Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer Arrive

Rumpleteazer opened her eyes, blinking in the bright sunlight. She was all alone in her box, with no-one in the world caring about her. She shivered and curled up in the rags she found around her.

Suddenly there was a deep laugh, and a huge, red and white tom was soon towering over her. 
"Hello," he said, an evil look overtaking his face, "I'm Macavity. I'll take you in."

Rumpleteazer looked at him, and agreed. He could be my father figure, she thought. What she didn't know was how wrong she could be.

Suddenly Mavavity's helpers grabbed her arms and legs. Rumpleteazer tried to fight back but she couldn't get herself free.

"Help!!!" She screamed. 
No one could hear her, and even if they did, nobody cared.

Mungojerrie watched in horror as Rumpleteazer was catnapped.

Suddenly he started to cry as the very same thing had happened to him, when he was a smaller kitten. He made up his mind to help her out.  

Rumpleteazer was taken to a cold, dark place, and tied up in a box. She began to cry. She wanted her mum, after all, she was only a little kitten!  She was nearly a teen cat, but had never been away from her mother before.

Just then, Mungojerrie crept in. He had seen the capture, and wanted to know if he could help the poor little kitten he had just seen catnapped.

Mungojerrie was a tall for a kitten. He had black and ginger stripes all down his white body. His blue eyes watched Rumpleteazer from a corner.

It had been easy for him to get in. He was Macavity's right hand man! Despite this, he was sorry for the little kitten who had been cat-napped. He remembered what it was like when Macavity had captured him. He had been afraid, and lonely, and didn't want this for this cute little kitten.

He went over to the guard, and told him that he would guard the prisoner for the rest of the night.  The guard looked at him shocked.  Mungojerrie had never done this before - he had always liked people to do things for him.
"Got a problem?" said Mungojerrie.
"Err…no sir!" the guard replied.
He gave Mungojerrie the key to the door, and said, "Make sure you lock the door behind me."
Mungojerrie nodded, and the guard left.

Cautiously looking around, Mungojerrie locked the door, to make sure no-one could get in.  He wandered over to the small kitten in the box, and asked kindly "What's your name?"

Rumpleteazer looked surprised.
"WHAT?" she yelled "You capture me, and then start to act kind, and ask me my name?"
"Shhh…" said Mungojerrie, fearful that someone would hear. "I'm Mungojerrie, and I've decided that I'm gonna 'elp ya escape!"
"Oh." Said Rumpleteazer, made speechless by this announcement.  "And why should I trust you?"
"Because…" said Mungojerrie searching for a reason, "…Just because I'm the only 'elp you'll get around 'ere!"
"Right then," she said, "I'm Rumpleteazer."

Mungojerrie took at step back, and observed the feisty little kitten.  She was certainly small, he thought, but with that gob on her, she could look after herself.  He looked at her little body, which was similar to his.  She was totally white, with a few black and ginger stripes here and there.  He looked at her small, innocent face, and began to like her more and more by the second.

Rumpleteazer looked up, and saw him staring at her.
"What's the plan then?" she asked.
"Well, we'll have to wait about a year before anything can happen," he explained, "as Macavity hasn't got anything planned 'til the Jellicle Ball, and this time next year!"
"Ok"
"But I'll guard you until then," he finished.

The weeks past, and Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer stayed in the room all day and night, in only each other's company.  They got to know each other extremely well.  

Then, a week before the Jellicle Ball, Mungojerrie noticed how much Rumpleteazer had grown.  She was only slightly smaller than him, and they were both young adults!  She had been only a small kitten when they met, and he had watched her blossom into a beautiful young queen.  He began to look at her in a totally different way.

Rumpleteazer looked at Mungojerrie that very same day, and thought to herself how handsome he had become.  They caught each other looking, and both turned away, blushing.

From then on, the pair never saw each other in the same way.  They used to be more like brother and sister, but now they were both getting more attracted to the other, although neither would admit it.

The Jellicle Ball drew closer, and the more Mungojerrie thought about it, the more he didn't want the night to come.

The night before, Rumpleteazer was lay in an old rug, when she turned to Mungojerrie, and said, "Right then, what's the plan?"

