Munkustrap stretched and yawned, slowly blinking his eyes open before pausing.
His head was on a pillow and he was covered by a blanket…but how?
Last thing he remembered he was sitting up, watching the den door, deep in thought.
"Mornin'," A Queen's voice greeted. Munkustrap blinked as he sat up, finding Rumpleteazer sitting across from him, legs crossed, and grinning at him.
"Um…good morning," Munkustrap murmured, still confused. "Did…did you put the blanket on me?" He questioned her.
"Yep," She confirmed, her smile faltering somewhat. "I heard ya whimperin' last night and I came ta see what was goin' on and found ya asleep, tremblin' and whimperin', so I pulled the blanket over ya."
"Well, thank you." Munkustrap smiled as he stood up, folding the blanket back neatly and placing it back on the back of the couch. Rumpleteazer watched him closely.
"Ya've been through a lot, 'aven't ya?" Munkustrap froze at Rumpleteazer's question. He took in a breath before turning and looking at her.
"What was that?" He asked calmly. Rumpleteazer gave him a sad smile.
"Mungo and I 'ave been on the streets forever," She started. "We know what cats 'ave been through a lot."
"Oh…" Munkus murmured. "And how can you tell that, Teazer?" He asked, genuinely interested.
"It's the eyes that give it away," Rumpleteazer replied. "They just 'ave this look in their eyes…" Munkustrap gave a nod, sighing, as he sat down once more, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"Ya were 'aving nightmares, huh?" Teazer continued. "That Jenny was quite worried 'bout ya." Munkustrap gave a small smile.
"She's my auntie, she gets worried." He replied simply before deciding to get the subject off of him.
"So, how did you and Mungo end up on the streets?" Munkustrap asked. Rumpleteazer shrugged.
"We always lived on the streets." She answered easily. "It's always just been me and Jerr, so we learnt to survive,"
"Whatchu talkin' 'bout me for?" A gruff voice yawned. Munkustrap looked over and saw Mungojerrie tiredly stumbling out from his room. Mungo flopped down to sit next to his sister, yawning largely. Teazer ignored him as she idly started to groom her arm.
"Munkus, are you awake?"
"Yes, Cori," Munkustrap called back. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer watched with cautious eyes as the lean mystic walked in, smiling.
"Ah, so these must be the two that Mum was talking about," Cori mused as he walked to stand beside Munkustrap, examining the two closely. Munkustrap looked up at Cori, from where he was sitting on the couch, and grinned.
"Yeah, Coricopat," Munkustrap answered. "This is Mungojerrie," He indicated to the Tom.
"And I'm Rumpleteazer, ya can call me Teazer!" The Queen giggled as she leapt to her feet, giving a small curtsey, a small blush rising in her white cheeks, as she offered her paw. Cori blinked, shocked, but took her paw all the same, leaning over to gently place a kiss on it.
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Rumpleteazer," Cori murmured. Munkustrap smirked as he detected a small blush on Cori's face. Teazer gave a giggle as she sat back down, grinning. Mungo was staring at her incredulously.
"Where's Tantomile?" Munkustrap questioned to break the awkward silence. "It's odd to see you around without your twin." Cori threw him an unamused look. The Jellicles always presumed that he and Tantomile were each other's shadows, attached at the hip, and Munkus loved to tease them about it.
"She isn't feeling well," Cori told him. Munkustrap frowned.
"Is she okay?" Munkustrap asked worriedly. Cori smiled softly and gave a small nod.
"She'll be fine," He answered. "Just a bit of stress with a cold, which with our mysticism always makes it that much better," Cori added sarcastically. Munkustrap gave a sympathetic smile.
"Anyway," Cori sighed. "Jenny wanted these two at her den for breakfast; she's been cooking up a storm," Munkustrap nodded as he got to his feet, stretching out his limbs. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer followed suit, with Mungo shooting Teazer a look as she wandered over to Cori. Cori smiled at Rumpleteazer as they left the den, leaving a dumbfounded Mungojerrie watching after her. He turned to look at Munkustrap, who just smiled.
"I don't get it." Mungo just said as they left the den. "She's neva acted like that before." Munkustrap chuckled.
"I think she likes Coricopat," Munkustrap told him. Mungo's eyes widened.
"But…wha'?!"
"It's alright, Cori's very sweet." Munkustrap reassured him. "He won't do anything to her." Mungo gave a small nod, but his green eyes remained on the chatting pair in front of them, watching his sister protectively.
"Munkus!" Munkustrap grinned, opening his arms just in time to have Quaxo barrel into them, purring loudly.
