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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on May 3, 2007 8:38:23 GMT -5
Burelle looked down at the newest kitten and smiled, stroking his cheek. "Good morning, little one. You've decided to join us? Oh, look at your pretty eyes." She continued to pet the tomkit's long fur, trying to soothe him through his coughing fit and marvelling at how his eyes had already changed color. He must have been older than she originally thought. "Poor thing," she murmured, rubbing his back. "Munkustrap said he found you out in the cold... what happened to your mother, I wonder? She must be worried sick about you..." Burelle couldn't think of any mother who'd leave their young kitten out in this weather... the poor thing was probably an orphan. "Do you have a name, kitten? Or are you still too little to speak?" She looked over at Munkustrap. "Oi, Protector! Do you have the energy to go out and fetch Deuteronomy today? He should probably take a look at this one, and make sure these coughs aren't from a sickness."
Munkustrap lifted his head when Burelle called to him, but he turned his face away when she mentioned fetching Deuteronomy, his heart clenching. There'd be no more fetching Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy was dead.
"Munkustrap?" Burelle frowned, hurt by the way he had just shunned her. She looked down at the kitten and smiled faintly at him. "Munkustrap's just being gloomy. I'm sure he'll bring Deuteronomy to look at you, don't worry. You'll be fine." She pressed a kiss between his ears and rubbed his little paws, trying to help him warm up.
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Post by deuteronomy on May 3, 2007 12:31:46 GMT -5
Fetching Deuteronomy wouldn't take much energy on Munkustrap's part... Then again, there was nothing he could do for himself anyway. The way he was now, he could barely move, let alone heal himself. Even if he could. And no doubt his magic would be on the fritz for a bit anyway as it adjusted to a new form.
God, did Bruelle really have to treat him like... a kitten? True, she thought she was helping, and the warmth was weclome, but all the same... And he was small, even for his current age (of which he had no idea of). And his chest burned... An infection, most likely. Not fatal, now that he was sheilded from the elements, but painful and annoying. He hadn't been sick in... Well, since he had been able to control his magic.
Deuteronomy twisted his head around, trying to get a good look at the protector. What was he so depressed over...? And then he almost smacked himself in the forehead. His death. They thought he was dead. Or the tabby did in any case.
He tried to summon the strength to speak, tried to catch enough spare breath. All he could manage was a whispered "Munk'stra..."
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on May 3, 2007 12:35:55 GMT -5
((^___^ At least she's not encouraging him to nurse - that would just be awkward.))
Burelle smiled at the weak voice, shifting the kitten in her arms. "That's not your name, that's his name." She pointed over at the silver Protector. "He's not really in the mood to play with kittens right now..." She shot him another look, wondering what had happened to her son. He looked so... defeated. Had Macavity done something? But no, he was still in one piece, and none of the other Jellicles were hurt... did this have anything to do with how odd he was acting earlier, checking in on everyone?
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Post by deuteronomy on May 3, 2007 12:39:11 GMT -5
"Deu..."
They probably wouldn't think anything of the sound. Maybe it was random, maybe an attempt to repeat what Burelle had said earlier. Deuteronomy truly wished his name was a bit shorter at that moment.
Deu. No Jellicle ever shortened his name. It was nothing short of disrespect. And yet Christine had called him it freely. And why not? Though the girl seemed to know that he was not a dumb animal, she had no idea of the secret world of the felines. She never would. She would live a good life, however. And a chest infection was worth that.
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on May 3, 2007 12:42:48 GMT -5
"Dew?" Burelle laid down, tucking the kitten next to her. "Is that your name? Odd name for a kitten... but perhaps you'll grow into a bigger one." She was distraacted, though, by Simeon grabbing Leathik's tail and making her youngest squeal in anger and confusion.
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Post by Arya on May 3, 2007 12:45:24 GMT -5
(You guys type very fast.=_= I wish I had those pwnsome typing skills. Poor Munk, and Deuteronomy.)
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Post by deuteronomy on May 3, 2007 12:49:20 GMT -5
Deuteronomy flopped his head down, tired and frustrated. He knew it wasn't Bruelle's fault; she was dealing with her kittens, and no one expected a sidewalk kitten to be the reborn Jellicle leader. She didn't even seem to known that he had died.
