Chapter 1: Huge Surprise
The rough surface of the broken, dusty trail that had served as a road eventually gave way to a junction, one side continuing the path, the other opening into a field of tall grass. Before the fork was a post, a rotting, splintering wooden stake driven into the ground long ago, sprouting three wooden boards near its top. But the signs had seen a great deal of exposure to the elements over the span of years, and had fallen into such disrepair, the writing scratched into the surface was next to impossible to decipher. Yet the message was unmistakable: each crumbling board pointed down a path.
"Great," Panthro grumbled as the rumbling of the Thundertank's engine died down, "Now what?"
Cheetara pursed her lips and frowned, but it was Tygra who voiced the question first.
"Why would there be a fork here if the road only continues in one direction?"
"Hah! Lazy workmanship, if you ask me!" Panthro scoffed.
"Either way," Lion-O murmured, "We have to make a choice here."
"Maybe you should use the Sword again," Wilykit suggested, turning her big eyes up at Lion-O.
"Somehow I doubt the Sword of Omens would work with choosing a path." Tygra shot Lion-O a cynical look, as though daring the younger prince to prove the point. Lion-O frowned back, but made no move to draw the sword from its sheath.
"I don't think so," he replied, slowly looking back at the stained, cracking signpost, "I think this is more of a gut thing. Something that we should leave up to instinct to lead us in the right direction."
"Perhaps you're onto something there. What did the Sword of Omens show you?" Cheetara asked, a hint of approval in her tone.
"The hut, remember? But I don't think it was the same one we saw at the elephant's village. That's why we kept going in this direction. Hopefully, we can come across what the Sword showed me."
"So then which path?" Panthro quipped. For a long moment, they all looked between the two directions the signs indicated, not counting the one pointing back they way they came, wary of the choice upon them and its consequences. Finally, Lion-O raised an arm, pointing toward the open, grassy fields.
"That way," he declared firmly, "I'm almost sure of it."
"I sure hope you know what you're doing." Panthro sighed in resignation.
The tanks spent the better part of the day rolling through the huge fields, toward the mountain in the distance, its normal thundering rumble muffled in the grass. They stopped around mid-afternoon to eat, and Tygra and Cheetara hopped down to inspect their surroundings.
"The grass is incredibly soft!" Cheetara noted, a note of surprise in her voice. "It's almost like walking on feather down!"
"Sounds like it'd be perfect to take a nap on." Panthro mused, a light in his eye revealing he was relishing the idea.
"Or to mute the passage of enemies." Tygra muttered, exchanging a dark look with Lion-O as he ran his fingers over the grass. A tense hush fell over them all, and refused to go away even as they continued on. Finally, as dusk began to drape its shadowy fingers over the vast expanse of the plain, they halted again to prepare supper.
"Don't suppose there's any firewood around here." Lion-O muttered, his blue eyes sweeping across the sea of green. Almost at once the Wily twins were at his side, having scrambled out of the tank and rushed down the ramp, eager to please.
"We could go looking for some firewood!" Kat said, an ear-to-ear grin on his face.
"I'm not sure…"
"Aww, come on, Lion-O!" Kit protested, bouncing on the balls of her feet, "You've seen how good we are at finding things!"
The young lord of the Thundercats chewed his lip for a moment, watching the children. They'd showed an unusual knack for attracting trouble like a lodestone, but they had also proved to be more than able at any task presented to them and willing to help however they could. Finally he exhaled, his features relaxing into a smile.
"All right," he answered, "But take Snarf with you."
The twins cracked identical grins and Kat beckoned the royal pet to his shoulder as they took off, silent in the field as any mouse. Tygra, coming out of the Thundertank, shot his younger brother a withering look.
"You expect Snarf to keep those two out of trouble?"
Lion-O shrugged. "You never know."
They hopped up toward the top of the tank, regrouping with the other two, and watched Panthro scan the control panel for a moment.
"Nothing wrong, is there?" Lion-O asked.
"Nope, not that I can see." the old soldier replied. "Still…never hurts to be careful."
There was a short silence, then Cheetara turned to face them.
"Where do you think this hut is? In the mountains somewhere?" she asked.
"It would stand to reason, if there are people living up there somewhere." Tygra mused. Lion-O nodded, then glanced at Panthro, who immediately threw his massive hands up.
"Don't look at me," he gave a humorless laugh, "I've never been around these parts!"
"I guess we have no choice but to keep pressing forward, then." Lion-O muttered, his hands clenching into fists as he fought to keep down his frustration.
"Hey, don't worry so much," Cheetara said softly, reaching out to place a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Remember what you said earlier. Follow your instinct."
He turned to look at her, heat flooding his cheeks, his heartbeat speeding up. He opened his mouth to reply, when a yell of terror rent the night air. His blood froze in his veins as he turned in the direction of the sound, reaching for the Sword of Omens.
"That was Kat!" he blurted out, and in seconds the four were on their feet, charging across the darkening field.
"I told you it wouldn't keep them out of trouble!" Tygra snapped, brandishing his whip as they ran.
"Playing 'I Told You So' isn't important right now!" Panthro backed before Lion-O could snap back. Cheetara began gaining ground on them, head tilted to see the tracks left behind where the twins had walked, and she motioned for them to follow her. They didn't have to go too far, however; they soon came upon the two young cats by a stunted, drooping tree. Kit was dancing anxiously beneath it, fear on her face as she clutched a mewling Snarf, and they realized the two were staring into the boughs of the tree.
"A little help?" came the wavering squeak as Kat flailed. At first glance, it seemed a snake had coiled around his ankles and was dragging him into the branches, but closer inspection revealed it to be—
"A rope snare?" Lion-O said, blinking.
