Disclaimer: Cats do not belong to me. Nor do the snippets of songs beginning each chapter. I'm just borrowing these things from Andrew Lloyd Webber, T.S. Eliot, RUG and Sarah McLachlan. Also thank you to the sites I got the lyric links too. So please don't sue me, it's not like you'd get much anyhow.
Author's Note: This story is a bit AUish about events that take place before and after the ball. And yes I know Jemima is the youngest of the tribe, but in this story she isn't so please... don't hurt me.
New Author's Note: You will notice some changes in this story, for one to be safe I will not be providing the full lyrics to the songs which go with Part 1 and Part 2 of the stories. I will provide links to them however. The snippets will still be present and I am also removing the cast list and placing it on my profile page under the information for the story.
Silence (Delirium)
Rating: Strong PG-13 to RLyrics
------- scene breaks
Telepathy
Part One: Out Of The Shadows
Before the Jellicle Ball
Chapter One: Witness
and when we're done soul searching
as we carried the weight and died
for the cause is misery made beautiful
right before our eyes will mercy be revealed
or blind us where we stand...
Jemima sighed, the sound exhaled her lips in a sadden manner. Tears welled behind her full eyes, eyes that were called pretty, even beautiful. She didn't understand why all the other cats liked her so much, most of it she figured was pure pity and not because she had a beautiful voice or eyes, it was because she had no one, she was an orphan. Sure Jellylorum had taken her in when she had been found, small, weak and barely alive. She had even taken to calling the marmalade queen Mom, but the black, red and white kitten knew better, her mother was someone else... but whom?
Always the same question, since the day she had learned to speak "Who is my Mother?", but of course no one had an answer... because well, no one knew or so they said. Jemima understood this, but still she wanted to know. Often her dreams were plagued by her plight, and the only thing she could really remember was the scream of a female voice and the insane cackling of a madman. Was the scream she remember that of her true mother's? And that laugh... it had been heard before, but the idea of Macavity being her father was absurd. Grumbling the kitten curled up and forced herself to sleep, knowing the dreams would come as they always did.
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Across the other side of the junkyard that the tribe of cats known as Jellicles called home, something was obviously wrong. The sweet smell of blood tainted the air, and sounds of pain filled the night. At first it went fairly unnoticed, the black and silver tom parted himself from sleep and gazed around slowly," Hm." His face lifted slowly, his small nose sniffing at the air," Lonz wake up." He pushed gently at the side of a black and white form next to him.
" Uh...uhm...hm?" The lanky form shifted and stretched out, his nose catching the curious scent as well, his ears flattening back with a twitch," Pollicle?" His brown gaze met the blue one of the silver tiger tom.
" I don't think so." Munkustrap's ears had also flattened back, he knew that scent, but there was another with it, one he hadn't sensed before. Or to often anyhow, he was sure that it had been around the outskirts of the yard a few times now that he paused to think about it," I think it's Ma--"
Alonzo shook his head, his paw coming to rest on the obviously older tom's mouth," Don't even say that name." A look of disgust crossed his black and white features and quickly he tore his paw from the face of Munkustrap, who had licked his paw," Ugh! That was gross. No more hanging around that friend of yours, Rugger Tug or whatever."
The tabby laughed, his vocalization amused," Rum Tum Tugger and sorry, but can't really keep that far away from him, he is ..." The tall muscular form suddenly stiffened," Something's wrong out there, come on."
" Yeah, yeah I know. You forget you have a third brother don't you?" The younger tom stuck his tongue out and then followed his older brother and idol off the Old Ford and into the darker areas of the yard.
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The gold and black queen pressed her petite frame quickly up against the wall of cardboard boxes, as luck would have it this action made the large ginger tom before her miss and crash into the towering boxes causing a few of them to topple towards them.
"Damnit." He hissed, his voice velvety and dark," I'm warning you, do this again and I'll make your punishment worse than the last one!" With a swift moment the ginger cat held the female roughly in his grasp, his thick black claws digging into her arm.
" Please... let me go I'm of no use to you!" Her voice hissed, but no strength was there to back it up and so the words became but a whisper, a frightened one.
The larger male cat gave a snorted laughter," Pathetic. I'm disappointed in you Demeter, honestly haven't I taught you better? Haven't I taught you how to fight and be strong?" He leered at her, a single claw coming to trace gently down her face, which was wet with tears," You shouldn't cry. It's your own fault, I tell you time and time again you can't escape me, but you don't listen and that's your problem you little bitch. You never listen." More boxes toppled as he slammed her back into them, his hand moving to grip tight about her throat, gaining pleasure in her struggling.
