Tiana ran from the den after she had searched it.
"Daddy?" She called. Tiana bit her lip before running into her auntie's den.
"Auntie Tantomile?" Tiana whimpered. Tantomile sat up as Mungojerrie rolled over, clutching their son, Tumas.
"What is it, sweetie?" Tantomile asked her tiredly, rubbing her eyes.
"I can't find Daddy," Tiana cried. Tantomile stood up, taking her paw. Tiana looked at her aunt as they walked from the den, she could see even in the darkness that Tantomile looked worried.
Tantomile looked around Cori's den once more before she pulled Tiana to Bombalurina's den. Tantomile told Tiana to wait outside when she went in.
"Bomba," Tantomile called. Bombalurina woke up, sitting up and causing a kitten to roll to the side.
"W-What is it?" Bomba yawned loudly.
"Cori's missing," Bomba shot to her feet.
"Wait…what?" Tantomile didn't even look at Tugger as she towed Bomba from the den. Bombalurina pulled Tiana into her arms as they went to Munkustrap's den to tell him Cori had disappeared.
"Stay here," Tantomile told Tiana before pulling Bomba into Munkustrap's den. Tiana fidgeting, biting her lip, trying to stop the tears.
"What happened, baby girl?" Tiana looked up at Tugger as he walked towards her.
"Daddy's gone," She cried. Tugger pulled his daughter into his arms, rocking her back and forth.
"Shh, baby, it'll be okay," Tugger whispered to her. "We'll find him,"
"You should have stayed!" Tiana wailed. "Then he wouldn't have gone!" Tugger winced.
"I'm sorry, darlin'," Tugger murmured. Tiana flinched. Macavity had called her 'darlin' as well. Tugger rubbed her back as she buried her face into his mane, sobbing. Tantomile and Bombalurina came back out the den, followed by Munkustrap. Bomba blinked, looking at Tiana as she stood wrapped in Tugger's arms.
"Where's Ferny and Aden?"
"I took them to Jenny," Tugger answered. "I figured my daughter needed me," Tiana sniffled against Tugger's mane as she clutched tighter onto him. Tugger rubbed her head.
"Where's Cori?" Tugger asked Tantomile. Tantomile shook her head, giving him a small look as if to say 'tell you later'. Tugger understood.
She couldn't say it while Tiana was there.
Tugger walked Tiana to Jenny's den while Tantomile, Bomba and Munk went to Cori's den once more. Tugger gave Tiana into Jenny's care before he walked to Cori's den. Munkustrap was standing in the centre of the den. He looked up as Tugger entered, his face grave.
"Well?" Tugger asked him, running a paw through his mane nervously.
"Smell anything out of place?" Munkustrap asked him bitterly. Tugger's nose twitched as it took in different scents.
Cori's, Tiana's, Ferny's, Aden's, a weak scent of Tugger's and…that was it.
"No," Tugger whispered. Munkustrap nodded.
"He said he was just going leave suddenly one day," Bombalurina murmured. Tugger slumped against the side of the den, shocked.
"H-He's gone?" Tugger whispered hoarsely.
"Yeah, Tugger," Munkustrap spat angrily. "I hope you're happy," And with that, he stalked from the den.
"No," He whispered, sinking to his knees. "No, no, no, no," Tantomile just turned her head away as Tugger lost control of his emotions.
Cori stood up as Macavity walked into the room.
"This is stupid," Cori snapped at him. "Just leave things be,"
"Never," Macavity laughed, pulling Cori against him. Cori hissed, pushing him away. Macavity's silver eyes flashed.
"You made me leave my daughter there all alone!" Cori yelled at him. Macavity blinked before a smirk appeared on his features.
"Well, if Tugger still loved you then he would have been there for you, wouldn't he?"
"Don't you dare bring him into this," Cori hissed.
"Obviously I love you more,"
"Shut up!" Cori yelled at the grinning Macavity. Macavity's grin didn't falter.
"You almost killed me, you don't love me and I certainly don't love you!" Cori's head was snapped to the side as Macavity slapped him harshly across the face. Cori blinked, slowly turning his head back to look at Macavity. Macavity was fuming, his shoulders heaving angrily. Cori looked back at him, his cheek stinging from pain.
