Tantomile was the first one to notice something was not right.
She had been laughing with Cori and Teazer when a cold chill suddenly ran down her spine, the fur on the back of her neck prickling with unease. She frowned, looking around, trying to find her love, her Protector, her heart telling her to seek him out.
Her breath became quickened, her eyes darting from Jellicle to Jellicle, from shadow to shadow, as she struggled to catch sight of the silver Tom.
"Tants, what's wrong?" Coricopat asked worriedly, paw on her shoulder.
"Munkustrap." Tantomile managed to choke out, green-gold eyes still searching frantically. "Where is he?!" Cori took her paw reassuringly as he looked around, searching too.
"Last I saw he was talking to Jemima by the oven, perhaps she knows where he went." He suggested calmly, sensibly, after failing to spot his best friend. Tantomile gripped his paw tighter as she dragged her twin to the giggling Queen-kit, who was dancing with Mistoffelees.
"Jemima." Tantomile croaked as they approached. "Have you seen Munkustrap?" The kitten stopped dancing, looking at them, frowning worriedly.
She shook her head. "Not since he left the clearing." She told them softly. "I-I saw something moving in the shadows out there," Here, she pointed in the direction of the neighbouring clearing. "And he went to go look."
"A-And he hasn't come back?" Cori asked, trying to remain calm. Jemima shook her head, squeezing Misto's paw worriedly.
"N-No, b-but he promised me he would, he promised me a dance!" She whispered. Misto looked at the twins worriedly as they started to head towards the next clearing. Misto followed, letting Jemima's paw go, giving her a reassuring look.
The trio headed into the clearing, sharp eyes glancing around, trying to spot their beloved Protector.
Then, Tantomile spotted something lying near a junk pile, glinting slightly in the moonlight. Curiously, she headed towards it, scooping it up into her paws.
She screamed.
Suddenly, the clearing was filled with other Jellicles who came running at the sound of her scream. Coricopat was holding his twin, who sobbed heavily.
"Tants, what's wrong?!" Alonzo asked worriedly as he rushed up. Tantomile lifted her paws, showing them what she had found.
The Jellicles went silent as they looked at the object in her paws, starting to worry, fear beginning to settle in their stomachs.
It was Munkustrap's collar.
Munkustrap gave a small groan as he woke, limbs and head feeling like they weighed a tonne. He swallowed hard, trying to soothe his dry, scratchy throat, as he slowly opened his eyes.
Slowly, he turned his head, investigating the room he was in.
It seemed to be some sort of basement, the walls were made of strong grey brick, with no windows, a singular lightbulb hanging overhead seeming to be the only source of light.
Slowly, with a groan, Munkustrap sat up, trying to ignore the room swaying.
He sighed as he investigated the shackles on his wrists and ankles. He had hoped he would never have to wear these again in his life-time.
Munkustrap looked up as the door opened.
He glared at the dark brown Tom that sauntered down the stairs, followed by another two grey coloured Toms.
"Ah, you're finally awake." The Tom smirked as he examined Munkustrap, though wisely keeping his distance.
"Who are you?" Munkustrap hissed. "What is the meaning of kidnapping me?!"
The Tom laughed. "Oh, dear Tom, I did not kidnap you, no, no, I have brought you back into the life you escaped from."
Munkustrap paled before he managed to gather his courage once more.
"I am no longer a slave, I was freed and adopted, and you cannot keep me here!" He snarled. The Tom laughed once more.
"Well, I certainly know my work is cut out for me in to making you a good slave again." He mused. Munkustrap snarled, hackles flaring up dangerously.
"Never!" The Tom scoffed.
"I heard you would be stubborn, your mother did warn me that you would be, but I assured her that I would certainly fix that and get you a master that could handle you." Munkustrap growled dangerously, eyes flashing. The Tom looked to the two flanking his sides, giving a small nod. Munkustrap slowly got to his feet as the two Toms started moving towards him.
"Now, let's start your re-training."
The Jellicles stood gathered back in the main clearing, looking to Old Deuteronomy as he sat on the tyre, staring at Munkustrap's collar which was clasped in his paws.
The clearing was silent, save for the odd sob or wail coming from Tantomile, the kittens, and Misto.
Tugger was sat on the steps of the tyre, head buried in his paws.
"D-Deut, w-what do we do?" Jenny whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks. Deuteronomy remained silent.
Deuteronomy eventually spoke. "I do not know, Jenny." The Gumbie Cat gave a sob, Skimble hugging his mate tightly.
