As time went on, I became a swift runner, able to move through the trees with eloquent ease, I mastered the martial arts (ThunDerian, of course), mastered mechanics, academics (ThunDerian again), blacksmithing, swordfighting, domestic chores, and the art of healing. Also, with Wilykit and Wilykat's tutoring, I became very cunning. I have only been here three years, but we have been working on my lessons constantly. The Mutants and the wizard Mumm-Ra have not proved easy to live with, but following the Thundercats' examples, I have endured well enough. I am no longer the frightened little 12-year-old, city-bred girl I was when they first took me in as their ward.
Now, I am preparing to leave for the Warrior Maidens' Treetop Kingdom to fulfill the other part of my promise, that I was to go to them for lessons in learning archery. As of yet, I have not been able to find a way home, but most certainly not the lack of trying! I have been thinking about my family and how much i still miss them. I have accepted the Thundercats as the only family I have now, until I return home, but somehow, it is just not the same. If I ever return to my beloved home.
There was a knock at my door. "Brittany? Are you about ready to go?" Willa, then.
"Yes, just a minute!" I called back. I slung my bag strap over my shoulder and took one last look at the room I have called my home for the last three years. It was here I finally accepted the Thundercats as family, here where I have been sick; from illness, longing to go home, and battle. But this room also held many fond and joyous memories for me. It has been sanctuary and home. Last East 6. How I will miss it. Ah, well, no time for nostalgia, Birttany! Willa's waiting. Besides, you'll see it again, I think as I turn to head out the door.
Willa was waiting for me. "Let's go," I said.
"Brittany, wait!" shouted Wilykit from down the hall. "We've found something that looks like it might be a time portal, a way home for you!"
I dropped my bag beside my door and took off for the control room at breakneck speed, knowing my face had become pale as Wilykit said that. A way home-could it be? It was too much to hop for. But still, if there was a chance...
As soon as I got there, I looked up at the screen."Wilykit said ou may have found a way home for me."
"Look," Panthro punched up the data. An ominous-looking acene filled the screen.
"Dios mio," I breathe in Spanish. What looked like a giant rip in the air loomed in the same copse of trees Cheetara had found me in so long ago: I had never thought to return to it, not wishing to. A scene of home filled it, promising me my fondest wish. "It's too mch to hope for, isn't it? But how..."
"I don't know. But it looks mighty unstable-it might collapse." Panthro frowned and looked directly at me. "Brittany, I can't give you any promises."
Willa and Wilykit arrived. "if it is unstable, we'd better get moving before it closes," Lion-o stated.
Everyone started for the door. Everyone, that, is except me. "what's wrong?" Cheetara asked. "This is what you wanted. This is what you have longed for."
"I don't know," I said with a sigh of indecision, then laughed a little. "Let's go." But I did know. I had mixed feelings of whether or not I should go. Part of me longed to return home, but part of me protested, knowing I would miss these generous people who had given me so much of themselves to me so I could survive. An unstable portal meant it would close, cutting me off forever from the Thundercats, from my adopted family. Yet, it also meant i could go home, to be with the family I was born to, whom I missed very badly, and also it meant I could lead a normal life. But still I went.
W ere halfway to the portal when the skycutter appeared, followed by another skycutter and a nosediver. "Of all the times!" swore Panthro.
ReplyDeleteThe lead skycutter opened fire. We returned fire. This went on until one of the skycutters found its mark on the Thundertank. The 'Tank landed upside down, scattering Thundercats everywhere like so many dice in a dicing game. I landed on my back with a thud, knocking the wind out of me. But I knew better than to stay there, with the battle raging around me: that much I had learned from the Thundercats, and I was on my feet in a hurry. The nosediver was coming straight at me, so I moved to one side, then jumped on the rider from behind. But staying there wasn't so easy. It was Slithe, (no big surprise) aand it was hard to keep a grip on his slimy reptile's skin while the nosediver was going at this speed.
"Get off me, you backwards human Thundercat!" hissed Slithe.
I just smiled sweetly. "What, and give you, dear? No way! Besides, I've been called worse, and by worse than ou." The nosediver turned. I struggled to stay aboard, holding onto his body. "You honor me. I am hardly a Thundercat; merely a ward."
