Fanfiction: The Protector (1-14/14) (Ritzkin Arc 7

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Title: The Protector (1/14)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Character death
Summary: When some Jellicles are cat-napped, Munkustrap has to descend back into Monnik territory, back into his old life, and must confront his biggest fear - the truth escaping.

You should be reading the Ritzkin Arc in order, to understand everything that's going on.

A note about Jenny’s kittens.

Jennyanydots has two mates, Simbol and Skimbleshanks. Both toms love her very much, and they are content with sharing her. However, as the toms look similar – Skimble is a yellow tabby, and Simbol is white with yellow patches, it’s hard to tell who the father of Jenny’s kittens is. As such, Simbol is called “Dad” (or Daddy) by the kittens, and Skimble is “Father” (or Poppa). While neither tom makes a big deal over the parentage of Admetus (the oldest), Alonzo, Cattivo, and Plato (from the middle litter), or the newest member of the Jellicles, kitten Tumblebrutus, they are both secretly sure that all five are Simbol’s sons. Admetus, Alonzo, Plato, and Tumblebrutus are all patched, like Simbol, though different colors, and Cattivo is practically a clone of the Protector, with his gold patches. All the kittens, though, simply shrug and say they have one mother and two fathers – it’s easier than trying to figure out dynamics. Simbol and Skimble share sons, and love all of them dearly. (Jenny’s queenkits are kept at home and sent out to adopt their own humans. Only her tomkits join their fathers in the Jellicle junkyard.)

I DO NOT OWN CATS!

The Protector

[/i][/center]


“Bravo, bravo, bravo!” Asparagus clapped his paws together, perched delicately in a chair in the audience of his theater. “Wonderful job, toms! You three harmonize excellently!”

Up on the stage of the theater (closed for the night), the three brothers, Plato, Alonzo, and Cattivo all ducked their heads and licked their paws in pleased embarrassment, trying to hide their wide grins. Gus liked their song!

The brothers weren’t on patrol tonight, so they had gone off to visit their grandfather. Gus always had the best stories, and he highly encouraged all the Jellicles to sing and dance and perform plays. He was always encouraging, making the brothers feel like they actually could sing well… unlike Admetus, their older brother, who just laughed and said they sounded like a dying Pollicle, or Tumblebrutus, their baby brother, who would cock his head to the side in the most adorable fashion and watch them, open-mouthed, before he’d spring up and try to sing with them, ruining their songs with his off-key kitten voice.

“Psh, of course they harmonize magnifecently.” Sprawled on a seat next to Gus, Skimbleshanks was reclining lazily, watching the brothers with unconcealed pride. “Jenny’s their mother.”

Again, the brothers were stricken by both pride and embarrassment, and they came rushing down to nuzzle the older cats and thank them for their praise. They realized the two older toms were probably biased, as Gus was their grandfather on Simbol’s side, and Skimble was their pops, but at the same time, the praise of these two, the theater cat and the widely-traveled railway cat, meant more than almost any other.

“Is this the arrangement the three of you are going to sing at the next Jellicle Ball?” Gus asked, nuzzling his grandsons in turn, starting with Plato, the oldest, and ending with a pat to Alonzo, the youngest’s, ears. “You three are going to sing at the next Jellicle Ball, aren’t you?”

The brothers looked at each other and shrugged. “Admetus says we sing like a dying Pollicle,” Cattivo said hesitantly.

Skimble rolled his eyes. “Well, next time he says that, tell him that he must have spiders in his ears. You three sound great.”

“Indeed,” Gus said, with a nod. “Why, I remember when Admetus himself…” He trailed off with a frown, looking over at the wings of the stage, his ears alert and whiskers quivering. The younger toms all perked up as well, staring in the same direction, straining to sense what was wrong. “Excuse me, boys. I’ll be right back, just need to check on something…” The red tabby jumped off his chair and crept toward the wings, his belly low to the ground, a sign that he was hunting something.

Skimble looked at his sons, Jellicle guardians, all of them, and nodded toward Gus. The four of them would follow him as back-up, just in case.

“Come on out of there. I can hear you.” Gus leapt onto the stage and bristled in the direction of a window.

A moment later, one of the largest cats the brothers had ever seen stepped out of the shadows. He was black from nose to tail-tip, and he only had one golden eye. He rolled onto his side, spreading his paws, a sign of his surrender. “I’m not here to hurt anyone – I’m just a bit lost.”

