Imps and Goodnight Kisses

by Anzu Fan

Pre-series. Snarfs weave themselves into legends whether they mean to or not. Children ask questions that don't have easy answers. And sometimes those you love go away, leaving without so much as a goodnight kiss.

2. Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Not at all. Do you think I'd be posting here if I did? Hm…actually, that's an interesting thought; owning a franchise, but writing fan fiction of it anyway for kicks. I wonder if anyone has actually ever done that. I probably would, that'd be funny.

Wow, I'm surprised that people are interested in this. I mean, I was under the impression that I was one of few people who actually noticed Snarf…and wanted him to get some limelight. Hey, he's technically a ThunderCat too. His maneuver last episode was a highlight for me. And of course writing little Lion-O is a ton of fun.

Thank you to all the people who have reviewed and expressed interest in this; it gets more interesting as we go in further, but I don't intend on it being more than a few chapters. At any rate, I hope you enjoy the character I've developed especially for this story.

Chapters for other stories are going well. Development is underway.

This chapter is dedicated to my beloved dog, who passed away the tenth of May after twelve-and-a-half years of fun and messiness. RIP Paddington; thanks for being my sounding board for story ideas, even if you didn't talk back.

---

"It was seven hundred years past when the lizards rebelled against cat rule, and they were slain like the traitors they were. But many fled – to the north, to the south, to the east, to the west. To the north went the lower lizards – the mixtures and mutants of all lizard kind, seeking to cultivate their own kingdom. Many of them died in snow and badlands, and fled back only to engage in the wars against Thundera we continue to deal with today. To the south went the serpent clans to seek hot forests and prey. To the east went the amphibious and wet lizards, to the oceans and swamps and slime. And to the west went the great and terrible lizards, across the deserts and mountains, the ones named after 'dragons'…"

An excerpt from 'A Compendium of Lizards and Their Culture,' by Thunderan historian Tabbicus.

---

Snarf had weird dreams after that night.

It had been a pretty traumatizing time, really. He hadn't found Mama or the kits, he'd wandered a dank and dark city with Lion-O following, they'd nearly been killed by freaks that wanted to sell the meat, seen said freaks be killed or mortally wounded, and come face to face with what could only be described as the scariest lizard he could have ever imagined in his wildest Snarf-y nightmares.

His dreams were full of teeth – long, pale teeth, and they stank like rotting meat. A red gullet the size of a street loomed behind them, sucking in everything as he ran from them. In the blackness, he would see people he knew as he sprinted. Mama would be there, and as soon as he ran to her she would vanish into the red tunnel on his heels. Snarf would scream and keep running, because there was nothing he could do, she was gone, gone, gone…

Sometimes other people featured. Jaga never seemed to mind vanishing into the teeth, looking more interested than perturbed. Random soldiers, catallos, maids that had yelled at him – they all fell into it, swallowed into the wet red.

Lion-O did too sometimes, slipping between the teeth. And every time he screamed in fear and pain for Snarf to help him. And Snarf would wake up, thrashing and heaving and nearly sick with horror.

Just a dream. Just a stupid dream. Quit it you crazy.

And every night Snarf would clamber onto the foot of Lion-O's bed, spying on the cub. Curled up on his pillow with Doofle tucked safely beside him, Lion-O would be fast asleep, cuddled into the blankets. Snarf would sigh and return to his pillow, listening to the quiet conversations of the guards outside with his intensely sensitive Snarf hearing. If they heard his squeals during the nightmares, they showed no sign.

One night, though, he peeped over the edge of Lion-O's bed and his heart jumped to his mouth; Lion-O was curled into a tight ball, a tuft of stiff red and brown hair, Doofle cast aside over the side of the bed. Snarf scrambled up the sheets and comforter, bounding to his tiny "master" – for lack of better terms – to see what was wrong. He butted his nose against Lion-O's face, pawing his front and pulling at his mane, even yowling until Lion-O jerked awake.

His sweat made his fur wilt and his eyes were nearly scary wide, sightless with some foggy dream that faded after a moment. Snarf's eyes met his, and Lion-O bit his lip, face screwing up as he burst into silent tears. They leaked from his eyes, darkening his fur.

It was all Snarf could do to rub up against him and lick his face, planting Snarf "kisses" – a tiny nuzzle followed by the flick of a tongue – on Lion-O's cheek. "It was just a very bad dream. What happened in it?" he asked.

Lion-O curled his arms around Snarf and huddled close, kissing Snarf's head. It made him feel weird to be stuck in the embrace and the scent of sweat and scared cub, but Lion-O needed comfort, and Snarf was the only one who could give it.

"…Daddy and Tygra and lots of people died. Mumm-Ra turned them all into sand. And Jaga tried to save me, and Mumm-Ra turned him into sand too. It was all my fault. He was after me."

Mumm-Ra. The Boogeyman. Snarf sighed. "What did he look like in your dream?"

Lion-O rubbed his cheek against Snarf's fur. "…I don't know. He was in the shadows the whole time. He had a really scary voice, though. And he smelled yucky."

It was merely a dream, a childish fear realized in the form of a nightmare. But Snarf could not convince him of this. He could only cuddle with him and meow and soothe him. Lion-O heaved a thick sigh and huddled under the blankets again, Snarf pressed to his side. "I miss Jaga. I want him to come home. He'd sing to me."

Snarfs could not sing. At all. But he could purr along to an old tune that Jaga had been fond of, and the sound put Lion-O to sleep, along with the light, pleasant vibrations of Snarf's side thrumming.

The guards never came in. Either they did not hear or they did not care.

Snarf didn't know which would be more disturbing.

---

"Your Majesty, Jaga has sent word of the colonies and the viper tribes."

Lion-O's chin jerked up and Snarf yelped when he jumped out of his chair and began running to the cat that had entered.

"Lion-O."

He stopped dead, and Snarf huddled between the legs of Lion-O's vacated chair. The deep voice echoed in the looming, marble and limestone dining hall, and Snarf could feel the vibration of the floor through the red rug he stood on. The king's tone was not angry, but it was severe, and Lion-O turned and slowly crossed the dining room and climbed back into his seat. "I apologize for leaving the table without being excused," he said. Obedience rang like a cheap, brass bell. The king just shook his head and looked to the captain. The cat had not even bothered looking at Lion-O.

"A letter I take it?"

He nodded. "Shall I read it aloud sire? Or would you prefer to do so in your quarters later?"

The king held out a paw and the cat crossed the room with the envelope in paw and he bowed at the waist. "I'll read it. Thank you." The captain backed away at the dismissal, leaving the dining hall the way he'd come.

Lion-O's torso was perfectly still – his façade was a good one, getting better all the time – but his little feet kicked impatiently. Snarf sighed, and then grinned a little when Lion-O snuck a piece of his dinner down to him, hidden under the table. The table was made of some kind of light, shiny wood, and if Snarf didn't know he'd get into a huge gob of trouble, he would have relished the chance to sharpen his claws on one of the legs. He settled for digging into the piece of carrot he'd been given.

Tygra – seated to the king's right – took a small bite of bread as the king began to read. "The viper clan is being driven back from the colonies with remaining defenses. Two colonies have been overrun, but ninety percent of the population escaped prior to the attacks. We will fortify the remaining colonies and make provision for the refugees as we mount a campaign to reclaim the stolen land. I will send another message in two weeks. Send word of the Atrox case if anything new arises."

Claudus paused and examined the post script. Snarf heard a little amusement as he added, "Jaga also says, 'tell the boys I say hello, and tell Tygra that he assured me he would practice swordsmanship a little less and spend some time reading the sacred writings." Tygra rolled his eyes. Snarf's amusement faded when he also heard, "And remind Lion-O that just because Snarf likes cooked vegetables does not mean Lion-O can skip out of eating them."

Lion-O blushed, and Snarf was disappointed to see him stop passing down carrots. Old geezer.

"So we're going to beat them, right Father?" Tygra asked. Snarf could catch the scent of excitement as he spoke. Tygra would be a great warrior one day; even now, Snarf could tell it. He had that thirst to grow great, to battle, to win. Claudus nodded and one big paw rested on the tiger's head, ruffling his mane. Tygra grinned before growing serious again. "Are these vipers of the poisonous clans?"

"Some of them, Tygra. That's why I sent Jaga in particular. He was a fighter in his youth, and he has dealt with them before. Not to mention he knows more about poisons than most anyone I can think of." The king lowered the letter to the table and Lion-O watched it. Claudus noticed and handed it down to him. "Are you still practicing your letters, Lion-O?"

He nodded, but instead of reading the letter, Lion-O sniffed it. Catching sight of the weird look Tygra gave him, Lion-O said, "It smells like Jaga."

Snarf put his paws on Lion-O's knees and sniffed the page. Hey, it did smell like old-jaguar-geezer. Tea and parchment and sweat. Loneliness rippled off of Lion-O so hard that Snarf got dizzy. "What's the Atrox case about, Father?" Lion-O asked suddenly.

Claudus paused. Snarf heard the clink of armor and saw that the sentries had looked at each other. "It's nothing that concerns you, Lion-O. Just a murder the guards are investigating."

Lion-O gazed at his plate for a second and Snarf could almost hear him curl back into his own head. "Oh."

Lion-O tucked the letter into his shirt, but halted. "Can I keep the letter, Father?"

"'May' you."

"May I?" Claudus nodded and Lion-O proceeded to fold it into his shirt again. Snarf watched him sniff it one more time and – so quick the others wouldn't see – kiss it before the paper vanished.

---

The terror of nearly being murdered and sold as meat was enough to make Snarf wait until his wounds were fully healed before plotting his next escape. But once he was on his feet and the bandages came off, Snarf began to consider all he'd done wrong last time, and how he would set things right this time around. He was nothing if not determined.

Snarf lay quietly on the window sill as the sun warmed his fur and skin. His scratches were nearly gone and his red fur shone. Lion-O had persuaded him to take a bath and then brushed his coat with surprising care for a little boy. Though unpleasant at the time, the bath had felt good when he climbed out, and it was always a treat to be stroked and groomed. Mama did it better of course – she used her tongue, but apparently cats didn't generally do that to one other, let alone their pets – but Lion-O had done pretty well for a cat. He used a small, soft brush for the catallo colts in the paddocks, and tended the most painful tangles with his own claws.

