"Tygra? Aren’t you done yet?" Cheetara asked as she glanced up from the computer tablet she was supposed to be studying.

"Let me just finish this last problem." He answered without looking up.

She sighed and in an exasperated voice replied, "You said that three problems ago. Come on, I’m bored." She walked over to the tiger. She was still small for her eight seasons, and althoughshe had put on some weight in her two seasons at the lair, she was still almost painfully thin. Her thick blond-spotted mane had grown out and she had gained the eye markings typical for her Clan. Her dark amber eyes stood out from her almost pale white skin and right now they had a glimmer of mischief in them.

"Hey guys," Panthro greeted as he entered the room. "Is he still studying?" He asked the cheetah

Cheetara rolled her eyes at the panther and, giving him a wink, turned back to Tygra. "You know, Tygra, it’s kind of hard to study without your notebook." And with a mischievous smile Cheetara grabbed the computer pad from Tygra’s hands and shot out the door.

"HEY!" Tygra yelled as he jumped out of the chair and took off after her followed quickly by Panthro. "You better bring that back!"

"HA! Gotta catch me first." She laughed as she took off. While she was still not up to her adult speed, she could still easily out run the tiger.

The trio dashed down the ivory white halls of the lair and Cheetara took a moment to check the progress of the boys. However she forgot to watch where she was going and abruptly came to a crashing halt. Finding herself on the floor, the young cheetah glanced up to see whom she had collided with. Seeing the faces above her, she quickly jumped to her feet and bowed.

"I’m sorry Lady Nydia, Lord Claudius." She said as she finished her bow. Checking behind her, Cheetara noted that her pursuers were gaining. She turned back to the adults and bowed once again. "Excuse me please." She grabbed the tablet she had dropped and took off running down the hall again.

Lady Nydia let out a small chuckle, "She is nothing like when she first came here." The lioness commented on the cheetah’s behavior, "I remember when we couldn’t get one word out of her. Do you think this little one is going to have that much energy?" She patted her large belly tenderly.

"Excuse me Lady Nydia Lord Claudius, but did Cheetara come this way?" Tygra asked as he and Panthor executed a graceful bow.

"She went that way." Lady Nydia indicated the direction the running cub had headed.

"Thank you my Lady."

She and her mate stood there and watched as the cubs took off down the hall, "Are you sure we’re ready for this?" She asked her mate with laughter in her voice. All Claudius could do was shrug and chuckle.

Cheetara dashed out into the courtyard and headed for the open meadows that sat behind the lair compound. This was what she loved: the feel of sun on her face, the wind in her hair, and the freedom of the open fields. She hated being cramped up inside. Outside she felt alive…free, like she could do anything. She rounded the far corner of the lair and came to a crashing stop.

"Well, well, well, if it isn’t the runt." Symon sneered at the cheetah as he shoved her onto the ground.

Cheetara glared at the older cub, "I am not a runt." She tried to get up, only to have Cain, Symon’s friend push her back down. "Let me up."

Cain laughed at her, "Didn’t I warn you last time what would happen if I caught you again?" The older Cheetah asked in a cruel voice. "Do you remember me warning her last time Sy?" The lion nodded, "That’s what I thought. I guess it’s time to teach this little nobody where she belongs." He lifted his fist to punch her.

"HEY! Let her go!" Tygra yelled as he came around the corner.

"Well if it isn’t the runt’s shadow. Didn’t you learn anything last time, tiger?" Symon laughed

"I said let her go." Tygra demanded again, going into a fighting posture.

Cain glanced back at the tiger and Cheetara used that moment of distraction to her advantage. "Let me go!" She kicked out with all her strength.

Cain cried out in pain as the cheetah’s kick landed on his shin and loosened his grip on her. She managed to break the rest of his hold and jumped clear of the larger cheetah. "Oh, you are going to pay for that runt." He growled at her.

Tygra, seeing that his friend was free, decied that retreat was the best option. Grabbing Cheetara's hand, he turned and started running for the open courtyard. They were almost to the corner when he felt Cheetara pulled away from him. He turned and saw that Cain had grabbed her by the mane and was dragging her back to the ally. He turned to go after her, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Wait here." Panthro said as he walked into the ally.

"Now where was I?" Cain asked himself, "Oh yeah teaching you your place."

