((many thanks to miss penguin for dealing with me and my awful awful habits! lmao. again, i own none of this but miss merrytus...and thanks to all my readers c: i love me some feedback! and in case you're curious, with the little chant...think of it as the same rhythm as they use riiight before the jellicle ball. you know, 'jellicle cats are black and white', etc.))
Thankfully, the next two weeks were relatively uneventful. While Munkustrap had not been accusing Mistoffelees or Merrytus of working with Macavity, he managed to avoid them very well. However, the suspicion had been passed through the tribe. Some, like Jenny and Victoria, chose not to believe anything the others were saying. But it wasn't as if Mistoffelees had always been one hundred percent faithful to the tribe (as Munkustrap never hesitated to point out), so a good number of the other cats had reasons to suspect the two magical cats.
On one fine afternoon, Mistoffelees found himself sitting opposite of Merrytus, showing her how to throw her meows, as he had been known to do once in a while. He demonstrated, his meows heard distantly by the two of them. After a moment, however, the two of them heard the voice of Victoria calling for Mistoffelees, quite sure she had just heard him nearby. Both cats chuckled to themselves before they continued to practice. Merrytus let out a loud meow, which was unfortunately only loud where they were.
Mistoffelees laughed. "Close," he said, and then thought to himself, a wide smile crossing his mouth as he considered how to explain this. "Imagine you're trying to make a cork disappear." He paused as she closed her eyes, smirking when a bottle cap disappeared, probably by accident. "Now imagine making it reappear." As if by magic, it reappeared. "Now imagine that's your voice you're doing it with."
Merrytus opened her eyes, and nodded. She psyched herself up, meowing a couple times. She opened her mouth and Mistoffelees waited anxiously. A meow came out, and even though she looked frustrated, she continued to try. Finally, Mistoffelees' patience paid off, and he heard her meow growing distant. After ten more times meowing, her meow could be heard nearly ten feet away.
"You did it!" Mistoffelees exclaimed suddenly, and he nuzzled her while she pawed at him.
As Merrytus opened her mouth to speak, or perhaps meow once more, there was a shriek in the distance. They looked at each other for a moment before they began to scamper up, Merrytus bringing up the distant rear. Mistoffelees hoped and prayed to the Everlasting Cat that it wasn't what he though, but he knew it probably was.
Sure enough, when they arrived, Macavity and Munkustrap were locked deeply in battle. Mistoffelees acted quickly, nudging Merrytus over towards the cowering Victoria. She took in Merrytus, hiding the kitten behind her. Mistoffelees strode forward, ready to fight. Before he knew it, though, Macavity had struck down Tugger, who immediately scrambled towards the broken down car to rest for a moment. There were large scratches on his side, which Bombalurina was quickly tending to.
Next Munkustrap attacked, and their claws flew through the air for a few moments before Mistoffelees thrust himself into the fray. He attacked Macavity from behind, jumping on his back and clawing at him. Without warning, however, he was tossed off Macavity's back and flung to the opposite end. Now he remembered why he was of no use in things like this—he was just not as strong. He couldn't bring himself to move right now because of this fighting, much less help.
As Mistoffelees was tossed off, Alonzo joined into the fray. The two brothers fought against Macavity for what felt like a century. Finally, other toms joined in; Pouncival attacked from the side, while Tumblebrutus scratched at his feet. Mistoffelees watched, frozen where he stood. He couldn't bring himself to move. Before him, Pouncival was being pushed to the side. Tumblebrutus took a harsh kick from Macavity. Munkustrap and Alonzo were alone.
Merrytus watched in awe as the two toms fought fearlessly, desperately needing to protect their tribe. The fight was cut short, though, when Macavity's claws made their way across Alonzo's throat. Knowing his deed was done, Macavity left in the confusion that soon followed.
Munkustrap and Tugger made their way over to Alonzo, the look on their faces nothing but heartbreak. The kittens began to cry out in sorrow, while the older cats hung their head in respect for their fallen cat and attempted to push back the kittens, to hide them from this, obviously hiding tears themselves.
Munkustrap was the first cat to speak. "Go alert Old Deuteronomy," he mumbled, to anyone, really. Plato was the first to go. Munkustrap continued. "Somebody please help Tugger into his den."
"I'm fine."
