Rain.
I hate the rain.
Panthro was currently pounding on the tank, trying to get it to work. A large clang was heard and suddenly there was smoke everywhere. We all scrambled to get outside, I hissed as I became soaked nearly instantly.
"...Guess we're sleeping outside tonight." I glared at a coughing Cheetara, "No, you think?"
We tried to find shelter, but all that seemed to be around was large mushrooms. They were cool, but they didn't stick out very far. It also didn't help that we were out of food. After managing to build a small fire that didn't seem to help much, we huddled under the mushrooms. Cheetara was shivering, I don't blame her, I was pretty close to freezing myself. My outfit was meant for dancing, the most covered was my legs, even then my skirt had slits up to my hips on both sides.
My ears twitched when Tygra pulled Cheetara into his side. My eyes flicked to Lion-O and I smirked slightly when I saw him pout slightly. His interest in Cheetara was obvious and adorable. I can play at that game . I rose to my feet and sauntered to Lion-O, before settling into his side.
"What are y-" I cut off his frantic whisper, "Using you for warmth."
I giggled at his face, he obviously wasn't expecting that blunt of an answer. He really was warm and I let out a purr, before snuggling into his shoulder. Lion-O was attractive, he just had some growing up to do. Hopefully with everything that happened, he would still be able to hold onto his wonder of the world.
I cracked an eye open in Tyra's direction and caught him doing the same to me. Flashing him an impish smirk I shut my eyes and snuggled back into Lion-O, drifting into a light doze. I could hear snippets of sounds around me, and I caught Lion-O's irritated mutterings.
"Things are looking up . No transportation, nothing to eat, and no shelter." He shifted further into me, "If the rain stopped it might be bearable." I kneaded a hand into his side, sleepily giving him comfort before completely loosing myself to sleep.
I was woken when Lion-O shifted and stretched. Blearily rubbing my eyes, I noticed that I couldn't feel the irritating drops of water on my fur anymore. I looked around and saw that it had stopped raining, "Did it stop?"
Lion-O shrugged and rose to his feet and glanced at Cheetara and Tygra, "Rain finally stop?"
Tygra glanced at the sky before turning to us, "No, but Panthro was nice enough to build us a shelter while we were asleep." He pointed up and I noticed the large canvas stretched across the mushrooms. That is a big piece of fabric...
My musings were cut off when Panthro turned to us, "Wasn't me, I figured it was one of you."
Lion-O and Tygra glanced at each other before turning to Cheetara. She reeled back and shrugged, "Don't look at me."
They then glanced at me, "I didn't, I was out like a light."
I heard the twins climbing down behind me, "We're starving!" Wileykit's whine only reminded me we had no food. I almost caught them before they got to a bag, Wileykat searched it quickly, "Yeah! What's there to eat?"
They let out sad groans when even turning the bag upside down did nothing. Lion-O turned to them, "We're gonna have to do something about our food situation." Wileykit gave the bag one last shake before Wileykat noticed something, "It looks like someone already did!" He darted forward to where baskets filed with pink, blue and yellow striped fruit sat. He glanced around letting out a triumphant laugh and when Wileykit joined him they began to eat as though they had never been fed.
Panthro pick up a yellow fruit and studied it before taking a bite and turning to us, "Mm. Candy fruit."
I rose a brow, that doesn't sound like a good thing for the twins to have.
Tygra apparently was on the same train of thought, "..Uhh, take it easy. We don't need you anymore hyper than you already are." I laughed as I saw the clearly sugar driven twins and sashayed past him, "Too late for that."
I picked up a blue fruit and took a bite, It does taste like kinda tastes like...vanilla.I wonder if each color is a different flavor. I picked up a yellow one and tested my theory. This one tastes more like the lemon candies I used to get as a kid. The pink tasted like the spun sugar they handed out at festivals. By the time I had finished all three my stomach was full and I was beginning to feel the effects of the sugar. I began to let out high pitched giggles at the twins crazed faces.
"Seems like...we have someone helping us out." I turned to Cheetara who was wearily glancing around. Lion-O continued her train of thought, "Question is...who?"
After the fruit had been polished off, it had been decided we would hide behind a patch of bushes and wait to see if whoever had been helping us would come back. We waited long enough that my sugar high was ending and now I was just sleepy. Tygra elbowed me when I yawned, "Be quiet!" I flattened my ears and hissed quietly at him, sugar crashed always made me irritable. I swiveled my head around when my ears caught the sound of mechanical parts moving, "Do you hear that?"
He gave me a funny look, "No." I rolled my eyes at him, "I forgot my hearing is better than yours." He glared at me before suddenly crouching down further, "We have company."
