Katherine sat in her hospital room, waiting for the doctor to return with the test results. For the past few weeks, she has been unusually ill. She suffered from back spasms, fainting spells, and aches all over her body. She didn't want to go to the doctor and hated seeing one until she she was forced to go by Claudus. The doctor entered the room with a chart and a grim look on his tiger face.

"The test results came back. I'm sorry, your highness but you are dying." The doctor told her.

"What? That can't be! I'm young. I exercise daily. I eat the right foods. I have a six year old son. I can't leave him now." She panicked to the doctor.

"I know, your highness, but that doesn't mean anything when you have Caram. It's an incurable disease. Not even the Totem of Dera could heal you now in this late stage. It's not hereditary. It occurs in 1 in 1,000 people. I'm sorry." The doctor explained to her in a sympathetic tone.

"What will happen to me? How long do I have to live?"

"Your body is already taking part of the major effects it will encounter. Basically, it will slowly break down. Your major organs will be the last to break down but they all will slowly stop working. I'm so sorry to say this but you have three months."

Tygris was waiting outside to escort her back to Cat's Lair when Katherine came back out. Her face was expressionless. She was doing her best to hide her feelings from Tygris.

"Is everything all right?" Tygris asked.

"Just take me home." Katherine said.

Tygris guessed it was bad news and decided not to pry, but told Claudus something was wrong with his wife when he returned from a peace conference between Thunderians on the other side of the world later that evening. When Claudus entered his bedroom, he heard Katherine crying. He walked over to the bed with his walking stick and sat down on the bed, pulling her into his arms.

"What's wrong, Katherine? What did the doctor say?"

"I'm dying, Claudus." She cried on his chest.

Claudus was shocked. "Dying? How?"

"I have an incurable disease called Caram. My body will slowly break down, I only have three months to live."

"We don't have long, do we?"

"No."

a a a a a a a a a a

Two weeks later, Katherine and Cheetara, who is now 18, were sitting behind Cat's Lair, watching him play with his dog Kano on the big green yard.

"I wish I had another child. That way, Lion-O would have a playmate instead of being the only child couped up in this lair with no one but adults." Katherine said thinking of her son.

"He's going to be the next Lord of the Thundercats. He should be around adults to understand his future, but I do understand how you feel." Cheetara told her godmother. She turned to look at her. "Have you told him yet?"

"No. I can't find a way to tell him that his mother is dying." Katherine said on the verge of crying again.

"I know it is going to be hard to tell him, but he has to know. As Lady of the Thundercats, one of your main responsibilties is taking care of Lion-O as well as rule by Lord Claudus side. Who's going to take care of him when...... well, you know?" Cheetara asked.

"I've sent for a Snarf form the Valley of Snarf. He is well-known, respected, and is a very good caretaker. He arrives today. Maybe then I can find the strength to tell Lion-O."

"I suppose that is best."

"I think it is, and I should also thank you. Claudus told me that you are going to tryout to be a Thundercat. I'm pretty sure you'll make it. With you here, you can watch over Lion-O, too and help him choose a good wife."

"Don't worry. I will." Cheetara assured Katherine.

"It's a shame that you and Lion-O aren't the same age. You two could fall in love and get married."

"What?" Cheetara said surprised.

"I'm serious. You are the type of woman I want my son to marry, and I won't accept anything less than that. Dying or not, I won't accept it." She told Cheetara seriously and then laughed. "It seems you have a big job ahead of you, Cheetara."

"It seems so. I hear the Chief Mechanic of Cat's Lair, Panthro, is competing to. I know I am speaking to far in the future, but I have a feeling that he is going to be the Thundercat of strength. He's already an expert in anything dealing with technology and is one of the best fighters on Thundera." Cheetara said.

Katherine smiled and then a coughing storm came over her. After it passed, she decide it was time to go in. "Lion-O, it's time to go inside."

Lion-O and Kano ran to the two women. "Do we have to?"

"I could stay out here with Lion-O if you want, Katherine." Cheetara volunteered.

Before Katherine could respond, a servant came out. "Lady Katherine, you have a visitor."

"Thank you, Sylvia. Cheetara."

"I'll watch him."

