"Well, that hurt." Munkustrap looked over at Kopa as he groaned that out. He gave a bitter smile as he watched his friend roll over on the stone floor, looking at him through bruised eyes. Munkustrap gave a shrug, wincing as his muscles ached at the movement.
"Guess we pissed them off, huh?" Munkustrap chuckled breathlessly as he tried to shift into a comfortable position.
Kopa chuckled at that. "I think we certainly did." Munkustrap groaned as he rolled into a sitting position, paws on his knees, as he breathed heavily, body aching. Kopa crawled over to sit beside him, looking at him empathetically. Munkustrap gave a small smile in return.
They sat in silence for a while, both cleaning their own wounds, and helping each other with the wounds they couldn't quite reach. Munkustrap's ears twitched as he heard movement near the door.
"Someone's coming." He muttered, slowly and painfully rising to his feet, using the wall to support him. Kopa copied him, rising to his feet, both of them watching the door.
It opened, a gold, brown and black Tom descending the stairs. Kopa looked to Munkustrap in shock as he gave a sharp intake of breath. He was surprised to see Munkustrap's green eyes were wide as they stared at the Tom, his ears pressed back slightly.
The Tom laughed as he walked closer, Dopey and Angry watching the prisoners carefully, before he came to a stop in front of Munkustrap. Munkustrap tried to steady his breathing, looking at a point over the Tom's shoulder, trying to remain calm and not show him how terrified he was. The Tom chuckled, leaning over Munkustrap. Munkustrap shuddered as he realised how the Tom still towered over him.
"My, my, haven't you grown?" He purred as he took Munkustrap's chin in his paw, tilting his head up so he could look at his face. "Yes, definitely all grown up from the tiny, scared kitten you once were." Munkustrap closed his eyes, turning his head away. Kopa just stared in shock.
"You know, I heard Max describe his new, disobedient merchandise and I just couldn't help but wonder if the silver Tom with emerald green eyes could be the small kitten I once knew, so I decided that I just had to make sure," The Tom chuckled. "and would you look at this, it is you! All grown up, looking rather handsome and strong, but yet, back in slavery once more."
"Leave him alone!" Kopa hissed at him, tail puffing up. He knew this had to be one of Munkustrap's past Masters, and he hated him, especially after Munkustrap had told him of all of the tortures all of his masters had put him through.
The Tom looked to Kopa, head tilting.
"Oh, a friend? In a place like this? How sweet." He smirked as Kopa scowled. Max, the owner of this slave trade, stepped up, looking at the Tom nervously.
"So, Leo, would you like to buy him back?" he asked, glancing to Munkustrap and Kopa. Leo tilted his head, looking back to Munkustrap.
Kopa saw the look in his eyes and knew that he was going to buy Munkus, and he just couldn't let Munkustrap go through this alone. "If you buy him, you can have me for free," he spoke up.
Max snarled, "Shut up!" Leo looked at Kopa, eyebrow raised, smirk on his lips.
"Oh really?" He purred. Kopa nodded, before looking back at Max.
"And if you don't let me go with them, I'll be a bigger pain in the ass than I am now." Max spluttered at Kopa's threat. Kopa was already a giant thorn, the cause of many refunds, and now he was swearing to become an even bigger pain?!
Leo turned to look at Max, eyebrow raised. "What do you say, Max?" he purred. "I'll take them both for the price for my silver friend," Max nodded.
Better to get rid of the both of them, and Leo would most certainly break the both of them. Max smirked at that thought.
"They're all yours," Max told him. Leo chuckled as he turned back to Munkustrap, putting his paw under his chin and tilting his head up so he could look at Munkustrap's face, giving a purr as he looked into those familiar emerald green eyes, but with more defiance and fire than he previously knew.
"I'm looking forward to getting reacquainted with you," Leo purred. "Now that you're all…grown up." Leo turned and walked to the door, Max following him.
"I'll leave you to get them prepared for their move," Leo laughed as he exited, looking to Max. Max nodded, turning to Angry and Dopey, giving them a nod, before following Leo to get payment. Angry and Dopey grinned as they left the room. Kopa looked to Munkustrap as he slumped against the wall, rubbing his forehead wearily.
"Are you okay?" Kopa asked him softly, worried.
"Why-Why did you make that deal?" Munkustrap managed to croak out. "You do not want to be one of his slaves…" Kopa gently squeezed Munkustrap's shoulder, giving a small smile.
"I'm not letting you go through that alone, not again," Kopa told him. "Besides, together we have a better chance of keeping each other going, and finding a way to get out and back to your family," Munkustrap gave him a small smile, nodding.
"You're right," he murmured. "We're going to get out of this, and by him buying us, we're getting moved which gives us a chance to run," Kopa grinned, watching as Munkustrap's green eyes narrowed, he could see the Tom was in deep thought, going over thoughts and possible plans.
