Lion-o and Tygra and Romance, Oh My Ch2 2/2

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“Wilykit!” Kagome called out as loud as she could, as she continued to walk blindly around in the forest. “Wilykat!” She paused, her ears lowering to her skull as she began to doubt. “Wilykit!” She has been calling and calling. “Wilykat!” Yet she has not received any answer, not a single purr or mew in response. “Wily…” She sighed, her shoulders slumping. “Kit…” She looked around, a small prickle of fear eating away at her. “Kat…?” Her voice was a soft whisper as she glanced around in the unknown forest. “Where are you?” She called, as if expecting an answer from the quiet forest. “Where am I…?”

Did they leave her? Why? She thought they were beginning to like her… She thought—

She sighed, feeling her mind becoming heavy. Now what is she going to do? She had no idea where she was, or where the lair is. She had been walking around without thinking and gotten herself lost—
“Help.” A call of distress caused her to pause in her thoughts.

“Help?” She repeated. She knew that word but the voice… it sounded so strange, almost robotic—

“Help me, please.” The voice called out again. “Someone please, help.”

She did not hesitate after that, and ran towards the voice, her fear of being lost and abandon, the strangeness of the speech, all of it erased from her mind, and her feet took flight. Trees went by her in a blur—

“Help.” The mechanical voice was louder, which she sent a spark of hope throughout her, warming her body.

“I’m coming to help! Hold on!” She yelled out in response. Within a few more leaps, she found herself jumping over a thick cover of bushes, and when her feet touched the other side, her blue eyes narrowed, seeing a creature hanging up in a tree, a rope tied to its leg, caught in a trap.
“Help me.” The creature hanging upside down looked at her with worry.

“I help.” She responded, walking up to her.

She tilted her head, trying to figure out what the creature was. She was a cross between a bear and a robot. The only reason she could guess was that it was a girl, was because there was a very pretty flower behind her ear, and her tone, though still monotone, was in strange sort of way, soft and gentle sounding. Kagome was fascinated with the way her mouth would light up whenever she would speak.

“Are you a ThunderCat?” She asked, trying to look at her upside down.

“No.” She shook her head. “Me Kagome.” She pointed to herself. “ThunderCat friend.” Reaching up, she grabbed the bear’s hand. With a tight hold she began to pull the distressed bear down more and more, bending the top of the tree down into an arch. She could hear the wood and bark of the tree groaning with each yank, as she stretched its breaking point to the max.

“I am the ThunderCat’s friend too.” She told her.  

Her ears twitched, happy to hear that she was saving a friend of one the ThunderCats from a trap. She hummed, the rope finally coming into reach, as she held the bears captive foot. She opened her fanged mouth wide, and placing it around the rope as she tilted her head sideways.

“Hope this works…” She mumbled to herself, not having any real knife to cut her down. With a powerful and crisp chomp, her jaws clamped shut, the rope not standing a chance against her newly formed fangs, and it snapped. The tree bounced back like a rubber band from the sudden release of stress, and it stood straight once more.

With a firm hold still on her ankle, Kagome gently lowered the bear down to the ground.
“Thank you.” The bear stood up, barely coming to Kagome’s waist. “Thank you so much.”

“I help.” She nodded. “Kagome good job.”

“Yes.” The girl nodded. “You did a very good job.”

“…” Kagome looked at the ground, embarrassed, feeling a rush of blood going into her cheeks—
“Get her!” A sudden shout caused Kagome’s head to shoot back up, her ears snapping back into attention as she glanced around the area.

A familiar looking pair of faces jumped out of the thick bushes, causing her to hiss, her hairs standing on ends, her tail frizzing out in warning. Her ears bent back against her skull and her fang protruded out as she snarled threateningly at them.

“No!” Kagome quickly got in front of the bear protectively. She could escape, but she knew she could not leave the bear. She had to help her get away. “Go!” She growled at her, leaving no argument, in case she had to say something otherwise. We both might be able to escape, if she can distract them long enough for the bear to get help. “Go! Lion-O!”