"Ummmm Cain," Symon tapped the cheetah on his shoulder,

"What?" He glanced over his shoulder.

"I think that you’re bothering a friend of mine." Panthro said from the ally entrance.

Cain glanced back down at Cheetara and with a final sneer tossed her towards Panthro. "She isn’t worth it. One day, runt, your friends aren’t going to be around to protect you."

"Are you alright?" The panther asked as he helped Cheetara back to her feet.

"Yeah, great," She pushed the helping hands away. "Tell Tygra I’ll be home later." She turned and headed out into the meadow, ignoring the yells behind her.

She ran. She took little notice of the dirt under her feet still damp from the morning rains or of the storm clouds slowly moving in over the mountains, or of anything but the pounding of her feet, the sound of her breathing and the quick beat of her heart. She ran, her swift feet carrying her farther and farther from the lair. All that mattered was getting away, away from the teasing, from the laughs, from everything. She ran until she could run no farther and collapsed in exhaustion. She lay in the tall grasses of the feather meadows allowing the frustration and anger to pour forth from her.

"Why? Why can’t I be like everyone else?" She yelled frustrated tears running down her face, "I just want to be normal." She curled herself into a ball and cried herself to sleep.

Tygra glanced up at the timepiece for the hundreth time in the last hour. "Maybe I should go look for her. She’s been gone for over five hours now. Should I wait for Mom or Dad to get home?" He thought to himself as he glanced out the window, "And it’s getting dark. She hates the dark." With that last thought he made up his mind. He quickly went into the cheetah’s room and grabbed the lantern he had given her on the first night, and after leaving a quick note to his parents, he headed out into the stormy night.

She slowly opened her eyes, and feeling slightly confused by her surroundings, she wondered where she was. She sat up and the memories of the day’s events came back to her still sleepy mind. She felt the frustraton rise up in her again as she thought of what Cain had said. "I am not a nobody!" She yelled into the fast coming darkness…"Dark… alone and dark," her mind started t scream, "But there’s open space around me. I’m ok as long as I stay in the open." She told herself. She felt a cool breeze in the night air and heard the sound of distant thunder. She turned and saw the lightning flash through the sky and felt the feeling of panic coming back. "Ok, Cheetara. You are going to get on your feet. Put one in front of the other, and run home as fast as you can." She ordered herself as she got to her feet and started running in the direction she thought the lair was in.

"How far could she have gone?" Tygra mumbled to himself as he searched the meadows. He jumped slightly as the sound of thunder broke the silence. "Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea." He glanced behind him and could see the lights of the lair in the distance glowing in the fast approching night.

Seyan thought it odd that the lights were off as she entered her home, "The cubs should be home and studying by now." She thought to herself, "Tygra? Cheetara?" She called as she went up the stairs to check their rooms. Not finding them there, she returned to the food preperation area and noticed Tygra’s computer notebook sitting on the counter and turned on. She picked it up and read the short note on the screen.

Mom,

Went looking for Cheetara. We’ll be home soon.

Love Tygra.

She glanced up at the top of the screen and, noting the time the note had been logged, quickly dialed the communication unit.

"This is Tyben,"

"Ty, Tygra and Cheetara are missing." She told her mate her voice conveying her worry.

He gave his mate a confused look. "Missing? "

"Yes, I just got home and there was a note from Tygra saying he was going to look for Cheetara." She paused, "It was logged over four hours ago."

"You wait there. I’ll grab Barlo and find out if Panthro knows anything and meet you at home." He ended the connection. Seyan turned away and tried to regain control of her emotions, and stop her mind from running through the millions of things that could happen to two young cubs after dark. She was pulled out of her daze by the sound of the communicator beeping. She quickly answered, hoping that perhaps it was one of the cubs calling. "Yes?"

"Forgive me Healer Seyan, but Lord Claudius bid me call you."

Seyan smiled gently at the young lioness, "That’s alright Lady Fiona. What is it Lord Claudius requires?"

"It’s Lady Nydia. She is having birthing pains. Lord Claudius wishes you to come right away."

"Of course I’ll be right there." She disconnected the call and silently cursed the timing. She went and quickly gathered her equipment. As she came down the stairs she heard her mate and Barlo enter. "I must go, Lady Nydia is having birth pains." She stopped, torn between her duty as a healer and her worry for the missing cubs.

