Alone in the dark, she sat with her knees drawn up to her chin, waiting. He would return, of course. She had spent every moment since he had gone dreading his reappearance. Their brief touching of minds had revealed so much, enough to utterly terrify her. She feared his return, feared what he would do. Death was a certainty, and from what she had seen and knew, she was sure it would be denied for as long as possible.

"Thinking about me?"

The sound of his voice jolted her back to reality with a start. The darkness lifted and he was there. His face was impassive, yet there was an evil look in his eyes. She slid backwards away from him, only to come up against a wall. Moving to the side, another wall sprang up to block her escape. She was caught in a corner, trapped. Panic gripped her soul, sending her adrenaline levels soaring. But there was nowhere to run and no way of fighting back. All the same, she had to try. As she darted away from him, he caught her round the waist and held her close.

"Now, dear Cheetara, we've already played this little game and you know that I always win," he said. "You do understand why I have to kill you?"

She nodded numbly. "Because I know what you are."

"At least you think you do. Now, I can't allow you to spread all sorts of rumours about me, can I?"

"I won't," she said. "I promise."

"I believe you," he said, "but my friends are not so trusting. Because of that, we cannot permit you to live. Before that happens, however, I have something to show you." As he spoke, the wall before them dissolved. The emptiness of space stretched away, lit in places with distant stars. One pinprick of light seemed to be drawing closer and, to Cheetara's horror, she was able to make out the familiar shape of the Feliner.

"Your friends, come to rescue you," said Tyree. "Now let's see. Four life forms. One panther, one stowaway kitten and…" He paused, hissing slightly. "And two pieces of be-furred vermin. It seem you won't be dying alone today after all."

"No, not my friends," she cried. "I'll do anything you want, but please let my friends go!"

"Anything?" he whispered, letting his lips brush her ear.

His meaning was clear, and as much as his attentions repulsed her, she took courage from the hope that he might spare her friends. "Whatever you ask," she said.

"And what do you have to give?" The tone of his voice changed abruptly. He thrust her away and she tumbled to the floor. "Who would want you now, a mutilated, snivelling little wretch?" he hissed. "Do you think my brother will still want you after you've been with me? Oh, I've told him what a pleasant time we've had together. I think you can guess what he said. After all, he hasn't come to rescue you, has he?"

"Stop it!" she cried, clamping her hands over her ears. "I don't believe you!"

A sneer slowly twisted his lips. "Why, Cheetara? He said you disgusted him. I can see why. He begged you for help and you turned your back on him. And now you beg me to spare your friends? Huh! Your loyalty is misplaced. You think they care as much about you as you do about them? All they could muster for a rescue mission is a single warrior, a kitten and the furballs. That's how important you are to Thundera!"

"That's not true," she said, trying to inject as much conviction in her voice as she could in the face of such hostility.

"Isn't it? What use are you to them? What use to anyone? You can't even help your friends, can you?" He grabbed her by the mane and forced her to look at the view of the approaching ship. "Take it!" he commanded.

A grey beam shot out towards the Feliner's nearest wing and began to dissolve everything in its path. Cheetara could only cry out in anguish as she watched her friends being slowly consumed. The light continued relentlessly until only the fangs of the Feliner remained, until they too disappeared. The beam shut off, leaving no trace of the ship behind.

"And now you," said Tyree, releasing his hold on her mane.

She darted away from him, trying to put distance between them. A wall rose behind her to impede her flight and she came up hard against it with a thud that jolted the breath from her body. Then on either side other walls shot up, confining her. Tyree wandered over and regarded her with scorn.

"Well, goodbye, Cheetara," he said. "I shouldn't waste your time on false hopes. Where you're going, one way or another, you will die. Whether quickly or slowly, well, that depends on you."

He snapped his fingers and suddenly the two side walls closed in on her, pushing her backwards into the wall behind. As she hit it, it melted and sucked her in, smothering her screams as she fell into the heart of the beast.

