Tatsel clambered out of the puddle as fast as possible. Pouncival would pay for this! Tatsel went over to him and shook off, all over him. Then, without claws extended, he cuffed Pounce across the muzzel. A brief fight ensued, but it was interrupted by Munkustrap. Tatsel's father.
"Tatsel, what are you doing?"
"He knocked me in, father."
"Pounce, is this true?"
"Sort of, but he hit me!"
"Tatsel! You will go home and wait there! I'm surprised at you!"
Tatsel hated this. Every time he got into even a minor scrape, Munkustrap, his father, pounced on his back, sent him home, and punished him. He was not even allowed a word in his own defense. He hurried home, and felt his father's eyes slicing into his back. Tatsel hated him. He asked too much…Munkustrap probably had hopes that Tatsel would become leader when Munkustrap was too old for that post. Tatsel didn't want it. There were probably so many more eligible young toms out there. Suddenly, Tatsel got an idea.
"I'm not going home?" He said quietly, testing it in the air. Then, a little louder said, "I'm not going home!" He wandered the streets a while, and got another idea.
"I shall join Macavity! He will want me, and shall expect of me nothing more than I can do!"
Tatsel, with hurried steps, picked his way to Macavity's lair…he was sure he would find a way to stumble on it…
Tatsel did, in fact, stumble on it. He fell through a passage, and landed with a *Thump* on the floor.
"Who are you, What are you doing here, and what do you want? I might as well know now, because you're not going to get it." He said quickly, while he strode over to Tatsel, and in the blink of an eye, Tatsel was tied up.
"Please, sir, Macavity, sir, I'd like to work for you."
"I've heard that before. Let's have a look at you." Macavity strode around him, inspecting him. "Yes, you'll do…what are your reasons, boy?"
"I'm not a boy anymore, and I'm tired of my father's nagging. I want to DO something."
"Your father, boy?"
"Yes, Munkustrap, my father."
Macavity hissed at the name, and walked very close to Tatsel. "Your name, boy?"
"Tatsel, sir."
He sneered. "Yes… Tatsel…you'll do very well." He untied him. "You will work with me. I shall train you, and then let you loose…we'll see what we can make of you." Macavity had plans. He had always looked for opportunity to get back at Munkustrap. Here was a purrfect chance…
END PART I
Part II
For weeks, maybe months (Tatsel couldn't tell…), Macavity trained
Tatsel, and gave him gruelling tests and trials. After a long time,
Macavity told him he was ready.
"Where do your loyalties lie?"
"With you, Master." Replied the brainwashed Tatsel. He had easily succumbed to the training. He had disliked his father. Now, he hated him. Tatsel had few feelings now except hate, and distrust.
"And whom is your father?"
"My old father was a boring stupid Cat named Munkustrap. My true father, who took care of me was…is… you."
"Very good, boy."
"Thank you, master."
"What will you do with your newly learned skills?"
"I will get revenge on all Jellicles, especially Munkustrap."
"But why?"
"Because they abandoned me."
"Of course they did."
Macavity allowed himself a satisfied smirk. Things were going exactly, if not better, than planned. This silly kitten thought that Macavity actually CARED for him…Macavity laughed in his head at this young tom's stupidity. He loved no one. Not anymore…he remembered how Munkustrap got chosen over him…this would even up the score a little bit…
"Are you ready, then, Tatsel?"
"For my…final revenge?" he said, almost hopefully.
"Of course…"
"Yes…Yes I am…Matser."
"Well, then we shall do it…tonight!"
"Tonight?"
"What better time?"
"Of course…when?"
"I could have sworn I just said tonight, but maybe my hearing is going…"
"No I mean -"
"Of course. In about an hour, will that suit you?"
"Yes of course! Anything you say!" And Tatsel rushed off to gather his wits and his things…
"That silly, silly tom…" thought Macavity. "He actually thinks I care about him! He's going to die and I know it. He doesn't stand a chance. And Munkustrap will be hurt. He deserves to be hurt. I've been hurt long enough by him stealing everything dear to me!" Macavity simply sneered. No one had cared for him. Well, then he would care for no one!
END PART II