Hearing someone, the child quickly put the staff back into it’s box. Sliding it back into it’s trapdoor in the floor she stood.

Relieved it was only her brother she collapsed back onto her mattress, bored out of her mind.

The brother smiled upon his twin, a little younger than himself (by about five minutes) and sat down beside her.

"What’s up with you, Kit?" he asked her sounding exasperated.

"Nothing, Kat That’s the problem." she looked wishfully out the window. The older cats were practicing with their weapons. They were the only ones stuck inside the Lair. The youthful female undoubtedly would have collapsed into tears had her brother not spoken then.

"Kit tell me," her sibling asked her. "How sick are you of this? Always being left within the walls and "protection" of the Lair?"

She looked at Wily Kat, her brother, and smiled. She sensed a cunning plan was beginning to develop inside his head. If it would give them more freedom she was in. "What are you thinking, Kat?"

He grinned slyly at her. "A way for us to get in on the action. But it’s-"

"I’m in." his sister interrupted.

He shot her a smile of approval. "You’re in before I even tell you what it is?"

"If it’ll get me into the battle, I am in!"

"Ditto. Now listen, here’s what I’m proposing."

Suddenly, the male kitten stopped and looked at the female. "Actually, this is a bit too open. Know of anywhere private?"

His twin immediately said, "The attic. No one ever goes up there. It’s too grimy."

He nodded at his sibling as he got to his feet to lead the way.

"So what do you think?" her brother asked her.

Kit shuffled her feet, obviously unsure. Her face had on it’s "Moral look" again. She’d always been the more moralistic twin. She got it from her mother. It was one of the things Wily Kat liked about her. To him it was both part of his sister and a still-alive part of his mother. It helped him keep his priorities straight.

"I don’t know, Kat." The female admitted. "Somehow this just feels wrong. I mean, we’ll kind of be deceiving them."

What Wily Kat had suggested was that he and Kit wear different uniforms, carry special weapons, (her staff and his whip), and fix their hair altered then go into battles with the Thundercats. Not too many or it might be suspected, just battles where they needed some extra help. When they were asked who they were she was to answer sort-of monotone that they were teenage warriors from a kingdom near the Warrior maidens. The reason no one had heard of them was because they kept to themselves and allowed no guests. They weren’t really supposed to be out because they were their kind’s only youths but they sensed that they needed help. Kit’s name would be Nalanna and Kat’s Gabon. They’d purposely chosen foreign names. Now they had a plan but had to learn how to use their weapons first.

"Kit come on." Wily Kat begged his sister. "One day we’ll tell them but not now. Besides aren’t we being loyal if we help them out?"

She pasted a smile on her face. He had her there. After all hadn’t Lion-o said loyalty was most important? She looked at her twin and beamed. "All right, I’m with you but on two conditions."

He smiled upon her and shifted his mother’s whip, now his own, from one hand to the next. "Shoot sis."

"First we teach ourselves how to use these otherwise we might get squealed on. Last, we practice every day in our different uniforms. If the Thundercats catch us with weapons they’ll skin us alive."

He nodded his agreement and looked down at his weapon. Finally! They would get some action! The twins would live to regret it.

Evening fell. All the Thundercats gathered in the dinning hall for Snarf’s meal. The kittens were energetic and found it hard to not blurt out their secret planning. Luckily, it was a short meal because the adults were tired from their exercising. This concerned the twins. If the adults got this worn out from just staying as good as they already were how on Thundara could they become that good from scratch? This killed the children’s spirits so that they too turned quiet. All through dinner the two remained dormant, hardly saying a word. This put a faint concern in the original Thundercats, particularly Tygra and Pantro, who seemed closer to them. Twice the two asked the kids if they were all right. Both times they had to call their names three times before they got a confused, "Huh?"

The adults were worried but they weren’t the only ones. Kit and Kat felt worried themselves, wondering whether or not they could pull this plan off.

As soon as they were allowed to the Thunderkittens went to their room to think. If they were reconsidering, I am not sure but it is very possible they might have been. Even so, they finally decided to go ahead with their plan. Even after they are grown I’m sure both would still admit that they wished they’d never even considered it. That was not to be, however. These next parts are choked full of emotions of fear, horror, and a lot of regret. So.. sense this did not happen to me I cannot even attempt to describe what the twins went through. So I’ll turn this story over to Kit and Kat. This is their tale to tell

WILY KAT

Chapter 1:Attempted Practice

One, it was nervousness. I mean, we absolutely, completely, definitely, totally, indubitably, and every other word out there for without question could not get caught. If we did, well let’s just say Pantro would make sure we couldn’t sit down for a year or two. I mean by Jaga, we’d be in such deep..trouble. I don’t even want to think about the lecture we’d get.

Anyhow, I climbed out of bed, to wake my sister. Cautiously I approached her bed rather noisily so I wouldn’t startle her. She moaned as I gently shook her. Still though she turned to look at me. When she saw my face she must have remembered our decision because she smirked. I laughed as I pulled her out of the sanctuary of covers. I started for the box where we’d stored the weapons but Kit grabbed my arm.

"Wait Wily Kat," she protested in that soft yet commanding voice of hers. I always wondered how she did that. She would talk in a soft tone that was gentle and sweet. Still though it had a hint of "Listen to me Buster!" in it. She could stop Snarf from doing something dumb and practically anyone on Third Earth. She managed to do this without raising her voice one notch. Therefore I have respect for this. So when she asked me to wait I immediately stopped, no questions asked.

"What is it Kit?" I inquired my sister. She looked at me with a raised eyebrow. It was something she did when she noticed that I was missing something obvious.

"The first of two things, Kat. We should put our new uniforms in a bag to carry with us. Also putting on some day clothes would probably be a good start too."

I glanced down. I still had on my blue nightclothes. My sister was in place within her pink night shift. My face flushed. What would I do without her? Dang! The stuff I nearly did! I merely told her, "Oh, duh! Yes, that is most likely a good suggestion."

She laughed and rolled her eyes, while shaking her head. It was her way of saying, "Nah? Really? Do you really think that’s a good idea? DUH! Jeez how thick is your head?"

Turning to put on my clothes I laughed. She giggled. Soon we both had on our uniforms. My twin grabbed my hand and half led half dragged me to the attic, where she’d stashed our gear. As soon as we entered I shut and locked the entrance behind us. She reached into a large chest, took out some old yellow papers, then tossed a wrapped suit to me. As I began to open it I felt Kit’s fingertips brush mine. Curious, I glanced at her. She had tears in her eyes as she stared at a piece of old paper. It had been inside her apparel. Before I could ask what was troubling her she said, in a voice choked with grief, "It’s a letter. To us, from… from our mother."

I put down the suit I held and walked over to read over her shoulder. Here’s what I saw:

Your memories of me are most likely limited. It’s me, Kitra Liona Cunning. I’m your mother. I’m sure after I die your father, Katren, will speak of me to you. If not, this letter will serve his purpose.

I was born to your grandparents, Kitania and Katerin. Both treated me well. Also my mother taught me how to fight. In those days, women normally didn’t become warriors. However, Lordess Courgania, was a woman so it was during her reign as leader of the Thundercats that women’s’ rights on Thundara were expanded to match men’s. Her husband Cougar-o had died so that put her in command. In this time, Cheetara was anointed into the Thundercats, the first woman to have this privilege. Jaga came into power after her, and kept Courgania’s orders. I wanted you two to have the same honor of being Thundercats as Cheetara was given. So when I was told I was pregnant with fraternal twins, I had you betrothed Thundercats. Kit, I know at times you’ll feel like an outcast but don’t. Kat, I want you to care for your sister. If this letter doesn’t tell you all you wondered ask Cheetara. We were best friends.

Everything she does with her staff she learned from me. If she refuses to teach you two, teach yourselves. All you must remember are these three things:

1: In battle, think before you act. Every action has a reaction.

2: In battle never panic. Use your head.

3: Before you attempt to use weapons, learn gymnastic skills. It will help intensely. This goes for both my whip (yours Wily Kat) and your father’s staff (yours Wily Kit.) Lastly, if you are first learning to fight with weapons do two things:

1:Observe others. This is how I became a good fighter, by watching my own mother.

2:Think of a move that will be unexpected. You two are cunning children. At times you got in trouble from me. I know it will no different as Thundercats. So find a way to fight well. I know you can. It’s in your blood.

Finally, with all your heart, stick to the code. Justice, truth, honor, loyalty. When this code fails you, use your hearts. If you follow them you’ll never go wrong. My strength has nearly gone now, the Thundrainum in my blood.. it’s..Never mind. Just my children, Kit, Kat. My daughter, my son, remember this as you go on. I will always love you.

Love now and forever,

Kitra, Mother

"Wow, Kit." I commented stepping back. "You look good." She really did. Her uniform was one our mother had worn. Nobody of the team had seen it though. It fell to her knees in a long skirt of rose red. The top was sleeveless and a pale pink. Her hair was in braids and tied in a bun on her head with a translucent red/pink ribbon. She’d cleverly brought some make-up to hide some of our faces. She’d put some lipstick on so her lips appeared redder but it looked natural. Also her eyelashes had been extended a tad with mascara. Using a faint dusting of blush she’d succeeded in making her whole face as tan as the rest of her skin. If I hadn’t known, I would have sworn she was a different girl.

Then it was my turn. My apparel was my father’s former suit. It was a two- pieced one. There were black leather slacks that halted just above my ankles. The shirt was long sleeved brown one made of cotton. Over that, was a thick light black vest of an even tougher leather. Kit had applied a light dusting over powder over my skin to hide some of the scars I had. Stepping back she said, "If we can just get the weaponry down I think we got it made."

I began to reach for the whip tucked into my belt. Mine was black, made of vinyl. Kit’s was a bright red of leather with strips of pink at the top and bottom. Her staff split in two so apiece hung on each hip.

We began to remove our weapons but then heard a mighty scream. By plain instinct we ran towards it. I was glad my hair was pressed flat otherwise it would definitely have been recognized. We arrived at the sound’s source. Peering through the branches we saw the older Thundercats. They were out-numbered! At least five to four. Without even thinking, my sister and I bolted out. True we had no clue how to use our weapons but we’d give it our best shot.

"What the.." we both heard Cheetara exclaim as we dropped down on either side of her. The others, just as surprised, let their mouths drop and turned to look at us. A disastrous error. The Lunatacks darted forward. Red-eye took Lion-o, Tug-Mug Tygra, Luna and Amuk Pantro, and Alluro Cheetara. Which left my sister and I with Chilla.

"So-o" she hissed. "M-oore, do-gooders. You made a fatal error messing with Chilla. I supp-pose you are new-w warriors.."

"In the flesh, frost-face." My sister cut in drawing her staff. Luckily, she made her voice a bit higher.

"WHAT? No one insults Chilla and lives to brag. Do you have the s-slightst clue what you just said?"

"My little cousin just stated a fact you’ll have to accept blizzard-brain." I hissed right back at her, stretching out my whip.

Her cheeks began to expand. However we knew her powers. My twin hit her square in the jaw with her staff. Her breath erupted onto a rock. I shot my whip out, encasing her. She struggled but I held her fast. Then I yanked the whip out so fast it made her spin. Then I quickly shot it out again. It wrapped around her foot. Pulling hard, I forced her off her feet onto her back. She moaned and I struck her again. She fought her way to her feet. She stared at me briefly then retreated.

My sister was good. I mean really good. She was helping Cheetara deal with Alluro. He darted to her and she twisted her staff fast so that it hit his sides hard. The other Thundercats were fine so I went to help my sister. Her staff had put several large bruises on his sides. Cheetara had burnt some flesh on him. Then he reached for his psyche club. My whip shot out wrapped around it and I pulled it from his grasp. When he turned I grabbed one foot with my whip. It knocked him off-balance. Kit took advantage of this and using her stick as a bat almost she hit him against the temple and sent him flying against the tree. He scrambled to his feet and ran. The rest of the other Lunatacks decided to follow. My sister and I glanced at one another, then down at our weapons. We’d done it! We did it! We could fight!

Lion-o walked over to us. My sister’s hair was sweaty but had amazingly stayed up. Mine didn’t matter because it was already matted against my head.

"Thank you." Lion-o said. "It’s very possible you were the turning point of the battle."

My sister nodded with only a faint grin. Then Cheetara spoke up, "Yes, we all owe you but who are you? We’ve never seen you before."

Kit took over speaking in a higher voice but it sounded normal, "My name’s Nalanna and this is my older cousin Gabon."

"Thanks a million, Nalanna, Gabon." Tygra interrupted her.

Pantro gave him a nudge and said, "Let her finish."

He flushed but nodded back at Kit.

She smiled and continued, "We’re from a group of warriors near the Treetop Kingdom. Our kind is called the Felinines. We tend to keep to ourselves and our village unfortunately allows no guests. We are the only youths."

"Why?" Pantro cut in.

Nuts! I hadn’t thought of a reason. Quickly however my sister came up with one though. I could see how she hated lying however.

"Our town was hit by a vicious disease not long ago. It attacked only the children, slowly eating away their lungs. By the time our mother, who was a great doctor, had developed an antidote we were the only ones left."

"Well, her mother" I cut in. "She’s my only aunt."

"Right," Kit quickly agreed.

They seemed horrified. I couldn’t blame them but it was good. Also, it was believable. Like First Earth’s Black Death, horrid but true.

"Actually, now we should be going." Kit said, breaking the awed silence.

As we turned to leave Lion-o grabbed our shoulders. We looked back. "Before you two go, would you like to become our allies, just you if your families cannot?"

We just nodded.

"Great," he said as the rest of them cheered. "One more thing. I was surprised at your vast fighting knowledge at such a young age. I guess it proves the old saying: If you are good at something, age is of no importance."

We beamed and thanked him. Then we tore into the woods, disappeared from sight, and hurried back to the Lair. Sneaking past Snarf, we’d just transformed into the Thunderkittens again when the Cats arrived.

"Kit, Kat, Snarf," Lion-o called. The three of us appeared in front of him. "We have some new allies."

"Really? Who?" I asked, acting like I didn’t know. He described our fighting as the best he’d ever seen. We invisibly slipped one another a low five behind our backs. We’d impressed the LORD OF THE THUNDERCATS…and received no credit for it.

I scrunched the strength up in my legs and jumped up. At about a ten-foot altitude, I tossed my staff in an arch. It turned in a circle hit the trunk of a tree as it would hit shins and then flew right back to me.

A low whistle caught my attention. Turning a flip, I landed on my feet. I smiled as my brother looked at me and whistled again. I laughed and shook my head.

He stepped into the trees to watch me finish practicing. I leapt up again and this time tucked my chin into my chest as I fell. I hit the ground rolled, and tossed the staff again. Turning a complete back flip, I landed on my feet. Just in time too. The stick flew right back at me. Whirling my wrist around I caught hold of the end. All this was achieved in about three seconds. This meant my staff was going about eighty when I got a hold on it.

Suddenly, the two of us heard a rustling in the branches. Instinctively, we drew our weapons. Two enemies shot from the trees. Slithe and Tug-Mug, a lunatack and a mutant working together?

This was too weird.

My twin took Slithe as Tug-Mug aggressed me. He drew his gravity carbine, and pointed it’s barrel towards me. I was too smart for that though. Darting forward, like a leopard, I sprang into the air. As his cannon followed me, I flung my staff. In a large arch I heaved it behind my back. It hit Tug- Mug hard on the stomach, knocking him down. Then on cue, it retreated back to my hands. He was up again. Running at me like a train I waited. Momentum was my advantage. Just as his steel strong fingers were in range of my throat I leaped. He screamed as he connected with a tree, going about fifty kilometers per hour. As he moaned and tried to regain his senses I hit him with my staff. He clutched his left side right as I hit him hard on his right. With both sides full of agony he slouched to the dirt. Using this convenience, I swung the stick like a bat. There was a loud crack as it met with his hard skull. His head snapped back. I then turned the mace to almost a battering ram. It hit him firmly in his small forehead. His round body flew back like a rag doll’s.

As he fell down I felt strong hand clasp me from behind. Whirling my head, I saw out of the corner of my eye, Amuk’s vast form, embracing me. Picking up my staff, I jerked it back, as fast and hard as I could. The beast moaned and released me. As I scrambled from his grasp, he staggered backward, clutching his stomach.

I sneered as he ignored Luna’s protests and retreated. My body sensed a shape sneaking up behind me. Lowering my weapon’s level I spun around. This caused Chilla’s feet to fly out from underneath her. Her figure shot backward like a cannonball. As she strained to climb to her feet I let my staff’s will go. It slammed down on her belly, which caused her to draw up her legs. With a speed faster than light I snapped my rod down to catch the area under her knees. Then, my staff pulled her slim body from the dirt and tossed her to towering heights. As she came back down, I slapped the frozen chest with my stick, sending her zooming full force into a near-by tree. She fell to the earth and laid still. I hadn’t killed her, but she was going nowhere fast.

"AHHH!" I howled as a heart-stopping pain shot through the tender flesh of my leg. Glancing down, I saw Tug- Mug clawing my thighs. His solid steel fingers left wounds deeper than a canyon in my skin. I felt my main arteries snap and begin to gush blood. Furious, I twirled around and knocked him from my limbs. Fighting the torment running throughout my legs, I turned to help my brother as Tug-Mug abandoned his teammates. Slithe had left so now he had Jackalman and Vultureman on him.

I did a handspring and knocked Vultureman from his opponent. He glared at me. Before I could react he pulled out a gun and blew a small wound in my arm. Moaning, I tumbled to the ground encasing my hurt arm. Before I found the strength to lift myself to my feet he hit my left temple with the handle of his gun. I hit the ground. Putting my fingers to my head I felt the warmth of blood.

Swinging my legs I knocked the horrid bird to ground. He moaned as I smashed my staff against him. With one last cry of pain he leapt to his soles. My heart stopped as the fowl tossed a knife to his leader. The mutant would have murdered my only twin if he hadn’t wiggled from the palms of the reptile.

The mutants howled in anger as they ran off. Slithe (who’d apparently returned) whirled back to see us grasp one another tightly. Right before that horrid thing disappeared he mumbled, "This isn’t over! Blood will be shed!"

Kat and I looked at one another. He sighed. "I’m so sorry Kit. This is my fault. Now because of my curiously, we’re stuck."

I put a hand against my sibling’s cheek. Letting the tears of pain fall I muttered, "I know, but I helped. If we’d remained content we wouldn’t be here. Now I know what Lion-o was trying to shield us from. We know what a real battle’s like. I wish I never knew…"

Finally he said, "I’m going to call the Lair. You need help I can’t give you."

Normally I would have protested, but I hadn’t heard him. Already I lay in his arms, unconscious, from loss of blood…

"Wily Kit," Kat begged of me. "Wake up." He paused then lowered his voice and whispered, "Come back to your brother. Come back to us. Come back to me!"

Straining, I opened my eyelids. My brother beamed. I pulled myself up by throwing my arms around him. He held me like that, slowly swaying to comfort me.

"Wily Kat!" Tygra exclaimed walking in. "When did you get here? Where’s Gabon?"

My brother winced because he was about to lie. "Gabon left when I came in about a minute ago. He said, "She needs you." So I thanked him as he left."

Tygra bought it. He walked over and picked a seat on the edge of my bed in the sick bay. He turned my head gently. Even so, it still hurt. By Jaga, it hurt! Almost silently I whimpered in pain.

"Sorry, Wily Kit." He quickly apologized. I nodded; saying without words it was all right.

"What happened? Gabon just called telling us he found you unconscious and bleeding."

I sighed and spoke the truth again for once. "Lunatack ambush."

"Oh, that explains a lot."

"I think after they left they got Kat too." I added gesturing to my brother. He looked at me with an evil eye. I didn’t care. He needed help too.

Tygra instantly grabbed my brother and began searching for wounds. He found one on his left arm. My brother assured him it was just minor but Tygra stitched it anyway. Then we were told to go rest. I did, wondering whether or not I would ever be able to sleep again…

The monster was running towards me! His green skin, pebbly with warts, was shimmering. Of course it would be Slithe. He would be the one to do me in.

He drew a knife and it was thrown. Using my instincts, I moved my body aside. The blade pierced deep into my skirt. I struggled to pull it out. No use, it must have been in deep!

My eyes jerked up. Vultureman came up behind him dragging…Wily Kat!

My heart froze stiff. Struggling, I tried to get up to help! The blasted knife had me!

"Patience kitten." The bird teased me. "You’re next!" he reached into his pouch and withdrew a silvery glittery dagger.

