Chapter 8: New King
A rocket exploded into the side of the mountain, sending up a thick cloud of dirt, gravel, and dust. It was followed by another that incinerated a candy fruit fern; bits of fruit and juice filled the air, mixing with the dust and gravel. The kittens and Snarf were thrown to the ground by the impact; several more rockets struck the mountain and exploded around the cats.
Lion-O shouted, "Ambush!"
Tygra reached for his whip and prepared to strike, but Atticus snuck up behind him, grabbed the lash, and held on tight. "You're not gonna hide this time," he jeered, punching Tygra hard in the face. The blow knocked the striped cat off his feet and sent him flying.
"Tygra!"
Cheetara ran toward him, but Kanar dropped from somewhere above and wrapped a sinewy arm around her throat.
"You run like a girl," he taunted.
She struggled to free herself, but the pressure on her windpipe was crushing and threatened to cut off her air. Kit, Kat, and Snarf made a run for it, only to find their path cut off by heavily armed lizards. Lion-O drew the Sword of Omens and Slithe fired his gun; the sword spun through the air. The situation took a fatal turn quickly, and seeing his brother pushed over the side of the mountain shook Tygra to his core.
"You killed him!"
It began when Panthro fired up the Book of Omens at Lion-O's behest to search for the next stone, and it pointed up. The general shook his head. "Up? How can it be up?"
"I don't know," Lion-O shrugged. "But if the book says the stone is up, then that's where we're going."
Tygra sighed. "Why is up always so high?"
"The book can be cryptic at times," Cheetara noted thoughtfully. "Maybe you're misinterpreting the message."
Lion-O scoffed. "Wouldn't be the first time, but I've learned my lesson."
"Have you?" Tygra challenged. "Because heading up there feels like another wild goose chase."
Lion-O saw that the cheetah was at his brother's side, her expression troubled. Always united against me, he thought petulantly. To Tygra, he said, "When you're king, you can do things your way. Now let's go."
Up meant following a narrow winding path up a rugged mountainside with no cover and a sheer drop to the river below. No one thought this was a good idea. Not the general, not the second in command or the cleric, not even the kittens and Snarf were on board with Lion-O's decision, and they grumbled among themselves before grudgingly following the king's lead. The higher the cats climbed, the more unsettled they became, only to have Lion-O's expression and position harden. He threw angry glances at Tygra and Panthro, who were vocal with their complaints.
"Maybe we should consider turning around. What do you think?"
Cheetara's voice was gentler. She posed a question rather than opposing him outright, but she was as concerned as Tygra and Panthro, and her face said as much. The cleric's approach broke through the king's stubborn umbrage. Lion-O turned to look at his team. Six pairs of eyes stared back at him, all with the same message: this is ill-advised; we shouldn't be here.
His frown deepened, and he ignored the validity of their concerns. They're all against me, he sulked. Then he saw candy fruit ferns ahead.
"I think…we should stop here for a quick rest."
"First good idea you've had all day," Tygra needled but softened his tone under Cheetara's disapproving look. "You may be king, but that doesn't mean you can't learn something from us."
The cats had just settled down to enjoy the fruit they'd gathered when they were ambushed. The attack caught them by surprise; they were quickly restrained, the sword and gauntlet taken, and Kit was threatened to force Lion-O to hand over the Book of Omens.
"You'd better not hurt her, Slithe," Lion-O warned.
He made a run for the gauntlet, succeeded in grabbing it from a distracted reptile, and somersaulted in the air. But when the king landed, he was perilously close to the cliff's edge.
His bravado was rewarded by Kanar pushing him over the side; Lion-O plunged into the river. When he didn't rise to the surface, they realized he had drowned. Slithe was livid. The boy-king still had the gauntlet with the Spirit Stone. The lizard general ordered his underlings to scour the riverbank for the lion's body. The generals pushed the cats together, placed them in handcuffs then herded them onto the transport.
Kanar pulled Cheetara up against him roughly. "This one's a cheetah, but she smells like a tiger."
"S-s-s-s-so?"
"She might like to play with a jackal, too."
