Gladiator

Lara Croft the great tomb raider was in one of her usual expeditions, to retrieve forgotten and unknown artifacts. In her recent research she had went on to discover a fable land known as Taria where it was said that felines and humans live side by side, similar in legend to Shangri-La in the Himalayas, but this one was hidden deep in Africa. By all accounts her gut was telling her where it was and she was determined to find it. At this moment she was climbing a mountain cliff to get to the other side, that cliff would usually need climbing equipment, but in her case she could do it without having to use it. Climbing the mountain still climbing up each rock, using all her force to get herself up till she managed to reach what appears to be a cave.

"If I remember correctly this land of Taria should have the entrance through a cave, wonder if this is the one." Said Lara as she entered inside moving through the corridor she noticed what appeared to be hieroglyphs which showed either humans or big cats like cheetahs, lions and so on.

"I wonder what all this indicates." if she was taking in account her experience things aren't as they appear to be they could mean more. Looking closely and blipping on the wall she managed to press a stone which immediately opened a trapdoor beneath her. It was the last thing she hoped for as she was falling down like on a slide, Lara of course she was trying to get out a pickax to stop herself before possibly falling on some spikes and immediately hit the wall for her to stop, however the pickax didn't worked and amazingly instead of spikes she landed on soft ground in dense vegetation.

"Well that is quite convenient." Lara commented before something jumped from behind on her trying to push her to the ground but she managed to push the assailant away. "Spoke too soon." She said to herself before seeing that the one before her wore a black coat with a hood not managing to see its face, but one thing was for sure it was a fast opponent.

"Let's see what you can do." She said preparing for another strike which came very soon but Lara managed to doge and hit the assailant from the back trying to imbalance it. It worked but not to make it trip and tried to make another attempt, however Lara pulled out one of her pistols.

"Do you want in again hot shot?" She asked and immediately it ran into the vegetation while she placed her pistol back in her holster.

"That is better, wonder who might have been still." She said to herself as she started to move onwards till she reached what appeared to be a road leading towards an opening out of the jungle towards a valley. The road wouldn't however be smooth because…

"auch" she felt some sting on her shoulder before going immediately towards and noticed that it was a small dart.

"A dart? Someone is around." She said before she started to feel what might have been a drug inside which had immediate effect of making her mind spin and her vision to get very blurry. "Darn it." She said to herself before dropping to the ground.


A bit later

If Lara thought that she would wake up at that moment she would thought to be in something like a dungeon with chains attached to her but instead she found herself in a comfortable bed in a Greco-Roman style room with some ancient east African designs, this was something she didn't envisioned at all. Neither did she envisioned for her 'captors' or her 'hosts' to also totally undress he looking around she couldn't found her original clothes with the exception of a strophium, which was a piece of cloth made of cotton to be wrapped around her chest and breasts and a medium size white loincloth also made of cotton with some small decorations, it wasn't much but it was better than to not have clothes at all. One aspect there was to know was the fact that whoever brought her here wouldn't take any unnecessary risks. Going to the window in the room she noticed the interior of what appeared to be a garden inside an ancient roman style villa although it wasn't known for this place to have been conquered by the Romans even with that she couldn't deny the view was beautiful.

"Greetings." Said a soft male voice from behind her turning around she was startled to see an anthropomorphic cheetah that was able to talk and was also wearing a long loincloth "Welcome to the land of Taria you aren't the only visitor to come here."

"So I am not the only human visitor to come here."

"Not at all, but everyone is welcomed here no matter the species either big feline or human." Said the cheetah.

"Someone didn't think this way when I slide in the jungle nearby."

"Excuse them some of those people would be inclined to 'test' new visitors so to speak."

"Test the visitors in what way? In their reaction for when they are attacked."

"You can say that way, but for now please come, Taria is awaiting you." He said as she started to follow him in the garden of the villa.

"I have to tell you that I am amazed as of why you didn't freak out when you saw me." Asked the cheetah.

"Lucky for you I am not someone who would run away or freak out that easily."

"From the famous tomb raider Lara Croft it's doubtful for sure. Not many find this valley but those who do enjoy exploring it." He said in a calm tone.

"When they are not attacked that is. What is your name by the way and how did you know my name?" She asked.

