15

Plans

Finding a hovercraft that was still in shape to work was not too difficult. And even less difficult that Panthro fixed it. "If Panthro can't fix it, it's not fixable," Wilykat whispered to Bengali as they all watched him work, one of the twins running to fetch a part here and there.

They would not come with them to the blasted island, though, although they told them where it was. They refused.

Lynx-O, Pumyra, and Bengali came back looking very shaken. Pumyra was crying, and even the stoic Bengali looked like he was close. Had Lynx-O still been able to, there was no doubt he would have been, too. Even one with no psychic abilities whatsoever could not help but feel the death on the forlorn island.

And so the question was, what now?

"I've run a few tests," Tygra announced to the others. "I managed to capture some of the gasses and run them through several tests in the lab." He sighed. "I'm afraid that taking the meteorite out of there would do no good, twins. It was a good idea, but the blasted thing affected the ground itself, and the mists within, as they have highly mutative qualities. Enough that I want everyone, you two especially, to see me sometime within the next few days so I can look you over more extensively."

Wilykit and Wilykat exchanged nervous glances.

"It shouldn't have had too great an effect on you," he assured them. "The most I would expect is a bit of tampering with your normal functions for a short time, but I just want to be on the safe side. You were not exposed long enough to have a lasting effect." He addressed the group once more. "From what I can tell, any physical effects the place might have had on the people after this amount of time would be irreversible. The mutation was painless, from what I can tell. By the time they all realized what was happening, it was probably too late. And it would not have been long after that that they stopped thinking enough to care." He sat back, looking troubled. "So what now?"

There was silence for a long moment, and then Lion-O spoke. "Well. We can't destroy the forest." He shook his head. "They're not suffering although I am not sure their minds are even aware of what's happening."

"I believe it will eventually affect their reproduction systems, if it has not already, that they all end up sterile," Tygra added. "They...they may not survive even without our intervention."

"Still, that option is out." He looked at the others. "But from what Wilykit and Wilykat have told us, the forest seems to be spreading, inching out. We do need to find a way to keep it from spreading."

"I guess we need to see if it's spreading in all directions, or just in that direction," Wilykit said, putting her chin in her hands.

"Blast Mumm-Ra anyway," Cheetara growled. "Have you twins been past the forest into the forbidden territory?" They both shook their heads quickly. "Hmmm. We'll be needing to go over to that area too, to check it out."

While most of those in the room looked nervous, the twins looked rather excited. Lynx-O's group only looked puzzled. "The forbidden territory?" Bengali asked.

"The area beyond the Forest of Mists," Lion-O told them, "is a place in planet-wide superstition as a place to be avoided, stayed away from. They call it the Darkside."

"What's there?" Pumyra asked, then turned to Lynx-O. "Did anyone in the village ever go there?"

"I'm not sure. I never did. There were warnings of danger, but no one ever said why. They never even gave it a name."

"Well then, it's settled. Tomorrow, we will work on getting some suits made up and take a small party over through the forest when we can, to see what's on the other side." Before the twins could ask, he looked at them with a critical eye. "I should make you stay behind."

"Awww, Lion-O!" they both exclaimed.

"You wouldn't have even known all what was doing on...

"...if we hadn't explored and done researched and stuff!" Wilykat finished.

Lion-O laughed. "Yes, by breaking the rules."

"But we - "

"Yes, I know, we've spoken on that already. You can come." He was amused at their relieved expressions. "I know you two have probably been busting to check the place out ever since you heard it was forbidden. I'm not going to hold you behind. But I still should." he gave them a wink and then told Tygra and Panthro, "If any of us can help with the protective clothing, let us know."

Part 16: The Darkside

Table of Contents
ThunderCat Stories Page
Main Page