"Munkustrap!"
Munkustrap’s ears twitched at the sound of his name as his eyes slowly opened, searching to see who had called him. He reluctantly sat up, careful not to wake Cadamine, who was still sleeping at his side. He squinted his eyes, adjusting to the day’s light, and glanced around the junkyard before him. No one was in sight. Concerned that there was a problem, the gray and black tabby headed off in search of the mysterious voice, hoping that the newly found stray would not wake up before he returned. "Is anyone there?" he inquired, as he turned a corner in the junkyard.
Mistoffelees peered out from behind a cardboard box. "There you are. I’ve been looking all over for you."
The magical cat’s appearance stunned Munkustrap, as he glanced from where Mistoffelees was standing, back towards the tire and back again. "How did you…"
"I was throwing my voice," replied the black cat, sheepishly. "I hope that I didn’t wake you."
Munkustrap smiled back at his friend, and groomed the back of his head. "I needed to get up anyway. There is no reason to be a Gumby cat on a fine morning like this. Was there something that you needed?"
Mistoffelees thought for a moment. "Oh yes, I almost forgot! I overheard Alonzo and some of the other males talking this morning. They haven’t found a trace of the stray from yesterday. They think she may be gone for good."
He gleamed with amusement at the comment. "What makes them assume that?"
"Well, like I said, they haven’t seen her since. They say we all probably scared her off for good." Munkustrap laughed gently to himself, as though it was some sort of joke. "What’s so funny?" asked Mistoffelees, suspiciously.
"Well, I wouldn’t exactly say that she is gone for good."
"What do you mean she’s not gone for good? What do you know that the others don’t?" he questioned.
Munkustrap motioned for Mistoffelees to follow him and headed back towards the tire. As they turned the corner, the stray came into view. Mistoffelees gasped, staring at the sleeping female who was practically in plain daylight. "You mean she never left?" he demanded.
Without answering, Munkustrap leapt back onto the tire, and nuzzled Cadamine gently. "There’s someone I want like you to meet," he murmured softly.
Cadamine sluggishly opened one eye up at him, and stretched out her body. "Okay," she agreed, yawning as she spoke. "But can I make myself presentable first? I feel like something the dog dragged in."
The two males looked at each other and grinned at one another. "I’m afraid it’s a bit too late for that," Munkustrap replied in a purring chuckle.
Cadamine quickly looked up, both startled and embarrassed, towards the unfamiliar cat before her. "Cadamine, I’d like you to meet my good friend, Mr. Mistoffelees," he introduced, proudly.
Mistoffelees bowed his head shyly in greetings. "I think you look lovely this morning," he complimented.
Cadamine nodded her head, in response. "Thank you. I really don’t always look like this," she swore in a typical female manner. "I wasn’t told that I would be meeting anyone already."
Cadamine shot Munkustrap a dirty glance from the corner of her eye, and Mistoffelees couldn’t help but let out a small giggle at the trouble the trouble his friend was already getting into. "Well, you’ll have to excuse him." Mistoffelees apologized for his friend. "He hardly knows a thing about addressing a female."
The two cats laughed out loud as Munkustrap shuffled his paws uncomfortably. "Yes, well…" he mumbled with his gray face now a bright red, which made the two laugh even harder.
The males themselves from Cadamine’s presence in order to search for breakfast, with Munkustrap’s face still a pale shade of pink. "I think she would make a fine Jellicle if she wishes to join our tribe," commented Mistoffelees, as they wandered further from the tire.
Munkustrap thought to himself and frowned. "I agree, but I worry about how Alonzo and the others will take to her. She will not be as easy to adapt to as a kitten. I believe it is time for me to make a trip to Vicrage and speak to Old Deuteronomy about this."
Moments after he uttered the words, he was on his was to visit the Jellicle leader. Mistoffelees decided to stay behind with Cadamine, and took it upon himself to give her a formal tour of the junkyard. The two were becoming very close despite their meeting a short time ago. Though a naturally shy cat, Mistoffelees found it easier to warm up to the new feline, and knew that both had found a trusted friend in one another. As the two made their way towards the old oven, Mistoffelees caught site of two other females. He slipped behind a torn lamp shade so as not to be seen, with Cadamine following behind him, somewhat confused. Bombalurina was stretched out and sunbathing across the stove top while Demeter straddled a trash can just above her. A smile slowly stretched over Mistoffelees’ face as he looked on with amusement. "Watch this," he whispered to Cadamine, with a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.
