Munkustrap leant against the den wall, watching as Jenny finished giving Antony his check-up. Alonzo was sat beside his father, not wanting to leave his side. Antony wrapped his arm around Alonzo's shoulders, pulling him close, also seeming to not want to let his son go after spending so much time apart.
"Antony, what happened to you?" Munkustrap asked as he straightened up. Antony looked at him, his brown eyes looking haunted.
"I was helping my brother defend my old tribe," Antony began. "Zey quickly noticed zat I was back and helping and decided to even ze odds." Antony looked back to Alonzo before looking back to Munkustrap.
"Zey got another tribe to help them fight and soon zey overcame our tribe, zey killed my brother and ze leader, but took me prisoner." Alonzo gave a small whimper as he buried his face into his dad's shoulder. Antony gave a small smile as he rubbed Alonzo's head fur.
"I don't know why zey spared me when zey killed my brother, but I was their prisoner for all of zis time, until recently, when zey decided to let me return home with ze promise that I would never return." Munkustrap frowned at that.
"They let you go, just like that?" He asked, confused.
Antony nodded, sighing. "Zey knew I had a son back here and Julius's mate, Liza, was quite kind to me, I believe she spoke to Julius about it, into making a deal with me so I would leave and never return." Antony looked around the den, sighing.
"I have missed my home, and my son." Antony nuzzled Alonzo again, who purred. "I have missed much of your adult life so far, Zo, I am sorry."
"It's not your fault, Papa." Alonzo murmured as he curled close to his dad. Antony looked back to Munkustrap.
"Where iz Tirus? Where iz Cleo and Nathanial?" Antony asked. Munkustrap winced, sighing. Antony frowned as he felt Alonzo's shudder, and seeing Munkustrap's wince.
"What has happened?" He asked, cautious.
"Tirus is dead." Munkustrap answered simply. "He was murdered along with Trelawney just a few weeks after you left for Italy."
"Nathanial and Cleo haven't returned from Egypt, from letters Cassandra has received we believe they are staying there." Alonzo added.
"W-Who killed Tirus and Trelawney?" Antony asked, shocked.
"Macavity." Munkustrap sighed. Antony stammered, shocked, as he looked to Alonzo, who nodded in confirmation.
"I'll let you fill your father in, Lonz, I've got to get back on patrol." Munkustrap murmured, before nodding to Antony and leaving the infirmary.
He settled down on the tyre to watch over the kittens and the occupants there, smiling slightly as he watched the kittens tumble around, giggling and laughing.
He glanced to the right as someone said, "Did I hear correctly that Alonzo's father has returned?" He nodded in confirmation as Coricopat settled down to sit beside him. Coricopat gave a hum, surprised.
"I thought he had died." Coricopat murmured. Munkustrap gave a nod.
"I did too, but they had just made him their prisoner." Munkustrap sighed. Coricopat frowned, green-gold eyes lost in thought.
They sat there in silence, watching over the yard, lost in their own thoughts.
"So, Tants spent the night with you last night, huh?" Cori asked suddenly, causing Munkustrap to flinch, blushing. Cori laughed, nudging Munkustrap with his shoulder.
"Oh, I knew," He teased the blushing tabby. "One of the oh-so not so joyous bonus of sharing your thoughts with your sister, though thankfully she did manage to block out the majority of hers last night." Cori laughed again as Munkustrap spluttered indignantly.
Thankfully, Misto saved him from Cori's further embarrassing teasing. Munkustrap smiled as the young Tom leapt up onto the tyre, cuddling into his side.
"Hello, Misto," Munkustrap purred as he nuzzled the young Tom's ears.
It was so hard not to think of him as a kitten anymore.
The trio chatted on the tyre, Misto cuddled up to his uncle, unaware they were being watched.
Kira was furious.
She had gone back to the clubs, trying to get another dancing job, and had been turned away, all of them glaring and sneering at her.
"You don't deserve it." One of them hissed. "Selfish Queen!"
"What are you on about?!" She had demanded to know. The cat just snarled.
"Ask Nuka." They spat before they stalked away. Kira had then sought out Nuka, who was in his club, watching as the new Queens practised their routines.
"Nuka, darling, why isn't anyone giving me a job?!" She asked him as she approached. He turned to look at her, his eyes going dark, arms folding across his chest. Sasha had swayed up then, leaning against her mate and glaring at Kira as well, teeth bared.
