Cheetah Headquarters

Cheetara flew as fast as she could to Cheetah Headquarters in the Thunderclaw. When she arrived there, the headquarters was already destroyed. Cheetara ran in the rubble calling for Kayla. "Kayla! Kayla!" Cheetara heard a groan under the rocks and pieces of the building. Cheetara followed the noise and threw the rubble off, until she found the source of noise. Kayla was beneath the rubble. Blood soaked her clothes. Crying, Cheetara picked the child up and held her in her arms.

"Kayla, speak to me. Please wake up." Cheetara cried.

Kayla slowly opened her eyes. "Ch-Cheetara?"

"Kayla, don't worry, I'll get you to a doctor, and you'll be just fine."

"The lion clan came...they attacked us. I tried to fight them, but they shot me in the back."

Cheetara, whose hand was already on the girl's back, felt the girl's back and found the place where the bullet had entered. Before Cheetara could say anything, the girl continued to speak.

"Then the place crash down on me. I tried to get up, but I couldn't." The little girl cried out, "It hurts! Please make it stop."

"Shh. Don't talk anymore. Just rest. I'll get you to a doctor," Cheetara told with tears streaming down her eyes.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't be a Thundercat like you."

No, Kayla. Don't say that. Don't talk like that. You're going to live."

Kayla shook her head weakly. "I see my mommy and daddy," she whispered and closed her eyes forever.

"Kayla?" Cheetara shook her gently. "Kayla?" Cheetara pulled the little girl closer to her and cried. "No! Kayla!"

Cheetara sat alone in the destroyed Cheetah Headquarters crying over the lost of Kayla, just minutes after the last of the sun's light left New Thundera and the night sky covered the planet. She saw so much of herself in the little girl and, because of the war now plaguing her planet, the little girl was gone. Cheetara stood up holding the deceased child in her hands. Blood covered the cheetah's hands and clothes, but she did not care. She only cared about the little girl who has just passed away. She felt a hand lay on her right shoulder.

"Cheetara?"

Cheetara eyes grew dark at the sound of the voice behind her. Angry, she turned around and hissed, "Don't touch me."

"Cheetara, I'm sorry. I didn't know that this would happen."

Cheetara just backed away from the person. "Don't you ever come near me again."

Lion-O reached out to Cheetara as she ran away, but she was too quick and was gone in a flash.

Lynx Headquarters

"I can't believe they attacked us like that!" Chase shouted upset with himself. He kicked a nearby wall, taking out his anger.

"I know. As we expected, the tiger and panther clans have joined the lion clans, but I didn't think they would have their forces ready so soon," Chet replied angry with himself as well.

"We must thank you again for allowing us to stay here," Candra said to the lynx elders: Lynel, Lynx-kahn, Lyndon, and Lydia.

"No thanks are needed, Candra," Lynel said. "I only wished we could have aided you sooner."

"What we need to do now is plan our next attack. Do you all still agree on the east side of Claudus City?" Che'kar asked.

All the cheetah and lynx elders nodded.

"Since the panther and tiger clans have allied themselves with the lions, we should take out their populated cities too," Carvel said."

A lynx immediately enters. "We have a visitor."

"Bring him in." Lynel said.

The lynx nodded his head, and Cheetara entered with Kayla in her arms. Dried blood stains and dirt covered her hands, face and her Thundercat uniform.

"They killed Kayla." Cheetara cried holding the limp girl in her arms.

Candra and Chase got out of their seats and went to Cheetara. Candra took Kayla out of Cheetara's arms. Chase pulled Cheetara in his arms letting her cry on him.

"I told Kayla to get out. They must have found her," Candra stated sadly.

"How could they kill a little girl?" Cheetara cried.

"I told you before, Cheetara. The lions are ruthless killers. They don't care who dies, even if it is a little girl," Chase said stroking her hair softly. "Now you see why we have to fight the lions?"

"The lions, tiger, and panthers have sunk to a new low level, killing an innocent child. What's next? The elderly?" Chet asked.

"I know. We'll get them for this," Che'kar promised.

"Were there anymore causalities?" Cheetara asked with tears still running down her face.

"No, just injuries. We were all in the board room when we were attacked. We looked out the window and saw the lion, tiger, and panther clans. We knew we were outnumbered and decided to escape. Candra went to get Kayla. Candra said that some of the lions, tigers, and panthers, came inside. Candra fought them off, so Kayla could escape. They must have gotten her as she tried to leave," Carvel explained.

"I can't believe she's gone." Cheetara said wiping the tears from her eyes.

"We'll arranged a proper burial and let you know when it will be," Candra said sympathetically and left the room.

"In the mean time, we must prepare an attack on the east side of--" Carvel stopped when he remembered that Cheetara was still in the room. "I'm sorry, Cheetara, but you must leave. We cannot risk the chance of the lion, tiger, or panther clan learning this information."

"I understand. I'll see my way out," Cheetara said and stepped out.

As Cheetara made her way down the hall to the door that would take her out of the Lynx Headquarters, Chase called her.

"Cheetara."

Cheetara stopped and looked at Chase. "What is it?"

"I wanted to know if you would reconsider. You know, being our leader. If you do, then you can sit in on the meeting."

"I have to think about it some more, but my answer will be known soon." Cheetara said and left.

Tiger Headquarters

"How could you attack the cheetah clan?! And what's worse, you killed an innocent child!" Lion-O shouted angrily at the lion, tiger and panther elders.

"They attacked us and destroyed our headquarters. We had no choice but to retaliate." Luther answered calmly although his Lord was roaring mad.

"Any cheetah involved in the war is an enemy," Lavarius added.

"You should have been the better person or, in this case, the better clan by not attacking." Lion-O responded.

