Jennyanydots and Skimbleshanks looked at Munkustrap as he sat outside in front of his den, a book open in his paws as his eyes skimmed over the text.
"At least he's keeping his mind occupied," Jenny murmured. Skimble sighed.
"I've never seen him so sad, even after Grizabella left," Skimble said quietly. Jenny nodded in agreement, picking up her knitting.
"I trust Deuteronomy, but I don't think he made the right choice, keeping them apart," Skimble continued. Jenny looked at him, she gave a small smile.
"I don't think he's done the right thing either," Jenny said quietly.
Munkustrap lifted his head when a shadow fell across his book. He looked up and saw Victoria standing in front of him, the other kittens grouped together a little distance away, staring at them.
"Munkustrap," Munkustrap frowned. They never called him by his name, they usually called him Munkus.
"Yes, Vicky?" Munkustrap said softly.
"How could you betray us?" She asked him. Munkustrap frowned.
"What?"
"How could you go with our enemy? You're meant to protect us and yet you go with him,"
"Don't talk about things you don't understand," Munkustrap told her sternly.
"How could you, Munkustrap?" Victoria cried. "You betrayed us all,"
"No, I did not, Victoria," Munkustrap hissed, his fur bristling. "What we had was nothing…nothing to do with the yard!" Munkustrap got his feet, towering over the smaller Queen.
"You have no idea what you're talking about, so do not say anything about it…you don't understand," Munkustrap growled before he marched back into his den. Munkustrap slumped onto his nest, growling angrily under his breath. He had had enough, he had had enough of everything! Munkustrap drew the small bear into his arms, hugging it tightly.
He knew Macavity had been in the yard last week, he had heard Demeter's cry…but he hadn't found him, he didn't even know…he had probably already moved on. Tears pricked at Munkustrap's eyes as he clutched the teddy tighter.
And now I'm all alone again nowhere to go, no one
to turn to
without a home, without a friend, without a face to say hello to
But now the night is near
And I can make believe he's here
Sometimes I walk alone at night
When everybody else is sleeping
I think of him and then I'm happy
With the company I'm keeping
The city goes to bed
And I can live inside my head
On my own
Pretending he's beside me
All alone
I walk with him till morning
Without him
I feel his arms around me
And when I lose my way I close my eyes
And he has found me
In the rain the pavement shines like silver
All the lights are misty in the river
In the darkness, the trees are full of starlight
And all I see is him and me forever and forever
And I know it's only in my mind
That I'm talking to myself and not to him
And although I know that he is blind
Still I say, there's a way for us
I love him
But when the night is over
He is gone
The river's just a river
Without him
The world around me changes
The trees are bare and everywhere
The streets are full of strangers
I love him
But every day I'm learning
All my life
I've only been pretending
Without me
His world would go on turning
A world that's full of happiness
That I have never known
I love him
I love him
I love him
But only on my own
Munkustrap curled up tighter, tears falling freely from his eyes now. He wanted to get out, he wanted to be free once more.
That night, he was dragged back to his den, his third attempt to escape had failed.
Munkustrap just hissed weakly at Gus as he told him off, before walking into his den and collapsing on the floor, just sitting and staring blankly. He didn't even care as tears fell down his cheeks, rolling down his face until they dropped off.
He felt so alone.
Macavity stormed around his lair, snarling angrily. His hench-cats threw themselves out of his way as he stormed down the hallways, his claws out. Griddlebone followed after him, following him into his room as he stalked inside. She closed and locked the door behind her, walking over to the mattress and sitting on it. She watched as Macavity paced.
"I hate him," Macavity growled.
"I know, Mac,"
"Why would he do that?"
"I don't know," She watched as Macavity suddenly looked vulnerable. She stood up, grabbing his paw and dragging him over to the mattress.
"He said he loved me and he wouldn't hurt me like Lucille did," Macavity mumbled. Griddlebone was shocked. She had never seen Macavity like this before.
"Why did he leave me like that?" Macavity asked, sounding broken. Griddlebone quickly pulled him into her arms, holding him tightly. He was shaking in her arms, but it was what happened next that shocked Griddlebone.
He gripped onto her fur and began sobbing.
Loud, broken, heart-aching sobs.
"I loved him!" Macavity sobbed. "And he just left me!"
Griddlebone wrapped her arms around him, rubbing his back.
"It's alright, Mac, it's alright," Griddlebone murmured in his ear, rocking him slightly.
"It'll be okay,"
"No…it won't," Macavity growled, suddenly breaking free from her embrace. Griddlebone sighed sadly when she saw the hate, pain and anger in his eyes.
"He's going to pay…they're all going to pay!"
Munkustrap sat up, tears still rolling down his cheeks as he heard someone enter his den the next day.