Tyben took her arm and lead her to the door. "Go, the Lady needs you. Barlo and I will find Tygra and Cheetara." Seyan gave him a greatful smile and quickly made her way down the hall.

Full dark had overtaken the young cheetah as she raced through the tall grasses. "Ok, just keep moving, there’s nothing out here that can hurt you." She tripped on a small rock, twisting her ankle. She lay on the ground where she felt the panic beginning to build up in her. "Ok, take a deep breath," She said out loud just to hear a voice. "You’re going to get up and walk home now." She forced herself to sit up and felt a wave of dizziness swept over her. "Maybe not," She muttered as she fell back into the grasses. Just then the rain began to fall.

"I am going to kill her when I find her." Tygra muttered to himself as he continued out into the meadows. The wind was picking up as the storm moved closer. "Cheetara!" He yelled out into the night. "Great, now it’s raining." He continued his search growling under his breath. He turned to his left when he heard someone yell his name.

"Hey Tygra! I’m over here." Cheetara yelled to the tiger not quit succeeding in hiding the fear in her voice.

"Are you alright?" He asked, all thoughts of anger disappearing from his mind at the sight of his friend lying in the grass.

She nodded, "Aside from a twisted ankle, a headache, and being soaked, yeah I’m great."

He shook his head at her comment, "Come on lets go home." He helped her up and they made their way slowly home.

"Oh, thank goodness you’re here." Lady Fiona stated as she allowed Seyan into the royal quarters. "Her birthing pains are very close together." She led the healer into a room where Lady Nydia was resting on a bed.

The healer smiled gently at the young lioness before entering the brightly lit room. "And how about yourself Lady

Fiona?"

The lioness looked startled for a moment before allowing her hand to caress her own extended belly. "They kick and roll constently. But please, my Lady should come first."

"Good evening Lady Nydia, I hear we have a cub that wants to make an appearance tonight." Seyan said as she sat her bag of equipment on the nightstand. "Lord Claudius may I ask you to wait outside for a moment, so that I may examine the Lady?"

Claudius gave his mate one last gentle caress before moving away from the bed. "I shall be right outside my love."

"I’ll be fine." Nydia gave him a smile before she had to concentrate on another contraction. "Is everything alright?" She asked after Claudius left the room and Seyan had begun the exam.

The tigress smiled at her patient, "Nothing to worry about my Lady, this cub should arrive in no time. You’re already half-way dilated. Now let’s see if this little one is in the proper position." Her soft hands quickly finished the exam. "Fiona, why don’t you get some cool cloths for Lady Nydia and I’ll move a chair next to her for you."

"Yes, of course healer." Fiona answered and quickly went about completing the errand.

"I thought…" she had to pause as another contraction came, "I thought you said it wouldn’t take long."

"It will still be at least a few hours I think." She chuckled at the expression on the lioness’s face. "Don’t worry. As soon as it’s over you’ll forget everything. There is no better feeling then holding your cub for the first time."

"Will these do healer?" the young lioness asked as she returned to the room. "I found what I…" She let out a cry and dropping the towels clutched at her stomach.

Seyan was instently at the girl’s side helping her into a chair. "Is this the first time you’ve had this pain?" She asked as her hands quickly ran over Fiona’s extended belly.

"Yes," She hissed as another pain hit, her light amber eyes full of fear. "It is too soon."

Seyan quickly calculated the due date from the lioness last exam, and not for the first time, thanked the God’s for her photographic memory. "Only by four weeks Lady," She answered in a calm voice and pushing down her own concerns. "That is not uncommon for twins. Now I want you to sit here while I check Lady Nydia."

"What is wrong?" Nydia asked when the tigress reached her.

"Fiona’s cubs are coming early." She answered in a low voice so the younger lioness would not hear. "They are not head down, I fear that she will not have any easy birth."

Nydia shuddered as another contraction struck her, "What…what can you do for her?" She asked, the concern for her young niece showing in her voice.

"Would you accept another healer to attend your birth? I feel I need to stay with her." Nydia nodded her approval, "Thank you Lady." Both turned as Fiona let out a loud scream "Oh no…"

"Healer please…" Fiona glanced down and found herself standing in a puddle of her own blood.

"How much farther?" Cheetara asked through chattering teeth.

