Winter's Coming

[[scean]]

"What do you mean, teach me manners?" You never did when I was a kitten. Quaxo's eyes narrowed as the spell was dropped and he fell to his knees, glaring at the cat he used to call his father. "I know what you did to Lilliecat, Macavity," Quaxo spat. "and all of those other cats, too. You're a disgusting cat. You have no manners, so I don't see how you're going to teach them to me."

Macavity's eyes widened a little when he heard the name of his mate that he killed nearly a year before. He'd had one child with that queen - his only child. He was the only one that knew what had happened to Lilliecat. Maybe it had been leaked to others, though...

Calling over a pair of his henchcats, Macavity opened the cage and grabbed Quaxo's arm, tying a magic-resistant rope around his arm. An identical rope was tied around his other arm and the henchcats pulled them in opposite directions. Quaxo snarled at Macavity, his lip twitching involuntarily as he watched his father cackle in his face. "You're about to be taught the meaning of manners, boy."

Macavity ordered the henchcats to carry - no, drag - Quaxo outside, and they did, following their Master obediently. Quaxo struggled, wanting to get back home to his tribe [when, in actuality, he knew this was his original home]. When he realized where they were headed, he screeched, struggling harder and even scratching the left henchcat, whom he remembered to be Ruusu, in the leg, causing him to limp slightly. That heightened his pride for a moment, but the henchcats just pulled harder on his ropes, causing him to yowl out loud.

The red tom stopped his henchcats when they were on the docks and turned to the young magician, growling low in his throat. "You have no idea how much trouble you've caused me, do you?" Macavity hissed, grabbing onto Quaxo's headfur and pulling his head back so he was forced to look him in the eye. "Dunk him."

The henchcats obliged, lifting the rope and downing Quaxo into the running water. The young tuxedo tom cried out, taking a deep breath before his head was put under. He was soon lifted out. "That was just a test," Macavity growled. "Apologize for your misbehavior." Quaxo just glared, still snarling as he stood strong. He didn't answer. "Dunk him. Hold him under."

Again, Quaxo was pushed under the water, held under longer this time. He was let go right before he finally let go of his breath, and took a deep breath of the air, staring at Macavity.

"My tribe will be here soon... they'll find me gone and they'll hunt you down." Quaxo growled, sneering. And down he went again.

[Arya]

Cassandra nodded and started to run off towards Alonzos den, of course when they came out ten minutes later they where lip locking but Cassandra quickly explained what was going on, then after disapearing into the den for ten more minutes she headed to Admetus's den, amazngly, that visit only took a second. Cassandra came back to the stop where the guys who where coming where supose to meet. She was so coming for this, it was exciting and she wasn't going to miss it.

Jerrie took off towards Tumbles den, told him the news, then went to the next den that was Plato's, he didn't even have to say eight times like he had to with Tumble. Now for the last den, Mungo stood outside Tuggers den. He heard the noises so he figured he shouldn't go in. But he was trying yo make out which queen it was this time, he finaly figured it was Exotica. So he needed to find a subsitute, he knew who was much better for the job. When he came back a half hour later he had Plato, Tumble, and Rumple with him.

[[scean]]

It took a good fifteen minutes of dunking the young magician beneath the water before Macavity decided that this was enough of the water. He ordered his henchcats to follow, and made his way to the back of the warehouse. There was a dump site behind the warehouse where a pair of Pollicle dogs lived; they'd be in for a nice treat once the evil tom and his henchcats reached the fence that separated them.

Loud barks startled the near-fainted Quaxo and his eyes shot open, immediately shaking when he saw the large black and white Pollicles across the fence. They seemed to be rabid, and he knew that was worse than when they were just angry. Rabid meant disease... Quaxo whined, trying to jerk himself from the ropes that pulled him. "Don't do this, Macavity!" he hissed, looking over to the red tom... Macavity just laughed.

The red tabby grabbed both of the ropes from his henchcats, tying them together tight enough that Quaxo couldn't move his arms. He climbed onto the top of the fence and hung the young magician there. The dogs leapt one after the other, trying to bite at Quaxo's tail as Macavity went to the ground.

"I want you to capture your leader for me, magician," Macavity hissed, watching Quaxo. The tuxedo cat turned his head, hissing at his father. "I'll never bring him to you!" he growled, yowling when his tail was bit by one of the dogs. "My tribe will be here soon!" I hope...

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Munkustrap had searched Quaxo's den from top to bottom, and while he hadn't found the little tuxedo cat or a sign of struggle, he had picked up the faint sour smell of a Monnik cat - not Macavity, but probably one of his henchcats. Either Quaxo had gone willingly with that cat (unlikely), or Quaxo had gone unaware of that cat (unlikely). The latter scenario, though, was more plausible, as Quaxo had been badly injured. He may have been in a deep, healing sleep, and catnapped while Munkustrap was helping Zalika...

