A/N: Little one about Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, and their relationship with Jenny and Skimble. Please review!
The night was cold, and the sky was raven. The moon shone over the empty yard, highlighting the fact there wasn't a cat in sight. Everyone was gathered in the medicine and railway cat's den, each and every Jellicle clustered around the tabby queen. Skimbleshanks hovered protectively nearby, as Jenny answered each and every question with a patient smile on her face.
"Are you excited?" Tugger asked, leaping excitedly to try get a glimpse of the little bundle in Jenny's arms. Munkustrap quickly pulled him away, earning a groan from the maned tom-kit, and a chuckle from Skimbleshanks.
"Aye, laddie, we're thrilled," The Railway cat smiled, kissing the top of Jenny's head. Tugger beamed, still continuing to paw at the two blankets. Munkustrap held him back, but Jenny sighed, relenting. Glancing around the assembled cats, she decided to pass the two bundles to Alonzo and Munkustrap, so the younger kittens could see the small bundles.
The tom-kits beamed, sitting down on the floor as their father, Deuteronomy, helped to adjust the two. Munkustrap was his son, as was Tugger, but his adopted son, Alonzo, was already turning out to be more like Munk. Sensible, and quiet. Nobody in their right mind would trust the hyperactive Tugger with something so precious and gentle.
"Careful, laddies," Skimble murmured, as the rest of the Jellicles gathered around. They were now able to see what they'd been wanting to for months. Two kittens, clearly newborn, almost identical. The little queen in Munkustrap's arms had a lot more white than her brother, and was sleeping contentedly. Her brother, however, was darker, and unlike his twin, wasn't happy. At all. The tom let out a wail, and Deuteronomy quickly took the newborn, passing him over to Jenny.
"Come on, lets get out of here," The Jellicle Leader commented quietly, politely dismissing the tribe. They began to leave without hesitation, offering congratulations to the new parents as they did so.
Skimbleshanks reached for his daughter, taking her gently from Munkustrap before the silver kit followed his father out of the den.
"Night, Jenny and Skimble! I'm just borrowing this comb if that's okay!" Tugger yelled, unknowingly rousing the small queen as he slammed the den door shut. She too began to cry, but a lot more softly than her brother was doing. The darker kit wailed sadly as his mother set about grooming him, casting a confused expression towards her mate as she did so.
"What's wrong, lassie?" Skimble murmured, lightly stroking the back of his daughter's ears. She whimpered softly, wriggling around in his arms, clearly signifying she wanted out.
Slightly hurt, Skimbleshanks set the young kitten down next to her brother, who blindly stumbled across to the lighter cat. His nose sniffled a little as he took in her scent. It was like someone had flicked a switch- the two kits immediately ceased in crying, and collapsed in a heap together.
"Ah. Twins. That's it," Jenny smiled, leaning down to groom both her kittens.
"Tha's the way ter do it," Skimble agreed, kissing his mate's head as both kits simultaneously yawned and snuggled even closer together.
"Well, I think it's bed time," Jenny replied softly, leaning down to take their son into her mouth. Skimble took their daughter, and the two parents immediately set their kittens down in their box. Both cats snuggled together once more, tiny bodies rising and falling as they slept.
"Our beautiful kittens.." Jenny murmured, leaning into the box to give them a nuzzle.
"Our lovely Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer.."
CRASH.
"MUNGOJERRIE? OR RUMPLETEAZER?! YOU GET IN HERE RIGHT NOW," The Gumbie cat bellowed from the entrance to her den, as she watched yet another trash pile come down.
Months had passed, and her kittens were almost old enough to be classed as adolescents. The best part? They were little ragamuffins. Despite the fact they'd turn Jenny's hair grey with worry at some point, she loved the calico duo. Even though she was often busy with the other kits, she almost always had time to keep watch over her own.
Jenny tapped her foot impatiently, crossing her arms as she cast a worried look up to the sky. A storm was impending- no way did she want her kittens out in that. Sighing heavily, she was about to call again when a flurry of paws sounded to her left, and a small, solid weight crashed into her chest. Shock meant that she almost dropped the kitten, put she just about caught the tiny calico in her arms.
"Hi, Mama!" Rumpleteazer purred, nuzzling into her chest. Of course. Rumpleteazer always tried to get round her mother's scoldings by being adorable. Jenny's brow furrowed as she glanced around for her son, quickly catching sight of a striped tail nearby.
"Mungojerrie," She called warningly, as her son sighed and sloped out from between the trash bags. Although he was 'Teazer's twin, he had a lot more black striped, and a bigger frame than she. He was a lot harder to catch than his sister was, but usually gave in when his twin did. Since the day he'd been born, he'd harbored a strong love for his smaller sister, and was never seen away from her side.
"You little ragamuffins," Jenny scolded, setting 'Teazer alongside her brother. She pouted and nuzzled the tom, as Jenny led them into their den, clipping them round the ears as she did so. It broke her heart to discipline her kittens, but she had to do it.
