Thunder Kittens

By Robin Gurl

Chapter 2 – Rewrite

Cheetara pushed the door open to their housing unit suspicious on how quiet it was. She had left Tygra alone with the cubs to go get food and pick up some more supplies from Jaga. She was thankful that he was providing everything needed for the cubs so far.

"Tygra? I'm back are you-" She stopped as she approached the kittens nursery. A smile crossed her features as she saw Tygra in the chair they used to rock them to sleep. He was fast asleep with one kitten in either arm. The twins were asleep with him.

He hadn't gone back on his promise once since this all started. He had cut back his hours, worked from home when possible and hadn't left her once to handle the cubs by themselves.

"I'm back." She said softly before heading to the kitchen to unload everything.

Jaga had asked her how everything was going and for once she had nothing bad to report. It had gone well for almost 6 months. She had asked him yet again when the new parents would be ready but he said he was having trouble securing a family that he felt would be safe enough.

She had a feeling that something was going on but didn't know what. She was afraid to voice it, worried it would ruin what they had here.

"How did it go with Jaga?"

She looks up smiling as Tygra yawns walking in. "It went alright. I got more supplies and he said some toys will be coming in later as well."

"Did he bring up the new parents?"

She shook her head, "He said its hard finding the right couple."

He sighed leaning against the door frame. "I can imagine why. With Thundera as it is, mixed cubs would be easily dumped to the side. I heard many stories of this happening within the Tiger clan before I came here."

"D-Dumped? A child?"

"They aren't pure. You know this as well as I do, Cheetara. Thundera still runs on the old ways. A cat must be pure to be apart of it's clan and to hold any position of power." He explained crossing his arms.

"Well yes but I didn't know they just abandoned children like that."

"Such things aren't exactly public. I don't want to imagine what goes on through closed doors." The tiger walks over and helps her unpack everything.

They had received more clothing, diapers, food and more. He smiled as he held up another onesie that they had gotten. "I love that they color code things for us."

She laughed, "Is it that hard to see the difference? Kit's hair is a bit redder than her brothers. Kat has a stripe coming in on his own."

"I saw, a bit of his tiger coming out I believe." He grins proudly.

"Are they asleep?" Cheetara asks as she puts away the food. She watches as he puts the clothes in the basket on the table to be washed later.

"Sound asleep. I put them in the same crib this time. They sleep better being together." He finishes folding the small clothes into the basket looking down at them. He still couldn't believe he had managed to keep two kittens alive for this long and that he and Cheetara hadn't had any problems.

He didn't want to bring it up but also didn't want her worrying. He sighs before lifting his head, "Are you doing alright?"

"What do you mean?"

"With all of this? I don't want you beating yourself up if something feels off or we need to discuss something." He offers looking at her directly.

She freezes before looking down at the baby food on the table. "…honestly its been such a whirl wind that I haven't had time to worry." A smile crosses her features as she looks up at him, "But you've done as you said you would and we've both been able to take care of the children. I've kind of enjoyed it."

He smiles back at her relieved and hugs her gently. "I've enjoyed it as well."

Before either of them could continue they heard two tiny wails from the nursery. They both made their way down the hallway and each picked up a kitten from the crib trying to soothe them. "You heard us talking about you didn't you.." Cheetara smiles patting Kit's back.

The kitten curled close hiccupping as she looks around the room for the other parent. Lately the twins had started to prefer one parent over the other. Kat preferred Cheetara and Kit preferred Tygra. It had started off a joke between the two adults but it had evolved into an actual thing the past month or so.

If they couldn't get one kitten to stop crying, the desired parent would be called over and they'd switch. Usually, the crying would stop right away.

Kat was still crying as Tygra tried his best to comfort him. The kitten kept trying to pull away reaching for his sister. "Alright, alright.. here.. she's right here." He moved closer to Cheetara who turned towards him.

The male kitten reached out gripping his sisters hand. He finally settled down in the tigers arms after he knew his sister was near by.

Kit looked over at her brother a tiny smile crossing her features before she looked up and saw Tygra looking down at her. She realized he wasn't holding her and started to cry again.

Cheetara looked up at Tygra and they both sighed before switching kittens. He laughed nervously before taking the female kitten in his arms, "Ok, kitten, I'm right here." She curled up resting comfortably in his arms a few seconds later.

The Cheetah only sighed smiling as they both sat down in the chairs. She reached out and squeezed his arm as they got comfortable, the kittens in their laps.

~*

"I'm sorry but you are no longer in the running for the council position."

Tygra took the drawings back he had submitted, "May I ask why?"

"You have cut your hours back, Tygra. You aren't as committed to the committee as you once were." The other cat explained as he walked the tiger back to the common area. "I'm just not sure if you can keep up with the work. After all you and your…. The Cheetah have your hands full."

"Her name is Cheetara and yes we do have our hands full. We are watching two cubs given to us by Jaga." He answered stiffly. His eyes narrowed warning the other not to go any further with that thought. "Even with my hands full, I have still turned in quality work and have had several plans approved by the higher council. Several members have put forth a vote to have me added. What has changed?" He could see the discomfort in the other cat. "I hope your views on my relationship with Cheetara hasn't clouded your judgement."

The other tiger only looked away, "I'm sorry Tygra. It's out of my hands."

"You've yet to give me a reason as to why." He pressed. "Is the council that narrow minded that they can't over look the fact that my mate is of a different clan and the children I was told to watch over aren't mine?"

"The council is full of cats that have been nominated by the elders. Jaga only certifies them after the fact. He can't help you. You know this. You knew this when you accepted the job. The fact that you were allowed to keep your job after ….after what happened is beyond me."

