He was drowning, struggling against the currents that threatened to pull him back into the oblivion that he had fought so hard to escape. A part of his consciousness could hear the voices, yet they sounded empty…hollow. They were familiar…yet not.

"Hold him! Don’t let him thrash around!"

"Get that sedative now!"

"Please don’t you leave me Tygra!"

That last voice gripped onto the one part ofhis mind that still functioned. He fought to put a name to the voice but failed. He knew that the person behind that voice was important, but not how. He knew the person was special, but not why. All these thoughts assaulted his weary mind at once, only causing more confusion to overtake the slight glimmer of rational thought that struggled to survive his maddened world. He was too weary to fight on. Slowly…steadily he made his way towards the void.

The tiger found himself standing on a strange plateau surrounded by a light mist. He could hear the sounds of others nearby but could not tell in what direction they lay. He moved forward slowly…cautiously, his senses alert for any danger. To his mind it seemed he walked forever, but nothing changed. His surroundings remained that of the mist-filled air. The voices were closer now and some of them even familiar to his ears. Ahead he saw the dim glimmer of a light. He used this as his guide out of the accursed mist.

He soon found himself standing within a forest. The sweet smells of the growing vegetation entered his sinuses and the warm sound of bird song tickled his hearing. Yet for all the sounds and smells, the forest felt dead to the tiger. Something was missing. Something he could not put his finger on. He found his way onto a gaming trail used by the animal residence of the area and followed it to a small, fast moving stream. There he saw her, sitting on a rock as if waiting for him. He carefully approached the strange female who couldbe no more then 12 seasons, his reflexes prepared to move him clear of danger if needed.

"So you have finally arrived." It was a statement more than a question as the young female regarded the tiger before her. "You have the look of your father about you, Tygra."

"You…you know my name?" He stammered

"I know much about you, but the question is how much do you know of yourself?"

"I don’t understand."

"Of course you don’t. You must understand why before you can understand you."

The tiger felt as though his head was going to explode with the girl’s questions and riddles. "Why must you answer in these enigmas?"

She laughed lightly, "Life is an enigma. So how else shall I ask questions of life? Tell me, what do you remember before you found yourself here?"

The tiger thought back," I remember returning to the Lair after a storm. Then waking in the night with a headache and taking over the watch. The rest is a dark area" He really looked at the small female standing before him for the first time and a part of his mind found her looks to be familiar. The build of her slim body and the shape of her delicate facial features right down to the blue-silver eyes and red-spotted mane, even the way she carried herself, her slow movements graceful…fluid. "Who are you?"

She froze at his question, "Whom I am is not of importance. Only that I am here to help you and guide you back."

"Guide me?" He felt confused again, "To where?"

"Follow and you shall see."

The cheetah had not moved from the vigil she had started over 10 cycles ago. She had refused food brought to her and only drank the liquids out of necessity. She could hear the others talking in the room outside and Wished they would just leave her to her own thoughts. She turned to the bed she sat beside and with the tenderist of touches wiped the sweaty mane from the tiger’s face. She longed to remove the restraints that bound him to the bed, but knew it unwise to do so since he was still fighting the cravings of the drug his body demanded.

"Why did you do it, Tygra?" she asked the silent form upon the bed. "Why did you think we didn’t need you? That

I didn’t need you?" She laid her head on his chest and felt his rapid heart beat upon her cheek, "come back to me my tiger."

In the shadows two figures stood watching the exchange, one of them shocked at the sight before him. He slowly moved from the shadows and watched as the cheetah tended to his prone body and fought to regain the memory of what had placed him in such a position.

<How?> He turned to the girl who had sat herself upon the one small counter in the med-room, <How did this happen to me?>

<Do you remember this?> She held her hand out and within it sat a piece of fruit.

The tiger felt a longing to have that fruit, to sink his teeth into its sweet juices and the feeling of euphoria that would follow. He tentatively reached his hand out to snatch it from the girl, and suddenly stopped, a memory playing at the edge of his mind.

<That did this to me.> He glared at the fruit with total revolution

The girl smiled and the fruit disappeared from her hand, <Yes, and now you know how. But do you know why?>

<Why what?> He asked his temper beginning to flare at the child’s constant questions.

Her smile disappeared and she sighed deeply <You still do not understand. Come there are others that wish to speak with you.> She gracefully hopped off the counter and led the tiger from the room and into the darkness of the corridor.

