No matter how hard I try, my first chapters are so short. Why can't I make them longer? I know my pattern will mean much longer chapters in the future, but why?
Enough of my complaining though. Welcome to a new, multi-chapter story! For those following my other TC story, I will update soon. This was has been niggling me all week though and I had to act on it.
It came to me in Philosophy, while I was doodling cats on my notes (Productivity FTW). I reflected on some things I heard about the old TC and how the writers might incorporate into the new series.
And then it hit me. And a truly devilish idea it will be. What fun I'll have.
Content Warnings and such: I'm in my element, so expect much angst. Drama of course, with some family, friendship, and humor. Future content (of the NOT sexual variety) may bump this up to M. TygraxCheetara (though I much prefer her with Lion-O), and PanthroxThundertank to be expected. But this isn't a romance fic, so there may not be much. Some cursing, evil, violence, and overly cute things.
You have been warned. Read and enjoy!
Always second best.
"Come on, we can hide in the trees."
Always second best.
"Lion-O, come on! I'd grab you if I could!"
Always second best.
"How's her breathing?"
And with good reason.
"Wake up!"
Lion-O's head snapped back with a loud crack, his cheek throbbing as he was reeled back in. He blinked, then blinked again, but the world refused to come into focus. Little orange balls of fire flickered against the black and blurred backdrop. Distantly, Lion-O's throat tingled and burned.
"I can't believe you!" Tygra's voice, deep from the darkness, was a roaring sound. It was closer to Lion-O than any of the strange images and distinct crackling, but still too apart from him. Wispy, despite its power. Unreachable.
"You just stood there and let her get hurt! You let her, you coward! You worthless, poor excuse of a-"
"Tygra, just shut up and get over here. Or do you want me to use my hands?" Another voice, still distant. Gruff and familiar.
"I know, all right! I know!"
And they were both gone and the static came back, stronger than before. His eyes caught flecks of gray around him. Ash that floated without purpose, before withering to nothing.
He heard her then. The shallow breathing and its long process for air. A delayed, raspy inhale. A gurgling noise, as if the breath itself was drowning. A pause. Exhale. Pause. Three seconds. Five seconds. Light inhale. Pause. Inhale. Pause.
A flash of light and a spray of blood that splattered his face made him jump, but as he went to wipe it away, he found nothing there. He shook his head, the world finally coming. He crashed back to it, his insides clenching at the impact of reality.
The blood had been all over him.
"What...happened?" Lion-O whispered. He peered over his brother's shoulder, his heart racing and breath caught in his chest.
Cheetara faced the sky, her eyes clenched shut and her body and face pale. Tygra leaned over her, bandages working fast, following Panthro's hurried instructions. Howling, crying, sounded around Lion-O, but he couldn't bring himself to search for the kittens within the background of black, blood, and fire. His chest was tightening further; stringing like a bow and his heart the arrow about to fly from his mouth.
Panthro caught Lion-O's eye and was on him in moments, barking orders and wishing he had arms. "We need water, now! Grab the canteens and fill em up!"
Lion-O was moving before Panthro finished, his shaking hands gathering the canteens and his gaze flickering from the containers to Tygra's back, to Cheetara, back to the containers, and Cheetara again. His legs hollowed out when he rose, a tree catching him as he stumbled.
What happened? What. Happened.
What did I do?
"No, no, no!" Tygra screamed and screamed and the sound ripped at Lion-O because Tygra never screamed like that. And he didn't want to look but his head turned and he saw where all the blood was coming from. It ran down her front and stained the grass black while it rolled down her soaked sides. The hole in her stomach was large and gaping, sucking Lion-O's air and leaving him winded.
Cheetara tried to breathe. Her mouth opened and closed but no air came in. Her eyes flew open and she stared at him. Panthro was yelling at him and Tygra sobbed, while Cheetara just stared at him. Watched until her eyes were glass. Clear. Beautiful and unseeing.
Dead.
"Lion-O!"
"It's all my fault..." Lion-O muttered to himself, leaning against the tree. His head throbbed and he knew he should be hurting, but he felt oddly suspended. Misted. The world crumbled from beneath his feet and all he could do was stand and watch. Tygra shouted something and glared and hissed, his eyes flashing and thunderous.