My jaw dropped slightly as what seemed to be furry, multi-colored wheels came bouncing into the clearing. The popped open into what looked like teddybears and they made their way onto the Thundertank. They popped open panels and began to fiddle with the wires.
Lion-O seemed mystified by the robot bears, "What are they doing?"
Panthro growled slightly, "I'll tell you what, they're messing with my baby!" He launched himself out from behind our cover, ignoring Lion-O's call to wait, and ran at the rather cuddly looking bears, "What are you furry freaks doing to my tank!" I arched a brow, "...his baby?" The twins snickered and followed him.
The bears scattered when they caught sight of Panthro managed to grab a brown one by the scruff of the neck, "Put me down. Put me down."
"What is that thing?" The robot seemed to answer Cheetara's question, "Ro-Bear Bill, a Ro-Bear Berbil."
"..did he say gerbil?" Tygra's question was answered by the bear repeating his statement slower, "Berbil."
Panthro tried, "Derbil?"
"Ber..bil." I don't know if robots sould show emotion but his statements semed to get more irritated.
"Herbal der-billy burble urble." I shot an incredulous look at Lion-O's attempt, before smacking him, "How the heck did you get that out of Berbil?"
Wileykit somehow managed to introduce themselves around large mouthfuls of candy fruit, "Nice to meet you Ro-Bear Bill I'm Wileykit and this is Wileykat and we're Thundercats." They were clearly still effected by the fruit.
Ro-Bear Bill seemed to glance at us,"Thunder..cats? Berbil's help Thundercats." As if that was the go-ahead signal, the rest of the Berbils rolled out to meet us.
"I've never seen anything so...cute," Lion-O seemed somewhat uncomfortable with his admission and I giggled, partially because he was right. I wanted to pick one up and snuggle with it.
"They'll be cute and dead if they hurt my tank," Panthro's growl caused me to giggle harder, maybe the sugar hadn't completely worn off. They tinkered with it and instead of smoking the engine let out the white flame it was supposed to.
Tygra smirked and turned to him, "Looks like they fixed it, Panthro." Panthro humphed, "It's just a patch, I could have done that."
Ro-Bear Bill flipped off the tank and latched onto Lion-O, "Come with Ro-Bear Bill. Berbil's fix machines. Berbil's get candy fruit. Berbil's help Thundercat's?" Bill didn't seem to notice that Lion-O had lifted him off the ground halfway through. My insides melted and I let out and internal awwwwww. These things were so adorable.
As Bill lead us away, I tuned back to Panthro, "You coming?"
He seemed skeptical, "Fine, but I don't trust anything that adorable." I laughed as he turned his face away with a haughty look. Panthro started up the Thundertank and began to follow the group, I hefted myself onto one of the large paws, grabbing the twins as they lagged behind due to sugar crash.
When we made it to the Berbil village I couldn't help but giggle more, it was like a candy land with furry robotic bears. They had them on machines that helped them pick the candy fruit, "I've never seen anything like this place. It's like they have a contraption for everything." I turned to Lion-O, he had that wonder back in his eyes and I smiled.
"This place gives me the creeps." I turned to Panthro and rolled my eyes, "Didn't you just call them adorable?" His only response was to glare at me.
I cooed when I saw the small, blue Berbil run up to Bill and get swung around, "Meet Ro-Bear Bebo. Meet Ro-Bear Bella. This is Ro-Bear Bill family." A purple Berbil rolled up to us on one of the candy fruit picking machines, the twins following closely behind.
"Candy fruit. Eat. Good." The twins wasted no time in snatching one each and quickly devouring it.
Cheetara turned to Panthro, "Looks like you were worried about nothing, Panthro."
He ignored her to walk towards the purple Berbil, inspecting it closely, "You really think these furballs are helping us and don't expect something in return?"
"Have you considered, maybe they're just nice?" Lion-O's statement set me a bit on edge; Panthro had a point, most things expected some form of compensation. I jumped when alarms began to go off, the tall golden building emitting flashing red lights.
"What's going on?" Lion-O's question went unanswered as the Berbils began to run for cover. Lion-O turned to Bill, "Conquador comes. Conquador takes Berbils. Sell Berbils as slaves."
A large machine broke into the clearing, a metal man in armor popping out to observes, before picking up an unfortunate Berbil with a long arm attached to the machine.
Cheetara whipped out her staff, "We have to stop that."
"What did I tell you guys, trying to use their cuteness to get us to fight their battles."
"Well looks like it worked," Lion-O slipped on his claw shield and Tygra slid out his whip.
Wait. What?
"Guys, I don't really...do....battle."