" I...you...only...taught...me...how...how... to be a whore." The gold and black female managed out, her claws tearing deep into his arm. Her hazel stare wide with fright would not leave his, she was not going to give into his threats this time, she was tired of being his slave, his little kitten factory, even if she had only bore him one, technically two, but the first he had no clue about. Her next action however would get her no where at all as she spit in his face.
Macavity laughed, probably for a good minute or so," Yes, that's right my love. A whore, that's all you are. A filthy, stinking whore!" A growl emitted from his lips as her spit splattered across his face and he threw her into the boxes, watching with a satisfied smirk as they fell one after another atop the motionless form," I suggest you think about your situation Demeter and remember you are mine. Forever." With that the cat turned and lept into the shadows, half hoping she was dead.
He waited until his father had left, until his familiar scent was gone and then he crept from his hiding place amongst some bags of trash," Momma..." The little kitten looked frantically about, his markings more similar to his Father's rather than his golden mother," Momma where are you?" His little eyes fell upon the fallen boxes and he knew what had happened," No..." There near the middle of the fallen pile sat a motionless paw, gold in color," Momma..." In an instant the small kitten was up by the paw and licking at it furiously, tears streaming from his eyes.
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Munkustrap skidded to a silent halt at the scene before him, a kitten very young was atop a fallen pile of cardboard and licking at something while wailing in a pitiful manner. His eyes tore slowly from the scene and towards his youngest brother as he came up along side him," Place reeks of Macavity." He muttered coarsely and looked back towards the scene again, it made his heart lurch.
" Bloody hell." Alonzo gasped, his tone loud and surprised as he to beheld the sight and swore again," That... that bastard." He moved forward slowly, his eyes latched to the kit as he moved and paused just on the right of him," Hey little guy. Why don't you help me get whoever is under here out okay?"
The kitten nodded, giving a small sniffle," Momma...she's under there... Daddy got angry again." He told the nice black and white tom as he felt a paw come to rest on his shoulder and looked up seeing another nice looking tom, a familiar one. In fact both of them look familiar for some strange reason," Is... is she gonna be okay?" His sobs thickened, the words coming out more like hiccups.
Munkustrap could say nothing, all he could do was gently move the kit aside and began to help Alonzo move the boxes off the female form. Once they had been cleared a very audible gasp left his black lips at who it was," Alonzo... go get Bomba now. And get Jenny up, tell... tell her to be ready for a patient." He waited till his brother had departed, then carefully the tabby lifted the small queen from the ground and held her to him and glanced down towards the kitten," Come on Sport, you're with me." He forced a smile, but it was a sad one towards the little tyke.
" My name isn't sport." The small bundle of fur spat at the much larger tom," That's a name for a stupid pollicle. I'm Plato." The kit spoke defiantly, much in the way his Father would or even his Mother.
The black and silver striped cat gave a small chuckle and nodded," I'm Munkustrap, but call me Munkus if you like kid."
Plato gave a small nod and a sniffle looking towards his mother's unconscious form," She's gonna be okay right?" Tears welled in the kit's eyes and a few of them, despite his earnest trying to be brave fell.
" She'll be fine. A nice cat named Jennyanydots will take good care of her."
Plato looked hopeful at Munkustrap," Promise? I...I love my Mother and I don't want Daddy to hurt her anymore. He's a bad cat." His hissed bravely.
Munkus had to chuckle again as they walked back towards the main area of the junkyard," I promise she'll be okay and your Daddy will never hurt her again, I'll see to that personally." Munkustrap's hatred for his half brother had suddenly deepened into a deep loathing.
That seemed to put the kitten at ease, but suddenly he darted behind Munkustrap's legs and peered forward shaking, three figures coming in their direction had obviously spooked the young tom, but they were in fact nothing to fear at all as Munkustrap saw that Alonzo had returned with Bombalurina and Jenny in tow.
"Deme...Oh Everlasting Cat! Demeter!" The sultry red queen known by a variety of shorter versions of her full name launched forward towards the silver tom with a look of both fright and relief across her features," Munkus...she isn't... is she?" It was obvious that Bomba was suddenly taken back by the prone state of her long lost sister in the arms of her lover's brother.
"No. She's alive and lucky." His eyes drifted to Jenny who had spotted the kitten and was trying to coax him out to her," Go on Plato, they're nice. They'll take care of you." His gentle blue gaze smiled down at the kit cowering behind his legs.
