Chapter 3: Becoming, Part 2

Cheetara's fifteenth year arrived with the news that she was being fast-tracked. Jaga wanted her formal training completed by the end of the year so she could begin her role as a Guardian of the Crown. The cheetah was ecstatic, but her workload would double, and the little free time she had would virtually disappear. In addition, she was being given her own chamber, a privilege generally not granted until formal training was completed and an order assignment had been made.

Nimrim tapped her claws against the half-open door before entering Kefira and Cheetara's room. The cheetah was gathering her belongings; she placed clothing neatly in a basket. It was almost pitiful how little she had after nearly three years. She opened her trinket box, peered inside. There were still only two items.

Nimrim looked over her shoulder and pointed at the shriveled nub. "What's that?"

"Just a keepsake," Cheetara closed the lid and tucked the box inside her basket.

Kefira sat on her bed. She was pleased for her friend but also a bit wistful. "I'm going to miss you!"

"I'll miss you, too." Cheetara hugged the lioness. "But I'm not that far away, only on the floor below. We'll see each other all the time."

Nimrim dropped down beside Kefira. "You know I'm really happy for you, Cheetara, but it's not going to be the same."

Kefira pointed to the paper on Cheetara's bed. "From the looks of your schedule, you're going to be far too busy to hang out with us."

"I could say the same. You both will be just as busy this term. Nimrim's nose will be buried deep in historical records and updating volumes of material, and you'll be diving into the high magic of the sorcerers."

"I guess," Nimrim conceded. "We can still have dinner together, hang out in the baths, and gossip about our betters in the garden."

They all laughed.

Cheetara gave her friends one last hug, picked up her basket, and headed to her new room, which was very much like her old room, except there was only one of everything, and the chest was hers alone. She set the basket on the floor, plopped down on her bed, and collapsed. Suddenly, she felt overwhelmed. This is my dream, but is it more than I can handle?

Cheetara didn't mind the stress when she was the one putting pressure on herself, but now she had a small army behind her—teachers, mentors, and friends—all supporting and cheering her on. She wasn't the only one with high expectations anymore. Cheetara didn't want to let herself or anyone else down, but her biggest worry was disappointing her guardian angel, Nana, who she knew was still watching her, as sure as Third Earth had three moons.

"You will do wonderful things with your life."

Cheetara heard the midwife's voice as clearly as if she were in the room with her.

"I will do my very best, Nana. I promise."

– o –

Relationships were not encouraged, especially for neophytes, but sometimes attachments formed in secret. So, it was for Hafsa and Haidar. She was the lioness who wasn't Cheetara's biggest fan, and he was a tenured cleric who specialized in mythology. He sometimes sparred with the cheetah, which only added fuel to Hafsa's fire. One rainy afternoon when the moon was in its third phase, Cheetara and Haidar decided to work on strikes and blocks, and some of their peers gathered to watch.

Haidar lunged at Cheetara, but she blocked him. The impact of their weapons crashing together sent shock waves through them both. The cheetah was a formidable opponent not only for her speed but also for her strength. She was amazingly strong for someone with the lightweight build of a cheetah. Cheetara absorbed Haidar's hard strikes and delivered more powerful ones repeatedly.

The cheetah's technique kept evolving, like now when she hit him with what seemed like the force of the gods, rattling the larger cat to his core when he was sure he'd successfully blocked her attack. Haidar liked sparring with Cheetara; doing so made him a better fighter. She forced him to constantly work on his footwork and defense. Sparring with the cheetah improved his overall technique; Haidar's interest in Cheetara was practical, but Hafsa was not convinced.

While the others commented on attack and defense methods, Hafsa's annoyance with the spotted cat grew. The cheetah was constantly in the limelight, grabbing all the attention, and it was never was determined she wouldn't worm her way into Haidar's affection, too. The lioness confronted Cheetara when she walked off the training floor.

"You just love prancing around Haidar, don't you?"

Cheetara tapped her staff, retracting it, and reached for a towel to dry her face. "I didn't know anyone thought sparring was prancing."

"Cute. You're just so perfect. So innocent. Little Miss Spots from the Sticks."

Cheetara bristled inwardly, but she was aware the cats—all lions—still loitering in the room were Hafsa's crowd. Sheba and Gurion moved closer. Cheetara turned away and started to leave, but Hafsa grabbed her arm and spun her around.

"I really don't like you, haven't from day one. I think it's time we settled our problem."

