Munkustrap grunted in pain as he was thrown down the stairs, the door slamming shut behind him.
He gave a breathless chuckle as he rolled to his knees, wincing slightly as pain radiated throughout his sides. He slowly headed towards his spot by the back-wall, rearranging the bit of scrap material he had managed to scavenge from a broken crate in the corner of his cell.
Munkustrap sighed as he curled up, eyes closing.
Three weeks.
It had been three weeks since he had been abducted from the Jellicles to be put back into slavery.
So far, they had tried him with two masters they thought would be capable of handling him and breaking him in.
Munkustrap gave a smug smirk.
They had failed to break him and had lost their patience with him, giving him back to the slave-owner for a refund.
He had to admit, it made him feel confident and proud that no one had managed to break him yet, despite the beatings, despite the physical and mental abuse, they had not broken him.
They no longer shackled his ankles, knowing he couldn't run, they kept beating at his legs and feet, trying to weaken him and stop him from running.
Munkustrap gave a huff, trying to get comfortable on the piece of scrap material he had scavenged. It barely did anything, but it gave a small bit of comfort from the hard concrete floor.
He cracked open an eye as he heard the door slam open again. Munkustrap sat up as the two grey cats dragged a struggling and spitting cat down the stairs.
"Get off me, you asses!" The Tom snarled. He groaned as he was thrown onto the ground.
"The Master will deal with you two later!" One of the grey Toms (Munkustrap had nicknamed him 'Angry') spat before he and the other Tom (nicknamed Dopey) stalked back up the stairs, slamming the door behind them.
The other Tom groaned, rolling up onto his knees, before freezing as he caught sight of Munkustrap.
The other Tom was a golden-brown colour, with flecks of dark red throughout his body, with a creamy underbelly, and white tipped tail. He had dark red throughout his creamy head-fur. The creamy colour was on his muzzle and down his nose, but the rest of his face was a golden-brown colour, with some small dark-red stripes down the right side of his face.
His light brown eyes were fixed on Munkustrap, waiting for him to make a move.
Munkustrap just smiled weakly, leaning back against the wall.
"So, what did you do?" Munkustrap asked weakly. The Tom blinked, taking in Munkustrap's wounds and bruising, before he gave a weak grin.
"Bit my last master and got returned." The Tom laughed. Munkustrap chuckled, nodding.
"Yeah, I got returned too…well, for the second time." Munkustrap added.
The Tom laughed as he shifted over to sit beside Munkustrap.
"I'm Kopa." The Tom introduced himself, offering his paw.
Munkustrap smiled. "Munkustrap." Taking the offered paw. Kopa rested back against the wall beside Munkustrap.
He glanced at the silver Tom. "So, how long have you been here?" He asked. Munkustrap hesitated.
"I've been here three weeks." Munkustrap murmured. "B-But I was a slave when I was a kitten." Kopa tilted his head, confused.
Munkustrap sighed. "I was freed when I was kitten and adopted by a loving Tom, until three weeks ago when my biological mother, who sold me into slavery in the first place, hired these Toms to kidnap me from my home and bring me back here." Kopa blinked, shocked. Munkustrap gave a weak smile in Kopa's direction as he noticed the shocked look.
"What about you?" He asked. Kopa gave a small shrug.
"Been bouncing around from master to master for the last two years, but before that…" Kopa trailed off, looking at Munkustrap once more, seeming to consider something. "Before that, my mate and I had been kidnapped by a Tom and made into slaves…" Kopa swallowed. "They killed her a year later…to punish me."
"I'm so sorry." Munkustrap whispered, shocked. Kopa gave a small shrug as he rubbed at his eyes with the back of his paw.
"No master has been able to keep me since, that's why they gave me to this douchebag to 'break in'." Kopa continued. Munkustrap nodded. Kopa cleared his throat, rubbing his eyes once more before he turned his attention back to Munkustrap.
"What about you?" He asked. "Did you have a mate? Kittens?" Munkustrap gave a small nod.
"Sort of." He answered softly. "I have a loving Queen-friend, something I never thought I'd get after those years in slavery when I was a kitten…but I did, and I'm guardian to my nephew." Kopa gave a small smile.
"What's her name?"
Munkustrap smiled as she appeared in his mind's eyes. "Tantomile."
"Gorgeous name." Kopa mused. Munkustrap nodded.
"So, tell me more about you…you're the first Tom I've been able to talk to that didn't want to beat me or attack me." He added when he saw Munkustrap's suspicious look. Munkustrap gave a bitter laugh. He knew what that was like.
