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Post by Arya on Jun 25, 2007 21:42:37 GMT -5
MOOOOORRRRRREEEEE
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jun 26, 2007 11:07:49 GMT -5
Title: The Protector (5/14)
“Plato? Plato! Wake up! Please, Plato, please wake up… don’t be dead, Plato. Don’t be dead…”
Cattivo’s voice was the first thing Plato heard as awareness returned to him. Cattivo’s worried face was the first thing he saw. “Cat…?”
“You’re not dead!” Cattivo flung his arms around Plato, hugging him close. Plato could feel dampness, like from tears, where Cattivo’s face pushed against his shoulder.
“Cat!” Plato pushed his brother away, holding him at arms’ length so he could look him over. “Are you all right? Did the Monniks hurt you?”
Cattivo shook his head, reaching up to wipe his face dry. “No, they didn’t hurt me. They just locked us in this cage.” He nuzzled Plato’s cheek. “I thought you were dead. I thought Macavity killed you, like the Monniks killed Father and Grandpa and Alonzo…”
“Shh…” Plato nuzzled Cattivo, licking his ears. “I’m not dead, and you’re not dead, and we’re together. The Monniks might have us imprisoned, but they don’t have us beat.”
The touching moment was interrupted by the dull thump of a body dropping to the ground outside the cage. Both brothers looked up, and both brothers grinned broadly as they watched their dad touch his paw to his lips, motioning for them to stay quiet.
Simbol crouched by the cat he had knocked out, pulling a ring of keys from its paw. He stepped over to the door and unlocked it. Plato and Cattivo rushed out, wrapping their arms around him in tight hugs. “Dad!” Plato whispered.
“You saved us!” Cattivo said, just as quietly.
Simbol hugged both toms briefly before releasing them. “We can celebrate after we get out of here,” he murmured. “Come on, be quiet now.” He began to lead his sons out.
Plato blinked as they left the room and stepped into a hall with windows. The sky was dark, but the sun was beginning to rise. So much time had passed! The attack had happened around high-sun, and now it was the next day.
Simbol was just about to turn a corner when he hesitated, swiveling his ears back. Plato and Cattivo followed suit. Behind them, in the room the brothers had been held prisoner in, there were voices, Monnik voices, Monniks who were discovering their fallen comrade. A cry rang out, “The prisoners have escaped!”
Simbol bolted, Plato and Cattivo hot on his heels. The three raced down the empty halls, trying to put as much distance between themselves and their captors as possible. To the left and right, Plato caught glimpses of fallen cats, cats that had been nudged aside into the shadows. Apparently, the halls hadn’t been as empty when Simbol came in.
“There they are!”
When they reached a T-shaped intersection, a group of Monniks spotted them and came running toward them from one hall. Simbol shoved the brothers down the third hall. “Run!” he shouted, turning toward the Monniks and assuming a defensive position.
“Dad…”
“Run!” Simbol repeated. “Go! Get back to the yard!”
“C’mon, Cat,” Plato said, grabbing his brother’s paw and taking off again. Behind him, he could hear yowls as the Monniks ran into the Jellicle Protector.
Getting out of the building they were being held in wasn’t too hard – they just followed the trail of unconscious or dead cats.
Getting out of Monnik territory was another challenge altogether. Plato looked around after they stepped out, whining slightly as he didn’t recognize anything. “Cat... do you know where we are?”
Cattivo whimpered, looking behind them. “We just left Dad!”
“Dad can take care of himself,” Plato said. “And he told us to run. He told us. He didn’t want us to stay.”
“We left him!”
“We were obeying direct orders from our superior!” Plato turned and grabbed Cattivo’s shoulders, shaking him lightly. “Pull yourself together, Cat! I need you!”
Cattivo gulped and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. When he looked up at Plato again, he still looked scared, but he didn’t look as panicked. “O-okay. What do we do now?”
“We need to get out of here.” Plato looked around, biting his lip. Cattivo was looking to him for orders, and he didn’t know what to do! “We need to find the junkyard.”
“Where is it?”
“I don’t know, Cat!” Plato bit his lip again, regretting his outburst as Cattivo pulled back, looking ashamed for asking. “I don’t know,” he repeated, more calmly this time. “But we can’t just stay here. C’mon.” Taking Cattivo’s paw, he started heading west. The Monnik territory was to the east of the Jellicle lands, therefore going west must lead them back to the Jellicles. Once they were back in Jellicle territory, finding the junkyard would be a snap.
Morning turned into afternoon, and afternoon turned into evening, and the two brothers huddled together under a dumpster, certain they were lost. Finding the Jellicles again wasn’t just a straight shot west. They had to keep turning and ducking and running to avoid the Monniks moving around, and once they got chased east about ten blocks. They hadn’t seen any sign of their dad, either, and weren’t sure if he had gotten out and back home a different way, or if he was still in that building, fighting the Monniks.
The thought that he might be dead never crossed their minds – Simbol couldn’t die. He was the Jellicle Protector. He was their dad. He was invincible.
When Plato woke up the next morning, he was alone.
“Cat? Cattivo, where are you?” Plato sniffed around under the dumpster. The spot next to him, where Cattivo had been lying, was empty but still a little warm. Cat had been there recently. And then he… slipped out the back… went a little ways down the alley… ugh, went to the bathroom… uh-oh. Monniks.
The reek of Monniks was everywhere. Cattivo had been surrounded on his way back… they took him off this way… Breaking into a run, Plato tracked his brother’s scent, and soon caught up to the group that had him. There were five Monniks – one of them was that one-eyed cat who had started this whole mess in the theater – and Cattivo was in the middle of them, dragging his feet and sagging against the restricting arms of his guards. There was blood on his face, dripping down from a wound between his ears, and his eyes were glazed over, very dazed-looking.
Plato whined inside his head and pressed himself against a wall as they passed, laughing and boasting and shoving his stumbling brother along. He couldn’t fight off five Monniks on his own! Cattivo was in no shape to help him, either. All he could do was follow, keeping his footsteps and breathing as quiet as possible.
