Quaxo's Secret Tale
By: Brittglamorra
Part 8
So a minor Cliffie in the last one…Honestly was not going for that, but whatever. Sorry cliffie haters. *cough*allofyou*cough* Arrg…what was that! Ha ha…I think I swallowed a bug…yeah that's my excuse… On with the story!
Quaxo woke the next morning to find Tugger still curled around him in his nest. He smelled a bit odd… He could make out the faint red outline of Bomba further down the tunnel, but paid no mind. He rose stretching, and trying to figure out why he had woken early, and crept from the den, his ears flicking. He looked around, watching the faint dove-grey dawn light slowly light up the sky. He spotted Alonzo sitting watch on the Tire, and padded over leaping up next to him. Alonzo smiled warmly at him.
"Morning Misto." He meowed. Quaxo winced as his dream resurfaced, flitting through his head, but he forced a warm smile and touched noses with his friend. Though the tom was many years senior to him Quaxo and he had become close friends since he had saved him. Alonzo himself believed that Quaxo was his closest friend second only to Munk and apparently he had been very close to this cat that had showed up yesterday. Talus. Quaxo still felt uneasy about the tom, and he believed he had definitely seen him before…somewhere…He had no idea. But he was suspicious and cautious around the tom, though they were kin. He knew the tom was friendly and funny, and like an overgrown kit, never getting mad, and Quaxo believed he could really like him…if he actually trusted him. He knew the tom cat was hiding something, but when he had attempted to probe the toms mind he had found a solid barrier barring it from others, and Talus had flashed him a nervous glance, realizing what he had been trying to do. He however pushed all these thoughts aside, and blinked at Alonzo.
"Morning Lonz." He purred. Alonzo smiled at him, not noticing his discomfort.
"So what are you going to do today?" Alonzo asked him.
"Umm…not sure. Probably set up the patrols, then do a round of the junkyard. Then I will take my shift on the tire. I'm not sure after. Probably hunt for my den guests. Bomba moved in with us for the time being." He meowed. Alonzo smirked.
"So Tugger has finally decided to settle down with one? Maybe now the rest of us have a chance." He asked. Quaxo rolled his eyes.
"You already have a mate. And no. I don't think it will last. She is the queen he loves undoubtedly, but I doubt he is ready to give up his err...'freedom'." Quaxo meowed with amusement. "I'm sure that's why he refused to move into her den when she asked him, and invited her into MY den instead." He snorted. Alonzo laughed with amusement.
"Well now. Perhaps you should trade her dens." Alonzo laughed.
"Everlasting no! I love that den. That's MY pipe!" Quaxo snorted with wide eyes. Alonzo laughed.
"Ok! Ok!" Alonzo chuckled. "Forget I said anything." He paused. "If you want I will help you hunt later." He purred.
"Sure." Quaxo meowed.
He lifted his head as the Jellicle toms began emerging from their dens and clustering in the clearing. Quaxo sat and gazed over the cats as they sat around the Tire, murmuring to one another. Skimble licked the remains of a mouse from his muzzle and trotted over quickly. Tugger padded out of the den looking ruffled, his eyes tired. Quaxo could not help but wonder if the tom who had raised him had stayed up protecting him late last night. He blinked with amusement Tugger quickly lapped his mane into order and stumbled over to the group. Quaxo immediately blinked, taking a step up, and staring down at him. He smelled sour like sickness and Quaxo narrowed his eyes. Talus and Munk were last to bound over, Munk leaping up next to Quaxo and Talus sitting down. Alonzo leaped down next to him and sat, looking up at Leader and Protector. Deut was among the toms as well, seeming to have been accepted as an equal into their ranks, instead of a superior. Gus had ventured from Jelly's den and sat close to the old leader, talking with a smile on his face, and his shaky paws resting on the sandy earth. Deut was smiling too and chatting back. Both fell silent as Munk sat down and Quaxo stepped forwards. He lifted his head high and spoke in a confident and friendly tone. Though this was his first time he had pushed his nervousness aside and smiled at his tribe-mates.
"Ok. So patrols. We will need two patrols to hunt, and six patrols throughout the day." He meowed. "Whoever is not busy can lead hunting patrols and the in between patrols. Munk will lead this first morning patrol. With him will be Asparagus, Coricopat, and Talus. I will lead the afternoon patrol with Admetus, Mungojerrie, and Skimble. Alonzo will lead this evening's patrol with whoever is fit enough to go." He meowed. Tugger's voice rasped from the crowd. It sounded like it was painful for him to put his cocky arrogance into his normally strong voice.