"W-we came over here to ge-get some firewood," Kit explained, shaking, "And it just grabbed him! Whoosh!"
Lion-O frowned, then reached upward with the sword, slicing where the rope was stretched taut, and caught Kat as he fell.
"Holy candyfruit!" the young Thundercat sighed with relief, "Thanks a ton, Lion-O!"
"At least you three are safe." Cheetara said, moving to inspect them for any signs of injury.
"There's just one thing that bothers me," Lion-O remarked, "Who set this snare here, and why?"
They all went tense at once, holding their breath, each terrified second stretching into an eternity, when they heard a new sound, the faint frush of footsteps on the soft grass. Immediately they spun toward it, instinct causing them to draw their weapons, fluidly bringing sword, staff, whip, nunchaku, and fists up in a forward defense.
A figure was approaching them, though he seemed more intent on the severed rope that continued to dangle and sway from the tree branches.
"Oh, what did you have to go and do that for?" he groaned. "That was my second-best snare!"
None of them answered, too stunned to speak.
It was another cat!
Shoulder-length brown hair was pulled back in a tie behind his neck, accentuating a large bald spot on the top of his head. His ears stood almost completely at the top of his head, for his rotund, boyish cheeks seemed to take up most of the lower half of his face. His stomach was rather round as well, and despite the fact he stood as tall as the princes with arms nearly as muscular as Panthro's, his girth somehow eliminated any malicious air to him. A stained apron was stretched across his large belly, and the bright purple clothes he wore accentuated the yellow-orange coloring of his fur. Most odd perhaps, were his markings, strange, broken, whorling spots that covered his arms and marked the edges of his ears and face.
He watched them expectantly for a moment, clearly wanting an answer to his question, then frowned when none was offered up, though it seemed more of a pout.
"What?" he prompted.
"You're…you're a cat!" Lion-O exclaimed, lowering the Sword of Omens. The other bobbed his head in a quick nod.
"Yep, same as you." he replied, his expression growing skeptical as he looked them over. "You aren't from around here, are you?"
"We've been traveling from the kingdom of Thundera." Cheetara explained, "Perhaps you've heard of it?"
"Heard of it?" the other cat laughed jovially, "Why I was born in Thundera! Of course I've heard of it!"
"Then have you heard about how it's fallen on dark times?" Tygra asked.
At once, the other cat's expression went grim. "Aye, I have. Heard the city was betrayed from within, attacked and overrun by the lizard army." He shook his head, scowling. "Dark times indeed. You're from Thundera, then?"
Lion-O stepped forward, twisting the Sword of Omens until the tip of the blade pointed downward, exposing the Eye of Thundera for him to see.
"I am Lion-O, lord of the Thundercats," he declared, "And these are my companions."
The newcomer's eyes went wide and he dipped into a low bow. "My lord!" he stammered, "Forgive me! I didn't mean to catch your young friend in my trap, I was just trying to snag some food for supper for my family! My name is Garth."
"Stand then, Garth," Lion-O answered calmly, feeling a small knot of guilt twist in his gut at having frightened the man, "No hard feelings. You say you're catching supper for your family?"
Another bob of the head. "Aye, my lord! You are all welcome to join us, if you wish! I happen to be the cook, and I believe there will be plenty of our meal to share with you!" Garth smiled at them all, spreading his hands. Panthro, Cheetara, and Tygra quickly exchanged a look amongst themselves, one which Lion-O didn't fail to notice, but the immediate cheering from the twins settled the matter for them.
"Right, it's settled, then!" Garth proclaimed, and with a quick jog back to retrieve the Thundertank, they were on their way. The new cat had clearly never seen the like of it before, for his eyes threatened to fall right out of his head when he first laid eyes on the tank.
"You mean you travel in that monster?" he squawked in astonishment, drawing a sharp glare from Panthro.
"Careful," Lion-O said with a chuckle, "That thing's his baby."
They followed Garth for the better part of a half-mile, most of them walking alongside him, while the tank lumbered along, bringing up the rear at a slow pace.
"So you and your family live nearby?" Lion-O asked.
"We didn't see any signs of houses when we were coming this way," Tygra said slowly, to which Garth flapped a meaty hand impatiently.
"Nah," he huffed, "We're nomads, travelers. Never stay in one place for too long before we get an itch in the feet and the wanderlust has us on the move again. Besides, it's better for business."
"Business?" Lion-O asked. "What kind of business? Are you traveling merchants?"
At this, Garth laughed uproariously.
"Merchants, he says! Oh, my great giddy aunt! You dear boy! Merchants? Hardly!"
At once, a faint glow from up ahead drew their attention to what appeared to be brightly painted houses on wheels. Loud music and voices could be heard, and as they drew closer, they could see nearly three dozen cats with Garth's coloration and markings dancing and juggling, and doing all manner of things they couldn't quite identify. Lion-O's unease mixed horribly with a sudden thrill in his chest and Garth beckoned them all into the ring of wagon-houses, where the cats slowly drew their activities to a halt, turning to face the newcomers with unreadable expressions.
"We're performers, my boy!" Garth proclaimed loudly. "The Ocelotti Traveling Family Act! What ho, friends! These here are Lion-O, lord of the Thundercats, and his friends!"
At once the performers all started greeting them, swarming the Thundercats in a flurry of bright colors, fluid movements, and clattering costume jewelry. Garth laughed again, and leaned in closer to Lion-O's ear to be heard over the ruckus.
"Telling you, boy, most people wouldn't have the modesty to accept an invitation from gypsies like us, but I suppose that just goes to show they'd never met your like before, eh?"
A/N: Not much to say about this chapter, except for: yes, you read that right. Gypsies. R&R please!