Munkustrap nervously looked to Macavity as they approached the den. Macavity just smiled at him reassuringly.
"It'll be alright, Munku," Macavity reassured him as they reached the entry. "It's okay…"
Macavity took in a deep breath before entering the den, Munkus close by his tail.
Deuteronomy looked up from where he was sitting, reading to Quaxo, as they walked in.
"Munku!" Quaxo cried out in relief, running over to hug his leg. Munkus just silently rubbed his ears. Quaxo turned to look at Macavity, baring his tiny fangs, surprising Macavity.
"Quaxo, enough." Munkus murmured, gently flicking Quaxo's ear.
"B-But he hurt you!"
"It's okay, Quaxo, we've sorted things out." Munkus just answered gently. Quaxo looked at Macavity again, his purple-green eyes unsure, as he hugged Munkustrap tightly.
Deuteronomy slowly stood up, still looking silently at his sons. Macavity caught his eye, sighing softly.
"Dad, I'm…I'm sorry I acted like that." Macavity started slowly. "I was just so shocked and angry, after all I did, and Tirus didn't choose me…I just…I just lost it." Deuteronomy gave a small incline of his head.
"That is true, but it still gave you no excuse to attack your…to attack Munkustrap." Munkustrap winced as Deuteronomy changed his wording so he didn't call Munkus 'brother'.
"I know but Munkus and I have spoken and…and things are okay." Macavity looked at Munkus giving a small smile, which Munkus returned.
"I feel horrible after attacking my baby brother, and I know I no longer deserve the position of Protector…and I will make it up by making sure I become better with my magic so I can help the tribe." Macavity explained. Deuteronomy smiled, giving a nod.
"So, that means you will be continuing your lessons with Trelawney, am I correct?" Deuteronomy asked gently. Annoyance and anger flashed through Macavity's gold eyes before he sighed, giving a nod. Deuteronomy smiled.
"Thank you, Macavity," He told his son sincerely, making the ginger Tom smile. Macavity glanced back at Munkus, seeing the silver Tom standing still, head bowed.
"I-I think I should give you two some privacy…" Macavity murmured as he glanced back at his dad. Deuteronomy inclined his head.
"Thank you."
"Quaxo, why don't we go outside for a bit?" Macavity suggested lightly to the Tuxedo kitten. Quaxo stared at Macavity, unsure, before he glanced at Munkus, who was still staring at the floor. Quaxo gave a nod, taking Macavity's paw and allowing the ginger Tom to take him outside.
Silence fell heavily in the den.
Deuteronomy stared at his adopted son, waiting for him to say something. Munkus fidgeted nervously, feeling more terrified than he had been in the longest of times.
"I-I'm sorry." Munkus managed to croak out. "I-I didn't m-mean a word I said." Deuteronomy's eyes softened as he took in the trembling Tom.
"It hurt, Munkus, what you said hurt me." Deuteronomy told him gently. Munkustrap gave a hoarse sob, his legs shaking from the pent up emotion and fear which started to show.
"I'm sorry!" Munkus whispered, giving a harsh sob, as he fell to his knees, his legs giving out from under him. Deuteronomy immediately went to his side, kneeling beside him. He wrapped his arms around his adopted son, pulling him in close.
"Shh, Munkus, it's okay," Deuteronomy reassured him gently. Munkus shook his head against Deuteronomy's shoulder.
"N-No it's not!" He sobbed. "Y-You're the closest thing I've ever had to a real dad a-and an actual family…and I was so stupid and didn't think and-and…"
"Munkus, breathe." Deuteronomy interrupted Munkustrap's rambling. "Breathe…" Munkus went silent and still, curling in close in Deuteronomy's arms.
"It has been a big and rather shocking day for you, Munkus," Deuteronomy continued softly. "And you've been taking care of Quaxo, you had the Jellicle Ball, you saved Tirus from a Pollicle…it's been a very trying and full few weeks for you." Munkus gave a small nod in agreement.
"You're still just a fledgling Tom, Munkus, and after everything you've been through and after everything that's happened today, I'm not surprised you broke down."
"I-I shouldn't have though…" Munkus mumbled. Deuteronomy sighed as he gently rubbed Munkustrap's ears.
"You're not emotionless, Munkus, you're not a robot…you will have breakdowns every so often," Deuteronomy explained. "You have a very big heart, and you try so hard to please everyone that you overlook your own health and wellbeing." Munkus sniffled slightly, causing Deuteronomy to smile and rub the tears from Munkustrap's cheeks. Deuteronomy purred softly, trying to calm the fretting fledgling. He frowned as Munkus continued to tremble in his arms.
