Coricopat was sitting in his den, looking over his notes once more as Jemima watched him. Something was troubling him, something had been playing on his mind since his fight in the alley, but he wasn't saying anything. Jemima sighed as Cori gave a growl, slamming the note book shut before opening it again and casting his dark green eyes over it.
Mungojerrie frowned, glancing over at Tantomile's den as he and Teazer walked past. Tantomile hadn't really been seen for the last few days and even before that, when she was out in the yard, she looked…she didn't look right.
"Oi'll meet ya back at the den, Teaze," Jerrie said. Teazer nodded and walked away from her sibling. Mungojerrie walked towards Tantomile's den, he just wanted to check up on her, to make sure she was alright.
Tantomile felt weak. She didn't feel right, she hadn't been feeling so great since Cori cut his connection with her. She felt so dizzy, so lightheaded, so…empty. She hadn't eaten for the last few days, not having the energy to hunt for mice.
"Oh, bast, Tantomoile!" Tantomile looked around weakly, barely able to see. Soft paws gentle touched her shoulders before she was lifted from the grounds.
"S'alright, Tanto, Oi've got ya," Tantomile gave a weak moan as the sunlight hit her closed eyes.
"Jerrie?" Tantomile whimpered.
"S'alright, Tants, you'll be alright," Mungojerrie told her softly, walking into Coricopat's den. Cori looked up, his dark green eyes widening, his face paling when he caught sight of Tantomile in Jerrie's arms. Jerrie gently lowered Tantomile down on the floor as Cori struggled to get over to her.
"Tant?" Cori asked softly, placing his paw on his sister's head. "Tanto, talk to me," Tantomile gave a weak murmur.
"Cori," She murmured. Cori gently took her paw, letting his mind connect with Tantomile's again. Tantomile gave a relieved sigh as her mind connected with Cori and the pain disappeared, the emptiness disappeared.
"I'm so sorry, Tants." Cori whispered, stroking her head. Tantomile's dark green eyes fluttered open, looking at him.
"It's okay, Cori…it's okay," Cori rested his head against hers.
I was foolish, Tantomile, I'm so sorry I hurt you, Cori thought to her. Tantomile blinked.
You were worried about Munkustrap…sometimes love or loyalty to a friend can hurt even more than the truth, Tantomile thought back. She watched as Cori suddenly raised his head, his dark green eyes blazing.
"Jem, Mungo, watch Tantomile for me, will you?" Cori asked as he struggled to his feet. Jemima nodded, moving over so she was sitting beside Tantomile. Cori limped from the den, trying not to put any weight on his broken leg. It made sense now, everything fell into place.
"What did you do?" Alonzo turned around to see Coricopat standing in the doorway of his den, using the den doorway to support his weight.
"What did you do to Munkustrap?" Cori snarled.
Macavity walked down with his legion of hench-cats, heading towards the junkyard. Griddlebone was on his left while Munkustrap was on his right, practically shaking with nervous energy. They arrived at the yard and Munkustrap froze, his eyes wide as he looked at the gates.
"Mac…what are you doing?" Munkustrap asked, looking to Macavity. Macavity signalled for his hench-cats to move in before turning to look at Munkustrap.
"Something I need you to help me with," Macavity told him. Munkustrap looked at the yard gates as screams started erupting from the yard. Macavity put his paws on Munkustrap's shoulders.
"Munkustrap, do this for me…show them you're better than what they gave you credit for," Munkustrap looked at him, at the expectant look on Macavity's face and gave a reluctant nod. Macavity smiled.
"Good," He said. "Now let's go," Munkustrap followed Macavity into the yard.
Alonzo and Cori both looked around as they heard screams.
"What the…?" Alonzo murmured. Alonzo headed towards the door as Cori remained leaning against a wall, wincing as he placed a paw on his throbbing broken leg. Alonzo jumped back as hench-cats suddenly appeared in the doorway. Two of them rushed in, grabbing Alonzo and wrestling him outside. Cori stared at the other three cats who were left in the den. Cori looked at them wearily as a hench-cat moved towards him. The cat laughed, grabbing Cori and yanking him forward. Cori yowled as his weight fell onto his broken leg.
"Pick the damn Jellicle up," Another hench-cat snarled as he looked in. "Boss doesn't want them too injured…and seeing as he is already injured…" The hench-cat who was holding Cori nodded and grabbed Cori, heaving Cori over his shoulder. Cori gave a small growl as he was carried out of the den. He looked around as the hench-cats carried him towards the clearing. The hench-cats stopped near the edge of the clearing, the one still carrying Cori over his shoulder.
"Are you going to put me down?" Cori growled. He winced as claws were buried into the back of his leg.
"No," The hench-cat answered. Cori sighed, annoyed and looked around. The Jellicles had been herded into the clearing. Mungojerrie was carrying Tantomile, who was still weak.
Tants, Cori thought to her. Tantomile looked around, searching for him. Her eyes finally landed on him.
Cori…are you okay? Cori smiled at her worried, but still weak, voice.
I'm okay, Tantomile…stay quiet, Tants…I don't want you to be hurt, Tantomile nodded, murmuring to Jemima, repeating what Coricopat had said.
"Munkustrap?" Cori looked around, peering over the hench-cats other shoulder. Munkustrap was standing by Macavity…but he looked a little unsure. His eyes were darting around at each Jellicle, his ears pushed back slightly.
"Misto!" Munkustrap quickly looked around as he heard Tugger's yell. Tugger was on his knees on the ground, next to a limp Mistoffelees. Some green liquid was leaking out the side of Misto's mouth. Tugger grabbed Misto, shaking him slightly, trying to wake him. Munkustrap looked over to Griddlebone as she recorked a vial. Macavity finished yelling at the Jellicles and turned back to Munkustrap, who was still staring at Misto.
