Chapter XII
Lion-o felt the cool metal barrel against his skin. He stared back through the darkness into the just visible golden eyes. He knew he had to move fast. With a quick sliding motion he pivoted his sword in his grasp. The blade made a harsh resounding clang as it contacted the other weapon.
His attacker, startled, leapt away only to correct the sight of the barrel and fire. In a flash of fiery smoke and with a crack of thundering sound the smell of alkaloid and salt peter filler the air.
Lion-o rolled to the side to avoid a direct hit with the non-lethal shot. His nostrils still burned with the smell and it stung at his eyes. The compound was meant to startle and confound enemies to make them easy to live-capture. This particular scent worked best on jackals.
His opponent dashed forward through the smoky cloud and a steel blade flashed alongside the barrel of the gun. Lion-o raised his sword to block the dual-weapon. The blade withdrew and swung hard to his side. Lion-o met the second blow with a silvery clanging sound.
His grip shook on his sword as the blow reverberated through the metal, numbing his fingers. His attacker raised the blade again, golden eyes staring through the darkness with iron-set determination. Lion-o raised his sword. The other's weapon leveled the blade and barrel aiming at Lion-o.
He had to dodge to the side to avoid a second volley of saltpeter and alkaloid. His opponent must have reloaded the weapon – the concentration was different. It was stronger this time. Lion-o leapt backward when he had the chance, dashing to the side to lead his attacker and their fight away from the foul cloud.
Lion-o looked back as his opponent followed, a thin lithe form, but indistinguishable in shape from these shadows. It didn't look like a lizard. What new messengers had Mumm-Rah enlisted now? This one had obviously received combat training that seamlessly melded the art of swordplay with the obvious benefits of gunmanship.
That gun-sword was going to be a problem, even if he could keep avoiding the clouds. Eventually the other could replace the projectiles with something lethal. Lion-o had to disarm his attacker.
He stopped running and pivoted on his heel to turn and lunge back toward his opponent. This patch of the woods was brighter. The moon came through the trees. He saw his attacker charging forward to meet him. The blade of the other's weapon sparked as it hit against the stones on the ground, the stroke slicing upward as Lion-o closed in.
He had to step back mid-dash. The blade swung up and over. It was a gamble. It was unlikely that his attacker could redirect his blow this soon, but still possible. Lion-o stepped in and hooked his foot around the back of his attackers. Then he pulled back toward himself with that heel.
His opponent startled and then followed the movement, lunging forward to bring the blade down. Lion-o moved in again to grab the other's arm, guiding the movement to the side instead of down. He kept pressing and felt the muscle of the other's arm begin to strain. Their grip loosened and Lion-o brought his other arm over, with his sword. His hilt struck the other's wrist and his opponent's weapon dropped.
They quickly disengaged their feet and leapt away, a secondary short blade drawn from somewhere in the attacker's arsenal. Lion-o again considered who, or what, he was up against. When he had tried to trip the other and then disarmed him he had been standing in some proximity. Even in the darkness he should have been able to make out more than those eyes. But it appeared they were wearing some sort of mask, which made sense if the saltpeter and alkaloid bursts would otherwise affect the user as well.
"You're a cat!" His opponent accused. Lion-o startled slightly; other than the initial command before he and his attacker had not really exchanged words. Perhaps that had not been the best idea. Maybe these attackers were not working for Mumm-Rah.
"Yes." Lion-o confirmed, "What are you? Why did you attack us?"
His opponent removed their mask. In the moonlight through the trees he could more clearly make out the shapes as a fellow cat greeted him. He was also somewhat surprised to be greeted by a feminine face of dappled blue gray and purple. She shook out shoulder length black hair and golden-amber eyes fixed on him again.
"We thought you were one of Mumm-Rah's armies again. We've encountered them before," she explained, her voice clearer now that the mask was gone. "You travel with a mech as well as a small army of jackals."
"The mech was liberated from Mumm-Rah's army. The jackals we met on our way here, they have no love for our enemy." Lion-o explained, as the cat woman stepped closer; her eyes peering intently into his face.
"You are the son of Claudus, aren't you?" she asked finally. Lion-o started at the name, it had been a while since anyone had mentioned his father by name; he nodded. Her mouth curled in a toothy grin as her steps grew more sure, more of a saunter actually.
"I thought so," she said bending down to grasp her weapon where it had fallen, straightening and propping the weapon over her shoulder. "Puma will be obnoxiously pleased with himself, that he was right."
Lion-o offered a smile as well, "You are part of the advance guard protecting our people in Tuskania?"