He told Kopa of his life, of being abused by his mother as a kitten before she sold him into slavery, to having to fight to keep his light, to being bought and freed, then adopted, the struggle of trying to over-come his fear and become part of a family, to becoming a Protector, a Guardian, to being kidnapped.
Kopa was speechless by the end of it.
"You've had one hell of a life, Munkus." Kopa whistled, shocked. Munkustrap chuckled.
"You can say that." Munkustrap agreed. "But it turned good, well, until recently." Kopa nodded. Both of them turned their heads towards the door as they heard voices.
"Munkustrap, I promise I'll help you get back to them." Kopa whispered suddenly. Munkustrap looked at him, surprised. Kopa gave him a small smile, glancing at the door.
"I've lost my mate, I'm not going to let you lose your family," Kopa murmured. Munkustrap smiled.
"We're both going to get out of here, Kopa, and you'll have a home." Munkustrap promised him. Kopa nodded, grinning, before they both stood up to meet Angry and Dopey as they accompanied their boss down the stairs, ready for the 'punishment' that they had been promised.
Mistoffelees sat in his and Munkustrap's den, purple-green eyes fixed on the door, as though waiting for Munkustrap to walk through at any moment. His ears perked up as he heard someone coming before sighing as Coricopat entered with Tugger close by his heels.
"Hey, Misto." Cori greeted gently as he sat beside the small Tux.
Misto just stared blankly at the door. "So I guess the search didn't turn up anything?" He asked quietly.
Tugger sighed, shaking his head. "No,"
Misto curled up tighter, arms wrapping around his knees. Tugger rested his paw on his back, rubbing it gently.
"We will find him, Tux," Tugger reassured him. Misto looked at him, seeing the sad brown eyes, the weary lines that, if Munkus was here, he would have been mortified seeing, his mane all rough and knotted. Misto curled close to Tugger.
He was struggling too.
"It's already been three weeks, Tug." Misto mumbled as he buried his face into Tugger's mane. Tugger sighed heavily, hugging his nephew close.
"There is one option we haven't considered." Cori said suddenly, thoughtfully. Tugger looked at him and his eyes widened when he saw the expression on his face.
"No." Tugger said simply. "If I'm thinking what you're thinking, then no!" Cori nodded in confirmation. Misto looked confused as he looked between the two of them.
"What is it? What's going on?" Misto asked.
"Why do you think Macavity would even help us?!" Tugger yelped. Cori sighed, tilting his head as he looked at the two.
"Macavity does love Munkustrap, he made a promise to him when they were kittens that he would never let anyone take Munkustrap away from his family." Cori explained calmly. "Though things have been a bit…tense between the Jellicles and Macavity, I know he'd cross Hell and back to get Munkustrap home."
Tugger still looked unsure when Misto spoke up, squeezing his paw. "Tugger, it's been three weeks and we're no closer to finding out who even took him…we need his help." Tugger sighed, looking at Misto's large purple-green eyes, then to Cori, who was looking tired and weary, a change for the usually chipper mystic, before he nodded.
"Does anyone know where to find him?" Tugger asked wearily. Misto gave a small nod, surprising the other two. He looked at the surprised duo and gave a small smile.
"It's a magic thing," He mumbled. "I can sense his magic 'cause he's family."
"I think it's wise if all three of us go." Cori added. "I just need to go tell Tants I'm going out for a bit."
"How is she?" Tugger asked gently. Cori sighed, giving a small shake of his head.
"She's suffering." He murmured, green-gold eyes downcast.
It was hard to see his twin in such a state, and to feel all the pain and heart-ache she was feeling, it was difficult.
"We should go, before it gets dark and Skimble tries to enforce curfew." Misto spoke up, breaking the sad silence.
Ever since Munkustrap had been kidnapped, the elders had placed a curfew, worried that the kidnappers may try to attack or kidnap other Jellicles, as they didn't know who had Munkustrap or their motive.
"We'll meet at the gate in five." Tugger sighed, getting to his feet. Coricopat and Misto nodded, faces set in grim determination.
Five minutes later, Tugger was waiting by the gates, rubbing his eyes wearily.
He couldn't believe he had agreed to this.
But it was for Munkustrap, and he'd do it for his baby brother.
"Are you ready?" Tugger lifted his head, finding Misto and Cori had joined him. He nodded, drawing himself up to full height.
He looked at the other two, determined. "Let's do this."
They walked through the streets with Mistoffelees leading them. Soon enough, they came upon a large, deserted building.
"Here we are." Misto murmured as they stood across the street, eyeing off the guards around the gates.
