Part
Four: Journey For Innocence
Chapter
One: Nearing the Time of Darkness
Only Kat knew.
“Well, we don’t have a lot of time,” Bengali reminded him. Then, he softened. “Just give us
the highlights, kid.”
Kat nodded. He closed his eyes. In a
split second, the memories came rushing back. Once again, he wondered why they
were memories. But there was no time to ponder over that. Kit’s life may be at
stake.
“Not too long ago…” Kat said slowly.
“Not a long time ago, at all guys…”
*
* *
The winds
around Moon Tenia were strong. Amica stepped along the shores of
He should be spending more time
around their sacred lake. She knelt where she was and scooped some water up in
her hands. Gazing into the water, she spied her red immortal glow that
surrounded her. Splashing water on her face, she wiped her face with her
sleeve. Sighing, she looked down at Thundera. Despite herself, a grin spread
over her lips. She could see her brother down there, posing as a married
Thunderian.
She diverted her eyes back over the
surface of the lake. The Sacred
“Come to me, my children.” She said
slowly. Immediately, soothing flames rose from around her. She was one of the
ten gods and goddesses of Thundera. Unlike other planets, Thundera had only ten
gods. They liked their people, the Thunderians to be in charge of themselves.
No Thunderian had ever ventured into this pool. Only immortals could survive
its waters.
Amica was Goddess of the Flame. Born in the boiling flames of Moon Helion, she was henceforth immune to fire. Her servant, the Guardian of Moon Helion, Felice, stood nearby. She wasn’t immune to fire as her Mistress was but she could call forth the power of Moon Helion through the Diamond of Thundera.
Amica felt a strange sense come
forth. Soon something would happen. And it wouldn’t be good…
“Ali!”
Minna ran toward the young goddess, merely two. But goddesses had immense
maturity. By one, they could speak and spoke with the maturity of a normal five
year old. She turned around. Picking up her skirts, she ran toward the Goddess.
“I know,”
she said. “The Evil’s coming.”
She paused. “My mother?”
“The mortal woman is on Thundera.
She’ll be safe and so will your friends. But we must defeat this shadow.”
Ali nodded. “There is only one
chance, Minna.”
“Our diamond?”
“Yes,”
“I’ll get the others.”
In less than five minutes, the five
gods and five goddesses had gathered. Ali stepped forward, the glowing jewel in
her hands.
“Let our minds merge,” she said slowly. Everyone stepped and pressed their hands
against it. They felt their strength leave. They knew that their immortal
halves were leaving them temporarily. But the shadow of Darkness was swift as
the power of all ten gods shot forth, it counterattacked.
“AHHH!”
The scream was unanimous. The ten
gods flew backward, bodies rolling over rocks. Ali looked not up but down. She
was alone. Her mortal half was gone. They had disappeared. The mortal halves
had vanished.
“Ali?”
She turned. It was Lilia, the
goddess of love. Or her immortal half.“What happened? You’re
sad? But…we beat the Shadow. We can always find our mortal halves again.”
“No,” she
said slowly. “Only temporarily. It will be reborn someday.”
*
* *
“What I’m saying is this,” Kat said gently. “The time’s near.
I have the wand of Thundera.” He held up the blue wand. “It said that this
would reappear when the Darkness was near. We have to return to Thundera guys.
And reawake the gods.”
Rain poured down outside the cave.
Cesira had moved them beyond the old cave, through a series of tunnels that
wound into a maze. The Thundercats would have severe difficulty getting through
it. Also in this cave were pits of lava, of ice. It would be difficult, if not
impossible to get through it, to the Thunderbrat.
Ratha laughed. She’d had the
pleasure of taking the brat to try and break her into hopelessness last night.
She was in too much pain to use her magic. Ratha had made sure of that. She
giggled again. That glorious night came back to her…
*
* *
“So the brat has finally fallen,” Cesira sneered as Alluro came in, restraining the
Thunderkitten with his arm. Kit had seen Cesira and yet there was no fear in
her eyes. This succeeded in angering Cesira to the point of mad murder.
“So, you aren’t afraid brat,” Cesira mused, stepping closer to the kitten. She removed
her outer mantle, revealing bare white arms. They seemed so bright in the
darkness of the cave. Kit refused to let her fear shine through. She was a
Thundercat. Showing fear was a sign of weakness. More so, she refused to give
this dark Mistress the pleasure of knowing she was frightened.
“Such spirit,”
she spat at the kitten as she caressed her chin. Kit tore from her grasp and
snapped at her fingers like a vicious wildcat. Cesira jerked back and then
slapped her. She had superhuman strength. Kit’s head snapped back like a rag
doll’s.
“Ratha,”
she called. The white tigress came, her eyes burning with anticipation. Kit
eyed her with black hatred peering out through those deep amber eyes. Ratha
seemed to be arguing for a minute then, Kit heard Cesira’s voice again. “Take the kitten. Teach her ‘respect.’”
Then in a flash, Cesira vanished.
Kit shuddered. She’d only been with
her a few minutes but she felt icy-cold. It was a strange feeling for any
Thunderian but especially strange for her. As a Daughter of the Sun, she liked
warmth.
“Come kitten,”
Ratha sneered. Then, when Kit refused to move, she reached into her belt. Out
came four small bands, made of metal, which she wrapped around Kit’s two wrists
and her two ankles. Then, she pulled out a small whip, smaller than Kit’s
lasso. Having her hands, pinned with such tightness, Kit couldn’t use either of
her weapons and the pain in her body was disorienting. She couldn’t use her
magic either.
“AHH!” kit
shrieked and moved forth as the whip struck her legs. It emitted a small
electric shock.
“Good kitty,”
Ratha sneered. “If I were you, I’d cooperate.”
Kit spat. “If I were you, I’d have
killed myself so that the dishonor of being such a bitch wouldn’t.”
Ratha shook her head. She put a hand
to the pendant she wore around her neck. A glow surrounded it and then Kit’s
bands. She slumped to the ground with a small cry of protest. A stinging was at
all four of the bands, under her skin.
“Here’s why,”
Ratha explained. She pointed to her necklace. “This gives me control over your
pain, cub. Those bands are magically made. Every time I feel the need, I can
activate them.” She smiled a wicked smile. “When that happens,
small needles insert themselves into your veins. Then, Thundrainum is forced
into your blood.”
Kit shuddered. Her stomach twisted
and her vision swam. She knew Ratha was telling the truth. She felt the
weakness and sickness. The adults only got weak. She was a kitten. Kittens got
feverish and ill. She stammered, “Thundrainum.”
Ratha made no reply but she grabbed
the child’s arm and tugged her into a cell. Kit felt herself
propped up against the wall, her back to Ratha. There was a click as the
shackles bound her fast.
Kit screamed as a terrible pain ran
down her back. A flash of fire from the whip tore down her spine and she could
already feel the welt forming. Tygra never hit her. Occasionally, in training,
his hand would slip and she’d get strike across the legs. But then, Tygra would
stop immediately and carry her in. He knew the pain a whip caused and would
always over do it. But now the pain was endless. Kit was screaming.
