Wilykit looked at herself in her bathroom mirror, she had chosen to wear a tunic, not unlike the one she wore on Third Earth and the early years on New Thundera.  Wilykit and Cheetara went to the trade district earlier that day, and Cheetara bought it for her as a special gift.  She sprayed on some cologne that Pumyra had given her and checked her makeup.  Wilykit seldom wore eye shadow and lipstick and she was worried that she may have been too liberal with her applications.  Wilykit brushed her mane again.  As she finished she heard a knock at her bedroom door.  Wilykit opened the door and Pumyra walked into the room.
      "I'll feed the Jackalman if you want tonight, so that you won't have to worry about being late for your date."  Wilykit smiled. "No, that's okay, you have your hands full with the others, besides he'll want to hear a story." Pumyra smiled. "A story?  Yeah, fairy tales," Said Wilykit, "he seems to enjoy them and he eats more when someone stays with him." Pumyra smiled.  "Alright, Nurse 'Kit." Pumyra admired the girl for a moment. "You look great, kid."  Wilykit said, "Thank you, Pumyra.  I didn't go overboard on the makeup did I? No, you did it just right."
      Wilykit went downstairs, got a plate of food, and a piece of candyfruit, then rode up to the third floor where the Jackal Mutant was, Panthro rode with her.
      Panthro complimented her on her appearance, but she noticed that he looked nervous.  Panthro sighed and could no longer contain himself.
      Panthro in a gruff, deep, authoritative voice said,

      "Alright Wilykit, don't let him put his hands on you ANYWHERE.  If he tries to put his arm around you at the pictures, sit up, that'll stop him." Wilykit looked up at the panther with raised eyebrows and continued to listen to the odd advice. "and don't let him kiss you either, and if he tries anything really fresh like well," Panthro looked at Wilykit with concern.  "you know, kick him where it counts and run like Hell!"  Panthro rubbed his head.  "Just remember,'Kit, all men are scum, all they are after is..." The elevator door opened interrupting Panthro, and Wilykit briskly walked out of it with a shocked look on her face. Cheetara looking on wondered what horrifying jewels of wisdom he had shared with her, she prayed he didn't ply her with contraceptives like he had Wilykat for his first date.
       Cheetara smiled at Wilykit and said, "You look lovely, Dear, the spitting image of your mother." Wilykit smiled at the praise, but she had seen pictures of her mother, Wilykit didn't dare hope to be as ravishing as she was.  "Thank you, Cheetara." Wilykit walked into the Mutant's room and shut the door to a crack.
      Cheetara looked at Panthro with lowered brows, and forcefully whispered, "What did you say to her?"  Panthro looked down at his feet. "I told her that men are scum, and that if that boy tries anything to kick him in the.." Cheetara raised her hand. "That's okay, Panthro."
      Cheetara looked at the panther as they got into the elevator. "You aren't turning into an old softy are you?" Panthro looked at Cheetara in irritation. "I'm NEVER letting Ardua bond, date, OR get married!" Cheetara smiled. "What's wrong, panther? Past coming back to haunt you?  Trying to make amends for past wrongs? NO!" Panthro looked away. Cheetara made a twisted smile.   "What really happened on Varion Six?" Panthro scowled. "I'll never tell!"  Cheetara laughed as their ride down continued.  "Panthro, you have a double standard! No I don't! I don't have any standards."  Panthro enjoyed the look of half disgust Cheetara had on her face.
         Wilykit walked into her patient's room, and was surprised to see that the Mutant was sitting up.  He had the children's book she had been reading to him from lying in his lap. "Well, you must feel a little better." The Mutant looked at Wilykit smiled slightly, and nodded. Wilykit brushed the Mutant's muzzle and began feeding him. When finished, Wilykit was impressed that he had eaten almost everything on the plate. Wilykit looked into the Mutant's eyes, they were not as red as before, he was also livelier acting. Wilykit smiled and gave the Mutant a small bite of candy fruit and flipped to the next story in the book, "Rapunzel".  When Wilykit finished the story the Mutant looked at her and said, "Thank you, Kitten." Wilykit smiled. "My name is Wilykit." The Mutant smiled. "Kitten."  Wilykit smiled sideways. "I knew you wouldn't stay sweet for long, smart aleck."  The Mutant grinned slightly, Wilykit looked at the dual rows of sharp teeth.  Wilykit got up, put the book down, and walked towards the door to leave, then turned. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"  The Mutant smiled and said quietly, "Okay." and Wilykit left.