Cattivo was dragged back to the building they had escaped from, and Plato hung back, biting his lip. He couldn’t go inside – that would be suicide. Staying out wouldn’t help Cattivo either, though. But what if he could get back to the junkyard? With Simbol and Munkustrap and Admetus, maybe together they could get Cattivo out. “Hold on, Cat,” Plato whispered, stretching his paw toward the building. “I’ll be back soon!”
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jun 26, 2007 11:08:09 GMT -5
Title: The Protector (6/14)
“And… that’s it,” Plato said, turning his face into Alonzo’s shoulder. “I got back here as fast as I could. But we have to go back… we have to get Cattivo!” He looked over at Munkustrap. “Where’s Dad?”
“Where’s Daddy?” Tumble asked. The kitten had curled up between Plato and Alonzo as Plato spoke, hugging Plato’s front legs. “Play-do, where’s Daddy?”
“Isn’t… isn’t he here?” Plato looked over at Alonzo, and then at Munkustrap. “Didn’t he get back already?”
Alonzo bit his lip and shook his head. “Dad… hasn’t gotten word to us.”
“We’re going after him,” Munkustrap said firmly.
“We can’t!” Alonzo protested. “Dad said we were not to go after him, no matter what! Direct order!”
Munkustrap turned on Alonzo with a growl. “What are you more afraid of, disobeying your father, or having him die? As in gone. Permanently. ”
Alonzo shut his mouth, ears going flat as he backed away from Munkustrap. “I…”
Plato shook his head. “Dad’s not going to die… he’s too strong…”
Munkustrap sighed. “Too strong for one Monnik, yeah. Probably too strong for two, or even three to take down. But the Monniks aren’t a weak tribe. A dozen Monniks? Even Simbol could fall. But…” He shook his head. “They won’t kill him immediately. The Monniks love cruelty far too much for that. Simbol is still alive, right now, unless he was an idiot – which he may have been, simply to get them to kill him. And as long as he’s alive, I’m going to go after him.”
“Me too!” Tumble shouted, jumping up. “Me too, me too, me too!”
“No, Tumble,” Alonzo said. “You’re…” He remembered what Coricopat and Tantomile had done to get the kitten to behave. “You’re needed here. When we leave the junkyard, the Monniks might come here! They might attack! You need to protect the yard!”
Tumble immediately pressed his paws together and lifted his chin, the Jellicles’ way of standing at attention. “Yes sir!” he shouted, before beginning to march around the junkyard.
Plato watched this with an amused expression. “That was… kinda clever.”
“Cori and Tant did it earlier,” Alonzo said. “He wanted to go with Dad.”
“We?” Munkustrap asked quietly.
Alonzo looked down at his paws. “I think I’m more scared of Dad dying… I’ll help you.”
Plato looked between the two before nodding. “I’ll go too.”
Munkustrap shook his head. “Plato, you’re hurt. You should go see Jenny and Jelly.”
“Mom’s here?” Plato perked up at the mention of his mother.
Alonzo nodded. “Admetus got her, after Grandpa and Father were hurt.”
“Hurt?” Plato asked. “Not… not dead?”
“They’re still alive,” Munkustrap said. “Admetus was sitting with them… we should get him too. Come on.” He took hold of Plato’s arm, helping him to his feet, and between Alonzo and Munkustrap, they managed to help the tired tom to the dresser the queens were using as an infirmary/nursery.
“And what have you gotten up to now… Plato! Plato, oh, my baby!” Jenny had been the one who noticed the toms arriving, but when she recognized Plato, she rushed the trio (quartet if you counted Tumble, marching along with a look of grim determination on his kittenish face), pulling him into her arms and beginning to wash his face and ears.
“Plato?” Admetus rose from a corner where he had been lying, watching over the two tabbies. “Where are Cattivo and Dad?” This question was directed to Alonzo and Munkustrap, as Plato was too busy being smothered by his mother to answer anything.
“With the Monniks still,” Munkustrap said quietly. “We’re going to get them back. Do you want to come?”
Admetus shook his head slowly. “Dad said we’re not to…”
“We’re not rescuing him,” Munkustrap said.
“We’re not?” Alonzo asked.
Munkustrap grinned. “We’re rescuing Cattivo. And if we happen to find him along the way… might as well spring him too, right?”
Admetus grinned back. “Dad never said anything about not going after Cattivo.”
“Oh…” Alonzo was slowly getting it. Munkustrap was actually going after Simbol, he knew that, but by claiming Cattivo as their target (who they were also going to rescue (he hoped)), they weren’t disobeying Simbol, and didn’t have to worry about his disapproval afterwards. He nodded. “That… makes sense.”
“Let’s go, then!” Munkustrap waved the brothers off. “Plato… we’ll be back soon. Help Tumble keep an eye on things here, all right?”
Plato managed to get a nod out before Jenny was smothering him again, each praying their companions were all right.
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jun 28, 2007 18:54:13 GMT -5
Title: The Protector (7/14)
Munkustrap leaned over and smacked Admetus’ paw away from his mouth lightly. “Don’t wash,” he whispered. “I know it itches, but we need to blend in.” The three toms had rolled in dirt and soot to get that proper unwashed Monnik look, and now they were sitting on a rooftop. Munkustrap had led the other two up the fire escape Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer had shown him about a year ago. He had remembered how they said only the thieves used the rooftop paths, and since he knew exactly what building Plato and Cattivo had been held in (there was only one “prison” building the Monniks had, and it matched Plato’s description), he figured the safe way to travel was the best way.
“You’re sure this is the right building?” Admetus asked, crouching at the edge of the roof and staring at their target. “How do you know so much about the Monniks, anyway?”
Alonzo, who had been hanging back a little ways, looked over at Munkustrap with curiosity.
Munkustrap looked away, biting his lip. His kittenhood wasn’t something most cats knew anything about. “I grew up in Monnik territory,” he mumbled. It was the truth, after all.
“You did?” Alonzo asked. “I thought you were a street-”
Admetus cuffed Alonzo’s ear. “The Monniks have street cats too,” he whispered. He was trying to be quiet about it, but Munkustrap heard. He almost laughed.
