Hook Mountain. A desolate place. A place where only the Snow Men go, or the foolish. Today it was visited by a most unusual person. Tygra, Lord of the Thundercats. The title sounded foolish to his ears. He no longer deserved it. He no longer deserved anything after what he'd done. Wily Kat injured, the rescue of Bengali a near failure, all because of him.
 

The soft crunching of feet on snow told the Thundercat that he had company. "Be careful, Tygra. The ledge is not safe," the warm voice of Snow Man said.

"I know Snow Man," Tygra replied. His voice flat and emotionless.

"You seem troubled, Tygra, what is wrong?" Snow Man asked.

"I don't feel like talking about it," Tygra said.

"Ah, I see. You'd rather sit here and mope until you hurl yourself from my peeks," Snow Man said, bringing his faithful steed Snow Meow closer.

"You're just like them. Judgmental. Accusing me of things," Tygra snarled, turning.
 

"You going to take that from him? Lion-O wouldn't!" Wily Kat shouted from his perch on the Thundertank.
 

"You're lucky I'm not Lion-O," Tygra mumbled.

"What was that?" Snow Man asked, greatly confused by Tygra's actions.

"Lion-O would've killed you for that, but not me, I'm Tygra!" Tygra said, turning his back to the Snow Man.

"Something is wrong with you Tygra. That much is evident. If you will not talk to me, I will be forced to contact your friends," the Snow Man said.

"Fine. I'll tell you about my failure while trying to rescue Bengali from the Skycruiser," Tygra sighed.
 

* * *
 

Knave was helping Red Eye in the kitchens. The two were planning out the menu for the wedding. "Of course, we'll have to have Roast Berbil Stew," Red Eye said.

"Couldn't call it my wedding without it," Knave replied, "and I'll whip up a very special main course of trussed Warrior Maiden. It's extra good if you eat them live, but most of the folks around here wouldn't appreciate the finer points."

"Of course not. I wouldn't expect someone like Mystan to enjoy eating something that's still moving," Red Eye said.

"Nor Alluro," Knave sneered.

"No, especially not Alluro," Red Eye agreed.

"Can I ask you something. Is it just me or has Nightshade gotten... friendlier?" Knave asked.

"Friendlier? How do you mean?" Red Eye replied.

"Well, when Shade and I first met, Nightshade didn't like me. She would rather have seen me dead than with Shade. Now, however, she's changed. Somehow I think she loves me," Knave said, running his fingers through his ample head of hair.

"No one knows the inner workings of a wraith mind," Red Eye began, "but if I had to speculate, I'd say it's because Nightshade respects you now."

"What?" Knave asked, incredulous.

"I think that when you agreed to let her take over your body to help her species continue she realized just how deeply you felt about Shade. The thing about their relationship is that Nightshade does not want any harm at all to come to Shade. At the slightest hint of it, Nightshade takes over and tries to get her out," Red Eye replied.

"You might be right, dad, I think I'm going to have a talk with Nightshade," Knave said.

"What about the dinner plans?" Red Eye called, as his future son-in-law sped down the halls. "Oh well. I guess I get to make up the rest of the menu myself."
 

* * *
 

"So. It sounds like you and the rest of the Thundercats are not getting along very well," Snow Man said.

"That's just it. The Thundercats used to be a well oiled machine, under Lion-O. Everyone knew what was expected of them and we did it efficiently. Under my leadership we've had nothing but quarrels and arguments. I don't understand," Tygra sighed.

"The problem lies not within your ability to lead, but in your inability to put Lion-O aside," Snow Man said, "every time you make a decision you compare yourself to Lion-O. Your team mates pick up on your indecision and attempt to take charge of the situation themselves."

"But how do I forget Lion-O? He was the heart and soul of the team," Tygra said.

"Think of the Thundercats a large ship with many oarsmen. If one oarsman falls overboard, what happens?" Snow Man asked.

"You pick him up out of the water," Tygra replied.

"That's not what I meant. What if he falls overboard and is devoured by sharks?" Snow Man pressed.

"Then you're short an oarsman," Tygra replied.

"Precisely. You mourn the passing of your comrade, but must press on. Lion-O is the oarsman that fell overboard," Snow Man said, "and so it is that you must press on without him. Remember him, but never lose sight that you are the Lord of the Thundercats."
 

* * *
 

"Nightshade? I need to talk to you," Knave said, standing in the doorway to his and Shade's room.

"What can I do for you?" Nightshade asked, pulling a bathrobe on as she, in Shade's body, came out of the shower.

"You've been acting differently around me. I want to know why," Knave said.

"Because when you agreed to help my species continue on, I realized just how deeply you felt for Shade," Nightshade replied, the barest hint of a smile upon her lips.

"Funny. Those are the same words Red Eye said to me," Knave said.