Lion-O turned to me before sprinting to catch the small blue Berbil, "Just help the Berbils get to shelter."
The armored man popped out again and readied the rifle in his hands, "So, the Berbils have enlisted the help of the fabled Thundercats."
Everyone tensed as he continued, "Risking your lives for a bunch of junk heaps? And I thought these robots were brainless fools."
"Thundercats-HO!" At lion-O's call everyone sprung into action. The Conquador began to fire sticky blue blobs at Lion-O, when he couldn't hit him he turned his aim to Tygra. Who simply disappeared, since when could he do that? I nearly laughed when he turned his sights to Cheetara, if he couldn't hit the other to he would have a snowball's chance in hell at hitting Cheetara. She would pause after every sprint as if teasing him about this fact.
To my surprise the Conquador began to laugh as well, until he seemed to be lifted from his seat. Tygra reappeared having him in a headlock, his grip tightening. The Conquador pressed something on his wrist and electricity crackled around Tygra's body. Letting out a pained shout Tygra reeled backwards off the machine, hitting the ground hard.
"Tygra!" I vaguely heard Lion-O shout it out as well, as I darted to Tygra's still body. I heaved a sigh of relief when he groaned and shifted twitching slightly. The Conquador began to retreat, but managed to grab both Robo-Bear Bella ad Robo-Bear Bebo. Bill called out to them and began to follow, grabbing onto Bella, before the hook shook him off. He hit the ground hard, sparking before lying still.
Tygra put a hand to his head and I carefully helped him sit up, turning to see Panthro ripping the blue goop off of himself.
"Lion-O! It's Ro-Bear Bill, he doesn't look good." Cheetara's call made me turn to look at the Berbil in her arms, she's right he's not moving. The Berbils rushed him into "surgery" were they stood around him with tools, clicking and chirping.
Wileykit turned to me, "Can they fix him?" She seemed close to tears and I did't know how to answer. Neither did anyone else.
"Ugh. I can't take watching these amateurs." Panthro strode up to a Berbil and grabbed a tool, before beginning to solder. "Good idea. Now reset function levels." Panthro seemed to understand what the Berbil was talking about and agreed, nodding. Wileykit began to cry and Wileykat shifted before putting a hand on her back and offering a weak smile.
It seemed to take hours before Panthro leaned back with a sigh. Everyone held their breath when Bill sat up, "Full servos functional. Ro-Bear Bill lives." He did a little breakdance before turning to Panthro again.
"He's lookin' good now," Panthro grinned and Bill mimicked his statement, "Looking good." Sliding off the table he grabbed onto Panthro's leg, "Cat save Bill. Thank you Cat." Panthro shifted uneasily when the rest of the Berbils latched onto his legs as well, "Okay that's enough." I giggled and Tygra and Lion-O shared an amused glance.
Lion-O walked outside looking at the village, Bill rolling after him. When he opened into a sitting position, I couldn't help the cooing giggle, bringing my hands up to my chin and squirming. Tygra rolled his eyes, "They're not that cute."
I turned to him with a smirk, "They're still cuter than you. Even when you're jealous." Giving him a wink I turned back to go hover around Panthro. My ears twitched when I heard Lion-O call out, "Panthro, you keep an eye on the village." Panthro paused before letting out a startled, "Woah, woah, woah. There's no way your leaving me here with these things!" By the time he got to the door, they were already gone, "Great."
I snorted, "I'm not a thing, thank you very much." He rolled his eyes, "No, you're a pain. Now hand me that wrench." I scoffed but did as he said, I knew he was joking...maybe.
Panthro finally got tired of us touching things and shooed us outside. I was okay with this, it meant I got to play with the baby Berbils. I picked one up and whirled it around like a bird, giggling when it let out cute mechanical giggles as well. Tossing it into the air and catching it, I pulled it close with a purr.
"You'd make such a good mommy." I turned to Wileykit's grinning face and laughed slightly, "Maybe, but hanging around you guys is enough to make me not want kids." Wileykat let out an indignant, "Hey!" I laughed and they joined in, "Maybe someday, but definitely not right now."
When their looks turned conspiring I realized they were aiming at something. I would have to tread wearily, lest they get me to admit whatever they were after. "You know with your coat pattern, any babies you had would look really pretty..." My eyes flickered to Wileykit, "I guess..." What are they aiming at.
Wileykat continued his sister's train of thought, "...Especially if it was paired with Tygra's coat pattern."
Oh. Well. I flushed, usually they were more subtle than that. Where are they leaning these things? I blamed Panthro. And the fact they grew up in the streets. Shifting I tried to choose my words carefully, "I highly doubt that would ever happen. For one thing we are on a journey to end Mumm-Ra.-"
"But what about after?"
