Okay, so some of you may be thinking 'Hang on, this sounds familiar!' …that's because I've written this story before (and it's currently still in my stories list)

So, I re-read it and thought to myself, I can do so much better on this now…so I'm rewriting it, so there'll be changes from my original story-line…

And also hoping that this gets me back into the groove of writing so I can update Once a Slave (and also work on my novel) …

As usual, I own squat.

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A young kitten watched, terrified, from where he was hidden within a crevice of a junk pile. A vicious, bloody fight was occurring in the small clearing in front of him between the Jellicle cats and Macavity's hench-cats, and it was not going well in the Jellicles favour.

Macavity had suddenly attacked the yard, causing Munkustrap – who had been taking care of the young kitten whilst his mother took care of his ill brother – to quickly push him into the hidden crevice, hiding him from the vicious hench-cats, as he ordered the young kitten not to come out for anything and to stay hidden until a Jellicle came for him, before Munkustrap rushed into the fight.

The small kitten moved back further into his hiding place, terrified, as the sounds of fighting got louder. He could just see the Jellicles fighting for their lives.

Young Coricopat was fighting against five hench-cats, snarling furiously. He had only just come out of kitten-hood, yet he was holding his own against the hench-cats quite easily, being quick and light on his feet. Jennyanydots and Skimbleshanks were fighting a few hench-cats, keeping them away from the young kittens hidden away in their den; Asparagus and Jellylorum were giving them support, fighting off more hench-cats nearby. Alonzo and Mistoffelees were fighting back to back. Misto, who was not yet out of kitten-hood but had evaded Jennyanydot's quick kitten round up, used his magic to ward off the hench-cats approaching him. The Rum Tum Tugger was fighting near the pathway to the main clearing, helping Bombalurina and Demeter. Tantomile and Cassandra fought side-by-side, their sharp claws quickly cutting down any hench-cat that dared to think they could get them.

Sirus, the aging grey Protector, was fighting off at least eight hench-cats as his second, Munkustrap, fought against Macavity.

Macavity suddenly managed to gain the upper hand, knocking the young silver Tom onto his back before leaping onto him and repeatedly hitting him across the face. The young kitten whimpered and moved back, his green eyes fixed on the downed Munkustrap.

Macavity suddenly paused, mid strike, as he looked down at his younger brother's dazed and bloodied face. Munkustrap's head rolled to the side, half-aware blue eyes finding the kitten. He gave the smallest shake of his head and the kitten moved back further into his hiding spot. Munkustrap gave a cry of pain as Macavity gripped his face, yanking it back around so he could see Munkustrap's face.

Sirus looked around wildly at the sound of Munkustrap's cry, trying to locate his nephew. Macavity leaned down, hissing something into Munkustrap's ear. Munkustrap reacted instantly, his eyes widening, as he swung his claws, bucking, to get Macavity off of him.

Coricopat whispered something into Alonzo's ear, causing the black and white splotched tom to grin at him, before they both darted off with the hench-cats close on their tail.

Munkustrap finally managed to dislodge Macavity, the ginger Tom rolling off of him before nimbly leaping to his feet. Macavity tilted his head, silver eyes void of emotion, as he watched the dazed Munkustrap attempting to get to his feet. With a well-aimed kick to his stomach, Macavity had Munkustrap on his back once more. Munkustrap snarled and attempted to lunge up, when Macavity placed a heavy foot on his hip.

There was a loud pop.

Munkustrap's mouth opened in a silent scream as his eyes went wide with the horrific pain, before a pained shriek managed to escape him. Macavity laughed as pushed down harder, causing the Jellicles to falter in their fighting as they heard Munkustrap's pained scream. Slowly, Macavity took his foot away, smirking as he watched Munkustrap writhe in pain as he cried, paws hovering over his right hip bone. Sirus attempted to get to his nephew, but was held back by hench-cats. Macavity kicked out once more and Munkustrap went silent and still on the hard ground.

