Cori winced as he was dragged through the yard, this time by his upper arm. Tugger froze suddenly, at the same time Cori's eyes widened.
Munkustrap's scent had suddenly disappeared.
"NO!" Tugger snarled, throwing Cori to the ground. Cori breathed heavily in disbelief.
"Find him!" Cori quickly cast his mind out, searching for Munkustrap's.
He couldn't find him.
"H-How..." Cori whispered. "I should have sensed the kidnapper's mind, or Munkustrap's distress...how?"
"You lost him!" Tugger kicked at the mystic. Cori quickly rolled away.
"Tugger, I'm sorry!" Cori cried, before quickly trying to scramble away as the furious Maine Coon came at him once more.
"Tugger, please!" Cori cried out as Tugger managed to kick him, sending him into a junk pile. Tugger hit out, striking the mystic across the face. Cori huddled against the ground.
"Stop," Tugger just snarled, his face and eyes dark as he glared at the young mystic, who cowered against the ground, arms over his head. Cori slowly peeked out, his green eyes fearful, his face beginning to bruise.
"He's gone...because of you!" Tugger snarled. Cori winced, waiting for the next blow.
"Let's see what the others will do to you," Tugger gripped the scruff of Cori's neck, yanking him up before dragging the struggling Tom back towards the clearing.
Munkustrap slowly opened his eyes, unsure. He turned his head, looking around the stone room he was in...There were no windows, just a large metal door. Munkustrap sighed before pausing.
He wasn't lying on the stone floor...he was lying on something soft. A mattress. Munkustrap slowly sat up, wincing. He put his paw on his stomach, worried. He gave a sigh of relief when one of the kittens moved. He winced as he heard the door open and wrapped his arms around his stomach protectively.
"Ah, you're awake," Munkustrap looked around towards the door. Macavity was standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame.
"What do you want?" Munkustrap croaked.
"To talk," Macavity said simply, walking into the room.
"W-Why did you kidnap me?" Munkustrap asked, arms wrapped his stomach protectively.
"Because those kittens are half mine...and I want them,"
"You're not taking them away from me!"
"I had no plans to," Munkustrap stared at him, suspicious.
"Then what..."
Macavity held up his paw and Munkustrap fell silent. Macavity walked towards him and sat down on the mattress beside him. Munkustrap stared at him apprehensively.
"Do you know the reason why I chose you to carry my...our kittens?" Macavity asked him.
"No."
"Because I wanted genetically perfect heirs...and you matched the criteria," Munkustrap bristled at that before pausing.
"The criteria?"
"Wise, strong, emotionally stable, gentle, confident, has leadership skills, mentally stable and strong, brave, and you have a protective nature," Munkustrap tilted his head, his tail giving a small swish.
"And, as Griddlebone added to the criteria, you are graceful...and..." Macavity trailed off.
"And?" Munkustrap asked curiously. Macavity gave a wry smile.
"Don't worry...but I knew you would be perfect to carry these kittens," Macavity murmured. Munkustrap looked at his swollen stomach.
"And that's what I came to...discuss with you," Munkustrap looked at him, his eyes hard.
"I will allow you to stay with the kittens and be a part of their life, if you do as I say and obey and respect me," Munkustrap's hazel eyes darkened.
"And if I don't?" He challenged.
"You stay locked in here, will never see your kittens again...and when I decide I want some more heirs, which I will, you will have no time to recover before I get Stein to impregnate you again," Macavity said coldly. Munkustrap bit his lip, looking at his stomach once more.
"Well?"
"You expect me to decide now?"
"It shouldn't be that hard,"
"Why do you want more kittens?"
"I want as many heirs as possible," Macavity answered. "Munkustrap, you agree to my terms...and I will give you time to rest and recover after each pregnancy and you will have a large part in the kittens lives," Munkustrap sighed. He ran his paws over his stomach.
There was no way he could leave the kittens in Macavity's care alone...no way.
"I agree," Munkustrap whispered.
Coricopat gave a groan as he was thrown against the ground in the main clearing.
"Tugger, what is the meaning of this?" Skimble yelled angrily as Cori curled into a tight ball, his shame getting to him.
"Munkustrap's gone!" Tugger cried out.
"What?"
"Coricopat," Tugger kicked him at that. Cori gave a cry of pain. "Was meant to be watching and guarding him...but he didn't and let Munkus walk off by himself, and now he's gone!" Cori tightened his protective curl when he heard angry snarling and growling.
"How could you?" Cori looked up slightly and looked at the raging Jennyanydots. "We trusted you to watch him!" Cori looked down.
"I'm sorry," He whispered, voice broken. "I didn't mean..." Cori broke off with a cry as he was kicked again, this time by Plato.
"Stop!" He heard Tantomile screech. Cori spared a glance to her...she was being held back by Admetus, who was gently rubbing her back, trying to calm her. Cori gave a whimper and slowly tried to back away as the furious Jellicles converged on him.
