Eeeeek! Ok, I loooooove the ending to this one so I HAD to get it up here a day early xD
HumanGuineapig: Lol, 'Misto got raped... But I feel REALLY bad for Munkus :(' xD That's why I like you xP
Misses Jellicle: I can think of a few choice words besides 'Butt' that could describe him... But afterall, this IS a family site xD
Okk, there's this really awesome review that didn't work but I got it in a PM. I love it:
Iamtwilight: "you are evil. im not een being a little funny with this, i would say i hate you right now but its a bit strong. i dislike you...alot. how could you do that to Misto. i nearlly come to tears when you revealed he was being shaved. i cant beleive it. its just not right. and what are you doing to bboth vicky and him, you are tramatizing them. right now i feel justified to say it. I HATE YOU SOOOO MUCH RIGHT NOW...but, plz update soon. i wanna see it hopefully (but with you i doubt it) get better
lots of hate from your out of her god damn minmd to still be reading this avid reader," -Lol, at first, I thought you were seriously flaming me but then- yeah xD I hope I kinda made it up to you in this chapter. You're not out of your mind, you're just... a couple fries short of a happy meal so to say xD
Warm golden hues surrounded him as he dozed lightly, peace and happiness was the only emotion he could describe. He smiled at the sound of giggling kittens in the background, the area was lively with good humour and busy Jellicles.
"Munk!" He opened his eyes at the feel of small paws land on his chest, luckily the kitten wasn't very heavy. He opened his eyes to see a cheerful white face peer back, head cocked to the side in interest.
"Hey, Quaxo," Munkustrap smiled warmly, to which he received an equally joyful grin. He reached up to ruffle the kit's fur softly.
"Can you tell me a story?" the small voice pleaded. Munkustrap smiled; no one loved his stories more than Quaxo. He lifted his head to meet the tux's who was now lounging on his chest, he looked over the small kitten.
"You're dirty," he pointed out with a small grimace. Quaxo's smile faltered a bit as he put two and two together... Munkustrap would make him take a bath before he got his story. He shook his head no.
"I'm not dirty! I took a bath last night!" he explained. Munkustrap knew very well when he last had his bath; he was the one who bathed him.
"Yes, but rolling around in dirt discounts the whole 'just had a bath' claim. No bath, no story," Munkustrap knew he had the kitten pinned either way. Quaxo didn't mind having baths, in fact he often insisted that his coat just wasn't clean enough. Munkustrap was working on teaching the kit how to clean himself, of course Quaxo could never attain the effect he desired... thanks a lot, Tugger. It sometimes seemed that Tugger was fixed on making his job harder, as if it wasn't a challenge enough already.
Before Quaxo could answer; Munkustrap rolled over on his side, grabbed the tiny kitten, and started cleaning the grime off his dark coat.
"Muuunk! Stooop, everyone's watching!" Quaxo whined as he struggled to break loose of his hold, laughing when Munkustrap purposely stuck his paw on his face to keep him in place.
"Oh, no one cares. They've all had to be cleaned before," Munkustrap reasoned between licks.
"Even Rumpus Cat?... Even you?" Quaxo gasped at the thought of the great Rumpus Cat and the great Protector having to be cleaned by their parents. Giggling at the thought of Munkustrap being cleaned by Old Deuteronomy and the Rumpus Cat being cleaned by an older, queen version of himself. The only response was a deep 'mhmmm' from the older cat as he cleaned the tux's chest.
A light breeze passed over the two as Munkustrap continued his procedure, how quickly the temperature changed amazed him when he felt the small form in his arms shiver. Munkustrap frowned when the younger tom started to whimper sadly.
He opened his eyes to see Quaxo's bloodied form laying in his arms, crying softly. Munkustrap noticed that the golden warmth of the sun had been replaced by the cold, heartless stare of the quarter-moon.
"Munk," the tux cried sorrowfully, his voice and body remaining a very young kitten in his arms. "Tell me a story?" he pleaded weakly
Munkustrap gasped. His eyes flying open, gold and red sunlight pooled into the den from the tiny window to his left. It was just a dream...well... half of it anyways. He went over the sweeter part of his dream, he had told Quaxo a story about a cat named Puss who walked around in boots and wore a cape when he had finished cleaning him. Quaxo loved that story.
He looked over, the small tux was sleeping beside him, snuggled up against his back just as he did when he was a young kitten. Munkustrap looked around the room, Jenny was sleeping in her chair in the corner with an old tattered blanket and her knitting needles. Tugger slept on the other side of the tux, curled up protectively by Quaxo's chest. He looked at the tiny face by his side, he looked horrible; like he had been hit by a truck. The blues and purples on his face and the bandages around his chest quickly brought the tabby back to the present, taking his heart down with his mood and dropping it into his stomach.
