"Misto, will you be alright?" Tugger asked, dragging Misto's mind back to the present.

"I…I don't know… please don't leave again, Tugger. I know he's looking for me." Misto said still trembling. He looked Tugger in the face, his eyes pleading with him to stay.

"Don't worry, Misto. I'm not going any where and I meant it. I won't let him touch you as long as I can help it." He said, scooping up Misto as he stood.

"T-tugger, p-put me down." Misto weakly protested, blushing slightly. "W-what are you doing? I can walk by myself."

Without another word, Tugger carried Misto over to his bed and gently laid him down. Misto's eyes never left him as Tugger laid down next to him. His face turned a brighter red.

"T-tugger, w-what are you…?" Misto started before Tugger interrupted.

"If you aren't comfortable with it, then you have your own bed. It's just I'd like to keep you close until he leaves the area. I made a promise to you and the others and I plan to keep it." He asserted, though he was giving Misto the choice.

"I'd like that." Misto muttered scooting closer to Tugger so that he was using Tugger's soft chest fur and mane as a sort of pillow.

"Goodnight, Misto. I promise you're safe." Tugger said, lightly kissing the kit's forehead and putting an arm around him to hold him closer. He instantly regretted it for the feelings in him it brought on. Misto fell asleep rather easily for spending most of that day sleeping. Tugger watched him sleep for a few hours, silently daring Macavity to try and take Misto from him before also falling asleep.

He silently crept past dens full of sleeping cats. He knew each by smell and could call them by name, but he didn't care about them, not tonight. Tonight he only sought out one kitten. He froze in his tracks that scent, he smiled grimly. He had found who he was looking for. He entered the silent den intent on either forcing the kit back or killing him, but the sight that greeted him stopped him at the door. The small kit lay curled up in his youngest brother's arms, both fast asleep.

"So you think you can protect him, little brother. Well, go on thinking that. I'll show you how foolish that is, as for you, little kit, enjoy your freedom while you can." He whispered, leaving them to sleep, but unknown to either of the brothers the small kit was really awake.

"If only you knew the truth. I didn't run." He whispered back after the eldest son had gone. He let out a sad sigh and snuggled closer to his sleeping friend. "I'm sorry for the trouble I cause by being here, Tugger."

"It's no trouble, Misto." Tugger mumbled in his sleep, pulling him closer. "Any one of us would stop him from hurting others. It's our job in a way."

Misto thought about that for a minute. He doubted all of them would risk their lives for him. He did feel better knowing most would do it for him. His mind brought up one question before it was lost to unconsciousness.

What would Tugger do?