AT LAST an update! School started last week and to that followed some lousy writing days, I hope to be back on track now. I apologize and thank you all for the waiting! I'll do my best to not let it happen again, many thanks for the reviews I hope like this one too :)
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A colossal wagon pulled by lizards showed in the distance carrying a giant rock with strange yellow glowing stone encrusted in it. The royal family came to greet the cat standing on top of the big rock.
"Grune!" Tygra sounded cheerful greeting the general who departed on a mission many years ago at the request of King.
"I come bearing gifts. I know it's not much now, but just wait until the thunderian stonecutters are done with it." The saber tooth general jumped off the stone at the same time Claudus got down of his riding beast to welcome him with open arms.
Both princes looked at the return of the general from different points of view now. Lion-O'd always held respect toward the general, though during his years as a cub he wouldn't always figured him out. On the other hand Tygra attempted to be by his side whenever he was assigned to babysit on both brothers, and respected him as much as admired him.
"And where is our dear friend Panthro?" The king asked searching the surroundings with his eyes.
Grune's face fell down as he showed to his king a blue and red pair of nunchucks. "He fought valiantly. Alas, he came up against a force that was too powerful for even him to overcome. It is only through his sacrifice I stand before you today." Handing the weapon to the lion.
Claudus felt the lost of his general and friend and took a deep breath. "Tomorrow, we will mourn this great loss. But today, we shall celebrate the return of Thundera's greatest general."
"I can't believe that Panthro's gone." Lion-O tried to sink in the new.
"You heard Grune, he sacrificed himself for his kingdom. All we can do now is to honor him and celebrate at least Grune came back safely." His adopted brother told him and proceeded following his father to the insides of the walls.
On the way to the palace the tiger stopped suddenly. "What is it, Tygra?" The young lion approached with his quadruped.
The tiger seemed deep in his thoughts and just replayed. "I'll make a stop before going home. I don't need you to follow me." And headed his own beast to another direction. Lion-O looked at him and shrugged.
"I wasn't going to anyway." To himself and headed back with their father.
At the palace, Jaga stood there waiting for the others to return but now he was no longer alone as he was speaking with someone. "I fear the return of our generals will not be what we all hoped for…" He began.
"What you mean, Jaga?" A female voice asked.
"Let's just say things will not be the same after today, my child." Soon he regretted the way he made his words sound when he looked to his apprentice's eyes. "But do not worry. This is surely occurrences of mine."
But his words didn't keep the she-cat from feeling uneasy, she very well knew Jaga's occurrences were never wrong. The two cats stayed in silence for a moment.
Until the elder cleric spoke up. "Did you see the boy today?"
The other cat nodded. "There's more to him than meets the eye, Jaga." She said in a plotting voice.
"I know, that's why wanted you specifically to look after him." He said showing a fatherly smile. "You know I have all my trust in you, Cheetara." After that both cats turned to see the others returning and the elder cleric dismissed his disciple who disappeared in the blink of an eye.
The female cat headed to her home, which for many years has been the clerics' training chambers. She stopped on her track before making it there and hided from any sight as she saw someone standing in front of the stairs that leaded to the site. But he wasn't just anyone to her. "What is he doing here?" She whispered.
The sight of the tiger standing there brought to her memories from her childhood, after all those years she's not forgotten about him. Cheetara couldn't deny she wanted to get closer but right now her duty was the priority for her now and remained hidden waiting for the tiger to leave.
At the base of the clerics' chambers, Tygra stood on his quadruped feline looking at the large door. The memory of a cub sitting against that same door flashed before his eyes. Seeing no one came by, he settled on his seat and rode back to the palace.
Hours later close to sunset, Pumyra went out of her house for a walk and without any course her steps took her nearby the walls of the city, she wasn't looking for something punctually though. All her eyes laid upon reflected the just and blooming kingdom of the King Claudus, except for a sight that made her fur bristle in fear. She wasn't actually scared, she knew she shouldn't have to; but even so, that was the reaction lizards always caused on the cats, as they were their greatest enemies for generations. The young puma stood away from the gates where she spotted a big group of lizards, it also didn't take long till she noted the chains keeping them from scattering or getting away. What were lizards doing in Thundera? She wondered and what was that rare stone surrounded by them?
