"..."
It's dark. Not the kind of dark where it's already night time, I can feel the warmth of sunlight with hint of the moist air being absorbed onto my bare arms, neck, and face. The scent of rain drifting in like a Febreeze aroma, very comforting now that I'm not in the rain and drowning in whatever puddle I had been lying in. It's dark still, the kind of dark where there is something obscuring my eyes from seeing anything around me.
'I'm not in a hospital,'
I know what a hospital smells like, what it even feels like. Cold, stark, all-too-clean smell like trying to cover all the blood and drugs from within the building that is both a Hell and Heaven.
'I was just in a car crash.'
That's right, I recall to myself, I turned chicken and went back to the small red car and headed straight to the house, my frustrated and vulnerable state causing me to drift off my lane. My tears blurred my vision that I went into a mode of panic and crashed into an incoming car that honked like crazy to make me get the hell out of the way.
The car hit my side and it was lights out.
But I woke up in the middle of some night, pondering why it was raining when the stars were out not too long ago. Now that I feel mostly well enough to move little by little, and my mind calm and serene, I can finally think. And questions come to me like bees drawn my the flowers. Why was it raining? And how did my body end up out in the open and not crushed within some heavily damaged car?
Probably the wrong forecast, and I had probably been thrown out of the car from the intense collision. But had been wearing a seatbelt... hadn't I? I don't even remember crashed painfully through the window and flying God knows how many feet before I landed painfully on the concrete pavement of the road or some trench.
My body aching in agony and my mind in despair of death coming to reap me but ultimately saved by two people that had no doubt found me if the soft cushions surrounding me comfortingly were anything to go by. That still didn't answer the main question.
'Where am I?'
A muffle sound of voices, coming closer and closer but then later fading and fading which indicated for the door to be closed shut, probably so I can rest in peace and the people outside will go on about their business. I'm not alone here, it put me at ease knowing I'm not alone in wherever the heck I ended up in.
But I am getting hungry...
'Wonder if there is anyone that can get me something to eat.' I thought while nibbling my bottom lip.
The darkness blinded me, I want to see what's happening around me and the damn cloth blinding me isn't helping any. I will my sore weak arm, it felt like I'm lifting heavy weights from some machine at a gym, the exhaustion coming over me just for the effort of lifting my arm that barely brushed over the quilt covering my form. My fingers brush against the bridge of my nose and I notice how soft the material is, like that of a really fluffy towel of some kind. My fingers dip beneath the cloth just under my eyes, ready to tug it away.
But the door of whatever room I am resting in opened at that exact same moment.
A moment of silence between the intruder and myself and then—
"I'm happy to see you are well but I must advise you not to remove the cloth. Your eyes are still damaged from whatever has happened to you."
Old, wise, patient, kind. It's like talking to some grandfather. I do as he asks, finding the reason of my blindness true when the blinding headlights really took out my vision. It probably explained why I couldn't see that well that night I had been discovered. I can feel the edge of the mattress shift a little from a weigh pushing against it, and I catch a small "hmm" from the man.
"Are you the doctor?" I ask, and I immediately notice how scratchy, croaked, and dry my voice is.
A second later I feel something cold and porcelain brush against the bottom of my lips and I eagerly drink whatever it is, relaxing to taste the cool welcoming water down my throat, and it felt like restrictions on my throat being released and unbound, giving it freedom.
"No," his voice calmly breaks the silence once he pulls away the cup from my mouth. "I'm no doctor, but I did my best in healing you. Now it is for your body's own choice to heal itself in time."
Usually a person says fix or taking care because when they said healing, it made them sound like some hermit or someone from many ages ago who went medieval style with the whole herbs and bone saw kind of gig. I didn't voice it though, just grateful I survived the crash and didn't end up in some morgue where my identity would not have been found and just have my body cremated.
"Oh," I hear him huff out, like there was some mild surprise. "It seems you have guests, my dear."
"Guests?"
The door creaks a little, bare skin soundly tapping against the tile floor, and it's two sets of feet that obviously suggests that I have two visitors. I move my head gently to the side of their direction, wishing oh so badly who it is standing at the doorway.
"Hey, you're finally awake!" that familiar voice from that night I've been found in the rain loudly exclaims. "I was kinda worried you wouldn't wake up from all those wounds. What happened to you?"
"Easy, little brother, she's still tired." the other one, the same one from that night as well. "Don't make her faint again."
"Oh, uh, er, sorry..." the younger one sheepishly says, I can imagine a boyish grin coming to his features.
I can't help but smile a little at the two brothers, they sound very much like those kinds of guys anyway from the way they bantered to each other.
"But I'm sort of curious myself, if you don't mind," the older one says with a bit of caution. "What did happen to you?"
"Now, now," the older man speaks up, sounding a bit firm on this very delicate matter. "As I believe, the young lady has been unconscious for almost three days and is by no doubt hungry at this point."
"Wait. Did you say... three days?" I ask, surprised. "Has anyone tried to find me?"
