What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
The Tiger, by William Blake

The aging head of the Tygra clan leaned against the doorframe of his son's room. The young tiger did not notice him, engrossed in the newest of the large collection of tomes that had found their way to his room from the library.

Tygra and his wife Edeline had been trying for so long to have children with no luck that he had begun to fear as age crept upon him that he would never have an heir. But fortune smiled upon the Thundercat nobles at last and she became with child. A healthy son.

She bore no more children, but even so, twelve years later, Tygra could not look at his son without a feeling of gratefulness deep in his heart.

"Theron," he spoke softly. The tiger kit turned his head and smiled at the sight of his father. Leaving the book, he stood from the chair at his desk and waited.

"Father?"

"I thought your mother told you to take those back to the library when you were finished." Tygra gestured to the stacks that had begun to accumulate beside Theron's desk.

Theron smiled slightly, head tilted down but never looking away from the imposing form of his father. "Yessir, I meant to, but I had to cross-reference a few things and well…"

Tygra laughed. "Fair enough, but you can't need all of them. Take back the excess and then meet your mother in the den, she wants to make sure you look good for tonight."

There was a slight twitch to the lip that let Tygra know exactly what Theron thought of "looking good." Like most Thunderians, the youth had little need for clothing and while tonight's ceremony was hardly important enough to require all the pomp that tradition demanded, the other Thundercat nobles would be present and Theron would need to dress accordingly. The major ceremony was still years away, when Tygra handed off the title of head of his clan to his son. This ceremony was more personal. Still, he had heard from Jaga that Lord Lion-O was attending, and, honored as he was, it meant his son would have to suffer through a little pomp.

With a sigh Theron knelt and picked up one of the stacks of books. He was already showing signs of the strength he would have, and his intelligence already proven through his schooling. Tests had shown great aptitude for the mental power that was inherent in their clan, a gift from Edeline. It was an awesome power when fully manifested, but Tygra did not envy her as he'd seen the strain it placed on her. She had only used the power once in all the years they'd known each other since they were kittens.

"Don't bother putting them all back, let Snarfus do that. Hurry up, now."

"Yes Father!" Theron hurried by and soon vanished around the corner.

Tygra smiled to himself and walked off in the opposite direction. He still had things to do before tonight.

He entered the main hall of his clan, the large pillars reaching upwards to a golden skylight that lit the large hall in a warm glow. Several of his clansmen were milling about, quite a few of them cousins, and they nodded respectfully as he passed. Near the enormous doors that opened to the outside stood a young female, smaller than her brethren around her and with fewer stripes. She was not of the Tygra clan, but one of the lesser sub-clans prevalent in the city.

"Ho, Bali-O," Tygra greeted as he neared.

Her eyes brightened as she saw him. "Tygra," was all she said. Working with him for so many years, since she was barely more than a child, she had ceased any formalities when not in the presence of other nobles.

He smiled down at her; she barely came up to his chest. Among the Tygra clan, she was often mistaken for an adolescent, but he knew she was fully grown and of good height in her clan. She was the head of her clan, but after the death of her parents, her aunt took temporary charge of her responsibilities and sent her to Tygra to work under him. She gained experience to prepare her for her looming duties, and, as she was not a noble, was a bridge between the Thundercat Tygra and his Thunderian kinsmen. Her adoration for him had only increased during those years.

"Not after tonight," he said as he walked to the doors, Bali-O following behind him.

She had to quicken her steps to catch up to him. "Don't say that. You'll always be Tygra." He arched a thick eyebrow at her. "Well, to me, anyway," she amended.

Of course he would, she was not of the Tygra clan, they were all Tygra to her. Save Theron, whom she had often taken out into the city with her when Tygra and Edeline were too busy, but that would change tonight. Theron was of age.

"I called for a transport to Cats Lair…"

"Cancel it, I'm not too old to walk yet," he smirked. Cats Lair was hardly far away. All the noble clans surrounded it, the Thundercats ready to be called upon if needed.