Gus growled low in his throat, flexing his claws. “Bah. You reek of the Monniks. Get ye back. Return to the place from whence you came.”

Skimble smacked his forehead lightly with his paw. “He’s getting all theatrical on us,” he muttered.

“Grandpa, look out!” Plato saw the danger before any of the others, the other two black cats who had been circling around Gus, sticking close to the shadows. He leapt onto the stage as the other cats jumped forward, snarling.

Gus turned to smack one of the big black cats aside, and the one-eyed tom jumped to his feet and charged the theater cat. Plato got in between them, though, hissing as he swiped at the cat’s remaining eye.

“C’mon, ‘Lonz!” Cattivo vaulted onto the stage after his brother, arrowing toward a second black cat, with Skimble right behind him.

Alonzo was frozen in the seats, staring at the battle with wide green eyes. He had never actually been in a real fight before, unless you counted the giant rats that sometimes made a mess of things, or that one time a Pollicle had gotten into the junkyard, and Simbol and the rest of the guardians chased it out. He had never seen a catfight before, though, and he was scared.

He was even more scared when Gus went down, one of the big cats on top of him. Skimble howled and tackled that cat, which turned its attention to him.

Plato and Cattivo were tussling with the one-eyed cat, and the third black cat ganged up on Skimble. Alonzo whimpered as he watched the third cat leap onto Skimble’s back, jaws sinking into the back of Skimble’s neck. As Skimble cried out in pain, stumbling back, the second cat jumped forward, striking at Skimble’s now-unprotected belly. Skimble went down quickly, his yellow fur turning red.

Alonzo wiggled back until he was hidden under one of the chairs. He covered his eyes and cursed himself for being such a coward – his family needed him! Why was he hiding?

“Stop!” One of the Monniks must have spoken – Alonzo didn’t recognize that voice. “Wait a minute – look at that runt.” He heard Cattivo hiss, but the sounds of fighting had stopped, save for growling and grumbling from his brothers. “Who does he look like?”

Another Monnik chuckled, and Cattivo made an angry squeak. “Like Simbol.” There was the sound of a cat spitting after the name. Alonzo uncovered his eyes and dared to peek out.

The two-eyed cats were each holding one of his brothers, pinning them to the floor. Plato and Cattivo looked a bit beat up, but neither were the bloody mess that Skimble and Gus were. The older toms were unmoving, and none of the Monniks were paying any attention to them. Were they dead? Alonzo gulped, his paws trembling. While he hid like a queenkit, his pops and grandpa were killed, and his brothers captured.

“Exactly,” the one-eyed tom said, pacing in front of the other two. “You! Kitten! Who’s your father?” Cattivo, the cat being questioned, hissed at the one-eyed tom, earning himself a sharp cuff on the nose. “I’m not going to ask you a second time. Tell me who your father is, or I’ll gut this other one.” He held his claws close to Plato’s stomach, and Plato hissed nervously, trying to push away, but he was held in place by his captor.

“Simbol,” Cattivo muttered, glancing over at where Skimble lay.

The one-eyed tom gestured toward Plato. “And is this your brother?” Cattivo nodded mutely, hanging his head. The tom grinned malevolently. “Excellent. Come on, boys. We’re bringing this pair back to the boss. We have the kittens of the Protector – the Jellicles are as good as ours!”

Alonzo cowered under the chair as his brothers were shoved toward the window. He should go help them… but what good was he going to be? Plato and Cattivo were stronger than he was, and they both got captured. Skimble and Gus were both bigger and stronger than all three of the brothers, and they were dead (or dying)! What could he possibly do? Alonzo curled up under the chair, covering his eyes again, trembling in despair. He was such a coward.

[Arya]

Niiiiiiiiice.

[Shannon]

I love it!
Can't wait for more.
(There will be more, right?
;D)

[Arya]

-smacks- Of course there will be more! Spider never lets us down if we pressure her.

[Shannon]

YAAAAAY PEER PRESSURE.
>.<
Mwahahahahahahahaha.

[Arya]

-pressures Spider- WE ARE DEPENDING ON MORE FAN FICS! WE ARE ALL DEPENDING ON YOU.

[Munkustrap Etc.]

I'm working on it... got the first three chunks done. Four more chunks to go.