"What about me?" He asked. At the sound of his voice several cats turned their gazes to him, concern flitting through them. Munk opened his mouth his eyes narrowed.
"Your sick. Your going to stay in bed." He growled. Tugger blinked.
"What? I'm fine!" Tugger argued.
"Tugger." Munk said in a warning tone. Tugger narrowed his eyes defiantly and Quaxo cut in.
"He's right Tugger. You're going to go and sleep and let Jenny and Jelly take care of you." Quaxo instructed. Tugger blinked, a bit more uncertain with the young tux.
"But I'm fine!" He protested loudly. Quaxo narrowed his eyes.
"That wasn't a question Tugger. That was an order." Quaxo said sternly. Cats around the clearing froze…Munk was the only cat who ever told Tugger what to do and the big tom never listened, only bristled and did the exact opposite. Tugger's eyes flared for a heartbeat and there was a long tense silence, huge black and golden spotted tom, and small black and white tux, locked in a silent battle. Tugger opened his mouth about to say something then blinked, lowering his gaze and flattening his ears.
"Fine." He growled. The cats blinked and a murmur of surprise ran through them. Quaxo smiled.
"Thanks Tugs. I will bring you some braised rabbit soup later. I know its your favorite. Skimble, would you please escort Tugger to Jenny's den?" He asked. Skimble nodded with a smile and led droopy looking Tugger away. Quaxo then glanced at Deut and Gus.
"And you two….hmmm…I think guard duty on the Tire for the day is plenty of work? Wouldn't you agree?" Quaxo asked in a friendly tone.
Deut smiled widely loving this kit more each day…did I neglect to mention that the day before Deut had announced that he would be staying in the Junkyard until death claimed him? Well I did now. Gus grinned too, his paws shaking against the earth.
"That's just swell." Gus purred rustily. Quaxo nodded and leaped down helping the toms up. When they were settled on the Tire Quaxo sat down and conversed with them for a few heartbeats before he padded off to find out what everybody was doing. Everyone was waking up and hanging about the clearing and their dens. Only Munk, Talus, Cori, and Asparagus were not present, instead seen on the outskirts of the junkyard patrolling constantly. Apparently the threat of Macavity had passed for now, and life in the junkyard continued to move on.
Quaxo had just found a piece of stone to lay on, watching the yard, and relaxing in the warm sun, when he heard quiet voices raised in anger and annoyance. He slunk around the corner to see the bunch of aging kittens glaring furiously at Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer who looked startled.
"Why did you do that?!" Tumblebrutus demanded. He and Pouncival along with the other kittens had grown and now glared with fire at the others. Did I neglect to mention anything about them? Well. Tumblebrutus and Etcetera belong to Jenny and Skimble…But there is another bad story behind one of these two kittens. Bill Bailey belongs to Alonzo and Cassandra, and Electra and Pouncival belong to Jelly and Admetus. Victoria was supposedly Jelly and Asparagus's kit, but as we recently learned the young queen is in fact the daughter of Griddlebone and Macavity. Though Pounce and Electra did not know that. And Jemima was the daughter of Demeter and Munk. Asparagus Jr. was Jelly's brother, and he had no mate, simply preferring to care for his father. He too lived with Jelly and Adme.
Anyways. Tumble and Pounce were bristling glaring at Teazer and Jerrie. Electra and Etcetera stood behind them eyes wide, and Jemima was trembling near a pile of junk even further behind those two. Quaxo watched through narrowed eyes. Tumble looked livid. Jerrie was facing him, looking startled, while Tumble's back was arched and fire burned in his eyes.
"Watch where you are going you two mouse-brains!" He spat. Jerrie's eyes narrowed.
"What's your problem Tumble? It was an accident…Are you ok Jemima?" He asked, trying to step around Tumble. Tumble sidestepped, cutting him off from the young reddish queen, who had begun to nod.
"You're my problem! Back off!" He spat. The young brown and white patched tom was growing big, and was nearly as big as Jerrie, and definitely more built and well-muscled. Jerrie hissed.
"It was an accident! We didn't mean to run into her!" He growled. Tumble snarled.
"I don't care! You don't even belong here! Nobody wants you here so why don't you just leave?!" He spat furiously. Teazer's eyes sparked with hurt and she made a pitiful noise. Jerrie's eyes sparked with rage.
"What did you say to me?!" he snarled.
