Munkustrap sat still as Tugger cried shamelessly into his chest. Munkustrap had his arm wrapped around Tugger's back and was trying to comfort his heart broken little brother. He couldn't believe Cori would just leave like that, it wasn't like him.
"W-W-Why, Munk?" Tugger sobbed into his shoulder. Munkustrap gently nuzzled Tugger's cheek.
"I don't know, Tugger," Tugger sobbed, ragged sobs.
"H-He was fine two days ago!" Tugger cried. Munkustrap sighed, holding his brother closer. Tugger silent passed Munkustrap the letter that Cori had left him. Munkustrap read it, his eyes narrowed when he came by the 'love always' part, but he said nothing. Munkustrap held his brother once more as Tugger broke down once more.
Cori sat on the window seat, staring out into the bleak Monday afternoon sky. Three weeks he had been here…how he hated it. Cori stood up; walking around the room, well, walking as far as the chain around his ankle would let him. Cori could reach all four corners of the large room, but the chain stopped just short of him leaving the room. Cori walked back to the window seat and sat down, sighing as he leaned against the wall.
He hoped Tugger was okay and that he wasn't too heart broken. Cori barely moved his head when he heard the door open.
"Sitting here again?" Macavity asked as he came to sit beside Cori. Cori moved away from him, his face stony. Macavity stared at him. Cori just stared out the window.
"Come on, Cori," Macavity crooned, pulling the calico mystic against him.
"Forget about the pathetic Jellicles," Macavity murmured in his ear. Cori focused his attention to out the window, watching the smoke billow from refinery chimneys in the distance.
"My sister is part of the Jellicles," Cori said coldly. Macavity laughed softly, nipping at his small ear. Cori pulled away, pulling his knees to his chest.
"Just leave me alone," Cori whispered. Macavity growled, standing up and pulling Cori off of the window seat. Macavity unlocked the chain from around Cori's ankle and pulled him roughly from the room. Cori was forced to follow Macavity into his throne room. Macavity shoved him into his seat.
"Stay," Macavity snarled at him. Cori just drew his knees up again and wrapped his arms around his legs loosely. Cori rested his head on his knees, watching Macavity as he went around talking to his hench-cats. Cori closed his eyes. Tugger appeared in his mind. They were by the river, one of their favourite haunts. Tugger was leaning against the tree, the back of Cori's head resting on his shoulder as Tugger kept his arm wrapped around Cori's waist. They had been talking, about the birds, butterflies, Munkustrap, the kittens, Bombalurina, Mungojerrie and Tantomile. Just talking about anything really.
"Coricopat," Cori slowly opened his eyes looking at Macavity. Macavity was standing in front of him. Cori slowly sat up, somehow he had ended up laying down. Macavity was staring at him softly.
"Go back to our room and sleep," Macavity told him. Cori nodded. "Can you get there without trying to run?" Cori threw a glare at him and nodded. Cori stood up and left the meeting room. He sighed as he walked down the hallways. He missed Tugger so badly, he missed the Jellicles, even the ones who thought he was a freak of nature.
"Cori?" Cori turned around, he'd know that accented voice anywhere.
"Jerrie," Cori murmured, lowering his eyes. He was ashamed he had been caught here. Teazer glanced at Jerrie as Jerrie walked towards Cori.
"Mate, what are ya doin' 'ere?" Jerrie asked. "I thought you was findin' a new tribe?" Cori's shoulders slumped as tears quickly filled his eyes.
"I-I lied to Tugger," Cori whispered, looking around to make sure no one else heard.
"What?" Teazer asked.
"M-Macavity was going to kill him unless I came to him…I had no other option," Cori whispered.
"But…oh, bloody 'ell," Jerrie murmured. "Ya poor thing,"
"I had to make sure Tugger wasn't going to come after me, that he wouldn't be hurt or killed," Cori mumbled. Jerrie patted his shoulder.
"E's 'eartbroken," Teazer told Cori. "E 'asn't left Munkus's side," Cori closed his eyes, feeling as though his heart was breaking.
"D-Don't tell him I'm here," Cori pleaded with them. "I-It's better for him to forget me, to move on," Jerrie sighed.
"Ya don't get it," Jerrie growled, agitated. "Tugger needs you!" Cori shook his head.
"I don't want him to get hurt!" Cori told them. "Don't tell him I'm here, please," Cori looked at them as they exchanged looks.
"Promise me you won't tell him, swear it to me," Cori demanded. Jerrie looked at him, eyebrow raised.
"Please," Cori begged. Jerrie murmured something in Teazer's ear and they both nodded.
"I swear I won't tell Tugger that ya 'ere," Jerrie swore.