(Chunks equal event in story, not necessarily a chapter)

[Arya]

Well, we are just gonna keep on pressuring you, because its fun. PRESSURE!

[Shannon]

I can't wait!
It looks really good.
But...
Aren't Admetus and Plato tabbies?

[Arya]

-le gasp- DID YOU MAKE A MISTAKE!?

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Nope. My Admetus and Plato are patched, no matter what

And if you want to see the rest of The Protector faster, get on Mia's case.

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Title: The Protector (2/14)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Character death
Summary: When some Jellicles are cat-napped, Munkustrap has to descend back into Monnik territory, back into his old life, and must confront his biggest fear - the truth escaping.

You should be reading the Ritzkin Arc in order, to understand everything that's going on.

It's all finished now! Whee!

I DO NOT OWN CATS! (Simbol, however, I do claim.)

The Protector

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Simbol and Deuteronomy were stretched out on the tire, watching as Admetus and Munkustrap sparred with each other. The two cats were fairly evenly matched… but, if anything, Munkustrap was the better duelist. Simbol was pleased with how far he had come from the impertinent little kitten who wanted to join the guardians two years ago. Or, at least, he would be pleased, if he wasn’t distracted by Coricopat and Tantomile. The dark twins had shown up early that evening and hadn’t left his side since, lying down beside him and nuzzling him, purring quietly. They didn’t say anything, just watched him with their big, orange eyes, and licked his cheeks and paws.

Tumblebrutus thought this was all horribly funny, and he would curl up with his dad too, tucking his tiny body in between Simbol’s large paws. Simbol didn’t mind his son curling up with him.

Right now, though, Tumble was dancing around in front of the older cats, mimicking Munkustrap and Admetus’ moves. “Bam! Woo! Smack! Take that!” He fell on his tail more often than not, which was so amusing it distracted even the combatants – not that either really minded. There was nothing serious about their sparring, just some extra practice.

“Dad! Daaaaad! ” Alonzo came tearing into the junkyard, panting and sobbing. The young guardian’s front paws were stained with blood.

As Alonzo came running up, the Jellicles snapped to attention. Munkustrap and Admetus jumped aside to let the younger cat run between them, quickly coming up behind him to hear what was so horrible and why his paws were red. Simbol rose to his feet, shaking off Coricopat and Tantomile, and Tumble cowered back against Simbol’s front legs, staring wide-eyed at his upset older brother. Deuteronomy sat up as well, frowning in concern.

“Alonzo? What happened?”

Alonzo pointed in the direction he had come from, gasping out his words. “Grandpa… and Father… and Monniks! And Cattivo and Plato… and they’re dying! Grandpa and Father are dying! And Cattivo and Plato… the Monniks have Cattivo and Plato! They want you!”

“Where, Alonzo?” Simbol asked, his voice firm, the tone of the Jellicle Protector.

Alonzo visibly relaxed as Simbol took charge, turning over control to the more powerful cat. “The theater. They’re in the theater,” he whispered, sinking to his knees and covering his face.

“Admetus. Get Jelly… and Jenny if she’s in the yard. Meet us at the theater, as quick as you can.” Admetus nodded and darted off to do as his father said. “Munkustrap, Alonzo, you two will come with me.”

“And me!” Tumble squeaked, rolling to his feet. “Me too, me too! I’m a guardian too!”

“No, Tumble. You stay here.” Simbol pressed his paw down on Tumble’s hindquarters, forcing the kitten to sit.

“Nooo!” Tumble wailed, shaking his head fiercely. “No, no, no, no, no! I wanna come! I’m a guardian too! I’m a guardian too!”

“Yes, you are,” Coricopat murmured, rising to his feet and padding forward to nuzzle the kitten. Tumble was so surprised that an adult had actually agreed with him that he fell silent.

“And that’s why you must stay here,” Tantomile purred, nuzzling Tumble from his other side. “While your dad goes off with those guardians, we need someone to stay here and protect the yard.”

Tumble beamed between the twins, pleased to be given such an important job, and Simbol looked gratefully at the pair. ‘Thank you,’ he mouthed to them, before he nodded to Deuteronomy and took off running toward the theater, Munkustrap on his heels.

<><><><><>

After reaching the theater, Alonzo collapsed on the stage to catch his breath. Munkustrap prowled around, investigating the broken windows the Monniks had entered through, while Simbol examined the still forms of Skimble and Gus. “They aren’t dead yet,” he said after a moment. “But they aren’t doing too well, either.” He began cleaning their wounds.

