Chapter 9! Woot!

Chapter 9: Mates, Family, and Takeovers

Celesta was slowly recovering from what had happened. Her kittens were safe with Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, who had become mates not too long ago. They loved being with the two, but also with Celesta.

"Hey Dad." Celesta greeted Munkustrap, who was sitting on the tire, watching over the yard. Munk looked at his daughter, before embracing her in a hug. Celesta smiled, purring.

"What brings you up here Shimmer?" He asked, using her nickname the cats had begun to call her. Celesta giggled, looking at her father. She had gotten her nickname when she was helping putting up old lights for the Ball. She had casted them into darkness, then her coat had started to sparkle.

"I. . uh. . .I'm making the coming of age dance at the Jellicle Ball, when I take a mate." She said shyly. Munkustrap smiled. He wasn't with his daughter through the whole experience. He never knew how to raise a child, and now his only daughter was growing up on him.

"Who do you have your eyes on?" He asked, flicking his tail around. Celesta turned around, looking over the yard. Her gaze landed on Mistoffelees, who was laying with his belly in the air as Mirringo, Dilaver, Calliope, and Cassandra and Alonzo's new kits, Castalia and Deucalion pounced on him. Cassie and Lonz watched their two new kits, their tails entwined. Jemima was watching them also. Sure, she had wanted to be with Alonzo, but she knew it wasn't right, and she was staring at Admetus now. Celesta watched as Calliope jumped on Misto's tail. She giggled as Misto wrestled with them. Munkustrap followed her gaze, and smiled.

"I'm sure whoever this tom is the perfect one for you." He said, nuzzling Celesta's head. He licked her ear and she smiled, purring. She licked his nose, before jumping off the tire. Munkustrap continued his watch, as Mungojerrie walked up to him.

"Can oi talk to ya abou' something?" He asked. Munk nodded, sitting down.

"I wan' ta give away Celesta at her coming of age dance." He blurted out. Munk looked at Jerrie. Usually when the queen is chosen, she lies on her father to show her father giving her away.

"No offense to you Munkus, but I've watched 'er grow up beside me. I've been like 'er brotha, her father. I wan' ta do it." He explained. Munkustrap looked at him, but smiled.

"You can Mungojerrie. You've been there with her through the entire experience that I didn't get to see her go through. If anything I want you to give her away." He said, nodding his head. Jerrie grinned.

"Thank ya Munkus. I woin't let ya down." He said, jumping off the tire. Munkustrap looked to his daughter, who was talking to Griddlebone as she held a sleeping Calliope in her arms. He smiled, finally seeing his family together.


The night came for the Jellicle Ball. Everything ran smoothly to the Mating Dance. Celesta did her solo, then stood out, waiting for someone to claim her. All the toms were hesitant. Sure they liked this queen, but didn't know who actually loved her. The time ticked on, and Celesta was growing worried. Would she be a queen?

Mistoffelees looked at her as she stood there alone. He didn't know if he knew what he was doing, but something inside him tugged at his heart, telling him to go choose her. He looked to Mungojerrie, who met his eyes and nodded. He took a deep breath, before walking up to her.

Celesta looked over her shoulder as she heard someone approaching. She saw black and white, and smiled. She then stretched her arms out over her head, her right leg in front of her left. She felt Misto's hand run down her back in a gentle movement, before grabbing her waist and lifting her over his head onto his shoulder. She smiled as he placed her down, noticing how soft the fur she was lying on was. She then realized it wasn't her father.

"Jerrie?" She whispered as he looked up from his bridge, smiling. She smiled as Misto ran his hands down her body, before picking her up and curling up with her. She was a full Queen, and she had a mate.


Celesta watched a couple of months later from her place on the pipe, the den her and Misto shared. She was watching the kittens play. Her babies were almost six months, soon they would be full adults, choosing their own mates. Mirringo had grown quite handsome, even with the tear in his ear and the scar down his face. He was strong and skilled, but still had the same cockney accent as his father. Dilaver had grown as well, looking like his brother except his coat was darker. He was smart, quick witted, and sly. They were both well trained.

Calliope was her baby. She had grown to a beautiful soon to be queen. She was graceful and lithe, and could also sing very well. She was looked on by all the new toms that had joined the tribe, but Deucalion was her one and only. They spent countless times together, talking or laughing about anything. She watched Mungojerrie grow a protectiveness over her as a father. Celesta smiled, touching her stomach, which had finally gained the weight she was supposed to be on. She looked over at Mistoffelees, who was talking to Coricopat. She wondered what it would be like to have his kits, with him as a father. She purred, as Misto jumped up beside her. He nuzzled her head and kissed her softly, entwining his tail with hers.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked, knowing something was on her mind.