"They are our enemies. They want to rule Thundera instead of us lions," Lionel said.

"We're not only doing this for our kind, but for you, my Lord," Lanardi said.

Lion-O folded his arms. "Is that a fact?"

"It is, my Lord. With the cheetahs ruling New Thundera, you could be their slave or worse...dead. The Sword of Omens would be useless, since the cheetahs' cause is evil. With us crushing and casting the cheetah clan away from all Thunderians, New Thundera will be a perpetual place of peace and prosperity." Luther explained persuasively.

"Just what was Cheetara's decision on leading the cheetah clan?" Lionel asked.

"Cheetara said that she wasn't going to lead the cheetah clan."

"Was that before or after the attack?" Luther asked.

"I know what you are getting at, Luther, and it won't happen. Cheetara will not leave the Thundercats to lead the cheetahs evil cause," Lion-O said confidently.

"Don't be so sure of that, Lord Lion-O." Lanardi said.

"I'm very confident in Cheetara and I know her, which is more than I can say for you. This war ends tonight, and that is by my order as Lord of the Thundercats, of all Thunderians, and all of Thundera." Lion-O commanded and stormed out.

Cat's Lair--Cheetara bedroom

Cheetara sat in her room for over two hours thinking about what she would do. A decision made, she begin writing a letter addressed to Lion-O. Afterwards, Cheetara packed a few of her belongings in a large backpack. She pulled the Thundercat insignia off her chest and put it on her bed with the letter. Taking one last look at her room, she walked away. She went to the control room and typed in some commands. A moment later Lynel appeared on the screen.

"Lynel, I need to speak with Carvel."

Lynel nodded and left. A minute later Carvel appeared on the monitor.

"What is it, Cheetara?"

"I have made my decision. I want to lead the cheetah clan in the war against the lion, tiger, and panther clans."

Carvel smiled, knowing hope for the cheetah clan had been restored. "You have made a wise decision. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yes."

"Very well, Cheetara. We will be waiting for you." Carvel said and turned off the monitors.

Chase came in the room Carvel was in just as the monitors shut off. "You were talking to Cheetara?"

Carvel turned around. "Yes, and I have some very good news. Cheetara is going to lead us in the fight."

Chase only smiled. Yes. Cheetara will defeat the lions, tigers, and panther clans, and we'll rule Thundera as it should be ruled...as king and queen, by the most powerful cats, by two cheetahs.

Cheetara turned off the monitor and turned around, almost gasping at the person at the door. Lion-O was looking deeply hurt at the cheetah. Right then she knew he heard the conversation.

"So you were just going to leave us in the dead of night?" Lion-O asked as calmly, but Cheetara knew he was feeling the same emotions she had felt earlier that day: hurt, betrayed, and angry.

"I thought it would be best," she said quietly.

"How can you leave us...me?"

"I need to defend the cheetahs. They need me."

"I need you."

"No, you don't, Lion-O. You have the Thundercats. The cheetahs need me. I left them to be a Thundercat, when they needed me...where I should have stayed to help the younger cheetahs," Cheetara explained.

"You're doing this because of Kayla," Lion-O assumed.

"Kayla's death opened my eyes, Lion-O. I was foolish to believe that I could help them more by staying here. I was wrong. I can do better by being on the battlefield, fighting to save the cheetahs from the evil lions."

"The lions aren't evil. They retaliated because of what the cheetahs did. Besides, I have stopped the war, Cheetara. The lion clans won't attack again."

"That's a lie, Lion-O, and you know it. The lions will never stop fighting until the cheetahs are nonexistent or banished from all other clans. Now let me be." She walked past him, but Lion-O grabbed her and pulled her back in front of him.

"Stay. Don't go. I can't imagine my life without you."

Cheetara couldn't believe it. Lion-O was begging for her to stay. She never had that tone in his voice before. Feeling guilt, and seeing the sad look in his eyes, tears begin to form in hers.

"I'm sorry. I can't. I must go," she said holding back tears.

"But I'm your fiancé, the man you love, the man you are going to marry. Don't tell me you want to turn your back on that? On what we have? On our future?"

Cheetara felt the pressure on her again and started crying. Thinking that Cheetara would not go, Lion-O hugged her tightly, never wanting to let her go. Cheetara began pulling apart. "No, no, no, Lion-O." She stepped back enough to look face-to-face. "I must go." She looked at her engagement ring. "And being an enemy to the lion clan, I think it's best that I don't be your fiancée anymore." She pulled off her ring and placed it in Lion-O's hand. "I'm sorry that I couldn't make the commitment I promised you, but you'll find someone better than me."

Lion-O placed his hand on her shoulders. "No. There is no one better than you." Lion-O pulled Cheetara close to him. "Please stay. I know you don't want to leave me. I know you don't want to leave this," Lion-O said as bent down to kiss her.

As he kissed her, Lion-O caressed the contours of her body, whispering sweet nothings, telling her that she did not want to go. The kiss got even deeper as Cheetara wrapped her arms around his neck. She did not want to leave this, leave Lion-O's arms, his kisses, his touch, him. She did not, but yet she felt she should, but she was finding it hard to let go of Lion-O. Suddenly, she heard a voice.

I want to be a Thundercat just like you when I grow up.

Cheetara immediately broke from Lion-O. "Kayla?"

Lion-O looked at Cheetara confused. "Kayla?"

Cheetara pulled herself free from Lion-O's arms. "No, I can't. I must go."

Cheetara walked towards the door, and Lion-O grabbed her arm again. Cheetara only shook her head. The feel of Cheetara's soft arm slipped through his fingers as she walked out the door, out of Cat's Lair, out of the Thundercat organization, and out of his life.