Deuteronomy held the collar in his paws, smiling softly as he looked at it. The light glinted off the small, diamond shaped metal studs across the black leather.
It was a gift for Munkustrap.
Usually he would have saved it for when Munkustrap came of age, as he did with Tugger's and Macavity's collars but as it was Munkustrap's first Jellicle Ball, and he was only really a few months from becoming of age now. He would become a fledgling Tom, not quite a kitten but not yet a full grown Tom, in a matter of weeks.
Months had gone by since the incident with Munkustrap's ex-master.
Macavity had long since become of age and had moved out into a den with Alonzo, with Tugger joining them just the other week. Jenny and Skimble were just about to welcome their first litter of kittens. Jellylorum had had another litter of kittens that morning, two little Queen-kits to join her two growing tom-kits. The little ones names' were Etcetera and Electra.
Deuteronomy turned the collar over in his paws, giving a soft sigh. He had no idea on how to give this to Munkustrap or how the kitten would take it. Deuteronomy laughed softly. He shouldn't be referring to Munkus as a kitten now, not when he was only eight months away from becoming a Tom.
He was becoming more independent as well, not needing to have Deuteronomy in his sights at all times any more. Munkus was out with his friends at the moment, walking around the yard.
Deuteronomy was glad that Munkus was growing up and that he had found friends that he trusted.
"So, looking forward to the first ball, Munkus?" Cori asked as he, Munkus and Tantomile wandered around the yard, down the paths surrounded by towering junk piles.
"Yeah," Munkus laughed. "Though, I'll admit, I'm nervous about dancing in front of everyone." Munkus glanced at the twins as they walked beside him, moving in sync. As they had gotten older, Cori and Tantomile's abilities had gotten stronger, as had their mental bond, and it wasn't uncommon to see them moving as one, finishing each other's sentences and just having moments where they stare at each other, seemingly having a mental conversation.
Munkus was a little jealous; they were both so graceful and elegant as well.
"What about you two?" He questioned as they padded along. Tantomile smiled.
"I, for one, am looking forward to it," She answered softly. "I've heard it's quite magical," Cori sniggered at his sister's dreamy expression, prompting her to smack him across the back of the head. Munkus stumbled he was laughing so hard. Tantomile glared at her brother, who pouted and rubbed the back of his head.
"What about you then?" She growled at her brother. Cori shrugged.
"Well, Miss Prissy," Cori muttered. He cowered back as Tantomile turned and shot him a dark look. Munkus snorted as he tried to contain his laughter.
"Not helping, Munku," Cori glowered at his best friend. Munkus grinned.
"I wasn't intending to." Munk grinned. "Besides, you were asking for it, you know better than to smart-mouth your sister," Tantomile smirked and gave a nod, turning and continuing to walk forward.
"Still, you could have defended your best friend," Cori mumbled as he and Munkus followed after Tantomile.
"Nah, Tantomile beating you up is too good to pass up," Munkus sniggered. Cori rolled his eyes.
"You used to be all sweet, you know."
"Ah yes, but that was before we grew up." Munkus winked. Cori laughed at that. As they had gotten older, they had become a bit more carefree, Munkustrap more so than the others, though he was still very respectful and behaved.
"So, what do you think about the ball, Cori?" Munkus asked a few moments later. Cori gave a small shrug.
"I don't know," He murmured. "I guess it'll be…"
"Shh!" Munkus interrupted him suddenly, ears twitching and swivelling. Cori frowned as he watched his friend's facial expressions. Tantomile stood still, ears flicking as well, trying to pick up what Munkustrap was hearing.
"What is it, Munk?" Cori asked quietly.
"Kittens," Munkus whispered, his ears finally come to a pause in one direction. Munkus turned and ran towards the directions of the cries, Cori and Tantomile close on his tail. The three slowed down when they came across the bloodied body of a black and white Queen.
Munkus slowly crept forward, sniffing the air.
"Cori, Tanti, can you sense her heartbeat?" Munkus asked the twins softly as he crept up to the body.
"No," Tantomile said sadly. "She is gone." Cori peered closer to the body.
"However, I sense two more beating hearts, though they are weak," Munkustrap quickly closed in on the body, trying to find the two that the twins sensed. His green eyes widened when black fur shifted against the mother's pelt and a pair of purple-green eyes suddenly appeared as a small head turned around to look at him.
"Cori, Tanto, there are kittens!" Munkus breathed. The two twins quickly headed over as Munkustrap gently pulled the black kitten away from where it was curled in its dead mother's embrace. Munkus looked at the tiny, skinny kitten in shock as it stared back up at him, purple-green eyes wide. It was a little tuxedo kitten with a white face and bib and it seemed to be a few months old.
"It's a Tom," Cori murmured as he glanced at the Tux kitten.
