The Awful Battle of the Pekes and What's Possible

Going Up Hill

Munkustrap woke back up and it didn't seem like the sun had moved much in the sky. He turned over and both Tugger and Mistoffelees were gone, probably to go sleep in one of their own dens. Munk's body ached and he saw a lot of bruising, probably from the fight the previous night, but at least no one else got hurt. It was embarrassing that he was knocked out like that. Couldn't protect his tribe and failed so hard, he didn't leave a scratch on Macavity, letting him run home free.

Munk stood up, walking himself over to the entrance of the junkyard. He yanked himself up onto the lofty brick gate board and started walking it, patrolling and scanning the area for any sign of Macavity or his hench cats. Even a paw print could be enough to help, but Macavity isn't the hidden paw on accident. He's very good at covering his tracks. Munk thought about, for the first time since he became protector, going to his father for information. Just ask him where the hench cats took him and if they revealed anything of what they would do to him.

He wanted to make sure they had a plan if they chose to cat nap a cat like Misto, and couldn't use magic to get them back. Who could they send out to retrieve them? Munk took a second to think of all the cats with magic in the tribe: Old Duet, Misto, young Jemima- He couldn't forgive himself if anything happened to such a young sweet kit.

Munk went to lick his paw, but he winced in pain as he came to discover how badly it stung. He looked down, his paws slightly shaking, he saw claw marks slashing the middle of his paw pads, slashes identical to the ones that covered his body, the ones he had got from Macavity. Munkustrap now noticed the aching that came from his hind paws. He was trained to stand on his hind legs, it helped him in his job, but that put extra pressure on them that he didn't exactly like.

But, that's just the proof he needed to get back to his job. Macavity is still out there. He was unsuccessful in taking his father and technically didn't win the fight. He was going to come back and it was just a matter of time. It was Munkustrap's job to make sure everyone was safe and that is exactly what he planned to do. All the other cats were taking a well earned, well needed rest after the all-nighter they pulled. It couldn't be any later than noon. Most cats don't wake up until the morning following the ball because of how tiresome it is, so he won't have to worry about talking to any other cat until the following day.

For the rest of the daylight, Munk paced the wall of the junkyard, guarding it with his life. By that night, he had grown tired, but with every small movement or any echoed noise, he'd be flinched awake by the fear that Macavity was coming to hurt his family. Munkustrap examined the texture of the dirt, each small speckle of it, in any hopes of finding track coverings. He kept note of the trees by the junkyard being easy entrances, hiding the villain, but he could still find no evidence of Macavity.

As night crept up on Munkustrap, he only saw the visions of the night before. The junkyard being illuminated by the jellicle moon, the business that washed over the tribe... the aftermath of all the pain. Seeing shadows roll in the dark; passing cars creating stretching silhouettes onto the walls, street lamps buzzing with surrounding flies and moths- every little movement made Munk jump high into the air. He only felt the reality of the situation when his feet landed back on the ground, shaking his bones and clearing his head.

Dazed by the vibrating that rang in his consciousness, it wasn't long until morning made its return. The pitter patter of paws on the dirt below him and the high pitched squeals of the kittens finally energized since the ball made the junkyard feel whole again. Looking down, he saw Jemima walking into the Jennyanydots' medical hut for another day of learning. One day, Munk was going to have a kitten like her and they'd grow up to be a wonder to the tribe, he just had to make sure there was still a tribe there by the time he was able to have kittens.

Munkustrap's ear twitched as a scraping was heard from behind him. He swiftly turned, making a b-line for the edge of the wall. He was ready to pounce at anything ready to hurt him, but instead, it was Tugger. Munk watched in flat lined annoyance as his younger brother pulled himself up onto the edge next to him.

"Ya' know bro, you could've lent a helping paw! It's not easy to climb when I just got my claws done." Rum Tum Tugger looked at Munkustrap with a cheeky smirk, letting his eyes narrow in a knowing coolness. Munk was having none of it; exhausted and on-edge, he turned from his brother and continued his patrol on the wall. He didn't find it helpful to waste a word on Tugger, especially when he would never listen.

"Ugh- come on, bro. You look exhausted. How long have you been up here anyway?" Tugger trotted behind the older cat who still kept his eyes focused on the horizon beyond the junkyard. "He doesn't strike in broad daylight, this should be the time you use to come hang with us!" Munk was getting ever more annoyed, the crease between his eyebrows growing deeper as his chest pushed out in an enlarged breath. Tugger was getting restless. "Come on, you know all of this. It's just Macavity!" Munk snapped, turning his entire body to Tugger, pointing a sharp claw to the younger tom's face. "Just Macavity? JUST Macavity? You mean, just the Macavity that has broken every law? Just the Macavity that stole our father? Just the Macavity who stunned all of us into not moving? The Macavity that catnapped my wife and used her for months, making her lose her sense of self and happiness?"

Munk stopped for a second, non blinking, using his eyes as lasers into Tugger's soul. Tugger stood there speechless, frozen by his brother's sudden outburst. Munk huffed, turning back away from Tugger to keep watch. "Just Macavity... you really are ignorant." Tugger zoomed to catch up to Munk who was already a couple yards from him. "I didn't mean it like that! Macavity has habits and likes things to be perfect. He just attacked. Old Duet went back to his human's village. He has nothing to gain from us."'

Munk refused to meet Tugger's eyes. "He didn't, but he does now. You put your little boyfriend on display. He has the most powerful magic I've seen from a kitten. Now that father is growing weary, young Mistoffelees will be his next target." Tugger tightened. He didn't think much of it, he was just proud of his boyfriend. Is there really a bullseye on his back? But instead of saying anything of value, Tugger adds in, "He's not a kitten, he's a cat!" Munkustrap groans. "He's not a cat yet, he's a growing kitten. He won't be a kitten till his first birthday. He just got all of his adult teeth. I can't let a kit, or anyone for that matter, be swept up by Macavity."

Tugger grew irritated and let his worry for his partner take over his cool persona. "If anyone is going to protect Misto, it's going to be me! I won't let anyone lay a paw on him. We spend all of our days with each other! I was literally on my way to his den. You don't need to worry about him, that's my job." Munkustrap didn't know what else to say, so continued to stare as if Tugger wasn't there. Tugger deflated, moving closer to Munk, brushing their paws. "I get you want to protect us, and that's your job, but you don't need to push yourself like this. When's the last time you slept?" Munk turned, facing away from his brother and taking slow steps in his route. "You should know, you were there."

Tugger's eyes shook with a concerned urgency. "Munk, you were only in that spot for an hour. Have you really only slept for an hour since the ball?" Munkustrap shook his head and Tugger tilted his head in confusion, his tail wiggling freely. "I didn't sleep the night before the ball either. I had things to do." Tugger jumped up, all of the air in him circling to his chest causing it to puff out.

"So you've slept 30 minutes in 4 days? No, I won't let that slide!"

"Hm? And what are you going to do about it? I'm stronger and smarter than you."

"Maybe you are, but the moment I tell Jennyanydots and Jellylorum you've been up they'll strap your limbs down to a bed so fast~"

And Munkustrap knew that Rum Tum Tugger was right. He took a deep breath feeling the weight of his body sag as he exhaled out the headache he's been acquiring. "Yeah... I'll be down in a little bit then." Tugger felt the softness of Munk's voice shiver up his spine and ring in his ears. It didn't boom like it did at the ball, it rang out in a tone that could only be achieved high in the mountains. This was how he knew it was about more than just Macavity. The tickling sound left him feeling a gutted sorrow for Munk, but he knew he needed the space so just nodded and scaled down the wall. Munkustrap didn't climb down that night.