The kittens just sat. The information was still sinking into their minds so to speak. They couldn’t believe it. This mighty Thundercat that all the great legends they’d recently heard were about…was their mother?

This mighty female who could shoot beams of power out, who could change her form, who could turn invisible or disappear, who could stop even TIME was the woman who’d given birth to them?!

"Kit, Kat!" someone called up them. "Lion-o wants a council meeting about Celeano. Come on!"

Barely aware of their surroundings, the shock-stunned cubs got to their feet and slowly followed the voice down the stairs. It was Cheetara. Normally, she would have noted their strange behavior but was too worried at the moment.

As soon as the trio entered the room and took their assigned places, the talking began.

"Alright, this Celeano startin’ to bug me." Tygra growled to start off. Pantro nodded in agreement. Lion-o was close to speaking but Lynx-o beat him to it.

"While we have never met this woman, we do tend to assume she’s evil. The tales we have been informed of seem to point to that one conclusion."

"Yeah," Bengali cut in. "And judging from the locals feelings toward her, I’d like to avoid meeting her at all costs, thank you."

Lion-o nodded. "But still, we know that she has power and she could very well use it against us."

"Question:" Pumyra pointed out. "Why would she come after us?"

The Thundercats looked at each other. That was a good point. They shrugged. Kit took a breath. "We should be prepared right?"

Lion-o looked at her. She seemed strangely quiet. That was the first thing she’d said since she’d gotten there. Her brother still wasn’t talking. Lion-o felt a wave of concern but had to cope with them later.

"Right Kit. We should be. That’s why I think we should be together when we go out, two at least. Agreed?"

"Agreed," everyone answered together. Lion-o nodded. He couldn’t help it. He looked directly at the twins.

"Council adjourned. Thunderkittens, go do whatever but be careful! That rule applies to you too."

The twins sighed. Lion-o was always worried about them. More so, lately. Kit and Kat looked at one another. Kat nodded at his sister. The twins waited until Lion-o began to leave before making their move.

"Lion-o?" Kit asked as she gently pulled her lord back with her small weak arms. He turned and looked at her.

"What is it, WilyKit?"

"Could Kat and I talk to you for a minute?"

The young Lord smiled at the kitten-girl. She was always a little afraid to talk to him. It made no sense to him because he considered her to be a daughter and her brother a son but sometimes children have the strangest reasons for doing certain things.

"Of course WilyKit." He said as he sat back down. He pulled the twins closer and held their young fingertips in his. Kit took a deep breath and then started talking.

"Well, after we talked to you this morning we went up into the attic and raided through lots of old stuff that we just managed to collect over the years. And-"

"-We found," Kat added cutting into the stream.

"-This," Kit said handing Lion-o the letter. He stared at it, as if not comprehending. He wasn’t reading the whole thing word for word but he definitely got the end saying that the Thunderkittens were of Kitra’s blood. Then he took a deep breath.

"You do realize I'll have to tell Tygra this don't you?"

"Yes,"

"And you do know he'll want to examine you, don't you?"

"Yes,"

"Perhaps even a blood test?"

The twins winced but nodded. Lion-o got down on one knee and put a large and strong hand on each twin's shoulder. He took a deep breath.

"I want you to know something Thunderkittens. I knew since the start that you were special and I mean this. This could mean…there… there is a possibility that Thunderian Sorcery didn't die out completely."

WilyKat swallowed hard. He blinked and Lion-o started to leave for the architect. Kat sighed, swallowed again then spoke, "Lion-o?"

The lion turned and paused in the doorway. "Yes. What is it, WilyKat?"

"Are you saying there might be magic in us?"

Lion-o closed his eyes then he responded, "Yes, WilyKat. Yes, I am."

* * *

"Ow! Tygra, you're hurting us!"

The tiger had been shocked at Lion-o's discovery and immediately called the kittens in for an examination. It was typical. The fact that there might be power in them was amazing. He wanted to see if he could find it. Right now, he was content on their blood pressure and pulse rate.

"Sorry Thunderkittens." He apologized and took the cuff of the blood pressure machine off of their younger frail arms. He got up and put it away. As he put it up, he thought.

Tygra, you have got to be kidding. He berated himself. Those two are hardly adolescents and you want to put them through a scaloff examination! Adults find it agonizing!

Still, he reasoned. It would be one of the few things that might actually give us an accurate reading. He looked to the two. Only way.

"Kit? Kat?"

The two looked up at him. He sighed. "All right. I'm going to try a different kind of examination. Its called scaloff. It will give me an accurate reading of your blood, heart, mind, and breathing in one doze, you might say. I can only do it to you one at a time though. Kat you first. I'll tell you both now. If you want to scream when I do it, go ahead because it will hurt. I'll be honest. So I'll try to be quick okay?"

They nodded. Kit got up and slowly left. Tygra called after her, "Sit in my room WilyKit. This might take a few minutes. You can read some books."

As soon as the door closed, the architect put the privacy lock on it. He turned back to the male kitten. He motioned for him to climb onto the examination table. The child obediently obeyed. The tiger went into the closet and pulled out some strange looking equipment that made WilyKat feel uneasy. He trusted Tygra but still knowing you were going to feel pain was always upsetting.

"Okay," Tygra said. He turned back to WilyKat, who was kicking his feet back and forth so; his heels banged into the side of the table with loud clangs. The tiger smiled at him to try to calm his young nerves, without success.

"Alright WilyKat, I'm going to have to attach some things to your chest so take off your shirt, please."

The kitten obeyed and Tygra took off the child's boots and socks. Then, he pushed him onto the table and pulled some belts out of the side and snapped them around the youth tightly. This would stop him from breaking free.

WilyKat felt a slight cold on his chest as the tiger wiped some sections with alcohol before sticking some wires onto the child's skin. He pulled out some medical tape and taped the wires down. Then, he walked toward the controls of the thing.

"Alright WilyKat," Tygra said slowly. "Take a deep breath because this first jolt might be especially painful."

The kitten obeyed then closed his eyes. Tygra turned it on.

The pain was agonizing. It felt as if someone was jabbing dozens of swords into WilyKat's heart. His skin felt like it was sizzling. He found himself screaming without realizing it. The darkness in front of his eyes turned blood red. He could not believe Tygra was doing this to him!

"Hurry, you blasted thing!" Tygra shouted at the machine. He didn't know how much longer he could stand seeing that child in so much pain! Finally, the readings came up. Without stopping to read them, he pressed save and switched the machine off.

The child opened his eyes. Thank the Lords! It was over. Tygra walked over to him and removed the straps from around him. He picked him up without asking if he could walk. He'd been through too much. Tygra carried him out and into his room to rest.

"Quite a set of lungs, you got there!" Tygra joked as he set the child down on his bed. The kitten sighed and collapsed onto the bed as if he couldn't sit up anymore. The tiger sat on the edge of his bed and pulled him back up. Pulling him close, the stripped Thundercat massaged the kitten's shoulders a little. Then he put his hands to his temples and began to massage them. It worked. The child turned and fell asleep. Sighing Tygra left for his room. One more time.

"Okay WilyKit," Tygra said opening his door. She looked up from his bed. He motioned with his hand. She gulped and followed. He knew it! She'd heard her brother screaming. Now she was more afraid.

"Take a seat on my table Kit." Tygra ordered. Kit obeyed. Tygra printed out a copy of WilyKat's readings and put them in a box to read later. He needed to be even more understanding with Kit. For a female, stripping naked was necessary for this. Kit didn't know this.

"Okay Kit," Tygra said as he kneeled to her level. "I know this is embarrassing sweetie but for this, I need you take off your clothes."

Kit was shocked but mostly because Tygra had never called her sweetie. Her father had but that was the first time he had.

Reluctantly, Kit began to remove her outer garments. She removed her stockings, skirt and then very slowly removed her leotard. Now blushing she took off her girdling. Tygra pushed her onto the cool tabletop gently and as with her brother strapped her down.

Kit flushed bright red. Tygra wiped her chest with alcohol and began to put the wires on. For a female they couldn't go just anywhere like with a male. Tygra put one under her neck, one on each side of her navel and one on each of her nipples. Then he had to insert one on her thighs and knees.

"Okay, Kit. Here we go."

Kit closed her eyes as her twin had. Tygra switched on the machine.

Kit howled in pain. Her heart was burning. Her legs were on fire! Hammers were slamming deep into her stomach. Worst of all were her feminine glands. Her breasts felt like they were expanding and would explode any second!

Then, all of a sudden the pain ceased. It had only taken two minutes but to WilyKit it had felt like two days.

"Okay Kit," Tygra said as he unfastened her and picked her up. "It's all over now." The tiger slipped a simple shift onto her and carried her to her room. By the time her reached her door, she was out like a light.

"Tygra! What in Thundera were you thinking?!" Cheetara shouted her lungs out at him. He started to answer but she wasn't done with her screeching yet.

"By Jaga! They ARE ONLY TWELVE YEARS OLD!!"

"I know Cheetara but-"

The door opened then. Lion-o and Pantro rushed in.

"Hey! What's all the yelling about?" Pantro demanded as he pulled the two from each other's throats. Cheetara glared at Tygra. She spat out her next sentence as if the words tasted bad.

