Did I three shot? Blatant LIES. Now it's a four shot because this one was longer than I thought and the other chapter is looking longer than I thought and I don't want to slam you with a 6000+ chapter.
So you get this! :D
And thanks for all the favs, alerts, and of course, reviews! (Like, seriously, the alerts are crazy. Where did you all come from?) Anyone else excited for this week's episode? I know I am! *blather blather*
Enough of my blathering though. Enjoy my angsty new chapter.
Tygra shook his head and leaned toward Lion-O, feeling for the pulse on his neck. The little beat started against his two fingers and he sighed, closing his eyes and letting his hand drop. Why are you so foolish, Lion-O? I could have taken that hit. I could have handled it. But you...
...it's not right.
Tygra opened his eyes again and stared at the wound on Lion-O's arm, watching the blood leaking down his fur. He growled, reaching around and feeling around his armor for anything that could cover it up, but there were no bandages on his person. Everything had been left back at camp.
"What do you expect me to do, Lion-O?" Tygra growled, glancing at his arm. He blinked, gently pressing his hand against his arm armor and nodding to himself. He reached behind it and unlatched the armor, letting it fall beside him. He slid the sleeve off and tore it into strips, wrapping the bits of cloth around the wound and give it a good tug.
Lion-O winced, groaning and shaking his head, but Tygra shushed him. Tygra shuddered when several raindrops leaked down his head and dripped off his chin, glaring up at the sky as a rumble shook the air.
"Just what we needed." Tygra scooped Lion-O up, shaking him in his arms to see if he would wake up, before shaking his head and holding his younger brother close to his chest. He glared through the gnarled branches, easily spotting the others. Their bright colors shown through the dark, earthy forest, and Tygra almost laughed.
And we were so close, too. So close.
The rain fell harder and faster as Tygra jumped from branch to branch, his chest tightening every time Lion-O groaned or gasped. Lion-O's fur felt warm, the pads of Tygra's fingers burning as it found the skin underneath. The cloth that he had tied around the wound was dark red, some blood even leaking out and falling from the bandage.
You better be all right, you idiot. If you're not, I'll...
I don't know. I don't know what, but it won't be good.
Tygra's eyes widened when he missed the last branch and he swore, the ground coming up fast. He gritted his teeth and smashed Lion-O's face into his chest, crying out when his legs slammed onto the ground. He heard the calls from the others, loosening his grip on Lion-O and glancing at his face.
"Wake up," he whispered, shaking him again. "I thought you didn't want to look uncool in front of Cheetara." The footsteps slowed and he felt the others around them. Their eyes on him and Lion-O, their stares burning into his body.
"Tygra, what happened? Lion-O, what's wrong?" Tygra looked at Cheetara, the first to arrive, with the kittens not far behind. Tygra swallowed, breathing hard when Snarf let out a strangled little cry. He shook his head and tried to focus on Cheetara. Her eyes were on Lion-O, brow creased with worry as her eyes flickered from the bleeding arm to his face, before finally looking up at Tygra.
"Something...ambushed us. Some slugs or something-and one of them grabbed onto Lion-O." Tygra paused, wondering if he should mention how Lion-O had been grabbed in the first place, but Panthro was shaking his head.
"I know what you're talking about," he growled, taking Lion-O out of Tygra's arms and heading for the Thundertank. "We'll need to get to get him to a town as soon as we can. Everyone hurry up."
Tygra blinked, his arms feeling cold at the sudden loss of his brother, and Cheetara shook his shoulder when he didn't immediately follow. Tygra shook his head and followed Cheetara and the others as they ran for the Thundertank. His eyes kept drifting to Lion-O, his own chest feeling empty; as if someone had carved his insides out. He tried not to look back at the kittens or Snarf, even at the silent mewling from Lion-O's loyal pet companion.
"What's wrong with him, Panthro?" Tygra thanked Cheetara over and over in his head for asking what he couldn't. His voice was gone and he wasn't sure where it went.
"Those things Tygra described? Black slither slugs." Panthro's gruff voice was hard to hear over the pounding rain and steadily rising wind. They slowed at the Thundertank, the ramp slamming into the mud.
"They're poisonous and sharp-toothed. An old village I holed up in a while had a real problem with them a few years back." Tygra watched Panthro set Lion-O down on the floor and climb to the front. The ramp closed behind Tygra, shutting out the growing wind, but the rain plucked above the tank.
"We're gonna head there too. They'll be able to help us more than anyone."
