A/N: This takes place five years after the last chapter by the way, and the war has been going on for the entire time. It has also been split in half because this one is going to be long. Uncut, it's over 13,000 words and still being written.

Song/s: This Is War by 30 Seconds to Mars

Chapter 37: This Is War Part I

"Father, Uncle Leo is waiting for you."

I turn around from looking out of the window to see my son standing in the doorway. At seventeen years old, he looks just like I did when I was younger. Dressed fully in black carbon Kevlar armour with his long mane thrown back down his back in a traditional but messy braid and his bow slung over his shoulder, he's turned out to be a fine young Thundercat and will be a strong King and Lord once he comes of age. I exit my office and the kitten follows me, our footsteps echoing through the hallway.

"Any updates from the troops on the warfront?"

Katz looks at me, and I know that I'm not going to like his answer.

"There have been many fatalities, and there aren't many survivors either. We can't keep up our attacks like this."

"Damn!"

We round the corner into the great hall where I see my older twin waiting for me with two of his best warriors carrying a large wooden crate. I greet my brother with the traditional salute which he returns before ruffling Katzeran's mane, making the kitten growl but laugh at his uncle.

"I swear that he looks more and more like you every time I see him, Lion-O." Leo says as he looks at my son, before turning to me, "So, I have something for you but this needs to be in private away from prying eyes."

"Of course, follow me."

Myself and Katz lead the way to the Royal Suite, and my kitten locks the door once everyone is inside. Curiosity grips me and I run a hand over the crate, and the Sword purrs from where it lays on the stand as I look at Leo.

"It's never done that before," I say to my brother, concern creeping into my voice, "Is that normal?"

"It is," Leo replies, and he sounds really excited about it, "Because the contents of that box are linked to the Sword."

I look at him in shock then, not quite believing what he's just said to me. He gets the pair of Ferrals that accompanied him to pry the lid off the crate, which is easy enough as a plume of dust rises into the air. Leo reaches into the box and pulls out an intricate helmet, which is dully coloured under the thick layer of dust which my brother wipes away with a soft cloth.

"Every King has worn this armour into battle, and now it's time for you to continue that grand tradition."

I take the helmet when he passes it to me. It's ornate with Ancient Barbary carvings into the metal, intricately carved to surround the eyes of the wearer with a thick strip of metal around the back to keep it in place. I slip it on and, to my surprise, it's a perfect fit. I get up and grab the Sword of Omens, only to be struck with an intense shock as I feel pure, raw, ancient magic flowing through my very being. Alive. Powerful. Unstoppable. I look down at my hands and watch in awe as my veins glow a brilliant shade of blue, and I feel the presence of thousands of years of great Barbary Kings in the room with me…

"That's enough of that…"

The helmet is pulled off of me, the powerful sensations disappearing and I find that I immediately feel that I miss them. I've never felt anything like that before. The raw power coursing through me was something unlike anything that I have ever experienced in my life.

"Daddy? What are you guys doing?"

I look up at Lola as she leans over the railing on the landing, making me nervous.

"Lola, don't lean over the railing like that! I don't want you to fall!"

The cub comes down the stairs, still dressed in her school uniform before sitting beside me as she looks in the crate.

"Oh my god, that's the Armour of Omens! We're learning about that in history class at the moment!"

The cub scoops the helmet up and looks at it before putting it on, and it's so big on her that it's hilarious. Katzeran comes up behind her and plucks the helmet off her head as she shrieks with shock.

"You shouldn't be playing with this, Lola. It's dangerous."

I laugh as the older kitten puts the helmet back in the crate before I turn back to my brother. "This is going to be a game changer, Leo. The Mutants aren't going to know what hit them."

The older lion nods as he wipes the dust from the rest of the armour, and I see the wickedly curved blades on the gauntlets and shoulders of the chest plate. Running a finger down the edge, I recoil at the sharp pain as a trickle of blood runs down my finger. Razor sharp and deadly.

"It's going to work in our favour which is a good thing. I heard the news on the troops that you sent to Third Earth. Not necessarily the smartest idea there, brother."

I sigh, knowing that he's right.

