And because he remembers…he is now Pouncival…
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He remembered everything…he remembered his mother's eyes, her laughter and her scolding, he remembered the fight…he remembered everything.
"Pouncival, my baby," Jennyanydots whispered, staring at her son. Pouncival smiled but didn't move to hug her. He hadn't been hugged since he had left the yard, not properly anyway. Jenny drew him into her arms, holding him tightly, rocking him back and forth.
"Oh, my baby, I missed you so much!" Pouncival slowly wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly, burying his face in her shoulder.
"I missed you too, Mum…though I didn't know it, I really missed you!" Pouncival whispered. Skimbleshanks walked up, tears glistening in his dark brown eyes. Pouncival grinned at him over his mum's shoulder.
"Hi, Dad," Pouncival smiled, holding out his paw. Skimble took it, smiling largely.
"It's good to have you back," Skimble choked. Pouncival smiled.
Over the next couple of weeks, Pouncival began to remember everything and began to fit back into his Jellicle life, though it was difficult.
"Wake up, brother!" Pouncival gave a groan as Tumblebrutus pounced on his back.
"Come on, come on, come on!" Tumble laughed. "We're going to play ball with the others!"
Pouncival looked up, looking at him.
"Ball?"
"Yeah, you know…" Tumble's face fell as he stared into Pouncival's confused face.
"Oh," Tumble murmured. "I forgot you didn't…you didn't grow up like us," Pouncival lowered his head, his ears drooping.
Now he had been with the Jellicles, he knew how…unlucky he had been, that the bringing up he had had wasn't right.
"I-I might come out later," Pouncival murmured. "I-I don't feel comfortable right now," Tumble nodded and left the den. Pouncival slowly edged out a little while later, and walked over to Coricopat, who was dozing on the tyre. Cori opened an eye and smiled.
"Hey, Pounce," Pouncival sat beside Cori, looking around the yard. Munkustrap was talking to the Queen kits, his eyes landed on Pounce before he murmured something to the Queen kits. The four Queen kits walked over to Pouncival, smiling at him. Pouncival glanced at Cori, who just yawned and rolled over.
"Hi, Pounce!" Electra grinned, sitting beside him. Cori glanced over and saw Etcetera looking at him. Cori slowly shifted away from the hyper-active Queen.
He didn't get far.
Etcetera sat on his back, grinning at him.
"Hello, Etcetera," Cori groaned. Etcetera grinned at Cori, running her paw over his short and well groomed head-fur.
"Heya, Cori!" Etcetera squealed. "Hey, Pouncy!"
"Hi," Pounce murmured, looking at Cori's face. Cori looked uncomfortable as anything.
"Hi, Pouncival…I'm Jemima," Pouncival looked at the small black, red and gold Queen and gave a smile as she smiled warmly at him.
"Hi," Pouncival smiled back before shivering, the fur on the back of his neck prickling uncomfortably.
He felt like he was being watched.
Pouncival looked to Cori, who stared back at him, his dark gold eyes showing the worry. Cori slowly heaved himself up, Etcetera giving a chirpy laugh as she slid off Cori's back. Cori looked around, his dark gold orbs piercing the junkyard, searching. Pouncival just lifted his head up as he heard a dark laugh as the Jellicles screamed and Munkustrap ran over to the cowering Queen-kits. Cori suddenly turned his head, growling under his breath.
Macavity had appeared in the yard.
Munkustrap was snarling, the sound guttural and ferocious. Macavity just smirked, looking at Pouncival as he sat on the tyre, staring back. Macavity turned his silver eyes onto Munkustrap.
"Have you grown tired of him yet?" Macavity smirked. "Can I have him back now?" Munkustrap returned the smirk and Macavity's eyes darkened.
How dare Munkustrap look so damn pleased with himself!
"He's never going back with you…because Pouncival," Munkustrap emphasized his name. "Is back with us!" Macavity's eyes darkened even more as they flickered back to look at Pouncival.
Pouncival lowered his head.
Why did he feel so ashamed?
"Why are you so willing to let him back into your tribe, into your family?" Macavity asked slowly. Munkustrap paused.
"You do know what he did for me, when he was my loyal follower….when he was my son, my heir?" Macavity looked at Pouncival, who lifted his head, and stared into Macavity's eyes.
"He murdered cats with his own claws, I watched him as he did it," Macavity said. Cori glanced at Pouncival, who put his paws under his arms, hiding his claws, but he still continued to stare at Macavity.
"Now, you don't want a murderer in your midst, do you?"
