Deuteronomy awoke early the next morning. He immediately looked over to his young guest, now named Munkustrap, who was still fast asleep. He sighed sadly as he remembered the visit from his late mate last night, when she had told Deuteronomy what the young kitten's name will be.

He quietly got up and headed to the kitchen to make breakfast for himself and the three tom-kits.

The young silver kitten yawned, his eyes fluttering open as he stirred. He slowly looked around; frowning when he saw the room he was in. The events of the day before came back and he remembered where he was…he had a new master, who was unlike the rest. He was kind…and had said he wasn't a slave. The kitten's eyes widened in fear when he looked out the window, noticing that the sun had risen.

No, no! He was meant to be up before sunrise, cooking and cleaning and making sure everything was done. The kitten scrambled out of the bed he was in, blankets flying in his panic.

His first day and he was already going to be beaten, was the kitten's fear as he ran out of the room.

Deuteronomy glanced up when he heard frantic footsteps heading towards him. He looked up and saw the silver kitten slowing down as he spotted Deuteronomy. The kitten lowered his head, biting his lip.

"Good morning, little one." Deuteronomy greeted cheerfully. The kitten remained quiet, head bowed. Deuteronomy frowned.

"What is wrong?" Deuteronomy asked.

"I-I'm sorry." The kitten whispered.

"For what?"

"F-For sleeping in." Deuteronomy glanced out the window; it was not even 9 am yet.

"You haven't slept in…as a kitten I'd expect you to sleep much longer."

"B-But I am meant to be up before sunrise, making sure everything is done." The kitten recited. Deuteronomy shook his head as he walked towards the kitten. He slowly knelt down, making sure he was eye-level with the trembling silver kitten.

"No, my boy…you are no longer a slave, you are a free, ordinary kitten." Deuteronomy told him softly. "You can sleep in as long as you want, you do not need to clean or cook…you are to play and be cheeky and get into mischief." The kitten frowned, confused, at that. Deuteronomy rose to his feet, gently placing his paw on the kitten's silver shoulder and leading him to the table, sitting him down. The kitten's eyes watched him closely as he bustled about the kitchen, preparing some breakfast for him. Deuteronomy set the plate in front of him and smiled.

"Eat up." The kitten did so and Deuteronomy sat down across from him, smiling. Soon the kitten finished and went to take the plate back into the kitchen. Deuteronomy took the plate from his paws.

"No, I've got it." Deuteronomy told him. The kitten gave a reluctant nod. Deuteronomy soon sat back down, looking at the kitten, who was focused on the table.

"Little one, you know how I told you that I was going to find an appropriate name for you?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, last night, I was told what your name shall be."

"Oh?" The kitten asked, his green eyes lifting up, curious.

"Yes, your name is to be Munkustrap…if you like it, that is."

"Munkustrap." The kitten repeated, the name rolling off of his tongue. He smiled and looked up to Deuteronomy.

"I like it." Deuteronomy beamed.

"Then Munkustrap you shall be." He smiled. The kitten nodded, smiling contently.

"Munkustrap," Deuteronomy started, starting to use the kitten's new name. "I-I want to ask you some things…about your time as a slave."

"Oh." Munkustrap murmured, lowering his ears.

"I just want to make sure that no one says or does anything that can scare you…and I-I want to know if I can help you in anyway." Munkustrap nodded.

"Yes, sir."

"Okay…did…did anyone…touch you?" Deuteronomy stammered. Munkustrap tilted his head.

"In what way?" Deuteronomy rubbed the back of his head.

"Near your privates or anywhere they shouldn't touch?"

"No, sir." Munkustrap answered. He gave a small smile when Deuteronomy gave a sigh of relief, along with the muttering of small miracles.

"Pearl told me to fight and never let anyone touch me there or…or do anything to me." Munkustrap explained. "M-My masters always beat me and sold me after that." Deuteronomy looked at him.

"What happened?"

"I was with my second master when I met Pearl." Munkustrap started.

The shivering Munkustrap sat in the dark, damp basement with other cats. They were all crying or screaming or were dead silent. Munkustrap wrapped his small arms around his thin legs, shivering and waiting for their master to appear to and start ordering them about or beat them.