The Jellicles didn’t approve of street cats in general. Street cats were loners, trying to survive on their own, and they were usually half-starved and battle-scarred, and often quite pathetic-seeming. The Jellicles thought that was a horrible way to live, and always invited street cats into their tribe. Some accepted, but others refused. There was a certain pride to living on the streets, in knowing you could make it on your own. Munkustrap had considered it, back when he was fleeing the Monniks. He figured the Jellicles would be safer, though.
The Monniks didn’t mind street cats quite so much – they made good practice fights and scapegoats, and were excellent for the demonstration of ways to get cats to talk. They were also a quick source of extra muscle, if the Monniks needed to swell their ranks. No, Monniks didn’t mind street cats… but street cats didn’t like Monniks. The Jellicles, at least, would leave them alone, except to ask them if they wanted to join yet. “So… that’s where they are?” Admetus asked, changing the topic from Munkustrap’s “street cat” past.
Munkustrap nodded. “Cattivo, at least. Simbol’s probably in there too. Unless…”
“Unless what?”
“Unless they wanted to have a bit more fun with him,” Munkustrap said quietly. “Normal prisoners are kept in that building. Special prisoners… and I think the Jellicle Protector would count as one, would be taken over there.” He pointed to the burned out warehouse a few buildings over. “That’s their headquarters. He’d be in the middle, and they’d be… having fun.” What was fun for the Monniks would certainly not be fun for Simbol, if he was indeed there. Munkustrap prayed that both father and son were being kept in the normal rooms, the normal cages.
Admetus looked down at the street below. “Well… it looks like that crowd has passed. Do we go down now?”
The Monniks had been changing their guards, so cats had been swarming in and out of the prison building, but now things had calmed down. Munkustrap nodded. “Follow me, and be careful.”
The three dirty cats crept down another fire escape and slunk across the street. Munkustrap looked both ways before waving the other two toms in. This was going to be the challenging part now – finding Cattivo and Simbol, and not alerting any guards to their presence.
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jun 28, 2007 18:56:57 GMT -5
Title: The Protector (8/14)
“How many more rooms to go?” Admetus asked, dropping the unconscious body of yet another Monnik. Two hours into their hunt, and the three toms had gotten incredibly used to sneaking up on oblivious Monnik guards and knocking them out.
Munkustrap backed out of the room and shook his head in frustration. “That… that was the last one! Neither of them are here!” Simbol might have been special enough to go before Leviticus for the Monniks’ amusement, but Cattivo was just a guardian, and a low-level one at that. He was Simbol’s son, but if they had Simbol, they didn’t need Cattivo anymore.
Unless…
Munkustrap felt his stomach twist. Unless they really didn’t need Cattivo anymore. “Wait… there’s one more place…”
“Where?” Alonzo asked, looking around.
Munkustrap quietly led the brothers out of the building. They hadn’t bothered sneaking past any of the guards – the less guards awake, the easier it was to move around, and the less chance they had of getting caught. A couple Monniks moaned as they hurried past, but Admetus gave them a few heavy taps with a paw, silencing them again.
“Where are we going?” Alonzo asked again, but Munkustrap continued to be quiet as he led them around the back of the building.
There was a dumpster behind the building, from which a smell like no other emerged, at once sweet and foul, musky and rotten. This was Munkustrap’s target. He jumped up onto the edge and peered inside – and before he could warn the brothers, they were up beside him.
Alonzo went so pale Munkustrap almost swore his patches went grey. On Alonzo’s other side, Admetus whispered, “Great Everlasting Cat… no…”
Munkustrap gave Alonzo a push, knocking him into Admetus. “Hold him,” he said curtly. “Don’t let him follow me.” After Admetus wrapped his arms around his younger brother, Munkustrap dropped into the dumpster. Immediately, the stench wrapped around him, pulling him in like a shroud. He gagged once but forced himself not to throw up. It took a huge amount of willpower, but this wasn’t the first time Munkustrap had endured this particular torture.
The box was full of filth and garbage and rotting corpses. On the top, though, still relatively fresh, was the broken body of a gold-patched tom. Too small to be Simbol, Cattivo was identifiable, even though his face was badly mutilated. Munkustrap could hear Alonzo gasping and wheezing and just trying to breathe, still too shocked to move. For that, Munkustrap was grateful – the last thing they needed now was Alonzo going into hysterics over his brother. Admetus, Munkustrap trusted to keep it together – Admetus was older and had more experience with death, though, admittedly, not a brother’s.
Munkustrap gingerly picked his way over the mass of filth to Cattivo’s body and crouched beside him, gently laying a paw on his side. Cattivo was cool to the touch. He was dead, and had been dead for some time. Munkustrap reached up and cupped Cattivo’s cheek in a paw, studying his face. There was nothing left of the playful kitten he had watched grow up, the little soldier who had tried so hard to follow in his pawsteps, the mischievous guardian who had pulled pranks on his older brothers with Plato and Alonzo at his side… the dutiful son who had taken after his father in so many ways besides just appearance. “Rest in peace, Cattivo,” he whispered.
“Munkus!”
Turning quickly at Admetus’ urgent whisper, Munkustrap saw the older tom fighting to keep Alonzo balanced – the black and white cat had fainted, it looked like. He hurried back to the edge of the dumpster, supporting Alonzo’s weight as Admetus eased him down on the other side. “I’ll be right out,” he said, turning back to Cattivo’s body. He couldn’t just leave the Jellicle here. Cattivo deserved better than that.
When Munkustrap climbed out of the dumpster, carrying the younger cat, he saw Admetus quickly straighten up, wiping his mouth and looking incredibly solemn. “How can you stand it?” Admetus asked Munkustrap quietly, staring at him. “You just stepped in there, with all that death…”
Munkustrap shrugged. “You get used to it… I’ve been in there before.” Munkustrap would often be the one who disposed of the corpses he and Macavity created, the ones that the Monniks didn’t eat, that is.
“As a kitten?”
