9

They had searched all day and found nothing. There were no Thunderians in Felis that could help the three weary Thunderians in their search, although they did hear of one mayhap on the far side of Thundera. "But that'll take us ages to walk!" Snarfer wailed in frustration. "And we don't have money for the Subsonic or even a transport!" It was startling how easily they had all slipped into speaking of Thunderian things as if nothing had happened. The Subsonic was the planet-wide mode of public transportation.

"Easy Snarfer," Pumyra said, putting a hand on the agitated Snarf's head. "There's always a way. We can hitch rides, sneak on board the back of transports." She turned a little red. "Yeah, I've done that in my youth. Actually I did a lot of things in my youth I probably shouldn't have." She tried to ignore Snarfer's snicker and Lynx-O's chuckle. Lynx-O knew some of the things she had done as a young woman, like protests on the government and the like, even one time she had streaked through city hall with a group of her friends with anti-authority messages painted on her nude body like the others. Pumyra cleared her throat. "Well, uh, let's go."

Lynx-O laughed. "Right. It is getting dark, I believe. Colder, anyway."

"Yup, it's getting to be night and people are going in. It's not cold though."

"Colder than it was. I am not uncomfortable, however, I am thinking it is late spring here. This psychic you found in the terminal is in what city? Clawst?"

"Yep!"

Lynx-O did some quick thinking. "All right, that is on the far side of the planet from this location." He sighed. "That will take a while going by vehicle, providing we are able to travel far enough like that. We may have to walk a great deal." The trio might be able to hitch rides from stop to stop on the sub train called the Subsonic, which actually traveled at the speed of sound (the "sub" part meant it was underground) but they would not be able to ride the whole way. Same with any transport they managed to hitch a ride on. "For now," Lynx-O said. "We must find a place to rest for the night and we can continue in the morning."

Pumyra nodded. "Yes, that's a good idea. Any ideas, Lynx-O?"

"I would say a wooded area outside the town. It is a warm night, and should be no large predators close to the cities."

Pumyra nodded once more. "Good idea. I think I know where there are some woods where we won't be trespassing."

"Then lead the way."

They found their sleeping area and settled down in the soft moss beneath a tree. If one had happened upon them it would probably look somewhat cute, the two cats and Snarfer curled up together under a tree, but they went unbothered the night.

The next day however...

When Pumyra and her friends awoke, they realized that they were hungry. That was another problem that they had not thought of. "How do we get something to eat here?" Pumyra asked.

Lynx-O frowned. "A very good question. If worst comes to worst, we may have to hunt something, but I detest the idea of killing. Perhaps I can eat meat, but I do not like the idea of killing something myself. Not to mention the fact that we should do as little as possible that might alter events in the future. That is what is the most important here. We can not endanger anyone!"

Pumyra sighed. "This is going to be a sticky situation."

They had little time to say anything else before they heard a growl.

"Wh-what was that?" Snarfer stammered. "It sounds awfully close...and big, too..."

Lynx-O frowned. "I'm not sure. I am no wildlife expert; it does sound big, though, I suggest we move on into the city once more and try to hop a transpo--" Lynx-O was cut off by a loud roar, and his keen ears picked up nearly silent feet running in the leaves, and turned.

"Lynx-O!!" Snarfer screeched, as from underneath the foliage a large canine beast burst from the bushes and leapt at Lynx-O, knocking the older ThunderCat to the ground.

Lynx-O let a short yell of surprise and brought his arm up to ward off the jaws he knew would be going for his throat, and those very jaws clamped onto his arm. He stifled a scream.

After only a moment of shock, as Lynx-O desperately tried to ward off the creature long enough to get to his Light Shield on his other arm, Pumyra took her own weapon, her sling, and loaded it with an explosive capsule. She had to be careful, this was a pretty strong capsule, as all of hers were, and she had to be careful not to hit her friend.

As Snarfer screeched, and Lynx-O wrestled with the beast, Pumyra danced around as if in hand to hand combat, looking for an opening. After a few moments that seemed to stretch out forever, she struck!

The beast yelped, and let go of Lynx-O to turn on the one who had attacked it. Its angry silver eyes shone in the bright morning sunlight as he jumped, not giving the cougar enough time to reload!

Lynx-O was hurt, his arm bleeding badly, but he staggered to his feet and snapped open his Light Shield, aiming for the place where his ears told him the canine must be. He let the shield charge up the light energy and fired.

The beast yelped again, staggering sideways, trying to keep up his attack, but clearly too dazed to manage it.

All three jumped at an energy shot that lanced past them to strike the beast, who dropped to the ground, silent. Deathly silent. It had been killed.

"You folks all right?" came a new voice.

Lynx-O did not recognize the voice of course, but Pumyra nodded shakily. "I-I think so. Lynx-O! You're bleeding!"

"I'm all right, Pumyra." He did not want to be admitted to a hospital; minimum contact.

"It doesn't look so, sir," one of the Thunderians said respectfully. "I'm Cougiir, and this is Jaguarundin, we have a hovercar not too far away, let us take you to a hospital."

Lynx-O was about to refuse once more, but Pumyra settled it. Looking worriedly at him as he held his arm, and looking him over with her semi- trained healer's eyes, she said, "You've been clawed in half a dozen places and you're bleeding, come on, Lynx-O." She turned to the two Thunderians who had apparently been out hunting, and introduced all of them. "We appreciate it." Luckily, the hospitals of Thundera did not charge their patients.

"You are welcome," the woman said, as they made for the city.

Lynx-O spoke pleasantly to them, but he was stewing inside. He did not often stew. Though this might be necessary-a serious infection or blood loss was the last thing they needed-but he was still angry at this turn of events. He was angry at Mumm-Ra, and angry at himself for not reacting fast enough to avoid the beast, and angry even at Pumyra for accepting the hunters' offer.

After Lynx-O had been treated, which involved stitches and giving their names, they were off on their quest once more, sitting uncomfortably in the cargo hold of a crowded transport that had not noticed the trio sneaking aboard. Lynx-O now sported a glaring white bandage on his tanned fur, and some nasty looking stitched claw wounds with salve on them. He also bore a scowl.

"You all right, Lynx-O?" Pumyra asked.

"I will be fine, I am in a little pain, but it is nothing I cannot handle."

"No, I mean otherwise. You look angry."

Lynx-O sighed. "I am just frustrated, Pumyra. Seems like as soon as we begin, we are detained...and I had wanted to keep contact with others to a minimum, and it's is not happening."

Pumyra clasped his shoulder. "Lynx-O, you could not have prevented that."

"I know, I know. I'll be all right, Pumyra." He smiled and clasped her hand briefly and sat back to wait out the ride.

Part 8

Part 10

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