"And here I thought it was because of my talent and abilities."

"Don't start that with me. You need this job, Tygra. You are qualified and have the skills needed but you will not be moving forward with the nomination. Do not push it any further or you will be pushed out of it completely."

"So because the elders are stuck in the old ways, my nomination has been dropped."

"You and I both know that is the reason. While I may not agree or disagree with it, their decision is final. I'm sorry."

Tygra watched him leave and growled angrily. He gripped his drawings tightly until he crumpled them up. Other cats walking by looked at him surprised. He was known to be very calm and rarely caused a ruckus.

"Tygra? Is everything ok?" The voice shook him out of his thoughts. He turned to see Panthro coming up the stairs. He felt relieved at seeing someone he knew and trusted.

"Panthro, I haven't seen you in ages."

"I've had my hands full. Cheetara and I have been training the younglings and new recruits." The panther explained as he leans back against the railing. "Cheetara said things were going well. She told me you were in the running for the new council position."

"Was. I was in the running."

"What happened?"

"They dropped the nomination completely."

"Come on, let's go talk." Panthro wrapped an arm around the tiger's shoulders and pulled him down the stairs away from everyone else.

They had met during trade school and had been roommates for most of their time there. At first the Tiger drove him crazy. He was always quiet, reserved, didn't speak up a lot. He also had the unnerving ability to walk up behind you without warning. Tigers were known for this, they were silent predators. Even Tygra who wouldn't hurt a fly, was silent. He was already quiet to begin with and then to walk silently around – it just made it worse.

Tygra had scared Panthro many times just by existing in the same space.

It wasn't until he sparred against him that Panthro finally saw what he was capable of. His friend was calculated, agile, and quick on his feet. His ability to be near silent and quick speed gave him an advantage in the sparring matches.

Panthro had only heard rumors of the tiger's fighting style but hadn't seen it himself until that fight. Outside of fighting, Tygra had started to step in and stop the fights the other cats tried to gode the panther into joining. If a thunderian fought outside of sparring they would be evicted from the trade school. Panthro was the first to admit that he had a bad temper and a short fuse. He been almost kicked out several times but Tygra had stopped all of that.

He had gained a whole new respect for his quiet friend started to help him out more after all of this. Only Cheetara and he seemed to know when he was upset or that something was going on with the Tiger.

Everyone else couldn't see a difference in his personality or mood.

Once outside away from the nobility offices did Panthro stop dragging the tiger with him. "Now, tell me what happened. Was it a plan you messed up?" Tygra only shook his head and explained what had happened. The panther just sighed shaking his head, "Blasted Council – they are so backwards on everything. So out of touch."

"What's done is done, Panthro."

"That maybe but are you ok? You really wanted that position."

"I did but now I'm not sure if I still would. It's not worth working on a committee that doesn't accept me or my family." The tiger explained shrugging. "It's not worth fighting for it anymore."

"Tygra, you can still fight for it. You have reason to go to Jaga with this and he can help."

"How? Interfering with this wouldn't help me. If anything it would make me a target for future problems. I need this job on my own merit, Panthro. I don't want anyone giving it to me out of sympathy or order."

Panthro growled frustrated, he slammed his fist on the railing. He knew his friend was right but he also knew this wasn't fair. "I just hate to see you throw all of this away. You've worked 7 years for this position."

"If I had gotten the position, they wouldn't have let me live with Cheetara or keep the relationship going." The tiger leaned on the railing looking out into the city below him. "They would have forced us to part ways, I'm sure of it."

"You two are turning pretty serious, aren't you?"

"Having two kittens who depend on you will do that."

"Is she happy?"

"She seems to be. I've asked her several times and each time she says yes."

"She's going to be pretty mad when she hears what happened."

Tygra smiled looking over at his friend, "I'll do my best to keep her at home so she doesn't cause a whirl wind here at the council."

"At this point, the council deserves her wrath." The panther smirked. "I'd be joining her."

"There you are! We've been looking everywhere for you!" Cheetara exclaims walking down the path, one kitten in her arms and the other toddling beside her.

"Cheetara.. what are you doing here?" He pulls away from the railing turning to see the two kittens walking unsteadily towards him. He kneels and picks them both up hugging them.

Panthro watched as his friend visibly relaxed once the kittens were in his arms. He smiled at the Cheetah as she joined them. She squeezed Tygra's arm smiling at him, "I thought you could do with a visit from the kittens."

"Thank you.." He just holds them close as they smile up at him.

"I heard what happened." She finally said smiling sadly. "I'm sorry, it's our fault that you couldn't get the nomination."

Tygra glanced up surprised she said it. They rarely spoke of it to each other. It was always known of course but rarely verbalized. He only shook his head, "Nonsense, Cheetara. The council themselves are the reason I was dropped. We've done nothing wrong."

"Are you sure you don't want to fight this?" Cheetara asks taking Kat from his arms. She hands him to Panthro who starts making faces at the kitten to make him laugh. "If you want to fight, I'll join you. We'll both be by your side."

He shakes his head, "I've made up my mind. I don't want to fight this. I'll just continue my normal job. Besides I've got two kittens to help raise, I don't have time to be on the council."

She nods hugging him, "I'm proud of you." She whispers. He only nods hugging her back.

Kit made a wretching noise as she started to get sick on her stomach from the movement. Panthro just laughed, "I'm there with you, Kit. That was nauseating. Even Kat agrees."

Tygra held the baby up and patted its back before he started to laugh. Cheetara blushes before punching Panthro in the arm.

Panthro just smirked, "Come on, lets get dinner. It's on me."