Episode 3: "To El- Dara (part 2/2)"

Part 3

Inside the temple of Dara…

A remorseful growl escaped Jaguara's throat; echoing through the temple to the empty garden and streets outside. As breath left her lungs she reverted to her middle-aged form and collapsed to her knees. Hugging her gold coin purse to her chest, she shed a few tears. "I'm so disappointed…I really hoped you two were different…"

She looked up at the statue of Kit. Her eyes and mouth gaped open permanently in a state of shock. Molten tears of gold slid down her plump, impish cheeks. Jaguara climbed to her feet and embraced her in a hug. "Please don't look at me like that." She whispers, regardless of the fact Kit couldn't respond. She held Kit close and tenderly like a bundled up kitten, allowing her tears to trickle down her breasts. "You had a lifetime ahead of you. Such cruel irony…" She kissed her forehead. "Never again. Never, I promise…"

Jaguara stood back. With a wave of her hand she lifted Kit off the floor and placed her on the altar alongside the golden remains of her mother and father. She put the Claw of Dara in their grasps once again. It snarled, displeased with the idle state she returned it to. Jaguara hissed back and motioned to it a threatening gesture. She backed away then stood in the altar's golden glow. "Someday I will dismantle you, you accursed thing!" She vowed to the claw. "I'll drag you to Hell with me where you belong!"

A huge gust of wind broke through the doors. They swung open with a loud clang. Jaguara spun around, startled. She could hear the cold air moaning past her ears. It was a warning. "No! Why can't they ever leave it alone?"

Kit watched as Jaguara disappeared into her coin purse leaving her in the temple alone with the silent cries of ghosts long forgotten. Golden tears still leaked from her eyes. A little glimmer of hope reflected off them as they fell to her feet.

Hours later on Third Earth…

"El-Dara in the forever bag? My my; never would have imagined…" Tookit observed Kat and Tabothy from the safety of a tree branch on the other side of the wheat field. "It's a good thing I took these." He lowered his binoculars. "And it's a good thing I tricked that avian linguist into teaching me to lip read." His head swam with visions of gross wealth and potential. He looked through the binoculars once again. A rapidly moving object heading towards Kat and Tabbothy caught his eye. He smirked. "This should prove interesting…"

Before Kat could blink Cheetara zoomed over the hills to the field. She knocked his legs out from under him. Tabbothy instinctively dove into the wheat grass to hide as Kat's back hit the ground. Cheetara held him down with one foot, raising her staff above her head. "I'm only asking this once, where's…?" After a moment of looking over this strange cat's features, she clearly recognized his coloring, markings, tail and his wide bronze eyes. "Kat?"

The grown Wiley Kat pouted up at her. "I told you! Can I get up?"

"How did…? What…?" Speechless or close to it, Cheetara offered him a hand and pulled him to his feet.

After realizing it was safe, Tabbothy popped out of the grass full of enthusiasm and curiosity. "You're the cleric! See, Kat, she knows it's you!"

Kat smiled. "I'm hard to mistake."

Cheetara looked to Kat. "Who is this?"

"This is Tabbothy. He escaped Mount Plun-Darr on his own."

"Hi."

"Cheetara." She introduced herself. "That's pretty impressive, cub."

"Na, not really. Kat told me all about you guys." He waved to her, but his bashfulness prevented him from looking directly at her for too long without blushing. "I found Kat's bag. I didn't know it was magic though. Wow, I never met a cleric before. Will I get to meet prince-er- Lord Lion-O?"

"He's nearby." Cheetara confirmed. "He'll want to hear this too. Hold on a minute." She tapped her staff on the ground. It grew twice in length then sprouted branches.

Lion-O spotted Cheetara's signal a few miles away. Within moments he pulled up in the pod and hopped out. "Cheetara, you found Kat yet?"

She pulled Kat in front of her. He waved to Lion-O, trying to smile innocently, though it hadn't the same cute charm as it would have were he a kitten.

Lion-O blinked then shook his head and blinked again. "Kat?"