"Leave! Nobody wants a couple of outsiders like you around. Your not real Jellicle's!" He growled. Before Jerrie could speak Quaxo darted out from behind his pile of junk and shoved past Jerrie, towering over the brown patched tom. Though Quaxo was smaller, her was long legged and taller. Pounce, Electra and Etcetera backed off a pace, and Bill Bailey who suddenly appeared behind the two young queens backed up too. Their eyes were wide and nervous. But Tumble did not back down, just glared at the young Jellicle Protector.
"I don't want to hear that kind of rubbish out of your mouth again, do you hear me?!" Quaxo snarled. Tumble hissed, his face a mask of hatred and anger.
"I don't care! You can't tell me what to do! You're not supposed to be here either! You're no true Jellicle! Just the son of a couple of traitors! You don't belong here either, and you do not deserve to be our protector. Alonzo does! He has been serving Munk for a long time, and has been doing it well!" He spat. Quaxo's eyes glowed with rage and he leaped onto Tumblebrutus with a snarl of fury. The two toms rolled a little ways, wrestling to get the upper paw. Tumble was using claws, and digging them into Quaxo's flesh, but Quaxo has his claws sheathed using only his soft paws to batter the young teenaged tom. Finally Quaxo had skillfully pinned the larger tom to the ground and glared down at him. Tumble's eyes blazed with a mixture of anger and surprise. Quaxo drew his lips from his sharp ivory teeth.
"Enough of this nonsense! You will stop right now! You will not insult or make your fellow Jellicle's feel unwelcome! Is that understood?!" Quaxo ordered and then demanded. His tone was laced with something…a natural authority…in all honesty there pair of glass green eyes watching thought he sounded a lot like Macavity at this moment. But he knew the tux would never be his father. The calico tom trembled then stepped into the open…
Quaxo sensed Skimble's presence before he saw him. He knew the old Scottish tom had heard Tumble's words, and he had sensed the anger and shock from the tom. He glared at Tumble until the young tom swallowed and nodded.
"Yes." He mumbled, looking away. Quaxo then let him up and stood aside, looking over as Skimble appeared. Skimble was nervous. He blinked at the cats, but his eyes narrowed with determination when he saw Teazer and Jerrie. Teazer looked heartbroken, struggling not to cry, and Jerrie looked hurt and furious all at once. Skimble took a shuddering breath then addressed his son…
"Quaxo is right Tumble. You will show respect to your tribe mates. They all belong, including Jerrie and Teazer. Their father was…is a Jellicle. They are my kits and they are your sister and brother." He meowed. Every cat in the clearing except Quaxo froze and stared at him in shock. Jerrie and Teazer's mouths were gaping open and they stared at him with glassy silvery green eyes. Skimble waited for someone to respond. Quaxo sighed.
"What a time to tell them." He muttered. He looked at Tumble who looked completely confused, and stared at the ground in front of him. Teazer's eyes whipped to Quaxo, and Jerrie looked at him more slowly.
"You knew?" Teazer asked in a trembling voice. "You knew and you did not tell us?" Quaxo winced. She was the last cat he wanted to hurt. He sighed and looked at his paws.
"I saw it in your memories…and then read Skimble's mind. It was the truth. I knew when your…when your mother showed up that morning he would come forwards. I did not want to hurt or betray Skimble. It was never my place to tell you." He explained. Teazer shook her head angrily.
"I thought you were our best friend! You kept part of our lives from us! Something that has eaten at us forever!" She wailed. Quaxo flinched away from her.
"Please. I begged him not to say anything." Skimble meowed. Teazer shook her head and glared with hurt at Quaxo. Jerrie was gaping at him like he did not believe it. He shook his head, still staring at his friend. Quaxo took a step forwards and Teazer took a step back. Quaxo froze, unbearable pain filling his eyes. In a quiet trembling voice he spoke.
"You think it was easy for me? To keep something like that from my very best friends. To decide whether I wanted you two to hate me forever, or Skimble to hate me forever? To decide what was right and wrong? I never wanted to hurt anybody. But I have ever since I arrived. Cats keep getting hurt because that scum that is my father keeps hurting you all to get to me. I have problems too ok? My mother is dead. I never even knew her. My father hates me. He left me for dead as a kit. I was raised on a lie. I never knew who I was…I still don't. One thing I do know is I bring pain to this tribe. Even though every day and night I try my hardest to protect you. Tumble is right I don't belong here. I don't deserve to be the Protector because I can't even do that! You think you have had it all hard? Well at least you have Skimble now, and even if not him you still have each other. My brother and sisters died with my mother. And I am starting to think it would have been better for everyone if I had of too." He growled. His eyes were filled with tears now, and the kittens, and Teazer and Jerrie, and even Skimble gaped at him with shock, pain and sorrow. But also fear. He looked down and realized his paws were sparking blue.
