After the funneral Tugger was surrounded by queens who needed a good cuddle. He didn't mind but a knot formed in his stomach and wouldn't go away.

Kamewati just watched the grave until the ground was smooth and complete again. His head bowed slightly and his lips formed into a firm straight line.

Mungojerrie found Triniten, Jingalizzy and a few others still in the clearing. he gave Trin and Jingal and warm embrace that lasted a lot longer than he would have allowed any other time. His gaze then met Pouncival's sad exression and he offered the tomkit a hand off the ground.

Pouncy sniffed and took the hand up to his feet. "Plato's really gone...and he's not coming back." He said softly, as if convincing himself. The tom was known for disappearing for a while but he had always come back.

Munkus sat alone, eyes red from the soundless tears that had refused to be held back. His jaw was clenched and locked against any sound he might even slightly make. That's two deaths, two he couldn't have done anything about. Yet his mind kept telling him if he had been in the right place, if he was on guard, if if if. Always 'if's. He sighed angrily.

Scarlot made her way over to Kame's side and touched his shoulder. "There was nothing that could have been done?" Her question was so quiet and her lips hardly moved that no one could possibly have heard besides the forest cat she stood next to. It wasn't really a question of accusation, of if he could have been saved, more like confirmation.

Kamewati slowly, methotically, turned his gaze upon her. His good eye had dialated into a black void and his voice was an eeriely dead tone, "We all could have done something..." He was never one to blame circumstance.

Scarlot looked down at the ground. She knew Munkus better than he knew himself. He was beating himself up, tearing into how he could have done something. Two deaths this close together was doing a number on everyone, that was for sure. Tears still fell down her red streaked face.

Mungojerrie pulled the tomkit close and absently stroked out his headfur. This ruined the calico's image but at that moment he wouldn't care if his den imploded. He made soft crooning tones into the small tomkit's ear as he let him cry into his chest. "I'm so sorry... It'll be al'ight... I'm so sorry Pounciva'..." The sheer fact tht the young tom had used Pouncival's full name was shocking but this hadn't exactly been a normal evening.

Pouncy cried into Mungo's chest, hardly making any noise.

Tumble came up and hugged around his slightly older brother. Tears running down his face as well. After a moment Tumble patted Pouncy's back, silently appologizing for leaving, but Jemima and Electra were crying by themselves. He, as well as some other kits, almost seemed to grow twice their age in that small amount of time. He went over and let them rest their head on each shoulder.

Mungojerrie shifted so he was sitting with the crying tomkit in his lap. He never once pulled back or pushed Pouncival away as he moved. Mungo didn't cry, his face was slightly pale but other than that he looked completely indifferent, "I'm... I'm so sorry Pounciva'" He kept apologizing as Jingalizzy and Triniten curled up around him and cryign into each of his shoulders.

By this time Rumpelteazer had made he way over to Munkustrap and Scarlot. She was a very emotionally strong queen despite her giggly nature. She rested a small hand on Munkus's broad shoulder and leaned into his cheek with a reassurign nuzzle, "Don't beat yourself up over this... No matter how uch it hurts; you have to keep saying that it wasn't your fault..." He gave their leader a soft kiss on the forehead and a swift hug before going off to find someone else to hug and comfort.

Munkus turned his face away from Rumple as she spoke, but only found Scarlot on the other side. He attempted to look away again only to be pounced upon.

She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "I'm so glad you're safe." She mumbled into his fur. The crying finally breaking through her own barrier since they were away from the clan. "I know Plato's death was horrible, but there was nothing that you could have done."

"I could have been in his place." He muttered.

"And what? Kill yourself? The clan can't stand to lose another Leader so quickly." She shot back, sitting back she was at eye level as she sat on his lap. "I know you feel you need to protect everyone, but you can't. You're not just a Protector anymore." She was getting angry, and it was getting through.

Munkus's eyes went from hardened and angry at himself to pained. He didn't like hearing this out loud.

Pouncy's sobs and convulsions slowly died out. His eyes were red and puffy from crying, muscles ached. But he was mentally and emotionally exhausted, no more tears could be shed.

Mungojerrie found himself stuck under a tiny sleeping kitten and a young queen who was nearly passed out herself. He mentally patted himself on the back for laying down prior to this. He sighed deeply as he stroked Pouncival's headfur in a calming and methotical way.

Rumpelteazer stumbled, exhaustedly, over to the pile and curled up against mungojerrie, pinning the tiny black domestic between the two of them. She stroked out the youngest Jellicle's headfur and hummed a soft lullaby that Jellylorum had sang to every Jellicle at one point or another.

Kamewati finally pulled his gaze from the grave as the sun was about to rise. He padded softly to Munkustrap and bowed deeply to the Jellicle leader, "My sincerest apologizes my Lord... I should have done more." Before anyone could respond he turned and walked towards his oven-den.

Scarlot was still sitting on Munkus's lap when Kame came over and spoke. She looked down at the ground as Munkus looked over at Kame's retreating form. "Scarlot, go back to the den." He said, setting her softly beside him. He stood and followed Kame. "I know I keep getting yelled at for this, but I do believe it was my fault." He said. "Not yours Kame. It was...beyond anyone's control." He was silent for a long while, looking at the den they had housed Kame in. "I owe you a lot Kame. You did plenty for the clan today. You know...you could probably move closer if you wanted." In all honesty, he wasn't feeling like he had to repay Kame. He felt the cat had actually earned his trust now, he felt he had nothing to fear from him.

Kamewati looked at the Jellicle leader over a shoulder "They are right to scold you my Lord." He bent down to pick of a patchwork blanket he had been using. "You fought to the best of your ability... no more.. no less. Your best just wasn't enough" Kamwati jumped onto the top of his oven-den and stared off into space.

