Cats Onwards

Chapter 13. Pouncival.

"UP! GUYS! THE MOON IS OUT!" Little Callus roared as he skidded into the tom's den.

"Uncle Tug!" George shrieked. Tugger hissed as his young nephew began to prod his leg.

"Guys get up! Get up!" Callus meowed, now standing on Tugger's back.

"Five more minutes, mum." Pouncival yawned.

"I'm not Jelly! I'm Callus!"

"No, you're a pain in my side." Tugger grunted. The two male kittens huffed and cartwheeled into the centre of the den.

"Well can someone at least come outside with us? Hariena refuses to come in here." George cackled.

"Not it." Tugger mumbled.

"Not it." Mungojerrie, Mistoffelees and Tumblebrutus meowed at the same time. Admetus and Plato were still fast asleep, Coricopat was most likely with his twin Tantomile and Alonzo was probably doing 'third in command' stuff.

"I'll go..." Pouncival groaned. The two young kittens yowled happily and scampered out.

"Good job, Pounce. Taking one for the team!" Tugger snickered. Pouncival shot a glare to the tom as he picked himself up.

"They're your family." Pouncival sneered towards the terrible bore.

Outside, the full moon shone brightly, illuminating the Jellicle junk yard. George, Callus and Hariena were practicing their dancing for their first ball. Some other cats had already emerged, Munkustrap and Alonzo were chatting near the entrance of the den closest to Old Deuteronomy's tire. Rumpleteazer and Electra were prancing about near the queen's den and Pouncival gave a soft smile.

"Hey, Pouncival!" Electra greeted brightly, a slight smirk present on her face.

"Evenin' ladies!" Pouncival grinned.

"I see you got lumped with babysitting duty." Rumpleteazer chuckled as she pointed to the dancing kittens.

"Eh, they're just excited for their first ball. Besides, grumpy uncle Tug wouldn't get up." Pouncival scoffed.

"And let me guess, Mungo is still whining about his tail?" Rumpleteazer meowed flatly with a raised brow. Pouncival nodded and the pair suddenly burst into laughter. "He can be so dramatic!"

"I know!" Pouncival chortled.

"So, planning on dancing with anyone tonight?" Rumpleteazer queried with a smirk. Pouncival gulped nervously and sent a glance in Electra's direction. She giggled knowingly before sliding away.

"Uh, Teazer, I actually wanted to talk to you-"

"Rumpleteazer!" Alonzo called as he sprinted over. "How's Jemima?" He asked, completely cutting off Pouncival.

"Uhm, she's OK. A bit sore..." Rumpleteazer murmured. Alonzo nodded before continuing on.

"Right, well Munkustrap thinks that if she sings Memory to commemorate Grizabella tonight, Old D will like it." Alonzo explained.

"Sure, she is in the den if you want to talk to her." Rumpleteazer directed the tom towards the queens den, he gave an abrupt tilt of the head before crawling inside. "What were you saying Pounce?"

"Uhh, yes um 'Teazer, Rumple...teazer...oh Jellicles...Rumpleteazer! Do you want to-"

"Jellicle cats!" Cried Munkustrap from on top of the tire. Suddenly, cats began to pour out from the dens, meowing excitedly.

"Argh! Teazer, will you-?!" Pouncival yowled, trying his best to get out his question. Mungojerrie appeared with a huge smile on his face and he grabbed his sister's paw.

"Sorry Pounce...talk later!" Rumpleteazer gave him an apologetic look before the female calico skipped away with her brother. Pouncival groaned in frustration, pawing at his ears in irritation.

"That was frustrating to watch." Etcetera sighed from behind her sibling.

"You don't even know the half of it." Pouncival hissed miserably. They turned their attention to Munkustrap whom was poised on the tire proudly overlooking the tribe.

It was time.