Consequences

by taurusrose

I didn't like how Tygra's decision to stay with his tribe was glossed over. I always thought: "What the hell? You're just gonna forget about Cheetara?" This short story attempts to set that oversight straight.

Consequences

"So…you would have just stayed there? Without a word or thought for me?"

Tygra had only finished telling Cheetara about the Tiger clan's village he and Lion-O discovered while scouting for a shortcut through the mountains. He'd met his biological father, learned he was of actual royal birth and why he'd been given up. In the end, Tygra had decided to stay with his people until he realized that was not possible. He remembered wondering if his destiny was always to lose the things he most cared about—his mother, the crown of Thundera, and now his long-lost father. Tygra hadn't thought about what his failure to return would look and feel like to Cheetara. Seeing the hurt on his beloved's face now ripped a hole in his heart.

"I…I was caught up in the moment," he said as if that explained everything.

Cheetara stared at him, then turned away so he wouldn't see the tears welling up in her eyes. "Well," she said at length, "I guess, on some level, I can understand how you felt and why you wanted to stay…to belong somewhere."

Tygra reached out to her. He wanted to take her in his arms, but she pulled away from his touch. Cheetara took a few steps and continued to present her back to him. Her voice was sad when she spoke again.

"I thought you had that with me. Love and acceptance, a place where you belonged."

"Cheetara…"

"What if I was with cub, Tygra? You would have done to your own child what you thought your father did to you!" Tears trickled down her cheeks.

"Cheetara!" Something like panic was building in Tygra's chest. "You know I love you. I would have sent for you! I swear it."

She looked at him, wiping tears away with the back of her hand. "I know you say you love me. I'm not sure I believe you anymore." Tygra reached for her again, but she brushed his hand aside.

"No." The word hung in the air, low and threatening. Then, she was gone.

When she was far enough away from him, Cheetara slowed her pace; she needed to compose herself before returning to camp. She didn't want the other cats to see that she was upset or that she and Tygra had quarreled. Quarreled. It had hardly been a quarrel. He'd told her his intentions, and she'd felt their relationship didn't mean as much to him. Cheetara felt—not to put too fine a point on it—betrayed. If all the pleasurable times they'd spent coupling had left her with a cub, she would've had to deal with it alone. His words of love and devotion meant nothing if he could forget them so quickly when circumstances changed.

Cheetara wanted to scream. Tygra was an adult, not a child. In this, she thought he'd been selfish in the extreme, and Cheetara didn't know if she could get past that. More importantly, she was so very disappointed in him. At that moment, she compared Tygra to Lion-O. Lion-O would never abandon the person he loved. She immediately rebuked herself for going there. She was not in love with Lion-O. Whatever the lord of the Thundercats would or wouldn't do carried little weight in this situation.

The brothers' relationship had improved dramatically since Lion-O's ordeal after death and Tygra's experience as king. Both had gained a better understanding of the pressures, responsibilities, and nuances of being a leader. Tygra appreciated his brother's burden, and Lion-O understood the importance of humility and taking advice from others when their experience was superior to his. The tension between them eased considerably; so, when Lion-O sensed Tygra and Cheetara had hit a bump in the road, he felt comfortable lending a sympathetic ear.

He'd seen the cleric return to camp without Tygra; she'd seemed upset and looked as if she'd been crying. Tygra returned a short time later, looking even worse. That night after everyone had gone to sleep, leaving the brothers sitting around the fire, Lion-O tested his brother's willingness to talk.

"Cheetara was quiet tonight," he said carefully. "Did something happen between you two?"

Tygra blew air out through his nose and threw another log on the fire. "I told her about the Tiger clan and that I had decided not to come back."

"Oof. I wondered about that."

"She thinks I would have abandoned her. She thinks my feelings aren't as strong as she thought."

"Well?"

Tygra shot him a pained look. "Come on, Lion-O. I was just happy to find out where I came from and to know I wasn't a prince by accident. I was thrilled to know there was a place where I belonged. I just wanted to spend some time with my father, with my clan. I didn't think beyond that. I certainly wasn't thinking about leaving my life here or Cheetara indefinitely!"