Then, just as suddenly, a firm surface smacked into her stomach. Even before she opened her eyes, it was obvious she was no longer on the ship. The acrid smell of death and decay swarmed up her nostrils, making her retch. Wiping her mouth, she opened her eyes to find herself in a small, dingy chamber, lit only by a dim light, which did little to dissipate the gloom. A doorway yawned before her, opening out into a bleak corridor, as ill lit as the chamber. There was light enough, however, to make out several gnawed bones and a humanoid skull lacking its lower jaw. Somewhere in the distance came a howl, blood-curling as it died away. Cheetara shuddered, feeling the fur on the back of her neck rise. Then, to her ears came another noise, like a snuffle, much nearer this time.

"Is… is anyone there?" she called out falteringly.

"Cheetara?" A familiar bushy face emerged from the shadows on the other side of the room. "Is that you?"

"Snarf!" she cried, shuffling over to him. "Thank Jaga!"

The little creature cuddled up to her and purred gently. "Weeow, pleased to see you too, Cheetara."

"Yes, sir, we had no idea what had happened to you!"

"Snarfer too?"

"It certainly is," said the snarf as he crept forward to greet her. "Where have you been, where's Bengali and what is this place?"

"This place… I don't know. Where I've been, you don't want to know. And Bengali… I don't know that either. I lost him."

As she finished speaking, another howl rose up on the still air.

Snarf shivered. "What are we going to do, Cheetara?" he whispered. "We can't stay here with those howling things about."

Before answering, she took a moment to assess the situation. The chamber was clearly a repository for someone's or something's dinner. The fact that they were here suggested they were next on the menu. Tyree had promised her death and this was to be it. But she wasn't dead yet.

"Let's get out of here and see what we can find," she said. "There might be a way out of this place."

She got to her feet and edged towards the door. Glancing out, the corridor seemed empty. Foetid smells and yelps came from one direction, suggesting that the other way was a better option. Gesturing to the two snarfs to follow, she took a few tentative steps out of the chamber, stopping every now and then to glance over her shoulder. Confidence grew with every step and they made swift progress through the maze of twisting corridors and rooms. As they entered a large chamber, Cheetara came to a sudden halt, causing Snarf to bump into her legs.

"What's the matter?" he asked, rubbing his bashed nose.

"It smells different in here," she said. "Fresher somehow, as though…"

The words died on her lips as through the opposite doorway came something large and hairy. Blood-red eyes lit upon them hungrily and lips curled back to reveal dripping fangs. A low snarl rose up from its throat and its muzzle twitched.

"What is that?" whispered Snarf.

"Looks like a jackal," replied his nephew. "Looks hungry too, yes sir!"

The creature began to hiss and its eyes flickered from its intended prey to something behind them. An answering growl told them that both doorways were now blocked with the arrival of another creature.

"H-h-help!" Snarfer wailed and clutched at Cheetara's leg. "I don't wanna be eaten!"

"Let go," she hissed. "In a minute, I'm going to try something. Be ready to run when your feet hit the floor."

"When my--"

His sentence went unfinished as the room was rocked by a tremendous roar from the beasts. Both charged. At that moment, Cheetara grabbed the two snarfs by the scruffs of their necks, hurling Snarfer one way and flinging herself and Snarf the other. Missing their targets, the creatures smashed into each other and collapsed into an untidy, whimpering heap on the floor.

"Run!" she yelled, picking herself up and dashing for the door. Up ahead, a square of light appeared. Daylight! An escape beckoned. But then, yards from safety, an ape-like beast jumped in front of them. Cheetara managed to skid to a halt, catching Snarf as he shot by, but too late to help Snarfer, who rolled and tumbled at the creature's feet. The ape scooped him up and, holding him above his head, let out a mighty roar. With Snarfer's head in one hand and his tail in the other, he slowly started to pull him apart.

"Help, Uncle Osbert!" the little snarf screamed.

"Put him down!" Cheetara yelled, squaring up to the beast.

A long bone was within her reach and she snatched it up, smashing it against the wall to use the jagged end against their attacker. But as it splintered, something with a grip of iron tightened around her neck, almost strangling the life out of her. She dropped to her knees, clutching at her throat and gasping for breath. A nasty laugh came from the giant ape. Snarfer now dangled helplessly from one of its hands, while the other reached for her. The hand that grabbed her ankle dragged her towards the leering creature, then started to move up her leg. She made a feeble attempt to kick it away with her other leg, but it would not be denied. Lack of air was robbing her of strength and she was powerless to prevent the beast pawing her body. Its hand snaked under the folds of her dress and up her inner thigh, squeezing her firm flesh with obvious glee and chuckling nastily. The laugh turned suddenly to a strangled yelp and the hand was pulled quickly away.