"What else is worrying you, my boy?" Deuteronomy asked gently.
"P-Please, don't send me away…" Munkustrap whispered. Deuteronomy's eyes widened in shock at Munkustrap's shaky whisper.
"Munkus, I would never ever send you away!" Deuteronomy promised him. "I would rather die than to disown you and send you away." Munkus sniffled slightly and lifted his head to look at Deuteronomy.
"Really?" Deuteronomy smiled at the kitten-y tone.
"Really," Deuteronomy affirmed softly as he gently rubbed Munkustrap's back comfortingly. He smiled as he felt Munkustrap's body relax as the fledgling Tom relaxed back against him.
"Munk, it would take someone doing something incredibly horrible to make me send them away from the yard," Deuteronomy decided to tell him. "And though I'd be forced to exile them, I'd never disown them…family is family, no matter what." Munkus nodded against his shoulder. Deuteronomy gently nuzzled his adopted son's ears.
"Munkus, I love you and you will always be my son," He murmured softly in Munkustrap's ears. Munkus purred back as he hugged his dad tightly.
"I love you too, Dad…and I'm so sorry-"
"It's alright, Munk, it's alright." Deuteronomy interrupted Munkus's apology. "We do not need to speak about it anymore, it's in the past." Munkus gave a nod, smiling slightly, as he cuddled back against Deuteronomy.
They sat together peacefully for almost a full ten minutes before the sound of thundering kitten-steps and a grinning face caused Munkus to pull away and sit up straight, a small smile on his face.
"Munku!" Quaxo chirped happily as he ran at Munkus. Munkus smiled and opened his arms just in time to have the tuxedo kitten barrel into them, purring as he buried his face against his guardian's chest.
"I'm going to turn in," Macavity spoke from where he stood in the doorway, standing awkwardly as he stared at them.
"Night, Mac." Munkus smiled at him. Macavity relaxed then, smiling easily at his baby brother.
"Night, Munkus," Macavity grinned. "Night, Dad,"
"Goodnight, Macavity." Deuteronomy smiled warmly at his son.
"Goodnight, Cavi!" Macavity froze at Quaxo's purr. Munkus tilted his head, confused, as he watched a range of emotions pass through Macavity's gold eyes before they turned warm.
"Goodnight, Quaxo." Macavity said softly, smiling. Quaxo purred as he nuzzled into Munkustrap's arms. Macavity gave a final wave before he turned and headed out to his den.
Munkus smiled down at Quaxo fondly as he watched the kitten yawn largely.
"I think it is way past your bedtime, Quax." Munkus murmured gently. Quaxo shook his head stubbornly.
"No, I'm not tired!" Quaxo protested as he rubbed his eyes tiredly with the back of one of his white paws. Munkus and Deuteronomy chuckled at the tired, stubborn kitten behaviour.
"I think it's time we all went to bed." Deuteronomy said. Munkus nodded in agreement. Quaxo pouted but gave a nod.
"Okay," Quaxo sighed, giving in. Munkus gave a small laugh as he hugged his charge close.
"Goodnight, Quaxo." Deuteronomy murmured as he gently rubbed Quaxo's ears. Quaxo purred and arched his head into Deuteronomy's paw.
"Night, Grandpa." Quaxo purred. Munkus let Quaxo down and watched as the kitten trotted off to their room.
"Goodnight, my boy." Deuteronomy murmured gently as he pulled Munkus into a close hug. Munkus hugged him back.
"Goodnight, Dad." Munkus murmured back as he nuzzled his cheek. Munkus smiled as he pulled away from the hug and headed towards his room, glancing over his shoulder and smiling once more at his dad.
Deuteronomy smiled back as he watched his son disappear into his room before he sighed tiredly.
It had been a long and exhausting day.
He only hoped there weren't too many more days like this.
Months went by in the Jellicle junkyard and the leaves started appearing again on the trees.
Deuteronomy sat on the tyre, smiling, as he watched the occupants.
The kittens were slowly growing up, but were still young and innocent kittens as they rolled around, playing with one another under the watchful eyes of Jenny and Jelly.
Tugger was sitting with Bomba, Demeter and Alonzo, the four were chatting, well…Tugger was flirting with the Queens while Alonzo rolled his eyes.
