Macavity looked down at the young Tom in his arms as Tumblebrutus stirred slightly. In his drifting state, Tumblebrutus wrapped his arms around Macavity's neck, trying not to fall. Macavity felt the grip slacken slightly and knew Tumblebrutus was unconscious again. Macavity gave a smirk, burying his nose into the top of Tumble's head fur. He inhaled Tumblebrutus's scent.

There was just something about it; it drew Macavity to the young Tom.

Macavity walked into his lair and down the hallways. He pushed open the door to a room with his foot and walked inside, placing Tumblebrutus on the sleek wooden floor. Tumblebrutus groaned, his head rolling from side to side. Macavity stared at Tumblebrutus, tilting his head as he watched the young Tom trying to wake up. Macavity frowned as he felt his heart give a sudden ache. He rubbed his chest, frowning.

Why was he feeling like this so suddenly?

Macavity focused back on the young Tom as he suddenly groaned. Macavity looked at Tumblebrutus, watching as those blue-green eyes suddenly opened and found him. Macavity's heart gave a lurch as he looked into those eyes.

Macavity blinked hard.

What the hell was happening to him?

"M-Macavity," Tumblebrutus whispered, scared. Tumblebrutus stared at the Hidden Paw, who smirked at him. He stared into Macavity's dark red eyes and felt scared…he suddenly got the feeling he would never see home again.

"Tumblebrutus, right?" Tumble flinched at the sound of Macavity's voice. It was smooth but cold.

"It's not wise not to answer me, kitten,"

"Y-Yes…my name is Tumblebrutus," Tumble whispered. Macavity watched as his blue green eyes turned defiant.

"And I'm not a kitten!" Macavity laughed at that. Tumble recoiled but slowly sat up. He stared at Macavity, scared, his heart racing. Macavity came closer to him, crouching down beside him. Tumble looked at his paws, trying to slow down his breathing.

"So scared, Tumblebrutus," Macavity's voice purred by his ear. Tumble trembled, his heart racing. Tumble's nose gave a twitch as he smelt something sweet…it smelt like the woods he went to when he wanted to be alone.

Macavity tilted his head as he looked at Tumblebrutus. His nose twitched again as he caught Tumblebrutus's scent.

It was intoxicating…Macavity breathed in deeply. He knew what Tumblebrutus's scent was like now…it was like pine trees.

"W-What are you going to do to me?" Macavity was snapped out of his thoughts when Tumblebrutus voiced his scared question.

"Hmm, I'm not sure just yet," Macavity purred, watching as Tumblebrutus gave a shudder.

"Boss," Macavity gave a loud sigh, looking at Tumblebrutus once more before getting to his feet and stalking from the room. Tumble winced at the slammed door before burying his face into his paws.

"Munkus…help," He whispered.

Munkustrap stared around the yard, at the bits of wreckage left by the fight. He sighed heavily as he watched the hurt Jellicles cry and sob, as others tried to clean and treat their wounds.

"Munk," Munkustrap turned and looked at Alonzo. Alonzo was looking around the yard grimly.

"Is everyone accounted for?" Munkustrap asked.

"Everyone except…"

"Munkustrap!" Munkustrap turned around and looked at Jennyanydots as she quickly hurried towards him.

"Jenny, what's wrong?" Munkustrap asked, seeing how frantic she looked.

"I can't find Tumblebrutus!" She cried. Munkustrap turned to Alonzo.

"That's who is unaccounted for," Alonzo told him.

"Gather the Toms," Munkustrap ordered. Alonzo nodded and went around, finding the Toms that were unhurt enough to help with the search.

"We'll find him, Jenny…I told him to hide, he probably doesn't know it's safe enough to come back yet," Munkustrap told Jenny softly. Jenny nodded.

Tugger, Admetus, Plato, Coricopat, Mungojerrie and Alonzo appeared moments later.

"Let's go," Munkustrap said. They nodded and spread out.