Then Pumyra saw the guards with spears approaching them and she knew it was time for her to go so she turned around but not without taking one more glance at the lizards before leaving. It got to her nerves to know those creatures were inside the kingdom.
As the she-cat went into the town again she noticed a cat hammering a sign on a store's wall. She got close to see what it was about. The sign said a big party would be taking place tonight in front of the palace, celebrating the return of General Grune who came back to Thundera after many years gone. It also said everyone in the kingdom must attend. More people got close to the sign so the puma took it as her cue to yield to them and stepped aside as she heard the murmuring and buzzing growing in the air.
The more she thought about the celebration Pumyra realized it was more than sure that the prince Lion-O would make presence in the event. She felt kind of frustrated and asked to herself why should that matter to her? And then the lion's words came to her mind.
"I'll find you. I promise." Since that moment she knew they would meet again. Pumyra felt the sameweird feeling she got when he took off hours ago. She shook her head trying to ignore the blush that wanted to form on her face and decided to leave their encounter to chance, without much of a caring nor holding her hopes up.
Meanwhile Lion-O looked down at the kingdom from a large window at the palace finding his adopted brother returning back home. He did wonder where he went but didn't get close to ask about it. Instead he looked even farther where workers and maidens along with other cats were getting everything ready in time for the celebration.
Snarf appeared behind him fallowed by Jaga not very far. "Shouldn't you be getting ready for the party?" He asked letting show some interest.
"I was just taking a look. I'll be ready soon, Jaga." The prince answered quickly.
"Your father told me about the unfortunate lost of General Panthro." The jaguar now sadden his expression.
Lion-O lowered his head and held a moment of silence. It was hard making himself to the idea, ever since he could remember he knew Panthro as the greatest warrior of Thundera's army. There were few situations he couldn't handle no matter how dangerous. And was also a great and dear friend of his father…-his father-…the young lion thought about how hard it was for him and yet he still got the will to look ahead of that and hold a celebration in honor to the general that did return. He imagined his father's strength to keep his head up, and as he should; Lion-O followed his example. "Even so, there's going to be a party here. I'll go get prepared now." And excused himself.
The saber tooth's gift for the King stood in the palace's entrance, there were no longer lizards around it for they were taken as prisoners a while ago. Before the king's guards arrived to take the rock to the center of the square before the celebration, no one became aware of the silent presence of General Lynx-O sniffing around to make sure no one approached the stone. His nose did sense something and sniffed some more. "A cat?" He mused. "Who's there?"
The mysterious cat got frozen on his place as he heard and saw the general. "Lynx-O."
After many years the lynx still recognized his scent and his voice. "General Grune? Why, what are you doing around here? Isn't the party held in your honor?"
The fur in Grune's neck bristled. The sense of smell of the blind cat was famous in the army, the saber tooth couldn't let Lynx-O sniff any closer to the stone or he may smell more than what was good for him. "It's been a long time, old friend. I heard the King wanted his gift to be taken to the square and I just wanted to make sure the way to there was clear." The large cat walked over to Lynx-O and put his arm around his shoulders guiding him to the other side of the square to continue with his other duties. "Come on, your soldiers must be on their way here for the transfer. Your work here is done and the party is about to start."
"Yes, I know. Unfortunately I won't enjoy it the same way you will, general." The blind cat said carefree as the other cat guided him.
"Oh, don't worry about that…tonight will be a celebration every cat will enjoy." A mischievous smirk drawn on the saber tooth's face, unluckily, one the other general didn't see.
Evening soon came, everyone in Thundera gathered to listen to the king's words before the celebration.
"It was many seasons ago when I sent out generals Grune and Panthro to find the fabled book of omens. While it remains lost, Grune has returned with tales of adventure, great treasure, and new lands to conquer…Today, we show him our appreciation!" The general took a step forward to receive his applauses and ovations. Quickly music, dance and fun filled the atmosphere.
Claudus noticed his son didn't seem to join them on their table. "Lion-O, will you not join us?" He asked soundly.
