Title: Conjuring Pain

Author: Ailendolin

Rating: T (PG-13) … just to be sure.

Disclaimer: I do not own cats and do not make any money with this story. I only own the little plot bunny.

Summary: Being a conjuring cat isn't a gift. Quaxo should know. All magic ever brought him was pain, loss and loneliness. It started ruining his life when he was a kitten. Will his broken spirit be mended when Tugger and Munkustrap stumble upon him?

Word Count: 1813

Warning: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, but mainly Fluff – a lot of it.

Chapter 04: We'll manage

"We have to tell Old Deuteronomy about him," Tugger stated quietly after they had watched the little tom sleep for a while.

"I know." Munkustrap sighed and stroked fondly Quaxo's midnight black fur. "I just hope he lets Quaxo join the tribe," he continued. "I mean, it's not like I can take him back to where I found him and leave him all by himself. He would not make it, Tugger, and I cannot do that to him."

Tugger nodded and looked thoughtfully at Quaxo. "Why was he there in the first place anyway?" he asked.

"That's the sad part of the story. His mother left him there."

"Was she killed by a pollicle?"

Munkustrap shook his head and looked sorrowfully at Tugger. "No, I almost wished it had been that. It would've been better for Quaxo."

Munkustrap became quiet and turned his head towards the young tux. The small kitten lay curled up sleeping under some blankets and pillows, completely unaware of his surroundings or the two toms quietly talking about him. He slept peacefully and Munkustrap was glad for that. He knew that the nightmares would come soon enough, and he already dreaded them.

"What happened, Munk? Come on, tell me," Tugger demanded and the silver tabby turned his attention once more to his younger brother.

"Don't you get it?" he asked softly, sadness shimmering in his eyes. "His mother left him there to die, Tugger. She wanted her own kitten to die."

"How do you know this?" Tugger inquired, shocked because of what he had just heard.

"Quaxo told me himself," Munkustrap explained. "He said his mother didn't want him anymore, and by the Everlasting Cat, I can't imagine why. I mean, just take a look at him, Tugger. Never in my life have I seen a kitten this well-behaved."

They both turned their gazes on Quaxo as the kitten yawned and snuggled deeper into the blankets. Smiles made their way to their faces.

"The only problem he has is that he's a little too small for his age but that's no reason to abandon him if you ask me," Munkustrap concluded and looked helplessly at his brother who merely shrugged.

"Maybe she was no longer able to take care of him," Tugger tried but somehow he knew it was a vain attempt to explain Quaxo's situation.

"No, Tugger. He thought of himself as a burden when I found him."

Tugger did not know what to say to that. How could someone this young think something like that? Little kittens were supposed to play outside, causing trouble, all the while smiling or laughing. They should not act this mature and care for the well-being of others.

"Well, then I guess we have to show him that he's not a burden to us," Tugger said.

"Easier said than done," Munkustrap replied. "He's so very shy and caring. I have the feeling he will do everything to please me … and you too, now that he knows that you're no big mean cat."

Munkustrap chuckled slightly and Tugger smiled. It was their usual bantering, one of them taunting the other. They only did this when they were alone. Others would be surprised to see them like this. In front of the rest of the Jellicles they acted the way it was expected of them: Tugger being the lady's cat, all the time acting cool, and Munkustrap being the protector of the tribe, always calm and serious. They never fooled around and seemed to dislike each other although in fact it was quite the opposite.

"I still wonder where he got those burns from, though. It's not like there's over a thousand possibilities for a cat to burn their front paws," Tugger said frowning.

"We can ask him when he wakes up," Munkustrap suggested. "We must talk to him anyhow about moving in with Bomba and the other kittens."

Tugger looked sceptically at Munkustrap.

"You're not serious, are you?" he asked. "Munk, you can't give him to Bomba, or to Jelly, or to anyone for that matter. He will think that you don't want him, that you abandon him just like his mother has done."

"But I'm not a father, Tugger," the tabby argued. "Take a look around. This den is not made for raising kittens," Munkustrap gestured exasperated at the walls of the dish washer.

"Well, then we have to find you a new one," Tugger replied with a smirk.

"Yeah, great," Munkustrap said sarcastically. "You know, that still doesn't make me a good or even remotely suitable parent."

"Oh come on, Munk. How hard can it be? We'll manage."

Munkustrap looked doubtfully at his brother and tilted his head to the side, all the while raising an eyebrow.

"We?" he asked pointedly.

"Yeah, what did you think?" Tugger replied indignantly. "That I leave you alone with this little fur ball? – Okay, don't answer that."

Munkustrap smirked and waited for his brother to continue.

"Of course I'll help you," Tugger said sincerely. "The little kit needs all the love he can get after what you've told me. And he loves us already. You can't just give him away, Munk."