It infuriated him. Knowing he had been tricked by a mere ward, I could hardly blame him, for would be the same way in his place. It stung his pride and distracted him. A deadly mistake. I jumped off just as the nosediver crashed into a nearby tree.
The others were taking care of the rest of the Mutants. This was taking too long. I was impatient to get home. "Brittany! Behind you!" shouted Willa.
Slithe was back. He lunged for me as I dodged him. He fell, and shouted, "Get back! Retreat!" I watched as the Mutants took off for the forest.
"Get into the Thundertank. Those Mutants cost us valuable time," said Lion-o. But as we got in, Panthro punched up a picture of the time rip. It was a lot smaller than when I last saw it. I panicked, feeling adrenaline shooting through my body. The next minute, we were taking off at a super speed.
When we got there, the portal was closing. No portal. "No! God damn it, no!" I screamed.
"Brittany!" cried Cheetara. She came over to me and hugged me, trying to comfort me. The portal was gone, I was stuck here again, perhaps forever. It just wasn't fair. "So close, so god-awful close..." I wailed.
"Come on. We'll take you to the Treetop Kingdom," said Panthro.
"I wanted to go home so much! Why? Why is this travesty happening to me? I was just a girl, just a girl..." I was sobbing in Cheetara's arms, my adopted "mother."
"Get hold of yourself, Brittany, and we'll leave this place. You need never come here again," said Willa. Then, to Lion-o, "Will you bring her things, then?"
"Yes. Just take her to your kingdom and take care of her..." Panthro was speaking but I heard no more. My dreams being shattered, I was too shocked and too number ot speak. This pain was too new. I just moved, unable to see or hear, though me sense were open, letting them take me where they wished.
A little while later, my sense returned to me. We arrived at the Treetop Kingdowm. Willa brought me up in a wooden elevator strung up with vines, which the Warrior Maidens pulled on to lower and raise the elevators. She asked her sister, Nayda, "Has everything been prepared for our guest?"
ReplyDeleteWhen Nayda answered in the affirmative, Willa said, "Take her to her room, Nayda. Be gentle with her."
"What has happened?" Nayda inquired.
"There was a time portal to her own time, but it closed before she could enter it because those blasted Mutants delayed us," replied Willa with disgust.
Nayda complied, and took me to my room. All through the short walk I kept my head bowed, still oppressed by the fact that i had lost maybe the only chance I'll ever have of returning home. Once we got there, Nayda asked if I would like to talk. "No. Please. Just leave me alone for now. I want to be alone, to think," I said quietly.
"All right. But if you need anything, just call," she said.
Left alone, as she complied with my wishes, I lay down on the bed and cried.
A little while later, as I lay there, I though of what would have happened had I actually been able to return home. My parents would have wanted to know where I had been for the past three years, but naturally, I wouldn't be able to tell them. Would they have believed me? Probably not. My mother would have been hysterical, my father angry, but both relieved to have me back. What would I have told them? I didn't know. The Thundercats would have missed me, no doubt,just as much as I would have missed them. God, what would I have done? I was confused, as well, wanting only to go home, but realizing also that it would cause more heartache as well as relief. My mother would have called it a catch-22: a trap no one can escape; you're damned if you do, damned if you don't. I made a resolve then. If I ever returned home, I would never forget all the Thundercats had taught me.
ReplyDelete"Brittany? It's time for breakfast." This was a warrior maiden I did not know. Yet...
"I'm Tessa; I've come to get you for supper. Are you feeling better?"
"A little. I thank you and the others for being patient with me. This is still a new pain."
She put her hand on my shoulder. "I know. I've been there myself."
There was something familiar about this particular woman! "Tessa, have you ever done anything with the Thundercats? Any adventures? I asked fervently.
"Yes, there was one scrape I got into with Panthro again the rockmen. I had been self-exiled because I possessed a power I could not control, which nearly killed Willa. Panthro freed me of it and saved us both. I will ever be grateful to him for that."
"I knew it! Have they told you how I knew so much about the Thundercats before I met them?"