"Me too," Teazer piped up. Cori nodded, sighing.
"Thank you," He murmured before he walked back to his room, collapsing on the mattress against the furthest wall and burying his head into the pillow.
Jerrie and Teazer watched Cori go before they looked at each other.
"Well," Jerrie said. "We swore we wouldn't tell Tugger," Jerrie said slowly.
"Doesn't mean we can't tell anyone else," Teazer grinned. They both headed down the hallways.
Tugger was pushed into the kittens' den by Jennyanydots. Munkustrap had managed to get Jenny to get Tugger away from him. Jenny was worried about Tugger's health, he had barely eaten, he barely slept, he barely said a word and he rarely left Munkustrap's side nowadays. Jenny pushed him to sit down.
"I'm going to get you food…but stay here, try and sleep!" Tugger gave a small nod. He looked around the empty kittens den and his eyes landed on Jemima's nest. Pinned on the wall above her small bed was a drawing. It was one of her. Tugger moved closer to it and saw Cori's signature in the bottom left hand corner.
"He gave that to me the day his den was searched by Macavity," Tugger looked around, looking at Jemima as she stood in the doorway. She came to sit beside him. She grabbed the drawing, taking the pin out and handing the drawing to Tugger to look at. Tugger turned the drawing over.
Jemima,
Thank you for being a friend, you're a very sweet and talented kitten,
I'm very glad to have met you and to count you as one of my friends.
You are extremely wise, Jem, don't let anyone tell you different,
From Coricopat.
Tugger handed the drawing back to Jemima, who pinned it back on her wall. She looked at him, placing her tiny paw on his own. Tugger looked at her.
"I'm so sorry, Tugger," Jemima whispered. Tugger blinked.
"For what?" Tugger asked.
"I'm sorry that you're so heartbroken," Tugger pulled the kitten close, hugging her tightly.
"You're a great kitten, you know that?" Tugger whispered in her ear. Jemima smiled, wrapping her arms around Tugger's neck, hugging him close. Jenny walked in ten minutes later and found Tugger and Jemima curled up together. Jenny leaned against the doorway and smiled, the bowl of mice held tightly in her paws. Jemima's head was resting on Tugger's back as Tugger lay sprawled out on his stomach. Jenny sighed and left the nest.
Munkustrap sat on the tyre, head in paws. Tugger had been so…depressed the last few weeks, today was the first time that Tugger had left Munkustrap's side in three weeks. One thing that kept playing on Munkustrap's mind was the letter that Cori had left Tugger, something about it just didn't seem…right. The one phrase, 'Love always'…why would Cori say that if he was breaking up with Tugger, something just wasn't right!
"Oi, Munk," Munkustrap wearily raised his head at the staged whisper. Munkustrap yawned and got to his feet, walking over to where Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer were hidden.
"Yes?" Munkustrap asked.
"We found Coricopat!" Teazer said excitedly. Munkustrap blinked.
"He left, Teazer," Munkustrap said flatly. "He broke Tugger's heart, why do I care where he is?"
"Cause 'e left ta save Tugger's life!" Jerrie burst out. Munkustrap looked at him.
"What?" He asked, confused.
"Cori left ta go ta Macavity in order ta save Tugger's life!" Jerrie continued. "If Cori didn't go, then Macavity would 'ave killed Tugger!" Munkustrap blinked.
"Cori wrote the letter so Tugger wouldn't go after 'im and get 'urt or killed!" Teazer said. Munkustrap rubbed his eyes wearily.
"'E, ugh, 'e also made us swear not ta tell Tugger," Jerrie added. Munkustrap frowned.
"'E doesn't want Tugger to get 'urt," Jerrie sighed. Munkustrap frowned.
"Do you think you could help me get into Macavity's lair and show me where Cori is?" Munkustrap asked. Jerrie nodded.
"But ya'll need to disguise yaself," Jerrie said. A small smile made its way onto Munkustrap's face.
"Misto," Munkustrap said simply. Jerrie and Teazer grinned.
"Misto," They laughed.
Munkustrap walked off, planning to meet the twins back there later.
"Lonz," Munkustrap called on his way to Misto's. Alonzo looked around.
"Yes, Munk?" Alonzo asked.
"Can you take watch for me tonight?" Munkustrap asked. Alonzo nodded.
"Sure," He said. Munkustrap walked to Misto's den. The young conjurer looked around when Munkustrap walked in.
"Hello, Munkustrap," Misto said politely, as always.
"Misto, I need your help," Munkustrap told him. Misto nodded.