He knew then that he would have to say goodbye to his friend, and began to tell her.
"At 'bout 8pm, Macavity will go out, with 'is servants.  Then 'e will cat-nap a cat, and bring 'em back 'ere.  'E has usually done this by 9pm.  While 'e's there, we'll sneak out, and I'll take ya back to where 'e found ya.  That ok?"
"Sounds great" Rumpleteazer replied.
The pair curled up together, and went to sleep.

The next night, Macavity went out at 8pm, just like Mungojerrie had said he would.  Mungojerrie woke up Rumpleteazer, who was having a nap, and told her it was time to go.  She picked up her rag, and followed him.

He carefully turned the key in the lock, and opened the door.  They both sneaked out, and Mungojerrie took Rumpleteazer to the field where her own mother had abandoned her.  
"That was easy," said Rumpleteazer.
"Yeah, almost too easy," replied Mungojerrie.

There was a long pause.  Neither cat knew quite what to say.

"Right, that's it then I suppose," said Mungojerrie sadly. 
"Ok, but there's one last thing I'd like to know before I go," said Rumpleteazer.
"Go on…"
"Why did ya 'elp me?"
"'Cos what 'appened to ya, it 'appened to me too," replied Mungojerrie.
"Oh." Said Rumpleteazer, at a loss for words.  "Mungojerrie?"
"Yeah?"
"Will ya come with me?"

There was a long pause. Rumpleteazer patiently awaited his reply.  Mungojerrie was torn.  He was slowly falling in love with this queen, but yet he felt he couldn't leave Macavity.  

Before Mungojerrie had chance to answer, a gang of Macavity's servants grabbed Mungojerrie's arms and legs, and began to take him back to Macavity's Lair.

"Noooo!" screamed Rumpleteazer, running after them.  She reached them quickly, and scratched and bit every bit of rat she could find.  The rats yelped in pain, dropping Mungojerrie, and scuttled away.

Mungojerrie got up, and limped over to Rumpleteazer, who was licking her wounds.
"I'd love to come with ya," he said. Feeling shy for the first time in his life.

Rumpleteazer jumped up, and hugged Mungojerrie.
"Mungojerrie, I don't know how to say this…"
"Go on"
"…I…do…." She struggled
"Will ya be my mate?" she blurted out, quite afraid of the answer.
Mungojerrie looked at her in disbelief.  
"Of course I will," he said
Rumpleteazer smiled. 
"Now we've just gotta find somewhere to live" she pondered.

The two cats paused, and were lost deep in their own thoughts.
"I know!" yelled Mungojerrie, "What about the Junkyard?"
"Good idea" replied Rumpleteazer.
The two cats made their way to the Junkyard.  

When they arrived, the Jellicle Tribe were still dancing around the Moon, and watching as an old, brown tom made his way up to the Heavyside Layer.

The singing stopped as Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer walked in.
"Can we help you?" said a young stripey tom, helpfully.
"We were wondering if we could be a part of your tribe," said Mungojerrie tactfully.
A heavily pregnant queen walked over. 
"Sure!  The more the merrier," she said.  "I'm Jennyanydots.  I didn't quite catch your names"
"Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer," Rumpleteazer replied.  "And thanks!"
"No problem" the queen replied.  "Now for the introductions"

After an hour of introductions, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer had met many cats, including a small, grey stripey tom, called Munkustrap, who was convinced he was going to become Jellicle Leader.  

Another heavily pregnant queen, who said she was called Jellylorum, had also introduced herself, by saying she was having two kittens!  

A small kitten, by the name of Victoria, who said she couldn't wait for mummy to have her little brother or sister, and a black and white tom, about their age, who loved anything magical, and totally adored Victoria, also made their way over.  

They later found out that Victoria's 'mummy' was Jennyanydots.

They discovered the friendly tom who had asked them if he could help, was called Skimbleshanks, and he had even offered Rumpleteazer a place to stay for a while.  

Mungojerrie had already agreed to stay in a 'young toms' home, where four other lived, by the names of Rum Tum Tugger, Alonzo, Admetus and Pouncival.

Mungojerrie turned to Rumpleteazer, and said, "I think we're gonna like it 'ere!"
She nodded in agreement, and added, "I think we'll be 'ere for a long time."

Copyright LilTeaza