Munkustrap woke to his father standing over him.
It was still daylight, and he startled awake, eyes wide – ready for danger. But it was only his father. His grave-faced, wise old father.
Munkustrap knew he would be leaving them that night.
His insides coiled tightly with fear at being left, but he rose to his feet and silently followed Old Deuteronomy from the den.
The sun was starting to set, and Old Deuteronomy took him through the junkyard without speaking and out into the woods.
"My son…"
"Father…"
"Please do not misinterpret my meaning, Munkustrap…" Old Deuteronomy said slowly, not turning to face him, "I do not leave because I do not care. I leave because I know that you are ready, and there may be other places I am needed right now."
Munkustrap tried to keep the bite out of his voice, "I don't understand how you think this situation has translated into us not needing you."
Old Deuteronomy wasn't angry. He finally turned to gaze at his young son, "I leave because I know you are ready," he said again, "And I would never leave if I thought you couldn't handle it. You have older cats to teach you stories, and to pass on wisdom…"
"I want your wisdom…" Munkustrap whispered.
Old Deuteronomy sighed, "The last time I left the tribe, you survived just fine…"
"The last time you left the tribe, I had four older siblings who would have taken over in a pinch… with years of training to back them up…" he said quietly, the familiar prickling of his eyes warning him he was about to have a breakdown.
"I know it hurts, Munkustrap…" he said quietly, "We are barely through this tragedy, and I regret not being around to guide you through…"
"What about the Jellicle Ball?" Munkustrap asked urgently, the panicky feeling settling in his gut.
"I will be back for the Ball. Of course I will be," he assured. "That's only a few short months away…"
The thought settled Munkustrap slightly. Only a few months, and Old Deuteronomy would be back.
"Are you… leaving now?" he asked quietly, his eyes big and pleading even if he wouldn't voice his concerns.
Old Deuteronomy nodded, "I have already spoken to the others. They are there to help you, Munkustrap. Remember that…"
Munkustrap pushed forward, burying himself into his father's fluffy coat, inhaling deeply. It was hard not to think of his mother in these moments. She had left him. Now Old Deuteronomy was leaving him. His gut wrenched with sorrow and he pressed his face into Old Deuteronomy's chest, choking back his sobs.
Old Deuteronomy held the tabby close, stroking down his back and trying to soothe him as best he could. Truthfully, he hated leaving. But he was needed elsewhere. The Jellicle Moon called, and he couldn't ignore it.
The moon was slowly starting to rise when Old Deuteronomy finally pulled the kitten from his coat. Munkustrap was red-eyed, tears leaving tracks down his face, but he smiled bravely for his father.
"Be safe…" he whispered, "Please come back for the Jellicle Ball…"
Old Deuteronomy nuzzled him affectionately, "Always, my son…"
Munkustrap tried not to burst into a fresh round of tears, grounding himself so he didn't run off after the cat.
"Be good," Old Deuteronomy smiled, headbutting him once more, before turning to start the journey to the train line.
Munkustrap ducked his head, gazing up every few moments to watch his departure, until finally the large grey cat disappeared into the trees.
Anxiety threatening to crush him, Munkustrap threw himself at the nearest tree, crawling up a branch until he found a horizontal perch for him to collapse on, sobbing into his paws.
It was maybe an hour or so later when Munkustrap finally lifted his head. He had found a stream to drink at, trying to collect himself, and had spent some time grooming himself to be presentable. He would be addressing his tribe as their leader today. The thought was daunting, and he dismissed it quickly. What a silly title for a kitten.
Staring at himself in the stream, it was clear he was absolutely still a kitten. He was still lanky and thin, his chest still tiny and his paws too big. He would grow soon, but he felt so young. Who was he to tell Cassandra or Jenny what to do? Why couldn't they have been chosen?
Deciding that he'd had enough feeling sorry for himself, Munkustrap sighed and made his way back to the junkyard. Even after a night, it was becoming easier to pick the junkyard scents beneath the overpowering earth.
All of the kittens, including Plato and Tugger, were awake now – being watched over by the adults. Jenny had even let Tumblebrutus come out, but the tiny kitten was mostly just lying on his stomach, watching the others play.
As he entered the junkyard, he caught Jenny's eye, and the queen gave him a sad smile. He leapt up to their high vantage point, unsure of what to say.
"You okay, lad?" Asparagus asked kindly, cocking his head.
Munkustrap gave him a weak smile but didn't answer, curling at Jenny's feet.
"No, no… I'll have none of that!" Jenny exclaimed, and Jellylorum looked ready to chastise him as well.
Munkustrap sat up in alarm, gazing at them curiously.
"Get up and go play with your friends," she said, a deep frown on her face, "Just because you're a leader in training, doesn't mean you have to grow up. Now shoo. We won't have you hanging around with us," Jenny gave him a smile at the end, shoving him with her hind leg.
