"Heya, Munkus," Munkustrap lifted his head from where it had been resting on his paws and smiled.
"Hi, Cori." Coricopat leapt up onto the tyre, nuzzling Deuteronomy quickly before settling down beside Munkustrap. Deuteronomy smiled at the kitten as he nestled beside Munkustrap. He was glad that Munkus finally had a friend.
"Where's Tanti?" Munkus asked tiredly as he stretched out his gangly limbs.
"With Mumma," Cori answered, looking over towards Jenny. Tantomile was curled up in her lap, watching closely as Jenny knitted a blanket. Deuteronomy smiled once more. Not only had Coricopat and Tantomile been adopted by Jenny and Skimble, but Jenny and Skimble were immediately adopted by Cori and Tanto as their parents, both of the kittens had started calling them Mumma and Daddy the same night they had been brought in and adopted.
"Deuteronomy!" Deuteronomy sighed at that voice.
"Yes, Antony?" Deuteronomy asked, turning to look at the Italian Tom. The Tom was glaring at the leader.
"Why have you allowed mystics into here?!" The Tom snapped. "Zey are dangerous!" Deuteronomy sighed, opening his mouth to reply.
"They are not dangerous!" Deuteronomy looked at Munkustrap in surprise, finding the kitten standing in front of Cori, protecting him. Munkustrap glared at Antony, tail lashing from side to side. Antony hissed at the kitten, Munkustrap bared his teeth in return.
"Do not talk about things you do not understand!" Antony snarled at the kitten. Munkustrap's eyes widened as he suddenly realised what he had done. That he had spoken up against a Tom…that usually resulted in a horrible beating. Munkustrap started trembling fearfully.
"Munkus, don't be scared." Cori whispered, gently placing his paw on Munkustrap's back. Deuteronomy noticed how Munkustrap had paled, his green eyes had dropped to gaze at the ground, his breathing was ragged and he was trembling.
"Calm yourself, my little one, you haven't done anything wrong." Deuteronomy told him softly, gently rubbing his ears. Munkustrap sharply drew in a breath, trying to calm his breathing.
"You were defending your friend, you did nothing wrong." Deuteronomy reassured him before he turned his eyes onto Antony.
"You on the other paw," Deuteronomy said sternly, glaring at the Tom. "You have no right to say things like that about anyone, let alone our new kittens!" Antony gaped, shocked.
"They are just kittens; they are innocent and not dangerous." Deuteronomy told him.
"B-But…"
"Mystics are not dangerous, if they are raised right." Deuteronomy continued. "Tantomile and Coricopat will be raised right with Jenny and Skimble, plus their mysticism will be watched, they are no threat to us." Antony just stared.
"So, you will apologize to both Coricopat and Munkustrap." Deuteronomy informed him. Antony scowled.
"Now, unless you want to be confined to your den." Deuteronomy eyed him, staring him down. Antony finally caved.
"My apologies, kittens." Antony said grudgingly. "I shouldn't presume…" Cori looked at him, surprised, while Munkus kept his head down, unable to make eye contact.
"Thank you, Antony…that will be all." Deuteronomy murmured. Antony inclined his head, sighing, as he looked at Munkustrap who had seemed to curl in on himself, before leaving, feeling regretful for hissing at the silver one.
"Munk…Munk, you alright?" Deuteronomy looked away from Antony's retreating back and towards Munkus, who had curled in on himself, arms wrapped tightly around his knees which were drawn to his chest. Cori was nuzzling Munkus worriedly.
"Munkustrap, my boy, look at me." Munkustrap hesitantly did so, his green eyes dull.
"You are not in trouble, my boy, you did the right thing standing up for your friend…and standing up for what is right." Munkustrap's ears perked a little bit. Deuteronomy smiled, opening his arms.
"Come now, my boy." He cooed softly. Munkustrap quickly clambered onto his lap, nuzzling his face into Deuteronomy's chest. Deuteronomy looked at Cori, seeing the disappointed face before he gave a chuckle.
"Come on, Cori, you too," Cori grinned and quickly dove into the hug, cuddling up against Munkustrap. Munkustrap pulled Cori into a hug, holding his friend close.
Cori was one of the first kittens he had ever trusted, besides Macavity and Tugger. He was innocent and he cared.
Deuteronomy smiled as he held the two close.
"See, Munkus, you did the right thing defending your friend…you didn't attack him, you weren't rash about it, so I am proud of you." Munkustrap gave a small smile, purring softly. Deuteronomy smiled, looking back over the yard as Cori began talking to Munkus.
