Title: The Protector (4/14)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Character death
Summary: When some Jellicles are cat-napped, Munkustrap has to descend back into Monnik territory, back into his old life, and must confront his biggest fear - the truth escaping.
Roleplays:
If you're not into RPing, feel free to skip this part.
Ourjellicle (o u r j e l l i c l e s . p r o b o a r d s 5 1 . c o m ). is a normal Cats RP set after the Jellicle Ball. Currently, Macavity has taken over the junkyard, but the Jellicles escaped safely. They're enlisting the help of a crew of pirates, though, to reclaim their yard… but that decision may cause more pain than pleasure.
One of These Nights (w w w . s 8 . c r e a t e p h p b b . c o m / o n e o f t h e s e n I g h t / I n d e x . p h p ? m f o r u m (equal sign) o n e o f t h e s e n I g h t) is an AU RP where the Jellicles are human members of a band (named Jellicle). Tugger (taken) is the lead singer, with Bombalurina (taken), Alonzo, and Plato (taken) as other members, and the rest of the Jellicles helping out as friends, stage hands, special effects, etc. Munkustrap (taken by me) is the manager of the band, and his father, Deuteronomy, is a huge music mogul. Macavity (taken) leads the rival band, the Depraved. Most of the characters are still available, though. If you're interested, come on by!
Cats does not belong to me. Simbol does. He's shpiffy.
The Protector
"Two Jellicles prisoners, Boss."
Leviticus stirred, his long fur rippling over hidden muscles. "Why have you brought me Jellicle prisoners? You were supposed to infiltrate the Jellicle lands. You were supposed to carve out a piece of Jellicle territory for the Monniks. I do not recall prisoners being on your agenda." To the right of Leviticus, Macavity sat, tall and proud and near-motionless. Only his eyes moved, turning between Leviticus and the cats before him, and his ears, swiveling to take in the sounds of the Monnik warehouse.
Hedrunkus, the one-eyed tom, fidgeted, shifting from foot to foot. "Er… yes. And we did infiltrate the Jellicle theater, just like the plan said. But there were Jellicles there-"
"Which is why you were supposed to bring back-up." Leviticus closed his gold eyes to narrow slits, frowning down at the black tom. With his raspy voice and long fur, he was an impressive figure, up on his armchair.
"We did! Bring back-up!" Hedrunkus shifted again. "Er, that is, Ruusu and Surripus accompanied me, Boss. We snuck into the theater and surrounded the guard there, an old tom, just like you said. But he had back-up too – the Railway cat, and some younger toms." Hedrunkus nodded to Plato and Cattivo behind him. "These two."
Both Leviticus and Macavity turned to look at the Jellicles. Leviticus spared them only a glance, but Macavity fixed his own gold eyes on the pair and glowered at them. Plato gulped and tried not to cower away from his stare. This was a powerful magic cat, Leviticus' favored son, and his right-hand cat. He was the Monnik equivalent of Simbol, but he had magic on his side too. He could kill just by looking at you, if he really wanted to.
"And we return to the original question," Leviticus said. "Why did you bring me prisoners?"
"They're Simbol's sons, Boss!" Hedrunkus stepped forward, excited. "Look, look at the gold one. He looks exactly like Simbol! And they've both confirmed that the brown one is his brother! We… I figured they would be more useful to us alive. As bait, or ransom."
More useful alive. Those words helped Plato relax minutely – the Monniks weren't about to kill him. It gave him the courage he needed to look up and meet Macavity's glower with a stare of his own. Macavity's lips turned up in a smirk, and he leaned over to murmur something into Leviticus' ear. The big cat closed his eyes, thinking for a moment, before he nodded.
Macavity rose to his feet, stretching and flashing his claws and fangs. The Monniks took a collective step back, tugging Plato and Cattivo with them. Plato looked over at his brother, reaching for him with his tail. Cattivo twitched his tail toward Plato in return, and the two brushed the tips together. Whatever happened to them, they were in this together. At least Alonzo wasn't with them. Maybe he was getting help… or maybe the Monniks had killed him, like they killed Skimble and Gus…
"What are your names?"
Macavity's voice, Plato was surprised to discover, was rich and warm, almost purring. It felt nice, wrapping around him like his mother's hug… Wait! Macavity bewitched cats! He remembered how Munkustrap had brought the tribe that bit of advice, after he had gone in to free Demeter. Macavity could bewitch a cat who watched him! Plato sneezed and shook his head fiercely, trying to shake off the spell.