Munkustrap circled back, continuing to be alert for any strange movements. “They’re gone. Three Monniks,” Ruusu, Surripus, and one-eyed Hedrunkus, if I’m not mistaking their scents. “Plato and Cattivo were alive when they went through the window. Do you want me to track them?”

Simbol shook his head, gesturing over to Skimble. “Look after him. We stay here until Jellylorum shows up.”

“I’m sorry,” Alonzo whispered, curled up miserably by the edge of the stage. “I should have done something.”

“What do you mean?” Munkustrap asked, before he lowered his head to lick at the gash across Skimble’s stomach.

“I hid,” Alonzo said, closing his eyes. “I… I froze. And then I hid. And I just let the Monniks fight.” He put his paws over his face. “Some guardian I am…”

Munkustrap and Simbol exchanged a look before Munkustrap spoke up. “Alonzo… this was your first battle, right? Your first real fight? It’s okay.” He smiled faintly. “My first battle was horrible. I froze up, so my brother had to fight off the Pollicle that snuck up on us. We were just kittens at the time. Then, I realized that I wasn’t helping, so I ran in front of him to try and help, just as he was trying to pounce. He crashed into me, and I fell into the Pollicle… I think it was laughing too hard to fight when my mother showed up.” Actually, the milk-mothers had all charged the Pollicle together, scaring it away, and there had been some other kittens involved too, but Munkustrap and Macavity hadn’t learned how to work as a team just yet. “You might not have done anything, but you didn’t make things worse, either. If anything, you did the right thing. By hiding, you were able to come back and get the rest of us. Otherwise, you might have ended up like Skimble or Gus, or kidnapped like Plato and Cattivo… and then Skimble and Gus would have died here, and we wouldn’t have known anything.”

Alonzo perked up a little bit at that. “I guess… I didn’t do that bad… after all…”

Simbol was watching Munkustrap as he cleaned Gus’ wounds, and Munkustrap busied himself with Skimble’s injuries again. That was the first time he had talked about his past in front of the non-Monnik Jellicles.

“Dad!” Admetus rushed into the theater, with Jellylorum and Jennyanydots right on his tail. “Dad, I brought them both…” He vaulted up onto the stage, the two queens just a tail-length behind. “Are Father and Grandpa…”

“They’re alive,” Simbol said, backing away from Gus so Jellylorum could bend over him. The young queen was Jenny’s student, learning much about the ways of medicine from the older queen.

She was also Gus’ mate, despite the age difference.

Jenny nudged Munkustrap aside and gathered Skimble into her arms. Simbol gave her cheek a nuzzle as he passed her, but he gave her no other distraction as he gathered Munkustrap and his sons together. “I will go after Cattivo and Plato.”

“Which of us do you want to come with you?” Munkustrap asked, pressing his paws together.

“None of you,” Simbol said quietly, bowing his head. “It’s a trap.”

Munkustrap nodded slowly, frowning. “Yeees… which is why you shouldn’t go alone.”

“Which is why I shouldn’t put the rest of you in danger,” Simbol countered. He shook his head. “No. I need you and Admetus to return to the junkyard, Munkustrap. Take Alonzo with you. We cannot leave the yard undefended. They might be hoping for that.”

Munkustrap opened his mouth to protest, but Admetus stepped on his paw. “We need to protect Father and Grandpa, as well as Deuteronomy and the yard, right?” Simbol nodded. “What do we do if you don’t come back?”

Munkustrap and Alonzo looked over at Simbol as well. Munkustrap bit his lip as Simbol ducked his head again. “If you haven’t heard from me in… in forty-eight hours… then tell Deuteronomy of my demise. He knows who I’ve chosen as my successor.”

Munkustrap leapt to his feet. “No! If we haven’t heard from you in a day, we’ll come after-”

“You’ll do no such thing.” Simbol rose to his feet, standing taller than Munkustrap. He glared down at the younger cat, using the full force of his personality to back Munkustrap up. “I will go in after my sons. You will stay in the yard. I will free them, or I will die. You are forbidden from performing any sort of rescue attempt. That is an order, Munkustrap. Do I make myself clear?”

Munkustrap cowered and nodded, staring at his paws. Alonzo and Admetus looked away, twisting their tails.

