"Thundercats! Welcome!"

Despite his worry, WilyKat grinned at the greeting. The Warrior Maidens were one of the few that never used the term "kittens" with them. While that term was accurate and could even be affectionate, if from the right person, it was nice to be regarded with the same terms as the adults.

He recognized the two scouts that greeted them. They served the outer posts frequently.

The younger of the two: with long black hair in two low pigtails was called Calla (after some sort of Third Earth flower if he recalled correctly). He'd talked to her a few times during their visits about archery. She was quite good at it and always eager to show off. He'd even tested a bow a few times himself with her.

The older was Fern. She was a bit older than Willa, least as far as he could tell, with brown hair bound in a tight bun and eyes just as brown. She was friendly but a bit reserved. But she still carried a smile for them.

"WikyKit, WilyKat," Fern recited their names with reverence. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"To be honest," Kit answered, "The storm. Could we bother you for some shelter until it passes?"

Kat felt inclined to add, "I know it seems silly but I've just got a bad feeling about being out in it." Wouldn't do for their friends to think they were afraid of bad weather, even if, in this sense, it was true.

He was afraid. A deep, burning fear that only grew the deeper the sun dipped.

"Of course. Come, let's check in with Queen Willa."

Tucking their boards under their arms, the twins followed the lead to one of the wooden lifts. As they traveled upward into the trees, WilyKat's eyes never left the horizon.

His sister wasn't missing that fact.

"WilyKat, it'll be okay."

"I…I know."

"Your fear is not foolish." Calla said simply. "It's wise to listen when Nature speaks."

Kit blinked. "Nature speaks?"

"Your brother said he had a bad feeling." Calla smiled as the lift came to a stop. "We call that nature's voice. When the feeling starts inside, nature is speaking."

Fern nodded as she gestured them ahead. "And she's usually not wrong."

WikyKat while surprised, gave a nervous laugh. "Huh."

Kit gently shoved his shoulder. "Lucky. Guess nature doesn't wanna talk to me."

"Or maybe you just don't listen." He countered.

Kit didn't have a chance to give a comeback (shame as she had a good one) because they reached the main hut. Fern entered first.

"Queen Willa, WilyKit and WilyKat of the Thundercats have come seeking shelter."

"The Thundercats? Send them in."

After a nod from Calla, WilyKit and Kat pushed aside the reed curtain and entered.

"Young Thundercats!" Nayda, by her sister's side as always, greeted them with a mild embrace which they accepted readily. "What brings you to us?"

"Well, we do have news, but it was the storm they really drove us in." Kit answered. "We don't think it's safe to try to travel to the Lair in it."

Calla came in, with a low bow. "The boy has heard nature's voice about it."

Immediately, an odd reverence took over Willa and Nayda's faces. Not panic, more of a certain calm, of knowing.

"You're of course welcome here tonight." Willa stated as she stood. "Have you had a chance to eat?"

"A snack a few hours ago," Kat replied.

"Nayda, can you show them to the guest hut? Calla, arrange to have a meal prepared for them and Fern, see to it that their boards are charged."

Surprise took their faces. "You can do that?"

Nayda laughed. "Tygra and Panthro have been generous with the technology they share. Our early warning system uses a charger. I bet your boards are compatible, given how Tygra's designs work."

Well, not much arguing to be had. Tygra always said that making things interchangeable was thinking ahead. So, with that satisfied, Fern took their boards and Nayda waved them to follow.

With a shrug at one another, the twins followed.

Making their way over the rope bridges that swung between the huts, WilyKat looked upward. The storm clouds continued to gather and a low mist took the air. It felt heavy, like fog yet with none of the characteristics.

"Sorry to barge in." Kit spoke, breaking his thoughts. "If we thought we could—"

"Oh, don't be silly." Nayda interrupted her. "You've welcomed us tons of times and are always coming to our aid. A night out of the rain is hardly payback."

WilyKat smiled. "Well, friends don't get track Nayda."

The Warrior Maiden laughed as she pushed aside the curtain to the hut entrance. "Too true! I'll make sure for us brought to you soon. Sorry we've nothing more to offer but—"

Kit grinned, "Nayda, this is perfect. We appreciate."

With a duck, the woman vanished back outside.

It wasn't much. Two small beds, cushions on the floor for sitting. A small table for eating. Two windows with drapes of wood. More than enough for a night.

"Feel better?" Kit inquired of her brother.

He nodded. "I know it's weird but yeah."

Reaching into her pocket, Kit adjusted her communicator. "Better let Cats' Lair know, so they won't worry."

It took about a minute before a familiar baritone answered Kit's chime. "WilyKit? Are you okay?"

"We're fine, Lion-o. Storm was looking bad so we stopped at the Warrior Maidens' tonight. We'll head back in the morning."

"Thank Jaga you're not out in this!"

Kat looked outside. "Is it raining there?"

"Pouring!" Their Lord laughed, then sobered. "Are you two alright? Since this morning…"

Kit looked at her brother who nodded. "Yeah. I think we figured out sone things. We'll talk about it tomorrow. It's kinda too…personal over the communicator."

"Alright. We can come pick you up in the morning and we can talk, okay?"

"Sounds good."

"Alright. Take care, Kittens." Warmth was evident, even over the distance of the communicator.

"You too." Cutting the connection, Kit fell backward on the bed just as the misty wind turned harsh and the steady hum of rain became constant.

Turning to face her brother, she quipped "Good call."

As they rested, rising to eat when food was offered, the rain came. So harshly at times that it was a solid curtain.

But from the rain came a dark mist. Not fog, but something far more ancient. It crept over tree, over rock, but stopped short of entering blocked doorway or window.

But it moved on. Toward home.