Sirus snarled loudly and lunged at Macavity when he finally saw the state his nephew was in. Macavity easily fought back against the aging Protector.

There was a loud crash and several pained screams before Coricopat and Alonzo suddenly appeared back in the clearing, both grinning. Macavity frowned as he noticed that no hench-cats had followed them back.

"Hey, Macavity!" Coricopat called out, laughing, as he fought off more hench-cats. Macavity looked at the young mystic, eyebrow raised in disbelief that the young Tom was calling for him during the middle of a fight. "If you're wondering where your hench-cats have gone, they're underneath a junk pile to the east." Macavity snarled and knocked Sirus back, attempting to run at the young mystic. However, Sirus was quickly back on his feet and caught Macavity, engaging him once more in a fight.

The young kitten whimpered, paws covering ears to block out the horrible noises, the horrid snarls, the pained cries…it was all too much for his little ears. His green eyes widened as he watched Macavity caught Sirus across the face, sending the older Tom to the ground, where he lay unmoving. Macavity yelled out to his hench-cats and they started herding their Jellicle opponents back towards the main clearing, leaving the dead and unconscious on the ground.

The kitten slowly edged out towards the opening of the crevice, eyes fixed on Munkustrap, as the noise moved away. He wanted to go out to Munkustrap, to wake him up!

He quickly backed up as he noticed Macavity strolling back into the clearing, seeming to be enjoying himself. Macavity walked to Munkustrap's side, crouching beside the unconscious young Tom.

"Wakey, wakey, Munkus," Macavity laughed as he slapped the side of Munkustrap's face, waking him. Munkustrap gave a groan, head rolling around slightly, as he was pulled from the bliss of unconsciousness. The kitten listened as he heard Munkustrap begin to snarl something but was cut off by Macavity slapping him hard across the face. Macavity chuckled and eyed his younger brother, taking stock of all the wounds that he dealt to him. He shuffled down and poked at Munkustrap's dislocated hip, causing Munkustrap to give a sharp cry of pain which made Macavity laugh.

Macavity hummed as he straddled the lithe Tom's hips, making Munkustrap cry out hoarsely in pain, before he began carving patterns into the silver black-striped chest. Munkustrap was crying out, voice beginning to go hoarse and die from the constant cries of pain.

Macavity was suddenly tackled off of Munkustrap by a dark grey blur. The kitten watched fearfully as the two cats fought as Munkustrap struggled on the ground, sobbing in unadulterated pain.

Macavity found this to be very humorous. "Aw, widdle Munkus is crying!" Macavity laughed as he swiped at Sirus. "It's not often perfect, brave Munkustrap cries, huh, Uncle Sirus?" Sirus snarled and lunged at Macavity. Sadly, it was just what Macavity had been waiting for and he struck out, catching Sirus across the throat. Sirus fell heavily to the ground, gasping. Munkustrap made whimpering noises as he tried to shift, trying to keep an eye on where Macavity was. Macavity toed Sirus's still body before he walked back to Munkustrap's side, ready to torment him some more.

"My, what have you done to yourself, Munkus?" Macavity laughed as he toed Munkustrap's dislocated hip, making Munkustrap give another throaty cry of pain.

"M-Munkus," Macavity and Munkustrap looked around, finding Sirus dragging himself the last few feet to Munkustrap's side. The kitten whimpered at the sight of the blood trail that Sirus was leaving in his wake.

"Uncle Sirus," Munkustrap whispered, voice hoarse, as he reached out his paw towards his uncle. Macavity watched on with amusement. Sirus collapsed, finally managing to reach out to take his nephew's paw, squeezing it tightly. He reached up with his free paw, shakily stroking Munkustrap's cheek.

"I'm s-so proud o-of y-y-you," Sirus gasped, "and I'm so s-sorry f-for e-everything I said."

"Sirus! Uncle Sirus!" Munkustrap cried out in alarm as the elder Tom suddenly slumped onto the ground, his grip going slack and his eyes glazing over, the blood slowly pooling under him from his cut throat. Macavity laughed as Munkustrap attempted to crawl closer to his deceased uncle.

