The sound of cats moving around him woke Munkustrap from his slumber. Giving a grumble, Munkustrap curled his limbs in close again, relishing in the warmth coming from the Queens, and Kopa, curled around him.

There was an angry hiss. "It's my turn to use the mirror, get your fat ass out of the way!" Sleepily, Munkustrap lifted his head, finding Lillith and Greer shoving each other in front of the mirror perched on the wooden crate.

"Ignore them," a sleepy voice said from beside Munkustrap. He looked over and saw Joslyn smiling at him sleepily, her large ears flicking as she listened to Greer and Lillith bicker. "They're the ones who try to win Master's favour, he isn't very fond of them though," she sniggered, Munkustrap returned it with a small smile. They both settled back down, hoping to sleep and escape from their horrible predicament in sweet dreams for just a while longer.

They were all rudely awoken when the door slammed open.

"Breakfast time ladies!" Munkustrap, Kopa and the Queens all sat up, yawning, as they stretched out their limbs. Munkustrap looked over and watched as two Toms wheeled in carts, loaded with bowls. He rolled his eyes as he watched a groomed Lillith and Greer saunter over to the Toms.

"Did you bring me anything special, Harley?" Greer purred, fluttering her eyelashes. Harley, a black and red harlequin Tom, shuddered.

"No, get away from me," he growled. Greer pouted, grabbing the bowl Harley pushed at her, before stalking away.

"Come on, Munkus, you need to eat," Dinah said softly, grabbing his paw and pulling him up. Harley raised an eyebrow when he noticed Munkustrap and Kopa being towed towards him by Dinah and Lemon.

"So I heard the rumours that the boss had gotten two Toms," Harley said, "I didn't believe it, especially after the last fiasco."

"I know," Serenity spoke up gently, "but these two are quite lovely." Munkustrap gave the white and brown Siamese a small smile. Harley nodded.

"Just look after these lovely ladies, you two," Harley warned, "or you deal with me." Munkustrap gave a nod, surprised. Harley grabbed a bowl and handed it over to Munkustrap.

"Better get eating before they come for you for today's jobs," warned Harley as he continued to give out breakfast to the Queens.

"Thanks, Harley," Patience murmured. Harley smiled as he looked at the red and black Queen.

"Any time, Patty, just look after yourself," he murmured softly to her, blushing slightly. Munkustrap sat beside Kopa, watching as Harley talked to the Queens as he handed out the remainder of the breakfasts.

"What do you think about him?" Kopa asked as he began eating. Munkustrap shrugged, green eyes glancing at him.

"He treats us kindly," The two Toms looked around at the sound of the soft voice, seeing Fleur sitting behind them. She smiled at them both. "Harley always makes sure we have enough to eat, sometimes sneaking us food if Master is in a terrible mood and has ordered we are not to be fed, and he makes sure that our wounds are cleaned so we don't get ill,"

"He always takes extra care of Trinity, getting her extra treats and sometimes hiding her and watching her when we can't look after her," Joslyn added. Munkustrap nodded.

It reminded him of Pearl, someone who looked out for him, despite the situation she was in.

An hour later, they came for them.

The door slammed open and the Queens all flinched at the noise. Scorpion strolled in, followed by three other Toms.

"All right ladies, its work time!" Scorpion grinned, clapping his paws together. Munkustrap watched silently as Scorpion gave each of the Queens a job to do. He shuddered when he heard 'entertainment' or when one of the Queens were told to report to someone's quarters.

"New toys," sniggered Scorpion, "you get to work today too, don't think we missed you!" Kopa and Munkustrap exchanged looks.

"Kopa, you'll be assisting Magma in the barn," Scorpion smirked. Munkustrap got the feeling that Kopa wasn't in for an easy time. Scorpion's yellow eyes landed on Munkustrap.