"We know what you did, you evil…" Nuka put his paw up, looking at Sasha, who broke off in her name-calling.
He turned his attention back to Kira, eyes cold. "We have no need for a Queen like you." He said simply. Kira frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Every Tom and Queen who owns a reputable establishment need cats they can trust, cats who become family." Nuka started.
"You can trust me!" She protested. Nuka shook his head, eyes darkening.
"Oh no, we can't." He hissed softly. "You see, the other night, Sasha came upon a remarkable young Tom, though he was all grown up now, she recognized those green eyes right away." Kira stiffened. Sasha nodded.
"Yes, the darling was your miserable kitten, but he isn't so miserable now, in fact he's looking so handsome and strong, with a beautiful smile and eyes full of light and hope, with a beautifully crafted collar around his neck, a gift from his adoptive father." Sasha continued on.
Kira hissed. "The brat."
Sasha snarled at her.
"He told me what you had done to him!" She snarled angrily. "You sold a poor, sweet, defenceless kitten into slavery! He was just a baby!"
"He was a worthless brat, nothing more!" Kira screeched. Sasha slapped her hard across the face. Nuka caught her paw as she went to strike her again, holding her back, though deep down he wanted to let Sasha beat the Queen to teach her a lesson.
"He is a beautiful Tom, with such a kind heart!" Sasha yelled at her. "You tried to get rid of him, but you just gave him the family he deserves! A father who adores him, brothers who care for him, friends who care about him, and a tribe that looks up to him as the Protector!" Sasha started laughing.
"He finally got the life he deserved, and you are never ever going to work in a reputable club again. Ever!" She promised darkly. Kira hissed, turning on heel and stalking out of the club.
She found herself wandering to the Jellicle junkyard, she just needed to see if he was truly happy.
She had wandered by weeks earlier, and having heard them having a celebration, had gone to watch them. She had seen her brat dancing and laughing with the rest of them, before the end of the night, sitting down, seemingly wounded, surrounded by worried cats. They had supported him into a nearby den, all with worried expressions and gentle paws.
Kira crept around the junk piles, hiding in the shadows as laughing kittens raced by, and headed towards the main clearing, keeping out of sight. She snarled under her breath as her dark eyes rested upon the Tom she was after.
The brat.
He was sitting on the tyre, laughing with a calico Tom and a young Tuxedo Tom, who had his arms wrapped around the brat's chest, the brat's arm around the Tux's shoulders, pulling him close.
He was smiling and greeting the cats who walked by, who smiled and waved to him.
It wasn't fair.
He wasn't supposed to have a good life.
He was supposed to die!
Kira exited the junk yard, unable to look upon that disgusting sight any longer.
It was time the brat learnt his place in this life.
Munkustrap gave a chuckle as arms wrapped around his waist, a gentle kiss placed on his cheek.
"Hello there." He purred, looking to Tantomile, who smiled back at him.
"Hello." She purred back, nuzzling his cheek. He purred, nuzzling her back affectionately.
They stood at the edge of the clearing, near the tyre, watching the Jellicles celebrate.
It had been a week since Antony had returned to them and Old Deuteronomy had declared that this was cause for celebration, so once Antony was deemed well enough and rested, they were holding a celebration.
Antony was dancing with Jennyanydots as Skimble watched, a smile on his face. Alonzo was dancing with Cassie, but kept glancing at his dad, just relieved that he was back home once more.
"Everyone is so happy." Tantomile murmured, green-gold eyes glowing slightly as she took in the cheerful atmosphere. Munkustrap nodded in agreement, smiling as he watched Cori and Teazer dance together.
It was good to see everyone so happy and cheerful, without a care in the world.
Macavity had been keeping his distance after the events of the Jellicle Ball, Tugger had snorted and said he was still licking his wounds after that embarrassing affair.
Munkustrap did miss seeing him though, though he didn't miss the wariness that settled in his bones as he waited for Macavity to make a move.
He was pulled out of his thoughts as Tantomile suddenly grabbed his paw, pulling him out into the clearing.
She was smiling at him, laughing.
"You owe me a dance, Munkus." She giggled. Munkustrap smiled and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as they swayed together, dancing close.
He purred as he nuzzled his nose into her head-fur, breathing in her sweet scent. She was purring back, just as loudly, nose nuzzled into his neck.
