Last Evening

Lion-o ended the communication, cutting the line with a sigh. On one hand, he wished Kit had felt up to discussing what they'd uncovered but on the other hand, he couldn't really blame her. Some things were just better discussed in person.

With a metallic hiss, the doors opened behind him and Panthro entered. "Trouble, Lion-o?"

With a shake of the head, the Lion answered. "No trouble. That was WilyKit. She and her brother decided to stop in with the Warrior Maidens instead of fighting the storm."

"Smart move." Panthro smiled. "Bout time they remembered to stay out of a storm. Especially this one."

"Is it that bad? Any damage anticipated?"

Panthro shrugged. "Tygra and I have run the stats again the Lair's schematics and the damage she's taken before. Doesn't look like there'll be much more than that. But we're monitoring it."

Nodding, he stood. "It must be pretty bad for the twins not to risk coming home. Hope the Warrior Maidens are prepared as well."

Panthro clamped a hand on his young lord's shoulder. "They're a tough bunch, Lion-o. We'll get through this, so will they. At least we don't have the Feliner caught in this like last time!"

Lion-o gave a hearty laugh. "That's true! What a mess that was—"

"Lion-o! Panthro!" The door flew open and Pumyra and Bengali came rushing in. "It's Cheetara!"

Without waiting for further explanation, the two fell in step, with Pumyra leading the way down the hall. They didn't have to go far before they stumbled upon the cheetah woman, all but doubled over, clawing at her head. Snarf was patting her arm while Snarfer paced as Lynx-o and Tygra tried to be support, figuratively and physically.

"Cheetara!" Lion-o bent, getting as close to her eye level as he could without crowding her. "What is it?"

"My…sixth sense." She managed through clenched teeth. "Never reacted…like this before. It's…unbearable."

Panthro knelt. "It's not like your other visions?"

"No." She hissed, but accepted the cup of water Snarfer offered her. "I only see black."

Snarf cracked the nearby window. "Here. Some fresh air will help, snaarf. Try to breathe."

Tygra agreed. "You're going to hyperventilate. Deep breaths."

Lynx-o offered. "Perhaps it may help to move to the head. Shelter from the storm but air to help you recover."

"Great idea, Tygra, Bengali, you go and lower the screen and the rest of us will help Cheetara." As they darted to do as told, Lion-o drew the sword from his hip. "And let's see if we can't shed some light on that black. Sword of Omens, give me sight beyond sight."

Lion-o's vision bleached to white then the blue outline. Within it, he saw the gathering storm, with lightning and thunder. The dark clouds grew into tendrils, creeping downward.

"I don't understand….Sword of Omens, show me more!"

Deep into the clouds, his vision went. Four statues grew out of the clouds. But ultimately, it was a cry, a laugh.

"Mumm ra!"

Lion-o pulled the sword away. "Mumm ra!" He said again. "Tygra! Bengali—"

Before anything else could be said and indeed, before anyone could even react, the dark wisps of cloud Lion-o had spied crept in through the window.

Like a wildfire, it wrapped around anything it could touch.

Lion-o tried to hold his breath but it was like resisting a wave. The blackness pushed and fought and broke into his airway. He coughed, choked, gasped, then everything was dark.

OOO

"Lion-o! Wake up, wake up, please!"

Grunting, Lion-o opened his eyes and they cleared on Snarf.

"Oh, thank Jaga!" The furry companion helped his lord sit up. "You're alright."

"What…the blackness, the sword, Mumm ra…" Lion-o stood. "The others…"

"Over here, Lion-o."

Turning, he heaved a sigh of relief as Panthro and Pumyra approached. "Are you two alright?" Lion-o asked.

"No worse for wear, it seems." Pumyra shook her head. "But something happened. The Lair feels…different."

Panthro frowned. "That was definitely Mumm Ra's dirty work. Guess him being gone was too good to be true."

"As is often the case." Lynx-o came from about the corner, Tygra, Bengali, and Cheetara following. "We were optimistic." Snarfer perched on Lynx-o's shoulder. "But it appears we celebrated too early."

"Anyone hurt?" Lion-o asked.

Shakes off the head.

"No injuries." Tygra confirmed. "But Pumyra is right. Something is off."

"It feels like we are…adrift." Cheetara wrapped herself in a bear hug. "As if we're caught between two planes."

Silence. "So, what do we do about it?" Bengali asked.

"By getting everyone together." Tygra replied. "The Thunderkittens should be back any time and then we can decide what to do. If Mumm Ra's spell affected us, it likely affected them too. "

Lion-o looked toward the window and sure enough, the sky had turned light. "How long were we out?"

"Too long." Panthro remarked. "Who knows what we've missed."

The group proceeded down the stairs silently. Unknowing permeated the air. When the doors did not respond, they all pushed and pulled together until they opened enough to exit, all without a word.

They gathered at the foot of the stairs, again, silent and solemn, and waited.

Everything else seemed normal. The sky was clear, they could see animals in the fields and woods continuing to go about their lives.

But it felt distant and outside of themselves.

Lion-o stared at the sword as they sat. Why hadn't it warned him earlier? Was it because nothing could be done? The sword had never failed him before.

At least we're all alive, he thought. But why are we alive? Why would Mumm ra leave us alive?

"It's the Thunderkittens!" Snarfer suddenly shouted. "Thunderkittens, here! Here! Snarfer, snarfer!"

Sure enough two space boards cleared the chasm and the twins leapt off them, rushing forward.

"Thunderkittens, Ho!" The adults cried nearly in unison.

Snarfer rushed them.

And screeched when he passed right through them.

WilyKit walked right through Tygra and WilyKat plowed through Panthro.

Whatever had affected them, the Thunderkittens were outside of it. They were separated.

"They can't touch us." Lion-o remarked. "Can't hear us. Can't see us."

Tygra swallowed. "So we can't help them."