Cheetara yanked her arm free; her eyes narrowed. "Your problem with me is your problem. Get out of my face and don't make it mine."

"Or what?"

Haidar rushed over and stepped between them. "You don't want to find out." He pulled Hafsa aside, none too gently. "Come on, Hafsa. The cheetah's world-class with the staff and pretty good at hand-to-hand, too. She's going to be a guardian. Do you really want to take her on?"

Cheetara's gaze swept over the lioness's friends, challenging any one of them to step up. No one moved toward her; the cheetah snarled a low warning before walking away. Haidar's intervention allowed Hafsa to save face, but she followed Cheetara with her eyes. She was going to find a way to take that cat down.

"I heard things got a little tense today." Nimrim slipped into the tub across from Cheetara and settled in. She called out to the attendant, "Can I get a few jasmine petals, please?"

"Yeah, I kinda lost my temper." Cheetara leaned back in the tub, closed her eyes, and tried to reclaim her inner peace.

The leopard sprinkled jasmine in her bath. "I thought Hafsa had gotten rid of whatever bug was biting her tail."

"I'm the bug, and she hates me."

Nimrim scooched down in the water and draped her arms over the sides of the tub. "She's being ridiculous. Maybe you should tell someone, like Jaga."

Cheetara wet a cloth, squeezed out the excess water, and covered her eyes with it. "If I told someone, especially Jaga, she'd get in serious trouble. I'm pretty sure she doesn't want that, and I don't want to get her thrown out even if she is being a hellcat."

"You're really being too nice about this." Nimrim flicked water at her. "If your places were reversed, she wouldn't be."

Kefira arrived and hopped inelegantly into the tub next to Cheetara; water splashed everywhere. "Hey!" she chirped. "What did I miss?"

– o –

The king acquired a new feline steed who was beautiful but not broken to accept a rider. It was the responsibility of the Master of Horse to get the new animal in hand. Unfortunately, the steed had other ideas and stomped all over its handler's foot, leaving the cat with a severely bruised and swollen paw. At the king's bidding, Jaga sent his best healer to the stables to examine Griffis. Leah advised keeping off the injured appendage for a week and soaking it twice daily in a blend of herbs and oils she mixed for him.

The twice unfortunate Griffis ran out of the solution just when the healers were swamped by clerics battling a host of problems—allergic reactions, insect bites, stomach upset, breaks, and sprains. Leah whipped up another batch of the soaking agent but couldn't spare anyone to deliver it. Everyone knew Cheetara was fast, so Leah asked Jaga for permission to have her run the errand.

"With your speed, you'll be there and back in a matter of minutes," Leah said. "You can approach from the back, and there will be little chance of running into anyone you shouldn't."

Ordinarily, Cheetara would have been happy to help, but this time she balked. "I only have minutes between classes, Leah. If I run into any trouble, I'll be late."

"You won't," the healer promised. "Just drop this vial off and be on your way. Griffis knows what to do; you don't have to talk to him."

"Fine." The cheetah sighed, took the bottle, and left. Cheetara decided it would take less than minutes because she would use maximum speed, something she hadn't done since the trip to the apothecary. The distance was much shorter; she wouldn't suffer any injury.

Cheetara leaped over the garden wall and raced across the field; she moved so fast that anyone watching wouldn't have registered her. She hit the stable doors like a tornado in less than twenty seconds, slammed into something hard, and was caught in a viselike grip.

"Oof!" Tygra's arms tightened around the irresistible force to keep from being knocked over, but he was pushed into a wall just the same. A remembered scent—soft and alluring—tickled his nostrils. Tygra looked down into eyes that sparkled like the rarest of pink sapphires. He was too stunned to speak. Does she have any idea how pretty she is?

The immovable object Cheetara was pinned against had big brown eyes and belonged to the face she secretly adored. Her heart pounded; her breath caught in her throat. His scent—earthy and masculine—made her lightheaded; it took a moment to realize she was pressed rather intimately against him, then she tried to squirm free.

"Uh, sorry." Tygra released her.

"No, my fault," Cheetara blushed, stepped back, and glanced away. She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm looking for the Master of Horse. The healer sent me with medicine." Cheetara felt very warm and knew she was speaking too fast.

"Sure, he's in there," Tygra pointed to a door across from the tack room.

Cheetara darted past the prince, rapped on the door, and hurried inside. She returned before Tygra could blink.

The prince grinned. "Hi," he said as if they hadn't just had a close encounter. "Do you remember me? A few years ago, you were looking for the clerics."

