Trapped Part Two

Trapped - Part Two

Things had settled down considerably when a volley of gunshots pierced the quiet. Kittens dove in fear under blankets and behind their parents. Munkustrap and several others jumped to their feet, bristling with jerky glances as metal clanged off like-metal junk and embedded in the softer items. A scrabble of garbage was heard, and in a flash of white and calico a tom tumbled down into the hideout from the top entrance. He landed hard on the floor with a grunt, having lost his balance on the above platform.

"Jerrie!" Rumpleteazer crowed and dashed forward, nearly knocking him over as she threw her arms around him and covered the dazed tom in sisterly kisses. Returning the embrace, Mungojerrie's ever-present grin turned up to an astonished Munkustrap. Something small and black fell from his mouth.

"'Eya, Stripes, ol' boy. Though' Oi'd foind th' lot o' ya in `ere, so Oi took it upo' meself t' bring ya a few vittles, wot?" He patted the cloth bag that had somewhat cushioned his fall. Munkustrap could have hugged the accented tom himself. But he kept his composure and gently helped Mungojerrie up, then looked through the sack. The other trapped cats peered forward eagerly.

The sack was small, its content being only a ham, two medium-sized fish, and a loaf of bread. But it would be enough. Not suppressing his grin, the tabby handed the food over to Jennyanydots. "Feed the weaned kittens first," he said. "Then mothers. If there's anything left ration it out for the toms."

Behind him Tugger groaned, but didn't say anything. Mungojerrie was the center of attention.

Right off Rumpleteazer's concern did a quick twist into her former cheeky playfulness. "Ya bally bloke!" she chided. "Lookit wot ya gone off'n done!" she yanked his ear, from which a red graze could be seen to match Munkustrap's shoulder.

"O, er, dun moind tha', Teaze. Jus' got a lit'le close t' them zingers."

Munkustrap shook his head with a partial grin, happy to smile at anything. "Why'd you come back here, Jerrie? It's a deathtrap."

Mungojerrie struck a noble pose, twirling his whiskers. "Ya ask me tha', Strap? Afta' bein' a Jellicle this long an' `avin' th' lot o' ye sufferin' wi' RumpleT?" He shoved her gently. "'Ow cud a feller resist? O, bloimey! An' lookit wot Oi foun' outsoide..." He nudged with his foot the small black object he had brought in with the sack. "Lit'le bloke ain't said a word yet."

"Velvedere!" Demetria squealed when the fuzzy black ball untied from its knot. The tom kitten was just as dazed as Jerrie. Demetria bolted for him, but instead of a hug her gratitude was shown in a sharp nip on the ear. "Don't you ever do that again!"

Mungojerrie chuckled, speaking quietly. "Bloke was `alf-in, `alf-out of a tin can when Oi found `em. Guess `e's troin' t' `ide from them mutts." He wiped a paw across his brow. "Bloimey, big dogs, they were."

At Munkustrap's shoulder, Skimble laughed heartily. "Jerrie, lad, if you were a queen I'd kiss you."

Making a face, the tom slumped his arm over Rumpleteazer's shoulders and allowed her to lead him away for a grateful rest. "Now, Skimble-me-ol'-shanks, no need fer that type stuff. We ain't out'a `ere yet, y'know."

Munkustrap was settled back, watching the morale of the cats rise visibly at the appearance of the food. Mungojerrie had been able to provide some information about the outside enemy. "Buncha vans loined up `round the fence, `umans crawlin' th' place loike fleas. They got this place surroun'ed mostly. I coulda mebbe got in `ere foine if they `adn't been watchin' so close." Munkustrap's mind dwelled on that mostly. Golden sunlight had begun to flood the hideout shortly after Mungojerrie arrived. Shining first as a spotlight near the top entrance, it moved down slowly, growing paler and paler as time wore on. The wound on his shoulder had not bled enough to be of concern, but the rawness of it began to ache, and only after a great protest did he let Jellylorum look at it. Not having the proper items to clean and dress his shoulder, she made do with the old fashioned way: licking it. It was now setting on a dull throb, stinging when it came into any kind of contact. Nothing he couldn't hide.