"Hey, Quax!" Munkustrap purred back as he hugged his charge tightly. Quaxo nuzzled against his 'big brother's' cheek.
"Come on, I'll take you to Jenny, let Munkus catch up with Quaxo." Munkustrap barely heard Coricopat say. Munkus flashed Cori a thankful smile, Cori smiled back and gave a small nod, before he led the calico siblings to Jenny.
"Who are they?" Quaxo asked curiously as he watched the siblings walk away with Coricopat.
"Two cats I came across last night," Munkustrap told him as Quaxo cuddled closer to him. "Jenny has decided that they are too thin so she wanted to make sure they had a big breakfast," Quaxo laughed softly at that. Munkustrap and Quaxo moved to the tyre so Munkustrap could start his watch while chatting to the young Tom-kit.
"So how has staying with Bustopher and Vicky been?" Munkustrap asked gently. Quaxo gave a shrug.
"It's okay," He murmured before turning his large purple-green eyes to Munkustrap. "I miss you though." Munkustrap wrapped his arm around Quaxo's shoulders and pulled him close.
"I'm sorry, Quax," Munkustrap sighed guiltily. "Hopefully soon…" Munkustrap trailed off, not knowing what to say. Quaxo nuzzled him reassuringly.
"It's okay, Munk," Quaxo smiled. "Uncle Bustopher likes his parties though,"
"Oh?" Munkustrap asked glad that Quaxo had changed the topic.
"Yes," Quaxo laughed. "He likes to show Vicky and I off, he says he's very proud of us,"
"I can understand that," Munkustrap smiled.
"I was so nervous when I met Uncle Bus's friends for the first time, they're so…different to the Jellicles," Quaxo continued. "But apparently they really liked me, Uncle Bustopher told me they were impressed with my manners and how polite and graceful I am,"
"Graceful?" Munkustrap questioned, finding it strange that strangers would use that to compliment the young Tom. Quaxo nodded.
"Vicky and I dance at the parties," He started to explain. Munkustrap nodded, understanding now. Victoria and Quaxo had a gift when it came to dancing; it was mesmerizing and almost…magical.
The two chatted for a while more before Quaxo went off to see the other kittens.
He raised an eyebrow when he saw Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer sitting and chatting with Plato and Admetus outside of Jenny's den. Jenny was also sitting outside of her den, glancing at them every now again, as she gently rubbed Tantomile's ears as Tantomile lay resting with her head on Jenny's lap, looking worse for wear.
"Well, I don't recall seeing those two before," A voice said from beside Munkustrap, making him smile. "And I do not believe I am that old that I have forgotten," Munkustrap laughed as he turned to face his father.
"No, I found those two last night," Munkustrap explained. "They, uh, stole from Jenny so I found them and got them to return her items." Deuteronomy stared at his son in surprise.
"And why are they still here?" Deuteronomy questioned, surprised.
"They're not bad cats and they only stole because they needed something to trade for food," Munkustrap continued. "They're really malnourished and have issues trusting other cats,"
"They've been hurt by others." Deuteronomy murmured. Munkustrap nodded.
"After I took them to Jenny, and she fed and cleaned them up, they stayed in my den overnight; with orders they were to see Jenny in the morning for more food," Deuteronomy laughed.
"Of course," He murmured fondly.
"'Ey, Cori," Rumpleteazer spoke up as Plato and Admetus moved away to go play with the kittens.
"Mmm?" Cori hummed as he looked up from the magic book he was studying.
"Who's that Tom with Munkustrap?" Cori glanced over to the tyre and smiled when he saw Old Deuteronomy and Munkustrap sitting there, chatting and laughing.
"That's Old Deuteronomy," Cori explained. "He's the leader of the Jellicles and is Munkustrap's father," Mungo frowned as he examined them.
"They look nothin' alike," Mungojerrie mused. Cori glanced at his twin, who just gave a small smile.
"Munkustrap was adopted," Cori explained slowly. "A few of us were," Rumpleteazer and Mungojerrie looked to Cori in shock. Coricopat just smiled as he went back to studying the pages in the book as Jenny moved inside to go get Tantomile some medicine.
"Ya…ya were adopted?" Teazer asked slowly, unsurely. "Sorry if we're being too nosey…"
"Not at all," Tantomile spoke up, her voice hoarse. Cori moved the book aside and motioned for his sister to come lean against him. She did so with a thankful smile, shifting into his hug and resting the back of her head against his chest.
"And yes, we were adopted," Cori spoke up.
