Pouncival whimpered as he stared into Macavity's furious silver eyes.
"N-No," Pouncival whimpered, struggling furiously. Macavity just slammed Pouncival back against the stove, causing Pouncival to go still as pain shocked up his spine.
"Little fool," Macavity hissed in Pouncival's ear, letting go of one of Pouncival's shoulders to run his claw down the side of Pouncival's face, though not cutting into the flesh. Pouncival gave a shaky breath, struggling to get free.
"Nah uh," Macavity smirked, his eyes dancing evilly as he pushed Pouncival back against the stove.
"L-Let me go!" Pouncival hissed, trying to act bold. Macavity just laughed, glaring at the small Tom. Pouncival struggled even more.
"Look at the wounds you gave me," Macavity hissed. Pouncival glanced at the angry red wounds on Macavity's stomach.
"I raised you…and this is how you repay me, you foolish brat!" Macavity yelled, letting go of Pouncival to swipe at him. Pouncival darted under the claw and began running.
"Munkus, help!" Pouncival wailed before a paw was clamped over his mouth and he was dragged back.
"That wasn't very nice, Pouncival," Macavity hissed in Pouncival's ear, digging his free claw into Pouncival's hip. Pouncival gave a cry of pain, tears pricking at his eyes.
"Don't you dare start bawling or it will get a lot worse for you, you hear?" Macavity growled in Pouncival's ear. Pouncival nodded, blinking back the tears, shuddering in fear.
"Pounce!" Macavity growled at the distant yell.
"Damn baby brother…always ruins everything," Macavity muttered, dragging his claws down Pouncival's chest before dragging him back even further. Macavity pulled Pouncival down a forgotten path before slamming him back against a broken fridge. Pouncival gave out a hoarse cry of pain.
"Shut up," Macavity hissed. Macavity wrapped his claws around Pouncival's throat.
"Pounce, where are you?" Alonzo's voice.
"Don't you dare yell out,"
"Y-Yes, sir," Pouncival choked obediently. Macavity's eyebrow twitched in interest. He unwrapped one claw, but kept the other around Pouncival's throat, as he mockingly stroked the side of Pouncival's face.
"Looks like Carbucketty is still in there," Macavity smirked, rubbing Pouncival's cheek. Macavity's ear twitched as the yells got closer.
"Ah, well…not my loss," Macavity growled, his claws inching out. Pouncival cried out, struggling even more.
"N-No, please!" Pouncival sobbed as Macavity's claws inched closer to his throat.
"Pounce!"
"I warned you when you were growing up," Macavity hissed in Pouncival's ear. "That if you ever turned against me, if you ever hurt or wounded me, that I would kill you,"
"B-Boss, please, no!" Pouncival choked hoarsely, struggling furiously. Macavity smirked, his claws inching even closer. Pouncival tried to shy back as he felt Macavity's claws itching against his throat, cutting into it slightly.
"Pounce!" Macavity quickly glanced to the side.
"Damn it,"
"Munkus, it's Macavity!" Alonzo yelled out before darting towards them.
"I will get you…I promise you that, and you will pay severely," Macavity hissed in Pouncival's ear before darting off. Pouncival was shaking, in severe shock, the small wounds on his neck stinging.
"Pounce?" Pouncival slowly raised his head, looking at Munkustrap. Pouncival's knees buckled and Munkustrap grabbed his arms, steadying him. Pouncival collapsed against Munkustrap, sobbing and shaking.
"H-He was going to kill me!" Pouncival sobbed. Munkustrap wrapped his arm around Pouncival's waist before leading him away to Jenny. Tugger looked at Misto, who looked back sadly. Alonzo had taken off after Macavity, to make sure he did leave the yard.
"Bast, that kitten was frightened," Tugger murmured. Misto looked at Tugger, who was lacking his usual arrogant behavior as he stared at the spot that Pouncival stood in moments before.
