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: Everyone thinks to be able to conjure would be great, but Quaxo cannot confirm that. To him magic only means pain, loss and loneliness. It started ruining his life since he was a kitten. Will his broken spirit be mended when Tugger and Munk stumble upon him?

Word Count: 2249

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

Author's Notes: Hi everyone! It's been quite a while since the last chapter and I'd like to apologize for that. The reason for the delay is that just after the last update I had exams coming up and after that I went on a field trip to Poland from which I only returned a week ago. I haven't given up on this story, I just haven't had any time to write something.
Anyways, today's chapter is a bit longer than usual so maybe that makes up for the long delay. Or maybe not since not a lot is happening. But I promise that will change. I still hope you enjoy chapter 12 and will let me know if you did (or didn't). Thanks again to everyone who reviewed so far! You guys really are great!

Chapter 12: Great Leader

Tugger came back later that afternoon to find Quaxo and Tumble playing with a dust bunny. Munkustrap was watching them from a place in the cool shadow of the wardrobe and beckoned Tugger over.

"How are they?" Tugger asked as he lay down beside his brother.

"Great," Munkustrap replied. "They're forming a friendship pretty fast. I didn't expect that."

Tugger frowned. "Why not?" He watched as Tumble blew the dust bunny towards Quaxo who pawed at it playfully with his bandaged black paw.

"I don't know." Munkustrap shrugged. "I just didn't think Quaxo would open up so quickly. He's so shy and has been through so much. But, ironically, that's what he and Tumble bonded over."

Tugger's eyes widened. "Tumble told Quaxo about his past?"

"Yeah." Munkustrap nodded. "Quaxo asked why Tumble didn't call Jenny 'mother' and Tumble told him."

Tugger looked impressed. "Simple as that, huh? To think about all those times we tried to get him to talk about it and he never said a word …"

"I know." Munkustrap stood up and stretched. "I'm quite curious how Pouncival is going to figure into the equation."

"Pounci?" Tugger laughed. "Quaxo will love him, once he gets to know him. Everyone has a soft spot for Pouncival, troublemaker or not."

Munkustrap looked resigned. "You just can't stay mad at him, can you? No matter what he did. I have no idea how he does it."

Tugger smiled. "We all love seeing the kittens happy. Especially ones like Tumble or Pounci, who haven't had it easy. It's enough to forgive them their little pranks."

"It's like a gift," Munkustrap said, "that they can still be this carefree." His gaze drifted to Quaxo who tried to catch the dust bunny that the wind was trying to blow away. "Do you think Jemima will want to come meet Quaxo, too?"

"Oh, I bet she does." Tugger grinned. "It's not like she has someone else to play with. And even being my fangirl can get boring after a while." He winked.

Munkustrap shook his head. "You're impossible."

They were interrupted by a disappointed shout of Tumblebrutus. "Oh no, we've lost it!"

Munkustrap and Tugger both turned to look at the kittens who watched the dust bunny fly away over a pile of old electronic devices and out of sight.

"I guess that's our cue, Tumble," Munkustrap said and walked over to the kittens. "Time for you to go home and for me to go to the meeting."

He was met with two sets of disappointed eyes. "Can't we play a little longer? Please?"

Munkustrap could hear Tugger chuckling behind him and had to hide a smile. "No, Tumble. Tomorrow is another day where you can come over, together with Pouncival and Jemima."

Tumblebrutus wrinkled his nose. "Does Jemima have to come?"

Now Munkustrap could not help but smile in amusement. "Yes, if she wants to she can come."

"Who's Jemima?" Quaxo asked quietly but curiously, looking up at them.

Tumble just shook his head. "Don't worry about her. She's kind of Pounci's half-sister, only not. It's complicated. Worst of all, she's a queen." His body shuddered at the last word.

Tugger laughed. "Oh, believe me, Tumble, there'll come a time when you will be happy that queens exist and want to spend time with you. Very happy."

Both Tumblebrutus and Quaxo looked confused. Munkustrap turned around and glared at his brother. "I don't think this is the right time, Tugger," he said lowly. A bit louder he added, "Anyway, we've got to get going or I'll be late for the meeting." He bent down to Quaxo's level and nuzzled the kitten's head gently. "Tugger will be staying with you until I'm back, okay? Don't give him any trouble."