There was enough food to go around the kittens and mothers, but several toms would go hungry. Munkustrap sacrificed his share to give to Mistoffelees, younger than he, who needed the nourishment more. Somber Asparagus and noble Skimble did the same for other young toms: Tumblebrutus, Pouncival, Plato. Only Tugger seemed reluctant to give his up. The stomachs fuller now lulled the gently-warming atmosphere, and by noon the majority of the cats were asleep.

Far back in an enclosing corner, Velvedere and Demetria were curled tightly together in a bundle of fur. No surprise, kittens often did that. But Munkustrap's ears flattened at the sight of his daughter. How old was she now? And Velvedere? No, both were far from their age. There was no need to worry yet. He sighed lightly in relief, letting his head fall back against the chair. His thoughts landed on Deuteronomy. Surely the old tom hadn't entered the junkyard after seeing the vehicles outside the gates and the humans within. The scent alone of dogs should have told him something wasn't right. Though he tried to reassure himself, the nagging feeling of danger wouldn't leave him.

"Munkustrap?"

His eyes opened to see Bombalurina's white face staring at him seriously.

"Yeah, Bal?"

"The shade's gettin' more scarce by the hour. And Cassandra and I have been listening through the pipes...the humans are moving closer. Dogs, too. I think we should move into some of the deeper corridors. The kittens, at least. It'll be cooler down there."

Munkustrap cursed inwardly. Why hadn't he thought of that before? But moving deeper into the winding corridors meant less communication between the cats themselves, and certain death if the humans decided to flatten the area with machines or simply sealed off a tunnel. But she did have a point. The main cavern was indeed getting warmer, and the toms could remain here if they wanted to keep a lookout.

Bombalurina's eyes met and held his. Deep blue, they showed no hints of fear. They looked almost feral. It was only then that Munkustrap realized how much he wanted her. The moment the thoughts materialized they were bitten back by his heavy conscience. What would Demeter say? was the foremost thought that echoed in his mind. Her death had hurt Munkustrap in such a way that he vowed he'd never love again, save his daughter. But here he was, with Bombalurina, wishing he could have her. He tried to tell himself it was only their situation that made him feel this way, but the wanting didn't cease. He cursed himself silently. What would Demeter have said if she'd known this?

The red queen caught the strange expression that covered Munkustrap's face, vanishing in a flash as quick as it had come. "Munkustrap?" she asked curiously. She cocked her head, ears perked forward as his face fell. Munkustrap's eyes followed her sensuous red fur as they went to the ground, her brilliant white chest and belly, the curve of her flanks, her tail tossing endlessly side to side. The temptation was unbearable. Fine tom you turned out to be, he scowled inwardly, a tribe of cats in trouble and you're thinking about queens. You're pathetic.

"I'm fine," he said, lying through his fangs. "Uh...yeah. Sounds good to me. Go on. But keep Electra or someone to run messages back and forth. These tunnels are long."

Bombalurina padded away to round up the necessary cats, and with her leaving went the enticement.

Only a handful of toms remained by that evening. Noises and clangs from outside, but the humans seemed hesitant if not reluctant to take any serious action. But for hours on end came the snuffling of dogs, the crack of a gun now and then. At the peak of the day the heat had gotten to the point where one didn't want to move, but the cats' advantage here was their fur. Able to shrug off heat, the temperature was uncomfortable but not unbearable. But nothing, temperature or time, could slow Exotica.

"Death," she hissed. "Death beyond these walls..."

She remained in the main cavern, watching the toms with curious intensity. But none of them seemed to pay her much attention. While dozing in the heat of noontime, Munkustrap happened upon an idea that had remained hidden in his mind for some time, unwilling to make itself known.

"Can you do it?" he asked Mistoffelees gravely. The tom, half as old as Munkustrap, glanced to the side painfully, avoiding the tabby's eyes.

"I don't know, Munkustrap," he moaned. "I...I still really don't know how to control anything, and...and I'm hungry. I don't know if I have the energy..."

