"Hold him still!"
"Watch out for his claws!"
"Get away from him, quickly!" Jellylorum ran forward, raising her voice to be heard above the yells that filled the junkyard as she called the kittens over to her. One by one, they reluctantly made their way back to her, casting glances over their shoulders at the scene behind them.
Munkustrap, Plato and Mungojerrie made their way into the junkyard, dragging Coricopat in with them. The hissing, spitting tom bared his teeth at his captors, desperately trying to free himself from their grip. Tantomile stood behind them, eager to help, but knowing that there was not much she could do when her brother was in this state. She frowned, as her thoughts travelled back to the street where she had found him. Something else had been there, speaking through Coricopat's mind. Maybe it was that voice that had turned him like this, she thought to herself, remembering that familiar, cold laugh that seemed freeze her insides as it rang through her. Something about it brought back memories of her childhood, but she pushed them from her thoughts quickly, replacing them with a question; how could she get her brother back?
Another loud yell filled the junkyard suddenly, as Coricopat's arm slipped free from Munkustrap's grasp, lashing out at him. Munkustrap hissed in pain as the male twin's claws slashed his shoulder, and Alonzo ran up to them, forcing Coricopat's arm back down to his side. The tom tried backing up, but Tantomile was in the way. Nearly knocked off her feet by the blow, Tantomile reached out, trying to find her brother.
"Please, let me help him!" She begged, but Munkustrap shook his head.
"He's too dangerous," he explained, struggling to keep a tight grip on the twin. "We need to get Mistoffelees to figure out what's wrong with him first. Until then, he'll be kept away from everyone else." With that, Munkustrap and the others walked away with Coricopat, leaving Tantomile alone. The female twin sank to her knees slowly, tears rolling freely down her cheeks as she thought of her brother.
Coricopat's mind raced, as he felt something pulling him, forcing him forwards into a dark room. He didn't know where he was, or what was going on anymore. Sometime earlier he remembered hearing Tantomile's voice, but he had no idea how long ago that was. It felt like a lifetime ago. Groaning, he tried desperately to figure out where he was, and who was with him. The last thing he remembered was Macavity inside his mind, driving him mad...then nothing. He could still feel Macavity faintly inside him, and went to grab his head again, but the figure beside him gripped his arm harder, keeping him still. Everything seemed dark and blurred, and every voice that reached Coricopat's ears seemed distant, as if coming through a thick wall. Coricopat was sure Macavity had done this to him, so for now all he could do was try to defend himself from these strange monsters that held him hostage.
"He's in there," Munkustrap pointed towards the large pile of boxes that formed a room frequently used by the queens. Mistoffelees nodded, looking over at the room, sorrow evident in his features as he thought of what Coricopat must be going through. He and Coricopat had been good friends for many years, so close they were practically brothers. To know that his best friend was in such a bad state was upsetting for him. He could barely imagine what Tantomile must be feeling.
"What state was he in when you found him?" Mistoffelees asked, turning back to Munkustrap.
"Pretty much like he is now," Munkustrap replied, shaking his head. "He attacked Tantomile. I don't understand. It's as if he doesn't even recognize us anymore." Mistoffelees eyes widened slightly, and he nodded.
"It's a possibility," he mused. Munkustrap frowned in confusion, and Mistoffelees looked back at the room, continuing. "I've never been sure of it, but in the few times I've actually been close to Macavity, I've sensed something coming from him, maybe psychic powers of some sort. If he does have psychic abilities, he may be able to influence Coricopat's thoughts." He sighed, turning back to Munkustrap. "I'll see if I can get through to him, and -" he stopped suddenly, hearing footsteps behind him. The two toms turned around, seeing a figure enter the room. Munkustrap stepped forward, but Mistoffelees stopped him, smiling slightly. "Leave her. She might be able to do something to help." Munkustrap shook his head, trying to get past Mistoffelees, who stood in front of him blocking his path.