Tygra's base instincts to possess and protect flared up, gripping him in a murderous rage. The cat growled, flashed his fangs, and strained against his guards, but Cheetara's eyes blazed, and she elbowed Kanar savagely in the ribs. The jackal yelped.
"That's how I'll play with you," she snarled. "Uncuff me, and you'll get more."
Slithe's eyes rolled back in his head. Kanar disgusted him, and that was saying something.
"Leave her be! It's for Lord Mumm-Ra to decide what to do with them."
Panthro's lip curled in contempt. "You're begging for a world of hurt."
Kanar laughed unintimidated by more cat bravado; Atticus hooted and grunted angrily, but both kept their distance and left the cats alone. The search team returned and reported no sign of the king. They thought he'd washed out to the Great Sea. WilyKit was heartbroken and wiped her eyes. She felt directly responsible for Lion-O since he'd rushed to her defense.
"It's okay," Kat comforted. "We're gonna get through this."
"There will be time for mourning," Cheetara added, "as soon as we take care of them."
"But how?"
"You always wanted to be king," Panthro said. "Well, now you are. Just hope you got a plan."
This hadn't occurred to Tygra, and the realization hit him hard. With Lion-O dead, Tygra was the new king, and responsibility for the others was now his. He frowned, understanding the weight of his position. Cheetara didn't care for Panthro's tone; it was almost accusatory. How is this Tygra's fault? She turned toward the new king and awaited his command.
Tygra kept an eye on their captors and his voice low as he laid out his scheme. Cheetara and Panthro nodded, but the cleric didn't like the idea; still, she knew they didn't have another option. She gave him a tentative smile, then focused on her surroundings—the positions of each lizard, the weapons they carried, and the stance of the generals. She paid particular attention to Kanar's whereabouts. Cheetara was incensed by what he'd implied; she would make sure he had playtime. The transport hurtled towards Mumm-Ra's lair and, Slithe turned cold reptilian eyes on Tygra.
"Yours will be the shortest and last reign of any cat king."
"I'd rather die a king than live forever as a mindless lackey."
Angered, Slithe struck him.
"Well, you've got one thing going for you," Tygra said, testing his jaw. "You hit harder than the monkey."
Atticus rose to the bait, grabbed the tiger, and threw him from the transport. Cheetara flinched when the king hit the ground. Atticus swooped down on him, bashing Tygra in the face. Kanar joined in the violence, pushing the monkey aside.
The jackal cackled with glee. "Seems he likes getting hit as much as we like hitting him."
"No," Tygra grunted, "just had to buy some time for Kit and Kat to pick the locks."
The kittens dangled their cuffs merrily; Panthro and Cheetara attacked. The panther struck first. He lobbed a mighty fist at Kanar, knocking the jackal off his feet. Kanar tried to rise but was popped in the head with the panther's nunchucks, and he went down again. The monkey appeared next; Panthro pounced. Atticus used his feet in the fight and escaped Panthro before the burly cat inflicted too much damage. With chaos erupting around him, Slithe ordered the lizards to attack.
Cheetara drew her staff, a magical gift from Viragor, and murmured a brief incantation. The arcane symbol carved into the wood glowed, and the weapon sprang to life. Tygra's cuffs shattered when she struck them, then she turned on the lizards. The cheetah was a golden blur, flinging reptiles into the air. Some fell to earth broken and lifeless; others fared better, being only scarred and bleeding. Cheetara's eyes flashed pink fire as she zeroed in on Kanar.
She twirled the staff with celerity, aimed low and swept the jackal off his feet, then delivered an explosive blow to his head. The resounding crack left him dazed and cross-eyed. Cheetara unleashed violence she didn't know she was capable of; she ran circles around the jackal, beating him savagely with a staff electrified by her rage. Kanar whined and howled in pain; he curled into a ball as the blitz continued. Bloodlust seized the spotted cat, but she stopped short of sinking her fangs into his throat and ripping it out. When Kanar no longer howled or rolled around trying to protect himself, she moved on. There were still a few lizards standing. Not for long, she thought. The enchanted staff came down hard, breaking, and maiming reptile bodies.