Tugger snorted behind him. "As if the furball could cause any trouble." Even Tumble nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, well, still." Munkustrap gave Quaxo another quick nuzzle. "Just go to sleep and when you wake up next morning I'll be there."

Quaxo looked at him intently. "Promise?"

"Promise," Munkustrap said with a smile. "Now go on, have dinner with Tugger and sleep well tonight." He turned to Tumblebrutus. "Come on, let's get you home to Jenny."

Quaxo nodded and went over to Tugger while Tumble reluctantly went with Munkustrap. Shortly before they vanished from sight Tumble and Munkustrap turned around and waved at Tugger and Quaxo who both waved back. Then they made their way into the junkyard. Admetus was standing guard and waved at them.

"Meeting's in a few minutes, Munk," he said and licked his right paw absentmindedly.

"I know," Munkustrap replied. "Just have to bring Tumblebrutus home, then I'll be there."

Jenny was already waiting for them by the time they made it to her den. She smiled brightly when she saw Tumble.

"How was your day?" she greeted him. "Did you have fun with Quaxo? I hope you didn't cause poor Munkustrap too much trouble." The Gumbie Cat winked at the tabby.

"Of course not!" Tumble said, slightly affronted. "Right, Munkus?"

Munkustrap laughed. "Right. They really were no trouble."

"Can I go tomorrow again, Jenny?" Tumble asked. "Please? Pounci and Jemima will be there as well."

"Well," Jenny said slowly, pretending to think. "Actually I think I need your help with training the mice …" She let the sentence hang and could barely suppress a grin when she saw Tumble's agonized look. After a moment she took pity on him. "But then again, one more day of fun's doing no one any harm. Of course you can go."

Tumble's whole face lit up and he ran to hug her. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you so much!"

Jenny laughed. "You're welcome, Tumble. Now, go clean up and then dinner will be ready."

Tumble nodded and with a cheery goodbye to Munkustrap he vanished. Both cats shook their heads.

"He really is something special," Jenny said with a fond smile. "Thanks for letting him come over."

"No problem, it's good for both of them. " Seeing Jenny's questioning look, he explained. "Tumble told Quaxo that you're not his real mother. I wish you could have been there, Jenny. He talked so freely about everything, and all Quaxo had to do was ask."

Jenny's eyes were suddenly shining and she stared unbelievingly at Munkustrap. "I can't believe it," she laughed and it sounded almost like a sob. "This is brilliant, Munkustrap. Really, really great. I thought we'd never see this day."

"You, me and the rest of the tribe, believe me." Munkustrap smiled. "Speaking of the rest of tribe, I'm afraid I can't stay any longer."

"Oh, right, today's a meeting," Jenny realized. "I'm afraid I don't keep track on them as well as I used to, now that I can almost never attend them. Well, go on then. No need to keep them waiting because of me."

Munkustrap nodded and turned to go when Jenny added, "Oh, should I bring Tumble and the rest over tomorrow?"

"If it's not too much trouble ..."

Jenny waved a paw dismissively. "Oh, please. It's not like I have anything better to do. The cockroaches are giving me headaches anyway. Uncooperative bunch," she mumbled.

Munkustrap grinned. "I'm sure you'll get them trained eventually."

"Yeah, well. We'll see," Jenny said with a grin. "I'll bring the kittens after breakfast. Is that okay?"

"Of course. See you tomorrow then!"

"Have fun at the meeting," she told him and then Munkustrap was on his way. The meeting place was just around the corner in front of an overturned battered car. When he arrived he could see that everyone except those standing guard around the junkyard was already there. Silence fell as he stepped onto the car.

"I welcome you to our weekly tribe meeting," he said, feeling dozens of eyes resting on him. "I'm sorry for being late."

"Is everything alright with Quaxo?" Plato asked, looking concerned.

Munkustrap smiled. "Everything's good, Plato. Thank you for asking. I'm late because I had to take Tumblebrutus home to Jenny first." Plato and several others nodded, so the tabby went on. "Alright, is there any news regarding Macavity's whereabouts?"

Alonzo stood up and looked at him. "Nothing, Munkus. It's been very quiet, no attacks whatsoever. Our borders are safe and guarded just as we discussed at the last meeting."