“No, brat.
You must be in more pain than that.”
Kit shuddered as the tigress put her
hands on the cub’s shoulders. Kit shook as her palms slid under her clothing
and then there was a hideous snap as she tore the child’s clothes off. Kit slumped
as well she could as the icy coldness of the cell tore through her skin into
her already poisoned bloodstream.
Ratha whipped her some more. One
across her shoulders, one across the back and several over her thighs. A few
slashed across her rear at times. She tried not to cry. But it hurt. It hurt
severely. Sometimes, it was a normal whip. Other times, it was fire or ice. But
lightning was Ratha’s favorite. When Ratha finally put the whip away, Kit’s
entire back was covered in red welts.
But Ratha wasn’t
done yet. Kit turned and felt a lump rise in her throat. Ratha came near
her, blade in hand…
*
* *
Ratha smirked as she remembered the fear in the child’s bright eyes. Right now, she was looking for her own daughter, Ranka. She smiled as she wandered through the different rooms, her eyes pitiless, as the memories came back again of Kit’s first night…
* * *
“No, please don’t!”
Ratha ignored the kitten’s shouts and swept her knife across the child’s back, drawing a thick line of bright red blood. She leaned against the wall and put the point on the knife on the cub’s shoulder, between her shoulder blades. Kit closed her eyes.
Ratha spun the knife a bit and that alone brought pain into Kit’s body. Then Ratha grinned. Kit mouthed, “No please no,”
Ratha raised the blade.
“Stop!” a voice called. Both turned. Cesira appeared suddenly. She smiled seeing Kit’s condition. “Good, Ratha. But give the knife to me.”
Ratha complied. Cesira crept to Kit and sat on a stone ledge beside her. She twisted her lips into a cruel smile. Suddenly, Kit felt a terrible pain. Cesira drew the knife over Kit’s breasts again, deeper. Kit screamed. Then, Cesira swiped again. A neat line crept over Kit’s belly. Cesira sneered and Kit felt her body flung to the ground. Shackles sprung from the cold and wet floor before Kit could even think about escaping. A gasp escaped her throat as Cesira sat on her abdomen. She straddled Kit and yanked her up by the mane. She stuck and three lines of blood appeared over Kit’s chest. Another blow left her legs with scars of blood. Cesira sat on the ground by Kit and put her chin to the kitten’s knees. Then she struck again. A large wound appeared on Kit’s right thigh. Cesira laughed and twisted the knife, still stuck in Kit’s leg. Muscles tore and Kit felt one of her bones shard slightly. Cesira finally pulled it out.
“One more thing,” was all she said. She raised the knife. Then with a glow the knife tripled. Two knives were in each hand. With a scream that shattered the heavens, one knife plunged through Kit’s shoulder and then her other shoulder, locking her to the wall. Then the last two plunged through her thighs.
Then, Cesira left her in her agony. All she said was, “I need you alive. Be grateful.”
* * *
Ratha walked into the last room. Her laughter had sense died. This was a room where the children slept. Corpses were left here too. Her daughter scarcely came here. As she looked around, she saw one body that was recently killed by Cesira. Then, as she neared it, her true self broke through Cesira’s spell. Her true nature came through. She dropped to her knees and pulled the body up. The child’s windpipe and esophagus were missing along with part of her spine. Ratha sat there silent, uncomprehending. Then, a scream echoed.
“NO!!!!”
The child was her daughter.
Chapter Three: A
Mother’s Lust for Revenge
“Cesira!”
Cesira turned at the shrill voice that called her name. Ratha tore through the door, her mane loose and wild about her shoulders. Her eyes were red and puffy and tears streamed down her cheeks, staining the rich white fur.
“What do you-“ Cesira began. Ratha interrupted her.
“You lying heartless bitch!”
“Watch you mouth,” she hissed stepping closer. In reality, the words rather pleased her but she needed to regain her control. She knew by the woman’s eyes that she was no longer under her control.
“No! You…you demon from the pits of hell! You Daughter of Evil! You killed my little girl!”
Cesira recalled her murdering Ratha’s daughter but had forgotten one important detail:
Thunderian mothers were very protective of their children.
With those words, Ratha sprang at Cesira, murder in her eyes. Cesira disappeared. Ratha landed on her feet and glanced around. There was a flash but before Cesira could act, Ratha did.
With a cry of “Murderess!” she sprung at the sorceress and with an oof knocked her backward. When she landed, Ratha was on her like mosquitoes on honey. Her hands closed around the Sorceress’s neck and she desperately tightened her grip. Cesira was shocked. She was feeling pain. Her eyes lit up and she sent her magic swiftly to her neck.
Ratha let out a scream of pain as electrical current flooded into her fingers. She instinctively let go as Cesira drew her legs up. Before she even realized it, she was flying backward. Her head struck a rock and drew blood. She got to her feet with some difficulty and faced Cesira again. The Sorceress glared at her. Her dark eyes burned bright red and her hair flew up over her head like a single black flame. From her fingertips flew a black flame that was the same that she used to kill Chilla. Ratha saw it and leapt up.
As Cesira’s eyes followed her, she reached into her belt. In her hands, she withdrew a forgotten blade. The blade of her mother. She stared at the Sorceress, glared, but cried out, “In the Name of Ali, I call upon the Forgotten Code! Give Me VENGENCE!”
Almost as soon as these words left her mouth, her body felt a new strength. Ali, the most powerful of their Goddesses, was aiding her. Even from within the Diamond, she found a way to let her power travel forth and flood in Ratha’s body.
Cesira backed up. She saw a new force in Ratha. The Thunderian landed not a foot in front of her and there was no fear in her face. She clutched the blade she owned with a force, Cesira had never seen. The Sorceress sprung at her, magic at kill attack. Ratha’s eyes were closed.She spoke only three words.
“Ali conquers evil.”
Her fingers slipped over the knife’s blade and she threw.
The dagger left her hand with an accuracy she had never had.
Ratha opened her eyes. Her eyes narrowed. Cesira had fallen to the ground. She sat up slowly, in pain. Her hand clutched the blade. Embedded in her stomach.
Ratha knew that wouldn’t kill her. She wasn’t mortal. Whatever she was, she couldn’t be killed by a regular knife. Still, it would do for now. Ratha ran off before the pain dulled enough for Cesira to attack. As she ran, she ran toward Kit’s cell.
“Time to choose sides,” was her only thought.
Chapter Four: Hidden
Sides
WilyKat sighed and leaned backward. Lion-o had declared that they would start out for WilyKit immediately. Now that they knew what the Evil Rebellion was they could pretty much prepare themselves for it. All of them were going. All but three.
Snarf, Snarfer, and WilyKat were staying behind.
Everyone knew why the snarfs were staying behind. They needed someone to protect the Lair. But everyone was a little shocked when Lion-o told Kat he would remain home as well. When they were alone, Lion-o explained to the other adults that WilyKat was just too close to the situation to think straight.
Pantro had been sent with the kitten to try and get him to sleep. Pantro knew in his heart that the kitten wouldn’t be able to even close his eyes, let alone rest. Still, he would try.