      Wilykit walked down the steps towards the hangar, she prayed Panthro wasn't waiting on her to give her more advice on men.  Wilykit's prayers were denied.
      Panthro, Tygra, Wilykat, Cheetara, Bengali, Lion-O, Pumyra, Lynx-O, Snarf, and Snarfer were waiting to see her off. As they all told her how pretty she looked, Lynx-O gave her a flower, and Panthro handed Wilykit a pepper spray canister and a large kitchen knife to put in her purse.  Cheetara took the knife from Wilykit, and they all waved goodbye to her as she sped off.
      Wilykit looked in the rear view mirror and shook her head.  She was grateful that they all cared about and loved her, but she thought they were a little too overprotective, especially Panthro.

       Wilykit, after a short drive arrived at her destination.  While she was primping a last time, she felt a presence behind her, then heard a familiar deep voice.  The resonant tone made her fur stand on end.  "I think you're perfect." Wilykit turned to see Melik standing to her side, outside the car.  Wilykit blushed and shoveled all of her makeup and hairbrush into her purse and got out of the car.
Melik produced a hooked arm. "Shall we?"   The two walked to the front of the theatre and Wilykit got out her money. "I'm going to buy your ticket, 'Kit.  No, i'll get it, but thank you."  After the purchase of concessions the two sat and talked in the dark.
      "Have you heard about your school acceptance, Wilykit? Yes, yesterday, Wilykat and I both got in.  What are you going to major in? Astronomy. Really? I figured since you're helping Pumyra look after those Mutants that you'd go for a healing degree and license." Wilykit shook her head. "That would take too long, besides, i've always loved the study of space."  Wilykit's attention turned to the extremely loud previews that were flashing in the air.  Melik turned to Wilykit. "That ones gonna be a stink bomb. How do you know?" Melik smiled. "When the main character runs away from a ball of fire while saying "i'm too old for this...." Wilykit smiled. Melik continued,  "stuff. You know the movie is going to be bad.  They've also spent a lot of time and money hyping it."
      Wilykit shook her head and sat back in her chair and began watching the picture.  She wasn't particularly interested in it, she was busy stealing glances at the tiger beside of her. Wilykit smiled and thought to herself, "Gods he's good looking, smells good too."  Wilykit quickly looked away when Melik caught her watching him.  As the picture progressed, Melik put his arm on the back of her chair.   Wilykit felt his arm creep closer to her shoulder, when Panthro's advice popped into her mind.  Melik finally cleared his throat, stretched, then put his arm around her. Wilykit wondered if she should sit up like Panthro advised, she didn't want Melik to think she was, easy, but she allowed his arm to stay there for the rest of the picture.
       When the picture ended Wilykit and Melik left for their vehicles. "Well," Said Wilykit, "I had a really good time. I wish you had let me buy your ticket, 'Kit. Well I..." Melik smiled. "Maybe you'll let me buy you a cup of coffee instead. Coffee?  Yeah, there's a great coffee house on Chetania Street, it's called Fuzzy's.  We could go and get a dark roast and talk for a little while, if you would like." Wilykit looked at the time. "Well I, isn't that in the orange light district?"  Melik smiled. "Don't worry, i'll protect you."  Wilykit looked into the tiger's eyes. "Okay.  Do you want to take my car, or yours?  Let's take mine, 'Kit."  Melik winked, and Wilykit looked away smiling.  Wilykit walked with Melik near where her vehicle was. "Wow!" Wilykit looked at the sports car in an impressed manner. "Tygra would love to see this. Where did you get your hands on a four-fifty Dark Claw?" Melik looked at Wilykit impressed. "I never thought you would be a car nut." Wilykit looked at Melik and smiled. "The only females in Cat's Lair are me, Cheetara, Pumyra and Ardua.  We are immersed in male culture constantly, we have to know stuff like this to keep up with them, or have a clue as to what they're talking about.  I'm not a car nut though, really." Melik stroked his chin, looking at the ravishing wildcat.  Wilykit felt uncomfortable by the silence so she broke it.