Lion-O remained silent and kept his expression neutral, but now he was considering the implications. Tygra was his brother and his heir if anything happened to him. He was the one constant in his life, and he depended on him more than his brother knew. He hadn't thought much about Tygra's decision in the Tiger village; they'd had other things to worry about, like…survival. Lion-O was inclined to side with Cheetara. Give up his Thunderian birthright? Turn his back on him and the Thundercats? What?!

"She's always so evenhanded and supportive," Tygra said, unaware of Lion-O's train of thought. "I never thought she'd react like this. How could she think I didn't love her or that I would leave her?"

Maybe because you said so, Lion-O thought to himself. To his brother,he said, "Well, love makes people crazy." Lion-O remembered his reaction when he learned Cheetara didn't love him. "Give her a little time."

"As much as she needs," Tygra said glumly. "I'll do anything to make this right." He looked at Lion-O. "What about you? You must've had a few thoughts about my decision as well." He paused, then said, "I ignored my commitments to both of you."

Lion-O grinned. "Well, not at the time," he admitted. "But since you mention it, yeah. What the heck, Tygra? You've always been at my side. Sometimes as a rival, sometimes as a frenemy, but always—always—as my brother. I don't know what I would do without that."

Tygra grinned and repeated something Lion-O said to him in the Tiger village. "You aren't gonna lose me, brother."

"Good," Lion-O replied. "Because I need you, too."

Most nights Tygra and Cheetara slept side-by-side, but he sensed she would not welcome him near her this night. He grabbed his blanket and moved to the far side of the camp. If he could have thrown himself into a bottomless pit, he would have done so gladly. He replayed the conversation with Cheetara over in his mind and cringed when he realized how he'd sounded. Whiskers! Had the situation been reversed, he would have shown far more anger and hurt than she had.

He loved Cheetara deeply, more than he could adequately express. He'd been foolish, and now he was at risk of losing her. Tygra had to make sure she knew that she was his heart. Sleep eluded him; he tossed and turned all night, giving up thoroughly when the first rays of light streaked the sky. The only cat up earlier was Panthro, and the general was tinkering with the Thunder tank as usual.

"Morning." Tygra ran a hand over his sleep-deprived eyes. "Is everything okay?"

"It is, just giving my baby a once over before we head out." Panthro stopped what he was doing and gave Tygra a strange look. "Why are you about so early?"

"Couldn't sleep."

Panthro grunted. Their living space wasn't large enough or private enough to keep dissent between partners a secret. "Long day ahead of us. Hope you'll be alert if there's trouble on the road."

Tygra stretched and rotated his shoulders. "I'll be fine."

The others began to stir, and Tygra looked for Cheetara. Her bedroll was neatly folded where she'd slept, but she was nowhere to be seen. Tygra recalled Kit had been closest to Cheetara during the night; he asked if she knew where his mate was. The kitten was busy rummaging through a bag; her face scrunched up in concentration. She didn't bother to look up.

"Nope," Kit shrugged. "She was here, and now she's not. Kat, did you see Cheetara leave?"

"Did not," he replied, "but I hope she has food when she comes back."

"We have a stash in the tank," Lion-O replied.

Snarf burped loudly, and Kat gave the small creature his best evil eye. "We had a stash."

"I've found a few pieces of candy fruit," Kit told them, pulling the food from her bag. "If we're not greedy little Snarfs, there's enough for all of us."

Kat jumped to his feet, laughing. "Kit to the rescue!"

All the talk about food grabbed Panthro's attention. "We can get supplies when we get to a town."

"We'd better get moving," Lion-O said. "We need to get on the trail of the next stone and find it before Mumm-Ra does."

Just then, Cheetara blew into camp; she had two plump rabbits, one in each hand. Apparently, she had discovered Snarf's midnight snacking. "I thought someone should make an effort to see that we don't starve."

She glided past Tygra without acknowledging him, the sun teased strands of her hair gold, and her fragrance tickled his nose. His heart swelled with the sight of her. "Morning, babe," he said for her ears alone, but she did not respond.

Once the rabbits had been skinned and dressed, Panthro eased the Thunder tank out on the open road. Lion-O rode shotgun, Tygra's usual place, hoping to give his brother a chance to mend things with Cheetara by riding with her in the cabin. Tygra and Cheetara were seated on the same bench, but there was enough space for three more cats between them. The twins sat on the opposite bench; they chatted among themselves but still managed to cast sneaky side-eyes at the unhappy couple. Tygra wanted to break the ice, but he didn't want an audience while trying to make up with his girl. Except for a few benign comments, the couple endured the ride in silence.

