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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jun 15, 2007 19:26:40 GMT -5
Apollinax began to purr, one part pleasure (at the yummy taste), one part fear (at being swung around and tugged at). He clung even tighter to the paw, holding on with his teeth and claws now, not entirely sure what was going on or why he was no longer on the ground (and he wasn't being held like she-cat or mother-cat or slim-cat or spicy-cat did, and not even like the little-she-cats! It was scary!)
"That's not how you hold a kitten," Etcetera said, looking up at Tugger. "You gotta support his head and be really careful with him, 'cause he's fragile and could break."
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Post by Arya on Jun 15, 2007 19:58:34 GMT -5
Cassandra laughed giving Tugger a poke. "Come on Tug, stop looking like a fool. He is just a kitten. The Tugger isn't being beat by a kitten is he?" She said gently trying to remove Apollinax.
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Post by cookingspray on Jun 15, 2007 20:30:19 GMT -5
"If you've noticed, I'm not holding him - I'm being held." He looked at Apollinax scoldingly, although he realized the ridiculousness and futility of the act. Tugger's affections for tiny creatures were impractical - they endeared him, certainly, but he had not actual clue of what the hell you were supposed to do with them. His lifestyle didn't afford for much parental instinct.
Nevertheless, he heeded Etcy's words, and put the other paw to less harmful use supporting the kit's body. It was kind of fascinating to have such a tiny thing completely dependent on him, and scary, at the same time.
The Maine Coon scowled over at Cassie. "I don't see them chewing on you. And I'm not being beaten, just. . . nibbled."
Despite the gruff words, he'd calmed down considerably (not that he'd ever overreacted, of course). He decided he kind of liked the silly little thing, and even found himself smiling.
"Won't Munk be jealous at how well you've taken a shine to me. . ."
((Okay, gotta run for the night. Tugger and kittens. . . oh my. XD))
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jun 15, 2007 20:37:16 GMT -5
As Apollinax felt support underneath, as the yummy-cat held him much like how the she-cat or the mother-cat or the slim-cat or the spicy-cat would hold him, he relaxed and loosened his own grip on the paw, returning to merely licking the fur instead of trying to eat it. He kept purring, the only noise he ever made besides a hiss, as neither required his voice.
Etcetera sighed happily and looped her arms around Tugger's waist, still wearing her penny eyepatch. "You're gonna be such a great daddy to our kittens!" she purred, watching Tugger hold little Apollo.
"How who's taken a shine to you?" Munkustrap asked, stepping into the closet to check on things. Pirates in the station kept him busy, but as the temporary Leader, he needed to make sure the younger tribe members were doing well too.
Apollinax hissed as the bad-cat entered, pulling the yummy-cat's paw over him like a shield, or a blanket.
Munkustrap just looked at the kitten, blinked once, and said: "Oh."
((Good night!))
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Post by Shannon on Jun 15, 2007 22:43:35 GMT -5
Mirabelle woke to the mewling of a tiny kit. She looked down. Belle? Bella? Something.
She gently licked the kitten until she quieted. "Bomba?" she asked softly, "This one's hungry."
Bombalurina looked up. She had spent the last two days looking after her children. And Simeon and Leathik. So very fun. But now she had Mirabelle, who had turned out to be a fantastic babysitter. Bomba had actually gotten a chance to explore and say hello to her Jellicle friends. And see the pirates.
Yet, for some reason, Bomba wasn't intimidated. Mira had told her all of their fantastic stories and all of their heroic deeds (even if most of them hadn't meant to be heroic). She actually smiled at the repulsing Weevil.
Bomba quickly led Bella to her breast. When the kitten was satisfied, she said, "Mirabelle? Would you mind watching the children for a moment or two?" She looked over at Apollinax, happy to see he was in the capable paws of Tugger. Wait, scartch that. He was in the capable paws of Etcy.
Mirabelle nodded. "Of course! I'd be happy to. They're so sweet." Lies. Mira was so happy she had not kittens. God, they were annoying!
"Thank you." Bombalurina stood slowly, trying not to step on the kittens--which was hard to do--and stepped outside.
"Hey there," she said, kissing Munkustrap lightly. "How's everything?"
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jun 15, 2007 22:47:36 GMT -5
"Hey yourself." Munkustrap was pleasantly surprised to find Bomba coming out of the closet, and he pulled her into a tight hug (so much easier to do without Apollinax trying to nip at his paws or tail). "Who's with the kittens?" He loosened his arms a little, so he wasn't squeezing Bomba to death, but he kept his paws on her waist, nuzzling and kissing her between thoughts. He hadn't missed her much. Only a lot. The kittens kept her busy, and the pirates kept him busy.
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Post by Shannon on Jun 15, 2007 22:57:07 GMT -5
Bombalurina kissed Munkustrap again before answering. "Mirabelle," she said. "The black and gold calico? Looks sort of like Deme? Yes, well, she's been helping me around. The kittens adore her, especially Leathik and Simeon." Bomba didn't add that the older kittens liked her because they could see her and... she wasn't terrible on the eyes. "I left her with them. I did the same yesterday. It felt good to actually have a conversation with Cassandra and Tugger. For once." She laughed softly.
Jemima slept soundly, the blue feather she found taped to her right ear. She was very proud.
Jemmy squealed and woke with a start. She had just finished the most terrible nightmare. "Oh my goodness," she whispered, looking around the station. Slowly, she started to walk towards her sister and... TUGGER!
"TUGGER!" Jemima hurled herself at the tom, not caring that her face was just above his... hindquarters. "Tuuuuggggeeeerrrrr!"