"Please...I didn't mean for this to happen!" Cori cried out. Misto threw a lightning bolt at Plato, who was closest to Cori.
"Don't you dare touch him!" Misto snarled. Tugger grabbed Misto, holding his wrists.
"Tugger, what the hell?" Misto yelped. Cori leapt back as a kick was aimed at him. He cried out and collapsed when a claw caught him across the face.
"Stop, please!" Cori cried out, curling up into a tight ball and shuddering. "I-I didn't...!" He was cut off as he was winded when a kick landed in his stomach.
"Enough!" Cori sobbed in pain as he curled up.
He knew how much everyone loved Munkus...but he never expected them to turn on him like that.
"Enough, we're Jellicles not bloody strays!" Cori looked up at his saviour, seeing Skimble standing in front of him.
"We don't attack our fellow Jellicles,"
"He lost us Munkustrap!"
"Then...we find another punishment for him," Skimble spoke up, looking down at Cori angrily. Cori curled up tightly, his last hope gone.
"Exile him until Munkustrap returns,"
"What if he doesn't come back?" Misto piped up.
"Then Coricopat can't return," Cori just lay limp on the ground...unable to take it anymore.
"Who would have taken Munkustrap though?" Someone spoke up.
"Macavity or..." Alonzo trailed off, looking at Tugger. "Tristram," Tugger's eyes widened.
"Toms, with me!" Alonzo yelled. "Jelly, you go get Old Deuteronomy to deal with him!" He spat before he and the majority of the Toms ran from the yard. Cori looked up at Skimble, who was glaring down at him.
"Cori!" Skimble stepped out of the way as Tantomile ran up to Cori, falling to her knees beside him and pulling him into her arms.
"Oh, Cori,"
I'm sorry, Tants.
It's not your fault, I should have been there with you! Tantomile's voice replied.
No...it is my fault, I was meant to be watching him, it was my turn... Cori thought sadly.
Cori...
No, Tant...whatever punishment I get I deserve,
You weren't the only guard...
I was the one he had today, I was the one that was meant to be watching him...I'm not letting you share my blame, Tanto...
Tantomile sighed, nuzzling Cori softly as Misto walked over, kneeling beside them both.
"I-It'll be okay," Misto whispered. Cori just curled up tightly in Tantomile's arms, burying his face in her shoulder as he clung onto her tightly...feeling scared for the first time in a long time.
Tugger and the Toms ran towards the harbour, which was where Tristram's ship should be. Tugger frantically searched the water for it...but couldn't find the ship.
"Where is it?" He yelled. Plato grabbed a Tom who was staring at them.
"There was a ship...its captain is Tristram, where is it?" Plato snarled.
"I-It s-sailed out t-two hours ago," The Tom whispered, scared.
"Did you see it go?"
"Yes sir, I was working on the dock it was at,"
"Did you see a silver Tom get taken aboard?" Alonzo asked.
"I-I don't know about a Tom, but I saw a silver queen with black stripes, that was pregnant, being taken aboard...she was putting up a fuss," Tugger's eyes widened.
"No...no...no," He began whispering, collapsing to his knees.
"Tristram took Munku," Tugger wailed. "He's gone!" Plato let go of the Tom, shoving him away. The Tom stumbled away, a sly grin on his lips...that the Jellicles missed as they were too busy trying to comfort Tugger.
Coricopat looked up as the Jellicle Toms came back to the yard. He, Tantomile and Misto were sitting on the tyre, being watching closely by Skimble and the others that remained.
"Tristram's taken him...they've gone!" Tugger spat at Cori as he stormed to the tyre. Cori flinched, recoiling as Tugger lifted his paw, going to strike him.
"Tugger!" Tugger paused at the booming call. He turned and saw Old Deuteronomy walking towards him, followed by Jellylorum.
"What is the meaning of this?" Deuteronomy asked firmly.
"He was supposed to be guarding Munkustrap...but he didn't and now Munkustrap's gone!" Tugger cried out. Deuteronomy looked at Coricopat, who was staring at the ground.
"Sir, you have to banish him!" Cori winced as an uproar of approval echoed from the Jellicles.
"Exile him, make sure he has no contact with ANY Jellicle," Asparagus hissed.
"Kick him out on the streets, make him pay," Cori gave a weak sob. Deuteronomy looked at Cori, who was huddled up, staring at the ground. Tantomile was gently trying to hold him.
"Coricopat...come with me...we need to discuss your future," Deuteronomy told him. Coricopat nodded, not meeting his eyes, before getting to his feet. Deuteronomy placed a paw on Coricopat's shoulder and started to lead him away.
"Sir, please, it's not his fault...he wasn't the only guard!" Tantomile cried out.
"I was the one meant to be guarding him at that moment, Tanto...it's my fault and my fault alone," Cori said quietly, looking at the ground. Deuteronomy looked at the young mystic before he led him away.
Cori bit his lip as Deuteronomy led him away from the clearing and the angry Jellicles.
He had no idea what was going to happen to him...but he was scared.
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Oh no…poor Cori! What will happen next?
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