"You made my son do that!" Macavity turned his head slightly, looking at Skimbleshanks as the fuming Tom marched over to stand beside Munkustrap.
"Ah…Skimbleshanks," Macavity smirked. "How do you feel knowing that I raised your son in my image?" Skimble's fur was bristling, his face dark with hatred.
"How do you feel knowing he was my best hench-cat, my loyal follower?"
"Don't you dare talk about my son that way!" Munkustrap grabbed Skimble's arm, pulling him back.
"Give Carbucketty back to me," Macavity said simply. "Give him to me, so you don't ruin your perfect," Macavity spat that out, "Jellicle reputation,"
"He's staying here with us…with his family!" Munkustrap growled. Macavity shrugged.
"You leave me no choice, baby brother," Macavity snarled. Munkustrap didn't even have time to blink before Macavity was on top of him. Munkustrap quickly kicked Macavity off, leaping to his feet as Alonzo tackled Macavity down. Pouncival watched, wide eyed.
"It's alright, Pounce," Cori murmured in Pouncival's ear as they continued to watch the fight. Plato joined in on the fight, Admetus hovering around the side-lines. Plato was quickly thrown out of the fight and he collided with Admetus, making them both fall to the floor. Alonzo was kicked out next; he went flying forward and took out Tugger and Misto. Macavity was half-crouched, Munkustrap on his knees in front of him, his back to Macavity as Macavity twisted Munkustrap's arm cruelly behind his back. Cori was snarling under his breath. Macavity grinned as he twisted Munkustrap's arm further, causing him to cry out.
"Remember how easily it snapped last time, Munkus?" Macavity hissed in Munkustrap's ear. Munkustrap closed his eyes and shuddered. Cori silently slipped off the tyre, landing on the ground in a crouch, his dark gold eyes focused firmly on Macavity.
There was a loud snap as Macavity twisted Munkustrap's arm, hard. Munkustrap cried out hoarsely in pain but Macavity kept twisting Munkustrap's broken arm. Macavity didn't even realize Cori was there until Cori tackled him away from Munkustrap. Munkustrap fell onto his chest on the ground, his eyes half-closed and unaware, showing how close he was to unconsciousness. Cori was kicked back but he landed in a crouch, glaring at Macavity.
"Well, well, Coricopat," Macavity hissed. Cori gave an emotionless smile.
"You know, I still haven't forgotten that it was your idea to crush twelve of my hench-cats under a junk pile," Pouncival watched as a large grin suddenly broke out across Cori's face.
"One of my proudest moments for sure," Cori laughed, grinning as he watched Macavity get more enraged. Macavity gave a sudden smirk.
"Well…as much as this has been fun…I'm going to have to give you a rain-check on getting my revenge on you," Cori just yawned in response. Macavity glared at Cori before he disappeared.
Pouncival watched as Cori slowly rose up to standing height, looking calm once more as he turned around, walking over to Munkustrap's side. Munkustrap's left arm was at a weird angle.
"Jenny!" Cori called out, looking over to find the Gumbie cat kneeling beside Misto, who was blinking sluggishly, blood trickling from a wound behind his ear. Jenny said something to Misto, who nodded and Jenny got to her feet, bustling over to Munkustrap and Cori.
"Macavity broke his arm again," Cori said quietly, looking up at Jenny. Jenny sighed.
"Help me roll him onto his back…and watch his arm!" Jenny warned. Alonzo quickly walked over, helping Cori, Jenny and Alonzo roll Munkustrap over, watching his arm. Jenny started looking over Munkustrap as Munkustrap's eyes flickered open, landing on her. He was trembling slightly. Cori looked back over to the tyre, seeing Pouncival sitting there, staring at the spot Macavity had been standing in. The Queen-kits were blabbering fearfully, but Pouncival didn't seem to hear them as he continued to stare.
"Hey, kitten," Pouncival snapped out of his daze, looking around wildly. The clearing was almost deserted, Munkustrap had been moved. Pouncival looked around, his eyes landing on Bombalurina, her amber eyes staring at him intently.
"You alright, kitten?" She asked him, her voice smooth and sultry. Pouncival gave a small nod, feeling slightly...overwhelmed.
"H-How often does Macavity come here?" Pouncival asked, his voice wavering.
"He's actually upped it," Bombalurina said, looking around. "When…when you were gone, he only came around one or twice, to terrorize Munkus and Deme…but now you're back…" Bombalurina trailed off as she looked back at him. Pouncival was shaking slightly.