"Try, Mistoffelees," Munkustrap placed a black paw of confidence on the prodigy's shoulder. "Just once. If you can't make it, then we're no worse off."

Mistoffelees's narrow chest heaved a sigh, and he stepped back, eyes focused on the floor. "I'll try..." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The watching cats, Munkustrap, Asparagus, Skimble, and others, stared in absolute silence as the magical tom kitten gathered his conjuring powers. He hummed a strange tune, his black paws rising, seeming to caress the air, picking at invisible strings and wires, before a sudden electricity took hold over the room. Munkustrap felt the fur ridge along his back prickle and stand rigid, a dull blue light gathering at Mistoffelees's outstretched paws. For a moment Munkustrap saw, beyond that light, Bombalurina's white face appear from the mouth of one of the cavern's many tunnels. The blue light reflected tiny orbs in her eyes, and Munkustrap forced himself to look away.

Mistoffelees clasped his paws together, capturing the blue center of buzzing electricity and lifting it over his head. His eyes still shut firmly, the young tom's white face illuminated in the blue light as he opened his paws and threw them down at his sides. The electricity swept over his black form, cracking and popping, and for a moment his image shimmered like a mirage as he tried to teleport himself out of the junkyard to where he could find help. His body flickered, a broken television screen, and for a moment he seemed he was on the verge of vanishing when the electricity shot away from him, striking a sheet of metal car siding above in a bolt of lightening and showering sparks over the cats.

Throwing himself down and covering his head, Munkustrap felt the sparks fall and singe his coat, the cries of other cats ringing in his ears. When the heat of the electricity was gone, his fur relaxed again, he looked up. Mistoffelees crouched in an exhausted heap on the ground, panting heavily. Swiftly the gray tabby climbed to his paws and reached to help the young tom to his feet. At the same moment Victoria, drawn by the commotion, emerged from the tunnel beyond Bombalurina and rushed to his other side.

"Are you alright?" she gasped.

Mistoffelees leaned against her heavily, chest heaving, ears and whiskers working to stop the dizziness in his head. "I...I'm fine. Tired, that's all..." His dark eyes looked up to Munkustrap, deep and sorrow-ridden. "I'm sorry, Munkustrap."

The tabby shook his head, gesturing Victoria to take the cat prodigy to rest. "It's alright, Lees. You did what you could. No one can ask any more of you." He waited until the pair vanished into one of the tunnels, then slumped down onto the sun-warmed dirt in defeat. Another idea...failed. Grabbing a pawful of sand in frustration, the tabby hurled it at the junk wall of the cavern, growling a dark curse. Then, as though overcome with the same exhaustion, he let himself slump back against the opposite wall, everything limp from tail to ears. A movement to the side caught his attention.

Exotica. Again. Munkustrap turned his head lowly to look at her. She crouched like a tiger waiting to pounce in her crevice under a folded cardboard box, sheltered from the sun's rays. Her tail lashed fitfully behind her, yellow eyes unblinking as they stared at Munkustrap. "Death..." she hissed. Frustration fueled on by her what was now irritating prophecies, Munkustrap bared his fangs and snarled at her. In response she only retreated back further into her shadow.

Munkustrap let his head roll back to the opposite direction, his tired eyes coming to land on Skimble and his mate Jellylorum near the entrance to one of the tunnels. They talked quietly, Skimble's silver paws set dutifully on her shoulders, while her brown paws in turn held a hungry and thirsty Etcetera close to her side. The tabby watched them: Skimble's gentle face when he spoke, Jellylorum's homely-colored tail flicking only occasionally, how they confided in each other with complete confidence.

He and Demeter once had a relationship like that.

Munkustrap let himself relax watching the two, only to jerk in pain when his jaw came into hard contact with his wounded shoulder. Grimacing to keep from crying out, he licked it sorely. If it didn't get taken care of soon it may get infected in such a filthy place. If we're going to die anyway, what's it matter?

