Fall Of The Empire
Rating: T-17+
Disclaimer: I don't own this. . . or do I? Nah, I don't. So don't sue me. I'm already in enough debt with my student loans.
Author's Notes: Ugh, I'm angry at myself. "Keep the chapters short," I said, "Work on both quality and shortness," I said.
But no, here, have a 11k word count chapter. Fuck. Ugh.
Not much to say. I've been working my ass off, and most of the stuff I've been writing has just been all over the place. It took me a long while to get this all written out. I edited it over five times. And then the word count just kept getting higher and higher and I said. . . fuck it. The last part felt a bit rushed, but I knew if I kept editing it, it was never going to be published. So I apologize in advance.
But here, have another chapter of ROOTA! It is, as the title indicates, part 1. Part 2 will be hitting the shelves soon, pinky promise. And it should be a decent amount shorter. . . lul, I say that now. Just you wait, I bet it will be as long.
But, onto some thanks. Moon and Anne are my BFFs, go check out their works, you won't regret it. c;
And TheDarkestMind is still writing that beautiful gift fic and I'm just blown away by it. I'm so humbled, thank you so much, dearie. You help inspire to me to write when it's been too long between updates!
And now onto a rough time table I think you guys will enjoy:
1.) Legends, Pt. II
2.) TBD
3.) The Fourth Guardian
4.) Name to be determined.
5.) The Final Fight
And I'm also pleased to announce that to wrap this all up neatly, there will be an epilogue piece. It has not been named. But it will be much shorter than anything, and most probably only 5 chapters max.
Whew. But we're almost to the end, are you excited? The second chapter might be cut out - I haven't quite decided yet. We'll see. I might need to include it because I'm messed up like that. This is just a rough time table, but I just wanted to show you guys that yes, we are coming up to the end. We're almost done! I hope you're happy. I'm super happy. Chapter names are up for debate, but they normally are until I publish.
I know most of you are brimming with questions. Answers are coming. Patience is a very good virtue to have. Everything is coming to a very large climax, very soon, and trust me when I say that oh my god, you're going to love it. That 4th chapter up there? I already have half of it written. Lots of shit goes down in that chapter.
But let's get started. On to the chapter!
Warnings: Nothing, except for stylistic things FF loves to om nom. Mild blood and gore. If you see anything with the first-person in it, it should be italicized. That is all.
. . . this text is here for a mysterious reason.
Lion-O breathed in deeply.
It was taking a lot for him to control himself.
True to everyone's words, he was facing a decision. . . and he didn't like the options.
In the background, voices of discontent droned on. For the moment, he ignored them. He didn't want to acknowledge them, but he knew that eventually, he'd have to. They could wait for a moment. He glanced down at his hands. He could still see Pumyra's blood staining his fur, could feel the sticky coolness of it drying. When they'd gotten to Cat Town, he'd spent a solid hour scrubbing it from his fur. The sensation had lingered like a phantom, though.
If he looked up, he was certain he would see the battlescape they'd just warred on, the beautiful light of the essence blinding him as he watched her back. She would be walking forward, a heavy limp in his step (courtesy of his sword), her blood trickling onto the dirt and glittering as it left a trail behind her.
His gaze flipped back down to his hands. He looked at the gauntlet, at the dormant jewels in its crossguard.
She'd unleashed Grune from the Astral Plains - something Lion-O didn't even think was possible. He'd been a spectator as the door had slammed shut, robbing Panthro of his arms - but it had left the poisoned ex-hero of Thundera trapped inside of it forever. And Erica. . . she'd looked him square in the eye and had somehow activated the Spirit Stone to open up a door to the Astral Plains.
And she'd done it on purpose. This Led Lion-O to believe it was either her plan, or Mumm-Ra's. He wasn't entirely sure which. Either way, it was another mark against her, adding a tally to her crimes against the crown. . .
"Lord of the ThunderCats, how do you address these claims?"
Lion-O looked up again, standing tall. It was feigned, like it always was. Inside, he felt a tempest was raging, unchecked, touching every part of him and throwing it into chaos. Every thought, every emotion - it was all tossed about in disarray. He looked at the animal ambassadors gathered, and in response, drew Omens from his gauntlet.
Whispers moved through the audience.
"I apologize for the recent mistakes that the Cats have made. There are no excuses. In return, I offer you this: the Sword of Omens, and the various Power Stones I have collected thus far. Take up my quest. The ThunderCats have proven ourselves incapable of defeating Mumm-Ra. This error cannot be overlooked."
It was difficult to school his voice with just the right amount of inflection, but somehow, Lion-O managed it. Every animal assembled watched as he stepped forward. Lion-O took in the stunned, disbelieving silence that seemed to smother the auditorium like a wet blanket. The dais that had been erected in the middle of the room was a perfect altar to place the Sword of Omens on. He slid his gauntlet off of his wrist and placed it beside the sword.
And with that, he turned back to his chair and sat. For a moment, there was nothing. Just quiet. And then one of the birds stood, looking prim and proper as she briefly preened her feathers.
It would be one of the birds first. . .
The ambassador stepped down from her seat.
"The birds should be chosen." She announced. She reached out to take the Sword, but right as her hand made contact with the hilt, the War Stone glimmered, humming - and an aura visibly zapped her. She staggered backward, looking at her feathered arm in shock.
One of the fish jumped up, angrily rushing down to the altar. "The fish are the correct chosen!" He barked, shoving the bird away. "It is our village that has been razed to the ground at the hands of those filth!"
"Our city was taken from the skies!" Another bird cried. "Our home lies in ruin."
"Lives were lost." Another fishman snarled. "We still tally the dead!"
"Then take it." The bird ambassador said, cutting over the argument as she gestured to the altar. "Please. Let us see if the sword deems you worthy."
"With pleasure." The fishman growled.
He stepped up to the altar, stretched a hand out. . . and hesitated. Behind him, the bird chuckled.
"Your kind was always so uncertain." She tittered.
The fish shot her a warning glare, but her words gave him the resolve to reach his hand out. Lion-O watched dispassionately as he touched the hilt - and in the same manner, the War Stone powered to life and rebuked him. The Cat king knew of only four people who could wield the Sword of Omens. His father, Jaga, his brother, and himself.
The birds laughed. The fishmen roared. Above the din, the dogs began to snarl, and Lion-O sighed. Was this going to cause a brawl to break out? He wouldn't doubt it. The pride in the room was stifling. None of the races knew what war was truly like. While it was true the fishmen had suffered great casualties at the hands of Erica and Mumm-Ra, they still had a city to call their own. It could be repaired. Thundera laid in ruins, and if the whispers in Cat Town were true, many ThunderCats were avoiding it purely on principle.
It was a gaping wound in their souls.
Dobo stood, and quiet fell on the room.
