-1How Long is Forever?
by
Draco's Daughter
Disclaimer: Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats properly belongs to T.S. Eliot. The music belongs to Andrew Lloyd Webber. Without either of these men we wouldn't be able to write such fantastic stories about their cats.
A/N: Hello! I've finally found a new kitten. He's black with green eyes and has a lot to say. My father and I went to a shelter about an hour from our home to look at this one older kitten, Alice, but when we got there we discovered she wasn't that friendly but the cage right next to hers contained this 8-10 week old, black kitten who just wanted someone to come and play with him. He was meowing and climbing up the bars of the cage door to get to people. My dad and I decided he was perfect. There were several families there as well looking at him as well. One family went in looking for a cat, but came out with a pit bull. Another family was thinking of adopting him but I took the card on his cage door. As I was walking out of the room the woman of that family said: "Well that sucks." They had two small children... small children and kittens are a bad mix, but also because he is hyyyyper and not afraid to use his needle-like claws for anything and on everything. On the way home, he didn't like being in the carrier so I took him out and put him in my lap for the rest of the ride while calling various people, including my mother and my best friend, Anne. My sister also called and he was trying to play with the cord that charges the cell phone by the car (whatever ya want to call it!) so it was very distracting. I decided to call him "Dante" because it's a flashy name and he's a flashy kitten. Entertained myself with naming him "Mistoffelees" but decided that T.S. Eliot's ghost would come and haunt me for it. Anyways, Dante's being quiet so I know he's probably up to something mischievous...
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Chapter One:
Munkustrap stopped dead in his tracks. The flash of the oncoming headlights caught his silver form and made me appear as a ghost in the night.
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On the other side of the street sat Macavity, shaking with silent laughter. This was his genius plan, murder Munkustrap without getting a speck of blood on his, already dirty, coat.
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"At least you cared to stop and help him. The Doctor will do all he can."
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"Deme, something horrible's happened," Tugger said quietly. Demeter saw the sorrow and confusion in his eyes.
"Where's Munkustrap?"
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Chapter Two: Where's Munkustrap?
"Tugger, I have to know, where's Munkustrap?" Demeter asked, a bit more forcefully.
"Deme, I'm sorry. Munkustrap was hit by a car while chasseing Macavity. The humans took him to a veterinarian but I don't know if he's still alive or not," Rum Tug Tugger explained. Demeter's expression quickly morphed into one of shock and disbelief. As the reality of everything returned to her, she collapsed into Rum Tug Tugger's chest crying into his fluffy mane. Rum Tug Tugger put his arms around her as she cried. At this point, Bombalurina came over.
"What's going on, Demeter, what's the matter?" She asked. Tugger let Demeter go over to her sister.
"Munkustrap was hit by a car," Tugger replied. Bombalurina's expression nearly mirrored her sister's. The Guardian? Hit by a car? If the subject wasn't so grave, Bombalurina would have thought that Rum Tug Tugger was kidding.
"That can't be! Munkustrap knew never to get in the way of one of those! Where is he?" Bombalurina asked as Demeter sobbed into her shoulder.
"The humans who hit him took him to a Veterinarian. We have to tell Old Deuteronomy. Make sure Deme's okay, I'm going to find Mistoffelees. He always knows where Deuteronomy is," Tugger replied, setting off. Mistoffelees was a master at hiding and could never be found if he didn't want to be found. He was also never around when he was needed, the black cat was extremely aloof, especially during a crisis. "Mistoffelees! Where the heck are you!" Tugger yelled after a few minutes of searching all of Mistoffelees's favorite hangouts. There was a loud POOF and a small amount of smoke startled the maned cat, causing Tugger to fall off the car he was sitting on.
"Yes Tugger? I am here, what is wrong?" Mistoffelees asked, sitting atop the roof of the same car.
"Don't do that! You're so, ugh!" Tugger said, fuming. There were times when he HATED that magician cat.
"Would you like me to leave? I do have others things to do," Mistoffelees stated, starting to groom one of his front paws.
"Listen, I need to take to Old Deuteronomy and you're the one who always knows where he is," Tugger replied. Mistoffelees stopped his grooming and jumped off the car.
"Why? Tell me Tugger, what is the problem you seek answers for? I will find out soon enough, I suppose," Mistoffelees asked.
"Munkustrap's been hit by a car and I'm not smart enough to make a decision about what to do now," Tugger explained, feeling as if the weight of the world rested upon his shoulders. Mistoffelees rubbed Tugger's shoulder with his head.
"Everything will turn out okay. Deuteronomy will know what to do. Follow me," Mistoffelees said before running off. Rum Tug Tugger followed the black cat. Through the city the two cats went, passing buildings, and through various alleys. Rum Tug Tugger soon found himself at an old townhouse on the other side of town.
"This is where Old Deuteronomy lives?" Tugger asked, looking the worn down townhouse up and down with a critical eye. Mistoffelees could only smile.
"Deuteronomy lives here because he thinks that it's better to live in run-down place that the humans don't go than in a new apartment building where there's far to many humans to even think. He likes it because it's quiet and Macavity's never thought to look here. He's away from the eyes of the humans and out of trouble," Mistoffelees explained. He led Run Tug Tugger though a storm drain and into the basement of the Townhouse. On a large amount of blankets and cushions sat Old Deuteronomy, asleep (or at least he appeared to be). That was until Mistoffelees and Rum Tug Tugger approached.