"Yes, the adventures were transmitted through time and were made into "television shows'< whatever they are," she replied curiously.
"That's one theory."
"But what has that to do with me?"
"It has everything to do with you. That particular adventure was into one of the stories I know about the Thundercats. As to what these shows are, I can't really explain them, not knowing how they are done. I know they are drawn by artists, then put on T.V., but I'm not exactly sure how that is accomplished. You'd have to see it for yourself. You weren't really in one of the shows, but in a 'comic book', again drawn by artists."
We left the room and continued to Willa's home. "You'll eat with Willa and Nayda while you are with us. It is an honor." Honor. What a concept. It seems to rule this world. she turned and left.
I went inside, and Willa looked up. "Have a seat." She gestured to a chair at the table, and I sat down. "You are better, I presume?"
"Yes, thank you."
Most of that meal was spent in silence. But afterwards, she talked of my archery lessons. "We'll start first thing in the morning."
The next morning, after breakfast, Willa took me to one of the practice areas. "The first thing you must learn to do is how to pull the bowstring. Then, you must learn how to cock the arrow. Then aim, and shoot!" All this was said while she went through the motions. I looked on. Then I tried all this in my own turn.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it was not as easy as it looked. I did not have the strength to even pull the bowstring. She gave a little laugh. "you've only just started; you've not yet the strength. but, with practice and patience, you will soon be able to use this bow. Have patience; it will become a true virtue."
I tried, again and again, until I finally threw the bow down in frustration, my fingers burning. "That is not the way to treat a bow! You must tame that temper of yours if you ever to become a true warrior."
It is so easy for her because she grew up with the blasted thing! I though with much sarcasm. She hsould take that into consideration. But I did not say it out loud. "You yourself pointed out I am only a novice. Your fingers are callused in all the right places for the use of this thing; you expect me to be the same! Well, I am not! My hands are soft; now, they are burning and bleeding. Look!" I thrust my hound out to her, palm up. she stared at it, saying nothing. After a moment, "All right, enough for the day. We will wait until your hand is healed. Come, I'll take care of it," she said.
After she bandaged my hand, she let me wander free. I went through the forest, reveling in the beauty and music of nature. But, surprisingly, the forest became desert, green leaves and trees becoming brown and dusty sand. amazing, I thought, as the coolness of the forest became the heat of the desert. On I walked. Ahead lay a cave, which seemed familiar, but i dismissed it, brash, young self that I was. I was in the mood for exploration, and caves were always interesting. So I entered into this cave, which should have been avoided, my brain told me. but I did not care. A deadly mistake, as deadly as the one Slithe had made only a day before.
Warrior, huh? I thought sullenly as I walked on. I never wanted to be a warrior, never even thought about it, until this blasted world dragged me here. Why should I become a warrior, just because I am in this God-forsaken time? Especially if I can find a way home> Why let this world dictate my life? I hate it more than ever! But still...
No! I feel myself aging, getting older. The Cave of Time, Tygra nearly died here once, my brain told me automatically. Oh, God, I have to get out of here! I'll die! Oh, God, have mercy! Not like this, please! Help, someone, I think as I weaken. I should have heeded my body's warning. Must...get....ouuuut.........
I fall. Then, I hear something, faintly. the Thundertank! The Sword must have told them! Thank Heavens! There's a light up ahead. The exit's not far. Must reach it...
My eyes, growing dim. My muscles and bones, becoming frail, feeble, won't support me. "Brittany! We've got to get out of here, now!" She grabbed me, and ran. Heaven, how she ran! We were out of the cave in just a second.
ReplyDelete"Great Jaga! Is that what I looked like when I was in there, all those years ago?" asked Tygra, clearly shocked into amazement.
"Let's get her to the Geyser of Life, quickly!" ordered Lion-o.
Cheetara held onto me in the Tundertank, for I couldn't even hold myself upright. Oh, God, so weak...
It seemed only minutes until we stopped. "As before, Cheetara, Lion-o! Tygra, help me," shouted Panthro. They helped me out of the 'Tank. i could barely see, let alone move, so they helped me to the water's edge. So dark and dim...