"Oh yeah I didn't introduced myself my name is Ti'Maar." He said bowing to her "At your service. As for how I know I looked at your ID in your belongings but I didn't stole anything. As you see I am an honest person."

"I can already tell. But you hid them."

"Had to be careful and it isn't quite allowed to wear what you had here. You have to wear the local garments."

"Which is quite reveling."

"I don't make the rules, what other questions do you have?" He said as they went outside the Vila to see that they were near the city of Taria with its ancient architecture that looked both Greco-roman and lavish ancient North African architecture.

"I have many questions now, how many people are you and what kinds of people live here?"

"We are 1400 who are either human, or other big feline specific to Africa even some wolves and hyenas. We are like Shangri-La in which explorers who come here decide to stay for different reasons." He explained.

"So not a single explorer left?"

"There were but very few, this place offers a sense of adventure and serenity in some parts but also a sense of community. As for the architecture it was copied from ancient merchants and explorers who found the valley to build the city as for us we were here before but found a way to stay in community."

"How long ago was that?"

"The time here passes very slowly and the years are not counted that much, this valley has like Shangri-La where aging is almost not occurring it is either due to the power of the place or the property of it. For felines like me who come to state of intelligence legend has it that it is the orb or rock that is located in one of the temples here in the city which had the property of making us sentient." Ti'Maar explained as he looked over some plants from a tree.

"You are saying that there is a rock which gave you sentience and you say that maybe the mists around could have some healing power?" She asked.

"Perhaps but it is also due to the water from a fountain that is nearby, it is similar to the fountain of youth if it isn't something like a subsidiary or anything like this since some drank from it and turned a bit younger." He explained taking a flower to smell before snapping his fingers for a cheetah servant to come to bring Lara a small cup of water which she drink but not all and somehow it had some effect.

"Hmm, I think I feel the effect as if I became 2 years younger."

"If you drank so little of course."

"So you say that as long as I am here I might not fear death, old age, heart disease or any other kind of disease?"

"In a sense yes." Ti'Maar explained as he waved his hand for the servant to leave as the 2 started to climb down towards the town.

"I wonder still for what purpose you came here?"

"I came here mostly for the sake of discovery to learn about the place as it isn't much known about it." Lara said making the bipedal cheetah to turn to her.

"So studying I do have to tell that I am also a scholar myself, it is something more for my liking." Ti'Maar said with a smile.

"Yeah I don't think that the ones outside will be very much thrilled, some of them." She said.

"I do recognize that, but I wouldn't be this confident because leaving isn't that much an option." Ti'Maar said startling her.

"I knew it was too good to be true, you consider me a prisoner."

"If people would go outside whenever they like it will place the whole valley in danger, but I mentioned that leaving isn't that much an option. There is a way and frankly speaking I really need your help in this matter."

"What is it exactly?" Lara asked.

"Come with me." Ti'Maar said as he lead her to what was in essence a fighting ring almost like a small coliseum where in the arena was sand which was surely meant for fighting.

"I already know what this place is for, gladiatorial fighting."

"Indeed alongside pankration. The thing is one is able to leave only after winning a gladiatorial or fighting match." Ti'Maar started which made him a bit unease.

"You seem unease about this."

"Was it that obvious, truth be told I am part of the cheetah nobility here each have a nobility in this valley and I had been challenged to a fighting match due to a misunderstanding from another cheetah Lu'Xaar one who has a short temper I am not saying that I don't know how to fight and I do know the training but the problem is I am not very fond of it."

"And you need me to train you to fight better?"

"The society here is a bit complex you see when another human comes around for a time he or she becomes like an indenture servant or personal fighter, gladiator or teacher, anything the host wants for a period of time in which the host teaches that person the ways of this society usually 2 weeks or a month. In my case I rather prefer to have other as guests and I have to tell you that it was me who tested you when you came here to the valley." Ti'Maar said with a stressed smile not impressing the tomb raider but should have expected that.

"Should have expected that."

"In any case in this situation we kind of need each other to accomplish both our goals, you to win a fight to be able to leave and me to preserve my honor." Ti'Maar said.

"So, no other option here, luckily for you I am a very experienced fighter."

"Hope you can handle yourself without guns since you nearly pulled out one on me, which made you barely pass my test."

"Sorry for that, it is out of habit especially when you are in the 21th century and have to fight people with guns." She explained.

