The Jellicles ate their fill that night, but no one felt like dancing. When the caslikohs started singing, it was very bitter and melancholy music they provided. Dutironomy sat in his usual spot with Grizabella close beside him, watching Plaetoh and Alahnso pace back and forth like a pair of caged tigers.
Finally, Plaetoh hooked Alahnso with a paw under his arm and demanded, "Why are we standing here waiting, anyway? Why don't we try to rescue him?"
"I've already said, Plaetoh," Alahnso answered with a long-suffering sigh. "I want to wait and see what Macavity asks for. If we can get your papa back without a fight we'll all be better off because you know who'll get the worst of it."
"I wish we could have gotten some of those weapons from Eliot before he left," Tughar said suddenly.
Alahnso rounded on his son with an admonition in his mouth, then stopped and nodded grudgingly, "They would be useful right now, but Eliot wouldn't show us how to work them, so there's no use moaning about it."
Just then Pouncival, Tumblebrutus, and Elektrah came scrambling back into the hall. "They're coming!" Pouncival managed to gasp out. "Macavity is coming!"
The hunters tensed and quickly circled round the other Jellicles, forming a living wall between them and the Tyghurss males who cautiously entered the hall. Macavity was the leader, of course, with Morghen and Groultyghur on either side of him.
"Greetings, Jellicles," Macavity sneered at them. "I have your chief, and I will give him back to you in exchange for another of your number."
The circle tightened as the ginger-striped male came closer and Alahnso hissed, "You can't trade a Jellicle for another Jellicle, Macavity."
"Do you want your chief back or not?" Macavity said sharply.
"Yes!" Demeetar half-sobbed. "Where is he?"
Macavity's expression softened just a fraction for the distraught female. "He is with Grumbuskin nearby," he replied. "You will have him back as soon as I get what I want. And I want her."
Rhimara gave a startled cry as Macavity grabbed her and pulled her away from the circle. Admeetus took her other arm and held her back, growling menacingly at the Tyghurss. "You can't have her!" he said through clenched teeth.
"It 's her or Munkustrap," Macavity snarled back. "Who do you want to keep more?"
"I want my mate back," Demeetar said determinedly.
"But we can't let the Tyghurss have our sister," Bombalurina protested.
"You can't take Rhimara, Macavity," Alahnso told the Tyghurss chief. "Ask for something else."
But Macavity shook his head. "Either I take Rhimara," he said firmly, "or I keep Munkustrap. Until I decide what to do with him, of course, and I can't promise that he'll last long in our tribe."
"Macavity!" Grizabella burst out. "Would you really kill your brother?"
"Mama!" the ginger chief snapped, then groaned when he realized he had given himself away. Neither the Jellicles nor Groultyghur or Morghen knew what to make of this revelation. Deciding to dispel all doubt, Macavity took a deep breath and said evenly, "Mama, I promise you, if I don't get this young female in exchange, you will never see your son, Munkustrap alive again."
Several Jellicles raised their voices in protest at this, but they were all stunned into silence when Rhimara quickly shook off her restrainers and stepped forward, saying, "Please, don't fight. I'll go with you. Just bring Munkustrap back."
Even Macavity was a little surprised by this bold move. He looked into her green eyes and saw there a mixture of fear and determination as she lifted her chin in defiance.
Bombalurina was the first to speak. "Rhimara, what are you thinking?" she cried.
"I am thinking of the tribe," her younger sister replied in a quavering voice, "and I think Munkustrap is a little more important to the tribe than me."
"Well, I didn't expect you to come willingly," Macavity commented, "but I prefer it that way."
"But, Rhimara…" her two sisters exclaimed in despair.
"Oh, just shut up!" Rhimara was almost in tears. She moved closer to Macavity to get away from her sisters. "You need Munkus more than you need me, so just accept it!"
Macavity firmly took her elbow again and tried to lead her away, but Admeetus still held her other arm. Rhimara turned her face to him and shook her head, mouthing the words "I'm sorry." Admeetus glared at Macavity, but released her.
"Admeetus," Bombalurina choked, "can't you talk any sense into her?"