"But this is going to change that. They're expecting us to go to them, but if we manage to get them back here then we could finally wipe that army of theirs out." I say, my voice filled with excitement as I turn to my eleven-year-old daughter, "Where's your Mum, Lola?"

"She's in the city with Pumyra and her twins."

I frown then, not liking this because there have been random outbreaks of violence recently for no reason. I walk up the stairs to the room that I share with the cheetah and pull my protective carbon kevlar armour on before standing on the landing.

"Did she take her guard with her, Lola?"

"I don't know Daddy, she left while I was still in school. I don't think anything is going to happen to her though. Besides, I'd assume Mummy would take her guard with her because she's the Queen and she'd need them."

I nod, deciding to take Orion with me to see if I can find out what my mate is doing in the city. I leave the suite after telling Leo to make himself at home and Lola to do her homework, only to hear Katzeran following me.

"Katz, you should be studying for your Rulership and Government classes with Linus."

The Litah kitten merely shrugs before looking at me. "I have the rest of the week to study. I'm going with you to the city so that I can buy a nice little gift for Tigrae."

I chuckle at this, knowing exactly how he feels about his girlfriend. "Come on then son," I say as Orion joins us, "Let's go."

The journey to the city doesn't take too long, but on the way, we pass the scars left in the earth by the Mutants' attacks. There have been a few casualties from the attacks but thanks to the Lair's sensors and early warning systems, many families have escaped unharmed.

We arrive at the main market a few minutes later and I immediately catch my mate's scent, rich and intoxicating. I follow it, eventually rounding a corner and seeing the gorgeous cheetah at a stall selling various candies and sweet treats. I slowly approach her, shocking the people around me who now and step aside and Cheetara turns around when she catches my scent.

She smiles at me, her eyes radiating nothing but pure love. "I was wondering how long it was going to be before you came to find me," she purrs before turning back to the ocelot running the stall and passing him a ten Thunderdollar note, "Keep the change."

"I'd just started to get worried. I trust your Guard but I just wanted to make sure that you were safe myself." I say as the Guard form the circle around us as we stroll through the market. I notice Katzeran looking closely at all the delicate and intricate gifts on display, eventually stopping and picking up a beautiful handmade necklace, but when he looks at the price tag, he promptly shakes his head and places it back down on the stand.

I walk over to the kitten then, pulling my wallet out of a hidden pouch concealed in the bottom of my chest plate. I pick up the necklace and pay for it before handing it over to my son as he looks at me in disbelief.

"Thanks Dad, but you didn't have to…"

"No, if you want to get something for her but you don't have enough money, just ask me, ok Katz?"

Katzeran is just about to reply when the Sword roars in warning, taking me by surprise. I raise the mystical blade to my face then, but I can hear familiar engines in the near distance.

"Sword of Omens, give me Sight Beyond Sight!"

The crossbars curl and the swirling fog fills my mind before I see what I was expecting but dreading at the same time.

"Monkian and Jackalman are inbound on Skycutters!"

I hear the laser fire start up then as the pair of Mutants swoop overhead before turning back for another attack.

"Lion-O…"

I look at my wife as we get to our feet and I hear the panic in her voice as Bemani and Alisia cling onto Pumyra, crying as their mother holds the twins close to her. Unlike myself, Katz, Orion and the Guard, my wife, Pumyra and the puma's cubs are all vulnerable because they're not wearing armour. I turn to Katz then, nodding as he slings his bow off his shoulders, loading an arrow which he aims at Jackalman's Skycutter as I ready the Sword.

Katzeran lets loose his arrow and I leap at Monkian, damaging the fuel tank of the ape mutant's vehicle as he boots with anger.

"Look what you've done Lion-O! Hoo hoo!"

I growl at him as I grapple for the controls of the aircraft, struggling against him as he tries to push me off. I hear a dull metallic sound then and watch as the Mutant drops his mace after striking my armour with it, breaking the weapon.

