The Tyghurss settlement was a good hiking distance from the Jellicles' feasting hall. As in the Jellicle settlement, the buildings were widely scattered with plentiful trees and a forest just within jogging distance. It could have been the same forest for all Eliot knew. He was quite winded from trying to keep up with the Coricats. Even Mistoffelees, who was only a couple centimeters taller, didn't seem to be having any trouble with the pace the three larger hunters had set. Eventually, Admeetus had stopped and squatted while Tughar picked the Terran up without warning and placed him on the older cat's back. Eliot had protested, but Admeetus hissed at him over his shoulder. Getting such a close view of the grey and white hunter's teeth and sharp eyes was enough to silence the small Terran.
Now they crouched on a rise in the terrain that looked down on the Tyghurss settlement with no one in sight. "They're probably getting settled down to sleep," Tughar said when Eliot commented on this, "which is what I wish I was doing right now. Instead, thanks to Macavity, I'm far from my comfortable pillow, trying to rescue our people with the help of a feeble Terran kitten."
"You'll feel this kitten's claws if you're not careful!" Eliot growled, raising his blaster threateningly.
"That's enough," Admeetus said quietly, but in a tone that immediately stifled the argument.
"Well, Misto," Eliot turned to the black and white Coricat, who hissed at the uninvited familiarity, "how were you planning to get us in and out without getting caught?"
Mistoffelees didn't answer, but took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and spread his hands in front of him. The all-too-familiar shiver ran through Eliot's body as the young cat opened himself to his own powers.
"Well, if you're just going to channel us in, I think I could have done that," Eliot muttered.
"Can't you keep quiet?" Plaetoh snarled, nudging him in the back.
"Old Dutironomy is in the small building at the other end of the clearing," Mistoffelees said quietly. "The others are in a back room of that building over there. I'd try to magic them out, but I can only do one at a time, and I don't think I have the strength to get them all."
"I can help you," Eliot offered, "but I've never done teleportation before."
"Then I don't want your help," Mistoffelees said coldly.
"I think we'd better just go in and get them," Admeetus said. "You can save your magic for when we get into a tight spot. Ah, Eliot, maybe you should stay here and wait for us."
"No way, man," Eliot said stubbornly. "I'm going with you all the way."
Admeetus sighed; he suspected the Terran would be more hindrance than help. "All right, but try to be quiet." he whispered.
Slowly they crept out of hiding and into the clearing. Eliot followed closely behind Plaetoh and was careful where he put his feet. They made their way to the building without incident and slipped into the front room.
"This is too easy," Eliot said anxiously.
Plaetoh gave him a warning look and held a clawed digit to his mouth.
They came to the room where Mistoffelees said the prisoners were and found it locked. He magicked it open and they went in.
Jabez was the first to speak, "Eliot! Thank God you're here!"
"Shhh!" all the Coricats hissed.
"Is everyone all right?" Eliot asked quietly.
"Apart from these ropes, you mean?" Cazondra said a shade sarcastically.
All the prisoners were bound around the wrists and ankles with a dull-silver-colored kind of cord. "Why don't you bite through it, Mama?" Tughar asked.
"It's made of some kind of metal that hurts the teeth," Cazondra explained.
"And they're tied so tight…" Demeetar whimpered.
"Let me see," Eliot said as he knelt beside the black, white, and orange female. The metallic cords had chafed her fur and were starting to cut into her skin. He took out a vibroblade and activated it, at which Demeetar drew back and hissed.
"Relax," Eliot assured her. "I'm just going to cut through the cords."
The vibrating titanium steel blade easily sliced through the metal ropes, and soon all the prisoners were free. Etsetera and Mozu found themselves clasped in the arms of Tughar and Mistoffelees, respectively.
"Okay, come on," Eliot said nervously. "Let's get Dutironomy and get out of here."
But as they came out into the front room, Macavity came in by the front door. He was coming to check on his prisoners before retiring for the night and was very surprised to see the Jellicle rescue party. He was also still weak from the fight and his hurried escape, somewhat decreasing his reaction time, otherwise Eliot wouldn't have had the chance to dart forward and strike a ringing blow to the ginger cat's jaw with his blaster, knocking him to the floor.
"Don't get up," Eliot warned him, forgetting that Macavity wouldn't understand his language, nor the significance of the blaster pointed at his head.
But Plaetoh had already sprung into action. He grabbed Macavity in an apparently sensitive spot (judging from the way the ginger Coricat gasped) between the neck and shoulder, and dragged him to his feet.
"Take us to Old Dutironomy," Plaetoh growled in Coricus.
Macavity tried desperately to focus on this big green-eyed youth who looked strangely familiar somehow. If he could just focus on him, he would send the young upstart reeling with a magical blow. But a haze of pain entrapped his mind and he couldn't concentrate. Plaetoh shoved him roughly out the door, keeping his paw on the sensitive spot at the base of the neck. The others followed.
"Admeetus, why don't you take Jabez and the girls to safety while we get Dutironomy," Eliot whispered.
Admeetus hesitated a fraction of a second as he debated whether it was wise for him to leave the rest of the rescue to the younger cats. But Plaetoh seemed to have things under control at the moment, so he motioned for the former prisoners to quietly follow him, while Macavity reluctantly led the others to the place where Old Dutironomy was imprisoned.