Tygra glanced at his friend, taking note of the exhausted look in her eyes, "Not much. I can see the lights from here. We can stop and rest if you want."

She shook her head, "No, I want to get out of the rain, I’m freezing." She glanced ahead. "Umm, is it me or are those two lights running towards us?"

The two cubs watched as the shadows became clear and both groaned inwardly as they recognized the figures. "We’re dead." Tygra whispered to her. All the cheetah could do was nod.

Tyben felt a wave of relief wash over him at the sight of the two cubs wandering towards the compound. "Do you two have any idea how worried we were?" He asked in a stern voice, but he was fighting to keep a straight face at the condition of the two.

"Sorry, I went out for a run and tripped and hurt my ankle." Cheetara said, keeping her best innocent face on. "It wasn’t Tygra’s fault."

"Panthro," Tyben turned to the panther, "Would you run and tell Seyan we found them and that they’re fine." The young panther gave a nod and headed back into the lair. "Now, lets go get you two dried off before you catch something."

Claudius jumped out of his chair at the sound of the scream. He quickly made his way across the room to the sleeping chamber. "Healer Seyan?" He called through the closed door. "Healer what is wrong?"

The door was suddenly thrown open, "My Lord, I need another healer quickly." Claudius took note of the tigress’s blood covered hands, his amber eyes asking the question, "No, it’s Fiona. The twins are coming early and she’s bleeding out. Please call now." Her tone left no room for argument and Claudius quickly did as the healer asked.

"Fiona, I need you to listen to me." Seyan called to the frightened lioness, "Whatever you do, do not push." She placed her hands and applied pressure in an attempt to stop the bleeding. "Tell me, what names did you pick for them?" She asked trying to take the girls mind off of what was happening.

"The girl Kitalee, after my Mother," Fiona said her voice filled with pain. "The boy Katvaren." She shuddered as another strong contraction gripped her.

"Where is that healer?" Seyan asked herself as she glanced over at Nydia. "How are you doing my Lady? Do you feel a need to push?"

"No, but the birthing pains are coming faster." She hissed as another contraction hit. "How is my niece?" Nydia asked calmly dispite the pain in her eyes.

"I am doing all I can Lady Nydia." She glanced down and did a quick estimate in her head. "She’s lost almost half her volume. Where is that healer!?" She thought to herself. "Right now I need you to concentrate on your breathing, my Lady. It’s much too fast." She spoke out loud in a calm voice. She turned as the door was pushed open. "Thank Gods. Kala take Lady Nydia."

The tall Panther stood at the door for a moment her dark eyes quickly taking in the situation "I think we better move this young one to another room first." She turned and pointed to the guards standing in the main room. "You there, come and help us move Lady Fiona. No, Seyan stay where you are." She motioned to the tigress as she started to relieve the pressure her hand was providing. "How much has she lost?" The panther asked after they had moved Fiona to another room.

"Nearly half her volume. The cubs are also in breach and four weeks early." She grabbed one of the guards as he made to leave the room. "I need you to bring me clean clothes lots of them and hurry." She turned her attention back to Fiona. "I may needto do a C-section to save the cubs."

The panther nodded "I’ll be back as soon as Lady Nydia delivers. She shouldn’t be much longer."

"I need you to slow your breathing Lady Nydia. Lord Claudius, could you help her sit up please." Kala instructed the two lions as she finished her exam. "Now Lady Nydia…"

"Nydia, Please." The lioness corrected.

Kala smiled, "Nydia, when I say to I want you to push as hard as you can for ten seconds, then relax till I say to push again. Lord Claudius, you can support her back as she does this and help her in her breathing. For now just relax and breath slowly."

"Healer Kala, my niece, how is she?"

"Healer Seyan is doing all she can for Lady Fiona and the cubs, but it will be a hard birth." She ran her hands over Nydia’s extended belly. "Now get ready and Push. 1...2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9…10… and relax."

"How much longer?" Claudius asked as he wiped the sweat off his mate’s brow with a cool cloth.

Kala chuckled, "This cub is eager to make his appearance in the world. Are you ready Nydia? Ok, once again Push… And relax. Only one more I think. Just wait till I say, Nydia. Alright, one last time and push."