Deuteronomy sighed, looking up at his forlorn tribe, before looking back at the collar in his paws. A tear slipped from his eyes and landed on the black leather.
"Oh, my boy, my dear, sweet boy, where are you?" Deuteronomy whispered as he looked at the collar, glinting sadly in his paws. Deuteronomy got to his feet, slowly moving past Tugger, gently resting his paw on Tugger's head-fur, before he slowly walked to his den, just needing to be alone.
He collapsed on his couch, looking at the collar in his paws.
It was still as beautiful as the day he had gotten it, despite a little wear and tear, Munkustrap had taken care of it and cherished it, so it still looked so beautiful.
It wasn't right.
It wasn't right that this collar, that Munkustrap loved, was no longer worn in pride around his neck.
It wasn't right that cats had ripped it from his neck, tossing it aside.
It wasn't right that Munkustrap was no longer with them.
It wasn't right that they had no idea where he was or who had taken the beloved Protector.
"Oh my darling boy, I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry." Deuteronomy sobbed, tears falling onto the collar.
He looked up as someone sat beside him. Tugger was staring at him, tears falling from his eyes. Misto walked over to sit on the opposite side of Deuteronomy, cuddling his arm, sobbing into his shoulder. Deuteronomy leaned his head over to rest on the young Tom's head, trying to soothe him.
"D-Dad, are we gonna find him?" Tugger whispered. Deuteronomy rested Munkustrap's collar on his lap, squeezing Tugger's paw gently.
"We will, Tugger, we will." He murmured.
"Who would take him?!" Tugger suddenly cried, burying his face against his father's shoulder. "Who would come into the yard and take him away?!" Tugger suddenly sat up, eyes narrowed.
He hissed. "Macavity."
Deuteronomy shook his head.
"No." He said firmly. "Macavity may have done things in the past, but you know he would never do something like this to your brother, he cares about him too much." Tugger's face crumpled again and he started bawling. Deuteronomy wrapped his arm around Tugger's shoulder, hugging him close. Misto sniffled so Deuteronomy wrapped his spare arm around him, bringing him into the hug.
Deuteronomy looked at son and his grandson, tears filling his eyes as he watched them sob together, reaching out to grab each other's paw.
"We'll find him." Deuteronomy whispered. "We'll find him."
Munkustrap winced as he pushed himself off the harsh, cold floor and into a sitting position. He groaned slightly as he stretched out his sore muscles.
They had been rather ruthless beating him.
Munkustrap looked at himself, taking stock of his wounds. Most of his torso was already starting to bruise, with a few deep claw marks here and there. He could feel that one of his eyes had already begun to swell shut, and as he touched his face gingerly, he could feel that the skin on his left cheek bone had already swelled painfully, his bottom lip split from a few harsh blows across his face.
The worst wounds were on his feet though.
Every time they had beaten him to the floor, he had gotten back to his feet, determined not to let them break him. They didn't like his defiance, so they had held him down while another whipped the bottom of his feet with a thin stick, causing welts and thin, but painful, cuts.
Munkustrap sighed, wincing, as he gently massaged his feet, trying to get rid of some of the aches and pains.
He wouldn't be able to stand for a while.
He sighed as he settled back to rest against the cool brick wall. He didn't want to be here again, fighting to keep his spirit unbroken. Munkustrap wrapped his arms around his torso, hugging himself slightly.
He just wanted to go home.
He missed his dad, he missed his brother, his nephew, and he really missed Tantomile, with her warm smile, caring eyes and cheeky laugh.
Munkustrap looked towards the door as it opened once more and let out a guttural snarl.
His mother was walking down the stairs, smirking at him.
"You just couldn't leave me alone, could you?" He hissed at her, hackles flaring up, tail puffing out as his claws extended out threateningly. Kira laughed, her eyes dark as she stared at him.
"You didn't deserve that life, brat." She laughed cruelly. "This is your place in life, to be chained, beaten and treated like the worthless brat you are!" Munkustrap snarled, lunging forward, but was caught by the chains, sending him to the floor. She laughed as he got to his knees, glaring at her.
"I won't break." He promised her darkly, eyes flashing. "I won't let them break me, I'll survive through this like I did once before for one simple reason…I have family who are looking for me, who will find me." Kira glowered at him. He grinned at her, pleased to have made her annoyed.
He was determined not to break, to give his family time to find him.
