Macavity's Queens: Part Five
Cassandra lay on the top of an old car, carefully watching the four queen kittens at play. Although she was still protective of them, she was becoming more confident about leaving them in the care of Miss Jessy or Lillie. The two older queens seemed to know how to handle them quite well, and the kittens seemed to trust them. And that gave Cassandra a chance to let her gaze wander over the rest of the cats in this new tribe.
Alexander, the silver tabby, seemed to be quite a nice sort. He was always checking up on them, making sure that they got everything that they needed. Demeter seemed rather taken with him. Cassandra smiled to herself. They seemed like they'd be a good match, if either ever got the nerve to tell the other. Alexander was reserved, proper, and obviously not willing to do anything that would be construed as a threat by the queens. He refrained from touching them unless it was necessary, and was always polite when addressing them.
Spot, Cassandra had to keep herself from laughing at the rediculous name, was almost the opposite in every respect. Flashy, always trying to get the attention of Bombalurina, Demeter or Cassandra, and reveled in the attention that the kittens were starting to give him. Etcetera and Electra in particular seemed to enjoy tagging along behind the tom. And, although she denied it completely, every so often Cassandra would catch Bomby taking a longer glance at the black and gold tom then she should have.
Boots, she paused. The name was silly, probably sillier than Spot, but Cassandra still liked to let her eyes linger on the black and white tom. True, he was undoubtibly a mongrel cat, but he had an infectious smile. And when the light his his fur just right, Cassandra could see strong muscles underneath. The strong silent type, and Cassandra could appreciate that.
Looking over, Cassandra saw Demeter and Bombalurina not too far off. The kittens were playing nearby, and enjoying themselves thuroughly. Moving to join the other two queens, Cassandra settled herself down. "So how are the two of you today?" she asked.
"Not bad." Bombalurina answered.
Demeter nodded in agreement. "For the first time in a while, it actually looks like things are going right for us." she smiled. Cassandra smiled.
"It would certainly seem that way."
"I wouldn't get too cozy here." came a voice from nearby. The three queens looked over.
"Who's there?" Bombalurina demanded, while Demeter and Cassandra rushed to get in front of the kittens. Out of the shadows of the Junkyard came a cream and white queen, long fur impecibly groomed. "Who are you?" Bombalurina demanded again.
The queen moved quickly to Bombalurina's side. "My name's Perrytwist. Now listen, I don't have much time." she said. "You're all in danger."
"Danger?" Demeter asked, "Danger from what?"
Perrytwist gave her a look of surprise. "From Jellicles, of course. You're in their territory." The kittens gave each other frightened looks and Demeter edged closer to Bomby. "Frankly I'm amazed you're still alive."
"But the tribe here," Demeter said, "we're under their protection."
Perrytwist shook her head. "No, no you're not! That's what I came to warn you about! These cats here... They are the Jellicles! You have to get out of here before they keep you here for good!"
"What?" Bombalurina exclaimed. "This tribe is the Jellicle tribe?"
"That is what I said." Perrytwist answered. "I've seen it happen before. They 'rescue' some poor queen who doesn't know any better, lull her into a sense of security, and then POW!, she's either dead, or a slave to their every whim."
Cassandra gazed aloofly at the cream and white queen. "Why are you telling us this?" she asked.
"I lost my sister to the Jellicles." she answered simply. "I don't want to see it happen to anyone else."
Demeter felt a knot in her stomach. This tribe couldn't be the Jellicles... They just couldn't! They were all so nice, kind... Alexander... those kind eyes of his... Were they really nothing more than a lure?
"I can get you away from here." Perrytwist offered, a smile creeping onto her lips. "I can take you someplace where Jellicles never go."
"And where would that be?" Cassandra asked.
"Have you ever heard of Toddenham Court?" The queens shook their heads. "It's not too far. A couple of pubs, some other places, lots of opportunities for a queen who wants to make it. What do you think?"
Demeter, Cassandra and Bombalurina looked at each other. Each felt it hard to believe that their savior tribe could possibly be the bloodthirsty Jellicles that they had heard so much about but, why would this queen lie? "What do you think?" Cassandra asked, looking at Bombalurina, and then at Demeter.
"They've never treated us badly..." Demeter said, quietly.
"But am I the only one who's noticed that they sidestep a lot of questions, and never really seem to tell us the whole truth about things? For one, they always clam up when we mention the Jellicles." Bomby asked. The other two queens had to shake their heads. They had noticed that as well.
"What if we asked directly?" Demeter suggested. "We'd be able to tell if they lied, we'd be looking for it.
Cassandra looked at Bombalurina. Both knew that Demeter was the last queen who'd want to know for sure if these cats were Jellicles.
"Whatever you do, do it quickly." Perrytwist said. "I'll come back in a half-hour. That's the only time I'll be able to get you out." Then she turned and faded into the piles of junk.