Simbol held his glare for several more heartbeats before he nodded and began to walk toward the broken window. Munkustrap hesitated, lifting one paw, before he darted forward. “Sir, wait!” The older cat paused, looking back at Munkustrap. “Sir…” He looked up at Simbol, biting his lip, all kinds of advice and suggestions stumbling over each other in his mind. Finally, he just bowed his head. “Be careful,” he whispered. “Come back.”

“Don’t worry,” Simbol said, reaching out to tilt Munkustrap’s chin up with a paw. “I know what I’m doing. I’ve been invading the Monniks long before you were born.” He stroked Munkustrap’s ears before turning and jumping out the window.

Munkustrap stepped back, staring up at the window. That was the most… affectionate, Simbol had ever been with him. It worried him. He turned to look back at Admetus and Alonzo. Admetus gestured toward the injured toms. “We should probably bring them home.”

Munkustrap nodded. “Alonzo… you help me with Skimble. Admetus, you can manage Gus on your own, right?” Gus was the smaller of the two. Admetus should be able to carry him without much difficulty.

[Arya]

-smacks you and Mia over head with frying pan- MORE DOES SKIMBLE DIE? DOES HE LIVE? MORE!

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Title: The Protector (3/14)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Character death
Summary: When some Jellicles are cat-napped, Munkustrap has to descend back into Monnik territory, back into his old life, and must confront his biggest fear - the truth escaping.

You should be reading the Ritzkin Arc in order, to understand everything that's going on.

I DO NOT OWN CATS!

The Protector

[/i][/center]

“When’s Daddy coming home?” Tumblebrutus nudged Alonzo’s paw. “Huh? When’s Daddy coming home?”

“Later,” Alonzo said, moving his paw. He was sitting on a car, staring at the entrance to the junkyard.

Tumble was quiet for a few minutes, before he leaned forward and nudged Alonzo’s paw again. “Is it later yet?”

“No.”

“When’s Daddy coming home?”

“Shut up, Tumble! I don’t know!” Alonzo growled at his brother, and the kitten backed off, his back arched, tail puffed out, and eyes wide in fright. Alonzo sighed and rubbed his face. “Look… I’m sorry. Come here.” He held out his paws, and Tumble crept forward to cuddle with the older tom. “I don’t know when Dad’s coming home. Later. That’s all I know, okay?” He rubbed Tumble’s ears. “Until then, Admetus is our dad.”

“Until Poppa gets better?” Tumble nuzzled Alonzo’s chest. “Until Poppa wakes up?”

“Yes, until Poppa wakes up, and then we listen to him, even Admetus.” Alonzo stroked Tumble’s soft fur and sighed, turning his eyes back to the entrance to the yard. He was worried about his dad, worried about his brothers. It had been a day and a half already. Admetus was sitting with Skimble and Gus, watching over them. Neither of the older toms had woken up yet. Munkustrap was patrolling the yard, pacing back and forth in front of the gate before dashing off somewhere else. He hissed at anything that snuck up on him, even if it was just a crisps bag. Alonzo closed his eyes and shook his head. What was taking his dad so long? Had he gotten in trouble?

“Looky!” Tumble tugged on Alonzo’s fur and pointed toward the junkyard gate. “Looky, looky, looky!”

Alonzo got to his feet, looking at where Tumble was pointing. There was a cat running into the yard, a patched tom… it wasn’t Simbol, but it was Plato. “Plato!” He shook Tumble off and ran toward his brother. “Plato!”

Munkustrap came running from somewhere in the yard. “Plato?”

Alonzo crashed into Plato, hugging the other tom tightly. Plato clung to him in return. “Lonz! Alonzo! You’re okay… thank the Everlasting Cat, you’re okay…!” He pulled away to look at Alonzo’s face, laughing and sobbing. “They said they killed you… the Monniks… they said they killed you…” He clutched Alonzo close again.

Alonzo stroked his paw over Plato’s fur, feeling the stickiness of drying blood. “What happened?” he asked. “What happened to you? I saw the Monniks take you away… you and Cattivo… then Dad went after you…”

“Sit down,” Munkustrap said. He leaned forward and began to groom Plato’s fur, washing the blood away. “How bad are you hurt?”

“Just scratches. I’ll be fine.” Plato curled up, letting Munkustrap clean the cuts on his back.

“Plato, what happened?” Alonzo asked again, lying beside his brother.