I worked my jaw at the interuption, I forgot the twins were so persistent, "He is also a Prince and I'm just a street dancer. It would never happen."
"But there are so few Thundercat's left, any chance to keep us alive means that status shouldn't be a problem."
"Besides, you don't have a tail. The most you have is more animal like ears."
I twitched at their arguments, why did they have to be so keen? I touched my ears, they were the only thing signifying that I wasn't as high in status. Apparently my father had been a guard that slipped away to the slums for relief. My mother had been a street dancer as well and sometimes a bit more, depending on financial needs.
It had been one night, my father never looked back and my mother never bothered to try to find him. She raised me well, preventing me from selling anything but my dance. She had died of illness when I was just old enough to survive on my own. Her last gift to me was her hip scarf; a brilliant cornflower blue, the color of her eyes.
I brushed my fingers over the silver coins that trimmed it, never would I sell it and even when it tore and broke I would keep it. "Even so, it is unlikely to happen."
"Do you like him?" I nodded absently, my thoughts still on memories. Only the twins cheeky jeering made me realize what had happened. "You tricked me!"
"Not our fault it's so easy to do!"
Wileykat giggled, "I can't wait for Tygra to find out."
I choked, "You can't!"
They darted away laughing and I scrambled to my feet, chasing after them. They scrambled up a tree and began to chow down on candy fruit again. Huffing I stalked back to where Panthro was tinkering and found him lounging in a chair, three Berbil's giving him a massage. I rose a brow, "Really?" One of the Berbil's turned to face me, before latching onto my arm and pushing me to the ground before rolling ins hands along my shoulders. I let out an involuntary purr and groaned as another began to work on my feet.
I heard the tank rumble up and Panthro darted out, causing the Berbils to turn their attention towards me. I could care less what Panthro did right now, all I knew is that I was going to have to find a way to smuggle a Berbil with me.
I nearly choked on laughter when I heard Panthro began to cry in joy, with a Berbil stating, "Panthro eyes rain." Chortling to myself, I hummed in delight and slipped off into a catnap, purring at the ministrations of the Berbils.
"They're back." I jolted awake when Panthro shoved a foot in my side, and rolled out from underneath a blanket. How did that get there? Rubbing my eyes and yawning I stumbled after him, nearly tripping over a few Berbils. I smiled when I saw them, they had been successful.
"We can't celebrate yet. The Conquador is coming back." I turned to stare at Lion-O, What? Cheetara nodded, "...And this time he's bringing friends."
Panthro opened his arms, motioning to all the Berbils, "We have some friends of our own."
"Except they don't know how to fight," Tygra pointed out, he finished his statement by sending a glance at me. It might be true I wasn't trained in combat, and that the only fighting I did was in desperation, but he didn't have to lump me with the Berbils.
"But they do know how to build," Panthro had a large smirk on his face as he addressed the Berbils, "You guys ready to save your village?"
We all glanced at each other and smiled, I giggled when Bill walked up to Panthro and saluted him. I giggled harder when Panthro saluted him back with a smirk.
There was a flurry of welding and putting parts together as the Berbils and Panthro began to build machines that would help defend the village. I didn't really know where to help, but I put in an effort in carrying parts for them. As I was picking up gears, I felt a tight grip on my upper arm. I barely suppressed a shriek as I was whirled around, the gears flying to the ground. I looked into Tygra's face irritably, "Great, now I have to find all of those again."
He pulled his lips into a snarl, "Shut up. I want you to be under ground with the small Berbils."
I paused trying to wrap my head around that, "What? You can't be serious!"
His voice rose to match mine, "As the grave! You don't know how to fight or use technology! You'd only be in the way!"
A fierce snarl escaped me as I ripped my arm away, "You have no right to decide what I do!"
"I haveevery right! I am your superior in combat and I am your prince! You will listen to me." We were all out yelling at this point and I was fighting to keep my voice from going shrill, "You may be my prince, but you will neverbe my King!"
He jolted back and went still, but I could tell he was fuming, "Fine, but when you get yourself killed, it's your problem." I knew that had been a low blow, but I would apologize later, right now I had gears to find.
Biting back bitter tears I stooped to grab one that had rolled under a mushroom, "Are you okay?" I smacked my head on the mushroom in surprise and turned to face Cheetara, "Yeah. Of course." She shifted, "Really? Because everyone heard you guys."
I felt a hot flush creep up my face, "Wonderful."
She sighed and crouched beside me, "Lion-O's trying to calm down Tygra." She poked at the mushroom before turning to me, "He should have gone about it better, but he was just trying to protect you."