      "So, where did you find it? I bought it off of a guy in southern Thundera, he was sick of it being in his yard up on bricks, so he sold it to me for a steal.  It took two years and a lot of toot, but I got it looking cherry now." Melik rubbed the car with pride. "Can you believe that he kept his chickens in here at one time?" Wilykit looked at the car with wide eyes. "Really, doesn't look it now."  Melik winked at Wilykit and opened the door for her. "Madame?"  Wilykit looked inside, and got in. Melik jumped over the closed door on his side to get in. Melik snapped on his seatbelt, as did Wilykit and he turned the ignition, he turned to Wilykit.  "Did you know they call me "streak" on the strip?" Wilykit looked at Melik as he revved the motors, they sounded like a hungry pride of lions, she was almost afraid to ask him, but she did anyway. "Why?"  With that Melik peeled out of the holo-picture theatre parking lot and flew down the road.
        Wilykit's hair flapped in the furious wind, she grabbed and held it.  Wilykit looked at their speed, they were well above the speed limit. Melik laughed wickedly. "You scared yet?" Wilykit was, but she was excited as well.  Wilykit wasn't about to let the tiger know she was scared to any extent. "No! Go faster!"  Melik depressed the accelerator to the floor and looked at Wilykit. "YOU'RE MY KIND OF GIRL!"   Wilykit felt complete exhilaration at the G-force that propelled her backwards in her seat.  Riding in the souped up street car made riding space boards seem like a wagon ride.  Melik looked at Wilykit, took her hand, and put it on the gear shift.  Wilykit felt the furious vibration and looked into Melik's eyes.  Melik depressed the clutch, pushed her hand along with his into the car's final gear, and kept it there. Wilykit over her apprehension, smiled and laughed as she enjoyed the fast, wild ride. Melik yelled over the sound of the howling wind. "WHAT DO YOU THINK?"  Wilykit smiled at the tiger. "I LOVE YOU, IT!" Wilykit quickly corrected. Melik grinned and Wilykit wished she could crawl into a dark recess somewhere and hide for a little while, her face felt red hot.
      Melik slowed as they neared their destination. "'Kit, how would you like to learn to street race?" Wilykit looked at the tiger. "That's illegal, not to mention really dangerous." Melik looked at Wilykit. "It's not illegal unless they catch you, and I thought you were fearless!" Wilykit looked to her side. "I'll think about it." Melik smiled. "There you go!"  Melik pulled into the parking lot of "Fuzzy's" and got out, then opened Wilykit's door.
      Melik opened the door of the establishment and Wilykit walked in.  Wilykit was assaulted with the smells of smoke, and roasted coffee, loud music barreled through her head. A man sitting at a table got up and slapped Melik on the back. "Hey, man, whatcha' doing?" His friend then caught sight of Wilykit and bowed. "You're moving up in the world, Mel, how'd you get your hands on a pretty Thundercat?" Wilykit blushed, and felt apprehensive at the same time, they weren't acting like she was even there.  "Tynan, this is Lady Wilykit of the Thundercats." Tynan kissed Wilykit's hand. "A pleasure, My Lady" Melik smiled at Wilykit. "C'mon, 'Kit, don't pay any attention to this old bobcat, he'll try to steal you away from me!  Let's go sit down."  As he and Wilykit walked away, Melik turned to look at his friend, his friend gave him the "thumbs up".
