Title: The End (1/10)

Rating: PG-13 for things not in this chapter

Warnings: There will be character deaths

Notes: This is it. The end. The end of the Ritzkin Arc, the finale, as it were. This is where choices are made, fates are decided, and Leviticus (modeled after the Godfather), finally shows his face.

Will anyone survive?

I do not own Cats…

"Munkustrap! Munkustrap, Munkustrap, Munkustrap!" Tumblebrutus came barreling through the junkyard, splashing through puddles as he called for the Protector. Munkustrap glanced up at the shouts, sighing and removing his paws from Demeter's waist.

"I'm sorry, Deme…"

"Duty calls," Demeter answered, leaning up to kiss Munkustrap's cheek. "I don't mind, Munkus. I'm glad the tribe is safe in your paws. You make me feel safe."

"You're an angel," Munkustrap purred, nuzzling Demeter's nose. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Stay dry," she murmured, kissing him softly.

Munkustrap left a blushing Demeter in his den as he stepped out into the rain to greet the youngest guardian. "What is it, Tumble?"

"Monniks!" Tumblebrutus gasped, pointing toward the junkyard entrance. "The whole tribe!"

Munkustrap's eyes widened, and he leapt into action. "Tumble, find Fleepit. Have his fleet alert Deuteronomy and Milton. I want Pollicle back-up. Demeter!" He shouted for his beloved queen. When she poked her nose out, he grasped her paw. "Gather the kittens and young queens in Jenny's den. Stay there until a guardian tells you it's safe."

With the arrangements made, there was nothing left for Munkustrap to do except go and meet the Monniks head-on. He really didn't want to meet his old family… but he had to. He was the Protector. It was his job to protect.

Munkustrap had been expecting the Monniks to be invading the yard… but they weren't. The entire tribe was sitting at the entrance, shifting their paws and scowling at the rain that hadn't stopped for five days now. Leviticus himself lounged at the forefront of the tribe, with the haughty Macavity standing alert by his right paw.

The Monniks were not alone. Alonzo and Admetus were standing in front of them, claws out, fur bristling. Mistoffelees was there as well, lightning crackling through his paws. He looked haggard, though, and his posture wasn't as straight and proper as it usually was. Munkustrap knew that Mistoffelees always felt exhausted when it rained, due to the fire element of his magic. Rain and cold were his worst enemies. Still, he was standing out here, protecting the tribe, despite being miserable. Munkustrap patted his shoulder.

When Macavity spotted Munkustrap, he stepped forward. Munkustrap tensed, readying for an attack, but Macavity merely bowed to him.

"Greetings, Jellicle Protector. On the behalf of Leviticus, Leader of the Monniks, I would request an audience with Deuteronomy, your leader."

Munkustrap felt a moment of panic as everyone stared at him. He didn't have much experience with formal language, and Macavity's smirk wasn't helping matters.

"No," he finally said. "You can speak with me, and I shall pass your message along, but I will not grant you an audience with Deuteronomy."

Macavity's smirk was fading, and he opened his mouth again, but it was Leviticus who spoke. The old tom rose to his feet, shaking water from his coat. "We come to you seeking asylum," he began. His voice was just like Munkustrap remembered it, quiet, raspy, and slurred with an accent that came from hanging around the quarters of mob family heads. "These constant rains have swelled the river. The low-lying areas of our lands are flooded. Our nurseries are completely under water. Our food is fleeing, running to the higher grounds of your Jellicle lands. We wish to follow, to keep our paws dry. At the very least, we are looking for shelter for our queens and kits, until the waters recede."

As Leviticus spoke, a sleek grey rat darted toward Munkustrap, ignoring the way dozens of Monnik eyes focused on it, and the way Monnik tongues licked Monnik lips. None of the Jellicles reacted in this way. They knew this rat wasn't food.

General Fleepit tweaked his whiskers in a salute to Munkustrap. "Alerts given, Precter!"

"Thank you," Munkustrap murmured. Then, "General, tell me – have you been seeing an increase in the numbers of your fleets?"

"Oh yesyes," Fleepit answered with a toothy grin. "Rats from the lowlow grounds join us. Like the water, not the flood."

"We are not lying," Macavity muttered.

Another Monnik rose and approached Munkustrap, shaking rain from a red coat. "Darling," the Monnik purred, lifting her face to Munkustrap's gaze. "Won't you help us out of the rain? The poor kittens are half drowned…"

Munkustrap's eyes widened as he recognized this queen. She was skinny now, the skin stretched tight over her face and ribs, beginning to fade like Grizabella had, but she was still beautiful, with thick, ginger fur and a fluffy tail.

Burelle.

His mother.

"I can't promise anything," Munkustrap told her. "But… Admetus. Could you and the General escort Leviticus to Deuteronomy?"

When Admetus stepped forward to collect Leviticus, Macavity made to follow, but Munkustrap stopped him with a paw on his chest.

"Only Leviticus," Munkustrap said. "You stay out here, with me."

Macavity glared at Munkustrap, letting sparks gather on his paws. Mistoffelees hissed a warning, stepping forward and pointing a claw at the ginger tom. Macavity glanced at Mistoffelees and decided not to fight. Even in his tired state, Mistoffelees looked dangerous, with sparks of lightning now running through his fur. He backed down, sitting beside Burelle. "We are wet," Macavity muttered.

"So are we," Munkustrap answered.

The Monniks sat and grumbled in the rain while the Jellicle guardians watched over them all. The return of Leviticus couldn't come soon enough.

Eventually, though, Leviticus did return, and Deuteronomy accompanied him.

"Monniks," Deuteronomy said, in his deep voice, lifting his paws so the Monniks knew where to look. "So long as you follow the law of the Jellicles, you are welcome to stay with us until your home is safe and dry again. You may not hurt or harass another cat. For further rules, speak with your leader. For now… come out of the rain."