Chapter 3: Reunion

After hanging around for a couple hours, Bageera and Jazz were given permission to stay and look around. They were given a list of names and a general description of the area, which Bageera converted into a mental map instantly. Munkustrap and Alonzo also told them everything they could about what happened the night before. Bageera was right on all accounts. Armed with this information, they set out to question the Jellicles of the tribe.

"I suppose we could just walk right up to this Mistoffelees and start asking him questions," Bageera said. "But maybe we should learn a little about him first."

"Such as?" Jazz asked.

"Well," he said, "the first thing I want to find out is why everyone keeps confusing him with Quaxo."

He pointed out Mistoffelees' name on the list. To the left of it, the letters "Q" and "U" were crossed off. Jazz frowned at this. She was about to ask how Bageera knew the two letters stood for Quaxo, but she decided to trust him on it.

"Jemima mentioned it when we spoke with her," Bageera said.

"I didn't ask," Jazz said.

"But you were thinking it?"

Jazz hissed at him. He just smiled.

"So who do we talk to first?" Jazz asked, changing the subject.

"Well," Bageera said. "We should probably leave the kittens alone for a little bit at least. We don't want to cause any trouble."

"Of course not," Jazz said.

"Let's just wander and talk with who we run into."

"Sounds good."

The rest of the day was spent asking questions. The adults were more willing to talk about this Mistoffelees, and they all seemed to have the same story which gave it credibility.

"His real name is Mistoffelees," an older queen named Jennyanydots said. "He came to us several months ago, trying to join our tribe."

"And he didn't make it?" Jazz asked.

"Nope," Skimbleshanks said. "Old Deuteronomy felt Mistoffelees was too powerful to join the tribe."

"Too powerful?" Bageera asked.

"He has powers," Coricopat said.

"Magical powers," Tantomile added. "He can shoot lightning from his paws and pull rainbows from old mugs."

"Probably new ones, too," Coricopat added.

"Really?" Jazz muttered, glancing at Bageera. "And Old Deuteronomy felt this was too dangerous to have around?"

"That's how I understood it," Cassandra said. "After the decision was made, he left in a shimmer of light."

"And how does Quaxo fit into all this?" Bageera asked.

"Well," Bombalurina said. "A month or so after Mistoffelees was denied, another cat came asking to join. He said his name was Quaxo. He was interviewed and was allowed to join."

"Let me guess," Bageera said. "He was Mistoffelees in disguise."

"Yes, actually," Asparagus said. "He lived with us for a while as Quaxo. But when the Jellicle Ball came, and Macavity showed up and took Old Deuteronomy, Mistoffelees showed himself for who he really was."

"And he used his powers to save Old Deuteronomy?" Jazz asked.

"Pulled him out from under a red cloak," Jellylorum said. "Then Old Deuteronomy accepted him as Mistoffelees and let him join the tribe properly."

"I see," Bageera said. "Has Macavity ever struck during a Ball before?"

"No," Bustopher Jones said. "Not that I can remember."

"Interesting story," Jazz said once they were alone. "What could it mean?"

"Could mean just about anything," Bageera said. "Could be just that simple. Mistoffelees just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Macavity just happened to strike personally during a Ball for the first time at the first Ball in which Mistoffelees just happens to be in. By revealing himself, he just happened to be accepted and Macavity just happened to let it go, not sending a counterstrike. Again for the first time."

"Do you actually believe that?" Jazz asked.

"No," Bageera said. "Nothing's that simple."

"That was simple?"

"Come on," he said, ignoring the quip for once. "We need to see this Mistoffelees."

xxx

"Did the protectors ever tell you where Mistoffelees lived?" Jazz asked.

They had been hunting around the junkyard for about an hour, not at all sure where to find the magician.

"No," Bageera said. "But I'm sure we'll find it sooner or late-"

He was cut off when he turned a corner and ran right into a calico with claw marks across his face. They both fell to the ground and looked at each other. The tom's eyes widened in shock at the black and gray cat before him. Bageera's eyes widened, too. Though his were with rage.

"Bageera!" the tom said.

