Two days later I found myself walking with Demeter, Munkustrap, and Tugger again. Bombalurina had an appointment somewhere else. We were walking and talking about meaningless things and I noticed how they tried to avoid the topic of Electra's birth. They wanted to talk about it but they knew I was too shy to.

" Why are we going to Deuteronomy's cave?" I asked.

" He wanted us to go get you," Munkustrap admitted," He wants to talk to you. And thinking of promoting you or something."

" But I'm only four months old," I reminded them.

" So long as you're over two months, it's perfectly ok," Tugger waved his hand," Anyway, here we are." The cave loomed in front of me.

" We're here!" Munkustrap called.

" Come in!" Deuteronomy called.

" I'm not so sure about this!" I said starting to back away. Tugger grabbed one arm and Munkustrap got the other and began to push me into the cave. Demeter got a look of disapproval and shook her head disapprovingly.

" Come on Alonzo, we just want to talk to you," Munkustrap said still pushing me in.

" Yeah, just us, Deuteronomy," Tugger began. He pushed me into the main room and I yelped. " …and them."

" Alonzo!" Deuteronomy greeted," Welcome!"

" What's going on?!" I cried.

" Let me introduce you to the Jellicle Clan," Deuteronomy said waving his hand at all of the cats in his cave," Clan, this is Alonzo. The one who delivered Syna's kitten."

" Tugger, Munkustrap," I said slowly looking at the two," Did you know about this?"

Demeter looked very guilty. I looked at her and asked," Demeter?"

" We all knew," she said smiling sheepishly. She looked very guilty.

" You didn't have to tell him that," Tugger frowned leading me up to the chair beside Deuteronomy.

" Yes I did," Demeter said," I feel guilty."

" I should hope so!" I said very distressed but I sat down and tried to be calm. My heart was pounding like crazy and I could feel myself growing very warm.

" Alonzo!" Syna cried running to me. She hugged me and held up Electra. " We told Deuteronomy about your heroic act and he wanted to give you an award."

" Um, yay?" I asked as I held little Electra. She was asleep.

" Jellicles," Deuteronomy addressed the crowd," We are gathered here to recognize a very amazing kitten named Alonzo. By day known as the Rumpus Cat."

The crowd laughed and I got even more distressed. " I never should have said that," I moaned.

" They're not laughing at you," Demeter said patting my paw," They're laughing with you."

" But I'm not laughing!" I whined.

" But even though this kitten meant it as a joke, he has shown us that he has a heroic side behind his unending humor," Deuteronomy continued," Jellylorum is away, and Syna went into labor."

The crowd gasped a bit.

" And Syna was the other midwife," Deuteronomy said," Munkustrap, Tugger, Demeter, Bombalurina and little Alonzo ran to Syna's cave and took it into their own paws. But Alonzo, a four month old kitten, delivered Syna's kitten and as proof, here she is!"

The great leader motioned for me to stand up and I held out Electra. Then I sat down again very quickly.

" I want to give you this honor Alonzo," Deuteronomy motioned for me to come to him. Syna took her kitten and I stood beside him. I was in a state of near frozen terror. " Now, Alonzo, when you get old enough, you will be vice protector of the Jellicles."

" What?" I asked confused," What does that mean?"

" The Jellicles have a main protector and that is Munkustrap," Deuteronomy said," There is usually a vice protector if we can get one just in case the protector needs help."

" Ah, ok," I nodded," Thank you for this honor Deuteronomy. How old do I need to be?"

" You'll be officially the vice protector next month when you become five months," he answered and put a hand on my shoulder," Tugger told me that you were pretty strong and to test you…"

" You never said anything about that," I started to get worried.

A few cats in the crowd laughed a bit.

" Don't worry," he smiled," You'll be fighting someone around your own age and the one who looses is the first one to who gives up. No blood shed allowed. And in the event that one of you is accidentally wounded, you'll be taken care off."

" Um, yay?" I blinked a few times," Who am I fighting?"

" Munkustrap."

" What?!"

