Tribulation By Elizabeth B.: "the warrior" Disclaimer: ThunderCats and anything related with them are not my property! Chapter 2: Dancing With the Devil

She saw her objective. Through glazed, flooded eyes she fixed her gaze on the closed control room door. Muffled voices could be heard from the other side and she kept staring --as if all this were a dream. Her eyes dropped down giving away a moment of uncertainty and then...then staring straight ahead she lumbered forward. As she made contact with the door, the strain bore down on her. Pressing her palms against the door she rolled her face into it, her mouth sputtering silent grievences tasting her salty tears which had again returned. Her right arm snaked to the side wall and balled into a fist --a shaking fist-- and made dead-on contact with the control panel. The door flew open grabbing the attention of Panthro the engineer and Tygra the architect. She was the first to speak. "Panthro.....Tygra help him!" she pleaded, crying harder --even though she no longer felt Lion-O's beating heart. She wouldn't accept what would kill her --Lion-O's death-- and that was what was now crumbling her.. She saw Panthro and Tygra running towards her as..she..was..blacking..out. Cheetara felt strong, supporting hands squeeze both upper arms as Panthro held the left and Tygra the right --her face mere inches from hitting the floor. "Cheetara, say something! Can you hear me?" Tygra said. She heard him --far, far away. More forcefully than the tiger's monotone pitch --she needed consciousness-- Panthro loudly rasped, "Cheetara!! Speak to me! Help who?!?" Help who....for Lion-O, he was her life, Panthro's words ressurected her pummeled spirit and she met..his..eyes --and gave him reason for his churning stomach. "Lion-OOOOOO....!!" she mourned painfully --as one would for a deceased love. Upward her defined, slender arms reached --for the warmth of Lion-O's presence-- then..sank under the barren, frigid seize that smoulderingly returned Cheetara's embrace. "HE'S DEA..HEA..HEADDD..!!!!!" she screamed --and kept screaming. The formidable corridors of Cat's Lair trembeled with Cheetara's heartwrenching shrills.... * * * * The children and Snarf had reunited, running, yet it seemed that each of them wanted to be the first to aid their leader --their best friend. Lion-O's silence taunted them --the last and only time they had heard him was ten minutes ago. The probable finality once they would reach the "finish line" of their race wasn't good. The eiree, unnatural silence that paved the way fueled the explosive burst of speed of everyone's stride. It's like there's nothing alive in these woods..thought Wiley-Kat as his hand seized his sister's. His hand all but disappeared in hers --a solid deathgrip. Wiley-Kit had to hold on for reasurrance..support..her very survival because what if....the hot waterfall that washed her cheeks then ran thick of morbid thought --about Lion-O. They remembered the fear --the raw agony-- that bled through Lion-O's voice as he warned them, screamed for them... Wiley-Kit ran even faster. It was the stench --burning rot-- that greeted them toward the scene of carnage that proudly waited for them..as..they..slowed..down..and....stopped. Overwhelmed by nausea, Wiley-Kat vomited into his cupped hand, soiling his tunic. There was no doubt now. Their search had come to an end. They stood before the vast, circumferencial clearing that was the very heart of the Unicorn Forest. On the west end ran the source of the River of Despair, crystal clear water that raged into a velvety purple upon reaching the river's massive artery. The remainder was simply an endless carpet of freshly sown grassess from which the rainbow kissed colors of stray flowers sprung feverishly. It was just confusing. There was not one sign of disturbance --not noticeable immediately anyway-- but just that smell...that smell that just said otherwise. So all that was left now was to find the answer --the madness-- beneath this deceiving illusion of serenity. It had to be found but, unfortunately, the price would be high and they would have to pay. What the twins and Snarf would learn would cost them so much. So dearly. They were to give up their own sanity. * * * * All Lion-O knew of now was the contentment overtaking him..farther and farther he slipped longingly into the arms of unconsciousness herself. And as seconds rushed by, the faster and more eagerly his battered body was succuming to her. What did Tygra say about a coma-like sleep....he mused as his thoughts died off and so did his care for an answer. He was in no pain, felt no pain, felt... ..the sudden coldness of who knows what burning into his flesh. Whatever it was it hurt so much as Lion-O groaned, twisting his head side to side regaining what he wanted no part of --awareness. Awareness of the youths and Snarf being abandoned, alone, unaware. --unaware that they would