"Plato?" Bombalurina blinked, slowly peered around the tall tom to spy a kitten with very familiar markings and gave a gasp," No...oh Heavyside. That son of a B--"
"Bombalurina! Not in front of the kit please." Jenny had finally spoken, she knew more about the queen in Munkustrap's arms than the rest present did, even her own sister," Especially when that kit is your Nephew. You should set a good example being his Aunt." It was difficult for Jenny not to say much else, for not many cats knew what she did, in fact only two others. Namely Old Deuteronomy and Jelly, but that was all, but in time she knew the truth would come out.
This revelation had reeled the scarlet queen into a silent state. Nephew? Her sister had a-- by that---," Oh Heavyside." She managed to say again, but the words were airy, and all she could do was stare at the small little furry face that had begun to peek out and stare at them.
" Aunt?" Plato looked at Bombalurina and then to Munkustrap who nodded, and then his gaze moved back to Bombalurina," Aunt Bomlrena?" He slowly moved towards her, nervous and timid, shy like his mother.
" Close enough squirt." The queen had knelt down, her arms stretch out in a welcoming manner to the kit as he edged nearer," But Aunt Bomba works, easy to say." Tears welled in her eyes and slowly trickled down her cheeks as Plato finally got close enough for her to wrap up in her arms," Wow... just wow." Her green stare flickered towards Jenny who nodded approvingly and then to Munk and Alonzo who was laughing," What's so funny spotty?" Bomba smirked, knowing the black and white tom detested that nickname.
"Sorry...but man is Tugger gunna flip seeing you holding a kit." He managed between laughs," Woo I wanna see the look on that tom's face when he sees this!" But with a grunt, Alonzo was suddenly driven into silence by Jenny's elbow in his gut.
No one seemed to be paying much attention at the current second to Munkustrap now, or the queen in his arms who was slowly stirring, her body automatically rumbling out a low purr at the warmth of Munk's body against hers, his strong arms holding her like she was nothing. The blue eyed tom could do nothing but return her automatic gesture, his head coming to nuzzle gently against the top of hers," Come on Deme, wake up." So beautiful the second eldest son of the Jellicle Leader thought to himself as he was soon met by fluttering lashes that revealed twin hazel eyes.
" I-- where..." Demeter let a small gasp leave her lips. Blue eyes. But they were cold like Macavity's they... they were kind, loving and full of worry," M-- Munkustrap...Jellicles... thank Heavyside I'm safe..." Suddenly something else hit her mind and with a start she tried to remove herself from the tom's arms, but weakly got no where at all," Plato! Where's my son... I have to go get him from that piece of pollicle shit, I'll kill him so help me!" She was hysterical, thrashing about, her eyes wide and frantic, but slowly she calmed as her eyes beheld the sleeping form in Bombalurina's arms," Oh..." Her hazel stare fell to her paws, which had suddenly felt sticky and when she looked towards the face of the sentinel she knew why," I'm sorry. My nerves I...I'm so scared." She couldn't be brave anymore and with a heaved sigh, Demeter collapsed against the tabby's chest and cried. Her tears were of freedom, of happiness, but also of pain and worry. He would be back, Macavity always came back for what was his.
Munkustrap could do nothing but hold the fragile queen, his face stung where her claws had dug, but he ignored it and instead of growing angry with her as his half-brother would have, he only held her closer to him as she cried," Ssh. It's going to be okay Demeter. You're home, with those who love you and that son of a bitch will never lay so much as a whisker on you again." His tone was protective, but in a different manner. This had been a dear friend once, a childhood crush at one point as well and he couldn't stand to see her hurting in any way at all," I promise."
Jenny gave a small smile at the display of protection by Munkustrap, it was a lovely sight, one she had wanted to see for so long, but of course Demeter had been young back then and impulsive, she also had a thing for rough toms. Older ones too and that had been where Munkustrap's older half-brother came into her life and ruined it. The only good that had come of that mating had been two kittens. Plato and his elder sister. With Demeter back hopefully, Jenny knew that she'd need to go talk to Jelly first thing in the morning and give her the news that would both break her heart and make her happy," Come on, let's get Deme back to my place so I can look her over. Make sure nothing is broken. Her wrist does look like it might be sprained."
Without another word, the four cats moved towards the old tub that Jennyanydots called home along with her life-mate Skimbleshanks the railway cat.
End of Chapter One...