Munkustrap was honestly surprised when this thought flashed through his consciousness. What kind of thinking was that? Doom and destruction...giving up all hope...were these the thoughts of a leader? No, no he had a responsibility to protect these cats, and he would die before he gave up on them. Munkustrap forced these thoughts into his mind, knowing that those were the thoughts a good leader was supposed to have...nevermind the truth.

Alonzo approached him a short while later. Standing with his arms crossed, he gazed down at the sprawled Munkustrap a moment before speaking. "Comfy?"

Munkustrap had known he was there, but didn't look up until now. "Not really." He pushed himself to a sitting position. Alonzo knelt beside him.

"We're runnin' out of options, aren't we?"

Munkustrap nodded gravely.

"Well, then I guess there's only one thing left t'do," the white and black tom shrugged. He didn't have to finish; Munkustrap already knew.

"Try to sneak out."

Alonzo nodded, leaning closer conspiratorially. "There's plenty of paths through the junk. Get a few sure-footed cats an' sneak out once it gets dark. I don't think some o' these kits'll last another day."

"It's risky," the tabby grumbled. "Dogs and guns..."

"But you're forgettin' something, Stripes: darkness is a cat's best friend." He laughed nervously. "In all honesty, I'd rather be shot than sit here an' die from starvation."

Munkustrap found no humor in his statement, but nodded. "Who do you suggest?"

"I already talked it over with Cassie. She said she'd go."

"Cassandra? Are you sure?"

Alonzo shrugged. "Do you know a cat that's sleathier than her?"

For a moment the tabby pondered his options. Kittens, queens, toms. The only alternative that he came across was Exotica, and that issue was settled promptly. "Alright. As soon as the moon rises."

Alonzo bobbed his sturdy, eager face and slipped off. Munkustrap settled back once again as he left, letting his chin fall to his chest.

"So much for the Jellicle Ball."

Word had spread about the attempt to escape by the time the sun set. While the bolder cats offered to go along, Munkustrap refused them all, pointing out that some cats had mates and children that wouldn't want to see them go out that entrance and never come back. He received the same sharp reason with reference to his own daughter, and at that Munkustrap pulled his authority. Bombalurina was one of those cats.

"Are you crazy?" she snarled.

"We're going to try an outing," Munkustrap told her firmly. "That's all. I'm going, and Cassandra, and Alonzo. We're going to try to find a way to get the two out of here. Perhaps they can get help. I'll be the one coming back."

"Do you think that's a good idea?" She crossed her arms, jutting her hip. Munkustrap looked away.

"I'm not going to sit here and do nothing."

"And what happens if you get shot? Where will that leave the rest of us?"

Munkustrap took his chances and looked back, meeting her eyes firmly. He felt the fire dimly flare in his gut, at the same time battling to keep it down. "It's a chance I'm willing to take. There's plenty of others capable to fill in as leader."

"But capable to fill in as Demetria's father?"

Munkustrap stopped, unable to tear his gaze away from her. "I'll be fine," was his only reply. He had finally managed, with a great effort, to turn and focus back on the task at hand, only to have her hand on his shoulder draw him back.

"You be careful, alright?" The look in her eyes was that of concern, and perhaps something more. The silver tabby drew forward instead of away, as he felt he should have.

"Watch Demetria for me, will you?"

Bombalurina nodded slowly, her arm still extended as Munkustrap pulled away.

The area was dark and silent as death. The second full moon shone brightly above, its majesty a cruel mockery to the cats who had come to dance under its light, then find themselves trapped at the mercy of the most deadly animals on earth. The moon shone down on the backs of three cats who made no sound whatsoever as they crept from the hollow junkpile out into the open yard. Their paws, slowly measuring each step, selected every footholding as one to be sturdy and secure as they picked their way along with painful slowness.

Munkustrap led the trio of escapees. Following the map laid out in his mind, he deduced that the nearest fence siding of the junkyard was to the north. His tail was held low, the silver stripes acting as a banner for Cassandra to follow behind him, and Alonzo bringing up the rear. In absolute silence they moved, eyes darting in every direction to keep as wary as possible, tails held low and brushing the shoulder of the cat behind. A dog barked rapidly in the distance, and the three froze immediately, tense beyond description.

