"Your Swagger Makes Me Smile"

Hi guys, i'm awful i know, but again i was able to find a small time frame in which to write another mini chapter for you! You guys are so lucky i love you. But yes, this one might be vague and won't make complete sense to some of you until you read on later as the story progresses. Again, I love my reviewers, and again, i shake my fist and swear loudly at the editor, which decidedly hates me. The feeling is mutual.

TOP 3:

- Penguin again! Because of your efforts to begrudgingly read though my story with only the greatest of spirits. Snaps for you.

But the tragedy is NO ONE ELSE REVIEWED! (sobs) Although i also understand it may be a painful thing to do, i always reply and greatly appreciate them. Also, they help me know what you guys want out of reading this, and what you like/dislike.

Please be aware: This chapter refers to some of the family animosity held between the four Deuteronomy sons. I hope i've givin them a good enough range of personalities (how boring if they were all the same!) and that some of my clever cookies out there will pick up on the super-secret-hidden-messages in the text. Yes, i know i make you work hard; you have to read between the lines with some of this.

I am aware there is no visible writing between the lines. haha

Enjoy!

Munkustrap sighed as he glanced over at his brother. Tugger's head was ridiculously buried under the red duvet in his den. So much for Tugger liking horrible muddles. Munkustrap thought, referring to the Mungojerrie and Bombalurina situation sarcastically. Munkustrap leapt into Tugger's bureau and sat swishing his tail almost triumphantly.

"I'm sick of you moping, get up." Munku ordered Tugger. Tugger however, made no action to move. Munkustrap tried a different approach.

"I told you this would happen one day."
"Shut up Straps." Tugger replied venomously, slightly muffled from the duvet. Munkustrap shuddered at the shortened version of his name, but kept his air of superiority.

"…She would've had to find someone someday..."

"Shut Up."
"…You know, you couldn't have expected her to stay single forever…"

"SHUT UP!" Tugger roared, finally emerging from the safety of his cover. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Tugger whinged immaturely. Munku continued to sit calmly. Tugger was predictable like that. He would fly into tantrums when he didn't get his way, or we would sulk for days until someone came along and fixed whatever mess he was in. That's the thing about Tugger, Munkustrap said to himself, physically he was a full grown cat; but emotionally he was a kitten.

"I don't care. Why would I even care about her? …" Tugger pouted.

"You aren't convincing anyone with that one Tug, least of all yourself." Munkustrap answered flatly, Tugger merely locking his jaw his irritation.

"Go away Munku. As if I don't have Demeter up my ass 24/7. God she's such a bitc-" Tugger stopped as he saw Munku's eyes narrow.

"What's wrong with Tugger now?" A voice from behind Munkustrap asked of him. It was Alonzo. Alonzo joined his fellow siblings, taking a seat on a cushion within Tugger's den.

"It's Bombalurina isn't it?" Alonzo relished in the fact he could tease Tugger about this. After all, Tugger had teased Alonzo when he became mates with Exotica.

"Shut Up." Alonzo just grinned at Munkustrap, who was throwing Tugger a disapproving look.

"Well Tugger, what did you expect? She'd never find herself someone?" Alonzo grinned wildly at Tugger's uncomfortable shudder.

"This is becoming repetitive!" Tugger growled, rolling away from his brothers. Alonzo opened his mouth to say more, but Munkustrap gave him a stern look. Confused, Alonzo mouthed "why?".

Munkustrap tilted his head towards the door of Tugger's den, and issued a silent nod as he crept out.

"Munkustrap! Don't you realize how big this is! We can finally get back at Tugger for all times we had to deal with his 'only sissies stick to one queen' rants! The world does have justice!" Alonzo thanked the heavy side, but cheers died quickly on sight of his brother's troubled look. He was in deep thought. He looked worried.

"Alonzo, you didn't see Tugger today did you?" Munkustrap turned to his sibling with all seriousness.

"I did this morning but-" Alonzo was cut short by Munku's dark tone.

"I meant when Mungojerrie and Bombalurina got together."
"No." Alonzo didn't see where all this supposedly linked up. "Why?"
"His temper 'Lonz…" Alonzo watched Munku crunch his brow in, was that fear of all things? "Tugger has a bad temper."
"Don't we know it." Alonzo let the sarcastic comment slip out, slicing Munku's patience
with it.
"Don't you get it? This isn't me stating the obvious, Tugger has the same temper as Macavity does." Alonzo widened his dark grey eyes in unease. Macavity was a subject that had been off-limits as a family matter. His name was only ever uttered should it be completely necessary, and even then the issue was treated like business. Void of emotion.

"You wouldn't think Tugger would do something-"
"I don't know Alonzo." Munkustrap sighed defeatedly. Alonzo felt that familiar churning in his stomach that occurred whenever this awkward topic arose, which was rare in itself.

"But I've seen it. He's lurking around here." This coming from Munku was incredibly disturbing, and Alonzo leaned in closer, "Macavity's been here. That fence post a few days back definitely wasn't a pollicle."

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Alonzo was outraged; insulted. Munkustrap was risking everyone by keeping things this important to himself. He immediately chastised him.
"I know it's a big no-no and I'm sorry Alonzo, but I wasn't sure."
"Wait," Alonzo was lost. Weren't they talking about Tugger a minute ago?, "I don't see the pattern…"

"Think 'Lonz…Macavity left a long time ago, and we know why don't we?"
"Yes." Alonzo said aloud almost guiltily. They were onto the top secret stuff now. Information that only themselves, Old Deuteronomy, and Demeter knew of. Bar the accused himself. The pattern was forming! The link was stronger then he estimated.

"Tugger has that dangerous side Alonzo. Like Macavity for instance. What happens if he does lose his self control? What happens then?" Munkustrap continued, not missing a beat, "That's something we'll have to accept. Tugger is a lot like Macavity in some sense. I'm not prepared to lose another brother Lonz." There was a deathly, acidic silence that hung in the air after that. They weren't so much as mourning the loss of their brother Macavity, they were both detached. They sensed the thin lace of menace in the near future. They didn't need the twins to foresee that.
Alonzo felt his throat scratch dryly as he swallowed.

"Maybe Tugger and Macavity aren't so different. All of this has to do with the same Queen after all. How ironic."

"Mmmmm." Munku agreed wordlessly, "Bombalurina always was the apple of Macavity's eye."