Cheetara was deep in her thoughts. Maybe she had overreacted with Tygra. She had issues left over from childhood of her own. What would she do if she could do things over again with her grandmother? Cheetara pushed a wayward strand of hair away from her face. She'd been harsh, and she supposed, a little out of character. She wondered if she was pregnant. That thought gave her pause. Cheetara wasn't sure how she would feel if that turned out to be true. It was too soon for her to know for sure, so she pushed the thought from her mind. It was hard to remain aloof with Tygra; she was ever aware of his presence and his heart's pull on hers. But his revelation stung her profoundly, and the hurt was still too fresh. Cheetara wasn't ready to settle things with Tygra. The cleric thought she knew his heart, but now she wanted—she needed—to know what he envisioned their future to be. Were they merely passing time, or were they forever?

The day dragged on, and the ride was tedious. The landscape was an endless panorama of dust and sand, towering rocks, and the occasional scraggly thorn tree. The cats encountered few signs of habitation as they journeyed on. The sameness took its toll on the kittens; Kat was sprawled out on his back fast asleep while Kit was curled up on her side, napping. Snarf snored gently in the circle of her arms. Tygra stole furtive glances at Cheetara. Yesterday, he'd been willing to wait her out, but now he chafed at the coolness between them. Tygra couldn't see how letting more time pass without clearing the air would make things better. He scooted across the bench and placed his hand firmly on hers, squeezing it gently.

"We need to talk."

She shook him off. "No."

Determined, he caught both her hands in his. "We need to talk."

"What else do you need me to know?"

"That you are the most important person in my life."

"Hmm."

Tygra could tell she wasn't convinced, but at least she hadn't shaken him off. He tried again.

"Cheetara, I made a decision hastily because I was…just so…overwhelmed, meeting my father, being part of a larger community. For the longest time, I'd only imagined this happening in my dreams; then, suddenly, there it was—a reality. My love for you never wavered! I would never have stayed away for long."

Cheetara's expression remained inscrutable. "What do you want me to say, Tygra?"

"Tell me you believe I love you and that I'd never desert you."

"I believe you'll have my back in a fight." This time, she did pull away. "That's all I can tell you."

Tygra fell back against the seat, stunned, and his expression said as much. Cheetara rose and climbed the few steps that led to the hatch in the roof. She popped it open and poked her head through. He heard her talking to Panthro and Lion-O, but everything seemed out of focus. Tygra was rattled. She wasn't ready to talk, yet it was pretty clear she'd made a decision. Cheetara accepted him as a fellow Thundercat but rejected him as a lover. He didn't know how he was going to live with that.

The landscape slowly began to change; more greenery appeared in the unrelenting desert, and the tank rumbled to a stop. The cats emerged, stretching their limbs and breathing in the fresh air. Tygra said he was going to scout around and look for a water source. Kit and Kat tagged along; their job was to find wood for a fire. Panthro fussed with the tank a bit before setting up a spit for the rabbits Cheetara caught earlier.

Lion-O climbed a small hill and saw Cheetara sitting there. She sat with her legs stretched out before her, arms extended at her sides, supporting her weight. Her face was raised skyward, and her eyes were closed—the perfect position for someone determined to catch the last rays of the sun.

"Tygra's still in the doghouse?"

"Do you really want to get in the middle of this, Lion-O?"

He shuffled his feet and ran a hand through his bright red mane. "Not really." Lion-O parked himself beside her. "But you have to know Tygra's miserable. You're the center of his world, Cheetara."

Her position remained unchanged, but there was a trace of sarcasm in her voice. "Oh, yes. Tygra cares so much for me that he would have stayed in the Tiger village with dear old dad until who knows when. Maybe for good."

Lion-O pursed his lips. "I didn't like it either—he's my brother, but—"

Cheetara sat up straight and stared at him with eyes the color of azaleas. "If you love someone, let them go or some such nonsense, right?"

"What? No! That's not what I was going to say," he sputtered.

"You know what?" Cheetara was on her feet in a flash. "I really don't want to have this conversation. Not with him and not with you." She was gone before Lion-O could react.

