((AN: Probably about time for another short Cats story. :3 I've been working on this one on and off for a little while between stories, might as well put it up now that it's been finished: just a sweet little glimpse into the future as Munk and Demeter's kittens show up into the world.
Fun facts about their names: My headcanon is that Jellicle names aren't often made up by the mother-it'll come to them in a dream, mostly, and as Jellicle names are supposed to be given to no more than one cat, and I feel it only logical that reborn cats will still keep theirs.
I'm not the best at coming up with names for anything, much less the uniquely charming Jellicle names. Only one of the kittens' names was made up by me. Two others are taken right from the musical itself (one of which is understandable, given the whole rebirth thing ;3), and one is inspired from an entirely different fiction story involving cats, Felidae, a book that was made into an animated movie. Don't go looking for the movie if you have a weak constitution; it's VERY MUCH not for kids, despite looking like it.
Another fun fact, some will know that I'm fascinated with genetics, and I've learned almost everything about how feline coat colors work. Based on what I think Munk and Deme look like in the musical, the kittens are genetically accurate, if-like me-anyone pays attention to that kinda thing. x3
That said, let's see the beginning of these new faces. Enjoy! ^^))
Jellicles New
Munkustrap was starting to feel that the junkyard was all blending together in his vision, one cool autumn night, little by little. He was on his patrol along the topmost perimeters of their expansive home, his meticulous eyes scanning every which direction and taking note of every movement that he'd come across.
There, a rat...there, the shadow of a bird...there, a car in the distance...there, one of the youngsters running about.
It was all he could do to keep himself distracted, with his familiar routine of keeping his watch, while his beloved mate was back in her den at that very moment...having their kittens.
Demeter felt that she was starting her labor pains that evening, and Munkustrap had immediately sent for Jennyanydots; she'd come on the double, bringing Jellylorum along with her. The Guardian had stayed for a moment to help keep her comfortable, and even help further induce the labor, but soon enough the older queens had insisted on shooing him out when it was beginning. The last thing he saw was her pained face as she insisted that she'd be fine...though he could see the nervousness in her eyes.
So now, he was trying not to panic for her, even keeping a calm face when he passed any of the cats down in the yard. The juveniles were being the most insufferable; word had gotten through the entire tribe by that point that it was happening, and the adults were trying to keep them from taking curious looks into Demeter's den. Only when it was permitted would they see the new arrivals.
Munkustrap stopped when he reached an overlook that gave him a view of the junkyard's center, and finally took a moment to sit and breathe on the boot of the old, rusted car. It was now the middle of the night, and he knew that it could be any time at all before he could see his family.
He thought about Demeter and smiled, knowing that she could pull through this with all of her blessed grace. How long ago was it now that they'd first met? Did a part of him even know that the skittish golden tortie that he'd laid eyes on would someday make a large part of his world? And now...
Taking another breath, he folded one paw over the other in front of him and murmured a quiet plea. Everlasting Cat, please guide the kittens safely into this world, and Demeter safely through her pain.
"Hey!"
"AAH!" Munkustrap yelped and felt himself sliding off the car trunk in surprise, and he flailed to keep himself upright again. When he heard snickering, he turned with a glare to see Alonzo grinning smugly atop the roof of the abandoned vehicle.
"Oh, by Cat, don't do that!" the silver tabby growled. "I swear I may just take your head off one day if you keep surprising me."
The black and white-spotted cat gave a laugh as he jumped down next to him. "My apologies, Munk; you just looked a little too serious. Should be my job to lighten you up a little."
Munkustrap rolled his eyes. "Well, no worries about that; the entire tribe keeps me lightened up." He took a deep breath and sighed. "I'm trying to stay calm right now, I'll have you know...I'm about to be a father."
"Oh, I know," Alonzo chuckled. "You should still be used to that; you act like a father to everyone." He gave his adopted brother a playful nudge. "Never thought I'd see the day though...you were always such a prude."
"Oh, I never was," the tabby huffed. "I just never really thought of having a mate before, let alone kittens...my life was always my duty...appointed Guardian of the Jellicles, and knowing that someday I shall take the mantle of the leader...it was all I thought I needed." He then got a wistful look, his eyes roaming to the sky as he smiled. "It's so strange to think back on. I guess...it simply took the right queen to make me see a little more than that."
Alonzo shook his head with a grin. "I know, I know, you and Demeter are a love story for the ages. I'll never understand it, but, at least you're happy, brother." He gave him a sincere smile. "And I'm excited for you too, truly. It's always so happy around here when there's more kittens."
The Guardian chuckled his agreement. "There shall be endless fun when they can run with the others." He smirked. "Have you never thought of being a father?"
"Me?" the spotted tom looked taken aback and barked a laugh. "Come now...I feel I'm still a little young to be trying for a family. I'm happy for the moment being everyone's handsome uncle." He gave a little preening swipe of his paw across his brow. "Or cousin, or brother, or son; whomever regards me."
Munkustrap snorted at his second-in-command. "Of course...how are the others, by the way?"
"Restless," Alonzo immediately said with a groan. "It's quite the time, keeping them entertained. Tantomile and Coricopat at least are helping, as are the more mature kittens. Your lovely brood had better get here quick; the Tugger's eager to see them too."
"Of course he is," the silver tom shook his head with a paw over his eyes. "It is going to be a fun evening."
"...But well worth it, I wager?" said his brother with a nudge from his head.
"...Very much so. Hm...maybe I should help to keep things in line..."
"No, no, stop right there," Alonzo leaped in front of him then, raising his paws. "No work for you, you have to relax, or you'll faint before you even get to see them. I've been watching; you've been around the entire perimeter three times today."
Munkustrap blinked. "That's why you are bothering me? To get me to halt in my tracks?"
"Demeter's not here to do it," the spotted cat smirked back. "As your second-in-command and future Guardian, I am giving my future leader some deserved paternity leave, under the cooperative authority of Jennyanydots, Jellylorum, and Bombalurina."
At that, Munkustrap had to breathe out a disbelieving laugh. "All three of the head queens, too?"
"Everyone agrees that if you took a break, nobody would mind," he chuckled. "I'm working to make sure of that...so don't worry about us, alright?"
The Guardian couldn't help the warm smile that came to his face. He will definitely make a worthy successor. "Fine...I shall try. But, I wonder how else I will distract myself from worrying about Demeter."
Alonzo chuckled and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry about her, either...she's a strong one, you know. And the kittens are going to be healthy; the twins confirmed that. If I were you, though, I'd just stay near her den, in case you are needed."
There was a pause as Munkustrap thought that over, and ended up seeing fit to agree. He opened his mouth to reply...but was interrupted by a shout echoing through the clearing, and charging inside with a familiar elderly golden tabby.
"Munkustrap!" Jellylorum dashed inside, kicking up a small bit of dust as she ground herself to a halt and started to catch her breath. "Oh, Heaviside, there you are...oh goodness..."
"Jelly," Munkustrap and Alonzo stood up quickly to face the older queen, the Guardian's heart starting to race. "What's going on?"
She took a moment for a few more breaths as the toms patiently waited on, and then she raised her head with a soft smile toward the silver tabby. "It's the kittens...they've all arrived. Jenny has sent me to fetch you."
"Already?!" Alonzo blinked.
"Oh my word," Munkustrap gaped and leaped down in front of her. "Are they alright? Is Demeter alright? Please tell me they are..."
Jelly silenced him with a giggle and placed her paws on either side of his face. "Yes, dear, they are all fine. You should go, and be with your dear love; I'm sure she'll want to have you there now."
"I...are you sure?"
"Will you go already, mate?" Alonzo gave him a little shove. "We've got things under control here, I promise."
"Ah, right, right..." Munkustrap shook his head rapidly back into focus, looking the other two in the eyes with a bright and excited smile. "Thank you, both of you, I'll let you know later how things are and when they can be seen, I just...I...thank you!" he finished and turned to head out of the clearing, all but dashing straight in the direction of Demeter's den.
It seemed that Jennyanydots had heard the Guardian coming quite easily; the old Gumbie Cat was just coming out of the car-front that marked the entrance to the den when he came rushing up at full speed, stopping with a skid in front of her on the ground, and finding it just as hard to catch his breath as Jellylorum had her own.
"There you are, dear!" Jenny greeted with a wide smile, nonchalantly reaching up to hold his shoulders and let him gather his words while dusting him off. "I was hoping that Jelly was quick in finding you...I know you will want to see your kittens right quickly. And before you ask, yes," she poked his nose, "We are ordering you to have some time with your family, Guardian, and I'll have no arguments to the contrary..."