"What-What the hell-"

I don't give him the chance to finish his sentence before striking him in the nose with my sword hand, breaking his nose as he spins the Skycutter into a barrel roll. I lose my footing and fall, rolling when I hit the ground. One down, one to go…

I turn to attack Jackalman, and watch with pride as Katz lets his arrow fly; it lodges into the engine of the jackal's craft, crippling it as it falls to the ground, throwing Jackalman off.

"Nice going Katz!" I say as we run towards the wreck, but my son leaves me behind in a cloud of dust as he pushes his full speed. I have to stop, the summer sun beating down on me from above. How can he not feel the heat? That kitten is half Barbary…

I eventually catch up with the Litah, and see him restraining Jackalman which is impressive because Katz is slightly shorter than the Mutant.

"Let me go, you wretch! You'll have Slithe to answer to! Just who the hell do you think you are!"

"I see that you don't recognise my son, which is surprising considering how he looks exactly like me." I say as I stand next to the kitten, and Jackalman immediately starts screaming in Plun-Darrian.

"What do we do with him, Dad? We can't just let him go."

"No, you're absolutely right…"

"Make him let me go, you overgrown man-cub! You should have control over your son you coward! Making him do all your dirty work for you! You're a shitty Father and an even worse King!"

Jackalman cries out with pain and rage as Katzeran throws his arm back and punches the jackal in the face, knocking him down as the kitten gives his best roar, which still bears traces of the juvenile squeak.

"Nobody disrespects my Father and the King of New Thundera like that!" Katz yells, bringing his fist down again but I grab his arm.

"Katz, stop. Let the Guard handle him." I say, pulling the kitten away as the Guard cuff the jackal. My son growls, wiping the blood from his knuckles as he looks at me.

"Didn't you hear what that wretched Mutant just said about you? How the hell did it not make you angry?"

I sigh, hating the fact that the kitten has my horrific temper. It's gotten him into so much trouble so many times as he was growing up, much to the annoyance of myself and his Mother. I place a hand on his shoulder and look into his eyes, and he quietens down quickly.

"I've learned to control myself. You unfortunately take after your old man with that horrible temper of yours - it's the one thing that I hate most about myself. You need to learn how to keep yourself under control Katz, because it'll get you in trouble and it has done before."

Katzeran scowls heavily, slinging his bow over his shoulder. He knows that I'm right though, or at least I hope he does. He's so much like me that it's almost as if I'm looking at a younger version of myself, just as a Litah. There have been many times in which this has caused us to butt heads, and it's so frustrating.

"You seriously need to get it in check, but I remember that everything pissed me off to some degree when I was younger…besides, that's not important. What is important is what the hell are we going to do with him?"

Katz looks over at Jackalman when I gesture in his direction; the Mutant is fighting against the Guards with all his strength as I groan. They never know when to quit.

"What can we do with him Dad? We're forbidden from executing him and we can't release him."

"Well then, he's just going to have to stay beneath the Lair in the holding cells for a long time, isn't he?"

My son laughs then, and we walk back to where Cheetara and Pumyra are waiting. The damage from the attack is minimal which is a huge relief. It just annoys me that the Mutants keep doing it. We return to the Lair shortly after where Leo and Lola are waiting. My daughter rushes towards me and greets her mother as I turn to look at my wife.

"Leo's given me something that's going to make the Mutants regret messing around with us in the first place." I say as Leo nods, and I pull the helmet from its protective case as the cheetah's eyes widen.

"I thought that was just a myth!"

She carefully takes the piece of armour from me and studies it in pure amazement while Lola leans over her shoulder, staring intensely. I return to the box and take out the chest plate, admiring the intricate ancestral carvings in the metalwork. Whoever it was that made this was skilled beyond belief. I run a finger over the precious jewels that are studded into the metal. So many Kings have worn this powerful, enchanted armour into battle against their enemies and it really excites me to know that I am going to be next to wear it, but I'm also angered that a situation requiring it has risen.

"Satos forged the Sword of Omens, and he also created this armour. Tales tell of how a fragment of his soul resides in each, giving them and the wearer unimaginable powers and abilities."

"I know about that one because I could sense the presence of the ancient Barbary Kings when I wore the helmet and held the Sword. It's incredible."

"It really is."

