Deuteronomy stretched out on the tyre, his eyes flickering over the yard. He smiled as he watched Munkustrap trotting into the clearing, a small smile on his face. Munkustrap had settled more into the yard, becoming relaxed. He had seemed to realise that he had freedom to do what he wanted and that he had cats that cared for him. He looked so much better too. His wounds and bruises had healed; he had gained weight and was now at a healthy weight, his fur was clean, fluffy and shiny, his silver fur bright and his eyes had gained a light within them.
"Good morning, Munkus!" Deuteronomy greeted as the kitten bounced in front of the tyre.
"Good morning!" Munkustrap chirped, smiling. Deuteronomy grinned at the small kitten.
"What are you up to this morning?"
"I-I was looking for Macavity." Munkustrap answered, his smile faltering a bit. Deuteronomy looked at him sadly.
"The other kittens still not speaking to you?" Deuteronomy questioned sadly. Munkustrap gave a small shake of his head. Deuteronomy sighed.
"They'll come around, my boy, don't fret." He reassured the small kitten. Munkus gave a small nod.
"Why don't you go play with Tugger?"
"He's asleep," Munkustrap answered, glancing back at where Tugger was napping, curled up next to Jenny as she stroked his ears.
"I think Macavity went to go train with Tirus," Deuteronomy told him. "Why don't you go find him?" Deuteronomy winced when he saw the small shudder run through Munkustrap's small frame. He knew Tirus made Munkustrap uncomfortable and scared since something about him and his personality reminded him of his past masters.
"I'm sure Macavity will be done soon," Deuteronomy smiled. "He just likes to keep training; he wants to be the future Protector very much." Munkustrap gave a nod.
"I know, he'll make a great Protector." Deuteronomy smiled at the kitten's grin.
"Well, why don't you go find him?" Deuteronomy suggested. Munkus gave a nod, smiling, and trundled off.
Munkustrap kept his eyes lowered to the ground as he walked past the kittens, who glared at him. They were still grounded and had been so already for five days, and still had another week to go of their punishment.
He wandered around the side clearings, slowly circling away from the main clearing, as he tried to find where Macavity was training. He hoped Tirus had gone; he didn't want to bump into him. The serious Protector reminded him of his old masters, he was very strict and his eyes cold. He knew that while Deuteronomy treated him extremely well, as did Jenny, Skimble and a few others, that the others could still punish him if he did something wrong, that they could beat him.
Munkustrap's ears pricked as he heard a small mewl. He hesitantly headed towards it, following it towards a pile of boxes. There was another loud, sad mewl. Munkustrap cautiously pushed a box aside, his eyes widening when he saw two twin kittens, just a little younger than himself, huddled together, scared.
"Hi," Munkustrap said softly as he slowly moved towards him. He understood their fear, they had no idea who this cat who had found them was, or what he was capable of.
"My name is Munkustrap." Munkustrap tried. The male kitten looked at his sister before looking back at Munkustrap.
"I-I'm Coricopat," The kitten whispered. "T-This is my sister, Tantomile." Munkustrap smiled as he settled down on the ground next to them, trying to make them feel less scared.
"Where are your parents?" Munkus asked, tilting his head.
"They left us here." Coricopat whispered as Tantomile gave a small sob.
"What? Why?" Munkustrap blinked. Coricopat wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his paw.
"They didn't want us." Tantomile whispered as she nuzzled her brother. Munkustrap gave a small nod.
"I know how that feels." He told them sadly. The two looked at him, surprised.
"W-What?" Coricopat stammered.
"I…I was brought into the Jellicles, I wasn't born here."
"Jellicles?"
"They're the tribe that live here." Munkustrap explained. The twins blinked in response.
"They are very nice." Munkustrap told them, smiling.
"You do not trust them fully though?" Coricopat asked. Munkustrap's eyes widened in surprise, both at how grown up the kittens sounded and how they knew that.
"I-It's hard." Munkustrap answered simply. Coricopat tilted his head, examining Munkustrap closely with his dark green-gold eyes. Tantomile had her eyes closed. Coricopat slowly shifted closer to Munkustrap.