"TYGRA THEY ARE TWELVE YEARS, ONE MONTH, TWO WEEKS, TWO DAYS, FIVE HOURS, TEN MINUTES AND FIFTY SECONDS YEARS OLD AND YOU PUT THEM THROUGH A SCALOFF EXAMINATION!?"

Pantro whirled around at Tygra and grabbed him hard. Bubbling with rage, he pushed him against the wall. "YOU DID WHAT?"

"There was no other choice Pantro. And your 'precious' kittens are fine."

The panther flushed as he did whenever someone confessed he had a fatherly love toward the twins. Tygra loved them dearly too. Tygra loves them too Pantro, he berated himself as he slowly let Tygra go. He would never put them through that much pain if it wasn't a necessity. Relax. Deep breaths.

"I'm sorry, Tygra." Pantro said as he let go and back up a tad. "I guess I just got a little tense is all."

"How are the kittens now, Tygra?" Lion-o asked approaching his friend. He hid a smile as he watched the architect massage his neck a little before answering. Tygra smiled and laughed.

"Anymore asleep and they'd be in a coma."

"Well, they certainly have a reason for it." Cheetara snapped. They looked at her. She rolled her eyes, tossed her bright yellow mane over her shoulder, and left the room.

It was about dinnertime by the time the kittens gathered the strength to wake up and redress. As they bounded downstairs, they spotted the others outside. Running, feeling like their strength was restored, they met up with Cheetara, Tygra and Lion-o outside. Pantro and Snarf were inside.

"Ho, Thunderkittens!" Cheetara called waving. The other adults turned and saw the two twins rushing toward them. Tygra grabbed them around their ribcages and swung them up into the air. He seemed to let out his joyful feelings now that they were out here.

"What was that for?" Kat asked as the tiger put them down. A serious expression fixed upon Tygra's face. He drew the children close and looked at them solemnly. Then he looked at his lord.

"Lion-o, we need a council meeting now. I was waiting for the twins to wake up. I have something to tell everyone. It's very important."

The Lord of the Thundercats nodded and headed inside. Kit and Kat looked at one another. Something was up. Something was definitely up.

"Alright, Lion-o what's this all about?" Bengali asked.

"Snarfer, snarfer, is everything okay dokey?"

"Did something happen?"

"The Lunatacks aren't being troublesome again are they?"

"Did something go wrong, snaarf?"

"Whatever it is, Kat was my bad influence!" Kit said just to ease the tension. It worked. Everyone including her brother cracked up. As the last giggles died down, Tygra rose and Lion-o spoke.

"Well, Tygra has some news for us. Tygra?"

"Alright. Thunderkittens, I went over the results I got from that painful experience you had."

Kit groaned and leaned against her brother. They sensed some boring scientific talk coming. Their fears were justified.

"As we all know and you two should know a normal mammal has a four chamber heart. The sorcerers on Thundera were different though no one knew quite why. Their hearts had a chamber between a chamber."

"Say that again?" Pumyra said leaning forward.

"I mean it, Pumyra. They had a five chambered heart. The fifth chamber was in the middle. It held their emotions and the core of their power. When they first began to train, it was sealed off. Like when a kitten is first born, like…like when we, Myself, Snarf, Pantro, and Cheetara saw the twins the first time, their eyes had opened already, early. When a kitten's first born their eyes are sealed. That's how a sorcerer's fifth chamber is at first. As they train it slowly opens, like a child's eyes. Then they can use the fullness of their power."

"So, what's this have to do with us?" The twins asked in unison. Tygra motioned for them to come nearer. They did and he pulled two pictures from his folder he had under an arm and a third from his sack. He put the third on the tabletop. He pointed at it.

"That's a normal heart." He explained. "See the separate chambers?"

When the twins nodded he put the other two on the table. He pointed to the four chambers again. Then he pointed to a fifth inside the lower chambers.

"That's a fifth chamber. That's proof of sorcery. It's sealed but like anything it will gradually become unlocked as the creature enters puberty." The Thundercats all nodded their understanding. Tygra continued. "But these particular creatures didn't have enough training so at one point the chamber will literally rip itself open, causing severe chest pain that could last up to forty-eight hours."

"Ouch," Kat committed. Tygra nodded.

"Again Tygra," Pantro asked cautiously with an evil and impatient look, "What does this have to do with us? Thunderian sorcery died off."

"Not quite Pantro," Tygra said solemnly. Everyone looked at the architect. He turned to the twins. "Thunderkittens, these are your hearts."

Kit and Kat rocked back like he'd hit them. Kit clutched at the table with her claws to keep upright. Tygra got up from his seat and walked over to where the twins were. Slowly, like the kind person he was, he helped them.

"I…I" Kit stammered. "I think I'm gonna pass out."

"Put your head between your legs." Pumyra instructed her and got up to help Tygra. Tygra took WilyKat gently and helped him sit down. Pumyra held WilyKit steady until she could stand on her own again. Pumyra's instructions had helped but she still felt pretty dazed and with good reason.

"Feel better?" Pumyra asked kindly and with a motherly gesture. Kit fought down tears. Pumyra saw them in her eyes. "Kit! Don't cry. What's wrong?"

"I…nothing. It's just…." She looked directly into Pumyra's dark brown eyes. They were different than the color of who she was thinking of but the caring shimmer was there. "You reminded me of my mother."

"Your mother?"

Kit looked at Lion-o. Her brother spoke up. "You didn't tell them?"

"Tell us what?" Pantro demanded, getting up. Pumyra looked at Kit again. She took a deep breath. Then she spoke, slowly.

"Yes, Pumyra. I know my mother now. Kitra, the sorceress, The mighty Kitra is my Mama."

Pantro stared at them. Kit looked right back at him. He took a deep breath. When he spoke he was in a low voice but with that challenging tone he had.

"WilyKit, WilyKat, no…" he stammered. His voice turned deep and serious. He remembered ancient legends about Kitra's kin or friends. He remembered that some mentioned sorcerers greater than Kitra herself called Kita and Katen. They had looks as well as power. Still, that wasn't important right now.

The kittens stared at him and swallowed.

"Why in the name of Jaga didn't you tell us?"

"Well…" Kat started.

"We…" Kit stammered.

"IF WE HAD KNOWN WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRAW YOUR POWERS OUT!"

Kit and Kat clutched Tygra and Pumyra tightly in fear. The adults pulled them close. Tygra pushed his hand into the male child's fine mane and Pumyra pulled the feminine twin so her face was buried into her waist.

"Pantro!" Cheetara cut in. "It's no reason to shout!"

The panther sat back down. Kit looked at him with wounded eyes. The male cringed at her hurt look and felt shame well up inside his heart. He sighed. The kittens looked at one another and nodded. They parted from the adults and left. They walked out without any explanation except WilyKat who said, "We're not dumb. We can take a hint."

Pantro started after them. Lion-o grabbed his arm. Bengali stood up and shook his head. Snarf shook his own and said, "No, snarf, snarf. Leave them be for now. They just found out that they might have more power than the SWORD OF OMENS they need a break. They might not have her full power but any is pretty darn important!"

Pantro nodded. He turned to Cheetara. "You were right, Cheetara. I shouldn't have lost it."

"I could have told you that, snarfer, snarfer," Snarf's nephew said rolling his eyes. Pantro looked at him, hard. The young snarf put up his hands.

"Never mind. Sheesh!"

* * * * *

Meanwhile, Celeano was thinking. Those miserable Mutants have done nothing. I should just destroy them, no a few more chances maybe a…no only a few more chances but not many. If the kittens find the power in them, I will have to take them on directly. And if I know that Kitra even dead she'll help them anyway she is able. If they discover the kind of power they have in them, using only half that power they can easily destroy this universe a million times over!

What about time? Kitra could stop time. Does this mean her little kittens can too? She learned how to age and deage herself. The blasted noblewoman had more power than anyone could image. Her husband was immortal. Until my father killed him that is. The children, I saw them when I killed Kitra after she was helped to escape from prison by Jaga. Did they see me? Do they remember? Do they?

"Kat stop it!" Kit said with a small giggle. I laughed. She was just ticked. I knew better sorcery than she did. Okay, okay not more. Equal. I raised my hands again. The clouds came at my very summon. Kit joined in. The clouds thundered and lightning plummeted. Trees moved at my wave. Mommy had left. We didn't know why.

"AHHH!" WilyKat screamed and woke up. He sat right up and put a hand to his chest. It was soaked with sweat. He looked around. He was baffled. This wasn't Thundera. Where was he? His mother was gone. Father gone. Now what did he do?

Kat got to his feet and wandered out of the chamber to get a drink of water. He was confused. The sudden voices made him jump almost out of his skin.

"WilyKat!" Pantro shouted suddenly. The child jumped and whirled around. He was sweaty, cold sweat. Pantro could see that. He was also very jumpy. Cheetara walked up behind him.

"Kitten," she said in a sweet and motherly voice, "What are you doing up? It's after midnight!"

"Who are you?" Kat demanded in a trembling voice. He was scared. He could feel the surge of adrenaline in his blood.

Pantro and Cheetara rocked back as if the child had slugged them with a hammer. The cheetah crept closer to the child, cautiously. The female looked somewhat like a hunter approaching a dead animal he'd shot and was not sure it was fully dead.