Munkustrap shrugged again. “I did what I had to do,” he said quietly. “Admetus… do you think you can get them both back to the junkyard?” He nodded toward Alonzo. “If we wake him, do you think you can keep him quiet and carry Cattivo?”
“What about you?” Admetus asked. “What are you going to do?”
Munkustrap looked toward the warehouse. “I’m going to get Simbol.”
“By yourself?”
“I can do it,” Munkustrap said. “Actually, I probably have a better chance of getting in there by myself.” He turned toward Admetus. “I need you to promise me, though, that you won’t come after me.”
Admetus gave a harsh laugh, grated at the edges from his brother’s death, but Munkustrap raised a paw to silence him. “I know, I know, hypocritical of me, right? Here’s the thing, though. I know my way around Monnik territory. You don’t. I came in here knowing what I was doing. You wouldn’t.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “Besides… if I get caught trespassing in there? They’ll kill me. No questions asked – you’ll find me here, probably.” He pointed behind him, to the dumpster. “Still, if you must come after me, like we came after Cattivo and Simbol… promise me you’ll get Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer to help you? They’ll know what they’re doing. Or… if she’s willing - and only if she’s willing, and if you force her and I survive, I swear to the Everlasting Cat I will make you eat your tail – Demeter. Or, if none of them can come… the Rum Tum Tugger does know his way around the Monnik territory a bit… though I don’t know how willing he’d be to help you help me.”
Admetus nodded and swallowed thickly, wiping his mouth again. “Okay.”
“Give me a day,” Munkustrap said, and Admetus nodded.
“Good luck, Munkustrap,” he whispered. “Bring my dad home?”
“I will,” Munkustrap promised, leaning forward to touch his nose to Admetus’ in an oath. “I swear on my honor and pride as a Jellicle that I will do absolutely everything I can to bring Simbol home… or I will die in the attempt. I will not return without him.”
“You didn’t have to take it that far,” Admetus whispered, but he offered Munkustrap a shaky smile. “Okay. Give me Cat… I’ll wait here until Alonzo wakes up, and we’ll go back.”
Munkustrap passed his burden over, watching as Admetus cradled his dead brother so carefully. “Good-bye,” he whispered.
Admetus shook his head, looking up at Munkustrap. “Not good-bye, ‘Straps. See you soon. Don’t you dare say good-bye.”
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jun 30, 2007 21:41:33 GMT -5
Title: The Protector 9/14
Security around the warehouse was tighter than it had been a year ago, when Munkustrap helped the thieves free Demeter. Munkustrap rolled in some more dirt as he ran through the options in his head, finally coming up with one that was bold, daring, gutsy, incredibly stupid, and quite possibly the best chance of success he had.
Shaking off any loose dust, Munkustrap affixed a haughty scowl on his face and looked at his reflection in a dented hubcap. Oh yes. He knew that cat.
With a swagger that was just this side of arrogant, Munkustrap stalked toward the guards that muttered to each other in boredom outside the prisoner pen, a small room where prisoners were kept when the Monniks had other things to do besides torture them. As long as the Monniks hadn’t changed their routine too much (and which cat would agree to get rid of the afternoon nap?), Simbol should be in there.
Provided, of course, that he was both still alive and held prisoner by the Monniks.
As he approached, the guards slowly rose to attention and moved to block his entrance. “Sorry, cat, no one allowed in.”
Munkustrap allowed his scowl to deepen as he glared at the pair. “I have permission.”
The guards looked at each other and then shook their head. “Sorry, unless you got permission from Leviticus or Macavity, no one allowed in.”
“It’s from Macavity,” Munkustrap said.
“Uh…” The guards looked at each other again. Clearly, they had never encountered this problem before. Munkustrap almost felt like cheering – he had a chance of success – except that his insides were all twisted up and cold and he felt like his heart was hammering in his chest. “We can’t really… I mean… how do we know it’s true…?”
Munkustrap made a disgusted sound and waved his paw. “Tch. Fine. I’ll just go tell my brother that I wasn’t allowed in because of incompetent guards.”
“Who’s your brother?” one of them asked, taking the bait perfectly.
Munkustrap arched an eyebrow at that guard. “Uh… Macavity? Who else?”
And that got the guards’ attention. They laughed at him. “Macavity doesn’t have a brother!”
“Yeah, yeah, he doesn’t!”
Munkustrap rolled his eyes. “Ugh – are you deaf as well as dumb? Of course he does! Or have you never heard the stories of the Terror Twins?”
“Well, yeah,” the first guard said. “But everyone knows Ritzkin’s dead.”
“Everyone “knows?”” Munkustrap laughed harshly, trying to mimic how Macavity used to laugh without directly imitating him. “Damn, but you are stupid!”
The guards looked at each other in confusion. “But... uh… we was there, when Leviticus announced… weren’t you there?”
“Yeah, I was there… Leviticus said Ritzkin died.”
While Munkustrap’s plan had some thought put into it, his dialogue was coming mostly off the tip of his tail. He was eternally grateful that the average Monnik wasn’t really all that bright… and that he had talked to the thieves a lot about the things that had happened since he had been gone. “If you were there, you must have seen Macavity, right?”
“Yeah…” Neither guard seemed to know where he was going with this.
“Think. Did he look scared or satisfied? Sad or pleased?” The thief siblings had claimed Macavity wasn’t looking the least bit upset about the death of his brother – if they noticed, maybe others did too.
Of course, the thieves were more observant than most cats. If these guards hadn’t noticed, Munkustrap’s plan might not work out so well.
“Uh… I think he was scared?” the first one said. “I mean, his brother did just get killed and all…”
“No… wait a minute…” The second guard was frowning, his brow furrowed. He was thinking hard. “He was smirkin’. I remember that, because I thought, ‘Wow, he’s not afraid of nothing, not even some cat killing his brother…’”
Munkustrap almost sighed in relief – thank the Everlasting Cat that one of them noticed! “He wasn’t smirking because he wasn’t scared – he was smirking because he knew the truth. I wasn’t dead. ”
“But… why would Leviticus say you was dead if you wasn’t?”
