Tumble stretched out a few mornings later, groaning as his muscles protested the movement.
"Morning, Tumbles,"
"Morning, Cori...Munku," Tumble added a few seconds later. He smirked as he heard the silver Tom chuckle slightly. Tumble rubbed his eyes, yawning.
"How are you, Tumbles?" Cori asked as he gingerly sat up, rubbing his bruised stomach.
"I'm okay...how's your stomach?" Tumble asked, wincing as he caught sight of Cori's darkly bruised stomach.
"It's fine," Cori gave a weak smile.
"Are you sure?" Tumble questioned, seeing the pain hidden in the mystics green eyes.
"I'm sure, Tumble," Cori answered softly. Munkustrap pulled his soon-to-be mate close, nuzzling at his neck reassuringly. Tumble frowned when he watched Cori slip his paw into Munkustrap's. Munkustrap sighed sadly, drawing the mystic into his arms and holding him close. Tumble silently got to his feet and left, getting the feeling to leave these two be.
"Cori," Munkustrap murmured.
"The feeling is getting worse, Munk," Cori murmured, scared. Munkustrap held Cori close.
"Have you spoken to Tantomile about it?"
"Yes...she doesn't feel anything when she sees Tumble, so she's not sure if it's centred around him...but when I let her look at my emotions, she felt the danger, and it was definitely around Tumble," Cori explained. Munkustrap sighed, gently rubbing Cori's bruised stomach.
"We'll protect him, Cori...we will,"
"But what do we need to protect him from?" Cori asked sadly. Munkustrap sighed, his breath rushing against Cori's small ears.
"I don't know, love," Munkustrap murmured. Cori sighed, burying his face in Munkustrap's neck. Munkustrap winced as he felt Cori's body begin to give small heaves. He knew Cori was hurting with the knowledge something bad was going to happen to Tumbles.
"Shh, it's alright, Cori...it'll be okay," Munkustrap soothed him softly. Cori gave a small sob, tightening his hug on Munkustrap. Munkustrap purred softly, trying to reassure and comfort Cori.
Two days later, Cori and Munkustrap took Tumble to the park, having received word that Macavity could see Tumble. Cori and Munkustrap gave a small smile as Tumble bounded off, almost tackling the lean ginger Tom in a hug. Macavity laughed, nuzzling as Tumble's neck lovingly.
"Three hours," Munkustrap murmured. Macavity nodded, taking Tumble's paw and walking off with him. Cori shuddered suddenly.
"Cori?" Munkustrap asked, worried.
"I-It's nothing, Munk," Cori said breathlessly.
"Cori..."
"Don't worry, Munku," Cori murmured before heading over to the oak tree, sitting down and curling up in the shade. Munkustrap went up and curled around him, gently nuzzling at the scruff of his neck.
"Down, Munkus," Cori groaned, swatting at Munkustrap's nose. Munkustrap chuckled, gently nipping Cori's scruff.
"Munkus," Cori growled, swatting at Munkustrap again. Munkustrap nuzzled his tom friend gently.
"Come on, Cori," Munkustrap purred. "Every thing will be okay," Cori sighed heavily at that, but turned so he could tuck his head under Munkustrap's. Munkustrap purred, the sound resounding through his chest.
Macavity and a relaxed looking Tumble returned a few hours later. Tumble threw his arms around Macavity's neck, holding him close as Cori and Munkustrap slowly got to their feet. Cori stiffened suddenly.
"Cori...what's wrong?" Munkustrap asked as Cori started turning his head, searching for something.
"We're being watched," Cori hissed softly, his green eyes narrowing. Macavity stiffened, shielding Tumblebrutus in his arms.
"M-Mac?"
"It's alright, Brutus," Macavity murmured, his red eyes darting around, trying to find who was watching them.
"They...they're gone," Cori said a few moments later. Macavity and Munkustrap looked at each other worriedly.
"Get him home, get him safe," Macavity told Munkustrap before he hugged Tumble tightly once more.
"Mac..." Tumble murmured, nuzzling Macavity. Macavity kissed him softly.
"It'll be okay...just go home and stay safe," Macavity murmured in his ear, hugging him tightly. Tumble nodded.
"Love you," Tumble murmured.
"Love you too, Brutus," Macavity murmured, gently rubbing Tumble's back. Macavity reluctantly let go of Tumble.
"Protect him, Munk," Macavity said. Munkustrap nodded.
"Of course," Tumble walked over to Cori, where the mystic immediately hugged him. Tumble hugged him back, but turned his head to watch Macavity leave. Cori tightened his hold on Tumble.
"Cori...what's wrong?" Tumble asked worriedly, not used to seeing the mystic act so clingy or look so worried.
"N-Nothing, Tumble...nothing," Cori murmured before he passed Tumble to Munkustrap so Munkus could groom him.
Once Munkustrap had thoroughly groomed Tumble, they went back to the yard. Munkustrap watched worriedly as Cori's face grew more and more worried and panicked as they got closer to the yard.
"Cori?" Munkustrap questioned softly, taking his mate's paw in his own. Cori was shaking.
"Munk, what's happening?" Tumble asked, frightened, as he took in Cori's paling face.
"I-It's nothing, Tumble...he's...he's just getting feelings that are worrying him," Munkustrap said softly. Cori was shaking.
"Come on, let's get you to our den," Munkustrap murmured to Cori, wrapping a supportive arm around his shoulders. Cori nodded and allowed Munkustrap to lead him away. Tumble frowned before he headed off, letting Cori and Munkustrap be alone.
Munkustrap nuzzled Cori as he held him close. Cori was shaking and was pale in his arms.
