Mali sat up in the boot late one night, her ears twitching in annoyance. Misto yawned and sat up beside her.
"What is that?" He asked sleepily. Mali winced and covered her ears as the noise got louder. Mali and Misto headed outside to investigate the noise. Mali was glad Quaxo was with Munkustrap and Demeter tonight. They reached the centre of the clearing, surprised to see Coricopat and Tantomile there, looking confused and slightly irritated.
"Can you hear that?" Mali asked them. They nodded simultaneously. Mali's ears twitched once more.
"It's moving," Mali said, confused. The four followed the noise. They came to a deserted part of the yard.
"I think we need to leave," Mali breathed, starting to panic. The four went to run when they found themselves surrounded.
"Oh, not good!" Misto muttered. Tant, Cori, Misto and Mali stood in a circle with their backs facing one another, eyeing off the many cats.
'Can you get a message to him?' Mali asked Cori. Cori didn't respond. Mali turned her head.
"Cori?" Mali asked. Cori looked over. The leader cat laughed.
"We'll have to tell Sultan that it works," He said. Mali looked at him.
"What are you talking about?" Mali asked, trying to make time to think of a plan.
"That high pitched noise you are hearing, it stops you from warning the others." Mali's head tilted slightly as she thought of something.
"So what you're saying is all magic cats can hear this noise but the normal ones can't?" Mali asked slowly. The cat nodded gleefully.
"Give yourselves up and we won't hurt you too much," The leader ordered. Mali frowned.
"Wait, so we're supposed to give ourselves up to a bunch of cats that want to wipe us out?" Mali asked. The cat paused.
"Yeah, well, I guess we won't be doing that then," Misto spoke up.
"Not a chance," Tantomile and Coricopat said together. The cat shrugged.
"You leave us no choice." The four Jellicles collapsed to their knees, paws covering their ears as the screeching noise got even louder. Mali felt movement behind her and glanced over her shoulder. Tantomile and Coricopat were unconscious on the ground. Misto succumbed to it moments later.
"Mist!" Mali whispered, her paws pressing tighter against her ears. The noise was tearing through her head, through her entire body.
"How can she be resisting for this long?" She heard a cat mutter. Mali collapsed into the darkness.
Munkustrap woke up to whimpering. He saw Quaxo sitting up, paws covering his ears. Munkustrap made his way over to Quaxo and took him out of the pile of kittens.
"What is it?" He asked Quaxo.
"Noise…it hurts!" Quaxo whimpered. Munkustrap frowned and glanced towards the boot of the car.
"How long have you been hearing it?" Munkustrap asked as he picked Quaxo up and left the den with him.
"Last five-ten minutes," Quaxo whimpered. "I heard Mum and Dad talking about it," Munkustrap headed towards the boot of the car, entering through the hole in the side. Misto and Mali weren't there. Munkustrap grew uneasy. Munkustrap carried Quaxo to where Pouncival was meant to be keeping watch. He wasn't there.
"Pounce?" Munkustrap called, patting Quaxo's back comfortingly. Munkustrap turned when he heard muffled noises. He headed over to an old toy box with a latch on it. He popped the latch and the lid flew open, Pouncival leaping out of it.
"What happened?" Munkustrap asked. Pouncival shook his head.
"I don't know, one moment I was keeping watch, the next I was in that damn box," Pouncival panted. Quaxo gave a cry. Pouncival stared at him.
"What's wrong with him?" Pounce asked worriedly.
"He's hearing a noise that's hurting him." Munkustrap explained. "And I can't find Misto or Mali." Pounce frowned.
"Maybe they're with Tantomile and Coricopat." He suggested. The three headed towards their den. Cori and Tantomile's den was empty. Munkustrap set Quaxo on the floor. Quaxo let out a loud cry of pain and pressed his paws tighter against his ears. Munkustrap wrapped his arms around Quaxo.
"Can you contact Coricopat?" Munkustrap whispered to him. Quaxo shook his head.
"I'm getting static!" Quaxo whimpered. Quaxo blinked and stopped whimpering a little while later.
"It's stopped." He told Munkustrap.
"Can you contact your mum, dad, Cori or Tantomile?" Munkustrap asked him. Quaxo shook his head.
"It's still static-y." Quaxo explained, sounding confused.
"What is it?" Pouncival asked, seeing the confused look on Quaxo's face.
"Even if Cori is asleep or unconscious I can still detect his mind, or send him a message…I can't even sense him," Quaxo said. Munkustrap looked at Pouncival.
