None of us said anything for the rest of the walk. Whether or not it was intentional or if we hadn't anything to say was yet to be determined. We just didn't talk; nothing needed to be said. I looked up, seeing that we were just a few junk piles away from the clearing where I left the cats; those who we needed to join and those who had yet to know of the recent turn of events. I hesitated for a moment, much like how Mungojerrie did before we saw Old Deuteronomy. I took a deep breath, my heart beating at a fast pace and sensing that it would soon burst out of my body. I felt a paw on my shoulder, turning to see who it was, I found Rumpelteazer looking up at me. She nodded compassionately, returning her paw to her swollen stomach. "Go on, Munkustrap; it's what he wanted."
I nodded back at her, still feeling uneasy and took a few confident steps, coming around the corner to see the tribe; celebrating as all Jellicles around the country were. They stopped their joyous dance and their glee filled songs died down; all eyes were on me as we entered. Obviously they had noticed my sudden disappearance, as I expected them to. A few took a step towards me but stopped when they saw the somber expression on my face. I walked forward, the Jellicles moved to a side, parting so that I may pass through them. The silence in the Junkyard was unsettling; nerve wracking. I went up the shoebox steps to the Heaviside Tire, turning around once I was on the Tire itself. I did not sit. I had to wait for the Tribe to accept me, as I was to accept them. All Jellicle Leaders had done it before me, and now, it was my turn. If one cat made no attempt to accept me, I was to step down and allow someone else to try. Old Deuteronomy only had a say in it. Whomever he chose would have the first attempt at acceptance, since it was he who was seen best fit in his eyes.
I looked out at them, and nobody moved. They stared up at me; some in disbelief, other in shock and confusion. Obviously wanting to know what had happened to Old Deuteronomy but not daring to ask. It was not the matter at paw; right now it was if they wished to follow me. Seeing that no one was moving, I complied, getting ready to step down. Apparently, I wasn't the right cat for the job. All my life's preparations to become the leader never prepared me for being turned down. I looked out once more, seeing that Rumpelteazer had grabbed on to her mate's shoulder, steadying herself as she lowered herself to her knees. At first, I thought that she was having a contraction, going into early labor. Judging by the look on Mungojerrie's face, he thought the same. She looked up at him and he smiled, helping her become comfortable on the ground. Once he was certain that she was stable, joined her; their heads bent in a silent acceptance. I smiled down at them, thankful for their support. Two cats just weren't enough for me to claim title of leader.
Demeter went to her knees, looking up at me, quietly apologizing for taking so long to bow. Others began following the suite, kneeling down and watching the ground. Each time a cat would go down, my heart would skip a beat and I'd gain a little more confidence. I tried to keep from grinning like an idiot, although I felt like doing it, and instead held myself upright with pride. One other cat was left standing. I expected him to be the last one. He was always the last to bow to father, and I expected nothing less from him then to stand to me. The Rum Tum Tugger, my brother and my rival. He, too, was after the right to the Tire; he wanted it nearly as bad as me. The smug, cocky expression that he always wore was now gone, replaced by one of shock and fear as he stared up at me. I left the Tire I a single bound, rushing to my brother's side as he began to sink to the ground. I feared that the news of our father's untimely death had been too much for him and there were many a thing that he could hit his head off of should he faint. I grabbed hold of his arm and waist, hauling him back to his feet like Mungojerrie would to Rumpelteazer.
"Let go of me, Munk." I looked at him; he was bent over, seeming to be physically drained. He returned my gaze with one of his own. His eyes seemed to be pleading to me; to let him go to his knees, to let him bow to me like the others. I couldn't though. I couldn't let go of him; that would mean that he'd surrender to me, making me the new leader, putting an end to Deuteronomy's reign. Letting go of him meant that I'd be letting go of my father, and I couldn't do that. I shook my head at him, refusing to release him. He stood, a few inches taller then me, and clamped my shoulder with his paw. "Please, Munk. I need to do this." I understood. Him bowing would mean that he was letting go of father, as well. He needed to come to terms with the news, something I have yet to do, and to submit himself was how he planned on doing it. I reluctantly stepped back, climbing back up on to the Tire; I turned to see Tugger kneel to me. That was it, they all bowed down. They all thought that I was the best equipped tom for the job. They accepted me, but could I accept them?
