CATS (c) T.S. Eliot, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and RUG

Chapter One: A Shaky Beginning

The break had cleared his head, if only a bit, and he was now surer of himself. At least, more than he had been before. Munkustrap now stood in front of his home, contemplating on whether or not he was ready to face his family.

Before he could decide, Demeter rushed out and threw her arms around him.

"Munkustrap!" she exclaimed. "Thank Heaviside you're home."

"Is there a problem?" Munkustrap asked.

Demeter gave him a sideways glance, then sighed. "Something must be done about Tugger and Jemima," she whispered, leading him inside.

"What about them?"

"Jemima is crying nonstop, just sobbing and sobbing her heart out. I had no idea she'd take it quite this way."

"And Tugger?"

"He won't talk, won't eat, won't drink. He's just... unresponsive. Sitting in his room all day, staring at nothingness. He's worrying me, Munkustrap. He won't even talk to Bombi."

"Well, 'Bombi' is a-"

"Munkustrap!" Demeter hissed. "Now is really not the time. You've got an entire Tribe to repair. And I'm not even going to mention this dysfunctional family."

"Fine. Where's Jemima?"

"In her room." Demeter lowered her voice again. "And Munkustrap, even though it will do Jemima a lot of good to see you again, I really think it's Tugger you should concentrate on. I can barely console Jemima as it is, but Tugger is... unknown territory."

"Fine." Munkustrap nodded and made his way to Jemima's room. Any pain he'd lost had now been replaced by an overwhelming sense of responsibility. The Tribe was broken, indeed. He could only hope that there was time to repair it.

"Tugger?" Munkustrap peered cautiously into the Tugger's room, then walked in. The Tugger lay curled up in the darkest corner, his face hidden from view.

"Tugger," Munkustrap said again.

"Unless you've come here to apologize," said Tugger, "then go away."

"Apologize?"

"For running like a coward when Deuteronomy was killed. For leaving the Jellicles here with no leader to give them comfort. You abandoned us, Munkustrap." The Tugger turned to face him, his eyes lowered. "Demeter, I'm guessing, hasn't said much. She's got this crazy idea that you left because you 'had to', and that you're under 'a great deal of stress'." The Tugger chuckled bitterly. "Those are her exact words, too. While you were with Jemima just now, Demeter was still trying to convince me to forgive you."

"I was wrong to go, but I'm back now, Tugger." Munkustrap smiled encouragingly and placed a paw on the Tugger's shoulder.

"But will you stay?"

"This is my Tribe, and I'm the leader now. Of course I'll stay."

Tugger looked at his brother warily. He wanted to believe him so much. But how could he?