"You're not!" he yelled, and Pouncival went to try and assist Tugger. He went, though very sore about it all. Munkustrap asked someone from the tribe to take away Alonzo's body. Nobody moved; they all stared around, before a brave Caricopat persuaded his sister to help. Not a soul watched as Coricopat and Tantomile carried Alonzo from the tribe, their eyes torn away from both Alonzo and themselves. The adults continued to try and hide the kittens as his body was carried out, but even they were having problems with containing their tears now. Jellylorum wiped a tear and took in a sharp breath, obviously trying to hold it in for the sake of the kittens.
The silence returned. Most cats were afraid to move, especially the two magical cats. They both felt very similar at the moment. The cats stood frozen in their spots, emotionless, as if they didn't comprehend what had just happened. Neither of them had experienced death…not like this, anyway. Coldness swept over them, as if they'd never be cheerful again, and that hurt them more than they could express. Without saying anything, the two of them made their way to the other, meeting and nuzzling, trying to warm what they couldn't reach.
Munkustrap, his eyes wide, turned over to the two magical cats, eyes wide with anger. "You," he said darkly. Cats began to whisper…neither one of them had helped fend off Macavity. They were both gone, once again, when he attacked. The magical cats heard these and more whispers.
"It wasn't her," Mistoffelees said suddenly, standing in front of Merrytus, and he rose up his head to wards Munkustrap.
"No, no," Munkustrap. "It was both of you." Munkustrap walked forward, his tail whipping behind him. "Both have you have been helping Macavity, haven't you?" he asked, a few cats shifting around uncomfortably.
"No," Mistoffelees mumbled, looking around desperately. "No, we haven't. We would never…"
"But you have before! How a magical cat forgets so easy! Whispering the whereabouts of tribe leaders, and in return, what did you get?" Munkustrap asked, walking forward. "What were you promised? Security? Perhaps a nice cozy box to sleep in?" he continued. Mungojerrie shifted where he sat, next to Rumpleteazer, watching this unfold closely.
"I was a kitten," Mistoffelees breathed, hating this confrontation. He looked down from Munkustrap's eyes, his breathing getting heavier as Munkustrap walked closer.
"Yes, indeed. So we forgave you. 'He was scared, alone…he'd have done anything for a friend. None of the kittens liked him, so naturally he clung to whoever would give him a nuzzle and some fish paste'. That's what we said. And we forgave you." Munkustrap sneered. "So how did he do it this time? Did he threaten the kitten? Or did the kitten simply persuade you?"
"I'm telling you, Munkustrap, neither of us is responsible!" But unfortunately, the other cats began talking to one another about all of this. Merrytus tensed just as Mistoffelees, both of them feeling ill.
"Magical cats are truly trouble
Magical cats are tricky; we know
Magical cats are worse in double
The magical cats must go!"
Munkustrap chanted, once, then twice. Soon Mungojerrie joined in enthusiastically, followed soon by Bombalurina and Etcetera. The chanting only grew louder as more cats, including kittens, joined in. Victoria and even Jennyanydots walked around to the others, pleading with them to stop, but none of hem listened. Mistoffelees tugged at Merrytus as their chanting became even louder still. Soon Munkustrap leapt forward, causing the two magic cats to leap back and head out of the junkyard.
Mistoffelees and Merrytus slowed their pace when they'd gone far enough from the tribe. His heart beat fast as he led her out of the junkyard, striding tiredly. A long silence passed before finally Merrytus spoke.
"You…weren't, deceiving the tribe, were you?"
"No," he said suddenly, turning his head quickly. He calmed after a moment. "Were you?"
"Of course not," she mumbled, and gulped, looking up as a few raindrops fell on her head. They'd gone by three blocks, and the rain sped up. "I'm tired," croaked Merrytus, and she slowed.
"Just a bit longer, I promise," he said to her, his smiling strained. Finally they reached his old home. He nuzzled her up the fire escape, almost carrying her. Mistoffelees sniffed around, catching an unsuspecting rat with ease. He dropped it next to her, though neither of them touched it. Both were too exhausted to eat.
Merrytus lay down next to him, curling up and resting her head on his paws. She was near sleep, but a question still plagued her mind.
"Did you really do all of that?" she asked, sleepily.
Mistoffelees closed his eyes. "Yes," he responded. "I was wrong, and they forgave me. Or…so I thought." He nuzzled her softly, and almost apologetically, though he didn't need to say anything about it. She seemed to understand that he was no longer like that.
"What are we supposed to do now?" Merrytus asked, her eyes opened to look up to him finally.
Mistoffelees met them with a bit of fear. "I…We can figure it out in the morning." Even though the sun had barely begun to set, the two cats were simply exhausted, and they fell asleep quicker than they ever had before.