"NO!" I cried as the fowl put the sharp blade to my brother’s neck. "NO!!" I begged as the blade popped my brother’s flesh and I smelt the vital blood that gushed from the mortal wound…

"No!" I cried throwing my head from side to side. I felt pain but it came from far off. My brother, my only family left gone! NO! Jaga, it couldn’t be! "No!" I howled again. "NO!" I screamed again from pure grief. "No!"

I felt a hand placed on my shoulder and gently shake me. My eyes flew open. Bolting right up my heart’s speed went from lightning speed to normal pace in about half-a second.

"Wily Kit calm down," a deep voice commanded me as it placed two strong hands on my shoulders. I glanced to my left. Tygra was right beside me. I put my fingertips to my mane’s hairline. Shoving my hair back from my eyes I realized my face was drenched in sweat.

"A dream," I sighed, "Only a dream."

"Nightmare?" he asked me, surprised. I nodded, trying to swallow my fear. He put his strong arms around my arms and gave me a gentle hug, drawing me closer to his body. Still not completely aware of my surroundings, I inquired him, "Where’s Kat?"

Again Tygra looked surprised at my questions but answered, "Don’t you remember Kit? He was well enough to go back to your bedchambers. I wanted you to stay in Sick Bay a while longer to see how those wounds healed."

Flushing, I responded, "Oh…yeah. I..I knew that." His eyes turned to me with a confused and concerned expression.

"Great Jaga, what a dream." I mumbled. Tygra hugged me again. He moved till he was sitting beside my broken flesh-body.

"You know Wily Kit, sometimes it helps to talk about your fears. You want to tell me about the dream?" he offered.

I shook my head. "It’s stupid," I sighed.

He cocked one eyebrow at me and said plainly, "Kit, any dream that’s scary enough to make you scream at the top of your lungs has a decent fear in it." He smiled and thumbed my nose. "Come on Kitty, tell ol’ Tygra."

Despite myself I smiled. He hadn’t called me "Kitty" since I was six. I did feel like I was six. Screaming from dreams, having to have an adult to calm me? Jeez! Then, it came back to me in a flood of details. Both my dream and the battle. My nightmare.. it could have happened! Jaga, it could have! Tears filled my eyes and I let out a low sob as I grabbed Tygra’s shoulders and wept. He put his fingers in my mane and smoothed my curls. I heard his gentle voice say softly, "Shhh, Kit. It’s okay. It’s okay now. I’m here." He paused, hesitated, then asked again, "Do you want to tell me about your nightmare?"

With my face embedded in his warm chest, I nodded. Pulling away I thought, "Even if I can’t tell him it almost happened it might help to talk."

Sighing I started, "Well, I’m in a meadow and then I fall to ground. Something pinned me down. As I try to get up I see the Mutants come out from the trees. They’ve got my brother! I try to get up to help him but I can’t. I scream and cry. Then…Jaga they slit his throat! They kill him! Great Jaga, they just murder him!" No longer able to stop from crying I fell back into the tiger’s arms and wept.

He held me for a time then asked, "This might seem like babying you but… do you want me to stay with you until you fall asleep?" I nodded, still sniffling. He held me a bit closer. Then, I couldn’t help it I started shaking. The whole horror of it all had finally gotten to me. I was trembling so badly I didn’t feel the adult pick me up and move me. I did notice the slight swaying. I realized then, the Thundercat had moved me over to this old armchair we had. He sat down, with me cradled in his arms and rocked me. It was very slight, very slow a bit more than a sway. Even though I was twelve, he sensed my fear and rocked me as if I was still a newborn kit. I pressed my head against the adult’s chest and let the feeling of comfort and protection wash over me. He reached behind the chair and withdrew some cloth.

Smiling, he asked, "You want this?" I opened my eyes. It was my baby blanket.

Something my mother had made me when I was an infant. Only Tygra knew that both my brother and I still longed for them when we were scared. It still had a faint smell of my mother, roses and buttercups. I nodded and took the cloth from him. Clutching it tightly I drew it close to my chest. In time I passed deep into dreams. Tygra put me back to bed and left. I later found out my twin was having difficulty sleeping too. They got worse. That’s Kat’s story to tell…

"Fools," he sneered in a voice like cracking leaves. "Do you really think you can be a challenge for Mumm-ra? The Ever-Living? Of course you don’t. It’s your stupid code isn’t it?"

My twin and I glanced at one another She looked into my eyes with pupils full of fear. I saw her gulp. She knew what I’d prayed against.

"We’re gonna die!" she murmured, voice shaky and hardly determinable. I nodded. We never took our gaze off our enemy but clasped palms. If we had to die, we were going to perish together.

Suddenly, the beast darted forward and tore my sister from my grasp. Before I could shout, "No!" he took her throat and split it. My sister tumbled to the ground in a dark pool of blood.

"NO!" I howled, dropping to my knees beside her. Praying, I slowly lifted her head into my arms. It fell back over my elbow, a dead weight in my arms. No! Jaga NO! My sister, not my sister! Kill me! Leave my sister! I heard dark laughter as the mage flew off into the sky.

"Kit?" I asked, begging that she would answer me. No, she remained silent. Gone, dead. Gone forever. Tears brimming my eyes I gazed into hers. Two dead blank organs stared back, wide but seeing nothing. I shuddered as a light rain began to fall. I sat there holding my sister hard against my chest but knowing I’d never hear her voice again…

"NO!" I screamed out loud. "Jaga NO!" My head tossed from side to side.

"Wily Kat, wake up!" a rough, but tender voice ordered me. I tried. No, I couldn’t wake up. My sister gone! Then, from no where I felt a strong hand slap my face. It was enough. I opened my eyes and shot up. Sweat was pouring down my face. I put one hand to my chest to try and slow my racing heart. It was then that I felt the strong hands placed on my shoulders. I looked to my right, directly into Pantro’s eyes. He looked concerned. Putting one hand against my forehead I tried to slow my breathing.

"Are you okay, Kat?" Pantro asked me. I nodded, but not totally sure of it. Apparently he didn’t believe me either.

"I guess," I added. To myself I silently thanked Jaga it was only a dream. Pantro put his arms on my shoulders. I knew why. I was shaking. Trembling actually. My whole body felt like it was vibrating. He drew his arms around me and held me. Gradually I felt the muscles relax and I could talk normal again.

"A nightmare?" he asked, softly but with definite concern. I nodded again as I felt the horrid memory of it come back to me. Mumm-ra his attack on my sister. I couldn’t do anything! ANYTHING! Jaga that was the worst part! I hadn’t done anything! I could stand it no longer. Tears found their way into my eyes. I put one palm up to my eyes to hide them. I shouldn’t have bothered. Pantro knew. I felt his strong hands grasp my fingertips and pull them down. I felt my face flush. I was crying! By Jaga, warriors didn’t cry! To my shock Pantro didn’t say a thing about the weeping. On the contrary, he wiped my tears away and smiled at me. Then in that no-nonsense voice of his he commanded, "All right, Wily Kat. Out with it!"

I shook my head. "It’s dumb, Pantro. You’ll laugh."

He cocked one eyebrow at me. "Kat anything that makes you scream and scream is not stupid. Now come on tell me." I sighed.

"All right. It was Kit. Mumm-ra.. he attacked us. Took my sister right from me and killed her. Great Jaga, he murdered her! In cold blood! For no reason! I couldn’t do anything! Jaga, she just died!" I felt tears gather in my eyes again and this time I didn’t even bother to hold them back. I put my face in my hands and just wept. Pantro put his arms around me and for a brief time held me. In a few minutes I pulled away, a bit ashamed. I wasn’t acting like a warrior! Great Jaga, I was acting like a newborn cub.

I drew my arms up around my body to try to stop my trembling muscles. They presided in their tremble. Suddenly I felt stronger hands wrap around my shoulders. Pantro’s strong arms, no doubt.

"Wily Kat, it’s alright. It was only a dream. Your sister’s fine. You’re fine. I know you’re afraid. Don’t be. I’m here. You don’t have to be scared anymore, Pantro’s here."

I put my temple into his chest and let him hold me. I felt safe. He was strong, ready for real violence. I was not. Yet, every time I was alone now, the battles came back to haunt me. I knew that if I lived two hundred years, the events would still be crystal clear to me.

I felt the older more experienced warrior smooth my hair, much as my own father used to do. He then put his arms under me and drew me into his lap for the first time in more than five years. I just let him cradle me. I liked the feeling of being protected. He was like a force field around me. It was a fact. Don’t mess around with Pantro.

I felt the grey cat lay me under my covers again. He didn’t leave though. He laid beside me and rubbed my back. I was sleeping facedown on my mattress. Just as my parents on Thundara had done, he massaged my back to soothe me. After about nine years, it still worked. In time, I guess he left because I slept. My dreams were gone but I knew the horrid images would return.

When I woke up the next morning, it was late. I mean really, really, late. So late in fact it was early. My digital clock read, three o’clock, in the morning. I must have woken up about midnight. With the thoughts running through my head, I knew I was up for the day. I’d never get back to sleep. Knowing my twin, she was wide-awake too. Being as silent as I could, I slowly crept down the corridor to the sick bay. Sure enough, when I entered the room she was sitting right up in bed, clutching a ragged cloth. At a closer glance I saw that it was a pink and peach pattern, her baby blanket. She caught sight of me and flushed. I merely smiled, walked in, and sat beside her on the bed. We both glanced at one another but said nothing. Then without even thinking, she wrapped her bandaged arm around my back and laid down on the bed, my body following hers. In time we both slept again pressed hard against one another.

"Do you think we should wake them?" Cheetara asked glancing at Tygra and Pantro. The two men looked at each other down at us again. Shaking their heads, they turned back to Cheetara.

"Let them sleep. Kit woke up about midnight with a nightmare." Tygra confessed. "I had to shake her awake then to get her to sleep, rock her like a newborn kitten. She said it was some dream about her brother dying. She looked really afraid."

Pantro’s eyes flew up in sudden interest. "Did you say about midnight?" he asked his stripped friend. Tygra nodded.

"Yeah, in that time frame. Why?"

"Wily Kat woke up screaming about then too. Another nightmare. This one was about Mumm-ra murdering his sister. He was very scared. I had to slap him to wake him up into reality, then I had to hold him like a cub so he could sleep. I don’t mind that but still..he’s shouldn’t be that frightened. Not from violence and such. Not at this age. He’s twelve years old, Great Jaga!"

"Shh," the female reminded them. "I hope it’s only a phase. The Lunatacks just got some new-fangled weapons. We’re going to need all the firepower we can get. I hope the Thunderkittens don’t get too scared."

"They won’t be." Tygra decided. "Because they won’t know. What they don’t know won’t hurt them. Their time for heroism will come but not now. Nalanna and Gabon’ll help us. They’re our allies."

"Right." Pantro agreed. "We tell the kittens nothing. As long as they don’t hear anything, we’re safe."

"No, stop please!" I begged softly, in a strained voice. The beast crept closer. Even at six years of age, Slithe crept after me. I trembled and slide back slowly, cautiously. He merely laughed and pursued me faster. I screamed. I cried. Still he pursued. My brother, I suppose he’d already gotten him. Well, by Jaga, I wasn’t going to die here. No! I would live! I would live long enough to avenge both my brother and mother. He’d been the one to poison my Mama. It was because of him she weakened. That she slowly felt her senses wither. Then a year after, die moaning with pain beside her son and daughter’s sides.

He lifted a knife and prepared for the cut that would separate my head from my shoulders. I screamed and screamed and screamed.

"Kita! Kita! Wake up, sweetie!" I heard a gentle voice command. Slowly, I forced my eyes open. My father and twin were standing right in front of me. I felt a hug of small arms fold around me. I turned to the source to see my twin brother, Wily Kat, or Katen by law. Without acknowledgement of my father I buried my face in my sibling’s shoulder and wept. He smoothed my mane as I wept until sleep overcame my fear..

"Kit?" a rough voice asked me. I slowly lifted my head from my plate. I hardly tasted a thing. Both my twin and myself had turned lackadaisical in the past few days from fear itself. The things that simple emotion could do to you! It still lived in me, hours, days after a battle. Slowly, it grew as time and the inability to speak of it, fed it. Like cancer, it ate away at my inner spirit, my carefree soul. It was changing us and we both knew it. When I looked in the mirror in the morning, a different young cat stared back at me. Even my mane, my face, my eyes.. they were all different. Fear had invaded and transformed them.

"Kit, Kat?" Pantro asked us again.

We looked up at him with empty fear-strained faces. My twin slowly answered, "Yes?" The grey cat exchanged a glance with Tygra. The stripped feline nodded with what looked to me like a concerned expression.

"Are you two okay? You don’t seem like yourselves." He inquired. My brother and I sighed but without reason. My heart was stressed. As were my mind and body but I still answered in a listless voice, "Yeah. Why?"

Pantro looked at me with a disturbed face. His eyes peered deep into my eyes. I moved my face from his sight’s range. Suddenly I felt a hand placed against my forehead. I turned to the owner. It was Tygra. I sighed again but not quite as feebly. After about a minute the tiger and Pantro (who’d put a hand to my brother’s face) removed their palms, mumbling, "Funny you don’t seem to have a fever."

It was then that we decided silently and independently that a quick exit was desired. Kat got up and gathered his breakfast dishes before going into the kitchen. Swallowing the last of my orange juice, I followed him. After cleaning up, we headed for the attic. That wooden trapdoor had become, to me, like the gateway to hell. It was behind those slabs that all our troubles had originated.

"Wily Kit, wait." A voice called after me. I whirled around to face the origin. It was Tygra. He was running toward me, a bottle in one hand.

"What is it, Tygra?" I asked shortly. He pressed the jar into my palms after he pulled out the small cork. I looked into the flask. Inside awaited a pale red liquid. It smelled horrid and I wrinkled my nose before looking up at Tygra.

He laughed. "If you want to go out Kit, down the hatch."

Reluctantly, I put the neck of the bottle to my lips. Then lifting the small vial I downed the potion. Oh, yuck! It tasted worse than it smelt. A bit like limas but with a sourness of lemons. I polished the glass jar off and handed it back to Tygra. He touched my cheek.

"Good girl, now you two can go do..well whatever you two manage to do during the day."

"Thanks," I replied sarcastically. I then headed upstairs to the attic where my brother was waiting near the door. He opened the door and I grabbed our bag of weapons and clothing. I tossed my brother his stuff as I went past him downstairs and outside.

"Kit you’re really good." My twin told me as I fell from the sky and landed on my feet. My face flushed a pale red and I diverted my face from him. He smiled at my embarrassment but then asked me, "How do you do that handspring/flip thing?"

I turned to Wily Kat again with a grin. I then ran forward, lifting my hands into the air, palms outstretched. Using a instinct that had somehow traveled into me, I threw down my palms so they touched the ground. Then shoving all my strength into my arms, I used them to push my body off the ground and into the air. As soon as my feet retouched the earth I shot my hands down again. I repeated the process again then as my feet left the dirt again I forced an extra surge of strength and will into my calf muscles. I flew higher than before and turned a back flip in midair but used my momentum to push me forward. I bent my knees and landed on my feet. Turning around to face my brother, I asked, "You mean that?"

He laughed and said, "Yes, that would be it." We erupted into a fit of giggles. For a brief second, I felt like the old Wily Kit again. Just a playful kitten that fought when asked but was more than content to play and romp with her twin brother. Then with a high pitched shriek we were both reminded that those kids weren’t us anymore.

"Freeze Nalanna, Gabon!" a sizzling voice called from the branches. We whirled around and automatically drew our weapons. Leaping from the trees, came none other than Chilla, holding some kind of ray. We backed up, but remained in our defensive stance. The frozen scoundrel crept nearer, drawing the gun’s ammo out and loading her firearm.

Suddenly without warning we attacked. I did a handspring, flew into the stratosphere, and hit the lunatic in the chest. She fell back. My twin swung his whip catching her leg. Before she could realize this, I hit her in the gut with my staff as hard and with as much strength as I could muster. She groaned and shrank in her pose. My brother chose this moment to let his whip fly. Chilla spun and tumbled, dizzy to the grass. She then furiously fired the gun. The lasers beam shot out before I could dodge and burned a bright patch on my higher arm. Screaming with pain, I dropped my staff and crumbled to the ground clutching my arm tightly. The Lunatack started toward me but suddenly fell face down in the mud. I ignored the agonizing pain shooting throughout my limb and took that moment to draw my stick once more. I ran forward, dodging a narrow blast of icy breath. Slamming the end down with all my strength, I knocked the gun from her grasping icy fingertips.

"AHHH!" she howled, but was then accompanied with my twin’s scream of pain. I instantly leapt from my position in front of Chilla to behind her where my brother stood. Or sat. He was on the ground clutching his side. When I slowly pulled away his tender palms, I saw why. A neat round circle from Chilla’s gun had inflamed my brother’s skin. He glanced up at me with eyes stained with tormenting anguish. I slowly draped his arm over my shoulder and then quickly moved him off into a undisturbed area in the trees. Then I returned to deal with Chilla.

I turned and glared right at her. Then I said..well never mind what I said. I remember rushing at her. She raised the barrel of her laser and pointed it at me. The beam shot out. Suddenly a very large portion of my left arm was no longer skin and bones but blood and bones. I cried in torment but still charged. I was a train going full speed at a civilian. Unlike an engineer however, I wasn’t going to stop. Not with my brother lying close to catalepsy and groaning in pain. I hit Chilla with my staff. She fell down. I hit her again and again. As she attempted to rise I knocked her down again. I hit her still again. She fell to the ground. A fierce hit on the head that would do it. If I hit her just right she would never rise to bother my twin or me again. I thought, "Should I?" I stared at the broken figure at my feet. She was trembling with pain. Should I? I heard my brother’s groan of pain again. I looked at Chilla. Then I raised my staff and brought it down, brought it down with a sickening crunch.

The crunch was the stick hitting the rocks. I’d spared her pathetic life and she knew it. I glared at her as she stood. She quivered again then ran. I slowly turned back to my injured twin. But even as I soothed his wound I thought, "I almost killed her. What has violence done to me? I’ll never sleep again."

"Why?" I demanded of them. "Why?"

"You lied. The Lunatacks are truthful!"

"No! Please, I was trying to help! We both were!"

"You lied!"

"No they have a hold over you!"

"Very good Kit!"

"Please, I just wanted to help!"

"You can help by leaving us forever!"

"No! Please, I beg of you forgive me!"

"It’s too late for forgiveness, Kitten."

"Please, I want this horrid war to leave me be! I don’t want to have to deal with all these horrors! It’s too much! I’m only a child!"

"It’s your own fault, but very well. You are no warrior! A true warrior would never give up! You are a baby! You don’t deserve to wear the symbol of Thundara! You deserve a spanking! A life concealed in the Lair! Hidden from sight like bugs! A life of babying, comforting, and in diapers! That’s all your fit for!" Luna called out, enjoying my reprimanding.

"No please!"

"Kit run!" Lion-o called from the side, a real lord. "They’re illusions!"

"No, I want out! Violence leave me! I want to be a kitten again……..

"Kit!" my eyes flew open. Kat was shaking me. Another dream. Oh, would they ever stop? Would the Thundercats ever forgive us if they found out? I wept. I put my face in my hands and wept out my fear. Slowly my brother feeling uneasy began to leave.

"No, stay Kat, please!" I begged. He stopped. Then he moved closer. I snuggled next to my brother. He draped his arm around me, I fell in his protective grasp. As he held me I thought, "Oh, Jaga, guide us. The violence.. when will it end? Help me. Help Kat. Help us all.."

Part 2: Courage Building

I turned my eyes from the window and glanced down at Kit. She still laid in my arms, crying out her fear. I knew how she felt. I felt just as scared, my heart was crying though my eyes were not. I had to stay strong, I knew that much. My sister, she was different now. Braver but still as frightened as I was. Normally when she cried I could tell if they were tears of physical or emotional pain. These rivers which were streaming down her cheeks were strange, unfamiliar. They were tears of dread. Neither of us had known exactly what the adults went through until now. I looked down at Wily Kit again. She lay still but slightly quivering in my arms. She seemed so frail, so small and afraid. I put my hand in her soft mane and smoothed her red curls. She trembled and snuggled closer to me. I’ll never admit it but I like her close. She brings me comfort. I know I have the same reaction on her. I moved my hands from her bright hair until they caressed her back gently. I smiled as I heard a familiar sound echo forth from my sister. I recognized it as both hers and my mother’s. It reminded me of my mother. Well, actually both of my mothers. The female who’d given birth to me and the she-cat who was a second mother to me and who used to hold my sister and myself in her arms.