"Brittany, you must go the rest of the way alone! We can't help you; otherwise, we'll become young again, too!" Lion-o told me urgently. So I start in, very slowly.
As I go in, I feel the rush of water around me. for a minue, I feel as thought I will fall under this pressure. Then, as my strength returns, I am relieved of the pressure; rejuvenated. I can stand the pressure, which turns out to be gentle after all, like a lover's caress. I walk out.
I see fallen and dizzied winged serpents all around me. The geyser is truly beautiful, i can see, now, all green and flowered. "Brittany, where is Will and Nayda? Why did you wander off?" asked a worried Tygra. "Didn't you know you could die in that cave?"
"I'm sorry. We were practicing, and I became frustrated. My hand was burning, and she said we would wait until my hand was heled to continue." I looked down at my hands. And I gasped. The bandages had come off, true, but that was not what startled me. My hand was healed!
"The Geyser must have healed it," speculated Cheetara. She took my hand in hers, and looked it over. "There is minute scarring, and some callusing. This adventure had proved more beneficial than harmful to you, Brittany. You're lucky."
"It has helped in more ways than one, Cheetara. Now I know to listen to my instincts," I agreed most whole-heartedly.
"Well, come on, we'll take you back to the Treetop Kingdom," said Lion-o.
"You're still young, Brittany, but you must remember, you are not indestructible," chided Cheetara as we got into the 'Tank.
"Yes, I know that, Cheetara. I will remember." I stared out the window as we went along. The scenery was beautiful. "Brittany, are you all right? You seem distracted," said Snarf.
"Oh, I don't know. I guess I'm upset that I didn't listen to my instincts in the first place. It would have kept me out of that cave. I was just too busy brooding about what happened this morning, I suppose."
We talked more about what had happened, and a couple of hours later, we reached our destination: the Treetop Kingdom of the Warrior Maidens.
Willa came down to greet us, surprised that i was with the Thundercats. "What's going on?"
"Brittany wandered into the Cave of Time, against er admitted better judgement. We got her out and took her to the Geyser of Life," Lion-o told her.
"Didn't you know about the Cave of Time and its dangers, Brittany?" Willa asked me, obviously concerned. She showed then that she was a true friend to the Thundercats and their ward.
"Yes. The cave was shown in one of the Thundercat shows, but I was too busy brooding about this morning. I'm sorry," I apologized.
"We'll leave you now. Just be careful from now on, O.K., Brittany?" said Lion-o. As they turned to leave, I shouted, "Wait! I wanted to thank everyone for coming after me."
ReplyDelete"You're welcome," replied Cheetara, speaking for everyone.
I watched as the Thundertank roared out of sight.
"There!" An arrow was loosed through the trees and brought down a buck deer. With its antlers so massive, thronging around his head, he was quite a sight.
Willa and Nayda had taken me hunting and, as far as they were concerned, I had just made my first kill. "This will bring quite a feast tonight," commented Nayda.
"But first we have to get it home," returned her sister, then looked at me. "Brittany, what's wrong? You should be happy."
I was standing to one side hugging myself and shivering. God, but I feel sick! "I don't like this. I hate hurting anything or seeing anything hurt. God, what have I done?" I looked at the body feeling repulsed and ashamed. i knelt at the side of the vclearing and emptied the contents of my upset belly.
"Some hunters feel the same way you do. It's nothing to be ashamed of, Brittany," Nayda comforted me. "Bu you can't let it control you. Remember that. Now, come on, help us with this."
I repressed an urge to protest and turned to help them. They waited patiently, then we carried the carcass home.
That night, I thought I wasn't going to be able to eat anything, but the pungent aroma that drifted up to my hut was irresistible. I had been lying down, trying to settle my unhappy stomach, and my guilty conscience. i sat up, contemplating. I looked around at my hut. Such a simple, Spartan way of life. I could get to like it here, I thought. It was all of wood, one form or another: the floor, the walls, were made directly out of wood, but the roof was of some sort of straw, and the door was nothing more than a leather covering. The bed was propped up on four legs, constructed much like a First Earth bed, but made out of wood and straw, instead of steel, as some beds were in my home. (My bed was!)
