CHAPTER 11: After the Storm

Three days later, Munkustrap and Mungojerrie were both declared well enough to go back to their own dens. That night, a storm struck.

Tatiana had been trying to get to sleep when she heard thunder. Unlike the other Jellicles, Tatiana usually quite liked storms (so long as they did not cause much damage), but she was still a bit nervy after Macavity's attack on the tribe. As soon as she heard the thunder, she automatically scooted over to the closest, safest thing – Mungojerrie's box.

Having sensed the storm earlier, Mungojerrie was sitting up rigidly in his box with his ears laying flat against his head when Tatiana appeared in front of him. He jumped at the new presence, but settled down when he realized who it was. "'Ey, Tats, are ya okoiy?"

Tatiana looked up at him, suddenly aware of what she had just done. "Um, yeah, I –" She broke off and shuddered as another clap of thunder rang out.

"Ya scared of the storm?" Mungojerrie asked sympathetically.

"Well, no – not exactly. That is to say, I'm not usually – I usually like storms, but after the –" She broke off and shuddered again.

"Understandable." Mungojerrie smiled at her. "Jellicles don't loike storms at orll. Yer actin' quoite normal fer a Jellicle."

Tatiana gave a small giggle. "That makes me feel better about it, then."

Mungojerrie lay back down under his sheets. "'Ere," he offered, holding up one end of the sheet. "Moight as well troiy ta git some sleep. Just watch the arm." Mungojerrie still had his left arm in a makeshift bandage.

Tatiana nervously slipped down beside the tom, who put his arm protectively around her. She let out a small sigh, snuggled up to him and closed her eyes.

Mungojerrie smiled down at her. "'Noight, Tats," he whispered.

"Goodnight, Jerrie."

Mungojerrie awoke the next morning to a clear, sunny day; the storm had apparently passed. He glanced down to see a sleeping Tatiana. He smiled. She looked so peaceful and content. If he didn't have sensitive ears (as cats do), he would barely be able to hear her breathing. Mungojerrie realized when his stomach growled that he was hungry. He thought for a moment. Should he get up and catch something to eat, risking waking the peaceful-looking, young queen in his arms? Or should he wait until she awoke naturally and perhaps get some more sleep himself in the meantime? He deliberated this point for about two minutes, before finally settling on the latter option and closing his eyes once more.

Tatiana opened her eyes to bright sunshine. She suddenly realized that, from the brightness of the sun, it must be after noon; but then, she wondered, why would she be facing the sun? She glanced around before becoming aware of arms around her. She looked up and smiled when she saw Mungojerrie peacefully sleeping and remembered what had happened the night before. Deciding it would be best to slip away while Mungojerrie was still asleep and before anyone could stumble across the two and get the wrong impression, Tatiana did just that.

When Mungojerrie next awoke, it was to empty arms. He stretched and scratched his headfur, a smile spreading across his lips. Mungojerrie stretched once more, got out of his box and wandered over to the centre of the junkyard. There, a pleasant sight met his eyes.

Munkustrap and Demeter were sitting upon the tyre, watching the yard. Tugger was standing on the other side of the clearing making eyes with a saucy Bombalurina. The kittens were tumbling around the clearing, their playful shrieks filling the air. Amongst their midst sat Rumpelteazer, Tatiana, Victoria and Plato. The four were chatting, their laughs occasionally ringing out across the junkyard. Mungojerrie smiled and made his way towards them. Once there, he sat down beside his sister. "'Ey," he said, giving Rumpelteazer a friendly lick.

"'Ey, yeself," Rumpelteazer replied, batting him away playfully.

"Where have you been all morning?" Plato asked slyly.

"Oi, uh, Oi guess Oi slept in," Mungojerrie admitted truthfully.

"Really?" Victoria sounded surprised. "That's what she said. Ha-ha, sleepyheads!"

Victoria, Plato and Rumpelteazer erupted into giggles as Tatiana looked embarrassed and Mungojerrie looked bewildered.

"I can't help it," Tatiana protested in a mutter.

"'Ey, it's jes' a joke," Rumpelteazer told her with a roll of her eyes.

"Oh."

"Well, it's getting late," Victoria commented, looking up at the sun. "I guess I should get home."

"Allow me to escort you," Plato said gallantly, standing and offering his paw to the queen.

Victoria giggled and accepted his paw. After waving goodbye to the group, the two walked off, paw-in-paw.

"Those two seem rather friendly," Tatiana commented.

"Didn't Oi tell ya?" Rumpelteazer looked at her curiously.

"Tell me what?"

"They're moites."

"They are?" Tatiana was genuinely surprised.

"Yeah, 'ave bin since last year."