Without a word Quaxo turned around and ran from the smaller clearing and into the larger, crossing it before darting into his pipe. He picked up his bedding and dragged it to the back where Tugger and Bomba's nest was. There was lots of room inside, so he dragged it to the farthest darkest corner, and curled up among the blankets, closing his eyes. His mind was whirling. Anger and pain raced through him, growing and growing.
Tumble is right. I don't belong here…I don't deserve to be the Protector…I am hardly more than a kitten myself and all I bring is pain. Maybe it would be better if I just…left. Vanished without a trace. Then everyone will be better off. No extra Macavity attacks, no magic wielding lunatic. I could just become my true self…part of the shadows. That's all I ever was before I showed talent. That's all I am now. A shadow hidden behind a name.
In Quaxo's distress he had forgotten to place protective barriers on his mind…And almost immediately he heard Cori's alarmed voice, and felt Tanto's shocked presence.
Misto?! Cori thought.
Without pausing to think another thought, Quaxo forced both the mystic twins out of his head, and threw up his impenetrable barriers. He squeezed his eyes closed, and let darkness carry him into sleep…
Meanwhile in the clearing Skimble was quietly talking with the two twins, Etcetera and Tumble quietly near his den, while Bill Bailey, Electra, Pouncival, and Jemima sat near the Tire looking unusually subdued. Other cats passing witnessed the distress, the uneasiness, the pain. But no cat dared comment or ask, for fear of the answer. It felt like one more heartbreak in the junkyard could break the tribe apart. Shatter the mirror of unity that was the Jellicle tribe. Old Deuteronomy sat by the gate observing the cats. His thoughts were confused and distressed.
What is happening to my tribe? Has my old age come too soon? They are all distressed and uneasy around one another…If something else happens, will my Jellicle tribe stay together? Or will they be broken apart forever?
A paw prodding Quaxo woke him later and he blearily opened his eyes. A sense of sadness and weariness rested over him. Munk stood looking down at him.
"Its time for you to take out the patrol." He meowed softly. Quaxo stood up without speaking, his eyes not leaving the ground, and his ears and head drooping. He walked past Munk, and his tail left a small indent in the sandy ground. Munk watched him worriedly. Quaxo walked into the warm sunlight but it did nothing to brighten his dark mood. His head was aching and his heart was breaking and there was nothing that he could do. He spotted the three cats of his patrol waiting for him. Admetus was standing on Skimble's left side, while Mungojerrie sat a short distance behind them, staring at his paws. All three looked up at him as he appeared and were very nervous about the drastic change in the demeanour of the young Protector. Quaxo didn't look up. He wordlessly flicked his tail and led them towards the gate. He flicked his tail for Jerrie to go one way, and the other two to go the other, while he took the west side of the junkyard solo. He was alert while he was patrolling, his mind blank of everything but the attention he needed to pay to his surroundings. Then dusk was falling, and he met the others back towards the center of camp. For the first time he spoke.
"Any sign of trouble?" He mumbled. His voice was distant and empty. The three exchanged glanced before all reported that there was nothing to report, then Skimble and Admetus walked away. Quaxo was about to return to his den, when…
"Quaxo…?" Jerrie's tentative voice broke through his dazed state of mind. "Me and Teazer wanna talk to you. Back by the old oak." He murmured. Quaxo looked up at him through glazed eyes that spoke a thousand levels of pain.
"Why would you want to talk to the useless, lying Protector?" He rasped in a tired and defeated tone. Jerrie sighed.
"We were shocked and scared by what happened earlier. Teazer and I are sorry, and she wants to talk to you too." Jerrie murmured. With a heavy sigh Quaxo looked at him.
"Fine." He muttered. He followed his friend slowly.
Jerrie and Teazer's den was made in the hollow of a huge oak tree. The space was deep, warm and sheltered, with plenty of space to move around inside.
Teazer was inside the hollow, staring at the wall when Jerrie and Quaxo walked in. She turned and looked at him, pain in her eyes. Quaxo sat down and Jerrie walked over to her, sitting down beside her. There was a heavy and uncomfortable silence and Quaxo looked anywhere but the twins while Teazer looked at her paws, and Jerrie looked at her. Quaxo looked around their home. In the many moons since he had arrived here, he had never seen the inside of their den.
