Later that night, as Tugger and Macavity were playing a board game, Munkus sat, curled up in a chair, reading. Deuteronomy smiled as he settled down on the couch beside Munkus.
"What are you reading there, Munkus?" Deuteronomy asked softly. Munkus glanced up.
"It's called Eragon," Munkus answered. "It's about Dragon Riders, Jenny gave it to me. She thought I'd like it." Deuteronomy smiled.
"Sounds interesting."
"It's pretty good." Munkus smiled. Deuteronomy rested back, giving a sigh. Munkustrap curled back up, going back to reading. Deuteronomy suddenly had a thought.
"Munkus, when I came in before, the song you were singing…where did you learn it?" Deuteronomy asked, curious. Munkus slowly put his book down, his eyes distant in memory as his fangs teased at his bottom lip as he bit it.
"I…I was being sold again," Munkus started. "They had all of the slaves locked in a room, waiting for the morning so they could sell us, and there was this one Queen…" He smiled slightly as he thought about her. Macavity and Tugger paused their game, turning to look and listen to Munkus's story.
"Everything was quiet and dark, except for the few cats crying, they were the ones who'd just come into slavery…you could always tell which ones were the new ones." Deuteronomy closed his eyes at that.
"This queen…she had a butterfly in her paws, and one of the other cats wanted to kill it…said he hated looking at it, since it got to be free and he didn't." Munku murmured. "There was a fight as he tried to squash it; some of the other Toms dragged him off of her and to the corner to cool off…she was on the floor, she had tried protecting the butterfly and she did, but she got injured in the tussle." Munk cleared his throat.
"When another Queen was helping her, she asked why she'd let herself get hurt over a silly thing like a butterfly…and she sang that in response." Munku smiled. "I-It made sense to me and it stuck with me….though the others just called her a hippy and ignored her, but…but I understood." Deuteronomy smiled, gently ruffling Munkustrap's head-fur. Deuteronomy stretched and yawned.
"Alright, kittens, time for bed." Deuteronomy yawned. Munkustrap marked his page and set his book aside. Deuteronomy followed the kittens into their room, watching as they climbed into their beds. He went to Macavity, tucking him in. The ginger tom-kit smiled sleepily up at his dad.
"Night, Dad," Macavity yawned. Deuteronomy leaned down, kissing his forehead before running his paw through Macavity's head-fur, making the tom-kit give a purr. Deuteronomy straightened up and Macavity rolled to his side, curling up. Deuteronomy went to Tugger next, pulling the covers up snugly around him. Tugger smiled tiredly. Deuteronomy leaned down, kissing Tugger's forehead.
"Night, Dad," Tugger mumbled tiredly, burying his face into his pillow. Deuteronomy chuckled.
"Goodnight, Tugger." Deuteronomy moved to Munkustrap, who smiled up at him. Deuteronomy smiled at the silver kitten smiling up at him. He pulled up the covers so they were snug around Munkustrap's shoulders.
"Goodnight, Dad," Munkustrap purred softly. Deuteronomy leaned down to kiss his forehead, Munkus nuzzled his cheek.
"Goodnight, Munku," Deuteronomy said softly. Munkustrap yawned as he burrowed down into the blankets.
"Love you, Dad," Munku murmured tiredly as his eyes slid shut. Deuteronomy paused, shocked.
"I love you too, Munkus," Deuteronomy smiled. Munkus purred as his eyes closed and he relaxed, snuggling down into his bed. Deuteronomy walked over to the door, turning around and casting his eyes over his sleeping boys. He smiled before he softly closed the door, heading off to sleep.
The months went by, and the weather changed, going from warm to cold.
Deuteronomy laughed as he watched Tugger and Macavity grab the laughing Munkustrap and toss him into a deep pile of snow. Munkustrap's head popped out of the mound of snow, his silver fur flecked with snow.
"Mac, Tugger!" Munkus whined as he leapt out of the mound, shaking the snow from his fur. Macavity grinned, looking at Tugger, who suddenly leapt away. Macavity frowned, confused, before a heavy weight hit him and he fell into a heap into the snow. Macavity raised his head, feeling snow and wetness on his whiskers and fur. He could hear his dad's booming laugh echo across the yard.
"Nice pounce, Munkus!" Deuteronomy called. Macavity looked over his shoulder, finding Munkus perched on his back, grinning at him.