Plato turned his brown eyes up to Munkustrap and Alonzo, tears welling up in them again. “Cattivo… Dad…”

“Start at the beginning,” Munkustrap murmured, purring as he washed Plato, trying to calm the younger cat.

Plato sighed and closed his eyes, setting his head on his paws. “The Monniks took us, Cattivo and me. They kept shoving us and kicking us if we stopped or tried to run away. They took us over the bridge and into their territory. We were lead all over the place, and they kept doubling back and going in circles. I know I was lost by the end... I think Cattivo was too. They took us to a building that smelled like fire and smoke… and Leviticus was there. He was sitting on a big chair, and he looked even larger than Deuteronomy! And Macavity was there too… he was sitting on the arm of the chair. He didn’t say anything, but he watched us…

[Munkustrap Etc.]

Title: The Protector (4/14)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Character death
Summary: When some Jellicles are cat-napped, Munkustrap has to descend back into Monnik territory, back into his old life, and must confront his biggest fear - the truth escaping.

You should be reading the Ritzkin Arc in order, to understand everything that's going on.

It's all finished now! Whee!

I DO NOT OWN CATS! (Simbol, however, I do claim.)

The Protector

[/i][/center]

“Two Jellicles prisoners, Boss.”

Leviticus stirred, his long fur rippling over hidden muscles. “Why have you brought me Jellicle prisoners? You were supposed to infiltrate the Jellicle lands. You were supposed to carve out a piece of Jellicle territory for the Monniks. I do not recall prisoners being on your agenda.” To the right of Leviticus, Macavity sat, tall and proud and near-motionless. Only his eyes moved, turning between Leviticus and the cats before him, and his ears, swiveling to take in the sounds of the Monnik warehouse.

Hedrunkus, the one-eyed tom, fidgeted, shifting from foot to foot. “Er… yes. And we did infiltrate the Jellicle theater, just like the plan said. But there were Jellicles there-”

“Which is why you were supposed to bring back-up.” Leviticus closed his gold eyes to narrow slits, frowning down at the black tom. With his raspy voice and long fur, he was an impressive figure, up on his armchair.

“We did! Bring back-up!” Hedrunkus shifted again. “Er, that is, Ruusu and Surripus accompanied me, Boss. We snuck into the theater and surrounded the guard there, an old tom, just like you said. But he had back-up too – the Railway cat, and some younger toms.” Hedrunkus nodded to Plato and Cattivo behind him. “These two.”

Both Leviticus and Macavity turned to look at the Jellicles. Leviticus spared them only a glance, but Macavity fixed his own gold eyes on the pair and glowered at them. Plato gulped and tried not to cower away from his stare. This was a powerful magic cat, Leviticus’ favored son, and his right-hand cat. He was the Monnik equivalent of Simbol, but he had magic on his side too. He could kill just by looking at you, if he really wanted to.

“And we return to the original question,” Leviticus said. “Why did you bring me prisoners?”

“They’re Simbol’s sons, Boss!” Hedrunkus stepped forward, excited. “Look, look at the gold one. He looks exactly like Simbol! And they’ve both confirmed that the brown one is his brother! We… I figured they would be more useful to us alive. As bait, or ransom.”

More useful alive. Those words helped Plato relax minutely – the Monniks weren’t about to kill him. It gave him the courage he needed to look up and meet Macavity’s glower with a stare of his own. Macavity’s lips turned up in a smirk, and he leaned over to murmur something into Leviticus’ ear. The big cat closed his eyes, thinking for a moment, before he nodded.

Macavity rose to his feet, stretching and flashing his claws and fangs. The Monniks took a collective step back, tugging Plato and Cattivo with them. Plato looked over at his brother, reaching for him with his tail. Cattivo twitched his tail toward Plato in return, and the two brushed the tips together. Whatever happened to them, they were in this together. At least Alonzo wasn’t with them. Maybe he was getting help… or maybe the Monniks had killed him, like they killed Skimble and Gus…

“What are your names?”

Macavity’s voice, Plato was surprised to discover, was rich and warm, almost purring. It felt nice, wrapping around him like his mother’s hug… Wait! Macavity bewitched cats! He remembered how Munkustrap had brought the tribe that bit of advice, after he had gone in to free Demeter. Macavity could bewitch a cat who watched him! Plato sneezed and shook his head fiercely, trying to shake off the spell.