She nodded. "I do."

"Yeah?" He smiled again, and it settled warmly in his eyes.

Cheetara caught her breath—again. Why does he have to look like that?

His voice was pleasant. "How've you been? Are you a cleric yet?"

"No, not yet. Still working on it." Cheetara kept walking; she had a class, and she was late, but she really wanted to stay.

Tygra kept pace with her; he was reluctant to lose her again. "You look like the process is agreeing with you."

"Yeah. Look, I've got to get back. I'm really late for class." She hated herself.

"Okay, sure." He was disappointed. "Well…it was nice seeing you again."

"Yeah." It was nice seeing him, too, but Cheetara was already speeding away.

"My name's Tygra!"

"Cheetara!" she shouted over her shoulder and hoped her voice wasn't lost in the wind she created as she ran.

"You won't run into anyone you shouldn't," Cheetara mimicked Leah under her breath as she rushed to Master Cho's class. What on Third Earth was he doing in the stables?

She was a few minutes late, but Cho pretended not to notice when she slipped into her seat. Cheetara tried hard to focus on the lecture, but she couldn't stop thinking about Tygra's eyes or being in his arms, no matter how brief. Cheetara chastised herself after class. She'd missed more than half of what Cho talked about, and she couldn't afford to be distracted now. Cheetara pushed Tygra to the farthest corner of her mind and vowed she'd only take him out when everything else was done.

– o –

Summer faded into autumn. The first crisp days of the season settled over Thundera, and the end of Cheetara's training was finally in sight when the condition she feared announced itself. The spotted cat awoke one morning, not quite feeling herself. She was feverish and her senses, especially touch and smell, were almost painfully sensitive. Certain areas of her body tingled as if the nerves had suddenly awakened and were now on fire; an intense yearning such as she'd never felt before overtook her.

Cheetara curled up in her bed and hugged her knees to her chest. The cheetah trembled, feeling both a sense of dread and powerful excitement. Intellectually, she didn't want this, but physically, she desperately wanted to mate. A thought formed despite the fiery haze engulfing her mind; she needed to visit the infirmary but didn't trust herself to leave the room. Cheetara couldn't be sure if she'd be able to hold off a male if she met one along the way or if she'd simply let him take her where they stood.

And if the assault by her hormones weren't bad enough, the very word male triggered the image of the one she wanted with her—here and now. Tygra. Cheetara squeezed her eyes shut, and a tear trickled down her cheek. "Nana," she whispered. "Help me!"

Nimrim woke up each morning starving. Her routine was to splash water on her face, throw on a uniform, and hit the dining hall, but this morning she couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to check on Cheetara. She didn't know why it seemed like life or death, the cheetah was the healthiest cat she knew, but somehow it did. She always kept emergency snacks in her basket for occasions such as this. Nimrim wasn't a fan of fruit, but she grabbed an apple, took a huge bite, and sprinted to the fourth floor. She tapped on the door and scarcely recognized Cheetara's voice when she answered. The leopard pushed the door open, took one look at her friend, and rushed to her side.

"What is wrong?" Nimrim's voice went up a pitch in panic. Cheetara was bathed in sweat and looked a little wild.

"I'm in heat," Cheetara said through clenched teeth. "Go to Leah, please! Get something to stop this. She'll know what to give you."

Nimrim had not experienced this whim of nature, but from what she'd been told there was no "stopping this." However, she wasn't going to mention that to Cheetara now. She nodded and headed to the infirmary. Thankfully, the sickbay was quiet when Nimrim arrived. She wanted to inform Leah of Cheetara's problem with a certain amount of discretion. Nimrim found the healer at a table in the corner of the room sorting plants.

"Leah, thank the gods! Cheetara needs your help." The healer looked up from her work, and the leopard continued. "She's going through—she's going through, you know, that time. She said you would know how to stop it."

The healer suppressed a smile. "I see. Yes, I can help."

She went to a wall set with shelves, each holding several glazed jars, all labeled and of the same size. Leah selected plants from a few of them and returned to the table. Nimrim watched as she plucked leaves from stems, dropped them into a mortar, and crushed them into a fine powder.

"Is this her first heat?"

Nimrim shrugged. "I think so. She probably would've mentioned it if it had happened before. We tell each other everything."

"She'd rather not handle this the usual way?"

"I'm guessing no."

Leah sifted the powder into a vial containing liquid and shook it vigorously.

"What is that, and will it work?"