"You cannot touch the sword." The dog king said.
The fishmen and the birds glared at the dogs. "Why not?" Demanded the fish who had tried to touch Omens.
"Are you trying to tell me a pack of filthy mutts is more worthy than the glory of birdkind?" The bird ambassador sneered.
A dog to Dobo's left growled, but the king put his hand out, stilling his companion.
"No." He said. "But this is the way it was meant to be. The Cats have always paid the heaviest price for wielding the stones. Long ago, the dogs warred against Ratilla and his hordes in order to prevent catastrophe. And we paid dearly for it."
"Gilded words from a silver tongue." The bird woman snapped.
Dobo shook his head. "I do not want this sword. In fact, I want nothing to do with it. It is not my place to wield it. The Cats have paid the price in blood time and time again. Ask yourself: do you wish to take up such a burden? Mumm-Ra. Ratilla. The lizards. Whenever a threat emerges, you must be ready. Your people will suffer."
Silence.
Dobo continued.
"The most we can do is pave the way for their successes. If we truly wish to make a difference, we must engage Mumm-Ra's forces. We are under no obligation to cower together when we clearly have the ability to fight. Much rests on the outcome of these battles, and here we squabble over who should have the most glory. What will glory matter when Mumm-Ra claims a throne?"
For a moment, Lion-O thought he was staring at his father. Dobo was truly meant to be a king. And to think he'd clawed his way there from the bottom. It was hard to believe that the dog had once started a slave in the Pits. His words had a measure of wisdom to them, too. Lion-O had never considered the price of bearing Omens and its Stones. Thundera had been razed. He'd died. Cats had been displace. The very galaxy itself would be enslaved if he failed. . .
No pressure though.
"But," Dobo said, interrupting the silence that had fallen, "I caution you, Lion-O. The Cats have cost the animals too much ground already. Ground we could not afford to give in the first place. Any more, and we could very well die."
Lion-O stood. He walked by the fish and the bird ambassadors who were glaring at him. When he picked up the gauntlet, he slid it over his hand, watching as the jewels flashed. He grabbed Omens and tucked it into the armor, the War Stone humming to life. He nodded to himself, and looked back at Dobo.
"I understand. We will be shipping out again soon."
"Another essence?" Dobo asked.
Lion-O shook his head. "Not yet. But we will be ready. The Cats are forever indebted to you, Dobo. When these trials have passed, I will see to it that the dogs receive what you are owed."
The fish glared at him. "Bestowing boons already? You own nothing but a pile of rubble. Favoritism of the Cats, rising again. The prodigal Claudus returns."
Lion-O turned, ignoring the fishman as he exited the auditorium. But the words peppered his backside and stuck like thorns - he stopped.
"No." he said. "I am not my father. I have learned from the mistakes of the past. The Cats will not favor any race ever again."
Lion-O ignored the demands that he come back, that he explain himself. He walked out of the auditorium, nodding to Tygra as the two fell into step. It was common practice that the tiger wait for his brother outside of the auditorium whenever he had to attend a council.
"Sounds eventful." His brother commented as the door swung shut.
"About as well as it could, all things considered. They're angry."
"They have a right to be. I heard most of it. Dobo's right. We can't afford to make those mistakes again."
It was incredibly easy to pick up on the hidden meaning behind Tygra's words.
"We won't." Lion-O vowed. His words were thick with the same meaning, and it didn't take Tygra but two seconds to pick up on it.
Tygra paused. "Lion-O. . . does that mean. . ."
The Feliner came into view.
Lion-O said nothing as they approached. Kit and Kat, perched on the nose of the craft, waved excitedly at the pair. Both kittens scuttled inside to alert the others that they'd arrived. Lion-O didn't know if he was happy or frustrated that they were - essentially - just going to be flying around aimlessly on the Feliner until the Book decided to tell them where the next essence was. But there was no helping it.
And he needed to keep busy. An idle Lion-O left him too much time to his thoughts.
It may have looked like abandonment, leaving the animal council in such an uproar, but there was no helping that, either. The animals were frustrated that they could not wield the Stones like he could. But they could assist in other ways, as Dobo had said. As Lion-O stepped into the hangar bay of the Feliner, he felt an instant chill settle into his fur.
He glanced around, looking for the source, and he found it.
Well, her.
She was pointedly staring him down. her face was impassive, and her body was wrapped in light bandages. Cheetara had been busy healing her. Now that she wasn't at death's door, she was stable enough to have the cleric force her body to heal itself. Over the past few days, Pumyra had gotten plenty of sleep - she looked good. Much better than she had been the past while.
Pumyra's gaze was intense as the puma stared him down, her body posture giving nothing away.
But she radiated arctic chill that rivaled Tygra's homeland.
"Kid, I know that gleam in your eye. You got somethin' to say?" Panthro asked, ducking inside from the cockpit.
Cheetara examined him, briefly meeting his eyes. "You do. Did the council go as planned?"
Everyone knew the animal council would demand the Cats relinquish their quest to someone more worthy. The demonstration had been hollow. Lion-O knew the Sword would never choose another.
Only four people could wield. . .
An image flashed.
He'd forgotten.
So, so long ago. . . Five people could wield Omens.
"Lion-O. . ." Tygra said, shaking his brother from his thoughts, "Earlier, when you said. . ."
"I've come to a decision." Lion-O announced. "It. . . it pains me to admit this, but I see I have no other choice. Mumm-Ra has warped Echo's mind beyond recognition. For her crimes, I see no punishment other than death."
Instant frowns from Cheetara and Panthro.
"Kid, you already said you would."
"You did." Cheetara agreed. "Words are meaningless, Lion-O-"
Tygra shook his head and held up a hand.
"Lion-O's telling the truth."
Lion-O blinked at his brother, surprised that he was sticking up for him. Tygra turned, nodding his head. "You always had a soft heart, little brother. But even I know when you've made up your mind. Now. Let's get to the cockpit. I want to start charting out where we're going."
Tygra grabbed Panthro and Cheetara, steering them both to the cockpit. The duo didn't look happy - they looked like they wanted to protest - but Tygra wasn't giving them the room to do so.
That left Lion-O alone with Pumyra in the hangar bay.
Lion-O was grateful to his brother.
But in the next heartbeat he was cursing him.
Pumyra said nothing. She was standing, still as a statue, staring him down. She had no change to her expression.
Lion-O stood there, unsure of what to say. How was he supposed to approach his girlfriend ask for forgiveness that his best friend (who had loved him. . . maybe loved him still?) had tried to murder her in cold blood. How could he apologize for Erica's insanity? He stood there, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
"Pumyra-"
"I don't want to hear it." She deadpanned.
Oh. Ow.
Lion-O felt like he'd been stabbed. . . no pun intended. . . Although that does seem to be the running theme lately.
