"Too dark. Close. So close. No room to move. No air to breathe. Why doesn’t he come back? Where is he? Hungry. Thirsty. Cold. So cold. So dark." Her mind kept repeating this over and over again. She could feel herself shudder at the closeness of the walls to her body. "No air. Can’t breathe. Too close. So close. Are the walls getting closer? Must get out. Can’t breathe!" Her mind screamed. She could feel her heart begin to speed up and her lungs demanded more air. "Close. Too close. Need air. Can’t breathe". The panic continued to build. She gasped for more air. Her head began to pound. "Can’t breathe. No air. Why won’t he come?" She was in a full panic now, her lungs’ burning for air as they tried to feed her adrnaline-filled body. The last thing she remembered hearing was the sound of her own screams as darkness thankfully overcame her.

"I thought I heard something over here." Tyben said as he stood and moved toward a grove of trees. "How many are still missing?"

"Last count was 42… make that 41 I’ve got a body over here." Barlo said from the far side of the grove. "Male, hey bring me that list they gave you."

Tyben walked over to where his friend sat, wincing slightly at the sight of the body as he handed the list to the panther. "He has no Clan mark on him." He said after checking the man’s neck for the emblem of his Clan.

"Here it is," Barlo said after searching the list for several minutes, "Kenydar Clan Duma."

"How did you…"

"Easy. Only one Clan I know of has this tattooed on." He pointed at the arm, "It means that his clan has a Larden in it."

"You mean a mystic. I thought the Cheetah clans forbid them to breed." The tiger shock his head at that fact his own people had a strong and proud history with their mystics. "I better call Seyan to get a team over here for the body."

"No need." He turned and saw the Tigress enter the clearing, "I thought I heard the two of you over here." She walked over and glanced down. "Laser blast. Close one too." She pointed to the burn marks. "Doesn’t look like he put up too much of a struggle either." She took several more minutes to finish her exam before allowing her team to ready the body for removal. "We’ve found all but one of the missing now. Most managed to take cover in a cave system not too far from here, there were only four others killed."

"Who is still missing?" Barlo asked the Tigress.

She glanced down at her list, "A cub, six seasons old, Cheetara clan Duma, daughter of… Oh no." The tigress paled

for a moment.

Tyben quickly made his way to his mate’s side, "What is it?"

"This is her father, and we found her mother not far from here."

"Is there a chance she survived?" Barlo asked

The tigress shook her head, "I don’t know, but we’ll keep looking until we know one way or the other."

"Voices? People? Someone’s there?" Her mind clung to the small bit of consciousness she possessed and thrust her back into reality. "Close. So close. No room. Can’t breathe." Her mind screamed at her when she opened her eyes. The panic began to build with in her again, "No. Listen. Voices. People. Someone to help. Call out. They will hear you. They can help." A part of her mind ordered her to take a deep breath and settle her fears. "Help, please." Her voice shocked her when she finally spoke, Her parched throat barely able to produce a whisper let alone a scream. Tears stung her eyes and the panic began to set in again. "I can’t call to them. Trapped. So close. No air. Too dark… One scream, just one scream." She felt her lungs start to burn again as she gathered every ounce of her being and let out all of her fear in one breath.

"Over here!" Tyben yelled at the others, "There’s a cave under this tree." He quickly removed the foliage that had been placed in front of the large rock blocking the opening. "The scream came from over here. Barlo, I need help. This rock is wedged in place." He yelled at the panther. "Seyan, stay here I may need you." He said to his mate as her team was leaving the clearing. "On three Barlo. One..Two..Three."

"Light? Voices?" She opened her eyes and looked at the opening to the small cave. "Did the rock move? Yes, it moved!" Her mind screamed at her. Suddenly her small prison was flooded with the light of the afternoon sun.

"She’s here!" Tyben yelled to his companions, "OK honey, can you reach your hand out to me?"

She looked up at the sound of the voice her amber eyes squinting in the light, "Air! Sweet Air! Light!" Her mind screamed, "Reach? Yes, must get out!" she slowly reached her arm out to the man sitting in the opening.

He smiled down at her, "That a girl, come on just a little further." His strong hand clasped onto her fingers, "Ok now I want you to crawl towards me. That’s it, not much further." He encouraged. He gathered her into his arms once she was free of the confining space.

She clung to him "Air! Light! Space! Free!" Her mind repeated over and over. On the outside she was crying

Hysterically. "Papa. Want Mama. Papa." Tyben looked over at his mate. She nodded her head and reached into her bag.

"Mama! Papa!" She searched the grove for them from Tyben’s arms. "Please Mama, where are you?" Seyan came up beside the frightened cub.

"Hold her arm please, Barlo." She asked the panther.

Cheetara glanced over at him as he took hold of her arm and then glancing at Seyan, noticed the needle. "No! Want Mama and Papa!"

"I know honey," She brought the needle closer. "This is just to help you sleep." The needle broke the skin and she injected the liquid into the struggling cub.

Cheetara’s head felt heavy, it was hard for her to think. Who did she want? "Mama, Papa." She cried one last time before the drug over took her, her mind clutching to one thought. For the first time in Cheetara’s life, her parents did not come to answer her cry.