"It's an elixir called Kukataa Nanaya.Cheetara isto put two drops in any liquid and drink it every four hours. This is potent, so she's only to use it as I've instructed. This will calm the intensity of her—desire."

Nimrim was skeptical. "Are you sure?"

"I am sure. Tell Cheetara to visit me when she's feeling…in control."

Cheetara didn't feel "in control" until the following day; even then, her control was tenuous at best. When she thought everyone would be in class or otherwise occupied, Cheetara made her way to the infirmary and poked her head inside the door.

"Leah?"

The healer rounded a corner and smiled sympathetically. Cheetara wondered if she looked as edgy as she felt. Leah met the girl at the door, put an arm around her shoulder, and guided her to a chair. She poured a cup of tea, set it in front of Cheetara, and took a seat opposite her.

"Is it any better, dear?"

Cheetara inhaled. "A little. But I can't go about my normal activities like this. I just can't."

"Is there really no one you can turn to for assistance?"

Cheetara's eyes opened wide. "Assistance? You mean, someone I can mate with?" Leah nodded. "No! I'm sure any random cat would be happy to oblige, but I don't want that! This may be biological, but I want to be in control of when I mate. If I mate. And who I mate with!"

"The cycle for most females is between two to six times a year," Leah said. "Generally, once a female mates, that is becomes involved in a committed relationship, the frequency tapers off. It seems regular sexual activity controls the hardwired switch."

Cheetara had a mini-meltdown. "Good to know, but I'm going to be a guardian! I can't be holed up for a couple of weeks two to six times a year! I can't even attend my classes unless I want them to turn into fights or orgies! There must be something that can be done!"

Leah pursed her lips. "There might be something—"

Cheetara pounced. "What? WHAT?"

"We'll need to speak with Jaga."

"Great! Maybe we want to inform the king and his sons, too."

"Sarcasm doesn't become you, Cheetara."

"I'm sorry. I'm just at my wit's end."

"Yes, and it's only been a day."

Cheetara apologized again.

"Let me speak with Jaga; I'll send for you when I have news."

"Thank you, Leah."

Cheetara met a former instructor, a lion by the name of Ocieka, on the way back to her room. He smiled and nodded in greeting as they passed each other, then he turned around and sniffed the air. He walked toward her; his eyes darkened. She knew he was aroused.

Cheetara backed away and held her hands up in warning. "No, Ocieka. Stop."

He continued to advance, growling low in his throat, and Cheetara understood she needed to defend herself. She leaped over him, spun in the air, and kicked him squarely in the head. The lion was out cold when he hit the floor. Cheetara stepped over him, hurried to her room, and bolted the door. I'm going to have to apologize for that later. On second thought, let him apologize.

Cheetara hunkered down in her room and worried about missing classes for a second day. Exams were just a few months away, so now was not the time to be absent for lectures. Kefira and Nimrim were godsends; they delivered food and kept her company so that she didn't feel so isolated or obsess over a certain cat. Thinking about Tygra felt especially dangerous now for obvious reasons.

Leah tapped on Cheetara's door just as the third moon rose and motioned for her to follow. The healer led Cheetara to Jaga's workroom. Cheetara no longer felt uncomfortable in the impressive space; she'd spent hours in the workroom learning and practicing what she called light magic, simple spells, and incantations, useful to guardians. Cheetara and Leah made their way to the table where Jaga waited by the light of Third Earth's moons shining through the glass ceiling. Two unlit candles stood in a circle made of mystical symbols. Cheetara did not recognize the marks. She assumed they were high magic and beyond her knowledge. Jaga passed his hand over the candles, and they sparked to flame, illuminating his sharp features. Cheetara noticed a thin gold chain lying in the circle as well.

"I understand you want to control your nature."

"Yes."

"This can be done."

"How?"

"I will cast a spell over this," Jaga pointed to the chain. "As long as you wear it, you will not be bothered by natural cycles. The relief will be immediate."

Cheetara glanced at Leah.

"We'll talk later, dear."

She turned back to Jaga. "That sounds perfect."

The spell Jaga invoked was ancient and spoken in a language neither Cheetara nor Leah understood. The wizard's voice droned on for several minutes; finally, he picked up the chain. It dangled between his forefinger and thumb, and he zapped it with a burst of energy. The chain glowed red for a few seconds before returning to its buttery yellow tone. Jaga handed the chain to Cheetara, and she fastened it around her neck. In the time it took to straighten the thin piece of metal, the symptoms she'd battled for the past two days vanished.