"That's right." She confirmed before extending a clawed hand, "I am Panthera. Current Lord of the Panther Clan of the Thundercats. Welcome back, my king." She winked and then turned and started walking back toward the group they had left behind.
Lion-o felt momentarily frozen before following. He was a bit shocked to say the least; so this was one of the main Thundercat Lords? He didn't remember her from his father's war room, but then her father had likely been the one who had come to the capital for such things. Many had been lost in the war, and it wasn't over.
"That's an interesting weapon." Lion-o said conversationally as he caught up with her.
"I made it." Panthera grinned.
"Really?" Lion-o perked and glanced over the design again in question, "How? Did you just mount it on an old sword?"
"Not quite. I had a metal-smith construct the barrel and blade separately in the shape I specified," she laid the sword on it's side between then in her hands, "Then you can see the mark here where I had them welded together and the hilt and trigger chamber were combined in this handy mechanism."
Lion-o followed her clawed finger as it pointed out the silver indentation between barrel and blade. He marveled at how the hilt turned at an angle to account for the trigger and then where the sword hilt should have been curled over to form the guard.
"But how do you load and unload it?" Lion-o asked, "You were clearly using different cartridges."
"Oh you caught that," her eyes seemed to glow slightly, impressed, "You see this part here?" she motioned to a lump at the swords base, normally where an engraving would go. She then pulled at a metal pin in the sword's design that turned the cylindrical part and it popped out sideways showing a single-barrel slot.
"You reloaded using this?" Lion-o asked shocked, it had seemed to happen so fast.
"I've gotten pretty good at using it." She shrugged, though pride was obvious in her voice, "There is a way to add a barrel with more shots, but in close combat with most troops we encounter I tend to use the blade more than the gun."
"The gun is primarily a capture device at this point?"
"Right," Panthera agreed, "The alkaloid mixture is an old recipe we've been improving on. We have them for rabbits and dogs, we tweaked the formula when our scouts spotted jackals."
With a quick motion and a glint of moonlit steel, she shut the cylinder back into the barrel and blade and slung it back over her shoulder. Lion-o couldn't help his smile. "It's a beautiful weapon."
"You want one your excellency?" she asked with a friendly smirk. Lion-o almost wanted to say yes except that when he looked into her golden eyes again he felt his throat get tight for some reason. At Lion-o's silence and nervous pink look she laughed and shook her head.
It felt stranger for her to speak to him formally than when she was just talking with him. "Just 'Lion-o' is fine." He said without thinking.
"Really?" her eyes glinted dangerously, her smile widening imperceptibly, "Well then Lion-o, despite our meeting I hope that's not the only time I get to see you with your sword out."
Lion-o blanched, something in the way she said that made him feel oddly warm. It was a prickly hot feeling and he wasn't sure what to make of it. Did he just inadvertently make a political blunder by allowing that? If she was a lord and he was the king, did that mean he had somehow given her some kind of special right or implied something? He had fallen a step behind and noticed he was now avidly watching Panthera's thin tail swishing and curling from side to side as she sauntered on ahead of him.
"Like what you see, Lion-o?" she asked, something amused in her voice.
He quickly realized he was staring somewhere he probably shouldn't and looked away quickly, the hot prickly feeling fast driving along his neck and face. "I was lost in thought." Lion-o attempted to recover quickly.
"I'm sure you were." She was grinning again, and Lion-o couldn't tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing. But he didn't have time to dwell on that, and made a mental note to extend the invitation to call him by name to all of his lords in the interest of equality. He didn't really have time to worry about anything else. He had to make sure he earned the allegiance of all the lords that had gathered here alongside general Puma.
It took a few more moments to reach the open clearing where they had left the others. Panthera and Lion-o walked out to find a group of cats led by a tall a muscular cat man with bushy sideburns and a scar talking with Tygra, still sitting in the open chest-cavity of the Plun-Darr, Cheetara, Shen, and the kits.
"Welcome back, Lion-o!" Kit crowed delightfully, her bushy tail waving happily.
"Panthro, it looks like everyone now knows we're on the same side." Panthera said as they approached, addressing the large muscular cat with the scar and beard.
"You can sometimes be too rash, sister," the larger cat spoke with a deep voice, as to be expected from his stature. Panthera shrugged at his words.
"I thought we had to act quickly. They knew we had surrounded them, and I didn't expect to take so long with their 'scout', who incidentally wasn't," she glanced at Lion-o and then back to her brother, "And I trust you to do as I would in my absence."
Panthro nodded and Panthera stepped forward. "I am Panthera, this is my perimeter. As you are all party to our king, we will accompany you to the city." Shen briefly bared his fangs at the cat's authoritative tone. Panthera glanced at him but did not address it. Shen was silent of further hostility though he made it a point to walk in step beside Lion-o instead of beside him.