He chuckled nervously. "Thundercat's Ho."

"Whiskers, what the hell happened to you?!"

Kat let a heavy, frustrated sigh. "We ate cursed flowers that made us get older! Kit got turned into a gold statue by a magic claw mace thingie and a witch is holding her hostage in El- Dara! I told you this over the communicator! Was anyone paying attention?!"

"Calm down." Lion-O held up his hands. "Maybe you should start from the beginning."

Kat's tail twitched. He was hoping to save Kit by now! "Okay…" He took a deep breath before retelling his story, trying not to forget any details. "…then she cast me out of El-Dara and I called you guys. Kit is still in the- OW!"

Cheetara cracked him over the head with her staff.

"What was that for?!" He cried, rubbing the lump forming on his crown.

"For taking the lazy way out! If you used the knowledge we taught you and set up camp rather than mess around in the forever bag you and Kit would be safe in Thundera waiting for us- like we told you to do- and not here taking your whacks from me." She proceeded to swat him across the back and shins as well.

"OW! OW! OOOW! Okay, I get it!" Kat ducked behind Tabbothy, using him as a shield. "I lost my sister! Haven't I been punished enough?"

Cheetara was about to give him another whack, but Lion-O stepped in. "Stop, Cheetara. Hitting him isn't…hey, where's Snarf?"

Kat's tail drooped. He knew he was forgetting something. "Um…he's still trapped in the second forever bag."

Lion-O's lips formed a disapproving frown. He too slapped Kat across the back of his head.

Kat shoved him away. "Stop hitting me!" He growled. "I know how badly I screwed up, but I can't save her myself. I need you guys. Are you going to help me or not?"

Lion-O put a hand on his shoulder. "Of course, but next time think things through."

Kat's eyes began to water. He looked down before Lion-O or Cheetara noticed. "You'll never trust me as a Thundercat again, will you?" He asked, wiping his eye with his sleeve.

Cheetara's expression shifted from irritated to empathetic. "We all made mistakes along the way. This is a big one, but it doesn't take away from how many times you've helped us before." She explained.

"You're still a Thundercat. We have to trust each other." Lion-O added for reassurance.

Kat nodded. "So you'll fight Jaguara and take Kit back for me?"

"No, we'll reason with Jaguara and bring Kit back." Cheetara corrected him. "You defiled a mass grave, Kat. You angered her spirit. You owe it to her to be civil and show some respect."

"Jaguara isn't easily reasoned with." Kat warned.

"We have to try. Take us to El-Dara." Lion-O held out his hand. "Where's the forever bag?"

"Right here, my lord." Tabbothy handed him the bag, bowing his head out of respect. "I'll guard it while you're inside. I won't let anyone near it."

Lion-O saluted him. "Thanks, Tabb; we won't be long. Afterwards Kat and Kit will give you a lift to Thundera on their hover boards. We'll look for your kidnapped friend the moment we can."

"Thank you, Lion-O." He hugged him around the torso. "Good luck."

"We'll need it." Kat whispered to himself before forcing some confidence onto his face. "Ready?"

"Ready." The others replied.

"What's the magic word again?" Cheetara asked.

"Rankin Bass!" Kat immediately disappeared inside the bag.

"Oh yeah. Rankin Bass!" Lion-O followed.

Cheetara paused a moment. She flashed a unsure glance at Tabbothy. The kitten motioned to her a thumbs up. She took a deep breath then said "Rankin Bass."

Tabbothy scooped up the forever bag. Clutching it for dear life, he sat and diligently waited.

"Whoa…" Lion-O's voice echoed as he looked around in awe. "I never tried to go inside before. You really can fit everything in here."

"You don't know the half of it." Kat dropped to his knees and began to dig through the piles of treasure. "Aw, come on. I left it right here!"

Cheetara cocked her head at him. "What are you looking for?"

"Stupid…wait! This-" Kat held up an old rucksack with three gold buckles. He then tossed Cheetara a spoon and Lion-O a fork before putting a butter knife in his pocket. "Hang onto this. We might need something silver to attract Jaguara."