Kira hissed as she turned on her heel, stalking back towards the door. "They'll never find you in time!" She snarled. "You'll just be broken goods by the time they find you and they will never want you back!"
"I might have believed you once, Kira, but you don't know the Jellicles like I do." Munkustrap called after her. He gave a bitter smile as the door slammed shut behind her. He slowly moved back to the wall, leaning against it and wincing as the pain flared up once more.
Munkustrap sighed to himself, wrapping his arms around his middle once more. He was trying to remain positive, determined that he wouldn't break.
…but he was scared.
He had been through this before, he knew the pains that would be coming, both physically and emotionally. He was scared of breaking, of losing himself again, to becoming the scared and vulnerable one he was before he was found by the Jellicles.
After all of the love and hard work that Deuteronomy and the Jellicles had put into him, to making him see that he was loved and that he mustn't be afraid of them, he didn't want to disappoint them by letting these cats break him down again.
He didn't want to become a burden to them again.
He didn't want to be the broken and scared Tom he once was, he was happy being the strong Protector, happy and brave.
Munkustrap sighed as he leaned his head back against the cool brick, tilting his head up to look at the bland grey ceiling.
His stomach was twisting with worry.
He didn't want to be back here, in this position, not knowing what the future held for him.
Munkustrap shuddered to think at what those so-called 'masters' would be like, the one that this Tom had apparently lined up for him, ones that could apparently handle him.
He was determined to get through this.
He was no longer a scared, timid kitten, no…
He was a Protector of a wonderful tribe, he knew how to fight to survive, and he was a lot braver and stronger than he used to be, thanks to a loving family who supported him.
Munkustrap sighed as he let his eyes slip close, trying to ignore the throbbing pains throughout his body.
'Jenny would've been on them in a second,' He couldn't help but think. 'Cleaning the wounds, bandaging them, while fussing over me…' His heart ached at that thought.
Already he missed his loving auntie.
He exhaled slowly, trying to calm his racing heart.
Munkustrap focused on his breathing, in and out, in and out, trying to ignore the aches and the occasional sharp pain as he shifted the wrong way, attempting to get comfortable on the cold concrete floor.
He let his thoughts shift to home, thinking of his father, his brother, his nephew, Tantomile, Coricopat, and all of the other Jellicles, going over his happy memories to keep him distracted.
He must have dozed off, because he found himself lying on his side on the floor as the door was so rudely swung open so it banged into the wall behind it. He yawned as he sat up, wincing as his muscles and bones ached from lying on the harsh, cold concrete floor.
Munkustrap rubbed his eyes, glaring at the dark brown Tom who stood upon the stairs once more, the two grey cats flanking his sides.
"Sleep well?" The brown Tom purred, as though he was talking to a guest and not a prisoner. Munkustrap smirked as he rested back against the wall.
"I have to admit, your lodgings leave a lot to be desired, rather barren and cold." Munkustrap smirk grew as he watched the two grey cats scowl at him. "Perhaps some colour or some bedding to liven up the place?" The brown Tom chuckled, his dark blue eyes sparking with amusement.
"I do like you, Silver."
Munkustrap snorted. "It's Munkustrap." The Tom's eyes grew slightly darker.
"Names have no meaning here." He hissed at Munkustrap as he walked down the stairs.
"Well, if you're going to have your guards beat me down, you might as well know my name." Munkustrap just said simply. The Tom shook his head. Munkustrap sighed, resting his head back against the wall.
"Though, it seems you have learnt one lesson." The Tom said.
Munkustrap tilted his head. "Oh?"
"Yes, you have not tried to stand up to me, to try and stand over me." The Tom smirked. Munkustrap rolled his eyes.
"That's because I can't be bothered." Munkustrap yawned. "Besides the fact your grunts whipped the bottom of my feet so I can't stand." Munkustrap gave a sudden smirk.
"Besides, I was always taught standing to greet another when they walked into a room was a sign of respect, and I most certainly do not respect you." Munkustrap said, voice cold. The Tom's face grew dark and he nodded to his guards.
"I think you need to be taught some more," He hissed at him. "Boys, just remember, he needs to be alive and in one piece." Munkustrap just smirked.
They would not break him.
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Sorry its taken so long, but I've been kind of at a loss of how to continue…I know where I want this story to go, it's just trying to fill it and get it there that leaves me out of ideas…
And have been rather busy busy as well…
Hopefully won't be too long before the next update !
Please read and review!
Love,
HGP