"Jenny," he huffed out with a laugh, holding on to his surrogate mother's arm. "...I know...don't worry...Alonzo has...let me know. So..." his smile widened, "...I can go in now?"
The older queen hummed and reached up to smooth the fur down on his brow with her other paw, giving a grimace. "Ahem."
Munkustrap winced a little, realizing his mistake. "Oh, oh, sorry...may I go in, please?"
Jenny gave a satisfied nod with a chuckle. "Yes, you may...but I still advise you to enter slowly and quietly...as much as Demeter trusts you, she is exhausted and cannot move well yet, and new mothers tend to frighten easily."
He took in a deep breath to calm his excitement, letting it out slowly. "...Yes, of course, I will. Thank you, Jenny...for everything."
Her smile was warm as she gave him a comforting nuzzle. "It's my honor, dear. And my sincerest congratulations to you both. As the twins have predicted, you have four healthy little ones waiting to meet you; they've been cleaned up and everything." She pulled back and gave the silver tom a little nudge toward the den. "Go on, then. I will make sure that you aren't disturbed for a while."
Munkustrap returned her smile with a small nod, and took another calming breath as he followed her direction and turned to enter. It just took a leap through the open car window, a small squeeze through the barrier of the broken seats, and a peek into the quiet enclave into the junk pile, hidden behind a curtain.
There, he hid a little gulp as he slid inside and sat within the curtain as it closed behind him, leaving the space and its occupants in the soft semi-darkness. Lying enclosed in a protective circle of pillows in the center was Demeter, her body heaving with even and soft breaths, though she wasn't asleep. Her eyes were half-open, and her head rested on one of the more firm cushions of her barrier as she was looking down with what can only be described as peaceful, tired happiness in her facial expression. Her spiked collar was resting over on its designated resting place, the hook nailed on a discarded piece of wall, so that she was as comfortable as possible.
Munkustrap's smile couldn't wane, a half-lidded gaze of his own on his features as he regarded his wonderful mate and the way she was right now, bathed in the light of the stars and the stray lamp-posts outside, like a spirit or a goddess. He breathed a smitten sigh, and it came out with a gentle hum.
Demeter heard it, and her ears swiveled up, head rolling along the pillow to see who had entered the curtain. Seeing her beloved silver tom sitting there made her smile, and something about the way he looked made her heart start beating a little faster again. "...What are you staring at?" she said with a tired, but happy, murmur in her voice.
"The most beautiful queen to ever walk this humble Earth," he answered back just as softly, so sincere in the statement that she couldn't help but feel flushed.
She chirped out a giggle that went through her whole body. "Darling," her head shook with disbelief, "I'm an absolute mess."
"No," he gently argued, still with that loving sparkle in his eye. "You would walk through a storm and come out a pillar of stardust."
Demeter sighed out another laugh; she had to stop him before she became too emotional to speak. "Stop being so charming...come," she nodded down into the space of the pillows, "Come see them."
Giving a nervous little bite of his lip, Munkustrap did as told and padded over slowly, stopping to give the top of her head a loving rub with his brow before setting his eyes into where her curled body and paws were shielding a treasure most precious. Four of the smallest faces on the smallest bundles of fur he'd ever seen, all cuddled against their mother's belly, piled together in a little array of different colors...either a mix of hers and his, or just her, or just him.
"...My kittens..." he murmured ever so quietly, and a part of him wondered if this was some wishful dream that his past self was having. His heart welled instantly with love for his new little family, who all moved and wiggled over each other, blind and deaf yet to everything of the world. "...Our kittens. Demeter...they're all so perfect."
She chuckled warmly as she watched him slowly enter the nest to get a closer look, crouching within the protective circle so that they formed one for the young ones. "That's what I thought too. Their names haven't come to me yet...I'm still too tired..." she sighed with an apologetic smile, "I can tell you though that we have two daughters," she gestured with a paw to one with silver tabby fur and a white bib, and to another tortie with some larger patches of gold, "And two sons," she pointed to a little gold-and-white tabby, and to a black-and-gray smoke-patterned kit, who seemed to want to burrow under his siblings when pointed out. "The little one that looks like you...she was born first, of course...the little toms next, the black and the gold...and the little tortie, she came last."
Munkustrap hummed a soft laugh as he regarded all of them, and comfortably stretched himself out a little more when he knew that his mate wasn't at all protesting his closeness...and he wanted to be close...to his family, and the love of his life, with whom he created these new lives. He would never understand the toms that couldn't want a feeling like this. "I can already tell...they will have such interesting personalities."
They watched as the kittens seemed to notice the new presence, a new scent and a new wall of warmth...two of them burrowed closer to the familiar scent of their mother, while the other two—the silver tabby queen and the ginger tom—were tentatively raising their heads to the new one.
Demeter giggled. "Looks like they love you already, too." For the queen, it was an experience that she thought would never happen—kittens with a tom that she knew wanted his little ones, and happily wanted to be there for them, to know them...kittens that she could keep, never to fear for whether they would be accepted. All she saw in his expression was love for all of them, a far cry from toms that she knew of long ago...and a far cry from Macavity.
As the little ones used their noses to investigate, barely able to move much yet, Munkustrap was holding a steady but giddy smile when he let them smell and touch his black-tipped paw. "Hello," he whispered, though he knew they couldn't hear him yet, "...I'm your father. Or 'dad', or 'papa', if you prefer...and I promise I'll love and protect all of you."
At this point, even the unsure kittens were trying to investigate the new scent, to which they would soon grow familiar. "We both will...and trust me, my loves," Demeter added with a chuckle, "You won't find a better papa."
"Nor a better mum," he countered with a smile, and he reveled in the sound of her sigh and the smitten look in her eyes, and the little rumbling purr of content...something that the kittens, as all cats, would associate with comfort and security.
The little tortie, who still stayed the closest to Demeter, started then to make a wheezing little squeak noise and nosed into her belly. The golden queen let out a soft chuckle. "I suppose it's feeding time..."
"Indeed," Munkustrap hummed along with a smile, and gently helped to turn the kittens toward his mate, even helping them find places to latch on and suckle. When they did, he settled closer and laid his chin gently upon her neck with a loving nuzzle to her cheek, also keeping her head resting onto her pillow.
She noticed this tender insistence to rest, and raised a paw to rub his shoulder. "Are you sure we're not keeping you from something, darling? We will be fine if you have to go out again."
"Terribly sorry, but I'm staying," he stuck out his tongue playfully. "The others have given me permission to take...what was it again...? Paternity leave." He started up his own deep purr. "If I leave you, it is to either get food, or to check up on my human. Other than that...I will be here for you and for them." He raised his head to meet her gaze again. "That is, with your permission, of course."
She let out a more invigorated laugh, bumping his neck with her brow and nestling her face into his fur. "You are welcome to, dearest, and you know very well that you always are welcome. Just...don't overly worry," he felt her grin. "I shall be up and about again soon."
He huffed. "Can't promise that I will not overly-worry, but I shall try; for now, you have to rest. Are you hungry?"
Demeter had to think about that for a moment...as it had been quite the hectic day, only now had she stopped to think about herself. "...A little, actually..."
"I thought so," he smiled and stood up slowly, careful not to rustle the nest and disturb the feeding kittens. He lightly, almost reverently ran a paw over each of them. "I shall return."
"We shall be here," the golden tortie smiled back as she watched him turn to leave, and right then, she felt that nothing in that moment could have ever brought her more peace than to know that he was going to be there for them, through Hell and back. She glanced back down to the young ones, each of whom were finishing up their meals and cuddling up to sleep. "Fair warning, my dears...your father is always going to overly-worry. He does it out of love," she chuckled, lulling them with her quiet purring as she drifted off, herself.
Demeter recovered her energy easily over the next couple of days. Like an invisible voice that could have come from her own mother, her mind practically ordered her to stand and walk around again and stretch her limbs, though she always kept an eye on the little ones to make sure that they were still warm.
Munkustrap, always true to his word, brought food and water to the den, and sometimes even napped with and cleaned them while she went out (if they woke up and started to call, however, she was always back just in time...he suspected that she always stayed within earshot). The kittens easily got used to his presence, and having deemed him no threat in their newborn minds, all came to curl against his fur when they felt him...and he always felt that he couldn't feel his heart more full.
They would sometimes get visitors to the den, ever-curious onlookers who would keep asking when they could see the arrivals...the answer would always be "when their eyes have opened". The only other cats that were allowed to see them before then were the elder queens, who'd helped with the birth...at least, for the time being.
