Familiar Territory (open)

[Mungojerrie]

After leading his sister out from the alley, he slowly started to notice that things weren't right. The sounds, the smells, everything. He dared not go back though, in fear of the pollicles that had chased the terrible two.
Oh boy, they sure weren't in Kansas anymore.
"Hey... sis, ya remember this place?" he asked in a soft voice, not much higher than a whisper. His mind wasn't thinking correctly, of course she did. She HAD just roamed in here on a heist afterall. Mungo, however, had not stepped foot in the place since he broke away from working under Macavity.
His fur stood on end and his tail was between his legs. He didn't like this place one bit.
"Let's just find our way out as soon as we can. I don't wanna be 'ere any longer than we hafta."

[Rumpleteazer]

Rumple trotted after her brother, holding onto his hand as if it were her only line to safety in a storm. As they emerged from the alley, she looked up at her brother, biting her lip. Of course she recognized the place. Her eyes darted around, and she moved to hug Mungo's arm, pressing herself to his side.

Sure, she had just been in the area, and sure, she hadn't cared about being caught then. But frankly, without her clothing, she was definitely feeling more vulnerable than normal. Vulnerable was a bad thing to be around here. She nodded at Mungo.

"Not arguin' with ya there. I think..." She trailed off, and pointed forward. "I think it's that way, but I don't remember...."

[Mungojerrie]

Mungo wrapped an arm around his sister's shoulder to comfort her. Though, in reality, he was probably just as scared as she was. He patted her gently trying to ease her fear, "Its gonna be alright as long as we're togetha'. Everythin turns out alright when we're togetha'." He almost had to reassure himself of this as well.
"I 'ope yer right..." He walked in the direction she pointed warily. He really did hope she knew what she was talking about. No doubt she'd know the place better than he would. But, of course, he still had some memory of the place.

[Rumpleteazer]

Rumple leaned into Mungo, glad for the comforting arm around her shoulders. She wrapped her arms around her stomach, glancing at the buildings they passed. It kind of looked familiar, but was it really? Under her breath, she muttered, "Stop it, stop second guessing. I know where we are, it's just ahead. But.... no. Yes. Wait..."

She tended to think aloud when she was under stress, as a way to keep her thoughts in order when her mind was freaking out. "I know that building, I know I passed it... So it must be.... No, there are two of those here. Which one was it?" She glanced over her shoulder, trying to orient herself.

"Hang on." That remark was to Mungo, and she slipped out from his arm, darting forward to slowly turn in a circle, getting the details off their location in her mind before closing her eyes. She had a good memory for directions, but she got confused when she was scared. A moment later, she nodded, returning to her brother's side.

"We're farther away than I thought. I got all turned around when we were runnin'. It's still this way, but we're a few streets ovah and there's more ta walk. Come on." Rumple wrapped her arms around Mungo's waist as she resumed walking. "I hope ta Gawd we don' meet anyone."

[Dinah]

The sleek grey cat slinks through the alley way, pausing as she catches sight of two calico cats. She immediately enters stealth mode (not that she wasn't stealthy before, but this time she was extra curious), her short ears twitching as she strains to hear their conversation. She is curious as to why these two were walking the streets without anything to cover them, and as the hunt for dinner was proving useless, she decides to stalk the pair. She sticks to the wall of the alley, creeping closer until she was close enough to catch the end of the female's worried words. She peers around the corner, her grey eyes wide with curiosity. However, if living on the street has taught her anything, it was to never trust anyone, no matter how they come across.

[Mungojerrie]

Mungo peered around nervously. How ironic... the the act of running away, he ended up in a place that he had once run away from.
"Rumple, promise me that you'll NEVA come 'ere again. Once we find our way out, NEVA return 'ere. Fer no reason do I eva want ya comin back 'ere," he ordered. He held her close beside him.
His ears twitched a bit, seeming to hear a noise come out of the eery quiet. He looked around, not seeing anything. Cowering down, he leaned over to Rumple and whispered to her, "I think someone's 'ere."

[Rumpleteazer]

Not in the mood to argue, Rumple merely nodded, muttering a soft "Okay..." As much as she hated him being overprotective, she knew now was not a good time to argue with her brother. She liked her independence, but worrying Mungo wasn't good for either of them.