They marched further through the forest and toward the low-laying city of Tuskania. As they approached they could hear the sound of running water from the nearby river mouth. Coming closer they could see the individual rooftops of the short triangular buildings amid the cylindrical towers that dotted the town. All around the northern end of the Tuska city there was an outcropping of tents and makeshift structures both civilian and military. Some of the northern warehouses appeared to also have been commandeered.
They reached the city limits as the sun was just peaking over the horizon. Kit and Kat ran ahead with the other ahead scouts and were the first to see the walruses, or Tuska, as they milled from their homes. The early-workers lumbered into the streets and then stopped to stare, still bleary-eyed, at the procession of jackals and cats as well as the gargantuan menace of black and silver metal that walked with them.
"Have the Tuskans given you any trouble? I know before the war they were under our rule, but afterward were there any issues?" Tygra asked, trying to avoid offensive language, but still eyeing the larger creatures watching them with some trepidation. Shen bared his fangs again.
"If they had protested to their occupation, I hardly think retaliation is a suited response." He stated crisply, shifting his gaze briefly towards Panthera. His feelings toward Thundercat rule and occupation were very clear.
"There were some issues," Panthera admitted without guilt, "That is to be expected. However, we have many of our civilians working together with the Tuskans on our shared resources, and we do our best to work together civilly. Our perimeter's protection is as much a measure for us and our refugees as it is for the Tuska."
"We have also welcomed other species into our camps. Don't be surprised if there are a few dogs and weasels running around." She added. "Mostly we keep to our own groups; and when altercations arise, we deal with them."
"Deal with them how?" Cheetara asked, voicing Shen's next glaring thought, clear on his face.
"As fairly as possible." Panthera turned back to look at Shen, "When we arrived, we, the lords, struck a deal with Turmagar and the Tuskans. As other species arrived we made room. There is some division of opinion among the ranks, but that is all it is: opinion. We try to be sure to represent all parties when disputes arise."
Lion-o had his suspicions, but he was uncertain. So he stepped closer, so Shen could not hear, and asked outright. "Do you agree with this kind of inclusion?"
"The northern lands can be harsh, cooperation is more valued here than coin. As such I demanded collaboration from the start," Panthera said decisively. "Judging the company you keep, my king, I suspect you have a similar viewpoint."
Lion-o nodded, and Shen did not seem inclined to question further. Tygra, however, had questions. "You had us surrounded a while before you attacked. How did you know the scope of the radar?"
"We have encountered Mumm-Rah's troops before." Panthro answered for his sister, "We devised a strategy to keep off the radars for as long as possible. Since we tend toward guerilla tactics it was necessary to know the scope of our attackers sensory field."
"But how?" Tygra asked.
Panthro shrugged, "It was a case of reverse engineering I guess. Panthera could probably tell you more; she's the one who works with all that circuitry. I can handle tinkering, but not the programming part."
Cheetara scowled, feeling more and more ill with all this talk of technology and what went into making and working with it. Panthera seemed proud of her accomplishment, and Cheetara let herself fall back a few steps further from the others.
"We managed to capture some smaller cruiser mechs early on, most of it was destroyed in the attempt," Panthera explained, "I tried to put the radar back together from scrap metal. It didn't work but I did manage to learn some aspects of the design we were able to test in battle and have been working on perfecting, ever since." She turned back to look at Tygra, regarding the great metal structure he controlled, "You will have to tell me how you managed to steal one intact, Stripes. That one's pretty fancy."
"'Stripes'?" Tygra arched an eyebrow, "How original. You can call me Tygra." He offered with an attractive grin.
"Mm. Tygra," she grinned, "And you're a tiger. That's cute."
Tygra returned the gesture with a toothy smile, "Back at you, panther girl."
They were almost to the camp, and that short exchange had bothered Lion-o. She hadn't said anything about him being a lion. Lions were better than tigers; everyone knew that. Panthera's tail was curling again as she walked.
This was starting to feel a bit like Cheetara all over again, and Lion-o's shoulders slumped noticeably.
OoooooooooooooooO
As they entered the camp, there was a parting of soldiers and others there to meet them. Puma was there as well. Cheetara tried to catch his attention, but he wasn't looking at her, as usual. His beaming eyes were fixed on Lion-o, and he stepped forward to clasp his hand in greeting after all this time.
"Welcome back, your highness," Puma greeted, falling into step beside them and guiding the group more solidly toward one of the larger war tents. "With few exceptions all of the higher clan lords have congregated here and we have word of other outposts in the region for our refugees."
