A/N: Here be chapter 6 for your reading pleasure. There are OC's in this, sort of. I would explain more but I'd rather you just read it. This one is kinda transitional, and it's split three ways. However, I have just finished writing chapter 11, so there should be more on the way soon. As always, I like feedback.

Chapter 6 - The First Step To Recovery

I woke up, not sure where I was. I soon wished I hadn't, as the pain from numerous cuts, bruises and a couple of broken ribs came back to me. Damn dogs. I opened my eyes, and looked around. I was in what might have been a car. Everything was fuzzy, I couldn't focus my eyes. A gold and black blur came into view.

"He's awake, Jenny!" the shout cut through my head, doubling my headache.

"Tugger?" My voice sounded weak, I cringed. It hadn't been that bad, surely.

"You'll be okay, just take your time." Yes, it was Tugger.

"What happened? The… the dogs?" I asked.

"We got rid of them. Take it easy." He replied. I shook my head a little, as my vision started to clear.

"I'm fine. Is everyone else okay?" I asked, forcing myself to sit up, despite the pain it caused me.

"Yeah, they're fine. The queens and kittens got away safe, there's a couple of minor injuries, Plato's got a broken leg but he'll be fine and I've got a new scar that Etcy says makes me look tough." Tugger replied, smirking. I laughed, but quickly stopped because of the agony it caused me. Still, it was good to see Tugger getting back to his old self.

"That's good." I replied.

"You're an idiot." He said suddenly, looking at me in a strange way. I couldn't read his expression.

"What?" I replied.

"You almost got yourself killed, what the hell were you thinking attacking first like that?" he said. I shook my head again, confused.

"They were going to attack us. I was defending the tribe, it's my job." I replied. All he did was sigh, I knew he wasn't satisfied with that answer, but what else could I give him?

"Okay. Get some rest Alonzo. I'm going to see Munkus," he said. I looked up, but couldn't think of what to say. I could see in his eyes, this leadership thing was hard on him. He was scared, doubting himself. I'm not surprised, Tugger always said he was never cut out to be a leader. He was doing a better job than he thought, but there was no point telling him that. He wouldn't believe me anyway. I watched him leave the car, wondering what was going to happen to us all. At that moment Jennyanydots came over with some catnip, nature's painkiller, and the best way to forget your troubles if you ask me. So that's what I did.

I made my way to Munkustrap's den. I don't know quite why I was doing it, but I couldn't help it. I felt like I'd lost everything. I needed him, and he wasn't here to help me and it was all Macavity's fault. Mother should have wrung his neck at birth. Then we wouldn't be in this mess, and Munkustrap would be Leader and I could go back to being the tribe stud.

I entered the den, carrying some food for him. He did eat, like Alonzo assured me he would. He didn't eat much though, and I was getting worried. He was so thin, he was skeletal, a shadow of his former self. I couldn't help wondering how long he had left. If we couldn't snap him out of this, he probably didn't have long.

I'd taken to visiting him several times a day. I took over Alonzo's job of bringing him food. I'd sit there, and talk to him. He never answered, and I don't think he could hear me. I couldn't help it though; it depressed me more and more every time, to see him like this. I had to though, I wanted so much to get through to him, to help him. I didn't know what else to do. If Mistoffelees was here, maybe he could help.

We hadn't come any closer to finding out what happened to him. As far as we know he just vanished into thin air. Maybe he did.

I talked to Munkustrap, told him about the tribe, everything that was going on. I told him that Demeter was doing fine; Jemima was growing up into a beautiful young queen. Everything and anything I could think of, I told him. I just wished he could hear me. I told him all about Macavity's death, the Pollicle attack. I thought that might jolt him back to his senses. Everything I tried failed. I was about ready to give up on him.

I told him I missed him, the tribe missed him. I told him that I needed him. I sounded like a sap, and I'll never admit to anyone that I said all those things. I told him I loved him, he's my brother, I couldn't leave him like this. I nearly fainted when he looked at me. I saw his ear twitch in my direction, and he looked at me. I couldn't tell if he was seeing me, his eyes were still blank, dead, but he turned to face me.

He slowly turned away again, back to staring at nothing. I was too shocked to say anything else for a moment, but I kept trying. I mentioned Demeter, Jemima, everyone he had been close to. Nothing. He didn't move again. I left him at that point; it hurt to walk away from him. I felt a little more hopeful though, he'd responded. That had to be a good sign. Maybe he would be okay after all. Maybe there was hope for the Jellicle tribe.

Mistoffelees woke up with a thumping headache. He lay where he was, his eyes closed. He could feel pain in several places. The memories of the attack washed over him, which explained the injuries. He registered a number of scents, none of which were familiar to him. He opened his eyes and looked around. He was warm, and reasonably comfortable. He was in a house of some sort.

He gasped and sat up. He was being watched. He was in a big room that was warm and had a faint smell of food. There was a large black range which was warming the place, and large copper pans. A kitchen? He looked around at who was watching him, or maybe what was watching him. There was a strange group of animals in this room, all of them watching him intently. It was disconcerting, especially the snake with its unblinking stare. There was also a rabbit, a deer, a pig and to Mistoffelees' horror what looked like a dog but bigger and much more vicious.

"Who are you?" he said, immediately getting to his feet. His fur was on end to make his smallish frame look bigger, and he shrank back in fear.

"Relaxssss," the snake hissed, "We won't harm you."

"Where am I?" Mistoffelees asked, not entirely reassured by the snakes words.

"Safe." The pig said. Mistoffelees was still very uneasy. That wasn't much of an answer.

"What happened then? Last thing I remember I was being attacked, by cats. How did I get here?" the tux persisted. He didn't trust these animals, not one bit. Especially that dog, no. That was a wolf, he realized. That just made it worse.

"We found you, or that is Freki did. He brought you here." The rabbit said, indicating the wolf.

Mistoffelees stared open mouthed at the rabbit, who laughed at his shocked expression.

"You didn't think he'd eat you or something, did you?" the rabbit said, still laughing. Mistoffelees shook his head.

"Of course not, it's just I've never been helped by a… a canine before." He stuttered.

"He hasn't eaten me, so you'll be fine." The rabbit said, still laughing. "I'm Diazi by the way. That's Situla," she said, pointing at the snake. "Scrofa is the pig, and that's Cerva behind me." She continued, pointing out each animal in turn as she introduced them.

The tuxedoed tom was still intimidated. He considered giving them a false name but cats were very proud of their names and he felt it would be dishonourable to use another name. He didn't see what good it would do him to lie anyway.

"I'm … I'm Mistoffelees."