At Mungo's words, she looked up at him, eyes widening. "What? But I don'...." She trailed off, straining to hear what her brother did. She shook her head, glancing behind them. "I don' hear anythin', are ya sure?" She matched his volume, knowing her brother well enough to not be dismissive of his worries. Even if she didn't hear anything, Mungo was always more aware of their surroundings than she was.

[Dinah]

The monotone cat quickly ducks out of sight as the male looks around. Their voices were even quieter now, and the sleek cat strains (and fails) to hear what they are saying. She doesn't want to give her presence away, but she is still curious about their motives. She wonders what she should do, looking down at her feet and the surrounding ground just in case a sneaky little rat had decided to show itself.

[Macavity]

Oh, really.

"I hear something," rumbled a deep voice, "and it sounds like the pitter patter of rats scurrying in territory that isn't theirs.." His location wasn't immediately apparent; no, from where Macavity was, he preferred to remain unseen, unknown, and at an advantage. "Does anyone know an exterminator? I could use to get rid of one.. two.. three vermin.."

[Mungojerrie]

The calico male stopped dead in his tracks. That voice. It was all too familiar.
Taking a few steps back he muttered to Rumple, "We've GOTTA go. Like, now! Like, five minutes ago!" His whole body trembled. Things just went from bad to worse.
At this moment, he'd rather have been fighting off pollicles.

[Dinah]

The grey cat's eyes widen as she hears the voice of the unknown male. She presses herself against the wall, and searches for a place to hide. She did not know who this was, but by the sound of his voice she could tell that he wasn't very nice (who else talks about extermination?). She scurries down the alleyway, trying to be as silent as possible. But she is not going to the hideout, the place where her brother safely resided. No, she could not do that to him, just in case she was going to be followed. Across the alleyway she spies a hole, and after weighing up her chances she decides that it would not be worth it. Thus, she presses her back against the wall, unsure of what the next step should be.

[Rumpleteazer]

Rumple's breath caught in her throat. That voice... She looked up at Mungo, taking in his shaking and bit her lip. Crap. She had to look away from her brother's scared face, clinging to his arm as she frantically looked around the area. She managed to mutter a distracted, "Mhmm..." as she tried to find an escape route.

Her eyes spotted an alley, and if she thought right, it should get them out of here, closer to home. Without a word, she shifted her grip to her brother's hand, dragging him toward the alley's opening. If that voice meant what she thought it meant, there was no time to waste.

[Macavity]

"Hide and seek?" Sinister laughter echoed through the alley, filling the atmosphere with dread. "I LOVE a good game of hide and seek.. maybe Fangor will want to play, too? Rozumbrad? The good doctor? .. CHRIS? Yes, let's play, rats," the feared crime lord continued boisterously, "I'll give you a head start."

"One.. two.."

[Mungojerrie]

Mungo stumbled behind Rumple as she ran off to an alleyway. He was dazed and very frightened. His fur stood up and bushed out, causing him to look like a terrified little fuzzy kitten. He really was no help in situations like this. He was most definately not a fighter. Nor did he claim to be. He knew he couldn't beat Macavity. But maybe, just maybe him and Rumple could outrun the Napolean and his goons.

[Dinah]

Dinah closes her eyes, her back against the alley wall as she calms herself. She reaches under her shirt to the little bag she keeps hidden, and searches for her weapon. She takes out the small knife, flicking the blade from its cover and holding it behind her back so that the shine would not attract anyone to her.

[Rumpleteazer]

Rumple cast a glance over her shoulder at Mungo, biting her lip when she saw how scared he was. Crap, she had almost forgotten how useless he was in times like these. Hell, she was scared too, but she didn't turn into a stumbling shell that was more a hindrance than a help.

She did wince when she heard the names. Four toms who scared her to death, plus the fifth, the voice, the tom she had never wanted to see or hear again. There was a reason she and Mungo left, not just because they were tired of gang life.

The pair had reached the alley, and Rumple pulled her brother along the walls, sticking to the shadows and trying to keep her eyes and ears open. Where was his voice coming from, and where would the others appear? How could she get her and her brother out alive?

