Lion-O and Leopara "inadvertently" getting knocked into- well, I'll let you guys see- for Heart of Demons. Nebulously takes place in season 2.


The problem with trying to play pranks on Leopara was her magic. From beginning to end, it was a pain in the tail to plan around- and she always seemed to know when they were up to something. It was unnatural! She always caught on and used some spell or another to thwart their schemes.

But- but- if they stayed calm and innocent, it was possible to get the drop on her. And that was what gave them their newest idea- they just… had to stay calm. Her barrier was wicked-quick and if they got excited, that'd be enough to ruin the prank and they'd be thwarted again.

Just as WilyKat was thinking of this, his marks came into view.

Lion-O and Leopara. They were just getting back from one of their romantic walks, collecting firewood (yeah, right) and chatting (he bet they were kissing up a storm!)- but that meant the time to strike was now, when they were lulled into a false sense of security.

It's going to work this time!

He took a moment to calm himself down. He couldn't be too giddy now- he had to be the right amount of excited to see Lion-O and Leopara.

By every whisker he had, this prank would work!

And then, he hopped out of the tree with WilyKit. "There you are!" they cried in unison, running up to the lovey (ew) couple.


Leopara sensed WilyKat before she heard him. She restrained a sigh.

WilyKit and WilyKat were always up to mischief. It used to be mostly contained to themselves, tricking and daring each other to do embarrassing things. And then, their mischief expanded to include small pranks played on one of the older cats. Just something small here and there, like finding a froog in their bedroll or objects going missing and turning up in an utterly bizarre spot. Pretty harmless and one-off pranks.

For weeks, they had been obsessed with pranking her. That was fine, but they weren't following their usual modus operandi. This wasn't just some quick prank put in place while Leopara wasn't looking.

No, these pranks had been much more involved and, so far as Leopara was concerned, less endearing.

Dumping paint, flinging mud, and on it went.

It'd been going on so long, she wished she had just let their first attempt work.

"Were you looking for us?" Leopara began to readjust her armload of firewood. There was no doubt in her mind this was going to be another attempt.

The Wilytwins were not very good at concealing their emotions, try as they might, and they were suspiciously gleeful for no apparent reason.

This needs to stop. she thought.

"Uh-huh!" WilyKit nodded her head vigorously.

"Well, what is it?" Lion-O demanded.

"There's something we have to show you!" WilyKat answered with a wicked grin.

His sister piped up, "You're going to love it!"

How very convincing. Leopara looked at Lion-O. His eyebrows were furrowed and she could sense his annoyance. This prolonged 'prank war' was beginning to grate on everyone's nerves. Couldn't the twins just let it go, and move on to easier targets- or better yet, a different form of entertainment?

Feeling her gaze on him, he turned his head to look at her. They maintained eye contact for a moment, exchanging silent words.

And then, Leopara resigned herself. There was only one way this would end, wasn't there?

She had to let them successfully prank her.

"What is it?" she asked, taking a step to follow them.

They lit up with unadulterated joy and pride before recomposing themselves. "You'll see!" "It's a surprise!" they exclaimed in unison. They looked at each other with a moment of fear, as if afraid their conflicting answers would give away their ruse.

"Okay, okay." Lion-O said, plastering a grin across his features.

He knew how she felt about getting dirty- well beyond sweat and gradual build-up of dirt and grime. She hated it. He also knew that the odds were high that this prank would follow in the same vein as their previous ones. There was no doubt she was about to get uncomfortably dirty.

And, for some reason, he was coming along.

No doubt it would please the twins to get both of them in one go.

Feigning ignorance of their intentions, she and Lion-O dropped their firewood followed them along a wooded trail that overlooked even more woods and a forest lake. It was a beautiful view, so much that Leopara considered, for a fleeting moment, that perhaps WilyKit and WilyKat genuinely had something to show them. Then, she dismissed the thought.

Ahead of them, the twins darted down the path, looking back and waiting with barely restrained impatience, for two of them to catch up. Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't have hesitated to call them slow or goad them into hurrying up.

They were trying so hard not to give anything away that they gave everything away.

Still they followed, and were eventually led to a fallen tree trunk that spanned the distance across a short gully. A stream trickled below, about fifteen feet or so.

Immediately, as she and Lion-O began to cross, WilyKit and WilyKat's excitement spiked. Leopara's immediate reaction was wariness, but she reminded herself that she was letting them prank her. That whatever they had planned, she was going along with and pretending she had no idea.

She pretended to focus on crossing behind Lion-O. Discreetly, she spied the twins reaching into the bushes and grabbing something. WilyKit scurried off for higher ground while WilyKat waited.

And then, WilyKit hurled something at them. It burst, showering Leopara and Lion-O in sweet-smelling water- and, genuinely, knocking them off balance.

"Whoa!" Lion-O exclaimed while Leopara merely gasped.

"WilyKit!" she shouted.

WilyKit responded by collapsing in a fit of giggles, while her brother pointed and laughed. They struggled to get out, "We got you! We finally got you!"

Leopara listened, pretending to be upset- lolo juice wasn't the worst thing it could have been- and finally huffed, "Well, I hope you're satisfied n-" as she took a step, her foot slipped on the slickened bark of the trunk, and she plummeted with a yelp.

"Leopara!" They shouted in unison. With lightning reflexes, Lion-O snatched her hand-

And together, they splashed! into the muddy banks of the stream below.

"Uh oh…" WilyKit and WilyKat murmured in unison, looking over the side of the gully down at them.

Lion-O grinned- not the happy sort of grin, either. "'Uh oh' is right." he growled up at them. With an audible gulp, they disappeared over the lip of the gully and fled.

Leopara sighed.

At least the stream was right there.


Hope you all enjoyed this one! Personal update: my surgery got canceled by insurance kerfuffle, and I instead spent ~2 weeks sick with a stomach bug (not fun!). If you want to see the Hiraeth main fic and Intermission covers in hi-quality, go to my tumblr Allurasgrace! They turned out amazing!