Deuteronomy hugged Munkustrap close, smiling. Munkustrap was now his youngest son.
"Come now, my son, we should get back to the clearing." Munkus nodded and reluctantly let Deuteronomy go. Deuteronomy pushed open the stove door before climbing out, offering his arms up to Munkustrap. Munkustrap smiled as he allowed Deuteronomy to help him out. Deuteronomy pulled Munkus in for a hug after he had lifted him out of the stove. Munkus purred, nuzzling him thankfully. Deuteronomy took hold of Munkus's paw and they walked back to the clearing. Munkus stopped when they reached the edge. Deuteronomy looked around to see why Munkus had stopped and found he was looking worriedly at the kittens.
"Munk?"
"I-I should go apologize…s-shouldn't I?" Munkustrap whimpered, looking up at him. Deuteronomy gave a slight sigh before giving him a small, reassuring smile.
"It may be a good idea," Deuteronomy said slowly. Munkus hesitated, looking scared.
"C-Can you come with me, D-Dad?" Deuteronomy's eyes widened in shock. He never expect Munkus to call him that so quickly, he thought it would have been months before he did so…but Munkus was desperate for family, to be loved. Deuteronomy gave a small nod, gently squeezing his paw reassuringly. He led Munkus towards the kittens. He paused when Grizabella stormed over. Munkus cowered slightly against his side.
"Grizabella," Deuteronomy said warningly as he caught sight of her stormy expression.
"You heard what he yelled at my nieces!" Grizabella snarled. "You are going to punish him for that, right?!" Munkus whimpered at that. Deuteronomy wrapped his arm around his shoulders reassuringly.
"Auntie Bella, stop it!" Deuteronomy's expression softened when Demeter marched up, staring at her aunt, annoyed.
"It's not his fault," Deme told her. "He was upset,"
"I-I'm sorry, Demeter," Munkus whispered, before looking at the ground. "I…I shouldn't have said those things, I just…I was upset, I-I never had anyone look after me l-like that," Demeter ran up and hugged him tightly.
"It's alright, Munkus, it's alright," Demeter murmured in his ear. "You have us now."
Munkus hesitantly hugged Demeter back, resting his head against her shoulder.
"Thanks, Deme," He murmured thankfully.
"Munkus, are you alright?" Munkustrap let go of Demeter and turned to the worried Tugger. He gave a small nod, glancing at Deuteronomy.
"Yes, Tugs, I am now." Munkustrap answered, giving a small smile. Macavity looked at his dad, eyes wide.
"Y-You told him?" Macavity stammered. Munk smiled as Deuteronomy chuckled, nodding.
"Yes, Mac, say hi to your new little brother." Macavity grinned as Tugger whooped in excitement. Munkustrap laughed as he was tackle-hugged by the two.
"Wait…what?" Deuteronomy held up his paws as he found himself crowded by the other Jellicles.
"I have an announcement." Deuteronomy said loudly, silencing the Jellicles chattering and question asking.
"After discussion with my sons, plus Jenny and Skimble, I gave Munkustrap the option of becoming part of our family permanently."
"What?!" A hiss came from his left. Deuteronomy turned and cast his hardened gaze on Tirus.
"I've adopted Munkustrap as my son," Deuteronomy announced. "From this moment on, he is my youngest son…no blood can change that, he is my son!" Deuteronomy's hardened tone warned them not to argue his decision. Satisfied that no one was going to challenge his decision, he turned towards Munkustrap, Tugger and Macavity. He laughed at what he found. A bewildered Munkustrap was enclosed tightly in Jenny's arms, his forehead and cheeks being kissed repeatedly by the happily sobbing Queen.
"Oh, my darling, I'm so glad you've chosen to become part of our family!" She was sobbing as Skimble stood to the side, smiling, as he shook his head at his mate's antics.
"And you're my nephew now too! Cori and Tanti will be so pleased to find out that they can call you their cousin as well now!" Munkustrap looked to Deuteronomy, looking shocked and uncomfortable, not knowing how to react in this situation. Deuteronomy just laughed at the look of confusion on his son's face as Tugger and Macavity laughed as well.
"Okay, Jenny, maybe you should let go of Munkus now," Deuteronomy chuckled weakly as he tried to extract the silver kitten from Jenny's grip.
"He's family now, Jen, you can cuddle him whenever you want," Jenny finally let him go before wiping the tears from her eyes. She smiled shakily at Munkus.
"Oh, darling, I'm sorry for that," She laughed weakly. "I'm just so so happy." Munkus was shocked at that.
