Griddlebone walked into Macavity's room with some more kitten stuff that she had managed to wrangle up. She paused as she took in a surprising sight before her. Macavity had Carbucketty cradled against his strong chest and was expertly feeding him the bottle that Griddlebone had given him earlier. She never thought that Macavity would know how to take care of a kitten, nor so well either.
Macavity glanced up as he sensed her staring before looking back to the kitten curled up comfortably in his arms.
"What have you brought now?" he asked her as he continued to feed Carbucketty. Griddlebone blinked, breaking out of her current train of thought, before she continued into the room and dumping the stuff on the bed next to Macavity. Macavity stared at it as he took the empty bottle away from Carbucketty.
"Blankets, some toys, some picture books, a ball of wool, that sort of thing," listed Griddlebone as she watched with interest as Macavity shifted Carbucketty so he was against his shoulder before rubbing his back. She laughed as Carbucketty let out a loud burp. Macavity chuckled as he shifted Carbucketty to sit in his lap.
"Nice one," he laughed, rubbing Carbucketty's ears. Carbucketty grinned up at him before curling up in his lap, yawning largely. Macavity began stroking the kitten's back, fingers tracing the black and brown stripes down his left side. Griddlebone tilted her head as Macavity looked up, eyebrow raised, before sighing, "What is that face for, Grids?" Griddlebone smiled as she settled down on the bed beside him, looking at the dozing kitten in his arms.
"I'm just surprised, that's all," she answered. "I didn't know you were so good with kittens, or that you knew how to even hold one," Macavity rolled his silver eyes, looking back at the kitten nestled in his lap.
"I used to help feed Munkustrap," he said suddenly, surprising Griddlebone. "When Grizabella abandoned Tugger and Munkustrap, I helped raise Munkustrap." Griddlebone frowned, confused.
Macavity loathed Munkustrap, yet he had helped raise him?
"What?" was all she managed to say, causing Macavity to roll his eyes.
"I was the one who found them," he sighed. "I walked into our den, when I was still a kitten, and found my younger brothers alone and crying and wailing on the floor," Macavity broke off as he adjusted Carbucketty, cradling the young kitten against his chest. "They were both younger than Carbucketty, their eyes hadn't even opened, yet Grizabella had abandoned them both. I ran to Jennyanydots and she quickly came, taking Tugger and Munkus back to her den since Deuteronomy was away, I fed Munkus while she took care of Tugger,"
"Why Munkustrap?" Griddlebone questioned. "Why did you take him?" Macavity paused, pondering his response. He got to his feet, hoisting Carbucketty against his shoulder, before he began walking, rubbing Carbucketty's back as he did so. Griddlebone's green eyes tracked his path across the room.
"Because his cry was different," he finally answered. "While Tugger just wailed as hungry, alone kittens do, Munkustrap had small, choked cries as if he knew he'd been abandoned already." Griddlebone blinked but said nothing, watching Macavity.
There was a knock at the door which had both of them looking around. Carbucketty gave a moan and lifted his head, small paw tiredly rubbing his left eye, mussing up the brown patch. Macavity smoothed it back down as he called, "Enter." A hench-cat nervously entered, looking at both Macavity and Griddlebone, grey eyes widening slightly at the kitten in Macavity's arms staring sleepily at him.
"What is it?" Macavity growled. The hench-cat blinked, focusing back on Macavity.
"H-He's ready, boss," stammered the hench-cat. Macavity nodded and the hench-cat quickly turned tail, leaving the room, no doubt going to tell the others how Macavity had a kitten! Macavity turned to Griddlebone.
"Well, shall we?" he asked before turning and leaving the room, not allowing Griddlebone to answer. Griddlebone quickly got to her feet, hurrying after him as he walked down the twisted stone hallways. She finally fell into pace beside him.
"Macavity, do you really want him to see that?" she asked quietly, nodding to Carbucketty, who was clinging to Macavity's neck. Macavity didn't falter.
"He's going to see it soon enough, best we start him early," muttered Macavity as they continued deeper into the labyrinth of his lair. Finally they reached a large wooden door, which they could hear pained groans coming from behind. Macavity pushed it open, the door banging loudly against the wall, as he strolled in.
"Huh, on kitten duties, Macavity?" a hoarse voice spoke up. Macavity smirked as he looked at the bloodied Tom chained down onto a large stone slab, which Macavity's followers referred to as the 'Altar'. If you got taken to the Altar, you weren't leaving that room alive. Macavity slowly circled the Altar, silver eyes glancing at the bloodied silver shackles and chains that held this once brave, strong dark grey and brown Tom down.
"I'm surprised you haven't recognized him, Matos," drawled Macavity as he stopped beside the Tom's head. "Seeing as he is a kitten from your tribe, well, not anymore," he laughed darkly as he felt Carbucketty's head turning against his cheek, the kitten looking at the bloodied Tom in shock. Matos squinted, trying to focus his bleary eyes and see around the dried blood crusting around his swollen eyes, before he gasped.
"Pouncival!" Matos cried out, struggling furiously against the chains holding him down. Macavity smirked as he rubbed Carbucketty's back, nuzzling the kitten's head, as he kept eye contact with Matos.
"His name is Carbucketty," purred Macavity, "it suits him, don't you think?" Matos snarled ferociously, still struggling to break free so he could wring Macavity's thin neck. Carbucketty tilted his head as he looked at Matos.