“Pantro, please!” the kitten grasped the Thundercat by the shirt and begged him slowly, desperately. “I have to go! This is my sister!”
“Lion-o’s right Kat.” The panther said slowly, patiently as he seated the kitten back on the bed and sat down beside him. He took the child’s smaller hands in his larger ones. Kat’s hands, always tiny to the panther’s, now seemed especially frail for some reason.
Kat had tears in his bright amber eyes. Pantro smiled at him gently and laid a hand against the kitten’s cheek. Kat pulled away. Pantro grabbed his shoulders and shoved him down on the bed as he moved so he was behind him. Kat would have tried to take off again had the Thundercat not put his hands to his temples then.
He moved his fingers in circular patterns, to soothe the child’s worried mind. Kat looked up at him. Pantro didn’t touch or do things of this matter a lot. When the kitten was younger, he would but ever since they’d come to Third Earth, the twins and Pantro had agreed that they were getting too old for it.
Kat leaned against the Thundercat, suddenly exhausted. The Thunderian let him lean against him. When Pantro had told him to go to his room, he’d gone but Pantro had followed to try and make him rest. Kat was always afraid to make Pantro mad. He was the most intimating adult. He was also the one who would probably still whip him.
But deep inside, Kat felt another emotion that he couldn’t quite place at first. After lying awake for several nights Kat had figured it out. It was hidden but he felt it. He had felt it that night that Pantro had died. A strange gaping feeling. Like a loss.
It was love.
He loved them all. They were like family to him. They didn’t have the same place as Kit had in his heart but they came pretty close. Kat had been sure from the day he first met them that Pantro would never really like him. As a matter of fact, sometimes Kat wondered if the panther hated him. All his lectures seemed to be aimed just to attack his spirit and youthful being.
Kat still didn’t really know. But he knew that the panther didn’t not like him. He was letting him lean on him. Kat’s eyes fluttered. He closed his eyes but he didn’t sleep. Instead these weird dreams crept into his mind. Before he knew it, he was in the land of dreams, had been covered up, and left in the darkness of his room. And the dreams went on…
* * *
Kat looked about on a ruined landscape. He didn’t recognize it but there was a sense that told him he knew it. Suddenly, as he peered over the ledge of a rocky cliff he saw a beauty. She was young. Younger than he was, maybe three or two. But she was beautiful. He knew from the look of the red glow that she was immortal. A goddess no doubt.
Her name echoed in his mind.
“Ali, Goddess of Goodness. Princess of the Gods.”
She turned around suddenly. Her bright red hair flew into her face and her amber eyes seemed to peer right through him. Her lips were small and thin. They burned a blood red. Her skin was a silky toned skin.
Her dress fell to the surface of the rocks and it floated about her like a cloud. Made of a pure white silk, it covered her entirely so when she turned, her dress flew out in a circular motion. Kat wondered if she had a brother. Most gods and goddesses were not only children.
He remembered the Prince of the Gods. Coveen, God of Innocence. Still, that didn’t make him her brother. He could have been her betrothed husband. Kat told himself not to worry about it. For some reason, Ali spoke then.
“You must look into the heart of another to find out their true self. You may find a great enemy the greatest of allies.”
Then, she fell silent and said no more.
*
Kat stared down at a small girl. She looked afraid. She was only three. Her bright blond hair flew behind her in radiant waves. Her deep brown eyes seemed so pure and full of happiness. Her face however was afraid. The dark blue skirt she wore made her pale skin tone beautifully. He recognized her. Maybe she was one of the Goddesses. She looked the part of one.
She spoke and the sadness in her voice tore into Kat’s heart.
“Free me. Please free me. Let me be whole again.”
Kat knew then: She had to be one of those goddesses trapped in the Diamond of Thundera.
* * *
WilyKat woke up suddenly. Ratha! That goddess had to be talking about Ratha! He swung his feet down and looked outside. He remembered. His sister. Those images, Cesira’s evil plan. He glared.
“Sorry guys,” he muttered. “I’m not sitting this one out.”
Sneaking downstairs, he found it too easy to get past the two snarfs. But the guilt tore at him, a little. He’d told Pantro he’d go to his room. Then again…
Kat smiled that mischievous grin of his.
“But you didn’t tell me to STAY there, Pantro.”
Chapter Five:
Universal Respect
Kit sat on the cold prison floor, shivering. Ratha had come and Kit knew that Cesira didn’t have control over her any longer. Kit knew that Ratha couldn’t help her much now. There were too many servants around. Still, she had helped the kitten a little. She’d removed the knives so the kitten could sit down. How Cesira had stopped her from bleeding to death was a mystery.
But the kitten was cold. She wrapped her arms around her to try and warm herself a little. It did little good. She had tears in her eyes. Every day a new servant would come, with a whip and sometimes a knife. She had no choice but to withstand the blows.
Tears blurred the child’s vision. She curled into a ball on the cold floor. Cesira had allowed a small blanket but it was thin and weak against the brain-numbing cold that crept through this place. Still, Kit didn’t turn away any comfort.
It was getting harder and harder for the child to eat the little food she was given. Her teeth rattled like stones and her hands shook like an old woman’s. Her fur was matted and dirty. She had stained sections of red from the blood that the knives and whip blows had left her with.
One night Kit sat on the floor, trembling both inside and outside, and waited patiently for the small ration of dry bread she was always given.Cesira needed her as bait. Kit sensed that much. Otherwise, she would have killed her at the first look. Then, the door opened.
Looking up, Kit trembled. It was bad enough she was prisoner. Now, it seemed Cesira was gathering animals, for soldiers no doubt. Did her evil and magic have no limits? The animals that entered just made the child more homesick. Many were wild cats. Why they didn’t attack her was obvious. Cesira had them controlled.
But even if they weren’t controlled, WilyKit found she had no fear of these creatures. She found herself rubbing their fur frequently and giving them bits of food she could bare to part with. They were lucky. They needed no quilt. Their thick fur protected them. They were kind to the child in return. It gave the kitten comfort.
It was the third night that it happened.
“Kit?”
The child sat up slowly, her muscles stiff with cold. Instinctively, she wanted to tell Pantro to turn up the heat. She looked around, searching for the source of the voice. She found none. But the voice came again.
“WilyKit?”
“Who are you?” the kitten demanded, softly. “What are you?”
“You know us Kit. Mistress of Innocence.”
Kit for the first time heard that:
‘Mistress of Innocence.’
Then, she noted a small warmth on her temple. It was her birthmark. It was glowing. She looked around again. Again she saw nothing. Then, she listened again. The voices were gentle but strong.
“Don’t be afraid, Mistress.”
“Why are you calling me that?” Kit asked slowly, her strength still zapped by the Thundrainum bracelets. She trembled again. A rough tongue swept over her cheek. She turned. The furry face of a tiger greeted her. One of Cesira’s animals.
“You know why, little one.”
The voice was in her head. This tiger was talking to her.