"Mistoffelees, why do you bring Rum Tug Tugger with you?" He asked.
"There's been an accident involving Munkustrap. Rum Tug Tugger needs your guidance, desperately," Mistoffelees replied. Old Deuteronomy cracked open an eye to look at the two cats.
"Tell me everything, Rum Tug Tugger, and please start at the very beginning," Old Deuteronomy asked. So Tugger set off telling the Jellicel leader about Macavity kidnapping Jemima, Munkustrap chasing Macavity half-way across town, Munkustrap getting hit by the car, and the humans taking him to the veterinarian.
"And that's the whole story. I don't know what to do now. Munkustrap's probably dead and I don't know what to do," Tugger said, finishing his story. A flow of tears cascaded down his face and onto his mane.
"An interesting predicament. We'll have to tell the entire tribe, of course, and then we'll have to choose a new Guardian. I will accompany both of you back to the Junkyard and tell the tribe myself," Old Deuteronomy announced, getting up. The three cats walked slowly through the city and it was dusk when they finally returned to the Junkyard. The rain had finally decided to pour down and quench the thirsty ground. The Junkyard tribe had all retreated into their various hiding spots to keep from getting wet. Rum Tug Tugger, Mistoffelees, and Deuteronomy stalked into Munkustrap and Demeter's lair. Demeter sat on Munkustrap's favorite sleeping spot and was staring straight forward. Bombalurina sat next to her, holding Demeter's paw in her lap.
"What's wrong with her?" Mistoffelees asked. Demeter hadn't even acknowledged their presence.
"She was like this once before, when we got her back from Macavity. Only Munkustrap was able to bring her back last time," Bombalurina explained, nodding her head to Old Deuteronomy.
"In any case, the tribe must know about Munkustrap's condition. We also must decide who will take the Guardian's position. Did Munkustrap have a second-in-command? Someone to take over if he was ill or something happened?" Old Deuteronomy asked. The other cats looked at one another, trying to think.
"The general consensus was that Alonzo might take over incase something went wrong," Rum Tug Tugger offered, quietly.
"Why not you, Tugger? You're Munkustrap's brother and a son of Growltiger, why not you?" Mistoffelees asked. Rum Tug Tugger sighed.
"I may be Munkustrap's brother and a son of Growltiger, but I'm not Munku. I could never be half the cat Munkustrap was. He was selfless, I'm selfish. He was honest, I struggle with the truth. The list could go on and on. Besides, I don't know half the lore Munkustrap knew," Rum Tug Tugger replied, shaking his head.
"In any case, it would take over a year to fully train a new Guardian and for them to take the trials. Alonzo will take over for now and I will have the Trail administers send a replacement should Munkustrap not return," Old Deuteronomy announced to the group. Outside, the rain poured as if the world itself was mourning the Jellicel Guardian.
At the veterinarian's office, the vet had finished with Munkustrap. He came out to speak with the couple.
"Well, he's stable. He's also very lucky. No internal organs were ruptured or injured, but he does have several broken bones. I've reset them and have one of my assistants looking to see if he's been reported missing. If he has been, we'll try to contact the owner, if not, then he's yours if you want him," the vet said.
"Thank God he's still alive. I would have felt so bad if he died," the woman said, relieved.
"We have two other cats. If he lives and has no other owner, do you think they'll be a problem?" the man asked.
"Probably not, I think I've dealt with this particular silver tabby before. If he is, then he was a kitten the last time I saw him. He was in the same house as a grey and white bi-color. I can't remember who owned him but I think she said he went missing a few years ago," the veterinarian replied, thinking hard as to exactly where he saw this cat.
Munkustrap lay in one of the cages lining the veterinarian's office. He was entirely out of it thanks to his injuries and an anesthetic. An IV drip provided him some much-appreciated fluids. Even though he was physically stable, his soul was wandering among the dead.
"Where am I?" Munkustrap asked to the emptiness around him.
"Among old friends," was the reply of a familiar voice. Out of the darkness came a shape in the mist. Soon Munkustrap saw a very familiar bi-colored cat.
"Pan? I thought you were dead!" Munkustrap asked in disbelief.
"I am, you are nearly-dead one now. Hovering in-between the realms of the living and the dead while the Everlasting Cat decides your face. While she decides, you are to remain here. If you leave this protected area, you will be counted among the dead and there will be no return for you," Pan explained grimly.
"What's been going on? Why can't I just go back to the realm of the living?" Munkustrap asked. Pan shook his head.
"It's not that simple. The Everlasting Cat must decide whether you have some part to play in her plans. If you do, then you will get to go back to the realm of the living. If you don't, you'll remain in the realms of the dead. Don't worry, you've got cats like me and your father defending you but, remember this, if you are allowed to live you can only cheat death once," Pan replied, a grim expression covering his usually cheerful face. Munkustrap paled a bit, this could take a while.
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Well, that's all for tonight! I'd like to thank Puddycat and Bombalurinasara for reviewing and encourage those of you who enjoyed the story to review! Bye bye from DD and Dante!