Animal Instincts, Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Celebrations


Munkustrap felt extremely relieved as he watched the celebrations continue, though the exhausted Rubena had returned to Jellylorum's den to rest. It had been his first recommendation for a new cat to the tribe. Success for Rubena also meant success for him. If she had failed, the tribe would have looked upon him as a failure for not choosing a worthy cat.

"Well, she passed. I didn't fail," he said to himself with satisfaction.

A blur of short-haired black fur bowled him over and kissed him on the cheek.

"She did it she did it she did it!!!" squealed Alyzria in delight, hugging him.

"Yes, she did, and you're squashing me, little kit," he laughed as he pushed her off.

The usually neat tabby had fur rumpled up and sticking out all over the place. Alyzria grinned good-naturedly and helped to pull him back onto his feet.

"Mistoffelees! Over here!" shouted the still elated Alyzria, waving to the tuxedo cat who was quietly grooming his fur in a corner.

Mistoffelees looked up, shook his head, smiled and wandered over.

"Now, just to warn you, Alyzria, don't pounce me," said Mistoffelees, feigning sternness in his tone.

Alyzria shrugged.

"Okay."

Mistoffelees grinned devilishly.

"Because I'm gonna pounce you!"

Alyzria screeched and darted off, but Mistoffelees's flexibility, dancing technique and good gymnastic skills made it easy for him to cut in front of her and pounce the giggling feline.

Alyzria wasn't completely helpless though. A tiny smile was on her face as she carefully conjured a handful of a snow. Mistoffelees continued to sit on her, and his fur was tickling her nose. Alyzria suddenly pressed the snow against Mistoffelees's chest.

"Aiieee! Zria, no fair!" cried Mistoffelees, jumping up and wiping the cold snow off his white chest.

"All's fair in pounce and war," she said, smiling contrarily.

"When you two have quite finished," said Munkustrap sternly, though a twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed his true feelings.

"Aww, c'mon Munkus, loosen up a little!" said Mistoffelees imploringly.

Munkustrap grinned, and tried to look pompous.

"Magical Mister Mistoffelees! Alyzria! What do you two think you're doing?" he asked in a slightly deeper voice than his own and tried not to laugh.

Mistoffelees said squeakily, "We're very sorry Mister Munkustrap sir and we'll never do it again."

Alyzria did a silly curtsey and fell flat on her face. Mistoffelees hauled her back on to her feet.

"You guys are weird," said Rubena, who had re-emerged from Jellylorum's den and was now limping towards them. Alyzria turned to see who the newcomer was and giggled.

"Myself and Mistoffelees? Surely you jest!"

Rubena noticed the tuxedo and smirked a little. "And how are you, Magical Mister Beverage cat? Feeling a little juicy?"

Mistoffelees flamed, and glared at her. "Are you still harping on about that?" he demanded in annoyance.

Rubena just grinned again. "Careful there, if you go too red, you'll evaporate."

"Munkuuus! Why did you let that obnoxious creation join our tribe?" he whined, gesturing to the still smirking Rubena.

"Quit it!" said Alyzria, laughing inwardly at how well Rubena managed to stir up the magic cat.

Mistoffelees scowled at the tigress, but an idea began to form in his head.

"Ribena," he said politely, deliberately saying her name incorrectly. "Were you told some of the other criteria for the Jellicle Tribe?"

Rubena briefly glared at him, then frowned in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

Mistoffelees smiled. "Well, can you dance?"

The tigress blanched. "Pardon?"

"Can you dance?"

"Uh, well. Um, let's see. Uh - no, I don't believe - tell you what, let's go and get some food!" she finished brightly. Mistoffelees waggled a finger at her.

"Uh-uh, you don't get out of it that easily!" he said, an evil look upon his face.

Rubena yelped as he dragged her out in a clear spot in the Junkyard.

"Now, feast your eyes upon the king of the dance floor!" he said, striking a pose.

He went through his most intricate dance routine, finishing in a triple flip combination.

"Show off," muttered Rubena.

Alyzria and Munkustrap were watching this scene with great interest. Rubena gave them her best `Get me out of here!' look.