"Good." Lion-o nodded, "I am glad to hear that so much has gone well since the decision to move northward."
"Yes, highness," Puma beamed, "Despite some setbacks we have grown in number and with the knowledge of the Book of Omens, no doubt our armies can put it to good use."
Lion-o nodded, considering the book and sighed. Eventually he would have to explain, but first he had to meet with the leaders here and consolidate that power base. As king he also had an obligation to make sure that everything here was in order. Puma was almost garishly happy; it seemed odd considering that he had been somewhat disapproving of Lion-o's place when they had parted. It seemed a long time ago, much had happened since.
"However," Puma cleared his throat and looked behind him at the larger group that had followed into the camp. "I think it best if you meet the lords yourself, and perhaps a few of the others. The tent is too small to accommodate everyone here."
Lion-o disengaged from Puma briefly and looked to Tygra first. "I'll meet you around at the training barracks there," Tygra pointed to the far end where a wooden structure was hastily put together and accommodated a large open area that might well be training grounds. Lion-o nodded and turned to Shen.
"As I requested you to join me, I would welcome you to this meeting," Lion-o told him, "I cannot speak for the will of the other lords as of yet, but I can promise that I stand by the offer I made you before, and you are free to part ways with us at any time."
"You have a nice way of saying I might be offended by them," the jackal grinned toothily, "I may yet offend them."
"You will." Panthera confirmed, "I said it before, there is a division of opinion."
"She is right," Shen agreed, "I respect you Lion-o and I would not sabotage your meeting with the lords. While it seems there are those who share your viewpoint that I may confer with, I know there are those who do not. If your lords have yet to swear allegiance to you, I would do you a disservice in provoking those who do not share your views."
"There should be room enough for your party along the eastern side," Panthro offered, "I can take you and get everyone situated there in a few hours or so." Shen nodded his assent to this.
"Thank you, Shen, Panthro," Lion-o nodded to the both of them before turning back to Puma. The old cat offered a small smile and turned back to the war tent. Panthera, Cheetara, and the kits followed after.
When they entered it seemed Puma had already assembled the lords that had gathered in Tuskania. They were varied in color and breed, a white tiger, an aged lynx, a short and stout spotted ocelot, and a pair of cats with clipped ears. Puma stepped in quickly to perform the introductions and Lion-o nodded to them all. It felt odd to not introduce himself, but Puma had adequately said what was needed. A short and icy silence followed, though it had little to do with the brisk chill outside.
"This is the son of Claudus?" one of them asked blinking at Lion-o, unimpressed, and shook his head. "Surely not."
"Look, you blind fool," the one next to him said, equally stolid, "That flame of hair is unmistakable. Of course he's Claudus's son."
"Still, we know nothing about him." The other muttered unhappily. Puma puffed up in defense.
"We know that he has done what he set out to do with only two other warriors," Puma declared. "His highness has retrieved the Book of Omens, and if rumors are to be believed he and his comrades have survived more than several of Mumm-Rah's attacks."
One of the older ones fixed his eyes on the two kits, standing unobtrusively beside Cheetara. "With those two little ones too? How can we trust anyone who would lead kits into such dangers?"
Puma opened his mouth to defend but found no words. "When we found them, my thoughts were the same as yours, to let them off with a group of refugees to keep them safe." Lion-o explained, "But they are seasoned fighters, they can handle themselves and proved their skills to be vital in our travels and conflicts with Mumm-Rah's army."
The older one scowled and looked at the kits again, who were now eyeing the old cat back with something between annoyance and disbelief. "They are only kits," the cat persisted, "How 'vital' could they be?"
"Well enough that none of you can raise a single weapon against us." Kit told him impishly. Kat had disappeared. The old cat scoffed and eyed WilyKit's tail and other more-feline-than-humanoid features.
"That is highly unlikely." He told her.
"Care to try it then? Just showing your weapon would be enough." Kit suggested. Kat had reappeared beside her. The cat frowned and reached for his sword. He started horribly and had to check his other side as well. The other lords performed a similar search for their weapons.
"What is the meaning of this!" an uproar was about to occur.
"Your weapons are here." Kit smiled, as Kat dumped the surreptitious lump from his clothing and pulled a couple longer swords from where he'd stashed them in his pant leg.
The metal clattered to the ground and Lion-o tried very hard not to whistle in awe. It was an impressive feat; Kat had been a shadow while Kit commanded the room's attention. After retrieving their weapons the lords began checking their pockets for their coins as well. Kit rolled her eyes. "We didn't take anything else. Promise."
The old cat looked up, annoyed now, though he had never seemed particularly concerned for the kits safety. "Well, we have seen your tails now, thieves!" The two kits glared, as if their tails were anything to be ashamed of!