Satisfied with their surroundings and having found a freshwater pool, Tygra completed his exploration and called out to the twins. They appeared through a thicket of trees, each carrying assorted sticks.

Tygra laughed. "Is that the firewood?"

Kat glanced down at his meager collection; he was embarrassed. "All that we could find."

Tygra reached for his gun, aimed, and fired at a tree branch a few feet away. It snapped and fell to the ground. "That should help," he said.

"You're all kinds of handy," Kit quipped.

Tygra grabbed the branch and dragged it behind him; the kittens followed in his wake.

"When we get to El-Dara, we'll have servants of our own to find firewood."

"First, we have to find El-Dara."

"Don't worry! We will."

"Maybe…" Kit hesitated and peeked at him through her lashes, "the city of treasure isn't where we're supposed to be."

"What?" Kat stopped in his tracks. "Of course it is! It's the reason we left home."

"It was," she said slowly, "but I think we have another reason now. One that's not about riches and comfort."

Kat frowned, confused. "What about the adventure?"

"This is an adventure, fighting evil, supporting Lion-O."

"Being a Thundercat," Tygra added over his shoulder.

Kit's ponytail bobbed up and down in agreement. She was surprised the prince was listening to their conversation. The furrow between Kat's brows deepened. What was she talking about?

"Anet says we should always look for the big picture to determine the best course of action," Kit said and hurried after Tygra.

Kat trailed after them and wondered why Kit was so influenced by the pacifist pachyderm.

Cheetara returned to the hilltop after the evening meal. The moon rose above the horizon, casting a magical light across the landscape. Her estranged beau had taken pains to keep his distance since they camped, and she was a little disappointed that he'd given up so quickly. As she crested the hill, she saw a figure silhouetted against the night sky; his scent was familiar and inviting. Cheetara was annoyed that Tygra's presence could inflame her even though she was angry with him, and yet, she was pleased to see him. Although he had staked a claim first, he was considerate of her discontent with him.

"Would you like me to leave?"

"That depends." The remark seemed more flirtatious than she would have liked. "Can you be silent?"

"Yes."

She settled beside him but not too close, and they enjoyed the night sky without a word passing between them. The moon, the stars, it was a romantic night, but Tygra was a cat of his word, and Cheetara refused to yield even though part of her wanted to hear his plea and forgive him. When she couldn't bear being near him any longer, she said good night and left. Tygra wanted desperately to kiss her, but he knew that would be madness at this point. He didn't want to alienate her any more than he already had. He echoed good night and watched her go. Frustrated, Tygra slept on the hill alone.

The sky was just beginning to grow light when Tygra opened his eyes. He stretched his body, easing the kinks from his muscular frame before heading back to camp. Along the way, he picked a few flowers growing fitfully on the hillside and placed them beside his sleeping beauty's head. Tygra was surprised that he'd managed to rise before Panthro. He used the time to check the vehicle's systems and readiness for the journey ahead. The camp slowly came to life as the other cats began to wake and prepare for the day. Tygra watched as Cheetara noticed his gift. She handled the flowers gently, smelled their fragrance, then tucked them into her bedroll. Cheetara gathered her belongings and casually scanned the camp. She smiled when their eyes met. Rather than respond with his usual flirty wink, Tygra returned a smile that settled warmly in his eyes. He was encouraged by her mood.

"Let's go," Panthro shouted.

Everyone climbed into the tank and settled themselves for the day's ride. Tygra took his customary seat, riding shotgun, while Cheetara lounged on the bench across from Kit and Snarf. Kat swung from an overhead bar and teased Kit about something. Lion-O poked his head through the hatch and grinned.

"Alright, general. The troops are ready to roll."

At mid-day, the tank rolled to a stop outside a town inhabited by dogs. Panthro seemed familiar, if not excited, with the place. "I say we find the supplies and get out of here," he said as they passed through the city gate. "I've got some real bad memories of this town."

"You've been uneasy all morning," Lion-O remarked. "What exactly happened here, Panthro?"

"Forget it, kid. I don't want to give you nightmares."

Tygra smirked. "He's probably just worried about catching fleas from the locals."

"Come on, guys," Kat chided, "dogs aren't so bad."

"We used to hang out with them all the time in the slums of Thundera. They made the best bone stew." Kit closed her eyes in remembrance and sniffed the air.