"WilyKat," Pantro said in a soft voice he used very rarely, "It's us. I'm Pantro and that's Cheetara. Don't you recognize us?"

"I…I do but I don't know." He stammered. The spotted Thundercat walked over to him and drew him closer to her chest. He laid his head between her breasts and she stroked his hair.

"WilyKat are you alright?"

"Yeah,"

"Do you know us now?"

"Yeah,"

"Come here, Kid." Pantro said motioning with his hand. He took the male child under his arm and slowly guided him back into his room. As the panther seated him down on his bed again, he noted Cheetara tending to the female twin who'd woken up as well.

"WilyKat," Pantro asked again as he pushed the hair that was in the child's face away, "Are you sure you're alright? I mean, you look a little pale."

"I…I'm fine, Pantro." Kat said slowly trying to forget the horrific scene.

"Ya sure?"

"I'm fine."

"Well alright, you change your mind…I…"

He stopped. Kit screamed. Her 'sixth sense' was acting up again for the first time in weeks. Cheetara held her close. It passed the fastest of them all but her reaction was the killer.

"Oh Cheetara!" Kit wailed clutching the adult tightly. "I saw! I saw it all! The power of this creature! The full force of her evil! She wants to destroy innocence! Oh, it was…oh CHEETARA!"

"Shh! Kit, shhh!" the cheetah, said as she gathered the sobbing kitten into her arms. "Was it really her Kit? Celeano?"

"Yes! Oh By Jaga! It was! It was! Those awful spells and those cold eyes. She wants to destroy the beings of innocence!"

"The what?" Pantro demanded as he pushed the male child back under his sheets. Kit looked at her twin for help. He looked at Pantro.

"I know what she's talking about Pantro." He said sleepily. The adult turned to look at him. The child felt his face flush a deep, deep red. He got up so he could look at Pantro in the face.

"But it's so weird." Kat continued, pushing his hands through his short mane. "I mean I remember what she's talking about but I don't remember-"

"-How I remember." Kit finished, swallowing a yawn. The adults looked at one another. They took on a concerned expression that they tried to hide from the twins without success.

"Well uh," Cheetara stammered. She ran a hand through her yellow hair. " We'll tell Lion-o but don't worry kittens. It's probably nothing. Now go to sleep."

"But, Cheetara," Kit started to say. Pantro cut her off.

"No, Kit. Both of you get to sleep, right now. You learned a lot today. It's playing with your heads."

"NO PANTRO!"

Kit yelled so shrilly that it got the panther's full attention. "I'M SICK OF THIS! I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT! SO I DO NOT CARE WHAT YOU ARE DOING TOMMORROW, I SAY WE NEED TO TALK!"

The adults merely nodded and got to their feet. Without another word, they left the kittens alone in the darkness. Kit turned to face her brother.

"WilyKat's what's wrong with me?" she asked him, softly. "It's like something's cuttin' loose inside me. You don't think my power still exists do you? Or yours?"

"No way sis," he responded. "Why would it? And if we even have some, how come it never came out? I can think of a couple times where some magic would've been pretty darn helpful."

"Yeah but this is weird." She countered. "I mean, it's like…like…"

"-You get a lotta deja- vu?"

"Sort of. But it's more intense. It's so scary, Kat."

"Why?"

"It's like I can see things before they happen. Like I can see them hours before. I feel like I'm seeing the future…"

* * *

"All right, Thunderkittens," Lion-o said roughly but kindly. "What's going on?"

The two twins looked around. Lynx-o and Bengali and Pumyra were watching from the Tower but Snarfer had come. Snarf was sitting on the windowsill. The rest were sitting at their designated seats but for the first time it was the children talking.

"Okay," Kit said, swallowing hard. Her palms were sweaty and her throat dry. It was times like this she was really glad she had a double.

"We have absolutely no idea how we remembered this but-"

"-We did" Kat cut in. "When we were little, I mean really little, our mother told us that innocence was carried in special blood. It was in some special Thunderians and if they died without producing offspring, then innocence would die off next. Then evil would take over. See?"

He pointed to the sun. Kit picked up.

"As long as the sun rises without clouds blocking it, you know that innocence is still alive. And this Celeano wants to destroy it. She feeds off of the source of evil."

"The source?" Lion-o asked. The conversation with Snowman came back to him but he didn't say anything. The kittens nodded in unison. Kit finished with the single word.

"Guilt."

Tygra broke in, "How can we know that she has the power to even do it? She might just be a big coward. For all we know she could have never killed in her life. I know that’s very unlikely considering the stories we’ve been told but still…we can hope right?"

Kat snorted. "That a load of B. S."

They turned to look at him. Kat scarcely even used the abbreviations for cuss words so when they heard him say that, they were all ears.

Kat sighed. He sat down on the windowsill as if all the strength in him had zipped away. Kit nodded and sat down beside him. He sighed again.

"I know she will kill. I know."

Pantro asked in a deep voice, "How?"

"Now I have a story to tell you guys."

"Oh goody," Snarfer said sarcastically. "Does this one have a 'once upon a time' and a 'happily ever after'?"

"Hardly Snarfer. Try the opposite," Kit said, surprising herself when her voice choked. Everyone listened. Kit nodded at Kat again. He spoke.

"Okay, when we were young, Mom used to teach us little spells. Just simple things. Again I have no clue how I remembered this so don’t ask me. The memories are just sort of popping out of my head, bit by bit.. Anyhow, someone accused her of witchcraft I think and someone had her arrested. I think Jaga freed her. Celeano followed her. Kit and me were playing outside when she came running up. She scooped us up and ran into the rocky canyons. Celeano pursued us. Then, a blast knocked us to the ground. Then the land…the landslide, she…"

Kat stopped and Kit helped him as the tears came. She picked up, voice choking.

"The rocks separated us. Kat got a concussion and I broke my leg. But…but Mama never made it out. I went back for her. I dug her out but she was already dead. Her eyes were staring back at me, but not seeing anything. They were cold, empty, dead. Kat came over and held me."

"Then I saw her." Kat finished. "Up until now I forgot all but the woman I saw. I never knew who she was. But I never forgot her. All I remember is she was up there throwing her fists to heaven, laughing. With that coal black hair, ember dark eyes and that icy cold voice."

Kit's hands flew up to her mouth. She trembled in fear. Her brother’s description made her remember seeing her as well. But more recently, in the woods, she saw a flash of black hair as she ran past, no doubt causing more corruption. But what did she want here? If she wanted the Innocence Carriers they were easy to recognize. They always had a… She gasped. The most shocking news she ever heard or remembered just came back to her. A very important thing. Her throat choked.

"One more thing," she said slowly. "Mommy, er, Mother," she corrected herself, blushing. "Always said that you could always tell the Innocence Carriers by their birthmarks. They had one in the shape of a dove on the left temple. It was a symbol to all that these children or people had more power in them than all the rest of the universe combined, a thousand times over."

Tygra shrugged. "So? What are you saying?"

Snarfer spoke up, 'Yeah, what are you two getting' at?"

The twins looked at one another and slowly, reluctantly nodded. Kat had realized what his sister had. As she hoped he would. Sliding closer they said plainly, "Look," As the adults looked the kittens pulled aside their hair on their left side revealing their birthmarks.

In the shape of a small red dove…

The twins sat on their beds, swinging their legs. Lion-o had told them to go there to rest a few minutes while the adults let this sink in. It had been a little over an hour. Kit had been reluctant but a shake of her brother's head convinced her. So, she was sitting there now her head put on her twin's shoulder. He sighed but put a hand around her shoulders and gave them a brief squeeze. Kit had not intended on saying anything about their birthmarks and she wasn't even sure that it was accurate. It had just popped into her head. Still every thing else that had popped into her head had been real. She sighed again.

"Oh, Kat," she groaned and put her forehead into her palm. He put a hand on her shoulder again. She nuzzled into her brother's side. He nuzzled her back and then she purred slightly.

"What sis?" he asked her softly. She sighed. With another sigh she put her left temple, bearing her birthright, against her brother's chest. He put a hand in her hair and touched the mark on her skin, gently. Then almost afraid he drifted his fingers up and brushed his own mark. It felt oddly warm, but not hot. Also it was slightly rougher than the rest of his fur and skin. It showed that more power lived in him than anyone could even imagine. But it felt ugly. He clamped his hand over it.

"I feel weird. Like…like not sinned but a little guilty."

"Why?"

"I…I don't know."

Kat smiled and hugged his twin slowly. She clutched her twin slowly back. They just sat there until the door summons rung.

"Come in," Kit answered and smoothed her mane back behind her ears. Her brother smoothed the loose hairs from his face but didn't take his hand from the mark on his temple. The door silently slid open and they were facing Lion-o.

Lion-o walked in, his expression one of shock. He sat on the edge of Kit's bed and kept staring ahead like a dreamer. His eyes were glazed and empty. Kit moved over toward him. She swallowed and then ran her hand down in front of her leader's face.

"Third Earth to Lion-o," he brother laughed as he slapped Lion-o cheek softly. "Do you read us?"

Their Lord snapped out of his trance. "Oh WilyKit, Kat. Sorry. How are you two doing?"