"Yessir." Bali-O already had the communicator in her hand.

Tygra's mind wandered as he and Bali-O made their short way to the form of the great cat that rose above the city. He and Panthro had some work to do, but that was hardly something bothersome. The two clans had always been close, and he had worked often with Panthro, as his mother had done so before him. His thoughts instead turned to his son.

Tonight was the first step Theron would take towards his future responsibilities as clan leader. It was a small step, with no meaning outside the clan and the small circle of nobles. But the personal meaning was astronomical, especially at that age. Theron was giving up his name.

Outside the family, the clan name was how Thunderians identified each other. He did not even know Bali-O's true name, and he had no right to know. But that was the point, as head of her clan, her name truly was Bali-O, and would remain so until she had an heir.

Tygra had not heard his own name used in so long. When he had inherited the name from his mother, it had bothered him. He felt stripped of his identity as even his siblings called him by the clan name. But that had changed, especially once he wore the mantle of leadership. Tygra became part of him and was tied to his own identity.

Darkness settled over the duo as they stepped into the shadow of Cats Lair, the setting sun highlighting the obsidian panthers' head, honoring the clan who had built it, so long ago. Yes, they had built it, but the Tygra clan had laid the initial designs. He sighed as a sudden weight lay upon him.

He was Tygra, it was more than his name, and tonight it would cease to be so. For all the pride and joy he had for his son, he was sad to give it up.

"Stop that," Edeline chided her son, stopping his hand from its ascent to the collar of his tunic. She had worked hard to straighten the material and here he was mussing it again. It had already taken quite some time just to put his mane into some semblance of order, and Theron had put a lick in that just as she finished. An itch, he claimed. Edeline couldn't wait till his adult fur came in completely. At this point, their were still a few patches of fluff that stubbornly stuck to his head. On the other hand, that would mean her little kitten was growing up, and would soon be out prowling with other toms his age. She sighed sadly.

"Mother?" Theron questioned, his hand once again on its way upwards, intent on adjusting the blue baldric he wore.

"Oh, Theron," she whispered, kneeling before him. Time was short, the transport would be here any moment. "Theron, Theron…"

She had chosen the name herself, and after tonight she would say it no more. So Edeline said it as much as she could, over and over as they waited. Her hands rested on his face, and he patiently let her. By the time he became Theron again, he would no longer be her son, but the head of the Tygra clan with a child of his own.

The transport arrived, and Theron wiped the tears from his mother's cheeks. She smiled at him and stood, taking his hand before they stepped in.

"You know, this is supposed to be a happy occasion."

"I am happy, Karan. And proud."

"I'm your brother, don't lie to me. There's more."

"Was Mother happy when I took on the clan name?" Tygra asked his younger brother quietly.

Karan shrugged. "I don't remember, I was just a kitten."

"I really am happy, I'm older now, adjusting will be easier. Theron is…He'll be fine." Tygra did not know why this small ceremony was so stressful on the immediate family. He was probably more worked up than he should be, after all, as Bali-O had pointed out, outside the family, he was still Tygra, and he was still the head of his clan. He would not step down until he was absolutely sure Theron was ready, barring any accidents, he prayed.

But that's why Karan was here. As Tygra's brother, if anything should happen to him, he would have to step up as head of clan until Theron came of age. He alone needed to witness this, his own family back at the Tygra estates.

Karan excused himself as Nox approached and went to converse with the head of the Wily clan. Tygra had known Nox since their own naming day, and so had felt no boundaries were crossed to call his friend by his individual name, now that he had handed the name of Panthro down to his own son some years before.

"Naming day," the old panther began casually, "I remember how I felt."

Tygra nodded in agreement. It was rare when Nox had experience above him, as Tygra was the older of the two. He was sure a small part of the sly panther was enjoying that fact. A movement by Nox caught his eye.

"Greetings, young Panthro," he nodded to the adolescent that stood by his father's side. Panthro was at full height and filling out nicely. Muscles already rippled under his fur, warning that this was not a young Thundercat to be trifled with.