It was the evening of the third day, as Demeter was busily moving any dirty blankets aside to be cleaned and replacing them with new ones (and doing so as quietly as possible around the napping children), when she heard the noise of quick scrambling from just outside the curtain. When she looked up, it was to see Munkustrap poking his head in with a perky smile.
The golden queen had to let out a soft giggle, raising her brow curiously. "You are back quicker than I thought, darling...is something going on?"
"Indeed!" he blurted, and then with flattened ears and a sheepish grin, lowered the volume of his voice. "...I know you don't wish for visitors with the kittens, yet...but...how do you feel about letting Old Deuteronomy see them? He's out behind me."
Demeter let out a little gasp, her ears perking up as she gaped. "...He's here? I did not even sense him! Of course he may see them!" She hastily set aside the blanket she was holding and padded back over to the little ones, who were stirring. She smiled as her gaze flicked between them and her beloved tom. "...To be honest, I feel he can take the right to be here, anyway...the junkyard is more or less his, is it not?"
Before Munkustrap could answer, there rang a gentle, booming laugh from behind him. He stepped aside quickly as the old Jellicle Leader himself poked his very fluffy head through the curtain, his smile brightening the room as much as the moon itself would. "It is hardly mine, my dear...a cat makes their home wherever they please...and the Jellicles please to make it here. I would still ask politely to enter your domicile. Might I then?"
Demeter chuckled, bowing her head respectively. "Yes, my liege, you may. I just hope that you aren't too exhausted; you tend to travel here from such a long way!"
"A journey is not so long when you travel it as many times as I have," he pointed out and sighed, but his wizened smile hardly wavered. "Demeter, always so formal...do not be, you are as much family to me as all of the cats...oh, but I still apologize for intruding before you wished to show the kittens off...I simply had to come as quickly as possible. I have been present to meet every new kitten born to this tribe, and I refuse to let distance and my old age keep me from stopping now, and especially for my own grand-kittens."
He then made to step inside...but could only get one paw in before he was halted in his tracks with a grunt. "Oof...ah, but it seems the car seats at your front door make effective blocks. I think I may be stuck."
Demeter snorted, trying not to laugh as Munkustrap immediately got up to push at the seats and gently pull Deuteronomy inside; and all the while, the big Maine Coon was taking it all in happy stride.
"I seem to have gotten more roly-poly in my old age...no, you stay there with the little ones, dear, we can...somehow fix this," he laughed as Demeter seemed to start getting up to help, and the silver tom, with a toothy grimace, was having trouble shoving the seats open a little further.
She sat down again and shook her head with an accidental giggle. "Try pushing the left seat; it tends to be a little more loose."
"Ah, yes," Munkustrap shook his head with a snort and, with a good shove from his father's bulk and a running shove from himself, the thing finally gave way enough to let him slip inside.
Once Deuteronomy paused to shake the dust off of his smoky-gray coat, he slowly meandered inside with the silver tabby. Demeter again bowed her head low as she made room in the nest for him to see, and he raised one of his large paws to cup her chin, raising her head and bringing her forward for a proper greeting head-bump...like a true father figure, and not a ruler. She almost felt tears when he did that...she was certain that she hadn't lived more than one life yet, and so had never known him as well as many of the others...and yet she still felt incredible peace and acceptance in her spirit around him.
He let her go with his gentle smile cast her way, and finally sat on the edge of the pillows to regard the kittens.
"Well, bless me," the old cat whispered, as much in awe as if he'd never seen newborns so many times before in his life, his aged face crinkling his eyes as he grinned with excitement. "They look quite healthy...ah, and already so inquisitive," he said as he noticed all of them lifting their little heads to sniff the air, discerning this new presence with little tiny, squeaky mewling noises accompanying them. "It really never ceases to be exciting; meeting new youngsters and seeing new life in this lovely little tribe. My boy," he looked up with a grin to Munkustrap, "You must assuredly be very proud."
"More than proud," he chuckled back shyly, sending Demeter an adoring look, "Of them and of my love."
And before any more could be said, the adults' attention was directed back to the kittens with their mewling; two of whom, the little smoky tom and the little tortie queen, had already turned themselves to face Deuteronomy, all but burying themselves in his fur when he placed his paws to them.
The parents both laughed. "You are a wonder, Father...it took even the brave ones a few minutes to warm up to me," admitted Munkustrap.
The old tom hummed a chuckle, his eyes twinkling. "Well, you notice now, only the two of these seem so quickly taken with me. That is because they already know me. My dear young lovers, you seem to have given life to old souls...not long leaving the Heaviside Layer."
Munkustrap gaped, his eyes falling back to the two little ones in particular. "...Old souls? These are reborn? I...I don't believe it..."
"Oh, believe it," he laughed, settling himself down so that he lay half-over the pillow threshold of the nest, and thus he could let the little ones nestle in his paws and feel his fur. "I have seen it too many times to count. I have met many who have passed and stayed up there, waiting for the right life to come along. Some wait for ages, and even then they never truly know what they are getting into...they seek to be as close as possible to their dream lives...while some others...they simply wish for another chance. Be honored. You were chosen to herald not one, but two cats taking that chance."
Demeter shook her head with a little giggle as she laid herself down beside the two apparently new souls, the silver and gold tabbies, who were still getting used to every little change in their world. "I certainly do feel honored...but I must admit...I am surprised that we have two old souls. I already figured that we had one."
The toms glanced up in her direction, meeting her smug grin. "What are you hiding?" her mate asked with a playful smirk back.
She laughed, glancing between them. "I was saving this as a surprise since I woke up today...but it's quite fortunate that you came, Old Deuteronomy, so I might as well tell. I have been given their names."
"Oh, then do reveal them, my dear!" the old cat grinned as the two kittens in his paws settled, the tortie laying atop her brother. Munkustrap laid down between the other adults over the edge of the nest, waiting with an eager smile of his own.
The queen cleared her throat theatrically, and pointed first to the young ones in her own paws. "The first born is Whiskafyr...the third born is Cladandus."
And then, to the other two. "The second born is Grumbuskin. And the last born—believe it or not—is Grizabella."
At the name, Munkustrap shot up on his front paws, jaws agape, while his father looked on with a knowing smile and glittering eyes. "You're kidding!" The silver cat laughed as he looked down into Deuteronomy's protective arms at the tiny black-and-gold tortie, so much like his mate. "...She's reborn...and she chose us. Imagine...she could have had any life that she wanted, and she chose us."
"Well now of course, remember," Deuteronomy spoke, suddenly looking rather solemn, "Their minds are still new, just like the others. They will have a sense of their old lives, and their personalities will be influenced by them, but no true memories of them yet...it will take subsequent lives for them to remember fully. They all must be raised with equal love, and with as much happiness as you can give them; while still of course, molding them into well-behaved and respectable cats."
The younger adults both nodded in solemn agreement. "We shall remember," Munkustrap declared. "And we certainly know that there won't be any loss of love for them...not in this family."
"Surely not," Demeter heartily agreed. "I should like to think that they chose the best possible place for their second chances. Grizabella will have a fair, but very worthy one, now." She then tilted her head up at the old tom. "I am quite curious, then...did you know Grumbuskin in his other life?"
His fluffy brow rose, and there seemed to come a sad look in his moon-colored eyes as he looked down to regard the little tom, with the same kind of pattern on his coat as his own, though in patches of darker black and gray. "I did. As a matter of fact, my dear...I'm very surprised to finally see him having left the Heaviside Layer...I'd begun to fear that he never would."
"Why is that?" asked Munkustrap as he laid down again, and they both knew that there was probably a story to be told.
Deuteronomy's body heaved with a heavy sigh. "Like Grizabella, this is Grumbuskin's second life. He began his first as my son, back in my...ah, let's see..." he glanced up in thought for a moment, "Ah, yes, way back in my fourth life. But, sadly, I had only ever met him once, before his youth was all but taken away. You see...his first life was...very much not ideal.
"He was born on a farm not far from the little old town where I make my own home...but that farm was long abandoned, you see. When he was just beginning to live, humans ransacked the land and tore it down for some other use, and the stray cats were gathered up, those unfortunate enough to be caught. His mother couldn't save him from being taken to a shelter.
"That's what the humans called it. But, as it was the olden days and animals—well, cats—weren't as highly-respected as they are now, the shelter was a veritable dungeon of misery. He lived and grew up in a tiny cage with several other cats, fighting for food and water and warmth, and given so little of each, never to know true freedom but for that tiny space.
