Macavity stalked around his throne room, snarling and hissing to himself. He wanted Cori back!

"Boss?" Macavity turned and looked at Tori; she was standing by the door. He waved her in.

"What is it, Tori?" He asked. Tori gave a small shrug, sitting down. Macavity looked at her.

"Can I speak freely to you, boss?" Tori asked hesitantly. Macavity nodded.

"I've seen you watch cats as they scream as they are tortured…but you couldn't watch Munkustrap scream," Tori said slowly. Macavity tilted his head. "I looked at you when I was trying to set his leg in place, you had blanked out,"

"And?"

"I just wondering, boss," Tori said. "You left when you saw the tears,"

"I can't kill him, Tori," Macavity answered, sitting down in his throne.

"Boss?"

"That's not the first time Munkustrap has dislocated something…the first time, he dislocated his left arm when I tackled him out of the way of a car," Tori winced. "It was hard hearing my little brother screaming, and begging and pleading with our father to make it stop,"

"When I saw him after, his cheeks were stained with tears…he was crying, like he had just been then,"

"Is that why you can't kill him?" Tori asked softly. Macavity's eyes hardened.

"N-Not sayin' that you couldn't if you wanted to!" Tori quickly said. Macavity sighed.

"Yes, it's the reason I can't kill him," Tori blinked, shocked. "Because every time I get close to killing him, all I see is that tear stained, scared face of his when he was a kitten," Tori nodded.

"Where do you want to put him, boss?" Tori asked, formal once more.

"Hm?"

"In the cells?"

"No…put him in the room that connects to mine, I want to keep an eye on him,"

"As you command," Macavity gave a twitch of a smile as Tori walked out.

She was one he could rely on.

Tugger stretched and heard a thump.

"Ow," Tugger peeled open one of his eyes and saw Cori on the floor beside him.

"What happened?" Tugger asked, smirking. Cori pouted but gave a small smile.

"You stretched and I fell off," Tugger laughed, pulling Cori back onto the nest. Cori cuddled up into his arms, sighing.

Tugger sat up and nuzzled Cori.

"I need to talk to Misto," Tugger murmured. Cori clutched onto his arms, looking fearful.

"We'll be just outside the den, I swear," Tugger told him, kissing his nose. Cori reluctantly let go of Tugger's arms. Tugger pressed his nose against Cori's, Cori gave a small smile.

"Your nose is cold," Cori murmured. Tugger laughed, pulling Cori into his arms once more.

"I'll be back in a few moments," Tugger told Cori before leaving the den. Cori felt nervous instantly.

"Um…" Cori lifted his head and saw Tiana standing in front of him, looking unsure. Cori blinked…he didn't know what to say to the daughter that hated him. Cori shifted over and let Tiana sit beside him.

"I'm sorry," Tiana whispered. Cori looked at her. Tiana collapsed in his arms.

"Daddy, I'm so sorry!" She cried. Cori rubbed her back.

"Shh, sweetie, it's okay," Cori murmured.

"No, Daddy, I said all those things to you and you were trying to protect us!" Tiana sobbed into his chest. Cori rested his head against the top of Tiana's.

"It's alright, baby…everything's okay,"

"I…I don't hate you," Tiana whispered. Cori's arms tightened around Tiana.

"I'm so sorry, Daddy, I'm so sorry!"

"Shh," Cori whispered. "Shh, princess, it's okay," Tiana sniffed and rested against Cori's chest.

"I missed you…so much," Tiana said quietly, looking up at her dad. Cori gave a small smile, rubbing her cheek.

"I missed you too," Tiana shifted in his arms, her tail catching against the bandage on Cori's upper left thigh.

"Daddy?" Tiana asked, looking at the bandage.

"It's nothing, sweetie," Cori murmured. Tiana looked at Cori, before hugging him tightly. Cori smiled and hugged her back.

He had missed her.

Tugger walked back in and smiled when he saw Cori and Tiana hugging each other tightly. Cori looked up.

"What did Misto say?"

"I'll tell you later," Tugger murmured. Cori nodded, rubbing his head against Tiana's.

Macavity walked around his throne room, hissing to himself once more. Macavity looked up and frowned when he saw Munkustrap hopping his way into the throne room.

"What are you doing?" Macavity asked, amused. "Do you think you can just walk around?"

"Well, it's not like I'm going to run anywhere anytime soon," Munkustrap said, wincing as he leant against a wall. Macavity paced around again.

"Why did you help me?" Macavity looked at Munkustrap.

"You could have left me there with my leg like it was…why did you bring me back here and have my leg reset properly?" Macavity yawned, stretching.

"Because we are brothers, Munkustrap," Macavity answered. "And it'll be easier keeping an eye on you here,"

"You didn't want me hurt?" Munkustrap asked, surprised. Macavity hissed and stalked over, grabbing Munkustrap's collar and tossing him in the direction of his throne. Munkustrap landed hard on the ground but his leg wasn't hurt.

"Hm, I think I like you at my feet," Macavity smirked, walking over to his throne and sitting on it. Munkustrap sighed, lowering his head. Macavity tilted his head.

"Why do you look so…emotionless?" Macavity asked. "What did Nicky do to you?" Munkustrap's ears slowly lowered, his tail flicking in between his legs. Macavity caught the movements and his back stiffened as he sat up, looking at Munkustrap.

"Munkus…what did he do to you?" Munkustrap glanced up at Macavity before lowering his head. Macavity got to his feet and stalked from the room, leaving a bewildered Munkustrap looking after him.

"Why are you going alone?" Demeter asked Mistoffelees. "Take Teazer with you or something!"

