"Mistoffelees!!" came a voice from across the junkyard. Mistoffelees' eyes flicked open at the sound of his name. "Great." he thought. He had been attempting to sleep on the trunk of the car and this was the second time he had been woken up in the past hour. He raised his head and saw that Munkustrap was calling him. Half-awake, he hopped off the car and padded over to where Munkustap sat.
"Hmmm?" he said groggily.
"Mistoffelees, I have a favor to ask you," said Munkustrap.
"What?"
"It's the start of a new year...."
"I am aware of that," Mistoffelees cocked his head to one side. "What exactly are you getting at?"
Munkustrap cleared his throat. "Would you mind terribly walking around the neighborhood and seeing if there are any new cats Old Deuteronomy and I haven't checked out?"
Mistoffelees though for a moment. "Yes. Ta ta." He began to walk away but was stopped by Munkustrap's paw holding his tail. He sighed. "Sorry I disagreed, it won't happen again, blah, bla-"
"Ok, Misto, here's the deal." Munkustrap interrupted. "You, me, and Pouncival are the only ones in the junkyard. Pouncival is two monthes younger than you and is acting like an incompetent fool at this point in time." Mistoffelees glanced over at Pouncival who was batting around a stinkbug. Munkustrap continued. "I have to stay here and watch the junkyard. So I am begging you to check out this neighbor hood. Only seven houses."
"Fine, fine." said Mistoffelees crossly. "I'll go. But you're wrong. There are nine houses in that neighborhood."
Munkustrap grinned. "Uh, Mistoffelees," said Munkustrap as Mistoffelees was walking away. "Don't tell anyone I begged you."
"Would they even beleive me?" came the reply.
"Probably not. Happy cat hunting."
The first house Mistoffelees came to was Jemina's, Etcetera's, and Victoria's. He decided to say hello. He hopped up on the windowsill and looked in. Jemina and Victoria were sitting on a pillow talking and laughing. Mistoffelees banged his nose against the screen and waved his tail. Jemina's head snapped around and she grinned. "Hi," she called. Then to Victoria she said, "Look who it is."
Victoria giggled. "We were just talking about you," she said, grinning.
"Um, okay," said Mistoffelees, slightly confused. "Anyway, would you two happen to know if there are any new cats in this neighborhood? Munkustrap sent me cat hunting. Jemina glanced at Victoria who started giggling again.
"Be serious, Vicky," Jemina told her. Victoria put on a serious look and said very gravely, "I believe so."
"Do you know where?" continued Mistoffelees.
"Yes," said Victoria, still very stoic. "Down the street in the blue house a composer has moved in with a kitten about my age." She started acting nomal again. "Grey with a black tail. Poor little thing. Musta been abused. Or maybe just scared. We tried to say hello, but she just ran off. She's just the smallest, skinniest cat ever-"
"Mighta had a run in with Macavity," suggested Jemina nonchalently. "Anyway, I think thats all for new cats in this neighborhood," continued Victoria. "The composer is quite a character. He wants to write a musical about cats," she giggled. "It'll never get off the ground."
"Well, I gotta go," said Mistoffelees, laughing at the thought of a musical about cats. "Thanks for your help."
"Anytime," Victoria and Jemina chorused in unison. Mistoffelees jumped off the windowsill and started towards the blue house.
When Mistoffelees arrived at the blue house, went to an open window with no screen and peered inside. It was a relatively normal looking living room, very clean, but with sheet music scattered all over a big piano. No one seemed to be home, but he saw a grey tail that looked like the end had been dipped in black ink coming from under a pile of sheet music on the piano bench.
"Hello?" he called. The tail stirred and disapeared completely under the pile. The a little voice called, "Leave me alone, Macavity! I'm not a stray anymore."
"If you'd just come out for a second you'd see that I don't look a thing like Macavity," called Mistoffelees impatiently. He had better things to do than coax kittens out of piles of paper. Just than a head apeared from out of the pile.
"Oh," the cat said seeing the small black and white cat sitting on the windowsill. "You don't look anything like Macavity."