Tyben’s fist hit the table for the hundredth time in his frustration, "Do you mean to tell me that no Cheetah Clan will claim the cub?"

Elder Metah regarded the tiger. "That is exactly what I mean."

"What about family? She must have some somewhere?" Seyan asked as she placed a restraining hand on her mate’s arm.

"No one that would take her in." The elder responded, and noticing the anger building in the Tiger’s eyes again, quickly explained, "Do you know what a Larden is?" he waited for their nods. "Then you know the Cheetah clans feelings to them. The cub’s Great-Grandmother was a Larden. She is the first female cub to be born into Clan Duma since that mating. She is a daughter of the Larden and therefore a threat to the Clans and an unwanted burden to her Clan family."

Tyben felt his anger snap at the elder’s uncaring words. A low growl came from his throat as he regarded the elder through his flashing ember eyes. "The Cheetah Clan is unworthy…." He began

"I have heard enough," All turned to the soft voice that had spoken at the head of the table. "Elder Metah, you are certain that no one will claim the cub?" The Elder nodded, "Very well, this cub..."

"Cheetara Clan Duma," Seyan provided.

The man nodded, "Yes, thank you Healer Seyan. This cub Cheetara shall remain with in the Lair and shall be raised by the nobles. Elder Metah, I am assuming that her Clan family has given up all rights to her with their silence in coming forth to claim this young cub." The elder nodded again. "Good then. It is decided." The manturned to Tyben. "Your son is only a few years older is he not?" The tiger nodded. "Very good. I would like you and Seyan to take her in as soon as she is able to leave the med wing and give her a suitable home. Barlo would you be able to handle her training in weapons and hand to hand combat? Jaga, I leave the focus of her education and her understanding of the Code to you." He waited till he had nods from everyone, "Elder, you may inform the Clans that this young cub is no longer their concern or burden." The Elder bowed and left the chamber.

"Lord Claudus, are you sure we are doing the right thing?" Tyben asked after the elder had left.

The Thundercat lord turned to the Tiger."What else can we do? I will not have a cub so young turned out from her home. We will be her family now. Healer Seyan, what can you tell us of the cubs condition?"

Seyan sighed heavily before speaking. "She’s resting right now. I have been keeping her sedated and have treated all the injuries I can see. It’s the ones that I can’t see that concern me."

"Please explain healer."

"As near as we can tell she was trapped in that small cave for almost 20 cycles. Now for an adult that is not much time, but for a cub of only six seasons it’s an eternity. I am worried about the psychological problems she may develop from her stay in the cave and then the loss of her family is going to also be another blow to her mind right now."

"Should we perhaps wait till you feel she is able to handle the news of her parent’s death?" Barlo asked

The tigress turned her amber eyes to the panther, "I would like to, but the longer we wait the harder the shock may be to her. It’s a stalemate. If we tell her now we risk sending her into depression and shock, but telling her later could amplify the depression and add feelings of betrayal towards us for not telling her."

"I trust your judgment in that matter healer. Were you able to get any medical information from the Clan about her?" Claudius asked.

The healer let out a frustrated growl, "Yes. After I argued with Clan Duma’s chief healer for three hours, I managed to get the records they had for the cub." She opened a file she had sitting in front of her. "First thing I discovered is that no Clan healer would attended the cubs birth, luckily there was a traveling healer nearby, Healer Kala, from your clan Barlo." She smiled at the panther. "I contacted the healer and actually received more information from her then I'd received from the kitten’s own clan family. Apparently Cheetarawas an early cub, about two months early in fact, and there were some difficulties in her birth. She was small, which is not surprising given the conditions. She tests negative for all genetic variations known in the cheetah clans. She is still small forher age and a tad under weight, but that’s nothing that some good meals and an active schedule wont fix. I’m sure Tygra and Panthro won’t mind another cub to run around the lair with. In fact I may move her into the house tonight. The sooner she can get into the retain of a normal life the sooner she can put some of this behind her."

"That’s not much of a medical history to go on." Her mate commented. "If you want to move her in tonight I’d best get back set up a bed and things for her. " He glanced at Claudius.

"Yes, Tyben, by all means go. Besides I think it is time that I meet this young cub that has caused all the fuss."

She could hear their whispers in the other room as she lay in the bed they had given her in the med wing. None of them were the two voices she longed to hear nor had she seen the two faces she wished for. Why hadn’t they come? Did they forget about her? She huddled further into the warm blankets and tried to focus her mind on something besides the darkness of the small room she was in. "Dark. Too dark. Like the cave. Dark… small. Did the wall move? Is it getting smaller?" She let out a scream and the door to the room quickly opened flooding the darkness with light. She heard the soft footsteps quickly approaching her bed and felt herself drawn into the warm embrace of someone.

"Shhhh, it’s alright," Seyan said softly as she gently rocked the shaking cub in her arms.

"Too dark. Please don’t leave me in the dark." Cheetara pleaded as she clung to the healer. "Dark. Too dark."