Panthera's gaze also grew cooler, and Lion-o noticed when her tail stopped curling and the muscle tightened in on itself. The cat sniffed spotting the necklace Kit had, "I wouldn't be surprised if that was stolen goods as well."
Kit smiled with false sincerity, "You would die of shock to know it's not."
The old cat turned back to Lion-o, still clearly disapproving in some way. "Even so, we know nothing of your abilities, at all. Though there is certainly another in your party who had a reputation for his leadership even before the war."
Lion-o prepared himself for the rebuttal. He did vaguely wish Tygra was here, but he could handle his own battles. He could certainly handle this fight. But Puma beat him to it. "His highness was the one who retrieved the Book of Omens, and he is the one who the Sword of Omens obeys." Puma stated in a booming voice with no room for argument. "He is the legitimate son of the previous King Claudus. That alone is enough reason for all of us to stand behind him in this fight. He is his father's son, and I have no doubt this is the king that will lead us to victory against Mumm-Rah."
When he stopped talking his voice resounded, daring anyone to object to these three things. A few of the lords shifted glances at each other, uncertain in uncertain times. Puma began the cycle, and swore allegiance first. Panthera followed. The lords shifted and then a third knelt to take the oath of allegiance to the new king.
OooooooooooO
After their journey a night's rest was in order, despite the day having just begun. A second meeting to discuss their next course of action was scheduled for the afternoon some hours later to allow time for rest. As the lords and everyone there dispersed Puma steered Lion-o in a less crowded direction.
"That went well, your highness," Puma said happily, "Once the Thundercats reclaim our former glory, I want you to know I still look forward to joining your family." He said the last with a friendly pat on the shoulder, but Lion-o stopped short, confused. Cheetara at least had made her opinion more or less known.
"No need for that, our families are already joined, as of Leo IV, I believe." Lion-o deflected. Puma's friendly grip tightened imperceptibly.
Cheetara felt Lion-o's mana spike slightly, and turned to see him and her father. She didn't even have to guess as to what her father was trying to confirm.
She stalked back toward them quickly, "Father." She greeted loudly, allowing Lion-o to politely disengage from the general and continue out. His eyes met hers in thanks and she nodded briefly before facing her father with a stony-faced glare. He frowned back at her, confused. "What are you doing?" she demanded, more than asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" he asked her, "I am securing your future. Before I was uncertain who would take up the king's mantle, but now we know. Furthermore, it is your right. His father had also agreed to this union."
"He was in the process of considering." Cheetara corrected, "Nothing had been finalized between you and him, and now nothing ever will."
"Precisely why I am attempting to renew that agreement with the new king!" He hissed at her, as though this wasn't something she wanted to avoid. "He would be lucky to have you, and you would be-!"
"A foot in the door to further your own ambitions as father-in-law to the new king." Cheetara finished for him. "Don't pretend to be my father and say this is for my future."
"I am your father and this is-!"
Cheetara cut him off. "As a child you ignored me, and when mother died you sent me off to be a cleric and forgot about me. When you struck your deal with Claudus you pulled me from the only place that felt like home to be used as a political pawn and marry you into the royal family."
Puma seethed and stared her down. Cheetara did not waver. "Despite any gains I might have, you have little choice in this." He eventually decided. "I have great sway over a number of the lords and I can make things easy or difficult for him, and all he has to do is choose you."
"I won't let you." Cheetara shook her head.
"You have no say!" Puma told her.
"You would take not only my freedom to choose, but his as well. I would sooner die than be used as your pawn." Cheetara told him, cold determination loosing her mana to spread out from her and press in on her father's untrained energy shifting beneath the skin. He felt the pressure and he staggered back a step. "You will leave well enough alone. Lion-o can win this war, with or without you and your lords."
Cheetara stalked away. She would make sure her father did not pose trouble for Lion-o; she would not be a tool to cause that kind of pain.
OoooooooooooooooO
WilyKat had found a place near one of the Tuskan walls to sit and think. The sun was higher now, it was chilly out here but the sun was finally making it a little warmer outside. He had barely noticed the cold when they had been marching. The movement had kept him warm and given him a purpose.
He heard WilyKit as she scrambled up the wall next to him. She had hot bread concealed in her skirt and once seated beside him she brought it out and broke off half the small loaf for her partner. He took it graciously with a grin. "Did you have to steal it?"
"No, the cook was a walrus but she was really nice about it." Kit told him taking a large bite and chewing. Kat took a smaller bite, and Kit noticed. "Don't tell me you took what that old codger said to heart. Did you?"