"Hey there, munchkin." Munkustrap looked to his right, where a grimy, fluffy white Queen shifted to sit beside him.

"Hi." Munkus murmured.

"What's your name, sweetie?"

"I don't have one." Munkus whispered, glancing at her. He then noticed her blue eyes had a certain tint behind it, and her grin, though sad, seemed a bit…mad. She pulled him into her arms, cuddling him close.

"Oh, my dear little darling." She purred, hugging him. Munkus held onto her tightly, getting what comfort and motherly-like love that he was so deprived of.

"You should have a name, you shine in this darkness." She whispered in his ear.

"What's your name?"

"Pearl." She answered as she stroked his ears. "I have two kittens older than you…my darling kittens." Munkus looked at her. Pearl gave a high-pitched giggle as she cuddled him closer. She put her paw under his chin, lifting his head up so she could stare into his green eyes.

"Yes, you are a special one." She whispered. "Far too young and little to be in a place such as this." Munkustrap just lay against her, curled in her arms. He knew after a time as a slave, some just lost it.

"Hmm and such shining silver fur…if it was completely clean it would be extra bright now, wouldn't it?" Pearl muttered to herself. She held him tighter as the door burst open and Master's followers came in to grab a few slaves, before slamming the door shut again. Pearl bit her lip.

"You are a shining light in this darkness." She whispered, stroking his ears. "And they know you are not going to break, they know how precious you are." Munkustrap watched her, listening.

"You mustn't let them break you!" She breathed, cupping his face in her paws. "If they try touching you…or…or take you into a bedroom, you fight back! You fight back with all you've got, kitten!" Munkus gave a nod. Pearl smiled, tears slipping from her eyes.

"You will be the one who gives us hope, you are our shining star." Pearl breathed. "Hm, I'm gonna call you that from now on." She muttered under her breath.

"No, I'm not." Munkus whispered.

"Listen to me, Shining Star," Pearl told him sternly. "You, by just being the innocent kitten you are, by not letting them break you…you give us hope." Pearl looked up fearfully as the door opened once more, the Toms standing in the doorway pointing in their direction.

"They're coming for you, kitten…you need to fight!" Munkus was pulled from her arms.

"Fight, my Shining Star, fight them!" She screeched as his tiny body was dragged from the room.

Munkustrap lifted his eyes, looking at Deuteronomy.

"What happened?" Deuteronomy questioned sadly.

"They took me into a bedroom…w-where my M-Master t-tried…" Munkustrap broke off. "I fought back. I scratched, clawed, bit, kicked, I did whatever I could." Munkus gulped.

"They beat me for disobeying and fighting, t-they whipped me…" Deuteronomy closed his eyes, trying to remain calm as he was told this tiny, defenceless kitten was whipped.

"I thought Pearl was trying to get me in trouble!" Munkus cried softly. "T-They do that sometimes, so Master wouldn't hurt them…but after they threw me back, a-a little while later they threw another kitten in…he didn't fight them."

"I saw what they did to him and what it did to him…a-and I knew Pearl protected me."

"What happened to Pearl?"

"I don't know." Munkustrap said sadly. "They took me to be sold later that day." Deuteronomy placed his paw briefly on the kitten's shoulder.

"Deut!" Deuteronomy looked up, smiling.

"In here, Jenny." He looked back at the kitten, seeing his ears had pressed back slightly.

"It's alright, she won't hurt you." Munkustrap nodded, trusting Deuteronomy. Jenny came bustling in, pausing when she saw the bruised, skinny silver kitten sitting at the table.

"Good morning!" She smiled cheerfully as she came in further. She placed a dish on the table. The kitten just stared, his green eyes large. Jenny walked over to Deuteronomy as he straightened the 'lounge', picking up the muddy blanket from yesterday.

"How is he going?" Jenny asked quietly as the kitten stared at the table.

"Good." Deuteronomy answered, smiling. "He has a name now."

"Oh?"

"Munkustrap." He told her. Said kitten glanced in his direction at the sound of his new name.

"How did you come up with that?" Jenny asked curiously.

"Lilly."

"What?!"

"Lilly came last night, she was sent here." Deuteronomy explained. Jenny looked confused. How did his dead mate come here?