They shrugged. Lion-o sighed. "I was hoping for something a little more than that." He was obviously stressed.

Kit shrugged. Then suddenly she felt a surge of anger. Leaping to her feet, she turned around and glared at Lion-o for no reason at all. Then for no reason at all started to yell. And that gal could scream!

"What did you want?! Did you want us to say, oh yeah we can accept the fact that we're the only reason innocence is alive and someone 's trying to kill us?! Did you want us to say that we were fine?! That we could deal with all this crap that's been flung into her lives at the drop of a hat?! Did you?! DID YOU?!"

Lion-o and WilyKat stared at her. Her chest was heaving. Her young eyes were burning. She looked at Lion-o. He swallowed hard, the hurt that her screams had done in his eyes. It wasn’t as much hurt as it was surprise but some hurt was there. Kit sighed and put a finger to her blasted birthmark. She sat back down.

"Oh Lion-o, Kat. I'm sorry. I don't know why I…"

Lion-o smiled. "It's all right Kit. " he said putting a hand on her shoulder. "You were upset and to tell you the truth I think we all deserved it for being so insensitive to the memories you uncovered. I mean, we’ve overlooked the fact that this is your mother."

Kit shook her head. "No one deserves rudeness. No matter the reason. I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?"

"Of course,"

"Good, now what-"

"-Is going on?" Kat asked putting a hand on one of Lion-o's arms.

The lion smiled at the children and ruffled their hair. Both of them tossed his hand off and looked at him expectantly. He smiled again before he spoke.

"Well, Tygra spoke to Pantro and Pantro's not that hip on letting you go out on your own again. Tygra says he sees no reason to keep you confined to the Lair since we've not seen any action for days but Pantro's pretty reluctant to agree. He thinks that this woman will wait for us to do something like that."

"Where's he now?" Kat wanted to know.

"In the council room with Tygra and Cheetara I think. Why?"

"I wanna talk to him."

"Me too!" Kit cried getting to her feet. They rushed out. Lion-o followed them. He'd seen the mischievous glow in their eyes and was curious. Those two had something up their sleeve.

* * *

"Pantro please," Tygra begged as the panther began to leave. "Listen to reason. There's no reason to drive the kids nuts."

"I don't wanna drive the kids nuts Tygra but-"

"Believe me, I don't want you to drive the kids nuts either," a young feminine voice called out. The three adults with Cheetara furthest away turned to see WilyKit enter followed shortly by WilyKat.

"I take it, you kids heard from Lion-o." Pantro sneered. They nodded. Then, he finished. "Look kids, it's nothing personal but-"

"-But nothing’s happened for weeks! What’s being paranoid gonna do besides drive us crazy?" Kat added. Kit pouted with a scowl on her face.

"Yeah," Kit butted in. The panther sighed. He closed his eyes and slowly counted to ten. Watch the temper. He warned himself. Deep breaths. Count to ten or twenty. Whichever comes first. Easy. They're kittens. They're kittens.

"Come on Pantro," the twins begged, tugging on his arms. "Please?"

The panther sighed but shook his head. Kit let go and turned her back on him angrily. Then an idea sparked. She turned to her twin. Drawing him close, she whispered into his ear. He giggled.

"For the final time kittens before you ask me again, no. You are not to go out unaccompanied. Is that clear?"

The twins nodded at one another. They ran up until they stood directly in front of Pantro. They both grabbed one of his wrists.

"Pantro please??" They pleaded. "We aren’t unaccompanied. There are two of us. Please?" As they said please they softened their eyes and stuck out their lower lips making them tremble slightly. Pantro cringed and pointed.

"Not the lip. Not the lip." As if on cue, Kat and Kit softened their eyes more and stuck out their lips further. "Okay, okay, you can go out, just not today. Now go eat dinner."

The kittens beamed. Running by Cheetara and Tygra they yelled back, "Thanks,"

Cheetara smiled and looked at Pantro. "I thought you said nothing could change your mind."

Tygra grinned. "Did you change your mind about changing your mind out of the blue?"

Pantro couldn't help it. He had to smile. "It's the lip. I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for that puppy-dog face."

* * *

"Kit?" Kat asked his sister as they walked through the woods two days later. She jerked her head up as if he'd severely surprised her even though he was standing right next to her.

"Yeah?"

"What's wrong? You seem really out of it!"

"Oh…that," She rubbed her neck. "I don't know. I wish I did."

"Me too.. I just…." Kat trailed off. His eyes expanded until Kit thought they'd pop right out of his head. She put her hands on his chest. He didn't make so little as a gesture in acknowledgement.

"WilyKat! Lords of Thundera, Kat answer me!" she crowed, her face a mask of utter concern. Her brother kept his fixed glance as if Kit wasn't even there.

"Kat what…" Kit trailed off as her twin had. She realized then that Kat had the same gift she had. Her eyes glowed again. She saw the ambush. She saw the gun lifted. Behind her brother's head. The finger on the trigger. The man. And the dark servant will to do whatever he was commanded look in the dark eyes.

"Kat LOOK OUT!" She screeched and knocked her twin to the ground. Looking up as he brother shook his head to clear his thoughts the child froze. Coming from the darkness of the shadows came a figure she'd never seen before. That no one had seen. He was human.

It was clearly male and had a small but definitely not fragile frame. He was not especially tall being shorter than Tygra but he was tall enough to tower over her like some kind of demon. She pulled her brother up.

"Kit, what?" he stopped for now he too saw the man. He stepped closer to the twins. They clutched one another. Kat shoved Kit away. He glared at her and gestured for her to go.

"Run sis! Forget me! Go darn it!"

Kit was in a shock. She ran. Her twin was protecting her. She knew he was. She also knew she shouldn’t leave him. But she was scared and she panicked. She heard his cries as she left. Her feet flew over the dirt. She didn't know where she could go. Her heart was pounding. She was endlessly praying to Jaga to protect her brother. Something kept telling her, "Go back, go back!" Then, she decided. She would run no longer. Turning she ran back to where she'd come from.

"KAT! NO!" Kit shrieked as she came through the bushes. The dark man stood over her brother, holding a gleaming cleaver. It was stained with blood. She knocked into him, tearing to her twin. He scrambled after the knife. Her brother was lying on his side. He kept saying this simple loyal heartbreaking statement.

"Just leave Kit alone. Leave my sister be."

"NO!" Kit darted forward and dropped to the ground beside her twin. He looked up at her with empty pain-ridden features. Kit pulled his face up and smoothed his hair ever so gently. Like a mother, she smoothed his face before the anger overtook her. By Thundera, she’d never been so mad in her life!

"YOU!" she hissed, lying her injured twin down. He groaned and she heard that one lung was collapsed. That just made her angrier. She faced the man with a dark and furious face. Stepping forward, she felt more rage bubble up within her than she knew she was capable of feeling. He was nervous but had managed to retrieve the blade. As he began to aim for her and run to end her life, she swore she saw regret. But she was far too angry to care about it. He ran toward her shrieking, "You're next cub!"

Kit closed her eyes. When she opened them, a small dove was present in the pupils. The man stalled, hesitated. His mistress’s worries came back to him, clear as a bell. He backed up more. The whites of Kit’s eyes burned a deep red. He stepped back some more as she stepped toward him. Kit held her hands out, showing her claws. Then, in a voice that seemed to vibrate through the whole universe she squawked, "Leave my brother alone!"

With those four ear-piercing words, she pushed her palms out, hard. Why? She didn’t know. Then it happened. From the centers of her hands, beams of power shot out and knocked the man into and through a rock. He got up, dazed but alive. Then, the shards of stone flew to the air and began to attack him. Ants on the ground crawled over his form and began tearing away at flesh. Howling in panic and pain, the man fled. Kit fired another beam of magic at him as he retreated. It struck his back. He went down. A flash of magic surrounded him and as Kit willed the man shrank. Fur replaced skin. Whiskers grew. Soon, a bunny sat where a man had been. Still in a panic, he hopped away, still shimmering with the magic from the kitten’s fingers.

Pure Thunderian magic…

"K..Kit?" Kat asked from his position on the ground. Fighting his pain, he got up to his elbows to see better. He didn't know much about history but he knew Thunderian magic when he saw it. That had been magic that shot from his twin's fingers. The female twin trembled in her stance. Soon she sank to the ground, clutching her chest, over the heart.

"KIT!" Kat cried and he fought the pain vibrating through his side to crawl over to the kitten's side. She slumped. Her brother caught her in his arms. She was breathing hard. Her skin was clammy, hot. More surprising, she was glowing!

"WilyKit?" he asked cautiously. Her face was white, pure white and crystal clear. Her mane was flying in all directions and was as red as a rose and black as a black hole. Her eyelashes were longer and curled as black as coal. The lips of her face were full and blood red. Speaking of blood…

Kat moaned and clutched his side. He felt woozy. His world was spinning. He wanted help. He needed help. More than that, he'd just seen his sister use Thunderian Sorcery! He couldn't keep quiet about that for long! She was unconscious from the effort he guessed and the pain in his left side was almost enough to take him there.

He stared down at her, lost in shock and pain. She kept her hand to her heart and WilyKat fought the urge of screaming panic when he saw blood seeping through her fingers. The glow around her gradually faded as did the added beauty. She stared up at her brother.

