Fire descended like armagedon upon the two tribes, whose released themselves in panic and fear. Huts went up in flames as trees fell from the burning flames. Blazes surrounded Munkustrap and Tugger in the tree as branches of fire fell upon them. "We have to jump!" hollared Tugger over the chaos and roar of the flames. And they both leaped from the tree just as a flood of leaves, branches and debris engulfed in fire fell just where they once were. Once on the ground it was like a volcanoe had erupted as fire continued to fall from the sky and lives ran around not knowing what to do. Debris and falling limbs fell on many and lives continued to decline in numbers. The mass of Evil Cats then drew in for the kill. With axes in hand, they began bashing through the wooden fortress, bringing it down to nothing but debris and splinters. The entire idea of this being a game left the Forest toms and they feared for their lives. "There's too many of them!" Pouncival cried after dodgeing a falling blazing arrow from the sky. Alonzo continued to fight for all he was worth along with some of the other Jellicles who weren't willing to go back. Once the fence was down, Macavity entered in and grinned wickedly at the chaos inside. Homes were engulfed in flames, bodies of Jellicles and few Forest Cats littered the ground along with some of his petty guards and screams of fear and cries of anguish and despair reigned the night. Never had Munkustrap thought it would come to this as he stared at his brother from afar standing there behind a flame like the red devil himself, laughing at all that was happening around him. Munkustrap was about to approach him when he heard Demeter's cry. Immediatly he glanced behind him and saw her and her sister trapped in a tree engulfed in flames. Instantly, without thinking twice, Munkustrap and Tugger ran to their rescue. Unable to climb the blazing tree, Munkustrap hollared to them from below, "You're going to have to jump!" They were awfully high and the last thing they wanted to do was jump but at this point there didn't seem to be a choice. So Demeter took a deep breath and took her deathdifying leap along with Bombalurina. Munkustrap caught Demeter and Tugger caught Bombalurina but with the sudden impact of their wieght from so high up, both toms fell to the ground with the queens in their arms. Bombalurina slowly opened her eyes and was stunned yet relieved to find herself on the ground. She then began kissing Tugger uncontrollably as she cried, "Oh thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!!"
Meanwhile, Macavity had his own plans. He hollared, "Come out old fool, I know you're here!" and he looked around for Old Deuteronomy but instead he got a sudden kick in the back that sent him spawling to the ground. Serric then landed a few feet infront of the fallen Macavity from a vine that he swung from. Serric then performed some amazing and skillfull tactics with his bo fully ready for battle. Macavity laughed as he stood to his feet, "You're petty batton tricks don't impress me boy. I've figured I've already won back my slaves so why not nab your father while I'm here?"
"You stay away from him you dung sucker."
Macavity was actually set back by that remark and extended his talons in anger, "I'll rip you to shreds!" The two stared at each other for a while waiting for each other's first move. Serric decided to go first and he let out a horrific war like cry as he began swinging about his bo with great spead and skill. But Macavity was just as skillfull as he dodged, leaped and manuvered out of the stick's way. Macavity then found a weapon of his own - a spear from a fallen guard. The two continued to battle it out with incredible speed, moves and effort. They were both fast and equally good but then Serric was able to get a quick kick to Macavity's chest which set him back a few feet. Unwilling to stop, Serric continued as Macavity began to lose his concentration from the first blow. Finally Serric had Macavity pinned against a tree with his bo and teased, "What's the matter Mac? Can't walk your talk?"
Macavity's blood boiled and he shuved Serric back who then went immediatly back into his fast moves and was startled to find that Macavity was now quicker and more forceful. Again Serric brought Macavity down and kicked him once more as he growled, "Come on get up! You can do better than that!" Macavity quickly stood once more with more adrenalin then ever. The red tom then performed a fake to where it seemed as if he was going to strike with his spear from above, causing Serric's reaction to bring his bo up perpendicular above him but Macavity quickly counteracted with a stab to Serric's upper diaphram. Serric gasped in shock with wide eyes at this unexpected manuver and everything froze.