never see him again! Did they even hear me??? he wondered. His life was finished and..he let them go, quietly sobbing in despair. He didn't care what happened to him now. Sealed was his fate. One hundred percent pure rage bore through Lion-O's tear-raped eyes as they hunted for Mum-Ra in this nightmare of endless, total blackness. They darted frantically in every available direction, trying to draw out that hidden devil who he knew was there --and came to rest onto a bright light from behind him The light was warm --yet he knew beyond it his end lay. It was the doorway to whatever waited for him on the other side. Anger faded momentarily to relief as he thought I'll soon be free... but it came back tenfold as Mum-Ra's laughing beat against his fractured skull. Lion-O felt so much rage. "I shall show you suffering..painful suffering the likes from which you will finally draw your last breath. As for the rest of your kind....oh..what..pleasures..await..them...." Lion-O felt so much hatred. "Leave them..alone..." Lion-O snapped. "LEAVE THEM ALONE GODS..DAMN..YOUUUUU!!!!!" And he wept. And he remembered no more as he abruptly fainted. * * * * The control room had once again regained its orderly atmosphere. It breathed with pristine discipline as cold, metal panels continued to flicker with the buttons, gadgets, and monitors that had become the only source of sound in the room --the daily monotone bleeps-- now. Yet, it sounded like deafening explosions to Panthro. He stood hunched over top of one of the panels, the stainless steel pumping chills through his palms, his blood, that could not compare to the coldness that had already encased him. This was how he had remained after he and Tygra had dragged off a hysterical, struggling Cheetara to be sedated. For her own sake the tiger had mumbled after he had received a roundhouse blow to the face courtesy of the she-cat. Panthro would never forget the ferocity of her physical strength. He would never forget the chills that knifed him in the spine while she screamed --kept screaming-- again and again that... He's dead. Painfully lower his head sank as the telekenetic female's words echoed in his brain like a recurring nightmare. LION-O'S DEAD! And lower.. Dead. Rigid metal groaned and twisted as Panthro's clentched left fist rammed all his rage --his disbelief-- into the closest panel at hand. Of the two male Thundercats, Tygra and himself, he had always shown a special concern for Lion-O that could have been easily taken for a parental love. How his heart beamed with joy at Lion-O's joys, hurt when the boy hurt. A father to a son. The best of friends they where. A better son he could not have asked for. But now the son was no more. So this is what it was to lose a child! There was this loud, dry sobbing coming from somewhere as..he..realized it was his own. Then the tears ran --from one who didn't cry-- hard and thick and unstoppable. Even if he had wanted to stop the tears he couldn't --the hurt was too much! "Panthro." He didn't have a clue on how long Tygra had been standing behind him! He didn't care. "What?" Panthro asked dryly. Things would only get worse from here on. Tygra continued. "I had to give her two doses of a morphine-based sedative just to calm her down." A dense pause interrupted. "And I had to give her yet another to make her sleep," he finished solemly. Panthro had all but ignored Tygra's voice --its cold sterility as he updated the dire situation at Cats Lair. He wasn't surprised. Tygra was always as cold and stiff as the medical instruments that he so often handled. He expected no less from the tiger. Someting caught Panthro's attention just then..and he listened. He listened to Tygra's voice die momentarily. Tygra was crumbling. "Panthro..what..what is it that we can do?" Tygra's voice sunk to a feeble whimper. "Wha..wha..," he kept jibbering as Panthro finally turned around and looked straight --sternly-- into his friend's lost eyes. Panthro never wanted to see the terror that he saw in those eyes ever again. Panthro cleared his throat and lay his hands firmly on Tygra's slumping shoulders. He removed his right hand briefly to brush away at his tears. He bowed his head. And he said what had to be done. * * * * The fraternal twins and the snarf had remained huddled on the same spot --the drifting smoke suffocating their ability to see. There it seemed they had remained in that paralyzed state for what seemed like hours but was a mere five minutes. Wiley-Kit didn't dare breathe --she had heard Wiley-Kat vomit again-- as she squeezed her eyes shut even harder. As she waited for the smoke to thin, sunlight once again warmed her face. Her eyes fluttered open eagerly to Wiley-Kat's pale but smiling face looking back at her. Wiley-Kat nodded down toward Snarf --who was woozy-- but okay and Wiley-Kit was relieved. But not for long. "WHAT'S GOING ON HERE!!!!!!" she screamed suddenly. Waving her