Tugger looked with eyes full of expectation at his brother who pondered all those things for a moment before he sighed and glanced at the slightly younger tom.

"I know you're right, Tugger, I really do. It's just - I fear I can't give Quaxo what he needs." Munkustrap hung his head and stared at the floor in distress. A moment later a paw was laid onto his shoulder and he lifted his head to look into the serious face of his otherwise playful brother.

"Munk, trust me: You are everything Quaxo needs," Tugger said earnestly. "Well, maybe a bit of me, too, but you are the one who saved him. I don't think he will ever trust anyone to the extent he already trusts you. And he wouldn't go to any other cat anyway so you don't have much of a choice."

Tugger grinned and Munkustrap smiled rolling his eyes and hugging his brother spontaneously.

"I guess so … Thank you, Tug. Or should I say: Uncle Tuggy?"

Tugger slapped him playfully and both toms started to laugh. It was cut short, however, as a tiny sleep-filled voice asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Quaxo's head was tilted to the right and with his sleepy expression he looked absolutely adorable. Tugger went over to the small tux and ruffled the fur on his head.

"Only about Munkustrap being dull … ow!"

Munkustrap had given his brother a whack on the head and smiled now at the confused looking Quaxo.

"Did you sleep well?"

Quaxo nodded shyly and it took him a moment before he mustered up the courage to actually ask the tabby something.

"Munkus?"

"Hm? What's wrong?" Munkustrap instantly became serious again and concentrated on the little black-and-white cat thinking that he hurt somewhere.

"May I … may I drink something?"

Tugger and Munkustrap quickly exchanged a worried glance before Tugger pushed the green bowl towards Quaxo and Munkustrap said, "Of course, little one. Why do you ask?"

The tux looked first at Tugger and then at Munkustrap, confusion and apprehension clearly written in his eyes.

"I'm not supposed to," came the quiet reply.

Quaxo shivered all over and the silver tabby looked alarmed at his charge.

"What are you not supposed to do?" he asked and pointed towards the green bowl. "Quaxo, this is your bowl and you are free to drink something whenever you're thirsty."

The tux mumbled something inaudible and with a gentle look in his eyes Munkustrap walked over to him and lifted his chin so that he could look him in the eyes.

"I can't understand you if you talk into your paws."

To his and Tugger's horror the deep brown eyes quickly filled with tears that slowly started to fall. Munkustrap did the only thing he could think of at that moment and pulled the disturbed kitten into an embrace.

"I always h-had to wait until everyone w-was done with drinking – U-until Mom allowed me to," Quaxo started to explain while he sobbed into the silver fur of the tabby. "I w-was always the last o-one and I … I never had my own b-bowl."

"Shh, it's okay," Munkustrap said softly. "Things are different here. You will never again have to wait when you want to drink some water. I promise, little one, I promise."

Munkustrap tightened his arms around the shivering kitten and closed his eyes, surpressing his own tears. Tugger smiled upon seeing his brother comforting Quaxo and knew that the silver tabby would make a very good father. The only thing he wondered about was why Quaxo had not reacted like this when he had drunken out of his bowl for the first time, a few hours ago before he had fallen asleep. He figured the little cat had been too tired to realize it at that moment since the visit at Jenny's had been pretty strenuous and exhausting for him.

"Now go on, drink something." Munkustrap smiled gently as he let Quaxo go and nudged him in the direction of his green bowl. After one last careful look at Tugger the small tom began to slowly drink the water. Munkustrap gazed sadly at his charge. He did not want to know what other things had gone wrong in the young life of this loveable kitten. It pained him to see Quaxo so anxious and insecure.

Looking outside he realized that it was nearly dusk. Old Deuteronomy would be joining the tribe in a few minutes.

"Tugger?" he asked. "Can you tell Old Deuteronomy that we need to talk to him? I don't want Quaxo to go outside to be fussed over by all the queens. He is frightened enough as it is."

Tugger nodded and stood up gracefully. "No problem. I'll be back with the old guy in a moment."

"Thanks."

Tugger went outside and Munkustrap turned his attention back to Quaxo, wiping a few tears away in the process. The kitten was done with drinking and had snuggled up to the tabby after making sure that it was okay to do so.

"Old Deuteronomy will come soon, Quaxo," Munkustrap began to explain. "He is the leader of the Jellicles and it is his decision whether someone joins our tribe or not. But you don't have to be scared of him. He's very nice."

Quaxo only nodded and snuggled even closer to Munkustrap who just shook his head fondly and nuzzled the small kitten.

"I believe it is Old Deuteronomy …"

The words were sung by the many cats in the junkyard and Munkustrap laid a reassuring arm around the timid tux.

"Do not fear. Everything will turn out alright," he whispered softly as he turned his gaze to the door.

TBC