Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Warnings: This story deals with serious topics: slavery, racism, inequality, sexual themes, and rape (not shown). The proper use of the word "bastard" is used.
Disclaimer: All Thundercats characters belong to Warner Brothers, and are used without permission. All OCs belong to me known as of .
Prologue:
It was forty years before the fall of Thundera. The cats held third earth in their paw, and there was no one to challenge their authority. By sword and by claw, they ruled all – and all other races bowed down before them.
The moon rose high over the city. Unseen by any one, the patriarch to a merchant family walked out into his back courtyard. It was one he hardly visited, for it was used by the servants to gather water and chop wood. But it was hidden and ignored, which suited his purposes perfectly. Under his arm he carried a squirming bundle. He came to the well, and looked down. Yes, it was deep enough. The kitten's cries would never be heard down there.
"Master, Stop!" voices cried as the kitchen's back door flew open. An old serpent threw herself down at his feet. "Please, Master! Have mercy!"
"Nev! Get out of the way! Or so help me, I'll throw you down there with this bastard!" the merchant fumed.
"Please master! Please! The cub can't help what he is!"
"I don't care! I won't have a stranger's brat in the house!"
"Master, whoever sired this cub had royal blood! Look at his mane!"
"Fool!" the merchant hissed. "You think I don't see it! So will everyone else! Everyone will know this is a bastard son from a bastard son! No I won't have it! Now get out of the way!"
The snake wept, kissing the cat's feet. "Master, Please! I'll take the cub; I'll cut his hair every day. Every day, so no one will ever know. I'll raise him here, with me, so you don't have to look at your wife's disgrace! I have served your family for more generations than I can remember, and I have never asked for anything. Only I ask now, spare his life!"
The merchant looked at the huddling weeping form at his feet, and then at the wailing infant in his paw. He looked at the well, and then up at the lit windows at his own house.
"Master, since this cub isn't yours, you don't have to consider him for any inheritance." Nev pleaded. "He can work for the family and the family has nothing to gain but profit from his efforts."
This merchant's ears perked up with interest. "I have your word then, Nev? You will assume all responsibility for raising this mistake and training him so he might be of some use?"
The tear stained serpent nodded.
The merchant sighed and handed her the squalling infant.
"I have forgotten our founding patriarch liked your mind as much as your body. I wonder what he would think now, hmm?" he mused.
"Sir, if I have your permission, I would like to name this cub for him. I will personally see he does not bring it to disgrace."
The merchant nodded. "Since you were his concubine, I have no doubt you will see the name honored. Now off with you, and keep that brat from my sight."
Not daring to push her master's generosity any further, Nev bowed and bolted to the kitchen. She rocked the crying cub gently.
"Roj. Shhh, Roj. You're safe now. Hush cub, it's all right." She took some milk from a pitcher, and put it into a baby bottle. She sat down on a chair in the dark, and fed the infant. He sucked hungrily.
"There, Roj. That's it." She whispered. She kissed his hairy head. "Grow strong, little kitten. Grow strong, and grow up so you can set me free. For five hundred years I've been slave to this house. But you, little one, my cub, my own, you are going to set me free."