I winced. Oh, how I longed to tell someone! If I could just tell Cheetara, anyone. I felt tears fill my eyes and slowly drain from underneath my eyelids and spill down my cheeks. They brushed my sister’s tress and I quickly brushed them away. As I did so, my palm brushed my sister’s mane. I paused to feel it in-between my fingertips. It grazed my hand, softer than the skin of a newborn. It soothed me. The tears ceased completely when my sister made that sound again. I listened, enchanted. She was snuggled deep into my side. Kit was purring. I smoothed her locks, gently. Almost accidentally, I touched the flesh of her face. The kitten opened her eyes briefly to stare up at me. I smiled down at my twin sister. She had such delicate features, so pure and innocent. How could there possibly be a warrioress in her? I knew by looking into my sibling’s eyes that she was thinking the same thing about me. What had violence done to us? Who could believe a simple emotion could do this?!

My fraternal twin nuzzled deeper into my side. I tightened my grip on her. We felt all our fun and playfulness vanish. Life held nothing but fear for us now. My mind turned to before. We’d fought in brief but almost humane fights. The adults had been careful never to let us into a REAL battle. For a time they’d succeeded but I had turned unsatisfied with the action my sister and I were receiving. I’d wanted more combat. I’d..we’d both wanted to be more involved. We were fools. Now we were stuck. The Thundercats had accepted "Nalanna" and "Gabon" as their allies. We couldn’t just abandon them. If I’d only thought before I acted. Why did I have to be curious and impetuous? Several times I’d considered giving up. No, we couldn’t. I sighed then let my gaze travel down to my sister. She trembled again but then giggled as my finger tickled her neck. I thought, "We’ll get through this together. If this war gets worse..we’ll still have each other."

She smiled and moaned slightly. I grinned myself as her eyes opened and she sat up although I still kept my arms around her. I felt the tenderness as she rubbed against me. Then she turned and stared deep into my eyes.

"Wily Kat?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you..are you scared?" Then my sister turned her face away embarrassed. I clutched her hand hard in-between mine. My pupils were staring directly into hers.

"Kit, there’s not one minute that goes by when I’m not afraid. It’s what violence does to you. It’s normal." I told her plainly, but with such stiffness I swore it wasn’t my voice but Pantro’s. She looked at me with shocked eyes.

"I’m terrified. Not really of the Mutants, Mumm-ra, or Lunatacks but of being discovered. Will the Thundercats trust us to do anything again if they find out?"

Her vocals sounded different. Strained and frightened were the only words to describe it. I didn’t know how to comfort her so I just drew her closer to my chest. She whimpered again but nuzzled her cheek into my neck. I lay back against the pillows with her pressed hard against me. She put her fingertips behind my head and I felt them brush my neck. This didn’t make me uneasy because as much of a comfort as I was to her she was to me.

I put my face into her bright waves and let her scent of innocence wash like ocean spray around me. The gentleness of her skin soothed my own fears temporarily. I knew they would never leave me fully but this was good enough. I felt her palms brush my mane from behind and smiled down at her as she buried her face into my torso.

I put my arms around my sibling’s build until they fell in the familiar valley in her back. She purred again and smuggled a small meow as I put my forehead against hers. She stirred slightly so her temple was smoothed against my chest. I put my hand to the other side of her face and felt the tender softness of her features. Then sighing lay back cuddling my sister in my arms, waited for sleep to overpower me.

Kit had her temple placed against my chest. Her legs were dangling over mine. Her weight wasn’t much of a strain on my breathing so I returned her gesture by wrapping my arms around her and clutching her young body tightly between my palms. Her lips were parted slightly; she’d kissed me goodnight before collapsing into dreams. My legs were tangled up with hers but not enough for it to look sexual. Still, I could understand Cheetara’s shock. As far as she was concerned we never slept together.

Pantro pulled her back and whispered to her, "Leave them. They both have grown afraid in these last few days, they need some comfort." Reluctantly, she nodded. Then satisfied the duo headed for the door. As they left, I heard her murmur, "They just seem so different. I wish they’d tell me what was going on."

"I wish I could Cheetara," I silently mouthed to myself. "By Jaga, I wish I could."

"Are you two all right?" Tygra asked us again at breakfast. Again my sister and I had to cross our fingers and lie.

"Yes," we answered together. He shot us a strange look but shrugged the feeling off. We just ate. We didn’t joke or kid the adults as we would normally. We were different. My love for life felt like it’d been drained from me. My only relief was being my sister’s smile. This came rarely. I know the grown-ups noticed. She used to grin every other second it seemed. Now with fear circulating through our veins along with our blood with every beat of our hearts, her smirks came luckily once a week. When they did, no longer were they of a carefree child but a mature young cat. Her joy of play had vanished along with our happiness.

"Are you sure?" the tiger quizzed us. We nodded but couldn’t help sighing. The fear and terror, it was just too much. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to just be a kitten again. But that wasn’t me. Not anymore..

She reacted just as I had, drawing away from the comfort. We didn’t want comfort. If we accepted it, it would weaken us. We were caught up in a war now. We couldn’t afford to grow flimsy.

He shot Pantro a worried and baffled look and then turned back to us. "All right, I believe you because you don’t have a fever. But if you do need help with anything you can tell us right? You can trust us."

We nodded and inside felt the last of our pride and honor melt away to absolutely nothing. We wanted to tell someone! By Jaga, I’d give anything to be able to let that extra ton and a half of responsibility off of my shoulders. I couldn’t. They would kill us if we told them how many lies and tall tales we’d told them to hide our identities. They wouldn’t throw us out. I knew that much but if they would let us earn their trust back..that was another story.

I threw Tygra’s hand off as he tousled my hair. That was what the old Wily Kat would have done. This action brought a grin to the adult’s face. He laughed a bit but then stopped when both my twin and me got up and left.

We put our dishes away then headed outside. The sun was burning brightly but it didn’t suit my mood. Nor did it provide me any comfort. My twin nuzzled up against me. I draped my arm around her. She put her lips to my neck. Her kiss was just from fear but it still made my face light up.

Suddenly, she tore from me and ran ahead. Her speed almost seemed to be one of a carefree child again but I knew better than that. Her running steps were attempts to escape her fear and regret. She knew the race was futile and she would lose as certainly as the sun would rise and set. That didn’t stop her from trying though.

I sighed but followed her. Her extensive red hair blew behind her in long strands. I ran close to her just to feel her sweet scent wash over me.

My heart was pounding with anxiously and fears. I ran beside her until she realized I was close. Then so not to surprise her drew back.

"You can come closer Wily Kat. I won’t bite." Her taunting voice called back to me. I flushed a bit but then jogged to be side by side with her. She turned to me and smiled one of her now rare grins. I returned her smile. We felt happy again for a time. Then we were reminded of our responsibilities.

"Not so fast, Thunderkittens." A hideous voice commanded as it fell from the branches. My twin and I backed up, immediately in battle stance. Slithe crept closer. I felt strength pour into my muscles from nowhere. My fear and regret dimmed then faded away to oblivion. In their place, I felt the tingling of a new hormone surging throughout my blood exercising the need for survival.

My twin jumped up and snatched two items from the treetops. One was a very thick branch and the other a vine. Tossing the vine to me she held the stick and prepared for a fight.

"Give it up, kittens." The reptilian sneered. "I have got you. Give up!"

Leaping forward, Kit cried, "Thundercats never give up!" Her staff hit the overgrown lizard hard in the side. As he clutched his wound I hurried forward and flung my whip out. It wrapped hard and tight around his pebbly left leg. I yanked hard, forcing the mutant back onto his rump. He moaned more from pain than from shock but there was still a fairly decent amount of surprise in his husky voice. We charged. Like a band of disciplined soldiers we charged. He returned our action. Then when he was exactly an inch from us, I swung my vine up, caught a branch and lifted myself from the ground. My sister dug her staff into the ground and did a flip over the reptile. He gasped and put on his breaks. My twin ran back to him and knocked his legs out from under him. I grabbed hold of his ankles with my whip and pulled him up into the air. He howled.

"Let me down! Let me down! Yesss!" he cried. My glance turned to Kit who smirked again. I smiled and said, "All right!" With that I released the vine. Slithe hit the ground hard. Sitting up rubbing the back of his head, he glared at me. Then slowly he began to advance toward us. My sister shot him one look and he hesitated. I turned to her to try and read her expression. It said plainly, "Don’t even think about it, if you value your life." I guess he valued it plenty because he turned tail and ran. As he disappeared into some scattered trees my sibling shot me another grin along with a high five.

We sighed again as we headed for the Lair. True we had won and we fought for a good cause but that didn’t help. You see, after fighting for a time we had learned that right or wrong it doesn’t help the memories. They still return to haunt you. Violence circulating throughout your veins and arteries, tears open your soul and empties the pure feelings in it. Like a mortal disease, it crawls over your insides. First your liver and spleen. Then, it moves from there and attacks your lungs. This makes your very breathing bring memories of death, pain, and bloodshed. Finally, it affects your living, beating heart. Each beat brings regret and pain. I closed my eyes as I walked, struggling to forget.

"Hey you two!" Tygra greeted us, sounding surprised. "Decided to come home early?" We didn’t lift our heads but nodded. He then joked, "All right what did you do? You’re never this solemn. So what happened?" We laughed. It seemed strange. I knew very well why. I could not recall the last time I’d laughed. It was a while back. Now when I thought back to who I’d been before, it seemed like a distant story. Almost as if the child I was looking at wasn’t me but a friend I’d just met. I barely knew who I had been. The fear and pain, it had changed me. Too much.

Doleful air swam around our heads rapidly later that night. The older Thundercats chattered away but my sister and I sat hunched over our meal. We never looked up from our dishes. We ate mechanically, not even tasting our dinner of steak, potatoes, and green beans. After less than a minute, the adults had gotten the message we didn’t want to talk. It was the battle between Chilla that kept running through my brain. After cleaning out our portion we got up and put them in the kitchen. My sister headed ahead toward the stairs. On her way, Snarf brushed past her, touching her leg roughly.

"Careful Snarf!" she cried. The cook whirled around and rebuked her.

"Don’t give me any smart talk Wily Kit! I am not in the mood to deal with you, Snarf, snarf!" He would have gone on but Kit stopped him. She grabbed him, rather roughly and pushed him against the wall, maybe a yard off the ground.

"Do. Not. Touch. Me." She hissed, pausing after each word. "I don’t want to hurt you."

"Would you really abuse me, Kit?" he asked sarcastically. My twin’s eyes were burning with anger as she answered him in an acid voice.

"Do. Not. Tempt. Me."

"Kit! Snarf! What’s going on?" Pantro demanded as he entered the central hall with Tygra behind him. Both turned to him. Tygra spoke out then, in his listen-to-me-or-you’re-in-big-trouble-young-lady-voice.

"Wily Kit, put him down." When my sister hesitated he added in his stern I-am-going-to-tan-your-rear-if-you-don’t-voice, "Now Kita."

Oohh, Kita, her birth name. She was definitely trying his temper. They never called us by our birth names. Once she was called by her birth name. That was about a year ago. He found her fiddling around in the lab. He really got mad then. I remember after he lectured her she got spanked again for the first time in seven years. Then, on top of that put to bed without dinner. She obeyed.

Snarf hit the ground hard after Kit dropped him. Pantro turned to me and said, "Wily Kat, Snarf, Tygra please leave. Kita Nicole, you stay. I want to speak with you." Wily Kit knew she’d gone too far. I left but my sister told me later what happened.

My twin sat down on the couch as Pantro looked at her with crossed arms and a tight mouth. She silently prayed for courage. He was angry. She could see that much. So she prepared herself for whatever would come and waited.

"Kit what is wrong with you?!" Pantro demanded. My sister kept her mouth in a straight line. If she started talking, she knew that she would blurt out our secret. We couldn’t risk that happening so she kept her mouth shut.

"Kita Nicole Cunning, you know better than that! I don’t care how angry or upset you are, that still gives you no right to talk to Snarf like that! Nor do you have the right to hurt him as you did!" the adult exploded. My sister lowered her head and muttered, "I know. I lost my temper!"

Pantro seemed to cool off a bit. He knelt down in front of Kit and parted the curtain of mane that had fallen in front of her face. "Kit, you’re stressed. Why? You and your brother have been acting differently! What’s up with you two, by Thundara?"

Kit jumped up and grasped the ends of her hair. Tugging she screamed, tears streaming down her face, "I can’t tell you! I want to! Jaga, I would give up my honor to be able to tell you! I can’t, by the Code of Thundara, I can’t!"

With those words, she looked at Pantro’s shocked face before bursting into sobs and tearing out of the room.

"Wily Kat, Katen wake up." I opened my eyes and sat up. My eyes searched for the source. When they found it I fought the urge to cry out in shock. Standing beside me was Katren. Katren’s my deceased father. My face turned colder than ice and whiter than snow. He sat down beside me. "Don’t be afraid. I came here to tell you I’m proud of you. Your sister too. You are accepting horrors into your young hearts because you love the Thundercats. Do not be ashamed."

I felt a hand on my shoulder. "But don’t let fear take over your life. It will come, that cannot be prevented. However, it’s takeover of your life can. Fight it, my son. Fight." Then he vanished.

I woke up. My heart was pounding. I glanced over to Kit. She trembled in her sleep. Remembering my dream I strode to her, a fierce determination in my heart.

Bravery Has A Price

PART 2: Bravery Will Surface

Sitting on my bed beside me was Kitra. My Mama. Her long red mane framed her face as they spiraled to her waist. She turned her lips up at my shock-ridden features. Then to soothe me the female put her hand against my cheek. I sobbed out loud at the very touch of her. My face turned into her older palm I cried. I’m not ashamed to admit it. It had been so long since I had felt her touch, too long. She wrapped her arms around me and drew me close to her breast.

"Hush, Kita." She commanded me. I could not hold back my tears. I wept. I felt as though at that moment I cried all the tears I had within me. For that elapsed time she rocked me in her arms. It had been so long since I’d felt the comfort of her arms. My mind began to flash dozens of memories at me. One in particular stuck out in my brain…

"Mommy!" I howled in a panic as I ran into my parents’ chamber. My twin brother followed close behind me. He pretended he was pursuing me but I knew better. He was just as frightened as I was. My mother sat up in bed as we both leapt onto the double bed. My father wasn’t there. He had gone to the Thundercats Lair where we would be moving, Thundercats now, soon. My mom caught my brother and I in one of her arms. We shivered and nuzzled still deeper into the warmth of her love. I sighed and grasped my twin’s hand. My mother’s hand caressed the surface of my mane. I moaned and put my face into her chest. She rocked us both. I felt a soothing noise reach my ears at that point. I heard it at first as a slight vibrating murmur. Then I finally realized what it was. Purring, my mom held us and purred. I slithered deeper into her. If I had known.. that was the last time she would comfort us. The next day Slithe injected her with liquid Thundrainum. A year later, on Christmas morning, moaning in pain, she died.

"No tears, my daughter. That has passed. It was my time. Death is inevitable. Something that will happen to us all. Yours will come but later. Your brother’s too but both of you will die warm in your husband and wife’s arms. I need to tell you something."

"Then tell me, Mommy." I sighed into her bosom. Her fingertips brushed my chin and lifted my face so I stared deep into her pupils. The face was a pale peach. But the area around the lips and eyes were a lighter shade, almost white. I guess she looked like me. Everyone says I get my looks from her. Her eyes were oval but the pupils were vertical like any other cats. Unlike my own reddish-brown pupils, hers were a bright blue. Deep in the pits of her sight organs, was a color blue so dark and pure it’s beyond mortal description. These eyes stared at mine friendly. Her lips were slightly turned up but were small, puny but softer than the mane of a unicorn. Her long red tresses were loose and flowing, stopping just above her waist. Her dress was of a light blue pigmentation and was slightly tattered.

My father’s mane had been of the blackest midnight dark color. When my brother and I were conceived in our mother’s womb, the two traits had mixed giving each of us a strip of black in a dominant red coloring.

"I’m proud of you Kita Nicole. Never before have I felt such a wave of admiration for you and your brother as I got as I watched you two fight along side your elders."

I blushed. "But we’re lying!"

"You have good intentions. That’s what counts!"

"Mama, I’m scared. Sometimes I don’t know how much longer I can do this."

"The courage of a fearless warrior lives within your DNA Kita. Draw it out. Have no fear my child. Mother is with you." Then she faded from my sight.

"Mama wait!" I called out. Sitting up in bed I reached out to where she had just been. No, a dream. As I laid back down trembling, I heard the voice again; "Mother is with you."

"Kit, Kat. You have got me concerned." He admitted drawing closer to us. By an instinct that had forced its way into us over the past weeks, we backed up. We drew away until we were pinned against the corner.

"See, this is what I mean!" the tiger exploded. My twin noticed my fear from out of the corner of his eye but kept his gaze on Tygra. "You two never used to act like this! Now whenever we get close to you, you draw away as if we had the mumps or something! So Thunderkittens, by the Code of Thundara, what’s up with you!?"

"I…" I stammered. His angry words scared me. I stopped and turned my face from him, so he wouldn’t see the tears as they rolled down my cheeks. Wily Kat threw his arms around me protectively. Then he turned back to Tygra. The adult wore a look half-angry, half-sorry. Also his eyes held a look of shock in them. I gathered enough courage to turn my gaze up to my brother. I almost didn’t know him.

He held a look of anger. It was an expression I never saw before, at least on his young face. His eyes were narrowed and his lips pinched so tightly together they turned white. He silently mouthed to Tygra, "Nice going. What now?"

Tygra obviously dumfound by my brother’s features paused. I fought the urge to run and turned to face the gentleman. Tears were streaming from my eyes but I didn’t care. I was scared. The responsibility, it was too much and I was way too young. Suddenly it hit me, the whole of the risk we were taking. We might die! Jaga, I was going out that very day to face possible death and I couldn’t even tell him. If it had Lion-o, Snarf, Pantro, or Cheetara maybe it would not have hit my heart with such force. But Tygra was like a father to me. I had run to him with my problems ever since I could remember. I could stand it no longer.

Still clutching my brother’s shoulders I let out a high sob. I pulled from my brother’s warm grasp I fell to the ground. One palm flat against the ground I felt the tears come. They came in great rushes. Spilling from my eyelids like floods of sorrow they tumbled down my cheeks and trailed against my neck in long streams. I felt two large hands clasp my shoulders so hard that I would have sworn it was a strength only Pantro possessed. I knew better though. Peering through teary vision, I saw a concerned Tygra looking right at me.

"Wily Kit! Oh, Kit I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to yell. Don’t cry please! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!" he begged me as I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my face deep into his chest. He put his fingers into my mane and graded my tresses. He put one arm under my knees and pulled me up into his arms. I buried my tearstained face into his bust still harder. Oh, Great Jaga, it was so hard! My overemotional mask lifted to a slight sound from beside us. It was my brother. He was trying to hide his pain and fear but I knew. After being with him so long I knew. I motioned for Tygra to put me down. Rushing to my sibling’s side I wrapped my arms tightly around him. He returned my gesture until my breasts were ironed against his torso. We stayed like this until Tygra grew uncomfortable and departed. As soon as the door shut we charged outside before the sorrow, regret and fear overcame our determination.

"Wily Kit?" My brother asked as we walked along the riverbank.

"Yes, Gabon?" I hinted him to call me Nalanna. He flushed but continued.

"Nalanna, do you think we should always be together like this?" He asked. I could see his point. The two warriors were cousins not twins. If we were together too much it would get suspicious. I nodded and took off to the right. My brother banked left.

