Chapter 9 – Tug of War

A few days had passed with no major happenings in the Junkyard. Yet, at the same time, it seemed the world had been turned upside-down and set on its opposite axis! Cats might as well have been playing with dogs! It should have been snowing in the Mojave dessert during the terrible blazing heat of day! It seemed that fish were flying and birds swimming. But no…oh no. It was much worse than that…

Macavity was spending time with Demeter…

This particular day started out like normal. Bombalurina was walking around the junkyard, practicing her sexiness. She had been a little rude to Demeter lately in her pursuit for the perfect heart-stopping movement, and while she had yet to discover it, she thought she should spend some time with her dear sister. But she couldn't seem to find her anywhere in the junkyard! She had asked a few of the kittens, including Munkustrap, where she had gone. But when Munkustrap let out a frustrated snort and walked off, Bombalurina panicked slightly. She had never seen Munkustrap act that way before, but she couldn't pin-point exactly what emotion it was…. Racing around the junkyard in a more frantic mode, she suddenly saw a sight that she never dreamed she would see.

Macavity was lazing about in the sun, in broad daylight, as though he wasn't afraid of being caught for something diabolical she's sure he did. A nervous Demeter was nearby, apparently not sure what to make of the situation. Bombalurina raced up and grabbed her sister. (Macavity hardly moved.) "What are you doing with him!" Bombalurina asked, growling slightly to Macavity.

"He just started following me around like he had nothing to do," Demeter told her sister, shrugging. "I didn't want to be rude."

"Well, I'LL be rude for you! Come on!" She clasped tightly onto her sister's hand and stormed off. As soon as they were a safe distance away, Bombalurina turned back to her sister. "I leave you alone for two seconds, and you go off gallivanting with the Kitten of Crime? You're too young to be gallivanting! Especially with him!"

"Ah, he's harmless, Bombalurina," Demeter said, not thoroughly convinced of that herself. "I think he's lonely…"

"Lonely!" Bombalurina asked, her eyes bulging out. "He's not a Pollicle that followed a human home, Demeter! He's a---WAH!" Bombalurina and Demeter jumped five feet in the air when they realized Macavity had somehow placed himself not two feet away from the two startled queens, in the exact same position he was when they left him, still looking half asleep…just sitting there. He hardly looked tired from having to run to catch up with them or anything. Again, Bombalurina took her sister's paw, and stormed off, leaving the sleepy Macavity there. She took a moment to catch her breath. "What was I saying?"

"Something about him being a Pollicle," Demeter reminded her.

"If only," Bombalurina muttered. "He's a bad kitten, Demeter. You shouldn't get tied up with him. He's not a sob story; he's just using you, I bet."

"He does that?" Demeter asked, looking taken aback.

"Yes!"

"When?" a voice asked.

"GAH!" Bombalurina jumped up again. Macavity was there again, not having moved from the position he was curled up in, but certainly the spot he was in. "What the—This is not you're conversation, stay out of it." She then took Demeter's paw and hauled her off at top speed. By the time the red queen stopped, the two nearly collapsed from the long trek they took. When Bombalurina made sure they weren't being followed, she turned back to her sister.

"That was a good question at least," Demeter said. "When has he done that?"

"Huh?" Bombalurina asked, trying to regain her composure. "OH! You mean using kittens. Well…he has been…a bit of a loner…so I guess I haven't really seen him do that. But I wouldn't put it past him one bit, Demeter. You should watch yourself, and--" She topped and looked to the side. "HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT!" (Two guesses at who she was talking to.) But Macavity just lazed there, looking like a house cat sunning on a windowsill, vaguely reminiscent of the Gumby Cat. He was hardly gasping for breath like the other two had been. He actually looked…peaceful…in a chilling sort of way.

"He's sleeping," Demeter said dumbly.

"He's NOT!" Bombalurina took up a nearby piece of wood and was ready to beat the little devil before Demeter grabbed her arm.

"Bombalurina! He hasn't done anything!"