[Mungojerrie]

The tom tried to push himself as close to the wall as he could, if he pushed any further he might have just gone through the thing. His body trembled violently. How was Rumple still functioning?
He held tight onto his sister's hand, not wanting to let go. "R-Rumple, can ya tell where 'e is?" he asked through chattering teeth. He swallowed hard and his heart thumped loudly in his chest.
Oh everlasting cat, if they could just get out of there safe... He knew how ruthless Macavity and his goons were. They'd likely spare no mercy to the 'deserters' that Mungo and his sister were. He couldn't even believe that he had once found this place as a sort of home.

[Rumpleteazer]

She glanced over her shoulder at her brother, her face softening when she realized how terrified he was. She didn't blame him, this was one of the worst messes they had found themselves in. Not pausing in her quick steps, she shook her head. "Nope, didja really think I could? You know 'im, know wot he's like..."

As her head snapped back forward to watch where she was going, Rumple crashed into a body, standing against the alley wall. Gasping, she jogged backwards, latching onto Mungo's arm. Her eyes hadn't fully adjusted to the dim alley, but she could just barely detect a sleek, gray queen who nearly blended into the walls. Rumple didn't know her, but it was logical that he could have picked up some new cats since they left.

Her eyes flicked between the queen and her brother. Could the siblings outrun this strange queen?

[Dinah]

The grey cat stumbles as the calico crashes into her, and she grips her knife tightly. She immediately goes into defence mode, glaring at the pair and almost hissing, though she did not want to draw the attention of the unknown stranger. She holds the knife out threatingly, as if to say 'don't come any closer'. She then turns and runs down the alley, her soft shoes padding ever so softly on the solid ground. She turns a corner and leans up against the wall, searching for a way to escape without drawing any attention to herself.

[Macavity]

Macavity's shadow flickered across the walls as he sprinted across the roof of a neighboring building. His foot scraped across a brick as he leapt off the balcony, soaring down to another roof yards below him. Tumbling safely on the gravel, he quickly drew himself up and flung open the door to the roof access stairwell.

The soft clicks of his nails on the cold steel stairs echoed in the concrete corridor until he pushed his shoulder against another door and stepped out into the warehouse proper. Those henchmen who lingered in his path immediately scattered upon sight, ducking their heads to avoid eye contact or recognition of their features. Macavity wasn't interested in them, fortunately. An intercom box was precisely what he was headed to. Lifting the coiled receiver, he pressed the red rubber button on its side.

"Attention Chris, Fangor, and underlying crew," his voice declared, booming through the warehouse and reaching surrounding outside area, "we've come across a rodent problem. Please see to it that they are played with before exterminated.. immediately."

The receiver was replaced. Macavity smiled to himself and turned on his heel, making for the roof once more.

Nothing was more exciting than a deadly game of hide and seek.

[Mungojerrie]

Mungo grimaced at the names being announced. He hadn't even noticed the grey queen slinking about, he was more worried about Macavity. His eyes darted around, looking for any hint of ginger in the dank alleys. Not only was he completely terrified, being without clothes didn't help him feel any safer. Though, he worried more for his sister being in the nude. Toms could be nasty.

[Rumpleteazer]

Rumple stared at the queen, not exactly scared, more confused. Huh. Maybe she wasn't one of his. As she gray cat ran off with her knife, Rumple looked up at the announcement. The first signs of her underlying terror flickering across her face, but were quickly covered up with a grim smile. She didn't want to worry Mungo.

Shaking her head to clear it, Rumple grabbed Mungo's hand. "C'mon, if we're seen, we're dead." Turning, she darted off down the alley, pulling her brother with her. She almost wished she could trade coats with that gray queen, anything that might help them blend in better.

[Fangor]

Fangor had been asleep but the moment he heard the familiar voice he was on his feet and alert. "Fuck," he muttered as he got to his feet, pulled on his leather pants, made sure the laces were snug on his boots, and took to the door, grabbing his waistcoat on the way. Dealing with pests was something he often enjoyed, like receiving orders, but it was rare that he'd ever sleep and so he was a little grouchy.

At least they were confined to their area and not human territory. He hated having to fight nude, to fight without weapons. He could do it, but he liked having the option.

"Chris," he intoned sharply, though he wasn't sure where the other cat was. That would normally make him nervous, except for the fact that it was Chris. Chris had such an uncanny ability with his fighting. It was natural.

