Munkustrap smiled as he settled down on the rocking chair, beginning his watch.
It had been a few weeks since he had seen Pearl and he had come along spectacularly. He was sleeping once again, with no nightmares, and Quaxo had come back to stay with him, which the young Tom was ecstatic about as he had missed his 'big brother'.
Munkus had even gone back to Protector duties, which he was pleased about.
His green eyes swept across the yard, taking in the occupants within the clearing.
Demeter and Bombalurina were sunbaking on top of the oven, chatting to Cassandra and Rumpleteazer who were sitting on the ground.
Plato and Admetus were wrestling with Alonzo and Mungo, making Munkustrap laugh. The kittens, minus Quaxo, were watching them with excitement.
Tugger was sprawled out on his stomach on the pipe, his limbs hanging limply over the sides. Munkustrap gave a snort. It was the quite the sight.
Jenny, Skimble, Jellylorum and Asparagus were in the usual spot in front of Jenny's den. Gus and Bustopher had joined them this time.
Coricopat, Tantomile and Quaxo were nowhere to be seen as Quaxo had a lesson.
Munkustrap's ears quirked up as he heard a clatter coming from the pathways behind him. His ears twitched once more as he heard hushed, muttered voices, trying to be quiet but not quite succeeding. Munkustrap gave a hum as he turned and leapt from the junk pile he was perched on, to the neighbouring one. He kept on top of the junk piles as he followed the voices, gradually getting ahead of them.
He sighed as he spotted young Pouncival and Tumblebrutus sneaking through the pathways.
"Do ya think anyone saw us?" Pouncival whispered, glancing back behind them. Tumble glanced back as well.
"I don't think so."
"No, I think you two are good." The two kittens froze, looking at each other fearfully, before slowly looking back to in front of them and up, finding Munkustrap standing there, arms crossed against his chest.
"Hello there, you two." Munkustrap smirked.
"Munkustrap!" They squeaked. Munkustrap smiled. The kittens were getting to their fledgling stage, which made them more adventurous, and a little rebellious.
"Now, where were you two sneaking off to?" Munkustrap asked them firmly.
"Run, Tumbles!" Pouncival squealed, before darting off. Tumble froze for a moment before he turned to run; Munkustrap sighed before he leapt over the kitten, blocking his path. Tumblebrutus ran into him and fell down, his green-blue eyes going large as he stared up at the large silver Tom. Munkustrap crouched down as he helped the kitten to his feet.
"Alright, Tumbles, tell me where were you heading?" Munkustrap asked him gently. Tumblebrutus lowered his head.
"We were gonna sneak out of the yard," He muttered. Munkustrap sighed.
"You know you're not old enough to go out by yourself…"
"Why not?!" Tumble interrupted, frowning. "We're almost fledglings! It's not fair, everyone keeps treating us like we're new-born kits, and there's nothing that scary out there!"
"That's the reason why you can't go out by yourself, Tumbles," Munkustrap told him gently. Tumblebrutus looked at him, confused.
"Whaddya mean?"
"You don't see the danger out there, you're ready to jump out head-first into the world without being able to see the dangers," Munkus explained.
"No one would hurt us!" Tumblebrutus insisted. "We're just…"
"Kittens?" Munkustrap put in. Tumblebrutus gave a reluctant nod. Munkustrap sighed, holding out his arm.
"Give me your paw," He said. Tumblebrutus looked at him, unsure. Munkustrap gave him a small, reassuring smile. Tumble cautiously put out his paw, which Munkustrap took and put on his own arm, on top of some scars. Tumblebrutus frowned as he felt the smooth, puckered scars. Munkustrap turned around.
"Feel my back." Munkustrap instructed him gently. Tumblebrutus, curious now, put his paw on Munkustrap's back before he moved it around, feeling through the fur. His eyes widened when he felt the many layers of criss-crossed scars on Munkustrap's back. Munkustrap turned back around, looking at the shocked kitten.
"All of those scars," Munkustrap started to explain. "I received them when I was a kitten, younger than you are actually," Tumblebrutus just stared at Munkus, wide-eyed.
