Chloe sat in the shadows behind a stack of newspapers that were piled on top of a wrecked piece of machinery. From her high vantage point she could see nearly the whole Junkyard, and though there had been movements around the edges of the clearing nobody had approached Munkustrap's den. Chloe hoped that Cielito had found a good place and hadn't been caught. She severely doubted the white tom's abilities. He never did have any concentration, but Macavity had picked him for his sharp eyes and ears, and because of his devotion to her. He was counting on the fact that Cielito would try harder because he wanted to please her. Chloe had no affection for Cielito and was impatient with his adoration – all she had she gave to Macavity. But she tolerated Cielito as long as Macavity found a use for him.

Suddenly Chloe was alert. She had spotted movement in the shadows near Munkustrap's den. There! She stood up. A female cat, dusty grey in colour, was creeping towards the den. Chloe almost laughed as the cat tripped over a can with a loud clatter, but any humour stopped as she saw the cat behind the queen. Munkustrap. Chloe leapt to the ground and raced over. She had to distract the queen so that Macavity could do his job. Silently, Chloe cursed Cielito. Where was he? The pair had come from the side he was supposed to be watching. She could have missed them easily. As she reached the two Chloe formed a hurried plan in her head. As soon as they got to the entrance of the den, she would leap over and tackle the female. Munkustrap would turn to protect the queen, leaving Macavity free to take him by surprise. Focusing all of her concentration on the two silvery cats, she slunk forwards, ready to pounce.

Dusty giggled loudly, all her movements calculated to make as much noise as possible. Macavity and Chloe were sure to know they were coming. Reaching the entrance of the den, they stopped. It was necessary to the plan that Macavity left the den and came out into the open. Although Dusty was looking only at Munkustrap, her senses were extremely alert, and she felt more than heard Chloe waiting in the shadows. Then, pounce! Chloe abruptly leapt towards her, and Dusty allowed herself to be knocked over, squeaking a little as she rolled to cushion her landing. Chloe landed on top of her, but Skimbleshanks was waiting and he thrust her off Dusty and pinned her to the ground. Scrambling to her feet, Dusty looked towards the den anxiously. Macavity was standing surrounded by seven angry Jellicles, looking, for once, extrememly shocked. Munkustrap stepped forward, claws unsheathed, but there was a sudden blaze of cold blue light and when the Jellicles had blinked the dazzle from their eyes, Macavity was gone.

"It was brilliant!" Cassandra exclaimed later. She hadn't taken part in the ambush as Macavity and Chloe would have seen her, and broken her cover. Instead she had watched with bated breath as the other Jellicles had surrounded the den, completely silent as they had waited for the exact moment. Then, pounce! Macavity was surrounded before he even had time to blink.

"It did work better than I expected," Munkustrap confessed. "And we knew Macavity would disappear as soon as he realised he was outnumbered." The kittens had listened with wide eyes to the story, and even Old Gus had admitted it would make a good musical, and had wandered off to write it. He was the author and composer of most of the little plays and songs that the cats performed at their yearly Jellicle Balls. Bombalurina and Demeter kept hugging Cielito, much to his discomfort and Alonzo's annoyance.

"Why don't you hug me, you two?" He complained. "I am back from the dead, remember." Bombalurina giggled and leapt over, giving him a big kiss on the nose.

"Anyone would think you were jealous, Alonzo!" She teased. Alonzo blushed under his fur.

"I'm not jealous!" He spluttered.

"That's what you always say!" Demeter grinned, launching herself onto him, the force knocking all three of them to the ground. "Group hug!"

THE END

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