Disclaimer: I do not own CATS.

Pouncival's first thought was that he had never seen a building quite that big before.

After all, he hadn't. The junkyard, whilst housing an entirely respectable tribe of cats, did happen to be on the outskirts of a slightly dingier part of London, and buildings weren't built for their height, or, indeed, for anything much other than to be used for housing or the occasional small business. And, of course, he had never really taken much notice of the area outside the junkyard, considering that he had never really had much need to leave it.

But, as he had found out on their way to this place, the abandoned building in which this tribe of cats lived had to be big. After all, their tribe was a good five times the size of the Jellicles, according to one particular tom acting as a spokesperson, and most of the various groups of cats that lived around the city didn't have the luxury of living in a place like the junkyard, or any outdoor space. They had to find buildings that could house the entirety of their tribe – many of whom did not even have humans with whom they could stay…

What else that tribe had to suffer through he didn't know, as Pouncival had stopped paying attention after a while, in favour of joining Tumblebrutus and Admetus in betting on how long it would take for Alonzo to lose his patience with the tom's incessant rambling.

Yet as they drew closer, something struck him about the place. Amid the endless – and very direct – lamenting about the situation of his tribe, the spokestom had made mention of the fact that they were a flourishing tribe, over one hundred and fifty strong, with lots of kittens. And Pouncival knew, from experience and his own actions, that kittens were noisy. Not just kittens – an entire tribe, an active tribe, was noisy in its own right.

And yet there was utter silence from within the building. He was no expert, but Pouncival could tell that it was far too quiet.

"It's awfully quiet," Tumblebrutus piped up at his side, echoing his sentiments. "It's strange."

Coricopat had a frown on his face, and there was some misgiving in his eyes as he looked over at Tumblebrutus. "I do not like the feel of this place," he said slowly. "There is something amiss here."

"'S'not usually this quiet," a cat from the resident tribe spoke out. "It's never quiet."

There were murmurs of assent all around, and many a cat turned an apprehensive eye towards the building. And as they gradually slowed and stopped, close to the building, a question began to run through the throng of cats:

"Do we go in, or not?"

Some were saying that Macavity's forces would surely be waiting within the building, holding the queens and kittens captive, whilst others were arguing that there was no sign of anyone being within their home, and that it would be wiser to look elsewhere. Which then, of course, led to scathing questions as to where they would be expected to look, and for how long, and did they really think that Macavity's forces could be stop by their comparatively small band of toms, all still unfamiliar to one another.

The ones who had suggested a peaceful surrender in return for possibly getting their loved ones back, and then only possibly alive, had been asked quite seriously if they would like to go and join Macavity's side of the fight.

Admetus had been watching and listening to this debate for long enough that he had stopped registering which side of the argument was winning, vaguely noticing snatches of the leader of another group and Alonzo growling at each other, and other strangers who had chosen not to partake in the decision making conversing with his friends. And then, his attention was drawn by what he recognised to be one of the Jellicles slipping away from the group.

Silently moving away from the others, he found himself walking towards Coricopat, who was leaning against the side of a nearby building with a strangely vacant expression on his face. As Admetus watched, the other cat tensed up, before blinking very hard, and, much to Admetus' surprise, swearing very forcefully.

He had never heard Coricopat swear before. Admittedly, he had never heard him say very much before at any rate, but swearing – he hadn't thought that either of the mystic twins were inclined towards such vulgar action. Apparently, though, Coricopat was.

"Is everything oaky?" he asked tentatively. Coricopat whipped his head round and looked very much like he was about to launch into an attack, when something calmed in his eyes, and he slumped against the wall again.

"I really, really hate the subjective future."

That threw Admetus off.

"Sorry – what?"

"I hate the bloody subjective future. It's messing with my head."

"Sorry, the – what?"

Coricopat sighed. "The subjective future. I'm seeing what could happen if certain decisions are made… or not. And it's bloody pissing me off, because I can't control what things I see. I just… see them. And it's not that pleasant."

"The – wait a minute. I thought you once told me quite explicitly that you and Tantomile couldn't see the future," Admetus said, confused. "You got really snippy with me and I think that was the first time I ever thought that you actually had emotions."

"Really? Oh," Coricopat said vaguely. "When was that? Because if it was more than two years ago, you'd be correct. Things have… things have changed."

"Changed?"