"Pumyra, listen-"
"I'm serious." She bit out, a small dash of anger in her voice. "I don't want to hear it."
"I want to tell you-"
"No." She snapped. "I'm not. . ." She shook her head, trailing off. Emotions saturated her voice, even Lion-O could hear the hurt. She pinned him with a withering glare that shut him up on the spot.
Lion-O felt his words stop in his throat, stuck around a blockage. Pumyra whirled around, heading for the cockpit, and this time, Lion-O was quiet.
He wasn't left alone to suffer in his misery, however. Kit and Kat appeared at his sides.
"Troubles of the heart, my king?" Kat asked, staring after Pumyra.
Lion-O sighed, aggravated.
"Don't worry." Kit said, patting his elbow. "Give her a little bit of space, okay?"
"Yeah! Sometimes when I get mad I need a little time away from Kit."
"Since when do I make you mad?!"
"Since always."
Kit and Kat began an impromptu fight, wrestling each other away from him. Lion-O sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Wisdom from the mouth of kittens. . .
From the cockpit, he saw a red flash.
The Book activated, projecting a map in the air.
He groaned.
Great. Now he got to go on a no-pressure mission with a severely pissed off girlfriend.
Oh, yeah. This was not going to end well.
Like most traveling in the Feliner, it honestly didn't take too long to get there. Lion-O was actually kind of glad for it. Because he'd spent the entire three hours of the trip sitting in the cockpit, watching the Feliner's progress on the maps, Snarf tugging at his pant legs. . . and Pumyra glaring holes into the back of his head. He didn't need to turn around to know she was staring at him.
But the time spent traveling, batting away Snarf's attempts to give him some comfort (stupid nursemaid probably sensed his mood), gave him time to steel his resolve. When he'd told everyone about his vow, he'd meant it. And he needed to apologize properly to Pumyra. . . if she let him. As much as he would have liked to just have the Cat sit down and listen to him, he knew he needed to wait for the puma to approach him.
But there was this weird, nagging voice in the back of his head that was telling him that the gladiator-styled Cat might only accept the head of Erica as payment for the human's crimes.
Lion-O sighed as he felt the Feliner dip, and with Tygra at the helm, it gently set down. The hangar bay opened, and Lion-O stood. He moved from the cockpit into the rear, where he was immediately accosted by a wall of hot, humid air that smacked him in the face. The sweat that covered him was automatic. He stared out at the thick jungle.
Ugh.
Kit and Kat rushed by him, excited as they jogged down into the thick vegetation.
"Kit!" He called. "Kat, get back-"
"No!" Kit protested, crossing her arms stubbornly over her chest. "Not happening."
"What?" He asked, both flabbergasted and impressed that they were both staring at him so defiantly.
"We're going." Kat continued.
"Because we haven't-" Kit started.
"Been with you on a mission in a while-" Kat carried on.
"-and who knows-"
"-with us there, we might be your good luck charms!"
Lion-O opened his mouth to protest, but a hand laid on his shoulder, stopping him. He glanced over to see Cheetara looking at him with a small smile.
"They may be right. And they are accomplished fighters, we've been seeing to that."
"Yeah, but still. . ."
Cheetara patted his shoulder. "Now you know how I felt when I saw you going into combat."
Lion-O spluttered. "I'm an adult. They are kittens!"
"You are the crown prince of Thundera. A very foolhardy one at that. . . and I'm older than you."
"Wait. What? How much. . ."
Cheetara left his side, waving her hand airily in the air. Lion-O squinted after her. How much older was she? He was only. . . eighteen or so? She had to be twenty years old. Maybe twenty-two, tops.
There was a light smack on his arm, and Lion-O turned his head to see Tygra grinning wryly in his direction.
"It's not polite to ask a lady about her age, Lion-O. C'mon, now."
Lion-O gaped. What the hell?
Shaking his head, he started walking forward, disembarking. . . and was utterly shocked when he realized that somebody was walking beside him.
And that somebody was Pumyra.
She was still cold - she didn't even glance his way. She was staring straight ahead, and for a brief moment, Lion-O was thrust back to the days where he'd been chasing after her, trying to woo her with silly gifts and words. If he was being honest with himself, however, he was utterly amazed that she was within standing distance of him.
Not to mention she was walking next to him.
As a group, they stated off, heading away from the Feliner and into the thickness of the jungle. He didn't use his sword - not yet. Sometimes it was better to get a feel from the land before he decided to rely on Sight Beyond Sight. An all-seeing eye it was not. Lion-O walked beside Pumyra, utterly quiet as the Cat said nothing beside him. The air felt thick - and not just because of the evaporated water weighing them down.
"What." Pumyra said.
It took Lion-O a second to process that she was talking to him, and instinctively, he slowed down - but quickly rushed forward when Pumyra didn't change her pace.
"Pardon?" He asked.
"What did you want to say?" Pumyra replied, keeping emotions from seeping into her voice. She didn't look at him.
Lion-O didn't know how to take that.
He stopped walking.
Pumyra stopped, too, standing in front of him. She still didn't look at him.
"There's a lot I want to say." Lion-O replied, closing his eyes. "I want to say I'm sorry. I want to say it won't ever happen again-"
Pumyra shook her head, and Lion-O's words trailed off in response.
A pregnant silence passed. Finally, she turned. A myriad of things shimmered in her eyes, and it was a relief to Lion-O to see that she wasn't above it. She was acting like she was, but she wasn't. She stared at him, stripping away all of his defenses, all of his everything. She had that power over him - to get to the core of the matter with just a look.
She gave him a smile. A tiny, fragile smile.
"I need some time." She said, quietly. "Please."
Lion-O was thrilled to hear that she wasn't blocking him out. That she wasn't going to just up and leave him - she had every right to, too. But he nodded.
"Okay."
Down the trail - a path conveniently carved by Panthro - Kit and Kat screamed. Lion-O perked up, but it didn't sound life-threatening. Both he and Pumyra jogged down to find the source of the commotion. When he reached the group, however, he found Panthro was holding the kittens by the scruffs of their necks.
"It was a spider." The general growled.
"Yeah, well, I don't like spiders!" Kat shot back.
"It jumped on us! It was the size of a small cub!"
Panthro rolled his eyes, exasperated. "A spider should be the least of your worries. Be more afraid of Mumm-Ra! Besides, didn't you get to see enough spiders when you were hunting with Cheetara, Kit?"
Kit crossed her arms over her chest, mimicking her attitude from earlier. While the general was holding her, it looked ridiculous. All of her dangled in the air while she pouted.
"No." She replied stubbornly.
Panthro shook his head. "Cheetara?"
The cleric was still, standing at the head of the trail, waiting for Panthro to continue. Either that, Lion-O mused, or she was about to use her staff to politely ask the thick jungle to move aside for them. Tygra turned to the cleric, giving her a nudge.
