Unique
By Jemima
Part 4
An ear splitting laugh flew over the alley. Macavity knew everything. The Jellicles were brainless compared to him. He laughed again. That Tugger was no smarter that any of the others. Macavity smiled as he remembered listening quietly to Rum Tum’s conversation with Uniqua from an open window right above them. He had learned every detail of their plan and now his own was in effect.
Macavity’s worries were over. Not only would he be able to keep Uniqua for himself, but also there would be one Jellicle less to worry about. No other Jellicles were coming so Tugger would be an easy target. The two cats had set Macavity’s mind to work and now he had a better plan for the Jellicles. He would destroy them one by one until the entire tribe was gone, and then… then he would be the ruler of the streets, the king of the town. He laughed again and this time even the cats at the Junkyard heard. Macavity had a plan.
***
When the Uniqua’s guards saw Munku ready to fight they shook with fear. Macavity hadn’t told them there’d be other cats. Two against one Jellicle wasn’t enough. The guards had been trained to find safety in numbers and now they were alone. The two cowardly cats ran screaming into the streets.
The bruised body of Uniqua lay where the two cats had dropped it. Munku ran over to her and began to tenderly lick her face. She was barely breathing and as he licked her she coughed. A fem more licks and her beautiful eyes fluttered open and her face was filled with all the mirth that she could muster.
"I thought you weren’t coming," she said surprised.
"You were misinformed."
Heavily leaning on Munku Uniqua was able to get up. She suddenly froze in her tracks and in a hysterical voice demanded:
"Where’s Tugger?"
Munku’s answer satisfied her not. With fear etched in her eyes she turned around and stared at the warehouse behind them. Flames were just beginning to escape from the second story windows.
"He’s in there! I know he is!" she screamed panic stricken.
A gut instinct kicked into Munku’s soul and setting Uniqua down he yelled over the noise of the fire-trucks and people, "Wait right there, I’m going to find him." Before Uniqua could stop him of utter a warning he was gone, racing towards the burning warehouse.
Entering through the open door he looked around. Nothing down on the first floor was yet ablaze. Only smoke seeped through all the cracks and openings of the ancient building.
"Tugger," yelled Munku choking with smoke. His eyes began to water. "Where are you?"
Seconds later Munku heard what he thought was a faint meow and coughing on his left. He followed his instinct. A few steps in that direction brought to him distinct coughing sounds. Moments later, before him was a door from behind which a quiet meow answered his call of Tugger. Munku’s head began to spin and he was barely breathing. The smoke stung his throat, nostrils and eyes.
Finally as the smoke cleared a little he saw Macavity’s simple entrapment device. The door was simply held in place by a stick dug into the ground and pushed up against the handle of the door. With a little bit of pressure from Munkustrap the stick flew to the side and the door swung open…
Fire breathed almost directly into Munku’s face and a greatly shaken Rum Tum Tugger stumbled towards him. Using each other as support, both coughing, and with fire raging behind them, the two cats dragged themselves towards the open door and fresh evening air.
A rumbling sound caused Tugger to look up and see the plank as it swung down. He ducked, but Munkustrap wasn’t as fortunate. He saw it right before it hit him in the head; he let out a short scream and then his world went black.
***
The small congregation of cats sat on the corner. Some nursed Uniqua, others cried, but most sat watching the door to the warehouse, none expecting success and all visualizing flames emerging from it.
Then a flicker of color caught everyone’s attention. The cats all blinked in unison to make sure it wasn’t all an illusion. Yet there he was, the Rum Tum Tugger, standing shocked, but unhurt before the door.
"But where is Munku?" cried Uniqua, the only cat to notice his absence. "He went in there to save Tugger," she sobbed. "It’s all my fault, I should have never let him go!" She broke into tears and hysterical sobs.
"Look! There he is!" one of the cats cried. "He’s there!"
Indeed Tugger had dragged out Munkustrap and now both were in plain view. A half-dozen or so tomcats was already there. Munku and Tugger, who had collapsed on the steps, were brought to safety. All was joy and merriment until someone noticed that Munkustrap wasn’t breathing right. Suddenly a deathly silence fell over the Jellicles. No one knew what to do. Not even the Rum Tum Tugger was awake to suggest a solution.
Uniqua cried even harder as she realized she had given Munkustrap nothing but pain and sorrow, and now she might be the cause of his demise. Then a whisper ran through the crowd as Tugger inhaled deeply and opened his eyes. Uniqua thanked all the powers above for Tugger’s life. Feeling it her duty even if he hated her, she walked over to him and rubbed against him. Tugger smiled at her, but noticing her tear-filled eyes and perplexed face he knew something else was wrong. He turned around to look at the center of the circle of cats… there lay Munku struggling to inhale, each breath growing weaker and weaker…
Uniqua could stand I no longer. She turned away and found herself staring at Misto’s sweet white muzzle. A little incomprehensible sound left her throat. Misto squirmed in pain. Then the young cat looked up and recognizing the urgency of the situation walked down the path that the Jellicles had cleared for him towards Munkustrap. Misto looked at Tugger for confirmation of his actions. A nod was all the encouragement the magical cat needed.
As he focused his gaze on the still form of the tabby, sparks began to form on his paws. Misto felt he could do anything. Not only would his rescue of Munku give him the respect of al the Jellicles, but it was bound to make Uniqua be thankful, and if she was thankful she would fall in love. His own love for Uni gave him all the power he needed. He sprinkled his magic over Munkustrap.