"Remember when I vanished – you know, after I lost my mind and the thing with Tantomile and that?"

"Um…"

"When I came back to myself, I found that I was getting glimpses of – why do you look so uncomfortable?"

"No reason. So… what are you seeing?" Admetus asked, trying to steer the conversation away from unwanted topics. Coricopat seemed to sense this, but, much to his relief, didn't comment. His face took on a focus which was comforting, in a way. Reminiscent of how Coricopat had been constantly, a long time ago. And his feelings were only strengthened by the mystic's answer to his query.

"Something which I think will make up their minds about what we need to do."

"Where'd you two get off to?" Tumblebrutus demanded as Coricopat and Admetus slipped back into the throng of toms, many of whom were still muttering and shooting glares at each other, but they had at least stopped openly arguing loudly, Coricopat noted.

"You missed all the fun," Pouncival added nonchalantly. "Lonz was getting all worked up by the brown one over there, and then one of them said something, I don't know what, and it took me and Plato to hold Alonzo back. Quite entertaining, really. I haven't seen him lose his temper in ages."

"Plato and I," Coricopat corrected absentmindedly, eyes searching the cats gathered before him. "Where is Alonzo? I need to talk to him."

"He's over that way," Tumblebrutus said, jerking his head as he spoke. "We thought it would be – hey!"

Coricopat paid him no heed, however, as he had already begun to make his way over to Alonzo, who was shooting glares at the aforementioned brown cat that had apparently been disagreeing with him, and Coricopat almost felt a stab of pity for the unfortunate. He himself had been on the receiving end of Alonzo's lack of patience and quick temper before, and whilst he could barely recall it, having been mostly lost inside his own mind at the time, he had felt the anger radiating off the other cat quite strongly. And if this was a cat that Alonzo did not know, and therefore had no cause to maintain a good relationship with…

"Bloody little prick, thinks he can just turn up and… ngaah…"

"Lonz, I need everyone's attention. Now."

"Wh – Cori! Where'd you get off to?"

"Nowhere. I need to talk to them. All of them. Now."

"Cori, is something –"

"Look, can you just get their attention or something?"

Alonzo looked at him sceptically. I know he still holds things against me, but surely he can listen to reason…

"Trust me. It's important, Alonzo. I know what I'm doing." There was a tense silence.

"Okay," Alonzo said finally. He turned to face the crowd of toms in front of him, and took in a deep breath.

"OI! LISTEN UP, YOU LOT!"

Coricopat had to admit, that while he personally had no love of loud noises or dealing with crowds in general, yet wouldn't have the faintest clue on how to make them shut up, Alonzo had used his considerable (and much louder than usual) voice to great effect on this one. They were silent now, and even if they were radiating apprehension in waves – not the most pleasant of emotions to be picking up, but regardless – silence was his territory.

"We should not go into the building."

And then the silence was gone. They cannot keep quiet? Everlasting Cat…

"We – hold on just a minute there," a cat interrupted. Coricopat recognised him as the one Alonzo had been shooting daggers at just moments ago. "Who are you to say what we are and aren't to do?"

"I happen to know that Macavity and his forces are planning an ambush, and if we leave within the next ten minutes, perhaps, we should have the upper hand," Coricopat said nonchalantly. This, as he had expected, triggered more noise from the edgy crowd. Just great.

"And how would you know that?" The same cat. What is his problem? "What are you anyways? Spy for –"

"Coricopat has my full and complete trust."

He turned to see Alonzo standing behind him, eyes fixed on the brown tom. "I sent him off to scout ahead while the rest of you lot were bickering amongst yourselves. He's not often wrong, and I would suggest you listen to him."

Thank you. Good cover up.

No worries. Where did you get off to, anyway?

Places.

"Oh. So, we're goin' on the word of a good for nothing little runt from the streets. How're we supposed to know that you're not a –"

"Ranian, drop it, just drop it," Alonzo snarled. Coricopat frowned.

Admetus?

Whoa! Who's there – what the –

It's me. Coricopat.

Oh. Hey.

Who is that cat – Ranian? Does Alonzo know him?

Coricopat could see Admetus' face darken. Yeah, Lonz knows him. So do I, actually. He used to be part of the Jellicles.

Used to be?

Long story – I'll tell you more when we're out of this mess, but he left with a whole crowd who supported my father's views on things.

