-1How Long is Forever?
by
Draco's Daughter
Disclaimer: Again, I do not own Cats. It properly belongs to T.S. Eliot/ Andrew Lloyd Webber. All original characters belong to me and cannot be used without permission from me.
A/N: I'm still really sorry for leaving all of you in the dark about my story for a month! I started procrastinating and BOOM I stopped working on it. I feel really bad but I guess the important thing is that I'm still working on it, right?
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Chapter Five: Treasure
Last Time:
But before they could set off, a familiar, sly voice rang out.
"Hello Brother."
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"I have learned not to allow my rage to control my emotions," Munkustrap replied, feeling a little dumb for his first answer. The Everlasting Cat nodded her approval.
"Yes, your unbridled rage for your brother is what got you into this mess. Your father has told you to forgive your brother's mistakes but you must acknowledge your own before you begin on the mistakes of others."
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Munkustrap heard the tinkling of a bell, the kind of bell one usually associates with cat collars, and a white kitten with a grey spot on her head appeared.
'So this one must be Treasure,' Munkustrap thought.
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The kitten happily flicked her tail and immediately wanted to play with the newcomer in her home. Munkustrap was a little uncertain, seeing he had only been healing for a week.
"Looks like you things'll be okay. I'll leave you two to get better acquainted," Susan said before heading off into the kitchen. The kitten challenged Munkustrap playfully, trying to get the older cat to play with her.
"Hi! I'm Treasure! Who are you?" She asked as she edged closer, nearly batting at Munkustrap's front paws.
"I'm called Munkustrap by other cats but I have a whole mess of names from humans," Munkustrap answered, edging away slowly, trying to keep out of range of Treasure's paws.
"Munkustrap's a silly name," Treasure stated, batting at an invisible foe next to her.
"Don't bother our new guest, Treasure," a new voice commanded. Munkustrap looked to where he believed the voice came from. It belonged to a large American Wirehair sitting on the back of a chair. The American Wirehair leapt and landed in-between Treasure and Munkustrap. Munkustrap couldn't help from noticing that this cat only had half a tail. "I'm called Captain, please come with me so we can talk, in private." Capitan led Munkustrap away from the hyperactive Treasure. The Wirehair leapt onto a large windowsill and Munkustrap mirrored the action.
"I don't mean to pry, but what happened to your tail?" Munkustrap asked quietly and timidly. Capitan twitched his half a tail, a smile playing about his lips.
"A stupid decision that I don't often think about but, because you're new to this family, I'll explain. One winter the weather was extremely cold and I had no human nor other cats to keep me warm. I decided to crawl up into a warm car engine. When Nick, the male human who lives here, started his car I lost half of my tail and a good percentage of my fur. I nearly died but Nick revived me and took me to the vet," Captain explained.
"How do you manage with only half a tail?" Munkustrap inquired, intrigued and astonished by Capitan's story.
"You learn how to manage. It seemed crippling for a time until I got used to doing things with less of a tail. I realized that it could have been worse, I might have lost all of my tail or I could have died. I'm thankful that I'm alive and that I can still do the things I once did," Captain replied. He swished his tail and looked out the window. "Everyone here has their own story. Treasure, she's blind in one eye and because of that she was abandoned at an early age. Her mother thought she would die if she every went among the tribe cats. So she left Treasure in Susan's driveway. Susan found her and took her in. She named her Treasure because of her blindness and the way she was found. But I don't know your story, Munkustrap."
"I'm the Guardian of the Junkyard Tribe. My brother, Macavity, kidnapped my daughter, Jemima, and I went to get her back. I was so angry with my brother that I chased after him when he fled the scene. He ran across a road and when I chased after him, I was hit by the same car that took your tail," Munkustrap replied. Captain nodded knowingly.
"So, one of the Junkyard Jellicles. I've heard your kind are extremely high-minded," Captain stated, continuing to stare out of the window.
"Not really. We have our standards but otherwise we just keep to ourselves in the Junkyard," Munkustrap countered. "I just want to get back to them, to show them I'm alive."
"In time you'll probably be able to go back but for now you should rest and get used to making muscles work again," Captain said. He paused while both cats heard purring. Treasure was batting at the edge of Munkustrap's tail. Munkustrap casually slipped his tail up and wrapped it around his body. It would be a long healing process indeed.
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Munkustrap had forgotten what it was like to be taken care of by a master. As Guardian, it was his duty to see that the Junkyard was protected at all times, day and night. Macavity kept Munkustrap extremely busy. Munkustrap was always worn out during the Balls so he was glad to be able to sit back and keep and eye on things. With a human master, one was catered to and didn't have to worry about the safety of others or where your next meal would come from. You could relax and let your troubles flow away from you. But Munkustrap couldn't quit worrying about the tribe. No one knew when Macavity would wreak havoc. This was apparent to Treasure and Capitan, who had learned Munkustrap's behaviors since he began living with them.
One day, Munkustrap was staring out the window, he looked as if he was thinking about something that worried him greatly. Capitan had been watching him for a while, trying to come up with a way to snap the Silver Tabby out of his gloomy and meditative mood. He decided that there was nothing for it but to go and ask what the problem was.
"You miss the Junkyard Tribe, don't you?" Capitan asked, leaping up next to Munkustrap on the Windowsill. Munkustrap only nodded a firm yes.