A little while into the search, Admetus yelled out. The Toms quickly hurried to Admetus, with Jenny and Skimble close behind them. Admetus looked at Munkustrap sorrowfully as Munkustrap walked into the clearing.

"Blood…it's Tumblebrutus's," Admetus told Munkustrap, pointing at some blood on the ground. Munkustrap winced as he heard Jenny's cry.

"A-And, Munku," Admetus hesitated.

"What is it, Addie?"

"Whose scent is in the air?" Munkustrap sniffed and growled, his hackles rising.

"Macavity," Munkustrap growled. He winced at the sound of a wail from Jenny. Munkustrap turned and looked at Jenny. Jenny looked at him, tears pouring from her eyes.

"This is your fault," She whispered. Munkustrap startled.

"It's not his fault," Tugger growled. The others watched as Coricopat walked to Munkustrap, putting his paws on Munkustrap's shoulders as he glared at Jenny over Munkus's shoulder.

"He should have never taught Tumblebrutus how to fight!" She wailed.

"If he didn't, there's a good chance Tumble would be here…dead," Tugger snapped, standing in front of the shocked Munkustrap. Skimble sighed and led the sobbing Jenny away.

"I-I didn't…" Munkustrap stammered, shocked. Cori just squeezed Munkustrap's shoulders.

"It's not your fault," Cori told him softly as Munkustrap looked over his shoulder to look at Cori. He gave a small nod and gave Cori a thankful nuzzle. Cori gave a soft purr before stepping away from Munkustrap, allowing Tugger to talk to him.

"D-Did I do this?" Munkustrap asked, glancing at the blood on the ground.

"Munk," Tugger growled. Munkustrap just stared at the blood.

"If I hadn't taught him how to fight…would he have fought Macavity and the hench-cats?"

"Munkustrap, you have no idea what happened here…Tumble probably fought for self-defence…and, Munku, if you hadn't of taught him, he'd probably be here dead," Tugger told him firmly. Munkustrap looked at Tugger and gave a nod.

"We've gotta find him, Tugs,"

"We will, Munku," Tugger looked at Coricopat, who was the only one remaining as the others had left with Jenny. Cori looked at him and gave a small nod. Tugger walked away, glancing behind him. Cori had walked up to Munkustrap and had wrapped his arms around him, resting his head against Munkustrap's shoulder as Munkustrap stared at the blood on the ground, looking troubled.

Macavity blinked, watching as the sun rose over the town. It had been a day now since he had abducted Tumblebrutus from the Jellicles…and yet, he was still confused about why he had let the young Tom live…and why he felt so drawn to the young Tom.

He hummed and decided to go see how young Tumblebrutus was faring.

Tumble waited by the side of door, just waiting for someone to come through it. He couldn't stay here anymore…he had to get home before Macavity decided to kill him.

A hench-cat walked through and Tumble grabbed him, hitting him across the face before racing from the room, slamming the door closed behind him. He had just turned down a hallway when he collided with someone. Tumble looked up from where he had fallen onto the stone floor. He gave a whimper when he looked up at the fuming Macavity towering above him. Macavity reached down, grabbing the scruff of Tumble's neck before dragging the struggling Tom back to the cell. He tossed Tumblebrutus back into the cell with force and Tumble skidded across the sleek wooden floor.

Tumble quickly rolled over and sat up, looking at Macavity fearfully. Macavity looked at the hench-cat who Tumblebrutus had locked into the cell.

"Don't kill him…I need him alive," Macavity ordered him. Tumblebrutus made a choked noise. Macavity looked at him before stalking from the room, closing the door behind him. Macavity winced when he heard a yelp and a cry of pain. He sighed, his heart aching once more, before walking away.

He came back an hour later, when the hench-cat had come to see him to tell him the prisoner had been punished…and was still breathing. Macavity opened the door and saw Tumble curled up in the corner, sobbing softly. Macavity walked over to him, crouching beside him and grabbing his chin. He turned Tumblebrutus's head towards him and winced. Tumbles face was bruised and cut, tears streaming down his cheeks. Macavity wiped the brown patch on Tumble's face, wiping away the tears.