"Munkustrap, you're on cleaning duties, apparently you're good on all fours," drawled Scorpion, making the other Toms guffaw. "Report to Harley, he'll give you your instructions." Scorpion's yellow eyes swept around the room once more. "Well, get going!" he barked before he turned, sweeping from the room. The Queens all quickly picked themselves up, heading towards the door.

"Munkus!" Munkustrap turned and saw Juliet heading towards him, Trinity in her arms. "Will you look after Trinity? She'll be safest with you today." Munkustrap blinked, nodding, as he held out of his arms. Juliet placed the young rag-doll kitten into them. Juliet looked at him sadly.

"None of us are in a position to watch over her today, but your job today will be the safest for her," explained Juliet. "Just keep an eye on her, she's generally good and knows not to wander off and to stay close to your side." Munkustrap nodded, hugging the kitten close. Trinity purred and nuzzled up under his chin.

"I'll keep her safe," he murmured. Juliet nodded, giving a relieved smile.

"Come on, I'll take you to Harley," she told him. "Jos, can you show Kopa to Magma?" Joselyn nodded, gently touching Kopa's arm before she led him away. Kopa shoot Munkustrap one last reassuring smile before he followed her. Munkustrap followed Juliet to Harley before she disappeared to her own job of the day. Harley gave Munkustrap a small smile as he gave him a bucket filled with cloths, soap, rags, dusters, sprays and a dust-pan.

"Start in the main room and work your way from there," Harley told Munkustrap as he led him down the hallways. Harley pushed open a door and looked inside.

"Start here," Harley told him. "It's the room where the boss meets with his guests," Harley's eyes glanced down to Trinity, still held to Munkustrap's chest with his free arm. "Take care of her, okay?" Harley gave him a small smile before he walked off back to the kitchen. Munkustrap sighed and walked into the room, placing the bucket down as he looked around.

The room was definitely designed to show off his supposed wealth and power.

The dark red walls were covered in paintings and tapestries, with large windows letting the sun shine through. Heavy golden curtains outlined the large bay windows. The floor was wooden and sleek, with a red carpet leading up to a small platform and a singular, ornate, overstuffed chair.

Munkustrap sighed, rolling his eyes, before he put Trinity on the floor. He quickly found a place to fill the bucket with warm water before returning. Munkustrap slowly fell to his knees on the floor, looking at what he had in front of him.

Dusting first.

Munkustrap quickly made his way around the room, knowing by now how to quickly and efficiently dust a room. He sighed as he headed back to the bucket, grabbing that and a rag and heading to the large windows.

"Heya, Munkus?" Trinity squeaked as she followed him around.

"Yes, Trinity?" Munkustrap responded as he began scrubbing the dirt off the windows.

"Do you know any stories?" Munkustrap paused, looking to the kitten and smiling.

"Yes I do," he answered, "I'm a story-teller in my tribe." Munkustrap chuckled to himself. Tugger had given him that title after all the stories Munkustrap had told the kittens, leaving them wide-eyed and engrossed in the story. He smiled when he saw Trinity's eyes go wide with excitement.

"Hmm, have you heard about The Aweful Battle of the Pekes and Pollicles?" Munkustrap asked her. Trinity shook her head. Munkustrap smiled and began his retelling as he continued to clean the windows.

'Of the awful battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles
Together with some account
Of the participation
Of the Pugs and the Poms, and the intervention of the Great Rumpus Cat

The Pekes and the Pollicles, everyone knows,
Are proud and implacable, passionate foes;
It is always the same, wherever one goes
And the Pugs and the Poms, although most people say
That they do not like fighting. Yet, once in a way,
They now and again join into the fray
And they:

Bark Bark Bark Bark
Bark Bark Bark Bark

Until you could hear them all over the park

Now on the occasion of which I shall speak
Almost nothing had happened for nearly a week
(And that's a long time for a Pol or a Peke).
The big Police Dog was away from his beat -
I don't know the reason, but most people think
He slipped into the Wellington Arms for a drink -
And no one at all was about on the street
When a Peke and a Pollicle happened to meet.
They did not advance, or exactly retreat,
But they glared at each other, and scraped their hind feet,
And they:
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark

