I'm really happy right now! I just got my first Review on this Story!
Cats doesn't belong to me.
R&R please.
A week later Munkustrap made his morning rounds around the junkyard, feeling at peace. Old Kyle had gone to the Heaviside Lair after the ball. He listened to chirping birds in the trees, when Alonzo raced up to him, his eyes wide. "Lonzo? What is it?", asked the tabby. He was immediately alerted by the look in his friend's eyes, but knew he had to remain calm or the spotted tom would start to panic.
"It's Demeter! No one has an idea what's going on with her. First she hissed at the kittens, then suddenly panicked and now she's curled up in your den, crying her eyes out!", panted the other.
Munkustrap's eyes widened at the mentioning of his mate and he shot off immediately. Alonzo raced after him, not that Munkustrap cared right now. Demeter worried him far more right now. What could possibly be wrong with his beautiful mate? He burst into the junkyard and raced through many worried looking cats to his den. Ducking he dodged a pipe and skidded to a stop in his den, to gasp.
There she was.
The black and golden queen was curled up into a tight ball in one corner of the den. Her shoulders shook with sobs. Slowly Munkustrap walked up to her and put his paw on her shoulder. She cried out and pleaded: "Don't hurt me!"
Munkustrap jerked back with wide eyes. What was going on? "Dem?", asked the tabby softly. She froze, but her ears perked up. "Dem it's me, Munkus, what's wrong?" He still didn't dare to get closer to the obviously distressed queen. Slowly, oh so slowly, Demeter turned her head and looked up at him. Her amber eyes burned with fear, sorrow and shame. "Dem?", asked Munkustrap and pressed himself flat to the ground so he wasn't towering over her. She just stared at him, before slowly moving forward.
The tabby held still, not daring to risk anything. Finally she lay directly in front of him, checking his fur, face and everything else carefully, as if to make sure it was really him. "Say something", whispered the queen.
The Protector tilted his head confused, but mewed: "Dem what's going on?" And she relaxed. Only now Munkustrap dared moving forward. He crawled towards her and pressed himself against her flank. His mate was in panic and he had no idea why or what he could do to help her. "Dem, please tell me what's wrong." Demeter broke out in shivers, that soon turned into sobs. "Love?"
The next second he found himself on his back, Demeter atop him, her head buried in his shoulder to cry. Confused, but more than ready to give her the comfort she needed, he wrapped his arms around her and held her while she cried. Munkustrap had no idea how long he was comforting his desperate mate, but finally she calmed down enough for him to sit up and just hold her close.
"Now, tell me", whispered Munkustrap softly. Demeter shivered, but grabbed his right arm and led it to her stomach. "Dem?"
Demeter ignored him and burshed his hand over her stomach, till he brushed over a bump. Shock made Munkustrap freeze up and Demeter whined: "If this-this i-i-is what…what I think…it is…it's his. Why…why Munkus. Why me after-after I just…managed to…get over it. Please. I'm sorry. You're angry now, I know. But I never knew…I mean I didn't…DON'T HATE ME!"
Munkustrap didn't wince when she screamed, neither when he heard the gasps from outside at the scream. He just continued to stare down at the hand that rested on her not so flat stomach. Finally he took a deep breath and got up, carrying her in his arms. "Munkus?", whispered Demeter. "We'll see Jenny now", answered the tabby simply and left the den.
Demeter whimpered, but didn't argue back. When they stepped out half of the population of the junkyard stumbled away from the entrance and Munkustrap raised an eyebrow. "Don't you all have something better to do than eavesdropping?" And the crowd scattered like thoughts were as scattered. He had no idea what he would do if Demeter was really expecting kittens, and how he would react when there was a confirmation they were Macavity's. His mouth in a firm line, he strode across the clearing to Jenny's den.
"Munkus please talk to me", pleaded Demeter right before they entered Jenny's den. The Gumbie cat looked up with a raised eyebrow and without so much as a greeting Munkus stated: "I want you to check Demeter for pregnancy Jenny."
Jenny's jaw dropped at his question, but she gestured to a couch. Munkustrap nodded and sat Demeter down there. She looked up at him wide-eyed, but he looked away. He still wasn't certain what to say about it. He settled down next to the entrance, looking everywhere but at Demeter and Jenny. After about half an hour Jenny sighed and said: "Well, it appears you're already about three weeks along dear." Demeter gave a sob and Munkustrap finally looked back at her. Her hands were clasped over her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
That proved it, those kittens were Macavity's.
"I'll give you some time", stated Jenny, looking worriedly between the tabby tom and the black and golden queen. She had figured it out by herself. She knew who the one behind the pregnancy was. Once she was gone, Demeter whimpered: "Munkus?" He looked at her, but did nothing else. "W-why don't…you talk to me?"
The silver tabby frowned, then admitted: "I-I don't know what to say."
"So you hate me", whimpered Demeter.
"No", answered Munkustrap immediately. She locked eyes with him, looking confused. "I could never hate you but…I feel so used right now."
