Chapter 3
When they came to the junkyard, Teazer looked around. She didn't see Munkustrap but Alonzo was sitting on the tire. She looked around for her partner. She wanted him to meet Firewind. She didn't see him or hear him. As she entered the yard, she half expected him to jump on her. She shrugged. He'd been acting really weird lately. Maybe it was just her. He had seemed pleased when she told him that she didn't have a date to the ball. Why would he be glad? There wasn't really anyone she wanted to go with. She wouldn't mind going with Mungo or even Alonzo, but neither had asked her. She understood why Alonzo wouldn't ask, he liked Electra, but she couldn't understand Jerrie. At the moment there was nothing for her to do. Jerrie wouldn't say anything until he wanted to. She could never fathom what was going on in his mind. He was an excellent cat-burglar and he was nice to snuggle with at night, but sometimes he was just too daft. She would have to talk to Anglina about it later. She looked again at Firewind. Maybe she could go with him. If she didn't have a date, she probably wouldn't go. A flash of grey caught her eye and she saw Munkustrap go over to the tire. She raced up to him, motioning Firewind to follow. "Hey, Munku!"
The silver and cream tabby looked up to see Rumpleteazer running towards him with a larger red and black tom behind her. He wondered who the newcomer was. His coloring was wrong for Tugger and he was too large to be Mungojerrie. "Yes, Teazer? What have you done this time?" despite his attempts, he heard amusement creep into his deep voice.
"This is my friend, Firewind. We knew each other when we were little and I was wondering if he could stay with us a while. He doesn't have a place to go." She said all this quite fast as she struggled for breath. When she finished, she gasped slightly as she tried to catch her breath. She turned her head to him and smiled. He smiled back. 'Gosh he has a nice smile.' She thought.
Munkustrap looked at her. "Sure, I don't see why not. Are you a Jellicle?"
Firewind shook his head as he said, "No. I used to belong to another tribe but they kicked me out."
Munkustrap looked at him questioningly.
He continued on by saying, "I bedded another queen whose unofficial mate was the leader and she didn't tell me. I never got to explain my side and so they kicked me out. I would like to be a Jellicle. That is, if you'll let me."
The tabby smiled. This tom sounded a bit like Tugger. It wouldn't do to have another Tugger around, but Rumpleteazer seemed happy enough. "When Old Deuteronomy arrives, I'll have him test you. But you should pass. He inclined his head towards Rumple. "Since you know Rumpleteazer, she can vouch for you and joining shouldn't be too hard. Meanwhile, Teazer, why don't you go and introduce him to the rest of the tribe." He looked around. "Right now it looks like only the queens are in the immediate vicinity." He stopped speaking, a thought had just occurred to him: Rumpleteazer was here, with a different tom. As an afterthought, he added, "Where's Mungojerrie, by the way? Normally you two are inseparable."
The calico queen shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I saw him early this morning and haven't seen him since. Also, he's been acting really weird lately. Maybe someone did something to him."
At that time, she didn't know just how true her words were; for indeed, someone had done something to him, to his heart.
The tabby tom smiled crookedly. "Maybe he wants to ask you to the ball and that's what got him acting crazy. I still have to ask Demeter and I'm scared out of my mind."
Teazer smiled. Munkustrap, nervous? It was unheard of. The leader was usually very confident and full of poise. "Nah, we're just friends. He knows that. Why, did you want to talk to him?"
"No. I was just curious." He said kindly.
She nodded and grabbed Fire's arm and started to drag him over to where the queens were sitting. She saw her best friend, Anglina, sitting with the rest of them.