That night the two cats slipped back to the junkyard. All Jellicles had to meet once a year, but most spent time at the junkyard when they could. There were some however, like Bustopher Jones, that were hardly ever seen other than at the Jellicle ball. The Junkyard was busier than usual, with all the cats chipping in to try and keep the residents safe. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer tended to float around a bit, putting an appearance in at home just often enough not to be kicked out. They had a den in the junkyard, located inside an old car that was rusting to bits. Mungojerrie had taken a place on the guard rota, patrolling the borders of the junkyard. The rain was pouring down, drenching his fur. A silver and black tom trotted out of the darkness, drawing close to the young watch cat. "You shouldn't be out here alone," Munkustrap remarked. "Tugger never showed up," the younger cat clarified. Munkustrap rolled his eyes. Tugger was his old unreliable self, hardly ever turning up to take his turn at guarding.
Munkustrap sat down by Mungojerrie, meaning to talk with the young cat. "I never got a chance to thank you," he began. Mungojerrie shrugged. "What for?" the young thief asked. "There were plenty of bigger cats –Admetus or Augustus – who ran for cover at the first sign of trouble. You could have gotten killed doing my job. With your history … it's amazing." Mungojerrie turned to the larger cat, a scowl on his face. "My history? I've made my share of mistakes Munkustrap, but I've made peace with my devils. I didn't ask questions, questions that should have been asked and that's on me. But the second I found out … what he was, what he was doing, I cut my ties with him." The young cat was glaring up at Munkustrap. "I know what happened between you two. I wouldn't forgive him either. But you forget that she's not the only cat he took." Munkustrap flinched at the memory of had had happened. He and Demeter, sweethearts since kittenhood, had only just mated when she was kidnapped by Macavity. He held her for several weeks, doing unspeakable things to her, until Munkustrap had led a strike team of cats to rescue her.
"I'm part of this family you've carved out, and I honoured," Mungojerrie continued, seeing he had hit a nerve. "All I can hope is that nearly getting myself killed might convince some of you that I'm not the cat you think I am." With that the young tom leapt down to the floor, yelping on impact. He was still hurting badly. Munkustrap turned away, heading back towards the middle of the junkyard. Demeter and Jemima were waiting for him. The kitten bounced towards her father as he approached. Her mother slinked over, nuzzling against her mate. "Is everything alright?" she asked. "I think I may have horribly misjudged our young friend," Munkustrap said. "Where are Electra and Sillabub?" he asked. "Jellyorum took the kittens off to play." "Is someone with them?" the tom demanded. "Alonzo and George and those twins of Jellyorum's went with them." Munkustrap nodded, reassured.
On the other side of the junk yard, the kittens were tumbling around. Two of the teenage toms, the twins Tumblebrutus and Bill Bailey, had graciously acquiesced to being used as living climbing frames by the others. Alonzo and George were reclining nearby, keeping a watchful eye out for trouble. The motherly Jellyorum tried to get the kittens organised, but the little fur balls refused to be tamed. There was a yelp of annoyance as Pouncival came loose, tumbling to the floor. Tumblebrutus fought his way clear, helping the young kitten to his feet. George got up from his perch, his eyes flickering. "Shhh," he ordered suddenly. The kittens squealed in delight, sure this was some new game. Only Tumblebrutus and Bill Bailey seemed to understand, helping their mother make the kittens be quite. The twins were really old enough to have started hanging out with the older males, like their brothers Plato and Admetus, but Bill Bailey at least still enjoyed playing with the kittens. His brother seemed closer to Quaxo than most, spending a lot of time questioning the magical cat about his powers.
Alonzo stood up, his white and black patchwork frame rising to tower over the kittens. "What is it?" he asked. George held up a paw for silence. Suddenly a twig snapped out of sight. The kittens squealed, no longer thinking this was a game. "I'll get them back to the dens," Jellyorum said. Her younger brother nodded as George crept forward. Something wasn't right. George growled in the back of his throat, sniffing the air. A waft of unwashed fur and other assorted filth struck his nose. "Macavity," he hissed. Alonzo glared around. The Hidden Paw was somewhere in the darkness and rain, hiding in plain sight.