They both looked towards the door as it opened, seeing Angry and Dopey enter with rather sinister smiles on their faces as they approached.
Tugger winced as he heard the terrified cries as he, Cori and Misto walked with Macavity into the yard. Alonzo, Antony and Skimble ran up, freezing when they saw that Macavity was with the trio, Cori stepping in front of him to protect him from the oncoming Jellicles.
"W-What is the meaning of this?!" Skimble asked, shocked. Misto stepped forward, some of the Jellicles hissing under their breaths.
"We need his help." Misto just said simply.
"Of course he says that," Demeter hissed to Bombalurina. "He is Macavity's son after all. I knew there was something off about him." There were a few murmurs of agreement.
Macavity scowled at the Queen, making her squeak in fear. "He hasn't done anything wrong," Macavity growled at her. "he, Tugger and Cori only came to me because they're worried about Munkustrap, and so they should be," Misto glanced at Macavity in surprise. Macavity just stared at the Jellicles coolly before looking to Cori.
"So, show me to wear you found Munkustrap's collar," he told him. Cori nodded, leading the Tom towards the clearing, the Jellicles parting in fear as they approached.
"This is clearing that Munkustrap went to check out after Jemima saw shadows moving about," Cori explained as they entered. Macavity's eyes darted around, taking in the junk-piles. He tilted his head as he walked towards one, eyeing it carefully.
"Plenty of hiding places," Macavity murmured. "Probably an ambush…no way they'd take Munkustrap down without noise, so probably drugged him," Macavity murmured to himself. Cori, Tugger, Misto, Skimble, Alonzo and Antony watched him, confused.
"Where did you find the collar?" Macavity asked, looking towards the Toms.
"Over by the cabinet," All seven Toms turned at the hoarse, broken voice. Macavity looked at the Queen standing in the shadows, green-gold eyes downcast and blood-shot, face tear-stained and body bowed, looking fragile. Macavity walked over to her, ignoring the hisses from Skimble, Alonzo, Antony and a warning hiss from Cori. He gently took her paws in his own, squeezing them softly.
"I will find him, Tantomile, I promise you," Macavity said gently, only for her to hear. "I'll reunite you with your love," Tantomile gave a soft smile.
"Thank you, Macavity," Tantomile gently squeezed his paws before turning and heading back towards her den to hide away once more. Macavity watched her go before he turned back to the Toms, who were staring at him, dumbfounded.
"So, Quaxo, did you sense any unusual presences the days before Munkustrap disappeared?" Macavity asked suddenly as he walked over to the cupboard where they had discovered Munkustrap's collar.
Misto scowled at him. "No, I didn't, and the name is Mistoffelees!" Macavity straightened up, turning to Misto, who was glaring at him. Macavity gave a wry smile.
"Your mother named you Quaxo, and seeing as you and Victoria are the only things I have left of Nalah, you will always be Quaxo to me," Macavity said simply before turning back to the cupboard, leaving Misto standing there, shocked. Macavity tilted his head suddenly, turning back to look at the Toms.
"Did anything happen recently?" Macavity asked. "Did you run into anyone from Munkustrap's past?" Cori exchanged a look with Tugger and went to answer when Skimble interrupted.
"Why do ya think it's someone from Munkustrap's past?" Skimble asked, arms folded across his chest. Macavity looked at the railway cat, bored.
"Because this was planned," Macavity answered simply. "There was an ambush, they would have had to drug him before he made any noise, meaning they came prepared, but they also left his collar behind…"
"Which means?" Antony asked. Macavity paused, gold eyes calculating.
"That they didn't want that with him…" He murmured to himself before looking to the confused Toms.
"Again I will ask, did you run into anyone from Munkustrap's past? Or someone who left Munkustrap shaken?" Macavity asked, beginning to become impatient.
"When we took Misto out for his birthday, we went to a club and there was a Queen who knew him from when he was a kitten," Cori explained. Macavity gave a hum.
Then there was a yell, "Macavity!" Macavity stiffened as he slowly turned around. A bitter smile grew on his face as he looked at his father, who stood there, staring at him in shock, with Jennyanydots standing beside him nervously.
"Hello, Father," he hissed. Deuteronomy looked to Antony, Alonzo and Skimble.
"Can you leave us?" he asked. The three started to protest when Deuteronomy raised a paw, silencing them. "Please go reassure the others that everything is okay." The three Toms left the clearing, rather unwilling, Jenny following them. Deuteronomy turned back to Macavity, who was staring at him.
Deuteronomy smiled, his brown eyes sad. "I have missed you, my son." Macavity scoffed.
"I doubt that," he muttered. Deuteronomy walked over to him, ignoring Macavity's warning growls. He slowly lifted his paw, gently cupping Macavity's cheek. Macavity turned his cold gold eyes onto him.