"WilyKat?" she gasped. "Did I…?"

He nodded. The two kittens sat there clutching at each other desperately when sleep and pain overcame their consciousness.

"Augg," a fierce agonizing headache ceased the feminine child's consciousness. Her eyes fluttered. The kitten's vision swam for a few seconds, then she recognized Tygra wiping her head with a damp cloth.

Moaning again, she put a hand to her head and massaged the bridge of her nose as if the ancient beast of squabble was pounding through her mind. Tygra helped her sit up and wiped her brow free of dirt and sweat again.

"WilyKit?" he asked, kindly. "Are you alright?"

The female shook her head several times trying to clear her thoughts. Finally, she answered.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"What on Third Earth happened?" a new voice asked. It sounded like Pantro. Kit felt a large dark shape close in on her. In her mind she saw the deadly Pantro looming above her.

"Hi Pantro," she said without turning around.

"Hello WilyKit." He responded and slowly sat down by her. She looked at him with glazed eyes, flushed cheeks, and a sweaty brow.

"What happened?" she repeated. He nodded firmly. She winced. Then, she swallowed. Then, she winced again. Then she swallowed again.

"Uh, well, nothing much. Ya know the usual."

"You were attacked," he said simply.

"You know it," she responded slowly and massaged her brow again. Pantro leapt to his feet. The panther blew up in a single fit of anger. He knew he shouldn't have let them go out alone! He knew it!

"I KNEW IT! I KNEW YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE OUT! I KNEW IT! I TOLD YOU THAT YOU SHOULD STAY HOME! BUT NO YOU HAD TO GO OUT DIDN'T YOU? DIDN'T YOU?!"

Kit clamped her hands over her ears and whimpered. Tygra sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her. He looked at the panther fiercely. The adults stood facing each other off.

"Pantro!" Tygra shrieked. "Enough! The poor child didn't know she was going to be attacked! Lay off her!"

"How do you know that? She does have the sixth sense of hers! She must have known!"

"NO!" Kit screeched suddenly. "NO! I can't see everything! I only saw right before we were attacked and that was just to keep us alive!" Kit was crying now. "I didn't know! By Jaga, I didn't know! I didn't know!"

Tygra looked up at Pantro with a fierce frown on his face. The panther spat but didn't say anything else. Kit looked around. She didn't see her sibling. A panic that burned like fire under her skin and fur built up inside her, claiming her consciousness.

"Tygra?" she asked softly as the architect lifted her shirt up to examine her chest. He took a cotton ball soaked in alcohol and swapped the blood away from in-between her small girl breasts, just over her heart. the wound was deep but thankfully not life threatening. Wrapping a sympathy bandage around her breasts, he turned to the kitten.

"Yes, WilyKit?"

"Where...where's my brother?"

Tygra paused. He didn't want to tell her this. But she had tears in her eyes. He knew that he would have to tell her. By the Lords, no matter how much he didn't want to, he had to tell her.

"Kit...he's hurt. Hurt very badly. The blade punctured his lung and scrapped his heart. Pumyra's doing all she can but... we're beginning to prepare for the worst. We have to accept that he might...your brother might...die."

Kit felt her heart stop. Her throat tightened. Tears welled up in her eyes. She closed her eyelids slowly. As soon as she did, the space of blackness she saw began to spin. Her eyes flew back open. Tears spilled down her cheeks. her vision blurred. Tygra became a mess of white, orange, and black. Pantro became a blue blur. She squeezed her eyes shut until particles of red burst inside of her eyes. Opening her eyes, blood was present in the pupils and irises.

"Pantro!" Tygra shouted suddenly. he pulled WilyKit close to him. "Go into my lab. You'll find some eyedrops in a blue bottle on the counter. They say, "Magnifeed. Bring it to me. Quickly!"

The panther normally resented being ordered about but saw the blood, as well as the blood leaking through her chest. He hurried to grab the bottle. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he rushed through the Lair's corridors.

Tygra, meanwhile, pulled the child closer to him as he sat down beside her. Her eyes were leaking and watering. Flesh turned clammy under the tiger's fingers. A sweat broke out on her forehead. As fast as the fever had left her, it returned, higher than before. Tygra was fighting a panic. kit was slipping in and out of consciousness but he didn't know why.

Tygra was close to tears. Kit felt limp as a rag doll in his arms. He felt her fever rise in minutes. By a fatherly instinct, he began to strip Kit's outer clothes off until she had only her underwear on. he wiped some of the blood from her chest and realized it was from the same wound. He ripped the bandage off and examined the wound closer. It wasn't gushing blood, which was good, but it was bleeding of medium speed. He took a cloth and applied pressure to the gash in hopes to slow the bleeding. He had a feeling that the child's emotions had a say in this somehow.

"Here Tygra," the panther said rushing into the room, and thrusting a bottle into his hand. Tygra double-checked the bottle and then put Kit's dead weight against his elbow so she had her head up a little. prying the lid off with his teeth, he pulled one of the kitten's eyelids up with his thumb. Depositing three drops into first one eye then the other, her eyes shut automatically.

"Washcloth Pantro," Tygra ordered sternly, opening his palm. The panther put a damp washcloth into his hand and the tiger immediately began to press it in dabs against her beaded forehead and gestured to Pantro to help.

Pantro took another washcloth and softly began to swab her lower abdomen with it. He soaked the cloth in a pool of alcohol and wiped it in gentle swipes over her slender belly. Tygra moved from her forehead to her arms as Pantro began washing her upper thighs and legs.

"Here Pantro," Tygra said as he slowly deposited the kitten into Pantro's mighty arms. "Pumyra called. She needs help. She...she thinks we're losing Kat." Pantro nodded firmly, choking on tears. He watched Tygra flee the room before continuing with Kit.

Her eyes remained closed.

The panther retook the washcloth and began to swap her chest with it. He was gentle for a female could be very fiery when it came to her chest. He was sensitive and soft as he wiped the stains of blood from the small swell that was her breasts.

He felt a mild heat and immediately knew her temperature had risen again. With nothing else to do, he took the last bit of her clothing off, leaving her naked as a blue jay.

She seemed to stop sweating and bleeding so the Thundercat merely cradled her. he scooped her up in his arms and held her like a newborn cub. She quivered and very slowly her eyes fluttered. Pantro smiled down at her as she opened her eyes.

Her eyes spread wide and she took everything in. Dizzy, she sat up. Pantro handed her a robe . fast as she could, the child wrapped it around her body. As soon as she did the tiger reentered the room. His face was blank. Kit found herself on a panic.

"Tygra?" she asked softly. "My brother...is he?"

"Almost Kit. He's on a respirator. But we don't think it'll work."

"No," she muttered. Putting a hand to her forehead she muttered the same word over and over again, "No, no."

Kit stayed in her room the rest of the day, and on through the week. She felt awful. If only she hadn't left him.

Her brother was dying. He was dying slowly, an inch at a time. Every minute that went by, more of his systems shut down. If only the blade had missed his heart. Pumyra said it herself. If the blade had just hit a lung, he would make it. Now it was official. She announced it.

She was helpless. Nothing she did would help. Kat was dying. She could do nothing. WilyKat, Kit's only family, was going to die at twelve years.

Kit had retreated to her room. that's where she was now. She just looked around. If only she'd stopped it before it happened. If only...

Kit got to her feet. She stepped over to the window. The winds blew past her. The cool night air ruffled her hair. she fought the tears. Then, as suddenly as before, a surge of anger rippled through her. Then, a new sensation. Power. Pure magic. She closed her eyes. Then, she said in an echoing voice,

"I've been with WilyKat since we were born. And I will NOT BE SEPARATED NOW!"

A huge flash erupted from around her. Her body began to glow. It turned transparent. Then, she vanished. Out of the room, out the Lair and out of her time...

The child floated in space for a time. She was shocked by what she saw. Images were flying by her. She was shocked to see images of her life, then Tygra as a young cub, then Lion-o in his suspension capsule. Pantro when he first encountered training and how clumsy he was! Cheetara out on her morning run, fast as the wind. Then, tears filled the child’s eyes. She saw her mother. As a THUNDERCAT! No, too young. She gasped. This was her mother as a Thunderkitten. She could have been her own identical twin!

Then, a new image. She fell into it! Shaking her head, she tried to push herself up. She slowly opened her eyes, trying to tell herself that she was dreaming and would soon wake up. But no. Glancing down, she saw through her own skin! It was as if, she were made of glass!

She forced herself to calm down. Think Kit, she told herself don’t panic!

It wasn’t easy. Gradually as she sat, panting and shaking, her skin turned solid again. Taking a few deep breaths, she got to her feet and began to analyze the situation as Tygra had always told her to do. But as she glanced around, she swore something was wrong.

The Lair was there but then she quickly realized why something was eerie about the landscape. From the Lair came the kittens. The kittens. As in plural. She was looking at herself.

No she suddenly realized. Not yourself Kit. Your past self. You must be in the past. But that’s physically impossible! Unless, she shuddered. Kit it’s obvious. Your Kitra’s daughter. You’re of the ‘mighty’ Kitra’s blood. You must have gone through time!

She walked slowly, trembling. She really didn’t know why she had come here. It had just happened. Then, when she’d heard that her sibling was dying, it was as if something buried deep inside of her had suddenly snapped.

