The Awful Battle of the Pekes and What's Possible

Now is the Quiet

Once Old Dueteronomy was done with his ending speech, the rest of the cats scattered. Some went back to their human's places, some back to their own outdoor dens, but most of the older caretakers and bigger names in the tribe, stayed to reside in their dens within the junkyard. Munkustrap got off of his father's tire and crossed over to Demeter, touching the paws of all of the cats he passed on their way out. He made his way to his partner who is now showing clear signs of weariness. Munkustrap wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders and moved towards the exit. He was careful to stay quiet. If she could use one thing, it's a sense of calm.

They walked back to their den in silence, being unable to think about anything but Munk's older brother. Macavity had his way of ruining lives. Sometimes Munkustrap wondered if he and Demeter even belonged together. Of course, he loved his mate. She was the most beautiful thing he has ever seen, in body and spirit, but they connected over their past with Macavity and the circumstances they were in. It scared Munk to think about the best thing that ever had happened to him being a product of his murderous brother, nothing but a trauma bond.

By the time they arrived back at the den, Demeter finally spoke up, walking into the entrance of the plastic tub they lived in. "Sorry-" Munk looked down, making out her glowing eyes in the bright rays of the shining rising sun. They were fierce and full of thought. "What are you sorry for?" She took his paw. "For concerning you. I can fight for myself, I know I can. I have before and I can do it now." Munkustrap opened the blanket spread across their nest, sitting down instead of laying in it, patting next to him implying for Demeter to sit down.

"Demeter- I know you can, but that doesn't mean you have to or should. Macavity is a murderer. He is a wizard. He's an evil creature." Munk was holding onto his mate tight as her head rested on his shoulder, but because of how tall Munk was, he had to slouch for Demeter's chin to comfortably find its resting point. "I know you're strong, we all do. We saw you jump onto his back and swish that costume off of him. That takes skill! That takes someone with guts. That cat has already put you through the worst there is to offer. If you hid yourself and protected yourself, no one would blame you, but you helped everybody. That is the mark of a true hero."

Demeter shifted, pulling Munk into the blankets and soft scraps of the nest. "I'm sorry for you too. Not FOR you, but in your place. I don't think it's fair your father has you as the Jellicle protector when our biggest threat is your own brother. That's just cruel." "What's cruel is his actions and what he's doing to innocent cats." Demeter sighed, rolling closer into the stomach and chest of her protector. She couldn't hold onto what was being said much longer over the fuzziness of her head from the lack of sleep. "Yeah- I love you." Munk kissed her softly. "I love you too."

Munkustrap watched as his lover lumbered off into a sound sleep. He was thankful that she was able to return to peace after the return of Macavity to the tribe. Munk knew the horrors she had seen and experienced through him, which made him more fearful of what his dad would have gone through if he was able to stay in captivity long. Munk didn't have the luck Demeter had. For the majority of the time in bed, he spent it wide eyed, staring at the ceiling, thinking. Thinking of better ways to defend his tribe, ways he has failed to defend them, ways he has failed his brother, wife, and his father.

The sun in the sky made things even more difficult. The nervousness that was felt at the pit of his stomach was pointless since he knew nothing was happening. He knew everyone was asleep from the ball the previous night, he knew Macavity didn't strike during the day because he was better at hiding in the shadows. Munk imagined different cats walking into his den and how he would react to what his brain imagined them saying, just a bunch of fluff to keep himself occupied. By that time, the morning birds stopped chirping, Munkustrap had enough of laying in bed and decided to slink out of his nest, wrapping up his lover tight, and going back out to the area of the Jellicle Ball to start his watch.

The area was well worn from the night before, paw prints and water scattered everywhere they had been. Munk wasn't expecting anyone to be in the area, let alone awake, which is why he had come out to inspect, although he was surprised to find two cats in the corner, curled up in the broken down oven. He noticed by a long black tail Mr.Mistoffelees first, his white face being the only thing readable from inside the dark oven. There was a bigger tom holding him, Tugger. He was staring off into the sky, Munk couldn't tell if he was asleep or dazed. Taking the risk, Munk approached the oven slowly, so as to not scare Tugger or wake Misto.

"Tugger? Hey, Tug?" Tugger's nose twitched and his eyes blinked a few times, his eyes darting here and there, taking in his current location. There was a part of him that seemed absolutely frantic until he spotted the sleeping cat on his chest, his chest rising up and down noticeably with the puff of fur on his chest. "Heya bro. What's up? You're up a bit early for it being a ball night." Munk looked down at him, somewhere between a smerkish side eye and a genuine look of concern. "I could say the same for yourself, especially since you don't get up before noon on a normal day."

They both let their sides of their mouths fling up with their nostrils as they both did a quick exhale in place of laughter. They both knew why they were up so early. They both knew what they were doing here. They both saw every terror that Macavity had unleashed and the unbearable guilt that followed. Munk looked out, the corner of his eye catching Misto shivering when the breeze picked up, causing the maine coon to hold him closer to his furry chest. "How'd Demeter sleep?" Munk looked back, keeping his eyes trained on the two in the oven. "Better than expected. I think she was already exhausted enough from the ball, attacking Macavity probably took out what she had left in her."

Tugger nodded, petting the cat in his lap. Munk sat down, leaning on the oven, "Why'd you drag Misto out here with you?" "I didn't, he kept me out here!" Munk was expecting that Misto followed Tugger out here. When Tugger got upset, he usually just shut down; eyes glossy, dazed, mumbled answers, needless wandering and restless nights. Munk thought Misto would've followed him out here and convinced Tugger to at least lay down. "I had just calmed him down again after his panic caught up to him about saving Old Duet. Yes, the ball was already over and everything was safe, but sometimes he's just so heroic in the moment that he doesn't panic about it until hours later. It's worrying, but also kinda cute." He caressed the sleeping cat's cheek, pecking it with a kiss. "Once he had calmed down I got restless and sporadic the way I do from... you know, so he convinced me to come stargazing with him. Under the full moon, it's a delight. Not that we had much time. That ball really did go until daylight."

Tugger had a second way of dealing with his emotions, he was very irrational in angry outbursts. It made things hard when he had such a jumpy partner as Mistoffelees, but Tugger admits that it's an awful thing to do and he's working on it. The only thing that really triggers it anymore IS Macavity. Misto must've been prepared. Tugger reached out his second arm that wasn't under Misto's head and offered for Munk to lean on it in a similar fashion from outside of the oven. They soaked in the warm sun as it rose to mid-day. Munk finally was able to quiet his mind and fall asleep beside Tugger, who also eventually got some rest.

Finally, the two got to sleep. There was still a chill in the air, and whether it was from the actual wind or Macavity, Munkustrap had a hard time placing, but, at least for the time being, he could handle it a bit.