"And you stay away too!" roared Snarf, wiping the blood from his beard where his fangs had bitten deep into the creature's arm. "Don't just hang there, Snarfer. Do something!"

As Snarf tried to help Cheetara to her feet, the ape bawled again, this time in even greater agony. Snarfer had heeded his uncle's advice and twisted in the ape's grip, aiming his sharp little teeth straight for its groin. Clutching at itself, the ape fell to its knees, whimpering piteously.

"Nice move," Snarf said to his nephew approvingly. "Come on, Cheetara. Let's get out of here!"

They helped her as she stumbled towards the opening. Behind them came the roar of other beasts hot on their trail. With a mighty heave, Snarf pushed her through the doorway and all three of them tumbled into the orange light of the outside world. Extracting themselves from the muddle, they looked up to see that their pursuers had not crossed the threshold and were howling in frustration at the loss of their prey.

"Whew!" breathed Snarfer, mopping his brow. "That was close, yes, sir!" He smacked his lips and wrinkled his nose. "But yuck! That ape didn't taste too good, Uncle Os -- oops, sorry, Snarf."

"That's all right, nephew, I'll let it pass this time," said Snarf, his gaze fixed on the snarling beasts in the doorway. "You know, that's funny. Why didn't they follow us?"

"Who cares?"

"I do. It might be important," Snarf returned. "Weeow, we'll work it out later. You all right, Cheetara?"

She shook her head. "No, Snarf. I'm not." She got to her feet and started away, leaving the two snarfs to follow. "He was right," she was muttering when they caught up. "I am useless."

"Who says?" Snarf purred with concern. "No, you aren't."

"Yes, I am. I couldn't even save Snarfer. If it hadn't been for you…" She shook her head again. "Just leave me," she said, walking away from them. "You don't need me. You'll do a lot better without me."

"What are we gonna do, Unc?" asked Snarfer. "Do we follow her or what?"

"Of course we follow her," Snarf said. "She's our friend and she's upset. I'm not leaving her. Come on, Snarfer, let's go." With that, he bounded away after her.

Snarfer watched him go and scratched his chin thoughtfully. "But where are we going, Uncle Osbert?" he muttered to himself. "And are we gonna like it when we get there?"

***************

Pumyra lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. The lights were off, but moonlight was enough to give the room what little illumination she needed. Enough to reveal the emptiness of the place, enough to show how completely alone she was in her silvery chamber.

The condition was alien to her. At no time in her whole life ever could she remember being quite so alone. She had always been aware of the presence of others. Sometimes she had feared them, sometimes welcomed them, but they had always been there. Even stranded on the island on Third Earth, she had had company. Yet now there was no one.

She rolled onto her side and stared at the empty space beside her. Her anger seemed so irrational now. She would have forgiven him anything to see him again, to hold him and feel his strong arms about her. But he was gone, lost in some far away place where only the stars knew of his fate.

Then, in the midst of her bleak thoughts, a frantic banging started on the door of her room. Outside, someone was frantically calling her name. Leaping from the bed, she hurried to the door and opened it to find Liodella, her cheeks wet with tears.

"You've got to come," she pleaded. "Something's happened to Lion-O."

"Calm down," Pumyra said. "Tell me what."

Liodella started to shake violently. "He's ill, Pumyra. I think he's dying."

She did not need to hear anything more. With Liodella following her in wake, she ran down the corridor to Lion-O's room. Inside, she found him on the bed, groaning and thrashing about from side to side in obvious pain. His brow was burning to her touch and he was sweating profusely. He flinched when she felt his wrist for a pulse and his eyes opened, although he seemed unable to focus on her face.

"Pumyra?" he said weakly. "Is that you?"

"It's all right," she said. "I'm here. Can you tell me what's wrong?"