Seyan waited till the cub had calmed and then with a gentle hand turned the cubs tear stained face up to hers, "I’m sorry. I should have left a light on for you." She took a small cloth and wiped the tears from Cheetara’s eyes as she spoke. "Would you like a small light next to your bed that you can turn on by yourself?" The cheetah regarded the healer for a moment then nodded her head.

"Is the cub alright?" a soft voice asked from the doorway. Cheetara turned to the voice and saw a tall lion standing within the doorway. Her amber eyes grew wide as she saw the symbol he had upon his chest. "Hello little one, "The lion said kindly as he knelt down to her eye level. Cheetara tried to burrow farther into Seyan’s embrace, her eyes locked upon the symbol. Claudus chuckled softly, "There is nothing to be afraid of here. This is your new home."

"I want my Mama." Cheetara whispered

"I know little one, but your Mother and Father can’t come." Seyan spoke in a gentle tone

Cheetara glanced at the healer a confused look upon her pale face, "Why?" She asked simply.

Seyan thought for a moment before speaking trying to figure out the best way to tell the young cheetah the sad news. "Do you remember what happed that night?"

The cub nodded and a small shiver went through her body, "Papa was scared and told me to stay in the cave ‘til he came back." She glanced down at the floor for a moment before turning her amber gaze back upon the healer. "Papa, didn’t come back." Her eyes filled with unshed tears, "Is my Papa coming back?"

Seyan felt her heartbreak at the saddened tone the cheetah used almost as if she had already known the answer before she spoke. "No, little one, your Father isn’t coming back."

"Mama?" Seyan shook her head. The young cub sat there in silence for a moment her small body tense with the unshed grief.

"I was thinking that perhaps you would like to come and stay with me and my family. I have a son not much older then you and you can start your studies as soon as you feel like it." Seyan stated trying to move the subject away from the cub’s parents.

"I can live with you? I don’t have to go back?" Cheetara asked, a glimmer of hope in her eyes

"Yes, in fact you can come tonight if you feel like it." Seyan watched as the cheetah’s face lit up with one of the most beautiful smiles she had seen. It almost seemed to enlighten the whole room in its glow. "I’ll take that as a yes."

"I shall leave you ladies to prepare then," Claudius said as he stood, "and you young Cheetara, are welcome in the lair."

"Thank you," She answered in a shy voice.

"Here we are," Seyan said as she entered the small home. "Tygra, come out here please." Cheetara jumped slightly as the sound of footsteps came from overhead and two cubs came bounding down the stairs. "Panthro, aren’t you supposed to be home by now?" She asked the ten-season old cub as he bounded up behind his friend.

"It’s ok, Uncle Barlo said he could stay and help." Tygra answered while glancing behind his mother, "Hi. Dad said that someone was coming home. I’m Tygra this is Panthro." He pointed to the blue/gray panther behind him. "Want to come see your room?"

Cheetara stared at the two older cubs from behind Seyan, "It’s alright, you can go with them."

Tygra reached out his hand, "Come on your room’s really neat. You’ve got your own window and everything." Cheetara slowly reached out her hand and followed the young tiger up the stairs.

Seyan turned as she heard a chuckle behind her, "I see Tygra has turned on the charm. It’s a good thing he inherited that from his mother. Hopefully they won’t overwhelm her."

"Actually the interaction will do her good. From what I understand, none of the other children in her home were allowed to play with her. Tygra and Panthro may be the best medicine we can give her." She gave her mate a small kiss on the cheek in passing. "Is Barlo joining us for dinner?"

Tyben chuckled, "Yes, he had some student to torture first though."

"Come on it’s right at the end of the hall." Tygra smiled back at the Cheetah who was slowly following him, "You’ll really like it. You’ve got the biggest room in the whole house." He pulled a door open. "Here it is."

Cheetara stared into the dark room but despite the boys’ urging would not go in. She just stood at the entryway clutching stuffed saber tooth that Seyan had given her. "It’s ok. I promise," Tygra said as he entered the room first. "See? Nothing can hurt you in here." She shook her head

Pathro walked over to his friend, "Maybe if we open the blinds. Your Dad did say something about her maybe being scared of the dark." He whispered to Tygra.

The young tiger thought for a moment, "I got an idea. Wait here, I’ll be right back." He dashed out of the room and down the hall. He returned a moment later with a small shiny tube in his hand. "Cheetara right?" She nodded, "Here this is for you." He handed her the small tube, "Just push that button right there." She did as shewas told and a bright beam of light poured out from the front of the device. "Now if you ever get scared all you have to do is turn on the light." He smiled at her. "Want to see your room now?"

She looked shyly up at him amber eyes meting amber eyes, "Yes, and thank you," she whispered softly and took the outreached hand.

"Tygra, Panthro, Cheetara, time for dinner." Seyan’s voice carried up from downstairs.

Cheetara turned from exploring her room unsure of what to do next as Panthro and Tygra headed for the door,

"You coming?" Tygra asked with a half grin on his face.

Cheetara returned the grin and with one last look behind her, she followed the boys downstairs to the start of her new life.