Admeetus looked again at his tiger-striped friend, then shook his head and turned away.
"Then you've agreed," Macavity stated, putting his arm around Rhimara's shoulders.
"Before you take her anywhere, Macavity," Alahnso snarled, coming forward, "first let us see that Munkustrap is unhurt."
"Of course," Macavity smiled. "Even Mama will tell you that I have always been a cat of my word." He turned away and called, "Grumbuskin, bring him in."
Grumbuskin came into the hall leading Munkustrap, whose paws were bound in front of him.
"Leave him here," Macavity instructed as he led Rhimara away. "We've got what we came for."
Grumbuskin pushed Munkustrap forward so roughly that he almost fell, unable to steady himself. Then the large, earth-colored male turned and followed his tribe mates out of the hall.
"You picked a fine looking one, Mac," Morghen said approvingly as they made speed back to the Tyghurss settlement.
"Shut it, Morghen," Macavity grumbled, glancing at Rhimara. Her head was bent, but he thought he saw the glisten of tears on her cheeks.
"So the Jellicle chief is really your brother, Mac," Groultyghur said suddenly.
"Yes, what of it?" Macavity snapped.
Morghen and Grumbuskin glanced at each other and quickened their pace until they were a little ahead of the others. They recognized the signs of an impending fight between the brothers and wanted no part of it.
"I just thought it was interesting," Groultyghur smirked. "It certainly explains a lot."
Macavity might have replied, but then Rhimara stumbled and fell to her knees. When he reached down to help her she shrank from his touch, and he could now clearly see that she was crying. Kneeling beside her he asked softly, "Little one, what's the matter?"
Rhimara stared at him through her tears for a moment, then turned away. "You take me away from my tribe and my family and you ask me what's wrong?" she said shakily. "Just kill me now and end my misery."
"If that's what you want…" Groultyghur made as if to snap the female's neck.
Macavity grabbed his wrist in a bone-crushing grip. "Harm her and I'll break every bone in your body!" he said fiercely.
Groultyghur yelped and pulled away in surprise, looking more than a little annoyed.
Macavity cupped Rhimara's face in his paw and turned her to him. She tried to resist his gentle but firm grip and found that she couldn't. As he smoothed the fur wet with her tears, he told her, "Believe me when I say that you will not come to harm by me or any other member of my tribe. I didn't take you for that."
"Then I have just one question," Rhimara whispered.
"What's that?"
"Why me?"
Macavity hesitated. He didn't feel quite ready to explain his reasoning to her, at least not until they were alone. "I'll tell you some other time," he promised. "You might not believe me if I told you at this moment. Now, let me take you back to your new home."
He rose, bringing Rhimara up with him. She looked at him searchingly, but saw none of the malice she expected, only compassion and concern. It disconcerted her, coming from him.
The moment was broken when Groultyghur snarled, "It's all clear to me now."
"What is?" Macavity demanded, turning to face him.
"Why we've never bested the Jellicle tribe under your leadership," Groultyghur answered.
Knowing what was to come, Macavity gently pushed Rhimara away from him, saying, Go to Grumbuskin and Morghen. He was glad to see that she had the sense to obey without arguing.
Groultyghur continued, "For example, today you had the Jellicle chief at your mercy and you decide to hold him for ransom. Ransom? What a stupid idea! Better to just kill him."
"Groultyghur…" Macavity said warningly.
Groultyghur ignored him, "But you want to ransom him, and instead of asking for something smart, you take one of their females for yourself. One female when you could have had control over the whole tribe!"
"Listen, brother," Macavity began.
"Don't you call me 'brother'!" Groultyghur spat. "How can you call yourself chief of the Tyghurss when you're actually a Jellicle?" He turned to the others. "How can the Tyghurss have a Jellicle for a chief?"
"You think you would make a better one?" Macavity challenged irritably. "Don't forget that Grizabella is your mother, too."
"Maybe," Groultyghur said scornfully, "but my father was Tyrus, chief of the Tyghurss before you. Who was yours?"
"Martus," Macavity stated matter-of-factly, "chief of the Jellicles before Munkustrap."