"It's your turn!" called Alyzria.

"I'm injured!" she implored.

"Not too injured to do some basic dance," Mistoffelees retorted. He grabbed her paws and got into a basic waltz position.

"Now one, two, three, one, two, three..."

"Get off, you idiot!" said Rubena.

Being about a head taller than him, it was easy to pick him up by the bow-tie and glare at him right in the eye.

"Don't. You. Dare," she spluttered angrily.

Mistoffelees smiled sweetly.

"Will you consider putting me down, my lady?" he inquired.

Rubena grinned mischievously, seeing once again a chance to somewhat embarrass the tuxedo cat.

"How about... no?"

Misto looked at her in surprise, then suddenly disappeared out of Rubena's grip, only to reappear behind her. Rubena blinked, then put her foot behind her head in a mock-sulky gesture.

"That good enough for you?" Rubena taunted, daring the magic cat to say no.

Mistoffelees ducked past and surveyed her appraisingly.

"It'll do for today," he said loftily, trying to hide the fact that he was impressed.

The tigress untwisted herself, a tiny smile playing her lips.

"I can't dance," she admitted. "But I am able to do gymnastics."

Mistoffelees raised one skeptical eyebrow. He waved an arm out, gesturing to the entire Junkyard.

"Show me."

Rubena sighed heavily.

"If I must."

She jogged a few laps around the 'yard, to warm up and use muscles that had been rested for some time. Mistoffelees sniggered almost inaudibly. This was what Rubena called gymnastics? He carefully studied his right paw and began to groom it meticulously.

Rubena suddenly flung herself high into the air and did a double twist, landed perfectly and barely a split second later, launched herself into a cartwheel and landed in the splits.

Mistoffelees blinked. Rubena walked towards him, brushing herself off and wincing slightly, as her right leg had not completely healed yet, and did not take well to cartwheels.

"Howzat?" she asked, grinning slightly. Fear of being rejected, though, could be seen in her clouded amber eyes.

Mistoffelees swallowed his pride.

"That was great. You're really good," he blurted.

Rubena knew the magic cat was proud of his ability, and she knew it was hard for him to say the words.

"Thanks. I really appreciate it," she replied. "But at this point in time, I am starving!"

"Then I believe we have the answer," remarked a misty voice.

Two identical twin tabbies, a male and female, and the same curvy ginger tabby she had seen before her task had started strode toward her, along with another pair of calicos that she didn't recognize.

The twin tabbies identified themselves as Tantomile and Coricopat. They were each clutching a rat in each paw.

"I'm Bombalurina," the ginger tabby said in a low, sultry voice.

"Mungojerrie an' Rumpleteaza atcha service," said the male calico in a thick Cockney accent. His partner giggled.

Rubena eyed the quintet with interest.

"What's in the sacks?" she asked curiously, referring to the bulging sack each calico had slung over their shoulder.

"Well-" began Rumpleteazer. Mungojerrie cuffed her playfully.

"'Ey now 'teaza, we canna be givin' away all our trade secrets!"

Rubena raised an eyebrow. "Trade secrets? What sort of trade are you in?"

"Well," said Mungojerrie, clearing his throat. "We are, to put it in a word -"

"Mungo?" said Munkustrap warningly. "Don't go flaunting your reputation. It's not something to be proud of."

Mungojerrie pretended not hear him.

"The Jellicle Junkyard is proud to present -"

"Oh no it's not," muttered Munkustrap, though no one heard him.

"The resident Junkyard THIEVES!" said Mungojerrie with satisfaction.

"Cat burglars," interrupted Rumpleteazer.

"Comedians, acrobats -"

"Basically, trouble-makers."

Munkustrap had his head in his hands.

"And in the sacks is tonight's spoils!"

Each calico emptied their sack with a flourish, and bowed.

"Whiskas!"

Rubena's wide-eyed look was the best compliment she could have given the two trouble-makers. However, her under-nourished condition succeeded in making her turn her attention to the two fat rats the twins held, and even the calicos had to agree that at this point, sustaining their physical forms with some food was more important than goggling at top-secret bags of loot.


Chapter 8