"Cheetara, Panthro wants. . . Cheetara?"
The concern in Tygra's voice was palpable. As a unit, Lion-O moved forward, as did Pumyra, and Panthro dropped Kit and Kat to join Tygra. His brother looked worried as Lion-O stepped in front of the cleric, who was standing still. Too still. Her spine was straight, as though somebody had inserted a rod down her back. She looked stiff. Tygra waved a hand in front of the cleric's face, but he received no response.
Lion-O stood next to the cheetah, frowning. Cheetara's eyes looked distant and faraway. There was a glassy tint to them. Pumyra stepped up, clinically placing her fingers on the cleric's neck to check for a pulse. She peeled her eyes back, scanning her pupils.
"She's not drugged." The combat medic answered. "I'm not sure what this is. Is she fatigued?"
Tygra shook his head. "No. She got plenty of sleep last night. Healing somebody doesn't tire her out that much."
Kit and Kat grabbed at Cheetara's hands.
"Cheetara?" The twins asked.
No answer.
Tygra opened his mouth, and Cheetara's head drunkenly tilted to the left.
". . . the voices. . ." She murmured, her tone distant, ". . . must go."
Kit and Kat were still holding her hands when she started walking. The twins didn't let go, dragging their feet in the dirt to try and get her to stop. Tygra was just a second behind them - he seized the cleric, grabbing her by the waist.
"Woah! Hold on there. What are you talking about?"
"Voices." The cleric murmured. "have to go. . . essence calls."
Panthro groaned. "More magic? Back in my day, we didn't have to deal with this."
"Tygra, let her go." Lion-O ordered. "I think something's calling her."
Tygra looked very reluctant to do so, but eventually he did - and he compromised by grabbing a fistful of the back of her shirt. He didn't have to explain anything - every one knew it was just in case she ran. Nobody would be able to catch her if she did. Cheetara guided them off of the path Panthro was carving for them, and took them into the brush. For a while, the Cats battled at the thick vines and enormous tree trunks that jutted out everywhere. . . but as the minutes passed, and the distance from the Feliner increased, the ground began to level.
And a hidden trail began to make itself known.
"Wherever she's taking us. . . Someone maintains it." Pumyra murmured, looking at the path.
Lion-O nodded.
Cheetara murmured things as she walked. Sometimes in Thunderian, and sometimes in a language Lion-O didn't know. Kit and Kat held her hands, casting worried glances up at the cleric. She walked oddly, like she was in a drunken stupor. It didn't fit the cleric.
"Has this ever happened before?" Kat asked.
Tygra shook his head. "Never."
"It's magic." Lion-O said. "It's got to be."
As if she'd woken from her fever dream, Cheetara stopped.
". . . coming." She murmured, head tilting to the left and right.
Tygra frowned. "What?"
". . . it's coming."
A sudden gale of wind tore through the wood, and Lion-O instinctively stood in front of Pumyra, shielding her from the worst of the gales. The whirlwind made a howling noise as it shook the trees and dislodged vines. And then, just as quickly as it had begun, it stopped.
A heartbeat later, and his senses were suddenly screaming at him, the air in the jungle morphing to something darker, more powerful. Lion-O gasped as it crawled into his lungs, like a hand reaching inside of him - and then he was sprawling forward as Pumyra shoved him.
And not a moment too soon.
A beast leaped through the air. If they'd stood there a moment longer, Lion-O was sure it would have pounced on him. Crouching and rolling, he jumped up to his feet and drew Omens. The sword sang as it extended, and he started running, intent on attacking the beast. . . had another one not leaped from the forest, appearing from the shadows.
Three more followed.
"What in the blazes are these things?" Panthro snapped, backing up, his fists raised.
Lion-O cut the general a stare as he raised his sword at the ready. "You don't know?"
"Cheetara, no!" Kat yelled.
Lion-O was quick to whip his head, scanning the jungle - and he spotted the cleric walking forward, almost drunkenly, approaching the largest of the snarling beasts.
"Cheetara!" Tygra cried, tackling the cleric into the dirt.
And that was all Lion-O was privy to. The beasts attacked quickly, setting upon them ravenously. Lion-O had to parry away giant claws, and his arms shook from the effort and the raw strength of his opponent.
The beasts resembled giant dogs, mixed with a creature packing at last a solid thousand pounds of muscle. Their jaws were shaped oddly, opening far too wide, their fangs sharp and pointed backwards. Their ears were erect, and each of the beasts sported four tails. Their eyes were a dark, menacing blue, with no distinguishable pupil or iris.
Runes in a language Lion-O didn't know glittered on their fur. But he didn't have time to wonder about it.
One of the dog-beasts charged him again, opening its mouth, runes on its fur glowing - and a black ball, rimmed with a bright blue - shot out of its mouth. Lion-O batted at the ball and staggered on his feet when the shockwave from the explosion hit him. Except it reversed - it sucked everything into it, like it was crushing instead of ripping its target apart.
Lion-O snarled at the dog-beast as it continued running at him, six legs hitting the ground in a threatening tempo. He struck out with the sword - and felt a shiver as Omens began to shrink.
"What?!" He gaped.
"Cheetara!" Tygra screamed, his gun peppering the air with lasers. The cleric had gotten separated from him, courtesy of a dog-beast tackling him away. And she was approaching one, its mouth open, fangs dripping with saliva, deadly intent stamped on its features. The twins were trying to stop her advance, but they couldn't do much against the cleric.
Lion-O tried to summon a beam of energy, anything to deflect the dog-beast, but Omens was silent, the stone dimming in the hilt.
"Omens isn't working!" Lion-O cried.
"Of all the blasted times for that sword-!"
The dog beast was stretching its neck forward. Lion-O knew it was about to open its mouth and chomp down on Cheetara's head, despite Kit and Kat poised protectively in front of her-
"Stop." A small, light voice commanded. It was quiet, but it cracked across the jungle like a gunshot.
The dogs obeyed. All of them.
Their postures instantly relaxed, and although they looked outwardly calm, they all appeared very much alert.
Lion-O took the opportunity to edge his way back to the other cats, forming a semi-circle. The dog-beasts had halted their assault for now, but there was no telling that whoever commanded them might change their minds and sic the creatures on them again. And Cheetara was still standing dangerously close to the largest of the dog-beasts. And why had Omens stopped working?
A figure emerged from the jungle. They wore a thick cloak, but they were small. Small, and incredibly thin, even covered up by the fabric as they were. Their appearance betrayed them to be a cleric or a sage, their cloak trimmed with the same runes that were on the dog-beasts.
"Who are you?" She asked. Her voice betrayed her as a woman. When she spoke, it was like the wind whispering. It was also somehow musical. But restrained - and quiet.