Despite having been beaten by the generals, Tygra was tough and resilient. He was on his feet instantly and unleashed a barrage of well-placed blows on Slithe, throwing his weight behind each punch. Seeing the lizard was unable to fend off the tiger's attack, Atticus positioned himself behind the striped cat and grabbed his arm. Infuriated, Tygra threw his head back. He connected viciously with the monkey's face and followed the headbutt with his fist. Tiger and monkey continued to tussle. Incredibly, Kanar, having played dead to escape the cheetah's wrath, engaged with Panthro. His fist smashed into the general's face.
"I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"Not as much as I plan to hurt you," Panthro growled. He pounded Kanar's ruined face, and blood squirted out of the jackal's nose.
Slithe dashed back to the transport when Atticus intervened with Tygra and stopped the twins from stealing the sword. Slithe's reptilian face darkened. The cats were serving up serious damage. He ordered the generals and what was left of his troops back aboard the transport. Slithe shoved Snarf and the kittens to the ground and pointed at the new king.
"You have your lives, but they're of little good as long as I have this."
He waved the Sword of Omens in the air victoriously. Tygra drew his pistol and fired at the retreating transport. He gave chase, firing his gun until it was out of range. Cheetara caught up to him.
"Your brother would be proud if he could see you now." Her sapphire gaze was soft; she was proud of him, too.
"This isn't over yet," Tygra declared. "We're getting that sword back."
He set off in the direction the transport had taken, and Cheetara kept pace at his side. Panthro, Kat, and Snarf followed the new king and his consort. Kit hesitated long enough to draw a quick picture of herself on a boulder, then she ran after the other Thundercats.
– o –
There was no time to debrief the day's events or go back for the Thundertank. The lizards had taken them too far to waste time backtracking; the cats had no choice but to follow on foot. They kept a brutal pace; still, it was well after dark when they crested a mountain, and the pyramid came into view.
The sight overwhelmed Cheetara. "Mumm-Ra's temple. It's even scarier than I thought."
Panthro did not make her feel better. "I nearly died in that pit thanks to Grune. You sure you want me to help us get in? Getting out was hard enough."
"I don't like it either, general, but we have to get the Sword of Omens back."
"There's an air shaft on the north side. Dangerous, but it's your call…king."
The general's hesitancy to accept Tygra as the new king did not go unnoticed by either the tiger or his consort. But they knew Panthro only acknowledged proven leadership and were not offended.
Tygra looked through high-tech opticals and assessed the opposition. "We need to take out the guards."
Panthro nodded and moved silently down the craggy mountainside.
Cheetara sensed Tygra's turmoil. "You okay?"
"I always told him that I should be king," he brooded, "but…I never wanted it like this."
She understood his sadness and guilt, but they had to move forward. There was no other choice. "The only thing we can do now is finish the job he started."
Cheetara shadowed Panthro down the treacherous slope. Tygra hesitated briefly, then followed her. Kat started to move out but paused; Kit was scratching out another drawing.
"Again?" he squawked. "This is like the tenth rock that you've drawn that on."
"If I don't leave him a trail, Lion-O will never be able to find us."
Snarf's gentle eyes widened, and he tapped the rock with his paw as if to agree.
Kat couldn't hide his impatience. "Kit! Lion-O's gone."
She frowned. "Didn't you learn anything from the elephants? Death is only the beginning! As long as Lion-O still has his soul, he has a chance. We have a chance."
Kat didn't argue with his sister. Instead, he waited for Kit to gather herself, then the three of them hurried after the others.
The adult cats made short work of disabling the perimeter guards. Panthro activated a hidden switch, illuminating an elaborate pattern that opened a door into the pyramid. The general breathed a bit easier and led the way inside, but as soon as they reached the main corridor, red lights flashed, and an alarm sounded. The cats dashed back the way they came, narrowly avoiding discovery. Guards flooded the hallway.
Cheetara hovered at his side. "Now what, my king?"
Tygra was an expert in battle strategies and military campaigns, and he demanded perfection when planning, but here he was flying by the seat of his pants. Improvising quickly was his brother's strong suit.
"Just let me think."
Kit stepped up as the guards loomed closer. "Don't worry," she assured the tiger king. "I've got this."