"Thank you, I think..." said Mistoffelees. "Anyway, I'm from the Jellicle tribe down the street in the junkyard and I've been asked to check out any new cats to see if they are a jellicle or with Macavity, etc. So I'd like to ask you a couple of questions."
"Shoot," the kitten came out completely from the pile. She was very slim, and all grey, except for her tail, and about Jemina's size, although she seemed older.
"Your name."
"What about it?"
"What is it?" asked Mistoffelees impatiently.
"Oh. Marolene Morgan. Or just Marolene." "Morgan, Morgan," thought Mistoffelees. "Sounds awfully familiar. Better check it out with Munku."
"Um, I'll be right back," he said to Marolene. Then he hopped off the window and raced back to the junkyard, leaving an awfully confused Marolene behind him.
Munkustrap was sitting on the trunk of the car making sure nothing went wrong. When he saw a quickly moving Mistoffelees skid into the junkyard he knew something was wrong. He leaped off the car and went to meet him.
"Misto, whats wrong? You never run." Mistoffelees glared at him as he caught his breath. "New...cat...kitten...small..last name...Morgan....ring a bell?" he panted. Munkustrap's eyes widened.
"Ask her who her father is. Hurry!!" Mistoffelees shot Munkustrap a look then tuned around and raced back to the house.
Marolene was still sitting on the piano bench when she saw that peculier small black and white cat racing back towards the window. He jumped up to the window and caught his breath.
"Who is your dad?" he gasped.
"Uh...do you need a drink?" asked Marolene pointing to her water bowl. Mistoffelees nodded and gulped it down. He looked up to see Marolene grinning. "What?" he asked defensively.
"You look REALLY funny!"
"Just answer the question." Marolene squinted as if trying to remember something.
"Cat Morgan..." she said faintly. "Yes. Cat Morgan." she said louder as if to affirm her thoughts. "But he's dead," she added remorsefully. Marolene then looked over to see Mistoffelees racing back to the junkyard twice as fast as before. She shook her head and giggled.
Back at the junkyard, Munkustrap sat with Old Deuteronomy disscussing who this kitten could be. Just then, Mistoffelees came running like a madman back into the junkyard.
"It's Cat Morgan's kid." Munkustrap turned to Old Deuteronomy who nodded.
"Go back and bring her here," said Munkustrap. Mistoffelees glared at him and ran back to the house for the third and hopefully last time.
Mistoffelees skidded down the road and nearly smashed into Jemina and Victoria on their way to the junkyard.
"Whoa," said Jemina grinning. "What's your hurry?"
"New..cat...related...to...Cat-" Mistoffelees coud barely get the words out.
"Yes, most of us ARE related to cats," interupted Victoria. Mistoffelees shot her a look as her gasped for air.
"Related...to..Cat...Morgan..." Jemina'e eyes widened.
"Oh," she said. "That could make you hurry."
Victoria wrinkeled her nose. "Who's he?" she asked.
"Only one of the most respected Jellicles in Old Deuteronomy's time," explained Jemina. Mistoffelees nodded.
"Have to go..." he rasped and took off down the street again.
Marolene gazed lazily out the window and saw (not to her surprise) that the strange small cat was coming bounding down the street for the third or fourth time. She yawned and scampered back over to her pile of paper. She knew not to trust any cat she didn't know. She watched as he hopped on to the window sill.
"You will have to come with me," he said.
"Where?" she asked defiently. The odd black and white cat sighed and began to look rather annoyed.
"It would be a whole lot easier if you would just cooperate...what's your name again?"
"Marolene."
"Yeah..." He shifted in his place. "Are you coming or not?"
Marolene avoided his gaze. This was getting uncomfortable.
"I don't even know who you are, why should I trust you?"
He sighed again.
"How long are you planning on giving me a hard time?"
"Till I know I can trust you," said Marolene looking at him skeptically. Mistoffelees motioned towards himself.