Irritatingly enough, none of her features could be seen. The cowl of her cloak shaded her face.
"My name is Lion-O. I am Lord of the ThunderCats."
The cloaked figure was silent. The cowl tilted to Cheetara, and the cheetah shook, as if she were cold, but only for a moment. In the next second, her eyes snapped shut, and she collapsed. Panthro had to bodily restrain Tygra from leaping to the cleric's aid - but both Kit and Kat supported the cheetah, helping her down to the ground so she didn't fall into the dirt.
The mysterious figure took a step in the fallen Cat's direction - and wisely paused as a litany of weapons were aimed her way. Lion-O didn't know who she was, but her beasts had attacked them. His hand wrapped around the hilt of Omens, and the sword vibrated, as if reminding him that it wanted no part in this nonsense. He grit his teeth.
Cheetara had almost been eaten by one of her pets.
In response to their aggression, the dog-beasts growled a very clear, firm warning. They were outnumbered and outgunned. Lion-O knew it.
The woman paused, straightening.
"Your sword. . . that stone. . . you wield War. You're not evil. . . What are you doing here?"
"You know about the Stones?" Panthro grated, his voice guarded.
"Who are you working for?" Pumyra demanded.
The cloak shifted, as though it had a mind of its own. It molded to her figure, and then seemingly melted onto her body. It revealed a creature the likes of which Lion-O had never seen before. She stood a little taller than Kit or Kat, but she probably only came up to his shoulders or so. Hooves were attached to frighteningly thin legs, tapering up to an equally slender body. Long, elegant fingers were framed by giant rock tumblers. On her wrists, they glowed, several of the runes flaring brightly.
They were the same runes that decorated the dog-beasts fur.
Her face was narrow and pointed, two horns jutting out of her head. A pair of wings extended from her head, too, the ends of which were buried in her minty green hair. Deep eyes blinked back at them - she had no pupil or iris, same as the dog-beasts, and it gave her an otherworldly countenance.
She smiled shyly.
"A friend." She answered. "I believe we got off on the wrong foot. My companions are a bit. . . protective." She offered sheepishly.
She raised her hands, spinning her tumblers. They clicked and locked loudly, the lights dying, and four of the dog-beasts disappeared. They winked out of existence in a swirling rush of colored air. The last one - the one that had tried to eat Cheetara - remained firm, refusing to dissipate. The Wood Forger-esque girl stared up at it sternly, planting her hands on her hips.
Lion-O breathed in deeply, calming himself. Omens hummed in pleasure, as though it were seeing an old friend.
The sword didn't want to work on this girl and her dog-beasts. There was a larger framework here than he'd assumed.
"Lower your weapons." Lion-O said, decisively tucking Omens into his gauntlet.
Tygra growled, but a quick warning glance from Panthro had him shutting up quick. He holstered is gun, although he looked positively murderous while he did it.
"Go on now, shoo! I'll be okay!" The strange girl was saying, admonishing the dog-beast.
In response, it sat on its haunches.
She groaned in frustration. "Please?"
It laid down, eyes never leaving the Cats.
Lion-O sighed mentally. Well, at least it's not trying to eat Cheetara.
The girl threw her hands up in the air in exasperation.
Whoever she was. . . she meant no harm. And Lion-O had a feeling that she had answers to questions.
"What is your name?" Lion-O asked, raising his voice to get her attention.
The girl whirled back to them, her cheeks flushing. She must have forgotten they were there.
"My name? Oh. . . Oh dear! I forgot to introduce myself."
It melted into a shy smile.
"My name is Cybele. Welcome to my home."
Everything moved in quick succession after that. The tension in the air began to dissipate, little by little, as the. . . beast. . . tamer? (Lion-O really didn't know what to call her) proved she wasn't a threat. There seemed to be much more going on than what Lion-O readily thought. Weapons stowed, Lion-O approached Cybele, albeit even he was a little wary. The giant dog-beast remained laying on the ground, watchful of all of them. Cheetara, Kit, and Kat were just a few sparse feet away from it.
As if sensing their discomfort, Cybele moved over to the beast and placed a hand on its muzzle, stroking its fur soothingly.
Tygra bolted over to Cheetara, dropping to his knees beside the downed cleric, Pumyra just a few short seconds behind him. Lion-O was third to arrive, and he waited impatiently as Pumyra finished her scan. Finally, the puma sat back and shook her head.
"She's fine."
"No, she's not fine." Tygra snapped. "She's unconscious!"
Pumyra gestured to Cheetara. "Obviously. But she's not drugged, not with fear, uninjured, so physically she's fine. It's not like I just know what's wrong with a person!" The irate medic snapped back.
Tygra growled, obviously very displeased with this answer, flashing his fangs. "It's this damned magic. She was talking about voices and-"
"Voices?" Cybele interrupted, coming to stand in the ring around the fallen cleric, "What kind of voices?"
"She didn't tell us." Lion-O interrupted, pointedly glancing down at his brother.
Tygra had been two seconds away from cutting Cybele with a caustic remark. As it were, it looked like it was seconds away from bubbling up on his tongue. His brother sat there, clutching Cheetara as though the cleric were going to disappear. Cybele looked between the Cats and the cleric, a thoughtful look on her face.
"You have the War stone. . . I also take it she is of magical origin. In which case. . . it would not be off to assume that the magic of this jungle could be taking its toll on her. There is a wealth of it here. My ancestors may be playing a part in this as well. I would stem your worry. I'm certain she will wake up soon."
Lion-O pinned her with a critical look. "You know this for certain?"
Cybele turned a bright smile in his direction. "I do. My first few times using the magic of this place - or just brushing against it - often overloaded me. But here. I've been a terrible host so far, it's little wonder why you don't trust me. If you'll allow me, I'll take you back to my home, and your cleric can have a bed instead of the ground."
"And where is your home?"
"Chrysó Pólis." She replied.
Lion-O's head immediately ached. The way she pronounced the words seemed entirely wrong, and there were stresses and intonations that he didn't even know existed. Apparently he wasn't the only one who was staring blankly at her - she looked at them all, taking in their expressions, and smiled again.
"Perhaps it is easier if I show you. Come on, I'll take you."
"And how can we trust you?" Pumyra grated, getting to her feet. "After everything you've done?"
"Because the War Stone knows of my home." She replied easily, pointing to Omens.
Lion-O glanced down to his sword. Earlier, in the fight. . . it had refused to work, and it was well known that Omens refused to work on a force of good. Looking back at the Cats, he nodded his head.
"Omens refused to fight. She's a friend, and to be honest, this entire ordeal reminds me of Viragor. We fought him, too." He said, cutting off the argument he knew Tygra wanted to make. When Cheetara was involved, his brother got 99% more obstinate and ridiculous.