"Watch him and don't let him out of your sight!" He ordered before racing from the den. He ran from den to den, waking certain Jellicles for a search. Tumblebrutus returned with Mungojerrie twenty minutes into the search, their faces grim. Munkustrap leapt from where he was perched, which gave a view of the entire yard, and ran to them.
"What did you find?" Munkustrap asked worriedly. They both held out two collars each. Munkustrap looked at them. Mungojerrie held Mali's and Misto's collars while Tumblebrutus held Tantomile's and Coricopat's.
"In the deserted part to the west," Tumble said quietly. "There are at least another twenty scents in that area." Munkustrap took all four collars and went to find Quaxo to tell him the news.
Mali rolled onto her stomach as she came to.
"Why does this crap always happen to us?" Mali asked the air.
"Because you are a danger magnet my friend," Mali sat up and turned around. She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Cori," She breathed and fell into his hug.
"I guess you're right about the danger magnet, huh?" Mali asked as she released Cori from the hug. Cori shrugged.
"Usually it is just Macavity that wants you," Cori said quietly, his dark eyes roving around the large room. His eyes came to rest on the large metal door.
"Hang on, where's Tantomile and Misto?" Mali asked, noting they weren't in the room. Coricopat sighed.
"They separated us from those we are most powerful with." Cori said wisely. "Such as you and Mistoffelees… and Tantomile and me." Mali sighed. Cori hugged her.
"Like old times, huh?" He asked quietly. Mali looked at him.
"Old times?" She asked. "Have you been on the catnip?" Cori chuckled.
"During Macavity's takeover when we were separated from the queens, when we went after Misto and Quaxo, when we went after Misto, when we went after the kittens," Cori counted off. Mali nudged him in the side.
"Okay, okay, okay, I get it." Mali muttered. Mali rolled her head around.
"That buzzing is starting to get on my nerves," Mali muttered darkly. Cori nodded in agreement.
"Can you send a message through to him?" Mali asked quietly. Cori shook his head.
"No, all I am getting is static," Cori sighed. Mali and Cori both looked to the door as it opened. The charcoal Tom walked in with a couple of cats by his sides. Cori took Mali's paw. Mali squeezed his paw in reassurance.
"Who are you?" Cori demanded. The charcoal cat smiled.
"My name is Triton," He said.
"What do you want with us?" Mali asked. "We're not dangerous," Triton gave a wry smile.
"I beg to differ, Mali." Mali hissed as Triton said her name. Cori squeezed her paw.
"We are not dangerous," Coricopat said slowly. Triton looked to Coricopat.
"Then why are cats dead at your paws, Coricopat?" Triton asked slowly. Coricopat stiffened.
"They were hench-cats that threatened our family," Mali answered. Triton turned his attention back to Mali.
"Mali, daughter of Reema and Munkustrap…abandoned at birth and found by your birth father that had no idea you existed." Triton recited. "You got that tear in your ear the day you discovered your powers when you and Mistoffelees were attacked by Pollicles." Mali winced. "You and Mistoffelees became mates and you were abducted by Macavity shortly after…he caused the lameness in your back left leg." Mali's paw went to her leg self-consciously. Cori rubbed her back comfortingly.
"You have a son, Quaxo, he and Mistoffelees became targets of Macavity as he tried to get to you. You and the Jellicles recently rescued the kittens after they were taken by Yena, Macavity's sister." Mali hissed. Triton looked at Coricopat.
"Coricopat, twin brother of Tantomile, you and your sister were dumped at the Jellicle junkyard, as soon as your eyes opened, where Old Deuteronomy took care of you and raised you before you were given to Surley and his mate, Trenah, when you started to show signs of magic." Mali looked at Coricopat, who had gone pale.
"Surley and Trenah were killed by strays as you and your sister watched from where you were hidden, after that you barely talked to anyone but your sister." Triton paused.
"You are usually always on the team Mali chooses for certain tasks, such as getting her mate and kitten back from Macavity." Mali rubbed her head in irritation.
"You don't know us," Mali murmured. "Why do you want to kill us?" Triton thought for a moment.
"Because you aren't normal…you need to be wiped out." Triton said. Mali gave a growl.
"We don't use our magic to our own advantage…we use it when we absolutely need it." Mali said. Triton shrugged. Mali got to her feet, making the other cats go on alert. She paced near Cori, many thoughts going through her head. The cats watched her pace. Triton watched with faint amusement as she paced.
"So you're just going to kill us because we're different?" Mali asked after moments of silence. Triton nodded.
"Pretty much," He said. Cori scoffed.