"NOOO!!!" cried Munkustrap who had witnessed it from afar and quickly ran over to him. A strip of blood trickled from the side of Serric's mouth and his lower lip quivered as he slowly glanced down from his frozen position at the wound. Macavity too was still frozen in his position with his fangs bare and his paws still on the spear that still protruded from Serric's upper abdomen. Finally Macavity quickly pulled it out and was a bit shocked at what he did in his moment of heated anger. Serric then fell backwards and caught in Munkustrap's arms. Serric gasped for air as his body shivered in small spasms gropping for the life giving blood that escaped through his large wound. Munkustrap immediatly placed preasure over it while whispering, "No come on Serric, don't die on me here." A small grin appeared on Serric's agonizing face as he replied, "Hey no, I'm alright, did you see me fight? I was good wasn't I?"
A hot tear streamed down Munku's face as he replied, "You did great kid." Through his struggles for air, Serric asked as tears flowed down his cheek, "Tell me - tell me I'm not what you say I am. Tell me...that I'm not self fish. Tell me that you're going to protect my father, save the tribe that I once turned my back on long ago and tell me that I didn't die in vain."
Munkustrap couldn't help but sob for this young tom. "Of course you didn't. And when I called you selfish...." by this time Munkustrap was weeping like a child, "I didn't know....I'm sorry, I didn't know." and a serene calm smile came upon Serric's face as he whispered, "That's right, you didn't know..." and Serric's body became limp and lifeless. Munkustrap tightly embraced the young tom and glanced up at Macavity with fire in his eyes. Never had Macavity recieved such a look of anger and remorse from his brother before. It made his blood run cold and gave him shivers up his spine. Slowly Munkustrap stood before his brother and whispered, "All this for what Macavity? Not for a tribe. Jellicles are meaningless to you. It's for your pride, the joy of having something under your thumb to where it's fragile enough for you to squish at your command. You just want that ounce of power. You never thought it would come to this either did you. Bloodshed, the lost of life. Look what you have become."
"I have become a god." replied Macavity. "I have something dad didn't have. He just had a dream, I have the power. Look around you Munkustrap, your friends cower at my presence. I have created an army so powerful flies dare not to fly. I was willing to share this with you but you chose not to. So like I said, if you're not with me your against me but now brother I give you another chance. Now is your chance to jump sides, be the victor and not the victim. You can still save your life while you still have time." and Macavity held out his paw like he did so long ago during that time when Munkustrap had to the choice to stay with Macavity and face King Triton or run into the unknown with no protection from any of them. Everyone stood motionless waiting for Munkustrap's reply. The gray tabby's eyes fell down upon the lifeless Serric on the ground behind him and then at all the Jellicles and Forest Cats, some severely burnt, wounded and stained with dark smoke and blood. Then without warning, Munkustrap swatted Macavity's hand away and the two sprung into battle. Macavity quickly dove for his bloodstained spear and turned to face the unarmed Munkustrap. As tears of hatred, anger, sorrow, past and painful memories flowed, Munkustrap fought for all he was worth. Two brothers who once enjoyed each other's company, joked, laughed and spent endless hours on the roof of their palace just talking were now fighting to the death. The memories of playing pranks on the unweary, good chases throughout the palace walls, and countless nuzzles with Bethsheba, their mother whom they loved and adored died in this heated moment of clawing, kicking, biting, puching and tearing of flesh. Finding that he was losing the battle, Macavity ran up the nearest tree. Munkustrap was hot on his tail. Macavity ran up as far as he could go till he found that if he ran up any higher, the branches wouldn't be able to support his wieght. So they fought it out up in the tree. Below them a small hut that blazed soon caught the tree on fire along with the dry grass that surrounded the tree's perimeter. Below them blazed an enferno as the two continued fighting. Another blow to Munkustrap's shoulder just added to the bloody marks that covered his tattered body. Munkustrap then let lose a strong blow to Macavity's face causing him to lose his balance and fall a few limbs. The red tom shook his head and found himself on a limb that was cracking under his wieght. He looked down and saw the hellish flames that awaited him below. Another crack and the limb bent, slowly bringing Macavity closer to his death. Munkustrap's eyes widoned when his visions suddenly caused Macavity below him to tranform into what Munkustrap once remembered him to be. A small rambunctious kitten who aided him in pulling pranks on the royal family and kept him up all night with stomach hurting jokes. It was the innocence of his long lost brother. Suddenly the branch under Macavity snapped but was rescued by Munkustrap's sudden grip of his wrist. "Hold on!" cried Munkustrap. But Tugger then hollared from below, "Munkustrap let go of him!"
