Jenny and Teazer looked up when they heard Mali's screams.
"Misto?" Teazer murmured slowly, looking at Jenny. Jenny shook her head.
"No, it's impossible," Jenny muttered, sighing. The door opened and Brutal walked in, shoving a short Tuxedo cat out in front of him.
"Bast, Mistoffelees!" Jenny cried, putting her paws over her mouth in shock. Misto stared at Jenny and Teazer, shocked. Brutal kept hold of the scruff of Misto's neck.
"The kitten Mali is carrying," Brutal snapped. "How long until it's due?" Jenny was silent as she stared at Misto in shock.
He was alive…but how was that possible?
Brutal slipped his free paw around so it was gripping onto Misto's throat. Misto choked as he struggled to breathe.
"How long, Jennyanydots?" Brutal hissed.
"A week and a half," Jenny whispered, her voice wavering as she stared at Misto. Brutal nodded and shoved Mistoffelees towards the Queens before leaving, slamming the door behind him. Misto ran at the door, hitting the closed door before slumping against it.
"No," Misto whispered.
"Misto?" Misto slowly turned and looked at Jenny. She quickly approached him and drew him into her arms.
He had gotten so skinny, she couldn't help but notice. She could feel some scabbed over wounds buried under his fur.
"Oh, Misto, we've missed you so much!" Jenny whispered, clutching onto him tightly.
"He's got Mali," Misto whispered.
"He'll kill 'er," Teazer stammered. Misto shook his head.
"Macavity won't let him harm her or the kitten," Misto muttered. Jenny and Teaze exchanged looks.
It was three days before the Jellicle ball and Mali was asleep in Macavity's arms. She hadn't seen Misto since Brutal had dragged him out but Macavity had been taking care of her. Mali suddenly gave a whimper of pain. Macavity shot up, looking at her.
"What's wrong?" He asked. Mali cried out in pain, her knees drawing to her swollen stomach as she put her paw on it.
"I-I need Jenny!" Mali cried. Macavity bolted from the room, bringing Jenny, Teazer, Misto and Brutal back moments later. Jenny knelt beside the crying Mali, examining her quickly.
"The kitten is coming," Jenny sighed heavily.
"I thought it was due in five days," Brutal growled at Jenny. Jenny matched his glare.
"The stress has brought on a premature birth!" She spat at him. Misto knelt beside Mali, taking her paw and holding it tightly. She looked at him, biting her lip. Misto gave her a reassuring smile, rubbing her head. Mali gave a loud cry. Macavity stood back, watching the scene worriedly. Brutal watched as well.
"It's alright, dear," Jenny soothed Mali from where she was sitting by Mali's legs. Teazer sat beside Jenny, watching intently. Mali let out another loud cry. Misto bent down, kissing her head and whispering soothingly into her ear. Mali cried out.
She was in so much pain!
There was a high pitched mewl and Mali looked up. Jenny held the small kitten in her arms.
"Aw, she's so cute!" Teazer squealed. Jenny passed the kitten to Teazer to clean while she looked over Mali, making sure she wasn't too badly affected by the birth. Misto helped Mali sit up and let her lean against him.
"Ere, Mali," Teazer said, passing Mali the small kitten. Mali and Misto looked at the small queen. She was mostly calico, with copper, black and white colourings…but she had silver and black stripes on her sides. The black stripes on her white, brown and copper face matched Mali's black stripes. Mali looked at the kitten's tail. It was Coricopat's tail…except for the silver ending.
"She's gorgeous," Misto murmured in her ear. Mali smiled tiredly.
"Good…give me the kitten," Brutal snapped. Mali clutched the kitten tighter, whimpering.
"Brutal," Macavity breathed. Brutal ignored Macavity as he stalked over to Mali.
"Give me the kitten, now!" Mali shook her head frantically, clutching her girl closer. Brutal went to grab the kitten and forcefully take her away from Mali when Misto attacked him. Mali slumped back when the sudden weight of Misto disappeared from behind her. Misto clawed viciously at Brutal. Brutal managed to grab Misto's scruff, making him go limp. Misto looked at Mali sadly as Brutal dragged him from the room.
"Come on, Maccy," Brutal snarled. "We need to teach the brat a lesson," Macavity looked at Mali and flicked his head suddenly as Brutal walked past him. Mali looked around in the direction he flicked his head in and saw a window. Macavity smiled and walked from the room, closing the door behind him.
"T-Teaze, you need to take her," Mali whispered, holding out the mewling kitten.
"What?"
"Take her, go out the window and get back to the Jellicles quickly," Mali said weakly.
"Oi-Oi can't!"
"Yes, you can, Teazer, please!" Mali begged her. Teazer sighed.
"Jenny?" Teazer asked her.
"I won't fit out that window…and I need to make sure Mali is okay," Jenny said, patting Mali's knee.
"Take her to Cori, Teazer…I know you two can look after her,"
"Us two?"
"He loves you…a lot," Mali smiled weakly. Rumpleteazer took the wiggling kitten from Mali.
"W-What's 'er name?" Teazer asked Mali. Mali thought for a moment and gave a weak smile.
"Trenah…but if Cori doesn't feel right with it, tell him to change it," Mali told Teazer.
"Now go!" Teazer grabbed the kitten's scruff in her mouth and ran towards the window, leaping up and pushing it open. She glanced back in Mali's and Jenny's direction, they both nodded and gave smiles. Teazer leapt from the window and out of sight.
Jenny gathered Mali in her arms as Mali started crying softly.
"She'll be okay," Jenny told her gently. "She'll be safe," Jenny held Mali tighter when they both heard Misto's screams of pain.