That night, and Skimble was set to return to the Yard. He was due to return at around midnight- far, far too late for ANY kitten to be awake. Yet Jenny had softened, and awaited his arrival with her daughter in her lap and her son sat at the door. The Gumbie cat stroked her small queen's headfur, an excited sensation building in her heart. Despite the fact she'd been with Skimbleshanks for years, she still felt like it was the first time she'd ever been with him.
A soft pawing at her chin jolted Jenny out of her reverie. Her daughter was trying to get her attention, sat on her back legs with her front paws on her chest.
"Sweetie?" Jenny asked, staring down at her kit. How proud she was of this little life she and Skimble had created.. She'd do everything to make sure this kit grew up to be a poised young queen.
"Mama, why does Daddy keep going away?" Rumpleteazer asked innocently, unknowingly sending a pang through her mother's heart. She was about to answer when a soft, Scottish burr sounded from the doorway, followed by a thud.
"Well, lass, its my jo- oh, 'ello, my wee laddie," Skimbleshanks chuckled as Mungojerrie tacklehugged his father. The Railway cat beamed, picking up his son as he practically ran over to Jenny. Several kisses, cuddles, and promises to tell stories of adventure in the morning later, and the two parents managed to get their over active kittens to bed.
"How's my Gumbie cat?" Skimble purred, wrapping his arms around Jenny in a soft hug. She smiled widely, stroking the top of his waistcoat. It was desperately in need of patching up- she'd have to do it the instant he took it off.
"Worried. What if 'Teazer and 'Jerrie turn out serious troublemakers?" Jenny asked, sighing as Skimble stroked her back.
"Well.. I don't see what they're doing wrong. They make us all laugh, and they don't cause any malice," Skimble shrugged, lightly ruffling his mate's headfur. His kits were adorable little rascals- he didn't mind them being the little tribe troublemakers. At least they weren't working for the Napoleon of Crime.
"You worry too much, lass.."
Jenny sighed, before kissing Skimble's cheek.
"I'm just glad you're home."
"As am I. I love ye, my Gumbie."
The months flew by, and the disciplining became more and more frequent. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were slowly becoming naughtier, and were often referred to as the terrors of the tribe. They couldn't help their naughty streaks- they had been there as long as they could remember. They'd occasionally swipe hold of someone's possession, and expertly run away with it. No malice was meant by it- simple, kittenish fun. The other Jellicles disagreed- and it was one of these 'heists' that led to the first turn of events in the adolescent cats' lives.
They'd been stealing again. It was becoming more and more frequent, and their target was the young adult, Munkustrap. He hadn't caught them before- but there was always a first time for everything.
Munkustrap grabbed both cats by the scruff, shaking them slightly as he hauled them out into the yard. The rest of the tribe formed a circle around the two cats, a look of disappointment on their faces as they stared at the siblings. Jenny looked as though her heart was going to break, as Munkustrap began to speak.
"Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer.. You have no idea how sick I am getting of this mischief! You're plaguing the entire tribe! Do you think we enjoy your ridiculous antics?" Munk seethed, as the female counterpart of the duo began to cry into Jerrie's fur. His harsh words were upsetting her? Good. Perhaps they'd change.
"Munkustrap, come on! When have we not given stuff back to you?!" Mungojerrie snapped, wrapping his arms around his sister as she continued to cry into 'Jerrie's fur.
"That's not the point, Mungojerrie!" Munkustrap growled, glancing at Jenny out of the corner of his eye. Skimble was on the trains, so Jenny had to face this scene alone.
The calico tom was about to speak up when Munkustrap cut in again/
"All you ever do is steal!" He scowled, even though his words were untrue. The twins brought a smile to everybody's face with their jokes and playful antics, but he had to teach them a lesson.
"Always little terrors!" Jellylorum chimed in, catching onto Munkustrap's motivation for them to change. The rest of the Jellicles joined in. They wouldn't have done, if they'd realized the effect of their words.
"FINE!" Mungojerrie yelled, hugging his sister tightly to him. He had to protect her from this, but he had no idea how. They obviously didn't want them both there, so there was only one logical thing to do.
"We're leaving! You clearly don't want us here!" He added, taking 'Teazer's hand and bolting. She shot one last sad, reproachful look at her mother before running after 'Jerrie. Why hadn't her mother defended them? She knew they weren't malicious. Why?
"Sssh, luv, its gonna be okay," Skimbleshanks murmured through his tears, as his mate cried into his waistcoat. A year had passed since they'd lost their two children- nobody had heard a word from them since. The first few months had been anguish for each Jellicle, but news from Munkustrap's latest patrol sowed misery into each of their hearts.
The calico twins had been taken in by Macavity. Their little kits were working for that monster..
"B-but m-my kits..." Jenny stuttered, before continuing to sob. What if he hurt them? What if they died? It was all their fault for sending the duo away, but she still continued to worry. From the stories she'd heard, they were fine. They'd gained a level of notoriety, but the two parents continued to worry.
Forever worrying about their calico twins.
Their lovely Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer.
((A/N: PLEASE REVIEW! I might continue this.. Thoughts?))