Tugger's shoulders shook as he sobbed. Munkustrap's ragged and heart broken cries pierced the room around them, the loudest sound, drowning out the others cries, sobs and whispers. Tugger rested his head against Munkustrap's shoulder as Munkustrap cradled and rocked his daughter's still body.
"Munk…we need to get back," Skimble whispered. Munkustrap shook his head, sobbing.
"I'm not leaving her!" Munkustrap sobbed.
"Munk…she's gone," Tugger whispered, his voice cracking. Munkustrap looked at Tugger, his eyes wide. Munkustrap gave a reluctant nod, looking back at Shima.
"I-I can't leave her here," Munkustrap murmured.
"We're not going to leave her here, Munk," Alonzo spoke up sadly.
"We're takin' 'er 'ome," Teazer sobbed.
"Wait!" Misto breathed suddenly, his green eyes fixed firmly on Shima.
"What, Misto?" Cori asked, his voice rough.
"Shima…her, her chest just moved!" Misto exclaimed. The others shook their heads, not believing Misto.
"Misto," Cori muttered, looking away.
"Cori, I swear her chest just moved!" Misto screeched at him. "Watch her!" While the others turned their heads away or closed their eyes, Misto and Cori watched Shima. A few moments later and there was a shaky, but very small, rise of Shima's chest.
"Shima!" Cori cried happily, diving forward. Munkustrap looked down, watching as Shima's chest gave another shaky rise. Skimble put his ear near Shima's mouth, grabbing her wrist at the same time.
"S-She's alive!" Skimble exclaimed, shocked. Munkustrap looked down, tears, this time from happiness, falling from his cheeks and onto Shima's face. Shima gave a low groan.
"But she's not out of the woods yet, Munk," Skimble continued quickly. Munkustrap nodded, watching Shima in shock. Shima gave a small stir, her blue eyes fluttering open.
"Daddy?" Shima murmured weakly.
"Oh, my baby…my baby girl," Munkustrap whispered, nuzzling Shima affectionately. "I-I thought you were gone…don't you ever do that to me again!" Shima gave a tired laugh.
"Alright, Daddy," Shima murmured. Shima looked up at Munkustrap, reaching up and wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Daddy?" Shima asked quietly.
"Yes, Shims?"
"Let's go home," Shima told him, smiling. Munkustrap smiled, picking up his small daughter in his arms before leaving the run down warehouse, the Jellicles following after him.
Munkustrap gently lowered Shima onto her nest in their den, she had fallen asleep as Munkustrap had carried her out of the warehouse. Munkustrap sat beside his daughter, gently stroking her head as she gave a low groan.
"Munkus," Munkustrap looked towards the den door, where Skimble was standing with Jenny by his side. Munkustrap waved them in. Jenny knelt beside Shima, looking her over, trying not to wake her up.
"How long was she…was she dead for?" Jenny asked, hesitating.
"Five minutes," Skimble answered quietly. Jenny frowned.
"How is that possible?" Jenny murmured, pulling one of Shima's eyelids open and looking at the roving blue eye underneath. Jenny frowned, her eyes narrowing.
"What is it, Jenny?" Munkustrap asked worriedly. Jenny sighed.
"She's drifting," Jenny answered. Munkustrap frowned, confused.
"What does that mean?" Munkustrap questioned.
"It means she's drifting in between life and death," Munkustrap's eyes widened.
"But she was talking before!" Munkustrap yelped. Jenny gave a sad nod.
"Her body is recovering," Jenny murmured. "She'll drift until her body gives out for good or until it heals…she'll wake up every now and again, but the majority of the time, she'll be out of it," Jenny explained to Munkustrap. Munkustrap nodded, looking back at Shima, who stirred a little. Jenny gently patted Munkustrap's paw, before rising to her feet and leaving the den, with Skimble following behind her.
"Shima…please, please don't leave me again," Munkustrap whispered, pressing his head against hers. Shima gave a weak groan before falling silent.
"Hey, Munkus," Munkustrap looked up once more and saw Cori, Tugger and Misto standing in the den entrance.
"Hey," Munkus murmured. They came in and Cori settled down beside Shima, curling around her small body. Munkustrap gave a weary smile as he watched Cori curl around his niece, nuzzling comfortingly at her head. Tugger sat down beside Munkustrap, Misto sat beside Tugger, gently stroking Shima's paw.
"How is she?" Tugger asked softly, looking at his niece.
"Jenny said she's drifting between life and death, and that she'll drift until her body gives out or until she recovers." Munkustrap whispered, looking back at Shima as she curled closer to Cori. Misto's green eyes widened.
"She has to pull through," Misto murmured. "Or why would the Everlasting Cat have sent her back," Munkustrap and Tugger looked at Misto questioningly, while Cori barely fluttered an eyelid.
"What?" Tugger asked, confused.
"When Shima died, she would have been judged by the Everlasting Cat…all cats are when they die," Misto explained. "So, why would the Everlasting Cat send her back if she was going to die again?" Munkustrap and Tugger remained quiet as Cori shifted, resting his head on Shima's side as she rolled over.
"S-Shima?" The four in the den looked to see Pouncival standing in the doorway, looking pale as he looked at Shima.