Shaking off that feeling, she stepped forward again. The ground didn’t even feel wet under her feet. It was almost like she wasn’t even there yet although no one noted her presence she could still touch and feel.

The winds whipped around her and she shuddered from the sudden cold. There was also a sudden surge of immense loneliness.

She was totally alone. He brother was dying, if not dead. The others were back at the lair in a whole other time. She was completely cut off. Not even sight beyond sight could show Lion-o where she was. They would start to die of worry.

She trembled again. Then, suddenly she remembered. When she and her brother had left the Lair like that had been when they were attacked. Now if she could stop it from happening, her twin would live!

A surge of courage built up inside of her. Darting forward, she ran. Her feet flew over the land. The scent of wet leaves and dirt reached her nose and she breathed them in deeply. Another agonizing pain erupted from within her. From her physical heart this time. She winced and put her palm to her chest. It burned.

Taking her fingertips away, she winced. Her wound had reopened. She was bleeding again. No, taking a closer look she saw that the droplets of blood were merely seeping through her thin coat of fur. She winced again and wiped it on the skirt of her uniform.

She sighed once again. She wanted her brother. Her self didn’t feel whole without her brother. She wiped tears from her eyes and looked at her fur. She gasped again. Her fur was soft and silky, like a newborn cub’s. She wiped the back of her hand on her skirt to dry the tears. But she quickly saw the droplets dried as soon as they touched her skirt.

Swallowing hard at this new power in her, she moved on.

* * *

"Pumyra?" Lion-o said slowly. She turned around from WilyKat’s bedside. Her eyes were red from crying and there were still tears running down her face. The puma shook her head slowly.

Lion-o rocked back like someone had slapped him. His stance shook. He sank to his knees, indignantly and put a hand to his face. The tears came no matter how much he wished they wouldn’t.

"I…I should te..ell W..wil..ly Kit." He stammered. The puma didn’t say anything but nodded and smoothed Kat’s mane back from his sickly face. The tears slipped out again before she burst into tears.

"WilyKit?" Lion-o said softly entering her room. She wasn’t there. The door wasn’t open when he came and the window was shut. "Kit?" he asked again. No answer. He began to lose patience but then remembered why he had come and any anger or rage vanished. "Kit, please," he called again opening her closet to see if she was hiding. "This is no time for games,"

"Lion-o?" a voice called. It was female. But an older voice. Cheetara.

"Yes, Cheetara?"

"What are you doing in here?" she asked slowly approaching him. He let the tears fall.

"To tell WilyKit something. But she’s gone. I hope to Jaga that she’s all right. I don’t want to lose her too."

"Too?"

"Y..Yes. C..c..Cheetara, WilyKat’s dead."

* * *

Kit walked along. Then suddenly she stopped. Her heart felt numb. Her mind throbbed. Suddenly, she knew. No! she wailed alone. No! He can’t die. He can’t!

Then she let a tear slid from her face. Raising her hands to heaven, she called, "Oh may the will of goodness, bring back my brother long enough for me to help! Please! In the name of INNOCENCE, TRUTH, LOVE AND JUSTICE, SAVE HIM!"

She was saying total bull so was completely shocked to hear an answer!

"Hear me, child," a gentle voice called. She clutched her arms around her and stared. The sky turned pitch dark with millions of stars. A small group glowed. The stars reformed. A small and beautiful face formed. Lips smiled at her and suddenly a wisp of wind formed into a slick and graceful hand. It touched her.

"It is I, Little One." The voice cooed. "It’s Mother. And I’ve heard you. You speak truthfully and with such love and heartbreak, my daughter. We have heard you. And henceforth, I declare this. Your brother shan’t die. It is not his time. You alone can stop this from happening my child. And you can save his life. I will delay his death until you return. But only you have the power to save him."

Kit fell to her knees muttering, "Thank you, thank you, Mother."

"My child, you have more power than I had."

Kit looked up, fast.

"It’s true, Kit. There are ancient legends of my friends who were more powerful. They were misinterpreted. It was in my daughter and son. Kit, Kita, you are the power of innocence. Your power shall come to you in time. For now, I shall go."

"Mother no!" Kit cried, lunging at the sky. It turned from night to day again. "No Kitra, No Mama. Don’t leave me alone."

"My child, you are of my blood. I shall always be with you and your brother. Now and forever."

* * *

"Guys!"

The Thundercats looked up. Pumyra rushed in.

"Guys, his heart started again!"

"IT WHAT?" they all demanded, looking up and then jumping up.

Tygra stared hard at her. "Are you sure?"

"YES! And he’s coming out of the coma!"

"Thank Jaga!"

"Yes, where’s Kit?"

The adults looked at each other. They shrugged. Then Lion-o spoke. "We don’t know. She just disappeared. I even tried the Sword. I don’t know what to do. I’ve searched everywhere today. It’s almost night. Cheetara?"

"We can pray, Lion-o." she said softly. "We can pray and hope and never stop looking."

* * *

"STOP!" Kit screeched. The man kept his crouched position but Kit wasn’t about to lose her brother again. Her hands fell on his belt. Pulling out his knife, carefully so he wouldn’t notice, she clutched the blade hard in her hands. A fierce glow surrounded it and as she saw him ready to do both of them in, a fierce anger summoned deep inside her. Suddenly, a hot liquid spilled down her hands. Looking down, she saw her anger had heated her hands enough to melt the blade into nothing.

She smiled in relief, knowing now that he would strike but hit nothing. Pulling a pellet from her pouch, she blew hard and formed a fake blade that was nothing but a mist. Something told her that was enough. She stepped away and smiled. Then, suddenly a forgotten phrase once more surfaced in her mind. It seemed to her that all spells had to rhyme. But some sounded so lame. Still, she was angry and nothing, NO ONE WAS GONNA KILL HER BROTHER ONCE AND NOT PAY FOR IT! She threw her arms around, pointed at the man.

"By the heavens, and Thundera, I ask for a plea. May this man never again see!"

As she turned from him, she heard the sounds of her past self losing it. Then the loud thump of joy. Turning around, she grinned. The small white rabbit ran into a tree, completely blind.

She raised her hands again. A fierce storm blew up but she wasn’t doing it. Her lips chanted again.

"Through space, and time, return me to my proper place! To where my brother and love dwells, I command thee through this spell, Let me be rid of this time be rid of this place! Enough of this fighting, enough of this chase. I command thee again and hear me crystal-clear; I am no longer needed here. So let me go home, let me be free. To the simple Lair surrounded by trees. Hear my verse, hear my song, take me back where I truly belong!"

A flash surrounded her and she vanished. Out of the past into the future that became her present once more. But as she appeared, more weakness slipped into her than she knew she was capable of feeling. Then, pain beyond imagining, directly in her chest, in her heart. With one hand, she collapsed backward only to fall directly into her brother’s, now fully healthy and well, open arms as he had been waiting for her, knowing where she had or more accurately when she had been, all along.

"Kit?" a soft voice startled WilyKit from her rest.

Opening her eyes, her pupils expanded. Kat was sitting by her and offering her a bowl of soup. She sat right up, ignoring the throbbing pain in her chest and head. Her twin put the bowl on the nightstand just as she flung her arms around him.

"Oh! Kat! Thank HEAVEN! YOU ARE ALIVE!"

"Well," he gasped, prying her hands off. "I will be if stop suffocating me."

Kit smiled but took her hands away. Her brother rubbed his neck as she suddenly collapsed backward, unconscious. He slapped her cheek and her eyes slitted slightly. She told her brother as the adrenaline and excitement she felt upon seeing her brother alive, faded, "Can you help me sit up?"

"Sure," he said as grabbed a few pillows. Sticking them behind her head, he offered her the soup again. This time she took it. But her hand dropped the spoon as soon as she’d picked it up. She’d never before felt so weak.

"Here Kit," he said softly, "Let me help." He didn’t tease as he normally would. She looked so exhausted he doubted she had the strength to laugh. He put the spoon against her lips and she reluctantly accepted the indignation of having to be fed.

"So Kit," he said slowly helped his sister to sit up enough to swallow some water, "Did you do some more magic or did I come back from the dead by mere chance?"

Kit grinned. She hugged her brother again. "I saw her Kat."

He cocked his head, like a hawk or eagle. "Who?"

"Our mother. I saw Kitra’s spirit. She talked to me."

"Really?"

"Yeah, and I stopped the man from hurting us by not even touching him. The blade of the knife just melted when I touched it."

Kat took on an amused expression. "Heh, heh, of course it did."

Kit looked at him firmly, serious.

"You’re serious?"

"I thought you knew."

"I knew you went through time but…dud, if you go through time, a knife’s no sweat. Wake up Kat," he realized shaking his head and pulling his sister close enough to force a pill, Tygra’d been giving her through injections the days she was unconscious, down her throat.

"Here sis," he added as she gagged from the horrid taste. Handing her a glass of water, he waited. She nearly dropped it. He pushed the edge against her lips and waited until she finished the whole glass before taking it back. Tygra told him to make sure Kit got a full glass of water with the pill if she woke up.

"Kat, I know that if that guy knew Celeano she’ll get us for this. She wants to kill us anyway."