"Well, let's not waste time." Cori sighed, before he started to cross the street. Misto and Tugger exchanged looks before following the mystic. By the time they had caught up to him, the guards had already blocked his entry.
"What are three Jellicles like yourself doing here?" One of the guards spat. Tugger scowled, but Cori shot him a look before looking back to the dark red Tom.
"We're here to see Macavity." He explained calmly, remaining calm as the two other guards howled with laughter.
"Why do ya think Macavity wants to see Jellicle scum such as yourselves?!" A brown Tom giggled.
"Because it's to do with Munkustrap." Misto spoke up. The three guards snorted, shaking their heads.
"That don't make a difference." The dark red guard snorted. Misto sighed, stepping forward, getting their attention.
"Tell him his son is here to see him, and it's to do with Munkustrap." Misto ordered, voice firm. The three guards stopped laughing, staring at Misto in shock. Misto just raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms across his chest.
"Well?" He asked. "Are you going to get him or am I going to have to zap you to get his attention?" The guards all hurried back, tripping over each other in their haste to get Macavity, and to not be zapped by Mistoffelees.
Tugger chuckled, slinging his arm around Misto's shoulders. "Ya know, I'm so proud you're my nephew!" Misto laughed as he elbowed Tugger.
They quieted as the guards returned, trailing behind a brilliantly white, fluffy Queen. Her blue eyes were curious as they stared at the three Toms as she stopped in front of them, eyeing them.
"Macavity will see you." She said simply before turning on heel, barking an order at the guards, as she stalked off. The three Jellicles followed her closely, into the rather well lit, clean warehouse. The white Queen pushed open a large set of double doors before she stalked across the room, leaning against a large seat, where a red Tom was reclining.
"Well, well, look what the cat's dragged in, Griddle." Macavity sang, grinning. "My son, the Jellicle Mystic and the furry pain in the ass." Griddlebone laughed, rolling her eyes. Macavity sat up, leaning forward as the three Jellicles approached.
"This wasn't the best of ideas." Tugger muttered, glaring at Macavity.
"Enough, Tugger." Cori murmured, shooting him a glare.
"Now, what do you three want that you were so desperate to come to me?" Macavity asked, gold eyes examining them closely.
"We need your help." Cori spoke up, stepping forward. Macavity's gold eyes snapped to look at him, head tilting.
"Oh?" He hummed. "What for?"
"Munkustrap's been kidnapped." Macavity shot to his feet, snarling.
"What?!" Griddlebone placed her paw on Macavity's shoulder, looking at him, concerned. Macavity glanced at her, seeming calm, but she could see the fear and worry in his gold eyes. Macavity looked back at the trio, who seemed surprise by his reaction.
"What happened to Munkus?" He breathed, gold eyes darting between the three of them.
"H-He was kidnapped, during a night of celebration…they left his collar behind." Cori explained, glancing at the other two. "Tantomile felt something was wrong, and Jemima had been seeing shadows moving in the clearing beside us, so Munkus went to look…and that was the last time we saw him."
Macavity was pacing now and he turned to look at the three.
"How long has he been missing?" He asked, brow furrowed.
"Three weeks." Misto spoke up, looking at the ginger fiend. Macavity hissed.
"Three weeks! You should have come to me at the start! Now the trails have gone cold and…" He broke off as Griddlebone gave his tail a small pull, breaking him out of his ramble. He turned to look at her, head tilted questioningly. Griddlebone nodded.
"I'll go speak to Dad, maybe he can get some answers out of his old contacts about a job involving a silver Tom." She told him gently. Macavity nodded, watching as she walked off, brushing past Coricopat as she did. The trio watched Macavity as he paced back and forth, deep in thought.
Finally, he turned and looked at them.
"I need you to take me to the junk-yard." He ordered flatly.
"Whoa, no chance!" Tugger yelped, not giving Cori or Misto time to answer. "Everyone will freak out!" Macavity rolled his eyes.
"And every moment spent arguing with you is another moment Munkustrap is getting further away from being found, so take me there." Macavity dead-panned. Tugger blinked.
"He has a point." Cori murmured, before nodding to Macavity. Macavity walked over to them and they began leaving.
"But…but…ah screw it." Tugger mumbled, waving his paw.
It was for Munkustrap, so it was going to be worth all the screaming and terrified Jellicles.
"Just hang on, Munk, we'll find you." Tugger whispered as they left Macavity's warehouse and made their way to the junkyard.
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Yay! An update!
Sorry its been a while, but trying to get the story line in order is a pain, but hopefully my Endure Arcs have kept you occupied?
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Love,
HGP!