Part 6
"Are you insane", Asparagus yelled when Alonzo had told them about his plan. "That will never work! Whoa you've been away from Old D too long you're starting to think like a kitten!"
Alonzo only crossed his arms over his chest, tilted his head to the side, cocked an eyebrow and grinned.
"There must be something else we can do", Asparagus went on. "Something not as half crazy!" he looked at Alonzo's grin. "You are serious... aren't you?"
"Asp you asked for our help and you will get it", Alonzo said and put his paws on his friend's shoulders. "But to gain it you must do as I say. I have no doubt this will work."
"I only have one question", Coricopat asked. "Why Admetus and not me?"
Tantomile and Exotica grinned and nuzzled his shoulders teasingly.
"Because Ori", Tantomile said and pulled his tail to her cheek and nuzzled it. "Macavity knows Alonzo never fight without you around to warn him from traps."
"He also knows that Alonzo always leaves a guard behind to keep our home ours", Exotica said and scratched his chin.
"Alonzo", Coricopat complained and pushed the queens away from him. "Do something about your queen and my sister."
"What can I do", Alonzo grinned. "I could order them but then they'd torment me instead of you."
"What I good friend you are", Coricopat huffed and crossed his arms and tried to ignore the queens at his side. Exotica was at his left and was using her left paw to scratch him behind his left ear and she used the other to caress the fur on his arm. Tantomile was on his other side nuzzling his neck and caressing his back.
"Knock it off", Coricopat yelled and shoved them away and hid behind Admetus. "Ad help me out."
The taller tom was laughing hysterically and the queen grinned and made a high five.
"Does this always happen", Asparagus asked Alonzo.
"Oh yes. Since Ori is the only one of us grown toms who doesn't have a mate Exy and Mil decided he needs some queen attention now and then. It's fun for them but it annoys him."
"Back to real life", Coricopat said using Admetus as a shield from the queens. "Are we doing this or not?"
"Yes we are", Alonzo grinned. "Ladies leave the poor guy alone... why don't you act sweetly towards the hyenas over there", he nodded towards the two kittens and they'd sobered up.
"Sorry Ori", the queens said to him and he hissed at them.
"Now, now Ori", Admetus said. "It's just some harmless fun."
"Shut up Ad", Ori grumbled.
The Strays and Asparagus was ready to set their plan in motion.
"Oh wait", Alonzo said. "We need a guard."
"Who'll stay behind", Asparagus asked.
"I'll need all my troops... Wait while I'll just honk a horn."
"What", Asparagus looked at him bewildered.
"Whatever you do Asp", Quaxo said. "Don't hiss, bare your teeth, claws, jump or scream."
"Why would I-"
He was interrupted when Alonzo honked a car horn and he rubbed his ears.
"Now that hurt", he complained.
"Don't be such a Tugger", Exotica said.
A dark growl was heard from behind Asparagus and he turned around slowly only to come face to face with a Great Dan.
"Oi'll roip ya foilthy lil' 'ead off cot!"
"Colossus no, no", Alonzo yelled and hurried over. "He's a friend... He's a friend."
"Oh", the Great Dan grinned. "Bu' in tha' case. 'ello Oi'm Colossus."
Asparagus stared at him and then fainted.
"Aw poor thing", Tantomile said as she and Exotica went over to help him come back.
"Oi didn' mean anyffing bad Allie", Colossus said and hung his head. "Oi thought 'e was a bad cot."
"It's okay Colossus", Alonzo assured him. "He was just scared that's all. Now can you do us a favor?"
"Whot?"
"Can you guard the yard for a few hours?"
"S'pose Oi coul' bu' why?"
"Macavity", Alonzo growled and so did Colossus. "He's kidnapped my sister Demeter and we're going to save her."
"Ya can coun' on me Allie. Go an' save ye sistah."
"Thanks Colossus."
"Oh what happened", Asparagus groaned and sat up.
"You fainted", Exotica said softly. "You got a bit scared by our body guard."
Asparagus looked at the Great Dan and gulped.
"No, no", Colossus grinned. "No nee' to do tha' cot. Oi'm a noice dog. jus' thought ya was one of 'em Macavtiy's cots."
"I-it's okay", Asparagus stuttered.
"Okay", Alonzo said. "Now let's go."
Some hours later at the yard Asparagus entered and looked around. He saw the entire tribe looking sad and worried.
"Asparagus", Plato yelled and everyone looked at him.
"Asp", Munkustrap hurried over. "Please tell me you've found something... anything."
"I didn't find her Munk..." the new protector's head dropped. "But I've found someone who can help us."
Everyone hurried over, even Tugger.
"Who", Hugo asked.
"They wish to be anonymous for now."
"What", Munkustrap yelled. "If we don't know them how can we trust them?!"
