CHAPTER 22: Clearing Things Up…Sort Of

"Excellent!" Victoria clapped her paws together in praise for Tatiana's nearly-perfect dance moves.

Tatiana glowed. "Really?"

Demeter nodded enthusiastically. "Definitely." She reached out and gave Tatiana a quick squeeze.

"Thanks."

"Impressive."

The three queens' heads swivelled to see Mistoffelees emerging from the shadows of the cave.

Tatiana couldn't fight the blush that coloured her cheeks beneath her fur. "Th-thanks, M-Misto," she managed to stutter.

Mistoffelees turned his attention to Victoria and Demeter. "I trust all of her moves look as fabulous as this?" he said, looking between the two.

"And some of them look even better," Demeter confirmed.

Mistoffelees smiled and bowed to Tatiana before offering a paw. "May I have this dance?" he inquired politely as music began to play.

Tatiana giggled. "Yes, you may," she replied, accepting his paw.

Mistoffelees immediately whirled her into a flowing waltz, which soon transformed into a contemporary dance reminiscent of those performed at the Jellicle Ball, matching the upbeat music.

When the dance finally turned back into a waltz, Mistoffelees grinned and said to Tatiana, "Ah, and great with improvisation, too, I see."

The music faded and Mistoffelees released Tatiana with a flourish, including a kiss on her paw. "Thankyou for the lovely dance."

"Thankyou," Tatiana replied, curtseying.

Victoria and Demeter erupted into cheers and applause, causing Tatiana to blush furiously.

"Mungojerrie is going to be pleased," Victoria commented, flashing Tatiana a cheeky grin and winking.

"I hope so," Tatiana confessed in a whisper.

A pair of hazel eyes peered through the bush and into the darkness.

That was, until a voice interrupted his observations.

"So the great Rum Tum Tugger has taken to spying, huh?"

Tugger jumped slightly and turned to glare at the intruder. "What do you want, Bombalurina?" he snapped.

"Just came to see what you're up to. Who are you spying on, anyway?" Bombalurina squinted through the opening in the bush.

"I am not spying," Tugger hissed through his teeth.

Bombalurina gave a dry chuckle. "Of course you are, darling. So who on?" She searched for the cat who had captured the tom's attention; however, when she realized who it was, she screwed up her nose and drew back slightly. "Oh, her. Figures."

"What do you mean, 'her'? Why did you say it like that? It's like…like she disgusts you or something." Tugger's voice rose in both pitch and volume with each word until he was almost screeching.

"Quite frankly, dear, she does."

Shocked, Tugger merely stood rooted to the spot and stared at her, his mouth hanging open.

"Well," Bombalurina said coolly, "it's not like she can exactly keep her paws or eyes to herself, is it?"

Tugger stood up and directed a glare in the queen's direction. "And just what exactly are you implying?"

Bombalurina shrugged indifferently. "All I'm saying is she's a bit of a…"

"What? A bit of a what? Come on, Bombalurina, spit it out."

Bombalurina chuckled slightly. "She's a bit of a slut, isn't she?"

Had Bombalurina been a tom, right at that moment, Tugger would have punched her. As it was, he was coming dangerously close. He stepped up and pressed his nose almost into hers. "Don't you ever – ever – say anything like that again. Ever. She's not like that and you know it."

Bombalurina smirked. "Ah, Tugger," she said, shaking her head sadly, "you'll learn. One day." And with that, she disappeared into the night, leaving behind a shaking Tugger.

"The nerve!" Tugger slammed his curled-up paw into a nearby tree, only to withdraw it quickly in pain.

The other felines must have heard his sharp cry, as a voice suddenly called through the darkness. "Are you alright? Who is that?"

Tugger turned around to see Demeter and Tatiana hurrying towards him. "Just me," he replied. "Tugger."

Tatiana stopped short. "Oh, not you."

Demeter looked at her curiously. "That's a strange reaction if ever I've seen one. I mean, it's not unlike mine, really, but…"

Tatiana rolled her eyes and stalked back to Victoria and Mistoffelees.

"Hey, Tatty, I just wanted to talk to you!" Tugger called desperately.

"No!" she tossed back over her shoulder.

Demeter stopped Tugger with paw. "Maybe you should talk with me first. I want to know what's going on. There's obviously something up between you two and I want to know what it is."

Tugger sighed, running his claws through his headfur and shooting Tatiana one last glance. "Fine."

"Now, tell me what this is all about," Demeter instructed briskly.

Tugger sighed. "Well, all that it is, really, is that I like her, but she doesn't like me."

Demeter eyed him. "And that's all it is?"

"That's all it is."

Demeter let out a sigh of her own. "It seems to me, Tugger, that there's something more than just that. Do you, perhaps, love her?"

Tugger looked shell-shocked. "No! Well, what I mean is…I don't think so," he hastily amended at Demeter's pointed look.

"Tugger…look, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you this…I mean, I don't want to, but given her reaction –"

"Ask me what?" Tugger cut short her ramblings impatiently.

Demeter took a deep breath. "Have you been…stalking her?"

"Uh, well…not exactly…you see, what I mean is…well, I have been, uh, watching her a bit lately…but I didn't think she…that is to say, I didn't know she…uh, she didn't seem to have noticed. I didn't mean to make her feel uncomfortable or anything…" He hung his head, ashamed of his actions.

"Oh, Tugger." Demeter shook her head sadly. "She already feels uncomfortable enough around you, or so Munkustrap tells me. Why did you have to go and start this? She's going to be mated, Tugger."