"That is a pretty weak excuse," Cori said. Triton shrugged.
"You're not normal…you don't deserve to be treated as such." Mali and Cori turned to stare at him.
"If you wanted to kill us…why have you not done so yet?" Coricopat asked slowly, looking up at Mali. Triton nodded towards Mali.
"Because of her," Mali sighed dramatically and looked at Cori.
"Me…again…fantastic," She muttered, sarcasm in every word. Cori grinned.
"And why me?" Mali asked, annoyed.
"You resisted the high-pitch noise for a lot longer than you should have been capable of." Triton said. "You Jellicle cats all resisted it longer…though Mali resisted it the longest; the rest of you resisted it a few moments longer than normal."
"And?" Mali pressed. Triton smiled.
"You four are different from the other magic cats we encountered such as Serena and Jye." Triton said. Coricopat leapt to his feet, Mali grabbed him as he went to lunge. She wrapped her arms around his chest, pinning his arms to his side. He fought against her hold, shaking and snarling.
"Cori!" Mali gasped. "Coricopat, relax!" Coricopat went limp in her arms but she didn't relax her grip.
"He killed Serena and Jye!" Cori whispered angrily. Mali slowly lowered him to the ground, still keeping her arms wrapped around him.
"Cori, attacking him is not going to help us…I need you alive, Tantomile needs you." Mali whispered in his ear. Cori nodded dejectedly. Triton watched the two in front of him with amusement.
"What makes us so interesting?" Mali panted, still keeping her arms wrapped around Coricopat.
"You four have resisted the longest…we want to know why and we want to know your limits," Triton said. Mali rubbed the side of her head against Coricopat's shoulder. Coricopat looked at her.
"My ear was itchy," Mali said innocently. Cori rolled his eyes.
"We think that you'd be the best test subjects, you've proved you can withstand our devices," Triton continued, glaring at Mali for interrupting him.
"You keep saying 'we'…who else is there?" Mali asked. Triton faltered.
"Our leader…Sultan," Triton said. Mali slowly and cautiously unwrapped her arms from around Coricopat. Cori sat still. Triton was a couple a feet from where Cori and Mali were sitting, staring at them.
"Your…friends?" Triton asked. "Serena and Jye, they couldn't last past the first day…I hope you do better." Triton said before he turned and walked towards the door.
"No!" Triton turned in time to see Mali grab hold of Cori's tail as he went to lunge again. Coricopat fell onto his chest and Mali quickly sat on his back. Cori squirmed and struggled to get up. Mali did her best to hold him down.
"Cori, stop it!" Mali cried out in frustration. Triton and his cats left the room. Mali and Cori wrestled on the floor for a few minutes before Cori went limp. Cori shuddered under her. Mali rolled off him and lay on her stomach beside him.
"I know you and Serena were close," Mali murmured. "But we need to do what we can to stay alive until Munkustrap can help us." Cori nodded and curled up, burying his head under his arm. Mali sat up and ran her paw up and down his back, trying to comfort him. He trembled underneath her paw, Mali sighed.
Munkustrap watched helplessly as Quaxo tore from the den, crying loudly, his parents' collars clasped in his paws. Munkustrap slumped back, his head buried in his paws. Four of his tribe had been taken…Mali and Misto had been taken again by a new enemy for a new reason.
"Hey, bro." Munkustrap looked up as Tugger entered the den. Tugger sat beside him.
"I saw Quaxo running from here," Tugger said slowly. "Have they really been taken?" He asked worriedly. Munkustrap nodded.
"Twenty unknown scents in the area where their collars were found." Munkustrap said quietly. "And I doubt they took their own collars off willingly." Tugger nodded.
"Any idea of who it is?" Tugger asked. Munkustrap nodded.
"That group of cats that believe magic is a disease that needs to be wiped out." Munkustrap said, looking at Tugger. Tugger looked disgusted.
"We'd better go find Quaxo," Munkustrap murmured. Tugger nodded and got to his feet. They found him sitting with Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer, Alonzo and Pouncival. Jerrie and Teazer were chatting with him, trying to get him to laugh as Alonzo and Pouncival watched over them carefully. Munkustrap stopped Tugger a little before they reached the group.
"We need to watch Quaxo closely." Munkustrap murmured to Tugger. "If those cats find out he's magic as well, they'll come after him." Tugger nodded in agreement and they walked over to the group.
"This buzzing is starting to annoy me," Mali muttered darkly as she walked around the small room. Coricopat uncurled and yawned.
"Did I fall asleep?" He asked, surprised. Mali nodded. Cori stared at her.