Kat's stomach rumbled on cue. "Bone stew! Let's find some while we're here." The twins scampered away, but Cheetara was not keen on the group splitting up.

"Maybe you two should stay close."

"We can take care of ourselves," Kat replied. He and Kit bolted down a narrow artery bustling with activity.

Lion-O acted on Cheetara's concern and crouched beside his pet. "Make sure they stay out of trouble, Snarf."

The little catlike creature nodded, meowed agreeably then ran off after the twins.

Tygra noticed a placard tacked to the side of a building and pointed to the wall. "Look at this."

They gathered to see a female cat displayed against the background of a stadium.

"A cat?" Lion-O was surprised. "What's she doing here?"

"She must have survived the fall of Thundera," Cheetara guessed.

Lion-O ripped the sign down.

"Now, all she has to do is survive the pit," Panthro said.

Lion-O frowned. "The pit?"

"It's the main attraction here. I'll show you."

Panthro led the way through busy streets before the last passageway opened up, revealing a massive arena steps away from the city's heart. He dropped several coins into the attendant's outstretched hand, and the cats strolled through the entrance. They were surprised to see the place was overflowing with spectators, all cheering and shouting at the combatants fighting below. Panthro pushed his way into an aisle, and the cats squeezed in.

"This is the pit," he said. "It's where slaves and criminals fight to survive."

Tygra scowled. "And to entertain. Like I needed another reason not to like dogs."

Lion-O turned to the dog seated next to him; his expression matched his brother's. "Who's in charge?" The dog pointed to a concealed viewing area above their heads. "Let's go."

They followed Lion-O up a dark stairway that led to a private viewing booth. Cheetara pushed back the curtain separating them from the occupant, revealing a dog absorbed in the fight below.

Lion-O shoved the mangled sign in front of his face. "What do you know about this cat?"

The dog, a Doberman, glanced at it dismissively. "She's a fighter, belongs to me."

"She doesn't belong to anyone!"

"That so?"

Lion-O trembled with rage. "She's a free cat now, so we'll be taking her with us."

The Doberman rose from his seat. He was lean but powerfully built, and he towered over Lion-O. "You're welcome to try."

Panthro spoke up. "Don't let him scare you, Lion-O." He pushed his way forward until he was nose-to-nose with the dog. "He may have been tough once, but now he's too old and scrawny."

Tygra planted himself beside Cheetara.

"Filthy little furball," the Doberman snarled.

"Stupid, ugly mutt," Panthro retorted.

Both growled menacingly, showing lots of teeth. Cheetara and Tygra braced themselves for the worst, but the would-be adversaries clasped hands quite unexpectedly, and Panthro laughed.

"It's been a long time, Dobo."

"A lifetime, Panthro."

Tygra was flabbergasted. "Are they friends?"

Cheetara was equally flummoxed. "I can't tell."

Dobo told them that the cat's name was Pumyra and if Lion-O was so hot to see her, he was just in time. "She's up next against Gormax," he said.

They'd already seen Gormax, a monstrous machine with detachable parts it used as weapons, take out one fighter. Lion-O was horrified.

"She doesn't stand a chance against that thing."

It wasn't long before the cat entered the arena and faced the hulking robot. While slender in build, the puma was strong and quick. Pumyra brought Gormax down in short order with a foldout crossbow built into the band she wore on her forearm. The crowd roared its approval. As fearsome as she was in battle, Pumyra held her wrists out passively to the guards once the match was over. She allowed herself to be cuffed and led back to her cell. Lion-O fumed and took a step forward, but Panthro blocked his path.

"The lizards are bad enough," he said. "We can't afford a war with the dogs, too."

"She's a Thundercat, Panthro! I won't let her be a slave."

The cats returned to their camp. They had differing opinions about what should be done, but Lion-O was adamant. They would remain in Dogtown until Pumyra was free. It was getting late; the twins and Snarf had not returned, and Cheetara was concerned. Lion-O told her not to worry; they'd be along soon enough. He disappeared quietly a short time later, and Panthro suspected he was on a rescue mission. The general wasn't happy about that and said he'd stay close in case the king landed himself in trouble. With the team scattered, Tygra had other plans.

Panthro jabbed at Tygra's shoulder with his finger. "Stay focused. If you see the cat symbol, don't mess around."

