Mungo had been sitting outside, looking up at the sky for at least an hour when he felt someone's paw on his shoulder. He turned around to find himself facing Macavity.
"Oh, eh boss," Mungo said with casual cheerfulness.
"Good evening Mungo," Macavity said smoothly, in a tone Mungo didn't like very much.
"Good raid tonoite?" Mungo said, shifting his position slightly, so Macavity's paw moved off his shoulder.
"Yes it was. We need to have a little chat Mungo, so come take a stroll with me," Macavity said, his voice low and persuading. Mungo gulped and followed the large red cat down the alley. They walked in silence for a while, until Macavity stopped suddenly and turned to Mungo.
"So. You were spotted taking Demeter out of her cell. I was very worried about her when I came back and she wasn't there. So worried in fact, that I had to kill a few people to find out where she was," Macavity said this very quietly and calmly, while Mungo began to sweat, fearing the worst.
"You know Mungo, you're a good agent. You steal. You're quiet. You do as you're told. So I was especially surprised when I found out it was you who took Demeter from her cell. I just want to ask you, why?" Macavity said this as he circled Mungo, his yellow eyes glinting dangerously in the moonlight.
"Oi… jus… oi 'eard 'er cryin' when oi walked pas' 'er cell an' all," Mungo said, his throat dry. He swallowed and licked his lips. "Oi jus' poked moi 'ead in tah see if everyfin was allroite, an' she looked a bit sick so oi thought oide take 'er to the queens, get em to clean 'er up a bit and then put 'er roite back in 'er cell for ya," Mungo said the last part very quickly as he stared at the ground. Macavity raised an eyebrow.
"So Mungo, you did this out of the goodness of your heart?" Macavity stepped closer to Mungojerrie. "Well then I must thank you Mungo, for sticking your nose in other people's business…" And with that Macavity punched Mungojerrie hard in the stomach.
Mungojerrie was taken by surprise; he coughed and stumbled, and looked up at Macavity fearfully. Macavity gave him a blow to the face, Mungo could feel his claws raking his cheek, and he could feel his blood dripping down the side of his face. Mungo was suddenly furious, he was angrier than he had been in a long time. Years of frustration were boiling in his veins; he turned suddenly and attacked Macavity with all his might.
Though Macavity was bigger and stronger than him, Mungo brought him to the ground in one blow; there was surprise in Macavity's eyes, but he quickly kicked Mungo hard in the stomach and Mungo fell to the ground, breathless. Macavity put his paw to Mungo's throat and hissed at him.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right now," Macavity said, his voice deadly calm.
"Oi…" Mungo couldn't think of any reason why Macavity would spare his life. Macavity tightened his grip and Mungo gasped, his oxygen supply being cut of slowly. The world turned white…
The next moment, Mungojerrie was coughing with all his might, gasping for air. Macavity had released him and stepped back, an odd look in his eyes.
"That, Mungojerrie, was your life in my hands. That was your last chance. You screw up one more time, and I'm going to kill you. Your debt will be considerably increased, so you're going to have to work twice as hard now," Macavity said, his voice eerily clear to Mungo's oxygen deprived brain. "Oh and Mungo," Macavity continued as he walked past Mungojerrie towards the warehouse, "I don't want to ever see you within a 20 foot vicinity of Demeter. Ever," Macavity grinned evily at Mungo and walked away.
Mungo coughed violently again, his throat feeling very sore. Tears of indignation sprung to his eyes. He wiped them, feeling ashamed of himself. Letting a queen get to him this way! What was the matter with him?