Macavity laughed and patted Plato’s cheek. “Smart kitten,” he purred. “You have seen through me, correct? That does not surprise me. Your tribe sent a spy in… I am sure he has filled you in on all my tricks.”

Plato cringed away from Macavity’s paw. His voice might be comforting, but the touch of the evil cat’s paw made his fur stand on end and his skin crawl.

“However, knowing you are a Jellicle does not answer my question.” Macavity walked between the brothers, forcing their tails apart. “What are your names?”

Cattivo shuddered, and Plato felt a brush of cold against him. “Plato,” he said quietly. “I’m Plato.”

“And I’m Cattivo.”

“Plato and Cattivo. How charming.” Macavity placed his paws on the brothers’ shoulders. “Now, Plato and Cattivo, you are Jellicles, right?”

The brothers nodded slowly. Plato had a feeling he knew where Macavity was going with this.

“And your mother? Who is she?”

“Jennyanydots,” Cattivo answered.

“Jennyanydots!” Macavity clapped his paws together. “Oh, she is a wonderful queen. Tell me, how are her mice doing? Has she eaten any of them yet, or does she still coddle them?”

Plato and Cattivo stared at each other. Macavity knew their mother!?

Macavity put his arms around the brothers’ shoulders, drawing them close. “I know everything about the Jellicles,” he murmured into their ears. “I know who you two are. I know you have three other brothers who claim to be Jellicles, and a pawful of sisters who live coddled lives as house cats. I know your father is Simbol, the Jellicle Protector, and I know you two will be unbelievably valuable to us. But tell me, toms… where is your brother? Where is the third of your trio? Where is Alonzo?”

Plato frowned, trying to remember. Where was Alonzo? They had all been together at the theater, but then the Monniks came, and they started fighting… but Alonzo wasn’t captured like Cattivo was, like he was. “Alonzo’s safe,” he said.

“Are you so sure?” Macavity asked, smirking at Plato.

“Yes,” Plato answered, meeting Macavity’s eyes.

“Would you stake your life on it?” Macavity pointed to Cattivo. “Would you stake his life on it?”

“W-what?” Plato looked between Macavity and Cattivo. “What do you mean?”

“You say your brother is safe. Would you stake this tom’s life on that statement? Would you say that if Alonzo was not safe, I could kill this brother?” Macavity stepped closer to Cattivo, flicking out a claw and tracing it under Cattivo’s chin.

“Um…” Plato bit his lip. He thought Alonzo was safe… but if Alonzo had participated in the fight, then he’d either have been captured… or killed. Unless he had escaped. “No.” No, he wouldn’t be willing to sacrifice Cattivo.

Macavity laughed. “Does dead count as safe?” he asked, before looking over at Hedrunkus. “The white and black patched tom, you three did kill him, correct?”

Hedrunkus looked back at Ruusu and Surripus, who shifted their paws and shrugged. “Yeah. Yeah, we killed him, just like we killed those other toms.”

Plato felt his heart drop somewhere past his stomach. Alonzo was… dead? First Gus and Skimble, and now Alonzo… what sort of guardians were they, if they couldn’t protect their family?”

Macavity turned back to Cattivo and Plato, smirking. “Still think he is safe?”

“W-what are you going to do with us?” Cattivo asked, his voice trembling slightly. Plato wanted to reach over and take his paw, but he was just as scared as his brother sounded.

“An excellent question, young Jellicle,” Macavity purred. “Unfortunately, you are not allowed to ask questions. You have to be punished.” He raised his paw and clawed Plato across the face.

Plato yelped as he felt Macavity draw blood, pulling away and pressing his paws to his cut nose. “What was that for?”

“You are not allowed to ask questions either,” Macavity said, slashing at Cattivo with his other paw.

And Plato got it. If one of them asked a question, then the other would get hurt. He didn’t want to be responsible for Cattivo getting injured, so he closed his mouth and glared at Macavity. He wouldn’t ask any more questions.

“Good kitties,” Macavity said, as Cattivo closed his mouth as well. “Quick learners. You two might have made good Monniks. Pity you are going to be used as bait instead.”

Plato couldn’t help himself. Before he could remember to be quiet, he had opened his mouth. “Bait for what?”

Macavity threw back his head and laughed. He laughed, long and cold and hard, as he raised his paws, pointing at both Jellicles. Plato watched Cattivo freeze up and slump over before everything went black.