In the Counsel Room, Snarf waited for Katherine's arrival. A mintue late Katherine arrived. "Thank you for coming on such short notice, Snarf. Do you have another name?" She asked sitting down.

Snarf seemed reluctant to answer but he did. "Osbert is my name, but I prefer to go by Snarf."

"That's fine. Now to business. I'm dying in less than three months, and when I go, I'll need you to take care of Lion-O; be his best friend. He'll need that when he learn his destiny." Katherine explained.

"Don't worry. I'll take good care of him."

"Thank you, Snarf. Come. Let's see him."

Cheetara, Lion-O, and Kano were all playing when Katherine and Snarf returned. "There's mommy with a friend. Let's see what they want." Cheetara said and the three went to meet them.

"Lion-O, I want you to meet, Snarf." Katherine said and Lion-O and Snarf shook hands. "Snarf will be taking care of you when I leave." She said with difficulty.

Lion-O looked up at his mother. "Leave? Where are you going?"

"I'm dying, Lion-O. I have less than three months to live." She said in a cracked voice.

"You can't die. You're my mom. Dying is for old people who have grey hair."

"No it's not. Dying is for anybody, any age. Even mothers and people your age as well as mine. It happens when it's their time to go, and I'll be going in three months." She explained to her son.

"Why?" He said in a sad voice.

"It's just my time I guess. But don't worry. Snarf is going to take good care of you."

"But I want you to take care of me!" Lion-O shouted.

Katherine started to cry and knelt down to her son's height. "I know, Lion-O, but I guess it's not meant for me to be here with you.....to see you grow up......see you be Lord of the Thundercats....see you marry and have children of your own." She cried some more and wiped the tears away and Lion-O started to cry. "Don't cry, Lion-O and don't worry. No matter what happens I will be here and watch over you until you don't need me."

"But I'll always need you."

"No, you won't. You won't know it, but I will." She pulled him into a hug. "Oh, my sweet, sweet baby. Don't you worry. Everything will be all right."

a a a a a a a a a a

Over the next few weeks, Katherine became weaker and weaker each day. Her body slowly began to break down. The best doctors on Thundera tried to delay the process with all types of medicine but they couldn't. She became so sick that she was confined to bed. One night, eveyone knew it would be her last night. All the Thundercats, Cheetara, and Cheetara's mother, Delana, who looks like Cheetara except she was older and she didn't have the two marks on her face like her daughter, were there. Lion-O and Snarf were also in the room. After everyone in the room said their good-byes except for Claudus and Lion-O, she looked around for Lion-O.

"Lion-O. Lion-O?"

The others looked around and discovered Lion-O wasn't in the room.

"Where did he go?" Tygris said.

"The door is opened. Lion-O must have sneaked out." Cheetara said looking at the door.

Katherine coughed. "I know why he left. He thinks that if he doesn't say good-bye to me, I won't leave."

"But where could he have gone?" Jaga asked.

"I know. Snarf. Snarf." Snarf said and ran out the room.

Cheetara left a minute after Snarf did. Claudus started to leave but Katherine stopped him.

"Don't, Claudus. I have a feeling they should do this. Trust me."

Snarf knew exactly where Lion-O went. He went to the secret passages his mother and he would hide when there was an attack on Cat's Lair. Snarf raised his tail to open the door and saw Lion-O curled up in the corner.

"Lion-O, why are you here. You have to say good-bye to your mom."

"No, Snarf. If I don't say good-bye, then my mother won't leave."

"Whether or not you say good-bye, your mother is going to leave." Snarf tried to explain.

"He's right, Lion-O. If you don't say good-bye now, then you'll never will." Cheetara said standing in the doorway.

"But I don't want to, Cheetara." Lion-O said in a scared voice.

Cheetara pitied the young prince. At age 6, he has to face the tradegy of losing his mother. He was going to be along in the world, especially with his father barely having time to spend with him because he is king and have to deal with the problems of the world. Already, Lion-O has to face a tradegy that will cut through his innocence and maybe only his true love or a true friend can mend it.