Sneaking out in the middle of the night was a bad idea. It had been dangerous for him and for Lion-O, and even though Snarf was trying hard to convince himself he didn't care too much about Lion-O – as if waking up in the middle of the night in a panic wasn't indicative of his growing concern – the thought of leading him into more danger made Snarf want to freak out. Lion-O was too nice and little and naïve to be in the city; how the heck had Jaga actually left knowing how inquisitive and wild this cub was?

He sighed. Anyway, sneaking out was going to be hard. At night there were more guards milling in the hall, in the courtyard…the canal was left alone as he watched from the window, but there was no way for him to climb down. He lacked the strength to actually climb down the wall, and he couldn't expect to get down without being spotted at some point by the numerous guards now patrolling the courtyard. And the sentries at Lion-O's door wouldn't let him out at night – apparently they were afraid Lion-O would pull another stunt and vanish from under their noses if Snarf went outside. So he peed on one of their feet, showing them one reason a Snarf needed to be able to get outside.

Snarf's tail – the yellow fur had finally grown back – twitched uneasily. He couldn't just up and run off this time. That would be far too cruel. Lion-O was lonely, desperately so. He would have literally no one to play with if Snarf left. Well, save for his brother. But Tygra didn't count; Snarf had come to realize that the tiger's opinion of the prince heir was the same as the guards' – he was a waste of energy and time to look after.

It was pretty cold when your little brother asked you to play tag with him and all you did was catch him, tell him he was "It," and then pick up your studies and climb a tree so he couldn't reach you while you read them. Lion-O had not tried to get up the bark, instead gazing upward at the striped form with those big, quiet eyes and then lowering his gaze.

"Maybe when you're not busy." He could've gotten up the tree. He'd scaled the side of the palace for heaven's sake. But Lion-O knew – with a peculiar, child's understanding – when he was not wanted.

Snarf growled, stretching his legs as his ears lay back in annoyance. Well, that was everyone else's dumb loss. He knew better, in spite of his desire to leave. If he didn't have a brother and sisters and Mama of his own, he would have stayed. Was really fighting the Snarf-y urge to stay.

He had to leave soon. He'd never convince himself to go if he didn't get out in time.

Getting out was only half the problem. Once he got outside the wall, he still had no method of finding Mama. Even in the sunlight it would be hard to find her amidst all the places and people and smells. He was only a little Snarf, and it was a big, strange city.

Stretching out his front legs, Snarf shook himself and hopped down from the window. He hadn't seen Lion-O much that day, and tried to remember what the cub had said. Something about…ah, the archives. He'd been going to the sanctuary and the archives within it. Snarf sighed; Jaga had frequented the place of tomes and books and scrolls, and the place smelled like the old cat. Never mind that Lion-O wouldn't be able to read the books, little as he was. For a lonely cub, the place was the nearest he could get to Jaga.

It took him about fifteen minutes to get the clerics' sanctuary to which the library was connected, and it always made Snarf feel tiny and meek when he entered the building. It was large, solemn, and he always felt a little dirty walking in. He knew better than to potty in here, even without being told. There were many clerics in the halls, all robed in white and heads covered by golden masks. A few spared him glances, and one patted his head, which was awfully nice of him. They had all seen Snarf hanging around Lion-O, so they let him pass without hindrance.

The library was not as large as the training room, but every wall was covered by racks and shelves. Each one was stuffed with books and pages and scrolls, and the room was dark save for a few lanterns. The glass of each lantern was misty, making the light pleasantly dim, and the carpet was dark red. Snarf enjoyed the feeling of walking on it even as he tried not to sneeze in the dust of the manuscripts.

It was at one long, low table – there were many carved of gleaming wood with benches, and only a few were taken – that he found Lion-O sitting, looking at a book that was easily Snarf's own weight and size. There was a candle by him, casting gold light over the cub and the paper. Lion-O was sitting on his knees, too short to read on the table if he sat normally. A fat little knapsack rested beside him; his "quest" bag as Lion-O liked to call it. The edges of Lion-O's cloak hung off the bench, fabric pooling around him. Snarf meowed, and Lion-O looked down at him.

"Hi Snarf. I need your help. Can you read?" Snarf cocked his head to the side.

"Some. We used to see papers and stuff in the alleyway, and Mama would read them to us. She didn't want to 'neglect our education.' What's up?"

Lion-O patted the bench beside him and Snarf scrambled up to sit beside him. "I'm trying to figure out what kind of lizard that guy was," Lion-O admitted.

Snarf froze. It had been nearly two weeks since the ordeal, and he'd been so busy trying to figure out how to find Mama that he hadn't thought about the lizard. Well, that, and the fact that the guy wanted them to forget about him entirely. And who was Snarf to go against his orders? "…Why?"

Lion-O shrugged. "Well, I was just thinking. He was nice, and I never said thank you for saving us. I want to talk to him again." He lowered his voice as a cleric strode behind them, swathed in white cloth. "He…he reminded me of Jaga. And I've never actually talked to a real lizard."

"There's a reason for that. A lot of them are bad, and would eat us." Snarf's heart was pounding; Lion-O actually wanted to seek out the guy that had warned them never to speak of him? Snarf had sensed no murderous intent about him…but…it was better to be safe than sorry. "I think you should forget him. He said he'll be leaving soon." Lion-O looked shifty, uncomfortable, and Snarf rolled his eyes with realization. "Look, I know you miss Jaga. But that doesn't mean you can run around doing dangerous stuff just because you're lonely. Why don't you…I don't know, try to help me figure out where Mama will be on a map of the city?"

"But see, that's one reason I want to talk to him! He must be a real good tracker if he found us and can figure out where he's going on the rooftops! And I just…"

Lion-O paused and stared at the book. "I get a good feeling about him. Like you did. Even though he was kinda weird."

"Who was weird?" Lion-O jumped and Snarf nearly fell off the bench; both of them looked up sheepishly into Tygra's dark eyes. He could prowl like a grown cat, quiet and observant, and for a second Snarf nearly threw up; if he'd heard about the lizard…

"Um…one of the guards. Snarf peed on him." Lion-O looked as guilty as could be, physically squirming, but while Tygra eyed him skeptically he made no comment on Lion-O's behavior.

"What are you doing here? You can't read well enough to understand any of these books." Lion-O shrugged one shoulder and looked back to his book.

"I'm learning. And I like the pictures." Tygra was tall enough just to sit on the bench, instead of propping himself up on his knees to read the book. He frowned at what he saw, which made Snarf actually look at the entry.

"A Compendium of Lizards and Their Culture?" Lion-O shrugged again.

"I don't know much about different kinds of lizards. I thought the pictures looked neat. What are you doing here?" Snarf observed the page and the chameleon drawn on it. The author had obviously been a cat, looking at the paw-penned words; it spoke about how a barbarian group of chameleons had been dealt with most harshly by King Leopold the third more than two hundred years ago. It praised the executions, although Snarf supposed that since these chameleons had apparently been eating cats that wandered through the canyon, it was not a bad thing that they had been killed. Even so, he was glad that tender Lion-O probably couldn't understand the big words. Snarf was intrigued to note that save for a few huge words, he could read most of the entry. Perhaps the Snarf gift of language delved deeper than merely audible sounds.

"I came to get one of the histories of the Scaled Siege." Lion-O stared blankly at him. "Oh, right. Father hasn't given you lessons. Well, there was a siege a long time ago where three lizard tribes banded together to try to infiltrate Thundera's walls. They failed of course. But it was a tough battle, and it took ten days of shooting arrows at them to make them give up. And Father wanted to show me some of the records." Snarf let his eyes linger on Tygra; he was not overtly boasting, but Snarf could detect the pride at being so young and yet being coached by the king in lessons and stories. He truly was a bright kid. The king had been teaching him for years now.

Why the king didn't tell Lion-O stories too, Snarf didn't know. He had apparently been teaching Tygra since he was two – an early talker. If it was meant to make Lion-O feel bad, it worked. That was why he was trying so hard to learn how to read.

Lion-O looked at the book and then at his brother, attention obviously divided. "Why'd they do that?"

Tygra lowered one eyebrow. "Why'd who do what?"

"Why'd the lizards attack?" Tygra seemed to think he was joking until Lion-O continued to gaze at him with solemn, serious eyes.

"Because they hate cats. And they're evil. Those are the only reasons they need." Lion-O frowned.

"All of them are bad?"

Tygra seemed to hesitate for a fraction of a second, and Snarf noted that he seemed a little unsure before rallying. "Well…yeah."

Lion-O glanced back at the book. "Maybe not all of them. Maybe there's one or two nice ones?"

Eyes narrowing, Tygra gave him a suspicious look. "What are you talking about? Why are you asking this stuff all of a sudden?"

Snarf nudged Lion-O. "Just drop it," he whispered. Lion-O opened his mouth and shut it again.

"Never mind. I just heard some stuff about lizards a while ago." Tygra made to get up – to look for the volume, Snarf supposed – but he paused.

"Were they talking about a komodo?"

Lion-O blinked. "…Kuh-moh-doe?"

"Komodo. You said you heard people talking about lizards. If it was guards they were probably talking about a komodo dragon lizard. They think one is loose in the city."

Snarf managed not to let his fur puff up, and Lion-O's expression was blank. "What's a komodo dragon lizard?" Tygra – showing a surprising amount of patience – sat down again and began flipping carefully through the old book.

He stopped on a page and pointed at it. "That's a komodo. They're some of the biggest lizards in the world, not to mention some of the strongest warriors. But we've never dealt with them very much because they live really far west and don't mess with people around them. I didn't even believe in them until Father told me they're real. That's why the guards are so nervous. They don't know how to fight them. Not to mention it's scary how they kill."

