Winter's Coming

[Arya]

Cassie looked at the singing kitten, then to Munstrap, then to Etcy again.

Cassandra cast a glance at Jellylorum, then to Munkstrap again, then to Etcy.

Yup, Etcy had a crush. The kitten even forgot to say hi to her, and give her a hug. She stuck her head down and let out a few stifle giggles before catching herself. Who was going to tell Tugger? Surely she should get this wonderful hunour, or perhaps she should just lead Tugger to the sight. No, because then all Tugger would have to do is burst into the room, and Etcy would fall victom to his annoying charm.

As soon ash she was ushered out she broke into laughter. "I want to tell Tugger that he has lost his fangirl to a newbie that she doesn't even know!" She said between giggle fits.

[[scean]]

As Zalika tried to drift off to sleep, he heard a voice that was slightly out of key and quite soft start up behind him. Then, a tail slid around his back. Um, ew.

The black kitten pushed the tail off of his back and carefully moved over to the other side of the cushion, closing his eyes once more. He sighed, slowly drifting off into a half-sleep, ever-alert for danger.

-----

Macavity stood to his feet gracefully, flicking out the candles that were lit in his throne room from afar. He made his way to the door with Hedrunkus in tow, going quickly into the other room where his prize was waiting. The red tom gave a wide grin and put his hands together, turning to Hedrunkus.

"Good work, Hedrunkus," Macavity said, gesturing toward the other guards. "Tell them I gave you extra meat tonight." Hedrunkus nodded, looking quite proud of himself. He smiled and turned, going quickly out of the warehouse.

Macavity watched him go, and turned back to the cage, where the magician was stirring. He smirked a little, flicking his tail and going back to his throne room. Best to leave the magician to find out where he was on his own.

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Etcetera pouted, but she continued to hum, watching over her charge. Maybe he was just really ouched and didn't want anything touching him. Sometimes, after really big, scary fights, Munkstrap or Alonzo would come in here all really ouched and they'd get mad when even her momma touched them. Maybe that was wrong with Zalika. Zalika. Such a pretty name, for a pretty tomkit. She hoped Zalika would stay with them. She couldn't wait for him to meet Jemima, or Electra, or Pouncival, or Tugger... ooh, Tugger would like Zalika. She was sure of it.

Munkustrap was trying hard to stifle his own smile. "We shouldn't make fun... it's good that her attention is on someone she actually might have a chance with..."

Jellylorum shook her head. "I never thought I'd see Etcetera so... so calm. And what's all that about her wanting to be a nurse!?"

Munkustrap laughed quietly, but quickly sobered. "Speaking of nurses, how is the kitten, Jelly?"

"Bad," Jelly replied. "He's been beaten up quite severely - his tail will never grow back completely, and he'll probably have a torn ear for life - but nothing is life-threatening. Altogether, he's in a lot of pain, but he'll heal up just fine. Cassandra was right, though, the scratches do seem to resemble cat more than dog. He may be a survivor of a Monnik attack."

"We'll have to find out where he's from when he wakes up again," Munkustrap said. "Get in touch with his family - if he has one. If he doesn't, he's more than welcome to stay here with us."

"Etcetera would love that, I'm sure," Jelly said with a smile.

[Arya]

Cassandra looked at Munk's stifled smile and started giggling. "Yup, this is a good thing......very(giggle) good........and he is leveling her to a calmness........that.......I didn't know she could reach." She said inbetween a few more giggle fits.

Cassandra nodded her head. "I know I thought she wanted to be a Magician, or a dancer, or Tuggers wife, I never would have thought that she wanted to be a nurse."

Cassandra looked down. "Maybe he is a Monnik, I mean, I heard that they beat eachother up sometimes, just for fun." She said nodding her head wisely, but before she could push on with the subject Mungo came limping in.

"SHE KICKED ME!" He yelled bringing up his hurt leg. "It hurts." He pouted then looked at the group. "Have you guys seen Misto? I have been searching all over for him, but he isn't anywhere to be found." He said looking around as if the cat might be right behind him.

[Munkustrap Etc.]

