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“Mist! Help!” Invincible heard the other kit squeal. As he got closer, he saw that the cat was dangling from the hill. The other kit looked around fearfully and grasped the kit, pulling it up. They scrambled away, leaping onto the steep hill. The first kit grabbed the other’s scruff and pulled him onto the next ledge. The kit shook and leaped at the next grip.
That was when Invincible saw the enemies.
It was a tortoiseshell cat in the lead, and Invincible caught a glimpse of her green eyes. Some other cats were behind her. They pursued the cats, claws digging into the dirt as they climbed after them.
The kits panicked. “Hurry! They’re gaining on us!” The first one yelped. 292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3YdfUJxfB
Invincible growled silently. I don’t see the point why they’re chasing those kits. Invincible silently went around the slope, watching the action. The first kit had gotten to the top with a final heave.
Grab my paw!” Stretching his forearm, the kit pulled the other one to the top. Invincible crouched in the undergrowth as they peered down the other side.
“Great. At least we got the easy part done.” The first kit grumbled. The other cast a look behind him. “What do we do? I can hear them just below!” Invincible heard crumbling dirt as the other cats chased them up the hill.
The first kit looked down again then sighed. “We’re going to have to jump. See that tree down there? There’s a branch that will support our fall, with a bed of leaves in the middle. We will aim for that branch, hop down, and . . . and there’s the river.”
Invincible looked in front of him, and a few Great Cat lengths away, there was the calm running river.
“There is no way we can do that. It’s so high!” Invincible saw the second kit's body shaking.
Those kits are actually going to attempt to jump that? he thought in disbelief.
“We don’t have a choice if we want to escape Sleek. If you won’t do it, I’ll take you with me.” The kit replied.
Sleek? Is that what they’re running from? Sleek? But before he could think anything more, the first kit grabbed the other’s scruff and dangled him from the edge. The terrified kit squealed, and the other mumbled, “Here we go!”
He leaped off the edge and plummeted. He let go of the other’s scruff and they both fell into separate trees. Invincible watched the first kit as it lay motionless for a heartbeat, then grumbled and got up.
Ow, that must have hurt. Those kits are really brave.
He crept closer for a better look as the unique-looking kit leaped down and searched for the other one.
“Rapier? Rapier, are you there? Come to me! We made it!” it yowled. The kit that was called "Rapier" appeared after a moment, looking weary and tired.
“Are you alright?” The other cat examined Rapier’s paw.
“I’m fine. Just bent it a little.” The kit put his paw back on the ground. Invincible looked at them in sympathy.
Poor kits. They look scared to death. I need to help--
Their heads suddenly jolted back, and Invincible followed their gaze. At the top of the slope, their enemies stared down the edge of the two kits.
“You think you can run? That won’t be necessary, little ones. I won’t stop until I catch you, and we’ll keep an extra close eye on you this time.” Invincible watched as the Sleek cat looked for places to jump.
The kits yelped and ran for the river. They hopped across pebbles, one by one, and halted at the last stone. The weird-looking kit bunched his muscles and leaped, just barely landing on all four paws on the rock. The other kit, Rapier, on the other paw, hesitated, looking at the bigger jump in fright.
The kit turned back and caught the kit’s hesitation, and yowled, “Jump, Rapier! I’ll grab you!”
Invincible saw Sleek leaping down from the same tree with her army, and Invincible growled.
“I promise, I will not let you get swept away. The river is calm, anyway. You will be fine. Jump with all your might and I will catch you. The river will slow down the patrol enough for us to hide because everyone knows Sleek hates water.” Invincible heard the sarcastic edge in the first kit's voice. Rapier gathered his courage and jumped, landing, his claws scrabbling at the edge as he slipped and almost fell. But the kit grasped Rapier’s neck and hauled him to safety. But, in the next moment, Sleek was onto them.
“You think a little water can stop me? I’m going to make you pay. Here and now.” She bunched her muscles, ready to leap.
But Invincible had seen enough.
You will not harm those kits, you coward!
He bounded toward the cat, and as she leaped, he barreled into her side, sending her crashing to the ground. Sleek struggled in a shocked frenzy, but Invincible held her down easily.
“Don’t think you can harm those kits, you strange little kitty-cat. I have saved more from these situations before, and I don’t like it. You scurry on back to your camp and leave them alone. Those kits are helpless, and they have done nothing wrong. I’m going to give you a chance to run, or I’ll let the young ones finish you off while I hold you down.” He snarled and bared his fangs at Sleek, satisfaction welling up as Sleek was at a loss for words.