Lion-O stared down at the picture, and Snarf felt a trickle of cold fear running through him all the way to his tail. The picture matched the lizard they had seen. Even flaky and faint with age, the carefully sketched image was of a tall, broad lizard with a head like a dragon, nude but for a slave's loincloth. It was muscular like a statue, and built completely different from the squat lizards that were brought in as prisoners. "…How do they kill?" Lion-O asked, voice suddenly hushed.

"Well, they're strong and they have big claws. But komodo dragons are dangerous because they have these weird teeth. Apparently they like to eat a lot of raw meat, even if it's rotten, and their mouths get all dirty and poisonous because of it. If one bites you, you're dead in a couple days. Maybe a week if you're healthy. They don't even need their poison, the rotting stuff is so bad."

Snarf fought his shudders. His spine felt like ice was growing on it instead of fur. So the man had spoken the truth. The picture – teeth bared, one beady eye turned toward the reader – suddenly looked more dangerous. Lion-O's eyes were reflective. "And the guards say there's one in the city?"

Tygra eyed the book. "They're not completely sure. But a week and a half ago, apparently some weasel was found really sick and dying. She said she'd been bitten in the foot by someone really tall. The physicians tried taking her leg off to save her, but it was too late. She died because of the infection, and they reported it because it was so weird."

Snarf's stomach churned, nauseated like a green pond with dead fish. The weasel had been evil – anyone who would kill a child and use him for meat and profit was depraved – but…even so…that was a horrible way to die. Lion-O's face was pale beneath his fur, a little sick, kind of like cream. "Maybe…maybe she was a bad lady."

Tygra shrugged. "Apparently she was wanted for thievery and black market trade. But she said the same guy killed her mate, only he broke his neck. They found his body before she came to the physicians for help. Nobody else has a bite like that, except a komodo. That's what the physicians said." He hopped off the bench and tapped the book. "It's a good example of why we fight lizards. They're dangerous. No matter what kind they are."

Lion-O sat there, chewing this over. When Tygra showed signs of leaving, Lion-O piped up again. "Aren't you going to read some of the sacred writings?"

Tygra paused a little reluctantly. "Jaga said you were supposed to."

"I've got other things to do. I prefer things I can use and deal with here and now. You know that."

He left then, and Snarf watched him until he picked out a book from one of the less dusty shelves and exited, Lion-O glancing after him. Returning his gaze to the book, Lion-O nibbled his lip.

Snarf thought back to that lizard and shuddered. "So. Maybe we should look for books about Snarfs instead. That'd be less…scary."

Lion-O's little jaw set. "I don't think they're all bad." And when Snarf tried to persuade him to explain what that meant and whether or not he wanted to see the guy again, Lion-O wouldn't quite meet his eye. "Snarf, he seemed to know something about Snarfs. If anybody could help us find your family, it would be that guy."

Snarf bristled in fear and angry worry. "I don't want to see him again, and I really don't want you to see him again. It's just so dangerous! Weren't you listening?"

"We already knew about his teeth and the mean lady." Discomfort coiled across Lion-O's mouth and he looked back into the book, studying the picture as if it would tell him something new about the komodo they had seen. "And I'm not only in here to figure out stuff about the lizard," he admitted quietly.

Snarf twitched. "…What are you up to?" His little heart was beating faster and he merely looked at the entries to keep himself calm. That was a bad idea; they were lists of myths and rumors about komodos stealing children in the night to eat them, and eating their own young if they weren't strong. Snarf's stomach rolled at the slaughter described. Lion-O couldn't understand big words like 'carnage' and 'mutilation,' so he just shut the thing. "Nothing interesting in there," he said evasively. Lion-O looked at him curiously, then lowered his head conspiratorially, almost nervous.

"There are lots and lots of guards out now. I told them I'd be in here all day, and they're guarding the only way out for when I leave. And there are lots of clerics here."

They must have loved that. No chance of losing their charge if there weren't any windows. Even if he was ignored, the heir was safely locked inside, which was how everyone liked it best. Snarf licked one paw and began to smooth his face fur. "Okay."

"Snarf…Jaga said once that there are secret passages in and out of the palace. They were built a long time ago in case of war and attacks, but since Thundera's gotten so big and the walls are so strong, nobody really thinks about them much anymore." He paused thoughtfully. "I'd like a secret room. Then I wouldn't have to hide in the bushes when I wanted to play by myself. I could keep stuff I find in it, like treasure."

He hardly had to hide to play by himself. He merely had to play and other cubs would ignore him. Maybe he just wanted to avoid the guards. This oddity aside, Snarf continued grooming himself. "Uh huh."

"But Jaga, um…told me that there are some in the sanctuary too, so clerics can get out to the battlefield even in a…what did Tygra call it?"

Snarf continued licking, reaching his back. He didn't tend to groom elsewhere while in public, and never with his tongue, yuck. That was for swine rats. Snarf knew how to bathe in a pond for that. "A siege?"

"Siege, yeah, that's it. And he said," Lion-O's voice dropped lower, "that there's one in the archive room. If we can find it, maybe we can get out to the city(1)."

Snarf stopped mid-lick. Lion cub say what? Snarf's brain was a rush of disbelief, and it took a minute to be able to form words. "After what happened last time, you really want to go out there? Alone?"

Lion-O fidgeted. "Yeah."

There wasn't much to say to that. Snarf sputtered, snorted, and scratched behind his ear. "I am not going along with this. I don't care how bad I want to find Mama, you're not going out there without protection, and definitely not through secret passages! You're only four, you crazy kid!"

Lion-O jerked and his fur stood on end as if he'd been hit. For a few seconds, Lion-O just looked at him with eyes that were strangely round and sparkly at the corners. His mouth formed a tight line and Snarf tilted his head; was that…water in his eyes? Was he about to cry?

Guilt plunged deep into his stomach, into his gut, and Snarf clambered hastily onto the table and mewled. "Hey…hey, what's wrong? Is it something I said? I'm sorry, whatever it is."

Lion-O just wiped his face roughly with his palms and Snarf smelled salt. Bewildered, he nuzzled Lion-O's cheek. "It's okay. It's just…please don't call me crazy. Lots of people have called me that, and I don't like it."

Snarf stilled. Those bright, pale eyes focused on his. Lion-O blinked, and just a hint of a tear hit his eyelid and rolled down. "…I didn't mean it. You're reckless and kinda silly, but you're not really crazy. Maybe they just…I mean, who said that to you? Maybe they meant it like I did, as a figure of speech." Snarf licked at the drop. Salt bloomed on his tongue.

The sharp little claws tapped against the book, picking at a stray bit of thread along the cover. "They don't say it to me. They say it when they think I can't hear." Lion-O shook his head briskly. "It doesn't matter. We've gotta find your mommy, and I think that guy can help us. And I want to thank him for saving us. I found a map of the city," he added, tugging a paper out from under the hem of his shirt. "That way we won't get lost when we look for your family."

Snarf glanced uneasily over the map, eyes flickering. "I don't know. Lion-O, this is dangerous. Like, Jaga would spank your behind with a switch dangerous. And we don't even know where the passage is."

Lion-O looked to the wall, eyes fixing on one of the lanterns along the wall. Snarf followed his gaze. "…Don't tell me."

"Jaga said it's always a torch or lantern. If you turn it, the door opens." Lion-O tried to look casual as he slid off the bench – and only succeeded in looking completely suspicious – and waited for the clerics to head further into the archives. Then he crept to the wall and looked up at the lantern. "I guess we'll have to try them until we find it."

Snarf groaned. "Why would Jaga tell you something like that, of all people?"

Lion-O shrugged off his cloak – normal for him wear around, considering he liked to pretend he some kind of adventurer, and even liked to grab the hem and jump from small heights to pretend he was a bird upon occasion – and twisted it, hurling one end over the metal bar the lantern hung from. "Okay, so he didn't exactly tell me about them. I heard him talking to Dad about one that had caved in, and he mentioned this one. Can you climb my cloak and try turning the lantern? Hurry, before someone sees."

"Caved in?" These things "cave in?" Trying to find a means of protest – other than his logic which had been rebuffed by Lion-O's childish courage, for better or for worse – Snarf sighed loudly and climbed the cloak, trying not to tear holes in it as he clutched the fabric tightly in his little paws. They hit the cool metal and he looked around shiftily – if a cleric saw, would they figure this out? That would force them to stop, but they might get in trouble – and tried turning it.

Nothing. He pushed and twisted, but the lantern just clinked against his claws as if it were laughing. "I guess it's not that one," Lion-O murmured. Snarf climbed back down the cloak and Lion-O slid it over his shoulder. Glancing around the room, Lion-O pointed. "Let's try that one."

They tried several lanterns and none of them worked. If clerics walked by, the two grew still and waited for them to pass before trying again. As each lantern proved to be for naught, Snarf's anxiety gradually began to fade; there was probably no passage at all. Lion-O may have heard wrong, or if there was one it wasn't activated by a light. So it was very calmly that he climbed up the last lantern, in the corner of room hidden by three shelves and tried to turn it in the absence of the clerics.

It clicked and shifted in his paws. Snarf nearly squealed but instead fell back into Lion-O's waiting arms. The cub's face was alight with excitement as they watched the lantern finish turning. "I toldja Snarf, I toldja!" he whispered.

Snarf stared as the brick wall revealed a seam and a portion of it began to slide out of the way like something out of one of the stories Lion-O loved. Anxiety was back. "…Dandy."

It clicked when it fell into place and Lion-O and Snarf both flinched. If a cleric heard, they were in mondo-deep-doo-doo. Snarf peered into the passageway, and flinched as he realized how dark it was. Completely, utterly pitch black. There seemed to be one unlit lantern within. "Lion-O, we'll have to close this before someone sees! And it's dark in there!"

Lion-O scrutinized the opening before walking in, waving a little paw in the entry as if he expected booby traps. "Our eyes'll adjust. We're cats, right?"

"I don't know that a Snarf can be classified as a cat," Snarf admitted. "And we can't see in the complete dark." But in spite of his better judgment, Snarf hauled himself into the opening and looked around. Nothing but a long, blank brick corridor. He couldn't see the end of it, and his fur puffed up in fear at the swallowing dark. It looked like a throat.