She pranced into the corridor in front of the guards, flupe in hand, and began playing a beguiling tune. The guards froze in place, mesmerized. The cats filed into the corridor, ran past the guards, and disappeared into the air shaft.
As the strands of music began to fade, the enchantment wore off the lizards. They looked up and down the hall, and seeing no one, the leader determined it was a false alarm. He reset the warning system and instructed everyone to return to their posts. The cats crawled through the air shaft single file; strange chanting reached their ears, and they peered through the iron grating to a ceremonial chamber below. Lizards wearing white robes with the mummy's insignia were the source of the ritualistic chanting; they formed a circle around their master. Mumm-Ra hovered over the Sword of Omens with his three generals at his back.
His raspy voice rose above the chanting. "At long last, the king of the cats is dead, and the Eye of Thundera will be mine once again. And this time, no spell will keep me from the stone. For within these walls, my powers are immeasurable."
Mumm-Ra raised his arms and began reciting an incantation. The sword slowly began to spin as his voice droned on; the rotation picked up speed. Cheetara gasped. It looked as if the spell was working. Her gaze swept past the others to settle on Tygra.
"What do you want to do?"
"Drop in for a surprise attack."
Five pairs of eyes opened wide in shock. Panthro frowned. "And land in the middle of trouble?"
"It's not a perfect plan, but we owe it to Lion-O to try." Acting on his father's mantra—hope comes from action—the king stood up, kicked out the grate, and dropped into the chamber below. His voice echoed throughout the cavernous room.
"Thundercats…Ho!"
The others did not fail to follow him; they charged the lizards in the circle without hesitation. The attack was chaotic and ineffective; not only were they outnumbered, but they were also out magicked.
Mumm-Ra raised scrawny arms and thundered, "You were fools to come here!"
His unnatural power amplified in the temple, the blast of energy he directed at the Thundercats paralyzed all of them at once. Their agonized screams echoed off the walls before they fell unconscious.
"No more delays! Take them to the cells. I'll deal with them once I destroy the sword."
The kittens slipped into oblivion last. "We bought him some time," Kit whimpered.
"Bought who some time?" Kat's eyes closed against his will. "There's no one coming to save us."
The lizards carried the Thundercats to the cell block. At one time, it held thousands of prisoners behind the energized barriers, but now they were all empty. Still, the lizards dropped them unceremoniously on the stone floor in one large cell. At length, they gained consciousness and took stock of the situation. Their desperate attempt to retake the sword had failed; they were prisoners once more. Panthro slumped against the wall. His expression was grim. Snarf and Kit parked themselves on each side of him, their little faces a study in shared misery.
The cleric said aloud what they all were thinking. "If Mumm-Ra gets the Eye of Thundera, we won't be able to stop him."
Tygra was out of ideas. "I don't know what to do, Cheetara," he confided. "I questioned Lion-O's decisions, but in the end, they always worked out. Suddenly, I'm in charge, and we end up in here."
Cheetara's heart ached for the new king. He'd done the best he could under the circumstances, and she wanted to comfort him, but Kit interrupted the moment.
"Will you all stop worrying?" She stood at the confining barrier and stared out into the empty corridor as if expecting someone. "Lion-O will be here soon, and he'll find a way to get the sword back."
"Kit, Lion-O is—"
"He'll be here, Cheetara. He'll be here."
Tygra tried. "Kit…"
The kitten folded her arms stubbornly. "He'll be here!"
Cheetara thought the minutes ticked by like hours. She remained by Tygra's side, not only as his lover but as the last Guardian of the Crown. They leaned against the wall in silence, drawing a measure of comfort in the other's presence. The spotted cat would support him no matter what—they all would—but that did not erase their worry. Both understood their options were slim and none, without a miracle, they were doomed.
Unknown to the Thundercats, the mysterious power of the Spirit Stone whisked the dead king to the Spirit Realm. There, he was met by Jaga, who explained the situation. His first life had been given; a second life must be earned. If Lion-O successfully completed four trials, he would be granted another chance at life. The tests were designed to aid him in overcoming his most significant weaknesses: immaturity, one-dimensional thinking, inconsistent leadership, and hot-headed, emotional decision-making. Spirits appearing as WilyKit and Kat, Cheetara, Panthro and Tygra conducted the trials.