The queens sighed, and the kittens mewed. Demeter went to comfort them, rather unsuccesfully considering how on-edge she was herself. They were quiet for a long while. Not sure what the best course of action would be. If they left, they could be saving themselves, or they might be making a huge mistake. Finally, Bombalurina spoke. "We're going to have to ask them."
"Who gets to be the lucky queen?" Cassandra asked.
"It was your idea, Demi." Bombalurina said.
Demeter paled. "I couldn't!" she protested violently.
Bombalurina sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll ask them."
"Ask them what?" The queens all started at the voice. They looked over at one of the many trails into the clearing to see Alexander walking towards them. The kittens quickly ran behind the queens. "What's wrong witht he kittens?" he asked. "They look as scared as when we pulled them out of Macavity's lair."
"Maybe because they're frightened of something else." Bombalurina said cooly.
Munkustrap frowned. Something was wrong here... "What do they have to be aftraid of?" he asked.
"Jellicles, maybe?" Bombalurina replied. "We heard that they lived around here."
Munkustrap shrugged. "They do. Lots of cats live around here. But we've promised you that you won't come to any harm from them."
"If we do what you say?"
"I'd swear by the Everlasting Cat, you'll never come to harm by a Jellicle." His tail twiched, agitated. "Is there something you're trying to get at, Miss Bombalurina?"
"Yeah. I guess you could say that." she replied. "Alexander, you're a Jellicle, aren't you? You and your whole tribe."
Munkustrap was taken aback. Where had that come from!? He looked over at Demeter and saw pleading eyes, begging him for an answer that was anything but yes. Munkustrap sighed, knowing that in dissapointing her, he'd lose her.
"Yes." he answered.
SMACK!
Munkustrap was stunned. Not actually believing what had just happened. He turned to look at Bombalurina, whose hand was still poised in the final motion of the slap/rake. He felt something warm running down the side of his face and knew that she had used claws. His eyes shifted to Demeter, who was visibly shaking, not sure wheather to run, add to Bombalurina's handywork, or to see if Munkustrap was alright. One thing was certain, all seven were expecting the violent backlash that Macavity had primed them for.
Taking in a deep breath, he turned and took a few paces away. "If you wish to leave, you will not be stopped." he said, in a low voice that they could bearly hear. "If you ever come back, remember that you will be stoped and questioned like any other cat." Then he quietly started to walk away, until his dark coat hid him from view completely.
Demeter's heart was racing. Alexander was hurt... He hadn't struck at Bomby after she hit him... Were Jellicles really so bad then?
"Nice move."
The queens turned to see Perrytwist, who had appeared out of nowhere. "So, ready to see Toddenham Road?"
"Yeah." Bomby replied with little enthuseism. "Let's go."
"Demeter, this place is scary." Jemima said quietly, staying near the yellow queen. Demeter had to agree. Toddenham Road did not look like the safest place to be. Every one of her nerves was on end as she saw cats who wouldn't even be allowed into Macavity's lair roaming about. Every so often they'd see a prostitute queen and her tom friend slipping into an alley and there were other toms watching them as they moved through the streets. The three older queens had moved to surround the kittens, felling uncomfortable with them being seen by the locals.
Perrytwist led them to a lean-to. "You gals stay here. I'm gonna go bring someone who can help you out."
"Stay here?" Electra asked, frightened. "But this place is scary."
"Buck up, kid. It's better than being with Jellicles." Perrytwist replied. Then she was gone.
And they waited.
And waited.
Eventually, Etcetera tugged at Bombalurina. "Bomby, I'm hungery. I haven't had anything since Lillie fed me this morning." Bombalurina sighed.
"There's plenty of dumpsters around here. We dig long enough we're bound to find something." she said. "Kittens stay; queens, let's go."
Each of them went in a different direction and eventually Demeter found a dumpster that looked promising. She had just pulled out a half eaten fish when a slight movement caught her eye. "Who's there?!" she demanded.
Out of the murky shadows limped an old gray queen. Demeter looked at her, noting her ragged coat and scarred eye. At one point it looked as if she might have been pretty, but it was evident that she'd lived a very hard life. "Just me. I'm the usual diner here." she answered Demeter, nodding at the dumpster. "What's a queen like you doing here? Trying to make it without a tribe? Take it from me, love, it doesn't work. Go back to whatever tribe you came from if they'll still have you."
Demeter wasn't sure what to say. "I... I can't go back... They'd kill me... They do that to cats in the Junkyard."
She was met by a confused look from the old queen. "Which junkyard are you talking about, hon'? The only one around here belongs to the Jellicles."
"Well, yes. That's the one I'm talking about."
"Well, you're obviously not a Jellicle or even from around here." the gray queen laughed. "Everyone knows that the Jellicles are probably the closest tribe you'll get to perfect. Their leader, Old Deuteronomy, is wise and just. They're protected by Munkustrap. That cat would die before letting harm befall anyone in that Junkyard..." she trailed off, as if remembering a fond memory.