"Why?" He asked curiously. Munkustrap gave a small smile at the curious kitten. He knew the kitten was asking the questions innocently, and there was something about these two kittens…
"I…I used to be a slave." Munkustrap admitted. Tantomile's eyes shot open in shock at that. They may have been young, but they knew what that meant.
"Deuteronomy, the leader here, bought me and brought me here and…well, he says I'm free." Munkustrap explained quietly. Coricopat gently touched his paw, giving a small smile. Munkustrap returned it.
"Hey, don't move, I'm just going to go get someone." Munkustrap said suddenly and went to go when a paw grabbed his tightly.
"No, please don't go!" Coricopat begged. Tantomile nodded.
"We don't want to be left alone again." She whimpered. Munkus nodded, settling back down. The two kittens cuddled against him, purring softly. Munkustrap purred back, happy to have friends and they were just a bit younger than him too.
They stayed there for a while, just curled together, until Munkustrap's ears pricked when he heard footsteps and someone whistling a familiar tune. Coricopat and Tantomile sunk back, grabbing each other's paws.
"It's okay, he's nice." Munkustrap reassured them. "Skimble!" He called. The whistling stopped.
"Munkus, is that you lad?" Skimble called, trying to find the silver kitten. "Where are ya?"
"Over here!" Skimble suddenly appeared and his eyes widened when he caught sight of the two kittens huddling against Munkustrap, trembling.
"Now, now, who are these two?" Skimble asked softly as he sank down to the ground, looking at the tiny, skinny kittens softly.
"Coricopat," Munkustrap gently nuzzled Coricopat's head. "And Tantomile." He nuzzled her head comfortingly.
"Hello there, little ones." Skimble greeted gently. "What are you two doing here? Where are ya parents?"
"T-They left us here." Cori whispered. Tantomile gave a small nod.
"Oh my, now why would they do such a thing to two lovely kittens?" Skimble questioned.
"T-They said…said we were freaks." Tantomile sobbed. Skimble slowly reached out, pulling the young queen into his arms and hugging her. Cori went to grab her when Munkus wrapped his arm around him, smiling at him reassuringly.
"Hush, my dear, you're not freaks," Skimble gently cooed to Tantomile as he rubbed her back. "You're two very sweet little ones," Tantomile looked up at him, sniffling.
"Really?"
"Of course, darling!" Skimble told her, gently pressing his nose against hers and making her give a little giggle.
"Now, why don't we get you back to mine and my mate's den and we'll get some food for you?" Skimble suggested.
"I-Is Munkus coming?" Coricopat asked. Skimble nodded.
"Of course," Skimble answered, smiling. Munkustrap stood, taking Coricopat's paw and helping him up while Skimble stood, Tantomile held securely in his arms. Coricopat grabbed Munkustrap's paw, holding onto it tightly, glancing around nervously. Munkustrap gave the kitten, who came up to his shoulder, a small smile. They headed back into the main clearing, Skimble holding Tantomile close, rubbing her back and ignoring the looks from the other Jellicles. Munkustrap followed closely behind, Coricopat clutching onto him tightly, his green-gold eyes darting around nervously.
"Jenny, my darling, we have guests." Skimble called as he entered the den. Jenny came out into the main den, eyes widening when she spotted the kitten in Skimble's arms and the kitten clutching onto Munkustrap.
"They're a bit skinny, Jen, thought we'd get these lovely kittens some food." Skimble continued, bringing Jenny out of her daze.
"Yes, yes, of course!" Jenny smiled. "Sit them down, Skimble." Skimble sat down with Tantomile as Jenny bustled to the kitchen, getting food ready for all of them. Munkustrap sat down beside Skimble, the railway cat smiling at him before he reached out to scratch behind Munkustrap's ears, making Munkus purr. Jenny came back out with bowls balanced in her paws. She gave one each to the kittens and Munkustrap.
"Thank you, Jenny." Munkustrap murmured. Jenny smiled, tweaking his cheek.
