Munkustrap

"Darling!" Demeter took her mate into her arms and instantly began to kiss his wounds, lapping the blood away. She dusted the snow off of his fur and wrapped him in her arms to warm him. "My sweet..."

"Don't worry about me." He begged, voice drained and weak beyond description. "Y-You... the babies..." He saw them nestled under the blanket, safe and unharmed. They were sleeping... and heaven knows he didn't want to wake them again. He was too tired to stand, so Demeter lied down with his head resting on her shoulder.

"They were scared, but it's all right now."

Munkustrap inspected the scratches on her arm; his precious mate... they'd hurt her. "What about you?"

"I'm fine." She said assuredly. "They're just tiny cuts."

Munkustrap closed his eyes and nuzzled her nose, "I'm so proud of you. I wish I'd been here." He was even too tired to cry now—what was the use? Demeter could sense his sorrow and so she pressed his lips with a kiss. The warm, sweet taste that he could have lost forever. Now came a tear. "Demeter, I should've been here." The calico cupped his face in her paws. "Every time I'm gone something bad happens—I'm supposed to take care of everyone."

"Stop blaming yourself for everything. You can't take care of everyone all the time! It's both our duty to take care of this family... And tonight, we did."

Munkustrap took in her words. She wiped the shy tears away from his bloodshot eyes. This was not the time to cry, something he'd done in abundance this past year. "Did Mistoffelees ever come home?"

"I don't know. I haven't left this box since you showed that beast the way out." Demeter noticed he was dozing, and so she diligently made themselves more comfortable. "Sleep, my love." She whispered. "Rest. It's all right now."

The silver cat closed his eyes, though he didn't want to. His body told him to obey her request, but he fought it like a temperamental child. He couldn't sleep after what had happened. They might come back. That tom had lied to him; or if not, betrayed his faith in him. He'd been spying this whole time; he had to for Raithen to know that his kittens had been born, that he had a daughter, exactly when he left Demeter alone for just a few minutes.

Did everything outside those gates mean to hurt them?

No... Demeter had come from outside those gates, and so had the twins. They were his people, his family... they all looked after each other... they all did. It was safe for now. Safe to sleep just for a minute... He couldn't produce a single coherent thought; he had to close his eyes.

But then Munkustrap dreamed about a violent Hell. One that was cold and dark. Where cats were lined up to be skinned alive so Death itself could harvest their souls. Where Munkustrap was forced to watch Raithen make good on his word as Nebula ravaged Demeter. He spread her legs apart and then wormed his way inside of her. She shrieks and he begs for them to spare her as she drifts farther away from his protection and leaves him writhing in pain and horror. Claws pierce through the ground and hold him prisoner. It was his turn to offer his life to the reaper. He wails for her, the darkness starting to suffocate him as his shouts are answered by one of his kittens howling in pain.

No, Sophie! They had her! They had his baby girl!

He tried to scream for her, but a long-clawed paw coiled itself over his mouth and eyes.

Finally, with a piercing gasp, he bolted awake to the sound of his daughter's cries. Breathing rapidly and unevenly, he turned to her with wide, fearful eyes, and saw that she was not screaming at all; just wriggling and mewling in her sleep, which to a father was equally as horrifying. "Sophie! Sophie, shhh!" He quickly scooped her up in his arms and cradled her to his chest. "Shhh... It's okay! It's okay." He lovingly whispered to the whimpering waif, "Daddy's here." He looked around; his heart was thumping wildly. He saw Demeter resting with their two tom kittens in her arms, close to her face. She stirred a little at the noise, but didn't wake; she was exhausted. Tilly and Aéras curled up to her and Munkustrap let out a breath of relief.

Sophitia stopped shaking and she cuddled up against her father, relieved to be reunited with his familiar voice and scent. "Daddy's with you. Daddy's got you." He kissed the top of her head. The kit breathed more softly now. Everything that had happened tonight had scared her too. She was worried without her daddy.