I felt bad now, "I know. I know I'm not very useful in a battle, but I don't want to be useless. I at least want to help while I can."
She embraced me and pulled me up, "You have a use, you keep us reminded of the fact that life goes on." I smiled and thanked her, before continuing on my hunt for the gears.
"Here they come."
I sucked in a breath as I saw the approaching group, maybe this wasn't such a good idea. I had managed to get Lion-O to allow me to help during the battle, but now I was thinking looking after baby Berbils was a better idea.
"Let's hope these bears know what they're doing." I shifted when Tygra's glance back fell on me. I hadn't apologized yet, and neither had he. It was going to be a battle of who was more stubborn now. I stared up at the sky as the symbol of the Thundercats shone on the clouds, so it starts.
I laughed as I caught site of the twins. They were using their sugar rushes for good, taunting a giant into a tripwire. Snarf even helped biting a a dog and getting him in range of a goo gun.
Tygra whistled in appreciation of the machine. Lion-O nodded at Cheetara, who raced off and wrapped a rope around another giant. Pulling him back she got him to step on a platform that launched him into the air. I giggled as Bebo cheered, but gasped as I noticed a Dog sneak up and grab him, "Tygra!"
He nodded and disappeared, knocking both dogs flat and reappearing to catch Bebo. He smiled down at Bebo fondly, causing me to go, "Awwwww." Noticing a dog sneaking up behind him, I was about to shout a warning. He swung a fist up before I could, knocking it out without even looking. I snorted, even when I'm mad at him, he's still attractive.
I jumped down to where the candy fruit guns were, helping with reloading. I laughed at the twins, adrenaline making me react faster. They turned to me cheering, but gasped. I shrieked when I felt a large hand surrounded my waist as I was lifted to yhe face of a giant, "Pretty kitty." I heard the twins calling for Tygra to save me, so I reacted. I may not be able to fight, but there is one thing I know how to do.
"Pretty kitty had claws," with that statement I raked my nails down either side of the giant's face making sure to get his eyes. I was released and I dropped into a low crouch as he stumbled around wailing. Leaping out of the way to avoid getting stepped on, I raked my nails down his shin causing to hop to one foot. Apparently, giant's don't have very good balance, because he went down hard. My knees buckled as he sent a small shockwave out.
A hand caught my wrist before I landed on the ground, "Not too bad." I looked up at Tygra's face carefully, "Well, I have survived this long." Bebo glanced between us, "Tygra and Servena like Mommy and Daddy?" The ground was painful, Tygra had dropped my wrist, "Nope." He shifter uncomfortably as I stood, "Of course not Bebo. Tygra's no up to my standards."
I don't think Bebo understood, but Tygra certainly did, "Not up to-. You-..You're not up to mystandards!" I laughed and leaned into him, "You don't have standards." He sputtered some more so I shut him up with a quick kiss to the cheek. I turned to Bebo and mock whispered, "He is cute though." Flashing a wink at Tygra I darted towards the twins before he came to his senses.
We cheered as the Conquador and his group fled into the desert. I laughed at the twins stung out expressions, they were going to have one heck of a crash later.
I giggled as I watched the twins and Bebo rock back and forth on the spring patform, watching to make sure Bebo didn't slip off. The Birbils went about repairing their village, "I don't think the Conquador will be coming back anytime soon." I glanced at Lion-O and nodded.
Tygra turned his focus from the kids, "Not with the village rigged like this."
I darted forward when the twins leapt from the platform causing Bebo to topple towards me, "Gotcha." Bebo looked at me before wrapping his arms around my neck and imitating a purr. I giggled and purred back before handing him off to Tygra and following the twins.
"Berbils love Panthro." I stifled a giggle as I watched Bill jog to Panthro and open his arms, "Huuuuug!"
"A hug?" Panthro seemed to shift awkwardly, "Ah-um-I-I'm not...not really a hugger." Bill was incessant repeating his request until Panthro grinned, "Oh, what the heck." Bill lept into his arms and I giggled as Panthro's grin widened.
"Busted!" Wileykat blew our cover and I sighed.
"Panthro's a big old softy," Wileykit had clearly tossed care to the wind.
Panthro sneered and barked out, "Is that a problem?" It clearly worked, because their fur stood on end as they whimpered.
"Nope."
"It's cool."
I laughed with Panthro and Bill as they bolted off the tank, "They haven't quite learned when to keep their mouths shut."
Panthro glanced at me with a smirk, "Yeah, from what I hear stripes would look good on you." I sputtered, why had they told Panthro of all people?His laughter caused me to scramble off the tank after the twins, "I'm going to kill you both!"