"What if he attacks her again?" Munkustrap hissed, becoming increasingly frustrated. "Last time there were three of us with her, but alone, he has the advantage." Still smiling, Mistoffelees walked towards the room, leaving Munkustrap where he was.
"Tantomile knows what she's doing, don't worry," he called, then walked silently into the room.
"Coricopat?" Tantomile slowly edged towards Coricopat, but stopped as she nearly tripped over a stray box on the floor by her feet. Crouching down, she felt along the floor around, trying to find a way past the box, but eventually gave up and sat down, listening out for Coricopat. She heard him shift slightly, and reached out in front of her, when something touched her paw. She drew back, instantly realising that the touch wasn't Coricopat's.
"I thought Munkustrap told you to keep away from here," Mistoffelees said, his voice hinted with amusement. Tantomile smiled, relieved to have her friend nearby.
"I know I can help him," she said, hearing Mistoffelees crouch down next to her. "Something's corrupted him, but I know he's still there." She sighed and paused, listening again for her brother before continuing. "When I found him in the alley, I heard another voice inside his mind. It said something about a plan needing both of us to work. And that voice..." she trailed off, once again remembering the voice laughing coldly. The thought alone sent shivers down her spine. Mistoffelees touched her shoulder gently.
"I think I know who the voice belonged to," he said quietly. Tantomile canted her head slightly, filled with a mixture of curiosity and dread. "I've often wondered if this cat might be psychic, and now it seems like he might well be. He took Coricopat in the first place, so there's no doubt that it was probably he who did this to your brother."
"Macavity..." Tantomile sighed sadly, drawing her legs up to her chest and resting her head on her knees. "I should have guessed he'd try again one day." She paused, realising what she had just said. Mistoffelees turned to face her, frowning.
"Just how many secrets were you planning to keep from this tribe?" He asked, and Tantomile stretched out, now wishing more than ever that her brother was back to his old self again. She had nearly slipped up many times in the past, but now Coricopat wasn't there to cover up for her. Bowing her head in defeat, she listened to Mistoffelees shift slightly, and began.
"Before we came to this tribe, Coricopat and I didn't have any home. We had each other and that was it. We were still kittens when we first met Macavity. He told us that we were special, and he could give us all we ever wanted if we used our 'special powers' to help him. We'd never heard of him before, but we didn't trust him, so we refused." She winced slightly, as visions of the past came back. She remembered shouting and screaming, and Coricopat's face, transfixed with horror... "Macavity got angry, and he rushed forward, trying to attack Coricopat. I got in the way, and he got me instead." Turning to face Mistoffelees again, she pulled some fur on either side of her face out of the way, revealing two large scars on the skin by her eyes. "I don't know exactly what he did, but it blinded me." Suddenly another vision came to her, and she fought back tears, as in her mind she saw Coricopat's face close to hers, tears streaming down his cheeks as he held her, and everything slowly went dark around her. A noise brought her back to reality, and she spun around, turning to face the source of the noise. Slowly, she and Mistoffelees rose to their feet, Tantomile reaching out with her mind again as they moved forwards. Suddenly she stopped, feeling something connect with her mind.
Tantomile... Coricopat's voice called out to her, and she froze, allowing her brother to connect with her before jogging towards him.
Coricopat, what's happened to you? What does Macavity want with us? She asked, and Coricopat shook his head, backing away from her.
You have to let me go, he said sadly. I can't let him find you, or he could- he stopped suddenly, as Tantomile forced herself deeper into his mind, peering into his memories of Macavity's plan. Finally she dropped their link, smiling.
"I know what he wants," she said quietly, using her real voice to speak to him. "We need to find him, and let him carry out his little plan." Coricopat and Mistoffelees both looked at her in confusion, and she grinned, feeling their gazes on her.
"Trust me," she said, linking up with Coricopat's mind again. Smirking, she headed out of the room, closely followed by Mistoffelees and Coricopat.