Things?

…Alonzo.

Al –

I'll tell you later.

With a barely perceptible nod, Coricopat turned his attention back to the task at hand. Regardless of how annoying the strange cats were, or the grievances his comrades had with them, he wasn't prepared to have blood on his paws from a preventable attack if he could help it. Bickering could wait.

It was time to give Macavity some hell to pay.

"Pouncival, get down!"

Pouncival had barely taken in his brother's words when Admetus came rushing forwards, shoving him to the ground. His intentions became clear when, not two seconds later, the dust that had been raining down was joined a fair portion of the ceiling and floor above their heads. The air became a haze of white plaster and dustmotes, and all Pouncival found he could do was keep his head down and try to filter the air he was breathing.

It took several minutes before he felt confident that the ceiling had stopped falling into the room, and dared to raise his head.

"Metus! Metus!" he called, shaking his brother. Admetus' eyes flickered open, and Pouncival breathed a faint sigh of relief. "You alright?"

"I think so," Admetus replied. A quick once-over showed Pouncival that although his older brother was covered in dust, and looked a little dazed, he appeared to have taken no injury from the cave in. He extended his paw and Admetus took it, coughing as he was pulled to his feet. As soon as he was up, however, he took a quick look around, and then ran out of the room.

"What – Metus, where are you going?" Pouncival called, racing after the older cat.

"Out of here!" Admetus called back. "This place is bloody unstable – and besides, Lonz'll be expecting us, though I reckon things'll have started already!"

"Wait!" Pouncival yelled, turning a corner. "What about Misto and Vivo – they're still in the building!"

Admetus, though up ahead, stopped running and turned back to face his younger brother, looking exasperated.

"Find them, and let's get out of here!" And with that, Admetus turned around, and was soon out of sight. Pouncival stared after him for a moment before Admetus' words kicked in, and then he began to follow him, desperately hoping that Mistoffelees would answer him.

Misto. Misto, are you there?

Pouncival?

Hi. Is Vivo with you?

He's close by – why?

Metus says that we need to get out – we nearly got caught by a roof falling in on us.

Heaviside! Are you al –

We're fine, but Admetus says that we need to get out of here.

Kay. Misto sounded kind of panicky, he realised. Where should we meet you?

Out the front, I suppose. And keep calm, okay?

Right. But – where are we going?

Pouncival sighed. If only they didn't – but they did. Of course they had to. Scouting the building was fruitless, now that it was falling to pieces on them. And the rest of their tribe was already there…

We're going to the fighting.

"Pounce!"

He turned, and, dragging his claws through another cat (one of Macavity's, and good riddance too, he thought), he smiled, slipping into the tiniest of side paths where a very familiar tom was already waiting.

"TT, there you are!"

"Thank Everlast you're here," Tumblebrutus said as they embraced.

"We need to get back," Pouncival murmured into his brother.

"In a minute. We'll go back, just…" Tumblebrutus breathed a sigh. "I'm so glad you're still here."

"Pouncival, Pouncival, wake up!"

Tumblebrutus smiling, laughing, even as they were surrounded by death and destruction…

"You're having a nightmare, please wake up!"

Those last, desperate words… a plea for death… life fading even as he watched, from that one whom he had come to know as well as he did himself…

"Pouncival!"

But now there was something else, light and delicate, and tugging him away from that place of despair, and into somewhere lighter but everything was shaking and someone was calling his name and you couldn't resist that voice

And he was crying as he woke, and Jemima was there, holding him close and crying with him, and there was nothing.

There was nothing in his heart in the place Tumblebrutus had always occupied, and though he knew not why, he cried for it, and its loss, and for that it would never return.

He didn't go back to sleep that night. There were too many nightmares awaiting him, and too many of them were happy.

And all of them were memories.

Author's note

And here is your helping of angst for the day!

I'm really sorry about the late update – this chapter was giving me grief, and… I think I have a problem with second chapters. My sister advised skipping it, but somehow I didn't think that would be the best idea.

Anyway, hopefully you can sort of get that I'm skipping backwards and forwards in time – and the next chapter is mostly going to be in the aftermath, back in the junkyard, so you'll get to see a bit of what's happening there.

Cocobutterrox, Slytherin1595, and rovalo – thank you so much for your lovely reviews for the last chapter.

Until next time, ladies and gents.

~JV