Munkustrap carefully lied back down with her folded in his arms. "Did you have a bad dream?" He asked her. She sniffled into his fur. "Daddy has bad dreams too. I know they're scary, but it's all right; they can't hurt you." Sophitia looked back at him with tired, but reassured eyes. "Daddy's not going to let anything hurt you or your brothers... I'm never going to let anything bad happen to you." He stopped for a moment, letting her take in his words. Somehow, the blue-eyed Mau just knew that she understood him. "I'm going to protect you." He said. "I'm always going to be here to take care of you..." He blinked his eyes, trying to dissuade his tears. "I love you so much... and your mummy and your brothers and uncle. They all love you too." His eyes glowed with truth as he pressed a kiss to Sophitia's forehead. "You're so loved... You're always going to be loved." As soon as his eyes drooped closed, he knew sleep would come for him.

He could feel Sophitia rumbling – softly purring as her eyes began to sink. He liked her making noise; it reminded him that she was safe in his embrace. Nothing would touch her. Munkustrap would die before anything touched his mate and babies. And even so, he'd fight his way out of the heaviside layer into his next life just so he could protect them again. Nothing could tear the walls that were his devotion to them, his love for them. Heaven and earth could not make them quiver.

He felt something licking the tip of his nose and Munkustrap grabbed one final ounce of wakefulness to open his eyes and see that Sophitia was giving him kisses. Closing them again, he gave her the softest smile he could, hugging her closer.


Mungojerrie

In the days following Mosstail's attempt on her, Rumpleteazer's soul had gone hollow; she did not sing, nor did she smile and laugh as much as she used to. She didn't even get up to go speak to Axel. She just wanted her brother with her, like it always was before. Mungojerrie had wanted things to be like they had in the past, but not like this.

"Teazer, you're getting pale." He told her one morning. "Why don't we walk together, just for a little bit?" He suggested to try and get her out of the funk she'd fallen into. She had not left her bed for three days.

"I knew there was something wrong. I told you I got weird feelings about this place. I should've made us leave." The big sister inside her felt guilty that she had not only trapped herself, but her own brother as well in that pasture. Even though it was Mungojerrie that insisted they stay. If anything, he was tearing himself apart about all of this... but as soon as he told her it was time to leave, she had changed her mind. They were both lured by the charm of a nice, comfortable home and their skills being lauded.

It was almost highway hypnosis—they were surrounded by material wealth and leisure and they got too comfortable.

"...They didn't recruit us because they needed thieves. They needed a queen." She teared up as she came to the conclusion. "You even said they might be murderers! Why didn't I listen?" She said a little louder and Mungojerrie shushed her. The tom lovingly stroked his paw up and down her arm. Their moment was cut short when someone knocked on the door. Neither said anything. Mungojerrie even looked over hatefully before they even knew whom it was.

"What?"

"May I enter?" It was Raithen. The last cat they wanted to see.

"No." Jerrie replied plainly. He'd asked, so he answered.

"I beg pardon, but it's a matter of etiquette." Raithen said politely. His constant 'manners' were becoming aggravating.

"I said no." Mungojerrie repeated.

"Let them in." Rumpleteazer sat up suddenly, wiping her face and fixing her fur. Mungojerrie could not believe her. She gave him a look, insisting. He sighed, and with a shaky paw, he unlocked the door and opened it. Raithen entered along with Axel and Mosstail. It took Axel giving Mungojerrie a furtive look to remind him not to attack the Russian Blue. "How nice to see you." Rumpleteazer said with a subtle grin. Despite everything, the Bengal remembered to play nice. It was all acting. Just like in the movies. Acting.

"You've been missed around the pasture. Are you well?"

"I'm doing much better, thank you."