"Here's the other one," Munkus looked at Tantomile as she gently pried a small white kitten away from the dead mother. Tantomile examined the trembling kitten closely.
"A little queen-kit," Tantomile told him softly. The grimy white kitten gave a cry of fear, trying to wiggle free of Tantomile's gentle paws.
"Vicky!" The tiny Tux kitten in Munkustrap's arms squeaked. Munkus gently hushed the writhing kitten as he tried to free himself from Munkustrap's grip. Munkus simply moved over to sit beside Tantomile, allowing the two kittens to be close once more. The three cats looked at the two kittens as they began to calm once they saw each other close by.
"We should get them to Jennyanydots." Munkus murmured. Cori and Tantomile nodded in agreement.
"No, not leaving Mumma!" The Tux protested as Munkus stood up, carrying the kitten. Munkus looked at the tux sadly.
"I'm sorry, little one, but…but your mum has gone to be with the Everlasting Cat," Munkus told him gently. The kitten looked back at his mum, his purple-green eyes filling with tears.
"B-But she pr-romised s-she wouldn't leave us!" Munkus hugged the kitten close as the kitten wrapped his arms around Munkustrap's neck, sobbing into his shoulder.
"She didn't want to leave you," Munkus cooed softly to him as the trio headed back towards the main clearing. "I can tell she did her absolute best to stay with you…b-but, she couldn't any longer. She's at peace now, little one." The kitten sniffled in his arms, looking up at Munkus as he wiped his teary eyes with the back of his black paw.
"Cori, could you get my father please?" Munkus asked as they approached the main clearing. Cori nodded and darted off. Munkus glanced at Tantomile who was gently rocking the whimpering, grimy white queen-kit and singing softly to her. Tantomile felt his gaze and looked up, smiling at him, before looking back to the kitten.
As they reached the edge of the clearing, Cori came back with Deuteronomy close on his heels.
Deuteronomy had been pondering over the collar when Cori had come rushing into his den, explaining breathlessly that they had found two kittens with the body of their dead mother.
"Lead the way, Coricopat," Deuteronomy had replied, setting the collar aside for now. Deuteronomy followed Cori from the den, following him towards the edge of the clearing where Munkus and Tantomile soon appeared. Deuteronomy smiled at the sight of his youngest.
Munkus was just about as tall as him now, coming up to his shoulders.
In Munkustrap's arms was a small, grimy, tuxedo kitten with its arms wrapped around Munkustrap's neck as he held on tightly.
"My, my," Deuteronomy murmured softly as he approached Munkus to look at the tiny Tux. The Tux stared back at him, his purple-green eyes wide with fear as he clutched on tighter to Munkustrap. Deuteronomy looked over to the kitten Tantomile was cradling, who wasn't in any better shape than the tom-kit.
"Come, I believe these two should be seen by Jennyanydots." Deuteronomy simply said before he turned, leading the trio, plus the two kittens, towards the infirmary. Deuteronomy peered in the infirmary once they arrived there, before he walked in, the others following close on his tail.
"Oh, hello, Deut," Jenny said breathlessly as she waddled into the room, Skimble right by her side. "What can I do for you?" Deuteronomy turned to look at the three behind him.
"These three have found two kittens." Deuteronomy explained briefly before settling down on a cushion. Jenny frowned.
"Come on in then, sit down and let me see them," Jenny ordered. The three did as she ordered, sitting down on the cushions. Jenny went to Tantomile first, sighing sadly as she saw the terrified, grimy, white kitten in her arms.
"Hello there, darling," Jenny cooed softly as she gently examined the squirming kitten. "What is your name?" The white kitten stared up at Jenny with large blue eyes as if trying to determine if the elder Queen was a threat.
"V-Victoria," The kitten managed to stutter out. Jenny smiled.
"That is a very lovely and very elegant name, Victoria," The white kitten smiled at Jenny, quickly warming up to her.
No kitten was able to resist Jenny's charms.
Jenny gave a nod as she finished looking over Victoria.
"She's about three months old, in pretty good health, other than the fact she needs a good feed and a good bath!" Victoria looked down at her grimy fur before grimacing. Jenny turned her attention to Munkustrap and the tuxedo kitten in his arms. Jenny paused as the kitten turned to look at her.
"My, my," Jenny breathed as she gently lifted the kitten's head up to look at his eyes. "He has a very interesting eye colour, not one that I've seen before." The kitten looked to Munkustrap in confusion. Munkus just smiled at him as Jenny started her examination.
"What's your name, sweetie?" Jenny asked as she gently felt the kitten's ribs.
"Q-Quaxo."
"That is quite an…interesting name," Jenny smiled. Quaxo frowned and tried to cuddle closer to Munkustrap.
Apparently, this kitten was exempt to the Jenny charms.