“To be truthful,” she heard the tiger continue. “You’re the Source of Innocence, right? So you are also known as Mistress of Innocence, Guardian of Innocence, and Queen of the Innocent.”
The tiger licked her again. Two lionesses crept over and they began to circle around her. Kit felt the adrenaline begin to pump.
“Be calm, tiny one.” The first lioness said, in her mind. She stepped over to the kitten and knocked to the ground. She put her paws to Kit’s back and gently began to clean her wounds as if she were her own cub. The second one, a younger one, began to prime the child’s hair as the tiger sat by her.
When the lionesses finished, they sat on their haunches then curled into a ball. Kit sensed they wanted her to do the same. Strange how quickly these beasts had become her friends. She obeyed, seeing goodness in them.
They soon had curled about her, their warm fur beginning to heat her inner body. Kit asked slowly, “Why are you doing this?”
The tiger responded as he curled about her and put his chin on her back.
“It is the universe’s duty to protect the Master and Mistress of Innocence.”
The child was grateful and fell into deep dreams with the warmth all around her for once. But the tears still slipped out. She said softly.
“Tygra, Pantro, someone! Come get me. I wanna go home.”
Chapter Six: Saving
Lost Souls
Pantro tore ahead of the others. They’d left the Thundertank behind them. The foliage and rocks in these caves was too thick even for the deadly Thundertank to break through. The days had passed too quickly. Pantro couldn’t stop the hideous panic from rising inside of him.
The cave was coming nearer but they had to stop for the night. Although they were strong, they still needed rest and food. But Tygra and Pantro were reluctant to stop. They wanted Kit back. As the group slowed, Tygra sighed. Kat would have gotten there in one night; he was so full of energy and hatred at this witch.
“Well,” Lion-o said slowly. “I guess we should set up camp right here. Judging by what WilyKat told me, the caves are intertwining mazes.”
The Thundercats nodded. They began to lie out their sleeping sacks while Bengali and Lynx-o made a fire. When the camp was set, they all sat down for a somber meal. They had agreed ahead of time that Pantro would have guard duty tonight.
No one said much. They were all too worried. When sleep finally came to them, their dreams were disturbed and worried. Pantro leaned against a tree with an unfamiliar twinge of worry in his heart.
* * *
WilyKat scrambled over the fallen trees and through bushes. His hands were cut and torn from various thorns. He was tired. The way to this cave was further than he remembered. The others had the Thundertank. He’d been walking for ten miles already. How did the adults do this?
He was in good shape but no one could last forever walking and walking. He was tired. He was hungry. But he kept going. His sister’s face kept him going. The look on her face when she was frightened refused to leave him.
He ran again. He’d been walking for the last few minutes but now decided to run again. The woods tore at him face and it was so dark he could barely see. His feline eyes gradually adjusted but it was still dark. He had always been a tad frightened of the dark. He remembered the darkness that had spread over the sky the day his mother had died.
He tripped and fell. The hill wasn’t steep but it was covered with sticks and rocks. When he got up, he was bleeding. A small hum caught his attention. He diverted his eyes to his waist. The wand that hung by his hip was glowing a bright color of blue.
He felt his eyes scrunch up in confusion. A hidden sense made him draw it. He looked into the small sphere that was at the top of the wand. There was a misty substance in it. As he watched, it swirled apart and showed him an image.
The figure in the wand was undeterminable. But Kat knew it was another Son of the Moon. He had the blue wand. He lifted over his head and Kat could hear his voice say slowly, “Moon Magic Make-up!”
Then the sphere went to another image.
A Daughter of the Sun this time. It wasn’t his sister and that made him walk again while looking into this sphere.
The female was undeterminable except that she was at least eighteen. She lifted her yellow wand and cried out, “Sun Solar Shower!” Then the image began to fade and finally disappeared. Kat swallowed. This was getting weird.
But the next image tore open his heart.
It was his sister. She was alone in the prison cell, naked. Her back was a fiery red from whip strikes. Her wrists and ankles had bracelets on them. He knew by the way his sister was sitting that they were made of Thundrainum. His eyes narrowed in anger.
Cesira came in and swiped at his sibling with a knife. Her breasts split and spilled blood. It took all the male child’s willpower not to break the wand with his bare hands from the anger that shot through his blood. Then, gratefully the images faded. Kat growled and muttered in an acid voice, “You’ll regret that, bitch.”
* * *
Pantro sighed as he leaned against the tree a little more. He was tired. He shouldn’t have been. He wanted to sleep. His position slumped. Suddenly, he smelt a strange scent in the air. He looked around and saw a faint greenish dust.
“Sleep dust,” he muttered as he struggled to get to the others. But he couldn’t. He was too tired. He slipped to his knees. He looked up and formed the word “help” before slipping into unconsciousness.
* * *
Kat peered over the edge of a hill and saw the Thundercat camp. But he saw something else that turned his guts to ice. Cesira. She was standing over the camp smiling as the sleep gas seeped into the adults’ veins.
She smiled. It was a smile that chilled Kat to his bones. Then she spoke.
“Go, have fun my children,”
From her fingertips sprung beings of flame. They seemed to be made of fire and they charged at his friends, his family. Then looking up, he saw Cesira vanish. His eyes narrowed. He jumped down and landed in front of the demons. They didn’t even pause. Kat swallowed but as he stood there his hand fell on something cold. He pulled it up. It was his Wand of Thundera. His Moon Wand. His eyes narrowed more. His grip tightened and his thoughts traveled to one thing. Getting his sibling back. The Wand lit up in his hand. He lifted it above his head and spoke calmly and without fear.
“Moon Magic Make-up!”
Chapter Seven: The
Maze of Rooms
Pantro struggled to open his eyes. The dust was still in his bloodstream. By some miracle, the other Thundercats had woken up and they were crouched around him.
“Pantro are you alright?” Lion-o asked as the panther sat up. He rubbed his head. Shaking his head, he stood shaking.
“Yeah,” he responded looking around. He noted small sparks gathering in a circle around them. He shook his head again as he drew his battle sticks. “Uh, strike that.”
The Thundercats glanced around and quickly saw what had triggered his warrior reflexes. They drew their weapons as well. From those tiny specks, sprang the fire beings again. The Thundercats backed up until their backs were pressed against one another. The fire beings were immune to their weapons and they all knew it at first glance.
Pantro felt his insides lurch as the first being swept at him with a sword. How they held a sword when they were made of fire was beyond him. All he knew was that these things were fast, really fast. Cheetara was having problems standing her ground. Then, a shout ran through the air.
“Moon Magic Blast!”
From the area where the voice originated came a beam of blue light. All the creatures screamed, as they were forced backward. The Thundercats turned around. From the branches sprang…
“WILYKAT?!”
The kitten was still determinable. Only his uniform had changed. Instead of his usual brown outfit, he had on a light blue outfit, similar to his old one except that he had breeches instead of the usual bottoms.
He was more confident too. His eyes burned with anger and he held the Wand of Thundera tightly in his hands. He’d learned after running to save the others that Katen, the sorcerer he’d turned into before had been preparing him to use this wand. He couldn’t change into Katen anymore but he could turn into a Son of the Moon. Which was pretty cool.