“Yes.” She nodded, understanding, and then ran off, going into the bushes and disappearing.

“The Ro-Bear is getting away!” Jackalman called out.

“It doesn’t matter! We want the feline, yessss?” The lizard got in front of her, and she growled at him.

A sound of a snapping twig behind her caused her ear to twist around, before she turned to face the creature that was cowardly enough to attack her from behind—Her body froze, stiff, when she saw white fur and a sly grin, a rope was held tightly in his hairy clutches.

Her eyes grew wide, her ears lowering in fear. Her snarl melted, and her body was as stiff as a statue, unable to move. ‘Monkey’ was all she could think about, as she stared into his black orbs—
“Now!” She heard a shout, before a net was suddenly flung over her. The distraction from the Monkey cost her, and by the time she realized what was happening, she had no time to dodge. The net was enclosed around her, the heavy weight sending her to the ground.

She was trapped.

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“You sure it was alright to leave her like that, Kit?” Kat asked his sister.

“You have asked me that a hundred times, Wilykat.” She huffed, shaking her head at her brother. “Of course.” She shifted the board that was placed underneath her armpit to keep a better hold on it.
“She is an adult, and can take care of herself.” She sighed. “Didn’t you have a good time on your hoverboard?”

“I did, but I just didn’t feel right leaving her there.”

“Don’t be such a worry wart!” His sister tried to make him feel better as they continued their walk towards the lair. “Besides, we didn’t walk far from the lair, she shouldn’t have a hard time finding it again.”

“…” Kat sighed. “I guess you are right…”

“I am always right.” She puffed out her chest, proud. “I beat she is already at the lair hanging out with the others and eating lunch as we speak.”

At the mention of the word lunch, her brother’s stomach started to growl. He laughed, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

Kit laughed as well, as they both left the tree line, and walking up to the riven, the lair within sight.

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Lion-O was sitting in the command room, sighing as he watched the screens in front of him. When he returned from his patrol, after chasing away the mutants, he saw that the kittens and Kagome were not in the lair. It worried him, but Wilykit and Kat promised to take care of her while he was away, so he tried to relax.

But he couldn’t help shaking the feeling that something was wrong…

“I shouldn’t be worrying.” He was talking to himself as he stood up from his chair. “They are probably at the Berbil village.” Kit and Kat no doubt decided to show Kagome the candy trees and are having a good time—

A noise of alert came over the intercom, stopping him in his thoughts, and he looked up at the screen. Seeing a familiar pair of faces walking up to the riven he visibly relaxed and sighed. Reaching out he pressed a button on the dashboard, allowing the bridge to expand and letting them into the lair.

“That’s funny…” Lion-O mumbled to himself as he stared at the screen, watching them as they started to walk across the bridge. “Why isn’t Kagome with them?”

He started to worry, but seeing the happy looks on the cubs faces, as they talked with each other,
he tried not to let it get to him. They did not look distressed, so it must be something else…
He turned around and walked out of the command room, deciding to go and greet them outside.

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“Lion-O! Hey!” Kat greeted him. Kit waved at him hello. Their hoverboards were placed underneath their armpits as they walked up to him, to the entrance of the lair.

“Hey Kit, Kat.” He waved to them as he walked towards them. “Where is Kagome?”

“Kagome?” Kit repeated. A guiltily look over took Kat’s face as both the siblings looked at each other.

“She isn’t here?” Kat looked up at him.

“No.” He shook his head, raising an eyebrow at them. “I left her in your care, why would she be here and not with you?” His fingertips started to lose feeling in them, as his body suddenly turned cold.

“Well Kit…” Kat looked at the ground, all color draining from his face as he began to fidget. “We umm…” He turned away, and Lion-O had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“We just wanted to play on our hoverboards, I swear! We didn’t mean any harm by it.” Kit tried to tell him.

“It was only a harmless prank.”

“We thought she would be here by now.”

“Tell me what happened.” He did not like how they were dodging the subject.

“W-we left her…” Kat finally confessed. “In the forest.”

“You did what!” His tone was a bit harsher then he meant it to be, and the two kittens flinched at the sound.  