"Don't try something stupid like that again," Macavity growled. "Or I will change my mind about keeping you alive," Tumble gave a nod, giving a rough sob. Tumble startled when Macavity pulled him closer, giving a small tsk as he looked over Tumblebrutus's wounds. Tumble startled once again as Macavity's rough tongue hit a wound on his shoulder. He jerked away but Macavity gripped him tightly, pulling him back.

"Don't do that again," Macavity growled, but his heart was thumping in his chest as Tumble was pulled close to him.

"W-What are you doing?" Tumble asked, his voice weak.

"Cleaning your wounds,"

"Why?"

"Because I don't want them to get infected and have you die before I'm done with you," Macavity explained, pausing briefly in the cleaning on Tumblebrutus's wounds.

Also, another reason was to get close to the young Tom…that scent was unbelievable!

Tumble just sat and let Macavity clean his wounds, not wanting to anger the Tom who was holding his life in his claws. Macavity turned the young Tom around quickly, startling him before Macavity started cleaning the wounds on Tumble's front. Macavity finished and moved back a little, looking at Tumblebrutus, who was staring at his paws. Tumble's heart was beating fast in his chest…bast, he was terrified.

"Hungry, Tumblebrutus?" Tumble startled as Macavity questioned him softly.

"No," Tumble lied, not wanting to seem weak. Macavity smirked as Tumblebrutus stomach gave a loud rumble. Macavity chuckled softly as Tumblebrutus blushed furiously.

"Seems your stomach thinks otherwise," Macavity said, his voice smooth. He called out to a hench-cat as Tumble growled at himself angrily, angry that he showed weakness. He startled as something was waved in front of his face. Tumblebrutus blinked and focused on the rat being waved in front of his face.

"Eat," Macavity said, pushing the rat into Tumblebrutus's paws. Tumble looked at the rat before looking at Macavity. Macavity was staring at him, his dark red eyes looking confused as he stared at Tumblebrutus. Tumble exhaled before he slowly ate the rat, grateful for the food. Macavity gave a small smile as he watched Tumblebrutus eat before catching himself.

Why was he smiling?

Macavity leaned back and watched Tumblebrutus carefully. Tumble finished the rat and looked at Macavity, staring into the dark red eyes.

They looked different…not so empty anymore.
Macavity tilted his head as the blue-green eyes suddenly met his dark red eyes. Tumble's blue-green eyes were deep…Macavity felt himself getting slightly lost in the innocence of them. He blinked hard and looked back at Tumblebrutus, who was staring at him still, looking confused. Macavity focused back on Tumblebrutus, but let his thoughts drift.

"Tell me, Tumblebrutus," The young Tom looked at him. "Why are you a loner?" Macavity frowned when he watched Tumblebrutus look away, clasping his paws in his lap.

"Tumblebrutus?"

"Because they don't like me," Tumblebrutus murmured finally.

"Why not?"

"I don't know," Tumble whispered. Macavity sat up, looking intently at Tumblebrutus.

"What do they say?"

"That I smell," Tumble admitted. "And they don't want to be around me," Tumblebrutus was surprised at the sound of a low growl. He looked around and saw Macavity looking murderous. Tumble shrunk back slightly in fear.

Macavity was furious.

How dare they say his Tumblebrutus smelt bad?

…Wait…his Tumblebrutus?

Macavity was shocked that he had even thought that…he looked at Tumblebrutus who was shrinking back slightly, looking fearful. Macavity blinked and realised that he probably looked mad as hell, he sighed and relaxed, watching as Tumble did the same. Macavity got to his feet, looking at Tumblebrutus once more, confused, before he left the room.

Tumblebrutus watched as Macavity left the room and gave a shiver as he suddenly felt very much alone.

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Hmm...I wonder what's going on? Hehehe...

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