Until you could hear them all over the park

And they:
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark

Bark
Bark

Until you could hear them all over the park

Now the Peke, although most people may say what they please,
Is no British Dog, but Heathen Chinese
And so all the Pekes, when they heard the uproar,
Some came to the window, some came to the door;
There was surely a dozen, more likely a score.
And together they started to grumble and wheeze
In their huffery-snuffery Heathen Chinese.
But a terrible din is what Pollicles like,
For your Pollicle Dog is a Doryorkshire tyke,

There were dogs out of every nation
The Irish, the Welsh, and the Dane
The Russian, the Dutch, the Dalmation
And even from China and Spain
From the poodle, the balmy Alstation
And the Basset who growls on the train

And to those that are frisky and frollicle
Let my meaning be perfectly plain

That my name is Little Tom Pollicle
And you better not do it again!

And his braw Scottish cousins are snappers and biters,
And ever dog-jack of them notable fighters;
and so they stepped out with their pipers in order,
Playing When the Blue Bonnets Came Over the Border
Then the Pugs and the Poms held no longer aloof,
But some from the balcony, some from the roof,
Joined in
To the din
With a:

Bark Bark Bark Bark
Bark Bark Bark Bark

Until you could hear them all over the park

Huffery-snuffery, huffery-snuffery,
Huffery-snuffery, huffery-snuff!

Munkustrap
Until you could hear them all over the park.

When these bold heroes together assembled,
The traffic all stopped, and the Underground trembled,
And some of the neighbors were so much afraid
That they started to ring up the Fire Brigade.
When suddenly up from a small basement flat.
Why who should stalk out but,

The Great Rumpus Cat!

His eyes were like fireballs fearfully blazing,
He gave a great yawn, and his jaws were amazing;
And when he looked out through the bars of the area,
You never saw anything fiercer or hairier…
What with the glare of his eyes and his yawning,
The Pekes and the Pollicles quickly took warning.
He looked to the sky and he gave a great leap -
And they every last one of them scattered like sheep.

And when the Police Dog returned to his beat,
There wasn't a single one left on the street.
All hail and all bow to the Great Rumpus Cat!

Trinity giggled and clapped her paws. Munkustrap smiled as he finished cleaning the windows and sunk to his knees, getting ready to scrub the floors.

"That was good!" Trinity giggled as she cuddled close to his flank. Munkustrap smiled at her.

"Yes, what an interesting story," drawled a voice by the doorway, making Munkustrap stiffen. He heard Trinity give a whimper and he wrapped his fluffy tail around her, slowly pulling her behind him as he looked up.

Leo was leaning against the door frame, arms loosely crossed against his chest. He was smirking as he looked at them both.

"Of course, accompanied by a lovely singing voice too," Leo added as he stepped inside the room, his dark eyes glancing about. "Good to see your cleaning is still up to scratch after all this time as well, my dear boy." Munkustrap remained quiet, watching Leo pace around the room. He came to a stop beside Munkustrap.

"And how are you today, dear Trinity?" Leo asked, as he leaned over Munkustrap's bent frame. He could just see Trinity wrapped inside Munkustrap's tail, an attempt to shield the kitten from him.

"G-Good, s-sir," Trinity whispered. Leo smiled, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Munkustrap barely contained his shudder as he watched Leo's eyes slowly make their way up his body, pausing on his rear.

How he hated to be on all fours and be so vulnerable.

"Keep cleaning then." Leo said finally before he turned and left, giving Munkustrap one last dark smile.

Munkustrap shuddered then.

He knew Leo had thought of something and he wasn't looking forward to finding out what.

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I'm not dead!

I've just been super busy with work and also was quite ill recently, it was horrid.

Okay, so this fic isn't dead, it may take me a little bit for the next update, but it will come, I promise!

Thanks to those who reviewed!

Please read and review!

Love,

HGP!