Disclaimer: I do not own Cats or any of its characters.
Together
Theme: Trespasser
The sun beat down on his back, the warmth from its rays pleasant in the early-winter cold. A cool breeze brushed past him at that moment, and he shivered, delighting in the contrasting sensations of the cold wind and the hot sun.
The Junkyard was peaceful this early, most of the cats still sleeping peacefully in their dens. A few minds raced in their dreams, another few murmured quietly as they began to wake, but for the most part, it was quiet. The thoughts of those completely awake, the cats patrolling around the fence line, were nothing but a buzzing in the back of his head.
Smooth, dark chocolate…Alonzo. The strong scent of vanilla…Munkustrap.
Honey and cream…
Coricopat sat up sharply. The buzzing at the back of his mind stirred suddenly, like a hive of bees roused by some trespassing creature. He could sense Munkustrap, angrily questioning some unknown cat, and Alonzo coming in to investigate the disturbance. Other cats, still walking along the fence to ensure there were no further intruders, were anxiously waiting to know what was happening.
But he couldn't quite sense the other mind. It kept slipping away from him, leaving that sweet, and somehow familiar, taste in his mouth, but never became quite solid.
He stood. He had to know.
He followed the mind-noise to where the disturbance was, just a short walk from where he had been lounging. The other cat, a queen from the sound of it, was out of view, arguing frantically from behind Munkustrap. The voice, too, seemed familiar to him, though he couldn't place it. This was strange enough for Coricopat; he had never forgotten a voice or the taste of a mind. Not once in his life. He could still recall names and voices from his early kittenhood, could bring up memories from before he could walk.
And yet he could not place this name.
Finally, Munkustrap shifted slightly to one side, and Coricopat's jaw dropped.
It was…him.
Coricopat blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision, certain that his eyes were playing tricks on him. But, no, the queen was still there, looking as identical to him as was possible. She was the same height, the same color, with the same green eyes. Her stripes fell in the same patterns, her face contorted in an anger exactly like his, her eyes narrowed exactly as his did…
"…was just looking for shelter for the night," the queen was saying. "My name is Tantomile. I live on the street, alone, and thought I could spend the night here. There is a storm coming, after all, and I would rather not be out on my own."
Munkustrap looked a little uncomfortable at this. He couldn't just let any cat into the yard, but he couldn't just turn a queen out to the streets either. But there'd been so much trouble with Macavity lately, and he couldn't let her in if she was working for him, so maybe he should just tell her to leave…
Coricopat sighed. Listening to Munkustrap's thoughts was tiring at best. The tom put far too much pressure on himself to do the right thing, though he was still new at his job as Protector.
"You'll need to stay with one of the cats of the Tribe," Munkustrap said, injecting all of his authority into his voice. Tantomile's ear twitched and a slight smirk tugged at her mouth. So, the queen was amused at this?
"Very well," she answered. "And who am I to stay with?"
Ah, another dilemma. On the one hand, Munkustrap knew that he should take on the responsibility, that he couldn't expect any of the other cats to do this for him. On the other hand, he had just recently become mates with Demeter, and wouldn't that be a slap in the face, to have another queen staying in his den with him…
"She can stay with me," Coricopat put in suddenly, and all eyes swung towards him. The queen's widened with surprise, and Munkustrap looked back and forth rapidly.
I can't believe I didn't see that before…she must be related to him in some way, though why she didn't say that at first, I don't know…
"Coricopat, who is this?" the tom asked quietly. "You didn't mention you were having a visitor."
"I've never met her before," Coricopat answered honestly, smiling as Munkustrap's thoughts buzzed with surprise again. "I was walking along and when I saw her, well, I had to come over to see what was happening..." He shrugged, inclining his head slightly. That was true enough. More or less.
"Yet you would be willing to keep an eye on her, watch her to ensure the Tribe's safety?" Munkustrap went on, looking curiously between the pair of them. This would make it easier for him, certainly, and he knew he could trust Coricopat...
"Of course, Munkustrap. I would do anything for the Tribe," Coricopat answered honestly, giving a charming smile. Munkustrap nodded, returning the smile, relief flooding his mind.
"Very well, then. I'll leave you two here. Make sure you report to me at the end of the day, though, Coricopat," the silver-striped tom said, nodding a farewell as he turned to continue his patrol. Coricopat turned to the queen, who had watched this display with a curious, slightly distant expression on her face.
"I apologize for Munkustrap. He is very protective of the Tribe, but he only means well. My name is Coricopat. You are...Tantomile, correct?" he asked. Tantomile smiled and nodded, her expression guarded and thoughts still unknown.
"Yes. And I thank you for your offer, Coricopat. It would not be pleasant to be out in the storm tonight," she said, smiling and stretching her arm out to touch paws with him in greeting. Coricopat responded in kind.
Both cats stiffened instantly, their minds brushing together. Their thoughts flowed in unison, recalling that day long ago, when they had first brushed together.
Who are you…
Not alone.
Thoughts swirled around each other, intertwining effortlessly, as if they had been made to join together. As if they were meant to be one. A quiet, melodious voice rose to answer Coricopat's, the two of them blending in harmony.
Together…always, meant to be. Together.
A/N: Here's the third! This is probably set about three years after the last chapter, but they haven't touched minds again or met since then.