Demeter was confused. "But... That's not what I heard at all.... How do you know this for sure?"
The old queen smiled sadly. "Because I used to be a Jellicle. But I decided I didn't need my tribe and left."
"Why don't you go back, if they're so kind?"
"Because I can't. I broke my own bond with the tribe. I effectively banished myself from my own kind." she sighed. "The're two types of cats that the Jellicles will never have into their tribe. Those that have murdered, and those who have shown too much pride to accept the tribe." The old queen paused a moment before continuing. "If there's any way for you to get back into that Junkyard, dear, find it. You will be loved, protected, and charished until you go to the Heaviside." The old queen sighed. "Well, I suppose I should get started on finding dinner. Even an old queen needs nurishment."
As she turned to leave, Demeter called after her. "Wait, could you tell me your name?"
The old queen turned slowly. "Grizabella. Grizabella the Glamour Cat."
"Heaviside, where's Demeter?" Cassandra whispered to Bombalurina. "She should be back by now."
The kittens were eagerly eating the scraps of food that Bombalurina and Cassandra had brought for them, and the two queens were keeping an eye out for both Demeter and Perrytwist.
"She probably just was having a harder time finding something." Bombalurina shrugged. "You know her nose isn't as keen as yours."
Then they saw a flash of cream and Perrytwist was next to them again. "Sorry I took so long. My friend had some stuff he had to do." She looked at the kittens and then at the queens. "Where's your friend? The yellow one?"
"Don't know." Bombalurina replied. "The kittens were all hungery, so we split up to find something for them to eat."
"Not that it matters much." came a chilling voice from the darkness. The queens all froze. Perrytwist smiled and quickly melted away like a ghost. As soon as she was gone, a familiar red tom came into view. "I do suspect that my dear little Demeter will show up for her friends eventually." Macavity said, an evil grin crossing his face.
Demeter heard the frightened screams clearly as she was making her way back with the fish. Dropping it, she quickly ran back to where she had left the others. She had just about reached the lean-to before she realized why the others were screaming, and as soon as she did, her own voice joined in the chorus.
"Why Demeter," Macavity smiled, "What a plesant surprise. I knew you'd come back eventually."
"Get out of here Demi!" Bombalurina yelled over the shoulder of a henchcat who was herding her and the others further back into an alley. "Get out!" Demeter could only nod dumbly and start running.
Macavity growled. Why was she the one who always caused him so much trouble. "Get her!" he yelled at one of the henchcats, who quickly jumped to obey.
Demeter didn't know where she was running or how far she had gone when she stopped. She found herself somewhere back in the Junkyard and dropped to her knees. Now what? She couldn't go back to the Jellicles, not now, no matter what that old queen had told her. After what Bombalurina had done earlier, there was no way she could expect help against Macavity a second time. Maybe there was another tribe nearby that would help.
"Ya know, ya really oughn't run off like that." came a scratchy voice behind her. "It gets the boss mad."
Demeter turned to see a henchcat looming behind her. "Heaviside..." she gasped and started running again, but before she could take a step, she felt the henchcat throw his entire weight on top of her, sending her to the ground. "Get off me!" she yelled, doing her best to twist out from under the stray.
"Not a chance." the henchcat grunted, trying to get a secure grasp on his quary. "I bring you back and I'm on Macavity's good side for me life!" Finally, he managed to get a hold on the struggling queen, hoisting her over his shoulder. "Now, let's see the boss, queenie."
Munkustrap lay in an old oven a fair distance away from the rest of the tribe. It wouldn't be good for them to see him like he was at that moment. His eyes were still damp, and no doubt still more than a little red.
He couldn't believe that they were gone, just like that. After all the Jellicles had done... All it it had taken was one agent of Macavity for all the work that the Jellicles had done to go up in smoke. Weeks of cultivating trust, gone.
And Demeter...
The calico queen was still weighing heavily on his mind. Demeter had affected him in a way that no queen ever had before and to have her look at him like she had... Fear... He had seen fear of him reflected in his eyes. Munkustrap had hoped never to see that.
Finally, he knew that he was going to have to go back to the center of the yard. The others would start to wonder where he was if he didn't, and he'd have to tell them what happened to the queens anyway. Slowly pulling himself from the oven, he turned himself in the direction of the tribe when a slight sound caught his attention. Not sure what it was, every one of his senses as the Jellicle Protector went on high alert as he cautiously made his way towards the area where the sound had come from. As he drew nearer, he recognized the sounds of a struggle...
"Let me go!" Demeter screamed, thrashing about wildly, trying desperately to get loose of the henchcat.
The stray sneered. "Don't think so, queenie. The boss likes keeping his things in one place."
The henchcat finally managed to pin Demeter to the ground, firmly holding her hands behind her back to keep her from scratching her way free. He reached for a length of cord that he had dropped nearby for the purpose of restraining Demeter and tied her hands. Roughly yanking her to her feet, the henchcat started to drag Demeter back in the direction of Toddenham Road. They had only gone a few feet before a flash of silver appeared out of nowhere sending Demeter stumbling, and the henchcat to the ground!