"You know it's true," Cori spat. Macavity punched him across the jaw, sending the Tom flying to the ground.
Tugger sat with Tiana in his lap. She sobbed, pulling at his mane. They all knew Cori was gone now. He had said he was just going to leave and he had done so. Tugger felt something was wrong though, seriously wrong.
He knew Cori wouldn't leave Tiana like that, no way. Tiana was Cori's baby…and she was a daddy's girl, she loved him so much and there was no way Cori would leave her like that.
"Dad, what…what now?" Tiana sobbed. Tugger sighed, pulling his daughter closer and kissing her forehead.
"We'll stick together, baby girl," Tugger whispered against her head. "We'll stick together…me, you, Ferny and Aden…we'll always be together,"
Tiana sobbed…she missed her daddy.
Cori cautiously pushed his upper body off the floor, wincing.
"Ouch," He murmured, reaching up and touching his swollen cheek. Cori tested his jaw, it was a little sore but it wasn't swollen or anything. Cori looked around the room he was in.
He had been moved when he was unconscious.
He was now in a dark, windowless, damp stone room. He had pissed Macavity off that much. Cori shifted his leg and felt the coldness of a shackle around his ankle.
"Great," He muttered. Cori closed his eyes.
If only he hadn't said those things, then Macavity would still be finding a way to get Cori out of the yard without the others looking for him. Pain tore Cori's heart.
Poor Tiana…what would she be like when she woke up?
Would she panic?
Would she cry?
When she found herself alone. Cori sighed. He knew Tugger would take care of her. Tugger loved Tiana but didn't spend much time with her because Tiana was always hanging about Cori, she was a daddy's girl.
Oh - thinkin' about all our younger years Now nothin' can take you away from me Baby you're all that I want Oh - once in your life you find someone Ya - nothin' could change what you mean to me N' baby you're all that I want I've bin waitin' for so long Now our dreams are comin' true
There was only you and me
We were young and wild and free
We bin down that road before
But that's over now
You keep me comin' back for more
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
Who will turn your world around
Bring you up when you're feelin' down
Oh there's lots that I could say
But just hold me now
Cause our love will light the way
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
For something to arrive
For love to come along
Through the good times and the bad
Ya - I'll be standin' there by you
Cori cried as he sung that song that Tugger always sang to him. His heart was breaking, he felt so alone!
Cori opened his eyes, rubbing the tears from them, as the door to his cell opened. Cori watched as Macavity walked into the room, staring at him.
"The Jellicles think you left of your own free will," Macavity told him. Cori broke down.
No one was coming for him.
"A lot of the Jellicles hate you, are angry at you for leaving poor little Tiana all alone in the den while you left because you were bitter," Cori turned his eyes back to Macavity. Macavity grinned, walking closer to Cori and crouching in front of him.
"Now, it's just you and me," Cori closed his eyes again as Macavity ran his paw up his leg.
"D-Don't," Cori whispered pathetically. "You ruined my life, my love…and my kittens will always hate me because they think I abandoned them," Macavity stopped his paw from wandering to look at Cori.
"Just kill me," Cori whispered, looking back at Macavity, staring straight into his silver eyes.
"Just kill me so I don't have to live knowing my kittens will hate me," Macavity shook his head, taking Cori's paws and pulling him close.
"They won't hate you," Macavity murmured in his ear.
"They'll hate Tugger for driving you away," Cori yanked his paws away from Macavity.
"Tugger did…Tugger…" Cori stammered, trying to think of something say. Macavity grabbed Cori's ankles, yanking them so Cori fell onto his back.
"Tugger's gone now…you're here with me and you're never going back to those Jellicles, to them you are dead," Macavity hissed cruelly. "Live with it, Coricopat," Cori closed his eyes, his chest heaving with broken sobs.
"Because it's just going to be me and you…for a very long time,"
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Sorry it's short but its midnight and I'm tired!
Song is Heaven by Bryan Adams.
Thanks to those who reviewed!
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Luv HGP!