De Author Seez: yes, I'm back! And only 360 days ahead of schedule! Thanks to the reviews (and nagging and barely veiled-threats) the previous chapters elicited, I managed to squeeze out this long-in-preparation scene. Enjoy!

More commentary at the end.

14: Cringer's Journey and Return

Cringer returned the palace the same we he'd left: silently, and going unnoticed by all the elder two-legs. It still being the season of Long Suns, there were mercifully few two-leg cubs about the palace halls, their sires wisely allowing them to run amok outside the walls so they were kept from mischief elsewhere; this made his passage back to his companion's side easier than it might otherwise have proved. Cringer had long observed how the two-legged ones were ever clever with their tools and their words, but their senses always seem to become weaker as they grew in size. It was only to be expected, he supposed, given how they were so dependent upon their tools and not enough upon their own two paws. The cubs however delighted in catching him out, giving him no end of anxiety and leaving him constantly shaking for fear he'd missed something that might harm those in his charge.

He'd departed the same night as his charge-companion had fallen. A single sniff of his flesh confirmed what Cringer instinctively knew: that his charge and companion and friend was no longer within in his flesh! As unsettling as this discovery was, it alone was not enough to send Cringer fleeing to the old warrens where the oldest of the packs dwelt. Indeed, by rights and old decree of the Great Mother, Cringer should have just settled down at his charge's side and simply awaited his return.

No, what sent him off was a second discovery that same day. He'd gone in search of someone to alert that this strange thing had occurred, only to discover his charge-companion's own mate had likewise fallen and departed her flesh! Oh, Cringer fully comprehended the two-leg's use of words and made a game effort at mimicking them, and equally understood how little truth was reflected in the words that passed between so many of them; he fully understood what was so often unsaid and unannounced between those two in particular. The mate's ill-temper and his charge's constant if mild tensions around her were only to be expected when there were two souls who fought what was obvious between them; that neither surrendered to the First Mother's blessing was a bit surprising, but there were none more stubborn than those two and Cringer was patient. After all, it wasn't as if they could resist the call of both their souls' forever.

For one to fall was strange but not frightening, but both, and within bare moments of each other? No accident nor simple intervention this, and it was enough to send Cringer off to seek the knowledge of those whom he'd never before seen nor dared sought out. Even the unbelievable turns that left unworthy him the decreed companion to the Champion hadn't shaken him as badly as this. He'd lingered at the palace just long enough to ensure both bodies were cared for, then he quit the palace, the city, and was well on his way the mountains beyond before the moon reached apex that same night.

The mountains were in sight by that next dawn and he at their foothills by dusk. He'd needed to rest that night, not fool enough to think he could begin scaling those peaks after running nearly a full day. It was in the midst of that rest that unfamiliar dreams plagued his mind and phantom storms rang in his ears.

For a moment, barely a paw's worth of heartbeats, Cringer sensed both companion and companion's mate had returned…only to sense the thrilling moment pass just as quickly. Still, it left him invigorated as if the Champion was once more astride his back, and his shadow-self stood in his steed! And, as it always was when the power of the ages before suffused him, Cringer was off and leaping upwards as if someone other than himself controlled his muscles and bones. No fear, no hesitation, nothing stopping or pausing his movements; there was only the distance between him and where he needed to be, and the burn in his bones to close that distance drove him on.

When Cringer returned to himself, he was mildly surprised to find himself but a short distance from the warrens, the sun high overhead yet providing little warmth to the snow-covered peaks he now stood amidst. Clearly the Great Mother's had a greater hand in these events than he'd previously suspected as there was simply no way he could have made such a climb under his own strength. He proceeded cautiously from there on, unwilling to test First Mother's attention or indulgence.

The climb was a difficult one, as one would expect given circumstances and (he hoped) the rewards to be found at the end. The sun had just dipped below the horizon as Cringer – bones chilled to ice and claws nearly numb from the endless winds of these peaks – pulled his exhausted self over the final rise to stand before a cave whose entrance was marked by scratches and markings only slightly-less ancient than the rock itself. The carvings, were the two-legs to recognize them as language, would have been considered archaic and meaningless. Cringer's eyes were clearer, uncluttered by the foolish things two-legs let cloud their perceptions and hearts, and he read the instructions imparted in those markings and carefully carved signs.

Drawing himself up, Cringer stood at the cave's mouth for the required span of time, carefully counting off heartbeats as the measure of it, then offered a single, plaintive howl of both greeting and appeal. When no growl of dismissal came, Cringer settled himself down to wait.