"See you at the village in an hour, couz." I called. That was a sign to meet back at the Lair in one hour. He shot me a grin, followed by a double thumbs-up, before disappearing into the branches. Almost as soon as he was out of earshot I felt my body pin to the ground. Screaming with surprise, I whirled around. Chilla was standing over me. Before I could do a thing she charged down at me.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" I felt a sharper pain than fire penetrate my left wrist. Forcing myself to look, I saw that she had plunged a knife through my wrist, locking me to the Earth. Then laughing, she twisted it in a Three hundred and sixty-degree turn. I screamed as the blade snapped muscles and fractured bones. Then from nowhere courage came. I drew my legs up and kicked her off. Ignoring the pain shooting through my injured arm I jerked the dagger from my wrist. Turning a flip I landed on my feet. Body tingling with energy and pure hate, I charged her. The blade hit her in the chin. As I listened to her screams, I drew my staff. She fell. I beat her hard. Into the ground I hammered her. I stopped only when the pain in my arm overcame the hatred. She crawled away like a slug. Glancing down at my wrist I winced. Tygra needed to tend to this. I could not go as Nalanna though. I stripped off my mother’s uniform and then glanced down at my Thundercat wear. I tore one sleeve off. Then reduced my skirt to rags. Mud was sprinkled over me. When I finally stared to limp back towards home, it looked like hell had hit me twice. My thoughts were jumbled. The battle had been quick. I knew though. They had gotten worse. The pattern would continue. So would my feelings. See, win or lose, good or bad, regret is and always will be regret.

Instantly, I altered my course to follow my sister’s howl of agony. With each step my anger and hatred grew more and more. Then from the trees I heard a cry that could only belong to Tug-Mug. He aimed his gravity cannon at me. I just was not in the mood to put up with him. Not now, with my sister’s shriek echoing throughout my mind. I charged straight at him.

He laughed aloud at my outburst of emotion. "Foolish child! Do you really think you can take on Tug-Mug?" I stopped. Then I turned to that hound and snarled. Like a full-grown lion, I drew my lip back over my teeth in rage. Then I charged again. The Lunatack raised his cannon. But he didn’t fire it. No, he brought it down toward my head. He was trying to crush my skull! I had grown too smart for that though. I easily jumped out of range and felt the breeze from his forceful blow as the cannon made a hard impact with Mother Earth. He yelped in surprise. I used his moment’s hesitation to my advantage. Yanking out my whip, I easily pulled his gun from his hideous fingers. Then, in a rage I charged toward him. Grasping his arm I bent it behind his back. Pinning him to the ground with my knee, I twisted it. The surge of hatred was still gushing through my blood. Oh the rage I felt. The temptation to turn the limb until I heard a crack was so strong all I saw was pure red vibrating in my eyes. As a matter of fact it was too much. Kneeing his spine more, I curved the arm more. He howled in pain. Unable to hear anything but, "Make him pay, Make him pay!" I closed my ears to his cries. I spun the limb until I heard it. Grinning I listened as I added still more force. A sickening but somehow soothing crunch. The joint bent curved then snapped completely. Once the arm-hung limp, broken, I got up. Then I purposely grabbed the injured arm. He shrieked again. My strength forced the body off the ground and away from gravity. I flung him. He collided with a tree to my far left. Unfortunately for him, this meant flying through a boulder. My strength combined with his weight forced a body shaped hole in the side of stone. He managed to hit it with his injured arm. Too bad.

"Ahhh!" his cry echoed throughout the forest. I ran past him, still seeking my sister. As I dove over him, a sharp pain entered my chest.

"Ahh!" I shouted in anguish. Glancing down swiftly I saw a large cut across my chest. It was deep and already beginning to gush blood. Ignoring the stinging pain I turned to him. Unaware of my own strength, I punched him. The next thing I saw where teeth. Two teeth flew from his mouth. I ducked and grasped a limb in-between my fingers. I swung it at his face like a club. He moaned and backed up. I swung again. I don’t remember much. Just me swinging. Then I lowered the branch. The front end was soaked in blood. I bit down a huge wave of nausea. Then I tossed the baton aside and turned my gaze back to Tug-Mug. He was gushing blood. But even so I sneered. I turned back once more to him before leaving and declared, "Stop your quivering. You’ll live. Be grateful for that!"

I found Kit near the Lair. She was sprawled out, face down in the grass. Already from the wrist of one arm was a dank dark pool of bright red blood. I fought the panic in my pounding heart and dropped to my knees beside her. My left knee began to sink in her gore but I didn’t heed. My hand slipped underneath her neck and I lifted my twin into my arms. Her eyelids were closed and her face solid white already. My heart cracked like a stone and bled. Then I lifted the heavy burden to my shoulder. She stirred and cried semi-consciously, in immense pain. Tygra needed to help her. I caught sight of the Lair and rushed to it, Gabon cradling an injured kitten girl in his arms.

"Thundercats!" I howled in my strange voice. Tygra and Pantro responded almost instantly, followed closely by Cheetara. Lion-o must have been at the Tower of Omens. Knowing Snarf, cleaning. Cheetara was immediately aware of worry and anxiously, by her sixth sense. But it was Pantro that reached me first.

"Great Jaga!" He cursed but swiftly took Kit from my arms. Tygra wasn’t far behind.

"Wily Kit!" the tiger begged, clutching her hand. "Kita by Thundara answer me this at least what happened? What’s wrong?"

With a voice so faint I could scarcely hear her, she stammered, "Chilla…my.. my ..left..wrist."

"Say what?" Cheetara demanded smoothing her hair to stop her sweating and trembling. Neither Tygra nor Pantro had heard her. But Gabon had.

"She said, Chilla, and her left wrist." I cut in, translating. Tygra immediately nodded. Then took a look at my sister’s wrist.

"Great Lords!" he silently cursed. Then said, "Bring her to the sick bay. I need to close this wound. Now!" Pantro nodded and followed. Cheetara followed close behind. With a minute’s hesitation, I followed her path.

"Will she be alright?" I asked, still acting Gabon. Tygra turned to me and smiled. I guess I had sounded very concerned. This was someone I supposably didn’t know very well.

"Thanks to your finding her so soon, yes." He answered. "Which brings me to ask: How did you come about her?" Pantro, Cheetara, and Snarf turned to me, nodding.

"I heard a scream in the forest." I responded. "It’s my instinct to go to anyone in need." They nodded, grinning as if what I’d said was something they served as well. Duh, genius, I reprimanded myself. They do. Hello!

Suddenly I felt a sharp pain shoot throughout my chest. I gasped from pain and clutched the wound.

"Gabon! What is it?" Pantro demanded placing his palms on the tops of my hands. I fought back a curse and looked up with wounded eyes. My gaze turned once more to my upper body. Shaking I pulled my hands from my chest. The tips of my fingers were dotted with blood. The palms of my hands were stained redder than fire. Tygra instantly rushed over.

"Lunatacks," was all I said as he ripped open my clothing to better examine the wound. He pressed the area around it. I didn’t even wince. The war had made my tolerance for pain stronger than stone. My skin was stained bright brown from the sun. It was no longer a pale orange. There was no way he would tell it was me.

"Can you stay a day or so?" he asked. "I really need to dress this lesion." I glanced to Kit. She stirred slightly. She would recover. Still…

"A few days perhaps," I said as the loss of blood attacked my vision and slowly I passed out.

"All right." She responded truthfully. "The pain’s almost gone. How’s Gabon doing? He needs you more than I do."

"Gabon’s fine, Kit. " Replied the adult. "He’s actually a bit better off than you. His added strength gives him a big advantage." He paused, then looked at my twin oddly. Suddenly a big grin highlighted his face as he carefully examined my sister’s arm. "Since when do you feel concern for boys, Kit? You seemed interested in Gabon in my opinion." His smile widened as Kit slowly drew away her face. He turned her face back. "So you like him?"

"Yeah," she answered a bit too quickly. "I mean as a friend yeah. The guy’s saved my life. It’s typical to have some feeling for someone like that."

Tygra laughed. Then he decided to drop the subject. After giving my sister’s wound a good rubbing of ointment he thumbed her nose and then told her not to worry about their guest. No one was worried about me because Kit had said I stayed a week or so to help Willa. I can say this about the girl, she can improvise.

"Gabon?" a soft feminine voice called as the door to my chamber slowly opened. I turned my face to the door in time to see my sister walk through.

"Yes, Wily Kit?" I asked trying to sound like a mature warrior. She smiled again for the first time in weeks and sat on the edge of my bed. I pulled myself to my elbows to be closer to her.

"I just wanted to see if you needed anything?" was her response. "I want to help you. You saved my life. I owe you."

I leered at the way she shoved back her bright red waves. Pulling out a rubber band, the cub bound her hair behind her ears to keep it out of her face. I looked right into her eyes and told her what I thought of her.

"Kit you are not in my debt. I can tell from the way you look at me, if it had been me on the forest floor, you would have done everything in your power to get me help. You are a true warrior."

The kitten diverted her face. I smiled at the way her skin burned a deep red. Then she got closer to me. I felt her touch the flesh of my back. Unlike a regular brother I didn’t draw away from her touch. No, instead I let her fingertips graze my hind. The gentleness of her skin soothed me. I felt the young cat smooth my aching muscles. She put her face so close to mine I felt her warm breath brush my neck. Then a softness so intense I nearly thought it was my own mother’s touch graced my cheek, silent as an ocean breeze. I looked toward the source. Kit had placed her cheek against mine. For perhaps the first time in my life, I saw my mother in her. Cheetara hadn’t been fooling. Kitra did live on, in her daughter.

My twin sat so her palms grazed my chest, now bare and oily. She giggled and pressed her ear there. She listened to my breathing, seemed to sigh with relief, before finally drawing away. I looked deep into her eyes. Oh, what I couldn’t do without her! She wasn’t just her. She was also me. We were one…

My heart throbbed. The older cats thought Gabon and Kit were falling in love. They kept giving me that awful oh-my-little-girl-is-growing-up-look. Aug! It was enough to drive anyone insane. My twin was still playing Gabon, slowly recovering in sick bay. It was the day before Gabon left that it happened.

"Snarf, snarf, Lion-o, Pantro, Tygra, don’t you think Kit’s getting a bit too involved with Gabon?" the nursemaid asked as he shook his head when I immediately left the kitchen for the sick bay.

"I don’t think so. Why Snarf?" Pantro asked as he gathered dishes. Tygra took a stack from the table and scrubbed the hardened food off in an ocean of suds.

"Well…" the furry animal was obviously hesitating. That was enough to scare Tygra and Pantro into action. They didn’t even like the sane images popping into their brains let alone the insane ones. So they stopped what they were doing and headed straight for the sick bay.

"Yo, Gabon." I joked as I entered the room. My brother laughed aloud and moved aside so I could sit on his bed’s edge. I immediately sat down beside him. He took a curl of my mane and started twirling it around his finger. I put my hand on his and put the top of his hand to my cheek. He laughed again as I lay down beside him.

Snarf tore ahead of Pantro and Tygra. He seemed more concerned about my involvement with our visitor than the adults. Still he always seemed to be the paranoid one. He was always deeply involved in my plans. It ceaselessly bugged me. I do appreciate some privacy.

Anyhow, the trio quickly reached the sick bay. Snarf darted his head in the door before turning back to the adults. As they crept closer, he put a finger to his lips. The Thundercats nodded and Tygra grasped Pantro’s hand. The tiger wrapped his bolo-whip around the two, turning them invisible. Then feeling lower than dirt, the team, sneak into the room.

I sighed as my twin’s fingers brushed my neck gently. I wasn’t scared as much anymore but the fear was still there. His touch still calmed my fears. I nuzzled closer until his chin penetrated deep into my tresses. Most of it was pulled behind my neck in a ponytail but some strands still hung loose.

Suddenly, I pulled away. I turned my face and stared deep into my brother’s eyes. I looked at those organs for a while. Then unaware almost, I drew my hand up to my hair. Shaking my head I pulled out the rubber band and let my warm mane cascade to my white narrow shoulders. He wrapped his long arms around me and I felt his warmth and security sweep over me.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" a soft voice cooed. I slowly felt my eyes flutter. The first thing I noticed was that Gabon (Kat) was still clinging to me. We had hugged and talked until sleep overcame us. The second thing I noticed embarrassed me. Standing above us, were Tygra and Pantro. By plain instinct, I shot up and threw his hand from around me. I then glared at the adults. The two merely laughed.

I scowled. Then, I quickly rose from the shared bed and left. I closed the door gently but inside I was boiling with anger. While I had talked and hugged Gabon, they had been watching. The whole time, I had had absolutely no solitude. It ticked me off. I ignored their calls after me. They wanted to talk to me. No! I would not speak with them. They had lied to me. They had promised not to spy on me. How dare…

Wait! Stop! Linger! Decease! Wasn’t I doing the same thing? It shocked and haunted me. If they felt as angry toward me as I did to them. Oh, what in the name of Jaga had I gotten myself into? Why hadn’t I backed off? What if I had resisted? What if I had accepted the action I received? What if I had tried harder to talk Wily Kat out of it? The number of "whatifs" plagued me. I could have turned this around! But…I hadn’t! Jaga, I had not! If only I had! If only…

Stop playing what if! My mind was swarmed with the amount of "whatifs" Every minute that passed by they multiplied. Then the multiplies would double, then triple. Then the triplets would multiply. Then the multiples would double. The cycle went on and on! Besides that there were other thoughts in my brain than the whatifs.

Swimming throughout my consciousness, were memories. Memories of war, battle, bloodshed, and regret. They came back to endlessly bother my heart. They never stopped! Even as I sat down on my bed, they came back to haunt me with horrors. Oh, if only someone knew! Then, I could run to them and they would comfort me! I wanted comfort! I wanted someone to love me and soothe my fears. I had love but the fears were still there! Someone! Anyone! Help Me! End this pain! End it! Do you hear me!? Stop the terror! Then with my heart bleeding and ripped of honor and comfort, I fell into my pillow in a sea of sobs.

Gabon picked up his bag and prepared to head down the stairs. He would go home and then return as Wily Kat. Willa had finished the secret project herself. If the Thundercats didn’t follow my brother we were good.

He smiled past the Thundercats up the stairs. I was standing at the top. He made a gesture with his hand. Unsure what else to do I obeyed and walked back down the stairs to join the rest of the group.

"I want to thank you too, Kit." He said. "You’re great company. It was nice to have someone about my age to talk to." He smiled and I turned away my face, a light blush spreading over my cheeks and neck. I heard a small laugh. I whirled my face around to find Tygra and Lion-o silencing their smiles with the backs of their hands. My face grew sweaty and burned redder than a tomato. I quickly diverted my eyes. My gaze fell back to Wily Kat.

He shot me a bright grin. I beamed. All right maybe, I was falling for him. It wasn’t love, LOVE, though if you get my drift. No, war and violence can draw you closer to a person. It sure did for us. I ignored that. Tygra spoke up then.

"Say Gabon, we were just about to eat lunch. We have plenty of food. Won’t you stay for a quick meal? You could use the showers to freshen up before returning to your village. Also nourishment will help you recover faster. Please consider won’t you?"

My brother turned to the rest of the Thundercats. They all nodded. Pantro declared, "Yeah, stay a bit longer kid. We wouldn’t mind the company one bit. Right Kit?" he shot me a look as he said that. I refused to look at him but nodded. I knew the rest of the Thundercats were shooting me lovesick grins. I flushed slightly.

"Gee, that’s really nice of you. I guess a little longer won’t hurt." He responded. He turned to me and smiled. Despite I had blushed twice already, I felt my face redden again. This final emotional display made everyone, including Gabon, laugh. I blushed a deeper rosy shade. After a minute we all reentered the Lair.

Gabon decided to wash off a bit before the meal and took the upstairs shower. I decided to freshen up a little myself and took the downstairs bathroom. As I laid down my clothes on the counter and stepped into the sanctuary of warm water, I heard muffled bits of conversation in the near-by-dinning room.

"Snarf, snarf, I told you guys, someone’s in L-O-V-E!"

"I think we’ve all agreed on that Snarf," Cheetara admitted. I just knew a smile was highlighting her face. Pantro and Tygra laughing. Lion-o reluctantly joined in, in the joyful bliss.

Sighing, I let the warm water run over me. It was normal for the war to draw me closer to my brother but the adults were not helping. On the contrary, they were making this situation worse. I sighed again and moaned slightly as the wet water pulled my bright mane to rest on my damp, white, shoulders. It soothed both my aches. Physical and emotional wounds were temporarily dressed. I shampooed my tresses. The suds rose high as hills on my head. As the water occasionally brushed sections, they spilled down my face onto my neck in long streams. But it felt so good! Jaga, it helped! I could have almost guessed the war had never happened. Until the water brushed my left wrist. Then the soap would mix with the water in my open wound, making it sting. I washed thoroughly. It helped a lot. All my pain almost evaporated. I almost loathed to leave the shower. I did though. Quickly I dressed. I joined the others in the dinning room. Lion-o told Gabon to take Wily Kat’s seat, beside me. I shot my lord a look. He merely smiled upon me.

Sighing I put one hand to my forehead. Uh, I had never had such a pounding headache. My brain felt as if it was being squeezed tighter and tighter. Someone had most assuredly been using my head as a drum. That is exactly how it felt. That’s how much it hurt. I quickly looked up as Snarf brought in the food. Ham, potatoes, green beans, macaroni and cheese, and rolls, my favorite foods was what he wheeled in. Normally I would have dived for it. This time, I just waited until they were passed to me then only took a small amount.

My brother chatted with the adults but I remained very solemn, very quiet. When Snarf said, "dessert now." I kept a firm face. It was harder than stone, which was a very good description of my heart about then.

"Wily Kit?" Snarf asked.

"Yeah?" I responded. My mouth felt dry and my eyes were a little watery. He shot me a expression I couldn’t read then asked me something.

"I fixed cherry pie. How much do you want?"

Sighing, I replied, "None, thanks. I’m just not in the mood."

He was shocked. He tried to hide it but I knew. He merely shrugged it off and distributed pieces to our guest and the others. After all the dishes had been put away, we went back outside to see Gabon off.

"Well, thanks again, Thundercats." He called swinging the bag over his shoulder. He was greeted with smiles and you’re welcomes. Then he stepped up to me. I smiled at him. He returned my grin.

He then pulled a chain from around his neck. It was of fine silver and had a ring strung on it. It was a silver ring and I recognized it. It looked almost; no completely identical to the ring seen in a lot of old love stories. He looked at the older Thundercats then turned back to me.

He was nervous. I could tell. He took my hand in his. Then he ripped the beautiful ring from the chain and slid it onto my finger. I glanced down at the gorgeous thing.

I don’t think in all my years, I had ever seen something that represented as much as that small ring did. It said a lot. It screamed, ‘I care.’ I gulped then turned my gaze back to Gabon. He shrugged.

"Just a little way of saying thanks for being friends with me. Most people think I’m a weird kid because I’m a warrior. You just acted as if we were equals. I appreciated that." He confessed. Then he shrugged his shoulders again. I shot my brother a grin.

Suddenly, I longed for his touch. I wanted to feel his lips against mine again. I didn’t LOVE, love him but I did have fear in me. Every time he touched me, I felt comforted. I knew the war was worsening. I also knew we might not always be together. I wanted to be with him while I could. But I didn’t make the first move, he did.

He ignored the fact all the adults (even Pumyra, Lynx-o, and Ben-Gali) were right there, watching us. The child took the bag from his shoulders and threw it on the stairs. Then I felt his stronger, manly arms wrap around me. I threw my arms around his neck. Putting one hand on the back of my head he drew me closer to him. I cocked my head and felt my eyelids flutter shut. The next thing I felt was his warm soft lips against mine. He tightened his grip on me and swung me up and around. As my feet reconnected with the cool cement, I regretfully felt him start to pull from me. I held him fast and kissed him once, twice, before I slowly opened my eyes and pulled away. He smiled once more at us, shot us all a salute, and then picked up his bag as he headed for the forest.

The older cats followed him to watch from the base of the stairs but I remained at the top. I turned from the sight. I already missed him. I knew he’d be back but still with so much fear and danger, being alone terrified me. I smiled and turned around as a familiar guest called back to me.

"Later Princess."

All the adults turned their heads to see my reaction. I beamed and waved to him calling, "I’ll be seeing you, my Gabon." Then I blew him a kiss. The sun highlighted the ring I wore on my right hand so it glimmered like a diamond.

As I turned back to the door, I sneezed. Wiping away my saliva, I suddenly felt a image. It was filled with terrors and endless regret and fearful nights. I just knew it couldn’t be just a daydream. It was too real. I wasn’t sure but I could have sworn that it was a premonition. And I didn’t like it….

Part 3: Sickly Warriors

Scarcely able to pull myself into a sitting position, I rubbed my eyes. "Snarf?" I asked.

"Yep, Snarf, snarf. I came in to see if you were up yet. We were getting concerned." He answered as I shook my head. I then sighed.

"Well, I think this is about as awake as I’m gonna get." I confessed. "I’ve slept better."