“We didn’t leave her deep in the forest, she should have been able to get back—“

“That doesn’t matter.” He tried to hold himself back from shouting at the two children before him, as his heart began to thrash against his chest in worry. “It was your responsibility to watch over her while I was gone.” He shook his head as he looked down at the kittens in disappointment.
“Unlike us she does not know this place well. If she can get lost in the lair, then she will most certainly get lost in the forest. She could get hurt, or anything can happen. She is probably scared and alone, wondering why the two people with her suddenly disappeared.” His words hit them hard and they looked at the ground in shame.

“It was just a prank…” Kit mumbled.

“A joke can be taken too far.” He told her. “You promised me to take care of her, and you broke that promise.”

“We are sorry Lion-O.” They gave a soft apologetic mew, looking up at him sadly.

“Very sorry.” Kat was obviously more upset then his sister.

“When we find Kagome, you are going to have to apologize to her as well.”

Both of the children nodded in agreement--

“Lion-O!” A familiar voice called his name and he looked up. “Lion-O!”

“Ro-Bear-Belle?” He watched as she was running across the bridge and over to them. “What’s wrong?”
He could hear the distress in her voice.

“It’s Kagome.” She finally told him as she came to a stop in front of him.

“Kagome!” His heart leapt into his throat. “What happened to Kagome?” The two smaller cats turned
pale at the mention of Kagome being in trouble.

“She saved me.” She told him, and pointed at the forest. “But it was all just a trap set by the mutants.”

“Mutants!” Lion-O hissed out the word.

“I thought that’s why you left for your patrol?” Kit looked up at him.

“Did you not get rid of them?”

“I did.” His hands clinched tightly by his side, trying not to growl out. “They must have come
back.”

“She told me to get away, so I came to find you.” Ro-Bear-Belle told them.

“We don’t have time to waste, can you show us where, Ro-Bear-Belle?”

“Yes.” She nodded.

“Get on.” Kit quickly got on her hoverboard, and Ro-Bear-Belle got on it, with some struggle. Kat had to help her, before he got on his own board.

“Let’s go!” The hoverboards took off, Lion-O easily keeping up behind them.

Why are the mutants after her? He questioned. They are really persistent this time. It just didn’t seem right, and no doubt Monkian would be with them...

His eyebrows angling together in worry over the dark furred feline he put under his care just a few days ago.

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“Let me go!” She hissed, trying to claw, and even bite her way out of the net. Yet unlike the rope, the net was made of a thicker material, and even her fangs could not cut it.

“Try all you want, you are not getting free.” The lizard who was dragging her spoke up.

“Ouch! Stop being so rough you slimy green snake!” She gave a small yelp when her back smacked against another rock. She kicked at the net, trying to glare at him over her shoulder.

“Will you shut up! Your weird language isss annoying to lissssten to.” He complained.

“When Lion-O comes he will—“

“Lion-O is not going to save you this time, cat.” The Monkey appeared, walking behind her dragging from, and gave her a fanged grin.

“!!” She instantly froze as she stared into his black orbs.

“…” Slithe paused, glancing over his shoulder. He saw the way Kagome looked at Monkian and he gave a small hiss, and stopped walking.

“Why did we stop, Slithe?” Jackalman asked.

“I’m curiousss.” He hummed, turning towards the white furred member of his team. “What did you do to her?” He asked.

“What?” The Monkey hooted, glaring at him. “What are you talking about, Slithe?”

“You said you caught her once, yesss?” He repeated the report that Monkian told him. “What did you do to her in that time you had her, before Lion-O took her from you?”

“Hmmm.” The dog looked down at Kagome, before back up at the other member of the group. “Now that you mention it, she does seem a little…afraid of you.” He laughed, as if finding something funny. “And I’m not talking about your ugly mug, either.” Monkian snorted at his comment, before huffing and placing his arms over his chest.

“Nothing that either one of you won’t have done, given the chance.” The ape admitted. “If Lion-O didn’t interrupt me.” He gave a yell, shaking his clinched fist, as if remember what happened. Slithe shook his head in disgust, hissing.