"Do I look the least bit threatening to you? Just come, you can walk behind me and run off whenever you think I'm evil." He immeadiatly regretted saying that. This was one jumpy cat. She would be gone before they were even halfway there, and Munkustrap would have his tail for it. But much to his surprise, Marolene jumped gracefully off the table and said:
"Let's go."
As they were walking down the street a thought suddenly occured to Mistoffelees and he whirled around.
"When I first came to your house, you said something about Macavity...am I right?" Marolene nodded.
"You didn't work for him, did you?" Marolene shook her head.
"I was kidnapped when I was a stray."
"You were a stray?"
"Uh huh."
"Oh geez..." Mistoffelees knw how complicated this made things. "You weren't one for very long, right?" Marolene shook her head and looked down at the ground sadly. Mistoffelees turned back around and started walking. He didn't like when things got emotional. "Oh well, you're Morgan's cat, they hafta let you in," muttered Mistoffelees as they approached the gate to the junkyard.
Tumblebrutus and Alonzo watched the entrance from the car as Mistoffelees and some skinny grey cat walked in towards Munkustrap. "Oh great...another new cat..." said Tumblebrutus. But Alonzo just squinted.
"She looks awfully familiar...oh well," he said. Then he laughed. "What if she swipes at Tugger too! That would be two new lady cats swiping at him in the same week."
Patchabie came over and sat down next to them. "Hey guys, watcha doin'?"
"New cat." said Tumble and Alonzo pointed.
"Ooh, yay!" said Patchabie and ran off to meet her. This new cat looked like someone she would like.
"So you're Cat Morgan's kitten?"
"Mmm hmm..." Marolene nodded at the striped grey tabby that stood in front of her. These cats sure seemed to be interested in him.
"You woudn't happen to know much about him would you?" Oh sure, thought Marolene. Wise, gracious, respectable, lover of fish, etc.
"No," she said and moved her eyes to the floor. This questioning was too intense for her.
"He was very well known and respected here," said a kindly old brown cat siting behind the grey tabby. He continued. "Do you know what a Jellicle cat is?" The smaller black and white cat, who was occupying the set next to the old cat rolled his eyes, as if some long explanation was to follow. The word sounded familiar, even though she hadn't heard it for sometime. But somehow she know what it was...kind of. Expecting a no, the tall grey tabby sat down and looked around. "Sort of." "If only I had a camera to catch the looks on their faces right now." thought Marolene.
"You're kidding," said the black and white cat.
"Well, that saves us some time," said the old cat, looking very surprised indeed. "But of course, I suspect you know...well, you are a Jellicle cat already...because of your father. And might I add, you look exactly like him."
"Skinnier," added the grey cat.
"Uh..thank you," said Marolene, trying to be as polite as possible.
"And now it's time for introductions..." said the old cat. "I am Old Deuteronomy. This is Munkustrap," he said pointing at the grey tabby before her, who grinned. "And this," he continued as he pointed at the black and white cat, "Is Mistoffelees, our conjuror in residence. Care to show her a trick, Mistoffelees?"
"Please, I just ran about five miles," Mistoffelees said, looking very tired. He glanced at Marolene who was looking a bit confused.
"Another time," he promised. Old Deuteronomy looked around.
"We just had a new cat join us last week...where is she?" As if in response, a pretty calico skidded around from behind the dryer and ran up to them.
"Speak of the devil," muttered Mistoffelees.
"Hi!" chirped the calico. "I'm Patchabie! Who are you?"
"Marolene," said Marolene.
"Wanna come with me? You can meet all the cats!" Marolene glanced at Munkustrap, who nodded.
"Sure," said Marolene. Old Deuteronomy grinned at Munkustrap as the two cats walked off. They began to talk, but were torn away by a loud
"Oof." Mistoffelees had fainted dead away from exaustion.
"Hey Jenny!! Jelly!!" yelled Patchabie from the middle of the junkyard. A brown and white cat popped out of a pipe in a corner. "You needen't yell so loud, Patch!" she scolded. Then she turned to Marolene. "Why aren't you just a sweet little thing!" Marolene grimmaced, she was much older than she looked. Then the brown and white cat gasped. "Well I never!" she exclaimed. "You are just the image of Cat Morgan!"