      Wilykit was lead upstairs to where pool tables were located. Wilykit looked at them with a raised eyebrow. "You play, 'Kit?" Asked Melik.  "A little, we have a table at the Lair. Panthro threw the eight ball into the wall in the rec room, and it stuck, so we have to play without it."  Melik looked at his friends. "Snake, rack them up, fifty dollars on the lady." Wilykit looked up. Melik grinned innocently. "Surely you have no objection, gambling isn't illegal."  Wilykit smiled back. "Unless you get caught."  Melik laughed, as Wilykit and he went up to the table.  Melik threw down his money, as did his friends, and Wilykit carefully chose her cue stick.  After rolling a few on the table to determine their straightness, Wilykit decided on one, then chalked her hands, and stick.
      Wilykit looked at Melik, grinned wickedly, and made the first break.  "Solids it is, Wilykit!" Said Melik joyfully.  Melik's friends looked on as Wilykit proceeded to knock all of her color balls into the respective pockets that she called out beforehand, not giving Melik's friends a chance to win.  Wilykit had one last ball remaining, the eight ball, she called, "Eight ball, left side pocket."  And struck the pock marked cue ball, the eight ball slammed into it's home and Melik's friends tossed their hands in the air. "Shit, Melik, why didn't you tell us she was a shark?  I didn't know! Yeah right!"
      Wilykit and Melik sat down and Melik began dividing the money. "We should give it back to your friends, Mel.  Mel?" Melik grinned.  "You call me 'Kit." Melik made a smile for Wilykit.  "Here you go, two-hundred credits." Wilykit looked at the pile. "Go on, take it." Wilykit was reticent. "You can buy yourself some of the books you need for classes." Wilykit looked at the money. "It's wrong to keep it, besides, Cheetara and Tygra are going to buy my books and Wilykat's for us.  Whatever money the scholarships don't take care of, they are going to make up the difference." Melik looked away. "That's pretty generous.  They like your parents? Yes, they have always tried to look after 'Kat and I along with the other Thundercats.  Snarf especially."  Melik laughed and said, "The most annoying race on Thundera!" Melik laughed even more heartily and Wilykit gave him a look, then leapt to the defense of the Snarfs.  "Snarfs are good people.  Snarf looked after Wilykat and I when no one else could!" Melik stopped laughing and looked at Wilykit, he knew he was in serious danger of blowing it.
      "I'm sorry, 'Kit, I didn't mean to offend you, i'm sure Snarf is a great guy. Will you forgive me?"  Wilykit looked at the tiger, her brow softened. "Okay, but just don't talk about Snarf like that, please." Melik nodded okay.  "So now that i'm off Wilykit's list, will you go out with me again?" Melik and Wilykit leaned back as the waitress put their coffees down in front of them.  Wilykit smiled at the waitress and thought for a moment. "Okay, since you asked so nicely."  With that Wilykit and Melik drank their coffees and resumed their conversation.
      "What are you going to do for your birthday? I don't know, I guess Wilykat and I will have another "surprise" party." Wilykit paused for a moment, thinking she and Wilykat had outgrown such a thing. "The Thundercats mean well."  Melik squinted and scooted closer to Wilykit in his chair. "There's going to be a drag that night, you want to come?"  Wilykit looked around. "I don't know, the Thundercats would have a fit if they knew I was even talking about going to the Coronation Boulevard strip." Melik laughed. "You know where it is, c'mon go with me, you can cheer for my inevitable victory."  Wilykit smiled. "I'll think about it."  Melik drank the last swallow of his coffee, and Wilykit looked at the time. "Mel, I hate to be a party pooper, but I really need to get back to the theatre and go back to the Lair." Melik looked at his watch. "It's only ten. I know, but I have to get up in the morning and help Pumyra and then get school related things squared away.  Eleven is also my curfew." Melik nodded, he decided not to say anything about her having a curfew.  "Okay. You going to join a sorority, live on campus? No, Wilykat and are going to live at Cat's Lair to save some money, at least we'll eat. Good." Said Melik. "I'll know where to find you."