Cheetara was filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Jaga. Thank you!"

With her personal disaster averted, Cheetara's life settled back into its normal rhythm. The charmed chain was so thin it seemed to disappear into her fur, and she thought no more about it. The next time Cheetara ran into Ocieka, he was embarrassingly apologetic, begging forgiveness. Kefira and Nimrim were impressed with the cheetah's solution to her problem.

"Do you think Jaga would charm necklaces for all of us?" Kefira wondered.

Nimrim arched her brows. "With all the females in this place? I don't see why he wouldn't. You may have set a precedent for all of us, Cheetara."

"I think it should be an option for anyone who wants it," Cheetara said. "Jaga isn't unworldly, and he's not without compassion."

Nimrim plucked at the fur on her arm. "I can't believe Leah asked if you didn't have someone to assist you!"

"I think she was trying to be helpful. But she knows I'm a novice without outside freedom or privileges. When would I have the opportunity to find a 'helper'?"

Kefira smirked. "Have you met Sheba? Hafsa? Not everyone cares about the rules. They don't worry about consequences or even stop to consider them."

"They're not exactly my role models. But if there was someone, and I'm not saying there is, but if there was, he'd be more than a convenience to put out a fire."

"Would that be the cute cat you referred to a while ago?" Nimrim asked.

Cheetara smiled. "What a memory. And…maybe."

– o –

Snowflakes swirled gently past the windows. Cheetara admired each one's unique pattern before stepping forward when her name was called.

"You've chosen the path of a guardian. The way is demanding and often without ease. The burden is sacrifice and duty. Have you given this thought? What are you prepared to give up? What will you sacrifice?"

This was the final step. Classes were over. Exams had been taken, the final grades were in. Cheetara was no longer a trainee, a neophyte. She was a cleric. All that was left was to be sworn into the order she'd chosen. The ceremony would be held in two days. She stood with the newest clerics in Jaga's workshop. They were there to declare their intentions before being accepted into their fellowships. This was their last chance to reconsider—to change their minds. She would not.

Cheetara stood before the sorcerer-cleric. The question he posed was solemn, life-altering, but she was ready with an answer.

"I'm prepared to give up personal happiness. I'm prepared to sacrifice my life, should it be necessary."

"And you will be faithful and loyal to the Crown of Thundera, no matter who wears it? You vow to protect and serve the royal family? You will uphold the Code of Thundera?"

"Yes."

"Very well, Cheetara." Jaga offered a rare smile. "I'll see you at the swearing-in ceremony."

Cheetara bowed her head, stepped back, then turned, and walked out of the room. Nimrim and Kefira waited outside and swarmed her when she appeared.

"You did it!" Nimrim crowed.

"There's still the formal ceremony, but thanks!" Cheetara hugged each of her friends. "I couldn't have done it without you two!"

"We're right on your tail!" Kefira laughed. "One more year."

Nimrim did a little dance. "Let's celebrate!"

"We still can't leave the grounds," the lioness said, "but that doesn't mean we couldn't have a little of the outside world brought to us."

They grabbed Cheetara by the arms and dragged her along. Since she was the only one without a roommate, her room was their destination. Nimrim had slipped a small bottle of wine under the cheetah's bed while she was occupied with Jaga. Now she knelt and pulled the contraband out.

"Where did you get that?" Cheetara asked, surprised.

"Low friends in even lower places," the leopard laughed.

"They even managed to grab glass cups!" Kefira produced three cups made of thick opaque glass from her bag. "Not the prettiest things, but they'll serve our purpose." She poured wine in each one, then handed the cups to the others.

"A toast," Nimrim beamed, "to the best friend ever. Congratulations, Cheetara!"

The cats raised their cups, clinked them together, then drank. The wine was a fall vintage, golden in color and mild on the tongue. It was delightful.

"Thank you," Cheetara said, her eyes bright with happy tears. "The future is ours."

– o –

Two days later, dressed in her ceremonial robe and veil, Cheetara was accepted into the guardian order and given the symbol of the Thundercats, a gleaming disk carved from red fire rock to be worn as part of her uniform. Jaga pronounced her to be Cheetara of the Thundercats, Guardian of the Crown. The words echoed in Cheetara's ears, and tears glistened in her eyes.

I did it, Nana, I did it!

She gave silent thanks to everyone who aided her on her journey, but two stood out above all others in her mind—her beloved Nana and the handsome prince named Tygra.