Welcome, everyone. This story is going to be a bit different since it is actually two stories in one. One story focuses on Gard and Cheetara, the other focuses on Balor and Brigid. Enjoy and review.
Out of the Gates
Wilusa… For forty-five hundred years had it stood upon a hill and dominated the lands below. It was old long before Thundera's time and continued to be old even after Thundera's fall.
Gard thought nothing of Wilusa. For him it had always been there, a great monument that would always be rebuilt no matter how many times it was sacked or destroyed.
For Cheetara however, for the first time looking upon Wilusa in all its wonder and glory without being on the ThunderTank… She was still in marvel at it. She had been in marvel at it when she arrived she had been in marvel at it now that she was leaving. Arriving in the ThunderTank had never really brought Wilusa to her attention but being on foot… That was something completely different.
While Cheetara marveled at Wilusa, Gard just kept walking away from it. He breathed in the air, held out his arms and let out a laugh. The Wilderness was calling and he knew paths that Cheetara did not.
"Come, Cheetara!" He cried, his voice so wonderfully tough and grizzled. "I can find the rest of the ThunderCats even if I was blindfolded!"
Cheetara turned to look over at Gard. She did not doubt he could find them, she only wondered how long it would take for them to reach the rest of the ThunderCats.
"Gard…" She began. "How soon can we reach our destination on one of your routes?"
Gard gave a small smile. He knew many routes and they could takes as little or as much time as possible. "My dear girl, you don't know just how many routes I know about. All roads my lead to Wilusa or Thundera as the sayings go but the routes of the Wilderness outnumber all of those roads."
Cheetara did not doubt it. The Wilderness was vast and unknown to many, jealously hiding its secrets. If anyone could find the shortest route then the Evabon named Gard could.
"Lead the way then, I trust you."
"I am glad." Was all Gard said in response! He had come a long way from his days of being hostile to the cats.
()
"So where are we really going?" asked Brigid as she walked with Balor.
"To Gnozzuz." Replied Balor, the thought of seeing the Blest Thag never leaving his head.
Brigid placed a hand over her mouth. "Zuvowang told me about that place. He says that a creature named Apyz lives there."
"What is Apyz?"
"I don't know. Zuvowang didn't go into much detail about him. He merely said that Apyz has golden horns."
"Are they made of gold or are they merely colored gold?" asked Balor. He did not understand the Wilys fascination with gold. Being an Evabon he did not understand the fascination with gold. It was just something to melt down, use to make weapons or works of art.
"I don't know. He never specified." Stated Brigid.
The Blessed Thag and Apyz, Gnozzuz was starting to sound fascinating. Balor was starting to get excited. Brigid on the other hand was both excited and frightened.