Macavity felt a bit more refreshed by the time he walked to Tomas's place. He pushed open the door and walked inside, feeling a bit more at ease.
When he had first been banished by the Jellicles, Tomas had found him huddling inside a box for warmth, paws cupped around a ball of flame he had conjured up to stay warm, and had been rather impressed by the young ginger Tom. He had taken Macavity in, introduced him to his family and made him feel important. This home had become his home away from the Jellicles where, for the first time, he felt truly appreciated for his gifts.
Tomas peered out from around a doorway, eyes widening in surprise as he saw him. The white and brown Tom stepped out into the hall to greet him. "Macavity, my boy, what are you doing here?" he spoke, his voice soft and warm.
Macavity stepped forward to be embraced by the Tom he saw as a second father, embracing him in return. He stepped back and looked at Tomas. Tomas was frowning as he studied him. He reached forward and tilted Macavity's head up, looking into tired golden eyes. "You're exhausted." Tomas stated. "Have you not been sleeping or did you cast a curse?" Macavity sighed, giving a small nod.
"I cast a curse," he murmured, rubbing his tired eyes. Tomas nodded, taking Macavity by the elbow and leading him to the sitting room, sitting him down on an old brown couch. Tomas sat beside him, frowning in concern.
"What has happened?" he asked. "Griddlebone was rushing about here before but I couldn't make heads or tails about what she was saying, just wanted to know where she could find Jacob." Macavity leaned his elbows against his knees, holding his head in his paws. A paw rested on his back.
"Macavity?" Tomas asked gently.
"Munkustrap's been taken," Macavity finally managed to say. "He was kidnapped three weeks ago and I've only just found out about it." Tomas swore under his breath. Macavity sighed, head still held in paws, fingers clenching around his long ginger head-fur.
"That's not the worst, Tomas," murmured Macavity. "I found a lead and followed it, it lead me to my worst fear."
"Which is?" Tomas prompted, feeling uneasy.
"Munkustrap has been sold back into slavery." Macavity finally lifted his head as he heard Tomas leap to his feet, swearing and shouting loudly in anger. Tomas was pacing around the room angrily, hackles on end.
"By who?!" Tomas snarled. Macavity ran his paw through his head fur, exhausted.
"His biological mother," he spat, "she didn't like that he had a good life and sold him out." Tomas snarled and stomped around the room, claws slipping in and out of his paws in anger, his tail swishing furiously from side to side.
"I'm going to hunt her down and kill her!" Tomas snarled. "How dare she?! Slavery is lowest of lows, only scum sell other cats as slaves!" Macavity nodded in agreement.
"I agree, Tomas," he murmured. "It is also not necessary to kill her, I have done much worse." Tomas paused in his pacing to look at Macavity, head tilted slightly, as he took in Macavity's tired appearance.
"The curse?" he asked, surprised. "You cast one on her?"
Macavity gave a tired grin as he looked at the older Tom. "Not just any curse, Tomas, I cast the curse." Tomas gave a low whistle, impressed.
He gave a small chuckle. "You mean, you cast The Bastest's Curse?" he asked, impressed. Macavity nodded. Tomas gave a low whistle, shaking his head in disbelief.
"I knew you were talented, Mac, but, wow, I don't think I've heard of anyone successfully casting Bastest's curse." Macavity gave a small shrug.
"She deserved it," muttered Macavity. "She tried to lie to me!" Macavity snarled suddenly. "She told me Munkustrap deserved it, that he deserved to die!" Tomas walked over and placed his paws on Macavity's shaking shoulders.
"The foul bitch tried to hit on me and then lied about Munkustrap, my baby brother," Macavity hissed. "She just couldn't leave him be, just couldn't move on!"
"Then you did the best thing to her, Mac," praised Tomas, "you made sure she would suffer for eternity as she deserves." Macavity slumped back against the couch, watching Tomas sit down again with tired eyes.