"I want you to know that Axel informed me of Mosstail's... behavior, as well as your brother's heroic gesture." He looked over at the Bengal tom, who only sneered at him. Rumpleteazer did not want to look at Mosstail, but something told her she would have to. His fur looked noticeably tangled and he was far more sloppy in his posture than he ever had been before. His eyes, dead. "We had him straightened out; he shouldn't be causing you any trouble again." He stated firmly. "He offers his apologies." Mosstail nodded succinctly, but Mungojerrie winced.

"Why doesn't he say it himself?" He growled with contempt.

Raithen looked over his shoulder to him. "I understand you are angry with him, my lad, for violating your only sister." He purposefully milked out the details just to make him cringe... and it worked. "But he disobeyed one of my most strict rules in this pasture. You don't touch a young queen, not until she's of age. Don't worry. Nobody gets away with anything here." He looked at the Russian Blue next to him. "Right, Mosstail?" He nodded.

"Let him say he's sorry." Rumpleteazer said, wanting to hear it as much as her brother did.

Raithen looked at the brooding tom, then back at her, "I'm afraid he can't. He can't say much of anything anymore." Neither twin seemed to understand what he was implying. Was it that vow of silence he'd told them about months ago?

Mungojerrie didn't care if he swore on his right paw; he would say it. "An apology means nothing unless it comes from the person accused."

"Oh, I agree." Said Raithen. "But you both better believe me when I say he's very, very sorry for what he's done. And I assure you he won't misbehave again."

The queen had heard enough bollocks for one day. "Very well, then." She said, pursing her lips.

"We'll be taking our leave. Humans say there's a snowstorm ahead of us, so there's work to be done." And then all but the Serengeti tom quit the room. He lingered for a moment until they were downstairs.

"Lad," Axel said to Mungojerrie, "is it all right if we speak a moment?" Mungojerrie turned away from him and looked at Rumpleteazer. "We can speak right outside the door if you want, but it's something I'd prefer to discuss privately."

"We are in private." Defended the tom.

"Jerrie, it's fine." Rumpleteazer said, encouraging them both to leave her if that's what it required. She was sure whatever Axel told him in confidence, Mungojerrie would share it with her anyway. He brought him outside to the hallway and they closed the door.

Axel went straight to the point as the Bengal preferred it. "You think everyone here is after you – I don't blame you. I got a similar feeling after I was only here a few months... but I was desperate and had nowhere to go. Raithen's targets are always the same. One minute he's got the face of a saint, but then he has the mind of a Devil when you do something he doesn't like. I know I'm no match for him, but maybe you and your sister can do better. I guessed that the moment you threatened to kill me if I tried anything on her." Axel snorted slightly. Mungojerrie's cold eyes softened unexpectedly at the Serengeti opening up.

Axel went on, "You want to know why I try to keep an eye on your sister when you're not around? Half-a-year after I first arrived, Raithen took in a young queen that was abused by her owners. He gave her food, a warm bed, said all of his charming words and made her feel special. I didn't know any better—I didn't find it odd that there was only one queen in the entire pasture, and that after two weeks, she was suddenly locked in the room all day long. I tried to convince myself it was for her safety so the toms here wouldn't try anything..." He closed his eyes, shivering. "But it was just the opposite. Raithen's older, he can't mate anymore, and so he relies on other toms to keep the tribe growing... that's why he deprives them as long as he can to make sure they'll want to mate when he brings a queen in." He turned his gaze to the floor, then back at the Bengal, "When... when Raithen said I ought to have a turn, I waited until everyone was asleep before I went into her room. She was terrified to see me. But instead of locking it behind me, I left it wide open for her so she could run..." He took a much longer pause, "...I don't know if it's because it was dark, if she was in a blind panic, or if she'd just wanted to end it all... but for whichever reason, she ended up falling down the well. I couldn't get to her in time to stop it."

Mungojerrie's fur was standing straight up, his blood went cold.