The kits were muttering to themselves, and Invincible flicked his ears as he listened.
“ . . . to leave you now, . . . and Weird introduce yourselves to this creature. . . . know what it is, but I’ll let . . . it out yourself.”
Rapier sighed. “Well, go on then. At least I’ll see my brother again.”
There was a shift in the first cat, and then it looked around as if it did not know its surroundings.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcqE8xiaFj
Invincible turned back to Sleek for a moment and growled. “You made the wrong choice, being these kit’s enemy. You will live to regret it.” He placed his paws off her, and she scrambled away with the rest of her patrol.
“Come on! Run! There’s a huge animal and it could eat us up in one bite! Go!" Rapier screamed at his brother. The kit glanced at Invincible looking at him, and his eyes sparkled with fear.
It squealed and tried to bolt, but Invincible raced in front of him before the kit could do anything more. Looming over the kit, he realized how cool the kit looked. How both kits looked.
I'm just amazed by their pelts! They look amazing, like mine!
“What do you want?” The kit snapped, trying to blink away the fear in his gaze.
“Don’t worry, kit. I’m no enemy," Invincible looked down at the kit cheerfully. “I want to know everything about you. I’ve never seen more unique cats than you! At least I’m not the only one.” Purring, he wrapped his paws around the kit, crouching down. “What are your names? And why were those cats chasing you? You’re so cool-looking, like me!” He tried to coax the kits to not be scared of him.
“I-I- my name is Weird. I’ve n-never heard someone call me unique. And he’s Rapier, my brother,” the kit stammered.
Invincible’s eyes flicked over to Rapier, examining him again. The white dots on his forelegs and eyes, unique black and white pelt like Weird . . .
He’s very unique looking as well. Rapier was frozen under his gaze.
He looked at the kit named Weird again. He eyed it curiously. “And how did you get that name? Why did you possibly agree to have your name be Weird?”
Maybe it was because that cat chasing him named him this. The thought made him bare his teeth.
The kit seemed to relax, gaining more trust. Invincible flicked his tail in satisfaction.
“It was the other cat's fault. They forced me to be named Weird and banished my mother. They tried to keep me prisoner in the camp! If it weren’t for Mist, I’d never be free from those brutes!” The kit exclaimed. His short fur was puffed and he looked twice his size.
Invincible snarled in agreement. “I had a past life similar to yours, Weird. I was bullied for being black-and-white. Meanwhile, all the other tigers are orange-and-black! You and I, Weird, we are special. They banished your mother, they did? They forced you to carry that name? Let me help you find your mother and have the best life possible, for just a little favor,” he said.
“Wait,” Weird looked at him curiously. “Is tiger what you are?” he asked.
He nodded and smiled in amusement. “Indeed. Anyway, all you need to do is join me, and I will grant you powers like never before. After you make your oath, you will be so strong!” he purred.
“Oath?” The kit cocked his head. “I-I have so many questions. But now that I’ve told you my name, so what’s your name?”
Invincible didn’t hesitate. “Soon everyone will fear me and know my name. They will fear you, too, since you and Rapier are one of mine. Weird, I am glad to tell you my name. My name, little one . . . my name . . .”
“My name is Invincible.”
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Weird and Rapier were in the middle of making their oath.
“Repeat after me," Invincible ordered.
“I vow to make this oath. Weird and Rapier will look down on Invincible the Tiger, never to betray his trust. I will be on his side at all times, to fight, hunt, patrol, and care for him and his soldiers, for if I fail to do this, I will no longer have the protection of Invincible and The Streak, and will be thrown out and defeated. I promise to never leave this oath and keep it with me for life. Invincible is now my King, and always will be.”
After the oath was made, the kits lifted their necks and Invincible slashed their throats swiftly and surely. His pelt didn’t even ripple as they marked him, as he was not able to feel pain. With the hole already in his chest, he looked exactly like he would want to.
“Good. Now here’s your mask and spikes. Put them on.” He magically summoned the gear in his paws, and they took it and put it on. “Now you are officially one of us!”
The two brothers shot an excited glance at each other. “I can’t wait to get my revenge with this . . . gear! I will rip Sleek to shreds!” Weird growled.
Invincible knew who Sleek was, but he wanted to know about Weird’s enemy as much as possible.
“Sleek?” He narrowed his eyes.
Weird nodded. “Yes. Sleek is that horrible cat you just fought off. She allowed me to take a name to be ashamed of. Weird. And then she banished my mother, and made a rank called Weird Guards! If it weren’t for Mist, I’d still be trapped in the Kit Den,” he snarled.