arms in a frenzy she continued. "Oh god Lion-O...where are youuuu?!!!" She clamped her hands over her ears sobbing, "Oh god....where..whaa.." Wiley-Kat fell forward, taking her into his arms tightly. Wiley-Kat's solemn, garnet eyes met into his sister's eyes only centimeters apart. His own terror reflected back at him from her gaze. He needed to be strong. They had to be strong. Or they would never make it through. They would never know if Lion-O still lived. "Shh...," Wiley-Kat soothed, his tears swimming with hers. "Listen Kit, we've gotta stay calm or..or," he buried his face into hers, "we'll never know. We don't know for sure if something happened to Lion-O..." he tried to reason. "Then why didn't he answer when we called?!" she shot back. By all the gods Wiley-Kat wanted to tell her what she needed to hear. He could've lied to his sister. He had to do something to forget the clammy feel of her skin drenching his fingers..as..he..fought to hold up her petite frame --so much like his own-- with every ounce of his being. And he stared into Wiley-Kit's blank, dead eyes looking...at..him. Up to him. Through him. But he would not offer her lies --he loved her too much. The boy offered his twin sister no less than what she deserved as he hugged her even tighter. He said nothing as he held her. Then.... "WILEY-KIT..WILEY-KAT!!!!" Startled, they jerked their attention towards the River of Despair's source --that innocent, babbling stream. It was Snarf's voice they heard --and it didn't promise anything good. Wiley-Kit didn't notice anything wrong as..she..turned, facing Wiley-Kat with what wasn't there a moment ago --hope. You see I told you her glowing face seemed to reassure Wiley-Kat. She smiled, grabbing Wiley-Kat's wrist, and began running-stumbling for Snarf's small form in the distance --and for the shock of her life... * * * * "So now we wait," Panthro finished, kneading his forehead with tense fingers. This didn't lessen the nausea beating within his head. He massaged his forehead harder. Tygra collapsed into one of the swiveling chairs in the room. "It's not possible...I don't be lieve it...." He spun around towards Panthro. "Don't you think Cheetara could possibly be mistaken?" With his gaze he sought out Panthro's approval and continued questioning. "Remember the time when the mutants and the lunatacks nearly drove her insane when she tried to use her telekenetic powers (episode: The Telepathy Beam) and.." "Tygra." Panthro sounded irritated. "Get real. Those bastards are gone, locked up by Captain Bragg (episode: Cracker's Revenge). For Jaga's sake, Tygra, she said Lion-O is dead!" "Yes.." Tygra admitted. "But should we not be..searching for him?" "Search where?" Panthro asked. Don't forget the Wileykats and Snarf were with Lion-O. Cheetara did't say anything happened to 'em. For all we know they're fine and on their way back here." "The most obvious place to look is the territory surrounding the Berbil village. They were, after all, attending the Berbils' harvest festival," Tygra pressed. "No," Panthro said. "Odds are they're coming back home and we're gonna be here for them." "But is that wise?" Tygra pushed. "It's the only thing that makes any sense now...." Panthro managed as he broke down. * * * * (Snarf found something!) Wiley-Kit thought. (Maybe he found Lion-O and Lion-O is okay!!) She felt her right foot skid (Ah!) but didn't fall. "Wiley-Kit! Slow down! We're ..here," Wiley-Kat stood in awe of the tranquility before him. The river's source was a small natural wonder whose waters flowed and raged with a life of their own. The water was clear as ice, spitting up all hues of golds, reds, blues, and silvers from the sun's beating rays. The lush garden of the water's bank framed the river with shades of dark greens and lavish, warm browns that lay below scattered batches of pearl-white marble stone slabs. Wiley-Kit was making her way through this beautiful maze in front of her brother. Wiley-Kat caught up with her just as Snarf's hunched over, feeble-looking body came into full view. Wiley-Kat's heart clogged up his throat because now something else caught his attention. Snarf stood next to the most massive of the jagged stone beds --a good five ft. wide by four ft. high. A violent explosion of oozing red liquid glistened angrily on the white slab. Wiley-Kat continued to stare..at..that..dripping liquid. It could've been anything but it sure looked like....His brain sedated him into a protective limbo as his vision clouded and the water's delicate babbling lulled him away to a far, far away place. Here, in his subconscious, he could think clearly --and face the obvious. He was seeing blood! And if that wasn't a shock, his mind delivered its final blow --it was Lion-O's blood splattered in front of them! "It sounded like he [Lion-O] was in pain...really bad pain."