It had been a week since the deaths of Queen Amnextria, Lady Kareala, and Lady Oona. Tygra had arrived on the scene with a score of Thundercats and found the bloody aftermath. Kit refused to speak of the matter and had once again disappeared in the jungle. Lion-O was inconsolable. He was locked away in his private chambers with his son, Leondyas. Only Lady Taramis offered any insight. Cheetara had judged wisely in choosing the ocelot female as a huntress. Tygra hoped she would join the Thundercats. He planned to personally extend an invitation to her.
"No, change with Lion-O?" Panthro asked.
Tygra shook his head. The Nobles of Thundera was demanding answers. Lord Trion, Amnextria's father was threatening to storm the Cat's Lair himself if his daughter's murderer was not brought to justice. Tygra had intentionally left out Taramis's part in Amnextria's death. House Goldenmane was powerful and would no doubt bring nothing but trouble to the young female.
"Someone has to talk to him," Lynx-O said. "Such death among the Royal Family."
Lion-O had to make some proclamation about the events that transpired on the savannah. Tygra was at a loss on how to reach his friend. His heart broke for Lion-O. And then there was Kit. The power to magically teleport to the savannah, the wildcat had kept much for them. Obviously, Mumm-Ra had taught him something of magic. That was dangerous to say the least.
"Queen Amnextria's body has been turned over to House Goldenmane. Lion-O refuses to attend her funeral. All of Thundera will be talking of it. We need to come up with some excuse for Lord Lion-O's absence," Tygra stated to the gathered High Council members. Cheetara, Panthro and Lynx-O, he knew would support any decision he made but the five others were another story.
"Why would Lord Lion-O refuse to attend his own wife's funeral?," Wixa, a jaguar female asked. Tygra had told none but his closest friends the truth about the events of that night. The other council members and leaders of Thundera were kept in the dark. A hunting accident was all that he reported. Lion-O' refusal to speak only added to the confusion. "There are many questions that must be answered Lord Tygra and the official report is sorely lacking in information," the elder jaguar finished.
"The High Council will attend Amnextria's funeral. Lord Lion-O is simply too distraught to attend," Cheetara offered.
"Lord Trion will not accept such an excuse. There is much yet to be settled," Lord Alagon, a bobcat stated.
"Agreed. But for now it will have to do," Tygra said rising for his chair and adjorning the meeting. He exchanged knowing glances with his friends.
We are on the brink of civil war, Tygra thought to himself. Strong leadership was needed and Lion-O wasn't providing it. Cheetara came and leaned against her husband as the council left the room. Panthro stood across from him.
"Its a shame we cannot tell all of Thundera about the treachery of our former queen. She does not deserve to be buried with honor," Panthro stated. Tygra nodded in agreement. Oona was buried quietly with little notice. It was better than she deserved.
"I take full responsibility for this," Tygra said. "I should have never adviced Lion-O to marry her."
"How could you know she would have conspired to kill him? The blame lies solely with Amnextria and may the Great Mother have mercy on her soul.."
Kit walked through the jungle, making his way to the home of the elder that carried for Karela's cubs. The female lived in a hollowed out tree trunk. Kit entered the home with out knocking. The elder was rocking one of the triplets.
"You have returned. Where is the mother?," she asked.
"Dead, I'm afraid," he answered, the less information he gave the greater the protection for the cubs. House Goldenman could never know that Kareala gave birth to Lion-O's cubs. Lion-O could never know for that matter. The Lord of the Thundercats was careless. These cubs will only face danger and death in the care of their father. Lion-O had caused enough pain and death and Kit would not allow him to taint the lives of these cubs. It was his last tribute to Kareala. She would have wanted them raised by their father but she didn't know Lion-O like he did. He would do anything to see to their protection. What he had to do now was distasteful but necessary.
The elder placed the young cub on the bed and rose to face Kit. "What happened?"