Tygra swallowed and narrowed his eyes. "And how are we supposed to help him until then?"
Panthro looked around, a snarl on his face. "Treat it like a normal fever. Clean the wound, cool him down, and keep him calm." Panthro went back to the front, revving the engine.
Tygra growled, dropping knees first to the floor and bringing Lion-O's head into his lap. Lion-O's breathing was heavier and he would hiss and wince, shaking his head from time to time. His good arm inched toward his bad one and Tygra had to grab it and move it away.
"You're being a real pain, you know that?" Tygra slammed his hand to the floor when the tank rumbled, making everything around him quake. He gritted his teeth, baring his fangs at his sleeping brother. "Causing all this worry. Making us go to this village. Wasting fuel and water and all our other resources."
A light touch on the shoulder made him look up, Cheetara's worried eyes blinking at him. Tygra ground his jaw and bowed his head, staring down at his brother and holding him in place as they hit a bump. They all bounced for a moment, and Tygra wanted to hit something when Lion-O let out a low whine.
Tygra kept Lion-O pinned even after the shaking stopped, but watched Cheetara out of the corner of his eye. She pushed the kittens toward the front of the tank, one hand resting on each head. Tygra found himself squeezing Lion-O's good shoulder, his eyes following the three.
"But we want to help! He's sick, right?" WilyKit cried, shaking her head when Cheetara gave her a soft push.
"Kit could play her flute! It'll help keep him calm and everything. Promise."
"Maybe. Maybe... But we need to have a few minutes, see to his wounds, all right?"
The kittens gave a few more soft protests, but Cheetara finally managed to shoo them away. Tygra jumped when something soft pushed his hand up and he looked down at Snarf. The tiny creature placed its front paws on Lion-O's shoulder, resting his head as well.
Tygra shook his head and gently laid Lion-O's head back on the floor, moving to Lion-O's hastily bandaged arm. "We'll need some new bandages and water for his arm, and a cool wet cloth for his fever. And could you bring a little brown pouch, near the other bags?"
Tygra waited until he heard the shuffling of the bags before reaching for the bloody rags on Lion-O's arm. The blackened strips easily peeled off and the bites had stopped bleeding. Lion-O's fur was matted with dried and fresh blood. Tygra's eyes darkened as he pulled the last bits of cloth away, mesmerized by the sheer redness of the liquid.
"Here." Cheetara set a bowl of water beside him and handed him a rag. Tygra set to work, carefully lifting Lion-O's arm and cleaning the blood, washing the bite marks as he went. Lion-O began to fidget, his arms and face twitching the more Tygra moved him. Cheetara shushed him though, dipping a cloth into the water ad laying it across his forehead.
Tygra nodded his thanks, reaching and finding one last rag behind him. He set to drying the arm, then brought out the bandages. He wound them around the arm, over and over, the bites disappearing behind a thick curtain of white. He tightened the bandage and tied it off, but Lion-O groaned.
"...nnnggg... No," Lion-O rasped, tugging his arm away.
"Shhhh..." Tygra swallowed and tightened his hold on Lion-O's arm, checking the bandage one last time before setting the arm down.
Cheetara watched Tygra, her eyes clouded and her heart racing. Tygra's eyes remained on Lion-O, watching his chest rise, stutter, fall. Rise, rise, rise, fall. Stutter, rise, fall, gasp. And with each irregular breath, Tygra clenched his hands and narrowed his eyes, further and further until they were almost slits. Lion-O started to groan again, shaking his head and wiggling around, sucking in his lips when he breathed too hard.
Tygra bit his lip and slammed his knee to the floor again, startling Cheetara. He looked up at her, eyes wide. His face had fallen, the anger and frustration gone for a moment. His loss-his fear at what would happen, shone in his eyes and the way he reached for Lion-O's shoulder again, only to stop and inch away. Cheetara shook her head and reached for the pouch near her side, handing it to Tygra.
"I...almost forgot to give it to you," she mumbled.
"Thank you." His voice was strained to his own ears, and Tygra sighed, pulling the string and reaching inside the small bag. Cheetara blinked when Tygra pulled out a few small, bright red candies, and tilted her head to the side.
"Tygra-"
"It's not like they're miracle workers," Tygra muttered, propping Lion-O's head again. "But, he likes them, so..."
Cheetara nodded, a soft, sad smile on her face. "I guess you've done this before."
