Chapter 4

Lion-O sat on a fallen log on the edge of the forest, dejectedly fooling around with the Sword of Omens.He held the weapon in it's dormant dagger configuration in the air above his foot, then dropped it.The Sword fell, then swerved of it's own accord to strike the earth beside his boot.He looked at the weapon for a moment before retrieving it.He repeated.

This had been the highlight of his day.It was mid-afternoon, hours since Cheetara had torn his head off for asking a simple question.In that time he'd walked north, out of the arid desert region and into the forest; he'd picked some candy fruit, eaten a few bites and thrown the rest away; been yelled at by a Berbil for wasting it's fruit; been bitten by several insects; and determinedly not returned to Cat's Lair.

A few hours earlier he'd heard a rumble to the south and guessed Panthro had gotten the Thundertank running.Maybe he'll be in a better mood now, he'd thought, remembering the big panther's outburst in the garage that morning.Now, dropping the Sword at his foot again, he thought, Maybe he won't come back this time, just keep going until he falls of the edge of the planet.And take Cheetara with him...

"You're not going to miss your foot forever, you know," he heard from behind and overhead.Startled, he jerked around, in the process pulling his toe back beneath the blade.The Sword spun in midair to avoid cutting him, instead striking his foot with it's pommel.

"Ow!" he exclaimed, more from suprise than hurt.Distracted, the steadying hand he'd extended missed it’s mark entirely.Lion-O, Lord of the Thundercats, pitched backwards off the log with a graceless thud.

"How long have you been up there?" he asked, sprawled on his back.He could see the slender red-booted foot that dangled down from the tree overhead, even though it's owner was still concealed by the thick foliage.

A soft melodic chuckle played it's way down to him."As long as you've been down there," Cheetara said."I've been following you for a while now."

Lion-O sat up, brushing himself off.He turned and leaned his back against the log, where he could still see her foot"Why?", he asked, as the Sword of Omens floated up from the ground to return to his outstretched hand.

The playful circling of the foot stopped, then was replaced by a metered forward-back swinging motion."I wanted to apologise to you, for this morning.I gave you something that belonged to someone else, and I'm sorry if I hurt you."

"It's alright," Lion-O said, abruptly grateful he could not see the cheetah's face.Once again, he could not think of anything to say to her.Finally, he asked, "Was that all you wanted?"

"No...," she said hesitantly.The swinging foot slowed in tempo."I wanted to give you another chance to tell me what was on your mind."

"I just asked what happened to your shoul..."

"Forget about my shoulder, Lion-O," she said tersely, cutting him off."Tell me why you came looking for me this morning."

Lion-O hesitated, taken aback by the abrupt change in her tone.But the swinging of the foot continued, so he focused on that and said, "Did you know my mother?"

The foot stopped, then was drawn up into the foliage.A moment later, the other came down and resumed the swinging motion."Not well," Cheetara said."I saw her a few times when I accompanied my mother to the capitol on state business.I remember she was very beautiful, very gracious."

"But why do you ask?" Cheetara continued."Surely you knew her better than I."

Lion-O was quiet a moment as he screwed up his courage to ask what he’d really wanted to all along."How did my mother die?" he asked.

Cheetara hesitated, as though measuring her words."I was told she died in the Mutant ground assault, during the evacuation.I don't know any specifics."

"Who told you that?" Lion-O asked.

She paused, then said simply, "Jaga."

Neither spoke for a time.Finally Lion-O said, "Sometimes I have bad dreams.Two different ones."He described the dream of escape from the burning palace, of his mother's doorway.

When he fell silent, Cheetara said, "What about the other dream?You said there were two."

Lion-O fidgeted; this one he didn't even like to think about."It's close to the first, but I'm alone trying to get to my mother's room.Then I go inside, only she's not there, Jaga is.I ask him where she is, but he doesn't say anything.Then he pulls the Sword of Omens out from behind him and..." the young lion faltered.

"And...?" the cheetah gently prompted.

"He stabs me with it," Lion-O said dully.

There was a rustle in the foliage and the lithe cheetah dropped nimbly to the ground.She walked to the log and sat beside the youth.Lion-O did not look directly at her.