“Kat,” Lion-o said slowly even though it was not the time, “You disobeyed me.”
“So sue me,” he struck back at one of the sword flaring beings as the others joined in. “I came to free my sister and now I’m saving you guys some trouble too.”
Lion-o was about to say something else but Cheetara broke in along with Lynx-o.
“Now’s not the time,”
Suddenly, the beings vanished. But no one put down his or her weapons. They were beginning to getto know these creatures. Sure enough, they came back and attacked from the sky. Kat struck at one with his wand. It swung its sword at his head but he ducked. He knew that once the demons were beaten, the wand’s glow would stop and his old clothes would reappear. He had to beat these things. But in his shoulder was a faint sting.
The demons vanished again. Pantro and Kat stood close together. Tygra called out from by Bengali and Lion-o, “Make up your minds!”
Kat slowly parted from Pantro as he went over to the others.
“Well,” Lion-o stated. “Is that it?”
“Don’t count on it,” Pantro spat.
“He’s right,” Lynx-o added. “They were too determined.”
Bengali snorted. “Count on Cesira to turn to fire to do-“
“WILYKAT!” Cheetara suddenly screeched. “Watch it!”
Heads snapped around at her scream and Kat lifted his wand. He’d seen too. The demons had returned. Right over him. But as they dived down, he saw that their intent was not kill. They wanted to capture them. Most likely so that after Cesira killed him and his sister, she could torment the adults. Kat lifted the wand high. As they charged down at him, the sphere on the wand lit up.
The demons screamed aloud as the rays from the wand destroyed them all.
ALL. OF. THEM.
Kat sank in his stance until he was on his knees.
“WilyKat!” Cheetara ran over to him as he fell. She wrapped her arms around him as the others quickly followed. She was temporarily blinded when a bright flash surrounded him but then was hugging him again. He was back to his old form.
Kat looked at her and grinned. “Where did that come from?”
Cheetara shrugged in answer and pulled him closer. He stammered. “Can we get out of here? This place is giving me the creeps.”
Bengali spoke out. “I’m with him.”
Lion-o nodded. “We should get moving. But first thing’s first. Everyone okay? Anyone hurt?”
“I don’t think,” Kat and Cheetara started to say. Kat stopped and Cheetara’s hand happened to land on his shoulder. Cheetara turned to Lion-o.
“Hold on a sec.” She said softly. She slid her hand under the kitten’s shirt. Kat tried to pull away but he was messing with cheetah and motherly speed. Cheetara restrained him with one hand and felt his back with her other. She withdrew her hand.
It was covered with blood.
“It’s not serious,” Kat hissed when the others rushed over. Cheetara shot him a glare. He swallowed. Cheetara put a finger in his face.
“Don’t give me that.” She commanded as Tygra came over. “We’re not leaving until Tygra says you’re alright.”
Lion-o agreed. They left Tygra with his charge and retreated to the campsite to pack up while Tygra tended to the kitten.
“Ow,” Tygra winced as he peeled the child’s shirt off and saw the wound. A sword wound no doubt. It was rather deep and would definitely need stitching. The tiger brought the kitten to a patch of clovers and had him lay on his stomach. The wound would be easier to treat that way.
“That stings,” Kat hissed as the architect wiped it with alcohol. The Thundercat smiled. He could fight like an adult when he felt like it, as could his sister. But when they got sick or injured, or were in need of comfort they would convert back to their usual kitten stasis.
“That means it’s working, kitten.” Tygra mused. He was worried. The wound was pretty deep. Just to be safe, he should give Kat a sedative so that he would have a little time for the stitches to start working. Knowing him, he’d charge straight into danger.
But he wouldn’t take it willingly. Tygra knew it. He hated to lie to the child but saw no other alternative.
“Here Kat,” he said handing the child a small pill as he began to stitch him up. “That’ll help the pain.” Kat obediently swallowed and almost immediately felt dizzy and sleepy. Slowly, he laid his head down and his eyes closed. By the time Tygra pulled the child’s shirt back over his head, Kat was out like a light.
“Sorry Kat,” he murmured. “I had no choice.” Kneeling, he scooped the kitten up in his arms and headed back to the others.
“Sedative,” Tygra explained as the others met him with confused glances. Lion-o nodded and they headed toward the caves again. Tygra carried Kat while the others got the supplies. In a way, they were lucky. Kat was a lot heavier than he’d been two years ago. But then, Tygra’d just been in a fight.
“Wow,” was the unanimous response when they came upon the cave entrance. The tunnels crept everywhere. Kat was slowly waking up. It was Lynx-o who broke the silence.
“Where do we go for WilyKit?”
That broke the awe.
It could be any hallway. How could they choose the right one?
Chapter Eight:
Return of a Loved Sister
“Aww,” Kat moaned and opened his eyes. He blinked and then slowly let himself be lowered to the ground. He looked around.Lion-o seemed to be aiming toward the left tunnel. Kat jumped forward and held his arm across his lord’s waist. He stopped.
“Wait, wait.” He said frantically. The Thundercats looked at one another. Tygra stepped forward.
“What is it, Kat?”
“Shh,” he responded. He put a finger to his birthmark and concentrated.
“Kit hear me,” he thought, praying to Jaga that the telepathy would work. “tell me where you are. We’re at the entrance of the cave. Tell me how to get to you.”
While Kat stood like this, the others exchanged worried expressions. Bengali whispered softly, “What’s he doing?”
The others shrugged. They could only wait it out.
Kat opened his eyes suddenly. “Right tunnel over there.” He said pointing. He started to it. Pantro grabbed his shoulder.
“How do you know?”
Kat sighed. “Come on. I got some things to fill you guys in on…
* * *
“First ESP, then sorcery, and now telepathy?” Lion-o called as the kitten led them through the corridors as if he’d been born and raised in those caves. “Is there anything you can’t do?”
“Yeah,” he said slowly. “Lots of things.” He paused and Lion-o immediately regretted the question. The kitten still felt the same way. “I can’t be brave.”
The conversation stopped then and there. Everyone was silent. Kat just led them through the halls and twists of the cave. He stopped out side a door. He turned to Pantro and Lion-o. Lion-o called out, “Kit? Are you in there? It’s us.”
Kit’s heart skipped a leap. She gathered her strength and called out, “Yes, it’s me!”
Lion-o and Pantro immediately began to beat against the door. Pantro turned to his lord. “Lion-o, the Sword.”
Lion-o instinctively reached for it. And felt nothing. He gasped along with everyone else. The Sword of Omens was gone. They all quickly realized that all their weapons were gone, save Kat’s wand. They must have been lost in the forest or caves.
“It’s gone,” He said simply. Kat stepped forward. He tugged on Lion-o’s sleeve. The Lord of the Thundercats turned. The kitten ran forward and hit the door with his shoulder. It shoved open. Kat immediately tore to his sibling’s side.
“Kat,” she said softly. The others were quickly behind him. He knelt by her and stared at her, tears flowing from his eyes. Kit smiled but it was weak. Lion-o and the others suddenly were behind her brother and they too couldn’t stop the gasp of shock and disgust that escaped their throats.