"Understandable now. But now you need to do differently." Ti'Maar said turning to her "So partners?" He asked extending his furred hand which Lara took.

"Partners, when do we begin training?"

"The contest is in 12 days, don't worry the time here goes similar to the outside world, but it isn't like it will pass the same way for people living in this valley. Even with that the sooner we start the better. Let's get back to the villa." Ti'Maar said as they returned to the villa but instead to start fighting they went to something like a sauna where a lot of steam was coming out, it was in essence a round room made of stone where in the middle there was a lot of heat from hot coals while down there was a small pool of water near stones used for one to stay on.

"The first thing to know is that here before one starts one should purify oneself by staying in the sauna for all impurities to go away from the inside. It is in all cases ritualistic but also it is very enjoying and helpful. That is of course if you accept to go in." The cheetah said.

"I had come across many rituals like those, this one is nothing." Lara said with a smile with confidence.

"You have to try to resist here still. The temperature is quite high." Ti'Maar said.

"I had to once go into a volcano to retrieve an artifact, it isn't as if it will be any different I am quite resistant." She said as she went in while the door was closed behind her. Once that was done she could only feel very hot inside, similar to a normal sauna with close to high temperature for her sweat to come down.

"For now I believe that this is good." She said to herself, but she didn't knew that the anthro cheetah went to a room below the sauna where a deep fire was lit to heat the sauna above, Ti'Maar immediately started to pull more wood on this fire making the room above hotter.

"Woah it is getting hotter here." Lara asked herself feeling the temperature raises feeling sweat going down from here even more but she would stay and tolerate. As she stayed more and as the sweat was going down her skin and the steam was engulfing more of the room, she stayed for a time in that position but after some time the heat was too high and she decided that she had to undress herself of the clothes she had on her before staying on the water in the basin. In the meantime Ti'Maar had stopped placing more wood to the fire and so he stayed outside near the gate of the sauna waiting, he of course waited for approximately half an hour till he decided to knock on the door that he locked.

"Lara the time is up." Ti'Maar called to the tomb raider inside, she heard him of course but she felt like she had stayed for more than an hour due to the heat she would go outside but not before she dresses back.

"One moment." Lara said as she dressed back in the clothes she removed before going outside.

"I believe it was very hot."

"Turning the heat so high, it is no wonder and also had a lot of sweat coming out." Lara said.

"Perfect then we can start the next process." Ti'Maar said as they went outside where a bag of rocks was placed.

"The next thing is building muscles by lifting those rocks followed by other exercises followed by running carrying the bag."

"Hmm it will be something." Lara said taking the bag up which was quite heavy.

"I will show you the trajectory." He said as they started the race. The rest of the training aside from the running with the bag of rocks was followed by rock lifting and pushups she wasn't doing alone of course, the cheetah was training alongside her and that was how it was for 3 and a half days and the result was her muscle building up followed by fighting exercises with Ti'Maar and now in this case she was the coach for the cheetah in some combat exercises as well as some tricks. It wasn't only that but she also lived like she had lived in the land, and the people weren't behaving like she was from outside. But now she during the training she used a trick to throw sand before him to make him trip and placing her staff to his neck.

"Urgh." Ti'Maar said as he was hold down by the tomb raider who leaned on him.

"You do well but you need to know when to use tricks to your advantage." She said.

"I do recognize but I need to calculate when to use them." He said.

"Indeed." Lara said getting on her feet before extending her hand to help him up.

"But even with that you do know how to fight pretty well."

"One thing that my kind has taken is to know how to fight, however in my case I am not too keen on that."

"I never managed to ask but why did that happen?"

"It happened probably 2 years ago during that time there had been a fight in which someone was killed before my eyes. Do you know why I said that the only way for you to leave is only by winning a fight?" he asked.

"I do, that is why I am preparing to fight although the thought of staying is kind of starting to be around in my mind due to studying the culture here and I am indeed feeling like belonging here because of the people behaving with me." She said.

"Good thing to hear but what I am trying to say is that there was once a situation where someone a visitor wanted to leave problem was it wasn't told that he needed to fight and he was captured and forced to fight, if he won he would be able to leave, if not he had to face other consequences problem was he lost the battle the opponent used a sword against him the blood spilled on me." Ti'Maar said feeling a bit sick and nearly making him to look dizzy.