Tygra grumbled, but was thankfully quiet. Turning back to Cybele, Lion-O nodded again, giving the okay. In return, the girl grinned, beaming and clapping her hands together. "Oh, it's been so long since I've had guests! I'm so excited. Let's go, Liontári!"
The dog-beast moved to stand. . . and began to shrink. In the same, baffling way that the other dog-beasts appeared and disappeared, his limps morphed, and his body began to compress on itself. At the end of the transformation, a roughly animal-shaped figure stood, wrapped in the same cleric-style cloak that Cybele had worn. Its face was masked, intricate designs wound about it. It was taller than Panthro, but while its shoulders were broad, its waist was tapered and thin. It also sported four arms - an extra set jutted out of its ribs. It looked a little unnerving, but not exactly unnatural. All of its tails hung proudly in the air behind it.
The dog-beast - she'd called it Liontári - took two steps forward, its masked face tilted down to look at Cheetara. Tygra growled a feral warning up at it.
"Stay away from her!" He snarled.
It stopped, canting its head to Tygra.
Cybele began to wring her hands in confusion and concern. "Liontári doesn't mean you any harm, I promise. He wanted to carry her."
"The dog-thing wanted to eat her!" Kat protested, pointing a finger at the beast.
At that, Cybele looked incredibly confused. She shook her head.
"No, that's impossible."
"You saw it!" Tygra bit, eyes slitted in fury.
". . . Liontári is a vegetarian." She continued.
"A veggie-whatta?" Kit asked.
"It doesn't eat meat." Panthro supplied.
Both twins looked incredibly disgusted, shaking their heads in unison. "Ew. Meat is the best! Vegetables are awful!"
Cybele chuckled. "Please, let's get moving. We shouldn't dally out in the jungle for too long. the flies will be out soon - and they don't care who wanders in, they'll bite anything. Let's go."
Liontári moved, slow and steady, away from them, and stood incredibly close to Cybele. The girl didn't seem to mind that it encroached on her space. In fact, she didn't even seem to notice it. It was obvious that the creature was very watchful and protective of the girl, and Lion-O could empathize. It felt like an eternity ago that he'd been battling the equally as protective and watchful eyes of the clerisy. Tygra picked up Cheetara, shouldering her on his back, and though he didn't look happy, he wasn't arguing. Pumyra joined him by his side, and in the fearless way Kit and Kat were, they jogged to catch up to Cybele and Liontári.
They they began to walk, Cybele took the lead, the dog-beast just behind her, his footsteps utterly silent. It was interesting to note that he didn't leave footprints, either.
He was a very odd creature, indeed.
"So why doesn't it eat meat? And why does he have four arms?"
"It is not our way." Cybele replied. "We view living things as sacred, and it is the jungle that sustains us."
"You're a vegebarbarian too?!" Kit demanded, looking aghast.
Cybele gave a tip of her head in affirmation. "I am."
"But. . . but vegetables are so gross!"
"Kit. Kat." Lion-O looked at the pair. "Don't mock somebody for their beliefs."
"It's fine." Cybele assured him. "Really. I used to think vegetables were pretty icky, and I never really liked them. But I don't just eat vegetables, small kittens. I also eat fruit and wheat, too."
Lion-O could practically see the wheels in their heads turning.
"Like. . . Like bread and-"
"-candyfruit?!"
"Yes. Like bread and candyfruit."
As they made their way down the path, Lion-O began to tune out the twin's curious questioning and watched Cybele and Liontári. As they walked, he made a note that whenever Cybele approached a piece of the underbrush. . . it moved. Where she walked by, it spread apart to let her pass, and then it sealed up behind her. There was no more irritating beating-back-the-vines-and-foliage. The hot, humid air was was still very much present, but at least the most annoying facet of their journey had been stripped away.
"What do you think, kid?" Panthro asked, his voice right behind him. Lion-O hadn't noticed him creep up. It didn't take a genius to know what Panthro was referring to.
"Omens doesn't lie - she's a force of good. I'm not sure what's happening with Cheetara, but my gut's telling me she's really willing to help. I'm interested to know how she knows about the Stones, though."
"We certainly didn't." Pumyra muttered suspiciously.
"There's a reason, I'm sure. . ." Lion-O defended. Omens was the best judge of character he knew. The sword had never been wrong before. Next to him, Pumyra sighed. And then she glanced his way, a very exasperated smile on her face.
"Your heart is too soft, my king."
Lion-O didn't know how to take that. He was pretty sure his cheeks flushed though, and he had to resist the urge to look at her and ask, 'really?' like a hopeful cub. He coughed into his hand, glad that the ice around his girlfriend had seemed to recede a little. She had every right to be angry, but by Thundera, sometimes he hated waiting for her temper to abate. And Pumyra had that temper in spades.
Ahead of them, golden sunlight flooded the ground, indicating they'd reached a large clearing. Kit and Kat stood absolutely still, both of their mouths opening in shock. Tygra even stilled, looking down at what the clearing offered. . . and that was when Lion-O knew whatever it held had to be good. He didn't bother speeding up to catch up to the group - a few more seconds wouldn't kill him. As the gold and orange of the sunset met his eyes, making him blink a few times to adjust to the light, he managed to get a good scope of the land.
They were standing at the top of a staircase. Vines, ivy, and other bits clung to the weathered stone steps, leading down into what looked like a very large, sprawling suburbs. At the bottom of their steps laid at arching bridge that entered into the tallest of the buildings. There was something about this city, captured and protected by the jungle on all sides, that seemed familiar. But where had he heard about it before?
As the sun began to set, the rays of light caught on the buildings, all of which shimmered white and gold in the sun.
Gold. . .
"El Dara!" Kit cried, pointing.
Kat was quick to retrieve his drawing, stashed on the inside of his tunic. "It's - it's El Dara!"
El Dara?
Lion-O glanced at the sketch, and then at the city. There were a few things wrong with it, but for the most part, it appeared correct. The buildings weren't of the same design, for one, but the bridge was the same shape, and some of the runes on the page matched what Lion-O could see. Inwardly, Lion-O felt his own heart skip a beat. The legendary city of El Dara. . . and they were going to visit it? Talk about this journey being one large ride. He'd seen everything. A city that flew in the sky. Sycrorax, Mumm-Ra. . .
Cybele, who'd been walking down the steps, paused and turned back to the kittens.
"Excuse me?"
"El Dara! This is El Dara! The Jewel of the World!"
"Oh. . ." Cybele said. "Well, I suppose. I mean, I'm not sure who renamed it El Dara. Its name is Chrysó Pólis. . . Though. . . the names mean the same thing. They both translate to Gold City, so. . . but come, let me show you to a place where you can rest."