"He's my dad," explained Marolene. The cat gasped again.
"Imagine that...." she murmured. "Well excuse me, my name is Jellylorum, and you are..?"
"Marolene." Jellylorum sighed and smiled. Marolene turned to Patchabie. "They all knew my dad," she said to her. Patchabie nodded then pointed to an orange cat carrying some doillies.
"That is Jennyanydots, you'll meet her later," said Patchabie. Then to Jelly, she said, "Maro has to see the other cats, will you excuse us?" Jelly nodded and walked over to Jenny.
"Follow me, " said Patchabie and walked over to the car where Quaxo, Alonzo, and Tumblebrutus sat. She introduced them and then took Marolene away to meet some of the others. When they were out of hearing, Tumblebrutus said,
"Skinny little thing."
"Skinny like Cassandra...." said Quaxo and glanced over at Alonzo who scowled at him.
"Shut up," he grumbled. "There is no replacing Cassandra." Quaxo shrugged. "Think of replacing Patchabie," he continued. Quaxo shuddered.
"Sorry Alonzo, I wasn't thinking."
"Hey," Jemina nudged Victoria. "It's that cat who Mistoffelees ran back and forth for...y'know, the one who ran off when you said hi?" Victoria looked up.
"Oh yeah," she said I hope she isn't scared or something." Patchabie walked up to them.
"Hey guys, this is Marolene. I'll be right back, be nice," Patchabie ran over to Quaxo.
"Hi!" said Jemina. "I'm Jemina and this is Victoria,"
"Hi," said Marolene. Then she looked to Victoria. "You aren't mad at me for running off, are you?"
"No!" exclaimed Victoria. "Why should I be! I thought that you would be scared of me or something!" Marolene shook her head.
"I'm just a little jumpy, that's all." As if to solidify her remark, Munkustrap tapped her on the shoulder and Maro jumped up, shrieked and turned around. "Oops," she said sheepishly. Jemina and Victoria giggled. But Munkustrap was much more serious.
"Come with me, he said to Marolene. "We need to discuss something." Marolene grin changed to a look of worry-she knew this was about her and Macavity.
Victoria and Jemina watched on as Munkustrap led Marolene away. "Gee," said Jemina, wide-eyed. "I hope she's not in trouble."
"Yeah," said Victoria in a worried tone. There was finally a cat almost just her age and now she was being dragged in for the third degree.
Munkustrap led Marolene back to where they had sat before. Old Deuteronomy was no longer there and in his place was a young orange and brown tom chewing on some fish. Next to him lay an unconcious Mistoffelees who was being dragged away by a brown and white cat.
"Hello," said the brown and white cat.
"This is Tantomile," said Munkustrap. "Psycic and nurse cat."
"What happened to him?" Marolene pointed to a sorry looking Mistoffelees lying on the ground.
"Fainted from exaustion," said Tantomile smiling. "I expect him to wake up pretty soon, but Coricopat wants to keep him in a room so he can sleep," she said to Munkustrap. "And you are...?"
"Marolene."
"Pleased to meet you. Excuse me, I have an unconcious magician to tend to." And she dragged Mistoffelees out of sight. Munkustrap turned to Marolene.
"Now the reason I need to talk to you is about Macavity, who I beleive you are aquainted with." Here it comes, thought Marolene. Good bye Jellicles. "He's dead, I suspect you know." Munkustrap looked at her. "We just need to know if you were connected to him in any ways, we try to avoid letting in his workers."
"Ahem..." said the orange and brown cat behind Munkustrap, still eating fish.
"Which reminds me," said Munkustrap. "This is Mungojerrie. Mungo, Marolene."
"Hello," said Marolene.
"Charmed," said Mungojerrie, with a fish tail hanging out of his mouth. He spat it in a near trash can and walked off. "See ya, Munku," he called.
"Mungojerrie did work for Macavity, but quit. We just need to know if you did." Marolene shook her head. "Well, Mistoffelees mentioned you had a connection to him."