Completely exhausted by the effort, Misto sat down at the edge of the ring of cats awaiting Munku’s awakening. A sob escaped Jemima as Munkustrap stopped breathing. Al others were silent. The mystical divinity of unashamed felinity was broken. The cats felt the doom being cast over their heads.
With a moan Munku awoke, surprising every cat, but especially Misto. Running over to his friend Misto couldn’t stop hugging Munku. Uniqua had never been so happy in her entire life. She jumped about hugging every cat in sight. Tugger and Misto, however, received most of her thanks. There was only one cat she left out - Munkustrap himself.
As Munku sat up his world began to spin. All the cats were blurs spinning about him. Slowly the mad roller coaster of his mind came to a halt and the fuzzy images of the cats began to register in his mind. He felt as if a polka band was playing in his head and the occasional rubbing of some cat against him did not help to relive the pain. Yet, what pained him most as he looked around was Uniqua. She had forgotten about him completely and was purring and playing around with Tugger. Munku’s heart was torn to shreds and nothing cheered him up. He didn’t utter a single word and remained deep in his gloom.
***
Early the next morning Mistoffelees set off to find his love. He knew he should wait for the right moment, but he was afraid that Tugger would beat him, because once Tugger was with Uniqua, Misto stood no chance. Misto quickened his pace to a jog. He was worried. He knew that Tugger never left his mansion at such and early cold hour, but some second sense drove Misto forward.
As Uniqua’s new junkyard home opened before him, he was forced to bid all his wishes goodbye. There they were, Tugger and Uni, rolling about in a small patch of sun, laughing, play fighting and deeply in love. Misto closed his eyes and turned away. Opening them suddenly he looked again, but the image was still the same. They were still there wrapped in their own little world.
Misto walked away with an empty mind and heart. He had nothing in store for himself in the future and only memories of his past. His sullen gloom and silence was broken by Electra’s eager pounce. His playmate of earlier years was beautiful and smart and in the mood to play. Her jump and push sent them both flying off the edge of the pipe right into a large mud-hole.
Forgetting everything but the fight in front of him, Misto gathered up his strength and pounced, dunking Electra completely into the mud. The two best friends continued to fight, not noticing the sun rise high into the sky.
***
In his week of solitary pondering, Munkustrap had decided to not give up. He would fight Tugger ‘till the end for Uniqua. His happiness depended on it.
The entire week he had spent recovering had given him courage and time to organize his true feelings. Before, he hadn’t been able to understand what passed on in his soul, but the more he thought, the more he was convinced that it was love that made Uniqua so dear to him. The feeling was new and the sensations produced by it were unexplainable. Munkustrap was in love and nothing could stand in his way.
***
In the middle of the junkyard the cats were having a little celebration. Bombalurina was showing off her kittens and their father looked proudly on. The adult cats played with the little ones, and the older kittens were pretending to be "all grown-up" as Jemima called it. It was an especially happy time for her, because she was no longer the youngest Jellicle.
Tugger and Uniqua were there, but the two sat in a corner exchanging smiles, compliments and kisses. Misto was there too and with the help of Electra was teaching the little ones simple tricks. Mungo and Rumpel were also there, but the two were planning their latest act of mischief.
All faces turned to look as Munkustrap’s voice echoed all around.
"Well, well, well. What have we got here?" he asked.
A mad rush to hug the returning cat was formed and the kittens were forgotten. Uniqua turned her face away from Tugger and glanced at the powerful tabby. Although quite a bit thinner, he still looked as proud and noble as she had seen him the day after she came to the junkyard; maybe even more so. She looked at the monument of strength and wisdom and was confused.
With great interest she watched him descend the junk pile. Her eyes were open wide in wonder at his grace and elegance. She heard Tugger’s voice, but nothing he said registered in her mind. Her attention was all Munku’s.
With a smile Munku noticed her wide-open eyes and drooping jaw. He had planned to make a favorable impression, but he wasn’t prepared for so favorable a response. He knew he had her at his fingertips and his actions would decide his own fate. He directed a broad smile at her. She nearly fainted from the pleasure.
Rum Tum had seen enough. He clearly understood Munku’s intentions and under the suggestion that it was getting late he pushed and hurried Uniqua off and away from the gathered company.
Munku, however, wasn’t worried. The last glance she had given him was so filled with affection that there wasn’t any way that Tugger could retaliate now.
***
As she lay cuddled up against Tugger, Uniqua’s thoughts revolved around Munku’s appearance that day. How could she have been so blind to his majesty until then? He was the cat of her dreams, but she hadn’t even seen it. He had loved her, but she had closed her mind to his love, locking it out. She turned bright red in embarrassment for such a mistake. Then she remembered that smile he had given her that day, and she glowed with the thought.
Yes, she loved him. She saw clearly now that she did and she couldn’t doubt that he must care for her. She had come to the junkyard searching for love and she had found it. Yet, how would she tell him? Tomorrow she felt would be too late…
Slowly climbing our of Tugger’s paws, she stood up. Tiptoeing, so as not to wake Tugger, she sprinted towards Munku’s home. As she entered his box he asked:
"What too you so long? I’ve been waiting…"
Uniqua’s joyful laughter echoed all around the junkyard…