"That is on one of the consequences, there are other 2 which are very different but surely more problematic."

"And what are those?"

"To be turned into a slave either to a human or another animal living here or in other cases been turned into a feline to live here forever. That is why I told you when you first asked about how you could be allowed to leave other might have not told you that."

"The reason for telling me is because you are more a scholar who wanted to learn from outside and because of that experience you don't want others to go through this alongside the problem with fighting the one who provoked you to the fight."

"You got everything right, in all cases I wish only to do what must be right. Besides I don't think you would have liked to become a literal slave to some other, it happened to another woman whom I didn't knew but I knew what she tried to leave. Every single so called utopian place or society, fantasy or paradise has its dark sides."

"Didn't had to tell me I already figured those things out." Lara said preparing her stuff for another round.

"Even if some things are really on my taste, like the sense of community and the activity of training to fight I can't stay here forever."

"Too bad it isn't for my taste."

"Saw in your library, you really have the spirit of a scholar." Lara commented.

"A scholar indeed, but I have to know how to fight." Ti'Maar said preparing for another round of fighting which started with a par before been hit by the tomb raider.

"Especially at least when I have to defend myself."

"Not only then." Lara said as he tried to hit back but she barred.

"After this session how about we go around city especially that my brother will come today." Ti said as he tried to land another hit.

"Really? When?"

"Right now?" Said another cheetah that looked nearly like Ti'Maar with the exception that he had some different markings of his spots and dressed like him, one aspect to know was the fact that for Lara he looked more like a bit of someone who had the tendency of having the interest of girls around him, not for her liking.

"Ti I didn't knew that you had a visitor and a good looking one at that." He said with a smirk confirming Lara's suspicion while Ti rolled his eyes.

"Lara this is my brother Xi'Maar."

"So I heard about that Lu'Xaar had challenged you to a fight in several days." Said Xi while Ti had only nodded.

"I knew that, he has to do something with that temper and pride of his. It will not go well for him."

"Indeed but luckily I have someone who will help me in this." Ti said before presenting Lara "Brother please meet Miss Lara Croft, she is an explorer who studied ways to come here in the purpose of knowledge. But also she is a very good fighter."

"I wonder if it was due to your training?" He asked turning to his brother.

"You were once a very passion fighter."

"He was?" Lara asked turning to Ti.

"He was a very good fighter, but probably told you about the incident he faced and due to that he preferred to become more a scholar, it is another honorable way of course."

"I did noticed that he knows how to fight very well I don't know why he needs my training." Lara said.

"He is a bit out of practice for a time; we used to train among us a lot of course. Even though he didn't fight for some time he knows a lot of moves." Said Xi as he took one staff to swing it before pointing it at Lara.

"How about I show you some of them." He said with wink which didn't impress the tomb raider.

"On the condition of not flirting now cat man." Lara said as she went to combat position.

"I would try." Xi said but wasn't too convincing. "Ready?"

"Go." Lara said as Xi tried to land a hit with his staff but Lara barred it before Xi tried to immediately hit her with his foot trying to imbalance her but she was more together and moved backwards trying to hit the bipedal cheetah again which he dodged and it happened for a time.

"I see that Ti had given you good exercises." Xi said.

"I also had lots of teachers who taught me how to fight very well." Lara said.

"That I can tell but there is only one lesson I need to give." Xi said with a smirk.

"And that is?" Lara said expecting something which she must be prepared as Xi came in to hit but Lara dogged however with one flip Xi did something unprecedented, he removed the cloth that was around her chest which she noticed quickly.

"You pervert." She said taking the cloth quickly as she covered her breasts.

"That is the lesson I wanted to teach if you want to win against an adversary sometimes nothing works better then a small humiliation." Xi explained as Lara managed to cover her chest back.

"And you thought that telling this to me wouldn't have been enough?" Lara said.

"I am more the demonstration type and it worked." Said the cheetah throwing the combat staff to his brother before moving away towards the door. "Anyways I shall be waiting at the door."

"Sorry about this, this is how Xi is." Ti said.

"At least I know which of you the gentleman here is." Lara said tossing her staff to him who the cheetah placed them on their support to go outside in the town their trip moved near the marketplace.

"It is amazing that you had so many adventures during your time." Said Xi as she was telling them her story.

