Alonzo stretched and walked out of his den, yawning largely. He shook out his fur and looked at the tyre, where Munkustrap was already perched.
"Hey, Munkus!" Alonzo called, walking over to him and sitting beside him.
'Hello, Alonzo," Munkustrap murmured, his blue eyes scanning across the yard before resting back on Alonzo.
"How are you?" Alonzo asked, grinning. Munkustrap shrugged.
"I'm doing okay…what about you?" Munkustrap asked. Alonzo smirked.
"And I do not want to hear any innuendos," Munkustrap warned but smiled. "I hear enough of them from Tugger,"
"Ah, yes, your brother," Alonzo smirked. "Aren't you glad you aren't actually related sometimes?"
"Absolutely," Munkustrap chuckled. Munkustrap looked back over the yard as the kittens came tumbling out from Jenny's and Jelly's dens. Munkustrap sighed, settling down for a long day.
"You alright, Munkus?" Alonzo asked. Munkustrap gave a flat smile.
"Sure," He answered. "Hey, can you watch for a bit?" He asked. "I need to talk to Coricopat about something," Alonzo nodded and Munkustrap slid off the tyre, walking to the twins den. Alonzo yawned, rubbing his eyes.
"Lonz!" Alonzo jumped up in fright as the loud voice sounded by his ear.
"Tugger!" Alonzo gasped, paw over his heart. Tugger chuckled, settling down beside Alonzo on the tyre.
"Hey, where's my favourite brother?" Tugger asked suddenly.
"Talking to Cori," Alonzo answered. Tugger frowned.
"About what?" He asked.
"No idea," Alonzo answered. Tugger made a small noise.
"What?" Alonzo asked. Tugger sighed.
"Nothing…it's just, Munkus hasn't been sleeping much," Tugger said slowly. Alonzo blinked then remembered, Tugger, Munkus and Misto all shared a den.
"Really?" Alonzo asked.
"Yeah…every time I wake up because Shorty kicked me in his sleep, Munkus is awake, staring out the door," Tugger sighed. "I don't know…he seems kind of off,"
Alonzo frowned, looking at Cori's den.
Was something wrong with Munkustrap?
Alonzo stayed on the tyre for a while, Tugger decided to go flirt with the kittens and Queens.
"Come on," He heard Tugger laugh with the Queens. The Queens giggled and laughed.
"Please tell me you're not going to break out in song," Misto pleaded from where he was laying on the ground, trapped by Pounce and Tumble, who sat on his back.
"Oh, just for you, Shorty,"
"Why?" Misto looked horrified.
"For kicking me last night,"
"I did not!"
"You did so, look, I'm even bruised!" The Queens and Queen-kits cooed and fussed over him.
ALL: RUM TUM TUGGER: If you put me in a house, I would much prefer a flat ALL: RUM TUM TUGGER: ALL: RUM TUM TUGGER: ALL: RUM TUM TUGGER: I'm always on the wrong side of every door ALL: RUM TUM TUGGER: ALL: RUM TUM TUGGER: ALL: RUM TUM TUGGER: If you offer me fish, then I always want a feast So you'll catch me in it right up to my ears ALL: RUM TUM TUGGER: ALL: RUM TUM TUGGER: ALL: RUM TUM TUGGER:
The Rum Tum Tugger is a curious cat
If you offer me pheasant, I'd rather have grouse
If you put me in a flat, I would rather have a house
If you set me on a mouse, then I only want a rat
If you set me on a rat, then I'd rather chase a mouse
The Rum Tum Tugger is a curious cat
And there isn't any need for me to shout it
For he will do as he did do
And there's nothing doing about it
The Rum Tum Tugger is a terrible bore
When you let me in, then I want to go out
And as soon as I'm at home, then I'd like to get about
I like to lie in the bureau drawer
And I make such a fuss if I can't get out
The Rum Tum Tugger is a curious cat
And there isn't any need for you to doubt it
For he will do as he did do
And there's no doing anything about it
The Rum Tum Tugger is a curious beast
My disobliging ways are a matter of habit
When there isn't any fish, then I won't eat rabbit
If you offer me cream, then I sniff and sneer
For I only like what I find for myself
If you put it away on the larder shelf
The Rum Tum Tugger is artful and knowing
The Rum Tum Tugger
Doesn't care for a cuddle
But I'll leap upon your lap in the middle of your sewing
For there's nothing I enjoy like a horrible muddle
The Rum Tum Tugger is a curious cat
The Rum Tum Tugger doesn't care for a cuddle
The Rum Tum Tugger is a curious cat
And there isn't any need for me to spout it
For he will do as he did do
And there's nothing doing about (Kittens squeal, Tugger grins)
Abou-ow-ow-wow (Kittens squeal again and Tugger laughs)
About-o-wow-owow (Etcetera squeals and Tugger quiets her)
About it!
"What's going on?" Alonzo was startled by Munkustrap's smooth voice.
