"Let's talk escape plans," Munkustrap sat in the middle of the clearing – Bombalurina and Alonzo stretched out on their bellies in front of him.
It had been a few hours since Jenny had gone into labour. The kittens were on edge and dawn was approaching. He was born – they knew that for sure, as Asparagus and Skimbleshanks were allowed inside the den almost an hour ago. Old Deuteronomy had entered the den shortly after as well. The kittens were bored and restless and Munkustrap was trying to distract them.
"Well…the junkyard is pretty big now…" Bombalurina mused, "Maybe we won't need to… escape. Just hide?"
Munkustrap frowned, "But what if the henchtoms come looking?"
Alonzo stretched out, jaws wide in a huge yawn, "Won't happen. We'll protect them, Munk…"
Munkustrap gave him a tense smile. "It's not enough," he breathed, "If Macavity comes back, we need a plan. For the kittens to scatter, and then… a rendezvous point if nobody calls the all clear….What about tunnels?"
"We're cats, Munkustrap. We don't dig…"
Munkustrap rolled his eyes, "Come on, think!"
"It's a good plan… the kittens hide, and if nobody calls out to them, they all run into the woods? Regroup, renew. All over again." Bombalurina nodded, standing up in support.
Munkustrap sighed at their sheeplike attitude. "Come on…"
"I need a break…" Alonzo whined.
"Perfect…" Jellylorum said delicately, standing on a trunk above them. "Because Jenny is ready for you…"
Their eyes widened, cracking grins again, and they scampered up the trunk to the den. Jellylorum followed them closely, chuckling quietly. She couldn't keep the grin off her face.
With a revered silence, the three of them crept forward into the den, the light slowly growing as the sun came up.
Asparagus lay behind his mate, curled protectively, grooming behind her ears. Jenny only had eyes for the tiny grey and brown bundle between her paws.
"Everyone…" Jenny was overwhelmed with emotion, gazing at the kittens briefly before chuckling quietly. "Meet Tumblebrutus."
Bombalurina giggled softly, "Tumblebrutus…" she whispered, "He's beautiful, Jenny. So perfect…"
Jenny beamed with pride, and Asparagus' chest puffed out, gazing down at his newborn son. "Oh! I should go and get Cassandra!" Munkustrap exclaimed, but Alonzo shook his head.
"No, stay. I'll get her…" he said softly, and Munkustrap watched him go, letting out a soft breath.
"Can I…?" Munkustrap asked, "Can I say hello?"
"Gently…" Jenny warned, and Munkustrap nodded, crouching to his belly and shuffling forward.
The kitten was dry and fluffy, and Munkustrap crawled on his stomach until he was within reach of the tiny thing, taking in features. It was hard to make out what he'd look like as an adult, but he could see the faint markings – the brown around his eye, the faint dusting of colour over his body.
Munkustrap let out a soft mewl, leaning forward and butting his nose ever so gently, and the tiny kitten squeaked back at him. With a laugh, Munkustrap backed up, grinning up at the parents.
"He'll be a fine addition to the tribe," Munkustrap beamed, and Jenny gave him an excited grin, gratitude in her eyes.
Cassandra and Alonzo made their way inside, and although she didn't say anything, Cassandra was grinning, staring down at the kitten.
"Now, I'm sure Jenny and Asparagus would like some rest… kittens, the sun is rising – it is time for sleep."
Alonzo gave a tiny groan, "Do we have to?" he grumbled.
"You don't have to sleep, but you have to stay in your den…" Jellylorum smiled, starting to herd them away.
Munkustrap stole one last look at the kitten – a new life, born to their new home. He knew nothing of the attack, of Macavity. The kitten was so innocent and pure. He cherished this moment, his eyes serious as he stared, trying to memorize it forever.
"Munkustrap?" Jellylorum asked softly, "Are you okay, love?"
Munkustrap shook his head, smiling, "Yeah," he whispered, "Just… happy for them."
He blushed slightly, chuckling and racing after Alonzo, Cassandra and Bombalurina. They entered the den together, seeking out appropriate places to sleep. It was large – way too large for just five kittens, but Munkustrap still curled around the two infants.
Although they started further away, Bombalurina and Alonzo slowly moved closer, until they were touching Munkustrap with a paw, or a back foot – their connection comforting. Cassandra maintained her distance, curled up into a ball near the entrance.
"Do you think Old Gus will come home to see the birth of his grandson?" Alonzo asked quietly after a few moments of silence.