…

That night

I look up from my desk as Cheetara suggestively sashays towards me. I adjust my glasses to sit on my nose properly as she chuckles. I feel my heart leap as I shift slightly in my seat, watching my wife as she walks around the desk and runs her hands up my thighs.

"It's eleven at night, my Lord. You should come to bed." The cheetah purrs as she brushes the papers aside before sliding onto my lap, making me twitch at the sudden heat pressed torturously close to a certain part of my anatomy. She senses this and chuckles, leaning forward and allowing me to see down the front of her nightdress.

"Now you know what Pumyra said 'Tara, we need to take it easy after that health scare that I had last year…" I breathe as she plays with the clasps on the front of my shirt, and I find myself fiddling with the belt on her robe as the cheetah leans back, gazing longingly at me as she fiddles with my belt, desperately trying to undo it. She leans forward and whispers in my ear.

"Lion-O, that heart attack could have killed you; you need to stop playing it down as a mild health scare."

Cheetara sits up then and allows her hands to wander across my bare chest as she kisses me once she's removed my shirt, and I can't help but let out a throaty purr that deepens to an impassioned moan as she goes from my lips to peppering my neck and chest with love-bites.

"T-Tara…" I moan breathlessly as I carefully get to my feet, "At least let me close the curtains first…"

"I want you…" she purrs into my ear, sending shivers of excitement down my spine, "I need you…It's been too long…"

"I guess you can't wait until we're back in the Suite and in our room?" I ask in as steady a voice as I can manage when I feel her hand wrap around me while I close the curtains, blocking the outside world from view.

"No…and neither can you from the looks of things…" she purrs as I feel her body press against mine, but when she leaves to lock the door to my office and close the blinds, I find myself immediately craving more of her. She undoes the belt of her robe and it falls down around her ankles as she slowly walks towards me.

"I can't believe that we're about to do this in my office…" I mumble as she comes up and gently pushes me to the floor in front of the fire, pulling my belt undone before quickly tugging my jeans and boxers down. I hold myself up on my elbows, realising that I'm completely nude in the middle of the place where I usually hold small meetings with the Elders and with Orion.

"We can move it to the bedroom later," my wife purrs as she kneels above me, her knees either side of my hips, "You're so ready…" She leans forward, running her fingers through my mane as she passionately kisses me, her tongue invading my mouth as I purr loudly and sit up against her, only for the cheetah to gently push me back down again.

Oh, I see where this is going…

I growl impatiently as she teases me, making her chuckle devilishly as she looks down at me, her eyes radiating nothing but love and adoration. Even now that she's in her early forties, she's still the most beautiful woman that I've ever laid eyes on. I reach up and curl a lock of her gorgeous golden mane around my fingers, and she presses her cheek into the palm of my hand with a whining purr as I run my other hand along the inside of her slender legs.

"I love you 'Tara…"

"I love you too Lion-O…" she purrs, and I have to fight to contain my roar of ecstasy as she goes to town on me. Oh, sorely needed indeed!

I throw my head back and roar, trying my best to stay still and praying to the Gods themselves that nobody will come by and disturb this tender moment with my mate. My heart pounds in my chest, my blood racing through my veins as a series of animalistic sounds of pure pleasure escape my throat.

"Damn…I've not made you…sound like that in ages…" Cheetara purrs breathlessly, chuckling slightly as she watches my reaction before shrieking when I roll us over and get to my feet, carrying her over to the desk with burning desire raging through my entire being…

…

Panting heavily, I flop down into my armchair in front of the fire with my wife held in my arms. Both of us are drenched with sweat but it's no surprise as she presses her warm nude body against my chest.

"That…" Cheetara pants with ragged gasps, "Was incredible…"

I can't reply at first, head back against the soft material of the chair with my eyes closed as I wait for my heart rate to return to normal. 'Tara nuzzles my throat with her lips then, purring with satisfaction.