“You are even sssicker than I thought, you hairy mammal.”

“…?” Jackalman still did not understand.

“Thank you.” Monkian puffed out his chest, proud.

“I did not mean that in a good way, you sssstupid ape.”

“You should be the one to talk, cold reptile.” He hooted, pounding his chest in challenge to his leader.

“You got something to ssssay to me, dirty monkey!”

“What’s going on here?” Jackalman was just as confused as ever.

“Stay out of this, you laughing Hyena.” Jackalman gasped at Monkian’s comment.

“You leave my mother out of this, Monkian!”

“Quiet!” Slithe shouted, causing everything to become still once more. “It doesss not matter now.” He pounded his tail onto the ground, by Kagome’s form, which caused her to give a small squeak in anger, coughing as the dust went into the air and into her lungs. “We could use it to our advantage, yessss?” Holding the hand that held the net, he reached it out, towards Monkian. “Maybe she will be quiet if you hold the net.”

“Alright.” He smirked, and grabbed the net from Slithe’s grasp.

“…” Kagome’s ears flattened against her skull in fear as she stared up at the fanged ape, who was smiling down at her.

“Be quiet, or I’ll finish what I stared the other day.” He reached out, and grabbed her by the arm, causing her to give a yell of surprise.

“Don’t touch me!” She shivered as memories flooded back to her, the same hairy paws going over and touching her across her body. “Stop it!” She could practically feel his hands roaming along her body once more, touching her, caressing her. Even though she knew it was all in her mind, she couldn’t stop as the feelings of fear washed over her like a tsunami, and she was quickly being swept away by her emotions. “Lion-O…” She mumbled the male cat’s name as she clamped her eyes shut, trying to will the images and feelings away.

“Ah!” A shout of surprise from one of the mutants, caught her attention.

“Get away from her!” Another male voice called out in warning.

“Lion-O?” Kagome opened her eyes, and began looking around, trying to spot a familiar tuft of red in the sea of white, brown, and green blurs.

“Who are you?” Jackalman snorted.

“You better leave if you know whatsss good for you.” Slithe pulled out his weapon, along with the other two mutants. Monkian dropping the net to withdraw his club, but it was still tied at the opening, so she couldn’t escape.

“I will only warn you one more time, release her.” Yet the male who came to her rescue was not Lion-O, but instead a beast she has not seen before.

He was a wolf, proud and strong, his dark grey fur standing out amongst the green of the forest. He stood on two legs, dressed in only shorts, a vest, and his only weapons were his claws and teeth. The first thing that came to her mind was ‘Werewolf.’

“You think you can take all three of usss—“ Slithe paused when the wolf suddenly disappeared in a flash of speed. “Where did he—“ He gave a shout as he was suddenly lifted into the air, the wolf easily holding him above his head with ease. “Put me down!”

“…” He smirked, before tossing the lizard high into the air and over the trees with a roar. He then set his sights on the two that were left.

“Y-you don’t scare me.” Monkian charged him full on. Jackalman followed behind him, even though he was shaking in his boots.

The wolf did quick work of them, throwing the monkey over his shoulders and into the bushes. All that was left was the dog, and he quickly grabbed him by scruff of the collar. With a simple toss, he was gone, lost high into the trees.

“We’ll be back, dog!” Monkian hooted, not seeming so sure of himself anymore, before he finally turned and ran away.

“Good riddance.” The wolf just snorted, before using his back legs to kick up dirt in their direction.

Kagome smiled, finding his actions to be very dog-like, reminding her of a certain dog demon.
“Are you alright?” His shadow loomed over her, as he stood above her, looking down at her in worry.
“…?” She blinked up at him, before a sigh escaped her trembling lips. Good thing this wolf appeared when he did…

“There.” She felt the net loosen around her, as the wolf used his super strength to rip apart the ropes as if they were paper.