"Used?", asked Demeter, before her eyes widened and she cried: "I didn't know before today Munkus. I didn't ask to be your mate because of this!" He just stared up at her, longing to believe her, but he couldn't. Not much time had passed since his ability to love had returned properly and he still couldn't quite place what he felt yet. Demeter, obviously enraged that he believed that, hissed and ran past him.
"DEM!", heard he Bomba cry and he heard confused meows from most members of the tribe, yet couldn't find it in himself to care. He so desperately wanted to believe her. To take her into his arms and give her the comfort she needed, but he couldn't.
With a groan he leaned back and finally, feeling mentally drained, consciousness left him.
Demeter cried out her sadness, fear and the loss in a hollow tree. How could Munkustrap believe she used him? She hadn't known about the pregnancy before today, when Bomba had pointed out that she was getting a little round. Demeter, having remembered what had happened the night before she escaped Macavity had panicked and rushed to Munkustrap's den, praying she wasn't pregnant.
"Demeter? Dear what's wrong?"
Demeter looked up, to find her mother standing over her. "Oh mom", cried the young queen and threw her arms around the older queen's neck. She continued to cry, but finally she managed to stop and Jelly asked again: "And now dear, tell me what happened?" And so Demeter told her. About Macavity, that the kittens were his, that Munkustrap hated her now and thought she'd used him. At the last one rage packed her and she started shouting. It took a while for Jelly to calm her down, then she asked: "Dear…Munkustrap doesn't hate you. He's just scared and inexperienced when it comes to love. Before you two mated at the ball, we all thought we'd never see him take a mate. He never showed being capable of loving someone like he-"
"And that was my fault", cut Demeter her mother off.
"WHAT?"
Demeter whimpered, but said: "The day…I left with Macavity. Well, after he offered me to join him in leaving I went to the forest and…
Flashback
Lightheaded she continued her journey out of the junkyard. He wouldn't be at the forest anymore, but she enjoyed going there all the same. She was about to enter it, when a voice called: "Please tell me you're not going with him!" Demeter spun around, to see Munkustrap standing behind her.
"I am", answered the queen kitten back.
"Why? He's a monster!", argued Munkustrap.
"He's no monster!", growled Demeter back.
"Isn't he?", questioned Munkustrap bitterly and walked closer to her. His face scrunched up slightly whenever he put weight on his right shoulder. Demeter winced. It would take a few more weeks till he could properly use the leg Macavity hit again. "He did this!" He gestured to his injured shoulder. "And for no reason at all. He just went crazy!"
"He's misunderstood", cried Demeter back. "And I'm going with him."
"Please don't", begged Munkustrap now, his eyes glowing with sadness.
"Well, I will."
"I won't let you. You have to stay!"
"Why should I stay here?", questioned Demeter sharply.
"Because I'm freakin' in love with you!" Demeter's eyes widened while she stared at Munkustrap. The silver tabby himself was wide-eyed, his expression one of horror. Demeter was about to say something, when he staggered back, tears daring to spill over. He looked at her sadly. "Go", spat he. "It's not like anyone would miss you!"
And with that he spun around and raced back to the junkyard.
End of Flashback
…He wailed that evening the exact moment Mac and I disappeared from his view mom. It's all my fault. Him changing, breaking his heart, stealing his kittenhood…it's all my fault", sobbed Demeter. Her mother remained silent and the young queen looked up. Jelly stared up at the moon, frowning in deep thought. Finally though she got up and pulled Demeter with her. "Where are we going?"
"Back to the Junkyard", answered Jelly. "You and Munkustrap have a lot to talk about." Demeter was about to argue, when her mother cut her off. "Just let your heart speak dear. And let him talk everything of his chest too. You're both too worried and stressed with useless thoughts. Don't rush out on him when he says something that hurts you and make sure he listens to all you have to say, I'm sure it will turn out right."
Demeter stared at her mother, wondering if it was really that simple. Jelly smiled back at her and answered: "Dear, in love Munkustrap is just as inexperienced as the kittens. He can handle pain very well, but not love and the feelings connected to it."
And they arrived at the Junkyard already. The moment they walked in Tugger stalked up to them and asked: "What exactly did you do to my brother?" "Huh?", asked Demeter. "Right after you two disappeared Jenny went back into her den and found Munkustrap on her floor unconscious", explained Skimble, fingering his watch nervously.
"Inexperienced as a kitten, what did I say", whispered Jelly to her daughter. "Demeter did nothing my friends. They…just had an argument. If you let us through I'm sure it can be put out of the world."
Tugger and Skimble stepped away and Jelly let go of Demeter's hand. The golden and black queen hesitated, fear striking through her, but her mother's warm smile made her relax and she walked on.
She ducked to get into the den, to smile softly. There he was, curled up in their nest of the softest blankets he could find. He looked so calm and serene while sleeping, so…happy. She kneed down next to him and he twitched when he smelled her, yet stayed asleep. Demeter reached out to him slowly and grabbed his shoulder. "Munkus?", asked the queen softly. Her mate stirred slightly and she gently shook his shoulder.