"Just…let me rest for a bit," I manage through my deep breaths for air, "and I can go again…all night if you really want…"

My mate kisses me deeply, her hands either side of my face with her fingers tangled in my mane. "I would love to…I really would but I also don't want you to overexert yourself…"

"Honey, we've just been at it four times in a row…I'm sure that once or twice more won't hurt…"

She leans back and I open my eyes to look at her shapely body as she rubs against me, and I purr breathlessly. The intoxicating aroma of our musks combined with the powerful scent of a heavy mating lingers in the air, lulling me while also exciting me still and making me desire more. I manage to get to my feet which is a miracle considering how my legs are threatening to turn to jelly, and I pull my boxer briefs back on as I sling my shirt and jeans over the back of the chair, intending to get dressed before we leave for our suite. I see the two sizeable damp patches on the carpet, one in front of the fire and one right in front of my desk, and I pray that they'll dry out before the meeting tomorrow morning with the Elders.

I look at my desk then, and see just how much my weight has forced it to move, along with the paperwork scattered everywhere. Great, another mess for me to clean up tomorrow. I sit back down in the chair with my wife in my arms, kissing her deeply as my hands wander over her body as she purrs, encouraging me to keep up what I'm doing.

"Yes…yes, keep doing that…"

I press myself against her body as I pull her down on me with a lusty growl, and that's when the door opens, making us both freeze in our tracks.

"Well Lion-O, I have…good…news…?"

I turn around to look at Orion as he walks in, and he clocks me and Cheetara curled up in my chair by the fire as I quickly cover us both with the blanket, and I feel my cheeks turning as red as my mane as my best friend takes everything in – the shifted desk, the papers scattered all over the floor, the wet carpet, my dishevelled appearance and scruffed-up mane. He quickly turns around and walks back out again, shutting the door behind him.

Groaning, I get up and pull my clothes on before walking to the door and opening it, glaring at the snow leopard slightly.

He raises an eyebrow as he sniffs, obviously knowing what's happened from the smell as his cocky expression changes to one of embarrassment as he realises that he's just caught us in the aftermath of a passionate session.

"Orion, how many times have I told you to knock before coming in?"

"I'm sorry, I should have thought about that…"

"Yes," I say, slightly annoyed as I let him come back in once I know that Cheetara has had a chance to dress herself again, "Yes, you should have…Now, what was so important that you had to burst into my locked office?"

The snow leopard's tail thrashes as his ears prick up.

"The new troops that we sent to Third Earth have wiped out one of the Mutant battalions. We unfortunately did lose a couple men but they managed to take out roughly one thousand Mutants. Lion-O, you should go to Third Earth to-"

I turn to face him then, and his ears immediately lay flat atop his head again.

"Orion, I've only just returned from spending six months training the troops we have positioned there. I don't count on going back for quite a while now because I have missed my family and I need to spend time with them." I say, and Orion's face falls.

"But Lion-O, they need to know your next plan of action, and you could probably trick the Mutants into coming here for that huge final battle that you're planning!"

"Orion, I said no!" I snap, losing my patience as the leopard cringes hard, and I immediately calm myself then as Cheetara stands by my side, "I said no because I have important things to focus on here. It's Katzeran's eighteenth birthday and my thirty-nineth next month and I need to start preparing to up my son's training – he only has another three years before he takes the title of Lord of the Thundercats and I need to start teaching him how to handle the Sword of Omens."

He nods then, his face flaming as his voice wavers.

"Of-Of course, Your Majesty…" he says weakly, bowing slightly as my eyes narrow slightly – he very rarely ever addresses me so formally due to how close we are as friends and how long it is that we've known each other, "P-Please excuse me…"

With that he walks out, leaving me confused as I look at Cheetara.

"Well that was strange, he literally never calls you by formal titles."

I sigh then, "I know, but it doesn't help that he probably thinks I'm mad at him."

"How did he even get in? I locked the door."

I run a hand through my messy scarlet mane which is drenched from my earlier efforts as I groan, and my wife looks up at me quizzically. "I gave him a key to get in, just in case anything happened to me that required medical attention…"

"I see…" Cheetara says as we exit the office, locking the door behind us before making our way to the Royal Suite, "Random question though. Have you ever thought of promoting him from the position that he's in? I mean, he is your personal guard but have you considered combining that role with the role of him becoming your advisor?"

