~Ugh, what is that smell?~ Pua gagged as he stepped into the dining room, followed by his brothers and Merla.

~Space food,~ Merla sighed.

~It smells disgusting,~ Blue said, his nose scrunching up.

~Tried to warn you. You all have been spoiled.~

"Hey, Merla," Keith said as the cats reached their paladins. She purred and focused in on the conversation Coran and Shiro were having just in time for Coran to lift the lid off the dish he was carrying. The paladins all groaned in time with their cats. Pua actually ran out of the room as the scent became stronger with the food uncovered. Blue's nose twitched and he followed.

~Wimps!~ Merla called after them. She turned, only to meet Ryou's unimpressed stare.

~Be nice to your pride-mates.~

~Yeah, yeah.~

Keith and Lance went to sit down at the other end of the table and Merla followed. She placed herself between the two boys and was pleased to find she received twice the scratches for her efforts.

Hunk pulled a plant out of his pocket and held it up, saying, "Coran, we're on a planet now with fresh herbs, spices, and whatever this thing is. A tuber? Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to head back to the kitchen and spice things up."

As Hunk left through the door to the kitchen, Shiro asked, "Where's Pidge?"

"He's probably checking on those prisoners we rescued from Zarkon. They'll all be waking soon in the infirmary," Coran answered, his mouth full of food.

Shiro stood up, and came face to fork with Coran's cooking.

"Open the hatch. Food lion coming in!" Coran said before imitating an airplane like Merla had seen humans do to their children. She didn't realize Alteans did it as well. Bizarre.

"No. Just... no," Shiro deadpanned, moving around the fork. "Come on, Ryou."

"You don't know what you're missing!" Coran called as the two left. He turned to Keith and Lance held out the fork. "What about you two?"

"I'll pass," Lance said, standing up. "Tell Hunk to call me when he's done."

Merla snickered as Keith gave his Don't leave me here! expression. They joined Lance in the hallway and Keith asked, "Where are you going?"

"What's it to you, Mullet?"

"Anywhere's better than near Coran's cooking."

"Good point. Alright, you can come with me, I guess. I need Merla anyways."

Merla's ears perked up and she looked at her love's paladin. ~Me?~

"Why do you need Merla?"

"I'll show you."

Lance led them to a room near where the paladin armor had been stored. Blue was already there and waiting. He perked up when Merla came in and she walked over to curl up with him.

"I still can't believe he'd betray me like that," Lance huffed as he watched the two of them.

"You do realize they've probably been together since long before we were born, right?"

"Yeah, whatever. Help me with this, would you?" Lance asked, as he picked up some armor off a table.

Keith walked over and grabbed one of the pieces. "What is this?"

Lance smirked.


"Wow, you did all this?" Keith asked, looking over the armor Blue and Merla were wearing.

"Yeah. The armor looked tacky when you guys took Merla and Ryou up before so I figured I'd give it a paint job. Something more fitting for our partners in crime."

"Well, you did a great job." Merla's armor had been repainted to match Keith's, though the red portions on everything except the helmet and forelegs had been painted white and vice versa. Likewise, Blue had armor that matched Lance's in a similar way, though the collar was painted a bright red.

"I… Well, uh, of course I did," Lance stumbled, not expecting the compliment.

"Did you make armor for all the lions?"

"Yeah, but I've only tried them on Blue and Merla so far."

"Hurrrfff."

The two turned to see Pua standing in the doorway.

"Guess Hunk must be done."

"Let's hope it's better than whatever Coran had tried to feed us."

There was a clatter and they looked over to see Merla sans armor shaking herself off.

"How-"

"Magic," Keith shrugged.


Blue sniffed at the bowl Hunk had placed on the ground. ~Well, it smells better than the other stuff.~

~I think it's just plants mixed with supplements,~ her brother said. Pua lapped at the mixture and his nose wrinkled up. ~Why do Alteans have to be herbivores?~

~Keeeeiiiiith! He's trying to kill me! I need meeeeeaaaaaat! Let's go hunting! Pleeeaaaase!~ Merla whined, completely ignoring the bowl in favor of draping herself against her cub's legs and clawing at his shin.

"Do you even need to eat?" Keith asked quietly in between bites.

~That's not the point!~

BZZZZZZT! BZZZZZZT! BZZZZZZT! BZZZZZZT!

The group looked up at the alarm and Allura brought up a surveillance feed.

"What is that?" Keith asked as they watched a short creature dart behind a rock.

~Do you think it's food?~ Merla asked and Blue shoved the smaller cat.

"I don't know what it is. Maybe it's a local Arusian."

"He's approaching the Castle," Allura noted as it moved from rock to rock with a battlecry.

Hunk cooed and Lance said, "Doesn't look too dangerous."