"Hey, I think Addie and Plato want you to go play ball with them and Tumbles," Bombalurina said softly, nudging him with her arm. Pouncival looked up and saw the three young Toms standing at the corner of the clearing, grinning at them, Plato had the ball under his arm.
"If you ever want to talk, kitten, come find me," Bombalurina told him gently, kissing his head. Pouncival nodded, giving a shaky smile.
"Thank you, Bomba," He murmured before going off to join the others.
"You Pollicle you!" Admetus laughed, clapping Pouncival's shoulder as they walked off.
"Huh?" Pouncival asked, confused.
"He's jealous because Bombalurina kissed you and actually paid attention to you," Plato said, his voice even as always. Tumblebrutus laughed and Pouncival looked at him. They reached the small clearing they played in and Pouncival immediately began walking on his front paws, his legs in the air, though he was unsure why he just got the urge to do that. Plato, Admetus and Tumbles looked at him, impressed. Tumble laughed and pulled off the same trick, walking on his paws beside Pounce. Pounce turned his head and grinned slightly. They played around for a bit before something happened…Pounce was running along with the ball when he was grabbed from behind, being swung around. Pouncival's eyes widened with fear.
It was what happened back at the lair, when the hench-cats grabbed him when he was walking…so they could beat him senseless.
Pouncival dropped the ball and swung around, claws out. His claws connected with flesh, ripping it open. Tumblebrutus gave a cry of pain, letting Pouncival go and falling to his knees, staring shocked at the wounds on his chest.
"Pouncival, what the hell did you do?" Plato snarled, turning on him. Pouncival looked at Admetus, who looked shocked as he looked at the wounds on Tumblebrutus's chest, before looking to Plato, who looked furious, before looking to Tumble…who was staring at Pouncival, disbelief and hurt in his blue-green eyes. Pouncival stared for a moment longer before taking off.
He ran through the junkyard, his heart pounding in his chest.
What had he done?
He had to get away, he had to…he was going back to Macavity, they wouldn't keep him here any longer.
"Hey, Pounce, stop!" Pouncival was caught around the middle and forced to stop. He looked at Munkustrap, who was panting.
"Pounce, what happened?" Munkustrap asked, letting go of Pouncival. Pouncival stared at Munkustrap's left arm, which was wrapped tightly in a bandage.
"I-I attacked Tumblebrutus," Pouncival mumbled. Munkustrap knelt in front of Pouncival, pulling him down to his level.
"What happened?" Munkustrap asked softly, his blue eyes pitying.
"H-He grabbed me from behind," Pouncival whispered, not looking Munkustrap in the eyes. "I-I thought it was the hench-cats, they always did that to me before they beat me senseless," Munkustrap winced.
"Pouncival!"
"Over here, Jenny!" Munkustrap called before grabbing Pouncival's paw with his unhurt arm as Pouncival tried to leave.
"Don't go," Munkustrap told him.
"B-But I hurt him!"
"It was an accident, Pounce, you were scared," Munkustrap told him firmly. Jenny appeared and crouched beside Pouncival as well, pulling him down into her arms. Pouncival shuddered, scared.
"He's okay, Pounce," Jenny told him softly. She could see Pouncival biting his lip, his eyes clenched close. She sat down on the ground and pulled Pounce into her lap, holding him tightly.
"He doesn't blame you, he said it was his fault, he shouldn't have grabbed you from behind," Jenny told him softly. Pouncival bit his lip harder.
"You can cry, sweetie," Jenny told him. Pouncival shook his head, a ragged breath escaping his control.
"Only weaklings cry," Munkustrap winced, remembering that Macavity had told him the exact same thing when they were kittens…when Macavity was beating him.
"No, sweetie," Jenny told Pouncival softly, rubbing his back. "Those who cry, cry because they've been strong for too long," Jenny watched as Pouncival's green eyes met her eyes before he broke down, sobbing loudly. She hugged him tightly and he buried his face into her neck. Munkustrap shifted closer, stroking the back of Pouncival's head as he sobbed loudly and brokenly against Jenny.
Macavity glared down at the scene from where he was perched on a junk pile. He watched as Pouncival sobbed against Jenny.
Damn Jellicles, they had destroyed everything he had built…they had destroyed the cat he had made Pouncival into.
And they were going to pay.
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Yay…though I bet I'm not going to get more than two reviews for this chapter :(
And I have another angsty Munkustrap fic planned…it's like Obsessions, it's just not Obsessions, I guess!
Thanks to Jenna the writer and Magical. Misses. Mistoffelees for reviewing!
Please read and review!
Luv HGP!