"Mungojerrie!" Bageera said at the same time.

The only thing that saved Mungojerrie's life was the fact that his name was one syllable longer than Bageera's; meaning the fraction of a second longer that it took Bageera to speak gave Mungojerrie the time to get a much needed head start.

When Bageera did finish, he jumped to his feet and took off after the calico in question. Jazz was right behind them. She knew what would happen if Bageera caught up with Mungojerrie and she wasn't there to hold him back. And they really didn't need to be kicked out of the junkyard right now.

Mungojerrie was quick. Bageera was more strong than fast. But he knew his endurance would last longer than the calico's. All he had to do was keep up until then. Then he would have fun.

They ran around for about half an hour before Mungojerrie finally tired and slowed enough for Bageera to swipe at his back legs, bringing him down. Mungojerrie rolled head over heels into a pile of old cans. Bageera was on him in seconds, pinning him to the ground.

"You!" he said as angrily as he could through his heavy breathing.

"Nice… to see… you, too," Mungojerrie stammered.

"I've been waiting a long time for this," Bageera said, unsheathing his claws.

He raised his paw and was about to swipe when someone grabbed his wrist. Bageera looked up and into Jazz's eyes. She was staring him down. He knew better than to get into one of those with Jazz and got off Mungojerrie, who was just getting his breath back.

"What are you doing here?" Jazz asked.

"I live here now," Mungojerrie said. "I have for years."

"Where is he?" Bageera demanded.

"Who?"

Bageera grabbed Mungojerrie by the chest fur and slammed him up against a nearby post. Jazz, confident that Bageera wasn't going to lose it completely, let him.

"You know damn well who!" he said. "Macavity! Where is he?"

"I haven't seen Macavity in years," Mungojerrie said. "Well, apart from last night when he showed up at the Jellicle Ball."

"And I suppose you wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

"Who do you think put these scratches on my face?" Mungojerrie said, pulling himself free from Bageera's grasp.

Bageera, usually the first to notice everything about anything, just noticed the claw marks across Mungojerrie's face. They weren't deep, but it was clear they were going to be sore for a while, maybe even scar. They looked fresh, too. Only about a day old.

"We know you work for Macavity," Bageera snapped.

"Worked," Mungojerrie corrected him. "I got out of his gang years ago, before I came here."

"Oh?" Bageera jeered. "And why was that?"

"Let him speak," Jazz said, touching Bageera's arm.

"You want the honest truth?" Mungojerrie asked. "It was Rumpelteazer."

"Your sister?" Jazz asked. "Is she here, too?"

"Yeah," Mungojerrie answered. "We were born here. After…" he trailed off, trying to find the right words, "that night, 'teazer found me and talked me out of working for Macavity. She brought me back here and Old Deuteronomy let me back in."

"You mean the night you did what you did to our tribe?" Bageera snapped.

Jazz got between the two, placing a paw on Bageera's chest, trying to calm him.

"I'll admit what I did," Mungojerrie said. "My part in that tragedy is unforgivable. I couldn't believe that Old Deuteronomy let me back in after I told him about it. But he did."

Mungojerrie looked at his paws.

"There's blood on my paws from that night as well as on Macavity's." Mungojerrie closed his eyes and sighed. "I know you can never forgive me. And I'm not asking you to. All I'm asking is that you realize I'm different. I'm not that Jellicle anymore. I've changed. I would never do something like that again. Ever."

"Once was enough," Bageera said, glaring Mungojerrie down. "Once is all it takes."

"Bageera," Jazz said firmly. "We can do nothing about it here."

Mungojerrie knew, of course, that Jazz was just as angry at him as Bageera was, if not more so. The only reason she was defending him at all was because she was able to keep a cooler head than Bageera and could realize the consequences.

Finally, Bageera pulled back and turned away from the calico.

"The only reason I'm not going to kill you now," he said, "is because this is your home. Not mine." He looked back over his shoulder. "You just better keep away from me."

And with that, Bageera stalked off. Jazz turned and gave Mungojerrie one last look before following her partner. Mungojerrie watched them go before turning and racing to his den.

xxx

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