Black Kitten

By Robin Girl

(Here is another story introducing Mistoffelees. ^^; Since I'm stuck sick at home I figured I might as well use my time wisely and type. CATS is playing in the back ground and my mind is on Misto. ^_^ Enjoy.)

Munkustrap stood there waiting for his father to come out and talk to him. "I could be out looking for the well being of the tribe."

"Ah, there you are Munkustrap."

The gray tabby turned around and saw his father making his way over. In his arms was a black....fur ball. The old cat smiled fatherly and placed the black fur ball on the ground. It was sleeping, or was before it was placed down. "This is Quaxo, or Mistoffelees. I haven't taught him to say Mistoffelees yet."

Munkustrap's eyes widened as the black fur ball named Quaxo turned over on his back his paws moving wildly in the air. One was black and the other three were white. "Hey there little one." Munkus knelt down and motioned for the black kitten to come towards him.

"I'm not as young as I use to be and I can't take care of the kitten, would you and Tugger take care of it?"

The black kitten turned over on his stomach and his black eyes watched Munkustrap carefully. He didn't seem to trust the elder cat. Slowly Quaxo got to his paws swaying slightly. He was still not good at walking and did not understand why he had to walk. Quaxo could live with older cats carrying him, wouldn't hurt him one bit. The black kitten carefully made his way over to Munkustrap and then fell right on his face when he got over to him. His face scrunched up in pain as he propped himself up with his paws.

"He is young, shouldn't he be with his mother?"

Old Deutoromey shook his head taking a seat, "I found him on the street alone. I think his parents are dead."

Munkustrap knelt down and took the black kitten into his arms. Mistoffelees purred content and closed his eyes. Maybe this cat wasn't so bad.

"See he likes you already, so what do you think?"

"I've never played Mother before but I'm sure Tugger and I can work this out..."The Tom put on his best smile and turned to walk off hoping Tugger wouldn't explode when he found out about this.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"WHAT??!?!?!" Rum Tum Tugger exclaimed.

Munkustrap winced holding Quaxo closer to him. Quaxo whimpered, he knew when an elder raised his voice that it was not a good thing. Infact it normally meant that something was wrong. "Tugger stop shouting, you're scaring Quaxo..."

"That thing has a name?" Tugger replied. "Munkus I'm not a mother. I can't even take care of myself, muchless a kitten."

Quaxo wiggled and tried to get out of Munkustrap's arms. After he was put down he stumbled over to the new cat sniffing him out curiously. This one had wild fur that went in all different directions. It also didn't smile like Papa and Munk...this one only stared at him.

"Get away kid.." Tugger kicked him away gently. Not hard enough to hurt him but hard enough to teach him a lesson.

"Ow..." Quaxo ended up at Munkustrap's feet. He looked up tears beginning to form in his innocent black eyes. "hurt.."

Munkustrap scooped him up again and glared at his littermate, "Fine, don't help, but don't hurt him."

Tugger didn't reply and glared as the two left. "Me a mother? Hmph...like that would ever happen."

"Tugger what's wrong?" A red Queen sauntered up to him holding a kitten in her arms. Her kitten was a little male with a patch on his left eye. "This is Tumblebrutus. One of Jenny's new kittens. I was asked to babysit."

"Not another one. There are too many kittens around here." Tugger looked into Tumble's brown eyes and saw the exact same helpless look that he'd seen in Quaxo's eyes. All that black kitten wanted was to be loved. "Look, Bomba, I have to go..." He scampered off leaving a confused Queen.

"I wonder what that was about Tumble?" Tumble purred sleeply not really replying and only wanted more sleep. The kitten pawed at Bomba as she tried to groom him. She hoped that something wasn't wrong with Tugger. "Oh hush." She caught Tumble's paw and held it. "Silly kitten."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"POLLICLE!!"

Munkustrap was walking out of his stove and his ears perked up. A few Toms from another tribe came running past him. "Woah, hold still.." He grabbed a white tom by the arm. "What is going on?"

The other Cat was breathing heavily, "Po..Pollicle...we..we..evacuated our homes...it's coming here..." He pulled away then ran.

Munkustrap quickly went back in his home and covered Mistoffelees up. The black kitten didn't make a move and continued to sleep. Munkus hoped it would stay that way and then went out to warn the others.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Now where would Munkus have taken the fur ball?" Tugger wondered to himself. Then something clicked. "Of course, his stove." The stove wasn't working anymore, it was just a broken frame of one that worked for a house.