The three sat in silence for some time before Mungojerrie stood. "Well, Oi'm gonna go 'untin'." He raised his eyebrow inconspicuously at Tatiana, who gave the slightest of nods.

"Okoiy, boiye," Rumpelteazer said.

The moment Mungojerrie was out of sight, Rumpelteazer turned to Tatiana, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Is there somethin' goin' on between yoo 'n' moiy brother?"

"What? No!" Tatiana cried.

"Hmmm…" Rumpelteazer said, still suspicious. "Ya know, Oi wouldn't moind if there was. Oi'd be quoite pleased, actually." With that, she walked off, leaving behind a blushing Tatiana.

Mungojerrie was sitting on the rock in the forest where he and Tatiana had sat when they told each other their stories, dreaming of the striking queen.

"Hey, dreamer-tom."

Mungojerrie looked up to see Tatiana advancing. He smiled. "'Ey." He gestured to the fish spread out in front of him. "Join me?"

"Thankyou," Tatiana consented with a nod of her head.

Mungojerrie quickly counted the number of fish and gave Tatiana half. "Tuck in."

The two ate for a time in companionable silence. When they were finished, Mungojerrie sat back and smiled at Tatiana. He desperately wanted to talk to her, to tell her how he felt about her, but he was too nervous and hadn't a clue about what to say. Instead of attempting to start a conversation, Mungojerrie settled for looking (but trying not to stare) at the young queen before him.

When Tatiana finished her own meal, she glanced up at the stripy tom and returned his smile.

Cor, thought Mungojerrie, she is simply beautiful… "Tatiana…?"

Tatiana looked at him expectantly. When he didn't continue, Tatiana prompted him. "Yes?"

"Um…" Mungojerrie bit his lip, thinking fast. "Er, are ya okoiy now?"

Tatiana frowned. "I don't quite follow you…"

"Oi mean, after – ya know – after the scare."

"Oh!" Tatiana chuckled. "I'm fine. I should be asking you how you are." She gestured to his bandaged arm.

"Oi'm orlroight. The arm ain't too bad 'n' the scratches are healin'. The only problem is that Oi've bin wakin' up orll stiff."

"That will pass soon," Tatiana assured him.

"Oi sure 'ope so – it's gonna be 'ard to dance otherwoise."

Tatiana laughed, which was music to the tom's ears. "Speaking of dancing, I don't think you ever got to finish telling me about the Ball."

"So Oi didn't. Oi'll tell ya now, if ya loike."

Tatiana nodded. "Please."

"Okoiy, 'ere goes…"

"Aargh, what!?"

"Shhh, Jerrie, it's only me."

"Oh, Teazer, what are ya doin' 'ere?"

"Oi jes' came ta talk ta moiy favourite brother. Aren't Oi allowed ta do that?" Rumpelteazer pouted.

"Oi'm yer only brother," Mungojerrie observed dryly.

Rumpelteazer just shrugged.

"So, what did ya wanna talk 'bout?"

"Do Oi need a reason ta speak wif moiy only brother?"

"Whoiy else would ya come ta talk ta me?"

"Jerrie, 'onestly. Oi'm 'urt that ya would think that Oi would only speak ta ya if Oi 'ad a specific reason ta." Rumpelteazer folded her arms across her chest.

"Well…"

"As it is, Oi did wanna talk ta ya 'bout somethin'…"

Mungojerrie laughed. "Oi figured as much. What is it, Teaz?"

Rumpelteazer was silent for a moment, deliberating about what she was going to say. Noticing Mungojerrie looking at her curiously, she decided to just take the plunge. "Tatiana's noice, ain't she?"

"Ya only jes' figured that out? She's bin 'ere fer over a month, in case ya 'adn't noticed," Mungojerrie said sarcastically, crossing his own arms, "and ya only jes' figured out what ya thought of 'er?"

"Well, isn't she?"

"Yeah…"

"And pretty."

"Look, Teaz, what's this orll about?"

"Oi wish Oi was as pretty as 'er…" Rumpelteazer carried on, dreamily looking off into the distance.

"Teazer?" Mungojerrie clicked his claws in front of his sister's face.

"Hmmm…?"

"Whoiy are ya talkin' 'bout Tatiana?"

"No reason."

Mungojerrie looked at her doubtfully. "Oi thought ya soid ya wanted ta talk fer a reason? If Tatiana ain't the reason, then what is?"

Rumpelteazer sighed. "Okoiy, yer roight. She is the reason. Do ya loike 'er?"

"Do yoo?"

"Oi mean…do ya loike 'er?"

Mungojerrie merely raised his eyebrow. "What would moike ya think that?"

"No reason…" Rumpelteazer said hastily. "'Noight, Jerrie," she said, scampering away quickly.

"'Noight, Teazer."