The wind did not reach this place, and there was warmth in the stone caught from the sun's unfiltered light. It lulled Cringer to sleep, and his rest went untroubled by dreams or spirit mischief.

Eventually, he was slowly prodded awake by something blunt and annoying that was jabbing at his nose. It was all Cringer could do to bat at the thing with one weak swipe of the paw; two days of constant, muscle-straining activity was no easy thing to recover from. The thing ceased poking him, however, only to be replaced by pebbles being tossed with increasing strength at his sensitive nose. Some distant corner of his consciousness warned Cringer that if pebbles failed to rouse him, those nudging him would likely resort to more vigorous methods to awake him.

One thought of how long he'd been from his charge's side had Cringer both roused and alert, hackles momentarily standing at the ready. He took one breath, shaking from a forgotten dream, then another, slower one and relaxed himself. A quick look about and he noted that indeed, someone had been tossing little rocks at him. Glancing about, he saw no-one about either at hi flanks or behind or even above him. It wasn't until he looked back at the cave entrance that he saw…them.

Cringer caught himself from issuing a most embarrassing yelp of surprise, even so he very, very nearly leapt back in shock. Had he not been restrained from either action – neither hand nor claw was needed for this, their gaze being more than enough – he surely would have tumbled completely off the mountain entirely. It would have been an embarrassing end, but fortunately it seemed the First Mother was not finished with him yet.

They gazed upon him for what felt as a lifetime, but in truth was only three heartbeats (Cringer knew this, because he counted his very carefully), then melted back into the darkness beyond the cave mouth. Cringer took a single fortifying breath and followed them, not boldly, but not meekly either.

What followed is not for any other soul to know, so no more will be said of it.

The sun rose and set and rose again before Cringer would be seen. Even then, he would emerge not from the cave far above, but through a portal no mortal eye would have caught at the base of the mountains. Were any to have seen it, it would have been as if he appeared out of thin air. Such things are ridiculous, of course, but there were only some small flying insects and docile vermin about who might have noticed, all of them otherwise engaged in their tiny lives to bother.

Cringer took a long, deep breath, savoring the fresh air and warm sun. He was sorely tempted to find some fruit grove and take a long nap in the sun. At the very least he'd have to find a creek or pond somewhere and soak himself for a spell; his fur was singed in a few places, and positively reeked in more than a few others.

Alas, grooming would have to wait until he returned to the side of his charge-companion. He started back the way he'd come, pace steady but not hurrying. Cringer knew there was no need to go galloping back like his yet-unmet ally would; that one would never be at peace, forever braying and chomping at the bit, even with his own charge nearby and all their enemies scattered…

Something about that single thought caused Cringer to shudder disquieted in ways he hadn't felt since being a newborn cub himself and he'd first encountered both his future-charge and the other. He shook his head clear of the vague images and set himself moving once more. There was still a distance to walk, and Cringer knew his charge well enough that he didn't dare trust the cub not to go charging off in the wrong direction while he was away. It wouldn't do to disappoint the Great Mother so (to say nothing of what the mate would do to him if the cub hurt himself; she might withhold belly rubs for a time!).

That was all the motivation Cringer needed to move himself forward at a brisk but not breakneck pace, reaching home by the time the moon had begun its descent before the dawn. He immediately noted the air of tension in the palace, but as he didn't scent any of the enemies or fire or other such signs of conflict, Cringer concluded it was just the usual hustle and bustle that made up life there. He kept the shadows all the same, ever watching for danger, and eased his way into the rooms where his charge took his rest.

Truth be told, Cringer had never felt comfortable there, there being entirely too many rooms with too much open space and entirely too many ways to enter for his tastes. It was an absolute nightmare to try to patrol, never mind watch out effectively. The only redeeming feature to it as far as he was concerned was that the mate's own chambers were directly next door, and there were well-hidden ways to move between the two, so if worst came to worst Cringer could easily go there and summon the mate, thereby ensuring his charge's safety.

Upon entering the cub's bedroom, Cringer took a long sniff of the air, noting with some satisfaction that there was now a new way between the mate's room and here, which he found most agreeable. As a bonus, both his charge and the mate were present there for once, their scents mingling in a new and welcome way that allowed Cringer to overlook the odd, musty scent that covered them both.