"Munk, get off!" Macavity whined. Munkus just flopped down on his back, grinning, as Macavity struggled to get him off of his back. Macavity finally managed to flip them over, pinning Munkus down in the snow.
"Haha, got ya!" Macavity teased. Macavity gave a grunt as he was tackled off of Munkus. He looked up and found Cori above him, grinning as his tail swished from side to side.
Deuteronomy smiled as Munkustrap came bounding up to him, leaping up onto the tyre and shaking the snow from his fur. Deuteronomy chuckled as he wiped the snow from his arm and side of his face, where it had stuck when Munkus had shaken.
"Thanks, Munk," Deuteronomy chuckled. Munkus grinned at him before flopping down on the tyre, exhausted. Deuteronomy stroked Munkus's head fur as he looked around the yard. Jelly had her new kittens curled in her arms, having just given birth the week before. Admetus and Plato were very adorable. Admetus was a grey/brown and white Tom with already fluffy head fur and the elder, while Plato was a rusty red and white Tom and the younger one. Asparagus sat beside Jelly, cooing at his sons, while Gus sat on the other side of Jelly, pulling faces at the giggling Admetus, who reached for Gus's face.
Deuteronomy smiled and looked to Jennyanydots, who was bundled up in blankets, sitting across from Jelly. Jenny was very pregnant now, her litter due in only two weeks. Skimble was sitting next to his mate, his arm loosely wrapped around her waist, grinning as he chatted with Asp.
Tirus was perched on the old rocking chair, high up on a junk pile; Antony was stretched out on an ironing board beside the chair, both of them chatting as Tirus kept watch.
The kittens were running around the snow, throwing snowballs at each other. Deuteronomy looked back to Munkustrap, finding the kitten fast asleep. Deuteronomy chuckled softly as he examined the sleeping kitten's face with loving brown eyes. Munkustrap's face was peaceful, his cheeks were slightly flushed from the cold and from playing, and he had a small smile on his face. Deuteronomy gently gathered the sleeping kitten up and pulled him into his arms, cuddling the kitten close. Munkustrap mumbled softly, but didn't wake, as he cuddled close to his adoptive dad, sighing contently as he nuzzled his face into Deuteronomy's fur.
"Daddy," Munkustrap mumbled, his paws curling up to rest near his eyes. Deuteronomy's eyes widened before they softened and he smiled.
"I love you, my boy," He whispered to the innocent tom-kit in his arms. Munkustrap smiled slightly as he slept.
An hour or so later, Deuteronomy glanced down to the kitten in his arms as he felt him shifting. Munkus's eyes fluttered open and he smiled up at Deuteronomy.
"Did you have a good nap?" Deuteronomy asked as he held Munkus close. Munkus purred as he nuzzled his dad's cheek.
"Hey, Dad!" Deuteronomy looked at Tugger as he whined.
"Yes, Tugger?"
"Can we go to the park, please?" Tugger begged, looking at the kittens who were surrounding him. Deuteronomy chuckled.
"Alright, alright, but the other kittens must ask their parents!" Deuteronomy told them. The kittens cheered and darted off to their parents. Skimble walked over, shaking his head and laughing.
"You can never say no to them, can you?" Skimble chuckled as he sat beside Deuteronomy, reaching over to scruff up Munkustrap's head-fur. Munkus pouted as he fixed up his head fur.
"Care to come with?" Deuteronomy asked. Skimble hesitated.
"I don't know, Jenny's getting so close to…"
"He's going!" Jenny called out as she waddled past the tyre.
"But, Jen!"
"You are going to the park, I'll be with Jelly." Jenny winked at Deuteronomy as he laughed. Skimble just stared, speechless as Jenny walked into her den with Jelly and the two new kittens.
Nathanial and Antony walked up with their kittens, smiling. Grizabella was being tugged along by the excited Bomba and Demeter. Trelawney had Cori and Tantomile's paws as she wandered up.
"I heard we're going to the park." Trelawney smiled. Deuteronomy laughed softly.
"Yes, yes, shall we go then?" Deuteronomy got to his feet, Munkus clinging to him tightly. Deuteronomy laughed at the kitten hanging from his neck.
"Munkus," He chuckled as he wrapped his arms around the kitten. Munkus just purred.
"Macavity, can you hold Tugger's paw, please?" Deuteronomy requested. Macavity groaned but gave a nod.
"Sure, come here, dork." Macavity offered his paw to Tugger, who took it. The group left the junkyard, kittens in arms or paws held.
