Mungojerrie yawned widely, too many sleepless nights starting to get to him. Rumpleteazer nudged him in the ribs. The cats were sitting on the side lines while the first group practiced their dances for the ball. Quaxo and Victoria out did everyone, elegantly dancing rings around the rest. Plato and Exotica whirled around, Plato's grin visible even as they danced. Tumblebrutus flipped backwards, landing on slope of rubbish which he slid down, into the waiting arms of Electra. "Alright, Second group," Munkustrap, acting as coordinator, cried. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer spun on the performance space, utilising their signature double cartwheel. Bill Baily and Sillabub, both rather less talented dancers than some of the others, carefully picked their way onto the floor, moving in time with the music. Suddenly a pair of furry bodies collided with Quaxo and Victoria. Quaxo caught Victoria before she struck the ground, before turning to his assailant. But the furry whirlwind was spiralling out of control, colliding with Electra and Tumblebrutus. Plato angrily stuck one paw into the mess of cats, dragging his brother out by the scruff of his neck. Tumblebrutus glared at Admetus as the gingery cat shrugged. "Sorry," he sniggered. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer stormed over to him, Victoria and Quaxo following closely. "What the hell were you playing at!" demanded the magical cat, his right paw glowing slightly with energy. "Just having a joke, magic paws," Admetus laughed. "We thought it would be funny, didn't we?" he said, turning to his partner.
Etcetera disentangled herself from her friend. "Sorry," she muttered. Exotica hissed at the kitten. "Just think about what you're doing," Quaxo snarled. "You could have hurt someone," Victoria snapped. Quaxo had one paw around the shoulder of his mate, the normally quiet and subdued queen looking as angry as the rest of them. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer nodded in agreement. Admetus shrugged, turning away. Etcetera at least had the decency to looked shame faced. "Do you think it's big and clever?" Victoria hissed, her fury boiling over. ""Growing up to be another Tugger?" Admetus rounded on her, his hair standing up on his back. "Oh save it," he snarled. "We were all part of his little fan club. Just because you've gotten all haughty since Quaxo chose you doesn't change that. At least most of us are actual Jellicles," he sneered. Mungojerrie leapt for the arrogant teen before he could react. The teens tussled on the ground, claws slashing. Admetus yowled in pain. Rumpleteazer and Victoria grabbed hold of the tabby tomcat, pulling him off his victim. Bill Baily and Etcetera helped Admetus to his feet. "What the hell?" Admetus spat, blood lacing his spittle. "If you dare insult Victoria or any of us again, you'll think you just got off lucky," Mungojerrie stormed. "I didn't insult you," Admetus yelled back. "You implied that you were better than her, because you were born a Jellicle. If you say that about her, you're saying it about me, about Exotica, about any of us who weren't born into the tribe. And I will not have it." Munkustrap moved between the two cats. "Now look here you two..." he began, but Admetus cut him off. "Oh, go suck up to Macavity, you little sneak thief," he spat at Mungojerrie. It took Plato, Exotica and Tumblebrutus piling in, along with Electra and Sillabub hanging onto his legs, to stop Mungojerrie going for the smug tom, who laughed as he strutted away.
Mungojerrie fully expected to end up in front of Old Deuteronomy, but Munkustrap let the matter rest. "I was close to giving the scoundrel a good clawing myself," Rumpleteazer giggled as she held a cloth up to a deep cut above her mate's eye. "Bloody hell," the cat hissed as the disinfectant that Rumpleteazer had dabbed on the cloth smarted. "Now stop it," she snapped, suddenly resembling her mother. There was a rapping from the outside of the car as a cat banged on the side. "What is it," Rumpleteazer called out. A trio of feline heads poked into the interior. Victoria and Quaxo crept inside while Exotica stayed outside. "We just wanted to thank you," the dark Abyssinian purred. Victoria nodded vigorously. "Someone needed to take that jerk down a peg," Quaxo smiled. "Are you ok?" he asked in a concerned voice. "Yeah, fine," Mungo breathed, wincing in pain. Quaxo moved closer, examining the cut. He ran a thumb over the injury, healing it instantly. Mungojerrie blinked in surprise. "I didn't know you could do that," he exclaimed. Quaxo shrugged shyly, his mate planting a kiss on his cheek.
The young cats moved to the exterior of the car. Victoria playfully nuzzled Mungojerrie, thanking him for standing up for her. Mungo saw jealousy flash across Rumpleteazer's face before the white cat turned to leave. Quaxo bowed before taking his leave. This left just Exotica and the mates on the roof of the car. The two queens lay back, talking at great length about the ball. Exotica was delighted that Plato had consented to go with her, having asked the grey tom before he could ask her. Her older sister, Cassandra, was mated with Alonzo, while their half siblings Coricopat and Tamoline just kept to themselves. A loud meow startled all three of the teenage cats. Erik had gotten to the base of the car without any of them noticing the sleek black cat. "Come on up," Rumpleteazer invited. Erik scrambled up the side of the car. "Are you ok?" he asked Mungojerrie. "I heard what happened." "Oh yes, you weren't there," Exotica purred. Erik looked awkward. "I don't have a date," he admitted. The three other cats looked at one another, before bursting into squeals of laughter.
"You still don't have a date?" Rumpleteazer giggled. "So?" Erik scowled. "It's three days until the party," Exotica pointed out. "There is one queen left who you could ask," Rumpleteazer sniggered. "A queen who you have a definite crush on," Mungojerrie smiled slyly at his friend. "Just ask Jemima and have done with it," the tabby tom advised. "You of course being the tribe's foremost experts on relationships," Rumpleteazer laughed. "Well I won you over, didn't I?" the tom asked, affectionately kissing his mate on the nose.