(Chapter 1) Wiley-Kat's eyes were flooded even before he came around completely. He squished away the excess tears and saw Wiley-Kit kneeling by Snarf. He couldn't believe what his sister was saying to Snarf! Her words were of one who was in a state of psychological denial. Wiley-Kit's hands were handcuffed around Snarf's furry, plump wrists. "Snarf! Come on, tell us where Lion-O is. He's playing hide-and-seek isn't he?" Wiley-Kit laughed. Snarf's gaze --empty-- dropped and acknowledged the approaching Wiley-Kat. Snarf fell from Wiley-Kit's hold and began dragging himself away to get away from all that blood. He would find Lion-O because that blood couldn't possibly be from his Lion-O.. "Wiley-Kit!" the male twin managed as the full view of his sister's auburn-brown, upswept mane fled as she turned to him. She looked at him with such adoration; her brother was going to tell her the best news! Searching his face, she looked for the reassurance that would support her wish --her heart-- that Lion-O was fine. Wiley-Kat offered her nothing. Reality pillaged her heart and she had nowhere to run anymore. Her eyes trembled.... "OHHH JAAAAAGAA..WILEY-KIT WILEY-KAT OVER HEEEERREee....!!" came Snarf's bloodcurdling scream. Wiley-Kit and Kat stood frozen --stunned. Snarf had never screamed in his entire life! There was no doubt he had found something, an answer. They did not want to find out. They were terrified and scared..and..had..to..know. Wiley-Kit's eyes glazed above her shaking jaw. "No...please," she begged Wiley-Kat as his right hand secured her left one. "C'mon," he simply said and led her. Snarf's backside --his red and yellow fur matted-- was to them. As they closed in on him, their boots soaked in the blood that --like a morbid road-- lay undereath their pounding feet. Here, the blood eventually trailed off to its thinnest level as Wiley-Kit and Wiley-Kat halted..behind..Snarf. The children listened. They listened to Snarf's incoherent whispering. Their hearts pounded in insane rythym with the rythym of Snarf's garbeled sounds. The siblings slid apprehensively from behind Snarf and looked around, and up, and....down. Wiley-Kit screamed. Wiley-Kat drew in a sharp breath. "No..Lion-O nooo...." his right hand swallowing his mouth. It was a sickening sight. Another smear of blood --this one a darker maroon-- draped the grass so heavily the blades were collapsed and broken. The blood had seeped slightly into the earth and collagulated into a macabe, wet goop on the surface. It was so dense it cushioned the sharp, weighty carvings of a silver object. Or from what one could tell, the object appeared silver...beneath all that red. The Cat's Eye, it was the Cat's Eye crystal that identified the "object" --and it's owner who no doubt had suffered a gruesome fate. It was the Sword of Omens. The mystical blade looked like it had done battle with the devil himself! It was not extended as to wage war but had retreated back to dagger length. It gave the appearance of being viciously damaged --the metal was seared-- and showed the sheer brutality of the Thundercat lord's final moments. The blade bore the brunt of the story, drizzled with blackened blood that had long ago dried into brittle, caked bits and pieces. The blood had a singed appearance. The hilt gave evidence of a struggle to the very end. There wasn't a blood-void spot on the handle. Precisely, bloody fingerprints were glued on it like a crazed, abstract painting. A whole handprint stood out prominently. Mortally wounded, Lion-O had still found strength to defend his life! "Wiley-Kit, it's Lion-O's blood..." Wiley-Kat stared at Kit. "I think he's dea...." "DON'T SAY THAT!!!" she shouted, devouring him. "DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT!!!" Her face softened, weakened. "He's not dead..he's not..." Wiley-Kit accepted fact and collapsed, wailing loudly. Wiley-Kat had had enough and couldn't take much more. He felt like his head was about to explode and unconsciously turned his attention to Snarf. What Wiley-Kat saw tore him inside out. He watched what Snarf was doing and knew he needed to stay sane. Snarf was cradling the sword in his arms as if he were holding an infant. One plump arm was under the hilt, another under the blade. His head was lowered lovingly, gently, over the hilt and his eyes were closed and he seemed..to..be listening for something. A smile parted his chubby, white, bearded cheeks as if he received a satisfactory response and then he scowled and spoke to the "dead". "My boy..my boy..my boy..my..." as he rocked the "child" back and forth, faster and faster and faster. Lion-O's blood smeared him from head to toe. Before he realized what he was doing, Wiley-Kat had wrestled down his sister and Snarf. Wiley-Kat ensnared them under his arms and began literally dragging them along the ground towards home, towards Cat's Lair --the ten longest minutes in hell. * * * * Lion-O awakened to see Mumm-Ra's rotting skull-face grinning at him......