Chapter 2: Training and Worries
It had been almost two weeks since Miki had joined the Jellical tribe, and since the three new roommates moved into the empty space under the old truck tire. They had all easily adjusted to their new spectacular home.
Miki had grown slightly bigger in the short two weeks, but she now had a small white star on her forehead. This fact about her sent Misto's mind spinning because when he watched her playing with the other small kittens he though he saw the star change from white to red to orange to yellow to green to blue to indigo to purple and then back to white.
Though she had changed little Misto couldn't say the same for her sleeping area. It had nearly tripled since the small kit had added white blankets and pillows to her collection of pink and blue things. Misto had also found that she had a strange fondness for shiny things. He had first seen this for the fact that she had gotten Alonzo to hang a mirror on the wall above her bed. Misto had loved watching her personality blossom in only the few days she had been with him and Alonzo.
Though Misto thought that Alonzo was getting to comfortable with their new living quarters. The black and white younger tom had collected many of the thicker green and brown blankets and pillows in his bedding area opposite of Mistoffelees. Alonzo had also collected many rose shaped items that humans called 'fake flowers'. His brothers fascination with the flower's color that he could only sit back and watch as Alonzo's flower wall grew from day to day. The flowers ranged from whites and pinks to the more strange purples and greens and the occasional orange or blue.
Misto on the other hand had kept his area nice and neat keeping to his signature black blankets and the very dark blues. Misto had even kidnapped a few of the black, red, and deep blue fake roses from Alonzo's wall. Though his brother never seemed to notice for he always seemed glad to find the new empty space in the wall for his other orange, yellow, or whatever new fake rose color he had found within the junkyard.
"BANG!" came a sound that jolted Misto out of his thoughts.
"MIKI! Be more careful." Mistoffelees called warningly to the kit, as she prepared to pounce on something else in the room.
Misto calmly sighed before standing up to see what Miki had found hidden in the blankets. It looked to be a broken silver necklace chain. Miki picked it up in her mouth before sitting and looking back at Misto her big green silver eyes barring into his deep amber ones. Misto sighed she knew he could never say no to that face, cause it reminded him so much of another little kitten that wasn't going to be a kitten for long.
"m-m-M-Misto...?" she said in her clear soft voice.
Mistoffelees was shocked at the voice that had just called his name. Miki had been with him and Alonzo for two weeks ans she hadn't said a word, until now that is. She just kept on looking at him her eyes bearing into him with a strength that hadn't been there two weeks ago. But as he mulled these thoughts through his head he noticed Miki had cocked her head to one side waiting for his response.
"Y-Yes Miki...I'll fix it tonight now nap time." Misto replied taking the chain from her mouth and nudging her cheek with his nose.
Miki smiled her dazzling smile that made anyone's heart flutter, before she turned and pranced back to her bed. She rummaged through her blankets before she pulled a pink one out of the pile and curled up under neath it. Soon after Misto heard his kit's soft snores telling him she had fallen asleep for her nap.
The black magical cat stood and left out the side door into the pipe. When he came to the pipe's opening he saw Electra, Jemima, and Victoria playing in the clearing. It was only as he watched them play that he saw how much older they all looked. It then hit him the next Jellical Ball they would choose their mates, and that was only a week away.
The realization upset him deeply when he remembered his promise to Tori. He still hadn't been unable to talk to Munk for the elder tom leader had left late that night to help Old Deuteronomy in town with whatever had been going on there.
"MISTO!" Came Jemima's loud cry as she noticed the magical cat laying in the pipe.
The girls rushed toward him though Victoria stopped short. She had heard the light tap on the ground and had turned to see Plato looking at her. So with a heavy heart she turned toward the other male, while her friends went the other way. The white princess's head went down along with her ears as she walked toward the other male, her tail between her legs.
As Mistoffelees watched the exchange, his blood instantly began to boil over. He had had enough of this display of power that Plato had been using on Victoria. The black cat stood and greeted the other kits before passing them over to a sleeping Alonzo, who had been hidden within the gutted oven.
Once Misto was sure that the other two were safe he turned toward Plato, but when he did he didn't see the older tom or the white princess. Misto had been bout to leave in search of the two when a startled yelp came from the hidden room below the tire, pulling his mind away from his search.
Misto turned and ran toward the hidden entrance. Inside he found a startled Miki and a mangled room. Blankets where scattered everywhere and the fur on Miki's coat also was standing up, a magical charge running through it. Misto then saw that the star on Miki's head was glowing bright blue.