"Now, now, Munkustrap, you know you can't bring back the dead," Macavity teased as he grabbed Munkustrap's tail, dragging the yowling Tom away from the bloodied body. Macavity laughed and the kitten whimpered as he watched Munkustrap struggle to break free of his deranged brother's grip.

"Why are you doing this?!" Munkustrap yelled at him. "We loved you! I loved you!" Macavity went still, a darkness quickly crossing his face, before he leaned forward, leaning ominously over the wounded tabby under him as he hissed, "Because you're all beneath me! You should have worshipped me!" Macavity suddenly straightened back up, the darkness gone from his face, as he glanced around at the bodies littering the yard.

"Now, what to do with you, sweet, innocent little brother?" Macavity hummed. He chuckled as Munkustrap swiped at him, missing him by inches. "That was weak, little brother, very weak, but I suppose you are quite wounded," Macavity hummed. Macavity tilted his head, listening to the sounds of fighting from the neighbouring clearings.

"Shall I kill you?" Macavity asked him, examining his younger brother's face, searching his eyes. "Shall you join Uncle Sirus, Bustopher Jones's brother Lionel, and Cassandra's big brother Nathanial in death?" Munkustrap looked around at the bodies, pain etched on his face. Macavity shook his head.

"No, I believe I'll leave you to suffer with this hip," he chuckled, crouching down beside Munkustrap once more. "Nighty, night, Munkus," Macavity hummed as he leaned down, licking up Munkustrap's cheek in a kittenish gesture. Munkustrap growled, squirming to get away from him. He went still as Macavity hit him across the head, rendering him unconscious. Macavity patted Munkustrap's bloody chest before getting to his feet and leisurely stretching out his long arms, looking around as he heard the sounds of fighting getting closer once more. With a sigh, Macavity left the clearing.

The kitten whimpered, looking at Munkustrap's still form, his bruised face was turned towards the young kitten, the swollen eyes shut.

The kitten suddenly moved back as far as he could as a pair of ginger furred legs walked in front of his hiding spot and stopped. The kitten let his small claws slip out.

He could claw him, he could!

The kitten gave a squeak of surprise as the legs shifted and a face suddenly appeared at the hole of the crevice, silver eyes staring at the small kitten.

"Well now, I knew I was being watched," Macavity laughed as he reached in, grabbing the small kitten's scruff and pulling him out, struggling, from his hiding place. Macavity stood up, holding the struggling kitten up in front of his face by the scruff. Macavity's silver eyes examined the young kitten, glancing over the creamy white fur with brown stripes, to the patch over the kitten's left eye and over his nose. Macavity stroked the patch with a finger, tracing the line over his nose.

"Pouncival, isn't it?" asked Macavity as he moved the kitten, holding the squirming fur ball against his chest. Pouncival hissed, swiping his small claws at Macavity, though the small claws got tangled in Macavity's wild fur. Macavity chuckled.

"How cute," he smirked. Pouncival's little heart beat hard and fast in his chest. He wanted his mummy.

"Mummy!" cried out Pouncival, struggling against Macavity's chest. Macavity laughed.

"Oh, no, no, no, little one," teased Macavity, "we don't want your mummy to ruin our fun, do we?" Pouncival continued to struggle, whimpering. "Now, let's get out of here, shall we?" Macavity smirked and strolled out from the yard, Pouncival tucked securely under his arm; the small kitten whimpering and burying his face into Macavity's side. He headed back to his lair, the kitten going still in his arms, leaving the sound of fighting behind him. Macavity sent out a mental message to his followers, telling them to leave the yard in five minutes, they had achieved what he had set out to do, cripple the Jellicles.

Macavity walked into his lair, strolling into his throne room, before he lounged on his throne, setting the young kitten on his chest so he could look at him.

"Mummy! Daddy!" whimpered the trembling Pouncival. Macavity rolled his eyes, tapping the kitten on the nose.

