Munkustrap smiled, proudly surveying the tribe that was scattered around the junkyard, each member talking excitedly about the upcoming Jellicle ball. In a far corner of the junkyard, the kittens were playing a game of "catch the tail" with Alonzo, who was perched on an old chair, swinging his tail just out of their reach. Munkustrap watched the display in amusement, then noticed movement out the corner of his eye. Glancing down, he saw Cassandra unexpectedly leave the group of cats she was chatting with, and make a beeline for Alonzo. The burmese crept silently towards the black and white tom, until she was right behind him. Suddenly she pounced, sending Alonzo toppling off his chair. The kittens followed suit, and soon all that could be seen was a tangled pile of kittens, with Electra holding Alonzo's tail triumphantly in her mouth. Laughing quietly to himself, Munkustrap tore his attention away from the display, and looked around at the other cats.
Tantomile sat among a group of queens, chatting animatedly about their past experiences in the Jellicle balls. Munkustrap frowned slightly, noticing how Coricopat was perched on a ledge, constantly watching his sister. Munkustrap had never once seen the two fully apart, and he found it slightly unsettling how they were constantly together, moving in perfect sync, and either speaking together, or completing each others' sentences. Even now they sat in exactly the same pose, although they were at opposite ends of the junkyard.
Slowly rising to his feet, his impressive stance alone was enough to get the attention of the Jellicle tribe. Munkustrap tried unsuccessfully to suppress a smile upon seeing how the tribe instantly gave him their full attention, each member bursting with excitement about the oncoming ball. He patiently waited for them all to assemble, ready to hear stories of their leader, Old Deuteronomy.
Tantomile hung back from her friends, waiting for Coricopat to catch up. He butted her shoulder affectionately, and she smiled.
Stay close to me, he said to her in his mind, as they began moving towards the crowd of cats. She sighed.
Yes, master, she teased, fully aware of the shared feelings of unease within the group as the twins moved towards the front of the crowd, each of their movements carried out in perfect synchronisation with each other. They came to rest in equal crouching poses, looking up expectantly at the silver tabby.
"As you all know, the Jellicle ball begins tomorrow night," Munkustrap announced, feeling strangely uneasy. It felt almost too calm, and he couldn't help but expect some kind of distraction to take place. As if on cue, a loud squeal was suddenly heard, and the tribe turned around quickly to see Etcetera out cold on the floor. Munkustrap sighed, now knowing what was missing. A grinning tom crouched beside Etcetera, causing each of the kittens to squeal excitedly as he glanced at them in turn. He flashed a winning smile at Tantomile, but the female twin ignored him, and he turned away, trying his best not to look crestfallen. Munkustrap cleared his throat, preparing to carry on with his speech, when a loud crash came from somewhere behind him.
"Now what?" He growled, turning around with a sigh. The junkyard was quiet once more, but it was the kind of quiet associated with calm before a storm. The silver tabby's ears half-flattened, and his lips curled into the beginning of a snarl, showing the tips of his razor sharp canines. Turning back to look at the group, he beckoned Plato and Alonzo forward.
"Go see what's out there," he ordered, and the nodded, before jogging off in the direction of the noise. The tribe began talking amongst themselves in hushed voices, but the volume of the noise gradually increased along with the feelings of fear among them. Munkustrap shook his head as he heard the name "Macavity" mentioned in nearly every conversation, and raised his paws. The tribe instantly fell silent.
"Everyone, try to remain calm," he said, taking care to keep his voice calm and even. "I'm sure it was just nothing, probably a couple of rats or -" he was cut off by a loud yell, and another crash. Without another moment's hesitation he raced forward, closely followed by Rum Tum Tugger and the twins. The three of the stopped at the edge of a clearing some distance from their section of the junkyard, where Alonzo could be seen fighting a large red cat. Plato lay sprawled on a pipe, unconscious. The rest of the tribe soon caught up with the four of them, and instantly raced forwards at once, intent on driving Macavity away from the junkyard.
"Get away from here, you big meanie!" Etcetera cried, as Alonzo was flung across the area, slamming hard against a steel bar that jutted out from the muddy ground. Macavity turned towards Etcetera, a malicious glint in his eyes. He raised one paw, and a large gang of cats came racing towards the tribe, heeding the command of their master. The rest of the tribe out of the way, Macavity turned back to Etcetera, quickly wrapping his deadly claws around her throat.
"No..no..." Etcetera whined, glancing around quickly. His claws dug into her skin, and she felt a warm trail of blood trickle down her neck. "Help!!" She screamed, futilely swiping at Macavity. Suddenly a large blur ploughed into Macavity's side, forcing him to let go of Etcetera. She darted back, watching as Tugger pinned the large cat to the ground, claws digging deep into the flesh of his back.
"Nobody touches Etcetera like that, hear me?" He hissed, then let out a yell as Macavity rolled over suddenly, nearly crushing Tugger. The "Hidden Paw" leapt to his feet and looked around, his gaze falling on the twins.
Tantomile froze, feeling a cold feeling wash over her. It felt as if her mind had been forced open, and someone was trying to enter. She blanked her mind, trying to make out the words spoken in her head.
There is no escape, the voice whispered, relentlessly destroying each hopeful thought that entered her mind. Give in to me, join me and we can be strong together... She tried to shut out the voice, but it seemed to fill all her senses, drowning her with each cold word spoken. She fell to her knees, hearing the heavy footsteps nearing her, but unable to move...