"Why did you let me?" He asked. "What if they had come back?" Mali shrugged.
"You were upset and you fell asleep. I thought you needed it." Mali murmured. She turned to face the door and slowly backed away as it opened. She fell back into Cori's lap as cats leapt into the room. She looked over her shoulder at Cori, who was blushing slightly. Mali leapt off his lap and sat beside him.
"Sorry, Cori." Mali grinned. Cori rubbed his ears awkwardly. Triton muttered to the cats and they pulled Cori and Mali from the room. Mali and Cori stumbled along as the cats pushed them down winding hallways. Mali caught Coricopat's paw as he stumbled and almost fell. They were pushed into a room and the door closed tightly behind them. Triton walked up to the front of the room which was where a large, gray cat was standing. Cori and Mali eyed him apprehensively as the cat stared at them with distaste. The door behind them opened and Tantomile and Misto were pushed in.
"Misto!" Mali cried out in relief and hugged him tightly. Cori hugged Tantomile tightly. Misto wrapped his arms around Mali and licked her nose. Mali grinned at him and buried her head into his chest. She let him go and looked to the front when she heard a disgusted noise. Mali slipped her paw into Misto's and stood tall; she was still Munkustrap's daughter. The large cat made his way down the steps to stand in front of the four Jellicles.
"What are their names?" The cat asked, his voice deep and gravelly. Triton scrambled up to stand next to him.
"Mistoffelees, Mali, Coricopat and Tantomile, Sultan, sir…" Triton said. Sultan paused in front of Mali.
"My Father will not stand for this," Mali warned. Sultan looked at her.
"Your father?" He asked skeptically.
"Munkustrap, Leader of the Jellicles," Mali said proudly. Sultan looked at Triton. Triton nodded. Mali fell back as Sultan struck her across the face. Mali gave a small whimper as she sat up from the floor. Misto fell to his knees beside her, his face filled with worry. Mali rubbed her cheek as she got to her feet, growling. Sultan stared at her, his black eyes filled with distaste.
"Weak," He muttered as he moved on to examine Misto.
"Weak?" Mali snapped.
"Mali, calm yourself…think of Quaxo." Cori murmured to her. Mali sighed and relaxed. Sultan stopped and turned.
"Quaxo?" He asked, his eyes turning to Triton. Triton nodded.
"Yes, he is Mali's and Mistoffelees kitten." Triton said.
"Does he have powers?" Sultan asked. Triton hesitated.
"No, he doesn't…he takes after Munkustrap." Mali intervened. Triton nodded. Misto looked to Mali as Sultan paused in front of him.
"He's scrawny." Sultan said. Misto frowned and looked down at himself. Mali hid a smile. Sultan walked back up the line to stop in front of Coricopat and Tantomile, both standing in the same pose.
"Why are they doing that?" Sultan asked, indicating to them.
"They're twins, what do you expect?" Mali asked, rolling her eyes. Sultan turned to look at her before looking back at the twins.
"What order did they faint?" Sultan asked. Triton stepped up.
"Coricopat and Tantomile fainted at the same time," Triton ignored the hisses from them. "Then Mistoffelees a few moments later," Once again he ignored the hiss from Misto. "And then Mali a few minutes later," Sultan looked at Mali.
"How long did she resist it for?" He asked, interested.
"A total of six minutes," Triton answered. Mali hissed at him. Sultan stared at Mali in surprise.
"How could she resist that long?" Sultan muttered. Mali smiled as Misto's paw made its way into hers.
"I want you to test them again," Sultan ordered. Triton nodded.
"What?" Tantomile asked, shocked. "You are going to subject us to that again?" Sultan nodded and walked to Tantomile.
"Yes, my dear." Coricopat snarled as Sultan's eyes travelled the length of Tantomile. Mali and Misto gave faint hisses. Cats entered the room and herded the four to the middle. Sultan headed to the front of the room and sat in his chair.
"Everlasting Cat!" Mali growled as she covered her ears as the screeching began again. The screeching intensified and Cori, Tant and Misto fell to their knees. Mali's knees buckled but she remained upright. She was determined to get through this, to give Munkustrap enough time to find them. A couple of minutes passed and Tantomile collapsed unconscious on the tiled floor. Coricopat gave a low whimper before he joined her in the darkness. Mali finally collapsed to her knees. Misto looked at her, his green eyes filled with pain. Mali pressed her paws tighter against her ears as her tail entwined with Misto's. Misto collapsed moments later. Mali kept her ears covered by her paws. The screeching was radiating through her head, through her body. It was torture, the pain it was causing. Mali swayed as her vision began to go black. She gritted her teeth and glared at Sultan. Eight more minutes passed with Mali glaring at Sultan before her eyes rolled back and she succumbed to the darkness. Sultan got the screeching to stop before he went to examine them. He flipped the four onto their backs and stared down at them. He stared down at Mali for a few moments before flicking his head.