Rumpleteazer ran through the streets, the kitten dangling from her mouth. She pushed herself to run faster past some Pollicles. They immediately chased after her and blocked her into an alley. Teazer put the mewling kitten down, pushing her behind her.
"Guys, please!" Teazer begged them as they laughed, coming towards her.
"Oi've gotta get 'er 'elp!" Teazer pleaded with them. "She's not even an hour old yet!"
"Who did ya steal her from, Teazer?"
"Oi didn't steal 'er!" Teazer spat at the Pollicle. "'Er Mum gave birth ta her after we 'ad been kidnapped and she told me ta take the kitten and run!"
"Yeah, what's the mother's name then?" A Pollicle asked smugly.
"Mali!" Teazer yelled.
"What?" The Pollicles moved out the way to let a bulldog past.
"Buster!" Teazer almost cried in relief. "Please, ya've gotta let me get the yard, quickly!" Buster nodded, snapping at the Pollicles that dared to challenge him. Teazer picked up the kitten again and ran for the yard, with Buster following her, making sure no other Pollicles bothered her. Teazer slowed to a jog when she reached the yard gates. Her heart was pounding in her chest from all of that running. She transferred the kitten into her arms as she slowly began to walk around, looking for anyone.
"Munkus?" Teazer called out. "Cori?"
"Tugger?" She even tried.
"Teazer, is that you?" Teazer turned around, looking at Munkustrap. Munkustrap's eyes immediately found the kitten.
"What…?" He breathed.
"Mali 'ad 'er kitten early," Teazer said sadly. "She told me to run and bring 'er 'ere," Munkustrap wordlessly held his arms out. Teazer gave the kitten to him. Munkustrap looked at the kitten before bringing her to his chest, holding her close as he stared at her, tears falling from his eyes.
"Teazer?" Teazer looked around and quickly hugged the cat that called her name. Cori hugged her tightly.
"I-It's your daughter, Cori," Teazer whispered, letting him go and pulling him over to Munkustrap. Munkustrap was still staring at the wiggling kitten in his arms, which was meowing loudly.
"Mali called her Trenah, but she said if you don't like it, to change it," Cori looked at the kitten…it looked like him, except for the silver and black stripes that were clearly Mali.
"Munk?" Cori asked softly. Munkustrap hesitated, looking down at the kitten before passing it to Cori. Cori cradled his kitten in his arms, looking at her.
"What's her name?" Munkustrap asked. Cori gave a small smile.
"What Mali named her," Cori answered. "Trenah," Munkustrap nodded, reaching out and gently stroking Trenah's head. Trenah gave a loud meow. Cori startled and Munkustrap smiled.
"She's hungry," He told Cori. He led Cori to Jelly…hopefully she could help the kitten survive without Mali.
Mali looked up from where she was held in Jenny's arms as the door burst open. Misto groaned as he was thrown onto the floor. Mali's eyes widened when Misto just lay still on the cold stone floor. Brutal stormed over to Mali and froze.
"Where's the kitten?" He asked. Mali just smiled.
"Not here," She told him.
"Where is she?" Brutal roared, marching back to Misto and placing a foot on Misto's spine. Mali stared at him in shock.
"Tell me where or I'll break his spine!"
"By now she's back at the yard!" Mali cried out as Brutal put pressure on Misto's spine. Brutal took his foot away from Misto's back.
"How?"
"Rumpleteazer took her back," Mali told him, her eyes staring at Misto's still form. Brutal snarled, storming towards Mali. Jenny quickly pushed Mali behind her.
"No!" She yelled at Brutal. "You hurt her now and she'll die!" Mali winced.
Mali was fearful that that was the thing that Brutal wanted to hear.
Brutal looked at her before backing away. He marched from the room, slamming the door behind him. Macavity rolled his eyes. Mali went to crawl to Misto when Jenny stopped her, shaking her head. Jenny walked over to Misto, picking the conjuring cat up from under the arms and pulling him over to Mali. Mali pulled her unconscious mate into her arms, nuzzling at him. Misto's eyes opened slowly and looked at her.
"W-Where's Trenah?" Misto whispered hoarsely.
"Teazer escaped and took Trenah back to the yard," Mali told him, gently rubbing his bloodied cheek. Misto sighed, gently holding Mali's paw, pulling it down to rest on his chest. Misto held onto Mali's paw as he slipped unconscious again. Mali held onto Misto closely as Jenny and Macavity watched them.
Munkustrap nestled his second grand-kit close as he fed her the bottle that Jelly had prepared for her. Cori was watching. He smiled when he saw Trenah try and grip onto the large bottle with her tiny paws.
"Oh, she's cute!" Munkustrap didn't even take his eyes off Trenah as Tugger and Alonzo walked in. Skimble looked up from where he was sitting in the corner. Munkustrap took the bottle away when Trenah started squirming. Trenah yawned and curled into Munkustrap's arms.
"Everyone's ready," Alonzo told Munkustrap. Munkustrap nodded, giving Trenah to Cori. Cori looked at Munkustrap.
"You're going after them, aren't you?" Cori asked him. Munkustrap nodded. Cori went to say something but Munkustrap shook his head.
"Stay here with Trenah, Cori…we'll bring them all back," Munkustrap told him. Cori nodded, sighing, as he looked back at his daughter. Munkustrap rested his paw on Cori's head before leaving with the others. Cori gently rocked his sleeping daughter.
"They will bring them back," Cori murmured to her, gently stroking her head. Skimble stared at Cori, giving a sad smile.
Though Cori may believe that everything would be fine…Skimble was fearful.
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One or two chapters left I think…
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