"What can I say; a lady must do something with her life." Lara commented.

"It is surely done in an exciting manner." Ti said before noticing someone in the distance, some he didn't want.

"You surely are someone who can do many things. I believe that this match will be nothing for you."

"I went through a lot of things, and a gladiatorial match is nothing." Lara said.

"Speaking of it I believe that I need to stay in a corner now." Ti said going behind the fabric of one of the merchants before his brother noticed who he was mentioning.

"It is Lu'Xaar it seems that he is coming in our direction, we better make him way." Xi said as they went to let him pass but not before he noticed Xi.

"Xi'Maar I wondered how are you." He asked.

"Just going around." He said with a calm voice before Lu turned to Lara.

"Is she a newcomer?"

"Indeed and she will compete in the future tournament." Xi said.

"I hope that your brother will be around." Lu said.

"Oh don't worry he will, as it happens I am his guest." Lara said.

"Heh, hope that wimp will have the guts to fight me." Xi said.

"My brother is not a wimp." Lu said affronted with a hiss.

"Really I wonder where he is now." Xi said with a smirk before turning to Lara surely thinking about a way for him to come out as he tried to come closer to her.

"I wonder what will happen if I try…"

"Don't even think." Lara said as she grabbed his hand for him to stop.

"Ooh come on I just want to." He started trying to move his other hand on her and this time Ti grabbed it.

"For your knowledge it is inappropriate in public, you should know better."

"I wondered where you were." Said Xi to him as he tried to push him.

"I am not backing away this time." Ti hissed.

"You become bolder I have to agree, hope you will have it when we will duel." He said.

"I will, but don't try to lower yourself to only been a bully." He said angering him a bit.

"I don't need to be a bully now since I shall win the contest." He said as he pushed him away to leave "And I hope that your guest will beat my own fighter."

"It will be something if you manage to beat Lu Xaar from what I heard the fighter he has is also quite good, he trained it himself." Xi commented.

"I guess that I will have a challenge when the contest comes." Lara commented.

"It will be for both of us." Ti said turning to them.

"Maybe we should continue the training, and do it much more intense in the future days."

"It shall be that from tomorrow, for now let's relax for a bit." Xi said turning to Lara. "So Lady Croft would you like to show you the local temples and the surroundings."

"I would like to." She said as they moved on showing her the surroundings as well as the Greco-roman and African temples as well as the cliffs and the spring where the main source of water was located for everyone to drink. Till evening came the group had visited the tavern of the town and even the local baths where both baths and massages were given. Towards the evening Lara alongside the 2 anthro cheetah brothers went back to Ti's villa to retreat for the night.

"Good luck to both of you the future days will surely be intense with regard to training." Xi said.

"That will be a certainty Xi, hope that you will come as well at the competition."

"That will be a certainty." He said before turning to Lara.

"And by the way Lara, make sure that when Lu will come to fight you beat his fighter."

"It will be done for sure, especially with the trick you showed me. Which I still believe that you didn't have to demonstrate on me" Lara commented but the cheetah only gave a dismissal friendly smile to her before turning to his brother.

"Good luck in the training brother, although you don't actually need it. You only need to find again your confidence to fight." He said with a smile to his brother.

"Maybe this contest will be and I surely wouldn't let a bully to dictate what I have to do and spoil my honor." Ti said.

"That is the spirit, we will meet again before the competition I am sure that things will be interesting." Xi said as he started to walk away.

"I believe that you and your brother are quite close knit too bad I didn't had a sibling myself." Lara said with a melancholically voice.

"I am sorry to hear that. I really am." Ti said placing his hand on her right shoulder.

"Sometimes it is hard to grow up without your loved ones, but even with that I don't have regrets in this regard. Since I did met some people and good friends who supported me and I supported them, just the way I do in your case now." Lara said with a smile to him.

"And I do am grateful for that." He said.

"And that is the way I want to do." Lara said as she started to scratch beneath his chin and he started to purr.

"You like this don't you?"

"You just hit the sport." Ti said with a smile as he was enjoying the affection as Lara started to laugh a bit.

"You are such a good kitty." Lara said.


Courtesy to a great artist on Deviantart TitusWeiss who created the main characters I hope that you will enjoy this crossover story with the Tomb Raider. Tell me what your views are on this classic Lara Croft story.