Lynx Headquarters that next morning...

Cheetara entered the board room and sat down at the head of the table. All of the clan elders and other clan leaders looked at her expectantly. She glanced at Carvel and asked, "What are the plans so far?"

The elder cheetah explained to her their intention on attacking the East Side of Claudus City as soon as their allies were ready.

"How long will that take?" she inquired.

"Four more days," he answered.

Cheetara folded her arms and leaned back in the chair as she addressed the clan elders. "You have forty-eight hours to assemble all of your soldiers."

"What? That's preposterous!" A puma elder yelled out.

"No, it is not," Cheetara calmly replied back. "Time is a luxury we don't have. If we are going to win this war, we need to strike quickly."

Before anyone could protest further, Chase stood up and said, "Cheetara is right. We can't afford to wait around gathering our troops when our enemies could attack us at any moment."

Cheetara thanked Chase who sat back down. She then remarked, "Furthermore, we will strike the northern sector of Claudus City."

"But there are only a few lions there," Lynel commented.

"I know. But a huge tiger clan resides there," she answered back. Cheetara stood up and used the map hanging on the wall behind her as a prop. She pointed to it and said, "The Crystal River runs here on one side of the tiger clan separating them from all the other clans. If we attack from all the other sides, their only means of escaping will be through the river. One of us will lead a fleet of troops to the bridges of Crystal River and destroy them as the rest of us attack the tiger clan."

"I see," Che'kar murmured. "If they want to escape, the tigers will have to swim across the river. Not only do tigers have a difficult time swimming, but the river is ice cold this time of year. They will freeze to death in their escape. Brilliant, Cheetara!"

"Most of the tigers will perish whether we kill them or not," Lydia added.

"Right," Cheetara remarked. "Then maybe the tiger clan will get so upset that they will break their alliance with the lion clan. Perhaps even the panthers will get scared enough to also leave the alliance, although I think there is only a chance of that happening. Either way, we will severely mar the lions' chance of defeating us. Most of the tigers will be too weak to create illusions for a long time." She paused and eyed everyone around the table. "Now, what do our weapon supplies look like?"

Carvel told her, and Cheetara nodded her head in approval. "Good. I want two people from each clan here to gather all the weapons we have available. This will be a continuous job, but I want most of them here in thirty-six hours."

She turned to Chase and said, "Chase, you will train me and all other adult cheetahs with telekinetic powers. This will be a valuable weapon for us."

As Chase agreed to Cheetara's request, Candra gasped and remarked, "Telekinetic powers as a weapon? We cheetahs haven't used our special powers in a war since Cazar's revolt!"

"Who is Cazar?" Lynel asked.

Candra folded her hands and laid them on the table. She peered at Cheetara as she began the story. "Cazar was a cheetah who lived a thousand years ago. He was a former Thundercat who became greedy for power. He waged a war on Thundera so that he could become the absolute ruler. He even got the lynx and puma clans to help him under false pretenses. Cazar used his telekinetic power against the Lord of the Thundercats at the time. While Lord Koran recovered, Cazar fought the other clans and even destroyed all the other Thundercats. It wasn't until Lord Koran used the Sword of Omens that Cazar was stopped. It is Cazar's fault that the cheetahs now live under a shadow of prejudice and suspicion."

"That was a long time ago," Chase quickly remarked. "We don't deserve such treatment. It's time that the cheetahs, lynxes, and pumas have some power on Thundera!"

Everyone stood up and cheered. Cheetara quieted them down and glanced at the lynx elders. "I know that your clan members have a small amount of telekinetic power. Anyone in your group is welcomed and encouraged to participate in the training."

"We will pass the word," Lynx-Kahn replied.

"Good. We will start the training in one hour. The rest of us will meet again tonight to discuss our plans to strike the tiger clan in more detail," Cheetara commanded.

Everyone stood up and left the room. Deep down, Cheetara was ashamed and feeling guilty that she had given the orders to attack the tiger clan. But then she remembered Kayla and somehow that seemed to ease her guilt.

