Cassandra sped across the Junkyard, keeping as much in the shadows as she could and trying not to be seen – espeicially not by her sister. She knew Chloe would be on watch, and Chloe's sharp eyes could pick out almost anything. Reaching the other edge of the Junkyard, Cassa stopped and began to listen intently. She couldn't hear any cat moving, but she caught a faint scent close by. Definitely Munkustrap, and she thought she could smell Plato, Dusty and Ayta too. Cassa leapt over in their direction. She had to warn Munkustrap!
Dusty looked around sharply.
"What is it?" Plato asked. Dusty placed a paw across her lips, and Plato signalled to Munkustrap and Ayta to stop.
"I think…" Dusty began quietly, straining all her senses. Then she smiled in relief. "Yes, it's Cassandra." Just as she said the name Cassa appeared from behind a pile of crates. Munkustrap relaxed at the sight of their spy.
"What news, Cassa?" He asked. The elegant feline moved towards the group softly. As soon as she had heard Macavity's latest plan from the other members of his gang, she had rushed to the Junkyard to warn her true leader of the danger. Being in a position of trust within Macavity's gang because of her sister Chloe, who was Macavity's queen, she could spy on the gang without being suspected and relay important information to Munkustrap. In case she was seen in the Junkyard or in the company of Jellicles, Macavity believed that she was a spy for him, and Cassa, with her quick, clever mind, could often supply him with false information that wouldn't reflect back on her when it didn't bring results.
"Don't go back!" She said now. "Macavity is waiting for you. He's hiding near your den and he would attack you as soon as you were out of sight of the others. He had cats on watch – Cielito left, I don't know where he was going, but I think Chloe's still around somewhere." At the mention of Cielito's name, Cassa stiffened suddenly. "Oh!" She gasped, remembering. "Cielito said that Alonzo…that he was hurt!" Now that her message had been delivered, she could allow herself to think. Munkustrap looked worried at the news.
"Alonzo hurt?" He said in alarm. "Macavity?" His eyes hardened. "I swear, one day I will kill that creature." The other four cats shifted uneasily. The idea of a cat killing one of his kind was nearly unspeakable, even without the fact that Macavity was actually Munkustrap's brother. Catching their thoughts, Munkustrap looked at around at them all, his pure silver eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
"I do not call Macavity my brother," He almost hissed. "As for killing another cat, do you think Macavity is a real Cat, if in flesh not in spirit?" There was a pause, then Ayta hissed.
"He is no Cat," She spat. "Macavity has killed many, and not even from necessity but for pure fun." The others nodded agreement. "Now," Munkustrap began. "We must overpower him and again, send him from the Junkyard. Plato, Ayta, a large group of Jellicles are hunting the warehouses tonight." The two didn't need any more telling, and immediately sped off into the night. "Dusty, find all the kittens and mothers who are in the Junkyard now and warn them to keep in hiding. Then meet me back here. Cassandra, I need to talk to you." Dusty took one look at her leader's face and fled. Munkustrap looked as severe as she had ever seen him. Cassa wished she could do the same as Dusty, for she was sure she knew what was about to happen.
"Cassandra. Why have you not informed me and the Jellicles that the tom Cielito is a member of Macavity's gang?" His tone was icily polite. Cassa shivered, nearly feeling the freeze of his voice.
"I…" She stammered nervously. It was taking all of her willpower not to step back. Munkustrap could be very frightening when he wanted. "I mean, um, Cielito. I think I didn't tell…because…" Cassa racked her brains. Why exactly hadn't she told? She wasn't sure, but ever since she had met the dreamy tom she had felt that he wasn't the same as the other gang cats. In fact, the only other cat she had felt that calm, hidden energy in was Jennyanydots. Suddenly everything clicked. "It was because I knew that he'd be on your "blacklist" if I told. And I don't think Cielito is evil. I think he is a healer, Munkustrap, though I didn't realise until just now, and I'm not sure if he knows it either. But the only other cat who feels like he does is Jennyanydots." She looked directly into his beautiful silvery eyes and knew he belived her.
"In that case I forgive you," Munkustrap's voice was gentle, and Cassa relaxed in relief. "But please remember, you must give up all you know about the gang in future, including what your feelings are about the cats. It could be valuable information that we are missing, for you never know what may happen." Cassa nodded, chagrined. Then Dusty ran up behind them.
"Jellylorum is with all the kittens," She reported. "But something strange happened. Jellylorum told me. Jennyanydots and Admetus went to help Alonzo," she paused. "Apparently Demeter thought he had been killed – I couldn't stay long enough to hear the whole story, but just as I was leaving, Jenny, Admetus, Bombalurina and Alonzo came rushing in, and with them a strange white tom!" Dusty, always the storyteller, managed to display her feelings with her words and tone of voice. "Alonzo looked fine, but Jenny and the tom looked exhausted. Jenny had healed Alonzo, and she said that the white tom had helped." Cassa grinned in triumph.
"I knew it!" She interrupted, then subsided at a frown from Dusty.
"He seemed drained, just like Jenny. It's odd, because as you know, we all thought Jen was the only healer in the area. Anyway, now they're all safe and hiding," Dusty finished. "Even the stranger. All the others seemed to think he was alright, so I didn't question it." She looked anxiously at Munkustrap.
"You did the right thing," He told her. "Any cat who heals cannot be evil, for healing magic is pure and untainted." He was interrupted by the sudden arrival of Plato.
"They're coming," Plato panted. "Skimbleshanks, Asparagus, Exotica, Coricopat, Tantomile and the Tugger." As he spoke they heard the rhythm of paws on the ground that was beginning to frost, and Ayta and the other cats appeared. Gathering round Munkustrap, the ten cats listened carefully to their instructions.