At the very top of El Dara, there was a giant, sprawling pyramid the likes of which Lion-O had never seen before. Inwardly, he was glad. He didn't think he could take entering something that resembled Mumm-Ra's Black Pyramid in any way, shape, or form. This pyramid seemed to be built from the bottom down, with the smallest square being on top, and larger squares building down. It was ringed with columns too, giving it a very odd appearance.
All in all, it was truly awe-inspiring, but Lion-O had never quite seen architecture like it. Cybele waved them to follow her, and they did. It didn't take long to descend the steps and cross the bridge, where more of the buildings stood out to the king. El Dara was clearly in decay, but it was beautiful. White marble and polished rock littered the floor from the buildings that were falling apart, and everywhere he looked, he saw gold. It was threaded through the buildings like it was the veins bearing the precious lifeblood of this place.
A few pathways were obstructed by streams, cut into the rock from years of flowing. There were stones to cross such small rivers - each of them looking opulent. Every direction he looked, there were treasures. Gold. Rubies. Diamonds. Rocks and precious gems he did not know the name of.
Eventually, Cybele stopped in front of a door, and pushed it open. It was a large, spacious room, containing more than twenty beds. The room was white and seemingly carved straight from marble.
"Please, make use of this room. I'll get a fire going and cook some food for us. It shouldn't be long, feel free to join me when you're ready."
Tygra was the only one who entered the room. He was laying Cheetara down on one of the beds. The twins disappeared (likely to filch some of the wealth - Lion-O would have to caution them in private later on this evening), and he, Panthro, and Pumyra moved to follow Cybele. Her protector moved alongside her, entering a dining hall that looked big enough to seat hundreds. It was empty, save for their small group.
"This city is a ghost town." Panthro commented, his voice vibrating on the walls, "Where is everyone? Did something happen?"
Cybele moved to a small cupboard and began to retrieve things, gathering fruits and vegetables inside of a bowl.
"No. It's always been like this. I'm afraid I don't have meat, are fruits and vegetables okay?"
"They're more than fine. Is there anything we can do to help?"
She shook her head, grabbing a small pot and a small metal disc. "Oh, no, it's quite alright. It'll be ready in just a few seconds."
She placed the metal ring on the table, and put the metal pot on top of it. She made quick work of removing stems from the foods she'd gathered, and plopped them all into the pot, skins and all. She didn't bother with a lid - she just looked at the metal disc, and with a few more words of her native tongue, spun her tumblers. They clattered together, flaring brightly. Lion-O watched in fascination as the metal ring brightened in response, a pale blue light emitting from what was clearly a piece of technology.
He heard a low hum, and then watched as steam rose from the pot.
Liontári, apparently deeming them safe, moved away from his charge. Pottery clattered together as the watchdog collected bowls, and returned to Cybele. Scooping out generous portions of the fruit and vegetable stew, she quickly handed them out to the Cats assembled. She also ladled up two more, and handed them to Liontári.
"Behave." She warned.
Liontári looked at her, saying nothing, and then its head tilted up and it began to walk back in the direction of the room she'd assigned them. Lion-O stared down at his bowl - it certainly smelled perfectly fine. And it looked appetizing. But he had no utensils to eat it with. . .
"How are we supposed to. . ." Pumyra hedged, and Cybele jumped up.
"Oh! I'm so, so, so sorry! Here!" She rushed back over to the food cupboard, and grabbed three large loaves of bread. She rushed back to Liontári, giving one to the protector, who never slowed his step. Finished, she crossed back to their table.
"We don't eat with utensils. You scoop it up with the bread. Our ways of life dictate that spearing things with forks, knives, and other such things are disrespectful."
Panthro broke off a piece of bread, but with his rather large arms, and his fine motor skills, he seemed to be having a rough time. The general concentrated, however, doing his hardest, though he kept dropping his bread in the bowl. Lion-O watched Cybele's example, examining as she broke off a hunk, swiped it through the stew, and popped it into her mouth.
"Will the kittens. . ."
"They'll join us in time." Lion-O assured her. "Tell me, how did you cook this? It's cut so evenly, and it heated so quickly."
"Technology." Cybele replied. "Not much of it remains, but it functions well enough."
Lion-O popped another piece of the bread-stew into his mouth, chewing. It did a good job melting on his tongue, and it was hot, but not scalding. It had a pleasantly earthy flavor, and despite the amount of fruit he'd seen enter the pot, wasn't pulpy. All in all, very refreshing. He swallowed, and waited until she'd taken a few more bites before he crossed his arms on the table.
"I'm sure you can understand we have some questions."
"I'd be worried if you didn't." Cybele responded, smiling at him. "Please ask. I'm a very open book, especially to those who bear the War Stone."
"How do you know of the Stones?"
"My ancestors remember." She replied, swirling her bread through the stew. After a moment, she paused, popped it into her mouth, and swallowed. "The voices of my ancestor told me. I remember much of it, in fact, through them. I know you seek the essence - and you can relax. Mumm-Ra has not tread foot here, and nor can he."
"You underestimate him." Panthro said, shooting her a critical look. A look that was quickly thwarted when he blinked in surprise as the bread flopped back into the bowl. "Blast!"
"Maybe." Cybele said thoughtfully, "But this city has been safe for hundreds of years. . . maybe thousands. It will be safe for much longer."
Unbidden, an image of Erica popped into Lion-O's mind, and he felt his appetite wither away. Mumm-Ra they had accounted for. His generals, they had accounted for. But what of a human? She was an unknown factor in their midst. Their spells and defenses did not work on her - she was an alien, not an animal. He frowned, resisting the urge to curl his hands into fists. If only she had remained good, if only she had repented for her sins. . . But no, those were fantasies he couldn't entertain. She was evil. She worked for Mumm-Ra, and that was that.
"Where is the essence?"
"In the large pyramid, deep inside. . . But let's leave business discussions for tomorrow, shall we? Please, eat."
"I think we should hash out a plan now. As much as I'm curious, this whole place is rather. . ." Lion-O trailed off as a shadow fell over him, and he turned around. . . only to come face-to-face with Liontári. The mask was just inches away from his nose, and the protector stared at him intently. It took everything he had not to jump, startled.
". . . unsettling." He finally managed.
Cybele tittered. "To an outsider, yes. Please, relax. I felt your presence in the forest when you set down with your aircraft. I will sense Mumm-Ra if he or his ilk enters, too. Do not worry, this city has weathered many storms."
Kit and Kat chose that moment to make their reappearance, popping out from the underside of the table, flanking Cybele.
"So where is everyone?"
"Can we have some of your gold?"
"We promise we'll spend it wisely."
"Yep. 100% honest spending, right here."
"Kit. Kat. Enough." He warned, cutting over the twins. He could understand their excitement - and a few of the Cats owed them apologies later, too. El Dara was real. . . who knew?
