By Demeter Christine
A scream echoed through the Junkyard, stirring Munkustrap from his deep slumber. The silver tabby cautiously rose to his feet and looked around warily. He hadn't recognized the terrified voice, and he still didn't see anyone else nearby.
Suddenly, what Munku would've sworn was merely a white ball of fluff came carreening into the Junkyard chased by Macavity. Just from looking at it, Munku could tell that it was a queen and that she would need help if she was to get Macavity away from her.
"Macavity!" Munkus hissed jumping to his feet immediately, "leave her alone and pick on someone who'll fight back!" Startled Macavity glared angrily at Munkustrap and retreated. Munku's eyes narrowed. It simply wasn't normal for Macavity to leave that easily. The frightened white Persian stared after Macavity, fear evident in her eyes.
Munkus approached her somewhat cautiously. He had no idea who she was, or where she'd come from, much less why she'd ben running away from Macavity. "Who are you?" he asked.
the queen ran up to him and started sobbing. "It was awful! He wanted me to have his kittens, and he wouldn't take 'no' for an answer!" Tears rolled down her white cheeks and she looked so desperate, that Munku couldn't help feeling sorry for her.
At this point , a tawny coloured queen named Jellylorum meandered into the Junkyard. She approached Munkustrap and the white ball of fluff. "What's going on here?" she asked.
"This queen was chased into the Junkyard by Macavity. He wanted her to be his mate, and he wouldn't take 'no' for an answer." Munku repeated. Jelly looked critically at the white queen.
"You can stay here, if you like," she offered. "We'll keep you safe from that monster." she promised. The white queen looked comforted.
"My name is Antigone," she told Munku and Jelly. "And I'll be glad to stay where I'll be safe. I just hope that that monster who calls himself a feline doesn't come back and hurt you for protecting me," she said to Munku. "I'd feel awful if he did..."
"Jelly, Antigone, if you don't mind, I'd like to find Demeter. She's really afraid of Macavity, and I want to make sure he hasn't hurt her or kidnapped her." Munku said, suddenly remembering his mate. At this, Antigone grinned unnoticably. The plan would work after all...
"I don't trust her, Munku. There's something fishy about her." Demeter immediately insisted when Munkustrap brought up the subject of Antigone and how she had come to the Junkyard. Munku had found her watching not far away. Munku shook his head.
"Look, just because you saw her with Macavity doesn't mean -" Munku began to tell her, but she interrupted:
"I saw them talking together just before they came in the Junkard. I wouldn't trust her. She and Macavity are definitely up to something."
"Nonsense, Demi. No one could fake that much fear, not even a great actor like Gus," Munku responded. Demeter glared coldly at him, her eyes hard and still disbelieving.
Then don't believe me, but I'm not entering the Junkyard while she's here. If you want to find me, I'll be somewhere on the outskirts." she told him, and darted off into the shadows once more before he could say another word.
Munku sighed, exhasperated. Why did Demi have to be so stubborn sometimes? Couldn't she just trust his judgement? She was probably only jealous because Antigone had been hanging off him. Not that he was attracted to her in the least. He was faithful to Demi, and didn't go sleeping around with other queens. She should know that. And she probably did. Maybe she really had seen Macavity and Antigone talking. If she had, they'd probably been arguing about her having his kittens.
Well, Demi would just have to be angry. Munku trusted Antigone, and he wasn't about to turn her away when she needed protection. She could wind up dead if he turned her away from the safety of the tribe, and he would feel responsible.
Munku returned to where Jelly and Antigone were still talking, in the central part of the Junkyard. "Couldn't find her?" asked Antigone as he approached.
"No, I found her," Munku replied, "But she doesn't trust you, Antigone, and she's mad at me for keeping you safe." Once more, Antigone smiled undetectibly.
"Why wouldn't she trust me?" she asked innocently.
"She says she saw you talking to Macavity before you ran in here." he responded absentmindedly.
"We were arguing about the kitten issue," Antigone informed him. "Then he got angry when I told him I wasn't ready to take care of kits yet, and he started chasing me around. I ran in here because I thought it would be more sheltered, and that I could hide easily." Munku smiled at her. So he'd been correct.
Part 2