Tumblebrutus sat, looking out at the kittens, who were sitting away from him. He sighed and looked down at his paws.
"Still not talking to you, Tumbles?" Tumble gave a small shake of his head at the question. He heard a loud sigh and someone sat beside him.
"Mum tried talking to them…but they came up to me later, calling me a mummy's-boy and a dobber," Tumblebrutus looked at Munkustrap. Munkustrap winced.
"Sorry, Tumble…I didn't think they'd do that to you," Tumble shrugged.
"Do you want me to talk to them?" Munkustrap asked. "I'm pretty sure I'd scare them into hanging out with you," Tumblebrutus gave a small smile at that.
"Well, they are terrified of you," Tumble laughed. "But…I don't want to be near them anymore," Munkustrap sighed, wrapping his arm around the younger Tom's shoulders. Tumble leaned against Munkustrap.
"You know I'm around if you ever want to talk…you aren't alone here, Tumblebrutus," Munkustrap told him softly.
"I feel alone," Tumble murmured.
"Tumble, there are a lot of cats that will talk to you," Tumble looked at him skeptically.
"Who?"
"Me, Admetus, Coricopat, Tantomile, Alonzo…"
"Alonzo doesn't talk to me…he still thinks I'm a kitten," Tumble interrupted.
"Well, I'll tell him he's wrong," Munkustrap smiled.
"Look, Tumble, if you ever want to talk and I'm not around…go to Coricopat, Tantomile or even Tugger,"
"Tugger?"
"He's not that bad," Munkustrap smiled.
"Um, Munkus," Tumble smiled slightly, pointing. Munkustrap turned his head to see what he was pointing at and sighed as he spotted the Rum Tum Tugger with his fan club.
"Well, find him when he's not with his fan club and he's very different,"
"Oh…and don't forget Misto,"
"Misto?" Tumble questioned, skeptically. "I-I don't think he'll like me…I've always been scared of him,"
"Really, why?"
"I-I don't know…he just looks…unapproachable,"
"Well, you've got him all wrong," Munkustrap smiled. "Mistoffelees is very polite and very kind," Tumble nodded.
"Well, I've got to get on patrols…" Munkustrap said, standing up.
"Care to come along?" Munkustrap questioned, smiling. Tumble nodded and took Munkustrap's offered paw. Munkustrap pulled him off and walked off together, talking.
A few weeks later, Tumble headed back to his den, yawning. He had been practising his moves that Munkustrap had taught him…he wanted to become one of the other protectors of the yard, so he was practising. Tumblebrutus paused when he heard voices talking inside of his family's den.
"Munkustrap, I know you've been looking out for him…but he needs to make friends with those his own age," Tumble startled as he heard his mother say that.
"Jenny, the others are rejecting him…the kittens don't want to associate with him and Plato won't because of Victoria," Tumble stopped, just listening as Munkustrap argued with Jenny.
"He just needs to try harder,"
"That's not it, Skimble!" Tumble was surprised at Munkustrap's growl.
"He has tried, I've watched him try and he's been rejected by them, forced away by them," Munkustrap told them.
"Munkustrap, you're…a bit older then him…"
"And what difference does that make?" Once again Tumble startled…but this time at hearing Tugger's voice.
"Munkustrap is Tumblebrutus's role model; Munkus is the only friend he feels he has," Tumblebrutus was surprised at how…mature Tugger sounded.
"And that's why this has to stop," Skimble sighed. "Tumble needs to have more friends,"
"Skimble, you take away Munkustrap's friendship from him and that kitten is going to feel more alone then ever!" Tugger snarled.
"Tugger, why do you even care?" Jenny asked, exasperated.
"Because I care about my little brother and I care about Tumblebrutus," Tugger said. Tumble decided to go into the den then. Munkustrap was sitting down with Tugger standing beside him, paw on Munkustrap's shoulder. Jenny was sitting across from Munkus with Skimble leaning against the wall behind her.
"M-Mum, I don't want to stop hanging out with Munkus," Tumble said. Jenny sighed.
"I like having him as a friend…he's much better to talk to then the kittens," Munkustrap gave a small smile.
"I don't approve of him teaching you protector techniques,"
"Jenny, he already knows he's not to use them…even if there's a fight, he has to hide with you and only use what I've taught him when absolutely necessary," Munkustrap explained, looking at Tumble. Tumble nodded, even though he and Munkus had never discussed that before.