Tygra nodded, and Panthro climbed inside the tank, leaving him alone with Cheetara. Tygra eased his way to her side.

"Looks like it's just you and me."

"Looks like."

He reached for her hand. "Join me for dinner?"

She hesitated, and Tygra wondered if she was going to reject him again. But Cheetara surprised him and placed her hand in his.

"Dinner would be nice."

Tygra caught, cleaned, and cooked a rabbit. Dinner finished, they wandered back to Dogtown and took in the sights while keeping an eye out for the twins and Snarf. They stopped at a weather-beaten stand selling flavored ice, and Tygra purchased one to share. The small intimacy of touching hands and licking from the same frosty cone renewed Tygra's hope.

He guided Cheetara to a wobbly table half in the shadow of a gnarled tree. The town square was beginning to settle down for the night. Most of the shopkeepers' stalls were closed and shuttered; the few citizens still wandering about ignored the attractive cat couple in their midst. On the other hand, since they were dogs, they probably didn't find the cats particularly attractive and paid no attention to them at all.

Tygra was nervous and cleared his throat. Cheetara's eyes sparkled in the low light; she was ready to hear him out. Tygra's eyes roamed freely over her face, caressing each delicate feature. His love for her swelled in his chest, and he took a deep breath before he spoke.

"You know, when I decided to stay in the Tiger village, I was ignoring the trajectory of my life. Pride was the downfall of my clan. If they hadn't been full of pride, they would have reached out to Thundera for help instead of making a deal that called for my death and ended up cursing them. Javan sent me away so that I might survive. And my adopted parents gave me a home, a family, and unconditional love. I know sometimes I don't act like it, but I'm grateful for all that I have. And I'm thankful that I now know where I came from, but I was mistaken—no, I was wrong, Cheetara, to think I belonged there and that giving up any part of the life I have was worth it to change course.

"You were right to be upset with me, but you were wrong to think I could ever leave you. I was blinded momentarily, but believe me when I say; I fell for you the moment I saw you. My feelings for you have only grown since then. I can be stubborn and difficult, arrogant and sometimes foolish. But, Cheetara, I am yours. I belong with you. I will love you until my dying breath."

Tygra reached for her hand and rubbed it against his cheek. "Please forgive me." He kissed her palm. "Tell me you still love me; tell me you still want me, Cheetara."

There was nothing more Cheetara needed to hear. Tygra punched through her defenses with his touch and shattered the last vestiges of her anger with his words. She felt as if she were melting inside and leaned into him. Her face was only inches from his; her voice trembled with emotion.

"I love you." Cheetara brushed his lips with hers. "I want you. Forever."

While Lion-O was getting himself caught trying to rescue Pumyra and getting thrown into a cell beside her, the twins, along with Snarf, were getting into deeper trouble with their new acquaintance, Tookit. Tygra was definitely having the better evening; he persuaded Cheetara to spend the night with him in an actual bed. They hadn't been intimate in weeks, and the chance to make love all night was irresistible.

Tygra whisked his mate to a small inn with a clean room and thick feather bed. Their union was wild, unrestrained, without any pretense at foreplay. They were desperate to taste, touch, and feel each other, and their hunger consumed them. Cheetara wrapped herself around Tygra; she took every inch of him and cried out his name. Tygra gave her everything she demanded; he couldn't sheathe himself deep enough inside her quivering flesh. He ravished her body and plundered her mouth until she lay limp and exhausted beneath him. Once she was satisfied, Tygra flowed freely, filling her with his seed; it mixed with her nectar, and his nostrils flared with the pungent scent of their mating. He shook with the intensity of his orgasm.

They rested and made love; rested and made love some more. Hours later, Cheetara murmured, "Don't fall asleep."

She lay on her belly between his legs with her cheek resting on his chest; the soft white fur covering the broad expanse tickled her nose, and she smiled. Contented. Tygra's eyes were closed, and a noise, half growl, half purr, vibrated in his throat. The only indication that he wasn't asleep was the gentle sweep of his fingers stroking her shoulder.

She raised her face and peered at him through locks of snarled hair. The movement adjusted the weight of her breasts, and he sighed. Cheetara pressed herself against him wantonly and was rewarded by the swift thickening of his shaft. Tygra's eyes opened, and he arched a brow.

