Cheetara closed her eyes and focused. For what seemed like the thousandth time, she concentrated, opening her mind to all around her. She drifted away, she could sense the cats of Thundera, all the hopes, all the dreams, all the secret desires. She tried to find the essence or spirit of Lady Kareala. It was like trying to focus on one voice in a crowded room of cats. It was a difficult task by any measure. For the last month, Lion-O had asked Cheetara to lead a mystical search for Kareala.
There were six cats in the room all gifted with second sight just like Cheetara. All sat in a circle, Lion-O in the center using the Sword of Omens to boost the combined mental powers of the others. Tygra, Panthro, and Lynx-O sat off in the distance to observe. Something dark blocked them, they all focused harder before collapsing in exhaustion. Tygra sprang up at once, gently cradling Cheetara.
"No more, Lion-O!", he shouted. "You are pushing them too hard."
"Tygra, please. They seem so close, we must keep trying," Lion-O pleaded.
"At what cost, milord," he said as he stroked Cheetara's face gently. "You are killing them."
Lion-O stormed out of the room.
Panthro started after him but Lynx-O held out an arm, blocking the panther general's path, "Let him be, General. Lion-O needs time alone. He will come to his senses in time. But now, he is blinded by his grief for this missing female."
The old lynx was without a doubt the wisest of all cats on New Thundera. Lion-O had confessed his whole affair to his closest friends. Out of love for him, they all doubled their efforts to find Lady Kareala.
Cheetara slowly regained consciousness and smiled. Tygra gave her an odd look.
"An heir will be born to Thundera, my love. During our mental commune, I saw a glimpse of the future and Lion-O's son. He was handsome, Tygra. His hair was snow white and his eyes were sky blue. I saw him Tygra. He will lead Thundera to a new age of prosperity," she said her eyes full of wonder.
"You have done well, but what of Lady Kareala?," Tygra asked.
Cheetara's expression darkened, "It's as if something is blocking us. Something dark, Tygra. Some dark force has wrapped around Lady Kareala. I fear for her," she said crypticly.
WilyKit could feel the presence of others closing on Lady Kareala. Some cat was using magic or some sort of mysticism to locate the female. He could not let them find her. It could be the cat who tried to murder her. He loathed what he had to to next.
He closed his eyes and pulled at the long abandoned darkness in his soul. Mumm-Ra abused he and his sister almost daily and yet he taught them many things. The art of magic was one of them. WilyKit had become a sorcerer of some skill, a fact he kept hidden. Mumm-Ra's power came for a place of darkness. It was the only source of power WilyKit knew and to protect this female he would use it.
He called into being a dark cloak of sorts. He mentally wrapped it around the leopard female. She would never see it, never know it was even present but it would keep anyone from finding her by mystical means. He slowly opened his eyes releasing the power of the darkness. Kareala was watching him.
"What was that?" she asked him, her eyes full of concern. She walked over and sat beside him. The small bump on her lower abdomen betrayed her condition.
"It was nothing. Just some...relaxation techniques," he lied. She leaned against him softly. She was developing feelings for him, but he told himself they were not real, they would never be real. And his feelings for her were more brotherly. He only wanted to protect her. Once her memory returned, she would return to the father of her cubs and her lost life. But before she could leave, he had to find the cat who tried to murder her.
"Kit, how much longer will you allow me to stay? I can't stay here forever. And once the cubs are born..."
He held a finger to her lips, "You can stay here as long as you need. As for the cubs, I will claim them as my own if necessary. I am a Wildcat, so my cubs could have the traits of any number of cats."
"And what of my attacker? I couldn't even spot them if the walked in front of me. This is hopeless. I don't think my memory will ever return," she said. WilyKit placed his arm around her.
"Your condition is delicate right now. Perhaps the father of your cubs will come searching for you. There will be word of it in the city, I am sure of it."
She pressed closer to him, "I wish you were the father, Kit."
He only held her tightly. He needed answers and quickly. He would have to make another trip into the city. Images of the ocelot huntress danced in his head. Perhaps he would see her again.
Amnextria felt ill again. One of her female attendants had some skill as a healer. She grudgingly agreed to be examined. The female returned to the room. Her face was aglow.
Amnextria's narrowed her eyes, "Are you going to just stand there and smile like a fool, Denara?" Her impatience was growing.
"Milady, blessed news! You are with cubs! Thundera will finally have an heir!" she said in amazement.
Amnextria's heart sank. She had not couple with Lion-O in weeks. It could only be...
"Get out! Do you hear me! Get out now!' she demanded.
The stunned attendant turned and bolted from the room.
Amnextria wept.
"How can this be? The cubs aren't Lion-O's, I cannot do this! I cannot bear my father's cubs," she whispered as she buried her face in a pillow and wept.
"Your father's cubs? What have you done?"
Amnextria turned around and there stood Oona.
"How did you get in here?", she demanded.
"Did you really think you could keep me away? And now I see why, you claim to dislike coupling with your husband, so you use your father instead," Oona said her anger growing.
"Be silent," Amnextria cried. "I'm not sure who is around."
"There is no other cat in your chambers but me. I thought I was the only one that shared your love as well. What sort of madness is this?" Oona said disgusted.
"You have know idea what you are talking about. Do you think I would willing bed my own father? Do you think he offered me the choice?" Amnextia said rising from the bed and challenging her lover. "Do you think he ever offered me the choice? Since I was a child, he..he.." she could not finish.
"Do you mean...did he..."
Amnextria cried even harder. Oona walked to her and held her close. Amnextria resisted at first but finally fell into Oona's arms.
"What will I do now, Oona? Lion-O will know they are not his cubs. We have not coupled in over a month."
"You will lie about the date of your conception. Cubs develop quickly during the last two months of gestation. There are ways to induce labor..."
Amnextria wilthdrew from Oona's embrace, forcefully shoving her back, "You are not serious? You cannot expect me to carry my own father's cubs!"
Oona looked at her lovingly. She took Amnextria's face in her hands, "You forget our history. Cubs sired by fathers was done many times by our ancestors. The old clan wars that threatened to wipe out bloodlines. Sometimes, only a father and daughter were left in one clan or a brother and sister. It was done by a great many noble families of the past."
Amnextria turned away from her.
Oona eased behind her, wrapping her arms around Amnextria, rubbing her lower abdomen, "Turn a negative into something positive. You are with cub. Thundera will now have an heir and we can finally be rid of Lion-O."
Amnextria leaned back against the stronger female. There was some logic in her arguments. Oona's hands untied the belt at her waist and her hands drifted lower.
"What do you think you are doing, Oona?"
"In the coming months, cubs will grow inside of you. I wish to enjoy the pleasures of your body before..."
Amnextria elbowed her playfully.
"Besides after what you have been through, it's time you feel my loving touch again. Let me help you forget the horrors of the past," Oona said nibbling Amnextria's ear as the two lovers got reacquainted.