Demeter stumbled a few feet before dropping to the ground, shaken, but otherwise unharmed. The same couldn't be said of the henchcat, who was facing the full wrath of Munkustrap.
"Coming into Jellicle territory, not very smart." Munkustrap hissed, pinning the henchcat to the ground. "Doesn't Macavity teach you strays anything?"
"Heh, enough to take a Jellicle!" the stray hissed back, using a free hand to toss dirt into Munkustrap's face. Munkustrap jumped back, shaking the dirt out of his eyes, and narrowly avoiding a tackle by the stray. The Jellicle Protector spun, slashing fiercely at the stray as he passed. The henchcat let out a yelp of pain, quickly turning to face Munkustrap. The two toms faced each other for a moment, each sizing the other up. Munkustrap was bigger than the stray, but the stray was certainly not restricted by the code of fair play that the Jellicle was. After only a moment, the toms lurched forward, claws out. Demeter, curled up as much as she could, hands still tied, she couldn't move very well. Munkustrap attacked the stray low, planting a shoulder in the abdomen. The stray doubled over, wind knocked out of him. Knowing when to press the advantage, Munkustrap followed up, forcing the stray back against an old freezer. The stray's head cracked up against the metal appliance, and he sunk to the ground. Munkustrap knelt down next to the henchcat, and finding him still alive, let out a low hiss. With one hand, he grabbed the stray by the scruff of the neck and raised him easily back up. Demeter was amazed. She hadn't realized he was that strong.
"Get out of this junkyard." Munkustrap growled fiercely, shoving the stray in the direction of the docks. "If I ever find you here again, you won't get off so easily." The stray stumbled a few feet before looking back with an evil look. Then he started running as fast as he could back towards Macavity's headquarters. Munkustrap watched the retreating stray for a moment before looking over at Demeter, who was shaking violently. Sighing, Munkustrap approached quietly and carefully untied her restraints. "There you go." he said quietly before standing. "You should be more careful, Demeter."
The calico queen just sat, not moving, staring up at the silver tabby. Munkustrap looked down at her. Shame welled up inside Demeter. He had saved her again, even after she had left. She could see the hurt that was still in his eyes.
"I... I'm sorry." she choked. "I... I didn't mean to have him follow me here. I didn't even know he was there, I was just trying to run..."
Munkustrap's ears perked up. "Run? Run from what?" Demeter started, surprised at his reaction.
"M... Macavity. H... He lured us to Toddenham Road..." Tears welled up in her eyes as she burried her face in her hands. "I'm so stupid! I should have known she was one of his..."
Munkustrap hissed. Toddenham Road wasn't in his territory, but he couldn't let Macavity to get his hands on the queens and kittens again. "Go to the Tire." he instructed Demeter.
Demeter looked up, confused. "Wh... what?"
"Go to the Tire." he repeated. "Let Boots, Tiger, Andy, Dusk, and any other tom know what happened. They'll be able to find me." Then he dashed off in the direction of Toddenham Road.
Demeter watched him leave and was frozen for a few mometents. Then she scrambled to her feet and ran to carry out the instructions.
Tugger was sitting on the Tire when he saw the dusty form of Demeter stagger into the clearing. Jumping to his feet he ran over to her side and steadied her until they reached the Tire, where he had her sit down. "Woah, babe, where's the fire?" he asked, noting her frantic expression.
"Macavity!" she gasped, trying to fill her lungs.
The twins had been nearby and quickly moved beside Tugger and Demeter. They stared intently at Demeter for a moment, enough for Demeter to have a chill run down her spine. Then they looked at Tugger. "Macavity has the queens." They said in unison.
"Where's Stripes?" Tugger asked. "He needs to hear..."
He was cut off by the twins. "He has already gone. We are to follow." The alarm was quickly raised, and the toms were racing back towards Toddenham Road with Demeter following, much against the protesting of Jellylorum and Jennyanydots. Demeter was surpised to see Houdini racing alongside. Normally the small tom was left with the kittens. The group ran until they heard the sound of a fight. When they turned into an alley, they came to a screaching halt.
A bloody and worn Munkustrap was in between the queens and Macavity with his horde of henchcats. Munkustrap's breath was coming in ragged gasps, and his whole body was shaking from exhaustion. "You might as well give up now." Macavity grinned. "You can't honestly think you can hold all of us off for long."
"Ach, maybe not alone, but he got some reenforcements now!" Skimble yelled, causing the strays to whirl in surprise. Skimble, Alonzo, Asparagus, Mungojerrie, Coricopat, and Tugger all dropped into fighting stances. Mistoffelees was nowhere to be seen.
Macavity hissed angerily. Damn Jellicles.... "I truely hope you don't think that you're going to be getting them this time."
"And why shouldn't we?" Alonzo demanded. "We're more than a match for you and a couple of scroungy strays."