"Maybe…" Munkustrap murmured around a tired yawn. "But someone… maybe Skimble… would have to find him to tell him where we are now… Bustopher Jones, too."
"How long do you think Skimble will stay with us?" Bombalurina asked.
Munkustrap realised this was what it was going to be like from now on. Questions from all angles that he'd get to find the answers to.
"Not long, I don't think. He has the Night Mail to return to… I doubt he'd let it go unattended for longer than a week…"
Bombalurina sighed quietly. "Another tom down… with only a new father and Old Deuteronomy to protect us…"
"Be rational for a moment, Bomba…" Munkustrap sighed. "Twenty able-bodied toms and almost the same amount of queens couldn't take down Macavity and his henchtoms. If he found us now… we'd be done for…"
Bombalurina mewled softly, curling into a tighter ball and Munkustrap wrinkled his nose. He'd have to work on his tact.
Alonzo chuckled, raising an eyebrow at Munkustrap, "Nice."
Munkustrap huffed softly, glancing up at Cassandra. Her bright blue eyes shone in the morning light – she was clearly awake, and listening.
"Cassandra… you could come over here, if you wanted?" he suggested tentatively, "You don't have to stay over there by yourself…"
She didn't answer, and Munkustrap sighed quietly.
"At least we hit ten…" Bombalurina mused, and Alonzo and Munkustrap both glanced at her. "Ten… residents?" she tried, "Ten permanent Jellicles. That won't run off on us."
Munkustrap counted in his head, letting out a long breath and nodding. "Ten," he whispered.
He waited in silence for anything more, but the kittens around him slowly dropped off, and all of a sudden he woke with a start – surprised that he'd even fallen asleep in the first place.
It took him a moment to realise what had woken him – the sound of soft crying.
His ears pricked and he found Bombalurina turned away from him, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed. With a glance around the room, Munkustrap found Cassandra tucked against Alonzo, and his head tilted a little. An unlikely pair, surely… but he felt better that Cassandra was finding comfort in his best friend.
But Bombalurina…
He shifted slowly, trying not to startle her as he shifted a little closer, his tail curling around her protectively. She gasped when she realised he was awake, stuffing her face in her paws.
"You don't have to hide your feelings…" Munkustrap said quietly.
Bombalurina closed her eyes tightly, shaking her head, "It doesn't matter…"
He let out a gentle purr, trying to comfort her. "It does matter…" he assured her. "Whether you're happy or sad… it always matters. Talk to me."
Bombalurina was silent, shaking her head.
"Talk."
It was almost an order, and she rolled into him, speaking into his broad chest.
"I miss my sister," she whispered, "And my mother. And everyone that we left behind…"
Munkustrap wrapped an arm around her, rolling onto his side and taking her with him, "I know…" he whispered. "I miss them too."
"Will it ever stop hurting?"
"Only when you keep it bottled up," Munkustrap told her patiently. "Maybe if you talk about it, it will relieve the pressure."
Bombalurina smiled gently, "Mm, a wise tom already…" she purred quietly, cuddling into him. After a long few minutes, she spoke up again, "Thank you."
Munkustrap laughed softly, "I'm not saying anything special. I never talked about it when my mother left...I wish I had – I had Alonzo…but I didn't, and I regret it."
"Do you want to talk about it now?" Bombalurina asked softly, tilting her head.
"No," he shook his head, "I'm well and truly past it now. She wanted to be happy, and she couldn't find that within the tribe."
Bombalurina frowned. Munkustrap had barely been weaned before the Glamour Cat, Grizabella, had abandoned the tribe to chase her career on film. Grizabella had visited once - only a short time ago, and even then she stayed for the day and was gone the next morning.
"You're her son though,"
"It doesn't matter. She chose her life, and we have to respect her for that…" Munkustrap shrugged, "Just as Gus and Bustopher Jones and Skimble did,"
Bombalurina let out a huff. "This is why I don't show my emotions…" she said irritably, "Because you don't have any towards anything."
Munkustrap huffed, offended. "I do," he protested, "But it's easier to analyse your problems with a rational solution than to address my own."
Bombalurina rolled her eyes, "That sounds mature."
Munkustrap laughed and licked behind her ears, "Sleep, Bomba. Please," he said quietly, "This is a new beginning….we don't need to dwell."
She smiled, curling up to the kitten with a friendly purr.
"Goodnight, Munkustrap."