"B-But by who?!" Tumblebrutus cried, shocked. Munkustrap gently pulled the trembling kitten into a hug, rubbing his back comfortingly.
"Very bad cats," Munkustrap answered simply. "Some cats don't care if you're a kitten or if you're fully grown, they'll hurt you simply because they can." Tumblebrutus shuddered and clutched onto Munkustrap tighter.
"I don't ever wanna leave the yard." He said, voice muffled by Munkustrap's shoulder. Munkustrap gave a small smile.
"Oh, you will when you're older and you know how to look after yourself and what to look out for, the world is a beautiful place if you understand the dangers out there." Munkustrap told him softly. Tumblebrutus gave a sniffle and a nod, looking up at Munkustrap. Munkustrap smiled at him.
"S-So it's true then?" Tumble just asked quietly, looking at the ground. Munkustrap tilted his head, confused.
"Is what true, Tumbles?" Munkustrap questioned, confused.
"W-Well, Plato heard t-that you were adopted…" Tumblebrutus said cautiously. Munkustrap gave a nod.
"I was." He answered. Tumble frowned, looking at Munkustrap. Munkustrap idly just smoothed down the brown patch of Tumblebrutus's right eye. He fell back onto his backside when Tumblebrutus suddenly lunged at him, wrapping his arms around him tightly.
"Whoa, Tumbles, are you alright?" Munkustrap gasped, shocked, as he wrapped his arms around the tom-kit. Tumblebrutus nodded against his shoulder. Munkustrap's ears twitched as he heard Tumblebrutus murmur something against his shoulder.
"What was that, buddy? I didn't quite catch that." Munkustrap told him. Tumble looked up at him, shy.
"I'm glad Uncle Deuteronomy adopted you," Tumble said slowly. "You're cool," Munkustrap smiled, hugging the kitten close.
"Thanks, buddy,"
"…do you have to tell my mum that Pounce and I tried to sneak out?" Tumble asked hesitantly. Munkustrap thought about it for a moment.
"If you promise me that you and Pounce won't try to sneak out of the yard until you're old enough, then I won't tell your mum this time," Munkustrap told him firmly. Tumble nodded vehemently.
"I promise!" Munkustrap smiled, nodding, as he got to his feet, helping the young kitten up.
"Come on, let's get you back to the clearing," Munkustrap chuckled. Tumble took Munkustrap's paw and they headed back to the clearing.
"Ah, Tumbles, I was wondering where you got to!" Tumble gave a small 'eep' and shrunk against Munkustrap's side as his mother suddenly appeared.
"We were just having a chat, Jenny, sorry to worry you," Munkustrap spoke up, his voice calm. Jenny eyed him off a moment before smiling.
"I hope you didn't have any more run ins with walls," Jenny said seriously. Munkustrap gave a sheepish smile. Coricopat and Tantomile had ended up spilling to Jenny about Munkustrap's meeting with Macavity, she was too scary to lie to, making Jenny go and corner Munkustrap and give him a stern, but worried, talking to about walking off with a Tom who had sworn revenge against the Jellicles.
"No, I didn't," Munkustrap promised her. Jenny gave a relieved sigh.
"Good, I worry about you!" Munkustrap gave a sad smile at Jenny's worry.
"I'm fine, Aunty Jenny, promise," Munkustrap said gently as he leaned forward, nuzzling her cheek fondly. Jenny beamed at him.
"Go on, Tumbles, go find Pounce," Munkustrap murmured to the kitten. Tumblebrutus nodded and darted off, relieved.
"So, how are you going with your parts for the Jellicle Ball?" Jenny questioned him as they started to walk back to the clearing. Munkustrap smiled slightly. His role in the ball had been increased by ten-fold this year as he was taking over several roles of Jellicles who had passed away, and he'd even come up for a song for Jenny, who was over the moon when she had first heard it.
"I'm getting there," Munkustrap answered, smiling slightly. "It's been a bit…trying at times,"
"Oh?" Jenny asked, concerned.
"Just trying to get all of the cats in the right songs and parts, and I'm in charge of Pekes and Pollicles this year, with Addy as Rumpus of course, and it's, well, it's a bit crazy at times," Munkustrap admitted. Jenny laughed.