Munkustrap growled at the thought, though he knew he shouldn't blame the kitten for Quaxo's disappearance. Still, he made his way back to Jellylorum and left her with orders to not let the kitten go anywhere until he returned (or Quaxo returned, in the event that he didn't... but he didn't say that. He didn't want Jelly to know how worried he was). He also told Jelly to not leave Zalika alone with any of the other kittens. The last thing Munkustrap wanted was to return with Quaxo only to find Etcetera gutted.

Twenty minutes after Munkustrap had issued his orders, he was waiting at the main gate to the junkyard, pacing agitatedly, waiting for his guards to show up. Though Tugger wasn't present (Munkustrap was disappointed - the big cat was one of the tribe's better fighters, and the only one able to instruct Rumpus Cat - but he wasn't surprised), Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer had showed up. Those two could be invaluable on this mission... or could be a handicap. Plato and Tumble were there as well, looking slightly nervous but ready. Munkustrap leapt onto a box and faced the four cats.

"As you probably all know, Quaxo is missing. It is my belief that he was catnapped by a Monnik. Quaxo is injured from a fight he was in last night and would be tired from healing. He is in no shape to fight Macavity off himself. Therefore, we must go, infiltrate Monnik territory, and rescue him." before Macavity kills him. "Time is important, but so is secrecy. While in Monnik territory, we do not want to draw attention to ourselves. We do not want the Monniks to know we are there. The less bloodshed, the safer we will be. Follow me closely, and do as I tell you. Keep your nose, eyes, and ears open. If you find anything that could lead us to Quaxo, let me know immediately." The last time the Jellicles had invaded Monnik lands, Munkustrap had led them also, on another rescue mission, to restore the Protector to the tribe. He closed his eyes for a moment and prayed that this journey would have more success than the last. Quaxo, don't die. We're coming. Just hold on. "If you're ready, let's go."

Munkustrap hopped off the box and began striding toward Monnik land, adopting a swift, gliding walk that was both fast and silent. He trusted the cats at his back. He did not trust the cats before him. Quaxo...

[Arya]

Rumple did a front walk over so that she was right next to Munkstrap. "I know a shortcut in ther', is a path that Macav' made for us because we smelled more Jellicle then Monnik." She looked down at the ground. "He didn't want us to be seen by two many Monniks." Said Mungo runing up to them. "Ther' is only one guard at that path. And......" Rumples voice trailed off as she looked at her mate who wore a frown and had his arms crossed over his chest. "And he has a sweet on ma' mate." Said Mungo looking very unhappy about it, Rumple looked flattered though, hardly anyone ever had a crush on her, so she was pleased. She fluffed up her coat then frowned. "But we can't get all of ya' through, we ain't that good." She said biting her lip. "We'll ave' to knock em' out." Said Mungo smiling happily.

Cassandra padded up next to the three. "So what is the plan?" She asked rubbing her paws together excitedly. "Is there anything I need to do?" She asked seeming a bit to excited then what suited her and her look. She was almost jumping up and down. Then she relized she had snuck in here she wasn't supose to be here. And yet, she had just showed herself to the guy who would most likely kick her out. She bit her lip and took a few steps back.

[Arya]

(By the way Spider, I'm now waiting endlessly for the next part of the fan fic. THATS RIGHT FEEL THE PRESSURE!)

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Munkustrap opened his mouth, then looked back at Cassandra. "Cassandra... I'd prefer you didn't come on this one." Monnik lands were treacherous enough without having non-fighters in the group. Munkustrap didn't want to have to worry about protecting Cassandra as well as sneaking around. "Stay here, help guard the yard... maybe you can help Jelly keep an eye on Etcy and Zalika." By giving her something to do here, though, he was acknowledging she was useful. "Teazer, if you can distract him, I can take out the guard (without killing him)." Monnik or not, Munkustrap didn't like killing if he didn't have to. Especially not other cats. It's why he always sucked in fights against Macavity - he didn't have the drive to kill his brother. Hurt him, yes, but not kill. "Teazer and Jerrie, you can be a bit apart from the rest of the pack if you think you can pull it off - you've run with the Monniks before, and recently. If they don't know you're Jellicles now, you could act undercover for us. The rest of us..." Munkustrap pointed to a patch of dirt. "Roll. Most Monniks are filthy anyway, and the dirt will help mask our colors, so we aren't as easily recognizable." Munkustrap especially would need the dirt coat, to dull the bright silver of his fur down to a more Monnik-friendly dusty grey.

((~laughs~ One part a day! You can wait!))

[Arya]

(No I can't!)

[Munkustrap Etc.]