"No, but I definitely will because I have had the head of the Thunderguard expressing his concerns that he thinks Orion is too close to me because apparently the personal guard to the King cannot have a friendly relationship with the member of the Royal Family."

"That's absurd, you two have been best friends ever since you were cubs!"

"I know," I say as we walk into the suite to see Katzeran sprawled on the sofa, watching a movie and stuffing popcorn into his mouth, "Katz!"

The kitten jumps and turns to look at us, almost choking on the mouthful of popcorn. He looks annoyed once he downs his large glass of what looks like one of the many kinds of fizzy beverage that the humans brought with them, and I can't help but glare at him. He knows that me and 'Tara don't like him or his sister drinking them because of the ridiculously high sugar content.

"Dad, what the hell?"

"Never mind asking me anything, what on earth are you still doing up? It's almost two in the morning and you have to be awake for school in four hours!"

He shrugs as he turns the screen off. "I started watching movies at nine, but when you and Mum didn't come back, I just kept watching. What the hell took you so long getting back, you've been gone for hours?"

"Watch your mouth," I say, and that's when our son catches our scents as his face pales.

"Oh god Dad that's disgusting! I've got to use that office when I'm older!" he yelps, picking up his bag of popcorn and running up the stairs to his room, "You guys are so gross!"

I can't help but laugh at my son's outburst, and that's when I feel Cheetara's hand slip down the back of my jeans and boxers as I tense up.

"You, me, sofa, now."

I look down at her then and see the passion burning in her eyes, and I can't help but smirk despite my shock.

"Holy shit, 'Tara, this is going to be the fifth time tonight!"

"I know…but I also know that you have the stamina to keep at it all night!"

She purrs loudly, pushing me down as my back meets the soft cushions seconds before my wife is upon me, smothering me with kisses as my heart starts racing again. I know that I only just returned from Third Earth at lunchtime today but damn, she just can't keep her hands off me. She peels my shirt off again, throwing it over the back of the sofa as I sit there, shocked at this situation. This is probably the most intense heat cycle that she's had since Lola was born, which is really surprising.

"Can we at least take this upstairs? I don't want to have to order another sofa seeing as how we broke the last one."

"You mean," my wife purrs while looking into my eyes as I carry her up the stairs, "How you broke it with how hard and heavy you were going?"

I feel my face flush bright red then as I fumble for the doorhandle, before walking into our bedroom, making sure to lock the door behind us, and carrying the cheetah to the bed where I lay her down. I try to turn away, and she wraps her legs around mine and pulls me down on top of her.

"And just where do you think you're going?"

"To the bathroom…take my medications…" I breathe as she plants kisses across my chest and belly, and so she releases me as she strips and lays further up the bed, eagerly waiting for me to return. I stare at myself in the mirror in the bathroom, splashing cold water onto my face before swallowing my Prozac and Ivabradine. How the hell am I going to keep up with Cheetara's desires? We used to be able to do all-nighters like this when the kids were younger…

I walk out, turning the light off as I strip and pounce on top of my wife as she squeals, pinning her down with her wrists above her head as I nibble at the side of her neck. My heart pounds in my chest as I release her and she sits up quickly, pushing me back against the pillows as I roar with desire…

…

The soft strain of birdsong reaches my ears as I wake, the golden autumn sunlight streaming in through the crack in the curtains. A lazy roar escapes my lips as I roll onto my front, propping myself up on my elbows as the blanket hugs my waist. I look to my side and see that Cheetara is out cold beside me, snuggled into the comfort of our covers as I take in the beauty that lays before me. I have no idea why I'm awake now, seeing as how it was almost four in the morning before we'd had enough and decided to sleep. I run a hand through my mane as I yawn for a second time, not wanting to get out of bed just yet as I lay back down again, cursing at how weak my legs and arms feel as well as the muscles in my lower belly. The aroma of last night's exertions is still heavy in the air as I breath deeply, taking in the intoxicating smell.

"Dad! Wake up!"

I hear the pounding on the bedroom door, and I realise that it's most likely what's just woke me up. I pull my boxers and jeans on before walking to the door, where I see Katzeran looking annoyed whilst dressed in smart clothing.