"Miki shh...its alright." Misto whispered as he slowly walked up to her and curled around her slowly calming her magic.
"Misto I can't stop it." the kit said in a some what strangled voice as Misto began licking her fur.
"It'll be okay. I know what your going through. I have the same kind of magic, and at this age it went out of control, too." Misto explained thinking that her nerves where the thing causing the magic to run freely, so he tried comforting her.
"You'll control it don't worry. That's why your my kit, now calmly that a few deep breaths." Misto instructed trying to remember what Coricopat and Tantomile had taught him back when he had just acquired his powers.
Soon after his words had been spoken aloud the wild magic soon calmed. Misto looked down to see a sleeping Miki resting against his belly. Misto mentally sighed for the power that young kit had produced had really been a pain to control.
"You really are one of a kind you know that Miki?" Misto whispered to her before scooping her up into his mouth and carrying her to her bed.
Once she was tucked in for her nap Misto returned to his own bed and began working on the necklace. He slowly began to use his magic to weld the two broken sides together. Once he was done that he got an idea.
He remembered the golden anklet that Coricopat had given to him the day after he had gotten his powers. The anklet had been used to monitor his power and to limit them, until he had been able to control his wild magic.
Misto stood and exited the room his feet automatically carrying him up to the clearing attempting to find his old mentor. Misto had known that Coricopat had returned only days after Munkustrap had left, his story being that Old Deuteronomy wanted someone there to protect the tribe. Misto didn't have to look long for once the black cat had exited the pipe there he found Coricopat sitting on the trunk waiting for him.
"Good evening Mistoffelees..." Cori greeted in his usual flat tone.
"Good evening to you to master." Misto said with a simple bow to the elder tom.
"Now Misto that isn't mandatory any more." Cori said trotting over to the young tom-to-be.
"Sorry Cori old habits die hard." Misto said with a smile.
"Now I know what you need. So let's see this girl of yours." Coricopat said trotting past Misto and into the hidden room.
Misto smiled again before racing after his friend. He found the other tom sitting in front of Miki the silver necklace in his front paws. Cori's eyes were closed concentrating on the metal and on the kit in front of him. Misto watched as Cori's dark blue magic surrounded not only the necklace, but Miki's sleeping form as well. The magic climaxed swiftly in a burst of bright light before leaving the room in the reds and oranges of the setting sun.
"Here you go." Cori said as he stood and handed Misto the necklace.
Misto noticed that Cori had added a snowflake charm to the chain. The white charm seemed to reflect Miki's white star on her forehead.
"The charm is an indicator. Remember the black gem that had been in you anklet?" Cori asked seeing Misto's confusion within the black cat's eyes.
"Oh okay." Misto said remembering the said gem that would flash different colors depending on how his wild magic was flaring at any point in time.
"White's the stable color, and the darker the color the higher her magic level. Example if it's pink that's better then let's say a dark green, and black is the highest. Let's not get over a gold\yellow for now." Cori explained before walking past Mistoffelees and exiting the room.
Misto curled around his charge slipping her new necklace around her neck. He clipped it around her neck and smiled. It really looked nice when placed against her coco colored coat, but the Misto's thoughts were interrupted by Alonzo's grumpy arrival through the hatch.
"Lanzo I'm sorry it's just…well it's just that Plato…" Misto began as his brother made himself comfortable in his bedding area.
"Misto its okay it's just I had a rough night last night." Alonzo explained with a yawn before quickly falling asleep.
Misto smiled at the sleeping forms in the room, and he was about to join them when a faint yet horrifying smell made its way into the room. Misto's eyes grew large when the smell finally registered in his mind. It was the smell of blood...of a lot of blood…fresh blood at that, too. Misto quickly stood and exited the room via the pipe, but what he found above in the clearing made his blood run cold.
Tory stood wobbly in the center of the clearing. Her blue-silver eyes were scared and had tears falling from them. It was then as she tried to step forward that Misto saw the source of the smell. Victoria's usual pure white coat was now stained red in so many places that Misto was surprised to see her standing on her feet at all. There was a ring of red around her neck, two places on her back and rump, and then one on each of her legs.
"TORY!" Misto yelled as he watched her stumble and almost hit the ground.
He was there in a flash supporting the bruised white princess. He gently encouraged the dazed kit into the pipe and then down into the room below. Misto was sure to be quite as he helped Victoria down onto the black blankets.