The trials were not easy, and Lion-O suffered many hard knocks during the process, but he ultimately passed all except the final test—failing to control his temper and emotions. Jaga informed him of the circumstances facing the Thundercats and Third Earth, and Lion-O bartered his soul in exchange for a conditional return to save them. Using the lessons he learned during the trials, the king made his way to Mumm-Ra's temple, aided by the markers Kit left behind. Lion-O was familiar with the structure's layout thanks to the Book of Omens and his trip through time, allowing him to live through his ancestor's experiences. Although he traveled quickly, it seemed to take forever, but he finally reached the pyramid. The king scrambled up the same wall the others climbed earlier. Once inside, Lion-O crept toward the cellblock; that's when he overheard the generals talking.
"How much longer, Slithe? They smell so good." Playtime with Cheetara had convinced Kanar that cannibalism might be better than sexual assault.
The reptile's eyes rolled back in his head, exposing the whites. "Lord Mumm-Ra has plans for them. Do you want me to tell him that you ate his playthings?"
"They do smell delicious," Atticus agreed.
Kanar continued to protest. "Everything for Mumm-Ra. I bet he wouldn't miss one of the kittens."
"Hello, generals," Lion-O greeted, walking into the corridor.
Slithe's mouth dropped open, revealing wickedly sharp teeth. "Lion-O?"
"W-we saw you die," Atticus stuttered.
Lion-O smirked. "Then your eyes must be as bad as your breath."
"Brave talk," Slithe hissed. "But without your sword, you're no match for any one of us."
They did not notice the lion was backing into a cell. "So, you wanna do this the hard way?"
Atticus hooted. "Absolutely."
Lion-O leaped in the air, executing a perfect split kick that knocked the jackal and monkey off their feet and shoved the lizard into the cell. He tapped buttons on the control panel, activating the barrier.
"Too bad," he grinned. "I prefer the easy way." One lesson learned.
The hapless trio charged the entrance only to be repelled by the electrical charge, and Lion-O headed for the cell holding the Thundercats. He deactivated the energy field and stepped inside, surprising everyone.
"I told you he would come!" Kit exclaimed, rushing forward. "I knew it. I knew it!"
"If it wasn't for your markers, I never would have made it."
The kittens' faces lit up in delight; they hugged Lion-O joyously. Snarf smiled endearingly and purred.
Panthro crossed the cell. "It's good to see you again, kid," he said gruffly.
Cheetara was happy to see Lion-O, but she needed an explanation. "How are you—?"
"Long story, but we don't have much time. We have to get the sword back."
"It's a suicide mission," Panthro countered.
"You're telling me," Lion-O agreed. "I'd understand if you don't want to follow me in there."
Seeing his brother alive and well erased Tygra's uncertainty and grief. This was hope! There was no animosity in him when he renounced authority as king. The prince's voice was sincere when he said, "We'd follow you anywhere, Your Majesty."
Cheetara could not have loved him more at that moment if she'd tried.
Lion-O led the group back to the ceremonial chamber, and they recovered their weapons and a few explosives along the way. Mumm-Ra was still working to remove the spell on the sword when a detonation shattered the entrance. Thundercats were crashing the party again, but this time they had a powerful weapon in their possession—a king wielding the power of the Spirit Stone.
"Mumm-Ra!" Lion-O snarled, "you have something of mine!"
"And without it, you'll never defeat me!" he shot back.
The redhead growled, and the mummy called upon the Ancient Spirits of Evil to transform his decaying form into his all-powerful avatar, Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living.
"You may have the Sword of Omens," Lion-O roared, "but I still have the Spirit Stone, and I am King of the ThunderCats."
The lizards within the chamber were no match for Cheetara, Tygra, and Panthro. The cats cut through them much like a hot knife slicing through butter. The Spirit Stone protected Lion-O from Mumm-Ra's power blasts allowing him to maneuver his way to the sword and snatch it from the altar. Sword of Omens in hand, Lion-O beat Mumm-Ra back, forcing him to withdraw. Alarms blared, and lizard troops rushed the ceremonial chamber. The cats retreated. Cheetara ran point with the kittens and Snarf in tow, and Tygra protected their rear. The lion king was determined to finish Mumm-Ra, but Panthro held him back. They had what they came for; in that regard, the day was won.