His mouth opened, but no words came out. He tried again and Pumyra had to bend down towards him to catch his strangled words.

"I… I can't see," he whispered. "Before it was… a blur, but now there's… nothing."

She sat up abruptly and studied him with new understanding. His pupils moved restlessly from side to side, unable to settle on anything.

"Great Jaga," she murmured. "Lion-O, how long have you been like this?"

He tried to speak, but all that came from his lips was the soft exhalation of a breath. His eyes closed and he slipped from pain into peaceful unconsciousness. Pumyra regarded him with concern, then turned to look over at Liodella, who stood nervously by the other side of the bed.

"What happened?" she demanded.

Liodella almost jumped out of her skin. "I-- I don't know," she stammered.

"What were his symptoms?" Pumyra persisted. "You can at least tell me those."

"He was all right, then he started crying out. I didn't know what to do."

"Did he eat anything?"

Liodella hesitated too long to make any answer convincing. Pumyra saw the guilt in her eyes and felt her blood run cold.

"What have you done?" she said. "What did you give him?"

"A love potion, that's all," Liodella said, crying pitifully. "I only wanted him to love me. She told me it wouldn't hurt him. I didn't mean him any harm."

"Who gave it to you?" Pumyra demanded.

"Jageena," came the whimpered reply.

The sound of a sharp intake of breath made Pumyra glance over at the still open door. Saturnus stood in the doorway, his face pale as he took in the scene.

"Lion-O's ill," Pumyra said to him. "I think Divine Mistress Jageena has poisoned him. You must have her arrested. I can only help him if I know what he was given."

His reaction was not what she expected. Instead of hurrying away to do as she asked, Saturnus closed the door and activated the locking mechanism.

"What are you doing?" she said. "Lion-O needs help."

"No one can help him," Saturnus said. "He's dying. There is no antidote to the poison he was given."

Pumyra stared at him, the realisation of what he was saying slowly dawning on her. "You knew," she said accusingly.

"Yes, of course I knew," he shot back. "It was my potion. I was giving it to him in measured doses. My mistake was telling Jageena. I…" He paused and smiled. "Underestimated her. That was my mistake. Serves me right for thinking I could trust anyone. I shall have to deal with her and her petty ambitions to get a jaguar on the throne of Thundera, but first there is the little matter of my nephew." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "You're a healer. Tell me, what would be a plausible cause of death in such a case?"

"No, I won't do it," she said. "I'll tell everyone what happened here."

Saturnus looked unimpressed. "No, you won't. You'll do as I say."

His voice was so low, so menacing that it sent a chill through her body. He approached her and instinctively she backed away until she had nowhere left to go. Trapping her up against the wall, he stared down at her, as if assessing her.

"Listen to me, Pumyra," he said. "There are two ways you can be of use to me in this affair. One way, you live. The other…" He trailed off into silence, letting her draw her own conclusions. "Well, dear, what is it to be?"

She gulped and it took all her courage to speak. "You don't frighten me, Saturnus," she said defiantly. "I'll make sure that everyone knows you were trying to kill Lion-O!"

"Not kill, Pumyra, make more amenable to my suggestions. Every day, his sight grew dimmer and every day he came to rely on me a little more. I had not planned to kill him yet, but as it happens Jageena has done me a favour. The only question is how she knew when to strike." He turned and glared at Liodella. "You told her, didn't you, you little fool!"

Liodella started to cry. "I was desperate," she wailed. "I didn't know what she'd do!"

Saturnus sighed with deep vexation. "Do you see what I have to put up with, Pumyra? All she had to do was sleep with him, but she couldn't even manage that."

"But…?" Pumyra began uncertainly. "I don't understand. Why?"

"Some healer you are," Saturnus snorted. "Surely you can diagnose her condition?"

"She's pregnant?"

"Well done."

"So why did you need a love potion?" The answer came to her before she finished the question. She looked from Liodella to Saturnus. "Lion-O's not the father, is he?"

