The Sirens Song, Chapter 1
"I love you." He couldn't stop himself from saying it, but it was true. Never had he loved a woman as much as the one he held in his arms that very moment. The fact that he had never planned for it just made that love all the more miraculous. He closed his eyes as her perfectly soft hand caressed his war hardened cheek. "I love you too Panthro. I think I have always loved you, even before we had to leave Thundera." The panther looked down into Cheetara's sparkling eyes and saw the love in them, love that was reserved only for him, love that at one time he had feared would never be his. He didn't know when it had happened, but he would always bless the day that had brought this amazing woman in his life. The Mutants were attacking again on their relentless quest to dominate the planet of Thundera. It was only the combined forces of Claudus and Jaga that kept defeat at bay. That and the rumor of a magical force that Claudus weilded. Many had seen the great king rush into battle with a gleaming sword in his hands and emerge victorious with nary a scratch on him. Often his advisors had begged him not to enter the foray, insisting that his death would be a blow to the people of his kingdom, but Cladus rebuked them. "How are my men to fight and die for me if I do not take the risk myself?!" "But sire, if you die, who will lead us in the aftermath?" they had asked, hoping to make him see reason. "My son is well cared for and will be king after me. Though he is only an infant in swaddling cloth, he will one day be a great leader, greater then I if the seers are right." "But how can a child lead us?" Cladus turned to his councilor of war and best friend. "Jaga will lead until Lion-o has passed his Annointment Trials." The reknown warrior stepped forward and bowed his head. "I am honored my lord, but I do not think I am worthy of such a task. I am growing older now, I am no longer the youth that led your people to victory. I have left that to younger men, those more capable of making a difference." Jaga nodded in the direction of the Thundercats, the noble warriors of Thundera and as Panthro stood tall, still he was humbled that he had been included by the great warrior.Though he was reaching his mid 30's he still retained the strength and prowlness of his youth. Beside him were two other men, a tiger called Tygra and a man of the wildcat family, Wilan. they were also his good friends and long time battle buddies. Together they were all that remained of the Thundercats. Once Cat's Lair had been crowded by the number of nobles sworn to protect Thundera and her people, but war had greatly reduced their numbers. The offsprings of these chosen people had either perished in the war or had turned away from that duty. However that morning they had learned that a child of old Cheeator had passed the trials and would join them shortly, but that was neither here nor there. As the Thundercats looked on, Claudus approached his long time friend. "Jaga, I ask for you to be regent not just because of your experience on the battle field, but because of your wisdom and guidance. My son will need these after I am gone. Should I die in battle he will be alone, an orphan. He will need you to guide and direct him until such time that he can stand on his own feet and lead our people well. Please, for me, for our people, and for the future of Thundera, I ask that you accept." The jaguar stood for a minute then bowed deeply. "I accept this challenge and will do all I can to help the young lord of the Thundercats." Now that the concerns of the future were addressed and the advisors content, it was time to return to preparing for battle. In the midst of planning, the door to the war room opened and a robed stranger bearing a staff entered. Immediately the stranger was challenged by the door guards, but he presented one of the guards with a piece of paper and waited while it was taken to Cladus. the king read the missive and beckoned the stranger forward. "So, you are the child of Cheeator. I and the other Thundercats greet you." The newcomer bowed low and as he was rising, pulled back the hood of the robe, reveling a full head of blonde hair with black spots framing a delicate face and full pouty lips. "Thank you my lord. I am Cheetara, daughter of Cheeator and I am honored to serve you." "A woman?!" Panthro barked, unable to suppress his surprise and disgust. The female cheetah looked in his direction and narrowed her eyes, not liking his attitude towards her. "Yes, a woman. Do you have a problem with women?" "No, not at all," replied the panther smirking, "as long as they know their place." Cheetara's eyes flashed dangerously and this should have been Panthro's first indication that this was one woman he should not be messing with. "And just what would be my place? Do you think yourself capable of putting me there?" "It would be my pleasure darling." Panthro drawled. He stepped forward to show this uppity woman that she wasn't worthy to wear the emblem of the Thundercats when Jaga called out. "Stop! This is neither the time or place for..." "Jaga, let him try." Claudus whispered. "I believe Panthro needs to learn a lesson here." Wondering what his king was up to, Jaga sighed and waved to Panthro to continue. The panther grinned and walked up slowly to the new woman, eager to feel just how soft and pliable she was. "Ok baby, let me show you exactly where a woman should be. Flat on their backs!" He jumped forward, intending to grab hold of her and roll her on the ground, but his arms wrapped around nothing but air. Cheetara had moved with amazing