erased and replaced with a sordid snarl. "I hoped it wouldn't have to come to this!" He barked at Mungo. "You have one last chance! It's now or never, Mungojerrie!"

Mungo felt a surge of rage rush through him. He puffed up his fur even more and bared his teeth. "No, Macavity! You cin try all ya want ta get me back, bu' this is my final word!"

All of a sudden, Macavity seemed to inflate. He got bigger and bigger, his lip curling. "IT CERTAINLY IS YOUR LAST WORD!" he shrieked.

Macavity let out a bloodthirsty yowl that filled the Junkyard and the square. Mungo could hear all the cheering in the Junkyard fade away. All of a sudden, two bolts of lightning hit the bridge, which split in two with Mungo on one half and Rumpel on the other. The second bolt of lightning hit the other end of the bridge, wrenching Rumpel's half from the ground.

"GET THEM!" Macavity roared, seemingly to no one in particular at first. Rats poured in from every direction, cornering the cats. Rumpel, whose half was already halfway sunk into the creek, swiped, knocking one into the rushing water.

Mungo quickly followed suit. A rat flung itself at him, and Mungo caught it in midair and smashed it on the bridge.

The rats were coming in waves now. They cornered Mungojerrie at the edge. Mungo made an attempt to cuff a rat over the head when he slipped, just managing to grab on with his forepaws.

Mungo quickly turned his attention to Rumpelteazer, who was still fighting strong. Rumpel saw him and cried out, "Mungo! Hang on!" To his horror, Mungo saw a rat grab a thick, sharp stick and stab Rumpel in the cheek. She swayed on the spot, then toppled into the creek.

"Rumpel!" Mungo cried. Then he heard a low creaking sound above him. The rats were abandoning the bridge, for it was beginning to fall apart. It was already falling, and Mungo knew that if he didn't do something quick, it would crush him.

Mungo gulped, then let go, letting the rushing water carry him off just before the bridge collapsed.

Tumbling head over tail, Mungo struggled to keep his head above water. Chunks of smashed wood pelted him, adding more to the injury. In one last attempt to catch a breath, a piece of wood collided with his head, and he blacked out.

=..=

Mungo woke on a rock surrounded by reeds. He could still hear the sound of the water rushing on either side of him, but that was the least of his worries.

Where was Rumpel?

Mungojerrie had started pacing on the rock anxiously, trying to think of what to do, when he stepped on something round. He wheeled around and clamped onto it with his forepaws.

A pearl!

Then Mungo saw her. She was tangled in the reeds around him. He slashed through them with all his might, fighting to free her.

At long last, Rumpelteazer was freed. But she still hadn't moved. Mungo held her in his paws, tears rolling down his cheeks. He wished it wasn't true, but there was no denying it. She was...

"Irg?" Rumpel's eyes fluttered open.

Alive!

Mungojerrie hugged her close while she looked around in confusment. He was the happiest Cat in the world now, and he would've rest assured that night that everything would be fine if it weren't for one thing: Macavity had yet again disappeared and was still on the loose.

End of Volume One

A/N: I looked over this, and as it's been about a year since it was originally written I didn't like this that much…sorry about not giving any more information on the kitten! It was supposed to be just a nameless kitten that will eventually turn up in Volume Three and since I was trying to edit this as little as possible I just couldn't add anything more about the kitten. Anyway, tell me what you think and whether I should post Volume Two!

Teazer