Cori looked at the four standing in front of him, glancing at the four standing to the side occasionally. Plato leered at him, grinning satanically. From the corner of his eye, Cori could see Misto whisper something to Pounce and Tumble, who quickly took off, however Plato's, Bill Bailey's, Victor's and George's attention were too focused on Coricopat to notice.

"Well, where have you been?" George asked, his voice rough. "We've missed you around the yard," Cori looked at him coldly.

"Something's different about him," Victor spoke up.

"Yes…he seems…happy?" Bill laughed. Cori straightened up, glaring at them.

"That's because I am," Cori hissed at them. They all stopped laughing and stared at him.

"What…selling yourself on the streets is making you happy?" George howled with laughter.

"No, living with Macavity has," Cori snarled at them. That sobered them up.

"Ah, you're Macavity's plaything now," Victor muttered.

"No, he loves me," Cori snapped. "I don't need to do anything bad to myself, disgust myself or hate myself…I'm not that damn Tom I was," Plato's eyes hardened.

"But you're going to again, aren't you?" Plato hissed. "For us?"

"Shove off," Cori snarled at him. Cori watched as the four converged on him. Cori jumped up, grabbing the tree branch above his head and rolling over it, like a human gymnast does. Cori settled down on the branch and stared down at the four underneath him.

"Guys, c'mon, just leave Cori alone," Admetus spoke up, quickly walking to stand in front of the tree.

"Move, Admetus," Bill snarled.

"No…guys, this is just sick, just leave Cori alone…he's been through enough," Admetus stood his ground.

"Move," Bill hissed, moving forward.

"No," Admetus said bravely.

"Last chance, Addie," Plato told him.

"Move your damn ass," Victor snarled. Admetus shook his head. Cori looked down at Admetus in shock. Bill, being one of the bigger Toms, curled his paw into the fist. Cori watched in shock as Admetus was punched under the jaw, his head snapping back. Admetus stumbled back and fell down into the ditch, rolling down and until finally coming to a stop at the bottom and going still.

"Addie!" Misto cried, sliding down the ditch to rest beside Admetus. He gently shook Admetus trying to wake him. Cori startled suddenly, he had been so focused on Admetus, he hadn't realised Victor, the nimble one, climb up the tree.

"Bye bye," Victor laughed, shoving Cori off the branch. Cori fell heavily onto the ground below. Plato moved forward, kicking Cori onto his back as he went to get up.

"Leave me alone!" Cori pleaded. Plato laughed, falling to his knees in front of Cori as Victor, George and Bill fell to hold Cori down. Plato moved forward. Cori began crying, shaking and pleading, bad memories coming back.

"Get away from him you savages!" Pained yelps, cries and howls suddenly erupted.

"Get your tails back to the yard, I'll deal with you later!" Cori heard Munkustrap bellow.

"Yeah, as if you're gonna do anything…traitor," Another yowl.

"What was that, George?" Munkustrap hissed.

"Nothing…sir," George stammered.

"Scram!" Munkustrap yelled. Cori blinked and saw Munkustrap was hovering above him.

"Cori, are you okay?" Munkustrap asked worriedly. "I came as soon as Pounce and Tumble told me," Cori nodded, sitting up.

"J-Just shaken, Munk…Addie needs your help more," Cori murmured. Munkustrap nodded and quickly slipped down the ditch to help Admetus. Cori drew his knees to his chest, tears beginning to form. He could hear Admetus talking softly, so he knew Admetus was awake now. He startled when paws rested on his shoulders.

"Let's get you back to Macavity," Munkustrap murmured, helping Cori up. Tears were falling thick and fast down Cori's cheeks.

"I'm so sorry, Cori…" Munkustrap told him. Cori rubbed his eyes, a sob escaping his control.

"Y-You saved me, Munk," Cori sobbed. Munkustrap sighed and looked over at Misto and Admetus, who was standing off to the side.

"Actually, it's Misto and Admetus you should thank…they sent Pounce and Tumble to get me," Munkustrap murmured into Cori's ear. Cori looked at them, hiccupping.

"T-Thank you," Cori whispered. Admetus and Misto gave sad smiles.

"C-Cori, I'm sorry I didn't stop them the first time…I-I just couldn't, you know?" Admetus apologized. Cori nodded.

"Whoa, is everything okay?" The four looked around as Tugger ran up to them.