"Have they spotted us?" Alonzo rasped as quietly as he could manage.

"Shhh!" was the tabby's sharp response. Ears straining, they listened as the dog's bark roused human voices, but then all fell away quietly. Forcing their rigid fur and muscles to relax, they moved on. The dripping of a pipe resounded to their right, and by stepping in time with its noise--which the humans probably couldn't hear, anyway--their steps were somewhat masked from detection. The northside fence was barely in sight when Alonzo tried again.

"Strap, maybe we should--"

"For the last time, Alonzo, be qui--!"

Munkustrap's harsh whisper was cut off as suddenly an explosion of gunshots rang out, and the ground inches in front of Munkustrap's paws was shredded as a round of bullets slammed into it. Reeling and crying out in shock, the cats on instinct whirled and bolted back to the junkpile they'd come from. All around them invisible weapons zinged through the air, grazing their backs and tails, embedding into the ground around their paws as the unseen humans fired openly. Moving targets were harder to hit, Munkustrap knew, but their luck wouldn't hold out this time.

A sharp cry from Cassandra rang out as a green-tinted bullet embedded into her shoulder, going no further. She collapsed to the ground from the force of it, and with a like cry of anger Alonzo hauled her up and half-carried her, never once slowing their mad dash to safety. Munkustrap didn't stop to look, but the sight of the junkpile once again redoubled his efforts to get back to his daughter. His shoulder ached, his paws were cut from a pile of broken glass he'd not considered, but none of this stopped him.

With a snarl of effort he flung himself through the trashcan entrance, landing hard on his chest and even moreso when Alonzo and Cassandra tumbled down on top of him. The echo of bullets rang off the metal can outside, but they were safe...for now.

"Munkustrap! Alonzo! Cassie!" chorused a dozen voices as the cats poured forward, eager and excited by the noise outside and the sudden retreat. Munkustrap was helped up by several different-colored paws, but pushed them away to gain access to his friend and the female.

"Are you two alright?" he gasped. Alonzo wiped a streak of mud from his face, heaving. He didn't answer, immediately whirling to Cassandra.

"Cassie!" Jerking the green tag that hung from the object embedded into her shoulder, he grabbed her tight. "Did you get shot?"

"No," she shrugged him off. "No, I'm fine. It didn't go in enough to..." She stopped, gulped, then fell to the ground unconscious. Alonzo threw himself to her side, touching her shoulder as though willing her to get up.

"Cassandra!"

In equal concern Alonzo's mother Jennyanydots kneeled at the slim brown queen's side, lifting her limp form gently into her lap. Gently picking up the green tag, she saw the thing pulled from Cassandra was a dart, not a bullet. It was hollow, and it was empty. "Poison," she gasped.

"Poison!" Alonzo repeated, black lips pulling over a lethal set of fangs. "They killed her! Ratlovers!" In an instant he tore his gaze away, whirling on his heel and making a mad dash for the same entrance to their hideout. "B*****DS!" he roared.

Jenny hastily but gently transferred Cassandra from her lap to the soft dirt floor, calling out to her son. "Alonzo, no! She's not dead!"

But the enraged tom paid her no heed. "I'll kill `em!"

Only Asparagus's interception rescued the white and black tom from a horrible fate. He grabbed Alonzo's shoulders, pushing him roughly to the floor. "Calm down!" the somber brown tom snapped. He glanced across at Jenny, met her eyes. "She's not dead. It wasn't poison. More like a...a drug." His voice sounded far from sure, but it was enough to make Alonzo rethink his course of action and take a seat next to the slim queen. Sure enough, she was still breathing. Holding her cheeks, Alonzo bent down and nosed her whiskers, his face darkening in regret. "I shouldn't have asked her t' go..."

"It's not your fault," Jenny said quietly. "She'll be fine, once she wakes up." She squeezed his shoulder reassuringly, but the tom didn't look up. Munkustrap, having regained his breath through the ordeal, turned in response to Jellylorum's voice.