"Lion-O, I'm really not sure about this! They'll notice we're gone!"

"Nah. They never notice me unless I do something wrong or make a mess. We'll only be gone a little while and then we'll come back. I told the guards I'd be in here all day." Lion-O repeated the motion with his cloak for the cold torch brazier that clung to the wall. "If you can turn this one, maybe it'll shut the door. And then we can use it to open the door when we come back."

Snarf mentally berated himself as he climbed the cloak and cringed at the age and cobwebs on the thing. This was stupid, this was not safe…why the flip didn't the clerics watch this kid better…?

He turned it and the door slid smoothly shut, closing them in darkness.

---

Well. Lion-O had been right that, after a while, their eyes got used to the dark enough to be able to see when he was about to walk into a wall. When he was about half an inch from it.

Snarf's poor nose would never be the same shape after this. To prevent him from yowling and squalling every time he bumped into a wall, Lion-O picked Snarf up and carried him, scuffing his feet and kicking what sounded like loose pebbles forward. The sound of the pebbles clacking back toward them warned them when they were about to turn, so Snarf was left to nurse his nose as he sulked in Lion-O's careful arms.

The corridor wound and dipped and angled, and if it hadn't been such a terrifying, stupid notion that had lodged itself in Lion-O's head, the whole thing might have been exciting. But Snarf cringed every time they turned, waiting for the sound of panicked, furious guards or clerics, or worse – something slithery and slippery, or anything that crunched underfoot.

But none of those things ever occurred. And though it felt like forever, it could only have been fifteen minutes that had passed before he blinked and saw the darkness become muzzy and a little orange, as if this darkness had not had time to fester and just a smidge of light had warmed it.

Lion-O stopped. "Look."

There was another brazier on the wall. He could see it because there was just the faintest crack in the black brick before them, a tiny seam that was uneven where dust and mortar had probably begun to muck up the entry. Lion-O shrugged off his cloak again, adjusting his knapsack, and Snarf climbed it and halted on the brazier, hesitating. "Once we do this, we gotta go out there, don't we?"

"Yep."

"You really want to do this? I mean, maybe we should just wait. I can figure something out on my own. If anything happens to you, I could never forgive myself. Not to mention Jaga would probably cook me for dinner." Jaga's warning to the captain of the guard came back to him, and he squirmed as he clutched the brazier.

"Come on Snarf, please? I just think we're supposed to do this. And your mommy doesn't know you're alive! That'd be awful, not knowing if your family's okay." Lion-O's plaintive appeal made him shake his head. Snarf bit back his retort that, at this moment, Lion-O's family didn't technically know where he was.

"You, my friend, should have been born a Snarf. You're way Snarfier than I am." He then turned the metal and the corridor seemed to rumble. He stiffened and fell back again, Lion-O catching him as he looked to the door.

Please don't let it cave in, please don't let it cave in, pleaseohpleaseohplease.

It took a minute, but after a little grinding and the tumbling of dirt, the door slid open and the sudden brightness of the building and stone outside made their eyes ache. Lion-O buried his face in Snarf's fur and Snarf just clapped his paws over his eyes. It took a lot of blinking and about a minute of waiting, but Lion-O finally crept out the doorway and dared to peek around.

They had been let out into the nobles' court and market, it seemed. Snarf barely remembered sprinting through it while his skin was being burnt off, but it was an affluent sector of the city just outside the palace walls. The lizard had easily gotten in by climbing over the roofs and had let them down by the canal, and from here he could see the canal in the distance, glittering where the sunlight hit it.

Snarf looked across the cobblestone ground and realized that they had to move fast; they had come out of the wall of all things. It was shaded, the sun far enough to the west that this spot – the eastern wall – was cool and somewhat hidden. Lion-O hurriedly pulled on his cloak and Snarf jumped straight from his arms to yet another torch that rested unlit beside the door. No doubt they were lit at night for the sentries. He turned it and they watched the door shut, sliding into the wall so perfectly that it was invisible.

"We should mark it," Lion-O said quietly. "So we don't get it mixed up with the other lanterns." Snarf glanced at him and cocked his leg, letting loose with an anxious stream of pee. Lion-O politely turned his head and when Snarf finished, he said, "That's not exactly what I meant. But it works."

"I still think this is a cr-bad idea." Snarf bit back the word "crazy" with some effort and looked up at Lion-O, who had tucked his hood firmly over his red mane and tightened the strap of his knapsack.

"Relax, Snarf. I'm sure we can find him."

"I meant the sneaking out thing. The lizard part is a whole other level of bad idea-ness." Snarf sighed as Lion-O crept away from the wall, toward the market, and toward the stairs that led into the poorer parts of the city. "Why do I bother?"

Snarf was scared to death of losing Lion-O. There were people everywhere, bumping and talking and exchanging wares with sweaty paws, and he was on edge, blood pounding in his head as he fought to keep from dissolving into hysterics. He took hold of the hem of the cloak, but people didn't look where they were going, feetnbopping him around. It got to the point that Lion-O stopped, picked him up, and continued on his way with an incredibly twitchy Snarf in his arms.

Nobody paid any attention to the cub as he dipped and squeezed between them. With his cloak on, hiding his telltale red mane and blue lion's eyes, Lion-O was as invisible in the street as he was in the palace. Snarf was glad, but at the same time it annoyed him. Fur and smells and tails whisked against them with the flow of the people, and Snarf just hid his face against Lion-O's neck, making him wiggle.

"Your whiskers are tickling me." Just to prove he was still upset by this venture, Snarf nuzzled his neck a little more until Lion-O squirmed again. "Quit it!"

"Hey you're with a Snarf. I don't care what books say, adventures are dangerous and scary." He peeped over Lion-O's shoulders, keeping his ears perked as he hunted for any untoward motions or eyes.

The sunlight seemed to have burnt them away. He saw no sign of crime or sneakiness. Well, okay, there was a cat picking someone's purse, but that aside. He winced when the "victim" whirled around and slapped the would-be thief in the face. A small crowd rushed across his vision and he returned his gaze to the road. "So…you really think you can find that lizard?"

Lion-O paused beside an aged wall, and Snarf shifted so he could pull out the map he'd hidden. A whiff of something like Jaga tickled his nose, and Snarf realized that Lion-O also had the letter still stashed in there. "The palace is here," Lion-O stated, pointing at a spot on it. Snarf nodded. "I kinda remember that we had to go over a really stinky place in the slums before we got to the fancy places, and then he got us to the wall. So once we find a stinky place, we'll have to find the building that's all boarded up."

"We're close to the slums." Snarf pointed at a couple of dogs that were traipsing along the road and wrinkled his nose. "No offense, but they smell like the slums."

Lion-O tailed them for a few minutes, scanning their surroundings. "Look for a building with boarded windows. Remember?"

Frankly, there were a lot of other things Snarf was more interested in looking at. Alleyways with nests – never Snarf nests – drew his attention and he tried to distinguish all the odors he was catching. Cheap bread, overripe fruit, stale pastry, foot odor, sweat, doo-doo…he covered his nose for a second.

Lion-O had stopped, and Snarf looked around to find out why. He was staring at a boy about his own age, lying on the ground by the road. The boy's feet were wrapped in dirty bandages, and everybody was careful to skirt around him. Some kind of darkly-furred dog, his side rose and fell shallowly, and his yellow eyes followed people wearily as they walked by. Lion-O looked up and watched people ignore him. "Why doesn't somebody ask if he's okay?"

"Because they know he's not. He's a cripple, Lion-O. He can't walk, so that means he can't work. He's what people call a beggar; he asks for money and food because he can't get it himself."

Lion-O frowned, and Snarf felt a wall of pity and unhappiness rush over him. "But there are cats who can't walk either. And they can do work like translating old papers and writing letters and stuff! Why can't he do that?"

"He might not know how to."

"Why doesn't somebody teach him? Jaga's teaching me." Lion-O was nothing if not stubborn.

"He's a dog. No cat would want to hire a dog for anything other than labor, and most of the dogs in the city can't read Thunderan very well, if at all. A cat wouldn't want to teach one." Snarfs had to be wise about the world, and Mama had told him many such things. He noticed that the pores on the dog's face were dark, and he looked sweaty. "Some people aren't very nice, Lion-O. And the people that are can't help everyone. It's sad, but there's not a lot we can do."

Lion-O's face was troubled, deeply so. "…But he's hungry."

It was a hard thing to explain to a little boy that there was nothing to be done. "Well, unless you've got money or food, we can't help him." Lion-O glanced at Snarf and then set him down gently, opening his knapsack. Snarf was surprised to see him pull out a little clay jar of berries and what smelled like bread, wrapped in thin paper. Snarf peeped into the bag; a few more items were wrapped and packed snugly in there. Lion-O readjusted the strap and hung it on his side before skirting close to the pup, who lifted his head a fraction, nose quivering.

Shyly, Lion-O put the jar and the bread into the boy's paws, and the dog sniffed at the items. Snarf watched nervously as he cocked his head and smiled. His teeth were all crooked. And when the dog licked Lion-O's cheek, Snarf nearly died of embarrassment. Cats didn't do that, and if his reaction was the same as anyone else's, he'd be rude and throw a fit.

Lion-O touched the spot the boy had licked. "Why did you lick me?"

The dog – realizing his mistake – hunkered down, ears flopping back in terror. "I'm sorry. I didn't notice you were a cat. It's…it's how dogs say 'thank you.'"

Lion-O rubbed his face thoughtfully and asked, "How do you say 'you're welcome?'"

"You lick back. On the other side of the face."

After a moment's consideration, Lion-O sat down, leaned forward and licked the dog's cheek, who seemed quite stunned at the gesture. Lion-O touched his tongue; there were a few dark hairs stuck to it. He looked at the pup, and the pup looked at him.

They both started laughing and Snarf shook his head. When am I gonna remember that this kid isn't like everybody else?

"You're the first cat to ever do that." The dog sniffed him several times. "You smell clean. You live someplace fancy," he stated. "What are you doing here?"

"Me and Snarf are looking for Snarf's family. Have you seen anything like him?" Lion-O pointed at Snarf, who waved a little paw. The dog sniffed him, sneezing afterwards.