"He was terrified," Misto said quietly, looking at the wet patch on the ground. Misto felt a little guilty. He hadn't been so nice to Pouncival after he had stuck up for Macavity…but he doubted even Pouncival could foresee what Macavity was planning to do to him…that he would terrify Pouncival so much that he caused the young Tom to wet himself.
"I don't think anyone needs to know about that," Tugger mumbled, nodding to the wet patch before walking off.
"No, I don't think they need to know either," Misto agreed, following Tugger. Misto slipped his paw into Tugger's and they walked off to the infirmary.
"Is he alright, Munks?" Tugger asked his younger brother as they walked into the infirmary.
"He's scared out of his mind," Munkustrap sighed sadly, staring at the small Tom who was sobbing and shaking in Skimble's arms as Jenny looked over his wounds, while trying to calm him. Tumble was sitting beside Skimble, clutching onto Pounce's paw as Pouncival sobbed.
"Hey, Munk," Misto murmured.
"Mm?"
"No one needs to know he wet himself, right?" Misto asked. "I mean, he has enough to worry about then everyone knowing that," Munkustrap gave a small smile, rubbing Misto's ears.
"No…no one needs to know that," Munkustrap said softly. Alonzo skidded into the den, panting heavily.
"He's gone, Munkus," Alonzo panted. "I chased him until he was out of the yard," Munkustrap nodded. Alonzo stared at the young Tom, who was shaking in Skimble's arms still.
"W-What did he say?" Alonzo asked.
"That Macavity was planning to kill him for wounding him at the ball," Munkustrap sighed. "And that Macavity swore to come back and get him when you appeared, Lonzo," Alonzo glanced at the small Tom.
"I need to tell the yard what's happened…Lonz, I need your help to tighten security around here," Tugger gave a smirk as Munkustrap went back into Protector mode. Munkustrap left the den, Alonzo following him. Tugger patted Misto's back before he left the den, the swagger back in his step. Misto watched as Skimble passed Pouncival into Jenny's care before he and Tumble left the den, going to the meeting. Misto slowly walked over, sitting beside Pounce as Jenny went to the other room of the den.
"Hey, Pounce," Pounce gave a hiccup, looking at Misto through red and puffy eyes.
"Are you okay?" Misto asked, even though he knew it sounded stupid. Pounce sniffled, giving a nod.
"…I know I haven't actually spoken to you as much lately…and I'm sorry, Pounce," Misto said slowly, carefully choosing his words. "I was just…annoyed that you defended Macavity, especially since he killed my parents…but I saw how terrified you were by him," Misto glanced up at Pouncival, who was still staring at him.
"Sorry, Pounce," Pouncival gave a weak smile, rubbing his eyes with the back of his paw.
"S'alright, I wouldn't trust me either," Pouncival gave a weak smile. Misto gave a smile and reached forward, hugging the younger Tom tightly. Pouncival hugged him back before letting go.
They could hear Munkustrap addressing the Jellicles now.
"So…which one do you like?" Pouncival asked suddenly, startling Misto.
"W-What?" Pouncival gave a cheeky, kittenish grin.
"Which one do you like…Tugger or Munkus?" Pouncival asked him.
"Pounce," Misto growled warningly, but smiled anyway.
"Come on, Misto," Pouncival teased, giving a small sniffle, as his tail swished behind him.
"I don't know," Misto admitted. "I like Munkus a lot…but I like Tugger too," Pouncival frowned and lay down. Misto lay beside him. They lay together in silence, hearing the Jellicles talk, their voices shocked, scared and angry.
"How about you, Pounce?" Misto asked.
"Hm?"
"Who do you like?"
"I don't know,"
"Sure you don't,"
"I really don't, Misto," Pouncival murmured. Misto looked at him, Pouncival looked uncomfortable.
"You…you haven't had anyone you liked before?" Misto asked him slowly. Pouncival gave a small shake of his head.
"I grew up in a lair of Toms, the only Queens being Griddlebone, who did occasionally like to hit me, or the…or the Queens Macavity brought in to torture…I never went near them, I…I couldn't stomach it," Pouncival murmured. Misto frowned.