"Good," Munkustrap said. He knew that he could count on Alonzo to take Macavity's threat seriously. Too many cats were lulled into a sense of false security in times like these, when everything had been quiet and no attacks had happened for a while. Alonzo was not one of them, having lost his sister in one of Macavity's attacks a year ago.

"Is the new guard duty roster working out for everyone so far?" Munkustrap asked the tribe. Everyone nodded. "Okay," he went on. "When someone's not able to guard at the time they're given, please come to either Alonzo or me and we'll figure something out." After more nodding from the cats present he asked, "Are there any matters not regarding the protection of the tribe that need to be discussed?"

Most cats shook their heads, but Bombalurina stepped forward. Everyone looked at her.

"Yes, Bomba?" Munkustrap asked.

"I have a request, Munkus, from my half-sister," Bombalurina stated. "She lives in a house with a family and gave birth to three kittens a couple of weeks ago. Her family tried to sell them with no luck. Now they want to put the kittens down."

Shocked gasps could be heard in the yard. Munkustrap silenced the cats with a paw gesture. "Continue," he said to Bombalurina.

"I ask the tribe on behalf of my sister to take the kittens in. They have nowhere else to go."

Munkustrap sighed. He had feared that Bombalurina would request that. Alonzo and Skimble looked at him in concern.

"I know all of you want me to say yes to this request," Munkustrap began, "but I can't do that without making sure that the tribe can sustain three more kittens. First we have to find someone who can take care of them."

Bombalurina nodded. "I would be willing to take them in. I know I have no experience with raising a kitten, much less three, but they're my family and I'm sure I could manage with the help of the tribe."

Munkustrap still looked doubtful, so Bombalurina added, "And they're not that young anymore. Not yet grown-up, but old enough to stay on their own and to learn to hunt. In a few weeks they can lead their own lives with our help."

Skimble looked at Munkustrap. "I think we can manage with three more kittens," he told the tabby. "It's almost summer, and mice become easier to find with each day."

Alonzo nodded in agreement. "We lost so many cats in the last years, Munk. Every addition to the tribe is a blessing."

"You're right. Of course," Munkustrap said. "Ultimately, it's Old Deuteronomy you have to ask for permission, Bomba," he told the red queen. "Go to him tomorrow, and tell him that you have the tribe's and my consent."

"Thank you, Munkustrap," Bombalurina said gratefully and was hugged by her best friend Demeter.

"If Old Deuteronomy gives his okay, you're free to bring the kittens here as soon as you can. You can tell your sister that she can visit them whenever she wants," Munkustrap offered.

Bombalurina shook her head sadly. "I'm afraid that won't be possible. She's not allowed to go outside. That's why she isn't here herself, asking for help."

"Does she want to leave her home?" Munkustrap asked. "She's welcome to stay here together with her kittens. I think that would be the best solution, anyway."

Bombalurina laughed. "Oh no, she's no street cat. Her home is far too comfortable for her to leave it. She likes her humans … at least, most of the times."

"Alright," Munkustrap said. "After your visit to Old Deuteronomy, come find me or Alonzo and tell us his decision and we'll send some cats with you to get the kittens here safely."

"I will," Bombalurina promised.

Munkustrap looked at the rest of the cats. "Is there anything else that needs to be discussed?" When he was met with silence, he declared the meeting over and jumped down from the car.

"It's the right thing to do," Skimble said on their way home.

"I know," Munkustrap sighed. "Even if we didn't have enough food I would've said yes. I can't turn those helpless kittens away, just as I couldn't leave Quaxo lying in the rain. Still, I've got to at least appear to look rationally at this, otherwise I'm doing no one a favor."

Skimble smiled at him. "One day, you're going to be a great leader, Munkustrap."

The tabby lowered his head, embarrassed. They came to the corner where Skimble lived and their ways parted.

"Say hi to Jelly for me," Munkustrap asked Skimble. "By the way, Jenny's taking Tumble, Pouncival and Jemima over to mine's tomorrow. Just so you know."

Skimble laughed. "If you're not careful, your new home will become a daycare center for kittens."

"There are worse things than that that could happen," Munkustrap said with a smile. He bid Skimble goodnight and turned around the corner, ready to go to the one kitten who meant the world to him and for whom he would gladly give up his life, wondering what the next day would bring for Quaxo and his new friends.

TBC