"I was kidnapped when I was little." Munkustrap's expression changed form one of suspicion to one of sympathy.
"Oh...uh..well, you didn't work for him, right?"
"I did not work for him."
"Good. Welcome to the Jellicles, Maro."
"Where did she go!!!??" shreiked Patchabie. "Munku's gonna kill me!! It's only my second week and I've lost a cat already!!! She was so nice!!"
"Relax," said Jemina. "She went with Munkustrap. She's fine."
"Oh..." said Patchabie, sheepishly. "Sorry for yelling." Just then, Marolene strolled around a corner. "Oh! Maro! There you are!! Come with me!! You haven't met Bom, and Demie, and Skimble, and Coricopat and all the others!"
Jemina and Victoria grinned as Patchabie walked Maro over to a big box.
"Looks like she's fitting in so far..." said Victoria smiling.
"Skimble!!! SKIMBLE!!!" Patchabie was shouting at the top of her lungs searching for the orange cat. Marolene just watched and waited. Jellylorum approached Patchabie from the back.
"He's not here right now, girls," she said smiling at Marolene. "And for the love of Pete, Patch, don't yell so loud!"
"Sorry," said Patchabie. "I was just trying to introduce Maro here to everyone."
"Well the Tugger is right over there." Jellylorum pointed to the car where a tall leopard spotted cat was lounging in the sun.
"She doesn't want to meet him," scoffed Patchabie. "He's a jerk."
"Oh, come now, he's not that bad." Jellylorum frowned. "Besides, it's better for a young pretty lady cat to meet the Tugger chaperoned. Catch my drift, Maro?" Maro nodded. Patchabie sighed and led Marolene over to the car.
"Hey Tugger! New cat." The tall tom looked over.
"Hmm?" he said. Then he looked at Patchabie. "Oh, it's you." "Yeah," she said. "This is Marolene." He directed his attention the slim grey feline in front of him.
"Hel-lo," he said grinning. Then he glanced back at Patchabie who was holding up a claw bearing paw. "Uh...I gotta go," he said quickly and slid off the car and ran off.
"That was the Rum Tum Tugger. We don't get along too well," said Patchabie grinning.
"I see," mused Marolene. "The ladies cat, I presume?"
"Unfortunatley. But he'll settle down witth Bom one day, I bet. Which is who you are going to meet next!"
Bobalurina was sitting next to the pipe with Demeter when she saw Patchabie with a grey cat trailing behind. She nudged Demeter.
"Hey," she whispered. "New cat." Demeter looked up.
"She's cute! Look at her tail, looks like it's been dipped in black ink."
"Hey guys!" Patchabie sat down in front of them. "This is Marolene. She's new."
"Hey, I'm Bombalurina and this is Demeter." Demeter smiled. Bombalurina continued. "I hope you like it here. Everyones sooooo nice!! Have you met everyone yet?"
"Nope." Marolene sat down. "We've been busy meeting alot of cats though." Patchabie sat up.
"Short visit, Iknow, but we hafta get movin'." Bombalurina nodded.
"Well, see ya round, Maro." Demeter smiled.
"Hey...Misto...hello? Wake up!!!" Mistoffelees awoke with a jolt to find himself in the twin's chamber with Coricopat and Tantomile standing over him.
"Hmmm?" he asked groggily. His head was pounding. "Where am I...oh...here...explain?"
"You fainted," stated Tantomile.
"After running," continued Coricopat.
"For a loooong time." The twins both finished together. "You were dehydrated." Tantomile pointed to a water dish on the floor. "You might want to consider submerging your head completely...even you can't conjour up all the water you need right now." Mistoffelees shrugged and walked slowly and wobbily over to the water dish.
"And that, Maro, was the Jellicle tribe." finished off Patchabie. It was an hour later, and they were exausted. Marolene flopped on the ground.
"Whew!" she said. "There sure are alot of them..."
"I know," said Patchabie. "Hey, where's Misto? Wasn't he supposed to give you a magic show?"
"He's unconcious."
"Oh." Just then Alonzo walked up.
"Hey girls," he said gloomily. Marolene looked at Patchabie.