"I need to know if they're okay. I've been making sure they're alright for the past few years and I can't help myself worrying about them when I've been away for so long," Munkustrap replied. Captain swished his half a tail in thought. If it was that important...
"If we go after dark them Susan and Nick won't notice that we're gone. Of course, we'll have to trick Treasure into staying here," Capitan mused. Munkustrap suddenly perked up at Captain's words. Was he suggesting they go that very night?
"You want to go with me? I thought you didn't like the Junkyard Tribe?" Munkustrap asked playfully. Captain smiled slightly, the good, fun Munkustrap was back.
"I'm allowed to change my mind, aren't I?" Captain countered just as playfully. Munkustrap grinned happily, he was going home his real home.
At about eleven, Susan and Nick had finally dropped off to sleep. Treasure slept on their bed while Captain and Munkustrap crept out from under it.
"Be quiet. If they wake up now, the mission is forfeit," Captain hissed. Captain jumped upon a small table next to the door and then onto the door handle. It slipped downward while Munkustrap stuck his paw under the door and pulled it ajar. Captain let go of the handle and dropped down. The half-tailed cat pulled the door open all the way and they exited.
"How'd you learn to do that?" Munkustrap asked in astonishment. Captain smiled slightly as well as evilly.
"When you watch humans, you pick up some interesting tricks," Captain replied. Munkustrap had lived with humans for a time with Pan but neither cat had learned exactly how to open doors. The two cats quickly arrived at the main door of the house. Nick and Susan had thought it convenient to include a "cat-door" so the cats could get out at night or when they weren't at home. Munkustrap and Captain quickly went through and the Silver Tabby breathed in a huge gulp of the night's air. It was good to be outside again.
"Lead the way," Captain said. Munkustrap nodded and set off in the direction of the Junkyard.
The two cats hade been traveling for about twenty minutes, talking, when a familiar form came out of the gloom. Munkustrap watched the cat go by, thinking he knew the blur, when said cat stopped dead in his tracks and turned.
"Munkustrap?" He asked and Munkustrap immediately knew who it was.
"Tugger!" Munkustrap called joyfully. The two brothers rushed over to one another. There was a good amount of laughter and the rubbing of heads. Words were traded but no coherent sentences could be formed from them. A few moments passed before Munkustrap remembered Captain.
"Tugger, I want you to meet a new friend. This is Captain. He's with the family that's taking care of me," Munkustrap explained. Rum Tug Tugger turned to Captain and smiled warmly at the American Wirehair.
"Nice to meet ya," Tugger said before remembering his true mission. "Munku, things aren't okay in the Junkyard. Macavity's made a takeover! I just escaped to get some help from old Coldwater's tribe." Munkustrap was taken aback. Macavity in control? What horrors had been realized when this happened?
"We're going to deal with Macavity, but we won't bring in Coldwater or his tribe. Explain everything on the way," Munkustrap ordered, snapping right back into leader mode. The three cats began racing towards the Junkyard.
"Who exactly is this Macavity cat?" Captain asked. His question shocked both Munkustrap and Rum Tug Tugger. Few cats had never heard of the Napoleon of Crime, apparently Captain didn't get out much.
"Macavity is the Satan of Cats as well as our brother. He's forever causing trouble for Munku just because he supposively "stole" Macavity's position as Guardian of the Tribe. What ever he's doing one can be assured it will have disastrous consequences," Tugger explained as they ran along.
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It didn't take long before the three cats arrived at the Junkyard. Rum Tug Tugger led the way, creeping through the junk and trash humans left. He led them through a large pipe and into a secluded area. In this small "clearing" lay and injured Alonzo, an attentive Mistoffelees, Coricopat, and Tantomile. Obviously it was only the magician cats who were able to slip through Macavity's iron grasp. Mistoffelees was the first to notice the three new arrivals.
"Munku!" He called, leaping to the true Guardian and rubbing heads. Alonzo gently lifted his head to see what all the noise was about while Coricopat and Tantomile nodded in acknowledgement.
"Alonzo, what happened? Munkustrap asked quietly, coming closer to his injured second and gently licking his wounds.
"Macavity came, four days ago he arrived and claimed he had "defeated" you. I, acting in your stead, attacked him but his hench rats and cats ganged up on me. He took control after he defeated me. Some of us escaped here, thanks largely to Misto and Tugger but now that you're back we can take Macavity on," Alonso explained, his expression brightening slightly. Munkustrap looked around, remembering Growltiger and the Everlasting Cat's words of advice. How would he be able to forgive Macavity this? Munkustrap turned to Captain and Rum Tug Tugger.
"What's the plan?" Tugger asked, tail swishing in anticipation. Munkustrap always came up with something good, and if that didn't work them Tugger always had "Plan B" ready to go. Munkustrap looked at the assembled cats. What could he do with three magicians, an injured second-in-command, his Don Juan brother, and a newcomer? Munkustrap paced around the small area, thinking. Captain and the others looked on, wondering what he was thinking about. The Guardian seemed to be plotting something, something big.
"Macavity thinks I'm dead, right?" Munkustrap asked, a genius idea forming.
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Oooo, cliffy! Thanks again to Puddycat for reviewing the last chapter. Hope to see what you all think ASAP. The last chapter will be up soon!
Coming VERY Soon- Chapter Six: The Triumphant Return