"No…I haven't. I haven't smelled anything like him either. But I can't move from here, so that just means they're not close." The pup patted Snarf's head, and in spite of the dirty feeling of his paw, it was a sweet gesture.

Lion-O looked down the street. "Is there a building around with boarded up windows? It should be attached to a fancy, bigger building."

"Um…yeah. If you keep following this street you should see the old laborer's quarters. Lizards and dogs used to live in them before the owners moved away and took the households with them. But nobody lives there now." The dog unwrapped the paper around the bread and began to nibble at it. "This is good."

To Snarf's relief, Lion-O did not mention the lizard. He only nodded and said, "Thanks for your help. I hope your feet feel better someday."

"You and me both." Snarf knew that, barring a miracle, that pup would never walk. But to explain that to Lion-O…no. Sometimes it was just better to leave well enough alone. They left the boy, and Snarf looked up at his tiny owner when they were out of earshot.

"That was a good idea, bringing food. It might persuade people to help us if we have something to trade."

Lion-O looked surprised. "I didn't give it to him for that. He just looked hungry. I brought food because it seems like, in every adventure story, the hero oughta remember to pack something to eat because he never knows when he's gonna be able to get more supplies(2)."

Snarf cocked his head. This street was quieter, moderately less stinky, and the earthy ground muffled the sound of their feet as they passed old brick and buildings. "Huh. That's a good idea. Hope we never have to go on any more adventures myself, but…"

He crashed into the back of Lion-O's ankles and plopped back on his behind. "Sorry Snarf. But I think we found it." Snarf leaned so he could see around Lion-O, recognizing the ramshackle building and the wood nailed across each window.

Snarf frowned. "Lion-O…I have to tell you one more time that I really, really, really think we shouldn't bother this guy. I know you think he's not bad, and…okay, I don't think he's bad either. But this isn't safe. And anyway, that guy won't go to the door. He probably keeps it locked all day and hides. Considering he's a lizard," Snarf added in a hiss. Lion-O glanced about the street from under his hood, checking to see if the people in the road and pulling carts were watching.

Deciding that they were not, Lion-O beckoned to Snarf, who reluctantly followed him as he crept into the alley beside the ramshackle building. "And let's not forget that this might be some other boarded up house. It might be the wrong place."

In this thin, dank little alley, Snarf noted that there were bricks that stuck out from the wall, old and chilly to the paw. The man had climbed up a smooth wall with his long, sharp claws; it would be easy for him to climb these.

Lion-O put his paws to the bricks, and to Snarf's horror he began climbing. "Wait! Wait a minute! That would make him so mad if we – Lion-O-!"

He grabbed the hem of Lion-O's cloak in his mouth. The cub stopped, clinging to the wall, and when he looked down at Snarf his face was set. "Do you want to find your family or not?"

Snarf released the cloak in surprise. Lion-O's voice was low, and almost a little annoyed. "You said before you couldn't smell anything bad about him. But when you smelled that mean lady, you knew she was super bad, even though you didn't know her. If he were bad, you would have known. That's what Snarfs do."

He didn't move up or down the awkward bricks, little claws clutching the uneven surface easily. "Look. It's either ask this guy for help or wander around the whole city by ourselves. We'll never find them that way." Snarf shifted uncomfortably. At last, he slowly clambered up Lion-O's cloak until he was on the cub's shoulders, clutching at his mane.

"Let the record show that I still think this is a really bad idea. But your point is taken." Lion-O continued up the wall, and Snarf bobbed with his motions, heart pounding like quick footsteps.

Somehow the cub managed to reach the roof, and he splayed himself on his tummy to steady himself before getting to his knees and crawling over the dirty, stony shingles. Snarf felt anxious excitement prickling in his toes; there was a gap in the roof, and Snarf hopped off of Lion-O's shoulders, feeling the warmth of the sun radiating off the stone.

Crawling across the surface, Lion-O peeped down into the hole, and Snarf followed suit after debating with himself.

The lizard was sitting right beneath the opening, eyes shut and breathing slowly. If he hadn't been sitting up Snarf might have thought he was asleep. He wasn't wearing the many folds of cloth that had concealed him last time – bare but for a pair of black breeches that covered his lower stomach and legs, a cloth strap serving as a belt – and Snarf was interested to see that he was a dusky, dusty brown, and his belly was just a tad lighter. He was very muscular, broad across his shoulders and built to brawl. And his stomach and chest seemed rather longer than Snarf would have expected, lending a lean grace to his body. And curled around him was a long, tapering tail, as long as he was tall. The tip flicked contentedly and Snarf cocked his head, wondering why he hadn't noticed that before.

He looked absolutely like the komodo in the picture. Except for the fact that he appeared peaceful and calm, and he simply seemed to be soaking up some sun.

Lion-O rested his chin on the rough shingles. "Wow, your tail is really long."

The eyes shot open, nearly mad with shock, and Snarf was terrified to see him open his mouth and bare his teeth. They were strangely small in his pale pink gums from this distance, but every inch or so he saw a bright, gleaming tooth sticking out like a blade. His face wrinkled in anger, but the hiss was cut short when Lion-O squeaked and covered his face with his paws. Snarf nearly fell from the roof, but clung to the edge of the gap, hind feet scrabbling against the broken, splintery edges. Lion-O dragged him close and Snarf could feel his little heart racing and the warmth of nervous sweat through the fabric of his tunic.

"What…what…?" The smoky voice was weak and his eyes were huge. If he hadn't scared Snarf so badly he might have looked funny. He stood up and it struck Snarf again how very big he was. Tall as Claudus, his build was slinkier, and he cocked his head in disbelief. "Lion, get down! If anyone sees you I will be ripped to pieces!"

Lion-O shifted so his feet hung into the room, and Snarf buried his claws in the fabric of his cloak as the komodo reached up and – with the air of one handling some volatile, delicate concoction – took Lion-O gently into his paws and lowered him to the floor. Lion-O openly stared. "Wow…your scales look neat in the sunlight. Are they like armor? If you get hit, does it hurt?"

"What are you doing here?" The hissing voice was flat, unfriendly. Lion-O appeared not to notice this, looking around the room now that it was sunny.

"Snarf can't find his mommy. And I thought maybe you would help find her, since you seemed to know a little about Snarfs. And I wanted to say thank you for helping us." He took off his hood and had to tilt his head all the way back to look up at the draconic face. Snarf glanced around the room, taking in its dusty interior and grungy walls. One blocky crate in the corner was all that rested in the upper floor. Oh, why had he let Lion-O talk him into this…?

The komodo's jaw dropped, hanging. Lion-O peered at him. "Wow! Your tongue has two points?"

"…It is called a 'forked tongue.'" He looked up at the sky again and closed the gap, sliding the covering almost into place but leaving a faint sickle of light, enough so they could see. Perhaps he feared another cub would pop up out of nowhere. "I do not have any idea what you were thinking, or how you found me. This is not safe, and you should never have come here," the lizard said coldly.

Lion-O squirmed but stood his ground, the sliver of sunlight making his fur gleam like brass. "I remembered the houses we passed when you carried us. And I remembered what this place looked like. Don't worry, I didn't tell anybody. And we've gotta find Snarf's mommy and brother and sisters."

The lizard was practically bug-eyed, Snarf realized that a lot of that probably sounded like inane babble.

"…You come to me for aid. A lizard you met once, in a dangerous place. You believe that I am a better source for whatever help it is you need than cats." The komodo did not ask, simply sounding wry. "Ask the guards; they may find the imps. Go home and pretend I am not here."

"But they won't! Snarf says that his family stays away from cats because lots of cats are mean to them, so they'd never go to a guard. I gotta go find them with Snarf, I understand them. And Snarf can't remember the way back to his alleyway," Lion-O added, looking at Snarf, who merely sat down in despair. This dangerous venture would prove all for naught, and he didn't blame the komodo at all for looking at Lion-O like he was kooky. This guy didn't know about Snarf, didn't know about how worried Mama must be, or even – Snarf only realized now – how hard Lion-O must have worked to figure out a route out to the city.

"This is utter madness. Do you not see the problem with this? You are a prince of cats, heir to the throne, and you are coming to a lizard of all things for aid! You sneak out of your safe home with this imp," here he gestured to Snarf, "to scour an unsafe city for its family? There are more beings like those weasels out there and worse. A cub alone is not safe, even in the daylight in some parts of the city. Thundera is no gleaming utopia…it is worse than my own home city. There at least the species live in peace. Raucous peace, but peace all the same."

Lion-O – to Snarf's chagrin – bumped up against the scaly side the way he would against Jaga. It was a sign of trust and comfort, but the komodo flinched, as did Snarf. "That's why I need your help. You helped us before; will you help us now?"

Words bubbled in the back of the long throat, foreign language – rocky and clicking with the tongue – as if he were debating with himself. It was too fast for Snarf to understand, though he thought he caught something about, "Wild children raised by a lunatic people." Aloud he said, "I helped before because I had no other option. I would be bloody as the murderers if I did nothing." He ran the tip of his tongue over his dry mouth, pupils widening a little as they adjusted to the darker room. "What about the cleric Jaga? You say he is your friend. Does he not seek to help the imp? Snarf as you call them."

Lion-O's face fell and the komodo cocked his head. "Jaga left to go check on the colonies. He won't be back for a long time. I'd ask him if I could."

"Well…what about the king? Surely he could send somebody with you."

Lion-O suddenly looked a little scared, incredibly nervous. Eyes wide, he shook his head. "I…I can't ask Dad for help with this. He'd just tell Snarf to go on his own. He doesn't…like Snarf very much. And Dad's really tough and strong, so thinks people should just get tough. If something happened to Snarf, Dad would just say he wasn't strong enough."

The eyelids drooped over the dark irises, tip of a pointed tongue resting between the thin lips. "Hmph. Not so different from my ancient ancestors, then. You do not agree I take it?"