"He died young, in the winter...a mix of starvation and disease...something as benign as a flu, that couldn't be treated then. I met him in the Heaviside Layer when my time in that life had come...and he told me what he'd been through. He was relieved to have left the misery behind, but so very afraid to start anew. No prospective new chance seemed right for him. Time after time I passed through on my own journey, and time after time, he would still be there...and even my coaxing could not bring him back."
When his story finished, he looked up to see the new parents with such sad looks in their eyes, Demeter with her paws over her mouth in horror, Munkustrap gritting his teeth, both of them looking now to the small kitten that at the moment seemed warm and content to be a pillow for his sister.
"So very sad...my poor kitten," the gold queen sniffed and wiped at a forming tear in her eye. "I do not know if I'd have been so afraid to start over, were it me...but I can very well understand his pain."
"I can only imagine," Munkustrap muttered quietly, reaching over to comfortingly rub his paw over his little son's head, and against his daughter as well. "Well...he's here now...I wonder what made him finally decide to have another go."
He looked up as he felt Demeter's paw on his shoulder. "I can guess," she said with a nod to the two old souls. "Look at them together. Grizabella, I feel, was a strong one, to have gone through what she did before. I would not be surprised if she helped to convince him."
"Maybe she promised to go with him," Munkustrap thought in agreement. "Protect him...she's learned such selflessness since her first life."
"She was indeed strong," Deuteronomy nodded. "If once misguided, but indomitable. I can very well guess that's what happened. And it's a blessing," he said with a smile as he leaned down and nuzzled his velvet-black nose against the little old souls, now starting over as his grandchildren. "May they live fulfilling and better lives," he then reached one paw out to touch the other two, and they stirred gently against his pads, "All of them."
"They will if I have anything to say about it," Demeter vowed. Knowing that she meant it with all her strength, Munkustrap chuckled, rolling his eyes upward with a long and happy sigh...for he knew that the future was about to get interesting.
"Well then," Deuteronomy said with a smile and gave the sleepy kittens in his loving grip one more nuzzle before placing them back with their siblings, "I think that I shall endeavor to leave this new family alone for a moment...I can tell that the others have learned of my presence here."
"Oh, must you leave?" Demeter's head tilted. "You are more than welcome to rest here with us."
The old cat gave a humming chortle. "Don't you worry, my dear, I will be taking you up on that offer. But, seeing the kittens is only a part of the reason I traveled...I must catch up with the rest of the tribe...and keep them distracted so that they do not beg to see your offspring," he grinned with a wink. "Enjoy your family leave, my son," he then nodded toward Munkustrap, "You've more than earned it."
"I'm much obliged," the silver tabby answered with bow of his head.
Deuteronomy chuckled again as he turned to exit. "Oh, memories...it seems as though it was yesterday when you and Tugger were that tiny. I hope you enjoy your time with them while it lasts." And with that, the old Maine Coon carefully slipped out of the den, with only a bit of a tight squeeze to hamper him.
Once he was gone, Munkustrap let out a wistful sigh. Demeter noticed his pensive look and sidled next to him, laying flush against his side as her head bumped his neck. "Penny for your thoughts, darling?"
"For you, my thoughts are free," he answered with a little grin and a nudge, his tail wrapping around her. "It just feels like so much to take in. New parents to old souls."
"Yes...but, they are different cats now. We must do as best we can to raise them all with love." She nuzzled up against his chin, a teasing tone in her voice. "Even if they may end up choosing a favorite parent. Which will be you."
"Oh come now," he snorted, "They will love you more than anything."
"By virtue of being their mother," she argued with a smirk and a nudge.
"And a very strong soul that they will look up to," he hummed sincerely as he nuzzled back, opening one eye to the mewling of the kittens, "Perhaps one or two may favor one or the other. One thing is for certain...I love them with all I have, and I have never loved anything more than being here in this moment."
"Nor have I," the golden queen agreed softly, and gave his cheek a quick little lick before turning her attention to the newborns, who were clamoring for their meal time again. Munkustrap was content to lie beside the nest and watch them, committing their names (both old and new) to everlasting memory.
Munkustrap had noticed the inevitable increase of activity in the yard the next day, as he was on his sunset run for food. Silently he thanked his father for once again keeping everyone distracted while they waited for an apt time to show the kittens off to everyone else.
He had to stop and furrow his brow, however, upon his return to Demeter's clearing. He could just barely spy two shadows lurking along the top of the pile that hid her den, pawing about and trying to catch a glimpse inside from whatever nook and cranny they could find. Whenever a part of them crossed into the fading light, their bold and almost wild-like tabby coats were unmistakable.
The Guardian let out a long sigh through his nose and shook his head. Great. I was halfway expecting those two to have tried to come much earlier.
As he moved closer with the food he brought for his mate, the cat burglars didn't even seem to notice him having come back in. His ears caught their half-whispered arguments atop the pile.
"Jerrie, 'ave ya found a peek in ye'?"
"Naw, this poile's real closed up. Oi swear, maybe we shoul' jus' troi th' fron' door?"
"Only way we's gonna see 'em first is boi sneakin'...b'sides, wha's fun abou' th' fron' door, eh? Y' always say tha'!"
"Ahem," Munkustrap cleared his throat, interrupting their banter as they just about jumped out of their fur and looked down at him with wide eyes. The look on his face told them that he wasn't in the least bit amused."What exactly are you two ruffians trying to do? And don't bother running; the protectors will have the clearing surrounded in a matter of seconds if I shout."
The Toyger siblings grimaced before slowly climbing down, putting on their most innocent faces. "We weren't lookin' fer trouble, honest we weren't!" Mungojerrie called.
"Yeh!" Rumpleteazer nodded enthusiastically. "We, ah...well, y'know us, roigh'? We en't the two mos' patient a' cats. We really so much wan' ta see th' kittens!"
"You could ask instead of trying to break into Demeter's den...which, need I remind you, she worked hard to build as a veritable fortress," he grimly pointed out. "You wouldn't have found any sort of opening besides the front without help."
"Well, ah..." Mungojerrie grinned nervously and scratched the back of his head, "Y'wouldn' 'ave said 'yes', oi figgah, if'n we arsked."
Rumpleteazer sighed and lightly slapped him. "Yeh, 'cause th' kittens en't ready yet, y' idgit."
"And still you two came to try your luck?" Munkustrap quirked an eyebrow.
The Toyger queen snorted. "Yeh, we had ta troi, a' th' least! Bu'...m' guessin' we's jus' gonna ge' kicked ou' now, eh?"
With a bit of a huff, the silver tom was about to answer in the positive, when suddenly Demeter's voice rang out from the den's front, sounding just about as exasperated as he was.
"Just let them in, Munk...they're just going to keep trying if we say 'no'. And we have something to discuss with them anyhow."
Hearing her tone of voice, the two thieves simultaneously gulped, while Munkustrap shook his head and turned them around by the shoulders. "You heard the lady."
And so silently, they were marched inside, into the car windows, through the somewhat-tight car seats, and past the curtain.
The tense mood that the cat burglars had upon coming in was soon all but forgotten, though, the instant they laid eyes on the tiny kittens; they'd seen many a young one in their life, but it seemed they hadn't seen any that were so young that their eyes and ears were but little slits in their heads. Their fascination was endless, as was the loud cooing courtesy of Rumpleteazer. It was rather endearing for the parents to (closely) watch their reactions, considering they often seemed like giant kittens themselves.
But it was the extra news waiting for them that threw them off-guard.
"...Godparents?" Rumpleteazer blinked as Mungojerrie gasped beside her, their attention back on the grinning parents. "Why wouldja wanta 'ave a coupl'a scalawags loik us ta 'ave tha' toitle? No' tha' we're no' flattered..."
"Because you deserve it," Demeter informed with a smile that told them she was quite sure about the decision. "You were the ones that showed us the way out of Macavity's territory. You took stray kittens to new homes, to the tribe...you saved their lives...and Jemima's life. I would entrust my new kittens' lives to you as well."
"And I've seen your work first-hand," Munkustrap piped in. "As proud trouble as you two are, you have good hearts." He pulled Demeter close and nuzzled her. "And we can't thank you enough for making all of this possible."
"Aw, c'mon..." Mungojerrie laughed, trying not to look flustered, "S'jus' wha' we loik ta do, sneak 'round, en't no trouble takin' kittens fer th' roide."
Teazer was a little more apt to showing emotion, wiping a forming tear from the corner of one eye. "Bu'...oi think we'll accept th' honor. We's jus' 'appy ta be a' help."