Cadamine eyed him suspiciously, but kept her position close by. Mistoffelees stared intently at the exact place he desired to throw his voice and took a deep breath. "Hello, girls!" came a loud greeting from inside the trash can.
Demeter shot up atop her tippaws, as fur blasted out in every direction possible. Mistoffelees and Cadamine muffled their giggles at the humorous site, trying not to give themselves away. Bombalurina simply blinked in response, but smiled warmly at the surroundings around her. "Hello Mistoffelees! You’re getting better," she commented in no direction in particular.
Mistoffelees strolled casually out from behind the junk pile and bowed deeply. "Thank you! I’ve been practicing." He then glanced up at Demeter, who still hadn’t said a word, and raised an eyebrow at her. "You okay, Demeter?"
Bombalurina looked up at her friend, and burst into a fit of giggles, struggling not to fall off of the oven. Demeter shook herself out of shock, and stared down at the slim, red feline beneath her. "What are you laughing about?" she demanded.
"You look like an electrocuted hairball!" Bombalurina spit out, trying unsuccessfully to control her laughter.
Demeter scowled at both felines, as she tried to groom her uncontrollable coat. Mistoffelees smiled back sympathetically in her direction, attempting to smuggle his laughter. "I’m sorry, Demeter," he apologized. "I didn’t know that it would scare you so much." He paused for a moment, trying to think of how to help her forget. "I ran into Alonzo today," he added, trying to change the subject.
Well, that did it. Demeter stopped her grooming and stomped off alone in a huff, leaving behind a baffled black cat. He looked over at Bombalurina for guidance. "I thought she was involved with Alonzo. Did I just say something wrong?" he inquired regretfully.
"Demeter and Alonzo haven’t spoken since yesterday. Their views involving the stray have been….well, needless to say a little divided and-"
"Oh, Yeah!!" exclaimed Mistoffelees suddenly, almost sending Bombalurina flying off of the stove for the second time that morning. He quickly tucked his tail behind his legs in embarrassment of his mistake. Bombalurina stared down, unamused at his tactics. "Mistoffelees, you are beginning to become hazardous to my health," she scolded.
"Sorry, Bomb. I just remembered that there was someone that I wanted you to meet."
Mistoffelees nodded towards his right, as Cadamine cautiously emerged from her hiding place and sat beside him. "Bombalurina, this is my friend, Cadamine," he acquainted. He rolled his eyes at Bomb’s confusion, and leaned over a little closer. "Remember from yesterday?" he reminded through his teeth.
Bombalurina suddenly lit up with understanding. "Oh, yes! I saw you yesterday. I hope that you didn’t have too much of an unpleasant experience. Some of the males can be so childish."
Cadamine smiled. She knew that she and Bombalurina would get along just fine. "No, I was just a little disturbed being surrounded by a large amount of strangers," she replied lightly. "As long as there are some gentletoms out there, I should be just fine."
Bombalurina turned to Mistoffelees with a sly expression upon her face. "So, Misto, are you two…."
"Very good friends," finished Mistoffelees, matter-a-factly.
Bombalurina let out a sigh of relief. "That’s good. Let’s not put Cadamine through anything else before she has to. You had me worried there. When you first brought her out, I thought were starting to take after Tugger."
"Hey now! There’s only ONE Tugger," came a voice out of nowhere.
Bombalurina gasped and twirled around, surprised by the unexpected response, to come face to face with the curious cat. Tugger licked his paw and ran it through his Persian-length mane. "Yeah, the girls always find it hard to catch their breath when I’m around," he bragged.
Mistoffelees frowned at the larger cat. "Maybe it’s your unpleasant odor," he shot back quickly.
Tugger ignored the shorter Tom and turned his attention towards Cadamine. "Hello, Heavyside! And who might you be, gorgeous?" he asked moving closer with his unstable hind quarters.
"Cadamine," she answered, somewhat amazed by his appearance.
Tugger pushed Mistoffelees aside, as he took a seat by her side. Bombalurina rolled her eyes. "So much for not putting her through these things," she commented sarcastically.
Tugger tossed up his paw. "Hey baby, there’s plenty of me to go around. You just have to wait your turn. I have to give the new female the introductory offer!"
Mistoffelees slipped his small body between Cadamine and the annoying disturbance. "I’m sure she’d love to waste her time watching you make a fool of yourself, but she has better things to do today," he spoke on her part.
Tugger ran his paw underneath Cadamine’s chin before turning away. "Some other time then," he invited, coolly. "Come on, Bomb! How about reeking havoc on some Pekes and Pollicles?"