He found himself standing upon the plateau again, only now the mist had burned off in the warmth of the morning sun. He turned and saw the cub behind him perched on the branches of a lone tree. She playfully swung her legs as she soaked up the warm sunlight. Again the tiger had the feeling that he should know the girl somehow.

"Follow that path." She pointed to her left.

"You’re not coming?"

"No, another wishes to speak with you. But I shall be here waiting when you return."

He made his way onto the path she had indicated and soon was engulfed in the forests shadows again. He could hear the voices once more, mixed with childish laughter. As he took in his surroundings he found he knew where he was. He was near the lake that had once rested behind the Lair on Thundera, where he had once played as a child, until that day.

"Welcome Tygra son of Seyan mate to Tyben clan Asia’tal." A voice spoke from the shadows.

The tiger quickly went into a defensive stance, "Who are you? What do you want?"

The musical sound of laughter filled the air and a female panther stepped out into the path. "You are much like your father. Stubborn, willful, yet you lack his confidence." She flicked her thick black braid behind her hack, "Tell me, Tygra, has my son grown to be as stubborn as his father?"

"Your son?" He looked at the female more closely, "India? But you’re…you’re…"

"Yes, I am, " She answered her lips curling into a smile, "and no, you’re not. At least, not yet."

"Now I know where Panthro gets it from." He smiled slightly.

She chuckled, "Actually I learned this in defense of his father." Her mood turned serious suddenly, "but we are here about you, Tygra. Come. There is something you should see." The panthress turned and proceeded downthe path towards the childish laughter. Tygra smiled to himself at the musical sound of the voices and the thought of happier times. But once the lake was in sight, his smile quickly disappeared.

"I see you remember what happened this day." India said as she turned to face the tiger.

"I do not wish to remember." He turned to move away and found himself face-to-face with the panthress. "Let me pass."

"Sorry, I can not do that. You must remember if you are to heal, Tygra." He took him be the hand, like a mother would a young cub. "Come, I will be beside you. You will not face this alone."

"Cheetara?" Lion-O’s voice called out softly into the dark room. He saw the cheetah sitting in the same spot he had left her in when he had brought her meal 2 cycles ago. The food remained on the tray uneaten, the drink the only this missing from the contents. "You should eat."

"I’m not hungry." Her voice was tired, her complexion pale.

"Would you like me to sit with him for a while? You can go get some sleep."

"Please just leave us alone."

The lion sighed and with sad eyes turned to leave her alone in her vigil. He quietly closed the door behind him and leaned against the wall, fighting back the tears that brimmed on the edge of his eyes.

"Did she eat?" Panthro asked the young Lord, Lion-O shook his head in a negative reply. "If he doesn’t come around soon…"’

"I know," The young lord turned and glanced through the window into the room. "And lets hope it doesn’t come to that."

She glanced over at the tray of food that her Lord had carried in earlier and felt her stomach knot up, demanding the food that her mind perceived. She fought down the urge and turned her attention back to the prone tiger. He had calmed from his convulsions again and fallen still, his breathing steady and clam for the first time since he fell ill. She tenderly wiped his sweating brow with a cool cloth.

"I wonder what you’re thinking now Tygra. What nightmares grip your mind?" She brushed a stray strand of mane from his eyes. "I just wish I could do something to ease this for you." She watched as his facial expressions began to change again and the nightmares retook their grip on his mind.

The tiger and panthress entered the pleasant clearing around the lake and both watched as a very young Tygra ran about filling the air with his singsong of laughter. But the tiger’s eyes were drawn to the younger cub, a female tiger that dashed in behind the young Tygra. She was only slightly shorter then the young Tygra, her mane more white then red, her eyes a deep silver-blue. He had thought that all the memories of her had died when she had, but he found that with the sight of her before his eyes again, they surfaced past all the barriers he had placed. He remembered everything, her laugh, her spirit, her sweet loving nature. She was such a special figure in his young life, having been there when she took the first breath of life and then there the day she took the last. Unwilling, her name surfaced to the top of his mind: Enaya. His friend. His sister.

The panthress watched the explosion of emotions that crossed the tiger’s face as he watched the two cubs run around the clearing around the lake. "Tell me Tygra," she spoke in a gentle voice,conveying her support. "What happened to that young cub?"