"You miss her alot."It was a statement, not a question.

Lion-O nodded."It would be better, I think, if I knew what happened that night.But with Jaga gone, there's nobody left who can tell me."

Cheetara nodded.The forest was beginning to darken as the day waned.She looked around at the deepening gloom, then got to her feet."Come with me," she said softly and began to walk deeper into the wood.Lion-O rose and followed.

A dozen yards brought them to a small clearing.As they left the trees, Cheetara began to speak."Lion-O, what is the title of the Lord of Panther Clan?" 

"Weapon Master," he answered without hesitation.Cheetara stopped walking in the middle of the glade, and turned to face him.The pale light of the moon danced in her golden fur, transforming her into a breathtaking illusion of molten silver.Once again, the young lion was stunned by the sheer beauty of her.But her face wore the haunted look of secret pain and tears cried in solitude, tempering his awe at with concern for her.

"And Tiger Clan?"she asked.

"First Illusionist," he said, a hint of confusion creeping into his voice.

"I am Lady of Cheetah Clan, and my title is 'Forerunner'.Do you know what that means?"

Lion-O shook his head.

"It means nothing," she said bitterly."A forerunner is one who runs ahead, who finds paths and clears ways.But if there is no one to follow, then it ceases to have any meaning at all."

The night was filling the sky with alien stars in unfamiliar constellations.She looked up at them now, her voice distant, like an echo out of the past."My clan was the only one that never accepted the divinity of Man.We worshiped the Mystery of the Desert, it's everchanging face and eternal presence."She smiled at the stars, but it a heartsick thing that twisted upon her lips."So you see, even my god is dead.Everything I love is dead now, and more and more I find myself wishing I were dead, too..."

"Don't say that," Lion-O said softly, taking a step towards her.

Cheetara, still gazing at the stars, shook her head."Panthro is our strength and Tygra our intellect.The twins are our cunning.But myself...," she sighed."I am dividing the group with my very presence.Panthro and Tygra will be at blows soon because of me, and you will need both of them if the group is to survive."She looked back into the youth's eyes."So I've decided to leave Cat's Lair.I'll be gone in the morning."

He stared at her, stunned.The seconds stretched into minutes as he struggled to absorb it.She stood motionless, like the statue of a long-vanished moon goddess, watching him with the same passionless cool as the distant orb above.

"Stop looking at me like that!" Lion-O roared as, in his heart, sorrow and fear gave way to a sudden flare of anger."This is not you, Cheetara!"

He paused, swallowed, steeled himself to continue."You're the only one in the Lair for weeks with a kind word for poor Snarf, or for anyone.You're the only one left of us who still seems to care about anyone but themselves.I've seen you with the cubs, I've seen how you reached out to them."

He took another step towards her."A week ago, I had another nightmare.Maybe I cried out, I don't know, but you came into the room and laid down beside me.I remember you whispering in my ear and telling me it would be ok.I know you thought I slept through it, but I didn't.I remember.You were there for me, Cheetara, you always were, for all of us.Maybe that's why we...no, I...never saw how bad you were hurting."

He was almost touching when he dropped to his knees in the cool damp grass.He gazed up into her glowing face, as tears streamed down his own."You said Panthro is our strength and Tygra is our intelligence.But you are our heart, Cheetara, our soul.I'm sorry I took you for granted, and I know the others would feel the same if they knew."

"But please..." he said, his voice choking."Please...I beg you...don't go.If we lose you...it'll kill us.Even if we live another hundred years...we'll be dead inside without you."

He stretched out his arms and encircled her waist, leaning forward to press his face against her belly. "We've all lost so much..." he sobbed."All we have left is each other now...if we lose each other..."He stopped, weeping against her, unable to continue.

Cheetara stood unmoving as Lion-O clung to her and cried.After several moments, she reached behind herself and pulled the young warrior’s arms away.She stepped back from him.

And fell to her knees as well, putting her arms around his neck and drawing him close.They cried together in the dark night, grieved, but not alone.

Unnoticed at Lion-O’s side, the Eye of Thundera produced a glittering flash.The Sword of Omens began to growl…

Continued...