A wry smile crossed Macavity's face. "You honestly think I'd come this close to Jellicle territory with only a few of my cats?" He snapped his claws and glowing green eyes suddenly appeared from all around the darkness.
"Great." Munkustrap groaned. His heart was beating hard. Macavity and the few strays he had seen before were enough on his own. He should have known that Macavity wouldn't go down that easily.
Macavity read Munkustrap's face with almost a look of delight on his face. "Leave the queens and I'll be nice and generous in letting you and the rest of your stooges live."
"Never!" Munkustrap growled, taking a desperate strike at Macavity. The ginger cat, still fresh since he had been letting his henchcats do the fighting easily sidesteped, throwing the silver tabby over his shoulder to send him flying into the alley wall. With a groan, Munkustrap slid to the ground, unconcious. Demeter gasped in horror at the sight and would have dashed forward to go to his aid had not Skimbleshanks held her back.
"But... But Alexander..."
"He'll be alright in a moment, lass." Skimble assured her. "We're going to pull our ace in the hole." Demeter gave the orange tom a quizzical look, but he offered no explaination.
Then, a shadow was cast over the alley. Tugger had positioned himself infront of a street light on top of stack of boxes. Rather than the look of urgency that he had been wearing earlier, his expression now was calm, assured and almost smug. Macavity and his henchcats were sunned dumb. They were used to seeing the posturing of the Curious Cat, but in the middle of a street fight? The queens were wearing similar looks on their faces. What on earth was he thinking?
"Ladies," he said, directing his address first at the queens while fluffing his ruff. "And Gentlemen. There's no such cat in the metropolis. He holds all the patiant monopolies on performing surprising illusions, and creating ectentric confustions." He grinned broadly and hopped down a few levels until he was near the ground. "The greatest magicians have something to learn from Mister Mistoffelees' Conjuring Turn! I give you the Magical Mister Mistoffelees!"
Suddenly from the center of the alley there was a burst of smoke!
"That's Mistoffelees?" Demeter asked, unbeliving what she was seeing. It was oviously Houdini, but only blacker and with a mystical air around him. Hardly the monster that Macavity had described to her and the other queens.
"Aye, lass." Skimbleshanks said with a smile. "That's the Magical Mister Mistoffelees the Conjuring Cat."
Macavity roared in fustration. "Don't just stand there, you idiots! Take him!" The henchcats jumped to carry out the order, but Mistoffelees smiled and seemed to vanish from under their hands, only to appear a moment later near the queens. He smiled cheerfully at the queens before jumping off a little ways before continuing Tugger's song:
My manner is vague and aloof,
You would think there was nobody shyer...
But my voice has been heard on the roof,
When I was curled up by the fire.
And I've sometimes been heard by the fire,
When I was about on the roof.
At least they all heard that somebody purred
Which is incontestible proof of my singular magical powers!
And I've known the family to call me in from the garden for hours
When I was alseep in the hall!
All this time he was skillfully evading the claws of the henchcats, while Macavity watched, growing more and more furious. While this fantastic distraction was going on, Demeter found herself shuttled quietly around to the rest of the queens by Skimbleshanks. "What are you doing?!" she whispered frantically.
"Yeh got to be over here for this to work, lass." Skimble whispered back. Finally, Tugger broke back in.
"And not long ago this phenominal cat, produced seven..." he looked over at the group of queens, "Er... Produced seven queens right out of a hat!"
And with a small burst of light, Mistoffelees produced a red cape from out of nowhere. He tossed one end of it to Skimbleshanks who quickly shoved all of the queens under it.
"STOP HIM!" Macavity roared.
They tumbled out from seemingly nowhere onto the ground, Mistoffelees doing anything resembling a graceful landing. The other cats surrounded them in an instant. "Where are the others?" Jellylorum asked Mistoffelees.
"They were helping me get these seven out of the alley. You're also going to have to get a sickbed ready." he answered.
Looks of concern swept over the members of the tribe who remained in the Junkyard. "Oh, no... Not..?" Rumpelteazer started. Mistoffelees cut her off with a nodd.
"You be sure to bring him as soon as they get back!" Jennyanydots instructed. "And someone needs to find Old Deuteronomy!"
"What do you think is going to happen?" Jemima asked Demeter softly. The six queens were laying on a pile of old mattresses that was on one side of the Junkyard. They had been escorted there by Admetus and Plato and told to stay there for the time being. No gards, no threats, but just the simple instruction. Oddley enough, they found themselves obaying even though they weren't sure why. "I mean, they wouldn't hurt us after saving us, would they?"
Demeter sighed. "I don't know, Jemima."
Etcetera was standing on a particuarly tall stack of mattresses and was looking at something in the distance. "Hey, there's something coming this way..." she mused aloud. Cassandra and Bombalurina heard and stood up, looking to see what Etcetera was looking at. Sure enough, there was something moving in their direction. It looked to be a cat, a very shaggy old tomcat to be precise. And he looked like he knew they were there. The kittens jumped down and huddled around Demeter, who in turn was behind Cassandra and Bombalurina. The old tom sat down on one of the mattresses and smiled at them.
