Author's notes: Sorry I've taken so long to update this story, I've been on holiday in France. I've decided to add a little more mistery to the plot, hope you like it. Please R&R.
"Exotica! Thank Heavyside I'm so glad I've found you. I didn't think I'd ever see another Jellicle again."
Exotica approached the very bedraggled silver tabby. His fur was mattered and he's grown a little thin since she'd last seen him but nothing that would affect him. He had a massive deep gash on his side that was bleeding quite heavily. He'd tied old rags to stop him losing too much blood. His eyes seemed a little dull but generally he was still the tom she knew… and loved. "I'm so glad you're alright, everyone was thinking the worst. What happened to you?"
"I went looking for Etcetera."
"Why did you do that? She's been missing for years." Exotica asked eyeing Munkustrap suspiciously.
"Err… well, um…" Munkustrap looked around to find anything that would change the subject. She spotted Etcetera lying on the floor. "Who's that?" He lied, knowing perfectly well who it was.
"I don't know, I found her lying here just a moment ago. Anyway, why were you looking for Etcetera?" Exotica persisted.
Munkustrap bit his lip. It was very hard to keep thing from this queen. "Err, um… I went for a walk and got lost…"
Exotica glared daggers at him. She wasn't buying the lie he was trying to spin.
"Fine! The true! I did get lost but I ran into Macavity and a group of his henchcats. They gave me this cut on my side but I got away."
Exotica studied him closely; she could tell he was hiding something… but what? "Well, we'd better get you and this queen back to the junkyard. She needs to be seen to and so does that wound of yours."
Munkustarp seemed to relax. Was it relief? He knelt down by the unconscious queen and lifted her gently in his arms, practically cradling her like a kitten.
With Exotica leading the way, the two of them slowly made their way back to the junkyard in an uneasy silence.
"Can't… breathe… you're… crushing… me… ow!"
Old D immediately let go of his son with a not very apologetic apology. Munkustrap took a few deep breaths then stood before his father once more. The old cat had tears of joy running down his face and he was about to pull the silver tabby into another bone crushing hug when Jelly and Jenny arrived.
"Munkustrap! Thank Heavyside you've been found!" Jenny cried, hugging the tom firmly but not painfully.
"Right!" Jelly said when Jenny had let Munkustrap go. "First thinks first, come with us you need that cut seen to! ALONZO!" The black and white tom came flying into the clearing at the old queen's request. "Carry that young queen and follow me!"
Alonzo lifted Etcetera in his arms, not recognising who she was. He followed Jelly, Jenny and Munkustrap towards the makeshift hospital. It was basically a large circle of old washing machines and dish washers where the injured cats rested. Jelly and Jenny's dens were situated conveniently close to the hospital area as well as the 'maternity ward'. After all they, along with Skimble, Coricopat and Tantomile, were the only cats qualified to heal and deliver kittens.
Munkustrap followed at a slow pace, holding up their progress. He was too busy looking at all the cats that were injured. Bomba was sitting on an old paint tin nursing a deep cut across her face. Mungo and Rumple were sleeping on an old mattress, each with broken arms. He was also shocked to see Victoria crying pitifully as Skimble put fresh dressing over the burns on her legs, arms and all of her left side. Jemima was doing her best to comfort her but she couldn't. How could she possibly get out of her bed when she'd broken her back?
"What…?" Munkustarp was lost for words. He didn't believe what he was seeing, he couldn't. What had happened to everyone? Why where half of them in the hospital?
"Munkustrap sit." Jelly ordered pointing at a rusting paint tin.
Munkustrap slowly sat down on the crumbling tin as Jenny directed Alonzo to a mattress near to where they were.
"Eat this." Jelly said pushing a pawful of dried catnip leaves into Munkustrap's paw.
"Err… Jelly?"
"Eat. It will numb the pain."
"The pain?" Munkustrap said getting increasingly worried.
"Right Alonzo hold him still, Jenny get your needles. I'll clean this wound."
Munkustrap looked up at Alonzo fearfully as he twisted his arm behind his back, exposing the deep wound. Jelly soaked a cotton bud in what smelt like vinegar and raised it to the cut.
"Jelly are you sure this'll help?"
"I'm perfectly sure now hold still!" Jelly pinched the sides of Munkustrap's cut; letting the yellowy green puss run into a bucket, then she pushed the cotton into the almost empty wound before Munkustrap could draw breath. The searing pain was too much for the silver tabby to bear. He threw his head back and opened his mouth but no sound came out. His whole body tensed and the world swum before his eyes. Black spots filled his vision and when he though he'd faint Jelly with drew the cotton bud. "There we go, that wasn't so bad was it?"
Alonzo glanced down at the visibly shaking and faint tabby. That hadn't been the worst of it though. Jenny shuffled over with her knitting basket and drew out an ominous looking pair of curved needles.
"Alonzo, hold him still for me dear. I don't want to have to do this all over again."
Munkustrap knew what was coming but he tried to sit still. Jenny was a perfectionist and if it meant starting all over again that's what she'd do.
"Right then, what colour?" Jenny asked Munkustrap.
"I don't care." He muttered through gritted teeth. Why did she have to prolong his agony?
"Choose a colour." Jenny ordered.
"Oh… black." Munkustrap said offhandedly.
"But I think white would go so much better with your fur…"
"No! I want black, just give me black!" Munkustarp snapped, getting increasingly irritated.
Jenny threaded the thin black string through the needle and crouched down next to the shaking silver tabby. Alonzo held his arm firmly so he wouldn't fight back.
"Right here we go…" Jenny sang as she jabbed the needle into his skin.
Munkustrap howled as a white hot pain seared through him. Sound seemed to drown away as all his concentration was focused on the pain. The black dots stormed back into his vision in full force and he was quickly engulfed in them. The pain faded a little and he felt like he was floating. His world started to spin, it spun faster and faster and when he though he'd be sick he felt his body give a violent jolt and his vision returned to him.
As he lay staring up at the washing machine's roof, his mind boggled for a minute. Had that all been just a dream?
He gingerly touched his side to receive a blinding pain and the presence of perfectly sewn stitches.
After quickly withdrawing his paw he lay in the pressing darkness. What if they'd found out what really happened to him? What if Etcetera woke up and told them everything, he's been banished from the junkyard for good and he'd never see Demeter again. He closed his eyes and prayed to the Everlasting Cat that this would be one secret that remained underground and hidden for all eternity.
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