Pulling on the Heartstrings Chapter 2: Magic is NOT for Combat
Disclaimer: Sorry guys, I still don't own Cats!
Author's Note: Warning: This chapter contains violence and death! Reader discretion is advised. Haha, just kidding, it's not that bad. If anyone's wondering, NO, Misto does NOT get killed! I hope that put some of your minds at ease. He does get hurt quite a bit, though. Well, don't say I didn't warn you!Oh, yes, thanks to all my reviewers and readers!
Macavity stared at Misto, expecting an answer. He tapped his foot, getting impatient. While Macavity was waiting for a reply, Misto's thoughts were racing. "I'll never work for him! I don't want to be his slave! But...The stakes are so high...If I don't accept, not only will I die, but someone close to me will die, too...I can't let that happen. There has to be another way! Think, Misto, think!"
He was wracking his brain for an idea to get himself out of this mess. The stress was getting to him. He felt the magic starting to boil up inside, begging to be let out. "That's it! Magic!"
Like a light bulb, the idea lit Misto's mind up, and he was ready to give his answer. He squared his shoulders, and looked Macavity straight in the eye. "No, father. I will not work for you." He said with an authority he didn't know he had.
Macavity gave the slightest smirk. "Wrong answer, Misto. Boys, have your fun with him." On cue, the feral toms unsheathed their claws and advanced towards Misto.
Misto was prepared, however. He unsheathed his own claws and let out a menacing hiss. One gray tom lunged, going for his neck. Misto saw him and zapped the tom with a yellow bolt of magic, which struck him straight in the face, making him recoil with a whimper before he kneeled over, lifeless.
A copper and white-patched tom was next. He swiped at Miso's left arm, but missed with mere centimeters to spare. Misto, in turn, managed to claw the tom's face, sending him reeling into a wall, yowling in pain. He, too, sunk to the ground, going limp.
By this time, adrenaline was rushing through Misto's veins, making the magic inside him build up faster. "Just a little longer...C'mon, just wait for it..." Misto thought, eying the hissing cats around him.
The third tom got lucky. He ran up from behind, and before Misto could stop him, he delivered a blow to his back, leaving three bleeding gashes before retreating with a triumphant sneer.
Misto fell to his knees, screaming in pain. "That's it, I'm done playing! I'll show these cats who they're really dealing with!" he thought as he gasped for air.
He stood up shakily, wincing, and once he had his balance, he brought his paws together. He focused his mind, letting the magic overtake him. A bright flash of light followed by an explosion of energy burst from his paws, sending everyone around him flying.
Knowing they were momentarily distracted, Misto made a run for it. Despite the pain that was erupting from his back, he ran as fast as he could through the smoke and dust that now enveloped him.
Coughing, Misto was finally out of the smoke cloud as he heard Macavity's voice shout from somewhere behind him. "Get him! Bring him back here alive!" These words only made Misto run faster.
Soon enough, Misto heard footsteps close behind him. At this point, he knew his efforts were futile, and he was getting tired. He was nowhere near the Junkyard, so he couldn't call for help.
He suddenly felt himself being tackled towards the ground. Grunting as he collided with the concrete sidewalk, Misto tried to pin his attacker, but the momentum wouldn't allow it. He rolled with the tom, and he was the one who ended up pinned.
"Nice try, punk!" the black and brown tom chuckled as Misto attempted to free himself from underneath the cat. The tom, realizing his captive was trying to get away once again, slugged him across the face, making him go limp, but not unconscious.
He laughed quietly again as he hoisted Misto over his shoulder, like a thief might do with his sack of loot. "Let's bring ya back to da boss, he wants ta see ya." The tom said, smiling maliciously.
The other toms had caught up to them, and were now walking behind them, making sure Misto didn't try anything funny. They got back to Macavity, who had his arms crossed and an emotionless, cold, expression on his face.
Misto gave a hiss as his captor threw him down at Macavity's feet, making his back and head throb as they hit the hard ground. Macavity nodded, and the henchcat stepped back.
Macavity leered down at his son, giving him a fleeting smirk. "Bad idea, son. Now you have to pay for what you did to my henchcats, as well." he explained. The Hidden Paw gestured to his minions. "I didn't say you were finished, now did I?" He stepped back, letting the toms have their revenge against their fallen comrades.