Kit was nude for starters but it wasn’t her naked form that was revolting. It was the scars and wounds on it. He brother hugged her tightly and she cried aloud. Tears fell from her eyes and streamed down her cheeks.
“Kat,” she said softly. She looked up toward her bonds. “Can…can you crack these?”
Kat looked at them and grinned. “Shackles? No sweat!”
Immediately, he set to work on them.
“Kat,” a gruff voice asked. He turned. Pantro was facing him with a disapproving face. “How do you know how to crack shackles, hmmm?”
Kat laughed. “Pantro, how many times have you locked me in my room?”
The panther smiled and said simply, “I lost count a long time ago.”
“Exactly.”
The Thundercats looked at each other. Kat laughed again as he worked. “You get locked in your room as much as I do guys, you pick up a few tricks.”
Finally, the chain snapped and Kit collapsed into her brother’s arms. He held her as close as he dared and the Thundercats darted in. Bengali took off his cloak and draped it over Kit’s body. She was cold. But she seemed interested in her sibling alone. She refused to take her arms from him. Then, she spoke slowly and tears were in her eyes.
“Can we go home?”
Chapter Nine: Secrets
Lion-o carried Kit and Kat stayed close. But by about the early morning, Kit was asleep in the lion’s arms and her brother straddled on his back. He was getting tired but knew that the twins would rather stay close, awake or not.
They’d been wandering the tunnels for hours.
“Need a hand Lion-o?” Bengali said slowly as he dropped back to walk beside his lord. Lion-o gritted his teeth but said good naturedly
“Haven’t got an extra back have you?”
The white tiger laughed and moved the male child until he was supported in his strong arms. He stirred slightly but didn’t wake up. Bengali and Lion-o quickly caught up with the others. The Thundercats smirked at them but didn’t say anything.
“Look!” Cheetara cried. They all immediately turned to where the she-cat pointed. Far ahead was a flickering light. The adults looked at one another. Tygra spoke up.
“Shouldn’t we wake the twins now?”
Bengali and Lion-o looked down. They looked so peaceful. Kat had some of Bengali’s shirt clutched in his hands and Kit was pressed into Lion-o’s chest desperately. The two looked at each other. It was Lynx-o who decided.
“Why not give them ten more minutes Tygra?”
Tygra turned to Lion-o. He nodded. The group continued.
They crept through the door.
“Great Jaga!”
Kat stirred at the sound and his sister wasn’t far behind. Bengali glanced down. The kitten rubbed his eyes. The white tiger gently lowered him to the ground. He stammered at first, his muscles stiff from sleeping in his clothes.
“Are you sure you can walk, Kit?” Tygra asked gently. Kit nodded. As Lion-o lowered her to the ground, she wrapped the cloak even tighter around her bare body. Her brother came close to her and she leaned on his shoulder.
All of them stared in shock.
A nauseous feeling rose in Kit’s stomach. She’d seen this chamber long ago. Long, long ago or so it seemed. In total, it had only been four months or so.
“How could this Sorceress be so evil?” Lion-o whispered, horrified.
For all around them, piled in high stacks, were bodies. Cesira had obviously cast a spell that stopped their bodies from decaying. They were all Thunderians.
“I know this chamber,” a small voice whispered in a half-whimper as tears threatened to spill down her eyes. They turned. It was Kit. She’d let the cloak fall and had her hands thrown around her twin’s shoulders.
Kat sighed. He knew suddenly and he felt the tears rise.
That first vision of his sister’s. The VERY first one when her power just started to come out. She’d seen this, seen it in detail as Celeano laughed evilly. Her daughter must have continued the spell and traditions.
Kit spoke slowly and there wasn’t any shame from her present condition.
“My first vision. I saw this, guys. These are all our sorcerers and sorceresses.”
They turned slowly and surveyed all the dead. Tears spilled down every cheek. Kit and Kat crept toward one place in particular. The others quickly followed. They came upon twelve graves, no coffins, made of silver Thundrillum, the most rare material on Thundera. Kat realized that those Sons and Daughters that were supposed to help locate the pieces of the Diamond were all dead.
The twins observed these dead. There were old people and teenagers. Some were less than seven. They felt hands fall on their shoulders. They nearly turned when they saw that one coffin was made of silver Thundrillum and gems. They crept closer and immediately wished they hadn’t.
Inside, was their mother.
They peered through and saw her in her beauty for the first time in more than five years. Her bright red hair floated around her like a cloud. Her long lavender gown swept around her like a lacy sea. Pantro came up as well and felt his throat choke up. He couldn’t look and turned around.
Cheetara and the others came up. Before anyone did anything else, Cheetara and Lynx-o gradually drew the twins away. But Cheetara couldn’t halt her own tears. She was looking at her best friend. She was so young looking, seemed so alive. As if she was only asleep. As if she would awaken at any moment.
A hand tapped the cheetah’s shoulder. It was Bengali. He jerked his thumb at Pantro.
“What’s his problem?”
Cheetara looked to him. He was trying to hold his tears in but she could see the tearing heart in his face. She looked down at the kittens. They looked up at her with blurry eyes. She smiled but it was a broken smile.
“It’s time you all know. After your father died, and up until Kitra died,” she paused. “It was unheard of which is probably why no one but Tygra and I know about it. They were completely different but…anyway, Pantro and Kitra…well, they used to be….”
Kit and Kat stared at her. “You’re kidding. Pantro and…our mother?”
“Yes, kittens. They used to be in love.”
Chapter Ten: All
Alone
As the Thundercats struggled to regain their composure, Kit suddenly stiffened and then she ran.
“Kit!” Tygra called after her as he chased her. “Where are you going?!”
“I…I’m NOT!” she screeched.
WilyKat tore ahead of Tygra easily. But he was still too late. By the time he got there, Cesira had her.
“Cesira!” Bengali called as he came up with the others. Lynx-o managed to keep his calm and quickly threw an arm around the child’s torso to restrain him. But Lynx-o could feel the child’s anger.
“Let her go, stlina,” Pantro spat. Stlina was Thunderian for ‘Bitch from the pits of hell.’
“Ah, yes,” Cesira sneered at the panther. “If it isn’t Kitra’s old boyfriend, the Mighty Pantro.”
Kat’s heart was pounding. He murmured so lightly that only Lynx-o heard him, “Blast you, bitch from hell.”
Under any other circumstance, had Kat been home and just angry, those words would have won him a slap from Pantro and a mouthful of soap from Tygra. But here everyone thought the same thing. Kat had tears in his eyes.
“Let her go,” Pantro repeated, his voice acid and bubbling with anger. To himself he added, “I lost one person I love. I’m not losing her children, my friends, too.”
WilyKat’s eyes lit up with anger as he glared at Cesira. She took note of the cub’s anger and laughed.
“What’s the matter, kitten?” she sneered. “Can’t bear to lose your precious sister?”
Kat was on the verge of darting at her but Pantro put an arm around him and held him back.All Cesira said after that was, “Here today, gone tomorrow.”