"Three of the Jellicles died by my orders today, Matos," boasted Macavity, "with little Munkustrap badly injured. Your younger brother, Sirus, is one of the dead."
Matos yelled, "Bastard!" causing Macavity to chuckle.
"Such a mouth on you," he chuckled, "you shouldn't swear in front of little Carbucketty, I thought you Jellicles had better manners!" Macavity admonished sarcastically. "However," Macavity sighed, "Father Dearest wasn't there, so I didn't get to sink my claws into him." Macavity looked at Matos as he snarled and swore at him before smiling. "So you can die knowing that at least one of your brothers is still alive." Matos hissed at him, eyes flashing darkly.
"They were your family!" he hissed at Macavity. Macavity shook his head, his cheek brushing against Carbucketty's brown ears.
"Perhaps once, but now they are nothing to me and I will wipe them all out like the vermin they are!" Macavity snarled before nodding to his hench-cats, who grinned and moved forward towards the chained Tom. They buried their claws deep into Matos's already bloodied body, digging deep into his chest, neck, legs and face, blood gushing from the deep wounds. Carbucketty whimpered and buried his face against Macavity's neck, hiding from the horrible sight. Macavity stood, watching as Matos gurgled, choking on his own blood, before he finally gave his death rattle. Macavity smiled, patting Carbucketty's back as he left the room and the bloodied body behind.
"Good kitten, Car," he murmured into Carbucketty's ear as he carried him down the halls, Griddlebone following silently. "Now, it's time for bed." Macavity paused in front of his bedroom door, looking at Griddlebone.
"Say goodnight to Griddlebone, Carbucketty," Macavity instructed him. Carbucketty blinked, looking up at Griddlebone, who stared back at him.
"Goodnight, Gwiddlebone," stammered Carbucketty. Griddlebone giggled, reaching out and stroking his ears.
"Goodnight, sweet one," she murmured. "Night, Mac, don't forget to read him a story!" she teased before she flounced off towards her own room. Macavity chuckled and rolled his eyes as he pushed the door open, walking into his room.
It was a fairly well decorated room, with warm timber walls and a soft red carpet covering the floor. A large bed was against the back wall, covered with a plush black blanket and white pillows. There was a bookshelf to the right of the room, all the books neatly lined up, with a desk nearby, covered in papers, maps and plans. To the left of the room was a large window, overlooking the street below, with a comfortable window seat in front of it.
"Must get you your own bed in here when you're old enough," mused Macavity as he walked to his bed, setting the small kitten down on the plush blanket. Macavity looked through the items Griddlebone had brought while the kitten amused himself by rubbing and inspecting the plush blanket. He picked up the books and deposited them on his desk, he'd deal with them later, before placing the toys on the window seat, except for a small dark red bear. Macavity frowned as he looked at the bed, before rolling one of the blankets up and placing it near the edge of the bed, hopefully that would stop the kitten rolling off.
With a tired groan, Macavity climbed into bed, pulling Carbucketty to him and resting him beside him, tucking him under the blanket. He handed him the bear, which Carbucketty took, hugging it tightly to his chest, before he lay down on his side, looking at the kitten.
He still didn't know what possessed him to take the kitten in himself; he could have easily given him to one of the many Queens on the street, never to be seen again, or even given to one of his hench-cats to raise.
"I want Mummy," Macavity blinked, looking at the kitten when he heard the soft whimper. Carbucketty was staring at him, eyes filled with tears. Macavity growled.
He couldn't stand tears.
Macavity sat up, pulling the kitten into his arms. "Now you listen hear, little one," started Macavity, "your mummy isn't coming, she doesn't care about you, and I'm going to be the one to look after you now, Carbucketty," Carbucketty sniffled and rubbed his nose.
"I'm Pouncival," he whispered. Macavity shook his head.
"No, that was what they called you," Macavity stated firmly. "They left you alone, so I took you in, and your name is going to be Carbucketty. It's a much grander name than your old one." Macavity looked at the kitten, tilting his head up so he was meeting Macavity's eyes. "There'll be no more calling for mummy, she's gone, and no more tears, got it?" Carbucketty nodded once more, sniffling, as he rubbed his eyes. Macavity smiled, softly stroking Carbucketty's ears, before once again placing Carbucketty beside him, tucking him snuggly. Macavity lay on his side, reaching out to stroke Carbucketty's soft cheek, lulling him to sleep.
"Goodnight, little one," Macavity murmured. "Your new life begins tomorrow," Carbucketty blinked slowly, green eyes sliding shut.
"Goodnight," he mumbled before he went still, his breathing evening out and his grasp on the red bear loosening. Macavity slowly pulled his paw back, silver eyes examining the sleeping face, before he closed his eyes and slowly drifted off into sleep.
He was awoken a few hours later by a weight on his chest. Macavity slowly opened his silver eyes tiredly and grinned when he discovered what that strange weight was. Carbucketty had wriggled over and was now sprawled out on top of Macavity's broad chest, limbs stretched out like a star-fish with one small paw gripping onto long white fur on Macavity's chest and another paw gripping Macavity's arm. Carbucketty had his face nuzzled into the crook of Macavity's neck and was snoring softly. Macavity gave a small chuckle, rolling his eyes, as he draped an arm across the kitten, making sure he was secure, before he drifted back off to sleep.
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Second chapter, woo! Definitely starting some small changes compared to the old story…
Hopefully work stops being so hectic and I can update this quicker!
Thanks for the review,
Please read and review!
Love,
HGP