"And we have to KEEP it that way!" But Demeter gave her sister a look. With a frustrated sigh, the red queen took her sister's paw once more, threw aside the piece of wood, and decided to take her to a more OPEN place this time. He wouldn't follow them there…

When they finally got to the kitten play room, Bombalurina sat next to Tugger, who was doing some impressive dance moves he learned in the last Jellicle Ball, and showing them off to the younger kittens. (They were very impressed.) While Bombalurina would have loved to watch as well, she had more pressing concerns.

"No more of this feeling sorry for him…" But as her sister looked up at her, she couldn't hold back her suspicions. "Is this a cry for help, Demi? I wasn't ignoring you on purpose. We just spend a lot of time together! And that creature is certainly not a replacement for me… Wait, IS he a replacement for me? Why can't you hang out with Munkustrap, he's a good replacement for me!"

Demeter was slightly bewildered by these statements, and took a moment to consider what her sister was saying. "What about me?" Tugger asked, having chosen to listen in on their conversation when he realized the red queen kitten wasn't watching.

"This isn't your conversation, Tugger," Bombalurina spat, turning to her sister again. But before she continued, she took a second to ponder over his statement. She turned back to him. "And No. You're almost as bad as Macavity." She turned back to her sister, ignoring the tom as he stumbled and fell. (The other kitten's rushed to his aid, glaring daggers at queen who insulted their idol.) While Bombalurina shook off the glares of death, she put her paws on Demeter's shoulders. "Promise me you won't be around Macavity anymore. He's bad for you."

Demeter seemed slightly relieved to be told to stay away from Macavity. But then the look of realization dawned on her face and she stared back at her sister with the some obstinacy. "Alright! If you promise to stay away from Tugger, that is."

Tugger raised his head at the two queens right in front of him. "Huh!" said the tom.

"Tugger?" Bombalurina asked, shooing the Maine Coon behind her, absentmindedly. "I can't just stop seeing Tugger!" The tom smiled coyly at the queen who was hardly paying attention to him.

"He's bad for you," Demeter said, Tugger looking at her with a look of disgust. "Making you think that all you have going for you is your looks! And then he goes off with the other kittens! He's a jerk, Bomba!"

"Now wait a minute!" Tugger said, wagging his paw at her.

"Well, he may be a jerk," Bombalurina said, to which Tugger shot an icy glare. "But at least he's not MACAVITY! He's not normal, Demeter. Don't you remember when he made you cry when you were a tiny kitten? Has he not made you cry so much you forgot about it? Should I go and make him make you cry so you don't hang around him!" After a few moments of silence, the queen spat out urgently, "Remember when he dumped paint on me! MY COAT WAS RUINED!"

"He's just bored," Demeter said, surprised at herself for defending the ginger kitten. "He hasn't done anything bad lately." Demeter opened her mouth to say something, but quickly went quiet. She couldn't say what she meant to say…that it seemed she was good company for at least someone. That it seemed like she was needed…

"MUNKUSTRAP!" Bombalurina spun around and yelled at the top of her lungs, causing Tugger to cover his ear with his paw, (as she yelled right in his ear.) "Where is that kitten? Oh, Tugger!" She turned around and looked at the Tom as though she just realized he was there. He was pushing Etcetera back (who was tugging on his arm and staring daggers as Bombalurina.) He glared at her with a very scary look. She ignored this, however, and smiled sweetly at him. "Do you think you can get Munkustrap for me? I would much appreciate it!" She batted her eyes sweetly.

Grudgingly, Tugger heaved himself onto his feet, making the kittens fall over, and walked off. "MUNKUSTRAAAAAAAAAP!" he screamed at the top of his lungs as he left. Bombalurina glared back at the kittens that were glaring at her. (Demeter found the spectacle amusing and laughed to herself.)

When Tugger finally came back, (and the stand-off between the red kitten and the small fluff-ball quartet eased slightly,) he dragged a protesting Munkustrap behind him. Munkustrap looked annoyed at his brother, before looking over to Bombalurina and Demeter. He then looked away slightly as Bombalurina got up. Demeter frowned that Munkustrap was avoiding her gaze.