She vanished with Kit.
Pantro removed his arm. Kat sank to the ground again as if he’d been broken by fierce winds. As if he hadn’t the strength to stand anymore. His eyes were wet but no tears crept out. He refused to let himself cry. Not here.
Lynx-o knelt by the child and pulled him to his feet, gently. Kat was close to tears now. The lynx wrapped his arms around him and hugged him. Kat squeezed him back but then parted from the elder cat, embarrassed by his childish behavior.
The Thundercats had headed for the way out of this room and now where more determined than ever. They’d just gotten Kit back. They weren’t going to lose her again.
But as they began to walk, a rumble was heard. Before anyone could react, even Cheetara, a split appeared in the ground and a massive green beam shot up and captured Lynx-o and Cheetara at once.
“LYNX-O! CHEETARA!”
Lion-o and the others quickly ran forward to try and aid their friends. The two adults struggled against the beam but it was like a super strong vine. It didn’t even budge. WilyKat ran forward and his hand was already tightening on his wand. It lit up.
But not even the agile kitten was fast enough. As soon as he had drawn his weapon a huge flash surrounded his two friends and in a split second they were sucked back into the ground. The crack closed and didn’t even leave a crease.
They all stood awestruck for a time. Then, with a grim realization understood that the only way to save their friends was to go on and defeat Cesira. They walked on. Kat held onto Tygra’s hand.
His other hand still clutched his Wand of Thundera. So tightly did he hold it, that his knuckles turned white. But then he was forced to lift it again.
“Lion-o! Look Out!” Bengali sprang for his lord and they both hit the ground as the fire demons they had met before reappeared. Apparently there were more than the ones Kat destroyed. They surrounded the two and then attacked. As Tygra, Pantro and Kat bounded forward, their friends screamed, hideously.
“Lion-o! Bengali!” Kat started forward but Tygra and Pantro held him back.
“Let me go!” he screeched. He struggled against their arms but as long as Pantro had a grip on him, he might as well as been struggling against a steel wall. Pantro refused to let him go. He mourned for his friends too but he knew that Lion-o and Bengali wouldn’t want anyone else captured, especially a kitten.
“Kat stop!” Lion-o voice rang out. “Save your energy. You’ll need it. Just bury Cesira for us!”
Then with a flash the two Thundercats were gone.
Kat collapsed. He just bowed his head and let his hair fall in front of his eyes. Tears filled his eyes and he finally let them spill over. He must have cried awhile because it was a while later before Pantro and Tygra helped him up and urged to him to go on.
Everything was quiet for a time. But then without warning, Cesira struck again, fiercely.
The ground rumbled, everyone immediately took on battle stances. But it was to no avail. From under their feet, sprung pillars of ice. Pantro instinctively shoved the child aside as he and Tygra were captured and forced upward. Kat got to his feet, tears in his eyes.
“Hang on guys!” he cried. “I’ll use my wand!”
“No Kat!” Tygra called down. “Save your power! You need it! Just get Cesira for us!” Then as it had happened with the others, Pantro and Tygra, Kat’s last friends, vanished away into thin air. He stood there, his wand still at his side, gripped tight in his hand.
He was all alone.
Chapter Eleven:
Power Older Than Time
WilyKat fought his tears as he glanced up where his friends vanished. He felt the familiar stinging in his eyes as the tears sprung from the corners and spilled down his cheeks. He collapsed where he was. Lion-o was gone and so was everyone else. He wasn’t brave enough to go on. He wasn’t.
WilyKat, a voice echoed in his mind. He instinctively looked for the source. But it wasn’t anywhere. He swiftly realized he wasn’t hearing it in his ears. It was in his mind. And it was Cheetara.
“Cheetara,” he whispered softly. She didn’t reply but did say softly.
“Get up. Get up, kitten.”
Kat sat there a minute more. He was scared. He hadn’t felt scared when he faced Celeano. But Kit had been there. His sister had been there. His twin.
That single thought did it. The very imagining of his sibling and the pain and fear he’d seen in her eyes was enough. He jumped to his feet. He clutched his wand tighter. And lifted it to his eyes. It glowed as bright as a star as light blue waves spun around in a circular pattern. Kat peered deep into it.
As before, he saw a vision. His sister was near. She was just beyond that door. Kat narrowed his eyes. The thought of his sister forced courage into his heart. But as he walked on, he didn’t realize it.
* * *
WilyKit quivered in the corner. She was cold and scared. Cesira had slapped her several times and then flung her into the corner. Kit had lost Bengali’s cloak a long time ago. Now she felt the icy coldness begin to invade her again.
She whimpered softly, almost silently.
“Shut up!” Cesira snapped. Kit glared at her. Then a strange feeling invaded her. Cesira turned to face her. Kit climbed her way to her feet. Cesira smirked.
Kit spat and lifted her hands slowly. And it was a good thing. In a flash of light, Cesira fired a beam at her. Kit gulped. She put her arms in a x over her chest. Her symbol of the sun lit up on her forehead again.
Kit had been wondering as she slept about her wand. She didn’t recall losing it or Ratha or Cesira taking it. But she knew now. For her birthmark and the symbol of the sun lit up as one and with a huge migraine feeling, her sun mark shattered.
It literally shattered as if it were made of glass. The fractured pieces flew together and a bright flash temporarily blinded her. Then her Sun Wand of Thundera dropped back into her hands.
She clutched it tightly and raised it. Cesira’s beam stopped before it reached her. Kit lowered her arms again. Cesira growled in exasperation and then unlocked her powers again with this statement, “Your brother’s coming brat. I don’t need you anymore. At least…not alive.”
Kit looked down at her wand. It shimmered like a star. Bright red and orange rays spun out from its center. The wand had been…it had gone INSIDE HER! Of course! That’s why the wands were alien to almost everyone. They were inside the Sons and Daughters of Thundera! And Kit’s must had gone back into her body when she became too weak to use it. But now she had drawn it back out. And the simple words appeared in her mind.
“Sun Solar Shower!” But as she began to transform she merged her mind with the magic of her wand and added, “And make it fast!”
With a huge flash, she was transformed. Her clothes bleached bright yellow and her sleeves a stunning orange. She lifted her wand.
“Cosmic Comet Collison!”
As she said this a familiar sound echoed as well, “Moon Magic Blast!”
Cesira was knocked backward as Kat’s wand joined with his sister’s attack. Kit was distracted and Cesira used this to her advantage. Kit was weaker than her sibling. She wasn’t as agile right now. With a swipe, Cesira hit Kit with one of her own blasts. She crumpled almost instantly. Kat tore to her side.
“Kit!”
Kit remained silent and Kat’s heart stopped. Then, he turned to Cesira. His eyes took on an eerie blue glow. As he rose, he took his sister’s wand in one hand. He spoke and it was a voice that stunned Cesira. His voice was cold and cruel. And angrier than she could have imagined.
“That’s it Cesira. That’s it!”