"Really? Again?" She responded with a sultry laugh. "You're insatiable," he said thickly.

Tygra cupped her bottom with both hands, lifting her until she felt him teasing her opening. Cheetara lowered herself as he pushed inside, her eyes narrowed to slits, and she sucked in her breath. She watched him slide in and out, slick and hard. She burned with desire for him; her senses were in overload. Cheetara bit her lip and met his thrusts; she clung to sanity.

"Tygra…please…"

Tygra nudged her legs further apart and continued to penetrate her forcefully; he withdrew only to plunge deeply again and again. Cheetara's body tensed, then spasmed; her hot flesh clutched him tightly, and his control gave way. He shuddered and jerked inside her, and his roar reverberated off the walls. Tygra buried his face in Cheetara's shoulder. His fangs drew flecks of blood.

The lovers slept with their limbs entwined; they were unwilling to separate even in sleep. Tygra woke first to the sound of a rooster crowing. Whiskers! They needed to get moving. But one look at Cheetara still nestled in his arms slowed his roll. He brushed tangled hair back from her face and kissed her. She stirred slowly and stretched. Cheetara opened one jewel-like eye and smiled at him.

"We're in trouble, aren't we?"

"Not if we get back to camp before Panthro wakes up."

She laughed and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "I think that ship has sailed."

The amorous couple bathed quickly and returned to camp. Panthro paced impatiently in front of the tank. He told them that none of the others had returned, and he was most concerned about Lion-O. If he'd tried rescuing Pumyra and run afoul of Dobo, things could get nasty.

"What about Kit and Kat?" Cheetara asked.

"We'll track them down as soon as we find Lion-O," Tygra said.

The three cats hurried to the Pit, where Dobo met them. The Doberman said Lion-O had tried stealing from him; he was now a prisoner and would be fighting Pumyra that evening. Although Dobo had been a thief and gladiator, he handed Panthro the Sword of Omens and the gauntlet with the Spirit stone.

The general scowled. "That's our king you've got in that cage, Dobo."

"Would you rather I turn him over to the authorities?" Dobo challenged. "In the pit, at least he's got a chance of getting out."

"After a hundred victories," Cheetara said.

"Since Panthro's a friend, I'll make an exception," Dobo told them. "If Lion-O wins, he's free."

"And if he loses?" She turned skeptical eyes on Panthro. "Tell me again how you know this friend."

Lion-O was stuck in a cell next to a cat who absolutely hated him and did not want his help. Pumyra had nothing but scorn and vitriol for the king of the Thundercats. She didn't want to hear anything Lion-O had to say.

"I stopped believing you'd rescue me a long time ago," Pumyra hissed. "I will earn myself the freedom my king could not give me. And when we get in that arena, I'm gonna rip you to pieces." She slammed her hand violently against the bars of her cell, emphasizing the point.

Tygra and Panthro hung around the Pit helplessly waiting for nightfall. Lion-O had put himself in this position; now, they had to abide by the laws of Dogtown and the Pit. They couldn't break him out without incurring the wrath of Dobo and his guards, and they couldn't assist him during the fight. The cats hoped Lion-O could beat his opponent; without the sword and gauntlet, the lord of the Thundercats would have to depend on his skill as a warrior to save himself.

Cheetara joined them at twilight. She'd gone off to look for Kit and Kat, but the search was unsuccessful. No one had seen them since they left the pub the day before. Cheetara did not sense they were in any particular danger, but she worried just the same, not knowing where they were. Tygra promised they would pull out all the stops once they'd freed Lion-O.

The first fight of the night was Lion-O vs. Pumyra. Before the battle began, Lion-O vowed to stand with Pumyra and refused to fight her. He remained true to his word once they were in the arena, but Pumyra was out for blood, and his friends watched her pummel him unmercifully. She taunted him cruelly between brutal kicks and punches to his body and face. Lion-O was hurled through the air and slammed against the ground repeatedly. Cheetara clenched her teeth; she did not like seeing her king so abused.

Panthro turned to Dobo. "Does he have to be punished for what you think I did?"

Tygra stood with his hand on Cheetara's shoulder. He growled as his brother continued to taste the arena's dust. Pumyra seemed hellbent on beating Lion-O to death.