"You both still have time." Axel continued, gathering himself. "Neither of you are eighteen yet, and that's when Raithen allows anyone to mate the queen he's picked up... I know he's got eyes on you two all over the place, but your fate doesn't have to be the same as mine or that girl's. Your sister's got more brains than you and me both by pretending she doesn't have any... Maybe if you keep that up, you both might get his trust back... then who knows?"

"You told him I'm spayed, right?" Rumpleteazer whispered to her brother later that night.

"Yes, but you don't have the scar to prove it, and I think even an idiot could tell the difference between an old and new scar."

"Moss-arse didn't care if I had a scar or not." She scoffed. "We didn't tell him our birthday... so at most we've got a year to plan an escape before he realizes." She reached from her own bed and rubbed her paw over his, both lying on their backs to look at the ceiling. "Around this time all the humans in the neighborhood would put up their holiday lights and we'd spend nights out looking at them, listening to the music."

"Everything smelled sweet because everyone was baking something. Even the shops in town." Mungojerrie smirked fondly. "Everything always felt so magical when we were kits."

"It's because everything's new." Rumpleteazer pondered. "And then because it was so wonderful before, you spend all year looking forward to it again." She closed her eyes, picturing the colorful lights along the rooftops. She sighed plaintively, "What if we never get to see them again?"

Mungojerrie turned his head to her, "Don't think like that." If his sister was becoming doubtful, then it really meant she was in turmoil. It couldn't be helped. "We're going to get out of here... and we're going to see the holiday lights again. And we'll go to the cinema as many times as we like."

"I don't care where we end up as long as we're together." Said the queen. "If something happens to you while we're here, you won't have to wait for me long in the heaviside layer."

Mungojerrie's eyes darkened and his heart sank. He squeezed her paw, "That won't happen." Rumpleteazer looked away, slowly sliding her paw out of his so she could lie on her side. Mungojerrie didn't have much choice but to roll over and try to sleep as well. He curled up under the blanket and closed his eyes.

He heard a voice singing beautifully. His sister's voice... was she happy again? He looked around and saw that she was up on a stage, crystals in her fur, an audience spellbound by her pathos.

In the rain the pavement shines like silver
All the lights are misty in the river
In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight
And all I see is him and me forever and forever

No film or live performance could compare. Mungojerrie was front row... so close that he could see how happy she was. How at peace. They were free. Yes... they were finally free. But the show went dark, her voice quiet, and Mungojerrie opened his eyes back into his bitter reality.

Time passed and it was suddenly winter, and snow came more viciously than the twins had ever seen so far in their lives. They didn't realize this would only be the first time they'd witness London be struck by an unexpectedly white season. While he remained obedient and silent around the Copperkits, Mungojerrie's anxiety had reached a new height. Soon it would be spring. March twenty-fifth would make him and his sister eighteen. He'd only be able to hide the fact from them for so long. Rumpleteazer had said they had a year at most before anyone figured it out. She, meanwhile, was getting along just as fine as before, so long as she was in the company of her brother or Axel.

He didn't understand how she could act so plucky being around old, languid toms that had resigned to their fates as slaves long ago. Maybe it was because she believed they would escape someday... or she was just trying to distract herself from the idea that she just might be looking into her future. Even if they were both to try and escape, the weather would work against them. It was so foggy that they couldn't see three feet past their own faces when they stepped outside. Apparently Raithen loved winter despite he suffered the most of all the cats there—he had no fur to keep him warm. Still, it gave him an excuse to always have hot tea and a fire going. The Bengals found it funny that such a wicked tom could find joy in the most mundane of things... things that seemed normal to the rest of the feline society.

One night, Raithen came into he and his sister's room at night clutching a cloth in his paws. "Ixion is waiting." Said the bald tom. Then he wrapped the fabric around Mungojerrie's neck and began choking him, but he vanished when the teenager yanked his blankets off of him and sat up in the bed. It was only a dream. But Mungojerrie could handle dreams; not this waking nightmare.