"Mum, please…" Tumble pleaded. Jenny sighed, looking back at Skimble. Skimble gave a small nod.
"Alright…but, Tumbles, you have to make an effort in making more friends,"
"Mum, I've tried!" Tumble cried. Tugger quickly crossed over to the young Tom, placing his paws on his shoulders. Tumble looked at him and Tugger gave a small smile.
"Jenny, he's doing his best," Tugger told Jenny. Jenny glared at him.
"I don't appreciate you telling me how to raise my son,"
"I'm just tellin' ya how it is," Tugger grinned. Jenny scowled at him. Munkustrap got to his feet, putting his paw on Tumble's shoulder.
"Ready, little brother?" Tugger asked. Munkustrap rolled his blue eyes at that but nodded.
"Goodnight, Jenny, Skimbleshanks," Munkustrap said respectfully.
"I'll see you soon, Tumbles," Munkustrap murmured to the young Tom. Tumble nodded, giving a small smile.
"Night, Munkus,"
"Night, Tumbles,"
"Night, kid," Tugger grinned, knuckling his head fur. Tumble quickly fixed his head fur.
"Night, Tugger," Tugger left with Munkustrap following him. Tumblebrutus looked back at his parents.
"I-I'm going to bed," He murmured, trying to get away.
"Tumblebrutus," Tumble paused and sighed.
Damn, so close.
He turned and looked back at his parents. Jenny and Skimble were both staring at him.
"Tumble…you need to limit your time that you spend with Munkustrap," Tumble gave a small growl.
"Mum, I'm a Tom now, I can choose who I want to be friends with," Tumble told her, standing tall. Skimble stared sternly at his son.
"He's too old for you to be friends with,"
"He's not that much older than me!" Tumble said, looking at Skimble.
"Tumble…we want you to try and be friends with the kittens,"
"Mum, I've tried!" Tumble yelled in frustration. "They just won't let me get near them!"
"Don't yell at your mother,"
"I wouldn't if you'd just listen to me!" Tumble cried. "I've tried to be their friend, I've tried to fit in, they just won't accept me!"
"Go to bed, Tumblebrutus," Skimble murmured. Tumble gave a cry in frustration and stomped off towards the part of the den that he and Pounce shared. His brother sat up sleepily and rubbed his eyes as Tumble walked in, collapsing on his own nest.
"What was the yellin' about?" Pounce asked sleepily.
"Don't worry about it," Tumblebrutus muttered, rolling over, turning his back to Pounce. There was silence before a paw gently prodded Tumble's side.
"Bro, what's wrong?"
"Leave me alone, Pounce," Tumble murmured.
"Tumbles…"
"Pouncival…please," There was an annoyed huff from Pouncival.
"No wonder they reject you," Tumble clenched his eyes shut tight as he heard his brother, his own brother, mutter that. He bit his lip and curled up tightly…trying not to show how much that had just hurt him.
Tumblebrutus slowly opened his eyes the next morning and slowly began to uncurl from the tight protective ball he had slept in, wincing as his muscles ached. He heard movement behind him and sat up, rubbing his eyes. He looked over at Pouncival, who got to his feet and left their sleeping part of the den, not even looking at Tumblebrutus. Tumble watched him go before lowering his head sadly.
Now Pouncival had turned on him.
Tumblebrutus lay back down and closed his eyes…just hoping to sleep the majority of his life through.
"Tumble, time to get up!" Tumblebrutus sighed as his mother's voice called. He slowly got up and walked into the other part of the den. Jellylorum and his mother were sitting together. They looked up and smiled at him as he walked into the den.
"Oh, he's growing up so quick, Jenny," Jellylorum smiled at Tumblebrutus…but she could see he wasn't in the best shape. Sure, he was healthy and fit…but there was something about his eyes…there was no light or cheerfulness in those green-blue eyes that there should have been like with all the other Jellicles in the yard.
"Slept in a little, Tumbles?" Jenny asked. Tumble just gave a small nod, looking around tiredly.
"Why don't you go outside and play with the others?" Jelly frowned at the look at Tumble gave his mother. Tumble gave a loud sigh, rolling his eyes and shaking his head.
"Go out and get some sun and fresh air," Jenny sighed. Tumble shrugged and walked out of the den.
"Is he okay, Jenny?" Jelly asked, worriedly. She was quite fond of Tumblebrutus.