"What do you mean you couldn't stomach it?"
"W-What they did to the Queens," Pouncival whispered. "I-I was forced to watch twice…but…I was so disgusted and horrified by it, I refused to go back to watch or take part in any part of it," Pouncival looked at Misto and Misto could see the pain in Pouncival's eyes, showing just how old and tortured the young soul was.
"Macavity was furious…he got the hench-cats onto me," Pouncival murmured, looking back up at the roof. "I was unconscious for four days," Misto winced, grabbing Pounce's paw, giving it a quick squeeze, before letting go.
"H-How old were you when…when Macavity killed your parents?" Pouncival questioned cautiously. Misto flinched.
"I-I was a year shy of becoming a Tom," Misto mumbled. "Cori was just about to become a Tom, and you were maybe four weeks from being born," Misto sighed.
"We were coming back from visiting my Uncle Bustopher when Macavity and his hench-cats ambushed us," Misto said quietly. "My dad did his best to protect me and my mum…but he was quickly killed," Misto clenched his eyes shut tight. "T-They got my mum next…she did her best to protect me but Macavity just laughed as he gave her to his hench-cats to torture while he tormented me," Misto's paws bunched into fists.
"He broke my wrist and my tail…and then forced me to watch as he killed my mum in front of me," Misto opened his eyes, staring emotionlessly at the ceiling, tears pooling in his emerald green eyes.
"He was going to kill me…but I shot lightening from my paws, shocking him…after that, he decided I was too valuable to kill," Misto smiled bitterly. "He took me back to the yard and dumped me on Jenny's doorstep…Deuteronomy took me in a week later," Misto looked to Pouncival and gave a small smile.
"Sorry," Pouncival whispered. "I'm so sorry, I…I never knew or I-I wouldn't have said anything,"
"Pounce, it's okay," Misto smiled. "I can't be sad all the time about my parents, or be seeking revenge every waking moment of my day…I know my parents would hate me if I wasted my life like that…and I'm happy with my Jellicle family," Pouncival smiled.
"I'm happy with them too," Pouncival said. Misto laughed.
Tugger and Munkustrap walked back into the den after the meeting and found Pounce and Misto curled up together, fast asleep.
"Aw, cute," Tugger laughed. Munkustrap smiled, elbowing his brother in the side.
"At least they're friends now," Munkustrap said quietly. Tugger grabbed his brother's head and forced him into a head-lock, knuckling his fur.
"Tugger!" Munkustrap whined, struggling to get free.
"Aw, come on, little Stripes," Tugger laughed, pulling his brother, still in a head-lock, from the den.
Three weeks later, Pouncival lay on the tyre with Misto, who was dozing in Munkustrap's arms. Cori lay beside Pounce, sprawled out and dead to the world. Pouncival looked around the yard, smiling. Admetus and Plato were asleep, Admetus sprawled out on top of Plato's back, snoring heavily. Plato just slept peacefully, as though the snoring weight on his back wasn't there. The Queen kits were talking sleepily to one another, though Jemima looked close to falling asleep. It was a nice warm sunny day that everyone was taking the advantage of, to sleep in comfortably. Demeter and Bomba were in their den, asleep. Alonzo was dozing in front of his den, on his back. Tantomile was curled up near Admetus and Plato. Jerrie and Teazer were curled around one another, fast asleep. Tumble was asleep, his head on Jenny's lap as she stroked his ears. Pouncival yawned and stretched out, contently, before closing his eyes.
There was a loud crash, startling awake the sleeping occupants.
"Macavity!" This time it was Tantomile's warning scream that pierced the air.
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Ohh, I'm going to leave it on that cliffhanger…the next chapters will get angsty for Pounce and Munkus as well…and maybe a few others, depending on how it plays out, hehe…trust me, it's gonna be good!
Thanks to the two that reviewed!
Please read and review!
Luv HGP!