"We trust Asparagus", Safir said to him. "We trust him and he trusts them. That's what we need. Okay Asp. It's your show what do you want us to do?"
Asparagus grinned and thought:
"No, it's Alonzo's show."
Demeter was aching all over and she was terrified. Macavity had raped her and abused her physically and mentally. He'd told her that yesterday he slit the throat of all the Strays and next time it would be the Jellicles. Macavity didn't know Alonzo and the others were once Jellicles and hearing about their death made Demeter cry really hard. Outside the room stood Macavity listening to her sobs and grinned.
"Ah sweet music", he said and chuckled. "I love hearing queens cry."
"Macavity", a voice yelled and he saw one of his henchcats came towards him.
"What is it now", Macavity yelled.
"T-the t-t-the the Jellicles sir."
"What about them?"
"They are attacking our-your, your other lairs."
"What?! How did they found them?"
"O-one o-of t-the t-t-the t-"
"Out with it!" Macavity yelled and the henchcat shrieked in terror.
"One of the Jellicles is with the Strays. The Strays have moved into our territory near the main lair. They're planning to take it over."
"They what?!" Macavity turned even redder in fury. "What are you standing here for?! Get out there and fight the Jellicles and get some of the other boneheads to help me get rid of those annoying Strays!"
"Y-y-y-"
"NOW!"
"Yes sir!" The cat ran as fast as his paws could carry him.
"Alonzo", Macavity growled and slammed his paw at the door.
"Good", Admetus mumbled as he saw Macavity and most of his henchcats leave the lair. It hadn't been easy for Coricopat to locate the Jellicle queen. But with help from the kittens and Tantomile it had worked. Admetus ducked behind the crate as the Hidden paw and his goons ran by him.
"Well", he said and crept out his hiding place and ran over to the lair. "It's show time."
The Jellicles had divided into two groups. One with Safir, Munk, Bombalurina and Skimble was attacking one of Macavity's small lairs. There was just a few henchcats guarding it. While the other group with Hugo, Mungojerrie, Tugger and Cassandra were facing the same odds at another lair. The Strays with Asparagus' help was fighting at the main lair.
"How did you know about all these lairs Lonz", Asparagus asked after getting rid of a henchcats.
"A little bird whispered in my ear Asp", Alonzo answered and grinned.
"I don't want to know."
"Good because I won't tell you."
Suddenly a loud crash was heard and they turned to see ten henchcats with Macavity in front of them glare down at them from a rooftop. The Strays hissed.
"You've grown brave Alonzo", Macavity said and jumped down with his henchcats. Alonzo bared his teeth and hissed. "Or have you just gone stupid. Oh look a new recruit."
Asparagus nearly flew at the ginger tom. He would have hadn't Coricopat grabbed him. The Stray was much stronger than him, it came with fighting and hunting every day and wrestle with Colossus. It was the toms' favorite thing to do on their free time.
"Where is Demeter", Alonzo hissed.
"The Jellicle?" Macavity asked. He was confused but didn't show it. "She's around. Why do you ask? She isn't a part of your tribe."
"No but you know what they say: my enemy's enemies are my friends."
"So that's what this is Alonzo? A rescue mission... why and here I thought you'd grown some backbones and was going to widen your territory."
Alonzo smiled cockily. "I'll save that for another day."
"Oh? Well then... Attack!"
With that he flew at the patched tom and his henchcats flew at the others. Quaxo and Misto weren't using their magic in fights these days like they had before. Alonzo had forbidden them to use magic in fights if it wasn't their only chance to escape or getting killed. He didn't see magic in a fight as honorable. When they were younger it was okay. But now they were cooperating fighting like normal cats. They took on three henchcats at the same time, keeping an eye out for the other. One henchcat ran at Misto, he crept between its legs and kicked him in the back from behind. Quaxo was wrestling with another and managed to pin him to the ground and starting to beat on him.
"Help", the henchcat yelled and was knocked out by Quaxo.
Exotica used her agility to fight the idiotic henchcats attacking her. Tantomile and Coricopat was moving in perfect sync doing and Asparagus fought like any tom would do.
While all this was going on, Admetus had walked up to the door of the lair and knocked it. He hurried and hid behind a trashcan standing beside it.
"Yeah", came a groggy voice.
"Aw splendid a drunken henchcat." He thought and grinned.
"Where are ya", the henchcat said and came outside on wobbly legs. "I'm with Macavity... Macvat... Macety... I'm with the Hidden Paw."
Admetus snuck up behind him and patted him on the shoulder. The henchcat turned around.
"Hello", Admetus grinned and knocked him out with one mighty blow to his head. The cat tumbled to the ground and Admetus dusted off his hands. "That was easy."