It was a large and dry hollow, nestled in the trunk of the tree. The entrance was small, and blocked out the cold, and whatever bad weather might assault London. Inside the floor was thickly layered with blankets, and pillows leaned against the walls. There were holes in the walls, filled with nick knacks, and treasures. Rumpleteazer was wearing her favorite Woolworth pearls, but there were a few different colored pairs hanging on a knot in the wood. There were other things. Various trinkets, mostly shiny, food, a couple of bowls, and even an old Argentinian joint bone. It looked as though a claw had carved unique designs on it. It was actually rather stunningly beautiful, and Quaxo let his gaze come to a rest there. He was aware of the feelings of discomfort and regret radiating from the twins, but these feelings radiated off of him as well, though the twins could not sense it the way he could.
Finally Teazer spoke, following his gaze.
"You like my bone art?" she murmured. Quaxo blinked in genuine surprise.
"You did that? Its beautiful." He meowed in awe. Teazer smiled a little.
"Yes. Thank you. I did it with my claws." She meowed. Quaxo blinked.
"That's amazing!" He murmured in awe. He closed his mouth and looked at his paws, another awkward silence falling over the three friends…Then after what felt like forever Rumpleteazer stepped towards him, so she was close.
"I'm sorry Quax….I…I overreacted. I didn't mean it. I shouldn't have said that…You were right. It was Skimble's place to tell us…I should not have expected you to tell us." She murmured. Quaxo looked up into her beautiful silvery green eyes.
"Its ok. I understand…You just learned something life changing…I get it." Quaxo meowed. He remembered the day he had discovered Macavity was his own father…But he wished that Skimble, or any other tom alive was his father. He blinked and looked at Jerrie over Teazer's shoulder. The twin tom padded forwards and stood next to his sister. Quaxo blinked.
"Can you two ever forgive me?" He asked quietly, his bright green eyes bright with desperation and sadness. Teazer purred and rubbed her cheek against his.
"Of course. But it is us who should be apologizing." She meowed. Jerrie nodded. Quaxo sighed and pressed close to his two friends.
"Thank you. I forgive you too." He meowed. The three purred and pressed close together for a few heartbeats…
"I am sorry I made you so upset too Quaxo. I never thought about or realized what you have been or are going through." Teazer murmured Quaxo smiled sadly.
"Its ok…I am the Protector. I should have held in my emotions." He meowed. Teazer laughed.
"But then you wouldn't be Quaxo anymore." She purred. They fell into a more comfortable silence. Then Quaxo leaped to his paws. His eyes were narrowed.
"What's wrong?" Jerrie asked. Quaxo rolled his eyes, then he smirked.
"Do you feel up to a little….a little heist of sorts?" He asked with a purr. Jerrie and Teazer glanced one another, mischief forming in their smirks and dancing in their same colored eyes. They looked at him.
"What are we going to do?" They asked in unison. Quaxo smiled, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"We are going to teach Tumblebrutus a little lesson…A lesson he will not forget." Quaxo purred darkly. The twins smirked and excitement lit in their eyes.
"What do we gotta do?" Teazer asked.
"Well…" Quaxo began. Their heads drooped close together as Quaxo spoke briskly and quietly, the twins cutting in every once in awhile.. Then he snorted and pulled back. "No! We do not need Talus's help!" He growled. The twins looked at him.
"Why? He would be perfect." Jerrie meowed. Quaxo growled and glared at his paws.
"I suppose you're right…But I don't trust him…He is hiding something." Quaxo growled. Teazer and Jerrie shared a wide eyed look and dropped the subject.
"Ok then…Moving on. Where?" Teazer asked. Quaxo smirked.
"In the clearing that the mess happened in today." He meowed. Teazer and Jerrie nodded.
"When?" Jerrie asked.
"Tomorrow at noon." Quaxo meowed. The twins nodded again.
"Ok…Now we have to ask Talus to help us." Jerrie meowed. Quaxo nodded.
"Yes….I think he will say yes…But I will be watching him." The tux growled.
"Ok master spy." Jerrie said, rolling his eyes. Teazer gave one of her infamous giggles. She met Quaxo's gaze and Quaxo gave a smile that would make the Cheshire cat proud.
"My friends…Let the games begin." Quaxo meowed with a smirk.
Ok. I know you all wanted a little emotional Quaxo drama. So, there you have it. Please enjoy the rest of the story. Yes there is already a developing Quaxo/Teazer relationship. OTP. Cuteness!