As it says in the description, this is a sequel to my other one, Ghosts from the Past. Initially I was writing a story with a similar plot to this, and from a different character's perspective, but I'm just way too attached writing from Misto and Rumpleteazer's point of view. I guess you don't necessarily need to read Ghosts, but it might help you understand this one better. Hippolyta is my OC character that I created for Ghosts. So, without further ado, the story!
Rumpleteazer lay with Mistoffelees, their limbs intertwining, the two young cats bathed in the light of the crescent moon in that sparse field. Her purr rumbled through him, and he smiled in pleasure. Besides that, he felt something akin to disbelief.
This has to be a dream.
But it wasn't. He and Rumpleteazer had just mated for the first time.
He hadn't even realized that he'd been waiting for this, let alone for how long, till that night of the most recent Jellicle ball, where he confessed his love to her. It had been unexpected, but when they both thought about it, it all seemed to make perfect sense. The tom had risked his life to save her, after all. Of all the surprises that occurred that night, this, he thought, may just have been the best of all, though finally meeting his mother ranked fairly high as well.
He had told Rumpleteazer that night that having met the mother he never knew, after being raised an orphan, he finally felt he belonged. And now, he couldn't imagine a place he fit better than on this spot, in her arms.
Her eyes closed, she whispered, "Mistoffelees…"
He let her trail off, then kissed her forehead. Not needing to hear the end of her sentence, he whispered back, "I love you too."
The dawn was breaking when they returned to the Junkyard, and the rest of the tribe he knew must be fast asleep. His paw lazily held hers, and he stopped now, grasping the other as he faced her. His smile clearly expressed the feeling of contentment that overcame him, and she returned it with a very un-Rumpleteazer shyness. Her head was lowered, her cheeks flushed, but her eyes gazed up as they gleamed.
"Oi…Oi guess Oi'll be goin' back to moi den now…"
"Hey," he said quietly. "Do you think that maybe…maybe someday we might share a den…together?"
She showed her teeth in a grin. "Oi guess Oi can't stay with my brother forever. Oi just never really thought of it…till this night."
He pulled her in an unexpected embrace and kissed her softly, with his gentle passion that she thought she would never get quite used to.
"Sweet dreams, Rumpleteazer," he whispered on her lips.
"Sweet dreams, Mistoffelees," she giggled back. Reluctantly she loosened her grip and strode off to the den that she shared with her brother. He watched her go with a sigh.
"Well, well, isn't it about time you turned up?"
Mistoffelees jumped at the voice, and turned round to see none other than the Rum Tum Tugger, leaning casually against an old crate with an amused smile. Misto heaved a sigh of relief.
"You startled me. What are you doing up so late anyway?"
Tugger started. "Uh, well, you see…"
Misto winced, realizing. "Forget I asked." He knew that Tugger must've been spending 'quality time' with Misto's adoptive sister, Etcetera. With Tugger not only being his biological uncle, but also his best friend, he was still getting used to the strangeness of the situation.
"And what about you?" Tugger queried.
"Hm?"
"Where have you been?"
Misto forced himself not to blush, but couldn't stop himself from smiling.
Tugger looked elated. "Oh, I thought so! First time? Or need I ask?" He chuckled.
Misto grinned and nodded.
Tugger draped his arm over Misto's shoulders. "Well, I'm really glad for you."
Misto sighed happily. "So am I."
"Mistoffelees?"
Misto looked up to see his mother, Hippolyta, perched on the trunk of the car. By the look of her smile, she had overheard their conversation.
He smiled. "What are you doing up, Hippolyta?"
She hesitated. "I couldn't sleep." She climbed down from the car, and approached the toms. "I'm happy for you too, my love."
Misto's smile widened. He could scarcely believe how perfect his life had gotten. The strife between the tribe and Macavity had ended when the antagonistic tom, also Mistoffelees' father, had shown them mercy and Old Deuteronomy forgave him for his crimes, sending him to the Heavyside Layer. He found love in his relationship with Rumpleteazer, the two finally learning to understand one another, and Hippolyta was safe and reunited with her son.
"I'm so happy, Hippolyta," he said. She nuzzled him affectionately.
Tugger gave a great yawn and stretched.
"Well, I'm pretty tired out…" he fought the urge to laugh at Misto's embarrassed expression. "I'll be heading off to sleep now, I think…sleep well, you two."
As Tugger wandered off, Misto turned to his mother.
"Do you want me to stay up with you?"
"But you must be tired?"
He shook his head. "I don't want you to be alone."
She smiled appreciatively. "I never feel alone here. But I wouldn't say no to your company."
Happily he joined her as she began to stroll to the outskirts of the Junkyard.
"Why couldn't you sleep?"
"Oh, I've been feeling a bit preoccupied," she replied.
"What with?"
She looked at him suddenly, and smiled, an unfamiliar expression on her face. "Oh, Mistoffelees, my wonderful son…you're so grown. Often, I find myself feeling so sad that I missed seeing you grow."
"But you're here now."
She nodded. "Yes, I am."
"And now we have all the time in the world to make up for what you missed!"
Her smile shrunk a bit at this, and she looked at him a little sadly.
Confused, he asked, "What's wrong?"
She sighed. "I…I suppose it's best that I talk to you now."
He stopped. "Hippolyta? Mother? What is it?"
He noticed now that they were no longer in the Junkyard.
"I'm leaving, Mistoffelees."
He stared, not knowing to say. Finally, "But…why? You…you're safest here…you're welcome here!"
"I…I am welcome here, but…" She paused. "Mistoffelees, you told me of how you used to feel like you didn't belong, that you had no connection within the tribe…"
"And now I do, because you're here!"
"But Mistoffelees, don't you see? You no longer need me. Not only have you been a member of the tribe your whole life, and have close friends, you have Rumpleteazer as a mate. You couldn't belong more if you were born in the tribe."
"Are…you're leaving because I'm with Rumpleteazer?" He said incredulously.
"No! No, Mistoffelees, absolutely not! I'm leaving because I don't belong!"
"Yes you do! You do! You're my mother, and as you said, I belong!"
She lowered her head and closed her eyes. "I've only been a mother to you for the first hours of your life."
"No..."
"No matter how you look at it, Mistoffelees, I haven't been there for you as your adoptive family has been. Jellylorum has been more of a mother to you than I could ever hope to be. And Skimbleshanks…I could've only hoped that you would have a father as gentle as him, after saving you from Macavity."
Mistoffelees flinched. Even though Macavity had been forgiven, Misto still had conflicting feelings about his biological father.
"Hippolyta…it…it's not true."
"You know it is, my son, my love…and I wish it didn't have to be like this, but I have been kept in captivity for so long, and need to truly feel freedom, and to find a place where I do belong…"
Misto sucked back his tears. "Won't…won't you miss me?"
She finally looked at him, then moved closer. "Will you be here when I return?" He nodded.
"I'm leaving now, Mistoffelees. I wanted to leave quietly, without notice. But of course I couldn't leave without saying goodbye…will you tell the others?"
"Yes," he said quietly.
She looked away sadly. "I hope they'll understand."
"They probably will," he assured her.
She looked at him one last time, tentativeness apparent in her brown eyes, so similar to his own. "Goodbye my love. I'll miss you."
Her words were painfully familiar, as was the parting kiss she placed between his ears. This would be the third time he'd bid her farewell, not knowing if or when he'd ever see her again.
"I'll miss you too…Mother."
Her dark pelt blended easily into the shadows, and unable to bear the sight of her disappearing outline, he turned away as well, back to the Junkyard.