"You never know," Keith muttered, summoning his bayard.

~Calm down your paladin,~ Pua huffed and Merla snorted.

~My cub's got the right idea. We don't know what it wants and it's got a weapon. I raised him right.~

"No. Alteans believe in peace first. Let's go welcome them," Allura said, heading out with Coran and Pua sent Merla a victorious look.

"That's adorable."

"Hey, maybe we can knit him a little sweater!"

Pua and Blue followed as their paladins chased after the Alteans.

"I'm not taking any chances," Keith said before he and Merla fell in behind them.

~I agree, we don't know who or what it is. It very well might be delicious.~

"What is it with you and food today?" Keith muttered quietly. "The others aren't complaining."

~I haven't been allowed to hunt in ages! I'm not used to being cooped up like these other spoiled little house cats!~

~We're the ones who are spoiled yet your the one doing all the complaining.~

~Love, if you hadn't been subjected to the horrors of kitty kibble you'd be complaining too. There's nothing better than sinking your fangs into a fresh kill.~

~That sounds disgusting. Blue, I think you're soul-bound's gone feral.~

~Gone?~

~Oh haha, very funny. You know you love me.~

~True,~ Blue growled softly, falling back to nuzzle the cheetah.

When the group reached the doors, Allura waved the cats off. "You three wait here. We don't want to scare him."

Merla snorted as the princess walked off. ~Speak for yourself.~

~Merla,~ Blue started, but she was already chasing after her paladin.

"Greetings," Allura said, leaning over the bush the Arusian was hiding in. "We know you're there. No harm will come to you."

The Arusian hopped out of the bush and held out his blade.

Hunk cooed, but Merla growled and both she and her paladin stepped forward to protect the princess.

"Wait! He could be dangerous. Drop your weapon!"

~Or I'll make you!~

"No one takes Klaizap's weapon!"

Merla crouched to pounce on the creature as he turned his blade towards her paladin, but Allura ordered, "Keith, Red, stand down, both of you!"

Keith sighed and lowered his bayard. Merla's tail twitched, but she stopped baring her teeth and stood up.

"Please, kind sir, accept my most humble apologies."

Merla's tail flicked back and forth as the Arusian spoke.

~Lion Goddess? You think he means Merla or Chip? Or maybe you Blue?~ Pua asked as they snuck up behind the group.

~The carving looks like a tiger, so I guess it's me.~

~Really? My guess is Merla. He keeps saying she's angry right? Merla makes sense.~

~I'm going to rip your tail off,~ Merla growled lowly.

~See! And he said fire, definitely Merla.~

~Pua, he's talking about Voltron! Even your paladin figured that out!~

~And what's that supposed to mean?~

~Why's he bowing to Allura? She's not even a lion,~ Blue snorted.

~Does this mean we're not going to eat him?~ Merla huffed as Allura asked to come to his village. She stepped forward to sniff at the Arusian and he jumped back with a shout.

"No, Merla, you can't eat him," Keith sighed, grabbing her scruff and tugging her away from the frightened Arusian.


~Why can't we be down there partying?~ Pua whined.

~I'm guessing it's because someone couldn't keep her stomach in check.~

~I regret nothing. I don't want to be down there anyways,~ Merla sniffed.

~Well I do, I want to play! I wonder if they have any good food?~

~Does roasted Arusian sound good, Pua, because I think they're about to throw one of their own on a pyre. Should we be worried about our paladins?~

~Eh, Keith doesn't seem worried. Looks like the princess is handling things. I think I'll go down anyways though. Just in case.~

~Merla, Allura told us to stay here.~

~She can't tell me what to do. Who does she think she is, Ryou?~

The siblings sighed as Merla left her metallic form and ran off towards the party.


Ryou and Chip watched their paladins disappear into the destroyed Galra ship.

~Should we follow them?~ Chip asked as she peeked inside.

~They'll be fine. We're of more use out here, keeping watch.~ Ryou said, staring up in the sky. ~Sense that?~

Chip looked up. ~No. Wait, yes. What is that?~

~It feels like a ship, but not.~

~Asteroid?~

~Hm…~

The two watched the sky until they felt the craft enter the atmosphere.

Ryou jumped to his feet. ~Get to your body, now!~

~Right!~

The two returned to their metallic forms in time to leap in front of their escaping paladins as the craft crashed down on top of the fallen ship.


"… need to learn to follow orders and…"

Merla's tail twitched as Keith nudged her, bring her focus back to Allura for half a second. "Pay attention," he whispered.

~Why? She's not my boss. She's not even your boss. That's Ryou and Shiro.~

"Her house, her rules."

~Do you really think either of us believe that?~

Keith crossed his arms and leaned against a tree.

