Running from Family

By Actress of Broadway

Edited by Skimbleshanks the Railway CAT

I don't own "CATS." I just own the new cats.

Chapter 11: Surprising Confessions

While the cats were taking a break from the Jellicle Ball, Quaxo was tending Ringmenka's injuries. She had opened her wounds even more than before thanks to her dancing. Quaxo went off for just a moment to get soft wrappings. Ringmenka took advantage of his absence to try to leave. As she limped to the exit she stumbled, due to her injuries. Determined to make good her escape, she proceeded to crawl to the exit. Quaxo returned just before she gained the door and halted her, propping her up against the wall.

"You shouldn't try to move."

Ringmenka looked at him. "You don't understand. I have to leave."

Quaxo started to wrap Ringmenka's injuries. "No, you don't. You can stay here. You don't need to hide anymore."

Ringmenka winced and shook her head. "I must leave. He knows where I am now. This tribe is in danger. He'll kill everyone."

Quaxo hushed her. "Don't worry. You're safe. We'll protect you if he does decide to come and try to take you back."

He started to wrap her left arm when she grabbed his arm. "Why did you approach me?"

Quaxo looked at her a little confused. Ringmenka pressed, "Why did you approach me? You could have stayed where you were … and let me leave."

Quaxo smiled and shook his head. "I didn't want you to leave. You're a very special queen … and I love you."

Ringmenka felt her face heat but she smiled. Quaxo continued to mend her injuries when she sighed. "I'm sorry …"

Quaxo raised his eyebrow. "Sorry for what?"

Ringmenka looked away. "For falling in love with Mistoffelees first … and for not being able to forget him after he rejected me. I'm very sorry."

Quaxo turned her head back to his view. "Don't worry about it. At least you made a decision."

Ringmenka just nodded as Quaxo continued to wrap her injuries. When he finished, he started to stand up when Ringmenka pulled him down. "There's something I have to tell you."

Quaxo saw that her eyes were truthful. He nodded and sat down. Ringmenka sighed and said, "It's about how I fell in love with Mistoffelees."

---

Ringmenka was cowering in the corner of her room. Macavity had just given her a session that left her beat up. She heard Anonmusent laughing and she shivered even more. He entered and she put her arms in the "X" position in front of her chest. Her brother smirked evilly. "Get up. Father has ordered for your immediate removal from our family."

Ringmenka hesitated and Anonmusent pulled her up by her neck. He dragged her to the entrance and opened the door. He turned his cruel laughing eyes on her and said, "Bon voyage."

With that, Anonmusent tossed her out roughly and shut the door. Ringmenka held her right arm and looked around. The world seemed so large and dark to her. She shivered from a sudden wind but then realized, "I'm free …"

Macavity appeared behind her and kicked her stomach. "I did not give you permission to speak."

Ringmenka backed up a little and shook her head. Macavity grabbed her shoulder and pulled her forward. "Now, you listen to me. You stay away from that tribe, you don't lead anyone to me, and you don't speak a single word. Do you understand?"

Ringmenka started to ask why when he punched her face. "I didn't tell you to speak. As to why I'm ordering you this … I am watching this neighborhood all the time. So strictly speaking … you'll never be free of me. Is that understood?"

Ringmenka nodded and Macavity threw her to the ground. He then walked away, leaving her on the ground. She picked herself up and held her shoulder and face. Still very afraid of her father, she made a mental note to obey his commands. She sighed silently and started to walk off, wondering what she would do.

She continued to walk a little, not paying attention to where she was going. She stopped at a garbage can and jumped in. Once inside, she brought her legs to her chest and laid her head on her knees. She stayed there for a few minutes when she heard a clatter outside. Swallowing hard, she went up and looked, hoping it wasn't Macavity or her brother.

To her relief, it was three of her father's black guards. She sighed in relief but then noticed that they were dragging something away. Taking a closer look, she saw Old Deuteronomy. Her eyes grew wide for she had heard stories about the Jellicle leader from Mungojerrie. She started to get out of the garbage can when she remembered her father's warning about staying away from the tribe. Taking a deep breath, she made a decision, jumped out and started to head to the junkyard.

It took a while for her to find the junkyard since she had never been there before. She tried to remember the directions that Mungojerrie told her a while back. She got lost a few times but then felt her spine shiver. She quickly hid in a garbage can and waited for the feeling to leave. Sure enough, Macavity limped away, cursing under his breath.

Once he was out of sight, Ringmenka popped her head out and looked to the direction he came from. She smiled a small self-congratulatory smile and took off in that direction. She came across the junkyard and grinned. Upon entering, she hid in the dark on the left side of the radio. She looked down and watched the tribe as they knew that they had to find their leader. She took a deep breath and was about to come out into the open when she and the rest of the tribe heard a tom speak up, "You ought to ask magical Mr. Mistoffelees! The original conjuring cat. There can be no doubt about that."