When he got there he crawled in and looked around. In a pile of blankets was the kitten. A white face peaked out from the blankets. His eyes were closed as he slept peacefully.

Tugger sat there contemplating whether he should wake the fur ball up or not. Then he heard a bark and another one following that one. When he looked outside he met up with two large eyes and a furry body. Rum gulped and ran back in.

He looked in and saw Quaxo sitting up confused. Big innocent black eyes stared up at him in confusion. "Go 'way.." The black kitten exclaimed, this cat was mean. He had kicked him earlier.

"Um, well kid, see I would but there is something outside that you wouldn't want me to meet.." Tugger moved back slowly sighing when the kitten moved farther away.

"Wha-t?" Quaxo sat up on his front paws and stared at the older Tom for a moment. He seemed to be thinking about something. The black kitten sighed and moved past Tugger figuring he'd might as well take care of this himself. For an adult this cat sure acted like a kitten…

:For a kit, he's pretty smart.: Tugger thought, then he caught a white tip swish in his face. "What the? No..KID GET BACK!!1" Quickly but not quickly enough Tugger reached forward and tried to grab the black kitten.

But Quaxo was to quick and slipped outside. Tugger heard a panicked cry and scampered out. To his horror he saw the Pollicle had the kit by his neck. The main coon took a deep breath and charged in. Then he forgot, he didn't fight. Something inside told him to keep going anyway. "Drop him now!!" Tugger hissed bringing out claws he never knew he had.

"He-lp!!!" The black kitten kept screaming as he squirmed. "LET ME GOOOOOOOOO!!!"

"I'm coming little one.." Rum jumped and pounced on top of the Pollicle. The Pollicle barked and growled throwing the kitten down hard. Quaxo hit the ground and didn't move he lay in a heap on the ground. Tugger jumped off the Pollicle and gathered the kitten in his arms and ran.

*~*~*~*~**~*

"Tugger what in the world?!?" Jenny exclaimed as the flirt ran past her. "What was that all about I wonder?"

"Tugger what is that in your arms?" Bombalurina asked sauntering over to her favorite Tom. As she got closer she saw it was something black and what ever it was it was unconscious. "Tugger?"

"A Pollicle attacked and…Quax..he tried to fight it..you know how kits are…but the..the Pollicle knocked him out…."

"You let a KITTEN fight a POLLICLE?" Bomba exclaimed, "Where was your head?"

"Look, it wasn't exactly my fault, ok?" Tugger glared, "He ran off. He's not my responsibility. Quax belongs to Munkustrap."

"So why do you have him? Hm? Argh, I give up, lets lay him down. The poor kit.." Bomba took Quaxo from Tugger and cradled him close. She prayed that he'd be alright and that Quaxo wasn't seriously hurt.

"He is going to be ok, right Bomba?"

The red Queen looked Quaxo over then smiled, "He should be fine. Are you alright?" Tugger nodded looking over Bomba's shoulder still concerned about the kit. "Tug, stop worrying." She giggled, "Sure, he's Munk's responibiliy. I believe he's yours now."

"Oh, Bomba, stop it. I just want him alive so Munk won't chew me out."

"Mmmhmm? What ever."

Then the black fur ball started to squirm. Bomba gently placed him on the ground and watched with Tugger as he woke up on his own. First he stretched the one black paw then the three white paws followed suit. "Wh-at ap-pen-ed?"

Tugger only stood there his mouth hanging wide open, that was the most adorable thing he'd ever seen before. "Kid?"

Quaxo finally got himself steady on his two front paws and looked too see the mean cat staring down at him. "The Pollicle…wha-t happ-ened?"

"Don't worry, I fought it."

"Yo-u fo-ught the Pollicle?" Quaxo's eyes widened and he crawled over to the strange cat. He saw another cat that he didn't trust either. But right now he trusted the scary tom. After all that scary tom had saved him. Deeming it safe, Quaxo climbed into the hairy Tom's lap and snuggled close. "Yo-ur Bra-ve."

Tugger blushed not sure what to do. He looked to Bomba for help. She only giggled. Then she got serious again and mouthed, "Hug him." Tugger obeyed and soon he felt the kit shaking. This scared the flirt. Did the kit have chills? Bomba rolled her eyes and hit herself on the forehead, ::That idiot…:: "He's crying.." She mouthed to him.

O. Well that made him feel a bit better. "Hey kid," Tugger began, "Why are you crying?"

"Kared." The young kitten replied wrapping his small arms around Tugger's bigger frame.