"What did you do to him?" Munkustrap asked. Macavity shrugged.
"Knocked him out for a little while," Macavity answered. "He won't be able to use his powers when he comes to," Munkustrap blinked, still staring at Misto and Tugger.
"Boss," Macavity turned around and was met with a hench-cat, with a Jellicle thrown over his shoulder. Macavity walked around the hench-cat and saw Cori.
"Well…" Macavity said. Cori hissed at him. Munkustrap looked at Cori. Macavity looked back at Munkustrap.
"Take care of him, Munkus," Macavity said before walking away to Griddlebone.
"Give him here," Munkustrap murmured. The hench-cat passed Cori to Munkustrap. Munkustrap gently helped Cori back to his feet, before supporting him.
"What did Alonzo do to you, Munk?" Cori asked quietly as Munkustrap helped him back to his den. Munkustrap sighed, his ears pressing flat against his skull. Cori looked at him.
"I know he hurt you, Munk…I know that's why you turned to Macavity," Cori whispered as they passed some hench-cats.
"Cori!" Munkustrap stepped back, letting Jemima take over. Jemima looked at Munkustrap, unsure of what to think of him. Munkustrap turned away and walked off. Cori looked at Jemima. She helped him back into their den, where Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer and Tantomile were waiting.
Three days went by under Macavity's new rule. Munkustrap was being hissed at and clawed at as he passed the Jellicles, but he didn't pay attention. Macavity told him not to pay attention to them…their opinions didn't matter, it was only Macavity's opinion that mattered to Munkustrap. Munkustrap nodded meekly when Macavity told him that. Macavity hugged him, looking at him seriously.
"Don't pay attention to them, Munk," Macavity told him, seeing how unsettled Munkustrap was. "They never cared about you, so don't you care about them…" Munkustrap sighed, hesitating. Macavity gently took Munkustrap's head in his paw, making him look at him. Macavity looked at him.
"Munk, I've protected you for all these years, I've scared and killed off those deranged Toms who hurt you, who…" Macavity stammered over that last part, not wanting to say it, but knowing it was the only way, "who raped you, Munk," Munkustrap flinched as Macavity stirred up those repressed memories. Macavity wrapped his arms around Munkustrap, looking at him softly.
"I won't let them hurt you, Munk…but you've got to block them out as well," Macavity told him softly. Munkustrap nodded against Macavity's shoulder.
"Go to sleep, Munkus," Macavity told him softly, stroking his head as Munkustrap lay down beside him, huddling close to his side. Macavity wrapped Munkustrap close in his arms as Munkustrap shivered. Macavity draped his tail over Munkustrap, like he used to when he was younger. Macavity watched as Munkustrap fell asleep. He didn't want to bring up those horrible memories that Munkustrap had…but it was the only way he could get Munkustrap to focus back on how much he cared for him. Macavity closed his eyes.
Macavity was walking around the yard, it was late at night, almost midnight. He liked walking around at night, it helped clear his mind. Macavity hesitated before leaving the yard, he wouldn't walk that far away…but he had already passed that trash can eight times. He walked down the streets, breathing in the different scents. Macavity paused when he heard a choked sob, which someone tried to muffle. His silver eyes narrowed as he carefully crept up to the alley where the sob had emitted from.
"Don't…please," Macavity's ears pricked when he heard Munkustrap's scared voice. Munkustrap was still in his mid-teens, and was still choosing the Toms that didn't deserve his love.
"Shut up!" Macavity heard a loud slap and a small whimper. He quickly walked through the alley, which was packed with crates and boxes. He picked up his pace as he looked through the boxes and crates, trying to find Munkustrap as he began to hear small, muffled, pained cries. Macavity began to run, desperately trying to seek out Munkustrap. Macavity skidded to a stop, shocked as he saw a large rusty coloured Tom moving and grunting over his brother, who was sprawled out on the ground, whimpering pathetically. Macavity lunged, anger filling every part of his body, and tackled the cat away from Munkustrap. Macavity clawed the other cat's throat out, dropping the body to the ground before he headed back to Munkustrap. Munkustrap was writhing around slightly on the ground, his light green eyes staring around wildly. Macavity gently pulled his whimpering little brother up, holding him close. Munkustrap buried his head into Macavity's wild fur.
"I-I tried to f-fight him, Mac," Munkustrap whimpered. Macavity rubbed Munkustrap's back, wincing as he felt the wounds on Munkustrap's back.
"D-Don't tell Dad…please, don't tell Dad," Munkustrap whispered, his voice beginning to become faint. Macavity gently nuzzled Munkustrap's head.
"I won't, Munkus, I won't," Macavity reassured his trembling brother. They stayed there for a few more hours, just hanging on tightly to one another.
Macavity opened his eyes, looking at Munkustrap. Munkustrap's face was peaceful as he slept. Macavity gently rubbed Munkustrap's cheek. The first Tom, the first cat, he had ever killed was that Tom who had attacked his little brother. Munkustrap had become a lot more…apprehensive about choosing Toms to fall in love with after that experience. It had changed him a lot. Macavity pulled his trembling brother closer, holding him tight and murmuring softly to him. Munkustrap was his brother and Macavity would kill to protect him.
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Sorry, I had to torment Munkus some more… I kind of like the Munk/Mac brother relationship, I like to show Macavity's caring side…
There might be a couple more chapters and then I'll upload the first chapter to Obsessions can be deadly! Yay!
Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far!
Please read and review!
Luv HGP!