"Tugger's torturing Mistoffelees," Alonzo answered as they watched Tugger sit on Misto's back, who cried out and struggled.
"Tugger, get off!" Misto whined. Munkustrap smiled.
"Hey, Munkus, are you okay?" Alonzo asked.
"Huh?"
"You seem kind of…off," Alonzo said slowly, using Tugger's words. Munkustrap gave a small smile.
"I'm fine," Munkustrap answered. Alonzo nodded and left.
"He is not fine," Bombalurina said a few days later as they watched Munkustrap, who was sitting on the tyre. Alonzo, Demeter, Tugger and Misto looked at her.
"Look at him…he's not…he's not focused," She said. They looked back at Munkustrap; his eyes seemed sort of glazed and faraway as he stared blankly over the yard.
"He's still not sleeping," Tugger sighed, rubbing his head fur. Demeter looked at Alonzo, worried. If Tugger was worried, maybe they should be.
"What are you talking about?" The five looked around when Coricopat and Tantomile suddenly appeared, sitting beside them.
"Munkustrap," Misto answered. Tantomile and Cori exchanged looks, staring at each other.
"Enough with the thought conversations and tell us what's happening!" Tugger snapped. Cori looked at Tugger.
"There is nothing happening," Cori said, his voice impassive. Tugger glared at Cori.
"This is my brother!"
"You're not actually related," Tantomile reminded quietly. Tugger hissed at her.
"Tugger!" Bomba scolded.
"What?" Tugger snapped. "He is my brother, no blood is going to change that!" Tugger looked at Cori, who was grooming his foot.
"Tell me what's wrong with Munkustrap," Tugger said.
"No," Cori answered simply. The others looked at Cori, shocked. Cori looked at them and sighed.
"What he came to talk to me about is between me and him,"
"And your sister," Tugger muttered bitterly under his brother.
"No…not really," Tantomile answered. "I only know a part of it because I walked in on them talking," Alonzo looked at Cori, who was resuming the grooming of his paw. Tugger was muttering angrily under his breath, shooting dark looks at Cori.
"I can read your mind," Cori said, pausing with his grooming. "And I'm certainly not that," The others laughed as Tugger growled.
"Get out of my head,"
"Kinda hard when you're projecting your thoughts to me," Cori yawned.
"Oh, Munkus is moving…slightly," They all looked back, seeing Munkustrap shifting on the tyre, his eyes seemed distant, he seemed lost in thought.
If Cori wasn't talking…what was wrong with Munkustrap?
Alonzo walked around the yard, patrolling as usual, a week and a half later. Munkustrap had still been acting kind of weird, he was so quiet…the kittens were confused, Munkustrap didn't tell them stories anymore, he didn't play or pull faces at them as he walked past.
Everyone was talking about it…even Deuteronomy had been notified of Munkustrap's weird behaviour. He was coming to the yard, to watch over his adopted son.
Tugger had been trying to bully Coricopat into telling him what Munkustrap had talked to him about…that had resulted in Tugger's bolting from Cori's den, his rear smoking slightly with Cori looking out from his den, looking smug…that was until Jenny came after him…then Cori had ran from it.
Alonzo grinned at that memory…of Cori sprinting across the yard as a furious Jennyanydots chased him, yelling at him for acting like that in front of the kittens. Alonzo's nose suddenly twitched as he caught Munkustrap's scent. Alonzo frowned.
Weird, Munkustrap was meant to be asleep…resting.
Alonzo walked around a junk pile and froze. Munkustrap was standing there, talking to the Jellicles enemy…Macavity. Macavity was nodding as he listened to Munkustrap. Macavity's eyes flickered over briefly and he caught sight of Alonzo…his eldest son. Macavity ignored him and went back to talking to Munkustrap. Alonzo was frozen in place, watching as Munkustrap spoke to Macavity, though his head was slightly lowered. Macavity nodded again. Alonzo watched as Macavity started to talk to Munkustrap…it looked like he was trying to reassure him. After a while, Munkustrap nodded and looked up, meeting Macavity's eyes. Macavity nodded and pulled Munkustrap into a small hug before letting him go and disappearing. Munkustrap sighed and turned around, startling slightly when he saw Alonzo.
"Munkus?" Alonzo asked as Munkustrap walked over to him. Munkustrap looked at him.
"Please tell me you're not betraying us," Munkustrap smiled, his smile genuine and warm.
"No, Alonzo, I'm not betraying us," Munkustrap told him.
"Then…why…?"
"I…It's hard to explain at the moment," Munkustrap said slowly. "But, 'Lonz, don't tell anyone please, they will jump on the worse conclusion," Alonzo nodded, trusting Munkustrap on this. Munkustrap gave a small smile.
"Thanks," Munkustrap smiled before continuing on. Alonzo watched him go.
Why was Munkustrap talking to the Hidden Paw…what was happening?
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I'm actually liking this so far :D…you should ALL know what song that was!
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Luv HGP!