Tugger ran a paw through his headfur. "I know, I just…oh, I don't know!"

"Well, the only thing I can suggest is for you to go and apologize to her."

"But how can I?" Tugger cried. "She won't let me anywhere near her!"

"You know, I have to say, I can't really blame her."

"Well, thanks," Tugger said sarcastically, snorting.

"There are some queens to whom, shall we say, your ways? don't appeal. We can't help it."

"So you're saying I should be more like Munkustrap? Like, be romantic or something?" Tugger stared at his sister-in-law incredulously.

"I'm saying you should leave her alone. She's happy as she is, and that life doesn't include you. Let her be. She went through a lot as a kit, and she deserves to finally be happy. Mungojerrie will take good care of her. Okay? Just…keep your distance."

"I can't!" Tugger's face showed desperation. "I… Maybe you're right. Maybe I am in love with her."

Demeter sighed. "Oh, Tugger."

"What's the matter?" Mungojerrie asked as he watched his intended fidgeting nervously.

"He's watching me again," was Tatiana's annoyed reply. "He's been doing this every day this last week, and I'm starting to feel –"

"– loike a zoo animal? Oi know the feelin'."

"I haven't been able to concentrate properly on my dancing, either," Tatiana grumbled.

"Would ya prefer ta go somewhere else?"

"Oh, yes, please. Let's go to the forest."

"Okoiy." Mungojerrie smiled and stood up.

Tatiana followed suit and launched herself onto Mungojerrie for a quick but passionate kiss.

Mungojerrie's grin widened, but he looked surprised. "What was that fer? Not that Oi'm complainin'…"

Tatiana flicked an ear in Tugger's direction. "Just so he knows." After a moment, she added, "And just so you know." She winked.

Mungojerrie chuckled and grabbed her paw, pulling her gently in the direction of the forest.

"Are we being followed?" Tatiana asked in a hushed whisper as Mungojerrie twirled her around.

The tom quickly flicked his eyes over her spinning shoulder. "Oi'm not certain, but it looks loike a pair of oiyes over there."

Tatiana sighed. "Jerrie?"

"Yeah?"

"Kiss me, please."

"Gladly." Mungojerrie caught Tatiana around the waist and drew her into a long, passionate kiss.

What a good way of getting a point across, Tatiana mused silently.

"What do you mean, 'Tugger's into her'?!" Electra screeched.

"Precisely that," Victoria replied calmly. "He seems to have become very…interested…in her."

"You mean, she's got her claws into him. Just like with Jerrie and Tumble…" Electra's voice broke when she mentioned Tumblebrutus' name.

"I'm sure it's not like that," Victoria said, trying to sound soothing but fighting to keep the defensiveness out of her voice.

But Electra didn't hear her. "That dirty, cunning, no-good –"

Victoria quickly clamped a perfect, white paw over Electra's mouth. "Can it, Ellie. There is to be no more of that sort of talk about Tatiana. Understood?"

Electra glared at her sister sullenly.

"She's a lovely queen. She doesn't deserve this."

"Whatever," Electra grumbled under her breath, shoving Victoria's paw away.

That evening, there was a big announcement.

"As most of you have probably realized," Munkustrap began, "there are two weeks tomorrow until the Jellicle Ball."

There was a ripple amongst the crowd.

"Therefore," the second-in-command continued, "tomorrow, the rest of the Jellicle tribe will arrive in preparation."

This news caused great excitement.

"Oh, good," Mungojerrie said, turning to Tatiana, "that means you can meet Asparagus' sisters, Jellylorum and Jennyanydots."

Tatiana gave a tight smile. She hated meeting new felines.

"They're here!"

Tatiana looked up at the sudden kafuffle to see many of the junkyard part of the Jellicle Tribe crowded around something – exactly what or whom, Tatiana couldn't see.

After a few minutes, an unusually-patterned tabby – an older queen – stepped out from the midst of the crowd, followed by another queen of a similar age.

Tatiana gasped. "Mareeia!" she cried.

The second queen's head swivelled around, her eyes widening in shock when she saw who had called her name. "Bella?"

The two were soon embracing. "What are you doing here?" they asked simultaneously before laughing.

"I'm a Jellicle," Mareeia explained, "except here, they call me Jellylorum. And that's my sister, Jennyanydots," she said, pointing to the tabby standing nearby.

"You're Asparagus' sister?" Tatiana asked in a moment of realization.

"Oh, he's here already, then?"

Tatiana nodded.

"Well, what happened to you? I was worried sick when I found out you were missing," the older queen scolded lightly.

"Pollicle attack. Emily went one way, I went the other and I got lost." She shrugged. "I managed to find this tribe, and am now a Jellicle, soon to be mated to a wonderful tom by the name of Mungojerrie."

"Mated? Aw, that's wonderful, honey!" Jellylorum gave Tatiana another hug. "My little Bella is going to be mated." She beamed in a typically-motherly fashion. "And Jerrie is a fine young tom. You'll be perfect for each other."

"Thanks." Tatiana smiled up at Jellylorum.

"Tatiana?"

Tatiana turned to see Mungojerrie heading towards her. "Hey, Jerrie."

Mungojerrie was at his fiancé's side within moments. "Do ya two already know each other or somethin'?" he asked, curious as to why Tatiana was smiling so much after having apparently met someone new.

"Yes, Mareeia – sorry, Jellylorum – lives with the humans next door to mine."

"Really?" Mungojerrie asked, genuinely surprised. "Wow. That was…unexpected."

"It most certainly was," Tatiana and Jellylorum said in unison, flicking fond smiles to each other.