"Indeed not," he said. "I couldn't have some whey-faced cub bawling about the place. How could I risk another soft-hearted fool like my nephew, spoiling my plans? No, the cub is mine. Like me he would have been strong. Oh, he would have been raised as Lion-O's child, the heir to Thundera, but no one would have ever known the truth. Naturally, in her grief, the Lady of Thundera would have turned to me and I would have taken mother and child under my wing and ruled in their name. Then, when he came of age, my son would have done exactly as I said, even accepting the dominion of Plun-darr in the face of overwhelming forces."

"Why," Pumyra asked, "do you keep saying 'would have'?"

Saturnus smiled thinly. "Plans change."

It happened too fast. One moment he was staring at her, the next his hand had come up and there was the flash of metal. The knife flew from his hand unerringly to its target. Liodella cried out and crumpled, clutching at her stomach. Blood seeped through her fingers, quickly soaking her dress. Pumyra tried to go to her, but Saturnus caught her by the throat and pushed her up against the wall.

"Leave the little whore," he hissed.

"You're killing your own baby," Pumyra managed to get out. "Let me save them both."

If anything, his grip tightened, almost choking her. The world started to swim and with what was left of her strength, she struck out. She connected with something soft and Saturnus promptly let her go. She fell to the floor, gasping for breath, and struggled over to where Liodella was propped up against the wall. Her eyes were wide with fear and the sheer shock of the blow seemed to be keeping her from registering the pain. Carefully, Pumyra prised her reddened fingers from the site of the injury. The blade was embedded in her lower abdomen up to the hilt. Saturnus' aim had been too good.

She felt Liodella's eyes upon her and she looked up to meet her gaze.

"How bad…?" she asked.

"You'll be all right," said Pumyra, setting to work with a sheet, which she pressed up against the wound to staunch the flow.

"I'm cold," Liodella whispered. "I'm dying, aren't I?"

"Not if I can help it."

Liodella's cold fingers closed around her wrist. "I never meant him any harm, Pumyra. Please you have to believe me."

"Don't worry about that now, Liodella--"

"But I do. Saturnus… he made me. My brother, he's ill, he needs constant care. Saturnus has him in a private institution. He said he would let him die if I didn't do what he said. Please, believe me."

"I do," Pumyra said gently. Her attention shifted back to the wound and she gasped as her eye caught the pool of blood spreading beneath the lioness. "You're losing a lot of blood, Liodella," she said. "I have to get you to the infirmary and--"

It was too late. Liodella suddenly convulsed and fell forwards in Pumyra's arms. Her lips moved, but she made no sound. Pumyra had to lower her head to catch the whispered words.

"Tell Lion-O… that I… never meant him… harm," she murmured.

"I will."

A look of gratitude swept over Liodella's face, then her body stiffened. One by one, her muscles relaxed and she went limp. Pumyra felt for a pulse and then closed Liodella's unseeing eyes.

"Why?" Pumyra said, glaring at Saturnus, who stood watching her from the other side of the room. "Why did you kill your baby?"

Saturnus wandered over, stared down at Liodella with a look of almost regret on his face, then yanked the knife from her stomach. "She was expendable," he said. "The loss of the child is a pity, but then I can always have more."

"You scum!" Pumyra hissed.

"Please, this is no time for insults," he said mildly. "Your thoughts should be turning to your own predicament."

"Are you going to kill me too?"

He drew a deep breath and studied the bloodied blade. "My great talent has always been in my ability to think on my feet. The best laid plans usually have a tendency to fail at the final hurdle. What to do with your boyfriend, for instance, now that was a challenge."

"Bengali…?"

"It was meant to be so simple. In the end, I had to sacrifice a ship of damn fine snakes in order to be rid of him and your spotted friend. By now, what's left of them should be on Plun-darr. Which reminds me, I must check with Slithe that the mission went according to plan."

Pumyra felt the moisture leaving her mouth. "How do you know Slithe?"

Saturnus chuckled. "He works for me. I have, shall we say, a position of high regard amongst certain quarters on Plun-darr. I've promised them what they've always sought, you see. Thundera, in their hands, with minimal effort. All the important people will be out of the way, and I'll be left in control. I should thank Jageena, really. In forcing my hand, I've had to come up with a far more inventive solution to the problem than my original plan. When it is discovered that the Lord and Lady of Thundera have been killed, there will be widespread panic. I, benevolent, kindly Saturnus, will step into the vacuum and restore calm. Control will naturally pass to me. Then, little by little, I'll bring Thundera to her knees, ripe for picking by Plun-darr. No doubt they'll give control to me, as a token of gratitude and I'll add it to the many dominions I will have at my disposal." He smiled. "There, now, what do you think of that?"

