"Munkustrap's gone off again."
The Rum Tum Tugger opened one eye to see Demeter standing in front of him, a worried look on her face. "You woke me up to tell me that?"
"He looked really depressed."
"And that's news because…."
"I'm worried."
"Obviously."
"Do you know what's wrong with him?"
He yawned, and sat up. "He's brooding because he misses Old Deuteronomy. The leader was like a father to him, you know that. Besides, it's been almost a year and a half, and he hasn't come back yet.
That was true. A Jellicle Moon had come and gone since the one that Deuteronomy left on. Munkustrap had sent Gus up to the Heaviside Layer.
"He's disappointed that he didn't turn up in Cassandra's or Jellylorum's litters, too," he added, remembering how the tabby and Alonzo had nearly paced a hole through to China the night of Cass's delivery.
"How could I forget? Dear little Grizabella, Asparagus, and Chelonian. One kitten with faint memories, one kitten with most memories but a kitten-like attitude, one normal kitten, and four cats who don't have a clue how to raise kittens that are older then they are. Do I have to mention the fact that Jelly gave birth to her own father-in-law?"
"They act like kittens, though, so I suppose it's not that bad."
"What would you know about raising kittens, Tugger?"
"Absolutely nothing. Can I go back to sleep now?"
"Fine, just go back to being an insensitive jackass of a tom!" she huffed.
"'Kay," he muttered, lying down and closing his eyes.
Demeter got right down beside his ear. "Know what, Tugger?"
"Wha?"
"I was being sarcastic!" she hollered at the top of her lungs, nearly blowing out the poor tom's eardrum. She stalked off, hoping she could startle Mistoffelees into setting his tail on fire. She didn't usually get pleasure from the pain of others, but she was in a bad mood, and felt that everyone else deserved to be.
The Rum Tum Tugger rubbed his sore ear with a hind paw. He had no idea what had gotten into Demeter. He figured it must have been 'that time of month' or something. The large tom rose, and trotted over to where Munkustrap was sitting.
The silver tabby was on the junkyard fence, staring out at the sun, which was preparing to set. He was trying to clear his mind to be able to focus on one problem at a time, like Old Deuteronomy had taught him to do. So far, it wasn't working.
While it was true the tribe hadn't fallen to pieces during its true leader's absence, they hadn't exactly been flourishing. They had narrowly avoided a battle with the Pollicles the month before. Munkustrap thanked the Everlasting Cat that the dogs weren't all that bright, as they had only gotten out of it after threatening to send the Great Rumpus Cat after them.
In all truth, it wasn't just the wisdom and knowledge Munk missed, it was the stories that all of the Jellicles would gather to listen to. It was the long talks on starry nights when any cat had a problem they couldn't solve. If anything was wrong, one could almost always find Old Deuteronomy either on the Vicarage Wall or on the front stoop of his human's house, ready to lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on.
Munkustrap sighed. He had tried to be the best leader he could be, but he just couldn't compare to Old Deuteronomy. There was just no way he could ever live up to the tom, and he knew it. He had kept up hope that any day he would return, but his hope was starting to fade.
"Munk? You alright?" asked the Rum Tum Tugger leaping up onto the fence to sit beside him.
"Yeah, I'm just fine. I'm just dealing with every single problem every single Jellicle has, while trying to keep my sanity. I have no idea how Old Deuteronomy handled this all without having a mental breakdown."
The two toms were silent for a moment, as they watched the setting sun.
"You know," started the Tugger. "They say that Old Deuteronomy did break down once. They say he almost killed himself out of grief."
"You're kidding," the tabby said automatically. "He was- is- always so calm and cool. I can't see him trying to commit suicide."
The Rum Tum Tugger shrugged. "Hey, it's just the Grapevine. But they say that in his last life, you know, before last year, something really bad happened, I don't know what. They found him the day after, sleeping on the roof of the Vicarage. He told them that he was going to jump, but then he thought of his moments of happiness, and pulled himself through."