"Really. Perceptive man. By the way, you really should turn off the intercom in the kitchen," Nightshade snickered.

"Then you heard?" Knave asked.

"Obviously," Nightshade replied. "He is right though, to a degree. Largely though it's because of my mothering instincts kicking in. You're the father, whether I like it or not, and my species was born to rely somewhat on the father to provide for the young. So it is with you. If I am to rely on you, I must have your full trust," Nightshade said.

"And what must I provide for you?" Knave asked, suspiciously.

"Ten babies for me to eat and the head of the mightiest warrior," Nightshade said.

"What?" Knave asked.

"Lighten up, Knave. You're too tense," Nightshade laughed, moving behind him and gently massaging his shoulders. Knave pushed her back. "Don't do that. It's difficult enough for me to accept you using her body without you doing things that only Shade should do," he said, harshly.

"Look. We're going to have to trust each other, like it or not. Let's go on a little excursion and get to know each other better," Nightshade suggested.
 

* * *
 

Cheetalia stood on the bridge of the Skycruiser. It had once been the home to pirates, until Knave and Shade had liberated it from them and slaughtered the crew. She turned as the door hissed open and her half brother and his wife entered. "Are there any lone Thundercats about?" Nightshade asked. Cheetalia turned to the robotic companions that performed the day to day operations of Skycruiser. "Affirmative. Hook Mountain. One Thundercat and one Snow Man," one of the Lunar Droids replied.

"Perfect. Tell Mystan we've gone hunting," Nightshade smiled.
 

* * *
 

"I just don't think I should lead anymore, Snow Man, and that's all there is to it. I was much happier without all this added responsibility heaped into my lap," Tygra said.

"If that is how you feel, Tygra, then maybe you should turn the leadership over to someone else," Snow Man said.

"Cheetara would make a good leader," Tygra mused.
 

Snow Meow's ears perked up. He could hear the sound of swiftly moving vehicles. He let out a growl to warn both his master and his Thundercat ally. Snow Man's lance was drawn as he saw two Crescent Fighters plunging down out of the sky. They landed a short distance away and the two Lunataks stepped out. Knave levelled his icepick at Tygra. "You may not be Bengali, but you're close enough!" he growled, and lunged at him.
 

Shade, by default, took Snow Man and his feline mount. She aimed a black net at the lethal looking lance, knocking it clear from his hand. Her next problem was the fact that he hadn't slowed down his charge. In a moment born of sheer desperation Shade leapt to the side and tumbled over the edge of Hook Mountain.
 

Knave batted aside all three of Tygra's bola generated fireballs with his icepick, even as he heard Shade's startled cry. He wheeled around and saw his wife, the woman carrying his child, go over the edge of Hook Mountain, and ran in a vain attempt to try and save her. "Please Artamys, give me the speed I need to reach her," Knave pleaded to the God of the Dark Moon of Plundarr.
 

Whether it was adrenaline or a gift from the gods, Knave found himself running at lightning speed down the mountain after Shade, diving to absorb some of her fall. They lay, stunned, for a moment. After a time Knave saw blood running down his beloved's face. He mopped it up with the edge of his vest. "Are you two alright?" the Snow Man asked, as he and Tygra descended down next to them.

"I guess so," Knave said, helping Shade to her feet.

"Come on. We can still take them," Nightshade whispered in his ear.

"Are you crazy. After what just happened we should go back to Skycruiser," Knave said.

"How dare you doubt me. We two are strong, while these pathetic creatures are morons. We can take them," Nightshade said.

"You are crazy! By attacking these two we could be endangering our lives, and that of my unborn child. My life I may put on the line, but my son or daughter's? Never. What ever happened to your respecting me? To your relying on me?" Knave snarled, oblivious to the two observers.

"Oh, we wraiths do rely on our husbands, but not how you think. Unfortunately husbands only mate once. You see, the male provides the young with something to eat," Nightshade said. "The only reason I needed your trust at all was because I thought it might be easier to slit your throat that way."
 

Knave blanched, turning more pale. There was a demon living in his wife, and it still wanted him dead. "I will destroy you first," Knave spat.

"I don't think you will. I've killed you once, I can do it again," Nightshade replied. "So you see, you can't win. You might as well just resign yourself to that fact.

"Never. We'll see which of us lies dead the day we meet in combat," Knave said.

"Oh, I know when it will be. The day our child is born. The prey must be freshly killed, else the young will be unable to feed," Nightshade snickered. "Now then, shall we return to Skycruiser? I believe we parked up there."
 

Knave pushed Tygra aside and followed after his wife. "Soon," he thought, "soon you will be dead and I will survive."
 

* * *
 

Tygra bade the Snow Man farewell and turned back towards Cat's Lair. He had a lot of things to explain, like why he was quitting.