He had never been given so much love before. Never before had anyone been so happy that he had been part of their family, usually he was hated, like by his mother, or he didn't mean anything…he wasn't anything other than a slave.
Munkus lowered his head, his bottom lip trembling, as he thought of this.
Here he was loved; here he had cats who wanted him to be part of their family. Munkustrap looked up at Jenny before he fell onto her, hugging her tightly.
"Thank you, Aunty Jenny," Munkus whispered, crying slightly as he nuzzled his face into her neck. Jenny gave a choked sob at that…as he called her 'Aunty'. Jenny looked to Deuteronomy, who was wiping away his own tears, and then to Skimble, who was grinning broadly.
"Mumma? Daddy?" Jenny looked around to see Cori and Tanti standing next to Trelawney, looking confused and worried.
"Munku, are you okay?" Cori asked worriedly as he went to his friend's side. Munkus looked up at him and nodded, smiling.
"Yeah, Cori, I've never been better."
Deuteronomy walked around the clearing, stretching his legs. It had been a few months since he had asked Munkustrap to become part of his family, and Munkus had settled in as the third, and youngest, son of Deuteronomy. He spotted Munkus sitting with Cori and Tantomile, all three were sitting around Gus and were deeply enthralled with the story he was telling them. Gus loved the newer kittens, he did love the older ones as well, but the new ones hadn't heard his stories before and they were enthusiastic and loved hearing them from him. Deuteronomy settled down on the tyre, stretching out in the sun, as he watched the yard occupants. He smiled as he caught sight of a very pregnant Jellylorum settled in front of Jenny's and Skimble's den, knitting with Jennyanydots, who had recently only found out that she was pregnant. Deuteronomy chuckled.
There was going to be almost too many kittens to handle soon.
Deuteronomy laughed at that thought. He was excited about it. It always brought joy to the yard having kittens running around, laughing and playing.
"Deuteronomy, Jenny, Skimble, somebody!" Deuteronomy's head snapped up at the scream. Penny ran into the clearing, covered in blood.
"Mummy!" Demeter screamed, racing over to her mum, with Bomba close on her heels. Deuteronomy leapt off the tyre, running over to the queen as she fell to her knees.
"Penny, what's happened?!" Deuteronomy questioned, shocked.
"P-Pollicles…t-they attacked…Triton told me to run, you have to help him!" Penny sobbed as Jenny came over, attempting to tend to her wounds. Deuteronomy straightened up.
"Tirus, Antony, Nathaniel, Asparagus, with me!" Deuteronomy yelled. The Toms raced after Deuteronomy as he followed Penny's scent back to the attack. When they got to the alley, there was one lone Pollicle left, nosing at the still body of Triton. Tirus snarled and lunged at the Pollicle, with Antony and Nathaniel covering him. Deuteronomy ran to Triton's side, Asparagus close behind and watching his back. Deuteronomy rolled the limp, bloodied and broken Tom over onto his back and lowered his head.
Triton was completely still; his gold chest was now a rusty colour from the blood from four deep, long gashes across his chest. One of his legs and arms were at a funny angle, due to them being broken. There were yelps in the background as the Toms managed to chase the Pollicle away.
"Deut?" Asp whispered.
"He's gone." Deuteronomy murmured regretfully.
"He can't be," Nathaniel breathed, looking at his best friend.
"I'm sorry, Nate,"
"But we didn't take that long!"
"It's the wounds on his chest…and I think his neck might be broken," Deuteronomy explained, trying to ease the Tom's hurt. "We didn't have a chance to save him," Nathaniel gave a sob at that. Antony wrapped his arm around his shoulders, comforting his friend.
"We should get him back to Penny," Asp murmured sadly. Deuteronomy nodded and Tirus leant down, scooping Triton into his arms.
They sadly headed home.
Deuteronomy closed his eyes sadly as he heard the sad cries and wails as they entered the clearing with Triton's body.
"Daddy, Daddy!" Bomba and Demeter were crying out, trying to get to their dad. Grizabella and Cleo held them back, hugging them tightly. Deuteronomy walked past Coricopat, Tantomile and Munkustrap, all three were bundled into Gus's lap as he held them close. Munkustrap's eyes were wide and horrified. He started trembling at the sight of Triton's broken body and turned to bury his face into Cori's shoulder. Cori held him close, nuzzling his ears sadly, knowing Munkus was remembering something from his past.
Deuteronomy looked away from his young son and continued on towards the infirmary to break the sad news to Penny.