The young lion turned to see his father as he thought of something to say next. "I, uh- I'll just walk around. You know…get some acquaintances." He said awkwardly.
Tygra raised an eyebrow at the way he said acquaintances and decided to stay close to his little brother. "I'll go too. We'll be back soon father." He said politely.
Their father let out a sigh almost like a growl. "Very well. I expect you to join me before our meal arrives our table." Only the tiger nodded his head, then Claudus walked away with Grune following close.
Lion-O felt himself being monitored and shot a look at his brother. "I don't need you to watch over me."
"And I won't…You go your own way, I'll go mine." Tygra told him with a self-righteous smile and leaved him alone.
Near the snacks tables, a fat cat took a drink when he felt a tug on his coat. "Good day sir, Willykat and Kit at your service." The cat looked down and found a pair of cubs in tattered clothing. "Perhaps my sister and I can interest you in a melodic melody?" The little boy smiled.
"Get away from me, you filthy street urchins." The cat shouted in a kind-of-drunk voice.
But the kids were persistent as the girl sais…"Oh but I'm quite good. And you only need to pay if my gentle song moves your caring heart." Taking her rounded flute out of her pocket.
"I said-" The fat cat was about to yell again but the soft hypnotic song changed his mind. "Your music is lovely, as the day is long." Dancing and swinging to the sound of the instrument.
While Willykit played, she distracted the feline allowing her brother to dig into his pockets. "Ew…what does he keep in here?" Throwing some fish's bones from the cat's pouch, the remains of an apple, until he found what he was looking for. "Oh, here we go!" And ran away with a handful of golden coins.
Once Willykat got away, Kit ended her melody…pulling the fat cat out of his trance. "I said scram, kids!" Waving his fist in the air.
The little cub bowed down. "Of course, sorry to bother you." And ran after her brother, both grinning as they left the party.
Going through the crowd, they douched every cat on their way but one came out of nowhere and Kat stumbled right into her. "Hey!" The female cat turned around sharply, and looked down at the cub laying on the ground with the coins scattered around him.
"You ok?" His sister caught up with him.
The female cat saw them picking up the coins and lifted her gaze seeing a brown furred cat in the distance shaking his fist in the kids' direction. She looked at the kittens again with a severe look. Kit and Kat now with their loot on their hands looked up to her and gulped, it seemed they just got caught.
She waited. The cubs looked at each other. "Well?...what are you waiting for? Go!" Motioning for them to escape. The siblings smiled broadly and got away. The cat's amber eyes followed them as they disappeared into the crowd while her ears got the sound of chuckles and noise.
Far from the party she caught sight of two young cats in front of a pair of stocks in which two lizards where held captives. She remained in the clearing watching them throw tomatoes at the reptiles when someone came along. "Lion-O?" She gasped quietly.
"Cut it out!" The prince drove them away seeing they were picking on the lizards that couldn't defend themselves.
"Please your majesty, show mercy." One of the lizards begged.
"Why should I? If the roles were reversed, you'd have lopped my head off by now." The lion shot back.
Hopeless, the lizard explained they were just scavenging for food when we were captured. While the second lizards cut in, this one sounding more insulting than its partner. "Forget it. Looking for mercy from cats is like trying to squeeze water from a stone."
"Watch your tongue fool. He'll kill us!" The other warned.
"No, I wanna hear this." Lion-O cut it off. "What you mean?"
The second lizard looked him in the eye and told him their kind only attacked to survive. From the way they saw it, for decades the cats has taken control of the best lands and resources leaving the rest of the animals to fight over scraps. Also the only reason for them to steal their crops was to give their children something to eat.
The reptile's words sank into the young lion, making him realized that perhaps it was the cats that did things wrong and felt sorry for them, and guilty from part of his own kind.
The she-cat was watching everything, too bad she couldn't hear a thing from where she stood. Out of nowhere she spotted the other prince getting closer to the scene. "You're not taking this criminal seriously, are you?" Tygra asked his brother resting his hand on his shoulder.