He curled up facing the tom, how could he make this better? He just wished that, like dirt, he could just wash off the bruises and pain like he used to. He placed a light paw on his head, ruffling the still kitten soft fur... Quaxo didn't laugh this time: there was nothing. As he removed his paw from the other tom's headfur a residue of dried blood smudge came off with it, had no one cleaned him?
He got up and tiredly dragged himself across the small den; picking up bloodied rags and blankets on his way to dump them in the corner. He made his way over to the small tin tub that Jenny used to keep the clean water she collected. He grabbed a nearby bowl and dunked the plastic container into the crystal pool, catching his reflection in the bottom of the tub. He looked horrible, like he hadn't slept for years, blood caked his front and some mixed with the silver on his face. He sighed to himself before carting the bowl over to the tux.
Tugger woke up to the sound of fabric being torn. He opened his warm, honey eyes to see Munkustrap tearing off a piece of an old sheet. He gave the tabby a small nod when brown eyes interlocked with his.
"Quaxo's all dirty, I'm going to clean him," Munkustrap stated blankly, his voice was vacant and tired. Tugger nodded again. It was apparent to the mained coon that his older brother wasn't exactly in the right frame of mind to be argued with, it almost looked like he was on parent overdrive, a condition he had only seen the tabby in once or twice before.
"I'll help you," he said as he sat up. Munkustrap gave him an odd look before handing him the torn sheet uncertainly.
They both dipped their fabric in the lukewarm water and started to wipe off the residue from Quaxo's fur. Only stopping when the tux stirred, light blue eyes sliding open for a split second before clamping shut against the sunlight that flooded the den.
"Sto-op" he croaked sadly, fear laced his words bitterly. Tears started to leak from behind his closed lids, the two toms put their rags aside; unsure of what to do next.
"We're just cleaning you, Quaxo," Munkustrap reassured. Quaxo murmured something before rolling over onto his side and hugged himself tightly, falling back to sleep within a few seconds. "Can you finish up Tugger? I have to go talk to dad," Munkustrap looked to the coon, he nodded slightly before tearing a new cloth.
Munkustrap took another glance at Jennyanydots who slept soundly in her old wooden chair, one would think that a queen who had a whole internal alarm for sneaky kittens would have woken up by now. He shrugged half-heartedly; it was a long night, she deserved the rest.
He walked to the door of the den and slowly pushed it open. The clearing was sprinkled with cats, some slept nearby while others monitored Jenny's den for any word on the magician. Munkustrap closed the door softly behind him; noticing the snowy queen sleeping up against the wall in Plato's arms. Plato, who had woken up when he heard stirring in the den, took in the tabby's exhausted state with red and slightly swollen eyes, he gave Munkustrap a small nod before resting his head on his queenfriend's and closed his eyes tiredly.
It didn't take the Jellicle protector long to arrive at Deuteronomy's den. He was wondering if he had seen the tux tom last night, no, he thought suddenly, Deuteronomy was at his human's last night. He knocked weakly on the door, hoping that he had decided to come visit the junkyard today; he really didn't want to have to disturb him at his human's home.
Deuteronomy opened the door slowly, one look at his middle child had his heart was dropping beats... something was wrong.
Munkustrap, what-" he was cut off when the younger tom wrapped his arms around his loose, furry form. He hesitantly pulled his child close to him, his concern was growing by the second, what is it that has Munkustrap in such a wreck?
"Oh, Dad!" he groaned miserably into his chest, Deuteronomy buried his head in the silver and black striped headfur, he hadn't been in such a situation with the tabby since he was a kitten.
"What is it my son?" Deuteronomy murmured patiently.
"Quaxo!" Munkustrap sobbed. "Macavity raped Quaxo!" He broke down once he spat those hideous words, saying them made it all the more real now, he didn't realize how much pain was hidden along with the truth. Is this what being a parent felt like? He felt more like a kitten at the moment more than anything.
"Come, let's sit down," Deuteronomy shakily led him into the collapsed shed that made up his den. Could it be true?
Oo oO
O
Oo oO
Tugger stared up at the ceiling in thought, who could do such a thing to such an innocent kitten? Of all the things he's done! His own son! The voice in his head grew louder as his anger boiled in his chest.