"Shh, Cori...shh," Munkustrap soothed. Cori was trembling uncontrollably.
"Oh, baby, it's going to be okay,"
"It's happening...soon," Cori said hoarsely.
"Munkustrap," Munkustrap looked around, surprised to see his father standing in the doorway.
"Dad," Munkustrap said, surprised, as he readjusted his hold on the trembling Tom in his arms.
"I need to have a word with you,"
"Uh...can it wait?" Munkustrap asked, looking back at Cori. Deuteronomy sighed.
"I'm afraid not,"
"I-It's alright, Munkus...go," Cori stammered.
"Will you be okay?" Munkustrap asked, concerned. Cori nodded.
"G-Go," Cori smiled weakly. Munkustrap nuzzled him reassuringly.
"I'll be back soon...why don't you go find Tumbles?" Munkustrap said softly. Cori nodded, shakily getting to his feet.
"Sir," Cori murmured respectfully as he walked past the leader. Deuteronomy nodded at him. Munkustrap stood up, looking at his dad.
"What did you want to talk about, Dad?" Munkustrap asked, slightly agitated. Deuteronomy looked at him.
"Why are you agitated, Munkus?" Deuteronomy asked as he sat down on a cushion. Munkustrap sighed, sitting on a cushion across from him.
"I'm worried about Cori...he's been having feelings, premonitions somewhat, and he's scared,"
"Scared for himself?" Deuteronomy questioned softly. "For you?"
"For Tumblebrutus...he feels something bad is going to happen to him," Munkustrap explained. Deuteronomy sighed heavily.
"He wasn't wrong then," Munkustrap's ears twitched at that.
"What?"
"Coricopat wasn't wrong," Deuteronomy said, staring into Munkustrap's blue eyes.
"D-Dad, what do you mean?" Munkustrap asked, worried.
"I had..." Deuteronomy frowned for a moment. "I had Skimbleshanks, Jenny and Asparagus come up to me today, to tell me something," Deuteronomy began explaining. Munkustrap's heart plummeted just at that sentence.
"They told me something interesting, Munkustrap...Skimble and Jenny have known for a while, they admitted that to me, but they were unsure if it was just a kitten-crush or something else," Deuteronomy sighed and looked at Munkustrap sternly.
"However, Asparagus knows for sure it isn't...having seen Tumblebrutus and Macavity in the park together today...along with you and Coricopat," Munkustrap lowered his head, looking at his paws.
"How long has this been going on, Munkustrap?"
"A few weeks," Munkustrap murmured. "Since Macavity took Tumbles,"
"And why haven't you stopped it, Munkus?"
"Because they really love each other, Dad...and there's no way I'd break them up...and...and it would kill Tumblebrutus and Macavity if they were separated for too long," Munkustrap said, lifting his eyes to look at his dad.
"What do you mean?"
"Tumble and Macavity are like me and Cori," Munkustrap murmured.
"Soul mates," Deuteronomy murmured just as quietly. Munkustrap nodded.
"It came into effect when Macavity kidnapped Tumbles," Munkustrap explained quietly.
"Dad...what are you going to do to Tumblebrutus?" Munkustrap asked a few moments later, hesitant.
"He's going to be banished, Munkustrap,"
"You can't do that!" Munkustrap cried. "He's just a kid!" Deuteronomy looked at Munkustrap sternly.
"As Jellicle Leader it's my job to make sure the Jellicles are looked after, and it's your job as Protector to make sure things like this do not happen!" Old Deuteronomy growled. Munkustrap lowered his head.
"How can I stop something no one has any control over?" Munkustrap asked quietly.
"Enough, Munkustrap," Deuteronomy sighed. "Tumblebrutus has to be banished, it's the rule,"
"Dad...he's just a kid," Munkustrap croaked. "He's in love...and Macavity is basically all he has...his parents kicked him out, his brother hates him, the kittens refuse to talk to him," Munkustrap sighed.
"He only has Cori, me and some of the other Toms...no one else in this yard," Deuteronomy shook his head.
"It has to be done, Munkustrap," Deuteronomy said softly. "And you better get used to doing things like this...you'll have to do things you don't like once you take over from me,"
"Dad...please...just reconsider," Munkustrap pleaded. "Tumble's become so close to Cori and I, we can't lose him,"
"I'm sorry, Munkustrap...it has to be done," Old Deuteronomy told him. Munkustrap lowered his head.
"I need you to gather the tribe,"
"No,"
"What was that?" Deuteronomy asked, shocked.
"No...I won't," Munkustrap croaked, looking at his dad. "I'm not going to gather the tribe in order to have something I really don't want to happen be carried out." Deuteronomy sighed.
"I shall do it myself then," Deuteronomy told him. "It will happen, Munkustrap...there is no way to stop it,"
"Now come on," Deuteronomy said sternly. Munkustrap slowly rose to his feet, following his father from the den. Deuteronomy murmured something to Alonzo, who nodded and went to gather the tribe.
"On the tyre with me, Munkustrap," Deuteronomy ordered. Munkustrap sighed, glancing at Cori, who was looking at him worriedly. Munkustrap just looked at him sadly before he walked onto the tyre. He lowered his head as the Jellicles gathered.
"Tumblebrutus!" Deuteronomy called. Munkustrap heard Cori's gasp and he knew that Cori knew that it was bad.
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I feel terrible for not updating...but I've run out of ideas for this one...I have plenty of ideas for the fic that I'm hesitant about uploading...and for one after that...but this one, I'm at a loss...so if it takes a while to update, I'm so sorry!
Thanks to those who reviewed!
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Luv HGP!