"Well, now. I don't recall ever seeing you seven here before. And normally I don't see kittens looking so nervous." He grinned down at the four kittens. It was a rather infectious grin, and Etcetera had to put a paw over her mouth to keep from giggling out loud. It was also on a face that was familiar to Demeter, although she couldn't figure out why. "Now, where did you seven pop up from?" he asked.
"Macavity's." Victoria said, rather quietly as she ventured a little further out from behind Demeter.
The old tom nodded. "How about before that?" he asked. "I daresay that Macavity doesn't make nice little kittens like yourself." Even Cassandra had to repress a grin on that line.
Victoria had to think a minute. "I don't remember much." she said quietly. "It was warm, and I was always being petted and brushed." The other three kittens nodded at similar memories.
"Mind if I ask why you want to know?" Bombalurina asked, slightly suspicious.
The old tom took the question in stride. "Oh, I'm just an old cat." he replied. "The only thing that gives me any pleasure anymore is a good conversation with another. Well, that and my family. Actually, I was on my way to visit one of my sons. I heard he had a rather nasty accident and I wanted to make sure for myself that he was alright."
"Then he's probably waiting for you." Electra said quietly. "I know if I were hurt, I'd want my momma." The three older queens looked rather surprised. This was the first time Electra had ever said anything about her family. As far as they had known, she was like the other kittens in never having known her parents.
Smiling, the old tom got up and dusted his coat off. "You're right little one." He patted her head gently. "He probably is waiting."
And with that, he walked off into the Junkyard.
"That was weird." Electra said to herself.
"What?" Demeter asked.
Electra looked up at the calico. "When he touched me, I wasn't afraid..."
A few hours later a sound jerked all the queens to attention. Looking at a particular patch of shadows, they saw the twins slowly emerge.
"Come with us, please."
They entered the center of the Junkyard with mixed emotions. The Jellicles were all scattered about the central area, except on the central tire they were so used to seeing Alexander standing on to address the tribe. The faces they saw had emotions on them that were unidentifiable by the queens, and if they hadn't been so sure that it was a figment of tired and distressed minds, they might have sworn that the Jellicles' eyes were somehow strangely lit by the light of the full moon above.
There was a bit of movement from the queens' den and they saw Alexander being carefully led out by Spot and Tiger. Demeter's hands covered her mouth when she saw the still red wounds covering his body and how his legs could barely hold his weight. She would have rushed over, thrown herself down and begged his forgiveness had Bombalurina not placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. The red queen shook her head. Demeter could see the words in her friend's eyes: Not now, girl. Alexander finally sat down on the tire, the short walk obviously had taken a toll. But none of the other cats moved, save for Spot and Tiger who moved short distances off from the silver tabby. After a few minutes, regaining his breath, Alexander pulled himself to his feet. At first it looked as if he wouldn't be able to stand, but a stern glance to the toms who made a motion to help was enough to get them to back down.
He would stand on his own.
The kittens huddled down at the feet of the queens as Alexander's eyes roamed over the entire tribe, lingering a moment on the queens, and then moving on until they settled on Dusk and Dawn. The twins closed their eyes for a moment before looking down a rather dark path leading out of the Junkyard.
"I believe it is Old Deuteronomy."
The queens looked at each with mixed disbelief and concern. How certain could they be of anything?
And why were they singing?
Demeter's attention was caught again as the Jellicles all begain to reline, as if going into some sort of dream. All but Spot and Alexander. The former stood on the half-pipe that he commonly made his perch, while the latter looked out across the tribe and sang. And if his eyes had made Demeter's heart skip a beat before, his singing made it melt completely.
"Old Deuteronomy's lived a long time;
He's a Cat who has lived many lives in succession.
He was famous in proverb and famous in rhyme
A long while before Queen Victoria's accession."
Spot than stepped in with a rich and smooth voice that surprised the queens. They were used to seeing this cat as a cocky rebel.
"Old Deuteronomy's buried nine wives
And more - I am tempted to say, nintey-nine;
And his numerous progeny prospers and thrives
And the village is proud of him in his delcline."
Alexander smiled and then continued.
"At the sight of that placed and bland physiognomy,
When he sits on the sun on the vicarage wall,
The Oldest Inhabitant croaks:"
Then they sang together.
"Well, of all...
Things... Can it be... really! ... No! ... Yes!...
Ho! hi!
Oh, my eye!
My mind may be wandering, but I confess
I believe it is Old Deuteronomy!"
Then the tribe slowly sprang back to life gathering itself in front of the two toms. Tiger and Boots held back some of the kittens as they finished singing the song. They sang until they reached a cresendo, directing all of their attention to that dark path. The kittens shivered, uncertain as to what to expect.