Lion-O shook his head, and suddenly tears were pricking at the corners of his eyes. The komodo seemed taken aback and shifted uncomfortably. "Please? Snarf's my friend, and I've gotta help him. If I were older I'd do it myself, but I'm not smart enough to figure out where they are. If I've gotta say goodbye, I want to know he's with his mommy."

Snarf's stomach heaved with guilt. Lion-O wanted him to stay, he knew. And even so, he was trying to help find Snarf's family just to help him. The thought had not hit him until just then, and when it did it was painful. This whole dangerous escapade was for him.

Maybe I can come visit him sometimes, Snarf thought. His conscience was soothed by the tiniest little bit.

The lizard's tail rasped against the floor. He tilted his head and flicked his tongue. "I am sure I do not want to know how you got out of the palace."

"Nope. If you've got secrets, I do too." Lion-O's smart reply seemed to amuse the lizard. For a while the komodo paced from one side of the room to the other, eying Lion-O with a strange mixture of calculation and nerves. Lion-O's lower lip bobbed once before he steeled his face. "If you don't help, I'm going to look with Snarf and it'll be just us two."

This visibly disturbed the komodo and his brows angled uncertainly. The idea did not seem to sit well with him, and he clicked his teeth.

"…If I say yes…I would like to ask you something."

Snarf's fur stood up. Lion-O's ears pricked with interest. "I am in this city for a very important and secret reason. All I would like you to do is try to remember something." The dark eyes shuttered under the eyelids, pupils wide in the cool shade. "Amongst the guards, have you heard tell of komodo dragons?"

Lion-O looked at Snarf, whose suspicion was shivering all through his body. He still sensed no evil, but…well, that didn't sound right. "Well…my brother said they're talking about one. I think it's you; they found the mean guy and lady. She…she died because she got sick." He shivered and the komodo lowered his gaze almost abashedly.

"I feel regret for taking a life. But I do not regret protecting a child by doing what was necessary." He tilted his head, long neck serpentine as he opened his eyes a little wider. "But what of any others?"

Lion-O shook his head. "I don't think so. Why are you asking?"

"What happened to keeping secrets?" The komodo looked wry but at last continued, "…I have lost friends, and I merely wish to know if they are here. That is all. I have no desire to harm anyone. And as a prince in the palace, you would be more likely than me to hear the guards speak of war prisoners."

Lion-O's face fell. "'War prisoners?' You mean…bad guys?"

The lizard sighed. "Not exactly. The komodos have no quarrel with the cats, but unfortunately your people do not distinguish between one lizard and another, save for how best to fight them. Some komodos traveling outside of our land have gone missing. I merely wish to know if they are here or not."

Snarf sniffed hard, nose twitching. There was still no darkness, no greasy deception. Mystery, yes. But his Snarf-y senses could detect no wickedness about the komodo.

"…I don't wanna do anything bad. Do you promise you're not doing something bad?"

Trusting Lion-O. So quick to try to help, no matter what the consequences might be. Snarf sniffed as hard as he could and growled. The komodo lowered his gaze to Snarf and knelt. His head was still a foot above Lion-O's, and he ducked to look between the two. The dark eyes were oddly pretty, and Snarf's nose wrinkled as he continued to growl. "I have heard tales of Snarfs, though we call them 'imps.' The elders of my city told children stories of them, and all the tricks and good deeds they did. They say that you can detect evil. Do you sense such ill intent in me?"

"No. But I don't trust Lion-O's safety to just anybody." Lion-O translated and the komodo grinned. Snarf wished he wouldn't; the sharp, creepy little teeth glittered in his gums.

"You are a very wily creature. He is blessed to have such a defender. He is utterly innocent in the matter I am here for." He paused and seemed to make up his mind, nostrils flaring wearily. Shame burst in a hot wave over Snarf, and he was surprised to realize it came from the komodo. "I will help you. After we find the imp's mother, I am taking you home." He snorted. "I am an idiot for this."

Lion-O's face lit with joy. "You mean it? Yay!" The cub jumped and hugged the crouched komodo round the neck, making him sputter in shock. "I knew you were good, I knew it! Now we'll find your mommy, Snarf!"

"Great, great…now let go of him, he's freaking out." Snarf's heart had lifted, but to see the komodo stare at Lion-O's tuft of red mane with a perturbed expression made Snarf tug at Lion-O's cloak again.

"You are very odd for a lion cub." The komodo tapped his claws uneasily against his hip.

Lion-O let go and hopped in place. "Come on, come on! We've gotta find her, Snarf says the last time she saw him was when the cart was taking him away!"

Rather than questioning this nonsensical statement, the lizard stood up and stepped around him. Snarf – tiny and pudgy as he was – could not help but notice that there was a slippery grace to the way the body's motion rippled from nose to tail tip. It was just as he would have imagined in a storybook; all he needed was a pair of translucent wings and he'd make a fine, fire-breathing dragon. The komodo paused and began looking through the crate resting in the corner of the room. From it he pulled a length of dark cloth and draped it over his head. The shirt covered his arms and torso, and another blot of clothing was a hood drawn up, cloak dangling around him. He paused and took hold of his tail and – to Snarf's surprise – shifted his breeches so he could wrap it around his waist several times. Pulling the breeches back up, he tightened the strap around his waist and began pulling on gloves and foot coverings.

He wrapped his tail around his waist and hid it in his clothes last time too, he realized. It made sense of his very odd gait the other night; it would have thrown off his balance. No wonder Snarf hadn't noticed it. Last of all came a mask; unlike the one from nights ago, this one looked like a very ugly cat's face. Snarf sniffed and smelled cat fur on it – very old, dried fur.

He bit down on his tongue; it had been dead for some time, but that mask had once been the face of a living cat.

The fur was gray and white, like charcoal and pale stones. Lion-O stared at the gnarled, shaggy mask.

Why doesn't this guy smell like a bad guy? Maybe he…found a dead cat. A bad one. And used its skin for a disguise. But a cat skin is so…barbaric.

Head swimming, Snarf stared at Lion-O's brass-colored kitten fur and the pale, soft fur of his face, neck and paws – and imagined them as limp, dry skins – and nearly puked.

"…Why don't you wear the other one?"

"Because," the komodo began, reaching into the crate and proceeding to rub what appeared to be more cat fur against his clothing, "If I am to travel in daylight, I must be well enough disguised that guards will not be able to sniff me once and detect I am a lizard. The wooden mask was sufficient for the night; not so for the day. The imp can tell what I truly am, I am sure," he said, nodding toward Snarf, "but cat senses are not so sharp as those of lesser beasts. Or dogs, for that matter. Cats cannot hold a candle to dogs when it comes their noses."

Lion-O bobbed up to the komodo's side, sniffing him. "You smell like salty cat." Snarf nearly swooned.

"A dog would not think so. He would think I smell like a reptile wrapped in hair. That is why we must avoid them as much as possible. They might know something is amiss." With a flick of his tongue – from between the gap of the cat's lips, yuck – he lowered a paw. "I do not want to lose you on this mad errand."

Looking over the fur, Lion-O murmured, "It…is it real? Real cat fur?"

"Yes. I found it in the desert on my way to Thundera. It is nearly a month old; I suspect the heat of the sands was simply too much for him and lizard forces skinned the corpse for sport and left it behind. I knew I would need a disguise, so I took the fur." The komodo lowered his head a little, eyes hooded. "I am not proud of it. But it was the only option I had. And if it is used to save innocent lives, I would not begrudge the use of my own hide to do so."

Nodding, Lion-O seemed set at ease. "I see. Will you give the fur a funeral later? With the prayers and everything? Jaga says it's always good to say prayers for the family of whoever died at a funeral. "

The lizard cocked his head. "I think that is a good idea. I will pray when I cremate it according to your customs." He extended the paw again.

Lion-O happily placed his paw in the komodo's, and peered upwards as the other clawed paw was used to adjust the hood over the furry mask. From a distance, and if he kept his head down, the lizard looked like a tall, ancient cat hunched over. A very ugly one. "Do not talk to strangers. Give me a moment."

Snarf's whole world went gray and speckled, vision flickering out; the komodo had picked him up, and the feeling of those claws tight around his middle made him wonder how much it would hurt if the lizard decided to dice him up, right then and there. And then – horror of horrors – the pale tongue flickered out, towards himself, brushing the very tip of his nose. Snarf forced himself not to faint, chest heaving and tail thrashing. He could see his own terrified reflection in the komdo's eyes beyond that awful, crusty mask and the eyeholes cut into it.

The komodo flicked his tongue twice more and then suddenly tossed Snarf up toward the roof, knocking the covering out of the way. "I have his scent. Come, let us go." He darted upwards, slinging Lion-O gently up toward the gap in the roof and then following. He covered the gap again and picked Lion-O up, skulking along the roof until he could climb down the wall with Lion-O on his shoulder and Snarf clinging to Lion-O's hooded head. They reached the ground without noise, and he murmured, "Before you ask, no, the rooftops would not be safer. People would see me in the sunlight and know something is wrong."

Lion-O looked distinctly impressed. "That's exactly what I was gonna ask! How'd you know?" Snarf hurried after Lion-O's feet, tripping a little over toes tingly with fear as the lizard drew him from the alleyway.

Maybe he's a good guy. But he's scary. He offered no answer to Lion-O's question. Peering around the corners at the quiet street, filthy and sparsely populated as it was, the komodo made certain to tuck his hood down further to hide his false face. As he did his, he flicked his tongue several times, ducking his head.

"Hm. I think…yes. Come." He tugged at Lion-O's paw and – with the gait of an old cat walking with a grandchild – began the trek down the street.

Snarf miserably climbed Lion-O's side and just held on to his neck, letting Lion-O pet him. The nervous worry was getting to him in a big way, and he wished they had just found Mama already and he was just home instead of wandering around with a lizard and a four-year-old brave to the point of lunacy.

Just wait, Mama. I'm on my way. Even if these guys are a little kooky.

"Hey Mister?" Lion-O was looking at the lizard, who nudged him so he would duck his head again to hide his blue eyes. The dogs and other animals in the dirt road did not bother looking up at them, though to Snarf's chagrin, there were a number of flying, buzzing insects that swarmed from the dogs to them, perhaps attracted by the scent of salt. He hid his face against Lion-O's cloak and tried to shut out the noise of the tiny gnats.