Munkustrap sighed heavily and ran his paw down his face. “Ugh. Do I have to explain everything to you?” The guards nodded. Munkustrap resisted the urge to laugh – that wasn’t something they were supposed to answer. With another heavy sigh, he launched into his story, the one he had thought up while pacing. “Macavity and I want to run this tribe-”
“But Leviticus-”
“Will you shut up? How do you expect to learn anything if you can’t keep your mouths shut?” It was surprisingly easy, injecting venom and spite into his voice. Munkustrap was cringing at how quickly he had fallen back into Ritzkin, the Monnik brat. “We want to run this tribe when Leviticus is gone. ”
“Ohh…” He had the undivided attention of the guards now. If Admetus were here, this was where he’d sneak inside… but Munkustrap was doing this on his own. He’d need to get the guards to let him walk in… and to let him walk out, with Simbol. Now, to keep their attention, to keep them believing…
“We came up with this idea, see. Mac’s the magic cat, and I’m the strong one, right?” The guards nodded – that part they knew. That part was in all the stories. “We pretended that I died, so that Mac could be the favorite son, the one cat Leviticus holds above all others – one cat, not two. Not me and him, just him.” Another nod – this was a concept Monnik guards knew. One cat could be defended against if he tried to stab you in the back a lot more easily than two. “Now, this way, Mac gets to be Leviticus’ little pet, and I go do all his dirty work. Mac never gets in trouble for killing a cat he shouldn’t, but people who piss him off… they just ‘happen’ to go missing, or die…”
The second guard gasped loudly. “Like Tarsson? Did you make Tarsson disappear?”
Munkustrap blinked – had Macavity been doing this all along, having a “ghost” cat assassin? Silently, he sent his brother a thought of thanks – You’re making this too easy for me! “Tarsson? Tarsson… Tarsson…” He let a slow, evil grin creep across his face. “Oh yes… That one…” Two gulps from the guards let him know that his charade was working. He felt a twinge of pain at being so evil, so wicked, so Monnik… but it had to be done. Just… why was it so easy?
“Wh-what do you want with us?” the first guard asked. There was a tremble to his paws now, a tremble Munkustrap had put there with words and expressions alone. No need for threats or violence… he was scary enough, apparently, without it.
“I already told you that,” Munkustrap snapped back at the guard. “I need in. Mac’s asked me to kill the Jellicle Protector.”
The guards looked at each other. “But we was gonna have more fun with him after the nap…”
Bingo. Simbol was in there… and he was still alive! Munkustrap felt his heart pounding in his throat as he carefully laid out the next phase in his plan – the reason for why the guards should let him take Simbol. “We don’t have time. Word on the street is that the Jellicles are preparing for a rush – they want their Protector back.”
The guards scoffed. “We can take ‘em,” the second guard said.
Munkustrap shook his head. “Not this time. This time, they’ve called in a favor with the police dog. They’ve got a pack of Pollicles on their side. Not one or two… they’ve got twenty.” This caused the guards to look at each other again. Pollicles were laughable to the Monniks – a handful of Monniks could easily bring down a lone Pollicle, or even a pair… but if you got a whole pack together…
Well, everyone knew that Pollicles worked best in large groups.
“Mac thinks we should let the Jellicles in just far enough to ‘find’ their Protector… already dead. So I’m gonna take him to the dumpster and slit his throat over that son of his. Won’t it be a perfect ending for him, to see what he failed to protect?” Even as Munkustrap’s stomach turned with the thought of Simbol dying on top of Cattivo, he forced a sneer on his face.
The guards chortled and nudged each other, grinning. Apparently, they liked the idea. “Yeah, yeah, c’mon!” They led Munkustrap in, tails waving happily.
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Post by Arya on Jul 1, 2007 12:16:29 GMT -5
MORE!
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Post by Shannon on Jul 1, 2007 21:24:57 GMT -5
Uh-oh...
This can't be good...
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Post by Arya on Jul 1, 2007 22:56:14 GMT -5
MORE IS GOOD!
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jul 4, 2007 12:10:41 GMT -5
Title: The Protector (10/14)
Munkustrap wrinkled his nose as he entered the pen. He wasn’t sure which was worse, the too-sweet, too-foul smell of death that the dumpster held, or this mess of sickness and filth. Cats stared blearily out at him from cages designed for smaller creatures, sitting in their own mess. Most of them were probably street cats, being kept for entertainment, though there could have been a Monnik or two among them – Monniks who misbehaved badly enough were sent here. Munkustrap didn’t recognize any faces, though, for which he was grateful. He wouldn’t have been able to rescue a second cat.
The first guard slammed his paw into one of the cages as the second guard began flipping through a ring of keys. “Hey, Jellicle! Open your eyes, you’ve got a visitor!”
Munkustrap took a deep breath, trying to prepare himself for the worst, before he stepped up and looked inside the cage.
Simbol stared back at him with those familiar unreadable eyes. Unlike with Cattivo, the Monniks hadn’t damaged Simbol’s face. His ears, though, were tattered, and he had a trail of blood running down his cheek from a gash in his forehead. Looking farther down, Munkustrap was relieved to see that none of his limbs looked broken – they could move faster if Simbol could run on his own – but his body…
Munkustrap had to remind himself that he was trying to be a ghost assassin, Ritzkin, and that Ritzkin wouldn’t throw up at the sight of blood. Ironic, that the stench of death and Cattivo’s body weren’t enough to turn his stomach, but seeing Simbol very much alive but missing many of his golden patches from his chest and sides (and probably back too, which Munkustrap couldn’t see) was almost too much for him.
The guards turned to look at Munkustrap expectantly, waiting for his command. Munkustrap waved a paw at Simbol and tried not to choke. “Open the cage. Bring him out here.”
For the first time in his life, Munkustrap was able to read Simbol’s expression. The widening of his eyes, the recognition that flashed through his face… Simbol knew who he was now. And then, to his horror, Simbol narrowed his eyes and hissed at him. Was he faking it? Was Simbol just playing along? Or was he… was he actually… did he actually think that Munkustrap was a Monnik?