Coricopat and Tantomile were sitting cross-legged across from each other, frowning at a pack of cards between them. Trelawney had decided to try and teach them how to read the future from the cards since Cori and Tanto were gifted with the sight.
Deuteronomy had yet to see Macavity as he hadn't emerged from his den.
The Toms of the yard, Gus, Skimble, Asparagus and Antony were sitting near Jenny and Jelly, in deep discussion about something.
The last few months had been rather peaceful in the yard, everything going smoothly.
Munkustrap had started his Protector training and had taken to it rather well, impressing Tirus rather frequently with his abilities to think defensively and offensively, his ability to think ahead and his strategic planning.
Speaking of Munkustrap, Deuteronomy smiled, the young Tom had just walked into the clearing, glancing around. He smiled when he caught sight of Quaxo playing with the other kittens.
Since Munkus had started training, he had lost his lithe and somewhat vulnerable look, he had somewhat bulked up, becoming strong and solid from all of the training. He watched with keen eyes as Munkustrap headed towards Alonzo, speaking to him, before the black and white splotched Tom got to his feet and followed Munkus away.
Alonzo walked away with Munkus to a quiet part of the clearing and looked at his friend expectantly.
"What's up, Munk?" Alonzo grinned easily. Munkustrap smiled back. The two had become quite good friends over the last year. Munkus hesitated for a moment.
"I…Well, since I'm going to be the Protector one day, I get to decide on some of the rules." Munkus started explaining slowly. Alonzo gave a nod.
"And, well, I've decided that it shouldn't just be one Protector looking after the yard and making decisions by themselves,"
"Okay," Alonzo said slowly, starting to get what Munkustrap was getting at.
"So, I've decided to add a second Protector, a second in charge if you will." Munkus looked to Alonzo. "And, Lonz, I want you to be my second." Alonzo's eyes widened in shock.
"W-What? M-Me?!" Munkus smiled and nodded at Alonzo's stammer.
"Yes, Lonzy." Alonzo grinned, leaping forward and hugging Munkus tightly.
"Yes!" Alonzo grinned. "I'd love to be able to be a Protector!"
"Awesome, you start training with me tomorrow," Munkus winked as Alonzo let him go. Alonzo grinned before it faltered.
"Is Tirus okay with it?" He asked, worried. Munkus gave a nod.
"I told him that it was my plan, he actually thought it was a good idea." Munk murmured.
"And what about Macavity?"
"Mac's busy with his magic…and he told me rather firmly that he doesn't want to be the Protector anymore." Munkus explained quietly. Alonzo nodded before a grin broke out on his face.
"I need to tell Papa." Alonzo laughed before he raced off. Munkus smiled before he headed off. He was nearing the main clearing when a fuming Macavity stomped up to him.
"Did you do this?!" Macavity snarled angrily. Munkustrap blinked, confused, as he shrunk back slightly under his brother's furious glare.
"D-Do what?" Munkus stammered, unsure. He burst out laughing though when Macavity turned around, revealing a bright pink tail which clashed horribly with his ginger fur.
"N-No," Munkus laughed, wiping tears from his eyes, as Macavity huffed. "But, wow…how did they do it?!"
"I don't know!" Macavity growled, annoyed, as he crossed his arms. "I woke up like this!" Munkus gently patted the fuming Macavity's arm, causing the ginger Tom to sigh and relax slightly.
"It won't come off…" Macavity whined slightly as he rubbed at his tail.
"Maybe it's a form of magic?" Munkus suggested as he watched his brother's frustrated and embarrassed face. Macavity's head snapped up at that.
"What?" He asked.
"Maybe whoever dyed it used magic." Munkus explained. "That would explain how you didn't wake up and why it isn't coming off…" Macavity gave a curt nod, deep in thought.
"And there are only three cats…" Macavity growled before turning and stalking off.
"No getting violent!" Munkus called after his brother, who just continued on his way. Munkus sighed and shook his head, continuing on and deciding to go check up on Quaxo.
Deuteronomy turned his eyes away from watching Macavity confront Cori and Tantomile, who calmly looked at his bright pink tail, shaking their heads before gently talking to the forlorn Tom about it. Deuteronomy guessed they were either telling him who did it or how to get rid of the pink.
He turned his attention to watching Munkus enter the clearing, grinning and lifting Quaxo into the air as the kitten ran towards him. He smiled, watching as the yard occupants chatted to one another, all a giant family.
He had no idea that within the next month, his family would be torn apart.
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Ta-da!
Hope I didn't make you wait too long for this ;)
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HGP!