The long days caught up with the great cat, and he laid himself at the foot of his charge's bed, letting his eyes droop shut and mind wander off to wherever it is great cats do when their souls are at rest.

Awareness was slow in returning, even moreso than when he'd been awaiting the mountain's response to his entreaty. There were distant sounds and voices, ones that caused him to instinctively roll onto his back and present his tummy for rubbing. He was not disappointed there as a familiar touch brushed across his broad chest; the voice that accompanied it sounded at once equally familiar, yet not familiar at all.

"Adam? We have a visitor."

A second brush across his tummy elicited a hedonistic purr and some obligatory squirming. The mate likely had no clue how pleasurable these little indulgences were, else she'd surely be stingier with them; she demonstrated the instincts of the sternest den matriarch after all.

Cringer sensed the mate moved off, but not towards her own chambers. This struck him odd as she'd never been one to linger near his charge like this. Had they finally succumbed to the obvious and actually decided to join as one? It would be a welcome development, and a definite relief for his much abused nose in particular; no two-legs had the slightest clue just how much they revealed of themselves by scents, and it drove him by turns to distraction and despair just how clueless so many of the elders were of their health and hearts. He could tell them, but equally he knew they'd dismiss him as being just a 'dumb animal'. Ha! At least Cringer knew enough to avoid the Kihloh plant spices and stick to old-fashioned salts!

He gave himself and shake and opened his eyes, intent upon questioning his charge about his mate's behavior. As companion and guardian, he had certain responsibilities there and…

"Well, look who's returned," came a voice that was too old and too wise, leading Cringer to round on it, mouth opening to deliver a stern rebuke to the speaker for entering his charge's den uninvited. It died on his tongue at the sight of his charge grinning at him, Cringer's senses immediately awash in contradictory impressions that tore a whine of distress from him.

Cringer could clearly see…how could Adam be missing one limb…yet it was there, hanging limp!…but it wasn't…and his hair was…longer?...and when had he grown a beard?...his chin was clean…was…those sigils on the side of his face…why…how did they change as he watched?...how could he be taller…suddenly he was…was…smaller?

"Cringer?" Adam said in a voice that wasn't Adam, causing Cringer to back away…and continue to back away until, he realized a moment later, he was pressed back against at solid wall whilst standing atop one of the dressers. He struggled to keep his footing even as his hackles rose fully and felt ready to pull themselves free!

"What is going on out here?" This came from the mate, who appeared in the doorway to the privy, the sight of her sending Cringer into a near-frenzy of confusion and outright panic! Never mind the multitude of things covering her body from toe to crown…there was a much, much larger THING that moved so fast as to be nothing but a blur…yet circled the mate like a predator preparing to strike!

He gathered his wits and, bracing all four paws beneath him, leapt across the room to tackle the mate so to get her away from the fast-moving THING. He succeeded, although it elicited a high-pitched wail from the THING, and a decidedly angry huff from the mate. Cringer paid neither any mind, concentrating upon keeping himself between the mate (and by extension, his charge) and this unknown THING, while simultaneously trying to push the mate out of the room entirely. It would have been easy enough, if only the mate weren't so blasted argumentative!

"Cringer!...let me up, you damned fool of a rug!...I'll…get…Adam!"

His charge certainly wasn't helping matters either, wrestling a single arm around him and working to heft him off the mate, proving remarkable successful at it to boot.

"Cringe…get off her! Now! Get…off…of…Teela…before…she…gets…mad!"

"Too (huff) late!"

What happened next would haunt Cringer's dreams until the end of his days, as a word was spoken; by who or what he could never be sure.

Certainly it wasn't from Adam, who suffered as he did, and it could not have come from THING because it was curled up in a corner near the bathtub. That left only the mate, Teela, and that was so ridiculous Cringer would have dismissed it out of hand if not for the small fact this word…which was of no language he had exposure to (and all that Adam had heard across his life and across the land, Cringer heard as well)…quite literally pushed both himself and Adam out of the privy entirely!

How Adam managed to avoid being crushed by his suddenly-limp bulk nearly landing atop him was a mystery. Cringer could only shake his head and roll to his feet, standing unsteadily as Teela suddenly appeared over him; it must have been his ringing head warping his otherwise reliable perceptions, her slender form seemingly grown to tower over the both of them, her eyes tempestuous pools of burning black that singed his fur and stung ears.

"You…little…!"thundered overhead, the voice only vaguely kin to Teela's own.

"Teela," breathed Adam behind him, sounding more amused than fearful.