"Come in, Pounce," Misto said softly. Pouncival walked in, still staring at Shima. Pouncival fell to his knees beside Shima and Cori, taking Shima's free paw and holding it tightly.
"S-Shima," Pounce whispered. Pouncival looked up at Munkustrap.
"I'm sorry, Munkus," Pouncival apologized.
"For what, Pounce?" Munk asked, surprised.
"I promised I'd look after her…I didn't, Munkus, I'm so sorry!" Pouncival sobbed. Munkustrap reached forward, placing his paw on Pouncival's heaving shoulder.
"Pounce, it isn't your fault," Munkustrap told him firmly. "I know you did what you could," Pounce sobbed, burying his head into Shima's shoulder. Cori gently patted Pounce's back from where he was curled up around Shima.
"P-Pounce," Shima groaned in her sleep. Pounce looked up, his eyes teary. Shima's eyes fluttered open and looked at him weakly.
"Pounce," She whispered, smiling, as she reached her paw up, stroking the side of his face. Pounce leaned into her paw, closing his eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Shima," Pouncival whispered.
"For what, Pounce?" Shima asked tiredly.
"For letting him hurt you," Shima shook her head.
"It isn't your fault, it never it was," Shima murmured. "It was Macavity and Macavity alone," Pouncival rubbed his head against Shima's.
"I love you, Shima," Pouncival whispered. Shima smiled.
"Love you…too, P-Pounce," Shima murmured, her voice trailing off as she fell asleep once more. Pounce smiled softly, rubbing his head against hers.
"Easy there, Tiger," Tugger laughed. Pounce straightened up, giving Tugger a weak smile. Tugger stood up, pulling Misto up with him.
"We'll see you tomorrow, Munk," Tugger told him. Munkus nodded. Cori curled tighter around Shima. Pounce sighed.
"I better go too," He murmured. Munkus nodded. Pounce rose to his feet and left the den. Munkustrap looked at Cori, who looked tiredly back at him.
"Is she okay, Cori?" Munkustrap asked, knowing that Cori had connected with Shima's mind. Cori gave a tired nod.
"She's peaceful," Cori murmured, nudging Shima with his nose. Munkustrap noticed how upset Cori looked.
"What's wrong?" Munkustrap asked.
"Shima…she's dreaming of Tantomile," Cori whispered. Munkustrap stiffened. "Shima met her while in the Heaviside Layer it seems," Cori murmured. Cori gave a weak smile. "It seems Shima's comparing mine and Tantomile's scents," Munkustrap gave a sad chuckle.
"Do you miss her, Munk?" Cori asked a few minutes later. Munkustrap looked at Shima.
"I miss her everyday," He answered quietly. "It's not the same without her," Cori nodded, looking back at Shima.
"But, having Shima back makes the pain of not being with Tantomile ease," Munkustrap continued, looking at his daughter.
"She's very much like her, isn't she?" Cori asked quietly. Munkustrap nodded, rubbing Shima's calico stomach.
"Kind, brave, wise…beautiful," Munkustrap breathed.
"Selfless, funny, friendly," Cori continued on.
"Stubborn," They both said at the same time, before grinning at each other. They both looked back at Shima. Cori shuffled so he was closer to Shima. Shima yawned, pressing her head against Cori's chest. Munkustrap lie beside Shima, his paw resting lightly on her back. Shima smiled slightly, even though she couldn't open her eyes, though she couldn't talk at the present moment because her brain was fuzzy and she was drifting, she could hear Cori's heartbeat and his even breaths on her ears and she could feel Munkustrap's paw on her back. Shima gave a sad smile, with her head resting against Cori's chest she could inhale his scent, which was pretty much identical to her mother's scent, except Tantomile's scent included a honey smell…Cori's didn't. Shima let her mind darken and drift towards sleep.
I'm not done with you yet! Shima's heart froze, she was screaming but she couldn't open her mouth, no noise was coming out. Macavity's presence was in her mind, he wasn't controlling her…he was doing it through someone else, but he was pressing at her mind. Shima was terrified, it couldn't be possible! Macavity was in hell! Shima had seen him get sent there by the Everlasting Cat!
"It's okay, Shima," Cori whispered to her, he had heard Macavity's voice.
"He can't hurt you anymore, he's in hell…he's just projecting his thoughts to you somehow," Cori murmured quietly to her, making sure he didn't wake up Munkustrap. Shima wished she could respond to him, but her mind had gone fuzzy.
"I know you're scared, kitten…but it'll be alright," Cori murmured. "…and I love you too," Shima smiled, burying her nose deeper into Cori's fur. Cori chuckled.
"Go to sleep, kitten, relax and recover…we shall deal with whatever obstacles come our way when you are better," Shima let the darkness take over and she drifted into a dreamless, peaceful sleep though she felt Cori's mind connect with hers, watching over and protecting her.
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I was planning this to be the end, but I might put a few more chapters up :D I won't update tomorrow, I'm sorry but I have my formal! Sorry if this chapter is short and kinda, I don't know, rushed or something…but I had my first dancing lesson today and I feel dead, but apparently I did well for my first class :)
Thanks to everyone who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Luv HGP!