It was a week later and Munkustrap stretched out as he left the den, yawning. He had been cleaning; it made him feel calm somehow. He walked past a small clearing, where Cori and Tantomile were sitting across from a grey and gold Queen, all of them meditating. Munkus gave a small smile before he continued on. Trelawney was a nice old Queen, Cori had told him all about her and what she was doing to help with their mysticism and that she was really encouraging and kind. Munkustrap walked into the main clearing and hesitated. Deuteronomy was talking to Jenny and Skimble, who were both smiling at the leader, Jenny seemed excited. Munkus sighed before he headed over to the kittens, where Tugger and Macavity were. Macavity smiled as he shifted over, letting Munkus sit beside him. The kittens gave him a small smile in greeting; they had gotten over their grudge over Munkus getting them in trouble. Macavity yawned and wrapped his tail around him, resting against the smaller Tom.
"Where's Cori and Tanto?" Macavity asked, rubbing his eyes. "It's unusual to see you without Cori," Munkus gave a small smile.
"They're having lessons," Munkustrap explained.
"They're a bit weird…but I like them," Demeter put in, smiling. The others murmured in agreement. They chatted and laughed for a while, until Deuteronomy came over.
"Macavity, Tugger, can I borrow you for moment, please?" Deuteronomy asked. Tugger and Macavity got to their feet, looking confused, as they followed their father back towards their den. Munkus sighed as he watched them go.
He sat there with the kittens, idly drawing patterns in the dirt, as they chattered non-stop.
"Where'd you go yesterday, Deme?" Alonzo asked as he rolled over onto his back.
"Mummy took us to the park!" Demeter grinned. Alonzo perked his ears up, grinning.
"Ooooh!" Cassie grinned. "Daddy and Mummy took me there last week!"
"Papa took me there the other day too!"
"It's fun, isn't it?"
"Did ya meet any otha kittens?"
"Yes! So much fun!" Munkustrap lowered his head, tail swishing from side to side, there was something bubbling in his stomach, though he didn't know what it was.
"Mummy said we can go back there next week, and she said she's gonna take us to get something special!" Demeter said excitedly.
"Oh, what do you think it is?" Cassie asked, head tilting to the side.
"We don't know," Bomba sighed, before smiling. "But Daddy promised it would be something amazing!"
"Papa promised me that he'd take me somewhere special to go hunting…and he said he'd teach me how to catch fish!" Munkustrap's tail began to lash from side to side.
"Yeah, Daddy told us he was gonna take us and teach us to hunt!" Demeter nodded excitedly.
"Ooh, maybe our parents will take us all out?" She gushed.
"We should ask them!" Bomba agreed, smiling.
"They'd say yes right?"
"They're our parents, they love us…course they'd say yes!" Demeter grinned. Munkus couldn't take it anymore. He leapt to his feet, tail lashing side to side.
"Stop it!" He yelled. The kittens stared at him, shocked. Demeter got to her feet, staring at him in shock.
"M-Munk, w-what's wrong?" Demeter whispered, ears flattening down.
"You think they care about you, but they don't!" Munkustrap yelled. "They don't care about you, you mean nothing to them…they'll turn against you the first chance they get!" The kittens all stared, shocked. Munkustrap's eyes widened in shock when he realised what he had said and done.
"I-I'm sorry…" Munkus whispered, before turning and running off. He couldn't believe he had yelled all of those things!
Munkustrap flinched as he looked around, trying to find somewhere.
He was definitely going to be punished for this now…and he had been doing so well!
Munkustrap found an old heater-like stove and forced open the black door. He jumped in and shut the door behind him. The small silver kitten curled up in a corner, hugging his knees close to his chest as he gave a small sniffle.
He hadn't meant to yell those things. He was just…jealous and upset, they all had loving, caring parents and his mother had despised him and had sold him into slavery, not caring what happened to him.
"Now, don't say a word and stay here, you worthless brat!" His mother hissed at him as she dragged him to a corner by his arm.
"But, Mumma!" A very young Munkus whimpered. He cried out as he was hit harshly across the face.
"I told you not a word!" The grey and brown queen snarled at him. "And don't call me that!" Munkustrap curled up in the corner, sniffling quietly as his mother sauntered over to a Tom, draping herself across him and purring.
"Hey, Munchkin," Munkus looked up and saw a beautiful midnight black Queen in front of him. Munku bit his lip, which began trembling. The Queen rubbed his ears softly.
"Smile, darling!" She smiled at him. "A beautiful kitten like yourself needs to smile!" Munkus managed to give a weak smile. She winked at him and got up; swaying over to the rusty coloured Tom his mum was currently draped over.
"Sasha, my dear, it's almost your turn," He purred to the midnight black queen.
"I know, I just went to say hi to Kira's miserable kitten," Sasha glared at Kira at that. Kira snarled in reply.
"Ladies, not now!" The Tom sighed. "Sasha, my darling, you are due on stage, you are the best dancer I have and I need you out there!"
"On my way now, Nuka," Sasha turned and waved at Munkus before she left.