“Let me help you.” He stood up, and reached his clawed hand for her, to help her up.
She placed her hand into his, and he lifted her up with ease—She wobbled, and he quickly placed his arm around her waist to steady her. “Whoa there.” He smiled in good nature. “I know I’m handsome but don’t faint on me.”

“…?” She tilted her head him, unsure of what he said. She looked down at herself, seeing her body shaking slightly, and she wrapped her tail around her waist, to try and comfort herself. She didn’t realize how upset and frightened she truly was until now. If this kind wolf did not find her—What would have happened? “Thank you for saving me.” The words fell from her lips without thinking, as she tried to keep her emotions in check.

“You speak Japanese?” The wolf blinked down at her, surprised.

“!!” Kagome looked up at him, an expression best described as pure shock placed into her feline features.

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“You are lucky I came down from my mountain to hunt, and came along when I did.” The wolf, who she learned was named ‘Ramum’ backed away, allowing her to stand on her own two feet.

“Thank you again.” She couldn’t say it enough. She sighed, sitting down on the grass and feeling exhausted. He joined her, his ears twitching curiously on top of his head as he looked at her.

“How is it that you speak Japanese?” He asked.

“I was just about to ask you the same thing.”

“Well.” He looked up in thought. “My grandmother taught me. She is the only one I know of that spoke this language. She said that there were many who spoke Japanese, and that it is an honorable language to learn, because it teaches us about our ancestors that once were here, but most died out in the war of First Earth, then who were left faded away and our speech became old and forgotten through the generations.”

“War of First Earth?” Kagome had a bad feeling about it, but she had to find out.

“Not many people know of it.” He admitted. “It happened about a thousand years ago, a huge war broke out among the humans, wiping out most of the life force on the planet.” Kagome’s eyes grew wide at this new information. “They used powerful weapons that could kill their enemy’s without even being near them.” He motioned with his paws. “After everything was almost destroyed what little life that remained rebuilt and had peace. This time was called a ‘Second Earth’.” He shrugged, his ears twitching in thought. “Sadly, my grandmother told me that a huge fireball fell from the sky and caused a huge disaster, changing the land and the seasons, crating havoc once it was all over.” He hummed. “What little life that survived quickly evolved and adapted, creating the world you see now, Third Earth.”

“…” Kagome looked down at the ground, as her eyes started to sting with tears. The reality of it all hit her hard, and she now knew why she was here.

It wasn’t that she was needed here, and once her job was completed she could go home— The jewel protected her, it somehow knew Earths fate and brought her here. She looked down at her clawed hands. It changed her into something not human so that she could survive—This planet was Earth! It got destroyed so fast, her home, her family, probably lived once on this very spot, and she didn’t even know it. She wouldn’t even be able to tell. In a blink of an eye, it was gone, and she was never going back home…

“You alright?” Ramum concern caused her to shake her head.

“I’m fine.” She sighed.  “I’m just unsure of what to do, now that I’m stuck here.” She tried to hide her sadness, so that the wolf would not see her in a weakened state.

“You are strong.” He complimented. “For a cat.” He growled, which caused her to smile.

“Thank you.” She purred. “You are kind… for a dog.”

“Hey.” He barked, growling playfully and she laughed. “Would you like me to take you home?” He stood up, and offered his clawed hand to her, to help her up.

“Thank you, I would like that.” She smiled. “I always find myself lost.” She tried to joke about her bad sense of direction.

“Why don’t you use your nose?” He suggested.

“My nose?” She wiggled the appendage, her eyes going slightly cross-eyed as she tried to look at it. Ramum chuckled.

“It’s not as keen as our kind, of course, but cats have an okay sense of smell.” He snorted. “Much better than humans at least.”

Now that he mentions it, her sense of smell has gotten more sensitive…

We began talking about many things, as he guided Kagome towards the cat’s lair. “You live with the ThunderCats?” He blinked down at her, surprised.

“Yes?” She paused at his reaction. “Is something wrong with that?”

“No, but it just surprises me, is all.” He shrugged. “They are well known, though I have never meet them myself I have heard many stories…”

“Where do you live, Ramum?” She asked, curious.