((I think we're waiting for you to post))

[Arya]

(Ya but I'm eating.)

[Munkustrap Etc.]

With that settled, and the Jellicles suitably dirtied, there were only two more things for Munkustrap to say before they set off. "It is of utmost importance that if I tell you to go, you leave. Take Quaxo with you if we have him... but if I tell you to go, and I'm not going with you, do not come back for me." He looked each cat in the eye. "I trust all of you at my back, with my life... but I do not want any of you putting yourselves in danger for me. I can take care of myself if I know that you are all safe in Jellicle territory again." After a moment of silence, Munkustrap nodded. "Good luck." Without another word, he began heading for the shortcut Jerrie and Teazer had pointed out.

[Arya]

Cassandra opened her mouth to object then closed it, and started to walk away, then she stoped and turned around. "No. I know for a fact that you have more then anough guards there. Besides I'm very fast. And.." She took some mud and smudged over the white on her face, making her look like an all black Monnik with a bit of dirt on her face. "I can blend in very well." She said her eyes pleading for him to let her stay.

Rumple did a front flip landing on her back in the dirt, she rolled around in it then shook a lot of it off. "E' needs to know who I am." She said smiling, she glanced at a frowning Mungo. Then she looked at the mud covered Cassandra, she looked just like Exotica with that mud on her face. "I'll watch 'er back if ya' want." She said with a shrug. Mungo now covered in dirt looked Munkstrap. "Munky? Can I knock out tha' guard?" He asked still frowning. "I really am hatin' him!" He added glancing at his mate.

[[scean]]

"They'll be here soon... Heavyside, please let them be here soon..."

Quaxo's head hung and he only half-heartedly tried to dodge the bites of the restless Pollicles now. It had been a long time - surely someone had to have noticed that he wasn't attached like a leech to Munkustrap's side? Maybe Munkustrap had convinced everyone he was just asleep in his den... but no, someone must have noticed. It was quick news when someone went missing in the Jellicle tribe.

Macavity finally snapped his fingers, bringing Quaxo in front of him, on his knees. "You will bring him." the red tom hissed. Quaxo attempted to look undefeated and stubborn, but the only look he gave his father was a desperate, pained glare. Macavity laughed, slapping the magician across the face, reopening wounds that had been put there by Demeter. Quaxo whimpered, hanging his head.

"They will be here," he growled, building up his courage once more and pulling himself to his feet. Hedrunkus and Ruusu grabbed the ropes again, untying them and pulling them apart once more. Quaxo took a deep breath before jumping forward, attempting to lash out at Macavity. That was impossible, though, since the henchcats only pulled him back farther. "I hate you!" Quaxo screamed, his throat raw from the screams he'd been emitting every time the Pollicle dogs would nip his tail or his foot - both of which were quite torn up by this point.

Macavity recognized the exact sound of those words and moved toward Quaxo, grabbing him by the chin and lifting his face upward to look the younger cat in the eye. "Who are you?" the red tom hissed, running a claw up his chin. Quaxo's lip twitched at the older tom and he squirmed in the ropes, still desperately trying to get away. Macavity stared the tom straight in the eye; after a moment, his eyes widened. "Mirza," he hissed, sneering. The red tom backed away, smacking his son across the face. "You're a traitor."

Macavity backed away from Quaxo and looked at his henchcats. "Send him to the dogs. Don't let his ropes go. Don't let him get away." Hedrunkus and Ruusu obeyed, bowing and shoving Quaxo over the fence, grabbing the ropes through the chain link as the dogs spotted the young magician. Quaxo's eyes widened as well and he screeched, trying to jump away as one of the dogs stood over him, drool dripping on the magician's smooth black fur.

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Munkustrap shook his head. "No, Cassandra. Stay here. Please. We don't want this group to be too large." He nodded to Jerrie, though. "Very well, you can knock out the guard. Now let's go!"

((If Demeter shows up, she'll need someone to play with, Arya. ^__^))

[Arya]

Cassie sighed but padded off to Jellicle junkyard again, disapointed, but she understood, she wasn't a fighter. She quickly washed the mud off her face, she wouldn't be cought dead here looking that dirty. She jumped up onto a torn up couch and curled up as thoughts raced through her mind.

Rumple and Mungo both started off, Mungo now smiling. The two cats pointed out a large hole in the fence, it was cover by a board but they explained all you had to do was slip under the board and through the hole. Th two cats did so then pointed out the path marked by dirt. The path curled and wasn't straight infact it was a crooked and rather poor job, but it was covered in booby traps that Macavity had trusted the the thiefs could easily avoid. The thief pointed out where the stakes covered by dirt and grass where, and where the bob wire was, then showed them the trench flooded with water. They where all hidden and only the two thief trained eyes could pick them out. Without being told were they where.