"Those idiotic four just came, blabbing about you ruining their fun, Munk…and then Tumble and Pounce told me what was happening, so I ran here," Tugger rushed. Munkustrap nodded. The five slowly walked off towards Macavity's hide-out. Cori pushed open the door to the throne room. Macavity looked around and his eyes widened when he took in Cori's state. He ran forward to Cori, examining his face closely.

"What happened?" Macavity asked, wrapping his arms around Cori.

"They…they tried to attack me again," Cori whispered in Macavity's chest. Macavity stiffened, a snarl escaping his throat. Macavity rounded on Munkustrap.

"Why didn't you stop them?" He yelled.

"I did…" Munkustrap said calmly.

"No, why haven't you killed the bastards?" Macavity snarled.

"Because…because they're still Jellicles," Munkustrap murmured. "And I've been told to back down," Macavity's eyes narrowed as he took in Munkustrap's appearance properly. The right side of Munkustrap's face was partly bruised and was puffy, his right light blue eye was a little swollen and a little bloodshot. It looked like it had just begun to heal

"Cori, take the others for a walk…I want to talk to Munkustrap and Tugger," Macavity told him. Cori nodded and beckoned for Admetus and Misto to follow him. They walked from the room. Cori looked at Admetus and Misto as they walked down the hallway.

"What happened to Munkustrap's face?" Cori asked. Admetus and Misto exchanged looks.

"We don't know," Misto answered. "He went to see Old Deuteronomy about, well, about you…and when he came back, his face was cut and bruising, and his lips were bleeding,"

"He refused to say anything about it," Admetus added, sighing.

"Old Deuteronomy did that to him?" Cori asked, shocked. Admetus shrugged.

"It would seem so," Misto murmured. Cori was shocked.

"Things have changed that much?" Cori asked. Admetus nodded, sighing once more.

"Munkustrap doesn't exactly have the authority he used to…he still is the Protector, but he's basically doing it alone, long hours…and no one listens to him, or they give him a hard time," Admetus told Cori.

"Poor Munk,"

"Tugger's also gotten crap about it as well," Misto added, looking at Admetus. Admetus nodded in agreement.

"He's lost his fan club, and none of the Queens even look at him…not to mention he keeps being attacked by Plato and his gang," Cori's eyes widened. "Don't worry, Munkustrap finds them and stops them before they seriously hurt him,"

Munkustrap walked in a few weeks later, going to visit Cori…and Macavity, surprisingly enough. Macavity wasn't as bad as he used to be. Munkustrap walked into the throne room and paused. Macavity was sitting in the over-stuffed chair he called a throne, with Cori sitting on his lap, arms wrapped around his neck. Macavity was staring at Cori, eyebrow raised. Cori grinned impishly at him. Munkustrap saw how young Cori actually looked, at the moment he did look his age. Cori was younger than Plato but just older than Tumble and Misto. In human terms, maybe in his late teens, early twenties. Macavity and Cori both looked over as they heard Munkustrap enter. Cori grinned as Macavity blushed slightly, pushing Cori off of his lap and onto the seat next to him. Cori pouted but swung his legs around so they were resting across Macavity's. Munkustrap walked further in. A little while later, they all ended up lounging on the floor, with Macavity lying on his back and Cori using his stomach as a pillow. Munkustrap remained sitting, but was leaning back onto his arms. Macavity tilted his head suddenly, his dark red eyes glinting. He reached out suddenly and pulled on Munkustrap's leg. Munkustrap fell back from the sudden pull. Macavity sat up, examining the long, deep scratches on Munkustrap's inner leg.

"Who did this to you?" Macavity asked, staring at the scratches. Cori rolled over, perching himself so he could see. Macavity pulled Munkustrap closer, his eyes closely examining Munkustrap's flesh as he moved the fur around. Deep bruises also marked Munkustrap's body.

"Who, Munkustrap?" Macavity asked. Munkustrap sighed, shaking his head. Macavity's eyes narrowed as he caught sight of a certain wound, behind Munkustrap's left shoulder. That was a familiar mark.

"It was Demeter, wasn't it?" Macavity asked. Cori stared at Munkustrap, shocked. Munkustrap nodded.

"Manipulative little thing isn't she?" Macavity muttered bitterly, leaning back, though his eyes were fixed on Munkustrap's wounds. Munkustrap nodded.