An hour later, Deuteronomy trudged back towards his den. That was one of the things he hated most about being the leader of the Jellicles, having to break the horrible news to families if they didn't already know.
He had stayed with Penny, trying to comfort her as she wailed and screamed, clutching her dead mate to her chest as she sobbed. She had soon grown exhausted and basically collapsed from a combination of the emotional heart-break and pain, plus the injuries she had sustained during the fight with the Pollicles.
"How is she, Jen?" Deuteronomy had asked once Penny was out of it.
"Not so good," Jenny had admitted. "She lost a lot of blood and is pretty hurt…and now with Triton gone…" Jenny had left it hanging, not needing to say it. Sometimes the pain of the loss of a mate could make cats just give up…and die.
Deuteronomy shook his head sadly as he approached his den. He hoped Penny held on, for Demeter's and Bombalurina's sake. He paused by the den door as he heard…singing coming from inside.
It wasn't Tugger's or Macavity's voice, no no, he knew what they sounded like, he had heard them sing often enough. Deuteronomy's eyes widened as he came down to the last option.
Could it be Munkustrap?! He had never heard him sing before.
You think you own whatever land you land on
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a nameYou think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew you never knewHave you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Come taste the sunsweet berries of the Earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're worthThe rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never endsHow high will the sycamore grow?
If you cut it down, then you'll never know
And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moonFor whether we are white or copper skinned
We need to sing with all the voices of the mountains
We need to paint with all the colors of the windYou can own the Earth and still
All you'll own is Earth until
You can paint with all the colors of the wind
Deuteronomy was shocked. Munkus had a really nice voice, it was soft but powerful, and it carried so much emotion. Deuteronomy slowly moved into the den, looking for his son. Munkus was moving around the den, cleaning up once more, as he continued to sing.
"Munkus," Deuteronomy said softly. Munkus jumped in shock, turning around.
"Y-You scared me, Dad," Munkus breathed. Deuteronomy gave a small smile.
"Sorry, my boy." He murmured softly as he walked over to him, pulling him into his arms and hugging him. Munkus hugged him back, nuzzling his face into his neck.
"Are you okay, Dad?" Munk asked softly. Deuteronomy sighed.
"I will be, Munk…but it's always hard losing a tribe member, they are family." Deuteronomy explained. Munk nodded. Deuteronomy pulled away and smiled sadly at the small kitten.
"I heard you singing," Deuteronomy smiled. Munkus blushed, looking down at his feet.
"Sorry," The kitten murmured.
"For what?"
"My…masters never liked it, said it was horrid and it annoyed them." Deuteronomy's eyes widened in shock before he scowled.
'Stupid, horrible, worthless Toms…' He thought angrily.
"They were lying, Munk, you actually have a rather nice voice," Deuteronomy told him sincerely.
"Really?"
"Yes," Deuteronomy chuckled softly at the bewildered look on the kitten's face. "That reminds me you'll need to start attending Jenny's dance lessons,"
"Dance lessons?"
"You need to know the dances and the songs for the Jellicle Ball," Deuteronomy explained. "We hold a ball once a year, on the night of the Jellicle Moon, where I will choose one Jellicle to ascend to the Heaviside Layer," Munkus gave a nod, understanding, before he lowered his head.
"What's wrong, Munk?"
"W-Will…I don't want to mess things up and embarrass you." Munk admitted. "I've never danced before."
"You won't embarrass me, trust me," Deuteronomy reassured him. "I have two left feet, I was horrible at dancing when I was growing up, thankfully Tugger and Macavity inherited their mother's dancing skills, she was quite graceful." Munku looked at him, unsure.
"Munkus, some of us can sing exceptionally well, while others…well, they still sing rather well, but their voice doesn't stand out, do you understand?" Munkus gave a nod.
"And while some may be exceptional at singing, they may not be so great at dancing, and while others may be magnificent dancers, they might not be the best singer…do you understand what I'm getting at?"
"That everyone has their own skill?" Munkus guessed. Deuteronomy beamed.
"Exactly it, you smart kitten!" Deuteronomy told him, smiling. Munkus smiled back.
"Now, let's get dinner ready, shall we?" Deuteronomy asked, offering a paw. "Before your brothers come home." Munkus nodded, taking Deuteronomy's paw.
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Sorry it's been a while!
The heat this last week in Victoria has been just insane and all it makes you want to do is lay in front of the air-con, and the heat seriously melted my brain slightly, could not think!
Song is from Pocahontas
Might be a bit slow again, sorry, but RL and I really need to find myself a job :S
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Love,
HGP