"No!! Leave her alone!!" Coricopat roared, flinging himself at the ginger cat just inches from his sister. The two toms skidded along the group, a blur of claws and fur as they slashed at each other. Coricopat sank his teeth into Macavity's shoulder, then jumped up, spitting out a mouthful of blood before turning to look at Macavity, too late. He felt himself being pulled down suddenly, and heard the yells of his friends around him as claws and teeth tore at his flesh from all sides, dragging him down into the depths of unconsciousness.
Tantomile sat among a group of queens, chatting animatedly about their past experiences in the Jellicle balls. Munkustrap frowned slightly, noticing how Coricopat was perched on a ledge, constantly watching his sister. Munkustrap had never once seen the two fully apart, and he found it slightly unsettling how they were constantly together, moving in perfect sync, and either speaking together, or completing each others' sentences. Even now they sat in exactly the same pose, although they were at opposite ends of the junkyard.
Slowly rising to his feet, his impressive stance alone was enough to get the attention of the Jellicle tribe. Munkustrap tried unsuccessfully to suppress a smile upon seeing how the tribe instantly gave him their full attention, each member bursting with excitement about the oncoming ball. He patiently waited for them all to assemble, ready to hear stories of their leader, Old Deuteronomy.
Tantomile hung back from her friends, waiting for Coricopat to catch up. He butted her shoulder affectionately, and she smiled.
Stay close to me, he said to her in his mind, as they began moving towards the crowd of cats. She sighed.
Yes, master, she teased, fully aware of the shared feelings of unease within the group as the twins moved towards the front of the crowd, each of their movements carried out in perfect synchronisation with each other. They came to rest in equal crouching poses, looking up expectantly at the silver tabby.
"As you all know, the Jellicle ball begins tomorrow night," Munkustrap announced, feeling strangely uneasy. It felt almost too calm, and he couldn't help but expect some kind of distraction to take place. As if on cue, a loud squeal was suddenly heard, and the tribe turned around quickly to see Etcetera out cold on the floor. Munkustrap sighed, now knowing what was missing. A grinning tom crouched beside Etcetera, causing each of the kittens to squeal excitedly as he glanced at them in turn. He flashed a winning smile at Tantomile, but the female twin ignored him, and he turned away, trying his best not to look crestfallen. Munkustrap cleared his throat, preparing to carry on with his speech, when a loud crash came from somewhere behind him.
"Now what?" He growled, turning around with a sigh. The junkyard was quiet once more, but it was the kind of quiet associated with calm before a storm. The silver tabby's ears half-flattened, and his lips curled into the beginning of a snarl, showing the tips of his razor sharp canines. Turning back to look at the group, he beckoned Plato and Alonzo forward.
"Go see what's out there," he ordered, and the nodded, before jogging off in the direction of the noise. The tribe began talking amongst themselves in hushed voices, but the volume of the noise gradually increased along with the feelings of fear among them. Munkustrap shook his head as he heard the name "Macavity" mentioned in nearly every conversation, and raised his paws. The tribe instantly fell silent.
"Everyone, try to remain calm," he said, taking care to keep his voice calm and even. "I'm sure it was just nothing, probably a couple of rats or -" he was cut off by a loud yell, and another crash. Without another moment's hesitation he raced forward, closely followed by Rum Tum Tugger and the twins. The three of the stopped at the edge of a clearing some distance from their section of the junkyard, where Alonzo could be seen fighting a large red cat. Plato lay sprawled on a pipe, unconscious. The rest of the tribe soon caught up with the four of them, and instantly raced forwards at once, intent on driving Macavity away from the junkyard.
"Get away from here, you big meanie!" Etcetera cried, as Alonzo was flung across the area, slamming hard against a steel bar that jutted out from the muddy ground. Macavity turned towards Etcetera, a malicious glint in his eyes. He raised one paw, and a large gang of cats came racing towards the tribe, heeding the command of their master. The rest of the tribe out of the way, Macavity turned back to Etcetera, quickly wrapping his deadly claws around her throat.
"No..no..." Etcetera whined, glancing around quickly. His claws dug into her skin, and she felt a warm trail of blood trickle down her neck. "Help!!" She screamed, futilely swiping at Macavity. Suddenly a large blur ploughed into Macavity's side, forcing him to let go of Etcetera. She darted back, watching as Tugger pinned the large cat to the ground, claws digging deep into the flesh of his back.
"Nobody touches Etcetera like that, hear me?" He hissed, then let out a yell as Macavity rolled over suddenly, nearly crushing Tugger. The "Hidden Paw" leapt to his feet and looked around, his gaze falling on the twins.
Tantomile froze, feeling a cold feeling wash over her. It felt as if her mind had been forced open, and someone was trying to enter. She blanked her mind, trying to make out the words spoken in her head.
There is no escape, the voice whispered, relentlessly destroying each hopeful thought that entered her mind. Give in to me, join me and we can be strong together... She tried to shut out the voice, but it seemed to fill all her senses, drowning her with each cold word spoken. She fell to her knees, hearing the heavy footsteps nearing her, but unable to move...
"No!! Leave her alone!!" Coricopat roared, flinging himself at the ginger cat just inches from his sister. The two toms skidded along the group, a blur of claws and fur as they slashed at each other. Coricopat sank his teeth into Macavity's shoulder, then jumped up, spitting out a mouthful of blood before turning to look at Macavity, too late. He felt himself being pulled down suddenly, and heard the yells of his friends around him as claws and teeth tore at his flesh from all sides, dragging him down into the depths of unconsciousness.