"Watch out for his claws!"
"Get away from him, quickly!" Jellylorum ran forward, raising her voice to be heard above the yells that filled the junkyard as she called the kittens over to her. One by one, they reluctantly made their way back to her, casting glances over their shoulders at the scene behind them.
Munkustrap, Plato and Mungojerrie made their way into the junkyard, dragging Coricopat in with them. The hissing, spitting tom bared his teeth at his captors, desperately trying to free himself from their grip. Tantomile stood behind them, eager to help, but knowing that there was not much she could do when her brother was in this state. She frowned, as her thoughts travelled back to the street where she had found him. Something else had been there, speaking through Coricopat's mind. Maybe it was that voice that had turned him like this, she thought to herself, remembering that familiar, cold laugh that seemed freeze her insides as it rang through her. Something about it brought back memories of her childhood, but she pushed them from her thoughts quickly, replacing them with a question; how could she get her brother back?
Another loud yell filled the junkyard suddenly, as Coricopat's arm slipped free from Munkustrap's grasp, lashing out at him. Munkustrap hissed in pain as the male twin's claws slashed his shoulder, and Alonzo ran up to them, forcing Coricopat's arm back down to his side. The tom tried backing up, but Tantomile was in the way. Nearly knocked off her feet by the blow, Tantomile reached out, trying to find her brother.
"Please, let me help him!" She begged, but Munkustrap shook his head.
"He's too dangerous," he explained, struggling to keep a tight grip on the twin. "We need to get Mistoffelees to figure out what's wrong with him first. Until then, he'll be kept away from everyone else." With that, Munkustrap and the others walked away with Coricopat, leaving Tantomile alone. The female twin sank to her knees slowly, tears rolling freely down her cheeks as she thought of her brother.
Coricopat's mind raced, as he felt something pulling him, forcing him forwards into a dark room. He didn't know where he was, or what was going on anymore. Sometime earlier he remembered hearing Tantomile's voice, but he had no idea how long ago that was. It felt like a lifetime ago. Groaning, he tried desperately to figure out where he was, and who was with him. The last thing he remembered was Macavity inside his mind, driving him mad...then nothing. He could still feel Macavity faintly inside him, and went to grab his head again, but the figure beside him gripped his arm harder, keeping him still. Everything seemed dark and blurred, and every voice that reached Coricopat's ears seemed distant, as if coming through a thick wall. Coricopat was sure Macavity had done this to him, so for now all he could do was try to defend himself from these strange monsters that held him hostage.
"He's in there," Munkustrap pointed towards the large pile of boxes that formed a room frequently used by the queens. Mistoffelees nodded, looking over at the room, sorrow evident in his features as he thought of what Coricopat must be going through. He and Coricopat had been good friends for many years, so close they were practically brothers. To know that his best friend was in such a bad state was upsetting for him. He could barely imagine what Tantomile must be feeling.
"What state was he in when you found him?" Mistoffelees asked, turning back to Munkustrap.
"Pretty much like he is now," Munkustrap replied, shaking his head. "He attacked Tantomile. I don't understand. It's as if he doesn't even recognize us anymore." Mistoffelees eyes widened slightly, and he nodded.
"It's a possibility," he mused. Munkustrap frowned in confusion, and Mistoffelees looked back at the room, continuing. "I've never been sure of it, but in the few times I've actually been close to Macavity, I've sensed something coming from him, maybe psychic powers of some sort. If he does have psychic abilities, he may be able to influence Coricopat's thoughts." He sighed, turning back to Munkustrap. "I'll see if I can get through to him, and -" he stopped suddenly, hearing footsteps behind him. The two toms turned around, seeing a figure enter the room. Munkustrap stepped forward, but Mistoffelees stopped him, smiling slightly. "Leave her. She might be able to do something to help." Munkustrap shook his head, trying to get past Mistoffelees, who stood in front of him blocking his path.