Four failed escape attempts in a month and a bit…why couldn't they get the hint and just let him go?
"Munkustrap," Munkustrap sighed.
Great…Dad was here.
"What did you think you were doing last night?" Deuteronomy asked.
"Getting away from this hell I'm in," Munkustrap growled, tears still falling from his eyes. Deuteronomy growled under his breath.
"Munkustrap, look at me," Munkustrap defiantly turned his head away, refusing to look at Old Deuteronomy.
"Munkustrap," Deuteronomy growled once more. Munkustrap shook his head, refusing to look at his father. Deuteronomy sat beside him, Munkustrap edged away.
"If you are going to act like a kitten, you will be treated as such," Deuteronomy told him angrily. He watched as Munkustrap stiffened.
"Now, are you going to look at me?"
"Leave me alone," Munkustrap said miserably.
"You leave me no choice," Deuteronomy grabbed Munkustrap's arm, pulling the shocked silver Tom over to him and across his lap. Munkustrap struggled.
"Dad, what the hell?" Munkustrap yelped, trying to break free.
"I told you, if you are going to act like a kitten, you will be treated as such," Deuteronomy repeated, lifting his large paw.
Five minutes later, Deuteronomy allowed Munkustrap up. Munkustrap quickly crawled away from him, tears pouring from his eyes and rough sobs escaping his throat.
He couldn't believe his dad had just…smacked him…like a misbehaving kitten. Munkustrap crawled away to his nest, feeling lower than ever. Munkustrap sniffled.
"I warned you, Munkustrap…now grow up," Deuteronomy said, following Munkustrap. Munkustrap just kept his head lowered; looking at the nest he was in.
"Do you understand me?"
"Yes, sir," Munkustrap whispered. Deuteronomy left the den. Munkustrap looked up, pain written in his eyes as he rubbed his butt. It burned a lot.
The next day, Munkustrap was allowed out from his den. He walked to the tyre and sat down, wincing.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Munkustrap barely looked at Coricopat as he came to sit beside him. Cori ignored Deuteronomy's glare as he talked to Munkustrap.
"Dad…he said I was acting like a kitten and deserved to be treated as such," Munkustrap mumbled.
"What did he do?" Cori asked slowly, shocked.
"Smacked me," Munkustrap mumbled. Cori was shocked.
"He didn't…?"
"Yeah, he did," Munkustrap sighed. "Now my butt is bruised,"
"Sorry, Munk," Munkustrap nodded and got to his feet.
"See you later, Cori," He sighed, walking down the steps. Cori winced when he saw the way Munkustrap held his tail slightly more to the right, trying to hide the large bruise.
"Hey, what's wrong with Munkustrap? Why's he holding his tail like that?" Cori looked at Tugger.
"Your dad smacked him," Cori growled. Tugger's eyes widened.
"Said that if he was acting like a kitten, he deserved to be treated as such,"
"B-But…Dad…but Munkus is a full-grown Tom!"
"I know, Tugger…but your dad is insane," Cori told Tugger. Tugger blinked.
"I went to talk to him about Munkustrap, the reason he split Munkustrap from Macavity was because it was working against his own expectations of Munkustrap," Cori was seething now.
"He didn't care that Munkustrap was unhappy, he just wanted him to have a Queen-friend and have kittens,"
"No," Tugger breathed, looking at Deuteronomy.
"Yes," Cori sighed heavily. "Then, he forbade me to talk to Munkustrap, which is why he's giving me death stares right now," Cori told Tugger, not looking at Deuteronomy. Tugger glanced at Deuteronomy.
"I'm going to go talk to Munks," Tugger said softly. Cori raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, Munk?" Munkustrap lifted his head, rubbing his eyes.
"What now, Tugger?" Munkustrap asked, his voice hoarse.
"I came to say I'm sorry," Munkustrap looked at Tugger. Tugger looked sheepish.
"I-I talked to Cori, he told me what Dad said and did," He watched as Munkustrap winced.
"And I know you now that you would have seen it if Macavity was just playing you, I'm so sorry, Munkus," Munkustrap lifted his arms. Tugger quickly walked to sit beside him and let himself be hugged tightly.
"I'm sorry," Tugger whispered. Munkustrap gave a small smile, nuzzling his brother gently.
Coricopat padded over to his sister, who was dozing against Admetus.
"Hey, Tants?" He whispered. Tantomile opened her eyes sleepily.
"Mm?"
"I need your help,"
"For what?"
"To help Munkustrap," Tantomile's eyes opened fully and she gave a nod.
"Of course, what do I have to do?"
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Song is On My Own from Les Mis…
Naw, poor Munkus! I'll try to update tomorrow but I have rehearsals after school but I'll see what I can do!
Thanks to those who reviewed!
Please read and review!
Luv HGP!