Nydia put all her strength into the finial push and was rewarded with the sound of a newborn cubs cries. "You have a fine son with a head full of red hair." Kala announced with a smile. "Just give me one minute to clean him up. Do you have a name picked out?" She asked as she gently wiped the cub with a soft towel.

"Lion-O?" Nydia asked her mate.

He smiled down at his love, "Lion-O it is."

"Lord Claudius, Lady Nydia may I present your son." Kala handed a small bundle wrapped in a soft towel to Nydia and went to finish cleaning the mother. "You should let him suckle if he feels like it. It will help your uterus shrink down."

Nydia gently moved the cub into a position so he could suckle and marveled at this small being that she and her mate had created. "He’s so small." She said softly.

"Don’t worry he’ll grow." Kala chuckled, "I want you to rest now and just allow him to suckle. I need to go help Healer Seyan." The panther said after she had finished cleaning Nydia

"Kala, please take care of Fiona."

"We will do all we can." She left the new family alone.

"Damn!" Seyan growled, "You! Come and put your hand here!" She demanded of the guard that had brought the clean clothes. "Come and do it now!" She ordered when he did not come forward. "Now do not move no matter what happens." She said as she placed his hands in the correct spot.

"Healer," Fiona’s weak voice carried from the bed, "Please save them, please."

"Shhh, just lie still Fiona," She stroked the young lioness’s sweaty mane from her pale face, "I need to explain something to you. Your cubs are not turned right, and I can’t stop your bleeding."

"I don’t understand Seyan."

"To save the cubs, I need to help them. I have to do a C-section." She paused for a moment and looked up as Kala entered the room. She motioned for the pantherto take over for the guard and waved him out of the room. "But if I do this I may not be able to save you. I leave the decision to you Fiona."

The young lioness closed her eyes for a moment as she gathered her thoughts, "Will they live if you do nothing?

Will I live?" She asked, her amber eyes filled with fear.

"No, if I do nothing they won’t live, and I don’t know if I can save you or not." The healer answered truthfully.

"Please save them, even if it means my death." Fiona looked at Kala, "My aunt?" she asked through a pain-induced fog

"She is fine and has a strong son." Kala answered as she prepared an injection, "This will put you to sleep."

"No, I want to be awake to see them." The lioness pleaded

Kala caught tigress’s eyes and with a nod of Seyan’s head "Very well, I will only give you something to numb you, then."

Fiona felt the needle pierce her skin and then the warming numbness spread over her body. She watched as the healer frantically worked. "Please save them." She whispered one last time.

"Kala," Seyan quickly handed her a small female cub and quickly renewed her efforts to save the other. "Here take him." She handed the second cub to the other healer. "I’m going to try and stop the bleeding. Come on, Fiona, don’t give up on me."

"Lady Nydia?" Seyan called softly into the room.

"Healer Seyan, how is my niece?" Nydia asked as she glanced down at the small bundle she held. She glanced up and caught the healer’s eyes and the sorrow in them. "No, she can’t be."

The tigress bowed her head, "I’m sorry My Lady. I did all I could, but I couldn’t stop the bleeding."

"Is she?"

"Soon My Lady, no more then an hour. " The healer watched as Nydia silently spoke a prayer, "The cubs are strong and healthy dispite the early birth."

"Yes, the cubs, to loose a mother when they have just begun their life." She glanced down at her own cub. "Did she name them?"

"Kitalee and Katvaren, She asked to be alone with them until." She was unable to finish the sentence.

"Forgive me healer, but Nobel Barlo’s cub is here with a message for you." One of the guards announced.

"Thank you," She bowed to her Lady, "Pathro, did they find them?"

He nodded, "They’re a little cold and wet, and Father said Cheetara had a sprained ankle but that was all."

"Thank you Panthro,"

"Seyan, Fiona is asking for you." Kala spoke from the girl’s room.

The healer nodded and silently entered the dimly lit room. Fiona lay in her bed, a cub on each side of her. Her skin so pale it was almost transparent. "Seyan," She said weakly when she noted the tigress’s approach. "Please, make sure they are taken care of. That they are raised within the code."

"I swear they will be raised within the code. Now rest Fiona."

" Rest, yes, tell them…. Tell them I loved them." She whispered as she closed her eyes for the last time.

"May your journey be swift." Seyan spoke in the traditional prayer, then gathering the cubs in her arms softly closed the door.