"Come on, Munkustrap. Your daughter's asking for you."

Demetria refused to leave her father's side as Jellylorum cleaned his wounds as best she could, tearing blankets into strips to wrap around his paws and shoulder. Velvedere held a strip of rubber between Munkustrap's teeth as Jellylorum picked out pieces of glass from his paws, all the while Demetria's tiny voice whimpering.

"Where did you go, Daddy?"

"ARGH!!! Ugh...nowhere, sweetheart...just went to...ARGH!!! Went to go see what was going on...ughn...outside."

"Don't do that, Daddy," she took hold of his arm. "Don't go out there."

Munkustrap pulled her close as Jellylorum moved away and removed the strip of rubber. Demetria curled up tightly, snuggling under his chin. "I won't, Dem. Never again."

"Stay here with me," she whimpered, beginning to cry. Munkustrap stroked her back and told her he would, that he wouldn't go away again. Over her head he saw the tiny black kitten Velvedere crouched at his feet, staring up with those wide gold eyes of his. Munkustrap stared directly at them, and though the kitten matched the look, he didn't seem to notice. That blank stare held no recognition whatsoever, not even the spark of life, but in them Munkustrap could see perfectly Velvedere's thoughts. The kitten wasn't naive...he knew they would probably die in this place. But he wasn't afraid. In a way Munkustrap admired that. He nodded once at the kitten, and the little black and silver tom turned his head and slunk away.

Demetria fell asleep again curled against Munkustrap's warm chest, and he continued to hold her, leaning back against the junk wall, humming deep in his chest until her purrs vibrated back into his own. It was inevitable: he began to wonder what kind of father he was. Of course he thought he was a good one: forever responsible and keeping his promises, but then...how many promises did he really make? How often did he really spend time with her as he did now? How often had they talked? When considering these questions thoroughly he began to have his doubts. What do you think, Demeter? Am I a good father? Are you proud of what I'm doing? If not, tell me what to do and I'll do it...

But his thoughts went unanswered. Demetria slept on, and before long Tugger's lanky form sauntered over and took a seat beside the tabby.

"How's she doin'?" he asked quietly, running the back of his spotted paw gently down Demetria's back. Munkustrap glanced down at her sleeping face, smiling a little.

"She's got her mother's strength," he commented back. "She's fine."

Tugger leaned back, not saying anything further. He seemed tired, letting his entire frame sag at the pull of gravity. Even his mane seemed less fluffier than usual. Heaving a tired sigh, both toms slouched in mutual exhaustion, gazing up at the open entrance near the top of the hollow junkpile. The last traces of moon could be seen through the passage at the angle they sat, moving on toward the western sky.

"See the moon slink down in the sky, darling," Tugger recited distantly, recalling something from a fuzzy memory.

"What's that?" Munkustrap asked. His voice was flat, the lack of energy betraying his uninterest. Tugger shrugged.

"Old song I heard somewhere. Don't remember the rest of it. It was somethin' about betrayal...or just plain giving up."

"Giving up," Munkustrap echoed. He held Demetria tight.

"Yeah," Tugger sighed, letting his face fall to the floor, his spotted paw clenching and flexing its claws as he seemed to ponder over something troubling him. Finally, with all reluctance of one not wanting to talk, said: "Bombalurina's askin' for ya."

Going rigid immediately, Munkustrap looked up. "W-What does she want?"

It was plain obvious Tugger didn't want to answer. "I dunno," he growled. "Tunnel farthes' to the right over there." He gestured with his muzzle, but kept his face averted and his entire self very still as Munkustrap slowly stood and hesitatingly made for the tunnel of garbage. He could imagine why Tugger acted so. Even more, he wondered what it was Bombalurina wanted.

When Munkustrap emerged from the long, winding tunnel into the round den it ended at, he saw Bombalurina within, sitting gathered to herself, not turning to face him until he called her name. Their eyes met, and Munkustrap was certain he shouldn't have come. Taking a breath, he told himself to be mature. He could handle whatever she wanted. Clearing his throat, he entered and sat next to her.