"Forget him, Lion-O. We have to get out of here!"
They escaped not a moment too soon; massive doors activated by the alarms crashed down behind them. The king and general raced after the others. Once they were a safe distance away, Cheetara pressed the king.
"Okay, Lion-O, I think it's time you told us what happened to you."
His expression was somber. "I'm sorry, but I have to leave."
"Leave?" Kit blinked in confusion. "Why?"
The Spirit Stone glowed in the claw shield, and Jaga, in spectral form, appeared in the sky before them. "Because he has paid the ultimate price."
Lion-O's sea-blue eyes swept across giant sand dunes and flat top rock formations. The sun was climbing over the horizon.
"Sunrise," his voice was low. "I guess it's time."
"Time to use what you've learned to lead your people to victory as the reborn king of the Thundercats."
"I can stay? But how? The trials—"
"The trials were designed to test more than just your skill," Jaga declared. "They were designed to test your heart. When you made the ultimate sacrifice to save your friends, you showed what it means to truly be a king."
The sorcerer vanished as suddenly as he had appeared. The cats began talking at once.
"Huh?" Panthro grunted.
Kit was wide-eyed. "What trials?"
"What did he mean by 'ultimate sacrifice'?" Cheetara asked.
Kat chimed in. "Yeah, what trials?"
"What was he talking about?" Tygra stared at his brother.
Lion-O drew clawed fingers through his flaming hair. "I guess I'll start at the beginning when I died."
He delayed recounting the events after his death until they made camp for the night. Then, sitting around a fire, Lion-O told them about the trials he'd gone through with spirit guides resembling each of them.
"It was a little disconcerting at first…I thought you all had died, too."
Panthro snorted and folded his arms across his chest.
Lion-O paused to regard each of his champions; his eyes lingered briefly on each noble face. "The trials forced me to face my weaknesses. They also made me appreciate each of you and the lessons you've been trying to teach me." Snarf meowed, and he grinned sheepishly. "I know I haven't been much good at taking suggestions or admitting when I've been wrong, so I want to apologize for that."
Tygra and Cheetara exchanged a bemused look. This was new.
"I expected blind obedience to my command and decisions just because I'm the king and lord of the Thundercats. It didn't occur to me that the titles didn't grant wisdom, experience, or the knowledge needed to lead and rule well." Lion-O took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, giving himself time to gather his thoughts before continuing. "We were captured, and I died because I refused to listen to your objections or think critically when the book was being…cryptic."
He smiled apologetically at Cheetara.
"I shifted blame to others and ignored my own contributions in the misunderstandings, resentments, and rivalries." This time his aquamarine gaze settled on his brother. "I haven't been the king you all deserve or the king that I want to be. But from now on, I'm going to do things differently."
Cheetara touched his hand. "We will always support you."
The others nodded, agreeing with the cleric.
The king blushed. "Thank you." He was grateful for their faith and loyalty. "We still have quite a hike ahead to reach the tank, so let's get some sleep. We move out at first light."
– o –
It was late afternoon when the cats returned to the Thundertank, and they agreed to take the rest of the day for a much-needed break. The team scattered in different directions, each intent on doing their own thing. Tygra and Cheetara took a walk, as far from the tank as possible. This wasn't lush countryside; the area was nothing more than rocky terrain for as far as the eye could see. It did not allow for much privacy, but they were not looking to have a romantic rendezvous. Tygra wanted to talk without interruption. He could let his guard down with Cheetara. She didn't need him to always be the dashing alpha male, although that facet of his persona pleased her. She was equally receptive to his vulnerability and was an empathetic ear when he needed to express it.
When they could no longer see the tank or hear the others, they settled themselves on the least uncomfortable rock they could find. Cheetara noticed Tygra's silence since Lion-O's return. She knew he was replaying everything over in his mind and judging himself harshly. In this, the cleric was right. The tiger was highly disappointed in himself. It didn't matter how he looked at it; the result was the same.
"I failed," he said simply.