"Snarf, snarf, Kit you’re still in those same clothes you were wearing yesterday!" he exclaimed, shock clearly present in his voice. I glanced down. Jaga! He was right! I must have fallen asleep with my clothes on. Great, now I was short one outfit. I started to get up but then dropped back against the pillows, groaning. My legs felt empty as if there had never been any strength in them. I could not have walked if my life depended on it. But it was more than weakness. My head was pounding harder than a hammer. Trying to ease the pain, I put one hand to my forehead and gently massaged my temples. It only helped a little. I moaned again. I had forgotten that Snarf was still there.

"Snarf, snarf, are you okay Kit?" he inquired, putting his hands on my hands. I slowly nodded but could not help sighing again. I was really relieved the other Thundercats hadn’t woken me when they dropped the newer cats off at the tower. I would have most likely greeted them in a very wrong way. Still, I wished that the pain I was feeling was just temporarily. Deep down though, I guess I knew it wasn’t. I had forgotten Snarf knows a real sick child from a faking-healthy one.

"Nice try Kit." The nurse commented me. He jumped up onto my covers. I sighed as he pressed his left paw against my forehead. He let out a yelp then felt my chest before exclaiming, "Great Jaga! Wily Kit you are burning up!"

I looked at him, weakly. "Really?" He nodded. Then he pushed me down before pulling the covers back over me.

"Rest kitten." He ordered me in a no-nonsense voice. "I’m going to get Tygra."

I sat bolt up. He couldn’t get Tygra! Oh no! I would tell! I knew I would! "Snarf, no!" I protested. "It’s just morning pains really! I’m fine!"

He smiled at me.

"In the meantime, kitten, you need your rest. Go to sleep. I’ll be in the lab so if you get feeling any worse just give a shout."

I groaned. "I don’t think it’s possible to feel any worse."

He gave me a worried look. "Does it hurt that bad?" I nodded. He thought for a minute then reached into his pocket. He pulled out two pills. I obediently swallowed them. Almost as soon as I did, my vision grew blurry.

"That should help you sleep." I heard him say. Then he placed me down on the bed and tucked the covers up to my chin. I trembled as a cool compress was put against my burning forehead. He smoothed it out then gently kissed my temple.

"What could be affecting her?" Cheetara asked the architect as he sat in the lab, going over the symptoms in his mind. The tiger looked up at her and shrugged.

"I don’t know, Cheetara but I am not too worried. Most likely it’s just a case of the flu or something. She’ll heal faster if we can keep her in bed." Responded Tygra as he drank another sip of water. The cold season was just starting to come in. it wasn’t surprising that I’d gotten sick. He suspected my brother would be hit next. Then most likely it would affect the adults before disappearing.

"I would normally agree but what about the high fever?" she asked, a small hint of panic in her voice. Tygra turned to her. He sighed but tried to reassure her.

"That’s the one thing that bothers me. A normal infection will have a fever but hers is right up there. Generally an illness like that will have a fever but it starts low and rises. Right away hers was high. It can’t rise much higher or she’ll be entering the danger zone." Tygra sighed and sat his hand to rest against his forehead.

"Is there anything I can do?" the she-cat asked.

Tygra smiled. "If you can manage, I would appreciate it if once an hour someone checked on her for an increase or decrease in fever. As I said, we need to watch for a rise in temperature."

She nodded. As she rose to head out, she asked, "What about her brother? He’ll want to see her-"

"Don’t!" he cried suddenly. Cheetara backed up in shock. Then she waited calmly for Tygra to regain some control. He swallowed then spoke again.

"Don’t let him. He will want to be near her but not now. She might be contagious and he’s weaker than we are. The very last thing we need is BOTH the kittens bed-ridden."

She nodded once more before leaving. She sighed to herself. Putting a hand to her forehead she moaned before going downstairs, in search of my brother.

"Cheetara no! You can’t keep me away from my twin sister! I’m her brother!" my twin argued with the adult. She sighed once more and put her hands on my brother’s shoulders to keep him still.

"Wily Kat, I’m sorry! But Tygra’s right. Your sister might be contagious. The last thing I need is TWO sick kittens on my hands! I’m sure you don’t want to be sick either!"

My brother turned from her. Then he asked in a stone-cold voice, "How long will she be sick, you think?"

She shrugged. "We really can’t say. Could be a day or two. Or it might stretch to a couple of months."

My twin exploded. "Months! You’re gonna keep me away from my sibling for months?! No! You can’t keep me away!"

The grown-up sighed again. "Wily Kat, I don’t like it any more than you do. I hate to put it technically but as your legal guardians, yes we can keep you from her."

My brother glared at her. I could NOT blame him. If it had been him sick, I might have slapped her. My twin later told me he pinched his fingers to prevent him from doing just that. Then, he ran outside shouting over his shoulder, "I hate you! I hate you!"

Cheetara slowly walked back to Tygra. He had entered the room right after my brother slammed the door behind him. He lifted the she-cat’s head and hugged her. She sighed into the male's chest but there were no tears. She was a fully-grown cat. They felt pain but were good at disguising it. She sighed again and felt Tygra tighten his grip on her.

"How’d he take it?" the feline asked. Cheetara groaned.

"About what you expected." Was her reply.

"ohhh," he murmured. "well, don’t take it personally. We’ll just leave him be until he simmers down at a bit." She nodded and so hand in hand they went up the stairs into my room.

I was cold. No, I was hot. My throat was killing me. My head was pounding. I wasn’t content but I was sad. I was angry. I was lonely. I was hot but was trembling as if I was in twenty-eight-degree water. My hair was matted to my face. Sticky it stuck firmly to my skin. I felt flushed and cramped. My chest had a weight on it. My breathing was strained. Each inhale was a struggle. My lungs felt inflamed and burning. The very draw of air rubbed their sides like sandpaper against an open and infected wound. I slowly turned and still shaking slightly moaned.

"Wily Kit?" a deep gentle voice asked off to my right. I felt slopes in the mattress as two bodies were lowered onto it. I knew I should look but couldn’t muster the strength. My heart knew it was some friends. I groaned in response.

"Uhh,"

"Okay Kit we get your drift." Cheetara muttered. I felt her gentle palm placed against my forehead. This was followed by a prompt shout.

"Oh, Jaga! She’s hot! Tygra, her fever just rose at the very least two degrees. Maybe more!" there was a pure tone of distress and panic in her older voice. I felt a stronger manly hand press against my face.

"You’re right." He confessed. "Cheetara, we have to bring this temperature down. Go to the sick bay. Take all the rubbing alcohol you can find and empty it into that large metal tub. Then I want you to get the sheets in the laundry room ready for a patient." She nodded and instantly took off. I felt Tygra pick me up. I moaned again. His touch hurt.

"Sorry Kit. What hurts?" he asked me kindly. I managed to find the strength in my body to slowly lift my lead eyelids so I could see. His face was blurred but I knew it was Tygra. His face took on a pitied look. My eyes were watery and glassy. I could move slightly but talking was completely out of the question.

Whimpering just from the effort, I managed to tell Tygra what was giving me pain. I drifted my palms to my forehead and held them just above the skin. My skin felt brittle as paper now.

"Okay, your head hurts." He acknowledged. "What else?"

I didn’t know it but inside his mind he was taking what my symptoms were and was trying to connect them to a specific disease. "All right," the tiger thought. "Her head. That could be several things. I need more info."

Sighing, I gestured my friend’s eyes to my throat. It wasn’t what hurt the most though. I decided to take it one thing at a time though. Meanwhile my doctor was thinking, praying, "I really hope it’s just Strep throat. I really do."

"Okay, and your throat." The feline noticed. "Is that all?" I noted a definite sign of hope strained in his older, deeper masculine voice. Yet I couldn’t say yes. Slowly I shook my head.

"No?" he asked sounding surprised and maybe a tad bit worried. "What else Kit?" I sighed and drew in a deep breath. I winced as I did so. Jaga, it hurt to breathe!

As I got ready to point to my chest I coughed. Putting my hands to my mouth, I coughed again. Then still again. And still again. Jaga, I couldn’t stop! Besides that, my passages to my lungs felt squeezed and clogged. I tried to inhale. I couldn’t! Great Jaga, I couldn’t breathe!

I fought the urge of a panic. Then a strong hand slapped my back. It opened my lungs a bit. It wasn’t a lot but Great Jaga, it was enough. I drew in air. Breath after breath I drew in. Each one was a struggle. But as I breathed I noticed that through my struggle, each one grew not easier but tougher. My mind was wondering, "If I’m too weak to walk how can I possibly fight?"

I shoved these thoughts aside quickly and concentrated on breathing. After several fights of wheezing, I managed to breathe somewhat normally again but I was still gulping. Tygra drew me closer but somehow managed to do this without putting any weight whatsoever on my torso.

"Let me guess." He sighed as I gasped for some more oxygen, "Your chest right?" Gulping in another precious cloud of air, I nodded slightly, intense on my respiring. He let out a little sigh.

We had reached the sick bay. Just as Tygra had ordered her, Cheetara had emptied tons of alcohol into the tub in the very center of the room. Tygra sat me down on a pallet on the ground. I then saw him get over to check it.

He nodded and seemed pleased. Then he returned to me. I looked up at him, weakly. He sighed again but then knelt beside me. Putting his fingertips on my skirt, he unbuttoned it and tossed it aside. Cooing a little to me, he pulled my hair up over my shoulders. Soon afterward, I felt his fingers brush my flesh as they scrambled to unbutton my leotard. Whenever he happened to touch my fur, I couldn’t help moaning slightly. His short claws felt like razor blades to my delicate skin. As the last button came unfastened, I felt his hands slip the clothes off my bare white shoulders. Lastly, he slipped off my girdling. It was somewhat cooler, now that I was absolutely and completely NAKED.

The adult scooped me up in his arms. Gently, he cradled my frail form in his arms. Slowly, softly he lowered my form into the pool of alcohol. It was so-o-o cool. It soothed my aches. I felt a soft material, wet, graze my back. I turned my head. It was Tygra. He washed my back with a damp washcloth, soaked in some sort of herb. It smelt like cinnamon almost. More importantly, it cooled my burning limbs. Tygra gave me a pretty decent washing. Using some herbs and spices, he bathed me. It made me a bit sleepy but Tygra had warned me. After a thorough scrubbing he took me from the tub. My temperature was still one hundred and two but it had dropped. I just remember being carefully put into a nightshift and then slid under nice cool sheets. I would have most definitely dosed off almost instantly but it was the sharp pain in my chest.

I turned my eyes to Tygra. He sat down in a chair beside me. He smiled at me sympathy present in his more experienced eyes. I sighed, with a raspy sound in my throat.

"Kit I think I know what’s wrong but I still need a blood sample to be sure." I knew what he would ask next. Half asleep, I held my arm out to him. His laughter reached my ears followed by, "don’t even have to tell you eh?" I sighed and that ceased his chuckling. I felt him grasp my arm and rub a section with alcohol again. The next thing I felt was not a prick of a needle but a Band-Aid smooth over my elbow. I hadn’t even felt the prick.

"Okay, I’ll analyze this and get back to you." He told me. I merely nodded. I was tired. But I was half-afraid to sleep because I might wake up unable to breathe. It terrified me.

As if he could read my mind, Tygra turned to me. I sighed and turned back to him. "I know it hurts to breathe doesn’t it?" he asked me. I nodded, fighting back tears. He merely smiled again and reached into his pocket. I opened my eyes enough to see the tiger take a tube of..something out of his suit. He pulled my nightshift up so that my chest was exposed. I felt a slight coolness then. He smoothed whatever was in that hose over my ribs. Almost as soon as he had touched it to my skin I swore my bronchial tubes unlocked themselves. I could breathe! My lungs were still burning and I knew that something was still clotting my lungs but the breaths did come a bit easier. That helped. My eyes closed. With the placing of a washcloth on my forehead, Tygra left me.

"He’s resting in his room." She answered. "Poor thing. He came in this afternoon and he looked beat. I would have sworn he’d just been in a fight. No, that doesn’t make any sense I know."

"all right, we’ll leave him. But Tygra did you say you had finished analyzing Kit’s blood?"

"Right but..it’s not good Thundercats. There is good news and bad news." Tygra admitted.

"What’s the good news?" Pantro demanded. His eyes were glaring with concern and worry.

"Well, it won’t kill her," was his solemn response. They all let out sighs of relief. Too soon as it turned out. Then Tygra continued with the bad news.

"But it doesn’t mean the symptoms can’t kill her. Her breathing’s raspy and unfortunately the medicine’s I have can only help ease the pain. She has to stay in bed to heal completely. That could take as long as two months."

"Two Months!" Pantro exploded as the others let out surprised gasps. "Great Jaga what does she have?"

"Thundercats…she has pneumonia." Was Tygra’s only answer. Cheetara’s face turned pure white and she laid her face deep into her palm. Pantro groaned and sighed. Finally Lion-o let out a very low moan.

"All right." The young lord finally said, "What can we do, if anything, Tygra?" the older feline turned to his leader. The tiger sighed a tad then answered Lion-o.

"I wish there was more we could do but so far there isn’t. Really the only thing you can do is keep her cool and a salve, rich with herbs and spices, rubbed on her chest. It opens up her lungs and makes her breathing easier. Unfortunately, that’s about all."

"All right." Lion-o acknowledged. "I think that we should keep checking on her. At the very least once every two hours. That should help keep us informed about her present condition." His teammates nodded. Then, calmly they left the council room to go about their daily activities.

Mutants! No, there were also Lunatacks. They were surrounding me! Then Slythe spoke but with the strength and clearness of a Thundercat.

"Courage will surface." I trembled. "It only rests unheeded until needed." Suddenly, he wasn’t himself but Jaga. "It only hides until it is needed. Then a hidden warrior will emerge from the hide of a frightened kitten. A warrioress that has never heard of fear. Fearless, a fearless one will rise. Fearless, fearless…"

I woke up. My heart was pounding. This caused my hair to stick more so to my face. In long strands it stuck to my fur firmly. My face was even more flushed from the nightmare. It just seemed so real. My breathing was even more strained now. Great.

The door opened then. Cheetara walked in. I turned to her with watery eyes. She sighed and sat down beside me. I looked at her. Her face was so clean and fearless. The mane whipped around her face in bright yellow and black strands. I put my temple into her breast. She put one hand in my hair. I moaned. Oh, everything hurt!

"How are you doing kitten?" she asked gently. I couldn’t help whimpering and gagging a tad. Every second my breathing became harder and harder. I inhaled. It worked, this time. The air filled my burning lungs.

I shrugged. "Where’s my brother?" I couldn’t help asking.

She smiled. "I asked him that myself. Do you know what he told me?"

I grinned despite the pain. "I probably won’t be surprised. But what did he tell you?"

"He said, To go destroy my heart. Isn’t that weird?"

Shaking my head I muttered, "No," My own mind knew what he meant. To go practice was where he was. I sighed. Cheetara drew me as close as she dared, from my heat and the pain building up in my chest.

"When..when he gets back can you send him in? I really miss him." I begged her.

"Gee Kit, Tygra said-"

"Please!" I howled ignoring the shooting pain throughout my lungs. "Please, Cheetara! My lungs are already failing. Do you desire to destroy my heart too?"

She turned to me and smiled. Then she put her mouth to my ear. "Don’t you dare squeal on me." I sighed with relief. I could not tell her about the dream but I could tell my twin.

"I think I want to sleep some now." I confessed. I wasn’t really tired but I wanted some time alone. She grinned again, kissed my forehead, then left. I laid back. Wheezing I inhaled again. This time air did not come. I struggled to breathe again. Nothing! I tried to at least cough but couldn’t. I had no breath left. None at all…

Bravery Has A Price

Shoving this thoughts aside, I trudged on, going even deeper into the woods. Vines hung down on me. They fell in loops, which reminded me of the whip I used in so many battles. Unlike before, when I had cowered in memory and wept over the blood that had shed this time I didn’t even flinch.

I don’t know what had happened to me. I don’t think I ever will. If my twin and I grow up and live more years than it took the universe to form all it’s stars, I won’t ever know what happened. There were times when I sat up in bed and tried to figure out my soul and heart. My mind was very bright, (I’m not bragging. Pantro tested my sister and me. We both have an above average I.Q.) but it couldn’t figure out the change. Neither could anyone.

Suddenly, I stopped. I’ll never know why. I just stopped and closed my eyes. I was trying to shut out my fear of the unknown. I wanted to know why I wasn’t afraid anymore. It had happened over a series of days. It wasn’t like, "Oh, I fear NOTHING!" all of a sudden. No, it was more like each day I was thinking, "Oh that doesn’t scare me much anymore." Then it was like the fear sort of evaporated. Not completely because everyone has to fear going into battle. Only loons are fearless. I just wasn’t afraid much at all. My mind had taken the situations that I’d been through and reviewed them.

I had sat for a very long time thinking about the battles. There was only one time I realized when I had had a decent fear. I had been in the range of a knife so my life was threatened. The other times I had been terrified from pure idiot-screaming-we're-gonna-die-panic. If I stopped to think it through, I could out-think any mutant. With my twin’s help, anyone could lose to us. The Thundercats’ motto, "Together we stand, divided we fall."

That is why the Lunatacks hadn’t been able to overtake Third Earth. We were helping the adults so the whole of the team was battling. So, really…nothing scared us now.

My sister was a bit different than me. When we had gotten into the battle she had cautioned me on points I missed. She was like an advisor or something. I suppose she looked upon me like a leader. I didn’t like the responsibility on my shoulders anymore than she did. But we both knew that in a battle I was most likely to come to a decision fastest. So, that blasted talent earned me the role of leader. Her more cunning mind earned her the role of a crazy strategist. Okay, not crazy but she was a bit, no, a lot more daring than me. She was the kind of girl who will do anything no matter the cost, for goodness to triumph. She was a true warrioress. At times she seemed afraid but I knew that in a fight all her meekness faded away to absolutely nothing. In it’s place beat the heart of a fearless soldier. Her fearlessness was both an advantage and weakness. Unfortunately, she was the most moral twin too.

This was a total screw-up on our DNA’s head. She would be the most likely to permanently injure a villain in combat but would regret it longer and more than anyone else. But every gift comes with a price tag. In this case the price was high.

Now me, I’m brave, I guess. I don’t rush in without thinking though. I’d started doing that when we got stuck in this stupid war. I was not gonna make that same mistake again.

She was lying ill in bed now. I was on my own. I had practiced for a time but let’s face it; my heart wasn’t in it. She had lots of courage to spare. It kept me going. Now not only was she sick but I was forbidden to see her! Great Jaga, being in this war was enough! Now my very sibling, my only family left, was taken from me. What’s next? My life?

Life! My sister’s was in danger! I knew! How? I don’t know! But just the same I knew! My heart stopped. I really think it did. Then as it gradually began beating again I raced back towards home, ignoring the shooting pain in my lungs.

I burst through the door going maybe seventy miles per hour. I tore to the stairs and charged upstairs, taking the steps three at a time. My chest felt pressured but I shoved my own concerns aside. My sister’s were ten times, a hundred times more important. Ignoring my lord’s orders to keep away from my twin, I barged through the sick bay’s doors. My sister lay still, sleeping.

Too still I told myself. I raced to the bed and dropped to my knees beside her. Wily Kit laid still, her eyes closed, hands clammy, chest collapsed! Jaga no! She’d stopped breathing!

"Kit NO!" I cried as hot streams of tears spilled down my cheeks. "Tygra! Get IN HERE! KIT’S IN TROUBLE!" I beat on my sister’s chest begging her to get up. No! She didn’t even stir! I didn’t even realize what I was doing!

I put my mouth to her lips and forced open her mouth. Putting absolutely all my will into it, I pushed as much air into her clogged lungs as I could. This left me wheezing. I neglected that and put still more of my air into her poor inflamed organs. She still didn’t move!

"TYGRA!" I shouted again. "GET YOUR REAR IN HERE! THERE IS A LIFE IN DANGER HERE!"

I heard the brief sound of feet scuffling and bodies racing toward us. I hit Kit on the chest again. I didn’t know it but that loosened the deadly fluid in her lungs. I put my mouth to hers again. I heard the door open and the adults rush in as my last breath of air was pushed into my sister’s bronchial tubes. As Tygra got to my twin’s side, she choked. I felt my heart start again. Tygra helped her sit up and hit her back until she was breathing easier.

"Kita!" Tygra gasped, scared half-to-death. "Wily Kit are you okay?"

"Air!" she moaned inhaling deeply. We all, (being Tygra and I) backed up so she could have more oxygen. After a time she could talk.