"What do you say to go through this bag?" Lion-O asked before tucking the fork away in his claw shield.

"Nothing, just pull off one of these." Kat started to tug on the top buckle. "I hope this works a second ti-" Upon removing the buckle he was sucked in.

Lion-O shook his head. "Only those two." Cheetara nodded in agreement. They too removed a buckle each and followed him through.

Contrary to the gentle descent the first time he passed through the second forever bag, Kat dropped out of the sky rapidly. He landed awkwardly, barely able to keep on his feet. He looked up, but before he could move sideways Lion-O and Cheetara fell on top of him, pinning him to the ground.

"Get off!" He begged, struggling to breathe.

They rolled off of him. "Everyone okay?" Lion-O asked, pulling Kat up.

"Fine, nothing broken." Cheetara assured him, brushing her wind-whipped hair out of her face.

"Yeah, just…ohhh…" Kat's ears drooped. The beautiful, lush springtime orchard had now turned into a dreary autumn wasteland. A gloomy gray overcast blocked out the sun and a chilling wind blew through the barren valley. Fruit fell from the trees, rotten and full of worms and maggots. The sweet blooming wildflowers now wilted in the brittle brown grass. The bustling wildlife had all but disappeared, now replaced with the scent of death and decay. "What happened? It was beautiful before."

Cheetara tightened her grip on her staff. "Maybe Jagura knows we're here."

"Snarf?!" Lion-O called out. "Snarf, are you okay?!"

SHNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR RRRF!" An earsplitting screech of terror echoed behind them. They turned around, startled. Snarf leapt into Lion-O's arms, digging his claws into his neck. "PUURRR! Lion-O, HELP! They're dead! They're after me!"

Lion-O gritted his teeth as he tried to pull Snarf's claws out of his neck and collar. "It's okay, Snarf. I'm-" He flashed Snarf a strange look. "You just spoke to me. Wow, this just keeps getting weirder."

"They're behind me, shnarf shnarf! Hundreds of them!"

"Look!" Cheetara pointed to e a massive pack of snarf skeletons charging at them.

Wiley Kat and Cheetara stood their ground. Lion-O tried to pull out his sword, but Snarf climbed on his head for protection, making it difficult for him to see or keep balance. They next thing they knew a tidal wave of fleshless snarfs pounced on them, clawing and biting wherever they could.

They tried to fight their way out of the swarm, but the skeletons kept regenerating. Lion-O chopped a few skeletons in half, but the moment he lowered his arm four or five pounced and bit down hard, drawing blood. Lion-O dropped the sword. A skeleton picked it up in its teeth and ran off with it. The others followed it, hiding the sword in a crowd of bones.

"Come back!" Lion-O ran after them, clutching the bleeding bite marks on his forearm shut. The skeleton horde got a few yards distance ahead of them before somehow fusing together in a giant dome of bones, trapping the sword inside the center. Lion-O scrambled to retrieve the sword. Cheetara and Kat attempted to help.

They dugg after the sword of omens, but the skulls that made up the outer layer kept snapping at their hands. Snarf hissed back at one poking out at the base in retaliation, slapping it with his paw.

"Cough it up!" Lion-O growled, busting a few skeletons apart by bashing them with his claw shield. They quickly regenerated and patched the dome. A patch sprung out, engulfed Lion-O's other arm and pulled his claw shield to the center of the dome as well. "NO NO NO!" He cried, trying to keep his hold, but the shield slipped off his arm. "Damn it!"

"This isn't working." Cheetara lamented. "There has to be a better way."

No sooner had she said that a hole formed in the dome. Lion-O started to reach in, but Kat pulled him back as a feral jaguar leapt out of the center and pinned Lion-O on his back, clawing ferociously. Lion-O tried to keep her fangs at bay, but the jaguar applied all its weight on him.

Cheetara tried to force the jaguar off him with her staff, but to no avail. Acting quickly, Kat tackled the feral cat off of him. They wrestled for a moment or two. Kat managed to pin it. He raised his fist, but before he landed the punch the feral jaguar transformed into Jaguara's kitten form. "You came back for the claw, you selfish wretch!"