It was a new human year, and while Raithen had all of his subjects in his private quarters celebrating, Mungojerrie was not among them. Even Rumpleteazer had gone just to keep up her act and to have a good time. It wasn't in her nature to turn down a party.

Because there was so much commotion going on, no one was around to see Mungojerrie in the kitchen making himself some tea when he remembered the locked cabinet and what it contained. He looked at the doorway to make sure no one was coming and picked the lock with his claw. He saw there a few jars of herbs, but pushed to the very back of the top shelf was the greyish-colored substance he'd seen Mosstail dose the stranger's tea with... He carefully pushed the other containers aside and pulled it out. Even with the lid on, it smelled like it could kill him. Like something the human woman he lived with used on her nails.

...And suddenly the idea struck him. There, that night. It could all be over. How could he have waited so long? Pushing the jars back into place and keeping the poison close to his chest, he locked the cabinet back. He turned around.

"What have you got there, mate?"

Part of him was relieved when he saw it was only Axel, but he still felt a glint of panic. "Ah— I was looking for something for my tea."

The Serengeti eyed what he had clutched in his paw and then back at the guilty-faced lad. "You don't want to use that. Trust me." Mungojerrie's heart kept pounding, worried he'd be in trouble despite having some sense of trust in the yellow-eyed cat before him. "Relax. You're safe with me." He said quietly. They could still hear muffled voices and classical records playing beneath them, indicating that their conversation couldn't be heard anyway. "...Most of us wouldn't dare for a reason, you know." He said, trying to hint him that he was better off putting it away and forgetting about hatching such a plan.

"I know." Mungojerrie quivered, gazing at the item that could be his only chance of escape. "It just... feels good... to think about it." He confessed before putting it back as it was. Such a short, sweet moment where he thought he'd solved all of his problems. In truth, Axel had saved him from bringing himself more. He went down with him to where everyone else was; the music Raithen had on was more lively than the Bengal was used to.

"Ah! There's a fine lad." Greeted the Sphynx cheerfully. "I hated to start without you."

"My stomach's been a bit upset." He fibbed, forcing a grin. "Where is my sister?"

"Dancing, I think. She's really been the star of the night." Mungojerrie looked around to see she was indeed in the center of the room watching the toms take turns; only queen of the pack. It unsettled him. "Enjoy yourself." Insisted Raithen, and the tom complied by sitting on a chair and keeping watch on Rumpleteazer. He dared himself many a time to stay still and not intervene when a tom would eagerly fight his way to have a turn in dancing with her.

She squealed and laughed, either actually having fun or just giving them what she assumed they wanted to see. "Jerrie!" She called, holding her paw out, "Come! Let's show them what real dancers look like!" She looked so giddy and sanguine that Mungojerrie almost wanted to accept her offer, but he really couldn't stomach any acrobatic or whimsical movements. Not tonight. "Don't be a party pooper, Jer-Bear." She fussed, using a nickname neither had heard since kittenhood. Mungojerrie pricked his ears slightly and stood up with a slight eye-roll. He supposed he didn't have a choice. "Will someone be a dear and play a volta?" She called, hoping one of these cultureless pigs would know the meaning of it. Raithen was certain to have a record or two.

The Copperkits gave the twins room in the center, standing in a circle to see the siblings in action for the first time. Mungojerrie felt a smile creeping on his face. He was sure none of the men wanted to watch him dance, but his sister—nothing could appeal to these deprived cats more than seeing a female move her body in hypnotic rotations. For Rumpleteazer, there was no pleasure finer than a good dance, good food, and good music.

"You heard the lady." Called a tom.

Raithen gave them an opening, "Play Dansereye!" And so the toms did – Rondes I & VII.

The twins were natural improvisers both on the field and when it came to performance! They both moved to the music in perfect harmony. Were twins not expected to be in sync at all times? When they were close enough to each other so that they could whisper, Rumpleteazer said with a smile, "It's a happy night, dear brother." They spun around each other.

"What do you mean?"