"No," there is a strangely surprised tone in the old man's tone. "Are there others beside yourself?"
My heart suddenly clenched up and turned to stone, my mind becoming increasingly numb at the thought that he... that he—
"Is everything alright, my dear?"
"It's nothing," I shake my head lightly. "What about the other person? I wasn't the only one found injured, right? Are they okay?"
After all, it takes two to tango.
"Nope. We just found you."
A hit-n-run. Barely anyone is a good Samaritan these days. People really don't like to face the consequences of their mistakes, although I really couldn't blame the people, it was after all my fault that I drifted off the lane.
"I'll be heading off now, your father wanted to know when she awakened. You two..."
"Stay here and baby-sit. Got it." I shifted uncomfortably from the dry tone of the older brother. Did he have anything better to do?
"I don't..." I tried to voice out a polite decline but cut myself to hear the sound of slapping followed by a low hiss and muffled chuckle.
"Be polite! I've seen you done nothing but wander the premises of this household, your training won't be for another hour and your 'friends' can certainly understand why you are needed here."
And the old man leaves me alone with the two brothers, I pull the covers closer and nearly over my mouth, suddenly nervous with being alone with complete strangers. I got the time to be familiar with the gentle old man, but the two are young and it is a known fact that young people have the tendency to be more unpredictable.
"By the way, we found something. It was just a little away from where you were three days ago."
Something a bit heavy is placed beside me, making the mattress dip from the weight and I move my one hand to feel for what it is. At first I can't recognize the feel, but little by little I feel the straps, the metal thin line, and a tiny metal object connected to one end of the material; my duffel bag!
"Oh, thank you." I tell them, relieved to have something familiar where my clothes, toiletries and other belongings are located.
And at the moment I felt something moving just near where my feet are. I jumped a little in surprise, pain jolting here and there and I can't help but give out a small hiss of pain. I hear the older brother groan in annoyance and the younger brother give a quick apology of whatever he had caused.
"No, no, Snarf! She's not some playmate you can bother!" the younger brother scolds to whatever had been on the bed and just as quickly plucked away.
"Was that a small pet...?" I rasp out.
"Yeah, sorry about that. He didn't mean to surprise you, he just wanted to say hello."
"Nice going," the older brother scolds him.
I never had pets, even as a tiny child.
"... Can I?" I pathetically ask, reaching for the small thing.
Not a moment later, the bed beside me dips from the new weight and it slowly and cautiously moved towards me, seconds later it brushed against my waiting hand, my fingers combing through their fur softly and I smile to hear the creature purr in ecstasy as I begin to rub their fur.
"He really likes you." I hear the young brother laugh a little, that image of a boyish grin coming into my mind. I really wanted to rip away the blindfold to see it for myself.
"The feeling is mutual."
A bored sigh sounded in the room, and I know without a doubt its from the older brother. The uneasiness I had forgotten from the small excitement of their pet cat returns. And my mind clicks to something I had nearly forgotten since drinking that delicious water.
"Is there a place we can go eat?" I ask.
~o0o~
"Are you sure about this?"
"Well, when the day is over ask me again and I'll have an answer by then."
"This is still a bad idea."
"I'm starving, you'd be surprise how far a person will go when they really want something."
"Right,"
I convinced the brothers to lead me to where I can eat, being deprived of eating for as long as three days does that to a person. I felt at first awkward to leave the bed, mostly concerned about in my state of dress and the lack of shoes. None the less I was helped out of bed and I felt myself wearing or sort of soft robe on my form, like a night dress I've seen some older people or very little children wear. It had skinny straps that clung to my bare shoulders and the edge of the dress brushed against my ankles. No shoes or slippers to be found.
Each of my arms wrapped around their own and I can tell from the feeling that these two have been working out. Oh gosh, two tall young men with muscles... my imagination is taking me into a dark, dark place that I sometimes got lost within. But there was something else when I first touched them. They both felt... soft.
Not the kind of skin lotion they would rub on their skin to get the smooth touch on, but more of like brushing my fingers against the soft pelt of some animal.
"Oh wow, I don't know if I should feel flattered or violated." the older brother cackles in humor and I just realized I've been stroking his biceps.
And I was utterly embarrassed!
"Ah! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" I cry out, my legs wobbling a little from all the excitement.
"Quit teasing her, she's going to collapse." I feel two calloused hands gently pull my trembling body straight up. Just like his arms, his hands also had the feel of fur, and the palm of his hand felt a little rough.
'What in the world...?'
My thoughts interrupted by the older man's laughing, sarcastically apologizing me as he took a hold of my other arm and pulling me along to continue our walk to find me some food to consume because I feel rather light-headed.
"This place is big." I commented.
"That's what you get for living inside a palace."
"A palace?"
"You'll see for yourself when you're eyes are well enough."
