A/N: Finally! I got the update done! I just want to say that I know that the characters are Cats, and that I've depicted them more as furry humans with tails. But some of the things that had to happen in the story would have been awkward if I were to write them in full felinity. And when I have to write awkward things, it always leaves readers, and even myself, confused.
Macavity himself came to get me and Munkustrap. As I had figured, he tied up Munkustrap before grabbing me. I hung my head in a quiet defeat, hoping that Macavity wouldn't assume that my silence was because I had a plan. However, I was still furious at myself for losing control over my emotions, and let my anger show. It would help convince Macavity that I hadn't been planning my escape. I started preparing myself for the upcoming battle. I sighed; I had a pretty good idea of what was to come. There were some things that all Crime Lords had in common. The first was having the entrance to their hideout in a dark alley, and the other was what they said in a fight. By now, I had retorts ready and on hand for anything he could say. He would try to get inside my mind, and cause me to get so angry that I lost control, by simply stating the truth. But I had long since come to terms with the truth, and no longer cared where it got me. The best retaliation for that tactic was to agree, and even add to the truth; it made my opponents furious that the usual tactics didn't work.
The journey to the junkyard was rather slow, painfully so. I knew that Macavity was trying to draw the feeling of dread out as long as he could, reveling in it. Admittedly, I felt it: that sinking feeling in your stomach that makes your paws quaver. The repetitive and unceasing question: what if I mess up? If I do, then Munkustrap, Old Deuteronomy, and most likely the rest of the tribe would die. It was agonizing, and the heat from the sun didn't help at all.
Macavity didn't bring many cats with him. There were only three with us, to guard us and make sure we didn't try anything. He probably had at least a score in the junkyard, hiding, just in case things got bad for him. It was another characteristic that my opponents always shared. I guess Macavity wasn't at all different from the others. And the silence was unbearable. Not a word passed between us, not even a command from Macavity to the guards. Something was up; Macavity should be mocking me for being beaten.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, we arrived at the Junkyard. The large fence loomed ominously over us as we entered through the gates. That surprised me, I had expected that Macavity was going to try to sneak in. Then again, from what Munkustrap had said, the Jellicles wouldn't be on the watch. Was it one month ago that I had hopped that fence and landed right in the middle of a pile of kittens? It seems like it was much shorter than that.
We climbed a large junk pile, one that overlooked the main clearing. The guards pushed me and Munkustrap into a kneeling position. Munkustrap, of course, put up a small fight, nearly collapsing the junk pile in the process. I used his struggle to mask the popping and crunching sound of me dislocating both of my thumbs. Doing this would make it a lot easier to get out of the rope that bound my wrists together, but now would not be the best time to pull off the escape.
Munkustrap's short-lived struggle also drew the attention of the Jellicles. Macavity smirked, and I wondered if he was going to do the execution completely silent, or if he was going to make a grand speech first. The Jellicles just stared in disbelief as one guard forced Munkustrap down, and began to gag him. Even from up here, I could see the whites of the Jellicle's eyes as they widened in fear. It was the thought of their brave, courageous, and noble Munkustrap being killed that struck fear into their hearts. I hate being right. Macavity was basking in their fear, his domination of the Jellicles would be easy once Munkus was dead.
I kicked out at the guard behind me. He tripped and fell face first right next to me. A moment later, the other two guards started to beat me. After being knocked flat onto my back, the guard I had tripped pinned me by the shoulders. Continuing to struggle, I used the action to disguise the movements I had to make in order to work my paws out of the ropes. Once I took another punch to the stomach, I lay still as if I had given up. Macavity hadn't even turned to watch my little struggle; he just kept looking at the Jellicles. He must of almost given up hope that the moment would actually come when his dream - obsession - was finally realized. It seemed as though he was debating the same question I had been: should he make a speech, or do it silently? He must have come to a decision after a few minutes. The Jellicles had become decidedly uneasy waiting to see Munkustrap killed, but still too terrified to do anything to stop it. I didn't want to let him know I had gotten free yet either. My timing depended on if Macavity decided to kill me first, as I hoped, or Munkustrap. If I started the fight now, he could use Munkustrap as a shield/hostage.
Kneeling again, Munkustrap spat out the gag. This must have been what caused Macavity's decision. He kneeled in front of Munkustrap, grinning viciously. Damn it. I had to think of something fast to get Macavity's attention off of Munkustrap and onto me.
"What a way to go, Munkustrap." Macavity was speaking loud enough for the Jellicles below to hear. "Right in front of all those who you've tried single handedly to protect. And right after you and my darling daughter are dead, it'll all be destroyed within minutes. But here's the all important question: should I kill you quickly, or slowly? What do you think?" Munkustrap looked down to the ground, rage painted all over his face.
"I could care less what you do with me. I would die a hundred times to ensure the tribe's protection!" Munkustrap snarled, and I rolled my eyes.
"Then why can't you look me in the face when you say it?" Macavity asked smoothly. "It's because you don't mean it. You're trying to be brave in front of your precious tribe, when in fact, you're just a sniveling, cowardly kitten, crying for his mommy." Now Macavity clawed Munkustrap across the face, deep. Then he picked up Munkustrap by the throat, no small feat since he did it with one paw. The other paw continued to slash Munkustrap's body.
"I am no coward Macavity!" Munkustrap spat out. I rolled my eyes again. Munkustrap was being cliche. Those lines are fine and bold the first few times you hear them, but they get old fast.
"I can see it in your eyes Munkustrap. You are afraid. You don't want to die. You'd do anything right now to save your sorry hide." At least Macavity said the truth. Now, he raised his paw to slit Munkustrap's throat. I had to act now.
Standing up, all three guards immediately tried to subdue me. The closest one I kicked in Macavity's direction, and the guard went flying over the edge. The other two met a similar fate. It worked though. In Macavity's attempt to avoid the flying bodies, he had let go and stepped away from Munkustrap. I quickly put myself between them.
"What? You thought I'd just sit here all pretty and let you kill me?" I laughed, he really shouldn't of assumed that I'd be quiet. Macavity's face showed that he was actually amused. Not a good sign. He had been expecting this. Amusement left my face as he started chuckling.
"You left it until the last minute there Rose. I almost thought you were going to let me kill Munkustrap."
"I thought something was weird when you weren't mocking me about being beaten." A smirk returned to my face. As long as I could keep him talking, I could figure out a better plan. It would be too easy for him to throw me over right now, and it was a lethal fall into the loose scraps of rusty metal below. Of course. There were always sharp things at the bottom. With a glance, I could see the bodies of the guards impaled upon the metal. Some of the Jellicles were looking at them with horror, but most kept their eyes trained to us.
Macavity started to circle, but I stayed firmly between the two toms. He was trying to get to Munkustrap, either to kill him or use him as a shield, or even both.
"Munkustrap, now would be the time for you to leave," I growled. Without hesitation, he obeyed, probably realizing that he'd only cause problems. But that didn't matter right now, I had to concentrate on the fight at hand and getting off of this junk pile. Macavity went after Munkustrap. They ran down the pile at full speed, and surprisingly never tripped. After a moment, I followed. Problem solved.