"Come on, Nuka," Kira purred once she left. "When are you going to give me a shot at this?"
"One day." Nuka sighed. Munkus sniffled before getting to his feet and stumbling over to his mum.
"Mumma," Munkus whimpered, tugging on her tail. "I hungry." Kira hissed, pushing him away, while Nuka turned his eyes to him, staring.
"…there is the question of what you're going to do with this little guy while you're working," Nuka drawled. "Can't have him interrupting you," Kira glared at Munkus as Nuka pushed her off of him and went to go watch Sasha.
"You stupid, no-good, brat!" Kira hissed as she gripped his upper arm tightly and dragged him away. "You can't do anything right! I should've drowned you when you were born, would've saved me a whole lot of trouble!" She muttered to herself.
"Mumma…"
"I said don't call me that!" She screamed, shoving him hard and making him slam into the stone alley wall. Munkus wailed in pain.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Kira yelled, hitting the tiny tom-kit. "You are so useless! What I'd give to be rid of you!"
"Munkus?" Munkustrap hurriedly wiped the tears from his eyes at the sound of Deuteronomy's voice. Deuteronomy was climbing into the old stove, closing the door behind him. He settled down next to Munkustrap and stared sadly at him. He had heard Munkus yell at the kittens, seen the look of horror on his face as he had realised what he had said before he bolted from the clearing. Demeter had gone to run after him but her aunt had stopped her. Deuteronomy had gone to go find him and that was when he had heard the sobbing and sad mewls coming from the stove.
"What were you crying about, Munkus?" Deuteronomy asked. Munkustrap shook his head.
"I-It was n-nothing, sir." He hiccupped.
"Munkus," Deuteronomy sighed sadly.
"I-I'm sorry, sir." Munkus whispered, looking at his paws. "I-I didn't mean what I said to the kittens, I didn't mean to yell…I-I just…snapped."
"Munk," Deuteronomy started, going to place his paw on Munkustrap's shoulder. He froze when the kitten flinched.
He thought he was going to be beaten, Deuteronomy realised with a start. He stared, mortified, at the kitten, before he quickly gathered Munkus into his arms and held the trembling kitten tight to his chest.
"Shh, Munkus, it's okay, I'm not going to hurt you…I would never ever hurt you!" Deuteronomy promised the sobbing kitten.
"I'm sorry!" Munkus wailed. "I-I didn't mean it!"
"Oh, my boy, I know, I know," Deuteronomy cooed. "I understand," Munkus gave a sob.
"It just isn't fair!" Munkus cried. "Why did my mum hafta hate me?! Why didn't she love me?!" Deuteronomy closed his eyes tight, sad.
"Oh, my poor boy." Deuteronomy sighed. "Your mother was a foolish Queen for doing what she did to you; she was stupid for not seeing what a wonderful tom-kit you are!" Munkus sniffled as he held onto Deuteronomy tightly.
"Is that what you were thinking about before I came in?" Deuteronomy questioned softly a few moments later. "Your…mother?" Munkustrap nodded.
"B-Before s-she sold me," He hiccupped. "She was trying to be a dancer and I got in her way…she hit me and pushed me into a wall." Deuteronomy held the kitten closer, nuzzling his ears reassuringly.
"Munkus, I want…I want to ask you something." Munkustrap looked up at him, his green eyes red and puffy from crying. Deuteronomy took in a breath and smiled at the darling kitten in his arms.
"You were upset that you never had family that loved you," Deuteronomy started slowly. Munkus winced at that. "And that's what I want to talk to you about…how would you like a fresh start? A new family that would love and care for you?" Munkustrap looked up at him, unsure.
"W-With who?" He whispered. Deuteronomy smiled.
"With me, Macavity and Tugger, my dear boy," Deuteronomy told him softly. "I want to adopt you, to see you have a fresh start with family who love you." Munkustrap's green eyes widened in shock at that revelation.
"R-Really?!" He breathed. Deuteronomy nodded, smiling.
"Yes, my darling boy, if you accept, we want you to be part of our family…f-for me to be your dad and Macavity and Tugger to be your big brothers." Munkustrap grinned, tears falling from his eyes as he hugged Deuteronomy tightly.
"So, I take it that's a yes?" Deuteronomy laughed. Munkus nodded against his neck. Deuteronomy hugged him close.
"Welcome to the family, my son."
CCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Hopefully I didn't make you wait too long for this chapter!
Munkus finally has a family…but it won't be all smooth sailing from here nah-uh
As always, I will try my best to update soon-ish, but brain is kinda mush at the moment, plus trying to find a job blehh!
Plus, I kinda recently got hooked on Young Justice and oh my god, it's rather amazing, though so upset they cancelled it only after two seasons booo! But totally in love with Robin and his cackle :P
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!
HGP