Kat grinned and shook his head, looking over at Kat and her golden necklace glinting slightly in the sun. "It was stolen though, technically, anyway." He shrugged.
Kit grinned and slung her arm around his shoulders. "Well, as far as I'm concerned, it was a gift from a very special guy I know."
Kat mockingly frowned, "A 'special guy'? Who's he?" Kit laughed and hugged him tighter. They were both starting to feel the tips of their fingers get colder.
"They may be cats but they act like a nest of snakes, don't they?" Kit sighed, "Well, we can't worry. We're better than those guys!"
"We can run rings around them." Kat agreed, "And if needed, we can spy and steal and totally declaw those pompous fools before they know their scheme has been uncovered." Kit grinned in consent, and their tails swished and curled together. As everyone knows, there are no secrets where there are children.
OoooooooooooooooO
It sat heavy in her mind. It wasn't something Cheetara could alter or change or even discourage, but it didn't sit well with her nonetheless. It occurred to her that it was more widespread than she first thought, but ever since the empire fell, tech had just become more commonplace and used, especially in the Thundercats militia.
Most of it looked like it was stolen from Mumm-Rah's army or else made from scrap parts that were collected after one of the lizards mechs or other technological devastators that were destroyed. It didn't make any of the constructs less cold and dead. The barracks were thankfully devoid of any active mechanical structures.
Just solid wood and racks where the weapons were kept, just soft ground and lining markers. The midday sun cast the whole training area in an ethereal golden light. For a moment everything seemed peaceful. She could not sense Jaga, though his presence had been fading in and out since the morning.
She stepped toward one of the weapon racks and tentatively removed a spear, handling the slender wood delicately, feeling the weight in her hand. She moved and the spear pointed downward. She fell into a crouch and the weapon swooped upward at her command. It was similar to her staff in many ways, but it didn't feel right. She replaced the spear and considered a sword. She had learned how to handle several weapons, though she had never actively used any of these since leaving the clerics.
She took the sword and tried its weight, swinging it up and then down and testing her mobility with the steel. It made a singing sound as it sliced the air, the craftsmanship was good and her movements were not constrained by its heaviness. But it didn't feel right in her hand. She sighed and wondered if there was a weapon that ever would. She was definitely missing her staff by now; she hadn't thought too much on it before, but it was one of the last things that Jaga had given her.
Padded footsteps announced his approach. Cheetara knew it was him before he spoke. "Hello beautiful," Tygra greeted as he entered the training area. She turned to him and he was smiling at her as usual, "Care for a friendly spar?"
Cheetara wanted to accept. She remembered sparring with Tygra, it had been nice, but it wouldn't feel right with any of these weapons. She shook her head. "No, not today."
"Why not? It could be fun? We'll try something we're not that familiar with." Tygra suggested choosing a sword and setting aside his bolas and gun. His eyes sparked with a challenge and she felt warmed to the contest. "I won't let you off easy, like before."
His words were laced with a second meaning and Cheetara backed away again. She had already made her decision. She wasn't going to start something between them. "I'd better not. This is not the time."
Tygra frowned realizing what she meant. "I know, you don't want to drive a rift, right. You don't want to hurt me, or Lion-o, so you won't choose."
"We're in the middle of a war." Cheetara reminded him.
"All the more reason to make a decision," Tygra told her, "This is war and things may not work out as well as they have so far. I could be wrong, but you chose me, didn't you?"
Cheetara stiffened slightly. He wanted an answer, and it was one he deserved. But she could feel herself beginning to shake. She couldn't handle something like this, not right now, not when everything was still so uncertain. "I can't. I stand by what I said before."
"Are you sure that's what you want?" he asked, watching her closely. She hesitated but then turned and withdrew, because this wasn't about what she wanted.
Cheetara paused as she stepped into the hallway outside the training area. She hadn't thought anyone was outside listening. She frowned, "You heard that?" Panthera held up her hands peaceably.
"It wasn't intentional, I was coming here to train anyway. I don't intend to pry into your business." Panthera told her in placation. Cheetara looked away. "But what he says makes sense."
Cheetara met her eyes again, "I thought you weren't going to pry."
"I won't, I'll just talk. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong," Panthera said calmly, "But it seems like you're being too cautious, or maybe you just don't know what you really want."
Cheetara frowned in consternation, since Panthera was probably right to some extent, about both of the reasons. "Well, when you do figure out what you want," Panthera continued, "You should tell him. If it were me I would, otherwise he might get taken away from me; and I know what I want."
Panthera offered a smile before walking past her and into the training area. Cheetara considered her words, Tygra had mentioned it too, everything could become more dangerous from now on; there was no guarantee that everything would work out. Wouldn't it be better to spend what time they had together? She didn't know anymore.
