Intermission
Part Nine
Behind the lair -- the phrase became synonymous with death for the Thundercats. The area was barren, lifeless -- as it rightly should be. Graves for Jaga and Claudus were located near the far end of the lot, although their remains were not. Closer to the lair, there were two sites. One of them was much smaller than the other, hidden under a shade tree. The other had been dug that morning...
The gathering was solemn, most of the mourners being thunderians. A few were from the moons of plundaar, and even the mutant pressense was felt through a sole representative. Jackalman stood near the very back of the crowd, shrouded by a black cloak, not wishing to be noticed. Bengali had seen him arrive, however, and at the end of the ceremony, tracked him down before the jackal retreated. Each offered condolences to the other, then briefly hugged each other, a curious gesture, but one left unquestioned by the other guests.
Bengali beckoned Jackalman to come with him, but the mutant declined, hastily making a return from whence he came. Bengali set to the painful task of comforting the parents of the woman both he and the mutant loved. The couple had kept themselves alienated from her after learning of her ambitions to be a healer instead of a mother. Her older siblings had all married early, and numerous times she had been an aunt, sixteen to be exact. Yet, this dishoner, as her family saw it, contributed to the events of the last few days, in Bengali's eyes.
He approached them, unsure of guiding himself to what he should say. "I am so sorry for your loss. She was a beautiful and talented young woman. I wish you could have had the chance to know her as well as I did."
"Thank you for believing in her, Bengali." wept her mother, "At least someone did." Her father merely nodded, eyes locked on the grave stone, carved with the letters of the name he had given to his youngest child. It had taken nearly two decades for her parents to forgive her -- but at what cost?
Cheetara watched the scene from where she stood not too far off. She was standing alone. The citizens who had come out of respect were leaving, and the other Thundercats were grouping with their families. It wasn't until now that Cheetara realized she truly was alone. Within the Thundercats, Bengali and Tygra, Kit and Kat, and Lion-o and Sahny would always have a sibling around. Panthro had a sister, as well as a neice, and Sumik's family seemed to branch out over the planet. And then...
She looked back to Bengali, talking to the sorrowful parents. She shook her head. She had been much too young, thought Cheetara. But even with all the sadness everyone was expressing, deep down, Cheetara was feeling sorry for herself. Everyone else had other family members around. The only one she had hadn't yet been born.
A hand placed itself upon her shoulder. Lynx-o was behind her, with a small child, five or six years old, holding his hand. "Good to see you again." he said.
"Lynx-o! How have you been?" It had been about eight years since he had been reunited with his wife and his daughters, and he left the Thundercats shortly afterwards so he could spend time with his family, which he hadn't seen in quite some time. In fact, when he had left Thundera, he had only one daughter that he had known of. And now, all this time later, he had grandchildren as well.
"Have I introduced you to Kalei before?" He said. The child looked up at Cheetara and smiled at her. "I may have, just after she was born. It's been a long time since I've spoken with you. How are things going?"
"Current circumstances have put a damper on things." She said. "We dealt with an attack from the lunataks just the other day. I got my arm too close to the Ice Runner, slit it right down the side. Sumik got banged up toohave you met him yet? He's a cougar, about Kit and Kat's age."
"I haven't the pleasure yet. What did the boy do to be annointed, if I may ask?"
"There was an arson in a nursery. The caretakers left without regard to the youngsters left inside. A crowd had gathered outside the building to watch the blaze, as children hung out the windows calling for help. The snarf fire brigade was on their way, but if Sumik wouldn't have gone inside and saved as many as he had, the brigade would never have been able to save them all. The fire chief said so. Sumik had severe lung damage from the smoke, and the doctors weren't sure he'd pull through, but he did, and Lion-o made him a Thundercat." Explained Cheetara.
"Didn't the sword warn Lion-o of the danger?" questioned Lynx-o.
"It doesn't always seem to work if it's not a Thundercat who's in danger." She reasoned.
"Hmm...too bad." Lynx-o said. "But all was well, the children were all saved."
Cheetara nodded. Kalei tugged on Lynx-o's pant leg.
"Yes, little one?" he said, bending down so he was eye level with her.
"Can I go over and play with Snarf?" she asked
"Um...why don't you go over and say hi. I don't think he's going to want to play today." He said.
"Okay." The young girl skipped over to the snarf.
Lynx-o stood up again. "So, when are you due?"
"I, uhI don't really know yet." She stammered. "Who told you?"
"Oh, no one. It's just one of those things that I seem to be able to know." He told her with a gentle smile. "Children are wonderful, no matter what anyone says about them causing problems, you'll love them for it. I wish I'd had the chance to see my younger daughter grow up – I wish I'd known I had a younger daughter. But I cherish the time I've been able to spend with her now."
"I can't seem to get excited about it, with the attacks going on, and now" she shook her head.
"Do not blame yourself for her death. Bengali is having enough problems dealing with it, he will need the rest of you to help him through this. And do not forget, from death comes life."
Tygra had been watching the reunion between Cheetara and Lynx-o when he was tapped on the shoulder. He turned around to find another cheetah of a different species.
"Hey. So what was it you needed to know. And make it quick, I don't want her throwing a hissy fit that I'm here." Dr. Zhie said, motioning towards Cheetara.
"Didn't really think you'd show up." he commented.
"Yeah, well, I'm on call, so I've got to get back soon." She fished a cigarette out of the pocket of her scrubs and lit it. "So did you have an actual question, or was it just whether or not I would show up?"
"If someone were pregnant with twins, is it unusual for there to be a separate chamber for each fetus?"
"Depends. Who's got the bad luck?" asked Zhie, taking a drag of the cig.
Tygra hesitated. "Cheetara."
Zhie nodded and took a look around the area before answering. "Well, I have an idea of what it might be. I'm pretty much positive what it is. But I can't really say anything. It's the reason I got banished from the family, and it's not something I want to bring up again."
"So is it normal?" questioned Tygra.
"For her, yes, but I can't tell you anything past that. I'm sorry." Zhie stood up to leave. "By the way, Fuzzy's looking for a pattern with the murders."
"Murders?" asked Tygra somewhat alarmed.
"Yeah...you do know she was murdered, right?"
"No, well, yes, but I didn't know there was more than one." Tygra said. "How many others?"
"At this point, eight, including her. Fuzzy's really working on this case. He said there has to be a pattern, he's just got to find it."
"Tell him if he needs any help, we'll be here."
Zhie nodded and, after putting out her cigarette, quickly walked away.
Cheetara knelt by the grave. Not the one everyone else was at. Panthro bent down next to her. "How's it goin'?"
"I don't know anymore." She said, staring at the nameless headstone. "I want to try and find my family."
"I didn't know you had anyone on Thundera." He remarked.
"I don't know if I do. But I know I was adopted. It wasn't something anyone ever told me, but I knew it anyway. I want to find my parents, if they're still alive. Before it's too late."
Panthro nodded. "I understand. When do you want to start looking?"
"Now."
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