"Deme, they don't allow Queens at the arena," Mistoffelees said, wiping dirt off of his leg.

"She can wait outside…just take her!"

"Fine!" Misto snapped at her. Misto walked away and found Teazer. He slipped his paw into hers as they walked towards Nicky's arena.

"Wait here, Teaze," Misto told her as they stood around the corner. Teazer nodded and Misto rounded the corner. He paused when he saw the guards' unconscious outside the door.

"What?" Misto whispered, moving closer to the door. Misto froze as cats suddenly emerged from the arena, led by a tall, lanky orange Tom.

"Macavity," Misto breathed, taking a step back. The Hidden Paw turned his silver to look at the small conjurer. Misto's breath caught in his throat as Macavity grabbed him suddenly, pulling him towards him.

"Well, if it isn't my first son," Macavity said slowly, wiping his bloodied claws clean on Misto's white fur.

"What are you doing in a place like this?" Macavity's eyes flickered to the right. Misto turned his head to see what he was looking at.

"Let go of me!"

"Teaze," Misto whispered, seeing Macavity's hench-cats had hold of the struggling Queen.

"Hm," Macavity murmured, interested when he saw Mistoffelees's reaction.

"I'm going to let you two go back to the yard…just tell my Cori that I'll be back for him soon,"

"Munkustrap will fight you!" Macavity's lips twisted into a grin. Misto paled. His bluff had been called.

"I know where Munkustrap is…and he isn't going to be helping anyone anytime soon,"

"What did you do to him?" Misto whispered, scared.

"Nothing…he's a lot better than he was," Macavity smirked.

"Now give Cori my message…and tell Tugger he's going to pay," Macavity pushed the small conjurer away and walked away. Rumpleteazer scrambled to Misto's side, pulling him into her arms as they watched Macavity walk away.

Munkustrap looked up when Macavity walked in, yawning.

"Why haven't you killed me?" Munkustrap asked as Macavity sat down. Macavity raised his head in interest.

"You have me where you want me…and yet you still haven't killed me…why?" Macavity tilted his head.

"Can't you kill me?"

Munkustrap fell back in surprise as Macavity was suddenly on top him. Macavity straddled Munkustrap's middle, his knees pinning Munkustrap's arms down.

"I can hurt you, I can torture you," Macavity hissed, scratching little deep scratches against Munkustrap's collar bone. Munkustrap winced as the flesh on his chest was scratched and torn open. Macavity suddenly leapt down, crouching beside Munkustrap's bruised and swollen leg. Macavity grabbed Munkustrap's swollen knee and squeezed tightly. Munkustrap gave a strangled cry as he writhed, pain tearing up his leg. Macavity squeezed tighter and pained tears fell from Munkustrap's eyes as he squirmed, trying to break free from the pain.

"Macavity, stop, please, stop!" Munkustrap screamed as the pain got to him. Macavity let go of Munkustrap's leg. Munkustrap put his paw over his mouth, ashamed he had just yelled that out.

"But I can never kill you…I can't bring myself to kill you," Macavity whispered as he stood up. Munkustrap managed to control his gasping sobs and sat up.

"What about Tugger?" Munkustrap asked, his voice hoarse. Macavity looked at Munkustrap, who was wiping away the moisture from the pained tears.

"If I had found him in your place…he'd be dead at my feet with his throat over there," Macavity nodded towards the opposite side of the room.

"What are you going to do to him and Cori?" Munkustrap asked. Macavity smirked.

"You don't think I'd really tell you that, Munks," Macavity laughed. Munkustrap just stared at him.

"But Tugger will pay for the moment he laid eyes on my Cori," Macavity growled. Munkustrap lowered his head.

Tugger smiled as he looked down at Cori who was asleep in his arms. They were sitting out in the clearing, they had been watching Tiana, Ferny and Aden play with the other kittens but Cori fell asleep in his arms. Tugger looked up and met Tantomile's eye. She gave a small smile and went back to playing with her son.

"Tugger!" Tugger looked down at Cori who stirred, before looking up at Misto and Teazer as they came towards them.

"Misto…you're hurt!" Tugger breathed, shocked that his nephew was hurt.

"It's not my blood," Misto said quickly. Misto told him that he went to the arena and was met by Macavity…he also told him that Nicky and all of his supporters and followers were dead.

"H-He also wanted me to give you both a message," Misto whispered. Tugger nodded, Cori clutched on tighter to Tugger.

"Macavity said he'll be back for Cori soon and that you'll pay, Tugger," Misto told them.

"What did you tell him?" Cori asked, his voice shaking just a little.

"I told him that Munkus would fight him off before any of that happened," Misto sighed.

"Tugger, I'm sure that Macavity has Munkus," Misto told him.

"What? How?"

"When I told him that Munkustrap would fight him, he smirked and said that he knew where Munkustrap was and that Munkus wouldn't be helping anyone anytime soon," Tugger looked at Cori as Cori gave a small whimper.

"Munkus will be fine, Cori," Tugger reassured him. Misto nodded and took Teazer's paw before walking away.

Munkustrap woke up during the middle of the night and looked to the side, through the open door. He was in a small room beside Macavity's room, the only way he could leave his room was to go through Macavity's room. Macavity had put him there to keep an eye on him.

Munkustrap frowned when he caught sight of Macavity, kneeling on his nest, looking out the window. He could barely hear Macavity talking but he caught words such as 'Cori', 'I love you,' and 'Why can't you see it?' Munkustrap startled a little when Macavity's head turned to look at him. Silver eyes met blue ones and just stared. Munkustrap turned his head away after a while…better not to anger Macavity.

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