"Misssto?" Tory groaned once he had her laying down atop the blankets.
"Hum?" Misto whispered not trusting his voice as he appeared next to her licking her forehead lightly.
Shock ran though him at how hot it was. Her breathing became shallower and shallower worrying Mistoffelees greatly. He quickly trotted over to Miki where he gently shook her attempting with a heavy heart to wake her.
"Miki, sweetie get up! Please!" Misto called roughly since his mouth going dry fast.
Miki woke with a start along with Alonzo. Upon seeing Misto rushing around Tory trying to get her as comfortable as possible. As he was rushing he felt the fear in the room grow as two took in the sight before them.
"Both of you calm down." Misto commanded now trotting and scooping up Miki in his mouth and bringing her closer Tory.
Misto then placed her on a pillow were he kissed her forehead calming her before returning to his work. The next time he looked up he saw that Alonzo had joined Miki atop the large black dog bed.
"Miki, sweet heart, I need you to find Coricopat, Tantomile, Jellylorum, Demeter, Munk, anyone who can help just bring them back quickly." Misto said.
Miki just nodded before racing past the group and out the pipe. Alonzo just sat there and watched Misto pace and pace around. It was only after 10 minutes of the pacing that Misto laid down behind Tory so her back was to his stomach. It was this action along with his brother's magic begin to spark off his coat that Alonzo figured out what Mistoffelees was planning to do.
"MISTO you can't Cori said that you wouldn't survive such a thing like that. Your magic isn't strong enough!" Alonzo yelled remembering the forbidden magic that Coricopat had told Misto, all those years ago, never to do.
"Lonzo I know but its not fair for her to go through this!" Misto explained back not taking his eyes off of Tory's pained face.
"Its also not fair for her to go on the rest of her life regretting what you did for her, or for her to have to live without you." Alonzo fought back with words, knowing that moving toward his brother was too dangerous.
It was only then that Misto thought about it. He didn't know if Tory loved him or if she loved some other older, cuter, stronger tom. Misto then again turned to look into Alonzo's stunningly dark eyes that reflected fear and worry.
"Lonzo…Will you look after them?" Misto asked.
"What? NO that's your job! You're not leaving her and your not leaving Miki!" Alonzo cried as he saw Misto's white magic begin to build a barrier around him and Victoria.
"I'm Sorry Lonzo….Tell them I love them..." Misto last said before closing his deep amber eyes and drifting back to his happy place.
-With Mistoffelees-
My happy place you ask? Well in short, its what I thought my future was going to be. I saw Victoria and Miki sitting there in the room with me. I could see the silver bell that I wanted to give her at the Ball tomorrow night dangling in the center of her collar. I could see three unknown kits playing with Miki not to far from where Tory and I sat.
The first had a dark black coat with white highlights over her eyes, around her mouth and chin, running down her back and at the tip of her slim tail. The second looked to be pure white like Tory, but in truth she had light orange strips along her back that crowned over her ears and onto the her forhead. The last one was the smallest, he looked to be a Turtle Shell cat though his front paws bright white, while the back two were black.
The oddest part about the kits presence was that I seemed to know them, yet not know them all at the same time. My mind didn't dwell on them for long since Tory rubbed her head against my shoulder with a content purr, and instinctively my front paw went to her slightly bulging stomach.
Suddenly my head spun and I could feel the magic taking its toll. I could feel her wounds fading and becoming my own. It was then that the dream changed. The picture got bright red and I could hear a scream of pain. And then I was surrounded by blackness. There were no stars, moon light, just nothingness.
"Well its for my Tory...And with Lonzo protecting her I know she'll be safe from Plato." I thought as I let the darkness consume me as I gave up my hope.
"MISTO!" came a sharp cry.
"Is that you Miki? I'm sorry dear child I can't stay with you. I failed you as a guardian and as a friend." I mumbled out into the darkness.
It was then that the darkness began to fade and be replaced by a light blue and white light. It looked like a clear sea and as I closed his eyes, yet again he could had sworn that he was the three mysterious kittens and Miki walking toward him. The four together seemed to bring with them the hope that he had lost, as well as the distinct sent on the ocean.
-With Alonzo and the others-
After only a few minutes Tory's wounds had begun to heal and begin to reappear on Misto. The spell was almost half way complete by the time Miki had come back with the others. The room felt quite cramped with almost seven cats and a kit standing and trying to understand the situation as Alonzo began to explain eyes never leaving his brother's black face.