I don’t enjoy this! Munkustrap wanted to cry to Simbol. I’m doing this for you! But he couldn’t – that would blow his cover, and probably get them both killed.
Simbol fought against the two guards as they tugged him out of the cage, but every time he’d lunge for one, the other, on his other side, would yank back on one of the chains wrapped around him, dragging him away. “Are you sure you can handle him?” the guards asked.
Munkustrap looked at the setup. Each chain was fastened to a cuff on one of Simbol’s front paws as well as locked around his neck. Tugging on the chain would give the same effect as a choke hold. If Simbol tried to hurt him (Please don’t, Simbol, I’m trying to get us out of here…), a firm enough yank should stop him. Munkustrap didn’t want to choke Simbol, but he would have no choice, if he wanted to keep up appearances. “Yeah. Give me those.”
No sooner had the chains been passed to Munkustrap then did Simbol rush him. Munkustrap had been expecting that, though he had hoped Simbol wouldn’t, and so he yanked. Simbol dropped to his knees, clutching at his throat, growling and glaring at Munkustrap. Behind him, the guards were chuckling again. “You do ‘im, Ritzkin!”
“Yeah! You show ‘im who’s boss!”
Simbol looked up at Munkustrap with an accusation in his eyes. Munkustrap met his stare evenly – to look away would be to tell the Monniks he wasn’t up to the task he was pretending to do. Stepping forward, he reached out and traced his claws down Simbol’s face, not deep enough to scratch (he couldn’t bring himself to draw more blood). “You want to see your son again, don’t you?” he said, forcing a purr into his voice. “You want to be reunited with… what was his name… Cattivo?”
Simbol closed his eyes, a brief flicker of pain on his face, and Munkustrap knew that Simbol was aware Cattivo was dead. And here he was, rubbing it in. But it had to be done. He gave the chains another tug, earning a faint hiss from Simbol as the older cat reached for his throat again. “Come on, then. I’ll take you to your son. Behave, and I’ll even let you hold him.”
Simbol rose to his feet, staring at Munkustrap for a very long time before he nodded and stepped forward. The guards, still laughing, followed them out.
Once outside, Munkustrap turned and touched a paw to his lips. “Shh. I was never here. You two need to continue to guard this place as if nothing happened. You never saw me. You have no idea what happened to the Jellicle. Understood?”
The first guard frowned, scratching his head. “Why was you never here?”
Munkustrap sighed, fighting to keep up his Ritzkin persona. It was a lot harder now, with Simbol glaring at him from the other end of the chain. “Because if other cats know I’m still alive, I can’t do my job, now can I? Don’t breathe a word of this to anyone! If you do…” He glared at them. “If you do, Tarsson won’t be the only missing cat.”
Two gulps, two nods, two sloppy salutes. Munkustrap turned and shoved Simbol down the alley. The cats might spread word of Ritzkin around. They might not. He didn’t know… and right now, he didn’t care. He needed to get Simbol out before the Monniks woke up and started looking for him.
After they were well away from the guards, though, and Munkustrap was just about to free Simbol, the older cat lunged at him again, pinning him against the wall and hissing. “Sir! No! It’s Munkustrap!”
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jul 4, 2007 14:17:54 GMT -5
Title: The Protector (11/14) Double-update for the holiday
After they were well away from the guards, though, and Munkustrap was just about to free Simbol, the older cat lunged at him again, pinning him against the wall and hissing. “Sir! No! It’s Munkustrap!”
“I know who you are,” Simbol growled, leaning his weight on his arm that was pressed into Munkustrap’s throat. “I’ve known who you were, Ritzkin, ever since you first started playing with Tugger. Little Ritzy and Rumsy, thinking you were so clever, ducking across the border on both sides…”
Munkustrap’s eyes widened and he felt his knees give out – Simbol knew? Simbol knew the truth? Simbol had known… all along?
Simbol grabbed Munkustrap by the throat and flung him away. Even beaten up as he was, the Protector was still incredibly strong. Munkustrap winced as he hit the wall of a brick building. “Oww…”
Opening his eyes a sliver, Munkustrap could see Simbol on the other side of the alley they were in, glaring at him… but wrapping his arms around his chest? He was breathing heavily, every gasping breath rasping wetly. Something was very wrong with Simbol. Munkustrap could tell that just from where he was lying. Unfortunately, he wasn’t a healer, and didn’t know how to fix it.
He also had the disadvantage of Simbol’s wrath being directed at him now.
Very, very slowly, Munkustrap sat up, holding his paws out. “Sir, please, listen to me,” he begged. “Yes… yes, I’m Ritzkin. I’m a Monnik. I was a Monnik. But I’m not anymore…” He closed his eyes. “And I guess I’m not a Jellicle, either. I’m a nothing. But I’m not going to hurt you!” He opened his eyes, looking over at Simbol again. The older cat hadn’t moved. He was still glaring at Munkustrap, still holding his chest. “I was trying to get you out,” Munkustrap said quietly. “Admetus and Alonzo and I… we came in to get you out, you and Cattivo. Plato… Plato made it back to the junkyard and told us what happened.”
Oddly enough, at that, Simbol collapsed, sagging to the ground. Munkustrap quickly leapt to his feet and ran over to him, wincing as Simbol flinched away. He reached out, though, touching one of Simbol’s arms. “Sir… what’s wrong? How badly are you hurt?”
Simbol brushed Munkustrap off, sitting up again with a wince. Munkustrap backed up a step or two and crouched there, watching the older cat. “Plato… Plato is alive?”
Munkustrap nodded. “Alive and well, though last I saw him, Jenny was smothering him.”
Simbol actually smiled faintly. “And Cattivo… he’s dead?” he whispered, the smile gone just as quickly as it had appeared.
Munkustrap nodded again. “Admetus brought his body back to the junkyard,” he said quietly. “And he’s taking care of Alonzo too – Alonzo fainted when he found out.”
“Skimble and Gus?” Simbol asked next.
“Alive and healing,” Munkustrap said. “Jenny said they should make full recoveries.”
Simbol pushed himself to his feet, leaning heavily against the building. “That leaves… just us.”