Kat groaned. "Don’t remind me. After I woke up, it took them four days before they let me bathe without someone outside the door!"

Kit giggled at that image but mostly because she knew that the first night, Tygra probably stayed with him. She asked casually,

"Kat?"

"Yeah?"

"How long was I out, unconscious?"

"Oh, boy. A LONG time. Nearly a week!"

Kit’s mouth fell open. She remembered nothing but collapsing. Had it really been seven days? She put a hand to her face and shook it in disbelief. Her brother nodded. She sighed. Then, she asked gently, "Kat? Can I sleep some? I’m really tired. I feel really weak. Like someone drugged me with Thundrainum."

He smiled at her. Nodding, he removed some pillows so she could lie down again. She turned on her side and scrunched her knees up to her chest. Kat pushed her hair behind her ears lovingly and then turned out the light as he left.

* * *

"You FOOL!" Celeano screeched. The small bunny even blind backed up in fear. "By all means, you lost to a twelve-year-old cub?!"

She grabbed the animal by the scuff of it’s neck and held it high. It cringed and shook in fear. It’s mistress’s words fell like ice on his delicate ears. His legs shrank up to his chest. Suddenly, he started kicking. She tightened her grip.

"Do you know what happens to people who fail me?" she hissed. He shook again. Although he couldn’t see he could feel. He could feel the cold of fingers but also heat. Celeano glared at him and he swore he felt her hate.

The Sorceress pointed. From her fingertips shot balls of fire. Immediately, sticks caught flame and rose into a high blaze. The rabbit shook. Celeano tossed her dark hair heartlessly. As the servant bunny knew his time in this universe was over, he trembled.

Sure enough, Celeano continued. "I’ll tell you, Luther. They BURN!" With that, she tossed his form into the flames and watched his fur burn. It turned first red then coal-black. She listened with joy to the high-pitched shrieks that echoed forth from his choking throat. She knelt closer to see his final moments better.

His ears charred. Finally they fur melted completely away, leaving them just skin. The skin caught flame and burned a deep red. As red as the flames, as red as a lobster. Finally, the heat became too much. The former Luther would have fallen unconscious. It was not to be.

"Oh no, Luther." Celeano cooed in a dark and cold voice. "You failed me. I want to hear you scream."

Then, she cast a spell. "Blood, blood flow forth!"

The rabbit screeched as the blood vessels in his ears began to pulse and expand. Then Celeano’s laugh echoed through his mind once more. But his death was neither clean nor quick. With a hideous pain, the blood vessels in his ears expanded again. Too much. The scream was awful when they exploded. Blood gushed everywhere. Celeano smiled and took a finger of it. With a wicked laugh, she stuck the finger across her forehead smearing his life’s blood across her dark flesh.

He moaned and rolled around. The legs were next to go but by his Mistress. She took out a wicked knife. It was stained a rusty color, the color of dried blood from her other victims. Some got lucky. Their head went first. But Luther’s luck had run out. She slid the blade along his legs, smiling as the bones and muscles split and finally the limb fell to the earth. She wiped the blade on her hand and continued with her servant’s other limbs. He stared at her. She grinned. Thrusting a hand through the skin, his last scream pleased her greatly. For when she withdrew her palm, in the very center sat a still living beating heart. She smirked.

"Goodbye Luther."

As he died, his soul spoke forth in her mind, "Oh how can you be so cold?"

She threw the heart down and took out a severed limb. "Looks like fried rabbit, tonight."

"WilyKit?"

Kit stirred slightly but then decided to go back to sleep. Burying her face back in her pillow, she waved her hand. She ignored the pestering calls and pulled the covers back over her head.

"G’w aw’y" she mumbled. She waved her hand again. Someone grabbed it tightly but not too tight so not to hurt her. She woke up some more when a fierce prick injected itself into her finger.

"Hey!" she sat up and rubbed her eyes. Tygra smiled at her. She scowled and stuck her pricked finger into her mouth. Tygra smiled at her and inserted another needle into her right arm. She covered her eyes with one hand and turned her face away.

A sharp pain drew some blood from her arm. Then Tygra wiped the sore and wrapped it. He smirked at the child’s face but then thumbed her nose.

"How are you feeling, Kideo?"

"Okay, I guess. I’m just still a little tired."

"Well, get a little rest. Your brother’s fine but Pumyra wants him to come over to the Tower of Omens today."

Kit nodded. As the tiger left, she felt sleep overcome her once again. Turning on her side, she sighed. Lords of Thundera how was she gonna explain this?

* * *

"You wissshed to sssee us, Ccceleano?" Slithe hissed and approached her cautiously. She sneered and nodded. Taking the Reptilian by the arm, she walked toward the fire and gestured for the jackal and vulture to follow. They hesitated.

"Come on, you worthless masses of matter," she hissed. They hesitated again. Finally, Celeano whirled around and tugged them to her with her magic. She let them whine in pain for a time before releasing her grip on them.

"I gave the order twice. Never make me give an order more than once again or you won’t live long to hear me give it a second time. Understood?"

They nervously nodded. She drew them close around the fire. With a swirl of her hand, the fire rose higher. It reformed and became a mirror in the kitties’ Lair. They saw WilyKit asleep, then the cats discussing whether or not to ground the child for running off. They heard Tygra say, they should ask her where she was first thing in the morning before reaching any hasty decisions.

"Now, Mutants," Celeano hissed. "As you can see the child’s weak. WilyKat’s alive again. Because my servant Luther failed in his mission to destroy the twins. I want you to wait. Wait until the Thundercats are off their guard, then you attack. Destroy the twins!"

"How?" Jackalman demanded. He was still a tad wary around this dark sorceress.

Celeano threw her arms up in exasperation. "Should I give you an instruction manual?! Any way anyhow! I’m NOT PICKY! JUST KILL THEM!"

The Mutants cringed but nodded. Slithe stepped forward and stated a foolish statement.

"If you’re ssso powerful, why can you do the kkkitties in, yourssself?"

"FOOL! YOU WILL DO IT OR YOU’LL WIND UP LIKE LUTHER!"

She loved his look of disgust and fear as she lifted the rear limb of her Luther and took a bite from the tender flesh. She stripped the leg down to the bone, then threw the bone at their feet.

"That’s all that will be left of you, Slithe. That and a forgotten memory!"

* * *

"Kit," a voice called as soon as Kit got up. She combed a brush through her hair and then quickly answered the door. Pantro looked back at her. He sighed and entered her room. She swallowed and sat down on her bed. Pantro sat down beside her.

"Yeah?"

"Look kid, I’m trying not to lose it okay but WHERE IN THUNDERA were you these last few hours?! By Jaga, we were worried sick!"

Kit felt the heat flush her skin a deep red. She just knew this was gonna come up. Should she tell them about the magic she’d found in her? They might be struck-dumb but more than likely they’d lecture her for making up a story to cover her back.

"well, gee sorry. I was just…uh…that is.. I was…uh…"

"What?" he demanded, grabbing her shoulders. "You’re well again Kit don’t expect me to lighten up now! Do you have ANY IDEA how PANICKED we were?!"

Kit looked at him hard. Tears filled and threatened to spill down her face. She turned her face from him, refusing to look him in the eye. He pinched her cheeks and swung her face back around to face him.

"I’ll tell you Kitten! I was in a panic! Great lords, I didn’t even want to think of what happened to you! Lion-o couldn’t see you in the Sword. I was sure you’d died like your brother was. It’s a miracle you’re both still here! As a matter of fact, never mind where you were. You’re grounded, young lady. Confined within this room until tomorrow and then confined to the Lair for three weeks!"

Kit leapt up. "Three weeks?!"

Pantro glared at her as he headed for the door and she sat back down.

"Yes WilyKit," he scowled as he left. "Three weeks."

As soon as he left, kit picked up a small pillow and flung it to the ground. As soon as it hit it became a bird. Gasping, she quickly realized that her power mostly came out with the emotions, sadness and anger. She was P.O.ed so her magic came out.

Still she didn’t know she could do that!

She opened her window and let it out. She decided then as she watched it soar and flip in the air, that she wouldn’t tell the others. Not if she could help it. She liked having a power. It made her feel special.

"Fly little bird," she smiled, despite her anger and laid her head on her hands. "Fly be free. I wish I could do the same."

Kit laid down on her bed. It had been two weeks. Her brother chose to stay in with her most of the time. But today, he’d gone with the others to get some supplies from the Berbil village. The ‘buddy system’ rule was still in affect. More on the twins than anyone else.

Since she was still grounded, they figured she might as well take guard duty. Upon seeing and feeling Pantro’s rage earlier for trying to sneak out with her brother, she didn’t resent it. Instead she put them on automatic and decided to take a break for a while.

Putting a hand over her face, she moaned. Just once I’d like to have someone tell me that I can handle myself. That I act mature.

"Fat chance child," she mumbled to herself. Then, she took her hand off. Her voice sounded different. She got to her feet and slowly reluctantly walked to a mirror.

"GOOD GRIEF! THIS TOO?"

The girl staring back was at least sixteen. Her mane had extended and spun in ruffles down her back. She stared hard. Swallowing hard she realized that there was no way she could hide this. They would know she had power. That would mean two things. An examination by Tygra and a lecture from Pantro on keeping secrets that shouldn’t be kept.