~That's what I thought.~ Merla chirped. Suddenly she turned to the sky. ~Do you feel that?~

"Feel what?" Keith pushed away from the tree and looked up.

"… so- Red, are you listening?"

"Something's up," Keith answered for her. "Ship?"

~No. I don't know what it is.~

"Ship?" Hunk asked, looking worried.

"No, but-" Keith cut off as whatever it was let out a sonic boom.

~Move!~ Blue said, leaping to his feet and running towards her metallic form.

"What's going on? Where's Blue going? Pua! Come back!" Hunk shouted, watching the lion rush after his brother.

"Merla?" Keith asked.

~Blue's right, we need to go.~

"Team, come in! We need backup! Hello?"

"Shiro?"

"Where is everyone?"

"We need to go," Keith said. He and Merla moved to run, but the ground shook beneath their feet.

The Arusians started panicking and running around.

"Everyone get inside and stay down!" Allura called out as Merla took off.


~Hurt! This isn't wor- Seemed confi- We need a new pla- New information.~

"When I attacked him before, I had a sword!"

~Sword? Sword! But- No! Yes! Too soon! Too soon? Yes! No!~

"Orb! Orb!"

~Years! Not the same! Can help! No! YES!~

"We can't take another shot like that!"

~Keith! Can help! Do! Do! Bayard!~

"Wait a second, guys! I think Merla's telling me what to do."

~Merla! No! Yes! Good! Keith! Yes!~

"Well whatever it is, hurry up and do it! He's about to fire his third shot!"

~Pain! Hurts! Keith!~

{Red Bayard inserted. Scanning. Red Paladin Keith Bayard operation accepted. Processing Red Paladin Keith Bayard primary form. Red Paladin Keith Bayard primary form: Katar. Red Paladin Keith Voltron Bayard weapon translating. Red Paladin Keith Voltron Bayard weapon translation: Single-edged broadsword. Weapon formed.}

~Attack! Finally! Victory!~

"Yeah! We did it! Woohoo!"

"How did you do that?"

{Red Bayard ejected. Weapon deconstructed. Red Paladin Keith Voltron Bayard weapon translation filed.}

"Whoa. Hehe. Thanks, Merla."

~Victory! Merla! Told you! Yes! Right! Congratulations! Victory! Merla!~


~Why couldn't we play Voltron? It would have been fun!~ Pua whined, watching the performance the Arusians were putting on.

~We would have gotten it right, too,~ Merla snorted.

~Be nice, love,~ Blue huffed, licking the serval kitten's cheek.

~I'll be nice when they stop trying to pick me up!~ Merla hissed as another Arusian came over to coo at her. She ducked under Blue and the Arusian pouted. ~Why do we have to be small again?~

~We look more friendly this way,~ the cat purred, he head butting the Arusian's hand to accept the scratches in Merla's place.

~I'm not a toy! I'm a warrior! A weapon! I don't need to look friendly!~

~Stop being extra,~ her sister said as she ran past. Chip was chasing Rover in circles around her paladin.

~You stop being extra!~ Merla called back. When another Arusian approached, she darted away and curled around Keith's ankle. ~Keith! Make them stop!~

Keith frowned and picked her up. He held her up and she nestled herself between his neck and the collar of his armor. "Better?"

~Yes!~

"How about, uh... I say Vol- and you say -tron. Vol!"

"Uh…" Keith blinked, caught off guard. He shrugged. "Voltron?"

"No! No, no, no. The cheer includes the instructions. I say Vol- and you say…"

~Why does Blue always pick the weird ones?~

"Vol…tron?"

"We'll work on it," Lance sighed. He took a drink of whatever he was holding and gagged.

Merla snickered and curled up around Keith's neck to nap.

When she woke up, she shook herself. ~I want food.~

Keith snorted and helped her down. "There's food floating around everywhere go find some."

Merla huffed, but left the boy. She had just managed to hop onto a platter when she spotted Lance leaving. ~Where's he going?~ she purred. She grabbed one of the cake pop-like deserts then jumped down to follow him.


"Well you seem proud of yourself," Pidge chuckled.

~Why shouldn't I be? I have proven that I am the better of your partners,~ Chip purred and shifted to try to find a more comfortable position.

"So, Pidge," Allura said, walking up in front of the girl. She paused when she noticed Chip perched atop the floating Galra drone. "What is Green doing?"

"I think she's asserting her dominance over Rover."

~Close enough.~

"I see… Anyways, we haven't had a chance to really talk. Tell me about yourself."

Chip blinked and tilted her head.

Pidge hummed. "Well, I like peanut butter, and I like peanut butter cookies, but I hate peanuts. They're so dry. Also, I sweat a lot. I-I mean, in general, unrelated to the peanuts." She moved to walk away, but Allura stepped in front of her.

