A sequel to Safe. It was just begging to be made.
I I I I I I I I I
WilyKit sat bolt upright, looking around. A thunderclap sounded outside her window, making her yelp and scurry under her blankets, curling up and covering her ears to block out the sound of rain. She slowly curled into a tighter ball, the night in the cave suddenly flashing back into her memory. She remembered the storm that had thrown her off course, the tree and vine that her arm had caught in when it broke, and the sounds she lay there listening to as she awaited death. Her breath grew shallow, her chest growing tight. She started trembling, tears sliding down her face as she remembered the pain. She was starting to hyperventilate. The storm raging outside was another bad one. The howling wind hurt her ears, more sensitive than the other ThunderCats' ears because of her blindness. The thunder that crashed every few seconds made her heart race faster than ever before, pounding in her ears. She thought for sure she would go deaf any second. Before she realized it, she threw her head back and released a loud roar that sounded over the crashing thunder. The fear lacing her voice rang throughout the Cat's Lair. She started thrashing, terrified. A wrong toss and she fell to the floor, wrapped in her blanket. Fear clouded her judgment. The cave she'd lain in before flashed in her mind. The pain, so real she could have sworn she had been wounded all over again, appeared. She unsheathed her claws, tearing at the fabric that had ensnared her. Something suddenly encircled her, restraining her. She thrashed all the harder. The mysterious thing trapping her jerked slightly when she dug her claws into it, but it only grew tighter, pinning her arms against her chest. She hissed and growled, struggling with all her might, all the while the storm raged outside and with-in her mind. Fear and pain consumed her completely. After what felt to her like an eternity, her strength gave out and she fell silent, struggling to breath. The force around her eased off slowly, than the shredded remains of her once grand blanket were pulled away. Something soft and gentle stroked the side of her face as she lay there. The force returned, but it was soft and soothing. The caressing continued and someone's voice filled her ears. "It's okay. You're safe now. I'm here." She knew the voice in an instant, grabbing the shirt she was resting against and clinging tightly.
"Don't go." She whimpered weakly, shaking like a leaf. "Don't wanna be alone again."
"Shh. It's okay, I'm not going anywhere." A gentle pressure pressed against her forehead for the briefest second. A single kiss. "It's okay. You can sleep beside me tonight." She nodded, the larger, warmer body and the comforting hold slowly luring her back to sleep.
"Love you, Lion-O." She murmured, yawning and drifting into a much more peaceful sleep. Lion-O smiled and gently picked her up, careful not to wake her as he carried her to his room. He settled down in bed, careful to keep one layer of covers between them as he pulled her close, dozing off himself. The storm quieted slightly, as if sensing the peace with-in the Cat's Lair.