"She sent me to find him, and then the Everlasting chose a name suitable for him." Deuteronomy explained. Jenny smiled, not bothering any more to think of a logical explanation.

"Munkustrap suits him." Jenny smiled, looking back at the kitten.

"Has he opened up to you?"

"Somewhat," Deuteronomy answered, before frowning. "For a rather young kitten, he speaks rather well."

"What do you mean?"

"He doesn't mispronounce words, he speaks in full sentences…I've never heard a kitten his age speak so well."

"Well, he did have to grow up fast."

"I-I got beaten when I didn't speak properly." Jenny and Deuteronomy looked at the kitten with that. He blushed and looked down.

"Sorry for eavesdropping." He mumbled.

"No, no, Munkus, it's alright." Deuteronomy reassured him.

"T-They hurt you when you didn't speak properly?" Jenny questioned, shocked. Munkustrap gave a small nod.

"The other slaves and my first master taught me to articulate my words and to speak in proper sentences." Munkustrap explained. "My first master taught me how to read and write and beat me when I messed up, so I learnt not to mess up." Jenny sighed sadly.

"You still struggle a bit with some words though?"

"Yes, sir…a-and I don't really understand a lot of things." Munkus confessed. Deuteronomy just smiled as he walked over to Munkustrap, he gently, and slowly, ruffled his head fur.

"You'll learn in time, you're just a kitten." Deuteronomy reassured him. Munkus gave a small nod. Deuteronomy looked back at Jenny.

"Now, you wanted to check him over again, didn't you?" Jenny gave a nod as she walked over.

"Hi, honey, my name is Jennyanydots, but you can just call me Jenny." Munkustrap gave a hesitant nod.

"I'm just going to check you over and make sure you're healthy," Jenny explained to him. She offered her paws.

"Can you stand up for me, darling?" Munkustrap took her paws and she helped him to his feet, leading him to the lounge.

She sighed sadly as she looked over his bruised, thin body. As she moved her paws through his fur, gently examining some healing wounds, she could feel all of the healed scars…and it broke her heart. She shifted around to his back and felt the long criss-crossed scars which could only be made by a whip. Jenny blinked back tears as she examined his arms, eyeing the dark purple and red bruises lefts on his wrists from shackles.

"Y-You'll be okay, my dear." Jenny told him shakily, giving a small smile. Munkustrap tilted his head when he noticed the tears in her eyes.

"D-Did I do something wrong?" He asked quietly, eyes wide. Jenny shook her head, pulling him into her arms and hugging him tightly. She felt him stiffen and go rigid in her arms as she hugged him, but he soon relaxed.

"No, you did nothing wrong." Jenny whispered in his ear. "I'm just upset that you were so badly mistreated." Jenny let him go and gave a smile. She looked at Deuteronomy.

"He will need to be fed so he can put weight back on." Jenny told him. Deuteronomy smiled, nodding.

"He's already had breakfast and he ate it all." Deuteronomy informed her. "And he ate half of what you left me last night."

"Only half?" Jenny sighed. "I guess he needs to get used to large meals again, I'm guessing he wouldn't have eaten much as he grew."

"Did I hear food?"

"Of course you did, Tugger, you bottom-less pit." Macavity and Tugger bickered as they walked out of their room.

"Already arguing, boys?" Jenny sighed as she got to her feet.

"No, Aunty Jenny," The two chorused, grinning at each other. Deuteronomy chuckled.

"Dad, can we go see the other kittens?" Tugger asked.

"Breakfast first." Deuteronomy told them. The two quickly ran to the kitchen, going to get their breakfast.

"Oh, has um…has…has he had breakfast yet?" Macavity asked, indicating to Munkustrap.

"He has a name now, my sons," Deuteronomy told them, placing his paws on the silver shoulders.

"His name is Munkustrap."

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Phew, sorry it's been a little while…but other than uni, I've been desperately trying to finish my Ronan costume (for those who have read Genetically Perfect) and I managed to do so…and wore him out today for the first time! He received a lot of love…even from Billy Boyd and Evanna Lynch!

So watch my Deviant-Art for photos as they appear ;)

It may be a little bit til I can update again, I need to get cracking on finishing my assessment stuff…

Thanks to those who reviewed!

Please read and review!

Love always,

HGP