Munkustrap rose and stepped forward, touching Simbol’s arm again. “Sir… I’m sorry… I wanted to tell you… I wanted to tell you so bad… I hated lying to you… but I couldn’t! I couldn’t tell anyone the truth, or…” He bit his lip, looking down at his paws. “Or this. Or everyone would hate me.” He clenched his paws into fists. “I’m not Ritzkin anymore, Sir. I’m not! I’m Munkustrap, of the Jellicle tribe. And that’s all I ever want to be. I just… I had to be Ritzkin again, to get you out…”
Simbol looked over at Munkustrap with that familiar and irritatingly unreadable expression. He held out a paw. “Get these off me.”
“I…” Munkustrap stepped forward and took Simbol’s paw in his, checking the cuff over. The lock didn’t look too complicated, and while he was no Mungojerrie, the thieves had taught him a few things. He slid out a claw and got to work.
Simbol watched Munkustrap silently, and when he finished and the cuff slipped off, Simbol held out his other paw. This cuff was a little easier, since Munkustrap knew what he was doing now. Once both paws were free, Simbol unwrapped the chains from around his throat and pulled them off. He rubbed at his neck, and Munkustrap could only imagine how it hurt.
“Sir,” Munkustrap said quietly. “We need to get out of here before the Monniks come.”
Simbol nodded and pushed away from the wall, beginning to head back toward the Jellicle territory. Munkustrap walked beside him, watching the blood trail from Simbol’s open wounds. The Monniks would be able to follow them easily. Munkustrap sighed and rolled his shoulders. Simbol was in no shape to fight, so he’d have to do all the protecting.
With every step they took, the silence they walked in seemed to grow more and more tense. Munkustrap hung his head, his ears back, tail drooping, as he walked a few steps behind the older cat. His sharp eyes didn’t miss any of Simbol’s faltering steps, or the stiff way he held his tail (it looked broken) or the blood that stained his white fur and continued to drip sluggishly to the ground. Nor did Munkustrap miss the fact that Simbol’s breathing was growing increasingly labored with every step.
Much to Munkustrap’s surprise, they managed to make it all the way out of Monnik territory without drawing the attention of a single cat. Sleep was apparently not to be disturbed. Munkustrap allowed himself a smile as he and Simbol stepped off the bridge and onto Jellicle land, but when Simbol collapsed again, Munkustrap’s smile fell. He rushed to his Protector’s side, but Simbol pushed him away.
Munkustrap had had it. He crossed his arms and scowled. “Sir, this isn’t fair! If it were anyone else who had done what I did, if it were Admetus or Alonzo or Skimble or anyone, you would have been fine with it! I’d have been doing what was necessary to do what had to be done – I disguised myself as the enemy to infiltrate the enemy’s hold… Sir… Simbol, please…” He laid down beside Simbol, reaching out to touch his arm. “Ever since I found out about the guardians, I’ve wanted to make you proud of me,” he said. “I’ve worked my tail off to be the best guardian you have. I… I turned back to what I hated to get you out.” He wriggled a little closer to Simbol. “I’m not proud of what I did when I was Ritzkin, Simbol. I’m not proud of what I did just now, to get you past those guards. What I am proud of, though, is what I’ve done under your leadership, of what I’ve become.” He rested his head against Simbol’s arm. “Everything I am today, all that is good about me… it’s all because of you,” he whispered. “Please, Simbol… please don’t hate me…”
There was silence between the two, disturbed only by the rush of passing human cars and the rasp of Simbol’s breathing. Eventually, the older cat stirred. He didn’t lift his head, but he did turn his arm, catching Munkustrap’s paw in his own. “Thank you,” he murmured, his voice barely audible. “For bringing me back here… so I can die… at home…”
“No!” Munkustrap leaned over Simbol, trying to pull him back to his feet. “No, Simbol, no, you’re not going to die! We’re not too far from the yard, come on! Jenny and Jelly are both there, they’ll take care of you, you’ll be fine. You’ll make a full recovery, I know you will…”
Simbol laughed, but it turned into a cough. He wiped his paw across his mouth, and Munkustrap saw blood – but was it fresh, or had it been there before? “Munkustrap… Ritzkin… my little guardian.” He squeezed Munkustrap’s paw. “I know my limits… I cannot take another… step…”
“Simbol…” Munkustrap closed his eyes and bent over the older cat, fighting back tears. “You’re not going to die, Simbol… you’re not…”
Simbol didn’t answer. He didn’t die, either. He just laid under Munkustrap, fighting to breathe. To Munkustrap’s surprise, though, Simbol was purring. Even here, even now, after everything that had happened… Munkustrap closed his eyes and bit back a sob. Simbol was purring.
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Post by Shannon on Jul 4, 2007 15:40:43 GMT -5
;_________;
I'm actually choked up. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to write that. Or, rather, to write what's coming.
;_________________________; SIMBLYYYYY!
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Post by Arya on Jul 6, 2007 21:47:27 GMT -5
SIMBOL! NOOO!
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jul 8, 2007 10:44:04 GMT -5
Title: The Protector 12/14
“Kitty-cat?”
Munkustrap jumped at the gruff voice, his fur puffing out. “Polli- oh… hello, Milton.”
“Two kitty-cat!” Milton was the local police dog, a friendly German Shepherd. He and Simbol were good friends, and Simbol had introduced Munkustrap to him a few months ago. Milton was pretty intelligent, for a Pollicle, and usually could make full sentences. “Kitty-cat Munk-cat! Simbol-cat!”
“Yeah, good to see you too,” Munkustrap said, turning back to Simbol. The older cat was still breathing, still purring… and still not moving.
Milton put his big nose down next to Simbol, snuffling loudly. “What wrong with Simbol-cat?”
“Simbol’s been hurt,” Munkustrap said. “Badly. He…” An idea came to him, and he turned to Milton. “Milton! Can you do us a huge favor? Please?”
“Milton police dog! Milton here to serve!”
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Munkustrap said. He pointed to Simbol. “Simbol can’t walk. He’s really badly hurt. Can you carry him back to the junkyard? Carefully?”