"Parties are often full of surprises." She said, which was enough to clue him in... but still leave him blind as to what she meant. Their dance came to a quick end, but the night had many hours to go. Raithen wanted to make a toast at midnight. Without much choice, the Bengals lingered around for the moment to arrive, more so Mungojerrie, since Rumpleteazer had many ways to occupy herself while he kept watch.

Once it was about ten before midnight, Mungojerrie was anxious to leave. Everybody was now just chatting quietly with some music playing. Rumpleteazer, however, kept saying they stay until Raithen dismissed them. "Teazer," he hissed through his teeth, "I've had enough 'being polite' for one night."

"Brother, just trust me." She sat down beside him. "God, my feet are killing me. I haven't danced so much in months!" She kneaded at her cramped legs.

"You look exhausted. Why don't we just ask for permission to leave?"

"No. I want to be here for the toast." She insisted. There really was no arguing with her, and so, with a groan, he acquiesced.

"Would someone bring me wine?" Called the elder. "It's a minute to midnight!" Mosstail brought Raithen his cup from where he'd set it—the Russian Blue had been lurking in the corner all evening. Not speaking, not dancing. Utterly downtrodden. "I'd offer some to our newest members of the family, but I'm afraid they're not of drinking age yet! When will that be?"

"Not for a while." Said Mungojerrie to dodge the question. He knew what he was trying to do. Rumpleteazer was smiling prettily.

"Well," the tom raised his cup along with the others who had drinks, "a toast to a new, long, and prosperous year. I am proud to call you all my clan... my family." He took a big, long drink.

Mungojerrie felt his sister squeezing his paw so hard that he could feel his fingers tingling from lack of blood flow. "Teazer. My paw." He looked at her with concern, but she said nothing and watched Raithen take another sip. The queen was about to break her brother's knuckles.

"Throat's gone dry." He laughed to the cat he was chatting with, but then he began to cough some more. He stood up, but the coughing fit only became worse so much that the others were becoming worried.

"He's choking!" Axel gasped from across the room.

Rumpleteazer stood up, still not letting go of her brother. "Help him!" She cried in a voice twice her size. "Somebody help him!" She screeched again. Mungojerrie could see the Sphynx turning purple, but he was not surprised to find himself calm about all of this, although shocked. One of the lower subordinates ran over and pounded on the tom's back so that he began to vomit, wailing and shouting at each other. Mungojerrie looked to see how Axel was taking all of this, but in the confusion he couldn't find him.

Then his eyes fell on the cup, forgotten on the floor. There were but the remnants of tiny white petals soaked purple from the wine. Teazer was in his arm now, afraid to look. They heard welting gasps and suddenly Raithen could breathe again; Mosstail had jabbed a spoon down his throat to help expel whatever was in his stomach.

So he'll live, thought Jerrie. Damn it... He was inspecting the cup again. Those petals, they were from Cuckoo Flowers. He knew his sister's favorite anywhere. He recalled having to tell her that they were poisonous to cats when she said they looked good enough to eat. Mungojerrie looked down at his 'weeping' sister in his arm. She'd planned it for months – she was just waiting for the right moment. We need to leave. Thought the tom. It was now or never. Nobody was paying attention! But before he could waddle with her over to the door, he saw Nebula guarding it. No one was leaving.

"There's something in the wine." Said a lower-rank. "Look." He presented the wilted petals to the others. "Did it come from the greenhouse?"

"No one uses that anymore!"

"Whomever it was," said Raithen, voice as sharp as a knife despite the ordeal, "I'll be having a word with you. If you don't step forward now, I'll simply find you the hard way instead."

"It could've been an accident!" Axel chirped in. "Lots of drinks have made us sick before!"

"No... never before like this." Raithen said. "Was anyone else's drink tainted?" None of the cats said a word. "Then it was meant for me then. Nebula, Axel, Mosstail. Do your duty. Everyone is under house arrest until I know the culprit."