Tugger's heart melted and he lifted the small kitten up in the air. Looking into the kids eyes he said the most dangerous sentence that he'd ever say in the rest of his life, "Don't worry. I won't leave you Quaxo. I'll protect you from now on."

Bomba stared her mouth was wide open now. Did Tugger just say what she thought he just said? She only stared watching Tugger stand cradling the kit and walking off.

*~*~*~*~*~*

"Wo-w!! Wh-at is th-is pl-ace?" Quaxo asked as he was put down.

Tugger chuckled at the kit's amazement, "It's my home, kid."

"Oh." Quaxo then found some blankets and nuzzled them with his nose. They were soft, "So-ft."

"You can use them if you want." Tugger replied sitting down amused to no ends with his new young friend. He wondered what the other Jellicles were going to say about him raising a kitten by himself?

"Name?" Quaxo asked innocently placing a paw to Tugger's forehead.

"Tugger.." Tugger went cross eyed looking down at Quaxo grinning when Quaxo's face scrunched up in confusion.

Quaxo looked up confused. What a weird name... "Tucker?"

"No..Tugger..."

"Tucker.." Quaxo said pouncing on the older Tom's chest. "Tucker! Tucker! Tucker!!"

Tugger sighed and rolled his eyes. He had a feeling he was stuck with it no matter what happened. "Fine, kid.."

"No like Tucker?" Quaxo asked innocently stopping his bouncing around and contently laid ontop of Tugger's chest snuggling deep into the fur.

"No, it's alright Quaxo. Tucker is fine..for now." Then something came to mind. Kittens took lots of naps. It was probably time for the kit to take one. If there was one thing Tugger knew it was that you never wanted a cranky kitten. "Time for a nap."

"Wh-at? NO!! Not Now!" Quaxo whined pouting.

Tugger didn't take no for an answer and laid Quaxo down on the blankets, "Yes now. Close your eyes, kid. I'll be here when you wake up."

"Pr-om-ise?" The black kitten asked sleepily as Tugger covered him up.

"Yes I promise." Tugger watched as the kitten's eyes drooped sleepily then after a few moments they closed completely. He stayed for a few more moments hoping that Quaxo was fully asleep then left to go find some Queens to flirt with.

*~*

"Where have you been Tuggy?" Moony asked. She was a white and brown Queen from another tribe. Tugger smiled cunningly not replying.

Then both cats saw Munkustrap making his way over to them. Moony jumped off the boxes and ran leaving Tugger to fend for himself. "Hi ya bro."

"Don't 'Hi Ya Bro' me." Munk exclaimed glaring at Tugger, "Where is he?"

"Who?" Tugger asked innocently, having no idea what Munk was talking about.

"Quaxo! You saw him last."

"Oh." Tugger let out a sigh of relief, "That's all.."

"What do you mean 'That's all?' Father trusted me to take care of him." Munk's tail twitched back and forth. When the tabby did that Tugger knew he was mad.

"Look, Munk. Breathe. Everything is fine. If you want to see the kit follow me."

"This had better be good." Munkus muttered following the younger Tom.

Munkustrap was led through the whole junk yard and finally to his brother's home. "TUGGER WHAT IN THE-?"

"Shush!" Tugger hissed, putting a hand over his brother's mouth, "You'll wake him up."

Wake him up? Munk thought to himself, What in the world has Tugger done now? After making sure that Munk wasn't going to wake the kitten up Tugger let go of his brother's mouth and reached down carefully uncovering the fur ball.

To Munkustrap's surprise there laid Quaxo sleeping soundly curled up in Tugger's blankets. He looked from the kitten to his brother many times. His brother taking care of a kitten? What had happened to Tugger? "Want me to take him?"

"No, it's alright. I've got him."

Munk's eyes widened even more. That was not the answer he had expected from the Rum Tum Tugger. "Are you sure? Taking care of a kitten is hard work."

"I know the risk's Munk. But I have no choice, Quaxo likes me now. I saved him from a Pollicle earlier today."

"Tugger," Munkus sighed, "You never cease to amaze me." The Tabby stood and started towards the entrance, "I'll go tell father rhat you have it under control."

Outside Munkustrap was met by Jelly and Jenny. Both looked to be on edge. "Have you seen him?"

"He's safe."

"Where is he?

Munkustrap kept walking and smiled, "Taking a nap in Tugger's home."

Something about Tugger's Home made Jelly nervous. She looked to Jenny who had the same worried expression on her face. "TUGGER'S HOME?" Both exclaimed.

End Chapter 1