“Milton can! Milton here to serve!” Despite his loud, barking voice and not too bright mind, Milton was a good friend to have. The large Pollicle bent down and picked up Simbol, holding him gently in his paws. Simbol gave a hiss of pain as he was picked up, but he made no other sound. “Lead on, little kitty-cat!”
Munkustrap ran ahead of Milton, guiding the dog back to the junkyard. Milton was one of very few Pollicles allowed in the yard, and even then, he was always watched. Though he was gentle, even Simbol looked tiny in his paws. All it would take is one accidentally-too-hard swipe to a playful kitten for serious damage to be done.
Still, if Milton was carrying Simbol, then Simbol would be brought to the yard, and then Jenny and Jelly would fix him! Please, please, please be able to heal him, Munkustrap thought desperately as he ran.
Approaching the junkyard, Milton whined and Munkustrap set his ears back. There was a ululating wail rising from the rubbish. It lasted for a few moments, before fading away. “What that?” Milton asked Munkustrap. “Sounded painful.”
“Grief,” Munkustrap said quietly. “It means a Jellicle has died.”
The wail was a way for the Jellicles to share their pain, and could last as long or as short as needed. Whenever one cat felt strong grief over the death of a Jellicle, they began the wail. All other Jellicles would raise their voices to match it, showing the grieving cat that he was not alone. These wails often happened for at least a full day after the death, but they could carry on longer. Deuteronomy once said that the wails over Exodus’ death (Exodus being the old Jellicle Leader before him, his father) lasted for a fortnight.
This wail had been for Cattivo, Munkustrap knew. That meant that Alonzo and Admetus had returned to the yard. Hopefully, hopefully, the wails would continue for Cattivo only, and not for Simbol as well. “Come on, Milton,” he said. “We need to get Simbol to the healers.”
“Lead on, little kitty-cat!”
Jellicles leapt aside as Munkustrap ran through the yard, followed by Milton with Simbol. They blinked at the Pollicle. When they got near the dresser, though, Admetus came running out. “Munkustrap! Munkustrap, you’re back!” He pulled Munkustrap into a hug before turning to Milton. “You found him!” He approached Milton hesitantly, reaching up. “May I have my father, sir?”
“Give Simbol-cat to this-cat?” Milton asked, looking questioningly at Munkustrap.
Munkustrap nodded, reaching up as well. “Yes, Milton, give him to us now. Thank you.”
Milton passed Simbol over and took a step back, barking happily, his tail waving back and forth. “Milton here to serve!”
“Thank you,” Munkustrap said again. “You can go now.”
Milton nodded and trotted off, his head held high.
“Dad…” Admetus whispered, cradling Simbol against him as best he could. Munkustrap was supporting Simbol’s legs, as he was too big for just Admetus to hold. “Oh, Dad…”
“Let’s get him inside,” Munkustrap said quietly. “He needs a healer.” Admetus nodded, and between the two of them, they brought Simbol inside the dresser.
“Simbol!” Jenny came running over, dropping to her knees beside her mate. “No… Simbol!” She bowed her head over him, beginning to sob as she cradled his head in her lap.
“Jenny…” Simbol whispered, raising a paw to touch her cheek.
Jellylorum knelt beside Jenny, resting her paw on Jenny’s shoulder. “He’s not dead yet, Jenny. Maybe we can do something!”
“Dad?” On the other side of the dresser, Plato and Alonzo were curled up with each other, their faces wet with tears. “Is that Dad? Is he all right?”
“Daddy!” Tumble came shooting out of a corner and crashed into his father, clinging tightly. “Daddy Daddy Daddy! Catti’s asleepying and not wakey-wakeying! And everyone’s cryin’! Daddy! Daddy!”
Simbol had visibly cringed when Tumble ran into him, but he reached up slowly, wrapping his arms around the kitten and holding him close. “Shh, Tumble,” he murmured. “Calm down... I’m here… now…”
With a sniffle, Tumble curled against Simbol’s chest. “Daddy, you’re bloody,” he said.
“I know,” Simbol whispered. “Shh.”
The dresser was getting crowded, and Munkustrap felt out of place. He backed out, taking a few steps away and sitting down. From here, he could see inside, could see Simbol, surrounded by his family. Jelly was fussing over him, but Jenny was just curled up next to him, crying and nuzzling his cheek. Tumble was cuddled against his chest. On his other side, Admetus supported Simbol’s side. Gus, who was awake now, crawled over to take Simbol’s paw, and Munkustrap was reminded of how they were father and son. Alonzo and Plato leaned on each other as they approached, curling up around Simbol’s legs. Yes, Simbol’s whole family was with him. Surely, he’d heal now.
“Did you bring him back?”
Munkustrap looked up to see Old Deuteronomy standing over him, looking curiously into the dresser. He nodded. “Yes… Simbol’s in there now. Jelly’s treating him.”
“Good,” Deuteronomy said, resting his paw on Munkustrap’s shoulder. “You did good, Munkustrap.”
“Thank you, sir,” Munkustrap said, closing his eyes.
Deuteronomy patted Munkustrap’s shoulder before moving past him, stepping inside the dresser.
Munkustrap had no idea how long he sat there, staring into the dresser. Deuteronomy blocked his view, but still he sat, watching and waiting. When Simbol was stable, surely someone would come out and say something. Surely someone would tell him. Surely someone would…
Jenny raised her voice in a wail that reverberated around the yard, one full of fresh pain and grief and loss. Alonzo, Plato, Admetus, and Jelly all joined her soon after, as well as Deuteronomy, who’s deep, mournful howl was unmistakable, and Gus.
Munkustrap’s eyes widened and he began shaking his head, taking a step back, and then another, then another. All around him, cats were picking up the wail, spreading the sadness. Deuteronomy turned and looked at him, slowly shaking his head.
Simbol was dead.
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Post by Shannon on Jul 8, 2007 14:22:24 GMT -5
Simbol... Noooooo! ;_________;
I do think Milton is awesome, though.
I love how Deut's dad is named Exodus. xD
Anywaaaay, I can't wait till the next onneeee!
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