I notice taht Munkustrap seems to be doing a lot of stammering in this chapter... poor boy. His heart is repeatedly broken and he has no self-confidence *sigh* I hate seeing him upset... but it makes him all the more adorable to write about.

Chapter 8

"HELP!" The Junkyard was united by a scream of terror. The scene was enough to send my heart plummeting to my stomach. The fabled Napoleon of Crime was standing in the centre of the Junkyard, a smirk twitching at the edges of his mouth.

The tribe were cowering as a group on the left-hand side of the Yard. Alonzo was at the front, in a protective stance. I joined him and took the opportunity to size up the never-before-seen enemy.

"Munkustrap!"

"Yes, Father. I mean, Father! What are you doing here?! Don't you live with the Vicar now? Are you hurt? Tired? Can I help you?"

My father chuckled softly. "I'm fine, my boy. I just came here to talk with you, and the tribe, over a recent threat I have heard too much of."

"Hello, my fellow Jellicles. Now, I have little time, the Vicar expects me, but this is a matter of high importance. I have heard many reports of a cat terrorizing the northern tribes. His name is Macavity."

Deuteronomy pulled a pained face, which I was a little surprised about. There didn't seem to be much to be pained about. I also saw Skimble, Jenny, Jelly and Asparagus with identical expressions of shock on their faces.

I assumed it must be old age; they were scared of a threat. At their age, I noticed, they tended to be more nervy and have less faith in the younger generation in protecting the tribe. That was it.

"He is a conjurer, Munkustrap. Be careful. Play to your strengths. I must leave now…"

I had been informed of the Mystery Cat merely a week before, and now I was facing him in what looked to be a battle. He was red and white, with splashes of odd colouring. I had never seen a cat like him.

*He's taller than I thought…* I swallowed and chastised myself. *Now is no time to be a coward!*

Before I had opened my mouth, he spoke. His voice was deep, and foreboding.

"Ahh… here is Deuteronomy's next son. Munkustrap."

"What do you mean, 'next' son?! I'm his first son!" I snapped heatedly, unnerved that he knew my name.

He laughed. "The things you don't know. You're not much more than a kit yourself, aren't you? Just a little bigger than your little brother Rum Tum Tugger," he mocked.

"I'm no kit! I'm bigger than I look. And I fight stronger," I defended, then mentally kicked myself.

*YOU IDIOT!! You're justifying your pathetic miserable self to MACAVITY, the Napoleon of Crime. What do you care if he thinks you can't fight? That would be his downfall, you insecure IDIOT!!*

"Hmm… I see the Junkyard had acquired some new queens. Exotica… too quiet. Cassandra… too smart for her own good. Tantomile… too freaky. Kits… too small. Rumpleteaser… too giggly. However, Demeter and Bombalurina… nice…" he smirked appreciatively, as if he was discussing last night's dinner.

I really didn't want to know what his dinner had been. Probably a fellow cat. But his eyeing Demeter angered me. I bristled and stepped forward.

"Leave them alone!" I said in a measured, but fierce tone. That was more tribe-protector like.

"And why should I?" he grinned lazily, stepping one step closer to them. I charged.

Ramming into him, I tackled him and he flailed around. Placing one hind paw square on his chest, I pinned him before standing to stare down into his hideous eyes. I could tell my sudden leap had stunned him.

"Macavity…" I snarled, "Leave now. And never come back here again!" I commanded.

"Wait, you're jus' gonna le' th' lad go?" Skimble started.

I blinked. "Yeah."

"You shouldn't be doing that, boy! Kill him!" I was astounded by Asparagus' shout.

"Why?!" I cried defensively.

"Why? WHY?! You're talking to a murderer! That's why!" Asparagus shot back.

"He hasn't been proven to be a murderer! I'm not going to kill him without a real reason. If he hasn't killed or hurt anyone, I'm not killing him. That's just… murder! You don't know the stories are true! He's going to leave, and not come back. I don't want blood on my claws for killing someone who may never have actually laid a claw against another cat!"

I stuck by my morals, though my inner beast was roaring for revenge at his eyeing of Demeter. MY Demeter! Well… Tugger's Demeter. I sighed.

"He's a conjurer!" snapped Jellylorum.

"So? I'm not going out on a witch-hunt to kill every conjuring cat in the area! Being a conjurer is not a reason to kill him!" I yelled.

Turning back to face the surprisingly still criminal, I bellowed, "BEGONE!"

He dashed away, but before he transported himself, I heard his voice in my ear, thought he was a good twenty feet away.

"You just made a serious mistake not killing me, little brother…"

I was flustered. Most of the tribe agreed heartily with my morals, and praised me for my handling of the situation. However, Jellylorum and Asparagus were furious. I heard them muttering, "Too small. Not even grown yet. Hasn't seen enough… shouldn't be protector."

I bristled and was incredibly disheartened. I knew I had stumbled and wasted time justifying myself to the Hidden Paw. But I knew my decision was right. My morals were high and I would not tolerate bloody murder without proof. I

knew I was right, but being told otherwise and having people lose faith in me, even if it was only two, hurt. Also, Jelly and Asparagus had four sons; Plato, Admetus, Tumblebrutus and Pouncival, who were right now probably being told of how incompetent I was.

Contemplating the thought of kittens not trusting me hurt me even more.