They both are probably exaggerating on describing their home, but the more we walked the more I began to think that just maybe that these guys aren't taking advantage of a temporarily blind girl and are actually telling the truth. Moments later I hear the sound of large heavy doors being opened to let us three pass, the scraping of wood against the tile floor and I'm gently plopped down on a chair that had cushions for my bottom and back.
"Is there anything in particular you like to eat?"
"Is there any fruits?"
"Plenty to go around, my lady."
I choose to ignore the teasing from the older brother, letting the younger one come to my rescue by trying to quietly scold his brother, I myself am busy with the cat Snarf that rubs himself against my legs. I pick up the small fat cat, combing his pelt as I await for my plate full of fruit that the brothers are picking out for me, Snarf purred and his chest vibrating on my lap. Oh gosh, he is such a cute little guy, I really want to see him.
"You know," I say to them as I continue to brush Snarf's back with my fingertips. "I never did catch your names."
The sound of a plate clattered in front of me, two chairs being pushed back for two men to join me as I plucked a small-shaped fruit and tentative bite and my inner self moans with delight to find the sweet and soury taste of a strawberry. The juices moistening my almost dry tongue, it just felt really good to finally eat after so long.
"Well, since you asked oh so nicely, I'll give you the pleasure of my name," this guy really is condescending, ain't he? "I am Tygra."
I pause in mid-grab for another fruit.
"And I am Lion-O." the younger brother sounded so proud.
My head is in the middle of registering the names that they give to me and I can only wonder; what kind of parents do these two have to give them such unique and ridiculous names?
"You both have... uh, nice names." I know without a doubt that they just knew how weirded out I am.
"We could say the same to you," Tygra snorts.
"There's nothing wrong with the name Sam." I laugh as I pick up another fruit and I can tell from the hard yet small round size that it's definitely a grape.
A pregnant pause between the two brothers and then one of them speaks. "Wait, aren't you called Claire?"
"Yes, our father told us that you and him are old friends."
I almost choked on the small grape, my body becoming rigid and still from the mention of that name. A name I hadn't heard of in almost eight long years that made him become detached and cold, no longer the man that told me stories of the past, no longer the man that was suppose to be so good to me when she had asked him to...
The silence is broken from the great tension I knew I made as the door leading into whatever room I am creaks open, the two chairs on either side scraped on the floor and the brothers are standing on their feet to give attention the authority of this household. I can hear the man who had entered, his footsteps of his bare feet sound huge which meant he is a large man, a strong man.
"Hello again, my old friend," his voice rich, deep, and mighty.
I can't take this darkness anymore.
I shoot to my feet and I can feel the startled cat jump off quickly as he knew I would jolt up, I claw at my blindfold and ignore the heedings of the two brothers beside me until I finally rip away the last of the damned cloth. Everything around me is in double vision, shaky and unstable but I had to see with my own two eyes! I turn to face the man who called me with such familiar name, I want to know why he knows that name but I stop the moment my blurry eyes catch his face.
At that moment, I really thought that maybe I am inside some lion pen. A person, an animal, a creature with the body of a man but the face of a lion.
"Claire...?" came Lion-O's hesitant callings by my side.
Another half-man, half-cat is standing where Lion-O should be standing, looking a young and smaller version of the great beast-man that stood before me at the opening of this big room.
"You all aren't man."
This isn't some prank, joke, or costume party where the people masquerade themselves as cat people, I knew with these feelings shouting within me that despite being half-blind I knew that what I see before me is true.
"Claire," the older lion steps towards me and I step away from him, my eyes wary and mind frightened.
"How do you know that name?" I demand, holding onto the table behind me for support.
"Do you not recognize your own friend, Claudus?" the lion growls, looking angry and... hurt? "Have you really forgotten who I am?"
"I do not know you," I answer him carefully, not wanting to be mauled by this giant. "Because I am not Claire."
The giant lion and his son, along with another man-beast, a tiger of some sort, look onto me with confusion.
I've been told not once but many times how much I looked so much like her, how there were moments that I even acted like her that it was just sort of plain scary. So many people loved her, and after that they just couldn't look at me because all they could think of is how much I looked so much like her... I hated it. Because it made him even love me less.
"Claire... she is my mother."
A/N: So I'm becoming a ThunderCat!2011 fan, I just love the story and the really cool new look on these guys, I haven't seen the original ThunderCats show (like maybe one episode or two but that's really not enough) but from what I hear the new one has things the new one doesn't. Such things being a story background for each character that the original didn't have. Anyway, I've seen some anime or stories where there is some person from the past that is sent to the future or ending up in another planet entirely where they have to learn to adapt and all that, and I really wanted to try it out with this. This sort of approach is that akin to my other story called "Life is like a Boat" in the One Piece category about a normal boy from Our world ending up in the One Piece world and he's trying to fit in it. This time it's about a Human girl trying to fit in a world where she only saw most animals from behind zoo bars. Plus, there's gonna be twists and turns here, it's gonna be great, I promise you guys! Enjoy and remember to read and review!