A/N: So... here's my update! Yay!

"Munkustrap, I've got a splinter in my paw!" Jemima held out her paw to the silver tom as proof. Munkustrap sighed and put on a smile, trying to act like nothing was wrong.

"I think that's more of a job for Jennyanydots, Jemi," he turned her around and gave a slight push towards the old station wagon that served as the infirmary. "I'm sure that she'll make your paw all better."

With that taken care of, Munkustrap continued on his rounds; his mind constantly going back to his pleading and begging earlier in the morning. He had been very lucky that no one seemed to have witnessed it; although they might just be keeping quiet on his behalf.

"Munkustrap, Pouncival's not being fair!" Etcetera whined as she and Pouncival bounded over to him.

"Not true! Etcetera's not following the rules!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"Yeah-huh!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"Yeah-huh!"

"Kittens, please!" Munkustrap interrupted, painfully aware that their bickering could go on all day. "What game were you playing?"

"Tag," they both chorused innocently.

"And how was Etcetera breaking the rules," Munkustrap asked, then held up a paw to forestall the young queen's protest that she hadn't been breaking the rules.

"She was only tagging with one paw," Pouncival stated, obviously thinking that Munkustrap was on his side.

"That's not against any rules that I know of," Munkustrap replied, "Just so long as she isn't pulling tails, she can tag you wherever, with any part of her body."

"Thank you, Munkustrap," they both said, with two completely different intonations. Etcetera was triumphant, while Pouncival was crestfallen as he walked off. Munkustrap continued his rounds, unaware that Etcetera was following him until she broke the silence.

"You know, you're really good at that," she said suddenly, startling the silver tom slightly.

"At what, Etcetera," Munkustrap asked, unable to keep the bored and slightly annoyed tone out of his voice, although the queen didn't seem to notice. It's your job to humor them, he reminded himself, just remember that she doesn't know what's happened.

"Making things better. I mean, you always know the rules to all of our games, and you make it fair. It's not very easy to keep games fair, especially when cheese-heads like Pouncival keep making up rules. Do you like cheese? I like cheese---"

Munkustrap put his paws to his head, beginning to massage his temples and wishing that Etcetera would just go back to her kitten-games so that he could be alone.

"---Especially Swiss. You know why? 'Cause it's got holes in it! They're the best part, you know. Do you know how humans put the holes in? Do they cut them out after the cheese is made, or do they put little tiny balls into the cheese-stuff before they make it so that the holes are there? How is cheese made anyway?"

Trying very hard to stop his ears and tail from twitching with annoyance, Munkustrap quickened his pace a little. But the queen just sped up to keep with him.

"I mean, I know that it's made from milk, but milk doesn't taste anything like cheese. My humans give me milk every morning. Sometimes, if I've been really good they'll give me cream instead. It's so good! I don't know why the Rum Tum Tugger would sneer at cream."

The silver tom clenched his fists, growling very softly as he continued on his way. She doesn't mean to be annoying, he told himself over and over again. But that still didn't make the pesky queen go away.

"Maybe it's 'cause he doesn't like it when humans give him cream. Hey, do you think that if I offered him some cream, he'd take it? 'Cause that would mean he likes me! Is there any cream in the 'yard? No... because it would go bad. And Tugger would hate me if I gave him rotten cream. You wanna know what I hate? I hate soda bottles. 'Cause they break, and then when you're playing you step on them and it really really hurts. Then you get sent to Jennyanydots and she puts stingy stuff on your paw then wraps it up really really tight, which also sort of hurts."

Munkustrap realized that he would probably need a long back-rub to relieve the tension that was gathering in his neck and shoulders. If only Etcetera would shut up!

"You know, one time Jennyanydots was teaching me to cross-stitch, and I made a purple-bean, but Miss Jenny told me that it looked like an eggplant. My humans have a garden and they sometimes grow eggplants. They like to eat it. Is eggplant good, Munkustrap? According to my humans, they are, but we all know how silly humans can---"

"Etcetera!" Munkustrap snapped, finally losing his patience, "Don't you have somewhere to be? Somewhere far enough that you won't bother me with your silly chatter!"

The little tabby queen looked up at the tom, confused and wondering why he seemed so angry with her. "No..." she said quietly, sniffling and tearing up, "the other kittens won't want to play with me. They'll just say I'm a tattle-tail. I'm sorry..."

Munkustrap calmed himself somewhat, able to sympathize with the queen enough to get control of his temper. He knelt down to be level with the little queen. "Look, I've had a pretty rotten day so far, and I want to be alone right now. Jemima's seeing Jennyanydots; I'm sure she'll want to play with you when she's finished."

"Okies," Etcetera replied and then scampered off, wiping her eyes with the back of her paw. Munkustrap sighed gratefully and climbed up to the top of one of the many piles of junk in the 'yard. He lounged there, able to keep an eye on the 'yard, but out of sight enough that he could choose to help those who needed it and not be bothered with trivial kitten-matters. Those were issues that any adult could solve.