"You did not." Cheetara reached for his hand and laced her fingers through his. "Why do you say this?"
Tygra cringed visibly. "You were there, love. You saw what happened. I led a charge without a plan, one that was doomed to fail. If Lion-O hadn't miraculously arrived, the gods only know where any of us would be now."
"All right," she allowed, "say that is true. What would a plan have changed? We were still outnumbered. Mumm-Ra said the temple amplified his power, so we would have been captured just as quickly with a plan. And, you didn't have the weapons that would have given us a fighting chance."
"The Eye of Thundera; the Spirit Stone," he said quietly.
"Yes." Cheetara cupped his chin and turned his face toward hers. "You didn't make the decision that got us ambushed in the first place. You were put in a terrible position with few choices—none of them good. But if you hadn't decided to pursue the lizards or charge the temple, Mumm-Ra would have certainly removed the Eye of Thundera. And we would be dead or worse before Lion-O returned. He would have been left alone, and his fight made more difficult, if not impossible. Your decisions bought us time and kept the playing field level. Love, you did not fail."
She gave him another point of view to consider. Still, Tygra asked, "Why are you trying to make me feel better about this?"
"Does it serve a purpose to flog yourself about it?" Cheetara regarded him thoughtfully. "Tygra, this in no way reflects upon your leadership abilities. Who's to say the sword would have given you the advantage it favors Lion-O with even if we had managed to get it back? It's been in the control of lions for generations."
"I could have been the first cat, not a lion, to wield it." His voice was wistful.
"Could have. Might have. Maybe. We don't know that, Tygra! Isn't it enough to have all of us safe? Your brother alive and well? My heart in the palm of your hand?"
Tygra did not respond. Another female might have taken his prolonged silence for rejection, but Cheetara did not. The striped cat was methodical; she understood he was working through the events along with his feelings. Then, without warning, Tygra pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He probed her mouth with his tongue—slowly, provocatively—and inhaled her scent. The kiss deepened; his arms tightened around her. He made love to her mouth. Cheetara purred low in her throat, and it was music to his ears.
She wondered how difficult it would be to make love here and shook off the thought. What is wrong with me? She pulled away with effort. "Stop," she said weakly.
Tygra's arms relaxed around her. "All right," but his voice was smoky with desire. "It's enough," he assured her. "All of it. And you? You're more than enough. By the gods, I'm besotted with you."
Cheetara's hand slid down his body; his need was evident. His words thrilled her. "I know," she whispered. "Rain check?"
After a while, Tygra cradled Cheetara's hand in his, and they headed back to the tank.
"How do you feel now?"
"Well, you certainly gave me something to think about; your argument holds weight."
She pretended surprise. "So…you're saying I might be right?"
His eyes twinkled. "Possibly."
– o –
The following day, Panthro maneuvered the tank onto the open road. Tygra rode shotgun as usual, and the kids were buckled into their seats. The king saw that the cleric was missing and went in search of her. He found Cheetara in the common area, sorting through what looked to him like a bunch of weeds. It was good that she was alone; he wanted to speak with her privately.
"Hey," Lion-O greeted. "Can we talk?"
She looked up and smiled. "Of course." Cheetara set aside her collection and gave the king her full attention.
Now that he was in her presence, he felt nervous and stalled. "What is all that?"
Cheetara pointed to each plant, identified it, and described its purpose. She was interrupted halfway through the impromptu lesson.
"I owe you an apology for the way I've behaved."
Surprised, the cheetah's eyes widened.
"Yeah, I know," Lion-O continued sheepishly. "I've been—unreasonable. But Cheetara, you must know you're gorgeous, and I liked you a lot." He waited for her reaction, but she was as unfathomable as a forest pool on a quiet summer night. The king pressed on. "And you're also the first girl to show real interest in me, so I just assumed we were on the same page, so to speak."
He wasn't about to tell her that whenever he thought of her, his nether parts quickened, and not having relief was painful. Even now, he felt warm all over, but he pushed himself to ignore the feeling. Being with her was never going to happen. Lion-O took a deep breath and pictured the least sexually desirable thing he could think of in his mind. Panthro.
