Plato stared cautiously out from the pipe. No one in sight. Quietly, he tiptoed out into the middle of the junkyard. He looked around, ready to pounce if anyone dared to scare him. That backfired. Jemima landed playfully on his back, tackling him to the ground. Munkustrap rushed out, hearing their cries of alarm.

"What's going on?" he asked the two kittens. Jemima sat upright at the sound of his voice.

"Sorry, Munkustrap. We were just playing." Munkustrap gave them a stern look.

The gray tabby cried out as Tumblebrutus, Etcetera and Pouncival joined the fray, taking him with them. Munkustrap wriggled free from the pile and shook his head disapprovingly. Looking to his retreating back, Etcetera replied in her shrilly voice, "Look out!"

Too late. Once again, he was brought down as, Jing, a black and white kitten, came crashing into him. She shook her head and stood up. A sheepish look appeared on her face when she saw who she ran into. She gave him a fake, innocent smile as he stood up and brushed himself off. Jemima tried to stifle a giggle. Tumblebrutus put a paw up to her mouth to keep her quiet. Munkustrap turned his attention to the group of kittens, who were still in a pile. They quickly hid their laughter and looked as innocent as they possibly could. No one took noticed as Jing looked over to the old car.

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer gestured frantically for her to join them. She shook her head. Mouthing 'no,' she nodded her head towards Munkustrap. When he fixed his eyes upon her, she quickly sat still. Giving no sign of approval, he stalked off behind the rusty oven. Plato glared at Jing and whispered, "You're not going off with the mischief-makers again, are you?"

"Well, you don't think I'm just going to sit around here, do you?" she started to walk to where Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were hiding.

Pouncival and Plato leaped up and blocked her way. "You remember what happened last time, don't you?" Tumblebrutus said from behind her. She turned to face him.

"I know exactly what happened last time and I don't really care." She began to walk around Pouncival, but he placed a paw upon her tail, stopping her from going any further.

"Do you remember what Munkustrap said about those two?" He said. He gave a sudden yelp of pain as Jing dug her claws into his paw. Releasing his paw, he lifted it and began to lick it with care.

"Jing, why don't you stay and play with us?" Etcetera asked, rolling onto her side.

"Play what? Safe games that don't have any adventure?" She walked over to where Mungo and Rumple were waiting. "No way. See you losers later." And with that, she disappeared out of the junkyard.

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Mungojerrie led the way as they left the junkyard. Rumpleteazer and Jing followed behind, deeply in conversation. Every once in a while they would let out a giggle or a gasp. Finally after about ten minutes of this, Mungo turned to face them.

"What are you two talking about?" he asked, setting his loot bag down.

They didn't say anything. They just stared at him for a minute, then burst out laughing. "You're right, Rumple!" Jing wiped the tears forming in her eyes. "He is such a clown!"

They stopped laughing, when a low, cruel chuckle erupted in the alley. Mungojerrie crouched over them.

"Macavity!" Rumpleteazer whispered, clutching her loot bag to her chest.

"Who?" Jing asked, her tone confused. Mungo and Rumple both looked to her, surprised that she didn't know who the Hidden Paw was.

"He's the baddest cat in the whole town!" Mungo said, keeping his voice low.

"Maybe even the world..." Rumple added.

They all cringed as another spine-tingling cackle echoed in the alley. Rumple, without warning, let out a piercing screech and darted off, Mungo following close behind. Jing didn't have time to figure out which way they went to follow. She carefully and quietly crept out of the alley and into the open streets. She heaved a sigh and relaxed her tense muscles. Her relief didn't last long, though. The evil laugh was heard once more and Jing, for the first time, laid eyes on the most feared cat in town.

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