The three of them that were left(the gray one had been killed by Misto's magic) nodded towards their leader and surrounded Misto, smiling in victory. Misto felt multiple blows simultaneously to his back, chest, and torso, making him scream in agony as the toms kicked and slashed at him.
An idea suddenly struck Macavity. He held up his hand, and yelled "stop!" The black and brown tom that had tackled Misto earlier was having too much fun, and didn't stop at his leader's command when the other henchcats did. He kept kicking Misto, enjoying his victim's pain.
Without hesitation, Macavity walked up to the disobedient tom and grabbed him roughly by the throat. The tom grunted as the paw around his neck became tighter, making the claws sink further into his skin. Macavity stared the tom in the eye. "When I say stop, I mean stop immediately. Do you understand?" Macavity explained in a low, harsh whisper, baring his sharp teeth at the now frightened tom.
The tom nodded his head fervently in reply; it was all he could do since he was being suffocated. "Good." The Hidden Paw said as he threw the poor tom against the brick wall of the alley, resulting with a sickening crack that made the remaining two henchcats wince in sympathy.
Their friend and comrade lay against the wall, his neck bent in an unnatural way. Blood was oozing from it, marking where Macavity's claws were. Macavity surveyed his work, unfazed.
He turned around to face his minions. "See what happens when you disobey your leader? You, Elijah," he pointed to the black tom, "go get reinforcements. At least ten. Bring them here as fast as you can, we're setting an ambush." Elijah ran off as fast as he could towards Macavity's hideout.
Macavity then pointed towards the last brown tom. "Watch our prisoner. He may still be able to use magic. If he tries anything funny, knock him out." The brown tom did as he was told and crouched down beside the half-conscious Misto, watching him intently.
Macavity also crouched down beside Misto. "We're setting a little ambush for your friends, Mistofelees. I want that queen of yours. When they come, I'll fight them until they had her over; even if it means getting my paws bloody myself." He finished with a hiss.
Something caught the brown tom's attention and he turned his head to look down the alley. Out of the darkness came Elijah, leading about ten other toms of various sizes. Some were big and burly, like the ones Misto had fought; others were lean and agile-looking. They all had that feral look to them, like they have lived on the streets all their lives.
They stopped in front of Macavity, waiting for their orders. Some started talking in harsh whispers at the sight of Mistofelees and the four dead toms. Macavity stood up, and the toms immediately quieted down.
"My loyal henchcats, I'm sure you have noticed your fallen comrades. They all died at the hands of this small, pathetic-looking black and white tom at my feet, as hard as that is to believe." Macavity announced, almost laughing himself. All the toms snickered at the mention of Misto.
The Hidden Paw cleared his throat, and the toms became silent once more. "However, this tom has already received his punishment, as you can probably tell. I did not call you all here to mourn over your dead friends. I called you here because we are setting an ambush! We are going to take our revenge out on the Jellicles! Once they realize their friend has gone missing, they'll come here to find him. When they do, you will attack. Show no mercy. This is but only part of our objective, boys. The other part is simple. My spies have told me that this pitiful tom has a mate. A white queen. If she comes along, your job is to catnap her, but not hurt her. We need her as our prisoner. If she doesn't, your job will be to take her by force at the Jellicle Junkyard. Now, take your positions, and wait for my signal."
The eleven toms immediately took their places in the alley, hiding behind trash cans, dumpsters, and in some of the old buildings that had broken windows. It had gotten dark, and the toms were almost impossible to see in the shadows.
Macavity beckoned to Elijah, who crept out from his hiding spot and to his leader's side. "Sir? What do you need from me?" he asked quietly. "I need you to take care of my son. Prop him up against that wall, make it look like he tripped and fell." Macavity ordered. "Yes, sir." Elijah replied, standing up and walking over to Misto.
He hitched his arms under Misto's shoulders and dragged him to the brick wall opposite him. Misto winced and grunted in pain as he felt himself being moved. Elijah smirked, muttering, "wimp" as he propped him up against the wall, in a sitting position. He scattered some trash around Misto to make it look like he tripped. Satisfied, Elijah scampered back to his hiding spot, becoming invisible once more in the darkness.
Macavity positioned himself behind the wall opposite Misto; he was in the perfect position to not be seen by anyone coming from the direction of Jellicle Junkyard. All was silent, except for Misto's labored breathing and the occasional car that rumbled by.
Author's Note: Please don't hate me!I love Misto, too, but who doesn't want to see him fight for himself? Anyway, review if you liked it!