"What it would be like to have another kitten?" She answered, looking up at him. Misto looked at her, smirking.

"I've wondered what it would be like also. To be a father you know." He said, resting his head on top of hers. She smiled.

"Is it nice?" Celesta looked at him at the question.

"I don't really know. It's great, but I wasn't there through the whole growing up part." She sighed. Misto licked her cheek, smiling.

"Do you want another kitten Celesta?" Misto asked. Celesta looked at him as she jumped between the corner of the pipe and tire, where no one could usually go, so it was quiet. Celesta looked as she cleaned her paw.

"My kittens have grown up. I want another litter Misto. One with you." She said, pushing her head under his chin. He smiled, growling playfully. He kissed her softly.

"Shall we start now?" He murmured in her ear. Celesta giggled, looking in his eyes.

"Let's go somewhere more. . . . alone." She said, then motioned to the pipe. He raised an eyebrow, following her in.


Another week had gone by quickly, but came with more surprise.

Celesta looked up from being curled under Misto to screams and shouts. Misto groaned, looking up also.

"What's happening?" She asked. Misto didn't know. Mungojerrie jumped into the pipe, a gash going down his side.

"Jerrie, what's going on?" Misto asked.

"Stay in here, both of you." He instructed.

"What's happening?" Celesta asked, curling into Mistoffelees.

"Macavity." Was all he said before he ran back out. Celesta looked at Misto, who had his ears back. He put his paw on her back and growled. She smiled, purring only a little. She was shaking.

"It'll be okay." He whispered, nuzzling her cheek. The screams echoed through the junkyard as they hid. Celesta buried her head in Misto's fur, trying to block it out. She felt herself get ripped from Misto as heavy arms wrapped around her.

"Let go of her!" She heard Misto yelled, but was silenced by an 'oof' as the hench-cat kicked him. They were both pushed out of the pipe. Celesta looked up to see the Jellicles split into two groups, Toms and Queens. She struggled when she saw her father lying on the ground. Macavity laughed, walking over to her.

"Looks like your little rescue didn't last long now did it?" He asked her, taking her face in his hand. She was forced to look at him. He snickered, running his hand down her stomach. She shuddered violently as his hand rested on her stomach, where the pain was worse off. He raised an eyebrow, then turned to the female group.

"The Gumbie Cat! Get out here!" He yelled. Jennyanydots walked up, shaking. Macavity reached for arm, grasping it and yanking her up. Asparagus grabbed Skimbleshanks tightly as Skimble snarled.

"Something's wrong with her." He said, shoving her toward Celesta. Jenny looked at Macavity, then started checking Celesta over. She made a little gasp.

"Well? What is it?" He commanded. Celesta looked at Jenny.

"You're. . . You're pregnant Celesta." She whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. Misto looked at Celesta, his eyes widening. Celesta smiled a little, looking down to her stomach. It was true, Misto was going to be a father.

"Whose is it?" Macavity yelled. None of the cats said anything. Macavity growled, pulling Celesta and putting a clawed hand to her throat. Celesta gasped as the paw closed around her throat.

"I'll ask again. Whose. Is. It?" He snarled, tightening the grip on her throat. Misto snarled. Macavity turned to the tuxedo tom with a smirk on his face.

"I suppose you are?" He said, dragging Celesta with him. Misto looked at Celesta as Macavity laughed. Celesta looked at him.

"Put the cats in their dens separated, except for these two." He motioned to Celesta and Misto. The hench cats forced the two groups away.

"Mom!" Celesta looked up to see Calliope break through the crowd toward her mother. The cats made a grab for her, but she dodged them. Calliope ran to her, hugging her mom. Macavity growled, going to strike Calliope. Celesta hissed.

"I may be pregnant, but you will not touch my daughter!" She threatened. Macavity looked at her, then sighed.

"Take them both to the car." He said. Two hench- cats grabbed them both and pulled them away into the boot of the car. They shoved them in the car and locked the door, casting the two into darkness except for the light coming through some holes. Celesta shook her head, then pulled Calliope into her arms.

"That's the cat that catnapped us when we were only kittens. What does he want now?" She exclaimed. Celesta shook her head.

"This time I don't know Calliope. But it'll be alright, I promise." She said, calming her kitten down. Where did things go wrong?


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