[Mungojerrie]

The tom stayed low to the ground in a defensive position. He followed quickly behind his sister. It was a bit embarrassing having his sister be so much braver than he was. Made him almost feel like less of a man. But hey, being in Macavity's turf could lead even the strongest to revert to thier kitten stages.
Mungo hadn't noticed the grey queen. But his ears quickly perked as he heard the announcement ring through the air. "No no no no..." he muttered. His eyes were wide and his pupils were dialated in fear. Never again did he think he'd have to deal with these guys.

[Dinah]

Dinah knows that she has to get out of here, and so, clutching her small knife, she makes a run for it. She does not know where she's going, she just wants to get as far away from here as possible. She tries to make her movements as quiet as possible, but even the sleek cat cannot be completely soundless. She pauses every now and then to survey her position, so that she has less chance of running into a dead end.

[Fangor]

Three. Two. One.

Fangor stepped out in front of Dinah, hands still by his sides. Pink eyes flickered over her, taking in the sight. "Don't run," he said calmly. "It'll hurt more if you do."

Pretty little thing, he thought. Pretty little thing with a blade. Could be dangerous.

... not.

He was amused more than anything, shoulders relaxed. Maybe that one had some sort of ounce of talent.

"What are you doing around here?" he asked simply.

[Chris]

Silent fury.

Chris' eyes narrowed, ears flicking a few times, before he moved. There were ways he operated. He was broken down by that damn bitch, didn't smile so much, wasn't so happy, but those few flickers of life were returning. His anger simmered under the service, body bulked up from muscle, from working out so much in the alley.

Unlike Fangor turning before the grey queen, his attention was on the two calicos making a get away. From the buildings above, he scaled along the roofs, black muscle shirt ripped from a fight or getting caught on something; he didn't remember, nor did he care to change it. The cargo pants and boots only added to the overall fear.

Chris always went by instinct; it was one of his strengths, one of the ways he appealed to Macavity. Possibly that sort of gift was the only thing that appealed to the boss. Certainly Fangor didn't seem to care for much else. He could sense how many were there, he knew the places to attack.

He leapt from the roof, having targeted who he believed was the weaker of the two: the tom trailing in the back. Landing hard to knock him on his back, a hand moved to the tom's throat before he blinked. "Do I know you?" His head cocked to the side, confusion coming to Chris' features, the tattered collar so loose, not completely covering the grotesque scar on his throat.

He blinked once, then twice. Disorientation. He had to have known him, didn't he? Couldn't he? What if his skills were slipping? He turned his head toward the queen--did he know her too? His chest heaved, partly in fear of himself, of becoming so disconnected, and partly from that brewing anger.

"Do I know you?" he asked again.

[Dinah]

She stops suddenly at the appearance of the albino cat. Her small ears flatten and she hisses at him, holding the knife out in front of her.

"Leave me alone." She glares at him with her grey eyes. Her thin tail is puffed, though she tries to calm herself down.

[Rumpleteazer]

Rumple felt Mungo's hand yanked from her own almost before she heard the sound of someone pouncing from high above. She turned, watching in shock as her brother was knocked to the ground, pinned by the ginger cat. "Jerrie!" escaped her lips, almost reflexive as she reached toward him, halting suddenly and darting back a few steps.

Crap. She couldn't leave her brother, but she wasn't about to get too close to the other tom. Rumple froze when he asked if he knew them. Her chest heaved, not with exertion but with fear, fear speeding up her heartbeat and muddling her thoughts.

She blinked. It had been two years, but once she had time to process his face, she was struck by how little he had changed. They hadn't had much contact with him, but they sure as hell knew him.

She gulped. "Um.... don't think so..." Really, the safest answer. Unless he realized she was lying.

[Chris]

He should have been dead. He knew he should have been dead, but Pascal kept him alive. They all kept him alive. And it made him angrier and fiercer. Rumpleteazer's words haunted him, more the tone of her voice.

Did he know her? He had to. He had...

And he looked at the tom beneath him, then back at her. "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer."

A pause.

"SQUEEEEEEEEEE! YOU GUUUUUUUUUUYS, WHY DIDN'T YOU SAAAAAY IT WAS YOU? I WAS GONNA TEAR OUT YOUR THROAT!"

He embraced Mungojerrie, tail swishing at the speed of light. "Oh my GOOOOOD, YOU GUYS!!!! I love you so much!" A glimmer of the old Chris, old happy go lucky Chris.

Psychotic.