Jenny took it in her stride, glancing up at Munkustrap and giving a small smile. The kitten clearly trusted Munkustrap already. Jenny finished her examination and sat back, looking to Skimble, who nodded in understanding before disappearing.
"How is he, Jenny?" Munkus asked softly as he cuddled the kitten close, the young kitten purring softly as he snuggled against Munkustrap's soft fur.
"He's perfectly healthy, besides being underweight and a bit dirty," Jenny replied, smiling as she gently massaged her pregnant stomach. Skimble appeared moments later carrying a tub, walking carefully so the warm water didn't slosh out of the sides.
"Here, Jen," Skimble smiled as he set the tub down before he grabbed a couple of towels. "I'll get some soft food prepared,"
"Thank you, darling," Jenny smiled. Cori got to his feet.
"I'll help you, Dad," Skimble grinned as he wrapped his arm around Cori's shoulders, pulling his son close as they walked towards the kitchen.
"Thanks, my boy," Skimble laughed as he knuckled the fur between Cori's ears.
"Aww, Dad!" They heard Cori whine as they left the main den. Jenny shook her head affectionately before she focused her attention on the kittens.
"Now, let's get these two clean, shall we?" Victoria squirmed and wriggled as Jenny took her from Tantomile before setting her in the warm water. Munkus gently detached Quaxo from his fur before attempting to set him in the water.
The kitten was having none of it though.
Quaxo squirmed and mewled as he desperately gripped onto Munkustrap's arm, refusing to let go.
"It's alright, Quaxo," Munkus tried to reassure the kitten. "Look, Victoria is enjoying it." Quaxo turned his eyes to his sister, finding that the white queen-kit was definitely enjoying having shampoo massaged into her fur by Jennyanydots. Quaxo looked back at Munkustrap, sticking his bottom-lip out as he pouted.
"No," Quaxo whimpered, staring at Munkus with large, innocent purple-green eyes. Deuteronomy chuckled as he watched Munkus trying to negotiate with the kitten.
"But…I don't want a bath!" Quaxo mewled. Munkus gently rubbed the kitten's back, using the methods Deuteronomy used on him when he was a kitten to calm him down. Quaxo looked back at the tub, where Victoria was giggling as she and Jenny played with the bubbles. Quaxo looked back at Munkus, biting his lip. Munkus just smiled at the kitten, before gently picking him up again and placing him in the tub. Quaxo pouted up at him as Munkus started to wash the dirt and grime from the kitten's fur. Jenny beamed at Munkus as she passed him the shampoo.
Munkus laughed softly at Quaxo as the kitten managed to get bubbles all over his face. He gently cleaned the bubbles away before he grabbed the grape shampoo, massaging it into the kitten's fur. Quaxo grinned up at him as Munkus washed the shampoo out of the kitten's fur.
"Jen, their food is about ready!" Skimble called out.
"Thank you, darling," Jenny called back before looking to Munkustrap. "Let's get these kittens dry, shall we?" Munkus gave a nod, smiling. Munkustrap pulled Quaxo out from the tub, wrapping the kitten in a white fluffy towel. Quaxo purred as Munkustrap dried off his fur. Skimble and Cori walked back in, each carrying bowls.
Deuteronomy watched as Munkus took the bowl, smiling at Skimble, before holding it in front of the kitten, which was still partly wrapped in the towel, on his lap.
He chuckled as he watched little Quaxo dig into the food, eating happily. Deuteronomy found himself watching how Munkustrap interacted with the kitten, watching how Munkus subconsciously protected the little one, moving slightly when the kitten did to make sure he didn't fall off his lap.
Though Munkustrap was still technically a kitten, he seemed older than he was, mostly because of how mature he was and that was due to the terror and trauma he had been through as a young kitten.
Deuteronomy frowned as a certain thought crossed his mind.
When Munkustrap had been Quaxo's age, he was already in slavery and facing hardships that no kitten should be put through.
Perhaps that was why Munkus was always so protective of the kittens because he wanted the kittens to feel safe and happy as he knew what it felt like to be scared and alone, unloved and hurt.
Deuteronomy broke himself away from that train of thought as he looked back up at the sound of a kitten laughing. He smiled as he saw Quaxo climbing up to sit on Munkustrap's shoulders, Munkustrap laughing as he did so.
Now there was just the matter of where these little ones would stay and who they would stay within the Jellicle tribe.
CCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Okay, firstly, I am so so so so sorry it's taken me this long to update! I've been on jury duty and when I get home, I just want to collapse…there's just so much info to take in, both from material I've been given and just notes I have to take, and my brain is just so muddled from it!
Plus, have been struggling a bit lately, been a bit depressed/anxious about things and things that I know will never happen…and I just get restless from it…
Hopefully it won't be too long before the next update, though I still have a while left of jury duty…
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Love,
HGP