"We're not getting out of here, are we?" she asked the obvious. Munkustrap knew there was no fooling her. He shook his head grimly.

"I don't see any way we could," he admitted, to himself and to her. He kept his eyes focused steadily ahead, but heard her disappointed sigh.

"Most of the Jellicle Tribe," she said, sort of a horribly ironic laugh, "killed during a Jellicle Ball."

Munkustrap ground his teeth together and let his gaze fall, forcing the burn of tears to remain in check. "Some leader I am..." he mumbled. "Dragging my own daughter and her friend who isn't even a Jellicle to their deaths..."

"You couldn't have known," Bombalurina countered. "None of us could have..."

"Sometimes I wonder," Munkustrap breathed after a silent moment, "what would have happened if it had been me instead of Demeter..."

"Don't talk like that," Bombalurina purred, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We need you. Especially now. Even if this is the end...if it hadn't been for you a lot of us would be dead."

The slight touch of her white hand brought back to life the flames of desire that Munkustrap had felt earlier. He stiffened, drawing in his breath to hold it, concentrating on nothing but keeping his actions under control. He would not let his urges take over his rationality. That alone was difficult. Since Demeter had died he'd never had urges for females. The interest had gone. Why, then, did he feel this way now?

Bombalurina's advancing to curl close to him with a sigh did nothing to help. Force of habit made him put his arm back around her. A mistake.

It began with slow nuzzling, their mutual purr growing ever louder, then followed with tender licks across each other's faces as the two cats slipped together to the ground. Munkustrap was overwhelmed in Bombalurina's scent, his mind taken back to memories of when he held Demeter in such a manner.

"I saw the way you looked at me earlier," Bombalurina sighed, caressing Munkustrap's face from where he crouched above her. "What were you thinking?"

Her eyes, calm and clear, captured his mind so that it was hard to breathe. Let alone speak.

"I was thinking..." he rasped, "...about me never loving again."

Bombalurina moaned softly as she reached for him, touched him, and pulled him close, a sigh of his name being the only sound uttered as the two were enclosed in darkness and privacy: their own universe. Munkustrap gave in to his urge, pinning the queen down with a fierce tenderness. She was trembling. He could feel her heart beat rapidly through her fur...and how he wanted her.

Forgive me, Demeter...

When Munkustrap woke, it was to the horrible feeling that his deed had been discovered. He jerked upright, knowing he'd been found, and shot frantic glances in all directions. Bombalurina was nowhere near. Skimble stood over him, ears pressed forward in curiosity.

"Strap?"

Munkustrap had been stretched out on his belly, and groggily pushed himself up. He felt...strange.

"What?" he rasped dryly.

"You might wanna come back to the cavern," the orange tabby said gravely. "Before Tugger an' Exotica kill each other."

Munkustrap rubbed his eyes awake and followed the older cat on through the tunnels, the events of what happened just hours ago a vanishing memory.

Sure enough, as the two toms rounded the last bend of the low tunnel, two harsh voices could be heard biting back and forth.

"You among all are the worst, Tugger! You will be the first to die!"

"And I don't give a rat's tail if I do, but you ain't gonna touch `em!"

Munkustrap emerged into the cavern, and saw the maned tom bristling evilly at the black crazed female, behind him Velvedere crouching low to the ground, wide eyes in fear. Skimble moved quickly to Jellylorum, who held Demetria close. Exotica's voice was no longer the quiet, foreshadowing rasp it had been earlier. She screamed now with the shriek of insanity, eyes blazing with unnatural fires. Quickly Munkustrap moved towards her, thinking the situation had finally snapped her last ounce of sense.

"But we must! A sacrifice! Only the blood of a pure kitten will satisfy the Everlasting Cat! If you are not willing to repent, we must make a sacrifice to save us all!"

The situation became crystal clear to Munkustrap. Velvedere...sacrifice...this was going too far! Exotica snarled hideously and leaped forward, her and Tugger falling to the dirt in a fury of claws and fangs. "Die! You will diiiiiiiieeee!!!"