He was going to argue the point but he decided to leave it until morning. They were all tired. "Okay Kame. See you in the morning." He left quietly and went to his den. Curling up next to Scarlot, who was still awake but had a sleeping Etcetera and Jemima next to her as well.


Morning came slowly. Munkus stood and trudged out of the den sitting perched up on the tire, listening to the faint sounds of the morning. The sun hadn't risen yet, but the skyline was turning lighter and lighter grey as he watched.

Triniten woke up earlier than anyone else in his particular pile. He wiggled free of Rumpelteazer's grip and padded out into the clearing. "Munkstwap...?" He rubbed at one of his baby-blue eyes as he approached his leader.

Tugger woke up to find himself entangled in a mass of limbs. Upon closer examination he saw he was cuddling with Quaxo, Electra, Skimble, Tumblebrutus, Demeter, and Bombalurina. He carefully moved enough arms and legs to free himself from the pile and soon joined Munkus on the tire.

"Morning Triniten." He said looking down at the small tomkit. He acknowledged Tugger's appearance and stiffled a small sigh. Scarlot awoke, but she didn't move. She was still brooding over many things in her head.

"Munkustwap... wah happens if a Jell'cle dies and isn't assep-ed by da clan into da 'eaviside lair?" His tiny kitten-lisp made Tugger smile despite the saddness in the kitten's voice. Triniten curled up against his leader's chest and sniffled softly, new tears clingign to his large blue eyes.

Tugger was silent but his mind was racing, it seemed everyone involved in the Pollicle fight was brooding nd blaming themselves fr Plato's death.

Munkus wrapped his arms around the small kit. It amazed him the questions the innocence could bring forth. Such good questions. What answer could there be to that? "Trin...Our acceptance isn't just into the heavyside lair." He begain. "Our acceptance is to be reborn, to help them along that path. Chosen or not chosen, Plato went to the Heavyside, I have no doubt in that." He managed a small smile and stroked the kits headfur as he held him close. He looked up at Tugger, his eyes sad and pained. He wished there was some way he could prove it, to make Triniten feel better. But it had been less than twenty four hours since Plato's death, it was hard to think positive still.

Triniten followed Munkustrap's gaze and looked up at the Rum Tum Tugger with huge sad and crying eyes. The Main Coon acted on instinct and found himself hugging the tiny kitten between himself and Munkustrap. He had to admit the situation was horribly ackward but how coud he resist those eyes?

Munkus didn't care about being awkward. He just cared about Triniten at this point. "I know he is." He mumbled into Trin's ear, stroking his head and grooming it every now and then.


Jingalizzy woke up to find Mungojerrie exhasted. He had only just gotten so sleep about an hour before and she did her best to not desturb him or Rumpelteazer as she made her way to the clearing.

Scarlot finally found herself able to get up. Standing she exited her den after laying one of their blankets over the two kittens.

Pouncy was so tired, he had only gotten a couple hours of sleep, bits at a time. Nightmares still ravished his subconcious. Now more vivid with the recent death of Plato. He trembled and winced often. Shrinking into Mungo's chest unconciously as he slept. Awaking wild eyed until he remembered where he was. But he hardly made a sound. It was almost worrying that he had gotten so good at clamping his mouth shut at certain times.

Mungojerrie's arms wrapped around the small tomkit whenever he moved in his sleep. He cooed soft words while he had been awake but now his arms just wrapped warmer and tighter whenever a nightmare woke the small kitten.


Jingalizzy approached Tugger and gave him a soft nuzzle, cheek to cheek before kissing him briefly and sittign down beside the three toms.

Triniten nodded softly as Munkustrap tried to convince him, "Munkustwap... wiw you pwomise dat no more Jewicles wiw git hurt? I don't want anyone else gitting hurt..."

Munkus held Triniten even tighter. "I promise Trin." He said. Though he also was promising himself. He'd throw himself in front of Macavity if it came to protecting the clan.

Scarlot made her way to Munkus's side and quietly sat beside him. She didn't say anything, only stroked Triniten as well. It was going to be hard for a long while, she knew this and was preparing herself emotionally.

Triniten was fast asleep in no time and Jingalizzy scooped him out of Munkustrap's lap as she and Tugger headed to her den to put the kitten to bed.


Pouncy was laying there with his eyes halfway open. Mind slowly wandering, but he made no attempt to move. Most importantly he didn't want to wake Mungo, but he also was hoping for a little more sleep.

Mungojerrie was awake though his eyes were shut tightly. When he felt Pouncival's breathing change he opened them and looked down at the sad ball of tomkit. Mungo pulled the kitten into his welcoming and warm lap and wrapped his strong arms around him. The calico then proceeded to sing Jellylorum's lullaby, "...dancin bears pain'ed wings, thin's i almos' remembah. and a song someone sings once upon a demembah. some one 'olds me safe an' warm. 'orses prance through a sivlah storm. figures dancin' gracefully across me memory" his crisp cockney accent brought a surpirsingly calming aspect to the words and Pouncival couldn't help but notice how well he sang when he really wanted to.

Pouncy settled into Mungo's warm chest, eyes still open, but dull as he stared at nothing. "That was very nice Mungo." He mumbled softly. The lullaby had relaxed him greatly. "I...I didn't wake you did I?" Even his voice was slightly hollowed, like that of his eyes.

Mungojerrie exhaled slowly, taking a long moment to come up with something to say, "You 'ave a long life a'ead of you... I promise i' will be bettah den dis. An' with time dis pain will go away... i promise Pounciva'."