"Are they going to fight?" Rhimara asked in a hushed voice.
"Probably," Grumbuskin nodded.
"But won't you try to stop them?" Rhimara queried.
"No point," Grumbuskin told her. "You might as well try to stop the sun from setting."
"Don't worry," Morghen added on her other side. "These arguments usually end with Tyghur jumping Mac and Mac blasting him off. No one gets hurt, at least not too bad."
Rhimara nodded and wondered why she was concerned in the first place.
"Who are you to question my actions, anyway?" Macavity was saying angrily.
"I am the son of the former Tyghurss chief!" Groultyghur flared. "I can't believe he chose you over me to succeed him."
"Well, he did and for good reason," Macavity shot back. "A good leader wouldn't be looking for a fight at every turn."
"And I do?" Groultyghur snarled.
"You are now!"
Groultyghur only proved this point by swiping Macavity across the face with his claws. Macavity immediately swiped back. Groultyghur then leaped at his opponent headfirst, but Macavity caught him by the shoulders and pushed him away with all his might. The younger male staggered and fell over backward, and before he could recover Macavity was on top of him.
I am tired of fighting you, Macavity said, gripping his half-brother's face between his paws. We're going to settle this now!
Groultyghur struggled frantically, trying to turn his face away at least, because he knew what Macavity was trying to do. But all too soon he found himself entranced by the green-gold eyes.
Hear this now. Macavity continued, forcing the words past Groultyghur's mind shield. You are a hunter, you are a fighter, but never will you be a leader. You're too hotheaded and quick of temper. I know this, just as Tyrus must have also or he wouldn't have chosen me as his successor over you, his only son.
A little whine escaped from Groultyghur's mouth as he tried to close the hole Macavity had punched through his mental wall. But the ginger chief continued to push his message through.
If you continue to defy me, brother, Macavity leaned in closer, you will be exiled from the Tyghurss as our mother was from the Jellicles. And if you try to come back to us, you--will--be--killed.
He then released the younger male who immediately turned his head away, panting from the unseen effort. Macavity took a few slow deep breaths of his own and sat up, allowing Groultyghur to do so as well. For a moment they glared at each other in silence, then Macavity said quietly, "Well?"
Groultyghur looked down. "Gritelboen," he murmured finally. "I won't leave her."
Macavity nodded. "If she'll have you then she's yours," he said. "But she's less likely to have you if you're an outcast."
Groultyghur looked pained at this. "No, she wouldn't like being exiled," he agreed.
"So…" Macavity prompted.
"Do I still have to apologize to Moya?" Groultyghur moaned.
There was a split second pause before Macavity remembered the fight Munkustrap had told him about. "Yes, you do," he said, "but she has to as well."
Now the ginger chief stood up and put out a paw to bring his brother to his feet. "We'll go back to the settlement now," he said as they joined the others, "but remember my warning."
In the Jellicle feasting hall, Munkustrap had been loosed from his bonds and was clasped in the middle of a group embrace with his mate and his two youngest kittens. He whispered sweet nothings in Demeetar's ear as she licked his face, and caressed Elektrah's head with one paw and Jemymah's head with the other. Then he pulled free to embrace his three older kittens. His girls were openly crying and laughing alternately, while Plaetoh and Mungojery looked as if they were doing their best to hold it back.
"We're glad to have you back, Munkus," Dutironomy said with feeling, clasping his grandson's shoulder.
Munkustrap butted heads with Alahnso, then turned to face Dutironomy. "And I'm glad to be back, believe me!" he grinned, nuzzling the older cat's face affectionately.
"But what about Rhimara?" Bombalurina demanded.
Munkustrap's face turned somber. "Rhimara," he echoed.
"Macavity took her in exchange for your return," Admeetus said quietly. "I--we--didn't want to let her go, but she insisted that you…were more important to us."
Munkkustrap shook his head sadly. "Oh, Rhimara," he sighed.
"We're not going to leave her with the Tyghurss are we?" Jenyenidahts asked anxiously.
"No," Munkustrap said with determination. "No, somehow we're going to get her back. Somehow."
©1999 Delilah