Something streaked by below him, and it took Munkustrap a moment to realize that it was Demeter. No doubt off to speak with Bombalurina so that she can tell Demeter how horrible I am, Munkustrap thought bitterly. But in the end it wouldn't help to try and intercept Demeter, or get to Bombalurina and explain the situation before Demeter could get there.

"Munkustrap?" a timid male voice piped up from behind. Munkustrap looked skyward and closed his eyes, not turning to address the tom until he could control his features and plaster his usual friendly and helpful smile on his face.

"Yes, Mistoffelees, what can I do for you?"

"I messed up my magic..."

"And...?" Munkustrap encouraged, trying to keep any annoyed tones out of his voice. The small tom, either through magic or sheer intuition, seemed to sense it however.

"Umm... never mind. I'll just try and send them back."

"Send who back?"

"The Pollicles."

"Pollicles?" Munkustrap was immediately alert, listening for any sounds of barking or terrified screams. Mistoffelees closed his eyes tightly, his face screwed up in concentration. After a few tense moments, he relaxed and smiled.

"There! They're gone," Mistoffelees triumphantly announced, then paused. "I think..."

"Where were they?" Munkustrap asked, intending on making sure that the Pollicles were really gone.

"Down by Bombalurina's den."

Munkustrap was off, racing down the junk-pile faster than he would have thought safe under more normal circumstances. He was soon at Bombalurina's den, where a large Pollicle had both Bombalurina and Demeter trapped; by the looks of it, Bombalurina's claws had made sure that the dog was thinking twice about coming within her reach.

Tackling the Pollicle to the ground, Munkustrap sank his claws into its hide, hissing. The creature yelped and rolled over, crushing Munkustrap beneath before rolling off the winded tom. Standing up, and slightly dazed, the silver tom couldn't protect himself from the dog sinking its long, powerful fangs into his shoulder. Crying out in pain, Munkustrap was able to keep enough wits about him to realize that the dog couldn't protect its throat while latched onto him. It took only a few moments for the Jellicle Protector to slice through the Pollicle's Carotid arteries, causing enough pain for the animal that it let go of his shoulder.

Munkustrap panted for a moment, watching the animal die. Then he looked over to a considerably relieved looking Bombalurina and Demeter stared back at him. He coughed nervously, bleeding shoulder forgotten. "I'll... erm... get some toms to clean this guy up." He paused. "I... I'm glad you're safe." Although he didn't direct the statement to her in particular, the statement was obviously meant more for Demeter than Bombalurina. After that, he walked off, heading for Jennyanydots.

"Munkustrap! What happened to you?" Alonzo asked as he ran up to the tom.

"Oh... a pollicle was attacking Bombalurina and Demeter. Could you find Skimbleshanks... and Plato as well, and help them get rid of it? He's big, by the way."

"Right, right, of course," Alonzo said as he hurried off to obey.

The rest of the trip went by without any interruption, and after being fussed over by the Gumbie Queen he was sent to his den for some much needed rest.

"What am I going to do, Tugger?" Munkustrap asked that evening.

"Well, you can stop groveling. It's embarrassing," the maine coon tom immediately replied. "Look at you, Munkustrap. You're pathetic."

"I'm not pathetic!" Munkustrap argued, "I love her. Why wouldn't I want to make her forgive me when it's my fault?" He paced, glaring at where the tom lay. They were in the same clearing that they had been in the day before, and the Tugger was laying in the same spot. Growling, Munkustrap added, "Don't you ever stand?"

The Rum Tum Tugger raised an eyebrow, deciding to ignore that last part. "Munkustrap, listen to me. She's using you for protection. From what you told me, you're not asking much. You aren't pushing her at all, you're trying to help her. If you're truly in a relationship, and she has feelings for you, she wouldn't be afraid to hug you. I tell you Munkustrap, she just wants the protection. Everyone else in the junkyard has realized this, except maybe Bombalurina, and that's only because she's always talking to Demeter. Demeter's just not worth it." He watched Munkustrap, trying to gauge his reaction before adding gently, "You're like her pet. She uses you, and abuses you, and makes you think it's all your fault."

Unfortunately, Munkustrap couldn't think of a response. He stopped pacing and stared into space. After a long silence, the tom finally said, "I need to be alone to think." Walking off, Munkustrap headed for the Junkyard Gates. Maybe a little time away from Demeter, Tugger, and all the other Jellicles would help him think more clearly. Or maybe he would be able to forget what a horrible day it had been.

When Munkustrap woke up the next morning, the first thing he noticed was his pounding headache. The next thing he noticed were the claw marks that lined his body. Finally, he noticed that he was all alone in a part of the streets he didn't recognize.