Panthro returned the greeting respectfully but with familiarity. Tygra remembered fondly when Panthro was just a kit, rolling about on the floor of Tygra and Nox's joint lab, playing with whatever tools he could get his hands on. He'd been at the bench working with the two in no time.

Tygra had wanted to speak to Panthro. Take care of my son when I can't, he looks up to you, help him. But a soft hand on his shoulder arrested that thought and he turned to face his wife, their son in tow.

Her eyes were red and he could see faint tear tracks in her pale fur. He arched his brows questioningly but she shook her head; she would be fine.

"I am proud," was all she said, her hand resting on his chest before she leaned forward and kissed him deeply.

Theron made a face and wandered off. There was little to do until Lord Lion-O arrived, so he weaved through the adults towards Bali-O, waiting in the corner. Ignoring his uniform, he jumped into her arms like a young kitten and she laughed.

"You're too big for that now, young Tygra."

He pulled back, discomfort in his eyes. "Not yet," he whispered, "I'm still Theron."

"No, I speak as it should be. I am not Tygra clan."

He understood that, she should have never called him Theron, but her close work with his father would have made it confusing otherwise. Still, another string to his childhood snapped and he suddenly felt dislocated.

He nodded and stepped out of her embrace. He would gain the clan name tonight, and his Thundercat training would begin soon after. His mother and father had already schooled him in the basics, as was proper, but now his skills would be pushed to the limit. Muscle could not grow if not torn. The price and the pleasure of his birthright.

The Lord of the Thundercats and his wife entered the observatory, ever accompanied by Jaga, where the ceremony was being held to bows and welcomes both. Lion-O was close to his nobles and, despite his lofty title, mingled with them freely. He knew he had their respect and they would follow where he led. He did not need to be here, but he had not missed the acknowledgment of a new Thundercat yet and he did not ever plan to do so.

After the initial greetings, he stepped forward to where Tygra and Edeline stood, congratulating them. He could see anxiousness and pride both in the two tigers, and knew it was what he had to look forward to now. The news was still circling through the city, on every Thunderian's lips. His beloved wife was pregnant and soon he would know the joys of fatherhood. Soon he too would hand down the ruling clan name and take up his old one. But tonight was for the Tygra clan.

"And where is the young Tygra?" Jaga inquired, bringing the conversation back where it belonged.

"I'm here, my lord," Theron said, emerging from the crowd and standing beside his parents.

Lion-O smiled at him kindly. Yes, he could see a fine Thundercat before him, despite the apprehension that practically thrummed within.

It was a simple ceremony, hardly worth the title, but it only rammed home the importance. Tygra had requested that Lion-O perform the ritual, and Edeline would finish it, as was her right.

It was so simple.

Lion-O reached out, gently placing his hand upon Theron's head.

"What is your name, Thundercat?" He asked so softly, but in the oppressive silence of the room as the other nobles stood in wait made it loud as thunder. Lion-O could feel Theron shiver under him, and then still.

"I am Tygra."

And that was it.

The nobles murmured around him, but Tygra paid little attention to them. Above him, his mother turned and took his father's face in her hands. The tears had returned to her eyes, but they were of joy.

"Cleatus…!" she whispered. It was all she could say.

Cleatus choked, it was the first time he had heard his name since he was twelve years old. He felt like crying himself and so embraced her and buried his face in her red and white hair.

Cheers and congratulations erupted around Tygra and he jumped. A hand grabbed his shoulder and pulled him out of the crowd. He looked up to see Panthro smiling down at him.

"Hey, how do you feel?" the panther asked, draping a muscled arm around the younger cat.

Tygra hesitated, thinking up just the right word.

"Weird."

"Don't worry, you get used to it. It's just a name, even if it is the embodiment of your clan."

"You're not helping."

"Welcome to growing up."

Tygra tilted his head a bit, and tried it out.

"I am Tygra. Tygra…"