Cheetara was still. Moved like a rag doll as Tygra shifted in his place.
Utterly lifeless.
"Lion-O! Lion-O!"
Ice splashed his face and his eyes snapped open, bright yellow walls weaving with the dark trees of the forest. His eyes were clouded and thick with sleep, yet his heart raced. Every pulse rocked his body and he had to blink several times before the Berbil's dome was all he could see. His eyes felt oddly wet and he panicked, swiping an arm over them and hoping no one saw.
"What's wrong?" Lion-O jumped and whipped around, meeting a wide-eyed WilyKit. An empty glass was at her feet, little droplets near on the floor. Kit watched him with caution, a little farther back than normal. Lion-O swallowed and shook his head, pushing away from the wall he'd been resting on.
"N-nothing." Lion-O looked around but the room was empty besides Kit and himself. He stood up, wishing his heart would slow down. "Guess it's been a rough few days..."
"But you've been quiet since we left the elephant village." WilyKit glanced out the door as she said it, eyes looking longingly in the distance. She shook her head, looking back at Lion-O. "Did something-"
"How's Panthro?" Lion-O squirmed at the glare Kit sent him, but her shoulders relaxed when she answered.
"They're about to attach the second arm," she said, grabbing Lion-O's hand and dragging him outside. "And you need air! Anyway, we told him...well, Cheetara told him we could wait a little while for the other one, but he just said, 'I'm not like you kids who need forever and a day to recover from something as easy as arm replacement!' Then he just went ahead with the second part." WilyKit stopped and released Lion-O, spreading her arms out. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths of the night air.
Lion-O's eyes were on her, but his mind and chest tingled at her words. So, Cheetara's okay. Good. Good... I don't even know where that dream came from but as long as it's not-
"Oh! Look, there's Cheetara with Tygra now! Guys! Hey, guys-" Lion-O jumped and skidded down to Kit, clamping a hand over her mouth. She wiggled in his grip and bit his hand, smirking when he yelped and pulled back.
She glanced back at Cheetara and Tygra, waving her hand, but stopped when Tygra wrapped his arms around Cheetara's waist. Neither of them seemed to notice Lion-O or WilyKit, and Tygra and Cheetara leaned toward each other, slowly locking lips. WilyKit blinked and looked away, her cheeks warming.
And caught Lion-O walking away.
Kit chewed her lip and glanced back at Tygra and Cheetara as they fell back into the shadows. Then she turned to Lion-O, following him back inside the rounded house. He was utterly silent, and Kit wondered if she should have just left him there. But he doesn't seem to chocked by it, she thought, I figured he'd by running at Tygra but...
She heard the crunching of grass behind her and watched her brother running up to her, Snarf perched on his shoulder and an excited look on his face. There were some brightly colored fruits in his hand, but his eyes were missing the manic gleam.
"Hey, Kit! Panthro is about halfway done with that surgery now. Those little guys know how to work those machines and stuff! Bill's using this really cool, blue glowing-" Kat trailed off when he caught sight of Lion-O walking across the room, his shoulders slumped. Snarf mewed and Kat tilted his head to the side. "What's with him?"
Kit worried her brow, glancing at Lion-O. "Tygra and Cheetara were kissing."
Kat stuck his tongue out, shuddering. Kit rolled her eyes and kicked his leg, smiling when he hissed and hopped on one foot.
"What was that for?"
"Nothing..." she said, smile widening. "Sometimes you just don't get things."
"Oh, like you do?"
"You know it!" Kit stretched her arms above her head, but she kept looking at Lion-O, watching as he leaned against the wall and glared at the floor. She thought back to Lion-O's face when she first found him, twisted and worried as he shook from his sleep. He'd even clawed the floor then, but she made sure to hide those marks under her feet.
"C'mon, Kit! I found some more of those fruits nearby anyway. It'll keep us up long enough to see Panthro when it's all done!" WilyKat tugged on her arm and led her outside, even as she continued to look back. Snarf jumped down from Kat's shoulder and ran toward Lion-O, mewing as he went.
All Kit could see was Lion-O crouching down to pet Snarf's head before he was out of sight.
