Part 2
They'd gotten a few blocks when Admetus hurried up to Alonzo's side.
"Okay hotshot", he said. "We're out of sight."
"What", Quaxo asked confused and then saw Alonzo tremble. Admetus caught him before he fell. "Lonz!"
"Don't worry kittens", Exotica spoke in her calm voice. "Alonzo is just a bit tired. It took all his will power to stay upright after Munkustrap hit him."
"That was our fault", Misto said and sniffled. "We're sorry Alonzo."
"Hey", Alonzo pulled the kitten into a one arm hug. "It's okay Mist."
"No", Quaxo said and sniffled too. "You're all homeless because of us. You should leave us here and go back."
Alonzo shook his head with a fond smile on his lips. "Quaxo I told you and Mistofelees that I wouldn't abandon you. I'm not going back to that bunch of racist idiots."
"Neither are we", Coricopat spoke as they started walking again.
"That was the last straw", Tantomile said. "Killing kittens… It makes me want to be sick."
"Yes and we have all experienced it one way or another", Exotica said. It was true all the strays had been abandoned or left to die by their parents. Some of them had siblings who'd died when they were abandoned. "That's why we defended you. That and that you are Alonzo's kittens."
"Which makes you both part of our family", Admetus said and smiled at the kittens.
"Why did they want to kill us", Quaxo asked after a little while. "We've never done them anything."
"There are rumors Quaxo", Alonzo said darkly. "Rumors about magical cats. It's said that all magical cats are evil."
"But... We're not evil."
Exotica smiled and nuzzled the kitten.
"We know. Old stubborn head over there wouldn't trust you if you weren't."
"Hey I'm not stubborn", Alonzo said. Admetus was walking on his left side and Coricopat his right giving him some support.
"Oh no absolutely not", Tantomile teased. "A donkey isn't half as stubborn as you."
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
"Aw did she hurt your feelings Harlequin?" Admetus joined in the teasing.
"Harlequin", the kittens asked each other in a whisper.
"Are you still going on about that", Alonzo said and shook his head.
"It's fun."
"That human was five!"
"It's still funny", Coricopat said and chuckled.
"And your sense of humor stinks."
"I resent that", Coricopat grinned.
"I'm with the Siamese", Admetus grinned too.
"I bet you do dust bunny", Alonzo grinned and the other "teenager cats" laughed. A few weeks ago Admetus and Alonzo had been out looking for food when a five year old boy had yelled at his parents and pointed at them. He'd begged his parents to let him take them home. He also gave them names... Harlequin and Dust bunny. The two cats had hightailed it out of there.
Misto and Quaxo shook their heads at the older cats.
"Now back to real life", Exotica said. "Where are we staying from now on or are we going separate ways?"
They all stopped and looked at each other.
"No", Alonzo then stated firmly. "We've been together for most of our lives so we will stick together. Does anyone have a problem with that?"
The others shook their heads.
"Good then we're the newest tribe in town", Alonzo continued. "Now follow me... I know where we can stay."
Back at the yard Munkustrap was still staring at the spot where his best friend and the others strays had disappeared. Demeter had tried to gone after them but her mother had forbidden her to go. She'd said that this was something that Alonzo felt he had to do. But Munkustrap knew she was worried that the magical cats would harm her daughters. Suddenly he heard talking and his hope got back. Maybe it was Lonz and the others coming back.
"Don't worry Skimble", he heard Gus say and his heart sank. "We'll go out tomorrow again. The boy just can't have disappeared from the face of the earth."
"I hope you are right", Skimble sighed and the search party entered the yard. Munkustrap saw Cassandra's parents Timoteij and Edan, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer's parents Hugo and Polly, Plato's mother Crystal, Gus, Skimble, Bustopher Jones (who only came because he owed Skimble) and the pregnant Flinga and her mate Safir.
They all saw him stand there, pale and sad.
"Munkustrap", Gus asked as they hurried over. "What is wrong?"
"Yes lad", Skimble said. "You look as if you've sold the butter but lost the money."
"Well... that's one way putting it", Munkustrap mumbled.
Timoteij looked around. "Where is everybody Munk?"
"Yes", Polly said. "Oi can' even see moi Jerrie an' Teazah."
"And where are Exotica and her group", Edan asked and gave the silver tabby a stern look. He saw himself as Exotica's guardian.
"Well there is good news and bad news", Munkustrap said.
"There is no such thing", Crystal said with her calm voice. "It only exist news."
"Tell us the good ones first lad", Skimble said.
"Well", Munkustrap hesitated. "The good ones is Alonzo came back."
"Sploindid", Hugo exclaimed. "Where is 'e?"
"That's the bad news..."
"'e ain' 'urt is 'e?"
"No, no... Well he wasn't when he got here."
"Munkustrap", Skimble said sternly. "What happened?"
Munkustrap told them the whole story but stopped after telling them how Alonzo jumped in between himself and the kittens. He looked at the grownups who all were very pale and some even looking angry.
"I... My... I clawed him over his cheek and it left deep gashes..."
"Not your fault son", Bustopher Jones said. "You couldn't stop your claws."
"What happened next", Skimble asked darkly. "Where is my son?"