The red kitten grabbed the strong tom on the arm she had once poked him on, and pulled him aside, before giving a warning look to Tugger not to bug her sister. When they were in safe distance from the group of kittens (and one kitten-like cat,) she spun the befuddled Munkustrap around and grabbed his shoulders. "You have to do something about Macavity," Bombalurina ordered. "Get him away from my sister! She thinks he just needs a hug or something! She has no past incidents with him, and I KNOW he's up to something…he has to be! PLEASE Munkustrap!"

"Why are you asking me?" he asked, frowning, still upset at having found the two together to begin with. "She doesn't care about me," he muttered before realizing what he had said. "I MEAN, she doesn't care if I…get in the--"

"Yeah, yeah," Bombalurina waved her paw to dismiss his comment. "Look, Munku, you're her best friend! She's always loved you!" When Munkustrap blushed furiously, Bombalurina stopped to make sure of what she was seeing. But he quickly looked down, hiding his face. Bombalurina took a moment before continuing. "She thinks the world of you! Ever since you first met, you protected her. Why would you stop now? And think…it's MACAVITY! You're arch-enemy!" Now she was being melodramatic, but it seemed to strike a chord with the kitten. "You don't want our dear Demi to fall in the hands of HIM do you?"

Munkustrap shifted uncomfortably. "She thinks he needs a hug?" He asked finally.

"Set her straight," Bombalurina clapped Munkustrap on the shoulder like a coach to his student. The silver kitten looked in at Demeter, took a breath, and went in. He sat next to the silent queen, who looked away from him. (She was still annoyed with him for ignoring earlier.)

There was quite a long moment of silence. The two looked away from each other with such fervent ferocity; the kittens could hardly breathe in the thickness of their silence. Munkustrap made a move to get up and walk away, but one stern look from Bombalurina (like she was going to deck him) made him sit back down. Finally, he sighed and turned to the precious kitten sitting next to him.

"Want to go play with the tom kittens?" he offered. "I was watching them climb the tire pile earlier. It looked like fun."

Demeter, who seemed to instantly forgive Munkustrap for his earlier transgressions, nodded and smiled. She hadn't been invited to play with him since she can remember! Even if it was with the smelly little tom kittens…

They got up and ready to go, as Munkustrap looked on ahead. He then quite suddenly jumped back and yelled "GYAH!"

Macavity was curled up like he was before, looking half asleep at the entrance of the kitty room. Bombalurina yelped at the sight of the kitten that was right in front of her, as she seemed to miss his entrance. The frazzled queen raced into the kitten room and hid behind Munkustrap, who was frowning at the ginger kitten.

Demeter looked between the two. While neither was in a fighting position, there was definitely a tense air in the room. All the kittens went quiet, before huddling together and whispering enthusiastically between one another. Then, while Munkustrap was busy staring down the "sleeping cat", Etcetera inched forward, looking back nervously at her follow kitten queens. She then, quite dramatically, threw her arms around the ginger cat. "He needs a HUG!" While Munkustrap, Tugger, Demeter, and Bombalurina stared in shock, the other three threw themselves to the ginger cat and glomped him as well, all going "awww!" as they did so. There was a tense moment where no one moved. Then…

"….Get…them…off…me…" The cat's eyes were still closed, even with the kittens latched on tightly. He obviously wasn't liking it… Munkustrap waved the kittens over, a stern look on his face. The kittens were suddenly scared and not sure if they did something wrong. Demeter held back a giggle…biting her lip when her sister looked in her direction as the kittens hid behind the two older queens.

"I didn't mean you, Munkustrap," Macavity said with a hiss in his voice. "I meant her," he said, indicating Demeter.

Demeter looked a little shocked and impressed at the same time. She didn't notice Macavity's smug grin at the look on Munkustrap's face, (that being of pure anger.) "I wouldn't just let you hurt the kittens like I know you wanted, Macavity." He made good use of the venomous tone when saying the other's name.

Macavity finally uncurled out of his seemingly peaceful position, stretched nonchalantly, sat in a reclining position, and grinned to the silver kitten in front of him. "Who said I was going to hurt the kittens? Would I have hurt the kittens, Demeter?" He looked over to the queen. Before she could respond, Munkustrap seemed to fly forward and tower over Macavity.

"Leave her out of this," he growled. By this time, Bombalurina had protectively put an arm around Demeter, standing defensively against Macavity.