Keeping the secret, made her feel low. Still, she didn’t want to tell but she did. Sighing, she got up and began to walk back downstairs. A good thing too because then a communicator flashed. She picked up the microphone and answered, "yeah?"

"Gee nice welcome sis," a young voice said.

Sighing she said, "Yeah what bro?"

"I’m coming home. The others said that we’ll be alone for another day but then they’ll be back. They wanted to help the Berbils with something. They wanted someone who knew what they were doing in the Lair."

Kit had to giggle. "So they sent you?"

"Hah, hah,"

"Where are you?"

"Behind you!" he answered as he flung his arms over her. She yelped in surprise but smiled. It was nice having him around. Someone who appreciated her. Or at least showed her a little respect.

Her heart had been hurting. It was like really bad heartburn only literally on her heart. She tried to ignore it but it was getting worse. So bad in fact that she had taken to only drinking in case any food made it worse.

"Kat?" she asked. He hadn’t noticed her new look. She sighed and turned to face him. He looked back at her.

"Yeah?"

"Don’t you notice anything uh different about me?"

"No, why?"

Kit looked in the reflective surface and gasped. She was twelve again. But how did that happen? Her powers were coming out without her wanting them too!

"Kit?" Kat asked carefully as she looked in shock at her reflection. He put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," she answered quickly. Then, she took her sibling’s hands in hers. "WilyKat, what’s wrong with me? I was sitting in my room then suddenly I’m sixteen. Then walking downstairs I’m twelve again. Then the pillow I threw down turns into a bird. What going on with me? I don’t want these things to happen!"

Kat swallowed hard then took his sibling’s fingers tighter in his. He smiled at her and shrugged. "Got me, Kit. Maybe it’s an omen. Ya know? Like maybe a sign that something’s gonna happen."

Kit shrugged. That was the only reason she could think of at the moment. She winced. Her heart was burning again. No, more than that. It was on fire. Deciding to rest for a minute, she turned to her brother.

"WilyKat, I need to go rest for a little bit. My heart hurts."

He looked at her weird. Mainly because lately, his heart had hurt too. He was better at hiding it so whenever the fact did come out, Pantro dismissed it saying, "Heartburn," Only Tygra looked at him with concern.

"Okay sis," he said gesturing for her to go. She got up and started for the stairs. Then a fresh stab of pain shot through the muscle. She flinched and diverted her direction. Stepping into the elevator, she leaned against the wall, her hand clamped over her heart, hard. She dug her nails into her free hand and hissed through her teeth in pain.

As the doors flew open on the second story, she stepped out and back into her room. Collapsing onto her bed, she tried to go to sleep. For a time, she succeeded and the pain disappeared. Then, suddenly it came back fast and with twice as much pain, three times as much pain.

She clamped both hands over her heart and rolled over, howling, screaming.

"AHHHH!"

Her brother heard this and leapt to his feet. Tearing out the room without even bothering to put the defenses on automatic he tore toward the stairs. Taking them two at once, something he’d never done, he ran up those stairs like the Hounds of Hell were after him.

When he finally slowed down as he came through the door, he hissed when a fierce pain ceased his own heart. Ignoring the pain, he ran through to his sister’s side. The child had her eyes squinted shut and was rolling in endless circles trying to ease the agony.

"Kit!" he screamed and fell to his knees beside her. Tears filled his eyes and his sibling rolled to look at him. Her eyes slowly slid open. She began to cry. Kat really got worried then. She didn’t cry a lot but he had never seen her cry from pain. He swallowed hard.

"KAT!" she screeched, clutching her chest. "STOP IT KAT! IT HURTS SO MUCH! STOP IT!"

Kat swallowed again. He started to call the others on his communicator but suddenly he knew what his sister was going through. He knew because he suddenly felt it himself. A piercing torment consumed his heart. A blazing heat echoed forth from it. He dropped the communicator and fell to the ground beside the bed. Throwing a hand over his heart, he was soon rolling in agony like his sibling.

"What’s wrong with us?" he asked himself suddenly. "What?!"

Then suddenly he remembered the conversation in the council room so long ago. Tygra’s words ran through his head again.

"But these particular creatures didn't have enough training so at one point the chamber will literally rip itself open, causing severe chest pain that could last up to forty-eight hours."

"No, he moaned aloud. But the next sound reached his ears and he knew. It was faint but he heard it. A distinctive rip…

"Tygra!"

The tiger jerked his head at the sound. Pantro motioned him over and told him, "Tygra, Cheetara says she has a bad feeling about the twins. Would you mind heading back early? We’ll be along in a few hours."

The tiger nodded. The architect had been tensed about leaving them alone. So he was grateful fro an excuse to head back. Still if Pantro just wanted him to ‘check’ on them, why didn’t he send Cheetara? She could check and be back in a few minutes. He smiled at the panther. He doubted that Cheetara had had a vision. Pantro was worried. So to secure his ‘tough-guy’ image, he made up an excuse.

"Sure Pantro," he added to his nod. "Sure Cheetara is worried."

Pantro scowled. He jerked his head and the tiger jumped into the Thundertank. Laughing as he drove off, he left Pantro at the village, fuming.

But as soon as he left the line of sight from the village, Tygra put the medal to the pedal and literally burnt rubber. His heart was pounding. Something was wrong. Something was happening. By Jaga, it was gut instinct.

By the time he arrived, he was calming a little. As he stepped inside, he smiled. They were fine, he didn’t hear any-

"AHHHH!"

The scream made his blood run cold. Darting forward, he followed the sound to the stairs. Running upstairs so fast it made his lungs hurt, he called up, "Hang on you two. I’m coming."

As he tore through their door, he stopped for a second, facing the closed door, to catch his breath. When he turned around he muttered a curse under his breath, "Dear Lords of Thundera!"

He rushed over to the twins who were screaming and moaning in pain. Both had fallen to the floor and had both palms clasped over their chest. He tore first to Kat then to Kit, demanding, "What’s wrong? What’s wrong?!"

Kit finally managed to stop screaming long enough to hiss an answer through clenched teeth.

"Our…hearts…that blasted…fifth chamber.."

Tygra’s mouth dropped. He pulled the Thunderkittens up, one in each arm. He turned to Kit.

"Your chamber’s splitting open?!"

Kit answered with another howl of searing pain. Tygra grimaced. Jaga, that girl could scream when she felt like it!

"Okay, that’s a yes," he told himself. He pulled them both up by the waists and rushed them to sickbay like lightning. Tearing through the door, he strapped them both down with strong belts. He knew that the pain was making their bodies produce adrenaline at a rapid pace.

He nimbly began to tear through the drawers looking for the tranquilizer hypos. He found two and quickly ran back to the twins. He knew that he could only knock them out twice so he didn’t give them an overdose but right now they needed it.

He pulled WilyKat’s straps off and yanked the child up by the wrist. The kitten stared back with pain-ridden features. The tiger nodded with sympathy and quickly injected the medicine into the child’s leg. He waited to make sure it worked. Sure enough, in less than a minute, the child moaned in pain one more time as his eyes rolled back into his head and he tumbled in the peace of unconsciousness.

The architect laid him down quickly but with care and then tore to his sister. He noted that she seemed in more pain but why?

And how come she could break through the pain enough to talk? He kept these questions to himself as he gave her a doze of sedative and she collapsed. The tiger laid her down. Tygra put his head into his hands. Taking a glance at the time, he calculated that those two would be out for another three hours. Getting up, he headed downstairs. Heading to the kitchen, he mumbled, "Five minutes and I’ve already got a migraine."

"AHHH!" Tygra moaned and headed back upstairs. It had been a few hours since he’d given them both their second doze. All he could do now is sit with them and try not to go crazy from their screams. He’d called the others who were on their way but got stuck. Attacked by Mutants. But they’d won. No Mutants were ever any match for Thundercats. Why they-

"Tygra?"

The architect turned. Kit opened her eyes and sat up. The tiger about fainted with relief. He could tell that her heart still hurt a little but he also knew the worse was over. The pain had exhausted her twin. He was still out.

"How are you Kit?"

She shrugged. He arched his eyebrow at her dangerously. He could see that she was hiding something she shouldn’t. He looked her in the eye.

"Kit?"

"What?"

His eyes narrowed severely. "You know what, WilyKit."

She nodded. Then she heard the tiger’s tone soften.

"Seriously kid. It seemed to hurt you more. Are you sure you’re okay?"

Kit nodded but felt guilt wellow up inside her. The architect sighed but got to his feet to check on her sibling. The guilt felt like a snake inside her, eating away at her heart that suddenly went ice-cold. She looked at the tiger.

The Thundercat started to leave when she spoke.

"Tygra?"

He turned. "Yes Kit?"

The kitten ran her fingers through her mane nervously then looked up and said, "Well, there’s something I need to tell ya…

Sorcerer and Sorceress ©1999 C. A. Angley (Thundercub) No one can copy this in whole or in part without permission of Thundercub. However it may be posted on web pages or downloaded for personal use as long as this notice and proper credit is given. Thundercub reserves the right to reprint, write or distribute this piece of work, as she desires. This is a work of fan-fiction and Thundercats are property of Trademarks Production. © 1985

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