"I suppose I was thinking of something a little more personal." The princess winked then leaned down so she and Pidge were face to face. "We have a lot in common."

~Is she attempting to mate with you? That's what you call flirting, correct?~

"Like what?"

Allura blanched. "Oh, well, both of us had our fathers taken away by Zarkon."

~Rude.~

"Yeah, but I'm going to get mine back."

~Ruder,~ Chip snorted as Allura gasped.

"I'm sorry. I-I really didn't mean to-"

"No, I understand. I just want you to know that you can confide in me." She leaned down again.

~She rebounds quick.~

"If there's anything you ever want to talk about… Anything."

"Huh? Okay. I do have something to tell you."

Allura popped up. "I had a feeling. What is it?"

"I'm leaving Team Voltron."

Chip fell off Rover.

"Wait, what?"

"I decrypted the information from the Galra ship about where my family might be, or at least where they were. I've made up my mind. I'm leaving tonight."

~Pidge?~ Chip whined pawing at her paladin's ankle.

"Pidge, you can't. You're one of five paladins. You have a sacred trust to defend the universe." Allura grabbed Pidge's shoulders, but the girl jerked away from both the Altean and the cat.

"My first priority is to find my family!" Pidge snapped. "I thought you of all people would understand. If you had a chance to get your father back, wouldn't you?"

Allura frowned and Chip curled around her feet.

"I'm sorry. I should go tell everyone else."

They watched Pidge walk away, Rover flying behind her.

"What are we going to do?"

~I wish I knew,~ Chip sniffed. She looked around, but didn't see her sister. She spotted Pua playing with some Arusian children and Blue being pampered by a another group. She darted past them and ran out the door. Finally she spotted Ryou, prowling next to Shiro in his liger form. ~RYOU!~

~Chip, what's wrong?~

"Hey Chip, what's the matter?"

Both Shiro and Ryou turned to her, Shiro kneeling down and holding out his hand.

Chip climbed up Shiro's arm and jumped onto Ryou's back. She curled up on his neck, burrowing her face into his fur.

~What happened, Chip?~

"Hey now, what's wrong? Is Pidge okay?"

Chip gave a wordless whine.

"Shiro? I need to talk to you."

Shiro and Ryou looked up as Pidge walked over. "Pidge, something's wrong with Chip?"

The girl sighed. "She's probably not happy with me, but I made my decision. I'd rather tell you all at once though."

"Alright, let's go get the others."


Haxus watched the Green Paladin approach the Black and leveled the scanner at the group. He waited as the scanner registered the two paladins' armor systems, the drone, and, to Haxus' surprise, the two creatures next to the paladins. His eyes widened as the scanner listed signature codes of the creatures.

The black one does resemble the lions, but why…

Haxus shook off his confusion and cloned the drone's signature code. He ducked back behind the rocks he was hiding in and loaded it into the bomb drone. "Bomb activated."

The drone acknowledged his command then flew off towards the castle. Haxus watched it go before returning back to Sendak.

"Haxus?" the commander greeted.

"Everything's in place."

"Excellent."

"There's something else." Haxus brought up the data from the earlier scan and showed it to his superior. "The creatures that have been following the paladins…"

"The signatures resemble the Red Lion." Sendak said. "Why?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure Zarkon will want to find out."

Sendak nodded. "We'll take them and the rest when we capture the castle."


Lance looked up when Merla padded up next to him. "Hey there Merla. What are you doing here?"

Merla watched him scrub at his eyes before reaching over to run his hand down her back. ~Were you crying?~ she purred, moving over to lick his cheek.

The boy chuckled and scratched under her chin. "Don't tell Keith I was crying, okay?" he said in a joking tone.

~I make no promises. I probably won't tell though.~ She climbed into his lap and laid down. ~Cuddles usually help Keith.~

They sat in silence for a few moments before Coran came in. Merla listened as the two talked. When Lance moved to stand, she climbed up to curl against his neck like she had done to Keith before. The two talked for a while, exchanging stories, before Coran set his hand on Lance's shoulder.

"How about we return to the party now?"

Lance stared up at the stars for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, alright."

They turned and headed towards the door. It opened just before they reached it, admitting a Galra drone.

"Hey, Rover," Lance greeted as he passed it.

Merla's nose twitched and she looked up just as Lance turned. Did the drone smell like-

"Wait. Where's Pidge?"

The drone's details turned red and it started beeping rapidly.

~GALRA!~ Merla yowled as Lance gasped.

"Coran, look out!" the Blue Paladin shouted as he tackled the Altean.

The room exploded behind them.


A quick question: I plan on writing out chapters for the comic's storyline, but I'm not sure if it should be an interlude like the Mother of Cats arc or as normal chapters since it's not technically part of the main story. Which would y'all prefer?