It's not that they're a bad tribe; they're the best group of cats I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I'd be a fool not to accept them. I suppose that the real question was; could I accept myself? Could I accept the undeniable fact that if I were to sit, I would be held responsible for all of the cats in front of me? Demeter looked up at me; she was obviously saddened that our beloved leader had passed on. "Sit." I blinked, not sure if I heard her correctly or if she even did speak. No one else stirred, maybe she didn't say anything. Maybe it was just my imagination. She returned her gaze to the ground, awaiting my decision and leaving me with my thoughts. Was it bad that I needed to think it over? This is what I waited for all my life... this is what I wanted. It's what he wanted. It's what he told me, before he died. I sat. Life had to go on; Deuteronomy took over when his leader died. Now, it was my turn.
"Jellicles," I said, all of them looked up at me, "Tonight is a night of great sadness. Old Deuteronomy has been attacked by a Pollicle and, unfortunately, he didn't survive long afterwards. But tonight is not to grieve; tonight it to celebrate." I took a breath, standing up on the tire to sing out to them. "Jellicle cats, come out tonight. Jellicle cats come one, come all. The Jellicle Moon is shining bright. Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball." The tribe began to sing along, taking control of the song, starting up in the dance once again. I resumed my seat with a sigh, watching them as Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer sat down at my side. "Thank you both, for supporting me."
"Someone had to get the ball moving, it just happened to be us and not someone else." Mungojerrie sat behind his mate, giving her an affectionate nuzzle before resting his chin on her shoulder and looking over at me. "You have quite the task ahead of you now, great leader." He did have a point. Now I'd have to start recruiting cats to take over my place in the unfortunate even that I was to die. It was a grim fact, but a fact none the less. Not only that but I would need to get someone to become the protector of the tribe, now that I no longer had that role. I looked over at Mungojerrie, he wouldn't be right for the role; he was more of a scout. Alonzo would be very good; he was reliable... and strong. "Someone must ascend to the Heaviside Layer tonight." I stopped mid-thought. I never even considered that I was to choose someone to leave us tonight. My mind immediately flashed to Old Asparagus, he still did have another year or so to go; would it be right to choose him when he could still live and spread happiness to the kittens.
"Munkustrap, if I may," Rumpelteazer started out kindly before clutching her stomach. She raised a paw, silencing Mungojerrie who seemed ready to jump off a bridge if she said it. "One of the kittens kicked," she said slowly as he resumed his previous position. "If I could make a suggestion though, Munkustrap, send Old Deuteronomy to the Heaviside Layer." I turned to her, ready to contradict her on such a foolish proposal when she held up her paw to me, much like she did to Mungojerrie a few seconds ago. I wasn't very impressed by it, but it certainly did quiet me. "He did die, yes, but, he didn't ascend. He's still lying in front of the Vicarage wall, waiting for the priests to find him in the morning. Of all cats, a Jellicle Leader should be the one to ascend and be reborn. You never know, he might come back to us." I looked from her smiling face to her swollen stomach that she was gently rubbing. She had a point; a very good point at that. That was probably why my father used to ask them for their advice. It's possible that I just might do the same.
I carefully got up from the Tire, walking down into the crowd. I easily spotted the three toms I was looking for, tapping each of them on their shoulders before bringing them to a more secluded part of the clearing, talking in a low voice. "I am about to ask you to do me a favor. Please, don't question it. Old Deuteronomy lies in front to the Vicarage wall, I would like for you to bring him here so we may send him to Heaviside, tonight. I know it sounds odd, but... it's what I want." Skimbleshanks and Alonzo nodded, complying with my wishes as Tugger broke out into a sad grin. I knew that it meant a lot to him to see dad go up, it meant a lot to me too. He placed a paw on my shoulder and swore on his life that he would personally make sure that they get the body here.
I watched as the three toms left, feeling a sense of pride that they did what I asked so willingly. I sat back down on the Tire, seeing a smug look on Rumpelteazer's face. Neither of us said anything, although it was obvious that inside her head, she was gloating. We stared at each other for a moment before turning our attention back to the Ball.
A/N: One more chapter to go and I finished it last night, after over a month of Writer's Block. So, this is how I'm celebrating. It will be up either on Tuesday or Wednesday – most likely Tuesday since school starts here on Wednesday. And 'thank you' to all who've read and a big 'thank you' to those of you who reviewed; it was your comments that made me really want to finish it and made it possible for me to overcome my block.