Fight to the Finish
I woke up. Cassandra was snuggled in my bed. I went to go on my regular rounds. Everything was fine. Cassandra brushed by me, sending a small smile to my face. She walked over to Exotica and Jellyorum and her small group of friends. They began to talk about random things. I went over to the kittens. All of them seemed happy, except for one. Victoria sat it the corner, looking off to the side. She was all alone. It broke my heart to see my daughter like this. I walked over to her.
"Whats wrong?" I said, sitting next to her. She looked up.
"I don't know who I should mate with, Munkustrap. Plato likes me alot but I don't like him. I like another tom. I just wish I had a mom I could talk to about this stuff," she sighed. I all of a sudden thought of Cassandra. She could help Victoria.
"I know someone who can help you," I smiled at her. She perked up.
"Really?" she purred.
"Yes. Cassandra, could you come here?" I smiled at the beautiful chocolate queen. She looked up and sauntered over to me. Victoria's face fell to the ground.
"Her?! Are you crazy?" she said shocked. I nodded. Cassandra's expression fell. I glanced at Victoria, disappointed in her for making a bad judgment.
"Give her a chance, Victoria. Cassandra is a great and wise queen. She could really help you," I said.
"Fine," she mumbled under her breath.
"Yes, Munkustrap?" she said, clearly trying to hide her hurt.
"Victoria is having some tom issues. Maybe you could help her," I said. Her face brightened up.
"Really? I'd love to help you! I remember what it was like when I was your age. Ah... Good times," she purred. Victoria gave me a pleading look and rolled her eyes. I gave her a look.
"Okay," she hissed and went to Cassandra's den. Before Cassie followed her, I caught her by the arm.
"Everything will be okay," I purred in her ear.
"What if it's not, Munkii? She clearly doesn't like me," she said almost in tears. I hugged her for a bit then let go, realizing we where in public.
"She loves you," I started then whispered,"Just as much as I do." She smiled then wipes her tears.
"It just hurts to know that your own daughter- the one you gave life to- rejects you," she looked down as she walked away. I just hoped everything would turn out right. As I walked back to my den, Bustopher Jones stopped me.
"A full moon is coming, Munkustrap. The queens will be in heat soon," he said quietly. I nodded a thank you and went off to my den.
Cassandra POV
The time I had spent with Victoria was amazing. She giggled at all of my stories. I finally felt accepted. I came extremely close to telling her that I was her mother. Luckily, I didn't. I was so overjoyed. I ran to Munkustrap's den.
"Munkustrap! She accepted me! And we bonded!" I smiled. He picked me up and twirled me around.
"I knew she would," he purred. I was beat from playing and talking to Victoria all day, so I crashed on his bed. Moments later, Munkustrap was right next to me, cradling me in his arms. This was just like old times.
I never wanted this weekend to end. Sadly, Alonzo and Demeter were coming home tommorow. I tried not to think of that. I put that thought out of my mind. Sleep was trying to come, and I wanted it to, but something was making me restless. I laid in bed, contemplating what was keeping me up. I got up out of bed.
I looked outside and went out there to study the stars to clear my mind. I glanced at the moon. It was a full moon. I shivered from the breeze. All of a sudden, a pain ripped thru my body. It siezed my brain. I couldn't think clear. I yelped and fell down into the soft spring grass.
Munkustrap POV
I woke up. Cassandra wasn't there. I looked around. Nope. Then I went outside. She was there, studying the moon. I heard her cry softly and fall to the ground. I looked up. It was a full moon. I rushed over to her but froze when I picked up the musky air radiating from her. She was in heat.
"Cassie, are you okay?" I rushed over to her. She whimpered. I picked her up and carried her inside. Tears rolled down her cheek. I could feel her misery. Her scent was drawing me to her like a magnet. There was a connection forming between us now. Soon I wouldn't be able to resist her pleas. I really didn't want to either.
"Please help me, Munki," she cried.
When a female was in heat, there was some pain, but not near as much as there was when it was a queen. Once a female turned into a queen (a female adult cat), she had these kinds if heats. The full moon caused them to go crazy and think about only one thing- the driving force of our survival- mating. Their scents were so appetizing to a male, that we couldn't resist. There was two ways to get over a female in heat. Wait it out for two weeks and deal with the excrusiating pain, or mate.
My instinct told me to mate, and my heart was saying the same.
'But what if she has my kittens? Again?!' I thought about it, but that thought was clouding out. My instincts where taking over. I climbed on top of her and pulled her close to my body wrapping my arms around her, letting our scents mix. I sighed, at a crossroads.
"Please, Munkustrap," she cried. I looked into her eyes that sparkled. She was too appetizing. How could I resist? Her scent clouded my thoughts more. It radiated more from her flanks. I sighed, making my choice.
"Just make me a promise, Cassandra," I said softly in her ear. She nodded.
"Be my queen forever," I said. She looked curiosly at me, then smiled.
"Of course," she purred. I nuzzled her shoulders.
"I'm already yours, love," she smiled.
"Okay.." I said, taking a breath...
After we had finished and Cassandra was sleeping, I closed my eyes. Images of after the Jellicle Ball pulsed through my mind...
Flashback...