"Why are you telling me this?" Pumyra said, leaving Liodella's side to retreat to the door.

"It's locked," Saturnus said, watching her progress, "and only I know the combination."

She didn't want to believe him, and it took several futile attempts to get the door to open before she was convinced of the truth of his words.

"What now?" she said. "How do I fit into this 'grand scheme' of yours?"

He approached her, leaving her nowhere to run. Blocking any escape by using his bulk to pin her to the wall, he traced the sharp point of the knife across her throat and smiled down at her.

"I'm sorry to have to kill you," he said in lilting tones, letting the blade slide down between her breasts. "I had hoped for a more lasting relationship with you. You do have certain charms." Repulsed, she turned her head away. He caught her under the chin and made her look at him. "Do I disgust you, Pumyra? Could you think of nothing worse than yielding to me?"

"Not much," she hissed.

"Except death?" His eyes glinted. "I can make that a reality for you. Yes, your death would fit in quite nicely. It would all come out, of course. Your past, the guilt and the fear you had that someone would find out. Then you discovered that Lion-O's father had condemned yours to death. How you hated him! Out of a misguided sense of revenge, you poisoned him and murdered his wife and unborn child, then in fit of despair killed yourself, just as your mother did before you."

"No one will believe it."

Saturnus' eyebrows twitched with amusement. "People will believe what they want. You chose to believe that Tygra could have perpetrated rape and murder."

"I'm not proud of myself for that. In the circumstances, I did the best I could for him."

He snorted. "If that thought gives you any comfort in your last minutes, cling on to it." His grip around her neck tightened and he dragged her from the wall and pushed her face down on the bed, pinning her arms behind her back with his knee. "Now, let's see," he murmured. "How does one commit suicide? A cut throat? Yes, I think that would be most satisfactory."

"But lacking your usual sense of style, Saturnus."

The unexpected voice made him falter and his grip slackened. Pumyra squirmed out from under him and darted away to the other side of the room. Saturnus did not register her escape, for he was too busy glancing about for the source of the voice.

"Who said that?" he demanded, addressing the empty room.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten," came the voice. "After all these years, I am hurt."

"Who…?" Saturnus began, but the words died on his lips as a figure started to materialise over by the door. Tall, strongly-built beneath his grey cloak and vividly-marked, the black of his stripes standing out well against the deep orange of his colouring, the apparition regarded Saturnus with mild amusement.

"Remember me now?" he said.

The knife fell from Saturnus' hand as he stumbled back, falling over the bed as he went. Picking himself up off the floor, he backed away to where Pumyra was huddled in a corner.

"You… you were dead!" he stammered

"Everyone says that," said the tiger. "Must be something about me. I must look like the dying type, when really the opposite is true." His gaze wandered about the room and fell on the still form of Liodella. "Well, well, Saturnus, still doing your own dirty work? Mind you, it is so hard to find people you can trust these days. Everyone lets you down in the end."

Saturnus' eyes were bulging and it was all he could do to muster up the strength to speak. "What are you doing here?" he said.

"Just passing. You know what it's like. I was in the neighbourhood and thought I'd drop in and say hello. Speaking of which…" His eye fell on Pumyra and he smiled. "My, you are a pretty one. Brains as well as beauty, so I'm told. Do you know me, child?" he said, extending a hand to her.

Thankful for an excuse to escape from Saturnus, she scuttled over to where he stood and he helped her to feet. "Tygra, I don't know what you're playing at, but thanks anyway," she said.

The tiger stared at her, then burst out laughing. "Oh, you are amusing. I have dashed a fellow's brains out for a lesser remark than that, but I like you. Why don't you tell her, Saturnus?" When the lion failed to answer, he glared in his direction. "My name, fool, what is it!"

"T-tyree," came the strangled reply.