The insulted lizard looked at them and stated their only crime was to be wicker then the cats, and that it was the same for all animals. But the tiger was deaf to its words and ignored it completely. "Let's go, it's time for the games." He parted from the younger prince's side and Lion-O followed, still not feeling quite well about himself.
The royal family gathered together on their table then Claudus proceeded with one more speech, dedicating the following games to the life of the late general and a toast in his honor. After the toast, all the cats moved to the bleachers around a giant tree with many entwined branches standing in the middle of a pond where two cats competed to reach the top and ring the bell that hung on the highest point in a competition of agility and prowess.
On top of the bleachers far from the crowd the soldiers were also entertained watching the competition. One of them in a different way. "Enjoying the games, Lynx-O?" A female voice indicated the blind soldier that someone was coming closer, someone familiar. "Tell me again, how can you do it?"
The lynx smiled. "Well…first of all, I don't bet on who will win like the other soldiers do." He said between chuckles. "I can, anyway, listen to every movement of the game. Their claws climbing. The sound of the water when one is knocked out and the ringing bell when one wins, but I could never tell which of the two cats win. My ears were never good in describing things, you know?"
The two stood in silence, and then the sound of the bell shook the air. "Someone has won." Lynx-O said barely impressed. "What brought you up here, Pumyra?" Not turning to face her.
"Just wanted to say hi to a friend." The puma sat next to the general looking down to the now empty arena.
"Ah, yes." The blind cat fixed himself on his seat and crossed his arms. "How have you been all this time?"
Her gaze stayed blank as she thought over. "Yesterday I would've told you things have been quiet around me." She paused. "The last time we saw each- I saw you, I was too young to join the King's army. Even after the training I didn't make it-"
"It sounds as if you insinuate my training was in vain." Lynx-O interrupted.
"Don't say that. You know I learned a lot from you. I was too young at the time, that's all." Pumyra assured him, though you knew he didn't mean it to make her feel bad.
"And now?" Her friend asked.
The female looked at him, down to her knees and back at him again. "It's funny, I am doing the exact opposite thing of what I wanted then. And I find myself happy doing it." A satisfied smile drew on her lips; although Lynx-O couldn't see it he could sense it.
"And what's that?"
"Instead of attacking people I take care of those that are sick or injured instead..."
The general let out a little laugh. "But I did not train you to hurt others, child. I trained you to defend yourself and protect our people." He said wisely.
Pumyra's eyes widened and felt a little ashamed. "I know. That didn't come out right." Her gaze fell to a side.
"Anyhow, I'm glad you show interest not only in protecting but also in taking care of others." The blind cat reassured her with a hand on her shoulder and a peaceful gesture. Suddenly the sound of trumpets announced a new round in the arena was about to begin. "Who's up now?" Lynx-O asked.
The she-cat leaned down to take a closer look and her eyes widened again. The cat next to her still waiting for her answer. "Lio- It's the princes, both of them." She said startled.
The trumpets gave the start signal to the competitors, Lion-O started with all his strength trying to get a head start while Tygra seemed to be far behind until the lion realized that was not so.
"I'm right behind you, Lion-O." The tiger warned leaping over him.
Feeling him on his back, the younger prince threw a kick backwards attempting to get rid of the tiger but Tygra blocked the kick and threw a successful punch to his brother's face sending him falling down the log. The lion rolled down but he clutched firmly with his claws to the log. Viewers began to cheer and scream in the tiger's favor. He looked up to his adopted brother who had the advantage now, refusing to lose he growled at him and climbed his way back up catching up with Tygra in no time. Both cats fought their way to the bell throwing punches to one another, Lion-O made it connecting a strong one to Tygra's cheek but it didn't worked to make him fall out of the tree.
The striped cat counterattacked whirling and kicking the lion to the branch below them at the same time he climbed the highest branch to the bell and looked down the lion with a cocky smile seeing himself already as the winner. "When it comes to everything except the crown, you're always going to be second place!"
The young prince refused to give up and climber once more. Settled on knocking him out of the tree, Lion-O jumped over him stretching his arm to attack, unfortunately this leaved him defense open and unable to block the fist that crashed on his face knocking him off the tree entirely as he fell into the pond below.