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jun 15, 2007 23:03:59 GMT -5
"Mirabelle," Munkustrap repeated. "She's one of Grumbuskin's, right?" He ran his paw down Bomba's tail and kissed her again. "It's nice that she's being so helpful to you. Six kittens must be a lot to manage, especially when two of them aren't yours." He closed his eyes and sighed at the mention of Cassandra. "I'm... a bit concerned about Cassandra around the pirates. Earlier today, she was practically picking a fight with one... with that one." He nodded towards Ukir. "Luckily for her, and for us, the pirate was too civil to respond with blows... but it certainly looked like he wanted to. Putting her and them in the same yard for another month could spell disaster."
"I saw him first!" Etcetera squealed, her loose drape around Tugger turning into a much tighter hug when Jemima came running over. "And be careful, Je-mi-ma! He's got a baby!"
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Post by Shannon on Jun 15, 2007 23:14:35 GMT -5
Bombalurina looked over at Ukir and shrugged. "You know Cassandra. She'd fight a human. And the pirates aren't all bad. I've actually heard a lot of good things about them from Mirabelle." She smiled and rested her head on her mate's chest. "I don't think it'll be too horrible to spend the winter with them."
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jun 15, 2007 23:17:39 GMT -5
Munkustrap held Bomba against him, resting his head on top of hers and smiling. "I'm just worried about one of them taking offense at what she says and killing her... or deciding the whole tribe is offensive. If they succeed in recovering the yard... Bomba, you've seen how many Monniks are there, and the Monniks aren't pushovers. If the pirates succeed, just think of how powerful they are. If we upset them..." He sighed and closed his eyes. "Could you talk to Cassandra, see if you can't get her to calm down a bit? I'll talk to Alonzo. Maybe she can stay with her human while the pirates are around."
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Post by Shannon on Jun 15, 2007 23:28:54 GMT -5
Bomba nodded. "I will," she told him. She paused. "Later." She rather enjoyed hugging him, even though she knew she'd have to leave. She could only leave her children for so long until they started throwing fits. "Speaking of humans..." Bombalurina dropped her voice to a whisper. "If Burelle doesn't return, I think I might have to leave Leathik and Simeon with some humans. Duetoronomy would know some trustworthy humans, same with Tugger. Maybe... I don't know. I think Leathik is too sick for any cat to heal. But humans... They're strange, but they have this ability to cure these cats almost instantly! And Simeon... he's a male calico. I don't know for sure, but I don't think he'll be... okay. I heard when I was a kitten that calico males were sort of... funny in the head." She paused, realizing how stupid she sounded.
"Well, I mean..." She sighed. "I don't know if I can manage six kittens. Jelly said she'd take on the two, but she's had enough kittens as it is. Simeon and Leathik need their mother. I can't be Burelle." She buried her face in his fur, hiding her tears. She wasn't sure why she was crying. Maybe because she was overwhelmed. Maybe because she missed Burelle. Maybe because she couldn't bear to see the two young tom kittens die. Or maybe a combination of all of them.
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jun 15, 2007 23:37:16 GMT -5
Munkustrap sat down, pulling Bomba into his lap and holding her. "When was the last time you got some sleep?" he asked her, rubbing her back lightly. "Real sleep, more than a few hours?" The older kittens could go the whole night without nursing, but the newborns needed to feed every few hours. Munkustrap knew that, and he had also seen how they scattered their schedules, so they were never all full at the same time for very long. Bomba was probably exhausted from that alone, on top of everything else.
Turning her face up to him, Munkustrap kissed away Bomba's tears. "If Simeon and Leathik need to go to humans to survive, then we find humans for them. The junkyard human is trustworthy - maybe he'd like to take one, or both. As long as we know where they are, so we can direct Burelle to them when she shows up again." If she shows up again... Munkustrap might not have spent much time with his mother when he was young, but she hadn't been the sort to abandon her kittens. Not when she was a new mother, and not now that she had seven litters. She should have come for them by now... if she was still able to come. "Thank you for taking care of them for now," he said, cupping her face in his paws. It was a little odd, his mate nursing his brothers, but there really was no one else who could keep them alive at the moment.
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Post by Arya on Jun 15, 2007 23:39:57 GMT -5
(Aww, and they make fun of me for playing with barbies.)
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Post by Shannon on Jun 15, 2007 23:42:38 GMT -5
Bombalurina wiped a stray tear from her face. "I know, I know." She thought back for a moment. "I actually haven't since..." Oh Heaviside. "Not since they were born."
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Post by Munkustrap Etc. on Jun 15, 2007 23:48:26 GMT -5
Honestly, how was she surviving? How had Burelle survived? Clearly, there was something about queens that allowed them to suffer like this without succumbing to the exhaustion. "Almost a week, then. Rest, Bomba. Mirabelle, Cassie, and Tugger have the kittens, with Etcy and Jemima helping. They can survive a few hours without you - you need to sleep." He tucked her head against his shoulder and began to purr lowly. "I'll be here too. If anything happens, we can take care of it. Sleep, Bomba."
Grumbuskin, meanwhile, was arriving at the station with a spring in his step, and the leg of a Peke in his mouth. Stupid dog had been poking around the docks, sniffing too close to the Lionfish. It was fat enough for his crew to feast on, a nice change from rats, and this bit was for Ukir, Matamore, and Scythe, the pirates who had stayed at the station. The battle with the Peke had been quick and brutal, an excellent warm-up for the charge on the yard.
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