"Yeh, these lil' kits, we'll protect 'em too," Mungojerrie vowed as he leaned down to paw playfully at the youngsters who were mewing curiously at him, "Thief's honor."
"And Jellicles' honor," Teazer added, giving her brother a little smack on the shoulder.
"Tha' too."
"We're glad that you accept," Demeter smiled, though her expression turned serious once more, "Just, please, do us a favor and don't come nosing around the den again, and don't bring attention to us. We don't want to stress the kittens by showing them before they are ready."
"So if you want to protect them, prove it by doing just that," Munkustrap finished off with a little glare. "Clear?"
"Crystal," the two troublemakers rang out with a sincere tone.
The new parents had to roll their eyes with a little chuckle once they left for the night (OH the trouble they knew they'd all get into one day...), though they were still as adamant on the decision. As they looked down upon their little family, they knew that the kittens were in good paws, when they themselves couldn't be there.
It was Grumbuskin who fully opened his eyes first.
And what a sensation it was to the little kitten (for each of them, really) to soon not only be able to hear little snippets of the world around them, but now to be able to see just how big a world they'd been brought into. Though each of them were slowly beginning to see blurry bits as it came into focus, sometimes one wasn't prepared for when they knew how clear it was.
It was deep into the night, and the kitten, feeling the sensation of hunger again gnawing at his tiny stomach, raised his little head and nose to find his mother's scent...
But now along with that, the darkness was gone, and in the distance there was a far-off rumbling...all of it blurry and muffled, but becoming slowly more clear.
The newness of it all was becoming a bit much for the now-week-and-a-half-old, who started mewing loudly.
This immediately stirred the three other tiny, warm bodies around him, whose eyes were still fairly pinched; but their ears apparently opened at roughly the same time as his own. His brother and one sister both let out huffs of air through their mouths in annoyance, the beginnings of hissing...he didn't like that much. The other sister, the one with stripes, mewed along with him, though softer, as if to coax him to do the same.
But soon enough, the calls made one of the larger bodies surrounding them stir. The one that his new mind instinctively knew as his mother raised her gold-and-black head, blinking her own eyes open to regard the kittens as her jaw opened briefly in a yawn.
His widened eyes met his mother's face, and her brow rose, smile widening. Her paw reached over the kitten pile to poke at the holder of the other familiar scent. "Darling...Munk, wake up, you must see this," her soft voice coaxed.
"Mm?" he groaned a little, and the kitten turned to regard the other as he woke up, shaking his head of his drowsiness. "What is it, love?"
The mother smiled wider. "One of them has opened his eyes."
The eyes of the other cat immediately widened, and he looked down to lock his gaze with Grumbuskin for the first time. "Oh! So quickly!" he grinned while the other giggled. He then reached his paws over and cupped him in them, pulling him closer. The kitten mewed with a little complaint at that, only to feel a big soft face warmly nuzzling him. "Hello my son...welcome to the world. You'll love it here...Papa promises to keep you safe."
Grumbuskin couldn't help but feel comforted and safe in his Papa's paws, being able now to hear the tones of his voice and see both parents' faces...it probably wouldn't be so bad feeling like this, even with such a big world to see.
But soon, he was reminded of his own hunger, and he wiggled around toward his mother, letting out another little mew. His siblings had already followed their own hungry bellies and noses toward her.
"Mealtime," Demeter called, and the kitten felt a chuckle go through his father as he was set back with the others, with help in latching onto a nip of his own to feed from.
His mother's purr rumbled through all of them as warm milk filled their bodies, while his father's paw rubbed over each of their backs ever so gently.
Grumbuskin wouldn't remember why he felt both sad and happy to feel his belly so full, and to feel warmth and love from his family...but he did, and when his eyes closed again to the darkness of sleep, and all three siblings crawled back to cuddle together with him, his dreams were only filled with light and color, and the world seemed to promise not to be so cruel this time around.
Whiskafyr and Cladandus both opened their own eyes at the same time around the middle of the next day, and when they did, they wasted almost no time in showing everyone that they were the boldest two of the litter. They were crawling as quickly as possible toward every inch of the pillow barrier, testing and growing the muscles in their legs, ever curious to all the new things to see and do.
"Well, I guess we know which ones we'll have to keep our eyes on," Munkustrap joked to his mate as he helped keep them inside their nest, and she made sure that every little nook and cranny in her den was covered so as to prevent anyone from getting lost. The little silver queen would soon grow tired of continually getting put back, and so would put her energy into tumbling around with her siblings, while Cladandus would still be stubbornly trying to breach the walls of the veritable fortress until nap time.
Grizabella finally opened her own eyes about dusk. When she did, and her confused mewling was noticed, she was a little more receptive than the others were to being picked up by her father and given a bright, welcome smile and a loving nuzzle, from both parents.
She wouldn't remember why she loved such positive attention so much...but she did, and hoped that there would always be more of it...even though something told her to be just as loving to the world in return. And so she gratefully returned their attentions with little paws against their faces and the beginnings of purrs, before being set back with her siblings to join in their slow exploring and tumbling around with rapt happiness.
"So, how do you think we should let the others see them?" Munkustrap inquired of his mate around the afternoon of a few days later, as they were starting to plan introducing the tribe to the new faces. He was lying on his side and letting the closest kittens to him, at the moment his daughters, clamber all over his limbs and tail while their wobbly crawling was becoming a little faster.
Demeter lay close by, humming thoughtfully as she tried to clean a rather fussy Cladandus, while Grumbuskin was having some milk to himself. "Let's see...we can both agree that it is probably getting a little cold out yet to take them outside...so perhaps instead we can let everyone into the den two at a time. And that way, the kittens won't be over-stimulated."
"Oh, I doubt that it's possible to over-stimulate the kittens," he pointed out as Whiskafyr succeeded in climbing on his neck. He chuckled. "You know that once they walk, they will have energy to spare."
She cocked an eyebrow playfully as her little golden son succeeded in wriggling out of her grip, while the other one was curling up by her knees. "Do you think we can get them to run on a hamster wheel and power the lights in the junkyard?"
"It would be possible," he laughed, only to hear a tiny stunned "mew!" as his tabby daughter tumbled on the other side of him. He sat up a little, picked her up, and set her back down into his paws as he lay down again. "But, then Mistofelees would be out of a job; he's quite proud of being able to light them."
"True..." Demeter chuckled as well, shaking her head. "Perhaps we can let in four at a time, then...that way, everyone gets a chance to see a kitten. Now I just wonder who will be first?"
"You mean next, after Jerrie and Teazer's intrusion," Munkustrap rolled his eyes as now both of his daughters were trying to climb him. "I would wager that our siblings will be. I'm quite surprised they haven't yet..."
But he didn't have time to finish his sentence, when suddenly there came the distinct sound of claws being scraped against the lid of a chest in the corner of the den, where Demeter had a secret entrance...the claws made a pattern of sounds that were recognizable to her.
Her mate blinked and rolled upright, ears pricked. "...Are you expecting anyone?"
"I wasn't, but I think you may have called the devil," Demeter rolled her eyes, "That's Bombalurina's secret code for the chest lid."
Then, suddenly, there came the sound of a thump, followed by something bumping the inside of the lid. "Ow!" the red queen's muffled voice was heard in protest.
And then, to their surprise, came a second, annoyed voice. "Why did you stop?"
"The lid is closed, you idiot...and please get your face out of there."
"Oh, but I'm so comfy~..."
"She brought Tugger with her?" Munkustrap groaned and covered his eyes. "Well, I suppose our siblings might as well see them now."
"Indeed," Demeter said with a bit of a huff as she stood and gathered the little ones around together. "Be a dear and let them in, won't you, before they end up all tangled in my chest?"
"Certainly," he chuckled, shaking his head as he moved to the piece of furniture and started to undo the latch.
Once he opened the lid (and Demeter was counting down in her head), he was met with two toothily-grinning tabbies, one a deep red and the other with bright gold and brown in a mane that would be part of a very fluffy coat, if he didn't have it shaved.
"Well, congratulations, Munkustrap...you've found a buried treasure," said Bombalurina with a wink and a flourishing wave of her arm.
Lounging in next to her with a smirk was the Rum Tum Tugger. "Oh, that's good. Can I use that next time?"
"There won't be a next time," Demeter instantly called out from behind the amused silver tom. "Also, again, that joke is old, Bomba."
The red queen simply waved her off with a playful huff. "So moody with guests."
"You two know very well that we were waiting to announce visitors," Munkustrap said with a stern look. "Coming in through the back, too?"