"Tug?" his mind snapped back to the present, someone said his name? He sat up and looked around the single room den, Jenny's chair was vacant but the queen was nowhere to be seen. He finally looked to the only other cat in the room. Quaxo's electric blue eyes stared up at him from his spot on the floor, they seemed careful, as if at any moment Tugger was going to turn on him as well. This actually hurt the leopard spotted tom, his own best friend didn't trust him now.
"Hey, Quax," he smiled brightly as he leaned down to meet his level. "How are you feeling?" 'How are you feeling?' This kid just got the greatest shock of his life and that's all you have to say? Bast, Tugger!
The small tom looked at him for a long time, Tugger didn't think the kit was going to answer him until he took in a shaky breath to speak.
"Where's Munkustrap?" he asked softly. Tugger's face fell, he felt a bit tossed to the side but he didn't really hold the tux at fault for it.
"He's gone to talk to Old Deuteronomy. He should be back soon," Quaxo's disappointed look went straight to the coon's heart. What the kitten needed right now was his father... His real father. "Do you want me to go get him?" he asked, trying to keep his expression light for the younger tom's sake. Quaxo shifted uncomfortably, both physically and mentally, why was he talking to Old D?
"Am I going to be banned?" he asked in response. His eyes rested just beside Tugger's head, unwilling to look at him directly.
"Why would you be banned? Quax, this wasn't your fault; none of this was ever your fault. Deuteronomy would never banish you, you're staying right here," He explained quickly. Quaxo simply nodded before taking a long, shaky breath; wincing at the pain all over his body.
"I'm thirsty, may I please have a drink?" Tugger couldn't help but crack a small smile; even at his lowest he was still polite little Quaxo.
"Sure," he nodded before darting across the room. He filled a tiny, green plastic cup full of water from Jenny's tub and rushed it back to him. He gingerly reached under the tux to help him into a semi-sitting position, being wary of his wounds, and brought the cup to his mouth. The kitten drank hungrily until the cup was devoid of the liquid. Tugger retracted the green container and placed it to the side.
Quaxo felt a burning pain all over his body, he shifted his gaze to observe the constriction on his chest. He couldn't contain the pathetic, strangled sob that escaped his raw throat when he caught sight of the bandages that replaced portions of his fur; which, to his dismay, had been shaven off. Tugger watched sadly as his young companion took in the condition of his body that, not 24 hours ago, had been in immaculate condition. Quaxo looked at him desperately in his torment, looking for the coon to say something, to do something, to make him feel the least bit better.
Tugger understood this look the moment his eyes met the dried wells of the grieving tux, he needed to do something- anything- to help his friend out. He gently set Quaxo down, got up, and walked over to Jenny's corner of the den. Quaxo observed him cautiously as he disappeared behind a thick sheet that separated the communal part of the den from her supplies and remedies.
Quaxo gingerly turned onto his side, being sure to keep tabs on Tugger's whereabouts at all time... Why am I worried about Tugger? I still trust him, he's done nothing wrong, never has and never will. He agreed that there was no real danger with Tugger, but he still made sure that he would be able to see him when he re-emerged. He closed his eyes when a lonely fear crept up on him, he felt too much alone right now even though Tugger wasn't even in another room, he felt vulnerable. If he came back...
Tugger emerged from behind the sheet with a new confidence. He walked over to the tux, who still kept his eyes closed in a poor attempt to find the dreamless, thoughtless sleep he'd been in since the night before.
"Now you don't have to be alone," Tugger spoke with confidence and a slight sense of pride. Intrigued by the tone and the sentence altogether, the young tom opened his eyes to find Tugger standing a safe distance in front of him. His eyes grew wide and a wave of happiness and pride filled the gap in his chest; for, standing tall and proud in front of him, was the Rum Tum Tugger sans his glorious mane.
"Tugger..." Quaxo squeaked in shock and admiration. "Y-you didn't have to do this," he stammered in disbelief. A wide and genuine smile crept onto the coon's face.
"No, I had to," Tugger stated matter-of-factly. "My best friend needed me. Besides, it'll grow back," he grinned humbly, sitting in front of the younger tom.
Quaxo chuckled softly, still in shock that the usually self-conscious flirt would commit such a drastic and, well, generous act. He pushed himself up on his elbows and reached out for the leopard spotted cat. Tugger crawled forward to wrap his arms very lightly around the little kit.
"Thank you," Quaxo whispered graciously.
Awwwwww, *chills* I love that! Oh, credit where it's due, Tugger's hair style courtesy of DontBeAZombie ;D
And great news everyone! Pilali's back! *crowd cheers* yaaaaay! Welcome :) Now she can watch as Quaxo slowly loses his mind :| lol, jokes!
Please Review, I have cookies for everyone!