I sighed. I was hungry! I stood up and walked out to where the deer was being cooked. I saw archery targets set up and wagers being held to see who could shoot the straightest and with what method. It was a contest of skill, but it also helped them sharpen those same skills that were so vital in a battle. There were other games being held, as well, such as footraces and mudjumps. There were card games and mind games. "Feeling better?" asked Willa.
ReplyDelete"Yes. What's going on?"
She looked at me as if I should have known already. "Whenever a warrior maiden makes her first kill, we celebrate it, for it is a great honor and a sign of womanhood. We decided to celebrate yours, with or without you, although it came a bit early for you. After all, you are still an adolescent girl, but also now a warrior maiden.
So I was, in my own way. While it was true I was a warrior now, thanks to the Thundercats, I was not part of this group. I didn't feel it. But I was still a maiden. "Willa, I'm not part of your people. How is it you give me this honor?"
"You are a part of my people, now. This is the initiation, you've passed the test."
I was stunned. "Thank you very much! But I really don't feel I deserve it."
She smiled. "You do," She motioned toward the food. "Let's eat."
Later as we sat talking and watching the festivilites, sometimes joining in the competitions, she said, "Somethings's on your mind. I can tell. What is it?"
"I was thinking of the ritual involved in making a young Indian brave a man after his first kill in my own time. The heart of the animal would be taken out and the young man would eat it, to signify the completion of childhood and the beginning of adulthood," I answered.
"How barbaric! But I suppose it works for them," she said in disgust.
"Yeah," I agreed, then turned. There was a commotion behind us. A warrior woman was being blindfolded and directed toward a target. "You'll enjoy this," Willa told me.
The young woman, perhaps in her twenties, raised her bow toward the target. Blindfolded, sh aimed carefully, and let the arrow loose on its course. It hit the target straight in the center of the target, and cheers went up. Clearly, there were winners and losers in wagering. But, as in all cultures, there were sore losers and good losers; even sore winners and good winners! Some went off to celebrate, others to sulk, I noticed. An arguments broke out, and Nayda quickly intervenedin lieu of her sister, who was entertaining the "guest of honor."
"They seem to be much like my people in many ways, but in many other ways, they are so very different. for instance, where are all the men?" I asked.
"We have no...men. We need no...men," Willa replied rather crossly, then said no more. Apparently, I'd touched on a taboo of some sort.
"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't know that that was a forbidden subject, but..." I didn't get to finish.
"Just don't bring it up again!" With that, she stormed off.
Stung, I retired to my hut, wondering what I had done. I went to bed, worried.
The next morning, I debated about going to breakfast, then my stomach promptly decided for me. It cramped up into a tight know, and sent me doubling over, landing on the floor. I crawled into my bed, wondering what was wrong. Seemed I was doing a lot of that lately, wondering.
ReplyDeleteLater, Nayda came in. "Brittany, why didn't you come over for breakfast?"
My stomach was still cramped. I let out a groan. "I must have gotten hold of a bad piece of deer meat. My stomach is cramped into knots. I don't feel too well."
She examined me, then let out a little laugh. "That isn't deer meat causing that. I'll be back in a minute."
When she came back, she had a little strip of leather in her hand. "Wear this," she instructed, and showed me. I wondered why I had to do this, but later, I found out. I began to bleed. I was alone when it happened, reading a book from their library. I had found reading helped me to feel closer to home.
Willa came in later, and she apologized for snapping at me the night before, and I accepted it, nodding my understanding. "I heard about what happened earlier. Are you bleeding yet?"
"Yes. In my own time, they would have called this a period, or a 'time of the month'. It is my first, but I have known about them for some time."
She chuckled. "You'll do well enough. I have to see about something, but I'll be back later." She left me smiling. I could stop worrying.
I spent three more years with the Warrior Maidens before returning to the Thundercats. I learned many things including hunting, mastering archery, basket weaving, how to make leather, even how to sew that leather into different things, including clothing. I knew I would never forget these years with the Warrior Maidens, or the Warrior Maidens themselves, especially Willa and Nayda, who had taught me the most.
As I stood there watching for the Thundertank, I looked back at the Treetop Kingdom, silently thanking them for all they had taught me, for all they had done.