"How about you go by yourself and play fire hydrant?" retorted Bombalurina casually.
Cadamine laughed in approval of her comeback, and the three moved on. Tugger watched on with a look of pleasure. "I love it when she plays hard to get!" he grinned, as he left in his own direction.
After a short distance, the three ran into Jellyorum and Jennyanydots as they watched over the kittens at play. Victoria, Jemima and the other young Jellicles took to Cadamine rather quickly, as they did to most anybody. The two elders also spoke politely to the new female, though they kept up their protection for the kittens sake. "She would make a wonderful Jellicle if Deuteronomy would accept her," complimented Jennyanydots to Mistoffelees quietly. "She is very proper and polite."
"Her maternal qualities are very strong as well," added Jellyorum as she watched the kittens attempt to pounce on Cadamine’s swishing tail.
Mistoffelees nodded as he and Bombalurina looked on. Jemima made a leap for the tail and fell promptly on her face as Cadamine pulled it away. She knelt down by the kitten’s side. "Are you alright?"
Jemima opened one eye and slipped behind Cadamine, briskly snatching the tail up in her mouth. Cadamine let out a small yelp of pain, then smiled down slyly at the young one. "I’ll have to remember that trick for later," she said.
The adults laughed gently as Jemima sat up proudly with her prize still between her jaws. The moment was short lived as Demeter abruptly made her way up towards her sister. Jellyorum grabbed Victoria by the nape of the neck and pulled her out of the way of the trampling paws. Bombalurina stepped in front of her sister with a look of concern. Demeter only glowered. "You can tell that…cat, who doesn’t deserve to be called a Tom, that I refuse to speak to him. He can’t control my opinion like he’s above me or something!"
Jellyorum looked over worriedly at Jennyanydots. "Oh, dear," she sighed. "It looks like she and Alonzo haven’t made up yet."
Bombalurina put her paw around her friend in comfort as Alonzo appeared on top of the hill. Mistoffelees looked up, alarmed, at Alonzo and then turned back to Demeter. "Why didn’t you tell me he was right behind you?!" he demanded.
Demeter rolled her eyes at the annoyance above her. "What does it matter?" she sighed as she turned to walk away.
"Demeter!" cried Alonzo, taking off after her. He stopped right in front of her face. "Demeter, I don’t want to fight with you. Why can’t you just listen to reason?"
Demeter whirled around to face her opponent as Pouncival and Tumblebrutus appeared, moving closer to Alonzo. "You just don’t get it, do you? If I have to fight with you in order to stand up for my beliefs, then I will do it! Your version of ‘reason’ is the same thing you had when you opposed the return of Grizabella!"
"I accepted Grizabella in the end. Besides, she was a lost Jellicle. Not some STRAY that wondered into our world…"
"Excuse me," Cadamine interrupted, trying to be polite as possible. "If you wish to speak about me behind my back, may I leave first?"
Alonzo and Demeter turned towards the new feline, neither realizing that she had been standing there throughout their anger. Alonzo growled at Cadamine, as he slowly stalked closer. "What are you still doing here, STRAY? This isn’t your home."
"My name is Cadamine, not STRAY, and was invited to stay here," she explained cautiously.
Mistoffelees slid in front of her as a thin protection from the elder Tom. "It’s okay, Alonzo. She isn’t any danger to the Jellicles. Munkustrap said…"
"MUNKUSTRAP!" roared Alonzo, as Cadamine and Demeter both shuddered at his response. "That traitor is suppose to be protecting the Jellicles!"
Bombalurina and Demeter threw themselves into the crossfire, as Jellyorum and Jennyanydots held the kittens away from the scene of danger. "Alonzo, calm down!" shouted Demeter. "Munkustrap is protecting the Jellicles. It is better for him to take in a lost feline than to leave her for death…or Macavity."
"I don’t care what Munkustrap thinks he is doing! She could be working for the Hidden Paw already. I’m going to make sure that the Jellicles remain in no danger," he replied, as he came within inches of the Cadamine.
Cadamine closed her eyes tightly and heard an angry hiss. She reopened them slowly only to face the back of the black and grey tabby that came between her and Alonzo. "You stay away from her!" he seethed.
"Munkustrap!" came out a sharp warning.
Munkustrap backed down, and guided Cadamine to the other side of a large, shaggy elder. She was close to tears now, and Munkustrap and Bombalurina tried to comfort her. "Are you okay?" he asked, concerned. Cadamine nodded slowly, as he rubbed up against her shoulder as a reassurance that eveything would be fine. He then motioned his head towards the stranger before her. "This is Old Deuteronomy. He is the leader of our tribe."