"Well we have an argument... a big on" Munkustrap looked at the ground ashamed. "It resulted in Alonzo taken his kittens and leave. But-"
"Finally", Bustopher Jones said and breathed a sigh of relief. "At last that nerve-racking stray is gone. I thought you said the news were bad."
With a growl Skimble launched at him but Edan and Hugo grabbed his arms.
"Let me at him", Skimble yelled.
"Skimble stop", Edan said. "Everlasting cat wait!"
"See that's where that stray gets it from", Bustopher huffed.
"Shut up", Polly growled. "Mun' where are the rest of 'em strays?"
"That's what I was about to say", Munk mumbled. "When Lonzo left... they... they all followed him."
Skimble stopped struggling and all the grownups stared at him in horror.
"Are you saying my girl is out there", Edan said aghast. "On her own!"
"She's probably with the other strays."
"Everlasting cat", Flinga exclaimed in horror. "Are the kittens out there by themselves?"
"Technically they are not kittens", Bustopher pointed out.
"Shut up", Safir hissed at him. "Leave now Bus go home!"
"Fine I will." The fat cat left the yard in a angry huff and the rest of the grownups turned to Munkustrap.
"Did they leave for a stroll or for good", Crystal asked.
"I think it was for good", Munkustrap said and felt hot tears burn in his eyes. "Excuse me." He ran into a deep part of the yard where he and Alonzo had their secret hideout and granted himself the luxury to be "weak" and cry.
The strays during all this, with Alonzo in the lead, had reached a yard filled with old cars and some pretty new that to the cats seemed broken. One looked more like a heap of scrap metal.
"Be quiet", Alonzo hissed.
"What is it", Quaxo asked.
"We're not alone."
Suddenly they heard a growl and from behind them came a Great Dane and he was growling and bearing his teeth. The kittens hid behind Alonzo who slowly moved forward.
"Lonz have you lost your mind", Admetus hissed.
"Just wait", Alonzo whispered and got close to the big, big dog. "Colossus?"
The dog's head jerked up and he stopped growling in confusion.
"Whoi I nevah", he said and bent down and sniffed at the black and white cat. "Alonzo! Moi goodness is it really you?"
"Yeah", Alonzo smiled and then found himself pinned down by a huge dog face. The Great Dan was using his nose to nuzzle the cat and licked him happily.
"Oi was afroid ya mothah got ya koilled", Colossus said. "Whot ya doin' 'ere?"
"It's true", Alonzo said as he rose from the ground. "Mum did try to kill me. But I was saved by my adoptive father Skimbleshanks."
"Ah the cot of tha roilway troin!"
"You know about him", Admetus asked in shock.
"Oi do. Oi meet 'im at tha stoition sometoimes."
"Long story short", Alonzo said and Colossus turned to him again. "We left the tribe we lived in because they wanted to kill these two kittens."
Colossus growled.
"Yeah that's how we reacted too", Exotica said.
"So we left and now I wonder", Alonzo said softly. "Can we stay here?"
"Are ya joiking? Of course ya can!" Colossus nearly yelled. "Goodness groisious Allie, dois was ya 'ome once. Ya tha car cot."
"Thanks", Alonzo beamed.
"Oi gotta ron Allie. But oif ya ever need me jus' honk a 'orn."
"Will do", Alonzo said and saluted the big dog as he left. He then turned to his friends who all were staring at him. "What?"
"You grow up here", Coricopat asked.
"No I was born here and lived my first months here. Colossus took care of me more than my mother did."
"So we got ourselves a new home", Tantomile said and jumped onto an old car. "Now all we need is a leader and a name."
"A leader for what", a voice said and they saw a big black tom walk towards them.
"To lead this tribe", Admetus said.
"This is a tribe", the cat laughed. "You must be joking."
Alonzo hissed at him. "We're not. Now leave our territory."
"Your territory? Well excuse me kid but this yard belongs to Macavity."
"Fat chance", Alonzo spat.
"If you want it you have to fight me."
Alonzo smiled. "Okay."
The black cat jumped at him and Alonzo rammed him, using his shoulder to hit him in the face. The black cat tumbled to the ground and Alonzo put his paws on his throat.
"Now this yard belongs to us. Do ya have a problem with that?"
"No, no", the black tom said. "You won... I'll leave. Man Mac will kill me."
As the cat left Alonzo found himself stared at again.
"What is it now?" he asked.
"Where did you learn to do that", Admetus yelled.
"Just now... One of my talents mates improvising. Now name and leader..."
"Well leader is obvious", Coricopat said.
"Oh?"
The tribe looked at the black and white soon-to-be-tom.
"Me?!" this yelled.
"Who else", Exotica said. "You led us here, took over the yard in a fight and you were kinda our leader back with the Jellicles."
"Yeah", Quaxo cheered. "Alonzo for leader!"
"Alonzo for leader", the others said.
Alonzo blushed. "Okay I'll do it."
"Now what are we going to call ourselves", Admetus asked and lied down to rest after the long walk. They had walked across town.
"Simple", Alonzo said and jumped up on the car next to Tantomile. "The Strays."
"But what if one of us gets a home", Exotica asked.
"If that happens", Alonzo said and lied down. "We'll change it."
"Yeah", Quaxo cheered. "Watch out world the Strays has arrived!"
TBC