"Don't bunch your whiskers, brother," Tugger smirked and gave the top of his head a playful swat before climbing out of the chest and leaning against it. "A little birdie told us that their eyes were open already. Bomba and I simply agreed that immediate family should be first in line."
"And going in the back was my idea...I do apologize," said Bombalurina as she too climbed out. "But we'd have been noticed coming in the front. The little birdie also mentioned Jelly keeping watch out there on the car."
The new parents both put their paws up on their respective brows. "The 'little birdie' wouldn't happen to be Old Deuteronomy?" Munkustrap dryly asked.
"On the nose," Tugger smirked. "Well...him and Jenny. But, truly, they only told us, that I promise. Family is priority around here, after all."
"That said," the older queen continued as she placed her paws together with wide, shining eyes toward her sister. "Please, please may we see them, now, Demeter? It's been utterly painful to have to wait."
The couple traded glances with one another in equal expressions of both amusement and annoyance. Above all, though, they just couldn't say no to their siblings...especially with them just earlier planning how to get the news out. It might as well have started with those closest to them.
They each let out sighs, their smiles returning. "Alright; you may come see your nieces and nephews," Demeter acquiesced. "But do mind your voice levels."
"I do know how to act around kittens," Bombalurina gave a little huff, though the excited twinkle in her eyes couldn't disappear.
"The comment was for Tugger," Munkustrap said with a smug snort toward his brother, who only looked up with a little smirk of his own and followed the red queen around to the free space in front of the nest.
There, the kittens were still all around, with plenty of energy in their tiny legs as they were exploring what they could. Upon the sight of new cats, however, all of them stopped and gazed up, their little noses already taking in more curious scents.
"Ohhh...!" Bombalurina practically squealed as she sat down and set her eyes on their tiny forms. "So precious...!"
Tugger's reaction was a little more subdued, his head tilted at them. "Are you sure you had kittens? They look like potatoes with faces."
"Tugger," the red queen hissed and gave him a swat. "You've never seen kittens this young?"
"I don't reckon he has," Munkustrap answered for the large tom. He chuckled at his indignant look. "We were all that tiny once, brother; even you."
"Hard to believe," he remarked as he leaned down for a closer look.
Bombalurina couldn't help but bounce excitedly on her feet. "Well, they are simply adorable...I myself haven't seen one so young since...well, you know, ages. I could just gush. Demeter...may I...?" she asked as she started leaning down to pick one up.
"Certainly...you may both hold them, so long as you are careful," she said with a pointed look to Tugger.
"Relax, my dear...these paws are very delicate," he grinned with a wiggle of his pads before reaching down for the little ginger tom, while Bombalurina went for the little tortie.
"Oh, hello, my tiny dear," the red queen cooed, "You're going to be a pretty one, oh yes. Auntie Bomba knows beauty when she sees it." She glanced up at the smiling parents. "They have their names, I take it?"
A quick knowing smile was passed between the couple, and Munkustrap nodded. "Indeed they have."
Demeter read off the names, pointing to each one in the order of their birth. "Whiskafyr, Grumbuskin, Cladandus, aaaaand...Grizabella."
That got a dramatic gasp out of the red tabby as she looked down to the mewling baby in her paws. "Grizabella? She's reborn! Oh, this is a red-letter occasion."
"She isn't the only one; Grumbuskin here is also from the Heaviside Layer," Munkustrap pointed out as he picked up his shy little black-and-gray son. "They chose the Jellicle Tribe for their better lives."
"None better," Tugger smiled widely and looked again through all the kittens. "Let's see then...The Tugger dubs them Whiskey, Busky, Bella, and...you. Dandy." He raised the kitten he was holding and looked into his tiny eyes, pretending to give a scrutinizing pout of his lip. "Well then, Dandy boy...what have you to say for yourself, hm?"
As the others watched in amusement, Cladandus answered with a rather confused and very tiny "Eee?" Visibly, Tugger's expression fell, and they swore to seeing sparkles of adoration in his wide eyes.
After a pause, the maned tom solemnly raised a paw while tucking the little one into the crook of his other arm. "I hereby declare that these are the most beautiful things I have ever seen, and therefore I shall be spoiling them rotten." He raised the kitten to his face again. "Uncle Tugger has spoken."
"I would be slightly offended if I didn't agree with him," Bombalurina joked, giving Grizabella a little nuzzle before replacing her and picking up Whiskafyr. "Ooh, you are a tiny daddy's queen, aren't you...?" she giggled.
"Oh, she takes after her father in looks and bravery," Demeter grinned as she took her little tortie daughter back into her paws. "She might be the next Leader someday."
Munkustrap, who was smirking at the comment, had put Grumbuskin back down...but he seemed to only want to stay near his parents, observing the newcomers from afar.
"Aw...Busky's a shy one," Tugger said with a tilted head as he leaned down and extended his paw, while an energetic Cladandus was swiping at his mane. "That should be fixed right soon."
"Anyway," Munkustrap started, while giving his black-and-gray son a comforting stroke, "We've figured that we can let the others see them four at a time..." he glanced over at Demeter. "Might as well send word now, perhaps?"
"It's as good a time as any," the gold tortie agreed. "I'm sure some, like Skimbleshanks, will be along later, though."
"Perhaps sooner than later," Bombalurina pointed out as she nabbed and held the little ginger one. "I've heard he'll be on the very next train. Oooh, handsome little tom, he has your bright gold," she cooed to Demeter about Cladandus. "And very faint mottled tabby stripes, I see."
"He's a heartbreaker," Tugger chuckled as he was simply lying on the edge of the pillows and letting his nieces play with his fur tufts, "I have a sixth sense about these things. At any rate...the others are definitely more than eager to see these little potatoes."
The parents traded a nod to each other before facing their siblings. "Then tell Jelly to gather up the tribe," Munkustrap ordered with a smile. "It's time they meet the new Jellicles."
The junkyard was a buzz of activity later that evening. The cats that made their homes in the junkyard were the first in line, followed by the cats that had to make their ways out of their human domiciles in various distances.
Everyone agreed though that the youngsters of the yard deserved to see them first, as they'd been the most eager, and mostly had been forced to be patient until the time came. The new parents were just about as thrilled to see the wide and curious eyes of the tribe's juveniles as they were to see the kittens themselves.
And the new arrivals were no less excited. As usual, the boldest little ones were always the first to see and smell whatever new cat wanted to play with them, while Grizabella was mostly happy to see whoever got to her, and Grumbuskin mostly stayed back, though he would accept anyone coming in with a paw carefully extended. He seemed to easily sense cats with gentle souls when they saw him. Victoria especially seemed to be his favorite of new faces.
The adults and teenagers were just as easily enthralled, and the kittens to them as well. Mistofelees conjured little orbs of light for them to chase as their first magic trick (and to further the development of their muscles). Alonzo also vowed to spoil the little ones rotten, and the mystic twins greeted them with soft smiles, though they seemed to more thoroughly inspect the reborn souls with fascination.
The next adults to come by, around the next evening, were Skimbleshanks and Bustopher Jones (who because of his large size had to settle for seeing the kittens from the hood of the car, which doubled as the little ones' first sight to the outside world). The kittens all loved Skimble, and he could barely let go of any of them, showing just how dedicated he was in his role as a kitten-watcher...whenever he could be there to fulfill it. Bustopher was no less admired, especially as his rotund figure made a good pillow for them to lay on while he sang what gentle songs he knew in his dulcet tenor; as posh as the well-fed cat was, he could never resist playing at being an uncle.
Even Madame Alexandra, AKA the theatre's Lady Griddlebone, had to come by at the news wafting to her from the Jellicles' yard (after a little while of not having visited). The old white Persian had come escorted with Jellylorum, both of them bringing happy tidings from Gus (whom the kittens would have to visit themselves someday, as he could barely bring his frail self anywhere these days). Her reaction to the kittens was just as ecstatic as anyone...perhaps with a bit more emotion, since being allowed to partake in any sort of Jellicle activity, and when she touched each of the little ones on their heads, she wished them good luck and happiness for all their days.
But for all the different cats with different reactions to the little ones, the one that Demeter most hoped to see in secret was Jemima; only a few cats knew that she was her first kitten, and so the gold queen was hesitant in asking for her to be among the first immediate family to pay a visit to her unwitting little half-brothers and half-sisters.
When she did inquire about her whereabouts to Jennyanydots, the deep-orange tabby shook her head with a sigh. "She came down with a case of sniffles the other day...so I'm afraid I've given orders for her to rest, and keep the newborns from potentially catching it. She's better, and should be fully up and about tomorrow; don't worry."