“Over there.” He looked to the side, pointing to a mountain far away, tall enough to be visible over the treetops. “In the mountain, to the north. That is my home.”

“Oh, so you live in a cave.” She teased.

“No~” He whined. “It’s not a cave!” He defended himself. “It’s a den.”

“A den? My mistake.” She tried not to laugh, and he huffed.

“I’ll show you!” He reached out, and she gave a small yelp in surprise when he suddenly picked her up, and held her over his head, similar to how he did with Slithe.

“Put me down!” She squeaked, kicking her legs. His paw was under her rump, the other supporting her on her upper back as she laid there, staring at the floor beneath her, upside down.

“What do you got to say about my den now, cat?” He chuckled, playfully teasing her by throwing her into the air and catching her again. “Oops” He pretended to drop her, and she screamed.

“Stop it!” Her tail whipped out and smacked him across the cheek and he laughed.

“But you are so fun to tease—“

“Release her, canine.” A deep voice commanded from behind us and her ears twitched at the sound. Ramum growled, and lowered her so that he carried her, pressing her protectively against his chest,
baring his fangs as he faced his enemy.

“Lion-O?” Kagome mumbled the cat’s name, warmth flooded her and she smile at him.

“Release her.” He held out the Sword of Omens in a warning. “I will not ask a third time.”

“Lion-O, it’s not what you think! Ramum is a friend!” She tried to tell him.

“Don’t worry Kagome, I’ll save you.” His amber eyes narrowed at Ramum, and the wolf growled in warning.

“You won’t come near her, cat.” Ramum snarled.

When she saw Lion-O charge towards us, her eyes widened. She quickly jumped out of Ramum’s hold, and stood protectively in front of the wolf, her arms out wide.

“NO!” She shouted. Lion-O blinked at her in surprise, coming to a sudden halt. Stopping just a hair away from her. “No fight! Ramum friend!” She tried to explain the best she could with what little vocabulary she had.

“…” Lion-O looked down at her, before looking at the wolf behind her.

“Tell him, Ramum, I am not very good at English…” She lowered her arms and looked at the wolf behind her, a small dash of pink going across her nose in embarrassment.

“I saved her from a lizard, dog, and monkey.” He snorted. “They were carrying her away and I defeated them, releasing her.”

“Is this true, Kagome?” Lion-O looked at her for approval, and she nodded.

“Ramum help me see Lion-O’s home.”

“I was taking her back home.” Ramum translated. “To your cat’s lair.”

“I see…” Lion-O put the sword back into the claw shield and sighed. “I’m glad you are alright.”
Kagome smiled up at him—

“Kagome!” Kit burst into the area, flying on what Kagome’s best guess is the ‘hoverboards’ she heard them talking so much about. The bear she saved earlier riding on top of the flying surfboard as well.

“We are coming to save you!” Kat soon followed. Kagome had to stop her laughter when the boy made a less then graceful landing, falling off his board and tumbling down, landing on his rump with a hard plop. “Get away from her you-!!” Kat stood up and hissed charging Ramum.

“Down, boy.” The wolf just put his paw on Kat’s head, holding him back as he began to blindly swing his arms around, not even coming close to hitting Ramum.

“Ramum friend.” Kagome placed her hand onto Kat’s shoulder, and he stopped his assault.

“Oh, well…” He rubbed his nose and puffed out his chest. “That will teach him.”

“Yeah, you sure showed him…” Kit laughed.

“It seems you have found your friends, so I will be going now.” Ramum’s voice spoke up and she looked over to him.

“So soon?” She frowned.

“You going to miss me, cat?” He teased, chuckling.

“What would you say if I said yes?” She enjoyed having someone to talk to—with full sentences. Her words caused his chuckling to die down and he paused, looking down at her.

“…” He looked to be thinking something over, before he growled. “Then I would have to steal you away and take you to my house…” He hummed, seeing her reddened cheeks. “I guess I can get use to the cat stink, if you are with me long enough.”

“I don’t stink!” She huffed, and he chuckled.

“You speak her language?” Lion-O’s voice suddenly spoke up, and we both looked at him.