"What if he attacks her again?" Munkustrap hissed, becoming increasingly frustrated. "Last time there were three of us with her, but alone, he has the advantage." Still smiling, Mistoffelees walked towards the room, leaving Munkustrap where he was.
"Tantomile knows what she's doing, don't worry," he called, then walked silently into the room.
"Coricopat?" Tantomile slowly edged towards Coricopat, but stopped as she nearly tripped over a stray box on the floor by her feet. Crouching down, she felt along the floor around, trying to find a way past the box, but eventually gave up and sat down, listening out for Coricopat. She heard him shift slightly, and reached out in front of her, when something touched her paw. She drew back, instantly realising that the touch wasn't Coricopat's.
"I thought Munkustrap told you to keep away from here," Mistoffelees said, his voice hinted with amusement. Tantomile smiled, relieved to have her friend nearby.
"I know I can help him," she said, hearing Mistoffelees crouch down next to her. "Something's corrupted him, but I know he's still there." She sighed and paused, listening again for her brother before continuing. "When I found him in the alley, I heard another voice inside his mind. It said something about a plan needing both of us to work. And that voice..." she trailed off, once again remembering the voice laughing coldly. The thought alone sent shivers down her spine. Mistoffelees touched her shoulder gently.
"I think I know who the voice belonged to," he said quietly. Tantomile canted her head slightly, filled with a mixture of curiosity and dread. "I've often wondered if this cat might be psychic, and now it seems like he might well be. He took Coricopat in the first place, so there's no doubt that it was probably he who did this to your brother."
"Macavity..." Tantomile sighed sadly, drawing her legs up to her chest and resting her head on her knees. "I should have guessed he'd try again one day." She paused, realising what she had just said. Mistoffelees turned to face her, frowning.
"Just how many secrets were you planning to keep from this tribe?" He asked, and Tantomile stretched out, now wishing more than ever that her brother was back to his old self again. She had nearly slipped up many times in the past, but now Coricopat wasn't there to cover up for her. Bowing her head in defeat, she listened to Mistoffelees shift slightly, and began.
"Before we came to this tribe, Coricopat and I didn't have any home. We had each other and that was it. We were still kittens when we first met Macavity. He told us that we were special, and he could give us all we ever wanted if we used our 'special powers' to help him. We'd never heard of him before, but we didn't trust him, so we refused." She winced slightly, as visions of the past came back. She remembered shouting and screaming, and Coricopat's face, transfixed with horror... "Macavity got angry, and he rushed forward, trying to attack Coricopat. I got in the way, and he got me instead." Turning to face Mistoffelees again, she pulled some fur on either side of her face out of the way, revealing two large scars on the skin by her eyes. "I don't know exactly what he did, but it blinded me." Suddenly another vision came to her, and she fought back tears, as in her mind she saw Coricopat's face close to hers, tears streaming down his cheeks as he held her, and everything slowly went dark around her. A noise brought her back to reality, and she spun around, turning to face the source of the noise. Slowly, she and Mistoffelees rose to their feet, Tantomile reaching out with her mind again as they moved forwards. Suddenly she stopped, feeling something connect with her mind.
Tantomile... Coricopat's voice called out to her, and she froze, allowing her brother to connect with her before jogging towards him.
Coricopat, what's happened to you? What does Macavity want with us? She asked, and Coricopat shook his head, backing away from her.
You have to let me go, he said sadly. I can't let him find you, or he could- he stopped suddenly, as Tantomile forced herself deeper into his mind, peering into his memories of Macavity's plan. Finally she dropped their link, smiling.
"I know what he wants," she said quietly, using her real voice to speak to him. "We need to find him, and let him carry out his little plan." Coricopat and Mistoffelees both looked at her in confusion, and she grinned, feeling their gazes on her.
"Trust me," she said, linking up with Coricopat's mind again. Smirking, she headed out of the room, closely followed by Mistoffelees and Coricopat.