"Tugger helped me cast it," added Macavity moments later. "He held her down and, even without knowing it, helped transfer some of his anger into the curse." Tomas gave a small smile.
"Even he knew she deserved it," murmured Tomas, "You both know true evil when you see it." Macavity sighed, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"Tomas, I don't know what to do." Macavity admitted finally. "I don't know the slave network, I always kept away from dealing with anyone remotely connected with it." Tomas sighed, patting Macavity's knee.
"I still have some contacts from when we rescued Pearl," sighed Tomas. "I'll hunt up a few leads and see what comes out,"
"Thank you, Tomas, really," murmured Macavity. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost Munkustrap, I mean, I promised I would always bring him back to his family, where he belongs."
"And we will bring him home," Tomas promised.
Suddenly a soft voice spoke up, "Mac?" Macavity lifted his head and saw Griddlebone standing there, looking worried. "Is something wrong? Did you find something out about Munkustrap?" Macavity gave a small nod of his head.
"Yeah, Grids, I did," he answered hoarsely. "His biological mother sold him to slavers again," Griddlebone snarled loudly at that, punching the wall in anger.
"Easy, darling, easy, I know you're angry but hurting yourself isn't going to help," soothed Tomas as he stood to go to his daughter's side. Griddlebone looked at her father, her blue eyes furious.
"After everything we've gone through with slavers, after Mum, after Zeke," she hissed. "Now they've taken Munkustrap, a sweet Tom who is an extended part of our family?!" Griddlebone shook her head furiously. "Dad, we're putting a stop to this once and for all, we need to cut off the heads so the body dies with it."
Tomas smiled at her sadly, gently taking her paws and squeezing them. "Darling, no matter how hard we try we can never fully cut off the slave network," he told her gently, "they are like hydras, you cut off one head and two more will take its place." Griddlebone growled under her breath but nodded. Tomas gently stroked her cheek.
"We will do what we can to stop it though," continued Tomas softly. "We will fight them, we will make them fear us." Griddlebone looked up at her father and grinned, nodding. Tomas turned to Macavity, who was staring at them.
"And we will find Munkustrap and bring him home." Tomas promised.
"My shining star?" The three in the room froze at the soft voice. They all turned to look at Pearl, standing in the doorway.
She looked better than the last time Munkustrap had seen her, his visit had done her a world of good, her fur was bright and soft, her eyes full of light. Her blue eyes were wide and filled with tears as she stared at the three in the room.
"Did I hear right?" she asked shakily. "Is my Shining Star back in slavery?" Tomas quickly crossed the room to his mate, taking her paws in his own. She looked at him, mouth set in a firm line. "Tomas, you will tell me the truth." Pearl told him firmly. Tomas sighed and gave a small nod. He couldn't lie to her, he never could.
"I'm sorry, my heart, but it's true," he murmured. "Munkustrap was kidnapped three weeks ago, Macavity just found out that he was sold into slavery by his mother again." Pearl shook her head angrily.
"That wretch, why couldn't she leave him be?!" she sobbed. Tomas hugged his mate tightly.
"We're going to find him, my love, as we did you." Tomas promised her. Pearl nodded, sniffling slightly. She pulled back from Tomas, her eyes holding a strange light as she looked to Macavity.
"He will be strong," she whispered, looking at the ginger Tom, "he has something he did not have last time, he has hope." Macavity bowed his head to hide his tears.
His poor brother.
"He has you, darling boy, he has his family," continued Pearl, "that will give him hope, he already has a strong will and a strong, positive, loving heart; he will hold on until you find him." Pearl sighed, seemingly resigned. She looked at her mate, looking determined. Pearl slowly reached up, touching his face. Tomas gently rested his paw atop of hers.
"My darling, I must let go," Pearl whispered to him. Tomas's eyes widened in shock.
"P-Pearl, my love, what are you saying?!" he whispered, distraught. Pearl smiled as she stroked at the bottom of his scar with her thumb.