An hour later, Munkustrap left the den looking like a completely new cat. He was midnight black with goldish tinges throughout his fur. His eyes were now a dark green, his ears were partly folded over, his tail was shorter and he was shorter. Munkustrap slipped around the yard undetected. He had told Misto why he needed an appearance change but he had made sure Misto knew not to tell anyone. Munkustrap met up with Jerrie and Teazer in their planned meeting spot.
"Who are ya?" Jerrie asked, frowning as he saw Munkustrap. Munkustrap rolled his eyes.
"It's me," Munkustrap snapped.
"Jeez, Misto did a good job," Teazer said, walking around Munkustrap. "Darn ya look cute, Munk!" Munkustrap's cheeks heated up a little and he gave an embarrassed cough.
"Okay, let's go," Munkustrap sighed.
They walked through Macavity's lair, Munkustrap walking behind Jerrie and Teazer.
"Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer," They all stopped and looked as Macavity came up to them. Macavity eyed Munkustrap.
"Who is this?" Macavity asked.
"Mutt," Jerrie answered. "E bet us ta a heist," Munkustrap looked at Jerrie.
"Diamond earrings," Teazer sighed. Macavity nodded, looking at Munkustrap.
"So, Mutt," Macavity said. Munkustrap looked at him. "Why did you get into stealing?"
"My brother was killed when I was younger and our mum blamed me and kicked me out," Munkustrap lied easily. "Steal to survive," Macavity nodded.
"What's your game?"
"Anything really," Munkustrap grinned. "But I like expensive art, and the occasional human drawing that looks really good," Macavity smirked.
"Jerrie, Teazer, go on," Macavity snapped at them. They nodded and walked off, leaving the new look Munkustrap with Macavity. Macavity looked Munkustrap up and down.
"I have something you might like to see," Macavity told him. Munkustrap nodded. He followed Macavity done the winding stone hallways until they stopped in front of a certain door.
"We have our own talented artist," Macavity told Munkustrap smugly. He opened the door. Munkustrap blinked when he saw Cori sitting on the floor under a window seat, papers surrounding him. Cori looked at them before sighing and looking back down. Macavity motioned for Munkustrap to go in. He did so. Macavity and Munkustrap both walked towards Cori. Munkustrap hesitantly reached out, picking up a piece of paper. It was a drawing of him, standing on the tyre. Munkustrap set it back down. Macavity was looking around the drawings, examining them.
"Good, none of Tugger," Macavity muttered before walking back to the door. Munkustrap followed.
"You stay," Macavity told him. Munkustrap looked back at Cori. "Talk to him about art, he'll probably like that,"
"I'll be back later," Macavity yawned before he left the room, closing the door behind him. Cori looked up at the average built Tom standing the door, his sleek black gold tinged fur shining in the light.
"Go away," Cori spat at him before looking back to his drawings. Cori growled in annoyance as the Tom walked over to him and sat near him.
"Cori," Cori's ear twitched at the sound of his name, which he was sure Macavity never mentioned.
"What do you want?" Cori snapped, looking at him.
"It's me, Cori," The Tom said. Cori frowned. He was certain he had never seen this Tom in his life.
"It's Munkustrap," Cori's eyes widened.
"Jerrie," Cori muttered bitterly. The new look Munkustrap gave a small smile.
"You made them swear not to tell Tugger, you didn't make them swear not to tell me," Munkustrap told him. Cori moved forward, quickly collapsing against Munkustrap.
"I was so stupid," Cori whispered. Munkustrap hugged him tightly.
"I'm so sorry for hurting Tugger…but it was the only way," Cori mumbled. Munkustrap rubbed his back.
"It wasn't the only way, Cori," Munkustrap told him. Cori pulled back to look at him.
"You could have told me what Macavity had threatened you with, we would have kept both you and Tugger safe," Cori shook his head, pulling away from Munkustrap and sitting on the window seat, staring out once more.
"No…he would have gotten me anyway," Cori sighed. "At least this way Tugger is alive and I can live knowing that he's not hurt…well, hurt physically," Munkustrap closed his eyes, lowering his head.
"We'll get you out, Cori," Munkustrap promised him. Cori shook his head.
"Don't, Munkustrap," Cori sighed. Munkustrap stood up, walking over to him. Cori looked up.
"Whether you are going to come with me willingly or not, I'm going to get you out of here and take you back to the yard," Munkustrap promised him. Cori looked up and gulped. Just by looking at Munkustrap's face, he knew he wasn't lying.
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Hehe, Munkustrap got a makeover :P
The storm actually wasn't as bad as it was thought it was going to be…but it has been raining for the last three days and it's so damn humid, ah to live in a state which has ever changing weather, sheesh.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Luv HGP!