"Wrong", a voice said behind him and he turned to see two more henchcats. "It just got hard."
Admetus rolled his eyes and waited for the attack to come. When the first cat ran at him Admetus jumped up, put his paw on the guys head and lifted himself over him and landed on the ground with ease. While the henchcat went headfirst into the ground. The other one ran at him and Admetus stepped out of the way from his swiping claws.
"Stand still Admetus!"
"Why would I", Admetus had his paws on his back and when next blow came, he ducked and spun around with his right leg out and knocked the other cat off of his feet.
"You don't fight like you use to", he yelled when he rose.
"I learnt some new tricks." With that he kicked the cat in the chin and he tumbled to the ground unconscious. Admetus shrugged and hurried inside. Two seconds later another henchcat came out, thrown by him.
"You're not fighting like you use to", Macavity said when he caught Alonzo's shoulder with a swipe of his claws. "Usually you're faster."
Alonzo staggered backwards holding a paw over his bleeding shoulder.
"We've been fighting a long and forceful battle", he said and jumped at Macavity.
But Macavity just pushed him aside and Alonzo fell to the ground.
"Now this is a disappointment Zo", he said and yawned. "You can't have gotten tired already!"
Alonzo growled and jumped at him again. Macavity caught him and threw him into some trash.
"Now I'm starting to wonder if you really are stupid Alonzo", he said. "You'd never jump at... me... like... that…"
He looked as they Stray leader rose to his feet. He twirled around.
"Get back to the fourth lair!" he yelled to his henchcats.
"But sir", one asked. He was holding on to a struggling Quaxo.
"It's an order! Get back now!"
The henchcats all ran well… those who weren't unconscious that is.
"You'll pay for this", Macavity hissed before he ran after them.
"You think he got enough time", Coricopat asked as he limped over with help from Exotica. He had an ugly gash on his left thigh and was going to have a black eye in the morning.
"I hope so", Alonzo said and looked around. "Let's go back to the yard to care for our injuries."
"Demeter", Admetus yelled at a henchcat. "Where is she?"
"I-in there", the cat stuttered and pointed at the door and Admetus knocked him out. He walked over to the door and opened it. When he did he saw the small black and gold queen cower away from him.
"No", she yelled in fear. "Please! No more! Leave me alone!"
"Demeter", he called softly and went over. "Sh calm down it's not him. You're safe now." His heart was torn when he saw what she looked like. "What did she do to you my pretty queen?"
He caressed her head fondly. She looked up into his green eyes. He smiled and picked her up with ease and left the lair.
Not too long after they left Macavity stormed into the cell. When he found nothing he hit the wall and roared:
"You'll pay for this Alonzo!"
"S-sir", a henchcat said. "W-we got word that it w-was t-that Stray Admetus who broke in."
Macavity glared at him. "Things are not as they seem bonehead! Get out of my sight!"
At the yard the Strays and Asparagus were waiting for Admetus to come back. When they saw him they started to cheer and the kittens danced around him.
"You did it", they sang.
"MQ", Admetus said. "Some space please?"
They hurried back to Coricopat who was lying on the ground. Admetus looked at the others and took in their injuries. Coricopat had a nasty gash on his thigh and bruises and cuts and by the looks of it he'd get a black eye in the morning. Tantomile was bruised and cut as was Exotica and the kittens. Asparagus looked a bit roughed up with some scratches. His gaze shifted to Alonzo who were filled with scratched, bruised and obviously some cracked ribs.
"Sorry", Admetus said and smiled softly.
"It's okay", Alonzo said. "I knew it might happen."
"Misto", Admetus said and turned to the small magician. "Send the signal out."
Misto grinned and looked at Asparagus and soon two illusions of him appeared.
"Everlasting cat", he exclaimed. "That's a neat trick."
"Yes it's very useful", Admetus said. "You two get going."
They ran out the yard.
In the meantime Safir's group was busy looking through the lair. But they didn't find any trace of Demeter. Suddenly he noticed a figure on the rooftop and looked up to see Asparagus. He nodded.
"Back to the yard", Safir yelled and his group took off.
In the exact same moment Hugo looked up from his fight when a shadow fell over him and he saw Asparagus look at them. Their friend nodded and took off.
"Tha signal", Hugo yelled. "Back to tha yar'!"
Demeter groaned and opened her eyes. She had to shut them and open them again a few time to adjust to the sunlight. She felt she was in someone's arms and looked up to see a grey tom looking down at her.
"Admetus", she asked confused and he grinned.
"Nice to see you awake", he answered. Demeter looked around and saw the other strays she'd known her whole life, two kittens and Asparagus.
"Thank you", she said and hugged him. "Thank you for saving me Admetus."
"Well actually", one of the kittens spoke. "It wasn't Ad who saved you. It was Alonzo."