She sat down in a chair. "Come sit on my lap, Lion-O." She told him and she wrapped her arms around him when he did. "Even though I haven't lost my mother, I do understand how you feel. My grandmother died when I was about your age and I was so sad. I loved her so much, and I didn't want to say good-bye either, but I did. It's life, Lion-O. Dying is a part of life. You should say good-bye to you mother now or you'll never hav ethe chance again, and even though you won't see her anymore, she'll be with you in spirit; whenever and wherever you go. Do you know why?"

"No." Lion-O looked up at her.

"Because she's apart of you and she will always be. Especially right here." She pointed to Lion-O's heart.

"I want to say good-bye to my mother now."

"Good." Cheetara smiled and hugged him.

"Well, we found him." Cheetara said.

Katherine smiled weakly. "Come sit on the bed with me, Lion-O"

Lion-O did as his mother said.

"Oh, my sweet beautiful child. I'll miss seeing your smile." She told him and laughed. "He's certainly got my hair and your father's hairstyle when he was a boy." Claudus looked surprise. "I've seen the picture, Claudus." She told her husband and tough Lion-O's face. You are going to be such a handsome man. You'll probably be fighting the girls off with a stick, but don't fall for any pretty eyed girl, but a girl who loves you for who you are and will always stand by you side. Too bad I can't chose for you, but I know you will make the right choice. Snarf is going to be taking care of you now and I want you to be a good boy and do what he says. Okay."

"Yes, mother."

"You are going to be a great leader with a beautiful wife and children. I just know it." She started to cry again. She looked at the people in the room. "Please take care of him for me."

"We will, Katherine. We will." Claudus assured her.

Katherine forced a smile. "Well, young man. I think it's way past your bed time. Let Snarf tuck you in."

Lion-O had tears in his eyes. "Good-bye, Mother" He said giving her a strong hug good-bye.

"Good-bye, baby. I'll always be with you."

"Come on, Lion-O. We have to go." Snarf said.

Lion-O took one last look at his mom and left. After him, everyone else left, leaving Claudus and Katherine along. Claudus sat in a chair beside her.

"He's growing up so fast. I wish I can protect him from this tradegy and the violence around him."

"You worry about him too much, Kat."

"He's six years old. He's too lonmg to be exposed to this."

"He's already exposed to it. When we are attacked, you and Lion-O must hide in the secret passages. Remember when I lost my sight." Claudus reminded Katherine.

"Lion-O was two. I doubt he remembers." She said and started coughing again.

"He knows how I lost my sight. I'm pretty sure he remembers."

Katherine sighed. "I wish his life wasn't surrounded by violence and isolation from his father. Your title do take you away from your son. I know as Lord of the Thundercats it's your duty to protect the planet Thundera and deal with all its problems, but I do wish it allowed you to spend some quality time with you son." Katherine said concerned.

"I know. I wish it did too. However, the times I do spend with Lion-O are very precious to me."

"He loves you so much, but he and Jaga have been spending a lot of time together. I'm afraid he sees Jaga more of a father figure than you."

"Katherine, you and Lion-O know how hectic my life is. I wish I could spend every waken moment with you and Lion-O, but it can't be and I think Lion-O understands that. My father wasn't always around and I turned out fine and so will Lion-O. But I will try to spend more time with him." Claudus promised his wife.

"Thank you." She hugged him. "I wonder if things will be like this for Lion-O."

"I pray things will be better for him."

"Promise me something, Claudus."

"Anything."

"Promise me that you won't let Lion-O get too attached to Jaga. In a fatherly way, I mean."

Katherine asked her husband.

"I will. I love you with all my heart, Katherine."

"I love you too, Claudus." she said and kissed him deeply. "Hold me...." she coughs. "...until it is over."

Claudus got in the bed with her until they fell asleep. Claudus for a few hours and forever for Katherine.

Katherine died that night and the whole planet mourned her death the following day. Her funeral was held a few days later. The preacher left everyone in tears. A large crown was gathered outside while the funeral occured. After the funeral, she was taken to the grave site for all the Lords and Ladies of the Thundercats.

When they returned home, Lion-O and Claudus had a long talk, talking about Katherine and did some catching up since they have not talked in a while. Later that night, Lion-O lied in the bed thinking and realized everything will be all right because he knew his mother was with him.