" Don't go easy on each other, just go by the rules," Deuteronomy called. We were in the junk yard, Munkustrap and I were in the middle of a clearing. I was shaking. Just one look at Munkustrap told me he would win. We were to forget that we were friends for the match so that it wouldn't limit us. It was against the rules to use other objects in the match, we could only use our strength.

" Ready?"

" No!" I cried.

A great laugh rang through the crowd. They knew I was kidding. Or was I? I meant it as a joke pretty much.

" Go!" Deuteronomy called sitting on a big tire.

Munkustrap ran at me and I examined him before dodging aside and he slammed into the car behind me. That wasn't against the rules.

I backed up a bit as we circled each other. He's going to win, I moaned mentally. But I pushed the thought away and tried to think of it as a rough housing match.

He came at me again and this time I held my ground and let him knock me onto the ground. I pushed him off and he fell to the floor. I pounced on him and pinned him down. Munkustrap sat up suddenly and threw me onto the ground and we kind of rolled around a bit before I managed to toss him into a piled of tires.

I shot up and jumped up just in time when he tried to kick my feet from under me. I swung a kick at his shoulder and he fell face down. I sat on him and held his hands behind him, both of us panting.

" Let go! I give up! Ow!" Munkustrap cried.

" Alonzo wins!" Deuteronomy announced and I let go of him.

" Sorry Munkustrap," I said," But I count that as payback for pushing me in here."

He laughed and took me around the shoulders. " Tugger was right, you are strong for a kitten," Munkustrap patted me and we both stood before Deuteronomy.

" It's official," Deuteronomy smiled," Alonzo will be the vice protector when he's old enough. And I also want to appoint him as the emergency mid wife."

" Yay," I said unenthusiastically. Louder, I said," Thank you for the honor Deuteronomy." I bowed.

" And I want to give you the honor or delivering Reena's kittens," Deuteronomy smiled, " Only Syna and Jellylorum will be there with you."

" Thank you," I bowed again.

We went back to the cave and while they were all talking and enjoying themselves, I took advantage of the situation and snuck out. I had made it a third of the way when I heard a twig behind me snap. " Who's there?" I asked.

" Alonzo, the celebration was for you," a female voice said.

" Bombalurina," I turned around," I don't like all this attention."

She nodded and said," I understand. Now I know why Demeter likes you a lot. Did she ever tell you about the brother we lost? Josiah?"

" She did," I nodded.

" You remind of me of him," Bombalurina put a hand on my shoulder," You may be a lot younger than him but you remind me of him so much. Your humor, your personality, just almost every bit of you remind me of my brother."

" Really?" I asked.

" Yeah," she replied," That's what I like about you Alonzo. But really, they got a shock when you left. Oh yeah: Jellylorum just arrived." She paused. " And we think that Reena might have twins."

" Wow, that's great," I said. But the look on her face told me she was going to tell me something else. " What's wrong with twins?" I asked.

" No one knows how to deliver them," Bombalurina said," We're hoping Reena won't have twins because they come out at the same time and she might die from the pain."

" Oh," I said," I don't think they'd want me helping them with a delicate operation like that."

" Actually, they were hoping you would know what to do," Bombalurina told me.

" I don't," I shook my head," I saw twins born once but they died after a while because they were born too early."

" Very helpful," Bombalurina said sarcastically. She turned around and began to walk back. " Well, if you find out, tell them ok?"

" Ok," I said," Bye Bombs."

" Everyone calls me that," she laughed. I went home then and curled up on the couch.

" Alonzo! Alonzo!" someone was screaming outside my window.

" What?" I woke up groggily.

" Alonzo! Quick!" another person cried," Reena's going into labor!"

" What?!" I screamed and shot out of my basket. It was two months later and I was already the vice protector. And I was also on call should Reena go into labor.

I ran out of the kitty door and started running towards Deuteronomy's cave. Munkustrap and Demeter were sent to get me. " Come on!" I cried.

" He gets right down to business doesn't he?" Demeter joked lightly running a few feet behind me. Munkustrap was with her.

" Well, I'm on call," I complained," You two just had to wake me up now didn't you?"

" Yeah," Demeter panted.