Demeter felt a familiar burning in her heart, her guilt returning; that she couldn't be there for her, to be the true mother that she'd needed, to soothe her nightmares and her sicknesses that would surely have come throughout her life.
After the showing was done for the day, Munkustrap had sensed her worry, and kept close to reassure her. "You will do right by Jemima eventually; I know you will," he whispered as he groomed her ears, "And for now, you have a new litter to be here for."
"...And I will never abandon them...ever," she whispered back, with all the sincerity in her heart, as she watched them take their mealtime and cuddle together for a nap.
It was late the next night, perhaps a couple of hours after twelve, when Demeter was awoken as usual by one of her kittens having insistently latched onto her with a little grunting mew. She'd been at the tail end of a lovely dream, another in which she herself was a kitten again in the junkyard, playing with Munkustrap and other kittens her age in a care-free world.
When she opened her eyes with a groan, it was dark, and her mate was nowhere to be seen; more than likely, he was out hunting, she supposed. The tortie looked down to see which of the kittens were awake, and it was only the little golden tabby, eagerly taking in a good amount of milk.
She hummed a soft chuckle and ran her paw over his back. "You're hungry again already, my little Cladandus? Hm, at this rate, you'll grow bigger than the others. We may have another protector for the tribe."
Suddenly, outside, a scrabbling noise was heard. Demeter's ears perked up, and her eyes were kept firmly on the entrance to her den, as the noises were only getting closer. The paw-steps weren't Munkustrap's, she immediately could tell...she'd had every sound he could make imprinted into her memory now.
"Who's there?" she demanded when she heard someone leap into the car on the outside.
But then, a soft voice answered from behind her curtain, and in poked a familiar little red-and-black face with a sheepish smile. "Don't worry, Demeter; it's just me, Jemima."
The golden queen let out an instant sigh of relief, letting her fur settle a little more. "Oh, Heaviside...what are you doing out so late? I'd heard you had the sniffles."
"I'm all better now," she said with a toothy little grin, sitting down halfway inside the curtain. "So I was told I could come...I know it's very late, though, but...I did not get to see the kittens with everybody. May I now? Or...should I come back later, when Munkustrap's here?"
Demeter had to smile; there was no way that anyone could say no to those big, shiny eyes...and as a matter of fact, it seemed like a perfect time. She nodded. "Of course you can come see them, dear. Just keep your voice down...three of them are still asleep."
Then, just as she said that, she heard another little "mew!", followed by another kitten latching itself to her belly. "Aha...make that two still asleep."
"I'll be super quiet," Jemima promised in a whisper, and tip-toed inside to peer into the perimeter of the pillows. There the tiny balls of fur lay, all snuggled close, with two busily suckling.
Jemima gasped, her paws over her mouth as her eyes and smile widened with glee. "Oh, Demeter...! They're all so precious! And so tiny! Ooh," she giggled at the other kitten suckling, "That one looks just like Munkustrap!"
Demeter giggled along with her, caught up in her happiness. "That one was born first. Her name is Whiskafyr. The little tom next to her is Cladandus." She leaned close with a grin. "And you know what's exciting? The other two are from the Heaviside Layer, reborn!"
"No!" Jemima practically squealed, hopping on her hind feet. "Who are they, who are they?"
The older queen smiled and pointed. "The little smoky one is Grumbuskin; we're told he's stayed up there for quite some time before now. And the one that's a tortie, like you and me? It's Grizabella."
At that, her jaw could have dropped straight from her face. She leaned down to get a closer look at the kitten in question. "It can't be...she's reborn! Oh, I've so wondered when and where it would be! I knew she'd come back!" Jemima's smile looked like it couldn't be erased as she leaned her paw over to ever-so-gently pet the little one. "And I'm going to protect her with my life."
Demeter snorted a little chuckle at that. "I do believe that's our job, my dear. Don't worry, the whole tribe will help us care for them...and I have no doubt that you'll be of great help, too. For all of the kittens."
Jemima looked up with a little sheepish grin. "Yes, of course...they're all very, very important, and I'll do my best. Heehee...I'm just so happy to see them...and to know that I'm not the youngest in the tribe anymore either," she confessed with a little giggle.
By now, each of the kittens were stirring awake to see this one last unfamiliar face; and even the shy ones were all crawling over to her and making noises that told they wanted to play a little. Jemima was quite taken with them, as Demeter knew that she would be.
And still, even in the midst of this happiness, something was tugging at the golden queen...something she knew that she had to do. One last secret to get off of her chest, and hopefully, finally mend one of her greatest regrets in life. It was the perfect time, and she had no reason to keep it to herself any longer.
Demeter took in a long breath and sighed. "Jemima...I'm actually glad that you came...and by yourself. There's...there's something I've wanted to tell you for a long time. Ever since you met me."
The young queen looked up from the kittens, her expression falling a little as she ushered them back toward their mother. "...Actually...I think I know what it is you want to say."
"...You do?"
"Yes. You're my real mum...is that right?"
Suffice to say, Demeter was rather stunned. There was a silent pause with her jaw hanging open, before her head tilted. "...How did you know?"
Jemima quirked a little smile again and half-shrugged, her gaze back down to her paws. "Well, I had guessed that was the case, long time ago, when we met. See...I don't remember a terrible lot about my youngest days. But...I do remember my mum's scent, very strongly. I've had it in my head for a long time, even if I couldn't remember how she looked. And then you came along...and you had the exact same scent. And we look a bit alike, and...when you've always looked at me, I could see something sad in your eyes, while other cats look at me and there's always happiness. So...yeah...I guessed it was you."
Demeter felt like she wanted to cry; and she should have known, considering how intuitive Jemima was for her age, that she'd have figured it out. "If...if you suspected as much...how come you've never said anything?"
"...I almost wanted to," she confessed, "But...you hadn't said anything either, even though it seemed like you wanted to say something. I figured there was maybe a reason...and that you'd tell me yourself in time. So I waited." She smiled. "And you did...I was right."
The gold-and-black tortie let out a harsh breath, and the tears that held themselves at the edges of her eyes were falling. "...And I should have said so much sooner. As soon as I'd seen you. But I was so afraid you'd hate me for having to give you away. I'm so sorry...I hope you can forgive me."
"Aw, Demeter, no...don't be sad!" Jemima whispered a cry as she came around the kitten bed to where she lay and nuzzled the side of her head. Demeter, surprised still by the youngster's compassion, closed her eyes and returned it, letting the tears flow.
"I promise, there's nothing to forgive," the young queen went on, "Like I said, I knew there had to be a reason. And...considering where you came from...it's easy to see why. You were saving me, right? I can't hate you for that." She giggled. "I can't hate anyone, I don't think; least of all you, as you've always been so nice...when we weren't being a bother," she added sheepishly. "And you can be happy; I was well taken care of, you know."
Demeter sighed, pulling back to wipe her tears away. "Yes...I can hardly believe how you've grown, to be so utterly kind and smart...I'm glad that you've turned out so well, raised here with the Jellicles...I only hope that you don't think me cruel, not even saying anything for so long. You really did seem so happy; I didn't want to ruin that."
Jemima shook her head with a smile and buried her face back into her neck. "I've never thought you cruel. I don't, even now that I know. We're Jellicles; you're still family to me...and though I would probably feel a little strange now calling you 'mum', I still love you, all the same as the others."
The gold queen held her close and nuzzled across her head, even sparing a lick to her ears. "I love you too, my sweet Sillabub...I always have. And you just call me however you're comfortable...and I'll still call you Jemima, as you prefer," she gave a little chuckle and a final sniff.
The younger queen giggled back, flicking her ears and bumping her chin with her head. "It's a deal. And now I'm even happier, 'cause I have little brothers and sisters to help take care of!" Joyfully, she bounded back over to the side of the nest, where the kittens were cuddling up together again to go back to sleep. The two queens were happy to sit together and watch them, engaging in a little conversation, and catching up.
For Demeter, it felt like a moment that she should have had long ago and was blessed to have now; her oldest kitten was beside her again, like a family...and a part of her heart was mended and strengthened.
A couple of hours passed by, which seemed like forever to Munkustrap when he wasn't with his mate and kittens. Soon enough he would have to get back to his daily Guardian routines...but for now, things were happily running smoothly in the yard under Alonzo's watchful eye and the help of the twins, and whomever of the stronger juveniles could be spared.
He soon made it back to Demeter's den with a little satchel in tow, carrying a nice, fat pigeon as his catch for that night, for them both.
But as he poked his head inside her curtain, he was quite surprised to see one more big kitten, lying curled up in a little pillow nest of her own beside the golden queen's head.