"…adorable…green furball," cooed Teela, her form suddenly normal-sized and long fingers tickling under his chin and cheeks. "You thought you were protecting me, weren't you, silly fuzzy?"

Her manner and words were so unfamiliar, yet soothing all the same. Cringer was too discombobulated by these shifts to notice the THING was slinking out of the privy and moving up along Teela's back. It wasn't until it peeked over her shoulder that he realized its presence, causing him to immediately resume an aggressive stance.

Or he tried to; Teela's gentle hand suddenly became a steel hold upon his neck, keeping him still as her brilliant blue eyes darkened momentarily as they bore into his own.

"Now listen, you," she growled. "My friend here has followed us a very, very long way. He is nought more harmless than a glossfly and will cause mischief only if wound up by someone trying to, say, tackle him. So I expect you to be polite and just ignore him now. Understood?"

"Uh…understood," Cringer managed to choke out, speech made difficult more by the intensity of Teela's glare than her hold on his throat. Obligation and duty nevertheless prompted he try to make a promise. "But…"

"No buts," Teela interrupted, calm and implacable as all the tides of the ocean. "I've put the word to him, and I'm putting the same to you. I'll not have this family driving the palace up in arms, especially not because of either of you start some mischief out of boredom.

"That one," she gestured over her shoulder. "That one knows to hang upon me, so I'll know where's he at and what he's up to. I expect you, fuzzball, to do as you always do and keep with Adam. If and when you're near the other, leave him be or I promise you…"

She let the implied threat hang there, the sting (but not the danger) lessened significantly by the sly grin she favored him with. Cringer imagined all manner of terrible things he might suffer – a lack of belly rubs being most immediate – and quickly nodded his head. "I'll be good," he promised.

"You're always good," Teela sighed, exasperated in some way Cringer couldn't divine. She released his throat and added "I…we need you to be quiet now."

"Um, quiet? About what?"

"About what you see in us," Adam stated, coming to stand beside Teela and sounding equally tired and worn. "You and Orko can, well, see more the truth of Teela and I than any other."

Cringer furrowed his brow and looked them over again, this time steeling himself against the riot of impressions that came of it. Adam's missing right arm…wasn't missing, any more than Teela's left eye was…even if that was something covering that side of her head…and how her hair was still its long, vibrant length…where it looked like she'd cut it nearly as short as Adam's heavy beard…which wasn't actually there, even though it was white as snow…and Cringer couldn't help but smell the thick scent between the two of them, which didn't bother him really because, after all, it was them…but it was all the other scents underneath that one that had him wondering where Teela's cubs were right then and how many of them there were because their scents still clung to her's and given how white Adam's hair really was (even if no-one could actually see it that way) and how wrinkly his skin really was (even if no-one could actually see it that way) and Teela looked really, really, really tired (even if she looked fresh and alert as ever) that meant there were a lot of cubs somewhere and while Cringer liked playing with human cubs they were hard to control and very loud and and and and and…

"Cringer!" Adam barked at him, pulling his attention out of the mess his senses tried unsuccessfully to sort out. Cringer closed his eyes and took a cleansing breath. Great cats such as he might be able to see and sense more than any two-legs and most of the others peoples of the world, but that didn't mean they couldn't focus past it when necessary. Damned if it wasn't necessary right then!

Cringer forced his eyes open and regarded his long-time companion and charge once more, this time seeing nothing but what the surface presented. Adam was crouched in front of him, Teela no longer being anywhere in sight or scent, which was a bit of a relief as it took up much of his attention to not see anything deeper in Adam alone. Cringer settle back on his haunches and gave a small nudge of his lame arm with one paw.

"How did…this…happen?" he asked.

"Ah," Adam sighed, settling back himself. "That is…a bit of a long story." Cringer cocked his head to one side and waited. Adam arranged himself to sit cross-legged there on the floor, a familiar posture for when there was storytelling in the offing.

"I was leading my, um, army into the desert, looking for someone who had attacked our lands…"

Yes, that was mean of me, wasn't it? Feel free to break out the pitchforks and torches, although reviews and praise (deserved or otherwise) tend to be a little more effective at keeping the updates coming. Yes, I'm that desperate for feedback.

For the record, I'm not trying to write a Unified Theory of All Things He-Man; I'm just pulling all the diverse pieces of the mythos together for my own selfish ends.

Hope you enjoyed this. Let me know for gods sake!