      Wilykit got up and Melik looked at the neat stack of well worn credits on the table. "Go on, 'Kit, take them, nobody will know." Wilykit took the small wad of money, and rolled it. As Melik turned and walked down the steps, Wilykit noticed he left no gratuity.  Wilykit slipped the wad of money into the hands of the waitress that attended them.  The waitress' eyes lit up. "Are you sure, your Ladyship?" Wilykit, surprised at the thick Southern Thunderian accent said,  "Yes, the Code forbids my taking it." The waitress pocketed the money happily. "Thank you very much! I sure can use it! I tell you what, anytime you want a cup of coffee, or an appetizer, any 'ol thing,  just grab me and tell me, i'll give you one on the house, okay, Sugah?" Wilykit looked at the nametag on the young girl. "Thanks, Dixie, I appreciate it."  Dixie smiled. "Y'all come back now, ya' hear?"  Wilykit waved to the girl and walked down the steps.
       Melik was waiting outside for her, he had pulled his car in front of the door and was waiting to open the car door for her to get in.  Wilykit got into the car and strapped herself into the seat.
Wilykit was surprised when Melik drove like a rational human being all the way back to the theatre.  Wilykit felt a twinge of regret when they pulled into the parking lot.
      Wilykit dismounted the car and Melik followed her.  "I had a really good time tonight, 'Kit. I did too, Mel. Thank you for the coffee. You're welcome." Melik looked down. "We're okay, aren't we?" Wilykit looked up and said in a wistful, and half dismissive way. "I suppose so."  Melik smiled and Wilykit returned.
      Wilykit put her keys in her car door and turned to say goodbye. When she did Melik stepped closer to her and asked,  "Do I get a kiss goodnight?" Wilykit felt her heart jump up into her throat. She had never kissed a boy before, except for Wilykat and Tygra, and they didn't count. "I, well," Wilykit wasn't given a chance to object.  Melik wrapped his arms around Wilykit and held her tightly, she could feel her heart pounding. Wilykit raised her head, and Melik lowered his.
      Wilykit closed her eyes and felt Melik's soft lips touch hers. Melik's hands rested on her hips as the kiss continued to a deeper level, and his body pressed against her's.  Wilykit prayed she was kissing him right, as her hands rested on his hips.  Melik withdrew and added a small peck at the end of the kiss, then brushed his nose against her neck and inhaled deeply.  Wilykit's eyes widened, her heart skipped a beat.  Melik rose and smiled at Wilykit.
     "Goodnight, 'Kit." Wilykit stood with a fierce blush on her face. "Goodnight, Melik. What happened to Mel?"  Wilykit laughed grateful for the distraction.
"Goodnight, Mel."
      Wilykit looked at Melik, and took a tissue and wiped his lips. "I don't think it's your color, you are more of a "coral"."  Melik laughed as  Wilykit got into her car and drove away.
      Wilykit looked at the time, it was almost eleven, she depressed the accelerator a little harder, re-living every second of Melik's kiss in her head.   Wilykit smelled her hands, they carried his scent mixed with that of cologne.  Wilykit felt naughty at the things that were running through her head as she navigated towards home, she had never felt so strongly attracted to a male before.
       Wilykit put her hand to her head, she felt hot, it didn't help that her season time was almost upon her.  She rationalized that was why she was feeling the way she was.  Wilykit was grateful that she was approaching the Lair, she wanted to settle down and go to bed.
      Cheetara looked out her's and Tygra's bedroom window. "Wilykit's home, Tygra. That's good." Tygra looked at Cheetara he knew something was eating at her. "'Tara, what's wrong? Nothing." Tygra got up, sat behind his mate  and put his arms around her.  "Something is, Wildcat, tell me." Cheetara sighed. "They're grown up, Tygra." Tygra put his lips on Cheetara's neck, then looked at her mated scars. "It was inevitable. I know, but i'm worried about them.  They'll be out in the "real" world i'm afraid that they'll, oh, I don't know... " Tygra hugged Cheetara a little closer. "Mother instinct in overdrive?" Cheetara hit Tygra. "Evidently not!" Tygra rubbed his shoulder. Cheetara's mood turned more somber.