So what were his options...? He didn't really have any. Hang tight until he regained his strength and recovered. Though he intented to fight tooth and claw if the queen tried to nurse him...
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Post by Arya on May 3, 2007 12:54:09 GMT -5
(Deuteronomy did a brave thing for his human, my two female cats may have done that. But my male cat would have just been like "Aww, what a same, she always put a pinch of catnip in my food. Oh well, I'm cute, I can find another owner." )
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on May 3, 2007 12:54:37 GMT -5
Tumblebrutus turned to look at the new kitten, tucked against Burelle's side close to him. Munkustrap had found this tom between the time he told Tumble and Quaxo to get to the piano and the time he himself showed up. Munkus was finding all kinds of new cats. First Burelle, and then Selina, and Rokkonen, and now this tomkit. Dew. Tumble laid his head on his paws, watching Dew. He looked a bit like Deuteronomy, like a miniature Deuteronomy. Tumble smiled, wondering if Deuteronomy had had another litter, and just hadn't told anyone. "Who's your mother?" he asked the kitten. If it was a queen he knew, then Dew was probably Deuteronomy's son. The name would make sense, then, too, a shorter version of his father's name, until Deuteronomy moved on to the Heaviside Layer, and then he could take the full name.
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Post by deuteronomy on May 3, 2007 12:59:26 GMT -5
My mother...? The Everlasting Cat, I suppose, and damned if I'm going to thank her for it, Deuteronomy murmured in his head, looking up towards Tumbleburtus.
Was this how all kittens felt, before they could talk...? If it was, he resolved never to use kitten talk with one again.
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on May 3, 2007 13:02:54 GMT -5
Tumble reached out to stroke the kitten's head. "It's just, you look a lot like our Leader, Old Deuteronomy, but he never said anything about having new kittens. You'd think he'd mention something like that to us. Maybe it's just a coincidence." Or maybe... maybe this kitten was one of Tugger's! Tumble snickered at the thought. Tugger might very well have litters upon litters of kittens, with the way he got around.
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Post by deuteronomy on May 3, 2007 13:07:28 GMT -5
Deuteronomy really didn't have the strength to swat away Tumbleburtus's paw. Besides, it wouldn't have been nice. He didn't know. Still, this was... degrading. As for him having new kittens... Heaviside, he may have died prematurely, but he had not died young. His days of sireing had passed. Thankfully. Kittens nipping on his tail and ears were not quite what his old age had needed.
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on May 3, 2007 13:09:41 GMT -5
Tumblebrutus sighed and let his paw drop away from Dew, turning his head to look over at Quaxo, curled in the corner of the piano. He really didn't know what to make of the little black cat. Just who, exactly, held Quaxo's heart?
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Post by deuteronomy on May 3, 2007 13:13:53 GMT -5
Deuteronomy's gaze followed the younger (well, now older) cat's. Quaxo... Last time he had heard, Munkustrap had still been debating, and Deuteronomy hadn't pressed him further. It was not his place. So what had happened...? Had Tumble gotten in on the little soap opera? Possible...
What had happened to the days of one mate until they died, anyway...? If a tom didn't like queens, he'd find a nice stable tom and go find a street orphan. So much drama...
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on May 3, 2007 13:20:45 GMT -5
"Munkstrap, is your tummy going grumbly-grumble?" Etcetera had padded over to the despondent Protector and was leaning over him, a look of concern on her face. Tummies going grumbly-grumble were her diagnoses for all types of diseases, unless you were visibly bleeding. "Are you sick?" She clapped her paws together. "Oh, I know what'll make you better!" She scampered off, and soon returned with her snugglebunny, wiping off one of its ears. "Uh... I think he got a bit of drools on him... but my snugglebunny can still make you better!" She held out the toy to Munkstrap.
Munkustrap opened his eyes and looked up at the proffered toy, and then he closed his eyes again. "No, Etcy... I think you should hold onto your snugglebunny." She would probably need it, in a few minutes, just as soon as Alonzo and Plato returned. "Thank you, though."
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