Wandering the Yard, I saw Plato and Admetus heading off someplace. As I walked past, Plato relinquished his grip on Addie's neck (they were wrestling) and turned to me.

"You know, Munkustrap…"

"Yes, Plato?" I sighed, turning to look at the kitten, a year younger than me, but already growing to a substantial size.

"Y'know, whatever Mum and Dad say about you, I think you were right in doing what you did. And I'm gonna make Pounce and Tumble believe it," he said firmly.

Shocked and overwhelmed, I stammered out, "Thanks P-Plato. I-I mean it. T-Thanks for having faith in me." He smiled and Admetus piped up, "I do too."

I grinned at them and tried to compose myself. "Thanks again, guys. Now, didn't you have somewhere to go?"

"Oh yeah!" And off they skittered.

Night had fallen and I sat on the top of the TSE1, mentally drained. I was pleased that everyone but Jelly and Asparagus believed I was right in my decision to let Macavity off, though Skimble and Jenny seemed to be sympathetic and sad-eyed every time they looked at me that day.

But for all the tribe's confidence, I was displeased with myself. That slip-up, justifying myself to Macavity, had lodged a doubt in the back of my mind. I always had to justify myself to everyone.

I liked looking after people, and it came naturally, but I always needed other people's approval. Not praise, but I needed their trust and acceptance. I was fiercely independent, but needed other's approval. It made no sense and my poor head hurt.

A small figure sidled up beside me, and as the moon shone down a small ray of light, it highlighted her gold-and-black fur.

"Demeter?" I was surprised.

"Hi, Munku," she smiled at me, and I smiled back.

"I just wanted to say, you did a great job today. And thanks for looking after me and Bomba. You're a great tribe protector," she said softly.

"T-Thanks Deme. C-Coming from you, it means a lot to me," I stammered.

She smiled and said, "See you tomorrow. Tugger's expecting me…" I nodded in understanding, but my heart bled.

"You just made a serious mistake, little brother…" I pondered. Little brother? Was he playing mind games with me? I couldn't be related to him! However… the silky voice and appreciative smirk reminded me of Tugger. And his muscular build and the way he spoke just resonated of me. Troubled, I resolutely made my way to the Vicarage Wall.

"Father?"

"Munkustrap? You wanted to see me?"

"Yes. Today, Macavity came to the Junkyard."

"He did?" Old Deuteronomy's eyes quirked in a worried kind of way and I immediately was taken back to Macavity's stunned surprise.

"Yes. I trapped him and made him leave. Asparagus and Jelly thought I should kill him. But because I've never seen him kill anyone or hurt anyone or do anything bad, I let him go. They're cross at me."

My father sighed and said, "Son, some cats have seen more than you have and have justifiable views…"

"Yes, I know. But he also said something else…"

"And?"

"He called me 'little brother' and said I was your next born."

I crossed my arms and looked up at my father, expecting him to reassure me that Macavity was crazy and deranged. However, he simply sighed and said, "I knew it would happen one day…."

"Father?" I was worried.

"Munkustrap. You must understand, I didn't tell you for your health. You were so young…" his eyes stared down at me sadly, all the weight of the world shining through in them, showing his old age.

"Tell me what?!" I cried, very much aware that I was acting like a kitten.

"I… me and your mother, had a litter before you and Tugger. You may have heard talk of it, referred to as 'the' litter. Macavity was born to us as the eldest of that litter."

"Say WHAT?!" I gasped.

He continued sadly, "We had three kits, Macavity, a queen, Kyra, and a tom, Mysitat. When they were three weeks old, Macavity, who had, unbeknownst to us, been honing his newfound conjuring powers, killed his siblings out of jealousy for all the attention. Believing it had been an accident, we let him stay, of course. But when, at two and a half months, he deliberately killed a cat passing by, he was exiled."

My mouth dropped open. "W-Why didn't you t-tell me?!" Deuteronomy met my eyes sadly and I drooped. "Y-You mean I'm related to t-that MONSTER?" Terrified at the thought, I fled.

Distraught, I curled up in a little ball on top of the TSE1. Being Macavity's brother unearthed new self-doubt. What if I was a monster like him underneath? What if I turned out like him?

Silent tears ran down my face.*No, no! Munkustrap! Make your mother proud! Be strong!* I choked and swallowed up my misery and fears inside.

"Munku?"

"O-Oh, hi Deme," I smiled at her, trying not to let my voice crack.

Who was I kidding? She had been my best friend and hopefully still was. She could tell.

Curling up next to me, she asked, "What's wrong?"

Stuttering, I told her the whole story then braced myself for her to leap away and run screaming to the other end of the Yard.

So you could imagine my surprise when she rubbed up against my shoulder and sighed, "Munku, I've known you for my whole life. You're no monster, and you never could be one. I can tell. Your eyes… they're like, a mirror to your soul. They're endless, and happy, and there's no hatred or darkness there, Munku. You're loving. Macavity can never love, not after what he's done. He killed his family, Munku. You would never even entertain the thought. Trust me; you're the best cat I know."

My heart hammered and my eyes welled up with unshed tears. "T-Thanks Deme. I needed that. T-Thank you…" She hugged me and I buried my face into her headfur.

It was an innocent hug between two best friends, and that was all it was and would remain, so it seemed, forever.