"I could yell," the Tyghurss chief growled at Plaetoh, "and all of my people would be on you in an instant."
"I could break your neck," Plaetoh growled back, "and we wouldn't have to worry about you yelling."
Seeing the fires of vengeance burning in the younger cat's eyes, Macavity decided that this was probably no empty threat and elected to keep his peace for the moment.
When they came to the building where Dutironomy was, they met a tall female Coricat with the coloring of a chocolate point Siamese. Her bright blue eyes went wide when she saw them.
"Moya! Get he-ugh!" Macavity cried before Plaetoh pulled his head back sharply to prevent further outbursts.
Before the Coricat called Moya could move or even yell, Mistoffelees threw her into a trance just long enough for Tughar to grab her and hold her silent. They went into the building and found Dutironomy bound hand and foot and guarded by two male Coricats. Eliot stunned them with his blaster, since the inexperienced Mistoffelees was starting to wear out. The Terran cut through the old cat's cords and they left the building, still holding onto Macavity and Moya.
"When I say go," Eliot said quietly, "let go of these two and head for safety."
Plaetoh whispered something to Tughar, who nodded.
"Go, now! Don't look back!"
Tughar and Plaetoh shoved their captives away, then got on either side of Old Dutironomy and practically carried him out of the settlement. Mistoffelees hung back with Eliot.
Macavity managed to yell out, "Grumbuskin! Groultyghur!" before Eliot hit him in the face with the butt of his blaster. Then he had to stun Moya and pull her off of Mistoffelees, whom she decided to attack. By this time the yelling had attracted the attention of several Tyghurss.
"Damn it, Misto, I thought you said you could get us in and out quietly," Eliot hissed in annoyance as he brandished his blaster at the approaching Coricats.
"I never promised," Mistoffelees snarled back; he was getting really sick of that nickname.
Eliot decided to try a trick of Macavity's. Concentrating, he brought his hands together over his head with an audible clap; there was a brilliant flash of light, a deafening thunderclap, and all the Tyghurss lay stunned before them.
"Hey, it worked!" Eliot said in surprise, swaying a little as the world began to spin around him.
"So let's get out of here, quick, before it wears off," Mistoffelees urged.
But Eliot was too disoriented from exerting the concentrated blast of magic, and Mistoffelees had to heft the Terran onto his shoulder, staggering out of the settlement to join their companions.
"What happened to him?" Tughar asked as his brother joined them, carrying Eliot.
"He did a very good magic trick and went weak in the knees," Mistoffelees replied.
"Hey, I think I can walk on my own now, thank you," came Eliot's muffled voice. "Please put me down."
"Well, are we staying here, or are we heading back?" Jabez demanded.
"Wait!" Admeetus said suddenly.
Everyone froze. Admeetus stood sniffing the air, his ears swiveling on is head to pick up the slightest indication of pursuit.
"You go ahead," he said to Plaetoh and Tughar. "I'll catch up to you."
"Where are you going?" Eliot asked in alarm.
"To make sure we're not followed," Admeetus replied.
"But how--?" Eliot began.
"Just go!" Admeetus hissed through his teeth.
"Come along, Eliot," Old Dutironomy said quietly. "Don't argue."
Admeetus waited until they were out of sight then sprinted silently back to the Tyghurss settlement. He came to the top of the rise to find himself looking down on it. Macavity and his people were just recovering from Eliot's magical blow. Admeetus was still some distance from the Coricats, but there was a light breeze that carried their words up to his keen ears.
Macavity staggered to his feet, looked around, and seeing that the intruders were gone, let out a wordless yell of anger and frustration.
"Macavity!" cried Moya. "Shall we go after them?"
"No, let them go," Macavity growled. "I've had enough of the Jellicles for one night."
Admeetus smiled to himself as he stealthily slipped down from the rise and sprinted to catch up with his companions. We've finally scored a point over the Tyghurss, he thought.
The stars were starting to fade from the sky when the rescue party returned to the feasting hall. Munkustrap was now conscious and sitting up. "Ohhh!" Demeetar cried out when she saw her injured mate. She knelt beside him and gently nuzzled his face, careful not to hurt him. Eliot could barely hear them purring things like, "Oh, darling," and "Did he hurt you?" Cazondra and Alahnso were having a similar reunion.
"Kittens," Old Dutironomy said wearily, "we have all had a trying night. We should return to our homes."
Cazondra stood up. "Old Dutironomy, I must first help the ones that have been hurt." She said this in a resigned voice, for she could see that there were many injured.
Dutironomy followed her gaze as it took in Alahnso with his broken arm and leg, Munkustrap with his half-healed bite, and all the other cats with their various bites and scratches. "Have no worries, Cazondra," the Old Wise One said kindly, putting one arm around Mistoffelees and the other around Eliot. "We will help you."
"Who's 'we'?" Eliot demanded, trying to squirm out of the old cat's surprisingly strong hold.
"Come," Dutironomy said to his kittens, holding on firmly to the struggling Eliot, "let us proceed together to Cazondra's home."
©1999 Delilah