"He's sad," she explained.
"I see." Maro looked back at Alonzo. "Hi."
"What brings you here?" said Patchabie.
"I'm bored." He flopped down. "I can't find Mistoffelees. Do you know where he is?"
"He's unconcious," Marolene said as she licked her paws.
"Oh." Alonzo yawned. Marolene gave him a weird look.
"You aren't fazed by much, are you?"
"Nope. We leave that to Patchabie." Patchabie grinned.
"Oh well." Alonzo yawned. "I guess I'll find Tugger then."
"So long," said Patchabie.
"Bye," called Marolene as he walked away. "Hmmm. He's odd, isn't he?"
"Not usually. His "girlfriend" moved away awhile ago and he's still mopin' around. Be good for him to get some company." Patchabie looked at Marolene as she said this.
"Ooooh no. I'm not the one for the job." Patchabie sat up.
"I thought so. I'm gonna go find Quaxo. You can stay around here and explore, if ya want...."
"Sure, I guess."
"Bye." Patchabie walked over to a dryer and Marolene sat up and looked around. She decided to find Jennyannydots, since she was never properly introduced. Her path was intercepted by a small black kitten.
"Halt." The kitten demanded. "I don't know you. Who are you?"
"Marolene."
"Oh, Okay." The kitten smiled. "I'm Sootaput. A new Jellicle. Well, gotta run!" Sootaput ran off. Marolene shook her head. Cats around here could be real weird...
Mistoffelees was asleep again after drinking three dishes of water. He was awaked by Munkustrap.
"Pssst." Munkustrap shook Mistoffelees shoulder. "Get up for a sec." Mistoffelees sheilded his eyes from the light coming in through the entrance of the pipe.
"What??" He hissed.
"I just wanted to thank you for getting Marolene in the tribe for us. We don't know of any other Morgans and Deuteronomy was very close to them." Munkustrap smiled. Mistoffelees groaned.
"Why did you wake me up???!!! I am having a VERY bad day." Just then Tantomile came in.
"What are you doing!!" She pointed to Munkustrap and then to the door. "He is very very tired. Out. Now." Munkustrap shrugged and walked out the door.
"Y'know what, Tantomile?" Mistoffelees asked.
"What?"
"I could get used to staying here." Tantomile laughed. Then Mistoffelees rolled over and fell asleep.
Marolene walked over to the trunk of the car and sat down, observing the junkyard. A slim brown cat walked up to the car.
"Hello," the cat said. "I don't beleive we've been introduced."
"I can't beleive we haven't been introduced. I thought I met everyone!" Marolene shook her head in disbeleif as she said this. The cat laughed.
"There are alot of us. I am Exotica. I just came from my house, so thats why you didn't meet me. Are you Marolene?" Marolene nodded.
"There's quite a buzz about you, Marolene."
"Really?"
"Yes. Everyone wants to meet the pretty new grey cat who is realated to Cat Morgan." Marolene blushed.
"I didn't know my dad was so important."
"Well, the person to ask about that is Munkustrap. Or maybe even Alonzo." Exotica streched out in the sun.
"Why Alonzo?" asked Marolene.
"I heard that when Alonzo was really little, Cat Morgan was like another dad to him. Or at least he liked him." Just then, Rum Tum Tugger came up behind the two cats.
"Hello ladies," he said grinning and laid down between them. He turned to face Marolene.
"Oh no," he remarked upon seeing her. "It's the devil's advocate."
"Are you refering to Patchabie?" asked Marolene smiling.
"The one and only." Tugger pointed to his nose. "Look what she did to me!!" Exotica punched him on the back.
"It's only a tiny scratch, you dingo," she scolded. Tugger frowned.
"I better go find Bom." He stood up. "See ya, gals." He strode off. Exotica then turned to Marolene.
"So, you want all the gossip?" She grinned devilishly. Marolene nodded and giggled. Then she frowned.
"Oh...I have to go find Jennyannydots. Sorry, Exotica."