"Hey, you up for a spar, panther girl?" Tygra's voice disturbed Cheetara's thoughts. That's right, he was still in the training grounds. Panthera's voice answered him.
"Sure. Ready when you are, tiger."
Cheetara walked back to the training area, on the opposite side. It looked like Panthera had put aside her gunblade to be sharpened and had selected a long sword to duel with Tygra. They started off cautiously with each other before growing more aggressive, attacking more frequently and exchanging blow with a dodge and feint and a follow through attack.
It occurred to Cheetara, as she watched them frowning that maybe Panthera's words had been a warning of sorts. Cheetara turned away from the fight and considered the row of long-range weapons present on this side of the training area. She could hear them laughing and jibing each other as they fought on the other side of the open area. It grated on her. She glanced back again as another stroke was stymied and a returning counter was dodged.
The two of them seemed to be well matched. She had also held her own in a spar with Tygra. Cheetara turned back to the row of weapons, annoyed with herself; she should have taken Tygra up on his spar.
"You might try this one." Cheetara looked up, not realizing that Panthro had joined the training area. Now that she was listening, there were others in the hall and a pair of jackals had entered to select part of the training area also. There were other cats around too. Cheetara looked at the dual-tipped staff Panthro had offered her. It was a good wood and simple in design with a blunted edge on both sides.
"This one?" she asked, momentarily confused.
"You were trying to find a new weapon, weren't you?" Panthro asked her, he had a friendly smile, and his eyes were sincere. Cheetara considered the staff again, putting her hand on it. The wood had the right texture she was familiar with. She sighed and withdrew her hand.
"I don't know if anything can replace my staff." She admitted. Panthro shrugged and tossed the staff toward her. She caught it in her hands instinctively. The weight was good; it was very similar to her old weapon.
"In my experience," Panthro was saying as he selected a long staff from the row of weapons as well, "It's best to determine how a weapon feels, by testing it in battle."
Cheetara considered his offer of a match and glanced back toward Tygra and Panthera. Tygra had pinned her, and they spoke briefly before Panthera's knee jabbed him in the gut. She made her mistake and again they resumed a dance of clashing steel and banter. Cheetara's fists clentched.
"That sounds like a good idea," Cheetara decided stepping back onto the open training area, preparing for a spar with Panthro.
He was strong, his muscular build and the scar showed he was a seasoned fighter, but he was also unexpectedly quick. His movements were precise, and watching his eyes Cheetara could see the intensity of thought and calculation in choosing his movements and anticipating hers. For a brief moment, she forgot about the sword fight on the other side of the room and was actually enjoying herself.
She heard when Lion-o entered the training area, Panthera and Tygra's fight was decided a draw since Lion-o had something he wanted to discuss with Tygra. Somehow the brothers ended up switching out. Cheetara was unable to pay close attention, but it seemed like Panthera had made the suggestion. Something she said made Lion-o blush and then he selected a sword, leaving the Sword of Omens with Tygra who looked on amused.
There was no cautious beginning to Panthera and Lion-o's duel, Panthera moved in aggressively from the start. Lion-o blocked most of her attacks, dodging the rest before launching his counter attack. Panthera's eyes sparked in a different way now, and her movements more fluid.
Panthera and Lion-o had fought before in the woods, but now they both seemed not only comfortable, but also exhilarated. Tygra watched with a smile, occasionally shaking his head before Lion-o had to haphazardly dodge an incoming attack. Cheetara recognized it then; she smiled a feeling of relief swelling in her chest.
Cheetara ended the duel. "What's wrong?" Panthro asked, "You seem to handle that one pretty well, maybe you even liked it?" Cheetara smiled but shook her head, "Want to try another one instead?" he offered.
"No," she said and passed the staff back to him. It was a lovely weapon and at another time perhaps she could have accepted it as hers, but there was still something that wasn't right; something that might never be again. "I don't think any of the weapons feel right."
"Well, if you ever change your mind." Panthro shrugged and let the offer stand. Cheetara smiled in thanks, on the other side of the room, the other three appeared to be leaving as well. Then she too departed.
OoooooooooooooooO
"You better not break it."
"I am not going to break it." Lion-o retorted as he climbed into Plun-Darr's pilot seat. Panthera snickered, amused as Tygra watched his brother with some distaste and Lion-o situated himself inside the mech that here-to-fore had been exclusively Tygra's.
The metallic beast was even more impressive from this close, and Lion-o fit his hands through the arm control units and grasped the mechanism. Nothing seemed to happen for a moment. "So how do you activate it?"
"You've broken it!" Tygra declared, "Get out and let me back up there."