Tugger had little trouble throwing the already born-weak female across the ground. She landed with a loud grunt, spread-eagled, yeowling a hideous wail. Tugger pushed himself up, brushing dirt from his mane, and lifted the frightened black kitten onto his shoulder, glaring at Munkustrap.

"You do somethin' about her, Stripes," he growled, holding Velvedere in place on his shoulder with a sturdy hand. "'Cause if you don't shut up her nonsense, I will!"

Glaring, first at Tugger, then to Exotica, Munkustrap bared his fangs. "What's the meaning of this?" he growled.

Exotica pushed herself up, her skeletal-thin limbs spread wide in a grisly display of power. "Death! A sacrifice must be made!" Her eyes rolled to Tugger, white fangs bared. "But you're right, Tugger. His blood wouldn't do. The black is not a Jellicle..." She sprang forward with the savageness of a rabid dog, claws outstretched for Jellylorum. "The striped daughter!"

Jellylorum screamed and reeled as Exotica pounced, dropping Demetria in the process as Skimble jerked her out of the range of the crazed female's claws. Exotica snatched up Munkustrap's daughter, holding her tight despite her squeals and squirms. She raised her claws high, wailing: "Sacrifiiiiiiice!"

That's when Munkustrap tackled her to the ground. "You won't lay a paw on her!"

Demetria was wrenched from the female's bony grip, and Munkustrap pushed her away. But Exotica, driven by insanity and the stress built up in her twisted mind, had gone beyond reason, and sank her fangs into the wounded area still sore on Munkustrap's shoulder. The tabby roared in agony, jerking back on his feet trying to pry her lose. He fell onto his back with Exotica still clasped to his shoulder, snarling over her wails. He raised his back feet to kick her away, and in a flash of red he saw Bombalurina above. Her claws sunk into Exotica's shoulders and yanked her away, doing little good for the tabby's shoulder.

"Get away from him!"

Her words, though sharp, were cut off mid-sentence as a loud pop was heard beyond the wall of junk, followed shortly by a dull whurr that grew louder every second. Every feline's attention snapped, a deathly silence falling over them all. Even Exotica raised her head, ears perked forward and listening to the metallic thuds. A slow vibration rumbled over the ground, tingling Munkustrap's paws as he slowly stood. The thudding of metal grew louder, a loud hiss of steam, then the grind of moving gears.

Demetria moved quietly to Munkustrap's side, her whimper barely audible over the mechanic noises. But all the more pitiful. "What is it?"

Munkustrap shook his head slowly, not tearing his eyes from the wall of junk before them. No sooner had she spoken then the loud clang of metal hitting metal rang of the side of the junk wall. The cats cried out and ducked, retreating as far as they could to the back wall or into tunnels. Munkustrap held Demetria behind him protectively as he stood at the head of the gathered cats, willing to take the bullets he expected would come first tearing through the wall. But the kitten wouldn't remain shielded, and moved to his side. Munkustrap felt her start in fear as the trashcan-disguised entrance was ripped away, sunlight streaming through the small hole that appeared. Shadows moved beyond it, large, swift shadows. The sound of machines drummed in the cats' ears. But a new sound mixed with them. The sound of barking dogs.

Tears rolled down Demetria's face as she clung close to Munkustrap's paw, looking up at him for comfort. "Daddy, w-what's gonna happen?" Beside her, Velvedere's black ears rose and flattened several times, his eyes focused on the noise outside. If he was frightened, it didn't register on his young face. Munkustrap held her tight, fighting back the quiver in his voice.

"I don't know," he said, not wanting to lie anymore. "I don't know." His eyes turned toward Bombalurina, who stood at his side resolutely. Their eyes met, then paws clasped tightly. Munkustrap gazed at the cats standing around them, their eyes solidly fixed in fear, or hate, on the shadows that flickered over the entrance. They stood willingly with him, ready to meet whatever fate was awaiting them as the humans tore the small entrance away, revealing a larger-than-dog-sized hole in which streamed through the hot sunlight of day.

THE END...?