"I've been knocking on your door for damn near twenty minutes! What the hell took you so long?"

"Woah, woah, calm down, kiddo! I've literally just woke up but your Mum's still asleep and trust me, she won't be happy if you wake her!" I start, crossing my arms over my chest as my son scowls, "Why were you pounding on the door like that anyway? It's still early!"

"It's eleven in the morning and you're late for the meeting with the Elders! What were you two doing to sleep in so-" Katz begins before cutting himself off when he sees how much of a mess I look like as well as the clothes thrown everywhere, and he immediately looks at me as his face shows his disgust, "DAD! Fucking hell, did you even sleep last night? Couldn't you open a window? Both of your scents are everywhere in the damn suite!"

The kitten storms off as I quickly freshen myself up before getting dressed, and I grab my tablet before running after my son. He doesn't even look at me and I know that he probably feels extremely embarrassed and 'grossed out' as he would put it. We round the corner towards my office, where I see the waiting Elders. I feel my face flaming again, knowing that I haven't had a chance to tidy the room up.

"Your Majesty, how nice of you to finally arrive, an hour late." Elder Ocelon says with a vile tone, and I turn to glare at the Ocelot Elder with repugnance in reaction to his attitude. He simply regards me icily, and I try to ignore it, but my son can't.

"What makes you think that you can talk to your own King like that? Who do you think you are to talk to my Dad in that way?" Katzeran demands, glaring angrily with a deep growl in his throat as Ocelon looks at me with disgust.

"You allow your son to walk around talking to his Elders and betters like that? Such blatant disrespect towards others of a different clan! It's disgusting!"

I growl then, and manage to pull Katz back before he's able to get his hands on the Ocelot. I tower over the Lower Elder, but my size doesn't seem to faze him. He keeps spouting nasty stuff even while we're in the meeting about Katzeran until I finally hear enough.

"One more degrading comment out of you about my son and I'll have you arrested." I snap, and the other Elders look shocked at the Ocelot's brazen words. Ocelon sits down, arms crossed over his chest as he scowls, and I turn to the other Elders.

"Gentlemen, I have some good news for you this time. I was informed early this morning that the army troops that we deployed to Third Earth last month have successfully destroyed a Mutant battalion of a thousand soldiers. Now, I know that is not a huge number in terms of the size of their army but I can safely say that the New Thunderian Army is ready. We have amassed a staggering fourteen and a half thousand soldiers who are willing to fight for us."

"Just how many more innocent cats are you going to send to their deaths, my King? And are you sure that you are actually going to be able to lead the battle? We know about the cardiac issues that you've developed over the years."

I turn to regard Ocelon with a scathing expression, a deep growl forming in my chest as I get to my feet to grab some tea.

"I'll have you know that my Dad is just as fit as ever to lead the battle! He's your King, you need to have faith in him! I'm sick to DEATH of the way that you people talk to him, like he's worth nothing! He's the Lord of the Thundercats and the King of New Thundera! How dare you talk to him like that?"

I turn around like a shot when I hear my son screaming at the Elder, almost dropping my cup before raising my voice to a roar.

"KATZERAN VAENAZ T'SAVIRK'AL'IVIRYIX! THAT'S ENOUGH!"

My son visibly cringes and quickly sits down, shaking slightly. I thump my cup down on the table when I return, and Katzeran shies away slightly. Some days, I really do wish I could knock some sense into that kitten's head. I grab hold of his arm then and drag him outside as the Elders talk among themselves, and my son looks up at me with fear in his eyes.

"Katzeran, I don't know what the hell you're playing at but you just can't go speaking to the Elders like that! Those men are going to be the Clan Elders once you've assumed the throne and you can't go screaming at them just because they've said something that you disagree with!"

"But Dad-"

"But nothing! You are to respect those Elders and- Look at me when I'm talking to you!"

He looks up at me and I see the fear in his eyes, immediately making me feel guilty. I bring myself down to his eye level and look him right in the eyes.

"Katzeran, Look, I'm sorry that I yelled at you but it needed saying. The Elders are going to be doing a lot of stuff for you throughout your reign as King, making new proposals and laws and everything. If you want to be respected, you have to show respect to them. After all, you will only ever receive what you give to other people."