Cat's Lair...that afternoon

"Where's Cheetara?" WilyKit asked over the communication monitor from the Tower of Omens.

"That's why I called this meeting," Lion-O replied. The lion sat at the council table with Lynx-O, Panthro, Talia, Tygra, Snarf, and Snarfer. Pumyra and Ben-gali were on the other monitor from Third Earth.

The Lord of the Thundercats bowed his head slightly and sighed. "Cheetara has left the Thundercat organization."

The four Thundercats on Third Earth expressed their shock while those around the council table sat silently. They had already known that the cheetah was gone.

"I don't understand. Why would she leave?" WilyKat asked in exasperation.

"A clan war has broken out here on Thundera," Lion-O replied. "There is a rift between the lions and cheetahs. Cheetara has decided to lead her people in the war."

Tygra pounded his fist on the table getting everyone's attention. "It's because of Chase. He's corrupted her mind. I knew he wasn't to be trusted. That cheetah is pure evil!" the tiger spat out.

Talia laid a hand on Tygra to calm him down as Lion-O replied, "No, Tygra. I refuse to believe that Chase had anything to do with her decision to leave. She left because she felt like she was betraying her people by staying with us."

"I don't care what she told you, Lion-O. Chase is at least partly responsible," Tygra said.

Ben-gali remarked, "Rowrl, what does it matter why she left? What I want to know is why there is a war in the first place, and why we weren't told sooner."

Lion-O folded his arms and looked at the monitor. "The lion clan believes that Cheetara had somehow tricked me into letting her become second-in-command. They think she will be like her ancestor, Cazar. And frankly, I didn't know that actual fighting had taken place until yesterday. That's why you are only finding out now."

Tygra quickly turned his head to Lion-O as he heard the name. "Cazar? Cheetara is related to Cazar? Hm, that would explain why she has all three gifts."

"Okay, you want to let us in on it," Panthro commented.

Tygra explained to them all about Cazar and his quest to rule Thundera. He finished by stating, "Cazar had a sixth sense, telepathic, and telekinetic powers to help him. He was the only cheetah at the time to have been gifted with all three abilities. And now, Cheetara is the only one to have all three abilities."

"Do we know that for sure?" Lynx-O inquired.

"No, we don't," Lion-O answered for Tygra.

"And the cheetahs are fighting for their right to rule?" Pumyra questioned.

Lion-O shook his head. "I was under the impression that the cheetahs are just protecting themselves."

"Hm, I'm not so convinced," Talia commented.

"Me either," Tygra replied. "Not with Chase in the works. I don't like it one bit."

"How are we going to stop the fighting?" Lynx-O asked.

Lion-O replied, "As long as Cheetara is leading the cheetahs, they won't strike unless they're attacked. And I've ordered the lion clan to stop their attacks. So it should stay at a stand still. Now we've got to figure out how to change the lions' minds about Cheetara."

"Why don't I study Cazar's lineage? That will tell us for sure if Cheetara is related to Cazar," Talia suggested.

"I'll help you," Tygra said.

"That's a good idea, Talia," Lion-O complimented her. "But let's assume Cheetara is related to Cazar. It doesn't mean that she is like him. I've just got to convince the other clans. But if Cheetara isn't related to Cazar, then maybe this will be enough to convince the lions that they are wrong."

Lynx-O commented, "Hm, it sounds like the lion clan fear Cheetara because she has all three gifts. When fear is involved, no one can be sure what will happen."

"So what do we do until then?" Panthro asked their leader.

Lion-O answered, "We go about our other duties. I don't want any of you talking to the clan elders. It's bad enough that we lost Cheetara. I can't afford to lose anyone else to this war. I'll talk to the elders myself if necessary."

"With Cheetara gone, whose second-in-command?" WilyKat asked.

"Panthro is, but I'm hoping Cheetara will come back to me, er, I-I mean us," Lion-O corrected himself.

Softly, WilyKit asked, "Lion-O? Are you going to help the lion clan fight?"

The lion glanced as the youth. "I hope it doesn't come to that. This meeting is adjourn."