speed, getting out of his way and moving swiftly behind him. Confused, Panthro looked around trying to spot her. Cheetara tapped his shoulder with her staff and waited for him to face her. "Did you miss me Blue boy?" "Hey! How'd you get over there so quick?" Panthro demanded, suprised and irratated. The panther's look of surprise was priceless to his friends. Wilan leaned over and commented to Tygra. "Cheetah, duh!" Tygra coughed to cover up his laughter, not wanting his impatient friend to know that he was laughing at his expense. He understood where Panthro's chauvinism came from. All Panther men were taught that they were superior to women in both strength and mentality. It didn't make it so, but you couldn't help the way you were raised. Secretly Tygra hoped this young lady would take him down a peg or two because if the Thundercats were to survive, they would need all the nobles they could get, male or female. Quickly overcoming his surprise, Panthro readied himself for an attack on the new woman, deciding to take her down fast and hard, but the cheetah was ready for him. When the panther jumped up in the air to come at her from above, she stood her ground until his feet were nearly touching the top of her hair. She then brought her staff up and caught him in his most tender part of his body. One minute Panthro was as light as a bird attacking its prey, the next he hit the floor like a rock as almost every man in the war room gripped their legs together and uttered a groan of sympathy. "Ohh, right in the jewels!" shouted Wilan as Panthro finally brought in enough air to yell. "Oh gods of Thundera! Arrrgh!!!" He rolled over and stared at the ceiling, waiting for the agonizing pain to subside. His vision was interrupted as Cheetara stood over him, one delicate eyebrow cocked up in triumph. "Now who's flat on their back, big boy?" Panthro chuckled as he recalled that day and shook his head at his own arrogance. Cheetara had shown him that a woman could be just as dangerous as a man, if not more so. "What's so funny?" Cheetara asked. "I was just remembering the day I first met you." he answered. The cheetah thought back and had to laugh herself. "Well in all fairness, you got what you had coming to you." Panthro laughed. "Yeah, I know, but you hit me so hard, I thought my chances of having children were gone." Then he moved his hand down her swollen belly, feeling the new life within her. "Thankfully that was not the case." Cheetara put her hand on his as the babe within kicked. "He's going to be a strong one I can tell. Just like his daddy." "But with his momma's good looks and intelligence." The expectant couple sat there for a moment or two before reaching for each other, needing that intimacy, that bond, that kept their love thriving. Little did they know that their bond would be tested.
"I love you." He couldn't stop himself from saying it, but it was true. Never had he loved a woman as much as the one he held in his arms that very moment. The fact that he had never planned for it just made that love all the more miraculous. He closed his eyes as her perfectly soft hand caressed his war hardened cheek. "I love you too Panthro. I think I have always loved you, even before we had to leave Thundera." The panther looked down into Cheetara's sparkling eyes and saw the love in them, love that was reserved only for him, love that at one time he had feared would never be his. He didn't know when it had happened, but he would always bless the day that had brought this amazing woman in his life. The Mutants were attacking again on their relentless quest to dominate the planet of Thundera. It was only the combined forces of Claudus and Jaga that kept defeat at bay. That and the rumor of a magical force that Claudus weilded. Many had seen the great king rush into battle with a gleaming sword in his hands and emerge victorious with nary a scratch on him. Often his advisors had begged him not to enter the foray, insisting that his death would be a blow to the people of his kingdom, but Cladus rebuked them. "How are my men to fight and die for me if I do not take the risk myself?!" "But sire, if you die, who will lead us in the aftermath?" they had asked, hoping to make him see reason. "My son is well cared for and will be king after me. Though he is only an infant in swaddling cloth, he will one day be a great leader, greater then I if the seers are right." "But how can a child lead us?" Cladus turned to his councilor of war and best friend. "Jaga will lead until Lion-o has passed his Annointment Trials." The reknown warrior stepped forward and bowed his head. "I am honored my lord, but I do not think I am worthy of such a task. I am growing older now, I am no longer the youth that led your people to victory. I have left that to younger men, those more capable of making a difference." Jaga nodded in the direction of the Thundercats, the noble warriors of Thundera and as Panthro stood tall, still he was humbled that he had been included by the great warrior.Though he was reaching his mid 30's he still retained the strength and prowlness of his youth. Beside him were two other men, a tiger called Tygra and a man of the wildcat family, Wilan. they were also his good friends and long time battle buddies. Together they were all that remained of the Thundercats. Once Cat's Lair had been crowded by the number of nobles sworn to protect Thundera and her people, but war had greatly reduced their numbers. The offsprings of these chosen people had either perished in the war or had turned away from that duty. However that morning they had learned that a child of old