Shocked at Tugger's words, Munkustrap ignored them and tried to reach for Macavity's other hand. "Munkustrap please! Release him!" cried Demeter. "He's not your brother anymore!" said Tugger. "Macavity, I need your other hand!" yelled Munkustrap. Macavity grinned wickedly at his brother and instead of recieving his other hand, Macavity brought it up and armed with the head of his spear, slashed Munkustrap across the face, causing him to suddenly let go of Macavity and cover his wound. Macavity laughed as he descended into the flames below. Bringing his hands away from his bleeding face, Munkustrap glanced down into the fire and found no sign of his brother. Silence over took the atmosphere as Munkustrap just stared down into the pits of hell and ashes spewed out and heat and smoke choked Munkustrap's lungs. "Munkustrap come down!" cried Tugger. In a state of exhaustion, Munkustrap could only look down at his friends below. Just then, Munkustrap's branch began to give way. "Oh no!" Demeter cried out in a quivering whisper. "Oh god...ok, just hold on, Munkus," said Tugger, "I'll be right there." Finding it impossible to climb the tree engulfed in flames, Tugger had to think of another idea. His eyes then caught sight of a boulder and a plank of wood from the torn down fence. "Hey Pounce, I'm gonna need your help." Pouncival was immediatly at his side. Tugger lifted the board and placed it on a small rock on the ground. "Ok, Pounce, I'm gonna stand on this side of the plank, you lift that boulder and drop it on the opposite side of this here board. Got it?" Pouncival nodded. Tugger took his position and Pouncival slowly lifted the heavy boulder and dropped it. Immediatly Tugger went flying into the air and caught hold of a branch a few branches lower from Munkustrap.
"By george it worked!" laughed Pouncival. Tugger then grabbed hold of a thick hanging vine. Just then the branch snapped and Munkustrap began falling. Demeter screamed as others gasped at the horrifying scene. Suddenly, just in the nick of time, Tugger swung in and caught Munkustrap. "You alright?" Tugger asked. The tired gray tabby was about to answer when suddenly the vine snapped and the two toms went hurdleing to the ground. Demeter and the others ran to their side, "Are you boys alright?!" asked Ecetera. Munkustrap moaned, "Jeez Tugger if you're going to rescue me you could have made it less painful!" and the others laughed. "Where the Evil Cats?" Munkustrap asked.
"They left when they saw Macavity fall. They have rules in the way they fight. If the leader dies, they lose, it's as easy as that." replied Bombalurina. Munkustrap grew silent. "What's wrong Munkus?" Demeter asked placing a tender finger under his chin. "Do you really he died?"
Tugger frowned, "We saw him descend into the flames, what are we suppose to think?"
Munkustrap shrugged, "I don't know." Demeter then helped Munkustrap up as the rains descended. Slowly the fire was washed out and the cool feeling of the falling water brought relief and freshness to the forest. The cats looked around them and saw how their fort was destroyed, huts were now nothing but clumps of mud and everything was in ruins. Tugger sighed at the sight of his "kingdom" now in ashes.