" Couldn't those kittens have waited till morning?" I whined.

" Are you going to complain the whole time?" Munkustrap demanded.

" Yes, that's what I plan to do," I said.

We reached the cave and I darted inside. I found Deuteronomy, Syna, Jellylorum, Asparagus, and Skimble there. Reena was crying in pain on a straw bed in the corner.

" I'm here," I announced running to the water bowl to wash my paws. Jellylorum and Syna had been teaching me how to assist in delivering a kitten.

" Alonzo," Jellylorum let out a sigh of relief," Thank goodness. Do you know how to deliver twins?"

" Not a clue," I shook my head," The Rumpus Cat came only do so much."

" Well if you don't know who does?" Syna cried.

" We have to do something otherwise they'll all die!" Skimble cried holding to his sister's hand.

" Isn't there anyway we can pull them out separately?" I asked.

" No," Jellylorum said," Anytime that was done, the one pulled out second died."

I looked at Reena and went to her. She motioned for me to come closer to her. " Get a bowl," she whispered.

I brought one to her and she squeezed herself several different places and milk came out. Then I understood. " No," I whispered to her.

" The only way," she gasped," We both know it Alonzo, I will die. I don't want my kittens to." She gave me the bowl which was filled to the brim with milk and I asked," Are you sure Reena? Your mate and brother will miss you terribly."

" I have to," she started to cry again.

I nodded and asked the Everlasting Cat to forgive me. I positioned myself behind her and opened her legs. " We have to do something," I said.

" Yes, we do," Jellylorum agreed and took Reena's hand.

" In your paws Alonzo," Syna told me and started putting water on Reena's head.

" Ok Reena, push," I cried.

Reena gave a loud scream which made us all cringe and I saw two heads. " I see their heads," I reported," Push again Reena." She screamed again and soon, two heads poked out. I reached in and pulled them out a bit which I could tell hurt Reena. " Sorry," I apologized.

" Are they alive?" she gasped.

" Yes, they are," I announced," I need just one more very long, very hard push Reena. And they'll be out."

" Oh god," Demeter clutched to Munkustrap scared.

" Now!" I cried.

Reena gave a long wail and soon, I was holding two messy, bloody, but otherwise alive and well kittens. They looked like their mother and looked very much alike. One a girl and one a boy.

" Reena," I said bringing them to her," You have a tom and a queen."

" Oh," Reena gasped holding them gently," They're so beautiful."

" My niece and nephew," Skimble whispered.

" My son and daughter," Deuteronomy said.

" Our god children," Asparagus smiled.

" Our step siblings," Tugger and Munkustrap said at the same time.

" Coricopat and Tantomile," Reena whispered. She let them sup on her a while. She lay there panting for about ten minutes before they snuggled up to her and went to sleep. She looked at them all and said," Thank you." Then she turned to me, smiled, and closed her eyes.

" Reena," Deuteronomy asked nudging her," Oh no."

" Reena!" Skimble cried feeling for her heart. He drew his hand back in horror.

I reached to feel a heart beat. I found none. " I'm sorry," I told Skimble and Deuteronomy."

" No," Skimble shook his head," No!" He looked ready to cry. Right then, he ran from the room and I could hear him crying outside.

Asparagus started to go out but Syna held him back. " You know him," she said," You go out there, you'll make it worse." Her mate reluctantly stayed.

" I'm so sorry Deuteronomy," I was trying not to cry," I'm so sorry. You trusted me and I let her die."

" Alonzo, don't blame yourself," Deuteronomy told me putting a comforting hand on my shoulder even though I knew he was trying not to cry himself.

" She knew she was going to die," I explained pulling away," That's why she put the milk in the bowl. For when she died. She told me that right before I started telling her to push. I shouldn't have."

" Alonzo," Demeter was suddenly right beside me and she pulled me into a hug, she didn't mind the fact that my paws were covered with blood," From death comes new life. Her kittens will live. What did she call them? I couldn't hear."

" Coricopat and Tantomile," I sniffed," Coricopat's the tom and Tantomile is the dame."