"I'm sure he'll do just fine and it'll be perfect," She reassured him. Munkustrap smiled as they entered the clearing.
"MUNKUS!" Munkustrap's head shot towards the source of scream, finding Coricopat and Tantomile running into the clearing, a limp Quaxo in Coricopat's arms. Munkustrap rushed towards them, looking worriedly at his charge, whose fur kept changing from black to white.
"What's happened?!" Munkustrap asked, panicked.
"W-We don't know!" Tantomile cried as Munkustrap took Quaxo from Coricopat, all three of them running towards the infirmary where Jenny stood, waiting.
"We were just practising his magic, and the next thing we know, he's on the ground and some of his fur keeps changing colour and the sparkles keep appearing and disappearing in his fur." Cori rushed as Munkustrap laid the unconscious kitten down.
Jenny immediately began looking over him, her expression becoming more worried.
Munkustrap took one of Quaxo's paws in his own, ignoring the slight shocks he was receiving. His heart was racing in his chest, panicked. He didn't know what was happening to his nephew. Munkustrap looked at Quaxo's pale face, worried.
He was scared he was going to lose him.
"Jenny?" Munkustrap croaked worriedly. Jenny shook her head, scared.
"I-It has to be his magic!" She breathed. "It's doing something, I don't know what, but his heart-beat is erratic and his breathing is laboured." Munkustrap gave a small, scared moan, looking at his nephew, his mind racing trying to figure out how to help the small, young Tom.
"What does that mean?" Tantomile asked, scared.
"His heart could give out if whatever is happening doesn't sort itself out,"
"Can you do anything?" Cori cried. Jenny shook her head.
"I-I have no experience with magic, I don't even know what's happening to him," The four looked back shocked at the kitten, whose paw and chest colour kept changing, along with the length and colour of his tail.
"Do you know anyone who can help him, Mum?" Tantomile sobbed. Jenny gave a small shake of her head.
"Not with magic," Munkustrap's head shot up at that, a sudden memory hitting him.
"I know someone." Was all he breathed before he raced from the infirmary.
There was no time to lose.
It was Quaxo's only chance.
Munkustrap had to go, he had to risk leaving his nephew there though his heart might give out and he leaves this earth…but it was Quaxo's only chance and Munkustrap knew it had to be done.
He swore to protect him and look after him.
He couldn't lose him.
Munkustrap bolted through the yard, ignoring the cries and yells of his name as he ran towards the street.
"Munkus, wait up!" A voice called, breathless. Munkustrap glanced beside him, finding Coricopat had caught up to him and was keeping pace beside him.
"Where are you going?" Cori panted as they ran down the streets.
"There's a Tom I know, he can help Quaxo," Munkustrap replied as they ran across a busy road, dodging the cars.
"H-How do you know?" Cori inquired, worried. "He needs to know magic ailments, or be powerful…"
"He has a gift," Munkustrap panted, pausing slightly to glance at a street sign.
"How do you know how to find him?" Cori continued to question.
"It's hard to explain, I just know where to head to," Munkustrap replied as they continued to run.
"How do you know he can save Quaxo, Munk?!" Cori cried out, worried that they were leaving Quaxo behind to get a Tom who might not be able to save the young Tom, when Munkus should be by his side.
Finally, Munkustrap slowed down, panting slightly. Cori stopped beside him as they approached an old, abandoned apothecary shop.
"Munk?" Cori pushed. Munkustrap sighed. He knew Coricopat was worried, but he wished he'd just trust him, he knew what he was doing…well, he hoped he did.
"If anyone has a chance of saving Quaxo, it's him," Munkustrap told Cori. Cori frowned.
"How do you know?" Munkustrap sighed once more, resigned.
"Because this Tom brought me back from the dead."
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Oops, sorry it's been a while but I was busy trying to finish off a cosplay, then I just was sort of lost for a bit on this…and now I may have fractured the scaphoid bone in my right hand, so I'm a bit slow typing at the moment, so bear with me!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Love,
HGP!