"My dear, I am tired," she whispered to him. "I feel as though I have lived a hundred life times, but I would not trade any of it, not when I got you, Griddlebone and Zeke out of it." Tomas lowered his head, resting it against hers. "I have watched Griddlebone grow up into a daring, head-strong, caring young Queen and I have watched you teach her, love her, adore her and take young Macavity under your wing and helped him to grow," murmured Pearl, "but I miss Zeke, it is time I am reunited with my son."
"Pearl, why now?" Tomas croaked as he held her close. Pearl closed her eyes as she rested her head against her mate's strong chest.
"I can watch over my Shining Star, I can be the beacon of light he was for me," Pearl murmured, "I can finally be reunited with Zeke, my baby boy." Tomas closed his eyes tightly as he held her closer against him.
"I just got you back, my heart," Tomas whispered, heart-broken, "how can I lose you again? I will not cope!" Pearl gently kissed his collarbone.
"You will survive, my love, because you are strong," she told him, "I will never ever leave you, I will always be in your heart, but I am tired, Tomas, and I am finally ready to be at peace knowing you will be okay." Tomas nodded, glancing back at Griddlebone, who had gone to sit and console Macavity as they had been speaking.
"What will I tell Griddlebone?" Tomas asked, heartbroken. Pearl smiled up at him.
"That I am finally at peace," she told him, "and that I will always be with her," Tomas nodded.
"Macavity, Griddle, why don't you back to head-quarters?" Tomas suggested, trying to keep his voice even. "I will follow up leads and send them to you." The duo nodded and got their feet. Pearl walked over to them and pulled Griddlebone into her arms, hugging her tightly.
"I love you, my darling daughter," Pearl told her, voice full of love, "I am so proud of the Queen you've become." Griddlebone smiled, though her eyes showed her confusion, as she hugged her mum back.
"Love you too, Mum," she murmured before stepping back. Griddlebone looked at her father worriedly as Pearl stepped up to Macavity, pulling him into her arms and hugging him tight. Macavity hugged her back, nuzzling into her head fur.
"You are such a good boy," Pearl told him, "and you will get Munkustrap back, I believe in you and I believe in him." Macavity nodded as he stepped back.
"Thank you, Pearl." Pearl smiled and watched them leave. When they were gone she leaned against her mate, sighing.
"Are you sure, my darling?" Tomas asked her once more as they walked towards the bedroom slowly and gently. Pearl nodded.
"Yes, my heart," Pearl murmured gently. "I am." Tomas nodded as they got to the bedroom. Pearl lay down on the bed. She smiled at her mate, lifting her arm.
"Come lay with me, my love," she murmured. Tomas crawled onto the bed next to her, taking Pearl into his arms. She sighed contently as she lay against him, head resting on his chest, listening to his heart beat.
"Honey, tell me about the time where you first saw me and knew I was going to be your mate," Pearl giggled as she gently stroked Tomas's strong chest. Tomas chuckled in her ear and began to regale her with the time he first set eyes on this beautiful dainty Queen who turned out to be daring, feisty and adventurous.
After a while, Pearl's stroking got slower and her added comments became far and few in between.
By the time Tomas had gotten to Griddlebone's birth, Pearl had stopped breathing and her heart had stopped beating, but he still held onto her.
He had to finish their story.
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Eep, I know I'm a terrible person!
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update, but I've just been busy at work and in all honestly, I haven't had a muse for this.
This is a chapter I finished last, usually I'm three-four chapters ahead of my latest update, but this is the latest chapter I've written because I just don't have the muse.
I know where I'm going, it's just writing it out…
And I'm also kind of trying to write a novel as well…like a real one :P
Thanks to those who have reviewed!
Thanks to those who have been so patient!
Hopefully next one won't be too far away, but I ask you to be patient with me!
Please read and review!
Love,
HGP!