" We have a problem," Jellylorum interrupted," It's about the milk. How will we keep it from spoiling?"

" Put it in a closed container and we can put it in my owner's cold machine," I suggested," With all of your help, we can shove it in the back where it can't be noticed."

" That won't work," Syna shook her head," There's no way you can get it to the kittens when they'll need it."

" I'll bring the cold machine over here," I said," Or even better, there is a box which the humans put ice cubes into and I keeps things cold. The cold should help keep the milk cold enough longer. And I'll bring new ice at the beginning and end of each day until the milk is out."

" And then?" Munkustrap asked.

" I was hoping you would know," I said sheepishly.

" If we use this milk in rations, we should have enough until we figure out an alternative," Asparagus said," These kittens are small, how much could they need?"

" Who will take care of them as a mother?" Demeter asked," I mean, they need someone."

" I'm their godmother and I'll be happy to take care of them," Syna smiled," If you want me to Deuteronomy."

" But you have Electra to take care of," Munkustrap reminded her.

" Electra is old enough to take care of herself but you do have a point there," Syna bit her lip and looked at her friend," Jellylorum?"

" I will if you want," Jellylorum said.

" I don't mind," Deuteronomy said," You are both midwives, you both know how to take care of children."

Demeter whispered into my ear," I bet you Jellylorum will be his next wife."

" My thoughts exactly," I agreed.

I washed my paws and was about to leave when I heard a small voice asked," Where's momma?"

My voice caught in my throat and I looked at Jellylorum. She was going to take care of Coricopat and Tantomile. " I will not lie to a kitten," she said softly. To Tantomile, the one who spoke, she said," My name is Jellylorum. I will take care of you. I may not be your mother but I will take care of you as if you were my kittens."

" Where's my mother?" Tantomile asked.

" She's off in Heaviside," Jellylorum explained," Now little Tantomile, go to sleep."

" Jellylorum?" another voice asked. Coricopat must have been listening.

" Yes?"

" How old is Alonzo?" the little twins said together. We all froze in amazement and stared at the little ones.

" Six months," Jellylorum said still looking at the two," Why?"

" Asparagus thinks he's a lot older than that," they said together.

We froze again and even I stared at them. " What?" Demeter, Munkustrap, and I chorused.

" I was just thinking that!" Asparagus cried.

" Who is Munkustrap?" Tantomile asked softly. So softly that only I, Jellylorum, and Demeter could hear.

" The protector of the tribe," Jellylorum answered.

" Someone likes him," Coricopat replied.

If Demeter was human, she would have gone white. She looked around but no one but us heard. " You won't tell, would you Jellylorum?" I asked.

" No," Jellylorum smiled knowingly.

" These two have intuition," I mused.

" Who did they inherit that from?" Syna asked.

" Their mother," a voice said. Skimble had been listening for some time. He walked in and said," Reena always had a little bit of intuition. I got a little bit and that's why I'm the official railway cat. Our father had a strong sense of it. I guess little Coricopat and Tantomile got it. Where's Reena?"

" Deuteronomy went to bless her body before her burial," Munkustrap replied," I'm so sorry Skimble."

" It's not anyone's fault," Skimble said turning to me," Alonzo, I know you're blaming yourself but stop."

" I'm going home," I said," Happy Birthday Coricopat and Tantomile."

" Skimbleshanks," Coricopat called.

" You will have a daughter," Tantomile added," Her name is Jemima and she will be born the night when day and night are equal."

We all froze up again. Those two were freaking us out. " Anyway," I said trotting to the cave entrance," If you need me, go get me. Just do my a favor and please don't push me in front of another crowd."

" They won't," the twins chorused. Freaked out, I walked out of the cave.

Demeter and Munkustrap caught up with me and they looked about as freaked out as I was. " Those two will take some getting used to," Demeter said," I got so scared when they said my name."

" What else did they say?" I asked.

" They asked, ' Who is Demeter?' " Demeter said," I got scared and said that I was. Then they said, ' You are admired by.' Then Munkustrap covered their mouths."

" Trying to kill defenseless kittens are you?" I teased Munkustrap who looked guilty.

