Deuteronomy walked into the yard, finding Munkustrap sitting on the tyre, with Alonzo by him. Even as Deuteronomy walked past, he could tell Munkustrap had changed. Something about his eyes…he didn't seem to be quite as focused.
"Hey, Dad," Deuteronomy looked up and saw Tugger walking towards him.
"Hello, Tugger," Deuteronomy greeted. Tugger looked at him, looping his paws into his belt.
"Are you here because of Munkustrap?" Tugger asked. Deuteronomy was surprised.
"Yes," Deuteronomy answered. "Have you noticed it as well?" Tugger nodded.
"Every time I wake up during the night, he's awake," Tugger said slowly. "He just stares out the door,"
Deuteronomy sighed.
"He's stopped telling stories to the kittens," Tugger added. Deuteronomy frowned.
Now he knew something was definitely wrong with Munkustrap. He doted on those kittens…he would laugh as the kittens would leap on him, he would tell stories and dance around with them when it was his time to rest…but now, he just sat on the tyre, barely speaking to anyone.
What was happening with the shy, little kitten that he had brought in? What happened to the proud young Tom that would play and tell stories to the kittens?
Munkustrap stayed on the tyre, watching as Alonzo walked off.
"So," Munkustrap glanced over, seeing Coricopat sliding down to sit beside him.
"Have you told Old Deuteronomy yet?" Coricopat asked softly. "Or haven't you figured out what to do yet?"
"I know what I'm going to do, Cori," Munkustrap answered quietly. "I just don't know how I'm going to tell him without destroying him," Cori sighed.
"I hear Tugger's been badgering you," Munkustrap continued, giving a small smile.
"Yes, he keeps asking what we talked about," Cori said slowly, his eyes flicking to Munkustrap's face.
"Hm," Munkustrap murmured.
"Did Jenny end up catching you?" Munkustrap asked, grinning. Cori pouted.
"Yes," Cori muttered. "She yelled at me for being a bad influence to the kittens," Munkustrap snorted.
"Shut up," Cori muttered, his cheeks going red. "It's not funny,"
"It is," Munkustrap smirked.
"Ah, it was worth being deafened though," Cori smiled. "To see Tugger running from his den…his butt smoking," Munkustrap gave a snort of laughter.
"What?" Cori asked.
"It gives new meaning to when Bombalurina says that he is 'smokin' hot," Cori burst out laughing.
Munkustrap sat on the tyre as Cori dozed off beside him. He looked down, amused, as Cori's foot wound up in his hip. Munkustrap pushed his foot away, sighing as he looked back over the yard, his mind wandering.
"MUNKUS!" Munkustrap blinked, shaking his head when he heard the terrified scream. Deuteronomy hurried from the den and found that Munkustrap will still on the tyre, his ears flicking.
"MUNKUS!" The scream came again. Munkustrap reacted now, leaping from the tyre and running towards the source of the scream. Alonzo ran after them. A Pollicle was looming over Pouncival as the other kittens, Vicky, Jemima, Tumbles, Electra and Etcetera, were kept back, and protected by Plato. Pouncival was whimpering, backing away as the large Pollicle stalked towards him. Munkustrap flew at the Pollicle, clamping his teeth down around the Pollicles neck. The Pollicle began yelping and tossed Munkustrap off. Munkustrap landed in a crouch. Deuteronomy watched as Munkustrap's eyes suddenly went distant, he didn't see the large paw swiping towards his head until it connected. Munkustrap gave a pained cry as he was thrown aside. Alonzo ran in, leaping onto the Pollicle, clawing at it. Coricopat, Admetus and Skimble joined in, clawing and biting at the Pollicle, as Munkustrap struggled to his feet. The Pollicle yelped, shaking the cats off of him before he ran off. Jenny rushed in, helping Munkustrap as Skimble went over to Pounce, checking over the shaken kitten. Deuteronomy caught a glimpse of Munkustrap as Jenny rushed him past. Blood was trickling down the left side of his face…and his blue eyes were distant.
Deuteronomy walked into the infirmary, finding Munkustrap sitting on the floor as Jenny poked at the large cut beside Munkustrap's left eye. Munkustrap winced.
"That's going to scar, sweetie, sorry," Jenny told him softly.
"Ah well," Munkustrap murmured. Deuteronomy watched as Jenny left and Munkustrap's went distant once more, as though he was lost deep in thought. Deuteronomy frowned and left.
A week later, the scratch on Munkustrap's face had scarred. It was smaller than it was expected to be. It was barely noticeable, except for the fact it was right beside his left eye.
Deuteronomy looked up as Munkustrap walked into his den. Deuteronomy smiled and stood up.
"Munkustrap, how are you?"
"I-I need to talk to you," Munkustrap said, not meeting his eyes.
Alonzo stretched out in front of his den, he gave a groan as Tugger decided to sit on his back. Alonzo looked over his shoulder at his uncle.
"Tugger…get your fat butt off of me," Alonzo groaned, trying to shift under Tugger's weight. Tugger looked at him.
"Nah, I'm fine here," Tugger yawned, shifting around so his bony rear end dug against Alonzo's back. Alonzo sighed, growling slightly.
"Tuggie!"
"Oh…Everlasting Cat, no," Alonzo whispered, going still. Tugger laughed.
"Yep…it's my fan-club," Tugger laughed as they came running over. Alonzo struggled.
"Nooo!"
"Tuggie!" Etcetera squealed, ignoring Alonzo, who groaned.
"How are you, Tuggie?"
"I'm a little hurt, Cetty," Tugger said, faking hurt. Jemima, Vicky, Electra and Etcetera made a loud noise and cooed all over him.
"What's wrong, Tugs?" Electra asked, sliding over to him.