Invincible took a silent breath of outrage. Now I didn’t know that. He shook his head, going on to the next question.
“Mist? Who’s Mist?” he asked. He looked around, looking for any enemy in the bushes, or Mist, if he was an enemy.
“Nothing to worry about. Mist is my Spirit Guard. He protects me, and he can take over my body! He replaced me just a moment ago when Sleek was chasing us, or so I heard. It is very rare to have a Spirit Guard, too. And there is also a very evil Spirit somewhere, lurking. It’s the definition of evil! But Mist hasn’t told me its name yet, so it is a mystery,” Weird explained.
I’d like to see that evil get past me. He bared his teeth again.
“Don’t worry, little ones. We will find out what it is very soon, and I will protect you. I made my oath, too. Nothing can stand up to me!” He took a breath before going on. “And I have more allies,” he added.
Rapier narrowed his eyes in confusion. “Allies? But . . . we’re alone, aren’t we?” he asked.
Invincible let out a cheerful laugh. “Come out!”
He yowled to the Cats waiting. A heartbeat later, the Cheetahs, Caracals, Chara and Calzar, and the Great Cats appeared from behind him and came to Invincible’s side. The kits gaped, and Weird exclaimed, “What are those?”
Invincible followed his gaze and caught the Great Cats. He giggled.
“What are those, you ask? Those are the Great Cats. I am on a mission to collect them and have them on my side. The Great Tiger is like a father to me. The others are the Great Cheetah, the spotted one, and the Great Caracal, the plain one. I have so far collected the cheetahs and the caracals.” He turned to his army.
“I have found our newest allies, everyone. Meet Weird and Rapier. We will help them find their mother, Uraza, and get a world of their own. We will not let Sleek touch them! Who’s with me?”
They cheered and bowed in agreement and respect for his decision. Invincible nodded and twisted around back to the kits.
Well, I guess it’s time to go about my journey and leave these kits to finish their own.
“I will send you guys on your way. Go and find your mother. I will be here whenever you need me. I have the power to know when you are in danger since you are now my ally. Oh,” Invincible held up a paw, an idea sparking in his mind.
I can’t believe I’ve forgotten about this! he thought.
“Before you go, you wouldn’t want to be carrying that name with you, wouldn’t you, Weird?”
Weird’s eyes widened and he shot a glance at Rapier. “What are you saying?” He asked slowly.
Invincible went on. “Would you like a new name? Or have the name Weird for life? I don’t want you to have that name. You don’t deserve it. I would like you to choose your own name for yourself. Rapier, you have a fine name. You don’t have to. But, Weird, this is an important question. Would you like to change your name?” He stared deep into his eyes.
The kit leaped to his paws and twitched his tail eagerly. “Yes! Yes! I can’t believe this is actually happening! I get to choose whatever name I want?” he asked, knowing the answer.
“Of course. What name do you choose?”
The kit hesitated in thought. After a silent moment, he held his head high and said, “My name is Pinwheel. I no longer carry the stupid, foolish name of Weird.”
They all immediately cheered. Invincible bowed to Pinwheel happily. The kit deserves this, after all he’s been through.
“Give Pinwheel respect,” he commanded.
His allies copied his stance, bowing to Pinwheel with the deepest respect.
Pinwheel’s eyes brightened. “I am honored!” he yelped. Invincible rested his tail tip on Pinwheel’s shoulder.
It’s time to go on, now. Let these kits go on their mission, with a lot more power.
“Are you and Rapier ready for your journey? I will be on my way to finding more Great Cats. I cannot fully go with you on your journey. But, if you ever get in a situation where . . . I don’t know, if Sleek gets her paws stuck in your path, just say 'I summon the Black-and-White Tiger', and I will come before you know it. You also have Mist to help you, as you said. I know you want to find your mother. You have no need to hang around with me on my own mission. Soon, Pinwheel, when I destroy No-Furs for good and take over every Great Cat and its species, I will give you and each other Cat a whole world of their own, with all your favorite things. Do you dream of tearing Sleek apart every day? I will make that happen. An army of your own? No problem. The future is bright for us, and dark for our enemies. Anyway, I am sending you off to find your mother. Remember, say the sentence, and I’ll come to your rescue whenever you need me.”
The kit’s fur bristled in excitement in his thoughts. Invincible said no more, shapeshifted into the huge manticore, and as the kits watched in amazement, he roared, “Cheetahs! Caracals! Come on!”
They hopped on his back and they soared away.
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