"There, see, you do know," he said. "Well, dear, that is my name. As for any passing resemblance to your friend, I am his brother. I had all the good parts and he had what was left. Ironic really, that the dregs should outshine perfection. And I was, wasn't I, Saturnus? Did you know, Pumyra, this creep actually feared me because I was that good. He feared me so much he felt compelled to betray me to the Mutants. Dear Cheetara was kind enough to let me in on that interesting fact. Tell me, Saturnus, just how much was I worth?"

"I did it for Lion-O," Saturnus stammered. "You would have killed him."

"Who? Little me?" he purred, like a sulking kitten. "I find that rich coming from you, Overlord." Tyree shot a brief glance in Pumyra's direction. "You should have given your boyfriend more credit. He knew you had a traitor in Cat's Lair. He just didn't know who it was. But then how could he? Not even his Mutant minions know the identity of their supreme commander. And, believe me, I've tried to get that information out of enough of them. You should have told them, Saturnus, because no one else will mourn your passing."

To Pumyra's surprise, Saturnus pushed himself off the wall and approached Tyree with a new confidence. "You wouldn't dare," he hissed. "All your talk is nothing! What I did, I did for my family."

"For yourself!"

"Can you think of anyone more deserving?"

The sneer froze and slowly slid from his face as the tiger unwaveringly held his gaze.

"Actually, no," Tyree said, after a tense moment had passed. "I think you deserve all that's coming to you, Saturnus."

As he finished speaking, a beam of grey light surrounded the lion. A second later he was gone and the light with him.

"What happened to him?" Pumyra asked.

"My friends will keep him amused for a while," said Tyree. "Then he can share in the fate of his Mutant allies." His attention turned to Lion-O. "His end is near, Pumyra," he said. "Wake him."

"I don't know if I can," she said.

"Would you have him slip quietly away?" he said. "A warrior should meet his death with his eyes open. Wake him."

Obediently, she went to the bed and gently shook Lion-O. He did not stir, although she noted a slight change in his breathing. She tried again and, while she did, she was aware that Tyree was wandering over to where the Sword of Omens was propped up on a chair. He picked it up, turned it over in his hand and examined it. The Eye gave a warning growl, but it did not seem to bother him. Her attention was brought back to Lion-O as he moaned softly and started to wake.

"Ah, so there's life in him yet," said Tyree, coming up behind her. "Well done."

Suddenly he grabbed her and pulled her to him. A powerful arm held her tight against his chest and his other hand clamped across her mouth.

"From what I understand," he whispered in her ear, "when the Sword of Omens is used against another Thundercat, it is destroyed. Shall we see if that's true?"

He removed the arm from her chest and took the Sword in his hand. It was still growling furiously, but now she saw that the Eye was covered in a gooey grey coating.

"Lion-O!" he called, his voice deepening so that he sounded like Saturnus. "Lion-O, you must come! The Lair is under attack!"

On the bed, Lion-O opened his eyes and tried to sit up. "W-where are you?" he said, reaching out and groping round helplessly.

"The Sword!" Tyree cried. "Lion-O, call the Sword!"

A second too late, Pumyra realised what he intended. Lion-O held up his hand and summoned the weapon. The Sword of Omens roared into life and answered its master's call, flying from Tyree's hand, where he held it against the small of Pumyra's back. In its blindness, it tore through her side, dragging the hilt through her stomach and intestines as it went. The damage done, the Sword never made it to Lion-O's hand, but fell in four broken pieces to the floor. The Eye gave one final growl and closed.

She knew she was terribly injured, and yet all she could think about was something Tyree had said about Cheetara. When had he spoken to her, she wondered. She wanted to ask, but there was the metallic taste of blood in her mouth and the words died in her throat.

"I'm sorry, Pumyra," Tyree whispered in her ear. "I had to do that. There was no other way. If it's any consolation, I've arranged a reunion for you with your boyfriend. Enjoy it… while you can."

With that, he let her fall. Down she went, hearing Lion-O's distant voice calling to her, and down further still into a world of soft grey swirling mists, where she was cushioned and enveloped and comforted and healed. They spoke to her of peace and crowded round her, curious of her presence. Friendly, she thought, they want to help. And then they sank their teeth into her and her silent screams rang out.

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