"Munkustrap found us after we had been abandoned by our birth parents," Tantomile started to explain before erupting in a coughing fit.
"He earned our trust, telling us he knew what it was like," Cori murmured as he gently rubbed Tantomile's sides, easing the aches from the coughing. "Munkustrap got Skimble's, our adopted father's, attention and we were brought into the yard and met Jennyanydots, our soon to be adopted mother," Cori smiled.
"Old Deuteronomy declared that we'd be part of the Jellicles and that our mysticism would be taught so we could live happy lives," Tantomile continued. "We were blessed that Munkustrap found us and brought us to the tribe he called his family,"
"Because of him, just finding us, sitting down and earning our trust, we ended up with loving parents, a protective tribe, a best friend, and were made to not feel like freaks because of our mysticism." Cori murmured. Teazer and Jerrie exchanged glances.
"But…what about Munkus?" Teazer asked slowly.
"What do you mean?" Tantomile asked.
"He's got really 'aunted eyes, ya can see all of the 'orrible stuff 'e's been through and seen," Teazer tried to explain. "D-Did that 'appen 'ere?" Cori and Tantomile shook their heads firmly.
"No." Coricopat stated firmly, but calmly. "Munkustrap is safe and loved here; we would never allow anything to happen to him."
"We meant no offense!" Mungojerrie murmured. Cori sighed.
"We know, it's just…complicated." Cori sighed softly. Tantomile nodded in agreement as she slowly closed her eyes, exhausted.
"'Ow did Munkustrap end up bein' adopted?" Mungojerrie asked, curious. Cori looked down at Tantomile as she looked up and opened her eyes, seeming to pass an unheard message between them.
"It is…complicated." Coricopat just said once more.
"And it's not really our place to say," Tantomile added. "It's a part of Munkustrap's life that he longs to forget." Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer nodded, looking at each other once more.
"So, what are our two guests like?" Deuteronomy asked as he noticed the duo looking in their direction. Munkustrap glanced at them before turning his attention back to the clearing.
"They're good cats," Munkustrap admitted. "They have issues with trust, though that's understandable, they're quite…extroverted once they open up to you," Deuteronomy chuckled at that.
"Oh, and Rumpleteazer, the Queen, has already formed a crush on Coricopat." Munkustrap smirked. Deuteronomy looked at Munkustrap in surprise.
"Really?" He asked, smiling. Munkustrap nodded, grinning. Deuteronomy made a thoughtful noise.
"Well, I'd hate to see a budding romance get broken up so soon," He mused. Munkustrap went to look at his dad to question what he was talking about when he was tackled.
"Tugger," Munkustrap heard Deuteronomy scold lightly from where he had been pinned on the tyre by his attacker. Munkustrap managed to push himself up from the tyre enough to get enough space to quickly flip them over, pinning Tugger to the tyre.
"Did you really have to tackle me? Really?" Munkustrap sighed as he sat on Tugger's back, ignoring the whining. Deuteronomy laughed at the sight of them both; with Tugger pinned face down on the tyre and Munkustrap sitting quite comfortably on his back.
"You have to help me!" Tugger whined. Munkustrap frowned.
"What's wrong?" He asked worriedly.
"The Queen-kits, they won't leave me alone!" Tugger whined as he struggled out from underneath Munkustrap, before hiding behind him, panicked brown eyes searching for the small kittens.
"What?" Munkustrap laughed in disbelief. Tugger scowled at him as he fixed up his messy mane.
"They won't leave me alone!" He muttered. "They keep finding me and squealing and screaming, telling me that they love me and want me to sing to them again…" Tugger kept rambling.
"Sounds to me like you've got yourself a fan-club," Deuteronomy put in, unable to keep the smile off of his face. Tugger's ears perked up at that.
"A fan club," He murmured to himself. "Hmm, that has a nice ring to it, might get the older queens to join too,"
"Tugger," Munkustrap warned when he heard his brother's murmurs. Tugger just grinned at him and fluffed up his mane as he spotted the queen-kits searching for him near the oven.
"Well, if you don't mind me," He winked at his dad and brother. "I'm going to go see my fan-club," and with that, he leapt off of the tyre, sauntering over to the Queen-kits, who screamed and rushed over to him once they had spotted him.
"Why do I have a feeling that this isn't just going to be a phase?" Munkustrap sighed as he watched his brother dance in front of the kittens, making them squeal excitedly as they bounced on the ground.
Deuteronomy just chuckled from beside him.
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Sorry for the delay in updates!
Just been so busy over Christmas, plus I've been rather ill :(
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Love,
HGP!