Tygra gave her a wry smile. "It's been years though. When he was little I'd try to care of him, instead of the nurses. But then things happened and I guess we just-I didn't see the point in doing it anymore." Tygra shrugged, setting the pouch down and rolling the candies between his fingers before shaking Lion-O awake.
Lion-O groaned and shook his head, slowly opening his eyes and squinting at the light that flooded them. Tygra moved overhead, blocking most of the tank's lights and snorting. "You look like a real mess, Lion-O. I thought you'd be trying harder to look nice for Cheetara."
"Shut up." Lion-O stopped and hissed, gasping and shaking his head. Tygra's face fell for a moment, but the smug smile was back in seconds.
"You'll be better in no time. We just have to get to some village. Guess they've dealt with this before."
Lion-O nodded, but both Cheetara and Tygra wondered if he had even heard Tygra. His eyes were half-lidded and clouded, and he was looking away from them. He stared into space and kept wincing and gasping, his good hand still reaching for his bad arm.
"Lion-O," Tygra tried, tapping Lion-O's forehead. Tygra's stomach tightened when Lion-O blinked and slowly-too slowly-looked back at him. "Eat this." Tygra popped the candy into Lion-O's mouth before he could protest, snickering when Lion-O glared at him.
Steadily though, the glare turned to ease, and Tygra watched Lion-O moved the candy to his cheek and suck, as was custom. Lion-O closed his eyes and slowly, uneasily breathed out. He coughed a little but kept the candy in his cheek, smiling a bit.
"Must be bad if you're giving me these," Lion-O said eventually.
Tygra growled. "Or maybe I want to do something nice for you. Ever think of that?"
"Guys." But Lion-O shook his head before Cheetara could finish, the fight leaving his eyes.
"No, I hadn't thought of that."
Tygra's shoulders slumped, his mouth parting. Cheetara tapped Tygra's shoulder, looking him up and down and trying to think of something to say. Lion-O's breathing fell between them and they watched as their king struggled to breathe and move and not wince.
"Sorry," Lion-O pushed out. "Guess I'm just...tired. That-those things were just-"
"Don't apologize." Lion-O's eyes widened and he stared at Tygra, but his brother refused to look at him. "Stop-just, don't, all right?"
"It's not like I was-"
"I said no more apologizing. Just shut up and eat your candy." Tygra made to shove another piece into Lion-O's mouth, but Lion-O shook his head and turned away, pressing his face into the cloth that had fallen to the floor. Snarf moved away at his fidgeting friend, staring from behind Cheetara. Lion-O sighed, shuddering. "My arm won't stop burning."
"Maybe it has something to do being bit in the arm, Lion-O?"
Tygra waited for a response, but all he got was silence. He growled, grabbing Lion-O's shoulder and turning him back up. "Lion-O-"
"Shut. Up." Lion-O closed his eyes and breathed hard through his nose, shuddering again and grinding his teeth. His hand went to his stomach and he chewed his lip, closing his eyes as he waited for the wave of nausea to pass.
"-up. Throw up," Lion-O whispered.
Tygra's eyes widened but Lion-O turned away and the retching, hacking sounds filled the tank. Burnt, rotten eggs and an acidic smell filled the room, Tygra covering nose. Cheetara shut her eyes and twitched, but made her way to Lion-O and turned him back over. She took the cloth and started to clean his face, shaking her head at his broken strong of apologies.
"You're sick, Lion-O. We can't blame you for it."
"Even if it stinks," Tygra muttered, slowly lowering his hand from his face. He glanced at Lion-O, watching his brother's ever paling face. "Panthro, how much longer until we reach this town? Tygra called back,narrowing his eyes.
"We've got a bit further. Just give it some time."
"It hurts," Lion-O whispered, his eyes widening and his body stiff. His hand went to his bad arm, the pads of his fingers rubbing against the bandages. "It hurts everywhere." He trailed off, taking a long, rasping breath. Tygra shook his head and loomed over him, searching Lion-O's face.
"You're exaggerating. You'll be fine."
"Can we come in now? We want to help!" Kat cried from the front. Tygra growled and Cheetara shook her head, hurrying when she saw Kit's hair.
"Tygra-" Lion-O stopped and gasped, kicking at the floor. "Make it-st-" Lion-O slammed his fangs on his lips, hissing and smashed his hand on the floor. He threw his head from side to side, and Tygra's stomach bottomed out when he saw the blood leaking from the wound again.
"Idiot, you opened it back up!"