I was miserable. Cassandra wasn't at her and Alonzo's den after the ball. I searched for her, wanting to proclaim our love for each other to her and the world. I finally gave up on us- or the idea of us ever being together. It hurt like a stab in the heart. A few weeks later, a pure white bundle showed up at my doorstep. For some strange reason, she reminded me of Cassandra. There was a note attached to her:
Please take care of Victoria. I cannot and know she needs a good home. Please.
-Unknown Desperate Queen
From then on, I took care of the young queen. I was her guardian and protector. I promised her we'd find her parents soon. Sadly, we never did.
Little did I know I was the father and the very reason of my existence was the mother.
I rolled over, processing the events that had just taken place. I couldn't believe it.
"I just made love to Cassandra. Again," I chuckled and snuggled into my beautiful chocolate queen who laid beside me.
I woke up in the morning to a sleeping Cassandra- the queen I had given my all to the night before. Again. And my new soon-to-be-mate. Well technically, she was already my mate since, you know... So a better term would be- ah... I have to think on that one. Anyway, she sighed and rolled over. I thought to myself.
"Alonzo and Demeter are coming home!" I exclaimed. I shook Cassandra. Her beautiful eyes fluttered open.
"Hey Munki," she purred. I smiled at the perfect queen.
"Alonzo and Demeter are coming home," I reminded her. Her eyes widened.
"Oh shoot!" she hopped up. I stopped her.
"In an hour," I said, calming her down. She sighed.
"Munkustrap- I love you and want to be your queen the right way but we need to break things off with Demeter and Alonzo," Cassandra sighed. I nodded and nuzzled her. "Without anyone suspecting that you and I.." she added.
"And I have just the plan," I smiled and told her it. It was perfect. She smiled and kissed my cheek when we got to her home.
"Lets do this, love," she smiled and walked in her den. I walked home. I missed her already. You couldn't be too far away once you had truthfully fallen in love with a cat. You two were one now. My father told me and Tugger of this after our mother left us.
Yet Another Flashback...
"Grizabella," he would cry her name as he watched the other couples. She was the love of his life. I asked him why he still cried my mother's name. He would sigh and tell me this. "Once you have fallen in love with your soulmate, once you leave her or remotely be away from her, your heart goes with her," he would say. Then after I'd leave, I'd hear him pray to the Heaviside to bring her back. It made me sad to see him like that.
I now knew how he had felt. Just being this far away ( which wasn't very far) hurt. Pain filled me, reminding me of Cassandra. The pain reminded me of the old times when she and I were apart and the longing I had to be with her. I just hoped Cassandra was doing okay... The deep part of me worried.
"What if it doesn't work?" I said aloud. I shook that terrifying thought away. I had to believe it would work out. I just had to.
Cassandra POV
Pain and emptiness filled my body. I sighed and waited for Alonzo. He ran in the door and lifted me up in the air. I faked a smile. We talked some and went to sleep. I hoped everything would go smoothly.
Munkustrap POV
I went to sleep. Actually, I faked a sleep. I am just good like that. I heard footsteps. Demeter shifted out of bed. I heard her kiss someone. I popped up. There she was... With Alonzo... With him on top of her... You get the point..
"Demeter?" I said, fake surprised. Her and Alonzo's face filled with horror.
"Nononono, you're just dreaming, Munk," she pleaded.
"No I'm not! And you are a dirty cheater! I can't believe this! And Alonzo- I think Cassandra would like to know-" I rushed off to Cassandra's den. As I ran, I thought of the irony of me calling Demeter and Alonzo dirty cheaters. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Demeter cried and Alonzo looked at me in horror. They followed. When I got there, Cassandra was up, waiting on me. I told her. She cried and screamed at Alonzo.
"The mating dance is off! I don't want to live with you anymore," she screamed and rushed around, picking up all of her stuff. She ran outside, crying.
"Just stay with him Demeter. I don't want anything to do with you anymore," I said, following Cassandra out. I held her to my chest. Alonzo and Demeter crawled back out.
"Well where will you live Cassandra?" Alonzo taunted.
"With me," I hissed at him. "I'll protect and take care of her,unlike someone," I spat at the two. Demeter broke down crying.
"Please Munkustrap- I love you! Don't leave me! I need you!" she cried my name.
"Well I don't love or need you, Demeter! I loved you and you cheat on me?! So I am moving on and leaving you. Goodbye forever," I hissed at her. She kissed Alonzo.
"Well you know what? Come to me and Alonzo's wedding in a week. Wait- you're not invited!" she hissed. I rolled my eyes. I looked at them with hatred. Demeter has some serious bipolar issues, I thought to myself.
"Like I'd attend that," I hissed. I looked at Cassandra. Her moonlit eyes sparkled.
"Lets go," I said softly, picking up her things. She smiled.
"Okay," she said walking to my- now our den.
"You can have her," Alonzo said. I looked behind me.
"I think I will," I smirked. When I reached our den, Cassandra was lying on our bed. She ran up to me and I caught her and twirled her in my arms.
"You're finally mine," I said, kissing her lips. She smiled and kissed me back.
"Come on, Munkustrap- we have to rest up for the big night tommorrow," she skipped off to the bed. I followed her.
"And what would make it so big, love?" I purred.
"I think you know," she winked.
I sighed and slept with happiness knowing that everything would be official tommorrow night at the Jellicle Ball where everyone would see how much I loved her.
At the most sacred dance of all.
The Mating Dance