"He's just going through an awkward stage," Jenny said lightly. Jelly frowned but decided not to press the subject.
Tumble wandered around the yard, sighing. He looked at Admetus and hesitated before walking over to the gray Tom.
"H-Hi, Admetus," The gray Tom turned and gave a goofy smile.
"Hey, Tumbles," Admetus said cheerfully. Tumblebrutus was somewhat shocked but gave a nervous smile.
"How are you?"
"I-I'm fine," Tumble smiled. "H-How about you?"
"I'm good…little tired," Admetus answered happily. Tumblebrutus leaned beside Admetus.
"Addie!"
"Oh…hey, I'll talk to you again soon, alright?" Admetus said as he was called away by Alonzo. Tumblebrutus sighed and walked off.
He was walking around the yard when suddenly screams erupted from the main clearing. He ran back and saw hench-cats attacking the Jellicles. Munkustrap spotted him while fighting a hench-cat.
"Tumble, run, hide!" Munkustrap yelled at him. Tumble nodded and ran. He quickly headed to an empty spot, breathing hard as he worried.
His ears pricked as he heard movement behind him. He quickly turned and saw a hench-cat lunge at him. Tumble quickly knocked him back. Tumblebrutus went to quickly run away before he stopped, looking around. His heart dropped when he saw more hench-cats slinking towards him.
He was surrounded.
Tumble quickly started knocking back the hench-cats as they lunged at him. He clawed one across the face and he fell back, howling in pain. Tumble quickly turned to catch the Tom that was coming up behind him.
Tumble was suddenly grateful to Munkustrap, for his teachings.
Macavity strolled through the yard, checking on the fighting. His ear twitched when he heard sounds of fighting coming from the east. He hummed in interest and walked towards the sounds of fighting…wondering who was fighting his hench-cats so far away from the others.
Macavity stopped at the edge of the small clearing, watching as the young Tom…
Who was it…ah, Tumblebrutus, fight his hench-cats.
Macavity watched with interest the young Tom suddenly kicked up, axe kicking his hench-cat in the head, making him crumple to the ground.
Macavity decided to intervene then as three of his hench-cats were left out of…seven. Tumblebrutus looked around to see who was coming for him now and froze as he saw the tall, lanky but strong, ginger Tom come striding up to him.
"M-Macavity," Tumble whispered, his legs trembling as fear overtook him. Macavity struck out at the young Tom, catching him across the face. Tumblebrutus stumbled back and Macavity hit him again. Tumble fell down, his back hitting the junk pile behind him. Macavity looked down at the young Tom, who had blood trickling down the side of his face, getting matted into the fur on his face.
Macavity stepped closer to the young Tom, staring at the young Tom sprawled against the junk pile. Tumblebrutus was staring up at him, scared, through half closed blue-green eyes. Macavity let the claws on one paw slip out, looking down at Tumblebrutus coldly. He slowly moved his paw, letting the sun glint on his claws. Tumble's eyes went to it.
"P-Please, d-don't," Tumble whispered. Macavity just raised his claw. He watched as Tumblebrutus's eyes rolled back in his head and then he went limp. Macavity lifted his claw, smirking. He was going to kill Tumblebrutus; it would destroy the Jellicles to find one of their young Toms murdered.
Macavity was about to bring his claw down, to end the young Tom's life, when something made his nose twitch. Macavity frowned; nose twitching as he tried to catch that scent once more…there was something about it. Macavity lowered his claw and knelt beside Tumblebrutus, grabbing Tumble's chin and moving his head so Macavity could examine Tumbles face. Macavity caught that scent again. He moved closer, sniffing at Tumblebrutus.
"Ah, boss?" Macavity held up his paw to silence them. He moved closer to Tumblebrutus.
The…intoxicating scent was Tumblebrutus's?
Macavity gave a smirk, pulling the young Tom into his arms.
"Boss?"
"He's coming with us,"
"But, boss!" Macavity just stood up, Tumblebrutus in his arms.
"He's coming with us…" Macavity said. "Because it will destroy the Jellicles,"
"Are you sure, boss?" One cat asked hesitantly. "He's a loner," Macavity had to stifle a growl at that as he looked down at the young Tom in his arms.
Why would a young Tom with a scent so alluring be rejected?
"Call the others off in five minutes and meet me back at the lair," Macavity ordered before he walked off, Tumblebrutus unconscious in his arms.
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