"I came back for my sister!"

"LIAR!" She snarled, disintegrating into the ground. A few feet away she reappeared, now a young woman in ancient cleric garb. She held up a gold coin. It turned into a long double bladed baton. Snarling a battle cry, Jaguara charged at them with all the strength of her lost nine lives.

Cheetara blocked with her staff. Jaguara quickly pulled back and struck again. "Send your king and a hundred clerics! I will never let you take the claw!" The sorceress vowed. "Leave now or DIE!"

Cheetara forced her back a step. "Not without Kit!"

Cheetara and Jaguara exchanged blows almost too quickly for Lion-O and Kat to see. "Cheetara will keep her busy. Help me free the sword." Lion-O continued his futile attempts to dig through the snarf skeletons.

Feeling helpless, Kat kept looking back and forth between the dueling females and the skeleton dome. Clumps of flesh and fur were being torn from Lion-O as he fought to free the sword of omens. "We're not here to fight!" He cried, looking back over his shoulder. "Stand down!"

"NO! The claw is evil, don't you see? It cannot leave El-Dara!" Jaguara twirled her baton over her head before taking another swing at her opponent.

Cheetara held her ground, but Jaguara landed a lucky shot and knocked Cheetara off balance. She bounced to her feet quickly, but failed to land a clean hit of her own. "You're not listening to us! We- OMPH!"

Jagaua struck low, bringing Cheetara to her knees. "You have the skill and heart of Jaga." She commended her before driving her blade downward.

Cheetara held her staff over her head, blocking the blade from chopping her in half down the middle. "He…taught me…everything… I… know."

"Guess who taught him?"

Mustering a burst of strength, Cheetara pushed upward, forcing Jaguara off. She jabbed her opponent hard in the stomach, winding her, but it wasn't enough to subdue her for long. The fight continued. Jaguara showed no signs of relenting so neither did Cheetara.

Kat's mind went blank. He had to end this madness. "STOOOOOOP!" He threw himself between the females. Had Cheetara not shoved him out of the way, Jaguara would have planted her blade through his skull, but instead she only chopped off the tips of Cheetara's mane.

Jaguara finally paused. "Are you through letting the adults fight your battle for you?" She jeered to Kat.

"YES! Don't hurt them anymore." Kat stepped forward, trying to maintain a confident posture while swallowing back his fear. "I'm sorry for disrespecting you and your city. If you let them and my sister go unharmed I'll take her place in the temple. We'll never disturb you again. The Thundercats will make sure no one else does either. You have my word."

"Kat, no-"

"I thought this through, Cheetara!" Kat humbly genuflected before the sorceress. "Please…Kit's my best friend and she may be the only family I have left. She doesn't deserve this. I'd rather rot here than her. Take me instead."

Jaguara lowered her weapon. She took a long, deep look into Kat's pleading eyes. "You really didn't come for the Claw of Dara?"

"Kit is worth more to me than all the gold on Third Earth. You can take the claw and everything it ever touched and shove it up your twat for all I care so long as she gets her life back!" He began to tear up.

"Maybe I did underestimate you." Jaguara leaned forward and kissed his forehead. "Worry not, kitten. I'll make everything right."

The meadow and the valley started to come back to life. Lion-O jumped back as the dome of snarf skeletons fell apart. Their flesh and fur grew back and they dispersed as if nothing happened. Snarf fetched him his sword and claw shield. Lion-O knelt down, allowing him to hop on his shoulder before joining the others. "Kat, you can't do this." He looked to Jaguara. " Isn't there any other deal we can make?"

Jaguara didn't hear the lion, or at least didn't acknowledge that she did. Her weapon transformed into her gold jewelry box. She reached inside and pulled out her coin purse. "Have you any silver?"

"Right here." Kat offered her his utensil without hesitation. Left without another choice, Lion-O and Cheetara did the same and i t was off to El-Dara for the four of them.