Cheeator had passed the trials and would join them shortly, but that was neither here nor there. As the Thundercats looked on, Claudus approached his long time friend. "Jaga, I ask for you to be regent not just because of your experience on the battle field, but because of your wisdom and guidance. My son will need these after I am gone. Should I die in battle he will be alone, an orphan. He will need you to guide and direct him until such time that he can stand on his own feet and lead our people well. Please, for me, for our people, and for the future of Thundera, I ask that you accept." The jaguar stood for a minute then bowed deeply. "I accept this challenge and will do all I can to help the young lord of the Thundercats." Now that the concerns of the future were addressed and the advisors content, it was time to return to preparing for battle. In the midst of planning, the door to the war room opened and a robed stranger bearing a staff entered. Immediately the stranger was challenged by the door guards, but he presented one of the guards with a piece of paper and waited while it was taken to Cladus. the king read the missive and beckoned the stranger forward. "So, you are the child of Cheeator. I and the other Thundercats greet you." The newcomer bowed low and as he was rising, pulled back the hood of the robe, reveling a full head of blonde hair with black spots framing a delicate face and full pouty lips. "Thank you my lord. I am Cheetara, daughter of Cheeator and I am honored to serve you." "A woman?!" Panthro barked, unable to suppress his surprise and disgust. The female cheetah looked in his direction and narrowed her eyes, not liking his attitude towards her. "Yes, a woman. Do you have a problem with women?" "No, not at all," replied the panther smirking, "as long as they know their place." Cheetara's eyes flashed dangerously and this should have been Panthro's first indication that this was one woman he should not be messing with. "And just what would be my place? Do you think yourself capable of putting me there?" "It would be my pleasure darling." Panthro drawled. He stepped forward to show this uppity woman that she wasn't worthy to wear the emblem of the Thundercats when Jaga called out. "Stop! This is neither the time or place for..." "Jaga, let him try." Claudus whispered. "I believe Panthro needs to learn a lesson here." Wondering what his king was up to, Jaga sighed and waved to Panthro to continue. The panther grinned and walked up slowly to the new woman, eager to feel just how soft and pliable she was. "Ok baby, let me show you exactly where a woman should be. Flat on their backs!" He jumped forward, intending to grab hold of her and roll her on the ground, but his arms wrapped around nothing but air. Cheetara had moved with amazing speed, getting out of his way and moving swiftly behind him. Confused, Panthro looked around trying to spot her. Cheetara tapped his shoulder with her staff and waited for him to face her. "Did you miss me Blue boy?" "Hey! How'd you get over there so quick?" Panthro demanded, suprised and irratated. The panther's look of surprise was priceless to his friends. Wilan leaned over and commented to Tygra. "Cheetah, duh!" Tygra coughed to cover up his laughter, not wanting his impatient friend to know that he was laughing at his expense. He understood where Panthro's chauvinism came from. All Panther men were taught that they were superior to women in both strength and mentality. It didn't make it so, but you couldn't help the way you were raised. Secretly Tygra hoped this young lady would take him down a peg or two because if the Thundercats were to survive, they would need all the nobles they could get, male or female. Quickly overcoming his surprise, Panthro readied himself for an attack on the new woman, deciding to take her down fast and hard, but the cheetah was ready for him. When the panther jumped up in the air to come at her from above, she stood her ground until his feet were nearly touching the top of her hair. She then brought her staff up and caught him in his most tender part of his body. One minute Panthro was as light as a bird attacking its prey, the next he hit the floor like a rock as almost every man in the war room gripped their legs together and uttered a groan of sympathy. "Ohh, right in the jewels!" shouted Wilan as Panthro finally brought in enough air to yell. "Oh gods of Thundera! Arrrgh!!!" He rolled over and stared at the ceiling, waiting for the agonizing pain to subside. His vision was interrupted as Cheetara stood over him, one delicate eyebrow cocked up in triumph. "Now who's flat on their back, big boy?" Panthro chuckled as he recalled that day and shook his head at his own arrogance. Cheetara had shown him that a woman could be just as dangerous as a man, if not more so. "What's so funny?" Cheetara asked. "I was just remembering the day I first met you." he answered. The cheetah thought back and had to laugh herself. "Well in all fairness, you got what you had coming to you." Panthro laughed. "Yeah, I know, but you hit me so hard, I thought my chances of having children were gone." Then he moved his hand down her swollen belly, feeling the new life within her. "Thankfully that was not the case." Cheetara put her hand on his as the babe within kicked. "He's going to be a strong one I can tell. Just like his daddy." "But with his momma's good looks and intelligence." The expectant couple sat there for a moment or two before reaching for each other, needing that intimacy, that bond, that kept their love thriving. Little did they know that their bond would be tested.