"Anyway," he continued, "I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions and assumed you wanted to be my girlfriend. It's clear that you love Tygra. So, I'm sorry."
"Thank you. I appreciate you saying so." Her eyes twinkled devilishly. "Does this mean that you don't like me anymore?"
"What? No!" he sputtered. "Of course, I like you. But I understand our relationship now, and I accept it. I just hope you meant what you said about still being my friend and advisor."
"Lion-O," Cheetara kissed his cheek, "don't ever doubt it."
She still made him a little dizzy, but now Lion-O realized she was a bit flirtatious naturally. And this time, he recognized the buss for what it was, nothing more than affection for a friend.
The next person on the king's list to make amends with was his sardonic brother. He reached out when they camped for the night. The tiger was in the control deck, tinkering with instruments to Lion-O's amusement. He remembered when Tygra decried all things technology, but since the fall of Thundera, he'd been its biggest convert. However, Lion-O had come to deliver an olive branch, and since he didn't know how the prickly prince would react, he didn't think teasing him was a good idea.
"Brother."
Tygra stopped what he was doing and glanced over his shoulder. "Brother."
Lion-O moved forward and sat in Panthro's captain's chair. "Our relationship has been difficult."
"True." Tygra dropped into the opposite chair. "We both played a part in that."
"I'm sorry for everything that's happened between us."
"Me, too. I didn't realize the burden, the responsibility, weighing on you. I see now that I shouldn't have been so critical."
"And I shouldn't have assumed you were trying to prove you were better than me whenever you questioned a decision. I should have paid more attention to military strategies." He paused. "And Tygra, about the jackal—I don't know what I was thinking. I never want you hurt. I was mad at Cheetara and not thinking clearly. I was a jerk. You both were right to be angry with me."
"Well, I've been a jerk, too," Tygra admitted.
"We've lost a lot, and there is much to do. I want us to put this stuff behind us and work together. I want us to be brothers."
"And Cheetara?"
"Nothing left to say. She loves you. You love her."
"Cleric. Friend. Guardian," Tygra chuckled. "And maybe sister by marriage one day. Complicated."
"When hasn't it been?" Lion-O's eyes sparkled with humor.
"Despite what you think, I've always been your brother, Lion-O, and I will always have your back. You have my support, always. But this doesn't mean I'm giving up the right to a big brother's snark."
The king laughed. "I didn't think so."
They shared a bear hug, marking a new beginning.
– o –
Tygra tapped on the door of Cheetara's sleeping pad before entering. She sat cross-legged on her bunk, looking at something in the palm of her hand. He parked himself beside her and peered at the object.
"You still have that?"
"Yes."
"Seems kind of redundant when you have me," he teased.
"Not really. It holds a special place in my heart." She met his gaze. "It's the first thing you ever gave me."
His amber eyes softened. "It won't be the last."
"Lion-O made peace with me today."
"We talked as well. He's grown up a bit."
"The Spirit Realm changed him. It's strange, but it looks like dying was a good thing." She returned the dried flower to its new home, a small leather pouch. "I know you have doubts, but I think everything happened the way it was supposed to."
"I'm no longer doubting, but I'll never be a yes man, Cheetara."
"A king needs to hear from many voices."
"True. Well, I just stopped by to say goodnight."
Cheetara reached for his hand; her voice was inviting. "You don't want to stay?"
Tygra very much did, but he'd never be able to keep his hands off her. She was his home, and he wanted to lose himself in her. He leaned close and rubbed her nose with his.
"Until we can get the Berbils to soundproof these pads…not a good idea. We would make love, and you know we get pretty rowdy."
She laughed. "All right. Rain check?"
"Absolutely." He kissed her tenderly, then stroked her cheek. "And I'm keeping track. Goodnight, babe."
Once she was alone, the air stirred softly around her. A familiar presence surrounded Cheetara, one she hadn't sensed in quite a while.
"You chose well, darling girl."
Cheetara's smile was soft. "I did, didn't I?"
"No more mating objections?"
"I can't imagine not being with him."
There was a moment of silence, then laughter filled the air.
"I knew you'd get over that. Your tiger must be magnificent."
Cheetara blushed. "Goodnight, Nana."