Hazy silver eyes opened slowly and focused on her. Then they widened and he jerked up. Demeter, fearing him attacking, backed off, an image of an enraged ginger tom flashing through her head. Yet no attack came. Munkustrap simply stared at her, scanning her.
"We need to talk", whispered the golden queen.
He frowned, but nodded and answered: "I guess we do."
Demeter took a deep breath and said: "I didn't use you Munkus." He opened his mouth, but Demeter raised her hand and pleaded: "Let me finish." He hesitated, then settled back down. "I didn't use you Munkus. I wanted to become your mate because I love you. It took me far longer to see it than it should have. And I'm so sorry. With my leaving, with me being stupid enough to follow Macavity, I broke not only your heart, but stole your kittenhood and your ability to love properly. I can't hurt you anymore Munkus. I love you too much for that, I hurt you enough as it is. Those kittens…I didn't know about them till today, I swear it to the everlasting cat but…if you…if you can't bear them…bear seeing me carrying Macavity's kittens I can-"
"No." His soft voice cut her off with one simple word. She looked at him, but couldn't identify the feelings that swam in his silver eyes. He crawled forward and took her hands, which sent pleasant shudders down her smile. "Demeter no, I don't want you to abort these kittens. I'm sorry I acted the way I did, I really am, it's just…as you said. I never loved anyone but you, I don't know what to do when you are in love, how to act when certain things happened. I hurt so much over the years, getting aggressive or closing myself off were the ways I learned to handle pain and…suddenly knowing that you carried my brother's kittens all along…forgive me. I just…I really don't know why I believed you used me." Demeter started an answer, when he silenced her with a peck on the lips. He smiled and continued: "Now you listen love. Those kittens may be Mac's by blood, but they're also yours. And if you will let me, I will be their father. Someday they will know who their blood related father is, but I'm ready to care for them as if they were my own."
Demeter stared at him wide-eyed, then smiled brightly and, ripping her hands from his, she flung her arms around his shoulder, pulling him into a bone-crushing hug. He hugged her back, purring contently. After a while they pulled apart and Munkus placed a soft kiss on her lips. Demeter, feeling her mood changing from elation to something else, licked over his lips, begging for entrance.
He granted it and their tongues started to fight. After a while they pulled apart, gasping for air.
Demeter smiled deviously and scratched his scruff with her claws. Munkus groaned loudly and whispered: "Dem…love…I don't think that's a good…idea." Demeter ignored him and ran her claws down his back and dug them into his tail, tearing a growl from his throat. "Dem", begged the tabby. "Stop…please. If you continue-" A snarl from his own throat cut him off when Demeter started to gently bit his neck while continuing to scratch his scruff and tail. "D-d-dem…p-p-please stop. You-"
And then he lost himself and Demeter got what she wanted.
next Morning
When Demeter awoke, she saw nothing but white, black and silver and blinked confused, until she realised that she lay curled up against Munkus, who was still fast asleep. She smiled and buried her face against his chest once more, inhaling his unique scent. Ashes and frost. How exactly that was possible, she didn't know and also didn't care very much.
She relished in his warmth for a while longer, then he stirred and opened his eyes and shook his head, fluffing the unruly fur on his head even more. Demeter bit back a devious smile when she remembered the last night. "Love, you'll be the death of me", whispered the silver tabby with a chuckle.
"Love you too", answered Demeter, purring loudly. He purred as well, before opening his arms and sitting up. He glanced out of the den and relaxed. Demeter rolled her eyes. Always still the Protector. The sun hadn't even risen yet. Nonetheless he got up and started grooming his fur. Demeter watched him a while, then got an idea and got up too. She tackled him back into the blankets.
Silver eyes stared into her amber ones in confusion, but before he could ask she bent down and started grooming his fur. The exact moment she started, he relaxed. Demeter glanced up when she felt and heard a loud purr rumbling in his chest and found his eyes closed, a content expression on his face. That made her smile, though she didn't stop in the grooming. Apparently she could still do things for him too. After quite a while she was done and smiled brightly. His fur was smooth again, not one hair out of place.
How exactly he fluffed up his fur in certain places to make it look as gorgeous as it did she didn't know.
She got off of him, just have his arms wrap around her.
"Munkus?"
"You're turn", muttered her mate before he started grooming her fur. Demeter purred and closed her eyes. Now she understood why he had reacted like he did. Having your mate groom your fur felt like heaven. Once he was done as well, Demeter heard him getting up once again and looked at him, to find him running his claws through his fur in what seemed like a pattern, fluffing it up in the right places. Once he saw her watching he chuckled: "I guess some of the things Tugger forced me to join him in got to me after all."
"I don't mind. I love this look", answered Demeter.
He smiled at her and pecked her lips once more. "I'll just do my patrol and be back, alright?" Demeter sighed, but gave a nod and with a smile he disappeared outside.