"Step closer elder. This must be kept a secret no one may know," Kit said as the elder inched closer to him. He reached deep inside and felt the dark shadows in his soul. The place he hated to visit. The lessons taught to him by Mumm-Ra. His eyes glowed deep and red, the elder tried to look away but she was caught trapped in WilyKit's gaze.
She swayed on her feet, trying to resist. She was a mystic, Kit thought to himself, he would have to push harder. Inhaling, he drew deeper into the well of darkness, the place of dark magics and memories. The elder finally was completely still, she was under his power.
"You will forget these cubs, they were never here. You know nothing of their existence," he stated. The elder repeated his words exactly. Kit closed his eyes and wrapped the spell around the elder. She glowed a deep blood red briefly as the magic settled around her.
He led her to her bed and helped her lay down. "Sleep now, elder. I was never here. You do not know me," he said. The elder repeated the words and fell into a deep sleep. Kit quickly packed the cubs up, balancing as best as he could while carrying triplets. One he carried on a pack on his back and other the two he carried in special slings around his chest. He moved quickly carrying the cubs far away from the elder's dwelling.
After travelling for an hour, he came to the home of two panther sisters. They had both lost cubs and were now to old to bear more. They squealed with delight as Kit brought them the cubs.
"What tragedy befell their mother," Tora the eldest asked as she took the cub from his back. The other sister grabbed one of the twins from him as well.
"She died giving birth, milady," he said. "They need a home."
"And they have one here," Sora, the other sister stated excitedly.
"What are there names?," Tora asked.
"The one you are holding is Ziyal, the only female of the litter. The male Sora craddles is Zan," Kit said. Zan and Ziyal were the perfect combination of lion and leopard. Kit uncovered the third cub and both sisters gasped. "And this one is Zath."
Zath was an albino. His hair was as white as snow but it was his eyes that were most startling. Most albinos had pink eyes and poor eyesight. Zath's eyes were the purest blue and they bored into your soul when you looked into him. He looked exactly like his father other than his pure white hair. Kit remembered when his parents had taken him to see Lion-O back on Old Thundera. His parents were nobles in servive to Emperor Claudis. It was odd that Lion-O was now older than him, due to a malfunction in the cryogenic chamber that brought them to Third Earth all those years ago.
"An albino cub! Legend says such are touched by the Great Mother and have a great destiny awaiting them," Tora said as she took the cub from Kit.
"They are yours to raise," Kit exclaimed as he left their dwelling. Forgive me, Lady Kareala he thought as he left the chamber. Taramis was waiting for him. For the first time in many years, he desired the company of another cat. Perhaps with this female he could overcome his troubled past...
A lone female lion entered the deepest darkest parts of the jungle carrying a cub.
"Milord, Milord, where are you?" she asked. The shadows took shape and a pair of glowing red eyes met her.
"Why is that cub still alive? You were told to kill any children born to Lord Lion-O!"
"His mother ordered his death, milord. I could not. He has such a strong will to live, deformed as he is. I could not kill him," she said bowing low and holding out the cub.
The evil being looked down upon the mishapped cub and an idea formed in his mind. He took the cub from the female.
"Such deformity. Your people would see this as a weakness but not I. I can use you. I will teach you true power and with it, we will bring thsese wretched Thundercats to their knees," he said holding the cub close.
"I have done well, milord?" she trembling female asked.
"Yes, and now for your reward," he said. His eyes grew brigher red and blasted the female into ashes.
"And now, my young one we go to prepare you for your destiny. Two of your kind belonged to me once, but they refused my gifts. Ungrateful curs. I taught them pleasures long forgotten and magic that could crush whole cities and yet they fought against me. But you...You will be my harbringer!" the evil being said laughing as he disappeared with the now crying cub...
Ok, so there's my story. Hope you enjoyed it. Sorry for the cliffhanger but thats another story to tell. For someone else to tell, lol! Please read and review!