But Demeter saw it all as a big show. She knew the kitten wasn't going to do anything, even if he wanted to. Munkustrap was right there! He couldn't have gotten away with it.

The young gold queen sighed slightly, falling back into her annoyed state. This time, her sister and her best friend were acting ridiculously overprotective of her. Backing away from her sister's protective gesture, she frowned at the two. "Come on, Demeter. Let's go," Munkustrap said, nodding her over like she was a puppy to follow him. Bombalurina pushed her forward.

"Aw, but she was supposed to spend time with me today," he said with a mock pouty voice. "You don't want her to go back on her word, now do you? Come with me, Demeter." He stared at her, trying to get her eyes to look into his.

However, Demeter had enough of this ridiculously over-played tug of war. Rolling her eyes, she turned the other way to leave. "Where are you going?" the three asked at the same time.

"To talk to Jenny," she called behind her. "I haven't talked to her in a long time." With that, she was gone. Bombalurina breathed a sigh of relief that he sister chose not to go with Macavity.

Munkustrap, however, felt a bittersweet twinge. He didn't want her to leave with his evil brother, true, but he really did want to spend time with her. And now that she left in such a huff, he felt he ruined a good chance to just be with her. Munkustrap kicked Macavity in the foot before storming off in the opposite direction.

…Which made Macavity positively elated! He upset his brother just enough, and didn't have to do too much either. Think of what can be done with some more work and forethought? His brother would be absolutely miserable! Much better than stealing his material things, anyway…

And so this stand-off didn't end there. Demeter continued to be made the center of attention, and realize how much she hated it. She wished that she never wished to be noticed in the first place. But all the while, it seemed Demeter was choosing to be with Macavity more. Somehow, she always found herself walking off with him… And her sister could hardly leave the two alone when she didn't trust him.

Over time, Bombalurina's attitude changed ever so slightly towards the kitten they knew as Macavity. She accepted him more, didn't twinge at the thought of having to spend time with the two. And all the while, as this trio was beginning to become inseparable, no one could figure out why! Not even Demeter herself. She would much rather do the mediocre with Munkustrap than run around getting in trouble because of Macavity. But time and time again, he would simply need to look her in the eye, and was swooped away, her sister behind them. This odd friendship baffled the tribe, and there seemed to be a growing rift between the silver kitten and his would be sweetheart.

Ultra Special Blah Blah Blah...I forget what number

Do people know what that's from? Please tell me you do! (I mean the blah blah thing). Anyways...

Krissy4 - Snow? what's that? Is it like rain? Or fog? That's all we ever get here in the San Francisco Bay Area... Sometimes we get sun, but that's so odd, we don't know what to do with it. Anyways, I jest. So, touch of midas, huh? touches Macavity and watches him turn gold oops... Heh, I'm glad you liked it! I thought I was going to be chewed out for being so random!

Enkeli-kitsu - Your name is interesting...Anyways, I know what that's like when your cat thinks your weird.. I bust out into song when listening to Memory and my cat looks at me, all "Why do you even try?" I'm glad I made you laugh! I don't know how Macavity turned out this way. In fact, I have no idea where my sarcasm and humor came from. I guess since the characters are already established, that makes it easier to be funny with them. But I thought I should have fun with him while I could, as well. And you should be proud of your site! ((I also have the picture of Viccie and Misto as my wallpaper from your site))

Satin-n-Crimson - Of course he's up to no good. He's Macavity! Hehe, anyways. I forgot to say thanks for the reviews on my other stories. I had fun making them, but I need inspiration from my cat for it, lol.

Now, one last thought. I have a favor to ask! In much later chapters, I am going to ATTEMPT giving the cat burglars their accents, mainly because I was brought up to appreciate the written accent in text (Damn ethnic studies classes). Anyways, does anyone know where I can get a good idea of how to write the accent? Cause I've already tried it, and I want to know if I over-did it. (Yes, I realize Skimble wasn't given an accent, but I didn't realize that until afterwards. I'll try in my next story for him.) Anyways, thanks for you help, and to my three reviewers...talk about a cult following! cheer gives you a cookie