Demeter quirked an ear forward, one eye opening as she heard someone entering her domicile; but she had on a loving smile, having known that it was Munkustrap returning.
The silver tabby set his satchel to the side and chuckled, coming up to gently bump his head against hers. "You told her, didn't you?" he guessed with a warm grin.
She nodded, her eyes closing in happiness. "I did...and you were right. She took it very well. She'd even guessed it, long ago."
He laughed quietly and settled into the nest along with her and the kittens. "I told you."
"As always," she smirked back.
It was then that Jemima began to stir with a trill and a little groan, flicking her ears upon hearing whispering nearby. She opened one eye, and then quickly lifted her head. "Oh! Munkustrap, you're back..." Her jaws opened in a wide yawn, and she instantly tried to stand, although she was still sagging with a bit of drowsiness still overtaking her muscles. "Terribly sorry, I fell asleep..."
He chuckled, the everlasting light of kindness shining in his eyes. "It's quite alright, Jemima...you were a bit under the weather, it's bound to happen. It's good to see that you could stop and see the kittens."
"And they're very sweet...I love them to bits already," she said with a smile, before letting out another yawn and shaking her head. "Oh, but, I stayed longer than I needed...I should probably go..."
"Ah-ah," Demeter then cut in, raising a paw and reaching over to lightly hold her shoulder. "Young queen, I insist you stay and finish your rest. I don't wish to let you walk so far, alone and tired."
Jemima's exhausted eyes widened just slightly. "I...I can stay?" She looked between her and Munkustrap. "A-are you sure?"
The Guardian smiled and reached up to smooth the fur on her head. "Of course. I am fine with it, too. Lie back down and get some sleep, sweetheart."
The red-and-black kitten smiled drowsily, letting out a relieved sigh. "Alright then...thank you very much," she hummed and reared up to bump Munkustrap's brow with her own, and then turned to give a softer nuzzle to Demeter, before turning around in her makeshift bed and all but collapsing.
The mother reached over to smooth down the fur on her shoulders, and her mate observed her contented and loving smile. "Sweet dreams, my little one," she murmured.
Only half-aware of herself now, Jemima nestled further into the cushion and murmured, "You too, Mum."
Demeter took in a little breath at that, fighting a welling of emotion in her eyes as she turned back to the love of her life and met his sweet gaze; she could tell that he was as happy for her as ever.
"Do you believe it?" she whispered, so very softly. "My family...it's whole, now."
He gave a short nod, running one paw over his sleeping kittens while patting Jemima's with the other. "Our family is whole."
She hummed in agreement, her head lying down on his outstretched arm as they relaxed. "I'd forgotten how much you treated Jemima as if she were your own, long before you knew how we were connected. You do that with all of the kittens." Her gaze briefly dropped. "And here I've always heard of how toms on the streets would kill kittens that weren't their own, just to have a go at the queen."
Munkustrap huffed, his nose scrunched in disgust. "Barbarians, the lot of them, if that's true. I love kittens...they say I've always been a fatherly sort; and I like to be. Whether they are mine or not. And Jemima has claimed my heart from day one." He smirked, shaking his head. "Of course...I never thought I'd find out that in blood, she is my niece."
Demeter snorted. "Ironic, that. Well, it does not matter, her parentage in the end. She is her own cat, and will grow beautifully, as ours will."
"Indeed." He leaned down to groom her ears. "But...I'm glad to see you've reconciled with her. Now the weight of the world is off your back."
She playfully flicked her ears in his nose. "Not entirely, love." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly through her nostrils, eyes closing. "...So long as he is still out there...I will still worry. I will still have nightmares. I'm almost anxious to get back to training...now I have more than myself to protect," the mother murmured as her paw ran gently over her kittens' backs, all of them sleeping, and so peacefully unaware of the dangers of their world.
Munkustrap's lip set to a determined grimace, and he placed his paw over her cheek, turning her head to look at him. The look he had in his emerald gaze, glittering and serious, made her heart pick up speed; long ago that look would have been intimidating. But she knew now that when he gave it to her, it meant that he was imprinting a solemn, powerful promise, one that didn't need words. But he gave them anyway as well, his melodious and moving voice all that she could hear in the world.
"He will never haunt you again. If that monster dares come within sight of our kittens...I, and the tribe, will tear him apart, Demeter...you give me the word, and I'll even let you draw the last of his blood." He took on a fierce appearance for a second, his teeth bared, pupils contracted, ears laid back. "Claw and tooth, into his throat."
The image those words sent into her mind was an empowering one. Macavity, beaten and powerless, held helpless as she once was. At her feet, staring up into eyes of righteous fury. No mercy. Of the cats that she was made to kill...he was the only cat that she'd kill on her own. For a moment her face also contorted in anger, as if to mimic the Demeter in her imagination, the one that could fight, could brave him, could send him to Hell...
But...when she blinked, and she only saw her love calmly staring, blinking back slowly...she banished those dark thoughts, and smiled. After all...that kind of fury wasn't how she wanted to be. Perhaps that day would come...but here and now, this was not a night for anger.
"I know you will," she whispered back, and laid her head down again on his arm, and she felt the pads of his other paw smoothing down the fur of her cheek and neck, ever soft. "I will always worry a little. But I have every faith in you...and the Jellicles."
"And I have every faith that you will prevail," he murmured, nuzzling against her face. "Now...let's not worry about the future. The training will go on when the kittens are old enough to play with the others. We must still make sure they grow well. And speaking of which," he said as he sat up, "I've brought back a pigeon. Share it with me?"
Demeter perked up a little, the tiredness in her eyes banished for the thought of food. "Absolutely. Let us leave some for Jemima, too...I know she's become a bit of a huntress in her own right, but..." she shyly shrugged, "It's only polite."
He snickered, quirking an eyebrow as he turned toward his satchel. "You just want to mother her a little more."
"Guilty...but you can't tell me that Jenny still doesn't do the same for you."
"And everyone else," he agreed with a soft laugh. "Fair point." He brought the satchel over and opened it, presenting his catch, feathers already plucked. "But...in the end, that's what makes us a tribe. Care and support for all."
"Nice to know I can't feel guilty about wanting to fuss over my children, then," Demeter hummed a chuckle and took a sniff of the bird. With a nod from her mate, she was allowed the first bites, with each of the best parts shared between them (and Jemima, when she could be roused awake again to eat), and soon they were settled in together to share the rest of the evening in slowly-approaching sleep.
"...I just had a thought," Demeter hummed as her love rested his head on her neck, the two of them closing their eyes, "...Think we should tell Jemima that she is Tugger's blood niece, too?"
Munkustrap's body shook with his snickers. "She'll find out soon enough. Best not spoil her fun."
Little did they know that the astute kitten had already also figured that out a long time ago; but it hadn't spoiled her fun in the least...she knew that she had the greatest family in the world.
After a moment, Demeter started humming a familiar tune, and Munkustrap lifted his head to listen. It was a lullaby he heard her sing long before he knew he'd fall in love with her. As she whispered the song, her paw drifted over the backs of her sleeping newborns, and her cheek laid on Jemima's brow.
"Dream by night, wish by day
Love begins this way...
Night's a friend with love to send
Each new day..."
Then, to her surprise, Munkustrap softly joined in...she only wavered a little, but continued with his lovely voice holding hers up.
"Bless your heart, bless your soul
Let your dreams come true
Future songs and flying dreams
Wait for you...
Love it seems, made flying dreams
So hearts could soar
Heaven-sent, these wings were meant
To prove, once more,
That love is the key..."
Demeter let out a soft giggle when the song was finished, whispering quietly. "You remembered that silly thing."
She could hear his smile. "I might know the part you forget, too."
"Do you, now?" she teased. "However so?"
The Guardian let out a chuckle and nudged her. "Song and dance is the gift of the Jellicle Cat, remember. Our young ones, their gifts will come too...might as well show them how." And then, with a deep breath, he started it again, his cheek nestling to hers.
"You and I, touch the sky
The eagle and the dove
Nightingales, we keep our sails
Filled with love
Ever strong, our future song
To sing it must be free
And every part, is from the heart,
And love is still the key..."
With her heart welling up, Demeter joined in the last part softly, and the kittens' ears were all perked to them.
"And love it seems made flying dreams
to bring you home to me."
The notes still lingered in everyone's hearing as the singing itself died down, and the family settled into their sleep, the lullaby having fulfilled its power. The kittens, in time, would find their own strengths and weaknesses in song and dance...but one thing they always remembered, as every Jellicle did, was the very first song.