"He might bring some quiet to the yard," Munkustrap said. "Heavyside knows we could use a respite." He listened to what Cassandra had to say about the kitten being a Monnik and shook his head. "While he is all-black like many Monniks, they don't usually beat each other up this badly... and if they did, and he was a Monnik, then he would still be welcomed in this tribe, if he wished it. Anyone can be a Jellicle if they ask. A kitten needing sanctuary from his family would not have a problem being accepted here. He already has a champion with Etcetera." Munkustrap turned to see Mungojerrie limp up and rolled his eyes. "Kick her back. She's your mate, and you're hers. As far as Quaxo goes... have you checked his den? He usually likes to be alone, and it wouldn't surprise me if he was sleeping late, what with his injuries and all."

[Arya]

Cassandra lifted an eyebrow. "So if macavity asked you would let him be a Jellicle?" She said putting her hands on her hips.

Mungo shook his head. "I already looked there, he is no where to be found." He said then his ears parked up. "A Monnik? Macavity is a Monnik you know, infact he is the king of them now. If I recall they all call him master." He said with a wise nod.

[[scean]]

Quaxo's eyes slid open and he stretched slowly, yawning a little... wait.
The ground was hard.
Where am I...?

As his eyes adjusted to the light of the room, Quaxo glanced around... and suddenly, he recognized the place, and he was full of fear. This was not good. He was in a cage in Monnik territory - in the warehouse of his father!

Quaxo let out a quiet whine and a guard took notice of him, turning to the door behind him and knocking, once hard and once soft, before entering. "The magician is awake." was all he said before returning to his position - and there he was. Macavity.

The young magician let out a loud hiss as the leader of the Monniks moved toward him. His father. The one cat Quaxo never wanted to see again. "Macavity," he hissed, glaring at the cat and backing as far away as he could, his fur standing on end. "What do you want with me?"

Macavity gave a quiet chuckle, tsking quietly and shaking his head. "Weren't you ever taught manners, boy?" he growled, flicking one finger and causing Quaxo to stiffen, unable to move his arms or legs. Quaxo's eyes widened in fear and he tried to break the spell, but his magic wasn't working! Magic-proof cage... one of Macavity's greatest inventions.

"Speak when I talk to you, boy!" Macavity hissed, slamming the younger tom against the back of the cage in his immobile state. Quaxo cried out quietly, the injuries from Demeter hurting him again. "I was never taught manners, Macavity," he hissed, glaring at the older tom and snarling.

Macavity growled at Quaxo. "Someone better teach those manners to you, boy. I suppose I'll take that job."

[Munkustrap Etc.]

"If Macavity asked, had good reason for asking, and was authorized by Deuteronomy, then yes, I would let him be a Jellicle. I would not like it, but I would not be able to stop it." Munkustrap approved of 'anyone could be a Jellicle' in theory, but there were some applications he frowned upon. Still, he was a Jellicle, so who was he to say his brother couldn't be one? "Did you check the junk towers? When Quaxo's in a mood not to be found, he's not to be found."

[Arya]

Cassie frowned, and Mungo shook his head."I have checked everywhere in Jellicle limits. He is not in Jellicle terratory." Said Muno, becoming a bit more worried now. He shifted from paw to paw.

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Munkustrap frowned. "Did you check in with his humans? He may have gone back to rest with them... they may have taken him to the vet."

[Arya]

Mungo nodded. "I have. Tha' two leggars' car is still there and they ar' still there, I meowed everywhere and couldn't find em'." He said becoming a lot more ancy now. Cassandra snaped to attention. "Misto's missing?" She asked tilting her head to the side.

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Munkustrap was getting a very baaaaad feeling about this. "You are absolutely certain that you have searched every possible place and there is no way Quaxo could have been slipping around behind your back?"

[Arya]

Mungojerrie sighed. "YEEEEEEEEES! How many times dah' I need to say it!" He said shaking his head as if he was the smartest one here. Cassie stood up. "I have a bad feeling about this. A kitten shows up hurt, and then Misto goes missing?" She said shaking her head and fiddling with her nails.

[Munkustrap Etc.]

"And Quaxo was the target of Macavity's last attack," Munkustrap said quietly. "Cassandra, alert Alonzo and Admetus. They're going to stay here and protect the yard. Jerrie, go fetch Plato and Tumblebrutus... and Tugger, if you can get him. Have them meet me at the entrance in half an hour." He rose to his feet, padding off in the direction of Quaxo's den, intent on seeing for himself that Quaxo wasn't there.

[Arya]

(G2g.)