"Yeah, I guess." She managed to mumble. Her breathing was easier. Tygra had immediately smoothed this salve on her chest that seemed to open her lungs more than I could. Fever had dropped on her but I felt hotter than ever. I hadn’t even had to run that far but felt like I had sky dived into an active volcano.

After Tygra forced some medication into her, my twin slept. As soon as she was asleep Tygra pulled me outside by my arm, rather roughly, I might add.

"Wily Kat!" he shouted. "What were you thinking? Her own saliva might have choked you! I TOLD you to stay away from her!" At each word, the tiger shook me. He shook me until I got dizzy and tumbled to my knees.

Unlike the old Wily Kat who would have burst into tears, I merely got back up and looked the adult in the eye.

"Does violence accomplish anything? You shake me like a tremor, until my world swarms with disoriented images. If you will give me a good reason why I should not have breathed for my own sister, I will listen and consider. Reason will prevail when force fails."

For about five minutes, Tygra stared at me hard. I suppose he still expected me to start crying. No, I was maturing. The violence had hardened my back to one of solid steel. The insaneness of the war had changed my tolerance level. No pain, no matter how intense, could make me weep.

Finally, the stripped cat spoke. In a voice brimming with admiration, he said, "You’re right. I’m sorry Kat. I’m just worried about your sister. Still that gave me no excuse to take it out on you. Forgive me."

I waved my hand dismissively, clearly saying, "Forget it"

Tygra smiled at me then thumbed my nose. I sighed. He lost that admiring look to one of intense worry.

"Wily Kat, go to your room. I’ll be right there. I think your voice’s raspy. I want to check you out." I shrugged but went. Great, but then for the first time, I realized that my head, throat and chest were all throbbing.

"Lay down." He instantly told me as his hand was drawn away. I felt dazed and he pushed me down against my sheets. I normally would have rejected his action of undressing me but allowed it this time. I felt too disoriented to do it myself anyway.

He stripped me down until I was nude then cradled me in his arms. I was too confused to realize how warm I’d grown over the days. I knew now though that I was sick. My joints felt hard and my chest weighed down. I only realized where we were when I was slipped into a bath of spices and herbs.

Tygra didn’t dare to leave me alone. He took an herbed washcloth and scrubbed my fur with it. My face, legs, arms, back chest, and bottom. He only stopped when the medication sank into my skin. Then I was lifted from the sponge bath and put in night garments. Too weary to walk, I allowed the stripped tiger to carry me to bed. He didn’t put me in my own bedchamber.

Instead he brought me to the sick bay. There was now an extra bed there. He’d most likely told Cheetara to make one as we had moved down the halls. I’d been too dazed to notice. I still felt pretty dazed. He lay me down on cool sheets and I felt a cub’s hand brush my cheek. It was my sister. I clasped her own hand tightly in mine. I noticed the light smoothing of medicine on my chest. As he’d done with Kit, Tygra drew blood and as with Kit I was too ill to feel it. I felt a cold compress put on my forehead as I tumbled into bewildering feverish dreams.

"Oh, no! Not him too," Pantro called as he strolled into the sick bay. Tygra nodded.

"Unfortunately we have another pneumonia patient on our hands. I’m glad I caught it. The worse thing is to be running around with an illness."

The two cats looked at us, sleeping, clasping each other’s hands.

"Great," the two mumbled. "Just great."

Bravery Has A Price

My ears caught a brief squeak as someone’s shoes slid across the bare tiles. My heart knew that it was a friend but my eyes couldn’t gather the strength to open. I felt a feminine hand brush my chest. It was too smooth to be Cheetara’s so that only left Pumyra.

Pumyra was one adult I was very close to. She had been an official physician on Thundara. So her training was valuable on Third Earth. I felt her delicate fingers brush my chest center. She applied a tiny bit of pressure on my ribcage, just between the breasts.

In reality, her repression was probably only the weight of a small butterfly. One with flying wings. The colors of the rainbow swirling around on it’s wings. It fluttered from tree to tree until the branches caught flame around it. They swirled in circles. Finally, the wings of the butterfly broke and splintered, catching in the vivid spiral. The wingless creature let out a hideous cry as the body caught fire and became the centers of two hideous bloody circles. Then gradually the flames died down and melted down into two vertical pupils.

She felt my forehead. I groaned. Her touch felt like hammer blows to my delicate skin. She moved her hand, slowly so not to break my skin. She examined me for about five minutes. Then finally she got up and turned to my brother. She repeated the same process on him. Wait! What was he doing here? He could not be sick? Could he? I didn’t remember.

"Wonderful," the med. Student mumbled. She turned around to see the others. She made her eyes link with theirs. "It’s a good thing you guys called me. Their fevers have risen immensely. In fact they’re becoming delusional. If it gets worse they might even start having seizures."

"Great," Lion-o commented. "Is there nothing we can do?"

"Yes there is. I wonder if it would help them if they had medicine constantly entering their blood."

"How do you propose we do that?" Tygra cut in. "Do you have any suggestions?"

"Yes,"

"Well, let’s hear it." Pantro butted in. "I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to stand them looking so helpless. Right now I’m open to anything. How ‘bout you guys?"

All the Thundercats nodded. Snarf and Snarfer were at my brother and my bedsides, grasping our palms tightly.

"What are you thinking Pumyra?" Snarfer asked clutching my fingers even tighter between his. He put one palm to my mane and smoothed my sweaty hair away from my face.

"Yeah, anything that can help." Snarf added. He got onto my twin’s bed and pushed his tresses back into the rest of his mane. It was just as damp as mine was if not more. He sighed and put a nice cold compress on my brother’s brow.

"Well, how about this," the puma asked. "I’ll hook the twins up to an I. V. Maybe it’ll help to have medication constantly dripping into their bloodstream."

The weeks turned into months. My chest never stopped throbbing. I was doing better but was still deadly sick. My own hand never once left my twin’s. It was late one Friday night that it happened.

I awoke from a horrid pain in my heart. It was almost like an electric shock. My heart stopped. Unaware of the uneasiness, I would feel I sat up. My brother was lying still unmoving. My scream carried throughout the walls of the Lair.

I grasped my brother’s wrist. There was no pulse! None! In a panic, I screamed and began beating on his chest. Almost angry I began screaming, "Don’t you dare leave me! Don’t you dare!"

Pumyra came in as the tears began to stream down my fiery cheeks. She instantly began pumping oxygen into my sibling. He gagged, coughed, but began breathing again. My heart restarted. Then I felt a gentle hand brush my mane. It was Pumyra.

"He’s okay." She assured me. "But I do believe if you hadn’t began beating on his chest, he wouldn’t have made it. He’s lucky to have you for a sister." Then she smoothed my hair and left me.

The next morning I was feeling better. Good enough, in fact, that I felt like sitting up. I still had to lean against the framework to stay up, I wasn’t completely well. I grew dizzy if I sat up on my own. Still it was certainly an improvement over the past few days. Even my brother felt good enough to sit up. Until Snarf came in with warm soup and water for our breakfast, we made some fun of the day. We played this old game we still enjoyed but didn’t engage in much. We played Mind Agility. A more common name for it is Paper, Rock, and Scissors. We call it Mind Agility because you make things up on the spur of the moment.

"Let’s put some more fun into this." My twin suggested. I smiled at him, my brother, my Wily Kat. I gave a weak playful punch on his shoulder. It wasn’t very hard because of my diminished strength. At least Pumyra had taken out the I.V. during the night. She knew that it was strong stuff.

"Like what, Kat?" I asked. My brother smiled again. Then he took my hand and traced the marks on the palm. I looked at him but didn’t pull my hand away. We’d grown closer. I couldn’t.

"How about this? The loser of three games has to serve the winner for an hour, doing whatever they want."

I beamed. I loved a challenge. Nodding, I said, "Sure, I swear I’ll serve you if I lose."

"Me too my word’s as real as-"

"-The lines on my palm." I finished. He nodded.

"All right," he said shaking his left fist, "One, two three."

We both jerked out our hands. His was scissors, mine rock.

"One two three." This time mine was paper his still scissors. We were tied. I beamed. We began to dart out our palms when the door opened. Pantro and Tygra rushed in, practically hysterical.

"Kittens!" Tygra cried rushing over to hold me. I smiled as I jerked out my right palm as rock and hugged Tygra with the other.

"You’re up!" Pantro commented. He gave my brother a brief squeeze, not wanting to embarrass him. Then he shot out his hand in a rolling motion so it hit my fist.

"What’s that?" I demanded as Pantro and Tygra looked on in sudden interest.

"Thundertank, I win." He gloated. I grabbed his arm roughly.

"What do mean I lose?"

He laughed. "Rock smashed scissors, scissors cut paper, Thundertank smashes anything. I didn’t invent it."

I crossed my eyes at him and everyone there burst out laughing. I grabbed hold of my brother’s mane and gave it a brief pull.

Suddenly, the door flew open. Cheetara tore through in a panic. "Pantro, Tygra, come on! Lunatacks are attacking the Warrior Maidens!"

Tygra and Pantro instantly jumped up and tore out muttering, "I really hope Nalanna and Gabon come. We’ll need all the help we can get."

As we heard them leave, Snarf said, "Don’t worry about the Thunderkittens. I’ll keep them in bed." My brother and I looked at one another. Great, we got dizzy even standing up. Now we had to fight. We weakly crawled from bed. As I stood up, my head spun and my chest throbbed. We pulled on our parents’ uniforms and stuffed some pillows under the blankets. Grabbing our weapons, we started outside.

"Lunatacks, hold it right there!" I cried as I raced onto the scene. All my weariness had faded away. The only thing I felt was adrenaline pumping throughout my veins. Oh, the insane rush. The Lunatacks are history. They’ll regret coming here! I felt a slight whiff of uneasiness but ignored it. I had been stuck in bed. I was sick of being sick and helpless. Now I was pumped and someone was going to lose some teeth. Maybe a limb or three. Depended on if they made me mad or not.

I drew my staff and took on Alluro. The rest of the Lunatacks were busy with either my brother or the other Thundercats. He smiled and began to draw his psyche club. I glared and darted forward. My staff connected with his left hand.

"Hey!" he protested. I whirled in a circle hitting his head. He put a finger to a temple trickling blood. As he did I hit his knees. He howled in pain. Intense agony was rippling throughout him. I’d heard the snap as the kneecaps dislocated. I slammed his body into the dirt. My staff became a bat in some psycho’s hand. I pounded that miserable creature into the Earth. He groaned. This only succeeded in making him cough up blood.

I suddenly pitched forward. My head hit a branch. For a sec that disoriented me. Then suddenly I was back into the fight. I began to grow frightened. Because I wasn’t scared. That was concerning me. More than that, I was having a bit of fun! I was able to take out my vengeance and I was enjoying it. Sure it was fun hand on hand but I wondered would I grow more cautious if I had to go into Skytomb? I didn’t have an answer. Maybe I didn’t want the answer.

Eventually, the Lunatacks fled. Lion-o turned to us all. "They got the sword."

I gulped. "Great," I thought.

"What good will it do them?" Tygra asked.

"Simple," I butted in. "They know you’ll come after it. They want to set traps for you." They all nodded.

"Nalanna, Gabon," Cheetara cut in. "You’ve helped us so much but..We might need warriors like you to deal with Skytomb. Can you meet us tomorrow at Cats’ Lair?" we merely nodded.

"Thanks." All the adults chorused together. I stifled a giggle with the back of one hand. They suddenly took off toward the east. Toward home, in the Thundertank. They were going to check on us! Shoot! My twin and I ran through the woods, warp speed. We stripped down to our Thundercat wear as we did. Great, I thought, They were powerful enough to get the sword from Lion-o. We’re in big trouble yup!

My twin and I tore upstairs just as the tank pulled into the hangar. We’d just leapt under the covers when Tygra and the others came in. "How are you two doing?" He asked. We shrugged. He ruffled our manes then softly left us to rest he said. We needed it. As the door closed my brother and I thought, "Wheew!"

I sighed but nodded. Tygra refused to let us out of bed. He’d consented to let us be moved back into our bedchamber but still told us to stay in bed. I tried to tell him we were fine but he didn’t listen. Now he would listen to every single word Gabon said but no, I was just a kitten.

"Now," Tygra said as he pushed me back down. I started to say something but he put one finger against my lips. "You two are to stay in bed, do you understand?"

My twin sighed. "Tygra, by Jaga! We are fine! Great Jaga, we aren’t going to be sick the rest of our lives you know."

"Kit, Kat, I want you to stay in bed. Is that understood? Promise me that you’ll stay in bed."

I sighed. My breathing was normal again but he refused to listen. I was only a kitten, cub, and a child who knew nothing of war. Yeah, right. Still, just so he’d leave us be I responded, "Okay, okay, sheesh."

He smiled, thumbed my nose, and then gently swatted my cheek. I sighed. Man, the unfairness of it all. I was still a mere kitten in the other Thundercats’ eyes. They knew nothing of my other life. As Gabon I was a warrior. When I went into battle as a Thundercat I rarely was put within range of our enemies’ weapons.

My life as Gabon was completely different. I was usually within range of implement of war. Several times already I’d been shot or cut. I also knew that this was merely the beginning of a large cycle of violence. Knowing the Lunatacks, they were inventing some new-fangled weapon now.

I gazed at my sister. She was writing in some journal of hers. Sometimes I wondered if something inside of me had made me decide to do this. At first, my twin had been reluctant. Several times Kit had awakened at night with nightmares. Now ever sense we got ill, she hadn’t been afraid. It’s true. She had literally turned fearless overnight. Now that we were caught up in this war, she unleashed a warrioress that had been hiding inside her since birth. I’d seen it as she beat on Alluro at the recent battle. In her eyes burned joy. Excitement surged through her veins as she fought. There was a ruthless soldier inside her somewhere. But she remained moral, somehow! How I have no clue.

It made absolutely zilch sense to me. If anything I should have been the more daring one. I’m less moral. I’m not immoral. I’d been raised by my mother to be more moral than most boys. It was just natural for the more moral twin to be female. They have softer hearts than males.

Yet despite this she was a deadly warrior. We hadn’t killed anyone in this war yet and wished to remain that way. I didn’t want to become an adult with someone else’s blood on my hands. I didn’t want to die with sins like that on my head.

Still, it was more than just fighting to win. When we fought, I found myself longing for VIOLENCE! Of all things, I wanted more violence. The more violence the more action! The very thought of an adrenaline rush to survive made me giddy. Even when I thought of invading Skytomb, armed to the teeth, I was happy! Great Jaga, I wasn’t afraid, I was excited! More forces far more action. That’s what bugged me. I had no fear, none. I was completely fearless.

"All right little ones," he said just to annoy us. I glared at him. He merely shot me a grin. "I talked to Pumyra and you two can go outside again. I want you to take it easy though, all right?"

My twin and I shot one another grins. We turned back to him and shrugged. He raised one eyebrow at us. Then for good measure, slowly crossed his arms across his chest. I put up my hands in a x.

"Okay, okay. Jeez," my sister remarked. The tiger smiled and left slowly. I turned back to her. She nodded. Man, we were so sick of being stuck inside. Instantly, we leapt up and donned our uniforms. Racing downstairs we came upon Pantro.

"Well, kittens," he greeted us. "Feeling better?" we beamed and nodded. As we tore past him toward the kitchen, he laughed. I shook my head and rolled my eyes. As we entered the kitchen I saw Lion-o and Snarf, sitting at the table, drinking coffee. Yuck!

"Kit, Kat!" Snarf called as we sat down at the table. "How are you feeling?" Lion-o said nothing but shot us a smile.

"Bored out of our minds." Was our response. " We’re so sick of being stuck inside. If we are stuck in here for one more hour we’ll scream."

Lion-o chuckled. "Well, I value my ears so why don’t you two go outside?" We smiled. My twin got to her feet and I quickly followed her to the kitchen door. She halted by a bowl full of warm and sticky cinnamon buns, oozing icing.

I quickly glanced at the two older ones. Grabbing a bun in each hand I ran outside, my sister right behind me. She met me under our favorite climbing tree. It was an old oak, with large thick branches. She leapt up in a very thick branch and settled herself down. I followed her. She held out her hand and I handed her a large bun.

We ate. Greedily, I might add. It wasn’t stealing but still we didn’t know if Snarf was saving those buns or not. Oh well he was only short by two. What could come from that?

After eating we ran to a creek. For once we didn’t practice. We’d just come from being sick in a battle. We deserved a break. Even Wily Kit agreed on this one. She was the Warrioress dash insane strategist. Yet despite her usual determination her face was one of a tired little girl. When I turned to her she was swinging off the vine, over the water. Her long red mane fell down so the ends grazed the surface of the liquid, leaving teeny ripples.

We took turns swinging and jumping into the creek. For about two hours we were content. Then Lion-o’s summons reminded us. We had to play Nalanna and Gabon again. Rushing back to our chambers we grabbed our things and quickly donned the newer outfits. Meeting the Thundercats in the council chamber, we received the welcome of heroes.

"Nalanna, Gabon! Welcome!" Lion-o greeted us with a tiny bow of his head. He swept his arm to the two empty chairs, indicating for us to have a seat. It was our seats, Wily Kit and Kat’s. Is this what happens? Do guests get our seats? The older Thundercats seats are never given up! Are we too unimportant to waste time saving our seats especially for us? I did a slow boil. My eyes were practically red with anger. I had learned how to control my temper however.

Snarf waddled in, cradling a large basket in his small palms. I recognized it. It was the bun basket. Secretly, I reprimanded myself. He offered it to first Kit (because she was a young woman and ladies first) then to me. As filling as the first one had been I found a hidden hunger in me and reluctantly took a second.

He would have offered them around. They would have found they were minus two. Kit and Kat would have been reprimanded. But Kit saved our necks.

"Oh, if you are going to run out, I don’t need one."

"No, I wasn’t going to offer them around." Snarf hissed, worried through gritted teeth.

She shrugged but put one piece of bun into her mouth. He beamed. For a time there was no talk. Then regretfully the lord started the conversation.

"Well, I have come up for a plan to break into Skytomb."

I broke in, "Let’s hear it."

Lion-o smiled at me, no, at Gabon.

"Well, unfortunately, it’s very risky."

Kit smiled, "A risky and hopeless fight is the best kind."

Pantro smiled as Cheetara rolled her eyes, kidding, saying, "Oh no, a female Pantro."

"Well there will be two teams. One will have to go through Skytomb’s air vents, while the others distract the Lunatacks as the first group searches for the sword. There will lots of recklessness involved but really the first group will be in the most danger. Any volunteers?"

"I do." Kit spoke up. All eyes turned to stare at the youthful female. She grinned. "Gabon’s better at distractions."

I nodded. Lion-o then said, "Okay, Team A will consist of Nalanna, Tygra, Pantro and Ben-gali. Team B will involve Pumyra, Lynx-o, Cheetara, Gabon, and myself. I’m risking lots of lives so let us all pray."

Kit stood up, "Lion-o what you just suggested is insane, crazy and very violent."

"Yes," he started, "But-"

I raised one hand silencing him. My twin and I turned to smile at one another. She nodded, telling me to speak for us both.

"But," I continued, "May all the lords in heaven save our souls," She joined in with me. "We like it."

Part 4: Secrets and Lies

Tygra, Pantro, and Ben-gali lay low right behind me. "Nalanna" had moved her team to several large boulders near the base of the stronghold. The scanners could locate them but that was a risk they were about to take.

"So," Pantro whispered urgently. "Now what, Nalanna?"

I turned around to look at him. His face wasn’t afraid but excited. That explained how I was feeling. I shot the three males a grin. My soft lips drew back revealing straight white teeth. Tygra looked at me strange as if he knew me from somewhere. I quickly answered before he could quiz me on anything.

" Well, I guess we wait for a opening to appear."

"That could take hours!" Ben-gali protested. Tygra put a hand on his friend’s shoulder.

"Ben-gali’s right Nalanna. We could be stuck here for hours." Tygra said, somehow keeping a complete calm in his voice. I slapped my forehead. Struggling not to completely blow up, I spoke in a low whisper, trying to conceal my anger.

"Do you have no faith in luck?"

"No," Pantro answered me sternly. Truthfully I didn’t either but I was trying to come up with a ploy to buy time. I don’t think I succeeded.

"Well, I do," I continued. "Now I also put lots of faith in my big cousin over there. I do believe he’ll speed luck up by about-"

"I’m right here if you want me!" my brother shouted leaping from the woods into plain view. The Lunatack guards instantly abandoned their posts and ran over to him. I gave a silent prayer to Jaga to protect my brother than finished.