"I knew I shouldn't have told him," Cori was mumbling as he placed his paws on the shield.
"But how did Tory get like that?" Munk asked, while comforting Demeter who was crying on his shoulder.
"When did you get back?" Jellylorum asked the 2nd in command leader.
"Miki found me just as I walked through the gates." Munk explained.
"I don't know by the time I woke she was like this and Mistoffelees was already racing around like a bat out of hell." Alonzo explained while Tantomile circled the shield to find away in.
"Its no use Cori and I can't break it." Tanta cried, head bowed looking into the shield at the only kit she had ever really connected with.
"M-M-Misto?" came a small voice.
"Miki? Oh gosh Miki where are you?" Alonzo called looking around the room for the small kit.
"There!" Jelly exclaimed pointing at the tiny figure within the shield.
"The kit got through!" Tanta cried now setting both paws on the milk colored shield.
"MISTO!" the coco colored kit yelled again, her star and snow flake sparking a light blue color.
"M-Miki? What's going on?" came Tory's voice as she lifted her head to look around the room.
First she saw Miki, the girl's normally dazzling green silver eyes were now a clouded and dim gray green color. Tory then turned to see Tanta's lips moving along with her mother's, but both of their voices went unheard within the bubble that surrounded Tory. It was only then that she turned to see what Miki was looking at.
"OH MY! MISTOFFELEES!" Tory yelled jumping to her feet, which jolted her muscles causing them to stiffen and buckle causing her to collapse back to the blankets below her.
Tory nudged his cheek tears coming quickly to her eyes. It was then that she noticed that Miki was now circling Mistoffelees leaping, jumping, and trotting. The kit's star flared a brilliant and deep red that played off the white walls that surrounded them. It was then that voices could be heard from the others outside the bubble.
"Look! What's that kit doing?" came a rough worried voice.
"That's papa." Victoria thought not taking her eyes off of Misto and Miki.
"I think she's trying to bring him back...no wait she doing more then that! She's healing him!" came a different smooth voice that always reminded Tory of warm milk.
"That was Tanta for sure." Tory thought as she pulled away from Misto's face giving Miki more room to do her thing.
"Oh my look she's DONE IT!" came Cori's deep booming voice.
It was true Miki had stopped right between Mistoffelees and Victoria. The kit then looked up at Tory expecting her to do or to say something. Tory kissed the kits head as she noticed the white shield fall and the magic return to Mistoffelees. As they all waited with baited breath Tory saw Misto's eye twitch ever so slightly.
"M-Misto?" Tory spoke softly afraid that she might have just imagined the movement.
After a few seconds her fears were swept away saw the black cat's eyes twitch again followed by his paws, and finally his mouth which opened in a calm and sleepy yawn. His eyes then blinked open and though they were blurry they instantly locked onto Tory's as she looked down into those dark amber eyes filled with love, protection, and safety.
"T-T-Tory?" Misto crocked in a dry voice as he rubbed his eyes with a paw.
"MISTO!" Tory exclaimed her tears flowing freely once again down her face as she collapsed and joined him on the ground.
Her tears flowed faster as she licked his cheeks and then tucked her head underneath his head. When she did this she could feel and hear him purr deeply trying to comfort her. Misto lifted her head with a paw and gently began to kiss her tears away until there was no shadow of them left on her face. It was then that the white princess scooted closer to him and cuddled closer to him underneath one of the thicker blankets. Miki trotted over just before Tory feel asleep and kissed the elder girl's cheek. Tory giggled before making room between her front paws for the small kit to join them in the bed.
"Misto can you explain what happened?" Cori asked after Tory and Miki were asleep.
Misto then retold the story of how Tory didn't like Plato at all and how she had just want to make her father and mother proud. He then told how he found the wounded Tory out in the clearing and then he retold the promise that he had made to her. Lastly he ended with not only his suspicions of who had hurt Victoria, but of the dream he had while he was about to die.
"Well then," Munk began, "I'll see you in the morning... we'll talk then."
All Misto could do was nod lightly and watch the group exit out the pipe. After that he looked at Alonzo who smirked as his dark brown eyes locked with Misto's amber ones and then glided over the the white and brown bodies next to Misto. Misto then looked at his girls before he curled closer to Victoria's body and kissed both of the girl's foreheads before drifting quickly into a peaceful slumber.