"What am I supposed to do though?" Munkustrap asked, looking at the stone floor. "I can't fight back, or she'd say I attacked her," Macavity nodded. Cori was still in shock that Munkustrap was being abused by Demeter…it's Demeter, the one was supposed abused by Macavity.

"You never hurt her…did you?" Munkustrap asked, looking at Macavity. Macavity gave a small shake of his head.

"Other than when she hit me, I pushed her away…maybe the occasional slap, but the other thing she claimed I did to her…I never did," Macavity told him. Munkustrap nodded.

"Leave her, Munk," Cori said suddenly. Munkustrap gave a wry smile.

"If it was only that easy, Cori," He sighed. "Dad's already pissed off at me as it is…I leave Demeter, I'm as good as dead," Macavity sighed, leaning back, Cori instantly resting his head back on Macavity's stomach. Macavity chuckled, stroking Cori's ears. Munkustrap smiled at them both, they both looked happy…they finally found one another.

"You know," Macavity started. "You're always welcome to leave the yard and stay here with Cori and me," Munkustrap blinked in surprise. Macavity glanced at him, at the dumfounded expression on Munkustrap's face.

"Ah, you're not so bad after all," Macavity laughed. Munkustrap smiled, leaning back.

"Maybe I will leave the yard…it's not the same," Munkustrap murmured bitterly. Cori looked at Macavity. Macavity was looked back down at him. Cori felt uneasy. The yard was fine until he and Tantomile went for that fateful walk…when she had been hit by that car. Then everything started changing. Munkustrap being ordered around by Deuteronomy, being beaten by both Deuteronomy and Demeter…things just weren't the same.

Cori skulked around the junkyard, waiting for Tugger. He wanted to ask how Munkustrap was going. Munkustrap hadn't been back in a long while, and Cori was worried.

"What are you doing here?" Cori leapt into the air at the sound of the voice. He had been so enrapt in his own thoughts, he never heard them coming. Cori turned around and looked.

"Jennyanydots, Skimbleshanks," Cori murmured, looking at them both. Skimble's eyes were impassive as they stared at him. Jenny looked a little sad…but unsure at the same time.

"What are ya doin' here, lad?" Skimble asked. Cori looked from one to the other. He knew it wasn't wise to lie to them.

"Seeing Tugger," Cori answered. "If I can find him,"

"Why do ya want to see him?" Skimble questioned.

"I need to tell him something,"

"Which is?" Cori rolled his eyes; this was beginning to sound like an interrogation.

"Private," Cori answered evenly. Skimble gave a slow nod.

"Why did you go to Macavity, Cori?" Jenny asked sadly.

"Because there I don't get hurt," Cori answered smoothly. "There I'm treated like an equal, not as the scum of the earth…he's happy that I wasn't hit by the car,"

"Cori, a lot of us were glad you weren't hit," Jenny told him. Cori shook his head, angry tears threatening to spill from his eyes.

"No, I've heard you say 'Why did it have to be Tantomile?'" Cori whispered. "Everyone wishes it was me that was hit by the car,"

"Cori, when I said that, I didn't mean I wanted you dead…I just wished Tantomile hadn't been hit," Cori turned his head away.

"Why'd you have to betray us though?" Jenny continued on. Cori stiffened.

"I didn't betray you," Cori hissed. "The Jellicles betrayed me!" Jenny sighed, shaking her head before taking Skimble's paw and walking away.

"Hey, Cori," Cori turned around, seeing the cat he had come here to see.

"Hey, where's Munk?" Cori asked. Tugger sighed.

"Dad came a few days ago and took him away…we haven't seen him in days," Tugger mumbled sadly. Cori flinched.

"W-When he comes back, make sure Demeter doesn't hurt him," Cori warned him. Tugger frowned. Cori nodded.

"Demeter's abusing him…Munk can't fight back because he knows that she'd say he was attacking her," Cori murmured. Tugger nodded, patting Cori's shoulder.

"Be careful, Cori," Tugger sighed before walking off. Cori nodded and walked from the yard, back towards the safety of Macavity. He was worried about Munkustrap though…maybe Macavity would know what to do.

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This keeps going on longer than I had originally planned it to be, ha ha ha…Updates might become a little scarce from Monday…because on Wednesday I start exams, so I kinda need to study and stuff like that…well, maybe :D

Thanks to everyone who reviewed so far! I love reviews, they're awesome!

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Luv HGP!