“Yes?” Ramum raised an eyebrow at him.

“Well that saves us some trouble…” Kit spoke up.

“What Kit is trying to say, is that maybe we can found out about her home.” Kat tried to relay the message his sister said, in a nicer way.

“It’s worth a try.” Lion-O looked over to Ramum. “Can you ask Kagome about her home? Her family? We would like to take her back so that she can be with her friends.”

“The cat wants to know where you live and about your family so that he can take you to them.” Ramum asked for the young lord.

“…” Kagome sighed and looked down at the ground. “My family and friend are all gone.” She finally said the words she had been thinking out loud, and she tried to hold back the tears that were welding in her eyes. “I don’t have a home anymore.” Her ears drooped in sadness.

“She’s crying…” Ro-Bear-Belle spoke, noticing.

“I wonder what she is saying.” Kat’s shoulder’s slumped, giving a soft mew of concern.

“I don’t know…” Lion-O’s hands clinched tightly by his side.

“It doesn’t look good.” Kit’s tone held much pity for the older female.

“Is that true, Kagome?” He bent down tilting his head so that he was looking at her as she held her head down, to try and hide her tear stricken face.

“Don’t—“She reached up and wiped away her eyes. “Don’t look at me.”

“How did it happen?” He asked.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” She turned away from him. “Just go away.”

“…” He sighed. He stood up and looked back towards the cats who were observing the exchange, both curious and concerned. “She says that they are all dead, and her home is destroyed.” Ramum relayed the message, watching as the felines in front of him flinched at his words, and they all glanced over to Kagome who had her back to them. “She won’t tell me how or why.”

“Well…” Lion-O looked at Kagome’s back, a pain hitting him in the chest. “Thank you for telling us.”

“…” Ramum just nodded towards him, before walking back over to Kagome. “I’m leaving now.” He told her.

“…?” She looked over at him, no longer crying, but she had a saddened look in her eyes.

“Don’t look at me like that.” He frowned. Reaching out he gently patted her on the head. “If you ever need me, you know where I live.”

“…” She purred, a sad smile appearing on her face. “Thank you.”

“See you later, cat.” He waved to her, before taking off in a grey blur.

She sighed, before watching where he left a few seconds longer. She looked back over to the three cats and one bear, who all had that same depressing look of pity on their faces.

And now it’s back to a broken and incomplete speech that is regrettably her English-- if you would even call it that--… what joy.

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Kagome was walking with Lion-O, Wilykit and Wilykat, going towards the lair. The bear she saved,
who she learned was named Ro-Bear-Belle, went home, parting ways with them just a little while back.

When she went through the tree line, she sighed, relaxing once she spotted the solid form of the cat shaped home--

“I’m sorry Kagome.” Hearing her name she looked down to one of the two children. Kat was looking up at her with a look of guilt on his face.

“Me too.” Kit was looking up at her as well. “I’m sorry.”

“…?” Kagome tilted her head, unsure of what that meant.

“I’m sorry.” They said again, together.

“…Sorry?” She repeated. What does that—she paused when she felt their arms wrap around her waist in a hug. She blinked down at them, seeing their wild tuft of hair she purred, a smile appearing on her face as she got the message. You can’t misunderstand something as simple as a hug. “Okay.” She bent down so that she was on an equal height to them, and returned their gesture, giving their smaller forms a tight squeeze, which caused them to laugh. Then she smirked, and tightened her hold, which caused them to both gasp in surprise.

“Too tight~!” Kit complained.

“Can’t breathe!” Kat struggled in her grasp, wiggling. Kagome laughed, and gave them one final squeeze before finally releasing them. Lion-O found the whole exchange funny, and was chuckling to himself.

Reaching out he patted them on the head in praise and the two kittens started to purr, happy.
.---------------------------------------------------------------

“What do you think?” Lion-O looked among the other ThunderCats as they sat around the table in the council room.

“You sure that Kagome has no family, Lion-O?” Tygra asked, there was a small twinge in his tone as he talked.

“That’s what Ramum said.” The lord nodded.