"What?"

"Why do you do that thingy with your tongue? You know." Lion-O stuck his tongue out.

"It is how I smell. My nose works well enough, but my tongue can…oh, how to say it…catch tiny things on it and I can taste them and track them. Like…little bits of hair and such from an imp. It is a strange method, but it is how my senses work."

Lion-O looked awed. "Wow…you smell with your tongue, Mr. Komo-"

"Hush." The word was snapped, and Lion-O shut his mouth. Hurt crackled over him. "No one must hear that word. They will panic. Do not call me that."

There was silence for a minute, and Snarf kept glancing up to see where the ugly mask was looking, and if the clawed paw was still securely gentle around Lion-O's fingers.

"Keigo." The word came suddenly and made Lion-O tilt his head.

"Huh?"

The tiny nostrils flared and with a steaming sigh, the komodo said, "My name. It is Keigo. If we are to seek the imp's family, I suppose you must call me something. It may as well be my name. Not that you ought to mention it to anyone," he added pointedly. Lion-O's stung hurt dissipated in the joy of being told such a secret.

"Kay-go?"

"'Keigo.' The 'g' is softer in my language." Keigo. Somehow, attaching a name to this hulking creature made him seem a little less mysterious and savage. Snarf still eyed him carefully. "Okay. I like it. And that's cool, how you can smell with your tongue," Lion-O whispered. "Can I learn to do that?" He stuck out his tongue and then drew it back in instantly, hacking. "I think I swallowed a bug."

Pressing his free paw to his brow, Keigo shook his head. "I am going to regret this."

One bug bit Snarf in the back and he only buried his face in Lion-O's cloak again.

If he found Mama, these ventures were over and…and…Lion-O would have to go back with Keigo, who would see him safely home, right? And then Lion-O would behave and stay safe…and lonely. His Snarf-y urges jabbed at his insides with guilt.

Maybe I'll go back with him to make sure he gets back okay, and then go back with Mama. Yeah, that'll work. Jaga will be back in a few months and it'll all be okay. Lion-O will be fine on his own, right?

Another bug nipped at Snarf's behind, and he couldn't help but feel as if it were scolding him.

---

It took an hour of skulking, sniffing, tongue-flicking and muttering, but Keigo led them through alleys and streets with dogged determination. He followed his strange and winding route, showing his tongue only when he was sure no one was looking, and shuffling his feet wearily to look more like an old cat.

Once he stiffened and hunkered down beside a pile of garbage, bringing Lion-O with him as they ducked beside some inn. "Be silent."

Snarf was too busy trying to hold his nose against the stink of rotten melon shells to pay much attention, but two guards stalked past them, muttering to each other. He caught one bit of dialogue.

"-dangerous, considering they're still not sure where the victim is-"

And then they were gone, Keigo and Lion-O staring after them as Snarf covered his poor nose.

Lion-O seemed to be having a ball with the whole mysterious disguise thing. Snarf knew it was not all a game to him, but Lion-O was a cub, and as such he would find adventure and enjoyment in anything if only he was with someone. The fact that the someone was a lizard did not affect him in any way.

Snarf just heaved between excitement and fear. What if Mama wasn't where Keigo was leading them? What if he was tricking them? What if she was and was very angry at him for running off and getting caught in the cart? What would become of Lion-O finding his way back home with a dangerous lizard without Snarf and his instincts to protect him?

Calm down. We are looking for her. Mama will know what to say. She's smart, she'll figure this out.

That thought soothed him more than any other. After all, even if Mama was mad at him, he was her baby; she would love him and be happy to see him again, right? Of course. Any good parent would. And Mama would probably think of a way to help Lion-O too, perhaps letting Snarf sneak in to visit him once she knew he was safe and that Lion-O was a nice cat. Mind operating like this, he was rather cheerful when Keigo stopped and touched Lion-O's head.

"Here. I smell imps. It is not strong, and it is blocked by other odors, but…"

Heart jumping, Snarf mewed and jumped from Lion-O's arm. He sniffed and nearly gagged at the odor of garbage.

It was his alleyway all right. There was the oak crate that was so warm when Mama lined it with torn rags and blankets and let them snuggle up to her. There was the bin of glass pieces and old bottles that glittered when the sun hit it just right and reflected back all their Snarf-y faces and grins when they played with them. There was also a lot of litter and rotten food in there. That struck him as odd; Mama always got rid of nasty smelling things.

Snarf meowed. "Mama! Mama, I'm back! These guys are okay! Come out!"

Nothing. He sniffed. "I know this is the alleyway. I remember all this stuff. And there's the nest-!"

Snarf rooted through the garbage in order to stare into the crate, shifting the trash so he could see the entrance and the cozy, snuggly nest inside.

His tail stood up. Something dark and furry was moving in there, but it didn't look like a Snarf. His nose quivered; he could smell blood. It was from days ago, but…

"…Mama?"

In the dark, gnarly nest, the creature turned and squealed in anger, little tusks glinting by the dirty snout. Snarf stiffened at the tiny red eyes, reflective and glassy, glinting with a slimy sheen where the light hit them. The swine rat's curly tail lashed, and it hurled itself toward him.

Snarfs have a gift with language. They can understand all animals and talk to the lesser species of Third Earth along with the pure of heart. But the only thing he heard from the creature was, "Mine, mine! Go away, go away!"

It was big and fat, Snarf-sized at least. He yelped and backed up, squalling. "Lion-O! Lion-O, it's a swine rat! Don't let it bite you!"

Lion-O jumped forward and scooped Snarf up, dancing backwards when the rodent hissed, unprepared to face a foe so much bigger than itself. But Lion-O was scared; the creature's nose quivered, glistening, and it darted toward the one invading its territory, detecting his tremors.

And then Keigo's large body was blocking the alleyway, coming between the swine rat and Lion-O. Snarf's chest heaved as he listened to Lion-O's heart, clutched tight to his chest, and his stomach rolled when he saw Keigo stoop and the rodent screamed.

Snarf shut his eyes and buried his face against Lion-O's neck. Other than the sound of tiny bones snapping and a large gullet swallowing wetly, there was no indicator of what happened to the swine rat. But it was enough, and Snarf felt woozy. "I'm gonna hurl," he whispered.

It took fifteen seconds before he had the guts to open his eyes and look back toward Keigo. By that time the komodo was completely finished, and he licked the rim of his mouth to finish cleaning it, head pitched back to swallow more easily. Lion-O's heart was a rush, and his paws were sweaty as he said, "…You just…swallowed it. In one gulp."

Keigo drew his hood up again and fitted the mask in place. "That is how komodos eat food. We do not chew."

Snarf nearly passed out when Lion-O rubbed his cheek against Keigo's side, and the stiffening of the lizard made it evident he was just as uncomfortable with the gesture. "Do you think there are any more?" he whispered, burying his claws in the fold of the baggy breeches.

Keigo hesitantly lifted his chin. Snarf did the same, leaning away from Keigo as much he could as he sniffed the air. The komodo flicked his tongue several times, pausing and considering. "Does the imp smell any? I cannot detect any more."

Lion-O merely stroked Snarf's ears. "Tell him I can't smell or hear any." Lion-O repeated this and Keigo grunted.

"It would seem it was a very small nest." The big form knelt and stuck his head down toward the crate. He flicked that long tongue again, beady eyes opening and shutting several times. "Imp, come here. I wish to speak to you."

Snarf wriggled free of Lion-O's arms and padded uneasily over the ripped papers and straw of the alley. He poked his head into the crate, but felt a clawed paw come to rest on his back. His fur stood up and he squeaked at the feeling of scales, but Keigo's breath was warm and smelled of rodent when he spoke softly. "Imp. I do not know how to say this, but…I think at least one member of your family met their end here."

The words were nearly hissed, the lowest of whistles. Lion-O was watching them, fidgeting, glancing around for more swine rats or worse, cats. Snarf digested the words slowly, and his stomach began to sink, as if there were a hole beneath him that was sucking him into it, tummy first. Keigo flicked his tongue again, and this time Snarf didn't flinch, even when the stench of foul meat hit him. "The blood there is not of a swine rat. It is a few days old, and the smell of your kind is in it."

Snarf nudged some of the straw aside, wrinkling his nose at the smell of swine rat feces. Greasy paper strips from wrapped, rotten meats, bits of moldy food…no self-respecting Snarf would keep a nest so nasty. And that blood…there was so much of it, and there were red hairs in it…

Snarf's head whirled and he felt Keigo's paw under his belly, lifting him gently. "What's wrong with Snarf?" Lion-O called. The distress in his voice made Snarf's ears twitch. "Isn't his mommy there?"

Keigo moved him and Snarf felt Lion-O's soft arms wrap around him, cuddling him close to that gentle heart. "No. We…do not know where she is. This was his nest. Perhaps…the imp's family has moved on. If she thought more harm would come to her young, his mother would have moved the other kits as soon as she could."

"But she'd come back for Snarf! A mommy wouldn't leave her baby!" Lion-O insisted.

Snarf smelled that blood again, and thought of the swift, slick motions of the swine rat. How easy it would be for an unsuspecting Snarf to be attacked from behind, returning to her nest in hopes of finding-

Snarf whimpered. Keigo lowered his head and stroked Snarf's back. The motion was surprisingly tender; it was the motion of a stranger comforting an upset child. A warm smell of something reminiscent of soup and sorrow rolled from Keigo. "…You are right, Lion-O. A mother would not abandon her baby. Perhaps she is still looking. But we should not stay here. It will do no good." The komodo replaced his hood and mask, tongue flicking again. "That is not to say, though, that the kits are not still somewhere in the city, Snarf."

Lion-O's gentle paws patted Snarf's ears, and he listened dully, hanging limp. His siblings might be alive; that was good.

Right now they might be waiting for Mama. And she might not be coming back. What if they're hungry, or scared, or locked up?

Maybe the blood was just from a scratch. Maybe the swine rat had just driven her off, and…and maybe she was okay. Maybe.