Ringmenka ducked down as a light shone on Tugger. She reacted a little, making a mental note that he was very cute. She stayed where she was as Tugger continued to talk about this Mr. Mistoffelees. Stealing a look, Ringmenka saw Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer and smiled in relief. As the minutes went on, she realized that the tribe had no way of saving their leader. She opened her mouth to speak up when Mistoffelees appeared.

Ringmenka froze. She stayed hidden as she kept her eyes on the magical cat. As the song went on, she slowly came out to get a better look at him. When he made a rainbow ribbon come out of a pot, she whispered, "He's gorgeous …"

She covered her mouth but then smirked, for she knew that her tiger-striped friends would help her if Macavity came along again. She continued to watch Mistoffelees as he performed his dance routine and performed his infamous conjuring trick. When he brought Old Deuteronomy back, Ringmenka came into full view in her surprise. Taking a brief look up, Mistoffelees saw her and winked at her. Ringmenka felt her face flush as she gave him a little wave. He turned around and she slowly put her hands over her heart as she realized, "I'm in love."

She then proceeded to sing the chorus with the rest of the tribe. She moved to the top of the radio and continued to sing. But when Mistoffelees disappeared, a clawed hand reached out, grabbed the nape of Ringmenka's neck, and pulled her away. She was pushed down to the ground and looked up to see Macavity standing over her with a big scowl on his face. "I specifically told you to not come anywhere near this tribe!"

Ringmenka freaked out and backed up as much as she could. Macavity pulled her behind a pile of broken toys and proceeded to beat her. When he was done and left, she came out and collapsed from her injuries. Breathing heavily, she made a silent note to really obey her father's orders.

---

Ringmenka sighed as Quaxo registered what she had just told him. "So that's why you looked familiar."

Ringmenka looked at the black tom. "What?"

"When I first met you, I thought you looked familiar, even though I knew that I had never seen you before. But Mistoffelees sort of knew you. Whatever one personality sees, the other sees as well."

Ringmenka nodded a tiny nod and shuddered a little. Quaxo brought her close as she continued to shiver. As they sat together, a male voice broke out behind them.

"Well, well, isn't this sweet?"

Ringmenka tensed up as the two cats looked up to see Anonmusent standing overbearingly above them, his arms crossed. Quaxo rose and stood warily in front of Ringmenka, tensed and preparing to act. Anonmusent scoffed. "Who is this? He can't hurt me. Besides, I'm not here for her."

Quaxo hissed, "Then leave."

Anonmusent nodded and turned to leave. Quaxo's nose twitched with suspicion. Anonmusent stopped and turned his head back.

"By the way, sister … Mulinka is mine." With that, he left.

Quaxo wondered what he meant. Ringmenka's eyes, on the other hand, grew wide. "Oh no …"

Quaxo turned and asked, "What?"

Ringmenka shot up as fast as she could and took off for the main area of the junkyard with Quaxo at her heels. She didn't stop until she came across Munkustrap and Mungojerrie.

"I need your help," she pleaded.

She started to collapse but Mungojerrie caught her. "What's the matter?"

She looked up at her friend. "My brother has Mulinka."

Mungojerrie's eyes grew wide. "But … how? That's not possible."

Munkustrap asked, "Who's Mulinka?"

Ringmenka looked at the silver tabby. "She was a kitten I knew when I was young. Her father worked for … him … but was then killed when he tried to run away from the evil fiend. I haven't seen her since. I never would have imagined that Anonmusent had her in his claws. We need to get her out of there."

A familiar voice sounded behind her. "I can help … if you'll let me."

Ringmenka's eyes narrowed as she turned around. Mistoffelees stood behind her. She hissed, "What do you want?"

Mistoffelees shrugged a little shrug. "I figured you needed help so I came out."

Ringmenka shook her head. "I don't need help from you of all cats. Just … go away."

Mungojerrie sensed the hostility in her voice and pulled her a pace to the side. "Ringmenka, I know that you're very upset with him for treating you as badly as he did but we may need him. He's the only conjuring cat we have … and Mulinka may need his magic to get out."

Ringmenka grudgingly considered the sense of Mungojerrie's words and nodded. The two cats then rejoined the group. The red Jellicle glared at Mistoffelees but didn't say anything to him. The she nodded and the four of them took off.

In the corner nearby, Victoria and Admetus had been listening.

Victoria swallowed hard. "What can we do?"

Admetus grinned. "I'll go help them. I'm a fully grown tom and able to hold my own in battle."

Victoria nodded. "I'll go too."

Admetus shook his head but Victoria insisted. "Ringmenka is my best friend. I want to help her."

Admetus groaned patronizingly but agreed. The two of them rose and followed the four, keeping a safe distance.