WIPWed: Cats the Musical Fanfic

WIP Wednesday was designed to embrace all WIPs - professional, fandom, drawing, and writing. Today I'm bringing an story starter and outline for a Cats fanfic I'll likely not return to. I'm a big fan of the hurt/comfort trope, so if that's you're thing as well, please enjoy this scene and expanded outline of a Cat's fanfic in which Munkustrap gets hurt and must be taken care of:

Munkustrap H/C story

Being tribe protector meant more than rising to a difficult occasion, it was a full-time commitment. Munkustrap believed this wholeheartedly. He’d seen his fair share of scrapes, and often found himself in over his head, but it was an honor to protect his family no matter the risk.

Or the sacrifice. There wasn’t a moment of time or drop of blood he wouldn’t offer as protector. His second in command, however…

“Is this really necessary?” Alonso walked across the top of a trash heap, his white patches like a beacon in the moonlight. “It’s been peaceful all day. Why don’t you ever relax?”

“I can’t afford to relax,” Munkustrap replied.

“If you try you’d probably live longer.”

“Yes but at what cost.”

Alonso’s shadow danced across the uneven terrain as he bounded from height to height.

Munkustrap kept low, suspicious of every movement, even those created by the silhouette of his protoge. He fanned his whiskers. A scent haunted this corner of the junkyard, something he’d known since he was a kitten. Macavity had been here. No telling when.

“I don’t see anything from up here,” Alonso called.

“Of course not. He’s no doubt heard you coming.”

“I know Macavity gets you all uppity, but he’s not the Rumpus Cat, he can’t be everywhere.”

“He’s been here.”

“We’re getting closer to his territory. You’re smelling the wind.”

“It’s not the wind,” Munkustrap grumbled. “I won’t let him close to the tribe, not with so many of us gathering already.”

“This is about Demeter isn’t it?”

“It’s not <i>about</i> her.” Munkustrap said. As if he was out here on some kind of revenge. The golden queen was more atune to Macavity’s movements than anyone – it was a sixth sense fostered by trauma. Yes she alerted him to the intrusion, but that was being helpful. It was as if Alonso couldn’t imagine protecting the family for family’s sake. Yes, Macavity was personal, he was a threat to cats he held most dear, but to prevent any Jellicle coming to harm was worth extra hours patrolling. Munkustrap narrowed his eyes. “It’s about being sure.”

“Well you be sure, then. I’m going back.”

“You’re what?”

“Like you said, the party is starting. I want to hang out with the townies.” Alonso bounded down the junk heap. “Come get me if you actually need me.”

“If?” Munkustrap gaped as the white and black pranced away. The protector sighed and continued on, acutely aware of his blind spots as he redoubled his efforts. Perhaps he was being overly cautious, but overly cautious was sometimes the difference between safety and tragedy. And no tragedy would befall the Jellicles while he had an ounce of energy to give for them.

~*~

The Jellicle cats were in high spirits. The ball was still days away, but the call of the moon drew them in advance. Some had to travel distance to the ancestral junkyard, including members of his own litter not seen since the previous ball. Alonzo butted heads with his brothers and b-lined for his mate. The lithe queen Cassandra slunk down from her own greetings and arched her back along Alonso’s side. “Hello there.”

“Hello there, yourself.”

“Where have you been all night?”

Alonso rolled his eyes. “Dumb Munkustrap wanted to do ten laps of the junkyard in case his criminal brother was around. He’s so exhausting.”

Cassandra’s ears flattened across her neck. “I assume this brother is not the Tugger.”

“No it’s not.”

“Is there cause to be concerned?”

“Not even a little.” Alonso brushed her with his whiskers. “How about a little walk in the moonlight? Someplace private?”

“Mmm, tempting,” Cassandra purred. “Meet me on the drainpipe in a few minutes. I have some more welcomes to bid.”

“I’ll be waiting.” Alonzo hummed as he greeted his way around the junkyard, inching closer and closer to his romantic rendezvous.

“Alonso!” Demeter called. She rose from a circle of queens. “You’re back!”

“Yeah, I’m back.” He flicked his tail impatiently.

She stretched to see over each of his shoulders. “Where is Munkus?”

“Oh, he’s still out patrolling,” Alonso lowered his voice. “You know how he is.”

“You left him out there alone?”

“Yeah, but he’s fine. There’s nothing out there.”

The hair rose along Demeter’s spine. “Macavity is not <i>nothing</i>.”

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I sensed him,” Demeter pressed. “I would not lie about this.”

“I know you wouldn’t.”

“You shouldn’t have left him!” The stripe of hair arched higher. “Macavity is ruthless. He kills without thought – ”

“Don’t shout.” Alonso pressed closer. “You’re going to worry everyone.”

“I’m worried now,” Demeter said. “But I suppose you don’t trust my senses, do you?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Then it’s our safety you are dismissing,” Demeter said. “The safety of your protector who trusts you with his life.”

“I get the point.”

“I don’t think you do.” Demeter slit her eyes and stalked a half circle around him. “And I don’t think you deserve the trust this colony puts in you. I will go out and find my mate and if anything has happened to him, so help me, I will claw both your eyes out.”

Alonso runs off and notices Munk hasn’t returned. He talks to Cassandra and others about it and is guilted into going and looking for him. Finds him a mess.

Alonso panics to see his mentor so wounded and carries a limp and unconscious Munkustrap on his back to the heart of the junkyard where Jenny and Jelly hurry him under cover within the trunk of an old car to patch him up. Alonso is distraught to have played any part in this, bemoaning that if only he hadn’t left Munkustrap alone.

Jenny tells Alonso about Munk’s past. That he was never meant to be a protector, that he was an artist as a kit, preparing plays and stories for everyone. Alonso realizes that being protector means sacrifices and how munch Munk loves the Jellicles. Alonso vows to be a protector Munkustrap would be proud of.

Munk gets better slowly. He and Dememter have a moment in which Munkustrap expresses regret that he is not enough to protect the Jellicles. Macavity targeted him specifically, how can a protector protect if he draws the evil to him? Demeter assures him that he is beloved by his people, and they trust him no matter what. He was not meant for this task but took it anyway, the Jellicles will support him with the same dedication it took him to take on this dangerous role.

Alonso has heart to heart with him, reassured that Munkustrap is not mad at him and doesn’t think him incapable of being protector. He knows how hard it is after all. He does need to understand the importance.

The kittens sneak in. Alonso tries to keep them away from the wounded cat, but Munkustrap brightens up when they are with him, even if they disrespect his various wounds. They tell him about a game he missed and how they wished he was there to see it. They also notice that he’s missing his collar, dismayed because his family won’t know who he is without it. He assures them that is not the case.

Macavity attacks again. He is chasing the kittens. Munkustrap, though injured, rushes to face him. Alonso refuses to let him go alone and stands beside him against the villain. They fight, and together manage to pin Macavity. Munkustrap has the opportunity to kill him but spares him with a slash on the face, telling him to run. He does, but we all know it’s not over.

Munk asks the kits what they were doing in Macavity’s territory. They went in there for his collar … and got it too. Munkustrap can’t be mad at them for that, but tells them never to do something so foolish again.

Demeter cuddles up, seeing a future where he is the patriarch, and these little ones are the adult cats fighting and surviving for his sake. Munkustrap muses but assures her “not yet.” Alonso pledges allegiance to him, showing he’s learned his lesson as well.

The end.