Jennyanydots was surprised when Jellyorum and the kittens came running back into the clearing that the dens were arranged around, hotly pursued by the two toms that had been with them. "Macavity's out there," Alonzo breathed heavily. Etcetera gasped. Alonzo whistled, a high shrill sound. Cats from all over the junkyard swiftly converged on the dens, alerted by the emergency signal.
Mungojerrie heard the alarm whistle and headed back towards the dens. Suddenly he spied a flash of white off to his left. Victoria was lying asleep in a little hollow. "Victoria. Victoria," the young cat hissed, but she couldn't hear him. Suddenly he remembered. Victoria, like so many other white cats, was partially deaf. He crept over, shaking her awake. The white queen stifled a squeal. "Listen. You need to get back to the dens. Someone called the emergency signal and…" At that point Victoria screamed, pointing behind Mungojerrie. The tom spun around, just in time to take a blow to the head that sent him flying. "Macavity," shrieked the panicking queen. "Run," yelled the tom, staggering to his feet before launching himself at the larger cat. Macavity was taken by surprise as Mungojerrie's entire mass slammed into him, but the adult tom quickly recovered. His claws raked Mungojerrie's hide as the tabby tom snarled and lashed out. The bigger cat suddenly kicked his feet out from under him, catching the young tom before he hit the ground and throwing him. Mungojerrie avoided the ginger cat's eyes, knowing all too well how easily Macavity could hypnotise him. The larger cat laughed, a cruel, cackling noise. "What do we have here?" he teased as the combatants circled one another. "A traitor with a backbone. How unusual." He charged Mungojerrie, who dodged by the skin of his teeth. "Is this how you want to die, kit," Macavity snarled. "Alone, abandoned, defending cats who don't give two shakes about you?" "Better to die than dishonour my friends," Mungojerrie snarled. "Dishonour? You're a thief Mungojerrie. We have no honour." The younger cat growled. "There is no 'we.' I'm nothing like you," he spat. "No. I would never have gotten into a fight with a tom bigger, stronger and smarter than me," Macavity laughed, slamming the younger cat to the floor. He planted a paw on Mungojerrie's throat, choking the life out of the younger cat. "Tell the devil Macavity sent you," the older cat sneered. Mungojerrie lashed out in a desperate last blow, catching Macavity in the stomach. With a yowl of pain, the bigger cat staggered backwards, blood dripping from his wound. "You'll pay for that you little flea," he roared. Suddenly a ginger streak smashed into Macavity, latching onto his back. Mungojerrie stood up. The new attacker tumbled free, landing at Mungojerrie's feet. Rumpleteazer looked up at her mate. "Couldn't let you fight him alone," she breathed. "How touching," Macavity snarled. "You can die together." "I love you Rumple," Mungojerrie said. "I love you too," Rumpleteazer breather, struggling to her feet. Mungojerrie squeezed her paw affectionately before stepping in front of her, facing their attacker. "Come on then," he yelled. Macavity lunged, picking him up by the throat. Stars started to pop in front of the younger Tom's eyes. At that moment a bolt of lightning struck Macavity, throwing him flat on his back. Mungojerrie hit the ground hard, winding him. Quaxo stood there, the other Jellicles behind him. Macavity took one look at the crowd of angry cats bearing down on him, turned and ran. The younger males, led by Alonzo, gave chase, not stopping until Macavity was well away.
The queens, along with Skimbleshanks and Munkustrap, helped Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer to their feet. "Just what do you think you were doing, young lady?" Jennyanydots demanded of her daughter. Rumpleteazer didn't say anything, just throwing her arms around her mother. Etcetera, Carbucketty and Pouncival clung to their older sister, relieved that she was ok.
Mungojerrie leant heavily on his father in law. Blood dripped from a multitude of injuries, including a nasty gash on his face. "Is he gone?" the teenager asked. "Yes. You saved Victoria," Munkustrap breathed. The white teen trotted towards her rescuer. "Thank you," she sobbed, hugging the bemused tom who flinched. "Watch the rib," he laughed as Victoria looked shocked. "Anyone would have done the same." "But not anybody did. You did," Rumpleteazer exclaimed, throwing herself at her beloved mate.