A moment later, they were surprised to see none other than the old tom who they had talked to earlier slowly walk down the path and into the clearing. He walked slowly, but surely, to the tire, Alexander bowing slightly before the Deuteronomy, the older tom giving his son a fatherly nuzzle. Then he turned to the rest of the tribe, all gathered around the tire.
"My legs may be tottery, I must go slow;
And be careful of Old Deuteronomy."
Then he sat on the tire, Alexander turning to face the tribe.
"Jellicle Cats meet once a year, on the night we make the Jellicle choice. And now that the Jellicle Leader is here, Jellicle Cats can all... REJOICE!" Then he sat on the steps that were in front of Old Deuteronomy, resting his head and paws on his sire's lap like a young kitten.
Old Deuteronomy gently stroked Alexander's head and then finally aknowledged the group of queens. "Please, my dears. Do come closer." he said with a smile. "It isn't very good to have guests and then have them simply sit on the sides, now is it?"
They were utterly confused. None in the least had any idea of what to do. Demeter looked at the group of Jellicles nervously. Then she saw Alexander.
And she saw those eyes.
The eyes that did all his speaking for him.
Please... they silently begged. Trust us... Trust me...
Trembling, she slowly stepped forward. None of the Jellicles moved, not even a twitch of a tail to be detected. As she neared the tire, she was then aware of several cats backing away from her, forcing her to move nearer and nearer the tire. Once she reached the steps, she was at a loss. She looked up at Old Deuteronomy and Alexander, unsure of what to do. Then she noticed Alexander moving. His left hand slowly reached out to her and then was still, held in a silent welcome.
For what seemed like forever, Demeter was unmoving as a statue. Then, almost timidly, she let her hand fall gently into his. A soft smile crossed both his face and the face of Old Deuteronomy. Although she couldn't see it, every one of the other Jellicles wore similar expressions.
They stayed like that for a moment before Demeter noticed a strange change in Alexander. He seemed to be breathing easier, but his eyes...
While they still held warmth and kindness as always, there was something she had never seen before. That strange illumination that she thought was a figment of her imagination... It was staring her right in the face from his eyes.
"Demeter..." he said softly, so quietly that only Old Deuteronomy would have possibly been able to hear.
"Y... yes?"
"Dance with me?"
"Dance with you? I don't understand."
"Please, dance with me." he asked again.
A simple request... To dance...
But the way he said it, Demeter knew the words held meanings much deeper than she knew.
But Alexander had never harmed her...
He had nearly died for her...
She nodded, unsure what would come out if she were to open her mouth to speak. Smiling, the silver tom drew himself to his feet. Demeter was amazed at how well he could hold himself now, dispite his injuries. Where was the energy coming from?
He extended his hand to her again, this time for a dance. Demeter still wasn't sure what to do. She had never danced before, really. Macavity had made her do some rather degrading things he called dancing, but Alexander wasn't like Macavity. She knew that now. This time when she reached for his hand, there was more confidence in her fingers, grasping his had as his fingers wound around hers. He raised both their hands to eye level and gazed at her for a moment.
"Welcome to the Jellicle Ball." he whispered, gently starting to guide her through the dance. It was slow, but hardly akwardly so. Alexander's movements were smooth and graceful as any tom could be, deftly stepping and directing her. Every so often she would feel a hand on her shoulder, her hip, or lightly brushing a leg. But she bearly even noticed the touches, so held was she by the tabby's eyes. Eventually, he slowed, then stopped and sang once again to the cats.
"Jellicle Cats come out tonight,
Jellicle Cat come one, come all!
The Jellicle Moon is shining bright,
Jellicles come to the Jellicle Ball!"
Demeter's heart was racing as Alexander finally let go of her hand. The kittens rushed to her as did Bombalurina and Cassandra.
"Demi?" Bomby looked anxious. "Are you alright?"
Demeter could only nodd. She looked over at the Jellicles they had all gathered at the base of the tire again, Alexander in front of them, Old Deuteronomy still on the tire.
"Jellicle Cats meet once a year,
At the Jellicle Ball where we all rejoice!
And the Jellicle Leader has now appeared
And soon will make the Jellicle Choice.
For waiting up there is the Heaviside Layer
Full of wonders one Jellicle only will see.
And Jellicles ask, because Jellicles dare,
Who will it be?"
"Who will it be?" the tribe repeated. Then, after a moment they scattered and returned to their various perches around the Junkyard.
Old Deuteronomy again turned his attention to the queens. "My dears. Won't you please come closer?" he asked gently. This time, they all did, Demeter more sure than her friends for the first time. The Jellicle Leader gmiled at them. "I have heard much about you all from all of my tribe. They tell me nothing but good things about you." Once again a feeling of shame welled up inside Demeter. If he only knew... "My name is Old Deuteronomy, and I welcome you all to the Jellicle Ball." He looked over at the twins. "Coricopat, Tantomile, would you come here for a moment please?" he asked. The twins nodded in unison and slowly slunk up to their leader. The queens looked confused.