Demeter looked around and her eyes fell on her brother. He was holding his arm around Tantomile and she was leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Thank you Alonzo", she said.
"You're welcome", Admetus grinned.
Demeter looked at him even more confused.
"Oh I forgot", the other kitten said and clapped his hands. Demeter gasped when the grey cat holding her changed to a white and black tom. She looked over just in time to see Alonzo's black and white fur change to grey.
"Hi lil' sis", Alonzo grinned down at her.
Mistofelees had used his magic to change the appearances of Alonzo and Admetus so they looked at each other. It was ingenious and Macavity had fallen for it… at first.
Demeter flung her arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder.
"Alonzo", she wailed. "Alonzo."
"Hey sh… pretty queen", he soothed. "It's okay. He can't hurt you anymore."
"I was so scared Alonzo", she sobbed into his fur. "He… he raped me."
Alonzo started, then growled and hugged her closer. The other cats growled and hissed too.
"Curse that son of a pollicle!" Admetus yelled.
A little while later when they'd cleaned her a bit and taken care of her wounds Alonzo rose and picked her up into his arms.
"Time to get you back little sister", he said.
"I can take her", Asparagus said and rose and winced.
"Yeah that's a good idea", Admetus said. "Zo do you want us to come?"
"No, stay here and rest", Alonzo said. "I'll tell you everything when I get back."
"Aw I wanted to see Tugger's face", Exotica pouted.
"We can", Misto grinned and ran off and returned with a mirror. He grinned at them and placed it between the six Strays on the ground. He mumbled some words and the mirror shimmered. "Show me the Jellicle junkyard."
They all gasped and Alonzo and Asparagus looked over their head and in shock Alonzo nearly dropped Demeter. They saw the yard where Jelly, Jenny, Cassandra and Rumpleteazer where playing with the kittens.
"Why didn't you do that before", Coricopat said. "I wouldn't have this headache!"
"Eh… oops", Misto grinned innocently.
Alonzo rolled his eyes and left the yard with Asparagus.
"Where is he", Munkustrap grumbled as he and the others waited for Asparagus to return to them. "I saw him run so he should be here now."
"Calm down", Safir said and put his arm around the young protector's shoulders. "They'll be here."
"Are you sure he got Demeter", Jenny asked.
"He nodded", Skimble said. "That's was the signal for yes they have her."
"Who are they anyway?" Cassandra asked.
"Who knows", Bombalurina said. "As long as it isn't a pollicle."
Tugger snorted.
"You got anything to say", Munkustrap asked him.
"No, no, no", Tugger said.
"Munkustrap!" a voice yelled and they saw Asparagus run up to them.
"Asp", Plato grinned.
"Asparagus", Munkustrap hurried over and grabbed his paw in greeting and looked around. "Where is she?"
"Oh he wanted to make the delivery."
"What", Munkustrap asked confused. "Who?"
"Me", a voice said and the Jellicles turned to the direction of the gate. They saw a white and black cat advance towards them with a sleeping Demeter in his arms.
"Everlasting cat", Skimble said and rose. "Alonzo!"
The Stray leader grinned. "Got it in one father."
"Alonzo", Plato grinned and hurried towards him but Munkustrap caught his shoulder.
"Wait", he ordered and then turned to the Stray standing before him. "What are you doing here Alonzo?"
The Stray grinned. "I'm helping my little sister home Munky. Is there a problem with that?"
"No…"
"A-are you Asparagus secret help", Bombalurina asked and inched closer to her brother.
"Yes. My tribe and I." He turned to Munkustrap and held Demeter over to him. "Don't worry she is only sleeping. We took care of her wounds but it won't hurt with another check up."
"Thanks", Munkustrap said and looked at the tom's face. It was the same eyes he remember and the same marking and even the same grin. But his heart ached when his gaze fell on the scar on his left cheek. Munkustrap moved back to the others and started to walk to his and Demeter's den.
"Well I take that as my queue", Alonzo said and bowed. "Good bye."
"Hold it", Jenny said and he stopped. She hurried over and looked at him. Then she hugged him. "Thank you Alonzo." Bombalurina and Skimbleshanks joined into the hug.
"You're welcome mum", he said when they let go. "If you go after my family you get me and my tribe on your case."
"Oh Jemima", Bombalurina called and the little kitten hurried over.
"Yeah aunty Lina", she asked.
"Alonzo", Bombalurina said. "This is Jemima, Munkustrap and Demeter's kitten. Jemima this is your uncle Alonzo."
"Nice to meet you", Alonzo grinned but then looked around at the other cats. "Well this has been a blast. See ya." And with that he darted out in the dark and was gone.
"What a hunk", Cassandra said and Bombalurina couldn't disagree with her on that.
TBC