It was dusk; the beautiful half hour between the sun disappearing behind the hills and darkness.
At this time, the jellicle tribe was winding down and getting ready for a restful night's sleep. Most of them were at least.
Earlier that day it had come to their attention that one of them was missing. The Magical Mr. Mistoffelees was supposed to meet two fellow jellicles, Tumblebrutus and Pouncival, so that they could work together to come up with a new dance for the jellicle ball.
The two toms had arrived at the predetermined location at the decided time, but their magical comrade failed to join them.
Why this happened, neither of them knew. Mistoffelees was usually so careful about arriving on time. He would never purposefully fail to show up without an explanation.
They figured that he must've been delayed for some reason.
They started their task without him, deciding he would come when he could. But the hours went by and there was still no sign of him.
Finally they decided to return to the tribe's clearing and find out what had kept him. However when they got there, they couldn't find him anywhere. When they asked their fellow jellicles where he was, they were told that he had gone to meet them.
Tumblebrutus and Pouncival's curiosity turned to suspicion. Mistoffelees had gone to meet them but he never arrived. Could he have gotten lost? Never! He knew that path too well and even if he didn't, jellicle cats could always find their way when they were lost.

To be sure that nothing had happened to him on the way, Tumblebrutus and Pouncival retraced their steps from the tribe's clearing to their meeting place and back again. They could find no sign of the magical cat nor could they find anything that would explain why he'd failed to show up. It seemed as though he has simply vanished. Granted, he was a magician. Vanishing was one of his specialties. But the two toms could not help but think there was something not right about the whole situation. It wasn't something they could explain. It just seemed weird to them.

They shared their feelings with Munkustrap, the protector of the tribe.
He was optimistic about the so-called disappearance of the jellicle magician.
Mistoffelees was known to separate himself from the tribe from time to time. He was a shy tom and sometimes he just wanted to be alone. But he never wandered too far. In fact he rarely even left the junkyard. And he always returned before long.
Munkustrap was sure this was the case and that Misto would return soon. He'd be gone maybe an hour or two. Three hours at the most. He never stayed away longer than that without telling anyone his whereabouts.
But the afternoon gave way to evening and there was still no sign of Mistoffelees.
Tumblebrutus and Pouncival's suspicion turned to worry and Munkustrap didn't pretend that he didn't feel the same.
At this time he was sitting on the tire discussing the situation with a few of the jellicle toms. Among them where Alonzo, who was training to take Munkustrap's place as the protector when the time came; Plato, who was the mate of the magician's sister, Victoria; the Rum Tum Tugger who was Misto's best friend and Tumblebrutus and Pouncival who refused to be left out of the conversation.
The discussion had been going on for some time but the toms had been unable to come up with a logical explanation for the magical cat's strange disappearance. Alonzo suggested that maybe he went to visit his human family. Plato overruled that idea by reminding them that Mistoffelees had no human family. In fact, he very much disliked humans according to Victoria.
The toms fell silent. What could possibly have happened?

"I find it hard to believe that would have just gone away without telling Victoria where he was going. He's always done that before."

"I think he was kidnapped," blurted Tumblebrutus.

The others stared at him in surprise but he didn't seem to notice.

"Misto doesn't just disappear without a trace. If he was going somewhere, he would've told someone like Plato said!"

Munkustrap agreed that this was at the very least a possibility. Rum Tum Tugger, who had been unusually silent, now spoke up.

"That didn't happen," he said firmly. "He couldn't have been kidnapped."

Munkustrap looked at the maine coon with a blank expression.

"Are you so positive?" he asked.

The Tugger scoffed at his older brother.

"Look," he said. "Contrary to popular belief, Misto isn't a wimp. He can take care of himself."

"We're not saying he can't," said the tabby.

"But you are saying that he's been kidnapped which means that he's so helpless that someone could walk up to him and take him away against his will!"

Rum Tum Tugger seemed to take offense that anyone could even imply such a thing about his friend.

"Tugger," said Munkustrap calmly. "We're not insulting Mistoffelees. We are simply trying to keep an opened mind."

"He wouldn't let any cat he doesn't trust within ten feet of him!" burst the maine coon. "If a stranger got too close to him, he'd be toast in a second! Literally!"

The other jellicle toms stared at the Rum Tum Tugger in amazement. They'd never seen him act so openly passionate about anything before. Munkustrap, maintaining his calm but firm demeanor, leaned toward his brother.

"What about someone who wasn't a stranger?" he said.

The Tugger stared at him for a second or two before he replied.

"What are you saying? That he was kidnapped by a friend?"

"I'm not saying that he was or that he wasn't. Truthfully we haven't a clue what happened. I am simply saying that we should keep our minds open to all possibilities no matter how unpleasant."

The two brothers stared at each other. The other toms didn't like the uncomfortable silence but they weren't sure that they should interfere.
Finally, Plato cleared his throat.

"Munkustrap," he said. "If this is over, I'd kinda like to go back to Victoria. She's really worried."

The gray tabby turned to his comrade and nodded.

"Go ahead, Plato."

The jellicle tom expressed his thanks; then headed off toward his den that he shared with the white queen. Munkustrap turned to the others.

"Alonzo," he said. "Go to the Vicarage wall and tell Old Deuteronomy what's happened. Pounce, Brutus, spread the word amongst the toms that if Mistoffelees is not back by tomorrow, a search party will be formed."

The three jellicles nodded and headed off to perform their tasks.
Munkustrap turned to his brother who was staring at the ground.

"Tugger?" he said after a long stretch of silence.

The maine coon turned to him.

"I'm worried about him, Munkustrap," he said quietly.

The gray tabby nodded.

"I know."

"He's the only one who takes me seriously in this tribe."

"He's the only one you act seriously in front of, Tugger," replied Munkustrap, "besides Father and I."

The Rum Tum Tugger nodded and looked back at the ground. The tabby waited patiently for him to continue.

"I know you want me to be open-minded, Munk," he said at last. "But I just. . . I just don't want to think of Misto being kidnapped. I mean, why would anyone want to do that to him? He doesn't deserve it."

The Tugger gritted his teeth in frustration.

"I sound like a moron, don't I?" he muttered.

Munkustrap shook his head.

"You do not sound like a moron." he said firmly. "You only sound like someone who is worried about his friend."

There was a short pause. Then, the maine coon looked up at his brother.

"Don't tell anyone about this sentimental crap alright?" he said.

Munkustrap laughed.

"Aw, you mean I can't tell anyone what a caring, sensitive tom you are?"

"Not unless you want me to strangle you," said the Tugger with a smile.

If something like that got out, it would murder his reputation. Munkustrap shook his head.

"Alright, fine," he said. "I won't tell anyone."

Their laughter died down to silence.

"Look," said Munkustrap. "We'll sort this out tomorrow. You should get some rest."

He crossed his arms and smirked.

"Or at least try to. Knowing you, you probably have Bombalurina waiting to give you a good time."

Tugger smiled and licked his lips.

"Maybe"

He leapt off the tire and started off toward his den.
Munkustrap sat alone on the tire for several minutes before he finally did the same. There was nothing they could do tonight. They would sort this out tomorrow. There was still a chance that Mistoffelees would be back by morning and everything would be fine again.

If he wasn't. . . well, they'd cross that bridge when they got to it.