" Knowledge like that should not be in the head of twenty minute old kittens," Munkustrap grumbled," And I did not try to kill them."

" Right, cover up your crime," I smirked," But I, the oh so great Rumpus Cat, can see that the kittens were going to say something valuable."

" No!" Munkustrap shook his head vigorously," The odds of them saying something valuable are like the odds of the bushes behind me shaking."

Then, I heard a rustle of leaves and the bushes behind Munkustrap shook.

" Munkustrap," Demeter looked scared.

He had heard it too and he looked at me. " This isn't funny Alonzo," he said nervously.

" It's not me," I said.

He spun around and pushed Demeter behind him just incase someone was there and meant harm. I stood beside him.

" Come out," Munkustrap ordered.

A kitten gingerly stepped out. He was a white and brown mix. He had a brown square patch right over his right eye. " Hello," he said meekly.

" Hello," Munkustrap returned cautiously," What are you doing here?"

" Wonderful way to greet the guy," I told him disapprovingly.

" I'm looking for the Jellicle Clan," the kitten said quietly," I have been told that the leader lives in a cave near here. I was hoping to be accepted as a Jellicle."

" Are you owned?" Munkustrap asked.

" Yes," the kitten nodded," The family just moved here from somewhere in Burmese Territory."

" That's far," Demeter told us," Clear over to the other side of England."

" What's your name?" Munkustrap asked the kitten.

" Tumblebrutis," he replied.

" Your human name?" Munkustrap asked.

" Kitten," Tumblebrutis replied," My owners aren't very creative."

" Better than mine," I said," I'm Flea." I looked at Munkustrap and he nodded. I then looked at Demeter and silently asked her a favor. She nodded and turned to Tumblebrutis. " Tumblebrutis," she said," Our clan has just suffered a tragic loss and I don't think our leader can see anyone for the rest of the night. Meet us tomorrow afternoon right here and then we'll take you to him to become a Jellicle."

Tumblebrutis nodded knowingly. " It's fine," he said," I understand. Death is a tragic thing." " I'll see you all at noon here," Munkustrap told the kitten," You had better get home before your family gets worried."

Tumblebrutis bowed to Munkustrap and rush off. Munkustrap and I walked Demeter to her nest and after that, he walked me to my house. I groggily slipped through the cat door and plopped onto the floor not even bothering to get into my basket.

We met little Tumblebrutis the next day and took him to Deuteronomy. The great leader was still sulking but he managed to smile and ask Tumblebrutis a few questions before accepting him into the tribe.

I can't even describe how excited the little kitten was. Seemingly, he heard about moonsong and had always wanted to hear it.

" Can you dance?" Munkustrap asked.

" Yes," Tumblebrutis nodded," Not to well but just enough."

" Hey Alonzo," Demeter looked at me," We never found out whether or not your could dance."

" It should be just like fighting with a beat right?" I asked.

" You could say that," Demeter nodded," Hey, how about this. Munkustrap and I teach you two how to really dance."

" Sure!" Tumblebrutis said smiling. He really was a sweet kitten.

" Ok, there's a clearing behind the cave," Munkustrap said," By the time we're done with you two, you'll be able to dance to anything."

That was a slight exaggeration. Munkustrap knew next to nothing about teaching someone how to dance. But Demeter did. Tumblebrutis, being his small self, was really good. He did very well. Me? I guess I'm ok. I think I'm better at singing than dancing. Probably because I'm too tall to really be good at dancing.

" You're just fine," Demeter assured me.

" I'd better go home," I said," My owners are expecting me."

" Bye Flea," Munkustrap smiled.

" Later Cynthia," I returned," Bye Tumblebrutis. Bye Demeter." I scampered home when I decided to visit the park. It couldn't hurt.

I went there and walked around a bit when I heard a loud giggle and a red tiger tabby darted in front of me knocking me down. " Hey!" I shouted," Watch where you're going!"

" Sorry," the cat called not even bothering to look around. I got a good look at the cat when I saw her climbing a tree. She almost took my breath away. But I shook the thought away and without hesitation, returned home.