"She died," he answered simply, not taking his eyes off the cubs.

"How?"

The tiger turned and glared at India, "Why does it matter? She died and it was my fault."

She placed a hand on his shoulder, "How?" she asked again.

The tiger brushed the hand off and began to back away from her. "Why are you doing this?"

She sighed, "In all our lives there are moments that forever change us. For you this was the first of many." She motioned her hand around the clearing. "It is important that you understand what happened to you this day. So I ask you again. How?"

Tygra turned back to the playing cubs. "Mother and Father brought us to the lake the first warm day of spring. It had been a long winter and Father had just returned home after a six-month absence. They thought this would be a nice relaxing day." He paused, fighting the flare of grief that fought its way into his mind.

"Go on, Tygra," India encouraged

"I was supposed to watch her while we played, but I wanted to go explore the woods. She couldn’t keep up. I told her to go back and stop following me. I didn’t know what was going to happen." He sat down on a fallen tree.

"Of course you didn’t." She sat beside him, placing a hand on top of his. "Keep going."

"She wandered back down to the lake, I had walked maybe another 5 feet when I heard her scream. I don’t remember reaching the lake, or even jumping in the water. I just remember seeing her trying to keep her head above the water line." He shuddered at the memory. "I didn’t even think of the fact that I couldn’t swim, only that I had to get to her. I reached out and grabbed at her, but as soon as I did, we were both pulled under. I tried to keep my grip on her but…" He stopped. "The next thing I knew my Father was pulling me out of the Lake, Mother was crying, and I didn’t see Enaya anywhere." He rose and moved to where he could see the playing cubs again. "I shouldn’t have let her wander off. She was my responsibility."

"You were what? Only 6 seasons old?" he nodded, "Hardly an age to bare such a burden as this, Tygra. Your parents did not hold you in blame. I know it was a hard lesson for you and something for which you have never forgiven yourself. The time has come for you to release this pain…to allow your heart to grieve for her." India moved away from the tiger, disappearing into the brush.

"Tygra," he turned to the voice and found himself looking into the face he had not seen since he was six.

"Enaya…" He stammered out as he knelt down to the 5-season old cub’s level.

She looked at him, her eyes still holding the innocence he remembered about her. "Don’t be sad anymore, Ty. I’m ok where I am."

"I didn’t mean for it to happen."

"Wasn’t your fault." She took one of his hands, "You have to let me go now, Ty."

"I can’t." He clutched her to him.

"You have too. If you don’t, you can’t get better, and she needs you."

"What?"

"Your friend." She answered, "The one waiting for you. If you leave she’ll follow."

Tygra felt more confused at the girl’s words. "If I leave?"

Enaya turned, a voice calling her from the shadows. "I have to go now.

"But I have so many questions to ask."

"Just remember what I said. And no matter what, do not let go." She hugged him and dashed back towards the lake. "Bye Ty." He stood and watched as the scene around him blurred and slowly faded, leaving him standing again upon the empty plateau.

"Good-bye Enaya."

"It is difficult to make him understand what he needs to know." The tiger said to his mate.

"He does not trust what he sees or hears, but he must be made to understand. The future of the very race depends on his and the cheetah’s survival. We cannot…we must not fail in this Urnic." She flicked her tail to emphasize her feelings.

"It is up to the chosen to fulfill the calling. All we may do is gently guide them in the proper direction and prepare them for this Cinnya Oir. What we do now is even walking a very narrow and dangerous line. But he must not be lost. It would mean the end of everything."

She found him standing in the same spot that Enaya had left him. She knew he was important to the Creators and that she must somehow guide him back to his world, but she was slowly running out of ways to keep him from the calling of the void, and the longer he remained here the harder it would become for her to block out the sounds. She softly approached as he remained staring at the spot that hadheld his sister not a moment ago. She winced slightly as the mood of his thoughts broke through her shields. She quickly increased her blocks and forced her mind to relax.

"Why are you doing this?" Tygra asked without turning to face the cub. "Why are you dragging me through Hell again?"

"I have done nothing." She replied, "You are the one taking us on this journey. All I do is guide your thoughts and feelings as you have them."

He turned and faced her, again the feeling of recognition flashing through his mind. "Who are you?"

"I am a guide, nothing more nothing less."

"No, I know you…yet I don’t." He again took in her features. "You remind me of someone."