"Fake rumours," Munkustrap replied, unyielding. "Old Deuteronomy would never try to kill himself. He's much more level-headed than that. Besides, he's lived so many lives, what could hit him that hard?"
He gave another shrug. "I don't know. Like I said, the Grapevine."
More silence. It was making Tugger fidgety, he wasn't used to long periods without screaming and hollering, which reflected on what kind of kitten he had been. Now, of course, Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer caused most of the mischief, but he was still known to pull a trick or two.
"He'll be back, don't worry," the large tom finally said. "They was probably a backup up in the Heaviside Layer or something, You know, Grizabella and Gus were reborn at almost the same time, so Old Deuteronomy has to wait so long before he can be reborn."
"Tugger," sighed Munkustrap. "That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. I'm going for a walk." He nimbly jumped off of the fence, neatly landing on his feet.
"Stay away from Demeter!" Tugger hollered as he left. "Trust me on this one!" Once the tabby was gone, he shook his head sadly. Munk really needed to get himself a queen. Anyone but Demeter.
Munkustrap trotted slowly through the alleyways, not really going anywhere. What in Heaviside was he going to do if the Pollicles figured out his bluff and attacked? They'd all be killed for sure, even if they enlisted the help of other tribes. Any what if Macavity attacked? He sighed. It all seemed so helpless.
Suddenly, his ears twitched. Something, someone, was crying. It sounded like a kitten. The tabby cautiously crept around the corner, and what he saw nearly knocked the stripes straight off of him.
It was a kitten, but not just any kitten. It was tiny, and its coat was a mixture of different shades of grey with a few tinges of brown here and there, and might have been described as a tabby at a stretch. Its fur was matted with dirt and what seemed to be a bit of blood, and the fur around its face was wet with tears.
The tabby knew immediately who the kit was. Although it was obviously young, it appeared to have an aura of wisdom and kindness, and its deep brown eyes seemed to hold the secrets of the world.
Munkustrap immediately dropped into a bow, his forehead touching the ground. "Old Deuteronomy! You have finally returned to the Jellicle tribe!"
The sobbing stopped, and there was a soft padding noise as the kitten walked forward. He stooped, and peeked at the silver tabby's face. "Um, do I know you?"
He rose quickly. "Of course you know me! I'm Munkustrap, your second-in-command!"
"Second-in-command?" he asked, obviously confused. "Of what?"
Munkustrap was stunned. "Of the Jellicle tribe, of course! Don't you…"
There was a deep barking noise. Both cats spun around to see a huge Pollicle bounding towards them. He didn't look like he was very friendly.
The tabby's mind instantly went into strategy mode. He could get away, but Deuteronomy, in his kitten body, couldn't. There was only one option. It may not have been dignified for a leader of Old Deuteronomy's status, but it would get them out alive.
He gave a hasty bow. "I am very sorry, Old Deuteronomy."
"For wha… AAAAAAHHHH!"
Munkustrap grabbed the kitten by the scruff of the neck and grasped him firmly in his teeth, but as gently as he could manage. He set out at a dead run, bolting down the alleyway, the Pollicle nipping at his tail. Literally.
He looked back. The dog was much too close for comfort. Time for a little change in plans. He jumped onto a wooden crate, trying to keep a tight hold on the squirming leader in his mouth. He leapt onto the dumpster, and then onto the windowsill behind it.
The Pollicle skidded, and slammed against the dumpster, causing the open lid to fall heavily, clipping Munkustrap in the shoulder, and making him drop Old Deuteronomy.
The kitten fell onto the now closed dumpster. His head hit the metal, and he was knocked unconscious. Munkustrap jumped down, and took him in his mouth again. He jumped over the Pollicle, and took off.
The Pollicle growled, but trotted home instead of pursuing. Too much work for too little meat, that's all cats were…
Munkustrap paused to make sure he had a firm grip on the unconscious not-so-old Deuteronomy, then he ran as fast as he could towards the junkyard.