The shocked gasp from the crowd sounded over the place. Quickly Lion-O came out of the water under to see his adopted brother hanging from the bell as the ringing sound announced his victory, all the gasp and sighs now turned into cheers for the tiger.
On the bleachers Lynx-O might not seen it but Pumyra did. She watched as the round's winner jumped off the bell and raising his hand in victory to the witnesses. She then looked down at the pond but the lion already left the place, her eyes searched for him but he was nowhere to be seen. She got up from her seat. "Good bye, Lynx-O." She said quickly and leaved.
On a tower away from the party, Lion-O and Snarf watched over the celebration. The young lion looked at his rounded piece of tech as he remembered what leaded him to go against Tygra at the ancient tree...
Inthe royal tablewhileGruneand Kingtalked abouthis long journey, Lion-O listenedenthusiastically to the storiesbut hiscuriosity got to him leading him toaskthesaber tooth if he had encounteredany kind of technology on his trip to which the generalresponded that he found nothing even resembling it.
Then Tygra added. "Perhaps what the skeptics say is true. The book's existence is no more realthan its stories of technology or Mumm-Ra."
The prince felt even worse knowing he just lost against his brother before everyone's eyes in Thundera. "It's official, they think I'm a failure...and they always will unless I can prove I'm not chasing a childish dream." He said to himself. "But...How can I do that? When even Grune said there was no tech out there!" He and his pet turned around to the sound of steps.
"Don't let what Grune failed to see stand in the way of what you believe." Said Jaga coming out of the shadows. "The book says that our greatest King will possess the ability of sight beyond sight."
"You mean like...having visions?" The young lion asked in concern.
"More than that, Lion-O. It's the ability to lead with clarity...For sight is useless without action." The cleric returned.
The prince is left thinking, reviewing the vision he had through the Sword of Omens that day during the rite. About those red eyes and grim face..."There's something I need to talk to you about, Jaga."
"There will be time to talk later."The elder cat smiled. "There's a party still going on, enjoy yourself."
Lion-O smiled back and waited for him to walk out of there so he could then take the piece of tech to a hiding place. After doing so he walked down the stairs heading to the party, Snarf next to him sniffed something that got his attention and ran off following the scent. The young lion did nothing to stop his little friend and was about to go to the party when someone stopped him on his track.
"Having fun?" On his right he got sight of the cat lifting from the wall she was leaning against and walking towards him.
He looked surprised to see her. "Pumyra-"
"You said you would find me...it seems to me I found you." Now standing in front of him.
Lion-O then remembered what he said to her the last time they met that day and started to feel kind of nervous. "About that, I-" Rubbing his neck. "I'm sorry, I wasn't actually-"
"Don't apologize. I could not ask you to do that." She shot him in a cold voice.
"Even so, I would've liked to..." He let out failing at hiding his awkwardness.
He would have liked to? She remained thinking. "You sure are...different, your majesty." Raising an eyebrow.
The word differentsounded familiar to the prince. He looked her in the eye when...
"Lion-O!" Both turned to see the tiger calling for him. "What are you doing here? I wanted to make sure you were ok, you know after-"
"Don't worry, Tygra!" His little brother stopped him from completing that sentence. "I'm fine."
Then Tygra noted the puma making him company. "Who's this?" Letting out a little bit of interest, something the two other cats made notice of and both frowned at him. The tiger prince was impressed seeing both cats reacting in the same way.
"You wanted to know how I was...well, like I said I'm fine" It was very childish of him but he did not mind at the time and took Pumyra by the hand walking away past the tiger. He just thought about getting away from his brother for a while and didn't wonder why he took her along with him.
As both forced their steps the puma called to him. "Wait! Lion-O!"
The lion stopped as Tygra followed them close behind but it wasn't Pumyra the reason he stopped, and he did it near the spot where the lizards stayed captive. But what really got his attention was that now there was a big group of cats shouting and waving torches around them, the lion feared they would try to hurt the lizards any moment now.
"What is it, Lion-O?" His brother asked.
The female cat looked at him puzzled with her hand now released. The young prince jerked his head to see his brother. "Look." Pointing to a little crowd. "We can't let this happen." And took off toward the stocks.