"Now. Let’s go!" I ran forward with the older cats right behind me. Leaping onto a narrow post, maybe two inches wide, I hoisted my body up using the strength in only my arms. Then, keeping my balance glanced back down. The adults were staring up at me, like someone in a coma. I hadn’t realized how high a jump that had been. They were on the ground, maybe five feet down. That doesn’t seem very long but I had jumped it without the aid of machines.

They shook themselves out of their trance and began climbing up after me. I waited patiently and met them inside. They were more cut from the loose gravel on the citadel’s side. Like typical males, they didn’t admit that they were in pain. Guiding them inside to where we could stand with slouching, I rolled my eyes.

"All right, reoow," Ben-gali stated the obvious in his growling voice. "We’re inside Skytomb. Now where do we start looking?" Tygra turned to Pantro. Both shrugged. Then as if on cue, the three all turned to me. I raised my eyebrow at them but then despite myself, laughed aloud.

"Well," I asked. "Where’s the first place that they’d expect us to look?"

Tygra answered. "The dungeon of course."

"What good will the first place they expect us to look help us?" Pantro demanded.

I sighed but then smiled. "Simple, Thundercats, you go to the opposite place. In this case, the control room."

"Now why didn’t we think of that?" Ben-gali asked, muttering to himself. I rolled my eyes again. Then I looked around at the elder ones. They stared right back at me. Then I sighed. As I turned to the air passage, I fell to my belly and crawled motioning the others to follow. Reluctantly they did.

I lead the way to an opening. The mastery room, just beneath us. Even from up in the ceiling I saw that I’d been right. I had to sigh though. I could easily spy the traps that laid before us.

I elbowed the vent and the wire grid fell to the ground. Grasping the ledge of the ventilation shaft, I swung down until my feet dangled the whole twenty feet above the floor.

"NALANNA! WAIT!" Tygra cried in a panicked voice. I ignored his words as he scrambled toward me. His fingers were inches from mine when I let go. The ground immediately began rushing up at me. The control panels that had first been as small as ants enlarged. Now they were large stones. I diverted my fall to direct me closer to the wall.

My young eyes caught sight of the large pole sticking from the hard marble. It looked like a cool naked flagpole. The body was very narrow and made of clean alloy. The shimmering stick glimmered in the pale light. The end held a large globe of cast iron that held a color brighter than the sun’s rays.

The gymnastic skills that I’d learned recently snapped into reflexes. My hands flew out at a hyper speed. Fingers encased the steel titanium at a brief brush with the metal. My elbows bent which resisted the pressure of the steep fall. I turned myself upside-down and my skirt tumbled down to hide my face. I quickly turned so my knees were hunched over the edge of the rod and my rear was seated on the post as if it was a chair. I looked down to see how far it was to the ground. It wasn’t very far. I slipped off the slick alloy and fell again. My knees curved as my feet connected with the ground. The movement of my joints reduced the strain as I hit the cool tile. Turning awkwardly on my feet I gazed back up at the others. Again they held a look of total amazement. I rolled my eyes again. Great Jaga, I wasn’t a goddess. Yet they were looking at me as if I was the she-god of gymnastics and war. I reached into my pocket and tossed my rope up to them.

Tygra caught it on the first throw. Pinching the cable between his short claws he swung down. As he came to a rest beside me he turned and threw the cordage back up to Pantro. The Grey cat caught the fibers of red and joined us on the ground. Finally Ben-gali united with the rest of us on the hard cold tile floor.

"Whoa." He said simply. I turned to where he was gazing. The traps surrounding the Sword of Omens were immense. Still as I glanced at the danger I was running right into I smiled in giddy delight. Great! Action!

Pantro whistled softly through his gritted teeth. I drifted my gape to him. He was looking at the large series of violent tricks with near-amusement. I couldn’t blame him. I felt the exact same way.

"Well," I stated. "Let’s go!" I raced forward with Tygra and Pantro just behind me. Ben-gali followed them. I came to a stop near the super-long hallway. The triggered corridor led right up to the case that held the Sword of Omens. I quickly surveyed the obvious traps. There were several traps in the floor. I had no clue what lay in the bottoms of them but I had no desire to discover the answer. With milky white nozzles ray guns stuck out from underneath hard stones. I diverted my pupils to see what activated the shooting of them. A thin wire, very thin, no thicker than a single strand of hair, ran from each of the weapons in a series to join one long extension cord that ran under the floor tiles. A very small hill, no higher than a quarter is thick, rose between the tiles in the grout. My eyes caught sight of still more traps. Jeez, these people were paranoid! Nets of steel threads, made of Spidara’s web, were hoisted high up, in the roof. Again something provoked these. Ultra-sensitive twine was strung from the nets to the ground. Like a labyrinth, they swirled here and there. Lines of more string wove throughout the hallway, making the gallery a net in itself. Also finally, it seemed to me, that the roof could lower itself. Wonderful and I don’t mean that sarcastically.

The faith of the older Thundercats resting in us, we carefully started forward. Like absurd dimwits we walked on the pads of our feet, carefully avoiding touching the grout. As we went we slowly and cautiously weave our way through the billions of trillions of wires.

We were halfway through when it happened. Ben-gali tripped. He fell into Pantro. Pantro tumbled into Tygra. The tiger fell into me. We all fell. Like lined up dominoes we fell. In a straight line we fell. Like a bunch of klutzy circus performers we fell. My face hit the dirt. Hard and slopped like grout.

Instantly, the air was ablaze. My hair caught flame and was singed. The lasers kept firing. Instinctively I began to crawl. Not smart. My arms were instantly tangled in the wires. As I struggled to remove them, I heard the snap. Looking up a wave of massive nets fell upon me.

Grabbing hold of one section I pulled with all my might. The textures didn’t snap but they did stretch. That was good enough. I stuck my head out and began to wiggle out. A hot flame caught one shoulder and the fine fur was immediately scalded. The skin beneath grew hotter than lava and began to blister. Ignoring the tormenting anguish shooting through my arm I lay down on it.

Like a hollow log, I began to roll. The wires held me back but soon my speed was enough to break through them. The ground was stuck full of tiny teeth. Like a shark’s skin it ran deep into my flesh, causing tiny cuts to appear. Ignoring this I kept going. Suddenly, a large pit emerged directly in front of me. Instinctively I reached for the pit’s wall. My claws cut deep into the hard stone. My claws were ripped and torn. With bright red blood running from my fingertips down my arms, I struggled with all my willpower to hang on. My fall stopped. Then gasping for air I gazed down.

Bad idea. Very, very, very, very, very bad idea. The pit’s bottom was coated in them. Like the demons that they were, they moved first here then there. Forked tongues of pinkish red shot from their mouths. As they, about ten billion of them, opened their mouths, I gulped. Shimmering in the dank air of the stronghold, they revealed fangs. Snake fangs and of a cobra as well. The deadly poison dripped from their incisors and fell onto the ground in pearly white foam.

My hands chose that moment and that one alone to lose their grip. With a hideous scream, I fell. Fell down. Down into the pit of withering snakes.

"Wily Kat!" I whispered excitedly. Of course Wily Kat as Gabon. He put one finger to his lips. Then smiled as he pulled me up. I let out a breath. I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding it. We grasped hands and ran on.

Soon I heard a rumble. Looking up, pieces of stone came loose and tumbled down toward us. I jerked aside barely missing a large piece of rumble.

"Nalanna!" a young voice called. My heart froze. I whirled around. Then bit down a scream. My brother was trapped underneath a boulder. I instantly tore back to him.

"No, you idiot!" he protested as I dropped down beside him. "Forget me! Get the sword!"

"Hush!" I scolded. "I’m not leaving you!" I strained every once of my strength and put my fingertips underneath the stone. With stressed muscles, I pushed up. The boulder moved a bit. It wasn’t a lot but Great Jaga, it was enough. ‘Gabon’ scrambled from beneath it and we were up and running again. Each second the ceiling dropped still some more. Then suddenly there was the case. The powerful sword glimmered like a diamond within the glass. For a full minute we both just stood there glaring at it.

Then I realized we were running out of time. Each moment I couldn’t stand up as straight. Without even realizing what I was doing, I clasped my palms together into a fist. Like a bat I swung my arms in an arch. The hands shattered the glass. Ignoring the searing pain as shards of burning glass cut into my flesh, I shoved large portions of the case to the ground. Then my fingers touched the silvery blade. I grasped the handle. The sword was torn from its holder and then rested in my hands.

Among several howls my brother and I landed on cold concrete. Shaking, we climbed to our feet. The even ground seemed swirling and distant to me. But our eyes caught sight of the exit just ahead of us. No doubt, the other Thundercats were waiting for us. I started for it. The screams stopped me cold.

At first, I ignored the howls. Putting one finger to my forehead, I pressed gently. The ends of my paw were stained blood red. I had a fairly large gash on the side of my head. That explained my disoriented vision. My left eye began to sting as the rivers of blood trickled into it. Using the back of one hand I shoved the bloodshed aside. It left patches of my skin a dull red and moist.

Finally my sight cleared enough so I could see. My eyes fell on some Lunatack prisoners. They were being tortured. By Jaga, why didn’t the blasted Lunatacks just kill them? It would have been more merciful.

One poor hostage was tied to a post. Their teeth pressed hard against the cold wood. Tug-Mug was whipping her. The female felt a slash every second. Welts appeared on and under the surface of her skin. They were an awful red color. The centers split open like seams and bled. The warm hemoglobin spilled down the back of her, leaving lines of red.

One other captive was also being tormented. This was a male. Chilla was having the time of her life with him. She had him pressed hard against the cool red brick wall. Then to my shock she grabbed him and threw his face to the wall. As he was pulled away blood leaked from gashes on his forehead and nose. They spilled down his face in vicious rivers, blinding him. Again and again she slammed him against the wall. Several times I heard teeth crack and break. Once blood spewed from his mouth in horrid foams. Teeth popped from his jaw and lay in a gore on the ground. Finally the poor bulkan was thrown against the barrier again. This time he did not scream as he was drawn back. There was no breath left in his body. He was dead. Chilla laughed like the bastard she was and absent-mindedly tossed aside his corpse onto the ground where millions of flies and maggots instantly began to devour it.

Red-Eye was having some fun himself. He was beside a bound female. She was tied to a post. Her clothes hung in rags, barely covering her. The cables were pulled extremely tightly around her. So tightly in fact that they completely vanished beneath her skin. While her neck and up was flesh colored after the first wrap of wire began the flesh changed to snow-white. The only coloring on her skin was the bright blood that flowed in circular patterns. Then to my absolute horror Red-eye stepped forth and set aflame the hay which lay beneath the woman’s feet. The smoke and blaze rose up to meet her, scalding and melting away her flesh. Then I saw the beasts come from the side door. I knew them anywhere, leopards. They were the coldest hunters on any planet. All other big cats kill their prey then feast. No, these cats begin their meal while your breath and blood are still circulating. Turning away my face I tried to ignore the hellish cries that escaped her throat as the animals literally ate her alive.

The far-away gaze didn’t help. Now my eyes fell on Alluro. He dealt with young females. Some were my age and others as old as thirty-nine. All were naked. He grabbed one, no older then me. Then…well, as Lion-o would have said, "Material inappropriate for a kitten’s tender eyes," was performed. You humans would consider it X-rated. He raped her. Publicly he did them all until they fell too weak. Then as a final stage were taken to Luna.

The leader took them all into a concealed room. With Amuk’s help she pushed to prisoners into the room, roughly. It reminded me of one mistake I’d made. Once Pantro had found me sneaking outside. He’d hauled me back inside by the elbow, his claws penetrating my flesh. Then kicked open my door and shoved me in, promptly followed by a firm slap on the rear. That how this was. The Lunatack herded them in like cows. Then the door was locked and she flipped a switch. It released tons of gases into the room. In less than a minute all lay on the cold floor, dead. This wasn’t torture. This was slaughter. I should have done something but I knew there was nothing to be done. I followed my twin outside and returned the sword to my lord. Then we both headed home, trying with all our youthful will to forget the hell we’d come from.

"Nothing why?" I responded, dumbstruck by the horrors I’d just experienced. She glared at me again.

"Do NOT give me that, ‘Nothing’ crap! You’re changing! What’s up with you? Tygra told me you missed an appointment with him because you were goofing off!"

Goofing off?! Uh-huh, I was practicing! How dare they accuse me of something without proof!

"I was busy!" I snapped. Cheetara shot me a glare.

"I don’t care if you were busy! You had somewhere to be and you weren’t there! That was totally irresponsible! And you wonder why we don’t let you use weapons! Great Jaga, you’d lose them the first hour!"

That did it! I could fight! I could! She would see! Oh yes, she would see! I grabbed a pole from the wall and pointed its end at her, eyes burning with anger. She instinctually pulled out her staff.

"Put it down, Wily Kit. I don’t want to have to hurt you but I will."

That was total bull and I knew it, "You already have." I hissed. With those few words, I ran toward her. She was fast but I was more agile. Her staff hit my chest but I twirled mine so it hit her knees from behind. She yelped more in surprise than pain. The female tumbled to the ground. As soon as she hit the ground she did a back flip and landed on her feet. My staff was blocked by her own as I swung it again. She connected with my temple. Blood spewed from the deep blow. The she-cat stopped and dropped her weapon. She hadn’t meant to hit me that hard.

I put my fingertips to the severing and stared at the blood on my tips. It was warm and redder than the sands of the heart. Wiping my hand on my skirt, I charged her again.

Leaping to the ground she blocked my blow. However, my next hit home. Her face snapped back like a rubber band. Using this to my advantage, I knocked her to the ground. She moaned softly. I walked nearer to her. She groaned again. I didn’t even notice the enclosing shadow behind me.

Then my pole was torn from my hands. Strong hands grasped my shoulders and whirled me around so fast that it left me dizzy. Then I heard that familiar voice, "Go to my lab, Cheetara. I’ll be there after I’ve dealt with Wily Kit!" it was Tygra. Now I could see. I almost wished I couldn’t. His eyes were glaring at me, Intensely. Those often understanding pupils now burned hard as lasers with anger.

"Wily Kit Cunning!" he hissed using my last name. He grabbed my shoulders so hard that I could almost swear my bones would fracture. "What were you doing? You were hurting Cheetara! A fully-grown Thundercat! What has gotten into you?!"

I was stammering. I couldn’t answer. I’d lost my temper. Still, that didn’t give me any right to hurt her like I did. Tygra’s accusing eyes did nothing to help. The ‘how could you’ look was so furious, I had to look away.

As soon as I did my cheeks were pinched hard between two extremely strong fingers. My head was whirled back so fast I felt my neck muscles spasm. The tiger continued reprimanding me.

"Look at me when I speak to you, kitten! I have higher authority over you so give me some respect. Give Cheetara more than you just did!" I merely nodded slightly. He pinched my cheeks still tighter. The claws began to penetrate my skin and fur.

"Kitten, I’ve noticed this little attitude problem of yours. You’ve changed. So has your brother. But mostly you! So let’s get one thing straight here! I want it to stop! I’ve had it up to here with it!" the adult raised his arm higher than I could hope to reach.

"Now go to your room. I want you to reconsider your actions. Because frankly kitten, no offense but you are TURNING INTO A BRAT!" he released my cheek but then pointed down the corridor. "Remember this as well Kit. I’m about this close," he held two of his fingers about one millimeter apart, "to taking you over my knee. I don’t want to do that but if you don’t straighten up I will give you the spanking of your life!" he opened my door and shoved me in.

I sat down on my bed. Oh, I hadn’t meant to…what was this violence doing to me! I had attacked Cheetara. The woman I looked on as a mother. What had this war made me?! What in the name of Jaga had I become?

Tygra looked back into my room with one eye just in time to see me throw myself into the pillow, weeping out my heart.

"I sent the twins to bed. Kit was crying when I left."

"Well, she should be ashamed!" Lion-o declared. "Great Jaga, she attacked Cheetara! I would have understood if the she-cat had spanked her on the spot!"

"I warned her that unless she straightened up, that I WOULD take her over my knee. If a slap on the rear a day is what it takes to get her to get her act together, may Jaga help me, I’ll do it!"

Pantro entered then. He was scowling. The Grey cat pulled out a council chair and sat down, the frown plastered on his face. Cheetara chose that moment to enter. Using her staff as a crutch, she limped on the fully extended weapon.

"Cheetara!" Pantro called, leaping to his feet "What happened? I was outside." He ran forward and helped the she-cat sit down. She motioned then for him to sit back down. He obeyed.

"Oh nothing much." She responded sarcastically. "Kit just decided that I made her mad and took out her anger on me." She winced again from the pain in her ankle. My sister had sprained it.

"SHE DID WHAT?" Pantro shrieked. I backed away from the door and clamped my hands over my ears. Then the cat calmed. At least enough to sit down. I put my ear to the door again.

"Yeah," Cheetara admitted, "If she hadn’t been attacking me, I could have sworn she’d be a good fighter. But no, neither of them is mature enough yet to be real warriors. I don’t think we should even let them touch our weapons anymore. Who knows what would happen."

Lion-o nodded. Then he spoke, "I’m getting concerned though they’re becoming so withdrawn. They hardly let me touch them anymore. Even when I go to tell them good night they draw from me as if I was poisonous."

Tygra decided to speak up then. "It’s almost like they’re possessed or something. I know they aren’t but they’re just so different. Kit used to come to me with the smallest problems, like her brother yelled at her or whatever. Now she only sees me if we’re eating, going to sleep, or when they screw up. It’s got me troubled."

Cheetara nodded. "I think maybe something happened. Maybe they broke up with their girl/boyfriends or something in that nature."

Pantro shook his head. "I saw the pairs yesterday and the day before. The relationships are fine."

"Did the twins have a fight?" Tygra asked. "Do they seem drawing from each other?"

Cheetara shook her head. "Strangely just the opposite. Kit is getting closer and closer to her brother. It’s so strange."

Pantro started to speak but Lion-o beat him to the conclusion, "Great Lords are they in a gang?"

That stunned everyone, including me. What ever happened to trust? I bit down a curse. Then I listened to the adult’s reaction.

"That does make sense." Tygra said reluctantly. "They never talk about their day. I ask them how it was and they say quickly fine before rushing off."

"No," Pantro said suddenly, "They can’t be because they’re home too much to be." Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Including me. But then the SHE-CAT just HAD to ruin everyone’s good spirit.

"Guys," she whispered. "I really hate to suggest this or even think it but.."

"But what Cheetara?" Lion-o asked getting up. The other males leaned forward with interest. She sighed and put her face into her palm.

"But what if they’re on drugs?" she managed to finish. That stopped everyone cold. I couldn’t stand the doubt on us and ran. I ran until my feet passed through our doorframe. For a full ten minutes, Kit and I sat there, thinking. Then our door opened.

Lion-o, Pantro, and Tygra walked through. Tygra motioned my sister over to my bed. She obeyed. All three stared down at us. We stared right up at them.

"Kittens?" Lion-o started. We said nothing but diverted our gaze up toward our youthful lord. He sat down between us. Tygra took a place beside Kit and Pantro beside me.

"Kittens we need to talk to you. Now tell me: what’s wrong? You’ve both become extremely withdrawn. I want to know why."

Kit whispered our answer, "We can’t tell you."

Tygra looked at her and asked firmly but kindly, "Oh kitten," he cooed stroking her bright red mane, "Don’t hold a grudge against me. Now why ever not?"

Kit burst into tears. Burying her face in both her palms she began crying out her heart. Tygra wrapped his arms around her. She kept the tears coming. I was struggling to hold them back myself. Oh, the unfairness of it all.

"You’ll…you’ll…all…hate…us." She sniffled. Tygra gasped but held my twin still closer to his chest. She slowly began to dry her tears. Tygra lifted her chin and stared into her tear-stained face. She wiped away a stray tear.

"Oh, Wily Kit!" Lion-o cried dropping down in front of her. His tender fingers brushed her face. He shot my sister a grin. "We could never hate you. Now what is it? You’re only a kitten. Too young to bear burden secrets."

Suddenly, I leapt up, "NO! She’s right!" I screeched, "You will hate us! You’ll disown us! You don’t care about our opinions! We’re too young to be of importance aren’t we? I heard you all talking! You don’t trust us!"

They all stared at me for a time. Then, I realized that it was all true. They did not care. So the pain got to me. Then I sank to the ground and did something I rarely ever even thought about. I sank to the floor and began to cry. I put my hands to my face and wept and wept.