The kitten sighs, looking away.

"You're right Dad…He just made me so angry because of how he was talking about you…"

I pat him on the back, and we return to the meeting as the Elders watch us, trying to judge our moods from the way we are.

"I apologise for my son, gentlemen, he's just like me on the temper. But getting back to our earlier conversation, I have a plan on how we are going to carry this out. And that plan just-so happens to be an ambush. Now, as you know, we Thunderians are a species biologically constructed for ambushing prey, which is obvious when you see the primal cats roaming the forests. But the point that I'm getting at here is that we should use our abilities to our advantage."

I turn to Katz and nod, and I see his eyes light up immediately.

"Like how my Father was saying," he continues, looking at me before turning to the Elders, "Each Clan has their abilities. The smaller clans would be able to use their stealth in order to sneak around to flush their army out from where they will inevitably end up hiding. Father and his brother would lead the charge whilst I lead the archers to rain down hell from above. It can't fail if we use a very good strategy." The kitten turns to me again, so I give another nod of encouragement.

"Keep going, Katz. You're doing great." I hear Lysander say in Barbary, and my son smiles before continuing.

"My Father had led multiple victorious battles against the Mutants alongside the Thundercats, and both of my parents are very skilled warriors. They have won so many times and I know that they will lead the Army to another triumph. The battle will be brutal and there will be casualties, but their deaths will not be in vain. Please, trust my Father with this. He is a very powerful lion and he can defeat the Mutants. This war has gone on too long but he can end it. We just need the best soldiers that your Clans can offer."

I ruffle my son's mane then as he growls but smiles and I feel myself beaming with pride.

"I couldn't have put it better myself," I say as I turn to the Thunderians in front of me whilst my son fixes his long mane back in place, "But in all seriousness, myself and my friends can't do this alone. This is going to be nothing like the battles that I fought back before Katzeran was born – it's going to be violent and bloody. But I have been gifted something by my brother that will push the odds in our favour – turn the tides, I suppose you'd say."

The men regard me in wonder, and then Orion and another Guard walk in carrying the crate which they place on the table in front of me.

"This," I begin as I take the lid off and pull the armour out of the box, "Is the Armour of Omens. This powerful armour is what I will be wearing into the fray. It is enchanted, and completely impenetrable. The Mutants are not going to have a clue on what it is that is going to hit them. Generations of my family before me have worn this armour, and I am going to uphold that tradition."

Katzeran brings me the Sword of Omens from the Sword Chamber, and I slip the armour on before taking the Sword from the kitten. Immediately, the mystical weapon roars as the Eye awakens, sending a pulse of brilliant blue energy out just as I feel the ancient power coursing through my body, my eyes changing colour as the blue flames course over the surface of the metal.

"Holy shit!"

"That's remarkable!"

"You can feel the power radiating off him!"

"There's no way that he could be beaten wearing that…"

I look down at my hands and watch as the fire covers them, a display of my incredible powers that are heightened by what my Mother was. My son takes the Sword again as I slip the helmet off, the powers dissipating and leaving me feeling slightly light-headed. Ok, that's going to be a bit of an issue.

"That is somewhat scary Your Majesty, but the Mutants are hardly going to be scared of a Barbary lion's supposedly 'magical' coloured fire because it doesn't burn anything."

I turn to Ocelon then.

"You can say what you want to, Elder, but I know that they-"

I'm interrupted by a green fireball that whips past inches from my face, and ignites one of the tapestries as we all turn to look at Katz who has a smug expression on his face, his right hand bathed with swirling green fire.

"Doesn't burn anything, huh? That tapestry would say different."

"Katz, that was a priceless tapestry! My great, great Grandfather had that commissioned!"

The kitten simply shrugs.

"You can't lie, I know you didn't like it."

I sigh then, knowing that he's right as I pour water over the fire.

"My King, we will give you everything that you need so that you can win this war."

I nod appreciatively at Tocho's words before looking at the Elders.

"I promise you, myself and my friends will do it. We will win this!"

To Be Continued