Tygra reached for his arm but Lion-O yanked it away, his voice cracking. "No! No, it's fine! We just-we need to get there already." Lion-O's eyes continued to widen, his pupils shrinking. He reached for his injured arm and dug his claws into the bandages, shaking all over. "We just need to get there."
"Lion-O, come on. Don't start-freaking out or something." Tygra turned to Cheetara, looking for guidance. She had her hand to her mouth and her eyes were going back and forth between Lion-O's face and his arm, but her silence persisted. Tygra's heart raced and he looked back at Lion-O, the panic growing in his brother's widening eyes.
"I think I'm gonna-" Lion-O stopped and clamped a hand over his mouth, cramming his eyes shut and shuddering. Tygra shook his head and turned his brother over, looking at Cheetara again and nodding toward Lion-O. She blinked and knelt next to him, patting his back and soothing him, even once the retching started again.
"G-get me away from it," Lion-O muttered when the episode finally ended. His voice was faint and tired, his shoulders sagging. "It's just gonna make me go again."
Tygra already had Lion-O by the shoulders, trying to be careful as he pulled his brother away from the mess. They hit another bump, sending them all in the air and bouncing on the floor. Lion-O gasped and shook, his good hand reaching for his arm again.
Tygra growled and pushed Lion-O's hand away, shaking his head. "Stop it. You already made it worse."
Lion-O's voice came out as a raspy whisper, quiet and uncertain. "But it hurts, Tygra. It hurts and I don't know how to make it stop."
Tygra shared a worried glance with Cheetara before his mouth twisted into a snarl, roaring back at Panthro. "How far are we from this place?"
"I see it in the distance. Just keep him calm. Once we get there we can stop the progression of this stupid illness."
Tygra's chest rumbled with his unheard roar, and he looked down at Lion-O. His brother's face was split in agony, the eyes on his arm and his body shaking like the rustling leaves of the forest. But the fear there-the uncertainty and the pain, was what ate at Tygra.
"Lion-O, you need to stay calm all right?" Tygra tried to run his claws through his brother's mane, the sensation awkward. Lion-O continued to tremble, and Tygra didn't know if his silence was a good thing.
"We'll get to this village and they'll know how to fix you up, all right? So stop being so-"
"I'm sorry, Tygra." Tygra stopped, his mouth still open and his eyes wide. He blinked down at Lion-O, slowly shaking his head. Lion-O didn't notice though, didn't even look up. Tygra hissed, jerking his brother's shoulder.
"What did I tell you about apologies?"
Lion-O managed a smile. "I thought...that was Cheetara?"
Tygra blinked and looked away. "Both of us, actually. Doesn't matter. You still don't need to." Tygra watched Lion-O's eyes flicker, even though his hand still went for his arm. Lion-O's eyes shut as the Thundertank finally slowed down, and voices were coming from outside.
"See, Lion-O? We're here. You have nothing to worry about."
Lion-O didn't answer though. He laid in Tygra's arms, still shaking and gasping. Fear blanketed Tygra, wrapped around him and squeezed his heart, even as the tank opened and unfamiliar faces peered inside.
"Lion-O..." Tygra mumbled. "You'll be fine. We're here now."
They started talking around him, a few hands reaching for his brother. "-ugs. Medics are on the way, but how long-"
Panthro moved within the tank now and Cheetara had to grab the kittens and Snarf away. All of them were trying to peer at Lion-O and he could feel their eyes on him, too.
"What's wrong with Lion-O? Why is he so sick?"
"Tygra." Tygra nearly jumped. He looked down at his brother and watched his eyes flutter open. The color drained and drained, even from his eyes. The blues had misted over and Tygra wondered if Lion-O could even see him right now.
"You know what happens...if this goes bad."
Tygra blinked, then shook his head, hissing. "Don't say stupid things."
"I mean it, Tygra." Lion-O sighed and closed his eyes again, and the hands of people Tygra didn't know or care to know started to take his little brother and leave him alone with this cold, barren feeling.
Tygra tried to say something-make the words come out while his brother was being taken away from him. His mind was blank-the words would not form on his tongue. The voices and the bodies disappeared until he and Cheetara and the kittens were all that was left. Panthro had gone; left to try and help the others understand what had happened.
But they don't know everything. They don't know how it happened. They don't know why he wound up-
The rain had stopped; little drops were still gliding their way down trees and the Thundertank. The sky was still a murky gray and Tygra was sure Cheetara was saying something to him.
But all he heard was Lion-O's words, and even they gave way to the empty buzz of his mind.