"Okay, Wily Kat, shhsh." The panther cooed to me. I felt his strong hands press my face deep into his shoulder. Then he held me like that. He cradled me much like my own sister was being clasped by Lion-o. He put one hand in my red hair and smoothed it gently. Oh, if only they knew! I would have given up any limb to be able to tell them! I couldn’t. They would hate me. I would never again hear them say, "We love you, like our own children." I had lied, and deceived. They would take away our trust for them and their devotion for us, despite our faults, would fade. Never again would we feel their love. It would disappear like the gentle fog. Unlike the fog, however, it would not return.

I let the tears fall. The cat pulled me closer to him. My arms threw around his neck and I let him cradle me. He then got down so he was kneeling on the ground. As I kept crying, Pantro drew me off the ground and burdened my weight. Like a kit, he held me in his strong arms, one arm supporting my neck the other sustaining my legs. Lion-o now sat down on the bed with my sister clutching him in a similar way. Pantro lowered himself onto the bedstead in a resembling manner. Tygra sat down beside Pantro and me. Gently I felt his soft fingers smooth my mane. He took my body from Pantro’s arms and pulled me close to his own heart. I felt him push my face into his fabric shirt.

"All right, kittens," Lion-o finally said breaking the silence. He let go as my sister pushed herself down. I did the same, resisting Tygra’s warm and comforting arms. "You don’t have to tell us. But I’ll tell you this much. We’re beginning to suspect you."

My sister spoke out. "Whatever happened to trust?" That stopped Lion-o cold. He knelt before her and spoke firmly.

"We do trust you." He said plainly. I laughed. I could easily see that the lord was lying through his teeth. My sister snorted.

"Yeah, right." She sneered; her voice was dripping with the symptoms of anger. She turned from him. Her back faced him with her young eyes to the wall. He touched her shoulder. She jerked away. He was losing patience. He got up and then turned to us both.

"Okay, that’s it. Wily Kat come outside with us. Kit you stay here. Pantro stay here and don’t let her eavesdrop." My twin turned and looked at me. I shrugged but got up and followed Tygra and Lion-o outside. The door closed behind us.

"Wily Kat, I’m starting to lose endurance. Your sister and you have changed so much. It’s not even funny. Now your sister wouldn’t talk if I told her I’d never let her go outside anymore. So I need your help, tell me: What’s up with you!" My lord shouted. At first his words had flowed smoothly like the pouring of milk. Then as he neared the end of his speech it turned explosive.

I felt strangely calm. The words reached my ears and I heard them but they meant nothing. They were vowels and consonants throw together in a random pattern. I wouldn’t tell him. Not now. Not yet. Eventually yes but now was not the time. The horrors I’d seen where enough to make me cry. I was scared. When I get scared I get angry because my fear resurfaces. To conclude: I was in a bad mood.

"Nothing’s up with us!" I snapped. "Since when do YOU listen to US anyway?" I folded my arms over my chest and turned my back on the two.

Tygra grabbed my shoulder and twirled me around. He was practically vibrating with anger. He glared at me, he was mad. I was scared of his anger. My fear angered me! It was… oh, never mind.

"Listen Wily Kat!" he shrilled. "I am so sick of this attitude! Your sister’s acting up too! Now I’m not letting you go, until you tell us something!"

I threw his hand off. He glared at me again. I sighed. "Look by the moons of Thundara, I can’t tell you anything okay?"

Lion-o grabbed me by the shoulders and actually shook me. Then as an afterthought he said, "Wily Kat! Great Jaga, you’re drawing away! You’re closing your life to us like a locked door. But like any door if enough stress and pressure is added inside, eventually the hatch will pop open. Don’t give yourself this burden. Give us the key!"

I stared at my lord. He was right! Oh yes it would be so easy to… No! I spoke but my voice was strained and was wobbly.

"My life has never seemed of importance until now. Must you know all that I do?!"

"Yes!"

"Well, then add still more tension to the gate. Perhaps eventually the portal will fail and open. But until it does, I shall remain silent. You shan’t get the key from me."

With those words I turned and calmly left the adults staring at me in shock.

My sister stared out into the dark night sky. Thousands of millions of billions of stars shimmered like diamonds. They lit up the heavens like the faces of a gem lit up a pirate’s eyes. She was grim. So was I. The war was too much. The great amounts of violence were too much. I’d thought I’d seen the worst. Those battles that had left us weak and bleeding, and the accusing eyes of our elders. They were nothing.

When I’d caught up with my sister at Skytomb, the word war had taken on a whole new meaning. The captives, were so innocent. Some had been no older than me. Some of the abused females could have been a little sister to me. Yet despite all this, in the prime of their youth, they’d been deprived of heaven’s greatest gift, life. They hadn’t just died. They had been slaughtered. Massacred, butchered, and murdered. The horrible things I’d seen came back to haunt me. Despite how often I tried to forget, I knew they’d never leave me.

"Kit?" I asked her, almost whispering. It was two hours after midnight. Yet I was still wide-awake. My sister turned and stared at me with wide eyes. The bottoms were drenched with tears but none ran down her youthful cheeks.

"Yeah?" she asked. I looked deep into the beautiful eye specks. She sighed and I knew that she was having just as much trouble as I was.

"How are you holding up?"

"Oh, I wish with all my soul, I could forget! It’s just so horrible!"

I felt all the burdens press down on me again. My honor, the older cats trusts and on top of it all my sister’s life! Lords, how did Lion-o do it!

"Sometimes, I wonder," she murmured. Turning her face to the blinking stars she finished, "Is it a way out?"

I knew what she was thinking. No! I would NOT lose her too! "Kit, you’ll never be able to go through with it." She nodded and sighed. As I turned and closed my eyes, I questioned myself. Who was I trying to convince? Her or myself?

My brother slept. How I have no clue. The abomination I’d seen in the Lunatacks’ home was enough to bring tears to my eyes. This war was too much. For all my declaration of how mature I was, I was just lying and I knew it.

The claims of sophistication meant absolutely zilch now. I’d bragged but hadn’t really thought of what my swaggering words presented. My heart had been so free then and carefree. Light, irresponsible at times, and jovial were words often used to describe me. Now oh Great JAGA! WHAT AM I NOW? WHO HAVE I BECOME?

The regret came down my face before I knew it. In great rivers they fell and soon soaked my pillow in their moisture. The clouds of dankness rose from the cushions and blankets to attack me. Like evil shadows they ripped open my chest and tore out my heart. Not my beating heart, no these beasts thrived on the very center of one's soul. They revealed to me my heart, now.

It still burned a bright crimson. With the war though, it had been transformed. Unlike before, with a smooth surface of an eased child, this muscle throbbed with a new feeling. It drooped. Weighed down with burdens, sorrow, and regret it bled. I guess I knew it all along. It wasn’t the heart of a child any longer. Nay, it throbbed with the intensity of a young woman.

I diverted my eyes to my twin again. He sighed and then moaned. He was having horrors flowing throughout his consciousness too. I sighed myself and turned the opposite direction. The stars smiled down at me. They were daring me. I heard their sweet song echo throughout my ears.

"Forget your life. It has become nothing but a hell to you. End your pain. End your regret. Leave the Lair. Leave the accusing glares. Leave the planet. Leave your body." In all my years as a Thundercat until that moment, I ‘d never felt such truth. My brother was to my left. Cheetara and Tygra down the hall. Lion-o downstairs and Pantro in the control room. Yet, I had never felt so alone.

They sung words of truth. I hated the reality of their bidding but it was the REALITY. I felt tears once more fill my eyes. I gazed once more at my brother before getting up. Well, I thought. No more. No more regret. No more pain. No more life.

Lion-o closed his book and gazed at the clock. Two thirty, too late to still be worrying, he reprimanded himself. Still I can’t help it. The twins have become like my own daughter and son. Something’s bugging them, something they can’t tell us about. I wish by Jaga, I knew what it was.

"If you truly care," came a thin voice from the atmosphere, "Then show them."

"Jaga!" Lion-o called getting to his feet.

"The Thunderkittens love you dearly Lion-o," advised the gentle spirit. "But like all children, they are anxious for more. Yet when they prove themselves they don’t reveal it."

"I don’t understand." The youthful lord admitted, putting his hands to his temples. He shook his head from side to side as if to help clear blurred images and messages.

"There is more to them than they show." Continued the ghost. "As with Nalanna and Gabon, warrior and warrioress live deep within them. Yet they fear to show their skills for their dread of your anger. In order to find out their secrets, you must show them that you care…. While there is still time." With those words, Jaga’s essence faded away.

"Jaga! Wait!" Lion-o called reaching out where the former ghost’s position had been. There was nothing there. He collapsed onto his bed to think. As he plodded over the information he had a familiar sound halted him. The sword, still on his hip, glowed with intense energy.

"The Sword!" he blared. "Someone’s in danger!" By natural instinct he drew the hilt of the sword to his eyes. "Sword of Omens, give me sight beyond sight!" he imposed. The image that reached his eyes nearly stopped his heart. I was standing on the edge of the head of the fortress, gazing down. He must have seen the determination buried deep in the pupils of my eyes. He knew what I was planning on doing. "Great Lords! Kit NO!" He nearly dropped the weapon and took off to try and stay my decision. He tore by Pantro, Tygra and Cheetara. By anticipation, they followed closely behind him.

I looked down. The ground seemed like it was a billion miles away. The small river beneath the drawbridge looked like a shred of water. I knew as I stared below my feet, that the fall alone if not the cold water would kill me. I loosened my grip on the tooth of the lion’s head. My feet shuffled closer to the edge.

"Kit! No! Don’t!" a shrill older voice called to me. I turned my head. Lion-o came tearing toward me, with the other Thundercats not far behind him. I saw Tygra and Pantro tear out in front. Their eyes were filled with tears. It was the first time I’d seen them on the urge of tears.

"Wily Kit, please! DON’T!" Tygra begged me. I looked at him. Tears were streaming down his cheeks, staining his deep rich fur. Pantro tore past his friend toward me. I swung my body around. My feet were pressed against the edge of the gap. With a single release of my fingers I would fall to my death. All my pain would be ended.

"Stop!" I cried, a voice full of boldness. The cats halted. My palms were growing sweaty. My grip grew still less stable. "Stop! I’ll jump! I swear to Jaga I will!"

"After you do, can I have your stuff?" a young voice spoke up. The older cats turned around in pure shock. My brother stepped through them. I felt my heart stop. All he loved was my stuff?! I glared at him and swung back around.

"You just love my stuff?" I demanded. He smiled, ran forward, grasped my arms and pulled me back from the edge a bit.

"No," he admitted with that cunning grin of his. "But I got you turned around didn’t I?" I sighed. He’d conned me.

"I have to do this." I said simply. He shook his head.

"No, you don’t."

"Yes, I do! My life…you know about it!"

"Yeah, but am out here, getting ready to pierce myself on jagged rocks?"

"No but.."

"So neither should you!"

I shook my head. Turning back around or at least my head, I said, "I am going to do this."

"Then dig two graves guys," he called back to the older cats. They looked at him in pure shock. He turned back to me. I stared at his face intensely. What the heck was he talking about?

He smiled. Then he instantly became serious again. "You and I were born together Kit, twins. Twins stick together. If you kill yourself, I won’t be far behind you. We entered this world together. So.." he stopped and took off his belt. All his weapons were on it. Without it he was helpless. He threw it aside. It fell to the ground about two miles down. He continued, "-we’ll leave it together."

The cats stared at him for a time. I looked at him. His eyes screamed, "No, Kit don’t leave. We have so much ahead of us. We can get through this. We will. I promise."

I fought down a sob. Oh, he did care! They all did! I’d been wrong! They wouldn’t hate us…would they?

"Look Kit," my brother sighed. "It’s cold and I really don’t want to get sick again. So why don’t we keep going? I really don’t want to die before I can drive the Thundertank."

I laughed. Then with shaky steps walked away from Death’s Door.

I dropped to my knees beside her and wrapped my arms around her. She let out a loud sob and then buried her face into my left shoulder. I put my hands to her gentle mane and smoothed out her radiant curls. She whimpered into my chest and I held her. She kept the tears coming so I never once loosened my grip on her. Then in with the crying she began howling.

"I’m no warrioress!" I glanced down at her. Then she wailed some more clues. "I’m nothing! A real Thundercat would deal with the horrors! You did! I can’t! I’m a coward! A craven!"

I held her even tighter in my arms. Then gradually I lifted my face to the other males. They were struck dumb. I diverted my wonder back down to Wily Kit. My Wily Kit, trembling so upset and horrified in my young but still fairly strong forearms. I was normally good at comforting her but this was a side of her I’d never seen before. I looked at her again.

Great Jaga, she looked so young! Far younger than twelve, she may have passed for a six year old! She lay in my limbs, quivering. The wind rippled by us then, ruffling my mane and hers. My lips brushed the very tips of her bright scarlet ringlets.

"Kit," I told her firmly. "You’re not a coward. Great Lords, you’re everything but a coward." She sniffled and snuggled closer to my bosom. I put my fingers in her hair and gently evened her spirals.

I felt a hand fall on my shoulder. Looking up, I immediately recognized my lord. He knelt down beside us. Kit serially lifted her head from my clothing. Her cheeks were stained with tears. Lion-o pressed one hand against her cheek. The tears fell again. Lion-o said nothing but pulled Kit so she was ironed against his chest. She let out a tiny whimper but there were no more tears.

"Oh Kit," Tygra cut in kneeling down by us. He pulled my sister’s face up so she stared straight into his eyes. Her cheeks were stained but none of her tears escaped. "Kit, you are NOT a coward. Great Jaga, Kat’s right. You’re anything but a coward. I do not ever want to hear those words break from between those tender lips again. Do you understand me?" She nodded but tore from our lord and fell into my arms again.

"Why don’t you two go and try to get some sleep?" my lord suggested. I nodded and got up with my twin still clinging onto my arm like glue. I gestured her to loosen her grip a tad. She did and I felt her claws slowly withdraw from my skin.

I put my sister covers up to her chin and began to draw away. She pulled me back down. I looked at her. She was in too much terror and shock to say anything but I knew. She wanted me to stay. I sighed but then smiled. Laying down beside her I draped one arm over her belly. Then as if in a coma, it drifted up. As my eyes fluttered then shut, my hand came to rest over my sister' heart.

Pantro shrugged. "I don’t know Cheetara. As much as I even hate to suggest it, maybe we should search their room. You know for alcohol or drugs or something."

Lion-o, Tygra and Cheetara nodded grimly. "Right," Lion-o said finally. "In the morning I’ll send them both to the Tower of Omens. For one day, we do a thorough room search. By Jaga, let us be wrong."

"Hurry Luna!" Chilla hissed. Her leader crept into the kitchen in the tower, a small bottle clutched between her teeth. She climbed onto the counter and pulled the cork from the flask. Quickly, to avoid detection she poured the foul-smelling liquid into an open pitcher. The deadly poison instantly mixed with the wine. The poison was counteracted. But the toxin made the alcohol ten times as strong as it was normally. Then chuckling, she left, thinking she’d sent the adults their doom.

"Hey you two!" My sister and I looked up and smiled at Snarfer. He walked closer to us, a grin highlighting his face.

"Yeah Snarfer?" Kit asked still refusing to part with me. I hoped she’d get over that. As much as I loved her I didn’t want to spend every second with her.

"Ya want something to drink?" the young Snarf asked us. "You two look like you could use some liquids and maybe something to eat, yes-yessir." We smiled and nodded. He beamed and bounded from the room. Seconds later he came back with two glasses of grape juice. It tasted strange and smelt different but it was good. We drained the goblets to the last drops.

He smiled at us and rose an eyebrow as if saying, "See?" We merely smiled again before going to our bedchambers to talk.

My sister plopped down on the soft carpet. I took a place beside her. She sat swaying for a time before speaking.

"Look at the sun Wily Kat. It’s a flower looks." I turned to her. She had a glassy eyed expression but was calm. She looked happy almost. Giddy yeah, giddy wasn’t the opposite of horrible was it? No, the words weren’t even words but mere letters thrown together at random.

"You’re right." I commented her. The sun’s rays did look like a flower’s petals. No, they weren’t even rays of light. They were petals. Everything was a plant in someway. I was, Kit too. The other cats too. No what were their names? What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. A name means nothing. It is not a flesh or eyes or any other body part…

"What are you two talking about yessir?" a small voice asked. We both turned to the noise. I’d been speaking aloud.

"Yes and you still are, Wily Kat." He finished.

"What is real and what’s fake? Where is the line?" Kit cut in. We both stared at one another. Then after a minute cracked up. I started giggling. Flat-out giggling. It was funny! Life was joke! The sun and sky and grass they were…

They were what? My memories were confused. The vision was getting blurry. I laughed again.

"You two are wacko!" he declared. I smiled again before my sister leaned against us.. no me.. no we were one no.. three but still less than two.

Then, suddenly the room spun. My sister spun, becoming a blur. Then even Snarfer became a mere smudge. I felt a brief swirling, dizziness. Then…then my eyes rolled back into my skull and I collapsed onto the carpet with my sister not far behind.

"Pumyra! What is it?" He demanded. She sounded upset. There was a clear sign of panic in her voice. The tiger was glad for the interruption. After searching our room and finding nothing, he was anxious to do anything.

"It’s the twins!" she howled. Tygra was shocked. What now? As if called the other Thundercats entered the council room. Lion-o stepped up to the communicator.

"What’s wrong with the kittens, Pumyra?"

"Well, we found them and they’re out cold. And…and…"

Pantro exploded, "And what?!"

"Guys, they’re drunk as a horse."

Cheetara fell back in shock. Tygra braced her fall and waited for Pumyra to continue. What left her lips next made everyone gasp with relief.

"Don’t worry, they’re fine. It looks like someone spiked their drinks. They’re both still unconscious but when they wake up with a hangover you four might be the most comforting."

I groaned slightly. My head spun and I’d never felt so sick in my life. The area of my head was throbbing and a subtle pain was in the very pit of my stomach. Moaning again, I felt a slight liquid pour down my shrunken and parched throat. Strong fingers supported my head while another set of hands forced open my mouth and tenderly drained sips of liquid cool water down my dry throat.

"Auggg," I groaned and suddenly choked violently. Arms helped my disoriented form to sit up. Then a familiar voice met my ears. Even as those tender vocals met my ears a strong hand slapped my back getting the caught fluid from my throat.

"Take it easy, Wily Kat." A gruff voice told me. I recognized it as Pantro’s alone. "Take it easy," he repeated. "You’re still a tad disoriented from all that alcohol."

I forced myself to blink and struggled against the bright sun. Two blurred images met my eyes, Pantro and Lion-o. Lion-o had been giving me the water. My hands still shook. Lion-o pulled me until he had me cradled in his arms. Pantro handed him a fresh glass of water and my lord held the glass to my lips. I gratefully accepted the gesture and drank. Lion-o held me steady because I was still very delusional.

My sister groaned and clutched her stomach again. Tygra held her by the shoulders and turned her face toward the basin that Pumyra had thoughtfully placed by her bed. She was nauseous, I had a major headache.

"Stick it out Wily Kit." Tygra told her. He held her steady as she gagged and threw up again. He pulled her back up after this spell passed and took a glassful of water from the countertop. He emptied it into her mouth and brought out a second pan. He made her gurgle for a few seconds then helped her rinse the vomit from her mouth. She lay back against the pillows as the architect got up and rinsed the basin out, before returning to her.

The hours passed and gradually I felt less dazed. However instead of feeling less confused I felt more baffled. Finally, I managed to convince Pantro and Lion-o to leave. I needed to think. As I lay on my bed, I heard a noise. The door opened and my sister stumbled in. I sat up slowly so not to get dizzy and waited for Kit to say something. She never did.

"What is it, sis?" I asked slowly, cautiously. She might still feel bad and I did NOT need her mad at me. She turned to me and smiled. But it was a broken smile, I noticed. She sighed and sounded so miserable. I just had to put my arm around her. She stiffened a tad. I understood why. We had both grown stronger and less affectionate. Well, not really but if we let ourselves grow too close with anyone then we might accidentally let our secret out. We couldn’t afford that. Still..

"Wily Kat?"

"Yeah?"

"It’s scary."

"What sis?"

"Not the battles, it’s what Willa told Nalanna."

"What did she say?"

"You’re a living miracle."

"So?"

"Don’t you get it? We’re more than warriors. We’re becoming living legends…"

END OF BOOK ONE

To Be Continued…