"No!" Lion-o returned, he wasn't done trying to figure this thing out yet. Suddenly he yelped as needle-like metal rods suddenly jammed into the skin of his wrist, slicing the skin, he felt it open up and the blood was delicately sucked through inner tubules.
"What's wrong?" Panthera asked, startled at Lion-o's cry. Tygra shook his head, still upset though.
"That's just how it does it. It seems to sample the pilot's blood, does it to me every time I climb in too." Tygra explained.
Lion-o grit his teeth against the abrasive pain and waited. Eventually the metal rods withdrew. The Plun-Darr remained completely motionless. "Okay, it's done. Now what's wrong? It's not powering on."
Tygra blanched. "You really did break it? That's it. Out. Let me up there!" Tygra was already climbing up to the pilot seat as Lion-o withdrew and then hopped down out of the machine.
Tygra fitted his arms through the same slots, hissing slightly as the metal rods plucking into his skin again, a sensation he was fast becoming used to. The rods sampled the blood and when they withdrew the inner lights buzzed to life and the machine began to whir and moved in response to Tygra's movements, the chest cavity opening sliding shut automatically as the mech rose to stand several stories high.
"Ha!" Tygra's voice bellowed from the machine.
"I told you I didn't break it!" Lion-o shouted back at him.
"Yeah, but you can't pilot it!" Tygra whooped, and the chest opening slid open again, so a very pleased-looking cat could grin at them. "That means only I can do it!"
Lion-o frowned, finding this display quite childish, although if he had managed to make the machine work he would no doubt be whooping quite happily himself. Tygra had little time to gloat however; Panthro approached the group to call the Thundercat king to the second meeting with his lords in the war room to discuss their next plan of action.
OoooooooooooooooO
"What is the meaning of this?"
Everyone at the table stared down at the open book and the unintelligible words that littered the pages. "The Book of Omens is very old, it would make sense that it is written this way."
"But how does this help us, at all?" Puma asked, attempting to be constructive in his question.
"It does bear some resemblance to the language the Thundercats used more than several decades before." Panthro decided, looking at the pages with some scrutiny.
"You've studied some of the old languages, can you make anything out?" Panthera asked him. He shook his head.
"Translation would be impossible," he reported, "The last known race that could fully decipher the old language would be the Berbil clan."
"What the wise old mice men, like in the fairy stories?" another lord asked skeptical, not quite mockingly, but very close to it.
"The Berbil clan?" Lion-o repeated, recalling the old mice man they had encountered. It had only been for a short while and he had little to say that wasn't cryptic and entirely forgettable as a result of not being understood. But Lion-o did remember him.
"Technology was also a fairy tale before Mumm-Rah's attack," Kat pointed out.
"Even if they were, how would we find one of them to translate the book?" Puma asked, still stating it as thought it were a constructive question. "Maybe we should focus on building our army instead."
"And face Mumm-Rah's forces head on?" one of the lords laughed, "We've done well enough to scrape by what we can, a full frontal assault without an ace to play is suicide."
"I have been researching possible locations for the Berbils hidden city," Panthro broke in, "It was a boyhood pursuit of mine; it was hardly relevant for the past few years but I have narrowed it down to a single geographic location, here." Panthro indicated the region on the war room table's map.
"Those valleys range for miles," Puma pointed out, "How can you find the needle if you only know which haystack it's probably in?"
"I can use the sword," Lion-o decided, "If I can be there, I can use Sight Beyond Sight to find it. It's been useful in the past, I have no doubts that this can work."
"If the city is still there."
"It should be." Panthro declared.
"Yes," Puma agreed staunchly, "It may be a hunch but it is a good one. We should outfit some groups for departure immediately."
OoooooooooooooooO
Everything moved quickly after that. Lion-o and the others did not actually leave for a few more days as they selected their route and accounted for the extra travelers and supplies. Another day and they were far enough south of Tuskania that the biting chill in the wind was gone.
The further south they journeyed the more often they would see a town or village razed to the ground, crops aflame. Fewer times still they would encounter a group of travelers and refugees that they would share a meal with and then direct northward.
Many of the travelers carried warnings about the different paths and forests, new and old, where Mumm-Rah's forces, both allied and rogue had splintered off and formed blocks in the roads or surveyed a forest. There were many warnings and in the interest of time to reach the valleys where the Berbils hidden city might be, they could not always divert their path around a place the travelers warned again.
Cheetara shuddered as she felt Jaga's presence whisper in and out again. It was stronger now, and after a moment she froze at the shrill and urgent voice in her ear. "You cannot continue this way! You are heading into an attack!"
AoooooooooooooooN
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