He lifted his eyes, meeting his dad's, who sat on the tyre, smiling at him, before going back to swaying with Tantomile.
Deuteronomy smiled as he looked over the Jellicles within the clearing.
Antony and Alonzo were having a bit of a play-tussle, both grinning and laughing, with Jenny, Skimble, Jelly and Asp watching on, smiling.
The kittens were all dancing with one another, giggling and stumbling.
Victoria and Misto were showing their usual dancing prowess, spinning across the clearing and leaping high into the air, their movements graceful and identical.
Tugger was dancing with Bombalurina, smiling softly as she rested her head against his mane.
Demeter was talking with Cassandra, before Mungo came over, asking for a dance.
Cori and Teazer were dancing, but stopped as Tantomile walked over, Munkustrap now walking over to him.
"Having fun, my boy?" He asked softly as Munkustrap sat beside him. Munkustrap smiled, his eyes alight with joy.
"I am." He replied, nuzzling against his father. Deuteronomy chuckled as he hugged his son close.
Every day, Munkustrap always amazed him.
He had grown from such a small, frail kitten, afraid of those around him, to being a strong, kind, loving Tom.
Deuteronomy's eyes flickered to Tantomile.
And he had found true love.
He saw the way they looked at each other, the way they nuzzled and purred one another, the cuddles, the fleeting paw touches and kisses, it was true love.
Munkustrap straightened up suddenly, frowning as he saw Jemima standing by the edge of the clearing, peering into the shadows.
"I'll be back later." Munkustrap told him. Deuteronomy nodded, smiling, as he nuzzled his son once more. Munkustrap smiled and hugged him, before getting to his feet and walking over to Jemima.
"Jem, what is it?" Jemima looked over to him, looking worried.
"I keep seeing something moving over there," She told him, pointing into the darkness, towards the next clearing. Munkustrap frowned, peering into the darkness. His eyes narrowed as he caught movement.
"I'll go check it out." He told her, going to walk into the clearing. Munkustrap stopped as Jemima suddenly grabbed his paw, her blue eyes widening.
"No, don't go!" She whimpered, her eyes starting to glow slightly. "I don't want you to go!" Munkustrap crouched down, placing his paws on her shoulders.
"I'll be back in just a moment." He gently reassured her. "Besides, I think Misto is looking for a dance with you." Jemima glanced around, seeing Misto was looking at her shyly.
"But…"
Munkustrap tweaked her nose. "I'll be back soon, so save a dance for me okay?" Jemima nodded, hugging him tightly, before she let go, wandering over to Misto. Munkustrap straightened up and walked into the next clearing, getting slightly further from the light and music in the main clearing.
"Hey, is anyone there?" He called out, green eyes darting around, looking for the shadows. He stopped when a tom cat suddenly stepped out from the shadows in front of him. Munkustrap sighed, looking at him.
"Look, you're too close to Jellicle territory at the moment." Munkustrap told him calmly. "You just need to move to the outskirts of the yard, that's all."
The Tom just grinned. "Oh, but we'll be leaving soon enough." Munkustrap tensed then.
He barely had any time to react before five Toms lunged out of the shadows, tackling him to the ground. He fought against them as hard as he could, kicking and swinging his claws, trying to get them off of him, but it was fruitless.
The first Tom had crept up when the others had lunged at Munkustrap, and just as Munkustrap had started getting to his knees, fighting the others off, he pounced, stabbing the needle in his paw into Munkustrap's neck and pushing the plunger.
The effect was almost instantaneous.
Munkustrap dropped to all fours, breathing heavily, as his vision swam.
"W-Why?" He managed to choke out as he fell onto his side.
"Cause we were paid to." A Tom spat. "Grab him and let's get outta here before they notice he's gone."
"What 'bout his collar?"
"Leave it here. He won't need it where he's goin'." Munkustrap winced as he felt his collar being ripped off and tossed aside. Munkustrap's head lolled to the side, his hazy vision landing on the opening to the main clearing. He could just see them dancing and laughing.
See Tantomile watching the others, waiting for him to get back, see Jemima dancing with Misto…he'd never get to give her that dance now.
He could hear laughter as his vision swam.
His family.
They'd be so worried about him.
Then, everything went black.
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Uh-oh!
Sorry about the wait for this chapter, guys, I've been rather busy and have just been struggling to get my muse working so I can get all of this down!
Hopefully next chapter won't be too far away!
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Love,
HGP!