Macavity laughed and patted Plato's cheek. "Smart kitten," he purred. "You have seen through me, correct? That does not surprise me. Your tribe sent a spy in… I am sure he has filled you in on all my tricks."
Plato cringed away from Macavity's paw. His voice might be comforting, but the touch of the evil cat's paw made his fur stand on end and his skin crawl.
"However, knowing you are a Jellicle does not answer my question." Macavity walked between the brothers, forcing their tails apart. "What are your names?"
Cattivo shuddered, and Plato felt a brush of cold against him. "Plato," he said quietly. "I'm Plato."
"And I'm Cattivo."
"Plato and Cattivo. How charming." Macavity placed his paws on the brothers' shoulders. "Now, Plato and Cattivo, you are Jellicles, right?"
The brothers nodded slowly. Plato had a feeling he knew where Macavity was going with this.
"And your mother? Who is she?"
"Jennyanydots," Cattivo answered.
"Jennyanydots!" Macavity clapped his paws together. "Oh, she is a wonderful queen. Tell me, how are her mice doing? Has she eaten any of them yet, or does she still coddle them?"
Plato and Cattivo stared at each other. Macavity knew their mother!?
Macavity put his arms around the brothers' shoulders, drawing them close. "I know everything about the Jellicles," he murmured into their ears. "I know who you two are. I know you have three other brothers who claim to be Jellicles, and a pawful of sisters who live coddled lives as house cats. I know your father is Simbol, the Jellicle Protector, and I know you two will be unbelievably valuable to us. But tell me, toms… where is your brother? Where is the third of your trio? Where is Alonzo?"
Plato frowned, trying to remember. Where was Alonzo? They had all been together at the theater, but then the Monniks came, and they started fighting… but Alonzo wasn't captured like Cattivo was, like he was. "Alonzo's safe," he said.
"Are you so sure?" Macavity asked, smirking at Plato.
"Yes," Plato answered, meeting Macavity's eyes.
"Would you stake your life on it?" Macavity pointed to Cattivo. "Would you stake his life on it?"
"W-what?" Plato looked between Macavity and Cattivo. "What do you mean?"
"You say your brother is safe. Would you stake this tom's life on that statement? Would you say that if Alonzo was not safe, I could kill this brother?" Macavity stepped closer to Cattivo, flicking out a claw and tracing it under Cattivo's chin.
"Um…" Plato bit his lip. He thought Alonzo was safe… but if Alonzo had participated in the fight, then he'd either have been captured… or killed. Unless he had escaped. "No." No, he wouldn't be willing to sacrifice Cattivo.
Macavity laughed. "Does dead count as safe?" he asked, before looking over at Hedrunkus. "The white and black patched tom, you three did kill him, correct?"
Hedrunkus looked back at Ruusu and Surripus, who shifted their paws and shrugged. "Yeah. Yeah, we killed him, just like we killed those other toms."
Plato felt his heart drop somewhere past his stomach. Alonzo was… dead? First Gus and Skimble, and now Alonzo… what sort of guardians were they, if they couldn't protect their family?"
Macavity turned back to Cattivo and Plato, smirking. "Still think he is safe?"
"W-what are you going to do with us?" Cattivo asked, his voice trembling slightly. Plato wanted to reach over and take his paw, but he was just as scared as his brother sounded.
"An excellent question, young Jellicle," Macavity purred. "Unfortunately, you are not allowed to ask questions. You have to be punished." He raised his paw and clawed Plato across the face.
Plato yelped as he felt Macavity draw blood, pulling away and pressing his paws to his cut nose. "What was that for?"
"You are not allowed to ask questions either," Macavity said, slashing at Cattivo with his other paw.
And Plato got it. If one of them asked a question, then the other would get hurt. He didn't want to be responsible for Cattivo getting injured, so he closed his mouth and glared at Macavity. He wouldn't ask any more questions.
"Good kitties," Macavity said, as Cattivo closed his mouth as well. "Quick learners. You two might have made good Monniks. Pity you are going to be used as bait instead."
Plato couldn't help himself. Before he could remember to be quiet, he had opened his mouth. "Bait for what?"
Macavity threw back his head and laughed. He laughed, long and cold and hard, as he raised his paws, pointing at both Jellicles. Plato watched Cattivo freeze up and slump over before everything went black.
It was so short, I decided to give you two! Yay!
Thank you again to everyone who has reviewed, everyone who has favorited, and to all you silent readers out there.