Pumyra stood still and watched the tiger going after him.
"Why?" Tygra stopped him trying to talk some sense into him. "They're our greatest enemy, Lion-O."
"Well, maybe they don't have to be." Lion-O passed through the mob standing right between the angry cats and the reptiles. "This lizards has done us no harm, they don't deserve this!"
One of the cats stood up to him stating that they shouldn't be bulling the lizards but that they should kill them instead but Lion-O refused to let them get any closer.
"What's he doing?" The she-cat asked startled.
The tiger looked at the mob. "He's getting his tail into trouble...as usual."
They watched as Lion-O stood alone against the cats. Tygra and Pumyra looked at the one that appeared to be the leader blowing a wooden stick against him, the second blow throw him backwards to fall over his back. The crowd encouraging the leader to keep going.
Tygra saw he had to interfere when the lion tried to stand up but when the cat with the staff sent him back to the floor with a hit across his chest the tiger heard a harsh growl behind him and next thing he saw was Pumyra storming toward the crowd.
"Get out of my way, or you'll wind up in those stocks yourself!" The wild cat threatened the prince. He was about to attack again, but the puma pounced on him wrathfully pinning him down past the lizards and against the wall.
Lion-O looked shocked at how pissed she seemed and ready to attack. "Pumyra, don't!" But the cat seemed not to listen to him.
The angry cats looked at her and wanted to start a bigger fight when the tiger made his way through them to stand next to his brother. "Now, I hope you're very sure you want to do this. Otherwise you're gonna regret it."
The mob was not surprise and since they outnumbered them decided to attack anyway. "Well, I think...you are the one that's going to regret it." One of them said with a smirk.
"Well, I don't." Another female cat leaped above the crowd siding with the princes as she unfolded her staff.
The younger prince was slightly surprised to see the cheetah who saved him at the slums that morning. "Twice in one day, now I know you're following me."
"Right into trouble, again." She replied over her shoulder.
None of the cats were backing down so Tygra ready himself wielding his whip and used it to keep the cats at bay. "Now you see me...Now you don't." One lash from his whip allowed the tiger to become invisible before their eyes and then reappear behind a confused cat throwing a punch at him knocking him out of combat.
Cheetara also kept her opponents away spinning her weapon at them but they kept coming so she went from blocking to running. "Try and catch me!" At incredible speed she ran through all of them while connecting assertive hits on her way out. But then there was a bigger group of cats surrounding her though little affected her as she sent them away with more blows of the weapon.
Now Pumyra realized that the fight was taking place behind her back while struggling with the wild cat she got against the wall. She knocked the air out of him with a blow from her elbow and grabbed him by the shirt to throw him against the rest of the mob. A black cat pounced on her with a wooden stick which she easily sidestepped and responded with a kick to his face.
Lion-O was also avoiding punches and hits from another wild cat waving a torch against him. The prince stepped forward, past the torch and elbowed the cat on the face making him fall on his back. The cats around him were all deciding whose turn was to go next till one stepped in. Lion-O saw him coming and threw his arm to grab him by the shirt and prepared raising his fist against him when...
"Lion-O!"
Everyone stopped and looked at the king approaching the place fallowed by Grune and two guards. "What is going on here? Protecting lizards?" The king's gaze fell hard on his son.
"No, I'm protecting us...from turning in to the very cold-brooded creatures we fear." Again Lion-O stood firmly in front of the abused reptiles before his father. "These lizards did nothing and should be released." All cats and lizards too, looked at the young lion in awe.
"Release them? Don't be foolish. As Lord of the Thundercats it is my duty to keep our people safe, and one day it will be yours." His father reasoned.
"You wanted me to start acting like a king, well this is it. And I don't think the only way to rule is with the sword. Maybe we'd have less trouble with the lizards if we weren't always repressing them." Claudus looked intently in his eyes and saw full conviction to his words, the kind he hoped to see in him for a long time.
Lion-O and the lizards waited for the king's verdict. they more frighten than the prince. After a moment the large lion nodded to free the prisoners as the guards hurried to do so breaking the stocks' locks letting the lizards to get away.