"Coricopat? Tantomile?" Demeter asked, looking first at the twins, then at Alexander and then at Old Deuteronomy. "But I thought..."
Deuteronomy inturrupted her with a knowing nodd. "I should explain. Coricopat and Tantomile are Mystical Cats. As you know they can feel emotions. Demeter, when you were brought here you were in such a state that you mind was as clear as crystal to them. They knew that you would be frightened of Jellicles and we couldn't risk you injuring yourself while you were still so badly injured."
"But lying about your names?" Bombalurina asked, still unbelieving that a cat would actually do that. Deuteronomy shook his head.
"Jellicle Cats have three names, Bombalurina. You know the majority of the tribe, with the exception of myself, Mistofflees and the twins by our first names. They are the names that humans give us." he smiled up at the half-pipe. "Most of us don't like our first names."
Demeter looked at Alexander. "So that's why your fur always raised?" she asked. He nodded, smiling.
"The Jellicles have a second name, a particular name." Deuteronomy continued. "Miss Jessy and Lillie are Jennyanydots and Jellylorum. Tiger and Patch are Skimbleshanks and Tumblebrutus. Andy and Ann are Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer. John is Pouncival. Clark is Admetus, Marx is Plato. Spot is Rum Tum Tugger, Boots is Alonzo."
"Then... What's your second name?" Demeter asked Alexander.
"Munkustrap." he answered softly, wondering what sort of reaction he would recieve.
Demeter looked at him for a moment. Alexander... Nothing like the monster that Macavity described Munkustrap as. Gentle, kind, protective but not smothering. Lies... That's all Macavity's words were. Why hadn't she seen that sooner? Looking Munkustrap in the eyes, the eyes that still held traces of that strange light, she smiled gently at him.
"And of course," Deuteronomy continued, "Jellicles also have their third name. It is a name that they search for their entire lives. We contemplate it constantly. And one day, before we go to the Heaviside Lair, we will find it."
"So, uh, I can go back to using my Jellicle name now?" Alonzo asked akwardly. "I reeeeeeaaly don't want to be called Boots anymore if that's alright."
Duteronomy nodded with a laugh. Munkustrap stood up, smiling. "Now, what say we have our ball?" The Jellicles cheered in excitement and Jennyanydots scurried off somewhere in a hurry. Tantomile, Rumpelteazer and Jellylorum went to sit on an old oven, and Old Deuteronomy motioned for the queens to sit down beside him. After they were settled, Munkustrap walked to the center of the clearing and begain:
"I have a Gumbie Cat in mind..."
The sun was starting to rise and the kittens were being shuttled off to bed by Jenny and Jelly. Most of the other queens also were in their den while the toms wandered off to their respective holes. Old Deuteronomy had left for the Vicarage, leaving Munkustrap alone on the tire in the center of the Junkyard.
The Ball had gone well. Tugger and Alonzo had even managed to convince Bombalurina and Cassandra that sharing a dace wasn't a bad idea. The queen kits had gotten lessons in tumbling from Pouncival, Mungojerrie and Tumblebrutus while Mistoffelees had given the whole tribe the most fantastic magic show that the black tom had ever performed. Standing up, he was about to retire to his own den when he heard the sound of someone approaching from behind. He turned to see Demeter standing at the base of the tire. He smiled down at her. "Did you have a good time?" he asked.
She nodded. "I've never seen anything so wonderful."
"And next year will be more so, if you'd care to see it."
"I'd like that very much." Demeter smiled. "I think all of us would. If we're still welcome."
"There's always room in the Junkyard." Munkustrap replied, jumping down to face her.
She blushed a little. "I... I don't think I've ever really thanked you." she said quietly.
"Thanked me for what?"
"Everything."
He smiled. "You don't have to."
"I'd like to." Demeter replied quietly. Then she looked back up at him and, placed her hands on the sides of his face. Munkustrap was unsure of what to do. Actually, he wasn't sure what she was going to do. Timidly at first, and then a little more confidently, she pulled his face to her own level, pressing her lips to his. Even though she was the one in control, she felt her breath taken away, and was a little glad to see that when they separated he looked as surprised as she was breathless.
"Demeter..." he said after a minute, "I... I don't... Not if it's just out of obligation..." he stammered. Demeter heard the emotions in his voice. He wanted there to be something there, but didn't want to lay it all out if it was going to be yanked away.
"Munkustrap." she stepped closer to him. "I've never wanted anything more in my life." Then she kissed him again, but this time he responded, gingerly wrapping his arms around her waist, carefully pulling her close to him. She felt those strong arms, that warm body, just as they had been when they comforted her before. But there was more now. And she never wanted it to end.
Eventually they did pull apart, Munkustrap keeping an arm around her, his other hand gently brushing her hair. She looked up into his eyes. They still talked so much. They said everything. And this time she knew that her eyes were able to respond.
The End