“She looked really sad when Ramum asked her about it.” Kit sighed, her shoulders slumping.

“Yeah…” Kat looked around the room, to the other members. “Isn’t there something we can do?”

“I don’t see what we could do.” Panthro sighed, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Kagome is still under observation.” Cheetara pointed out. “Shouldn’t we wait till her week is completely up before we decide on anything?”

“I agree with Cheetara.” Tygra stood up. “Kagome still has five days left, we should decide what we can do once we know for certain she could be trusted.”

“Until then we will just have to keep a good watch on her, and not leave her out of our sight, for any reason.” Panthro looked over to the kittens and they slouched in their chairs, as all eyes went onto them.

“I will start on her English lessons tomorrow, to help her communicate with us better, and we will gather for another meeting in five days for a report. We will decide what to do then.”

“Agreed.” Panthro stood up.

“Agreed.” Cheetara got to her feet as well.

“Agreed.” The kittens both said at the same time.

“…” Lion-O sighed and stood. “Agreed.”

.---------------------------------------------------------

Kagome was pacing in her room, her hand underneath her chin in thought as she nibbled on her lip in worry. Lion-O told her to wait in her room, while he talked with the others. She wasn’t sure what it was about, but she hoped that she wasn’t in trouble of some kind. Was she not allowed to go into the forest? She sighed, her ears drooping in sadness. Maybe they think she is too much trouble and do not want her around anymore?

“Then where am I going to go?” She mumbled to herself. She had no place… The image of Ramum came to her mind and she nodded. Well, suppose if she had to, she could always visit Ramum. He could teach her out to hunt, then she would be able to go out into the world and take care of herself.

She wouldn’t be able to trouble anyone—

“Kagome?” The door to her room opened up, and she paused in her pacing. She saw that it was Lion-O, and she tilted her head at him, curious.

“Lion-O.” She smiled at him and he waved.

“I’m sorry I had to leave you like that, but I needed to talk to the others.” He walked over to her bed, and sat down.

“...” She followed, and plopped down beside him making the bed wobble. He chuckled when he was bounced slightly by the harsh movement. “Good?” She looked up at him, her ears giving a twitch.
“Bad?” She asked.

“…” His mood turned sour and a growl rumbled in his chest.

“Bad…” She looked down sadly and her ears slowly lowered.

“Maybe.” He tried to tell her. “For now you will stay here with us.” He paused. “If you want to.” He added, looking down at her.

She hummed, her ears twitching. She glanced around the room, before looking back up into his amber eyes.

“Me like ThunderCats.” Kagome said. “Kagome like Lion-O.” She told him the truth as she purred, leaning forward to stare into his amber orbs. He leaned back slightly, but she continued to get closer and closer to him.

“You like me?” He asked, his cream colored fur taking on a tint of red.

“Like Lion-O big and big much.” She smiled at him. He saved her, gave her clothes, a home, even her own room. All of the ThunderCats were very nice to her.

“I like Kagome big much too.” He chuckled. Reaching out he touched her on the cheek, and her purring became louder. She closed her eyes, feeling his soft caress of his clawed hand going down her cheek. Her tail twitched behind her and she leaned into his touch, unable to control herself. It felt so nice—“You should get some rest.” She paused, and opened her eyes, seeing that he was no longer beside her, but on his way out of the door. She snapped out of her trance and shook her head. “You will need it for tomorrow.” He warned her. “Tygra will no doubt want you up bright and early for school tomorrow.”

“Tygra?” She tilted her head in thought at the tiger’s name.

“Yes. He is going to start teaching you tomorrow.”

‘Tygra teach me tomorrow?” Her tail was beating against the top of the bed in joy at the thought. She will get to learn some more English!

“Yes.” He chuckled, smiling at her. “So get some rest.” He hummed, just as he walked through the doorway. “Good night.”
She watched as the door closed behind him and she sighed.

“Good night…?” She repeated the words softly, even though he was no longer there. Is good night the same thing as good morning?

She had no idea… Maybe she can ask Tygra tomorrow?