His sister stirred and Kat knew she wasn’t dead. At any other time, she could have avoided that. But she was too hurt and weak. And now she was hurt more. But this time, Kat wasn’t going to stand by. He had had it. He was mad. So he looked down at the two wands. His eyes lit up again.
And there was a blinding flash as the two wands of Thundera merged into one.
Chapter Twelve: Link
of Twins
Cesira sneered as the child lifted the single wand so it shimmered. Kat glared as her and swung the wand high. It glimmed alive. He turned back to the sorceress and concentrated. He had never felt such a power before.
“So brat,” she sneered, “Still going on?”
Kat’s bright amber eyes shimmered with anger. He stepped closer to Cesira. She smirked and lifted her hands. Inside the palms appeared a fireball, impressive in diameter. This she threw at him at a speed that shocked them both. Kat ducked.
He lifted his wand and didn’t say anything but did jerk it forward. A beam of power shot from the sphere and Cesira barely dodged.
“Clever child,” she mused.
She lifted her arms but this time Kat struck first.
“Ice Fire Burn!”
From the sphere sprung a smaller sphere of a mixed color. It was a reddish-whitish color.It spun toward Cesira but she darted aside. A fierce laugh escaped her throat.
“Don’t have as good an aim as you sister, eh?”
Kat spat and concentrated. In his mind, the words shot forward, “Ice Fire Burn! Fire Ice Blaze! Attack!”
Cesira turned because of some intution. She screamed as the sphere shot in a u-turn and collided with her body. An awful pain began to shoot through her blood. Fire. She opened her eyes. Her hair was no longer black, it was aflame. But her body was freezing.
That’s it! She thought as she glared at the Thunderbrat. But before she could do anything, he called out, “Lightning-Thunder Flash!”
The beam which shot out of the sphere was suddenly coated with lightning. Then the electricity reached her body and penetrated her skin. She howled.
But then she glared at him. The gem she had on her forehead lit up. Huge black waves rocked from her and Kat was thrown backward into the wall. Flakes of stone showered down on him. He tried to get up but before he could a pain beyond imagining shot through his body. He could only scream as Cesira smirked in delight.
* * *
Ratha walked along the halls trying to stay out of sight. She found who she was looking for very quickly. Pumyra walked by her, her eyes glazed over. Ratha seized her by the arm and jerked her aside. Then she clapped her hand over her lips.
“Pumyra listen to me!” she hissed. “You have to snap out of it! Have to!”
The puma made no note of her words.
“Please Thundercat, please!”
Again Pumyra made no response. Ratha hissed in agitation. She neared yanked out a rope and hit her.
A rope!
Ratha pulled out a red rope. She yanked Pumyra’s face closer. “Listen! This is WilyKit’s! Kit’s! The kitten! The girl you look on as a daughter! And she’ll die if you don’t snap out of it! Her brother won’t be far behind her!”
Pumyra’s eyes spread wide. And Cesira’s spell fell from her.
* * *
Kat shuddered. He could fell himself weakening. He was failing his sister. As he had so many times. He couldn’t fail her or the adults. Not here. Not again. But he could feel it. Lion-o was wrong. He wasn’t brave.
Cesira smirked. The brat had hurt her but he was being hurt more. Unlike others, she knew:
He was dying.
Then suddenly a familiar voice caught her attention. Silky, comforting and arrogant.
It said, “I can’t believe I’m doing this,”
The voice was interrupted by another voice, “She killed-“
Then the voices stopped. She turned. And gaped.
Pumyra was standing there. Her spell wasn’t in affect anymore. The puma’s eyes shone with anger. She had drawn her sling and bombs. But that wasn’t the greatest shock. Standing beside her was Alluro. He glared at her. Then turned to Pumyra. He drew his psychic club. He flung it at Cesira. Yet instead of hyponizing her it turned into chains that wrapped her body tightly. Alluro said in a terrorizing voice.
“You killed Chilla, bitch and I’m not taking that lying down.”
He looked to Pumyra. Pumyra spoke.
“You hyponized me and tricked me into hurting my friends. No one gets away with that.”
Then a third voice and it was the cruelest of all.
“You murdered my only child.”
Then a new voice followed by pain. Cesira turned. Kat had gotten to his feet and attacked her again. “You hurt my sister.”
Pumyra looked to Kat. He said in a cold voice, “Trash her!”
Ratha and Alluro attacked. Pumyra winked at Kat. And rushed off to find their friends.
* * *
Lion-o lifted his head at the sound of the door opening. A gasp escaped everyone’s throat as Pumyra tore through. She just said, “Long story, I’ll tell ya later.”
She quickly set to work on their bonds.
She told them as the last lock came off, “Hurry, the kittens need us. So does Ratha.”
“Ratha?” Tygra spat. “I’ll marry a Mutant before I help her. Do you have any idea what she did to the kittens?”
“Yes,” she replied as they ran down the hall. Cheetara didn’t use her full speed because she didn’t know where the kittens were. “Ratha told me, but…”
“What’s wrong Pumyra?” Bengali asked putting a hand on her shoulder. She had tears in her eyes. When she spoke again, her voice choked.
“When…when I was under Cesira’s spell, I…I… hurt WilyKit. I was one of her tormenters. I came in and hit her. Stabbed her. Hurt her. My friend. I..I hurt her.”
“No,” Bengali countered. “That was Cesira. Not you. Not Pumyra a second mother to the twins. Maybe Cesira but never you.”
* * *
Ratha and Alluro were on the floor, unconscious. Cesira turned to Kat. He had fallen temporarily. But instead of attacking him, she aimed her blow at another. His unconscious sister.
“NO!” Kat shrieked.
And without another thought for himself, flung himself in front of her.
The pain was agonizing. But then Kat’s wand lit up, brighter than it ever had. And the flames surrounding him gathered into the sphere on his wand. Cesira gaped. The child’s eyes lit up and he stood straighter. Lifting the wand high over his head, he called out, “ Innocent Beam!”
Cesira howled as the pain of both wands began to shot through her blood. Her feet lost their footing and she slid back. She dug desperately. There was a fairly large fall behind her. How Alluro and Pumyra had kept their balance she didn’t know. But despite her struggling, she could not. With an agonizing scream, the power of Kat’s wand and his love for his sister sent her flying over the edge.
* * *
Kat fell to his knees. He no doubt would have fallen over had a voice not said softly, “Kat?”
Kit sat up slowly. Kat smiled at her and gathered her in his arms. Kit only said one thing, “Are you alright Kat?”
Kat thought a minute. She wasn’t asking phyically. She meant mentally. Kat thought. He could scarcely believe the memories he had. How had he stood up to Cesira? She had taken on the form of his mother at one point and yet he’d still attacked her. Still stood up to her.
Kat heard footsteps and saw the others hurrying down to meet them.
Pumyra was among them. He smiled.
Then a wonderful feeling filled his body.
Worth. Feeling that he could do things right. That he had self-worth. He smiled and hugged his sister tighter just to feel that she was close.She grinned and asked again.
“Kat are you..”
“I’m fine Kit,” he replied as she pressed her temple into his chest. He swayed with her slightly. “I’m just fine.”
The End
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