      "I wish Keena and Daschal could have seen how beautifully their children turned out.  I know, 'Tara, I know. I wish that too." Tygra kissed Cheetara's cheek.  "Let's not dwell on sadness. Wilykit and 'Kat are fine young people, and have turned out quite well." Cheetara nodded.  "We'll be worried about our girl going out on dates and both cubs going to college before you know it." Tygra shook his head. "No, not Kera. I'm not letting Kera see any male! I'm chasing her suitors away!" Cheetara looked at her Tyger. "My father didn't chase you away! I had Boldagal and Kerah both fooled!" Cheetara nodded. "That's the Gods' truth! In fact EVERYONE thinks you're this quiet, shy, intellectual type, only I know what a truly warped, sick, bad boy you really are!" Tygra smiled. "Would you have me change, my 'Tara? Of course not! I love bad boys."
       Tygra's conversation turned back to the original topic. "My girl is never seeing males, men are scum, they're after only one thing!" Cheetara looked at Tygra. "That's what Panthro said today! Almost exactly!" Tygra shrugged. Cheetara smiled wickedly. "What happened on Varion Six?" Tygra looked worried. "I'll never tell!" Cheetara blew. "Panthro said that too!"  Tygra laughed and Cheetara got into bed. Tygra followed and tried to wrap his arms around her, she wouldn't let him.  Cheetara with a face and voice of irritation said,  "I bet it's prostitute related!" Tygra's eyes widened. "Goodnight, 'Tara." And he turned out the light.
       Tygra rolled over in bed, feeling guilty, and Cheetara put her arm around him. "I don't really care, Tiger, Gods knows you know about all my past dalliances and you don't get mad." Tygra sighed. "All right, swear to me you will never tell Panthro I told you, and you won't get mad. I give you my word, Tiger." Tygra sighed. "Okay, 'Tara, I warn you, you wanted to know.  Get on with it Tiger! It all started when Panthro thought we should..."

      Wilykit walked into the hangar elevator and rode to the second floor, where her room was.  Wilykit was about to enter it when she heard a slight sliding noise. Wilykit looked to her side, it was her brother.  "Well, Sis, how'd it go. It was okay, the picture wasn't all that good." Wilykat grinned. "It probably didn't matter, you were probably too busy looking at the tiger." Wilykit sighed. "I'm too tired to hurt you, it'll have to wait for tomorrow." Wilykat laughed. "It's a date." Wilykat blinked his eyes quickly, ducked into his door and locked it, Wilykit heard the intercom crackle to life.  "I thought you were tired!" Wilykit growled, and eyed the camera. "Gosh, 'Kit, you're beautiful when you snarl!"  Wilykit pounded the door one last time and was headed into her room when Pumyra stuck her head out her's and Bengali's door.
      "Hey,'Kit, how'd your thing go? It was okay." Pumyra smiled, and looked down the hallway. "Watch out, 'Kit, your shadow's been looking for you." Wilykit looked down the hall to see a little girl running to greet her. "'Kit, 'Kit, 'Kit!" Wilykit knelt down and hugged the little girl. "Ardua, you should be in bed.  I can't sleep, can I sleep with you?" Wilykit looked at Pumyra for her say so. Pumyra nodded and Wilykit said "Alright, come on." Wilykit took the girl's hand and lead her inside.
      Wilykit after her shower reclined in bed, with Ardua clutching her tightly.  Wilykit brushed the girl's head, recounted the evenings events in her head, and wondered if she would be a good mother.

      "Oh, Tygra! That's so sweet!  I know that you wouldn't have done anything like that!  I wish I had know that years ago, i'd have married you right then, whether you wanted to or not!"  Tygra looked at Cheetara in complete surprise as she kissed him. "Well then, I wished I had told you!"  Tygra and Cheetara held each other tightly and spoke about other things for awhile then drifted off to sleep.