"I have missed you, Macavity, no matter what you will always be my son…and I don't want to lose you too." Macavity hissed, jerking his head away.
"You have lost me…but I'm not going to let you lose Munkustrap." Macavity turned back to the trio.
"Take me to the club where you saw this Queen," Macavity told them. Deuteronomy watched Cori and Misto start to lead Macavity away, with Tugger pausing for a moment. He quickly walked over to Deuteronomy, hugging him tightly.
"He still cares about you, ya know," Tugger mumbled as he hugged him. Deuteronomy smiled sadly.
"Thank you, Tugger, now go find your brother." Tugger smiled at his dad once more before he hurried after the other three.
"Just be careful," Deuteronomy murmured before heading back to the main clearing to maintain calm.
Tugger caught up to them and they soon reached the club.
Sasha leaned against the bar, watching as Nuka gave directions to the dancers, watching them closely. Her ears pricked up when she heard door open and she frowned.
No one was meant to be coming early today.
She turned and her eyes widened in shock and fear. "N-Nuka!" she called shrilly. Nuka turned, brown eyes widening, before he hurried to his mate's side.
"M-Macavity, t-to what do we owe this pleasure?" Nuka stammered as he stared at the Leader of the Hidden Paws, who was standing in front of three Toms…who didn't exactly look like they belonged with the Hidden Paw.
"I wanted to ask you some questions," Macavity answered smoothly as he walked over to lean on the bar across from Sasha.
Nuka nodded, glancing at his mate. "O-Of course."
"A couple of weeks ago, these three," Macavity nodded to Coricopat, Tugger and Misto, "came into your bar, along with a silver black-striped Tabby."
Sasha's eyes widened. "Munkustrap?!" She breathed. Macavity looked to the Queen and gave a small nod.
"What's happened? Is he okay?!" she rushed. Nuka looked at her worriedly. Macavity shook his head.
"No, he has been abducted and there's been no trace of him so far," Macavity answered, eyes softening as he saw the Queen's distress. He tilted his head in interest when Sasha's eyes narrowed dangerously, her red lips pulling up into a snarl.
"Kira!" she growled.
Nuka gave a snarl, "That witch!" Macavity saw Tugger jerk back as though struck at the mention of her name.
"Who is she, Tugger?" Macavity asked, not bothering to look at his brother.
Tugger swallowed hard. "Munkustrap's biological mother." Macavity gave a small hiss under his breath.
Of course.
"Why do you think she could be responsible?" Macavity asked. He wanted to make sure he had enough solid proof before he went and dealt with that evil Queen.
Sasha sighed, shaking her head. "It's all my fault." Nuka rested his paw on her shoulder, squeezing.
"No, it's not, love, it's all her," he murmured before looking to Macavity, who was tapping his long, sharp claws impatiently against the bar. "When we found out what she had done to her kitten, that she had sold him to slavery, we put the word out. No one with a reputable club will hire her now, knowing that she did that to her own son…no one could trust her." Macavity gave a hum.
"Do you know where I could find her?" he asked calmly, though Nuka and Sasha shivered at the sight of his now cold and emotionless eyes.
"She's generally in an alley close to here, only a couple of streets away," Nuka answered cautiously. Macavity got to his feet, striding from the club, with the three Jellicles close on his heels, leaving a shocked Nuka and Sasha staring after them.
"You three, go back to the yard," Macavity ordered.
"No way! We deserve the right to make her talk to us!" Misto yelped. Macavity suddenly stopped, turning on heel and staring at the three of them.
"Quaxo, this is no longer safe for you," Macavity said, voice even. "If I lead you to her, and she refuses, it will make you angry and it will make your magic dark…I won't let you lose yourself to anger in an act of revenge, Munkustrap would be so disappointed if you allowed yourself to lose yourself to darkness because of him."
"He has a point, Misto," Cori agreed, gently placing his paw on Misto's shoulder. "I will go back with you to the yard, but I believe Tugger should accompany you, Macavity, she knows who he is and may make her cocky enough that she gives you the answers you seek." Macavity nodded, watching carefully as Cori led the bewildered Mistoffelees away before turning to Tugger.
"Let's get this over with," he muttered before continuing on to find the Queen they were seeking.
"What are you going to do to her?" Tugger asked cautiously a few minutes later. "Will you kill her?"
Macavity gave a dark chuckle. "No, that's far too simple, I have a fate in mind for her that is much worse than death." Tugger stared at his brother, surprised, but deep down in his heart, he knew the Queen deserved what was coming to her.
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Sorry it's taken a while, but we adopted a puppy a couple of weeks ago and been busy trying to get him to settle in, and I got a new job!
Hopefully my Endure Arc has sort of filled in the gap between updates here?
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Love,
HGP