All the Thundercats stood up and shouted, "Thundercats! Ho!" as they had always done after a council meeting. This time though, the absence of enthusiasm from their voices was very apparent.

Forty Hours later at the Lynx Headquarters

Cheetara stood by a window of her private room and looked at the stars. How many times had the cheetah thought about boarding an aircraft and flying away from Thundera? That thought kept invading itself in her mind the past two days. But she knew that running away from the problem would make things worse.

She was really dreading the approaching hours ahead. It would not be too long before she and countless other warriors would be attacking a group of Thunderians. How that thought sickened her! It especially made her feel terrible when she remembered that Lion-O had told her that the lion clan would not attack. But deep down, the cheetah did not believe that the lions would obey Lion-O's command.

Cheetara really hated this war and what it had come to. Sometimes she wished she could turn back the clock and change things. But thinking like that was useless.

Then Cheetara thought about Lion-O. She held back tears as she remembered their last encounter. Oh, how she had not wanted to leave. Every part of her wanted to stay in his arms. However, her responsibilities to the cheetahs beckoned her, so she left. And now, she felt so alone.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. "Enter," she called out without turning around.

Chase crossed the threshold of Cheetara's room, closed the door behind him, and walked up behind her. "How are you doing, Cheetara?"

He laid his hand on her shoulders and started rubbing them as she replied, "I'm doing okay, considering what awaits us tomorrow morning."

"Don't worry. By this time tomorrow, we will be savoring a great victory, especially with your powers."

Cheetara pulled away from him and turned to face him. "I'm not worried about winning, Chase."

"You can't tell me that you feel sorry for the tiger clan. They deserve what they are about to get," he spat out.

"No one deserves to die," she answered back softly.

Chase softened the statement on his face. He caressed one side of her face as he said, "My gentle-hearted Cheetara. You have not changed in all these years."

Cheetara pulled away from him again and sat down on the bench along one wall. "No, you are wrong. I've done nothing but change. I've become pessimistic and colder."

"That's not what I see at all when I look at you," he remarked and sat down beside her. "I see someone who still is a great warrior and a true leader. I see someone who has gotten stronger and more powerful. I see someone who has the courage to lead us to the very end."

Cheetara smiled slightly. "Thanks. You always did know what to say to make someone feel better."

Chase laughed and replied, "Now that is the Cheetara I know." His face grew serious once again as he gazed into her eyes. "Why did I ever break up with you?"

"I don't remember. Probably because I kept beating you at our morning runs," she said, trying to lighten up the mood.

"That was the dumbest thing I ever did. After all these years, I still care about you."

Cheetara inhaled deeply at his words. They took her by surprise. She watched as Chase leaned in toward her. Knowing she should stop it, Cheetara closed her eyes as Chase kissed her. She felt his mouth on hers, but that was all she felt. She quickly began pushing him away and stood up. "I'm sorry. I just can't do this."

Chase stood up and held her hands. "No, I should apologize. It's too soon." He raised her head so that he could look into her amber eyes. "But I will wait for as long as it takes."

She nodded and turned away. "It's time for us to be going. We've got a war to fight." Cheetara opened the door and walked out of sight.

Behind her, Chase grinned wickedly. So close. I was so close. But soon, you will be mine. Then, together, we will rule New Thundera!

An hour later...

Cheetara and the rest of the soldiers laid down on their stomachs on top of a hill. She used binoculars to look at the tiger clan below them. The small village seemed to still be sleeping. Not one tiger was seen.

The sun began to peek over the horizon. Cheetara checked the time and waited for the sound of the exploding bridges. She took the moment to pass the word once again that they were to not kill any women unless they were armed. However, Cheetara forbade them to slay any children. There was a small group of cheetahs who were to use their telekinetic powers to disarm any children and women.

Suddenly, an explosion resounded in the cold, morning air. Two more explosions quickly followed. As people began scrambling out of their homes to find out what was happening, Cheetara shouted out, "Charge!"