She smiled, "Of course I do, but that is for a later time. For now one other wishes to speak with you." She motioned to the mist-filled forest. "Just follow the light. You will find her at the source."

"I suppose I don’t have a choice, do I?"

"No. Not if you wish to return to your friends."

He growled something under his breath and walked into the mist.

She watched as he disappeared into the forest, her weary mind fighting to keep the call from him. She was running out of time, and without her, he would be lost.

The light called to him, it’s song almost hypnotic to his tired mind. He stumbled down the path, not paying attention to where he placed his feet, leaving his luck to chance that he would make it to the source. He could hear a soft humming as he approached the small clearing and could make out the silhouette of a women standing in the center…watching him…waiting for him.

He moved forward into the light and for the first time, was able to catch a good look at the figure. His heart froze when he saw her, her blond-spotted mane, her honey-amber eyes, the smile that haunted his dreams.

"Cheetara?" He tentatively reached a hand out.

"No," she grabbed his hand before he could back away. "But I know the one you speak of." She smiled gently at him.

He glanced again at her face and noted the subtle differences between her and Cheetara. Her face was a tad slimmer and her eye markings darker in coloration. She wore her mane longer and tied back in a simple ponytail, her build was the same aside from being slightly taller then Cheetara. "I’m sorry. You looked like someone I know."

She laughed, the musical sound reminding him again of another. "I should hope I do. She does not get everything from her Father." She gave the tiger a thorough looking over and then motioned him to join her by thefire. "I can see why she has chosen you."

He followed and sat upon a tree stump. "I don’t understand."

She sighed and sat across from him, her mane set aflame from the fire’s light. "Tell me, what is my daughter like?"

Tygra looked at the cheetah, confused. "Your daughter?" Then it hit him why she looked so familiar. One of the few things that Cheetara had brought with her to the Lair on Thundera was a picture of her parents. One of the few things she'd managed to save from Thundera's destruction was that picture. This was the woman in that picture. Cheetara's mother Cheeyana. "You’re her...I mean you have to be her..."

Cheeyana laughed lightly, "You do have a way with words don't you."

Tygra blushed. "I'm sorry, it's just, I never thought I'd see you. Or dream you, whatever..."

"So are you going to tell me about her?"

Tygra shook his head. "This dream is definitely weird. But yeah, I will. What would you like to know? "

"What was she like as a child?"

The tiger smiled as her question brought up memories of the happy times on Thundera. "She was a good friend to have, even if she always got me into trouble."

A sad look crossed the cheetah’s face as she listened to the tiger’s stories of the childhood he had shared with Cheetara on Thundera. "She was happy then?"

"Yes she was." He rose and walked over to the cheetah, kneeling in front of her. "She missed you though. She used to tell me about how you would sing her to sleep at night and of the trip to the Gather."

Cheeyana reached out and placed a hand on his cheek. "In my death she found you. It was meant to be, Tygra. Do not give up hope for your future together."

"What future? She is promised to another." He tried to pull away but her hands held him in place.

"There is always hope, no matter what the tapestry of life has begun to weave. Threads can be snapped and rewoven throughout your existence. Nothing is set. Hold her in your heart. She will be there for you." She reached down and softly touched the golden chain about his neck. "Her father would be proud to have you wear this. Your bond with my daughter goes beyond friendship and trust, Clan and family. You are meant for each other. Your ties are thicker then blood and stronger then time." She glanced up and gave a slight nod of her head. "I must go now." She rose from the stump and made her way towards the forest pausing before she entered. "Tell me, do you love her?"

"More then life." He answered.

She smiled, "Then it is time for you to return." The dream plane faded around him, and Cheeyana faded with it. But he could hear her voice as the world went black, that voice so similar and yet different from Cheetara's, saying, "Take care of my daughter. And give her my love..."

He wastired, and the light was calling to him. He didn't want to go back to that swirling, misty darkness. He could feel the light promising him peace and safety, and the shadowed darkness offered him nothing but pain. Slowly he gave in to the call, allowing his legs to move him in the direction of the promised sanctuary. A voice called, urging him back away from this place of peace.

"NO!" The cub screamed as she watched the tiger make his way forward. "Don’t listen!" She grabbed his hand, trying to force him back.

"But it’s so beautiful there." He pulled out of her grip, and moved forward again.

