Piercing View

Stars go on forever, Panthro thought as he leaned against the guard tower, his gaze slowly tracing the fiery constellations strewn across the night sky. A warm breeze ruffled his grey fur, and scented it with fragrance from the abundant blossoms that cascaded off trellises of every home in the city of Oasis. The panther chuckled to himself. Dah'ri had spent many hours studying the botanical magic commanded by the desert cats. It was good that he had Ayasha to help him compile the knowledge of King Anzar's people, or they would never be able to return with their findings to Lion-o, and a treaty of friendship.

"Home," Panthro said softly. "With the turning of summer into autumn, we leave." He ran his finger along the sandstone ledge of the city wall. There were no seasons in the desert. The changing of the leaves in the forest beyond the Lair always left him exhilarated, for the winter to follow promised pleasant opportunities often forgotten in milder weather. He took a deep breath. The twin seasons also covered everything with an indigo blanket of sadness and remembrance spun into existence by the experience of death.

Panthro snorted at the maudlin track his thoughts had taken. "At least I am no longer a jar of ash on Tygra's mantlepiece," he grumbled. "Hope he got rid of that morbid thing like he promised me." He punched his fist into his palm. "Solid enough!" But he knew the truth was more complex. His release from the crystal held by the historians was not without a price, a fact that he had learned all too soon on his return from the place between life and death.

The golden warriors on guard duty with him suddenly murmured in their unfamiliar dialect. A snow leopard swept past them silently, her grey-white fur ghostly under a crescent moon. Chand'ra's hand lightly brushed his as she passed him, the argument they had earlier in the evening forgotten. She glanced over the wall at the desert beyond. "Something watches," she said firmly.

"I could do with a little excitement," Panthro replied. Her grey-green eyes narrowed. She will never accept the specter I have become he decided. He cuffed her gently on the chin. "You don't want me to get fat with boredom, do you?"

"I would cheer it," she said with a frown.

Because perhaps then the day will not come when I will vanish completely when I slip into sleep. He turned away from her cool stare. We all fade in time, just in different ways. And for now, I am solid enough.

The sand dune beyond rippled. A desert cat raised the alarm. Archers lined the wall, their bows ready.

He saw the large claws first, snapping appendages bent on destruction. The stinging tail that tipped the giant scorpion's body crackled with lightning worthy of ancient magic. "Jaga's Sword!" he shouted in appreciation of its diabolical majesty. An'zar had spoken only that morning of the rise of whirlwinds that marked the ascension of strange beasts who, once a year, sought a white flower for a long dead queen.

"That creature will scale this wall easily if it gets close, " Chand'ra said as a barrage of arrows bounced off the monster, doing nothing to slow it down.

"There is only one way to destroy this servant of Queen Ma'karim," he answered.

Neither he nor Chand'ra wore armor. Only loose trousers clad their bodies, the hems tucked into soft boots that protected their feet. The snow leopard pulled free the daggers strapped to her slender arms, and smiled, bare-breasted and dangerous.

"Cover us!" Panthro shouted as they leapt over the wall to the sands below.

Chand'ra vanished under the shroud of a softly spoken incantation of invisibility as they approached the scorpion. The jan'nirri would find the weak spot under the segmented body to slay the beast. All he had to do was keep it occupied. "Make sure to stay clear of claws and tail," he huffed to assure himself. "Piece of candy fruit pie!"

The wind rushed by the panther's head, as a claw sailed at him and missed. "At least you're not a spider, you overgrown arthropod!" he snarled as he came out of his somersault. The insult seemed to enrage the creature even more. Its tail arched. "Mumm-Ra's shriveled balls!" the panther cried as the bolt of energy the scorpion loosed came close enough to knock him off his feet. "My fur is short enough, no need to singe me!" He gauged the distance to the creature's back. "Light as a feather!" he exclaimed, before launching himself upward on strong legs.

The beast shook from side to side in vain trying to displace the panther who had landed smoothly on its back, and was beyond the harm of its claws. "Glad I didn't have dinner," Panthro shouted. "It wouldn't have stayed down! The tail had recharged itself judging from the high pitched tone that emanated from behind him. "Anytime now, Chand'ra!" he begged. The bolt discharged as he leapt off the creature. The scorpion suddenly hissed, a steamy wail that shook the walls of Oasis. The snow leopard had succeeded.

Panthro sped back toward the wall, and the rope ladder that the desert cats had lowered. He turned in time to see the beast roll onto its back, its tail discharging wildly in its death throes.

"It is monstrous, but a victim of evil as well," an invisible voice whispered softly by his side. Although he could not see her, Panthro placed his arms around Chand'ra, and felt her tremble beneath his hands.

"Warrior's path, " he said. It was the only answer he had ever been given in his life, and he saw no reason to dispute it now. Yet the final shutter of the magnificent beast left him sad, not triumphant, as it would have in his youth. Panthro sighed. One day he would set aside his weapons, and grow fat, but not today.

The moonlight once again illuminated Chand'ra. The desire to ruffle the black spots on her fur dispelled his pensive mood. He tapped her lightly on her buttocks, and watched her eyes flame. "After you," he said, pointing to the ladder.

Before she could move, the city gate swung open. To their mutual surprise, Ayasha appeared, followed by a small entourage of desert cats. With a curt nod of acknowledgment, the tall black woman, dressed in a loose, billowing robe of white, walked toward the scorpion.

"Wonder what she is going to do?" Panthro said.

"Magic," the snow leopard answered.

The panther folded his arms, and wondered if the former Guardian had the strength. Ayasha had lost weight on her already thin frame during their journey to Oasis. Not even the coaxing of the young mystic, Taima, could get her to eat more.

"She walks her own path, Panthro," Chand'ra remarked, sensing his annoyance.

"She has become a skeleton, if you ask me."

"Perhaps those that give up Guardianship do not survive long."

Chandra had voiced his own suspicion. "She gave up much, that is true."

"Even Tir'shan," Chand'ra added with a hint of disapproval.

"You mean she's--"

"In time."

He gave a low whistle. "Dah'ri?"

"They smoulder when near each other, but whether the flame has sparked...."

The wind carried chanting; a dagger flashed in the moonlight. "She takes its blood, Panthro."

"You have magic. Might that help what ails her, Chand'ra?"

The snow leopard shrugged. "I possess jan'nirri magic only, Panthro," she replied. "I doubt scorpion blood possesses any healing power. Such a beast carries only poison." Chand'ra stretched, and the fine curves of her lithe body fired his desire. "I am going to bed."

"Sounds like a good idea," he said, following her through the open gate.

*****

They coupled with ferocity. Chand'ra threw her head back, her roar of climax blending with his own bellows. He was certain that this time they had awakened the household staff. The snow leopard dropped across his broad chest. Flecks of moisture from her panting patterned his grey fur. Panthro ran his fingers down her spine, making her quiver delicately with repeated delights.

The shaft of moonlight had moved considerably across the room since their joining had begun. Panthro yawned. Fatigue had finally settled upon him.

Chand'ra freed herself, then lightly brushed her lips against his. "No teasing, female. You have bested me this night," he snapped. She moved away. "Let me rest." A tear dropped from her eyes, and wet his arm. "I will be here for many seasons to annoy you, my a'drin'a," he said, hoping his soothing words would undo his rudeness.

"Sleep well, Panthro," she said in reluctant surrender. She slipped off the bed, and padded out of his chamber.

"I will see you in the morning," he said to the empty room, and prayed he had spoken the truth.