"Why do you keep getting up?"

Stumbling to his feet, Lion-O answered. "I said I'd stand by you, and I intend to."

Pumyra stood ready to take the killing shot with her crossbow; her hand trembled with tension, and Lion-O stared at her. Whatever she was going to do, she would have to do it while looking directly into his eyes. His friends froze, horrified, and held their collective breath. Pumyra let the stone slip from her hand, and she relaxed her grip on the crossbow.

Her voice rose clear in the air. "I will not kill my king, Dobo."

"And I will not hurt a fellow cat."

Dobo told them the penalty for forfeiting was death. Both Pumyra and Lion-O nodded understanding, but then a cry went up from the crowd; hundreds of voices pleading with Dobo to let them live.

He looked at Panthro and said, "It seems loyalty is not only a trait of the dogs." Dobo turned to the combatants below him. "You have earned my respect. You both leave this arena as free cats!"

The crowd roared its approval. The cats rushed to Lion-O's side. He looked awful, and the cat responsible for the damage stood a few feet away. Panthro disliked her immediately; his good eye raked her up and down. Cheetara's expression was indecipherable, but she was not okay with a Thundercat laying hands on the crown's person, and Tygra ignored her completely. She was lucky he didn't flay her where she stood with his bolo whip. Lion-O knew they would need time to get over Pumyra's treatment of him, not to mention her rage and aggression. For now, he was just happy to see them. He limped toward them slowly; each step brought a fresh stab of pain. A lopsided grin split his swollen face. Tygra was furious, and his jaw tightened; he glared at Pumyra.

Panthro reached him first. "Kid! What's the matter with you? You're our king! You can't just go putting yourself in danger like this."

"I am king, and I've failed our people." Lion-O gestured to Pumyra; her eyes were cold and hard. "She told me cats are being held as slaves."

"Where?" Panthro directed the question to Pumyra and met her gaze with equal hostility.

"A mining operation in Mount Plun-Darr." Her voice was surprisingly soft.

"I've got to save them," Lion-O told them. "We've got to save them."

"We will," Cheetara assured him.

Tygra moved to support Lion-O's battered body. "Let's just get you back to camp and take care of your injuries."

Lion-O threw his arm over his brother's shoulders and gimped along. His pace was slow, and his entire body hurt. He had cuts and bruises everywhere. Lion-O glanced over his shoulder at Pumyra.

"You're coming with us."

Cheetara cleaned the worst of Lion-O's wounds. Pumyra lurked in the background, watching the interaction between the two. Once the cleric departed, she approached the lion king. He was surprised when she picked up a piece of cloth and began wrapping his wrist.

"Maybe you know how to act like a king after all," she said grudgingly.

While Cheetara tended to Lion-O, Tygra and Panthro discussed the new Thundercat. She was an impressive fighter, but they both thought there was something treacherous about her. The beat down of Lion-O was unwarranted. Before Panthro walked away, he said it was good that Tygra was back in Cheetara's good graces.

Tygra's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I never figured you for a romantic."

Panthro grunted and shrugged. "Not a fan of moping."

Tygra leaned against the tank and admired Cheetara's long graceful limbs as she walked toward him. She liked the way he looked at her when no one else was looking and slipped between his open arms. Tygra closed his arms around her and surrendered to her kiss. It was sweet but brief; he stroked her cheek and whispered in her ear. Cheetara laughed and turned in his arms so that her back was against his chest. They stood like that for a while, breathing each other in and savoring the moment. At length, Cheetara gave voice to her thoughts.

"I was afraid for Lion-O today. She nearly killed him."

"And it seemed," Tygra thought for a minute, "personal, which is crazy because we've never met her before."

Cheetara hesitated, then said what she really thought. "Something doesn't feel right about her." She noticed they were avoiding calling Pumyra by name and softened her comment. "Or maybe we're judging her too quickly. Maybe she'll turn out to be someone Lion-O needs."

Tygra scoffed. "Hard to think that after what she did today."

"We're headed for another battle," Cheetara sighed.

Tygra kissed her shoulder and tightened his arms around her slim waist. "No matter the mission or the danger, you and I will face it together. We will live or die by each other's side. Always."

Cheetara reached for him, her hand settled behind his head, and pulled him closer. With his face a breath away from hers, she whispered, "Forever."