Chapter 2 - Changes

Me, the Jellicle Leader? No way, that was too much. I couldn't lead them, I'm the Rum Tum Tugger. I'm not responsible enough, smart enough. I didn't have a choice though. I looked up at Alonzo, standing before us all. He knew how I would feel about it, we used to be friends. He would still be my second, I didn't trust him anymore, but no-one else could do the job. I wasn't ready for this, but now I had to be. I swallowed hard and stepped forward. I only hesitated for a second, before stepping up to take my place beside Alonzo. He nodded, and respectfully stepped back.

I looked down at them all, the tribe, our tribe, my tribe. I was their leader now, and I was terrified. Macavity's death should have been a cause for celebration. I know that's a terrible thing to say about my own brother, but in his case, I could make an exception. He put us through hell, Munkustrap is all but lost to us, he might as well be dead. Munkustrap, my other brother, the noble, loyal silver tabby should have been our leader. Alonzo had managed to tell me that he wasn't dead; we'd assumed that Macavity had killed him. What happened to him was worse, and I knew we had to help him. The question was how.

I addressed the tribe, following protocol as I took over the Leadership. They seemed to be happy about it, I suppose even I was better than Macavity. I did go a little further, and I promised them that life would be better from now on. I was wrong, and I regret making that promise. After they left, I had to talk with Alonzo. I still hated him, he betrayed us and I wanted an explanation. I also wanted to discuss Munkustrap, and he was the only other tribe member that even knew he was still alive. The conversation we had that day, I will never forget.

"What happens now?" I asked the patched traitor.

"I don't know Tugger. Hopefully we can go back to some sort of normality now. Macavity is dead, we're free." He replied quietly.

"Even you? Why did you betray us Alonzo?" I had to ask, I couldn't hold back any longer. I needed to know. He looked at me, an agonised expression that cut right through me. I knew then that he had no choice in the matter, but I still wanted him to explain.

"I had to Tugger, I couldn't have done anything useful locked up like Munkustrap. I realised that if I did that, I might get the opportunity to help, to stop him. Of course I had no idea what I would have to do. Do you realise how much it hurt me, doing what I did? I know that you all hate me for it, but not as much as I hate myself. You should know that I had always planned a rebellion. I didn't get the chance, I couldn't do it alone. Looks like someone beat me to it though." He explained with his voice breaking as he fought to control his emotions. "You have to understand this Tugger, I didn't mean to hurt anyone, I had no choice."

I nodded, I heard what he was saying but still I couldn't forgive. Not yet.

"I see what you're saying Alonzo, but I cannot forgive you yet. I can't trust you, none of us can." I said, I had to be honest with him, he was honest with me.

"I understand, really I do. I don't deserve your forgiveness, perhaps I can earn it." He said humbly. I nodded.

"Munkustrap is a good place to start. We have to help him, he'll know what to do." I said. This time, Alonzo nodded.

"There is another thing that worries me Tugger. Who did this? Who murdered Macavity? They'd have to be pretty dangerous and we don't know if they're hostile or friendly to the Jellicles." he pointed out. That got me thinking, and panicking.

"We should find out who did this. I also think that perhaps we should begin looking for Mistoffelees as well." I replied. He agreed, and I could see the determination in his eyes. I was still scared though, and there was one thing we had to do before we could begin restoring the tribe to it's former self.

"Gather the tribe," I told him, the tribe now included the many henchcats, they'd become one large group and they would stick together. I was sure of that. "We have one more thing to do. I need two strong toms as well, to move him."

Alonzo nodded, and scampered off to follow my orders. That was the strangest thing, he was stronger than me, tougher, more commanding. I'd often thought he'd have made a better leader than me. It was an odd feeling to see him follow my orders without question. I waited outside Macavity's den, trying to prepare myself for what had to be done. A few minutes later, Plato and Admetus arrived. I nodded, and the three of us entered the den. They lifted Macavity's body in silence, carrying him out to the big tyre. I followed behind them. The two toms bowed their heads and took their place in the crowd of assembled cats. Alonzo stood beside me, and despite everything I felt a little comforted by his presence.

I looked at all the cats, my mouth was dry and I couldn't speak. I didn't know what to say to them. I glanced down at Macavity's body, he had been our leader, and he was my brother. He had made our lives hell, and the sight strengthened my resolve. I had to lead the tribe, I was determined. I swallowed hard, and looked up to address the tribe again.

"Macavity has passed to the Heaviside Layer. We can only hope that the Everlasting Cat can forgive him, and he can make a fresh start in the next life. From death comes a new beginning. We will make our lives better again, and we will find peace. We will not forget, but perhaps in time we can forgive. Now we can move on from these dark times, and rebuild our lives. There is a lesson to be learned in everything that happens, so that we can avoid making the same mistakes."

The words came out of my mouth, but I don't know where they came from. It sounded like something Dad would have said, and perhaps he did say it through me. It could even have been the Everlasting Cat himself. I don't know. Either way, the effect was profound, there was a palpable release of tension. It was over, we were free and things could only get better from here on out.

Oh how wrong we were.