"Enough of that," he growled, "they're not coming for you, kitten, but don't worry I'll look after you," Pouncival whimpered and sunk down low on Macavity's chest. Macavity stroked the kitten's back, calming him.

"Why on earth do you have a kitten?" Macavity glanced up at Griddlebone's exasperated question. He grinned at the fluffy white Queen.

"It's a Jellicle kitten, Grids," he informed her as he continued to stroke Pouncival's back, lulling the young kitten into a doze. Griddlebone's eyes widened as she looked at the sleepy kitten on Macavity's chest.

"A Jellicle kitten? How?!" she asked, surprised. Macavity chuckled as he scratched under Pouncival's chin, making the kitten purr.

He decided to explain. "I found him hiding under a junk pile, the brave little one was considering clawing my legs," chuckled Macavity. "The Jellicles will be beside themselves when they finally realise that one of the young kittens has disappeared." Griddlebone nodded, reaching out to gently stroke the purring kitten's ears.

"What's his name? I mean, you do know which kitten this is, right?" asked Griddlebone, raising a questioning eyebrow. Macavity rolled his silver eyes.

"Yes, Grids, I do know which kitten I have taken," he growled before grinning. "It's Pouncival, the youngest kitten of Jennyanydots and Skimbleshanks." Griddlebone froze at that, looking to Macavity.

Macavity harboured hatred towards Skimbleshanks, no one knew the exact reason why, but Griddlebone guessed it was because Skimbleshanks never trusted him, even as a young Tom, and saw through his lies, helping to get him banished from the Jellicles.

"Are you going to kill him?" she asked softly. "To get back at Skimbleshanks?" Macavity paused, considering the young kitten, before shaking his head. He slowly sat up, shifting the sleeping kitten into his arms. Pouncival rolled over, exposing his soft belly.

"No, that would be too easy," murmured Macavity, "and he's just a kitten. Skimbleshanks hasn't moulded the kitten yet," Macavity broke off, looking to Griddlebone with a grin. "And besides, what would will kill Skimbleshanks the most than thinking his son is dead and then suddenly finding out that I've raised him to be my best hench-cat, my heir, my son?" Griddlebone laughed, folding her arms across her chest.

"That would destroy him," she agreed with a smirk. Macavity rubbed the sleeping kitten's belly, making him purr.

"Of course, he'll need a new name, not his stupid Jellicle one," added Macavity. Macavity examined the kitten in his arms before a name came to mind. "Carbucketty," announced Macavity. Griddlebone looked at him, unsure.

"Really? Carbucketty?" she asked. Macavity glowered at her before growling out,

"Yes."

Griddlebone sighed, shaking her head. "Fine, it's your kitten," she relented. "Where's he going to be staying?" Macavity looked down at the small bundle in his arms, which was currently nosing through his fur sleepily.

"With me," he finally answered, "I don't trust my hench-cats to raise a kitten, and besides, he's going to be my son." Griddlebone frowned as she watched the kitten nose through Macavity's fur, seeming to be searching for something.

"Exactly how old is this kitten, Mac?" she asked, concerned.

"About two and half months old,"

Griddlebone sighed. That's what she had been afraid of.

"Ouch, easy there, Tiger," Macavity chuckled as Pouncival gave a tug in his sleep.

"I don't think he's weaned, Mac," Griddlebone murmured. Macavity nodded in agreement, retracting a claw back in all the way, before offering a finger to Pouncival. Pouncival sleepily grabbed onto it and began suckling.

"Griddle, go find some milk and some bottles," Macavity ordered. "Car's going to be hungry when he wakes up." Griddlebone nodded, patting the kitten's stomach once more, before turning and leaving, going to seek out what the young kitten would need to grow strong. Macavity looked back at the kitten cradled in his arms.

"Little Carbucketty," cooed Macavity, "aren't I going to raise you well? Skimbleshanks won't recognize who you've become."

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Well, there's the first chapter re-written, woo!

Please read and review?

Love,

HGP