"The gold?" Cybele repeated. "I mean. . . if you want. It's useless to me."
Kit and Kat looked utterly floored at her response. They stared at her openly, shock and delight on their faces.
"What? Don't you know what gold can buy?!"
"Nothing. I have everything I need right here. "
"Impossible! Don't you want any toys to play with or anything?"
"I might be young," Cybele said, her tone slightly hurt, "But I'm not that young!"
"You're as old as we are!" Kat said. "You're about as tall as we are, too."
Cybele shook her head. "I am not! I'll have you know I turned three hundred and four just a few months ago."
Lion-O balked.
Kit and Kat balked.
Everyone balked.
"Come again?" Panthro asked, his tone just as shellshocked.
Pumyra blinked. "You consider such age to be young?"
Cybele waved her hands. "Oh, no, oh. . . uhm. . . how do I explain this? Okay. Let me. . ." The girl (though she was older than everyone combined, so she wasn't really a girl, was she?) crossed her arms as she thought for a moment, and then snapped her fingers. "I don't think I told you how I was born! That might help. We fauns are a very ancient race. Long ago, we wandered into the jungle, and we created our city here. For years, the jungle sustained us. And the magic saturating this place seeped into us as well."
"So. . . where are the other fauns? There's nobody here!" Kat asked, his tail waving in the air, his head quirking to the side.
"In the wood." Cybele replied simply.
"What, like, hiding?" Lion-O asked, propping his chin up on his hand.
Cybele gestured to the jungle. "As part of our rituals, when a faun reaches a certain age, we give ourselves to the jungle. It gave us life, so it is only right we give it life in turn. We only borrow its energy for a short time. Eventually, our race began to stagnate, and so few of us were being born. It is simply the natural way of life, that some species must perish. We too, were destined to fade. Or so we thought.
"The elders of my elders decreed that we would do as nature bid. Every one of us gave our life for the jungle. But the magic that guards this place - and the very life coursing through the jungle itself - I believe it did not wish such an end of us. It gathered its strength, and breathe life into us anew. Every three thousand years, it gives birth to a Summoner. . . that's me."
She stopped speaking, and Lion-O regarded her carefully. She didn't sound sad or put off by what she'd just told them. She looked happy and carefree, no trace of pain or darkness in her eyes.
Pumyra shook her head. "And you're fine with living that long? You have such solitude. . . You can't honestly expect me to believe you're happy."
Cybele's expression dropped slightly. ". . . That is kind of true. My life is long, but I'm far from alone! The spirits of my ancestors are all around me - even now, as we speak. And I have the beasts I summon, too. Each one has a personality and a voice. I have many friends. Many are just. . . uhm. . . not physical."
"What-"
A bell began to toll, joined by several more. Liontári lifted his head, staring off into the distance, and without a word, began to leave the room. The bells were beautiful to listen to, some deep and resonant, others light and cheery, all of them combining together to form a chorus. Cybele's eyes widened, and with speed Lion-O didn't think she had (and she kind of reminded him of himself), she wolfed down what was left of her food, got to her feet, and started after her silent protector.
"I have to attend my evening prayers. We can talk more when I return! Liontári, hurry, we'll be late!" And with that, she dashed off, leaving them alone.
Lion-O sighed. He still had so man questions, and far too answers. But night was beginning to draw in, light fading. Lanterns set into the walls began to glow, illuminating the entirety of El Dara. The white marble and gold inlays shone with renewed brilliance. Lion-O ate, just a few more bites, and when he turned to regard Kit and Kat, telling them not to take advantage of Cybele's kindness, he was hardly surprised to find them gone.
Panthro shook his head, muttering as he got to his feet. "This day has been too blasted crazy. I'm going to bed."
And that left just him and Pumyra. Lion-O sat beside her, and the silence that reigned between them. Lion-O sat, staring at the wall, fidgeting, trying not to think about everything that had happened. He had to wait for Pumyra to come to him. Give her space, everybody said. Give her time.
So he was going to.
"I'm going to turn in, too." He said, getting to his feet.
He heard a rustle behind him, and the sound of feet hitting the ground. He turned, seeing Pumyra there, just a few feet away from him. Her eyes were staring into him again, intense, assessing. . . like she was looking for something and he didn't know what. The mood had changed, and Lion-O couldn't sense the ice.
His mouth started moving, his throat producing words.
". . . I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of this." He said. "I'm so sorry-"
Pumyra opened her mouth, anger filtering into her eyes, but Lion-O shook his head and cut her off.
"-But I know words are meaningless to you. I let her hurt you. . . I can't ask forgiveness after that. Everything that's happened so far has been my fault. And i can't let it anymore. I've lost so much. Thundera. My father. The essences. . . and I almost lost you. I let my compassion blind me. I'm too soft."
Lion-O heard his voice taper off to a choked whisper, and silence fell shortly after that. He stared at the ground, tears burning in his eyes. He'd spent hours at her bedside, and he wanted to hold her hand while she laid there, tell her everything was going to be okay, but he hadn't wanted to touch her. This had all been his fault.
Everything was his fault.
"Lion-O." Pumyra said.
Her tone was soft, and surprisingly vulnerable. Wounded. His head snapped up in surprise, and he saw Pumyra looking back at him, her own eyes a little teary. And that floored him. In all his time of knowing Pumyra, she had never looked so unguarded and defenseless. She was standing in front of him, wrapped up in her pain, readily showcasing it to him. For the first time, she looked small, uncertain, and afraid.
"You don't. . . you don't understand what it's like. Knowing that your boyfriend - your king - chose. . . chose someone who wasn't even human. I thought you were dedicated to atoning for your mistakes. You wanted to help the Cats through their pain, but every time you say you will. . . you choose her. And that cut me. It cut me deeper than anything."
Talk about a knife to the heart. Lion-O had never heard Pumyra being so open and honest with her feelings before.
Lion-O stepped forward, slowly, each foostep measured. He was afraid that Pumyra would suddenly snap out of it, come to her senses, and then run away, calling him a plethora of names. But she didn't. She stood there, looking to be choking back tears, openly trying not to cry. Lion-O reached a hand out, terrified that she would slap it away. . . but she didn't. Slowly, achingly slowly, Lion-O wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm sorry." He said, his own voice thick with regret, "I'm so sorry, Pumyra. But I've decided. I know what I have to do now. I won't lose you again. I swear it."
Pumyra was quiet.
But finally, finally, she wrapped her arms around him, too. She held him tightly.
"You're too soft. . . my king."
She'd forgiven him.
She'd forgiven him.
In the light of the lanterns, and the quiet that pervaded El Dara. . . Lion-O grinned, feeling like a fool.
He was on the path to making things right again.
And by Thundera, it felt amazing.