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After the encounter with the two kits, Invincible soared over the land, the Great Cats flying beside him.
“Where should we head next?” he asked Eco.
The Great Tiger grunted in thought. “I hear there is a Great Cat and its species not far from here. It’s probably over that slope.”
Invincible nodded, and with the regular-sized Cats on his flank, he flew over the slope that was ahead of them and halted in the air. Beyond was a huge stretch of water, way farther than the eye could see. It was absolutely beautiful, and Invincible was shocked at the sight of it.
“The Salt Pool,” Telbat murmured.
“The what?” Invincible asked.
“The Salt Pool. It is the biggest stretch of water in the world. But it’s not good to drink. It’s very salty. It can only make you thirstier. That’s why it’s called the Salt Pool,” the Great Caracal explained.
“Well, we can’t just stand here midair and do nothing. Let’s check it out, and find out the source of Cat that's detected here.”
Invincible landed on the ground and shook the Cats off of him. He flicked his tail in a signal for them to follow. They padded onto this yellowish substance, a bunch of bits of small dust-looking dots.
Sand.
A clearing of it surrounds the shore of the Salt Pool. There was a deep cave in one of the centers, home to some kind of creature. Invincible peered at the Bowl Cave. He was about to go over there and see what was in it when the Cat inside it met him first.
Small, spotted cats, pointed muzzles, and short curled ears. There were unique stripes on its coat along with the spots and the black pelt, and their amber eyes were sharp and unique. “Hey!” Invincible called. He raced up to them and greeted them with a purr. “Hello, Water Cats! We have a lot to discuss!” he smiled.
The Cats blinked up at him while one stepped up in front of them.
“Who are you?” it asked.
“I am Invincible the tiger. I am on a mission to gather all the Great Cats and their species together in one unison, so we can gain power over everything that could ever exist!” he exclaimed.
The Water Cats gazed at him in wonder. A few of them took a step back.
“Now, if you don’t mind me asking, what is your kind called?”
The Water Cats exchanged glances. The one that stepped up nodded and gazed into Invincible’s eyes.
“We are the Fishing Cats. We live here,” it said.
“Fishing Cats?” Invincible wondered out loud. “I see. Are you good at . . . um . . . fishing?” He twitched a whisker in amusement.
There was a spark of humorous indignation in the fishing cat’s eyes.
“Yes, we are very good at fishing. It’s basically the only thing we eat. We would be a shame to our species if the fishing cats weren’t good at fishing,” it said.
“I see. And what’s your name?” Invincible changed the subject.
“My name is Hafter, and I’m the leader of the Fishing Cat Bowl.” He puffed out his chest.
"The Fishing Cat Bowl, eh?” Invincible sighed. “Well, I have come here to make a very special offer to you. Now, take my warning seriously. If you refuse, one, you will not have my protection, and trust me, you want my protection. Two, you won’t be able to come crawling back to me if you refuse. I will not make this offer twice. And three, you will be my enemy if you refuse. You would be in a very bad situation.”
Hafter cocked his head. “And what exactly is the . . . price for joining you?” he asked curiously.
Invincible brimmed. “I thought you’d never ask! Once I am finished with my journey, you will have a world of your own, with everything a fishing cat like you could ever want. I already got rid of No-Furs around here, soon there will be no No-Furs left in the universe! What could you possibly want in your world? Fish that swim right into your mouths? Power over the entire world that your paws stand in? Stick with me, and you’ll never be unsatisfied again! You will never cower before another enemy. They will be the ones cowering to you, submitting in fear. I am giving you the offer to live. Consider it, fishing cats. I don’t have all day. My Cheetahs and Caracals have already joined me. Some kittens did, too, but they are not here.
“Do you accept my invitation, fishing cats?”
He flicked his ears as the fishing cats stood in hushed silence. Then, Hafter stood nose-to-nose with Invincible and said: “Of course, we will. If you're really as great as you say you are, the Fishing Cats will come with you and stick to your side,” he whispered.
Invincible purred. “I promise. You will not regret that decision,” he replied.
Hafter growled in amusement. “We’ll see, then.” Invincible smiled and continued.
“Now, before we continue, we must go through the Mark and Mask ceremony. It will only be a shallow scratch on the throat and some amazing gear. Please, fishing cats, lift your throats.”
Hafter’s ears pointed down. “You promise . . . it will barely hurt?” he asked cautiously.
Invincible nodded. “It’s a ceremony. I will not let anything happen to you after this, as you'll officially be one of my army. You made the right choice. You’re going to be happy with your new King,” he promised.
“Vow with me. Make an oath. Repeat after me.”
“I vow to make this oath. The fishing cats 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.”
Nodding in satisfaction, Invincible ordered them to lift their throats, and as they did, slashed a shallow wound across their neck. Once that was done, he gave them their gear, and they put it on eagerly.
“Wow, I look so cool!”
“This is the best!”
“Invincible forever!”
Invincible turned to the cheetahs and caracals. “You shall bow to our new Cat Species, as they will be a part of us for all eternity. Welcome them respectfully to Invincible’s Streak.”
He swerved back to the fishing cats and bowed along with the others. Satisfaction burned in his belly.
One step closer to building the biggest, strongest Streak that ever lived. The strongest thing. I will be beyond powerful. By the Great Tiger, I will serve each and every one of my army with respect. We are one of a powerful force that can never be pushed away. I promise to you as well, Fishing Cats, Cheetahs, Caracals, and the Cats that I will find very soon, you will be happier than you could ever wish to be. Everyone will cower to you all, and you will enjoy it because the only ones cowering will be everyone you command. And you are able to command everyone because enemies can’t hurt you here. We are Invincible’s Streak!
He went out of his bowing stance, along with the others.
“Welcome, fishing cats, to Invincible’s Streak.”
He stalked away, The fishing cats following him. “We must find new land that has another Cat Species. I know there are many kinds, and I will have a group of each one. I will find each one around the forest beyond, and give them their own world to take control of. In their world, they will get to do anything they’d like.”
Before they could reply, a sudden eerie wailing sounded in his ears. He growled in shock, shaking his head. But the wailing would not stop.
“Invincible? What’s going on?” Chara and Calzar raced to him, followed by the others. Clearly, they couldn’t hear what he was hearing.
He churned on the ground. It stung his ears with the sound.
After a moment of it, there was silence.
And then there was a single sentence that startled him.
“I summon the Black-and-White Tiger.”
ns 15.158.61.48da2