Deuteronomy turned to face Cadamine and smiled kindly down upon her. By now, other Jellicles appeared on the scene with the arrival of their leader and beheld the view before them. "Hello, Cadamine," he greeted warmly. "Munkustrap has told me much about you and how you are looking for somewhere to belong. I am sorry that you seem to be having a rough day."
"I’m afraid that is my fault," apologized Cadamine, not wanting to leave Alonzo with all the blame for the sake of her new friends. "Alonzo was only trying to defend the tribe while you and Munkustrap were away. I was only a stranger."
Alonzo bowed his head towards Deuteronomy. "She could be an agent for Macavity or some other enemy of ours. She cannot be trusted," he grumbled.
Deuteronomy then turned his attention towards the others involved. "Do you feel any threat from this feline?"
"No sir," answered Bombalurina for the group. "She has been nothing but polite, considerate, and caring towards us. Not even one of Macavity’s henchcats could play that off."
Alonzo growled under his breath. How could his friends betray him for the sake of some stray? "Since you find her to be innocent of any danger to the Jellicles, what do you wish of her?" asked Deuteronomy.
"She has nowhere to go, sir. We want her to stay with us. Perhaps she might become a Jellicle as well," suggested Mistoffelees, careful not to upset Deuteronomy.
"Absolutely not!!" shouted Alonzo, with Pouncival and Tumblebrutus nodding in agreement. "She is a stray! She has no place being here. She doesn’t belong."
"I was not always a stray," Cadamine defended. "My family abandoned me with nowhere to go! I’m sorry that I’m such a threat to you, but I promise I mean you no harm. I just want somewhere to stay."
Deuteronomy pondered for a moment. Usually most kittens were easily admitted into the Jellicle tribe without complications. This feline, however, was an adult, and was also protested against by others. He looked up once more to address the crowd. "Cadamine, you are looking for a place to stay, and I would like to admit you into our tribe at the upcoming Jellicle Ball. However, there is some protest as far as your place would go. Out of fairness to all Cats involved, I will give you one week to gain unanimous acceptance from all Jellicles. If this is complete, then you may join the tribe."
Cadamine bowed towards the great leader. "Thank you, sir. I will do my best. That is all I can do."
Alonzo scoffed quietly. "She’ll never get my acceptance," he vowed, as he slipped away silently.
That evening, Cadamine found trouble resting. She thought about all that needed to be done in order to gain acceptance. There was a chance that she might win over Pouncival and Tumblebrutus’ trust, but what about Alonzo? He seemed so set against her that it made her upset just thinking about it. She thought back to the other Jellicles she had met that day. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer certainly were an interesting pair. They had promised her to get anything she would need, even if it meant stealing. She smiled to herself. They would just love the opportunity to engage in their favorite pastime. Tantomile and Coricopat were rather mysterious to her. How they walked and talked in a continuous motion of simultaneity and rhythm intrigued her. Cassandra, Skimbleshanks, she had met them all…at least she thought so. So why were three Jellicles so set against her? Her thoughts were interrupted by Munkustrap peering into her eyes. "I wish I could search your thoughts and see what has you so quiet and serious tonight," he pondered.
"Wouldn’t it be easier if I just told you?" she questioned.
He nodded. "As you wish. Does it have something to do with the day’s events?"
"Yes," she returned quietly. "I have a whole week to convince myself to everyone, yet there is only one Jellicle that I fear won’t change his mind no matter what I do."
Munkustrap looked at her seriously for a moment. "With you, anything is possible. It might take some work, but it can be done."
"Do you really think that Alonzo would change his mind?"
He shrugged. "He changed his mind about Grizabella at the last Jellicle Ball. He’s stubborn, but not impossible."
"Munkustrap, you believe that I’m not a threat to anyone, don’t you?"
He sat back, stunned at what she had just asked him. As he regained his composure, he set his gaze back into her eyes where they had once been anchored. "Cadamine, I have known that you were no danger to us since I first laid eyes on you. You are pure and good and if any cat refuses to see that, then he is stubborn, not blind." Cadamine smiled at his return, and nodded her head. Munkustrap snuggled up close to Cadamine and whispered in her ear. "Get some sleep now. Don’t think about what will not happen tomorrow, but what will be accomplished."
Cadamine nuzzled Munkustrap’s neck and laid down by his side. She drifted off to sleep with a newfound confidence and determination to turn things in her direction.