"Alonzo said I was fat!" Tugger said, pouting, "And it hurt," Tugger put his paw over his heart. The Queen-kits, except for Victoria, all looked at Alonzo angrily.
"T-Tugger," Alonzo whimpered as the Queen-kits growled at him.
"You're not fat, Tuggie!" Etcetera said, leaping into Tugger's lap. Alonzo groaned at the added weight. Tugger laughed, winking at Etcetera. She swooned and fell off his lap.
"How dare you?" Tugger and Alonzo looked towards Deuteronomy's den, just in time to see Munkustrap stumbling out backwards and falling over.
"I…I…" Munkustrap stammered, looking up at Deuteronomy as Deuteronomy towered over him.
"You are like that damn mother of yours!" Deuteronomy yelled. The whole yard had stopped to watch Deuteronomy and Munkustrap. Munkustrap winced as Deuteronomy took a hit at his mother.
"You're never content to just stay somewhere!"
"I…"
"I took you in!" Deuteronomy yelled. "I treated you like my son…and this is how you repay me!"
"Da…Old Deuteronomy, please," Munkustrap said. "Try to understand…"
"No!" Munkustrap lowered his head.
"Your mother left the yard, Munkustrap," Deuteronomy snapped. "And look how it treated her, she had nothing…she gave you up because she wanted the glamour!"
"I'm not after…!"
"Listen to me!" Deuteronomy thundered. Munkustrap went quiet, looking up at Deuteronomy.
"We all accepted you as one of us…even though when Grizabella left, she was no longer a Jellicle," Deuteronomy snapped. "And this is how you are repaying us?"
"Sir…I mean no disrespect," Munkustrap started. "But I feel there's something out there that needs me more," Deuteronomy glared at Munkustrap. Alonzo and Tugger exchanged looks.
"If you go through with this, if you leave the yard," Deuteronomy hissed. "You will be exiled and you will never be allowed to return," Deuteronomy walked back into his den, leaving Munkustrap on the ground. Alonzo and Tugger watched as Munkustrap slowly rose to his feet, ignoring the mutters as he made his way back to his den. Tugger rose to his feet and quickly followed after him.
The Queen-kits looked at each other before darting off to their mothers, crying slightly. Alonzo sat up, sighing. He wanted to go see if Munkustrap was okay…and what the hell was he thinking about?
Alonzo slipped off the tyre when Plato came to cover him. He walked into Munkustrap's, Tugger's and Misto's den to find Tugger and Misto sitting down while Munkustrap packed his things into a sock.
"You're actually leaving?" Alonzo breathed. Munkustrap nodded, not looking at him.
"Munkus…why?" Alonzo asked.
"Because there's something out there that needs me more," Munkustrap said quietly. Alonzo blinked, looking at Tugger and Misto. They shrugged.
"Munkus…but…" Alonzo tried. Munkustrap turned and looked at him.
"What about us?" Alonzo asked. Munkustrap sighed, sitting down on his nest.
"I…I'm going to miss you, I am…it's just there's something out there that needs me more," Munkustrap said slowly.
"What's out there, Munk?" Misto asked.
"I don't know yet," Munkustrap answered.
"Is that why you were talking to Macavity?" Alonzo asked suddenly. Tugger and Misto whipped their heads up as that. Munkustrap sighed.
"Yes,"
"He's going to get you killed," Tugger said.
"No, he's not…he didn't really say anything, he just told me to do what I thought was right," Munkustrap said. Tugger sighed.
Munkustrap grabbed his sock and stood up.
"Munkus," Tugger said weakly, standing up as well. Munkustrap hugged him tightly.
"I…I had trouble deciding because I didn't want to leave you alone," Munkustrap whispered.
"S-Stay safe," Tugger whispered. Munkustrap hugged Misto and Alonzo left before leaving the den.
Deuteronomy was waiting. His face was cold as the Jellicles gathered.
"So, you're leaving?" Deuteronomy asked coldly.
"Yes," Munkustrap answered.
"Munkustrap, you are exiled…you are never allowed to return," Munkustrap gave a small nod and started walking towards the gates.
Deception Deception (An outrage!) Deception (An outrage!) Born in grief But do not forget what we cannot forgive And he is not one of us Someone once lied to us He is not one of us Deception Disgrace Deception Disgrace Deception
Disgrace
Evil as plain as the scar on his face
Disgrace (For shame!)
He asked for trouble the moment he came
(He can't change his stripes)
Disgrace (For shame!)
(You know these Outsider types)
He asked for trouble the moment he came
(See you later, agitator!)
Deception (An outrage!)
(Just leave us alone!)
Disgrace (For shame!)
(Traitor, go back with your own!)
He asked for trouble the moment he came
(See you later, agitator!)
Raised in hate
Helpless to defy his fate
Let him run
Let him live
He has never been one of us
He is not part of us
Not our kind
Now we're not so blind
For we knew he would do what he's done
And we know that he'll never be one of us
Alonzo watched as Munkustrap paused briefly by Coricopat and Tantomile. Coricopat and Munkustrap touched paws before Munkustrap reached out, taking Tantomile's paw, giving it a small squeeze. Tantomile sighed, lowering her head sadly as Munkustrap let her paw go and walked towards the gate. Alonzo watched as Munkustrap's back disappeared out of the gates. Tugger looked at Deuteronomy and shook his head before going back to his den, Misto following him. Alonzo sighed.
Munkustrap was gone.
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Well? …this would have been up sooner, but I was at my high school doing a bbq for the widdle year 7s :D
Song is Not one of us from Lion King 2
Thanks to those who reviewed! I'm so glad you like it!
Please read and review!
Luv HGP!