"Any time, sweetheart." Jenny smiled as she sat down. She watched as the twin kittens dug into their food, occasionally stealing glances at each other.
"I've heard we have some young kittens in here." Munkustrap looked around and smiled as Old Deuteronomy ducked into the den. The two kittens trembled slightly at the large Tom.
"Do not be afraid of me, little ones." Deuteronomy reassured them gently as he settled down beside Jenny.
"What are your names?" He questioned.
"C-Coricopat a-and this is my sister, Tantomile." Coricopat spoke up nervously. Deuteronomy smiled.
"Welcome, Coricopat and Tantomile." Deuteronomy smiled. "Those names are quite the mouthful aren't they?" He laughed. "But they seem to suit you very well." The kittens smiled at that.
"Where are your parents, darlings?" Jenny questioned. She frowned when the kittens went quiet and sad.
"T-They left us."
"Why would they do such a thing?" Jenny breathed, shocked.
"T-They said we w-were freaks." Tantomile sniffled. Skimble gently rubbed her back and she buried her face into his vest, crying softly. Deuteronomy frowned.
'Why would parents call their own kittens' freaks?' Deuteronomy thought.
"Cause Tanti and were playin' with our sparks." Coricopat answered, looking at Deuteronomy. The others looked confused as to why Coricopat had spoken that but Deuteronomy raised his brows.
"You can read thoughts, Cori?" Deuteronomy questioned softly. Cori and Tantomile exchanged frightened looks.
"It's alright," Deuteronomy soothed them as Skimble and Jenny frowned.
"Deut, what's going on?" Deuteronomy smiled.
"It seems we have two little mystics." Deuteronomy smiled. Jenny, Skimble and Munkus looked at the kittens in surprise.
"Cori just answered my thought, plus with the information that he and Tantomile were playing with…sparks, was it?" Cori gave a nod, not meeting Deuteronomy's eyes.
"Brother," Skimble spoke up, his eyes meeting Jenny's, who gave a nod and a smile. Deuteronomy looked to him.
"Yes?"
"Jenny and I, we'd like to take these little ones in and raise them as our own." Deuteronomy beamed at that.
"And that way, you can help with their abilities as they grow." Deuteronomy gave a small laugh.
"Skimble, I was going to let you raise them no matter what," Deuteronomy told him, smiling. "I'll keep an eye on their abilities as they grow and I may get some help from Trelawney to help strengthen and control their abilities as well." Cori and Tantomile exchanged confused looks.
"You're not freaks, little ones." Deuteronomy told them gently. "You have a very special gift and we'll make sure you are taken care of." Skimble hugged Tantomile close.
"Aye, my little ones, you'll be taken care of here." Skimble smiled. Tantomile smiled at the railway cat, purring softly as she was held close. Jenny opened her arms up and smiled warmly at Coricopat. Cori smiled and darted into them, purring as he was cuddled close. Deuteronomy smiled as he got to his feet.
"Come on, Munkus, let our new tribe members settle in with their new family." Munkustrap nodded, standing up and taking Deuteronomy's paw.
"Deut, w-what will the others say with this?"
"They can deal with it." Deuteronomy smirked slightly. "This is my ruling as leader that these two kittens will become part of our tribe, much like Munkustrap has," Munkustrap looked up at Deuteronomy, who winked at him, smiling.
"Come on, Munk," Deuteronomy murmured before they left the den. Deuteronomy glanced back at Jenny and Skimble, watching as they cuddled their new charges. He looked back to Munkustrap as they walked from the den.
He had a feeling while some would be suspicious of the new kittens, even once the others found out they were mystics, they would be more accepted than Munkustrap because of the life he was forced to live before.
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I am so so sorry for taking so long!
I finally finished uni, wooo! And I've been busy doing events and doing Christmas shopping and I was stuck on this for a little bit, so while I was stuck I was writing my next fic, but then I was struck with inspiration for this one again.
Hopefully it won't be too long before my next update!
Thanks for the review for last chapter!
Please read and review!
Love,
HGP!