"Consider this an act of goodwill between the species." And then the king walked closer to the lion prince. "Perhaps now, you might show some goodwill of your own and take your responsibilities as prince more seriously." Getting a sharp nod from him.
Lion-O stood still on his place watching his father and company walking away, Cheetara standing the nearest beside him.
Tygra sheathed his whip with a smug face watching at the group of cats now lowering their weapons and ducking their heads as they all left the place. His face was no longer as smug as he looked over to his brother and the cheetah. He looked at them intriguingly recalling that brief interaction between them -Do they know each other?- He wondered.
Before anyone could speak up, the blonde cat disappeared with great speed. From the other end of the place, Pumyra seemed and felt confused, she couldn't believe Lion-O stood up to his own people just to protect some lizards, for a moment she wondered if he was actually crazy...or not? The puma looked at the young prince trying to figure out what was really going on with him.
After everyone was gone, Lion-O went to the walls of the kingdom and looked to the outsides as the two lizards from earlier were released out of Thundera, going probably back to their home he hoped.
But he was not alone. "You don't get it, do you?" He asked to the cat standing beside him.
"You red my mind, I don't." Pumyra lifted herself from the edge. "But, you made your point very clear."
The lion looked at her thoroughly and wondered. "So, you don't agree with me and yet defended me when that cat attacked me?"
Just thinking about it made her feel cold on her back, she couldn't understand what's got into her back there but answered anyway. "I can't believe those cats dared to go against you with their fists. As Thunderians, from the moment we're cubs we swear our loyalty to our king-"
The young lion interrupted her. "There you have it. I'm not the king."
"But you are the heir to the crown. Our loyalty is with you too." She shot him matter-of-factly.
Now Lion-O could appreciate the kind of cat she was and was glad of that. Even so, he didn't feel better about it. "Maybe that's not how I look in their eyes...I know everyone would rather have Tygra as the future king." Sounding defeated as he ducked his head.
"I don't." The prince rose up his gaze, feeling his hear skip a beat. Their eyes remained locked for a while until the female cat bowed her head..."Good night, prince Lion-O." She turned around.
He hesitated just a second but grabbed her hand before she could leave. "Pumyra...thank-" Unable to go on as Pumyra pressed her lips against his. The lion's eyes widened in astonishment but his body relaxed once he started gently returning the kiss.
She didn't know why at the moment, but felt that that was the way she wanted him to thank her. Even though she wasn't sure what was there to thank her for...
Hidden in a tower not so far from them, the moonlight allowed someone to see it all, someone watching over the prince. "Interesting." She mused smiling to herself.
"It is." The voice of a male cat got her attention.
The she-cat was impressed she was not able to detect another presence close to her. But that fact didn't surprise her much as she saw whose presence that was. She found herself mute but kept her calm expression on her face.
"It's been a long time, Cheetara." The serious voice said.
The cheetah was glad to see him but she was good at hiding it. She had to for she was on duty right now.
The tiger didn't know what was she was watching over, and he didn't care. "How long is been since you know each other?" He asked.
"We don't know each other. We just met once." She answered in her usual pacific voice.
"Twice, according to Lion-O."
Cheetara wished he wouldn't have shown, reunite with this tiger under those circumstances wasn't exactly what she would've hoped. The prince walked over her and glanced down to where she was looking before he arrived. There he spotted Lion-O who was alone walking away. His eyes narrowed and looked at the female cat. "You're spying on him?" Imagining what her motives could be made him feel something breaking inside.
She saw it in his eyes; Tygra was getting the wrong idea. It was part of her job, but that was something he couldn't know, he shouldn't know for now. "I'm sorry, Tygra." She said sadly and ran toward the edge of the tower and left.
He looked to where she stood a second ago and then glare at his brother far in de distance now, his fists tightened as it did his teeth.
Down at the square, the party was long over. Snarf got to the giant stone Grune brought. The furry creature played around making face on his reflection in the yellow stones encrusted in it. Soon he got bored of it and headed content to the palace. In the darkness, something else reflected on the yellow stone but from the inside of it, something evil and dangerous.