Deuteronomy sat with the adult cats, watching as the kittens ran about in the snow, playing hide and seek.
"How is young Munkustrap going?" Trelawney asked as she leaned back in the snow.
"He's doing well," Deuteronomy answered, smiling. Skimble grinned at him before he tackled Antony down into the snow. Deuteronomy rolled his eyes.
"They don't grow up," Deuteronomy chuckled to Trelawney, who laughed.
"They just get bigger, right?" She laughed. Deuteronomy nodded, smiling.
"How is Coricopat and Tantomile's lessons going?" He asked. Trelawney smiled.
"They're doing very well," She told them. "Taking to it quite well and they've got a great grasp on their abilities." Deuteronomy nodded.
"Good, good," He murmured.
Munkustrap giggled as he ran away from Alonzo who was 'it' for hide and seek. He leapt behind a bush, watching the black and white splotched tom-kit. Munkus had found a good hiding spot, but he made sure that he saw Deuteronomy and the other adults at all times.
Munkus grinned as he watched Alonzo run around, managing to find Demeter and Bomba, chasing them.
"Hello, runt." A gravelly voice growled from behind him. Munkus turned around, his green eyes widening in fear, and cowering at the sight of one of his old masters.
"N-No," Munkus whispered, sinking down into the snow, terrified. The dirty grey tom grinned down at him as he eyed the kitten up and down.
"Hiding from your master, you naughty kitten!" The tom laughed roughly, making Munkus whimper and tremble.
"N-No, n-not hiding!" He managed to squeak out. Munkus gave a cry as he was hit.
"What did I tell ya about talking back, you brat!" Munkus gave a sob, glancing over his shoulder, hoping Alonzo would suddenly find him or one of the adults would come check on him.
"You're looking so much cuter now than the last time I saw you, runt," The Tom purred, "Now, let's get reacquainted," The Tom laughed, grabbing Munkustrap's arms and hauling him up. Munkus felt fear rush through him and began struggling, kicking out.
"NO!" Munkus screamed, kicking at the Tom's knees and stomach.
"DADDY!" Munkus screamed out. "DAD, HELP!" Munkus sobbed.
"Hey, let go of Munkus!" Macavity lunged at the Tom, claws extended and digging into his legs and sides. The Tom yelled in anger, kicking out at Macavity, catching the young Tom in the ribs. Macavity yelped and fell to the ground, before snarling, leaping up again and attacking.
"Let go you stupid brat!"
"Mac!" Munkus sobbed, trying to reach out for his older brother. The Tom grabbed Munkus around the middle with one arm, yanking him off the ground and holding him tight, before back handing Macavity hard across the face, causing him to fall into the snow, stunned.
"Mac!" Munkus yelled as he kicked at his captor, trying to bite him. "MAC!"
"MUNKUS!"
"DADDY!" The Tom snorted at Munkus's scream as he delivered one more kick to Macavity, making him yell out in pain. There was a guttural snarl and the Tom and Munkus were tackled to the ground. Munkus was ripped out of the Tom's arms and found himself quickly scooped up into Antony's arms.
"Don't you dare touch my sons!" Deuteronomy snarled as he clawed at the Tom. The Tom fought back, both of the Toms rolling as they fought. Finally the Tom managed to wiggle free, stumbling back with blood dripping from his nose and wounds. Deuteronomy got to his feet, furious. The kittens had never seen him look so scary.
"Stay away from my sons!" Deuteronomy warned the Tom. "If you come near Munkustrap or Macavity again, I will not hesitate to kill you!" The Tom laughed as he wiped the blood from his nose.
"That little runt is a slave!"
"Not anymore!" Deuteronomy hissed. "He is free…and he is my youngest son, a son of the Jellicle Leader!" The Tom froze at that.
"So I will warn you again, come near the Jellicle Junkyard, come near any of my sons or any of my tribe…and I will kill you!" The Tom hissed at Deuteronomy's threat before he turned and ran off.
"Munkus, Munk!" Cori cried worriedly as he ran to his friend, who was clutching onto Antony, sobbing. Deuteronomy turned and looked at his sons, his heart plummeting. Macavity was curled up on the ground, Skimble trying to coax him up, his face contorted in pain as Munkus was clutched tightly to Antony's chest, the Tom cooing softly to the sobbing and shaking tom-kit.
He had failed his sons.
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Hopefully I didn't make you wait too long!
Poor Munku :(
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Love,
HGP