Exotica smiled. "No problem," she said. "You'll find out soon enough." Marolene smiled and hopped off the car. Jenny was sitting in the middle of the yard repairing doilies. Marolene walked up to her.
"Hello," she said. "I'm new and I don't beleive we've been properly introduced. I am Marolene." Jenny looked up and shrieked with delight.
"Morgan's daughter!!" she exclaimed. "Oh, do sit down!!! I've been longing to see you! Jelly told me about you!!" Marolene sat down. "Well, Maro, funny you came here, I was looking for you. Munkustrap tells me you live with a composer." Marolene nodded.
"Yes." she said. "I do. What about him?"
"Do you know anything about music? I teach the mice music on Tuesdays, and I am in need of a helper."
"Sure, Jenny. I'd be glad to help out."
"Good. Tuesday at noon."
"I'll be there." Marolene stood up and walked back over to Exotica, still on the car, who was talking to Alonzo and Pouncival.
"Oh, hi!!" Exotica walked over to Marolene. "I didn't know you'd be back so soon. Come and talk with us. I think Alonzo knows your dad better than we thought." Marolene followed Exotica back to the car.
"Hi," said Marolene.
"Hi Maro," said Alonzo and Pouncival.
"We were just talkin' 'bout your dad," said Pouncival. "Alonzo knew him."
"I know," said Marolene. She squinted at Alonzo. "and I knew Alonzo, I think."
"Wha?" Pouncival's and Exotica's jaws dropped. Marolene continued.
"You," she said pointing at Alonzo, "were my brother's best friend. Of course, this was when you were little, and I was really little." Alonzo nodded.
"Yeah..." he said, his voice trailing off. Marolene shook her head. "Too confusing to discuss. I'm going to go find Patchabie." Exotica noticed her voice was a little wobbly as she said this. Marolene scampered off towards the dryer.
"What's wrong with her?" Pouncival said to Alonzo. Alonzo hissed.
"Her brother's dead. Along with the rest of her family. Excuse me, I'm going to find Mistoffelees." And Alonzo went off in search of his best friend.
"I'm gonna go too," said Poucival, but Exotica leapt over his shoulder and put her face up to his.
"I will rip your eyes out if you follow either of them," she growled.
"They are not looking for their friends, but they are going to be by themselves."
"Oh," said Pouncival in a small voice. "Ok."
"So Patchabie, how's Maro doin'?" Munkustrap sat down in front of the dryer. Patchabie shrugged.
"She was having a great time. But she went home a couple of minutes ago. Seemed kinda upset 'bout something. She told me to thank for being so nice and that she'll be back tomorrow."
"Hmmm..." Munkustrap thought for a minute. Why would Maro be upset? Oh well. "Thank you Patchabie, that will be all." Patchabie nodded and ran off.
"Yooo hooo!!" Maro's ears perked up. Mistoffelees was sitting on the far side of the roof.
"How did you get up here?" Marolene demanded. Mistofflees shrugged.
"I'm a magician. Whadya expect?"
"I thought you were unconcious."
"Not anymore. Though it was quite a workout." Mistoffelees flexed his arm. "Do I look buff?" he said in a low voice. "But seriously, Munkustrap wants to know if you're ok." Marolene nodded. "Cause, ya know, you just kinda ran off, so he thought you were emotionally....messed up, or something. So he decided to send the exhausted dead sleeping kitty cat magician to make sure you wer-"
"You're rambling, Misto." He shrugged. "And what about that magic show I was promised?"
"Fine, fine. I'll shoot some fancy lightning off the roof and the next time Old Deuteronomy dissapears, you can help bring him back." With that he raised a paw and shot lightning into the sky. Marolene grinned, but her mind was elsewhere. "Look, I'm not going to do this if you're not paying attention."
"Yeah..." said Marolene. "You better do it some other time..." Mistoffelees sighed impatiantly and lowered his paw.
"Suit yourself. Ta ta, Ink Tail."
"Don't call me that."
"That's what you look like. So long." And with a clap of his hands, he was gone. Marolene blinked. Well, she said to herself, this day has been good. And she walked into her house and went to bed.