Too many "maybe's." Snarf shook his head. Falling apart right now wasn't going to help anyone…and he really didn't know if…if Mama was…

The blood rankled in his nose, and Lion-O shifted him to one arm to hold Keigo's paw again. Keigo tugged up Lion-O's hood almost tenderly. "Keep your mane covered. I am taking you home. There is no point in continuing the search. I will keep my eyes and ears open for news of the imp's family." He seemed disturbed, and shifted his mask back into place. "I will find a method of getting a message to you if I find them. Do not seek me again. This was dangerous and foolish."

And that was that. Lion-O stuck close to Keigo obediently and Snarf sat like a lump in Lion-O's arm, catching emotions as they flickered over both of the beings. Lion-O rippled with confusion and interest, holding the paw with trust. Snarf noted that no loneliness tinged his emotions.

Keigo was rolling with nerves and a lesser degree of pity and sorrow. It was scary for him to be out, even hidden in the fur and the smell of garbage. And he knew what had most likely happened.

Snarf suddenly felt very alone and found that the sensation made his tummy hurt very badly. Mama…

"We'll find your family Snarf," Lion-O said. "Maybe your mommy's looking for you right now."

Snarf swallowed. "Yeah. Maybe."

I can't…tell him. It would break his heart. And she might be okay. And my brother and sisters…they might out there still.

But his heart still ached and his eyes were hot and blurry. Lion-O must have spotted his face for he cuddled him close. "Don't be sad, Snarf. We won't give up. I'll figure out something." Warm kitten fur brushed Snarf's ear and he realized Lion-O had kissed his forehead.

Weird. But strangely sweet. Keigo watched the motion before tugging them across the road.

Once more, Snarf could not pay much attention when Keigo drew near the market where the lantern and entry was. He simply held on to Lion-O's cloak and gazed senselessly after the komodo as he vanished back into the city and people, hunched and smelling like old cat and salt. "Snarf? Where'd you pee at?"

He sniffed. "Over there," he said, gesturing with his tail. Lion-O found the lantern and Snarf disinterestedly noticed that as evening had come, people were slowly vanishing from the streets, heading in to their homes to their children and dads and ma-

He whimpered. Lion-O had paused to mark to pull out his map and mark it, and when he put it back in, he wrapped Snarf more firmly in his arms. "Snarf…please don't be sad. I'll help you find them. I really will. We're not giving up! And Keigo said he'd keep an eye out, he said."

Snarf's breath was heavy. "Lion-O, Keigo seems nice. But he's one lizard hiding in a dark, stinky building that you've talked to twice. I don't think we can count on him to help. And anyway…I just feel yucky. All sick inside."

"Oh. Have you got a tummy ache? Jaga gives me medicine when my tummy hurts. I'll try to find some. And I'll sneak you some extra fish at dinner, okay?"

Food. The idea made him droop further. "Thanks. That's nice of you." If he could force himself to eat he would be doing well. Lion-O shed his cloak for an instant so Snarf could reach the lantern to turn it in the low light of the evening. The passage slid open and they ducked inside, sealing the way and blinking in the dark.

The trek back was cool and quiet. Snarf just didn't know what to do, aching as he was. He tried to count how many steps it took to get back.

He was somewhere around eight hundred thirty-two when he was again nudged and he had to climb to the brazier to open and then close the door. The musty, familiar smell of the archives hit him and his eyelids lowered.

I just wanna sleep. I don't even wanna do anything else. I'm sorry, Mama…if you hadn't come looking…no, no, she might be alive…but I'm still so sorry. If I hadn't gotten in the cart, if I hadn't been taken away…maybe…

There was a rush of noise and Snarf lifted his head from Lion-O's chest. Murmurings and chatter bubbled in the normally quiet sanctuary, and he blinked; perhaps Lion-O had been wrong. Had they noticed his absence and panicked?

No. As Lion-O stepped cautiously away from the wall and toward the exit, a couple of clerics offered him hurried nods as they brushed past him. Lion-O stared after the pair and Snarf smelled fear and anger washing over them. But they had shown no more interest in Lion-O than they usually did.

So what was up? Could Snarf bring himself to care?

In fact, the two guards that had been positioned outside hours ago to watch after Lion-O were no longer there. A new one was there, looking around nervously at everyone and seemed relieved to finally spot the red mane, heading towards them as another gaggle of clerics darted toward the exit.

"What's happening? What's wrong?" Lion-O tugged at the robe of a passing cleric but they ignored him, heading out toward the sanctuary and then the courtyard. "Why is everybody so upset?" he asked more loudly, clutching at Snarf.

"Your Highness! Come, we are to report to our captain. I will take you to your room, the sentries posted there will guard you." The guard that had been nice enough to speak to him took him by the wrist and began tugging him out through the training room. Lion-O nearly tripped several times, legs too short to keep up with the quick pace, and Snarf held on to his head, now perched on one shoulder.

"What's going on?" Lion-O demanded. The guard bothered to glance down at him. The smell of grass and the sight of the courtyard greeted them as the doors swung open.

"There has been a…a body found. In the city. We have no suspects yet again." Lion-O's grew round and Snarf just shut his eyes. Any other time this would have frightened him. But in light of everything that had happened and what he'd learned…well, Snarf just couldn't bring himself to give a whisker.

He was tired. So tired. He just wanted to sleep and not think. But that dumb guard was still talking as they rushed over the stone path and into the doorway of the palace, air cooling as they passed the stone.

"It is too barbaric to tell a cub about. Such a horrendous thing that was done," the cat hissed, and Snarf felt the heat radiating off his body. Anger at injustice sizzled. Lion-O twisted his wrist in the sweaty grip and then gave up.

"What happened?"

The guard shook his head. "The cruelty of it all. Your Highness, I dare not say it."

Lion-O pulled at him. "I'm not going anywhere unless you tell me. Why's everybody going crazy?" The guard paused; apparently physically dragging the heir around did not appeal to him. Snarf sighed into Lion-O's mane, wishing the world would just be quiet and he could…well, could he sleep? With the strange, heavy ache in his heart where Mama was supposed to be?

A familiar cat rounded the corner and marched toward them, stark against the stone. It was that captain that Jaga had "advised"; Snarf dully sniffed him and decided he didn't like the man. He had dark eyes and a hardness to his jaw, fur sable and black all over. Even his face was dark brown, not a hint of paler fur anywhere. It made his eyes glint, and his polished armor gleam.

"Sir! I was taking the prince to his quarters." The guard hesitated under the lofty gaze.

"I will escort him there. You are needed in the briefing chamber, number three. Prepare the men; I won't be long." Lion-O rubbed at his wrist when the guard released it only to bite his lip when the captain's fist curled harshly around it, leading him as the guard hurried away.

Snarf eyed the captain balefully. This close the odor of dust and decay was strong. Something hateful and poisonous brewed in this man, and Snarf wished he would just leave. And he was hurting Lion-O's arm, though the cub said nothing about it.

It would never cease to amaze Snarf how much everyone ignored this kid. If he'd been in the mood he'd have hiked a leg at the guy.

"What's going on? What's so weird about the body you found?" he asked at last, toes barely hitting the ground as the captain led him on.

"It's not for cubs." Lion-O's expression darkened and he tried to pull free. The cat stopped, armor clinking.

"Captain Saevus," he said loudly, and Snarf jolted; Lion-O knew his name? "I would like to know what is going on. Why are the people so scared?" It almost sounded like a command, chirping and high.

Looking down his nose, Saevus narrowed his eyes and almost seemed to smile, sharp teeth winking. He continued onward, pulling Lion-O again. "Very well, Your Majesty. The body found was missing its skin. Some foul beast had removed its fur and left the body."

Snarf was suddenly wide, wide awake. Lion-O did not fight the pull any longer, eyes huge. "…They took his skin?"

"Indeed. My men have found traces of exotic venom in the poor creature's stomach. It seems he was poisoned and when he died, his skin was removed and the body abandoned. Probably a fear tactic on the part of the murderer."

Snarf's heart was moving so, so fast. The quiet fear in Lion-O's eyes made his stomach hurt and his tongue dry.

'Poison?' And…'skin?'

The smell of salted fur and a grizzled mask swam uneasily before him and he gripped pawfuls of Lion-O's mane to stay stable.

Captain Saevus said nothing more before depositing Lion-O before the sentries flanking his door. "See to it that he is in the dining hall in half an hour. And send for a maid." The aquiline nose curled in distaste. "You smell rather…interesting."

"I was in the archives. They're dusty." Lion-O nursed his sore arm and Snarf felt a tremor rocking him.

Saevus' men saluted their captain and Lion-O passed them by and shut the door, letting Snarf hop down onto the floor. His clean clothes – the ones he had to change into after playing – lay neatly on his bed and he stared at them for a minute.

Snarf tried to open his mouth properly. "…What do you think?"

Lion-O tilted his chin to look out the window. The curtains were cool and blue, swathing the city with a beautiful sheen. The sun was setting and it all looked perfect. "…He said he found the skin in the desert." But Lion-O sounded uncertain.

And Snarf could not help but think of how easily Keigo had scooped up the rat and swallowed it down.

Maybe his Snarf instincts were wrong. Maybe…maybe they had only just escaped with their lives.

"Your Highness, we've a basin of water. Captain Saevus insisted you wash off. Your father will not be pleased if you smell of dirt and dust." One of the familiar maids – a woman with a softly round frame and a no-nonsense set to her mouth – scuttled in and set down the bucket. "Come now, off with that dirty tunic. And that creature needs a bath too. Honestly, the mess you make…"

Even the displeasure of being dunked in warm, sudsy water after Lion-O and being scrubbed hard did not distract Snarf from the two blazing parts of his mind.

Mama was in one part and Keigo was in the other, and both seemed to be bathed in blood.

---

1 – I think it seems plausible that there were more secret passages in the palace than just the one Jaga used to get them out in episode two. And who better to find them than a four-year-old with a penchant for secrets and adventure?

2 – I always thought that as a child pretending to adventure in my backyard. I think I packed little snacks and pretended to run away with a scarf tied to stick I would carry, like any cartoon character used to.