"Put them in the same room…they've earned that much." Sultan said. The four Jellicles were dragged away.
"Misto," Mali murmured as she crawled over to his side. They were in a stone room, Misto, Cori and Tant were still out of it. She prodded him with her paw and nudged his head with her own. Misto gave a weak moan and stirred slightly. Mali prodded him again, this time prodding his nose. Misto's eyes opened wearily and stared at her. Mali grinned at him.
"Hey there," She purred, pressing her nose against his. Misto sat up and rubbed his head against Mali's back. They both looked at Cori and Tantomile. Mali walked over to them and pressed her ear against Tantomile's chest before doing the same to Cori's.
"Well, they're still alive," Mali stated as she stepped back. "Should we just let them sleep it off?" Misto nodded. They curled up together, Mali resting her head on his back.
"Do you think Quaxo is okay?" Mali asked a few moments later, worry lacing her voice. Misto peered back at her.
"He's strong, Ma," Misto murmured as he set his head back onto his paws. "Besides, he has Munkustrap and Tugger watching out for him," Mali sighed.
"I'm missing Dad and Tugger," Mali murmured. Misto looked back at her; Mali's eyes were downcast and sad.
"Aw, Mali," Misto murmured. Mali sighed and sat up. Misto sat up beside her and hugged her tightly. Mali buried her head in his tuxedo chest. Misto made a small laughing noise in his throat. Mali looked up and stared at him quizzically.
"I remember when you used to be somewhat smaller than me," Misto laughed.
"And I used to sit on your back and your chest," Mali murmured. Misto nodded.
"And when you suddenly rolled over," Mali continued. Misto winced.
"And you rolled and landed, belly and paws up, at Munkustrap's feet," Misto finished. Mali nodded and laughed.
"I have almost never seen your face so red," Mali laughed. Misto stared at her, a smile tugging on the corner of his lips.
"Apparently your face went bright red when Munkustrap mentioned kittens," Misto teased. Mali stared at him in shock.
"I hear the talk," Misto said, smiling. Mali giggled and pounced on him. They both rolled around on the floor, laughing as they forgot where they were. They were just two cats in love. Mali paused as Misto stared up at her from where he was pinned under her on his back. Misto stared at her; his green eyes filled sparkling brightly.
"I love you, Mist," Mali murmured, "No matter what," Misto reached his head to press his nose against hers.
"I love too, Ma," He told her, smiling. "No matter what."
"This is cute," Misto and Mali broke apart and looked to the door, which had opened without them noticing. Mali quickly moved off Misto and they both crept back to where Cori and Tant were still sleeping. Mali nudged Cori with her foot as she still faced Triton and his followers. Cori startled awake and woke Tantomile.
"What is happening?" Cori asked groggily, rubbing his dark eyes. Triton nodded towards Misto and Triton's followers moved forward and grabbed Misto. Cori and Tantomile grabbed Mali's arms as she went to lunge. She slipped from their grasp as Misto was dragged from the room. Cori and Tantomile watched fearfully as Mali slammed Triton to the floor.
"I don't need magic to kill you," Mali growled threateningly. A few cats yanked Mali off of him and shoved her back towards Cori and Tantomile. Triton stared at Mali in shock as he got to his feet. He and his cats left the room.
"You seem to have shaken him," Cori murmured as Mali buried herself into Tantomile's embrace.
They dumped Misto back into the room a while later. Mali scrambled to his side and pulled him back towards the back of the room, where Cori and Tantomile were sitting. Mali half cradled Misto in her arms as his green eyes stared at her weakly.
"Hey there," Misto murmured. Mali buried her head in between his ears.
"What did they do to you, Mist?" Mali murmured, her voice breaking. Misto gave a weak chuckle. He reached up and placed his paw on her head.
"Don't worry about anything, Ma, it takes more than that to make me leave my family." Misto murmured. Mali stared at him in surprise. Mali sat awake hours later, watching over her two friends and her mate as they slept.
"Dad, where are you?" Mali murmured, staring at the door.
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A few more chapters to go I think…I have the ending written up and I surprised even myself with it :D
Please Read and Review
Luv HGP