A countless number of cheetahs, pumas, and lynxes stood up in a huge line. They raced down the hill toward the tiger clan with their weapons raised to kill.

Meanwhile at Cat's Lair

Lion-O turned over in his bed once again. He was thinking about Cheetara, something he had done virtually nonstop since she had left. With frustration, he threw the covers off of him and got up. The lion got dressed and headed toward the dining room.

"Meow, good morning, Lion-O," Snarf said as he saw Lion-O go sit at the table.

"Breakfast will be ready in a moment," Snarfer added and ambled into the kitchen.

Snarf sat down beside Lion-O and commented, "You don't look so good. Are you feeling okay? Here, let me check your temperature," and raised a hand to Lion-O's forehead.

"Good grief, Snarf." Lion-O pushed Snarf away. "I'm fine. I just haven't been getting much sleep."

Snarf nodded in understanding. "I don't think anyone has been sleeping good. Not since this war has started, schnarf, schnarf. I'm just glad that we schnarfs aren't involved."

"That's right," Snarfer yelled from the kitchen. "We are nothing but peaceful, non-evil, creatures, snarfer, snarfer. Yes, siree."

"Don't worry, Lion-O. Everything will work out," Snarf said and patted his hand.

"I wish I was as certain of that as you are, Snarf," he replied.

Snarf raised his arms out and remarked, "How could you not? Tatiana tried to keep you and Cheetara apart, but she couldn't do it. And Tatiana has got to be one of the most evil and ruthless people we have come across. This clan war is nothing compared to what she did, schnarf."

Tygra and Talia entered the room and sat down in their usual spots. They greeted Lion-O and Snarf.

Snarfer brought out a plate full of biscuits and laid it on the table.

Talia picked one up and began pulling it apart. "I've got to admit that I didn't know for sure if this war would stay at a stand still. But, whatever you did Lion-O, it seems to be working."

Just as she was about to take a bite, the alarms in the lair went off. The female tiger rolled her eyes in despair as she thought about how her empty stomach. Reluctantly, she put the biscuit down and followed the other Thundercats into the control room.

Lynx-O had beat them to the main control panel and was furiously pounding away at the braille board.

"What's going on?" Panthro called out as he was the last to enter the room.

Lynx-O stopped typing and turned toward the group. "It's bad. Very bad. See for yourself." The blind lynx pushed the control so that an image appeared on the monitor.

Tygra and Talia gasped as Lynx-O explained, "The northern sector of Claudus City is under attack."

Lion-O could not believe what he had just heard. He did not think Cheetara could do such a thing, not after he had told her about the lion clan not attacking. With a heart-wrenching emotion, he commanded, "Tygra, Talia, and Panthro are with me. Lynx-O, you stay here and keep us updated over communications in the Thundertank."

He raced to the tank with the others following him. Panthro drove the vehicle as fast as he could to the scene while the two tigers remained unusually quiet.

On the way there, Lynx-O informed them that the fighting had ceased. The cheetahs, pumas, and lynxes were retreating back.

"Let's hope the deaths are minimal," Tygra replied. Talia grasped his hand and leaned onto him.

At the northern sector of Claudus City

Cheetara stood in the middle of the activity. She was pleased at how well the soldiers had fought against the illusions some of the tigers had created. Only a small group of them had fled in terror. The actual fighting took less time than she had thought, especially with the cheetahs' extraordinary speed. It did not take long for the ruler of that tiger clan to give himself up. He and the other male survivors were led away to be imprisoned at the lynx headquarters.

The smell of gunpowder filled the air and made her queasy. She looked around and saw many of the children crying in fear. Their mothers held them in the safety of their arms, but it did nothing to dismay their fear. All of their weapons were confiscated to be used later.

In the distance, Cheetara heard the familiar sound of the Thundertank approaching. Her heart pounded at the thought of seeing Lion-O again. She could not decide if she looked forward to it or dreaded it. Either way, her pulse was racing.

Chase laid a hand on her shoulder and said, "We did what we came to do. Let's go."

Cheetara nodded her head in agreement. Together, they ran as fast as they could away from the scene.