She was jolted awake from a sleep she did not remember falling into. Her eyes quickly glancing over to the tiger as the sounds of alarms registered within her tired mind. "Tygra?" She shook him. "Tygra?!"

"Cheetara? What’s wrong?" Panthro asked as he dashed into the room, alerted by her shouts.

"His heart rate is dropping." She turned, her eyes locking on the panther’s face. "We’re loosing him."

The panther quickly snapped himself out of his shook and rushing forward, pushed the cheetah aside. "Get me the stims now, Cheetara." She dashed over to the cabinets and after a moment of digging around located the proper drugs and tossed them to the panther. "Let’s see what this does." He injected the stimulant into the limp arm of the tiger and waited.

"Nothing’s happening." Cheetara tried to hold the quiver from her voice, "what’s taking it so long to work?"

The panther couldn’t answer as the alarms began to blare again. He turned his tear-filled eyes to the cheetah and shook his head. "I’m sorry…."

She stood there frozen in shock. "No," she whispered.

" ‘Tara, why don’t you come with me." He placed a caring hand on her arm and started to lead her away from the room.

"No, he can’t be." She remained standing as if glued to that spot. "He can’t be…I won’t let him…NO!" She broke from the panther’s grip and with a staggering gait that spoke of how weary she was, made her way backto the bed. She knelt beside him and took his hand in hers. "He’s cold. He can’t be. He promised me."

"Cheetara…."

"Get out, Panthro. Just get out!" She heard the door slide shut behind him as he left the room and with a shaky hand she reached up and caressed the tiger’s face. "Tygra? Come back to me." She waited. "Tygra please." Only silence answered her pleading. "Damn you, tiger!" She shook him with all her might. "You promised me! Don’t leave me ALONE!"

The song was stronger now and the pull of the light was unavoidable for the exhausted tiger. He could hear the cub calling for him as he walked towards it. She was begging him not to enter…not to leave. He paused, a spoken warning comingto his mind. "If you leave, she will follow". His mind searched for the person that voice spoke of, but the thoughts brought only pain to him. He moved forward.

"Damn you, tiger!"

He froze at that voice, it’s sorrowful tone sending stabs through his heart.

"You promised me!"

Yes, he had made a promise. But for all he tried, he could not remember to whom he'd made that promise

"Don’t leave me ALONE!"

He felt a different pull, one taking him away from the peace of the light. One taking him back to her. His mind swam with images of her… her smile…her laugh…her touch. He gave himself into the pull and was thrust back intothe darkness that he had fought so hard to escape.

Someone was crying, Tygra realized muzzily. A female voice, filled with sorrow, and there was a dampness on his fur that he suspected was tears. With a massive effort, he cracked one eye open. He searched the room, looking for the source of the mournful sounds. He saw her, her body outlined by the light of the setting sun as she stood glancing out the window. He tried to moisten parched lips and throat so to call to her, but found that he wastoo weary to do even that. He lay there, just watching her, until he could take no more of her tears. "Don't..." his voice barely a whisper "Don't cry."

Cheetara, standing by the window, whirled around and was at his bedside in a flash of golden light. "Tygra? Tygra, love, did you just speak to me?" All he could do was a small nod as it took to much energy to speak. Her handsmoothed back his mane with tender care as her amber eyes searched his, and she gave a brilliant smile as she found what she was looking for in his eyes. "Oh, Tygra... don't you ever scare me like this again."

He smiled and with a shaking hand reached up and caressed her cheek.

She turned her face into the caress, lips brushing ever-so-lightly against his palm before taking his hand in her own and laying it back down on his chest with care. "You're tired," she said lovingly. "Sleep. You'll feel better tomorrow."

"Stay?" He asked, refusing to relinquish her hand

She couldn't seem to stop smiling. "I promise. Now rest."

He nodded and bringing her hand up brushed his lips against it. "I'm sorry." He whispered as his eyes began to drift shut. "Didn't mean to hurt you."

"Shhhh," she said, one gentle finger against his lips. "We can talk later. You just concentrate on getting better."

He fought it, not wanting to let go of the sight of her quite so soon, but his eyes finally drifted shut and his mind faded into a safer, silent darkness.

Within the stillness of the night, the shadow stirred. She was free of her prison. Free to run…free to hunt…free to kill. She was set loose upon an unsuspecting world and she intended to enjoy herself.