Munkustrap gave her an exasperated look, "I can't, Jenny. I have to-"
"You have to grow up, Munkustrap…" Jellylorum cut in, "We aren't going to let you sit here and pretend you're an adult up when you clearly still have playing and learning to do…"
Munkustrap huffed softly, looking down longingly at his littermates – all of them chasing after a stray leaf that blew around the clearing.
"I'm supposed to be a leader…" he whispered, "Old Deuteronomy left me in charge…"
"Old Deuteronomy didn't leave you to become a grouchy old sourpuss with no friends," Jenny admonished him, "Now go. If you're worried about the junkyard, Asparagus is very good at keeping watch…"
Munkustrap glanced at the tom, who gave him a cheesy grin.
"Go. Play."
Munkustrap tried to stand his ground, but the queens pushed him back, until he lost his footing and slid down to the ground level.
"Quick everyone!" Jellylorum called, "Munkustrap is a mouse!"
A battle cry followed and Munkustrap almost shrieked as four rambunctious kittens leapt for attack, and he quickly leapt to his feet to escape. They tore around the clearing, sometimes ducking through pipes and over junk piles, and Munkustrap's heart felt light for the first time that day. He found himself laughing, out of breath with the adrenaline coursing through him.
"Get him Alonzo!" Bombalurina called as she and the two younger kittens fell back, and with only Alonzo in tow, Munkustrap decided to take their game to the next level.
He leapt up onto a higher level, certain that he and the other tom were way more careful than Tugger had been. He took him around the higher levels – leaping far distances to reach other piles, until he found himself at a dead end.
He whipped around to find Alonzo leap onto the same ledge, sniggering quietly.
"Ahh… at last, Growltiger…" the black and white tom sneered, playing one of their favourite games, "We have been on your tail for the past seventy years, and yet we catch you in such a simple trap. Do you have anything to say for your crimes…?"
Munkustrap sat on his haunches, a smug, confident grin on his face, "The Scotland Yard couldn't get me…what makes you think that you would ever be able to?"
"I am The Great Genghis!" Alonzo cried, ramping up onto his hind legs, making himself bigger than the tabby, "Nothing escapes me!"
Munkustrap let out a great laugh and dived, sliding through his legs. He spun onto his back as he slid, kicking the tom forward and laughing as he fell forward. Alonzo turned a sharp circle, hissing playfully, his back arching in disgust.
"Growltiger escapes another day…" Munkustrap smirked, flicking his tail arrogantly and leaping to the previous beam, "But will the Great Genghis retaliate?"
"I'm offended you think any alternative is an option…" he snarled, leaping from where he stood, arms outstretched to tackle the tabby.
Both kittens realised too late Alonzo's mistake. His leap fell short, and Alonzo's eyes went comically wide as he started to fall. His claws unsheathed, he managed to grab a hold of the beam with one paw, the other dangling as his back legs scrambled for purchase.
"Alonzo!" Munkustrap cried, leaping over the side to grab his arm, holding him secure.
Alonzo mewed quietly, glancing down. The fall wouldn't kill him – he'd land on his feet and be a little jarred, but the fall had scared him.
"Give me your other paw," Munkustrap ordered, anchoring himself on a tyre and leaning down over the ledge.
With a little effort, Munkustrap managed to swing Alonzo back onto the ledge, and the two of them rested for a moment, panting quietly.
"I guess Growltiger isn't so bad sometimes…" Alonzo said quietly, giving Munkustrap a weak smile.
Munkustrap laughed softly, nuzzling his best friend, "Maybe Genghis needs to just work on his jumping?"
Alonzo scoffed, pushing the tabby's face away, "Come on now… it was a pretty impressive leap. No run up or anything…"
"Boys! Still alive?"
Munkustrap and Alonzo giggled quietly, "Yes Jenny!"
"Asparagus is going hunting. Would either of you like to join him?"
Munkustrap glanced at Alonzo, who shrugged, and the two of them made their way back to the main clearing.
"Cassandra and Bombalurina have volunteered as well," Jenny advised when he saw the boys.
"I'll go!" Alonzo immediately sat, puffing up proudly, and Munkustrap raised an eyebrow at his friend.
"I'll stay and look after the kittens with you," Munkustrap said with a smile, and the two queens nodded happily.
"Bring us back good food," Munkustrap smiled, walking them to the entrance.
"Munk, Munk, does that mean we get to play?" the young Maine Coon asked, pouncing on Munkustrap's tail.
"Absolutely!" Munkustrap grinned, tackling the kitten and rolling into Plato, who growled back at them playfully.
The three of them tussled for a little while – it was mostly Munkustrap watching carefully as Tugger and Plato learnt to fight…but he was okay with that.
It was only an hour or so later when the hunters returned, with plenty of food for all of them to share. Their meals were still had in the clearing – it was a group affair, and they traded stories from the day.
Munkustrap sighed happily as he glanced around the circle at his little family.
Maybe being the leader wasn't going to be so bad…